ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
486BPOS, 1997-04-29
Previous: ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A, 486BPOS, 1997-04-29
Next: CHEVY CHASE AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUST 1995-1, 8-K, 1997-04-29



        As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 1997
                                                               File No. 33-65409
                                                              File No. 811-07299
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                       FORM N-4
   
              REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ( )
                            Pre-effective Amendment No. ___ ( )
                          Post-effective Amendment No. _1_ ( )
                                        and/or
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT
                                COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ( )
                                 Amendment No. _3_ (X)
                           (Check appropriate box or boxes)
    
           ANNUITY INVESTORS(REGISTERED TRADEMARK) VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                              (Exact Name of Registrant)

         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)
                                  (Name of Depositor)
                                     P.O. Box 5423
                              Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5423
            (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                  Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code:
                                    (800) 789-6771

                                Mark F. Muething, Esq.
                 Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
                       Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
                                     P.O. Box 5423
                              Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5423
                        (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                       Copy to:

                              Catherine S. Bardsley, Esq.
                              Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
                            1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
                                Washington, D.C. 20036

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

   
/_/  Immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485(b)
/X/  On MAY 1, 1997 pursuant to Rule 485(b)
/_/  60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(i)
/_/  On pursuant to Rule 485(a)(i)
/_/  75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485 (a)(ii)
/_/  On pursuant to Rule 485(a)9ii)

Registrant  has filed a declaration  pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. The notice required by such rule for the most recent fiscal
year was filed on March 3, 1997.
    

<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
                                 CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
    

                       Showing Location in Part A (Prospectus),
                Part B (Statement of Additional Information) and Part C
              of Registration Statement Information Required by Form N-4


                                        PART A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      ITEM OF FORM N-4                    PROSPECTUS CAPTION
      ----------------                    ------------------
<S>   <C>  <C>                                      <C>

      1.   Cover Page.............................. Cover Page
      2.   Definitions............................. Definitions
      3.   Synopsis................................ Highlights

   
      4.   Condensed Financial Information
           (a)   Accumulation Unit Values.......... Condensed Financial Information
           (b)   Performance Data.................. Performance Information
           (c)   Financial Statements.............. Financial Statements (Statements in SAI)
    
      5.   General Description of Registrant,
           Depositor and Portfolio Companies
           (a)   Depositor......................... Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
           (b)   Registrant........................ The Separate Account
           (c)   Portfolio Company................. The Funds
           (d)   Fund Prospectus................... The Funds
           (e)   Voting Rights..................... Voting Rights
     6.    Deductions and Expenses
           (a)   General........................... Charges and Deductions
           (b)   Sales Load %...................... Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
           (c)   Special Purchase Plan............. Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
           (d)   Commissions....................... Distribution of the Contract
           (e)   Fund Expenses..................... The Funds
           (f)   Operating Expenses................ Summary of Expenses
     7.    Contracts
           (a)   Persons with Rights............... The Contract; Surrenders; Contract
                                                    Loans; Death Benefit; Voting Rights
           (b) (i)  Allocation of Premium Payments. Purchase Payments
               (ii) Transfers...................... Transfers
              (iii) Exchanges ..................... Additions, Deletions or Substitutions
           (c)   Changes........................... Changes - Waivers
           (d)   Inquiries......................... Contacting the Company
     8.    Annuity Period.......................... Settlement Options
     9.    Death Benefit........................... Death Benefit
     10.   Purchases and Contract Values
           (a)   Purchases......................... Purchase Payments
           (b)   Valuation......................... Fixed Account Value; Variable Account Value
           (c)   Daily Calculation................. Accumulation Unit Value; Net Investment Factor
           (d)   Underwriter....................... Distribution of the Contract
     11.   Redemptions
           (a)   By Owner.......................... Surrender Value; Systematic Withdrawal
                 By Annuitant...................... Not Applicable
           (b)   Texas ORP......................... Texas Optional Retirement Program
           (c)   Check Delay....................... Suspension or Delay in Payment of Surrender Value
           (d)   Free Look......................... Right to Cancel
     12.   Taxes................................... Federal Tax Matters
     13.   Legal Proceedings....................... Legal Proceedings
     14.   Table of Contents for the Statement of
           Additional Information.................. Statement of Additional Information


<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                     PART B

