[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 127 (Monday, July 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34566-34568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16210]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Rel. No. IC-21165; No. 812-9392]


Anchor National Life Insurance Company, et al.

June 26, 1995.
agency: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

action: Notice of application for an order pursuant to the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (the ``1940 Act'').

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

applicants: Anchor National Life Insurance Company (``Anchor 
National''), Variable Annuity Account Four (the ``Variable Account''), 
and SunAmerica Capital Services, Inc. (``SunAmerica'').

relevant 1940 act sections: Order requested pursuant to Section 6(c) of 
the 1940 Act for exemptions from the provisions of Sections 26(a)(2)(C) 
and 27(c)(2) thereof.

summary of application: Applicants seek an order permitting the 
deduction of mortality and expense risk and distribution expense risk 
charges from: the assets of the Variable Account in connection with the 
offer and sale of certain flexible payment deferred annuity contracts 
(``Existing Contracts'') and any annuity contracts substantially 
similar in all material respects to the Existing Contracts (``Future 
Contracts,'' together with Existing Contracts, the ``Contracts'') which 
may be sold in the future by the Variable Account; or the assets of any 
other separate account (``Future Accounts,'' together with the Variable 
Account, the ``Accounts'') established in the future by Anchor National 
in connection with the issuance of Future Contracts.

filing date: The application was filed on December 21, 1994, and 
amended on June 16, 1995.

hearing or Notification of hearing: An order granting the application 
will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested 
persons may request a hearing on the application by writing to the 
Secretary of the Commission and serving Applicants with a copy of the 
request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests must be received by 
the commission by 5:30 p.m. on July 21, 1995, and should be accompanied 
by proof of service on Applicants in the form of an affidavit or, for 
lawyers, a certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the 
nature of the writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the 
issues contested. Persons may request notification of a hearing by 
writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

addresses: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20549. Applicants, Susan L. Harris, Esq., 
SunAmerica Inc., 1 SunAmerica Center, Century City, Los Angles, 
California 90067-6022.

for further information contact: Kevin M. Kirchoff, Senior Counsel, or 
Patrice M. Pitts, Special Counsel, Office of Insurance Products 
(Division of Investment Management), at (202) 942-0670.

supplementary information: The following is a summary of the 
application; the complete application is available for a fee from the 
Public Reference Branch of the Commission.

Applicants' Representations

    1. Anchor National is a stock life insurance company incorporated 
under the laws of the State of California.
    2. SunAmerica will serve as distributor of the Contracts. 
SunAmerica is registered as a broker-dealer pursuant to the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934.
    3. The Variable Account was established by Anchor National as a 
separate investment account on November 8, 1994, to act as a funding 
medium for variable annuity contracts. The Variable Account is 
registered pursuant to the 1940 Act as a unit investment trust.
    4. The Variable Account presently consists of eighteen subaccounts, 
each of which will invest in the shares of one of four available 
separate investment series of the Anchor Series Trust or one of 
fourteen available separate investment series of the SunAmerica Series 
Trust. Additional underlying funds may become available in the future. 
Both the Anchor Series Trust and the SunAmerica Series Trust are 
registered pursuant to the 1940 Act as diversified, open-end, 
management investment companies.
    5. The Variable Account and each of its subaccounts is administered 
and accounted for as part of the general business of Anchor National, 
but the income, gains or losses of each subaccount are credited to or 
charged against the assets held in that subaccount in accordance with 
the terms of the Contracts, without regard to other income, gains or 
losses of any other subaccount or arising out of any other business 
Anchor National may conduct.
    6. The Contracts are available for retirement plans which do not 
qualify for the special federal tax advantages available pursuant to 
the International Revenue Code and for retirement plans which do 
qualify for the federal tax advantages available pursuant to the 
Internal Revenue Code. The Contracts provide for the accumulation of 
contract values and payment of annuity benefits on a fixed and variable 
basis.
    7. Purchase payments under the Contracts may be made to the general 
account of Anchor National under one of the Contracts' fixed account 
options (the ``Fixed Account''), the Variable Account, or allocated 
between them. The minimum initial purchase payment for a Contract 
issued on a qualified or non-qualified basis is $50,000 and additional 
purchase payments may be made in amounts of at least $500.
    8. If the contract owner dies during the accumulation period, a 
death benefit will be payable to the beneficiary upon receipt by Anchor 
National of due proof of death. The standard death benefit is equal to 
the greater of:
    (1) The contract value at the end of the valuation period during 
which due proof of death (and an election of the type of payment to the 
beneficiary) is received by Anchor National; or
    (2) The total dollar amount of purchase payments, minus the sum of:
    (a) The total amount of any partial withdrawals and partial 
annuitizations, and
    (b) Premium taxes incurred.
    9. Where permitted by state law, Anchor National will provide an 
enhanced death benefit. During the first seven contract years, the 
enhanced death benefit is determined by recomputing the standard death 
benefit by accumulating all amounts under (2) above annually at 4% (3% 
if the contract owner was age 70 or order on the date of issue) to the 
date of death. After the seventh contract year, the enhanced death 
benefit is the greater of the amount recomputed as above, or the 
following:
    The contract value at the seventh contract anniversary, plus any 
purchase payments made since that anniversary, minus the sum of:
    (1) The total amount of partial withdrawals and partial 
annuitizations since such seventh anniversary, and

