NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT 5
485BPOS, 1997-04-24
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<PAGE>   1

              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                       '33 Act File No. 33-71440
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM N-4

                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES

                                 ACT OF 1933                     /X/

   
                         Post-Effective Amendment No. 4
    

                                       and

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

                       INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940            / /

                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5

                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                               (Name of Depositor)

   
                   One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215
    

         (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

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

   Gordon E. McCutchan, Secretary, One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215

                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

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

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

/ /  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 

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

/ /  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485 

/ /  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485

/ /  this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment

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

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

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                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5
                     REFERENCE TO ITEMS REQUIRED BY FORM N-4

   
N-4    Item                                                                 Page
Part A     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS
     Item  1. Cover page......................................................3
     Item  2. Definitions.....................................................4
     Item  3. Synopsis or Highlights.........................................11
     Item  4. Condensed Financial Information................................12
     Item  5. General Description of Registrant, Depositor, 
              and Portfolio Companies........................................13
     Item  6. Deductions and Expenses........................................16
     Item  7. General Description of Variable Annuity Contracts..............19
     Item  8. Purchases and Contract Value...................................19
     Item  9. Redemptions....................................................22
     Item 10. Annuity Period.................................................26
     Item 11. Death Benefit and Distributions................................28
     Item 12. Taxes..........................................................31
     Item 13. Legal Proceedings..............................................38
     Item 14. Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information...38

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

Part C     OTHER INFORMATION
     Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.............................80
     Item 25.  Directors and Officers of the Depositor.......................82
     Item 26.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the 
               Depositor or Registrant.......................................84
     Item 27.  Number of Contract Owners.....................................93
     Item 28.  Indemnification...............................................93
     Item 29.  Principal Underwriter.........................................93
     Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records..............................95
     Item 31.  Management Services...........................................95
     Item 32.  Undertakings..................................................95
    

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<PAGE>   3

   
                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                   Home Office
                                 P.O. Box 182008
                            Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008
                       1-800-321-9332, TDD 1-800-238-3035
                 INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
             ISSUED BY NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THROUGH ITS
                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5

     The Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts described in this
prospectus are flexible Purchase Payment contracts (collectively referred to as
the "Contracts"). The Contracts are sold to individuals for use in retirement
plans which may qualify for special federal tax treatment under the Internal
Revenue Code. Annuity payments under the Contracts are deferred until a selected
later date. References throughout the prospectus to the Contracts shall also
mean certificates issued under Group Flexible Fund Retirement Contracts. For
such Group Contracts, references to "Owner" shall mean the "Participant" unless
the Plan otherwise permits or requires the Owner to exercise contractual rights
under the authority of the Plan terms.
    

     Purchase Payments allocated to the Nationwide Variable Account-5 ("Variable
Account"), a separate account of Nationwide Life Insurance Company (the
"Company"), are used by the Variable Account to purchase shares at net asset
value of one or more of the following underlying Mutual Funds:

   
            American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., member of the
                     American Century Family of Mutual Funds
(formerly TCI Portfolios, Inc., member of the Twentieth Century Family of Funds)
                         -American Century VP Advantage
                    -American Century VP Capital Appreciation
    

                            -Dreyfus Stock Index Fund

                    Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund
                            -Equity-Income Portfolio

                        Nationwide Separate Account Trust
                               -Money Market Fund
                              -Government Bond Fund
                               -Total Return Fund

                  Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust
                               -Balanced Portfolio

   
     This prospectus provides you with the basic information you should know
about the Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts issued by the
Nationwide Variable Account-5 before investing. You should read it and keep it
for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated May 1, 1997
containing further information about the Contracts and the Nationwide Variable
Account-5 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can
obtain a copy without charge from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by calling
the number listed above, or writing P. O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008
    

INVESTMENTS IN THESE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY CITIBANK OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR CORRESPONDENTS. INVESTMENTS
ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE CONTRACT
INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
INVESTED.

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

   
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 1997 IS INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION APPEARS ON PAGE 39 OF THE PROSPECTUS. THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS
MAY 1, 1997.
    
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                            GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

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

   
Annuitant- The person actually receiving annuity payments and upon whose
continuation of life any annuity payment involving life contingencies depends.
This person must be age 78 or younger at time of Contract issuance unless the
Company has approved a request for an Annuitant of greater age.
    

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

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

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

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

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

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

Company- Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

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

   
Contingent Designated Annuitant- The Contingent Designated Annuitant may be the
recipient of certain rights or benefits under this Contract when the Designated
Annuitant dies before the Annuitization Date. If a Contingent Designated
Annuitant is designated and the Designated Annuitant dies before the
Annuitization Date, the Contingent Designated Annuitant becomes the Designated
Annuitant. The Contract Owner's right to name a Contingent Designated Annuitant
may be restricted under the provisions of any retirement or deferred
compensation plan for which this Contract is issued. A Contingent Designated
Annuitant may not be named for Contracts issued as Individual Retirement
Annuities, Tax Sheltered Annuities, SEP IRA or Qualified Contracts.

Contingent Owner- The Contingent Owner is named on the application and is
subject to change by the Contract Owner at any time. If the Contract Owner
wishes to name a Contingent Owner, the Contract Owner must do so in writing. The
Contingent Owner may be the recipient of certain rights or benefits under this
Contract when the Contract Owner dies before the Annuitization Date. The
Contract Owner's right to name a Contingent Owner may be restricted under the
provisions of any retirement or deferred compensation plan for which this
Contract is issued. For Contracts issued in the state of New York, references
throughout this prospectus to "Contingent Owner" shall mean "Owner's
Beneficiary". A Contingent Owner may not be named for Contracts issued as
Individual Retirement Annuities, Tax Sheltered Annuities, SEP IRA or Qualified
Contracts.
    

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

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

Contract Owner (Owner)- The Contract Owner is the person who possesses all
rights under the Contract, including the right to designate and change any
designations of the Owner, Contingent Owner, Designated Annuitant, Contingent
Designated Annuitant, Beneficiary, Contingent Beneficiary, Annuity Payment
Option, and the Annuity Commencement Date.

The Contract Owner is the person named on the application, unless changed.

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

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

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

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

Designated Annuitant- The person designated prior to the Annuitization Date to
receive annuity payments. The Designated Annuitant is named on the Data Page,
unless changed. No change of Designated Annuitant may be made without the prior
consent of the Company.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interest Rate Guarantee Period- An Interest Rate Guarantee Period is the
interval of time during which an interest rate credited to the Fixed Account is
guaranteed to remain the same. For new Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed
Account or transfers from the Variable Account, this period begins upon the date
of deposit or transfer and ends at the end of the calendar quarter at least one
year (but not more than 15 months) from deposit or transfer. At the end of an
Interest Rate Guarantee Period, a new interest rate is declared with an Interest
Rate Guarantee Period starting at the end of the prior period and ending at the
end of the calendar quarter one year later.

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

Non-Qualified Contract- A Contract which does not qualify for favorable tax
treatment under Sections 401 (Qualified Plans), 408 (IRA's), or 403(b) (Tax
Sheltered Annuities) of the Code.

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

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

   
Qualified Contract- A Contract issued to fund a Qualified Plan.

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

SEP IRA- A retirement plan which receives favorable tax treatment under the
provisions of Section 408K.
    

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

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

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

Valuation Period- The period of time commencing at the close of business of the
New York Stock Exchange and ending at the close of business for the next
succeeding Valuation Date.

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Variable Account- The Nationwide Variable Account-5, a separate investment
account of the Company into which Variable Account Purchase Payments are
allocated. The Variable Account is divided into Sub-Accounts, each of which
invests in shares of a separate underlying Mutual Fund.

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

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

                                       4

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<PAGE>   7

                                Table of Contents

   
GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS......................................................2
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES...................................................7
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES.........................................7
SYNOPSIS.......................................................................9
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION...............................................10
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.............................................11
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT..........................................................11
     Underlying Mutual Fund Options...........................................11
     American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., member of the American 
     CenturySM Family of Mutual Funds.........................................11
     Dreyfus Stock Index Fund.................................................12
     Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund................................12
     Nationwide Separate Account Trust........................................12
     Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust.............................13
     Voting Rights............................................................13
     Substitution of Securities...............................................14
VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS.................................14
     Expenses of the Variable Account.........................................14
     Mortality Risk Charge....................................................14
     Expense Risk Charge......................................................14
     Contract Maintenance and Administration Charge...........................14
     Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.........................................15
     Waiver of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge...........................15
     Premium Taxes............................................................16
OPERATION OF THE CONTRACT.....................................................17
     Investments of the Variable Account......................................17
     Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value.......................17
     Value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit............................17
     Net Investment Factor....................................................18
     Valuation of Assets......................................................18
     Determining the Contract Value...........................................18
     Right to Revoke..........................................................18
     Transfers................................................................19
     Contract Ownership Provisions............................................19
     Contingent Ownership Provisions..........................................19
     Beneficiary Provisions...................................................20
     Surrender (Redemption)...................................................20
     Surrenders Under a Qualified Plan or Tax-Sheltered Annuity Contract......20
     Loan Privilege...........................................................21
     Assignment...............................................................22
     Contract Owner Services..................................................23
       Asset Rebalancing......................................................23
       Dollar Cost Averaging..................................................23
       Systematic Withdrawals.................................................23
ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD, DEATH BENEFIT, AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS................24
     Annuity Commencement Date................................................24
     Change in Annuity Commencement Date......................................24
     Annuity Payment Period-Variable Account..................................24
     Value of an Annuity Unit.................................................24
     Assumed Investment Rate..................................................24
     Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments.................................24
     Change in Form of Annuity................................................25
     Annuity Payment Options..................................................25
     Death of Contract Owner Provisions-Non-Qualified Contracts...............26
     Death of Designated Annuitant Provisions- Non-Qualified Contracts........26
     Death of the Contract Owner/Designated Annuitant Provisions..............26
     Death Benefit Payment Provisions.........................................26
    

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<PAGE>   8

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

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<PAGE>   9

                          SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES

CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Range of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Over Time

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

ANNUAL CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE(2)..............................    $30
                                                                    ----------
VARIABLE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES

       Mortality and Expense Risk Charges..........................    1.25   %
                                                                    ----------
       Administration Charge.......................................    0.05   %
                                                                    ----------
           Total Variable Account Annual Expenses..................    1.30   %
                                                                    ----------

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

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

                     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES(3)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Management         Other Expenses          Total Mutual Fund Expenses
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                  <C>                           <C>  
   
American Century Variable                   1.00%                0.00%                         1.00%
Portfolios- American Century VP
Advantage
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable                   1.00%                0.00%                         1.00%
Portfolios-American Century VP
Capital Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                    0.25%                0.05%                         0.30%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Equity-Income                  0.45%                0.23%                         0.68%
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                      0.50%                0.03%                         0.53%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                   0.50%                0.01%                         0.51%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                      0.50%                0.02%                         0.52%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N&B Adv. Mgt. Trust Balanced                0.85%                0.23%                         1.08%
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

3    The Mutual Fund expenses shown above are assessed at the underlying Mutual
     Fund level and are not direct charges against Variable Account assets or
     reductions from Contract Values. These underlying Mutual Fund expenses are
     taken into consideration in computing each underlying Mutual Fund's net
     asset value, which is the share price used to calculate the Variable
     Account's unit price. The management fees and other expenses are more fully
     described in the prospectuses for each individual underlying Mutual 

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     Fund. The information relating to the underlying Mutual Fund expenses was
     provided by the underlying Mutual Fund and was not independently verified
     by the Company.

                                     EXAMPLE

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                If you surrender your      If you do not surrender      If you annuitize your
                             Contract at the end of the   your Contract at the end   Contract at the end of the
                               applicable time period       of the applicable time     applicable time period
                                                                   period
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             1 Yr. 3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs. 1 Yr. 3 Yrs  5 Yrs. 10 Yrs. 1 Yr. 3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>   <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>     <C>     <C>   <C>   <C>     <C>
American Century Variable     96    125    164     291    26     80    137     291     *     80    137     291
Portfolios-American Century
VP Advantage
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable     96    125    164     291    26     80    137     291     *     80    137     291
Portfolios-American Century
VP Capital Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund      89    103    127     217    19     58    100     217     *     58    100     217
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Equity-Income    93    115    147     258    23     70    120     258     *     70    120     258
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund     91    110    138     240    21     65    111     240     *     65    111     240
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund        91    110    139     242    21     65    112     242     *     65    112     242
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund        91    110    139     241    21     65    112     241     *     65    112     241
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Adv Mgt Trust-          97    128    168     300    27     83    141     300     *     83    141     300
Balanced Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

* The Contracts sold under this prospectus do not permit annuitizations during
the first two Contract Years.

The purpose of the Summary of Contract Expenses and Example is to assist the
Contract Owner in understanding the various costs and expenses that will be
borne directly or indirectly. The expenses of the Nationwide Variable Account-5
as well as those of each underlying Mutual Fund option are reflected in the
table. For more complete descriptions of the expenses of the Variable Account,
see "Variable Account Charges and Other Deductions." For more complete
information regarding expenses paid out of the assets of a particular underlying
Mutual Fund option, see the underlying Mutual Fund prospectus. Deductions for
premium taxes may also apply but are not reflected in the Example shown above
(see "Premium Taxes").

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                                    SYNOPSIS

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

     The Company does not deduct a sales charge from Purchase Payments made for
these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such Contracts is
surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct from the Contract
Owner's Contract Value a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge not to exceed 7% of
the lesser of the total of all Purchase Payments made within 84 months prior to
the date of the request to surrender, or the amount surrendered. This charge,
when applicable, is imposed to permit the Company to recover sales expenses
which have been advanced by the Company. The Company will waive the Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge under Tax Sheltered Annuity Contracts and Qualified
Contracts when the Contract Owner has participated in the Contract for 10 years
with active deferrals, dies, becomes disabled, experiences a hardship, separates
from service and has participated in the Contract for 5 years, or annuitizes
after completing 2 years in the Contract (see "Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge").

     In addition, on each Contract Anniversary, and on the date of surrender in
any year in which the entire Contract Value is surrendered, the Company will
deduct an annual Contract Maintenance Charge of $30 from the Contract Value of
the Contracts. The Company will also assess an Administration Charge equal to an
annual rate of 0.05% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. These
charges are to reimburse the Company for administrative expenses related to the
issue and maintenance of the Contracts. The Company does not expect to recover
from these charges an amount in excess of accumulated administrative expenses
(see "Contract Maintenance Charge and Administration Charge"). The Company
deducts a Mortality Risk Charge equal to an annual rate of 0.80% of the daily
net asset value of the Variable Account for mortality risk assumed by the
Company (see "Mortality Risk Charge"). The Company deducts an Expense Risk
Charge equal to an annual rate of 0.45% of the daily net asset value of the
Variable Account as compensation for the Company's risk in undertaking not to
increase administrative charges on the Contracts regardless of the actual
administrative costs (see "Expense Risk Charge").

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

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

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

     To be sure that the Contract Owner is satisfied with the Contract, the
Contract Owner has a ten day free look. Within ten days of the day the Contract
is received, it may be returned to the Home Office of the Company, at the
address shown on page 1 of this prospectus. If a Contract is returned to the
Company in a timely manner, the Company will void the Contract and refund the
Contract Value in full, unless otherwise required by state and/or federal law.
State and/or federal law may provide additional free look privileges. All
Individual Retirement Annuity refunds will be return of Purchase Payments (see
"Right to Revoke").
    
                                       9

                                    11 of 99
<PAGE>   12

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Accumulation Unit Values (for an accumulation unit outstanding throughout the
period)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
                         Accumulation Unit     Accumulation                            Number Of
                               Value            Unit Value       Percent Change      Accumulation
                            At Beginning          At End         in Accumulation    Units At End Of
         Fund                Of Period           Of Period         Unit Value         The Period        Year
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                 <C>                   <C>               <C>            <C> 
American Century             13.035463           14.055040             7.82%             9,351          1996
Variable Portfolios, Inc.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP          11.312248           13.035463            15.23%             8,377          1995
Advantage-Q                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             11.343435           11.312248            -0.27%             3,882          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century             13.035463           14.055040             7.82%             8,099          1996
Variable Portfolios, Inc.- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP          11.312248           13.035463            15.23%             8,353          1995
Advantage-NQ               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             11.343435           11.312248            -0.27%             6,887          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century             16.447846           15.531281            -5.57             77,626          1996
Variable Portfolios, Inc.- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP          12.711014           16.447846            29.40%            62,673          1995
Capital Appreciation-Q     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             13.030369           12.711014            -2.45%            42,410          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century             16.447846           15.531281            -5.57%            14,026          1996
Variable Portfolios, Inc.- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP          12.711014           16.447846            29.40%            12,894          1995
Capital Appreciation-NQ    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             13.030369           12.711014            -2.45%            10,991          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index          13.807559           16.698256            20.94%            48,939          1996
Fund - Q                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             10.227308           13.807559            35.01%            31,487          1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             10.271065           10.227308            -0.43%            17,446          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index          13.807559           16.698256            20.94%            13,798          1996
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund - NQ                    10.227308           13.807559            35.01%            12,941          1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             10.271065           10.227308            -0.43%            13,074          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable            14.412060           16.255386            12.79%            193,347         1996
Insurance Products         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Equity Income           10.808255           14.412060            33.34%            150,246         1995
Portfolio-Q                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             10.227513           10.808255             5.68%            108,754         1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable            14.412060           16.255386            12.79%            39,032          1996
Insurance Products         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund-Equity Income           10.808255           14.412060            33.34%            36,522          1995
Portfolio-NQ               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             10.227513           10.808255             5.68%            30,785          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          29.463573           30.092479             2.13%            13,708          1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government Bond              25.138302           29.463573            17.21%            12,624          1995
Fund-Q                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             26.318797           25.138302            -4.49%             9,598          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          29.474435           30.103580             2.13%             9,816          1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government Bond              25.147577           29.474435            17.21%             9,712          1995
Fund-NQ                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             26.328516           25.147577            -4.49%            13,286          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          19.595876           20.329483             3.74%            18,943          1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Money Market Fund-Q          18.790546           19.595876             4.29%            15,599          1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             18.325918           18.790546             2.54%            10,092          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          21.291272           22.088348             3.74%              300           1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Money Market Fund-NQ         20.416267           21.291272             4.29%              300           1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             19.911440           20.416267             2.54%                0           1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          51.701438           62.170693            20.25%            25,126          1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return Fund-Q          40.575816           51.701438            27.42%            20,057          1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             40.671816           40.575816            -0.24%            13,191          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate          50.214359           60.382482            20.25%             5,547          1996
Account Trust-             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return Fund-NQ         39.408735           50.214359            27.42%             5,365          1995
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             39.501981           39.408735            -0.24%             3,719          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman           14.753402           15.563120             5.49%            47,651          1996
Advisers Management        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust-Balanced               12.077573           14.753402            22.16%            40,040          1995
Portfolio-Q                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             12.661508           12.077573            -4.61%            28,865          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman           14.753402           15.563120             5.49%             5,995          1996
Advisers Management        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust-Balanced               12.077573           14.753402            22.16%             6,434          1995
Portfolio-NQ               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             12.661508           12.077573            -4.61%             7,065          1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*The 7-day yield on the Money Market Fund as of December 31, 1996 was 3.64%.
    

