OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND INC
PRE 14A, 1999-06-14
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[X]  Preliminary Proxy Statement

[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-
     6(e)(2))

[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials

[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S)240.14a-11(c) or (S)240.14a-12



<PAGE>

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.
                                 (the "Company")
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required

[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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

     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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

     3)   Per unit  price  or other  underlying  value of  transaction  computed
          pursuant to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined.

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

     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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

     5)   Total Fee Paid:

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

[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided  by  Exchange  Act
     Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was
     paid

     previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     1)   Amount Previously Paid:

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



<PAGE>

     2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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

     3)   Filing Party:

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

     4)   Date Filed:

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


<PAGE>


                           [Letterhead of OFFITBANK]

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.

Dear Client:

OFFITBANK Holdings, Inc., the sole shareholder of OFFITBANK  ("OFFITBANK"),  has
entered into a merger  agreement  in which  OFFITBANK  will merge into  Wachovia
Corporation  ("Wachovia").  Wachovia is one of the  leading  banks in the United
States,   with  a  notable   presence  in  the  Southeast  and  a  national  and
international  client base.  The merger of OFFITBANK  with Wachovia will provide
our clients the benefit of a broader base of resources and products,  as well as
the long-term  continuity which is critical for trust and estate services.  Most
importantly,  OFFITBANK  will  continue to operate  under own name as a distinct
Wachovia  company,  providing wealth  management  services in precisely the same
manner as we have for fifteen years.

In order to  complete  this  merger  and to  provide  continuity  of  investment
advisory services to The OFFITBANK  Variable  Insurance Fund, Inc. you are being
asked to approve a new advisory agreement between your fund and OFFITBANK and to
elect an  additional  independent  director of the Funds.  The new  agreement is
essentially  identical  to the current  advisory  agreement.  It is necessary to
approve a new  agreement  because under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 the
merger will  result in the  automatic  termination  of the  Investment  Advisory
agreements between The OFFITBANK Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. and OFFITBANK.

Please be assured  that there is no  increase to the  advisory  fee rates in the
proposed  advisory  agreements.  The Board of Directors has voted unanimously in
favor of each proposal and recommends that you vote "FOR" them as well.

The following information is designed to answer your questions and help you cast
your proxy as a shareholder of the Funds,  and is being provided as a supplement
to, not a substitute  for,  your proxy  materials  which I urge you to carefully
review.  If you have any questions,  please do not hesitate to call me or any of
my colleagues.

     Q. Why are the Proposals being recommended?

     A.  As required under the Investment  Company Act of 1940,  consummation of
         the  merger  will  cause  the  automatic  termination  of the  advisory
         agreements  between The OFFITBANK  Variable  Insurance  Fund,  Inc. and
         OFFITBANK.  Therefore,  in order to ensure continuity in the management
         of the Funds,  shareholders  are being  asked to approve  new  advisory
         agreements between the Funds and OFFITBANK.

     Q.  How will the fees and expenses of the Funds be affected?

     A.  The annual rate of the contractual investment advisory,  administrative
         and distribution fees applicable to each Fund will remain the same.

     Q.  As a shareholder, what do I need to do?

     A.  Please read the enclosed  proxy  statement and vote now by  completing,
         signing and returning the enclosed  proxy ballot form(s) in the prepaid
         envelope by July _____, 1999.

                                                              Sincerely,



<PAGE>

                                                              Morris W. Offit
                                                              President

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please read the enclosed proxy statement and vote now by
completing,  signing and  returning  the enclosed  proxy  ballot  form(s) in the
prepaid  envelope.  If you own shares in more than one fund,  you will receive a
proxy card for each of your  Funds.  Please  vote and return EACH proxy card you
receive. EVERY VOTE COUNTS. If you have any questions,  please call. Shareholder
Communications at 1800-000-0000.






<PAGE>

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.
                                 (the "Company")

                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                         To Be Held on (_________, 1999)


        NOTICE IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that a  special  meeting  of  shareholders  of
OFFITBANK  VARIABLE  INSURANCE  FUND,  INC.  (the  "Company")  will  be  held in
(______________) on (___________),  1999 at (_______), Eastern Time, to consider
and vote on the following matters:

1.      To approve or disapprove a new investment advisory agreement between the
        Company  and  OFFITBANK,  to become  effective  upon the  closing of the
        proposed  merger of OFFITBANK  Holdings,  Inc., the sole  shareholder of
        OFFITBANK, with the Wachovia Corporation. No fee increase is proposed;

2.      To elect a director to serve  until his  successor  is duly  elected and
        shall qualify;

3.      For  OFFITBANK  U.S.  Small Cap Fund  shareholders  only,  to approve or
        disapprove a new  Investment  Management  Agreement  between  OFFITBANK,
        OFFITBANK  Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. and Rocketeller & Co., Inc. to
        become  effective  upon the closing of the proposed  merger of OFFITBANK
        Holding,  Inc., the sole  shareholder  of OFFITBANK,  with the Wachovia
        Corporation. No fee increase is proposed; and

4.      To transact any other  business,  not currently  contemplated,  that may
        properly  come  before the meeting in the  discretion  of the proxies or
        their substitutes.

        Shareholders of record at the close of business on  (___________),  1999
are entitled to vote at this meeting or any adjournment thereof.

                                            By order of the Board of Directors,

                                            /s/Mr. Wallace Mathai-Davis
                                            Secretary

IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE  SPECIAL  MEETING,  WE URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN
AND PROMPTLY  RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN ORDER THAT THE SPECIAL MEETING MAY BE
HELD AND A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES MAY BE VOTED.

IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL  EXPENSE OF FURTHER  SOLICITATION,  WE ASK THAT
YOU MAIL YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN.

YOUR BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
PROPOSALS.

<PAGE>

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.
                                 (the "Company")

                         SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                        To Be Held on (__________, 1999)

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

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                    ----------------------------------------


        This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies  by the Board of  Directors  (also  referred  to as the  "Board"  or the
"Directors")  of OFFITBANK  Variable  Insurance  Fund,  Inc. (the  "Company") of
proxies for use at the special  meeting of  shareholders  or at any  adjournment
thereof. The proxy statement and form of proxy were first mailed to shareholders
on or about (_____________, 1999).

        The purpose of the meeting is to consider the approval of any investment
advisory  agreements  between  OFFITBANK  (the  "Adviser")  and the Company as a
result of a proposed transaction whereby the Adviser's parent company, OFFITBANK
Holdings, Inc., will merge with the Wachovia Corporation  ("Wachovia"),  and the
Adviser  will  become a  distinct  Wachovia  company.  Upon  completion  of such
transaction,  it is  anticipated  that the Adviser will continue to carry on its
business with its current  management at its current location.  Shareholders are
also  being  asked to  elect a new  director,  subject  to  consummation  of the
proposed transaction.

        A proxy, if properly  executed,  duly returned and not revoked,  will be
voted in accordance with the  specifications  thereon. A proxy which is properly
executed  that has no voting  instructions  with  respect to a proposal  will be
voted for that proposal.  A shareholder  may revoke a proxy at any time prior to
use by filing with the  Secretary  of the  Company an  instrument  revoking  the
proxy, by submitting a proxy bearing a later date, or by attending and voting at
the meeting.

        The Company has retained Alamo Direct to solicit proxies for the special
meeting. Alamo Direct is responsible for mailing proxy material to shareholders,
soliciting  brokers,  custodians,  nominees  and  fiduciaries,   tabulating  the
returned  proxies  and  performing  other  proxy  solicitation   services.   The
anticipated cost of such services is approximately  $10,000, and will be paid by
the Adviser.  The Adviser  will also pay the  printing and postage  costs of the
solicitation.

        In addition to solicitation  through the mail,  proxies may be solicited
by officers,  employees and agents of the Adviser  without cost to the Adviser .
Such solicitation may be by telephone,  facsimile or otherwise. The Adviser will
reimburse insurance companies, brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for
the reasonable expenses incurred by them in


<PAGE>

connection  with  forwarding  solicitation  material to the beneficial  owner of
shares held of record by such persons.

Outstanding Shares and Voting Requirements

        The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business on  (________),
1999 as the record date for the  determination of shareholders  entitled to vote
at the special meeting of shareholders or any adjournment  thereof.  The Company
is composed of five separate funds, the OFFITBANK VIF-High Yield Fund, OFFITBANK
VIF-Emerging  Markets Fund,  OFFITBANK VIF-Total Return Fund, OFFITBANK VIF-U.S.
Government  Securities Fund, and OFFITBANK U.S. Small Cap Fund,  (individually a
"Fund"  and  collectively,  the  "Funds"),  each of  which is  represented  by a
separate series of the Company's shares.  The Fund offers two classes of shares,
Select Shares and Advisor Shares. As of the record date there were _____________
shares  of  beneficial  interest,  no par  value,  of the  Company  outstanding,
comprised  of  ____________   shares  of  the  OFFITBANK  VIF-High  Yield  Fund,
____________  shares of the OFFITBANK  VIF-Emerging  Markets Fund,  ____________
shares  of the  OFFITBANK  VIF-Total  Return  Fund,  ____________  shares of the
OFFITBANK VIF-U.S.  Government  Securities Fund, and ____________  shares of the
OFFITBANK  U.S.  Small Cap Fund.  All full shares of the Company are entitled to
one vote, with proportionate voting for fractional shares.

