NATIONWIDE LIFE & ANNUITY VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT A /OH/
485BPOS, 1997-04-24
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<PAGE>   1

              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                       '33 Act File No. 33-22940
                                                       '40 Act File No. 811-5606

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM N-4

                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
                                   ACT OF 1933
   
                       Post-Effective Amendment No. 12      [X]
    
                                       and
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                         INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
   
                              Amendment No. 14              [X]
    

                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                               (Name of Depositor)

                   One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215
         (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (614) 249-7111

   Gordon E. McCutchan, Secretary, One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

      This Post-Effective amendment amends the Registration Statement in respect
of the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and the Financial
Statements.

      It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
space):

[_]   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

   
[X]   on May 1, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
    

[_]   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485

[_]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485

[_]   this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
      previously filed post-effective amendment.

   
The Registrant has registered an indefinite number of securities by a prior
registration statement in accordance with Rule 24f-2 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Pursuant to Paragraph (a)(3) thereof, a non-refundable fee
in the amount of $500 has been paid to the Commission. Registrant filed its Rule
24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, on February 25, 1997.
    

================================================================================


                                    1 of 95                             REDLINED
<PAGE>   2

                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
                     REFERENCE TO ITEMS REQUIRED BY FORM N-4

Caption in Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and Other
Information

N-4 Item                                                                    Page
Part A    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS
   
    Item   1.   Cover page....................................................3
    Item   2.   Definitions...................................................4
    Item   3.   Synopsis or Highlights.......................................10
    Item   4.   Condensed Financial Information..............................11
    Item   5.   General Description of Registrant, Depositor, and 
                  Portfolio Companies........................................13
    Item   6.   Deductions and Expenses......................................16
    Item   7.   General Description of Variable Annuity Contracts............19
    Item   8.   Annuity Period...............................................26
    Item   9.   Death Benefit and Distributions..............................26
    Item  10.   Purchases and Contract Value.................................19
    Item  11.   Redemptions..................................................22
    Item  12.   Taxes........................................................31
    Item  13.   Legal Proceedings............................................38
    Item  14.   Table of Contents of the Statement of 
                   Additional Information....................................38
    

Part B   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
   
    Item  15.   Cover Page...................................................41
    Item  16.   Table of Contents............................................41
    Item  17.   General Information and History..............................41
    Item  18.   Services.....................................................41
    Item  19.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered.........................42
    Item  20.   Underwriters.................................................42
    Item  21.   Calculation of Performance Information.......................42
    Item  22.   Annuity Payments.............................................44
    Item  23.   Financial Statements.........................................45
    

Part C   OTHER INFORMATION
   
    Item  24.   Financial Statements and Exhibits............................77
    Item  25.   Directors and Officers of the Depositor......................79
    Item  26.   Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control 
                  with the Depositor or Registrant...........................81
    Item  27.   Number of Contract Owners....................................88
    Item  28.   Indemnification..............................................88
    Item  29.   Principal Underwriter........................................88
    Item  30.   Location of Accounts and Records.............................89
    Item  31.   Management Services..........................................89
    Item  32.   Undertakings.................................................89
    


                                    2 of 95
<PAGE>   3

                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

   
                                   Home Office
                                 P.O. Box 182008
          Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008, 1-800-533-5622, TDD 1-800-238-3035
    

                 INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
             ISSUED BY NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                    THROUGH NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A

      The Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts described in this
prospectus are flexible purchase payment contracts (collectively referred to as
the "Contracts"). The Contracts are sold to individuals for use in retirement
plans which may qualify for special federal tax treatment under the Internal
Revenue Code (the "Code"). Annuity payments under the Contracts are deferred
until a selected later date.

      Purchase Payments allocated to the Nationwide VA Separate Account-A
("Variable Account"), a separate account of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company (the "Company") are used to purchase shares at net asset value
in one or more of the following underlying Mutual Funds:

                           AVAILABLE FOR ALL CONTRACTS
                        Nationwide Separate Account Trust
                           -Capital Appreciation Fund
                               -Money Market Fund
                              -Government Bond Fund
                 -Total Return Fund (formerly Common Stock Fund)

   
                 AVAILABLE FOR CONTRACTS ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY
       1, 1991 American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. an affiliate of
                      American Century(SM) Companies, Inc.
                         -American Century VP Advantage
    

                    Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund
                                -Growth Portfolio
                  Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust
                               -Balanced Portfolio

   
      This prospectus provides you with the basic information you should know
about the Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts issued by the
Nationwide VA Separate Account-A before investing. You should read it and keep
it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated May 1,
1997, containing further information about the Contracts and the Nationwide VA
Separate Account-A has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You can obtain a copy without charge from Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance
Company by calling the number listed above, or writing P. O. Box 182008,
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008.
    

INVESTMENTS IN THESE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY ANY BANK. INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND AN
INVESTMENT IN THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUND OPTIONS INVOLVES CERTAIN INVESTMENT RISK
WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

   
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 1997, IS INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION APPEARS ON PAGE 36 OF THE PROSPECTUS.

                   THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 1, 1997.
    


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                                    3 of 95
<PAGE>   4

                            GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

Accumulation Unit- An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the Variable
Account Contract Value prior to the Annuitization Date.

Annuitant- The person designated to receive annuity payments and upon whose
continuation of life any annuity payment involving life contingencies depends.
This person must be age 78 or younger at the time of Contract issuance. The
Annuitant may be changed prior to the Annuitization Date with the consent of the
Company.

Annuitization Date-The date on which annuity payments actually commence.

Annuity Commencement Date- The date on which the annuity payments are scheduled
to commence. The Annuity Commencement Date is shown on the Data Page of the
Contract, and is subject to change by the Owner.

Annuity Payment Option- The chosen form of annuity payments. Several options are
available under this Contract.

Annuity Unit- An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the value of
Variable Annuity payments.

Beneficiary- The Beneficiary is the person designated to receive certain
benefits under the Contract upon the death of the Designated Annuitant prior to
the Annuitization Date. The Beneficiary can be changed by the Contract Owner as
set forth in the Contract.

Code- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company- Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company.

Contingent Beneficiary- The Contingent Beneficiary is the person designated to
be the Beneficiary if the named Beneficiary is not living at the time of the
death of the Designated Annuitant.

Contract- The Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contract described in this
prospectus.

Contract Anniversary- An anniversary of the Date of Issue of the Contract.

Contract Owner (Owner)- The person who possesses all rights under the Contract,
including the right to designate and change the Owner, Designated Annuitant,
Beneficiary, Contingent Beneficiary, Annuity Payment Option, and Annuity
Commencement Date. If a Joint Owner is named in the application, references to
"Contract Owner" or "Owner" in this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, will
apply to both the Owner and Joint Owner.

Contract Value- The sum of the value of all Accumulation Units attributable to
the Contract plus any amount held under the Contract in the Fixed Account.

Contract Year- Each year the Contract remains in force, starting with the Date
of Issue.

Date of Issue-The date shown as the Date of Issue on the Contract Data Page of
the Contract.

   
Death Benefit- The benefit payable upon the death of the Annuitant prior to
Annuitization. This benefit does not apply upon the death of the Contract Owner
when the Owner and Designated Annuitant are not the same person. If the
Annuitant dies after the Annuitization Date, any benefit that may be payable
shall be as specified in the Annuity Payment Option elected.
    

Distribution- Any payment of part or all of the Contract Value

ERISA- Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

   
Fixed Account- The Fixed Account is made up of all assets of the Company other
than those in any segregated asset account of the company.
    

Fixed Account Contract Value- The sum of the value credited, including interest,
to the Fixed Account attributable to this Contract.

Fixed Annuity- An annuity providing for payments which are guaranteed by the
Company as to dollar amount during the annuity payment period.

Home Office- The main office of the Company located in Columbus, Ohio.


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                                    4 of 95
<PAGE>   5

Individual Retirement Annuity- An annuity which qualifies for favorable tax
treatment under Section 408 of the Code.

Interest Rate Guarantee Period- An Interest Rate Guarantee Period is the
interval of time in which an interest rate credited to the Fixed Account under
the Contract is guaranteed to remain the same. For Purchase Payments into the
Fixed Account or transfers from the Variable Account, this period begins upon
the date of deposit or transfer and ends at the end of the calendar quarter at
least one year from deposit or transfer. At the end of an Interest Rate
Guarantee Period, a new interest rate is declared with an Interest Rate
Guarantee Period starting at the end of the prior period and ending at the end
of the calendar quarter one year later.

Joint Owner-The Joint Owner, if any is named, possesses an undivided interest in
the entire Contract, along with the Owner. When a Joint Owner is named, the
exercise of any ownership right under the Contract shall require written
authorization, signed by both the Owner and Joint Owner, of an intent to
exercise such right, unless the Owner and Joint Owner provide in the application
that the exercise of any such ownership right may be made by either the Owner or
Joint Owner independently of one another. Unless otherwise indicated, references
to "Contract Owner" or "Owner" in this prospectus will apply to both the Owner
and Joint Owner.

Mutual Fund (Fund)- The registered management investment company in which the
assets of the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account will be invested.

Non-Qualified Contract- A Contract which does not qualify for favorable tax
treatment under Sections 401 and 403(a), 408 or 403(b) of the Code.

   
Plan Participant-The Plan Participant is the person for whom contributions are
being made to a Qualified Plan or Tax Sheltered Annuity either through employer
contributions or employee salary reduction contributions.
    

Purchase Payment- A deposit of new value into the Contract. The term "Purchase
Payment" does not include transfers between the Variable Account and Fixed
Account, or among the Sub-Accounts.

Qualified Contract- A Contract issued to a Qualified Plan.

   
Qualified Plan- A retirement plan which receives favorable tax treatment under
the provisions of the Code, including those described in Section 401 and 403(a).

SEP IRA- A retirement plan which receives favorable tax treatment under the
provisions of Section 408(k) of the Code.
    

Sub-Accounts- Separate and distinct divisions of the Variable Account, to which
specific Mutual Fund shares are allocated and for which Accumulation Units and
Annuity Units are separately maintained.

Tax Sheltered Annuity-An annuity which qualifies for favorable tax treatment
under Section 403(b) of the Code.

Valuation Date- Each day the New York Stock Exchange and the Company's Home
Office are open for business or any other day during which there is a sufficient
degree of trading of the Variable Account's underlying Mutual Fund shares that
the current net asset value of its Accumulation Units might be materially
affected.

   
Valuation Period- The period of time commencing at the close of one Valuation
Date and ending at the close of business for the next succeeding Valuation Date.
    

Variable Account- The Nationwide VA Separate Account-A, a separate investment
account of the Company into which Variable Account Purchase Payments are
allocated. The Variable Account is divided into Sub-Accounts, each of which
invests in the shares of a separate Mutual Fund.

Variable Account Contract Value-The sum of the value of all Variable Account
Accumulation Units attributable to this Contract.

Variable Annuity- An annuity providing for payments which are not predetermined
or guaranteed as to dollar amount and which vary in amount with the investment
experience of the Variable Account.


                                       3


                                    5 of 95
<PAGE>   6

                                Table of Contents

   
GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS.....................................................2
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES..................................................6
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES........................................6
SYNOPSIS......................................................................8
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION...............................................9
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY............................................11
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT.........................................................11
           Underlying Mutual Fund Options....................................11
           Nationwide Separate Account Trust.................................12
           American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., an affiliate 
             of American Century(SM) Companies Inc...........................12
           Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund.........................13
           Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust......................13
           Voting Rights.....................................................13
           Substitution of Securities........................................14
VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS................................14
           Expenses of the Variable Account..................................14
           Mortality Risk Charge.............................................14
           Expense Risk Charge...............................................14
           Contract Maintenance and Administration Charge....................15
           Contingent Deferred Sales Charge..................................15
           Waiver of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge....................16
           Premium Taxes.....................................................17
OPERATION OF THE CONTRACT....................................................17
           Investments of the Variable Account...............................17
           Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value................17
           Value of an Accumulation Unit.....................................17
           Net Investment Factor.............................................18
           Valuation of Assets...............................................18
           Determining the Contract Value....................................18
           Right to Revoke...................................................18
           Transfers.........................................................19
           Contract Ownership Provisions.....................................19
           Joint Ownership Provisions........................................20
           Beneficiary Provisions............................................20
           Surrender (Redemption)............................................20
           Surrenders Under a Qualified Contract or Tax-Sheltered 
             Annuity Contract................................................21
           Loan Privilege....................................................21
           Assignment........................................................23
           Contract Owner Services...........................................23
            Asset Rebalancing................................................23
            Dollar Cost Averaging............................................23
            Systematic Withdrawals...........................................24
ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD, DEATH BENEFIT, AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS...............24
           Annuity Commencement Date.........................................24
           Change in Annuity Commencement Date...............................24
           Annuity Payment Period-Variable Account...........................24
           Value of an Annuity Unit..........................................24
           Assumed Investment Rate...........................................25
           Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments..........................25
           Change in Form of Annuity...........................................
           Annuity Payment Options...........................................25
           Death of Contract Owner Provisions-Non-Qualified Contracts........25
           Death of Annuitant Provisions- Non-Qualified Contracts............26
           Death of the Owner/Annuitant Provisions...........................26
           Death Benefit Payment Provisions..................................26
           Required Distribution Provisions for Non-Qualified Contracts......26
    


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                                    6 of 95
<PAGE>   7

   
           Required Distributions For Qualified Plans or Tax 
             Sheltered Annuities.............................................27
           Required Distributions for Individual Retirement 
             Annuities and SEP IRAs..........................................28
           Generation-Skipping Transfers.....................................29
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS...................................................29
           Federal Income Taxes..............................................29
           Non-Qualified Contracts-Natural Persons as Owners.................29
           Non-Qualified Contracts-Non-Natural Persons as Owners.............30
           Qualified Plans, Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP 
             IRAs, and Tax Sheltered Annuities...............................31
           Withholding.......................................................31
           Non-Resident Aliens...............................................32
           Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes......32
           Charge for Tax Provisions.........................................32
           Diversification...................................................32
           Tax Changes.......................................................33
GENERAL INFORMATION..........................................................33
           Contract Owner Inquiries..........................................33
           Statements and Reports............................................33
           Advertising.......................................................34
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS............................................................36
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.....................36
APPENDIX ....................................................................37
    


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                                    7 of 95
<PAGE>   8

                          SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES

CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

      Maximum Deferred Sales Charge(1)..............................    7     %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Range of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Over Time
Number of Completed Years from                  Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
   Date of Purchase Payment                                Percentage
               0                                               7%
               1                                               6%
               2                                               5%
               3                                               4%
               4                                               3%
               5                                               2%
               6                                               1%
               7                                               0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAXIMUM CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE(2)..............................    $30
VARIABLE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
       Mortality and Expense Risk Charges...........................    1.25   %
       Administration Charge........................................    0.05   %
           Total Variable Account Annual Expenses...................    1.30   %

(1)   Starting with the second year after a Purchase payment has been made, the
      Contract Owner may withdraw, without a CDSD, the greater of: (a) an
      amount equal to 10% of that Purchase Payment or (b) any amount withdrawn
      from this Contract to meet minimum distribution requirements under the
      Code. This CDSD-free withdrawal privilege is non-cumulative; that is,
      free amounts not taken during any given Contract Year cannot be taken as 
      free amounts in a subsequent Contract Year. Withdrawals may be 
      restricted for Contracts issued pursuant to the terms of a Tax Sheltered 
      Annuity or other Qualified Plan. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is 
      imposed only against Purchase Payments (see "Waiver of the Contingent 
      Deferred Sales Charge").

(2)   The annual Contract Maintenance Charge is deducted on each Contract
      Anniversary and in any year in which the entire Contract Value is
      surrendered, on the date of Surrender (see "Contract Maintenance Charge
      and Administration Charge").

                     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES(3)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Management          Other Expenses         Total Portfolio
                                                    Fees                                    Company Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>                  <C>                     <C>  
American Century Variable Portfolios,               1.00%                0.00%                   1.00%
Inc.-American Century VP Advantage*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation Fund                      0.50%                0.02%                   0.52%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                              0.50%                0.03%                   0.53%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                           0.50%                0.01%                   0.51%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                              0.50%                0.02%                   0.52%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N&B Advisers Management Trust-                      0.85%                0.23%                   1.08%
Balanced Portfolio*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-Growth Portfolio*                 0.61%                0.08%                   0.69%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
</TABLE>

   
(3)   The Mutual Fund expenses shown above are assessed at the underlying Mutual
      Fund level and are not direct charges against separate account assets or
      reductions from Contract Values. These underlying Mutual Fund expenses are
      taken into consideration in computing each underlying Mutual Fund's net
      asset value, which is the share price used to calculate the Variable
      Account's unit value. The management fees and other expenses are more 
      fully described in the prospectus for each underlying Mutual Fund. The
      information relating to the underlying Mutual Fund expenses was provided
      by the underlying Mutual Fund and was not independently verified by the
      Company.
    

*Only available for Contracts issued on or after May 1, 1991.


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                                    8 of 95
<PAGE>   9

                                     EXAMPLE

The following chart depicts the dollar amount of expenses that would be incurred
under this Contract assuming a $1000 initial Purchase Payment and 5% annual
return. These dollar figures are illustrative only and should not be considered
a representation of past or future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or
less than those shown below. The expense amounts presented are derived from a
formula which allows the $30 Contract Maintenance Charge to be expressed as a
percentage of the average Contract account size for existing Contracts. Since
the average Contract account size for Contracts issued under this prospectus is
greater than $1000, the expense effect of the Contract Maintenance Charge is
reduced accordingly.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      If you surrender your     If you do not surrender your      If you annuitize your
                   Contract at the end of the    Contract at the end of the    Contract at the end of the
                     applicable time period        applicable time period        applicable time period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1 Yr.  3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs.  1 Yr.  3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs.  1 Yr.  3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>   <C>    <C>     <C>      <C>    <C>   <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>   <C>     <C>
American Century    96    126    165     293      26     81    138     293      *      81    138     293
Variable
Portfolios,
Inc.-American
Century VP
Advantage**
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital        90    108    136     234      20     63    109     234      *      63    109     234
Appreciation Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money          91    109    136     235      21     64    109     235      *      64    109     235
Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government     90    108    135     233      20     63    108     233      *      63    108     233
Bond Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total          90    108    136     234      20     63    109     234      *      63    109     234
Return Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Advisors      96    126    165     293      26     81    138     293      *      81    138     293
Management
Trust-Balanced
Portfolio**
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP        92    114    145     253      22     69    118     253      *      69    118     253
Fund- Growth
Portfolio**
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
</TABLE>

*  The Contracts sold under this prospectus do not permit annuitizations
   during the first two Contract Years.
** Only available for Contracts issued on or after May 1, 1991.

      The purpose of the Summary of Contract Expenses and Example is to assist
the Contract Owner in understanding the various costs and expenses that will be
borne directly or indirectly. The expenses of the Nationwide VA Separate
Account-A as well as those of the underlying Mutual Fund options are reflected
in the table. For more complete descriptions of the expenses of the Variable
Account, see "Variable Account Charges, Purchase Payments, and Other
Deductions." For more complete information regarding expenses paid out of the
assets of a particular underlying Mutual Fund option, see the underlying Mutual
Fund's prospectus. Deductions for premium taxes may also apply but are not
reflected in the Example above (see "Premium Taxes").


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                                    9 of 95
<PAGE>   10

                                    SYNOPSIS

   
      The Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts described in this
prospectus are designed for use in connection with the following types of
Contracts: (1) Non-Qualified, (2) Individual Retirement Annuities, (3) Tax
Sheltered Annuities, (4) SEP IRAs and (5) Qualified.
    

      The Company does not deduct a sales charge from Purchase Payments made for
these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such Contracts is
surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct from the Contract
Owner's Contract Value a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge not to exceed 7% of
the lesser of the total of all Purchase Payments made within 84 months prior to
the date of the request to surrender, or the amount surrendered. This charge,
when applicable, is imposed to permit the Company to recover sales expenses
which have been advanced by the Company (see "Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge").

      In addition, on each Contract Anniversary the Company will deduct an
annual Contract Maintenance Charge of $30 from the Contract Value of the
Contracts. The Company will also assess an Administration Charge equal to an
annual rate of .05% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. These
charges are to reimburse the Company for administrative expenses related to the
issue and maintenance of the Contracts. The Company does not expect to recover
from these charges an amount in excess of accumulated administrative expenses
(see "Contract Maintenance Charge and Administration Charge"). The Company
deducts a Mortality Risk Charge equal to an annual rate of 0.80% of the daily
net asset value of the Variable Account for mortality risk assumed by the
Company (see "Mortality Risk Charge"). The Company deducts an Expense Risk
Charge equal to an annual rate of 0.45% of the daily net asset value of the
Variable Account as compensation for the Company's risk in undertaking not to
increase administrative charges on the Contracts regardless of the actual
administrative costs (see "Expense Risk Charge").

      The initial first year Purchase Payment must be at least $1,500 for
Non-Qualified Contracts. However, if periodic Purchase Payments are expected by
the Company, this initial first year minimum may be satisfied by Purchase
Payments made on an annualized basis. The cumulative total of all Purchase
Payments under Contracts issued on the life of any one Designated Annuitant may
not exceed $1,000,000 without the prior consent of the Company (see "Allocation
of Purchase Payments and Contract Value").

   
      Upon Annuitization, the selected Annuity Payment Option will begin (see
"Annuity Payment Option" ). However, if the net amount to be applied to any
Annuity Payment Option is less than $500, the Contract Value may be distributed
in one lump sum in lieu of annuity payments. If any annuity payment would be
less than $20, the Company shall have the right to change the frequency of
payments to such intervals as will result in payments of at least $20. In no
event will annuity payments be made less frequently than annually (see
"Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments").

      The Company will charge against the Purchase Payments or the Contract
Value, the amount of any premium taxes levied by a state or any other
governmental entity (see "Premium Taxes").

      To be sure that the Contract Owner is satisfied with the Contract, the
Contract Owner has a ten day free look. Within ten days of the day the Contract
is received, it may be returned to the Home Office of the Company, at the
address shown on page 1 of this prospectus. If a Contract is returned to the
Company in a timely manner, the Company will void the Contract and refund the
Contract Value in full unless otherwise required by state and/or federal law.
State and/or Federal law may provide additional free look privileges. All
Individual Retirement Annuity refunds will be return of Purchase Payments (see
"Right to Revoke").
    


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                                    10 of 95
<PAGE>   11

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Accumulation Unit Values for an Accumulation Unit outstanding throughout the
period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Accumulation      Accumulation        Percent         Number Of
                         Unit Value        Unit Value        Change in       Accumulation
                        At Beginning         At End        Accumulation      Units At End
         Fund             Of Period        Of Period        Unit Value        Of Period           Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>              <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C> 
American Century          13.047149        14.067634           7.82%           554,216            1996
Variable Portfolios,  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inc.-                     11.322395        13.047149          15.23%           579,792            1995
American Century VP   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage-Q               11.353606        11.322395          -0.27%           637,521            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.766992        11.353606           5.45%           631,100            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.335232        10.766992          -5.01%           567,361            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.335232          13.35%            81,644            1991
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century          13.047149        14.067634           7.82%           361,130            1996
Variable Portfolios,  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inc.-                     11.322395        13.047149          15.23%           381,019            1995
American Century VP   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage-NQ              11.353606        11.322395          -0.27%           435,585            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.766992        11.353606           5.45%           394,569            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.335232        10.766992          -5.01%           381,308            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.335232          13.35%            74,095            1991
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century          13.802855        15.079515           9.25%            25,000            1996
Variable Portfolios,  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inc.-                     11.822996        13.802855          16.75%            25,000            1995
American Century VP   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage                 11.701906        11.822996           1.03%            25,000            1994
Initial Funding by    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depositor                 10.953160        11.701906           6.84%            25,000            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.380926        10.953160          -3.76%            25,000            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.380926          13.81%            25,000            1991
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     14.442619        17.979967          24.49%           266,039            1996
Capital Appreciation  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Q                    11.311683        14.442619          27.68%           225,959            1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.564256        11.311683          -2.18%           208,910            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.689287        11.564256           8.19%           147,387            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.689287           6.89%            76,891            1992
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     14.442619        17.979967          24.49%           203,910            1996
Capital Appreciation  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-NQ                   11.311683        14.442619          27.68%           150,819            1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.564256        11.311683          -2.18%           133,507            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.689287        11.564256           8.19%            83,313            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.689287           6.89%            26,931            1992
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     13.190835        13.684658           3.74%           198,448            1996
Money Market          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Q*                   12.648732        13.190835           4.29%           198,306            1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.335970        12.648732           2.54%           243,508            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.163583        12.335970           1.42%           219,425            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.918088        12.163583           2.06%            81,507            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.409868        11.918088           4.45%            30,026            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.697214        11.409868           6.66%            12,581            1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.697214           6.97%            7,499             1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     13.190835        13.684658           3.74%            77,424            1996
Money Market          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-NQ*                  12.648732        13.190835           4.29%           116,648            1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.335970        12.648732           2.54%           201,493            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.163583        12.335970           1.42%            22,994            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.918088        12.163583           2.06%            17,994            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.409868        11.918088           4.45%            17,458            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.697214        11.409868           6.66%            7,048             1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.697214           6.97%            5,810             1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
</TABLE>


                                       9


                                    11 of 95
<PAGE>   12

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Continued
Accumulation Unit Values for an Accumulation Unit outstanding throughout the
period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Accumulation      Accumulation        Percent         Number Of
                         Unit Value        Unit Value        Change in       Accumulation
                        At Beginning         At End        Accumulation      Units At End
         Fund             Of Period        Of Period        Unit Value        Of Period           Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>              <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C> 
NSAT-                     17.796519        18.176386           2.13%           980,638            1996
Government Bond       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Q                    15.183984        17.796519          17.21%          1,126,015           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          15.897022        15.183984          -4.49%          1,239,363           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          14.70659         15.897022           8.09%          1,367,157           1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.813851        14.706659           6.46%           752,340            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.992728        13.813851          15.19%           274,658            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.097621        11.992728           8.07%            57,830            1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.097621          10.98%            20,484            1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     17.796519        18.176386           2.13%           925,418            1996
Government Bond       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-NQ                   15.183984        17.796519          17.21%          1,070,693           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          15.897022        15.183984          -4.49%          1,252,040           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          14.706659        15.897022           8.09%          1,621,366           1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.813851        14.706659           6.46%           907,407            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.992728        13.813851          15.19%           273,526            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.097621        11.992728           8.07%            26,224            1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.097621          10.98%            12,219            1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     19.046261        22.903028          20.25%          1,595,854           1996
Total Return          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Q                    14.947703        19.046261          27.42%          1,532,690           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          14.983077        14.947703          -0.24%          1,489,726           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.685960        14.983077           9.48%           940,099            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.817934        13.685960           6.77%           422,454            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           9.377328        12.817934          36.69%           211,385            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.331410         9.377328          -9.23%           104,570            1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.331410           3.31%            36,803            1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-                     19.046261        22.903028          20.25%          1,212,306           1996
Total Return Fund-NQ  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          14.947703        19.046261          27.42%          1,144,873           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          14.983077        14.947703          -0.24%          1,101,155           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.685960        14.953077           9.48%           695,447            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.817934        13.685960           6.77%           260,054            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           9.377328        12.817934          36.69%           134,155            1991
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.331410         9.377328          -9.23%            69,634            1990
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.331410           3.31%            9,802             1989
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-        17.260484        19.539984            13.21%        2,179,554           1996
Growth Portfolio-Q    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.918431        17.260484          33.61%          2,115,940           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.090637        12.918431          -1.32%          2,002,526           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.110754        13.090637          17.82%          1,261,476           1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.110754          11.11%           230,277            1992
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund         17.260484        19.539984          13.21%          1,424,891           1996
Growth Portfolio-NQ   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.918431        17.260484          33.61%          1,355,537           1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          13.090637        12.918431          -1.32%          1,277,932           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.110754        13.090637          17.82%           774,591            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        11.110754          11.11%           106,598            1992
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman        14.230121        15.011108           5.49%           972,426            1996
Management Trust-     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balanced Portfolio-Q      11.649194        14.230121          22.16%          1,005,274           1995
                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.212412        11.649194          -4.61%          1,054,136           1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.622919        12.212412           5.07%           865,795            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.898230        11.622919           6.65%           340,227            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.898230           8.98%            75,420            1991
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman        14.230121        15.011108           5.49%           692,598            1996
Management Trust-     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balanced Portfolio-NQ     11.649194        14.230121          22.16%           720,442            1995
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          12.212412        11.649194          -4.61%           750,875            1994
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          11.622919        12.212412           5.07%           585,961            1993
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.898230        11.622919           6.65%           220,551            1992
                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          10.000000        10.898230           8.98%            60,640            1991
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* The 7-day yield on the Money Market Fund as of December 30, 1996 was 3.64%.
    


                                       10


                                    12 of 95
<PAGE>   13

                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, formerly Financial Horizons
Life Insurance Company, is a stock life insurance company organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio and was established in February 1981. The Company is a
member of the "Nationwide Insurance Enterprise" with its Home Office at One
Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Company offers certain life
insurance products and annuities.

                              THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

      The Variable Account was established by the Company on May 6, 1987,
pursuant to the provisions of Ohio law. On April 6, 1988, the name of the
Variable Account was established as the "Financial Horizons VA Separate
Account-1." The name of the Variable Account was subsequently changed to the
"Nationwide VA Separate Account-A" pursuant to a resolution by the Board of
Directors. The Company has caused the Variable Account to be registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust pursuant to the
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Such registration does not
involve supervision of the management of the Variable Account or the Company by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      The Variable Account is a separate investment account of the Company and,
as such, is not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business
the Company may conduct. The Company does not guarantee the investment
performance of the Variable Account. Obligations under the Contracts, however,
are obligations of the Company. Income, gains and losses, whether or not
realized, from the assets of the Variable Account are, in accordance with the
Contracts, credited to or charged against the Variable Account without regard to
other income, gains, or losses of the Company.

      Purchase Payments are allocated within the Variable Account among one or
more Sub-Accounts made up of shares in the underlying Mutual Fund option(s) as
designated by the Contract Owner. There are two Sub-Accounts within the Variable
Account for each of the underlying Mutual Fund options which may be designated
by the Contract Owner. One such Sub-Account contains the underlying Mutual Fund
shares attributable to Accumulation Units under Qualified Contracts and one such
Sub-Account contains the underlying Mutual Fund shares attributable to
Accumulation Units under Non-Qualified Contracts.

Underlying Mutual Fund Options

   
      A summary of investment objectives is contained in the description of each
underlying Mutual Fund option below. More detailed information may be found in
the current prospectus for each underlying Mutual Fund option offered. Such a
prospectus for the underlying Mutual Fund option(s) should be read in
conjunction with this prospectus. A copy of each prospectus may be obtained
without charge from Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company by calling
(800) 533-5622, TDD 1-800-238-3035, or writing P.O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio
43218-2008.
    

      The underlying Mutual Funds may also be available to registered separate
accounts offering variable annuity and variable life products of other
participating insurance companies, as well as to the Variable Account and other
separate accounts of the Company. Although the Company does not anticipate any
disadvantages to this, there is a possibility that a material conflict may arise
between the interest of the Variable Account and one or more of the other
separate accounts participating in the underlying Mutual Funds. A conflict may
occur due to a change in law affecting the operations of variable life and
variable annuity separate accounts, differences in the voting instructions of
the Contract Owners and those of other companies, or some other reason. In the
event of a conflict, the Company will take any steps necessary to protect
Contract Owners and variable annuity payees, including withdrawal of the
Variable Account from participation in the underlying Mutual Fund or Mutual
Funds which are involved in the conflict.

      Contract Owners may choose from among the following underlying Mutual Fund
options under the Contracts. There can be no assurance that any of the
underlying Mutual Fund options will achieve its objectives.


                                       11


                                    13 of 95
<PAGE>   14

                           AVAILABLE FOR ALL CONTRACTS

Nationwide Separate Account Trust

      Nationwide Separate Account Trust (the "Trust") is a diversified open-end
management investment company created under the laws of Massachusetts. The Trust
offers shares in the four separate mutual funds listed below, each with its own
investment objectives. Currently, shares of the Trust will be sold only to life
insurance company separate accounts to fund the benefits under variable
insurance or annuity policies issued by life insurance companies. The assets of
the Trust are managed by Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. of One Nationwide
Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company.

     -Capital Appreciation Fund

      Investment Objective: This Fund is designed for investors who are
      interested in long-term growth. This Fund seeks to meet its objective
      primarily through a diversified portfolio of the common stock of companies
      which the investment manager determines have a better-than-average
      potential for sustained capital growth over the long term.

     -Money Market Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek as high a level of current income as is
      considered consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity by
      investing primarily in money market instruments.

     -Government Bond Fund

      Investment Objective: To provide as high a level of income as is
      consistent with the preservation of capital. It seeks to achieve its
      objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities issued or
      backed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

     -Total Return Fund

      Investment Objective: To obtain a reasonable long-term total return (i.e.,
      earnings growth plus potential dividend yield) on invested capital from a
      flexible combination of current return and capital gains through
      investments in common stocks, convertible issues, money market instruments
      and bonds with a primary emphasis on common stocks.

