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NATIONWIDE(R)
VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
(FORMERLY FINANCIAL HORIZONS VLSEPARATE ACCOUNT-1)
ANNUAL REPORT
TO
CONTRACT OWNERS
DECEMBER 31, 1996
NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
HOME OFFICE: COLUMBUS, OHIO
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NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2220
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
On behalf of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, we are pleased to
bring you the 1996 annual report of the Nationwide VL Separate Account-A.
The U.S. economy is enjoying the rewards of a stable political system and a
globally competitive business sector. These good times will last, although not
all years will show the stellar performance of the last two years. 1997 may be
the year in which normalcy will return.
The economic expansion has lasted six years already, and all resources are more
or less fully employed. The job market in particular is showing some strains,
and wages are rising a bit faster than before. Also, the competitive pressures
from abroad are increasing due to a sharp rise in the exchange value of our
currency. Business will be hard pressed under those conditions to continue
showing above-average profit increases. For the economy as a whole, inflation
has hit the low point in this business cycle and will slowly but surely be a
more important variable for monetary policy.
In the last few years, and especially in 1996, our economy expanded faster than
the natural rate of growth. This cannot continue without creating bottlenecks
that in turn induce price increases. Either the economy will slow under its own
weight or the Federal Reserve will have to step in. Some indicators point to a
softening of business activity. But whether this is enough will be a close
call.
Again, the long-term trend is very positive for the U.S., its business
activity, and its financial markets. However, 1997 might turn out to have some
more surprises than anticipated right now.
/s/ JOSEPH J. GASPER, President
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NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
(Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
December 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments at market value:
Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
1,295 shares (cost $30,834) ............................. $ 40,328
Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
96 shares (cost $1,141) ................................. 1,561
Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
1,578 shares (cost $16,876) ............................. 17,425
Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
10,224 shares (cost $10,224) ............................ 10,224
Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
863 shares (cost $9,232) ................................ 11,458
Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
724 shares (cost $11,022) ............................... 11,523
TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
60,866 shares (cost $312,528) ........................... 382,850
--------
Total assets 475,369
Accounts Payable 34
--------
Contract Owners' Equity $475,335
========
Contract owners' equity represented by: UNITS UNIT VALUE
----- ----------
Multiple Payment Contracts and Flexible Premium Contracts:
Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio ....................... 2,016 $20.008196 $ 40,337
Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund ............ 83 18.410667 1,528
Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund ................. 1,132 15.383251 17,414
Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund .................... 835 12.214743 10,199
Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund .................... 523 21.988773 11,500
Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio ............... 729 15.775523 11,500
TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage ........................ 413 14.210999 5,869
TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage Initial Funding by
Depositor (note 1a) .................................. 25,000 15.079515 376,988
====== ========= ========
$475,335
========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
(Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Investment Activity:
Reinvested capital gains and
dividends............................ $ 31,785 $ 13,451 $ 12,249
Mortality and expense charges
(note 3)............................. (722) (621) (1,049)
-------- ------ --------
Net investment activity............ 31,063 12,830 11,200
-------- ------ --------
Proceeds from mutual fund shares
sold................................. 16,003 36,212 134,821
Cost of mutual fund shares sold....... (14,209) (35,326) (138,965)
-------- ------ --------
Realized gain (loss) on
investments....................... 1,794 886 (4,144)
Change in unrealized gain (loss)
on investments....................... 8,266 53,488 (7,482)
-------- ------- --------
Net gain (loss) on investments..... 10,060 54,374 (11,626)
-------- ------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in
contract owners' equity
resulting from operations... 41,123 67,204 (426)
-------- ------- --------
Equity Transactions:
Purchase payments received from
contract owners..................... 24,097 36,589 --
Surrenders (note 2d).................. (6,042) (164) (9,107)
Policy loans (net of repayments)
(note 4)............................ 3,498 (23,321) --
Deductions for surrender charges
(note 2d)........................... -- -- --
Redemptions to pay cost of insurance
charges and administrative charges
(notes 2b and 2c)................... (12,114) (12,670) (20,999)
-------- ------ --------
Net equity transactions......... 9,439 434 (30,106)
-------- ------ --------
Net change in contract owners' equity 50,562 67,638 (30,532)
Contract owners' equity beginning
of period............................. 424,773 357,135 387,667
-------- ------ --------
Contract owners' equity end of
period................................ $ 475,335 $424,773 $357,135
========= ======= =======
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
(Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Organization and Nature of Operations
Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VL
Separate Account-1) (the Account) was established pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company (formerly Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company)
(the Company) on August 8, 1984. The Account has been registered as a
unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. On
August 21, 1991, the Company (Depositor) transferred to the Account,
50,000 shares of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. - TCI Advantage fund for
which the Account was credited with 25,000 accumulation units. The
value of the accumulation units purchased by the Company on August 21,
1991 was $250,000.