                                                    Statement of Additional
           ITEM OF FORM N-4                         INFORMATION CAPTION
           ----------------                         -------------------
     15.   Cover Page.............................. Cover Page
     16.   Table of Contents....................... Table of Contents
     17.   General Information and History......... General Information and History
     18.   Services
           (a)   Fees and Expenses of Registrant... (Prospectus) Summary of Expenses
           (b)   Management Contracts.............. Not Applicable
           (c)   Custodian......................... Not Applicable
                 Independent Auditors.............. Experts
           (d)   Assets of Registrant.............. Not Applicable
           (e)   Affiliated Person................. Not Applicable
           (f)   Principal Underwriter............. Not Applicable
     19.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered.... (Prospectus) Distribution of the Contract
           Offering Sales Load..................... (Prospectus) Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
     20.   Underwriters............................ Distribution of the Contract
     21.   Calculation of Performance Data
           (a)   Money Market Funded Sub Accounts.. Money Market Sub-Account Standardized Yield Calculation
           (b)   Other Sub-Accounts................ Other Sub-Account Standardized Yield Calculations
     22.   Annuity Payments........................ (Prospectus) Fixed Dollar Benefit; Variable Dollar Benefit
     23.   Financial Statements.................... Financial Statements

</TABLE>


   
                            PART C- OTHER INFORMATION

     Information  required  to be  included  in Part C is set  forth  under  the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
    




<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
    
           ANNUITY INVESTORS(REGISTERED TRADEMARK) VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                                          OF
         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)
                                      PROSPECTUS
                                        FOR THE
                                 COMMODORE AMERICUS(SERVICE MARK)
   
    
                    INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITIES
                                       ISSUED BY
                       ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
              P.O. BOX 5423, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45201-5423, (800) 789-6771


   
This  Prospectus  describes  The  Commodore  Americus(SERVICE  MARK)  Individual
Flexible  Premium  Deferred  Annuity  Contracts  (each, a "Contract")  issued by
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company(REGISTERED TRADEMARK) (the "Company").
    

   
The Commodore Americus is available in connection with arrangements that qualify
for favorable tax treatment  ("Qualified  Contract(s)")  under sections 401, 403
and 408 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  and for
non-tax-qualified  annuity purchases  ("Non-Qualified  Contract(s)"),  including
Contracts  purchased  by an employer in  connection  with a Code  Section 457 or
non-qualified deferred compensation plan.  Non-Qualified Contracts were formerly
known as The Commodore  Mariner(SERVICE  MARK) Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity
Contracts.
    
The  Contracts  provide for the  accumulation  of an Account Value on a fixed or
variable  basis,  or a combination  of both.  The Contracts also provide for the
payment  of  periodic  annuity  payments  on a fixed  or  variable  basis,  or a
combination  of both. If the variable  basis is chosen,  Annuity  values will be
held in Annuity Investors  Variable Account A (the "Separate  Account") and will
vary  according to the  investment  performance of the mutual funds in which the
Sub-Accounts  of the  Separate  Account  invest.  If the fixed  basis is chosen,
periodic annuity  payments from the Company's  general account will be fixed and
will not vary.

   
The Separate  Account is divided into  Sub-Accounts.  Each  Sub-Account uses its
assets to purchase,  at their net asset value, shares of a designated registered
investment  company or portfolio  thereof (each, a "Fund").  The Funds available
for  investment in the Separate  Account under the Contract are as follows:  (1)
Janus Aspen Series Aggressive Growth Portfolio; (2) Janus Aspen Series Worldwide
Growth  Portfolio;  (3) Janus  Aspen  Series  Balanced  Portfolio;  (4)  Dreyfus
Variable Investment Fund-Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio;  (5) Dreyfus Variable
Investment  Fund-Growth  & Income  Portfolio;  (6) Dreyfus  Variable  Investment
Fund-Small Cap Portfolio (7) The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.;
(8) Dreyfus Stock Index Fund;  (9) Merrill  Lynch  Variable  Series Funds,  Inc.
Basic Value Focus Fund;  (10) Merrill Lynch Variable  Series Funds,  Inc. Global
Strategy Focus Fund; (11) Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. High Current
Income Fund;  (12) Merrill Lynch  Variable  Series Funds,  Inc.  Domestic  Money
Market Fund;  (13) PBHG Insurance  Series Fund,  Inc.-PBHG  Growth II Portfolio;
(14)  PBHG  Insurance  Series  Fund,   Inc.-PBHG   Technology  &  Communications
Portfolio;  (15) Morgan Stanley Universal Funds Inc.-U.S. Real Estate Portfolio;
(16) Morgan Stanley Universal Funds Inc.-Fixed Income Portfolio; and (17) Strong
Special Fund II, Inc.
    