                                       10

                                    12 of 99

<PAGE>   13

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

   
     The Company is a stock life insurance company organized under the laws of
the State of Ohio in March, 1929. The Company is a member of the Nationwide
Insurance Enterprise, with its Home Office at One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus,
Ohio 43215. The Company offers a complete line of life insurance, including
annuities and accident and health insurance. It is admitted to do business in
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and in all states.
    

                              THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

     The Variable Account was established by the Company on November 1, 1989,
pursuant to the provisions of Ohio law. The Company has caused the Variable
Account to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a Unit
Investment Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of
1940. Such registration does not involve supervision of the management of the
Variable Account or the Company by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

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

Underlying Mutual Fund Options

   
     Contract Owners may choose from among a number of different Sub-Account
options. A summary of investment objectives is contained in the description of
each underlying Mutual Fund option below. There can be no assurance that any of
the underlying Mutual Fund options will achieve its objective. More detailed
information may be found in the current prospectus for each underlying Mutual
Fund offered. Such a prospectus for the underlying Mutual Fund option(s) should
be read in conjunction with this prospectus. A copy of each prospectus may be
obtained without charge from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by calling
1-800-321-9332, TDD 1-800-238-3035 or writing P.O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio
43218-2008.
    

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

   
     The following are the investment objectives of each underlying Mutual Fund
available through the Variable Account. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED.

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., member of the American CenturySM
Family of Mutual Funds (formerly TCI Portfolios, Inc., member of the Twentieth
Century Family of Mutual Funds)
    

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

                                       11

                                    13 of 99

<PAGE>   14

   
     - American Century VP Advantage (Formerly TCI Advantage)

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

     - American Century VP Capital Appreciation (Formerly TCI Growth)

     Investment Objective: Capital growth. The Fund will seek to achieve its
     objective by investing in common stocks (including securities convertible
     into common stocks and other equity equivalents) that meet certain
     fundamental and technical standards of selection and have, in the opinion
     of the Fund's investment manager, better than average potential for
     appreciation. The Fund tries to stay fully invested in such securities,
     regardless of the movement of stock prices generally. The Fund may invest
     in cash and cash equivalents temporarily or when it is unable to find
     common stocks meeting its criteria of selection. It may purchase securities
     only of companies that have a record of at least three years continuous
     operation. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
     investment objectives.

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

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund

     The Dreyfus Stock Index Fund is an open-end, non-diversified, management
investment company. It was incorporated under Maryland law on January 24, 1989,
and commenced operations on September 29, 1989. Wells Fargo Nikko Investment
Advisors serves as the Fund's index fund manager.

   
     Investment Objective: To provide investment results that correspond to the
     price and yield performance of publicly traded common stocks in the
     aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
     Price Index. The Fund is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with Standard
     & Poor's Corporation. The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the
     Fund's manager while Mellon Equity Associates, an affiliate of Dreyfus,
     serves as the Fund's index manager. Dreyfus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
     Mellon Bank N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank
     Corporation.
    

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund

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

     -Equity-Income Portfolio

     Investment Objective: To seek reasonable income by investing primarily in
     income-producing equity securities. In choosing these securities FMR also
     will consider the potential for capital appreciation. The Portfolio's goal
     is to achieve a yield which exceeds the composite yield on the securities
     comprising the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

Nationwide Separate Account Trust

     Nationwide Separate Account Trust (the "Trust") is a diversified open-end
management investment company organized under the laws of Massachusetts by a
Declaration of Trust dated June 30, 1981, as subsequently amended. The Trust
offers shares in three separate underlying Mutual Funds listed below, each with
its own investment objectives. Currently, shares of the Trust will be sold only
to life insurance company separate accounts to fund the benefits under variable
insurance or annuity policies issued by life insurance 

                                       12

                                    14 of 99

<PAGE>   15

companies. The assets of the Trust are managed by Nationwide Advisory Services,
Inc. of One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

     - Money Market Fund

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

     - Government Bond Fund 

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

     - Total Return Fund

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

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust

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

     - Balanced Portfolio

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

Voting Rights

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

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

   
     The Contract Owner shall be the person who has the voting interest under a
Contract. The number of Underlying Mutual Fund shares attributable to each
Contract Owner is determined by dividing the Contract Owner's interest in each
respective Sub-Account of the Variable Account by the net asset value of the
underlying Mutual Fund corresponding to the Sub-Account. The number of shares
which a Contract Owner has the right to vote will be determined as of a date
chosen by the Company not more than 90 days prior to the meeting of the
underlying Mutual Fund. Each person having a voting interest in the Variable
Account will receive periodic reports relating to the underlying Mutual Fund,
proxy material and a form with which to give such voting instructions.

     Voting instructions will be solicited by written communication at least 21
days prior to such meeting. Underlying Mutual Fund shares held in the Variable
Account as to which no timely instructions are received will 
    
                                       13

                                    15 of 99

<PAGE>   16

be voted by the Company in the same proportion as the voting instructions which
are received with respect to all Contracts participating in the Variable
Account.

Substitution of Securities

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

                  VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS

Expenses of the Variable Account

     The Variable Account is responsible for the following types of expenses:
(1) administrative expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contract; (2) mortality risk charge associated with guaranteeing the annuity
purchase rates at issue for the life of the Contracts; and (3) expense risk
charge associated with guaranteeing that the Mortality Risk, Expense Risk,
Contract Maintenance and Administration Charges described in this prospectus
will not be changed regardless of actual expenses. If these charges are
insufficient to cover these expenses, the loss will be borne by the Company.

     For 1996, the Variable Account incurred total expenses equal to 1.72% of
its average net assets, relating to the administrative, sales, mortality and
expense risk charges described above for all Contracts outstanding during that
year. Deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of the underlying
Mutual Funds are described in each underlying Mutual Funds prospectus.

Mortality Risk Charge

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

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

Expense Risk Charge

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

Contract Maintenance Charge and Administration Charge

   
     Each year on the Contract Anniversary, the Company deducts an annual
Contract Maintenance Charge of $30 from the Contract Value to reimburse it for
administrative expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contract. Contracts issued to a Qualified Plan, Tax Sheltered Annuity or SEP
IRA, may have a lower Contract Maintenance Charge. Reductions are based on
internal underwriting considerations which include the size of the group, the
average participant account balance transferred to the Company, if any, and
administrative savings. The Contract Maintenance Charge will be allocated
between the Fixed Account and each Sub-Account in the same proportion that the
value of the Fixed Account or Sub-Account bears to the Total Contract Value.

     The Company also assesses an Administration Charge equal to an annual rate
of 0.05% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. The deduction of
the Administration Charge is made from each Sub-Account in the same proportion
that the Contract value in that Sub-Account bears to the total Variable Account
value. These charges are designed only to reimburse the Company for
administrative expenses. The Company will monitor these charges to ensure that
they do not exceed annual administration expenses.
    
                                       14

                                    16 of 99

<PAGE>   17

     In any Contract Year when a Contract is surrendered for its full value on
other than the Contract Anniversary, the Contract Maintenance Charge will be
deducted at the time of such surrender. The amount of the Contract Maintenance
Charge may not be increased by the Company. The amount of the Contract
Maintenance Charge may, however, be decreased or eliminated by the Company when
the Company determines that multiple purchases would result in reduced
administrative expenses. In no event will reduction or elimination of the
Contract Maintenance Charge be permitted where such reduction or elimination
will be unfairly discriminatory to any person, or where it is prohibited by
state law.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

   
     No deduction for a sales charge is made from the Purchase Payments for
these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such Contracts is
surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions (see "Waiver of
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"), deduct a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
not to exceed 7% of the lesser of the total of all Purchase Payments made within
84 months prior to the date of the request to surrender, or the amount
surrendered. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, when it is applicable, will
be used to cover expenses relating to the sale of the Contracts, including
commissions paid to sales personnel, the costs of preparation of sales
literature and other promotional activity. The Company attempts to recover its
distribution costs relating to the sale of the Contracts from the Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge. Any shortfall will be made up from the general account of
the Company, which may indirectly include portions of the Mortality and Expense
Risk Charges, since the Company expects to generate a profit from these charges.
Commissions which may be paid to the selling dealer on the sale of these
Contracts are not more than 6.0% of Purchase Payments.

     The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is calculated by multiplying the
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge percentages noted below by the
Purchase Payments which are surrendered. For purposes of the Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge, surrenders under a Contract come first from the oldest Purchase
Payments made to the Contract, then the next oldest Purchase Payment and so
forth. For tax purposes, a surrender is usually treated as a withdrawal of
earnings first.
    

     The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies as follows to Purchase
Payments withdrawn:

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

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

     In addition, no Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will be deducted: (1) upon
the annuitization of Contracts which have been in force for at least two years,
(2) upon payment of a Death Benefit pursuant to the death of the Annuitant, or
(3) from any purchase payments which have been held under a Contract for at
least 84 months.

     No Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies upon the transfer of value
among the Sub-Accounts or between the Fixed Account and the Variable Account.
When a Contract described in this prospectus is exchanged for another contract
issued by the Company or any of its affiliated insurance companies, of the type
    
                                       15

                                    17 of 99

<PAGE>   18

   
and class which the Company determined is eligible for such exchange, the
Company may waive or reduce the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on the first
Contract. A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply to the contract received
in the exchange. Sales without commissions or other standard distribution
expenses can result in the waiver or reduction of the Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge.
    

     When a Contract is held by a Charitable Remainder Trust, the amount which
may be withdrawn from this Contract without application of a Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge, shall be the larger of (a) or (b), where (a) is the amount which
would otherwise be available for withdrawal without application of a Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge; and where (b) is the difference between the total
Purchase Payments made to the Contract as of the date of the withdrawal (reduced
by previous withdrawals of such Purchase Payments), and the Contract Value at
the close of the day prior to the date of the withdrawal.

     For Tax Sheltered Annuity Contracts, Qualified Contracts, and SEP-IRA
Contracts the Company will waive the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge when:

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

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

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

     D.   the Plan Participant has participated in the Contract for at least 10
          years of active deferrals;
    

     E.   the Plan Participant dies; or

     F.   the Contract is annuitized after 2 years from the inception of the
          Contract.

   
     The Contract Owner may be subject to income tax on all or a portion of any
such withdrawals and to a tax penalty if the Contract Owner takes withdrawals
prior to age 59 i/2ee "FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS- Non-Qualified
Contracts-Natural Persons as Owners").
    

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

Premium Taxes

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

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<PAGE>   19

                            OPERATION OF THE CONTRACT

Investments of the Variable Account

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

Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value

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

     The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $1,500 for Non-Qualified
Contracts. However, if periodic payments are expected by the Company, this
initial first year minimum may be satisfied by Purchase Payments made on an
annualized basis. Subsequent Purchase Payments, if any, must be at least $10
each. The Company reserves the right to lower this $10 Purchase Payment minimum
for employer sponsored deduction programs.
    

     The cumulative total of all Purchase Payments under Contracts issued on the
life of any one Designated Annuitant may not exceed $1,000,000 without prior
consent of the Company.

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

   
     The initial Purchase Payment allocated to designated Sub-Accounts of the
Variable Account will be priced not later than 2 business days after receipt of
an order to purchase, if all information necessary for processing the purchase
order is complete. The Company may, however, retain the Purchase Payment for up
to 5 business days while attempting to complete the order to purchase. If it is
not complete within 5 days, the prospective purchaser will be informed of the
reasons for the delay and the Purchase Payment will be returned immediately
unless the prospective purchaser specifically consents to the Company retaining
the Purchase Payment until the order to purchase. is made complete. Thereafter,
the subsequent Purchase Payments will be priced on the basis of the Accumulation
Unit Value next computed for the appropriate Sub-Account after the additional
Purchase Payment is received.
    

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

Value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit

     The value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit for each Sub-Account was
established at a value equal to the accumulation unit value of the corresponding
Sub-Account of the Nationwide Variable Account-5 on December 31, 1994. The
Nationwide Variable Account-5 is a segregated investment account of the Company.
The value of an Accumulation Unit for each new Sub-Account added to the
Nationwide Variable Account-5 after December 31, 1994 will be established at
$10.00 as of the date the underlying Mutual Fund shares are available for that
Sub-Account. The value for any subsequent Valuation Period is determined by
multiplying the Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account for the immediately
preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment Factor for the Sub-Account
during the subsequent Valuation Period. The value of an Accumulation Unit may
increase or decrease from Valuation Period to Valuation Period. The number of
Accumulation Units will not change as a result of investment experience.

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<PAGE>   20

Net Investment Factor

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

   
(a)  is the net of:
    

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

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

(b)  is the net of:

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

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

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

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

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

Valuation of Assets

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

Determining the Contract Value

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

Right to Revoke

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

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

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<PAGE>   21

Transfers

   
     Transfers between the Fixed and Variable Account must be made prior to the
Annuitization Date. The Contract Owner may transfer up to 100% of the Variable
Account value to the Fixed Account without penalty or adjustment. The Company
reserves the right to restrict transfers from the Variable Account to the Fixed
Account to 25% of the Variable Account Contract Value in any 12 month period.
The Contract Owner may at the maturity of an Interest Rate Guarantee Period
transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed Account to the Variable Account
(see "Interest Rate Guarantee Period"). Transfers from the Fixed Account must be
made within 45 days after the expiration date of the then current Interest Rate
Guarantee Period. The amount that may be transferred from the Fixed Account to
the Variable Account will be determined by the Company at its sole discretion,
but will not be less than 10% of the total value of the portion of the Fixed
Account that is maturing. The amount that may be transferred from the Fixed
Account will be declared upon the expiration date of the then current Interest
Rate Guarantee Period. Contract Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost
Averaging Agreement with the Company (see "Dollar Cost Averaging") may transfer
from the Fixed Account under the terms of that agreement. For all transfers
involving the Variable Account, the Contract Owner's Value in each Sub-Account
will be determined as of the date the transfer request is received at the
Company's Home Office in good order.

     Transfers may be made either in writing or, in states allowing such
transfers, by telephone. This telephone exchange privilege is made available to
Contract Owners automatically without the Contract Owner's election. The Company
will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include: requesting identifying
information, such as name, contract number, Social Security number, and/or
personal identification number; tape recording all telephone transactions, and
providing written confirmation thereof to both the Contract Owner and any agent
of record, at the last address of record; or such other procedures which the
Company deems reasonable. Any losses incurred pursuant to actions taken by the
Company in reliance on telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine
shall be borne by the Contract Owner. The Company may withdraw the telephone
exchange privilege upon 30 days' written notice to Contract Owners.

Contract Ownership Provisions

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

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

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

Contingent Ownership Provisions

     The Contingent Owner is the person who may receive certain benefits under
the Contract if the Contract Owner, who is not the Annuitant, dies prior to the
Annuitization Date. If more than one Contingent Owner survives the Contract
Owner, each will share equally unless otherwise specified in the Contingent
Owner designation. If no Contingent Owner survives a Contract Owner, all rights
and interest of the Contingent Owner will vest in the Designated Annuitant. If a
Contract Owner, who is also the Designated Annuitant, dies before the
annuitization, then the Contingent Owner does not have any rights in the
Contract; however, if the Contingent Owner is also the Beneficiary, the
Contingent Owner will have all the rights of a beneficiary.
    

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<PAGE>   22

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

Beneficiary Provisions

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

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

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

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

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

Surrenders Under a Qualified Plan or Tax Sheltered Annuity Contract

   
     Except as provided below, the Contract Owner may Surrender part or all of
the Contract Value at any time this Contract is in force prior to the earlier of
the Annuitization Date or the death of the Designated Annuitant.
    
