PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE CO SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
DEF 14A, 1999-03-17
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<PAGE>
 
                                UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
        
Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] 

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement         [_]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
                                              COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
                                              RULE 14A-6(E)(2))

[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement 

[_]  Definitive Additional Materials 

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

            PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

            PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

   
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required

[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

   
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      

     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (5) Total fee paid:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------

[_]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
     
[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
     was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
 
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     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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     (3) Filing Party:
      
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     (4) Date Filed:

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Notes:
<PAGE>
 
PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE,
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 37402 TELEPHONE: (423)755-8913



                                  March 15, 1999







The Annual Meeting of Contractowners who hold contracts issued pursuant to
Provident National Assurance Company Separate Account B will be held at 9:00
a.m. on April 13, 1999, at the Provident Companies, Inc. building, Investment
Conference Room, 6N, 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402.  You have
the right to cast votes at this meeting.

Enclosed are the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card.
Please sign and return the proxy in the enclosed envelope so that it will be
received by the Board of Managers of Separate Account B NO LATER THAN April 12,
1999.  You may keep all other material.  If you are present at the meeting, you
may vote in person even though you have sent in your proxy.

Your contract/certificate number and the total number of votes you may cast are
shown above on the proxy.


                                  Yours sincerely,


                                   /s/ Susan N. Roth
                                  ________________________
                                  Susan N. Roth
                                  Secretary, Board of Managers

Enclosures
<PAGE>
 
PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402
Telephone: (423) 755-8913



                             Mailed March 15, 1999


                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF CONTRACTOWNERS
                                 April 13, 1999



Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the owners of contracts for which
reserves are held in Separate Account B (the "Separate Account") of Provident
National Assurance Company (the " Company"), which meeting shall be held at 9:00
a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 1999, at the Provident Companies, Inc. building,
Investment Conference Room, 6N, 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee
37402.  The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following:

1.   Election of three (3) members of the Board of Managers of the Separate
     Account whose terms shall run until the next annual meeting or until their
     successors are duly elected and qualified;

2.   Ratification of the selection and appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
     independent auditors for the Separate Account; and

3.   Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting
     and any adjournment thereof.

The date fixed by the Board of Managers as the record date for the determination
of contract owners entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting is at the
close of business on February 26, 1999.  A contract owner will be entitled to
vote only if he was the owner on the record date and is still the owner on the
date of the meeting.

It is important that your vote be represented at the meeting.  Please refer to
the enclosed material for detailed information on voting procedures and return
the proxy card as soon as possible.



                                    /s/ Susan N. Roth
                                   ________________________
                                   Susan N. Roth
                                   Secretary, Board of Managers



Enclosures
<PAGE>
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT


This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of Managers of Provident National Assurance Company Separate
Account B (the "Separate Account") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Contractowners to be held on Tuesday, April 13, 1999, at 9:00 a.m. at the
Provident Companies, Inc. building, Investment Conference Room, 6N, 1 Fountain
Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402.  The cost of soliciting the proxies will
be borne by Provident National Assurance Company (the "Company").  Proxies may
be solicited by telephone, by mail or in person by directors, officers, agents,
or regular employees of the Company who will not be compensated for such
services.  The Administrator has also contracted with Management Information
Services, and ADP Company ("MIS") to provide proxy mailing and collection
services to the Separate Account.  The costs of these services will be paid by
the Administrator.  Contractowners may revoke their proxies at any time prior to
the voting thereof by submitting written notice of revocation to the Company at
1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402.  Any Contractowner attending
the meeting may vote in person, whether or not a proxy has been previously
submitted.

The annual report to Contractowners covering operations of the Separate Account
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, including financial statements is
enclosed with this Proxy Statement.

On the record date, February 26, 1999, there were outstanding 1,030,700.9605
units of the Separate Account with a total value of $15,995,050.36 entitling the
Contractowners to one vote for each dollar of value represented by units
credited to such persons as of such record date.  Contractowners of record at
the close of business on February 26, 1999, who are still Contractowners on
April 12, 1999, will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Units eligible to be voted for which a proxy card is properly signed and
returned prior to the beginning of the Annual Meeting will be voted as directed.
If directions are not given or directions are not in accordance with the options
listed on a signed and returned proxy card, such units will be voted FOR each
proposition for which the Board of Managers recommends a vote FOR.

Unsigned or unreturned proxies will not be counted for quorum or voting
purposes.  For issues as to which it is a choice on the proxy, a vote to abstain
will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, and
counted as an "ABSTENTION" rather than as either a vote "FOR" or "AGAINST."

