e485bpos
 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2009.
 
Registration Nos. 333-73544 and 811-10585
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM N-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Post-Effective Amendment No. 8
þ
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 9
þ
 
 
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE
ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
(Exact Name of Registrant)
 
MERRILL LYNCH
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Name of Depositor)
 
4333 Edgewood Road, NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52499-0001
(Address of Depositor’s Principal Executive Offices)
 
 
Depositor’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:
(319) 355-8330
 
 
     
Name and Address of Agent for Service:   Copy to:
Darin D. Smith
4333 Edgewood Road, NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52499-0001
  Mary E. Thornton, Esq.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-2415
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate space):
 
  þ  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
 
  o  on _______ pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
            (date)
 
  o  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (1) of Rule 485
 
  o  on               pursuant to paragraph (a) (1) of Rule 485
             (date)
 
If appropriate, check the following box:
 
  o  this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for
a previously filed post-effective amendment.
 
 
Title of securities being registered:
 
Units of interest in a separate account under flexible premium individual deferred variable annuity contracts.
 
 


 

The Prospectus for the Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C Form N-4 Registration Statement (333-73544 and 811-10585) filed on April 29, 2008 is hereby incorporated by reference.

 


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity
Separate Account C
Supplement Dated August 17, 2009
to the
Prospectus For
CONSULTS ANNUITY® (Dated May  1, 2008)
This supplement describes changes to the variable annuity contracts listed above (the “Contracts”) issued by Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. Please retain this supplement with your Prospectus for future reference.
Liquidation of Portfolios
We have been advised that the MLIG Variable Insurance Trust consisting of the following portfolios:
     
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio
  Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio
  Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
  Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
  Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio
Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio
  Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio
  Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
  Roszel/Santa Barbara Conservative Growth Portfolio
(the “Liquidated Portfolios”) will liquidate on or about October 23, 2009 (the “Liquidation Date”). Because of the liquidation, the subaccounts investing in the Liquidated Portfolios (the “Liquidated Subaccounts”) will be closed effective as of the close of business on the Liquidation Date.
If you have given us allocation instructions for premium payments, transfers, or other purposes (for example, the Dollar Cost Averaging Program or Rebalancing Program) directing us to invest in the Liquidated Subaccounts, you will need to provide us with new instructions for amounts that would have otherwise gone into those Liquidated Subaccounts. If you are enrolled in the Dollar Cost Averaging Program or Rebalancing Program and we do not receive updated allocation instructions from you as of the Liquidation Date, then the Liquidated Subaccounts used in the programs will be replaced by the Money Market Subaccount on the Liquidation Date. If your premium allocation instructions include one or more Liquidated Subaccount, new allocation instructions must accompany the first premium payment after the Liquidation Date.
Notice to Contract Owners
Prior to the Liquidation Date, you may transfer any contract value allocated to the Liquidated Subaccounts to another subaccount. There is no charge for this transfer and it will not count against the number of free transfers permitted annually. The new portfolios available for investment represent a wide variety of investment objectives and strategies. Please see the section entitled “Addition of Portfolios” below for a list of the available portfolios. In addition, the prospectuses for each new portfolio, which contain information about its objectives, investment strategies, risks, fees, and expenses will accompany this supplement.
If you still have contract value allocated to the Liquidated Subaccounts on the Liquidation Date, shares of the Liquidated Portfolios held for you in the Liquidated Subaccounts will be exchanged for shares of the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund (the “Money Market Portfolio”), of equal value on the Liquidation Date, and held in the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount (the “Money Market Subaccount”). There is no charge for this exchange and it will not count against the number of free transfers permitted annually . The Money Market Portfolio seeks to maintain a stable net asset value (NAV) of $1.00 per share. The Money Market Portfolio’s investment objective seeks to preserve capital, maintain liquidity, and achieve the highest possible current income. However, there can be no assurance that the Money Market Portfolio will be able to maintain a stable net asset value per share. During extended periods of low interest rates, and partly as a result of contract charges, the yield on the Money Market Portfolio subaccount may become extremely low and possibly negative.

 


 

In May you received a new prospectus for the Money Market Portfolio which contains information about its objectives, investment strategies, risks, fees, and expenses. Please read it carefully. You may also call the number below to obtain additional copies of the prospectuses for the Money Market Portfolio or any of the new subaccounts available for investment. As mentioned above, if you would like to make a transfer directly from the Liquidated Subaccounts into one or more of the new portfolios available for investment, we must receive instructions from you prior to the Liquidation Date. Contact us at:
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
Service Center
4333 Edgewood Road, NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
800-535-5549
New Addresses and Phone Numbers
The following addresses and phone numbers replace all references in the Prospectus:
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
Home Office: 425 West Capital Avenue
Suite 1800 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Service Center: 4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
Phone: (800) 535-5549
New Date of the Statement of Additional Information
The date of the Statement of Additional Information has changed to August 17, 2009. All references to the date of the Statement of Additional Information in the prospectus should be changed to this date.
Addition of Portfolios
The following investment choices will be added to your Contract on or about August 24, 2009:
Transamerica Series Trust – Service Class
Subadvised by American Century Investment Management, Inc.
Transamerica American Century Large Company Value VP
Subadvised by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
Transamerica BlackRock Tactical Allocation VP
Subadvised by BlackRock Investment Management, LLC
Transamerica BlackRock Large Cap Value VP
Subadvised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
Transamerica JPMorgan Mid Cap Value VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Enhanced Index VP
Subadvised by Jennison Associates LLC
Transamerica Jennison Growth VP
Subadvised by MFS®Investment Management
Transamerica MFS International Equity VP
Subadvised by Columbia Management Advisors, LLC
Transamerica Marsico Growth VP
Subadvised by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Transamerica PIMCO Total Return VP
Subadvised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Transamerica T. Rowe Price Equity Income VP
Transamerica T. Rowe Price Small Cap VP

2


 

Subadvised by Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC and
Transamerica Investment Management, LLC

Transamerica Templeton Global VP
Transamerica Investment Management, LLC
Transamerica Convertible Securities VP
Transamerica Equity VP
Transamerica Growth Opportunities VP
Tranamerica Small-Mid Cap Value VP
Transamerica U.S. Government Securities VP
Subadvised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Transamerica Van Kampen Active International Allocation VP
Transamerica Van Kampen Large Cap Core VP
Subadvised by Van Kampen Asset Management
Transamerica Van Kampen Mid-Cap Growth VP
Due to the liquidation of the Portfolios and the addition of these funds, the Consults Annuity® is no longer part of the Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated Consults Program. Thus, all references to this program in your Prospectus are hereby deleted.
The following replaces, the FEE TABLE in the Prospectus:
FEE TABLE
The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering the Contract. The first table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay at the time that you buy the Contract, surrender the Contract, or transfer contract value between the subaccounts. State premium taxes may also be deducted.
Contract Owner Transaction Expenses
         
Sales Load Imposed on Premiums
  None
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a % of premium withdrawn)
  None
Transfer Fee1
    $25  
The next table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the Contract, not including Fund fees and expenses. This table also includes the charges you would pay if you added optional riders to your Contract.
Periodic Charges Other Than Fund Expenses
         
Annual Contract Fee2
    $50  
Separate Account Annual Expenses (as a % of average Separate Account value) Current and Maximum Asset-Based Insurance Charge3
    1.85 %
Additional Death Benefit Charge4
    0.25 %
The next table shows the Fund fees and expenses that you may pay periodically during the time that you own the Contract. The table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses of the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, before and after any contractual waivers and expense reimbursement. More detail concerning each Fund’s fees and expenses is contained in the prospectus for each Fund.
 
1   There is no charge for the first 12 transfers in a contract year. We currently do not, but may in the future, charge a $25 fee on all subsequent transfers.
 
2   The contract fee will be assessed annually at the end of each contract year and upon a full withdrawal only if the greater of contract value, or premiums less withdrawals, is less than $75,000.
 
3   If your contract value is $250,000 or greater on specified dates, a Contract Value Credit will be added to your contract value that effectively reduces the rate of this charge. This potential reduction is not reflected in the fee table.
 
4   An additional annual charge is assessed if the Estate Enhancer benefit was elected or was combined with either the Maximum Anniversary Value GMDB or Premiums Compounded at 5%GMDB. The charge will be assessed at the end of each contract year based on the average of your contract values as of the end of each of the prior four contract quarters. We also impose a pro rata amount of this charge upon surrender, annuitization, death, or termination of the rider. We won’t deduct this charge after the annuity date.

3


 

                 
Range of Expenses for the Funds5   Minimum     Maximum  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (total of all expenses that are deducted from Fund assets, including management fees, 12b-1 fees, and other expenses)
    0.63 %     7.86 %
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Contract with the cost of investing in other variable annuity contracts. These costs include Separate Account Annual Expenses, the Additional Death Benefit Charge, and Annual Fund Operating Expenses.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and assumes the maximum and minimum fees and expenses of any of the Funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
If you surrender, annuitize, or remain invested in the Contract at the end of the applicable time period:
     Assuming the maximum fees and expenses of any Fund, your costs would be:
                         
1 year     3 years       5 years       10 years  
$972
    $2,774       $4,402       $7,818  
     Assuming the minimum fees and expenses of any Fund, your costs would be:
                         
1 year     3 years       5 years       10 years  
$277
    $849       $1,448       $3,067  
Because there is no contingent deferred sales charge, you would pay the same expenses whether you surrender your Contract at the end of the applicable time period or not, based on the same assumptions.
The Example does not reflect the $50 contract fee because, based on average contract size and withdrawals, its effect on the examples shown would be negligible. They assume that the Estate Enhancer benefit is elected and reflect the annual charge of 0.25% of the average contract value at the end of the four prior contract quarters. Contractual waivers and reimbursements are reflected in the first year of the example, but not in subsequent years. See the “Charges and Discussions” section in this Prospectus and the Fund prospectuses for a further discussion of fees and charges.
The examples should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses or annual rates of return of any Fund. Actual expenses and annual rates of return may be more or less than those assumed for the purpose of the examples.
Condensed financial information containing the accumulation unit value history appears at the end of this Prospectus Supplement.
 
5   The Fund expenses used to prepare this table were provided to us by the Funds. We have not independently verified such information. The expenses shown are those incurred for the year ended December 31, 2008 or estimated for the current year. Current or future expenses may be greater or less than those shown.
Please contact the Service Center at (800)-535-5549 (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to obtain an additional copy of the prospectus for any Fund available as an investment choice under the Contract.

4


 

We do not guarantee that each Fund will always be available for investment through the Contract. We reserve the right, subject to compliance with applicable laws, to add new portfolios or portfolio classes, close existing portfolios or portfolio classes to allocations of new premiums by existing owners or new Contract owners at any time, or substitute portfolio shares that are held by any subaccount for shares of a different portfolio. New or substitute portfolios or portfolio classes may have different fees and expenses and their availability may be limited to certain classes of purchasers. We will not add, delete or substitute any shares attributable to your interest in a subaccount without notice to you and prior approval of the SEC, to the extent required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.
The following replaces the “Certain Payments We Receive With Regard to the Funds” section of the Prospectus:
Certain Payments We Receive With Regard to the Funds
We receive payments from the investment adviser (or affiliates thereof) of the Funds. These payments may be used for a variety of purposes, including payment of expenses that we (and our affiliates) incur in promoting, marketing, and administering the Contract and, in our role as an intermediary, the Funds. We (and our affiliates) may profit from these payments. These payments may be derived, in whole or in part, from the investment advisory fee deducted from Fund assets. Contract owners, through their indirect investment in the Funds, bear the costs of these investment advisory fees. The amount of the payments we receive is based on a percentage of the assets of the particular Funds attributable to the Contract and to certain other variable insurance contracts that we and our affiliates issue. These percentages differ, and some advisers (or affiliates) may pay more than others. These percentages currently range from 0% to 0.25%.
The following section is added to the Prospectus:
Financial Condition of the Company
Many financial services companies, including insurance companies, have been facing challenges in this unprecedented economic and market environment, and we are not immune to those challenges. We know it is important for you to understand how these events may impact your account value and our ability to meet the guarantees under the Contract.
Assets in the Separate Account. You assume all of the investment risk for account value allocated to the subaccounts. Your account value in the subaccounts is part of the assets of the Separate Account. These assets are segregated and insulated from our general account, and may not be charged with liabilities arising from any other business that we may conduct. See “The Separate Account.”
Assets in the General Account. Any guarantees under the Contract that exceed your account value, such as those associated with any death benefit riders or living benefit riders, are paid from our general account (not the Separate Account). Therefore, any amounts that we may be obligated to pay under the Contract in excess of Account Value are subject to our financial strength and claims-paying ability and our long-term ability to make such payments. The assets of the Separate Account, however, are also available to cover the liabilities of our general account, but only to the extent that the Separate Account assets exceed the Separate Account liabilities arising under the Contracts supported by it. We issue other types of insurance policies and financial products as well and we pay our obligations under these products from our assets in the general account.
Our Financial Condition. As an insurance company, we are required by state insurance regulation to hold a specified amount of reserves in order to meet all the contractual obligations of our general account. In order to meet our claims-paying obligations, we monitor our reserves so that we hold sufficient amounts to cover actual or expected contract and claims payments. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that we will always be able to meet our claims paying obligations, and that there are risks to purchasing any insurance product.
State insurance regulators also require insurance companies to maintain a minimum amount of capital, which acts as a cushion in the event that the insurer suffers a financial impairment, based on the inherent risks in the insurer’s operations. These risks include those associated with losses that we may incur as the result of defaults on the payment of interest or principal on our general account assets, which include bonds, mortgages, general real estate investments, and stocks, as well as the loss in market value of these investments.
How to Obtain More Information. We encourage both existing and prospective contract owners to read and understand our financial statements. We prepare our financial statements on both a statutory basis and according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Our audited GAAP financial statements, as well as the financial statements of the Separate Account, are located in the Statement of Additional Information. For a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, simply call or write us at the phone number or address of our Service Center referenced earlier in this Prospectus. In addition, the Statement of Additional Information is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. For additional information about the Company, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available on our website at www.aegonins.com.

5


 

The following replaces, the Experts section of the Prospectus:
Experts
The financial statements of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for the years then ended, and the financial statements of the Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C as of December 31, 2008, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Both financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and included in the Statement of Additional Information and have been so included and incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The principal business address of Ernst & Young LLP, is 801Grand Avenue, Suite 3000, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
The financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2006, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and included in the Statement of Additional Information have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein and incorporated by reference.  Such financial statements have been so included and incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The principal business address of Deloitte & Touche LLP is Two World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1414

6


 

The following replaces, the ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES section of the prospectus:
ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES
(Condensed Financial Information)
                                 
            Beginning     Ending        
Subaccount   Year     AUV     AUV     # Units  
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio
    2008       $16.53       $10.70       327,888.5  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $16.23       $16.53       424,072.5  
 
    2006       $13.98       $16.23       522,344.4  
 
    2005       $13.92       $13.98       647,042.7  
 
    2004       $12.59       $13.92       881,868.7  
 
    2003       $9.87       $12.59       842,418.5  
 
    2002       $10.00       $9.87       561,445.4  
 
Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio
    2008       $14.41       $8.94       138,247.9  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $14.44       $14.41       150,686.0  
 
    2006       $12.27       $14.44       181,493.8  
 
    2005       $12.00       $12.27       240,940.7  
 
    2004       $10.70       $12.00       247,424.2  
 
    2003       $8.43       $10.70       296,473.5  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.43       259,622.2  
 
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio(1)
    2008       $14.73       $8.46       313,677.0  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $15.34       $14.73       555,420.7  
 
    2006       $13.03       $15.34       777,953.6  
 
    2005       $12.99       $13.03       993,495.5  
 
    2004       $11.61       $12.99       1,158,576.1  
 
    2003       $9.35       $11.61       1,345,902.6  
 
    2002       $10.00       $9.35       657,788.5  
 
Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio
    2008       $13.87       $8.90       125,116.3  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $13.02       $13.87       103,510.6  
 
    2006       $11.73       $13.02       100,865.5  
 
    2005       $11.54       $11.73       123,509.9  
 
    2004       $11.17       $11.54       72,152.2  
 
    2003       $8.96       $11.17       77,179.9  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.96       47,199.5  
 
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio
    2008       $12.94       $6.49       76,431.6  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $11.66       $12.94       74,944.5  
 
    2006       $11.66       $11.66       124,302.5  
 
    2005       $10.99       $11.66       158,518.6  
 
    2004       $10.79       $10.99       222,628.1  
 
    2003       $8.80       $10.79       219,346.1  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.80       170,151.2  

7


 

                                 
            Beginning     Ending        
Subaccount   Year     AUV     AUV     # Units  
Roszel/Santa Barbra Conservative Growth Portfolio(2)
    2008       $12.17       $7.75       404,044.2  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $11.49       $12.17       475,447.0  
 
    2006       $10.66       $11.49       638,455.7  
 
    2005       $10.82       $10.66       811,647.5  
 
    2004       $10.59       $10.82       989,376.5  
 
    2003       $9.03       $10.59       1,080,182.2  
 
    2002       $10.00       $9.03       721,945.5  
 
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio II(3)
    2008       $14.04       $6.60       62,737.9  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $11.83       $14.04       40,629.4  
 
    2006       $12.56       $11.83       106,896.1  
 
    2005       $11.60       $12.56       100,078.0  
 
    2004       $10.87       $11.60       107,902.8  
 
    2003       $8.83       $10.87       121,268.1  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.83       51,714.8  
 
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio(3)
    2008       $14.24       $8.05       260,306.8  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $11.86       $14.24       304,235.9  
 
    2006       $11.43       $11.86       348,175.6  
 
    2005       $11.31       $11.43       350,553.4  
 
    2004       $11.02       $11.31       364,051.6  
 
    2003       $8.89       $11.02       349,649.5  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.89       252,860.7  
 
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
    2008       $16.01       $8.71       75,146.0  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $13.30       $16.01       126,025.1  
 
    2006       $12.59       $13.30       166,242.3  
 
    2005       $11.39       $12.59       210,574.1  
 
    2004       $10.91       $11.39       287,020.89  
 
    2003       $8.54       $10.91       339,646.8  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.54       205,429.9  
 
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
    2008       $17.62       $9.04       171,072.9  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $19.00       $17.62       185,857.5  
 
    2006       $16.12       $19.00       270,872.7  
 
    2005       $14.68       $16.12       355,997.2  
 
    2004       $11.54       $14.68       411,974.0  
 
    2003       $7.67       $11.54       441,030.3  
 
    2002       $10.00       $7.67       257,884.2  
 
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
    2008       $14.19       $7.55       104,559.3  
Subaccount Inceptions Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $12.75       $14.19       139,793.4  
 
    2006       $11.82       $12.75       211,753.6  
 
    2005       $11.17       $11.82       283,372.0  
 
    2004       $10.10       $11.17       298,145.4  
 
    2003       $7.55       $10.10       238,053.1  
 
    2002       $10.00       $7.55       175,853.5  
 
Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio
    2008       $17.45       $11.03       192,451.2  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $16.44       $17.45       243,253.3  
 
    2006       $13.63       $16.44       313,233.3  
 
    2005       $12.80       $13.63       365,553.3  
 
    2004       $11.21       $12.80       368,052.4  
 
    2003       $8.85       $11.21       320,651.9  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.85       117,103.8  
 
Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio
    2008       $18.45       $10.60       165,672.2  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $17.43       $18.45       173,889.7  
 
    2006       $14.61       $17.43       205,663.7  
 
    2005       $12.73       $14.61       221,032.3  
 
    2004       $11.60       $12.73       232,552.4  
 
    2003       $8.83       $11.60       291,619.8  
 
    2002       $10.00       $8.83       263,792.2  

8


 

                                 
            Beginning     Ending        
Subaccount   Year     AUV     AUV     # Units  
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio II(4)
    2008       $11.41       $12.25       597,203.0  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $10.91       $11.41       539,575.4  
 
    2006       $10.72       $10.91       741,282.2  
 
    2005       $10.68       $10.72       822,547.3  
 
    2004       $10.47       $10.68       926,780.4  
 
    2003       $10.47       $10.47       1,189,858.0  
 
    2002       $10.00       $10.47       867,091.4  
 
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio(4)
    2008       $10.72       $10.70       540,794.9  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $10.29       $10.72       850,942.6  
 
    2006       $10.16       $10.29       1,007,873.2  
 
    2005       $10.25       $10.16       1,285,774.6  
 
    2004       $10.23       $10.25       1,490,706.8  
 
    2003       $10.18       $10.23       1,730,141.3  
 
    2002       $10.00       $10.18       1,108,135.3  
 
Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio
    2008       $12.05       $7.25       132,073.4  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $12.14       $12.05       164,959.1  
 
    2006       $10.97       $12.14       218,442.8  
 
    2005       $11.12       $10.97       285,253.4  
 
    2004       $10.26       $11.12       364,100.1  
 
    2003       $7.89       $10.26       474,470.8  
 
    2002       $10.00       $7.89       386,559.5  
 
BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund
    2008       $10.40       $10.47       148,907.2  
Subaccount Inception Date July 1, 2002
    2007       $10.11       $10.40       123,463.7  
 
    2006       $9.85       $10.11       199,035.0  
 
    2005       $9.77       $9.85       314,194.7  
 
    2004       $9.86       $9.77       225,213.6  
 
    2003       $9.97       $9.86       336,476.8  
 
    2002       $10.00       $9.97       852,609.8  
 
(1)   Formerly known as Roszel/BlackRock Relative Value Portfolio.
 
(2)   Formerly known as Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
 
(3)   On January 23, 2009 Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio changed its name to Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio II and on March 13, 2009, the Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio II will merge into the Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
 
(4)   On May 1, 2009 Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio will change its name to Roszel/Black Fixed-Income Portfolio II. On July 10, 2009 Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio II will merge into Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio.
The subaccounts investing in the Transamerica American Century Large Company Value VP, Transamerica BlackRock Tactical Allocation VP, Transamerica BlackRock Large Cap Value VP, Transamerica JPMorgan Mid Cap Value VP, Transamerica JPMorgan Enhanced Index VP, Transamerica Jennison Growth VP, Transamerica MFS International Equity VP, Transamerica Marsico Growth VP, Transamerica PIMCO Total Return VP, Transamerica T. Rowe Price Equity Income VP, Transamerica T. Rowe Price Small Cap VP, Transamerica Templeton Global VP, Transamerica Convertible Securities VP, Transamerica Equity VP, Transamerica Growth Opportunities VP, Transamerica Small-Mid Cap Value VP, Transamerica U.S. Government Securities VP , Transamerica Van Kampen Active International Allocation VP, Transamerica Van Kampen Large Cap Core VP, and Transamerica Van Kampen Mid-Cap Growth VP, portfolios had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2008 therefore, comparable data is not available.
* * *
If you have any questions, please contact your Financial Advisor, or call the Service Center at (800) 535-5549 (for Contracts issued by Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company), or write the Service Center at 4333 Edgewood Road NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499.