This Prospectus  sets forth the basic  information  that a prospective  investor
should know before investing. A "Statement of Additional Information" containing
more detailed  information  about the  Contracts is available  free of charge by
writing to the  Company's  Administrative  Office at P.O. Box 5423,  Cincinnati,
Ohio  45201-5423.  The Statement of Additional  Information,  which has the same
date as this Prospectus,  as it may be supplemented  from time to time, has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and is incorporated herein by
reference.  The table of contents of the Statement of Additional  Information is
included at the end of this Prospectus.


<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                         * * *

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


   
                    Please Read this Prospectus Carefully and
                         Retain It for Future Reference.
                        The Date of this Prospectus is May 1, 1997.
    

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


THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY  JURISDICTION  IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO DEALER,  SALESPERSON, OR OTHER PERSON
IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


VARIABLE  ANNUITY  CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS  OF, OR ENDORSED OR
GUARANTEED  BY, ANY FINANCIAL  INSTITUTION,  NOR ARE THEY  FEDERALLY  INSURED OR
OTHERWISE  PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION,  THE FEDERAL
RESERVE  BOARD,  OR ANY OTHER  AGENCY;  THEY ARE  SUBJECT TO  INVESTMENT  RISKS,
INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT.

THIS  PROSPECTUS IS VALID ONLY WHEN  ACCOMPANIED  BY THE CURRENT  PROSPECTUS FOR
EACH UNDERLYING FUND. BOTH THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE UNDERLYING FUND  PROSPECTUSES
SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.




                                     Page 2
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page


DEFINITIONS...................................................................7

HIGHLIGHTS...................................................................10
      The Contract...........................................................10
      The Separate Account...................................................10
      The Fixed Account......................................................11
      Transfers Before the Annuity Commencement Date.........................11
      Surrenders.............................................................11
      Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC")..............................11
      Other Charges and Deductions...........................................11
      Annuity Benefits.......................................................12
      Death Benefit..........................................................12
      Federal Income Tax Consequences........................................12
      Right to Cancel........................................................12
      Contacting the Company.................................................12
   
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION..............................................13
    

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES..........................................................15
      Owner Transaction Expenses.............................................15
      Examples...............................................................18

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.........................................................20

   
THE FUNDS....................................................................20
      Janus Aspen Series.....................................................20
            Aggressive Growth Portfolio......................................20
            Worldwide Growth Portfolio.......................................20
            Balanced Portfolio...............................................20
      Dreyfus Funds..........................................................21
            Capital Appreciation Portfolio...................................21
            Growth and Income Portfolio......................................21
            Small Cap Portfolio..............................................21
            The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc................21
            Dreyfus Stock Index Fund.........................................21
      Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc...............................22
            Basic Value Focus Fund...........................................22
            Global Strategy Focus Fund.......................................22
            High Current Income Fund.........................................22
            Domestic Money Market Fund.......................................22
      Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc...................................22
            Strong Special Fund II...........................................22
      Morgan Stanley Universal Funds Inc.....................................23
            U.S. Real Estate Portfolio.......................................23
            Fixed Income Portfolio...........................................23
    


                                     Page 3
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
      PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc:.......................................23
            PBHG Growth II Portfolio.........................................23
            PBHG Technology & Communications Portfolio.......................23
      Additions, Deletions, or Substitutions.................................24
    
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION......................................................24
      Yield Data.............................................................24
      Total Return Data......................................................25

ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT............26
      Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company(REGISTERED TRADEMARK).........26
      Published Ratings......................................................26
      The Separate Account...................................................26


THE FIXED ACCOUNT............................................................27
      Fixed Account Options..................................................27
      Renewal of Fixed Account Options.......................................27


THE CONTRACTS................................................................28
      Right to Cancel........................................................28


PURCHASE PAYMENTS............................................................29
      Purchase Payments......................................................29
      Allocation of Purchase Payments........................................29


ACCOUNT VALUE................................................................29
      Fixed Account Value....................................................30
      Variable Account Value.................................................30
      Accumulation Unit Value................................................31
      Net Investment Factor..................................................31


TRANSFERS....................................................................32
      Telephone Transfers....................................................32
      Dollar Cost Averaging..................................................32
      Portfolio Rebalancing..................................................33
      Interest Sweep.........................................................33
      Changes By the Company.................................................33


