TRAVELERS FUND UL III FOR VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE
497, 1999-05-04
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                   TRAVELERS
 
                            CORPORATE OWNED VARIABLE
                       UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
This Prospectus describes Travelers corporate owned variable universal (flexible
premium) life insurance Policies (the "Policy") offered by The Travelers
Insurance Company (the "Company"). The policy is designed generally for use by
corporations and employers. The Policy Owner ("you") chooses the amount of life
insurance coverage desired with a minimum Stated Amount of $50,000. You direct
the net premium payment to one or more of the variable funding options (the
"Investment Options") and/or the Fixed Account.
 
During the Policy's Right to Cancel Period, the Applicant may return the Policy
to the Company for a refund. The Right to Cancel Period expires on the latest of
ten days after you receive the Policy, ten days after we mail or deliver to you
a written Notice of Right to Cancel, or 45 days after the Applicant signs the
application for insurance (or later if state laws requires).
 
The Policy has no guaranteed minimum Contract Value. The Contract Value of the
Policy will vary to reflect the investment performance of the Investment Options
to which you have directed your premium payments. You bear the investment risk
under this Policy. The Contract Value is reduced by the various fees and charges
assessed under the Policy, as described in this Prospectus. The Policy will
remain in effect for as long as the Cash Surrender Value can pay the monthly
Policy charges (subject to the Grace Period provision).
 
We offer three death benefits under the Policy -- the "Level Option," the
"Variable Option," and the "Annual Increase Option." Under any option, the death
benefit will never be less than the Amount Insured (less any Outstanding Policy
Loans or Monthly Deduction Amounts due and unpaid). You choose one at the time
you apply for the Policy; however you may change the death benefit option,
subject to certain conditions.
 
This Policy may be or become a modified endowment Policy under federal tax law.
If so, any partial withdrawal, Policy surrender or loan may result in adverse
tax consequences or penalties.
 
REPLACING EXISTING INSURANCE WITH THIS POLICY MAY NOT BE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
 
EACH OF THE INVESTMENT OPTION PROSPECTUSES ARE INCLUDED WITH THE PACKAGE
CONTAINING THIS PROSPECTUS. ALL PROSPECTUSES SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR
FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS COMPLETE OR TRUTHFUL. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR ENDORSED
OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK, NOR ARE THEY FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED
BY THE FDIC, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY; THEY ARE SUBJECT TO
INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT.
 
   
                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS APRIL 30, 1999.
    

<PAGE>   2
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
Glossary of Special Terms.............    3
Prospectus Summary....................    5
General Description...................   10
  Group or Individual Policy..........   10
  The Application.....................   10
How the Policy Works..................   10
  Applying Premium Payments...........   11
  The Investment Options..............   11
  The Fixed Account...................   16
  Policy Benefits and Rights..........   17
  Transfers of Contract Value.........   17
     Investment Options...............   17
     Fixed Account....................   17
  Automated Transfers.................   18
     Dollar Cost Averaging............   18
     Portfolio Rebalancing............   18
  Lapse and Reinstatement.............   18
  Insured Term Rider..................   18
  Exchange Rights.....................   18
  Right to Cancel.....................   18
Access to Contract Values.............   19
  Policy Loans........................   19
     Consequences.....................   19
  Policy Surrenders...................   19
     Full Surrenders..................   19
     Partial Withdrawals..............   20
Death Benefit.........................   20
  Option 1............................   21
  Option 2............................   21
  Option 3............................   21
  Payment of Proceeds.................   22
  Payment Options.....................   22
Maturity Benefits.....................   22
Charges and Deductions................   23
  Charges Against Premium.............   23
     Front-End Sales Charge...........   23
  Monthly Deduction Amount............   23
     Cost of Insurance Charge.........   23
     Monthly Policy Charge............   23
  Charges Against the Separate
     Account..........................   23
     Mortality and Expense Risk
       Charge.........................   23
  Underlying Fund Expenses............   23
  Transfer Charge.....................   24
  Reduction or Elimination of
     Charges..........................   24
The Separate Account and Valuation....   24
  The Travelers Fund UL III for
     Variable Life Insurance (Fund UL
     III).............................   24
     How the Contract Value Varies....   24
     Accumulation Unit Value..........   25
     Net Investment Factor............   25
Changes to the Policy.................   25
  General.............................   25
  Changes in Stated Amount............   25
  Changes in Death Benefit Option.....   26
Additional Policy Provisions..........   26
  Assignment..........................   26
  Limit on Right to Contest and
     Suicide Exclusion................   26
  Misstatement as to Sex and Age......   26
  Voting Rights.......................   27
  Disregard of Voting Instructions....   27
Other Matters.........................   27
  Statements to Policy Owners.........   27
  Suspension of Valuation.............   27
  Dividends...........................   28
  Mixed and Shared Funding............   28
  Distribution........................   28
  Legal Proceedings and Opinion.......   28
  Independent Accountants.............   29
Federal Tax Considerations............   29
  General.............................   29
  Tax Status of the Policy............   29
     Definition of Life Insurance.....   29
     Diversification..................   29
     Investor Control.................   30
  Tax Treatment of Policy Benefits....   30
     In General.......................   30
     Modified Endowment Contracts.....   31
     Exchanges........................   32
     Aggregation of Modified Endowment
       Contracts......................   32
     Policies Which are not Modified
       Endowment Contracts............   32
     Treatment of Loan Interest.......   32
     The Company's Income Taxes.......   32
The Company...........................   33
  IMSA................................   33
  Year 2000 Compliance................   33
  Management..........................   34
     Directors of The Travelers
       Insurance Company..............   34
     Senior Officers of The Travelers
       Insurance Company..............   35
Example of Policy Charges.............   36
Illustrations.........................   36
Appendix A (Performance
  Information)........................  A-1
Appendix B (Target Premiums)..........  B-1
Appendix C (Cash Value Accumulation
  Test Factors).......................  C-1
Financial Statements..................  F-1
</TABLE>
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   3
 
                           GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
ACCUMULATION UNIT -- a standard of measurement used to calculate the values
allocated to the Investment Options.
 
ANDESA, TPA, INC. -- The third party administrator for this product, located at
1605 North Cedar Crest Blvd., Suite 502, Allentown, PA, 18104-2351.
 
BENEFICIARY(IES) -- the person(s) named to receive the benefits of this Policy
at the Insured's death.
 
CASH SURRENDER VALUE -- the Contract Value less any outstanding Policy loans.
 
CONTRACT VALUE -- the current value of Accumulation Units credited to each of
the Investment Options available under the Policy, plus the value of the Fixed
Account and the value of the Loan Account.
 
COMPANY'S HOME OFFICE -- the principal executive offices of The Travelers
Insurance Company located at One Tower Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06183.
 
DEATH BENEFIT -- the amount payable to the Beneficiary if the Insured dies while
the policy is in force.
 
DEDUCTION DATE -- the day in each Policy Month on which the Monthly Deduction
Amount is deducted from the Policy's Contract Value.
 
FIXED ACCOUNT -- part of the General Account of the Company.
 
GENERAL ACCOUNT -- made up of all our assets other than those held in the
Separate Account.
 
INSURED -- the person on whose life the Policy is issued and who is named on
Schedule A of the Application.
 
INVESTMENT OPTIONS -- the segments of the Separate Account to which you may
allocate premiums or Contract Value. Each investment option invests directly in
a corresponding Underlying Fund.
 
ISSUE DATE -- the date on which the Policy is issued by the Company for delivery
to the Policy Owner.
 
LOAN ACCOUNT -- an account in the Company's general account to which we transfer
the amount of any Policy loan, and to which we credit and charge a fixed rate of
interest.
 
MATURITY DATE -- The anniversary of the Policy Date on which the Insured is age
100.
 
MINIMUM AMOUNT INSURED -- the amount of Death Benefit required to qualify this
Policy as life insurance under federal tax law.
 
MONTHLY DEDUCTION AMOUNT -- the amount of charges deducted from the Policy's
Contract Value which includes cost of insurance charges, administrative charges,
and any charges for benefits associated with any rider(s).
 
   
NET AMOUNT AT RISK -- the Amount Insured (see page 6)for the month divided by
1.0032734 minus the Contract Value.
    
 
NET PREMIUM -- the amount of each premium payment, minus the deduction of any
front-end sales expense charges.
 
OUTSTANDING POLICY LOAN -- Amount owed the Company as a result of policy loans
including both principal and accrued interest.
 
PLANNED PREMIUM -- the amount of premium which the Policy Owner chooses to pay
to the Company on a scheduled basis, and for which the Company will bill the
Policy Owner.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   4
 
POLICY DATE -- the date on which the Policy, benefits and provisions of the
Policy become effective.
 
POLICY MONTH -- monthly periods computed from the Policy Date.
 
POLICY OWNER(S) (YOU, YOUR OR OWNER) -- the person(s) having rights to benefits
under the Policy during the lifetime of the Insured; the Policy Owner may or may
not be the Insured(s).
 
POLICY YEARS -- annual periods computed from the Policy Date.
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNT -- assets set aside by The Travelers Insurance Company, the
investment experience of which is kept separate from that of other assets of The
Travelers Insurance Company; for example, The Travelers Fund UL III for Variable
Life Insurance.
 
STATED AMOUNT -- the amount originally selected by the Policy Owner used to
determine the Death Benefit, or as may be increased or decreased as described in
this Prospectus.
 
TARGET PREMIUM -- the level annual premium above which the sales expense charges
are reduced. Refer to Appendix B.
 
UNDERLYING FUND -- the underlying mutual fund(s) that correspond to each
Investment Option. Each Investment Option invests directly in a Fund.
 
VALUATION DATE -- a day on which the Separate Account is valued. A Valuation
Date is any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and the
Company is open for business. The value of Accumulation Units will be determined
as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
VALUATION PERIOD -- the period between the close of business on successive
Valuation Dates.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   5
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHAT IS CORPORATE OWNED VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE?
 
This Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy is designed for
corporations and employees to provide insurance protection on the life of
Insured employees and to build Contract Value with a minimum Target Premium of
$100,000. In addition, under certain circumstances, individuals may purchase a
Policy. Like other life insurance, it provides an income-tax free death benefit
that is payable to the Beneficiary upon the death of the Insured. Unlike
traditional, fixed-premium life insurance, the Policy allows you, as the owner,
to allocate your premium, or transfer Contract Value to various Investment
Options and a Fixed Account. These Investment Options include equity, bond,
money market and other types of portfolios. Your Contract Value will change
daily, depending on investment return. No minimum amount is guaranteed as in a
traditional life insurance policy.
 
SUMMARY OF FEATURES
 
INVESTMENT OPTIONS:  You have the ability to choose from a wide variety of
well-known Investment Options. The investment options invest directly in the
Funds. These professionally managed stock, bond and money market funds cover a
broad spectrum of investment objectives and risk tolerance. The following
Investment Options (subject to state availability) are available currently:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
EMERGING MARKETS                                   BALANCED
Warburg Pincus Trust Emerging Markets Portfolio    Salomon Brothers Variable Total Return Fund
                                                   MFS Total Return Portfolio
INTERNATIONAL                                      Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio
Lazard International Stock Portfolio
Smith Barney International Equity Portfolio        INDEX
                                                   Bankers Trust EAFE Equity Index Fund
SMALL CAP                                          Bankers Trust Small Cap Index Fund
Delaware Small Cap Value Series                    Equity Index Portfolio
Dreyfus Small Cap Portfolio
Travelers Disciplined Small Cap Stock Portfolio    BOND
                                                   Travelers U.S. Government Securities Portfolio
MID CAP                                            Travelers Convertible Bond Portfolio
Salomon Brothers Variable Capital Fund             Putnam Diversified Income Portfolio
MFS Emerging Growth Portfolio                      Travelers High Yield Bond Trust
MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio                       Salomon Brothers Variable Strategic Bond Fund
Strong Schafer Value Fund II                       Greenwich Street Diversified Strategic Income
Travelers Disciplined Mid-Cap Stock Portfolio        Portfolio
AIM Capital Appreciation Portfolio                 American Odyssey Intermediate-Term Bond   Fund
Montgomery Variable Series: Growth Fund
                                                   MONEY MARKET
LARGE CAP                                          Travelers Money Market Portfolio
Large Cap Portfolio (Fidelity)
Equity Income Portfolio (Fidelity)                 REAL ESTATE
NWQ Large Cap Portfolio                            Delaware REIT Series
OCC Accumulation Trust Equity Portfolio
Alliance Growth Portfolio                          NON-STYLE SPECIFIC
Capital Appreciation Fund (Janus)                  Utilities Portfolio
Dreyfus Capital Appreciation Portfolio             Social Awareness Stock Portfolio
Van Kampen Enterprise Portfolio                    Jurika & Voyles Core Equity Portfolio
Salomon Brothers Variable Investors Fund           MFS Research Portfolio
Smith Barney Large Capitalization Growth           Strategic Stock Portfolio
  Portfolio
</TABLE>
 
Additional Investment Options may be added from time to time. For more
information, see "The Investment Options." Refer to each Fund's prospectus for a
complete description of the investment objectives, restrictions and other
material information.
 
FIXED ACCOUNT:  The Fixed Account is funded by the assets of the General
Account. The Contract Value allocated to the Fixed Account is credited with
interest daily at a rate declared by the
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   6
 
Company. The interest rate declared is at the Company's sole discretion, but may
never be less than 3%.
 
PREMIUMS:  When applying for your Policy, you state how much you intend to pay,
and whether you will pay annually, semiannually or monthly. You may also make
unscheduled premium payments in any amount, subject to the limitations described
in this prospectus.
 
You indicate on your application what percentage of each Net Premium you would
like allocated to the Investment Options and/or the Fixed Account. You may not
allocate less than 5% of each Net Premium to any Investment Option and/or Fixed
Account. You may change your allocations by writing to the Company c/o Andesa,
TPA, Inc. or by calling toll-free (877) 942-2654.
 
During the underwriting period, any premium paid will be held in a non-interest
bearing account. After the Policy Date and until the applicants' right to cancel
has expired, your Net Premium will be invested in the Money Market Portfolio
unless you purchase the Contract in a state which permits us to refund Contract
Value. Then you may invest your Net Premium in any Investment Option during the
right to cancel period. After that, the Contract Value will be distributed to
each Investment Option in the percentages indicated on your application.
 
RIGHT TO EXAMINE POLICY:  You may return your Policy for any reason and receive
a full refund of your premium or Contract, as required by state law, by mailing
us the Policy and a written request for cancellation within a specified period.
 
DEATH BENEFITS:  At time of application, you select a death benefit option.
Under certain conditions you may be able to change the death benefit option at a
later date. The options available are:
 
     - LEVEL OPTION (OPTION 1):  the Amount Insured will equal the greater of
       the Stated Amount or the Minimum Amount Insured.
 
     - VARIABLE OPTION (OPTION 2):  the Amount Insured will equal the greater of
       the Stated Amount of the Policy plus the Contract Value or the Minimum
       Amount Insured.
 
     - ANNUAL INCREASE OPTION (OPTION 3):  the Amount Insured will equal the
       Stated Amount of the Policy plus Premiums, minus withdrawals, accumulated
       at a specified interest rate not to exceed 10% on an annual basis.
 
POLICY VALUES:  As with other types of insurance policies, this Policy can
accumulate a Contract Value. The Contract Value of the Policy will increase or
decrease to reflect the investment experience of the Investment Options. Monthly
charges and any partial surrenders taken will also decrease the Contract Value.
There is no minimum guaranteed Contract Value allocated to the Investment
Options. As discussed below, any premium payments allocated to the Fixed Account
is credited with a minimum guarantee of 3% in any given year.
 
     - ACCESS TO POLICY VALUES: You may borrow up to 100% of your Policy's Cash
       Surrender Value. (See "Policy Loans" for loan impact on coverage and
       policy values.)
 
You may cancel all or a portion of your Policy while the Insured is living and
receive all or a portion of the Cash Surrender Value.
 
TRANSFERS OF POLICY VALUES:  You may transfer all or a portion of your Contract
Value among the Investment Options. There are restrictions on the transfer of
your Contract Value to and from the Fixed Account. You may do this by writing to
Andesa, TPA, Inc.
 
You can use automated transfers to take advantage of dollar cost
averaging -- investing a fixed amount at regular intervals. For example, you
might have a set amount transferred from a relatively conservative Investment
Option to a more aggressive one, or to several others.
 
GRACE PERIOD:  If the Cash Surrender Value of your Policy becomes less than the
amount needed to pay the Monthly Deduction Amount, you will have 61 days to pay
a premium to cover the Monthly Deduction Amount. If the premium is not paid,
your Policy will lapse.
 
EXCHANGE RIGHTS:  During the first two Policy Years, you can elect to
irrevocably transfer all Contract value in the Investment Options to the Fixed
Account.
                                        6
<PAGE>   7
 
TAX CONSEQUENCES:  Currently, the federal tax law excludes all Death Benefit
payments from the gross income of the Beneficiary. At any point in time, the
Policy may become a modified endowment contract ("MEC"). A MEC has an
income-first taxation of all loans, pledges, collateral assignments or partial
surrenders. A 10% penalty tax may be imposed on such income distributed before
the older Policy Owner attains age 59 1/2. The Company has established
safeguards for monitoring whether a Policy may become a MEC.
 
CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS:  Your Policy is subject to charges, which compensate the
Company for administering and distributing the Policy, as well as paying Policy
benefits and assuming related risks. These charges are summarized below, and
explained in detail under "Charges and Deductions."
 
     POLICY CHARGES:
 
     - SALES EXPENSES CHARGES -- We deduct a sales charge from each premium
       payment received which is guaranteed never to exceed 9% of such Target
       Premium in all years and 5% on amounts in excess of the Target Premium in
       all years. On a current basis, the sales expense charge is 7% of the
       Target Premium for Contract Years 1-7 and 3.5% thereafter, and 0% on
       amounts in excess of the Target Premium.
 
     - MONTHLY DEDUCTION -- deductions taken from the value of your Policy each
       month to cover cost of insurance charges, Policy Fee of $5.00 and charges
       for optional rider(s).
 
     - SURRENDER CHARGE -- There is no surrender charge.
 
     ASSET-BASED CHARGES:  (Not Assessed on Contract Values in the Fixed
Account)
 
     - MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE -- applies to the assets of the
       Investment Options on a daily basis which currently equals an annual rate
       of .45% for Policy Years 1 through 4, .25% for Policy Years 5 through 20,
       and .05% thereafter. It is guaranteed not to exceed .75% in all years.
 
     - UNDERLYING FUND FEES -- the Separate Account purchases shares of the
       Underlying Funds on a net asset value basis. The shares purchased already
       reflect the deduction of investment advisory fees and other expenses.
       These Fund Fees are summarized below:
 
                          TRAVELERS CORPORATE VARIABLE LIFE
                                  1999 FUND EXPENSES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             MANAGEMENT     OTHER       TOTAL
                         FUND NAME                              FEE        EXPENSES    EXPENSES
                         ---------                           ----------    --------    --------
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>         <C>
Capital Appreciation Fund..................................     0.75%        0.10%       0.85%
Travelers High Yield Bond Trust............................     0.50%        0.32%       0.82%
Money Market Portfolio(1)..................................     0.32%        0.08%       0.40%
AMERICAN ODYSSEY FUNDS, INC.
American Odyssey Intermediate-Term Bond Fund...............     0.49%        0.11%       0.60%
BT INSURANCE FUNDS TRUST:
Bankers Trust EAFE Equity Index Fund(2)....................     0.11%        0.54%       0.65%
Bankers Trust Small Cap Index Fund(2)......................     0.05%        0.40%       0.45%
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC.
Delaware REIT Series(3)....................................     0.58%        0.27%       0.85%
Delaware Small Cap Value Series............................     0.75%        0.10%       0.85%
DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
Dreyfus Capital Appreciation Portfolio.....................     0.75%        0.06%       0.81%
Dreyfus Small Cap Portfolio................................     0.75%        0.02%       0.77%
FIDELITY'S VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II
VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio(4)..........................     0.54%        0.09%       0.63%
GREENWICH STREET SERIES
Equity Index Portfolio(5)..................................     0.21%        0.09%       0.30%
</TABLE>
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   8
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             MANAGEMENT     OTHER       TOTAL
                         FUND NAME                              FEE        EXPENSES    EXPENSES
                         ---------                           ----------    --------    --------
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>         <C>
Diversified Strategic Income Portfolio(6)..................     0.65%        0.13%       0.78%
MONTGOMERY FUND III
Montgomery Variable Series Growth Fund(7)..................     1.00%        0.25%       1.25%
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
OCC Accumulation Trust Equity Portfolio....................     0.80%        0.14%       0.94%
SALOMON BROTHERS VARIABLE SERIES FUND, INC.
Salomon Brothers Variable Capital Fund(8)..................     0.85%        0.15%       1.00%
Salomon Brothers Variable Investors Fund(8)................     0.70%        0.30%       1.00%
Salomon Brothers Variable Strategic Bond Fund(8)...........     0.75%        0.25%       1.00%
Salomon Brothers Variable Total Return Fund(8).............     0.80%        0.20%       1.00%
STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Strong Schafer Value Fund II(9)............................     1.00%        0.20%       1.20%
TRAVELERS SERIES FUND, INC.
AIM Capital Appreciation Portfolio(10).....................     0.80%        0.05%       0.85%
Alliance Growth Portfolio(10)..............................     0.80%        0.02%       0.82%
MFS Total Return Portfolio(10).............................     0.80%        0.04%       0.84%
Putnam Diversified Income Portfolio(10)....................     0.75%        0.12%       0.87%
Smith Barney International Equity Portfolio(10)............     0.90%        0.10%       1.00%
Smith Barney Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio(11).....     0.75%        0.25%       1.00%
Van Kampen Enterprise Portfolio(10)........................     0.70%        0.03%       0.73%
TRAVELERS SERIES TRUST
Convertible Bond Portfolio(12).............................     0.60%        0.20%       0.80%
Disciplined Mid Cap Portfolio(13)..........................     0.70%        0.25%       0.95%
Disciplined Small Cap Stock Portfolio(12)..................     0.80%        0.20%       1.00%
Equity-Income Portfolio(13)................................     0.75%        0.20%       0.95%
Jurika & Voyles Core Equity Portfolio(14)..................     0.75%        0.25%       1.00%
Large Cap Portfolio(13)....................................     0.75%        0.20%       0.95%
Lazard International Stock Portfolio.......................     0.83%        0.42%       1.25%
MFS Emerging Growth Portfolio..............................     0.75%        0.14%       0.89%
MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio(12)...........................     0.80%        0.20%       1.00%
MFS Research Portfolio(12).................................     0.80%        0.20%       1.00%
NWQ Large Cap Portfolio(14)................................     0.75%        0.25%       1.00%
Social Awareness Stock Portfolio...........................     0.65%        0.19%       0.84%
Strategic Stock Portfolio(12)..............................     0.60%        0.30%       0.90%
U.S. Government Securities Portfolio.......................     0.32%        0.13%       0.45%
Utilities Portfolio........................................     0.65%        0.15%       0.80%
WARBURG PINCUS TRUST
Warburg Pincus Trust Emerging Markets Portfolio(15)........     0.20%        1.20%       1.40%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 (1) Other Expenses have been restated to reflect the current expense
     reimbursement arrangement with The Travelers Insurance Company. Travelers
     has agreed to reimburse the Fund for the amount by which its aggregate
     expenses (including the management fee, but excluding brokerage
     commissions, interest charges and taxes) exceeds 0.40%. Without such
     arrangement, Total Expenses would have been 0.65% for the Travelers Money
     Market Portfolio.
 
 (2) These fees reflect an expense reimbursement arrangement whereby the adviser
     has agreed to reimburse the funds an amount based on the weighted average
     between the management fee and other expenses. Without such arrangement,
     the Management Fee and Other Expenses for the Bankers Trust EAFE Index
     Portfolio and Small Cap Index Portfolio would have been 0.45% and 1.21%,
     and 0.35% and 1.23% respectively.
 
 (3) The adviser for the Delaware REIT Series has agreed to voluntarily waive
     its fee and pay the expenses of the Series to the extent that the Series'
     annual operating expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage
     commissions and extraordinary expenses, do not exceed 0.85% of its average
     daily net assets through October 31, 1999. Without such arrangements, the
     Total Annual Operating Expenses for the Portfolio would have been 1.02%.
 
 (4) A portion of the brokerage commissions that certain funds pay was used to
     reduce fund expenses. In addition, certain funds, or FMR on behalf of
     certain funds, have entered into arrangements with their custodian whereby
     credits
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   9
 
     realized, as a result of uninvested cash balances were used to reduce
     custodian expenses. Without these reductions, the Total Annual Operating
     Expenses presented in this table would have been 0.64% for VIP II Asset
     Manager Portfolio, 0.58% for VIP Equity Income Portfolio, and 0.68% for VIP
     Growth Portfolio.
 
 (5) Other expenses for the Equity Index Portfolio have been restated to reflect
     the current expense reimbursement arrangement whereby the adviser has
     agreed to reimburse the Portfolio for the amount by which expenses exceed
     0.30%. Without such arrangement, Total Annual Operating Expenses would have
     been 0.42%. In addition, the Portfolio Management Fee includes 0.06% for
     fund administration. Class 2 of this fund has a distribution plan or "Rule
     12b-1 plan".
 
 (6) The Portfolio Management Fee for the Smith Barney Appreciation Portfolio
     and the Diversified Strategic Income Portfolio includes 0.20% for fund
     administration.
 
 (7) The investment manager of the Montgomery Variable Series: Growth Fund has
     agreed to reduce some or all of its management fees if necessary to keep
     Total Annual Operating Expenses, expressed on an annualized basis, at or
     below one and one quarter percent (1.25%) of its average net assets. Absent
     this waiver of fees, the Portfolio's Total Annual Operating Expenses would
     equal 1.40%.
 
 (8) SBAM has waived all of its Management Fees for the following Salomon
     Brothers Funds for the period ended December 31, 1998. If such fees were
     not waived or expenses reimbursed, the actual annualized Total Annual
     Operating Expenses for the Investors Fund, the High Yield Bond Fund, the
     Capital Fund, the Strategic Bond Fund, and the Total Return Fund would have
     been 2.07%, 2.04%, 3.26%, 1.79%, and 2.90%, respectively.
 
 (9) The Adviser for Strong Schafer Value Fund II has voluntarily agreed to cap
     the Fund's Total Annual Operating Expenses at 1.20%. The adviser has no
     current intention to, but may in the future, discontinue or modify any
     waiver of fees or absorption of expenses at its discretion without further
     notification. Absent the waiver of fees, the Total Annual Operating
     Expenses would be 2.00%.
 
(10) Expenses are as of October 31, 1998 (the Fund's fiscal year end). There
     were no fees waived or expenses reimbursed for these funds in 1998.
 
(11) The Manager waived all or part of its fees for the period ended October 31,
     1998. If such fees were not waived, the annualized Total Annual Operating
     Expenses for the Smith Barney Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio would
     have been 1.77%.
 
(12) Travelers Insurance has agreed to reimburse the Convertible Bond Portfolio,
     the Strategic Stock Portfolio, the Disciplined Small Cap Stock Portfolio,
     the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, and the MFS Research Portfolio for
     expenses for the period ended December 31, 1998. If such expenses were not
     reimbursed, the actual annualized Total Annual Operating Expenses would
     have been 1.86%, 1.51%, 2.98%, 1.62%, and 1.37% respectively.
 
(13) Other Expenses reflect the current expense reimbursement arrangement with
     Travelers where Travelers has agreed to reimburse the Portfolios for the
     amount by which their aggregate expenses (including management fees, but
     excluding brokerage commissions, interest charges and taxes) exceeds 0.95%.
     Without such arrangements, the Total Annual Operating Expenses for the
     Portfolios would have been 1.22% for the Travelers Disciplined Mid Cap
     Stock Portfolio, 1.23% for the Large Cap Portfolio, and 1.09% for the
     Equity Income Portfolio.
 
(14) Other Expenses reflect the current expense reimbursement arrangement with
     Travelers where Travelers has agreed to reimburse the Portfolios for the
     amount by which their aggregate expenses (including management fees, but
     excluding brokerage commissions, interest charges and taxes) exceeds 1.00%.
     Without such arrangements, the annualized Total Annual Operating Expenses
     for the Portfolios would have been 1.64% for the NWQ Large Cap Portfolio
     and 1.89% for the Jurika and Voyles Core Equity Portfolio.
 
(15) Fee waivers and expense reimbursements or credits reduced expenses for the
     Warburg Pincus Emerging Markets Portfolio during 1998, but this may be
     discontinued at any time. Absent this waiver of fees, the Portfolio's
     Management Fees, Other Expenses and Total Annual Operating Expenses would
     equal 1.25%, 6.96% and 8.21%, respectively. The Portfolio's other expenses
     are based on annualized estimates of expenses for the fiscal year ending
     December 31, 1998, net of any fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   10
 
                              GENERAL DESCRIPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This prospectus describes a flexible premium variable life insurance policy with
a minimum Target Premium of $100,000 offered by The Travelers Insurance Company
to corporations and employers and individuals under certain circumstances. It
provides life insurance protection on the life (of an Insured), and pays policy
proceeds when the Insured dies while the policy is in effect. The policy offers:
 
     - Flexible premium payments (you select the timing and amount of the
       premium)
 
     - A selection of investment options
 
     - A choice of three death benefit options
 
     - Loans and partial withdrawal privileges
 
     - The ability to increase or decrease the Policy's face amount of insurance
 
     - Additional benefits through the use of an optional rider
 
This Policy is both an insurance product and a security. The Policy is first and
foremost a life insurance Policy with death benefits, Contract Values and other
features traditionally associated with life insurance. The Policy is a security
because the Contract Value and, under certain circumstances, the Amount Insured,
and Death Benefit may increase or decrease depending on the investment
experience of the Investment Options chosen.
 
GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL POLICY.  The policy may be issued either as an individual or
group policy. Under an individual or group policy, the Insured generally will be
an employee. The Certificate, and Group Policy, and Individual Policies are
hereafter collectively referred to as the "Policy."
 
THE APPLICATION.  In order to become a policy owner, you must submit an
application with information about the proposed insured. The insured must sign a
life insurance consent form and provide evidence of insurability, as required.
On the application, you will also indicate:
 
     - the amount of insurance desired (the "stated amount"); minimum of $50,000
 
     - your choice of the three death benefit options
 
     - the beneficiary(ies), and whether or not the beneficiary is irrevocable
 
     - your choice of investment options.
 
Our underwriting staff will review the application, and, if approved, we will
issue the Policy.
 
                              HOW THE POLICY WORKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
You make premium payments and direct them to one or more of the available
investment options and the Fixed Account. The Policy's Contract Value will
increase or decrease depending on the performance of the investment options you
select. In the case of Death Benefit Option 2, the Death Benefit will also vary
based on the Investment Options' performance.
 
If your Policy is in effect when the Insured dies, we will pay your beneficiary
the Death Benefit Option plus any additional rider Death Benefit. Your Policy
will stay in effect as long as the Policy's Cash Surrender Value can pay the
Policy's monthly charges.
 
Your Policy becomes effective once our underwriting staff has approved the
application and once the first premium payment has been made. The Policy Date is
the date we use to determine all future transactions on the policy, for example,
the deduction dates, policy months, policy years. The Policy Date may be before
or the same date as the Issue Date (the date the policy was issued). During the
underwriting period, any premium paid will be held in a non-interest bearing
account.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   11
 
APPLYING PREMIUM PAYMENTS
 
We apply the first premium on the later of the Policy Date or the date we
receive it at our Home Office. During the Right to Cancel Period, we allocate
net premiums to the Money Market Portfolio unless state law permits us to refund
Contract Value under the Right to Cancel provision. Then, you may invest your
Net Premium in any Investment Option. At the end of the Right to Cancel Period,
we direct the net premiums to the Investment Option(s) and/or the Fixed Account
selected on the application, unless you give us other directions.
 
Any premium allocation must be at least 5% and must be in whole percentages. You
may make additional payments at any time while your Policy is in force. We
reserve the right to require evidence of insurability before accepting
additional premium payments which result in an increased Net Amount at Risk. We
will return any additional premium payments which would exceed the limits
prescribed by federal income tax laws or regulations which would prevent the
Policy from qualifying as life insurance.
 
The investment options are segments of the separate account. They correspond to
underlying funds with the same names. The available investment options are
listed below.
 
We credit your policy with accumulation units of the investment option(s) you
have selected. We calculate the number of accumulation units by dividing your
net premium payment by each investment option's accumulation unit value computed
after we receive your payment.
 