9


 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

August 17, 2009
Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C
FLEXIBLE PREMIUM INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT
issued by
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Home Office: Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Service Center: 4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
Phone: (800) 535-5549
offered through
Transamerica Capital, Inc.
This individual deferred variable annuity contract (the “Contract”) is designed to provide comprehensive and flexible ways to invest and to create a source of income protection for later in life through the payment of annuity benefits. An annuity is intended to be a long term investment. Contract owners should consider their need for deferred income before purchasing the Contract. The Contract is issued by Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (“Merrill Lynch Life”) both on a nonqualified basis, and as an Individual Retirement Annuity (“IRA”) that is given qualified tax status. The Contract may also be purchased through an established IRA or Roth IRA custodial account with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The Contract is currently not available to be issued as a 403(b) Contract and we no longer accept any additional contributions from any source to your 403(b) Contract. In addition, we prohibit the issue of a 403(b) Contract in an exchange for the 403(b) contract or custodial account of another provider.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus and should be read together with the Contract’s Prospectus dated May 1, 2008 (as supplemented), which is available on request and without charge by writing to or calling Merrill Lynch Life at the Service Center address or phone number set forth above.

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Page  
OTHER INFORMATION
    3  
Selling the Contract
    3  
Financial Statements
    3  
Administrative Services Arrangements
    3  
Keep Well Agreement
    3  
CALCULATION OF YIELDS AND TOTAL RETURNS
    3  
Money Market Yield
    3  
Other Subaccount Yields
    4  
Total Returns
    5  

2


 

OTHER INFORMATION
Selling the Contract
The Contracts are offered to the public on a continuous basis. We anticipate continuing to offer the Contracts, but reserve the right to discontinue the offering.
Effective May 1, 2008, Transamerica Capital, Inc. (“Transamerica” or “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the Contracts. Distributor is a California corporation and its home office is located at 4600 South Syracuse Street, Suite 1100, Denver Colorado, 80287. Distributor is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON USA, Inc. (“AEGON USA”). Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as with the securities commissions in the states in which it operates, and is a member of FINRA (formerly NASD, Inc.). Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) formerly served as principal underwriter for the Contracts. MLPF&S is a Delaware corporation and its home office is located at 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10080. MLPF&S is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. MLPF&S is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as with the securities commissions in the states in which it operates, and is a member of FINRA. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, MLPF&S received $321,909 , $2,403, and $12,759, respectively, in commissions. For the year ended December 31, 2008, Transamerica Capital, Inc. received $336,636 in commissions.
Financial Statements
The financial statements of Merrill Lynch Life included in this Statement of Additional Information should be distinguished from the financial statements of the Account and should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of Merrill Lynch Life to meet any obligations it may have under the Contract.
Administrative Services Arrangements
Merrill Lynch Life has entered into a Service Agreement with its former parent, Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc. (“MLIG”) pursuant to which Merrill Lynch Life can arrange for MLIG to provide directly or through affiliates certain services. Pursuant to this agreement, Merrill Lynch Life has arranged for MLIG to provide administrative services for the Account and the Contracts, and MLIG, in turn, has arranged for a subsidiary, Merrill Lynch Insurance Group Services, Inc. (“MLIG Services”), to provide these services. Compensation for these services, which will be paid by Merrill Lynch Life, will be based on the charges and expenses incurred by MLIG Services, and will reflect MLIG Services’ actual costs. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, $5,221.00, $27.0 million, and $29.7 million, respectively, in administrative services fees were paid.
Keep Well Agreement
On December 28, 2007, AEGON USA entered into a “keep well” agreement with Merrill Lynch Life. Under the agreement, so long as Merrill Lynch Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON USA, AEGON USA will ensure that Merrill Lynch Life maintains tangible net worth equal to at least $5 million. At December 31, 2008, the tangible net worth of Merrill Lynch Life was in excess $5 million. The agreement has a duration of three years so long as Merrill Lynch Life is a wholly owned affiliate of AEGON USA and it may be terminated by either party upon one year’s written notice. The agreement does not guarantee, directly or indirectly, any indebtedness, liability, or obligation of Merrill Lynch Life. Upon mutual consent of AEGON USA and Merrill Lynch Life, the agreement may be modified or amended in ways not less favorable to Merrill Lynch Life or its contract owners.
CALCULATION OF YIELDS AND TOTAL RETURNS
Money Market Yield
From time to time, Merrill Lynch Life may quote in advertisements and sales literature the current annualized yield for the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount for a 7-day period in a manner that does not take into consideration any realized or unrealized gains or losses on shares of the underlying Funds or on their respective portfolio securities. The current annualized yield is computed by: (a) determining the net change (exclusive of realized gains and losses on the sales of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation) at the end of the 7-day period in the value of a hypothetical account under a Contract having a balance of 1 unit at the beginning of the period, (b) dividing such net change in account value by the value of the account at the beginning of the period to determine the base period return; and (c) annualizing this quotient on a 365-day basis.

3


 

The net change in account value reflects: (1) net income from the Fund attributable to the hypothetical account; and (2) charges and deductions imposed under the Contract which are attributable to the hypothetical account. The charges and deductions include the per unit charges for the hypothetical account for: (1) the asset-based insurance charge; and (2) the annual contract fee, but not the Additional Death Benefit Charge. For purposes of calculating current yield for a Contract, an average per unit contract fee is used. Based on our current estimates of average contract size and withdrawals, we have assumed the average per unit contract fee to be 0.00%. Current yield will be calculated according to the following formula:
Current Yield = ((NCF – ES)/UV) × (365/7)
Where:
         
NCF
  =   the net change in the value of the Fund (exclusive of realized gains and losses on the sale of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation) for the 7-day period attributable to a hypothetical account having a balance of 1 unit.
 
ES
  =   per unit expenses for the hypothetical account for the 7-day period.
 
UV
  =   the unit value on the first day of the 7-day period.
Merrill Lynch Life also may quote the effective yield of the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount for the same 7-day period, determined on a compounded basis. The effective yield is calculated by compounding the unannualized base period return according to the following formula:
Effective Yield = (1 + ((NCF – ES)/UV))365/7 – 1
Where:
         
NCF
  =   the net change in the value of the Fund (exclusive of realized gains and losses on the sale of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation) for the 7-day period attributable to a hypothetical account having a balance of 1 unit.
 
ES
  =   per unit expenses of the hypothetical account for the 7-day period.
 
UV
  =   the unit value for the first day of the 7-day period.
Because of the charges and deductions imposed under the Contract, the yield for the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount will be lower than the yield for the corresponding underlying Fund.
The yields on amounts held in the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. Therefore, the disclosed yield for any given past period is not an indication or representation of future yields or rates of return. The actual yield for the subaccount is affected by changes in interest rates on money market securities, average portfolio maturity of the underlying Fund, the types and qualities of portfolio securities held by the Fund and the Fund’s operating expenses. Yields on amounts held in the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount may also be presented for periods other than a 7-day period.
Other Subaccount Yields
From time to time, Merrill Lynch Life may quote in sales literature or advertisements the current annualized yield of one or more of the subaccounts (other than the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Subaccount) for a Contract for a 30-day or one-month period. The annualized yield of a subaccount refers to income generated by the subaccount over a specified 30-day or one-month period. Because the yield is annualized, the yield generated by the subaccount during the 30-day or one-month period is assumed to be generated each period over a 12-month period. The yield is computed by: (1) dividing the net investment income of the Fund attributable to the subaccount units less subaccount expenses for the period; by (2) the maximum offering price per unit on the last day of the period times the daily average number of units outstanding for the period; then (3) compounding that yield for a 6-month period; and then (4) multiplying that result by 2. Expenses attributable to the subaccount include the asset-based insurance charge and the annual contract fee. For purposes of calculating the 30-day or one-month yield, an average contract fee per dollar of contract value in the subaccount is used to determine the amount of the charge attributable to the subaccount for the 30-day or one-month period.

4


 

Based on our current estimates of average contract size and withdrawals, we have assumed the average contract fee to be 0.00%. The 30-day or one-month yield is calculated according to the following formula:
Yield = 2 × ((((NI – ES)/(U × UV)) + 1) 6 – 1)
Where:
         
NI
  =   net investment income of the Fund for the 30-day or one-month period attributable to the subaccount’s units.
 
ES
  =   expenses of the subaccount for the 30-day or one-month period.
 
U
  =   the average number of units outstanding.
UV
  =   the unit value at the close of the last day in the 30-day or one-month
Currently, Merrill Lynch Life may quote yields on bond subaccounts. Because of the charges and deductions imposed under the Contracts, the yield for a subaccount will be lower than the yield for the corresponding Fund.
The yield on the amounts held in the subaccounts normally will fluctuate over time. Therefore, the disclosed yield for any given past period is not an indication or representation of future yields or rates of return. A subaccount’s actual yield is affected by the types and quality of portfolio securities held by the corresponding Fund, and its operating expenses.
Total Returns
From time to time, Merrill Lynch Life also may quote in sales literature or advertisements, total returns, including average annual total returns for one or more of the subaccounts for various periods of time. Average annual total returns will be provided for a subaccount for 1, 5 and 10 years, or for a shorter period, if applicable.
Total returns assume the Contract was surrendered at the end of the period shown, and are not indicative of performance if the Contract was continued for a longer period. The Contract does not impose any surrender charge.
Average annual total returns for other periods of time may also be disclosed from time to time. For example, average annual total returns may be provided based on the assumption that a subaccount had been in existence and had invested in the corresponding underlying Fund for the same period as the corresponding Fund had been in operation. The Funds and the subaccounts corresponding to the Funds commenced operations as indicated below:
         
    Fund   Subaccount
    Inception   Inception
Fund   Date   Date
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio(1)
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Santa Barbara Conservative Growth Portfolio(2)
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio(3)
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/JP Morgan International Equity Portfolio
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio(4)
  July 1, 2002   July 1, 2002
BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund
  February 21, 1992   July 1, 2002
Transamerica American Century Large Company Value VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica BlackRock Large Cap Value VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Jennison Growth VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica JPMorgan Enhanced Index VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Marsico Growth VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica MFS International Equity VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica PIMCO Total Return VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Small-Mid Cap Value VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009

5


 

         
    Fund   Subaccount
    Inception   Inception
Fund   Date   Date
Transamerica T. Rowe Price Equity Income VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica T. Rowe Price Small Cap VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Van Kampen Active International Allocation VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Van Kampen Large Cap Core VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Van Kampen Mid-Cap Growth VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica JPMorgan Mid Cap Value VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica BlackRock Tactical Allocation VP
  May 1, 2009   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Convertible Securities VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Equity VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Growth Opportunities VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica Templeton Global VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
Transamerica U.S. Government Securities VP
  May 1, 2003   August 24, 2009
 
(1)   Formerly known as Roszel/BlackRock Relative Value Portfolio.
 
(2)   Formerly known as Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
 
(3)   On January 23, 2009 Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio changed its name to Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio II and on March 13, 2009, the Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio II will merge into the Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
 
(4)   On May 1, 2009 Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio will change its name to Roszel/Black Fixed-Income Portfolio II. On July 10, 2009 Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio II will merge into Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio.
Average annual total returns represent the average annual compounded rates of return that would equate an initial investment of $1,000 under a Contract to the redemption value or that investment as of the last day of each of the periods. The ending date for each period for which total return quotations are provided will generally be as of the most recent calendar quarter-end.
Average annual total returns are calculated using subaccount unit values calculated on each valuation day based on the performance of the corresponding underlying Fund, the deductions for the asset-based insurance charge and the contract fee, and assume a surrender of the Contract at the end of the period for the return quotation (although the Contract does not impose a surrender charge). For purposes of calculating total return, an average per dollar contract fee attributable to the hypothetical account for the period is used. Based on our current estimates of average contract size and withdrawals, we have assumed the average contract fee to be 0.00%. The average annual total return is then calculated according to the following formula:
TR = ((ERV/P)1/N) – 1

6


 

Where:
         
TR
  =   the average annual total return net of subaccount recurring charges (such as the asset-based insurance charge and contract fee).
 
ERV
  =   the ending redeemable value at the end of the period of the hypothetical account with an initial payment of $1,000.
 
P
  =   a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
 
N
  =   the number of years in the period.
From time to time, Merrill Lynch Life also may quote in sales literature or advertisements total returns for other periods.
From time to time, Merrill Lynch Life also may quote in sales literature or advertisements total returns or other performance information for a hypothetical Contract assuming the initial premium is allocated to more than one subaccount or assuming monthly transfers from a specified subaccount to one or more designated subaccounts under a dollar cost averaging program. Merrill Lynch Life also may quote in sales literature or advertisements total returns or other performance information for a hypothetical Contract assuming participation in an asset allocation or rebalancing program. These returns will reflect the performance of the affected subaccount(s) for the amount and duration of the allocation to each subaccount for the hypothetical Contract. They also will reflect the deduction of the charges described above. For example, total return information for a Contract with a dollar cost averaging program for a 12-month period will assume commencement of the program at the beginning of the most recent 12-month period for which average annual total return information is available. This information will assume an initial lump-sum investment in a specified subaccount (the “DCA subaccount”) at the beginning of that period and monthly transfers of a portion of the contract value from the DCA subaccount to designated other subaccount(s) during the 12-month period. The total return for the Contract for this 12-month period therefore will reflect the return on the portion of the contract value that remains invested in the DCA subaccount for the period it is assumed to be so invested, as affected by monthly transfers, and the return on amounts transferred to the designated other subaccounts for the period during which those amounts are assumed to be invested in those subaccounts. The return for an amount invested in a subaccount will be based on the performance of that subaccount for the duration of the investment, and will reflect the charges described above. Performance information for a dollar cost-averaging program also may show the returns for various periods for a designated subaccount assuming monthly transfers to the subaccount, and may compare those returns to returns assuming an initial lump-sum investment in that subaccount. This information also may be compared to various indices, such as the Merrill Lynch 91-day Treasury Bills index or the U.S. Treasury Bills index and may be illustrated by graphs, charts, or otherwise.

7


 

 
     
(ERNST & YOUNG LLP LOGO)
 
Ernst & Young LLP
Suite 3000
801 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2764

Tel: +1 515 243 2727
www.ey.com
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors of
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of each of the investment divisions of Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C (the “Separate Account”), comprised of BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund, Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio, Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio, Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio, Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio, Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio, Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio, Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio, Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio, Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio, Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio, Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio, Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio, Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio, and Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio, as of December 31, 2008, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for the periods indicated thereon. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Separate Account’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the unit values footnote of Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for the Separate Account, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Separate Account’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Separate Account’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of investment divisions owned as of December 31, 2008 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the investment divisions comprising the Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C at December 31, 2008, and the results of each of their operations and their changes in net assets for the periods indicated thereon, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
(SIGNATURE OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP)
Des Moines, Iowa
April 22, 2009
A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    PAGE
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     
 
       
Financial Statements of Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C:
       
 
       
Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2008
    S-3  
 
       
Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets for the Periods Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
    S-5  
 
       
Notes to Financial Statements
     

 


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008
                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
            Roszel/             Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    BlackRock     JPMorgan     Roszel/     Davis     Lord Abbett     Lord Abbett  
    Money     International     Lazard     Large Cap     Government     Large Cap  
    Market     Equity     International     Value     Securities     Value  
(In thousands)   V.I. Fund     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
Assets
                                               
Level 1 Quoted Prices at Net Asset Value
                                               
BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund, 1,559 shares (Cost $1,559)
  $ 1,559     $     $     $     $     $  
Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio, 373 shares (Cost $3,467)
          1,756                          
Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio, 318 shares (Cost $3,847)
                2,123                    
Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio, 216 shares (Cost $1,974)
                      1,235              
Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio, 675 shares (Cost $6,901)
                            7,313        
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio, 626 shares (Cost $6,355)
                                  3,510  
 
                                   
Total Assets
  $ 1,559     $ 1,756     $ 2,123     $ 1,235     $ 7,313     $ 3,510  
 
                                               
Net Assets
                                               
 
                                   
Accumulation Units
  $ 1,559     $ 1,756     $ 2,123     $ 1,235     $ 7,313     $ 3,510  
 
                                   
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-2


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008
                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    BlackRock     BlackRock     AllianceBernstein     Delaware     Loomis Sayles     NWQ  
    Fixed-     Equity     Large Cap     Small-Mid     Large Cap     Small Cap  
    Income     Dividend     Core     Cap Growth     Growth     Value  
(In thousands)   Portfolio     Portfolio a     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
Assets
                                               
Level 1 Quoted Prices at Net Asset Value
                                               
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio, 600 shares (Cost $5,882)
  $ 5,787     $     $     $     $     $  
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio, 592 shares (Cost $4,759)
          2,652                          
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio, 125 shares (Cost $985)
                496                    
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, 187 shares (Cost $1,585)
                      790              
Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio, 93 shares (Cost $833)
                            414        
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio, 483 shares (Cost $3,622)
                                  1,547  
 
                                   
Total Assets
  $ 5,787     $ 2,652     $ 496     $ 790     $ 414     $ 1,547  
 
                                               
Net Assets
                                               
 
                                   
Accumulation Units
  $ 5,787     $ 2,652     $ 496     $ 790     $ 414     $ 1,547  
 
                                   
 
a   Formerly Roszel/BlackRock Relative Value Portfolio. Change effective August 4, 2008.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-3


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008
                                         
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    Rittenhouse     Marsico     Cadence     Fayez Sarofim     Allianz  
    Large Cap     Large Cap     Mid Cap     Large Cap     NFJ Mid  
    Growth     Growth     Growth     Core     Cap Value  
(In thousands)   Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
Assets
                                       
Level 1 Quoted Prices at Net Asset Value
                                       
Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio, 557 shares (Cost $5,333)
  $ 3,132     $     $     $     $  
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio, 266 shares (Cost $3,004)
          2,095                    
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, 145 shares (Cost $1,254)
                654              
Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio, 146 shares (Cost $1,619)
                      1,113        
Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio, 297 shares (Cost $1,787)
                            958  
 
                             
Total Assets
  $ 3,132     $ 2,095     $ 654     $ 1,113     $ 958  
 
                                       
Net Assets
                                       
 
                             
Accumulation Units
  $ 3,132     $ 2,095     $ 654     $ 1,113     $ 958  
 
                             
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-4


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
                                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
            Roszel/             Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    BlackRock     JPMorgan     Roszel/     Davis     Lord Abbett     Lord Abbett     BlackRock     BlackRock  
    Money     International     Lazard     Large Cap     Government     Large Cap     Fixed-     Equity  
    Market     Equity     International     Value     Securities     Value     Income     Dividend  
(In thousands)   V.I. Fund     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio a  
Investment Income:
                                                               
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $ 34     $ 1     $ 93     $ 26     $ 274     $ 85     $ 334     $ 133  
 
                                                               
Investment Expenses:
                                                               
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (26 )     (46 )     (59 )     (32 )     (133 )     (95 )     (150 )     (96 )
 
                                               
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    8       (45 )     34       (6 )     141       (10 )     184       37  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
                                                               
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
          (90 )     (370 )     (165 )     35       (890 )     (189 )     (3,085 )
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
          (2,147 )     (1,747 )     (683 )     355       (2,395 )     (55 )     (1,220 )
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
          995       694       102             1,189             1,458  
 
                                               
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
          (1,242 )     (1,423 )     (746 )     390       (2,096 )     (244 )     (2,847 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    8       (1,287 )     (1,389 )     (752 )     531       (2,106 )     (60 )     (2,810 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Contract Transactions:
                                                               
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
    1,419       13       6       102       67       14       21       6  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (641 )     (503 )     (663 )     (281 )     (1,604 )     (1,588 )     (2,100 )     (783 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    (512 )     324       (75 )     (5 )     2,164       179       (1,198 )     (1,943 )
Contract Charges (Note 7)
                            (2 )     (1 )     (2 )      
 
                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    266       (166 )     (732 )     (184 )     625       (1,396 )     (3,279 )     (2,720 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    274       (1,453 )     (2,121 )     (936 )     1,156       (3,502 )     (3,339 )     (5,530 )
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    1,285       3,209       4,244       2,171       6,157       7,012       9,126       8,182  
 
                                               
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 1,559     $ 1,756     $ 2,123     $ 1,235     $ 7,313     $ 3,510     $ 5,787     $ 2,652  
 
                                               
 
a   Formerly Roszel/BlackRock Relative Value Portfolio. Change effective August 4, 2008.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 S-5 


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
                                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    AllianceBernstein     Delaware     Loomis Sayles     NWQ     Rittenhouse     Marsico     Cadence     Fayez Sarofim  
    Large Cap     Small-Mid     Large Cap     Small Cap     Large Cap     Large Cap     Mid Cap     Large Cap  
    Core     Cap Growth     Growth     Value     Growth     Growth     Growth     Core  
(In thousands)   Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
Investment Income:
                                                               
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $     $     $     $ 19     $ 17     $ 8     $     $ 18  
 
                                                               
Investment Expenses:
                                                               
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (13 )     (24 )     (10 )     (44 )     (83 )     (61 )     (23 )     (25 )
 
                                               
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    (13 )     (24 )     (10 )     (25 )     (66 )     (53 )     (23 )     (7 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
                                                               
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
    (119 )     (366 )     (39 )     (918 )     (332 )     (82 )     (183 )     (25 )
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
    (447 )     (704 )     (480 )     (1,189 )     (2,162 )     (1,654 )     (676 )     (607 )
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
    151       412       153       771       760       22       312       58  
 
                                               
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
    (415 )     (658 )     (366 )     (1,336 )     (1,734 )     (1,714 )     (547 )     (574 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    (428 )     (682 )     (376 )     (1,361 )     (1,800 )     (1,767 )     (570 )     (581 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Contract Transactions:
                                                               
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
          5       2       1       104       1             2  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (165 )     (344 )     (95 )     (486 )     (959 )     (667 )     (623 )     (136 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    119       (173 )     312       118       2       194       (170 )     392  
Contract Charges (Note 7)
                      (1 )                        
 
                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    (46 )     (512 )     219       (368 )     (853 )     (472 )     (793 )     258  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    (474 )     (1,194 )     (157 )     (1,729 )     (2,653 )     (2,239 )     (1,363 )     (323 )
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    970       1,984       571       3,276       5,785       4,334       2,017       1,436  
 
                                               
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 496     $ 790     $ 414     $ 1,547     $ 3,132     $ 2,095     $ 654     $ 1,113  
 
                                               
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-6


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
         
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/  
    Allianz  
    NFJ Mid  
    Cap Value  
(In thousands)   Portfolio  
Investment Income:
       
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $ 34  
 
       
Investment Expenses:
       
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (28 )
 
     
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    6  
 
     
 
       
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
       
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
    (453 )
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
    (695 )
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
    496  
 
     
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
    (652 )
 
     
 
       
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    (646 )
 
     
 
       
Contract Transactions:
       
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
    2  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (658 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    273  
Contract Charges (Note 7)
     
 
     
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    (383 )
 
     
 
       
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    (1,029 )
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    1,987  
 
     
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 958  
 
     
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-7


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
                                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
            Roszel/             Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    BlackRock     JPMorgan     Roszel/     Davis     Lord Abbett     Lord Abbett     BlackRock     BlackRock  
    Money     International     Lazard     Large Cap     Government     Large Cap     Fixed-     Equity  
    Market     Equity     International     Value     Securities     Value     Income     Dividend  
(In thousands)   V.I. Fund     Portfolio a     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio b  
Investment Income:
                                                               