             AVAILABLE FOR CONTRACTS ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 1991

   
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., an affiliate of American Century
Companies, Inc.

      American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. was organized as a Maryland
corporation in 1987. It is a diversified, open-end management investment
company, designed only to provide investment vehicles for variable annuity and
variable life insurance products of insurance companies. A member of the
American Century Family of Mutual Funds, American Century Variable Portfolios is
managed by Investors Research Corporation.

     -American Century VP Advantage
    

      Investment Objective: To seek current income and capital growth by
      investing in three types of securities. The Fund's investment manager
      intends to invest approximately (i) 20% of the Fund's assets in securities
      of the United States government and its agencies and instrumentalities and
      repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities with a weighted
      average maturity of six months or less, i.e., cash or cash equivalents;
      (ii) 40% of the Fund's assets in fixed income securities of the United
      States government and its agencies and instrumentalities with a weighted
      average maturity of three to ten years; and (iii) 40% of the Fund's assets
      in equity securities that are considered by management to have
      better-than-average prospects for appreciation. Assets will be purchased
      or sold, as the case may be, as is necessary in response to changes in
      market value to maintain the asset mix of the Fund's portfolio at
      approximately 60% cash, cash equivalents and fixed income securities and
      40% equity securities. There can be no assurance that the fund will
      achieve its investment objective.

   
      (Although the Statement of Additional Information for American Century
Variable Portfolios, Inc. refers to redemptions of securities in kind under
certain conditions, all surrendering or redeeming Contract Owners will receive
cash from the Company.)
    


                                       12


                                    14 of 95
<PAGE>   15

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund

      The Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund ("Fund") is an open-end,
diversified, management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business
trust on November 13, 1981. The Fund's shares are purchased by insurance
companies to fund benefits under variable insurance and annuity policies.
Fidelity Management & Research Company ("FMR") is the Fund's manager.

     -Growth Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek capital appreciation. This Portfolio will
      invest in the securities of both well-known and established companies, and
      smaller, less well-known companies which may have a narrow product line or
      whose securities are thinly traded. These latter securities will often
      involve greater risk than may be found in the ordinary investment
      security. FMR's analysis and expertise plays an integral role in the
      selection of securities and, therefore, the performance of the Portfolio.
      Many securities which FMR believes would have the greatest potential may
      be regarded as speculative, and investment in the Portfolio may involve
      greater risk than is inherent in other mutual funds. It is also important
      to point out that the Portfolio makes most sense for Contract Owners who
      can afford to ride out changes in the stock market, because it invests
      primarily in common stocks. FMR also can make temporary investments in
      securities such as investment-grade bonds, high-quality preferred stocks
      and short-term notes, for defensive purposes when it believes market
      conditions warrant.

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust

      Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust ("Trust") is an open-end
diversified management investment company established as a Massachusetts
business trust on December 14, 1983. Shares of the Trust are offered in
connection with certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
policies issued through life insurance company separate accounts. The shares of
the Trust are also offered directly to qualified pension and retirement plans
outside of the separate account context. The investment adviser is Neuberger &
Berman Management Incorporated.

     -Balanced Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To provide long-term capital growth and reasonable
      current income without undue risk to principal. This Portfolio will seek
      to achieve its objective through investment of a portion of its assets in
      common stocks and a portion of its assets in debt securities. The
      investment adviser anticipates that the Balanced Portfolio's investments
      will normally be managed so that approximately 60% of the Portfolio's
      total assets will be invested in common stocks and the remaining assets
      will be invested in debt securities. However, depending on the investment
      adviser's views regarding current market trends, the common stock portion
      of the Portfolio's investments may be adjusted downward to as low as 50%
      or upward to as high as 70%. At least 25% of the Portfolio's assets will
      be invested in fixed income senior securities.

Voting Rights

      Voting rights under the Contracts apply ONLY with respect to Purchase
Payments or accumulated amounts allocated to the Variable Account.

      In accordance with its view of present applicable law, the Company will
vote the shares of the underlying Mutual Funds held in the Variable Account at
regular and special meetings of the shareholders of the underlying Mutual Funds.
These shares will be voted in accordance with instructions received from
Contract Owners who have an interest in the Variable Account. If the Investment
Company Act of 1940 or any regulation thereunder should be amended or if the
present interpretation thereof should change, and as a result the Company
determines that it is permitted to vote the shares of the underlying Mutual
Funds in its own right, it may elect to do so.

   
      The Contract Owner shall be the person having the voting interest under
the Contract. The number of underlying Mutual Fund shares attributable to each
Contract Owner is determined by dividing the Contract Owner's interest in each
respective Sub-Account of the Variable Account by the net asset value of the
underlying Mutual Fund corresponding to the Sub-Account. The number of shares
which a Contract Owner has the right to vote will be determined as of the date
to be chosen by the Company not more than 90 days prior to the meeting of the
underlying Mutual Fund and voting instructions will be solicited by written
communication at least 21 days prior to such meeting.
    


                                       13


                                    15 of 95
<PAGE>   16

      Each person having the voting interest in the Variable Account will
receive periodic reports relating to the underlying Mutual Fund, proxy material
and a form with which to give such voting instructions. Underlying Mutual Fund
shares held in the Variable Account as to which no timely instructions are
received will be voted by the Company in the same proportion as the voting
instructions which are received with respect to all Contracts participating in
the Variable Account.

Substitution of Securities

   
      If the shares of the underlying Mutual Fund options described in this
prospectus should no longer be available for investment by the Variable Account
or, if in the judgment of the Company's management, further investment in such
underlying Mutual Fund shares should become inappropriate, the Company may
eliminate Sub-Accounts, combine two or more Sub-Accounts or substitute shares of
one or more underlying Mutual Funds for other underlying Mutual Fund shares
already purchased or to be purchased in the future by Purchase Payments under
the Contract. No substitution of securities in the Variable Account may take
place without prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission, under
such requirements as it may impose.
    

                  VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS

Expenses of the Variable Account

      The Variable Account is responsible for the following types of expenses:
(1) administration expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contract; (2) mortality risk charge associated with guaranteeing the annuity
purchase rates at issue for the life of the Contracts; and (3) expense risk
charge associated with guaranteeing expenses through the deduction by the
Company of the Mortality Risk, Expense Risk, Contract Maintenance and
Administration Charges described in this prospectus. If these charges are
insufficient to cover these expenses, the loss will be borne by the Company.

   
      Deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of the underlying
Mutual Funds are described in each underlying Mutual Funds' prospectuses. The
Company deducts from the assets of the Variable Account the types of expenses
covered by the charges described above. These total expenses for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996, were 1.60% of average net assets.
    

Mortality Risk Charge

      The Company assumes a "mortality risk" by virtue of annuity rates
incorporated into the Contract which cannot be changed regardless of the death
rates of persons receiving such payments or of the general population.

      For assuming this mortality risk, the Company deducts a Mortality Risk
Charge from the Variable Account. This amount is computed on a daily basis and
is equal to an annual rate of 0.80% of the daily net asset value of the Variable
Account. The deduction of the Mortality Risk Charge is made from each
Sub-Account in the same proportion that the value in each Sub-Account bears to
the total Variable Account Contract Value. The Company expects to generate a
profit through assessing this charge.

Expense Risk Charge

      The Company will not increase charges for administration of the Contracts
regardless of its actual expenses. For assuming this expense risk, the Company
deducts an Expense Risk Charge from the Variable Account. This amount is
computed on a daily basis and is equal to an annual rate of 0.45% of the daily
net asset value of the Variable Account. The deduction of the Expense Risk
Charge is made from each Sub-Account in the same proportion that the value in
each Sub-Account bears to the total Variable Account Contract Value. The Company
expects to generate a profit through assessing this charge.


                                       14


                                    16 of 95
<PAGE>   17

Contract Maintenance Charge and Administration Charge

      Each year on the Contract Anniversary, (and on the date of surrender in
any year in which the entire Contract Value is surrendered), the Company deducts
an annual Contract Maintenance Charge from the Contract Value to reimburse it
for administrative expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contract. The Contract Maintenance Charges are as follows:

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

        Amount                           Type of Contract Issued
- ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
                              - Non-Qualified Plans
                              - Individual Retirement Annuities
                              - Tax Sheltered  Annuities  (sold prior to May
        $30.00                  1, 1992)
                              -  Qualified  Contracts  (sold prior to May 1,
                                1992)(1).
- ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
                              - Tax Sheltered  Annuity  Contracts  issued on
        $12.00                  or after May 1, 1992. (2)
- ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
                              - Qualified  Contracts  and SEP-IRA  Contracts
    $30.00 to $0.00             issued on or after May 1, 1992. (3)
- ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------

(1) If additional Contracts are or were issued pursuant to a 401 plan funded by
Contracts prior to May 1, 1992, such additional Contracts shall have a Contract
Maintenance Charge of $30.00.

(2) This charge may be lowered to reflect the Company's savings in
administration of the plan.

(3) Variances are based on internal underwriting guidelines which can result in
reductions of charges in incremental amounts of $5.00. Underwriting
considerations include the size of the group, the average participant account
balance transferred to the Company, if any, and administrative savings.

      The deduction of the Contract Maintenance Charge is made from each
Sub-Account and the Fixed Account in the same proportion that the Value of the
Sub-Account or Fixed Account bears to the total Contract Value. In any Contract
Year when a Contract is surrendered for its full value on a date other than the
Contract Anniversary, the Contract Maintenance Charge will be deducted at the
time of such surrender. The amount of the Contract Maintenance Charge may not
be increased by the Company. In no event will reduction or elimination of the
Contract Maintenance Charge be permitted where such reduction or elimination
will be unfairly  discriminatory to any person, or where it is prohibited by
state law.

      The Company also assesses an Administration Charge equal on an annual
basis to 0.05% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. The
deduction of the Administration Charge is made from each Sub-Account in the same
proportion that the value in each Sub-Account bears to the total Variable
Account Contract Value. These charges are designed only to reimburse the Company
for administrative expenses and the Company will monitor these charges to ensure
that they do not exceed annual administration expenses.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

      No deduction for a sales charge is made from the Purchase Payments for
these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such Contracts is
surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, (see "Waiver of the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" section), deduct a Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge not to exceed 7% of the lesser of the total of all Purchase Payments made
within 84 months prior to the date of the request to surrender, or the amount
surrendered. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC), when it is applicable,
will be used to cover expenses relating to the sale of the Contracts, including
commissions paid to sales personnel, the costs of preparation of sales
literature and other promotional activity. The Company expects to recover most
of its distribution costs relating to the sale of the Contracts from the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Any shortfall will be made up from the General
Account of the Company, which may indirectly include portions of the Mortality
and Expense Risk Charges, since the Company expects to generate a profit from
these charges. The maximum amount which may be paid to a selling agent on the
sale of these Contracts is not more than 6.08% of Purchase Payments.

      If part or all of the Contract Value is surrendered, a Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge will be made by the Company. For purposes of the Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge, surrenders under a Contract come first from the oldest
Purchase Payments made to the Contract, then from the next oldest Purchase
Payment and so forth. For tax purposes, a surrender is usually treated as a
withdrawal of earnings first. This charge will apply 


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<PAGE>   18

to Purchase Payments withdrawn within the designated time periods as set forth
below. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies as follows to Purchase
Payments withdrawn:

                        Number of Completed        Contingent Deferred
                        Years From Date of             Sales Charge
                         Purchase Payment               Percentage
                                 0                          7%
                                 1                          6%
                                 2                          5%
                                 3                          4%
                                 4                          3%
                                 5                          2%
                                 6                          1%
                                 7                          0%

   
Waiver of Contingent the Deferred Sales Charge
    

      Starting with the second year after a Purchase payment has been made, the
Contract Owner may withdraw, without a CDSD, the greater of: (a) an amount
equal to 10% of that Purchase Payment or (b) any amount withdrawn from this
Contract to meet minimum distribution requirements under the Code. This
CDSD-free withdrawal privilege is non-cumulative; that is, free amounts not
taken during any given Contract Year cannot be taken as free amounts in a
subsequent Contract Year. Withdrawals may be restricted for Contracts issued
pursuant to the terms of a Tax Sheltered Annuity or other Qualified Plan. No
sales charges are deducted on redemption proceeds that are transferred to the
Fixed Account option of this annuity (see "Fixed Account Allocations"). The
Contract Owner may be subject to a tax penalty if the Contract Owner takes
withdrawals prior to age 59-1/2; see "Non-Qualified Contracts" to determine
when the penalty will apply.

      For Tax Sheltered Annuities, Qualified Contracts and SEP-IRA Contracts
issued on or after May 1, 1992, the Company will waive the Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge when:

      1.    the Plan Participant experiences a case of hardship (as provided in
            Code Section 403(b) and as defined for purposes of Code Section
            401(k));

      2.    the Plan Participant becomes disabled (within the meaning of Code
            Section 72(m)(7));

      3.    the Plan Participant attains age 59 1/2 and has participated in the
            Contract for at least 5 years, as determined from the Contract
            Anniversary date immediately preceding the Distribution;

      4.    the Plan Participant has participated in the Contract for at least
            15 years as determined from the Contract Anniversary date
            immediately preceding the Distribution;

      5.    the Plan Participant dies; or

      6.    the Plan Participant annuitizes after 2 years in the Contract.

      For Non-Qualified Contracts and Individual Retirement Annuity Contracts
other than SEP-IRA Contracts, the Company will waive the Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge when:

      1.    the Annuitant dies; or

      2.    the Contract Owner annuitizes after 2 years in the Contract.

      In addition, the Company may waive or reduce the Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge for Non-Qualified Contracts when sales are made without commissions or
other standard Distribution expenses, resulting in savings to the Company for
the cost of the Distribution effort.

   
      When a Contract described in this prospectus is exchanged for another
contract issued by the Company, or any of its affiliated insurance companies, of
the type and class which the Company determined is eligible for such exchange,
the Company may waive or reduce the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on the
first Contract. A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply to the contract
received in the exchange.
    

      In no event will elimination of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges be
permitted where such elimination will be unfairly discriminatory to any person,
or where prohibited by state law.


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Premium Taxes

      The Company will charge against the Contract Value the amount of any
premium taxes levied by a state or any other governmental entity upon Purchase
Payments received by the Company. Premium taxes currently imposed by certain
jurisdictions range from 0% to 3.5%. The range is subject to change. The method
used to recoup premium tax expense will be determined by the Company at its sole
discretion and in compliance with applicable state law. The Company currently
deducts such charges from a Contract Owner's Contract Value: (1) at the time the
Contract is surrendered, (2) at Annuitization, or (3) in those states which
require, at the time Purchase Payments are made to the Contract.

   
                            OPERATION OF THE CONTRACT
    

Investments of the Variable Account

   
      The Contract Owner elects to have Purchase Payments attributable to his or
her participation in the Variable Account allocated among one or more of the
Sub-Accounts which consist of shares in the underlying Mutual Funds. Shares of
the respective underlying Mutual Funds specified by the Contract Owner are
purchased at net asset value for the respective Sub-Account(s) and converted
into Accumulation Units. The election as to allocation of Purchase Payments or
as to transfers of the Contract Value from one Sub-Account to another may be
changed by the Contract Owner pursuant to such terms and conditions applicable
to such transactions as may be imposed by each of the underlying Mutual Funds,
in addition to those set forth in the Contracts.

      The initial Purchase Payment allocated to designated Sub-Accounts of the
Variable Account will be priced no later than 2 business days after receipt of
an order to purchase, if all information necessary for processing the purchase
order are complete. The Company may, however, retain the Purchase Payment for up
to 5 business days while attempting to complete the order to purchase. If it is
not complete within 5 days, the prospective purchaser will be informed of the
reasons for the delay and the Purchase Payment will be returned immediately
unless the prospective purchaser specifically consents to the Company retaining
the Purchase Payment until the order to purchase is complete. Thereafter, the
Purchase Payments will be priced on the basis of the Accumulation Unit Value
next computed for the appropriate Sub-Account after the additional Purchase
Payment is received.
    

      Purchase Payments will not be priced on the following nationally
recognized holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value

   
      Purchase Payments are allocated to the Fixed Account and/or one or more
Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account in accordance with the designation of
the underlying Mutual Fund options by the Contract Owner, and converted into
Accumulation Units.
    

      The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $1,500 for Non-Qualified
Contracts. However, if periodic payments are expected by the Company, this
initial first year minimum may be satisfied by Purchase Payments made on an
annualized basis. Purchase Payments, if any, after the first Contract Year must
be at least $10 each. The Company, however, reserves the right to lower this $10
Purchase Payment minimum for certain employer sponsored programs. The Contract
Owner may increase or decrease Purchase Payments or change the frequency of
payment. The Contract Owner is not obligated to continue Purchase Payments in
the amount or at the frequency elected. There are no penalties for failure to
continue Purchase Payments. The cumulative total of all Purchase Payments under
Contracts issued on the life of any one Designated Annuitant may not exceed
$1,000,000 without prior consent of the Company.

      THE PURCHASER IS CAUTIONED THAT INVESTMENT RETURN ON SMALL INITIAL AND
SUBSEQUENT PURCHASE PAYMENTS MAY BE LESS THAN CHARGES ASSESSED BY THE COMPANY.

Value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit

      The value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit for each Sub-Account was
arbitrarily set initially at $10 when underlying Mutual Fund shares in that
Sub-Account were available for purchase. The value for any subsequent Valuation
Period is determined by multiplying the Accumulation Unit value for each
Sub-Account for the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment
Factor for the Sub-Account during the subsequent Valuation Period. The value of
an Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease from Valuation 


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<PAGE>   20

Period to Valuation Period. The number of Accumulation Units will not change as
a result of investment experience.

Net Investment Factor

      The Net Investment Factor for any Valuation Period is determined by
dividing (a) by (b) and subtracting (c) from the result where:

(a)   is the net of:

      (1)   the net asset value per share of the underlying Mutual Fund held in
            the Sub-Account determined at the end of the current Valuation
            Period, plus

      (2)   the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain Distributions
            made by the underlying Mutual Fund held in the Sub-Account if the
            "ex-dividend" date occurs during the current Valuation Period,

(b)   is the net of:

      (1)   the net asset value per share of the underlying Mutual Fund held in
            the Sub-Account determined at the end of the immediately preceding
            Valuation Period, plus or minus

      (2)   the per share charge or credit, if any, for any taxes reserved for
            in the immediately preceding Valuation Period (see "Charge For Tax
            Provisions").

(c)   is a factor representing the Mortality Risk Charge, Expense Risk Charge
      and Administration Charge deducted from the Variable Account. Such factor
      is equal to an annual rate of 1.30% of the daily net asset value of the
      Variable Account.

   
      For underlying Mutual Fund options that credit dividends on a daily basis
and pay such dividends once a month, the Net Investment Factor allows for the
monthly reinvestment of these daily dividends.
    

      The Net Investment Factor may be greater or less than one; therefore, the
value of an Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease. It should be noted that
changes in the Net Investment Factor may not be directly proportional to changes
in the net asset value of underlying Mutual Fund shares, because of the
deduction for Mortality Risk Charge, Expense Risk Charge and Administration
Charge, and any charge or credit for tax reserves.

Valuation of Assets

      Underlying Mutual Fund shares in the Variable Account will be valued at
their net asset value.

Determining the Contract Value

      The sum of the value of all Accumulation Units attributable to the
Contract plus any amounts credited to the Fixed Account under the Contract is
the Contract Value. The number of Accumulation Units credited per each
Sub-Account is determined by dividing the net amount allocated to the
Sub-Account by the Accumulation Unit Value for the Sub-Account for the Valuation
Period during which the Purchase Payment is priced by the Company. If part or
all of the Contract Value is surrendered or charges or deductions are made
against the Contract Value, an appropriate number of Accumulation Units from the
Variable Account and an appropriate amount from the Fixed Account will be
deducted in the same proportion that the Contract Owner's interest in the
Variable Account and the Fixed Account bears to the total Contract Value.

Right to Revoke

   
      Unless otherwise required by state and/or federal law, the Contract Owner
may revoke the Contract 10 days after receipt of the Contract and receive a
refund of the Contract Value. All Individual Retirement Annuity refunds will be
return of Purchase Payment. In order to revoke the Contract, it must be mailed
or delivered to the Home Office of the Company at the mailing address shown on
page 1 of this prospectus. Mailing or delivery must occur on or before 10 days
after receipt of the Contract for revocation to be effective. In order to revoke
the Contract, if it has not been received, written notice must be mailed or
delivered to the Home Office of the Company at the mailing address shown on page
1 of this prospectus.
    

      The liability of the Variable Account under this provision is limited to
the Contract Value in each Sub-Account on the date of revocation. Any additional
amounts refunded to the Contract Owner will be paid by the Company.


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<PAGE>   21

Transfers

   
      Transfers between the Fixed and Variable Account must be made prior to the
Annuitization Date. The Contract Owner may request a transfer of up to 100% of
the Variable Account Contract Value to the Fixed Account without penalty or
adjustment. The Company reserves the right to restrict transfers from the
Variable Account to the Fixed Account to 25% of the Variable Account Contract
Value for any 12 month period. All amounts transferred to the Fixed Account must
remain on deposit in the Fixed Account until the expiration of the Interest Rate
Guarantee Period. Transfers from the Fixed Account may not be made prior to the
end of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period. The Interest Rate
Guarantee Period for any amount allocated to the Fixed Account expires on the
final day of a calendar quarter during which the one year anniversary of the
allocation to the Fixed Account occurs. Transfers must be made prior to the
Annuitization Date. For all transfers involving the Variable Account, the
Contract Owner's value in each Sub-Account will be determined as of the date the
transfer request is received in the Home Office in good order.

      The Contract Owner may at the maturity of an Interest Rate Guarantee
Period, transfer a portion of the Fixed Account to the Variable Account. The
maximum percentage that may be transferred will be determined by the Company, at
its sole discretion, but will not be less than 10% of that portion of the
Contract Value attributable to the Fixed Account that is maturing. The specific
percentage will be declared upon the expiration date of the then current
Interest Rate Guarantee Period. Transfers from the Fixed Account must be made
within 45 days after the expiration date of the Interest Rate Guarantee Period.
Contract Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost Averaging agreement with the
Company (see "Dollar Cost Averaging") may transfer from the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account under the terms of that agreement.
    

      Transfers may be made either in writing or, in states allowing such
transfers, by telephone. This telephone exchange privilege is made available to
Contract Owners automatically without the Owner's election. The Company will
employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include any or all of the following:
requesting identifying information, such as name, contract number, Social
Security Number, and/or personal identification number; tape recording all
telephone transactions; and providing written confirmation thereof to both the
Contract Owner and any agent of record, at the last address of record or such
other procedures as the Company may, from time to time, deem reasonable. The
Company will not be liable for following instructions communicated by telephone
which it reasonably believes to be genuine. Any losses incurred pursuant to
actions taken by the Company in reliance on telephone instructions reasonably
believed to be genuine shall be borne by the Contract Owner. The Company may
withdraw the telephone exchange privilege upon 30 days written notice to
Contract Owners.

   
Contract Ownership Provisions

      Unless otherwise provided, the Contract Owner has all rights under the
Contract. IF THE PURCHASER NAMES SOMEONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS OWNER,
THE PURCHASER WILL HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT. Prior to the Annuitization
Date, the Contract Owner may name a new Contract Owner in Non-Qualified
Contracts. Such change may be subject to state and federal gift taxes and may
also result in federal income taxation. Any change of Contract Owner designation
will automatically revoke any prior Contract Owner designation. Once proper
notice of the change is received and recorded by the Company, the change will
become effective as of the date the written request is recorded. A change of
Contract Owner will not apply and will not be effective with respect to any
payment made or action taken by the Company prior to the time that the change
was received and recorded by the Company.

      Prior to the Annuitization Date, the Contract Owner may request a change
in the Annuitant, Beneficiary, or Contingent Beneficiary. Such a request must be
made in writing on a form acceptable to the Company and must be signed by both
the Contract Owner and, if a change of the Annuitant, the person to be named as
Annuitant, as applicable. Such request must be received by the Company at its
Home Office prior to the Annuitization Date. Any such change is subject to
underwriting and approval by the Company. If the Contract Owner is not a natural
person and there is a change of the Annuitant, such change shall be treated as
the death of a Contract Owner and Distributions shall be made as if the Contract
Owner died at the time of such change.

      On the Annuitization Date, the Annuitant shall become the Contract Owner.
    


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                                    21 of 95
<PAGE>   22

   
Joint Ownership Provisions

      Joint Owners must be spouses at the time joint ownership is requested. If
a Joint Owner is named, the Joint Owner will possess an undivided interest in
the Contract. Unless otherwise provided, the exercise of any ownership right in
the Contract (including the right to surrender or partially surrender the
Contract, to change the Contract Owner, the Annuitant, the Beneficiary, the
Contingent Beneficiary, the Annuity Payment Option or the Annuitization Date)
shall require a written request signed by both Joint Owners.
    

      If named, the Joint Owner possesses an undivided interest in the entire
Contract. When a Joint Owner is named, the exercise of any ownership right in
the Contract shall require a written indication signed by both the Owner and
Joint Owner, of an intent to exercise such right, unless the Owner and Joint
Owner provide in the application that the exercise of any such ownership right
may be made by either the owner or Joint Owner independently of one another. In
this latter situation, the Company will not be liable for any loss, liability,
cost, or expense for acting in accordance with the instructions of either the
Owner or Joint Owner.

   
Beneficiary Provisions

      The Beneficiary is the person or persons who may receive certain benefits
under the Contract in the event the Annuitant dies prior to the Annuitization
Date. If more than one Beneficiary survives the Annuitant, each will share
equally unless otherwise specified in the Beneficiary designation. If no
Beneficiary survives the Annuitant, all rights and interest of the Beneficiary
shall vest in the Contingent Beneficiary, and if more than one Contingent
Beneficiary survives, each will share equally unless otherwise specified in the
Contingent Beneficiary designation. If no Contingent Beneficiaries survive the
Annuitant, all rights and interest of the Contingent Beneficiary will vest with
the Contract Owner or the estate of the last surviving Contract Owner.

      Subject to the terms of any existing assignment, the Contract Owner may
change the Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary during the lifetime of the
Annuitant, by written notice to the Company. The change, upon receipt and
recording by the Company at its Home Office, will take effect as of the time the
written notice was signed, whether or not the Annuitant is living at the time of
recording, but without further liability as to any payment or settlement made by
the Company before receipt of such change.
    

Surrender (Redemption)

   
      While the Contract is in force and prior to the earlier of the
Annuitization Date or the death of the Annuitant, the Company will, upon proper
written application by the Contract Owner deemed by the Company to be in good
order, allow the Contract Owner to surrender a portion or all of the Contract
Value. "Proper written application" means that the Contract Owner must request
the surrender in writing and include the Contract. In some cases (for example,
requests by a corporation, partnership, agent, fiduciary, or surviving Joint
Owner), the Company will require additional documentation of a customary nature.
The Company may require that the signatures be guaranteed by a member firm of a
major stock exchange or other depository institution qualified to give such a
guaranty.
    

      The Company will, upon receipt of any such written request, surrender a
number of Accumulation Units from the Variable Account and an amount from the
Fixed Account necessary to equal the gross dollar amount requested, less any
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (see "Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). In the event of a partial surrender, the Company will, unless
instructed to the contrary, surrender Accumulation Units from all Sub-Accounts
in which the Contract Owner has an interest, and the Fixed Account. The number
of Accumulation Units surrendered from each Sub-Account and the amount
surrendered from the Fixed Account will be in the same proportion that the
Contract Owner's interest in the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account bears to the
total Contract Value.

      The Company will pay any funds applied for from the Variable Account
within 7 days of receipt of such application in the Company's Home Office.
However, the Company reserves the right to suspend or postpone the date of any
payment of any benefit or values for any Valuation Period (1) when the New York
Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is closed, (2) when trading on the Exchange is
restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of
securities held in the Variable Account is not reasonably practicable or it is
not reasonably practicable to determine the value of the Variable Account's net
assets, or (4) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of security holders,
provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (2) and (3)
exist. The Contract Value on surrender may be more or less than the total of
Purchase Payments made by a Contract Owner, depending on the market value of the
underlying Mutual Fund shares.


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                                    22 of 95
<PAGE>   23

      With respect to Contracts issued under the Texas Optional Retirement
Program, the Texas Attorney General has ruled that withdrawal benefits are
available only in the event of a participant's death, retirement, termination of
employment due to total disability, or other termination of employment in a
Texas public institution of higher education. A participant will not, therefore,
be entitled to the right of withdrawal in order to receive the cash values
credited to such participant under the Contract unless one of the foregoing
conditions has been satisfied. The value of such Contracts may, however, be
transferred to other contracts or other carriers during the period of
participation in the Optional Retirement Program. The Company issues this
Contract to participants in the Optional Retirement Program in reliance upon,
and in compliance with, Rule 6c-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Surrenders Under a Qualified Plan or Tax Sheltered Annuity Contract

      Except as provided below, the Contract Owner may Surrender part or all of
the Contract Value at any time this Contract is in force prior to the earlier of
the Annuitization Date or the death of the Designated Annuitant:

A.    The surrender of Contract Value attributable to contributions made
      pursuant to a salary reduction agreement (within the meaning of Code
      Section 402(g)(3)(A) or (C)), or transfers from a Custodial Account
      described in Section 403(b)(7) of the Code (403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts),
      may be executed only:

      1.    when the Contract Owner attains age 59 1/2, separates from service,
            dies, or becomes disabled (within the meaning of Code Section
            72(m)(7)); or

      2.    in the case of hardship (as defined for purposes of Code Section
            401(k)), provided that any surrender of Contract Value in the case
            of hardship may not include any income attributable to salary
            reduction contributions.

B.    The surrender limitations described in A. above for Tax Sheltered
      Annuities apply to:

      1.    salary reduction contributions to Tax Sheltered Annuities made for
            plan years beginning after December 31, 1988;

      2.    earnings credited to such Contracts after the last plan year
            beginning before January 1, 1989, on amounts attributable to salary
            reduction contributions; and

      3.    all amounts transferred from 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts (except
            that earnings, and employer contributions as of December 31, 1988 in
            such Custodial Accounts may be withdrawn in the case of hardship).

C.    Any Distribution other than the above, including exercise of a contractual
      ten-day free look provision (when available) may result in the immediate
      application of taxes and penalties and/or retroactive disqualification of
      a Qualified Contract or Tax Sheltered Annuity.

      A premature Distribution may not be eligible for rollover treatment. To
assist in preventing disqualification in the event of a ten-day free look, the
Company will agree to transfer the proceeds to another contract which meets the
requirements of Code Section 403(b), upon proper direction by the Contract
Owner. The foregoing is the Company's understanding of the withdrawal
restrictions which are currently applicable under Code Section 401(k)(2)(B),
Code Section 403(b)(11) and Revenue Ruling 90-24. Such restrictions are subject
to legislative change and/or reinterpretation from time to time. Distributions
pursuant to Qualified Domestic Relations Orders will not be considered in
violation of the restrictions stated above.

      The Contract surrender provisions may also be modified pursuant to the
plan terms and Code tax provisions when the Contract is issued to fund a
Qualified Plan.

Loan Privilege

      Prior to the Annuitization Date, the Owner of a Qualified Contract or Tax
Sheltered Annuity may receive a loan from the Contract Value, subject to the
terms of the Contract, the Plan, and Section 72 of the Code, which may impose
restrictions on loans.

      Loans from Qualified Contracts or Tax Sheltered Annuities are available
beginning 30 days after the Date of Issue. The Contract Owner may borrow a
minimum of $1,000. In non-ERISA plans, for Contract Values up to $20,000, the
maximum loan balance which may be 


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                                    23 of 95
<PAGE>   24

outstanding at any time is 80% of the Contract Value, but not more than $10,000.
If the Contract Value is $20,000 or more, the maximum loan balance which may be
outstanding at any time is 50% of the Contract Value, but not more than $50,000.
For ERISA plans, the maximum loan balance which may be outstanding at any time
is 50% of the Contract Value, but not more than $50,000. The $50,000 limit will
be reduced by the highest loan balances owed during the prior one-year period.
Additional loans are subject to the contract minimum amount. The aggregate of
all loans may not exceed the Contract Value limitations stated above.

      For salary reduction Tax Sheltered Annuities, loans may only be secured by
the Contract Value. For loans from Qualified Contracts and other Tax Sheltered
Annuities, the Company reserves the right to limit a loan to 50% of the Contract
Value subject to the acceptance by the Contract Owner of the Company's loan
agreement. Where permitted, the Company may require other named collateral where
the loan from a Contract exceeds 50% of the Contract Value.