        As of the  record  date,  the  officers  and  Directors  of the  Company
beneficially  owned less than 1% of the  shares of each  Fund.  As of the record
date,  certain persons owned of record 5% or more of the  outstanding  shares of
certain Funds. Additional information relating to such persons is included under
the section "Additional Information" herein.

Description of Voting

        The Company is used exclusively as the underlying investment for certain
life insurance  companies  (collectively,  "Participating  Companies") and their
separate accounts (collectively, the "Accounts") to fund benefits under variable
annuity   contracts   ("Contracts")   and  variable  life   insurance   policies
("Policies")  to  be  offered  by  Participating  Companies.   Pursuant  to  the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), the  Participating
Companies will solicit voting  instructions from Contract and Policy owners with
respect to matters to be acted upon at the  meeting.  All shares of the  Company
held by  Participating  Companies  will be voted by  Participating  Companies in
accordance  with voting  instructions  received from Contract and Policy owners.
Participating  Companies will vote all shares which they are entitled to vote in
the same  proportion  as the votes  cast by  Contract and Policy  owners  on the
issues  presented,  including  shares which are  attributable  to  Participating
Companies' interest in the Company. Participating Companies have fixed the close
of business on  __________,  1999 as the last day for which voting  instructions
will be accepted.

        Approval  of  Proposals  1 and 3  requires  the  affirmative  vote  of a
"majority of the outstanding voting  securities," within the meaning of the 1940
Act, of each Fund. The term "majority of the outstanding  voting  securities" is
defined under the 1940 Act to mean: (a) 67% or more



                                       -3-

<PAGE>

of the  outstanding  shares present at the meeting,  if the holders of more than
50% of the  outstanding  shares are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more
than 50% of the  outstanding  shares of a Fund,  whichever is less.  Approval of
Proposal 2 requires a plurality of the votes cast together at the meeting by the
shareholders of the Company.

        If the meeting is called to order but a quorum is not represented at the
meeting,  the  persons  named as proxies  may vote the  proxies  which have been
received to adjourn  the meeting to a later date.  If a quorum is present at the
meeting but sufficient  votes to approve the proposals  described herein are not
received,  the persons named as proxies may propose one or more  adjournments of
the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will
require the  affirmative  vote of a majority of those shares  represented at the
meeting in person or by proxy.  The  persons  named as  proxies  will vote those
proxies  received  which  voted  in favor  of the  proposal  in favor of such an
adjournment  and will vote  those  proxies  received  which  voted  against  the
proposal against any such adjournment. A shareholder vote may be taken on one or
more of the proposals in this proxy statement  prior to any such  adjournment if
sufficient votes have been received and it is otherwise appropriate. Abstentions
and "broker non-votes" are counted for purposes of determining  whether a quorum
is present but do not represent  votes cast with respect to a proposal.  "Broker
non-votes" are shares held by a broker or nominee for which an executed proxy is
received by the Company,  but are not voted as to one or more proposals  because
instructions  have not been  received  from the  beneficial  owners  or  persons
entitled to vote and the broker or nominee  does not have  discretionary  voting
power.

                             MATTERS TO BE ACTED ON

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 1
                      APPROVAL OF NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

        TERMS OF THE MERGER.  Pursuant to the  Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") dated May 13, 1999, between OFFITBANK Holdings, Inc. ("OFFIT
Holdings")  and the Wachovia  Corporation  ("Wachovia"),  Wachovia has agreed to
acquire all of the  outstanding  common stock of OFFIT  Holdings in exchange for
newly  issued  common  stock  of  Wachovia  through  a  merger   transaction(the
"Merger").  OFFITBANK  (the  "Adviser")  is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of OFFIT
Holdings.  As a result of the Merger,  the Adviser  will become a  wholly-owned,
direct subsidiary of Wachovia. The value of the common stock to be issued in the
Merger will depend upon the trading  price of Wachovia at the time of the Merger
and the formula for exchange noted in the Merger Agreement.

        The consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of various
conditions  subsequent  to closing,  including,  but not limited to,  soliciting
shareholder  approval  of new  investment  advisory  agreements  for the  Funds;
ensuring that  composition of the Company's  Board of Directors is in compliance
with  Section  15(f) of the 1940 Act;  receipt by the  parties  of  certain  tax
opinions;  receipt by the parties of all necessary  approvals and authorizations
from  governmental  or  self-regulatory  authorities;  and  the  receipt  of all
necessary   consents  or  approvals  of  all  persons  or  entities  other  than
governmental  authorities.  After the consummation of the Merger, it is expected
that the Adviser will continue to operate with substanitally the same investment
personnel and officers. In addition, no



                                       -4-

<PAGE>

changes in the Adviser's method of operation,  or the location where it conducts
its principal business, are contemplated.

        Under the 1940 Act, a  transaction  which results in a change of control
or management of an investment  adviser may be deemed an "assignment."  The 1940
Act further provides that an investment  advisory  agreement will  automatically
terminate in the event of its  assignment.  The Merger  constitutes a "change of
control"  of the  Adviser  for  purposes  of the  1940 Act and  will  cause  the
"assignment"  and  resulting  termination  of the present  advisory  agreements.
Accordingly,  the Board of Directors recommends that the new investment advisory
agreement (the "New Management  Agreement") between the Company and the Adviser,
on behalf of each Fund,  be approved by  shareholders  of the  applicable  Fund.
Section  15 of the 1940 Act  provides  that when a change in the  control  of an
investment  adviser  occurs,  the  investment  adviser or any of its  affiliated
persons may receive any amount or benefit in connection therewith as long as two
conditions are satisfied.  First,  an "unfair burden" must not be imposed on the
investment  company  as a result of the  transaction  relating  to the change of
control,  or  any  express  or  implied  terms,   conditions  or  understandings
applicable thereto. The term "unfair burden" includes any arrangement during the
two-year period after the change in control  whereby the investment  adviser (or
predecessor or successor adviser), or any interested person of any such adviser,
receives or is entitled to receive  any  compensation,  directly or  indirectly,
from the  investment  company or its security  holders (other than fees for bona
fide  investment  advisory or other  services) or from any person in  connection
with the purchase or sale of securities or other property to, from, or on behalf
of the investment company (other than fees for bona fide principal  underwriting
services). No such compensation arrangements are contemplated as a result of the
Merger.

        The second condition is that, during the three-year  period  immediately
following  consummation of the transaction,  at least 75% of the Company's Board
of  Directors  must not be  "interested  persons" of the  investment  adviser or
predecessor investment adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act. No interested
person of the Adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act will serve on the Board
of Directors of the Company  during such period if such service would cause this
condition to be violated.

        PRESENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.  The Adviser currently provides investment
advisory services to the Funds pursuant to investment  advisory  agreement dated
March 1, 1995 (the "Present Management Agreement") with respect to the OFFITBANK
VIF-High Yield Fund,  OFFITBANK  VIF-Emerging  Markets Fund, OFFITBANK VIF-Total
Return Fund,  OFFITBANK  VIF-U.S.  Government  Securities  Fund,  and  OFFITBANK
VIF-U.S.  Small Cap. The Present  Management  Agreement was last approved by the
Board on December 17, 1998.

        Pursuant  to  the  Present  Management  Agreement,   the  Adviser  makes
investment  strategy  decisions  for  the  Funds,  manages  the  investment  and
reinvestment of all the Funds' assets, places purchase and sale orders on behalf
of the Funds,  and provides  continuous  supervision  of each Fund's  investment
portfolio.  Under the Present Management Agreement, the OFFITBANK VIF-High Yield
Fund pays the Adviser a management fee of .85% for the



                                       -5-

<PAGE>

first  $200,000,000  of  average  daily  net  assets,  and  .75%  on any  amount
thereafter,   the  OFFITBANK  VIF-Emerging  Markets  Fund  pays  the  Adviser  a
management  fee of .90% of the  first  $200,000,000  of net  assets  and .80% on
amounts in excess thereof,  the OFFITBANK VIF-Total Return Fund pays the Adviser
a management fee of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets,  the OFFITBANK
VIF-U.S. Government Securities Fund pays the Adviser a management fee of .40% of
the Fund's average daily net assets, and the OFFITBANK  VIF-U.S.  Small Cap Fund
pays the  Adviser a  management  fee of 1.00% of the  Fund's  average  daily net
assets.  For the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1998,  the  OFFITBANK  VIF-High
Yield Fund paid the  Adviser  an  aggregate  management  fee of  $261,563  (with
$59,096 having been waived),  the OFFITBANK  VIF-Emerging  Markets Fund paid the
Adviser  an  aggregate  management  fee of $39,569  (with  $31,386  having  been
waived),  the  OFFITBANK  VIF-Total  Return Fund paid the  Adviser an  aggregate
management fee of $3,670, the OFFITBANK VIF-U.S. Government Securities Fund paid
the Adviser an aggregate  management  fee of $22 (with $22 having been  waived),
and the  OFFITBANK  VIF-U.S.  Small  Cap Fund  paid  the  Adviser  an  aggregate
management  fee of  $9,323  (with  $9,323  having  been  waived).  The  level of
management  fees under the  Present  Management  Agreement  will remain the same
under the New Management Agreement.

        NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. The terms and conditions of the New Management
Agreement are  substantially  identical in all material respects to those of the
Present  Management  Agreement.  A form of the New Management  Agreement for the
Funds is attached as Exhibit A. If the New  Management  Agreement is approved by
shareholders of the Funds, it will become effective upon the consummation of the
Merger.  The New Management  Agreement provides that it will remain in force for
an  initial  term of two  years,  and from year to year  thereafter,  subject to
annual  approval by (a) the Board of  Directors  or (b) a vote of a majority (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding  shares of a Fund;  provided that in
either  event  continuance  is also  approved by a majority  of the  Independent
Directors,  by a vote  cast in person at a meeting  called  for the  purpose  of
voting such  approval.  The New  Management  Agreement  may be terminated at any
time, on sixty days' written notice,  without the payment of any penalty, by the
Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the  applicable  Fund,  or by  the  Adviser.  The  New  Management  Agreement
automatically terminates in the event of its assignment,  as defined by the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder.

        The New  Management  Agreement  provides  that the Adviser  shall not be
liable  for any  action  taken or  omitted  to be taken by it in its  reasonable
judgment,  in good  faith and  believed  by it to be  authorized  or within  the
discretion or rights conferred upon it by such Agreement,  or in accordance with
specific  instructions  from the Company,  provided  that such acts or omissions
shall not have  resulted from the Adviser's  willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or
gross  negligence,  a  violation  of the  standard  of care  established  by and
applicable to the Adviser in its actions under such Agreement,  or breach of its
obligations thereunder.

        The descriptions set forth in this proxy statement of the New Management
Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to Exhibit A.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>

        In the  event  that  shareholders  of a  Fund  do not  approve  the  New
Management  Agreement  with respect to such Fund and the Merger is  consummated,
the  Board of  Directors  will  promptly  seek to obtain  for such Fund  interim
advisory services either from the Adviser or from another advisory organization.
Thereafter,  the Board of  Directors  would  either  negotiate a new  investment
advisory agreement with an advisory  organization  selected by the Board or make
other  appropriate  arrangements,  in either  event  subject to  approval by the
shareholders  of the Fund.  In the event the Merger is not  consummated  for any
reason,  the Adviser  will  continue to serve as the  investment  adviser of the
Funds pursuant to the terms of the Present Management Agreement.

        INFORMATION   CONCERNING   WACHOVIA.   Wachovia  is  a  North   Carolina
corporation  whose  principal  banking  subsidiary  is Wachovia  Bank,  National
Association.   Wachovia  has  752  branches  and  1,381  ATMs   throughout   the
Southeastern United States. Wachovia also has bank-related  subsidiaries engaged
in large  corporate  and  institutional  relationship  management  and  business
development,  corporate  leasing,  remittance  processing and discount brokerage
services.  Based on its  consolidated  asset size and market  capitalization  at
March 31,  1999,  Wachovia  was ranked 16th among  domestic  U.S.  bank  holding
companies in each of these categories.  At that date,  Wachovia had consolidated
assets of $65.3 billion,  deposits of $40.3 billion and shareholders'  equity of
$5.4 billion.

        INFORMATION  CONCERNING  THE  ADVISER.  The  Adviser  is a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of OFFITBANK  Holdings,  Inc. The Adviser was formed in 1983 as Offit
Associates, a registered investment adviser. In 1990, the Adviser converted to a
New York State trust bank.  Currently,  the Adviser  provides wealth  management
services for  individuals,  family  groups,  nonprofit  organizations  and other
institutions.  Certain of the employees of the Adviser hold  positions  with the
Funds as directors or officers.  Mr. Offit is Chairman of the Board of Directors
and President of the Funds,  Mr.  Mathai-Davis is Secretary and Treasurer of the
Funds,  and Mr.  Vincent  M.  Rella  and Mr.  Stephen  B.  Wells  are  Assistant
Treasurers  of the Funds.  Mr.  Offit is  Chairman  of the  Adviser  and Messrs.
Mathai-Davis, Rella and Wells are Managing Directors of the Adviser. The address
of each executive  officer of the Adviser is 520 Madison  Avenue,  New York, New
York 10022.

        Mr. Offit is the only member of the Adviser's  board who has an interest
in the Merger other than as a  shareholder  or employee.  As part of the Merger,
Mr. Offit entered into an employment  agreement  with Wachovia  whereby he would
provide  services  to  Wachovia  that are  consistent  with his  background  and
expertise.  The employment  agreement becomes effective on the effective date of
the Merger.  In addition,  Mr. Offit entered into a non-compete  agreement which
will restrict Mr. Offit from employment opportunities in similar industries. Mr.
Offit has also been  invited to join  Wachovia's  board upon  completion  of the
Merger.

        The Adviser  serves as investment  adviser to the  following  affiliated
registered investment companies listed below:


OFFITBANK INVESTMENT FUND,                   OFFITBANK High Yield Fund
INC.                                         OFFITBANK Emerging  Markets Fund
(consisting of the following portfolios):    OFFITBANK Latin America Equity Fund
                                             OFFITBANK New York  Municipal Fund



                                      -7-

<PAGE>

OFFITBANK  California Fund
OFFITBANK  National  Municipal  Fund
OFFITBANK U.S.  Government Fund
OFFITBANK Mortgage  Securities Fund
                                       OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE, INC.
                                       (consisting of the following portfolios):

                                       OFFITBANK VIF-High Yield Fund
                                       OFFITBANK VIF-Emerging Markets Fund
                                       OFFITBANK VIF-Total Return Fund
                                       OFFITBANK VIF-U.S. Government
                                       Securities Fund
                                       OFFITBANK VIF-U.S. Small Cap Fund

        INFORMATION  CONCERNING  OFFIT  HOLDINGS.  OFFITBANK  Holdings,  Inc., a
privately  held holding  company  headquartered  in New York City, is the parent
company and sole  shareholder of the Adviser.  Offit Holdings  became the parent
holding  company of the Adviser  due to the  Adviser's  reorganization  that was
effected  on January 1, 1999.  Pursuant  to an  exchange  agreement  among Offit
Holdings and the then shareholders of the Adviser,  Offit Holdings exchanged its
shares for all of the Adviser's  shares.  Consequently,  all shareholders of the
Adviser  became  shareholders  of  Offit  Holdings  and  the  Adviser  became  a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Offit Holdings.

        [EVALUATION  BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  On June 23, 1999,  the Board of
Directors,  including each of the Independent Directors, by vote cast in person,
unanimously  approved,  subject to the required  shareholder  approval described
herein, the New Management  Agreement.  Prior to such approval,  the Independent
Directors met separately with their counsel,  which did not represent  Wachovia,
for the purpose of assisting  them in reaching a  determination  with respect to
the New Management Agreement.

        In considering  approval of the New Management  Agreement,  the Board of
Directors carefully  evaluated  information they deemed necessary to enable them
to determine whether the New Management  Agreement will be in the best interests
of each Fund and its shareholders. In making this recommendation,  the Directors
evaluated the  experience  of the  Adviser's  key  personnel in  investing,  the
quality of  services  the  Adviser is  expected  to provide to the Funds and the
compensation  proposed  to be paid to the  Adviser.  The  Directors  have  given
careful  consideration  to all factors  deemed to be  relevant  to the  Company,
including,  but not limited to: (1) the fees and  expense  ratios of  comparable
mutual funds;  (2) the  performance  of the Funds as compared to similar  mutual
funds; (3) the nature and quality of the services expected to be rendered to the
Company by the Adviser;  (4) the distinct  investment  objective and policies of
each  Fund;  (5) that the  compensation  payable  to the  Adviser  under the New
Management Agreement will be at the same rate as the compensation now payable to
the Adviser under the Present  Management  Agreement;  (6) that the terms of the
New Management Agreement are substantially identical in all material respects as
the terms of the Present Management Agreement except for different effective



                                       -8-

<PAGE>

and termination dates; (7) the history, reputation, qualification and background
of the Adviser and Wachovia and their respective financial  conditions,  as well
as the  qualifications  of their  personnel;  and (8) the  substantial  benefits
expected to be realized as a result of the Adviser's ownership by Wachovia, such
as the potential for increasing  Fund assets and the  opportunity to gain access
to Wachovia's managerial and technological resources.

        In making the determination to recommend  approval of the New Management
Agreement  to  shareholders  of  the  Company,   the  Board  of  Directors  gave
substantial weight to the Adviser's  representations  that (i) the Merger should
benefit  the  Adviser  and the Funds by  preserving  the  Adviser's  independent
management  structure and portfolio  management style, while providing stability
from a strengthening  balance sheet, more attractive financial incentives to the
Adviser's employees and increased resources for the Adviser's  operations;  (ii)
the Merger will not materially affect the advisory  operations of the Adviser or
the level or quality of advisory services provided to the Funds;  (iii) the same
personnel  of the  Adviser  who  currently  provide  services to the Company are
expected to continue  to do so after the  Merger;  (iv) the Company  will not be
subject to any unfair burden as a result of the Merger; (v) access to Wachovia's
broad managerial, financial and technological resources should allow the Adviser
to increase the range and quality of services provided to the Company;  and (vi)
the  Merger  could  potentially  result in an  increase  in assets of the Funds,
thereby  possibly  reducing the effective  rate of the Adviser's  fees and other
expenses of the Funds. In considering approval of the New Management  Agreement,
the Board of Directors reviewed the most recent audited financial  statements of
the Adviser and of  Wachovia.  The Board of Directors  believes  that the Merger
should  benefit  the  Adviser  and the Funds and that the Funds  should  receive
investment  advisory  services  under  the New  Management  Agreement  equal  or
superior to those currently received under the Present Management Agreement,  at
the same fee levels.  The Board of Directors  therefore  unanimously  recommends
approval of the New Management Agreement by shareholders of each Fund.]

        THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  SHAREHOLDERS  APPROVE THE NEW
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 2
                            ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER

        [The Board of Directors is currently comprised of four persons, three of
whom have been  elected  by  shareholders.  You are  being  asked to ratify  the
appointment  of the Director that has not been elected by  shareholders  so that
the  entire  Board  will be  comprised  of  Directors  who have been  elected by
shareholders.

        At a  meeting  of the  Board  of  Directors  held  June  23,  1999,  the
Independent  Directors of the Board (those  Directors  that are not  "interested
persons" of the Adviser or the Fund)  recommended  the nomination of Mr. Stephen
Peck to serve as an Independent Director of the Company. The full Board approved
the nomination  and Mr. Peck is currently  serving as a Director of the Company.
The  nomination of Mr. Peck was  necessary to satisfy (i) certain  conditions to
closing of the Merger and (ii) Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act  (discussed  above)
whereby,  for a period of three years following the Merger,  at least 75% of the
Company's  Board of  Directors  must  generally be comprised of persons who were
elected by  shareholders  and are not  "interested  persons"  of the  investment
adviser or predecessor investment adviser.

        It is the  intention of the persons  named in the  accompanying  form of
proxy to vote "FOR" the election of Mr. Peck,  who has  consented to being named
in this Proxy  Statement  and has agreed to serve if  elected.  The  Independent
Directors  reserve the right to  substitute  another  person or persons of their
choice if Mr. Peck is unable to serve as a director for any reason.]

        The Board has  designated  an audit  committee  to provide  advice  with
respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters affecting the Company. The
Audit  Committee  is comprised of Mr.  Landau and The Very  Reverend  Morton and
meets  periodically.  For the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1998,  the Audit
Committee  met two times.  The Board met five times during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998.

                         INFORMATION REGARDING NOMINEE'S
                   PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION


                                                                   Amount of
                                                                  Beneficial
Name and Principal Occupation                                      Ownership
During the Past Five Years and                                 of Shares of the
Directorships of Public Companies                  Age               Funds


                                                   64                 N/A

Stephen   M.   Peck:    Investment   Officer,
Gildner   Gagnon,   Howe  &  Co.  LLC  (1989-
Present); Director,  Harnischfeger,  Inc. and
Fresenious Medical Care.


                                      -9-

<PAGE>

                           CURRENT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  Position(s) Held        Principal Occupation(s)
Name and Age                      With the Fund           Past 5 Years
- ------------                      ---------------         ------------
<S>                               <C>                     <C>

Morris W. Offit*                  Chairman of the         President and Director, OFFITBANK
Age:  62 Years                    Board, President,       (investment adviser) (1983 - present);
                                  and Director            one additional Chairman of the
                                                          Board, President and Director
                                                          position with the OFFITBANK Fund
                                                          Complex.

Edward J. Landau                  Director                Of Counsel, Wolf, Block Schorr and
Age:  71 years                                            Solis-Cohen, LLP (2/1/98-present);
                                                          Member, Lowenthal, Landau, Fischer &
                                                          Bring, P.C. (1960-1/31/98); Director,
                                                          Revlon Group Inc., Revlon Consumer
                                                          Products Inc.; Pittsburgh Annealing
                                                          Box  and  Clad  Metals Inc.; one
                                                          additional Director position with
                                                          the OFFITBANK Fund Complex.

The Very Reverend James           Director                President, Interfaith Center of New
Parks                                                     York (1/1/98 - present); formerly
Age:  74 Years                                            Dean of Cathedral of St. John the
                                                          Divine  (1972 - 1996); one additional
                                                          Director position with the OFFITBANK
                                                          Fund Complex.

Mr. Wallace Mathai-Davis          Secretary and           Managing Director, OFFITBANK
Age:  55 Years                    Treasurer               (Investment adviser) (1986 - present);
                                                          one additional Officer position with
                                                          the OFFITBANK Fund Complex.

</TABLE>

*       "Interested person" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act.


        The Company pays each  Director who is not also an officer or affiliated
person an annual fee of $10,000 and a fee of $1,250 for each Board of  Directors
and Board  committee  meeting  attended  and  reimburses  such  Director for all
out-of-pocket  expenses  relating to attendance  at meetings.  Directors who are
affiliated with the Adviser do not receive compensation from the Company but are
reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meeting.






                                      -10-

<PAGE>

                              DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

(The following table shows the compensation paid by the Company to the Directors
for 1998)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                            Total
                                                Pension or                              Compensation
                                                Retirement                             from Registrant
                            Aggregate            Benefits            Estimated            and Fund
                           Compensation          Accrued              Annual              Complex*
                             From the        as Part of Full       Benefits Upon           Paid to
Name of Director            Registrant           Expenses           Retirement            Directors
- ----------------            ----------           --------           ----------            ---------
<S>                         <C>                  <C>                <C>                   <C>

Morris W. Offit                 $0                  $0                  $0                   $0

Edward J. Landau            $18,750.00              $0                  $0               $23,000.00

The Very
Reverend
James Parks
Morton                      $18,750.00              $0                  $0               $23,000.00

</TABLE>

*       For this  purpose,  the "Fund  Complex"  consists of the Company and The
        OFFITBANK  Investment Fund,  Inc.,  which constitute all of the
        regulated investment companies advised by the Adviser.


        THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  SHAREHOLDERS  APPROVE THE
NOMINEE FOR THE BOARD.


(..continued)

                                   PROPOSAL 3

                       APPROVAL OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
                    (OFFITBANK VIF-U.S. Small Cap Fund Only)


         Introduction.  The Company,  on behalf of the OFFITBANK VIF-U.S.  Small
Cap Fund (the  "Small Cap  Fund")  has  entered  into an  Investment  Management
Agreement with OFFITBANK,  under which the OFFITBANK provides  investment advice
and in general  conducts the management and investment  program of the Small Cap
Fund under the  supervision  and control of the  Directors of the  Company.  The
Company and OFFITBANK have also entered into an Investment  Management Agreement
(the   "Current   Sub-Advisory   Agreement")   with   Rockefeller  &  Co.,  Inc.
("Rockefeller & Co.") under which  Rockefeller & Co. provides the Small Cap Fund
with investment advice and management of the Fund's investment program.

         The  Current   Sub-Advisory   Agreement   provides  for  its  automatic
termination  in  the  event  of the  assignment  of  the  investment  management
agreement between  OFFITBANK and the Company.  As discussed above under Proposal
1, the  Merger  of  OFFITBANK  and  Wachovia  will  cause the  "assignment"  and
resulting  termination of the present  management  agreement between the Company
and  OFFITBANK.  Accordingly,  the  Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  will  also
terminate upon the consummation of the Merger. The Board of Directors recommends
that a new Investment  Management  Agreement (the "New Sub-Advisory  Agreement")
between the Company, OFFITBANK and Rockefeller & Co., on behalf of the Small Cap
Fund, be approved by shareholders of the Small Cap Fund.

         CURRENT  SUB-ADVISORY  AGREEMENT.  Rockefeller & Co. currently provides
investment  advisory  services to the Small Cap Fund  pursuant to an  Investment
Management Agreement dated September 3, 1996 with respect to the Small Cap Fund.
The Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  was last approved by the Board on December
17, 1998.

         Pursuant to the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement, Rockefeller & Co. makes
investment strategy decisions for the Small Cap Fund, manages the investment and
reinvestment of all the Small Cap Funds' assets, places purchase and sale orders
on behalf of the Small Cap Fund,  and provides  continuous  supervision  of such
Fund's investment portfolio. Under the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement, OFFITBANK
(and not the  Fund)  pays  Rockefeller  & Co. a  management  fee of 1.00% of the
Fund's  average daily net assets.  For the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1998,
the Small Cap Fund accrued an aggregate  management fee of $9,323,  all of which
was waived by OFFITBANK (and  Rockefeller & Co.).  The level of management  fees
under the  Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  will  remain the same under the New
Sub-Advisory Agreement.

         NEW  SUB-ADVISORY  AGREEMENT.  The  terms  and  conditions  of the  New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement are substantially  identical in all material respects to
those of the  Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement.  A form of the New  Sub-Advisory
Agreement  for  the  Small  Cap  Fund  is  attached  as  Exhibit  B.  If the New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement is approved by



                                      -11-

<PAGE>

shareholders  of  the  Small  Cap  Fund,  it  will  become  effective  upon  the
consummation of the Merger. The New Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that it will
remain  in  force  for an  initial  term of two  years,  and  from  year to year
thereafter,  subject to annual  approval by (a) the Board of  Directors or (b) a
vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the  outstanding  shares of a
Fund;  provided that in either event  continuance is also approved by a majority
of the Independent  Directors,  by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting  such  approval.  The New  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  may be
terminated at any time, on sixty days'  written  notice,  without the payment of
any  penalty,  by the  Board  of  Directors,  by a  vote  of a  majority  of the
outstanding voting securities of the Small Cap Fund, or by Rockefeller & Co. The
New  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  automatically  terminates  in  the  event  of  its
assignment  (as  defined  by the  1940  Act and  the  rules  thereunder)  or the
assignment of the Company's agreement with OFFITBANK.

