NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
485BPOS, 1996-04-30
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<PAGE>
   
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 29, 1996
    
                                                               FILE NO. 33-35412
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM N-4
 
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                                                                             /X/
   
                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 12
    
 
                                     AND/OR
 
        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
 
   
                                                                             /X/
    
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 13
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
 
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)
 
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
                              (Name of Depositor)
 
   
                               MICHAEL J. VELOTTA
                 VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                               3100 SANDERS ROAD
                           NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS 60062
                                  847/402-2400
                (Name and Complete Address of Agent for Service)
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                   COPIES TO:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>
     GREGOR B. MCCURDY, ESQUIRE            CHRISTINE A. EDWARDS, ESQUIRE
      ROUTIER AND JOHNSON, P.C.              DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
   1700 K STREET, N.W., SUITE 1003            TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
       WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006                NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
                        STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 24F-2
    
 
   
    Pursuant  to  Rule  24f-2 under  the  Investment  Company Act  of  1940, the
Registrant hereby states that, pursuant to  paragraph (b)(1), it filed its  Rule
24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1995 on February 28, 1996.
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
 IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
    
   
        ___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
    
   
        _X_ on May 1, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
    
   
        ___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485
    
   
        ___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485
    
   
        ___ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
    
 
   
            IF APPROPRIATE, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX:
    
   
        __ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
           previously filed post-effective amendment.
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
 
Showing  Location in Part A (Prospectus) and Part B of Registration Statement of
Information Required by Form N-4
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      ITEM OF
      FORM N-4                                                                                 PROSPECTUS CAPTION
- --------------------                                                             ----------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>                                             <C>
 1.        Cover Page..........................................................  Cover Page
 2.        Definitions.........................................................  Glossary
 3.        Synopsis............................................................  Introduction: Summary of Separate Account
                                                                                  Expenses
 4.        Condensed Financials................................................  --
           (a)        Chart....................................................  Condensed Financial Statements
           (b)        MM Yield.................................................  Not Applicable
           (c)        Location of Others.......................................  Financial Statements
 5.        General.............................................................  --
           (a)        Depositor................................................  Northbrook Life Insurance Company
           (b)        Registrant...............................................  The Variable Account
           (c)        Portfolio Company........................................  Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
           (d)        Fund Prospectus..........................................  Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
           (e)        Voting Rights............................................  Voting Rights
           (f)        Administrators...........................................  Charges & Other Deductions -- Contract
                                                                                  Maintenance Charge
 6.        Deductions & Expenses...............................................  Charges & Other Deductions
           (a)        General..................................................  Charges & Other Deductions
           (b)        Sales Load %.............................................  Surrender Charge
           (c)        Special Purchase Plans...................................  N/A
           (d)        Commissions..............................................  Sales Commission
           (e)        Expenses -- Registrant...................................  Variable Account Expenses
           (f)        Fund Expenses............................................  Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                                                  Expenses
           (g)        Organizational Expenses..................................  N/A
 7.        Contracts
           (a)        Persons with Rights......................................  The Contracts; Benefits; Income Payments;
                                                                                  Voting Rights; Assignments; Beneficiaries
                                                                                  Contract Owners
           (b)        (i)        Allocation of Purchase Payments...............  Allocation of Purchase Payments
                      (ii)       Transfers.....................................  Transfers
                      (iii)      Exchanges.....................................  N/A
           (c)        Changes..................................................  Modification
           (d)        Inquiries................................................  Customer Inquiries
 8.        Annuity Period......................................................  Income Payments
           (a)        Material Factors.........................................  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments
           (b)        Dates....................................................  Income Starting Date
           (c)        Frequency, duration & level..............................  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments
           (d)        AIR......................................................  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments
           (e)        Minimum..................................................  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments
           (f)        -- Change Options........................................  Transfers
                      -- Transfer..............................................
 9.        Death Benefit.......................................................  Death Benefits
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      ITEM OF
      FORM N-4                                                                                 PROSPECTUS CAPTION
- --------------------                                                             ----------------------------------------------
10.        Purchases & Contract Value
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>                                             <C>
           (a)        Purchases................................................  Purchase of the Contract; Crediting of
                                                                                  Purchase Payments
           (b)        Valuation................................................  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units
           (c)        Daily Calculation........................................  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units;
                                                                                  Allocation of Purchase Payments
           (d)        Underwriter..............................................  Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
11.        Redemptions
           (a)        -- By Owners.............................................  Surrender & Withdrawals
           (b)        -- By Annuitant..........................................  Annuity Options
           (c)        Texas ORP................................................  Not Applicable
           (d)        Lapse....................................................  Not Applicable
           (e)        Free Look................................................  Introduction
12.        Taxes...............................................................  Federal Tax Matters
13.        Legal Proceedings...................................................  N/A
14.        SAI Contents........................................................  SAI Table of Contents
15.        Cover Page..........................................................  Cover Page
16.        Table of Contents...................................................  Table of Contents
17.        General Information & History
           (a)        Depositor's Name.........................................  Northbrook Life Insurance Company
           (b)        Assets of Sub-Account....................................  The Variable Account
           (c)        Control of Depositor.....................................  Northbrook Life Insurance Company
18.        Services
           (a)        Fees & Expenses of Registrant............................  Contract Maintenance Charge
           (b)        Management Contracts.....................................  Contract Maintenance Charge; Sales Commissions
           (c)        Custodian                                                  SAI: Safekeeping of the Variable Account's
                                                                                  Assets
                      Independent Public Accountant............................  SAI: Experts
           (d)        Assets of Registrant.....................................  SAI: Safekeeping of the Variable Account
                                                                                  Assets
           (e)        Affiliated Persons.......................................  N/A
           (f)        Principal Underwriter....................................  Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
19.        Purchase of Securities Being Offered
           (a)        Offering.................................................  SAI: Purchase of Contracts
           (b)        Sales load...............................................  SAI: Sales Commissions
20.        Underwriters
           (a)        Principal Underwriter....................................  SAI: Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
           (b)        Continuous offering......................................  SAI: Purchase of Contracts
           (c)        Commissions..............................................  SAI: Sales Commissions; Dean Witter Reynolds
                                                                                  Inc.
           (d)        Unaffiliated Underwriters................................  N/A
21.        Calculation of Performance Data.....................................  SAI: Performance Data
22.        Annuity Payments....................................................  SAI; Income Payments
23.        Financial Statements
           (a)        Financial Statements of Registrant.......................  SAI; Northbrook Variable Annuity Account
                                                                                  Financial Statements
           (b)        Financial Statements of Depositor........................  SAI; Northbrook Life Insurance Company
                                                                                  Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      ITEM OF
      FORM N-4                                                                                 PROSPECTUS CAPTION
- --------------------                                                             ----------------------------------------------
24a.       Financial Statements................................................  Part C.  Financial Statements
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>                                             <C>
24b.       Exhibits............................................................  Part C.  Exhibits
25.        Directors and Officers..............................................  Part C.  Directors & Officers of Depositor
26.        Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control
           with Depositor or Registrant........................................  Part C.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common
                                                                                  Control with Depositor or Registrant
27.        Number of Contract Owners...........................................  Part C.  Number of Contract Owners
28.        Indemnification.....................................................  Part C.  Indemnification
29a.       Relationship of Principal Underwriter to Other
           Investment Companies................................................  Part C.  Relationship of Principal Underwriter
                                                                                  to Other Investment Companies
29b.       Principal Underwriters..............................................  Part C.  Principal Underwriters
29c.       Compensation of Underwriter.........................................  Part C.  Compensation of Dean Witter
30.        Location of Accounts and Records....................................  Part C.  Location of Accounts and Records
31.        Management Services.................................................  Part C.  Management Services
32.        Undertakings........................................................  Part C.  Undertakings
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
 
                                       OF
 
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                 P.O. BOX 94040, PALATINE, ILLINOIS 60094-4040
 
                GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
 
                                 DISTRIBUTED BY
 
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                             TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
                              -------------------
 
    This Prospectus describes the group and individual Flexible Premium Deferred
Variable  Annuity  Contract ("Contract")  offered  by Northbrook  Life Insurance
Company ("Company"),  a  wholly  owned subsidiary  of  Allstate  Life  Insurance
Company.  Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("Dean Witter") is the principal underwriter
and distributor  of  the Contracts.  In  certain  states the  Contract  is  only
available  as  a  group Contract.  In  these states  a  Certificate (hereinafter
referred to  as  "Contract")  is  issued  to  customers  of  Dean  Witter  which
summarizes the provisions of the Master Group Policy issued to Dean Witter.
 
    The  Contract has the  flexibility to allow  you to shape  an annuity to fit
your particular  needs.  It  is  primarily designed  to  aid  you  in  long-term
financial planning and can be used for retirement planning regardless of whether
the plan qualifies for special federal income tax treatment.
 
   
    This Prospectus is a concise statement of the relevant information about the
Northbrook  Variable Annuity  Account II  ("Variable Account")  which you should
know before  making  a  decision  to  purchase  the  Contract.  This  Prospectus
generally  describes  only the  variable portion  of the  Contract. For  a brief
summary of the fixed portion  of the Contract, see  "The Fixed Account" on  page
23.
    
 
    The  Variable  Account  invests exclusively  in  shares of  the  Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series (the  "Fund"), a mutual fund  managed by Dean  Witter
InterCapital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
 
   
    The  Company has  prepared and filed  a Statement  of Additional Information
dated May 1, 1996, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If you wish
to receive the Statement of Additional  Information, you may obtain a free  copy
by calling or writing the Company at the address below. For your convenience, an
order  form for the Statement of Additional  Information may be found on page 31
of this  Prospectus.  Before ordering,  you  may wish  to  review the  Table  of
Contents  of  the  Statement  of  Additional  Information  on  page  29  of this
Prospectus. The Statement  of Additional  Information has  been incorporated  by
reference into this Prospectus.
    
 
   
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                 P.O. BOX 94040
                         PALATINE, ILLINOIS 60094-4040
                                 (800) 654-4040
    
 
                 THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED
                  OR PRECEDED BY A CURRENT PROSPECTUS FOR THE
                     DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
 
  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 THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                        CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
    PLEASE READ THIS PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
 
   
                  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 1, 1996.
    
<PAGE>
THE CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL STATES (EXCEPT NEW YORK), PUERTO RICO AND THE
                             DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
 
    THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH  OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO DEALER, SALESMAN, OR OTHER PERSON IS
AUTHORIZED TO GIVE  ANY INFORMATION  OR MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS IN  CONNECTION
WITH  THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       PAGE
                                                       -----
<S>                                                 <C>
GLOSSARY..........................................           3
INTRODUCTION......................................           5
SUMMARY OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT EXPENSES..............           7
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION...................           9
PERFORMANCE DATA..................................          12
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..............................          12
NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE VARIABLE
 ACCOUNT..........................................          12
    Northbrook Life Insurance Company.............          12
    Dean Witter Reynolds Inc......................          12
    The Variable Account..........................          13
    Dean Witter Variable Investment Series........          13
THE CONTRACTS.....................................          15
    Purchase of the Contracts.....................          15
    Crediting of Initial Purchase Payments........          15
    Allocation of Purchase Payments...............          15
    Value of Variable Account Accumulation
     Units........................................          16
    Transfers.....................................          16
    Surrender and Withdrawals.....................          17
    Default.......................................          18
CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS......................          18
    Deductions from Purchase Payments.............          18
    Early Withdrawal Charge.......................          18
    Contract Maintenance Charge...................          19
    Administrative Expense Charge.................          19
    Mortality and Expense Risk Charge.............          19
    Taxes.........................................          20
    Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
     ("Fund") Expenses............................          20
BENEFITS UNDER THE CONTRACT.......................          20
    Death Benefits Prior to the Payout Start
     Date.........................................          20
    Death Benefits After the Payout Start Date....          21
 
<CAPTION>
                                                       PAGE
                                                       -----
<S>                                                 <C>
INCOME PAYMENTS...................................          22
    Payout Start Date.............................          22
    Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments....          22
    Income Plans..................................          22
THE FIXED ACCOUNT.................................          23
    General Description...........................          23
    Transfers, Surrenders, and Withdrawals........          24
GENERAL MATTERS...................................          25
    Owner.........................................          25
    Beneficiary...................................          25
    Delay of Payments.............................          25
    Assignments...................................          25
    Modification..................................          25
    Customer Inquiries............................          25
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS...............................          26
    Introduction..................................          26
    Taxation of Annuities in General..............          26
      Tax Deferral................................          26
      Non-Natural Owners..........................          26
      Diversification Requirements................          26
      Investor Control............................          26
      Taxation of Partial and Full Withdrawals....          26
      Taxation of Annuity Payments................          27
      Taxation of Annuity Death Benefits..........          27
      Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions......          27
      Aggregation of Annuity Contracts............          27
    Tax Qualified Contracts.......................          27
      Restrictions Under Section 403(b) Plans.....          27
    Income Tax Withholding........................          28
VOTING RIGHTS.....................................          28
SALES COMMISSION..................................          28
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: TABLE OF
 CONTENTS.........................................          29
ORDER FORM........................................          31
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                                       2
    
<PAGE>
                                    GLOSSARY
 
    ACCUMULATION  UNIT--An accounting unit  used to calculate  the Cash Value in
the Variable Account  prior to the  Payout Start Date.  Each Sub-Account of  the
Variable Account has its own distinct Accumulation Unit value.
 
    AGE--Age on last birthday.
 
    ANNUITANT--Includes  Annuitant and any Joint  Annuitant. A natural person(s)
whose  life  determines  the  duration   of  annuity  payments  involving   life
contingencies.
 
    ANNUITY   UNIT--An  accounting  unit  used  to  calculate  Variable  Annuity
payments. Each Sub-Account has a distinct Annuity Unit value.
 
    AUTOMATIC ADDITIONS--Additional Purchase Payments of  $25 or more which  are
made  automatically  from  the  Owner's  bank  account  or  Dean  Witter  Active
Assets-TM- Account.
 
   
    BENEFICIARY--The person(s) designated in the  Contract who, after the  death
of any Owner or last surviving annuitant, may elect to receive the Death Benefit
or  continue the Contract as described in  "Benefits Under the Contract" on page
21.
    
 
    COMPANY--The issuer  of the  Contract,  Northbrook Life  Insurance  Company,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance Company.
 
    CONTRACT/CERTIFICATE--The   Flexible   Premium  Deferred   Variable  Annuity
Contract known as the "Northbrook Variable Annuity II" that is described in this
prospectus.
 
    CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY--An  anniversary  of the  date  that the  Contract  was
issued to the Owner.
 
    CASH  VALUE--The sum of the value of all Accumulation Units for the Variable
Account plus the value in the Fixed Account.
 
    CONTRACT YEAR--The year commencing  on either the Issue  Date or a  Contract
Anniversary.
 
    DATE  OF DEATH--The Date that an Owner and/or Annuitant dies causing a Death
Benefit to be due.
 
    DEATH BENEFIT--Prior to  the Payout Start  Date, the amount  payable on  the
death of the Owner or Annuitant.
 
    DEATH  BENEFIT ANNIVERSARY--Every  sixth Contract  Anniversary. For example,
the 6th, 12th and 18th Contract Anniversaries are the first three Death  Benefit
Anniversaries.
 
   
    DOLLAR  COST AVERAGING--A method to transfer $100  or more of the Cash Value
in the Money  Market Sub-Account automatically  to the other  Sub-Accounts on  a
monthly basis or other frequencies that may be offered by the Company.
    
 
    DUE PROOF OF DEATH--One of the following:
 
      (a) A copy of a certified death certificate.
 
      (b)  A copy of a certified decree  of a court of competent jurisdiction as
  to the finding of death.
 
      (c) Any other proof satisfactory to the Company.
 
    EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE--The charge that may  be assessed by the Company  on
full  or partial  withdrawals of  the Purchase  Payments in  excess of  the Free
Withdrawal Amount.
 
    ENHANCED DEATH  BENEFIT--An additional  Death Benefit  option which  can  be
selected at the time the Contract is Purchased.
 
    FIXED  ACCOUNT--All of the  assets of the  Company that are  not in separate
accounts. Contributions made to  the Fixed Account are  invested in the  general
account of the Company.
 
    FIXED ANNUITY--An annuity with payments having a guaranteed amount.
 
    FREE  WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT--A portion  of the Cash Value  which may be annually
withdrawn during the  course of  the Contract  Year without  incurring an  Early
Withdrawal Charge, i.e., 15% of all Purchase Payments.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
    GUARANTEE  PERIOD--The  period  of time  for  which  a credited  rate  on an
allocation or transfer to the Fixed Account is guaranteed.
 
    INCOME PAYMENTS--A series of periodic  annuity payments made by the  Company
to the Owner or Beneficiary.
 
    INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVE--The Fixed Account and the eleven Sub-Accounts of the
Variable Account constitute the twelve Investment Alternatives.
 
    JOINT ANNUITANT--The person, along with the Annuitant, whose life determines
the duration of annuity payments under a joint and last survivor annuity.
 
    NET  INVESTMENT  FACTOR--The factor  for  a particular  Sub-Account  used to
determine the value of  an Accumulation Unit and  Annuity Unit in any  Valuation
Period.
 
    NON-QUALIFIED  CONTRACTS--Contracts that do not  qualify for special federal
income tax treatment.
 
    OWNER--With  respect  to  individual  Contracts,  the  person  or  person(s)
designated  as the Owner(s) in the Contract. With respect to group Contracts, an
individual participant(s) under the Contract.
 
    PAYOUT START DATE--The date Income Payments are to begin under the Contract.
 
    PORTFOLIOS--The  mutual  fund  portfolios   of  The  Dean  Witter   Variable
Investment  Series.  The  Dean  Witter  Variable  Investment  Series  has eleven
separate Portfolios:  the  Money  Market  Portfolio,  the  Quality  Income  Plus
Portfolio,  the  High Yield  Portfolio,  the Utilities  Portfolio,  the Dividend
Growth Portfolio,  the  Capital Growth  Portfolio,  the Global  Dividend  Growth
Portfolio,  the  European Growth  Portfolio, the  Pacific Growth  Portfolio, the
Equity Portfolio and the Strategist Portfolio.
 
    PURCHASE PAYMENTS--The premiums paid by the Owner to the Company.
 
    QUALIFIED CONTRACTS--Contracts issued under  plans that qualify for  special
federal income tax treatment.
 
    REQUIRED  MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION--For Qualified Contracts, partial withdrawals
equal to the IRS Required Minimum Distribution may be taken from the Cash  Value
and  sent to the Owner  or deposited in the Owner's  bank account or Dean Witter
Active Assets-TM- Account.
 
    SETTLEMENT VALUE--The  Cash  Value  less  any  applicable  Early  Withdrawal
Charges  and premium tax. The Settlement Value  will be calculated at the end of
the valuation period coinciding with a request for payment.
 
    SUB-ACCOUNT--A  sub-division  of  the  Variable  Account.  Each  Sub-Account
invests exclusively in shares of a specified Portfolio.
 
    SYSTEMATIC  WITHDRAWALS--Partial withdrawals  of $100  or more  may be taken
from the Cash Value  and deposited in  the Owner's bank  account or Dean  Witter
Active Assets-TM- Account or sent directly to the Owner.
 
    VALUATION  DATE--Each  day that  the  New York  Stock  Exchange is  open for
business, except for days in which there is an insufficient degree of trading in
the Variable Account's portfolio  securities that the  value of Accumulation  or
Annuity  Units might not be  materially affected by changes  in the value of the
portfolio securities.  The Valuation  Date  does not  include such  Federal  and
non-Federal holidays as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
    VALUATION  PERIOD--The period between successive Valuation Dates, commencing
on the close  of business  of each  Valuation Date and  ending at  the close  of
business of the next succeeding Valuation Date.
 
    VARIABLE   ACCOUNT--Northbrook  Variable  Annuity  Account  II,  a  separate
investment account established by the Company to receive and invest the Purchase
Payments paid under the Contracts.
 
    VARIABLE ANNUITY--An annuity  with payments  that have  no predetermined  or
guaranteed  dollar amounts. The payments will vary in amounts depending upon the
investment experience of one or more of the Portfolios.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
1.  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT?
   
    The Contracts described in this Prospectus  seek to allow you to  accumulate
funds  and to  receive annuity  payments ("Income  Payments"), when  desired, at
rates which  depend upon  the  return achieved  from  the types  of  investments
chosen.  THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THIS GOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED. In attempting to
achieve this goal, the Owner  can allocate Purchase Payments  to one or more  of
the  Variable  Account Portfolios.  (Certain  limitations may  apply  during the
free-look period of your Contract.  See "Allocation of Purchase Payments,"  page
15.)
    
 
   
    Because  Income Payments  and Cash Values  invested in  the Variable Account
depend on the investment experience of the selected Portfolios, the Owner  bears
the  entire investment risk  for amounts allocated to  the Variable Account. See
"Value of Variable Account Accumulation  Units", page 16 and "Income  Payments",
page 22.
    
 
2.  HOW DO I PURCHASE A CONTRACT?
   
    You  may purchase  the Contract from  Dean Witter,  the Company's authorized
sales representative. The first  Purchase Payment must be  at least $4,000  (for
Qualified  Contracts,  $1,000). Presently,  the Company  will accept  an initial
Purchase Payment of  at least  $1,000, but reserves  the right  to increase  the
minimum  initial  Purchase  Payment  amount  to  $4,000.  See  "Purchase  of the
Contracts", page 15.
    
 
   
    At the time of purchase, you  will allocate your Purchase Payment among  the
Investment  Alternatives,  subject  to  certain  limitations  described  in  the
"Allocation of Purchase Payments" section on page 15. All allocations must be in
whole percents from 0% to 100% and must total 100%. Allocations of amounts of no
less than $100 may  also be made.  Allocations may be  changed by notifying  the
Company in writing. See "Allocation of Purchase Payments", page 15.
    
 
3.  WHAT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS UNDERLIE THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT?
 
   
    The  Variable  Account  invests exclusively  in  shares of  the  Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series (the  "Fund"), a mutual fund  managed by Dean  Witter
InterCapital, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The
Fund  has eleven Portfolios: the Money Market Portfolio, the Quality Income Plus
Portfolio, the  High  Yield Portfolio,  the  Utilities Portfolio,  the  Dividend
Growth  Portfolio,  the Capital  Growth  Portfolio, the  Global  Dividend Growth
Portfolio, the  European Growth  Portfolio, the  Pacific Growth  Portfolio,  the
Equity  Portfolio and the Strategist Portfolio. The assets of each Portfolio are
held separately  from the  other  Portfolios and  each has  distinct  investment
objectives  and policies which are described  in the accompanying Prospectus for
the Fund. In addition to the Variable  Account, Owners can also allocate all  or
part of their Purchase Payments to the Fixed Account. See "The Fixed Account" on
page 23.
    
 
4.  CAN I TRANSFER AMOUNTS AMONG THE INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES?
 
   
    Transfers  must be  at least  $100 or  the entire  amount in  the Investment
Alternative, whichever is less. Transfers to  any Guarantee Period of the  Fixed
Account  must be at least $500.  Dollar Cost Averaging automatically moves funds
on a monthly basis  (or other frequencies  that may be  offered by the  Company)
from  the Money Market Sub-Account to other Sub-Accounts of your choice. Certain
transfers may be restricted. See "Transfers", page 16.
    
 
5.  CAN I GET MY MONEY IF I NEED IT?
 
    All or part of the Settlement Value can be withdrawn before the earliest  of
the  Payout Start Date, the death of an Owner or the death of the last surviving
Annuitant. No Early  Withdrawal Charges will  be deducted on  amounts up to  the
annual Free With-
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
drawal  Amount, i.e., 15% of Purchase Payments made. Amounts withdrawn in excess
of the Free Withdrawal Amount may be subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge of 0%
to 6% depending on how long  the withdrawn Purchase Payments have been  invested
in  the Contract.  THE COMPANY GUARANTEES  THAT THE  AGGREGATE SURRENDER CHARGES
WILL NEVER EXCEED 6% OF THE PURCHASE PAYMENTS. Withdrawals and surrenders may be
subject to income  tax and a  10% tax  penalty. In addition,  federal and  state
income  tax may  be withheld from  withdrawal and  surrender amounts. Additional
restrictions may apply to Qualified Contracts. See "Surrender and  Withdrawals",
page 17, and "Taxation of Annuities in General", page 26.
    