      All loans are made from a collateral Fixed Account. An amount equal to the
principal amount of the loan will be transferred to the collateral Fixed
Account. Unless instructed to the contrary by the Contract Owner, the Company
will first transfer to the collateral Fixed Account the Variable Account units
from the Contract Owner's investment options in proportion to the assets in each
option until the required balance is reached or all such variable units are
exhausted. The remaining required collateral will next be transferred from the
Fixed Account. No charges are deducted at the time of the loan, or on the
transfer from the Variable Account to the collateral Fixed Account.

      Until the loan has been repaid in full, that portion of the collateral
Fixed Account equal to the outstanding loan balance shall be credited with
interest at a rate 2.25% less than the loan interest rate fixed by the Company
for the term of the loan. However, the interest rate credited to the collateral
Fixed Account will never be less than 3.0%. Specific loan terms are disclosed at
the time of loan application or loan issuance.

   
      Loans must be repaid in substantially level payments, not less frequently
than quarterly, within five years. Loans used to purchase the principal
residence of the Contract Owner must be repaid within 15 years. During the loan
term, the outstanding balance of the loan will continue to earn interest at an
annual rate as specified in the loan agreement. Loan repayments will consist of
principal and interest in amounts set forth in the loan agreement. Loan
repayments will be allocated between the Fixed and Variable Accounts in the same
manner as a purchase payment. Both loan repayments and purchase payments will be
allocated to the Contract in accordance with the most current allocation, unless
the Contract Owner and the Company agree otherwise on a case by case basis.
    

      If the Contract is surrendered while the loan is outstanding, the
surrender value will be reduced by the amount of the loan outstanding plus
accrued interest. If the Contract Owner/Annuitant dies while the loan is
outstanding, the Death Benefit will be reduced by the amount of the loan
outstanding plus accrued interest. If annuity payments start while the loan is
outstanding, the Contract Value will be reduced by the amount of the outstanding
loan plus accrued interest. Until the loan is repaid, the Company reserves the
right to restrict any transfer of the Contract which would otherwise qualify as
a transfer as permitted in Section 1035 of the Code.

   
      If a loan payment is not made when due, interest will continue to accrue.
A grace period may be available under the terms of the loan agreement. If a loan
payment is not made when due, or by the end of the applicable grace period, then
the entire loan will be treated as a deemed Distribution, as permitted by law,
may be taxable to the borrower, and may be subject to the early withdrawal tax
penalty. Interest which subsequently accrues on defaulted amounts may also be
treated as additional deemed Distributions each year. Any defaulted amounts,
plus accrued interest, will be deducted from the Contract when the Participant
becomes eligible for a Distribution of at least that amount, and this amount may
again be treated as a Distribution where required by law. Additional loans may
not be available while a previous loan remains in default.

      Loans may also be subject to additional limitations or restrictions under
the terms of the employer's plan. Loans permitted under this Contract may still
be taxable in whole or part if the Participant has additional loans from other
plans or contracts. The Company will calculate the maximum nontaxable loan based
on the information provided by the Plan Participant or the employer.

      Loan repayments must be identified as such or else they will be treated as
Purchase Payments, and will not be used to reduce the outstanding loan principal
or interest due. The Company reserves the right to modify the loan's terms or
procedures if there is a change in applicable law. The Company also reserves the
right to assess a loan processing fee.
    

Individual Retirement Annuities, Non Qualified Contracts and SEP-IRA Contracts
are not eligible for loans.


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<PAGE>   25

Assignment

   
      Where permitted, the Contract Owner may assign some or all rights under
the Contract at any time during the lifetime of the Annuitant prior to the
Annuitization Date. Such assignment will take effect upon receipt and recording
by the Company at its Home Office of a written notice executed by the Contract
Owner. The Company is not responsible for the validity or tax consequences of
any assignment. The Company shall not be liable as to any payment or other
settlement made by the Company before recording of the assignment. Where
necessary for the proper administration of the terms of the Contract, an
assignment will not be recorded until the Company has received sufficient
direction from the Contract Owner and assignee as to the proper allocation of
Contract rights under the assignment.

      If this Contract is a Non-Qualified Contract, any portion of the Contract
Value attributable to Purchase Payments made after August 13, 1982, which is
pledged or assigned after August 13, 1982, shall be treated as a Distribution
and shall be included in gross income to the extent that the cash value exceeds
the investment in the Contract for the taxable year in which it was pledged or
assigned. In addition, any Contract Values assigned may, under certain
conditions, be subject to a tax penalty equal to 10% of the amount which is
included in gross income. All rights in this Contract are personal to the
Contract Owner and may not be assigned without written consent of the Company.
Assignment of the entire Contract Value may cause the portion of the Contract
Value exceeding the total investment in the Contract and previously taxed
amounts to be included in gross income for federal income tax purposes each year
that the assignment is in effect. Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP IRAs, Tax
Sheltered Annuities, and Qualified Contracts, may not be assigned, pledged or
otherwise transferred except under such conditions as may be allowed by law.

Contract Owner Services

      Asset Rebalancing- The Contract Owner may direct the automatic
reallocation of Contract Values to the underlying Mutual Fund options on a
predetermined percentage basis every three months or based on another frequency
authorized by the Company. If the last day of the period falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, recognized holiday or any other day when the New York Stock Exchange is
closed, the Asset Rebalancing exchange will occur on the first business day
after that day. An Asset Rebalancing request must be in writing on a form
provided by the Company. The Contract Owner may want to contact a financial
adviser in order to discuss the use of Asset Rebalancing in his or her Contract.

      Contracts issued to a Qualified Plan or a Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan as
defined by the Code may have superseding plan restrictions with regard to the
frequency of fund exchanges and underlying Mutual Fund options.

      The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Asset Rebalancing
upon 30 days' written notice; such discontinuation will not affect Asset
Rebalancing programs which have already commenced. The Company also reserves the
right to assess a processing fee for this service.

      Dollar Cost Averaging- If the Contract Value is $15,000 or more, the
Contract Owner may direct the Company to automatically transfer a specified
amount from the Money Market Fund Sub-Account or the Fixed Account to any other
Sub-Account within the Variable Account on a monthly basis or as frequently as
otherwise authorized by the Company. This service is intended to allow the
Contract Owner to utilize Dollar Cost Averaging, a long-term investment program
which provides for regular, level investments over time. The Company makes no
guarantees that Dollar Cost Averaging will result in a profit or protect against
loss in a declining market. The minimum monthly Dollar Cost Averaging transfer
is $100. In addition, Dollar Cost Averaging monthly transfers from the Fixed
Account must be equal to or less than 1/30th of the Fixed Account value when the
Dollar Cost Averaging program is requested. Transfers out of the Fixed Account,
other than for Dollar Cost Averaging, may be subject to certain additional
restrictions (see "Transfers"). A written election of this service, on a form
provided by the Company, must be completed by the Contract Owner in order to
begin transfers. Once elected, transfers from the Money Market Fund Sub-Account
or the Fixed Account will be processed monthly or on another approved frequency
until either the value in the Money Market Fund Sub-Account or the Fixed Account
is completely depleted or the Contract Owner instructs the Company in writing to
cancel the transfers.

      The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Dollar Cost
Averaging upon 30 days' written notice; such discontinuation will not affect
Dollar Cost Averaging programs which have already commenced. The Company also
reserves the right to assess a processing fee for this service.
    


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<PAGE>   26

   
      Systematic Withdrawals- A Contract Owner may elect in writing on a form
provided by the Company to take Systematic Withdrawals of a specified dollar
amount (of at least $100) on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis.
The Company will process the withdrawals as directed by surrendering on a
pro-rata basis Accumulation Units from all Sub-Accounts in which the Contract
Owner has an interest, and the Fixed Account. A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
may also apply to Systematic Withdrawals in accordance with the considerations
set forth in the "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" section. Each Systematic
Withdrawal is subject to federal income taxes on the taxable portion. In
addition, a 10% federal penalty tax may be assessed on Systematic Withdrawals if
the Contract Owner is under age 59 1/2. Unless directed by the Contract Owner,
the Company will withhold federal income taxes from each Systematic Withdrawal.
Unless the Contract Owner has made an irrevocable election of distributions of
substantially equal payments, the Systematic Withdrawals may be discontinued at
any time by notifying the Company in writing

      The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Systematic
Withdrawals upon 30 days' written notice; such discontinuation will not affect
any Systematic Withdrawal programs already commenced. The Company also reserves
the right to assess a processing fee for this service. Systematic withdrawals
are not available prior to the expiration of the ten day free look provision of
the Contract or of applicable state/federal law.

         ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD, DEATH BENEFITS, AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
    

Annuity Commencement Date

   
      An Annuity Commencement Date will be selected. Such date must be the first
day of a calendar month and must be at least 2 years after the Date of Issue. In
the event the Contract is issued subject to terms of a Qualified Plan or Tax
Sheltered Annuity, annuitization may occur during the first 2 years, subject to
approval by the Company.
    

Change in Annuity Commencement Date

   
      If the Contract Owner requests in writing and the Company approves the
request, the Annuity Commencement Date may be changed. The new date must comply
with the Annuity Commencement Date provisions above.
    

Annuity Payment Period-Variable Account

      At the Annuitization Date the Variable Account Contract Value is applied
to the Annuity Payment Option elected and the amount of the first such payment
shall be determined in accordance with the Annuity Table in the Contract.

      Subsequent Variable Annuity payments vary in amount in accordance with the
investment performance of the Variable Account. The dollar amount of the first
annuity payment determined as above is divided by the value of an Annuity Unit
as of the Annuitization Date to establish the number of Annuity Units
representing each monthly annuity payment. This number of Annuity Units remains
fixed during the annuity payment period. The dollar amount of the second and
subsequent payments is not predetermined and may change from month to month. The
dollar amount of each subsequent payment is determined by multiplying the fixed
number of Annuity Units by the Annuity Unit Value for the Valuation Period in
which the payment is due. The Company guarantees that the dollar amount of each
payment after the first will not be affected by variations in mortality
experience from mortality assumptions used to determine the first payment. Once
Variable Annuity Payments begin, the Owner may exchange amounts among the
Sub-Account options once per year.

Value of an Annuity Unit

      The value of an Annuity Unit was arbitrarily set initially at $10 when the
first underlying Mutual Fund shares were purchased. The value of an Annuity Unit
for a Sub-Account for any subsequent Valuation Period is determined by
multiplying the Annuity Unit Value for the immediately preceding Valuation
Period by the Net Investment Factor for the Valuation Period for which the
Annuity Unit Value is being calculated, and multiplying the result by an
interest factor to neutralize the assumed investment rate of 3.5% per annum
built into the Annuity Tables contained in the Contracts (see "Net Investment
Factor").


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<PAGE>   27

Assumed Investment Rate

       A 3.5% assumed investment rate is built into the Annuity Tables contained
in the Contracts. A higher assumption would mean a higher initial payment but
more slowly rising or more rapidly falling subsequent payments. A lower
assumption would have the opposite effect. If the actual investment rate is at
the annual rate of 3.5%, the annuity payments will be level. 

Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments

      Annuity payments will be paid as monthly installments. However, if the net
amount available to apply under any Annuity Payment Option is less than $500,
the Company shall have the right to pay such amount in one lump sum in lieu of
the payments otherwise provided for. In addition, if the payments provided for
would be or become less than $20, the Company shall have the right to change the
frequency of payments to such intervals as will result in payments of at least
$20. In no event will the Company make payments under an annuity option less
frequently than annually. 

   
Change in Form of Annuity

      The Contract Owner may, upon prior written notice to the Company, at any
time prior to the Annuitization Date, elect one of the Annuity Payment Options.
    

Annuity Payment Options

      The Contract Owner may, upon prior written notice to the Company, at any
time prior to the Annuitization Date, elect one of the following Annuity Payment
Options.

   
      Option 1-Life Annuity-An annuity payable periodically, but at least
      annually, during the lifetime of the Annuitant, ceasing with the last
      payment due prior to the death of the Annuitant. IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
      UNDER THIS OPTION FOR THE ANNUITANT TO RECEIVE ONLY ONE ANNUITY PAYMENT IF
      THE ANNUITANT DIED BEFORE THE SECOND ANNUITY PAYMENT DATE, TWO ANNUITY
      PAYMENTS IF HE OR SHE DIED BEFORE THE THIRD ANNUITY PAYMENT DATE, AND SO
      ON.

      Option 2-Joint and Last Survivor Annuity-An annuity payable periodically,
      but at least annually, during the joint lifetimes of the Annuitant and
      designated second person and continuing thereafter during the lifetime of
      the survivor. AS IS THE CASE UNDER OPTION 1 ABOVE, THERE IS NO MINIMUM
      NUMBER OF PAYMENTS GUARANTEED UNDER THIS OPTION. PAYMENTS CEASE UPON THE
      DEATH OF THE LAST SURVIVING ANNUITANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS
      RECEIVED.
    

      Option 3-Life Annuity With 120 or 240 Monthly Payments Guaranteed-An
      annuity payable monthly during the lifetime of the Annuitant with the
      guarantee that if at the death of the Annuitant payments have been made
      for fewer than 120 or 240 months, as selected, payments will be made as
      follows:

   
      (1)   Any guaranteed annuity payments will be continued during the
            remainder of the selected period to such recipient as chosen by the
            Annuitant at the time the Annuity Payment Option was selected, or
            the recipient may, at any time, elect to have the present value of
            the guaranteed number of annuity payments remaining paid in a lump
            sum as specified in (2) of this provision.
    

      (2)   The present value, computed as of the date in which notice of death
            is received by the Company at its Home Office, of the guaranteed
            number of annuity payments remaining after receipt of such notice
            and to which the deceased would have been entitled had he or she not
            died, computed at the assumed investment rate effective in
            determining the Annuity Tables, shall be paid in a lump sum.

   
      Some of the stated Annuity Options may not be available in all states. The
Contract Owner may request an alternative non-guaranteed option by giving notice
in writing prior to Annuitization. If such a request is approved by the Company,
it will be permitted under the Contract.

      If the Contract Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract fails to elect an
Annuity Payment Option, no distribution will be made until an effective Annuity
Payment Option has been elected. Contracts issued in connection with Qualified
Plans, Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP IRAs or Tax Sheltered Annuities are
subject to the minimum Distribution requirements set forth in the Plan,
Contract, or Code. 

Death of Contract Owner Provisions - Non-Qualified Contracts

      For Non-Qualified Contracts, if the Contract Owner and the Annuitant are
not the same person and such Contract Owner dies prior to the Annuitization
Date, then the Joint Owner, if any, becomes the new Contract Owner.
    


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If there is no surviving Joint Owner, the Annuitant becomes the Contract Owner.
The entire interest in the Contract Value, less any applicable deductions (which
may include a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge), must be distributed in
accordance with the "Required Distribution Provisions- Non-Qualified Contracts"
provisions.

Death of the Annuitant Provisions - Non-Qualified Contracts

      If the Contract Owner and Annuitant are not the same person, and the
Annuitant dies prior to the Annuitization Date, a Death Benefit will be payable
to the Beneficiary, the Contingent Beneficiary, the Contract Owner, or the last
surviving Contract Owner's estate, as specified in the "Beneficiary Provisions",
unless there is a surviving Contingent Designated Annuitant. In such case, the
Contingent Designated Annuitant becomes the Designated Annuitant and no Death
Benefit is payable.

      The Beneficiary may elect to receive such Death Benefits in the form of:
(1) a lump sum distribution; (2) election of an annuity payout; or (3) any
distribution that is permitted under state and federal regulations and is
acceptable by the Company. Such election must be received by the Company within
60 days of the Annuitant's death.

      If the Annuitant dies after the Annuitization Date, any benefit that may
be payable shall be paid according to the selected Annuity Payment Option.

Death of the Contract Owner/Annuitant Provisions

      If any Contract Owner and Designated Annuitant are the same person, and
such person dies before the Annuitization Date, a Death Benefit will be payable
to the Beneficiary, the Contingent Beneficiary, the Contract Owner, or the last
surviving Contract Owner's estate, as specified in the Beneficiary Provisions
and in accordance with the appropriate "Required Distributions Provisions."

      If the Annuitant dies after the Annuitization Date, any benefit that may
be payable shall be paid according to the selected Annuity Payment Option.

Death Benefit Payment Provisions

      The value of the Death Benefit will be determined as of the Valuation Date
coincident with or next following the date the Company receives in writing at
the Home Office the following three items: (1) proper proof of the Annuitant's
death; (2) an election specifying the distribution method; and (3) any
applicable state required form(s).

      If the Contract was issued prior to May 1, 1991, the amount of the Death
Benefit will be greater of (1) the sum of all Purchase Payments, less any
amounts surrendered, or (2) the Contract Value. The amount of the Death Benefit
will be limited to the Contract Value if the Annuitization Date is deferred to a
date on or after the first day of the first month following the Annuitant's 75th
birthday and the Annuitant dies after attaining such age.

      For Contracts issued on or after May 1, 1991, if the Annuitant dies prior
to his or her 75th birthday, the dollar amount of the Death Benefit will be the
greater of: (1) the Contract Value; or (2) the sum of all Purchase Payments
increased at an annual rate of 5% simple interest, for each full year the
Purchase Payment is in force, less any amounts previously withdrawn. The amount
of the Death Benefit will be limited to the Contract Value if the Annuitization
Date is to a date on or after the first day of the first month following the
Annuitant's 75th birthday and the Annuitant dies after attaining such age. The
Death Benefit as described in this paragraph may be prohibited in certain
states. For example, insurance regulations in the state of North Carolina do not
permit the Death Benefit as described in this paragraph.

      For Contracts issued in the state of North Carolina the amount of the
Death Benefit will be the greater of (I) the sum of all Purchase Payments, less
any amounts surrendered, or (ii) the Contract Value. The amount of the Death
Benefit will be limited to the Contract Value if the Annuitization Date is
deferred to a date on or after the first day of the first month following the
Annuitant's 75th birthday and the Designated Annuitant dies after attaining such
age.

Required Distribution Provisions For Non-Qualified Contracts

      Upon the death of any Contract Owner or Joint Owner (including an
Annuitant who becomes the Owner of the Contract on the Annuitization Date) (each
of the foregoing "a deceased Owner"), certain distributions for Non-Qualified
Contracts issued on or after January 19, 1985, are required by Section 72(s) of
the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of the Contract to the contrary, the
following distributions shall be made in accordance with such requirements:
    


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      1.    If any deceased Owner died on or after the Annuitization Date and
            before the entire interest under the Contract has been distributed,
            then the remaining portion of such interest shall be distributed at
            least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in effect as of
            the date of such deceased Owner's death.

      2.    If any deceased Owner died prior to the Annuitization Date, then the
            entire interest in the Contract (consisting of either the Death
            Benefit or the Contract Value reduced by certain charges as set
            forth elsewhere in the Contract) shall be distributed within 5 years
            of the death of the deceased Owner, provided however:

            (a)   If any portion of such interest is payable to or for the
                  benefit of a natural person who is a surviving Contract Owner,
                  Joint Owner, Annuitant, Beneficiary, or Contingent Beneficiary
                  as the case may be (each a "designated beneficiary"), such
                  portion may, at the election of the designated beneficiary, be
                  distributed over the life of such designated beneficiary, or
                  over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such
                  designated beneficiary, provided that payments begin within
                  one year of the date of the deceased Owner's death (or such
                  longer period as may be permitted by federal income tax
                  regulations), and

            (b)   If the designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the
                  deceased Owner, such spouse may elect to become the Owner of
                  this Contract, in lieu of a Death Benefit, and the
                  distributions required under these distribution rules will be
                  made upon the death of such spouse.

      In the event that this Contract is owned by a person that is not a natural
person (e.g., a trust or corporation), then, for purposes of these distribution
provisions, (i) the death of the Annuitant shall be treated as the death of any
Owner, (ii) any change of the Annuitant shall be treated as the death of any
Owner, and (iii) in either case the appropriate distribution required under
these distribution rules shall be made upon such death or change, as the case
may be. The Annuitant is the primary annuitant as defined in Section 72(s)(6)(B)
of the Code.

      These distribution provisions shall not be applicable to any Contract that
is not required to be subject to the provisions of 72(s) of the Code by reason
of Section 72(s)(5) or any other law or rule (including Tax Sheltered Annuities,
Individual Retirement Annuities, Qualified Plans and SEP IRAs).

      Upon the death of a "deceased Owner", the designated beneficiary must
elect a method of distribution which complies with these above distribution
provisions and which is acceptable to the Company. Such election must be
received by the Company within 60 days of the deceased Owner's death.
    

Required Distributions for Qualified Plans or Tax Sheltered Annuities

   
      The entire interest of an Annuitant under a Qualified Contract or Tax
Sheltered Annuity Contract will be distributed in a manner consistent with the
Minimum Distribution and Incidental Benefit (MDIB) provisions of Section
401(a)(9) of the Code and applicable regulations and will be paid,
notwithstanding anything else contained herein, to the Annuitant under the
Annuity Payments Option selected, over a period not exceeding:

      A.    the life of the Annuitant or the lives of the Annuitant and the
            Annuitant's designated beneficiary under the selected Annuity
            Payment Option; or
    

      B.    a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Annuitant
            or the life expectancy of the Annuitant and the Annuitant's
            designated beneficiary.

   
      No Distributions will be required from this Contract if Distributions
otherwise required from this Contract are being withdrawn from another Tax
Sheltered Annuity Contract of the Annuitant.

      If the Annuitant's entire interest in a Qualified Plan or Tax Sheltered
Annuity is to be distributed in equal or substantially equal payments over a
period described in (A) or (B), above, such payments will commence no later than
(i) the first day of April following the calendar year in which the Annuitant
attains age 70 1/2 or (ii) when the Annuitant retires, whichever is later (the
"required beginning date"). However, provision (ii) does not apply to any
employee who is a 5% Owner (as defined in Section 416 of the Code) with respect
to the plan year ending in the calendar year in which the employee attains the
age of 70 1/2.

      If the Annuitant dies prior to the commencement of his or her
Distribution, the interest in the Qualified Contract or Tax Sheltered Annuity
must be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year in which the fifth
anniversary of his or her death occurs unless:
    


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                                    29 of 95
<PAGE>   30

   
      (a)   the Annuitant names his or her surviving spouse as the Beneficiary
            and such spouse elects to receive Distribution of the account in
            substantially equal payments over his or her life (or a period not
            exceeding his or her life expectancy) and commencing not later than
            December 31 of the year in which the Annuitant would have attained
            age 70 1/2; or

      (b)   the Annuitant names a Beneficiary other than his or her surviving
            spouse and such Beneficiary elects to receive a Distribution of the
            account in substantially equal payments over his or her life (or a
            period not exceeding his or her life expectancy) commencing not
            later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the
            Annuitant dies.

      If the Annuitant dies after Distribution has commenced, Distribution must
continue at least as rapidly as under the schedule being used prior to his or
her death.

      Payments commencing on the required beginning date will not be less than
the lesser of the quotient obtained by dividing the entire interest of the
Annuitant by the life expectancy of the Annuitant, or the joint and last
survivor expectancy of the Annuitant and the Annuitant's designated beneficiary
(if the Annuitant dies prior to the required beginning date) or the beneficiary
under the selected Annuity Payment Option (if the Annuitant dies after the
required beginning date) whichever is applicable under the applicable minimum
distribution or MDIB provisions. Life expectancy and joint and last survivor
expectancy are computed by the use of return multiples contained in Section
1.72-9 of the Treasury Regulations.

      If the amounts distributed to the Annuitant are less than those mentioned
above, penalty tax of 50% is levied on the excess of the amount that should have
been distributed for that year over the amount that actually was distributed for
that year.
    

Required Distributions for Individual Retirement Annuities and SEP IRAs

   
      Distribution from an Individual Retirement Annuity must begin not later
than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Owner
attains age 70 1/2. Distribution may be accepted in a lump sum or in
substantially equal payments over: (a) the Owner's life or the lives of the
Owner and his or her spouse or designated beneficiary, or (b) a period not
extending beyond the life expectancy of the Owner or the joint life expectancy
of the Owner and the Owner's designated beneficiary.
    

      If the Owner dies prior to the commencement of his or her Distribution,
the interest in the Individual Retirement Annuity must be distributed by
December 31 of the calendar year in which the fifth anniversary of his or her
death occurs, unless:

      (a)   The Owner names his or her surviving spouse as the Beneficiary and
            such spouse elects to: 
            (i)   treat the annuity as an Individual Retirement Annuity
                  established for his or her benefit; or
            (ii)  receive Distribution of the account in nearly equal payments
                  over his or her life (or a period not exceeding his or her
                  life expectancy) and commencing not later than December 31 of
                  the year in which the Owner would have attained age 70 1/2; or

      (b)   The Owner names a Beneficiary other than his or her surviving spouse
            and such Beneficiary elects to receive a Distribution of the account
            in nearly equal payments over his or her life (or a period not
            exceeding his or her life expectancy) commencing not later than
            December 31 of the year following the year in which the Owner dies.

   
      No Distribution will be required from this Contract if Distributions
otherwise required from this Contract are being withdrawn from another
Individual Retirement Annuity or Individual Annuity Account of the Contract
Owner.

      If the Owner dies after Distribution has commenced, Distribution must
continue at least as rapidly as under the schedule being used prior to his or
her death, except that a surviving spouse who is the beneficiary under the
Annuity Payment Option, may treat the Contract as his or her own, in the same
manner as is described in section (a)(i) of this provision.

      If the amounts distributed to the Contract Owner are less than those
mentioned above, penalty tax of 50% is levied on the excess of the amount that
should have been distributed for that year over the amount that actually was
distributed for that year.

      A pro-rata portion of all Distributions will be included in the gross
income of the person receiving the Distribution and taxed at ordinary income tax
rates. The portion of the Distribution which is taxable is based on the ratio
between the amount by which non-deductible Purchase Payments exceed prior
non-taxable Distributions and total account balances at the time of the
Distribution. The Owner of an Individual Retirement
    


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<PAGE>   31

   
Annuity must annually report the amount of non-deductible Purchase Payments, the
amount of any Distribution, the amount by which non-deductible Purchase Payments
for all years exceed non-taxable Distributions for all years, and the total
balance of all Individual Retirement Annuities.
    

      Individual Retirement Annuity Distributions will not receive the benefit
of the tax treatment of a lump sum Distribution from a Qualified Plan. If the
Owner dies prior to the time Distribution of his or her interest in the annuity
is completed, the balance will also be included in his or her gross estate.

   
      Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) and Salary Reduction Simplified
Employee Pensions (SAR SEPs), described in Section 408(k) of the Code, are taxed
in a manner similar to IRAs, and are subject to similar distribution
requirements as IRAs. SAR SEPs cannot be established after 1996.
    

Generation-Skipping Transfers

      The Company may determine whether the Death Benefit or any other payment
constitutes a direct skip as defined in Section 2612 of the Code, and the amount
of the tax on the generation-skipping transfer resulting from such direct skip.
If applicable, the payment will be reduced by any tax the Company is required to
pay by Section 2603 of the Code.

      A direct skip may occur when property is transferred to or a Death Benefit
is paid to an individual two or more generations younger than the Contract
Owner.

                           FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Federal Income Taxes

   
      The Company does not make any guarantee regarding the tax status for any
Contract or any transaction involving the Contracts. Contract Owners should
consult a financial consultant, legal counsel or tax advisor to discuss in
detail the taxation and the use of the Contracts.

      Section 72 of the Code governs federal income taxation of annuities in
general. That section sets forth different rules for: (1) Qualified Contracts;
(2) Individual Retirement Annuities including SEP IRAs; (3) Tax Sheltered
Annuities; and (4) Non-Qualified Contracts. Each type of annuity is discussed
below.

      Distributions to participants from Qualified Contracts or Tax Sheltered
Annuities are generally taxed when received. A portion of each Distribution is
excludable from income based on the ratio between the after tax investment of
the Owner/Annuitant in the Contract and the value of the Contract at the time of
the withdrawal or Annuitization.

      Distributions from Individual Retirement Annuities and Contracts owned by
Individual Retirement Accounts are also generally taxed when received. The
portion of each such payment which is excludable is based on the ratio between
the amount by which nondeductible Purchase Payments to all such Contracts
exceeds prior non-taxable Distributions from such Contracts, and the total
account balances in such Contracts at the time of the Distribution. The Owner of
such Individual Retirement Annuities or the Annuitant under Contracts held by
Individual Retirement Accounts must annually report to the Internal Revenue
Service the amount of nondeductible Purchase Payments, the amount of any
Distribution, the amount by which nondeductible Purchase Payments for all years
exceed non-taxable Distributions for all years, and the total balance in all
Individual Retirement Annuities and Accounts.

      A change of the Annuitant may be treated by the Internal Revenue Service
as a taxable transaction.
    

Non-Qualified Contracts - Natural Persons as Owners

   
      The rules applicable to Non-Qualified Contracts provide that a portion of
each annuity payment received is excludable from taxable income based on the
ratio between the Contract Owner's investment in the Contract and the expected
return on the Contract until the investment has been recovered; thereafter the
entire amount is includable in income. The maximum amount excludable from income
is the investment in the Contract. If the Annuitant dies prior to excluding from
income the entire investment in the Contract, the Annuitant's final tax return
may reflect a deduction for the balance of the investment in the Contract.

      Distributions made from the Contract prior to the Annuitization Date are
taxable to the Contract Owner to the extent that the cash value of the Contract
exceeds the Contract Owner's investment at the time of the Distribution.
Distributions, for this purpose, include partial surrenders, dividends, loans,
or any portion of the Contract which is assigned or pledged; or for Contracts
issued after April 22, 1987, any portion of the Contract transferred by gift.
For these purposes, a transfer by gift may occur upon Annuitization if the
Contract Owner 
    


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and the Annuitant are not the same individual. In determining the taxable amount
of a Distribution, all annuity contracts issued after October 21, 1988, by the
same company to the same contract owner during any 12 month period, will be
treated as one annuity contract. Additional limitations on the use of multiple
contracts may be imposed by Treasury Regulations. Distributions prior to the
Annuitization Date with respect to that portion of the Contract invested prior
to August 14, 1982, are treated first as a recovery of the investment in the
Contract as of that date. A Distribution in excess of the amount of the
investment in the Contract as of August 14, 1982, will be treated as taxable
income.

      The Tax Reform Act of 1986 has changed the tax treatment of certain
Non-Qualified Contracts held by entities other than individuals. Such entities
are taxed currently on the earnings on the Contract which are attributable to
contributions made to the Contract after February 28, 1986. There are exceptions
for immediate annuities and certain Contracts owned for the benefit of an
individual. An immediate annuity, for purposes of this discussion, is a single
premium Contract on which payments begin within one year of purchase. If this
Contract is issued as the result of an exchange described in Section 1035 of the
Code, for purposes of determining whether the Contract is an immediate annuity,
it will generally be considered to have been purchased on the purchase date of
the contract given up in the exchange.

      Code Section 72 also provides for a penalty tax, equal to 10% of the
portion of any Distribution that is includable in gross income, if such
Distribution is made prior to attaining age 59 1/2. The penalty tax does not
apply if the Distribution is attributable to the Contract Owner's death,
disability or is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made
over the life or life expectancy of the Contract Owner (or the joint lives or
joint life expectancies of the Contract Owner and the beneficiary selected by
the Contract Owner to receive payment under the Annuity Payment Option selected
by the Contract Owner) or for the purchase of an immediate annuity, or is
allocable to an investment in the Contract before August 14, 1982. A Contract
Owner wishing to begin taking Distributions to which the 10% tax penalty does
not apply should forward a written request to the Company. Upon receipt of a
written request from the Contract Owner, the Company will inform the Contract
Owner of the procedures pursuant to Company policy and subject to limitations of
the Contract including but not limited to first year withdrawals. Such election
shall be irrevocable and may not be amended or changed.

      In order to qualify as an annuity contract under Section 72 of the Code,
the contract must provide for Distribution of the entire contract to be made
upon the death of a Contract Owner. If a Contract Owner dies prior to the
Annuitization Date, then the Joint Owner, or other named recipient must receive
the Distribution within 5 years of the Contract Owner's death. However, the
recipient may elect for payments to be made over his/her life or life expectancy
provided that such payments begin within one year from the death of the Contract
Owner. If the Joint Owner, or other named recipient is the surviving spouse,
such spouse may be treated as the Contract Owner and the Contract may be
continued throughout the life of the surviving spouse. In the event the Contract
Owner dies on or after the Annuitization Date and before the entire interest has
been distributed, the remaining portion must be distributed at least as rapidly
as under the method of Distribution being used as of the date of the Contract
Owner's death (see "Required Distribution For Qualified Plans and Tax Sheltered
Annuities"). If the Contract Owner is not an individual, the death of the
Annuitant (or a change in the Annuitant) will result in a Distribution pursuant
to these rules.

      The Code requires that any election to receive an annuity rather than a
lump sum payment must be made within 60 days after the lump sum becomes payable
(generally, the election must be made within 60 days after the death of an Owner
or the Annuitant). If the election is made more than 60 days after the lump sum
first becomes payable, the election would be ignored for tax purposes, and the
entire amount of the lump sum would be subject to immediate tax. If the election
is made within the 60 day period, each Distribution would be taxable when it is
paid.