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $ 81     $ 43     $ 76     $ 29     $ 346     $ 102     $ 419     $ 169  
 
                                                               
Investment Expenses:
                                                               
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (32 )     (65 )     (90 )     (44 )     (131 )     (149 )     (178 )     (191 )
 
                                               
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    49       (22 )     (14 )     (15 )     215       (47 )     241       (22 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
                                                               
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
          80       322       57       (96 )     (255 )     (151 )     355  
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
          (77 )     (681 )     (223 )     184       (309 )     297       (1,809 )
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
          219       664       188             774             1,216  
 
                                               
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
          222       305       22       88       210       146       (238 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    49       200       291       7       303       163       387       (260 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Contract Transactions:
                                                               
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
    286       43       41       34       72       58       112       135  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (3,734 )     (715 )     (1,213 )     (647 )     (2,163 )     (1,124 )     (1,839 )     (2,659 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    2,672       97       (26 )     157       (138 )     (563 )     98       (967 )
Contract Charges (Note 7)
          (1 )                 (2 )     (1 )     (2 )     (1 )
 
                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    (776 )     (576 )     (1,198 )     (456 )     (2,231 )     (1,630 )     (1,631 )     (3,492 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    (727 )     (376 )     (907 )     (449 )     (1,928 )     (1,467 )     (1,244 )     (3,752 )
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    2,012       3,585       5,151       2,620       8,085       8,479       10,370       11,934  
 
                                               
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 1,285     $ 3,209     $ 4,244     $ 2,171     $ 6,157     $ 7,012     $ 9,126     $ 8,182  
 
                                               
 
a   Formerly Roszel/William Blair International Equity Portfolio. Change effective January 5, 2007.
 
b   Formerly Roszel/BlackRock Relative Value Portfolio. Change effective August 4, 2008.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-8


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
                                                                 
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/     Roszel/  
    AllianceBernstein     Delaware     Loomis Sayles     NWQ     Rittenhouse     Marsico     Cadence     Fayez Sarofim  
    Large Cap     Small-Mid     Large Cap     Small Cap     Large Cap     Large Cap     Mid Cap     Large Cap  
    Core     Cap Growth     Growth     Value     Growth     Growth     Growth     Core  
(In thousands)   Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio c     Portfolio  
Investment Income:
                                                               
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $ 10     $     $     $ 19     $ 19     $     $     $ 16  
 
                                                               
Investment Expenses:
                                                               
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (22 )     (45 )     (17 )     (81 )     (131 )     (81 )     (42 )     (26 )
 
                                               
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    (12 )     (45 )     (17 )     (62 )     (112 )     (81 )     (42 )     (10 )
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
                                                               
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
    (41 )     90       8       (511 )     36       259       (44 )     20  
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
    76       (312 )     173       (885 )     (78 )     622       198       36  
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
    101       545             1,234       634             282       42  
 
                                               
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
    136       323       181       (162 )     592       881       436       98  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    124       278       164       (224 )     480       800       394       88  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Contract Transactions:
                                                               
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
    16       15       5       25       57       37       16       30  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (416 )     (762 )     (406 )     (1,309 )     (1,511 )     (971 )     (576 )     (225 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    (202 )     (247 )     (456 )     (361 )     (579 )     338       (28 )     230  
Contract Charges (Note 7)
    (1 )                 (1 )                        
 
                                               
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    (603 )     (994 )     (857 )     (1,646 )     (2,033 )     (596 )     (588 )     35  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    (479 )     (716 )     (693 )     (1,870 )     (1,553 )     204       (194 )     123  
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    1,449       2,700       1,264       5,146       7,338       4,130       2,211       1,313  
 
                                               
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 970     $ 1,984     $ 571     $ 3,276     $ 5,785     $ 4,334     $ 2,017     $ 1,436  
 
                                               
 
c   Formerly Roszel/Franklin Mid Cap Growth Portfolio. Change effective March 30, 2007.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-9


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
         
    Divisions Investing In  
    Roszel/  
    Allianz  
    NFJ Mid  
    Cap Value  
(In thousands)   Portfolio d,e  
Investment Income:
       
Ordinary Dividends (Note 2)
  $ 36  
 
       
Investment Expenses:
       
Asset-Based Insurance Charges (Note 7)
    (43 )
 
     
Net Investment Income (Loss)
    (7 )
 
     
 
       
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) On Investments:
       
Net Realized Gains (Losses) (Note 2)
    (220 )
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) During the Year
    164  
Capital Gain Distributions (Note 2)
    73  
 
     
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments
    17  
 
     
 
       
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    10  
 
     
 
       
Contract Transactions:
       
Premiums Received from Contract Owners
    15  
Contract Owner Withdrawals
    (665 )
Net Transfers In (Out) (Note 3)
    (24 )
Contract Charges (Note 7)
    (1 )
 
     
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Contract Transactions
    (675 )
 
     
 
       
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    (665 )
Net Assets, Beginning of Period
    2,652  
 
     
Net Assets, End of Period
  $ 1,987  
 
     
 
d   Formerly Roszel/Kayne Anderson Rudnick Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolio. Change effective August 8, 2007.
 
e   Formerly named Roszel/Allianz NFJ Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolio. Change effective October 8, 2007.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

S-10


 

5. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments for the period ended December 31, 2008 were as follows:
(In thousands)
                 
    Purchases   Sales
BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund
  $ 2,754     $ 2,479  
Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio
    1,544       761  
Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio
    1,165       1,168  
Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio
    462       550  
Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio
    3,509       2,744  
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio
    1,850       2,066  
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio
    846       3,942  
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio
    2,100       3,324  
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio
    297       206  
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
    624       748  
Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio
    570       208  
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
    1,259       881  
Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio
    1,193       1,352  
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio
    582       1,085  
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
    553       1,057  
Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio
    558       247  
Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio
    997       878  

S-14


 

6. UNIT VALUES
The following is a summary of units outstanding, unit values and net assets for variable annuity contracts. In addition, the following ratios and returns are provided:
Investment income ratio:
The investment income ratio represents the dividends, excluding distributions of capital gains, received by the investment division from the underlying mutual fund, net of management fees assessed by the fund manager, divided by the average net assets. These ratios exclude those expenses, such as mortality and expense charges, that result in direct reduction in the unit values. The recognition of investment income by the investment division is affected by the timing of the declaration of the dividends by the underlying fund in which the investment divisions invest.
Expense ratio:
The expense ratio represents the annualized contract expenses of the separate accounts, consisting primarily of mortality and expense charges, for each period indicated. These ratios include only those expenses that result in a direct reduction to unit values. Charges made directly to contract owner accounts through the redemption of units and expenses of the underlying fund are excluded.
Total return:
The total return include changes in the value of the underlying mutual fund, which includes expenses assessed through the reduction of unit values. These returns do not include any expenses assessed through the redemption of units. Investment divisions with a date notation indicated the effective date of that investment division in the separate account. The total return is calculated for the period indicated or from the effective date through the end of the reporting period.
BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio   Ratio   Return  
2008
    149     $ 10.47     $ 1,559       2.42 %     1.85 %     0.64 %
2007
    123       10.40       1,285       4.73       1.85       2.93  
2006
    199       10.11       2,012       4.37       1.85       2.63  
2005
    314       9.85       3,095       2.72       1.85       0.82  
2004
    225       9.77       2,200       0.86       1.85       -0.93  
Roszel/JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio   Ratio   Return  
2008
    166     $ 10.60     $ 1,756       0.04 %     1.85 %     -42.58 %
2007
    174       18.45       3,209       1.24       1.85       5.87  
2006
    206       17.43       3,585       2.37       1.85       19.31  
2005
    221       14.61       3,229       2.26       1.85       14.77  
2004
    233       12.73       2,960       1.62       1.85       9.69  
Roszel/Lazard International Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio   Ratio   Return  
2008
    192     $ 11.03     $ 2,123       2.92 %     1.85 %     -36.78 %
2007
    243       17.45       4,244       1.55       1.85       6.10  
2006
    313       16.44       5,151       1.43       1.85       20.61  
2005
    366       13.63       4,984       1.21       1.85       6.49  
2004
    368       12.80       4,712       0.58       1.85       14.16  

S-15


 

6. UNIT VALUES (Continued)
Roszel/Davis Large Cap Value Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    138     $ 8.94     $ 1,235       1.50 %     1.85 %     -37.99 %
2007
    151       14.41       2,171       1.22       1.85       -0.17  
2006
    181       14.44       2,620       1.38       1.85       17.62  
2005
    241       12.27       2,957       1.41       1.85       2.25  
2004
    247       12.00       2,970       0.96       1.85       12.20  
Roszel/Lord Abbett Government Securities Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    597     $ 12.25     $ 7,313       3.81 %     1.85 %     7.31 %
2007
    540       11.41       6,157       4.90       1.85       4.63  
2006
    741       10.91       8,085       4.47       1.85       1.72  
2005
    823       10.72       8,819       3.77       1.85       0.35  
2004
    927       10.68       9,902       3.27       1.85       2.10  
Roszel/Lord Abbett Large Cap Value Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    328     $ 10.70     $ 3,510       1.66 %     1.85 %     -35.26 %
2007
    424       16.53       7,012       1.26       1.85       1.86  
2006
    522       16.23       8,479       1.05       1.85       16.14  
2005
    647       13.98       9,043       0.90       1.85       0.39  
2004
    882       13.92       12,277       0.43       1.85       10.55  
Roszel/BlackRock Fixed-Income Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    541     $ 10.70     $ 5,787       4.12 %     1.85 %     -0.23 %
2007
    851       10.72       9,126       4.36       1.85       4.24  
2006
    1,008       10.29       10,370       3.79       1.85       1.28  
2005
    1,286       10.16       13,061       3.52       1.85       -0.87  
2004
    1,491       10.25       15,275       2.89       1.85       0.17  
Roszel/BlackRock Equity Dividend Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio   Ratio   Return
2008
    314     $ 8.46     $ 2,652       2.56 %     1.85 %     -42.60 %
2007
    555       14.73       8,182       1.63       1.85       -3.97  
2006
    778       15.34       11,934       1.54       1.85       17.76  
2005
    993       13.03       12,942       1.71       1.85       0.28  
2004
    1,159       12.99       15,051       1.09       1.85       11.94  

S-16


 

6. UNIT VALUES (Continued)
Roszel/AllianceBernstein Large Cap Core Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    76     $ 6.49     $ 496       %     1.85 %     -49.89 %
2007
    75       12.94       970       0.85       1.85       11.02  
2006
    124       11.66       1,449       0.18       1.85       -0.02  
2005
    159       11.66       1,849       0.51       1.85       6.07  
2004
    223       10.99       2,447       0.36       1.85       1.90  
Roszel/Delaware Small-Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    105     $ 7.55     $ 790       %     1.85 %     -46.78 %
2007
    139       14.19       1,984             1.85       11.30  
2006
    212       12.75       2,700             1.85       7.84  
2005
    283       11.82       3,350             1.85       5.82  
2004
    298       11.17       3,331             1.85       10.65  
Roszel/Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    63     $ 6.60     $ 414       %     1.85 %     -52.98 %
2007
    41       14.04       571       0.01       1.85       18.64  
2006
    107       11.83       1,264             1.85       -5.80  
2005
    100       12.56       1,257       0.09       1.85       8.28  
2004
    108       11.60       1,251             1.85       6.71  
Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    171     $ 9.04     $ 1,547       0.80 %     1.85 %     -48.68 %
2007
    186       17.62       3,276       0.44       1.85       -7.23  
2006
    271       19.00       5,146       0.35       1.85       17.83  
2005
    356       16.12       5,739       0.14       1.85       9.82  
2004
    412       14.68       6,049       0.14       1.85       27.27  
Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    404     $ 7.75     $ 3,132       0.38 %     1.85 %     -36.28 %
2007
    476       12.17       5,785       0.27       1.85       5.86  
2006
    638       11.49       7,338       0.33       1.85       7.86  
2005
    812       10.66       8,649       0.53       1.85       -1.50  
2004
    989       10.82       10,704       0.13       1.85       2.17  

S-17


 

6. UNIT VALUES (Continued)
Roszel/Marsico Large Cap Growth Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    260     $ 8.05     $ 2,095       0.24 %     1.85 %     -43.49 %
2007
    305       14.24       4,334             1.85       20.09  
2006
    348       11.86       4,130             1.85       3.75  
2005
    351       11.43       4,008       0.08       1.85       1.04  
2004
    364       11.31       4,119       0.02       1.85       2.70  
Roszel/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    75     $ 8.71     $ 654       %     1.85 %     -45.61 %
2007
    126       16.01       2,017             1.85       20.32  
2006
    166       13.30       2,211             1.85       5.63  
2005
    211       12.59       2,652             1.85       10.56  
2004
    287       11.39       3,270             1.85       4.38  
Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large Cap Core Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    125     $ 8.90     $ 1,113       1.33 %     1.85 %     -35.84 %
2007
    104       13.87       1,436       1.14       1.85       6.51  
2006
    101       13.02       1,313       1.61       1.85       11.03  
2005
    124       11.73       1,448       0.34       1.85       1.63  
2004
    72       11.54       833       0.26       1.85       3.33  
Roszel/Allianz NFJ Mid Cap Value Portfolio
                                                 
                            Investment        
                    Net Assets   Income   Expense   Total
December 31,   Units (000’s)   Unit Value   (000’s)   Ratio     Ratio     Return  
2008
    132     $ 7.25     $ 958       2.25 %     1.85 %     39.80 %
2007
    165       12.05       1,987       1.53       1.85       0.78  
2006
    218       12.14       2,652       1.07       1.85       10.71  
2005
    285       10.97       3,128             1.85       1.34  
2004
    364       11.16       4,047       0.09       1.85       8.34  

S-18


 

7. CHARGES AND FEES
The following table is a listing of all expenses charged to the separate account. Mortality and expense, rider and administrative charges may be assessed through a reduction in unit value or redemption of units or as fixed charges.
         
Charge   When Charge Is Deducted   Amount Deducted
Asset-Based Insurance Charges:    
Mortality and expense charge
  Daily — reduction of unit values   1.85% annually
 
       
Contract Charges:    
Contract maintenance charge
  Annually — redemption of units   $50 at the end of each contract year and upon a full withdrawal only if the greater of contract value , or premiums less withdrawals, is less than $75,000.
 
       
Additional death benefit charge provides coverage in addition to that provided by the death benefit
  Quarterly — redemption of units   0.25% of the contract value at the end of each contract year based on the average contract values as of the end of each of the prior four quarters and a pro rata amount of this charge upon surrender, annuitization, death, or termination of the rider if the Estate Enhancer benefit was combined with either the Maximum Anniversary Value Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (“GMDB”) or premiums compounded at 5% GMDB.
 
       
Transfer fee
  Per incident — redemption of units   $25 for each transfer after the twelfth transfer in a contract year.

S-19


 

8. UNITS ISSUED AND REDEEMED
Units issued and redeemed during 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
                                                         
                                    Roszel/Lord Abbett        
            Roszel/JPMorgan   Roszel/Lazard   Roszel/Davis Large   Government   Roszel/Lord Abbett   Roszel/BlackRock
    BlackRock Money   International   International   Cap   Securities   Large Cap Value   Fixed-Income
(In thousands)   Market V.I. Fund   Equity Portfolio   Portfolio   Value Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
Outstanding at January 1, 2007
    199       206       313       181       741       522       1,008  
Activity during 2007:
                                                       
Issued
    395       21       33       30       59       54       81  
Redeemed
    (471 )     (53 )     (103 )     (60 )     (260 )     (152 )     (238 )
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    123       174       243       151       540       424       851  
Activity during 2008:
                                                       
Issued
    260       39       26       29       281       42       49  
Redeemed
    (234 )     (47 )     (77 )     (42 )     (224 )     (138 )     (359 )
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    149       166       192       138       597       328       541  
 
                                                       
                                                         
                    Roszel/Delaware                    
    Roszel/BlackRock           Small-   Roszel/Loomis Sayles           Roszel/Rittenhouse    
    Equity Dividend   Roszel/AllianceBernstein   Mid Cap Growth   Large Cap Growth   Roszel/NWQ Small   Large Cap Growth   Roszel/Marsico Large
(In thousands)   Portfolio   Large Cap Core Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Cap Value Portfolio   Portfolio   Cap Growth Portfolio
Outstanding at January 1, 2007
    778       124       212       107       271       638       348  
Activity during 2007:
                                                       
Issued
    38       8       9       30       32       37       79  
Redeemed
    (261 )     (57 )     (82 )     (96 )     (117 )     (199 )     (122 )
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    555       75       139       41       186       476       305  
Activity during 2008:
                                                       
Issued
    51       20       24       39       42       45       53  
Redeemed
    (292 )     (19 )     (58 )     (17 )     (57 )     (117 )     (98 )
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    314       76       105       63       171       404       260  
 
                                                       
                         
                    Roszel/Allianz NFJ
    Roszel/Cadence Mid   Roszel/Fayez Sarofim Large   Mid
(In thousands)   Cap Growth Portfolio   Cap Core Portfolio   Cap Value Portfolio
Outstanding at January 1, 2007
    166       101       218  
Activity during 2007:
                       
Issued
    24       33       14  
Redeemed
    (64 )     (30 )     (67 )
 
                       
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    126       104       165  
Activity during 2008:
                       
Issued
    21       41       45  
Redeemed
    (72 )     (20 )     (78 )
 
                       
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    75       125       132  
 
                       

S-20


 

[Ernst & Young LLP]
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and 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 Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Des Moines, Iowa
March 25, 2009

G-1


 

[Deloitte & Touche LLP]
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
We have audited the accompanying statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2006. 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 audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company for the year ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
March 2, 2007

G-2


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
(dollars in thousands, except share data)   Successor  
ASSETS
               
Investments
               
Fixed maturity available-for-sale securities, at estimated fair value
(amortized cost: 2008 — $1,510,368; 2007 — $1,411,730)
  $ 1,372,016     $ 1,411,730  
Equity available-for-sale securities, at estimated fair value
(cost: 2008 — $21,699; 2007 — $37,182)
    13,506       37,182  
Limited partnerships
    15,260       18,785  
Mortgage loans on real estate
    77,062        
Policy loans
    913,882       948,625  
 
           
Total investments
    2,391,726       2,416,322  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents
    428,904       158,633  
Accrued investment income
    38,816       39,626  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    24,271        
Deferred sales inducements
    7,232        
Value of business acquired
    581,090       574,950  
Other intangibles
          74,930  
Goodwill
    2,800       156,880  
Federal income taxes — current
    5,400       6,641  
Federal income taxes — deferred
    117,043       2,031  
Reinsurance receivables
    14,219       5,440  
Affiliated receivable — net
    1,124        
Other assets
    44,062       40,741  
Separate Accounts assets
    7,457,096       11,232,996  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 11,113,783     $ 14,709,190  
 
           
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-3


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
BALANCE SHEETS — Continued
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
(dollars in thousands, except share data)   Successor  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
               
Liabilities
               
Policyholder liabilities and accruals
               
Policyholder account balances
  $ 1,751,265     $ 1,900,837  
Future policy benefits
    499,278       396,760  
Claims and claims settlement expenses
    38,883       42,405  
 
           
 
    2,289,426       2,340,002  
 
           
Other policyholder funds
    2,006       4,703  
Payable for collateral under securities loaned
    182,451        
Payable for investments purchased — net
    2,753       1,399  
Other liabilities
    14,432       10,954  
Separate Accounts liabilities
    7,457,096       11,232,996  
 
           
Total Liabilities
    9,948,164       13,590,054  
 
           
 
               
Stockholder’s Equity
               
Common stock ($10 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 250,000 shares)
    2,500       2,500  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,366,636       1,116,636  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
    (65,178 )      
Retained deficit
    (138,339 )      
 
           
Total Stockholder’s Equity
    1,165,619       1,119,136  
 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
  $ 11,113,783     $ 14,709,190  
 
           
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-4


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                           
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2008       2007     2006  
(dollars in thousands)   Successor       Predecessor  
Revenues
                         
Policy charge revenue
  $ 240,667       $ 267,586     $ 264,669  
Net investment income
    135,158         136,416       142,617  
Net realized investment gains
    27,721         2,055       1,236  
 
                   
Total Revenues
    403,546         406,057       408,522  
 
                   
 
                         
Benefits and Expenses
                         
Interest credited to policyholder liabilities
    91,447         93,978       101,837  
Policy benefits (net of reinsurance recoveries:
                         
2008 — $16,492; 2007 — $15,311; 2006 — $14,536)
    190,578         42,286       39,158  
Reinsurance premium ceded
    22,789         28,292       26,919  
Amortization (accretion) of deferred policy acquisition costs
    (695 )       22,064       42,337  
Amortization of value of business acquired
    37,671                
Amortization of other intangibles
    3,774                
Impairment charges
    215,462                
Insurance expenses and taxes
    68,778         59,846       59,248  
 
                   
Total Benefits and Expenses
    629,804         246,466       269,499  
 
                   
Income (Loss) Before Taxes
    (226,258 )       159,591       139,023  
 
                   
 
                         
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
                         
Current
            37,982       40,293  
Deferred
    (87,919 )       11,090       3,993  
 
                   
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
    (87,919 )       49,072       44,286  
 
                   
Net Income (Loss)
  $ (138,339 )     $ 110,519     $ 94,737  
 
                   
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-5


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                           
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)   2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
 
                         
Net Income (Loss)
  $ (138,339 )     $ 110,519     $ 94,737  
 
                   
 
                         
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
                         
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
                         
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
    (146,545 )       4,072       1,403  
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income
            56       (524 )
 
                   
 
    (146,545 )       4,128       879  
 
                   
Adjustments:
                         
Policyholder liabilities
    (647 )       (4,795 )     1,377  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    1,481                
Value of business acquired
    45,438                
Deferred federal income taxes
    35,095         233       (790 )
 
                   
 
    81,367         (4,562 )     587  
 
                   
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
    (65,178 )       (434 )     1,466  
 
                   
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
  $ (203,517 )     $ 110,085     $ 96,203  
 
                   
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-6


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
                                         
                    Accumulated              
            Additional     Other     Retained     Total  
    Common     Paid-in     Comprehensive     Earnings     Stockholder’s  
(dollars in thousands)   Stock     Capital     Income (Loss)     (Deficit)     Equity  
 
                                       
Balance, January 1, 2006 (Predecessor)
  $ 2,500     $ 397,324     $ (11,699 )   $ 364,708     $ 752,833  
Net income
                            94,737       94,737  
Cash dividend paid to Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc.
                            (180,000 )     (180,000 )
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes
                    1,466               1,466  
 
                             
 
                                       
Balance, January 1, 2007 (Predecessor)
    2,500       397,324       (10,233 )     279,445       669,036  
Net income
                            110,519       110,519  
Cash dividend paid to Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc.
                            (193,731 )     (193,731 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
                    (434 )             (434 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Balance, at date of acquisition, (Predecessor)
    2,500       397,324       (10,667 )     196,233       585,390  
Effect of push down accounting of AEGON USA, LLC.’s purchase price on Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company’s net assets acquired
            719,312       10,667       (196,233 )     533,746  
 
