Business continuity plan

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and its affiliates (collectively “Empower") maintains a comprehensive business continuity plan designed to respond reasonably and effectively to events that lead to significant business disruption, such as natural disasters, power outages, or other events of varying scope. This plan defines critical functions and systems, alternate work locations, vital books and records, and staff resources, and provides for the continuation of business operations with minimal impact, depending on the severity and scope of the disruption. The plan is reviewed and tested no less than once annually to ensure that the information in the plan is kept current and that documented recovery and continuity strategies adequately support its business operations. Of utmost importance to the plan is the ability for customers to maintain access to securities accounts and assets in those accounts.

In the event that one of the Call Centers or back office operation facilities becomes unavailable for any reason, calls would be re-routed to one of the firm’s alternative call center or operations facilities.

In the event of a significant business disruption to the primary office and/or data center, access to customer accounts will be provided via Empower’s Web site and voice response system, operated from an alternative data center. Customer Service will continue to be provided by re-routing telephone calls to a Call Center located in one or more alternative sites located outside of the region.

While no contingency plan can eliminate the risk of business interruption, or prevent temporary delays with account access, the firm’s continuity plan is intended to mitigate all reasonable risk and resume critical business operations within 24 hours or the next business day, whichever is later.