Non-Qualified Contracts - Non-Natural Persons as Owners

      The foregoing discussion of the taxation of Non-Qualified Contracts
applies to Contracts owned (or, pursuant to Section 72(u) of the Code, deemed to
be owned) by individuals; it does not apply to Contracts where one or more
non-individuals is an Owner.

      As a general rule, contracts owned by corporations, partnerships, trusts,
and similar entities ("Non-Natural Persons"), rather than by one or more
individuals, are not treated as annuity contracts for most purposes under the
Code; in particular, they are not treated as annuity contracts for purposes of
Section 72. Therefore, the taxation rules for Distributions, as described above,
do not apply to Non-Qualified Contracts owned by Non-Natural Persons. Rather,
the following rules will apply:
    


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<PAGE>   33

   
      The income earned under a Non-Qualified Contract that is owned by a
Non-Natural Person is taxed as ordinary income during the taxable year that it
is earned, and is not deferred, even if the income is not distributed out of the
Contract to the Owner.

      The foregoing Non-Natural Person rule does not apply to all entity-owned
contracts. First, for this purpose, a Contract that is owned by a Non-Natural
Person as an agent for an individual is treated as owned by the individual. This
exception does not apply, however, to a Non-Natural Person who is an employer
that holds the Contract under a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement
for one or more employees.

      The Non-Natural Person rules also do not apply to a Contract that is (a)
acquired by the estate of a decedent by reason of the death of the decedent; (b)
issued in connection with certain qualified retirement plans and individual
retirement plans; (c) used in connection with certain structured settlements;
(d) purchased by an employer upon the termination of certain qualified
retirement plans; or (e) an immediate annuity.

Qualified Plans, Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP IRAs and Tax Sheltered
Annuities

      The Contract may be purchased as a Qualified Contract, an Individual
Retirement Annuity, SEP IRA, or a Tax Sheltered Annuity. The Contract Owner
should seek competent advice as to the tax consequences associated with the use
of a Contract as an Individual Retirement Annuity.

      For information regarding eligibility, limitations on permissible amounts
of Purchase Payments, and the tax consequences of distributions from Qualified
Plans, Tax Sheltered Annuities, Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP IRAs and
other plans that receive favorable tax treatment, the purchasers of such
contracts should seek competent advice. The terms of such plans may limit the
rights available under the Contracts.

      Pursuant to Section 403(b)(1)(E) Code, a Contract that is issued as a
Tax-Sheltered Annuity is required to limit the amount of the Purchase Payment
for any year to an amount that does not exceed the limit set forth in Section
402(g) of the Code ($7,000), as it is from time to time increased to reflect
increases in the cost of living. This limit may be reduced by any deposits,
contributions or payments made to any other Tax-Sheltered Annuity or other plan,
contract or arrangement by or on behalf of the Owner.

      The Code permits the rollover of most Distributions from Qualified Plans
to other Qualified Plans or Individual Retirement Annuities. Most Distributions
from Tax-Sheltered Annuities may be rolled into another Tax-Sheltered Annuity,
Individual Retirement Annuity, or Individual Retirement Account. Distributions
that may not be rolled over are those which are:

1.    one of a series of substantially equal annual (or more frequent) payments
      made: (a) over the life (or life expectancy) of the Contract Owner, (b)
      over the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the Contract Owner
      and the Contract Owner's designated Beneficiary, or (c) for a specified
      period of ten years or more, or

2.    a required minimum distribution.

      Any Distribution eligible for rollover will be subject to federal tax
withholding at a rate of twenty percent (20%) unless the Distribution is
transferred directly to an appropriate plan as described above.

      Individual Retirement Annuities may not provide life insurance benefits.
If the Death Benefit exceeds the greater of the cash value of the Contract or
the sum of all Purchase Payments (less any surrenders), it is possible the
Internal Revenue Service could determine that the Individual Retirement Annuity
did not qualify for the desired tax treatment.

      The Contract is available for Qualified Plans electing to comply with
section 404(c) of ERISA. It is the responsibility of the plan and its
fiduciaries to determine and satisfy the requirements of section 404(c).

Withholding

      The Company is required to withhold tax from certain Distributions to the
extent that such Distribution would constitute income to the Contract Owner or
other payee. The Contract Owner or other payee is entitled to elect not to have
federal income tax withheld from any such Distribution, but may be subject to
penalties in the event insufficient federal income tax is withheld during a
calendar year. However, if the Internal Revenue Service notifies the Company
that the Contract Owner or other payee has furnished an incorrect taxpayer
identification number, or if the Contract Owner or other payee fails to provide
a taxpayer identification number, the Distributions may be subject to back-up
withholding at the statutory rate, which is presently 31%, and which cannot be
waived by the Contract Owner or other payee.
    


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<PAGE>   34

   
Non-Resident Aliens

      Distributions to nonresident aliens (NRAs) are generally subject to
federal income tax and tax withholding, at a statutory rate of thirty percent
(30%) of the amount of income that is distributed. The Company may be required
to withhold such amount from the Distribution and remit it to the Internal
Revenue Service. Distributions to certain NRAs may be subject to lower, or in
certain instances, zero tax and withholding rates, if the United States has
entered into an applicable treaty. However, in order to obtain the benefits of
such treaty provisions, the NRA must give to the Company sufficient proof of his
or her residency and citizenship in the form and manner prescribed by the
Internal Revenue Service. In addition, for any Distribution made after December
31, 1997, the NRA must obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from
the Internal Revenue Service, and furnish that number to the Company prior to
the Distribution. If the Company does not have the proper proof of citizenship
or residency and (for Distributions after December 31, 1997) a proper Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number prior to any Distribution, the Company will be
required to withhold 30% of the income, regardless of any treaty provision.

      A payment may not be subject to withholding where the recipient
sufficiently establishes to the Company that such payment is effectively
connected to the recipient's conduct of a trade or business in the United States
and that such payment is includable in the recipient's gross income for United
States federal income tax purposes. Any such Distributions will be subject to
the rules set forth in the section entitled "Withholding."

Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes

      A transfer of the Contract from one Contract Owner to another, or the
payment of a Distribution under the Contract to someone other than a Contract
Owner, may constitute a gift for federal gift tax purposes. Upon the death of
the Contract Owner, the value of the Contract may be included in his or her
gross estate, even if a all or a portion of the value is also subject to federal
income taxes.

      The Company may be required to determine whether the Death Benefit or any
other payment or Distribution constitutes a "direct skip" as defined in Section
2612 of the Code, and the amount of the generation skipping transfer tax, if
any, resulting from such direct skip. A direct skip may occur when property is
transferred to, or a Death Benefit or other Distribution is made to (a) an
individual who is two or more generations younger than the Owner; or (b) certain
trusts, as described in Section 2613 of the Code (generally, trusts that have no
beneficiaries who are not 2 or more generations younger than the Owner). If the
Owner is not an individual, then for this purpose only, "Owner" refers to any
person who would be required to include the Contract, Death Benefit,
Distribution, or other payment in his federal gross estate at his death, or who
is required to report the transfer of the Contract, Death Benefit, Distribution,
or other payment for federal gift tax purposes.

      If the Company determines that a generation skipping transfer tax is
required to be paid by reason of such direct skip, the Company is required to
reduce the amount of such Death Benefit, Distribution, or other payment by such
tax liability, and pay the tax liability directly to the Internal Revenue
Service.

      Federal estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax consequences,
and state and local estate, inheritance, succession, generation skipping
transfer, and other tax consequences, of owning or transferring a Contract, and
of receiving a Distribution, Death Benefit, or other payment, depend on the
circumstances of the person owning or transferring the Contract, or receiving a
Distribution, Death Benefit, or other payment.
    

Charge for Tax Provisions

      The Company is no longer required to maintain a capital gain reserve
liability on Non-Qualified Contracts since capital gains attributable to assets
held in the Company's Variable Account for such Contracts are not taxable to the
Company. However, the Company reserves the right to implement and adjust the tax
charge in the future, if the tax laws change.

Diversification

      The Internal Revenue Service has promulgated regulations under Section
817(h) of the Code relating to diversification standards for the investments
underlying a variable annuity contract. The regulations provide that a variable
annuity contract which does not satisfy the diversification standards will not
be treated as an annuity contract, unless the failure to satisfy the regulations
was inadvertent, the failure is corrected, and the Contract Owner or the Company
pays an amount to the Internal Revenue Service. The amount will be based on the
tax that would have been paid by the Contract Owner if the income, for the
period the Contract was not 


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<PAGE>   35

diversified, had been received by the Contract Owner. If the failure to
diversify is not corrected in this manner, the Contract Owner of an annuity
Contract will be deemed the owner of the underlying securities and will be taxed
on the earnings of his or her account. The Company believes, under its
interpretation of the Code and regulations thereunder, that the investments
underlying this Contract meet these diversification standards.

      Representatives of the Internal Revenue Service have suggested, from time
to time, that the number of underlying Mutual Funds available or the number of
transfer opportunities available under a variable product may be relevant in
determining whether the product qualifies for the desired tax treatment. No
formal guidance has been issued in this area. Should the Secretary of the
Treasury issue additional rules or regulations limiting the number of underlying
Mutual Funds, transfers between underlying Mutual Funds, exchanges of underlying
Mutual Funds or changes in investment objectives of underlying Mutual Funds such
that the Contract would no longer qualify as an annuity under Section 72 of the
Code, the Company will take whatever steps are available to remain in
compliance.

   
Tax Changes

      In the recent past, the Code has been subjected to numerous amendments and
changes, and it is reasonable to believe that it will continue to be revised.
The United States Congress has, in the past, considered numerous legislative
proposals that, if enacted, could change the tax treatment of the Contracts. It
is reasonable to believe that such proposals, and other proposals will be
considered in the future, and some of them may be enacted into law. In addition,
the Treasury Department may amend existing regulations, issue new regulations,
or adopt new interpretations of existing law that may be in variance with its
current positions on these matters. In addition, current state law (which is not
discussed herein), and future amendments to state law, may affect the tax
consequences of the Contract.

      The foregoing discussion, which is based on the Company's understanding of
federal tax laws as they are currently interpreted by the Internal Revenue
Service, is general and is not intended as tax advice. Statutes, regulations,
and rulings are subject to interpretation by the courts. The courts may
determine that a different interpretation than the currently favored
interpretation is appropriate, thereby changing the operation of the rules that
are applicable to annuity contracts.

      Any of the foregoing may change from time to time without any notice, and
the tax consequences arising out of a Contract may be changed retroactively.
There is no way of predicting whether, when, and to what extent any such change
may take place. No representation is made as to the likelihood of the
continuation of these current laws, interpretations, and policies.

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL EXPLANATION AS TO CERTAIN TAX MATTERS PERTAINING TO
ANNUITY CONTRACTS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE, AND SHOULD NOT
TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR INDEPENDENT LEGAL, TAX AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
    

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

Contract Owner Inquiries

   
      Contract Owner inquiries may be directed to Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company by writing P.O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008, or
calling (800) 533-5622, TDD 1-800-238-3035.

Statements and Reports

      The Company will mail to Contract Owners, at their last known address of
record, any statements and reports required by applicable law. Contract Owners
should therefore give the Company prompt notice of any address change. The
Company will send a confirmation statement to Contract Owners each time a
transaction is made affecting the Owners' Variable Account Contract Value, such
as making additional Purchase Payments, transfers, exchanges or withdrawals.
Quarterly statements are also mailed detailing the Contract activity during the
calendar quarter. Instead of receiving an immediate confirmation of transactions
made pursuant to some types of periodic payment plans (such as a Dollar Cost
Averaging program or salary reduction arrangement), the Contract Owners will
receive confirmation of such transactions in their quarterly statements. The
Contract Owner should review the information in these statements carefully. All
errors or corrections must be reported to the Company immediately to assure
proper crediting to the Owner's Contract. The Company will assume all
transactions are accurately reported on quarterly statements or confirmation
statements unless the Contract Owner notifies the Company otherwise within 30
days after receipt of the statement. The Company will also send to Contract
Owners each year an annual report and a semi-annual report containing financial
statements for the Variable Account, as of December 31 and June 30,
respectively.
    


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<PAGE>   36

Advertising

      The Company may from time to time advertise several types of historical
performance for the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account. The Company may
advertise for the Sub-Accounts standardized "average annual total return,"
calculated in a manner prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
nonstandardized "total return." "Average annual total return" will show the
percentage rate of return of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 for at
least the most recent one, five and ten year period, or for a period covering
the time the underlying Mutual Fund held in the Sub-Account has been in
existence, if the underlying Fund has not been in existence for one of the
prescribed periods. This calculation reflects the deduction of all applicable
charges made to the Contracts except for premium taxes, which may be imposed by
certain states.

      Nonstandardized "total return" will be calculated in a similar manner and
for the same time periods as will average annual total return, except total
return will assume an initial investment of $10,000 and will not reflect the
deduction of any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, which, if
reflected, would decrease the level of performance shown. The Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge is not reflected because the Contracts are designed for
long term investment. An assumed initial investment of $10,000 will be used
because that figure more closely approximates the size of a typical Contract
than does the $1,000 figure used in calculating the standardized average annual
total return quotations. The amount of the hypothetical initial investment
assumed affects performance because the Contract Maintenance Charge is a fixed
per Contract charge.

      For those underlying Fund options which have not been held as Sub-Accounts
within the Variable Account for one of the quoted periods, the standardized
average annual total return and nonstandardized total return quotations will
show the investment performance such underlying Mutual Fund options would have
achieved (reduced by the applicable charges) had they been held as Sub-Accounts
within the Variable Account for the period quoted.

      A "yield" and "effective yield" may also be advertised for the Nationwide
Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account. "Yield" is a measure of
the net dividend and interest income earned over a specific seven-day period
(which period will be stated in the advertisement) expressed as a percentage of
the offering price of the Sub-Account's units. Yield is an annualized figure,
which means that it is assumed that the Sub-Account generates the same level of
net income over a 52-week period. The "effective yield" is calculated similarly
but includes the effect of assumed compounding calculated under rules prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The effective yield will be slightly
higher than yield due to this compounding effect.

      The Company may also from time to time advertise the performance of the
Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account relative to the performance of other
variable annuity sub-accounts or underlying mutual funds with similar or
different objectives, or the investment industry as a whole. Other investments
to which the Sub-Accounts may be compared include, but are not limited to:
precious metals; real estate; stocks and bonds; closed-end funds; CDs; bank
money market deposit accounts and passbook savings; and the Consumer Price
Index.

      The Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account may also be compared to certain
market indices, which may include, but are not limited to: S&P 500;
Shearson/Lehman Intermediate Government/Corporate Bond Index; Shearson/Lehman
Long-Term Government/Corporate Bond Index; Donoghue Money Fund Average; U.S.
Treasury Note Index; Bank Rate Monitor National Index of 2 1/2 Year CD Rates;
and Dow Jones Industrial Average.

   
      Normally these rankings and ratings are published by independent tracking
services and publications of general interest including, but not limited to:
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., CDA/Wiesenberger, Morningstar, Donoghue's;
magazines such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine,
Financial World, Consumer Reports, Business Week, Time, Newsweek, National
Underwriter, U.S. News and World Report; rating services such as LIMRA, Value,
Best's Agent Guide, Western Annuity Guide, Comparative Annuity Reports; and
other publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Investor's Daily,
and Standard & Poor's Outlook. In addition, Variable Annuity Research & Data
Service (The VARDS Report) is an independent rating service that ranks over 500
variable annuity funds based upon total return performance. These rating
services and publications rank the performance of the underlying Mutual Fund
options against all underlying mutual funds over specified periods and against
underlying mutual funds in specified categories. The rankings may or may not
include the effects of sales or other charges.
    


                                       34


                                    36 of 95
<PAGE>   37

      The Company is also ranked and rated by independent financial rating
services, among which are Moody's, Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best Company. The
purpose of these ratings is to reflect the financial strength or claims-paying
ability of the Company. The ratings are not intended to reflect the investment
experience or financial strength of the Variable Account. The Company may
advertise these ratings from time to time. In addition, the company may include
in certain advertisements, endorsements in the form of a list of organizations,
individuals or other parties which recommend the Company or the contract.
Furthermore, the Company may occasionally include in advertisements comparisons
of currently taxable and tax deferred investment programs, based on selected tax
brackets, or discussions of alternative investment vehicles and general economic
conditions.

All performance information and comparative material advertised by the Company
is historical in nature and is not intended to represent or guarantee future
results. A Contract Owner's Contract Value at redemption may be more or less
than original cost.

Below are quotations of standardized average annual total return and
non-standardized total return calculated as described above, for each of the
Sub-Accounts available within the Variable Account for which there is
significant investment history. These figures are based upon historical earnings
and are not necessarily representative of future results.

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
                    Standardized Average Annual Total Return

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
===========================================================================================================

        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS             1 Year to        5 Years to      Life of Fund       Date Fund
                                        12/31/96          12/31/96        to 12/31/96       Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>   
Fidelity VIP Fund Growth Portfolio         4.81%           10.85%            11.55%*         10-09-86
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation                 16.09%            N/A               9.35%          04-15-92
Fund
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                 -6.21%            2.47%             4.49%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                    11.85%            9.31%             8.75%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                    -4.66%           -0.61%             1.65%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers               -2.91%            3.43%             6.30%          02-28-89
Management Trust-Balanced Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable                 -0.58%           0.92%              3.01%          08-01-91
Portfolios, Inc.-
American Century VP Advantage
===========================================================================================================
    
</TABLE>


                                       35


                                    37 of 95
<PAGE>   38

                  Non-Standardized Average Annual Total Return
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
===========================================================================================================
        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS             1 Year to        5 Years to      Life of Fund       Date Fund
                                        12/31/96          12/31/96        to 12/31/96       Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>               <C>             <C>   
Fidelity VIP Fund-Growth Portfolio        12.91%           13.43%            13.47%*         10-09-86
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation                 24.19%            N/A              12.50%          04-15-92
Fund
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                  1.83%            5.37%             6.77%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                    19.95%           12.05%            10.92%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                     3.44%            2.51%             4.12%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers                5.19%            6.34%             8.54%          02-28-89
Management Trust Balanced Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable                  7.52%           4.12%              6.18%          08-01-91
Portfolios, Inc.-
American Century VP Advantage
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>

* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.
    

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      There are no material legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company and the Variable
Account are parties or to which any of their property is subject.

      The General Distributor, Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., is not
engaged in any litigation of any material nature.

            TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                                                            Page
General Information and History..............................................1
Services.....................................................................1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered.........................................1
Underwriters.................................................................2
Calculations of Performance..................................................2
Underlying Mutual Fund Performance Summary...................................3
Annuity Payments.............................................................4
Financial Statements.........................................................5


                                       36


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<PAGE>   39

                                    APPENDIX

      Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account portion of the Contract
and transfers to the Fixed Account portion become part of the general account of
the Company, which supports insurance and annuity obligations. Because of
exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the general account have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), nor is the
general account registered as an investment company under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). Accordingly, neither the general account nor any
interest therein is generally subject to the provisions of the 1933 or 1940
Acts, and we have been advised that the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission has not reviewed the disclosures in this prospectus which relate to
the guaranteed interest portion. Disclosures regarding the Fixed Account portion
of the Contract and the general account, however, may be subject to certain
generally applicable provisions of the federal securities laws relating to the
accuracy and completeness of statements made in prospectuses.

                            FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS

The Fixed Account

      The Fixed Account is made up of all the general assets of the Company,
other than those in the Nationwide VA Separate Account-A and any other
segregated asset account. Fixed Account Purchase Payments will be allocated to
the Fixed Account by election of the Contract Owner at the time of purchase.

      The Company will invest the assets of the Fixed Account in those assets
chosen by the Company and allowed by applicable law. Investment income from such
Fixed Account assets will be allocated by the Company between itself and the
Contracts participating in the Fixed Account.

      The level of annuity payments made to Annuitants under the Contracts will
not be affected by the mortality experience (death rate) of persons receiving
such payments or of the general population. The Company assumes this "mortality
risk" by virtue of annuity rates incorporated in the Contract which cannot be
changed. In addition, the Company guarantees that it will not increase charges
for maintenance of the Contracts regardless of its actual expenses.

      Investment income from the Fixed Account allocated to the Company includes
compensation for mortality and expense risks borne by the Company in connection
with Fixed Account Contracts. The amount of such investment income allocated to
the Contracts will vary from year to year in the sole discretion of the Company
at such rate or rates as the Company prospectively declares from time to time.
Any such rate or rates so determined will remain effective for a period of not
less than twelve months, and remain at such rate unless changed. However, the
Company guarantees that it will credit interest at not less than 3.0% per year
(or as otherwise required under state law, or at such minimum rate as stated in
the contract when sold). ANY INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED
ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF 3.0% PER YEAR WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF
THE COMPANY. THE CONTRACT OWNER ASSUMES THE RISK THAT INTEREST CREDITED TO FIXED
ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF 3.0% FOR ANY GIVEN
YEAR. New Purchase Payments deposited to the Contract which are allocated to the
Fixed Account may receive a different rate of interest than money transferred
from the Variable Sub-Accounts to the Fixed Account and amounts maturing in the
Fixed Account at the expiration of an Interest Rate Guarantee Period.

      The Company guarantees that, at any time, the Fixed Account Contract Value
will not be less than the amount of the Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed
Account, plus interest credited as described above, less the sum of all
administrative charges, any applicable premium taxes, and less any amounts
surrendered. If the Contract Owner effects a surrender, the amount available
from the Fixed Account will be reduced by any applicable Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge (see "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").

Transfers

      Contract Owners may at the maturity of an Interest Rate Guarantee Period,
transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed Account to the Variable Account.
The maximum percentage that may be transferred will be determined by the Company
at its sole discretion, but will not be less than 10% of the total value of the
portion of the Fixed Account that is maturing and will be declared upon the
expiration date of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period (see
"Interest Rate Guarantee Period"). Transfers under this provision must be made
within 45 days after the expiration date of the guarantee period. Contract
Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost Averaging Agreement with the Company
(see "Dollar Cost Averaging") may transfer from the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account under the terms of that agreement.


                                       37


                                    39 of 95
<PAGE>   40

                      ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD FIXED ACCOUNT

First and Subsequent Payments

   
      A Fixed Annuity is an annuity with payments which are guaranteed by the
Company as to dollar amount during the annuity payment period. The first Fixed
Annuity payment will be determined by applying the Fixed Account value to the
applicable Annuity Table in accordance with the Annuity Payment Option elected.
This will be done at the Annuitization Date on an age last birthday basis. Fixed
Annuity payments after the first will not be less than the first Fixed Annuity
payment.
    

      The Company does not credit discretionary interest to Fixed Annuity
payments during the annuity payment period for annuity options based on life
contingencies. The Annuitant must rely on the Annuity Tables applicable to the
Contracts to determine the amount of such Fixed Annuity payments.

Annuity Tables and Assumed Interest Rate

      The Annuity Tables contained in the Contracts are based on the 1971
Individual Annuity Mortality Table (set back one year), and an assumed interest
rate of 3.5%.


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                                    40 of 95
<PAGE>   41

   
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                   May 1, 1997
    

                 INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
             ISSUED BY NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                    THROUGH NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A

   
      This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It contains
information in addition to and more detailed than set forth in the prospectus
and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated May 1, 1997. The
prospectus may be obtained from Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company by
writing P.O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008, or calling 1-800-533-5622,
TDD 1-800-238-3035.
    

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
General Information and History..............................................1
Services.....................................................................1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered.........................................1
Underwriters.................................................................2
Calculations of Performance..................................................2
Underlying Mutual Fund Performance Summary...................................3
Annuity Payments.............................................................4
Financial Statements.........................................................5

General Information and History

   
      The Nationwide VA Separate Account-A (formerly the Financial Horizons VA
Separate Account-1) is a separate investment account of Nationwide Life and
Annuity Insurance Company ("Company") (formerly Financial Horizons Life
Insurance Company). On April 7, 1988, ownership of the Company changed from
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company to Nationwide Life Insurance Company. The
Company is a member of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and all of the
Company's common stock is owned by Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. ("NFS"),
a holding company. NFS has two classes of common stock outstanding with
different voting rights enabling Nationwide Corporation (the holder of all of
the outstanding Class B Common Stock) to control NFS. Nationwide Corporation is
a holding company, as well. All of its common stock is held by Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company (95.3%) and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (4.7%),
the ultimate controlling persons of Nationwide Insurance Enterprise. The
Nationwide Insurance Enterprise is one of America's largest insurance and
financial services family of companies, with combined assets of over $ 67.5
billion as of December 31, 1996.
    

Services

      The Company, which has responsibility for administration of the Contracts
and the Variable Account, maintains records of the name, address, taxpayer
identification number, and other pertinent information for each Contract Owner
and the number and type of Contract issued to each such Contract Owner and
records with respect to the Contract Value of each Contract.

      The Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account is the Company. The
Company will maintain a record of all purchases and redemptions of shares of the
underlying Mutual Funds. The Company, or affiliates of the Company may have
entered into agreements with either the investment adviser or distributor for
several of the underlying Mutual Funds. The agreements relate to administrative
services furnished by the Company or an affiliate of the Company and provide for
an annual fee based on the average aggregate net assets of the Variable Account
(and other separate accounts of the Company or life insurance company affiliate
of the Company) invested in particular underlying Mutual Funds. These fees in no
way affect the net asset value of the underlying Mutual Funds or fees paid by
the Contract Owner.

      The financial statements and schedules have been included herein in
reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, Two Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                       1


                                    41 of 95
<PAGE>   42

Purchase of Securities Being Offered

      The Contracts will be sold by licensed insurance agents in the states
where the Contracts may be lawfully sold. Such agents will be registered
representatives of broker-dealers registered under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD").

      The Contract Owner may transfer up to 100% of the Contract Value from the
Variable Account to the Fixed Account. However, the Company, at its sole
discretion, reserves the right to limit such transfers to 25% of the Contract
Value for any 12 month period. Any such transfers to the Fixed Account must
remain on deposit in the Fixed Account until the end of the current Interest
Rate Guarantee Period. Contract Owners may at the maturity of an Interest Rate
Guarantee Period transfer a portion of the Contract Value of the Fixed Account
to the Variable Account. Such portion will be determined by the Company at its
sole discretion (but will not be less than 10% of the total value of the portion
of the Fixed Account that is maturing), and will be declared upon the expiration
date of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period. The Interest Rate
Guarantee Period expires on the final day of a calendar quarter; therefore the
Interest Rate Guarantee Period for deposits or transfers in the Fixed Account
may continue for up to three months after a one year period has expired.
Transfers under this provision must be made within 45 days after the expiration
date of the guarantee period. Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost
Averaging agreement with the Company may transfer from the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account under the terms of that agreement.

      Transfers from the Fixed Account may not be made prior to the first
Contract Anniversary. Transfers from the Fixed Account may not be made within 12
months of any prior Transfer. Transfers must also be made prior to the
Annuitization Date.

Underwriters

   
      The Contracts, which are offered continuously, are distributed by
Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. ("NAS"), One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio
43215, an affiliate of the Company. No underwriting commissions were paid by the
Company to NAS.
    

Calculations of Performance

      All performance advertising shall include quotations of standardized
average annual total return, calculated in accordance with standard method
prescribed by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to facilitate
comparison with standardized average annual total return advertised by other
variable annuity separate accounts. Standardized average annual total return
advertised for a specific period is found by first taking a hypothetical $1,000
investment in each of the Sub-Accounts' units on the first day of the period at
the offering price, which is the Accumulation Unit Value per unit ("initial
investment") and computing the ending redeemable value ("redeemable value") of
that investment at the end of the period. The redeemable value is then divided
by the initial investment and this quotient is taken to the Nth root (N
represents the number of years in the period) and 1 is subtracted from the
result which is then expressed as a percentage, carried to at least the nearest
hundredth of a percent. Standardized average annual total return reflects the
deduction of a maximum $30 Contract Maintenance Charge and a 1.30% Mortality,
Expense Risk and Administration Charge. The redeemable value also reflects the
effect of any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge that may be imposed at
the end of the period (see "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" located in the
prospectus). No deduction is made for premium taxes which may be assessed by
certain states.

      Nonstandardized average annual total return may also be advertised, and is
calculated in a manner similar to standardized average annual total return
except the nonstandardized average annual total return is based on a
hypothetical initial investment of $10,000 and does not reflect the deduction of
any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Reflecting the Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge would decrease the level of the performance advertised.
The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is not reflected because the Contract is
designed for long term investment. An assumed initial investment of $10,000 will
be used because that figure more closely approximates the size of a typical
Contract than does the $1,000 figure used in calculating the standardized
average annual total return quotations. The amount of the hypothetical initial
investment used affects performance because the Contract Maintenance Charge is a
fixed per contract charge.

      The standardized average annual total return and nonstandardized average
annual total return quotations will be current to the last day of the calendar
quarter preceding the date on which an advertisement is submitted for
publication. Both the standardized average annual total return and the
nonstandardized average annual total return will be based on the rolling
calendar quarters and will cover at least periods of one, five, and 


                                       2


                                    42 of 95
<PAGE>   43

ten years, or a period covering the time the underlying Mutual Fund held in the
Sub-Account has been in existence, if the underlying Mutual Fund has not been in
existence for one of the prescribed periods. For those underlying Mutual Fund
options which have not been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for
one of the quoted periods, the average annual total return and nonstandardized
average annual total return quotations will show the investment performance such
underlying Mutual Fund options would have achieved (reduced by the applicable
charges) had they been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for the
period quoted.

      Quotations of standardized average annual total return and
non-standardized average annual total return are based upon historical earnings
and will fluctuate. Any quotation of performance, therefore, should not be
considered a guarantee of future performance. Factors affecting a Sub-Account's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses and investment
management. A Contract Owner's account when redeemed may be more or less than
original cost.

      Below are the quotations of standardized average annual total return and
nonstandardized average annual total return, calculated as described above, for
each of the Sub-Accounts available within the Variable Account.

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
                    Standardized Average Annual Total Return

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
===========================================================================================================

        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS             1 Year to        5 Years to      Life of Fund       Date Fund
                                        12/31/96          12/31/96        to 12/31/96       Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>   
Fidelity VIP Fund Growth Portfolio         4.81%           10.85%            11.55%*         10-09-86
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation                 16.09%            N/A               9.35%          04-15-92
Fund
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                 -6.21%            2.47%             4.49%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                    11.85%            9.31%             8.75%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                    -4.66%           -0.61%             1.65%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers               -2.91%            3.43%             6.30%          02-28-89
Management Trust-Balanced Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable                 -0.58%           0.92%              3.01%          08-01-91
Portfolios, Inc.-
American Century VP Advantage
===========================================================================================================
    
<CAPTION>

                  Non-Standardized Average Annual Total Return
   
===========================================================================================================

        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS             1 Year to        5 Years to      Life of Fund       Date Fund
                                        12/31/96          12/31/96        to 12/31/96       Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>               <C>             <C>   
Fidelity VIP Fund-Growth Portfolio        12.91%           13.43%            13.47%*         10-09-86
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation                 24.19%            N/A              12.50%          04-15-92
Fund
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                  1.83%            5.37%             6.77%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                    19.95%           12.05%            10.92%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                     3.44%            2.51%             4.12%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers                5.19%            6.34%             8.54%          02-28-89
Management Trust Balanced Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable                  7.52%           4.12%              6.18%          08-01-91
Portfolios, Inc.-
American Century VP Advantage
===========================================================================================================
    
</TABLE>
* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.


                                       3


                                    43 of 95
<PAGE>   44

   
      Any current yield quotations of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust
Money Market Fund Sub-Account, subject to Rule 482 of the Securities Act of
1933, shall consist of a seven calendar day historical yield, carried at least
to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The yield shall be calculated by
determining the net change, exclusive of capital changes, in the value of
hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one accumulation unit at
the beginning of the base period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting
deductions from Contract Owner accounts, and dividing the net change in account
value by the value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain a
base period return, and multiplying the base period return by (365/7) or (366/7)
in a leap year. The Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund
Sub-Account's effective yield is computed similarly but includes the effect of
assumed compounding on an annualized basis of the current yield quotations of
the Fund. For the seven day period ended December 30, 1996, the Nationwide
Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account's unit value yield and
effective unit value yield were 3.54% and 3.60%, respectively.
    

      The Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account's
yield and effective yield will fluctuate daily. Actual yields will depend on
factors such as the type of instruments in the fund's portfolio, portfolio
quality and average maturity, changes in interest rates, and the fund's
expenses. Although the Sub-Account determines its yield on the basis of a seven
calendar day period, it may use a different time period on occasion. The yield
quotes may reflect the expense limitation described "Investment Manager and
Other Services" in the fund's Statement of Additional Information. There is no
assurance that the yields quoted on any given occasion will remain in effect for
any period of time and there is no guarantee that the net asset values will
remain constant. It should be noted that a Contract Owner's investment in the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account is not
guaranteed or insured. Yields of other money market funds may not be comparable
if a different base or another method of calculation is used.