SURRENDERS...................................................................34
      Surrender Value........................................................34
      Suspension or Delay in Payment of Surrender Value......................34
      Free Withdrawal Privilege..............................................35
      Systematic Withdrawal..................................................35


CONTRACT LOANS...............................................................35





                                     Page 4
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




DEATH BENEFIT................................................................36
      When A Death Benefit Will Be Paid......................................36
      Death Benefit Values...................................................37
      Death Benefit Commencement Date........................................37
      Form of Death Benefit..................................................37
      Beneficiary............................................................38


CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS.......................................................38
      Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC")..............................38
      Maintenance and Administrative Charges.................................40
      Mortality and Expense Risk Charge......................................40
      Premium Taxes..........................................................41
      Transfer Fee...........................................................41
      Fund Expenses..........................................................41


   
SETTLEMENT OPTIONS...........................................................41
      Annuity Commencement Date..............................................41
      Election of Settlement Option..........................................41
      Benefit Payments.......................................................42
      Fixed Dollar Benefit...................................................42
      Variable Dollar Benefit................................................42
      Transfers After the Annuity Commencement Date..........................43
      Annuity Transfer Formula...............................................43
      Settlement Options.....................................................44
      Minimum Amounts........................................................44
      Settlement Option Tables...............................................45
    

GENERAL PROVISIONS...........................................................45
      Non-participating......................................................45
      Misstatement...........................................................45
      Proof of Existence and Age.............................................45
      Discharge of Liability.................................................45
      Transfer of Ownership..................................................45
            Non-Qualified Contract...........................................45
            Qualified Contract...............................................46
      Assignment.............................................................46
            Non-Qualified Contract...........................................46
            Qualified Contract...............................................46
      Annual Report..........................................................46
      Incontestability.......................................................46
      Entire Contract........................................................46
      Changes -- Waivers.....................................................47
      Notices and Directions.................................................47


FEDERAL TAX MATTERS..........................................................47
      Introduction...........................................................47
      Taxation of Annuities In General.......................................48
      Surrenders.............................................................48
            Qualified Contracts..............................................48
            Non-Qualified Contracts..........................................48
      Annuity Benefit Payments...............................................48


                                     Page 5
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
      Penalty Tax............................................................49
      Taxation of Death Benefit Proceeds.....................................49
      Transfers, Assignments, or Exchanges of the Contract...................49
      Qualified Contracts - General..........................................49
      Texas Optional Retirement Program......................................49
      Individual Retirement Annuities........................................49
      Tax-Sheltered Annuities................................................50
      Pension and Profit Sharing Plans.......................................50
      Certain Deferred Compensation Plans....................................50
      Withholding............................................................50
      Possible Changes in Taxation...........................................50
      Other Tax Consequences.................................................51
      General................................................................51
    


DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACT.................................................52


LEGAL PROCEEDINGS............................................................52


VOTING RIGHTS................................................................52


AVAILABLE INFORMATION........................................................53


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..........................................53










                                     Page 6
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   DEFINITIONS

ACCOUNT(S):  The Sub-Account(s) and/or the Fixed Account options.

ACCOUNT VALUE: The aggregate value of the Owner's interest in the Sub-Account(s)
and the Fixed Account options as of the end of any Valuation  Period.  The value
of the Owner's interest in all Sub-Accounts is the "Variable Account Value," and
the value of the  Owner's  interest in all Fixed  Account  options is the "Fixed
Account Value."

ACCUMULATION PERIOD:  The period prior to the applicable Commencement Date.

ACCUMULATION  UNIT:  The unit of  measure  used to  calculate  the  value of the
Sub-Account(s) prior to the applicable Commencement Date.

ADMINISTRATIVE  OFFICE:  The home office of the Company or any other  office the
Company may designate for administration.

AGE:  Age as of most recent birthday.

ANNUITY BENEFIT:  Periodic payments under a settlement option, which commence on
or after the Annuity Commencement Date.

ANNUITY  COMMENCEMENT  DATE:  The  first day of the  first  period  for which an
Annuity Benefit payment is to be made under a settlement option.

BENEFIT PAYMENT: The Annuity Benefit or Death Benefit payable under a settlement
option.  Variable  Dollar  Benefit  payments  may vary in amount.  Fixed  Dollar
Benefit  payments  remain  constant  except  under  certain  joint and  survivor
settlement options.

BENEFIT PAYMENT PERIOD:  The period commencing with the Commencement Date during
which Benefit Payments are to be made under the Contract.

