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Index Performance Strategy Rider












This rider forms a part of the Base Contract to which it is attached and is effective on the Index Effective Date shown on your Index Options statement.  In the case of a conflict with any provision in the Base Contract, the provisions of this rider control. Defined terms and contractual provisions are set forth in the Base Contract or are added in this rider.  This rider terminates as indicated under the Termination of this Rider provision.








	
Definitions












Base Contract


The contract to which this rider is attached.







Buffer


A Buffer is the maximum negative Index Return that we will absorb.  On the Index Effective Date, we declare a Buffer for each Index Option, and the Buffers will not change.  The Buffers are shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.







Cap


A Cap is the maximum positive Performance Credit for an Index Option on an Index Anniversary.  On the Index Effective Date, and on subsequent Index Anniversaries, we declare a Cap for each Index Option and guarantee them for the Index Year.  Caps are shown on your Index Options statement each year and will never be less than the Minimum Cap shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.







Index Option Base


The value used to determine the dollar amount of the Performance Credit.  We establish an Index Option Base for each Index Option.







Index Option Value


The value in a selected Index Option.  We establish an Index Option Value for each Index Option.







Index Value


The value of an Index at the end of the Business Day.  Index Values are shown on your Index Options statement.







Performance Credit


The annual return you may receive when you allocate money to an Index Performance Strategy Index Option(s).








	
Contract Value












The following is added to the “Contract Value” section.







How we calculate Index Option Values


On the Index Effective Date, the Index Option Value and Index Option Base for each Index Option are equal to:



	
·  

	
The portion of the Initial Purchase Payment allocated to that Index Option, if the Index Effective Date is the Issue Date; or








	
·  

	
The portion of Variable Account Value allocated to that Index Option, if the Index Effective Date is not the Issue Date.












At the end of each Business Day other than the Index Effective Date or Index Anniversary, the Index Option Value is equal to the Index Option Base plus its Daily Adjustment.  We establish a Proxy Value to calculate the Daily Adjustment.  The Proxy Value is determined on each Business Day based on the value of a hypothetical set of put and call options as determined by an option pricing formula.  The Daily Adjustment is calculated before we process any Partial Withdrawal or deduct any Contract Charges using the Index Option Base, the current Proxy Value, and the Proxy Value as of the previous Index Anniversary (or the Index Effective Date if this is the first Index Year).







At the end of each Business Day, we reduce each Index Option Value by the dollar amount withdrawn from the Index Option, including any Withdrawal Charge, and Contract Charges.  We deduct money from an Index Option proportionately based on the percentage of Contract Value in each Allocation Option, unless you specify otherwise.  We then reduce each Index Option Base by the same percentage that the amount withdrawn reduced its associated Index Option Value.







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Contract Value continued from the previous page












On each Index Anniversary, we calculate the Index Option Value for each Index Performance Strategy Index Option by applying its associated Performance Credit to its Index Option Base.  If the Index Anniversary is not a Business Day, we calculate the Performance Credit on the next Business Day.







On the Index Anniversary, we determine the Index Return for each Index Option.  The Index Return is  the Index Value for the current Index Anniversary, minus  the Index Value from the previous Index Anniversary (or the Index Effective Date if this is the first Index Anniversary), divided by the Index Value from the previous Index Anniversary (or the Index Effective Date if this is the first Index Anniversary).







If the Index Return is positive and greater than the Cap for an Index Option, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Cap.  If the Index Return is positive, but less than the Cap, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Index Return.  If the Index Return is zero or negative, but within the Buffer, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is zero.  If the Index Return is negative and extends beyond the Buffer, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Index Return plus the Buffer.







For each Index Option that receives a Performance Credit, we multiply its Performance Credit by its Index Option Base.  This result is then added to its Index Option Base.  We then set each Index Option Value equal to its Index Option Base.







Then, on each Index Anniversary, for each Index Option we:



	
·  

	
Increase its Index Option Value and Index Option Base by the amount of any Additional Purchase Payments and Transfers into the Index Option received that day;








	
·  

	
Reduce its Index Option Value and Index Option Base by the amount transferred out of the Index Option; and








	
·  

	
Reduce its Index Option Value and Index Option Base for Withdrawals (including any Withdrawal Charge) and Contract Charges as described above.












At the end of each Business Day we apply the Alternate Minimum Value if we pay a Death Benefit, upon annuitization, if you take a Withdrawal, or if you Transfer Contract Value from an Index Option to a Variable Option.