                             THE INVESTMENT OPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The Investment Options currently available under Fund UL III are listed below.
There is no assurance that an Investment Option will achieve its stated
objectives. We may, add, withdraw or substitute Investment Options from time to
time. Any changes will comply with applicable state and federal laws. We would
notify you before making such a change. For more detailed information on the
investment advisers and their services and fees, please refer to the Investment
Options prospectuses which are included with and must accompany this prospectus.
Please read carefully the complete risk disclosure in each Portfolio's
prospectus before investing.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
Capital Appreciation Fund  Seeks growth of capital through the     Travelers Asset Management
                           use of common stocks. Income is not an  International Corporation
                           objective. The Fund invests             ("TAMIC")
                           principally in common stocks of small   Subadviser: Janus Capital
                           to large companies which are expected   Corp.
                           to experience wide fluctuations in
                           price in both rising and declining
                           markets.
High Yield Bond Trust      Seeks generous income. The assets of    TAMIC
                           the High Yield Bond Trust will be
                           invested in bonds which, as a class,
                           sell at discounts from par value and
                           are typically high risk securities.
Money Market Portfolio     Seeks high current income from short-   TAMIC
                           term money market instruments while
                           preserving capital and maintaining a
                           high degree of liquidity.
AMERICAN ODYSSEY FUNDS, INC.
Intermediate-Term Bond     Seeks maximum long-term total return    American Odyssey Funds
Fund                       by investing primarily in               Management, Inc.
                           intermediate-term corporate debt        Subadviser: TAMIC
                           securities, U.S. government
                           securities, mortgage-related
                           securities and asset-backed
                           securities, as well as money market
                           instruments.
</TABLE>
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   12
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
BT INSURANCE FUNDS TRUST
EAFE Equity Index Fund     Seeks to replicate, before deduction    Bankers Trust Global
                           of expenses, the total return           Investment Management
                           performance of the EAFE index.
Small Cap Index Fund       Seeks to replicate, before deduction    Bankers Trust Global
                           of expenses, the total return           Investment Management
                           performance of the Russell 2000 index.
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM
  FUND, INC.
REIT Series                Seeks to achieve maximum long-term      Delaware Management Company,
                           total return. Capital appreciation is   Inc.
                           a secondary objective. The Series       Subadviser:
                           seeks to achieve its objectives by      Lincoln Investment
                           investing in securities of companies    Management, Inc.
                           primarily engaged in the real estate
                           industry. Under normal circumstances,
                           at least 65% of the Series total
                           assets will be invested in equity
                           securities of real estate investment
                           trusts ("REITs"). The Series operates
                           as a nondiversified fund as defined by
                           the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Small Cap Value Series     Seeks capital appreciation by           Delaware Management
                           investing in small-to mid-cap common    Company, Inc.
                           stocks whose market value appears low
                           relative to their underlying value or
                           future earnings and growth potential.
                           Emphasis will also be placed on
                           securities of companies that may be
                           temporarily out of favor or whose
                           value is not yet recognized by the
                           market.
DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
Capital Appreciation       Seeks primarily to provide long-term    The Dreyfus Corporation
Portfolio                  capital growth consistent with the      Subadviser: Fayez Sarofim &
                           preservation of capital; current        Co.
                           income is a secondary investment
                           objective. The portfolio invests
                           primarily in the common stocks of
                           domestic and foreign issuers.
Small Cap Portfolio        Seeks to maximize capital               The Dreyfus Corporation
                           appreciation.
FIDELITY'S VARIABLE INSURANCE
  PRODUCTS FUND II
VIP II Asset Manager       Seeks high total return with reduced    Fidelity Management &
Portfolio                  risk over the long-term by allocating   Research Company ("FMR")
                           its assets among stocks, bonds and
                           short-term fixed-income instruments.
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   13
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
GREENWICH STREET SERIES
FUND
Diversified Strategic      Seeks high current income by investing  SSBC Fund Management Inc.
Income Portfolio           primarily in the following fixed        ("SSBC")
                           income securities: U.S. Gov't and       Subadviser:
                           mortgage-related securities, foreign    Smith Barney Global Capital
                           gov't bonds and corporate bonds rated   Management, Inc.
                           below investment grade.
 
Equity Index Portfolio     Seeks to replicate, before deduction    Travelers Investment
                           of expenses, the total return           Management Company ("TIMCO")
                           performance of the S&P 500 Index.
MONTGOMERY FUND III
Montgomery Variable        Seeks capital appreciation. Under       Montgomery Asset Management
Series Growth Fund         normal conditions, it invests at least
                           65% of its assets in equity
                           securities.
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
Equity Portfolio           Seeks long-term capital appreciation    OpCap Advisors
                           through investment in securities
                           (primarily equity securities) of
                           companies that are believed by the
                           adviser to be undervalued in the
                           marketplace in relation to factors
                           such as the companies' assets or
                           earnings.
SALOMON BROTHERS VARIABLE
  SERIES FUND, INC.
Salomon Brothers Variable  Seeks capital appreciation through      Salomon Brothers Asset
Capital Fund               investments primarily in common stock,  Management ("SBAM")
                           or securities convertible to common
                           stocks, which are believed to have
                           above-average price appreciation
                           potential and which may also involve
                           above-average risk.
Salomon Brothers Variable  Seeks long-term growth of capital.      SBAM
Investors Fund             Current income is a secondary
                           objective.
Salomon Brothers Variable  Seeks high level of current income. As  SBAM
Strategic Bond Fund        a secondary objective, the Portfolio
                           will seek capital appreciation.
Salomon Brothers Variable  Seeks above-average income (compared    SBAM
Total Return Fund          to a portfolio invested entirely in
                           equity securities). Secondarily, seeks
                           opportunities for growth of capital
                           and income.
STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE
  FUNDS, INC.
Strong Schafer Value       Seeks primarily long-term capital       Strong Capital Management,
Fund II                    appreciation. Current income is a       Inc. Subadviser: Schafer
                           secondary objective when selecting      Capital Management Inc.
                           investments.
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   14
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
TRAVELERS SERIES FUND, INC.
AIM Capital Appreciation   Seeks capital appreciation by           Travelers Investment Advisers
Portfolio                  investing principally in common stock,  ("TIA") Subadviser: AIM
                           with emphasis on medium-sized and       Capital Management, Inc.
                           smaller emerging growth companies.
Alliance Growth Portfolio  Seeks long-term growth of capital by    TIA
                           investing predominantly in equity       Subadviser: Alliance Capital
                           securities of companies with a          Management L.P.
                           favorable outlook for earnings and
                           whose rate of growth is expected to
                           exceed that of the U.S. economy over
                           time. Current income is only an
                           incidental consideration.
MFS Total Return           Seeks to obtain above-average income    TIA
Portfolio                  (compared to a portfolio entirely       Subadviser: Massachusetts
                           invested in equity securities)          Finance Services Company
                           consistent with the prudent employment  ("MFS")
                           of capital. Generally, at least 40% of
                           the Portfolio's assets will be
                           invested in equity securities.
Putnam Diversified         Seeks high current income consistent    TIA
Income Portfolio           with preservation of capital. The       Subadviser: Putnam
                           Portfolio will allocate its             Investment
                           investments among the U.S. Government   Management, Inc.
                           Sector, the High Yield Sector, and the
                           International Sector of the fixed
                           income securities markets.
Smith Barney               Total return on assets from growth of   SSBC
International Equity       capital and income by investing at
Portfolio                  least 65% of its assets in a
                           diversified portfolio of equity
                           securities of established non-U.S.
                           issuers.
Smith Barney Large         Seeks long-term growth of capital by    SSBC
Capitalization Growth      investing in equity securities of
Portfolio                  companies with large market
                           capitalizations.
Van Kampen Enterprise      Capital appreciation through            SSBC
Portfolio                  investment in securities believed to    Subadviser: Van Kampen Asset
                           have above-average potential for        Management, Inc.
                           capital appreciation. Any income
                           received on such securities is
                           incidental to the objective of capital
                           appreciation.
THE TRAVELERS SERIES TRUST
Convertible Bond           Seeks current income and capital        TAMIC
Portfolio                  appreciation by investing in
                           convertible securities and in
                           combinations of nonconvertible
                           fixed-income securities and warrants
                           or call options that together resemble
                           convertible securities ("synthetic
                           convertible securities").
Disciplined Mid Cap Stock  Seeks growth of capital by investing    TAMIC.
Portfolio                  primarily in a broadly diversified      Subadviser: TIMCO
                           portfolio of common stocks.
</TABLE>
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   15
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
THE TRAVELERS SERIES TRUST (CONT'D)
Disciplined Small Cap      Seeks long term capital appreciation    TAMIC.
Stock Portfolio            by investing primarily (at least 65%    Subadviser: TIMCO
                           of its total assets) in the common
                           stocks of U.S. Companies with
                           relatively small market
                           capitalizations at the time of
                           investment.
Equity Income Portfolio    Seeks reasonable income by investing    TAMIC
                           at least 65% in income-producing        Subadviser: FMR
                           equity securities. The balance may be
                           invested in all types of domestic and
                           foreign securities, including bonds.
                           The Portfolio seeks to achieve a yield
                           that exceeds that of the securities
                           comprising the S&P 500. The Subadviser
                           also considers the potential for
                           capital appreciation.
Jurika & Voyles Core       Seeks long-term capital appreciation.   TAMIC.
Equity Portfolio           The Portfolio invests primarily in the  Subadviser: Jurika & Voyles
                           common stock of quality companies of    L.P.
                           all market capitalizations that offer
                           current value and significant future
                           growth potential
Large Cap Portfolio        Seeks long-term growth of capital by    TAMIC
                           investing primarily in equity           Subadviser: FMR
                           securities of companies with large
                           market capitalizations.
Lazard International       Seeks capital appreciation by           TAMIC
Stock Portfolio            investing primarily in the equity       Subadviser: Lazard Asset
                           securities of non-United States         Management
                           companies (i.e., incorporated or
                           organized outside the United States).
MFS Emerging Growth        Seeks long-term growth of capital.      TAMIC
Portfolio                  Dividend and interest income from       Subadviser: MFS
                           portfolio securities, if any, is
                           incidental.
MFS Mid Cap Growth         Seeks to obtain long-term growth of     TAMIC
Portfolio                  capital by investing under normal       Subadviser: MFS
                           market conditions, at least 65% of its
                           total assets in equity securities of
                           companies with medium market
                           capitalization which the investment
                           adviser believes have above-average
                           growth potential.
MFS Research Portfolio     Seeks to provide long-term growth of    TAMIC
                           capital and future income.              Subadviser: MFS
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   16
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    INVESTMENT OPTION               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE           INVESTMENT ADVISER/SUBADVISER
    -----------------               --------------------           -----------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                     <C>
THE TRAVELERS SERIES TRUST (CONT'D)
NWQ Large Cap Portfolio    Seeks to achieve consistent superior    TAMIC
                           total return with minimum risk to       Subadviser: NWQ
                           principal.                              Investment Management
                                                                   Company
Social Awareness Stock     Long-term capital appreciation and      SSBC
Portfolio                  retention of net investment income.
                           The Portfolio seeks to fulfill this
                           objective by selecting investments,
                           primarily common stocks, which meet
                           the social criteria established for
                           the Portfolio. Social criteria
                           currently excludes companies that
                           derive a significant portion of their
                           revenues from the production of
                           tobacco, tobacco products, alcohol, or
                           military defense systems, or in the
                           provision of military defense related
                           services or gambling services.
Strategic Stock Portfolio  Seeks to provide an above-average       TAMIC
                           total return through a combination of   Subadviser: TIMCO
                           potential capital appreciation and
                           dividend income by investing primarily
                           in high dividend yielding stocks
                           periodically selected from the
                           companies included in (i) the Dow
                           Jones Industrial Average and (ii) a
                           subset of the Standard & Poor's
                           Industrial Index.
U.S. Government            Seeks to select investments from the    TAMIC
Securities Portfolio       point of view of an investor concerned
                           primarily with highest credit quality,
                           current income and total return. The
                           assets of the U.S. Government
                           Securities Portfolio will be invested
                           in direct obligations of the United
                           States, its agencies and
                           instrumentalities.
Utilities Portfolio        Provide current income by investing in  SSBC
                           equity and debt securities of
                           companies in the utility industries.
WARBURG PINCUS TRUST
Emerging Markets           Seeks long-term growth of capital by    Warburg Pincus Asset
Portfolio                  investing primarily in equity           Management, Inc.
                           securities of non-U.S issuers
                           consisting of companies in emerging
                           securities markets.
</TABLE>
 
                               THE FIXED ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The Fixed Account is secured by part of the general assets of the Company. The
general assets of the Company include all assets of the Company other than those
held in separate account sponsored by the Company.
 
The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not generally
review the disclosure in the prospectus relating to the Fixed Account.
Disclosure regarding the Fixed Account
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   17
 
and the general account may, however, be subject to certain provisions of the
federal securities laws relating to the accuracy and completeness of statements
made in the prospectus.
 
Under the Fixed Account, the Company assumes the risk of investment gain or loss
and guarantees a specified interest rate. The investment gain or loss of the
Separate Account or any of the variable Investment Options does not affect the
Fixed Account portion of the Policy owner's Contract Value.
 
We guarantee that, at any time, the Fixed Account Contract Value will not be
less than the amount of the premium payments allocated to the Fixed Account,
plus interest credited, less any prior surrenders or loans. If the Policy owner
effects a surrender, the amount available from the Fixed Account will be reduced
by any applicable charges as described under "Charges and Deductions" in this
prospectus.
 
Premium payments allocated to the Fixed Account and any transfers made to the
Fixed Account become part of the Company's general account which supports
insurance and annuity obligations. Neither the general account nor any interest
therein is registered under, nor subject to the provisions of, the Securities
Act of 1933 or Investment Company Act of 1940. We will invest the assets of the
Fixed Account at our discretion. Investment income from such Fixed Account
assets will be allocated to us and to the Policies participating in the Fixed
Accounts.
 
Investment income from the Fixed Account allocated to us includes compensation
for mortality and expense risks borne by us in connection with Fixed Account
Policies. The amount of such investment income allocated to the Policies will
vary in our sole discretion at such rate or rates as we prospectively declare
from time to time.
 
Rates for any allocations into the Fixed Account are guaranteed for the calendar
quarter. We also guarantee that for the life of the Policy we will credit
interest at not less than 3% per year. Any interest credited to amounts
allocated to the Fixed Account in excess of 3% per year will be determined in
our sole discretion. You assume the risk that interest credited to the Fixed
Account may not exceed the minimum guarantee of 3% for any given year.
 
                           POLICY BENEFITS AND RIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TRANSFERS OF CONTRACT VALUE
 
INVESTMENT OPTIONS
 
As long as the Policy remains in effect, you may make transfers of Contract
Value between Investment Options, by mailing such request to the Company c/o
Andesa, TPA, Inc. We reserve the right to restrict the number of free transfers
to six times in any Policy Year and to charge $10 for each additional transfer;
however, we do not currently charge for transfers. Amounts transferred under the
Automated Transfer programs described below are not counted for purposes of this
limit on transfers.
 
We calculate the number of Accumulation Units involved using the Accumulation
Unit Values on the Valuation Date on which we receive the transfer request.
 
FIXED ACCOUNT
 
You may make transfers from the Fixed Account to any other available investment
option(s) twice a year during the 30 days following the semi-annual or annual
anniversary of the Policy Date. The transfers are limited to an amount of up to
25% of the Fixed Account Value on the semi-annual or annual contract effective
date anniversary. (This restriction does not apply to transfers under the Dollar
Cost Averaging Program.) Amounts previously transferred from the Fixed Account
to other Investment Options may not be transferred back to the Fixed Account for
a period of at least six months from the date of transfer. We reserve the right
to waive either of these restrictions.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   18
 
AUTOMATED TRANSFERS
 
DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING.  You may establish automated transfers of Contract Values
on a monthly or quarterly basis from any Investment Option(s) to any other
Investment Option(s) through written request or other method acceptable to the
Company. You must have a minimum total Policy Value of $1,000 to enroll in the
Dollar-Cost Averaging program. The minimum total automated transfer amount is
$100.
 
You may start or stop participation in the Dollar-Cost Averaging program at any
time, but you must give the Company at least 30 days' notice to change any
automated transfer instructions that are currently in place. Automated transfers
are subject to all of the other provisions and terms of the Policy. The Company
reserves the right to suspend or modify transfer privileges at any time and to
assess a processing fee for this service.
 
Before transferring any part of the Contract Value, Policy Owners should
consider the risks involved in switching between investments available under
this Policy. Dollar-cost averaging requires regular investments regardless of
fluctuating price levels, and does not guarantee profits or prevent losses in a
declining market. Potential investors should consider their financial ability to
continue purchases through periods of low price levels.
 
PORTFOLIO REBALANCING.  You may elect to have the Company periodically
reallocate values in your policy to match your original (or your latest) funding
option allocation request.
 
LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT
 
The Policy will remain in effect until the Cash Surrender Value of the Policy
can no longer cover the Monthly Deduction Amount. If this happens, we will
notify you in writing that if the amount shown in the notice is not paid within
61 days (the "Late Period"), the Policy may lapse. The amount shown will be
enough to pay the deduction amount due. The Policy will continue through the
Late Period, but if no payment is received by us, it will terminate at the end
of the Late Period. If the Insured dies during the Late Period, the Death
Benefit payable will be reduced by the Monthly Deduction Amount due plus the
amount of any Outstanding Policy Loan. (See "Death Benefit," below.)
 
If the Policy lapses, you may reinstate the Policy by paying the reinstatement
premium (and any applicable charges) stated in the lapse notice. You may request
reinstatement within three years of lapse (unless a different period is required
under applicable state law). Upon reinstatement, the Policy's Contract Value
will equal the Net Premium. In addition, we reserve the right to require
satisfactory evidence of insurability of the Insured.
 
INSURED TERM RIDER
 
You may choose to purchase the Insured Term Rider as an addition to the Policy.
This rider may not be available in all states.
 
