GE Capital Life Separate Account III Prospectus For The Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Policy Policy Form NY 1253 12/99 Issued by: GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York 125 Park Avenue, 6th Floor New York, New York 10017-5529 Telephone: (212) 672-4400 Variable Life Servicing Center: 6610 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 Telephone: (800) 313-5282 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This prospectus describes a flexible premium variable joint and last survivor life insurance policy offered by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York ("we," "us," "our," the "Company", or "GE Capital Life"). It is underwritten on an individual basis. The Policy provides life insurance protection, premium flexibility, and the ability to change Death Benefits. The Policy provides insurance on the lives of two Insureds. We will pay Death Proceeds only on the death of the Last Insured. The amount of the Death Proceeds will depend in part on the Death Benefit Option the Owner ("you" or "your") selects. You can elect one of two Death Benefit Options under the Policy. Under Option A, the Death Benefit will equal the greater of (1) the Specified Amount plus the Policy's Account Value, or (2) the Account Value multiplied by the applicable corridor percentage. Under Option B, the Death Benefit will equal the greater of (1) the Specified Amount, or (2) the Account Value multiplied by the applicable corridor percentage. We guarantee that your Death Benefit will at least equal the Specified Amount so long as your Policy is in force. You direct your premiums to the Investment Subdivisions of Separate Account III. Each Investment Subdivision invests in shares of the Funds. We list the Funds, and their currently available portfolios, below. The Alger American Fund: Alger American Growth Portfolio, Alger American Small Capitalization Portfolio Federated Insurance Series: Federated American Leaders Fund II, Federated High Income Bond Fund II, Federated Utility Fund II Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund (VIP): VIP Equity-Income Portfolio, VIP Growth Portfolio, VIP Overseas Portfolio Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II (VIP II): VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio, VIP II Contrafund(R) Portfolio Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III (VIP III): VIP III Growth & Income Portfolio, VIP III Growth Opportunities Portfolio GE Investments Funds, Inc.: Income Fund, International Equity Fund, Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund (formerly known as Value Equity Fund), Money Market Fund, Premier Growth Equity Fund, Real Estate Securities Fund, S&P 500 Index Fund, Total Return Fund, U.S. Equity Fund Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (VIT): Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund (formerly known as Mid Cap Equity Fund) Janus Aspen Series: Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Balanced Portfolio, Capital Appreciation Portfolio, Flexible Income Portfolio, Global Life Sciences Portfolio, Global Technology Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, International Growth Portfolio, Worldwide Growth Portfolio Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds: Oppenheimer Bond Fund/VA, Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA, Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA, Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA, Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund/VA Salomon Brothers Variable Series Fund Inc: Salomon Investors Fund, Salomon Total Return Fund, Salomon Strategic Bond Fund Your Policy provides for a Surrender Value. The amount of your Surrender Value will depend upon the investment performance of the portfolio(s) you select. You bear the investment risk of investing in Separate Account III. You may cancel your Policy during the free-look period. Please note that replacing your existing insurance coverage with the Policy might not be to your advantage. The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Neither the U.S. Government nor any governmental agency insures or guarantees your investment in the Policy. This Prospectus contains information about Separate Account III that you should know before investing. Please read this Prospectus carefully before investing and keep it for future reference. The date of this Prospectus is , 2000. 2 Table of Contents Page ---- Definitions................................................................ 1 Policy Summary............................................................. 4 Portfolio Annual Expense Table............................................. 8 Other Policies............................................................ 10 Risk Summary............................................................... 11 GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York.............................. 13 Separate Account III....................................................... 14 Changes to Separate Account III........................................... 14 The Portfolios............................................................. 16 Investment Subdivision.................................................... 16 Portfolio Shares.......................................................... 24 Charges and Deductions..................................................... 25 Premium Charge............................................................ 25 Mortality and Expense Risk Charge......................................... 25 Monthly Deduction......................................................... 26 Cost of Insurance......................................................... 27 Surrender Charge.......................................................... 28 Partial Surrender Processing Fee.......................................... 29 Transfer Charge........................................................... 29 Other Charges............................................................. 29 Reduction of Charges for Group Sales...................................... 29 The Policy................................................................. 31 Applying for a Policy..................................................... 31 Owner..................................................................... 31 Beneficiary............................................................... 31 Changing the Owner or Beneficiary......................................... 32 Canceling a Policy........................................................ 32 Premiums................................................................... 33 General................................................................... 33 Tax Free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges)....................................... 33 Periodic Premium Plan..................................................... 33 Minimum Premium Payment................................................... 34 Allocating Premiums....................................................... 34 How Your Account Value Varies.............................................. 35 Account Value............................................................. 35 Surrender Value........................................................... 35 i Page ---- Investment Subdivision Values............................................. 35 Unit Values............................................................... 35 Net Investment Factor..................................................... 35 Transfers.................................................................. 37 General................................................................... 37 Dollar-Cost Averaging..................................................... 37 Portfolio Rebalancing..................................................... 38 Transfers by Third Parties................................................ 38 Death Benefits............................................................. 40 Amount of Death Proceeds.................................................. 40 Death Benefit Options..................................................... 40 Changing the Death Benefit Option......................................... 41 Changing the Specified Amount............................................. 41 Surrenders and Partial Surrenders.......................................... 43 Surrenders................................................................ 43 Partial Surrenders........................................................ 43 Effect of Partial Surrenders on Account Value and Death Proceeds.......... 43 Loans...................................................................... 44 General................................................................... 44 Preferred Policy Debt..................................................... 44 Interest Rate Charged..................................................... 44 Repayment of Policy Debt.................................................. 44 Effect of Policy Loans.................................................... 45 Termination................................................................ 46 Premium to Prevent Termination............................................ 46 Your Policy Will Remain in Effect During the Grace Period................. 46 Reinstatement............................................................. 46 Payments and Telephone Transactions........................................ 47 Requesting Payments....................................................... 47 Telephone Transactions.................................................... 47 Tax Considerations......................................................... 48 Federal Tax Matters....................................................... 48 Introduction.............................................................. 48 Tax Status of the Policy.................................................. 48 Tax Treatment of Policies -- General...................................... 49 Special Rules for Modified Endowment Contracts (MECs)..................... 51 Income Tax Withholding.................................................... 52 Tax Status of the Company................................................. 52 Changes in the Law and Other Considerations............................... 52 ii Page ---- Other Policy Information................................................... 53 Optional Payment Plans.................................................... 53 Dividends................................................................. 54 Incontestability.......................................................... 54 Suicide Exclusion......................................................... 54 Misstatement of Age or Gender............................................. 55 Written Notice............................................................ 55 Trustee................................................................... 55 Other Changes............................................................. 55 Reports................................................................... 55 Change of Owner........................................................... 56 Supplemental Benefits..................................................... 56 Using the Policy as Collateral............................................ 57 Exchanges................................................................. 57 Reinsurance............................................................... 57 Legal Proceedings......................................................... 57 Additional Information..................................................... 58 Sale of the Policies...................................................... 58 Legal Matters............................................................. 59 Experts................................................................... 59 Actuarial Matters......................................................... 59 Financial Statements...................................................... 59 Executive Officers and Directors.......................................... 59 Other Information......................................................... 60 Hypothetical Illustrations................................................. 61 This Prospectus does not constitute an offering in any jurisdiction in which such offering may not be lawfully made. iii Definitions We have tried to make this Prospectus as understandable as possible. However, in explaining how the Policy works, we have had to use certain terms that have special meanings. We define these terms below. Account Value -- The total amount under the Policy. Account Value equals the amount in Separate Account III and in the General Account. Age -- The age of each Insured at his or her birthday nearest the Policy Date or a Policy Anniversary. Attained Age -- For each Insured, an Insured's Age on the Policy Date plus the number of full years since the Policy Date. Beneficiary -- The person or entity you designate to receive the Death Proceeds payable at the death of the Last Insured. Continuation Amount -- A cumulative amount set forth on the Policy data pages for each month of the Continuation Period representing the minimum Net Total Premium required to keep the Policy in force during the Continuation Period. Continuation Period -- The five Policy Years from the Policy Date during which the Policy will not lapse if the Net Total Premium is at least equal to the Continuation Amount for the number of Policy Months that the Policy has been in force. Death Benefit -- The amount determined under the Death Benefit Option in effect as of the date of death of the Last Insured. Death Proceeds -- The total amount payable to the Beneficiary upon the death of the Last Insured. Fund -- Any open-end management investment company or unit investment trust in which Separate Account III invests. General Account -- The assets of GE Capital Life other than those allocated to Separate Account III or any of our other separate accounts. Home Office -- Our offices at 125 Park Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10017-5529, (212) 672-4400. Insured(s) -- The person(s) whose lives are insured under the Policy. Investment Subdivision -- A subdivision of Separate Account III, the assets of which invest exclusively in a corresponding portfolio of a Fund. Not all Investment Subdivisions may be available in all states or markets. 1 Last Insured -- The last Insured to die. Maturity Date -- The date your Policy terminates and we pay any Account Value less outstanding Policy Debt if any insured is living. This date is shown in your Policy and is the policy anniversary nearest the younger Insured's 100th birthday. Monthly Anniversary Day -- The same day in each month as your Policy Date. Net Premium -- The portion of each premium you allocate to one or more Investment Subdivisions. It is equal to the premium paid times the Net Premium Factor. Net Premium Factor -- The factor we use in determining the Net Premium which reflects a deduction from each premium paid. Net Total Premium -- On any date, Net Total Premium equals the total of all premiums paid to that date less (a) divided by (b), where: (a) is any outstanding Policy Debt, plus the sum of any partial surrenders to date; and (b) is the Net Premium Factor. Optional Payment Plan -- A plan under which any part of Death Proceeds, Surrender Value proceeds, or benefits at maturity can be used to provide a series of periodic payments to you or a Beneficiary. Owner -- The person (or persons) who owns (or own) the Policy. "You" or "your" refers to the Owner or Joint Owners. You may also name Contingent Owners. Planned Periodic Premium -- A level premium amount scheduled for payment at fixed intervals over a specified period of time. Policy -- The Policy with any attached application(s), any riders, and endorsements. Policy Date -- The date as of which we issue the Policy and the date as of which the Policy becomes effective. We measure Policy Years and Anniversaries from the Policy Date. The Policy Date is shown on the Policy data pages. If the Policy Date would otherwise fall on the 29th, 30th, or 31st day of a month, the Policy Date will be the 28th. Policy Debt -- The amount of outstanding loans plus accrued interest. We deduct Policy Debt from proceeds payable at the death of the Last Insured, on maturity, or at the time of surrender. Policy Month -- A one-month period beginning on a Monthly Anniversary Day and ending on the day immediately preceding the next Monthly Anniversary Day. 2 Separate Account III -- GE Capital Life Separate Account III, the segregated asset account of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York to which you allocate Net Premiums. Specified Amount -- An amount we use in determining the insurance coverage. Surrender Value -- The amount we pay you when you surrender the Policy. It is equal to Account Value minus any Policy Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge. Unit Value -- A unit of measure we use to calculate the Account Value for each Investment Subdivision. Valuation Day -- For each Investment Subdivision, each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading except for days that the Investment Subdivision's corresponding portfolio does not value its shares. Valuation Period -- The period that starts at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on any Valuation Day and ends at the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange on the next succeeding Valuation Day. 3 Policy Summary PREMIUMS . You select a premium payment plan. You are not required to pay premiums according to the plan, but may vary frequency and amount, within limits, and can skip planned premiums. See Periodic Premium Plan. . Premium amounts depend on each Insured's Age, gender, rating class, the Specified Amount selected, and any supplemental benefit riders. See Premiums. . You may make unscheduled premium payments, within limits. See Premiums. . Under certain circumstances, you may have to pay extra premiums to prevent termination. See Premium to Prevent Termination. DEDUCTIONS FROM PREMIUMS . If the initial Specified Amount is $500,000 or more, we currently deduct a 3 1/2% premium charge (5% maximum) from each premium before we place it in an Investment Subdivision. If the initial Specified Amount is at least $250,000 but less than $500,000, we currently deduct a 6 1/2% premium charge (8% maximum). We currently do not deduct the maximum premium charge but reserve the right to do so. We refer to the premium minus the premium charge as a Net Premium. We do not assess a premium charge against the policy loan portion of a premium received from the rollover of a life insurance policy. See Premium Charge. ALLOCATION OF NET PREMIUMS . You allocate your Net Premiums among up to seven of the Investment Subdivisions of Separate Account III at any given time. Until (1) the date we approve the application, (2) the date we receive all necessary forms (including any subsequent amendments to your application), and (3) the date we receive the entire initial premium, we will place any premiums you pay in a non-interest bearing account. After we issue your Policy, we will allocate your Net Premiums to the Investment Subdivisions you designate. See Allocating Premiums. . The Investment Subdivisions invest in corresponding portfolios of the following Funds: The Alger American Fund Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II (VIP II) Alger American Growth Portfolio VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio Alger American Small Capitalization VIP II Contrafund Portfolio Federated Insurance Series Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III (VIP III) Federated American Leaders Fund II VIP III Growth & Income Portfolio Federated High Income Bond Fund II VIP III Growth Opportunities Portfolio Federated Utility Fund II Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund VIP Equity-Income Portfolio VIP Growth Portfolio VIP Overseas Portfolio 4 GE Investments Funds, Inc. Janus Aspen Series Income Fund Aggressive Growth Portfolio International Equity Fund Balanced Portfolio Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund Capital Appreciation Portfolio (formerly known as Value Equity Fund) Flexible Income Portfolio Money Market Fund Global Life Sciences Portfolio Premier Growth Equity Fund Global Technology Portfolio Real Estate Securities Fund Growth Portfolio S&P 500 Index International Growth Portfolio Total Return Worldwide Growth Portfolio U.S. Equity Fund Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (VIT) Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund Oppenheimer Bond Fund/VA Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA (formerly known as Mid Cap Equity Fund) Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund/VA Salomon Brothers Variable Series Funds Inc Salomon Investors Fund Salomon Strategic Bond Fund Salomon Total Return Fund See Investment Subdivisions. DEDUCTIONS FROM ASSETS . Each Fund deducts management fees and other expenses from its assets. For the year ended December 31, 1999, the minimum total annual expenses (as a percentage of average net assets) was .30% and the maximum total annual expenses (as a percentage of average net assets) was 1.09%. See Portfolio Annual Expenses. . We deduct a daily mortality and expense risk charge at a current effective annual rate of 0.70% (maximum effective annual rate of 0.70%) from assets in the Investment Subdivisions. . We make a monthly deduction from your Account Value for (1) the cost of insurance, (2) a policy charge of $5, (3) for the first 10 Policy Years, an initial expense charge based on each Insured's issue Age of up to $.20 per $1,000 of initial Specified Amount, (4) for 10 Policy Years after the increase, an additional expense charge based on each Insured's issue Age of up to $.20 per $1,000 of any increase in Specified Amount, and (5) supplemental benefit charges. See Monthly Deduction. 5 ACCOUNT VALUE . Account Value equals the total amount in Separate Account III and the General Account. . Account Value serves as the starting point for calculating certain values under a Policy, such as the Surrender Value and the Death Proceeds. Account Value varies from day to day to reflect investment experience of the Investment Subdivisions, charges deducted and other Policy transactions (such as Policy loans, transfers and partial surrenders). See How Your Account Value Varies. . You can transfer Account Value among the Investment Subdivisions (subject to certain restrictions). A $10 transfer charge applies to each transfer made after the first transfer in a calendar month. See Transfers for rules and limits. Policy loans reduce the amount available for allocations and transfers. . There is no minimum guaranteed Account Value. During the Continuation Period, the Policy will lapse if the Surrender Value is too low to cover the monthly deduction and the Net Total Premium is less than the Continuation Amount. After the Continuation Period, the Policy will lapse if the Surrender Value is too low to cover the monthly deduction. See Premium to Prevent Termination. CASH BENEFITS . You may take a Policy loan for up to 90% of the difference between Account Value and any surrender charges, minus any Policy Debt. See Loans. . You may partially surrender your Policy up to a maximum amount. The minimum partial surrender amount is $500, and a processing fee equal to the lesser of $25 or 2% of the amount of the partial surrender will apply to each partial surrender. If you select Death Benefit Option B, you may only make partial surrenders after the first Policy Year. See Partial Surrenders. . You can surrender your Policy at any time before the death of the Last Insured for its Surrender Value (Account Value minus Policy Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge). A surrender charge will apply during the first 11 Policy Years, and for 11 Policy Years after an increase in the Specified Amount (except for increases in the Specified Amount that result from a change in Death Benefit Option). The surrender charge will not exceed $50 per $1,000 of Specified Amount. See Surrenders and Surrender Charge. . You may choose from a variety of payment options. See Requesting Payments. DEATH BENEFITS . The minimum Specified Amount available is $250,000. . We will pay Death Proceeds only upon the death of the Last Insured. . You may choose from two Death Benefit Options: Option A (greater of Specified Amount plus Account Value, or the applicable corridor percentage multiplied by Account Value); or Option B (greater of Specified Amount, or the applicable corridor 6 percentage multiplied by Account Value). We determine the Specified Amount and Account Value for this purpose as of the date of death of the Last Insured. See Death Benefits. . Death Proceeds are payable as a lump sum or under a variety of options. . You may change the Specified Amount and the Death Benefit Option. See Changing the Specified Amount and Changing the Death Benefit Option for rules and limits. . During the Continuation Period, the Policy will remain in force regardless of the sufficiency of Surrender Value so long as the Net Total Premium is at least equal to the Continuation Amount. See Premium to Prevent Termination. 7 Portfolio Annual Expense Table PORTFOLIO ANNUAL EXPENSES This table describes the portfolio fees and expenses. These fees and expenses are shown as a percentage of net assets for the year ended December 31, 1999. The prospectus for each Fund contains more detail concerning a portfolio's fees and expenses. Annual expenses of the portfolios of the Funds for the year ended December 31, 1999 (as a percentage of each portfolio's average net assets): Management Fees Other Expenses (after fee (after waivers as 12b-1 reimbursement Total Annual Portfolio applicable) Fees as applicable) Expenses - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Alger American Fund Alger American Small Capitalization Portfolio 0.85% 0.00% 0.05% 0.90% Alger American Growth Portfolio 0.75 0.00 0.04 0.79 Federated Insurance Series Federated American Leaders Fund II 0.75 0.00 0.13 0.88 Federated High Income Bond Fund II 0.60 0.00 0.19 0.79 Federated Utility Fund II 0.75 0.00 0.19 0.94 Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund*/1/ VIP Equity-Income Portfolio 0.48 0.00 0.09 0.57 VIP Growth Portfolio 0.58 0.00 0.08 0.66 VIP Overseas Portfolio 0.73 0.00 0.18 0.91 Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II*/2/ VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio 0.53 0.00 0.10 0.63 VIP II Contrafund Portfolio 0.58 0.00 0.09 0.67 Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III*/3/ VIP III Growth & Income Portfolio 0.48 0.00 0.12 0.60 VIP III Growth Opportunities Portfolio 0.58 0.00 0.11 0.69 GE Investments Funds, Inc./4/ Income Fund 0.50 0.00 0.07 0.57 International Equity Fund 1.00 0.00 0.08 1.08 Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund (formerly known as Value Equity Fund) 0.65 0.00 0.06 0.71 Money Market Fund 0.24 0.00 0.06 0.30 Premier Growth Equity Fund 0.65 0.00 0.03 0.68 Real Estate Securities Fund 0.85 0.00 0.09 0.94 S&P 500 Index Fund 0.35 0.00 0.04 0.39 Total Return Fund 0.50 0.00 0.06 0.56 US Equity Fund 0.55 0.00 0.06 0.61 Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust/5/ (VIT) Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund 0.75 0.00 0.25 1.00 Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund (formerly known as Mid Cap Equity Fund) 0.80 0.00 0.25 1.05 8 Management Fees Other Expenses (after fee (after waivers as 12b-1 reimbursement Total Annual Portfolio applicable) Fees as applicable) Expenses - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janus Aspen Series/6/ Aggressive Growth Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65% 0.00% 0.02% 0.67% Balanced Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.02 0.67 Capital Appreciation Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.04 0.69 Flexible Income Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.07 0.72 Global Life Sciences Portfolio -- Service Shares 0.65 0.25 0.19 1.09 Global Technology Portfolio -- Service Shares 0.65 0.25 0.13 1.03 Growth Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.02 0.67 International Growth Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.11 0.76 Worldwide Growth Portfolio -- Institutional Shares 0.65 0.00 0.05 0.70 Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA 0.66 0.00 0.01 0.67 Oppenheimer Bond Fund/VA 0.72 0.00 0.01 0.73 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 0.68 0.00 0.02 0.70 Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA 0.74 0.00 0.01 0.75 Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund/VA 0.72 0.00 0.01 0.73 Salomon Brothers Variable Trust Series Fund Inc/7/ Salomon Investors Fund Inc. 0.70 0.00 0.28 0.98 Salomon Strategic Bond Fund 0.80 0.00 0.20 1.00 Salomon Total Return Fund 0.75 0.00 0.25 1.00 * The fees and expenses reported for the Variable Insurance Products Fund (VIP), Variable Insurance Products Fund II (VIP II) and Variable Insurance Products Fund III (VIP III) are prior to any fee waiver and/or reimbursement as applicable. /1/A portion of the brokerage commissions that certain funds pay was used to reduce fund expenses. In addition, certain funds, or FMR on behalf of certain funds, have entered into arrangements with their custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances were used to reduce custodian expenses. With reimbursements, the expenses of the portfolios of the Variable Insurance Products Fund during 1999 for the VIP Equity-Income Portfolio would have been total annual expenses of .56%, consisting of .48% management fees and .08% other expenses; for VIP Overseas Portfolio total annual expenses of .87%, consisting of .73% management fees and .14% other expenses; for VIP Growth Portfolio total annual expenses of .65%, consisting of .58% management fees and .07% other expenses. /2/A portion of the brokerage commissions that certain funds pay was used to reduce fund expenses. In addition, certain funds, or FMR on behalf of certain funds, have entered into arrangements with their custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances were used to reduce custodian expenses. With reimbursements, the expenses of the portfolios of the Variable Insurance Products Fund II during 1999 for VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio would have been total annual expenses of .62%, consisting of .53% management fees and .09% other expenses; for VIP II Contrafund Portfolio total annual expenses of .65%, consisting of .58% management fees and .07% other expenses. 