17 C.F.R. § 230.498A
Link to an amendment published at 85 FR 26099, May 1, 2020.
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
Class means a class of a Contract that varies principally with respect to distribution-related fees and expenses.
Contract means a Variable Annuity Contract or a Variable Life Insurance Contract as defined in this section, respectively.
Depositor means the person primarily responsible for the organization of the Registrant and the person, other than the trustee or custodian, who has continuing functions or responsibilities with respect to the administration of the affairs of the Registrant. “Depositor” includes the sponsoring insurance company that establishes and maintains the Registrant.
Initial Summary Prospectus means the initial summary prospectus described in paragraph (b) of this section.
Investment Option means any portfolio of investments in which a Registrant on Form N-3 invests and which may be selected as an option by the investor.
Portfolio Company means any company in which a Registrant on Form N-4 or Form N-6 invests and which may be selected as an option by the investor.
Portfolio Company Prospectus means the Statutory Prospectus of a Portfolio Company and a summary prospectus of a Portfolio Company permitted by § 230.498.
Registrant means a separate account (as defined in section 2(a)(14) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(14)) that has an effective registration statement on §§ 239.17a and 274.11b of this chapter (Form N-3), §§ 239.17b and 274.11c of this chapter (Form N-4), or §§ 239.17c and 274.11d of this chapter (Form N-6) and that has a current prospectus that satisfies the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(a)).
Statement of Additional Information means the statement of additional information required by Part B of Form N-1A, Form N-3, Form N-4, or Form N-6.
Statutory Prospectus means a prospectus that satisfies the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(a)).
Summary Prospectus refers to both the Initial Summary Prospectus and the Updating Summary Prospectus.
Updating Summary Prospectus means the updating summary prospectus described in paragraph (c) of this section.
Variable Annuity Contract means any accumulation contract or annuity contract, any portion thereof, or any unit of interest or participation therein pursuant to which the value of the contract, either during an accumulation period or after annuitization, or both, may vary with the investment performance of any separate account.
Variable Life Insurance Contract means a life insurance contract that provides for death benefits and cash values that may vary with the investment performance of any separate account.
(b) General requirements for Initial Summary Prospectus. An Initial Summary Prospectus that complies with this paragraph (b) will be deemed to be a prospectus that is authorized under section 10(b) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(b)) and section 24(g) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-24(g)) for the purposes of section 5(b)(1) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77e(b)(1)).
(2) Cover page or beginning of Initial Summary Prospectus. Include on the front cover page or the beginning of the Initial Summary Prospectus:
(v) The following legend:
This Summary Prospectus summarizes key features of the [Contract].
Before you invest, you should also review the prospectus for the [Contract], which contains more information about the [Contract's] features, benefits, and risks. You can find this document and other information about the [Contract] online at [___]. You can also obtain this information at no cost by calling[____] or by sending an email requestto [___].
You may cancel your [Contract] within 10 days of receiving it without paying fees or penalties. In some states, this cancellation period may be longer. Upon cancellation, you will receive either a full refund of the amount you paid with your application or your total contract value. You should review the prospectus, or consult with your investment professional, for additional information about the specific cancellation terms that apply.
Additional information about certain investment products, including [variable annuities/variable life insurance contracts], has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff and is available at Investor.gov.
(E) The legend for a Contract registered on Form N-3 shall include a statement to the following effect, if applicable:
Beginning on [date], as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of [the Registrant's] shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from [the Registrant] [or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank]. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from [the Registrant] [or your financial intermediary] electronically by [insert instructions].
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform [the Registrant] [or your financial intermediary] that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by [insert instructions]. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all [funds] held with [the fund complex/your financial intermediary].
(F) The legend for a Contract registered on Form N-4 or N-6 shall include a statement to the following effect, if applicable:
Beginning on [date], as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the shareholder reports for [Portfolio Companies available under your Contract] will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from [the Registrant] [or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank]. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from [the Portfolio Companies] [or your financial intermediary] electronically by [insert instructions].
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform [the Registrant] [or your financial intermediary] that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by [insert instructions]. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all portfolio companies [available under your Contract].
(3) Back cover page or last page of Initial Summary Prospectus.
(5) Contents of Initial Summary Prospectus. An Initial Summary Prospectus must contain the information required by this paragraph (b)(5) with respect to the applicable registration form, and only the information required by this paragraph (b)(5), in the order provided in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) through (ix) of this section.