                             
 
                                       
Balance, December 31, 2007 (Successor)
    2,500       1,116,636                   1,119,136  
Net loss
                            (138,339 )     (138,339 )
Capital contribution from AEGON USA, LLC
            250,000                       250,000  
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
                    (65,178 )             (65,178 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Balance, December 31, 2008 (Successor)
  $ 2,500     $ 1,366,636     $ (65,178 )   $ (138,339 )   $ 1,165,619  
 
                             
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-7


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)   2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ (138,339 )     $ 110,519     $ 94,737  
Adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities:
                         
Changes in:
                         
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    (22,790 )       (9,142 )     10,541  
Deferred sales inducements
    (7,232 )       (12,000 )     (12,308 )
Unearned policy charge revenue
            2,232       (10,059 )
Value of business acquired
    37,670                
Other intangibles
    3,774                
Benefit reserves
    132,629         (4,034 )     (2,218 )
Federal income tax accruals
    (87,203 )       11,090       3,993  
Claims and claims settlement expenses
    (3,522 )       (21 )     11,279  
Other policyholder funds
    (2,697 )       (2,270 )     5,025  
Other operating assets and liabilities, net
    (1,979 )       (16,349 )     32,298  
Amortization (accretion) of investments
    (2,228 )       3,008       7,350  
Limited partnership asset distributions
    (858 )       (610 )      
Impairment charges
    215,462                
Interest credited to policyholder liabilities
    91,447         93,978       101,837  
Net realized investment gains
    (27,721 )       (2,055 )     (1,236 )
 
                   
 
                         
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities
    186,413         174,346       241,239  
 
                   
 
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                         
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    598,127         262,046       390,637  
Maturities of available-for-sale securities and mortgage loans
    295,409         295,271       160,863  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities and mortgage loans
    (1,066,743 )       (376,215 )     (236,551 )
Sales of limited partnerships
    1,148         860       1,028  
Purchases of limited partnerships
                  (250 )
Increase in payable for collateral under securities loaned
    182,451                
Policy loans on insurance contracts, net
    34,743         20,249       23,269  
Net settlement on futures contracts
    37,803                
Other
    3,235                
 
                   
 
                         
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by investing activities
    86,173         202,211       338,996  
 
                   
See Notes to Financial Statements

G-8


 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
                           
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2008       2007     2006  
(dollars in thousands)   Successor       Predecessor  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                         
Capital contribution from AEGON USA, LLC.
    250,000                
Cash dividend paid to Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc.
            (193,731 )     (180,000 )
Policyholder deposits
    389,370         632,846       685,069  
Policyholder withdrawals
    (641,685 )       (887,625 )     (911,037 )
 
                   
 
                         
Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities
    (2,315 )       (448,510 )     (405,968 )
 
                   
 
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1)
    270,271         (71,953 )     174,267  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    158,633         230,586       56,319  
 
                   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 428,904       $ 158,633     $ 230,586  
 
                   
 
(1)   Included in net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents is interest received (2008 — $1,137; 2007 — $0; 2006 — $0); interest paid (2008 — $196; 2007 — $501; 2006 — 494); Federal income taxes paid (2008 — $5,400; 2007 — $60,918; 2006 — $41,570); and Federal income taxes received (2008 - $6,115; 2007 — $0; 2006 — $0)
See Notes to Financial Statements

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MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AEGON USA, LLC.)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in Thousands)
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (“MLLIC” or the “Company”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON USA, LLC. (“AUSA”). AUSA is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON N.V., a limited liability share company organized under Dutch law. AEGON N.V. and its subsidiaries and joint ventures have life insurance and pension operations in over 20 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and are also active in savings and investment operations, accident and health insurance, general insurance and limited banking operations in a number of these countries.
On December 28, 2007 (the “acquisition date”), MLLIC and its affiliate, ML Life Insurance Company of New York (“MLLICNY”) were acquired by AUSA for $1.12 billion and $0.13 billion, respectively, for a total price for both entities of $1.25 billion. Prior to the acquisition date, MLLIC was a wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc. (“MLIG”), which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML&Co.”). See Note 2 for additional information on the adjustments to the initial purchase price allocation related to this transaction.
The Company sells non-participating annuity products, including variable annuities, modified guaranteed annuities and immediate annuities. The Company is domiciled in the State of Arkansas and is currently licensed to sell insurance and annuities in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. The Company markets its products solely through the retail network of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated (“MLPF&S”).
Basis of Reporting
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company also submits financial statements to insurance industry regulatory authorities, which are prepared on the basis of statutory accounting practices (“SAP”). The significant accounting policies and related judgments underlying the Company’s financial statements are summarized below.
On December 28, 2007, AUSA completed the acquisition of MLLIC and its affiliate MLLICNY. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 141, Business Combinations , and SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, the acquisition was accounted for by AUSA using the purchase method of accounting, which requires the assets and liabilities of the Company to be identified and measured at their estimated fair values as of the Acquisition date. The estimated fair values are subject to adjustment of the initial allocation for a one-year period as more information relative to the fair values as of the acquisition date becomes available. See Note 2 for additional information on the adjustments to the initial purchase price allocation.
In addition, as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 54, Push Down Basis of Accounting in Financial Statements of a Subsidiary , the purchase method of accounting applied by AUSA to the acquired assets and liabilities associated with the Company has been “pushed down” to the financial statements of the Company, thereby establishing a new basis of accounting. As a result, the Company follows AUSA’s accounting policies subsequent to the acquisition date. This new basis of accounting is referred to as the “successor basis”, while the historical basis of accounting is referred to as the “predecessor basis’’. In general, all 2008 amounts as well as Balance Sheet amounts for 2007 are representative of the successor basis of accounting while the Statements of Income, Stockholder’s Equity, Comprehensive Income, and Cash Flows amounts for 2007 and 2006 are representative of the predecessor basis of accounting. Financial statements included herein for periods prior and subsequent to the acquisition date are labeled “Predecessor” and “Successor”, respectively.
Certain reclassifications and format changes have been made to prior period financial statements, where appropriate, to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on net income or stockholder’s equity of the prior years.
Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates. Included among the material (or potentially material) reported amounts and disclosures that require extensive use of estimates are: fair value of certain invested assets, asset valuation allowances, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, goodwill, value of business acquired, other intangibles, policyholder liabilities, income taxes, and potential effects of unresolved litigated matters.
Investments
Fixed maturity and equity securities

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The Company’s investments in fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as either available-for-sale or trading and are reported at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in stockholder’s equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes. These changes in estimated fair value are not reflected in the Statements of Income until a sale transaction occurs or when declines in fair value are deemed other-than-temporary. Unrealized gains and losses on trading account securities are included in net realized investment gains. During the first quarter 2006, the Company liquidated its trading portfolio.
If management determines that a decline in the value of an available-for-sale security is other-than-temporary, the amortized cost is adjusted to estimated fair value and the decline in value is recorded as a net realized investment loss. Management makes this determination through a series of discussions with the Company’s portfolio managers and credit analysts, information obtained from external sources (i.e. company announcements, rating agency announcements, or news wire services) and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investments for a period of time sufficient for a forecasted market price recovery up to or beyond the amortized cost of the investment. The factors that may give rise to a potential other-than-temporary impairment include, but are not limited to, i) certain credit-related events such as default of principal or interest payments by the issuer, ii) bankruptcy of issuer, iii) certain security restructurings, and iv) fair market value less than cost or amortized cost for an extended period of time. In the absence of a readily ascertainable market value, the estimated fair value on these securities represents management’s best estimate and is based on comparable securities and other assumptions as appropriate. Management bases this determination on the most recent information available.
For fixed maturity securities, premiums are amortized to the earlier of the call or maturity date, discounts are accreted to the maturity date, and interest income is accrued daily. For equity securities, dividends are recognized on the ex-dividend date. Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Subsequent to December 28, 2007, realized gains and losses on the sale or maturity of investments are determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. Prior to December 28, 2007, realized gains and losses on the sale or maturity of investments were determined on the basis of specific identification.
Certain fixed maturity and equity securities are considered below investment grade. The Company defines below investment grade securities as unsecured debt obligations that have a Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) or similar rating agency rating lower than BBB-.
For publicly traded securities, the estimated fair value is determined using quoted market prices. For securities without a readily ascertainable market value, the Company utilizes pricing services and broker quotes. Such estimated fair values do not necessarily represent the values for which these securities could have been sold at the dates of the Balance Sheets.
Each month, the Company performs an analysis of the information obtained from third party services and brokers to ensure that the information is reasonable and produces a reasonable estimate of fair value. The Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors as part of this analysis, including but not limited to, recent transactional activity for similar fixed maturities, review of pricing statistics and trends, and consideration of recent relevant market events.
The Company’s portfolio of private placement securities is valued using a matrix pricing methodology. The pricing methodology is obtained from a third party service and indicates current spreads for securities based on weighted average life, credit rating and industry sector. Monthly the Company reviews the matrix to ensure the spreads are reasonable by comparing them to observed spreads for similar securities traded in the market. In order to account for the illiquid nature of these securities, illiquidity premiums are included in the valuation and are determined based upon the pricing of recent transactions in the private placement market as well as comparing the value of the privately offered security to a similar public security. The impact of the illiquidity premium to the overall valuation is immaterial (less than 1% of the value).
Limited partnerships
The Company has investments in three limited partnerships that are not publicly traded. One of the partnerships is carried at fair market value which is derived from management’s review of the underlying financial statements that were prepared on a GAAP basis. The remaining two partnerships are carried at cost.

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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at unpaid principal balances adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts and are net of valuation allowances. The fair value for mortgage loans on real estate is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and/or similar remaining maturities. Interest income is accrued on the principal balance of the loan based on the loan’s contractual interest rate. Premiums and discounts are amortized using the effective yield method over the life of the loan. Interest income and amortization of premiums and discounts are reported in net investment income along with mortgage loan fees, which are recorded as they are incurred. Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that based upon current information and events, the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. When the Company determines that a loan is impaired, a valuation allowance is established for the excess carrying value of the loan over its estimated value. The Company does not accrue interest on impaired loans and loans ninety days past due.
Policy loans
Policy loans on insurance contracts are stated at unpaid principal balances. The Company estimates the fair value of policy loans as equal to the book value of the loans. Policy loans are fully collateralized by the account value of the associated insurance contracts, and the spread between the policy loan interest rate and the interest rate credited to the account value held as collateral is fixed.
Derivative Instruments
Derivatives are financial instruments in which the value changes in response to an underlying variable, that require little or no net initial investment and are settled at a future date. All derivatives recognized on the Balance Sheets are carried at fair value. All changes in fair value are recognized in the Statements of Income. The fair value for exchange traded derivatives, such as futures, is calculated net of the interest accrued to date and is based on quoted market prices. Net settlements on the futures contracts occur daily.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are primarily valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Securities Lending
Financial assets that are lent to a third party or that are transferred subject to a repurchase agreement at a fixed price are not derecognized as the Company retains substantially all the risks and rewards of asset ownership. The lent securities are included in fixed maturity available-for-sales securities in the Balance Sheets. A liability is recognized for cash collateral received, required initially at 102%, on which interest is accrued.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DAC”)
Policy acquisition costs for variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts are deferred and amortized based on the estimated future gross profits for each group of contracts. These future gross profit estimates are subject to periodic evaluation by the Company, with necessary revisions applied against amortization to date. The impact of these revisions on cumulative amortization is recorded as a charge or credit to current operations, commonly referred to as “unlocking”. It is reasonably possible that estimates of future gross profits could be reduced in the future, resulting in a material reduction in the carrying amount of DAC.
Policy acquisition costs are principally commissions and a portion of certain other expenses relating to policy acquisition, underwriting and issuance that are primarily related to and vary with the production of new business. Insurance expenses and taxes reported in the Statements of Income are net of amounts deferred. Policy acquisition costs can also arise from the acquisition or reinsurance of existing inforce policies from other insurers. These costs include ceding commissions and professional fees related to the reinsurance assumed. The deferred costs are amortized in proportion to the estimated future gross profits over the anticipated life of the acquired insurance contracts utilizing an interest methodology.
The most significant assumptions involved in the estimation of future gross profits are future net Separate Accounts performance, surrender rates, mortality rates and reinsurance costs. For variable annuities, the Company generally establishes a long-term rate of net Separate Accounts growth. If returns over a determined historical period differ from the long-term assumption, returns for future determined periods are calculated so that the long-term assumption is achieved. The result is that the long-term rate is assumed to be realized over a specified period. However, the long-term rate may be adjusted if expectations change. This method for projecting market returns is known as reversion to the mean, a standard industry practice. At December 31, 2008, the reversion to the mean assumption was 15% gross short-term equity growth rate for five years and thereafter a 9% gross long-term growth rate. Additionally, the Company may modify the rate of net Separate Accounts growth over the short term to reflect near-term

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expectations of the economy and financial market performance in which Separate Accounts assets are invested. Surrender and mortality rates for all variable contracts are based on historical experience and a projection of future experience.
Future gross profit estimates are subject to periodic evaluation with necessary revisions applied against amortization to date. The impact of revisions and assumptions to estimates on cumulative amortization is recorded as a charge or benefit to current operations, commonly referred to as “unlocking”. Changes in assumptions can have a significant impact on the amount of DAC reported and the related amortization patterns. In general, increases in the estimated Separate Accounts return and decreases in surrender or mortality assumptions increase the expected future profitability of the underlying business and may lower the rate of DAC amortization. Conversely, decreases in the estimated Separate Accounts returns and increases in surrender or mortality assumptions reduce the expected future profitability of the underlying business and may increase the rate of DAC amortization.
During 1990, the Company entered into an assumption reinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated insurer. The acquisition costs relating to this agreement are being amortized over a twenty-five year period using an effective interest rate of 7.5%. This reinsurance agreement provided for payment of contingent ceding commissions, for a ten year period, based upon the persistency and mortality experience of the insurance contracts assumed. Payments made for contingent ceding commissions were capitalized and amortized using an identical methodology as that used for the initial acquisition costs.
At December 31, 2008, variable annuities accounted for the Company’s entire DAC asset. At December 31, 2007, the DAC balance was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.
Deferred Sales Inducements (“DSI”)
The Company offers a sales inducement whereby the contract owner receives a bonus which increases the initial account balance by an amount equal to a specified percentage of the contract owner’s deposit. This amount may be subject to recapture under certain circumstances. Consistent with DAC, sales inducements for variable annuity contracts are deferred and amortized based on the estimated future gross profits for each group of contracts. These future gross profit estimates are subject to periodic evaluation by the Company, with necessary revisions applied against amortization to date. The impact of these revisions on cumulative amortization is recorded as a charge or credit to current operations, commonly referred to as “unlocking”. It is reasonably possible that estimates of future gross profits could be reduced in the future, resulting in a material reduction in the carrying amount of the deferred sales inducement asset.
The expense and the subsequent capitalization and amortization are recorded as a component of policy benefits in the Statements of Income. At December 31, 2008, variable annuities accounted for the Company’s entire DSI asset. At December 31, 2007, the DSI balance was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.
Value of Business Acquired (“VOBA”)
VOBA represents the portion of the purchase price that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from the insurance and annuity contracts inforce at the acquisition date. VOBA is based on actuarially determined projections, by each block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality, policyholder behavior, separate account performance, operating expenses, investment returns and other factors. Actual experience on the purchased business may vary from these projections. Revisions in estimates result in changes to the amounts expensed in the reporting period in which the revisions are made and could result in the impairment of the asset and a charge to income if estimated future gross profits are less than the unamortized balance. In addition, the Company utilizes the reversion to the mean assumption, a common industry practice, in its determination of the amortization of VOBA. This practice assumes that the expectations for long-term appreciation in equity markets is not changed by minor short-term market fluctuations, but that it does change when large interim deviations have occurred. At December 31, 2008, the reversion to the mean assumption was 15% gross short-term equity growth rate for five years and thereafter a 9% gross long-term growth rate. See Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.
Other Intangibles
Other intangible assets acquired at the acquisition date are a distribution agreement, a tradename and a non-compete agreement. The tradename and the non-compete are required to be amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life of five years. The distribution intangible is amortized over the expected economic benefit period and at a pace consistent with the expected future gross profit streams generated from the distribution agreement, which is 30 years. The entire asset amount has been allocated to annuities. The carrying values of the intangibles is reviewed periodically for indicators of impairment in value including unexpected or adverse changes in the following: (1) the economic or competitive environments in which the Company operates, (2) the profitability analyses, (3) cash flow analyses, and (4) the fair value of the relevant business operation. See Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.

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Goodwill
Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment tests conducted at least annually. Impairment testing is to be performed using the fair value approach, which requires the use of estimates and judgment, at the “reporting unit” level. A reporting unit represents the operating segment which is the level at which the financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management. The entire asset amount has been allocated to annuities. Goodwill is reviewed for indications of value impairment, with consideration given to financial performance and other relevant factors. In addition, certain events including a significant adverse change in legal factors or the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, or unanticipated competition would cause the Company to review the carrying amounts of goodwill for impairment. See Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further discussion.
Separate Accounts
The Company’s Separate Accounts consist of variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts, of which the assets and liabilities are legally segregated and reported as separate captions in the Balance Sheets. Separate Accounts are established in conformity with Arkansas State Insurance Law and are generally not chargeable with liabilities that arise from any other business of the Company. Separate Accounts assets may be subject to claims of the Company only to the extent the value of such assets exceeds Separate Accounts liabilities. The assets of the Separate Accounts are carried at the daily net asset value of the mutual funds in which they invest.
Absent any contract provision wherein the Company guarantees either a minimum return or account value upon death or annuitization, the net investment income and net realized and unrealized gains and losses attributable to Separate Accounts assets supporting variable annuities and variable life contracts accrue directly to the contract owner and are not reported as revenue in the Statements of Income. Mortality, guaranteed benefit fees, policy administration, maintenance, and withdrawal charges associated with Separate Accounts products are included in policy charge revenue in the Statements of Income.
Policyholder Account Balances
The Company’s liability for policyholder account balances represents the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the Balance Sheet dates. The liability is generally equal to the accumulated account deposits plus interest credited less policyholders’ withdrawals and other charges assessed against the account balance. Interest-crediting rates for the Company’s fixed rate products are as follows:
     
    2008
Interest-sensitive life products
  4.00% — 4.85%
Interest-sensitive deferred annuities
  0.05% — 6.80%
These rates may be changed at the option of the Company after initial guaranteed rates expire, unless contracts are subject to minimum interest rate guarantees.
Future Policy Benefits
The Company’s liability for future policy benefits consists of liabilities for immediate annuities and liabilities for certain guaranteed benefits contained in the variable insurance products the Company manufactures. Liabilities for immediate annuities are equal to the present value of estimated future payments to or on behalf of policyholders, where the timing and amount of payment generally depends on policyholder mortality. Liabilities for guaranteed benefits for variable annuity and life insurance contracts are discussed in more detail in Note 7 of the Financial Statements. Interest rates used in establishing such liabilities are as follows:
     
    2008
Interest rates used for liabilities
  2.55% — 5.75%
Revenue Recognition
Revenues for variable annuity contracts consist of policy charges for i) mortality and expense risks, ii) certain guaranteed benefits selected by the contract owner, iii) administration fees, iv) annual contract maintenance charges, and v) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the withdrawal charge period. Revenues for variable annuity contracts are recognized when policy charges are assessed or earned.
Revenues for variable life insurance contracts consist of policy charges for i) mortality and expense risks, ii) cost of insurance fees, iii) amortization of front-end and deferred sales charges, and iv) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the

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withdrawal charge period. Revenues for variable life insurance contracts are recognized when policy charges are assessed or earned. The Company does not currently manufacture variable life insurance contracts.
Revenues for interest-sensitive annuity contracts (market value adjusted annuities, immediate annuities, and single premium deferred annuities) and interest-sensitive life insurance contracts (single premium whole life insurance) consist of i) investment income, ii) gains (losses) on the sale of invested assets, and iii) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the withdrawal charge period. Revenues for interest-sensitive annuity and life insurance contracts are recognized when investment income and investment sales are earned while revenues for contract charges are recognized when assessed or earned. The Company does not currently manufacture single premium deferred annuities or single premium whole life contracts.
Claims and Claims Settlement Expenses
Liabilities for claims and claims settlement expenses equal the death benefit (plus accrued interest) for claims that have been reported to the Company but have not settled and an estimate, based upon prior experience, for unreported claims.
Unearned Policy Charge Revenue (“UPCR”)
Certain variable life insurance products contain policy charges that are assessed at policy issuance. These policy charges are deferred and accreted into policy charge revenue based on the estimated future gross profits for each group of contracts, consistent with the amortization of DAC. The impact of any revisions on cumulative accretion is recorded as a charge or credit to current operations, commonly referred to as “unlocking”. The Company records a liability equal to the unaccreted balance of these policy charges on the Balance Sheets. The accretion of the UPCR is recorded as a component of policy charge revenue in the Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2007, the UPCR balance was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date.
Federal Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes on all transactions that have been recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Accordingly, deferred taxes are adjusted to reflect the tax rates at which future taxable amounts will likely be settled or realized. The effects of tax rate changes on future deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, as well as other changes in income tax laws, are recognized in net income (loss) in the year during which such changes are enacted.
For federal income tax purposes, an election under Internal Revenue Code Section 338 was made by AUSA in connection with the purchase of the Company. As a result of this election, the income tax bases in the acquired assets and liabilities were adjusted as of the acquisition date resulting in a change to the related deferred income taxes.
Subsequent to acquisition, the Company will file a separate federal income tax return for the years 2008 through 2012. Beginning in 2013 and assuming no changes in ownership, the Company will join the affiliated consolidated tax group. The results of operations of the Company through December 28, 2007 were included in the consolidated federal income tax return of ML&Co. The Company had entered into a tax-sharing agreement with ML&Co. whereby the Company calculated its current tax provision based on its operations and periodically remitted its current federal income tax liability to ML&Co. The tax-sharing agreement with ML&Co. was terminated on December 28, 2007. The Company has not entered into a new tax sharing agreement.
The Company is subject to taxes on premiums and is exempt from state income taxes in most states.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Current Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. EITF 99-20-1, Amendments to the Impairment and Interest Income Measurement Guidance of EITF Issue No. 99-20 (“FSP EITF 99-20-1”). The FSP amends the impairment and related interest income measurement guidance in EITF 99-20, Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to Be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets, to achieve more consistent determination of whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred for debt securities classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. The FSP permits the use of reasonable management judgment about the probability that the company will be able to collect all amounts due while previously EITF 99-20 required the use of market participant assumptions which could not be overcome by management judgment. The FSP also retains and emphasizes the objective of an other-than-temporary impairment assessment and the related disclosure requirements in FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, and other related guidance. The FSP became effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2008, and shall be applied prospectively. The Company adopted FSP EITF 99-20-1 on December 31, 2008 and it had no material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