9 /3/A portion of the brokerage commissions that certain funds pay was used to reduce fund expenses. In addition, certain funds, or FMR on behalf of certain funds, have entered into arrangements with their custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances were used to reduce custodian expenses. With reimbursements, the expenses of the portfolios of the Variable Insurance Products Fund III during 1999 for VIP III Growth & Income Portfolio would have been total annual expenses of .59%, consisting of .48% management fees and .11% other expenses; for VIP III Growth Opportunities Portfolio, total annual expenses of .68%, consisting of .58% management fees and .10% other expenses. /4/GE Asset Management Incorporated ("GEAM") has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fee for the Money Market Fund. Absent this waiver, the total annual expenses of the Fund would have been 0.50%, consisting of 0.44% in management fees and 0.06% in other expenses. Also, GEAM voluntarily limited other expenses for the GE Premier Growth Equity Fund for the period from May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000, which limitation was discontinued effective May 1, 2000. Absent that expense limitation, the total annual expenses of the Fund would have been 0.72%, consisting of 0.65% in management fees and 0.07% in other expenses. /5/Goldman Sachs Asset Management has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limited certain other expenses (excluding management fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, litigation, indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) to the extent such expenses exceed 0.25% of each Fund's respective average daily net assets. The investment advisor may modify or discontinue any or the limitations. Absent reimbursements, the expenses during 1999 for Growth and Income Fund would have been total annual expenses of 1.22%, consisting of .75% management fees and .47% other expenses; and for Mid Cap Value Fund total annual expenses of 1.22%, consisting of .80% management fees and .42% other expenses. /6/Janus Aspen Series expenses (except for the Global Technology and Global Life Sciences Portfolios) are based upon expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, restated to reflect a reduction in the management fees for Growth, Aggressive Growth, Capital Appreciation, International Growth, Worldwide Growth, Balanced, and Income Portfolios. Expenses for Global Technology and Global Life Sciences Portfolios are based on the estimated expenses that those Portfolios expect to incur in their initial fiscal year. All expenses are shown without the effect of expense offset arrangements. The 12b-1 fee deducted for the Janus Aspen Series (Service Shares) covers certain distribution and shareholder support services provided by the companies selling variable contracts investing in the Janus Aspen Series portfolios. The 12b-1 fee assessed against the Janus Aspen Series (Service Shares) held for the Policies will be remitted to Capital Brokerage Corporation, the principal underwriter for the Policies. /7/Absent certain fee waivers or reimbursements, the total annual expenses of the portfolios of Salomon Brothers Variable Series Fund during 1999 for Investors Fund would have been total annual expenses of 1.15%, consisting of .70% management fees and .45% other expenses; for Strategic Bond Fund total annual expenses of 1.48%, consisting of .75% management fees and .73% other expenses; for Total Return Fund total annual expenses of 1.65%, consisting of .80% managements fees and .85% other expenses. The expense information regarding the Funds was provided by those Funds. We have not independently verified this information. We cannot guarantee that the reimbursements and fee waivers provided by certain of the Funds will continue. OTHER POLICIES We offer other variable life insurance policies which also invest in the same portfolios of the Funds. These policies may have different charges that could affect the value of the Investment Subdivisions and may offer different benefits more suitable to your needs. To obtain more information about these policies, contact your agent, or call (800) 313-5282. 10 Risk Summary INVESTMENT RISK Your Account Value is subject to the risk that investment performance will be unfavorable and that your Account Value will decrease. Because we continue to deduct charges from Account Value, if investment results are sufficiently unfavorable and/or you stop making premium payments at or above the minimum requirements, the Surrender Value of your Policy may fall to zero. In that case, the Policy will terminate without value and insurance coverage will no longer be in effect, unless you make an additional payment sufficient to prevent a termination during the 61-day grace period. However, your Policy will not lapse during the Continuation Period, even if your Surrender Value is too low to cover the monthly deductions so long as the Net Total Premium is at least equal to the Continuation Amount. On the other hand, if investment experience is sufficiently favorable and you have kept the Policy in force for a substantial time, you may be able to draw upon Account Value, through partial surrenders and Policy loans. RISK OF TERMINATION If the Surrender Value of your Policy is too low to pay the Monthly Deduction when due (and, during the Continuation Period, the Net Total Premium is less than the Continuation Amount), the Policy will be in default and a grace period will begin. There is a risk that if withdrawals, loans, and monthly deductions reduce your Surrender Value to too low an amount and/or if the investment experience of your selected Investment Subdivisions is unfavorable, then your Policy could lapse. In that case, you will have a 61-day grace period to make a sufficient payment. If you do not make a sufficient payment before the grace period ends, your Policy will terminate without value, insurance coverage will no longer be in effect, and you will receive no benefits. After termination, you may reinstate your Policy within three years subject to certain conditions. TAX RISK We intend for the Policy to satisfy the definition of a "life insurance contract" under section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). In general, earnings under the Policy will not be taxed until a distribution is made from the Policy. In addition, death benefits generally will be excludable from income. In the case of a Policy that is considered a "modified endowment contract," special rules apply and a 10% penalty tax may be imposed on distributions, including loans. See Special Rules for Modified Endowment Contracts. You should consult a qualified tax advisor in all tax matters involving your Policy. LIMITS ON PARTIAL SURRENDERS The Policy permits you to take partial surrenders. However, if you selected Option B, you may only make partial surrenders after the first Policy Year. The minimum partial surrender amount is $500, and we will assess a processing fee on the surrender. There is a limit on the maximum amount you may partially surrender. 11 Partial surrenders will reduce your Account Value, Death Proceeds, and Specified Amount (if you elected Death Benefit Option B). Federal income taxes and a penalty tax may apply to partial surrenders. EFFECTS OF POLICY LOANS A Policy loan, whether or not repaid, will affect Account Value over time because we subtract the amount of the loan from the Investment Subdivisions as collateral. We then credit a fixed interest rate to the loan collateral. As a result, the loan collateral does not participate in the investment results of the Investment Subdivisions. The longer the loan is outstanding, the greater the effect is likely to be. Depending on the investment results of the Investment Subdivisions, the effect could be favorable or unfavorable. A Policy loan also reduces the Death Proceeds. A Policy loan could make it more likely that a Policy would terminate. There is a risk if the loan reduces your Surrender Value to too low an amount and investment experience is unfavorable, that the Policy will lapse, resulting in adverse tax consequences. You must submit a sufficient payment during the grace period to avoid the Policy's termination without value and the end of insurance coverage. COMPARISON WITH OTHER INSURANCE POLICIES The Policy is similar in many ways to universal life insurance. As with universal life insurance: . the Owner pays premiums for insurance coverage on the Insureds; . the Policy provides for the accumulation of Surrender Value that is payable if the Owner surrenders the Policy during the Insureds' lifetimes; . and the Surrender Value may be substantially lower than the premiums paid. However, the Policy differs from universal life insurance in that it permits you to place your premium in the Investment Subdivisions. The amount and duration of life insurance protection and of the Policy's Account Value will vary with the investment performance of the Investment Subdivisions you select. The Surrender Value of your Policy may decrease if the investment performance of the Investment Subdivisions to which you allocate Account Value is sufficiently adverse. If the Surrender Value becomes insufficient to cover charges when due and the Continuation Period is not in effect, the Policy will terminate without value after a grace period. 12 GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York We are a stock life insurance company that was incorporated in New York on February 23, 1988. We are ultimately a indirect subsidiary of General Electric Capital Corporation ("GE Capital"), a New York corporation that is a diversified financial services company whose subsidiaries consist of specialty insurance, equipment management, and commercial and consumer financing businesses. General Electric Capital Corporation is owned by General Electric Capital Services, Inc. which in turn is owned by General Electric Company. GE Capital's ultimate parent, General Electric Company, founded more than one hundred years ago by Thomas Edison, is the world's largest manufacturer of jet engines, engineering plastics, medical diagnostic equipment, and large electric power generation equipment. We are licensed in New York and Delaware and specialize in writing individual fixed-rate deferred annuities, fixed payout immediate annuities, and variable deferred annuities. We are subject to regulation by the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York. We submit annual statements on our operation and finances to the New York Insurance Department. We are a member of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association ("IMSA"). We may use the IMSA membership logo and language in our advertisements, as outlined in IMSA's Marketing and Graphics Guidelines. Companies that belong to IMSA subscribe to a set of ethical standards covering various aspects of sales and service for individually sold life insurance and annuities. 13 Separate Account III CHANGES TO SEPARATE ACCOUNT III We established GE Capital Life Separate Account III as a separate investment account on March 20, 2000. Separate Account III currently has forty Investment Subdivisions available under the Policy. Each Investment Subdivision invests exclusively in shares representing an interest in a separate corresponding portfolio of one of the ten Funds described below. The assets of Separate Account III belong to us. Nonetheless, we do not charge the assets in Separate Account III attributable to the Policies with liabilities arising out of any other business, which we may conduct. The assets of Separate Account III shall, however, be available to cover the liabilities of our General Account to the extent that the assets of the Separate Account exceed its liabilities arising under the Policies supported by it. Income, gains and losses, whether or not realized from the assets of Separate Account III shall be credited to or charged against Separate Account III without regard to the income, gains, or losses arising out of any other business we may conduct. We registered Separate Account III with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). Separate Account III meets the definition of a separate account under the federal securities laws. Registration with the SEC does not involve supervision of the management or investment practices or policies of Separate Account III by the SEC. You assume the full investment risk for all amounts you allocate to Separate Account III. Separate Account III may include other Investment Subdivisions that are not available under the Policy. We may substitute another investment subdivision or insurance company separate account under the Policy if, in our judgment, investment in an Investment Subdivision should no longer be possible or becomes inappropriate to the purposes of the Policies, or if investment in another investment subdivision or insurance company separate account is in the best interest of Owners. The new Investment Subdivisions may be limited to certain classes of Policies, and the new portfolios may have higher fees and charges than the portfolios they replaced. No substitution may take place without prior notice to Owners and prior approval of the SEC and insurance regulatory authorities, to the extent required by the 1940 Act and applicable law. 14 We may also, where permitted by law: . create new separate accounts; . transfer assets of Separate Account III, which we determine to be associated with the class of Policies to which this Policy belongs, to another separate account; . add new Investment Subdivisions to or remove Investment Subdivisions from Separate Account III, or combine Investment Subdivisions; . remove existing Funds; . substitute new Funds for any existing Fund which we determine is no longer appropriate in light of the purposes of the Separate Account; . deregister Separate Account III under the 1940 Act; and . operate Separate Account III under the direction of a committee or in another form. Changes in Investment Policy and Exchange Rights. If you object to a material change in the investment policy of Separate Account III or any Investment Subdivision, you have the right to exchange this Policy for a fixed benefit policy. No evidence of insurability will be required. We will notify you of the options available and the procedures to follow if you decide to make an exchange. You must make an exchange within 60 days after the change in investment policy becomes effective or 60 days after the receipt of the notice of the options available, whichever is later. There will always be one policy available for exchange. 15 The Portfolios You decide the Investment Subdivisions to which you direct Net Premiums. You may change your premium allocation without penalty or charges. There is a separate Investment Subdivision, which corresponds to each portfolio of a Fund offered in this Policy. Each Fund is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an open- end management investment company under the 1940 Act. The assets of each portfolio are separate from other portfolios of a Fund and each portfolio has separate investment objectives and policies. As a result, each portfolio operates as a separate portfolio and the investment performance of one portfolio has no effect on the investment performance of any other portfolio. Before choosing an Investment Subdivision to allocate your Net Premiums and Account Value, carefully read the prospectus for each Fund, along with this Prospectus. We summarize the investment objectives of each portfolio below. There is no assurance that any of the portfolios will meet these objectives. The investment objectives and policies of certain portfolios are similar to the investment objectives and policies of other portfolios that may be managed by the same investment adviser or manager. The investment results of the portfolios, however, may be higher or lower than the results of such other portfolios. There can be no assurance, and no representation is made, that the investment results of any of the portfolios will be comparable to the investment results of any other portfolio, even if the other portfolio has the same investment adviser or manager, or if the other portfolio has a similar name. INVESTMENT SUBDIVISION We offer you a choice from among 40 Investment Subdivisions, each of which invests in an underlying portfolio of one of the Funds. You may invest in up to seven Investment Subdivisions at any one time. THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alger American Growth Seeks long-term capital Fred Alger Portfolio appreciation by focusing on Management, Inc. growing companies that generally have broad product lines, markets, financial resources and depth of management. Under normal circumstances, the portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of large companies. The portfolio considers a large company to have a market capitalization of $1 billion or greater. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alger American Small Seeks long-term capital Fred Alger Capitalization Portfolio appreciation by focusing on Management, small, fast-growing companies Inc. that offer innovative products, services or technologies to a rapidly expanding marketplace. Under normal circumstances, the portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of small capitalization companies. A small capitalization company is one that has a market capitalization within the range of the Russell 2000 Growth Index or the S&P(R) Small Cap 600 Index. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES Federated American Seeks long-term growth of Federated Leaders capital with a secondary Investment Fund II objective of providing income. Management Company Seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in common stock of "blue chip" companies. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federated High Income Seeks high current income by Federated Bond investing primarily in a Investment Fund II diversified portfolio of Management Company professionally managed fixed- income securities. The fixed income securities in which the Fund intends to invest are lower-rated corporate debt obligations, commonly referred to as "junk bonds". The risks of these securities and their high yield potential are described in the prospectus for the Federated Insurance Series, which should be read carefully before investing. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federated Utility Fund II Seeks high current income and Federated moderate capital appreciation Investment by investing primarily in Management Company equity and debt securities of utility companies. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND (VIP) VIP Equity-Income Seeks reasonable income and Fidelity Management Portfolio will consider the potential & Research Company; for capital appreciation. The (beginning January fund also seeks a yield, which 1, 2001, FMR Co., exceeds the composite yield on Inc. will the securities comprising the subadvise.) S&P 500 by investing primarily in income-producing equity securities and by investing in domestic and foreign issuers. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIP Growth Portfolio Seeks capital appreciation by Fidelity Management investing primarily in common & Research Company; stocks of companies believed (beginning January to have above-average growth 1, 2001, FMR Co., potential Inc. will subadvise.) 17 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIP Overseas Portfolio Seeks long-term growth of Fidelity Management capital by Investing at least & Research Company 65% of total assets in foreign (subadvised by securities, primarily in Fidelity Management common stocks. & Research (U.K.) Inc., Fidelity Management & Research (Far East), Inc., Fidelity International Investment Advisors, Fidelity International Investment Advisors (U.K.) Limited and Fidelity Investments Japan Limited; beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. will subadvise.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II (VIP II) VIP II Asset Manager Seeks high total return with Fidelity Management Portfolio reduced risk over the long- & Research Company term by allocating assets (subadvised by among stocks, bonds and short- Fidelity Management term instruments. & Research (U.K.) Inc., Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc., Fidelity Investments, Japan Limited and Fidelity Investment Money Management, Inc.; beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. will subadvise.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIP II Contrafund Seeks long-term capital Fidelity Management Portfolio appreciation by investing & Research Company mainly in common stocks and in (subadvised by securities of companies whose Fidelity Management value is believed to have not & Research (U.K.) been fully recognized by the Inc., Fidelity public. This fund invests in Management & domestic and foreign issuers. Research (Far East) This fund also invests in Inc. and Fidelity "growth" stocks or "value" Investments Japan stocks or both. Limited; beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. will subadvise.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III (VIP III) VIP III Growth & Income Seeks high total return Fidelity Management Portfolio through a combination of & Research Company current income and capital (subadvised by appreciation by investing a Fidelity Management majority of assets in common & Research (U.K.) stocks with a focus on those Inc., Fidelity that pay current dividends and Management & show potential for capital Research (Far East) appreciation. Inc. and Fidelity Investments Japan Limited; beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. will subadvise.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIP III Growth Seeks to provide capital Fidelity Management Opportunities Portfolio growth by investing primarily & Research Company in common stock and other (subadvised by types of securities, including Fidelity Management bonds, which may be lower- & Research (U.K.) quality debt securities. Inc., Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc. and Fidelity Investments Japan Limited; beginning January 1, 2001, FMR Co., Inc. will subadvise) GE INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income Fund Objective of providing maximum GE Asset Management income consistent with prudent Incorporated investment management and preservation of capital by investing primarily in income- bearing debt securities and other income bearing instruments. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Equity Fund Objective of providing long- GE Asset Management term growth of capital by Incorporated investing primarily in foreign equity and equity-related securities which the Adviser believes have long-term potential for capital growth. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund Objective of providing long GE Asset Management (formerly known as term growth of capital by Incorporated Value Equity Fund) investing primarily in common (Subadvised by NWQ stock and other equity Investment securities of companies that Management Company) the investment adviser believes are undervalued by the marketplace at the time of purchase and that offer the potential for above-average growth of capital. Although the current portfolio reflects investments primarily within the mid cap range, the Fund is not restricted to investments within any particular capitalization and may in the future invest a majority of its assets in another capitalization range. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Money Market Fund Objective of providing highest GE Asset Management level of current income as is Incorporated consistent with high liquidity and safety of principal by investing in various types of good quality money market securities. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Premier Growth Equity Objective of providing long- GE Asset Management Fund term growth of capital as well Incorporated as future (rather than current) income by investing primarily in growth-oriented equity securities. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Real Estate Securities Objective of providing maximum GE Asset Management Fund total return through current Incorporated income and capital (Subadvised by appreciation by investing Seneca Capital primarily in securities of Management, L.L.C.) U.S. issuers that are principally engaged in or related to the real estate industry including those that own significant real estate assets. The portfolio will not invest directly in real estate. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P 500 Index Fund/1/ Objective of providing capital GE Asset Management appreciation and accumulation Incorporated of income that corresponds to (Subadvised by the investment return of the State Street Global Standard & Poor's 500 Advisors) Composite Stock Price Index through investment in common stocks comprising the Index. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Return Fund Objective of providing the GE Asset Management highest total return, composed Incorporated of current income and capital appreciation, as is consistent with prudent investment risk by investing in common stock, bonds and money market instruments, the proportion of each being continuously determined by the investment adviser. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Equity Fund Objective of providing long- GE Asset Management term growth of capital through Incorporated investments primarily in equity securities of U.S. companies. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST (VIT) Goldman Sachs Growth and Seeks long-term growth of Goldman Sachs Asset Income Fund capital and growth of income, Management primarily through equity securities that are considered to have favorable prospects for capital appreciation and/or dividend-paying ability. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Seeks long-term capital Goldman Sachs Asset Value Fund (formerly appreciation, primarily Management known as Mid Cap Equity through equity securities of Fund) mid- cap companies with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Russell Midcap Index at the time of investment (currently between $400 million and $16 billion). - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JANUS ASPEN SERIES Aggressive Growth Non-diversified portfolio Janus Capital Portfolio pursuing long- term growth of Corporation capital. Pursues this objective by normally investing at least 50% of its assets in equity securities issued by medium-sized companies. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /1/"Standard & Poor's," "S&P," and "S&P 500" are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by GE Asset Management Incorporated. The S&P 500 Index Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's, and Standard & Poor's makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the advisability of investing in this Fund or the Policy. 20 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balanced Portfolio Seeks long term growth of Janus Capital capital. Pursues this Corporation objective consistent with the preservation of capital and balanced by current income. Normally invests 40-60% of its assets in securities selected primarily for their growth potential and 40-60% of its assets in securities selected primarily for their income potential. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Appreciation Non-diversified portfolio Janus Capital Portfolio pursuing long-term growth of Corporation capital. Pursues this objective by investing primarily in common stocks of companies of any size. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flexible Income Portfolio Seeks maximum total return Janus Capital consistent with preservation Corporation of capital. Total return is expected to result from a combination of income and capital appreciation. The portfolio pursues its objective primarily by investing in any type of income-producing securities. This portfolio may have substantial holdings of lower- rated debt securities or "junk" bonds. The risks of investing in junk bonds are described in the prospectus for Janus Aspen Series, which should be read carefully before investing. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global Life Sciences Seeks long-term growth of Janus Capital Portfolio capital. The portfolio pursues Corporation this objective by investing primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the portfolio manager believes have a life science orientation. The portfolio normally invests at least 25% of its total assets, in the aggregate, in the following industry groups: health care; pharmaceuticals; agriculture; cosmetics/personal care; and biotechnology. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global Technology Seeks long-term growth of Janus Capital Portfolio capital. The portfolio pursues Corporation this objective by investing primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the portfolio manager believes will benefit significantly from advances or improvements in technology. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Growth Portfolio Seeks long-term capital growth Janus Capital consistent with the Corporation preservation of capital and pursues its objective by investing in common stocks of companies of any size. Emphasizes larger, more established issuers. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Growth Seeks long-term growth of Janus Capital Portfolio capital. Pursues this Corporation objective primarily through investments in common stocks of issuers located outside the United States. The portfolio normally invests at least 65% of its total assets in securities of issuers from at least five different countries, excluding the United States. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Worldwide Growth Seeks long-term capital growth Janus Capital Portfolio in a manner consistent with Corporation the preservation of capital. Pursues this objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of foreign and domestic issuers of all sizes. Normally invests in at least five different countries including the United States. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS Oppenheimer Aggressive Seeks to achieve capital OppenheimerFunds, Growth Fund/VA appreciation by investing Inc. mainly in common stocks of companies in the United States believed by the fund's investment manager, OppenheimerFunds Inc., to have significant growth potential. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oppenheimer Bond Fund/VA Seeks high level of current OppenheimerFunds, income and capital, and growth Inc. when consistent with its primary objective. Under normal conditions this fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in investment grade debt securities. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oppenheimer Capital Seeks capital appreciation OppenheimerFunds, Appreciation Fund/VA from investments in securities Inc. of well-known and established companies. Such securities generally have a history of earnings and dividends and are issued by seasoned companies (having an operating history of at least five years, including predecessors). Current income is a secondary consideration in the selection of the Capital Appreciation Fund's portfolio securities. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oppenheimer High Income Seeks high current income from OppenheimerFunds, Fund/VA investments in high yield Inc. fixed income securities, including unrated securities or high-risk securities in lower rating categories. These securities may be considered speculative. This Fund may have substantial holdings of lower-rated debt securities or "junk" bonds. The risks of investing in junk bonds are described in the prospectus for the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds, which should be read carefully before investing. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22 Adviser (and Sub- Adviser, as Investment Subdivision Investment Objective applicable) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Multiple Seeks total investment return OppenheimerFunds, Strategies Fund/VA (which includes current income Inc. and capital appreciation in the values of its shares) from investments in common stocks and other equity securities, bonds and other debt securities, and "money market" securities. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SALOMON BROTHERS VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS INC Salomon Investors Fund Seeks long-term growth of Salomon Brothers capital with current income as Asset Management a secondary objective, Inc primarily through investments in common stocks of well-known companies. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Salomon Strategic Bond Seeks high level of current Salomon Brothers Fund income with capital Asset Management appreciation as a secondary Inc objective, through a globally diverse portfolio of fixed- income investments, including lower-rated fixed income securities commonly known as junk bonds. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Salomon Total Return Fund Seeks to obtain above-average Salomon Brothers income by primarily investing Asset Management in a broad variety of Inc. securities, including stocks, fixed-income securities and short-term obligations. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We will purchase shares of the portfolios at net asset value and direct them to the appropriate Investment Subdivisions of Separate Account III. We will redeem sufficient shares of the appropriate portfolios at net asset value to pay surrender/partial surrender proceeds or for other purposes described in the Policy. We automatically reinvest all dividends and capital gain distributions of the portfolios in shares of the distributing portfolios at their net asset value on the date of distribution. In other words, we do not pay portfolio dividends or portfolio distributions out to Owners as additional units, but instead reflect them in Unit Values. Shares of the portfolios of the Funds are not sold directly to the general public. They are sold to us, and they may also be sold to other insurance companies that issue variable annuity and variable life insurance policies. In addition, they may be sold to retirement plans. When a Fund sells shares in any of its portfolios both to variable annuity and to variable life insurance separate accounts, it engages in mixed funding. When a Fund sells shares in any of its portfolios to separate accounts of unaffiliated life insurance companies, it engages in shared funding. Each Fund may engage in mixed and shared funding. Therefore, due to differences in redemption rates or tax treatment, or other considerations, the interests of various shareholders participating in a Fund could conflict. A Fund's Board of Directors will 23 monitor for the existence of any material conflicts, and determine what action, if any, should be taken. See the Prospectuses for the Funds. We have entered into agreements with either the investment adviser or distributor of each of the Funds under which the adviser or distributor pays us a fee ordinarily based upon an annual average percentage of the average aggregate net amount we have invested on behalf of Separate Account III and other separate accounts. These percentages differ, and some investment advisers or distributors pay us a greater percentage than other advisors or distributors. These agreements reflect administrative services we provide. In addition, our affiliate, Capital Brokerage Corporation, the principal underwriter for the Policies will receive 12b-1 fees deducted from portfolio assets for providing distribution and shareholder support services to the portfolios. The amounts we receive under these agreements may be significant. We will also receive Service Share fees from certain of the portfolios. These fees are deducted from portfolio assets, and are for the administrative services we provide to those portfolios. In addition, our affiliate, Capital Brokerage Corporation, the principal underwriter for the Contracts, will receive 12b-1 fees, deducted from certain portfolio assets for providing distribution and shareholder support services to some of the portfolios. Because the Service Share fees and 12b-1 fees are paid out of a portfolio's assets on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase the cost of an investment in portfolio shares. YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE PORTFOLIO SHARES As required by law, we will vote the portfolio shares held in Separate Account III at meetings of the shareholders of the Funds. The voting will be done according to the instructions of Owners who have interests in any Investment Subdivisions, which invest in the portfolios of the Funds. If the 1940 Act or any regulation under it should be amended, and if as a result we determine that we are permitted to vote the portfolios' shares in our own right, we may elect to do so. We will determine the number of votes which you have the right to cast by applying your percentage interest in an Investment Subdivision to the total number of votes attributable to the Investment Subdivision. In determining the number of votes, we will recognize fractional shares. We will vote portfolio shares of a class held in an Investment Subdivision for which we received no timely instructions in proportion to the voting instructions which we received for all Policies participating in that Investment Subdivision. We will apply voting instructions to abstain on any item to be voted on a pro-rata basis to reduce the number of votes eligible to be cast. Whenever a Fund calls a shareholders meeting, each person having a voting interest in an Investment Subdivision will receive proxy material, reports and other materials relating to the portfolio. Since each portfolio may engage in shared funding, other persons or entities besides the Company may vote portfolio shares. 24 Charges and Deductions This section describes the charges and deductions we make under the Policy to compensate us for the services and benefits we provide, costs and expenses we incur, and risks we assume. The services and benefits we provide include: . the partial surrender, surrender, Policy loan and death benefits under the Policy; . investment options, including Net Premium allocations, dollar-cost averaging and portfolio rebalancing programs; . administration of various elective options under the Policy; and . the distribution of various reports to Owners. The costs and expenses we incur include: . those associated with underwriting applications, increases in Specified Amount, and riders; . various overhead and other expenses associated with providing the services and benefits provided by the Policy; . sales and marketing expenses; and . other costs of doing business, such as Federal, state and local premium and other taxes and fees. The risks we assume include: . that the Insureds may live for a shorter period of time than estimated, resulting in the payment of greater death benefits than expected; and . that the costs of providing the services and benefits under the Policies will exceed the charges deducted. We may profit from any charges deducted, such as the mortality and expense risk charge. We may use any such profits for any purpose, including payment of distribution expenses. PREMIUM CHARGE If the initial Specified Amount is $500,000 or more, we currently deduct a 3 1/2% charge (5% maximum) from each premium before placing the resulting Net Premium in the Investment Subdivisions. If the initial Specified Amount is at least $250,000 but less than $500,000, we currently deduct a 6 1/2% premium charge (8% maximum). We currently do not deduct the maximum premium charge but reserve the right to do so. We will not assess the premium charge against the policy loan portion of a premium received from the rollover of a life insurance policy. MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE We currently deduct a daily charge from assets in the Investment Subdivisions attributable to the Policies at an effective annual rate of 0.70% of net assets. We will not increase this charge for the duration of your Policy. This charge is factored into the net investment factor. 25 The mortality risk we assume is the risk that the Insureds may live for a shorter period of time than estimated and, therefore, a greater amount of Death Benefit proceeds than expected will be payable. The expense risk we assume is that expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Policies will be greater than estimated and, therefore, will exceed the expense charge limits set by the Policy. MONTHLY DEDUCTION We make a monthly deduction on the Policy Date and each Monthly Anniversary Day from Account Value. The monthly deduction for each Policy consists of: . the cost of insurance charge (discussed below); . a policy charge of $5; . an initial expense charge deducted for the first 10 Policy Years based on the Insureds issue Ages according to the chart below: Charge (per $1,000 Issue Age of Specified Amount) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 20 to 44 $.08 45 to 59 $.13 60 to 85 $.20 For joint Insureds, we will: (i) calculate the charge for each insured, (2) take an average of the two expense charges, and (3) deduct the average charge. . an additional expense charge deducted for 10 years following an increase in the Specified Amount based on the Insured's Issue Age according to the chart below: Charge (per $1,000 Issue Age of Specified Amount) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 20 to 44 $.08 45 to 59 $.13 60 to 85 $.20 For joint Insureds, we will: (i) calculate the charge for each insured, (2) take an average of the two expense charges, and (3) deduct the average charge. The additional expense charge will become effective on the Monthly Anniversary Date following the increase in Specified Amount. . and any charges for additional benefits added by riders to the Policy (see Supplemental Benefits). We will allocate the monthly deduction for a Policy Month among the Investment Subdivisions of Separate Account III in the same proportion that your Policy's Account Value in each Subdivision bears to the total Account Value in all Investment Subdivisions at the beginning of the Policy Month. 26 COST OF INSURANCE The cost of insurance is a significant charge under your Policy because it is the primary charge for the Death Benefit we provide you. We determine the cost of insurance in a manner that reflects the anticipated mortality of both Insureds and the fact that the Death Benefit is not payable until the death of the Last Insured. Because the cost of insurance depends on a number of factors (Age, gender, Policy duration, and rating class), the cost will vary from Policy to Policy and from Monthly Anniversary Day to Monthly Anniversary Day. The cost of insurance rates generally increase as the Insureds' Attained Age increases. We calculate the cost of insurance on each Monthly Anniversary Day based on the net amount risk. We determine the net amount at risk by the following formula: Death Benefit -------- - Account Value 1.0032737 To determine the cost of insurance for a particular Policy Month, we divide the net amount at risk by 1000 and multiply that result by the applicable cost of insurance rate. If Option B is in effect, and the Specified Amount has increased, we first consider the Account Value part of the initial Specified Amount. If the Account Value is more than the initial Specified Amount, we will consider it part of the increased Specified Amounts resulting from increases in the order of the increases. Account Value, as used in this paragraph, means the Account Value at the beginning of the month before the Monthly Anniversary Day. The cost of insurance rates for the Policy are based on each Insured's issue Age, gender, Policy duration, and applicable rating class. We currently place Insureds in the following rating classes when we issue the Policy, based on our underwriting: a male or female; and a nicotine use or no nicotine use rating class. In addition, some Insureds may qualify for a preferred rating. The original rating classes apply to the initial Specified Amount. If you apply for an increase in Specified Amount, you will have to submit evidence satisfactory to us that each Insured is insurable at the same rating class used at the time we issued the Policy. The death of the first Insured to die will not affect the cost of insurance scale for the second Insured. We may change the cost of insurance rates from time to time at our sole discretion, but we guarantee that the rates we charge will never exceed the maximum rates shown in your Policy. These rates are based on the Commissioners' 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Tables. Modifications to cost of insurance rates are made for rating classes other than standard. The rates we currently charge are, at most ages, lower than the maximum permitted under the Policies and depend on our expectation of future experience with respect to mortality, interest, expenses, persistency, and taxes. A change in rates will apply to all persons of the same age, gender, and rating class and whose Policies have been in effect for the same length of time. We will 27 review our rates no more frequently than once per year or less frequently than every five years. SURRENDER CHARGE If you fully surrender your Policy during the surrender charge period, we will deduct a surrender charge. We calculate the schedule of surrender charges that applies to a Policy by multiplying surrender charge factors times the Specified Amount, divided by $1,000. We determine the factors per $1,000 of Specified Amount and vary them by issue Age, gender, and rating class of each Insured and by the number of months since the Policy Date. The surrender charge remains level for the first Policy year and then decreases uniformly each Policy month to zero in the last month of Policy Year 11. We will deduct the surrender charge before we pay the Surrender Value. The surrender charge will not exceed $50 per $1,000 of Specified Amount. The chart below illustrates the surrender charge factor for the first Policy Year per $1,000 of Specified Amount for Policies which are issued on a male no nicotine use and female no nicotine use standard rating class basis. These calculations assume both Insureds are the same issue Age. Factor per $1,000 Issue Age of Specified Amount ---------------------------------------------------------------- 25/25 $12 35/35 $14 45/45 $18 55/55 $24 65/65 $35 75/75 $41 85/85 $34 If you increase the Specified Amount (other than as a result of a change from Death Benefit Option A to Death Benefit Option B), you will be subject to an additional surrender charge for another 11 Policy years following the increase. We will base the amount of the additional surrender charge on the initial scale of per $1,000 surrender charge factors calculated at the time of issue. If you decrease the Specified Amount during the period that surrender charges apply (other than as a result of partial surrenders or a change from Death Benefit Option B to Death Benefit Option A), you will be assessed a portion of the surrender charges to which the Policy is subject. We will deduct the amount of the surrender charge from your Account Value, and will allocate the charge among each Investment Subdivision in the same proportion that the Policy's Account Value in each Investment Subdivision bears to the Account Value in all Investment Subdivisions. We will base the amount of surrender charge: (1) first on any surrender charge in effect on the most recent increase and the amount of reduction to this increase caused by the decrease; 28 (2) then on any surrender charge in effect on the next most recent increases successively and the amount of any reduction to each of these increases caused by the decrease; and (3) finally on the surrender charge in effect on coverage provided under the original application and any reduction to this amount caused by the decrease. Whenever we deduct a portion of the surrender charges because you decreased the Specified Amount, we reduce the Policy's remaining surrender charges to reflect the assessments made. The total surrender charge for any given Policy Month is the sum of: . the surrender charge that applies to the initial Specified Amount, adjusted for any decrease in Specified Amount; plus . the surrender charges that apply to any increases in Specified Amount, adjusted for any decrease in Specified Amount. We disclose the surrender charges on the data pages to your Policy. We do not assess a surrender charge for partial surrenders, but do assess a processing fee. PARTIAL SURRENDER PROCESSING FEE We deduct a partial surrender processing fee on partial surrenders you make. The fee equals the lesser of $25 or 2% of the amount surrendered. TRANSFER CHARGE We assess a $10 transfer charge for each transfer after the first transfer you make in any calendar month. This charge is at cost with no profit to us. We take this charge from the amount you transfer. For purposes of assessing this charge, we consider each transfer request one transfer, regardless of the number of Investment Subdivisions affected by the transfer. Multiple transfers within the same Valuation Period are also considered one transfer for this purpose. OTHER CHARGES If you request a projection of illustrative future life insurance under the Policy and Policy values, we reserve the right to charge a maximum fee of $25 for the cost of preparing the projection. There are deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of each portfolio that are more fully described in each Fund's prospectus. REDUCTION OF CHARGES FOR GROUP SALES We may reduce charges and/or deductions for sales of the Policies to a trustee, employer or similar entity representing a group or to members of the group where such sales result in savings of sales or administrative expenses. We will base these discounts on the following: 1. The size of the group. Generally, the sales expenses for each individual owner for a larger group are less than for a smaller group because more Policies can be implemented with fewer sales contacts and less administrative cost. 29 2. The total amount of premium payments to be received from a group. Per Policy sales and other expenses are generally proportionately less on larger premium payments than on smaller ones. 3. The purpose for which the Policies are purchased. Certain types of plans are more likely to be stable than others. Such stability reduces the number of sales contacts and administrative and other services required, reduces sales administration and results in fewer Policy terminations. As a result, our sales and other expenses are reduced. 4. The nature of the group for which the Policies are purchased. Certain types of employee and professional groups are more likely to continue Policy participation for longer periods than are other groups with more mobile membership. If fewer Policies are terminated in a given group, our sales and other expenses are reduced. 5. Other circumstances. There may be other circumstances of which we are not presently aware, which could result in reduced sales expenses. If, after we consider the factors listed above, we determine that a group purchase would result in reduced sales expenses, we may reduce the charges and/or deductions for each group. Reductions in these charges and/or deductions will not be unfairly discriminatory against any person, including the affected Owners and all other owners of policies funded by Separate Account III. We may also reduce charges and/or deductions for sales of the Policies to registered representatives who sell the Policies to the extent we realize savings of sales and administrative expenses. Any such reduction in charges and/or deductions will be consistent with the standards we use in determining the reduction in charges and/or deductions for other group arrangements. 30 The Policy APPLYING FOR A POLICY To purchase a Policy, you and your registered representative must complete an application and submit it to us at our Variable Life Servicing Center. You also must pay an initial premium of a sufficient amount. See Premiums, below. You can submit your initial premium with your application or at a later date. (If you submit your initial premium with your application, please remember that we will place your premium in a non-interest bearing account for a certain amount of time. See Allocating Premiums.) Coverage generally becomes effective as of the Policy Date. Generally, we will issue a Policy covering Insureds from Age 20 up to Age 85 if evidence of insurability satisfies our underwriting rules. Required evidence of insurability may include, among other things, medical examinations of the Insureds. We may reject an application for any lawful reason. If you do not pay the full first premium with your application, the insurance will become effective on the effective date. This date is the date that you pay your premium and that we deliver your Policy. All persons proposed for insurance must be insurable on the Policy Date. If you pay the full first premium with your application, we may give you a conditional receipt. This means that, subject to our underwriting requirements and subject to a maximum limitation, your insurance will become effective on the effective date we specified in the conditional receipt, provided the Insureds are found to be, on the effective date, insurable at standard premium rates for the plan and amount of insurance requested in the application. This effective date will be the latest of (i) the date of completion of the application, (ii) the date of completion of all medical exams and tests we require, and (iii) the policy date you requested when that date is later than the date you completed your application. OWNER You have rights in the Policy during the Insureds' lifetimes. If you die before the Insureds and there is no contingent Owner, ownership will pass to your estate. We will treat Joint Owners as having equal undivided interests in the Policy. All Owners must together exercise any ownership rights in the Policy. BENEFICIARY You designate the primary Beneficiaries and contingent Beneficiaries when you apply for the Policy. You may name one or more primary Beneficiaries or contingent Beneficiaries. We will pay the proceeds in equal shares to the survivors in the appropriate Beneficiary class, unless you request otherwise. Unless an optional payment plan is chosen, we will pay the Death Proceeds in a lump sum to the primary Beneficiary(ies). If the primary Beneficiary(ies) dies before the Insureds, we will pay the proceeds to the contingent Beneficiary(ies). If there is no surviving Beneficiary(ies) we will pay the proceeds to you or your estate. 31 CHANGING THE OWNER OR BENEFICIARY During either Insured's life, you may change the Owner. If you reserved the right, you also may change the Beneficiary during either Insured's life. An irrevocable Beneficiary may only be changed with the consent of that irrevocable Beneficiary. To change the Owner or Beneficiary, please write our Variable Life Servicing Center. The request and the change must be in a form satisfactory to us and we must actually receive the request. The change will take effect as of the date you signed the request. CANCELING A POLICY You may cancel a Policy during the "free-look period" by returning it to us at our Variable Life Servicing Center or to the agent who sold it. The free-look period expires 10 days after you receive the Policy. The free-look period is longer if required by state law. If you decide to cancel the Policy during the free-look period, we will treat the Policy as if it had never been issued. Within seven calendar days after we receive the returned Policy, we will refund you the greater of: . the total amount of monthly deductions made against Account Value and any charges deducted from premiums paid (excluding portfolio fees and charges) plus the Net Premiums allocated to Separate Account III adjusted by investment gains or losses; or . the total of all premiums paid. 32 Premiums GENERAL The premium amounts sufficient to fund a Policy depend on a number of factors, such as the Age, gender, and rating class of the proposed Insureds, the desired Specified Amount, any supplemental benefits, and investment performance of the Investment Subdivisions. We will usually credit your initial premium payment to the Policy on the later of the date we approve your application and the date we receive your payment. We will credit any subsequent premium payment to the Policy on the Valuation Day we receive it at our Variable Life Servicing Center. After you pay the initial premium, you may make unscheduled premium payments in any amount and at any time subject to certain restrictions. The total premiums you pay may not exceed guideline premium limitations for life insurance set forth in the Code and shown in your Policy. We may reject any premium, or any portion of a premium, that would result in the Policy being disqualified as life insurance under the Code. We will refund any rejected premium along with any interest it accrued. For your convenience, we will monitor Policies and will attempt to notify you on a timely basis if your Policy is in jeopardy of becoming a Modified Endowment Contract ("MEC") under the Code. See Tax Considerations. We reserve the right to limit the number and amount of any unscheduled premium payment. TAX FREE EXCHANGES (1035 EXCHANGES) We will accept as part of your initial premium money from one contract that qualified for a tax free exchange under Section 1035 of the Code. If you contemplate such an exchange, you should consult a competent tax advisor to learn the potential tax effects of such a transaction. Replacing your existing coverage with this Policy may not be to your advantage. We will accept 1035 exchanges even if there is an outstanding loan on the other policy, so long as the outstanding loan is no more than 40% of the rollover premium. We may allow a higher percentage. PERIODIC PREMIUM PLAN When you apply for a Policy, you may select a periodic premium payment plan. Under this plan, you may choose to receive a premium notice either annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. You can also arrange for annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly premium payments paid via automatic deduction from your bank account or any other similar account we accept. You are not required to pay premiums in accordance with this premium plan; you can pay more or less than planned or skip a planned premium payment entirely. You can change the amount of planned premiums and payment arrangements, or switch between frequencies, whenever you want by providing satisfactory instructions to our Variable Life Servicing Center. This change will be effective upon our receipt of the instructions. Depending on the Account Value at the time of an increase in the Specified Amount and the amount of the increase requested, a change in your periodic premium payments may be advisable. See Changing the Specified Amount. 