Annuity Payments

      See "Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments" located in the prospectus.


                                       4


                                    44 of 95
<PAGE>   45

<PAGE>   1

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

                          Independent Auditors' Report
                          ----------------------------


The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company
   (formerly Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company) and 
   Contract Owners of Nationwide VA Separate Account-A 
   (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1):

      We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide VA Separate Account-A (formerly Financial
Horizons VA Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the related
statements of operations and changes in contract owners' equity and schedules of
changes in unit value for each of the years in the three year period then ended.
These financial statements and schedules of changes in unit value are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedules of changes in unit value
based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and schedules of
changes in unit value are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures include confirmation of securities
owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with the transfer agents of the
underlying mutual funds. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, the financial statements and schedules of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide VA Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VA
Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations
and its changes in contract owners' equity and the schedules of changes in unit
value for each of the years in the three year period then ended in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
February 7, 1997




<PAGE>   2




                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
               (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1)
          STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
                                December 31, 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                <C>         
Assets:

   Investments at market value:

      Federated - Federated High Income Bond Fund II (FedHiInc)
         5,351 shares (cost $53,470) ..........................    $     54,795

      Fidelity VIP-- Equity-Income Portfolio (FidVIPEI)
         2,669 shares (cost $52,321) ..........................          56,139

      Fidelity VIP -- Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
         2,262,504 shares (cost $52,142,514) ..................      70,454,363

      MFS(R) - Emerging Growth Series (MFSEmGrSe)
         3,908 shares (cost $53,506) ..........................          51,742

      Nationwide SAT -- Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
         519,009 shares (cost $6,408,740) .....................       8,449,459

      Nationwide SAT -- Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
         3,139,185 shares (cost $35,203,075) ..................      34,656,600

      Nationwide SAT -- Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
         3,802,407 shares (cost $3,802,407) ...................       3,802,407

      Nationwide SAT -- Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
         4,847,223 shares (cost $50,895,999) ..................      64,322,651

      Neuberger & Berman -- Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
         1,569,940 shares (cost $23,770,547) ..................      24,993,442

      TCI Portfolios -- TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
         2,107,066 shares (cost $11,571,020) ..................      13,253,450
                                                                   ------------
            Total investments .................................     220,095,048

   Accounts receivable ........................................           4,273
                                                                   ------------
           Total assets .......................................     220,099,321

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ..............................................          27,251
                                                                   ------------
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY .......................................    $220,072,070
                                                                   ============
</TABLE>                                                     




<PAGE>   3



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contract owners' equity represented by:                           UNITS          UNIT VALUE
                                                                ---------       ------------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>              <C>          
   Contracts in accumulation phase:
  
 VA contracts:

      Fidelity VIP -- Growth Portfolio:
         Tax qualified................................          2,179,554         $19.539984       $  42,588,450
         Non-tax qualified ...........................          1,424,891          19.539984          27,842,347

      Nationwide SAT -- Capital Appreciation Fund:
         Tax qualified................................            266,039          17.979967           4,783,372
         Non-tax qualified............................            203,910          17.979967           3,666,295

      Nationwide SAT -- Government Bond Fund:
         Tax qualified................................            980,638          18.176386          17,824,455
         Non-tax qualified............................            925,418          18.176386          16,820,755

      Nationwide SAT -- Money Market Fund:
         Tax qualified................................            198,448          13.684658           2,715,693
         Non-tax qualified............................             77,424          13.684658           1,059,521

      Nationwide SAT -- Total Return Fund:
         Tax qualified................................          1,595,854          22.903028          36,549,889
         Non-tax qualified............................          1,212,036          22.903028          27,759,294

      Neuberger & Berman -- Balanced Portfolio:
         Tax qualified................................            972,426          15.011108          14,597,192
         Non-tax qualified............................            692,598          15.011108          10,396,663

      TCI Portfolios -- TCI Advantage:
         Tax qualified................................            554,216          14.067634           7,796,508
         Non-tax qualified............................            361,130          14.067634           5,080,245
         Initial Funding by Depositor (note 1a).......             25,000          15.079515             376,988

   VA-II Convertible contracts:

      Federated -- Federated High Income Bond Fund II:
         Non-tax qualified............................              4,865          11.260755              54,784

      Fidelity VIP-- Equity-Income Portfolio:
         Non-tax qualified............................              3,700          15.169422              56,127

      MFS(R)Emerging Growth Series:
         Non-tax qualified............................              4,480          11.549651              51,742
                                                                ---------          ---------
   Reserves for annuity contracts in payout phase:
         Tax qualified................................                                                    39,738
         Non-tax qualified............................                                                    12,012
                                                                                                   -------------
                                                                                                   $ 220,072,070
                                                                                                   =============
</TABLE>





See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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


<PAGE>   4


                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
               (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1)
         STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
                  Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1996              1995              1994
                                                                       -------------      -----------       -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>                 <C>               <C>       
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY:
   Reinvested capital gains and dividends....................         $ 15,275,421        8,050,692         7,721,041 
   Mortality, expense and administration charges (note 2)....           (2,743,464)      (2,357,690)       (2,024,513)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
      Net investment activity................................           12,531,957        5,693,002         5,696,528 
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 

   Proceeds from mutual fund shares sold.....................            21,740,726       20,313,766        19,817,630 
   Cost of mutual fund shares sold...........................           (19,156,737)     (18,563,695)      (19,721,355)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
      Realized gain (loss) on investments....................             2,583,989        1,750,071            96,275 
   Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments...........             8,279,881       31,434,577        (9,410,416)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
      Net gain (loss) on investments.........................            10,863,870       33,184,648        (9,314,141)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
         Net increase (decrease) in contract owners'
            equity resulting from operations.................            23,395,827       38,877,650        (3,617,613)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 

EQUITY TRANSACTIONS:
   Purchase payments received from contract owners...........            14,984,201       13,686,421        47,925,144 
   Redemptions...............................................           (14,810,150)     (16,686,757)      (15,715,791)
   Annuity benefits..........................................                (8,432)          (3,226)            -
   Annual contract maintenance charge (note 2)...............              (267,941)        (270,240)         (226,608)
   Contingent deferred sales charges (note 2)................              (325,984)        (413,527)         (445,574)
   Adjustments to maintain reserves..........................                 6,740           (2,665)           (2,326)
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
         Net equity transactions.............................              (421,566)      (3,689,994)       31,534,845 
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 

NET CHANGE IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY........................            22,974,261       35,187,656        27,917,232 
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY BEGINNING OF PERIOD..................           197,097,809      161,910,153       133,992,921 
                                                                      -------------      -----------       ----------- 
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY END OF PERIOD........................         $ 220,072,070      197,097,809       161,910,153 
                                                                      =============      ===========       =========== 
</TABLE>



See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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

<PAGE>   5



                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
               (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

   (a) Organization and Nature of Operations

      Nationwide VA Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate
Account-1) (the Account) was established pursuant to a resolution of the Board
of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (formerly
Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company) (the Company) on May 6, 1987. The
Account has been registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. On August 21, 1991, the Company transferred to the Account,
50,000 shares of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. - TCI Advantage fund for which the
Account was credited with 25,000 accumulation units. The value of the
accumulation units purchased by the Company on August 21, 1991 was $250,000.

      The Company offers tax qualified and non-tax qualified Individual Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts through the Account. The primary distribution for the
contracts is through banks and other financial institutions; however, other
distributors may be utilized.

   (b) The Contracts

      Only contracts without a front-end sales charge, but with a contingent
deferred sales charge and certain other fees are offered for purchase. See note
2 for a discussion of contract expenses.

      With certain exceptions, contract owners in either the accumulation or the
payout phase may invest in any of the following funds:

         Funds of the Federated Insurance Series (Federated);
            Federated -- Federated American Leaders Fund II (FedAmLead)
            Federated -- Federated High Income Bond Fund II (FedHiInc)

         Portfolio of the Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund (Fidelity 
         VIP);
            Fidelity VIP -- Equity - Income Portfolio (FidVIPEI)
            Fidelity VIP -- Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr) 
            Fidelity VIP -- Overseas Portfolio (FidVIPOv)

         Funds of the MFS(R) Variable Insurance Trust (MFS(R)); 
            MFS(R) -- Emerging Growth Series (MFSEmGrSe) 
            MFS(R) -- Total Return Series (MFSTotReSe)

         Funds of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust (Nationwide SAT) 
         (managed for a fee by an affiliated investment advisor);
            Nationwide SAT -- Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
            Nationwide SAT -- Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
            Nationwide SAT -- Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
            Nationwide SAT -- Small Company Fund (NSATSmCo)
            Nationwide SAT -- Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)

         Portfolio of the Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust 
         (Neuberger & Berman);
            Neuberger & Berman -- Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)

         Portfolio of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. (TCIPortfolios);
            TCI Portfolios -- TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)

      At December 31, 1996, contract owners have invested in all of the above
funds except the Federated Federated American Leaders Fund II, Fidelity VIP -
Overseas Portfolio, MFS(R) - Total Return Series, and Nationwide SAT Small
Company Fund. The contract owners' equity is affected by the investment results
of each fund, equity transactions by contract owners and certain contract
expenses (see note 2). The accompanying financial statements include only
contract owners' purchase payments pertaining to the variable portions of their
contracts and exclude any purchase payments for fixed dollar benefits, the
latter being included in the accounts of the Company.




<PAGE>   6



   (c) Security Valuation, Transactions and Related Investment Income

      The market value of the underlying mutual funds is based on the closing
net asset value per share at December 31, 1996. The cost of investments sold is
determined on the specific identification basis. Investment transactions are
accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed) and
dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.

   (d) Federal Income Taxes

      Operations of the Account form a part of, and are taxed with, operations
of the Company which is taxed as a life insurance company under the Internal
Revenue Code.

      The Company does not provide for income taxes within the Account. Taxes
are the responsibility of the contract owner upon termination or withdrawal.

   (e) Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

      The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles may require management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

   (f) Reclassifications

    Certain 1995 and 1994 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the
current year presentation.

(2) EXPENSES

      The Company does not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments received
from the contract owners. However, if any part of the contract value of such
contracts is surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct from
a contract owners' contract value a contingent deferred sales charge not to
exceed 7% of the lesser of purchase payments or the amount surrendered, such
charge declining 1% per year, to 0%, after the purchase payment has been held in
the contract for 84 months. No sales charges are deducted on redemptions used to
purchase units in the fixed investment options of the Company.

      The following contract charges are deducted by the Company: (a) for the VA
contracts an annual contract maintenance charge of $30 which is satisfied by
surrendering units; for the VA II Convertible contracts a one-time contract
maintenance charge of up to $50, dependent upon the initial purchase payment and
contract type; and (b) for the VA contracts a mortality risk charge, an expense
risk charge and an administration charge assessed through the daily unit value
calculation equal to an annual rate of 0.80%, 0.45% and 0.05%, respectively; for
the VA II Convertible contracts a mortality risk charge, an expense risk charge
and an administration charge assessed through the daily unit value calculation
equal to an annual rate of 0.80%, 0.45% and 0.15%, respectively. No charges were
deducted from the initial funding, or from earnings thereon.

(3) SCHEDULE I

      Schedule I presents the components of the change in the unit values, which
are the basis for contract owners' equity. This schedule is presented in the
following format:

            -   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1

            -   Reinvested capital gains and dividends
                (This amount reflects the increase in the unit value due to
                capital gains and dividend distributions from the underlying
                mutual funds.)

            -   Unrealized gain (loss)
                (This amount reflects the increase (decrease) in the unit value
                resulting from the market appreciation (depreciation) of the
                underlying mutual funds.)

            -   Contract charges
                (This amount reflects the decrease in the unit value due to the
                mortality risk charge, expense risk charge and administration
                charge discussed in note 2.)

            -   Ending unit value - Dec. 31

            -   Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.

      For contracts in the payout phase, an assumed investment return of 3.5%,
used in the calculation of the annuity benefit payment amount, results in a
corresponding reduction in the components of the unit values as shown in
Schedule I. 



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


<PAGE>   7


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

                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
               (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1)
                                  VA CONTRACTS
                       SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
                  Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   FIDVIPGR   NSATCAPAP   NSATGVTBD   NSATMYMKT   NSATTOTRE    NBAMTBAL       TCIADV      TCIADV+
                                   --------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    --------       ------      -------
1996
<S>                              <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>       
Beginning unit value - Jan. 1    $17.260484   14.442619   17.796519   13.190835   19.046261    14.230121   13.047149    13.802855 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
 and dividends                     1.239829     .749106    1.101097     .670495    1.268988     2.180116     .939604      .998314 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss)             1.283569    2.998126    (.490209)    .000000    2.858575    (1.208831)    .257546      .278346 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract charges                   (.243898)   (.209884)   (.231021)   (.176672)   (.270796)    (.190298)   (.176665)     .000000 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value - Dec. 31      $19.539984   17.979967   18.176386   13.684658   22.903028    15.011108   14.067634    15.079515 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
 in unit value*                          13%         24%          2%          4%         20%           5%          8%          9% 
==================================================================================================================================

1995
Beginning unit value - Jan. 1    $12.918431   11.311683   15.183984   12.648732   14.947703    11.649194   11.322395    11.822996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
 and dividends                      .071384     .642190    1.074443     .711093    1.480976      .296423     .410259      .431938 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss)             4.475621    2.653706    1.754428     .000000    2.840889     2.458241    1.473947     1.547921 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract charges                   (.204952)   (.164960)   (.216336)   (.168990)   (.223307)    (.173737)   (.159452)     .000000 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value - Dec. 31      $17.260484   14.442619   17.796519   13.190835   19.046261    14.230121   13.047149    13.802855 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
 in unit value*                          34%         28%         17%          4%         27%          22%         15%         17% 
==================================================================================================================================

1994
Beginning unit value - Jan. 1    $13.090637   11.564256   15.897022   12.335970   14.983077    12.212412   11.353606    11.701906 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
 and dividends                      .787428     .182737     .997259     .475683     .756008      .476225     .298215      .309969 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss)             (.794444)   (.286833)  (1.509724)    .000000    (.594133)    (.884641)   (.181444)    (.188879)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract charges                   (.165190)   (.148477)   (.200573)   (.162921)   (.197249)    (.154802)   (.147982)     .000000 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value - Dec. 31      $12.918431   11.311683   15.183984   12.648732   14.947703    11.649194   11.322395    11.822996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
 in unit value*                         (1)%        (2)%        (4)%          3%          0%         (5)%          0%          1% 
==================================================================================================================================
<FN>
  * An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as contract charges do not
    include the annual contract maintenance charge discussed in note 2.
  + For Depositor, see note 1a.
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   8



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           SCHEDULE I, CONTINUED
                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
               (formerly Financial Horizons VA Separate Account-1)
                           VA-II CONVERTIBLE CONTRACTS
                        SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
                          Year Ended December 31, 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 FEDHIINC                FIDVIPEI              MFSEMGRSE
                                                                 --------                --------              ---------
1996**
<S>                                                            <C>                     <C>                    <C>       
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1                               $10.000000              13.462945              10.000000 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                                                .927988                .620984                .097588 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                                         .479216               1.285801               1.607797 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                                              (.146449)              (.200308)              (.155734)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31                                 $11.260755              15.169422              11.549651 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                                    13%                    13%                   15% 
========================================================================================================================

<FN>
  * An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as contract charges do not
    include the annual contract maintenance charge discussed in note 2.
 ** No other investment options were being utilized.
</TABLE>



See note 3.


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




<PAGE>   46

<PAGE>   1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Board of Directors
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance
Company, as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of income,
shareholder's equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

In 1994, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115,
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.

                                                  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Columbus, Ohio
January 31, 1997




<PAGE>   2
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                                 Balance Sheets

                           December 31, 1996 and 1995
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Assets                                                         1996         1995
                           ------                                                      ----------    -------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
Investments (notes 4, 7 and 8):
   Securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities (cost $640,303 in 1996; $539,214 in 1995)              $  648,076    555,751
      Equity securities (cost $10,854 in 1996; $10,256 in 1995)                            12,254     11,407
   Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                     150,997    104,736
   Real estate, net                                                                         1,090      1,117
   Policy loans                                                                               126         94
   Short-term investments (note 12)                                                           492      4,844
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                          813,035    677,949
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Cash                                                                                        4,296         --
Accrued investment income                                                                   9,189      8,464
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                          16,168     23,405
Deferred federal income tax (note 6)                                                        4,735         --
Other assets                                                                               32,747        208
Assets held in Separate Accounts (note 7)                                                 486,251    257,556
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                       $1,366,421    967,582
                                                                                       ==========    =======
            Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity
            ------------------------------------
Future policy benefits and claims (notes 5 and 7)                                      $   80,720    621,280
Funds withheld under coinsurance agreement with affiliate (note 12)                       679,571         --
Accrued federal income tax (note 6):
   Current                                                                                  7,914        708
   Deferred                                                                                    --      2,830
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                            7,914      3,538
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Other liabilities                                                                          27,928      5,031
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts (note 7)                                         486,251    257,556
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                        1,282,384    887,405
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Commitments (notes 7 and 8)

Shareholder's equity (notes 3, 4 and 11):
   Capital shares, $40 par value.  Authorized, issued and outstanding 66,000 shares         2,640      2,640
   Additional paid-in capital                                                              52,960     52,960
   Retained earnings                                                                       25,209     20,123
   Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net                                   3,228      4,454
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                           84,037     80,177
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                       $1,366,421    967,582
                                                                                       ==========    =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>   3
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                              Statements of Income

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996        1995        1994
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
<S>                                                                          <C>            <C>         <C>  
Revenues (note 13):
   Investment product and universal life insurance product policy charges    $  6,656       4,322       3,601
   Traditional life insurance premiums                                            246         674         311
   Net investment income (note 4)                                              51,045      49,108      45,030
   Realized losses on investments (note 4)                                         (3)       (702)       (625)
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                               57,944      53,402      48,317
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
Benefits and expenses:
   Benefits and claims                                                         35,524      34,180      29,870
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            7,380       5,508       6,940
   Other operating expenses (note 12)                                           7,247       6,567       6,320
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                               50,151      46,255      43,130
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
      Income before federal income tax expense                                  7,793       7,147       5,187
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
Federal income tax expense (benefit) (note 6):
   Current                                                                      9,612       2,012       2,103
   Deferred                                                                    (6,905)        361        (244)
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                                2,707       2,373       1,859
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
      Net income                                                             $  5,086       4,774       3,328
                                                                             ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>   4
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                       Statements of Shareholder's Equity

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Unrealized
                                                                                                   gains (losses)
                                                                     Additional                    on securities        Total
                                                       Capital        paid-in         Retained     available-for-    shareholder's
                                                       shares         capital         earnings       sale, net          equity
                                                       -------       ----------       --------     --------------    -------------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>              <C>          <C>               <C>   
1994:
   Balance, beginning of year                          $2,640          43,960          12,021              38            58,659
   Capital contribution                                    --           9,000              --              --             9,000
   Net income                                              --              --           3,328              --             3,328
   Adjustment for change in accounting for
      certain investments in debt and equity
      securities, net (note 3)                             --              --              --           4,698             4,698
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --          (8,439)           (8,439)
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          15,349          (3,703)           67,246
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
1995:
   Balance, beginning of year                           2,640          52,960          15,349          (3,703)           67,246
   Net income                                              --              --           4,774              --             4,774
   Unrealized gains on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --           8,157             8,157
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          20,123           4,454            80,177
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
1996:
   Balance, beginning of year                           2,640          52,960          20,123           4,454            80,177
   Net income                                              --              --           5,086              --             5,086
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --          (1,226)           (1,226)
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          25,209           3,228            84,037
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>   5
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                            Statements of Cash Flows

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996         1995        1994
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
<S>                                                                         <C>           <C>         <C>  
 Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                                              $   5,086       4,774       3,328
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
       operating activities:
          Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs                 (19,987)     (6,754)     (7,283)
          Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                     7,380       5,508       6,940
          Commission and expense allowances under coinsurance
              agreement with affiliate (note 12)                               26,473          --          --
          Amortization and depreciation                                         1,721         878         473
          Realized losses on invested assets, net                                   3         702         625
          Deferred federal income tax (benefit) expense                        (6,905)        361        (244)
          Increase in accrued investment income                                  (725)       (423)       (750)
          (Increase) decrease in other assets                                 (32,539)         62        (126)
          (Decrease) increase in policy liabilities and funds withheld
              on coinsurance agreement with affiliate                          (7,101)        627         926
          Increase (decrease) in accrued federal income tax payable             7,206         698        (254)
          Increase (decrease) in other liabilities                             22,897         368        (505)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash provided by operating activities                          3,509       6,801       3,130
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash flows from investing activities:
    Proceeds from maturity of securities available-for-sale                    73,966      41,729      24,850
    Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale                         2,480       3,070      13,170
    Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity           --      11,251       8,483
    Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans on real estate                  10,975       8,673       5,733
    Proceeds from sale of real estate                                              --         655          --
    Proceeds from repayments of policy loans                                       23          50           2
    Cost of securities available-for-sale acquired                           (179,671)    (79,140)    (94,130)
    Cost of fixed maturity securities held-to maturity acquired                    --      (8,000)    (15,544)
    Cost of mortgage loans on real estate acquired                            (57,395)    (18,000)    (11,000)
    Cost of real estate acquired                                                   --         (10)        (52)
    Policy loans issued                                                           (55)        (66)        (80)
    Short-term investments, net                                                 4,352      (4,479)      1,407
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash used in investing activities                           (145,325)    (44,267)    (67,161)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash flows from financing activities:
    Proceeds from capital contribution                                             --          --       9,000
    Increase in investment product and universal life insurance
       product account balances                                               235,286      79,523      95,254
    Decrease in investment product and universal life insurance
       product account balances                                               (89,174)    (42,057)    (40,223)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash provided by financing activities                        146,112      37,466      64,031
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Net increase in cash                                                           4,296          --          --

 Cash, beginning of year                                                           --          --          --
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash, end of year                                                          $   4,296          --          --
                                                                            =========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>   6
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

(1)   Organization and Description of Business

      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (the Company) is a wholly
      owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company (NLIC).

      The Company sells primarily fixed and variable rate annuities through
      banks and other financial institutions. In addition, the Company sells
      universal life and other interest-sensitive life insurance products and is
      subject to competition from other financial services providers throughout
      the United States. The Company is subject to regulation by the Insurance
      Departments of states in which it is licensed, and undergoes periodic
      examinations by those departments.

      The following is a description of the most significant risks facing life
      insurers and how the Company mitigates those risks:

         Legal/Regulatory Risk is the risk that changes in the legal or
         regulatory environment in which an insurer operates will create
         additional expenses not anticipated by the insurer in pricing its
         products. That is, regulatory initiatives, new legal theories or
         insurance company insolvencies through guaranty fund assessments may
         create costs for the insurer beyond those currently recorded in the
         financial statements. The Company mitigates this risk by operating
         throughout the United States, thus reducing its exposure to any single
         jurisdiction, and also by employing underwriting practices which
         identify and minimize the adverse impact of this risk.

         Credit Risk is the risk that issuers of securities owned by the Company
         or mortgagors on mortgage loans on real estate owned by the Company
         will default. The Company minimizes this risk by adhering to a
         conservative investment strategy, by maintaining credit and collection
         policies and by providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.

         Interest Rate Risk is the risk that interest rates will change and
         cause a decrease in the value of an insurer's investments. This change
         in rates may cause certain interest-sensitive products to become
         uncompetitive or may cause disintermediation. The Company mitigates
         this risk by charging fees for non-conformance with certain policy
         provisions, by offering products that transfer this risk to the
         purchaser, and/or by attempting to match the maturity schedule of its
         assets with the expected payouts of its liabilities. To the extent that
         liabilities come due more quickly than assets mature, an insurer would
         have to borrow funds or sell assets prior to maturity and potentially
         recognize a gain or loss.

(2)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

      The significant accounting policies followed by the Company that
      materially affect financial reporting are summarized below. The
      accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
      generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) which differ from
      statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory
      authorities. An Annual Statement, filed with the Department of Insurance
      of the State of Ohio (the Department), is prepared on the basis of
      accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department. Prescribed
      statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the
      National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as well as state
      laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted statutory
      accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed.
      The Company has no material permitted statutory accounting practices.

      In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make
      estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
      liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of
      the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
      and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ
      significantly from those estimates.
<PAGE>   7
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued



      The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred
      policy acquisition costs, valuation allowances for mortgage loans on real
      estate and real estate investments and the liability for future policy
      benefits and claims. Although some variability is inherent in these
      estimates, management believes the amounts provided are adequate.

      (a)   Valuation of Investments and Related Gains and Losses

         The Company is required to classify its fixed maturity securities and
         equity securities as either held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or
         trading. Fixed maturity securities are classified as held-to-maturity
         when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the
         securities to maturity and are stated at amortized cost. Fixed maturity
         securities not classified as held-to-maturity and all equity securities
         are classified as available-for-sale and are stated at fair value, with
         the unrealized gains and losses, net of adjustments to deferred policy
         acquisition costs and deferred federal income tax, reported as a
         separate component of shareholder's equity. The adjustment to deferred
         policy acquisition costs represents the change in amortization of
         deferred policy acquisition costs that would have been required as a
         charge or credit to operations had such unrealized amounts been
         realized. The Company has no fixed maturity securities classified as
         held-to-maturity or trading as of December 31, 1996 or 1995.

         Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at the unpaid principal
         balance less valuation allowances. The Company provides valuation
         allowances for impairments of mortgage loans on real estate based on a
         review by portfolio managers. The measurement of impaired loans is
         based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at
         the loan's effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the
         fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent.
         Loans in foreclosure and loans considered to be impaired are placed on
         non-accrual status. Interest received on non-accrual status mortgage
         loans on real estate are included in interest income in the period
         received.

         Real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and
         valuation allowances. Other long-term investments are carried on the
         equity basis, adjusted for valuation allowances. Impairment losses are
         recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of
         impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be
         generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amount.

         Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined on
         the basis of specific security identification. Estimates for valuation
         allowances and other than temporary declines are included in realized
         gains and losses on investments.

      (b)   Revenues and Benefits

         Investment Products and Universal Life Insurance Products: Investment
         products consist primarily of individual variable and fixed annuities
         and annuities without life contingencies. Universal life insurance
         products include universal life insurance, variable universal life
         insurance and other interest-sensitive life insurance policies.
         Revenues for investment products and universal life insurance products
         consist of net investment income, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy
         administration and surrender charges that have been earned and assessed
         against policy account balances during the period. Policy benefits and
         claims that are charged to expense include interest credited to policy
         account balances and benefits and claims incurred in the period in
         excess of related policy account balances.

         Traditional Life Insurance Products: Traditional life insurance
         products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and
         benefits and consist primarily of certain annuities with life
         contingencies. Premiums for traditional life insurance products are
         recognized as revenue when due. Benefits and expenses are associated
         with earned premiums so as to result in recognition of profits over the
         life of the contract. This association is accomplished by the provision
         for future policy benefits and the deferral and amortization of policy
         acquisition costs.
<PAGE>   8
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      (c)   Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

         The costs of acquiring new business, principally commissions, certain
         expenses of the policy issue and underwriting department and certain
         variable agency expenses have been deferred. For investment products
         and universal life insurance products, deferred policy acquisition
         costs are being amortized with interest over the lives of the policies
         in relation to the present value of estimated future gross profits from
         projected interest margins, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy
         administration and surrender charges. For years in which gross profits
         are negative, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized based on
         the present value of gross revenues. Deferred policy acquisition costs
         are adjusted to reflect the impact of unrealized gains and losses on
         fixed maturity securities available-for-sale as described in note 2(a).

      (d)   Separate Accounts

         Separate Account assets and liabilities represent contractholders'
         funds which have been segregated into accounts with specific investment
         objectives. The investment income and gains or losses of these accounts
         accrue directly to the contractholders. The activity of the Separate
         Accounts is not reflected in the statements of income and cash flows
         except for the fees the Company receives.

      (e)   Future Policy Benefits

         Future policy benefits for investment products in the accumulation
         phase, universal life insurance and variable universal life insurance
         policies have been calculated based on participants' contributions plus
         interest credited less applicable contract charges.

      (f)   Federal Income Tax

         The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return with
         Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC). The members of the
         consolidated tax return group have a tax sharing agreement which
         provides, in effect, for each member to bear essentially the same
         federal income tax liability as if separate tax returns were filed.

         The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for
         income tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
         recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences
         between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
         liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax
         credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
         using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
         years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered
         or settled. Under this method, the effect on deferred tax assets and
         liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the
         period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are
         established when necessary to reduce the deferred tax assets to the
         amounts expected to be realized.

      (g)   Reinsurance Ceded

         Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoveries on benefits and
         claims incurred are deducted from the respective income and expense
         accounts. Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance ceded are
         reported on a gross basis.

      (h)   Statements of Cash Flows

         The Company routinely invests its available cash balances in highly
         liquid, short-term investments with affiliated companies. See note 12.
         As such, the Company had no cash balance as of December 31, 1995 and
         1994.
<PAGE>   9
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      (i)   Reclassification

         Certain items in the 1995 and 1994 financial statements have been
         reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.


(3)   Change in Accounting Principle

      Effective January 1, 1994, the Company changed its method of accounting
      for certain investments in debt and equity securities in connection with
      the issuance of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115
      Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. As of
      January 1, 1994, the Company classified fixed maturity securities with
      amortized cost and fair value of $380,974 and $399,556, respectively, as
      available-for-sale and recorded the securities at fair value. Previously,
      these securities were recorded at amortized cost. The effect as of January
      1, 1994, has been recorded as a direct credit to shareholder's equity as
      follows:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                      <C>     
         Excess of fair value over amortized cost of fixed maturity 
            securities available-for-sale                                         $ 18,582
         Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                           (11,355)
         Deferred federal income tax                                                (2,529)
                                                                                  --------
                                                                                  $  4,698
                                                                                  ========
</TABLE>

(4)   Investments

      The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities
      available-for-sale were as follows as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Gross         Gross
                                                                       Amortized    unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
         1996:                                                           cost         gains         losses      fair value
                                                                       ---------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         <S>                                                           <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>  
           Fixed maturity securities:
             U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. 
               government corporations and agencies                    $  3,695            7            (78)        3,624
             Obligations of states and political subdivisions               269           --             (2)          267
             Debt securities issued by foreign governments                6,129          133             (8)        6,254
             Corporate securities                                       393,371        5,916         (1,824)      397,463
             Mortgage-backed securities                                 236,839        4,621           (992)      240,468
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                 Total fixed maturity securities                        640,303       10,677         (2,904)      648,076
           Equity securities                                             10,854        1,540           (140)       12,254
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                                                                       $651,157       12,217         (3,044)      660,330
                                                                       ========      =======       ========       =======
         1995:
           Fixed maturity securities:
             U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. 
               government corporations and agencies                    $  3,492           18             --         3,510
             Obligations of states and political subdivisions               271           --             (1)          270
             Debt securities issued by foreign governments                6,177          301             --         6,478
             Corporate securities                                       332,425       10,116           (925)      341,616
             Mortgage-backed securities                                 196,849        7,649           (621)      203,877
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                 Total fixed maturity securities                        539,214       18,084         (1,547)      555,751
           Equity securities                                             10,256        1,151             --        11,407
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                                                                       $549,470       19,235         (1,547)      567,158
                                                                       ========      =======       ========       =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   10
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities
      available-for-sale as of December 31, 1996, by contractual maturity, are
      shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities
      because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or
      without call or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Amortized        Estimated
                                                                  cost          fair value
                                                               ---------        ----------
         <S>                                                   <C>              <C>   
         Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
            Due in one year or less                             $ 43,219           43,441
            Due after one year through five years                198,045          200,453
            Due after five years through ten years               121,820          122,595
            Due after ten years                                   40,380           41,119
                                                                --------          -------
                                                                 403,464          407,608
         Mortgage-backed securities                              236,839          240,468
                                                                --------          -------
                                                                $640,303          648,076
                                                                ========          =======
</TABLE>

      The components of unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net,
      were as follows as of December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1996              1995
                                                            -------           -------
         <S>                                                <C>               <C>   
         Gross unrealized gains                             $ 9,173            17,688
         Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition                                    
            costs                                            (4,207)          (10,836)
         Deferred federal income tax                         (1,738)           (2,398)
                                                            -------           -------
                                                            $ 3,228             4,454
                                                            =======           =======
</TABLE>

      An analysis of the change in gross unrealized gains (losses) on securities
      available-for-sale and fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity follows
      for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              1996        1995       1994
                                            --------     ------    -------
         <S>                                <C>          <C>       <C>     
         Securities available-for-sale:
            Fixed maturity securities       $ (8,764)    30,647    (32,692)
            Equity securities                    249      1,283       (190)
         Fixed maturity securities                                         
            held-to-maturity                      --      3,941     (8,407)
                                            --------     ------    -------
                                            $ (8,515)    35,871    (41,289)
                                            ========     ======    =======
</TABLE>

      Proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale during 1996, 1995
      and 1994 were $2,480, $3,070 and $13,170, respectively. During 1996, gross
      gains of $181 ($64 and $373 in 1995 and 1994, respectively) and no gross
      losses ($6 and $73 in 1995 and 1994, respectively) were realized on those
      sales.