For purposes of the Annual Meeting, a quorum is the presence in person or by
proxy of a majority in interest of the Contractowners.  A quorum being present,
vote of the majority of the quorum of outstanding units represented in person or
by proxy will determine the adoption or rejection of the matters specified in
the Notice.
<PAGE>
 
                         ELECTION OF BOARD OF MANAGERS
                                  (Proposal 1)


Contractowners are asked to vote for the re-election of nominees Henry E.
Blaine, H. Grant Law and David G. Fussell to serve as members of the Board of
Managers until the earlier of the next annual meeting or until their successors
are duly elected and qualified.  Mr. Blaine has served since 1977, Mr. Law since
January, 1991, and Mr. Fussell, the Chairman, since April 1993.  None of the
nominees owns or has any interest in Separate Account units.  Each of the
nominees has consented to serve if elected.  If any of the proposed nominees
should become unavailable for any reason, the Board of Managers may designate
another person to serve in his place.


The following table sets forth present position and principal occupation(s) of
each nominee:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Present Positions and Principal
Nominees                                          Occupations During Last Five Year
- --------                                          --------------------------------
<S>                                              <C> 
David G. Fussell*                                Chairman of the Board of Managers; Vice President,
1 Fountain Square                                Private Placements, Provident Investment
Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402                    Management, LLC, Provident Companies, Inc.,
Age:  51                                         Provident Life and Accident Insurance
                                                 Company; Provident Life and Casualty
                                                 Insurance Company

Henry E. Blaine#                                 Board Member; President, Chief
2418 90th Street, NW                             Operating Officer, Chief Financial
Bradenton, Florida  34209                        Officer and Member of the Board of Directors,
Age:  69                                         Bedminster Bio Corp.; B&B Enterprises,
                                                 Partner

H. Grant Law, Jr.#                               Board Member; President, Newton
213 W. Fleetwood Drive                           Chevrolet, Inc.; President, Newton
Lookout Mountain, Tennessee  37350               Oldsmobile - GMC Truck Mitsubishi, Inc.
Age:  52
</TABLE>


#NOTE: Member:  Audit Committee.

*NOTE: Interested person of Separate Account B as that term is defined in the
       Investment Company Act of 1940 by virtue of his being an officer of the
       Investment Adviser.

The Separate Account does not have a nominating committee.

Mr. Fussell is an affiliated person of the Separate Account and the Company.
Susan N. Roth, Secretary of the Board of Managers, also serves as  Secretary of
the Company.

During 1998 there were four meetings of the Board of Managers and two meetings
of the Audit Committee.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS


The Company, pursuant to its Underwriting Agreement with the Separate Account,
paid all expenses relative to the operation of the Separate Account including
Board of Managers fees.  Accordingly, no member of the Board of Managers
receives any remuneration from the Separate Account.  The Company paid aggregate
fees of $4,000, payable on a monthly basis, to members of the Board of Managers
for service during 1998.  Each Board member, other than Mr. Fussell, will
receive $2,000 per year for serving on the Board.  Mr. Fussell received no
remuneration from the Company based on his membership on the Board.

            THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT, THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATOR

Information about the Separate Account:

The Separate Account is an open-end diversified investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"), and is a separate account
through which the Company sets aside, separate and apart from its general
assets, assets attributable to its variable annuity contracts (which ceased to
be actively marketed in 1984).

Information about the Company:

The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Companies, Inc.  Provident
Companies, Inc., ("Provident") was organized in 1995 under the laws of Delaware
and is the parent holding company for a group of insurance companies that
collectively operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, all the
provinces and territories of Canada and Puerto Rico.  Provident, through its
subsidiaries, is the largest provider of individual disability insurance and the
second largest overall disability insurer in North America.  It also provides a
complementary portfolio of life insurance products, including life insurance,
employer and employee paid group benefits and related services.  The Company is
a Tennessee stock life insurance company.  The Company serves as insurer,
principal underwriter, and as an investment adviser to the Separate Account.

The Company has historically also served as administrator of the Separate
Account.  On April 29, 1998, the Board of Managers approved a Separate Account
Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 15, 1998, between the Company and
The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company ("VALIC"), whereby VALIC became the
Administrator of the Separate Account.  The change in administrator did not
result in any changes in administration and sales fees.  On a periodic basis,
the Administrator reports to the Board of Managers on the Separate Account and
on the services provided pursuant to the Agreement.


          INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER AND INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Information about Provident Investment Management, LLC ("PRIMCO"):

PRIMCO is a Tennessee limited liability company organized in October 1997.  It
is owned by Provident and one of its subsidiaries, The Paul Revere Life
Insurance Company ("Paul Revere Life").  PRIMCO is registered with the SEC as an
investment adviser.  Its principal offices are located at 1 Fountain Square,
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402.  Its predecessor was The Paul Revere Investment
Management Company, with whom it was merged in 1997.  The managers of PRIMCO are
also officers of the Company.  The members of the Board of Governors of PRIMCO
are officers of the Company.  The personnel employed by

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
PRIMCO consist primarily of individuals who were previously employed in the
investment operations of Provident or its insurance subsidiaries, and who were
contributed to PRIMCO under a Contribution Agreement between Provident Life and
Accident Insurance Company and Paul Revere Life, respectively, and PRIMCO in
consideration for their respective interests in PRIMCO.  Essentially, the same
persons who have provided investment services to the Company and to the Separate
Account will continue to do so, but they are employed by a different legal
entity.

As well as providing investment management services to the Provident companies,
PRIMCO also provides investment management services to other insurance
companies.  As of December 31, 1998, PRIMCO had over $15 billion in assets under
management.

Information about the Sub-Advisory Agreement:

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Company is specifically authorized
to employ one or more sub-advisers in connection with the services to be
performed and obligations to be assumed by the Company.  Pursuant to that
authority, the Company entered into the Sub-Advisory Agreement effective June
25, 1998.

Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, PRIMCO, subject to the supervision of the
Company and the Board of Managers of the Separate Account, is responsible for
providing investment advisory services to the Company for the portfolio of the
Separate Account in accordance with investment objectives and guidelines
provided by the Company.  In providing these services, PRIMCO is authorized to
buy, sell, exchange, convert and otherwise trade in securities in the portfolio,
and place orders for the execution of such transactions with or through such
brokers, dealers, or issuers as it selects.  PRIMCO provides the Company with a
value of the portfolio on a daily basis.  PRIMCO provides such reports to the
Company and the Board of Managers as are reasonably required, and attends
meetings of the Board of Managers on a quarterly basis.

For providing such investment sub-advisory services, the Company pays PRIMCO
compensation in the amount of .15% per annum, based on the average market value
of the Separate Account as of the last business day of each calendar month in
the quarter.  The fee is payable quarterly by the Company.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that it shall continue in effect for an
initial term ending June 30, 1999, and thereafter from year to year so long as
its continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of a majority of the
Board of Managers of the Separate Account or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding units of the Separate Account and (b) by the vote of a majority of
the members of the Board of Managers of the Separate Account who are not parties
to the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement or interested
persons (as defined in the Act) of any such party, by vote cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

Any Amendment to the Sub-Advisory Agreement must be approved by (i) the Board of
Managers of the Separate Account or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
Units of the Separate Account, and (ii) the majority of those members of the
Board of Managers of the Separate Account who are not parties to the Advisory
Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement, as the case may be, or interested
persons of such a party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such an approval.  The Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated
without penalty by the Board of Managers of the Separate Account or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding units of the Separate Account, upon 30 days' written
notice to the Company, and it terminates automatically in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the Act).  The Sub-Advisory Agreement also provides
that PRIMCO shall not be subject to any liability in connection with the
performance of its services under the agreement in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its respective
obligations or duties.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
              INVESTMENT ADVISER AND INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Information about the Investment Advisory Agreement:

On April 12, 1977, the Contractowners approved, and on April 11, 1978, amended,
an Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 21, 1977, in compliance with the
requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.   The most recent approval
of the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Company by the Board of Managers,
including a majority of members who are not parties to the agreement nor
interested persons of such parties, occurred on March 12, 1999.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Company and the
Separate Account, the Company continuously provides the Board of Managers of the
Separate Account with an investment program and recommendations on the purchase
and sale of investments for its consideration.  The Company has the
responsibility for placing orders for purchases and sales.  For providing
investment advice, the Company, under the Investment Advisory Agreement,
receives a monthly fee in an amount equal to .0020% of the value of the Separate
Account each business day (approximately 0.50% on an annual basis).  The
aggregate amounts deducted by the Company during fiscal years 1996, 1997, and
1998 were $67,237, $72,873, and $75,117, respectively, for investment advice.