BENEFIT  UNIT:  The unit of measure  used to  determine  the dollar value of any
Variable Dollar Benefit  payments after the first Benefit Payment is made by the
Company.

COMMENCEMENT  DATE:  The  Annuity  Commencement  Date if an  Annuity  Benefit is
payable under the Contract,  or the Death Benefit  Commencement  Date if a Death
Benefit is payable under the Contract.

CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY: An annual anniversary of the Contract Effective Date.

CONTRACT EFFECTIVE DATE: The date shown on the Contract Specifications page.

CONTRACT YEAR: Any period of twelve months commencing on the Contract  Effective
Date and on each Contract Anniversary thereafter.

CODE:  The  Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as  amended,  and the  rules  and
regulations issued thereunder.

DEATH BENEFIT  COMMENCEMENT  DATE: The first day of the first period for which a
Death Benefit payment is to be made under a settlement option.



                                     Page 7
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DEATH BENEFIT VALUATION DATE: The date that Due Proof of Death has been received
by the Company and the earlier to occur of:

       (1)     the Company's  receipt of a Written Request with  instructions as
               to the form of Death Benefit; or

       (2)     the Death Benefit Commencement Date.

DUE  PROOF OF  DEATH:  Any of the  following:  (1) a  certified  copy of a death
certificate;  (2)  a  certified  copy  of a  decree  of  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction as to the finding of death; (3) any other proof satisfactory to the
Company.

FUND: A management  investment company or a portfolio thereof,  registered under
the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  in which a  Sub-Account  of the  Separate
Account invests.

NET  ASSET  VALUE:  The  amount  computed  by an  investment  company,  no  less
frequently  than each  Valuation  Period,  as the  price at which its  shares or
units,  as the case may be, are  redeemed  in  accordance  with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

OWNER: The person or persons  identified as such on the Contract  Specifications
page.

PERSON CONTROLLING PAYMENTS:
     NON-QUALIFIED  CONTRACTS:  The  "person  controlling  payments"  means  the
following, as the case may be:
   (1)      with respect to Annuity Benefit payments,
            (a)  the Owner, if the Owner has the right to change the payee; or
            (b)  in all other cases, the payee; and
   (2)      with respect to Death Benefit payments,
            (a)  the Beneficiary, or
            (b)  if the Beneficiary is deceased, the payee.

     QUALIFIED CONTRACTS: The "person controlling payments" means the following,
as the case may be:
   (1)      with respect to Annuity Benefit payments, the Owner; and
   (2)      with respect to Death Benefit payments,
            (a)  the Beneficiary, or
            (b)  if the Beneficiary is deceased, the payee.

PAYMENT  INTERVAL:  The  timing  and  frequency  of  Benefit  Payments  under  a
settlement option.

PURCHASE  PAYMENT:  A contribution  made to the Company in consideration for the
Contract, after the deduction of any and all of the following that may apply:
   (1)      any fee charged by the person remitting payments for the Owner;
   (2)      premium taxes; and/or
   (3)      other taxes.

SEPARATE  ACCOUNT:  An account,  which may be an  investment  company,  which is
established  and maintained by the Company  pursuant to the laws of the State of
Ohio.

SUB-ACCOUNT:  The Separate Account is divided into  Sub-Accounts,  each of which
invests in the shares of a designated Fund.

SURRENDER  VALUE:  The  amount  payable  under a  Contract  if the  Contract  is
surrendered.

                                     Page 8
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VALUATION  PERIOD:  The period commencing at the close of regular trading on the
New York Stock Exchange on any Valuation Date and ending at the close of trading
on the next succeeding Valuation Date.  "Valuation Date" means each day on which
the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

WRITTEN REQUEST:  Information  provided, or a request made, that is complete and
satisfactory  to the Company,  that is sent to the Company on the Company's form
or in a form satisfactory to the Company, and that is received by the Company at
the  Administrative  Office. A Written Request is subject to any payment made or
any action the Company takes before the Written  Request is  acknowledged by the
Company.  An Owner may be required to return his or her  Contract to the Company
in connection with a Written Request.
















                                     Page 9
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   HIGHLIGHTS

THE CONTRACT

   
      The  Commodore   Americus(SERVICE   MARK)  Contracts   described  in  this
      Prospectus  are available for use in  connection  with certain  individual
      non-tax-qualified  annuity purchases,  including Contracts purchased by an
      employer in connection with a Code Section 457 or  non-qualified  deferred
      compensation  plan, as well as for arrangements that qualify for favorable
      tax treatment  under  Sections 401, 403 or 408 of the Code.  Non-qualified
      annuity  purchases were previously known as The Commodore  Mariner(SERVICE
      MARK).
    