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In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active. The FSP clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, in a market that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active. The key considerations illustrated in the FSP No. FAS 157-3 example include the use of an entity’s own assumptions about future cash flows and appropriately risk-adjusted discount rates, appropriate risk adjustments for nonperformance and liquidity risks, and the reliance that an entity should place on quotes that do not reflect the result of market transactions. The FSP became effective upon issuance. The FSP adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This Statement identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used in the preparation of financial statements. SFAS No. 162 became effective on November 15, 2008. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In September 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4, Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161. The FSP amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in hybrid instruments. The FSP amends FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness to Others, to require additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. The provisions of the FSP that amended SFAS No. 133 and Interpretation No. 45 are effective for reporting periods (annual or interim) ending after November 15, 2008. The Company adopted FSP No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 on December 31, 2008. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 provides a fair value option election that allows companies to irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and liabilities, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as they occur. SFAS No. 159 permits the fair value option election on an instrument by instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for additional disclosures.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted provided the entity has not yet issued financial statements for the fiscal year, including any interim periods. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for additional disclosures.
Future Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (“FSP No. FAS 142-3”). The FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. FSP No. FAS 142-3 requires entities estimating the useful life of a recognized intangible asset to consider their historical experience in renewing or extending similar arrangements or, in the absence of historical experience, to consider assumptions that market participants would use about renewal or extension as adjusted for entity-specific factors included in SFAS No. 142. The guidance in FSP No. FAS 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company expects to adopt FSP No. FAS 142-3 on January 1, 2009, which affects disclosures and therefore will not impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
The FSP also clarifies that the disclosures required by SFAS No. 161 should be provided for any reporting period (annual or quarterly interim) beginning after November 15, 2008. This is consistent with the Company’s plan for adoption of SFAS No. 161 on January 1, 2009.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. This Statement amends and expands the disclosure requirements in SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced

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understanding of (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 with early application permitted. The Company expects to adopt SFAS No. 161 on January 1, 2009, which affects disclosures and therefore will not impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statement. This statement amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements. Noncontrolling interest refers to the minority interest portion of the equity of a subsidiary that is not attributable directly or indirectly to a parent. SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require for-profit entities that prepare consolidated financial statements to: (a) present noncontrolling interests as a component of equity, separate from the parent’s equity, (b) separately present the amount of consolidated net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the income statement, (c) consistently account for changes in a parent’s ownership interests in a subsidiary in which the parent entity has a controlling financial interest as equity transactions, (d) require an entity to measure at fair value its remaining interest in a subsidiary that is deconsolidated, and (e) require an entity to provide sufficient disclosures that identify and clearly distinguish between interests of the parent and interests of noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 applies to all for-profit entities that prepare consolidated financial statements, and affects those for-profit entities that have outstanding noncontrolling interests in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with earlier adoption prohibited. The Company expects to adopt SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009 and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the results of operation or financial position.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). This statement replaces SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations and establishes the principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination: (a) measures and recognizes the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests in the acquired entity, (b) measures and recognizes positive goodwill acquired or a gain from bargain purchase (negative goodwill), and (c) determines the disclosure information that is decision-useful to users of financial statements in evaluating the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for and shall be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with earlier adoption prohibited. Assets and liabilities that arose from business combinations with acquisition dates prior to the SFAS No. 141(R) effective date shall not be adjusted upon adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) with certain exceptions for acquired deferred tax assets and acquired income tax positions. The Company expects to adopt SFAS No. 141(R) and will apply its requirements to acquisitions occurring on or after January 1, 2009, and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the results of operation or financial position.
Note 2. Adjustments to Initial Purchase Price Allocation
On December 28, 2007, the Company and its affiliate, MLLICNY, were acquired by AUSA for $1.12 billion and $0.13 billion, respectively, for a total price for both entities of $1.25 billion. The allocation of the purchase price to the entities was based on their relative value. Since the actual results between the period December 28, 2007 and December 31, 2007 were not material, the Company utilized December 31, 2007 as the acquisition date.
In addition, on December 28, 2007, ML&Co. and AUSA entered into a transition services agreement whereby ML&Co. is to provide certain outsourced third-party services required for the normal operations of the business and other services necessary for the migration to AUSA’s infrastructure. These services may be provided for a period of up to two years.
The purchase price was initially allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using management’s best estimate of their fair value as of the acquisition date. The Company made refinements during 2008 to the initial estimated fair values as additional information became available.

G-17


 

The following adjustments as of December 31, 2008 were made to the initial purchase price allocation:
                         
    Purchase Price Allocation
    December 31,           December 31,
    2007   Adjustments   2008 (a)
Value of business acquired, gross
  $ 574,950     $ (6,759 )   $ 568,191  
Goodwill
    156,880       (14,779 )     142,101  
Other intangibles
    74,930       5,005       79,935  
Federal income taxes — current
    6,641       (525 )     6,116  
Federal income taxes — deferred
    2,031       (2,031 )      
Reinsurance receivables
    5,440       3,056       8,496  
Other assets
    40,741       (1,490 )     39,251  
 
                       
Policyholder account balances
    1,900,837       3,556       1,904,393  
Future policy benefits
    396,760       (23,014 )     373,746  
Federal income taxes — deferred
          5,971       5,971  
Other liabilities
    10,954       (4,036 )     6,918  
 
(a)   This reflects the December 31, 2008 balance before adjustments for unrealized gains (losses) on investments, amortization and/or impairments.
VOBA reflects the estimated fair value of inforce contracts acquired and represents the portion of the purchase price that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from the life insurance and annuity contracts inforce at the acquisition date. VOBA is based on actuarially determined projections, by each block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality, separate account performance, surrenders, operating expenses, investment returns and other factors. Actual experience on the purchased business may vary from these projections. If estimated gross profits or premiums differ from expectations, the amortization of VOBA is adjusted to reflect actual experience.
The value of the distribution agreement reflects the estimated fair value of the Company’s distribution agreement acquired at the acquisition date. The value of the distribution agreement is based on actuarially determined projections of future sales during the term of the agreement. The distribution intangible will be amortized over the expected economic benefit period and at a pace consistent with the expected future gross profit streams generated from the distribution agreement, which is 30 years.
The value of the trade name and the non-compete agreement reflects the estimated fair value of the trade name and the non-compete agreement at the acquisition date and will be amortized over the five year contractual agreement on a straight-line basis.
If actual experience under the distribution agreement, the trade name and the non-compete agreements differ from expectations, the amortization of these intangibles will be adjusted to reflect actual experience.
For purposes of calculating the VOBA and other intangible assets relating to the acquisition, management considered the Company’s weighted average cost of capital, as well as the weighted average cost of capital required by market participants. A discount rate of 9% and 11% were used for VOBA for the life and annuity segments, respectively. A discount rate of 12% was used to value the distribution agreement, the trade name and the non-compete agreement intangible assets. See Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further discussion on VOBA, Other Intangibles and Goodwill.
Note 3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value Measurements
SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements.
Fair Value Hierarchy
The Company has categorized its financial instruments into a three level hierarchy which is based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

G-18


 

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Balance Sheets are categorized as follows:
Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market.
Level 2. Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include the following:
  a)   Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets
 
  b)   Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets
 
  c)   Inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable
 
  d)   Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means
Level 3. Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. They reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2008:
                                 
    2008  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets
                               
Fixed maturity securities (a)
  $ 247,254     $ 1,012,562     $ 112,200     $ 1,372,016  
Equity securities (a)
          13,506             13,506  
Cash and cash equivalents (b)
          441,943             441,943  
Limited partnerships (c)
                9,895       9,895  
Separate Accounts assets (d)
    7,457,096                   7,457,096  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 7,704,350     $ 1,468,011     $ 122,095     $ 9,294,456  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities
                               
Future policy benefits (embedded derivatives only) (e)
  $     $     $ 35,323     $ 35,323  
 
                       
Total liabilities
  $     $     $ 35,323     $ 35,323  
 
                       
 
(a)   For publicly traded securities (Level 1), fair value is determined using quoted market prices. For securities without a readily ascertainable market value (Level 2), the Company utilizes pricing services and corroborated broker quotes. Such estimated fair values do not necessarily represent the values for which these securities could have been sold at the date of the Balance Sheet. Level 3 consists of two types of securities: a) securities whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker quotes and b) immaterial mortgage backed securities without a readily ascertainable market value whose amortized cost equals fair value.
 
(b)   Cash and cash equivalents are primarily valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Operating cash is not included in the abovementioned table.
 
(c)   The Company has an investment in a limited partnership for which the fair value was derived from management’s review of the underlying financial statements that were prepared on a GAAP basis. The remaining two limited partnerships are carried at cost and are not included in the abovementioned table.
 
(d)   Separate Accounts assets are carried at the net asset value provided by the fund managers.
 
(e)   The Company records liabilities, which can be either positive or negative, for contracts containing guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”) and reinsurance on guaranteed minimum income benefit (“GMIB reinsurance”) riders in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The GMWB and GMIB reinsurance provisions are treated as an embedded derivative and are required to be reported separately from the host variable annuity contract. The fair value of the GMWB and GMIB reinsurance obligations are calculated based on actuarial and capital market assumptions related to the projected cash flows, including benefits and related contract charges, over the anticipated life of the related contracts. The cash flow estimates are produced by using stochastic techniques under a variety of market return scenarios and other best estimate assumptions.

G-19


 

The Company’s Level 3 assets consist of an investment in a limited partnership, securities with non-binding broker quotes, and immaterial mortgage backed securities. The limited partnership is treated in accordance with SFAS No. 159, which was adopted on January 1, 2008. As a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date, no cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings was recorded with the initial adoption of SFAS No. 159.
The following table provides a summary of the change in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 assets at December 31, 2008:
                 
    Limited Partnerships     Fixed Maturity  
 
               
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 13,420     $ 18,775  
 
               
Total unrealized loss (a)
          (26,004 )
Purchases (sales) — net
    (1,148 )     38,289  
Transfers into Level 3 — net
          80,729  
Changes in valuation (b)
    (3,235 )     603  
Net realized investment gains (losses) (c)
    858       (192 )
 
           
 
               
Balance at December 31, 2008 (d)
  $ 9,895     $ 112,200  
 
           
 
(a)   Recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).
 
(b)   Recorded as a component of net investment income in the Statements of Income.
 
(c)   Recorded as a component of net realized investment gains (losses) for fixed maturity and net investment income for limited partnerships in the Statements of Income.
 
(d)   Recorded as a component of limited partnerships and fixed maturity available-for-sale securities in the Balance Sheets.
In certain circumstances, the Company will obtain non-binding broker quotes from brokers to assist in the determination of fair value. If those quotes can be corroborated by other market observable data, the investments will be classified as Level 2 investments. If not, the investments are classified as Level 3 due to the unobservable nature of the brokers’ valuation processes. During the year, the transfers to Level 3 principally related to several CMO Agency securities which were valued based on broker quotes that could not be corroborated.
The Company’s Level 3 liabilities (assets) consist of provisions for GMWB and GMIB reinsurance. The following table provides a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 liabilities (assets) at December 31, 2008:
                 
            GMIB  
    GMWB     Reinsurance  
 
               
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 13,865     $ 744  
 
               
Purchase price adjustment
    (2,243 )     (12,884 )
Changes in valuation (a)
    102,835       (66,994 )
 
           
 
               
Balance at December 31, 2008 (b)
  $ 114,457     $ (79,134 )
 
           
 
(a)   Recorded as a component of policy benefits in the Statements of Income.
 
(b)   Recorded as a component of future policy benefits in the Balance Sheets.

G-20


 

Note 4. Investments
Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities at December 31 were:
                                 
    2008  
    Successor  
                            Estimated  
    Amortized     Gross Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Fixed maturity securities:
                               
Corporate securities
  $ 805,324     $ 4,559     $ (76,742 )   $ 733,141  
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    457,263       3,296       (86,606 )     373,953  
U.S. Government and agencies
    229,878       17,387       (11 )     247,254  
Foreign governments
    16,268       213       (358 )     16,123  
Municipals
    1,635       4       (94 )     1,545  
 
                       
Total fixed maturity securities
  $ 1,510,368     $ 25,459     $ (163,811 )   $ 1,372,016  
 
                       
 
                               
Equity securities — preferred stocks
  $ 21,699     $     $ (8,193 )   $ 13,506  
 
                       
         
    2007  
    Successor  
    Estimated  
    Fair  
    Value (a)  
Fixed maturity securities:
       
Corporate securities
  $ 1,080,552  
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    208,582  
U.S. Government and agencies
    102,097  
Foreign governments
    18,790  
Municipals
    1,709  
 
     
Total fixed maturity securities
  $ 1,411,730  
 
     
 
       
Equity securities — preferred stocks
  $ 37,182  
 
     
 
(a)   In accordance with push down accounting, amortized cost was equal to estimated fair value at December 31, 2007.
Excluding investments in U.S. Government and agencies, the Company is not exposed to any significant concentration of credit risk in its fixed maturity securities portfolio.

G-21


 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities by investment grade at December 31 were:
                         
    2008     2007  
    Successor  
            Estimated     Estimated  
    Amortized     Fair     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Value (a)  
Investment grade
  $ 1,432,232     $ 1,316,909     $ 1,399,289  
Below investment grade
    78,136       55,107       12,441  
 
                 
 
                       
Total fixed maturity securities
  $ 1,510,368     $ 1,372,016     $ 1,411,730  
 
                 
 
(a)   In accordance with push down accounting, amortized cost was equal to estimated fair value at December 31, 2007.
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities rated BBB- were $39,860 and $61,063, respectively, which is the lowest investment grade rating given by S&P.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities at December 31 by expected maturity were:
                         
    2008     2007  
    Successor  
            Estimated     Estimated  
    Amortized     Fair     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Value (a)  
Fixed maturity securities:
                       
Due in one year or less
  $ 129,284     $ 128,424     $ 342,031  
Due after one year through five years
    450,331       432,032       538,779  
Due after five years through ten years
    285,150       265,360       215,646  
Due after ten years
    188,340       172,247       106,692  
 
                 
 
    1,053,105       998,063       1,203,148  
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    457,263       373,953       208,582  
 
                 
 
                       
Total fixed maturity securities
  $ 1,510,368     $ 1,372,016     $ 1,411,730  
 
                 
 
(a)   In accordance with push down accounting, amortized cost was equal to estimated fair value at December 31, 2007.
In the preceding table fixed maturity securities not due at a single maturity date have been included in the year of final maturity. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
The Company had investment securities with an estimated fair value of $24,910 and $23,136 that were deposited with insurance regulatory authorities at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
The Company’s investments in fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in stockholder’s equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes.

G-22


 

The estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity and equity securities aggregated by length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, were as follows:
                         
    2008 (a)  
    Successor  
                    Continuous  
    Estimated             Gross  
    Fair     Amortized     Unrealized  
    Value     Cost     Losses  
Less than or equal to 90 days:
                       
Fixed maturities
                       
Corporate securities
  $ 142,809     $ 154,722     $ (11,913 )
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    86,706       108,525       (21,819 )
U.S. Government and agencies
    55,105       55,116       (11 )
Equities
    2,702       3,716       (1,014 )
 
                 
 
    287,322       322,079       (34,757 )
 
                 
 
                       
Greater than 90 days but less than or equal to 180 days:
                       
Fixed maturities
                       
Corporate securities
    90,382       107,681       (17,299 )
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    96,227       123,271       (27,044 )
Foreign governments
    4,182       4,540       (358 )
Equities
    3,248       4,834       (1,586 )
 
                 
 
    194,039       240,326       (46,287 )
 
                 
 
                       
Greater than 180 days but less than or equal to 270 days:
                       
Fixed maturities
                       
Corporate securities
    241,028       268,972       (27,944 )
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    37,641       56,984       (19,343 )
 
                 
 
    278,669       325,956       (47,287 )
 
                 
 
                       
Greater than 270 days but less than or equal to one year:
                       
Fixed maturities
                       
Corporate securities
    56,022       75,608       (19,586 )
Mortgage-backed securities and other asset backed securities
    27,281       45,681       (18,400 )
Municipals
    838       932       (94 )
Equities
    7,556       13,149       (5,593 )
 
                 
 
    91,697       135,370       (43,673 )
 
                 
Total
  $ 851,727     $ 1,023,731     $ (172,004 )
 
                 
 
(a)   In accordance with push down accounting, amortized cost was equal to estimated fair value at December 31, 2007.
The total number of securities in an unrealized loss position was 330 at December 31, 2008.

G-23


 

The estimated fair value, gross unrealized losses and number of securities where the fair value had declined below amortized cost by greater than 20% and greater than 40% were as follows:
                         
    2008 (a)  
    Successor  
    Estimated     Gross        
    Fair     Unrealized     Number of  
    Value     Losses     Securities  
Decline > 20%
                       
Less than or equal to 90 days
  $ 51,245     $ (25,145 )     20  
Greater than 90 days but less than or equal to 180 days
    39,965       (30,238 )     23  
Greater than 180 days but less than or equal to 270 days
    43,697       (28,498 )     16  
Greater than 270 days but less than or equal to one year
    45,479       (34,743 )     19  
 
                 
Total
  $ 180,386     $ (118,624 )     78  
 
                 
 
                       
Decline > 40%
                       
Less than or equal to 90 days
  $ 12,845     $ (13,065 )     6  
Greater than 90 days but less than or equal to 180 days
    17,079       (22,307 )     13  
Greater than 180 days but less than or equal to 270 days
    13,497       (14,849 )     6  
Greater than 270 days but less than or equal to one year
    22,185       (23,925 )     10  
 
                 
Total
  $ 65,606     $ (74,146 )     35  
 
                 
 
(a)   In accordance with push down accounting, amortized cost was equal to estimated fair value at December 31, 2007.
Unrealized losses incurred during 2008 were primarily due to price fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates and credit spreads. The Company has the ability and intent to hold the investments for a period of time sufficient for a forecasted market price recovery up to or beyond the amortized cost of the investment.
The components of net unrealized loss included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes were as follows:
         
    December 31,  
    2008 (a)  
Assets
       
Fixed maturity securities
  $ (138,352 )
Equity securities
    (8,193 )
Deferred policy acquisitions costs
    1,481  
Value of business acquired
    45,438  
 
     
 
    (99,626 )
 
     
Liabilities
       
Policyholder account balances
    (647 )
Federal income taxes — deferred
    35,095  
 
     
 
    34,448  
 
     
Stockholder’s equity
       
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes (a)
  $ (65,178 )
 
(a)   At December 31, 2007 accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date.
The Company records certain adjustments to policyholder account balances in conjunction with the unrealized holding gains or losses on investments classified as available-for-sale. The Company adjusts a portion of these liabilities as if the unrealized holding gains or losses had actually been realized, with corresponding credits or charges reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes.

G-24


 

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
Mortgage loans on real estate consist entirely of mortgages on commercial real estate. Prepayment premiums are collected when borrowers elect to prepay their debt prior to the stated maturity. There were no prepayment premiums for 2008 and 2007.
The fair value for mortgage loans on real estate is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and/or similar remaining maturities. The estimated fair value of the mortgages on commercial real estate at December 31, 2008 was $70,771. There were no mortgages loans on real estate at December 31, 2007.
Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that based upon current information and events, the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. A valuation allowance is established when a loan is impaired for the excess carrying value of the loan over its estimated value. The valuation allowance as of December 31, 2008 was $49. There was no valuation allowance at December 31, 2007.
The commercial mortgages are geographically diversified throughout the United States with the largest concentrations in California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, which account for approximately 75% of mortgage loans as of December 31, 2008.
Securities Lending
The Company loans securities under securities lending agreements. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities out on loan for the period ended December 31, 2008 were $166,427 and $173,991, respectively. There were no securities lent in 2007.
Derivatives
The Company uses derivatives to manage the capital market risk associated with the GMWB. The derivatives, which are S&P’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index futures contracts, are used to hedge the equity risk associated with these types of variable guaranteed products, in particular the claim and/or revenue risks of the liability portfolio. The Company will not seek hedge accounting on these hedges because, in most cases, the derivatives’ change in value will create a natural offset in the Income Statement with the change in reserves. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had 990 outstanding short futures contracts with a notional value of $222,775. There were no futures contracts as of December 31, 2007.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income (loss) by source for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
                           
    2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
Fixed maturity securities
  $ 81,569       $ 72,597     $ 84,176  
Policy loans on insurance contracts
    48,742         49,497       50,755  
Cash and cash equivalents
    7,848         9,976       6,030  
Equity securities
    2,038         3,593       4,739  
Limited partnerships
    (2,376 )       3,223       15  
Mortgages
    2,424                
Other
    1,103         113       (149 )
 
                   
Gross investment income
    141,348         138,999       145,566  
Less investment expenses
    (6,190 )       (2,583 )     (2,949 )
 
                   
Net investment income
  $ 135,158       $ 136,416     $ 142,617  
 
                   
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Proceeds and gross realized investment gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
                           
    2008     2007   2006
    Successor     Predecessor
Proceeds
  $ 598,127       $ 262,046     $ 390,637  
Gross realized investment gains
    4,853         4,119       4,533  
Gross realized investment losses
    20,018         2,064       4,009  

G-25


 

The Company considers fair value at the date of sale to be equal to proceeds received. Proceeds on the sale of available-for-sale securities sold at a realized loss were $590,913, $152,277 and $201,738 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
During 2008, 2007 and 2006 the Company incurred realized investment gains (losses) in order to further diversify and match the duration of its invested assets to corresponding policyholder liabilities.
Net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
                           
    2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
Fixed maturity securities
  $ (14,751 )     $ 1,727     $ 447  
Equity securities
    (414 )       328       77  
Mortgages
    (49 )              
Derivatives
    37,803                
Trading account securities
                  712  
Associated amortization of VOBA
    5,132                
 
                   
Net realized investment gains
  $ 27,721       $ 2,055     $ 1,236  
 
                   
The Company maintained a trading portfolio comprised of convertible debt and equity securities that was liquidated in the first quarter 2006.
If management determines that a decline in the value of an available-for-sale security is other-than-temporary, the amortized cost is adjusted to estimated fair value and the decline in value is recorded as a net realized investment loss. For 2008, the Company recorded a $14,208 realized investment loss on securities deemed to have incurred other-than-temporary declines in fair value. For 2008 there was associated amortization of value of business acquired on the other-than-temporary declines in fair value of $5,879. There were no realized investment losses on securities deemed to have incurred other-than-temporary declines in fair value for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Note 5. VOBA, Other Intangibles and Goodwill
VOBA reflects the estimated fair value of inforce contracts acquired and represents the portion of the purchase price that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from the life insurance and annuity contracts inforce at the acquisition date. VOBA is based on actuarially determined projections, for each block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality, Separate Account performance, surrenders, operating expenses, investment returns and other factors. Actual experience on the purchased business may vary from these projections. If estimated gross profits or premiums differ from expectations, the amortization of VOBA is adjusted to reflect actual experience.
The change in the carrying amount of VOBA for 2008 was as follows:
         
VOBA   2008  
Purchase price adjustment
  $ (6,759 )
Accretion (amortization) expense
    30,778  
Unlocking
    (68,449 )
Amortization related to realized losses on investments and derivatives
    5,132  
Adjustment related to unrealized losses on investments
    45,438  
 
     
 
       
Change in VOBA carrying amount
  $ 6,140  
 
     
During 2008, the Company experienced lower than expected gross profits as a result of market losses which reduced amortization expense and unlocking. In addition, the unlocking includes an impairment charge of $27, 973 as estimated future gross profits were less than the unamortized balance.

