Death benefit¹

If the Covered Person² dies while the Certificate is in effect and before the Account Maturity Date, the Company will pay, on the Death Benefit Date, a Death Benefit to the Beneficiary in accordance with this Death Benefit provision. If there is no Beneficiary living on the date of death of the last surviving Covered Person, the Company will pay the Death Benefit upon receipt of Due Proof of Death of all Covered Persons and all Beneficiaries in one sum to the surviving Participant, or, if the last surviving Participant is deceased, to the estate of the last surviving Participant. If the death of the Covered Person occurs on or after the Account Maturity Date, no Death Benefit will be payable.

The Beneficiary may request payment of the Death Benefit by filing with the Company, at its Administrative Office, a written request for such payment. The request will become effective on the Death Benefit Date, which is the later of: (a) the date the request is received by the Company; and (b) the date Due Proof of Death of all Covered Persons (Designated Participants) and any deceased Beneficiaries and Participants is received by the Company. The Beneficiary will receive the Death Benefit in the form of a cash payment, and the Account will be cancelled. Payment will be made within seven days of the Death Benefit Date, except as the Company may defer any such payment of amounts derived from the Variable Account.

MFS Architect Products - Documents Required

a. MFS Architect Death Benefit /ACPL Claim form completed by each Beneficiary.

Note: in Section D of the form we require complete information as requested on the form in respect of who signature guaranteed the Beneficiary's signature.

b. Original death certificate of the Deceased or a certified copy of the death certificate with the certification stamps in original form.

c. Certified copy of the national identification document of each Beneficiary. The ID document may be certified by a notary public or by way of a signature guarantee stamp.

Notes: Where the Beneficiary is a minor (under 18 years old) the Legal Guardian named on the application will complete the Death Benefit Claim form on behalf of the Beneficiary. The Beneficiary will be named in Section B, the Legal Guardian's bank information will be stated in Section C (we will pay the benefit to the Legal guardian for the benefit of the Beneficiary(ies)). The Legal Guardian will sign in Section D together with complete Signature Guarantee information as requested on the form in respect of who signature guaranteed the signature.

If no Legal Guardian was named on the application, we require legal documentation regarding the appointment of the Legal Guardian for the Beneficiary(ies).

Where the Beneficiary is a corporation, in addition to the completed Death Benefit Claim form, we require:

• Original Corporate Letter of Authorization re-produced on the corporation letterhead
• List of authorized signatories of the corporation
• Copy of the Memorandum of Association/Articles of Incorporation of the corporation
• List of shareholders of the corporation
• Certificate of Incumbency

Where the Beneficiary is a Trust, in addition to the completed Death benefit Claim form, we require:

• Original Verification of Trust form
• Copy of Trust Deed (or part thereof)

SLB-2827 0721 Exp. 0723