[[Page 34567]]

    (2) Premium taxes incurred since the seventh anniversary, all 
accumulated annually at 4% (3% if the contract owner was age 70 or 
older on the date of issue) to the date of death.
    10. During the accumulation period, amounts allocated to the 
Variable Account may be transferred among the portfolios and/or the 
Fixed Account. Both prior to and after the annuity date, contract 
values may be transferred from the Variable Account to the Fixed 
Account. Any amounts allocated or transferred to the Fixed Account may 
be transferred from the Fixed Account to the Variable Account only on 
or before the annuity date. The first fifteen transactions effecting 
such transfers in any contract year are permitted without the 
imposition of a transfer fee. A transfer fee of $25 ($10 in 
Pennsylvania and Texas) is assessed on the sixteenth and each 
subsequent transfer within the contract year. This fee will be deducted 
from contract values which remain in the subaccount (or the Fixed 
Account) from which the transfer was made. If such remaining contract 
value is insufficient to pay the transfer fee, then the fee will be 
deducted from transferred contract values. Applicants represent that 
the transfer fee is at cost with no anticipation of profit.
    11. Although there is a ``free withdrawal'' amount, a contingent 
deferred sales charge, which is referred to as the withdrawal charge, 
may be imposed upon certain withdrawals. Withdrawal charges will vary 
in amount depending upon the contribution year of the purchase payment 
at the time of withdrawal. During the first nine contribution years the 
withdrawal charge percentage will be 0.75%. During the tenth and 
subsequent contribution years there will be no withdrawal charge.
    20. Anchor National currently intends to deduct premium taxes at 
the time of surrender, upon death of the contract owner or upon 
annuitization. Anchor National reserves the right, however, to deduct 
premium taxes when they are incurred. Some states assess premium taxes 
at the time purchase payments are made. Other states assess premium 
taxes at the time of surrender or when annuity payments begin. Premium 
taxes range from 0% to 3% in the jurisdictions in which Anchor National 
anticipates that the Contracts will be sold.
    13. The withdrawal charge is deducted from remaining contract 
values so that the actual reduction in contract value as a result of 
the withdrawal will be greater than the withdrawal amount requested and 
paid. For purposes of determining the withdrawal charge, withdrawals 
will be allocated first to investment income, if any (which generally 
may be withdrawn free of withdrawal charge), and then to purchase 
payments on a first-in, first-out basis so that all withdrawals are 
allocated to purchase payments to which the lowest (if any) withdrawal 
charge applies.
    14. Anchor National deducts a distribution expense risk charge from 
each portfolio of the Variable Account during each valuation period 
which is equal, on an annual basis, to 0.15% of the net asset value of 
each portfolio. This charge is designed to compensate Anchor National 
for assuming the risk that the cost of distributing the Contracts will 
exceed the revenues from the withdrawal charge. In no event will this 
charge be increased. The distribution expense risk charge is assessed 
during both the accumulation period and the annuity period, but it is 
not applied to contract values allocated to the Fixed Account.
    15. The annuity rates may not be changed under the Contracts. For 
(1) assuming the risk that the life expectancy of an annuitant will be 
greater than that assumed in the guaranteed annuity purchase rates, (2) 
waiving the withdrawal charge in the event of the death of the contract 
owner, and (3) providing both a standard and enhanced death benefit 
prior to the annuity date, Anchor National deducts a mortality risk 
charge from the Variable Account. The charge is deducted from each 
subaccount of the Variable Account during each valuation period at an 
annual rate of 1.02% of the net asset value of each subaccount. The 
portion of the total mortality risk charge attributable to Anchor 
National's assuming (1) and (2) above and providing a standard death 
benefit is 0.90%, the balance of 0.12% is assessed for providing the 
enhanced death benefit.
    16. If the mortality risk charge is insufficient to cover the 
actual costs of assuming the mortality risks, Anchor National will bear 
the loss. If the charge proves more than sufficient, the excess will be 
a profit for Anchor National. To the extent Anchor National realizes 
any such profit, it may be used at its discretion, including for 
offsetting losses experienced when the mortality risk charge is 
insufficient. The mortality risk charge may not be increased under the 
Contracts.
    17. There is no annual contract charge imposed by Anchor National 
to help defray the costs of administering the Contracts. However, 
Anchor National deducts an expense risk charge from the Variable 
Account to cover such administrative costs. The charge is deducted from 
each subaccount of the Variable Account during each valuation period at 
an annual rate of 0.35% of the net asset value of each portfolio. If 
the expense risk charge is insufficient to cover the actual cost of 
administering the Contracts, Anchor National will bear the loss; 
however, if the charge is more than sufficient, the excess will be a 
profit for Anchor National. To the extent that Anchor National realizes 
any such profit, it may be used at its discretion, including for 
offsetting losses when the expense risk charge is insufficient. The 
expense risk charge may not be increased under the Contract.