	
Alternate Minimum Value












The Alternate Minimum Value provides a guaranteed minimum value on each of your Index Option Values when we pay a Death Benefit, upon annuitization, if you take a Withdrawal, or if you Transfer Contract Value from an Index Option to a Variable Option.







When we pay a Death Benefit, upon annuitization, or if you take a Full Withdrawal, we compare each of your Index Option Values (after deducting any applicable fees or charges) with its Alternate Minimum Value.  If your Index Option Value is less than its Alternate Minimum Value, we add the difference to the Index Option Value before determining the amount of the Death Benefit, Annuity Payment, or Withdrawal.







If you take a Partial Withdrawal or if you Transfer Index Option Value from an Index Option to a Variable Option, we compare the percentage of Index Option Value withdrawn (including any Withdrawal Charge) with an equivalent percentage of its Alternate Minimum Value.  If the percentage of Index Option Value is less than the equivalent percentage of Alternate Minimum Value, we add the difference to the amount we pay to you as a Partial Withdrawal or to the amount transferred.







On the Index Effective Date, each Alternate Minimum Value is equal to its associated Index Option Base multiplied by the AMV Factor shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.  We establish an Alternate Minimum Base to calculate interest.  On the Index Effective Date, we set each Alternate Minimum Base equal to the AMB Factor multiplied by its Index Option Base.  The AMB Factor is shown on your Index Options Contract Schedule.  On each Business Day, each Alternate Minimum Value is equal to the AMV Factor multiplied by its Index Option Base on the last Index Anniversary (or the Index Effective Date if this is the first Index Year) (adjusted proportionately for any Withdrawals, including any Withdrawal Charge) plus the Accumulated Alternate Interest and any Daily Adjustment.  The Accumulated Alternate Interest is the total amount of Alternate Interest accrued since the Index Effective Date.







We credit Alternate Interest to each Alternate Minimum Value at the end of the day.  Each daily Alternate Interest is equal to the Alternate Interest Rate divided by 365 and then multiplied by its Alternate Minimum Base.  On the Issue Date, we declare the Alternate Interest Rate and guarantee it for the life of the contract.  The Alternate Interest Rate is shown on your Index Options Contract Schedule.







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Alternate Minimum Value continued from the previous page












If you take a Partial Withdrawal, or if you Transfer Index Option Value from an Index Option to a Variable Option, each Alternate Minimum Value, Alternate Minimum Base, and Accumulated Alternate Interest is reduced by the percentage of the Index Option Value withdrawn or transferred, including any Withdrawal Charge.







If you Transfer Index Option Value from an Index Option to another Index Option, we also Transfer Accumulated Alternate Interest.  The dollar amount of Accumulated Alternate Interest transferred is equal to the dollar amount of Index Option Value transferred divided by the total Index Option Value for the Index Option prior to the Transfer, then multiplied by the Accumulated Alternate Interest for the Index Option prior to the Transfer.







On each Index Anniversary, we reset each Alternate Minimum Base to equal its Index Option Base multiplied by the AMB Factor plus its Accumulated Alternate Interest.








	
Performance Lock












You can request a Performance Lock of the current Index Option Value for each of your unlocked Index Options by providing an Authorized Request.  We process the request on the Business Day we receive an Authorized Request based on the values at the end of the Business Day.  If you exercise a Performance Lock, you may receive less than the full Cap or less than the full protection of the Buffer that you would have received if you waited for us to apply the Performance Credit on the next Index Anniversary.







Once an Index Option Value has been locked:



	
·  

	
The Index Option Value will not change until the next Index Anniversary, unless it is reduced for Withdrawals and any other Contract Charges;








	
·  

	
The locked Index Option will not receive a Performance Credit on the next Index Anniversary; and








	
·  

	
You cannot unlock the Index Option.












On every Index Anniversary, we unlock any previously locked Index Option Values.








	
Termination of this Rider












This rider terminates on the earlier of the Business Day before the Annuity Date or the date the Base Contract terminates.












In all other respects the provisions, conditions, exceptions and limitations contained in the Base Contract remain unchanged and apply to this rider.







Signed for the Company at its home office.












Allianz Life Insurance Company


of North America







[                                                                                                           ]


Gretchen Cepek                                                                Walter R. White


Secretary                                                       President and CEO












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