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<PAGE>   23

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

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

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

(b)  The surrender limitations described in (a) above for Tax Sheltered
     Annuities apply to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Loan Privilege

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

     Loans from Qualified Contracts or Tax Sheltered Annuities are available
beginning 30 days after the Date of Issue. The Contract Owner may borrow a
minimum of $1,000. In non-ERISA plans, for Contract Values up to $20,000, the
maximum loan balance which may be outstanding at any time is 80% of the Contract
Value, but not more than $10,000. If the Contract Value is $20,000 or more, the
maximum loan balance which may be outstanding at any time is 50% of the Contract
Value, but not more than $50,000. For ERISA plans, the maximum loan balance
which may be outstanding at any time is 50% of the Contract Value, but not more
than $50,000. The $50,000 limit will be reduced by the highest loan balance owed
during the prior one-year period. Additional loans are subject to the contract
minimum amount. The aggregate of all loans may not exceed the Contract Value
limitations stated above.

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

     All loans are made from a collateral fixed account. An amount equal to the
principal amount of the loan will be transferred to the collateral fixed
account. Unless instructed to the contrary by the Contract Owner, the Company
will first transfer to the collateral fixed account the Variable Account units
from the Contract Owner's investment options in proportion to the assets in each
option until the required balance is reached or all such variable units are
exhausted. The remaining required collateral will next be transferred from the
fixed Account. 

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<PAGE>   24

   
No withdrawal charges are deducted at the time of the loan, or on the transfer
from the Variable Account to the collateral Fixed account.
    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assignment

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

     If this Contract is a Non-Qualified Contract, any portion of Contract Value
attributable to Purchase Payments made after August 13, 1982, which is pledged
or assigned after August 13, 1992 shall be treated as a Distribution and shall
be included in gross income to the extent that the cash value exceeds the
investment in the Contract, for the taxable year in which it was assigned or
pledged. In addition, any Contract Values assigned may, under certain
conditions, be subject to a tax penalty equal to 10% of the assigned amount
which 
    
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<PAGE>   25

   
is included in gross income. All rights in this Contract are personal to
the Contract Owner and may not be assigned without written consent of the
Company. Assignments may cause the portion of the Contract Value exceeding the
total investment in the Contract and previously taxed amounts to be included in
gross income for federal income tax purposes each year that the assignment is in
effect. Individual Retirement Annuities, SEP IRAs, Qualified Contracts and Tax
Sheltered Annuities may not be assigned, pledged, or otherwise transferred
except under such conditions as may be allowed by law.
    

Contract Owner Services

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

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

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

     Dollar Cost Averaging- If the Contract Value is $5,000 or more, the
Contract Owner may direct the Company to automatically transfer from the Money
Market Fund Sub-Account or the Fixed Account to any other Sub-Account within the
Variable Account on a monthly basis or as frequently as otherwise authorized by
the Company. This service is intended to allow the Contract Owner to utilize
Dollar Cost Averaging, a long-term investment program which provides for
regular, level investments over time. The Company makes no guarantees that
Dollar Cost Averaging will result in a profit or protect against loss.

     The minimum monthly Dollar Cost Averaging transfer is $100. In addition,
Dollar Cost Averaging monthly transfers from the Fixed Account must be equal to
or less than 1/30th of the Fixed Account value when the Dollar Cost Averaging
program is requested. Transfers out of the Fixed Account, other than for Dollar
Cost Averaging, may be subject to certain additional restrictions (see
"Transfers"). A written election of this service, on a form provided by the
Company, must be completed by the Contract Owner in order to begin transfers.
Once elected, transfers from the Money Market Fund Sub-Account or the Fixed
Account will be processed monthly or on another approved frequency until either
the value in the Money Market Fund Sub-Account or the Fixed Account is
completely depleted or the Contract Owner instructs the Company in writing to
cancel the transfers.
    

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

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

     The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Systematic
Withdrawals upon 30 days written notice; such discontinuation will not affect
Systematic Withdrawal programs already commenced. The Company also reserves the
right to assess a processing fee for this service. Systematic withdrawals are
not 
    
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<PAGE>   26

   
available prior to the expiration of the "ten day free look" provision of
the Contract or of applicable state or federal law.

         ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD, DEATH BENEFIT, AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
    

Annuity Commencement Date

   
     An Annuity Commencement Date will be selected. Such date must be the first
day of a calendar month and must be at least 2 years after the Date of Issue.
The date may not be later than the first day of the first calendar month after
the Designated Annuitant's 75th Birthday unless a later date has been requested
by the Contract Owner and approved by the Company. In the event the Contract is
issued subject to the terms of a Qualified Plan or Tax Sheltered Annuity,
annuitization may occur during the first 2 years subject to approval by the
Company.
    

Change in Annuity Commencement Date

   
     The Annuity Commencement Date may be changed with prior approval of the
Company. The new date must comply with the Annuity Commencement Date provision
above.
    

     The amount of the Death Benefit will be limited to the Contract Value if
the Annuity Commencement Date is postponed beyond the first day of the calendar
month after the Annuitant's 75th birthday or such other Annuity Commencement
Date provided under the Contract Owner's Qualified Plan.

Annuity Payment Period-Variable Account

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

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

Value of an Annuity Unit

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

Assumed Investment Rate

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

Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments

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

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Change in Form of Annuity

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

Annuity Payment Options

Any of the following Annuity Payment Options may be elected:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Any Annuity Payment Option not set forth in the Contract which is
satisfactory to both the Company and the Annuitant may be selected.

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Death of Contract Owner Provisions - Non-Qualified Contracts

     For Non-Qualified Contracts, if the Contract Owner and the Designated
Annuitant are not the same person and such Contract Owner dies prior to the
Annuitization Date, then the Contingent Owner or the Contract Owner's Estate
becomes the Contract Owner if elected by the Contract Owner to receive the
distribution. If no such election was made then the Designated Annuitant becomes
the Contract Owner. The entire interest in the Contract Value, less any
applicable deductions (which may include a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge),
must be distributed in accordance with the "Required Distribution Provisions-
Non-Qualified Contracts" provisions.

Death of the Designated Annuitant Provisions - Non-Qualified Contracts

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

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

     If the election is made more than 60 days after the lump sum first becomes
payable, the election would be ignored for tax purposes, and the entire amount
of the lump sum would be subject to immediate tax. If the election is made
within the 60 day period, each Distribution would be taxable when it is paid.

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

Death of the Contract Owner/Designated Annuitant Provisions

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

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

Death Benefit Payment Provisions

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

     If the Designated Annuitant dies prior to the Annuitization Date and prior
to the first day of the calendar month after his or her 75th birthday, the Death
Benefit will be the greatest of the following: (1) the sum of all Purchase
Payments increased at an annual rate of 5% simple interest from the date of each
Purchase Payment, for each year the payment has been in force, less any amounts
previously surrendered or (2) the Contract Value.
    

     The amount of the Death Benefit will be equal to the Contract Value if the
Contract Owner has requested an Annuity Commencement Date later than the first
day of the calendar month after the Designated Annuitant's 75th birthday, the
Company has approved the request, and the Designated Annuitant dies after such
date.

   
     The Death Benefit described above is not allowable in certain states,
Insurance regulation in the states of New York and North Carolina do not permit
the Death Benefit as described above. For Contracts issued in the states of New
York and North Carolina the amount of the Death Benefit will be the greater of:
(1) the sum of all Purchase Payments, less any amounts surrendered; or (2) the
Contract Value.
    

     If the Annuitant dies after the Annuitization Date, any payment that may be
payable will be determined according to the selected Annuity Payment Option.

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Required Distribution Provisions For Non-Qualified Contracts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Upon the death of a "deceased Owner", the designated beneficiary must elect
a method of distribution which complies with these above distribution provisions
and which is acceptable to the Company. Such election must be received by the
Company within 90 days of the deceased Owner's death.

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

Required Distribution for Qualified Plans and Tax Sheltered Annuities

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

     (a) the life of the Designated Annuitant or the lives of the Designated
     Annuitant and the Designated Annuitant's designated beneficiary under the
     Selected Annuity Payment Option; or

     (b) a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Annuitant or
     the life expectancy of the Annuitant and the Annuitant's designated
     beneficiary.
    
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     For Tax Sheltered Annuity Contracts, no distributions will be required from
this Contract if distributions otherwise required from this Contract are being
withdrawn from another Tax Sheltered Annuity, of the Annuitant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Required Distributions for Individual Retirement Annuities and SEP IRAs

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

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

(a) The Contract Owner names his or her surviving spouse as the Beneficiary and
such spouse elects to:

     (i)  treat the annuity as an Individual Retirement Annuity established for
          his or her benefit; or

     (ii) receive Distribution of the account in substantially equal payments
          over his or her life (or a period not exceeding his or her life
          expectancy) and commencing not later than December 31 of the year in
          which the Contract Owner would have attained age 70 1/2; or

(b) The Contract Owner names a Beneficiary other than his or her surviving
spouse and such Beneficiary elects to receive a Distribution of the account in
substantially equal payments over his or her life (or a period 

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not exceeding his or her life expectancy) and commencing not later that December
31 of the year following the year in which the Contract Owner dies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Generation-Skipping Transfers

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

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

                           FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Federal Income Taxes

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

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

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

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

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

Non-Qualified Contracts - Natural Persons as Owners

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

     Distributions made from the Contract prior to the Annuitization Date are
taxable to the Contract Owner to the extent that the cash value of the Contract
exceeds the Contract Owner's investment at the time of the Distribution.
Distributions, for this purpose, include partial surrenders, dividends, loans,
or any portion of the Contract which is assigned or pledged; or for Contracts
issued after April 22, 1987, any portion of the Contract transferred by gift.
For these purposes, a transfer by gift may occur upon Annuitization if the
Contract Owner and the Annuitant are not the same individual. In determining the
taxable amount of a Distribution, all annuity contracts issued after October 21,
1988, by the same company to the same contract owner during any 12 month period,
will be treated as one annuity contract. Additional limitations on the use of
multiple contracts may be imposed by Treasury Regulations. Distributions prior
to the Annuitization Date with respect to that portion of the Contract invested
prior to August 14, 1982, are treated first as a recovery of the investment in
the Contract as of that date. A Distribution in excess of the amount of the
investment in the Contract as of August 14, 1982, will be treated as taxable
income.

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

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

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

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

Non-Qualified Contracts - Non-Natural Persons as Owners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.   a required minimum distribution.

     Any Distribution eligible for rollover will be subject to federal tax
withholding at a rate of twenty percent (20%) unless the Distribution is
transferred directly to an appropriate plan as described above.
    
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<PAGE>   34

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

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

Withholding

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

Non-Resident Aliens

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

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

Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes

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

     The Company may be required to determine whether the Death Benefit or any
other payment or Distribution constitutes a "direct skip" as defined in Section
2612 of the Code, and the amount of the generation skipping transfer tax, if
any, resulting from such direct skip. A direct skip may occur when property is
transferred to, or a Death Benefit or other Distribution is made to (a) an
individual who is two or more generations younger than the Owner; or (b) certain
trusts, as described in Section 2613 of the Code (generally, trusts that have no
beneficiaries who are not 2 or more generations younger than the Owner). If the
Owner is not an individual, then for this purpose only, "Owner" refers to any
person who would be required to include the Contract, Death Benefit,
Distribution, or other payment in his federal gross estate at his death, or who
is required to report the transfer of the Contract, Death Benefit, Distribution,
or other payment for federal gift tax purposes.
    
                                       32

                                    34 of 99

<PAGE>   35

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

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

Charge for Tax Provisions

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

Diversification

     The Internal Revenue Service has promulgated regulations under Section
817(h) of the Code relating to diversification standards for the investments
underlying a variable annuity contract. The regulations provide that a variable
annuity contract which does not satisfy the diversification standards will not
be treated as an annuity contract, unless the failure to satisfy the regulations
was inadvertent, the failure is corrected, and the Contract Owner or the Company
pays an amount to the Internal Revenue Service. The amount will be based on the
tax that would have been paid by the Contract Owner if the income, for the
period the Contract was not diversified, had been received by the Contract
Owner. If the failure to diversify is not corrected in this manner, the Contract
Owner of an annuity Contract will be deemed the owner of the underlying
securities and will be taxed on the earnings of his or her account. The Company
believes, under its interpretation of the Code and regulations thereunder, that
the investments underlying this Contract meet these diversification standards.

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

   
Tax Changes

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

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

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

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL EXPLANATION AS TO CERTAIN TAX MATTERS PERTAINING TO
ANNUITY CONTRACTS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE, AND SHOULD NOT
TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR INDEPENDENT LEGAL, TAX AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
    
                                       33

                                    35 of 99

<PAGE>   36

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

Contract Owner Inquiries

   
     Contract Owner inquiries may be directed to Nationwide Life Insurance
Company by writing P.O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2008, or calling
1-800-321-9332, TDD 1-800-238-3035.
    

Statements and Reports

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

Advertising

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

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

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

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

     The Company may also from time to time advertise the performance of a
Sub-Account of the Variable Account relative to the performance of other
variable annuity Sub-Accounts or underlying mutual funds with similar or
different objectives, or the investment industry as a whole. Other investments
to which the Sub-Accounts may be compared include, but are not limited to:
precious metals; real estate; stocks and bonds; 

                                       34

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<PAGE>   37

closed-end funds; CDs; bank money market deposit accounts and passbook savings;
and the Consumer Price Index.

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

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

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

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

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

                    Standardized Average Annual Total Return

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1 Year to        5 Years to     Life of Fund to     Date Fund
      SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS           12/31/96          12/31/96         12/31/96         Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>   
   
American Century VP Advantage         -0.58%           0.92%              3.01%          08-01-91
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital          -13.46%             1.48%            6.80%          11-20-87
Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund              12.54%            10.13%            9.20%          9-29-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Equity-Income                 4.39%            13.82%            9.90%*         10-09-86
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Govt. Bond Fund                  -6.21%             2.47%            4.49%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                -4.66%            -0.61%            1.65%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                11.85%             9.31%            8.75%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Balanced Portfolio              -2.91%             3.43%            6.30%          02-28-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.

                                       35

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<PAGE>   38

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

                  Non-Standardized Average Annual Total Return

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1 Year to        5 Years to     Life of Fund to     Date Fund
      SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS           12/31/96          12/31/96         12/31/96         Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>    
American Century VP Advantage          7.52%           4.12%              6.18%          08-01-91
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital           -5.87%             4.51%            9.14%          11-20-87
Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund              20.64%            12.88%           11.92%          9-29-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Equity-Income                12.49%            16.21%           12.04%*         10-09-86
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Govt. Bond Fund                   1.83%             5.37%            6.77%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                 3.44%             2.51%            4.12%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                19.95%            12.05%           10.92%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Balanced Portfolio               5.19%           6.34%              8.54%          02-28-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   
     From time to time the Company is a party to litigation and arbitration
proceedings in the ordinary course of its business, none of which is expected to
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

     In recent years, life insurance companies have been named as defendants in
lawsuits, including class action lawsuits, relating to life insurance pricing
and sales practices. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial
jury awards or settlements. In October 1996, a policyholder of Nationwide Life
filed a complaint in Alabama state court against Nationwide Life and an agent of
Nationwide Life (Wayne M. King v. Nationwide Life Insurance Company and Danny
Nix) related to the sale of a whole life policy on a "vanishing premium" basis
and seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In February 1997,
Nationwide Life was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme
Court also related to the sale of whole life policies on a " vanishing premium"
basis (John H. Snyder v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Co. and Nationwide Life Insurance Co.). The plaintiff in such lawsuit
seeks to represent a national class of Nationwide Life policyholders and claims
unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. This lawsuit is in an early stage
and has not been certified as a class action. Nationwide Life intends to defend
these cases vigorously. There can be no assurance that any future litigation
relating to pricing and sales practices will not have a material adverse effect
on the Company.
    

            TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                                                      Page

General Information and History.........................................1
Services................................................................1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered....................................1
Underwriters............................................................2
Calculation of Performance..............................................2
Annuity Payments........................................................4
Financial Statements....................................................5

                                       36

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<PAGE>   39

                                    APPENDIX

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

                            FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS

The Fixed Account

     The Fixed Account is made up of all the general assets of the Company,
other than those in the Nationwide Variable Account-5 and any other segregated
asset account. Purchase Payments will be allocated to the Fixed Account by
election of the Contract Owner at the time of purchase.

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

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

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

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

Transfers

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

                                       37

                                    39 of 99

<PAGE>   40

                      ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD- FIXED ACCOUNT

First and Subsequent Payments

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

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

Annuity Tables and Assumed Interest Rate

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

                                       38

                                    40 of 99

<PAGE>   41

   
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                   MAY 1, 1997
              INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS ISSUED
                      BY NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                    THROUGH ITS NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5

     This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It contains
information in addition to and more detailed than set forth in the prospectus
and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated May 1, 1997. The
prospectus may be obtained from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by writing P.
O. Box 182008, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2002, or calling 1-800-321-9332, TDD
1-800-238-3035.
    

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                       Page

General Information and History..........................................1
Services.................................................................1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered.....................................1
Underwriters.............................................................2
Calculation of Performance...............................................2
Annuity Payments.........................................................4
Financial Statements.....................................................5

General Information and History

   
     The Nationwide Variable Account-5 is a separate investment account of
Nationwide Life Insurance Company ("Company"). The Company is a member of the
Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and all of the Company's common stock is owned
by Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. ("NFS"), a holding company. NFS has two
classes of common stock outstanding with different voting rights enabling
Nationwide Corporation (the holder of all of the outstanding Class B Common
Stock) to control NFS. Nationwide Corporation is a holding company, as well. All
of its common stock is held by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (95.3%) and
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (4.7%), the ultimate controlling
persons of Nationwide Insurance Enterprise. The Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
is one of America's largest insurance and financial services family of
companies, with combined assets of over $ 67.5 billion as of December 31, 1996.
    