G-26


 

The estimated future amortization of VOBA from 2009 to 2013 is as follows:
         
2009
  $ 30,123  
2010
  $ 33,501  
2011
  $ 36,099  
2012
  $ 38,503  
2013
  $ 40,682  
Other intangibles include the estimated fair values of the distribution agreement, the trade name and the non-compete agreement acquired at the acquisition date. The Company reviews other intangible assets when certain events or circumstances exist, while goodwill is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis and on an interim basis when certain events or circumstances exist. A review was performed at September 30, 2008 and there was no indication of impairment for goodwill or other intangibles. However during the 4th quarter the Company made a business decision to commence selling similar products on affiliate companies through the ML&Co. distribution channel instead of continuing to sell new variable annuities on MLLIC. As a result of this decision, an impairment charge was taken for the entire unamortized other intangible balance ($76,161) and the entire goodwill balance except for the amount related to MLLIC’s state licenses ($139,301) at December 31, 2008.
Note 6. DAC, DSI and UPCR
At acquisition, DAC, DSI and UPCR were zero as a result of push down accounting. The carrying amount of DAC and DSI for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
                 
    DAC     DSI  
Balance, January 1, 2007 (Predecessor)
  $ 285,648     $ 20,606  
 
               
Capitalization
    31,206       14,294  
Normal amortization
    (48,575 )     (2,355 )
Unlocking
    26,511       61  
Push down accounting adjustment
    (294,790 )     (32,606 )
 
           
 
               
Balance, December 31, 2007 (Successor)
           
 
           
 
               
Capitalization
    22,095       6,975  
Normal amortization
    8,038       2,444  
Unlocking
    (7,343 )     (2,187 )
Adjustment related to unrealized loss on investments
    1,481        
 
           
 
               
Balance, December 31, 2008 (Successor)
  $ 24,271     $ 7,232  
 
           
During 2008, the Company experienced lower than expected gross profits as a result of market losses which reduced amortization expense and unlocking. Unlocking during 2007 was impacted by fluctuations in actual Separate Accounts returns as compared to assumptions. The impact of unlocking was mitigated to a certain extent by the application of the mean reversion technique.
During 2007, the Company revised its mortality assumptions and historical claims relating to its variable life insurance products which were favorable as compared to expectations. In addition, the Company updated its DAC model to reflect actual market returns for its variable annuity products, which were favorable as compared to expectations, consistent with the application of the reversion to the mean approach. However, this amount was partially offset by unfavorable unlocking resulting from revised lapse assumptions relating to certain variable annuity products.

G-27


 

As of December 31, 2007, the UPCR balance was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date. The components of accretion (amortization) of UPCR for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
                 
    2007     2006  
UPCR   Predecessor  
Normal accretion
  $ 2,874     $ 8,825  
Unlocking
    (4,815 )     1,532  
 
           
 
               
Total accretion (amortization) of UPCR
  $ (1,941 )   $ 10,357  
 
           
During 2007, the Company revised its mortality assumptions and historical claims relating to its variable universal life insurance product resulting in unfavorable unlocking. The decrease in normal UPCR accretion during 2007 is attributable to higher mortality as compared to 2006.
During 2006, the Company revised its reinsurance and mortality assumptions and historical claims for the current year on its variable universal life insurance product.
Note 7. Variable Contracts Containing Guaranteed Benefits
Variable Annuity Contracts Containing Guaranteed Benefits
The Company issues variable annuity contracts in which the Company may contractually guarantee to the contract owner a guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) and/or an optional guaranteed living benefit provision. The living benefit provisions offered by the Company include a guaranteed minimum income benefit (“GMIB”) and a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”). Information regarding the general characteristics of each guaranteed benefit type is provided below:
    In general, contracts containing GMDB provisions provide a death benefit equal to the greater of the GMDB or the contract value. Depending on the type of contract, the GMDB may equal: i) contract deposits accumulated at a specified interest rate, ii) the contract value on specified contract anniversaries, iii) return of contract deposits, or iv) some combination of these benefits. Each benefit type is reduced for contract withdrawals.
 
    In general, contracts containing GMIB provisions provide the option to receive a guaranteed future income stream upon annuitization. There is a waiting period of ten years that must elapse before the GMIB provision can be exercised.
 
    Contracts containing GMWB provisions provide the contract owner the ability to withdraw minimum annual payments regardless of the impact of market performance on the contract owner’s account value. In general, withdrawal percentages are based on the contract owner’s age at the time of the first withdrawal. The Company began offering the GMWB benefit provision in the first quarter 2006.

G-28


 

The Company had the following variable annuity contracts containing guaranteed benefits at December 31:
                         
2008   GMDB   GMIB   GMWB
Net amount at risk (a)
  $ 2,631,834     $ 766,391     $ 274,296  
 
                       
Average attained age of contract owners
    68       61       70  
 
                       
Weighted average period remaining until expected annuitization
    n/a     6.0 yrs     n/a  
                         
2007                        
Net amount at risk (a)
  $ 612,749     $ 14,149     $ 1,866  
 
                       
Average attained age of contract owners
    68       60       71  
 
                       
Weighted average period remaining until expected annuitization
    n/a     6.8 yrs     n/a  
 
(a)   Net amount at risk for GMDB is defined as the current GMDB in excess of the contract owners’ account balance at the Balance Sheet date. Net amount at risk for GMIB is defined as the present value of the minimum guaranteed annuity payments available to the contract owner in excess of the contract owners’ account balance at the Balance Sheet date. Net amount at risk for GMWB is defined as the present value of the minimum guaranteed withdrawals available to the contract owner in excess of the contract owners’ account balance at the Balance Sheet date.
The Company records liabilities for contracts containing GMDB and GMIB provisions as a component of future policy benefits in the Balance Sheets. Changes in these guaranteed benefit liabilities are included as a component of policy benefits in the Statement of Income. The GMDB and GMIB liabilities are calculated in accordance with SOP 03-1 and are determined by projecting future expected guaranteed benefits under multiple scenarios for returns on Separate Accounts assets. The Company uses estimates for mortality and surrender assumptions based on actual and projected experience for each contract type. These estimates are consistent with the estimates used in the calculation of DAC. The Company regularly evaluates the estimates used and adjusts the GMDB and/or GMIB liability balances with a related charge or credit to earnings (“unlocking”), if actual experience or evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised.
The changes in the variable annuity GMDB and GMIB liabilities for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
                 
    GMDB     GMIB  
Balance, January 1, 2007 (Predecessor)
  $ 100,301     $ 705  
 
               
Guaranteed benefits incurred
    24,699       478  
Guaranteed benefits paid
    (16,902 )      
Unlocking
    (22,390 )     393  
Push down accounting adjustment
    (11,067 )     (1,576 )
 
           
 
               
Balance, December 31, 2007 (Successor)
    74,641        
 
           
 
               
Purchase price adjustment
    (7,887 )      
Guaranteed benefits incurred
    22,420       7,939  
Guaranteed benefits paid
    (28,447 )      
Unlocking
    85,162       10,596  
 
           
 
               
Balance, December 31, 2008 (Successor)
  $ 145,889     $ 18,535  
 
           
Significant market declines in 2008 as compared to the 2007 caused unfavorable unlocking as a result of increasing estimates of future benefit amounts in the GMDB liabilities. During 2007, the Company updated its market return assumptions resulting in favorable unlocking for GMDB liabilities. Unlocking during 2007 was impacted by fluctuations in actual Separate Accounts returns as compared to assumptions. The impact of unlocking was mitigated to a certain extent by the application of the mean reversion technique.

G-29


 

The unlocking for GMIB during 2008 reflects the decrease in gross revenues and the resulting increase in expected future claims due to current market losses.
At December 31, contract owners’ account balances by mutual fund class by guaranteed benefit provisions were comprised as follows:
                                                 
                            Money              
    Equity     Bond     Balanced     Market     Other     Total  
2008 (Successor)
                                               
GMDB Only
  $ 1,712,586     $ 764,563     $ 532,448     $ 223,531     $ 3,388     $ 3,236,516  
GMDB and GMIB
    880,425       348,784       338,704       77,037       9,316       1,654,266  
GMDB and GMWB
    260,347       73,349       154,400       4,362       6,455       498,913  
GMWB only
    104,486       29,037       62,796       2,796       2,416       201,531  
GMIB only
    64,495       13,808       33,159       1,667       1,520       114,649  
No guaranteed benefit
    14,678       4,664       12,583       2,504       366       34,795  
 
                                   
Total
  $ 3,037,017     $ 1,234,205     $ 1,134,090     $ 311,897     $ 23,461     $ 5,740,670  
 
                                   
 
                                               
2007 (Successor)
                                               
GMDB Only
  $ 3,404,287     $ 984,755     $ 717,798     $ 215,326     $ 8,142     $ 5,330,308  
GMDB and GMIB
    1,624,427       383,453       403,003       44,436       21,175       2,476,494  
GMDB and GMWB
    327,786       72,025       90,578       8,759       8,866       508,014  
GMWB only
    129,217       28,392       37,188       989       3,552       199,338  
GMIB only
    99,073       14,326       24,623       2,055       3,146       143,223  
No guaranteed benefit
    25,430       6,151       9,754       1,479       937       43,751  
 
                                   
Total
  $ 5,610,220     $ 1,489,102     $ 1,282,944     $ 273,044     $ 45,818     $ 8,701,128  
 
                                   
Variable Life Contracts Containing Guaranteed Benefits
The Company has issued variable life contracts in which the Company contractually guarantees to the contract owner a GMDB. In general, contracts containing GMDB provisions provide a death benefit equal to the amount specified in the contract regardless of the level of the contract’s account value.
The Company recorded liabilities for contracts containing GMDB provisions as a component of future policy benefits. Changes in the GMDB liabilities were included as a component of policy benefits in the Statements of Income. The variable life GMDB liability was set as a percentage of asset-based fees and cost of insurance charges deducted from contracts that include a GMDB provision. The percentage was established based on the Company’s estimate of the likelihood of future GMDB claims.
As of December 31, 2007, the variable life GMDB balance was zero as a result of push down accounting at the acquisition date. The change in the variable life GMDB liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2007 was as follows:
         
    GMDB Life  
Balance, January 1, 2007 (Predecessor)
  $ 2,286  
Guaranteed benefits incurred
    155  
Push down accounting adjustment
    (2,441 )
 
     
Balance, December 31, 2007 (Successor)
  $  
 
     

G-30


 

At December 31, contract owners’ account balances by mutual fund class for contracts containing GMDB provisions were distributed as follows:
                 
    2008     2007  
    Successor  
Balanced
  $ 537,761     $ 999,501  
Equity
    757,526       966,850  
Bond
    128,794       313,625  
Money Market
    292,345       251,892  
 
           
 
               
Total
  $ 1,716,426     $ 2,531,868  
 
           
Note 8. Federal Income Taxes
The following is a reconciliation of the provision for income taxes based on income (loss) before federal income taxes, computed using the federal statutory rate versus the reported provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31.
                           
    2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
Provisions for income taxes computed at Federal statutory rate (35%)
  $ (79,190 )     $ 55,857     $ 48,658  
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
                         
Dividend received deduction
    (7,420 )       (4,783 )     (3,657 )
Foreign tax credit
    (884 )       (2,002 )     (715 )
Tax goodwill amortization
    (431 )              
Other
    6                
 
                   
 
                         
Federal income tax provision
  $ (87,919 )     $ 49,072     $ 44,286  
 
                   
Effective tax rate
    39 %       31 %     32 %
The Company provides for deferred income taxes resulting from temporary differences that arise from recording certain transactions in different years for income tax reporting purposes than for financial reporting purposes. The sources of these differences and the tax effect of each were as follows:
                           
    2008       2007     2006  
    Successor       Predecessor  
DAC
  $ 114,706       $ 5,141     $ (288 )
Policyholder account balances
    (24,325 )       3,149       (6,168 )
Liability for guaranty fund assessments
    679         100       275  
Other
    1,939         97       (387 )
Investment adjustments
    49,527         19       557  
Net operating and capital loss carryforward
    110,255                
VOBA
    (203,294 )              
Intangible assets
    67,556                
Deferred sales inducements
            4,200       4,308  
UPCR
            (781 )     3,521  
Reinsurance adjustment
            (835 )     2,175  
 
                   
Total
  $ 117,043       $ 11,090     $ 3,993  
 
                   

G-31


 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were as follows:
                 
    2008     2007 (a)  
    Successor  
Deferred tax assets:
               
DAC
  $ 125,732     $ 137,200  
Tax VOBA
    88       10,358  
Liability for guaranty fund assessments
    679       2,031  
Investment adjustments
    49,527        
Net operating and capital loss carryforward
    110,255        
Intangible assets
    67,556        
Other
    1,939        
Policyholder account balances
          56,549  
 
           
Total deferred tax assets
    355,776       206,138  
 
           
 
               
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Book VOBA
    203,382       204,107  
DAC
    11,026        
Policyholder account balances
    24,325        
 
           
Total deferred tax liabilities
    238,733       204,107  
 
           
 
               
Total deferred tax asset
  $ 117,043     $ 2,031  
 
           
 
(a)   At December 28, 2007, all deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with the predecessor were adjusted to zero due to the Section 338 tax election made by AUSA. The Section 338 election caused the predecessor to treat the acquisition as a sale of its assets for federal tax purposes which reversed all of the predecessor’s temporary differences.
The Company uses the asset and liability method in providing income taxes on all transactions that have been recognized in the financial statements. The asset and liability method requires that deferred taxes be adjusted to reflect the tax rates at which future taxable amounts will be settled or realized. The Company provides for federal income taxes based on amounts it believes it will ultimately owe. Inherent in the provision for federal income taxes are estimates regarding the realization of certain tax deductions and credits.
Specific estimates include the realization of dividend-received deductions (“DRD”) and foreign tax credits (“FTC”). A portion of the Company’s investment income related to Separate Accounts business qualifies for the DRD and FTC. Information necessary to calculate these tax adjustments is typically not available until the following year. However, within the current year’s provision, management makes estimates regarding the future tax deductibility of these items. These estimates are primarily based on recent historic experience.
At December 31, 2008, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $110,104 with a carryforward period of 15 years. The Company also has a capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $151 with a carryforward period of 5 years.
The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN No. 48”), on January 1, 2007. The Company has analyzed all material tax positions under the provisions of FIN No. 48, and has determined that there are no tax benefits that should not be recognized as of December 31, 2008 or as of December 31, 2007. There are no unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate. It is not anticipated that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase within twelve months of the reporting date.
The Company classifies interest and penalties related to income taxes as interest expense and penalty expense, respectively. The Company has recognized no material interest and penalties in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.
The Company files a return in the U.S. Federal tax jurisdiction, and various state tax jurisdictions. As a result of the Company’s election for Federal income tax purposes of the Internal Revenue Code Section 338, ML&Co. is responsible for any FIN No. 48 obligations that existed prior to the acquisition date. The Company will file a separate federal income tax return for the years 2008 through 2012. Beginning in 2013 and assuming no changes in ownership, the Company will join the affiliated consolidated tax group.

G-32


 

Note 9. Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to limit its exposure to loss on any single insured life and to recover a portion of benefits paid by ceding mortality risk to other insurance enterprises or reinsurers under indemnity reinsurance agreements, primarily excess coverage and coinsurance agreements. The maximum amount of mortality risk retained by the Company is approximately $1,000 on single and joint life policies. Effective second quarter of 2008, the Company began to recapture the majority of its life reinsurance.
Indemnity reinsurance agreements do not relieve the Company from its obligations to contract owners. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company regularly evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers so as to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. As of December 31, 2008, the Company held collateral under reinsurance agreements in the form of letters of credit and funds withheld totaling $605 that can be drawn upon for delinquent reinsurance recoverables.
At December 31, 2008 the Company had the following life insurance inforce:
                                         
                                    Percentage
            Ceded to   Assumed           of amount
    Gross   other   from other   Net   assumed to
    amount   companies   companies   amount   net
Life insurance inforce
  $ 7,958,811     $ 1,846,950     $ 716     $ 6,112,577       0.01 %
The Company is party to an indemnity reinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated insurer whereby the Company coinsures, on a modified coinsurance basis, 50% of the unaffiliated insurer’s variable annuity contracts sold through the ML&Co. distribution system from January 1, 1997 to June 30, 2001.
In addition, the Company seeks to limit its exposure to guaranteed benefit features contained in certain variable annuity contracts. Specifically, the Company reinsures certain GMIB and GMDB provisions to the extent reinsurance capacity is available in the marketplace. As of December 31, 2008, 49% and 5% of the account value for variable annuity contracts containing GMIB and GMDB provisions, respectively, were reinsured. As of December 31, 2007, 52% and 6% of the account value for variable annuity contracts containing GMIB and GMDB provisions, respectively, were reinsured.
Note 10. Related Party Transactions
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had the following related party agreements in effect:
The Company is party to a common cost allocation service agreement between AUSA companies in which various affiliated companies may perform specified administrative functions in connection with the operation of the Company, in consideration of reimbursement of actual costs of services rendered. During 2008, the Company incurred $5,221 in expenses under this agreement. Charges attributable to this agreement are included in insurance expenses and taxes, net of amounts capitalized.
The Company is party to intercompany short-term note receivables with the parent at various times during the year. During 2008, the Company accrued and/or received $1,669 of interest, which was included in net investment income.
AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc. acts as the manager and administrator for the Company’s real property assets and mortgage loans under an administrative and advisory agreement with the Company. Charges attributable to this agreement are included in net investment income. During 2008, the Company incurred $70 in expenses under this agreement. In addition, mortgage loan origination fees of $25 at December 31, 2008 were capitalized and included on the Balance Sheets under mortgage loans on real estate. Mortgage loan origination fees are amortized into net investment income over the life of the mortgage loans.
AEGON USA Investment Management, LLC acts as a discretionary investment manager under an investment management agreement with the Company. During 2008, the Company incurred $2,029 in expenses under this agreement. Charges attributable to this agreement are included in net investment income.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. provides wholesaling distribution services for the Company under a distribution agreement. During 2008, the Company incurred $6,498 in expenses under this agreement.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. provides underwriting services for the Company under an underwriting agreement. During 2008, the Company incurred $29,734 in expenses under this agreement.

G-33


 

Transamerica Asset Management, Inc acts as the investment advisor for certain related party funds in the Company’s Separate Accounts under an administrative services agreement. During 2008, the Company received $25 under this agreement.
The Company has a participation agreement with Transamerica Series Trust to offer certain funds in the Company’s Separate Accounts. Transamerica Capital, Inc. acts as the distributor for said related party funds. The Company has entered into a distribution and shareholder services agreement for certain of the said funds. During 2008, the Company received $8 under this agreement.
The Company has a reinsurance agreement with Transamerica Life Insurance Company. During 2008, the Company incurred $257 in reinsurance premium ceded expense under this agreement and there were no reinsurance recoveries on death claims incurred.
The Company is party to the purchasing and selling of investments between various affiliated companies. The investments are purchased and sold at fair value and are included in fixed maturities available-for-sale securities and mortgage loans on real estate in the Balance Sheet. During 2008, the Company purchased $204,892 of fixed maturities securities. During 2008, the Company purchased $68,794 of mortgage loans. During 2008, the Company sold $34,959 of fixed maturities securities to an affiliated company.
While management believes that the service agreements referenced above are calculated on a reasonable basis, they may not necessarily be indicative of the costs that would have been incurred with an unrelated third party. Affiliated agreements generally contain reciprocal indemnity provisions pertaining to each party’s representations and contractual obligations thereunder.
Prior to December 28, 2007, the Company had the following affiliated agreements in effect:
The Company and MLIG were parties to a service agreement whereby MLIG agreed to provide certain accounting, data processing, legal, actuarial, management, advertising and other services to the Company. Expenses incurred by MLIG in relation to this service agreement were reimbursed by the Company on an allocated cost basis. Charges allocated to the Company by MLIG pursuant to the agreement were $27,017 and $29,692 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Charges attributable to this agreement were included in insurance expenses and taxes, except for investment related expenses, which were included in net investment income. The Company was allocated interest expense on its accounts payable to MLIG that approximates the daily federal funds rate. Total intercompany interest incurred was $501 and $494 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Intercompany interest was included in net investment income.
The Company had a general agency agreement with Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. (“MLLA”) whereby registered representatives of MLPF&S, who are the Company’s licensed insurance agents, solicit applications for contracts to be issued by the Company. MLLA was paid commissions for the contracts sold by such agents. Commissions paid to MLLA were $61,916 and $57,298 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Certain commissions were capitalized as DAC and were being amortized in accordance with the accounting policy discussed in Note 6. Charges attributable to this agreement were included in insurance expenses and taxes, net of amounts capitalized.
Effective September 30, 2006, ML&Co. transferred the Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”) investment management business to BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) in exchange for approximately half of the economic interest in the combined firm, including a 45% voting interest. Under this agreement, all previous investment management services performed by MLIM were merged into BlackRock. Prior to September 30, 2006, the Company and MLIM were parties to a service agreement whereby MLIM agreed to provide certain invested asset management services to the Company. The Company paid a fee to MLIM, for these services through the MLIG service agreement. Charges paid to MLIM through the first three quarters of 2006 and allocated to the Company by MLIG were $1,172.
MLIG had entered into agreements with i) Roszel Advisors, LLC (“Roszel”), a subsidiary of MLIG, with respect to administrative services for the MLIG Variable Insurance Trust (“the Trust”) and ii) the former MLIM, now BlackRock, with respect to administrative services for the Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. and Mercury Variable Trust, (collectively, “the Funds”). Certain Separate Accounts of the Company may invest in the various mutual fund portfolios of the Trust and the Funds in connection with the variable life insurance and annuity contracts the Company had inforce. Under these agreements, Roszel and MLIM pay MLIG an amount equal to a percentage of the assets invested in the Trust and the Funds through the Separate Accounts. Revenue attributable to these agreements is included in policy charge revenue. The Company received from MLIG its allocable share of such compensation from Roszel in the amount of $2,560 and $2,492 during 2007 and

G-34


 

2006, respectively. The Company received from MLIG its allocable share of such compensation from MLIM in the amount of $12,700 through the first three quarters of 2006.
Note 11. Stockholder’s Equity and Statutory Accounting Practices
Applicable insurance department regulations require that the Company report its accounts in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Statutory accounting practices differ from principles utilized in these financial statements as follows: policy acquisition costs are expensed as incurred, policyholder liabilities are established using different actuarial assumptions, provisions for deferred income taxes are limited to temporary differences that will be recognized within one year, and securities are valued on a different basis. In addition, purchase accounting adjustments such as VOBA, goodwill, and other intangibles are not recognized on a statutory basis.
The Company’s statutory financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Arkansas Insurance Department. The State of Arkansas has adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) statutory accounting practices as a component of prescribed or permitted practices by the State of Arkansas.
The Company’s statutory net income (loss) for 2008, 2007 and 2006 was ($259,862), $108,791 and $193,731, respectively.
Statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $356,135 and $366,011, respectively. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately $35,593 and $36,351, respectively, of stockholder’s equity was available for dividend distribution that would not require approval by the Arkansas Insurance Department. During 2008, the Company received a $250,000 capital contribution from AUSA.
During 2008, the Company did not pay any dividends to AUSA. During 2007, the Company paid extraordinary and ordinary dividends of $152,171 and $41,560, respectively to MLIG. During 2006, the Company paid extraordinary and ordinary dividends of $140,155 and $39,845, respectively to MLIG.
MLLIC and AUSA are parties to a “keepwell” agreement which, subject to its terms, commits AUSA to maintain MLLIC at a minimum net worth. Prior to the acquisition date, MLLIC and ML&Co. were parties to a “keepwell” agreement which obligated ML&Co. to maintain a level of capital in MLLIC in excess of minimum regulatory requirements.
The NAIC utilizes the Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) adequacy monitoring system. The RBC calculates the amount of adjusted capital that a life insurance company should hold based upon that company’s risk profile. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, based on the RBC formula, the Company’s total adjusted capital level was well in excess of the minimum amount of capital required to avoid regulatory action.
Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies
State insurance laws generally require that all life insurers who are licensed to transact business within a state become members of the state’s life insurance guaranty association. These associations have been established for the protection of contract owners from loss (within specified limits) as a result of the insolvency of an insurer. At the time an insolvency occurs, the guaranty association assesses the remaining members of the association an amount sufficient to satisfy the insolvent insurer’s contract owner obligations (within specified limits). The Company has utilized public information to estimate what future assessments it will incur as a result of insolvencies. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s estimated liability for future guaranty fund assessments was $5,704 and $5,720, respectively. If future insolvencies occur, the Company’s estimated liability may not be sufficient to fund these insolvencies and the estimated liability may need to be adjusted. The Company regularly monitors public information regarding insurer insolvencies and adjusts its estimated liability appropriately.
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various claims and assessments. Management believes the settlement of these matters would not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

G-35


 

Note 13. Segment Information
In reporting to management, the Company’s operating results are categorized into two business segments: Annuities and Life Insurance. The Company’s Annuity segment consists of variable annuities and interest-sensitive annuities. The Company’s Life Insurance segment consists of variable life insurance products and interest-sensitive life insurance products. The Company no longer manufactures or issues life insurance products. The accounting policies of the business segments are the same as those for the Company’s financial statements included herein. All revenue and expense transactions are recorded at the product level and accumulated at the business segment level for review by management. The “Other” category, presented in the following segment financial information, represents net revenues and net earnings on invested assets that do not support annuity or life insurance contract owner liabilities. Subsequent to the acquisition, management no longer considers “Other” a category for segment reporting purposes. It is impracticable to restate the prior period segment information as well as disclosing the information under both the old basis and the new basis of reporting. Therefore, the predecessor information is shown under the old basis, three segments — annuities, life insurance and other, while the successor information is shown under the new basis, two segments — annuities and life insurance.
The following tables summarize each business segment’s contribution to select Statements of Income categories for the years ended December 31.
                         