      The Owner is the  person or  persons  designated  as such on the  Contract
      Specifications  page.  Subject to the terms of the Contract and unless the
      Owner dies before the Annuity  Commencement Date, the Account Value, after
      certain adjustments,  will be applied to the payment of an Annuity Benefit
      under the Settlement Option elected by the Owner.

      The Account Value will depend on the investment  experience of the amounts
      allocated to each Sub-Account of the Separate Account elected by the Owner
      and/or  interest  credited  on  amounts  allocated  to the  Fixed  Account
      option(s)  elected.  All Annuity  Benefits and other values provided under
      the  Contract  when based on the  investment  experience  of the  Separate
      Account  are  variable  and  are  not  guaranteed  as  to  dollar  amount.
      Therefore,  the Owner  bears the entire  investment  risk with  respect to
      amounts allocated to the Separate Account under the Contract.

      THERE IS NO GUARANTEED OR MINIMUM  SURRENDER VALUE WITH RESPECT TO AMOUNTS
      ALLOCATED TO THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT, SO THE PROCEEDS OF A SURRENDER COULD BE
      LESS THAN THE TOTAL PURCHASE PAYMENTS.

THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

   
      Annuity Investors  Variable Account A is a Separate Account of the Company
      that is divided into Sub-Accounts.  (See "The Separate Account," page 26.)
      Each  Sub-Account  uses its assets to purchase,  at their Net Asset Value,
      shares of a Fund.  The Funds  available  for  investment  in the  Separate
      Account  under  the  Contract  are as  follows:  (1)  Janus  Aspen  Series
      Aggressive  Growth  Portfolio;  (2) Janus Aspen  Series  Worldwide  Growth
      Portfolio; (3) Janus Aspen Series Balanced Portfolio; (4) Dreyfus Variable
      Investment  Fund-Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio;  (5)  Dreyfus  Variable
      Investment Fund-Growth & Income Portfolio; (6) Dreyfus Variable Investment
      Fund-Small  Cap Portfolio;  (7) The Dreyfus  Socially  Responsible  Growth
      Fund,  Inc.;  (8) Dreyfus  Stock Index Fund;  (9) Merrill  Lynch  Variable
      Series Funds,  Inc.  Basic Value Focus Fund;  (10) Merrill Lynch  Variable
      Series Funds, Inc. Global Strategy Focus Fund; (11) Merrill Lynch Variable
      Series Funds,  Inc. High Current Income Fund;  (12) Merrill Lynch Variable
      Series Funds,  Inc. Domestic Money Market Fund; (13) PBHG Insurance Series
      Fund,  Inc.-PBHG  Growth II Portfolio;  (14) PBHG  Insurance  Series Fund,
      Inc.-PBHG  Technology  &  Communications  Portfolio;  (15) Morgan  Stanley
      Universal  Funds  Inc.-U.S.  Real Estate  Portfolio;  (16) Morgan  Stanley
      Universal Funds Inc.-Fixed Income Portfolio;  and (17) Strong Special Fund
      II, Inc.
    
   
      Each Fund pays its investment  adviser and other service providers certain
      fees  charged  against  the  assets of the Fund.  The  Account  Value of a
      Contract and the amount of any Annuity  Benefits  will vary to reflect the
      investment  performance of all the  Sub-Accounts  elected by the Owner and
      the deduction of the charges  described  under  "CHARGES AND  DEDUCTIONS,"
      page 38. For more  information  about the Funds, see "THE FUNDS," page 20,
      and the accompanying Funds' prospectuses.
    


                                    Page 10
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FIXED ACCOUNT

   
      The Fixed  Account is an account  within the  Company's  general  account.
      There are currently five Fixed Account  options  available under the Fixed
      Account: a Fixed Accumulation  Account option and four fixed term options.
      Purchase  Payments  allocated or amounts  transferred to the Fixed Account
      options are credited  with  interest at a rate  declared by the  Company's
      Board of Directors,  but in any event at a minimum  guaranteed annual rate
      of  3.0%  corresponding  to a daily  rate  of  0.0081%.  (See  "THE  FIXED
      ACCOUNT," page 27.)
    

TRANSFERS BEFORE THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

   
      Prior to the Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the Owner may  transfer  values
      between  the  Separate  Account  and the Fixed  Account,  within the Fixed
      Account and among the  Sub-Accounts,  by Written Request to the Company or
      by telephone in accordance  with the Company's  telephone  transfer rules.
      (See "TRANSFERS," page 32.)