33 MINIMUM PREMIUM PAYMENT Generally the minimum premium payment we will accept is $25 (please keep in mind that you may have to pay a higher amount to keep the Policy in force). Even if you pay the minimum premium amount, your Policy may lapse. See Premium to Prevent Termination. For purposes of the minimum premium payment requirements, we deem any payment to be a planned periodic premium if we receive it within 30 days (before or after) of the scheduled date for a planned periodic premium payment and the percentage difference between the planned amount and the actual payment amount is not more than 10%. We will deem all other premium payments to be unscheduled premium payments. Unless you direct us otherwise, we apply unscheduled premium payments first to repay any Policy Debt. ALLOCATING PREMIUMS When you apply for a Policy, you specify the percentage of your Net Premium we allocate to each Investment Subdivision. You may only direct your Net Premiums and Account Value to seven Investment Subdivisions at any given time. You can change the allocation percentages at any time by writing or calling our Variable Life Servicing Center. The change will apply to all premiums we receive with or after we receive your instructions. Net Premium allocations must be in percentages totaling 100%, and each allocation percentage must be a whole number. Until we approve your application, receive all necessary forms including any subsequent amendments to the application, and receive the entire initial premium, we will place any premiums you pay into a non-interest bearing account. After we issue your Policy, we will allocate your Net Premium directly to the Investment Subdivisions you chose. 34 How Your Account Value Varies ACCOUNT VALUE The Account Value is the entire amount we hold under your Policy for you. The Account Value serves as a starting point for calculating certain values under a Policy. It is the sum of the total amount under the Policy in each Investment Subdivision and the amount held in the General Account to secure Policy Debt. See Loan Benefits. We determine Account Value first on your Policy Date (or on the date we receive your initial premium, if later) and after that on each Valuation Day. Your Account Value will vary to reflect the performance of the Investment Subdivisions to which you have allocated amounts and also will vary to reflect Policy Debt, charges for the monthly deduction, mortality and expense risk charges, transfers, partial surrenders, Policy loan interest, and Policy loan repayments. Your Account Value may be more or less than the premiums you paid. SURRENDER VALUE The Surrender Value on a Valuation Day is the Account Value reduced by both any surrender charge that we would deduct if you surrendered the Policy that day and any Policy Debt. INVESTMENT SUBDIVISION VALUES On any Valuation Day, the value of an Investment Subdivision equals the number of Investment Subdivision units we credit to the Policy multiplied by the Unit Value for that day. When you make allocations to an Investment Subdivision, either by Net Premium allocation, transfer of Account Value, transfer of loan interest from the General Account, or repayment of a Policy loan, we credit your Policy with units in that Investment Subdivision. We determine the number of units by dividing the amount allocated, transferred or repaid to the Investment Subdivision by the Investment Subdivision's Unit Value for the Valuation Day when we effect the allocation, transfer or repayment. The number of units we credit to a Policy will decrease whenever we take the allocated portion of the monthly deduction, you take a Policy loan or a partial surrender from the Investment Subdivision, you transfer an amount from the Investment Subdivision, you take a partial surrender from the Investment Subdivision, or you surrender the Policy. UNIT VALUES We arbitrarily set the Unit Value for each Investment Subdivision at $10 when we established the Investment Subdivision. After that, an Investment Subdivision's Unit Value varies to reflect the investment experience of the underlying portfolio, and may increase or decrease from one Valuation Day to the next. We determine Unit Value, after an Investment Subdivision's operations begin, by multiplying the net investment factor for that Valuation Period by the Unit Value for the immediately preceding period. NET INVESTMENT FACTOR The net investment factor for a Valuation Period is (a) divided by (b), minus (c), where: (a) is the result of: 1. the value of the assets at the end of the preceding Valuation Period; plus 35 2. the investment income and capital gains, realized or unrealized, credited to those assets at the end of the Valuation Period for which the net investment factor is being determined; minus 3. the capital losses, realized or unrealized, charged against those assets during the Valuation Period; minus 4. any amount charged against Separate Account III for taxes, or any amount we set aside during the Valuation Period as a provision for taxes attributable to the operation or maintenance of Separate Account III; and (b) is the value of the assets in the Investment Subdivision at the end of the preceding Valuation Period; and (c) is a charge no greater than .0019246% for each day in the Valuation Period. This corresponds to .70% per year. 36 Transfers GENERAL You may transfer all or a portion of your Account Value between and among the Investment Subdivisions subject to certain conditions. Transfer requests may be made in writing or in any other form acceptable to us. A transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period during which we receive your request at our Variable Life Servicing Center. We may defer transfers under the same conditions that we may delay paying proceeds. See Requesting Payments. Currently, there is no limit on the number of transfers among the Investment Subdivisions, but we reserve the right to limit the number of transfers to twelve each calendar year. We reserve the right to modify, restrict, suspend or eliminate the transfer privileges, including telephone transfer privileges, at any time, for any reason. There is a charge after the first transfer made in a calendar month. See Transfer Charge. Sometimes, we may not honor your transfer request. We may not honor your transfer request: (i) if any Investment Subdivision that would be affected by the transfer is unable to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund in which the Investment Subdivision invests; (ii) if the transfer is a result of more than one trade involving the same Investment Subdivision within a 30 day period; (iii) if the transfer would adversely affect unit values; or (iv) if the transfer would adversely affect any portfolio affected by the transfer. We also may not honor transfers made by third parties. (See Transfers by Third Parties.) When thinking about a transfer of Account Value, you should consider the inherent risk involved. Frequent transfers based on short-term expectations may increase the risk that you will make a transfer at an inopportune time. DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING The dollar-cost averaging program permits you to systematically transfer on a monthly or quarterly basis a set dollar amount from the Investment Subdivision investing in the Money Market portfolio of the GE Investments Funds (the "Money Market Investment Subdivision") to any combination of other Investment Subdivisions (as long as the total number of Investment Subdivisions used does not exceed the maximum number allowed under the Policy). The dollar-cost averaging method of investment is designed to reduce the risk of making purchases only when the price of units is high, but you should carefully consider your financial ability to continue the program over a long enough period of time to purchase units when their value is low as well as when it is high. Dollar-cost averaging does not assure a profit or protect against a loss. 37 You may participate in the dollar-cost averaging program by completing a dollar-cost averaging agreement or calling our Variable Life Servicing Center. To use the dollar-cost averaging program, you must transfer at least $100 from the Money Market Investment Subdivision to any other Investment Subdivision. If any transfer would leave less than $100 in the Money Market Investment Subdivision, we will transfer the entire amount. Once elected, dollar-cost averaging remains in effect from the date we receive your request until the value of the Investment Subdivision from which transfers are being made is depleted, or until you cancel the program by written request or by telephone if we have your telephone authorization on file. If you elect the program at time of application, the dollar-cost averaging program will begin on the 5th day of the month immediately following the allocation of your Net Premium to the Investment Subdivisions (see "Allocating Premiums" for a description of when this occurs). There is no additional charge for dollar-cost averaging, and we do not consider a transfer under this program a transfer for purposes of assessing a transfer charge, nor for calculating any limit on the maximum number of transfers we may impose for a calendar year. We reserve the right to discontinue or modify the dollar-cost averaging program at any time and for any reason. PORTFOLIO REBALANCING Once you allocate your money among the Investment Subdivisions, the performance of each Investment Subdivision may cause your allocation to shift. You may instruct us to automatically rebalance (on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis) your Account Value to return to the percentages specified in your allocation instructions. You may elect to participate in the portfolio rebalancing program at any time by completing the portfolio rebalancing agreement. Your percentage allocations must be in whole percentages. Subsequent changes to your percentage allocations may be made at any time by writing or calling our Variable Life Servicing Center. Once elected, portfolio rebalancing remains in effect from the date we receive your request until you instruct us to discontinue portfolio rebalancing. There is no additional charge for using portfolio rebalancing, and we do not consider a portfolio rebalancing transfer a transfer for purposes of assessing a transfer charge, nor for calculating any limit on the maximum number of transfers we may impose for a calendar year. We reserve the right to discontinue or modify the portfolio rebalancing program at any time and for any reason. Portfolio rebalancing does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. TRANSFERS BY THIRD PARTIES As a general rule and as a convenience to you, we allow you to give a third party the right to effect transfers on your behalf. However, when the same third party makes transfers for many Owners, the result can be simultaneous transfers involving large amounts of Account Value. Such transfers can disrupt the orderly management of the portfolios underlying the Policy, can result in higher costs to Owners, and are generally not compatible with the long-range goals of Owners. We believe that such 38 simultaneous transfers effected by such third parties are not in the best interests of all shareholders of the portfolios underlying the Policies, and the managements of those portfolios share this position. Therefore, to the extent necessary to reduce the adverse effects of simultaneous transfers made by third parties who make transfers on behalf of multiple Owners, we may not honor such transfers. Also, we will institute procedures to assure that the transfer requests that we receive have, in fact, been made by the Owners in whose names they are submitted. These procedures will not, however, prevent Owners from making their own transfer requests. 39 Death Benefits As long as the Policy remains in force, we will process a claim for Death Proceeds upon receipt at our Variable Life Servicing Center of: (i) the Policy; (ii) satisfactory proof that both Insureds died while the Policy was in effect; and (iii) proof of interest of the claimant. See Requesting Payments. We will pay the Death Proceeds to the Beneficiary. No Death Proceeds are available at the death of the first Insured to die. AMOUNT OF DEATH PROCEEDS The amount of Death Proceeds will depend on: . the Death Benefit determined under the Death Benefit Option in effect on the date of death of the Last Insured; . the use of the Account Value; . any partial surrenders; . any Policy Debt; . any additional insurance provided by rider; . any increase or decrease in existing coverage; . either Insured's suicide during the first two Policy Years or during the first two Policy Years following an increase in existing coverage; and . a misstatement of either Insured's Age or gender. DEATH BENEFIT OPTIONS There are two Death Benefit Options available under the Policy. Under Option A, the Death Benefit equals the greater of: . the Specified Amount plus the Account Value; or . the applicable corridor percentage of the Account Value as determined using the table of percentages shown below. Under Option B, the Death Benefit equals the greater of: . the Specified Amount; or . the applicable corridor percentage of the Account Value as determined using the table percentages shown below. Under both options, we determine the Specified Amount and Account Value on the date of death of the Last Insured. The corridor percentage is 250% until the younger Insured attains Age 40 and declines after that as the younger Insured's Attained Age increases. If the younger Insured was the first to die, the corridor percentage will depend on the Attained Age that he or she would have been if still living. If the table of percentages currently in effect becomes inconsistent with any federal income tax laws and/or regulations, we reserve the right to change the table. 40 Table of Percentages of Account Value Younger Younger Younger Insured's Corridor Insured's Corridor Insured's Corridor Attained Age Percentage Attained Age Percentage Attained Age Percentage - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0-40 250% 54 157% 68 117% 41 243% 55 150% 69 116% 42 236% 56 146% 70 115% 43 229% 57 142% 71 113% 44 222% 58 138% 72 111% 45 215% 59 134% 73 109% 46 209% 60 130% 74 107% 47 203% 61 128% 75-90 105% 48 197% 62 126% 91 104% 49 191% 63 124% 92 103% 50 185% 64 122% 93 102% 51 178% 65 120% 94+ 101% 52 171% 66 119% 53 164% 67 118% Under Option A, the Death Benefit will vary directly with the investment performance of the Account Value. Under Option B, the Death Benefit ordinarily will not change until the applicable percentage amount of the Account Value exceeds the Specified Amount or you change the Specified Amount. CHANGING THE DEATH BENEFIT OPTION You select the Death Benefit Option when you apply for the Policy. However, you may change the Option on your Policy at any time by writing to our Variable Life Servicing Center. The effective date of the change will be the Monthly Anniversary Day after we receive the request for the change. We will send you revised Policy data pages reflecting the new Option and the effective date of the change. If you request a change from Option A to Option B, we will increase the Specified Amount by the Account Value on the effective date of the increase. If you request a change from Option B to Option A, we will decrease the Specified Amount after the change by the Account Value on the effective date of the change. A change in the Death Benefit Option will affect the cost of insurance charges. CHANGING THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT After a Policy has been in effect for one year, you may increase or decrease the Specified Amount. However, we permit changes in the Specific Amount that are a result of a Death Benefit Option Change from any time. To make a change, you must send a written request and the Policy to our Variable Life Servicing Center. Any change in the Specified Amount may affect the cost of insurance rate and the net amount at risk, both of which may change your cost of insurance. See Monthly Deduction and Cost of Insurance. Depending on the Account Value at the time of an increase in the Specified Amount and the amount of the increase requested, it may be advisable to change your periodic payments upon an increase in the Specified Amount. 41 Any change in the Specified Amount will affect the maximum premium limitation. If a decrease in the Specified Amount causes the premiums to exceed new lower limitations required by federal tax law, we will withdraw the excess from Account Value and refund it to you so that the Policy will continue to meet these requirements. We will withdraw the Account Value that we refund from each Investment Subdivision in the same proportion that the Account Value in that Investment Subdivision bears to the total Account Value in all Investment Subdivisions under the Policy at the time of the withdrawal (i.e., on a pro- rata basis). Any decrease in the Specified Amount will become effective on the Monthly Anniversary Day after the date we receive the request. The decrease will first apply to coverage provided by the most recent increase, then to the next most recent increases successively, then to the coverage under the original application. During the Continuation Period, we will not allow a decrease unless the Account Value less any Policy Debt is greater than the surrender charge. The Specified Amount following a decrease can never be less than the minimum Specified Amount for the Policy when we issued it. A decrease may cause us to assess a surrender charge. While both Insureds are living, you may apply for an increase in Specified Amount by completing a supplemental application. You will have to submit evidence satisfactory to us that each Insured is insurable at the same or better rating class used when the Policy was issued. An increase in Specified Amount (other than as a result of a change from Death Benefit Option A to Death Benefit Option B) will subject you to additional surrender charges. See Surrender Charge. Any approved increase will become effective on the date shown in the supplemental Policy data page. Please note that an increase will not become effective if the Policy's Surrender Value is too low to cover the monthly deduction for the Policy Month following the increase. If there is an increase in the Specified Amount, you will incur a monthly expense charge of up to $.20 per $1,000 of increase depending on your age at issue. We currently vary this charge based on the issue Age of each Insured, and we currently deduct this charge only during the first ten Policy Years following the increase. This charge will be included in the monthly deduction. See Monthly Deduction and Surrender Charge. An increase in the Specified Amount will increase the Continuation Amounts. A change in your Specified Amount may have federal tax consequences. See Tax Considerations. 42 Surrenders and Partial Surrenders SURRENDERS You may cancel and surrender your Policy at any time before the death of the Last Insured and before the Maturity Date. The Policy will terminate on the Valuation Day we receive your request at our Variable Life Servicing Center, and you will not be able to reinstate it. We will pay you the Surrender Value in a lump sum unless you make other arrangements. You will incur a surrender charge if you surrender your Policy during the first 11 Policy Years, or during 11 Policy Years after an increase Specified Amount (except an increase in Specified Amount due to a change in the Death Benefit) but in any event, not beyond the younger Insured's attained age 99 if earlier. A surrender may have adverse tax consequences. See Tax Considerations. PARTIAL SURRENDERS You may make partial surrenders under your Policy at any time before the death of the Last Insured and before the Maturity Date if you elected Option A. If you elected Option B, you only may make partial surrenders after the first Policy Year and before the earlier of (i) the death of the Last Insured and (ii) the Maturity Date. The minimum partial surrender amount is $500. The maximum partial surrender amount is the lesser of: . the Surrender Value less $500; and . the available loan amount (which is equal to 90% of the difference between Account Value and any surrender charges, minus any Policy Debt). We will assess a processing fee for each partial surrender. See Partial Surrender Processing Fee. The amount of the partial surrender will equal the amount you requested to surrender plus the processing fee. When you request a partial surrender, you can direct how we deduct the surrender from your Account Value. If you provide no directions, we will deduct the partial surrender proportionately from the Investment Subdivisions in which you are invested. EFFECT OF PARTIAL SURRENDERS ON ACCOUNT VALUE AND DEATH PROCEEDS A partial surrender will reduce both the Account Value and the Death Proceeds by the amount of the partial surrender. Under Death Benefit Option B, the Specified Amount will also decrease by the amount of the partial surrender. 43 LOANS GENERAL You may borrow up to the following amount: . 90% of the difference between your Account Value at the end of the Valuation Period during which we received your loan request and any surrender charges on the date of the loan; . less any outstanding Policy Debt. You may request Policy loans by writing our Variable Life Servicing Center. When we make a loan, we transfer an amount equal to the loan proceeds from your Account Value in Separate Account III to our General Account and hold it as "collateral" for the loan. If you do not direct an allocation for this transfer, we will make it on a pro-rata basis from each Investment Subdivision in which you have invested. We will credit interest at an annual rate of at least 4% to the collateral. You may repay a loan in part or in full at any time during either Insured's life while your Policy is in effect. When you repay a loan, we transfer an amount equal to the repayment from our General Account to Separate Account III and allocate it as you directed when you repaid the loan. If you provide no directions, we will allocate the amount according to your standing instructions for Net Premium allocations. PREFERRED POLICY DEBT We will designate a portion of Policy loans taken or existing on or after the Preferred Loan Availability Date (as shown on the Policy data pages) as Preferred Policy Debt. In Policy Years 11 and later, Preferred Policy Debt will be at least as large as: . the Account Value less any surrender charge that applies; . minus the total premiums paid. We redetermine the amount of Preferred Policy Debt each Policy Month. We reserve the right to change this practice in our sole discretion. We currently credit interest at an annual rate of 4% to that portion of Account Value transferred to the General Account which equals Preferred Policy Debt. INTEREST RATE CHARGED We will charge interest daily on any outstanding non-preferred Policy loan at an effective annual rate of 6%, and for an outstanding preferred Policy loan, we charge interest daily at an effective annual rate of 4%. Interest is due and payable at the end of each Policy Year while a Policy loan is outstanding. If, on any Policy Anniversary, you have not paid interest accrued since the last Policy Anniversary, we add the amount of the interest to the loan and this becomes part of your outstanding Policy Debt. We transfer the interest due from each Investment Subdivision on a pro-rata basis. REPAYMENT OF POLICY DEBT You may repay all or part of your Policy Debt at any time while either Insured is living and the Policy is in force. We will treat any payments by you other than planned periodic premiums first as the repayment of any outstanding Policy Debt. We will treat 44 the portion of the payment in excess of any outstanding Policy Debt as an unscheduled premium payment. We will first apply any repayment to reduce the portion of Policy Debt that is not Preferred Policy Debt. You must send loan repayments to our Variable Life Servicing Center. We will credit the repayments as of the date we receive them. We do not treat a Policy loan repayment as a premium payment, and a loan repayment is not subject to the premium charge. EFFECT OF POLICY LOANS A Policy loan affects the Policy, because we reduce the Death Proceeds and Surrender Value under the Policy by the amount of any outstanding loan plus interest you owe on the loan. Repaying the loan causes the Death Proceeds and Surrender Value to increase by the amount of the repayment. As long as a loan is outstanding, we hold an amount equal to the loan as collateral. This amount is not affected by Separate Account III's investment performance. Amounts transferred from Separate Account III as collateral will affect the Account Value because we credit such amounts with an interest rate we declare rather than a rate of return reflecting the investment performance of Separate Account III. There are risks involved in taking a Policy loan, a few of which include the potential for a Policy to lapse if projected earnings, taking into account outstanding loans, are not achieved. A Policy loan may also have possible adverse tax consequences that could occur if a Policy lapses with loans outstanding. See Tax Considerations. We will notify you if the sum of your loans plus any interest you owe on the loans is more than the Account Value less applicable surrender charges, or if during the Continuation Period, the sum of your loans plus any interest you owe on the loans is more than the Account Value less any applicable surrender charges, and the Net Total Premium is less than the Continuation Amount. If you do not submit a sufficient payment within 61 days from the date of the notice, your Policy may terminate. 45 Termination PREMIUM TO PREVENT TERMINATION Generally, if on a Monthly Anniversary Day, the Surrender Value of your Policy is too low to cover the monthly deduction, a Policy will be in default and a grace period will begin. In that case, we will mail you notice of the additional premium necessary to prevent your Policy from terminating. You will have a 61-day grace period from the date we mail the notice to make the required premium payment. However, your Policy will not lapse during the Continuation Period, even if your Surrender Value is too low to cover the monthly deduction, so long as the Net Total Premium is at least equal to the Continuation Amount. At the end of the Continuation Period, you may, however, have to make an additional premium payment to keep the Policy in force. In any event, your Policy will terminate on the Maturity Date. YOUR POLICY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT DURING THE GRACE PERIOD If the death of the Last Insured occurs during the grace period before you pay the required premium, the Death Proceeds will still be payable to the Beneficiary, although we will reduce the amount of the Death Proceeds by the amount of premium that would have been required to keep the Policy in force. If you have not paid the required premium before the grace period ends, your Policy will terminate. It will have no value and no benefits will be payable. However, you may reinstate your Policy under certain circumstances. REINSTATEMENT If you have not surrendered your Policy, you may reinstate your Policy within three years after termination, subject to compliance with certain conditions, including the payment of a necessary premium. You must also submit evidence of insurability satisfactory to us that each Insured is insurable at the same rating class used at Policy issue to determine the guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rate scale. See your Policy for further information. Any termination and subsequent reinstatement of the Policy will reduce the Continuation Amounts. 