EXCHANGE RIGHTS
 
Once the Policy is in effect, you may choose during the first 24 months to
irrevocably transfer all Contract Value of the Investment Options to the Fixed
Account. Upon election of this option, no future transfers to the Investment
Options will be permitted. All future premium payments will be allocated to the
Fixed Account. No evidence of insurability is required to exercise this Option.
 
RIGHT TO CANCEL
 
An Applicant may cancel the Policy by returning it via mail or personal delivery
to the Company or to the agent who sold the Policy. The Policy must be returned
by the latest of
 
     (1) 10 days after delivery of the Policy to the Policy Owner,
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   19
 
     (2) 45 days of completion of the Policy application, or
 
     (3) 10 days after the Notice of Right to Cancel has been mailed or
         delivered to the Applicant whichever is latest, or
 
     (4) later if required by state law.
 
We will refund the premium payments paid, or the sum of (1) the difference
between the premium paid, including any fees or charges, and the amounts
allocated to the Investment Option(s), (2) the value of the amounts allocated to
the Investment Option(s) on the date on which the Company receives the returned
Policy, and (3) any fees and other charges imposed by the Company on amounts
allocated to the Investment Option(s), depending on state law. We will make the
refund within seven days after we receive your returned policy.
 
                           ACCESS TO CONTRACT VALUES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
POLICY LOANS
 
You may borrow up to 100% of the Policy's Cash Surrender Value. This amount will
be determined on the day we receive the loan request in writing in a form
acceptable to us. We reserve the right to limit loan requests to at least $500.
We will make the loan within seven days of our receipt of the written loan
request. The annual loan interest rate is 5%.
 
If you have a loan outstanding and request a second loan, we will add the amount
of the outstanding loan to the loan request. We charge interest on the
outstanding amount of the loan(s), is charged daily and is payable at the end of
each Policy Year.
 
We will transfer the amount of the loan from each Investment Option on a pro
rata basis, as of the date the loan is made. Loan amounts will be transferred
from the Fixed Account and when insufficient amounts are available in the
Investment Options. We transfer the loan amount to the Loan Account, and credit
the Loan Account with a fixed annual rate as shown in the Policy. Amounts held
in the Loan Account will not affected by the investment performance of the
Investment Options. As you repay the loan, we deduct the amount of the loan
repayment from the Loan Account and reallocate the payments among the Investment
Options and the Fixed Account according to your current instructions. You may
repay all or any part of a loan secured by the Policy while the Policy is still
in effect.
 
CONSEQUENCES.  Your Cash Surrender Value is reduced by the amount of any
outstanding loan(s). If a loan is not repaid, it permanently decreases the Cash
Surrender Value, which could cause the Policy to lapse. Additionally, the Death
Benefit payable could also be decreased because of an outstanding loan. Also,
even if a loan is repaid, the Death Benefit and Cash Surrender Value may be
permanently affected since you do not receive any investment experience on the
outstanding loan amount held in the Loan Account.
 
POLICY SURRENDERS
 
You may withdraw all or a portion of the Contract Value from the Policy on any
day that the Company is open for business.
 
FULL SURRENDERS.  As long as the Policy is in effect, you may surrender the
Policy and receive its Cash Surrender Value. (You may request a surrender
without the beneficiary's consent provided the beneficiary has not been
designated "irrevocable." If so, you will need the beneficiary's consent.) The
Cash Surrender Value will be determined as of the date we receive the written
request at our Home Office. The Cash Surrender Value is the Contract Value,
minus any outstanding Policy loans.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   20
 
For full surrenders, we will pay you within seven days after we receive the
request, or on the date you specify, whichever is later. The Policy will
terminate on the deduction date following our receipt of the surrender request
(or following the date you specified, if later).
 
PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS.  You may request a partial withdrawal from the Policy at
any time after the first policy year. We reserve the right to limit partial
withdrawals to at least $500. We will deduct the amount surrendered pro rata
from all Investment Options, unless you give us other written instructions.
 
In addition to reducing the Policy's Contract Value, partial withdrawals will
reduce the Death Benefit payable under the Policy. We will reduce the Stated
Amount by the amount necessary to prevent any increase in the Net Amount at
Risk. We may require you to return the Policy to record this reduction.
 
                                 DEATH BENEFIT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The Death Benefit under the Policy is the amount paid to the Beneficiary upon
the death of the Insured. The Death Benefit will be reduced by any unpaid
Monthly Deduction Amount. All or part of the Death Benefit may be paid in cash
or applied to one or more of the payment options described in the following
pages.
 
You may elect one of these Death Benefit options. As long as the Policy remains
in effect, the Company guarantees that the Death Benefit under any option will
be at least the current Stated Amount of the Policy less any outstanding Policy
loan and unpaid Monthly Deduction Amount. The Amount Insured under any option
may vary with the Contract Value of the Policy. Under Option 1 (the "Level
Option"), the Amount Insured will be equal to the Stated Amount of the Policy
or, if greater, a specified multiple of Contract Value (the "Minimum Amount
Insured"). Under Option 2 (the "Variable Option"), the Amount Insured will be
equal to the Stated Amount of the Policy plus the Contract Value (determined as
of the date of the last Insured's death) or, if greater, the Minimum Amount
Insured. Under Option 3, (the Annual Increase Option), the Amount Insured will
be equal to stated amount of the policy plus Premium Payments minus any partial
surrenders.
 
The Minimum Amount Insured is the amount required to qualify the Policy as a
life insurance Policy under the current federal tax law. Under that law, the
Minimum Amount Insured equals to a stated percentage of the Policy's Contract
Value determined as of the first day of each Policy Month. The percentages
differ according to the attained age of the Insured and the definition of life
insurance under Section 7702 selected by you. (Cash Value Accumulation Test or
Guideline Premium Cash Value Corridor Test. The Minimum Amount Insured is set
forth in the Policy and may change as federal income tax laws or regulations
change. The following is a schedule of the applicable percentages for the
Guideline Premium Cash Value Corridor Test. For attained ages not shown, the
applicable percentages will decrease evenly:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ATTAINED AGE OF
YOUNGER INSURED            PERCENTAGE
- ---------------            ----------
<S>                        <C>
     0-40                     250
       45                     215
       50                     185
       55                     150
       60                     130
       65                     120
       70                     115
       75                     105
       95+                    100
</TABLE>
 
Federal tax law imposes another cash funding limitation on cash value life
insurance Policies that may increase the Minimum Amount Insured shown above.
This limitation, known as the "guideline
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   21
 
premium limitation," generally applies during the early years of variable
universal life insurance Policies.
 
In the Cash Value Accumulation Test, the factors at the end of a Policy Year are
set forth in Appendix C.
 
The following examples demonstrate the relationship between the Death Benefit,
the Cash Surrender Value and the Minimum Amount Insured under Death Benefit
Options 1. The examples assume an Insured of age 40, a Minimum Amount Insured of
250% of Contract Value (assuming the preceding table is controlling as to
Minimum Amount Insured), and no outstanding Policy loan.
 
OPTION 1 -- LEVEL DEATH BENEFIT
 
In the following examples of an Option 1 Level Death Benefit, the Death Benefit
under the Policy is generally equal to the Stated Amount of $50,000. Since the
Policy is designed to qualify as a life insurance Policy, the Death Benefit
cannot be less than the Minimum Amount Insured (or, in this example, 250% of the
Contract Value).
 
EXAMPLE ONE.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $10,000, the Minimum
Amount Insured would be $25,000 ($10,000 x 250%). Since the Death Benefit in the
Policy is the greater of the Stated Amount ($50,000) or the Minimum Amount
Insured ($25,000), the Death Benefit would be $50,000.
 
EXAMPLE TWO.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $40,000, the Minimum
Amount Insured would be $100,000 ($40,000 x 250%). The resulting Death Benefit
would be $100,000 since the Death Benefit is the greater of the Stated Amount
($50,000) or the Minimum Amount Insured ($100,000).
 
OPTION 2 -- VARIABLE DEATH BENEFIT
 
In the following examples of an Option 2 Variable Death Benefit, the Death
Benefit varies with the investment experience of the applicable Investment
Options and will generally be equal to the Stated Amount plus the Contract Value
of the Policy (determined on the date of the Insured's death). The Death Benefit
cannot, however, be less than the Minimum Amount Insured (or, in this example,
250% of the Contract Value).
 
EXAMPLE ONE.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $10,000, the Minimum
Amount Insured would be $25,000 ($10,000 x 250%). The Death Benefit ($60,000)
would be equal to the Stated Amount ($50,000) plus the Contract Value ($10,000),
unless the Minimum Amount Insured ($25,000) was greater.
 
EXAMPLE TWO.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $60,000, then the
Minimum Amount Insured would be $150,000 ($60,000 x 250%). The resulting Death
Benefit would be $150,000 because the Minimum Amount Insured ($150,000) is
greater than the Stated Amount plus the Contract Value ($50,000 + $60,000 =
$110,000).
 
OPTION 3 -- ANNUAL INCREASE OPTION
 
In the following examples of an Option 3 Annual Increase Option, the Death
Benefit is generally equal to the Stated Amount of $50,000 plus premium payments
paid minus partial surrenders, accumulated at the specified interest rates.
 
EXAMPLE ONE.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $10,000, the Minimum
Amount Insured would be $25,000 ($10,000 x 250%). The Death Benefit ($52,650)
would be equal to the Stated Amount ($50,000) plus premium payments ($2,500)
aggregated at 6.00% for one year, unless the Minimum Amount Insured ($25,000)
was greater.
 
EXAMPLE TWO.  If the Contract Value of the Policy equals $40,000, the Minimum
Amount Insured would be $100,000 ($40,000 x 250%). The Death Benefit would be
$100,000 since the
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   22
 
Death Benefit is greater of the Stated Amount plus Premium Payments Aggregated
at 6.00% for one year ($54,000) or the Minimum Amount Insured ($100,000).
 
PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS
 
Death Benefits are payable within seven days after we receive satisfactory proof
of the Insured's death. The amount of Death Benefit paid may be adjusted to
reflect any Policy loan, any material misstatements in the Policy application as
to age or sex of the Insured, and any amounts payable to an assignee under a
collateral assignment of the Policy. (See "Assignment".) If no beneficiary is
living when the Insured has died, the Death Benefit will be paid to the Policy
Owner, if living, otherwise, the Death Benefit will be paid to the Policy
Owner's estate.
 
Subject to state law, if the Insured commits suicide within two years following
the Issue Date limits on the amount of Death Benefit paid will apply. (See
"Limit on Right to Contest and Suicide Exclusion") In addition, if the Insured
dies during the 61-day period after the Company gives notice to the Policy Owner
that the Cash Surrender Value of the Policy is insufficient to meet the Monthly
Deduction Amount due against the Contract Value of the Policy, then the Death
Benefit actually paid to the Policy Owner's Beneficiary will be reduced by the
amount of the Deduction Amount that is due and unpaid. (See "Contract Value and
Cash Surrender Value," for effects of partial surrenders on Death Benefits.)
 
PAYMENT OPTIONS
 
We will pay policy proceeds in a lump sum, unless you or the Beneficiary selects
one of the Company's payment options. We may defer payment of proceeds which
exceed the Death Benefit for up to six months from the date of the request for
the payment. A combination of options may be used. The minimum amount that may
be placed under a payment option is $5,000 unless we consent to a lesser amount.
Proceeds applied under an option will no longer be affected by the investment
experience of the Investment Options.
 
     The following payment options are available under the Policy:
 
     OPTION 1 -- Payments of a Fixed Amount
 
     OPTION 2 -- Payments for a Fixed Period
 
     OPTION 3 -- Amounts Held at Interest
 
     OPTION 4 -- Monthly Life Income
 
     OPTION 5 -- Joint and Survivor Level Amount Monthly Life Income
 
     OPTION 6 -- Joint and Survivor Monthly Life Income-Two-thirds to Survivor
 
     OPTION 7 -- Joint and Last Survivor Monthly Life Income-Monthly Payment
                 Reduces on Death of First Person Named
 
     OPTION 8 -- Other Options
 
We will make any other arrangements for periodic payments as may be agreed upon.
If any periodic payment due any payee is less than $50, we may make payments
less often. If we have declared a higher rate under an option on the date the
first payment under an option is due, we will base the payments on the higher
rate.
 
                               MATURITY BENEFITS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The maturity date is the anniversary of the Policy Date on which the younger
Insured is age 100. If the Insured is living on the Maturity Date, the Company
will pay you the Policy's Contract Value, less any outstanding Policy loan or
unpaid Deduction Amount. You must surrender the Policy to us
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   23
 
before we make a payment, at which point the Policy will terminate and we will
have no further obligations under the Policy.
 
                             CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
CHARGES AGAINST PREMIUM
 
FRONT-END SALES EXPENSE CHARGES.  When we receive a Premium Payment, and before
allocation of the payment among the Investment Options, we deduct a front-end
sales charge. The current charge is 7.0% of the Target Premium for the first
seven Policy Years and 3.5% thereafter. The sales charge is guaranteed not to
exceed 9% of such Target Premium payments in all Contract Years and 5% on
amounts in excess of the Target Premium.
 
MONTHLY DEDUCTION AMOUNT
 
We will deduct a Monthly Deduction Amount to cover certain charges and expenses
incurred in connection with the Policy. The Monthly Deduction Amount is deducted
pro rata from each of the Investment Options and the Fixed Account values
attributable to the Policy. The amount is deducted on the first day of each
Policy Month (the "Deduction Date"), beginning on the Policy Date. The dollar
amount of the Deduction Amount will vary from month to month. The Monthly
Deduction Amount consists of the Cost of Insurance Charge, Monthly Policy Charge
and Charges for any Rider(s).
 
COST OF INSURANCE CHARGE.  The amount of the Cost of Insurance deduction depends
on of the amount of insurance coverage on the date of the deduction and the
current cost per dollar for insurance coverage. The cost per dollar of insurance
coverage varies annually and is based on age, sex and risk class of the Insured
and duration from issue.
 
MONTHLY POLICY CHARGE.  This $5 charge is used to cover expenses associated with
maintaining the policy.
 
CHARGES AGAINST THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE.  We deduct a daily charge for mortality and
expense risks. This current charge is at an annual rate of 0.45% for Policy
Years 1-4; .25% for Policy Years 5-20, and .05% thereafter. It is guaranteed not
to exceed .75% for all years. The mortality risk assumed is that the cost of
insurance charge specified in the Policy may not be enough to meet actual
claims. The expense risk assumed is that expenses incurred in issuing and
administering the Policies will exceed the administrative charges set forth in
the Policy.
 
UNDERLYING FUND EXPENSES
 
When you allocate money to the Investment Options, the Separate Account
purchases shares of the corresponding Underlying Funds at net asset value. The
net asset value reflects investment advisory fees and other expenses already
deducted. The investment advisory fees and other expenses paid by to each of the
underlying mutual funds are described in the individual fund prospectuses and in
the Policy prospectus summary. These are not direct charges under the Policy;
they are indirect because they affect each Investment Option's accumulation unit
value.
 
The Company also reserves the right to charge the assets of each Investment
Option for a reserve for any income taxes payable by the Company on the assets
attributable to that Investment Option. (See "Federal Tax Considerations.")
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   24
 
TRANSFER CHARGE
 
There is currently no charge for transfers between Investment Options. We
reserve the right to limit free transfers of Contract Value to six times in any
Policy Year, and to charge $10 for any additional transfers.
 
REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF CHARGES
 
We may offer the Policy in arrangements where a corporation, employer or trustee
will own a group of policies on the lives of certain employees, or in other
situations where groups of policies will be purchased at one time. We may reduce
or eliminate the mortality and expense risk charge, sales charges and
administrative charges in such arrangements to reflect the reduced sales
expenses, administrative costs and/or mortality and expense risks expected as a
result of sales to a particular group.
 
We will not reduce or eliminate any charges if the reduction or elimination will
be unfairly discriminatory to any person.
 
                       THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND VALUATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE TRAVELERS FUND UL III FOR VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE (FUND UL III)
 
The Travelers Fund III for Variable Life Insurance was established on January
15, 1999 under the insurance laws of the state of Connecticut. It is registered
with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of
1940. A Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. This Prospectus does not contain all information set
forth in the Registration Statement, its amendments and exhibits. You may access
the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) to view the entire Registration
Statement. This registration does not mean that the SEC supervises the
management or the investment practices or policies of the Separate Account.
 
The assets of Fund are invested exclusively in shares of the Investment Options.
The operations of Fund are also subject to the provisions of Section 38a-433 of
the Connecticut General Statutes which authorizes the Connecticut Insurance
Commissioner to adopt regulations under it. Under Connecticut law, the assets of
Fund UL III will be held for the exclusive benefit of Policy Owners and the
persons entitled to payments under the Policy. The assets held in Fund UL III
are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business which the
Company may conduct. Any obligations arising under the Policy are general
corporate obligations of the Company.
 
