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Exhibit 15
Board of Directors and Stockholders
UnumProvident Corporation
We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 No. 33-47551, Form S-8 No. 33-88108, Form S-8 No. 333-40219, Form S-8
No. 33-62231, Form S-8 No. 333-81669 and Form S-8 No. 333-81969) of Provident
Companies, Inc. pertaining to the Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company
MoneyMaker, A Long-Term 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, the Provident Life and
Accident Insurance Company Stock Plan of 1994, the Provident Life and Accident
Insurance Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan of 1995, the Provident Life and
Accident Insurance Company Management Incentive Compensation Plan of 1994, The
Paul Revere Savings Plan, Provident Companies, Inc. Stock Plan of 1999,
Provident Companies, Inc., Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan of 1998,
Employee Stock Option Plan of 1998, and Amended and Restated Annual Management
Incentive Compensation Plan of 1994, the UnumProvident Corporation 1987
Executive Stock Option Plan, UnumProvident Corporation Plan 1996 Long-Term Stock
Incentive Plan, and UnumProvident Corporation 1998 Goals Stock Option Plan, and
in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-17849) of Provident Companies,
Inc. for the registration of 9,523,810 shares of its common stock of our report
dated August 9, 2000 relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim
financial statements of UnumProvident Corporation and subsidiaries which are
included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000.
Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, our report is not a part
of the registration statements prepared or certified by accountants within the
meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chattanooga, Tennessee
August 9, 2000