46 Payments and Telephone Transactions REQUESTING PAYMENTS You may send your written requests for payment to our Variable Life Servicing Center or give them to one of our authorized agents. We will ordinarily pay any Death Proceeds, loan proceeds or surrender or partial surrender proceeds in a lump sum within seven days after receipt at our Variable Life Servicing Center of the documents required for such a payment. Other than the Death Proceeds, which we determine as of the date of death of the Last Insured, the amount we pay is as of the end of the Valuation Period during which our Variable Life Servicing Center receives all required documents. We may pay your Death Proceeds in a lump sum or under an optional payment plan. See Optional Payment Plans. Any Death Proceeds that we pay in one lump sum will include interest from the date of death of the Last Insured to the date of payment. We will pay interest at a rate we set, or a rate set by law if greater. The minimum interest rate which we may pay is 3.0%. We will not pay interest beyond one year or any longer time set by law. We will reduce Death Proceeds by any outstanding Policy Debt and any due and unpaid charges and will increase Death Proceeds by any benefits added by rider. We may delay making a payment or processing a transfer request if: . the disposal or valuation of Separate Account III's assets is not reasonably practicable because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than a regular holiday or weekend, trading is restricted by the SEC, or the SEC declares that an emergency exists; or . the SEC by order permits postponement of payment to protect our Policy Owners. We also may defer making payments attributable to a check that has not cleared the bank on which it is drawn. TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS You may make certain requests under the Policy by telephone provided you sent written authorization to us at our Variable Life Servicing Center. These include requests for transfers, changes in premium allocation designations, dollar-cost averaging changes and changes in the portfolio rebalancing program. Our Variable Life Servicing Center will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include, among others, requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone, providing written confirmation of such transactions, and/or tape recording of telephone instructions. Your request for telephone transactions authorizes us to record telephone calls. If we do not follow reasonable procedures we may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. However, if we follow reasonable procedures, we will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. 47 Tax Considerations FEDERAL TAX MATTERS Introduction This part of the Prospectus discusses the Federal income tax treatment of the Policy. The Federal income tax treatment of the Policy is complex and sometimes uncertain. The Federal income tax rules may vary with your particular circumstances. This discussion is general and is not intended as tax advice. It does not address all of the Federal income tax rules that may affect you and your Policy. This discussion also does not address Federal estate or gift tax consequences, or state or local tax consequences, associated with a Policy. As a result, you should always consult a tax advisor about the application of tax rules to your individual situation. TAX STATUS OF THE POLICY Federal income tax law generally grants favorable treatment to life insurance: the proceeds paid on the death of the Last Insured are excluded from the gross income of the Beneficiary, and the Owner is not taxed on increases in the Account Value unless amounts are distributed while the Insureds are alive. For this treatment to apply to your Policy, the premiums paid for your Policy must not exceed a limit established by the tax law. An increase or decrease in the Policy's Specified Amount may change this premium limit. Also, due to the coverage of more than one Insured under the Policy, there is some uncertainty about how this limit should be calculated. As a result, we may need to return a portion of your premiums (with earnings) and impose higher cost of insurance charges in the future. We will monitor the premiums paid for your Policy to keep them within the tax law's limit. However, for your Policy to receive favorable tax treatment as life insurance, two other requirements must be met: . The investments of Separate Account III must be "adequately diversified" in accordance with Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regulations; and . your right to choose particular investments for a Policy must be limited. Investments in Separate Account III must be diversified: The IRS has issued regulations that prescribe standards for determining whether the investments of Separate Account III, including the assets of the Funds in which Separate Account III invests, are "adequately diversified." If Separate Account III fails to comply with these diversification standards, you could be required to pay tax currently on the excess of the Account Value over the premiums paid for the Policy. Although we do not control the investments of all of the Funds (the Company only indirectly controls those of GE Investments Funds, Inc., through an affiliated company), we expect that the Funds will comply with the IRS regulations so that Separate Account III will be considered "adequately diversified." Restrictions on the extent to which you can direct the investment of Account Values: Federal income tax law limits your right to choose particular investments for 48 the Policy. The U.S. Treasury Department stated in 1986 that it expected to issue guidance clarifying those limits, but it has not yet done so. Thus, the nature of the limits is currently uncertain. As a result, your right to allocate Account Values among the Funds may exceed those limits. If so, you would be treated as the owner of a portion of the assets of Separate Account III and thus subject to current taxation on the income and gains from those assets. The Company does not know what limits may be set forth in any guidance that the Treasury Department may issue, or whether any such limits will apply to existing Policies. The Company therefore reserves the right to modify the Policy without your consent to attempt to prevent the tax law from considering you to own a portion of the assets of Separate Account III. No guarantees regarding tax treatment: The Company makes no guarantees regarding the tax treatment of any Policy or of any transaction involving a Policy. However, the remainder of this discussion assumes that your Policy will be treated as a life insurance contract for Federal income tax purposes and that the tax law will not impose tax on any increase in your Account Value until there is a distribution from your Policy. TAX TREATMENT OF POLICIES--GENERAL Death Proceeds and Account Value Increases: A Policy's treatment as life insurance for Federal income tax purposes generally has the following results: . Death Proceeds are excludable from the gross income of the Beneficiary. . You are not taxed on increases in the Account Value unless amounts are distributed from the Policy while the Insureds are alive. . The taxation of amounts distributed while the Insureds are alive depends upon whether your Policy is a "modified endowment contract." The term "modified endowment contract," or "MEC," is defined below. Partial and full surrenders and maturity proceeds: A partial surrender occurs when you receive less than the total amount of the Policy's Surrender Value; receipt of the entire Surrender Value is a full surrender. If your Policy is not a MEC, you will generally pay tax on the amount of a partial or full surrender only to the extent it exceeds your "investment in the contract." In a few states, a maturity value will be paid. Maturity proceeds will be taxable to the extent the amount received plus Policy Debt exceeds the investment in the contract. You will be taxed on this amount at ordinary income tax rates, not at lower capital gains tax rates. Your "investment in the contract" generally equals the total of the premiums paid for your Policy plus the amount of any loan that was includible in your income, reduced by any amounts you previously received from the Policy that you did not include in your income. 49 Special rule for certain cash distributions in the first 15 policy years: During the first 15 years after your Policy is issued, if we distribute cash to you and reduce the Death Benefit (e.g., by decreasing the Policy's Specified Amount) at the same time, you may be required to pay tax on all or part of the cash payment, even if it is less than your investment in the contract. This also may occur if we distribute cash to you up to two years before the proceeds are reduced, or if the cash payment is made in anticipation of the reduction. However, you will not be required to pay tax on more than the amount by which your Account Value exceeds your investment in the contract. Considerations where Insureds live past age 100: If the Insureds survive beyond the end of the mortality table used to measure charges under the Policy, which ends at age 100, the IRS may seek to deny the tax-free treatment of the Death Proceeds and instead to tax you on the amount by which your Account Value exceeds your investment in the contract. Because in most states, the Policy continues to have insurance risk beyond age 100, for which we assess a cost of insurance charge, we believe that the proceeds will continue to be protected from taxation. Therefore, we have no current plans to withhold or report taxes in this situation. Loans: If your Policy is not a MEC, a loan received under a Policy (i.e., Policy Debt) normally will be treated as your indebtedness. Hence, so long as the Policy remains in force, you will generally not be taxed on any part of a Policy loan. However, it is possible that you could have additional income for tax purposes if any of your Policy loan consists of Preferred Policy Debt. If your Policy terminates (by a full surrender or by a lapse) while the Insureds are alive, you will be taxed on the amount (if any) by which the Policy Debt plus any amount received in cash exceeds your investment in the contract. Generally, interest paid on Policy Debt or other indebtedness related to the Policy will not be tax deductible, except in the case of certain indebtedness under a Policy covering a "key person." A tax advisor should be consulted before taking any Policy loan. Loss of interest deduction where policies are held by or for the benefit of corporations, trusts, etc.: If an entity (such as a corporation or a trust, not an individual) purchases a Policy or is the beneficiary of a Policy, a portion of the interest on indebtedness unrelated to the Policy may not be deductible by the entity. However, this rule does not apply to a Policy owned by an entity engaged in a trade or business which covers the life of only one individual who is: . a 20% owner of the entity, or . an officer, director, or employee of the trade or business, 50 at the time first covered by the Policy. This rule also does not apply to a Policy owned by an entity engaged in a trade or business which covers the joint lives of the 20% owner of the entity and the owner's spouse at the time first covered by the Policy. Entities that are considering purchasing the Policy, or that will be Beneficiaries under a Policy, should consult a tax advisor. Optional payment plans: If Death Proceeds under the Policy are paid under one of the optional payment plans, the Beneficiary will be taxed on a portion of each payment (at ordinary income tax rates). The Company will notify the Beneficiary annually of the taxable amount of each payment. However, if the Death Proceeds are held by the Company under Optional Payment Plan 4 (interest income), the Beneficiary will be taxed on the interest income as it is credited. Changes and Exchanges: The right to change Owners (see "Change of Owner") and changes reducing future amounts of Death Proceeds may have tax consequences depending upon the circumstances of each change. The exchange of one life insurance contract for another life insurance contract generally is not taxed (unless cash is distributed or a loan is reduced or forgiven). However, in the case of the Policy, the other life insurance contract involved in the exchange must also cover the same two Insureds. The exercise of a Policy Split Option Rider may result in the taxation of the Policy as if there were a full surrender. SPECIAL RULES FOR MODIFIED ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS (MECS) Definition of a "Modified Endowment Contract:" Special rules apply to a Policy classified as a MEC. A Policy will be classified as a MEC if either of the following is true: . If premiums are paid more rapidly than allowed by a "7-pay test" under the tax law. At your request, we will let you know the amount of premium that may be paid for your Policy in any year that will avoid MEC treatment under the 7-pay test. . If the Policy is received in exchange for another policy that is a MEC. Due to the coverage of more than one Insured under the Policy, there are special considerations in applying the 7-pay test. For example, a reduction in the Death Benefit at any time, such as may occur upon a partial surrender, may cause the Policy to be a MEC, resulting in the tax treatment described below applying. Also and more generally, the manner of applying the 7-pay is somewhat uncertain in the case of contracts covering more than one Insured. Tax Treatment Of MECs: If a Policy is classified as a MEC, the following special rules apply: . A partial surrender will be taxable to you to the extent that the Account Value exceeds your investment in the contract. 51 . A loan from the Policy (together with any unpaid interest included in Policy Debt), and the amount of any assignment or pledge of the Policy, will be taxed in the same manner as a partial surrender. . A penalty tax of 10% will be imposed on the amount of any full or partial surrender, loan and unpaid loan interest included in Policy Debt, assignment, or pledge on which you must pay tax. However, the penalty tax does not apply to a distribution made: (1) after you attain age 59 1/2, (2) because you have become disabled, within the meaning of the tax law, or (3) in substantially equal periodic payments over your life or life expectancy (or over the joint lives or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary, within the meaning of the tax law). Special Rules If You Own More Than One MEC: All MECs that we (or any of our affiliates) issue to you within the same calendar year will be combined to determine the amount of any distribution from the Policy that will be taxable to you. Interpretative issues: The tax law's rules relating to MECs are complex and open to considerable variation in interpretation. You should consult your tax advisor before making any decisions regarding changes in coverage under or distributions from your Policy. INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING We may be required to withhold and pay to the IRS a part of the taxable portion of each distribution made under a Policy. However, in many cases, the recipient may elect not to have any amounts withheld. You are responsible for payment of all taxes and early distribution penalties, regardless of whether you request that no taxes be withheld or if we do not withhold a sufficient amount of taxes. At the time you request a distribution from the Policy, we will send you forms that explain the withholding requirements. TAX STATUS OF THE COMPANY Under existing Federal income tax law, we do not expect to incur any Federal income tax liability on the income or gains in Separate Account III. Based upon this expectation, we do not impose a charge for Federal income taxes. If Federal income tax law changes and we are required to pay taxes on some or all of the income and gains earned by Separate Account III, we may impose a charge for those taxes. We may also incur state and local taxes, in addition to premium taxes for which a deduction from premiums is currently made. At present, these taxes are not significant. If there is a material change in state or local tax laws, we may impose a charge for any taxes attributable to Separate Account III. CHANGES IN THE LAW AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS This discussion is based on our understanding of the Federal income tax law existing on the date of this Prospectus. Congress, the IRS, and the courts may modify these laws at any time, and may do so retroactively. Any person concerned about the tax implications of ownership of a Policy should consult a competent tax advisor. 52 Other Policy Information OPTIONAL PAYMENT PLANS The Policy currently offers the following five optional payment plans as alternatives to the payment of Death Proceeds, Surrender Value, or your Account Value on the Maturity Date in a lump sum: Plan 1 -- Income For A Fixed Period. We will make equal periodic payments for a fixed period not longer than 30 years. Payments can be annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly. If the payee dies before the end of the fixed period, we will discount the amount of the remaining guaranteed payments to the date of the payee's death at a yearly rate of 3%. We will pay the discounted amount in one sum to the payee's estate unless otherwise provided. Plan 2 -- Life Income. We will make equal monthly payments for a guaranteed minimum period. If the payee lives longer than the minimum period, payments will continue for his or her life. The minimum period can be 10, 15, or 20 years. If the payee dies before the end of the guaranteed period, we will discount the amount of remaining payments for the minimum period at the same interest rate used to calculate the monthly income. We will pay the discounted amount in one sum to the payee's estate unless otherwise provided. Plan 3 -- Income of a Definite Amount. We will make equal periodic payments of a definite amount. Payments can be annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly. The amount paid each year must be at least $120 for each $1,000 of proceeds. Payments will continue until the proceeds are exhausted. The last payment will equal the amount of any unpaid proceeds. If the payee dies, we will pay the amount of the remaining proceeds with earned interest in one sum to the payee's estate unless otherwise provided. Plan 4 -- Interest Income. We will make periodic payments of interest earned from the proceeds left with us. Payments can be annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly and will begin at the end of the first period chosen. If the payee dies, we will pay the amount of remaining proceeds and any earned but unpaid interest in one sum to the payee's estate unless otherwise provided. Plan 5 -- Joint Life and Survivor Income. We will make equal monthly payments to two payees for a guaranteed minimum of 10 years. Each payee must be at least 35 years old when payments begin. Payments will continue as long as either payee is living. If both payees die before the end of the minimum period, we will discount the amount of the remaining payments for the 10 year period at the same interest rate used to calculate the monthly income. We will pay the discounted amount in one sum to the survivor's estate unless otherwise provided. You may select an optional payment plan during either Insured's life in your application or by writing our Variable Life Servicing Center. We will transfer any 53 amount left with us for payment under an optional payment plan to our General Account. Payments under an optional payment plan will not vary with the investment performance of Separate Account III because they are forms of fixed- benefit annuities. See Tax Treatment of Policies. Amounts allocated to an optional payment plan will earn interest at 3% compounded annually. Certain conditions and restrictions apply to payments received under an optional payment plan. For further information, please review your Policy or contact one of our authorized agents. DIVIDENDS The Policy is non-participating. We will not pay dividends on the Policy. INCONTESTABILITY The Policy limits our right to contest the Policy as issued, as increased, or as reinstated, except for material misstatements contained in the application, a supplemental application, or a reinstatement application, after it has been in force during the lifetimes of at least one of the Insureds for a minimum period, generally for two years from the Policy Date, effective date of the increase, or the date of reinstatement. We can only contest the Policy, an increase in Specified Amount, and/or a reinstatement of the Policy if a copy of the application was attached to the Policy when issued or delivered, or was made a part of the Policy when a change in coverage or Policy reinstatement went into effect. This provision does not apply to riders that provide disability benefits. SUICIDE EXCLUSION If either Insured commits suicide within two years of the Policy Date, we will limit the amount of proceeds we pay under the Policy to all premiums paid, less outstanding Policy Debt and less amounts paid upon partial surrender of the Policy. We also will provide a single life policy to the surviving Insured. The single life policy will have the same Policy Date as this Policy. The rating class of the single life policy will be the rating class of the surviving Insured under this Policy. We may require increase premiums under the single life policy. The policy or policies we offer will be one offered by us or by an affiliate. If the first Insured to die commits suicide more than two years after the Policy Date but within two years after the effective date of an increase in the Specified Amount, we will reduce the Specified Amount to the amount in effect before the increase. We will refund any monthly deductions made with respect to the increase in a lump sum to the Owner. If the Last Insured commits suicide more than two years after the Policy Date and within two years after an increase in the Specified Amount became effective, we will reduce the Specified Amount to the amount in effect before the increase. The amount payable with respect to the increase will equal the monthly deductions that were made for that increase. The amount payable will be treated as Death Proceeds and paid to the Beneficiary under the same conditions as the initial Specified Amount. 54 MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR GENDER We will adjust the Death Benefit if you misstated either Insured's Age or gender in your application. WRITTEN NOTICE You should send any written notice to us at our Variable Life Servicing Center. The notice should include the Policy number and each Insured's full name. We will send any notice to the address shown in the application unless an appropriate address change form has been filed with us. TRUSTEE If you name a trustee as the Owner or Beneficiary of the Policy and the trustee subsequently exercises ownership rights or claims benefits thereunder, we will have no obligation to verify that a trust is in effect or that the trustee is acting within the scope of his or her authority. Payment of Policy benefits to the trustee will release us from all obligations under the Policy to the extent of the payment. When we make a payment to the trustee, we will have no obligation to ensure that such payment is applied according to the terms of the trust agreement. OTHER CHANGES At any time, we may make such changes in the Policy as are necessary to assure compliance at all times with the definition of life insurance prescribed by the Code. Also, we may make changes: . to make the Policy, our operations, or the operation of Separate Account III conform with any law or regulation issued by any government agency to which they are subject; or . to reflect a change in the operation of Separate Account III, if allowed by the Policy. Only an authorized officer of GE Capital Life has the right to change the Policy. No agent has the authority to change the Policy or waive any of its terms. The President or a Vice President of GE Capital Life must sign all endorsements, amendments, or riders to be valid. REPORTS We maintain records and accounts of all transactions involving the Policy, Separate Account III and Policy Debt. Within 30 days after each Policy Anniversary, we will send you a report showing information about your Policy. The report will show: . the Specified Amount; . the Account Value in each Investment Subdivision; . the Surrender Value; . the Policy Debt; and . the premiums paid and charges made during the Policy Year. 55 We also will send you an annual and a semi-annual report for each Fund underlying an Investment Subdivision to which you have allocated Account Value, as required by the 1940 Act. In addition, when you pay premiums (other than by pre-authorized checking account deduction), or if you take out a Policy loan make transfers or make partial surrenders, you will receive a written confirmation of these transactions. CHANGE OF OWNER You may change the Owner of the Policy by sending a written request on a form satisfactory to us to our Variable Life Servicing Center while either Insured is alive and the Policy is in force. The change will take effect the date you sign the written request, but the change will not affect any action we have taken before we receive the written request. A change of Owner does not change the Beneficiary designation. SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS We offer two additional benefit riders. We add the Policy Split Option Rider automatically to your Policy. This rider allows you to surrender this Policy in exchange for an individual policy the life on one Insured or separate individual policies on the lives of each Insured. The maximum, amount of insurance available at the time the rider is exercised on either Insured is equal to one-half the base Policy Specified Amount. There is no additional charge for this rider, but we will require evidence of insurability when you exercise this option. See Tax Considerations. For further information about this rider, including information on the terms to which the exchange is subject, please see your Policy. You may elect the Four Year Term Rider. This rider protects your estate from the IRS's "contemplation of death" rules. To avoid inclusion of Policy Death Proceeds, the Insureds cannot possess any incidence of ownership in the Policy (i.e., the Policy must be owned by a trust or other third party.) However, certain situations may call for the Insureds to initially own the Policy when estate planning documents are drawn. After ownership of the Policy has been relinquished, the Insureds must live three years for the Death Proceeds to avoid estate tax inclusion. The Four Year Term Rider provides an extra amount of insurance for the first four Policy Years to cover the additional estate tax triggered if the second death occurs within the first three years. We will pay the amount payable under the rider at the death of the Last Insured. You may only elect the Four Year Term Rider at the time we issue the Policy. There is an extra charge for this rider that will be included in your monthly deduction based on the cost of insurance charges that are then in effect. See Charges and Deductions, Tax Considerations. Additional rules and limits apply to these supplemental benefits. Please ask your authorized GE Capital Life agent for further information or contact our Variable Life Servicing Center. 56 USING THE POLICY AS COLLATERAL You can assign the Policy as collateral security. You must notify us in writing if you assign the Policy. Any payments we made before the assignment will not be affected. We are not responsible for the validity of an assignment. An assignment may affect your rights and the rights of the Beneficiary. EXCHANGES During the first 24 Policy Months, you have the right to exchange this Policy for any other flexible adjustable joint and last survivor life Policy we or one of our affiliates offer. We will not require evidence of insurability. If you decide to make an exchange, we will notify you of the policies available for exchange and the procedures to follow. You may elect to have the amount of the new policy be either (a) or (b) where: (a) is the Death Benefit on the date of the exchange, and (b) is the Death Benefit minus Account Value on the date of exchange. The new policy will have the same policy date, genders, issue ages and equivalent rating classes as this Policy. The new policy will include such riders and endorsements as were included in this Policy, if such riders and endorsements are available with the new policy. The exchange is subject to an equitable adjustment in payments and Account Values to reflect variances, if any, in the payments and Account Values under the existing Policy and the new policy. REINSURANCE We intend to reinsure a portion of the risks assumed under the Policies. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS GE Capital Life, like all other companies, is involved in lawsuits, including class action lawsuits. In some class action and other lawsuits involving insurance companies, substantial damages have been sought and/or material settlement payments have been made. Although the outcome of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, GE Capital Life believes that at the present time there are no pending or threatened lawsuits that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on it or Separate Account III. 57 Additional Information SALES OF THE POLICIES Policies are sold by appropriately licensed agents who we appoint to solicit applications on our behalf. These agents are also registered representatives of Capital Brokerage Corporation, the principal underwriter of the Policies, or of broker/dealers who have entered into written sales agreements with the principal underwriter. One of these broker/dealers is Terra Securities Corporation, which is an affiliate of ours. Capital Brokerage Corporation, a Washington corporation, located at 6630 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230, is registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a broker/dealer and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (Capital Brokerage Corporation does business in Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas as GE Capital Brokerage Corporation.) Capital Brokerage Corporation also serves as principal underwriter for other variable life insurance and variable annuity policies we issue. However, Capital Brokerage Corporation has not retained any amounts for acting as principal underwriter of these other policies. We pay sales commissions and other expenses associated with the promotion and sales of the Policies to broker/dealers. First-year commissions depend on each Insured's Age, rating class, gender and the size of the Policy. In the first Policy Year, the broker/dealer will receive a commission of up to 55% of the maximum commissionable premium plus up to 3% of premiums paid in excess of the maximum commissionable premium. In renewal years, the broker/dealer receives up to 3% of the premiums paid. We may also pay override payments, expense allowances, bonuses, wholesaler fees and training allowances. Registered representatives earn commissions from the broker/dealer with which they are affiliated and such arrangements may vary. In addition, registered representatives who meet specified production levels may qualify, under sales incentive programs adopted by us, to receive non-cash compensation such as expense-paid trips, expense-paid educational seminars and merchandise. Capital Brokerage will receive 12b-1 fees against the Janus Aspen Series (Service Shares) as compensation for providing certain distribution and shareholder support services. We may pay a trail commission equal to an annual rate of .20% of Account Value after the fifth Policy Year. Agents may also be eligible to receive certain bonuses and allowances, as well as retirement plan credits, based on commissions earned. Field management of the Company receives compensation which we may base in part on the level of agent commissions in their management units. Broker-dealers and their registered agents 58 will receive first-year and subsequent year commissions equivalent to the total commissions and benefits received by the field management and writing agents of the Company. We do not deduct these commissions from premium payments or Account Value; we pay these commissions. LEGAL MATTERS The legal matters in connection with the Policy described in this Prospectus hav e been passed on by Donita King, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of GE Capital Life. Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP of Washington, D.C. has provided advice on matters relating to the federal securities laws. EXPERTS The financial statements of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999, have been included herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. ACTUARIAL MATTERS Actuarial matters included in this Prospectus have been examined by Paul Haley, Vice President and Actuary of GE Capital Life, whose opinion we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS We did not include financial statements for GE Capital Life Separate Account III in this prospectus because as of the date of this prospectus, Separate Account III had not begun operation. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS We are managed by a board of directors. The following table sets forth the name, address and principal occupations during the past five years of each of our executive officers and directors. Positions and Offices with Name Address Depositor - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pamela S. Schutz GE Financial Assurance Chairman, GE Capital Life 6610 W. Broad Street Assurance Company of New York Richmond, VA 23230 since 5/98; President, GE Life & Annuity since 5/98; President of The Harvest Life Insurance Company 9/97-12/98; President, GE Capital Realty Group 2/78-5/97. Senior Vice President, Investments GE Life & Annuity since 1999; Director, GE Life & Annuity, 5/96; Director, GNA, 4/94. Cheryl C. Whaley GE Capital Life Assurance President, Chief Executive Company of New York Officer & Managing Officer, GE 125 Park Avenue, 6th Capital Life Assurance Company Floor of New York since 7/2000. New York, NY 10017 Strategic Project Leader, General Electric Company since 1995. Marshall S. Belkin 345 Kear Street Director, GE Capital Life Yorktown Heights, NY Assurance Company of New York; 10598 Attorney with Lieberman and LeBovit (formerly Lieberman Lebovit and Brofman). 59 Positions and Offices with Name Address Depositor - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard I. Byer Richartz Fliss Clark & Director, GE Capital Life Pope Assurance Company of New York; 317 Madison Avenue Executive Vice President, New York, NY 10017 Richartz Fliss Clark & Pope since 1994; Director, Workmen's Circle MultiCare Center since 1997. Thomas W. Casey GE Financial Assurance Vice President and Chief 6604 W. Broad St. Financial Officer GE Capital Richmond, VA 23230 Life Assurance Company of New York; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, GNA since 1996; Vice President, GNA 1993-1996. Stephen N. DeVos GE Financial Assurance Vice President and Investment 6604 W. Broad St. Officer, GE Capital Life Richmond, VA 23230 Assurance Company of New York; Vice President and Controller of GNA since 1996; Technical Adviser, GE Capital Corporation 1994-1996. Bernard M. Eiber 55 Northern Blvd. Director, GE Capital Life Room 302 Assurance Company of New York; Great Neck, NY 11021 Attorney, Law Firm of Bernard Eiber since 1995. Jerry S. Handler Handro Properties Director, GE Capital Life 151 West 40th St. Assurance Company of New York; New York, NY 10018 President, Handro Management Corporation and Manager Partner of Handro Property LLC since 1979. Gerald A. Kaufman 33 Walt Whitman Rd., Director, GE Capital Life Suite 233 Assurance Company of New York; Huntrington Station, NY Director, American Mayflower 11746 Life Insurance Company of New York since 1973. Donita King GE Financial Assurance Senior Vice President, General 6610 W. Broad Street Counsel & Secretary, GE Richmond, VA 23230 Capital Life Assurance Company of New York; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, GE Life & Annuity since 3/99; Assistant General Counsel, Prudential Insurance Company of America, 3/89-3/99. Leon E. Roday GE Financial Assurance Senior Vice President of GE 6604 West Broad St. Capital Life Assurance Company Richmond, VA 23230 of New York; Senior Vice President & Director, GE Life & Annuity since 6/99; Senior Vice President & Director, GE Financial Assurance since 1996; LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. 1982-1996. A. Louis Parker GEFA Benefit Services Director, GE Capital Life 4850 Street Road Assurance Company of New York; Trevose, PA 19049 President, GE Financial Assurance Direct since 1999; President, Benefit Services Group GE Capital, 1998-1999; President, Auto Dealer Services GE Capital, 1996- 1998. 60 OTHER INFORMATION Positions and Offices with Name Address Depositor - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isidore Sapir Granit Apartments at the Director, GE Capital Life Granit Assurance Company of New York; Apt. 756, P.O. Box 657 Retired Attorney. Kernonkson, NY 12446 Thomas A. Skiff GE Financial Assurance Director, GE Capital Life 1650 Los Gamos Dr. Assurance Company of New York; San Rafael, CA 94903 President, GE Financial Assurance Long Term Care Division. Steven A. Smith First Colony Life Director, GE Capital Life 700 Main Street Assurance Company of New York; Lynchburg, VA 24505 Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary, First Colony Life Insurance Company since 1977. Geoffrey S. Stiff GE Financial Assurance Director, GE Capital Life 6610 W. Broad St. Assurance Company of New York; Richmond, VA 23230 Senior Vice President, GE Life & Annuity, since 3/99; Director, GE Life & Annuity, since 5/96; Vice President, GE Life & Annuity 5/96-3/99; Director of GNA since April, 1994; Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of GNA since May, 1993; Senior Vice President, Controller and Treasurer of GNA Investors Trust since 1993. We have filed a Registration Statement with the SEC, under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, for the Policies being offered here. This Prospectus does not contain all the information in the Registration Statement, its amendments and exhibits. Please refer to the Registration Statement for further information about Separate Account III, the Company, and the Policies offered. Statements in this Prospectus about the content of Policies and other legal instruments are summaries. For the complete text of those Policies and instruments, please refer to those documents as filed with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. 61 Hypothetical Illustrations To show you how the Policy works, we have included some hypothetical illustrations for a Policy issued to a male Insured, age 55, and a female Insured, age 55. These illustrations show how Account Values, Surrender Values, and death benefits under the two Death Benefit options available under a Policy vary over time assuming the following: . The initial and planned premium of each illustration are allocated completely to Separate Account III and remain there over the entire period: . The Insureds both qualify for the Preferred No Nicotine Use classification; . There are no withdrawals and no supplemental benefits; . There is no Policy Debt; and . The portfolios earn gross (that is, before deductions for investment management fees and other operating expenses of the portfolios) annual rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12%. It is important to understand that the illustrations assume a level rate of return for all years. The values of your Policy would be different from those shown if the hypothetical returns averaged 0%, 6%, or 12% but fluctuated over and under those averages for the years shown. The illustrations reflect an average annual charge of 0.76% of the average daily net assets of the portfolios for investment management fees and other operating expenses. We calculated these fees based on an average of the expense ratios of each of the portfolios (in some cases, we estimated those fees) for the latest year of operations. The average daily charge for the portfolio expenses reflects voluntary expense agreements between certain of the portfolios and their investment managers. These expense agreements could terminate at any time. See "Portfolio Annual Expense Table." If these agreements terminate, the values shown on the following pages would be less. The illustrations reflect a premium charge, the .70% mortality and expense risk charge to Separate Account III, and the monthly deduction. The monthly deduction is taken from the Policy Account Value each month. The monthly deduction illustrated consists of the cost of insurance charge, the policy charge of $5, and an expense charge of up to $0.20 per $1,000 of initial Specified Amount. Our current charges and the maximum charges we have a contractual right to charge are reflected in separate illustrations on the following pages. See "Charges and Deductions." After deduction of estimated portfolio expenses and the mortality and expense risk charge, the illustrated gross annual investment rates of return of 0%, 6% and 12% correspond to approximate net annual rates of return for the Investment Subdivisions of - 1.48%, 4.52% and 10.52%, respectively. 62 All of the illustrations reflect the fact that no charges for Federal or state income taxes are currently made against Separate Account III. To produce after tax returns of 0%, 6%, or 12% if we were to make such charges in the future, Separate Account III would have to earn a sufficient amount in excess of 0%, 6%, or 12% to cover any tax charges. The Surrender Values shown in the illustrations reflect the fact that we deduct a Surrender Charge for the first 11 Policy Years (and for 11 Policy Years after you increase the Specified Amount). See "Charges and Deductions." Each illustration also has a column labeled "Premiums Accumulated at 5% Interest Per Year." This column shows the amount that would accumulate if the premium payments were invested to earn interest, after taxes, of 5% per year, compounded annually. Upon request, we will furnish you a personalized illustration based upon the proposed Insureds' circumstances. Such illustrations will reflect the current cost of insurance charges and the guaranteed maximum cost of insurance charges, and may assume different hypothetical rates of return than those shown in the following illustrations. The investment rates of return we have chosen to use in the illustrations are hypothetical only, and you should understand that they do not represent actual past or future rates of return. The actual rates of return under a Policy may be more or less than the hypothetical rates of return in the illustrations. 63 Flexible Premium Joint And Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $250,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Initial Premium and Planned Nicotine Use Death Benefit Option A Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $5,100 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End of At 5% ------------------------ ------------------------- ------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 5,355 0 4,165 254,165 0 4,432 254,432 0 4,699 254,699 2 10,978 2,842 8,242 258,242 3,636 9,036 259,036 4,463 9,863 259,863 3 16,882 7,425 12,225 262,225 9,015 13,815 263,815 10,736 15,536 265,536 4 23,081 11,909 16,109 266,109 14,568 18,768 268,768 17,562 21,762 271,762 5 29,590 16,287 19,887 269,887 20,295 23,895 273,895 24,993 28,593 278,593 6 36,424 20,551 23,551 273,551 26,193 29,193 279,193 33,080 36,080 286,080 7 43,600 24,688 27,088 277,088 32,256 34,656 284,656 41,879 44,279 294,279 8 51,135 28,682 30,482 280,482 38,474 40,274 290,274 51,445 53,245 303,245 9 59,047 32,514 33,714 283,714 44,830 46,030 296,030 61,837 63,037 313,037 10 67,355 36,158 36,758 286,758 51,302 51,902 301,902 73,109 73,709 323,709 15 115,553 49,974 49,974 299,974 84,116 84,116 334,116 145,086 145,086 395,086 20 177,068 51,901 51,901 301,901 112,552 112,552 362,552 249,492 249,492 499,492 25 255,579 28,890 28,890 278,890 119,726 119,726 369,726 389,552 389,552 639,552 30 355,780 * * * 72,183 72,183 322,183 556,502 556,502 806,502 35 483,665 * * * * * * 712,044 712,044 962,044 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Premium in addition to the planned premium is required to keep the policy in effect. (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $5,100 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the maximum expense charges and cost of insurance rates allowable under the Policy. Accordingly, if the assumed hypothetic gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits of an actual Policy with the listed specifications could never be less than those shown, and in some cases may be greater than those shown. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 64 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $250,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option A Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $ 5,100 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Current Return with Current Return with Current Charges Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) (2)(3) End of At 5% ------------------------ ------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 5,355 0 4,427 254,427 0 4,705 254,705 0 4,982 254,982 2 10,978 3,382 8,782 258,782 4,215 9,615 259,615 5,081 10,481 260,481 3 16,882 8,263 13,063 263,063 9,937 14,737 264,737 11,748 16,548 266,548 4 23,081 13,069 17,269 267,269 15,879 20,079 270,079 19,041 23,241 273,241 5 29,590 17,799 21,399 271,399 22,048 25,648 275,648 27,025 30,625 280,625 6 36,424 22,450 25,450 275,450 28,452 31,452 281,452 35,767 38,767 288,767 7 43,600 27,021 29,421 279,421 35,096 37,496 287,496 45,344 47,744 297,744 8 51,135 31,506 33,306 283,306 41,987 43,787 293,787 55,839 57,639 307,639 9 59,047 35,901 37,101 287,101 49,129 50,329 300,329 67,341 68,541 318,541 10 67,355 40,198 40,798 290,798 56,524 57,124 307,124 79,946 80,546 330,546 15 115,553 58,220 58,220 308,220 95,763 95,763 345,763 162,216 162,216 412,216 20 177,068 70,811 70,811 320,811 139,911 139,911 389,911 292,351 292,351 542,351 25 255,579 73,989 73,989 323,989 185,302 185,302 435,302 496,052 496,052 746,052 30 355,780 60,360 60,360 310,360 223,015 223,015 473,015 810,716 810,716 1,060,716 35 483,665 18,181 18,181 268,181 236,201 236,201 486,201 1,291,633 1,291,633 1,541,633 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $5,100 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the expense charges and cost of insurance rates currently in effect. Although GE Capital Life anticipates deducting these charges for the forseeable future, these charges are not guaranteed and could be raised at the discretion of GE Capital Life. Accordingly, even if the assumed hypothetical gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits under an actual Policy with the listed specifications may be less than those shown if the cost of insurance charges were increased. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 65 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $250,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option B Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $3,800 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Return with Maximum End Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) of At 5% ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 3,990 0 2,987 250,000 0 3,182 250,000 0 3,377 250,000 2 8,180 503 5,903 250,000 1,080 6,480 250,000 1,681 7,081 250,000 3 12,578 3,945 8,745 250,000 5,095 9,895 250,000 6,342 11,142 250,000 4 17,197 7,307 11,507 250,000 9,226 13,426 250,000 11,391 15,591 250,000 5 22,047 10,583 14,183 250,000 13,472 17,072 250,000 16,862 20,462 250,000 6 27,140 13,766 16,766 250,000 17,829 20,829 250,000 22,794 25,794 250,000 7 32,487 16,847 19,247 250,000 22,292 24,692 250,000 29,224 31,624 250,000 8 38,101 19,812 21,612 250,000 26,853 28,653 250,000 36,195 37,995 250,000 9 43,996 22,644 23,844 250,000 31,498 32,698 250,000 43,748 44,948 250,000 10 50,186 25,321 25,921 250,000 36,210 36,810 250,000 51,929 52,529 250,000 15 86,098 35,033 35,033 250,000 59,911 59,911 250,000 104,598 104,598 250,000 20 131,933 34,826 34,826 250,000 81,097 81,097 250,000 187,185 187,185 250,000 25 190,431 11,679 11,679 250,000 90,589 90,589 250,000 327,615 327,615 343,996 30 265,091 * * * 63,543 63,543 250,000 554,466 554,466 582,190 35 360,378 * * * * * * 906,264 906,264 951,577 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Premium in addition to the planned premium is required to keep the policy in effect. (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $3,800 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the maximum expense charges and cost of insurance rates allowable under the Policy. Accordingly, if the assumed hypothetic gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits of an actual Policy with the listed specifications could never be less than those shown, and in some cases may be greater than those shown. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. the gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual policy years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 66 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $250,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option B Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $3,800 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Current Return with Current Return with Current Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End of At 5% ------------------------ ------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 3,990 0 3,230 250,000 0 3,434 250,000 0 3,639 250,000 2 8,180 1,004 6,404 250,000 1,616 7,016 250,000 2,252 7,652 250,000 3 12,578 4,723 9,523 250,000 5,950 10,750 250,000 7,279 12,079 250,000 4 17,197 8,385 12,585 250,000 10,443 14,643 250,000 12,760 16,960 250,000 5 22,047 11,988 15,588 250,000 15,098 18,698 250,000 18,742 22,342 250,000 6 27,140 15,532 18,532 250,000 19,922 22,922 250,000 25,275 28,275 250,000 7 32,487 19,013 21,413 250,000 24,918 27,318 250,000 32,416 34,816 250,000 8 38,101 22,430 24,230 250,000 30,092 31,892 250,000 40,224 42,024 250,000 9 43,996 25,776 26,976 250,000 35,445 36,645 250,000 48,767 49,967 250,000 10 50,186 29,046 29,646 250,000 40,980 41,580 250,000 58,116 58,716 250,000 15 86,098 42,389 42,389 250,000 69,991 69,991 250,000 118,928 118,928 250,000 20 131,933 51,445 51,445 250,000 103,151 103,151 250,000 217,694 217,694 250,000 25 190,431 53,342 53,342 250,000 140,622 140,622 250,000 381,997 381,997 401,097 30 265,091 41,575 41,575 250,000 183,593 183,593 250,000 650,450 650,450 682,972 35 360,378 840 840 250,000 239,055 239,055 251,008 1,084,702 1,084,702 1,138,937 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $3,800 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the expense charges and cost of insurance rates currently in effect. Although GE Capital Life anticipates deducting these charges for the forseeable future, these charges are not guaranteed and could be raised at the discretion of GE Capital Life. Accordingly, even if the assumed hypothetical gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits under an actual Policy with the listed specifications may be less than those shown if the cost of insurance charges were increased. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 67 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $1,000,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option A Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $19,400 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End Of At 5% --------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 20,370 0 16,506 1,016,506 0 17,558 1,017,558 0 18,611 1,018,611 2 41,759 11,061 32,661 1,032,661 14,199 35,799 1,035,799 17,466 39,066 1,039,066 3 64,216 29,244 48,444 1,048,444 35,528 54,728 1,054,728 42,332 61,532 1,061,532 4 87,797 47,033 63,833 1,063,833 57,547 74,347 1,074,347 69,392 86,192 1,086,192 5 112,557 64,400 78,800 1,078,800 80,254 94,654 1,094,654 98,840 113,240 1,113,240 6 138,555 81,309 93,309 1,093,309 103,635 115,635 1,115,635 130,885 142,885 1,142,885 7 165,853 97,715 107,315 1,107,315 127,668 137,268 1,137,268 165,745 175,345 1,175,345 8 194,515 113,555 120,755 1,120,755 152,310 159,510 1,159,510 203,642 210,842 1,210,842 9 224,611 128,746 133,546 1,133,546 177,494 182,294 1,182,294 244,797 249,597 1,249,597 10 256,212 143,183 145,583 1,145,583 203,128 205,528 1,205,528 289,435 291,835 1,291,835 15 439,555 197,799 197,799 1,197,799 332,942 332,942 1,332,942 574,258 574,258 1,574,258 20 673,553 204,908 204,908 1,204,908 444,882 444,882 1,444,882 986,786 986,786 1,986,786 25 972,201 112,302 112,302 1,112,302 471,327 471,327 1,471,327 1,538,612 1,538,612 2,538,612 30 1,353,359 * * * 278,334 278,334 1,278,334 2,192,493 2,192,493 3,192,493 35 1,839,825 * * * * * * 2,791,591 2,791,591 3,791,591 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Premium in addition to the planned premium is required to keep the policy in effect. (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $19,400 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the maximum expense charges and cost of insurance rates allowable under the Policy. Accordingly, if the assumed hypothetic gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits of an actual Policy with the listed specifications could never be less than those shown, and in some cases may be greater than those shown. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 68 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $1,000,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option A Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $19,400 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Current Return with Current Return with Current Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End of At 5% --------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 20,370 0 17,541 1,017,541 0 18,634 1,018,634 0 19,729 1,019,729 2 41,759 13,192 34,792 1,034,792 16,480 38,080 1,038,080 19,901 41,501 1,041,501 3 64,216 32,551 51,751 1,051,751 39,167 58,367 1,058,367 46,325 65,525 1,065,525 4 87,797 51,613 68,413 1,068,413 62,724 79,524 1,079,524 75,229 92,029 1,092,029 5 112,557 70,372 84,772 1,084,772 87,181 101,581 1,101,581 106,863 121,263 1,121,263 6 138,555 88,821 100,821 1,100,821 112,565 124,565 1,124,565 141,503 153,503 1,153,503 7 165,853 106,949 116,549 1,116,549 138,902 148,502 1,148,502 179,447 189,047 1,189,047 8 194,515 124,738 131,938 1,131,938 166,214 173,414 1,173,414 221,023 228,223 1,228,223 9 224,611 142,167 146,967 1,146,967 194,517 199,317 1,199,317 266,583 271,383 1,271,383 10 256,212 159,207 161,607 1,161,607 223,821 226,221 1,226,221 316,512 318,912 1,318,912 15 439,555 230,586 230,586 1,230,586 379,201 379,201 1,379,201 642,227 642,227 1,642,227 20 673,553 280,289 280,289 1,280,289 553,829 553,829 1,553,829 1,157,217 1,157,217 2,157,217 25 972,201 292,387 292,387 1,292,387 732,931 732,931 1,732,931 1,962,854 1,962,854 2,962,854 30 1,353,359 237,302 237,302 1,237,302 880,713 880,713 1,880,713 3,206,369 3,206,369 4,206,369 35 1,839,825 68,053 68,053 1,068,053 929,612 929,612 1,929,612 5,105,015 5,105,015 6,105,015 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $19,400 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the expense charges and cost of insurance rates currently in effect. Although GE Capital Life anticipates deducting these charges for the forseeable future, these charges are not guaranteed and could be raised at the discretion of GE Capital Life. Accordingly, even if the assumed hypothetical gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits under an actual Policy with the listed specifications may be less than those shown if the cost of insurance charges were increased. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the Investment Options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 69 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $1,000,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option B Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $14,600 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Return with Maximum Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End of At 5% --------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 15,330 0 12,014 1,000,000 0 12,792 1,000,000 0 13,571 1,000,000 2 31,427 2,145 23,745 1,000,000 4,454 26,054 1,000,000 6,859 28,459 1,000,000 3 48,328 15,975 35,175 1,000,000 20,585 39,785 1,000,000 25,580 44,780 1,000,000 4 66,074 29,486 46,286 1,000,000 37,184 53,984 1,000,000 45,862 62,662 1,000,000 5 84,708 42,653 57,053 1,000,000 54,245 68,645 1,000,000 67,845 82,245 1,000,000 6 104,273 55,448 67,448 1,000,000 71,755 83,755 1,000,000 91,677 103,677 1,000,000 7 124,817 67,833 77,433 1,000,000 89,694 99,294 1,000,000 117,518 127,118 1,000,000 8 146,388 79,754 86,954 1,000,000 108,027 115,227 1,000,000 145,531 152,731 1,000,000 9 169,037 91,141 95,941 1,000,000 126,701 131,501 1,000,000 175,888 180,688 1,000,000 10 192,819 101,909 104,309 1,000,000 145,650 148,050 1,000,000 208,773 211,173 1,000,000 15 330,799 141,053 141,053 1,000,000 241,042 241,042 1,000,000 420,582 420,582 1,000,000 20 506,901 140,553 140,553 1,000,000 326,627 326,627 1,000,000 753,021 753,021 1,000,000 25 731,656 48,440 48,440 1,000,000 366,059 366,059 1,000,000 1,318,260 1,318,260 1,384,173 30 1,018,508 * * * 261,324 261,324 1,000,000 2,230,904 2,230,904 2,342,449 35 1,384,610 * * * * * * 3,646,218 3,646,218 3,828,529 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Premium in addition to the planned premium is required to keep the policy in effect. (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $14,600 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the maximum expense charges and cost of insurance rates allowable under the Policy. Accordingly, if the assumed hypothetic gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits of an actual Policy with the listed specifications could never be less than those shown, and in some cases may be greater than those shown. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 70 Flexible Premium Joint and Last Survivor Variable Life Insurance Male Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Specified Amount $1,000,000 Female Issue Age 55 Preferred No Nicotine Use Initial Premium and Planned Death Benefit Option B Premium (Payable Annually) (1) $ 14,600 0% Assumed Hypothetical 6% Assumed Hypothetical 12% Assumed Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Gross Annual Investment Premiums Return with Current Return with Current Return with Current Accumulated Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) Charges (2)(3) End of At 5% --------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- Policy Interest Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Surrender Cash Death Year Per Year Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit Value Value Benefit - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 15,330 0 12,977 1,000,000 0 13,792 1,000,000 0 14,609 1,000,000 2 31,427 4,131 25,731 1,000,000 6,578 28,178 1,000,000 9,123 30,723 1,000,000 3 48,328 19,061 38,261 1,000,000 23,976 43,176 1,000,000 29,295 48,495 1,000,000 4 66,074 33,763 50,563 1,000,000 42,010 58,810 1,000,000 51,293 68,093 1,000,000 5 84,708 48,231 62,631 1,000,000 60,698 75,098 1,000,000 75,302 89,702 1,000,000 6 104,273 62,459 74,459 1,000,000 80,063 92,063 1,000,000 101,525 113,525 1,000,000 7 124,817 76,438 86,038 1,000,000 100,122 109,722 1,000,000 130,186 139,786 1,000,000 8 146,388 90,155 97,355 1,000,000 120,891 128,091 1,000,000 161,529 168,729 1,000,000 9 169,037 103,590 108,390 1,000,000 142,383 147,183 1,000,000 195,820 200,620 1,000,000 10 192,819 116,722 119,122 1,000,000 164,608 167,008 1,000,000 233,353 235,753 1,000,000 15 330,799 170,339 170,339 1,000,000 281,137 281,137 1,000,000 477,525 477,525 1,000,000 20 506,901 206,806 206,806 1,000,000 414,414 414,414 1,000,000 874,180 874,180 1,000,000 25 731,656 214,667 214,667 1,000,000 565,199 565,199 1,000,000 1,533,961 1,533,961 1,610,659 30 1,018,508 167,963 167,963 1,000,000 738,541 738,541 1,000,000 2,611,931 2,611,931 2,742,527 35 1,384,610 5,649 5,649 1,000,000 963,176 963,176 1,011,335 4,355,668 4,355,668 4,573,451 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The values illustrated assume that the planned premium of $14,600 is paid at the beginning of each Policy year. Values will be different if premiums are paid with a different frequency or in different amounts. (2) The values and benefits are as of the end of the year shown. They assume that no Policy loans or withdrawals have been made. Excessive loans or withdrawals may cause this Policy to lapse because of insufficient account value. (3) The values and benefits are shown using the expense charges and cost of insurance rates currently in effect. Although GE Capital Life anticipates deducting these charges for the forseeable future, these charges are not guaranteed and could be raised at the discretion of GE Capital Life. Accordingly, even if the assumed hypothetical gross annual investment return were earned, the values and benefits under an actual Policy with the listed specifications may be less than those shown if the cost of insurance charges were increased. The hypothetical gross annual investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future investment rates of return. Actual investment rates of return may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates, rates of inflation, and the allocations made by an owner among the investment options. The gross hypothetical investment rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% shown above correspond to net annual rates of -1.46%, 4.54%, and 10.54%. The Death Benefit and Account Value for a Policy will be different from those shown if the actual investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but fluctuated above or below those averages for individual Policy Years. No representations can be made by GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York or the funds that these hypothetical investment rates of return can be achieved for any one year or sustained over any period of time. 71 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 1999 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon) Independent Auditors' Report The Board of Directors GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York: We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of income, shareholder's interest, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accouting principles. /s/ KPMG LLP Richmond, Virginia January 21, 2000 F-1 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK BALANCE SHEETS (Dollar amounts in millions, except per share amounts) December 31, ------------------ 1999 1998 -------- -------- Assets Investments: Fixed maturities available-for-sale, at fair value (amor- tized cost of $1,667.2 in 1999 and $1,506.8 in 1998)..... $1,588.9 $1,530.6 Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowance of $1.3 in 1999 and $0.9 in 1998)........................................ 265.3 190.7 Policy loans.............................................. 1.4 1.4 Short-term investments.................................... 2.5 13.4 -------- -------- Total investments........................................ 1,858.1 1,736.1 -------- -------- Cash....................................................... 1.8 1.4 Accrued investment income.................................. 37.1 30.6 Deferred acquisition costs................................. 94.8 49.4 Intangible assets.......................................... 63.6 50.5 Deferred income tax asset.................................. 24.8 0.5 Other assets............................................... 22.5 12.5 Separate account assets.................................... 19.2 -- -------- -------- Total assets............................................. $2,121.9 $1,881.0 ======== ======== Liabilities and Shareholder's Interest Liabilities: Future annuity and contract benefits...................... $1,737.0 $1,510.0 Unearned premiums......................................... 15.2 12.7 Liability for policy and contract claims.................. 19.1 10.6 Other policyholder liabilities............................ 44.0 25.8 Accounts payable and accrued expenses..................... 61.8 58.3 Separate account liabilities.............................. 19.2 -- -------- -------- Total liabilities........................................ 1,896.3 1,617.4 -------- -------- Shareholder's interest: Net unrealized investment gains (losses).................. (32.5) 7.1 -------- -------- Accumulated non-owner changes in equity................... (32.5) 7.1 Common stock ($1,000 par value, 2,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding).................................. 2.0 2.0 Additional paid-in capital................................ 259.4 259.4 Accumulated deficit....................................... (3.3) (4.9) -------- -------- Total shareholder's interest............................. 225.6 263.6 -------- -------- Total liabilities and shareholder's interest............. $2,121.9 $1,881.0 ======== ======== See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-2 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Dollar amounts in millions) Years ended December 31, ---------------------- 1999 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ Revenues: Net investment income.................................. $126.0 $115.9 $111.6 Net realized investment gains.......................... 0.3 2.5 2.2 Premiums............................................... 79.1 83.3 46.9 Other income........................................... 3.4 3.0 3.7 ------ ------ ------ Total revenues........................................ 208.8 204.7 164.4 ------ ------ ------ Benefits and expenses: Interest credited...................................... 69.3 69.3 71.7 Benefits and other changes in policy reserves.......... 78.4 78.7 42.5 Commissions............................................ 28.1 17.0 17.6 General expenses....................................... 19.6 9.0 11.0 Amortization of intangibles, net....................... 6.1 7.3 8.2 Increase in deferred acquisition costs, net............ (23.3) (9.8) (15.6) ------ ------ ------ Total benefits and expenses........................... 178.2 171.5 135.4 ------ ------ ------ Income before income taxes............................ 30.6 33.2 29.0 Provision for income taxes.............................. 12.5 13.7 11.5 ------ ------ ------ Net income............................................ $ 18.1 $ 19.5 $ 17.5 ====== ====== ====== See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-3 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S INTEREST Years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) Accumulated non-owner Common stock Additional changes Total ------------- paid-in other than Accumulated shareholder's Shares Amount capital earnings deficit interest ------ ------ ---------- ----------- ----------- ------------- Balances at January 1, 1997................... 2,000 $2.0 259.4 (1.3) (10.9) 249.2 Changes other than transactions with shareholder Net income............. -- -- -- -- 17.5 17.5 Net unrealized gains on securities (a)........ -- -- -- 8.6 -- 8.6 ----- Total changes other than transactions with shareholder........... 26.1 Dividend............... -- -- -- -- (15.0) (15.0) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- Balances at December 31, 1997 2,000 2.0 259.4 7.3 (8.4) 260.3 Changes other than transactions with shareholder Net income............. -- -- -- -- 19.5 19.5 Net unrealized losses on securities (a)..... -- -- -- (0.2) -- (0.2) ----- Total changes other than transactions with shareholder........... 19.3 Dividend............... -- -- -- -- (16.0) (16.0) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- Balances at December 31, 1998................... 2,000 2.0 259.4 7.1 (4.9) 263.6 Changes other than transactions with shareholder Net income............. -- -- -- -- 18.1 18.1 Net unrealized losses on securities (a)..... -- -- -- (39.6) -- (39.6) ----- Total changes other than transactions with shareholder........... (21.5) Dividend............... -- -- -- -- (16.5) (16.5) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- Balances at December 31, 1999................... 2,000 $2.0 259.4 (32.5) (3.3) 225.6 ===== ==== ===== ===== ===== ===== - ------- (a) Presented net of deferred taxes of $21.3 million, $0.1 million, and $(4.6) million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-4 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) 1999 1998 1997 ------- ------- ------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income......................................... $ 18.1 $ 19.5 $ 17.5 ------- ------- ------- Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Increase in future policy benefits................ 117.6 128.5 106.1 Net realized investment gains..................... (0.3) (2.5) (2.2) Amortization of investment premiums and dis- counts........................................... (0.7) 4.7 4.7 Amortization of intangibles....................... 6.1 7.3 8.2 Deferred income tax benefit....................... (4.9) (1.9) (1.7) Change in certain assets and liabilities: Increase in: Accrued investment income....................... (6.5) (0.3) (1.4) Deferred acquisition costs, net................. (23.3) (9.8) (15.6) Other assets, net............................... (8.8) (2.8) 10.6 Increase (decrease) in: Other policy related balances................... 20.8 (3.7) 22.8 Policy and contract claims...................... 7.2 -- -- Accounts payable and accrued expenses........... 5.3 10.3 (19.6) ------- ------- ------- Total adjustments.............................. 112.5 129.8 111.9 ------- ------- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities...... 130.6 149.3 129.4 ------- ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments in fixed maturities and real estate............... 408.2 457.9 264.9 Purchases of fixed maturities...................... (567.5) (498.3) (340.4) Mortgage and policy loan originations.............. (93.8) (39.7) (40.6) Mortgage and policy loan repayments................ 19.0 22.1 9.2 ------- ------- ------- Net cash used in investing activities.......... (234.1) (58.0) (106.9) ------- ------- ------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of investment contracts..... 287.1 106.2 151.1 Redemption and benefit payments on investment con- tracts............................................ (177.6) (171.1) (175.9) Dividends paid..................................... (16.5) (16.0) (15.0) ------- ------- ------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activ- ities......................................... 93.0 (80.9) (39.8) ------- ------- ------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equiv- alents........................................ (10.5) 10.4 (17.3) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year..... 14.8 4.4 21.7 ------- ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year........... $ 4.3 $ 14.8 $ 4.4 ======= ======= ======= See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-5 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (1) Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying financial statements include the historical operations and accounts of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York (GECLA-NY or Company). GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Capital Assurance Company (GE Capital Assurance), which, in turn, is wholly-owned by GE Financial Assurance Holdings, Inc. (GE Financial Assurance). Prior to January 1, 1999, the Company was a majority owned subsidiary of GE Capital Assurance. The remaining minority interest was owned by Great Northern Insured Annuity Corporation (GNAIC), which was also a wholly-owned subsidiary of GE Capital Assurance. On January 1, 1999, GNAIC merged with and into its parent company, GE Capital Assurance. Basis of Presentation These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Products The Company markets and sells products in the State of New York through financial institutions and various agencies. The primary products of the Company are investment type deferred annuities, structured settlements, immediate annuities, variable annuities, and long-term care policies. During 1999, 1998, and 1997, 92%, 96%, and 77%, respectively, of product sales were distributed through five financial institutions, including one financial institution which accounted for 60%, 68%, and 55%, respectively, of total product sales. Revenues Investment income is recorded when earned. Realized investment gains and losses are calculated on the basis of specific identification. Premiums on long-duration insurance products are recognized as earned when due or, in the case of life contingent immediate annuities, when the contracts are issued. Premiums received under annuity contracts without significant mortality risk are not reported as revenues but as liabilities for future annuity and contract benefits. Variable product fees are charged to variable annuity policyholders based upon the daily net assets of the policyholders' account values, and are recognized as revenue when charged. Other income consists primarily of surrender charges on certain policies. Surrender charges are recognized as income when the policy is surrendered. Cash Equivalents Certificates and other time deposits are classified as short-term investments on the balance sheets and considered cash equivalents in the Statements of Cash Flows. Investments The Company has designated its fixed maturities (bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stock) as available-for-sale. The fair value for fixed maturities is based on quoted market prices, where available. For fixed maturities not actively traded, fair values are estimated using values obtained from independent pricing services or, in the case of private placements, are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using a current market rate applicable to the credit quality, call features and maturity of the investments, as applicable. Changes in the fair values of investments available-for-sale, net of the effect on deferred policy acquisition costs, present value of future profits and deferred federal income taxes, are reflected as unrealized investment gains or losses in a separate component of shareholder's interest and, accordingly, have no effect on net income, but are shown as accumulated non- F-6 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (1) Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies -- Continued owner changes in equity. Unrealized losses that are considered other than temporary are recognized in earnings through an adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the underlying securities. Investment income on mortgage and asset-backed securities is initially based upon yield, cash flow and prepayment assumptions at the date of purchase. Subsequent revisions in those assumptions are recorded using the retrospective method, whereby the amortized cost of the securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the revised assumptions been in place at the date of purchase. The adjustments to amortized cost are recorded as a charge or credit to investment income. Under certain securities lending transactions, the Company requires the borrower provide collateral, consisting primarily of cash and government securities, on a daily basis, in amounts equal to or exceeding 102% of the market value of the applicable securities loaned. Mortgage and policy loans are stated at the unpaid principal balance of such loans, net of allowances for estimated uncollectible amounts. Deferred Acquisition Costs Acquisition costs include costs and expenses which vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of insurance and investment contracts, such as commissions, direct advertising and printing, and certain support costs such as underwriting and policy issue expenses. Deferred acquisition costs capitalized are determined by actual costs and expenses incurred by product in the year of issue. For investment contracts, the amortization of deferred acquisition cost is based on the present value of the anticipated gross profits resulting from investments, interest credited, surrender charges, mortality and maintenance expenses. As actual gross profits vary from projected, the impact on amortization is included in net income. For insurance contracts, the acquisition costs are amortized in relation to the benefit payments or the present value of expected future premiums. Deferred acquisition costs are reviewed to determine if they are recoverable from future income, including investment income, and, if not considered recoverable, are charged to expense. Goodwill Goodwill is amortized over its estimated period of 25 years of benefit on the straight-line method. Goodwill in excess of associated expected operating cash flows is considered to be impaired and is written down to fair value. Federal Income Taxes The Company is included with GE Capital Assurance in a life insurance consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred taxes are allocated by applying the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes to members of the group as if each member was a separate taxpayer. Intercompany balances are settled annually. Reinsurance Premium revenue, benefits, underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses are reported net of the amounts relating to reinsurance ceded to other companies, except for reinsurance costs for universal life products. Amounts due from reinsurers for incurred and estimated future claims are reflected in the reinsurance recoverable asset which is included in other assets on the balance sheet. The cost of reinsurance is accounted for over the terms of the related treaties using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying reinsured policies. F-7 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (1) Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies -- Continued Future Annuity and Contract Benefits Future annuity and contract benefits consist of the liabilities for life insurance policies, accident and health, and deferred annuity contracts. The liability for insurance and accident and health contracts is calculated based upon actuarial assumptions as to mortality, morbidity, interest, expense and withdrawals, with experience adjustments for adverse deviation where appropriate. The liability for deferred annuity contracts is generally equal to the policyholder's current account value. Liability for Policy and Contract Claims The liability for policy and contract claims represents the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the end of the respective reporting period. The estimated liability includes requirements for future payments of (a) claims that have been reported to the insurer, (b) claims related to insured events that have occurred but that have not been reported to the insurer as of the date the liability is estimated, and (c) claim adjustment expenses. Claim adjustment expenses include costs incurred in the claim settlement process such as legal fees and costs to record, process, and adjust claims. Separate Account Assets and Liabilities The separate account assets and liabilities represent funds held for the exclusive benefit of the variable annuity contract owners. The Company receives mortality risk fees and administration charges from the variable mutual fund portfolios. The separate account assets are carried at fair value and are equivalent to the liabilities that represent the policyholders' equity in those assets. Accounting Pronouncement Not Yet Adopted The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Statement 133), effective for the Company on January 1, 2001 (as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137, Deferral of the Effective Date of Statement No. 133). Upon adoption, all derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) will be recognized in the balance sheet at fair value, and changes in such fair values must be recognized immediately in earnings unless specific hedging criteria are met. Changes in the values of derivatives meeting these hedging criteria will ultimately offset related earnings effects of the hedged items; effects of qualifying changes in fair value are to be recorded in equity pending recognition in earnings. Certain significant refinements and interpretations of Statement 133 are being deliberated by the FASB , and the effects on accounting for the Company's financial instruments will depend to some degree on the results of such deliberations. Management has not determined the total probable effects of adopting Statement 133, and does not believe that an estimate of such effects would be meaningful at this time. (2) Investments General For the years ended December 31, the sources of investment income of the Company were as follows: 1999 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ Fixed maturities..................................... $109.1 $101.1 $ 99.1 Mortgage loans....................................... 17.8 15.4 13.6 ------ ------ ------ Gross investment income.............................. 126.9 116.5 112.7 Investment expenses.................................. (0.9) (0.6) (1.1) ------ ------ ------ Net investment income................................ $126.0 $115.9 $111.6 ====== ====== ====== F-8 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (2) Investments -- Continued For the years ended December 31, sales proceeds and gross realized investment gains and losses resulting from the sales of investment securities available-for-sale were as follows: 1999 1998 1997 ------ ------ ----- Sales proceeds........................................ $143.0 $153.4 $88.0 ------ ------ ----- Gross realized investment: Gains................................................ 1.1 3.2 2.6 Losses............................................... (0.8) (0.7) (0.4) ------ ------ ----- Net realized investment gains......................... $ 0.3 $ 2.5 $ 2.2 ====== ====== ===== The additional proceeds from investments presented in the Statements of Cash Flows result from principal collected on mortgage and asset-backed securities, maturities, calls and sinking fund payments. Net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities reflected as a separate component of shareholder's interest are summarized as follows: December 31, ---------------------- 1999 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ Net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturities available-for-sale before adjustments............ $(78.3) $ 23.8 $ 22.0 Adjustments to the present value of future profits and deferred acquisition costs................... 28.3 (12.9) (10.8) Deferred income taxes............................. 17.5 (3.8) (3.9) ------ ------ ------ Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for- sale investment securities....................... $(32.5) $ 7.1 $ 7.3 ====== ====== ====== At December 31, the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair values of the Company's fixed maturities available-for-sale were as follows: Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair 1999 Cost Gains Losses Value ---- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- Fixed maturities: U.S. government and agency........ $ 50.0 $ -- $ (9.8) $ 40.2 Non U.S. government............... 5.1 -- (0.1) 5.0 Non U.S. corporate................ 119.9 0.2 (5.4) 114.7 U.S. corporate.................... 940.6 2.3 (57.4) 885.5 Mortgage backed................... 221.0 2.2 (3.5) 219.7 Asset backed...................... 330.6 0.3 (7.1) 323.8 -------- ----- ------ -------- Total fixed maturities............. $1,667.2 $ 5.0 $(83.3) $1,588.9 ======== ===== ====== ======== Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair 1998 Cost Gains Losses Value ---- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- Fixed maturities: U.S. government and agency........ $ 8.0 $ 0.1 $ -- $ 8.1 Non U.S. government............... 5.2 0.3 -- 5.5 Non U.S. corporate................ 63.7 1.8 (2.2) 63.3 U.S. corporate.................... 1,000.2 22.5 (7.7) 1,015.0 Mortgage backed................... 429.7 10.3 (1.3) 438.7 -------- ----- ------ -------- Total fixed maturities............. $1,506.8 $35.0 $(11.2) $1,530.6 ======== ===== ====== ======== F-9 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (2) Investments -- Continued The scheduled maturity distribution of the fixed maturity portfolio at December 31, 1999 follows. Expected maturities may differ from scheduled contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Amortized Fair Cost Value --------- -------- Due in one year or less.................................. $ 72.5 $ 71.5 Due after one year through five years.................... 397.9 386.8 Due after five years through ten years................... 229.3 219.3 Due after ten years...................................... 415.9 367.8 -------- -------- Subtotals.............................................. 1,115.6 1,045.4 Mortgage backed securities............................... 221.0 219.7 Asset backed securities.................................. 330.6 323.8 -------- -------- Totals................................................. $1,667.2 $1,588.9 ======== ======== At December 31, 1999, $79.4 of the Company's investments (excluding mortgage and asset-backed securities) were subject to certain call provisions. As required by law, the Company has investments on deposit with governmental authorities and banks for the protection of policyholders of $0.5 and $0.4 at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. At December 31, 1999, approximately 23.8%, 9.3% and 15.7% of the Company's investment portfolio is comprised of securities issued by the manufacturing, utility and financial industries, respectively, the vast majority of which are rated investment grade, and which are senior secured bonds. This portfolio is widely diversified among various geographic regions in the United States, and is not dependent on the economic stability of one particular region. At December 31, 1999, the Company did not hold any fixed maturity securities, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, which exceeded 10% of shareholder's interest. The credit quality of the fixed maturity portfolio at December 31 follows. The categories are based on the higher of the ratings published by Standard & Poors or Moody's. 1999 1998 ---------------- ---------------- Fair Fair Value Percent Value Percent -------- ------- -------- ------- Agencies and treasuries................... $ 166.6 10.5% $ 215.3 14.1% AAA/Aaa................................... 379.4 23.9 196.8 12.9 AA/Aa..................................... 118.9 7.5 91.7 6.0 A/A....................................... 332.3 20.9 457.3 29.9 BBB/Baa................................... 415.4 26.1 444.5 29.0 BB/Ba..................................... 47.0 3.0 44.8 2.9 B/B....................................... 8.0 0.5 8.5 0.5 Not rated................................. 121.3 7.6 71.7 4.7 -------- ----- -------- ----- Totals.................................. $1,588.9 100.0% $1,530.6 100.0% ======== ===== ======== ===== Bonds with ratings ranging from AAA/Aaa to BBB-/Baa3 are generally regarded as investment grade securities. Some agencies and treasuries (that is, those securities issued by the United States government or an agency thereof) are not rated, but all are considered to be investment grade securities. Finally, some securities, such as private placements, have not been F-10 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (2) Investments -- Continued assigned a rating by any rating service and are therefore categorized as "not rated." This has neither positive nor negative implications regarding the value of the security. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, there were no fixed maturities in default as to principal or interest. Mortgage Loans At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company's mortgage loan portfolio consisted of first mortgage loans on commercial real estate properties of 153 and 126, respectively. The loans, which are originated by the Company through a network of mortgage bankers, are made only on completed, leased properties and generally have a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 75% at the date of origination. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, the Company held $73.4 and $40.2 in mortgages secured by real estate in California, comprising 27.7% and 21.0% of the respective total mortgage portfolio. For the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively, the Company originated $38.3, $9.5 and $11.4 of mortgages secured by real estate in California, which represent 40.9%, 24.0% and 28.0% and of the respective total originations for those years. As of December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company was committed to fund $22.8 and $26.1, respectively, in mortgage loans. "Impaired" loans are defined under generally accepted accounting principles as loans for which it is probable that the lender will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. That definition excludes, among other things, leases, or large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans, and therefore applies principally to the Company's commercial loans. There were no impaired loans at December 31, 1999 and 1998. (3) Deferred Acquisition Costs Activity impacting deferred acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, was as follows: 1999 1998 1997 ----- ----- ----- Unamortized balance at January 1...................... $56.6 $46.8 $31.2 Costs deferred........................................ 29.9 14.4 18.5 Amortization, net..................................... (6.6) (4.6) (2.9) ----- ----- ----- Unamortized balance at December 31.................... 