 
6.  WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT?
 
   
    To meet its Death Benefit obligations and to pay expenses not covered by the
Contract  Maintenance Charge, the  Company deducts a  Mortality and Expense Risk
Charge of 1.25% and an Administrative Expense Charge of .10%. For Contracts with
the optional  Enhanced  Death Benefit  provision,  an additional  Mortality  and
Expense Risk Charge of .13% is assessed bringing the total charges for Contracts
with the Enhanced Death Benefit provision to a Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
of  1.38% and an Administrative Expense Risk  Charge of .10%. See "Mortality and
Expense Risk  Charge", page  19 and  "Administrative Expense  Charge", page  19.
Annually,  the Company deducts  $30 for maintaining  the Contract. See "Contract
Maintenance Charge",  page 19.  Additional deductions  may be  made for  certain
taxes. See "Taxes", page 20.
    
 
7.  DOES THE CONTRACT PAY ANY GUARANTEED DEATH BENEFITS?
 
   
    The Contracts provide that if any Owner or the last surviving Annuitant dies
prior  to the Payout Start Date, a Death Benefit may be paid to the new Owner or
Beneficiary. If the Annuitant,  not also an Owner  dies, then the Death  Benefit
may  be paid to the Owner in  a lump sum. If requested to  be paid in a lump sum
within 180 days from the Date of  Death, the Death Benefit will be the  greatest
of  (1) the sum of all Purchase Payments less any amounts deducted in connection
with partial withdrawals including any Early Withdrawal Charges and premium tax;
or (2) the Cash Value on the date we receive Due Proof of Death; or (3) the Cash
Value on the most recent Death Benefit Anniversary less any amounts deducted  in
connection  with partial withdrawals, including any Early Withdrawal Charges and
premium tax deducted from the Cash  Value since that anniversary. For  Contracts
with  the optional Enhanced  Death Benefit provision, the  Death Benefit will be
the greatest of (1) through (3) above, or (4) the Enhanced Death Benefit. If the
Enhanced Death Benefit option is selected, it  applies only at the death of  the
Owner.  It does not  apply to the death  of the Annuitant  if different from the
Owner unless the Owner is a non-natural person. See "Death Benefits Prior to the
Payout Start Date," page 20, for a full description of Death Benefit options.
    
 
   
    Prior to the Payout Start Date the Beneficiary has 180 days from the Date of
Death of the Owner(s) or Annuitant(s) to either elect an income plan or to  take
a  lump sum payment.  Death Benefits after  the Payout Start  Date, if any, will
depend on the income plan chosen. See "Benefits Under the Contract", page 20.
    
 
8.  IS THERE A FREE-LOOK PROVISION?
 
    The Owner(s) may cancel the Contract anytime within 20 days after receipt of
the Contract, or longer if required by  State law, and receive a full refund  of
Purchase  Payments allocated to  the Fixed Account. Unless  a refund of Purchase
Payments is required by State or Federal law, Purchase Payments allocated to the
Variable Account will be returned after an adjustment to reflect investment gain
or loss, less any  applicable Contract expenses that  occurred from the date  of
allocation through the date of cancellation.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
    The  following fee  table illustrates all  expenses and fees  that the Owner
will incur. The expenses and  fees set forth in the  table are based on  charges
under  the  contracts  and on  the  expenses  of the  separate  account  and the
underlying Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
    
 
OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES (ALL SUB-ACCOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                      <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Purchase Payments).................       None
Early withdrawal charge (as a percentage of Purchase Payments).........................      *
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   APPLICABLE
                                                                                                                     SALES
                                     NUMBER OF COMPLETE CONTRACT YEARS SINCE                                         CHARGE
                                    PURCHASE PAYMENT BEING WITHDRAWN WAS MADE                                      PERCENTAGE
                                                                                                                   ----------
<S>                                                                                                                <C>
0 years..........................................................................................................      6%
1 year...........................................................................................................      5%
2 years..........................................................................................................      4%
3 years..........................................................................................................      3%
4 years..........................................................................................................      2%
5 years..........................................................................................................      1%
6 years or more..................................................................................................      0%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
Exchange Fee.......................................................................       None
Annual Contract Fee................................................................     $30
</TABLE>
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE ACCOUNT VALUE)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge..................................................    1.38%**
Administrative Expense Charge......................................................       .10%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.............................................    1.48%**
<FN>
  *There are no  Contingent Deferred  Sales Charges on  amounts up  to the  Free
   Withdrawal Amount.
 **For  Contracts without an Enhanced Death Benefit provision, the Mortality and
   Expense Risk  Charge is  1.25%  resulting in  total Separate  Account  Annual
   Expenses of 1.35%.
</TABLE>
 
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES ("FUND") EXPENSES
  (AS A PERCENTAGE OF FUND AVERAGE ASSETS)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    TOTAL FUND
                                          MANAGEMENT    OTHER         ANNUAL
PORTFOLIO                                    FEES      EXPENSES      EXPENSES
- ----------------------------------------  ----------   --------   --------------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>        <C>
Money Market............................    .50 %         .03%          .53%
Quality Income Plus.....................    .50 %(1)      .04%          .54%
High Yield..............................    .50 %         .04%          .54%
Utilities...............................    .65 %(2)      .03%          .68%
Dividend Growth.........................    .59 %(3)      .02%          .61%
Capital Growth..........................    .65 %         .09%          .74%
Global Dividend Growth..................    .75 %         .13%          .88%
European Growth.........................   1.00 %         .17%         1.17%
Pacific Growth..........................   1.00 %         .44%         1.44%
Equity..................................    .50 %(4)      .04%          .54%
Strategist..............................    .50 %         .02%          .52%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) This percentage is applicable to Portfolio net assets of up to $500 million.
    For net assets which exceed $500 million, the management fee will be 0.45%.
    
   
(2) This percentage is applicable to Portfolio net assets of up to $500 million.
    For net assets which exceed $500 million, the management fee will be 0.55%.
    
   
(3)  Absent waivers or reimbursements, the management fee would have been 0.625%
    for net assets under $500 million. For net assets which exceed $500 million,
    the management fee will be .50% and  for net assets that exceed $1  billion,
    the management fee will be 0.475%.
    
   
(4)  This percentage is applicable to Portfolio  net assets of up to $1 billion.
    For net assets which exceed $1 billion, the management fee will be 0.475%.
    
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE
    You (the Owner)  would pay the  following expenses on  a $1,000  investment,
assuming a 5% annual return under the following circumstances:
 
    If  you surrender your Conract at the  end of the applicable time period (or
if you annuitize for a specified period of less than 120 months):
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(WITH ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT PROVISION**)           1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                    ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Sub-Account..........................    $64       $91      $121      $241
Quality Income Plus Sub-Account...................    $64       $91      $121      $242
High Yield Sub-Account............................    $64       $91      $121      $242
Utilities Sub-Account.............................    $65       $96      $129      $257
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.......................    $65       $93      $125      $250
Capital Growth Sub-Account........................    $66       $97      $132      $263
European Growth Sub-Account.......................    $70      $111      $154      $307
Equity Sub-Account................................    $64       $91      $121      $242
Strategist Sub-Account............................    $64       $91      $120      $240
Pacific Growth Sub-Account........................    $73      $119      $167      $333
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account................    $67      $102      $139      $278
 
<CAPTION>
 
(WITHOUT ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT PROVISION***)       1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                    ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Sub-Account..........................    $62       $87      $114      $227
Quality Income Plus Sub-Account...................    $63       $87      $115      $228
High Yield Sub-Account............................    $63       $87      $115      $228
Utilities Sub-Account.............................    $64       $92      $122      $243
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.......................    $63       $89      $118      $236
Capital Growth Sub-Account........................    $65       $93      $125      $250
European Growth Sub-Account.......................    $69      $107      $147      $294
Equity Sub-Account................................    $63       $87      $115      $228
Strategist Sub-Account............................    $62       $87      $113      $226
Pacific Growth Sub-Account........................    $72      $115      $161      $321
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account................    $66       $98      $132      $264
</TABLE>
    
 
    If you do not surrender your contract  or if you annuitize* for a  specified
period of 120 months or more, at the end of the applicable time period:
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(WITH ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT PROVISION**)           1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                    ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Sub-Account..........................    $21       $66      $112      $241
Quality income Plus Sub-Account...................    $21       $66      $113      $242
High Yield Sub-Account............................    $21       $66      $113      $242
Utilities Sub-Account.............................    $23       $70      $120      $257
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.......................    $22       $72      $123      $263
Capital Growth Sub-Account........................    $23       $72      $123      $307
European Growth Sub-Account.......................    $28       $85      $145      $342
Equity Sub-Account................................    $21       $66      $113      $240
Strategist Sub-Account............................    $21       $65      $112      $333
Pacific Growth Sub-Account........................    $31       $93      $159      $333
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account................    $25       $76      $130      $278
 
<CAPTION>
 
(WITHOUT ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT PROVISION***)       1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                    ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Sub-Account..........................    $20       $61      $105      $227
Quality Income Plus Sub-Account...................    $20       $62      $106      $228
High Yield Sub-Account............................    $20       $62      $106      $228
Utilities Sub-Account.............................    $21       $66      $113      $243
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.......................    $21       $64      $110      $236
Capital Growth Sub-Account........................    $22       $68      $116      $250
European Growth Sub-Account.......................    $26       $81      $139      $294
Equity Sub-Account................................    $20       $62      $106      $228
Strategist Sub-Account............................    $20       $61      $105      $226
Pacific Growth Sub-Account........................    $29       $89      $152      $321
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account................    $23       $72      $124      $264
</TABLE>
    
 
    The  above  example should  not be  considered a  representation of  past or
future expense. Actual expenses may be  greater or lesser than those shown.  The
purpose  of the example is to assist  you in understanding the various costs and
expenses that  you will  bear  directly or  indirectly.  Premium taxes  are  not
reflected in the example but may be applicable.
 
  *Early  Withdrawal Charges may  be deducted from  the Cash Value  before it is
   applied to an income plan with a specified period of less than 120 months.
 
 **Total Separate Account Annual Expenses of 1.48%
 
***Total Separate Account Annual Expenses of 1.35%
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES AND NUMBER
                     OF ACCUMULATION UNITS OUTSTANDING FOR
                       EACH SUB-ACCOUNT SINCE INCEPTION*
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           FOR THE YEARS
                                                                      BEGINNING JANUARY 1 AND
                                                                        ENDING DECEMBER 31,
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1990        1991        1992        1993         1994         1995
                                              ---------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
MONEY MARKET SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $10.111     $10.549      $10.765      $10.913      $11.178
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $10.111     $10.549     $10.765      $10.913      $11.178      $11.653
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................    345,667   1,864,548   3,481,984    7,643,579   19,047,342   17,483,665
QUALITY INCOME PLUS SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $10.403     $12.163      $12.993      $14.487      $13.344
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $10.403     $12.163     $12.993      $14.487      $13.344      $16.373
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................    175,839   1,221,348   6,701,534   26,314,453   25,348,646   26,735,500
HIGH YIELD SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000      $8.932     $13.982      $16.336      $20.022      $19.264
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....     $8.932     $13.982     $16.336      $20.022      $19.264      $21.859
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................      1,574      64,097     377,434    2,451,231    4,082,485    5,536,230
UTILITIES SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $10.471     $12.454      $13.840      $15.798      $14.180
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $10.471     $12.454     $13.840      $15.798      $14.180      $17.999
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................    130,114   1,615,460   6,626,508   25,354,331   22,552,568   22,626,178
DIVIDEND GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $11.037     $13.911      $14.844      $16.746      $15.981
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $11.037     $13.911     $14.844      $16.746      $15.981      $21.505
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................    159,555   2,004,718   7,123,073   21,941,369   28,980,558   33,515,201
EQUITY SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $10.706     $16.799      $16.599      $19.604      $18.392
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $10.706     $16.799     $16.599      $19.604      $18.392      $25.864
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................     15,701     369,133   1,417,732    5,917,819    8,914,107   10,835,413
STRATEGIST SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................    $10.000     $10.483     $13.266      $14.035      $15.286      $15.675
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....    $10.483     $13.266     $14.035      $15.286      $15.675      $16.919
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................      5,854     778,440   3,385,842   11,837,077   18,218,900   17,717,645
CAPITAL GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................     --         $10.000     $12.697      $12.731      $11.682      $11.379
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....     --         $12.697     $12.731      $11.682      $11.379      $14.923
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................     --         901,617   2,655,336    3,556,779    3,411,788    3,917,752
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
EUROPEAN GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................     --         $10.000     $10.020      $10.280      $14.290      $15.278
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....     --         $10.020     $10.280      $14.290      $15.278      $18.976
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................     --         248,922     719,495    4,448,126    8,491,681    8,587,679
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................     --          --          --          --           $10.000       $9.912
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....     --          --          --          --            $9.912      $11.935
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................     --          --          --          --        12,306,690   15,325,898
PACIFIC GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of
   Period...................................     --          --          --          --           $10.000       $9.221
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period....     --          --          --          --            $9.221       $9.619
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of
   Period...................................     --          --          --          --         7,080,863    8,865,898
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*The Money Market, Quality Income Plus, High Yield, Utilities, Dividend  Growth,
 Equity  and Strategist Sub-Accounts  commenced operations on  October 25, 1990.
 The Capital Growth  and European  Growth Sub-Accounts  commenced operations  on
 March  1,  1991. The  Global Dividend  Growth  and Pacific  Growth Sub-Accounts
 commenced operations on February 23, 1994. The Accumulation Unit Value for each
 of these  Sub-Accounts was  initially  set at  $10.000. The  Accumulation  Unit
 Values  in this table reflect a Mortality  and Expense Risk Charge of 1.25% and
 an Administrative Expense charge of .10%.
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
   
                      ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES AND NUMBER
                     OF ACCUMULATION UNITS OUTSTANDING FOR
                        EACH SUB-ACCOUNT SINCE INCEPTION
    
   
            FOR CONTRACTS WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT PROVISION*
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               1995
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
MONEY MARKET SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  11.579
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  11.651
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    511,096
QUALITY INCOME PLUS SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  15.746
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  16.370
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    142,004
HIGH YIELD SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  21.462
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  21.855
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................     66,987
UTILITIES SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  16.972
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  17.995
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    165,046
DIVIDEND GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  20.068
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  21.500
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    366,928
EQUITY SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  24.677
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  25.858
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    215,961
STRATEGIST SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  16.490
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  16.915
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................     91,983
CAPITAL GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  13.895
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  14.920
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................     36,005
EUROPEAN GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  18.486
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  18.972
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................     62,011
GLOBAL DIVIDEND SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $  11.250
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $  11.932
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................    155,023
PACIFIC GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period.............................................................  $   9.352
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period...................................................................  $   9.617
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period...............................................................     97,952
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*All of the  above sub-accounts  commenced operation  on October  30, 1995.  The
accumulation  unit values  in this  table reflect  a Mortality  and Expense Risk
Charge of 1.38%  and an Administrative  Expense Charge of  .10%. The  additional
 .13%  Mortality and  Expense Risk  Charge is  applicable to  Contract Owners who
selected the Enhanced Death Benefit provision.
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE DATA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    From time to time the Variable Account may publish advertisements containing
performance data  relating to  its Sub-Accounts.  The performance  data for  the
Sub-Accounts  (other  than  for the  Money  Market Sub-Account)  will  always be
accompanied by total  return quotations for  the most recent  one, five and  ten
year  periods, or for a period from inception to date if the Sub-Account has not
been available for one  of the prescribed periods.  The total return  quotations
for  each period  will be  the average  annual rates  of return  required for an
initial Purchase Payment of $1,000 to equal the amount Owners would receive on a
withdrawal of  the  Purchase Payment,  after  reflection of  all  recurring  and
nonrecurring charges.
 
    In  addition,  the  Variable Account  may  advertise the  total  return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or  other
types  of total  return figures.  Such calculations may  or may  not reflect the
deduction of some or all of the charges which may be imposed on the Contracts by
the Variable Account which, if  reflected, would reduce the performance  quoted.
The Variable Account from time to time may also advertise the performance of the
Sub-Accounts  relative to certain  performance rankings and  indexes compiled by
independent organizations.
 
    Performance figures  used  by  the  Variable Account  are  based  on  actual
historical  performance  of  its  Sub-Accounts for  specified  periods,  and the
figures  are  not  intended  to  indicate  future  performance.  More   detailed
information  on  the computation  is set  forth in  the Statement  of Additional
Information.
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
    The financial statements of the  Northbrook Variable Annuity Account II  and
Northbrook  Life Insurance Company  may be found in  the Statement of Additional
Information, which is incorporated by  reference into this Prospectus and  which
is available upon request. (See Order Form on page 31.)
    
 
NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
    The  Company is the issuer of the  Contract. Incorporated in 1978 as a stock
life insurance company under the laws  of Illinois, the Company sells  annuities
and  individual life insurance. The Company  is currently licensed to operate in
the District of  Columbia, all  states (except New  York) and  Puerto Rico.  The
Company's  home office  is located at  3100 Sanders  Road, Northbrook, Illinois,
60062.
 
   
    The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance  Company
("Allstate  Life"), which is  a stock life  insurance company incorporated under
the laws of  Illinois. Allstate Life  is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of  Allstate
Insurance  Company ("Allstate"),  which is a  stock property-liability insurance
company incorporated under the laws of Illinois. All of the outstanding  capital
stock  of Allstate is owned by The Allstate Corporation ("Corporation"). In June
1995, Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("Sears") distributed in a tax-free dividend to its
stockholders its remaining 80.3%  ownership in the Corporation.  As a result  of
the distribution, Sears no longer has an ownership interest in the Corporation.
    
 
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
    Dean  Witter Reynolds Inc.  ("Dean Witter") is  the principal underwriter of
the Contract. Dean Witter is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter,  Discover
&  Co.  ("Dean Witter  Discover"). Dean  Witter  is located  at Two  World Trade
Center, New  York, New  York. Dean  Witter is  a member  of the  New York  Stock
Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
   
    Dean  Witter Discover's  wholly owned subsidiary,  Dean Witter InterCapital,
Inc. ("InterCapital"), is  the investment  manager of the  Dean Witter  Variable
Investment  Series. InterCapital is registered  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an investment adviser. As compensation for investment  management,
the Fund pays InterCapital a monthly advisory fee. These expenses are more fully
described in the Fund's Prospectus attached to this Prospectus.
    
 
    In October, 1993, Allstate, through Allstate Life and the Company, announced
a  strategic alliance to develop, market  and distribute proprietary annuity and
life insurance products through Dean Witter account executives.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
    Established on May 18, 1990, the Variable Account is a unit investment trust
registered with  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission under  the  Investment
Company  Act of 1940, but such registration does not signify that the Commission
supervises the management or  investment practices or  policies of the  Variable
Account.  The  investment  performance  of  the  Variable  Account  is  entirely
independent of both the investment performance of the Company's general  account
and the performance of any other separate account.
 
    The assets of the Variable Account are held separately from the other assets
of  the  Company.  They are  not  chargeable  with liabilities  incurred  in the
Company's other business operations. Accordingly, the income, capital gains  and
capital  losses, realized or unrealized, incurred  on the assets of the Variable
Account are credited to or charged  against the assets of the Variable  Account,
without regard to the income, capital gains or capital losses arising out of any
other business the Company may conduct.
 
    The  Variable Account  has been  divided into  eleven Sub-Accounts,  each of
which invests solely in its corresponding Portfolio of the Dean Witter  Variable
Investment Series. Additional Sub-Accounts may be added at the discretion of the
Company.
 
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
 
   
    The  Variable Account  will invest exclusively  in the  Dean Witter Variable
Investment Series (the "Fund"). Shares of the Fund are also offered to  separate
accounts  of the  Company which  fund other  variable annuity  and variable life
contracts. Shares of the Fund  are also offered to  separate accounts of a  life
insurance  company affiliated with  the Company which  fund variable annuity and
variable life  contracts.  Shares of  the  Fund  are also  offered  to  separate
accounts  of certain non-affiliated life insurance companies which fund variable
life insurance contracts.  It is conceivable  that in the  future it may  become
disadvantageous  for both variable  life and variable  annuity contract separate
accounts to invest in the same underlying Fund. Although neither the Company nor
the Fund currently foresees any such disadvantage, the Fund's Board of  Trustees
intends  to  monitor events  in order  to  identify any  material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of variable annuity contract owners and  variable
life  contract owners and to  determine what action, if  any, should be taken in
response thereto.
    
 
    Investors in the High Yield Portfolio should carefully consider the relative
risks of investing in  high yield securities, which  are commonly known as  junk
bonds.  Bonds of this type  are considered to be  speculative with regard to the
payment of  interest  and return  of  principal.  Investors in  the  High  Yield
Portfolio  should also  be cognizant  of the fact  that such  securities are not
generally meant for short-term investing and should assess the risks  associated
with an investment in the High Yield Portfolio.
 
    Shares of the Portfolios of the Fund are not deposits, or obligations of, or
guaranteed  or endorsed by any bank and  the shares are not federally insured by
the Federal  Deposit Insurance  Corporation, the  Federal Reserve  Board or  any
other agency.
 
    The  Fund has  eleven portfolios:  the Money  Market Portfolio,  the Quality
Income Plus Portfolio, the  High Yield Portfolio,  the Utilities Portfolio,  the
Dividend  Growth Portfolio,  the Capital  Growth Portfolio,  the Global Dividend
Growth Portfolio, the European Growth  Portfolio, the Pacific Growth  Portfolio,
the Equity Portfolio and the Strategist Portfolio. Each
Port-
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
folio  has  different  investment  objectives and  policies  and  operates  as a
separate investment fund.
 
    The Money  Market  Portfolio  seeks high  current  income,  preservation  of
capital,  and  liquidity  by  investing  in  certain  money  market instruments,
principally  U.S.  government  securities,  bank  obligations,  and  high  grade
commercial paper.
 
    The Quality Income Plus Portfolio seeks, as its primary objective, to earn a
high   level  of  current   income  and,  as   a  secondary  objective,  capital
appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective, by  investing
primarily  in debt  securities issued by  the U.S. Government,  its agencies and
instrumentalities,  including  zero  coupon   securities  and  in   fixed-income
securities  rated A or higher by  Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard  & Poor's") or non-rated securities  of
comparable  quality, and  by writing covered  call and put  options against such
securities.
 
    The High Yield  Portfolio seeks, as  its primary objective,  to earn a  high
level  of current  income by investing  in a  professionally managed diversified
portfolio consisting principally of fixed-income  securities rated Baa or  lower
by  Moody's or  BBB or  lower by  Standard &  Poor's or  non-rated securities of
comparable quality, which are commonly known as junk bonds, and, as a  secondary
objective, capital appreciation when consistent with its primary objective.
 
    The Utilities Portfolio seeks to provide current income and long-term growth
of  income  and  capital  by  investing  primarily  in  equity  and fixed-income
securities of companies engaged in the public utilities industry.
 
    The Dividend Growth Portfolio seeks to provide reasonable current income and
long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in common stock of
companies with a  record of paying  dividends and the  potential for  increasing
dividends.
 
    The  Capital Growth Portfolio  seeks to provide  long-term capital growth by
investing principally in common stocks.
 
    The Global Dividend  Growth Portfolio  seeks to  provide reasonable  current
income  and long-term  growth of  income and  capital by  investing primarily in
common stock of companies, issued by issuers worldwide, with a record of  paying
dividends and the potential for increasing dividends.
 
    The  European Growth Portfolio seeks to maximize the capital appreciation on
its investments by investing primarily  in securities issued by issuers  located
in Europe.
 
    The  Pacific Growth Portfolio seeks to  maximize the capital appreciation of
its investments by investing primarily  in securities issued by issuers  located
in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
 
    The  Equity Portfolio  seeks, as  its primary  objective, growth  of capital
through investments  in common  stock of  companies believed  by the  Investment
Manager  to have  potential for superior  growth and, as  a secondary objective,
income when consistent with its primary objective.
 
   
    The Strategist  Portfolio seeks  a high  total investment  return through  a
fully  managed  investment  policy  utilizing  equity  securities,  fixed-income
securities rated Baa or higher by Moody's or BBB or higher by Standard &  Poor's
(or  non-rated securities of  comparable quality), and  money market securities,
and the writing  of covered options  on such securities  and the  collateralized
sale of stock index options.
    