         The New  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  provides that Rockefeller & Co. shall
not be  liable  for  any  action  taken  or  omitted  to be  taken  by it in its
reasonable judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within
the discretion or rights  conferred upon it by such Agreement,  or in accordance
with  specific  instructions  from  the  Company,  provided  that  such  acts or
omissions  shall  not  have  resulted  from  the  Rockefeller  &  Co.'s  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence, a violation of the standard of care
established by and applicable to the Rockefeller & Co. in its actions under such
Agreement, or breach of its obligations thereunder.

         The  descriptions  set  forth  in  this  proxy  statement  of  the  New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement are qualified in their  entirety by reference to Exhibit
B.

         In the event that shareholders of the Small Cap Fund do not approve the
New  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  with  respect  to  the  Fund  and  the  Merger  is
consummated,  the Board of Directors  will promptly seek to obtain for such Fund
interim  advisory  services either from the Adviser,  Rockefeller & Co., or from
another advisory organization.  Thereafter,  the Board of Directors would either
negotiate a new  investment  advisory  agreement  with an advisory  organization
selected by the Board or make other  appropriate  arrangements,  in either event
subject to approval by the  shareholders of the Fund. In the event the Merger is
not  consummated  for any reason,  Rockefeller  & Co. will continue to serve the
Fund pursuant to the terms of the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement.

         [Board Considerations. In considering whether to recommend that the New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement  be approved  by  shareholders,  the Board of  Directors
considered  the nature and quality of services  provided by Rockefeller & Co. to
date and the excellent work relationship it enjoys with the OFFITBANK. The Board
also requested and evaluated such other information from Rockefeller & Co. which
the Board deemed to be relevant.

         The Board also considered that the new arrangement does not require any
change in  Rockefeller & Co.'s  investment  management or operation of the Small
Cap Fund,  the  investment  personnel  managing  the  Small Cap Fund,  the other
business  activities of the Small Cap Fund, or the  investment  objective of the
Fund.  The Board  noted  that the fees  would  remain  the same and that the New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement would be materially the same as



                                      -12-

<PAGE>

the  Current   Sub-Advisory   Agreement.   The  Board  also  considered  various
alternatives,  including  internalization  of management,  having OFFITBANK more
fully assume the sub-advisory function or retaining another subadviser.

         Based on these  considerations  the Board,  including a majority of the
Independent  Directors,  unanimously approved the New Sub-Advisory  Agreement at
the meeting held on June 23, 1999.]

         INFORMATION  CONCERNING  ROCKEFELLER  &  CO.  Rockefeller  &  Co.  is a
registered  investment  adviser under the  Investment  Advisers Act of 1940. Its
earliest predecessor was established in the 19th century for the benefit of John
D. Rockefeller and his family. Today,  Rockefeller & Co. is a private investment
advisory and management firm that serves the needs of the Rockefeller family and
those of a small number of other  persons and  institutions.  As of December 31,
1998,   Rockefeller  &  Co.  managed   approximately  $4.4  billion  in  assets.
Rockefeller  & Co., with offices at 30  Rockefeller  Plaza,  New York,  New York
10112, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rockefeller Financial Services, Inc., all
of the voting shares of which are owned by the  Rockefeller  Family  Trust.  The
Rockefeller  Family Trust was established in 1979,  primarily for the benefit of
the  grandchildren  of John D.  Rockefeller,  Jr.  and  their  descendants.  The
grantors of the trust property are the senior members of the Rockefeller Family.
In 1980, Rockefeller & Co. was registered as an investment adviser and commenced
providing management services to non-Rockefeller Family clients.

         INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ADVISER.  See Proposal 1 above.

         The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR approval of the New
Sub-Advisory Agreement.


                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        As of the record  date,  ________,  1999,  the name,  address  and share
ownership  of each  person  who owned of  record  5% of more of the  outstanding
shares of the Company (or any Fund) are listed in the following table:

[ADD 5% SHAREHOLDER INFO]


                                  OTHER MATTERS

        The Board does not know of any other  business to be brought  before the
meeting.  If any other matters  properly  come before the meeting,  proxies will
vote on such matters in their discretion.



                                      -13-

<PAGE>

                REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

        The Company's  annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
is  available  at no  charge  by  writing  to the  Company  at  P.O.  Box  8701,
Wilmington,   Delaware   19899,   or  by  calling  the  Company   toll-free   at
1-800-618-9510.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

        The Company is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders  and
currently  does not intend to hold such meetings  unless  shareholder  action is
required  in  accordance  with  the  1940  Act  or  the  Company's  Articles  of
Incorporation.  A  shareholder  proposal to be  considered  for inclusion in the
proxy statement at any subsequent  meeting of  shareholders  must be submitted a
reasonable time before the proxy statement for that meeting is mailed. Whether a
proposal submitted will be included in the proxy statement will be determined in
accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

                                            By  Order   of  the   Board  of  the
                                            OFFITBANK  VARIABLE  INSURANCE FUND,
                                            INC.


                                            Mr. Wallace Mathai-Davis
                                            Secretary

Dated: ________, 1999

SHAREHOLDERS  ARE  REQUESTED TO FILL IN, DATE AND SIGN THE PROXY CARD AND RETURN
IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED PREPAID ENVELOPE.



                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                        FORM OF NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
                   THE OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.
                                       AND
                                    OFFITBANK


               AGREEMENT  made this ( ) day of ( ),  1999,  by and  between  The
OFFITBANK Variable Insurance Fund, Inc., a Maryland  Corporation which may issue
one or more series of shares (hereinafter the "Company"),  and OFFITBANK,  a New
York chartered trust company (hereinafter the "Adviser").

               1.  STRUCTURE  OF  AGREEMENT.  The Company is entering  into this
Agreement on behalf of the Company's series listed on Schedule A attached hereto
(individually,  a  "Fund"  and  collectively,  the  "Funds")  severally  and not
jointly.  The  responsibilities  and benefits set forth in this Agreement  shall
refer to each Fund severally and not jointly.  No individual Fund shall have any
responsibility  for any obligation with respect to any other Fund arising out of
this Agreement. Without otherwise limiting the generality of the foregoing,

                      (a)    any breach of any term of this Agreement  regarding
                             the Company  with respect to any one Fund shall not
                             create a right or  obligation  with  respect to any
                             other Fund;

                      (b)    under no  circumstances  shall the Adviser have the
                             right  to set  off  claims  relating  to a Fund  by
                             applying property of any other Fund; and

                      (c)    the business and contractual  relationships created
                             by this Agreement,  consideration for entering into
                             this  Agreement,   and  the  consequences  of  such
                             relationship and consideration relate solely to the
                             Company  and  the  particular  Fund to  which  such
                             relationship and consideration applies.

               2.  DELIVERY  OF  DOCUMENTS.  The Company  has  delivered  to the
Adviser  copies of each of the  following  documents  and will deliver to it all
future amendments and supplements thereto, if any:

                      (a)    The Company's Articles of Incorporation (the
                             "Articles");

                      (b)    The By-Laws of the Company;



                                      -15-

<PAGE>

                      (c)    Resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the
                             Company  authorizing  the execution and delivery of
                             this Agreement;

                      (d)    The  Company's  Registration  Statement  under  the
                             Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "1933
                             Act"),  and the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as
                             amended  (the  "1940  Act"),  on Form N-lA as filed
                             with the Securities and Exchange

                             Commission (the  "Commission") on July 20, 1994 and
                             all subsequent  amendments  thereto relating to the
                             Funds (the "Registration Statement");

                      (e)    Notification  of  Registration of the Company under
                             the  1940  Act on  Form  N-8A  as  filed  with  the
                             Commission; and

                      (f)    Prospectuses    and    Statements   of   Additional
                             Information   of  the  Funds   (collectively,   the
                             "Prospectuses").

               3.     INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES. The Company hereby
appoints the Adviser,  and the Adviser hereby  undertakes,  to act as investment
adviser of the Funds and,  subject to the  supervision of the Company's Board of
Directors,  to (a) make investment  strategy decisions for the Funds, (b) manage
the investing and reinvesting of the Fund's assets,  (c) place purchase and sale
orders on behalf of the Funds and (d)  provide  continuous  supervision  of each
Fund's investment  portfolio.  The Adviser shall, subject to review by the Board
of Directors, furnish such other services as the Adviser shall from time to time
determine  to be  necessary  or useful to  perform  its  obligations  under this
Agreement.

               As  manager  of  the  Funds'  assets,   the  Adviser  shall  make
investments for the Funds' account in accordance with the investment  objectives
and limitations set forth in the Articles,  the Prospectuses,  the 1940 Act, the
provisions  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as  amended,  including
Subchapters  L and M, relating to variable  contracts  and regulated  investment
companies,  respectively,  applicable  banking laws and regulations,  and policy
decisions  adopted by the Company's  Board of Directors  from time to time.  The
Adviser  shall advise the  Company's  officers and Board of  Directors,  at such
times as the Company's Board of Directors may specify,  of investments  made for
the Funds' accounts and shall, when requested by the Company's officers or Board
of Directors, supply the reasons for making such investments.

