EX-99.B9 5 file004.txt OPINION AND CONSENT OF COUNSEL Anchor National Life Insurance Company 1 SunAmerica Center Los Angeles, CA 90067-6022 310.772.6000 ANCHOR NATIONAL LOGO Mailing Address A SunAmerica Company P.O. Box 54197 Los Angeles, CA 90054-0197 VIA EDGAR ---------- May 29, 2002 Board of Directors Anchor National Life Insurance Company 1 SunAmerica Center Los Angeles, CA 90067-6022 Re: Opinion of Counsel Variable Separate Account Nine Alliance Ovation Access Variable Annuity Gentlemen: Referring to this Pre-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed by AIG SunAmerica Life Assurance Company, formerly Anchor National Life Insurance Company and doing business as "Anchor National," with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and having examined and being familiar with the articles of incorporation, by-laws and other pertinent records and documents of Anchor National, I am of the opinion that: 1) Anchor National is a duly organized and existing stock life insurance company under the laws of the State of Arizona; and 2) The annuity contracts being registered by the Registration Statement will, upon sale thereof, be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, to the extent that they are construed to constitute debt securities, will be binding obligations of Anchor National, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. I am licensed to practice law in the State of California, and the foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of California, the general corporate law of the State of Arizona and federal law. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/ CHRISTINE A. NIXON Christine A. Nixon, Esq. Vice President and Secretary