All investment income of and other distributions to each Investment Option are
reinvested in shares of corresponding underlying fund at net asset value. The
income and realized gains or losses on the assets of each Investment Option are
separate and are credited to or charged against the Investment Option without
regard to income, gains or losses from any other Investment Option or from any
other business of the Company. The Company purchases shares of the Fund UL III
in connection in the Investment Options in connection with premium payments
allocated to the Policy Owners' directions, and redeems Fund UL III units to
meet Policy obligations. We will also make adjustments in reserves, if required.
The Investment Options are required to redeem Fund shares at net asset value and
to make payment within seven days.
 
HOW THE CONTRACT VALUE VARIES.  We calculate the Policy's Contract Value each
day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading (a "valuation date") and we
are open for business. A Policy's Contract Value reflects a number of factors,
including Premium Payments, partial withdrawals, loans, Policy charges, and the
investment experience of the Investment Option(s) chosen. The Policy's Contract
Value on a valuation date equals the sum of all accumulation units for each
Investment Option chosen, plus the Loan Account Value and the Fixed Account
Value.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   25
 
The Separate Account purchases shares of the underlying funds at net asset value
(i.e., without a sales charge). The Separate Account receives all dividends and
capital gains distributions from each underlying fund, and reinvests in
additional shares of that fund. The Accumulation Unit Value reflects the
reinvestment of any dividends or capital gains distributions declared by the
underlying fund. The Separate Account will redeem underlying fund shares at
their net asset value, to the extent necessary to make payments under the
Policy.
 
In order to determine Contract Value, Cash Surrender Value, policy loans and the
number of Accumulation Units to be credited, we use the values calculated as of
the close of business on each valuation date we receive the written request, or
payment in good order, at our Home Office.
 
ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE.  Accumulation Units measure the value of the Investment
Options. The value for each Investment Option's Accumulation Unit is calculated
on each valuation date. The value equals the Accumulation Unit value for the
preceding valuation period multiplied by the underlying fund's Net Investment
Factor during the next Valuation Period. (For example, to calculate Monday's
valuation date price, we would multiply Friday's Accumulation Unit Value by
Monday's net investment factor.)
 
The Accumulation Unit Value may increase or decrease. The number of Accumulation
Units credited to your Policy will not change as a result of the Investment
Option's investment experience.
 
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR.  For each Investment Option, the value of its
Accumulation Unit depends of the net rate of return for the corresponding
underlying fund. We determine the net rate of return at the end of each
Valuation Period (that is, the period of time beginning at the close of the New
York Stock Exchange, and ending at its close of business on the next Valuation
Date). The net rate of return reflects the investment performance of the
investment option, includes any dividends or capital gains distributed, and is
net of the Separate Account and underlying Investment Option charges.
 
                             CHANGES TO THE POLICY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
GENERAL
 
Once the policy is issued, you may make certain changes. Some of these changes
will not require additional underwriting approval; some changes will. Certain
requests must be made in writing, as indicated below:
 
WRITTEN CHANGES REQUIRING UNDERWRITING APPROVAL:
 
     - increases in the stated amount of insurance;
 
WRITTEN CHANGES NOT REQUIRING UNDERWRITING APPROVAL:
 
     - decreases in the stated amount of insurance
 
     - changing the death benefit option
 
     - changes to the way your premiums are allocated (Note: you can also make
       these changes by telephone)
 
     - changing the beneficiary (unless irrevocably named)
 
Written requests for changes should be sent to the Company c/o Andesa, TPA, Inc.
 
CHANGES IN STATED AMOUNT
 
After the first policy year, a Policy Owner may request in writing an increase
or decrease in the Policy's Stated Amount, provided that the Stated Amount after
any decrease may not be less than
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   26
 
the minimum amount of $50,000. For purposes of determining the cost of insurance
charge, a decrease in the Stated Amount will reduce the Stated Amount in the
following order:
 
     1) against the most recent increase in the Stated Amount;
 
     2) to other increases in the reverse order in which they occurred;
 
     3) to the initial Stated Amount.
 
A decrease in Stated Amount in a substantially funded Policy may cause a cash
distribution that is includable in the gross income of the Policy Owner.
 
For increases in the Stated Amount, we may require a new application and
evidence of insurability as well as an additional premium payment. The effective
date of any increase will be shown on the new Policy Summary which we will send.
The effective date of any increase in the Stated Amount will generally be the
Deduction Date next following either the date of a new application or, if
different, the date requested by the Applicant. There is no additional charge
for a decrease in Stated Amount.
 
CHANGES IN DEATH BENEFIT OPTION
 
After the first policy year, if the Insured is alive you may change the Death
Benefit option by sending a written request to the Company. The Stated Amount
will be adjusted so the Net Amount at risk remains level. There is no other
direct consequence of changing a Death Benefit option, except as described under
"Tax Treatment of Policy Benefits." However, the change could affect future
values of Net Amount At Risk. The cost of insurance charge which is based on the
Net Amount At Risk may be different in the future. The following Changes in
Death Benefit Options are permissible:
 
     Option 1-2
 
     Option 2-1
 
     Option 3-1
 
It is not permitted to change from Option 3 to 2; Option 1 to 3, and 2 to 3.
 
                          ADDITIONAL POLICY PROVISIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
ASSIGNMENT
 
The Policy may be assigned as collateral for a loan or other obligation. The
Company is not responsible for any payment made or action taken before receipt
of written notice of such assignment. Proof of interest must be filed with any
claim under a collateral assignment.
 
LIMIT ON RIGHT TO CONTEST AND SUICIDE EXCLUSION
 
The Company may not contest the validity of the Policy after it has been in
effect during the lifetime or the Insured for two years from the Issue Date.
Subject to state law, if the Policy is reinstated, the two-year period will be
measured from the date of reinstatement. Each requested increase in Stated
Amount is contestable for two years from its effective date (subject to state
law). In addition, if the Insured commits suicide during the two-year period
following issue, subject to state law, the Death Benefit will be limited to the
premiums paid less (i) the amount of any partial surrender, (ii) the amount of
any outstanding Policy loan, and (iii) the amount of any unpaid Deduction Amount
due. During the two-year period following an increase, the Death Benefit in the
case of suicide will be limited to an amount equal to the Deduction Amount paid
for such increase.
 
MISSTATEMENT AS TO SEX AND AGE
 
If there has been a misstatement with regard to sex or age, benefits payable
will be adjusted to what the Policy would have provided with the correct
information. A misstatement with regard to
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   27
 
sex or age in a substantially funded Policy may cause a cash distribution that
is includable in whole or in part in the gross income of the Policy Owner.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
The Company is the legal owner of the underlying fund shares. However, we
believe that when an underlying fund solicits proxies, we are required to obtain
from policy owners who have chosen those investment options instructions on how
to vote those shares. When we receive those instructions, we will vote all of
the shares we own in proportion to those instructions. This will also include
any shares we own on our own behalf. If we determine that we no longer need to
comply with this voting method, we will vote on the shares in our own right.
 
DISREGARD OF VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
 
When permitted by state insurance regulatory authorities, we may disregard
voting instructions if the instructions would cause a change in the investment
objective or policies of the Separate Account or an Investment Option, or if it
would cause the approval or disapproval of an investment advisory Policy of an
Investment Option. In addition, we may disregard voting instructions in favor of
changes in the investment policies or the investment adviser of any Investment
Options which are initiated by a Policy Owner if we reasonably disapprove of
such changes. A change would be disapproved only if the proposed change is
contrary to state law or prohibited by state regulatory authorities, or if we
determine that the change would have an adverse effect on our general account
(i.e., if the proposed investment policy for an Investment Option may result in
overly speculative or unsound investments.) If we do disregard voting
instructions, a summary of that action and the reasons for such action would be
included in the next annual report to Policy Owners.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENTS TO POLICY OWNERS
 
We will maintain all records relating to the Separate Account and the Investment
Options. At least once each Policy Year, we will send you a statement containing
the following information:
 
     - the Stated Amount and the Contract Value of the Policy (indicating the
       number of Accumulation Units credited to the Policy in each Investment
       Option and the corresponding Accumulation Unit Value);
 
     - the date and amount of each premium payment;
 
     - the date and amount of each Monthly Deduction;
 
     - the amount of any outstanding Policy loan as of the date of the
       statement, and the amount of any loan interest charged on the Loan
       Account;
 
     - the date and amount of any partial cash surrenders and the amount of any
       partial surrender charges;
 
     - the annualized cost of any supplemental benefits purchased under the
       Policy; and
 
     - a reconciliation since the last report of any change in Contract Value
       and Cash Surrender Value.
 
We will also send any other reports required by any applicable state or federal
laws or regulations.
 
SUSPENSION OF VALUATION
 
We reserve the right to suspend or postpone the date of any payment of any
benefit or values associated with the Separate Account for any Valuation Period
(1) when the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is closed; (2) when trading on
the Exchange is restricted; (3) when the SEC determines so that disposal of the
securities held in the Underlying Funds is not reasonably practicable or the
value of the Investment Option's net assets cannot be determined; or (4) during
any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for the protection of
security holders. We
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   28
 
reserve the right to suspend or postpone the date of any payment of any benefit
or values associated with the fixed account for up to six months.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
No dividends will be paid under the Policy.
 
MIXED AND SHARED FUNDING
 
It is conceivable that in the future it may not be advantageous for variable
life insurance and variable annuity Separate Accounts to invest in the
Investment Options simultaneously. This is called mixed funding. Certain funds
may be available to variable products of other companies not affiliated with
Travelers. This is called "shared funding." Although we -- and the funds -- do
not anticipate any disadvantages either to variable life insurance or to
variable annuity Policy Owners, the Investment Options' Boards of Directors
intend to monitor events to identify any material conflicts that may arise and
to determine what action, if any, should be taken. If any of the Investment
Options' Boards of Directors conclude that separate mutual funds should be
established for variable life insurance and variable annuity Separate Accounts,
the Company will bear the attendant expenses, but variable life insurance and
variable annuity Policy Owners would no longer have the economies of scale
resulting from a larger combined fund. Please consult the prospectuses of the
Investment Options for additional information.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
The Company intends to sell the Policies in all jurisdictions where it is
licensed to do business and where the Policy is approved. The Policies will be
sold by life insurance sales representatives who are registered representatives
of the Company or certain other registered broker-dealers. The maximum
commission payable by the Company for distribution would be no greater than 35%
of the actual premium paid in the first twelve months. Any sales representative
or employee will be qualified to sell variable life insurance Policies under
applicable federal and state laws. Each broker/dealer is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
all are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
CFBDS, Inc. serves as principal underwriter of the Policies.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND OPINION
 
There are no pending material legal proceedings affecting the Separate Account.
 
In March 1997, a purported class action entitled Patterman v. The Travelers,
Inc. et al, was commenced in the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia,
alleging, among other things, violations of the Georgia RICO statute and other
state laws by an affiliate of the Company, Primerica Financial Services, Inc.
and certain of its affiliates. Plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and
punitive damages and other relief. In October 1997, defendants answered the
complaint, denied liability and asserted numerous affirmative defenses. In
February 1998, the Superior Court of Richmond County transferred the lawsuit to
the Superior Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia. The plaintiffs appealed the
transfer order, and in December 1998 the Court of Appeals of the state of
Georgia reversed the lower court's decision. Later in December 1998, defendants
petitioned the Georgia Supreme Court to hear the appeal from the decision of the
Court of Appeals. Pending appeal, proceedings in the trial court have been
stayed. Defendants intend to vigorously contest the litigation.
 
Legal matters in connection with the federal laws and regulations affecting the
issue and sale of the Contract described in this prospectus, as well at the
organization of the Company, its authority to issue variable annuity contracts
under Connecticut law and the validity of the forms of the variable annuity
contracts under Connecticut law, have been passed on by the General Counsel of
the Company.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   29
 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
As of December 31, 1998, there were no Separate Account financial statements
because Fund
UL III became effective on January 15, 1999. The consolidated financial
statements of The Travelers Insurance Company and Subsidiaries as of December
31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1998, have been included herein and in the registration statement
in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public
accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                           FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
GENERAL
 
The following is a general discussion of the federal income tax considerations
relating to the Policies. This discussion is based upon the Company's
understanding of the federal income tax laws as they are currently interpreted
by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). These laws are complex, and tax results
may vary among individuals. A person contemplating the purchase of or the
exercise of elections under a Policy should seek competent tax advice.
 
IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE DISCUSSION OF ALL TAX
QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE UNDER THE POLICIES. NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO
ADDRESS ANY FEDERAL ESTATE TAX OR STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS WHICH MAY
ARISE IN CONNECTION WITH A POLICY. FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION, A QUALIFIED TAX
ADVISOR SHOULD BE CONSULTED.
 
THE COMPANY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE TAX STATUS OF ANY POLICY AND THE FOLLOWING
TAX DISCUSSION IS BASED ON THE COMPANY'S UNDERSTANDING OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX
LAWS AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY INTERPRETED. THE COMPANY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THOSE
LAWS OR INTERPRETATIONS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
 
TAX STATUS OF THE POLICY
 
DEFINITION OF LIFE INSURANCE
 
Section 7702 of the IRS Code ("Code") sets forth a definition of a life
insurance contract for federal tax purposes. Guidance as to how Section 7702 is
to be applied, however, is limited. Although the Secretary of the Treasury (the
"Treasury") is authorized to prescribe regulations implementing Section 7702,
and while proposed regulations and other limited, interim guidance has been
issued, final regulations have not been adopted. If a Policy were determined not
to be a life insurance contract for purposes of Section 7702, such Policy would
not provide the tax advantages normally provided by a life insurance policy.
 
With respect to a Policy issued on the basis of a standard rate class, the
Company believes (largely in reliance on IRS Notice 88-128 and the proposed
regulations under Section 7702) that such a Policy should meet the Section 7702
definition of a life insurance contract. There is less guidance on the
application of the rules with respect to a Policy that is issued on a
substandard basis (i.e., a premium class involving higher than standard
mortality risk). Thus, it is not clear whether such a Policy would satisfy
Section 7702, particularly if the Policy Owner pays the full amount of premiums
permitted under the Policy.
 
The Company reserves the right to make changes in the Policy if such changes are
deemed necessary to attempt to assure its qualification as a life insurance
contract for tax purposes.
 
DIVERSIFICATION
 
Section 817(h) of the Code provides that separate account investments (or the
investments of a mutual fund, the shares of which are owned by separate accounts
of insurance companies) underlying the Policy must be "adequately diversified"
in accordance with Treasury regulations in
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   30
 
order for the Policy to qualify as life insurance. The Treasury Department has
issued regulations prescribing the diversification requirements in connection
with variable contracts. The Separate Account, through the Investment Options,
intends to comply with these requirements. Although the Company does not control
the Investment Options, it intends to monitor the investments of the Investment
Options to ensure compliance with the diversification requirements prescribed by
the Treasury Department.
 
INVESTOR CONTROL
 
In certain circumstances, owners of variable life insurance contracts may be
considered the owners, for federal income tax purposes, of the assets of the
separate accounts used to support their contract. In those circumstances, income
and gains from the separate account assets would be includable in the variable
contract owner's gross income each year. The IRS has stated in published rulings
that a variable contract owner will be considered the owner of separate account
assets if the contract owner possesses incidents of ownership in those assets,
such as the ability to exercise investment control over the assets. The Treasury
has also announced, in connection with the issuance of regulations concerning
diversification, that those regulations "do not provide guidance concerning the
circumstances in which investor control of the investments of a segregated asset
account may cause the investor (i.e., the Policy Owner), rather than the
insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets in the account."
This announcement also stated that guidance would be issued by way of
regulations or rulings on the "extent to which policyholders may direct their
investments to particular Investment Options without being treated as owners of
the underlying assets." As of the date of this prospectus, no such guidance has
been issued.
 
The ownership rights under the Policy are similar to, but different in certain
respects from, those described by the IRS in rulings in which it determined that
the policy owners received the desired tax benefits because they were not owners
of separate account assets. For example, a Policy Owner of this Policy has the
choice of more investment options to which to allocate premium payments and cash
values and may be able to transfer among investment options more frequently than
in such rulings. In addition, the Policy Owner may have the choice of certain
investment options which may be more similar to each other in their investment
objective and policies than in such rulings. These differences could result in
the Policy Owner being treated as the owner of the assets of the Separate
Account. In addition, the Company does not know what standard will be set forth
in the regulations or rulings which the Treasury is expected to issue, nor does
the Company know if such guidance will be issued. The Company therefore reserves
the right to modify the Policy as necessary to attempt to prevent the Policy
Owner from being considered the owner of a pro rata share of the assets of the
Separate Account.
 
The remaining tax discussion assumes that the Policy qualifies as a life
insurance contract for federal income tax purposes.
 
TAX TREATMENT OF POLICY BENEFITS
 
IN GENERAL
 
The Company believes that the proceeds and Contract value increases of a Policy
should be treated in a manner consistent with a fixed-benefit life insurance
policy for federal income tax purposes. Thus, the Death Benefit under the Policy
should be excludable from the gross income of the Beneficiary.
 