The Company offers Modified Single Premium, Multiple Payment and
Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policies through the Account.
The primary distribution for the contracts is through banks and other
financial institutions; however, other distributors may be utilized.
(b) The Contracts
Only contracts with a front-end sales charge, a contingent deferred
sales charge and certain other fees, have been purchased.
Additionally, contracts without a front-end sales charge, but with a
contingent deferred sales charge and certain other fees, have been
purchased. See note 2 for a discussion of policy charges and note 3
for asset charges.
Contract owners may invest in the following:
Portfolio of the Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund
(Fidelity VIP);
Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
Funds of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust (Nationwide SAT)
(managed for a fee by an affiliated investment advisor);
Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd) Nationwide
SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt) Nationwide SAT - Total
Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
Portfolio of the Neuberger &Berman Advisers Management Trust
(Neuberger & Berman);
Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
Portfolio of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. (TCIPortfolios); TCI
Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
At December 31, 1996, contract owners have invested in all of the
above funds. The contract owners' equity is affected by the investment
results of each fund, equity transactions by contract owners and
certain policy charges (see notes 2 and 3). The accompanying financial
statements include only contract owners' purchase payments pertaining
to the variable portions of their contracts and exclude any purchase
payments for fixed dollar investment options, the latter being
included in the accounts of the Company.
(c) Security Valuation, Transactions and Related Investment Income
The market value of the underlying mutual funds is based on the
closing net asset value per share at December 31, 1996. The cost of
investments sold is determined on the specific identification basis.
Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the
order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on
the ex-dividend date.
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(d) Federal Income Taxes
Operations of the Account form a part of, and are taxed with,
operations of the Company, which is taxed as a life insurance company
under the Internal Revenue Code.
The Company does not provide for income taxes within the Account.
Taxes are the responsibility of the contract owner upon termination or
withdrawal.
(e) Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles may require management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities,
if any, at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
(f) Reclassifications
Certain 1995 and 1994 amounts have been reclassified to conform with
the current year presentation.
(2) POLICY CHARGES
(a) Deductions from Premiums
On multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the
Company deducts a charge for state premium taxes equal to 2.5% of all
premiums received to cover the payment of these premium taxes. The
Company also deducts a sales load from each premium payment received
not to exceed 3.5% of each premium payment. The Company may at its
sole discretion reduce this sales loading.
(b) Cost of Insurance
A cost of insurance charge is assessed monthly against each contract
by liquidating units. The amount of the charge is based upon age, sex,
rate class and net amount at risk (death benefit less total contract
value).
(c) Administrative Charges
For multiple payment contracts, the Company currently deducts a
monthly administrative charge of $5 (may deduct up to $7.50, maximum)
to recover policy maintenance, accounting, record keeping and other
administrative expenses.
For flexible premium contracts, the Company currently deducts a
monthly administrative charge of $25 during the first policy year and
$5 per month thereafter (may deduct up to $7.50, maximum) to recover
policy maintenance, accounting, record keeping and other
administrative expenses. Additionally, the Company deducts an increase
charge of $2.04 per year per $1,000 applied to any increase in the
specified amount during the first 12 months after the increase becomes
effective.
For single premium contracts, the Company deducts an annual
administrative charge which is determined as follows:
Purchase payments totaling less than $25,000 - $90/year
Purchase payments totaling $25,000 or more - $50/year
The above charges are assessed against each contract by liquidating
units.
No charges were deducted from the initial funding, or from the earnings
thereon.
(d) Surrender Charges
Policy surrenders result in a redemption of the contract value from
the Account and payment of the surrender proceeds to the contract
owner or designee. The surrender proceeds consist of the contract
value, less any outstanding policy loans, and less a surrender charge,
if applicable. The charge is determined according to contract type.
For multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the
amount charged is determined based upon a specified percentage of the
initial surrender charge, which varies by issue age, sex and rate
class. The charge is 100% of the initial surrender charge in the first
year, declining to 0% after the ninth year.
For single premium contracts, the charge is determined based upon a
specified percentage of the original purchase payment. The charge is
8.5% in the first year, and declines to 0% after the ninth year.
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(3) ASSET CHARGES
For multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the Company
deducts charges from the contract to cover mortality and expense risk
charges related to operations, and to recover policy maintenance charges.
The charge is equal to an annual rate of .80%, with certain exceptions.
For single premium contracts, the Company deducts a charge from the
contract to cover mortality and expense risk charges related to
operations, and to recover policy maintenance and premium tax charges. The
charge is equal to an annual rate of 1.30% during the first ten policy
years, and 1.00% thereafter.