79.9 56.6 46.8 ----- ----- ----- Cumulative effect of net unrealized investment (gains) losses............................................... 14.9 (7.2) (4.1) ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31................................ $94.8 $49.4 $42.7 ===== ===== ===== (4) Intangible Assets Present Value of Future Profits (PVFP) In conjunction with the acquisition of the Company in 1993, a portion of the purchase price was assigned to the right to receive future gross profits arising from existing insurance and investment contracts. This intangible asset, PVFP, represents the actuarially determined present value of the projected future cash flows from the acquired policies. The method used by the Company to value PVFP is summarized as follows: (1) identify the future gross profits attributable to certain lines of business, (2) identify the risks inherent in realizing those gross profits, and (3) discount those gross profits at the rate of return that the Company must earn in order to accept the inherent risks. F-11 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (4) Intangible Assets -- Continued PVFP is amortized, net of accreted interest, in a manner similar to the amortization of deferred acquisition costs. Interest accretes at rates credited to policyholders on underlying contracts. As actual results vary from projected amounts, the impact on amortization is included in net income. Recoverability of PVFP is evaluated periodically by comparing the current estimate of expected future gross profits to the unamortized asset balance. If such comparison indicates that the expected gross profits will not be sufficient to recover PVFP, the difference is charged to expense. The following table presents the activity in PVFP for the years ended December 31: 1999 1998 1997 ----- ----- ----- Unamortized balance at January 1...................... $26.4 $32.2 $38.9 Interest accreted at 4.7% in 1999, 5.0% in 1998 and 5.6% in 1997......................................... 0.8 1.0 1.4 Amortization.......................................... (5.4) (6.8) (8.1) ----- ----- ----- Unamortized balance at December 31.................... 21.8 26.4 32.2 ----- ----- ----- Cumulative effect of net unrealized investment (gains) losses............................................... 13.4 (5.8) (6.7) ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31................................ $35.2 $20.6 $25.5 ===== ===== ===== The estimated percentage of the December 31, 1999 balance, before the effect of unrealized investment gains or losses, to be amortized over each of the next five years is as follows: 2000..................................... 15% 2001..................................... 12% 2002..................................... 8% 2003..................................... 7% 2004..................................... 5% Goodwill At December 31, 1999 and 1998, total unamortized goodwill was $28.4 and $29.9, respectively, which is shown net of accumulated amortization of $10.0 and $8.5, respectively. Goodwill amortization was $1.5, $1.5, and $1.6 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Goodwill in excess of associated expected operating cash flows is considered to be impaired and is written down to fair value (no such write-downs have been made). (5) Reinsurance In order to limit the amount of loss retention, certain policy risks are reinsured with other insurance companies. The maximum amount of life insurance retained on any one life may not exceed $0.2. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company of its obligations to policyholders. In the unlikely event that the reinsurers would be unable to meet their obligations, the Company is liable for the reinsured claims. The Company monitors both the financial condition of individual reinsurers and risk concentrations arising from similar geographic regions, activities and economic characteristics of reinsurers to lessen the risk of default by such reinsurers. The Company has a reinsurance agreement with an affiliated company whereby it assumed all liabilities and future premiums related to the affiliate's New York business. Certain fixed maturities with a fair value of $60.0 at December 31, 1999 were held in trust for the benefit of policyholders. F-12 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (5) Reinsurance -- Continued The effects of reinsurance on premiums written and earned for the years ended December 31 were as follows: Written Earned ------------------- ------------------- 1999 1998 1997 1999 1998 1997 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Direct........................... $78.8 $82.8 $48.2 $76.2 $80.6 $44.5 Assumed.......................... 5.2 4.0 3.6 5.2 4.0 3.6 Ceded............................ (2.3) (1.7) (1.1) (2.3) (1.3) (1.2) ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Net Premiums..................... $81.7 $85.1 $50.7 $79.1 $83.3 $46.9 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Percentage of amount assumed to net............................. 6.6% 4.8% 7.7% ===== ===== ===== Reinsurance recoveries recognized as a reduction of benefits amounted to $9.3, $10.8, and $11.2, during 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. These recoveries were partially offset by certain changes in benefits and other policy reserves. (6) Future Annuity and Contract Benefits Investment Contracts Investment contracts are broadly defined to include contracts without significant mortality or morbidity risk. Payments received from sales of investment contracts are recognized by providing a liability equal to the current account value of the policyholders' contracts. Interest rates credited to investment contracts are guaranteed for the initial policy term with renewal rates determined as necessary by management. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, investment contracts totaled $1,474.4 and $1,313.2, respectively. Insurance Contracts Insurance contracts are broadly defined to include contracts with significant mortality and/or morbidity risk. The liability for future benefits of insurance contracts is the present value of such benefits less the present value of future net premiums based on mortality, morbidity, and other assumptions which were appropriate at the time the policies were issued or acquired. These assumptions are periodically evaluated for potential premium deficiencies. Any changes in the estimated liability are reflected in income as the estimates are revised. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, insurance contracts, totaled $262.6 and $196.8, respectively. Interest rate assumptions used in calculating the present value of future annuity and contract benefits range from 3.6% to 9.9%. (7) Related-Party Transactions The Company receives administrative services from certain affiliates for which progress payments for these services are made monthly. For the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, these services were valued at $17.7, $7.6, and $9.8, respectively. (8) Income Taxes The total provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31 consisted of the following components: 1999 1998 1997 ----- ----- ----- Current federal income tax provision.................... $13.7 $16.7 $13.2 Deferred federal income tax benefit..................... (1.2) (3.5) (1.7) ----- ----- ----- Federal provision....................................... 12.5 13.2 11.5 Current state income tax provision...................... -- 0.5 -- ----- ----- ----- Total income tax provision.............................. $12.5 $13.7 $11.5 ===== ===== ===== F-13 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (8) Income Taxes -- Continued The reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows: 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate..................... 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% State income tax, net of federal effect.................... -- 0.9 -- Goodwill amortization...................................... 1.8 1.6 1.9 Other, net................................................. 4.0 3.8 2.8 ---- ---- ---- Effective rate............................................. 40.8% 41.3% 39.7% ==== ==== ==== The components of the net deferred income tax asset at December 31 are as follows: 1999 1998 ------ ------ Assets: Net unrealized losses on investment securities.............. $ 17.5 $ -- Future annuity and contract benefits........................ 34.9 75.3 ------ ------ Total deferred income tax assets............................. 52.4 75.3 ====== ====== Liabilities: Net unrealized gains on investment securities............... -- (3.8) Investments................................................. (1.0) (6.8) Present value of future profits............................. (5.2) (21.6) Deferred acquisition costs.................................. (19.6) (32.9) Other, net.................................................. (1.8) (9.7) ------ ------ Total deferred income tax liabilities........................ (27.6) (74.8) ------ ------ Net deferred income tax asset................................ $ 24.8 $ 0.5 ====== ====== The Company paid $11.2, $13.6 and $12.1, for federal and state income taxes in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Based on an analysis of the Company's tax position, management believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations and implementation of tax planning strategies will generate sufficient taxable income enabling the Company to realize remaining deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is deemed necessary. (9) Commitments and Contingencies Guaranty Association Assessments The Company is required to participate in the guaranty association of the state of New York. The state guaranty association ensures payment of guaranteed benefits, with certain restrictions to policyholders of impaired or insolvent insurance companies, by assessing all other companies involved in similar lines of business. The insolvency of a major insurer that wrote significant business in New York could have an adverse impact on the profitability of the Company. The Company paid $0.3, $0.2, and $0.2 to the New York State guaranty association during 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Litigation The Company is a defendant in various cases of litigation considered to be in the normal course of business. The Company believes that the outcome of such litigation will not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. F-14 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (10) Fair Value of Financial Instruments The fair values of financial instruments presented in the applicable notes to the Company's financial statements are estimates of the fair values at a specific point in time using available market information and valuation methodologies considered appropriate by management. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and significant judgment in the interpretation of current market data. Therefore, the fair values presented are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company could realize or settle currently. The Company does not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. Fixed maturities which, as a matter of accounting policy, are reflected in the accompanying financial statements at fair value are not included in the following disclosures. The carrying value of policy loans, short-term investments and accrued investment income approximates fair value at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. At December 31, the carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows: 1999 1998 ----------------- ----------------- Carrying Fair Carrying Fair Amount Value Amount Value -------- -------- -------- -------- Mortgage loans........................... $ 265.3 $ 261.8 $ 190.7 $ 207.5 Investment contracts..................... 1,463.8 1,411.6 1,302.7 1,265.9 ======== ======== ======== ======== The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using interest rates applicable to current loan originations, adjusted for credit risks. The estimated fair value of investment contracts is the amount payable on demand (cash surrender value) for deferred annuities and the net present value based on interest rates currently offered on similar contracts for non-life contingent immediate annuities. (11) Restrictions on Dividends State insurance departments which regulate life insurance companies recognize only statutory accounting practices for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company, for determining its solvency under law, and for determining whether its financial condition warrants the payment of a dividend to its shareholders. The maximum amount of dividends, which can be paid by State of New York insurance companies to shareholders without prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner, is subject to certain restrictions. No dividend payout may be made without prior approval. The Company last paid a dividend to GECA of $16.5 in 1999. (12) Supplementary Financial Data The Company files financial statements with state insurance regulatory authorities and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) that are prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities (statutory basis). Statutory accounting practices differ from GAAP in several respects, causing differences in reported net income and shareholder's interest. Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed but that have been specifically allowed by state insurance authority. The Company has no significant permitted accounting practices. Statutory net income for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 was $5.1, $24.8, and $13.7, respectively. Statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 was $153.7 and $168.8, respectively. The NAIC has adopted Risk-Based Capital (RBC) requirements to evaluate the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus in relation to risks associated with: (i) asset quality, (ii) insurance risk, (iii) interest rate risk, and (iv) other business factors. F-15 GE CAPITAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (Dollar amounts in millions) (12) Supplementary Financial Data -- Continued The RBC formula is designated as an early warning tool for the states to identify possible under-capitalized companies for the purpose of initiating regulatory action. In the course of operations, the Company periodically monitors its level of RBC. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company exceeded the minimum required RBC levels. (13) Business Segments The Company conducts its operations through two business segments: (1) Wealth Accumulation and Transfer, comprised of products intended to increase the policyholder's wealth, transfer wealth to beneficiaries or provide for a means for replacing the income of the insured in the event of premature death, and (2) Lifestyle Protection and Enhancement, comprised of products intended to protect accumulated wealth and income from the financial drain of unforeseen events. The following is a summary of industry segment activity for 1999, 1998 and 1997: 1999 1998 ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Wealth Lifestyle Wealth Lifestyle accumulation & protection & accumulation & protection & transfer enhancement Total transfer enhancement Total -------------- ------------ -------- -------------- ------------ -------- Net investment income... $ 120.0 $ 6.0 $ 126.0 $ 111.9 $ 4.0 $ 115.9 Net unrealized investment gains....... 0.3 -- 0.3 2.5 -- 2.5 Premiums................ 36.3 42.8 79.1 48.3 35.0 83.3 Other revenues.......... 3.4 -- 3.4 3.0 -- 3.0 -------- ------ -------- -------- ----- -------- Total revenues........ $ 160.0 $ 48.8 $ 208.8 $ 165.7 $39.0 $ 204.7 -------- ------ -------- -------- ----- -------- Interest credited, benefits and other changes in policy reserves............... 114.0 33.7 147.7 122.0 26.0 148.0 Commissions............. 17.8 10.3 28.1 8.0 9.0 17.0 Amortization of intangibles............ 5.5 0.6 6.1 6.3 1.0 7.3 Other operating costs and expenses........... (3.5) (0.2) (3.7) 3.2 (4.0) (0.8) -------- ------ -------- -------- ----- -------- Total benefits and expenses............. 133.8 44.4 178.2 139.5 32.0 171.5 -------- ------ -------- -------- ----- -------- Income before income taxes................ $ 26.2 $ 4.4 $ 30.6 $ 26.2 $ 7.0 $ 33.2 ======== ====== ======== ======== ===== ======== Total assets............ $1,986.2 $135.7 $2,121.9 $1,787.7 $93.3 $1,881.0 ======== ====== ======== ======== ===== ======== 1997 ------------------------------------ Wealth Lifestyle accumulation & protection & transfer enhancement Total -------------- ------------ -------- Net investment income................... $ 107.5 $ 4.1 $ 111.6 Net unrealized investment losses........ 2.2 -- 2.2 Premiums................................ 20.5 26.4 46.9 Other revenues.......................... 3.7 -- 3.7 -------- ----- -------- Total revenues........................ $ 133.9 $30.5 $ 164.4 -------- ----- -------- Interest credited, benefits and other changes in policy reserves............. 99.1 15.1 114.2 Commissions............................. 8.9 8.7 17.6 Amortization of intangibles............. 7.4 0.8 8.2 Other operating costs and expenses...... (0.1) (4.5) (4.6) -------- ----- -------- Total benefits and expenses........... 115.3 20.1 135.4 -------- ----- -------- Income before income taxes............ $ 18.6 $10.4 $ 29.0 ======== ===== ======== Total assets............................ $1,711.9 $95.6 $1,807.5 ======== ===== ======== F-16 PART II OTHER INFORMATION Undertaking To File Reports Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports as may be prescribed by any rule or regulation of the Commission heretofore, or hereafter duly adopted pursuant to authority conferred in that section. Rule 484 Undertaking Section 722 of the Code of New York, in brief, allow a corporation to indemnify any person made party to a proceeding because such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (1) he conducted himself in good faith; and (2) he believed that (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, his conduct was in its best interests; and (b) in all other cases, his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction is not, of itself, determinative that the director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation did not meet the standard of conduct described. A corporation may not indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, in which such person was adjudged liable to the corporation, or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to such person, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which such person was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. Indemnification permitted under these sections of the Code of New York in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding. Article VIII, Section 1 of the By-Laws of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York further provides that: (a) The Corporation may indemnify any person, made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding other than one by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other Corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Corporation served in any capacity at the request of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Corporation, or served such other Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonable believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other Corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. II-1 (b) The termination of any such civil or criminal action or proceeding by judgment, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not in itself create a presumption that any such director or officer did not act, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other Corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation or that he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. (c) A Corporation may indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of any other Corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in or in the case of service for other Corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification under this paragraph shall be made in respect of (1) a threatened action or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement and expenses as the court deems proper. (d) For the purpose of this section, the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the Corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provision, or otherwise under circumstances where the burden of proof set forth in Section 11(b) of the Act has not been sustained, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is II-2 asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. Representation Pursuant To Section 26(e)(2)(A) GE Capital Life hereby represents that the fees and charges deducted under the Policy, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by GE Capital Life. Contents Of Registration Statement This Registration Statement comprises the following Papers and Documents: The facing sheet. The prospectus consisting of pages. The undertaking to file reports. The Rule 484 undertaking. Representation pursuant to Section 26(e)(2)(A). The signatures. Written consents of the following persons: (a) Donita King, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary (b) Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (c) Paul A. Haley, F.S.A. (d) KPMG LLP. The following exhibits, corresponding to those required by paragraph A of the instructions as to exhibits in Form N-8B-2: (b) Exhibits 1 A. (1)(a) Resolution of Board of Directors of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York ("GE Capital Life") authorizing the establishment of the GE Capital Life Separate Account III (the "Separate Account").(5) 1 A. (1)(b) Resolution of Board of Directors of GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York ("GE Capital Life") authorizing the establishment of investment subdivisions of the Separate Account investing in shares of 43 investment subdivisions/subaccounts.(5) 1 A. (2) Not Applicable. 1 A. (3) Underwriting Agreement between GE Capital Life and Capital Brokerage Corporation.(2) 1 A. (3)(a) Dealer Sales Agreement.(2) 1 A. (3)(c) Commission Schedule.(6) 1 A. (4) None. II-3 1 A. (5)(a) Policy Form NY1255(6) 1 A. (5)(b) Endorsements/ Riders to Policy Form(5) 1 A. (5)(b)(i) Policy Split Option Rider, NY4473 12/99(5) 1 A. (5)(b)(ii) Joint Life Level Term Insurance Rider, NY4474 12/99(5) 1 A. (6)(a) Certificate of Incorporation of GE Capital Life.(1) 1 A. (6)(b) By-Laws of GE Capital Life.(1) 1 A. (7) Not Applicable. 1 A. (8)(a) Participation Agreement regarding Alger American Fund.(2) 1 A. (8)(a)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Alger American Fund.(6) 1 A. (8)(b) Participation Agreement regarding Federated Insurance Series.(2) 1 A. (8)(b)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Federated Insurance Series.(6) 1 A. (8)(c) Participation Agreement regarding GE Investments Funds, Inc.(2) 1 A. (8)(c)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and GE Investments Funds, Inc.(6) 1 A. (8)(d) Participation Agreement regarding Janus Aspen Series.(2) 1 A. (8)(d)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Janus Aspen Series.(6) 1 A. (8)(e) Participation Agreement regarding Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds.(2) 1 A. (8)(e)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds.(6) 1 A. (8)(f) Participation Agreement regarding Variable Insurance Products Fund.(2) 1 A. (8)(f)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products Fund.(6) 1 A. (8)(g) Participation Agreement regarding Variable Insurance Products Fund II.(2) 1 A. (8)(g)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products II.(6) 1 A. (8)(h) Participation Agreement regarding Variable Insurance Products Fund III.(2) 1 A. (8)(h)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products Fund III.(6) 1 A. (8)(i) Participation Agreement regarding Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.(2) 1 A. (8)(i)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.(6) 1 A. (8)(j) Participation Agreement regarding Salomon Brothers Variable Series Fund.(4) 1 A. (8)(j)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Salomon Brothers Variable Series Fund.(6) 1 A. (9) Opinion and Consent of Counsel.(6) 1 A. (10) Form of Individual Policy Application.(6) II-4 2. Opinion and Consent of Donita King, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary(6) 3.(a) Consent of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP.(6) 3.(b) Consent of Independent Auditors.(6) 4. Not Applicable. 5. Not Applicable. 6. Opinion and Consent of Paul A. Haley, F.S.A.(6) 7. Consolidated memorandum describing certain procedures filed pursuant to Rule 6e-2(b)(12)(ii) and Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(12)(iii)(6) 8.(a) Power of Attorney, April 1997.(1) 8.(b) Power of Attorney, April 1999.(5) 8.(c) Power of Attorney, July 2000.(6) - -------- (1) Incorporated herein by reference to initial filing of the registration statement on Form N-4, File No. 333-39955, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 1997. (2) Incorporated herein by reference to pre-effective amendment of the registration statement on Form N-4, File No. 333-39955, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 1998. (3) Incorporated herein by reference to post-effective amendment filing of the registration statement on Form N-4, File No. 333-39955, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 1999. (4) Incorporated herein by reference to post-effective amendment filing of the registration statement on Form N-4, File No. 333-39955, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 1999. (5) Filed March 21, 2000 with Initial Registration Statement Filed of Form S-6, for GE Capital Life Separate Account III, File No. 333-32908. (6) Filed Herein. II-5 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, GE Capital Life Separate Account III has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, and its seal to be hereunto affixed and attested, all in the City of New York in the State of New York, on the 26th day of July, 2000. GE Capital Life Separate Account III (Registrant) /s/ Donita King By: _________________________________ Donita King Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York (Depositor) /s/ Laura C. Deusebio Attest: _______________________ Laura C. Deuseblo Name /s/ Donita King By: _________________________________ Donita King Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York (Depositor) /s/ Laura C. Deusebio Attest: _______________________ Laura C. Deuseblo Name Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated. Directors and Officers of GE Capital Life Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- * Chairperson 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Pamela S. Schutz * President, Chief Executive 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Officer & Managing Cheryl Whaley Officer * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Marshall S. Belkin * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Richard I. Byer II-6 * Vice President and Chief 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Financial Officer Thomas W. Casey * Vice President and 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Investment Officer Stephen N. DeVos * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Bernard M. Eiber * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Jerry S. Handler * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Gerald A. Kaufman /s/ Donita King Senior Vice President, 7/26/00 ______________________________________ General Counsel & Donita King Secretary * Senior Vice President 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Leon E. Roday * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ A. Louis Parker * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Ididore Sapir * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Thomas A. Skiff * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Steven A. Smith * Director 7/26/00 ______________________________________ Geoffrey S. Stiff By /s/ Donita King, pursuant to Power of Attorney executed on April 25, 1999. ------------------ II-7 EXHIBIT LIST 1 A. (3)(c) Commission Schedule. 1 A. (5)(b) Policy Form NY1255. 1 A. (8)(a)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Alger American Fund. 1 A. (8)(b)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Federated Insurance Series. 1 A. (8)(c)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and GE Investments Funds, Inc. 1 A. (8)(d)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Janus Aspen Series. 1 A. (8)(e)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds. 1 A. (8)(f)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products Fund. 1 A. (8)(g)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products Fund II. 1 A. (8)(h)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Variable Insurance Products Fund III. 1 A. (8)(i)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. 1 A. (8)(j)(i) Form of Amendment to the Participation Agreement between GE Capital Life of New York and Salomon Brothers Variable Series Fund. 1 A. (10) Form of Individual Policy Application. 2. Opinion and Consent of Donita King, General Counsel 3. (a) Consent of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP. 3. (b) Consent of Independent Auditors. 6. Consent of Paul Haley, F.S.A. 7. Consolidated memorandum describing certain procedures filed pursuant to Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(12)(iii). 8. (c) Power of Attorney July 2000. II-8