Services

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

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

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

Purchase of Securities Being Offered

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

     The Contract Owner may transfer up to 100% of the Contract Value from the
Variable Account to the Fixed Account without penalty or adjustment. The Company
reserves the right to restrict transfers to 25% of the Contract Value in any 12
month period. Contract Owners may transfer a portion of the Contract Value of
the Fixed Account to the Variable Account. Such portion will be determined by
the Company at its sole discretion (but will not be less than 10% of the total
value of the portion of the Fixed Account that is maturing), 

                                       1

                                    41 of 99

<PAGE>   42

and will be declared upon the expiration date of the then current Interest Rate
Guarantee Period (see "Interest Rate Guarantee Period" located in the
prospectus). Transfers under this provision must be made within 45 days after
the expiration date of the guarantee period.

     Transfers must also be made prior to the Annuitization Date.

Underwriters

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

Calculation of Performance

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

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

     The standardized average annual total return and nonstandardized average
annual total return quotations will be current to the last day of the calendar
quarter preceding the date on which an advertisement is submitted for
publication. Both the standardized average annual total return and the
nonstandardized total return will be based on the rolling calendar quarters and
will cover at least periods of one, five, and ten years, or a period covering
the time the underlying Mutual Fund option held in the Sub-Account has been in
existence, if the underlying Mutual Fund option has not been in existence for
one of the prescribed periods. For those underlying Mutual Fund options which
have not been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for one of the
quoted periods, the average standardized annual total return and nonstandardized
average annual total return quotations will show the investment performance such
underlying Mutual Fund options would have achieved (reduced by the applicable
charges) had they been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for the
period quoted.

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

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

                                       2

                                    42 of 99

<PAGE>   43

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

                    Standardized Average Annual Total Return

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1 Year to        5 Years to     Life of Fund to     Date Fund
      SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS           12/31/96          12/31/96         12/31/96         Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>   
American Century VP Advantage         -0.58%           0.92%              3.01%          08-01-91
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital          -13.46%             1.48%            6.80%          11-20-87
Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund              12.54%            10.13%            9.20%          9-29-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Equity-Income                 4.39%            13.82%            9.90%*         10-09-86
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Govt. Bond Fund                  -6.21%             2.47%            4.49%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                -4.66%            -0.61%            1.65%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                11.85%             9.31%            8.75%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Balanced Portfolio              -2.91%             3.43%            6.30%          02-28-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.

                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

                  Non-Standardized Average Annual Total Return
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1 Year to        5 Years to     Life of Fund to     Date Fund
      SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS           12/31/96          12/31/96         12/31/96         Effective
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>   
American Century VP Advantage          7.52%           4.12%              6.18%          08-01-91
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital           -5.87%             4.51%            9.14%          11-20-87
Appreciation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund              20.64%            12.88%           11.92%          9-29-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Equity-Income                12.49%            16.21%           12.04%*         10-09-86
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Govt. Bond Fund                   1.83%             5.37%            6.77%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                 3.44%             2.51%            4.12%*         11-10-81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                19.95%            12.05%           10.92%*         11-08-82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N & B Balanced Portfolio               5.19%             6.34%            8.54%          02-28-89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

* Represents 10 years to 12/31/96.

   
     Any current yield quotations of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money
Market Fund Sub-Account, subject to Rule 482 of the Securities Act of 1933,
shall consist of a seven calendar day historical yield, carried at least to the
nearest hundredth of a percent. The yield shall be calculated by determining the
net change, exclusive of capital changes, in the value of a hypothetical
pre-existing account having a balance of one accumulation unit at the beginning
of the base period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from
Contract Owner accounts, and dividing the net change in account value by the
value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain a base period
return, and multiplying the base period return by (365/7) or (366/7) in a leap
year. The Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account's
effective yield is computed similarly but includes the effect of assumed
compounding on an annualized basis of the current yield quotations of the Fund.
For the period ended December 31, 1996, the Nationwide Separate Account Trust
Money Market Fund Sub-Account's unit value yield and effective unit value yield
were 3.64% and 3.70% respectively.
    
                                       3

                                    43 of 99

<PAGE>   44

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

Annuity Payments

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

                                       4

                                    44 of 99

<PAGE>   45

<PAGE>   1

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

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and 
   Contract Owners of Nationwide Variable Account-5:

      We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide Variable Account-5 as of December 31,
1996, and the related statements of operations and changes in contract owners'
equity and schedules of changes in unit value for each of the years in the three
year period then ended. These financial statements and schedules of changes in
unit value are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and
schedules of changes in unit value based on our audits.

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

      In our opinion, the financial statements and schedules of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide Variable Account-5 as of December 31, 1996, and the
results of its operations and its changes in contract owners' equity and the
schedules of changes in unit value for each of the years in the three year
period then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
February 7, 1997


<PAGE>   2

                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5
          STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY

                                December 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ASSETS:
<S>                                                              <C>
   Investments at market value:

      Dreyfus Stock Index Fund (DryStkIx)
         51,656 shares (cost $803,674) .........................     $ 1,047,574

      Fidelity VIP - Equity-Income Portfolio (FidVIPEI)
         179,616 shares (cost $2,983,890) ......................       3,777,322

      Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
         64,129 shares (cost $687,408) .........................         707,986

      Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
         391,307 shares (cost $391,307) ........................         391,307

      Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
         142,953 shares (cost $1,567,768) ......................       1,896,983

      Neuberger &Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
         52,442 shares (cost $807,255) .........................         834,877

      TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
         38,991 shares (cost $223,144) .........................         245,254

      TCI Portfolios - TCI Growth (TCIGro)
         139,011 shares (cost $1,388,354) ......................       1,423,471
                                                                     -----------
            Total investments ..................................      10,324,774

   Accounts receivable .........................................             644
                                                                     -----------
            Total assets .......................................      10,325,418
                                                                     ===========
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY ........................................     $10,325,418
                                                                     ===========
</TABLE>







<PAGE>   3



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Contract owners' equity represented by:

                                           UNITS        UNIT VALUE
                                          -------       ----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>          <C>        
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund:
   Tax qualified ......................    48,939         $16.698256   $   817,196
   Non-tax qualified ..................    13,798          16.698256       230,403

Fidelity VIP - Equity-Income Portfolio:
   Tax qualified ......................   193,347          16.255386     3,142,930
   Non-tax qualified ..................    39,032          16.255386       634,480

Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund:
   Tax qualified ......................    13,708          30.092479       412,508
   Non-tax qualified ..................     9,816          30.103580       295,497

Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund:
   Tax qualified ......................    18,943          20.329483       385,101
   Non-tax qualified ..................       300          22.088348         6,627

Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund:
   Tax qualified ......................    25,126          62.170693     1,562,101
   Non-tax qualified ..................     5,547          60.382482       334,942

Neuberger &Berman - Balanced Portfolio:
   Tax qualified ......................    47,651          15.563120       741,598
   Non-tax qualified ..................     5,995          15.563120        93,301

TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage:
   Tax qualified ......................     9,351          14.055040       131,429
   Non-tax qualified ..................     8,099          14.055040       113,832

TCI Portfolios - TCI Growth:
   Tax qualified ......................    77,626          15.531281     1,205,631
   Non-tax qualified ..................    14,026          15.531281       217,842
                                           ======          =========   ===========
                                                                       $10,325,418
                                                                       ===========
<FN>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

</TABLE>



<PAGE>   4


                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5
         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 ...............   $    597,570       317,443        93,544
   Mortality, expense and administration charges (note 2)       (119,165)      (81,453)      (31,825)
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
      Net investment activity ...........................        478,405       235,990        61,719
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------

   Proceeds from mutual fund shares sold ................        577,153     1,005,681       644,960
   Cost of mutual fund shares sold ......................       (483,424)     (961,009)     (638,042)
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
      Realized gain (loss) on investments ...............         93,729        44,672         6,918
   Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments ......        292,389     1,187,526        (7,940)
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
      Net gain (loss) on investments ....................        386,118     1,232,198        (1,022)
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
         Net increase (decrease) in contract owners'
            equity resulting from operations ............        864,523     1,468,188        60,697
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
EQUITY TRANSACTIONS:
   Purchase payments received from contract owners ......      2,289,111     2,249,760     4,745,746
   Redemptions ..........................................       (520,971)     (465,975)     (293,339)
   Annual contract maintenance charge (note 2) ..........        (17,468)      (11,455)         (191)
   Contingent deferred sales charges (note 2) ...........        (18,614)      (13,677)      (11,290)
   Adjustments to maintain reserves .....................            393           (76)           56
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
         Net equity transactions ........................      1,732,451     1,758,577     4,440,982
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
NET CHANGE IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY ...................      2,596,974     3,226,765     4,501,679
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY BEGINNING OF PERIOD .............      7,728,444     4,501,679          --
                                                            ------------     ---------     ---------
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY END OF PERIOD ...................   $ 10,325,418     7,728,444     4,501,679
                                                            ============     =========     =========
<FN>



See accompanying notes to financial statements.

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   5



                          NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                        DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

   (a) Organization and Nature of Operations

      Nationwide Variable Account-5 (the Account) was established pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company (the
Company) on November 1, 1989. The Account has been registered as a unit
investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. On December 31, 1993,
the accumulation unit values for each fund sub-account of Nationwide Variable
Account-5 were established at a unit value equal to the accumulation unit values
of the corresponding fund sub-account of the Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable
Account. The first deposits were received by the Account on May 4, 1994.

      The Company offers tax qualified and non-tax qualified Individual Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts through the Account. The primary distribution for the
contracts is through banks and other financial institutions.

   (b) The Contracts

      Only contracts without a front-end sales charge, but with a contingent
deferred sales charge and certain other fees, are offered for purchase. See note
2 for a discussion of contract expenses. Contract owners in either the
accumulation or payout phase may invest in any of the following:

         Dreyfus Stock Index Fund (DryStkIx)

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

         Funds of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust (Nationwide SAT) 
         (managed for a fee by an affiliated investment advisor);
            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)

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

      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 contract expenses (see
note 2). The accompanying financial statements include only contract owners'
purchase payments pertaining to the variable portions of their contracts and
exclude any purchase payments for fixed dollar benefits, the latter being
included in the accounts of the Company.

   (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 a 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.





<PAGE>   6

   (d) Federal Income Taxes

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

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

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

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

   (f) Reclassifications

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

(2) EXPENSES

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

      The following contract charges are deducted by the Company: (a) an annual
contract maintenance charge of $30, with certain exceptions, which is satisfied
by surrendering units; and (b) a mortality risk charge, an expense risk charge
and an administration charge assessed through the daily unit value calculation
equal to an annual rate of 0.80%, 0.45% and 0.05%, respectively.

(3) SCHEDULE I

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

            -  Beginning unit value - Jan. 1

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

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

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

            -  Ending unit value - Dec. 31

            -  Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.

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




<PAGE>   7
                                                                     SCHEDULED 1

                         NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT - 5

                       TAX QUALIFIED and NON-TAX QUALIFIED

                       SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE

                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              NSATGVTBD      NSATGVTBD     NSATMYMKT    NSATMYMKT 
                                            DRYSTKIX           FIDVIPEI         QUAL.         NON-QUAL.      QUAL.      NON-QUAL. 
                                            --------           --------         -----         ---------      -----      --------- 
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>          <C>       
1996
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1          $  13.807559        14.412060       29.463573       29.474435    19.595876    21.291272 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                             .595405          .664825        1.822953        1.823626      .996061     1.082246 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                     2.493107         1.377615        (.811577)       (.811863)     .000000      .000000 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.197815)        (.199114)       (.382470)       (.382618)    (.262454)    (.285170)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31            $  16.698256        16.255386       30.092479       30.103580    20.329483    22.088348 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                 21%              13%              2%              2%           4%           4%
==================================================================================================================================
1995
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1          $  10.227308        10.808255       25.138302       25.147577    18.790546    20.416267 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                             .366275          .845166        1.778825        1.779480     1.056381     1.147773 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                     3.371719         2.923160        2.904595        2.905666      .000000      .000000 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.157743)        (.164521)       (.358149)       (.358288)    (.251051)    (.272768)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31            $  13.807559        14.412060       29.463573       29.474435    19.595876    21.291272 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                 35%              33%             17%             17%           4%           4%
==================================================================================================================================
1994
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1          $  10.271065        10.227513       26.318797       26.328516    18.325918           ** 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                             .287154          .767502        1.651042        1.651652      .706658              
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                     (.197934)        (.048719)      (2.499476)      (2.500401)     .000000              
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.132977)        (.138041)       (.332061)       (.332190)    (.242030)             
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31            $  10.227308        10.808255       25.138302       25.147577    18.790546              
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                  0%               6%             (4)%            (4)%          3%             
==================================================================================================================================

                                            NSATTOTRE       NSATTOTRE
                                               QUAL.         NON-QUAL.        NBAMTBAL            TCIADV            TCIGRO 
                                               -----         ---------        --------            ------            ------ 
<S>                                          <C>             <C>             <C>                 <C>               <C>      
1996
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1             51.701438       50.214359       14.753402           13.035463         16.447846
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                            3.444695        3.345616        2.260284             .938763          1.843419
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                     7.759641        7.536444       (1.253279)            .257308         (2.545876)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.735081)       (.713937)       (.197287)          (.176494)         (.214108)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31               62.170693       60.382482       15.563120           14.055040         15.531281
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                 20%             20%              5%                  8%               (6)%
============================================================================================================================
1995
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1             40.575816       39.408735       12.077573           11.312248         12.711014
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                            4.020137        3.904506         .307323             .409891           .014626
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                     7.711672        7.489864        2.548627            1.472626          3.917671
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.606187)       (.588746)       (.180121)          (.159302)          (.195465)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31               51.701438       50.214359       14.753402           13.035463         16.447846
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                 27%             27%             22%                 15%               29%
============================================================================================================================
1994
   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1             40.671816       39.501981       12.661508           11.343435         13.030369
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                            2.052197        1.993171         .493737             .297949           .001393
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                    (1.612762)      (1.566374)       (.917170)           (.181282)         (.154144)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Contract charges                           (.535435)       (.520043)       (.160502)           (.147854)         (.166604)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value - Dec. 31               40.575816       39.408735       12.077573           11.312248         12.711014
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase (decrease)
     in unit value*                                  0%              0%             (5)%                 0%               (2)%
============================================================================================================================

<FN>

*    An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as contract charges do
     not include the annual contract maintenance charge discussed in note 2.

**   This investment option was not being utilized or was not available.

See note 3.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   46

<PAGE>   1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
                          ----------------------------


The Board of Directors
Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

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

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

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

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

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
January 31, 1997
<PAGE>   2





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets

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

                                        Assets                                                1996               1995
                                        ------                                          -----------------   ----------------
<S>                                                                                     <C>                 <C>       
Investments (notes 5, 8 and 9): 
   Securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities (cost $11,970,878 in 1996; $11,862,556 in 1995)             $12,304,639          12,485,564
      Equity securities (cost $43,890 in 1996; $23,617 in 1995)                                  59,131              29,953
   Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                         5,272,119           4,602,764
   Real estate, net                                                                             265,759             229,442
   Policy loans                                                                                 371,816             336,356
   Other long-term investments                                                                   28,668              61,989
   Short-term investments (note 13)                                                               4,789              32,792
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                             18,306,921          17,778,860
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Cash                                                                                             43,784               9,455
Accrued investment income                                                                       210,182             212,963
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                             1,366,509           1,020,356
Investment in subsidiaries classified as discontinued operations (notes 1 and 2)                485,707             506,677
Other assets (note 6)                                                                           426,441             388,214
Assets held in Separate Accounts (note 8)                                                    26,926,702          18,591,108
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                            $47,766,246          38,507,633
                                                                                        =================   ================

                         Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity
                         ------------------------------------

Future policy benefits and claims (notes 6 and 8)                                           $17,179,060          16,358,614
Policyholders' dividend accumulations                                                           361,401             348,027
Other policyholder funds                                                                         60,073              65,297
Accrued federal income tax (note 7):
   Current                                                                                       30,170              35,301
   Deferred                                                                                     162,212             246,627
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                                192,382             281,928
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Dividend payable to shareholder (notes 1 and 2)                                                 485,707                   -
Other liabilities                                                                               423,047             234,147
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts (note 8)                                            26,926,702          18,591,108
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                             45,628,372          35,879,121
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 9 and 15)

Shareholder's equity (notes 3, 4, 5, 12 and 13):
   Capital shares, $1 par value.  Authorized 5,000,000 shares, issued and
      outstanding 3,814,779 shares                                                                3,815               3,815
   Additional paid-in capital                                                                   527,874             657,118
   Retained earnings                                                                          1,432,593           1,583,275
   Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net                                       173,592             384,304
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                              2,137,874           2,628,512
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                            $47,766,246          38,507,633
                                                                                        =================   ================
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   3


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        Consolidated Statements of Income

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

                                                                                   1996            1995            1994
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                           <C>              <C>             <C>    
Revenues (note 16):
   Investment product and universal life insurance product policy charges       $   400,902        286,534         217,245
   Traditional life insurance premiums                                              198,642        199,106         176,658
   Net investment income (note 5)                                                 1,357,759      1,294,033       1,210,811
   Realized losses on investments  (note 5)                                            (326)        (1,724)        (16,527)
   Other income                                                                      35,861         20,702          11,312
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                  1,992,838      1,798,651       1,599,499
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
Benefits and expenses:
   Benefits and claims                                                            1,160,580      1,115,493         992,667
   Provision for policyholders' dividends on participating policies (note 12)        40,973         39,937          38,754
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                                133,394         82,695          85,568
   Other operating expenses (note 13)                                               342,394        272,954         240,652
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                  1,677,341      1,511,079       1,357,641
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
      Income from continuing operations before federal income tax expense           315,497        287,572         241,858
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------