 
    All  dividends  and  capital  gains distributions  from  the  Portfolios are
automatically reinvested in shares  of the distributing  Portfolio at their  net
asset value.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    THERE  IS  NO  ASSURANCE  THAT  ANY  OF  THE  PORTFOLIOS  WILL  ATTAIN THEIR
RESPECTIVE STATED OBJECTIVES. Additional  information concerning the  investment
objectives and policies of the Portfolios can be found in the current prospectus
for the Fund accompanying this Prospectus.
 
    THE  PROSPECTUS OF THE FUND SHOULD BE  READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS
MADE CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS TO A PARTICULAR PORTFOLIO.
 
THE CONTRACTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASE OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The Contracts may be purchased through sales representatives of Dean Witter.
The first Purchase  Payment must be  at least  $4,000 unless the  Contract is  a
Qualified  Contract, in which case  the first Purchase Payment  must be at least
$1,000. Presently, the  Company will accept  an initial Purchase  Payment of  at
least  $1,000, but reserves  the right to increase  the minimum initial Purchase
Payment amount to $4,000. All subsequent  Purchase Payments must be $25 or  more
and  may be made at any time prior to the Payout Start Date. Additional Purchase
Payments may also  be made from  your bank  account or your  Dean Witter  Active
Assets-TM-  Account through Automatic  Additions. Please consult  with your Dean
Witter Account Executive for detailed information about Automatic Additions.
 
    The Company reserves the right to  limit the amount of Purchase Payments  it
will accept.
 
CREDITING OF INITIAL PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
    A  Purchase Payment accompanied by completed information will be credited to
the Contract within  two business days  of receipt  by the Company  at its  home
office. If the information is not complete, the Company will credit the Purchase
Payments  to the Contract  within five business  days or return  it at that time
unless the applicant specifically consents  to the Company holding the  Purchase
Payment  until the  information is complete.  The Company reserves  the right to
reject any proposed purchase of the Contract. Subsequent Purchase Payments  will
be  credited to the Contract  at the close of the  Valuation Period in which the
Purchase Payment is received.
 
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
    At the time of purchase the Owner instructs the Company how to allocate  the
Purchase Payment among the twelve Investment Alternatives. Purchase Payments may
be  allocated in whole percents, from 0%  to 100%, to any Investment Alternative
so long as the total allocation equals 100%. Purchase Payments may be  allocated
in  amounts  of  no  less  than $100.  Unless  the  Owner  notifies  the Company
otherwise, subsequent Purchase Payments are allocated according to the  original
instructions.
 
   
    In those states where the Company is required to return the Purchase Payment
upon  a free-look of the  Contract and where it has  been approved by the state,
the Company reserves the right to  allocate all Purchase Payments made prior  to
the expiration of the free-look provision to the Money Market Sub-Account of the
Variable  Account. Thereafter, Purchase Payments may  be made at any time during
the accumulation  phase  into any  of  the Investment  Alternatives.  After  the
expiration  of the free-look provision the Owner may instruct the Company how to
allocate the  Purchase  Payment(s)  among the  twelve  Investment  Alternatives.
Purchase  Payments may be allocated  in whole percents, from  0% to 100%, to any
Investment Alternative so  long as  the total allocation  equals 100%.  Purchase
Payments  may  be allocated  in  amounts of  no less  than  $100. If,  after the
free-look period, the Owner does not  affirmatively request a transfer to  other
Sub-Accounts,  the Purchase Payments will remain in the Money Market Sub-Account
indefinitely. Please consult  with your Account  Executive for applicability  of
this provision.
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
    Each  Purchase Payment will be credited  to the Contract as Variable Account
Accumulation Units equal to the amount of the Purchase Payment allocated to each
Sub-Account divided by  the Accumulation  Unit value for  that Sub-Account  next
computed after the Purchase Payment is credited to the Contract. For example, if
a  $10,000 Purchase  Payment is credited  to the Contract  when the Accumulation
Unit value equals $10,  then 1,000 Accumulation Units  would be credited to  the
Contract.  The Variable Account, in turn,  purchases shares of the corresponding
Portfolio (see "Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units," page 16).
    
   
    For a brief summary of how Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed  Account
are credited to the Contract, see "The Fixed Account" on page 23.
    
 
VALUE OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    The  Accumulation  Units in  each Sub-Account  of  the Variable  Account are
valued separately. The  value of  Accumulation Units may  change each  Valuation
Period  according to the investment performance  of the shares purchased by each
Sub-Account and the deduction of certain expenses and charges.
 
    A Valuation  Period is  the period  between successive  Valuation Dates.  It
begins  at the close of business of each Valuation Date and ends at the close of
business of the  next succeeding Valuation  Date. A Valuation  Date is each  day
that  the New  York Stock Exchange  is open for  business except for  any day in
which there  is an  insufficient degree  of trading  in the  Variable  Account's
portfolio  securities that the value of  Accumulation or Annuity Units might not
be materially affected  by changes  in the  value of  the portfolio  securities.
Valuation  Dates do  not include  such Federal  and non-Federal  holidays as are
observed by the New York Stock  Exchange. The New York Stock Exchange  currently
observes  the following  holidays: New Year's  Day (January  1); President's Day
(the third Monday in February); Good Friday (the Friday before Easter); Memorial
Day (the last Monday in  May); Independence Day (July  4); Labor Day (the  first
Monday  in September); Thanksgiving  Day (the fourth  Thursday in November); and
Christmas Day (December 25).
 
    The value of an Accumulation Unit in a Sub-Account for any Valuation  Period
equals  the  value of  the  Accumulation Unit  as  of the  immediately preceding
Valuation Period, multiplied by the  Net Investment Factor for that  Sub-Account
for  the  current  Valuation  Period.  The Net  Investment  Factor  is  a number
representing the change on  successive Valuation Dates  in value of  Sub-Account
assets  due to investment income, realized  or unrealized capital gains or loss,
deductions for taxes, if any, and deductions for the Mortality and Expense  Risk
Charge and Administrative Expense Charge.
 
TRANSFERS
 
    Transfers  must  be at  least $100  or  the total  amount in  the Investment
Alternative whichever is less.  Transfers to any Guarantee  Period of the  Fixed
Account  must be at least $500. Currently there is no charge for transfers among
the twelve Investment Alternatives. The Company, however, reserves the right  to
assess  a $25.00 charge on all transfers  in excess of twelve per Contract Year.
If  you  are  required  to  allocate  Purchase  Payments  to  the  Money  Market
Sub-Account  of  the  Variable  Account  during  the  free-look  period  of your
Contract, the first transfer made following the end of the free-look period will
not be counted as a transfer for purposes of assessing this charge. The  Company
will notify Owners at least 30 days prior to imposing the transfer charge.
 
    If,  under the terms of the free-look provision, your Purchase Payments have
been allocated to the Money Market Sub-Account of the Variable Account, you  may
not  transfer amounts out  of the Money Market  Sub-Account, until the free-look
provision has expired. After  the free-look provision has  expired and prior  to
the payout start date, you may make transfers among all Investment Alternatives.
 
    Transfers out of any Sub-Account before the Payout Start Date may be made at
any time.
 
    After  the Payout Start  Date, transfers among  Sub-Accounts of the Variable
Account, or from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account may be made only once
every six months and may not be made
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
during the first six months following the Payout Start Date.
 
   
    Transfers may  be  made pursuant  to  telephone instructions  if  the  Owner
authorizes  telephone transfers  at the time  of purchase, or  subsequently on a
form provided by the  Company. Telephone transfer requests  will be accepted  by
the  Company if  received at 800/654-4040  by 3:00 p.m.  Central Time. Telephone
transfer requests received  at any  other telephone  number or  after 3:00  p.m.
Central  Time will not  be accepted by the  Company. Telephone transfer requests
received before 3:00 p.m. Central Time are effected at the next computed  value.
Otherwise,  transfer requests  must be  in writing,  on a  form provided  by the
Company.
    
 
   
    Transfers may also be made automatically through Dollar Cost Averaging prior
to the Payout Start Date. Dollar Cost Averaging permits the Owner to transfer  a
specified  amount every month (or  other frequencies that may  be offered by the
Company) from the Money Market  Sub-Account to any other Sub-Account.  Transfers
made  through Dollar Cost Averaging must be  $100 or more. Dollar Cost Averaging
cannot be used  to transfer amounts  to the Fixed  Account. Please consult  with
your  Dean Witter Account  Executive for detailed  information about Dollar Cost
Averaging.
    
 
    Transfers from Sub-Accounts of  the Variable Account will  be made based  on
the  Accumulation  Unit  values next  computed  after the  Company  receives the
transfer request at its home office.
 
   
    For transfers involving the Fixed Account, see page 23.
    
 
SURRENDER AND WITHDRAWALS
 
   
    The Owner may withdraw all or part of the Cash Value at anytime prior to the
earlier of the death of the last surviving Annuitant, death of any Owner or  the
Payout  Start Date. The amount  available for withdrawal is  the Cash Value next
computed after the  Company receives the  request for a  withdrawal at its  home
office,  less any Early Withdrawal Charges,  Contract Maintenance Charges or any
remaining charge for premium taxes.  Withdrawals from the Variable Account  will
be  paid within seven days of receipt of the request, subject to postponement in
certain circumstances. See "Delay  of Payments", page  25. For withdrawals  from
the Fixed Account, see page 24.
    
 
   
    The  minimum partial withdrawal is  $100. If the Cash  Value after a partial
withdrawal would be less than $500, then  the Company will treat the request  as
one  for a total surrender  of the Contract and the  entire Cash Value, less any
charges and premium taxes, will be paid out.
    
 
    Partial  withdrawals  may  also  be  taken  automatically  through   monthly
Systematic  Withdrawals. Systematic Withdrawals of $100 or more may be requested
at any time prior to the Payout Start Date. Please consult with your Dean Witter
Account Executive for detailed information about Systematic Withdrawals.
 
   
    For Qualified  Contracts, the  Company will  at the  request of  the  Owner,
automatically  calculate  and withdraw  the  IRS Required  Minimum Distribution.
Withdrawals taken to satisfy IRS  required minimum distribution rules will  have
any  applicable withdrawal  charges waived.  This waiver  is permitted  only for
withdrawals which  satisfy distributions  resulting from  this Contract.  Please
consult  with your Dean Witter Account  Executive for detailed information about
the Required Minimum Distribution program.
    
 
   
    Withdrawals and  surrenders may  be subject  to  income tax  and a  10%  tax
penalty. This tax and penalty is explained in "Federal Tax Matters" on page 26.
    
 
   
    The  full Contract Maintenance Charge will be  deducted at the time of total
surrender. The total amount paid at surrender may be more or less than the total
Purchase Payments  due  to prior  withdrawals,  any deductions,  and  investment
performance.
    
 
    To  complete the partial  withdrawals, the Company  will cancel Accumulation
Units in an amount equal to  the withdrawal and any applicable Early  Withdrawal
Charge  and premium taxes.  The Owner must name  the Investment Alternative from
which   the   withdrawal   is   to   be   made.   If   none   is   named,   then
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
the withdrawal request is incomplete and cannot be honored.
 
DEFAULT
 
    So  long as the Cash Value  is not reduced to zero  or a withdrawal does not
reduce it to less than  $500, the Contract will stay  in force until the  Payout
Start  Date  even if  no Purchase  Payments  are made  after the  first Purchase
Payment.
 
CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DEDUCTIONS FROM PURCHASE PAYMENTS
    No deductions are currently made from Purchase Payments. Therefore the  full
amount of every Purchase Payment is invested in the Investment Alternative(s) to
increase the potential for investment gain.
 
EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE (CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE)
    The Owner may withdraw the Cash Value at any time before the earliest of the
Payout  Start Date,  the death  of any Owner  or the  last surviving Annuitant's
death.
 
    There are no Early Withdrawal Charges  on amounts up to the Free  Withdrawal
Amount.  A Free Withdrawal Amount  will be available in  each Contract Year. The
Free Withdrawal Amount may not  be available in the  first Contract Year if  not
approved in your state of residence. The annual Free Withdrawal Amount is 15% of
the  amount  of  Purchase Payments.  Amounts  withdrawn  in excess  of  the Free
Withdrawal Amount may be subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. Free  Withdrawal
Amounts  not withdrawn in  a Contract Year  do not increase  the Free Withdrawal
Amount in later Contract Years. Early Withdrawal Charges, if applicable, will be
deducted from the amount paid.
 
    In certain  cases,  distributions  required  by federal  tax  law  (see  the
Statement  of  Additional Information  for "IRS  Required Distribution  at Death
Rules") may be subject to an  Early Withdrawal Charge. Early Withdrawal  Charges
may  be deducted from the Cash Value before it is applied to an income plan with
a specified period of less than 120 months.
 
    Free Withdrawals and other partial withdrawals will be allocated on a  first
in, first out basis to Purchase Payments. For purposes of calculating the amount
of  the Early Withdrawal  Charge, withdrawals are assumed  to come from Purchase
Payments first,  beginning  with  the  oldest payment.  Unless  the  Company  is
instructed  otherwise, for partial withdrawals, the Early Withdrawal Charge will
be deducted from  the amount paid,  rather than from  the remaining Cash  Value.
Once  all Purchase Payments have been withdrawn, additional withdrawals will not
be assessed an Early Withdrawal Charge.
 
    Early Withdrawal Charges will be applied to amounts withdrawn in excess of a
Free Withdrawal Amount as set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      APPLICABLE
                   COMPLETE CONTRACT YEARS SINCE                      WITHDRAWAL
                       PURCHASE PAYMENT BEING                           CHARGE
                         WITHDRAWN WAS MADE                           PERCENTAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                   <C>
0 years.............................................................      6%
1 year..............................................................      5%
2 years.............................................................      4%
3 years.............................................................      3%
4 years.............................................................      2%
5 years.............................................................      1%
6 years or more.....................................................      0%
</TABLE>
 
    THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ALL EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGES IS GUARANTEED NEVER  TO
EXCEED 6% OF AN OWNER'S PURCHASE PAYMENTS.
 
    Early  Withdrawal Charges  will be used  to pay sales  commissions and other
promotional or  distribution  expenses  associated with  the  marketing  of  the
Contracts.  The Company  does not anticipate  that the  Early Withdrawal Charges
will cover all distribution expenses in connection with the Contract.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
   
    In addition, federal and  state income tax may  be withheld from  withdrawal
and  surrender amounts. Certain surrenders may also  be subject to a federal tax
penalty. See "Federal Tax Matters," page 27.
    
 
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
 
    A Contract Maintenance Charge  is deducted annually from  the Cash Value  to
reimburse  the Company for its actual costs in maintaining each Contract and the
Variable Account. THE COMPANY GUARANTEES THAT THE AMOUNT OF THIS CHARGE WILL NOT
EXCEED $30 PER CONTRACT  YEAR OVER THE LIFE  OF THE CONTRACT. Maintenance  costs
include  but  are not  limited to  expenses incurred  in billing  and collecting
Purchase Payments; keeping records; processing death claims and cash surrenders;
policy changes and proxy statements;  calculating Accumulation Unit and  Annuity
Unit  values; and issuing reports to Owners and regulatory agencies. The Company
does not expect to realize a profit from this charge.
 
    On each  Contract  Anniversary,  the Contract  Maintenance  Charge  will  be
deducted  from  the  Investment Alternatives  in  the same  proportion  that the
Owner's interest in each bears to the  total Cash Value. After the Payout  Start
Date,  a  pro rata  share  of the  annual  Contract Maintenance  Charge  will be
deducted from each Income Payment. For example, 1/12 of the $30 or $2.50 will be
deducted if  there are  twelve Income  Payments during  the Contract  Year.  The
Contract  Maintenance Charge will  be deducted from  the amount paid  on a total
surrender.
 
    Prior to October 3, 1993 Vantage  Computer Systems, Inc. was under  contract
with  the Company to  provide contract recordkeeping services.  As of October 4,
1993, the Company provides all contract recordkeeping services.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE
 
    The Company will deduct an Administrative Expense Charge which is equal,  on
an  annual basis to .10%  of the daily net assets  in the Variable Account. This
charge is  designed to  cover actual  administrative expenses  which exceed  the
revenues  from the Contract  Maintenance Charge. The Company  does not intend to
profit from this charge.  The Company believes  that the Administrative  Expense
Charge  and  Contract Maintenance  Charge have  been  set at  a level  that will
recover no  more  than  the  actual  costs  associated  with  administering  the
Contract.   There   is  no   necessary  relationship   between  the   amount  of
administrative charge imposed  on a given  Contract and the  amount of  expenses
that may be attributable to that Contract.
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE
 
   
    A  Mortality and Expense Risk Charge will  be deducted daily at a rate equal
on an annual basis to 1.25% of the daily net assets in the Variable Account. The
Company estimates that .85% is attributed  to the assumption of mortality  risks
and  .40% is attributed to  the assumption of expense  risks. For Contracts with
the Enhanced Death Benefit provision, the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge will
be deducted daily, at a rate equal on an annual basis, to 1.38% of the daily net
assets in the Variable  Account. The assessment of  the additional .13% for  the
Enhanced  Death Benefit is attributed to  the assumption of additional mortality
risks. (see pages 21-22,  for a full description  of Death Benefit options)  THE
COMPANY  GUARANTEES THAT THE  AMOUNT OF THIS  CHARGE WILL NOT  INCREASE OVER THE
LIFE OF THE CONTRACT.
    
 
    If the  Mortality and  Expense  Risk Charge  is  insufficient to  cover  the
Company's  mortality costs and excess expenses,  the Company will bear the loss.
If the Charge is more  than sufficient, the Company  will retain the balance  as
profit.  The  Company currently  expects  a profit  from  this charge.  Any such
profit, as well  as any other  profit realized by  the Company and  held in  its
general  account, (which supports  insurance and annuity  obligations), would be
available for  any proper  corporate  purpose, including,  but not  limited  to,
payment of distribution expenses.
 
    The  mortality risk arises  from the Company's guarantee  to cover all death
benefits  and  to   make  Income   Payments  in  accordance   with  the   Income
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
Payment  Tables, thus, relieving  the Annuitants of the  risk of outliving funds
accumulated for retirement.
 
    The expense risk arises from  the possibility that the Contract  Maintenance
and Early Withdrawal Charges, both of which are guaranteed not to increase, will
be insufficient to cover actual administrative expenses.
 
TAXES
 
    The  Company will  deduct any  state premium  taxes incurred  or other taxes
incurred relative to the Contract (collectively referred to as "premium  taxes")
either  at the  Payout Start  Date, or when  a total  withdrawal occurs. Current
premium tax rates range from 0 to 3.5%. The Company reserves the right to deduct
any incurred premium taxes from the Purchase Payments.
 
    At the Payout Start Date, any charge for premium taxes will be deducted from
each Investment Alternative in the proportion  that the Owner's interest in  the
Investment Alternative bears to the total Cash Value.
 
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES ("FUND") EXPENSES
 
    A  complete description of  the expenses and  deductions from the Portfolios
are found in the Fund's prospectus which is attached to this prospectus.
 
BENEFITS UNDER THE CONTRACT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DEATH BENEFITS PRIOR TO THE PAYOUT START DATE
 
   
    If any Owner or the last surviving Annuitant dies prior to the Payout  Start
Date,  and a  Death Benefit  is elected,  it will  be paid  to the  new Owner or
Beneficiary. If requested to be paid in a lump sum within 180 days from the Date
of Death, the Death Benefit will be the greatest of: (a) the sum of all Purchase
Payments less  any  amounts  deducted in  connection  with  partial  withdrawals
including  any applicable Early Withdrawal Charges  or premium taxes; or (b) the
Cash Value on the date we receive Due  Proof of Death, or (c) the Cash Value  on
the  most  recent  Death  Benefit  Anniversary  less  any  amounts  deducted  in
connection with partial withdrawals,  including any applicable Early  Withdrawal
Charges  and premium taxes deducted from the Cash Value, since that anniversary.
The Death Benefit Anniversary is every sixth Contract Anniversary. For  example,
the  6th, 12th and 18th Contract Anniversaries are the first three Death Benefit
Anniversaries.
    
 
   
    If the Enhanced  Death Benefit option  is selected, it  applies only at  the
death of the Owner. It does not apply to the death of the Annuitant if different
from  the Owner unless the Owner is  a non-natural Owner. For Contracts with the
optional Enhanced Death Benefit provision, the Death Benefit will be the greater
of (a) through (c) above, or (d) the Enhanced Death Benefit. The Enhanced  Death
Benefit  on the date of issue is equal  to the initial purchase payment. On each
Contract Anniversary,  but not  beyond the  Contract Anniversary  preceding  all
owner(s)'  75th birthday(s), the Enhanced Death  Benefit will be recalculated as
follows:
    
 
    The Enhanced Death Benefit as  of the prior Contract Anniversary  multiplied
    by 1.05 which results in an increase of 5% annually.
 
Further,  for all  ages, the  Enhanced Death  Benefit will  be adjusted  on each
Contract Anniversary, or upon receipt of a death claim, as follows:
 
    The Enhanced Death  Benefit will be  reduced by the  percentage of any  Cash
    Value withdrawn since the prior Contract Anniversary.
 
    Any  additional purchase payments since  the prior Contract Anniversary will
    be added.
 
The Enhanced Death Benefit will never be greater than the maximum death  benefit
allowed by any non-forfeiture laws which govern the Contract.
 
    The  Company will not settle any death  claim until it receives Due Proof of
Death. If an Owner dies  prior to the Payout Start  Date, the new Owner will  be
the surviving Owner, if any, otherwise the new Owner
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
will be the Beneficiary. Generally, this new Owner has the following options:
 
   
       1. The new Owner may elect, within 180 days of the date of receipt by the
     Company of Due Proof of Death, to receive the Death Benefit in a lump sum;
    
 
   
       2. The new Owner may elect, within 180 days of the date of receipt by the
     Company  of  Due  Proof of  Death,  to  receive the  Settlement  Value (the
     Settlement Value is  the Cash  Value less any  applicable Early  Withdrawal
     Charges  and premium tax  on the date payment  is requested) payable within
     five years of the date of death.
    
 
   
       3. The new Owner may elect to apply an amount equal to the Death  Benefit
     to one of the income plans. Payments must begin within one year of the date
     of  death and must be  over the life of  the new Owner, or  a period not to
     exceed the life expectancy of the new Owner.
    
 
       4. If the new Owner  is the spouse of the  deceased Owner, the new  Owner
     may elect one of the above options or may continue the Contract.
 
    If  the new Owner who is not the  spouse of the deceased Owner does not make
one of these elections, the Settlement Value will  be paid in a lump sum to  the
new Owner five years after the date of death.
 
    If  the new Owner is  a non-natural person, then  the new Owner must receive
the Death Benefit in a lump sum, and the options listed above are not available.
 
    If any Annuitant  dies who is  not also an  Owner, the Owner  must elect  an
applicable  option  listed below.  If the  option selected  is 1(a)  or 1(b)(ii)
below, the new Annuitant will  be the youngest Owner,  unless the Owner names  a
different Annuitant.
 
       1. If the Owner is a natural person:
 
           a.  The Owner may choose to continue the Contract as if the death had
         not occurred; or
 
           b. If the Company receives due proof of death within 180 days of  the
         date  of the Annuitant's death, then the Owner may alternatively choose
         to:
 
               i. Receive the Death Benefit in a lump sum; or
 
               ii. Apply the Death  Benefit to an income  plan which must  begin
             within one year of the date of death and must be for a period equal
             to or less than the life expectancy of the Owner.
 
       2. If the Owner is a non-natural person: The Owner must receive the Death
     Benefit in a lump sum.
 
    The  value  of  the Death  Benefit  will be  determined  at the  end  of the
Valuation Period  during  which the  Company  receives a  complete  request  for
payment of the Death Benefit, which includes Due Proof of Death.
 
DEATH BENEFITS AFTER THE PAYOUT START DATE
 
    If  the Annuitant and Joint Annuitant,  if applicable, dies after the Payout
Start Date, the Company  will pay the  Death Benefit, if  any, contained in  the
particular income plan.
 
    If  the Owner, who is  not the Annuitant, dies  after the Payout Start Date,
payments will  continue  to  be  made under  the  particular  income  plan.  The
Beneficiary will be the recipient of any such payment.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
INCOME PAYMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PAYOUT START DATE
 
    The  Payout Start Date is the day  that Income Payments will start under the
Contract. The Owner may change  the Payout Start Date  at any time by  notifying
the  Company in writing of the change at least 30 days before the current Payout
Start Date. The Payout Start Date must be  (a) at least a month after the  issue
date; (b) the first day of a calendar month; and (c) no later than the first day
of  the  calendar  month  after  the  Annuitant  reaches  age  85,  or  the 10th
anniversary date, if later.
 