In addition, the Policy Owner will generally not be deemed to be in constructive
receipt of the Contract Value, including increments thereof, until there is a
distribution. The tax consequences of distribution from, and loans taken from or
secured by, a Policy depend on whether the Policy is classified as a "Modified
Endowment Contract." However, whether a Policy is or is not a Modified Endowment
Contract, upon a complete surrender or lapse of a Policy or when benefits are
paid at
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   31
 
a Policy's maturity date, if the amount received plus the amount of indebtedness
exceeds the total investment in the Policy, the excess will generally be treated
as ordinary income subject to tax.
 
Depending on the circumstances, the exchange of a Policy, a change in the
Policy's Death Benefit Option, a Policy loan, a partial withdrawal, a surrender,
a change in ownership, or an assignment of the Policy may have federal income
tax consequences. In addition, federal, state and local transfer, and other tax
consequences of ownership or receipt of Policy proceeds depend on the
circumstances of each Owner or beneficiary. Therefore, it is important to check
with a tax adviser prior to the purchase of a policy.
 
MODIFIED ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS
 
A modified endowment contract is defined under tax law as any policy that
satisfies the present legal definition of a life insurance contract but which
fails to satisfy a 7-pay test. This failure could occur with contracts entered
into after June 21, 1988, or with certain older contracts materially changed
after that date. A Section 1035 exchange of an older contract into a contract
after that date will not by itself cause the new contract to be a modified
endowment contract if the older contract had not become one prior to the
exchange. However, the new contract must be re-tested under the 7-pay test
rules.
 
A contract fails to satisfy the 7-pay test if the cumulative amount of premiums
paid under the contract at any time during the first seven contract years
exceeds the sum of the net level premiums that would have been paid on or before
such time had the contract provided for paid-up future benefits after the
payment of seven level annual premiums. If a material change in the contract
occurs either during the first seven contract years, or later, a new seven-year
testing period is begun. A decrease to Stated Amount made in the first seven
years will cause a retest of the cumulative amount of premiums. Decreases made
after the first seven contract years are not considered a material change,
provided no other material changes have occurred prior. Tax regulations or other
guidance will be needed to fully define those transactions which are material
changes. The Company has established safeguards for monitoring whether a
contract may become a modified endowment contract.
 
Loans and partial withdrawals from, as well as collateral assignments of,
Policies that are modified endowment contracts will be treated as distributions
to the Policy Owner for tax purposes. All pre-death distributions (including
loans, partial withdrawals and collateral assignments) from these Policies will
be included in gross income on an income-first basis to the extent of any income
in the Policy (the cash value less the Policy Owner's investment in the Policy)
immediately before the distribution.
 
The law also imposes a 10% penalty tax on pre-death distributions (including
loans, collateral assignments, partial withdrawals and complete surrenders) from
modified endowment contracts to the extent they are included in income, unless a
specific exception to the penalty applies. The penalty does not apply to amounts
which are distributed on or after the date on which the taxpayer attains age
59 1/2, because the taxpayer is disabled, or as substantially equal periodic
payments over the taxpayer's life (or life expectancy) or over the joint lives
(or joint life expectancies) of the taxpayer and his or her beneficiary.
Furthermore, if the loan interest is capitalized by adding the amount due to the
balance of the loan, the amount of the capitalized interest will be treated as
an additional distribution subject to income tax as well as the 10% penalty tax,
if applicable, to the extent of income in the Policy.
 
The Death Benefit of a modified endowment contract remains excludable from the
gross income of the Beneficiary to the extent described above in "Tax
Consequences of Life Insurance Contracts." Furthermore, no part of the
investment growth of the Contract Value of a modified endowment contract is
includable in the gross income of the Contract Owner unless the contract
matures, is distributed or partially surrendered, is pledged, collaterally
assigned, or borrowed against, or otherwise terminates with income in the
contract prior to death. A full surrender of the
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   32
 
contract after age 59 1/2 will have the same tax consequences as noted above in
"Tax Consequences of Life Insurance Contracts."
 
EXCHANGES
 
Any Policy issued in exchange for a modified endowment contract will be subject
to the tax treatment accorded to modified endowment contracts. However, the
Company believes that any Policy received in exchange for a life insurance
contract that is not a modified endowment contract will generally not be treated
as a modified endowment contract if the face amount of the Policy is greater
than or equal to the death benefit of the policy being exchanged. The payment of
any premiums at the time of or after the exchange may, however, cause the Policy
to become a modified endowment contract. A prospective purchaser should consult
a qualified tax advisor before authorizing the exchange of his or her current
life insurance contract for a Policy.
 
AGGREGATION OF MODIFIED ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS
 
In the case of a pre-death distribution (including a loan, partial withdrawal,
collateral assignment or complete surrender) from a Policy that is treated as a
modified endowment contract, a special aggregation requirement may apply for
purposes of determining the amount of the income on the Policy. Specifically, if
the Company or any of its affiliates issues to the same Policy Owner more than
one modified endowment contract within a calendar year, then for purposes of
measuring the income on the Policy with respect to a distribution from any of
those Policies, the income on the Policy for all those Policies will be
aggregated and attributed to that distribution.
 
POLICIES WHICH ARE NOT MODIFIED ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS
 
Unlike loans from modified endowment contracts, a loan from a Policy that is not
a modified endowment contract will be considered indebtedness of the Owner and
no part of a loan will constitute income to the Owner.
 
Pre-death distributions from a Policy that is not a modified endowment contract
will generally not be included in gross income to the extent that the amount
received does not exceed the Policy Owner's investment in the Policy. (An
exception to this general rule may occur in the case of a decrease or change
that reduces the benefits provided under a Policy in the first 15 years after
the Policy is issued and that results in a cash distribution to the Policy
Owner. Such a cash distribution may be taxed in whole or in part as ordinary
income to the extent of any gain in the Policy.) Further, the 10% penalty tax on
pre-death distributions does not apply to Policies that are not modified
endowment contracts.
 
Certain changes to Policies that are not modified endowment contracts may cause
such Policies to be treated as modified endowment contracts. A Policy Owner
should therefore consult a tax advisor before effecting any change to a Policy
that is not a modified endowment contract.
 
TREATMENT OF LOAN INTEREST
 
If there is any borrowing against the Policy, the interest paid on loans may not
be tax deductible.
 
THE COMPANY'S INCOME TAXES
 
The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under federal income tax law.
Presently, the Company does not expect to incur any income tax or the earnings
or the realized capital gains attributable to Fund UL III. However, the Company
may assess a charge against the Investment Options for federal income taxes
attributable to those accounts in the event that the Company incurs income or
capital gains or other tax liability attributable to Fund UL III under future
tax law.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   33
 
                                  THE COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The Travelers Insurance Company (the "Company") is a stock insurance company
chartered in 1864 in Connecticut and has been engaged in the insurance business
since that time. The Company writes individual life insurance and individual and
group annuity contracts on a non-participating basis, and acts as depositor for
the Separate Account assets. The Company is licensed to conduct life insurance
business in all states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Guam, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. The Company's
obligations as depositor for Fund UL III may not be transferred without notice
to and consent of Policy Owners.
 
The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc., a
financial services holding company. The Company's principal executive offices
are located at One Tower Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06183, telephone number
(860) 277-0111.
 
The Company is subject to Connecticut law governing insurance companies and is
regulated and supervised by the Connecticut Commissioner of Insurance. An annual
statement in a prescribed form must be filed with the Commissioner on or before
March 1 in each year covering the operations of the Company for the preceding
year and its financial condition on December 31 of such year. The Company's
books and assets are subject to review or examination by the Commissioner, and a
full examination of its operations is conducted at least once every four years.
In addition, the Company is subject to the insurance laws and regulations of any
jurisdiction in which it sells its insurance Policies, as well as to various
federal and state securities laws and regulations.
 
IMSA
 
The Company is a member of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association
("IMSA"), and as such may use the IMSA logo and IMSA membership in its
advertisements. Companies that belong to IMSA subscribe to a set of ethical
standards covering the various aspects of sales and service for individually
sold life insurance and annuities. IMSA members have adopted policies and
procedures that demonstrate a commitment to honesty, fairness and integrity in
all customer contacts involving the sale and service of individual life
insurance and annuity products.
 
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
 
The Company is highly dependent on computer systems and system applications for
conducting its ongoing business functions. In 1996, the Company began the
process of identifying, assessing and implementing changes to computer programs
necessary to address the Year 2000 issue and developed a comprehensive plan to
address the issue. This issue involves the ability of computer systems that have
time sensitive programs to recognize properly the Year 2000. The inability to do
so could result in major failures or miscalculations that would disrupt the
Company's ability to meet its customer and other obligations on a timely basis.
 
The Company has achieved substantial compliance with respect to its business
critical systems in accordance with its Year 2000 plan and is in the process of
certification to validate compliance. The Company anticipates completing the
certification process by June 30, 1999. An ongoing re-certification process will
be put in place for third and fourth quarter 1999 to ensure all systems and
products remain compliant.
 
The total pre-tax cost associated with the required modifications and
conversions is expected to be between $25 million and $35 million and is being
expensed as incurred in the period 1996 through 1999. The Company has incurred
approximately $22 million to date on these efforts. The Company also has third
party customers, financial institutions, vendors and others with which it
conducts business and has confirmed their plans to address and resolve Year 2000
issues on a timely basis. While it is likely that these efforts by third party
vendors and customers will be successful, it is
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   34
 
possible that a series of failures by third parties could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations in future periods.
 
In addition, the Company is developing contingency plans to address perceived
risks associated with the Year 2000 effort. These include business resumption
plans to address the possibility of internal systems failures and the
possibility of failure of systems or processes outside the Company's control. As
of year-end 1998, the Company has completed initial business resumption
contingency plans which would enable business critical units to function
beginning January 1, 2000 in the event of an unexpected failure. Business
resumption contingency plans are expected to be finalized by June 30, 1999.
Preparations for the management of the date change will continue through 1999.
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DIRECTORS OF THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY
 
The following are the Directors and Executive Officers of The Travelers
Insurance Company. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal business address
for all individuals is the Company's Home Office at One Tower Square, Hartford,
Connecticut 06183. References to Citigroup include, prior to December 31, 1993,
Primerica Corporation or its predecessors, and prior to October 8, 1998,
Travelers Group, Inc.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 DIRECTOR
       NAME AND POSITION          SINCE                       PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
       -----------------         --------                     ------------------
<S>                              <C>        <C>
Jay S. Benet...................    1996     Senior Vice President since February 1994; Chief
Director                                    Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and
                                            Controller since January, 1999 and Vice President
                                            (1990-1994) of The Travelers Insurance Company; Partner
                                            (1986-1990) of Coopers & Lybrand.
Katherine M. Sullivan..........    1996     Senior Vice President and General Counsel since May
Director                                    1996 of The Travelers Insurance Company; Senior Vice
                                            President and General Counsel (1994-1996) Connecticut
                                            Mutual; Special Counsel & Chief of Staff (1988-1994)
                                            Aetna Life & Casualty.
George C. Kokulis..............    1996     Senior Vice President since September 1995, Vice
Director                                    President (1993-1995) of The Travelers Insurance
                                            Company.
Michael A. Carpenter...........    1995     Co-chairman, Salomon Smith Barney since October 1998;
Director                                    Chairman since June 1996 and President and Chief
                                            Executive Officer June 1995-1998 of The Travelers
                                            Insurance Company; Vice Chairman since February 1998;
                                            Executive Vice President (1995-1998) of Citigroup Inc.;
                                            Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
                                            (1989-1994), Kidder Peabody Group Inc.
Robert I. Lipp.................    1992     Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since
Director                                    April 1996 of Travelers Property Casualty Corp.; Chief
                                            Executive Officer and Director since December 1993 of
                                            The Travelers Insurance Group Inc.; Vice Chairman and
                                            Director of Citigroup Inc. since 1991; Chairman and
                                            Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Credit Company
                                            (1991-1993); Executive Vice President (1986-1991),
                                            Primerica Corporation.
</TABLE>
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   35
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 DIRECTOR
       NAME AND POSITION          SINCE                       PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
       -----------------         --------                     ------------------
<S>                              <C>        <C>
Marc P. Weill*.................    1994     Senior Vice President-Investments since 1993 and Chief
Director                                    Investment Officer since 1995 of The Travelers
                                            Insurance Group Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief
                                            Investment Officer of Citigroup Inc. since 1992; Vice
                                            President (1990-1992), Primerica Corporation; Vice
                                            President (1989-1990), Smith Barney Inc.
J. Eric Daniels................    1998     President and Chief Executive Officer since December
Director                                    1998 of The Travelers Insurance Company; Chief
                                            Operating Officer of Global Consumer Bank of Citibank;
                                            since 1993, vice president, Citibank.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* Principal business address: Citigroup Inc., 153 East 53rd St., New York, New
York 10043
 
SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY
 
The following are the Senior Officers of The Travelers Insurance Company, other
than the Directors listed above, as of the date of this Prospectus. Unless
otherwise indicated, the principal business address for all individuals listed
is One Tower Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06183.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            NAME                     POSITION WITH INSURANCE COMPANY
            ----                     -------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>
Stuart Baritz................       Senior Vice President
Barry Jacobson...............       Senior Vice President
Russell H. Johnson...........       Senior Vice President
Warren H. May................       Senior Vice President
Jay S. Fishman...............       Senior Vice President
David A. Tyson...............       Senior Vice President
F. Denney Voss...............       Senior Vice President
Elizabeth C.                        Senior Vice President
  Georgakopoulos.............
Christine M. Modie...........       Senior Vice President
Kathleen Preston.............       Senior Vice President
</TABLE>
 
Information relating to the management of the underlying funds is contained in
the applicable prospectuses.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   36
 
                           EXAMPLE OF POLICY CHARGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The following chart illustrates the Monthly Deduction Amounts that would apply
under a Policy based on the assumptions listed below. Monthly Deduction Amounts
generally will be higher for an Insured who is older than the assumed Insured,
and lower for an Insured who is younger (assuming the Insureds have the same
risk classification). Cost of insurance rates go up each year as the Insured
becomes a year older.
 
Male, Age 45
Guarantee Issue
Non-Smoker
Annual Premium: $25,000 for seven years
Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment
  Rate of Return: 8%
Face Amount: $436,557
Level Death Benefit Option
Current Charges
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     TOTAL MONTHLY DEDUCTION
                                       FOR THE POLICY YEAR
                                     -----------------------
                                     COST OF
POLICY  CUMULATIVE                  INSURANCE   ADMINISTRATIVE
 YEAR    PREMIUMS     SALES LOAD     CHARGES       CHARGES
- ------  ----------    ----------    ---------   --------------
<S>     <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>
  1      $ 25,000       $1,750       $  497          $60
  2      $ 50,000       $1,750       $1,337          $60
  3      $ 75,000       $1,750       $1,430          $60
  5      $125,000       $1,750       $1,306          $60
  10     $175,000       $    0       $1,674          $60
</TABLE>
 
Hypothetical results shown above are illustrative only and are based on the
Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Rate of Return shown above. This
Hypothetical Gross Annual Investment Rate of Return should not be deemed to be a
representation of past or future investment results. Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown. No representations can be made that the
hypothetical rates assumed can be achieved for any one year or sustained over
any period of time.
 
                                 ILLUSTRATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The following pages are intended to illustrate how the Contract Value, Cash
Surrender Value and Death Benefit can change over time for Policies issued to a
45 year old male. The difference between the Contract Value and the Cash
Surrender Value in these illustrations represents the Surrender Charge that
would be incurred upon a full surrender of the Policy. The illustrations assume
that premiums are paid as indicated, no Policy loans are made, no increases or
decreases to the Stated Amount are requested, no partial surrenders are made,
and no charges for transfers between funds are incurred.
 
For all illustrations, there are two pages of values. One page illustrates the
assumption that the maximum Guaranteed Cost of Insurance Rates, the monthly
administrative charge, mortality and expense risk charge, and administrative
expense charge allowable under the Policy are charged in all years. The other
page illustrates the assumption that the current scale of Cost of Insurance
Rates and other charges are charged in all years. The Cost of Insurance Rates
charged vary by age, sex and underwriting classification and number of years
from Policy issue, and the monthly administrative charge varies by age, amount
of insurance and smoker/non-smoker classification for current charges. The
current illustrations reflect a deduction from each Target Premium of 7% for
years 1-7 and 3.5% thereafter. The illustrations reflect 0% deduction for
premiums over Target Premiums in all years.
 
The guaranteed illustrations reflect a deduction from each Target Premium of 9%
in all years and 5% on amounts paid in excess of the Target Premium.
 
The values shown in these illustrations vary according to assumptions used for
charges, and gross rates of investment returns. For the first four policy years
the current charges consist of .45%
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   37
 
mortality and expense risk charge, .25% in years 5-20 and .05% thereafter. In
all policy years, the guaranteed charges consist of a .75% mortality and expense
risk. For all policy years the current and guaranteed charges consist of .87%
for Investment Option Expenses.
 