Federal income tax expense (benefit) (note 7):
   Current                                                                          116,512         88,700          73,559
   Deferred                                                                          (5,623)        11,108           5,030
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                    110,889         99,808          78,589
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
      Income from continuing operations                                             204,608        187,764         163,269

Income from discontinued operations (less federal income tax expense of
   $4,453, $7,446 and $10,915 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively) (note 2)         11,324         24,714          20,459
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------

      Net income                                                                $   215,932        212,478         183,728
                                                                              ===============  ==============  =============
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   4


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 Consolidated Statements of Shareholder's Equity

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

                                                                                             Unrealized
                                                                                           gains (losses)
                                                             Additional                    on securities        Total
                                                 Capital      paid-in        Retained      available-for-   shareholder's
                                                  shares      capital        earnings        sale, net          equity
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>           <C>             <C>               <C>      
1994:
   Balance, beginning of year                       $3,815      406,089       1,194,519             6,745       1,611,168
   Capital contribution                                  -      200,000               -                 -         200,000
   Net income                                            -            -         183,728                 -         183,728
   Adjustment for change in accounting for
      certain investments in debt and equity
      securities, net (note 4)                           -            -               -           212,553         212,553
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -          (338,971)       (338,971)
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      606,089       1,378,247          (119,673)      1,868,478
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

1995:
   Balance, beginning of year                        3,815      606,089       1,378,247          (119,673)      1,868,478
   Capital contribution (note 13)                        -       51,029               -            (4,111)         46,918
   Dividends to shareholder                              -            -          (7,450)                -          (7,450)
   Net income                                            -            -         212,478                 -         212,478
   Unrealized gains on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -           508,088         508,088
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      657,118       1,583,275           384,304       2,628,512
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

1996:
   Balance, beginning of year                        3,815      657,118       1,583,275           384,304       2,628,512
   Capital contribution (note 13)                        -           25               5                 -              30
   Dividends to shareholder                              -     (129,269)       (366,619)          (39,819)       (535,707)
   Net income                                            -            -         215,932                 -         215,932
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -          (170,893)       (170,893)
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      527,874       1,432,593           173,592       2,137,874
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   5


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

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

                                                                                       1996            1995            1994
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
<S>                                                                              <C>              <C>             <C>    
  Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                                                    $    215,932        212,478         183,728
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
        activities:
           Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs                         (422,572)      (321,327)       (242,431)
           Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            133,394         82,695          85,568
           Amortization and depreciation                                                  6,962         10,234           3,603
           Realized (gains) losses on invested assets, net                                 (284)         3,250          16,094
           Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)                                  7,603        (30,673)          9,946
           Decrease (increase) in accrued investment income                               2,781        (16,999)        (12,808)
           (Increase) decrease in other assets                                          (38,876)        39,880        (102,676)
           Increase in policy liabilities                                               305,755        135,937         118,361
           Increase in policyholders' dividend accumulations                             13,374         12,639          15,298
           (Decrease) increase in accrued federal income tax payable                     (5,131)        30,836          (5,714)
           Increase in other liabilities                                                188,900         26,851             506
           Other, net                                                                   (61,679)         1,832         (29,595)
                                                                                 ---------------  --------------- ---------------
              Net cash provided by operating activities                                 346,159        187,633          39,880
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------

  Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from maturity of securities available-for-sale                          1,162,766        634,553         544,843
     Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale                                299,558        107,345         228,308
     Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                     -        564,450         491,862
     Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans on real estate                          309,050        207,832         190,574
     Proceeds from sale of real estate                                                   18,519         48,331          46,713
     Proceeds from repayments of policy loans and sale of other invested assets          22,795         53,587         120,506
     Cost of securities available-for-sale acquired                                  (1,573,640)    (1,942,413)     (1,816,370)
     Cost of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity acquired                              -       (593,636)       (410,379)
     Cost of mortgage loans on real estate acquired                                    (972,776)      (796,026)       (471,570)
     Cost of real estate acquired                                                        (7,862)       (10,928)         (6,385)
     Policy loans issued and other invested assets acquired                             (57,740)       (75,910)        (65,302)
     Short-term investments, net                                                         28,003         77,837         (89,376)
     Purchase of affiliate (note 13)                                                          -              -        (155,000)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- ---------------
              Net cash used in investing activities                                    (771,327)    (1,724,978)     (1,391,576)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- ---------------

  Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from capital contributions                                                     30              -         200,000
     Dividends paid to shareholder                                                      (50,000)        (7,450)              -
     Increase in investment product and universal life insurance
        product account balances                                                      2,293,933      2,809,385       3,547,976
     Decrease in investment product and universal life insurance
        product account balances                                                     (1,784,466)    (1,258,758)     (2,412,595)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- --------------
              Net cash provided by financing activities                                 459,497      1,543,177       1,335,381
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- --------------

  Net increase (decrease) in cash                                                        34,329          5,832         (16,315)

                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
  Cash, beginning of year                                                                 9,455          3,623          19,938
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
  Cash, end of year                                                               $      43,784          9,455           3,623
                                                                                 ================ =============== ===============
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   6




               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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

(1)      Organization and Description of Business
         ----------------------------------------

         Nationwide Life Insurance Company (NLIC) is a wholly owned subsidiary
         of Nationwide Corporation (Nationwide Corp.). Wholly owned subsidiaries
         of NLIC include Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (NLAIC),
         Employers Life Insurance Company of Wausau and subsidiaries (ELICW),
         National Casualty Company (NCC), West Coast Life Insurance Company
         (WCLIC), Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. (formerly Nationwide
         Financial Services, Inc.), Nationwide Investment Services Corporation
         (formerly PEBSCO Securities Corporation) (NISC) and NWE, Inc. NLIC and
         its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "the Company."

         Nationwide Corp. formed Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NFS) in
         November 1996 as a holding company for NLIC and the other companies of
         the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise that offer or distribute long-term
         savings and retirement products. On January 27, 1997, Nationwide Corp.
         contributed to NFS the common stock of NLIC and three marketing and
         distribution companies. NFS is planning an initial public offering of
         its Class A common stock during the first quarter of 1997.

         In anticipation of the restructuring described above, on September 24,
         1996, NLIC's Board of Directors declared a dividend payable January 1,
         1997 to Nationwide Corp. consisting of the outstanding shares of common
         stock of certain subsidiaries (ELICW, NCC and WCLIC) that do not offer
         or distribute long-term savings and retirement products. In addition,
         during 1996, NLIC entered into two reinsurance agreements whereby all
         of NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business was
         ceded to ELICW and another affiliate effective January 1, 1996. These
         subsidiaries and all accident and health and group life insurance
         business have been accounted for as discontinued operations for all
         periods presented. See notes 2 and 13.

         In addition, as part of the restructuring described above, NLIC intends
         to make an $850,000 distribution to NFS which will then make an
         equivalent distribution to Nationwide Corp.

         The Company is a leading provider of long-term savings and retirement
         products to retail and institutional customers and is subject to
         competition from other financial services providers throughout the
         United States. The Company is subject to regulation by the Insurance
         Departments of states in which it is licensed, and undergoes periodic
         examinations by those departments.

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

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

              CREDIT RISK is the risk that issuers of securities owned by the
              Company or mortgagors on mortgage loans on real estate owned by
              the Company will default or that other parties, including
              reinsurers, which owe the Company money, will not pay. The Company
              minimizes this risk by adhering to a conservative investment
              strategy, by maintaining reinsurance and credit and collection
              policies and by providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.
<PAGE>   7



               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

(2)      Discontinued Operations
         -----------------------

         As discussed in note 1, NFS is a holding company for NLIC and certain
         other companies that offer or distribute long-term savings and
         retirement products. Prior to the contribution by Nationwide Corp. to
         NFS of the outstanding common stock of NLIC and other companies, NLIC
         effected certain transactions with respect to certain subsidiaries and
         lines of business that were unrelated to long-term savings and
         retirement products.

         On September 24, 1996, NLIC's Board of Directors declared a dividend to
         Nationwide Corp. consisting of the outstanding shares of common stock
         of three subsidiaries: ELICW, NCC and WCLIC. ELICW writes group
         accident and health and group life insurance business and maintains it
         offices in Wausau, Wisconsin. NCC is a property and casualty company
         that serves as a fronting company for a property and casualty
         subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC), an affiliate.
         NCC maintains its offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. WCLIC writes high
         dollar term life insurance policies and is located in San Francisco,
         California. ELICW, NCC and WCLIC have been accounted for as
         discontinued operations for all periods presented. NLIC did not
         recognize any gain or loss on the disposal of these subsidiaries.

         A summary of the combined results of operations, including the results
         of the accident and health and group life insurance business ELICW
         assumed from NLIC in 1996, and assets and liabilities of ELICW, NCC and
         WCLIC as of and for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 is
         as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    1996           1995          1994
                                                                                ------------   -----------   -----------

               <S>                                                               <C>             <C>           <C>   
               Revenues                                                          $   668,870       422,149        84,226
               Net income                                                             11,324        26,456        11,753
               Assets, consisting primarily of investments                         3,029,293     2,967,326     2,537,692
               Liabilities, consisting primarily of policy benefits and claims     2,543,586     2,460,649     2,179,263
</TABLE>

         During 1996, NLIC entered into two reinsurance agreements whereby all
         of NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business was
         ceded to ELICW and NMIC, effective January 1, 1996. See note 13 for a
         complete discussion of the reinsurance agreements. NLIC has
         discontinued its accident and health and group life insurance business
         and in connection therewith has entered into reinsurance agreements to
         cede all existing and any future writings to other affiliated companies
         and will cease writing any new business prior to December 31, 1997.
         NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business is
         accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
         NLIC did not recognize any gain or loss on the disposal of the accident
         and health and group life insurance business. The assets, liabilities,
         results of operations and activities of discontinued operations are
         distinguished physically, operationally and for financial reporting
         purposes from the remaining assets, liabilities, results of operations
         and activities of NLIC.
<PAGE>   8
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         A summary of the results of operations, net of amounts ceded to ELICW
         and NMIC in 1996, and assets and liabilities of NLIC's accident and
         health and group life insurance business as of and for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    1996           1995          1994
                                                                                ------------   -----------   -----------

<S>                                                                                 <C>            <C>           <C>    
               Revenues                                                             $      -       354,788       362,476
               Net income (loss)                                                           -        (1,742)        8,706
               Assets, consisting primarily of investments                           259,185       239,426       234,082
               Liabilities, consisting primarily of policy benefits and claims       259,185       239,426       234,082
</TABLE>

(3)      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
         ------------------------------------------

         The significant accounting policies followed by the Company that
         materially affect financial reporting are summarized below. The
         accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) which
         differ from statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by
         regulatory authorities. Annual Statements for NLIC and its insurance
         subsidiaries, filed with the department of insurance of each insurance
         company's state of domicile, are prepared on the basis of accounting
         practices prescribed or permitted by each department. Prescribed
         statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the
         National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as well as
         state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted
         statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not
         so prescribed. The Company has no material permitted statutory
         accounting practices.

         In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is
         required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
         amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent
         assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial
         statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the
         reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those
         estimates.

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

         (a)  Consolidation Policy
              --------------------

              The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NLIC
              and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Subsidiaries that are
              classified and reported as discontinued operations are not
              consolidated but rather are reported as "Investment in
              Subsidiaries Classified as Discontinued Operations" in the
              accompanying consolidated balance sheets and "Income for
              Discontinued Operations" in the accompanying consolidated
              statements of income. All significant intercompany balances and
              transactions have been eliminated.

         (b)  Valuation of Investments and Related Gains and Losses
              -----------------------------------------------------

              The Company is required to classify its fixed maturity securities
              and equity securities as either held-to-maturity,
              available-for-sale or trading. Fixed maturity securities are
              classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive
              intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity and are
              stated at amortized cost. Fixed maturity securities not classified
              as held-to-maturity and all equity securities are classified as
              available-for-sale and are stated at fair value, with the
              unrealized gains and losses, net of adjustments to deferred policy
              acquisition costs and deferred federal income tax, reported as a
              separate component of shareholder's equity. The adjustment to
              deferred policy acquisition costs represents the change in
              amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs that would have
              been required as a charge or credit to operations had such
              unrealized amounts been realized. The Company has no fixed
              maturity securities classified as held-to-maturity or trading as
              of December 31, 1996 or 1995.
<PAGE>   9
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



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

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

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

         (c)  Revenues and Benefits
              ---------------------

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

              TRADITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS: Traditional life insurance
              products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums
              and benefits and consist primarily of whole life insurance,
              limited-payment life insurance, term life insurance and certain
              annuities with life contingencies. Premiums for traditional life
              insurance products are recognized as revenue when due. Benefits
              and expenses are associated with earned premiums so as to result
              in recognition of profits over the life of the contract. This
              association is accomplished by the provision for future policy
              benefits and the deferral and amortization of policy acquisition
              costs.

              ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCTS: Accident and health
              insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the terms of the
              policies. Policy claims are charged to expense in the period that
              the claims are incurred. All accident and health insurance
              business is accounted for as discontinued operations. See note 2.

         (d)  Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
              ---------------------------------

              The costs of acquiring new business, principally commissions,
              certain expenses of the policy issue and underwriting department
              and certain variable agency expenses have been deferred. For
              investment products and universal life insurance products,
              deferred policy acquisition costs are being amortized with
              interest over the lives of the policies in relation to the present
              value of estimated future gross profits from projected interest
              margins, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy administration and
              surrender charges. For years in which gross profits are negative,
              deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized based on the
              present value of gross revenues. For traditional life products,
              these deferred policy acquisition costs are predominantly being
              amortized with interest over the premium paying period of the
              related policies in proportion to the ratio of actual annual
              premium revenue to the anticipated total premium revenue. Such
              anticipated premium revenue was estimated using the same
              assumptions as were used for computing liabilities for future
              policy benefits. Deferred policy acquisition costs are adjusted to
              reflect the impact of unrealized gains and losses on fixed
              maturity securities available-for-sale as described in note 3(b).
<PAGE>   10

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         (e)  Separate Accounts
              -----------------

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

         (f)  Future Policy Benefits
              ----------------------

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

              Future policy benefits for traditional life insurance policies
              have been calculated using a net level premium method based on
              estimates of mortality, morbidity, investment yields and
              withdrawals which were used or which were being experienced at the
              time the policies were issued, rather than the assumptions
              prescribed by state regulatory authorities. See note 6.

              Future policy benefits and claims for collectively renewable
              long-term disability policies and group long-term disability
              policies are the present value of amounts not yet due on reported
              claims and an estimate of amounts to be paid on incurred but
              unreported claims. The impact of reserve discounting is not
              material. Future policy benefits and claims on other group health
              insurance policies are not discounted. All health insurance
              business is accounted for as discontinued operations. See note 2.

         (g)  Participating Business
              ----------------------

              Participating business represents approximately 52% in 1996 (54%
              in 1995 and 55% in 1994) of the Company's life insurance in force,
              78% in 1996 (79% in 1995 and 79% in 1994) of the number of life
              insurance policies in force, and 40% in 1996 (47% in 1995 and 51%
              in 1994) of life insurance premiums. The provision for
              policyholder dividends is based on current dividend scales. Future
              dividends are provided for ratably in future policy benefits based
              on dividend scales in effect at the time the policies were issued.

         (h)  Federal Income Tax
              ------------------

              The Company, with the exception of ELICW, files a consolidated
              federal income tax return with NMIC, the majority shareholder of
              Nationwide Corp. The members of the consolidated tax return group
              have a tax sharing arrangement which provides, in effect, for each
              member to bear essentially the same federal income tax liability
              as if separate tax returns were filed. Through 1994, ELICW filed a
              consolidated federal income tax return with Employers Insurance of
              Wausau A Mutual Company, an affiliate. Beginning in 1995, ELICW
              files a separate federal income tax return.

              The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting
              for income tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
              liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
              attributable to differences between the financial statement
              carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
              respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit
              carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
              using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
              years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
              recovered or settled. Under this method, the effect on deferred
              tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized
              in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
              Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce the
              deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
<PAGE>   11
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         (i)  Reinsurance Ceded
              -----------------
  
              Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoveries on benefits
              and claims incurred are deducted from the respective income and
              expense accounts. Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance
              ceded are reported on a gross basis. All of the Company's accident
              and health and group life insurance business is ceded to
              affiliates and is accounted for as discontinued operations. See
              notes 2 and 13.