    2008
    Successor
            Life    
    Annuities   Insurance   Total
Net revenues (a)
  $ 215,885     $ 96,214     $ 312,099  
Amortization of VOBA
    22,664       15,007       37,671  
Policy benefits (net of reinsurance)
    161,650       28,928       190,578  
Federal income tax expense (benefit)
    (94,215 )     6,296       (87,919 )
Net income (loss)
    (158,462 )     20,123       (138,339 )
                                 
    2007
    Predecessor
            Life        
    Annuities   Insurance   Other   Total
Net revenues (a)
  $ 200,295     $ 97,351     $ 14,433     $ 312,079  
Policy benefits (net of reinsurance)
    15,291       26,995             42,286  
Federal income tax expense
    30,380       13,640       5,052       49,072  
Net income
    72,244       28,894       9,381       110,519  

G-36


 

                                 
    2006
    Predecessor
            Life        
    Annuities   Insurance   Other   Total
Net revenues (a)
  $ 186,668     $ 109,400     $ 10,617     $ 306,685  
Policy benefits (net of reinsurance)
    21,129       18,029             39,158  
Federal income tax expense
    27,639       12,931       3,716       44,286  
Net income
    60,017       27,819       6,901       94,737  
 
(a)   Net revenues include total net revenues net of interest credited to policyholder liabilities.
The following tables represent select Balance Sheet information for the years ended December 31:
                 
            Total  
    Total     Policyholder  
    Assets     Liabilities  
2008
               
Annuities
  $ 7,338,124     $ 742,423  
Life Insurance
    3,775,659       1,547,003  
 
           
Total
  $ 11,113,783     $ 2,289,426  
 
           
 
               
2007
               
Annuities
  $ 10,120,795     $ 716,959  
Life Insurance
    4,588,395       1,623,043  
 
           
Total
  $ 14,709,190     $ 2,340,002  
 
           

G-37


 

 
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
             
(a) Financial Statements
All required financial statements are included in Part B of this Registration Statement.
(b) Exhibits
    (1)      
Resolution of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company establishing the Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
    (2)      
Not Applicable.
    (3)   (a)  
Form of Underwriting Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and Transamerica Capital, Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 25, 2008.)
        (b)  
Wholesaling Agreement between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Transamerica Capital. (Incorporated by Reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, File Nos. 33-26322, 33-46827, 33-52254, 33-60290, 33-58303, 333-33863, filed March 27, 2008.)
        (c)  
Selling Agreement between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Merrill Lynch Life Agency, Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, File Nos. 33-26322, 33-46827, 33-52254, 33-60290, 33-58303, 333-33863, filed March 27, 2008.)
        (d)  
Master Distribution Agreement between Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and AEGON USA, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 33-26322, filed January 4, 2008.)
    (4)   (a)  
Form of Contract for the Flexible Premium Individual Deferred Variable Annuity. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
        (b)  
Individual Retirement Annuity Endorsement. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-90243 filed November 3, 1999.)
        (c)  
Tax Sheltered Annuity Endorsement. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
        (d)  
Estate Enhancer Death Benefit Enhancement Rider. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-90243 Filed July 24, 2001.)
        (e)  
Death Benefit Endorsement ML056. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-63904 Filed June 26, 2001.)


C-1


 

             
        (f)  
Death Benefit Endorsement ML067. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
        (g)  
Qualified Plan Endorsement. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
    (5)      
Form of Application for the Flexible Premium Individual Deferred Variable Annuity. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 Filed November 16, 2001.)
    (6)   (a)  
Articles of Amendment, Restatement and Redomestication of the Articles of Incorporation of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (b)  
Amended and Restated By-Laws of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
    (7)      
Reinsurance Agreements.
        (a)  
GMDB Reinsurance Agreement between MLLIC and ACE Tempest and Amendment No. 1. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
        (a) (1)  
Amendment No. 2 to the GMDB Reinsurance Agreement. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
        (b)  
GMIB Reinsurance Agreement between MLLIC and ACE Tempest Agreement and Amendments No. 1 and 2. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
        (b)(1)  
Amendment No. 3 to the GMIB Reinsurance Agreement. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
        (c)  
DBER Reinsurance Agreement between MLLIC and ACE Tempest and Amendments No. 1 and 2. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
        (c)(1)  
Amendment No. 3 to the DBER Reinsurance Agreement. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed April 28, 2009.)
    (8)   (a)  
Amended General Agency Agreement. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed April 28, 1994.)
        (b)  
Indemnity Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch Life Agency, Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (c)  
Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. Relating to Maintaining Constant Net Asset Value for the Domestic Money Market Fund. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (d)  
Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. Relating to Valuation and Purchase Procedures. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (e)  
Amended Service Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed April 28, 1994.)
        (f)  
Reimbursement Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. and Merrill Lynch Life Agency, Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (g)  
Form of Participation Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form N-4, Registration No. 33-43773 Filed December 10, 1996.)
        (h)  
Amendment to the Participation Agreement Between Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration No. 333-90243 Filed November 3, 1999.)
        (i)  
Form of Participation Agreement Between MLIG Variable Insurance Trust, Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 filed on April 17, 2007).

C-2


 

             
        (j)  
Form of Rule 22c-2 Shareholder Information Agreement Between BlackRock Distributors, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-73544 filed on April 17, 2007).
        (k)  
Participation Agreement by and among MLIG Variable Insurance Trust, Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc., Roszel Advisors, LLC, and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form N-4, File No. 333-118362, Filed April 25, 2008.)
        (l)  
Keep Well Agreement between AEGON USA, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Incorporated by Reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, File Nos. 33-26322, 33-46827, 33-52254, 33-60290, 33-58303, 333-33863, filed March 27, 2008.)
        (m)  
Purchase Agreement between Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and AEGON USA, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 33-26322, filed August 17, 2007.)
        (n)  
First Amendment to Purchase Agreement between Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and AEGON USA, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 33-26322, filed January 4, 2008.)
        (o)  
Participation Agreement between TST and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Filed herewith)
        (p)  
Amendment No.1 to the Participation Agreement between TST and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. (Filed herewith)
    (9)      
Opinion of Darin D. Smith, Esq. as to the legality of the securities being registered. (Filed herewith)
    (10)   (a)  
Written Consent of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. (Filed herewith)
        (b)  
Written Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. (Filed herewith)
        (c)  
Written Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. (Filed herewith)
    (11)      
Not Applicable.
    (12)      
Not Applicable.
    (13)   (a)  
Powers of Attorney. (Incorporated by Reference to Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 and No. 12 to Form N-4, Registration No. 333-118362 Filed February 22, 2008 and April 28, 2009.)

C-3


 

 
Item 25. Directors and Officers of the Depositor (Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company)
 
     
Name and Business Address
  Principal Positions and Offices with Depositor
 
Lon J. Olejniczak
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Director and President
Robert R Frederick
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Director and Senior Vice President
John T. Mallett
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Director, Treasurer and Vice President
Karen alvarado
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Director and Assistant Vice President 
Ronald L. Ziegler
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Director and Senior Vice President
Eric J. Martin
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Vice President and Corporate Controller
Frank A. Camp
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Secretary
Darin D. Smith
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary
James Purvis
4333 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
  Treasurer, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


C-4


 

Item 26.  Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With the Depositor or Registrant.
 
             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Academy Alliance Holdings Inc.
  Canada   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Holding company
Academy Alliance Insurance Inc.
  Canada   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Insurance
ADMS Insurance Broker (HK) Limited
  Hong Kong   100% AEGON Direct Marketing Services Hong
Kong Limited
  Brokerage company
AEGON Alliances, Inc.
  Virginia   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Insurance company marketing support
AEGON Asset Management Services, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Registered investment advisor


C-5


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
AEGON Assignment Corporation
  Illinois   100% AEGON Financial Services Group, Inc.   Administrator of structured settlements
AEGON Assignment Corporation of Kentucky
  Kentucky   100% AEGON Financial Services Group, Inc.   Administrator of structured settlements
AEGON Canada Inc.
  Canada   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Holding company
AEGON Capital Management, Inc.
  Canada   100% AEGON Canada Inc.   Portfolio management
company/investment advisor
AEGON Derivatives N.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON N.V.   Holding company
AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc.
  Maryland   Monumental Life Insurance Company owns 103,324 shares; Commonwealth General Corporation owns 37,161 shares   Marketing company
AEGON Direct Marketing Services International, Inc.
  Maryland   100% Monumental General Insurance Group, Inc.   Marketing arm for sale of mass marketed insurance coverage
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Australia Pty Ltd.
  Australia   100% Transamerica Direct Marketing Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.   Marketing/operations company
AEGON Direct Marketing Services e Corretora de Seguros Ltda.
  Brazil   749,000 quota shares owned by AEGON DMS Holding B.V.; 1 quota share owned by AEGON International B.V.   Brokerage company
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Europe Ltd.
  United Kingdom   100% Cornerstone International Holdings, Ltd.   Marketing
AEGON Direct Marketing Services
Hong Kong Limited
  China   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Provide consulting services ancillary to the marketing of insurance products overseas.
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Japan K.K.
  Japan   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Marketing company
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Korea Co., Ltd.
  Korea   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Provide consulting services ancillary to the marketing of insurance products overseas.
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
  Mexico   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Provide management advisory and technical consultancy services.
AEGON Direct Marketing Services Mexico Servicios, S.A. de C.V.
  Mexico   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Provide marketing, trading, telemarketing and advertising services in favor of any third party, particularly in favor of insurance and reinsurance companies.
AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc.
  Taiwan   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Authorized business: Enterprise management consultancy, credit investigation services, to engage in business not prohibited or restricted under any law of R.O.C., except business requiring special permission of government
AEGON Direct Marketing Services (Thailand) Ltd.
  Thailand   93% Transamerica International Direct Marketing Consultants, LLC; remaining 7% held by various AEGON employees   Marketing of insurance products in Thailand
AEGON DMS Holding B.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON International B.V.   Holding company

C-6


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
AEGON Financial Services Group, Inc.
  Minnesota   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Marketing
AEGON Fund Management, Inc.
  Canada   100% AEGON Canada Inc.   Mutual fund manager
AEGON Funding Company, LLC.
  Delaware   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Issue debt securities-net proceeds used to make loans to affiliates
AEGON Institutional Markets, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Provider of investment, marketing and administrative services to insurance companies
AEGON International B.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON N.V.   Holding company
AEGON Life Insurance Agency
  Taiwan   100% AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc. (Taiwan Domiciled)   Life insurance
AEGON Managed Enhanced Cash, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (71.11%) ; Monumental Life Insurance Company (28.89%)   Investment vehicle for securities
lending cash collateral
AEGON Management Company
  Indiana   100% AEGON U.S. Holding Corporation   Holding company
AEGON N.V.
  Netherlands   22.95% of Vereniging AEGON Netherlands Membership Association   Holding company
AEGON Nederland N.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON N.V.   Holding company
AEGON Nevak Holding B.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON N.V.   Holding company
AEGON Structured Settlements, Inc.
  Kentucky   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Administers structured settlements of plaintiff’s physical injury claims against property and casualty insurance companies
AEGON U.S. Holding Corporation
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Corporation   Holding company
AEGON USA Investment Management, LLC
  Iowa   100% AEGON USA, LLC.   Investment advisor
AEGON USA Real Estate Services, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate and mortgage holding company
AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Company   Administrative and investment services
AEGON USA Travel and Conference Services LLC
  Iowa   100% Money Services, Inc.   Travel and conference services
AEGON USA, LLC
  Iowa   100% AEGON U.S. Holding Corporation   Holding company
AFSG Securities Corporation
  Pennsylvania   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Inactive
ALH Properties Eight LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Eleven LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Fifteen LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Five LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Four LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Nine LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Seven LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Seventeen LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Sixteen LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Ten LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Twelve LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
ALH Properties Two LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
American Bond Services LLC
  Iowa   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company
(sole member)
  Limited liability company
Ampac, Inc.
  Texas   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Managing general agent
ARC Reinsurance Corporation
  Hawaii   100% Transamerica Corporation   Property & Casualty Insurance

C-7


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
ARV Pacific Villas, A California Limited Partnership
  California   General Partners — Transamerica Affordable Housing, Inc. (0.5%); Non-Affiliate of AEGON, Jamboree Housing Corp. (0.5%). Limited Partner: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (99%)   Property
Asia Business Consulting Company
  China   100% Asia Investments Holdings, Limited    
Asia Investments Holdings, Limited
  Hong Kong   99% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Holding company
AUSA Holding Company
  Maryland   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Holding company
AUSACAN LP
  Canada   General Partner — AUSA Holding Co. (1%); Limited Partner — AEGON USA, LLC (99%)   Inter-company lending and general business
Bay Area Community Investments I, LLC
  California   70%Transamerica Life Insurance Company; 30% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments in low income housing tax credit properties
Bay State Community Investments I, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments in low income housing tax credit properties
Bay State Community Investments II, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments in low income housing tax credit properties
Beijing Dafu Insurance Agency Co. Ltd.
  Peoples Republic of China   10% owned by WFG China Holdings, Inc.; 90% owned by private individual (non-AEGON associated)   Insurance Agency
Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd.
  Canada   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Holding company
Canadian Premier Life Insurance Company
  Canada   100% Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd.   Insurance company
Capital General Development Corporation
  Delaware   2.64 shares of common stock owned by AEGON USA, LLC 18.79 shares of common stock owned by Commonwealth General Corporation   Holding company
CBC Insurance Revenue Securitization, LLC
  Delaware   100% Clark Consulting, Inc.   Special purpose
CGC Life Insurance Company
  Iowa   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Insurance Company
Clark/Bardes (Bermuda) Ltd.
  Bermuda   100% Clark, Inc.   Insurance agency
Clark, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Company   Holding company
Clark Consulting, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Clark, Inc.   Financial consulting firm
Clark Investment Strategies, inc.
  Delaware   100% Clark Consulting, Inc.   Registered investment advisor
Clark Securities, Inc.
  California   100% Clark Consulting, Inc.   Broker-Dealer
Commonwealth General Corporation
  Delaware   100% AEGON U.S. Holding Corporation   Holding company
Consumer Membership Services Canada Inc.
  Canada   100% Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd.   Marketing of credit card protection membership services in Canada
Cornerstone International Holdings Ltd.
  UK   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Holding company
CRC Creditor Resources Canadian Dealer Network Inc.
  Canada   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Insurance agency
CRG Insurance Agency, Inc.
  California   100% Clark Consulting, Inc.   Insurance agency
Creditor Resources, Inc.
  Michigan   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Credit insurance
CRI Canada Inc.
  Canada   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Holding company
CRI Credit Group Services Inc.
  Canada   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Holding company
CRI Solutions Inc.
  Maryland   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Sales of reinsurance and credit insurance
CRI Systems, Inc.
  Maryland   100% Creditor Resources, Inc.   Technology
Diversified Actuarial Services, Inc.
  Massachusetts   100% Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc.   Employee benefit and actuarial consulting

C-8


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Company   Registered investment advisor
Diversified Investors Securities Corp.
  Delaware   100% Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc.   Broker-Dealer
Edgewood IP, LLC
  Iowa   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Limited liability company
FGH Eastern Region LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGH Realty Credit LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH Eastern Region LLC   Real estate
FGH USA LLC
  Delaware   100% RCC North America LLC   Real estate
FGP 90 West Street LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Burkewood, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Bush Terminal, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH Realty Credit LLC   Real estate
FGP Franklin LLC.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Herald Center, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Heritage Square, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Islandia, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP Merrick, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP West 32nd Street, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP West Mezzanine LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
FGP West Street LLC
  Delaware   100% FGP West Mezzanine LLC   Real estate
FGP West Street Two LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Fifth FGP LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Financial Planning Services, Inc.
  District of Columbia   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Special-purpose subsidiary
Financial Resources Insurance Agency of Texas
  Texas   100% owned by Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.   Retail sale of securities products
First FGP LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Flashdance, LLC
  New York   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Broadway production
Fourth & Market Funding, LLC
  Delaware   Commonwealth General Corporation owns 0% participating percentage, but is Managing Member. Ownership: 99% Monumental Life Insurance Company and 1% Garnet Assurance Corporation II   Investments
Fourth FGP LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Garnet Assurance Corporation
  Kentucky   100%Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Assurance Corporation II
  Iowa   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Business investments
Garnet Community Investments, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments I, LLC
  Delaware   100%Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Securities
Garnet Community Investments II, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Securities
Garnet Community Investments III, LLC
  Delaware   100%Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Business investments
Garnet Community Investments IV, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments V, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments VI, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments VII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments VIII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments

C-9


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Garnet Community Investments IX, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments X, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments XI, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet Community Investments XII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund I, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments I, LLC (0.01%); Goldenrod Asset Management, Inc.—a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund II, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments II, LLC (0.01%); Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund III, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments III, LLC (0.01%); Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund IV, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments IV, LLC (0.01%); Goldenrod Asset Management, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund V, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments V, LLC (0.01%); Lease Plan North America, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund VI, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments VI, LLC (0.01%); Pydna Corporation, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund VII, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments VII, LLC (0.01%); Washington Mutual Bank, a non-AEGON affiliate(99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund VIII, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments VIII, LLC (0.01%); Washington Mutual Bank, a non-AEGON affiliate(99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund IX, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments IX, LLC (0.01%); Bank of America, N.A., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund X, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments X, LLC (0.01%); Goldenrod Asset Management, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XI, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments XI, LLC (0.01%); NorLease, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments

C-10


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Garnet LIHTC Fund XII, LLC
  Delaware   Garnet Community Investments XII, LLC (.01%); and the following non-AEGON affiliates: Bank of America, N.A.( 73.39%); Washington Mutual Bank (13.30%); NorLease, Inc. (13.30%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XII-A, LLC
  Delaware   Garnet Community Investments XII, LLC (.01%); Bank of America, N.A., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XII-B, LLC
  Delaware   Garnet Community Investments XII, LLC (.01%); Washington Mutual Bank, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XII-C, LLC
  Delaware   Garnet Community Investments XII, LLC (.01%); NorLease, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XIII, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); Washington Mutual Bank, a non-AEGON affiliate (68.10%); Norlease, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (31.89%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XIII-A, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); Washington Mutual Bank, a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XIII-B, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); Norlease, Inc., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XIV, LLC
  Delaware   0.01% Garnet Community Investments, LLC; 49.995% Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; and 49.995% Goldenrod Asset Management, Inc.   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XV, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); Bank of America, N.A., a non-AEGON affiliate (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XVI, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); FNBC Leasing Corporation, a non-AEGON entity (99.99%)   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XVII, LLC
  Delaware   Members: Garnet Community Investments, LLC (0.01%); Security Life of Denver, a non-affiliate of AEGON (20.979%), ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance company, a non-affiliate of AEGON (12.999%), and ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, a non-affiliate of AEGON (66.012%).   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XVIII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XIX, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XX, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments

C-11


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXI, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXIII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXIV, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXV, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXVI, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Garnet LIHTC Fund XXVII, LLC
  Delaware   100% Garnet Community Investments, LLC   Investments
Gemini Investment, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Investment subsidiary
Global Preferred Re Limited
  Bermuda   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Reinsurance
Innergy Lending, LLC
  Delaware   50% World Financial Group, Inc.; 50% ComUnity Lending, Inc.(non-AEGON entity)   Lending
InterSecurities, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Broker-Dealer
Investors Warranty of America, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Leases business equipment
Iowa Fidelity Life Insurance Co.
  Arizona   Ordinary common stock is allowed 60% of total cumulative vote — AEGON USA, LLC. Participating common stock (100% owned by non-AEGON shareholders) is allowed 40% of total cumulative vote.   Insurance
JMH Operating Company, Inc.
  Mississippi   100% Monumental Life Insurance Company   Real estate holdings
Legacy General Insurance Company
  Canada   100% Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd.   Insurance company
Life Investors Alliance, LLC
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Purchase, own, and hold the equity interest of other entities
Life Investors Financial Group, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Company   Special-purpose subsidiary
LIICA Holdings, LLC
  Delaware   Sole Member: Transamerica Life Insurance Company   To form and capitalize LIICA Re I, Inc.
LIICA Re I, Inc.
  Vermont   100% LIICA Holdings, LLC   Captive insurance company
LIICA Re II, Inc.
  Vermont   100%Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Captive insurance company
Massachusetts Fidelity Trust Company
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Trust company
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
  Arkansas   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Insurance company
ML Life Insurance Company of New York
  New York   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Insurance company
Money Services, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Provides financial counseling for employees and agents of affiliated companies
Monumental General Administrators, Inc.
  Maryland   100% Monumental General Insurance Group, Inc.   Provides management services to unaffiliated third party administrator
Monumental General Insurance Group, Inc.
  Maryland   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Holding company
Monumental Life Insurance Company
  Iowa   99.72% Capital General Development Corporation; .28% Commonwealth General Corporation   Insurance Company
nVISION Financial, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Company   Special-purpose subsidiary
National Association Management and Consultant Services, Inc.
  Maryland   100% Monumental General Administrators, Inc.   Provides actuarial consulting services
NEF Investment Company
  California   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Real estate development