The Investment Advisory Agreement:

1. May not be terminated by the Company without the prior approval of a new
   investment advisory agreement by a majority of the outstanding voting
   securities of the Separate Account, but may be terminated without the payment
   of any penalty, on 60 days written notice by the Board of Managers or by a
   majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Separate Account;

2. Shall continue in effect for a period more than two years from the date of
   its execution, only so long as such continuation is specifically approved at
   least annually by (a) a majority of the Board of Managers of the Separate
   Account, or (b) a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
   Separate Account; and in either event by a majority of the members of the
   Board of Managers who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons
   of such party, casting their votes in person at a meeting called for the
   purpose of voting on such approval;

3. Cannot be amended without prior approval by the vote of a majority of the
   outstanding voting securities of the Separate Account and by a vote of a
   majority of the members of the Board of Managers, including a vote by a
   majority of the members of the Board of Managers who are not parties to the
   agreement or interested persons of such party, cast in person at a meeting
   called for the purpose of voting on such approval; and

4. Will terminate automatically if assigned.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                 PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF
                      PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY


The names and principal occupations of the principal executive officers and
directors of the Company are set forth below.  The business address of the
officers of the Company is Provident National Assurance Company, 1 Fountain
Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402, unless otherwise specified.


                        Position with Investment Adviser and
Name                      Provident, and Principal Occupation
- ----                    --------------------------------------
                      
                      
J. Harold Chandler      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the
                        Company; Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                        Officer, and Director, Provident; Director, AmSouth
                        Bancorporation; Director, Herman Miller, Inc., Storage
                        Technology Corporation.

Thomas R. Watjen        Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, and Director,
                        the Company; Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
                        and Director, Provident.

Robert O. Best          Executive Vice President and Chief Information
                        Officer/Client Services, the Company; Executive Vice
                        President and Chief Information Officer/Client Services,
                        Provident

F. Dean Copeland        Executive Vice President and General Counsel, the
                        Company; Executive Vice President and General Counsel,
                        Provident

Thomas B. Heys, Jr.     Executive Vice President, Institutional Sales, the
                        Company; Executive Vice President, Institutional Sales,
                        Provident

Peter C. Madeja         Executive Vice President, the Company; Executive Vice
                        President, Provident; President and CEO of GENEX
                        Services, Inc.

Ralph A. Rogers, Jr.    Senior Vice President and Treasurer, the Company; Senior
                        Vice President and Treasurer, Provident

Robert C. Greving       Senior Vice President and Actuary, the Company; Senior
                        Vice President and Actuary, Provident

Vicki W. Corbett        Vice President and Controller, the Company; Vice
                        President and Controller, Provident

Susan N. Roth           Secretary, the Company; Secretary, Provident



                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
William L. Armstrong    Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Chairman of
                        Ambassador Media Corporation; Chairman of Cherry Creek
                        Mortgage Company, Inc.; Chairman of El Paso Mortgage
                        Company; Chairman of Centennial State Mortgage Company;
                        Chairman of Frontier Real Estate, Inc.; Chairman of
                        Frontier Title, LLC; Chairman of Transland Financial
                        Services, Inc.; Director, Storage Technology
                        Corporation; Director, Helmerich and Payne, Inc.

William H. Bolinder     Director, the Company; Director, Provident; member of
                        the Corporate Executive Board, Zurich Insurance Company;
                        Chairman, Director of life and non-life operations in
                        the U. S., Zurich Group.

Charlotte M. Heffner    Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Trustee of
                        The Maclellan Foundation.

Hugh B. Jacks           Director, the Company; Director, Provident; President,
                        Potential Enterprises, Inc.

Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr.  Director, the Company; Director, Provident; President,
                        The Maclellan Foundation; Director, SunTrust Bank;
                        Director, Covenant Transport.

A. S. MacMillan         Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Chief
                        Executive Officer, Team Resources, Inc.; Trustee, The
                        Maclellan Foundation.

C. William Pollard      Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Chairman of
                        the Board, The ServiceMaster Company; Director, Herman
                        Miller, Inc.;

Scott L. Probasco, Jr.  Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Chairman,
                        Executive Committee, SunTrust Bank; Director, Chattem,
                        Inc.; Director, SunTrust Banks, Inc.; Director, Coca
                        Cola Enterprises.

Steven S Reinemund      Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Chairman and
                        Chief Executive Officer, Frito-Lay, Inc.; Director,
                        PepsiCo; Director, The ServiceMaster Company.

Burton E. Sorensen      Director, the Company; Director, Provident; Director,
                        The ServiceMaster Company.



There were no directors or principal executive officers of the Company who owned
of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding units in Separate
Account B on February 26, 1999.



                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
                    AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS

The Audit Committee met twice in 1998 and performed the following functions:

   a. Review the scope, plan, timing and results of the audit;

   b. Review with auditors and management the appropriateness and the
      implementation of applicable procedures for internal auditing, accounting
      and financial control; and

   c. Review of auditors' opinion and discussion with auditors of their
      experiences in conducting the audit.


                RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                                  (Proposal 2)


On March 12, 1999, the Board of Managers, including a majority of members who
are not interested persons of the Separate Account, selected Ernst & Young LLP
to continue as independent auditors for the ensuing year.  This selection was
made pursuant to a recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Separate
Account.  Ernst & Young LLP has served as independent auditors for the Separate
Account since August 21, 1967.  This firm is also the independent auditor for
the Company.  Ernst & Young LLP has no direct or indirect financial interest in
the Separate Account.  All fees relating to audit services performed for the
Separate Account are paid by the Company.  A representative of Ernst & Young LLP
will be available at the annual meeting and will be allowed to make a statement
if he desires and/or respond to appropriate questions.  The Board of Managers
recommends the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve until
the next annual meeting.


                                   BROKERAGE


The Company has responsibility for placing orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities of Separate Account B under its Investment Advisory
Agreement.  With respect to such purchases and sales, the primary objective is
to obtain the most favorable prices and execution of orders on behalf of
Separate Account B.  With respect to transactions executed in the over-the-
counter market, the Company will deal only with principal market makers unless
more favorable prices are otherwise available.

The Company does not expect to use any one particular broker or dealer, but
subject to obtaining the best prices and executions, brokers who provide
statistical information and supplemental research to the Company for pricing and
appraisal services utilized by the Company may receive orders for transactions.
It is not possible to determine the exact value of such statistical information
and supplemental research provided to the Company.  The total brokerage
commissions paid by the Separate Account during the periods ending December 31,
1996, 1997, and 1998 were $10,619, $9,871, and $4,288, respectively.  The
portfolio turnover rates for 1996, 1997, and 1998 were 28%, 25%, and 11%,
respectively.



                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                           DISTRIBUTION OF CONTRACTS

On February 1, 1984 the Company ceased making a public offering of variable
annuity contracts issued pursuant to Separate Account B.  Prior to that time the
contracts were distributed through broker-dealers who were registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
were members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  During
1998, commissions of approximately $788.43 were paid to broker-dealers with
respect to the Separate Account variable annuity contracts.  Of that amount,
approximately $ -0- was paid to registered representatives affiliated with the
Company.


                            CONTRACTOWNER PROPOSALS

To be considered for presentation at the April 11, 2000, Annual Meeting of
Contractowners, Contractowners' proposals must be received by the Separate
Account at 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402, no later than
December 31, 1999.


                                   LITIGATION

There are no legal proceedings pending to which the Company or the Separate
Account is a party, or to which their property is subject.



                                 OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Managers of the Separate Account knows of no other matters which
may come before the meeting.  However, if any matters other than those referred
to above should properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their
best judgment.



                              BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS


                              /s/ David G. Fussell
                              ________________________________________
                              David G. Fussell, Chairman



                                      -9-
<PAGE>





 





                                     PROXY
            PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
                         PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
                               BOARD OF MANAGERS


The undersigned hereby appoints David G. Fussell and Susan N. Roth or either of
them, with full power of substitution and revocation, to represent and to cast
the votes of the undersigned as shown on the reverse side at the Annual Meeting
of Contractowners of Provident National Assurance Company Separate Account B to
be held at 9:00 a.m. on April 13, 1999, and at any adjournment thereof, with
respect to the proposals below and as set forth in the Notice.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of 
Contractowners and the Proxy Statement issued by the Board of Managers and 
revokes any Proxy heretofore given with respect to the votes covered by this 
Proxy.

                                                                           

                                Dated
                                     ----------------



                                [                                              ]

                                Contractowner Signature(s) Title (if Applicable)


<PAGE>
 










This proxy when properly executed will be voted as directed. IN THE ABSENCE OF
ACCOMPANYING DIRECTION BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR 
PROPOSALS ONE AND TWO.

           Please vote by filling in the appropriate box(es) below.


<TABLE>
<C> <S>                                                                            <C>                    <C>         <C> 
1.  ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS (Board of Managers                        FOR            WITHHOLD
    favors a vote FOR)                                                             all nominees listed    AUTHORITY
                                                                                     (except as marked
    Henry E. Blaine,  David G. Fussell  and  H. Grant Law                         to the contrary at left)

    INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write           [_]               [_]
    the nominee's name on the space provided below.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------           FOR             AGAINST     ABSTAIN
2.  PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP           
    AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR SEPARATE ACCOUNT B.                                    [_]               [_]         [_]
    (Board of Managers favors a vote FOR)                                           
                                                                                    
3.  In their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the   
    meeting and any adjournment thereof.                                            
                                                                                    

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