         (j)  Reclassification
              ----------------

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


(4)      Change in Accounting Principle
         ------------------------------

         Effective January 1, 1994, the Company changed its method of accounting
         for certain investments in debt and equity securities in connection
         with the issuance of STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (SFAS)
         NO. 115 - ACCOUNTING FOR CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY
         SECURITIES. As of January 1, 1994, the Company classified fixed
         maturity securities with amortized cost and fair value of $6,299,665
         and $6,721,714, respectively, as available-for-sale and recorded the
         securities at fair value. Previously, these securities were recorded at
         amortized cost. The effect as of January 1, 1994 has been recorded as a
         direct credit to shareholder's equity as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             <S>                                                                     <C>    
             Excess of fair value over amortized cost of fixed maturity
                securities available-for-sale                                         $ 422,049
             Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                            (95,044)
             Deferred federal income tax                                               (114,452)
                                                                                    --------------
                                                                                      $ 212,553
                                                                                    ==============
</TABLE>


(5)      Investments
         -----------

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

                                                                                     Gross         Gross
                                                                    Amortized     unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
                                                                      cost           gains        losses       fair value
                                                                  ------------    ----------    -----------    -----------  
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>          <C>            <C>    
             1996:
               Fixed maturity securities:
                 U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
                   U.S. government corporations and agencies       $   275,696         4,795        (1,340)        279,151
                 Obligations of states and political subdivisions        6,242           450            (2)          6,690
                 Debt securities issued by foreign governments         100,656         2,141          (857)        101,940
                 Corporate securities                                7,999,310       285,946       (33,686)      8,251,570
                 Mortgage-backed securities                          3,588,974        91,438       (15,124)      3,665,288
                                                                   ------------    ----------   ------------   ------------ 
                     Total fixed maturity securities                11,970,878       384,770       (51,009)     12,304,639
               Equity securities                                        43,890        15,571          (330)         59,131
                                                                   ------------    ----------   ------------   ------------ 
                                                                   $12,014,768       400,341       (51,339)     12,363,770
                                                                   ============    ==========   ============   ============ 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   12
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

                                                                                     Gross         Gross
                                                                    Amortized     unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
                                                                      cost           gains        losses       fair value
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                                <C>                <C>              <C>         <C>    
             1995:
               Fixed maturity securities:
                 U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of 
                   U.S. government corporations and agencies       $   310,186        12,764           (1)         322,949
                 Obligations of states and political subdivisions        8,655         1,205           (1)           9,859
                 Debt securities issued by foreign governments         101,414         4,387          (66)         105,735
                 Corporate securities                                7,888,440       473,681      (25,742)       8,336,379
                 Mortgage-backed securities                          3,553,861       165,169       (8,388)       3,710,642
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
                     Total fixed maturity securities                11,862,556       657,206      (34,198)      12,485,564
               Equity securities                                        23,617         6,382          (46)          29,953
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
                                                                   $11,886,173       663,588      (34,244)      12,515,517
                                                                   ============    ==========   ===========  ===============
</TABLE>


         The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity
         securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 1996, by contractual
         maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from
         contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or
         prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              
                                                                                   Amortized        Estimated
                                                                                      cost          fair value
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                
<S>                                                                             <C>                    <C>                 
             Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
                Due in one year or less                                         $     440,235          444,214
                Due after one year through five years                               3,937,010        4,053,152
                Due after five years through ten years                              2,809,813        2,871,806
                Due after ten years                                                 1,194,846        1,270,179
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                    8,381,904        8,639,351

             Mortgage-backed securities                                             3,588,974        3,665,288
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                  $11,970,878       12,304,639
                                                                                ===============   ==============
</TABLE>


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

                                                                                   1996            1995
                                                                              ---------------  --------------

             <S>                                                                  <C>              <C>    
             Gross unrealized gains                                               $349,002         629,344
             Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                       (81,939)       (138,914)
             Deferred federal income tax                                           (93,471)       (171,649)
                                                                              ---------------  --------------
                                                                                   173,592         318,781

             Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net, of
                subsidiaries classified as discontinued operations (note 2)              -          65,523
                                                                              ---------------  --------------
                                                                                  $173,592         384,304
                                                                              ===============  ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   13
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

                                                                          1996             1995            1994
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
             <S>                                                     <C>               <C>            <C>    
             Securities available-for-sale:
                Fixed maturity securities                               $(289,247)         876,332       (675,373)
                Equity securities                                           8,905              (26)        (1,927)
             Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                         -           75,626       (398,183)
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
                                                                        $(280,342)         951,932     (1,075,483)
                                                                     ===============   =============  ==============
</TABLE>

         Proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale during 1996,
         1995 and 1994 were $299,558, $107,345 and $228,308, respectively.
         During 1996, gross gains of $6,606 ($4,838 and $3,045 in 1995 and 1994,
         respectively) and gross losses of $6,925 ($2,147 and $21,280 in 1995
         and 1994, respectively) were realized on those sales.

         During 1995, the Company transferred fixed maturity securities
         classified as held-to-maturity with amortized cost of $25,429 to
         available-for-sale securities due to evidence of a significant
         deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness. The transfer of those
         fixed maturity securities resulted in a gross unrealized loss of
         $3,535.

         As permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Special
         Report, A GUIDE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF STATEMENT 115 ON ACCOUNTING FOR
         CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES, issued in November
         1995 the Company transferred all of its fixed maturity securities
         previously classified as held-to-maturity to available-for-sale. As of
         December 14, 1995, the date of transfer, the fixed maturity securities
         had amortized cost of $3,320,093, resulting in a gross unrealized gain
         of $155,940.

         Investments that were non-income producing for the twelve month period
         preceding December 31, 1996 amounted to $26,805 ($27,712 in 1995) and
         consisted of $248 ($6,982 in 1995) in fixed maturity securities,
         $20,633 ($14,740 in 1995) in real estate and $5,924 ($5,990 in 1995) in
         other long-term investments.

         Real estate is presented at cost less accumulated depreciation of
         $30,338 as of December 31, 1996 ($30,482 as of December 31, 1995) and
         valuation allowances of $15,219 as of December 31, 1996 ($25,819 as of
         December 31, 1995).

         The recorded investment of mortgage loans on real estate considered to
         be impaired (under SFAS NO. 114 - ACCOUNTING BY CREDITORS FOR
         IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN as amended by SFAS NO. 118 - ACCOUNTING BY
         CREDITORS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN-INCOME RECOGNITION AND DISCLOSURE)
         as of December 31, 1996 was $51,765 ($44,409 as of December 31, 1995),
         which includes $41,663 ($23,975 as of December 31, 1995) of impaired
         mortgage loans on real estate for which the related valuation allowance
         was $8,485 ($5,276 as of December 31, 1995) and $10,102 ($20,434 as of
         December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real estate for which
         there was no valuation allowance. During 1996, the average recorded
         investment in impaired mortgage loans on real estate was approximately
         $39,674 ($22,181 in 1995) and interest income recognized on those loans
         was $2,103 ($387 in 1995), which is equal to interest income recognized
         using a cash-basis method of income recognition.

         Activity in the valuation allowance account for mortgage loans on real
         estate is summarized for the years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   1996           1995
                                                                               -------------  --------------

<S>                                                                                <C>             <C>   
             Allowance, beginning of year                                          $49,128         46,381
                  Additions charged to operations                                    4,497          7,433
                  Direct write-downs charged against the allowance                  (2,587)        (4,686)
                                                                               -------------  -------------  
             Allowance, end of year                                                $51,038         49,128
                                                                               =============  ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   14

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         An analysis of investment income by investment type follows for the
         years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          1996             1995           1994
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  ------------
        <S>                                                           <C>              <C>            <C>          
             Gross investment income:
                 Securities available-for-sale:
                   Fixed maturity securities                          $   917,135          685,787        647,927
                   Equity securities                                        1,291            1,330            509
                 Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                     -          201,808        185,938
                 Mortgage loans on real estate                            432,815          395,478        372,734
                 Real estate                                               44,332           38,344         40,170
                 Short-term investments                                     4,155           10,576          6,141
                 Other                                                      3,998            7,239          2,121
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
                       Total investment income                          1,403,726        1,340,562      1,255,540
             Less investment expenses                                      45,967           46,529         44,729
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  ---------------  
                       Net investment income                           $1,357,759        1,294,033      1,210,811
                                                                     ===============   =============  ==============
</TABLE>

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996          1995          1994
                                                                     ------------  ------------  ------------
        <S>                                                          <C>           <C>           <C>    
             Securities available-for-sale:
                Fixed maturity securities                              $(3,462)        4,213        (7,296)
                Equity securities                                        3,143         3,386         1,422
             Mortgage loans on real estate                              (4,115)       (7,091)      (20,446)
             Real estate and other                                       4,108        (2,232)        9,793
                                                                     ------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                                                      $   (326)       (1,724)      (16,527)
                                                                     ============  ============  ============
</TABLE>

         Fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of $6,161 and $5,592
         as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were on deposit with
         various regulatory agencies as required by law.

(6)      Future Policy Benefits and Claims
         ---------------------------------

         The liability for future policy benefits for investment contracts
         represents approximately 87% and 87% of the total liability for future
         policy benefits as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
         average interest rate credited on investment product policies was
         approximately 6.3%, 6.6% and 6.5% for the years ended December 31,
         1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

         The liability for future policy benefits for traditional life insurance
         policies has been established based upon the following assumptions:

              Interest rates:  Interest rates vary as follows:
              --------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   Year of issue                Interest rates
                   -----------------   ----------------------------------------

                   <S>                <C>                
                   1996                6.6%, not graded
                   1984-1995           6.0% to 10.5%, not graded
                   1966-1983           6.0% to 8.1%, graded over 20 years to 4.0% to 6.6%
                   1965 and prior      generally lower than post 1965 issues

</TABLE>
<PAGE>   15
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


              WITHDRAWALS: Rates, which vary by issue age, type of coverage
              and policy duration, are based on Company experience.

              MORTALITY: Mortality and morbidity rates are based on
              published tables, modified for the Company's actual
              experience.

         The Company has entered into a reinsurance contract to cede a portion
         of its general account individual annuity business to The Franklin Life
         Insurance Company (Franklin). Total recoveries due from Franklin were
         $240,451 and $245,255 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
         The contract is immaterial to the Company's results of operations. The
         ceding of risk does not discharge the original insurer from its primary
         obligation to the policyholder. Under the terms of the contract,
         Franklin has established a trust as collateral for the recoveries. The
         trust assets are invested in investment grade securities, the market
         value of which must at all times be greater than or equal to 102% of
         the reinsured reserves.

         The Company has reinsurance agreements with certain affiliates as
         described in note 13. All other reinsurance agreements are not material
         to either premiums or reinsurance recoverables.

(7)      Federal Income Tax
         -------------------

         The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
         components of the net deferred tax liability as of December 31, 1996
         and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              1996               1995
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
            <S>                                                         <C>                 <C>    
             Deferred tax assets:
                Future policy benefits                                        $175,571            149,192
                Liabilities in Separate Accounts                               188,426            129,120
                Mortgage loans on real estate and real estate                   23,366             25,165
                Other policyholder funds                                         7,407              7,424
                Other assets and other liabilities                              53,757             41,847
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Total gross deferred tax assets                              448,527            352,748
                  Less valuation allowances                                     (7,000)            (7,000)
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Net deferred tax assets                                      441,527            345,748
                                                                        =================   ===============

             Deferred tax liabilities:
                Deferred policy acquisition costs                              399,345            299,579
                Fixed maturity securities                                      133,210            227,345
                Deferred tax on realized investment gains                       37,597             40,634
                Equity securities and other long-term investments                8,210              3,780
                Other                                                           25,377             21,037
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Total gross deferred tax liabilities                         603,739            592,375
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                                                                              $162,212            246,627
                                                                        =================   ===============
</TABLE>

         In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management
         considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the
         total gross deferred tax assets will not be realized. Nearly all future
         deductible amounts can be offset by future taxable amounts or recovery
         of federal income tax paid within the statutory carryback period. There
         has been no change in the valuation allowance for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.
<PAGE>   16

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

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

                                                                1996                    1995                    1994
                                                   ----------------------   ----------------------   ----------------------
                                                      Amount        %          Amount        %          Amount        %
                                                   ----------------------   ----------------------   ----------------------

             <S>                                      <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C> 
             Computed (expected) tax expense          $110,424     35.0        $100,650     35.0         $84,650     35.0
             Tax exempt interest and dividends
                received deduction                        (212)    (0.1)            (18)    (0.0)           (130)    (0.1)
             Other, net                                    677      0.3            (824)    (0.3)         (5,931)    (2.5)
                                                   ------------  --------   ------------- --------   ------------- --------
               Total (effective rate of each year)    $110,889     35.2       $  99,808     34.7         $78,589     32.5
                                                   ============  ========   ============= ========   ============= ========
</TABLE>

         Total federal  income tax paid was $115,839,  $51,840 and $83,239  
         during the years ended  December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994, 
         respectively.


 (8)     Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
         -----------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

              CASH, SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND POLICY LOANS: The carrying amount
              reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these instruments
              approximates their fair value.

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

              SEPARATE ACCOUNT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: The fair value of assets
              held in Separate Accounts is based on quoted market prices. The
              fair value of liabilities related to Separate Accounts is the
              amount payable on demand, which includes certain surrender
              charges.
<PAGE>   17
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

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

              POLICY RESERVES ON LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACTS: Included are
              disclosures for individual life insurance, universal life
              insurance and supplementary contracts with life contingencies for
              which the estimated fair value is the amount payable on demand.
              Also included are disclosures for the Company's limited payment
              policies, which the Company has used discounted cash flow analyses
              similar to those used for investment contracts with known
              maturities to estimate fair value.

              POLICYHOLDERS' DIVIDEND ACCUMULATIONS AND OTHER POLICYHOLDER
              FUNDS: The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance
              sheets for these instruments approximates their fair value.

              COMMITMENTS TO EXTEND CREDIT: Commitments to extend credit have
              nominal fair value because of the short-term nature of such
              commitments. See note 9.

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

                                                                           1996                            1995
                                                             ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                                Carrying      Estimated          Carrying       Estimated
                                                                 amount       fair value          amount        fair value
                                                             ------------------------------   --------------- ---------------
               <S>                                             <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>       
               Assets
               ------
               Investments:
                  Securities available-for-sale:
                     Fixed maturity securities                 $12,304,639     12,304,639        12,485,564      12,485,564
                     Equity securities                              59,131         59,131            29,953          29,953
                  Mortgage loans on real estate, net             5,272,119      5,397,865         4,602,764       4,961,655
                  Policy loans                                     371,816        371,816           336,356         336,356
                  Short-term investments                             4,789          4,789            32,792          32,792
               Cash                                                 43,784         43,784             9,455           9,455
               Assets held in Separate Accounts                 26,926,702     26,926,702        18,591,108      18,591,108

               Liabilities
               -----------
               Investment contracts                             13,914,441     13,484,526        13,229,360      12,876,798
               Policy reserves on life insurance contracts       2,971,337      2,775,991         2,836,323       2,733,486
               Policyholders' dividend accumulations               361,401        361,401           348,027         348,027
               Other policyholder funds                             60,073         60,073            65,297          65,297
               Liabilities related to Separate Accounts         26,926,702     26,164,213        18,591,108      18,052,362
</TABLE>

(9)      Additional Financial Instruments Disclosures
         --------------------------------------------
         
         FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK: The Company is a
         party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the
         normal course of business through management of its investment
         portfolio. These financial instruments include commitments to extend
         credit in the form of loans. These instruments involve, to varying
         degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of amounts recognized on the
         consolidated balance sheets.
<PAGE>   18
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         Commitments to fund fixed rate mortgage loans on real estate are
         agreements to lend to a borrower, and are subject to conditions
         established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed
         expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment
         of a deposit. Commitments extended by the Company are based on
         management's case-by-case credit evaluation of the borrower and the
         borrower's loan collateral. The underlying mortgage property represents
         the collateral if the commitment is funded. The Company's policy for
         new mortgage loans on real estate is to lend no more than 75% of
         collateral value. Should the commitment be funded, the Company's
         exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the borrower
         is represented by the contractual amounts of these commitments less the
         net realizable value of the collateral. The contractual amounts also
         represent the cash requirements for all unfunded commitments.
         Commitments on mortgage loans on real estate of $327,456 extending into
         1997 were outstanding as of December 31, 1996.

         SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK: The Company grants mainly
         commercial mortgage loans on real estate to customers throughout the
         United States. The Company has a diversified portfolio with no more
         than 21% (20% in 1995) in any geographic area and no more than 2% (2%
         in 1995) with any one borrower as of December 31, 1996.

         The Company had a significant reinsurance recoverable balance from one
         reinsurer as of December 31, 1996 and 1995. See note 6.

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

                                                                                             Apartment
                                                Office       Warehouse         Retail         & other           Total
                                              ------------  -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
              <S>                              <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>                 
               1996:
                 East North Central             $139,518        119,069         549,064         215,038        1,022,689
                 East South Central               33,267         22,252         172,968          90,623          319,110
                 Mountain                         17,972         43,027         113,292          73,390          247,681
                 Middle Atlantic                 129,077         54,046         160,833          18,498          362,454
                 New England                      33,348         43,581         161,960               -          238,889
                 Pacific                         202,562        325,046         424,295         110,108        1,062,011
                 South Atlantic                  103,889        134,492         482,934         385,185        1,106,500
                 West North Central              126,467          2,441          75,180          40,529          244,617
                 West South Central              104,877        120,314         197,090         304,256          726,537
                                              -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------  ------------
                                                $890,977        864,268       2,337,616       1,237,627        5,330,488
                                              ============  =============   =============   =============
                    Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                            58,369
                                                                                                            --------------
                         Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                             $5,272,119
                                                                                                            ==============
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 <S>                          <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>    
               1995:
                 East North Central             $138,965        101,925         514,995         175,213          931,098
                 East South Central               21,329         13,053         180,858          82,383          297,623
                 Mountain                              -         17,219         138,220          45,274          200,713
                 Middle Atlantic                 116,187         64,813         158,252          10,793          350,045
                 New England                       9,559         39,525         148,449               1          197,534
                 Pacific                         183,206        233,186         374,915         105,419          896,726
                 South Atlantic                  106,246         73,541         446,800         278,265          904,852
                 West North Central              133,899         14,205          78,065          36,651          262,820
                 West South Central               69,140         92,594         190,299         267,268          619,301
                                              ------------  ------------    -------------   -------------   --------------
                                                $778,531        650,061       2,230,853       1,001,267        4,660,712
                                              ============  =============   =============   =============
                    Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                            57,948
                                                                                                            --------------
                         Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                             $4,602,764
                                                                                                            ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   19
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


(10)     Pension Plan
         ------------

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

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

         Effective December 31, 1995, the Nationwide Insurance Companies and
         Affiliates Retirement Plan was merged with the Farmland Mutual
         Insurance Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the Wausau Insurance
         Companies Pension Plan to form the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
         Retirement Plan. Immediately prior to the merger, the plans were
         amended to provide consistent benefits for service after January 1,
         1996. These amendments had no significant impact on the accumulated
         benefit obligation or projected benefit obligation as of December 31,
         1995.