The charge for Investment Option expenses reflected in the illustrations assumes
that Contract Value is allocated equally among all Investment Options and that
no Policy Loans are outstanding, and is an average of the investment advisory
fees and other expenses charged by each of the Investment Options during the
most recent audited calendar year. The Investment Option expenses for some of
the Investment Options reflect an expense reimbursement agreement currently in
effect, as shown in the Policy prospectus summary. Although these reimbursement
arrangements are expected to continue in subsequent years, the effect of
discontinuance could be higher expenses charged to Policy Owners.
 
After deduction of these amounts, the illustrated gross annual investment rates
of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% correspond to approximate net annual rates of
- -1.32%, 4.68% and 10.68%, respectively on a current basis for years 1-4; then to
approximate net annual rates of -1.14%; 4.60%; 10.88% in years 5-20 and to
approximate net annual rates of -0.92%; 5.08%; 11.08% thereafter. On a
guaranteed basis the annual gross investment rates of 6.0% and 12% correspond to
approximate net annual rates of -1.62%; 4.38% and 10.38% in all years.
 
The actual charges under a Policy for expenses of the Investment Options will
depend on the actual allocation of Contract Value and may be higher or lower
than those illustrated.
 
The illustrations do not reflect any charges for federal income taxes against
Fund UL III, since the Company is not currently deducting such charges from Fund
UL III. However, such charges may be made in the future, and in that event, the
gross annual investment rates of return would have to exceed 0%, 6% and 12% by
an amount sufficient to cover the tax charges in order to produce the Death
Benefits, Contract Values and Cash Surrender Values illustrated.
 
Upon request, the Company will provide a comparable illustration based upon the
proposed Insured's age, sex, underwriting classification, the specified
insurance benefits, and the premium requested. The illustration will show
average fund expenses or, if requested, actual fund expenses. The hypothetical
gross annual investment return assumed in such an illustration will not exceed
12%.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   38
 
                       $25,000 ANNUAL PREMIUM FOR 7 YEARS
             $436,577 SPECIFIED AMOUNT CASH VALUE ACCUMULATION TEST
                    MALE GUARANTEED ISSUE/NON TOBACCO AGE 45
                    DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1 GUARANTEED VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       PREMIUM         0% HYPOTHETICAL                 6% HYPOTHETICAL                 12% HYPOTHETICAL
                         PLUS    ----------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
       POLICY          INTEREST  CONTRACT  SURRENDER   DEATH   CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH    CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH
        YEAR            AT 5%     VALUE      VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT     VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT
       ------          --------  --------  ---------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 1                      26,250     20,379     20,379  436,577     21,682     21,682    436,577     22,986     22,986    436,577
 2                      52,500     40,370     40,370  436,577     44,264     44,264    436,577     48,316     48,316    436,577
 3                      78,750     59,986     59,986  436,577     67,800     67,800    436,577     76,263     76,263    436,577
 4                     105,000     79,235     79,235  436,577     92,348     92,348    436,577    107,126    107,126    436,577
 5                     131,250     98,123     98,123  436,577    117,964    117,964    436,577    141,241    141,241    436,577
 6                     157,500    116,654    116,654  436,577    144,713    144,713    436,577    178,989    178,989    437,044
 7                     183,750    134,825    134,825  436,577    172,656    172,656    436,577    220,238    220,238    522,381
 8                     192,938    130,074    130,074  436,577    177,931    177,931    436,577    240,339    240,339    553,964
 9                     202,584    125,115    125,115  436,577    183,271    183,271    436,577    262,155    262,155    587,448
10                     212,714    119,914    119,914  436,577    188,670    188,670    436,577    285,816    285,816    622,944
11                     223,349    114,442    114,442  436,577    194,120    194,120    436,577    311,462    311,462    660,568
12                     234,517    108,671    108,671  436,577    199,622    199,622    436,577    339,253    339,253    700,447
13                     246,243    102,569    102,569  436,577    205,175    205,175    436,577    369,360    369,360    742,711
14                     258,555     96,101     96,101  436,577    210,778    210,778    436,577    401,967    401,967    787,500
15                     271,482     89,216     89,216  436,577    216,422    216,422    436,577    437,261    437,261    834,961
16                     285,057     81,849     81,849  436,577    222,093    222,093    436,577    475,431    475,431    885,244
17                     299,309     73,913     73,913  436,577    227,770    227,770    436,577    516,660    516,660    938,508
18                     314,275     65,305     65,305  436,577    233,427    233,427    436,577    561,136    561,136    994,919
19                     329,989     55,911     55,911  436,577    239,039    239,039    436,577    609,054    609,054  1,054,650
20                     346,488     45,604     45,604  436,577    244,583    244,583    436,577    660,621    660,621  1,117,885
21                     363,812     34,260     34,260  436,577    250,045    250,045    436,577    716,081    716,081  1,184,817
22                     382,003     21,745     21,745  436,577    255,414    255,414    436,577    775,703    775,703  1,255,651
23                     401,103      7,910      7,910  436,577    260,682    260,682    436,577    839,788    839,788  1,330,602
24                     421,158          0          0  436,577    265,833    265,833    436,577    908,640    908,640  1,409,896
25                     442,216          0          0        0    270,834    270,834    436,577    982,539    982,539  1,493,760
26                     464,327          0          0        0    275,634    275,634    436,577  1,061,733  1,061,733  1,582,425
27                     487,543          0          0        0    280,164    280,164    436,577  1,146,428  1,146,428  1,676,128
28                     511,921          0          0        0    284,338    284,338    436,577  1,236,786  1,236,786  1,775,102
29                     537,517          0          0        0    288,060    288,060    436,577  1,332,951  1,332,951  1,879,587
30                     564,392          0          0        0    291,239    291,239    436,577  1,435,131  1,435,131  2,071,674
</TABLE>
 
The hypothetical investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this
prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed as a representation of
past or future investment rates of return. Actual rates of return may be more or
less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including the
investment allocations made by an owner and prevailing rates. The death benefit
and cash value would be different from those shown if the actual rate rates of
return averaged 0%, 6% and 12% over a period of years but also fluctuated above
or below those averages for individual policy years. No representation can be
made by the company that these hypothetical rates of returns can be achieved for
any one year or sustained over any period of time.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   39
 
                       $25,000 ANNUAL PREMIUM FOR 7 YEARS
             $436,577 SPECIFIED AMOUNT CASH VALUE ACCUMULATION TEST
                    MALE GUARANTEED ISSUE/NON TOBACCO AGE 45
                     DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1 CURRENT VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       PREMIUM         0% HYPOTHETICAL                 6% HYPOTHETICAL                 12% HYPOTHETICAL
                         PLUS    ----------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
       POLICY          INTEREST  CONTRACT  SURRENDER   DEATH   CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH    CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH
        YEAR            AT 5%     VALUE      VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT     VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT
       ------          --------  --------  ---------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 1                      26,250     22,389     22,389  436,577     23,767     23,767    436,577     25,145     25,145    436,577
 2                      52,500     43,638     43,638  436,577     47,782     47,782    436,577     52,093     52,093    436,577
 3                      78,750     64,493     64,493  436,577     72,820     72,820    436,577     81,833     81,833    436,577
 4                     105,000     85,046     85,046  436,577     99,025     99,025    436,577    114,771    114,771    436,577
 5                     131,250    105,515    105,515  436,577    126,704    126,704    436,577    151,549    151,549    436,577
 6                     157,500    125,839    125,839  436,577    155,860    155,860    436,577    192,429    192,429    469,860
 7                     183,750    145,998    145,998  436,577    186,539    186,539    442,450    237,489    237,489    563,298
 8                     192,938    142,776    142,776  436,577    194,206    194,206    447,630    261,414    261,414    602,540
 9                     202,584    139,478    139,478  436,577    202,177    202,177    453,046    287,736    287,736    644,771
10                     212,714    136,098    136,098  436,577    210,466    210,466    458,716    316,698    316,698    690,253
11                     223,349    132,634    132,634  436,577    219,090    219,090    464,659    348,569    348,569    739,267
12                     234,517    129,011    129,011  436,577    228,007    228,007    470,759    383,548    383,548    791,903
13                     246,243    125,213    125,213  436,577    237,227    237,227    477,018    421,934    421,934    848,428
14                     258,555    121,179    121,179  436,577    246,725    246,725    483,364    463,985    463,985    909,001
15                     271,482    116,878    116,878  436,577    256,502    256,502    489,796    510,024    510,024    973,903
16                     285,057    112,264    112,264  436,577    266,551    266,551    496,313    560,393    560,393  1,043,440
17                     299,309    107,346    107,346  436,577    276,907    276,907    502,998    615,542    615,542  1,118,125
18                     314,275    102,073    102,073  436,577    287,565    287,565    509,865    675,884    675,884  1,198,371
19                     329,989     96,541     96,541  436,577    298,621    298,621    517,098    742,112    742,112  1,285,056
20                     346,488     90,730     90,730  436,577    310,093    310,093    524,731    814,804    814,804  1,378,790
21                     363,812     84,803     84,803  436,577    322,620    322,620    533,802    896,232    896,232  1,482,893
22                     382,003     78,565     78,565  436,577    335,667    335,667    543,352    985,837    985,837  1,595,799
23                     401,103     72,013     72,013  436,577    349,272    349,272    553,404  1,084,494  1,084,494  1,718,327
24                     421,158     65,138     65,138  436,577    363,472    363,472    563,983  1,193,165  1,193,165  1,851,380
25                     442,216     57,918     57,918  436,577    378,299    378,299    575,130  1,312,896  1,312,896  1,996,002
26                     464,327     50,482     50,482  436,577    393,866    393,866    587,025  1,445,133  1,445,133  2,153,853
27                     487,543     42,644     42,644  436,577    410,125    410,125    599,620  1,590,884  1,590,884  2,325,941
28                     511,921     33,940     33,940  436,577    426,902    426,902    612,713  1,750,706  1,750,706  2,512,708
29                     537,517     24,214     24,214  436,577    444,189    444,189    626,348  1,925,815  1,925,815  2,715,581
30                     564,392     13,583     13,583  436,577    462,103    462,103    667,066  2,118,098  2,118,098  3,057,568
</TABLE>
 
The hypothetical investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this
prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed as a representation of
past or future investment rates of return. Actual rates of return may be more or
less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including the
investment allocations made by an owner and prevailing rates. The death benefit
and cash value would be different from those shown if the actual rate rates of
return averaged 0%, 6% and 12% over a period of years but also fluctuated above
or below those averages for individual policy years. No representation can be
made by the company that these hypothetical rates of returns can be achieved for
any one year or sustained over any period of time.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   40
 
                      $28,631 ANNUAL PREMIUM FOR 20 YEARS
                $500,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT GUIDELINE PREMIUM TEST
                    MALE GUARANTEED ISSUE/NON TOBACCO AGE 45
                    DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2 GUARANTEED VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       PREMIUM         0% HYPOTHETICAL                 0% HYPOTHETICAL                 12% HYPOTHETICAL
                         PLUS    ----------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
       POLICY          INTEREST  CONTRACT  SURRENDER   DEATH   CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH    CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH
        YEAR            AT 5%     VALUE      VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT     VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT
       ------          --------  --------  ---------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 1                      30,063     23,232     23,232  523,232     24,717     24,717    524,717     26,204     26,204    526,204
 2                      60,125     45,895     45,895  545,895     50,317     50,317    550,317     54,921     54,921    554,921
 3                      90,188     67,987     67,987  567,987     76,829     76,829    576,829     86,404     86,404    586,404
 4                     120,250     89,504     89,504  589,504    104,277    104,277    604,277    120,922    120,922    620,922
 5                     150,313    110,429    110,429  610,429    132,677    132,677    632,677    158,766    158,766    658,766
 6                     180,375    130,748    130,748  630,748    162,045    162,045    662,045    200,253    200,253    700,253
 7                     210,438    150,424    150,424  650,424    192,376    192,376    692,376    245,714    245,714    745,714
 8                     240,500    169,435    169,435  669,435    223,678    223,678    723,678    295,525    295,525    795,525
 9                     270,563    187,740    187,740  687,740    255,941    255,941    755,941    350,086    350,086    850,086
10                     300,626    205,312    205,312  705,312    289,165    289,165    789,165    409,845    409,845    909,845
11                     330,688    222,125    222,125  722,125    323,358    323,358    823,358    475,306    475,306    975,306
12                     360,751    238,164    238,164  738,164    358,530    358,530    858,530    547,030    547,030  1,047,030
13                     390,813    253,410    253,410  753,410    394,694    394,694    894,694    625,635    625,635  1,125,635
14                     420,876    267,840    267,840  767,840    431,856    431,856    931,856    711,799    711,799  1,211,799
15                     450,938    281,418    281,418  781,418    470,007    470,007    970,007    806,252    806,252  1,306,252
16                     481,001    294,085    294,085  794,085    509,120    509,120  1,009,120    909,783    909,783  1,409,783
17                     511,063    305,766    305,766  805,766    549,143    549,143  1,049,143  1,023,238  1,023,238  1,523,238
18                     541,126    316,376    316,376  816,376    590,010    590,010  1,090,010  1,147,541  1,147,541  1,647,541
19                     571,188    325,824    325,824  825,824    631,650    631,650  1,131,650  1,283,708  1,283,708  1,783,708
20                     601,251    334,022    334,022  834,022    673,985    673,985  1,173,985  1,432,859  1,432,859  1,932,859
21                     631,314    315,266    315,266  815,266    689,757    689,757  1,189,757  1,567,490  1,567,490  2,067,490
22                     662,879    295,543    295,543  795,543    704,914    704,914  1,204,914  1,714,768  1,714,768  2,214,768
23                     696,023    274,789    274,789  774,789    719,347    719,347  1,219,347  1,875,927  1,875,927  2,375,927
24                     730,824    252,913    252,913  752,913    732,915    732,915  1,232,915  2,052,301  2,052,301  2,552,301
25                     767,366    229,777    229,777  729,777    745,421    745,421  1,245,421  2,245,310  2,245,310  2,745,310
26                     805,734    205,191    205,191  705,191    756,599    756,599  1,256,599  2,456,466  2,456,466  2,956,466
27                     846,021    178,913    178,913  678,913    766,124    766,124  1,266,124  2,687,385  2,687,385  3,187,385
28                     888,322    150,658    150,658  650,658    773,598    773,598  1,273,598  2,939,802  2,939,802  3,439,802
29                     932,738    120,127    120,127  620,127    778,595    778,595  1,278,595  3,215,617  3,215,617  3,715,617
30                     979,375     87,080     87,080  587,080    780,724    780,724  1,280,724  3,516,986  3,516,986  4,016,986
</TABLE>
 
The hypothetical investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this
prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed as a representation of
past or future investment rates of return. Actual rates of return may be more or
less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including the
investment allocations made by an owner and prevailing rates. The death benefit
and cash value would be different from those shown if the actual rate rates of
return averaged 0%, 6% and 12% over a period of years but also fluctuated above
or below those averages for individual policy years. No representation can be
made by the company that these hypothetical rates of returns can be achieved for
any one year or sustained over any period of time.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   41
 