(c) General requirements for Updating Summary Prospectus. An Updating Summary Prospectus that complies with this paragraph (c) will be deemed to be a prospectus that is authorized under section 10(b) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(b)) and section 24(g) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-24(g)) for the purposes of section 5(b)(1) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77e(b)(1)).
(3) Cover page or beginning of Updating Summary Prospectus. Include on the front cover page or at the beginning of the Updating Summary Prospectus:
(v)
(A) The following legend, which must meet the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2)(v)(A), (B), and (D) of this section, as applicable:
The prospectus for the [Contract] contains more information about the [Contract], including its features, benefits, and risks. You can find the current prospectus and other information about the [Contract] online at [___]. You can also obtain this information at no cost by calling[____] or by sending an email requestto [___].
Additional information about certain investment products, including [variable annuities/variable life insurance contracts], has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff and is available at Investor.gov.
(4) Back cover page or last page of Updating Summary Prospectus. Include on the bottom of the back cover page or the last page of the Updating Summary Prospectus:
(6) Contents of Updating Summary Prospectus. An Updating Summary Prospectus must contain the information required by this paragraph (c)(6) with respect to the applicable registration form, in the order provided in paragraphs (c)(6)(i) through (iv) of this section.
(i) If any changes have been made with respect to the Contract after the date of the most recent Updating Summary Prospectus or Statutory Prospectus that was sent or given to investors with respect to the availability of Investment Options (for Registrants on Form N-3) or Portfolio Companies (for Registrants on Forms N-4 and N-6) under the Contract, or the disclosure that the Registrant included in response to Item 2 (Key Information), Item 3 (Overview of the Contract), Item 4 (Fee Table), Item 11 (Benefits Available Under the Contract), Item 12 (Purchases and Contract Value), or Item 13 (Surrenders and Withdrawals) of Form N-3; Item 2 (Key Information), Item 3 (Overview of the Contract), Item 4 (Fee Table), Item 10 (Benefits Available Under the Contract), Item 11 (Purchases and Contract Value), or Item 12 (Surrenders and Withdrawals) of Form N-4; and Item 2 (Key Information), Item 3 (Overview of the Contract), Item 4 (Fee Table), Item 9 (Premiums), Item 10 (Standard Death Benefits), Item 11 (Other Benefits Available Under the Contract), Item 12 (Surrenders and Withdrawals), or Item 14 (Lapse and Reinstatement) of Form N-6, include the following as applicable, under the heading “Updated Information About Your [Contract]”:
(d) Incorporation by reference into a Summary Prospectus.
(2) A Registrant may incorporate by reference into a Summary Prospectus any or all of the information contained in the Registrant's Statutory Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and any information from the Registrant's reports under § 270.30e-1 of this chapter that the Registrant has incorporated by reference into the Registrant's Statutory Prospectus, provided that:
(f) Transfer of the Contract security. Any obligation under section 5(b)(2) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77e(b)(2)) to have a Statutory Prospectus precede or accompany the carrying or delivery of a Contract security in an offering registered on Form N-3, Form N-4, or Form N-6 is satisfied if:
(2) The Summary Prospectus is not bound together with any materials except Portfolio Company Prospectuses for Portfolio Companies available as investment options under the Contract, provided that:
(g) Sending communications. A communication relating to an offering registered on Form N-3, Form N-4, or Form N-6 sent or given after the effective date of a Contract's registration statement (other than a prospectus permitted or required under section 10 of the Act) shall not be deemed a prospectus under section 2(a)(10) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(10)) if:
(h) Availability of the Statutory Prospectus and certain other documents.
(2) The materials that are accessible in accordance with paragraph (h)(1) of this section must be presented on the website in a format, or formats, that:
(iii) Permit persons accessing a Summary Prospectus to move directly back and forth between:
(4) The conditions set forth in paragraphs (h)(1) through (3) of this section shall be deemed to be met, notwithstanding the fact that the materials specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section are not available for a time in the manner required by paragraphs (h)(1) through (3) of this section, provided that:
(3) Convenient for reading and printing. If paragraph (f) or (g) of this section is relied on with respect to a Contract:
(j) Portfolio Company Prospectuses - (1) Transfer of the Portfolio Company security. Any obligation under section 5(b)(2) of the Act to have a Statutory Prospectus precede or accompany the carrying or delivery of a Portfolio Company security is satisfied if, and information contained in the documents referenced in paragraph (j)(1)(ii) of this section is conveyed for purposes of § 230.159 when:
[85 FR 26094, May 1, 2020]