         Pension costs charged to operations by the Company during the years
         ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 were $7,381, $10,478 and
         $10,063, respectively.

         The Company's net accrued pension expense as of December 31, 1996 and
         1995 was $1,075 and $1,392, respectively.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996             1995              1994
                                                                   ---------------  ---------------   ---------------

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


         Basis for measurements, net periodic pension cost:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996             1995              1994
                                                                   ---------------  ---------------   ---------------

              <S>                                                   <C>              <C>               <C>  
              Weighted average discount rate                           6.00%            7.50%             5.75%
              Rate of increase in future compensation levels           4.25%            6.25%             4.50%
              Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets         6.75%            8.75%             7.00%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   20
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

                                                                                1996              1995
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
              <S>                                                          <C>               <C>      
              Accumulated benefit obligation:
                 Vested                                                      $1,338,554         1,236,730
                 Nonvested                                                       11,149            26,503
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                                                                             $1,349,703         1,263,233
                                                                           ===============   ===============

              Net accrued pension expense:
                 Projected benefit obligation for services rendered to       
                    date                                                     $1,847,828         1,780,616
                 Plan assets at fair value                                    1,947,933         1,738,004
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                    Plan assets in excess of (less than) projected benefit
                       obligation                                               100,105           (42,612)
                 Unrecognized prior service cost                                 37,870            42,845
                 Unrecognized net gains                                        (201,952)          (63,130)
                 Unrecognized net asset at transition                            37,158            41,305
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                                                                            $   (26,819)          (21,592)
                                                                           ===============   ===============
</TABLE>

         Basis for measurements, funded status of plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1996              1995
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------

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

         Assets of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan are
         invested in group annuity contracts of NLIC and ELICW.

(11)     Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions
         -------------------------------------------

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

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

         The Company's accrued postretirement benefit expense as of December 31,
         1996 and 1995 was $34,884 and $33,537, respectively, and the net
         periodic postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) for 1996, 1995 and 1994
         was $3,286, $3,132 and $4,284, respectively.
<PAGE>   21
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


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

                                                                                        1996          1995          1994
                                                                                     -----------   -----------   -----------

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

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

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

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1996          1996         1995         1995         1994
                                                      APBO         NPPBC         APBO        NPPBC         NPPBC
                                                   ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------
             <S>                                     <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>  

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


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

(12)     Shareholder's Equity, Regulatory Risk-Based Capital, Retained Earnings 
         and Dividend Restrictions
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

         Each insurance company's state of domicile imposes minimum risk-based
         capital requirements that were developed by the NAIC. The formulas for
         determining the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting
         factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of
         activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance
         is determined by a ratio of the company's regulatory total adjusted
         capital, as defined by the NAIC, to its authorized control level
         risk-based capital, as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific
         trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of
         which requires specified corrective action. NLIC and each of its
         insurance company subsidiaries exceed the minimum risk-based capital
         requirements.
<PAGE>   22
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         The statutory capital shares and surplus of NLIC as of December 31,
         1996, 1995 and 1994 was $1,000,647, $1,363,031 and $1,262,861,
         respectively. The statutory net income of NLIC for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $73,218, $86,529 and $76,532,
         respectively.

         NLIC is limited in the amount of shareholder dividends it may pay
         without prior approval by the Department of Insurance of the State of
         Ohio (the Department). NLIC's dividend of the outstanding shares of
         common stock of certain companies which was declared on September 24,
         1996 and the anticipated $850,000 dividend (as discussed in note 1) are
         deemed extraordinary under Ohio insurance laws. As a result of such
         dividends, any dividend paid by NLIC during the 12-month period
         immediately following the $850,000 dividend would also be an
         extraordinary dividend under Ohio insurance laws. Accordingly, no such
         dividend could be paid without prior regulatory approval.

         In addition, the payment of dividends by NLIC may also be subject to
         restrictions set forth in the insurance laws of New York that limit the
         amount of statutory profits on NLIC's participating policies (measured
         before dividends to policyholders) that can inure to the benefit of the
         Company and its stockholder.

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

(13)     Transactions With Affiliates
         ----------------------------

         The Company leases office space from NMIC and certain of its
         subsidiaries. For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the
         Company made lease payments to NMIC and its subsidiaries of $9,065,
         $8,986 and $8,133, respectively.

         Pursuant to a cost sharing agreement among NMIC and certain of its
         direct and indirect subsidiaries, including the Company, NMIC provides
         certain operational and administrative services, such as sales support,
         advertising, personnel and general management services, to those
         subsidiaries. Expenses covered by this agreement are subject to
         allocation among NMIC, the Company and other affiliates. Amounts
         allocated to the Company were $101,584, $107,112, and $100,601 in 1996,
         1995 and 1994, respectively. The allocations are based on techniques
         and procedures in accordance with insurance regulatory guidelines.
         Measures used to allocate expenses among companies include individual
         employee estimates of time spent, special cost studies, salary expense,
         commissions expense and other methods agreed to by the participating
         companies that are within industry guidelines and practices. The
         Company believes these allocation methods are reasonable. In addition,
         the Company does not believe that expenses recognized under the
         intercompany agreements are materially different than expenses that
         would have been recognized had the Company operated on a stand alone
         basis. Amounts payable to NMIC from the Company under the cost sharing
         agreement were $15,111 and $1,186 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
         respectively.

         The Company also participates in intercompany repurchase agreements
         with affiliates whereby the seller will transfer securities to the
         buyer at a stated value. Upon demand or a stated period, the securities
         will be repurchased by the seller at the original sales price plus a
         price differential. Transactions under the agreements during 1996 and
         1995 were not material. The Company believes that the terms of the
         repurchase agreements are materially consistent with what the Company
         could have obtained with unaffiliated parties.
<PAGE>   23

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         Intercompany reinsurance contracts exist between NLIC and, respectively
         NMIC and ELICW whereby all of NLIC's accident and health and group life
         insurance business is ceded on a modified coinsurance basis. NLIC
         entered into the reinsurance agreements during 1996 because the
         accident and health and group life insurance business was unrelated to
         NLIC's long-term savings and retirement products. Accordingly, the
         accident and health and group life insurance business has been
         accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
         Under modified coinsurance agreements, invested assets are retained by
         the ceding company and investment earnings are paid to the reinsurer.
         Under the terms of NLIC's agreements, the investment risk associated
         with changes in interest rates is borne by NMIC or ELICW, as the case
         may be. Risk of asset default is retained by NLIC, although a fee is
         paid by NMIC or ELICW, as the case may be, to NLIC for the NLIC's
         retention of such risk. The agreements will remain in force until all
         policy obligations are settled. However, with respect to the agreement
         between NLIC and NMIC, either party may terminate the contract on
         January 1 of any year with prior notice. The ceding of risk does not
         discharge the original insurer from its primary obligation to the
         policyholder. NLIC believes that the terms of the modified coinsurance
         agreements are consistent in all material respects with what NLIC could
         have obtained with unaffiliated parties.

         Amounts ceded to ELICW in 1996 are included in ELICW's results of
         operations for 1996 which, combined with the results of WCLIC and NCC,
         are summarized in note 2. Amounts ceded to ELICW in 1996 include
         premiums of $224,224, net investment income and other revenue of
         $14,833, and benefits, claims and other expenses of $246,641. Amounts
         ceded to NMIC in 1996 include premiums of $97,331, net investment
         income of $10,890, and benefits, claims and other expenses of $100,476.

         The Company and various affiliates entered into agreements with
         Nationwide Cash Management Company (NCMC) and California Cash
         Management Company (CCMC), both affiliates, under which NCMC and CCMC
         act as common agents in handling the purchase and sale of short-term
         securities for the respective accounts of the participants. Amounts on
         deposit with NCMC and CCMC were $4,789 and $9,654 as of December 31,
         1996 and 1995, respectively, and are included in short-term investments
         on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

         On April, 5 1996, Nationwide Corp. contributed all of the outstanding
         shares, with shareholder equity value of $30, of NISC to NLIC. NLIC
         contributed an additional $500 to NISC on August 30, 1996.

         On March 1, 1995, Nationwide Corp. contributed all of the outstanding
         shares of common stock of Farmland Life Insurance Company (Farmland) to
         NLIC. Farmland merged into WCLIC effective June 30, 1995. The
         contribution resulted in a direct increase to consolidated
         shareholder's equity of $46,918. As discussed in note 2, WCLIC is
         accounted for as discontinued operations.

         Effective December 31, 1994, NLIC purchased all of the outstanding
         shares of common stock of ELICW from Wausau Service Corporation (WSC)
         for $155,000. NLIC transferred fixed maturity securities and cash with
         a fair value of $155,000 to WSC on December 28, 1994, which resulted in
         a realized loss of $19,239 on the disposition of the securities. The
         purchase price approximated both the historical cost basis and fair
         value of net assets of ELICW. ELICW has and will continue to share home
         office, other facilities, equipment and common management and
         administrative services with WSC. As discussed in note 2, ELICW is
         accounted for as discontinued operations.

         Certain annuity products are sold through three affiliated companies
         which are also subsidiaries of Nationwide Corp. Total commissions and
         fees paid to these affiliates for the years ended December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994 were $76,922, $57,280 and $50,168, respectively.

(14)     Bank Lines of Credit
         --------------------

         In August 1996, NLIC, along with NMIC, established a $600,000 revolving
         credit facility which provides for a $600,000 loan over a five year
         term on a fully revolving basis with a group of national financial
         institutions. The credit facility provides for several and not joint
         liability with respect to any amount drawn by either NLIC or NMIC. NLIC
         and NMIC pay facility and usage fees to the financial institutions to
         maintain the revolving credit facility. All previously existing line of
         credit agreements were canceled.
<PAGE>   24
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


(15)     Contingencies
         -------------

         The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits. In the opinion of
         management, the effects, if any, of such lawsuits are not expected to
         be material to the Company's financial position or results of
         operations.

(16)     Segment Information
         -------------------

         The Company has three primary segments: Variable Annuities, Fixed
         Annuities and Life Insurance. The Variable Annuities segment consists
         of annuity contracts that provide the customer with the opportunity to
         invest in mutual funds managed by the Company and independent
         investment managers, with the investment returns accumulating on a
         tax-deferred basis. The Fixed Annuities segment consists of annuity
         contracts that generate a return for the customer at a specified
         interest rate, fixed for a prescribed period, with returns accumulating
         on a tax-deferred basis. The Life Insurance segment consists of
         insurance products that provide a death benefit and may also allow the
         customer to build cash value on a tax-deferred basis. In addition, the
         Company reports corporate expenses and investments, and the related
         investment income supporting capital not specifically allocated to its
         product segments in a Corporate and Other segment. In addition, all
         realized gains and losses, investment management fees and other revenue
         earned from mutual funds, other than the portion allocated to the
         variable annuities and life insurance segments, are reported in the
         Corporate and Other segment.

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

         The following table summarizes the revenues and income from continuing
         operations before federal income tax expense for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 and assets as of December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994, by business segment.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              1996              1995              1994
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
             <S>                                                        <C>                <C>               <C>    
              Revenues:
                   Variable Annuities                                      $    284,638          189,071           132,687
                   Fixed Annuities                                            1,092,566        1,051,970           939,868
                   Life Insurance                                               435,657          409,135           383,150
                   Corporate and Other                                          179,977          148,475           143,794
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                           $  1,992,838        1,798,651         1,599,499
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============

              Income from continuing operations before federal income tax
                 expense:
                   Variable Annuities                                            90,244           50,837            24,574
                   Fixed Annuities                                              135,405          137,000           138,950
                   Life Insurance                                                67,242           67,590            53,046
                   Corporate and Other                                           22,606           32,145            25,288
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                          $     315,497          287,572           241,858
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============

              Assets:

                   Variable Annuities                                        25,069,725       17,333,039        11,146,465
                   Fixed Annuities                                           13,994,715       13,250,359        11,668,973
                   Life Insurance                                             3,353,286        3,027,420         2,752,283
                   Corporate and Other                                        5,348,520        4,896,815         3,678,303
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                            $47,766,246       38,507,633        29,246,024
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   25
<TABLE>


                                                                                                                 SCHEDULE I

                                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                 
                                               Consolidated Summary of Investments -
                                             Other Than Investments in Related Parties
                                                                 
                                                      As of December 31, 1996
                                                         ($000's omitted)
<CAPTION>

- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------    --------------   -----------------
                           Column A                                 Column B         Column C          Column D
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------    --------------   -----------------
                                                                                                    Amount at which
                                                                                                     shown in the
                                                                                                     consolidated
                      Type of Investment                              Cost         Market value      balance sheet
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------    --------------   -----------------
<S>                                                             <C>                <C>               <C>      
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
   Bonds:
      U.S. Government and government agencies and authorities     $  3,757,887        3,834,762           3,834,762
      States, municipalities and political subdivisions                  6,242            6,690               6,690
      Foreign governments                                              100,656          101,940             101,940
      Public utilities                                               1,798,736        1,843,938           1,843,938
      All other corporate                                            6,307,357        6,517,309           6,517,309
                                                                ---------------    --------------   -----------------
          Total fixed maturity securities available-for-sale        11,970,878       12,304,639          12,304,639
                                                                ---------------    --------------   -----------------

Equity securities available-for-sale:
   Common stocks:
      Industrial, miscellaneous and all other                           43,501           50,405              50,405
   Non-redeemable preferred stock                                          389            8,726               8,726
                                                                ---------------    --------------   -----------------
          Total equity securities available-for-sale                    43,890           59,131              59,131
                                                                ---------------    --------------   -----------------

Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                   5,327,317                            5,272,119 (1)
Real estate, net:
   Investment properties                                               253,383                              217,611 (1)
   Acquired in satisfaction of debt                                     57,933                               48,148 (1)
Policy loans                                                           371,816                              371,816
Other long-term investments                                             27,370                               28,668 (2)
Short-term investments                                                   4,789                                4,789
                                                                ---------------                      ----------------
          Total investments                                        $18,057,376                           18,306,921
                                                                ===============                      ================
<FN>

- ----------
(1)  Difference from Column B is primarily due to valuation allowances due to
     impairments on mortgage loans on real estate and due to accumulated
     depreciation and valuation allowances due to impairments on real estate.
     See note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

(2) Difference from Column B is primarily due to operating gains of investments
    in limited partnerships.

</TABLE>






See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   26
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                                               SCHEDULE III

                                    NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                            Supplemental Insurance Information

                                          As of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                           and for each of the years then ended

                                                     ($000's omitted)

- ----------------------------------- --------------  ------------------  -----------------   ------------------ ---------------
             Column A                  Column B          Column C            Column D           Column E          Column F
- ----------------------------------- --------------  ------------------  -----------------   -----------------  ---------------
                                       Deferred       Future policy                            Other policy
                                        policy      benefits, losses,                           claims and         
                                     acquisition        claims and      Unearned premiums    benefits payable    Premium
             Segment                    costs         loss expenses            (1)                 (2)           revenue
- ----------------------------------- --------------  ------------------  -----------------    ----------------  --------------

<C>                                 <C>             <C>                 <C>                    <C>                <C>    
1996: Variable Annuities               $   791,611                   -                                      -               -
      Fixed Annuities                      242,421          14,952,877                                    687          24,030
      Life Insurance                       414,417           1,995,802                                395,739         174,612
      Corporate and Other                  (81,940)            230,381                                 25,048               -
                                    --------------  ------------------                       ----------------  -------------- 
             Total                      $1,366,509          17,179,060                                421,474         198,642
                                    ==============  ==================                       ================  ============== 

1995: Variable Annuities                   571,283                   -                                      -               -
      Fixed Annuities                      221,111          14,221,622                                    455          32,774
      Life Insurance                       366,876           1,898,641                                383,983         166,332
      Corporate and Other                 (138,914)            238,351                                 28,886               -
                                    --------------  ------------------                       ----------------  -------------- 
             Total                      $1,020,356          16,358,614                                413,324         199,106
                                    ==============  ==================                       ================  ============== 

1994: Variable Annuities                   395,397                   -                                      -               -
      Fixed Annuities                      198,639          12,633,253                                    240          20,134
      Life Insurance                       327,079           1,806,762                                371,984         156,524
      Corporate and Other                   74,445             233,569                                 26,927               -
                                    --------------  ------------------                       ----------------  -------------- 
             Total                     $   995,560          14,673,584                                399,151         176,658
                                    ==============  ==================                       ================  ============== 
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------  -----------------    ----------------  -------------- 
             Column A                  Column G          Column H            Column I           Column J          Column K
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------  -----------------    ----------------  -------------- 
                                         Net                               Amortization           Other
                                      investment    Benefits, claims,      of deferred          operating        
                                        income          losses and            policy            expenses          Premiums
             Segment                     (3)       settlement expenses  acquisition costs          (3)            written
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------  -----------------   -----------------  -------------- 

1996: Variable Annuities               $   (21,449)              4,624             57,412             132,357
      Fixed Annuities                    1,050,557             838,533             38,635              79,737
      Life Insurance                       174,002             211,386             37,347              78,965
      Corporate and Other                  154,649             106,037                  -              51,335
                                    -------------- -------------------  -----------------   ----------------- 
             Total                      $1,357,759           1,160,580            133,394             342,394
                                    ============== ===================  =================   ================= 

1995: Variable Annuities                   (17,640)              2,881             26,264             109,089
      Fixed Annuities                    1,002,718             804,980             29,499              80,260
      Life Insurance                       171,255             201,986             31,021              68,832
      Corporate and Other                  137,700             105,646             (4,089)             14,773
                                    -------------- -------------------  -----------------   ----------------- 
             Total                      $1,294,033           1,115,493             82,695             272,954
                                    ============== ===================  =================   =================  

1994: Variable Annuities                   (13,415)              2,277             22,135              83,701
      Fixed Annuities                      903,572             702,082             29,849              69,975
      Life Insurance                       166,329             191,006             29,495              69,861
      Corporate and Other                  154,325              97,302              4,089              17,115
                                    -------------- -------------------  -----------------   ----------------- 
             Total                      $1,210,811             992,667             85,568             240,652
                                    ============== ===================  =================   =================  
<FN>

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

(2)  Column E agrees to the sum of the Balance Sheet captions, Policyholders'
     dividend accumulations and Other policyholder funds.