The above charges are assessed through the daily unit value calculation.
No charges are deducted from the initial funding, or from earnings
thereon.
(4) POLICY LOANS (NET OF REPAYMENTS)
Contract provisions allow contract owners to borrow up to 90% of a
policy's cash surrender value. On each policy anniversary following the
initial loan, 6% interest is due and payable to the Company.
At the time the loan is granted, the amount of the loan is transferred
from the Account to the Company's general account as collateral for the
outstanding loan. Collateral amounts in the general account are credited
with the stated rate of interest in effect at the time the loan is made,
subject to a guaranteed minimum rate. Loan repayments result in a transfer
of collateral, including interest, back to the Account.
(5) SCHEDULE I
Schedule I presents the components of the change in the unit values, which
are the basis for contract owners' equity. This schedule is presented in
the following format:
o Beginning unit value - Jan. 1
o Reinvested capital gains and dividends
(This amount reflects the increase in the unit value due to
capital gains and dividend distributions from the underlying
mutual funds.)
o Unrealized gain (loss)
(This amount reflects the increase (decrease) in the unit value
resulting from the market appreciation (depreciation) of the
underlying mutual funds.)
o Asset charges
(This amount reflects the decrease in the unit value due to the
charges discussed in note 3.)
o Ending unit value - Dec. 31
o Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.
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SCHEDULE I
NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
(FORMERLY FINANCIAL HORIZONS VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-1)
MULTIPLE PAYMENT CONTRACTS AND FLEXIBLE PREMIUM CONTRACTS
SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FIDVIPGR NSATCAPAP NSATGVTBD NSATMYMKT NSATTOTRE NBAMTBAL TCIADV TCIADV+
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- ------ -------
1996
Beginning unit value -
Jan. 1 $17.583952 14.713230 14.984933 11.714295 18.192762 14.878481 13.112917 13.802855
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
and dividends 1.263661 .766553 .930103 .596995 1.217547 2.281380 .945920 .998314
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) 1.312893 3.061949 (.412550) .000000 2.737018 (1.262381) .260998 .278346
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset charges (.152310) (.131065) (.119235) (.096547) (.158554) (.121957) (.108836) .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value -
Dec. 31 $20.008196 18.410667 15.383251 12.214743 21.988773 15.775523 14.210999 15.079515
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
in unit value* 14% 25% 3% 4% 21% 6% 8% 9%
===================================================================================================================================
1995
Beginning unit value -
Jan. 1 $13.094007 11.465403 12.720514 11.176411 14.205723 12.118394 11.321934 11.822996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
and dividends .072389 .653781 .903001 .629782 1.413734 .308616 .411556 .431938
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) 4.544905 2.696528 1.472503 .000000 2.703396 2.562255 1.477165 1.547921
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset charges (.127349) (.102482) (.111085) (.091898) (.130091) (.110784) (.097738) .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value -
Dec. 31 $17.583952 14.713230 14.984933 11.714295 18.192762 14.878481 13.112917 13.802855
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
in unit value* 34% 28% 18% 5% 28% 23% 16% 17%
===================================================================================================================================
1994
Beginning unit value -
Jan. 1 $13.201441 11.662121 13.250482 10.845265 14.167308 12.640011 11.295721 11.701906
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinvested capital gains
and dividends .794469 .184927 .833925 .419275 .717782 .493181 .297670 .309969
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) (.799798) (.289863) (1.261429) .000000 (.565055) (.916591) (.181209) (.188879)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset charges (.102105) (.091782) (.102464) (.088129) (.114312) (.098207) (.090248) .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending unit value -
Dec. 31 $13.094007 11.465403 12.720514 11.176411 14.205723 12.118394 11.321934 11.822996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage increase (decrease)
in unit value* (1)% (2)% (4)% 3% 0% (4)% 0% 1%
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
*An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as asset charges do not
include the policy charges discussed in note 2.
+For Depositor, see note 1a.
See note 5.
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Independent Auditors' Report
The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company
(formerly Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company) and
Contract Owners of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A
(formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1):
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial
Horizons VL Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the related
statements of operations and changes in contract owners' equity and schedules
of changes in unit value for each of the years in the three year period then
ended. These financial statements and schedules of changes in unit value are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules of changes in
unit value based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and schedules of
changes in unit value are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities
owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with the transfer agents of
the underlying mutual funds. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and schedules of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VL
Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations
and its changes in contract owners' equity and the schedules of changes in unit
value for each of the years in the three year period then ended in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Columbus, Ohio
February 7, 1997
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NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Home Office: One Nationwide Plaza o Columbus, Ohio 43215-2220
Nationwide(R) is a registered federal service mark of Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company
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