      During 1995, the Company transferred fixed maturity securities classified
      as held-to-maturity with amortized cost of $2,000 to available-for-sale
      securities due to evidence of a significant deterioration in the issuer's
      creditworthiness. The transfer of those fixed maturity securities resulted
      in a gross unrealized loss of $600.

      As permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Special Report,
      A Guide to Implementation of Statement 115 on Accounting for Certain
      Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, issued in November 1995, the
      Company transferred all of its fixed maturity securities previously
      classified as held-to-maturity to available-for-sale. As of December 14,
      1995, the date of transfer, the fixed maturity securities had amortized
      cost of $77,405, resulting in a gross unrealized gain of $1,709.

      The Company has no investments which were non-income producing for the
      twelve month period preceding December 31, 1996 ($996 of fixed maturity
      securities in 1995).
<PAGE>   11
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Real estate is presented at cost less accumulated depreciation of $108 as
      of December 31, 1996 ($81 as of December 31, 1995) and valuation
      allowances of $229 as of December 31, 1996 ($229 as of December 31, 1995).

      The recorded investment of mortgage loans on real estate considered to be
      impaired (under SFAS No. 114 - Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a
      Loan as amended by SFAS No. 118 - Accounting by Creditors for Impairment
      of a Loan-Income Recognition and Disclosure) as of December 31, 1996 was
      $955 ($966 as of December 31, 1995), which includes $955 (none as of
      December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real estate for which the
      related valuation allowance was $184 (none as of December 31, 1995) and
      none ($966 as of December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real
      estate for which there was no valuation allowance. During 1996, the
      average recorded investment in impaired mortgage loans on real estate was
      approximately $964 ($242 in 1995) and interest income recognized on those
      loans was $16 (none in 1995), which is equal to interest income recognized
      using a cash-basis method of income recognition.

      Activity in the valuation allowance account for mortgage loans on real
      estate is summarized for the year ended December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996    1995
                                                     ----    ----
         <S>                                         <C>     <C>
         Allowance, beginning of year                $750     860
              Additional charged to operations        184      --
              Reduction of the allowance credited                 
                to operations                          --    (110)
                                                     ----    ----
         Allowance, end of year                      $934     750
                                                     ====    ====
</TABLE>

      An analysis of investment income by investment type follows for the years
      ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                1996      1995      1994
                                              -------    ------    ------
         <S>                                  <C>        <C>       <C>   
         Gross investment income:
            Securities available-for-sale:
               Fixed maturity securities      $40,552    35,093    36,720
               Equity securities                  598       713        16
            Fixed maturity securities                                    
               held-to-maturity                    --     4,530       540
            Mortgage loans on real estate       9,991     9,106     8,437
            Real estate                           214       273       175
            Short-term investments                507       348       207
            Other                                  57        41        19
                                              -------    ------    ------
                   Total investment income     51,919    50,104    46,114
         Less: investment expenses                874       996     1,084
                                              -------    ------    ------
                   Net investment income      $51,045    49,108    45,030
                                              =======    ======    ======
</TABLE>

      An analysis of realized gains (losses) on investments, net of valuation
      allowances, by investment type follows for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996     1995     1994
                                                           -----     ----     ----
           <S>                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
           Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale    $ 181     (822)     260
           Mortgage loans on real estate                    (184)     110     (832)
           Real estate and other                              --       10      (53)
                                                           -----     ----     ----
                                                           $  (3)    (702)    (625)
                                                           =====     ====     ====
</TABLE>

      Fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of $3,403 and $2,806 as
      of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were on deposit with various
      regulatory agencies as required by law.
<PAGE>   12
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(5)   Future Policy Benefits

      The liability for future policy benefits for investment contracts has been
      established based on policy terms, interest rates and various contract
      provisions. The average interest rate credited on investment product
      policies was approximately 5.6%, 5.6% and 5.3% for the years ended
      December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.


(6)   Federal Income Tax

      The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
      components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) as of December 31,
      1996 and 1995 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1996         1995
                                                             --------     -------
         <S>                                                 <C>          <C>  
         Deferred tax assets:
            Liabilities in Separate Accounts                 $  5,311       3,445
            Future policy benefits                              1,070       5,249
            Mortgage loans on real estate and real estate         407         338
            Other assets and other liabilities                  3,836         708
                                                             --------     -------
              Total gross deferred tax assets                  10,624       9,740
                                                             --------     -------
         Deferred tax liabilities:
            Fixed maturity securities                           3,268       6,308
            Deferred policy acquisition costs                   2,131       6,262
            Equity securities                                     490          --
                                                             --------     -------
              Total gross deferred tax liabilities              5,889      12,570
                                                             --------     -------
                                                             $  4,735      (2,830)
                                                             ========     =======
</TABLE>

      In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management
      considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the
      total gross deferred tax assets will not be realized. All future
      deductible amounts can be offset by future taxable amounts or recovery of
      federal income tax paid within the statutory carryback period. The Company
      has determined that valuation allowances are not necessary as of December
      31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 based on its analysis of future deductible
      amounts.

      Total federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1996,
      1995 and 1994 differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S.
      federal income tax rate to income before tax as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996                 1995                 1994
                                                      ----------------     ----------------     ----------------
                                                       Amount       %       Amount       %       Amount       %
                                                      -------     ----     -------     ----     -------     ----
         <S>                                          <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>         <C> 
         Computed (expected) tax expense              $ 2,728     35.0     $ 2,501     35.0     $ 1,815     35.0
         Tax exempt interest and dividends
            received deduction                           (175)    (2.3)       (150)    (2.1)        (50)    (1.0)
         Other, net                                       154      2.0          22      0.3          94      1.8
                                                      -------     ----     -------     ----     -------     ----
               Total (effective rate of each year)    $ 2,707     34.7     $ 2,373     33.2     $ 1,859     35.8
                                                      =======     ====     =======     ====     =======     ====
</TABLE>

      Total federal income tax paid was $2,335, $1,314 and $2,357 during the
      years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
<PAGE>   13
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(7)   Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments

      SFAS No. 107 - Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (SFAS
      107) requires disclosure of fair value information about existing on and
      off-balance sheet financial instruments. SFAS 107 defines the fair value
      of a financial instrument as the amount at which the financial instrument
      could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. In
      cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on
      estimates using present value or other valuation techniques.

      These techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used,
      including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Although
      fair value estimates are calculated using assumptions that management
      believes are appropriate, changes in assumptions could cause these
      estimates to vary materially. In that regard, the derived fair value
      estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets
      and, in many cases, could not be realized in the immediate settlement of
      the instruments. SFAS 107 excludes certain assets and liabilities from its
      disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts
      presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

      Although insurance contracts, other than policies such as annuities that
      are classified as investment contracts, are specifically exempted from
      SFAS 107 disclosures, estimated fair value of policy reserves on life
      insurance contracts is provided to make the fair value disclosures more
      meaningful.

      The tax ramifications of the related unrealized gains and losses can have
      a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered
      in the estimates.

      The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
      estimating its fair value disclosures:

         Cash, short-term investments and policy loans: The carrying amount
         reported in the balance sheets for these instruments approximates their
         fair value.

         Fixed maturity and equity securities: Fair value for fixed maturity
         securities is based on quoted market prices, where available. For fixed
         maturity securities not actively traded, fair value is estimated using
         values obtained from independent pricing services or, in the case of
         private placements, is estimated by discounting expected future cash
         flows using a current market rate applicable to the yield, credit
         quality and maturity of the investments. The fair value for equity
         securities is based on quoted market prices.

         Separate Account assets and liabilities: The fair value of assets held
         in Separate Accounts is based on quoted market prices. The fair value
         of liabilities related to Separate Accounts is the amount payable on
         demand, which includes certain surrender charges.

         Mortgage loans on real estate: The fair value for mortgage loans on
         real estate is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using
         interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers
         with similar credit ratings. Loans with similar characteristics are
         aggregated for purposes of the calculations. Fair value for mortgages
         in default is the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral.

         Investment contracts: Fair value for the Company's liabilities under
         investment type contracts is disclosed using two methods. For
         investment contracts without defined maturities, fair value is the
         amount payable on demand. For investment contracts with known or
         determined maturities, fair value is estimated using discounted cash
         flow analysis. Interest rates used are similar to currently offered
         contracts with maturities consistent with those remaining for the
         contracts being valued.

         Policy reserves on life insurance contracts: The estimated fair value
         is the amount payable on demand. Also included are disclosures for the
         Company's limited payment policies, which the Company has used
         discounted cash flow analyses similar to those used for investment
         contracts with known maturities to estimate fair value.
<PAGE>   14
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


         Commitments to extend credit: Commitments to extend credit have nominal
         value because of the short-term nature of such commitments. See note 8.

      Carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments subject
      to SFAS 107 and policy reserves on life insurance contracts were as
      follows as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996                       1995
                                                           -----------------------    -----------------------
                                                           Carrying     Estimated     Carrying     Estimated
                                                            amount      fair value     amount      fair value
                                                           --------     ----------    --------     ----------
         <S>                                               <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>    
         Assets
         Investments:
            Securities available-for-sale:
               Fixed maturity securities                   $648,076       648,076       555,751       555,751
               Equity securities                             12,254        12,254        11,407        11,407
            Mortgage loans on real estate, net              150,997       152,496       104,736       111,501
            Policy loans                                        126           126            94            94
            Short-term investments                              492           492         4,844         4,844
            Cash                                              4,296         4,296            --            --
         Assets held in Separate Accounts                   486,251       486,251       257,556       257,556

         Liabilities
         Investment contracts                                75,417        72,262       616,984       601,582
         Policy reserves on life insurance contracts          5,303         5,390         4,296         4,520
         Liabilities related to Separate Accounts           486,251       471,125       257,556       246,996
</TABLE>

(8)   Additional Financial Instruments Disclosures

      Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk: The Company is a party
      to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course
      of business through management of its investment portfolio. These
      financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of
      loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit
      risk in excess of amounts recognized on the balance sheets.

      Commitments to fund fixed rate mortgage loans on real estate are
      agreements to lend to a borrower, and are subject to conditions
      established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration
      dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a deposit.
      Commitments extended by the Company are based on management's case-by-case
      credit evaluation of the borrower and the borrower's loan collateral. The
      underlying mortgage property represents the collateral if the commitment
      is funded. The Company's policy for new mortgage loans on real estate is
      to lend no more than 75% of collateral value. Should the commitment be
      funded, the Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of
      nonperformance by the borrower is represented by the contractual amounts
      of these commitments less the net realizable value of the collateral. The
      contractual amounts also represent the cash requirements for all unfunded
      commitments. Commitments on mortgage loans on real estate of $19,500
      extending into 1997 were outstanding as of December 31, 1996.

      Significant Concentrations of Credit Risk: The Company grants mainly
      commercial mortgage loans on real estate to customers throughout the
      United States. The Company has a diversified portfolio with no more than
      31% (28% in 1995) in any geographic area and no more than 5% (15% in 1995)
      with any one borrower.
<PAGE>   15
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      The summary below depicts loans by remaining principal balance as of
      December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Apartment
                                   Office      Warehouse      Retail       & other        Total
                                  --------     ---------      ------      ---------     --------
          <S>                     <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>   
          1996:
            East North Central    $  1,968        2,324        8,203         7,867        20,362
            East South Central          --           --        1,828        11,591        13,419
            Mountain                    --        1,394           --         1,986         3,380
            Middle Atlantic          2,817           --          883         1,990         5,690
            New England              1,993          868        1,944            --         4,805
            Pacific                  3,883       15,779       10,093         9,273        39,028
            South Atlantic           9,926           --       16,209        20,520        46,655
            West North Central       2,000           --           --            --         2,000
            West South Central       3,824           --        1,995        10,847        16,666
                                  --------       ------       ------       -------      --------
                                  $ 26,411       20,365       41,155        64,074       152,005
                                  ========       ======       ======       =======
               Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                          1,008
                                                                                        --------
                    Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                            $150,997
                                                                                        ========
          1995:
            East North Central    $  1,854          878        8,263         3,940        14,935
            East South Central          --           --        1,877        11,753        13,630
            Mountain                    --           --           --         1,964         1,964
            Middle Atlantic            882        1,820          901            --         3,603
            New England                 --          895        1,963            --         2,858
            Pacific                  1,923        8,600        8,211         8,838        27,572
            South Atlantic           3,953           --        9,928        15,797        29,678
            West North Central          --        1,500           --            --         1,500
            West South Central       3,881          969           --         4,932         9,782
                                  --------       ------       ------       -------      --------
                                  $ 12,493       14,662       31,143        47,224       105,522
                                  ========       ======       ======       =======
               Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                            786
                                                                                        --------
                    Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                            $104,736
                                                                                        ========
</TABLE>

(9)   Pension Plan

      The Company is a participant, together with other affiliated companies, in
      a pension plan covering all employees who have completed at least one
      thousand hours of service within a twelve-month period and who have met
      certain age requirements. Benefits are based upon the highest average
      annual salary of a specified number of consecutive years of the last ten
      years of service. The Company funds an allocation of pension costs accrued
      for employees of affiliates whose work efforts benefit the Company.

      Effective January 1, 1995, the plan was amended to provide enhanced
      benefits for participants who met certain eligibility requirements and
      elected early retirement no later than March 15, 1995. The entire cost of
      the enhanced benefit was borne by NMIC and certain of its property and
      casualty insurance company affiliates.

      Effective December 31, 1995, the Nationwide Insurance Companies and
      Affiliates Retirement Plan was merged with the Farmland Mutual Insurance
      Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the Wausau Insurance Companies
      Pension Plan to form the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan.
      Immediately prior to the merger, the plans were amended to provide
      consistent benefits for service after January 1, 1996. These amendments
      had no significant impact on the accumulated benefit obligation or
      projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 1995.
<PAGE>   16
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Pension costs charged to operations by the Company during the years ended
      December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 were $189, $214 and $265, respectively.

      The net periodic pension cost for the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
      Retirement Plan as a whole for the year ended December 31, 1996 and for
      the Nationwide Insurance Companies and Affiliates Retirement Plan as a
      whole for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    1996            1995           1994
                                                                 ---------        --------        -------
          <S>                                                    <C>              <C>             <C>   
          Service cost (benefits earned during the period)       $  75,466          64,524         64,740
          Interest cost on projected benefit obligation            105,511          95,283         73,951
          Actual return on plan assets                            (210,583)       (249,294)       (21,495)
          Net amortization and deferral                            101,795         143,353        (62,150)
                                                                 ---------        --------        -------
                                                                 $  72,189          53,866         55,046
                                                                 =========        ========        =======
</TABLE>

      Basis for measurements, net periodic pension cost:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1996        1995        1994
                                                              -------     -------     -------
          <S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>  
          Weighted average discount rate                         6.00%       7.50%       5.75%
          Rate of increase in future compensation levels         4.25%       6.25%       4.50%
          Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets       6.75%       8.75%       7.00%
</TABLE>

      Information regarding the funded status of the Nationwide Insurance
      Enterprise Retirement Plan as a whole as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
      follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996           1995
                                                                           -----------     ----------
          <S>                                                              <C>             <C>      
          Accumulated benefit obligation:
             Vested                                                        $ 1,338,554      1,236,730
             Nonvested                                                          11,149         26,503
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                                                                           $ 1,349,703      1,263,233
                                                                           ===========     ==========
          Net accrued pension expense:
             Projected benefit obligation for services rendered to date    $ 1,847,828      1,780,616
             Plan assets at fair value                                       1,947,933      1,738,004
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                Plan assets in excess of (less than) projected benefit
                   obligation                                                  100,105        (42,612)
             Unrecognized prior service cost                                    37,870         42,845
             Unrecognized net gains                                           (201,952)       (63,130)
             Unrecognized net asset at transition                               37,158         41,305
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                                                                           $   (26,819)       (21,592)
                                                                           ===========     ==========
</TABLE>

      Basis for measurements, funded status of plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996           1995
                                                                           -----------     ---------- 
          <S>                                                                 <C>            <C>  
          Weighted average discount rate                                       6.50%          6.00%
          Rate of increase in future compensation levels                       4.75%          4.25%
</TABLE>

      Assets of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan are invested
      in group annuity contracts of NLIC and Employers Life Insurance Company of
      Wausau, a wholly owned subsidiary of NLIC.
<PAGE>   17
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(10)  Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

      In addition to the defined benefit pension plan, the Company, together
      with other affiliated companies, participates in life and health care
      defined benefit plans for qualifying retirees. Postretirement life and
      health care benefits are contributory and generally available to full time
      employees who have attained age 55 and have accumulated 15 years of
      service with the Company after reaching age 40. Postretirement health care
      benefit contributions are adjusted annually and contain cost-sharing
      features such as deductibles and coinsurance. In addition, there are caps
      on the Company's portion of the per-participant cost of the postretirement
      health care benefits. These caps can increase annually, but not more than
      three percent. The Company's policy is to fund the cost of health care
      benefits in amounts determined at the discretion of management. Plan
      assets are invested primarily in group annuity contracts of NLIC.

      The Company elected to immediately recognize its estimated accumulated
      postretirement benefit obligation, however, certain affiliated companies
      elected to amortize their initial transition obligation over periods
      ranging from 10 to 20 years.

      The Company's accrued postretirement benefit expense as of December 31,
      1996 and 1995 was $840 and $808, respectively, and the net periodic
      postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) for 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $78, $66
      and $119, respectively.

      The amount of NPPBC for the plan as a whole for the years ended December
      31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1996         1995        1994
                                                                                   --------     -------     -------
         <S>                                                                       <C>          <C>         <C>  
         Service cost (benefits attributed to employee service during the year)    $  6,541       6,235       8,586
         Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation              13,679      14,151      14,011
         Actual return on plan assets                                                (4,348)     (2,657)     (1,622)
         Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates               173       2,966         568
         Net amortization and deferral                                                1,830      (1,619)      1,622
                                                                                   --------     -------     -------
                                                                                   $ 17,875      19,076      23,165
                                                                                   ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

      Information regarding the funded status of the plan as a whole as of
      December 31, 1996 and 1995 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         1996         1995
                                                                                      ---------     --------
         <S>                                                                          <C>           <C>   
         Accrued postretirement benefit expense:
            Retirees                                                                  $  92,954       88,680
            Fully eligible, active plan participants                                     23,749       28,793
            Other active plan participants                                               83,986       90,375
                                                                                      ---------     --------
               Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)                     200,689      207,848
            Plan assets at fair value                                                    63,044       54,325
                                                                                      ---------     --------
               Plan assets less than accumulated postretirement benefit obligation     (137,645)    (153,523)
            Unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates                              1,654        1,827
            Unrecognized net gains                                                      (23,225)      (1,038)
                                                                                      ---------     --------
                                                                                      $(159,216)    (152,734)
                                                                                      =========     ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   18
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Actuarial assumptions used for the measurement of the APBO as of December
      31, 1996 and 1995 and the NPPBC for 1996, 1995 and 1994 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1996        1996        1995       1995         1994
                                                   APBO        NPPBC       APBO       NPPBC        NPPBC
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
         <S>                                     <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>     
         Discount rate                               7.25%       6.65%       6.75%       8.00%       7.00%
         Long-term rate of return on plan
             assets, net of tax                        --        4.80%         --        8.00%        N/A
         Assumed health care cost trend rate:
             Initial rate                           11.00%      11.00%      11.00%      10.00%      12.00%
             Ultimate rate                           6.00%       6.00%       6.00%       6.00%       6.00%
             Uniform declining period            12 Years    12 Years    12 Years    12 Years    12 Years
</TABLE>

      The health care cost trend rate assumption has an effect on the amounts
      reported. For the plan as a whole, a one percentage point increase in the
      assumed health care cost trend rate would increase the APBO as of December
      31, 1996 by $701 and the NPPBC for the year ended December 31, 1996 by
      $83.

(11)  Regulatory Risk-Based Capital and Dividend Restriction

      Ohio, the Company's state of domicile, imposes minimum risk-based capital
      requirements that were developed by the NAIC. The formulas for determining
      the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting factors that
      are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on
      the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a
      ratio of the company's regulatory total adjusted capital, as defined by
      the NAIC, to its authorized control level risk-based capital, as defined
      by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are
      classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified
      corrective action. The Company exceeds the minimum risk-based capital
      requirements.

      The statutory capital shares and surplus of the Company as reported to
      regulatory authorities as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $71,390,
      $54,978 and $48,947, respectively. The statutory net income of the Company
      as reported to regulatory authorities for the years ended December 31,
      1996, 1995 and 1994 was $670, $8,023 and $6,173, respectively.

      The Company is limited in the amount of shareholder dividends it may pay
      without prior approval by the Department. As of December 31, 1996, the
      maximum amount available for dividend payment from the Company to its
      shareholder without prior approval of the Department is $7,139.

      The Company currently does not expect such regulatory requirements to
      impair its ability to pay operating expenses and stockholder dividends in
      the future.


(12)  Transactions With Affiliates

      The Company leases office space from NMIC and certain of its subsidiaries.
      For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company made
      lease payments to NMIC and its subsidiaries of $410, $287 and $341,
      respectively.
<PAGE>   19
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Pursuant to a cost sharing agreement among NMIC and certain of its direct
      and indirect subsidiaries, including the Company, NMIC provides certain
      operational and administrative services, such as sales support,
      advertising, personnel and general management services, to those
      subsidiaries. Expenses covered by this agreement are subject to allocation
      among NMIC, the Company and other affiliates. Amounts allocated to the
      Company were $2,682, $2,596 and $2,503 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
      respectively. The allocations are based on techniques and procedures in
      accordance with insurance regulatory guidelines. Measures used to allocate
      expenses among companies include individual employee estimates of time
      spent, special cost studies, salary expense, commissions expense and other
      methods agreed to by the participating companies that are within industry
      guidelines and practices. The Company believes these allocation methods
      are reasonable. In addition, the Company does not believe that expenses
      recognized under the inter-company agreements are materially different
      than expenses that would have been recognized had the Company operated on
      a stand alone basis. Amounts payable to NMIC from the Company under the
      cost sharing agreement were $2,275 and $1,186 as of December 31, 1996 and
      1995, respectively.

      Effective December 31, 1996, the Company entered into an intercompany
      reinsurance agreement with NLIC whereby certain inforce and subsequently
      issued fixed individual deferred annuity contracts are ceded on a 100%
      coinsurance with funds withheld basis. Under 100% coinsurance with funds
      withheld agreements, invested assets are retained by the ceding company
      and liabilities for future policy benefits are transferred to the assuming
      company. In addition, net investment earnings on the invested assets
      retained by the ceding company are to be paid to the assuming company.
      Under terms of the Company's agreement, the investment risk associated
      with changes in interest rates is borne by NLIC. Risk of asset default is
      retained by the Company, although a fee is paid by NLIC to the Company for
      the Company's retention of such risk. The agreement will remain inforce
      until all contract obligations are settled. The ceding of risk does not
      discharge the original insurer from its primary obligation to the
      contractholder. The Company believes that the terms of the 100%
      coinsurance with funds withheld agreement are consistent in all material
      respects with what the Company could have obtained with unaffiliated
      parties.

      The Company has recorded a liability equal to the amount due to NLIC as of
      December 31, 1996 for $679,571, which represents the future policy
      benefits of the fixed individual deferred annuity contracts ceded. In
      consideration for the initial inforce business reinsured, NLIC agreed to
      pay the Company $26,473 in commission and expense allowances which were
      applied to the Company's deferred policy acquisition costs as of December
      31, 1996. No significant gain or loss was recognized as a result of the
      agreement.

      The Company and various affiliates entered into agreements with Nationwide
      Cash Management Company (NCMC) and California Cash Management Company
      (CCMC), both affiliates, under which NCMC and CCMC act as common agents in
      handling the purchase and sale of short-term securities for the respective
      accounts of the participants. Amounts on deposit with NCMC and CCMC were
      $492 and $4,844 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and are
      included in short-term investments on the accompanying balance sheets.

      Certain annuity products are sold through an affiliated company, which is
      a subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation. Total commissions paid to the
      affiliate for the three years ended December 31, 1996 were $14,644, $5,949
      and $6,633, respectively.

(13)  Segment Information

      The Company has three primary segments: Variable Annuities, Fixed
      Annuities and Life Insurance. The Variable Annuities segment consists of
      annuity contracts that provide the customer with the opportunity to invest
      in mutual funds managed by an affiliated company and independent
      investment managers, with the investment returns accumulating on a
      tax-deferred basis. The Fixed Annuities segment consists of annuity
      contracts that generate a return for the customer at a specified interest
      rate, fixed for a prescribed period, with returns accumulating on a
      tax-deferred basis. The Life Insurance segment consists of insurance
      products that provide a death benefit and may also allow the customer to
      build cash value on a tax-deferred basis. In addition, the Company reports
      corporate expenses and investments, and the related investment income
      supporting capital not specifically allocated to its product segments in a
      Corporate and Other segment. In addition, all realized gains and losses
      are reported in the Corporate and Other segment.
<PAGE>   20
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      During 1996, the Company changed its reporting segments to better reflect
      the way the businesses are managed. Prior periods have been restated to
      reflect these changes.

      The following table summarizes the revenues and income (loss) before
      federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
      1994 and assets as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, by business
      segment.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1996          1995         1994
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
          <S>                                                 <C>             <C>          <C>  
          Revenues:
             Variable Annuities                               $     4,591        2,927        2,435
             Fixed Annuities                                       51,643       50,056       44,812
             Life Insurance                                           165          185          179
             Corporate and Other                                    1,545          234          891
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $    57,944       53,402       48,317
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
          Income (loss) before federal income tax expense:
             Variable Annuities                                     1,094        1,196          658
             Fixed Annuities                                        5,156        5,633        5,093
             Life Insurance                                            (1)        (381)        (990)
             Corporate and Other                                    1,544          699          426
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $     7,793        7,147        5,187
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
          Assets:
             Variable Annuities                                   503,111      267,097      185,332
             Fixed Annuities                                      787,682      643,313      606,696
             Life Insurance                                         2,597        2,665        2,677
             Corporate and Other                                   73,031       54,507       38,335
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $ 1,366,421      967,582      833,040
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   21
                                                                      SCHEDULE I

                NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
       (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                            Summary of Investments -
                    Other Than Investments in Related Parties

                             As of December 31, 1996
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------                          --------      ------------    ---------------
                 Column A                                            Column B        Column C         Column D
- -------------------------------------------                          --------      ------------    ---------------
                                                                                                   Amount at which
                                                                                                    shown in the
            Type of Investment                                         Cost        Market value     balance sheet
- -------------------------------------------                          --------      ------------    ---------------
<S>                                                                  <C>           <C>             <C>
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
   Bonds:
      U.S. Government and government agencies and authorities        $239,737        243,310           243,310
      States, municipalities and political subdivisions                   269            267               267
      Foreign governments                                               6,129          6,254             6,254
      Public utilities                                                 89,884         90,885            90,885
      All other corporate                                             304,284        307,360           307,360
                                                                     --------        -------           -------
          Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale          640,303        648,076           648,076
                                                                     --------        -------           -------

Equity securities available-for-sale:
   Common stocks:
      Industrial, miscellaneous and all other                          10,854         12,254            12,254
                                                                     --------        -------           -------
          Total equity securities available-for-sale                   10,854         12,254            12,254
                                                                     --------        -------           -------

Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                    151,931                          150,997(1)
Real estate, net:                                                                                                
   Investment properties                                                  855                              540(1)
   Acquired in satisfaction of debt                                       573                              550(1)
Policy loans                                                              126                              126   
Short-term investments                                                    492                              492   
                                                                     --------                          -------   
          Total investments                                          $805,134                          813,035   
                                                                     ========                          =======   
</TABLE>

- ----------

(1)  Difference from Column B is primarily due to valuation allowances due to
     impairments on mortgage loans on real estate and due to accumulated
     depreciation and valuation allowances due to impairments on real estate.
     See note 4 to the financial statements.



See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   22
                                                                    SCHEDULE III

                NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
       (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                       Supplemental Insurance Information

                     As of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                      and for each of the years then ended
                                ($000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------  ---------------     -----------------------   -----------------  ----------------  --------
       Column A                      Column B               Column C              Column D           Column E       Column F
- -------------------------------  ---------------     -----------------------   -----------------  ----------------  --------
                                 Deferred policy     Future policy benefits,                       Other policy
                                   acquisition         losses, claims and      Unearned premiums    claims and       Premium
        Segment                       costs               loss expenses              (1)          benefits payable   revenue
- -------------------------------  ---------------     -----------------------   -----------------  ----------------  --------
<S>                              <C>                 <C>                       <C>                <C>               <C>
1996: Variable Annuities             $ 17,335                    --                                        --             -- 
      Fixed Annuities                   2,691                78,947                                        --            246 
      Life Insurance                      349                 1,773                                        --             -- 
      Corporate and Other              (4,207)                   --                                        --             -- 
                                     --------               -------                                   -------        ------- 
             Total                   $ 16,168                80,720                                        --            246 
                                     ========               =======                                   =======        ======= 
1995: Variable Annuities                9,966                    --                                        --             -- 
      Fixed Annuities                  23,913               619,400                                        --            674 
      Life Insurance                      360                 1,880                                        --             -- 
      Corporate and Other             (10,834)                   --                                        --             -- 
                                     --------               -------                                   -------        ------- 
             Total                   $ 23,405               621,280                                        --            674 
                                     ========               =======                                   =======        ======= 
                                                                                                                             
1994: Variable Annuities                7,760                    --                                        --             -- 
      Fixed Annuities                  25,344               581,352                                        --            311 
      Life Insurance                      481                 1,836                                        --             -- 
      Corporate and Other               7,955                    --                                        --             -- 
                                     --------               -------                                   -------        ------- 
             Total                   $ 41,540               583,188                                        --            311 
                                     ========               =======                                   =======        ======= 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------     -------------    ---------     ------------       ---------    --------
       Column A                      Column G       Column H       Column I          Column J    Column K
- -----------------------------     -------------    ---------     ------------       ---------    --------
                                                    Benefits,    Amortization
                                                     claims,     of deferred          Other
                                  Net investment   losses and       policy          operating
                                      income       settlement    acquisition         expenses    Premiums
        Segment                         (2)         expenses        costs              (2)        written
- -----------------------------     -------------    ---------     ------------       ---------    --------
<S>                               <C>              <C>           <C>                <C>          <C>
1996: Variable Annuities             $   (849)            238          1,473           1,786             --
      Fixed Annuities                  50,197          35,193          5,888           5,407             --
      Life Insurance                      149              93             19              54             --
      Corporate and Other               1,548              --             --              --             --
                                     --------         -------        -------         -------        -------
             Total                   $ 51,045          35,524          7,380           7,247             --
                                     ========         =======        =======         =======        =======

1995: Variable Annuities                 (450)            107            739             886             --
      Fixed Annuities                  48,454          33,974          5,211           5,238             --
      Life Insurance                      169              99             24             443             --
      Corporate and Other                 935              --           (466)             --             --
                                     --------         -------        -------         -------        -------
             Total                   $ 49,108          34,180          5,508           6,567             --
                                     ========         =======        =======         =======        =======

1994: Variable Annuities                 (229)             86            464           1,227             --
      Fixed Annuities                  43,569          29,694          6,002           4,022             --
      Life Insurance                      173              90              8           1,071             --
      Corporate and Other               1,517              --            466              --             --
                                     --------         -------        -------         -------        -------
             Total                   $ 45,030          29,870          6,940           6,320             --
                                     ========         =======        =======         =======        =======
</TABLE>

- ----------

(1)  Unearned premiums are included in Column C amounts.

(2)  Allocations of net investment income and certain general expenses are based
     on a number of assumptions and estimates, and reported operating results
     would change by segment if different methods were applied.


See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   23
                                                                     SCHEDULE IV

                NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
       (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                                   Reinsurance

                     As of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                      and for each of the years then ended
                                ($000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------  ------------   ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------
        Column A                  Column B      Column C    Column D   Column E      Column F
- -------------------------------  ------------   ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------
                                                                                    Percentage
                                                Ceded to    Assumed                  of amount
                                                  other    from other                 assumed
                                 Gross amount   companies  companies   Net amount     to net
                                 ------------   ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------
<S>                              <C>            <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
1996:
Life Insurance in force            $ 7,221            463         --       6,758         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======

Premiums:
   Life insurance                      246             --         --         246         0.0%
                                   -------        -------    -------     -------     -------
          Total                    $   246             --         --         246         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======

1995:
Life Insurance in force            $ 8,186            468         --       7,718         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======

Premiums:
   Life insurance                      674             --         --         674         0.0%
                                   -------        -------    -------     -------     -------
          Total                    $   674             --         --         674         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======


1994:
Life Insurance in force            $ 8,298             14         --       8,284         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======

Premiums:
   Life Insurance                      311             --         --         311         0.0%
                                   -------        -------    -------     -------     -------
          Total                    $   311             --         --         311         0.0%
                                   =======        =======    =======     =======     =======
</TABLE>

- ----------

Note: The life insurance caption represents premiums from life-contingent
      immediate annuities and excludes deposits on investment products and
      universal life insurance products.