               The Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Company,  from time to
time when  deemed to be in the best  interests  of the Company and to the extent
permitted by  applicable  law, to purchase  and/or sell  securities in which the
Adviser or any of its  affiliates  underwrites,  deals in and/or  makes a market
and/or may perform or seek to perform investment banking services for issuers of
such securities.  The Adviser is further authorized,  to the extent permitted by
applicable  law, to select  brokers for the execution of trades for the Company,
which  broker  may be an  affiliate  of the  Adviser,  provided  that  the  best
competitive execution price is obtained at the time of the trade execution.



                                      -16-

<PAGE>

               It is  understood  and agreed  that the  Adviser may from time to
time  employ or  associate  with such other  entities  or persons as the Adviser
believes appropriate to assist in the performance of this Agreement with respect
to a  particular  Fund or  Funds  (each  a  "Sub-Adviser")  and  that  any  such
Sub-Adviser  shall have all the rights  and powers of the  Adviser  set forth in
this Agreement;  provided that a Fund shall not pay any additional  compensation
for any Sub-Adviser and the Adviser shall be as fully responsible to the Company
for the  acts and  omissions  of the  Sub-Adviser  as it is for its own acts and
omissions;  and provided further that the retention of any Sub-Adviser  shall be
approved  in advance by (i) the Board of  Directors  of the Company and (ii) the
shareholders of the relevant Fund if required under any applicable provisions of
the 1940 Act. The Adviser will review, monitor and report to the Company's Board
of  Directors  regarding  the  performance  and  investment  procedures  of  any
Sub-Adviser.  In the event that the services of any  Sub-Adviser are terminated,
the Adviser may provide investment  advisory services pursuant to this Agreement
to the Fund without a Sub-Adviser and without further shareholder  approval,  to
the extent  consistent  with the 1940 Act. A Sub-Adviser  may be an affiliate of
the Adviser.

               4.     EXPENSES.

                      (a)   The Adviser shall, at its expense, provide the Funds
                            with office  space,  furnishings  and  equipment and
                            personnel  required by it to perform the services to
                            be  provided   by  the  Adviser   pursuant  to  this
                            Agreement.

                      (b)   Except as provided in subparagraph  (a), the Company
                            shall be responsible  for all of the Funds' expenses
                            and  liabilities,  including,  but not  limited  to,
                            taxes;  interest;  fees  (including fees paid to its
                            directors who are not affiliated with the Adviser or
                            any  of  its   affiliates);   fees  payable  to  the
                            Securities and Exchange Commission; state securities
                            qualification  fees; costs of preparing and printing
                            Prospectuses   for   regulatory   purposes  and  for
                            distribution to existing shareholders;  advisory and
                            administration  fees;  charges of the  custodian and
                            transfer  agent;  insurance  premiums;  auditing and
                            legal expenses;  costs of shareholders'  reports and
                            shareholders'  meetings; any extraordinary expenses;
                            and  brokerage  fees  and  commissions,  if any,  in
                            connection  with the  purchase or sale of  portfolio
                            securities.

               5. COMPENSATION.  In consideration of the services to be rendered
by the Adviser under this  Agreement,  the Company shall pay the Adviser monthly
fees on the first  Business Day (as defined in the  Prospectuses)  of each month
based upon the average daily net assets of each Fund during the preceding  month
(as  determined  on the days and at the time set forth in the  Prospectuses  for
determining net asset value per share) at the annual rate set forth opposite the
Fund's name on Schedule A attached  hereto.  If the fees  payable to the Adviser
pursuant  to this  paragraph  begin to accrue  before the end of any month or if
this



                                      -17-

<PAGE>

Agreement  terminates  before the end of any month, the fees for the period from
such date to the end of such  month or from the  beginning  of such month to the
date of  termination,  as the case may be,  shall be prorated  according  to the
proportion which such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness
or termination  occurs.  For purposes of calculating  each such monthly fee, the
value of the Funds' net assets shall be computed in the manner  specified in the
Prospectuses and the Articles for the computation of the value of the Funds' net
assets in connection with the  determination of the net asset value of shares of
the Funds' capital stock.

               If the aggregate expenses incurred by, or allocated to, each Fund
in any fiscal year shall exceed the lowest expense limitation,  if applicable to
such Fund, imposed by state securities laws or regulations  thereunder,  as such
limitations  may be  raised or  lowered  from time to time,  the  Adviser  shall
reimburse such Fund for such excess. The Adviser's reimbursement obligation will
be limited to the amount of fees it  received  under this  agreement  during the
period  in which  such  expense  limitations  were  exceeded,  unless  otherwise
required by applicable laws or regulations. With respect to portions of a fiscal
year in which this Agreement shall be in effect, the foregoing limitations shall
be prorated  according to the  proportion  which that portion of the fiscal year
bears  to the  full  fiscal  year.  Any  payments  required  to be  made by this
paragraph  shall be made once a year  promptly  after  the end of the  Company's
fiscal year.

               In  consideration  of the  Adviser's  undertaking  to render  the
services described in this Agreement,  the Company agrees that the Adviser shall
not be liable under this  Agreement  for any error of judgment or mistake of law
or for any loss suffered by the Company in connection  with the  performance  of
this  Agreement,  provided  that  nothing in this  Agreement  shall be deemed to
protect or purport to protect the Adviser  against any  liability to the Company
or its stockholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or gross  negligence in the  performance of the
Adviser's  duties under this  Agreement or by reason of the  Adviser's  reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.

               6.  NON-EXCLUSIVE  SERVICES.  Except to the extent  necessary  to
perform the  Investment  Adviser's  obligations  under this  Agreement,  nothing
herein  shall be deemed to limit or restrict  the right of the  Adviser,  or any
affiliate of the Adviser,  including  any employee of the Adviser,  to engage in
any other  business or to devote time and  attention to the  management or other
aspects of any other business,  whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to
render  services  of any kind to any  other  corporation,  firm,  individual  or
association.

               7. EFFECTIVE  DATE;  MODIFICATIONS;  TERMINATION.  This Agreement
shall  become  effective on the date  hereof,  provided  that it shall have been
approved by a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of each Fund, in
accordance  with the  requirements of the 1940 Act, or such later date as may be
agreed by the parties following such shareholder approval.



                                      -18-

<PAGE>



                      (a)    Subject  to  prior   termination   as  provided  in
                             sub-paragraph (d) of this paragraph, this Agreement
                             shall continue in force until _________________ and
                             indefinitely  thereafter,  but  only so long as the
                             continuance  after such date shall be  specifically
                             approved at least annually by vote of the Directors
                             of the  Company  or by  vote of a  majority  of the
                             outstanding voting securities of each Fund.

                      (b)   This  Agreement  may be modified by mutual  consent,
                            such  consent  on  the  part  of the  Company  to be
                            authorized by vote of a majority of the  outstanding
                            voting securities of each Fund.

                      (c)   In addition to the  requirements  of  sub-paragraphs
                            (a) and  (b) of this  paragraph,  the  terms  of any
                            continuance or  modification  of this Agreement must
                            have  been  approved  by the vote of a  majority  of
                            those  Directors  of the Company who are not parties
                            to this Agreement or interested  persons of any such
                            party,  cast in person at a meeting  called  for the
                            purpose of voting on such approval.

                      (d)   Either  party  hereto may, at any time on sixty (60)
                            day's prior  written  notice to the other, terminate
                            this Agreement,  without payment of any penalty,  by
                            action of its Trustees or Board of Directors, as the
                            case may be, or by action of its authorized officers
                            or, with respect to a Fund, by vote of a majority of
                            the outstanding voting securities of that Fund. This
                            Agreement  may  remain in effect  with  respect to a
                            Fund even if it has been  terminated  in  accordance
                            with this paragraph with respect to the other Funds.
                            This Agreement shall terminate  automatically in the
                            event of its assignment.

               8. USE OF NAME.  Upon  expiration or earlier  termination of this
Agreement,  the  Company  shall,  if  reference  to  "OFFITBANK", is made in the
corporate  name of the  Company or in the names of the Funds and if the  Adviser
requests in writing,  as promptly as  practicable  change its corporate name and
the names of the Funds so as to  eliminate  all  reference to  "OFFITBANK",  and
thereafter  the Company and the Funds  shall cease  transacting  business in any
corporate name using the words "OFFITBANK" or any other reference to the Adviser
or  "OFFITBANK".  The  foregoing  rights of the Adviser and  obligations  of the
Company  shall not deprive  the  Adviser,  or any  affiliate  thereof  which has
"OFFITBANK"  in its name,  of, but shall be in addition  to, any other rights or
remedies to which the Adviser and any such  affiliate  may be entitled in law or
equity by reason of any breach of this Agreement by the Company, and the failure
or omission of the Adviser to request a change of the Company's or a Fund's name
or a  cessation  of the use of the  name of  "OFFITBANK"  as  described  in this
paragraph shall not under any circumstances be



                                      -19-

<PAGE>

deemed a waiver of the right to require  such  change or  cessation  at any time
thereafter for the same or any subsequent breach.

               9. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Maryland.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their  respective  officers  thereunto  duly  authorized,  and their
respective seals to be hereunto affixed, all as of the date written above.

OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.                   OFFITBANK

By:     /s/ Wallace Mathai-Davis                   By:    /s/ Morris W. Offit
        ------------------------                          -------------------
        Wallace Mathai-Davis                              Morris W. Offit
        Secretary                                                Chairman



                                      -20-

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                         <C>

OFFITBANK VIF FUND:                         FEE:

HIGH YIELD FUND                             .85% (first $200 million of net assets)
                                                   .75% (thereafter)

EMERGING MARKETS FUND                              .90% (first $200 million of net assets)
                                                   .80% (thereafter)

TOTAL RETURN FUND                                  .80%

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND                    .40%

U.S. SMALL CAP FUND                                1.00%


</TABLE>

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B

                         INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
                                     between
                                   OFFITBANK,
                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.
                                       and
                             ROCKEFELLER & CO., INC.

        AGREEMENT  made as of the 3rd day of  September,  1996,  by and  between
OFFITBANK, a New York State chartered trust company (the "Adviser"), Rockefeller
& Co., Inc., a New York corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rockefeller
Financial  Services,   Inc.  (the  "Sub-Adviser")  and  The  OFFITBANK  Variable
Insurance  Fund,  Inc. a Maryland  corporation  (the  "Company"),  an  open-end,
management  investment  company  registered under the Investment  Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

        WHEREAS,  the Adviser provides  investment advisory services to the VIF-
U.S.  Small  Cap Fund  series of the  Company  which  serves  as the  underlying
investment for certain  variable annuity  contracts issued by insurance  company
separate  accounts,  pursuant to an Investment  Advisory  Agreement  dated as of
March 1, 1995 (the "Advisory Agreement"); and

        WHEREAS,  the Sub-Adviser is a registered  investment  adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"); and

        WHEREAS,  the  Adviser  desires  to retain  the  Sub-Adviser  to furnish
investment  subadvisory services in connection with the VIF-U.S.  Small Cap Fund
series of the Company (the "Fund"),  and the  Sub-Adviser  represents that it is
willing and possesses legal authority to so furnish such services;

        NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:

        1.  Appointment.  The Adviser hereby  appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as
investment  subadviser  to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Agreement.  The Sub-Adviser  accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish
the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.

        2. Delivery of Documents.  The Adviser has delivered to the  Sub-Adviser
copies of each of the  following  documents  along with all  amendments  thereto
through the date hereof,  and will promptly deliver to it all future  amendments
and supplements thereto, if any:

        (a)    the Company's Articles of Incorporation;

        (b)    the By-Laws of the Company;

        (c)    resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company  authorizing
               the  execution  and delivery of the Advisory  Agreement  and this
               Agreement;


                                      -22-

<PAGE>

        (d)    the  most  recent  Post-Effective   Amendment  to  the  Company's
               Registration  Statement  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
               amended (the "1933 Act"), and the 1940 Act, on Form N-1A as filed
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission");

        (e)    Notification of Registration of the Company under the 1940 Act on
               Form N- 8A as filed with the Commission; and

        (f)    the currently  effective  Prospectus  and Statement of Additional
               Information of the Fund.

        3. Investment  Advisory  Services.  The Sub-Adviser hereby undertakes to
act as investment  subadviser to the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the
Company's Board of Directors and the Adviser,  to (a) make  investment  strategy
decisions for the Fund,  (b) manage the investing and  reinvesting of the Fund's
assets, (c) place purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund and (d) provide
continuous  supervision  of the Fund's  investment  portfolio.  The  Sub-Adviser
shall, subject to review by the Board of Directors and the Adviser, furnish such
other  services  as the  Sub-Adviser  shall  from time to time  determine  to be
necessary or useful to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

        As manager of the Fund's assets,  the Sub-Adviser shall make investments
for  the  Fund's  account  in  accordance  with  the  investment  objective  and
limitations  set  forth in the  Articles,  the  Prospectus,  the 1940  Act,  the
provisions  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended  (the  "Code"),
including  Subchapters  L and M,  relating to variable  contracts  and regulated
investment  companies,   respectively,  and  policy  decisions  adopted  by  the
Company's  Board of Directors and the Adviser from time to time. The Sub-Adviser
shall advise the Company's officers, Board of Directors and the Adviser, at such
times as the Company's Board of Directors or Adviser may specify, of investments
made for the Fund's account and shall, when requested by the Company's officers,
Board of Directors or Adviser, supply the reasons for making such investments.

        The  Sub-Adviser  is authorized  on behalf of the Company,  from time to
time when  deemed to be in the best  interests  of the Company and to the extent
permitted by  applicable  law, to purchase  and/or sell  securities in which the
Adviser, Sub-Adviser or any respective affiliates thereof underwrites,  deals in
and/or makes a market and/or may perform or seek to perform  investment  banking
services for issuers of such securities.  The Sub-Adviser is further authorized,
to the extent  permitted by applicable  law, to select brokers for the execution
of trades for the Company,  which broker may be an affiliate of the  Sub-Adviser
or Adviser,  provided that the best  competitive  execution price is obtained at
the time of the trade execution.

        Pursuant to applicable law, the Sub-Adviser  shall keep the Fund's books
and records required to be maintained by, or on behalf of, the Fund with respect
to subadvisory  services  rendered  hereunder.  The Sub-Adviser  agrees that all
records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and it will
promptly surrender any of such records to the Fund upon the Fund's request.  The
Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods



                                       -23-

<PAGE>

prescribed  by Rule  31a-2  under  the  1940 Act any  such  records  of the Fund
required to be preserved by such Rule.

        4.     Representations and Warranties.

        (a) The  Sub-Adviser  hereby  represents  and warrants to the Adviser as
follows:

               (i) The  Sub-Adviser is a corporation  duly organized and in good
standing  under  the laws of the  State of New York and is fully  authorized  to
enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.

               (ii) The Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment  adviser with
the  Commission  under the Advisers  Act. The  Sub-Adviser  shall  maintain such
registration in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement.

               (iii)  The  Sub-Adviser  at all  times  shall  provide  its  best
judgment and effort to the Adviser in carrying out the Sub-Adviser's obligations
hereunder.

        (b) The Adviser  hereby  represents  and warrants to the  Sub-Adviser as
follows:

               (i) The Adviser is a trust  company  duly  organized  and in good
standing  under  the laws of the  State of New York and is fully  authorized  to
enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.

               (ii) The Company has been duly  organized as a corporation  under
the laws of the State of Maryland.

               (iii) The Company is registered as an investment company with the
Commission  under the 1940 Act, and shares of the Fund are  registered for offer
and sale to the public under the 1933 Act and all  applicable  state  securities
laws where currently sold. Such  registrations will be kept in effect during the
term of this Agreement.

        5. Expenses. (a) The Sub-Adviser shall, at its expense, provide the Fund
with office space,  furnishings  and  equipment and personnel  required by it to
perform  the  services  to be  provided  by the  Sub-Adviser  pursuant  to  this
Agreement.

        (b)  Except as  provided  in  subparagraph  (a),  the  Company  shall be
responsible for all of the Fund's expenses and liabilities,  including,  but not
limited to, taxes; interest;  fees (including fees paid to its directors who are
not  affiliated  with  the  Adviser,  Sub-Adviser  or  any of  their  respective
affiliates);  fees  payable to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission;  state
securities  qualification fees; costs of preparing and printing Prospectuses for
regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders;  advisory and
administration  fees;  charges of the  custodian and transfer  agent;  insurance
premiums;  auditing  and legal  expenses;  costs of  shareholders'  reports  and
shareholders'  meetings;  any  extraordinary  expenses;  and brokerage  fees and
commissions,  if any,  in  connection  with the  purchase  or sale of  portfolio
securities.



                                       -24-

<PAGE>

        6. Compensation.  In consideration of the services to be rendered by the
Sub-Adviser  under this  Agreement,  the Adviser shall pay the  Sub-Adviser  (or
cause to be paid by the Company directly to the Sub-Adviser) monthly fees on the
first  Business Day (as defined in the  Prospectus) of each month based upon the
average daily net assets of the Fund during the preceding  month (as  determined
on the days and at the time set  forth in the  Prospectus  for  determining  net
asset value per share) at the annual rate of 1.00%.  If the fees  payable to the
Sub-Adviser  pursuant to this  paragraph  begin to accrue  before the end of any
month or if this Agreement  terminates before the end of any month, the fees for
the period from such date to the end of such month or from the beginning of such
month  to the  date of  termination,  as the  case  may be,  shall  be  prorated
according to the  proportion  which such period bears to the full month in which
such effectiveness or termination  occurs. For purposes of calculating each such
monthly  fee, the value of the Fund's net assets shall be computed in the manner
specified in the Prospectus and the Articles for the computation of the value of
the Fund's  net assets in  connection  with the  determination  of the net asset
value of shares of the Fund's capital stock.

     If the  aggregate  expenses  incurred by, or allocated  to, the Fund in any
fiscal year shall exceed the lowest  expense  limitation,  if  applicable to the
Fund,  imposed  by state  securities  laws or  regulations  thereunder,  as such
limitations  may be raised or lowered from time to time, the  Sub-Adviser  shall
reimburse the Fund for such excess. The Sub-Adviser's  reimbursement  obligation
will be limited to the amount of fees it received  under this  Agreement  during
the period in which such expense  limitations  were exceeded,  unless  otherwise
required by applicable laws or regulations. With respect to portions of a fiscal
year in which this Agreement shall be in effect, the foregoing limitations shall
be prorated  according to the  proportion  which that portion of the fiscal year
bears  to the  full  fiscal  year.  Any  payments  required  to be  made by this
paragraph  shall be made once a year  promptly  after  the end of the  Company's
fiscal year.