      The Company  currently  charges a fee of $25 for each transfer  ("Transfer
      Fee") in  excess  of twelve  made  during  the same  Contract  Year.  (See
      "TRANSFERS," page 32.)
    

SURRENDERS

      All or part of the Surrender Value of a Contract may be surrendered by the
      Owner on or before the Annuity Commencement Date by Written Request to the
      Company. Amounts surrendered may be subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales
      Charge  ("CDSC")  depending  upon  how long the  Purchase  Payments  to be
      withdrawn have been held under the Contract. Amounts withdrawn also may be
      subject to a premium tax or similar tax,  depending upon the  jurisdiction
      in which the Owner  lives.  Surrenders  may be subject to a 10%  premature
      distribution  penalty  tax if made  before the Owner  reaches  age 59 1/2.
      Surrenders may further be subject to federal,  state or local income taxes
      or significant tax law restrictions. (See "FEDERAL TAX MATTERS," page 47.)

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ("CDSC")

      A CDSC may be imposed on amounts  surrendered.  The maximum CDSC is 7% for
      each  Purchase  Payment.  That  percentage  decreases by 1% annually to 0%
      after year seven.

   
      The CDSC may be  reduced  or  waived  under  certain  circumstances.  (See
      "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS," page 38.)
    

OTHER CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS

   
      The Company  deducts a daily charge  ("Mortality and Expense Risk Charge")
      at an effective  annual rate of 1.25% of the daily Net Asset Value of each
      Sub-Account. In connection with certain Contracts where the Company incurs
      reduced sales and servicing expenses,  such as Contracts offered to active
      employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, the
      Company may offer a Contract  with a Mortality  and Expense Risk Charge at
      an  effective  annual  rate of 0.95% of the daily Net Asset  Value of each
      Sub-Account  ("Enhanced  Contract").  (See "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS,"  page
      38.)

      The  Company  also  deducts  a  Contract   maintenance  charge  each  year
      ("Contract  Maintenance  Fee").  This Fee is currently $25 and is deducted
      from an Owner's Variable Account Value on each Contract  Anniversary.  The
      Contract Maintenance Fee may be waived under certain  circumstances.  (See
      "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS," page 38.)
    


                                    Page 11
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
      Charges for premium taxes may be imposed in some jurisdictions.  Depending
      on the  applicability  of such taxes,  the  charges  may be deducted  from
      Purchase Payments, from surrenders, and from other payments made under the
      Contract. (See "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS," page 38.)
    

ANNUITY BENEFITS

   
      Annuity  Benefits are paid on a fixed or variable  basis, or a combination
      of both. (See "Benefit Payments," page 42.)
    

DEATH BENEFIT

   
      The Contract provides for the payment of a Death Benefit if the Owner dies
      prior to the Annuity  Commencement  Date. The Death Benefit may be paid in
      one lump sum or pursuant to any available  settlement option offered under
      the Contract. (See "DEATH BENEFIT," page 36.)
    

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

   
      An Owner  generally  should not be taxed on increases in the Account Value
      until a  distribution  under the  Contract  occurs  (E.G.,  a surrender or
      Annuity  Benefit)  or is  deemed  to  occur  (E.G.,  a loan  in  default).
      Generally,   a  portion  (up  to  100%)  of  any  distribution  or  deemed
      distribution  is  taxable  as  ordinary  income.  The  taxable  portion of
      distributions  is generally  subject to income tax withholding  unless the
      recipient  elects  otherwise.  In addition,  a 10% federal penalty tax may
      apply to certain distributions. (See "FEDERAL TAX MATTERS," page 47.)
    

RIGHT TO CANCEL

   
      An Owner may cancel the Contract by giving the Company  written  notice of
      cancellation  and returning the Contract  before midnight of the twentieth
      day (or longer if  required  by state law) after  receipt.  (See "Right to
      Cancel," page 28.)
    

CONTACTING THE COMPANY

      All Written  Requests and any questions or inquiries should be directed to
      the  Company's  Administrative  Office,  P.O. Box 5423,  Cincinnati,  Ohio
      45201-5423,  (800)  789-6771.  All inquiries  should  include the Contract
      Number and the Owner's name.