See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   24
                                                                      SCHEDULE V

                NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
       (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                        Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------     -----------      --------------------------   ----------   --------
            Column A                                       Column B                  Column C             Column D   Column E
- -----------------------------------------------------     -----------      --------------------------   ----------   --------
                                                            Balance         Charged                                  Balance
                                                              at            to costs        Charged                   at end
                                                           beginning          and           to other     Deductions     of
           Description                                     of period        expenses        accounts        (1)       period
- -----------------------------------------------------     -----------      ---------        ---------   ----------   --------
<S>                                                       <C>              <C>              <C>         <C>          <C>
1996:
Valuation allowances - mortgage loans on real estate         $   750             184               --          --         934
Valuation allowances - real estate                               229              --               --          --         229
                                                             -------         -------          -------     -------     -------
     Total                                                   $   979             184               --          --       1,163
                                                             =======         =======          =======     =======     =======


1995:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities                  --             996               --         996          --
Valuation allowances - mortgage loans on real estate             860            (110)              --          --         750
Valuation allowances - real estate                               472            (243)              --          --         229
                                                             -------         -------          -------     -------     -------
     Total                                                   $ 1,332             643               --         996         979
                                                             =======         =======          =======     =======     =======


1994:
Valuation allowances - mortgage loans on real estate             360             831               --         331         860
Valuation allowances - real estate                               419              53               --          --         472
                                                             -------         -------          -------     -------     -------
     Total                                                   $   779             884               --         331       1,332
                                                             =======         =======          =======     =======     =======
</TABLE>

- ----------

(1)   Amounts represent direct write-downs charged against the valuation
      allowance.


See accompanying independent auditors' report.

<PAGE>   47

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item  24. Financial Statements and Exhibits

            (a) To be filed by Financial Statements:

                  (1)   Financial statements and schedule                   Page
                        included in Prospectus (Part A):

                        Condensed Financial Information.                    N/A

                  (2)   Financial statements included in Part B:            38

                        Those financial statements required by
                        Item 23 to be included in Part B have
                        been incorporated therein by reference to
                        the Statement of Additional Information
                        (Part A).

                  Nationwide VA Separate Account-A:

                        Independent Auditors' Report.                       38

                        Statements of Assets, Liabilities and               39
                        Contract Owners' Equity as of December
                        31, 1996.

   
                        Statements of Operations and Changes in             41
                        Contract Owners' Equity for the years
                        ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994.
    

                        Notes to Financial Statements.                      42

                        Schedules of Changes In Unit Value.                 44

                  Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company:

   
                        Independent Auditors' Report.                       45

                        Balance Sheets as of December 31, 
                        1996 and 1995

                        Statements of Income for the years                  47
                        ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

                        Statements of Shareholder's Equity                  48
                        for the years ended December 31,
                        1996, 1995 and 1994.

                        Statements of Cash Flows for the years              49
                        ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.

                        Notes to Financial Statements.                      50

                        Schedule I - Summary of Investments -               91
                        Other Than Investments in
                        Related Parties

                        Schedule III - Supplemental Insurance               92
                        Information

                        Schedule IV - Reinsurance                           93

                        Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying               94
                        Accounts
    


                                    73 of 95
<PAGE>   48

Item  24. (b) Exhibits

                  (1)   Resolution of the Depositor's Board of
                        Directors authorizing the establishment
                        of the Registrant - Filed previously with
                        this Registration Statement and hereby
                        incorporated by reference.

                  (2)   Not Applicable

                  (3)   Underwriting or Distribution contracts
                        between the Registrant and Principal
                        Underwriter - Filed previously with this
                        Registration Statement and hereby
                        incorporated by reference.

                  (4)   The form of the variable annuity contract
                        - Filed previously with this Registration
                        Statement and hereby incorporated herein
                        by reference.

                  (5)   Variable Annuity Application - Filed
                        previously with this Registration
                        Statement and hereby incorporated herein
                        by reference.

                  (6)   Articles of Incorporation of Depositor -
                        Filed previously with this Registration
                        Statement and hereby incorporated herein
                        by reference.

                  (7)   Not Applicable

                  (8)   Not Applicable

                  (9)   Opinion of Counsel - Filed previously
                        with this Registration Statement and
                        hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  (10)  Not Applicable

                  (11)  Not Applicable

                  (12)  Not Applicable

                  (13)  Performance Advertising Calculation
                        Schedule - Filed previously with this
                        Registration Statement and hereby
                        incorporated herein by reference.


                                    74 of 95
<PAGE>   49

Item 25. Directors and Officers of the Depositor

 Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
  Business Address                                 With Depositor

Lewis J. Alphin                                        Director
519 Bethel Church Road
Mount Olive, NC  28365

Keith W. Eckel                                         Director
1647 Falls Road
Clarks Summit, PA 18411

Willard J. Engel                                       Director
1100 East Main Street
Marshall, MN 56258

Fred C. Finney                                         Director
1558 West Moreland Road
Wooster, OH 44691

Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr.                              Director
600 South Washington Street
Butler, PA  16001

Joseph J. Gasper                         President and Chief Operating Officer
One Nationwide Plaza                                 and Director
Columbus, OH  43215

   
Henry S. Holloway                                   Chairman of the
1247 Stafford Road                                Board and Director
Darlington, MD  21034

Dimon Richard McFerson                   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer-
One Nationwide Plaza                        Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
Columbus, OH  43215                                  and Director
    

David O. Miller                                        Director
115 Sprague Drive
Hebron, OH 43025

   
C. Ray Noecker                                         Director
2770 Winchester Southern S.
Ashville, OH 43103
    

James F. Patterson                                     Director
8765 Mulberry Road
Chesterland, OH  44026


                                    75 of 95
<PAGE>   50

 Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
  Business Address                                 With Depositor

Arden L. Shisler                                       Director
1356 North Wenger Road
Dalton, OH  44618

Robert L. Stewart                                      Director
88740 Fairview Road
Jewett, OH  43986

Nancy C. Thomas                                        Director
10835 Georgetown Street NE
Louisville, OH  44641

Harold W. Weihl                                        Director
14282 King Road
Bowling Green, OH  43402

Gordon E. McCutchan                            Executive Vice President,
One Nationwide Plaza                          Law and Corporate Services
Columbus, OH  43215                                  and Secretary

Robert A. Oakley                               Executive Vice President-
One Nationwide Plaza                            Chief Financial Officer
Columbus, OH  43215

   
Robert J. Woodward Jr.                         Executive Vice President
One Nationwide Plaza                           Chief Investment Officer
Columbus, OH 43215
    


James E. Brock                                  Senior Vice President -
One Nationwide Plaza                            Life Company Operations
Columbus, OH  43215

W. Sidney Druen                            Senior Vice President and General
One Nationwide Plaza                        Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Columbus, OH  43215

Harvey S. Galloway, Jr.                  Senior Vice President-Chief Actuary-
One Nationwide Plaza                          Life, Health and Annuities
Columbus, OH  43215

Richard A. Karas                            Senior Vice President - Sales -
One Nationwide Plaza                              Financial Services
Columbus, OH  43215

   
Michael D. Bleiweiss                                Vice President-
One Nationwide Plaza                         Individual Annuity Operations
Columbus, OH  43215
    


                                    76 of 95
<PAGE>   51

 Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
  Business Address                                 With Depositor

   
Matthew S. Easley                                  Vice President -
One Nationwide Plaza                  Life Marketing and Administration Services
Columbus, OH  43215
    

Ronald L. Eppley                                    Vice President-
One Nationwide Plaza                                   Pensions
Columbus, OH  43215

Timothy E. Murphy                                   Vice President-
One Nationwide Plaza                              Strategic Marketing
Columbus, Ohio  43215

   
R. Dennis Noice                                     Vice President-
One Nationwide Plaza                               Retail Operations
Columbus, OH  43215
    

Joseph P. Rath
One Nationwide Plaza                                Vice President
Columbus, OH  43215

Item 26. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor or
         Registrant.

      *     Subsidiaries for which separate financial statements are filed

      **    Subsidiaries included in the respective consolidated financial
            statements

      ***   Subsidiaries included in the respective group financial statements
            filed for unconsolidated subsidiaries
 
      ****  other subsidiaries


                                    77 of 95
<PAGE>   52

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated
<S>                                           <C>                  <C>             <C>
     Affiliate Agency, Inc.                       Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency

     Affiliate Agency of Ohio, Inc.                 Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency

     Allnations, Inc.                               Ohio                           Promotes cooperative insurance corporations
                                                                                   worldwide
     American Marine Underwriters, Inc.           Florida                          Underwriting Manager

     Auto Direkt Insurance Company                Germany                          Insurance Company

     The Beak and Wire Corporation                  Ohio                           Radio Tower Joint Venture

     California Cash Management Company          California                        Investment Securities Agent

     Colonial County Mutual insurance              Texas                           Insurance Company
     Company

     Colonial Insurance Company of               California                        Insurance Company
     California

     Columbus Insurance Brokerage and             Germany                          Insurance Broker
     Service GMBH

     Companies Agency, Inc.                      Wisconsin                         Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency Insurance Services         California                        Insurance  Broker
     of California

     Companies Agency of Alabama, Inc.            Alabama                          Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Idaho, Inc.               Idaho                           Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Illinois, Inc.           Illinois                         Acts as Collection Agent for policies placed
                                                                                   through Brokers
     Companies Agency of Kentucky, Inc.           Kentucky                         Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Massachusetts,        Massachusetts                       Insurance Broker
     Inc.

     Companies Agency of New York, Inc.           New York                         Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Pennsylvania, Inc.     Pennsylvania                       Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Phoenix, Inc.            Arizona                          Insurance Broker

     Companies Agency of Texas, Inc.               Texas                           Insurance Broker
     Companies Annuity Agency of Texas,            Texas                           Insurance Broker
     Inc.

     Countrywide Services Corporation             Delaware                         Products Liability, Investigative and Claims
                                                                                   Management Services
     Employers Insurance of Wausau A             Wisconsin                         Insurance Company
     Mutual Company
</TABLE>


                                    78 of 95
<PAGE>   53

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated
<S>                                           <C>                  <C>             <C>
 **  Employers Life Insurance Company of         Wisconsin                         Life Insurance Company
     Wausau

     F & B, Inc.                                    Iowa                           Insurance Agency

     Farmland Mutual Insurance Company              Iowa                           Insurance Company

     Financial Horizons Distributors              Alabama                          Life Insurance Agency
     Agency of Alabama, Inc.

     Financial Horizons Distributors                Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency
     Agency of Ohio, Inc.

     Financial Horizons Distributors              Oklahoma                         Life Insurance Agency
     Agency of Oklahoma, Inc.

     Financial Horizons Distributors               Texas                           Life Insurance Agency
     Agency of Texas, Inc.

  *  Financial Horizons Investment Trust       Massachusetts                       Investment Company

     Financial Horizons Securities                Oklahoma                         Broker Dealer
     Corporation

     Gates, McDonald & Company                      Ohio                           Cost Control Business

     Gates, McDonald & Company of Nevada           Nevada                          Self-Insurance Administration Claims
                                                                                   Examinations and Data Processing Services

     Gates, McDonald & Company of New             New York                         Workers Compensation Claims Administration
     York, Inc.

     Gates, McDonald Health Plus, Inc.              Ohio                           Managed Care Organization

     Greater La Crosse Health Plans, Inc.        Wisconsin                         Writes Commercial Health and Medicare
                                                                                   Supplement Insurance

     Insurance Intermediaries, Inc.                 Ohio                           Insurance Broker and Insurance Agency

     Key Health Plan, Inc.                       California                        Pre-paid health plans

     Landmark Financial Services of New           New York                         Life Insurance Agency
     York, Inc.

     Leben Direkt Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company

     Lone Star General Agency, Inc.                Texas                           Insurance Agency

 **  MRM Investments, Inc.                          Ohio                           Owns and operates a Recreational Ski Facility

 **  National Casualty Company                    Michigan                         Insurance Company

     National Casualty Company of America,     Great Britain                       Insurance Company
     Ltd.

 **  National Premium and Benefit                 Delaware                         Insurance Administrative Services
     Administration Company

   
 **  Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc.             Ohio                           Registered Broker-Dealer, Investment Manager
                                                                                   and Administrator
    
</TABLE>


                                    79 of 95
<PAGE>   54

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated

<S>                                           <C>                  <C>             <C>
   
     Nationwide Agency, Inc.                        Ohio                           Insurance Agency
    

     Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance              Iowa                           Insurance Company
     Company

   
     Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust         Massachusetts                       Investment Company
    

     Nationwide Cash Management Company             Ohio                           Investment Securities Agent

     Nationwide Communications, Inc.                Ohio                           Radio Broadcasting Business

     Nationwide Community Urban                     Ohio                           Redevelopment of blighted areas within the
     Redevelopment Corporation                                                     City of Columbus, Ohio

     Nationwide Corporation                         Ohio                           Organized for the purpose of acquiring,
                                                                                   holding, encumbering, transferring, or otherwise
                                                                                   disposing of shares, bonds, and other evidences
                                                                                   of indebtedness, securities, and contracts of
                                                                                   other persons, associations, corporations,
                                                                                   domestic or foreign and to form or acquire the
                                                                                   control of other corporations 

     Nationwide Development Company                 Ohio                           Owns, leases and manages commercial real estate

     Nationwide Financial Institution             Delaware                         Insurance Agency
     Distributors Agency, Inc.

   
     Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.          Delaware                         Organized for the purpose of acquiring,
                                                                                   holding, encumbering, transferring, or otherwise
                                                                                   disposing of shares, bonds, and other evidences
                                                                                   of indebtedness, securities, and contracts of
                                                                                   other persons, associations, corporations,
                                                                                   domestic or foreign and to form or acquire the
                                                                                   control of other corporations
    

     Nationwide General Insurance Company           Ohio                           Insurance Company

     Nationwide HMO, Inc.                           Ohio                           Health Maintenance Organization

  *  Nationwide Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Reinsurance Company

     Nationwide Insurance Enterprise                Ohio                           Membership Non-Profit Corporation
     Foundation

     Nationwide Insurance Golf Charities,           Ohio                           Membership Non-Profit Corporation
     Inc.

     Nationwide Investing Foundation              Michigan                         Investment Company

  *  Nationwide Investing                      Massachusetts                       Investment Company
     Foundation II

     Nationwide Investment Services               Oklahoma                         Registered Broker-Dealer in Deferred
     Corporation                                                                   Compensation Market

     Nationwide Investors Services, Inc.            Ohio                           Stock Transfer Agent

 **  Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance          Ohio                           Life Insurance Company
     Company
</TABLE>


                                    80 of 95
<PAGE>   55

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated
<S>                                           <C>                  <C>             <C>
 **  Nationwide Life Insurance Company              Ohio                           Life Insurance Company

     Nationwide Lloyds                             Texas                           Texas Lloyds Company

   
     Nationwide  Management Systems, Inc.           Ohio                           Develops and operates Managed Care Delivery
                                                                                   System
    

     Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance               Ohio                           Insurance Company
     Company

     Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company            Ohio                           Insurance Company

   
     Nationwide Properties, Ltd.                    Ohio                           Develops, owns and operates real estate and
                                                                                   real estate investments
    

     Nationwide Property and Casualty               Ohio                           Insurance Company
     Insurance Company

   
     Nationwide Realty Investors, Ltd.              Ohio                           Develops, owns and operates real estate and
                                                                                   real estate investments
    

  *  Nationwide Separate Account Trust         Massachusetts                       Investment Company

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services,          Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency
     Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Alabama                          Life Insurance Agency
     Alabama, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Arizona                          Life Insurance Agency
     Arizona, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of     Massachusetts                       Life Insurance Agency
     Massachusetts, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Montana                          Life Insurance Agency
     Montana, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of         Nevada                          Life Insurance Agency
     Nevada, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of          Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency
     Ohio, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Oklahoma                         Life Insurance Agency
     Oklahoma, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of         Texas                           Life Insurance Agency
     Texas, Inc.

     NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Wyoming                          Life Insurance Agency
     Wyoming

     NEA Valuebuilder Services Insurance       Massachusetts                       Life Insurance Agency
     Agency, Inc.

     Neckura General Insurance Company            Germany                          Insurance Company

     Neckura Holding Company                      Germany                          Administrative Service for Neckura Insurance
                                                                                   Group

     Neckura Insurance Company                    Germany                          Insurance Company

     Neckura Life Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company
</TABLE>


                                    81 of 95
<PAGE>   56

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated
<S>                                           <C>                  <C>             <C>
     NWE, Inc.                                      Ohio                           Special Investments

     PEBSCO of Massachusetts Insurance         Massachusetts                       Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
     Agency, Inc.                                                                  Plans for Public Employees

     PEBSCO of Texas, Inc.                         Texas                           Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
                                                                                   Plans for Public Employees

     Pension Associates of Wausau, Inc.          Wisconsin                         Pension plan administration, record keeping
                                                                                   and consulting and compensation consulting

   
     Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation       Wisconsin                         Health Maintenance Organization
    

     Public Employees Benefit Services            Delaware                         Marketing and Administration of Deferred
     corporation                                                                   Employee Compensation Plans for Public
                                                                                   Employees

     Public Employees Benefit Services            Alabama                          Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
     Corporation of Alabama                                                        Plans for Public Employees

     Public Employees Benefit Services            Arkansas                         Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
     Corporation of Arkansas                                                       Plans for Public Employees

     Public Employees Benefit Services            Montana                          Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
     Corporation of Montana                                                        Plans for Public Employees

     Public Employees Benefit Services           New Mexico                        Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
     Corporation of New Mexico                                                     Plans for Public Employees

     Scottsdale Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

     Scottsdale Insurance Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

   
     Scottsdale Surplus Lines Insurance           Arizona                          Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Company
     Company
    

     SVM Sales GmbH, Neckura Insurance            Germany                          Sales support for Neckura Insurance Group
     Group

     Wausau Business Insurance Company            Illinois                         Insurance Company

     Wausau General Insurance Company             Illinois                         Insurance Company

     Wausau Insurance Company (U.K.)           United Kingdom                      Insurance and Reinsurance Company
     Limited

     Wausau International Underwriters           California                        Special Risks, Excess and Surplus Lines
                                                                                   Insurance Underwriting Manager

 **  Wausau Preferred Health Insurance           Wisconsin                         Insurance and Reinsurance Company
     Company

     Wausau Service Corporation                  Wisconsin                         Holding Company

     Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company       Wisconsin                         Insurance Company

 **  West Coast Life Insurance Company           California                        Life Insurance Company
</TABLE>


                                    82 of 95
<PAGE>   57

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NO. VOTING
                                                                    SECURITIES
                                                   STATE           (see Attached
                                              OF ORGANIZATION      Chart) unless
                    COMPANY                                          otherwise                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                     indicated
<S>                                           <C>                <C>                            <C>
  *  MFS Variable Account                           Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  NACo Variable Account                          Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

   
  *  Nationwide DC Variable Account                 Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
    

  *  Nationwide DC Variable Account-II              Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Separate Account No. 1                         Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account         Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-A               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account

  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-B               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account

     Nationwide VA Separate Account-C               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account

  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-Q               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account                    Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-II                 Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-3                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-4                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-5                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable           Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
     Account                                                     Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-6                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide Variable Account-8                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide VL Separate                         Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
     Account-A                                                   Separate Account

   
  *  Nationwide VL Separate                         Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
     Account-B                                                   Separate Account
    

  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account                Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
                                                                 Account

  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2              Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance
                                                                 Account                         Policies

  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3              Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
                                                                 Account
</TABLE>


                                    83 of 95
<PAGE>   58
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE(R)                                               (left side)
<S>                               <C>                               <C>                                  <C>
- ------------------------
| NATIONWIDE INSURANCE |
| GOLF CHARITIES, INC. |
|                      |
|      MEMBERSHIP      |
|      NONPROFIT       |
|     CORPORATION      |
- ------------------------
                                                  ------------------------------------------
                                                  |      EMPLOYERS INSURANCE OF WAUSAU     |
                                                  |           A MUTUAL COMPANY             |
                                                  |             (EMPLOYERS)                |
                                                  |                                        |========================================
                                                  | Contribution Note         Cost         |
                                                  | -----------------         ----         |
                                                  | Casualty                  $400,000,000 |
                                                  ------------------------------------------
                                                                |
           -----------------------------------------------------------------------
           |                                  |                                  |
- ---------------------------       ---------------------------       ----------------------------         ---------------------------
|    SAN DIEGO LOTUS      |       |   WAUSAU INSURANCE CO.  |       |      WAUSAU SERVICE      |         |                         |
|     CORPORATION         |       |      (U.K.) LIMITED     |       |     CORPORATION (WSC)    |         |    NATIONWIDE LLOYDS    |
|Common Stock: 748,212    |       |Common Stock: 8,506,800  |       |Common Stock: 1,000 Shares|         |                         |
|------------  Shares     |       |------------  Shares     |       |------------              |         |                         |
|                         |       |                         |       |                          |=========|                         |
|              Cost       |       |              Cost       |       |              Cost        |     ||  |      A TEXAS LLOYDS     |
|              ----       |       |              ----       |       |              ----        |     ||  |                         |
|Employers-               |       |Employers-               |       |Employers-                |     ||  |                         |
|100%          $29,000,000|       |100%          $18,683,300|       |100%          $176,763,000|     ||  |                         |
- ---------------------------       ---------------------------       ----------------------------     ||  ---------------------------
                                                                                 |                   ||
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------  ||
                              |                                 |                                 |  ||
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |  ||  ---------------------------
|     WAUSAU BUSINESS     |   |   |    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |   COUNTRYWIDE SERVICES   |  |  ||  |                         |
|    INSURANCE COMPANY    |   |   |    OF KENTUCKY, INC.    |   |   |        CORPORATION       |  |  ||  |                         |
|Common Stock: 10,900,000 |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 100 Shares  |  |  ||  |        COMPANIES        |
|------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares     |   |   |------------              |  |  ||  |        AGENCY OF        |
|                         |---|---|                         |   |---|                          |  |  ||==|        TEXAS, INC.      |
|              Cost       |   |   |              Cost       |   |   |              Cost        |  |  ||  |                         |
|              ----       |   |   |              ----       |   |   |              ----        |  |  ||  |                         |
|WSC-100%      $33,800,000|   |   |WSC-100%      $1,000     |   |   |WSC-100%      $145,852    |  |  ||  |                         |
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |  ||  ---------------------------
                              |                                 |                                 |  ||
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |  ||  ---------------------------
|   WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS   |   |   |    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |      WAUSAU GENERAL      |  |  ||  |                         |
|    INSURANCE COMPANY    |   |   | OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.  |   |   |     INSURANCE COMPANY    |  |  ||  |                         |
|Common Stock: 8,750      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 200,000     |  |  ||  |     COMPANIES ANNUITY   |
|------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares      |  |  ||  |         AGENCY OF       |
|                         |---|---|                         |   |---|                          |  |  ====|         TEXAS, INC.     |
|              Cost       |   |   |              Cost       |   |   |              Cost        |  |      |                         |
|              ----       |   |   |              ----       |   |   |              ----        |  |      |                         |
|WSC-100%      $69,560,006|   |   |WSC-100%      $1,000     |   |   |WSC-100%      $39,000,000 |  |      |                         |
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
                              |                                 |                                 |      
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
|   GREATER LA CROSSE     |   |   |    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |   WAUSAU INTERNATIONAL   |  |      |     AMERICAN MARINE     |
|   HEALTH PLANS, INC.    |   |   |    OF NEW YORK, INC.    |   |   |       UNDERWRITERS       |  |      |    UNDERWRITERS, INC.   |
|Common Stock: 3,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000       |  |      |Common Stock: 20         |
|------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares      |  |      |------------  Shares     |
|                         |---|---|                         |   |---|                          |  |------|                         |
|              Cost       |   |   |              Cost       |   |   |              Cost        |  |      |              Cost       |
|              ----       |   |   |              ----       |   |   |              ----        |  |      |              ----       |
|WSC-33.3%     $861,761   |   |   |WSC-100%      $1,000     |   |   |WSC-100%      $10,000     |  |      |WSC-100%      $248,222   |
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
                              |                                 |                                 |      
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
|    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |     COMPANIES AGENCY     |  |      |     COMPANIES AGENCY    |
|    OF ALABAMA, INC.     |   |   |  OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.  |   |   |    INSURANCE SERVICES    |  |      |     OF ILLINOIS, INC.   |
|                         |   |   |                         |   |   |       OF CALIFORNIA      |  |      |                         |
|Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000       |  |      |Common Stock: 250        |
|------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares     |   |---|------------  Shares      |  |------|------------  Shares     |
|                         |---|---|                         |   |   |                          |  |      |                         |
|              Cost       |   |   |              Cost       |   |   |              Cost        |  |      |              Cost       |
|              ----       |   |   |              ----       |   |   |              ----        |  |      |              ----       |
|WSC-100%      $100       |   |   |WSC-100%      $100       |   |   |WSC-100%      $1,000      |  |      |WSC-100%      $2,500     |
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
                              |                                 |                                 |      
- ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
|    COMPANIES AGENCY     |   |   |   COMPANIES AGENCY      |   |   |      PHYSICIANS PLUS     |  |      |         COMPANIES       |
|     OF IDAHO, INC.      |   |   |     OF PHOENIX, INC.    |   |   |         INSURANCE        |  |      |        AGENCY, INC.     |
|                         |   |   |                         |   |   |        CORPORATION       |  |      |                         |
|Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock: 1,000      |   |   |Common Stock:    7,150    |  |      |Common Stock: 100        |
|------------  Shares     |   |   |------------  Shares     |   |   |------------     Shares   |  |      |------------  Shares     |
|                         |-------|                         |   |---|Preferred Stock: 11,540   |  |------|                         |
|                         |       |                         |   |   |---------------  Shares   |  |      |                         |
|                         |       |                         |   |   |                          |  |      |                         |
|              Cost       |       |              Cost       |   |   |                Cost      |  |      |              Cost       |
|              ----       |       |              ----       |   |   |                ----      |  |      |              ----       |
|WSC-100%      $1,000     |       |WSC-100%      $1,000     |   |   |WSC-33 1/3%     $6,215,459|  |      |WSC-100%      $10,000    |
- ---------------------------       ---------------------------   |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
                                                                |                                 |      
                                                                |   ----------------------------  |      ---------------------------
                                                                |   |      PREVEA HEALTH       |  |      |    PENSION ASSOCIATES   |
                                                                |   |  INSURANCE PLAN, INC.    |  |      |      OF WAUSAU, INC.    |
                                                                |   |Common Stock: 3,000 Shares|  |      |Common Stock: 1,000      |
                                                                |   |------------              |  |      |------------  Shares     |
                                                                ----|                          |  -------|                         |
                                                                    |                          |         |                         |
                                                                    |              Cost        |         |Companies        Cost    |
                                                                    |              ----        |         |Agency, Inc.     ----    |
                                                                    |WSC-33 1/3%   $500,000    |         |(Wisconsin)-100% $10,000 |
                                                                    ----------------------------         ---------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   59
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE(R)                                                  (middle)
<S>                                               <C>                                               <C>         
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       |                                                                           |
       |                                                                           |
       |                           NATIONWIDE MUTUAL                               |
=======|                           INSURANCE COMPANY                               |================================================
       |                              (CASUALTY)                                   |
       |                                                                           |
       |                                                                           |
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              |                        ||                              |
              |                        ||                              -------------------------------------------------------------
              |                        ||    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              |                        ||    |                                                                      |
- --------------------------------       ||    |    --------------------------------                  --------------------------------
|      ALLNATIONS, INC.        |       ||    |    |      NATIONWIDE GENERAL      |                  |        NECKURA HOLDING       |
|Common Stock:    3,136 Shares |       ||    |    |      INSURANCE COMPANY       |                  |       COMPANY (NECKURA)      |
|------------                  |       ||    |    |                              |                  |                              |
|                 Cost         |       ||    |    |Common Stock:    20,000       |                  |Common Stock:    10,000       |
|                 ----         |       ||    |    |------------     Shares       |                  |------------     Shares       |
|Casualty-24.5%   $88,320      |       ||    |    |                 Cost         |                  |                 Cost         |
|Fire-24.5%       $88,463      |       ||    |    |                 ----         |                  |                 ----         |
|Preferred Stock: 1,466 Shares |       ||    |----|Casualty-100%    $5,944,422   |         ---------|Casualty-100%    $87,943,140  |
|---------------               |       ||    |    |                              |         |        |                              |
|                 Cost         |       ||    |    |                              |         |        |                              |
|                 ----         |       ||    |    |                              |         |        |                              |
|Casualty-7.7%    $100,000     |       ||    |    |                              |         |        |                              |
|Fire-7.7%        $100,000     |       ||    |    |                              |         |        |                              |
- --------------------------------       ||    |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                       ||    |                                             |    
- --------------------------------       ||    |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
|       FARMLAND MUTUAL        |       ||    |    |      NATIONWIDE PROPERTY     |         |        |           NECKURA            |
|      INSURANCE COMPANY       |       ||    |    |         AND CASUALTY         |         |        |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
|Guaranty Fund                 |       ||    |    |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |         |        |                              |
|------------                  |=========    |----|Common Stock:    60,000       |         |--------|Common Stock:    6,000        |
|Certificate                   |             |    |------------     Shares       |         |        |------------     Shares       |
|-----------      Cost         |             |    |                 Cost         |         |        |                 Cost         |
|                 ----         |             |    |                 ----         |         |        |Neckura-         ----         |
|Casualty         $500,000     |             |    |Casualty-100%    $6,000,000   |         |        |100%             DM 6,000,000 |
- --------------------------------             |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
              |                              |                                             |    
- --------------------------------             |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
|        F & B, INC.           |             |    |      COLONIAL INSURANCE      |         |        |         NECKURA LIFE         |
|                              |             |    |     COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA    |         |        |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
|Common Stock:    1 Share      |             |    |          (COLONIAL)          |         |        |                              |
|------------                  |             |----|Common Stock:    1,750        |         |--------|Common Stock:   4,000         |
|                 Cost         |             |    |------------     Shares       |         |        |------------    Shares        |
|                 ----         |             |    |                 Cost         |         |        |                Cost          |
|Farmland                      |             |    |                 ----         |         |        |                ----          |
|Mutual-100%      $10          |             |    |Casualty-100%    $11,750,000  |         |        |Neckura-100%    DM 15,825,681 |
- --------------------------------             |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                             |                                             |        
- --------------------------------             |    --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
|  NATIONWIDE AGRIBUSINESS     |             |    |         SCOTTSDALE           |         |        |        NECKURA GENERAL       |
|     INSURANCE COMPANY        |             |    |      INSURANCE COMPANY       |         |        |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
|Common Stock:    1,000,000    |             |    |                              |         |        |                              |
|------------     Shares       |             |    |Common Stock:    30,136       |         |        |Common Stock:    1,500        |
|                 Cost         |------------------|------------     Shares       |         |--------|------------     Shares       |
|                 ----         |                  |                 Cost         |         |        |                 Cost         |
|Casualty-99.9%   $26,714,335  |                  |                 ----         |         |        |                 ----         |
|Other Capital:                |                  |Casualty-100%    $150,000,000 |         |        |Neckura-100%     DM 1,656,925 |
|-------------                 |                  |                              |         |        |                              |
|Casualty-Ptd.    $   713,567  |                  |                              |         |        |                              |
- --------------------------------                  --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                                                 |                         |        
                                                  --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                                  |          SCOTTSDALE          |         |        |       COLUMBUS INSURANCE     |
                                                  |        SURPLUS LINES         |         |        |      BROKERAGE AND SERVICE   |
                                                  |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |         |        |              GmbH            |
                                                  |                              |         |        |Common Stock:    1 Share      |
                                                  |                              |         |--------|------------                  |
                                                  |        "NEWLY FORMED"        |         |        |                 Cost         |
                                                  |                              |         |        |                 ----         |
                                                  |                              |         |        |Neckura-100%     DM 51,639    |
                                                  |                              |         |        |                              |
                                                  |                              |         |        |                              |
                                                  --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                                                 |                         |        
                                                  --------------------------------         |        --------------------------------
                                                  |      NATIONAL PREMIUM &      |         |        |          LEBEN DIREKT        |
                                                  |    BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION    |         |        |        INSURANCE COMPANY     |
                                                  |           COMPANY            |         |        |                              |
                                                  |Common Stock:    10,000       |         |        |Common Stock:    4,000 Shares |
                                                  |------------     Shares       |------------------|------------                  |
                                                  |                 Cost         |                  |                 Cost         |
                                                  |                 ----         |                  |                 ----         |
                                                  |Scottsdale-100%  $10,000      |                  |Neckura-100%     DM 4,000,000 |
                                                  |                              |                  |                              |
                                                  |                              |                  |                              |
                                                  --------------------------------                  --------------------------------