                      $28,631 ANNUAL PREMIUM FOR 20 YEARS
                $500,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT GUIDELINE PREMIUM TEST
                    MALE GUARANTEED ISSUE/NON TOBACCO AGE 45
                     DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2 CURRENT VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       PREMIUM         0% HYPOTHETICAL                 0% HYPOTHETICAL                 12% HYPOTHETICAL
                         PLUS    ----------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
       POLICY          INTEREST  CONTRACT  SURRENDER   DEATH   CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH    CONTRACT   SURRENDER    DEATH
        YEAR            AT 5%     VALUE      VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT     VALUE      VALUE     BENEFIT
       ------          --------  --------  ---------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 1...................   30,063     25,619     25,619  525,619     27,195     27,195    527,195     28,772     28,772    528,772
 2...................   60,125     49,788     49,788  549,788     54,515     54,515    554,515     59,433     59,433    559,433
 3...................   90,188     73,390     73,390  573,390     82,858     82,858    582,858     93,105     93,105    593,105
 4...................  120,250     96,524     96,524  596,524    112,365    112,365    612,365    130,206    130,206    630,206
 5...................  150,313    119,423    119,423  619,423    143,350    143,350    643,350    171,398    171,398    671,398
 6...................  180,375    142,051    142,051  642,051    175,833    175,833    675,833    217,055    217,055    717,055
 7...................  210,438    164,373    164,373  664,373    209,846    209,846    709,846    267,624    267,624    767,624
 8...................  240,500    187,176    187,176  687,176    246,302    246,302    746,302    324,531    324,531    824,531
 9...................  270,563    209,565    209,565  709,565    284,373    284,373    784,373    387,461    387,461    887,461
10...................  300,626    231,536    231,536  731,536    324,131    324,131    824,131    457,061    457,061    957,061
11...................  330,688    253,092    253,092  753,092    365,655    365,655    865,655    534,055    534,055  1,034,055
12...................  360,751    274,119    274,119  774,119    408,908    408,908    908,908    619,122    619,122  1,119,122
13...................  390,813    294,605    294,605  794,605    453,958    453,958    953,958    713,121    713,121  1,213,121
14...................  420,876    314,464    314,464  814,464    500,798    500,798  1,000,798    816,928    816,928  1,316,928
15...................  450,938    333,662    333,662  833,662    549,471    549,471  1,049,471    931,566    931,566  1,431,566
16...................  481,001    352,150    352,150  852,150    600,010    600,010  1,100,010  1,058,155  1,058,155  1,558,155
17...................  511,063    369,961    369,961  869,961    652,532    652,532  1,152,532  1,198,023  1,198,023  1,698,023
18...................  541,126    387,040    387,040  887,040    707,070    707,070  1,207,070  1,352,551  1,352,551  1,852,551
19...................  571,188    403,556    403,556  903,556    763,888    763,888  1,263,888  1,523,504  1,523,504  2,023,504
20...................  601,251    419,495    419,495  919,495    823,077    823,077  1,323,077  1,712,650  1,712,650  2,212,650
21...................  631,314    408,371    408,371  908,371    857,410    857,410  1,357,410  1,894,749  1,894,749  2,394,749
22...................  662,879    396,958    396,958  896,958    893,085    893,085  1,393,085  2,096,622  2,096,622  2,596,622
23...................  696,023    385,271    385,271  885,271    930,186    930,186  1,430,186  2,320,476  2,320,476  2,820,476
24...................  730,824    373,316    373,316  873,316    968,789    968,789  1,468,789  2,568,753  2,568,753.. 3,068,753
25...................  767,366    361,084    361,084  861,084  1,008,957  1,008,957  1,508,957  2,844,149  2,844,149  3,344,149
26...................  805,734    348,764    348,764  848,764  1,050,962  1,050,962  1,550,962  3,149,867  3,149,867  3,649,867
27...................  846,021    336,128    336,128  836,128  1,094,664  1,094,664  1,594,664  3,489,032  3,489,032  3,989,032
28...................  888,322    322,626    322,626  822,626  1,139,580  1,139,580  1,639,580  3,864,777  3,864,777  4,364,777
29...................  932,738    308,132    308,132  808,132  1,185,636  1,185,636  1,685,636  4,281,025  4,281,025  4,781,025
30...................  979,375    292,858    292,858  792,858  1,233,099  1,233,099  1,733,099  4,742,484  4,742,484  5,242,484
</TABLE>
 
The hypothetical investment rates of return shown above and elsewhere in this
prospectus are illustrative only and should not be deemed as a representation of
past or future investment rates of return. Actual rates of return may be more or
less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including the
investment allocations made by an owner and prevailing rates. The death benefit
and cash value would be different from those shown if the actual rate rates of
return averaged 0%, 6% and 12% over a period of years but also fluctuated above
or below those averages for individual policy years. No representation can be
made by the company that these hypothetical rates of returns can be achieved for
any one year or sustained over any period of time.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   42
 
                      THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
<PAGE>   43
 
                                   APPENDIX A
                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
From time to time, we may show investment performance for the investment
options, the percentage change in the value of an Accumulation Unit based on the
performance of the Investment Option over a period of time, determined by
dividing the increase (decrease) in value for that unit by the Accumulation Unit
Value at the beginning of the period.
 
For Investment Options of Fund UL III that invest in underlying funds that were
in existence before the Investment Option became available under the Policy,
average annual rates of return may include periods prior to the inception of the
Investment Option. Performance calculations for Investment Options with
pre-existing Investment Options will be calculated by adjusting the actual
returns of the Investment Options to reflect the charges that would have been
assessed under the Investment Options had the Investment Option been available
under Fund during the period shown.
 
The following performance information represents the percentage change in the
value of an Accumulation Unit of the Investment Options for the periods
indicated, and reflects all expenses of the Investment Options. The chart
reflects the guaranteed maximum .75% mortality and expense risk charge. The
rates of return do not reflect the front-end sales charge (which is deducted
from premium payments) nor do they reflect Monthly Deduction Amounts. These
charges would reduce the average annual return reflected.
 
The surrender charges and Monthly Deduction Amounts for a hypothetical Insured
are depicted in the Example following the Rates of Returns. See "Charges and
Deductions" for more information regarding fees assessed under the Policy. For
illustrations of how these charges affect Contract Values and Death Benefits,
see "Illustrations." The performance information described in this prospectus
may be used from time to time in advertisement for the Policy, subject to
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and applicable state
approval and guidelines.
 
The table below shows the net annual rates of return for accumulation units of
investment options available through the Variable Life Policy.
 
                                       A-1
<PAGE>   44
 
                    AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS THROUGH 12/31/98
 
               TRAVELERS CORPORATE VARIABLE LIFE FUND PERFORMANCE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           INCEPTION                                               SINCE
                THE FUND                     DATE       YTD      1 YR    3 YR    5 YR    10 YR   INCEPTION
- -----------------------------------------  ---------   ------   ------   -----   -----   -----   ---------
<S>                                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
Warburg Pincus Trust Emerging Markets
  Portfolio..............................   Dec-97     -16.49%  -16.49%   --      --      --      -16.49%
Lazard International Stock Portfolio.....   Aug-96      12.15%   12.15%   --      --      --       11.58%
Smith Barney International Equity
  Portfolio..............................   Jun-94       5.99%    5.99%   8.29%   --      --        6.82%
Delaware Premium Small Cap Value Series..   Dec-93      -5.23%   -5.23%  15.23%   --      --       12.64%
Dreyfus Small Cap Portfolio..............   Aug-90      -3.89%   -3.89%   9.04%  12.20%            25.88%
Travelers Disciplined Small Cap Stock
  Portfolio..............................   May-98       --       --      --      --      --      -11.00%
Delaware REIT Series.....................   May-98       --       --      --      --      --       -9.21%
Salomon Brothers Variable Capital Fund...   Feb-98       --       --      --      --      --       17.64%
Strong Schafer Value Fund II.............   Oct-97       1.57%    1.57%   --      --      --        0.37%
Travelers Disciplined Mid-Cap Stock
  Portfolio..............................   Apr-97       --       --      --      --      --      -11.00%
MFS Emerging Growth Portfolio............   Aug-96      33.71%   33.71%   --      --      --       25.71%
AIM Capital Appreciation Portfolio.......   Oct-95      16.57%   16.57%  14.13%   --      --       11.64%
Montgomery Variable Series: Growth Fund..   Feb-96       2.46%    2.46%   --      --      --       19.17%
MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio.............   Mar-98       --       --      --      --      --        0.26%
Large Cap Portfolio (Fidelity)...........   Aug-96      34.93%   34.93%   --      --      --       30.94%
Equity Income Portfolio (Fidelity).......   Aug-96      11.86%   11.86%   --      --      --       23.58%
NWQ Large Cap Portfolio..................   Jul-98       --       --      --      --      --       -0.23%
OCC Accumulation Trust Equity
  Portfolio..............................   Aug-88      11.33%   11.33%  19.90%  19.75%  17.23%    16.67%
Alliance Growth Portfolio................   Dec-85      20.68%   20.68%  23.99%  20.07%  15.97%    15.12%
Capital Appreciation Fund (Janus)........   Dec-85      60.91%   60.91%  37.14%  27.12%  20.74%    16.44%
Dreyfus Capital Appreciation Portfolio...   Apr-93      29.59%   29.59%  27.34%  23.01%   --       21.05%
Salomon Brothers Variable Investors
  Fund...................................   Feb-98       --       --      --      --      --       10.12%
Smith Barney Large Capitalization Growth
  Portfolio..............................   May-98       --       --      --      --      --       24.24%
Van Kampen Enterprise Portfolio..........   Jun-94      24.39%   24.39%  24.79%   --      --       24.21%
Salomon Brothers Variable Total Return
  Fund...................................   Feb-98       --       --      --      --      --        5.38%
MFS Total Return Portfolio...............   Jun-94      11.16%   11.16%  15.20%   --      --       14.93%
Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager
  Portfolio..............................   Sep-89      14.51%   14.51%  16.19%  11.29%   --       12.45%
Bankers Trust EAFE Equity Index Fund.....   Oct-97      20.88%   20.88%   --      --      --       14.76%
Bankers Trust Small Cap Index Fund.......   Oct-97      -2.59%   -2.59%   --      --      --       -6.32%
Equity Index Portfolio...................   Nov-91      27.76%   27.76%  27.59%  23.70%   --       20.58%
Travelers U.S. Government Securities
  Portfolio..............................   Jan-92       9.69%    9.69%   7.49%   7.65%   --        7.87%
Travelers Convertible Bond Portfolio.....   May-98       --       --      --      --      --       -1.65%
Putnam Diversified Income Portfolio......   Jun-94       0.22%    0.22%   4.98%                     7.17%
Travelers High Yield Bond Trust..........   Jun-83       6.07%    6.07%  12.43%   9.94%   8.98%     8.59%
Salomon Brothers Variable Strategic Bond
  Fund...................................   Feb-98       --       --      --      --      --        5.84%
Diversified Strategic Income Portfolio...   Dec-92       5.39%    5.39%   7.16%   6.43%   --        7.46%
American Odyssey Intermediate-Term Bond
  Fund...................................   May-93       7.98%    7.98%   6.13%   5.77%   --        5.80%
Travelers Money Market Portfolio.........   Dec-87       4.58%    4.58%   4.28%   3.78%   4.42%     4.62%
Utilities Portfolio......................   Feb-94      17.62%   17.62%  16.20%   --      --       15.69%
Social Awareness Stock Portfolio.........   May-92      31.60%   31.60%  25.80%  20.70%   --       17.86%
Jurika & Voyles Core Equity Portfolio....   Jul-98       --       --      --      --      --        3.68%
MFS Research Portfolio...................   Mar-98       --       --      --      --      --        5.43%
Strategic Stock Portfolio................   May-98       --       --      --      --      --       -5.93%
</TABLE>
 
                                       A-2
<PAGE>   45
 
                                   APPENDIX B
                                TARGET PREMIUMS
                            ALL UNDERWRITING CLASSES
                             STANDARD AND PREFERRED
                             SMOKER AND NON-SMOKER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  AGE        MALE      FEMALE     UNISEX
  ---        ----      ------     ------
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>
20...       25.49885   21.35312   24.67777
21...       26.25533   22.05852   25.42278
22...       27.04281   22.79038   26.19845
23...       27.86586   23.54970   27.00937
24...       28.72917   24.33773   27.85695
25...       29.63486   25.15422   28.74463
26...       30.58643   26.00205   29.67441
27...       31.58335   26.88113   30.64690
28...       32.62452   27.79141   31.66258
29...       33.71079   28.73438   32.72066
30...       34.84316   29.71150   33.82174
31...       36.02088   30.72326   34.96677
32...       37.24380   31.77143   36.15529
33...       38.51130   32.85823   37.38654
34...       39.82501   33.98300   38.66183
35...       41.18470   35.14808   39.98270
36...       42.59063   36.35310   41.34755
37...       44.04142   37.59596   42.75638
38...       45.53736   38.87592   44.20922
39...       47.07884   40.19069   45.70492
40...       48.66485   41.53957   47.24193
41...       50.29448   42.92135   48.82045
42...       51.96862   44.33684   50.44101
43...       53.68801   45.78699   52.10416
44...       55.45241   47.27608   53.81251
45...       57.26368   48.80417   55.56579
46...       59.12431   50.37449   57.36606
47...       61.03580   51.99103   59.21574
48...       63.00258   53.65371   61.11856
49...       65.02827   55.36365   63.07747
50...       67.11449   57.12257   65.09434
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  AGE        MALE      FEMALE     UNISEX
  ---        ----      ------     ------
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>
51...       69.26320   58.93024   67.16829
52...       71.47047   60.78640   69.29887
53...       73.73607   62.68726   71.48414
54...       76.05516   64.63067   73.71929
55...       78.42689   66.61974   76.00345
56...       80.85354   68.65902   78.34017
57...       83.34160   70.75893   80.73560
58...       85.90006   72.93427   83.20014
59...       88.53960   75.19989   85.74576
60...       91.26869   77.56483   88.37912
61...       94.09169   80.03119   91.10324
62...       97.00755   82.59477   93.91915
63...      100.01297   85.23864   96.81869
64...      103.10493   87.94870   99.79450
65...      106.28342   90.71791  102.84656
66...      109.56101   93.55528  105.98510
67...      112.96034   96.48236  109.23156
68...      116.51614   99.53950  112.62104
69...      120.26554  102.77254  116.19089
70...      124.23658  106.21512  119.96965
71...      128.44465  109.89099  123.97439
72...      132.88796  113.80393  128.20151
73...      137.54435  117.93734  132.63054
74...      142.38323  122.27404  137.23573
75...      147.39278  126.80803  142.00609
76...      152.58944  131.55967  146.95678
77...      158.02373  136.57999  152.13912
78...      163.78802  141.95257  157.64536
79...      169.99253  147.77602  163.58178
80...      176.72991  154.13846  170.04077
</TABLE>
 
                                       B-1
<PAGE>   46
 
                                   APPENDIX C
                      CASH VALUE ACCUMULATION TEST FACTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ATTAINED
  AGE        MALE     FEMALE    UNISEX
- --------     ----     ------    ------
<S>        <C>       <C>       <C>
   20      633.148%  729.902%  634.212%
   21      614.665%  706.514%  615.406%
   22      596.465%  683.789%  596.908%
   23      578.611%  661.708%  578.729%
   24      560.815%  640.288%  560.856%
   25      543.379%  619.481%  543.379%
   26      526.258%  599.296%  526.258%
   27      509.509%  579.740%  509.509%
   28      493.139%  560.793%  493.139%
   29      477.198%  542.436%  477.198%
   30      461.701%  524.666%  461.701%
   31      446.663%  507.462%  446.663%
   32      432.102%  490.804%  432.102%
   33      418.008%  474.701%  418.008%
   34      404.389%  459.135%  404.389%
   35      391.242%  444.108%  391.242%
   36      378.572%  429.635%  378.572%
   37      366.371%  415.712%  366.371%
   38      354.629%  402.342%  354.629%
   39      343.340%  389.510%  343.340%
   40      332.495%  377.202%  332.495%
   41      322.076%  365.390%  322.076%
   42      312.066%  354.046%  312.066%
   43      302.451%  343.130%  302.451%
   44      293.213%  332.625%  293.213%
   45      284.333%  322.505%  284.333%
   46      275.796%  312.743%  275.796%
   47      267.583%  303.331%  267.583%
   48      259.681%  294.258%  259.681%
   49      252.082%  285.511%  252.082%
   50      244.777%  277.080%  244.777%
   51      237.768%  268.956%  237.768%
   52      231.048%  261.136%  231.048%
   53      224.616%  253.611%  224.616%
   54      218.462%  246.362%  218.462%
   55      212.574%  239.368%  212.574%
   56      206.935%  232.606%  206.935%
   57      201.529%  226.050%  201.529%
   58      196.343%  219.684%  196.343%
   59      191.366%  213.506%  191.366%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ATTAINED
  AGE        MALE     FEMALE    UNISEX
- --------     ----     ------    ------
<S>        <C>       <C>       <C>
   60      186.595%  207.521%  186.595%
   61      182.029%  201.744%  182.029%
   62      177.668%  196.192%  177.668%
   63      173.510%  190.877%  173.510%
   64      169.549%  185.796%  169.549%
   65      165.775%  180.933%  165.775%
   66      162.175%  176.268%  162.175%
   67      158.734%  171.774%  158.734%
   68      155.443%  167.434%  155.443%
   69      152.298%  163.242%  152.296%
   70      149.296%  159.205%  149.296%
   71      146.446%  155.337%  146.446%
   72      143.754%  151.657%  143.754%
   73      141.225%  148.174%  141.225%
   74      138.855%  144.893%  138.855%
   75      142.252%  142.252%  142.252%
   76      140.077%  140.077%  140.077%
   77      138.021%  138.021%  138.021%
   78      136.067%  136.067%  136.067%
   79      134.206%  134.206%  134.206%
   80      132.698%  132.698%  132.698%
   81      131.020%  131.020%  131.020%
   82      129.445%  129.445%  129.445%
   83      127.981%  127.981%  127.981%
   84      126.623%  126.623%  126.623%
   85      120.411%  120.411%  120.411%
   86      119.280%  119.280%  119.280%
   87      118.211%  118.211%  118.211%
   88      117.185%  117.185%  117.185%
   89      116.182%  116.182%  116.182%
   90      115.177%  115.177%  115.177%
   91      114.146%  114.146%  114.146%
   92      113.058%  113.058%  113.058%
   93      111.887%  111.887%  111.887%
   94      110.625%  110.625%  110.625%
   95      109.295%  109.295%  109.295%
   96      107.982%  107.982%  107.982%
   97      106.958%  106.958%  106.958%
   98      106.034%  106.034%  106.034%
   99      103.603%  103.603%  103.603%
</TABLE>
 
                                       C-1


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