   
    Unless the Owner notifies the Company in writing otherwise, the Payout Start
Date will  be the  later  of the  first  day of  the  calendar month  after  the
Annuitant reaches age 85 or the 10th anniversary date.
    
 
AMOUNT OF VARIABLE ANNUITY INCOME PAYMENTS
 
    The  amount of Variable Annuity Income  Payments depends upon the investment
experience of the Portfolios selected by  the Owner, any premium taxes, the  age
and  sex of the Annuitant(s), and the income plan chosen. The Company guarantees
that the Income Payments will not be affected by (1) actual mortality experience
and (2) the amount of the Company's administration expenses.
 
    The Contracts offered  by this  Prospectus (except in  states which  require
unisex  annuity tables) contain  life annuity tables  that provide for different
benefit payments to men and women  of the same age. Nevertheless, in  accordance
with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in ARIZONA GOVERNING COMMITTEE V. NORRIS,
in certain employment-related situations, annuity tables that do not vary on the
basis  of  sex may  be  used. Accordingly,  if  the Contract  is  to be  used in
connection with an employment-related retirement or benefit plan,  consideration
should  be given, in consultation with legal counsel, to the impact of NORRIS on
any such  plan  before  making  any contributions  under  these  Contracts.  For
qualified plans where it is appropriate, a unisex endorsement is available.
 
    The  sum of Income Payments made may be more or less than the total Purchase
Payments made  because  (a)  Variable  Annuity Income  Payments  vary  with  the
investment  results  of  the  underlying Portfolios;  (b)  the  Owner  bears the
investment risk with respect to all  amounts allocated to the Variable  Account,
and  (c) Annuitants may  die before the  actuarially expected Date  of Death. As
such, the total amount of Income Payments cannot be predicted.
 
    The duration of the income plan may affect the dollar amounts of each Income
Payment. For  example, if  an income  plan guaranteed  for life  is chosen,  the
Income Payments may be greater or less than Income Payments under an income plan
for a specified period depending on the life expectancy of the Annuitant.
 
    If  the actual net investment experience is less than the assumed investment
rate, then the dollar  amount of the Income  Payments will decrease. The  dollar
amount  of the Income Payments will stay  level if the net investment experience
equals the assumed investment rate and the dollar amount of the Income  Payments
will  increase if the  net investment experience  exceeds the assumed investment
rate. For  purposes  of  the  Variable  Annuity  Income  Payments,  the  assumed
investment rate is found in the Contract.
 
    If the Cash Value to be applied to an income plan is less than $2,000, or if
the  monthly payments determined  under the Income  Plan are less  than $20, the
Company may pay the Cash Value in a lump sum or change the payment frequency  to
an interval which results in Income Payments of at least $20.
 
INCOME PLANS
 
    The  Owner  may  elect a  completely  Fixed Annuity,  a  completely Variable
Annuity or a combination Fixed  and Variable Annuity. Up  to 30 days before  the
Payout  Start Date, the  Owner may change  the income plan  or request any other
form of Income
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
Plan agreeable to both the Company and the Owner. Subsequent changes will not be
permitted. If an income plan is chosen  which depends on the Annuitant or  Joint
Annuitant's  life, proof of  age will be required  before Income Payments begin.
Premium taxes may be assessed. The income plans include:
 
    INCOME PLAN 1--LIFE WITH PAYMENTS GUARANTEED FOR 120 MONTHS
 
    Monthly payments will be  made for as  long as the  Annuitant lives. If  the
Annuitant  dies before 120 monthly payments have been made, the remainder of the
120 guaranteed monthly payments will  be paid to the  Owner, or if deceased,  to
the surviving Beneficiary.
 
    INCOME PLAN 2--JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR
 
    Monthly payments beginning on the Payout Start Date will be made for as long
as  either the Annuitant or Joint Annuitant is living. It is possible under this
option that only one  monthly payment will  be made if  the Annuitant and  Joint
Annuitant  both  die before  the second  payment  is made,  or only  two monthly
payments will be made if they both die before the third payment, and so forth.
 
    INCOME PLAN 3--PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD
 
   
    Monthly payments  beginning on  the Payout  Start Date  will be  made for  a
specified  period. An Early Withdrawal Charge  may apply if the specified period
is less  than 120  months.  Payments under  this option  do  not depend  on  the
continuation  of the Annuitant's life.  If the Owner dies  before the end of the
specified  period,  the  remaining  payments  will  be  paid  to  the  surviving
beneficiary.  The Mortality  and Expense Risk  Charge is  deducted from payments
even though the Company does  not bear any mortality risk.  If Income Plan 3  is
chosen  and the  proceeds are  derived from the  Variable Account,  the Owner or
Beneficiary may surrender the Contract at  any time by notifying the Company  in
writing.
    
 
    In  the event  that an income  plan is  not selected, the  Company will make
Income Payments in accordance with Income  Plan 1. At the Company's  discretion,
other  income plans  may be available  upon request. The  Company currently uses
sex-distinct annuity tables. However,  if legislation is  passed by Congress  or
the states, the Company reserves the right to use Income Payment tables which do
not distinguish on the basis of sex.
 
THE FIXED ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    CONTRIBUTIONS  UNDER THE FIXED PORTION OF THE ANNUITY CONTRACT AND TRANSFERS
TO THE FIXED 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 INTERESTS
THEREIN ARE GENERALLY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 OR 1940 ACTS AND THE
COMPANY HAS  BEEN  ADVISED  THAT  THE  STAFF  OF  THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE
COMMISSION  HAS NOT REVIEWED THE DISCLOSURES  IN THIS PROSPECTUS WHICH RELATE TO
THE FIXED  PORTION.  DISCLOSURES REGARDING  THE  FIXED PORTION  OF  THE  ANNUITY
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.
 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
 
    Contributions  made to the Fixed Account are invested in the general account
of the Company. The general account is made  up of all of the general assets  of
the  Company, other than those in the  Variable Account and any other segregated
asset account. Instead of the Owner bearing  the investment risk as is the  case
for amounts in the Variable
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
Account,  the Company bears the full investment risk for all amounts contributed
to the general account. The Company has sole discretion to invest the assets  of
the  general account, subject to applicable law. The Company guarantees that the
amounts allocated  to the  Fixed Account  will  be credited  interest at  a  net
effective  interest rate of  at least the  minimum guaranteed rate  found in the
Contract. (This interest rate is net of separate account asset based charges  of
1.35%  or 1.48% if the Enhanced Death  Benefit has been selected). Currently the
amount of  interest  credited  in  excess  of  the  guaranteed  rate  will  vary
periodically  in the sole  discretion of the  Company. Any interest  held in the
general account does not entitle an Owner to share in the investment  experience
of the general account.
 
    Money  deposited in the Fixed Account earns  interest at the current rate in
effect at the time of allocation or transfer for the Guarantee Period. After the
Guarantee Period, a renewal rate will be declared. Subsequent renewal dates will
be on anniversaries of the  first renewal date. On  or about each renewal  date,
the  Company will notify  the Owner of  the interest rate(s).  The interest rate
will be guaranteed by the Company for a full year and will not be less than  the
guaranteed  rate found in  the Contract. The  Company may declare  more than one
interest rate for different monies based upon the date of allocation or transfer
to the Fixed Account and based upon the Guarantee Period.
 
    The Company will  offer a  one year Guarantee  Period. Additional  Guarantee
Periods are offered at the sole discretion of the Company. The Company currently
offers a 6 year Guarantee Period.
 
    ANY INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF
THE  GUARANTEED  RATE FOUND  IN  THE CONTRACT  WILL  BE DETERMINED  IN  THE SOLE
DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY.
 
TRANSFERS, SURRENDERS, AND WITHDRAWALS
 
    Amounts may be transferred from the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account  to
the  Fixed  Account, and  prior to  the Payout  Start Date  amounts may  also be
transferred from the Fixed Account to Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account.
 
    The maximum amount in  any Contract Year which  may be transferred from  the
Fixed  Account to the Variable Account or between Guarantee Periods of the Fixed
Account is limited to the greater of (1)  25% of the value in the Fixed  Account
as  of the most recent Contract Anniversary; if  25% of the value as of the most
recent Contract Anniversary is greater than  zero but less than $1,000, then  up
to $1,000 may be transferred; or (2) 25% of the sum of all Purchase Payments and
transfers to the Fixed Account as of the most recent Contract Anniversary.
 
    If the first renewal interest rate is less than the current rate that was in
effect  at the time money was allocated or transferred to the Fixed Account, the
transfer restriction for that money and the accumulated interest thereon will be
waived during the 60-day period following the first renewal date.
 
    After the Payout Start Date no transfers may be made from the Fixed Account.
Transfers from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account may not be made for six
months after the Payout Start  Date and may be  made thereafter only once  every
six months.
 
    Surrenders  and withdrawals from the Fixed Account  may be delayed for up to
six  months.  After  the  Payout   Start  Date  no  surrenders  or   withdrawals
may be made from the Fixed Account.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
GENERAL MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OWNER
 
   
    The Owner has the sole right to exercise all rights and privileges under the
Contract, except as otherwise provided in the Contract. These rights include the
right to name and change the Owner, Beneficiary and Annuitant. The Annuitant can
be changed only if the Owner is a natural person.
    
 
    Generally,  an Owner who is  not a natural person  is required to include in
income each year any increase  in the Cash Value to  the extent the increase  is
attributable to contributions to the Contract made after February 28, 1986.
 
BENEFICIARY
 
    Subject  to the terms  of any irrevocable Beneficiary,  the Owner may change
the Beneficiary  while the  Annuitant  is living  by  notifying the  Company  in
writing.  Any change will  be effective at the  time it is  signed by the Owner,
whether or  not the  Annuitant is  living when  the change  is received  by  the
Company.  The  Company  will  not,  however, be  liable  as  to  any  payment or
settlement made prior to receiving the written notice.
 
    Unless otherwise provided in the Beneficiary designation, the rights of  any
Beneficiary  predeceasing the Annuitant will revert  to the Owner or the Owner's
estate. Multiple Beneficiaries may  be named. Unless  otherwise provided in  the
Beneficiary  designation, if more  than one Beneficiary  survives the Annuitant,
the surviving Beneficiaries will share equally in any amounts due.
 
DELAY OF PAYMENTS
 
    Payment of any amounts due from the Variable Account under the Contract will
occur within seven days, unless:
 
       1. The New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than usual weekends or
     holidays, or trading on the Exchange is otherwise restricted;
 
       2. An  emergency  exists  as  defined  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
     Commission; or
 
       3.   The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  permits  delay  for  the
     protection of the Owners.
 
   
    For payment or transfers from the Fixed Account, see page 24.
    
 
ASSIGNMENTS
 
    The Owner may not assign an interest in a Contract as collateral or security
for a loan. Otherwise, the Owner may assign benefits under the Contract prior to
the Payout Start  Date. No Beneficiary  may assign benefits  under the  Contract
until  they are due. No assignment will bind  the Company unless it is signed by
the Owner and filed  with the Company.  The Company is  not responsible for  the
validity of an assignment.
 
MODIFICATION
 
    The  Company may not  modify the Contract  without the consent  of the Owner
except to make the Contract meet the requirements of the Investment Company  Act
of 1940, or to make the Contract comply with any changes in the Internal Revenue
Code or required by the Code or by any other applicable law.
 
CUSTOMER INQUIRIES
 
    The  Owners or  any persons  interested in  the Contract  may make inquiries
regarding  the  Contract  by  calling  or  writing  their  Dean  Witter  Account
Executive.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INTRODUCTION
 
    THE  FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS GENERAL AND IS  NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE. THE
COMPANY MAKES  NO GUARANTEE  REGARDING  THE TAX  TREATMENT  OF ANY  CONTRACT  OR
TRANSACTION   INVOLVING  A  CONTRACT.  Federal,   state,  local  and  other  tax
consequences of ownership or receipt of distributions under an annuity  contract
depend  on the  individual circumstances  of each  person. If  you are concerned
about any tax  consequences with  regard to your  individual circumstances,  you
should consult a competent tax adviser.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
TAX DEFERRAL
 
    Generally,  an  annuity contract  owner  is not  taxed  on increases  in the
Contract Value until a distribution occurs. This rule applies only where (1) the
Owner is  a natural  person, (2)  the investments  of the  Variable Account  are
"adequately  diversified"  in accordance  with Treasury  Department ("Treasury")
regulations and (3) the Company, instead of the annuity Owner, is considered the
Owner of the Variable Account assets for federal income tax purposes.
 
NON-NATURAL OWNERS
 
    As a general  rule, annuity contracts  owned by nonnatural  persons are  not
treated  as annuity contracts for federal income  tax purposes and the income on
such Contracts is  taxed as  ordinary income received  or accrued  by the  Owner
during  the taxable year. There  are several exceptions to  the general rule for
Contracts owned by non-natural persons which  are discussed in the Statement  of
Additional Information.
 
DIVERSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
 
    For  a Contract to be treated as an annuity for federal income tax purposes,
the investments  in the  Variable Account  must be  "adequately diversified"  in
accordance  with  the standards  provided in  the  Treasury regulations.  If the
investments in the  Variable Account  are not adequately  diversified, then  the
Contract  will not  be treated  as an  annuity contract  for federal  income tax
purposes and the  Contract Owner will  be taxed  on the excess  of the  Contract
Value  over the investment in  the Contract. Although the  Company does not have
control over the Fund or its investments,  the Company expects the Fund to  meet
the diversification requirements.
 
INVESTOR CONTROL
 
    In  connection  with  the  issuance  of  the  regulations  on  the  adequate
diversification standards,  Treasury  announced  that  the  regulations  do  not
provide guidance concerning the extent to which Contract Owners may direct their
investments  among  Sub-Accounts of  a  Variable Account.  The  Internal Revenue
Service has  previously stated  in published  rulings that  a variable  Contract
Owner  will be  considered the  Owner of  separate account  assets if  the Owner
possesses incidents of ownership in those assets such as the ability to exercise
investment control over the assets. At the time the diversification  regulations
were  issued, Treasury  announced that  guidance would  be issued  in the future
regarding  the  extent  that  Owners   could  direct  their  investments   among
Sub-Accounts  without being  treated as Owners  of the underlying  assets of the
Variable Account. It is possible  that Treasury's position, when announced,  may
adversely   affect  the  tax  treatment  of  existing  Contracts.  The  Company,
therefore, reserves the right to modify the Contract as necessary to attempt  to
prevent  the Contract Owner from  being considered the federal  tax owner of the
assets of the Variable Account.
 
TAXATION OF PARTIAL AND FULL WITHDRAWALS
 
    In the case of a partial withdrawal under a Non-Qualified Contract,  amounts
received  are taxable  to the  extent the  Contract value  before the withdrawal
exceeds the investment  in the  Contract. In the  case of  a partial  withdrawal
under a Qualified Contract, the portion of the payment that bears the same ratio
to  the total payment that the investment  in the Contract bears to the Contract
value, can be excluded
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
from income. In the case of a full withdrawal under a Non-Qualified Contract  or
a  Qualified Contract, the amount received will be taxable only to the extent it
exceeds the investment in  the Contract. If an  individual transfers an  annuity
contract  without full  and adequate  consideration to  a person  other than the
individual's spouse (or  to a former  spouse incident to  a divorce), the  Owner
will be taxed on the difference between the Contract Value and the investment in
the  Contract  at  the time  of  transfer. Other  than  in the  case  of certain
Qualified Contracts, any  amount received as  a loan under  a Contract, and  any
assignment or pledge (or agreement to assign or pledge) of the Contract Value is
treated as a withdrawal of such amount or portion.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    Generally, the rule for income taxation of payments received from an annuity
contract  provides for the return  of the Owner's investment  in the Contract in
equal tax-free amounts  over the  payment period.  The balance  of each  payment
received  is  taxable. In  the  case of  Variable  Annuity payments,  the amount
excluded from taxable  income is determined  by dividing the  investment in  the
Contract  by the total number of expected payments. In the case of fixed annuity
payments, the  amount excluded  from  income is  determined by  multiplying  the
payment  by the ratio of the investment in the Contract (adjusted for any refund
feature or period certain) to the  total expected value of annuity payments  for
the term of the Contract.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITY DEATH BENEFITS
 
    Amounts  may be distributed from an annuity contract because of the death of
an Owner  or Annuitant.  Generally, such  amounts are  includible in  income  as
follows:  (1) if distributed  in a lump sum,  the amounts are  taxed in the same
manner as a full withdrawal or (2)  if distributed under an annuity option,  the
amounts are taxed in the same manner as an annuity payment.
 
PENALTY TAX ON PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    There  is  a  10%  penalty  tax  on  the  taxable  amount  of  any premature
distribution from a  non-qualified annuity contract.  The penalty tax  generally
applies  to  any distribution  made prior  to  the owner  attaining age  59 1/2.
However, there should be no penalty tax  on distributions to Owners (1) made  on
or after the Owner attains age 59 1/2; (2) made as a result of the Owner's death
or  disability; (3) made  in substantially equal periodic  payments over life or
life expectancy; or (4) made under an immediate annuity. Similar rules apply for
distributions under certain  Qualified Contracts.  Please see  the Statement  of
Additional Information for a discussion of other situations in which the penalty
tax may not apply.
 
AGGREGATION OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS
 
    All Non-Qualified Contracts issued by the Company (or its affiliates) to the
same  Owner  during any  calendar year  will  be aggregated  and treated  as one
annuity  Contract  for  purposes  of   determining  the  taxable  amount  of   a
distribution.
 
TAX QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
 
    Annuity  contracts may  be used  as investments  with certain  tax qualified
plans such as: (1) Individual Retirement  Annuities under Section 408(b) of  the
Code;  (2) Simplified Employee  Pension Plans under Section  408(k) of the Code;
(3) Tax Sheltered Annuities under Section 403(b) of the Code; (4) Corporate  and
Self  Employed  Pension  and  Profit  Sharing Plans;  and  (5)  State  and Local
Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred Compensation Plans. In the  case
of  certain tax qualified plans, the terms of  the plans may govern the right to
benefits, regardless of the terms of the Contract.
 
RESTRICTIONS UNDER SECTION 403(b) PLANS
 
    Section 403(b)  of the  Code provides  for tax-deferred  retirement  savings
plans  for  employees of  certain non-profit  and educational  organizations. In
accordance with the requirements  of Section 403(b),  any annuity contract  used
for  a  403(b)  plan  must provide  that  distributions  attributable  to salary
reduction  contributions  made  after  12/31/88,  and  all  earnings  on  salary
reduction contributions, may be made only after the employee attains age 59 1/2,
separates  from service,  dies, becomes disabled  or on the  account of hardship
(earnings on salary
reduc-
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
tion contributions may not be distributed on the account of hardship).
 
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
 
    The Company is required to withhold federal  income tax at a rate of 20%  on
all  "eligible rollover  distributions" unless  an individual  elects to  make a
"direct rollover"  of  such amounts  to  another qualified  plan  or  Individual
Retirement Account or Annuity ("IRA"). Eligible rollover distributions generally
include  all distributions  from Qualified  Contracts, excluding  IRAs, with the
exception  of  (1)  required   minimum  distributions,  or   (2)  a  series   of
substantially  equal periodic payments made over a  period of at least 10 years,
or the  life  (joint  lives)  of the  participant  (and  beneficiary).  For  any
distributions  from  non-qualified  annuity  contracts,  or  distributions  from
Qualified Contracts which  are not considered  eligible rollover  distributions,
the  Company may be required  to withhold federal and  state income taxes unless
the recipient  elects not  to  have taxes  withheld  and properly  notifies  the
Company of such election.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The  Owner  or anyone  with  a voting  interest  in the  Sub-Account  of the
Variable Account may instruct the Company on how to vote at shareholder meetings
of the  Fund. The  Company will  solicit and  cast each  vote according  to  the
procedures  set up by  the Fund and to  the extent required  by law. The Company
reserves the right to vote the eligible shares in its own right, if subsequently
permitted  by  the  Investment   Company  Act  of   1940,  its  regulations   or
interpretations thereof.
 
    Before  the Payout Start  Date, the Owner  holds the voting  interest in the
Sub-Account. (The number of votes for  the Owner will be determined by  dividing
the Cash Value attributable to a Sub-Account by the net asset value per share of
the applicable eligible Portfolio.)
 
    After  the Payout Start  Date, the person receiving  Income Payments has the
voting interest.  After the  Payout Start  Date, the  votes decrease  as  Income
Payments  are made and as the reserves  for the Contract decrease. That person's
number of votes  will be determined  by dividing the  reserve for such  Contract
allocated  to the applicable Sub-Account by the net asset value per share of the
corresponding eligible Portfolio.
 
SALES COMMISSION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    From its profits the Company may pay  a maximum sales commission of 6.0%  of
Purchase  Payments and an annual sales administration expense allowance of up to
0.125% of the average net  assets of the Fixed  Account to Dean Witter  Reynolds
Inc.,  the principal underwriter of the Contracts. Dean Witter will pay annually
to its Registered Representatives from its  profits, an amount equal to .10%  of
the net assets of the Variable Account attributable to Contracts.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PAGE
                                                                                        -----
<S>                                                                                  <C>
The Contract.......................................................................           3
    Purchase of Contracts..........................................................           3
    Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units...................................           3
    Performance Data...............................................................           3
    Transfers......................................................................           4
    Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers, Transfers)......................           4
General Matters....................................................................           5
    Recordkeeping Services.........................................................           5
    Additions, Deletions or Substitution of Investments............................           5
    Reinvestment...................................................................           5
    Incontestability...............................................................           5
    Settlements....................................................................           5
    Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets...................................           6
    Experts........................................................................           6
    Legal Matters..................................................................           6
Federal Tax Matters................................................................           6
    Introduction...................................................................           6
    Taxation of Northbrook Life Insurance Company..................................           6
    Exceptions to the Non-Natural Owner Rule.......................................           7
    Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions.........................................           7
    IRS Required Distribution at Death Rules.......................................           7
    Qualified Plans................................................................           7
    Types of Qualified Plans.......................................................           8
      Individual Retirement Annuities..............................................           8
      Simplified Employee Pension Plans............................................           8
      Tax Sheltered Annuities......................................................           8
      Corporate and Self-Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans.................           8
      State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred Compensation
       Plans.......................................................................           8
Voting Rights......................................................................           8
Sales Commissions..................................................................           9
Financial Statements...............................................................         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
                      (This page intentionally left blank)
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
                                   ORDER FORM
 
/ / Please send me a copy of the most recent Statement of Additional Information
    for the Northbrook Variable Annuity Account II.
 
- ------------------------
         (Date)
 
- ---------------------------------------------
                          (Name)
 
- ---------------------------------------------
                     (Street Address)
 
- ---------------------------------------------
                 (City) (State) (Zip Code)
 
Send to:  Northbrook Life Insurance Company
          Post Office Box 94040
          Palatine, Illinois 60094-4040
 
   
          Attention:  Annuity Services
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
   
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                                       OF
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                 P.O. BOX 94040
                            PALATINE, IL 60094-4040
    
 
                GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
                                 DISTRIBUTED BY
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                             TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
                              -------------------
 
    This  Statement of Additional Information supplements the information in the
Prospectus for  the  group  or individual  Flexible  Premium  Deferred  Variable
Annuity   Contract  (as  used  herein  "Contract"  includes  "Certificates"  and
"Contracts") offered by Northbrook Life Insurance Company ("Company"), a  wholly
owned  subsidiary of Allstate  Life Insurance Company.  The group and individual
Contract is  primarily  designed  to  aid  individuals  in  long-term  financial
planning  and it can be  used for retirement planning  regardless of whether the
plan qualifies for special federal income tax treatment.
 
    THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS  NOT A PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD  BE
READ ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS FOR THE CONTRACT.
 
    You  may obtain  a copy  of the  Prospectus from  Dean Witter  Reynolds Inc.
("Dean Witter"), the principal underwriter  and distributor of the Contract,  by
calling or writing Dean Witter at the address listed above.
 