C-12


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
New Markets Community Investment Fund, LLC
  Iowa   50% AEGON Institutional Markets, Inc.; 50% AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Community development entity
Oncor Insurance Services, LLC
  Iowa   Sole Member — Life Investors Financial Group, Inc.   Direct sales of term life insurance
Penco, Inc.
  Ohio   100% AUSA Holding Company   Record keeping
Pensaprima, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Investments
Peoples Benefit Services, Inc.
  Pennsylvania   100% Stonebridge Life Insurance Company   Special-purpose subsidiary
Pine Falls Re, Inc.
  Vermont   100% Stonebridge Life Insurance Company   Captive insurance company
Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
  Bermuda   Partners are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (13.1%) and non-affiliates of AEGON: XL Capital, Ltd. (34.7%); CalPERS/PCO Corporate Partners Fund, LLC (13.0%); Radian Group (11.1%). The remaining 28.1% of stock is publicly owned.   Provides protection from default risk of investment grade corporate and sovereign issues of financial obligations.
Prisma Holdings, Inc. I
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Company   Holding company
Prisma Holdings, Inc. II
  Delaware   100% AUSA Holding Company   Holding company
Pyramid Insurance Company, Ltd.
  Hawaii   100% Transamerica Corporation   Property & Casualty Insurance
Quantitative Data Solutions, LLC
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Special purpose corporation
RCC North America LLC
  Delaware   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Real estate
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 1 LLC
  Delaware   Members: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (90.959%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (6.301%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (2.74%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate alternatives investment
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 2 LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (90.25%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (7.5%); Stonebridge Life Insurance Company (2.25%). Manager:   Real estate alternatives investment
 
      AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.    
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 3 LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (73.4%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (25.6%); Stonebridge Life Insurance Company (1%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate alternatives investment
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 3A, Inc.
  Delaware   Members: Monumental Life Insurance Company (41.4%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (9.4%); Transamerica Life Insurance Company (48.2%); Stonebridge Life Insurance Company (1%)   Real estate alternatives investment
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 4 HR, LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (64%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (32%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (4%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Investment vehicle for alternative real estate investments that are established annually for our affiliated companies common investment

C-13


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 4 MR, LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (64%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (32%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (4%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Investment vehicle for alternative real estate investments that are established annually for our affiliated companies common investment
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 5 NR, LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (75.000%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (20.000%); Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio (3.333%); Stonebridge Life Insurance Company (1.667%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate investments
Real Estate Alternatives Portfolio 5 RE, LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (75.000%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (20.000%); Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio (3.333%); Stonebridge Life Insurance Company (1.667%). Manager: AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate investments
Realty Information Systems, Inc.
  Iowa   100% AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Information Systems for real estate investment management
Retirement Project Oakmont
  CA   General Partner: Transamerica Oakmont Retirement Associates, a CA limited partnership; Transamerica Life Insurance Company (limited partner); and Oakmont Gardens, a CA limited partnership (non-AEGON entity limited partner). General Partner of Transamerica Oakmont Retirement Associates is Transamerica Oakmont Corporation. 100 units of limited partnership interests widely held by individual investors.   Senior living apartment complex
River Ridge Insurance Company
  Vermont   100% AEGON Management Company   Captive insurance company
Second FGP LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Selient Inc.
  Canada   100% Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd.   Application service provider providing loan origination platforms to Canadian credit unions.
Separate Account Fund C
  CA   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Mutual Fund
Seventh FGP LLC
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
Short Hills Management Company
  New Jersey   100% AEGON U.S. Holding Corporation   Holding company
Southwest Equity Life Insurance Company
  Arizona   Voting common stock is allocated 75% of total cumulative vote — AEGON USA, LLC. Participating Common stock (100% owned by non-AEGON shareholders) is allocated 25% of total cumulative vote.   Insurance
Stonebridge Benefit Services, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Health discount plan
Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company
  Ohio   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Insurance company

C-14


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Stonebridge Group, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   General purpose corporation
Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd.
  UK   100% Cornerstone International Holdings Ltd.   General insurance company
Stonebridge Life Insurance Company
  Vermont   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Insurance company
Stonebridge Reinsurance Company
  Vermont   100% Stonebridge Life Insurance Company   Captive insurance company
TA Air XI, Corp.
  Delaware   100% TCFC Air Holdings, Inc.   Special purpose corporation
TAH-MCD IV, LLC
  Iowa   100% Transamerica Affordable Housing, Inc.   Serve as the general partner for McDonald Corporate Tax Credit Fund IV Limited Partnership
TBK Insurance Agency of Ohio, Inc.
  Ohio   100% owned by Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.;   Variable insurance contract sales in state of Ohio
TCF Asset Management Corporation
  Colorado   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   A depository for foreclosed real and personal property
TCFC Air Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation, I   Holding company
TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation, I   Holding company
TCFC Employment, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation, I   Used for payroll for employees at Transamerica Finance Corporation
The AEGON Trust Advisory Board: Patrick J. Baird, Joseph B.M. Streppel, Alexander R. Wynaendts, and Craig D. Vermie
  Delaware   AEGON International B.V.   Voting Trust
The RCC Group, Inc.
  Delaware   100% FGH USA LLC   Real estate
TIHI Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
  Mexico   95% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.; 5% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   To render and receive all kind of administrative, accountant, mercantile and financial counsel and assistance to and from any other Mexican or foreign corporation, whether or not this company is a shareholder of them
Transamerica Accounts Holding Corporation
  Delaware   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   Holding company
Transamerica Affinity Services, Inc.
  Maryland   100% AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc.   Marketing company
Transamerica Affordable Housing, Inc.
  California   100% Transamerica Realty Services, LLC   General partner LHTC Partnership
Transamerica Annuity Service Corporation
  New Mexico   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Performs services required for structured settlements
Transamerica Asset Management, Inc.
  Florida   Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio owns 77%; AUSA Holding Co. owns 23%.   Fund advisor
Transamerica Aviation LLC
  Delaware   100% TCFC Air Holdings, Inc.   Special purpose corporation
Transamerica Capital, Inc.
  California   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Broker/Dealer
Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation, I
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Finance Corporation   Holding company
Transamerica Consultora Y Servicios Limitada
  Chile   95% Transamerica Life Insurance Company; 5% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Special purpose limited liability corporation
Transamerica Consumer Finance Holding Company
  Delaware   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   Consumer finance holding company
Transamerica Corporation
  Delaware   100% The AEGON Trust   Major interest in insurance and finance
Transamerica Corporation (Oregon)
  Oregon   100% Transamerica Corporation   Holding company
Transamerica Direct Marketing Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.
  Australia   100% AEGON DMS Holding B.V.   Holding company

C-15


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Transamerica Direct Marketing
Consultants, LLC
  Maryland   51% Hugh J. McAdorey; 49% AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc.   Provide consulting services ancillary to the marketing of insurance products overseas.
Transamerica Distribution Finance — Overseas, Inc.
  Delaware   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   Commercial Finance
Transamerica Finance Corporation
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Corporation   Commercial & Consumer Lending &
equipment leasing
Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Broker/dealer
Transamerica Financial Life
Insurance Company
  New York   87.40% AEGON USA, LLC; 12.60% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Insurance
Transamerica Financial Resources Insurance Agency of Alabama, Inc.
  Alabama   100% Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.   Insurance agent & broker
Transamerica Fund Services, Inc.
  Florida   Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio owns 44%; AUSA Holding Company owns 56%   Mutual fund
Transamerica Funding LP
  U.K.   99% Transamerica Leasing Holdings, Inc.; 1% Transamerica Commercial Finance Corporation, I   Intermodal leasing
Transamerica Holding B.V.
  Netherlands   100% AEGON International B.V.   Holding company
Transamerica Home Loan
  California   100% Transamerica Finance Corporation   Consumer mortgages
Transamerica Insurance Marketing Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.
  Australia   100% Transamerica Direct Marketing Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.   Insurance intermediary
Transamerica International
Direct Marketing Consultants,
LLC
  Maryland   51% Hugh J. McAdorey; 49% AEGON Direct Marketing Services, Inc.   Provide consulting services ancillary to the marketing of insurance products overseas.
Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Holding company
Transamerica International RE (Bermuda) Ltd.
  Bermuda   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Reinsurance
Transamerica Investment
Management, LLC
  Delaware   81.75% Transamerica Investment Services, Inc. as Original Member; 18.25% owned by Professional Members (employees of Transamerica Investment Services, Inc.)   Investment advisor
Transamerica Investment Services, Inc. (“TISI”)
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Corporation   Holding company
Transamerica Investors, Inc.
  Maryland   100% Transamerica Asset Management, Inc.   Open-end mutual fund
Transamerica Leasing Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Finance Corporation   Holding company
Transamerica Life (Bermuda) Ltd.
  Bermuda   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Long-term life insurer in Bermuda — will primarily write fixed universal life and term insurance
Transamerica Life Canada
  Canada   AEGON Canada Inc. owns 9,600,000 shares of common stock; AEGON International B.V. owns 3,568,941 shares of common stock and 184,000 shares of Series IV Preferred stock.   Life insurance company
Transamerica Life Insurance
Company
  Iowa   676,190 shares Common Stock owned by Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.; 86,590 shares of Preferred Stock owned by Transamerica Corporation; 30,415 shares of Preferred Stock owned by AEGON USA, LLC   Insurance

C-16


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
Transamerica Life Solutions, LLC
  Delaware   Investors Warranty of America, Inc. — sole member   Provision of marketing, training, educational, and support services to life insurance professionals relating to the secondary market for life insurance, primarily through its affiliation with LexNet, LP, a life settlements marketplace.
Transamerica Minerals Company
  California   100% Transamerica Realty Services, LLC   Owner and lessor of oil and gas properties
Transamerica Oakmont Corporation
  California   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   General partner retirement properties
Transamerica Oakmont Retirement Associates
  California   General Partner is Transamerica Oakmont Corporation. 100 units of limited partnership interests widely held by individual investors.   Senior living apartments
Transamerica Pacific Insurance Company, Ltd.
  Hawaii   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Life insurance
Transamerica Pyramid Properties LLC
  Iowa   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Realty limited liability company
Transamerica Re Consultoria em Seguros e Servicos Ltda
  Brazil   95% Transamerica Life Insurance Company; 5% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Insurance and reinsurance consulting
Transamerica Realty Investment Properties LLC
  Delaware   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Realty limited liability company
Transamerica Realty Services, LLC
  Delaware   100% AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Inc.   Real estate investments
Transamerica Retirement Management, Inc.
  Minnesota   100% AEGON Financial Services Group, Inc.   Life Insurance and underwriting services
Transamerica Securities Sales Corporation
  Maryland   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Broker/Dealer
Transamerica Small Business Capital, Inc.
  Delaware   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   Holding company
Transamerica Trailer Leasing AG
  Switzerland   100% Transamerica Leasing Holdings, Inc.   Leasing
Transamerica Trailer Leasing Sp. Z.O.O.
  Poland   100% Transamerica Leasing Holdings, Inc.   Leasing
Transamerica Vendor Financial Services Corporation
  Delaware   100% TCFC Asset Holdings, Inc.   Provides commercial leasing
Unicom Administrative Services, Inc.
  Pennsylvania   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Provider of administrative services
United Financial Services, Inc.
  Maryland   100% AEGON USA, LLC   General agency
Universal Benefits Corporation
  Iowa   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Third party administrator
USA Administration Services, Inc.
  Kansas   100% Transamerica Life Insurance Company   Third party administrator
Valley Forge Associates, Inc.
  Pennsylvania   100% Commonwealth General Corporation   Furniture & equipment lessor
Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio
  Ohio   100% AEGON USA, LLC   Insurance
Westport Strategies, LLC
  Delaware   AUSA Holding Company — sole Member   Provide administrative and support services, including but not limited to plan consulting, design and administration in connection with retail insurance brokerage business as carried on by producers related to corporate-owned or trust-owned life insurance policies
WFG China Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware   100% World Financial Group, Inc.   Hold interest in Insurance Agency located in Peoples Republic of China
WFG Insurance Agency of Puerto Rico, Inc.
  Puerto Rico   100% World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency

C-17


 

             
    Jurisdiction of   Percent of Voting    
Name   Incorporation   Securities Owned   Business
WFG Properties Holdings, LLC
  Georgia   100% World Financial Group, Inc.   Marketing
WFG Property & Casualty Insurance Agency of California, Inc.
  California   100% WFG Property & Casualty Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
WFG Property & Casualty Insurance Agency of Nevada, Inc.
  Nevada   100% WFG Property & Casualty Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
WFG Property & Casualty Insurance Agency, Inc.
  Georgia   100% World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
WFG Reinsurance Limited
  Bermuda   100% World Financial Group, Inc.   Reinsurance
WFG Securities of Canada, Inc.
  Canada   100% World Financial Group Holding Company of Canada, Inc.   Mutual fund dealer
World Financial Group Holding Company of Canada Inc.
  Canada   100% Transamerica International Holdings, Inc.   Holding company
World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada Inc.
  Ontario   50% World Financial Group Holding Co. of Canada Inc.; 50% World Financial Group Subholding Co. of Canada Inc.   Insurance agency
World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Hawaii, Inc.
  Hawaii   100% World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc.
  Massachusetts   100% World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Wyoming, Inc.
  Wyoming   100% World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.   Insurance agency
World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.
  California   100% Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio   Insurance agency
World Financial Group Subholding Company of Canada Inc.
  Canada   100% World Financial Group Holding Company of Canada, Inc.   Holding company
World Financial Group, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AEGON Asset Management Services, Inc.   Marketing
World Group Securities, Inc.
  Delaware   100% AEGON Asset Management Services, Inc.   Broker-dealer
Zahorik Company, Inc.
  California   100% AUSA Holding Co.   Inactive
Zero Beta Fund, LLC
  Delaware   Members are: Transamerica Life Insurance Company (74.0181%); Monumental Life Insurance Company (23.6720%); Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (2.3097%). Manager: AEGON USA Investment Management LLC   Aggregating vehicle formed to hold various fund investments.

C-18


 

Item 27. Number of Contracts
 
The number of Contracts in force as of June 30, 2009 was 207.
 
Item 28. Indemnification
 
The following provisions regarding the Indemnification of Directors and Officers of the Registrant are applicable:
 
Amended And Restated By-Laws Of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, Article VI
 
Sections 1, 2, 3 And 4 — Indemnification Of Directors, Officers, Employees And Incorporators
 
Section 1.  Actions Other Than By Or In The Right Of The Corporation. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal

C-19


 

action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
 
Section 2.  Actions By Or In The Right Of The Corporation. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of 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 of Chancery or the Court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other Court shall deem proper.
 
Section 3.  Right To Indemnification. To the extent that a director, officer or employee of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
 
Section 4.  Determination Of Right To Indemnification. Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article (unless ordered by a Court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, or employee is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article. Such determination shall be made (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the stockholders.
 
Other Indemnification
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Depositor pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Depositor 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 of a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Depositor of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered), the Depositor 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.
 
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
 
     (a) Transamerica Capital, Inc. serves as the principal underwriter for:
Transamerica Capital, Inc. serves as the principal underwriter for the Retirement Builder Variable Annuity Account, Separate Account VA A, Separate Account VA B, Separate Account VA C, Separate Account VA D, Separate Account VA E, Separate Account VA F, Separate Account VA I, Separate Account VA J, Separate Account VA K, Separate Account VA L, Separate Account VA P, Separate Account VA Q, Separate Account VA R, Separate Account VA S, Separate Account VA W, Separate Account VA X, Separate Account VA Y; Separate Account VA Z, Separate Account VA EE, Separate Account VA-1, Separate Account VA-2L, Separate Account VA-5, Separate Account VA-6, Separate Account VA-7, Separate Account VA-8, Separate Account Fund B, Separate Account Fund C, Separate Account VUL 3, Transamerica Corporate Separate Account Sixteen, Separate Account VL A and Separate Account VUL A. These accounts are separate accounts of Transamerica Life Insurance Company.


C-20


 

Transamerica Capital, Inc. serves as principal underwriter for Separate Account VA BNY, Separate Account VA GNY, Separate Account VA HNY, Separate Account VA QNY, Separate Account VA WNY, Separate Account VA YNY, TFLIC Separate Account VNY, Separate Account VA-2LNY, TFLIC Separate Account C, Separate Account VA-5NLNY, Separate Account VA-6NY, TFLIC Series Annuity Account and TFLIC Series Life Account. These accounts are separate accounts of Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. serves as principal underwriter for Separate Account VA U, Separate Account VA V, Separate Account VA AA, WRL Series Life Account, WRL Series Life Account G, WRL Series Life Corporate Account, WRL Series Annuity Account and WRL Series Annuity Account B. These accounts are separate accounts of Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. also serves as principal underwriter for Separate Account VA BB, Separate Account VA CC, Separate Account VA WM, and Separate Account VL E. These accounts are separate accounts of Monumental Life Insurance Company.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. also serves as principal underwriter for Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account, Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account A, Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account B, Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C, Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account D, Merrill Lynch Variable Life Separate Account, and Merrill Lynch Life Variable Life Separate Account II. These accounts are separate accounts of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. also serves as principal underwriter for ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account, ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account A, ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account B, ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account C, ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account D, ML of New York Variable Life Separate Account, and ML of New York Variable Life Separate Account II. These accounts are separate accounts of ML Life Insurance Company of New York.
Transamerica Capital, Inc. also serves as principal underwriter for Transamerica Series Trust, Transamerica Funds and Transamerica Investors, Inc.

C-21


 

     (b)  Directors and Officers of Transamerica Capital, Inc.:
             
    Principal    
Name   Business Address   Position and Offices with Underwriter
Blake S. Bostwick
    (2 )   Chief Operations Officer, President and Director
John T. Mallett
    (1 )   Director
Mark W. Mullin
    (1 )   Director
Lon J. Olejniczak
    (1 )   Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael W. Brandsma
    (2 )   President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
David R. Paulsen
    (2 )   Executive Vice President
Michael G. Petko
    (2 )   Executive Vice President
Anne M. Spaes
    (3 )   Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Courtney John
    (2 )   Chief Compliance Office and Vice President
Frank A. Camp
    (1 )   Secretary
Amy J. Boyle
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
John W. Fischer
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Clifton W. Flenniken, III
    (5 )   Assistant Vice President
Dennis P. Gallagher
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Elizabeth Belanger
    (6 )   Assistant Vice President
Wesley J. Hodgson
    (2 )   Assistant Vice President
Karen D. Heburn
    (4 )   Vice President
Kyle A. Keelan
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Christy Post-Rissin
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Brenda L. Smith
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Darin D. Smith
    (1 )   Assistant Vice President
Arthur D. Woods
    (4 )   Assistant Vice President
Tamara D. Barkdoll
    (2 )   Assistant Secretary
Erin K. Burke
    (1 )   Assistant Secretary
Amy Angle
    (3 )   Assistant Secretary
 
(1)   4333 Edgewood Road N.E., Cedar Rapids, IA 52499-0001
 
(2)   4600 S Syracuse St, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237-2719
 
(3)   400 West Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202
 
(4)   570 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
 
(5)   1111 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
 
(6)   4 Manhattanville Rd, Purchase, NY 10577
     (c) Compensation to Principal Underwriter:
 
                                 
    Net
                   
    Underwriting
                   
Name of Principal
  Discounts and
    Compensation
    Brokerage
       
Underwriter
  Commissions(2)     on Redemption     Commissions     Compensation  
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith
Incorporated(1)
  $ 321,909.00     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
Transamerica Capital, Inc. 
  $ 336,636.00     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
 
 
(1) Effective May 1, 2008, Transamerica Capital, Inc. replaced Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as principal underwriter for the policies.
 
(2) Fiscal Year 2008


C-22


 

Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
 
All accounts, books, and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained by the Manager Regulatory Filing Unit, Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company at 4333 Edgewood Road, N.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001; or by the Service Center at 4802 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246.
 
Item 31. Not Applicable
 
Item 32. Undertakings and Representations
 
(a) Registrant undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to the Registrant Statement as frequently as is necessary to ensure that the audited financial statements in the Registration Statement are never more than 16 months old for so long as payments under the variable annuity contracts may be accepted.
 
(b) Registrant undertakes to include either (1) as part of any application to purchase a contract offered by the prospectus, a space that an applicant can check to request a statement of additional information, or (2) a postcard or similar written communications affixed to or included in the prospectus that the applicant can remove to send for a statement of additional information.
 
(c) Registrant undertakes to deliver any statement of additional information and any financial statements required to be made available under this Form promptly upon written or oral request.
 
(d) Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company hereby represents that the fees and charges deducted under the Contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company.


C-23


 

SIGNATURES
As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that this Amendment to the Registration Statement meets the requirements for effectiveness pursuant to paragraph (b) of Securities Act Rule 485 and has caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf, in the City of Cedar Rapids and State of Iowa, on this 14th day of August, 2009.
         
 
  MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE    
 
  ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C    
 
       
 
  MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE    
 
  COMPANY    
 
  Depositor    
 
       
 
  *
 
   
 
  Lon J. Olejniczak    
 
  President and Director    
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the duties indicated.
         
Signatures   Title   Date
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Lon J. Olejniczak
  Director and President   , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Robert R. Frederick
  Director and Senior Vice President   , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
John T. Mallett
  Director, Treasurer and
Vice President
  , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Karen Alvarado
  Director and Assistant Vice President   , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Ronald L. Ziegler
  Director and Senior Vice President   , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Eric J. Martin
  Vice President and Corporate Controller   , 2009
 
 
       
                                                                                *
 
Frank A. Camp
  Secretary   , 2009
 
 
       
/s/ Darin D. Smith
 
Darin D. Smith
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   August 14, 2009
 
 
*    By: Darin D. Smith — Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney filed previously.    
 
       
/s/ James Purvis
 
James Purvis
  Treasurer, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   August 14, 2009
 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
             
Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit   Page No.*
 
   
8(o)
  Participation Agreement (TST)
 
   
8(p)
  Amendment No. 1 to Participation Agreement (TST)
 
   
9
  Opinion and Consent of Counsel
 
   
10(a)
  Consent of Counsel
 
   
10(b)
  Written Consent of Deloitte LLP
 
   
10(c)
  Written Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
*   Page numbers included only in manually executed original.