        7.     Standard of Care.

        The  Sub-Adviser  shall  exercise  its best  judgment in  rendering  the
services  described in this Agreement.  The Sub-Adviser  shall not be liable for
any error of  judgment  or mistake of law or for any act or omission or any loss
suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement  relates,  provided that nothing  herein shall be deemed to protect or
purport to protect  the  Sub-Adviser  against  any  liability  to the Fund,  the
Company or its shareholders to which the Sub-Adviser  would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence on its part in
the  performance  of  its  duties  or  from  reckless  disregard  by it  of  its
obligations and duties under this Agreement ("disabling conduct").

        The Adviser will indemnify the Sub-Adviser against, and hold it harmless
from, any and all losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or expenses (including
reasonable   counsel  fees  and   expenses),   including  any  amounts  paid  in
satisfaction of judgments,  in compromise or as fines or penalties,  relating to
the Fund, arising out of or resulting from any action or inaction on the part of
the Adviser which constitutes a breach of a covenant or representation



                                       -25-

<PAGE>

contained in this  Agreement or the Advisory  Agreement and not  resulting  from
disabling conduct by the Sub-Adviser.

        The Sub-Adviser will indemnify the Adviser against, and hold it harmless
from, any and all losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or expenses (including
reasonable   counsel  fees  and   expenses),   including  any  amounts  paid  in
satisfaction of judgments,  in compromise or as fines or penalties,  relating to
the Fund, arising out of or resulting from any action or inaction on the part of
the  Sub-Adviser  which  constitutes  a breach of a covenant  or  representation
contained in this  Agreement and not  resulting  from  disabling  conduct by the
Adviser.

        No party shall be liable under this indemnification provision unless the
indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing within a
reasonable  time after the summons or first legal process giving  information of
the nature of the claim shall have been served  upon the  indemnified  party (or
after the  indemnified  party shall have received  notice of such service on any
designated  agent),  but  failure to notify the  indemnifying  party of any such
claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability it may have to
the  indemnified  party  against whom such action is brought  otherwise  than on
account of this  indemnification  provision.  In case any such action is brought
against an  indemnified  party,  the  indemnifying  party  shall be  entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The indemnifying
party  shall  also be  entitled  to assume the  defense  thereof,  with  counsel
satisfactory  to  the  party  named  in  the  action.   After  notice  from  the
indemnifying  party to such named party of the indemnifying  party's election to
assume  the  defense  thereof,  the  indemnified  party  shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional  counsel retained by it, and the  indemnifying  party
will not be liable to such named party under this indemnification  provision for
any  legal  or  other  expenses   subsequently  incurred  by  such  named  party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.

        8. Effective  Date;  Modifications;  Termination.  This Agreement  shall
become effective on the date hereof provided that it shall have been approved by
a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Fund, in accordance with
the  requirements  of the 1940 Act,  or such  later date as may be agreed by the
parties following such shareholder approval (the "Effective Date").

        (a) Subject to prior  termination  as provided in  sub-paragraph  (d) of
this  paragraph,  this Agreement  shall continue in force for two years from the
Effective Date and indefinitely thereafter,  but only so long as the continuance
after such date shall be specifically  approved at least annually by vote of the
Directors  of the  Company or by vote of a majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Fund.

        (b) This  Agreement may be modified by mutual  consent,  such consent on
the  part  of  the  Company  to be  authorized  by  vote  of a  majority  of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

        (c) In addition to the  requirements  of  sub-paragraphs  (a) and (b) of
this  paragraph,  the terms of any continuance or modification of this Agreement
must have been  approved  by the vote of a majority  of those  Directors  of the
Company who are not parties to this



                                       -26-

<PAGE>

Agreement or interested  persons of any such party,  cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

        (d) Either the Company,  or the Sub-Adviser or the Fund may, at any time
on sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other,  terminate this Agreement,
without payment of any penalty, by action of its Board of Directors or by action
of its  authorized  officers or, with respect to the Fund, by vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment or in the event of an assignment or
termination of the Advisory Agreement.

        9. Certain Definitions. The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities," "assignment," "control," and "interested persons," when used
herein, shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act. References
in this  Agreement  to the 1940 Act and the  Advisers  Act shall be construed as
references to such laws as now in effect or as hereafter  amended,  and shall be
understood as inclusive of any applicable rules,  interpretations  and/or orders
adopted or issued thereunder by the Commission.

        10.  Independent  Contractor.  The  Sub-Adviser  shall for all  purposes
herein be deemed to be an  independent  contractor and shall,  unless  otherwise
expressly  provided  herein  or  authorized  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company,  from time to time,  have no authority to act for or represent the Fund
in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

        11. Structure of Agreement. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser hereby recognize
that the Fund is a separate  series  portfolio of the  Company.  The Adviser and
Sub-Adviser  are entering into this  Agreement with regard to the Fund severally
and not jointly  with  respect to other series  portfolios  of the Company.  The
responsibilities  and benefits set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
effective as between the Adviser and  Sub-Adviser  in  connection  with the Fund
severally  and  not  jointly  and not  jointly  with  respect  to  other  series
portfolios  of the  Company.  This  Agreement  is  intended  to govern  only the
relationships between the Adviser, on the one hand, and the Sub-Adviser,  on the
other hand,  and is not  intended  to and shall not govern (i) the  relationship
between the Adviser or Sub-Adviser and any other series  portfolio,  or (ii) the
relationships among the respective series portfolios.

        12.  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Maryland,  provided that nothing  herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act.

        13.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement  shall be held or
made invalid by a court decision,  statute, rule or otherwise,  the remainder of
this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.

        14. Notices. Notices of any kind to be given to the Adviser hereunder by
the  Sub-Adviser  shall be in  writing  and  shall be duly  given if  mailed  or
delivered to the Adviser at 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022-4213 or
at such other  address or to such  individual  as shall be so  specified  by the
Adviser to the Sub-Adviser. Notices of any kind to



                                       -27-

<PAGE>

be given to the  Sub-Adviser  hereunder  by the Adviser  shall be in writing and
shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to the  Sub-Adviser at 30 Rockefeller
Plaza,  New York, New York 10112 or at such other address or to such  individual
as shall be so specified by the  Sub-Adviser  to the Adviser.  Notices  shall be
effective upon delivery.

        IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed by their respective  officers  thereunto duly authorized as of the date
written above.


OFFITBANK                               ROCKEFELLER & CO., INC.


By:      /s/Stephen B. Wells             By:      /s/Laird I. Grant
         ----------------------                   -----------------------------
    Name:  Stephen B. Wells                  Name: Laird I. Grant
    Title:   Managing Director               Title:  President, Chief Executive
                                                     Offficer, Chief Investment
                                                     Officer



THE OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE
FUND, INC.



By:        /s/Carrie Zuckerman
           ----------------------
     Name:  Carrie Zuckerman
     Title:   Assistnat Secretary



                                       -28-

<PAGE>

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.

                            OFFITBANK __________ FUND
               SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- __________, 1999

Please refer to the Proxy  Statement  for a  discussion  of these  matters.  THE
UNDERSIGNED  HOLDER(S)  OF  SHARES  OF  BENEFICIAL  INTEREST  OF  THE  OFFITBANK
___________ FUND HEREBY  CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS  ___________ AND ____________,
OR EITHER OF THEM, THE ATTORNEYS AND PROXIES OF THE UNDERSIGNED, WITH FULL POWER
OF SUBSTITUTION, TO VOTE THE SHARES LISTED BELOW AS DIRECTED, AND UPON ANY OTHER
BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS  THEREOF,
AND HEREBY REVOKES ANY PRIOR PROXIES. To vote, mark an X in blue or black ink on
the  proxy  card  below.  THIS  PROXY IS  SOLICITED  ON  BEHALF  OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.


- -----Detach card at perforation and mail in postage paid envelope provided------

1.      Approval  of the  proposed  Investment  Advisory  Agreement  between the
        Company and OFFITBANK


   FOR                             AGAINST                           ABSTAIN
   |_|                               |_|                               |_|



2.      Election of a director to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of
        OFFITBANK  Variable  Insurance Fund, Inc. The nominee is: Mr. Stephen M.
        Peck.


                  FOR NOMINEE                                        WITHHOLD
                      |_|                                              |_|



[VIF-U.S. Small Cap Fund only]
[3.     Approval of the proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Company and
        Rockefeller & Co. Inc.


      FOR                             AGAINST                           ABSTAIN
      |_|                               |_|                              |_|]










<PAGE>

- ------Detach card at perforation and mail in postage paid envelope provided-----

                     OFFITBANK VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND, INC.

                             OFFITBANK ________ FUND
                                      PROXY

This proxy,  when properly  executed and  returned,  will be voted in the manner
directed herein by the undersigned.  If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted FOR approval of Proposal 1 and for the election of the nominee.

Please sign exactly as name appears on this card. When account is joint tenants,
all should sign. When signing as administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
title. If a corporation or partnership,  sign in entity's name and by authorized
person.

x____________________________

x____________________________

Dated:___________________, 1999





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