   
    The  Prospectus, dated May  1, 1996, has  been filed with  the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
    
 
   
                               DATED MAY 1, 1996
    
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       PAGE
                                                       -----
<S>                                                 <C>
THE CONTRACT......................................           3
  Purchase of Contracts...........................           3
  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units....           3
  Performance Data................................           3
  Transfers.......................................           4
  Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers
   and Transfers).................................           4
GENERAL MATTERS...................................           5
  Recordkeeping Services..........................           5
  Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of
   Investments....................................           5
  Reinvestment....................................           5
  Incontestability................................           5
  Settlements.....................................           5
  Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets....           6
  Experts.........................................           6
  Legal Matters...................................           6
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS...............................           6
 
<CAPTION>
                                                       PAGE
                                                       -----
<S>                                                 <C>
 
  Introduction....................................           6
  Taxation of Northbrook Life Insurance Company...           6
  Exceptions to the Non-Natural Owner Rule........           7
  Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions..........           7
  IRS Required Distribution at Death Rules........           7
  Qualified Plans.................................           7
  Types of Qualified Plans........................           8
    Individual Retirement Annuities...............           8
    Simplified Employee Pension Plans.............           8
    Tax Sheltered Annuities.......................           8
    Corporate and Self-Employed Pension and Profit
     Sharing Plans................................           8
    State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt
     Organization Deferred Compensation Plans.....           8
VOTING RIGHTS.....................................           8
SALES COMMISSIONS.................................           9
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..............................         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
THE CONTRACT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASE OF CONTRACTS
 
    The  Contracts are offered to the  public through brokers licensed under the
federal securities laws and state insurance laws. The offering of the  Contracts
is  continuous and the Company does not anticipate discontinuing the offering of
the Contracts.  However,  the Company  reserves  the right  to  discontinue  the
offering of the Contracts.
 
VALUE OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    The  value of  Variable Account Accumulation  Units will  vary in accordance
with investment experience of  the Portfolio in  which the Sub-Account  invests.
The  number of such Accumulation Units credited to a Contract will not, however,
change as a result of any fluctuations in the Accumulation Unit value.
 
    The Accumulation  Units in  each  Sub-Account of  the Variable  Account  are
valued  separately. The value of Accumulation Units in any Valuation Period will
depend  upon  the  investment  performance  of  the  shares  purchased  by  each
Sub-Account  in a particular Portfolio.  The value of an  Accumulation Unit in a
Sub-Account for any Valuation Period equals the  value of such a unit as of  the
immediately  preceding  Valuation  Period,  multiplied  by  the  "Net Investment
Factor"  for  that  Sub-Account  for  the  current  Valuation  Period.  The  Net
Investment Factor for each Sub-Account for any Valuation Period is determined by
dividing (A) by (B) and subtracting (C), where:
 
    (A) is the sum of:
 
        (1)  the net  asset value per  share of the  Portfolio(s) underlying 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 Portfolio(s)  underlying  the Sub-Account  during  the current
    Valuation Period.
 
    (B) is the  net asset  value per share  of the  Portfolio(s) underlying  the
Sub-Account  determined as  of the  end of  the immediately  preceding valuation
period.
 
    (C) is the annualized Mortality and Expense Risk and Administrative  Expense
Charges divided by 365 and then multiplied by the number of calendar days in the
current valuation period.
 
PERFORMANCE DATA
 
    From time to time the Variable Account May publish advertisements containing
performance  data relating  to its  Sub-Accounts. The  performance data  for the
Sub-Accounts (other  than  for the  Money  Market Sub-Account)  will  always  be
accompanied by total return quotations.
 
    A Sub-Account's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of
the  Sub-Account's  total return  over a  particular period  and is  computed by
finding the annual percentage  rate which will result  in the ending  redeemable
value  of a hypothetical $1,000 Purchase Payment made at the beginning of a one,
five or ten year period,  or for a period from  the date of commencement of  the
Sub-Account's  operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The formula for
computing the  average annual  total return  involves a  percentage obtained  by
dividing  the  ending  redeemable  value,  including  deductions  for  any Early
Withdrawal Charges or Contract Maintenance  Charges imposed on the Contracts  by
the  Variable  Account, by  the  initial hypothetical  $1,000  Purchase Payment,
taking the "n"th root of the quotient (where  "n" is the number of years in  the
period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
 
    The  Early  Withdrawal  Charges  assessed upon  redemption  are  computed as
follows: The Free Withdrawal Amount is not assessed an Early Withdrawal  Charge.
Early  Withdrawal Charges are charged  on the amount of  redemption equal to the
Purchase
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
Payment, reduced by the Free Withdrawal Amount, if any. The remaining amount  of
the  redemption, if any, is  not assessed an Early  Withdrawal Charge. The Early
Withdrawal Charge Schedule specifies rates based  on the Contract Year in  which
the  Purchase Payment was made. One rate is specified for Purchase Payments made
in the current  Contract Year, another  rate for Purchase  Payments made in  the
prior Contract Year, another rate for Purchase Payments made in the second prior
Contract  Year, and so on  until a rate for Purchase  Payments made in the sixth
prior Contract Year  or prior  to it  is reached. For  a one  year total  return
calculation  the second rate, (i.e., the rate  for Purchase Payments made in the
prior Contract  Year), is  assessed. The  Contract Maintenance  Charge ($30  per
contract)  used in the  total return calculation is  normally prorated using the
following method: The total amount of annual Contract fees collected during  the
year  is divided by  the total average  net assets of  all the Sub-Accounts. The
resulting percentage is then multiplied by the ending Cash Value.
 
   
    The Variable Account may also advertise the performance of the  Sub-Accounts
relative  to certain  performance rankings  and indexes  compiled by independent
organizations, such as: (a) Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.; (b) the Standard &
Poor's 500  Composite Stock  Price  Index ("S  & P  500");  and, (c)  A.M.  Best
Company.
    
 
TRANSFERS
 
    The  Owner may transfer  amounts from one  investment alternative to another
prior to  the  Payout  Start  Date.  Transfers  are  subject  to  the  following
restrictions:
 
        1.    The minimum  amount  that may  be  transferred from  an investment
    alternative is $100;  if the total  amount in an  investment alternative  is
    less than $100, the entire amount may be transferred.
 
        2.  The minimum transfer to any Guarantee Period of the Fixed Account is
    $500.
 
        3.   The maximum  amount in any  Contract Year which  may be transferred
    from the Fixed Account to the Variable Account or between Guarantee  Periods
    of  the Fixed Account is limited  to the greater of (1)  25% of the value in
    the Fixed Account as of the most recent Contract Anniversary; if 25% of  the
    value  as of the most  recent Contract Anniversary is  greater than zero but
    less than $1,000, then up  to $1,000 May be transferred;  or (2) 25% of  the
    sum  of all Purchase Payments  and transfers to the  Fixed Account as of the
    most recent Contract Anniversary.
 
        4.  If the  first renewal interest  rate is less  than the current  rate
    that  was in effect  at the time  money was allocated  or transferred to the
    Fixed  Account,  the  25%  transfer  restriction  for  that  money  and  the
    accumulated  interest  thereon  will  be waived  during  the  60  day period
    following the first renewal date.
 
    The Company reserves the right to assess transfer fees.
 
TAX-FREE EXCHANGES (1035 EXCHANGES,
ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS)
 
    The Company accepts Purchase Payments which  are the proceeds of a  Contract
in  a transaction qualifying for  a tax-free exchange under  Section 1035 of the
Internal Revenue Code.  Except as  required by  federal law  in calculating  the
basis  of the Contract, the Company  does not differentiate between Section 1035
Purchase Payments and non-Section 1035 Purchase Payments.
 
    The Company also accepts "rollovers" and transfers from Contracts qualifying
as tax-sheltered annuities (TSAs), individual retirement annuities or  accounts,
(IRAs),  or any other Qualified Contract which is eligible to "rollover" into an
IRA. The Company differentiates between Non-Qualified Contracts, TSAs, IRAs  and
other  Qualified Contracts  to the extent  necessary to comply  with federal tax
laws. For example, the Company restricts  the assignment, transfer or pledge  of
TSAs and IRAs so the
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
Contracts  will  continue  to  qualify  for  special  tax  treatment.  An  Owner
contemplating any  such exchange,  rollover  or transfer  of a  Contract  should
contact  a competent tax adviser with respect to the potential effects of such a
transaction.
 
GENERAL MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
RECORDKEEPING SERVICES
 
   
    In 1993,  the Company  paid $336,207.59  to Vantage  for its  services  from
January 1, 1993 through October 3, 1993. The basis for the fee was an annual fee
of $16 per policy, plus out-of-pocket expenses for fees for enhancements.
    
 
    As  of  October 4,  1993, the  Company  performs all  Contract recordkeeping
services.
ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR SUBSTITUTIONS OF INVESTMENTS
 
    The Company  retains the  right,  subject to  any  applicable law,  to  make
additions  to, deletions from or substitutions  for the Portfolio shares held by
any Sub-Account  of the  Variable Account.  The Company  reserves the  right  to
eliminate  the  shares of  any of  the  Portfolios and  to substitute  shares of
another Portfolio of  the Fund,  or of another  open-end, registered  investment
company,  if the shares of the Portfolio are no longer available for investment,
or if,  in the  Company's judgment,  investment in  any Portfolio  would  become
inappropriate  in view of the purposes of the Variable Account. Substitutions of
shares attributable to  an Owner's interest  in a Sub-Account  will not be  made
until  the Owner has been  notified of the change,  and until the Securities and
Exchange Commission has approved the change, to the extent such notification and
approval is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940. Nothing contained in
this Statement of Additional Information shall prevent the Variable Account from
purchasing other securities for  other series or classes  of contracts, or  from
effecting  a conversion between series  or classes of contracts  on the basis of
requests made by Owners.
 
    The Company  may  also establish  additional  Sub-Accounts of  the  Variable
Account. Each additional Sub-Account would purchase shares in a new Portfolio of
the Fund or in another mutual fund. New Sub-Accounts may be established when, in
the  sole discretion  of the Company,  marketing needs  or investment conditions
warrant. Any new  Sub-Accounts will be  made available to  existing Owners on  a
basis  to be determined  by the Company.  The Company may  also eliminate one or
more Sub-Accounts  if, in  its  sole discretion,  marketing, tax  or  investment
conditions so warrant.
 
    In  the  event of  any  such substitution  or  change, the  Company  may, by
appropriate endorsement, make such changes in  the Contract as may be  necessary
or  appropriate to reflect such  substitution or change. If  deemed to be in the
best interests of persons having voting rights under the policies, the  Variable
Account may be operated as a management company under the Investment Company Act
of  1940 or it may be deregistered under such Act in the event such registration
is no longer required.
 
REINVESTMENT
 
    All dividends  and  capital  gains distributions  from  the  Portfolios  are
automatically  reinvested in shares  of the distributing  Portfolio at their net
asset value.
 
INCONTESTABILITY
 
    The Contract will not be contested after it is issued.
 
SETTLEMENTS
 
    The Contract must be  returned to the Company  prior to any settlement.  Due
proof  of the Owner(s) or the Annuitant's (and any Joint Annuitant's) death must
be received prior to settlement of a death claim.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
SAFEKEEPING OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT'S ASSETS
 
    The Company holds title  to the assets of  the Variable Account. The  assets
are  kept physically segregated  and held separate and  apart from the Company's
general  corporate  assets.  Records  are   maintained  of  all  purchases   and
redemptions of the Portfolio shares held by each of the Sub-Accounts.
 
    The   Dean  Witter  Variable  Investment  Series  ("Fund")  does  not  issue
certificates and,  therefore, the  Company holds  the Account's  assets in  open
account  in lieu  of stock  certificates. See the  Fund's Prospectus  for a more
complete description of the Fund's custodian.
 
EXPERTS
 
   
    The  financial  statements  of  the  Variable  Account  and  the   financial
statements  and financial  statement schedule of  the Company  appearing in this
Statement of Additional Information (which  is incorporated by reference in  the
prospectus  of  Northbrook  Variable  Annuity  Account  II  of  Northbrook  Life
Insurance Company) have been  audited by Deloitte &  Touche LLP, Two  Prudential
Plaza, 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, independent auditors, as stated
in  their reports appearing herein and are included in reliance upon the reports
of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
    
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
   
    Legal advice regarding  certain matters relating  to the federal  securities
laws  applicable to  the issue and  sale of  the Contracts has  been provided by
Routier and Johnson,  P.C., of  Washington, D.C..  All matters  of Illinois  law
pertaining  to the  Contracts, including the  validity of the  Contracts and the
Company's right to issue such Contracts under Illinois insurance law, have  been
passed  upon by Michael J. Velotta, General Counsel of Northbrook Life Insurance
Company.
    
 
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INTRODUCTION
 
    THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS GENERAL AND  IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE.  THE
COMPANY  MAKES  NO GUARANTEE  REGARDING  THE TAX  TREATMENT  OF ANY  CONTRACT OR
TRANSACTION  INVOLVING  A  CONTRACT.  Federal,   state,  local  and  other   tax
consequences  of ownership or receipt of distributions under an annuity contract
depend on the  individual circumstances  of each  person. If  you are  concerned
about  any tax  consequences with regard  to your  individual circumstances, you
should consult a competent tax adviser.
 
TAXATION OF NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
 
    The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of  Subchapter
L  of  the Internal  Revenue  Code. The  following  discussion assumes  that the
Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of Subchapter L. Since
the Variable  Account  is not  an  entity separate  from  the Company,  and  its
operations  form a  part of the  Company, it will  not be taxed  separately as a
"regulated Investment Company" under Subchapter M of the Code. Investment income
and realized capital gains are automatically applied to increase reserves  under
the  contract. Under existing federal income  tax law, the Company believes that
the Variable Account investment income and  realized net capital gains will  not
be  taxed to the extent  that such income and gains  are applied to increase the
reserves under the contract.
 
    Accordingly, the Company does not anticipate that it will incur any  federal
income  tax liability  attributable to the  Variable Account,  and therefore the
Company does  not intend  to make  provisions for  any such  taxes. However,  if
changes in the federal tax laws or interpretations thereof result in the Company
being taxed on income or gains attributable to
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
the  Variable Account, then the Company may impose a charge against the Variable
Account (with respect to some or all contracts) in order to set aside provisions
to pay such taxes.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE NON-NATURAL OWNER RULE
 
    There are several exceptions  to the general rule  that contracts held by  a
non-natural  owner are not  treated as annuity contracts  for federal income tax
purposes. Contracts will generally be treated as held by a natural person if the
nominal owner is a trust or other entity which holds the contract as agent for a
natural person. However, this special exception will not apply in the case of an
employer who is the nominal owner  of an annuity contract under a  non-qualified
deferred  compensation arrangement  for its  employees. Other  exceptions to the
non-natural owner rule are: (1) contracts acquired by an estate of a decedent by
reason of  the death  of  the decedent;  (2)  certain qualified  contracts;  (3)
contracts  purchased  by employers  upon  the termination  of  certain qualified
plans; (4)  certain  contracts used  in  connection with  structured  settlement
agreements,  and (5) contracts purchased with  a single premium when the annuity
starting date  is  no  later than  a  year  from purchase  of  the  annuity  and
substantially  equal  periodic  payments  are  made,  not  less  frequently than
annually, during the annuity period.
 
PENALTY TAX ON PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    There is a 10%  penalty tax on  the taxable amount  of any payment  received
from  a non-qualified annuity contract unless:  (1) made after the owner reaches
59 1/2;  (2)  attributable  to  the  owner's  disability;  (3)  attributable  to
investment  before August  14, 1982, including  earnings on  pre-August 14, 1982
investment; (4) made from certain qualified contracts; (5) made after the  death
of  the owner; (6)  made under an  immediate annuity contract;  (7) made from an
annuity purchased and held  by an employer upon  the termination of a  qualified
retirement plan; (8) made under a qualified funding asset; (9) made as part of a
series  of  substantially  equal  periodic payments  (not  less  frequently than
annually) for the life of or life expectancy of the owner or the joint lives  of
joint  life expectancies of the owner  and designated beneficiary. Similar rules
apply in the case of qualified contracts.
 
IRS REQUIRED DISTRIBUTION AT DEATH RULES
 
    In order  to  be considered  an  annuity  contract for  federal  income  tax
purposes,  an annuity contract must  provide: (1) if any  owner dies on or after
the annuity start date but before the  entire interest in the contract has  been
distributed, the remaining portion of such interest must be distributed at least
as  rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of the
owner's death; (2) if any owner dies prior to the annuity start date, the entire
interest in the contract will be distributed within five years after the date of
the owner's  death. These  requirements  are satisfied  if  any portion  of  the
owner's  interest  which is  payable to  (or  for the  benefit of)  a designated
beneficiary is distributed over the life  of such beneficiary (or over a  period
not   extending  beyond  the  life  expectancy   of  the  beneficiary)  and  the
distributions begin  within  one year  of  the  owner's death.  If  the  owner's
designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the owner, the contract may be
continued  with  the surviving  spouse as  the new  owner. If  the owner  of the
contract is a  non-natural person,  then the annuitant  will be  treated as  the
owner  for purposes of applying the distribution  at death rules. In addition, a
change in the  annuitant on a  contract owned  by a non-natural  person will  be
treated as the death of the owner.
 
QUALIFIED PLANS
 
    This annuity contract may be used with several types of qualified plans. The
tax  rules applicable to participants in  such qualified plans vary according to
the type of plan and  the terms and conditions of  the plan itself. Adverse  tax
consequences  may  result  from excess  contributions,  premature distributions,
distributions  that  do  not  conform  to  specified  commencement  and  minimum
distribution  rules, excess distributions and in other circumstances. Owners and
participants under the plan and annuitants and beneficiaries under the  contract
may be subject to
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
the terms and conditions of the plan regardless of the terms of the contract.
 
TYPES OF QUALIFIED PLANS
 
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES
 
    Section  408 of  the Code permits  eligible individuals to  contribute to an
individual  retirement  program  known  as  an  Individual  Retirement  Annuity.
Individual  Retirement Annuities are  subject to limitations  on the amount that
can be contributed  and on  the time  when distributions  may commence.  Certain
distributions  from other  types of  qualified plans may  be "rolled  over" on a
tax-deferred basis into an Individual Retirement Annuity.
 
SIMPLIFIED EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS
 
    Section 408(k) of the Code allows employers to establish simplified employee
pension plans for  their employees  using the  employees' individual  retirement
annuities  if  certain criteria  are met.  Under these  plans the  employer may,
within  specified  limits,  make  deductible  contributions  on  behalf  of  the
employees to their individual retirement annuities.
 
TAX SHELTERED ANNUITIES
 
    Section  403(b) of the Code permits public school employees and employees of
certain types of tax-exempt organizations (specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code) to have their employers purchase  annuity contracts for them, and  subject
to  certain limitations,  to exclude the  purchase payments  from the employees'
gross income. An annuity  contract used for a  Section 403(b) plan must  provide
that  distributions attributable  to salary  reduction contributions  made after
12/31/88, and all earnings on salary  reduction contributions, may be made  only
after  the employee  attains age 59  1/2, separates from  service, dies, becomes
disabled or in the case of hardship (earnings on salary reduction  contributions
may not be distributed for hardship).
 
CORPORATE AND SELF-EMPLOYED PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS
 
    Sections  401(a)  and  403(a)  of the  Code  permit  corporate  employers to
establish various  types of  tax  favored retirement  plans for  employees.  The
Self-Employed Individuals Retirement Act of 1962, as amended, (commonly referred
to  as "H.R. 10" or "Keogh")  permits self-employed individuals to establish tax
favored retirement plans  for themselves  and their  employees. Such  retirement
plans  may permit the purchase of annuity contracts in order to provide benefits
under the plans.
 
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION DEFERRED COMPENSATION
PLANS
 
    Section 457 of the Code permits employees of state and local governments and
tax-exempt organizations to defer a portion of their compensation without paying
current taxes.  The  employees must  be  participants in  an  eligible  deferred
compensation  plan. Generally, under the non-natural owner rules, such contracts
are not treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The number  of votes  which  a person  has the  right  to instruct  will  be
calculated  separately for each  Sub-Account. That number  will be determined by
applying his/her percentage interest, if any, in a particular Sub-Account to the
total number of votes attributable to the Sub-Account.
 
    The number of votes of the Portfolio which an Owner has a right to  instruct
will  be determined as of the date  coincident with the date established by that
Portfolio for determining shareholders  eligible to vote at  the meeting of  the
Fund.  Voting instructions will  be solicited by  written communication prior to
such meeting in accordance with procedures established by the Fund.
 
    Fund shares as to which no timely instructions are received will be voted in
proportion to the  voting instructions which  are received with  respect to  all
Contracts participating in that Sub-Account. Voting
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
instructions  to abstain on any item  to be voted upon will  be applied on a pro
rata basis to reduce the votes eligible to be cast.
 
    Each person having  a voting interest  in a Sub-Account  will receive  proxy
material, reports and other materials relating to the appropriate Portfolio.
 
SALES COMMISSIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The  Company  pays  Dean Witter  for  its underwriting  and  general agent's
services a sales commission  of up to  6.0% of the  Purchase Payments and  sales
administration  expense allowance of up  to 0.125% of the  average net assets of
the Fixed  Account.  These  commissions  are intended  to  cover  Dean  Witter's
expenses  in distributing  and selling the  Contracts. In addition,  sale of the
Contract  may  count  toward  incentive   program  awards  for  the   Registered
Representative.
 
   
    In  accordance with the Underwriting  and General Agent's Agreements between
Dean Witter  and  the  Company,  Dean  Witter offers  for  sale  and  sells  the
Contracts,  prepares sales or promotional  literature and prints and distributes
the Prospectuses to prospective purchasers.  The Company paid Dean Witter  sales
commission  in  the  amount of  $32,937,708  in  1995, $42,196,817  in  1994 and
$65,164,096 in 1993  for its  services under  these agreements.  These fees  are
based on sales commissions.
    
 
    Under  the  Underwriting Agreement  and  Managing General  Agent's Agreement
between Dean Witter and the Company, Dean Witter is responsible for paying costs
and expenses associated with licensing  its agents, paying agent's  commissions,
printing, mailing and distributing the Prospectus to prospective purchasers; and
preparing,  printing  and  distributing  sales  literature.  In  the  event  the
commissions fail to adequately compensate  Dean Witter for these expenses,  Dean
Witter will pay these expenses from its own funds.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF
NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY:
 
We  have audited the accompanying Statements of Financial Position of Northbrook
Life Insurance  Company  as of  December  31, 1995  and  1994, and  the  related
Statements  of Operations, Shareholder's  Equity and Cash Flows  for each of the
three years in  the period  ended December 31,  1995. Our  audits also  included
Schedule  IV -- Reinsurance. These  financial statements and financial statement
schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our  responsibility
is  to express an opinion on  these financial statements and financial statement
schedule 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,  such financial  statements  present fairly,  in  all  material
respects,  the financial  position of  Northbrook Life  Insurance Company  as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 in  conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, Schedule IV
- --  Reinsurance, when considered  in relation to  the basic financial statements
taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set
forth therein.
 
As discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements, in 1993 the Company  changed
its method of accounting for investment in fixed income securities.
 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
March 1, 1996
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                        STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                             --------------------------
                                                                                                 1995          1994
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
                                                                                                  ($ IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                          <C>           <C>
Assets
  Investments
    Fixed income securities
      Available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $59,142 and $61,581)...............  $     63,229  $     59,191
    Short-term.............................................................................         8,049         3,374
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
        Total investments..................................................................        71,278        62,565
  Reinsurance recoverable from Allstate Life Insurance Company.............................     2,636,981     3,085,781
  Cash.....................................................................................            87            59
  Deferred income taxes....................................................................                          77
  Net receivable from Allstate Life Insurance Company......................................         6,183         8,895
  Other assets.............................................................................         2,164         2,233
  Separate Accounts........................................................................     3,354,910     2,604,623
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
        Total assets.......................................................................  $  6,071,603  $  5,764,233
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
Liabilities
  Reserve for life insurance policy benefits...............................................  $    139,509  $    134,942
  Contractholder funds.....................................................................     2,497,278     2,950,532
  Income taxes payable.....................................................................           233         4,634
  Deferred income taxes....................................................................         2,798
  Separate Accounts........................................................................     3,354,910     2,604,623
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
        Total liabilities..................................................................     5,994,728     5,694,731
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
Shareholder's equity
  Common stock ($100 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding)..........         2,500         2,500
  Additional capital paid-in...............................................................        56,600        56,600
  Unrealized net capital gains (losses)....................................................         2,657        (1,553)
  Retained income..........................................................................        15,118        11,955
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
        Total shareholder's equity.........................................................        76,875        69,502
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
        Total liabilities and shareholder's equity.........................................  $  6,071,603  $  5,764,233
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
                                                                                             ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                            -------------------------------
                                                                                              1995       1994       1993
                                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                                   ($ IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues
  Net investment income...................................................................  $   4,782  $   2,881  $   2,934
  Realized capital gains and losses.......................................................         67       (193)       323
                                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
Income before income taxes................................................................      4,849      2,688      3,257
Income tax expense........................................................................      1,686        955        750
                                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
Net income................................................................................  $   3,163  $   1,733  $   2,507
                                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                       STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        UNREALIZED
                                                                           ADDITIONAL   NET CAPITAL
                                                                COMMON       CAPITAL       GAINS     RETAINED
                                                                 STOCK       PAID-IN     (LOSSES)     INCOME      TOTAL
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ($ IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Balance, December 31, 1992..................................   $   2,500    $  31,600                $   7,715  $  41,815
  Net income................................................                                             2,507      2,507
  Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses.........                             $     747                    747
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
Balance, December 31, 1993..................................       2,500       31,600          747      10,222     45,069
  Net income................................................                                             1,733      1,733
  Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses.........                                (2,300)                (2,300)
  Capital contribution......................................                   25,000                              25,000
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
Balance, December 31, 1994..................................       2,500       56,600       (1,553)     11,955     69,502
  Net income................................................                                             3,163      3,163
  Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses.........                                 4,210                  4,210
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
Balance, December 31, 1995..................................   $   2,500    $  56,600    $   2,657   $  15,118  $  76,875
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                     ----------------------------------
                                                                                        1995        1994        1993
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                              ($ IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                  <C>         <C>         <C>
Cash flows from operating activities
  Net income.......................................................................  $    3,163  $    1,733  $    2,507
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities
    Realized capital (gains) losses................................................         (67)        193        (323)
    Amortization and other non-cash items..........................................         903         640         415
    Net change in reserve for policy benefits and contractholder funds.............         113         (58)     18,338
    Change in deferred income taxes................................................         608        (114)      1,227
    Changes in other operating assets and liabilities..............................      (2,705)     (3,835)    (19,325)
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash from operating activities...........................................       2,015      (1,441)      2,839
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash flows from investing activities
  Fixed income securities
    Proceeds from sales............................................................       5,423       1,256      14,279
    Investment collections.........................................................       7,108       7,626      10,375
    Investment purchases...........................................................      (9,843)    (36,071)    (29,778)
  Change in short-term investments, net............................................      (4,675)      3,475       2,369
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash from investing activities...........................................      (1,987)    (23,714)     (2,755)
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash flows from financing activities
  Capital contribution.............................................................                  25,000
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash from financing activities...........................................                  25,000
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash....................................................          28        (155)         84
Cash at beginning of year..........................................................          59         214         130
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash at end of year................................................................  $       87  $       59  $      214
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
1.  ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
    Northbrook  Life  Insurance  Company  (the  "Company")  is  wholly  owned by
Allstate Life  Insurance Company  ("Allstate Life"),  which is  wholly owned  by
Allstate  Insurance  Company  ("Allstate"),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of The
Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation"). On  June 30, 1995, Sears, Roebuck  and
Co. ("Sears") distributed its 80.3% ownership in the Corporation to Sears common
shareholders through a tax-free dividend (the "Distribution").
 
    The  Company develops and markets single  and flexible premium annuities and
flexible premium deferred and variable  annuity contracts to individuals in  the
United  States  through  Dean  Witter Reynolds  ("Dean  Witter")(Note  4). Other
products include universal life and single premium life insurance.
 
    Annuity contracts  issued  by  the  Company  are  subject  to  discretionary
withdrawal  or surrender by the  contractholder, subject to applicable surrender
charges. These contracts are reinsured with Allstate Life (Note 4) which selects
assets  to  meet  the  anticipated   cash  flow  requirements  of  the   assumed
liabilities.  Allstate Life utilizes various modeling techniques in managing the
relationship between assets and liabilities  and employs strategies to  maintain
investments which are sufficiently liquid to meet obligations to contractholders
in various interest rate scenarios.
 
    The  Company monitors  economic and  regulatory developments  which have the
potential  to  impact  its  business.   Currently  there  is  proposed   federal
legislation  which  would  permit  banks  greater  participation  in  securities
businesses, which could eventually present an increased level of competition for
sales of the  Company's annuity contracts.  Furthermore, the federal  government
may  enact changes which  could possibly eliminate  the tax-advantaged nature of
annuities or eliminate consumers'  need for tax  deferral, thereby reducing  the
incentive  for customers  to purchase  the Company's  products. While  it is not
possible to  predict  the outcome  of  such issues  with  certainty,  management
evaluates  the  likelihood  of  various  outcomes  and  develops  strategies, as
appropriate, to respond to such challenges.
 
    Certain reclassifications  have  been  made  to  the  prior  year  financial
statements to conform to the presentation for the current year.
 
2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    LIFE INSURANCE ACCOUNTING
 
    The Company writes long-duration insurance contracts with terms that are not
fixed  and guaranteed  and single  premium life  insurance contracts,  which are
considered universal life-type contracts.  The Company also sells  long-duration
contracts  that do  not involve  significant risk  of policyholder  mortality or
morbidity  (principally  single  and  flexible  premium  annuities,   structured
settlement   annuities  and  supplemental  contracts   when  sold  without  life
contingencies)  which  are  considered  investment  contracts.  Limited  payment
contracts  (policies with premiums paid over  a period shorter than the contract
period), primarily consist of  structured settlement annuities and  supplemental
contracts when sold with life contingencies.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    TRADITIONAL LIFE
 
    The  reserve for life insurance policy benefits, which relates to structured
settlement  annuities   and  supplementary   contracts  when   sold  with   life
contingencies,  is computed on the basis  of assumptions as to future investment
yields, mortality,  morbidity,  terminations and  expenses.  These  assumptions,
which  for  traditional life  are applied  using the  net level  premium method,
include  provisions  for   adverse  deviation   and  generally   vary  by   such
characteristics  as plan,  year of issue  and policy  duration. Reserve interest
rates ranged from 7.3% to 9.5% during 1995.
 
    UNIVERSAL LIFE-TYPE CONTRACTS
 
    Reserves  for  universal  life-type  contracts  are  established  using  the
retrospective  deposit method. Under  this method, liabilities  are equal to the
account balance that accrues to the benefit of the policyholder.
 
    CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS
 
   
    Contractholder funds arise  from the issuance  of individual contracts  that
include  an  investment  component,  including  universal  life-type  contracts.
Payments received are recorded  as interest-bearing liabilities.  Contractholder
funds  are equal to deposits received and interest accrued to the benefit of the
contractholder less withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative  expenses.
During 1995, credited interest rates on contractholder funds ranged from 3.0% to
8.0%  for those contracts  with fixed interest  rates and from  3.0% to 8.7% for
those with flexible rates.
    
 
    SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
 
    The Company issues flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts, the
assets and liabilities  of which  are legally  segregated and  reflected in  the
accompanying  statements of financial position as  assets and liabilities of the
Separate Accounts. Assets  and liabilities  of the  Separate Accounts  represent
funds  of Northbrook  Variable Annuity  Account and  Northbrook Variable Annuity
Account II ("Separate  Accounts"), unit  investment trusts  registered with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission. The  assets of  the Separate  Accounts are
carried at fair value.  Investment income and realized  gains and losses of  the
Separate Accounts accrue directly to the contractholders and, therefore, are not
included  in the accompanying statements of  operations. Revenues to the Company
from the Separate Accounts consist of contract maintenance fees,  administrative
fees  and  mortality  and expense  risk  charges,  which are  entirely  ceded to
Allstate Life.
 
    REINSURANCE
 
    Premiums, contract charges, credited interest, and policy benefits are ceded
and reflected net of such cessions in the statements of operations.  Reinsurance
recoverable  and  the related  reserves for  policy benefits  and contractholder
funds are reported separately in the statements of financial position.
 
    INVESTMENTS
 
    Fixed income securities include bonds and mortgage-backed securities.  Fixed
income  securities are carried  at fair value.  The difference between amortized
cost  and  fair  value,  net  of  deferred  income  taxes,  is  reflected  as  a
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
component  of shareholder's equity. Provisions are  made to write down the value
of fixed income securities for declines in value that are other than  temporary.
Such writedowns are included in realized capital gains and losses.
 
    Short-term investments are carried at cost which approximates fair value.
 
    Investment  income consists primarily of interest, which is recognized on an
accrual basis. Interest  income on mortgage-backed  securities is determined  on
the  effective  yield  method,  based  on  the  estimated  principal repayments.
Realized capital gains and  losses are determined  on a specific  identification
basis.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The  income tax provision is calculated under the liability method. Deferred
tax assets and  liabilities are  recorded based  on the  difference between  the
financial  statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the enacted tax
rates. Deferred income taxes also arise from unrealized capital gains or  losses
on fixed income securities carried at fair value.
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that affect  the amounts reported  in the  financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
3.  ACCOUNTING CHANGE
    Effective December  31, 1993,  the Company  adopted Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards ("SFAS") No.  115, "Accounting for  Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities." SFAS  No. 115 requires that investments  classified
as  available  for  sale be  carried  at  fair value.  Previously,  fixed income
securities classified  as  available for  sale  were  carried at  the  lower  of
amortized  cost or fair  value, determined in  the aggregate. Unrealized holding
gains and losses are reflected as a separate component of shareholder's  equity,
net  of deferred  income taxes.  The net  effect of  adoption of  this statement
increased shareholder's equity at December 31,  1993 by $747, with no impact  on
net income.
 
4.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
    REINSURANCE
 
    The  Company  reinsures  substantially  all  business  with  Allstate  Life.
Premiums and contract charges ceded to Allstate Life were $2,284 and $52,348  in
1995,  $1,886 and  $38,306 in  1994, and  $2,688 and  $22,446 in  1993. Credited
interest, policy benefits and other expenses ceded to Allstate Life amounted  to
$229,525,  $243,326,  and  $525,467  in  1995,  1994,  and  1993,  respectively.
Investment income earned on  the assets which  support contractholder funds  was
excluded   from  the  Company's  financial   statements  as  those  assets  were
transferred  to  Allstate  Life  under   the  terms  of  reinsurance   treaties.
Reinsurance  ceded  arrangements do  not discharge  the  Company as  the primary
insurer.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
4.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
    BUSINESS OPERATIONS
 
    The Company utilizes services and  business facilities owned or leased,  and
operated  by  Allstate  in  conducting  its  business  activities.  The  Company
reimburses Allstate for the operating expenses incurred by Allstate. The cost to
the Company is determined by various allocation methods and is primarily related
to the level  of services provided.  Operating expenses, including  compensation
and retirement and other benefit programs, allocated to the Company were $5,341,
$5,483  and  $5,301 in  1995,  1994 and  1993,  respectively. Investment-related
expenses are retained by  the Company. All other  costs are assumed by  Allstate
Life under reinsurance agreements.
 
    DEAN WITTER
 
    The  Company and  Allstate Life have  formed a strategic  alliance with Dean
Witter to develop, market and distribute proprietary annuity and life  insurance
products  through Dean Witter account executives. Dean Witter provides a portion
of the funding for these products through loans to an affiliate of the Company.
 
    Under the terms  of the strategic  alliance, which is  cancelable by  either
party,  the Company has agreed  to use Dean Witter  as an exclusive distribution
channel for the Company's products. Dean  Witter is also the investment  manager
for  the Dean Witter Variable Investment Series, the fund in which the assets of
the Separate Accounts are invested.
 
5.  INCOME TAXES
    Allstate Life and  its life insurance  subsidiaries, including the  Company,
will file a consolidated federal income tax return. Tax liabilities and benefits
realized  by the consolidated group are allocated as generated by the respective
subsidiaries, whether or not such  benefits generated by the subsidiaries  would
be  available  on a  separate  return basis.  The  Corporation and  its domestic
subsidiaries, including the Company (the "Allstate Group"), will be eligible  to
file a consolidated tax return beginning in the year 2000.
 
   
    Prior  to the  Distribution, the  Allstate Group  joined with  Sears and its
domestic business units  (the "Sears  Group") in  the filing  of a  consolidated
federal  income tax return (the "Sears Tax Group") and were parties to a federal
income tax allocation agreement  (the "Tax Sharing Agreement").  As a member  of
the  Sears Tax Group, the  Corporation was jointly and  severally liable for the
consolidated income tax liability of the Sears Tax Group. Under the Tax  Sharing
Agreement,  the Company, through  the Corporation, paid to  or received from the
Sears Group the amount, if  any, by which the  Sears Tax Group's federal  income
tax  liability was affected by virtue of  inclusion of the Allstate Group in the
consolidated federal  income  tax  return. Effectively,  this  resulted  in  the
Company's  annual income tax provision being computed  as if the Company filed a
separate return, except that items such as net operating losses, capital losses,
foreign  tax  credits,  or  similar   items  which  might  not  be   immediately
recognizable  in a separate return, were  allocated according to the Tax Sharing
Agreement and reflected in the Company's provision to the extent that such items
reduced the Sears Tax Group's federal tax liability.
    
 
    The Allstate Group  and Sears  Group have  entered into  an agreement  which
governs  their respective rights and obligations  with respect to federal income
taxes for all periods prior to the Distribution ("Consolidated Tax Years").  The
agreement  provides that all Consolidated Tax Years will continue to be governed
by the Tax Sharing
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
5.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
Agreement with respect to the Company's  federal income tax liability and  taxes
payable to or recoverable from the Sears Group.
 
    The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December
31, 1995 and 1994 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  1995       1994
                                                                                ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                             <C>        <C>
Deferred assets
  Unrealized net capital losses on fixed income securities....................  $          $     837
                                                                                ---------  ---------
    Total deferred assets.....................................................                   837
                                                                                ---------  ---------
Deferred liabilities
  Difference in tax bases of investments......................................     (1,368)      (760)
  Unrealized net capital gains on fixed income securities.....................     (1,430)
                                                                                ---------  ---------
    Total deferred liabilities................................................     (2,798)      (760)
                                                                                ---------  ---------
Net deferred (liability) asset................................................  $  (2,798) $      77
                                                                                ---------  ---------
                                                                                ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
5.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    The components of income tax expense are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                          -------------------------------
                                                                            1995       1994       1993
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>        <C>
Current.................................................................  $   1,078  $   1,069  $     641
Deferred................................................................        608       (114)       109
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
Income tax expense......................................................  $   1,686  $     955  $     750
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company paid income taxes of $4,206, $4,219 and $1,175 in 1995, 1994 and
1993,  respectively under the  Tax Sharing Agreement.  Included in these amounts
are $2,651, $2,826 and $1,111 reimbursed  to the Company by Allstate Life  under
the terms of reinsurance agreements for 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
 
    The  Company had income taxes payable to Allstate Life of $233 and $4,634 at
December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
    A reconciliation of the statutory federal  income tax rate to the  effective
federal income tax rate is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        -------------------------------------
                                                                           1995         1994         1993
                                                                        -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                     <C>          <C>          <C>
Statutory federal income tax rate.....................................       35.0%        35.0%        35.0%
Dividends received deduction..........................................                                (10.6)
Tax-exempt income.....................................................                                 (1.7)
Other.................................................................       (0.3)         0.5          0.3
                                                                              ---        -----        -----
Effective federal income tax rate.....................................       34.7%        35.5%        23.0%
                                                                              ---        -----        -----
                                                                              ---        -----        -----
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
6.  INVESTMENTS
 
    FAIR VALUES
 
    The  amortized cost,  fair value and  gross unrealized gains  and losses for
fixed income securities are as follows:
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   GROSS UNREALIZED
                                                                     AMORTIZED   --------------------    FAIR
                                                                       COST        GAINS     LOSSES      VALUE
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                 <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
U.S. government and agencies......................................   $   8,619   $     880  $          $   9,499
Municipal.........................................................       1,583          83                 1,666
Corporate.........................................................       4,967         349                 5,316
Mortgage-backed securities........................................      43,973       3,003        228     46,748
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Totals........................................................   $  59,142   $   4,315  $     228  $  63,229
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                                   GROSS UNREALIZED
                                                                     AMORTIZED   --------------------    FAIR
                                                                       COST        GAINS     LOSSES      VALUE
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                 <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
AT DECEMBER 31, 1994
U.S. government and agencies......................................   $   9,619   $      49  $     825  $   8,843
Municipal.........................................................       1,642          77          3      1,716
Corporate.........................................................       3,172                     63      3,109
Mortgage-backed securities........................................      47,148          75      1,700     45,523
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Totals........................................................   $  61,581   $     201  $   2,591  $  59,191
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                    -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
    SCHEDULED MATURITIES
 
    The scheduled maturities for  fixed income securities  at December 31,  1995
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  AMORTIZED COST   FAIR VALUE
                                                                                  ---------------  -----------
<S>                                                                               <C>              <C>
Due in one year or less.........................................................     $     270      $     272
Due after one year through five years...........................................         3,021          3,182
Due after five years through ten years..........................................         4,647          5,124
Due after ten years.............................................................         7,231          7,903
                                                                                       -------     -----------
                                                                                        15,169         16,481
Mortgage-backed securities......................................................        43,973         46,748
                                                                                       -------     -----------
    Total.......................................................................     $  59,142      $  63,229
                                                                                       -------     -----------
                                                                                       -------     -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments
by the issuers.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
6.  INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
    UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
 
    Unrealized  net capital gains and losses on fixed income securities included
in shareholder's equity at December 31, 1995 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               UNREALIZED NET
                                                                 AMORTIZED COST   FAIR VALUE   GAINS/(LOSSES)
                                                                 ---------------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                              <C>              <C>          <C>
Fixed income securities........................................     $  59,142      $  63,229      $   4,087
                                                                      -------     -----------
                                                                      -------     -----------
Deferred income taxes..........................................                                      (1,430)
                                                                                                    -------
    Total......................................................                                   $   2,657
                                                                                                    -------
                                                                                                    -------
</TABLE>
 
    The change  in unrealized  net capital  gains and  losses for  fixed  income
securities is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                                                  31,
                                                                                          --------------------
                                                                                            1995       1994
                                                                                          ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                       <C>        <C>
Fixed income securities.................................................................  $   6,477  $  (3,539)
Deferred income taxes...................................................................     (2,267)     1,239
                                                                                          ---------  ---------
    Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses...................................  $   4,210  $  (2,300)
                                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                                          ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    COMPONENTS OF INVESTMENT INCOME
 
    Investment income by type of investment is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                    1995       1994       1993
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Investment income:
  Fixed income securities.......................................................  $   4,633  $   2,735  $   2,793
  Short-term....................................................................        215        192        172
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
Investment income, before expense...............................................      4,848      2,927      2,965
Investment expense..............................................................         66         46         31
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net investment income.......................................................  $   4,782  $   2,881  $   2,934
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    REALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
 
    Realized capital gains and losses on investments are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                      -------------------------------
                                                                                        1995       1994       1993
                                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
Fixed income securities.............................................................  $      67  $    (193) $     323
Income tax (expense) benefit........................................................        (23)        68       (113)
                                                                                            ---  ---------  ---------
Net realized gains (losses).........................................................  $      44  $    (125) $     210
                                                                                            ---  ---------  ---------
                                                                                            ---  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
6.  INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
    PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
 
    The proceeds from sales of investments in fixed income securities, excluding
calls, and related gross realized gains and losses are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                -------------------------------
                                                                                  1995       1994       1993
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                             <C>        <C>        <C>
Proceeds......................................................................  $   5,423  $   1,256  $  14,279
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
Gross realized gains..........................................................  $      67             $     318
Gross realized losses.........................................................             $    (179)       (34)
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
Net realized gains (losses)...................................................  $      67  $    (179) $     284
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    SECURITIES ON DEPOSIT
 
    At  December  31, 1995,  fixed income  securities with  a carrying  value of
$8,041 were on deposit with regulatory authorities as required by law.
 
7.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
    In the normal course of business,  the Company invests in various  financial
assets  and incurs various financial liabilities.  The assets and liabilities of
the Separate Accounts are carried  at the fair value of  the funds in which  the
assets  are invested. The  fair value of  all financial assets  other than fixed
income  securities  and   all  liabilities  other   than  contractholder   funds
approximates their carrying value as they are short-term in nature.
 
    Fair  values for fixed income securities  are based on quoted market prices.
The December 31, 1995 and 1994 fair  values and carrying values of fixed  income
securities are discussed in Note 6.
 
    The  fair value of  contractholder funds related  to investment contracts is
based on the terms of the underlying contracts. Reserves on investment contracts
with  no  stated  maturities  (single  premium  and  flexible  premium  deferred
annuities)  are valued at the fund balance less surrender charge. The fair value
of immediate annuities and annuities without life contingencies with fixed terms
are estimated using discounted  cash flow calculations  based on interest  rates
currently  offered for contracts with similar terms and duration. Contractholder
funds on investment contracts had a carrying value of $2,294,536 at December 31,
1995 and  a fair  value of  $2,274,053. The  carrying value  and fair  value  at
December 31, 1994 were $2,738,823 and $2,685,448, respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
8.  STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    The  following  tables  reconcile  net income  and  shareholder's  equity as
reported herein in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles with
statutory net  income and  capital and  surplus, determined  in accordance  with
statutory  accounting practices prescribed or  permitted by insurance regulatory
authorities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            NET INCOME
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                    1995       1994       1993
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance per generally accepted accounting principles............................  $   3,163  $   1,733  $   2,507
  Income taxes..................................................................        (88)      (114)       825
  Non-admitted assets and statutory reserves....................................       (775)       (27)       (91)
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance per statutory accounting principles.....................................  $   2,300  $   1,592  $   3,241
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                         --------------------
                                                                                           1995       1994
                                                                                         ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                      <C>        <C>
Balance per generally accepted accounting principles...................................  $  76,875  $  69,502
  Income taxes.........................................................................     (1,614)       (77)
  Unrealized net capital gains (losses)................................................     (4,087)     2,390
  Non-admitted assets and statutory reserves...........................................      1,891     (1,086)
                                                                                         ---------  ---------
Balance per statutory accounting principles............................................  $  73,065  $  70,729
                                                                                         ---------  ---------
                                                                                         ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    PERMITTED STATUTORY ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
 
   
    The Company prepares its statutory  financial statements in accordance  with
accounting  principles and  practices prescribed  or permitted  by the insurance
department of the State of  Illinois. Prescribed statutory accounting  practices
include  a  variety of  publications of  the  National Association  of Insurance
Commissioners, as well  as state  laws, regulations  and general  administrative
rules.   Permitted  statutory  accounting  practices  encompass  all  accounting
practices not so prescribed. The Company does not follow any permitted statutory
accounting practices  that  have  a  material effect  on  statutory  surplus  or
risk-based capital.
    
 
    DIVIDENDS
 
    The  ability  of  the Company  to  pay  dividends is  dependent  on business
conditions, income, cash requirements of the Company and other relevant factors.
The payment of shareholder  dividends by insurance  companies without the  prior
approval of the state insurance regulator is limited to formula amounts based on
net  income and  capital and  surplus, determined  in accordance  with statutory
accounting practices, as well as the timing and amount of dividends paid in  the
preceding  twelve months. The  maximum amount of dividends  that the Company can
distribute  during  1996  without  prior  approval  of  both  the  Illinois  and
California Departments of Insurance is $7,057.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                       NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
                                                GROSS               NET
                                                AMOUNT    CEDED    AMOUNT
                                               --------  --------  ------
Life insurance in force......................  $610,478  $610,478   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities.........................  $ 54,632  $ 54,632   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
 
                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
 
                                                GROSS               NET
                                                AMOUNT    CEDED    AMOUNT
                                               --------  --------  ------
Life insurance in force......................  $661,356  $661,356   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities.........................  $ 40,192  $ 40,192   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
 
                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993
 
                                                GROSS               NET
                                                AMOUNT    CEDED    AMOUNT
                                               --------  --------  ------
Life insurance in force......................  $702,975  $702,975   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities.........................  $ 25,134  $ 25,134   $
                                               --------  --------  ------
                                               --------  --------  ------
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
   
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
    
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF
NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY:
    
 
   
    We  have  audited the  accompanying Statement  of  Net Assets  of Northbrook
Variable Annuity Account  II (the "Account")  as of December  31, 1995, and  the
related  Statements of  Operations for  the year then  ended and  Changes in Net
Assets for each of the  two years in the period  ended December 31, 1995 of  the
Money  Market,  High Yield,  Equity, Quality  Income Plus,  Strategist, Dividend
Growth, Utilities, European Growth, Capital  Growth, Global Dividend Growth  and
Pacific  Growth portfolios that comprise the Account. These financial statements
are the responsibility  of the  Account'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. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned  at December 31, 1995.  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, such  financial statements present  fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Account as of December 31, 1995, and the
results of its operations  for the year  then ended and the  changes in its  net
assets  for each of the two years in  the period ended December 31, 1995 of each
of the portfolios comprising the Account, in conformity with generally  accepted
accounting principles.
    