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


</TABLE>

See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   27


                                                                    SCHEDULE IV

                              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                  Reinsurance

                                    As of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                     and for each of the years then ended

                                                ($000's omitted)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -------------------------------   ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
           Column A                  Column B           Column C           Column D          Column E          Column F
- -------------------------------   ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
                                                                                                              Percentage
                                                        Ceded to         Assumed from                         of amount
                                   Gross amount      other companies   other companies      Net amount      assumed to net
                                  ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
<S>                               <C>               <C>                <C>                <C>               <C> 
1996:
Life insurance in force              $47,071,264          6,633,567            288,593        40,726,290           0.7%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============

Premiums:
   Life insurance                        225,615             29,282              2,309           198,642           1.2%
   Accident and health insurance         291,871            305,789             13,918                 -         N/A
                                  ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
          Total                      $   517,486            335,071             16,227           198,642           8.2%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============


1995:
Life Insurance in force              $41,087,025          8,935,743            391,174        32,542,456           1.2%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============

Premiums:
   Life insurance                        221,257             24,360              2,209           199,106           1.1%
   Accident and health insurance         298,058            313,036             14,978                 -         N/A
                                  ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
          Total                      $   519,315            337,396             17,187           199,106           8.6%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============


1994:
Life Insurance in force              $35,926,633          7,550,623            829,742        29,205,752           2.8%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============

Premiums:
   Life insurance                        198,705             24,912              2,865           176,658           1.6%
   Accident and health insurance         303,435            321,696             18,261                 -         N/A
                                  ----------------- -----------------  ----------------   ----------------  ---------------
          Total                      $   502,140            346,608             21,126           176,658          12.0%
                                  ================= =================  ================   ================  ===============
<FN>

- ----------
Note:  The life insurance caption represents principally premiums from
       traditional life insurance and life-contingent immediate annuities and
       excludes deposits on invesment products and universal life insurance
       products.
</TABLE>


See accompanying independent auditors' report.
<PAGE>   28

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                 SCHEDULE V

                                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                 
                                                 Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
                                                                 
                                           Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                                         ($000's omitted)

- -------------------------------------------------  ------------   -----------------------------   ------------ -------------
                    Column A                         Column B               Column C               Column D      Column E
- -------------------------------------------------  ------------   -----------------------------   ------------ -------------
                                                    Balance at     Charged to                                   Balance at
                                                   beginning of     costs and      Charged to     Deductions      end of
                  Description                         period        expenses     other accounts      (1)          period
- -------------------------------------------------  ------------   ------------   --------------   ------------ -------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>          <C>   
1996:
Valuation  allowances - mortgage loans on real
   estate                                              $49,128          4,497               -          2,587        51,038
Valuation allowances - real estate                      25,819        (10,600)              -              -        15,219
                                                   ------------   ------------   --------------   ------------ -------------
     Total                                             $74,947         (6,103)              -          2,587        66,257
                                                   ============   ============   ==============   ============ =============


1995:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities             -          8,908               -          8,908             -
Valuation  allowances  - mortgage  loans on real
   estate                                               46,381          7,433               -          4,686        49,128
Valuation allowances - real estate                      27,330         (1,511)              -              -        25,819
                                                   ------------   ------------   --------------   ------------ -------------
     Total                                             $73,711         14,830               -         13,594        74,947
                                                   ============   ============   ==============   ============ =============


1994:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities         4,800         (4,800)              -              -             -
Valuation  allowances  - mortgage  loans on real
   estate                                               42,150         20,445               -         16,214        46,381
Valuation allowances - real estate                      31,357         (4,027)              -              -        27,330
                                                   ------------   ------------   --------------   ------------ -------------
     Total                                             $78,307         11,618               -         16,214        73,711
                                                   ============   ============   ==============   ============ =============
<FN>

- ----------
(1)  Amounts represent direct write-downs charged against the valuation allowance.
</TABLE>



See accompanying independent auditors' report.

<PAGE>   47

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits

            (a)  To be filed by Financial Statements:

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

                       Condensed Financial Information.                     N/A

                 (2)   Financial statements included                        38
                       in Part B:

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

                       (Part A).

                 Nationwide Variable Account-5:

                       Independent Auditors' Report.                        38

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

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

                       Notes to Financial Statements.                       42

                       Schedules of Changes In Unit Value.                  44

                 Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

   
                       Independent Auditors' Report.                        45

                       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996
                       and 1995

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

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

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

                       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.          50

                       Schedule I - Consolidated Summary of Investments - 
                       Other Than Investments in Related Parties.           95

                       Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information   96

                       Schedule IV - Reinsurance                            97

                       Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts       98
    
                                    76 of 99

<PAGE>   48

Item 24. (b) Exhibits

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

                      (2)    Not Applicable

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

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

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

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

                      (7)    Not Applicable

                      (8)    Not Applicable

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

                      (10)   Not Applicable

                      (11)   Not Applicable

                      (12)   Not Applicable

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

                                    77 of 99

<PAGE>   49

Item 25. Directors and Officers of the Depositor

              Name and Principal                 Positions and Offices
               Business Address                     With Depositor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                    78 of 99

<PAGE>   50

              Name and Principal                 Positions and Offices
               Business Address                     With Depositor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   
             Michael D. Bleiweiss                    Vice President-
             One Nationwide Plaza             Individual Annuity Operations
             Columbus, OH  43215
    
                                    79 of 99

<PAGE>   51

              Name and Principal                 Positions and Offices
               Business Address                     With Depositor

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

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

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

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

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

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

     *    Subsidiaries for which separate financial statements are filed

     **   Subsidiaries included in the respective consolidated financial
          statements

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

     **** other subsidiaries

                                    80 of 99

<PAGE>   52

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

    <S>                                        <C>                 <C>            <C>
    Affiliate Agency, Inc.                       Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency

    Affiliate Agency of Ohio, Inc.                 Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency

    Allnations, Inc.                               Ohio                           Promotes cooperative insurance corporations
                                                                                  worldwide

    American Marine Underwriters, Inc.           Florida                          Underwriting Manager

    Auto Direkt Insurance Company                Germany                          Insurance Company

    The Beak and Wire Corporation                  Ohio                           Radio Tower Joint Venture

    California Cash Management Company          California                        Investment Securities Agent

    Colonial County Mutual Insurance              Texas                           Insurance Company
    Company

    Colonial Insurance Company of               California                        Insurance Company
    California

    Columbus Insurance Brokerage and             Germany                          Insurance Broker
    Service GMBH

    Companies Agency, Inc.                      Wisconsin                         Insurance Broker

    Companies Agency Insurance Services         California                        Insurance  Broker
    of California

    Companies Agency of Alabama, Inc.            Alabama                          Insurance Broker

    Companies Agency of Idaho, Inc.               Idaho                           Insurance Broker

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

    Companies Agency of Kentucky, Inc.           Kentucky                         Insurance Broker

    Companies Agency of Massachusetts,        Massachusetts                       Insurance Broker
    Inc.

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

    Companies Agency of Pennsylvania, Inc.     Pennsylvania                       Insurance Broker

    Companies Agency of Phoenix, Inc.            Arizona                          Insurance Broker

    Companies Agency of Texas, Inc.               Texas                           Insurance Broker

    Companies Annuity Agency of Texas,            Texas                           Insurance Broker
    Inc.

    Countrywide Services Corporation             Delaware                         Products Liability, Investigative and Claims
                                                                                  Management Services

    Employers Insurance of Wausau A             Wisconsin                         Insurance Company
    Mutual Company
</TABLE>

                                    81 of 99

<PAGE>   53

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

    <S>                                        <C>                 <C>            <C>
**  Employers Life Insurance Company of         Wisconsin                         Life Insurance Company
    Wausau

    F & B, Inc.                                    Iowa                           Insurance Agency

    Farmland Mutual Insurance Company              Iowa                           Insurance Company

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

    Financial Horizons Distributors                Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency

    Agency of Ohio, Inc.

    Financial Horizons Distributors              Oklahoma                         Life Insurance Agency

    Agency of Oklahoma, Inc.

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

 *  Financial Horizons Investment Trust       Massachusetts                       Investment Company

    Financial Horizons Securities                Oklahoma                         Broker Dealer
    Corporation

    Gates, McDonald & Company                      Ohio                           Cost Control Business

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

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

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

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

    Insurance Intermediaries, Inc.                 Ohio                           Insurance Broker and Insurance Agency

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

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

    Leben Direkt Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company

    Lone Star General Agency, Inc.                Texas                           Insurance Agency

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

**  National Casualty Company                    Michigan                         Insurance Company

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

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

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

</TABLE>
                                    82 OF 99

<PAGE>   54

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

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

   Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance              Iowa                           Insurance Company
   Company

   
   Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust         Massachusetts                       Investment Company
    

   Nationwide Cash Management Company             Ohio                           Investment Securities Agent

   Nationwide Communications, Inc.                Ohio                           Radio Broadcasting Business

   Nationwide Community Urban                     Ohio                           Redevelopment of blighted areas within the

   Redevelopment Corporation                                                     City of Columbus, Ohio

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

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

   Nationwide Financial Institution             Delaware                         Insurance Agency

   Distributors Agency, Inc.

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

   Nationwide General Insurance Company           Ohio                           Insurance Company

   Nationwide HMO, Inc.                           Ohio                           Health Maintenance Organization

*  Nationwide Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Reinsurance Company

   Nationwide Insurance Enterprise                Ohio                           Membership Non-Profit Corporation
   Foundation

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

   Nationwide Investing Foundation              Michigan                         Investment Company

*  Nationwide Investing                      Massachusetts                       Investment Company
   Foundation II

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

   Nationwide Investors Services, Inc.            Ohio                           Stock Transfer Agent

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

                                    83 OF 99

<PAGE>   55

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

    <S>                                        <C>                 <C>            <C>

**  Nationwide Life Insurance Company              Ohio                           Life Insurance Company

    Nationwide Lloyds                             Texas                           Texas Lloyds Company

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

    Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance               Ohio                           Insurance Company
    Company

    Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company            Ohio                           Insurance Company

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

    Nationwide Property and Casualty               Ohio                           Insurance Company
    Insurance Company

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

 *  Nationwide Separate Account Trust         Massachusetts                       Investment Company

    NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services,          Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency
    Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Wyoming                          Life Insurance Agency
    Wyoming

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

    Neckura General Insurance Company            Germany                          Insurance Company

    Neckura Holding Company                      Germany                          Administrative Service for Neckura Insurance
                                                                                  Group

    Neckura Insurance Company                    Germany                          Insurance Company

    Neckura Life Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company
    NWE, Inc.                                      Ohio                           Special Investments

</TABLE>

                                    84 of 99

<PAGE>   56

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

    <S>                                        <C>                 <C>            <C>

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

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

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

   
    Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation       Wisconsin                         Health Maintenance Organization
    

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

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

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

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

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

    Scottsdale Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

    Scottsdale Insurance Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

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

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

    Wausau Business Insurance Company            Illinois                         Insurance Company

    Wausau General Insurance Company             Illinois                         Insurance Company

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

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

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

    Wausau Service Corporation                  Wisconsin                         Holding Company

    Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company       Wisconsin                         Insurance Company

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

                                    85 of 99

<PAGE>   57

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         NO. VOTING     
                                                                         SECURITIES
                                                 STATE                 (see Attached
                                           OF ORGANIZATION             Chart) unless
                   COMPANY                                                otherwise                PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                          indicated
                                                                 
  <S>                                        <C>                 <C>                             <C>
  *  MFS Variable Account                        Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  NACo Variable Account                       Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide DC Variable Account              Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
   
  *  Nationwide DCVA-II                          Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
    
                                                        
  *  Separate Account No. 1                      Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account      Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-A            Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-B            Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account
                                                        
     Nationwide VA Separate Account-C            Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-Q            Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Separate Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account                 Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-II              Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-3               Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-4               Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-5               Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable        Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
     Account                                                     Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-6               Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide Variable Account-8               Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VL Separate                      Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
     Account-A                                                   Separate Account
                                                        
   
  *  Nationwide VL Separate                      Ohio            Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
     Account-B                                                   Separate Account
    
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account             Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
                                                                 Account
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2           Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance
                                                                 Account                         Policies
                                                        
  *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3           Ohio            Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
                                                                 Account
</TABLE>

                                    86 of 99

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

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

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

</TABLE>

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



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

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

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



























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

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

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

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












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









                                                                                Subsidiary Companies    -- Solid Line

                                                                                Contractual Association -- Double Line

                                                                                Partnership Interest    -- Dotted Line



                                                                                                             March 6, 1997

                                                                                                                    Page 2
</TABLE>
                                                
                                                                              
<PAGE>   64

Item 27.  Number of Contract Owners

          The number of contract Owners of Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts
          as of February 22, 1996 was 32,443 and 995, respectively.

Item 28.  Indemnification

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

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

Item 29.  Principal Underwriter

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

               NAS also acts as principal underwriter for Nationwide Investing
               Foundation, Nationwide Separate Account Trust, Financial Horizons
               Investment Trust, Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust and
               Nationwide Investing Foundation II, which are open-end management
               investment companies.
    
                                    89 of 99

<PAGE>   65

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

                                              Positions and offices
    Name and Business Address                    with Underwriter

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

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

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

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

                                    90 of 99

<PAGE>   66

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

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

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

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

   
Edwin P. McCausland                   Vice President-Fixed Income
One Nationwide Plaza                         Securities
Columbus, OH 43215
    

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

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

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

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

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

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

Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records

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

Item 31.  Management Services

          Not Applicable

Item 32.  Undertakings

          The Registrant hereby undertakes to:

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

                                    91 of 99

<PAGE>   67

   
          (b)  Include either (1) as part of any application to purchase a
               contract offered by the prospectus, a space that an applicant can
               check to request a Statement of Additional Information, or (2) a
               post card or similar written communication affixed to or included
               in the prospectus that the applicant can remove to send for a
               Statement of Additional Information; and

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

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

          The Company represents that the fees and charges deducted under the
          Contract in the aggregate are reasonable in relation to the services
          rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed
          by the Company.
    
                                    92 of 99

<PAGE>   68

                                   Offered by
                        Nationwide Life Insurance Company



                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY



                         Nationwide Variable Account - 5

                  Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contract



                                   PROSPECTUS



   
                                   May 1, 1997
    
                                    93 of 99

<PAGE>   69

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

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and 
Contract Owners of the Nationwide Variable Account-5:

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

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

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

   
Columbus, Ohio
April 24, 1997
    
                                    94 of 99

<PAGE>   70

                                   SIGNATURES

   
     As required by the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the Registrant, NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5, certifies that it meets
the requirements of Securities Act Rule 485(b) for effectiveness of this
Post-Effective Amendment and has caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be
signed on its behalf in the City of Columbus, and State of Ohio, on this 24th
day of April, 1997.
    

                                        NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-5
                                --------------------------------------------
                                     (Registrant)

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

                              By:             JOSEPH P. RATH
                                 -------------------------------------------
                                              Joseph P. Rath
                                              Vice President

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

       Signature                            Title

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARDEN L. SHISLER                           Director           Attorney-in-Fact
- ------------------------------
Arden L. Shisler

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

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

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


                                    99 of 99
<PAGE>   71
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



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

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

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

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

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

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

/s/ Charles L. Fuellgraf                                            /s/ Arden L. Shisler
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr., Director                                 Arden L. Shisler, Director

/s/ Joseph J. Gasper                                                /s/ Robert L. Stewart
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Joseph J. Gasper, President and Chief Operating Officer             Robert L. Stewart, Director
and Director

/s/ Henry S. Holloway                                               /s/ Nancy C. Thomas
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Henry S. Holloway, Chairman of the Board, Director                  Nancy C. Thomas, Director

/s/ Dimon Richard McFerson                                          /s/ Harold W. Weihl
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Dimon Richard McFerson, Chairman and Chief Executive                Harold W. Weihl, Director
Officer-Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and Director
</TABLE>






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