Applicants' Legal Analysis and Conditions

    1. Applicants request an order pursuant to Section 6(c) of the 1940 
Act exempting them from Sections 26(a)(2)(C) and 27(c)(2) thereof to 
the extent necessary to permit the deduction of mortality and expense 
risk and distribution expense risk charges from the assets of the 
Accounts in connection with the issue and sale of the Contracts.
    2. Pursuant to Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act the Commission may, by 
order upon application, conditionally or unconditionally exempt any 
person, security, or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, 
securities or transactions, from any provision or provisions of the 
1940 Act or from any rule or regulation thereunder, if and to the 
extent that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public 
interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the 
purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act.
    3. Sections 26(a)(2)(C) and 27(c)(2) of the 1940 Act, in pertinent 
part, prohibit a registered unit investment trust and any depositor 
thereof or underwriter therefor from selling periodic payment plan 
certificates unless the proceeds of all payments (other than sales 
load) are deposited with a qualified bank as trustee or custodian and 
are held under arrangements which prohibit any payment to the depositor 
or principal underwriter except a fee, not exceeding such reasonable 
amount as the Commission may prescribe, for performing bookkeeping and 
other administrative services of a character normally performed by the 
bank itself.
    4. Applicants submit that their request for exemptive relief for 
deduction of the mortality and expense risk and distribution expense 
risk charges from the assets of the Accounts in connection with the 
issue and sale of the Contracts would promote competitiveness in the 
variable annuity 

[[Page 34568]]
contract market by eliminating the need for redundant exemptive 
applications, thereby reducing Applicants' administrative expenses and 
maximizing the efficient use of their resources. Applicants further 
submit that the delay and expense involved in having repeatedly to seek 
exemptive relief would impair their ability effectively to take 
advantage of business opportunities as they arise. Further, if 
Applicants were required repeatedly to seek exemptive relief with 
respect to the same issues addressed in this application, investors 
would not receive any benefit or additional protection. Thus, 
Applicants believe that the requested exemptions are appropriate in the 
public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and 
purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act.
    5. Applicants assert that the mortality and expense risk charge of 
1.25% (which includes all risk charges imposed under the Existing 
Contracts with the exception of the 0.12% risk charge for the enhanced 
death benefit) is reasonable in relation to the risks assumed by Anchor 
National under the Existing Contracts and reasonable in amount as 
determined by industry practice with respect to comparable annuity 
products. Applicants state that these determinations are based on their 
analysis of publicly available information about similar industry 
practices, and on consideration of such factors as current charge 
levels and benefits provided, the existence of expense charge 
guarantees and guaranteed annuity rates. Anchor National undertakes to 
maintain at its home office a memorandum, available to the Commission 
upon request, setting forth in detail the methodology used in making 
these determinations.
    6. Applicants assert that the mortality risk charge of 0.12% for 
the enhanced death benefit is reasonable in relation to the risks 
assumed by Anchor National under the Existing Contracts for the 
enhanced death benefit. Anchor National undertakes to maintain at its 
home office a memorandum, available to the Commission upon request, 
setting forth in detail the methodology used in making this 
determination.
    7. Applicants represent that, prior to relying on exemptive relief 
resulting from this application in connection with Future Contracts 
funded through the Accounts, Applicants will determine that any 
mortality and expense risk charges under such contracts are reasonable 
in amount as determined by industry practice with respect to comparable 
annuity products and/or reasonable in relation to the risks assumed by 
Anchor National. Applicants represent that Anchor National will 
maintain and make available to the Commission upon request a memorandum 
setting forth the basis of such conclusion.
    8. Anchor National has concluded that there is a reasonable 
likelihood that the Variable Account's distribution financing 
arrangement will benefit the Variable Account and its investors. Anchor 
National represents that it will maintain and make available to the 
Commission upon request a memorandum setting forth the basis of such 
conclusion.
    9. Applicants represent that, prior to relying on exemptive relief 
resulting from this application in connection with Future Contracts 
funded through the Accounts, Applicants will determine that there is a 
reasonable likelihood that the distribution financing arrangement will 
benefit the Variable Account and its investors or Future Accounts and 
their investors. Anchor National represents that it will maintain and 
make available to the Commission upon request a memorandum setting 
forth the basis of such conclusion.
    10. Anchor National represents that the assets of the Variable 
Account and any Future Accounts will be invested only in management 
investment companies which undertake, in the event they should adopt a 
plan for financing distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under 
the 1940 Act, to have such plan formulated and approved by their board 
of directors, the majority of whom are not ``interested persons'' of 
the management investment company within the meaning of Section 
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
    11. Applicants represent that the amount of any withdrawal charge 
imposed under the Contracts, when added to any distribution expense 
risk charge previously paid thereunder, will not exceed 9% of purchase 
payments, and that Anchor National will monitor the account of each 
Contract owner to ensure that this limitation is not exceeded.

Conclusion

    For the reasons summarized above, Applicants represent that the 
exemptions requested are necessary and appropriate in the public 
interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the 
purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-16210 Filed 6-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M