 
   
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
    
 
   
Chicago, Illinois
March 1, 1996
    
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                            STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
                                DECEMBER 31,1995
    
 
   
($ and shares in thousands)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
<S>                                                                                    <C>
  Investments in the Dean Witter Variable Investment Series:
    Money Market Portfolio
      209,700 shares (cost $209,700).................................................  $  209,700
    High Yield Portfolio
      19,555 shares (cost $130,706)..................................................     122,505
    Equity Portfolio
      10,535 shares (cost $228,556)..................................................     285,869
    Quality Income Plus Portfolio
      40,167 shares (cost $428,048)..................................................     440,092
    Strategist Portfolio
      24,214 shares (cost $300,626)..................................................     301,342
    Dividend Growth Portfolio
      46,736 shares (cost $579,345)..................................................     728,687
    Utilities Portfolio
      27,937 shares (cost $362,476)..................................................     410,249
    European Growth Portfolio
      9,364 shares (cost $129,564)...................................................     164,151
    Capital Growth Portfolio
      3,876 shares (cost $46,593)....................................................      59,013
    Global Dividend Growth Portfolio
      15,811 shares (cost $161,238)..................................................     184,781
    Pacific Growth Portfolio
      8,890 shares (cost $85,307)....................................................      86,235
                                                                                       ----------
        Total assets.................................................................   2,992,624
 
LIABILITIES
  Payable to Northbrook Life Insurance Company --
    accrued contract maintenance charges.............................................         932
                                                                                       ----------
        Net assets...................................................................  $2,991,692
                                                                                       ----------
                                                                                       ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     QUALITY
                                                     MONEY      HIGH                 INCOME                  DIVIDEND
                                                    MARKET      YIELD     EQUITY      PLUS     STRATEGIST     GROWTH
($ in thousands)                                   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
<S>                                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Dividends......................................  $  11,158  $  12,774  $   2,326  $  27,080   $  26,439   $   27,541
  Less charges from Northbrook Life:
    Mortality and expense risk...................     (2,528)    (1,266)    (2,649)    (4,813)     (3,669)      (7,298)
    Administrative expense.......................       (202)      (101)      (212)      (385)       (294)        (584)
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
  Net investment income (loss)...................      8,428     11,407       (535)    21,882      22,476       19,659
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS AND LOSSES ON
 INVESTMENTS:
  Realized gains and losses from sales of
   investments:
    Proceeds from sales..........................     75,444      3,552      8,558     13,626      30,784       10,369
    Cost of investments sold.....................    (75,444)    (3,831)    (8,272)   (14,382)    (31,294)      (9,437)
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
Net realized gains and losses....................         --       (279)       286       (756)       (510)         932
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
Change in unrealized gains and losses............         --      1,677     71,559     57,216         467      149,094
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
Net gains and losses on investments..............         --      1,398     71,845     56,460         (43)     150,026
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS...  $   8,428  $  12,805  $  71,310  $  78,342   $  22,433   $  169,685
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   GLOBAL
                                                           EUROPEAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND    PACIFIC
                                               UTILITIES    GROWTH     GROWTH      GROWTH      GROWTH
($ in thousands)                               PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO      TOTAL
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
<S>                                            <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
  Dividends..................................  $  15,698  $    6,356  $     267  $    3,802  $      644  $    134,085
  Less charges from Northbrook Life:
    Mortality and expense risk...............     (4,461)     (1,812)      (597)     (1,858)       (900)      (31,851)
    Administrative expense...................       (357)       (145)       (48)       (149)        (72)       (2,549)
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
  Net investment income (loss)...............     10,880       4,399       (378)      1,795        (328)       99,685
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS AND LOSSES ON
 INVESTMENTS:
  Realized gains and losses from sales of
   investments:
    Proceeds from sales......................     18,110      12,465      5,003       2,508      10,733       191,152
    Cost of investments sold.................    (18,108)    (10,836)    (4,406)     (2,422)    (11,117)     (189,549)
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
Net realized gains and losses................          2       1,629        597          86        (384)        1,603
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
Change in unrealized gains and losses........     75,255      24,572     12,700      25,883       3,987       422,410
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
Net gains and losses on investments..........     75,257      26,201     13,297      25,969       3,603       424,013
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM
 OPERATIONS..................................  $  86,137  $   30,600  $  12,919  $   27,764  $    3,275  $    523,698
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
                                               ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  QUALITY
                                               MONEY                               INCOME                 DIVIDEND
($ and units in thousands,                     MARKET    HIGH YIELD    EQUITY       PLUS     STRATEGIST    GROWTH
except value per unit)                       PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
FROM OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income (loss).............  $    8,428  $   11,407  $     (535) $   21,882  $   22,476  $   19,659
  Net realized gains and losses............                    (279)        286        (756)       (510)        932
  Net change in unrealized gains and
   losses..................................                   1,677      71,559      57,216         467     149,094
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                  8,428      12,805      71,310      78,342      22,433     169,685
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:
  Deposits.................................      90,983      30,088      48,365      42,505      31,559     106,405
  Benefit payments.........................      (3,903)     (1,357)     (1,786)     (5,370)     (4,215)     (6,901)
  Payments on termination..................     (25,297)     (6,748)    (13,887)    (20,886)    (16,319)    (34,408)
  Contract maintenance charges.............         (83)        (67)       (161)       (241)       (170)       (449)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with
   the Fixed Account, net..................     (73,404)      9,102      17,994       7,342     (17,627)     30,986
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                (11,704)     31,018      50,525      23,350      (6,772)     95,633
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Increase (decrease) in net assets..........      (3,276)     43,823     121,835     101,692      15,661     265,318
Net assets, beginning of period............     212,911      78,644     163,945     338,263     285,587     463,142
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net assets, end of period..................  $  209,635  $  122,467  $  285,780  $  439,955  $  301,248  $  728,460
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF PERIOD....  $    11.65  $    21.86  $    25.86  $    16.37  $    16.92  $    21.51
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
  NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF
   PERIOD..................................  $    11.54  $    21.66  $    25.62  $    15.60  $    16.13  $    21.03
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
UNITS OUTSTANDING, END OF PERIOD...........      17,484       5,536      10,835      26,736      17,718      33,515
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
UNITS OUTSTANDING, END OF PERIOD...........         511          67         216         142          92         367
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  GLOBAL
                                                          EUROPEAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND    PACIFIC
($ and units in thousands,                   UTILITIES     GROWTH     GROWTH      GROWTH     GROWTH
except value per unit)                       PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO     TOTAL
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
FROM OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income (loss).............  $   10,880  $    4,399  $    (378) $    1,795  $    (328) $     99,685
  Net realized gains and losses............           2       1,629        597          86       (384)        1,603
  Net change in unrealized gains and
   losses..................................      75,255      24,572     12,700      25,883      3,987       422,410
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                                 86,137      30,600     12,919      27,764      3,275       523,698
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:
  Deposits.................................      31,144      18,112      7,568      34,383     16,415       457,527
  Benefit payments.........................      (5,388)     (1,480)      (443)     (1,695)      (682)      (33,220)
  Payments on termination..................     (19,877)     (9,858)    (3,391)     (8,436)    (3,661)     (162,768)
  Contract maintenance charges.............        (264)        (98)       (36)       (108)       (50)       (1,727)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with
   the Fixed Account, net..................      (1,427)     (2,908)     3,555      10,831      5,621        (9,935)
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                                  4,188       3,768      7,253      34,975     17,643       249,877
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets..........      90,325      34,368     20,172      62,739     20,918       773,575
Net assets, beginning of period............     319,796     129,732     38,823     121,984     65,290     2,218,117
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
Net assets, end of period..................  $  410,121  $  164,100  $  58,995  $  184,723  $  86,208  $  2,991,692
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF PERIOD....  $    18.00  $    18.98  $   14.92  $    11.93  $    9.62
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
  NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF
   PERIOD..................................  $    17.40  $    18.38  $   14.72  $    11.67  $    9.46
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
UNITS OUTSTANDING, END OF PERIOD...........      22,626       8,588      3,918      15,326      8,866
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
UNITS OUTSTANDING, END OF PERIOD...........         165          62         36         155         98
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  QUALITY
                                               MONEY                               INCOME                 DIVIDEND
($ and units in thousands,                     MARKET    HIGH YIELD    EQUITY       PLUS     STRATEGIST    GROWTH
except value per unit)                       PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
FROM OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income (loss).............  $    3,937  $    7,907  $   11,131  $   27,457  $   10,297  $    7,411
  Net realized gains and losses............                    (708)       (601)     (6,255)         36         196
  Net change in unrealized gains and
   losses..................................                 (11,093)    (20,729)    (53,902)     (4,450)    (27,664)
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                  3,937      (3,894)    (10,199)    (32,700)      5,883     (20,057)
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:
  Deposits.................................     175,691      36,052      63,695      81,803      77,194     134,871
  Benefit payments.........................      (3,032)     (1,268)     (1,658)     (5,881)     (2,785)     (5,288)
  Payments on termination..................     (12,993)     (3,479)     (4,745)    (16,192)     (7,609)    (15,924)
  Deduction for contract maintenance
   charges.................................        (104)        (50)       (106)       (218)       (182)       (332)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with
   the Fixed Account, net..................     (34,004)      2,209         982     (69,831)     32,119       2,297
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                125,558      33,464      58,168     (10,319)     98,737     115,624
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Increase (decrease) in net assets..........     129,495      29,570      47,969     (43,019)    104,620      95,567
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net assets, beginning of period............      83,416      49,074     115,976     381,282     180,967     367,575
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net assets, end of period..................  $  212,911  $   78,644  $  163,945  $  338,263  $  285,587  $  463,142
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF PERIOD....  $    11.18  $    19.26  $    18.39  $    13.34  $    15.68  $    15.98
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                             ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  GLOBAL
                                                          EUROPEAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND    PACIFIC
($ and units in thousands,                   UTILITIES     GROWTH     GROWTH      GROWTH     GROWTH
except value per unit)                       PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO     TOTAL
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
FROM OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income (loss).............  $   12,221  $    2,951  $     (59) $      484  $    (278) $     83,459
  Net realized gains and losses............      (3,189)        465        (41)         15        (23)      (10,105)
  Net change in unrealized gains and
   losses..................................     (49,925)      2,060       (987)     (2,340)    (3,059)     (172,089)
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                                (40,893)      5,476     (1,087)     (1,841)    (3,360)      (98,735)
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:
  Deposits.................................      65,745      45,006      7,644      61,362     35,008       784,071
  Benefit payments.........................      (5,377)     (1,406)      (302)       (608)      (476)      (28,081)
  Payments on termination..................     (14,947)     (2,758)    (1,657)     (1,421)      (960)      (82,685)
  Deduction for contract maintenance
   charges.................................        (243)        (85)       (30)        (67)       (36)       (1,453)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with
   the Fixed Account, net..................     (85,168)     19,937     (7,285)     64,559     35,114       (39,071)
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                                (39,990)     60,694     (1,630)    123,825     68,650       632,781
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets..........     (80,883)     66,170     (2,717)    121,984     65,290       534,046
Net assets, beginning of period............     400,679      63,562     41,540                            1,684,071
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
Net assets, end of period..................     319,796     129,732     38,823     121,984     65,290     2,218,117
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT, END OF PERIOD....  $    14.18  $    15.28  $   11.38  $     9.91  $    9.22
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                       TWO YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
1.  ORGANIZATION
    
   
    Northbrook  Variable Annuity Account  II (the "Account"),  a unit investment
trust  registered  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under   the
Investment  Company  Act  of 1940,  is  a  separate account  of  Northbrook Life
Insurance Company ("Northbrook Life"),  which is wholly  owned by Allstate  Life
Insurance  Company  ("Allstate  Life"), a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Allstate
Insurance  Company  ("Allstate"),  which  is   wholly  owned  by  The   Allstate
Corporation (the "Corporation').
    
 
   
    Northbrook  Life writes certain annuity contracts, the proceeds of which are
invested at  the discretion  of  the contractholder.  Contractholders  primarily
invest  in units of the portfolios comprising the Account but may also invest in
the general account of Northbrook Life ("Fixed Account"). The Account, in  turn,
invests  solely  in  shares  of  the  portfolios  of  the  Dean  Witter Variable
Investment  Series  ("Fund").  Northbrook   Life  provides  administrative   and
insurance services to the Account for a fee.
    
 
   
    Dean  Witter  Reynolds,  Inc. ("Dean  Witter")  is the  sole  distributor of
Northbrook Life's  flexible  premium  deferred variable  annuity  contracts  and
certain  single and flexible premium annuities and is the investment manager for
the Fund.  In October,  1993,  Allstate Life  and  Northbrook Life  announced  a
strategic  alliance to  develop, market  and distribute  proprietary annuity and
life insurance  products through  Dean Witter  account executives.  Dean  Witter
receives investment management fees from the Fund.
    
 
   
    Effective September 1, 1995, the name of the Managed Assets Portfolio of the
Fund  changed  to  the Strategist  Portfolio.  While certain  of  the investment
policies of  the portfolio  have changed,  the overall  investment strategy  has
remained the same.
    
 
   
2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
    
 
   
    VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS
    
 
   
    Investments  consist of shares in the portfolios of the Fund, and are stated
at fair value based on quoted market prices.
    
 
   
    INVESTMENT INCOME
    
 
   
    Investment income consists of  dividends declared by  the portfolios of  the
Fund, and is recognized on the date of record.
    
 
   
    REALIZED GAINS AND LOSSES
    
 
   
    Realized  gains and losses on the sale of shares by the Account are computed
on a weighted average ("cost") basis.
    
 
   
    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
    
 
   
    Net investment income and  realized gains and losses  on investments of  the
Account   are   reported   to  contractholders   generally   upon  distribution.
Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded.
    
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                       TWO YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
3.  MORTALITY AND EXPENSE CHARGES
    
   
    Northbrook  Life  assumes  mortality  and  expense  risks  related  to   the
operations  of the Account  and deducts charges daily  at a rate  , on an annual
basis, equal to 1.25% of  the daily net assets  of the Account. Northbrook  Life
guarantees that the amount of this charge will not increase over the life of the
contract.
    
 
   
    Beginning  in  October  1995,  Northbrook  Life  offers  contractholders  an
enhanced death benefit, which guarantees that  the death benefit will provide  a
cumulative  return greater than  or equal to a  specified level ("Enhanced Death
Benefit"). Northbrook Life deducts daily an additional charge equal to .13%,  on
an  annual basis, of the daily net  assets of the Account which are attributable
to contractholders who have elected the enhanced death benefit.
    
 
   
4.  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE AND CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGES
    
   
    Northbrook Life deducts administrative expense  charges daily at a rate,  on
an  annual basis,  equal to .10%  of the daily  net assets of  the Account. This
charge is designed to cover additional administrative expense.
    
 
   
    For each year or portion of a year a contract is in effect, Northbrook  Life
deducts  a fixed annual contract maintenance  charge of $30 as reimbursement for
expenses related to the maintenance of each contract and the Account. The amount
of this charge is guaranteed not to increase over the life of the contract.
    
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                       TWO YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
5.  UNITS ISSUED AND REDEEMED
    
   
    Units issued and redeemed by the Account during 1995 for contracts with  and
without the Enhanced Death Benefit were as follows:
    
 
   
CONTRACTS WITHOUT THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     QUALITY
                                  MONEY       HIGH                   INCOME
                                 MARKET       YIELD      EQUITY       PLUS      STRATEGIST
(units in thousands)            PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                                ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
<S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER
 31, 1994.....................     19,047     4,083       8,914      25,350       18,219
Unit activity during 1995:
  Issued......................      9,777     2,082       3,103       3,809        2,549
  Redeemed....................    (11,340)     (629)     (1,182)     (2,423)      (3,050)
                                ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER
 31, 1995.....................     17,484     5,536      10,835      26,736       17,718
                                ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
                                ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
CONTRACTS WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     QUALITY
                                  MONEY       HIGH                   INCOME
                                 MARKET       YIELD      EQUITY       PLUS      STRATEGIST
(units in thousands)            PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                                ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
<S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER
 31, 1994.....................       --         --          --          --          --
Unit activity during 1995:
  Issued......................      719         78         227         146          94
  Redeemed....................     (208)       (11)        (11)         (4)         (2)
                                    ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER
 31, 1995.....................      511         67         216         142          92
                                    ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
                                    ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
</TABLE>
    
 
   
UNITS REDEEMED INCLUDES UNITS DEDUCTED FOR ACCRUED CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGES.
    
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
   
                     NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                       TWO YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    
 
   
5.  UNITS ISSUED AND REDEEMED (CONTINUED)
    
   
 
CONTRACTS WITHOUT THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              GLOBAL
                                                               DIVIDEND               EUROPEAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND    PACIFIC
                                                                GROWTH    UTILITIES    GROWTH     GROWTH      GROWTH     GROWTH
(units in thousands)                                           PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO
                                                               --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER 31, 1994.........................   28,981     22,553       8,490      3,411      12,307      7,080
Unit activity during 1995:
  Issued.....................................................    7,341      2,498       1,397      1,117       4,309      3,564
  Redeemed...................................................   (2,807)    (2,425)     (1,299)      (610)     (1,290)    (1,778)
                                                               --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER 31, 1995.........................   33,515     22,626       8,588      3,918      15,326      8,866
                                                               --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                                                               --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
CONTRACTS WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              GLOBAL
                                                               DIVIDEND               EUROPEAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND    PACIFIC
                                                                GROWTH    UTILITIES    GROWTH     GROWTH      GROWTH     GROWTH
(units in thousands)                                           PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO  PORTFOLIO
                                                               --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER 31, 1994.........................      --         --         --          --          --          --
Unit activity during 1995:
  Issued.....................................................     383        171         75          48         170         116
  Redeemed...................................................     (16)        (6)       (13)        (12)        (15)        (18)
                                                                  ---        ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
UNITS OUTSTANDING, DECEMBER 31, 1995.........................     367        165         62          36         155          98
                                                                  ---        ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
                                                                  ---        ---        ---         ---         ---         ---
</TABLE>
    
 
   
UNITS REDEEMED INCLUDES UNITS DEDUCTED FOR ACCRUED CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGES.
    
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
   
                                     PART C
                               OTHER INFORMATION
    
 
24A. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    PART B: Northbrook Life Insurance Company Financial Schedules
   
            Northbrook Variable Annuity Account II Financial Schedules
    
 
24B. EXHIBITS
 
    The following exhibits:
 
    The  following  exhibits,  which  were  previously  filed  with Registrant's
Registration Statement  dated June  15, 1990,  correspond to  those required  by
paragraph (b) of item 24 as to exhibits in Form N-4:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>
 (1)       Resolution of the Board of Directors of Northbrook Life Insurance Company authorizing
           establishment of the Variable Annuity Account II
 (2)       Not Applicable
 (3)(a)    Distribution Agreement
   (b)     Managing General Agent's Agreement
 (4)       Form of Contract and Certificate Amendments**
 (5)       Form of application for a Contract
 (6)(a)    Certificate of Incorporation of Northbrook Life Insurance Company
   (b)     By-laws of Northbrook Life Insurance Company
 (7)       Not applicable
 (8)       Participation Agreement*
 (9)       Opinion of Robert S. Seiler, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
           Northbrook Life Insurance Company
(10)(a)    Consent of Accountants*
   (b)     Consent of Attorneys
(11)       Not applicable
(12)       Not Applicable
(13)       Performance Data Calculations*
(99)       Powers of Attorney*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
 *  Filed herewith.
    
 
   
**   Previously filed in Form N-4 Registration Statement No. 33-35412 dated June
    23, 1995.
    
<PAGE>
25.  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DEPOSITOR
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
            ADDRESS                       POSITION AND OFFICE WITH DEPOSITOR OF THE TRUST
- -------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>
Louis G. Lower, II               Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Michael J. Velotta               Director, Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Marla G. Friedman                Director, President and Chief Operating Officer
Peter H. Heckman                 Director and Vice President
John R. Hunter                   Director and Assistant Vice President
Lawrence P. Moews                Director
Casey J. Sylla                   Director and Chief Investment Officer
James P. Zils                    Treasurer
Barry S. Paul                    Assistant Vice President and Controller
Sarah R. Donahue                 Assistant Vice President
Ronald Johnson                   Assistant Vice President
Emma M. Kalaidjian               Assistant Secretary
Margarita E. Kellen              Assistant Vice President
Paul N. Kierig                   Assistant Secretary
Mary J. McGinn                   Assistant Secretary
Robert N. Roeters                Assistant Vice President
Theodore A. Schnell              Assistant Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
                                  Treasurer
C. Nelson Strom                  Assistant Vice President and Corporate Actuary
Charles F. Thalheimer            Assistant Vice President
Kevin R. Slawin                  Assistant Treasurer
Brenda D. Sneed                  Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The principal business address  of the foregoing  officers and directors  is
3100 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.
    
 
26.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH DEPOSITOR OR REGISTRANT
 
   
    See 10-K Commission File #1-11840, The Allstate Corporation.
    
 
27.  NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS
 
   
    As  of December  31, 1995  there were  in force  7,863 qualified  and 54,063
non-qualified contracts. The Registrant began operations on October 25, 1990.
    
 
28.  INDEMNIFICATION
 
    The Managing General  Agent's Agreement  (Exhibit 3(b)) has  a provision  in
which  Northbrook Life agrees  to indemnify Dean  Witter Reynolds as Underwriter
for certain damages and  expenses that may be  caused by actions, statements  or
omissions  by  Northbrook  Life. The  Agreement  to Purchase  Shares  contains a
similar provision in paragraph 16 of Exhibit 12.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liability  arising out of the Securities  Act
of  1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to  the foregoing provisions,  or otherwise, the  registrant
has  been advised 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
<PAGE>
against such  liabilities (other  than  payment by  the registrant  of  expenses
incurred  by a director, officer or controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful defense  of  any  action,  suit,  or  proceeding)  is  asserted  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.
 
29A.  RELATIONSHIP OF PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER TO OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
 
    Dean Witter Distributors Inc. is the principal underwriter for the following
investment companies:
 
   
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Retirement Series
    
   
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
 Securities Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
    
   
Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
    
   
Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
    
   
Active Assets Money Trust
    
   
Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
    
   
Active Assets Government Securities Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
    
   
Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
    
   
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
    
   
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
    
   
Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Utilities Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Strategist Fund
    
   
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money
 Market Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
    
   
Prime Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
    
   
Dean Witter American Value Fund
    
   
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
    
   
Dean Witter Premium Income Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
    
   
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
    
   
Dean Witter High Income Securities
    
   
Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
    
   
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
    
   
Dean Witter Information Fund
    
   
Dean Witter Japan Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
    
   
TCW/DW North American Government
 Income Trust
    
   
TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Balanced Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Fund
    
   
TCW/DW Total Return Trust
    
<PAGE>
29B.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
  ADDRESS OF EACH SUCH PERSON                  POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>
Dean   Witter   Reynolds   Inc.  Underwriter
("Dean Witter")
Philip J. Purcell                Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Richard M. Demartini             President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, Dean Witter
                                  Capital
James F. Higgins                 President and Chief Operating Officer and Director, Dean Witter
                                  Financial
Stephen R. Miller                Senior Executive Vice President and Director
Raymond J. Drop                  Executive Vice President
Robert J. Dwyer                  Executive Vice President, National Sales Director and Director
Christine A. Edwards             Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director
Charles A. Fiumefreddo           Executive Vice President and Director
Frederick J. Frohne              Executive Vice President
Alfred J. Golden                 Executive Vice President
E. Davisson Hardman, Jr.         Executive Vice President
Mitchell M. Merin                Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and
                                  Director
Laurence E. Mollner              Executive Vice President
Jeremiah A. Mullins              Executive Vice President
Richard F. Powers, III           Executive Vice President and Director
John H. Schaefer                 Executive Vice President
Thomas C. Schneider              Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
Robert B. Sculthorpe             Executive Vice President
William B. Smith                 Executive Vice President and Director
Samule H. Wolcott, III           Executive Vice President
Anthony Basile                   Senior Vice President and Corporate Services Director
Ronald T. Carman                 Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant
                                  Secretary
Michael T. Cunningham            Senior Vice President
Mary E. Curran                   Senior Vice President
David Diaz                       Senior Vice President
Raymond F. Douglas               Senior Vice President
Paul J. Dubow                    Senior Vice President
Michael T. Gregg                 Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
Erick R. Holt                    Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Birendra Kumar                   Senior Vice President and Treasurer
George R. Ross                   Senior Vice President
Robert P. Sears                  Senior Vice President
Joseph G. Siniscalchi            Senior Vice President and Controller, Dean Witter Financial
Michael H. Stone                 Senior Vice President
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
  ADDRESS OF EACH SUCH PERSON                  POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence Volpe                   Senior Vice President and Controller, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
                                  and Dean Witter Capital
<S>                              <C>
Lorena J. Kern                   Senior Vice President
Kelly McNamara                   Senior Vice President and Director of Governmental Affairs
Michael D. Browne                Assistant Secretary
Marilyn Cranney                  Assistant Secretary
Sheldon Curtis                   Assistant Secretary
Sabrina Hurley                   Assistant Secretary
Barbara B. Kiley                 Assistant Secretary
Linda Butler                     Assistant Secretary
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The  principal address of Dean  Witter is Two World  Trade Center, New York,
New York 10048.
    