                                                  --------------------------------                  --------------------------------
                                                  |         SVM SALES            |                  |          AUTO DIREKT         |
                                                  |            GmbH              |                  |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
                                                  |                              |                  |                              |
                                                  |Common Stock:    50 Shares    |                  |Common Stock:    1,500 Shares |
                                                  |------------                  |                  |------------                  |
                                                  |                 Cost         |                  |                 Cost         |
                                                  |                 ----         |                  |                 ----         |
                                                  |Neckura-100%     DM 50,000    |                  |Neckura-100%     DM 1,643,149 |
                                                  |                              |                  |                              |
                                                  |                              |                  |                              |
                                                  --------------------------------                  --------------------------------

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   60
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE(R)                                              (right side)
<S>     <C>                                       <C>                                              <C>         
                                                                                                            ------------------------
                                                                                                            | NATIONWIDE INSURANCE |
                                                                                                            | ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION|
                                                                                                            |                      |
                                                                                                            |      MEMBERSHIP      |
                                                                                                            |      NONPROFIT       |
                                                                                                            |     CORPORATION      |
                                                                                                            ------------------------
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       |                                                                           |
       |                                                                           |
       |                           NATIONWIDE MUTUAL                               |
=======|                         FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY                            |
       |                                (FIRE)                                     |
       |                                                                           |
       |                                                                           |
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       |
- ---------------                                                        --------------------------------------------------
              |                                                                                                         |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------       |
  |                                          |                                                                  |       |
  |     --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                ----------------------------------
  |     |         SCOTTSDALE           |     |    |         NATIONWIDE           |                |          NATIONWIDE            |
  |     |      INDEMNITY COMPANY       |     |    |      COMMUNITY URBAN         |                |          CORPORATION           |
  |     |                              |     |    |       REDEVELOPMENT          |                |                                |
  |     |                              |     |    |        CORPORATION           |                |Common Stock:    Control:       |
  |     |Common Stock:    50,000       |     |    |Common Stock:    10 Shares    |                |------------     -------        |
  |-----|------------     Shares       |     |----|------------                  |                |$13,642,432      100%           |
  |     |                 Cost         |     |    |                 Cost         |                |         Shares     Cost        |
  |     |                 ----         |     |    |                 ----         |                |         ------     ----        |
  |     |Casualty-100%    $8,800,000   |     |    |Casualty-100%    $1,000       |                |Casualty 12,992,922 $751,352,485|
  |     |                              |     |    |                              |                |Fire        649,510   24,007,936|
  |     |                              |     |    |                              |                |          (See Page 2)          |
  |     --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                ----------------------------------
  |                                          |                                                      
  |     --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
  |     |         NATIONWIDE           |     |    |          INSURANCE           |                                                  
  |     |      INDEMNITY COMPANY       |     |    |     INTERMEDIARIES, INC.     |                                                  
  |     |                              |     |    |                              |                                                  
  |-----|Common Stock:    28,000       |     |----|Common Stock:    1,615        |                                                  
  |     |------------     Shares       |     |    |------------     Shares       |                                                  
  |     |                 Cost         |     |    |                 Cost         |                                                  
  |     |                 ----         |     |    |                 ----         |                                                  
  |     |Casualty-100%    $294,529,000 |     |    |Casualty-100%    $1,615,000   |                                                  
  |     --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
  |                                          |                                                                                      
  |     --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
  |     |          LONE STAR           |     |    |       NATIONWIDE CASH        |                                                  
  |     |     GENERAL AGENCY, INC.     |     |    |      MANAGEMENT COMPANY      |                                                  
  |     |                              |     |    |Common Stock:    100 Shares   |                                                  
  ------|Common Stock:    1,000        |     |----|------------                  |                                                  
        |------------     Shares       |     |    |                 Cost         |                                                  
        |                 Cost         |     |    |                 ----         |                                                  
        |                 ----         |     |    |Casualty-90%     $9,000       |                                                  
        |Casualty-100%    $5,000,000   |     |    |NW Adv. Serv.     1,000       |                                                  
        --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
                      ||                     |                                                                                      
        --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
        |   COLONIAL COUNTY MUTUAL     |     |    |       CALIFORNIA CASH        |                                                  
        |      INSURANCE COMPANY       |     |    |          MANAGEMENT          |                                                  
        |                              |     |    |                              |                                                  
        |Surplus Debentures            |     |    |Common Stock:    90 Shares    |                                                  
        |------------------            |     |----|------------                  |                                                  
        |                 Cost         |     |    |                 Cost         |                                                  
        |                 ----         |     |    |                 ----         |                                                  
        |Colonial         $500,000     |     |    |Casualty-100%    $9,000       |                                                  
        |Lone Star         150,000     |     |    |                              |                                                  
        --------------------------------     |    --------------------------------                                                  
                                             |                                                      
                                             |    --------------------------------                  --------------------------------
                                             |    |         NATIONWIDE           |                  |           THE BEAK AND       |
                                             |    |     COMMUNICATIONS, INC.     |                  |         WIRE CORPORATION     |
                                             |    |Common Stock:    14,750       |                  |                              |
                                             |    |------------     Shares       |                  |Common Stock:    750 Shares   |
                                             -----|                 Cost         |------------------|------------                  |
                                                  |                 ----         |                  |                 Cost         |
                                                  |Casualty-100%    $11,510,000  |                  |                 ----         |
                                                  |Other Capital:                |                  |NW Comm-100%     $531,000     |
                                                  |-------------                 |                  |                              |
                                                  |Casualty-Ptd.      1,000,000  |                  |                              |
                                                  --------------------------------                  --------------------------------



Subsidiary Companies -- Solid Line
Contractual Association -- Double Lines

March 6, 1997
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   61
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                        (Left Side)
                                                NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE(R)

                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                        |              EMPLOYERS INSURANCE               |
                                        |                  OF WAUSAU                     |==========================================
                                        |               A MUTUAL COMPANY                 |
                                         ------------------------------------------------



























<S>            <C>                <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>
                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             |                                  |                                   |
                ---------------------------        ---------------------------        ---------------------------
               | NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE |      |        NATIONWIDE         |      |   NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL    |
               |     COMPANY (NW LIFE)     |      |    FINANCIAL SERVICES     |      | INSTITUTION DISTRIBUTORS  |
               |                           |      |      CAPITAL TRUST        |      |   AGENCY, INC. (NFIDAI)   |
               | Common Stock: 3,814,779   |      | Preferred Stock:          |      | Common Stock:     1,000   |
               | ------------  Shares      |      | ---------------           |      | ------------      Shares  |
               |                           |      |                           |      |                           |
               | NFS--100%                 |      | NFS--100%                 |      | NFS--100%                 |
                ---------------------------        ---------------------------        ---------------------------
                               |                                                                    ||  
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------        ---------------------------   ||   -------------------------- 
|    NATIONWIDE LIFE AND    |  |  |         NATIONWIDE        |      |     FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |  ||  |                          |
| ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY |  |  |     ADVISORY SERVICES     |      |    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY    |  ||  |                          |
|        (NW LIFE)          |  |  |      (NW ADV. SERV.)      |      |      OF ALABAMA, INC.     |  ||  |                          |
| Common Stock: 68,000      |  |  | Common Stock: 7,676       |      | Common Stock: 10,000      |  ||  |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |
| ------------  Shares      |--|--| ------------  Shares      |==||  | ------------  Shares      |--||==|    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY   |
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |       OF OHIO, INC.      |
|               Cost        |  |  |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||  |                          |
|               ----        |  |  |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||  |                          |
| NW Life--100% $58,070,003 |  |  | NW Life--100% $5,996,261  |  ||  | NFIDIA--100% $100         |  ||  |                          |
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   -------------------------- 
                               |                                 ||                                 ||                              
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   --------------------------
|         NWE, INC.         |  |  |        NATIONWIDE         |  ||  |    LANDMARK FINANCIAL     |  ||  |                          |
|                           |  |  |   INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. |  ||  |        SERVICES OF        |  ||  |                          |
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||  |       NEW YORK, INC.      |  ||  |                          |
| Common Stock: 100         |  |  | Common Stock: 5           |  ||  | Common Stock: 10,000      |  ||  |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |
| ------------  Shares      |--|  | ------------  Shares      |==||  | ------------  Shares      |  ||==|    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY   |
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |     OF OKLAHOMA, INC.    |
|               Cost        |  |  |                     Cost  |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||  |                          |
|               ----        |  |  |                     ----  |  ||  |               ----        |  ||  |                          |
| NW Life--100% $35,971,375 |  |  | NW Adv. Serv.--100% $5,000|  ||  | NFIDIA--100% $10,100      |  ||  |                          |
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   --------------------------
                               |                                 ||                                 ||    
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   --------------------------
|   NATIONWIDE INVESTMENT   |  |  |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS     |  ||  |     FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |  ||  |                          |
|   SERVICES CORPORATION    |  |  |     INVESTMENT TRUST      |  ||  |      SECURITIES CORP.     |  ||  |                          |
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |                          |
| Common Stock: 5,000       |  |  |                           |  ||  | Common Stock: 10,000      |  ||  |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |
| ------------  Shares      |--|  |                           |==||  | ------------  Shares      |  ||==|    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY   |
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |       OF TEXAS, INC.     |
|               Cost        |  |  |                           |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||  |                          |
|               ----        |  |  |                           |  ||  |               ----        |  ||  |                          |
| NW Life--100% $529,728    |  |  |      COMMON LAW TRUST     |  ||  | NFIDIA--100% $153,000     |  ||  |                          |
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   --------------------------
                               |                                 ||                                 ||                    
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   --------------------------
| NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE |  |  |         NATIONWIDE        |  ||  |   AFFILIATE AGENCY, INC.  |  ||  |                          |
|    COMPANY OF NEW YORK    |  |  |         INVESTING         |  ||  |                           |  ||  |                          |
|                           |  |  |         FOUNDATION        |  ||  |                           |  ||  |                          |
| Common Stock:             |  |  |                           |  ||  | Common Stock: 100         |  ||  |          AFFILIATE       |
| ------------  Shares      |--|  |                           |==||  | ------------  Shares      |__||==|          AGENCY OF       |
|               Cost        |  |  |                           |  ||  |                           |      |          OHIO, INC.      |
|               ----        |  |  |                           |  ||  |               Cost        |      |                          |
| NW Life--100%             |  |  |                           |  ||  |               ----        |      |                          |
| (Proposed)                |  |  |      COMMON LAW TRUST     |  ||  | NFIDIA--100% $100         |      |                          |
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------        --------------------------
                               |                                 ||                                                                
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||                               
|     NATIONWIDE REALTY     |  |  |         NATIONWIDE        |  ||                               
|      INVESTORS, LTD.      |  |  |          INVESTING        |  ||                               
|                           |  |  |        FOUNDATION II      |  ||                               
| Units:                    |  |  |                           |  ||                               
| ------                    |  |  |                           |==||                               
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||                               
|                           |  |  |                           |  ||                               
| NW Life--90%              |  |  |                           |  ||                               
| NW Mutual--10%            |  |  |      COMMON LAW TRUST     |  ||                               
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||                               
                               |                                 ||                               
 ---------------------------   |   ---------------------------   ||                               
|     NATIONWIDE REALTY     |  |  |         NATIONWIDE        |  ||                               
|      INVESTORS, LTD.      |  |  |      SEPARATE ACCOUNT     |  ||                               
|                           |  |  |            TRUST          |  ||                               
| Units:                    |  |  |                           |  ||                               
| ------                    |__|  |                           |__||                               
|                           |     |                           |                                   
|                           |     |                           |                                   
| NW Life--97.6%            |     |                           |                                   
| NW Mutual--2.4%           |     |      COMMON LAW TRUST     |                                   
 ---------------------------       ---------------------------                                    
</TABLE>                           
<PAGE>   62
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           (Center)

<S>            <C>                <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>
                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                        |               NATIONWIDE MUTUAL                |
========================================|               INSURANCE COMPANY                |==========================================
                                        |                  (CASUALTY)                    |
                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                                                 |
                                                                 |              ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                 |              |
                                               ---------------------------------------
                                              |    NATIONWIDE CORPORATION (NW CORP)   |
                                              |   Common Stock:           Control     |
                                              |   ------------            -------     |
                                              |    13,642,432               100%      |
                                              |              Shares      Cost         |
                                              |             ------      ----          |
                                              | Casualty    12,992,922   $751,352,485 |
                                              | Fire           649,510     24,007,936 |
                                               ---------------------------------------
                                                                |
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              |                                     |                                |                             |
 ---------------------------     --------------------------       -----------------------------      ---------------------------- 
|    NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL   |   |   MRM INVESTMENTS, INC.   |    |      WEST COAST LIFE        |    |    NATIONAL CASUALTY       |
|    SERVICES, INC. (NFS)   |   |                           |    |     INSURANCE COMPANY       |    |         COMPANY            |
|                           |   |                           |    |                             |    |           (NC)             |
| Common Stock: Control     |   | Common Stock: 1           |    | Common Stock: 1,000,000     |    | Common Stock: 100          |
| ------------  -------     |   | ------------  Share       |    | ------------  Shares        |    | ------------  Shares       |
|                           |   |                           |    |                             |    |                            |
|                           |   |               Cost        |    |               Cost          |    |                Cost        | 
| Class A     Public--100%  |   |               ----        |    |               ----          |    |                ----        |
| Class B     NW Corp--100% |   | NW Corp.--100% $1,339,218 |    | NW Corp.--100% $152,946,930 |    | NW Corp.--100% $73,442,439 |
 ---------------------------     ---------------------------      -----------------------------      ---------------------------- 
             |                                                                                                     |
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                   |
                             |                                                  |                                  |
                ---------------------------                       ---------------------------        ----------------------------
               | PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFIT  |                     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER       |    |   NCC OF AMERICA, INC.     |
               |   SERVICES CORPORATION    |                     |   INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.   |    |         (INACTIVE)         |
               |         (PEBSCO)          |                     |             (NEA)           |    |                            |
               | Common Stock: 236,494     |==||                 | Common Stock: 500           |    |                            |
               | ------------  Shares      |  ||                 | ------------  Shares        |    |                            |
               |                           |  ||                 |                             |    |                            |
               | NFS--100%                 |  ||                 | NFS--100%                   |    | NFS--100%                  |
                ---------------------------   ||                  -----------------------------      ----------------------------
                                              ||                                 ||  
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
               |         PEBSCO OF         |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||  
               |          ALABAMA          |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |  ||
               |                           |  ||  |     OF ALABAMA, INC.      |  ||
               | Common Stock: 100,000     |  ||  | Common Stock: 500         |  ||
               | ------------  Shares      |--||  | ------------  Shares      |--||
               |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||
               |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||
               |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||
               | PEBSCO--100%  $1,000      |  ||  | NEA--100%      $5,000     |  ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
                                              ||                                 || 
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
               |         PEBSCO OF         |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||
               |         ARKANSAS          |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |  ||
               |                           |  ||  |      OF ARIZONA, INC      |  ||
               | Common Stock: 50,000      |  ||  | Common Stock: 100         |  ||
               | ------------  Shares      |--||  | ------------  Shares      |--||
               |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||
               |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||
               |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||
               | PEBSCO--100%  $500        |  ||  | NEA--100%     $1,000      |  ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
                                              ||                                 ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
               |  PEBSCO OF MASSACHUSETTS  |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||
               |  INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.   |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |  ||
               |                           |  ||  |      OF MONTANA, INC.     |  ||
               | Common Stock: 1,000       |  ||  | Common Stock: 500         |  ||
               | ------------  Shares      |--||  | ------------  Shares      |--||
               |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||
               |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||
               |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||
               | PEBSCO--100%  $1,000      |  ||  | NEA--100%     $500        |  ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||
                                              ||                                 ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------
               |         PEBSCO OF         |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||  |                           |
               |          MONTANA          |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |  ||  |                           |
               |                           |  ||  |      OF NEVADA, INC.      |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |
               | Common Stock: 500         |  ||  | Common Stock: 500         |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |
               | ------------  Shares      |--||  | ------------  Shares      |  ||==|       OF OHIO, INC.       |
               |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |                           |
               |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||  |                           |
               |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||  |                           |
               | PEBSCO--100%  $500        |  ||  | NEA--100%     $500        |  ||  |                           |
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------
                                              ||                                 ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------
               |         PEBSCO OF         |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||  |                           |
               |        NEW MEXICO         |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |  ||  |                           |
               |                           |  ||  |      OF WYOMING, INC.     |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |
               | Common Stock: 1,000       |  ||  | Common Stock: 500         |  ||  |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |
               | ------------  Shares      |--||  | ------------  Shares      |  ||==|     OF OKLAHOMA, INC.     |
               |                           |  ||  |                           |  ||  |                           |
               |               Cost        |  ||  |               Cost        |  ||  |                           |
               |               ----        |  ||  |               ----        |  ||  |                           |
               | PEBSCO--100%  $1,000      |  ||  | NEA--100%     $500        |  ||  |                           |
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------
                                              ||                                 ||
                ---------------------------   ||   ---------------------------   ||   ----------------------------
               |                           |  ||  |     NEA VALUEBUILDER      |  ||  |                            |
               |                           |  ||  |    SERVICES INSURANCE     |  ||  |                            |
               |         PEBSCO OF         |  ||  |       AGENCY, INC.        |  ||  |      NEA VALUEBUILDER      |
               |        TEXAS, INC.        |  ||  | Common Stock: 100         |  ||  |      INVESTOR SERVICES     |
               |                           |==||  | ------------  Shares      |__||==|        OF TEXAS, INC.      |
               |                           |      |                           |      |                            |
               |                           |      |               Cost        |      |                            |
               |                           |      |               ----        |      |                            |
               |                           |      | NEA--100%     $1,000      |      |                            |
                ---------------------------        ---------------------------        ----------------------------

</TABLE>
<PAGE>   63
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                            (Right)

<S>            <C>                <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>
                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                        |               NATIONWIDE MUTUAL                |
========================================|            FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY              |
                                        |                   (FIRE)                       |
                                         ------------------------------------------------
                                                                 |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------|   












- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |                                |                              |
                ---------------------------         ------------------------------       ------------------------------
               |      GATES, MCDONALD        |     |   EMPLOYERS LIFE INSURANCE   |     |    NATIONWIDE HMO, INC.      |
               |     & COMPANY (GATES)       |     |       OF WAUSAU (ELIOW)      |     |         (NW HMO)             |
               |                             |     |                              |     |                              |
               | Common Stock:   254         |     | Common Stock:   250,000      |     | Common Stock:   100          |        
           |-- | ------------    Shares      |  |--| ------------    Shares       |  |--| ------------    Shares       |
           |   |                             |  |  |                              |  |  |                              |
           |   |                 Cost        |  |  |                 Cost         |  |  |                 Cost         | 
           |   |                 ----        |  |  |                 ----         |  |  |                 ----         |
           |   | NW CORP.--100%  $25,683,532 |  |  | NW CORP.--100%  $126,509,480 |  |  | NW CORP.--100%  $14,603,732  |
           |    -----------------------------   |   ------------------------------   |   ------------------------------
           |                                    |                                    |
           |    ---------------------------     |   ------------------------------   |   ------------------------------
           |   |  GATES, MCDONALD & COMPANY  |  |  |       WAUSAU PREFERRED       |  |  |    NATIONWIDE MANAGEMENT     |
           |   |      OF NEW YORK, INC.      |  |  |      HEALTH INSURANCE CO.    |  |  |         SYSTEMS, INC.        |
           |   |                             |  |  |                              |  |  |                              |
           |   | Common Stock:   3           |  |  | Common Stock:   250,000      |  |  | Common Stock:   100          |        
           |-- | ------------    Shares      |  |--| ------------    Shares       |  |--| ------------    Shares       |
           |   |                             |  |  |                              |  |  |                              |
           |   |                 Cost        |  |  |                 Cost         |  |  | NW HMO          Cost         | 
           |   |                 ----        |  |  |                 ----         |  |  |                 ----         |
           |   | GATES--100%     $106,947    |  |  | NW CORP.--100%  $57,413,193  |  |  | Inc.--100%      $25,149      |
           |    -----------------------------   |   ------------------------------   |   ------------------------------
           |                                    |                                    |
           |    -----------------------------   |   ------------------------------   |   ------------------------------
           |   |  GATES, MCDONALD & COMPANY  |  |  |     KEY HEALTH PLAN, INC.    |  |  |          NATIONWIDE          |
           |   |         OF NEVADA           |  |  |                              |  |  |          AGENCY, INC.        |
           |   |                             |  |  |                              |  |  |                              |
           |   | Common Stock:   40          |  |  | Common Stock:   1,000        |  |  | Common Stock:   100          |        
           |-- | ------------    Shares      |  |--| ------------    Shares       |  |--| ------------    Shares       |
           |   |                             |     |                              |  |  |                              |
           |   |                 Cost        |     |                 Cost         |  |  | NW HMO          Cost         | 
           |   |                 ----        |     |                 ----         |  |  |                 ----         |
           |   | Gates--100%     $93,750     |     | ELIOPW--80%  $2,700,000      |  |  | Inc.--99%       $116,077     |
           |    -----------------------------       ------------------------------   |   ------------------------------
           |
           |    -----------------------------     
           |   |      GATES, MCDONALD        |  
           |   |     HEALTH PLUS, INC.       |  
           |   |                             |  
           |   | Common Stock:   200         |       
           |-- | ------------    Shares      |  
               |                             |  
               |                 Cost        |  
               |                 ----        |  
               | NW CORP.--100%  $2,000,000  |  
                -----------------------------   









                                                                                Subsidiary Companies    -- Solid Line

                                                                                Contractual Association -- Double Line

                                                                                Partnership Interest    -- Dotted Line



                                                                                                             March 6, 1997

                                                                                                                    Page 2
</TABLE>
                                                
                                                                              
<PAGE>   64

Item 27. Number of Contract Owners

      The number of contract Owners of Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts as
      of February 28, 1997 was 7,086 and 3,455, respectively.

Item 28. Indemnification

      Provision is made in the Company's Amended and Restated Code of
      Regulations and expressly authorized by the General Corporation Law of the
      State of Ohio, for indemnification by the Company of any person who was or
      is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
      or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
      administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that such person is
      or was a director, officer or employee of the Company, against expenses,
      including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
      actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such
      action, suit or proceeding, to the extent and under the circumstances
      permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Ohio.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
      Act of 1933 ("Act") may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
      controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company
      has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
      Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
      the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
      indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
      registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
      controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
      action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
      controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
      registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
      settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
      jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
      public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
      adjudication of such issue.

Item 29. Principal Underwriter

   
      (a)   Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. ("NAS") acts as principal
            underwriter and general distributor for the Nationwide Multi-Flex
            Variable Account, Nationwide DC Variable Account, Nationwide
            DCVA-II, Nationwide Variable Account-II, Nationwide Variable
            Account-5, Nationwide Variable Account-6, Nationwide Variable
            Account-8, Nationwide VA Separate Account-A, Nationwide VA Separate
            Account-B, Nationwide VA Separate Account-C, Nationwide VL Separate
            Account-A, Nationwide VL Separate Account-B, Nationwide VLI Separate
            Account-2, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3, NACo Variable Account
            and Nationwide Variable Account, all of which are separate
            investment accounts of the Company or its affiliates.

            NAS also acts as principal underwriter for Nationwide Investing
            Foundation, Nationwide Separate Account Trust, Financial Horizons
            Investment Trust, Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust and Nationwide
            Investing Foundation II, which are open-end management investment
            companies.

      (b)              NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
                             DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
    

                                                Positions and offices
         Name and Business Address                 with Underwriter

Joseph J. Gasper                                President and Director
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH  43215

Dimon Richard McFerson                  Chairman of the Board of Directors and
One Nationwide Plaza                                 Chairman and
Columbus, OH  43215                      Chief Executive Officer--Nationwide
                                          Insurance Enterprise and Director

Gordon E. McCutchan
One Nationwide Plaza                       Executive Vice President-Law and
Columbus, OH  43215                        Corporate Services and Director

Robert A. Oakley                      Executive Vice President - Chief Financial
One Nationwide Plaza                             Officer and Director
Columbus, OH 43215


                                    86 of 95
<PAGE>   65

   
      (b)              NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
                             DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
    

Robert J. Woodward, Jr.              Executive Vice President - Chief Investment
One Nationwide Plaza                             Officer and Director
Columbus, Ohio 43215

W. Sidney Druen                               Senior Vice President and
One Nationwide Plaza                             General Counsel and
Columbus, OH  43215                              Assistant Secretary

   
James F. Laird, Jr.                           Vice President and General
One Nationwide Plaza                          Manager & Acting Treasurer
Columbus, OH  43215

Edwin P. McCausland
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215
    

Peter J. Neckermann                                 Vice President
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH  43215

Harry S. Schermer                            Vice President - Investments
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH  43215

   
William G. Goslee                                   Vice President
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH  43215

Joseph P. Rath                        Vice President -Associate General Counsel
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215

Rae M. Pollina                                         Secretary
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH  43215
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(c)      Name of          Net Underwriting         Compensation On
         Principal         Discounts and             Redemption Or                Brokerage
        Underwriter        Commissions                Annuitization              Commissions         Compensation
        -----------        -----------                -------------              -----------         ------------
<S>                              <C>                        <C>                        <C>                    <C>
         Nationwide
          Advisory               N/A                        N/A                        N/A                    N/A
          Services,
             Inc.
</TABLE>

Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records

      Robert O. Cline
      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company
      One Nationwide Plaza
      Columbus, OH  43216

Item 31. Management Services

      Not Applicable

Item 32. Undertakings

      The Registrant hereby undertakes to:

   
      (a)   File a post-effective amendment to this registration statement as
            frequently as is necessary to ensure that the audited financial
            statements in the registration statement are never more than 16
            months old for so long as payments under the variable annuity
            contracts may be accepted;

      (b)   Include either (1) as part of any application to purchase a contract
            offered by the prospectus, a space that an applicant can check to
            request a Statement of Additional Information, or (2) a 
    


                                    87 of 95
<PAGE>   66

            post card or similar written communication affixed to or included in
            the prospectus that the applicant can remove to send for a Statement
            of Additional Information; and

   
      (c)   Deliver any Statement of Additional Information and any financial
            statements required to be made available under this form promptly
            upon written or oral request.

            The Registrant represents that any of the Contracts which are issued
            pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code are issued by the Company
            through the Registrant in reliance upon, and in compliance with a
            no-action letter issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
            Commission to the American Council of Life Insurance (publicly
            available November 28, 1988) permitting withdrawal restrictions to
            the extent necessary to comply with Section 403(b)(11) of the Code.

            The Company represents that the fees and charges deducted under the
            Contract in the aggregate are reasonable in relation to the services
            rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks
            assumed by the Company.
    


                                    88 of 95
<PAGE>   67

                                   Offered by

                  Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company

                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

                        Nationwide VA Separate Account-A
                  Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contract

                                   PROSPECTUS

   
                                   May 1, 1997
    


                                    89 of 95
<PAGE>   68

              Accountants' Consent and Independent Auditors' Report
                        on Financial Statement Schedules

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company and
Contract Owners of the Nationwide VA Separate Account-A:

   
The audits referred to in our report on Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance
Company (the Company) dated January 31, 1997 included the related financial
statement schedules as of December 31, 1996, and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1996, included in the registration
statement. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statement schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, such
financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects 
the information set forth herein.
    

We consent to the use of our reports included herein and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Services" in the Statement of Additional Information.

                                        KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

   
Columbus, Ohio
April 24, 1997
    


                                    90 of 95
<PAGE>   69

                                    91 of 95
<PAGE>   70

                                    92 of 95
<PAGE>   71

                                    93 of 95
<PAGE>   72

                                    94 of 95
<PAGE>   73

                                   SIGNATURES

      As required by the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the Registrant, NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A certifies that it
meets the requirements of Securities Act Rule 485(b) for effectiveness of this
Post-Effective Amendment, and has caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be
signed on its behalf in the City of Columbus, and State of Ohio, on this 24th
day of April, 1997.

                                          NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                                  (Registrant)

                                   NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                                   (Depositor)


                                                By/s/JOSEPH P. RATH
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                                 Joseph P. Rath
                                                 Vice President

   
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 24th day
of April, 1997.
    

              Signature                      Title


LEWIS J. ALPHIN                            Director
- ----------------------------
Lewis J. Alphin


KEITH W. ECKEL                             Director
- ----------------------------
Keith W. Eckel


WILLARD J. ENGEL                           Director
- ----------------------------
Willard J. Engel


FRED C. FINNEY                             Director
- ----------------------------
Fred C. Finney


CHARLES L. FUELLGRAF, JR.                  Director
- ----------------------------
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr.


JOSEPH J. GASPER                  President/Chief Operating Officer and Director
- ----------------------------
Joseph J. Gasper


HENRY S. HOLLOWAY                 Chairman of the Board and Director
- ---------------------------
Henry S. Holloway


DIMON RICHARD MCFERSON            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - 
- ----------------------------      Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and Director
Dimon Richard McFerson       


DAVID O. MILLER                            Director
- ----------------------------
David O. Miller


C. RAY NOECKER                             Director
- ----------------------------
C. Ray Noecker


ROBERT A. OAKLEY                  Executive Vice President- 
- ----------------------------      Chief Financial Officer
Robert A. Oakley


JAMES F. PATTERSON                         Director     By/s/JOSEPH P. RATH
- ----------------------------                            ------------------------
James F. Patterson                                       Joseph P. Rath
                                                         Attorney-in-Fact

ARDEN L. SHISLER                           Director      
- ----------------------------
Arden L. Shisler


ROBERT L. STEWART                          Director
- ----------------------------
Robert L. Stewart


NANCY C. THOMAS                            Director
- ----------------------------
Nancy C. Thomas


HAROLD W. WEIHL                            Director
- ----------------------------
Harold W. Weihl


                                    95 of 95
<PAGE>   74
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned as
directors and/or officers of NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, and NATIONWIDE
LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY, both Ohio corporations, which have filed or
will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, various Registration Statements and
amendments thereto for the registration under said Act of Individual Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts in connection with MFS Variable Account, Nationwide
Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-II, Nationwide Variable Account-3,
Nationwide Variable Account-4, Nationwide Variable Account-5, Nationwide
Variable Account-6, Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account, Nationwide
Multi-Flex Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-8, Nationwide VA
Separate Account-A, Nationwide VA Separate Account-B, Nationwide VA Separate
Account-C and Nationwide VA Separate Account-Q; and the registration of fixed
interest rate options subject to a market value adjustment offered under some or
all of the aforementioned individual Variable Annuity Contracts in connection
with Nationwide Multiple Maturity Separate Account and Nationwide Multiple
Maturity Separate Account-A, and the registration of Group Flexible Fund
Retirement Contracts in connection with Nationwide DC Variable Account,
Nationwide DCVA-II, and NACo Variable Account; and the registration of Group
Common Stock Variable Annuity Contracts in connection with Separate Account No.
1; and the registration of variable life insurance policies in connection with
Nationwide VLI Separate Account, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2, Nationwide
VLI Separate Account-3, Nationwide VL Separate Account-A and Nationwide VL
Separate Account-B, hereby constitutes and appoints Dimon Richard McFerson,
Joseph J. Gasper, W. Sidney Druen, and Joseph P. Rath, and each of them with
power to act without the others, his/her attorney, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for and in his/her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to approve, and sign such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto, with power to affix the corporate seal of said
corporation thereto and to attest said seal and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting unto said attorneys, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and
thing requisite to all intents and purposes as he/she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming that which said attorneys, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This instrument may
be executed in one or more counterparts.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have herewith set their names and
seals as of this 2nd day of April, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>
/s/ Lewis J. Alphin                                                 /s/ David O. Miller
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Lewis J. Alphin, Director                                           David O. Miller, Director

/s/ Keith W. Eckel                                                  /s/ C. Ray Noecker
- -------------------------------------------------                   -------------------------------------------------
Keith W. Eckel, Director                                            C. Ray Noecker, Director

/s/ Willard J. Engel                                                /s/ Robert A. Oakley
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Willard J. Engel, Director                                          Robert A. Oakley, Executive Vice President and Chief
                                                                    Financial Officer

/s/ Fred C. Finney                                                  /s/ James F. Patterson
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Fred C. Finney, Director                                            James F. Patterson, Director

/s/ Charles L. Fuellgraf                                            /s/ Arden L. Shisler
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr., Director                                 Arden L. Shisler, Director

/s/ Joseph J. Gasper                                                /s/ Robert L. Stewart
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Joseph J. Gasper, President and Chief Operating Officer             Robert L. Stewart, Director
and Director

/s/ Henry S. Holloway                                               /s/ Nancy C. Thomas
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Henry S. Holloway, Chairman of the Board, Director                  Nancy C. Thomas, Director

/s/ Dimon Richard McFerson                                          /s/ Harold W. Weihl
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Dimon Richard McFerson, Chairman and Chief Executive                Harold W. Weihl, Director
Officer-Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and Director
</TABLE>






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