 
29C.  COMPENSATION OF DEAN WITTER
 
    The following  commissions  and other  compensation  were received  by  each
principal  underwriter, directly or  indirectly, from the  Registrant during the
Registrant's last fiscal year:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      (1)             (2)            (3)             (4)             (5)
                      NET        COMPENSATION
                 UNDERWRITING   OR REDEMPTION
    NAME OF      DISCOUNTS AND        OR          BROKERAGE
   PRINCIPAL      COMMISSIONS   ANNUITIZATION    COMMISSIONS     COMPENSATION
- ---------------  -------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
<S>              <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc.                                   $   32,937,708
</TABLE>
    
 
30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
 
    Michael J. Velotta
    Northbrook Life Insurance Company
    3100 Sanders Road
    Northbrook, Illinois 60062
 
31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES
 
    None
<PAGE>
32.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
   
    The  Registrant  promises  to  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.  Registrant  furthermore  agrees  to include  either  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 a 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.
Finally,   the  Registrant  agrees  to   deliver  any  Statement  of  Additional
Information and any  Financial Statements  required to be  made available  under
this Form N-4 promptly upon written or oral request.
    
 
33.  REPRESENTATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 403(B) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
 
    The  Company  represents  that  it  is  relying  upon  a  November  28, 1988
Securities and  Exchange  Commission no-action  letter  issued to  the  American
Council  of Life Insurance ("ACLI") and that the provisions of paragraphs 1-4 of
the no-action letter have been complied with.

<PAGE>

               PARTICIPATION AGR. C66086

               PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 17th day of April, 1996, by and
between each of NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF NEW YORK and GLENBROOK LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY (hereinafter
collectively the "Companies" and individually the "Company"), each on its own
behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset accounts of the Company set
forth in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to time,
(hereinafter the "Accounts") and DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES, an
unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, (hereinafter the "Trust") and DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
(hereinafter the "Distributor").

  WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end management investment
company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and has filed its registration statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (hereinafter "S.E.C."), which
declared such registration statement effective on October 5, 1983;

  WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer with the S.E.C.
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD");

  WHEREAS, the Trust is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate
accounts established for variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
contracts offered or to be offered by insurance companies which have entered
into participation agreements with the Trust and the Distributor (hereinafter
"Participating Insurance Companies");

  WHEREAS, the Trust has obtained an order from the S.E.C., dated November 23,
1994 (File No. 812-9128), granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act and
Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to
permit shares of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order");

  WHEREAS, the Trust is presently comprised of eleven Portfolios designated as
the Money Market Portfolio, the Quality Income Plus Portfolio, the High Yield
Portfolio, the Utilities Portfolio, the Dividend Growth Portfolio, the Capital
Growth Portfolio, the Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European Growth
Portfolio, the Pacific Growth Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio and the Strategist
Portfolio, and other Portfolios may be subsequently established by the Trust
(hereinafter the "Portfolios");

  WHEREAS, the Portfolios of the Trust offered by the Trust to the Companies and
the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto;

  WHEREAS, the Companies will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (hereinafter the "Contracts") which, if required by
applicable law, will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
(hereinafter the "1933 Act");

  WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the applicable
Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts that are
allocated to the Accounts (the Contracts and the Accounts covered by this
Agreement, and each corresponding Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which
the Accounts invest, are specified in Schedule A attached hereto as such
Schedule A may be amended from time to time);

  WHEREAS, the Companies have registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);


                  1

<PAGE>

  WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations,
each Company intends by purchasing shares of the Portfolios on behalf of the
Accounts to fund the Contracts and the Distributor is authorized to sell such
shares to the Companies for the benefit of the Accounts at net asset value
without the imposition of any charges;

  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, each Company, the
Trust and the Distributor agree as follows:

  1.  Purchase of Shares. In accordance with the Trust's and the Distributor's
Distribution Agreement dated June 30, 1993, as amended as of March 15, 1995,
(the "Distribution Agreement"), the Company agrees to purchase and redeem the
Trust shares of each Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the
Trust (hereinafter the "Prospectus") included in the Trust's registration
statement (hereinafter "the Registration Statement") most recently filed from
time to time with the S.E.C. and effective under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
or as the Prospectus may be amended or supplemented and filed with the S.E.C.
pursuant to the 1933 Act. The Portfolios to be offered to each Account are set
forth on Schedule A attached hereto.

  2.  Sale of Shares. The Distributor agrees to sell shares of the Trust to the
Company for allocation to the Account as orders from the Company are received at
the next determined net asset value per share after receipt by the Trust or its
designee of the order for shares of the Trust, of the applicable Portfolio
determined as set forth in the Prospectus.

  3.  Redemption of Shares. At the Company's request, the Trust agrees to redeem
for cash without charge, any full or fractional shares of the Trust held by the
Company, executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value of
applicable Portfolio computed after receipt of the redemption request provided,
however, that the Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption or
to postpone the date of payment upon redemption of the shares of any Portfolio
under the circumstances and for the period of time specified in the Prospectus.

  4.  Availability of Shares. Subject to Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the
Distribution Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference,
the Trust agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for purchase by the
Company.

  5.  Payment of Shares. The Company shall pay for Trust shares within five days
after it places the order for Trust shares. The Trust reserves the right to
delay issuing or transferring Trust shares and/or to delay accruing or declaring
dividends in accordance with any policy set forth in its then current prospectus
with respect to such shares until any payment check has cleared. If the Trust or
the Distributor does not receive payment within the five days period, the Trust
may, without notice, cancel the order and require the Company to reimburse the
Trust promptly for any loss the Trust suffered by reason of the Company failing
to timely pay for its shares.

  6.  Fee for Shares. The Company shall purchase and redeem shares in the Trust
at net asset value and the Company shall not pay any commission, dealers fee or
other fee to the Distributor or any other broker dealer.

  7.  Trust's Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Trust shall amend the
Registration Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares and, at its own expense, shall provide the Company with as many copies of
its current prospectus as the Company may reasonably request.

  8.  Investment of Assets. The Trust agrees to invest its assets in accordance
with Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation
1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof,
relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity contracts and
any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulations.

  9.  Administration of Contracts. The Company shall be responsible for
administering the Contracts and keeping records on the Contracts.

                  2

<PAGE>

  10. Stockholder Information. The Trust shall furnish the Company copies of its
proxy material, reports to stockholders and other communication to stockholders
in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to
owners or participants under the Contracts. The Company will distribute these
materials to such owners or participants as required.

  11. Voting. (a) To the extent required by law, the Company shall vote Trust
shares in accordance with instructions received from contract owners. If,
however, the 1940 Act 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 Trust's shares in its own right, it
may elect to do so. The Company shall vote shares of a Portfolio for which no
instructions have been received in the same proportion as the vote of
shareholders of such Portfolio from which instructions have been received.
Neither the Company nor persons under its control shall recommend action in
connection with solicitation of proxies for Trust shares allocated to the
Account. The Company shall also vote shares it owns that are not attributable to
contract owners in the same proportion. Participating Insurance Companies shall
be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts participating
in the Trust calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other
Participating Insurance Companies.

  (b) The Trust will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting
by shareholders, and in particular the Trust will either provide for annual
meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Trust is not
one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with
Section 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Trust will act in
accordance with the S.E.C.'s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a)
with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the
S.E.C. may promulgate with respect thereto.

  12. Company Approval. The Trust and the Distributor agree that the approval of
the Company will be required prior to the Trust and the Distributor entering
into any new agreements to sell shares of the Trust to other Participating
Companies.

  13. Trust's Warranty. The Trust represents and warrants that Trust shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly
authorized for issuance in accordance with all applicable federal and state
laws.

  14. Company's Warranty. Each of Northbrook Life Insurance Company and
Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under Illinois law and
that it has legally and validly established the Accounts under Section 245.21 of
the Illinois Insurance Code. Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under New York law and that it has legally and validly established
the Accounts under Section 424.40 of the New York Insurance Laws. The Company
represents that it has registered the Accounts as unit investment trusts in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, unless exempt therefrom, to
serve as segregated investment accounts for certain Contracts. The Company
further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be registered under the
1933 Act, unless exempt therefrom, and the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws.

  15. Distributor's Warranty. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is
a member in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with
the S.E.C. under the 1934 Act. The Distributor further represents that it will
sell and distribute the shares in accordance with the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts
and will not make any representations concerning the Account except those
contained in the then current registration statement or related prospectus and
any sales literature approved by the Trust. For purposes of this paragraph,
Section 6 of the Distribution Agreement is incorporated in this Agreement.

  16. Termination of Agreement. The parties may terminate this Agreement as
follows:

    (1)(a) at the option of the Company or the Trust or the Distributor upon 90
  days' written notice to the other party;



                  3

<PAGE>

    (b) at the option of the Company if, for any reason, except for those
  specified in Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the Distribution Agreement, Trust
  shares are not available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as
  determined by the Company; or

    (c) at the option of the Trust upon the NASD, the S.E.C., the Illinois
  Insurance Commissioner, the New York Insurance Commissioner or any other
  regulatory body instituting legal proceedings against the Company
  regarding its duties under this Agreement.

    (2) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
  assignment.

  17. Company's Indemnification Agreement. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Trust or Distributor and each of their Directors or
Trustees who is not an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined in the 1940
Act (collectively the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this paragraph 17)
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Company) or expenses or actions to
which such Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Federal securities
laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements arise as a result of any
failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under
terms of this Agreement or which arise from erroneous instructions by the
Company to the Distributor concerning the particular Portfolio or Portfolios
whose shares are to be allocated to the Account. This indemnity agreement is in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. Provided,
however, that in no case is the indemnity of the Company in favor of the
Distributor deemed to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Trust
or its shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by
reason of its bad faith, wilful misfeasance or negligence in the performance of
its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under this Agreement.

  (b) The Company will reimburse the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with
investigating or defending of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

  (c) Promptly after receipt by any of the Indemnified Parties of notice of the
commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for which indemnity may
apply under this paragraph, the Indemnified Parties will, if a claim thereof is
to be made against the Trust, notify the Company of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Parties otherwise than under this
Agreement. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties,
and the Company is notified of the commencement thereof, the Company will be
entitled to participate therein and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action, and after notice from the Company
to such party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

  18. Trust and Distributor Indemnification Agreements. (a) The Trust and
Distributor each agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of
its Directors who is not an "interested person" of the Company, as defined in
the 1940 Act (collectively the "Company's Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this paragraph 18) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Trust) or expenses or
actions to which such Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Federal
securities laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:

    (i) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust or Distributor to
  provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
  Agreement; or

    (ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
  untrue statement of any material fact contained in registration statement
  or prospectus or sales literature of the Trust (or any amendment or supplement
  to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
  the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
  therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided
  that this Agreement to indemnify shall not


                  4

<PAGE>

  apply as to the Company's Indemnified Parties if such statement or
  omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
  furnished to the Trust or Distributor by or on behalf of the Company for
  use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Trust or in sales
  literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
  connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or

   (iii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
  representation and/or warranty made by the Trust or the Distributor in
  this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of
  this Agreement by the Trust or the Distributor, including a failure,
  whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
  requirements specified in paragraph 8 of this Agreement.

  (b) The Trust represents and warrants that the Trust will at all times invest
its assets in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as
an annuity under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Trust will at all times comply
with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.817-5, as amended from
time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity contracts and any amendments
or other modifications to such section or Regulations.

  (c) Trust shares will not be sold to any person or entity that would result in
the Contracts not being treated as annuity contracts in accordance with the
statutes and regulations referred to in the preceding paragraph.

  (d) The Trust and the Distributor will reimburse the Company for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company's Indemnified Parties in
connection with investigating or defending of any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action.

  (e) Promptly after receipt by any of the Company's Indemnified Parties of
notice of the commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for which
indemnity may apply under this paragraph, the Company's Indemnified Parties
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company, notify
the Trust or the Distributor of commencement thereof; but the omission so to
notify the Trust or the Distributor will not relieve the Trust or the
Distributor from any liability which it may have to the Company's Indemnified
Parties otherwise than under this Agreement. In case any such action is brought
against the Company's Indemnified Parties, and the Trust or the Distributor is
notified of the commencement thereof, the Trust or the Distributor will be
entitled to participate therein and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action, and after notice from the Trust
or the Distributor to such party of the Trust's or the Distributor's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Trust or the Distributor will not be liable to
such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.

  19. Indemnification of Trust by or of Distributor. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Trust and the Distributor shall indemnify each other according to
the terms of the Distribution Agreement the terms of which are incorporated by
reference.

  20. Potential Conflicts. (a) The Trustees of the Trust will monitor the
operations of the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all separate accounts
investing in the Trust. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a
variety of reasons, including: (i) an action by any state insurance regulatory
authority; (ii) a change in applicable Federal or state insurance, tax, or
securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling,
no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or
securities regulatory authorities; (iii) an administrative or judicial decision
in any relevant proceeding; (iv) the manner in which the investments of any
Portfolio are being managed; (v) a difference in voting instructions given by
variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (vi) a
decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners.
The Trustees shall promptly inform the Company if they determine that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.


                  5

<PAGE>

  (b) The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is
aware to the Trustees of the Trust. The Company will assist the Trustees in
carrying out their responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by
providing the Trustees with all information reasonably necessary for the
Trustees to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Trustees whenever contract owner voting
instructions are disregarded.

  (c) If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of the
Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such
party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or
any agreement related thereto (the "Independent Trustees"), that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company shall, at its expense and to the
extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent
Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (i) withdrawing the
assets allocable to the affected Account from the Trust or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not
limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting the question whether
such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected contract owners
and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of variable annuity contract owners
invested in the Account from those of any other appropriate group (i.e., annuity
contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of
one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to the contract owners the option of making such a
change; and (ii) establishing a new registered management investment company or
managed separate account.

  (d) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the
Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw the Account's investment
in the Trust and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
Independent Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within
six (6) months after the Trust gives written notice that this provision is being
implemented, and until the end of that six month period the Distributor and
Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Trust.

  (e) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state
insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the
majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six months after the
Trustees inform the Company in writing that they have determined that such
decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however,
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by
the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
the Independent Trustees. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the
Distributor and Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Trust.

  (f) For purposes of sections (c) through (f) of this paragraph, a majority of
the Independent Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action adequately
remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Trust be
required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall
not be required by section (c) to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of
contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material
conflict. In the event that the Trustees determine that any proposed action does
not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company
will withdraw the Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement
within six (6) months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing of the
foregoing determination, provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination
shall be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees.

  (g) If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule
6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and


                  6

<PAGE>

conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Trust and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply
with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the
extent such Rules are applicable; and (b) paragraphs 11(a), 11(b), 20(a), 20(b),
20(c), 20(d), 20(e) and 20(f) of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to
the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such paragraphs
are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.

  21. Duration of this Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in force until
April 30, 1997 and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees of the
Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Trust, cast in person or by proxy. This Agreement also may be terminated in
accordance with paragraph 16 hereof.

  The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities",
"assignment" and "interested person", when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.

  22. Amendments of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the Trustees of the
Trust, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities of the
Trust, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to
this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any agreement related
thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval.

  23. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
law of the State of Illinois and the applicable provisions of the 1933, 1934 and
1940 Acts and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder including such
exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the S.E.C. may grant
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
To the extent the applicable law of the State of Illinois, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

  24. Personal Liability. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which, together
with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series refers to the Trustees under the Declaration
collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise,
in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter Variable Investment Series,
but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.

                  7

<PAGE>

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of April 17, 1996.

                         Companies:

                         NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                         By:
                             -----------------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                         ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         OF NEW YORK

                         By:
                             -----------------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                         GLENBROOK LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY

                         By:
                             -----------------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Trust:

                         DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT
                         SERIES

                         By:
                             -----------------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Distributor:

                         DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.

                         By:
                             -----------------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------


                  8

<PAGE>

                                    As of April 17, 1996

                     SCHEDULE A
                   ACCOUNTS AND PORTFOLIOS
                SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT


        NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND
  NAME OF    DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF  FUND PORTFOLIOS
APPLICABLE
 INSURANCE COMPANY      DIRECTORS         TO CONTRACTS
- -------------  ------------ ---------------



                           Northbrook Variable Annuity
Northbrook Life Insurance Company         Account (February 14, 1983)        All
- ----------------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
                           Northbrook Variable Annuity
                            Account II (May 18, 1990)
- -------------------------------- -----------------------
                           Northbrook Variable Annuity
                           Account III (April 8, 1996)
- -------------------------------- -----------------------
                          Northbrook Life Variable Life
                          Separate Account A (January
                          15, 1996)
- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
                            Allstate Life of New York
Allstate Life Insurance Company           Variable Annuity Account
 of New York                  (June 26, 1987)                        All
- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
                            Allstate Life of New York
                           Variable Annuity Account II
                           (June 28, 1990)
- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
                          Glenbrook Life Multi-Manager
                          Variable Account (January 15,
Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company       1996)                           All
- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
            Glenbrook Life Variable Life    Dividend Growth Portfolio European
            Separate Account A (January     Growth Portfolio Quality Income Plus
            15, 1996)                       Portfolio Utilities Portfolio
- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------


<PAGE>
   
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(a)
    
 
   
                             CONSENT OF ACCOUNTANTS
    
<PAGE>
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
   
    We   consent  to  the  use  in  this  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  12  to
Registration Statement No.  33-35412 on Form  N-4 of our  report dated March  1,
1996  accompanying  the  financial  statements  of  Northbrook  Variable Annuity
Account II  and  our report  dated  March  1, 1996  accompanying  the  financial
statements and financial statement schedule of Northbrook Life Insurance Company
contained  in the Statement of Additional  Information (which is incorporated by
reference in  the  Prospectus  of  Northbrook Variable  Annuity  Account  II  of
Northbrook Life Insurance Company) which is part of such Registration Statement,
and  to the  reference to us  under the  heading "Experts" in  such Statement of
Additional Information.
    
 
   
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
    
 
   
Chicago, Illinois
April 25, 1996
    


<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 13

                         NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY II
                               FEE TABLE WORKSHEET

<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>                     <C>         <C>             <C>
Initial deposit                                                     1000                   Surrender Charge Schedule
Contract fee                                                          30                   End of Year     SC
Assets -- beginning of year (in thousands)                       2218116                             1     5%
Assets -- end of year (in thousands)                             2992624                             2     4%
Average assets                                                   2605370                             3     3%
Contract fees collected ($)                                   1659940.33                             4     2%
Contract fee per $1000                                 0.637122685069683                             5     1%
Interest assumption                                                5.00%                             6     0%
Free -AV(1)/Prem(2)                                                    2                             7     0%
Free amount                                                          15%                             8     0%
                                                                                                     9     0%
                                                                                                    10     0%

Separate account expenses
M&E and Admin                                                      1.35%

Portfolio expenses

                                                              Management        Other
                                                                 Fees          Expenses
Capital Growth                                                     0.65%          0.09%
Dividend Growth                                                    0.59%          0.02%
Equity                                                             0.50%          0.04%
European Growth                                                    1.00%          0.17%
Global Dividend Growth                                             0.75%          0.13%
High Yield                                                         0.50%          0.04%
Money Market                                                       0.50%          0.03%
Pacific Growth                                                     1.00%          0.44%
Quality Income Plus                                                0.50%          0.04%
Strategist                                                         0.50%          0.02%
Utilities                                                          0.65%          0.03%
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                        NORTHBROOK VARIABLE ANNUITY II DB
                               FEE TABLE WORKSHEET

<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>                     <C>         <C>             <C>
Initial deposit                                                     1000                   Surrender Charge Schedule
Contract fee                                                          30                   End of Year     SC
Assets -- beginning of year (in thousands)                       2218116                             1     5%
Assets -- end of year (in thousands)                             2992624                             2     4%
Average assets                                                   2605370                             3     3%
Contract fees collected ($)                                   1659940.33                             4     2%
Contract fee per $1000                                 0.637122685069683                             5     1%
Interest assumption                                                5.00%                             6     0%
Free -AV(1)/Prem(2)                                                    2                             7     0%
Free amount                                                          15%                             8     0%
                                                                                                     9     0%
                                                                                                    10     0%

Separate account expenses
M&E and Admin                                                      1.48%

Portfolio expenses

                                                              Management        Other
                                                                 Fees          Expenses
Capital Growth                                                     0.65%          0.09%
Dividend Growth                                                    0.59%          0.02%
Equity                                                             0.50%          0.04%
European Growth                                                    1.00%          0.17%
Global Dividend Growth                                             0.75%          0.13%
High Yield                                                         0.50%          0.04%
Money Market                                                       0.50%          0.03%
Pacific Growth                                                     1.00%          0.44%
Quality Income Plus                                                0.50%          0.04%
Strategist                                                         0.50%          0.02%
Utilities                                                          0.65%          0.03%
</TABLE>




<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
             WITH RESPECT TO THE NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                      VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II CONTRACT
 
    Know all men by these presents that Lawrence P. Moews whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints Louis G. Lower, II, and Michael J.
Velotta, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, with power of substitution,
and him in any and all capacities, to sign any registration statements and
amendments thereto for the Northbrook Life Insurance Company Variable Annuity
Account II Contract and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                                       April 26, 1996
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Date

                                                   /s/ LAWRENCE P. MOEWS
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Lawrence P. Moews
                                          Director
                                          Northbrook Life Insurance Company
<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
             WITH RESPECT TO THE NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                      VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II CONTRACT
 
    Know all men by these presents that Casey J. Sylla whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints Louis G. Lower, II, and Michael J.
Velotta, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, with power of substitution,
and him in any and all capacities, to sign any registration statements and
amendments thereto for the Northbrook Life Insurance Company Variable Annuity
Account II Contract and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                                       April 26, 1996
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Date

                                                     /s/ CASEY J. SYLLA
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Casey J. Sylla
                                          Chief Investment Officer & Director
                                          Northbrook Life Insurance Company

<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
             WITH RESPECT TO THE NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                      VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II CONTRACT
 
    Know all men by these presents that James P. Zils whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints Louis G. Lower, II, and Michael J.
Velotta, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, with power of substitution,
and him in any and all capacities, to sign any registration statements and
amendments thereto for the Northbrook Life Insurance Company Variable Annuity
Account II Contract and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                                      April 26, 1996
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Date

                                                     /s/ JAMES P. ZILS
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          James P. Zils
                                          Treasurer
                                          Northbrook Life Insurance Company

<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
             WITH RESPECT TO THE NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                      VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II CONTRACT
 
    Know all men by these presents that Barry S. Paul whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints Louis G. Lower, II, and Michael J.
Velotta, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, with power of substitution,
and him in any and all capacities, to sign any registration statements and
amendments thereto for the Northbrook Life Insurance Company Variable Annuity
Account II Contract and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                                      April 26, 1996
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Date

                                                    /s/ BARRY S. PAUL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Barry S. Paul
                                          Assistant Vice President and 
                                          Controller
                                          Northbrook Life Insurance Company


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