   
      NOTE:  THE FOREGOING  SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED
      INFORMATION IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND IN THE  ACCOMPANYING
      PROSPECTUSES  FOR THE FUNDS WHICH SHOULD BE REFERRED TO FOR MORE  DETAILED
      INFORMATION.   THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  AN  ENDORSEMENT  TO  A  CONTRACT  OR
      LIMITATIONS OR PENALTIES  IMPOSED BY THE CODE MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL LIMITS
      OR RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE PAYMENTS, SURRENDERS, DISTRIBUTIONS, BENEFITS,
      OR OTHER  PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT DESCRIBE
      SUCH LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS. (SEE "FEDERAL TAX MATTERS," PAGE 47.)
    



                                    Page 12
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
                            CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

      The following table gives per unit information about the financial history
      of each Sub-Account of the Separate Account from inception to December 31,
      1996.  This  information  should be read in conjunction  with the Separate
      Account financial statements (including the notes thereto) included in the
      Statement of Additional Information. (No Enhanced Contracts were issued in
      the year ended December 31, 1996.)
    
   
                    ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES AND UNITS OUTSTANDING

                                                 1996             1995
                                                 --------         ----
       DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT
       FUND-CAPITAL APPRECIATION
       Accumulation UV - beginning               9.944353       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 12.330543         9.944353
       Accumulated units at year end           33,424.286            0.000

       THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
       GROWTH FUND, INC.
       Accumulation UV - beginning               9.960199       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 11.924561         9.960199
       Accumulated units at year end           15,316.028            0.000

       DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND
       Accumulation UV - beginning               9.992509       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 12.092195         9.992509
       Accumulated units at year end           29,203.177            0.000
    
   
       JANUS ASPEN SERIES

       AGGRESSIVE GROWTH
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.299246       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 10.979832        10.299246
       Accumulated units at year end           52,219.342            0.000

       WORLDWIDE GROWTH
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.239284       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 13.048360        10.239284
       Accumulated units at year end           50,730.352            0.000

       BALANCED
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.171211       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 11.670308        10.171211
       Accumulated units at year end           49,603.384            0.000

       SHORT-TERM BOND**
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.061754       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 10.332080        10.061754
       Accumulated units at year end            4,216.270            0.000

    

                                    Page 13
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
       MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES
       FUNDS, INC.

       BASIC VALUE FOCUS
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.147434       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 12.094664        10.147434
       Accumulated units at year end            6,820.503            0.000

       GLOBAL STRATEGY FOCUS
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.105242       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 11.294096        10.105242
       Accumulated units at year end            2,114.707            0.000

       HIGH CURRENT INCOME
       Accumulation UV - beginning              10.118436       10.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                 11.119068        10.118436
       Accumulated units at year end            6,837.357            0.000

       DOMESTIC MONEY MARKET
       Accumulation UV - beginning               1.002475        1.000000*
       Accumulation UV - ending                  1.041216         1.002475
       Accumulated units at year end          325,331.820            0.000

*     Effective December 7, 1995 on Separate Account commencement date.

**    Because  this  Sub-Account  has been  eliminated,  effective  May 1, 1997,
      Purchase Payments are no longer allocable to it.
    






                                    Page 14
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               SUMMARY OF EXPENSES


OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

Sales Load Imposed on Purchase Payments                                     None
Contingent   Deferred  Sales  Charge  (as  a  
percentage  of  Purchase  Payments Surrendered)
      Contract Years elapsed since receipt of Purchase Payment
            less than 1 year                                                 7%
            1 year but less than 2 years                                     6%
            2 years but less than 3 years                                    5%
            3 years but less than 4 years                                    4%
            4 years but less than 5 years                                    3%
            5 years but less than 6 years                                    2%
            6 years but less than 7 years                                    1%
            7 years or more                                                  0%
Surrender Fees                                                              None
Transfer Fee1                                                                $25
Annual Contract Maintenance Fee2                                             $25










____________________-

1     The first twelve transfers in a Contract year are free. Thereafter,  a $25
      fee will be charged on each subsequent transfer.

   
2     The Company will waive the Contract  Maintenance  Fee if the Account Value
      is equal to or greater than  $30,000 on the date the Contract  Maintenance
      Fee would otherwise be assessed.
    


                                    Page 15
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
SEPARATE ACCOUNT                                          DREYFUS             
ANNUAL EXPENSES3/    JANUS A.S.  JANUS A.S.   V.I.F.      V.I.F.              DREYFUS V.I.F.
(as a percentage of  AGGRESSIVE  WORLDWIDE   JANUS A.S.   GROWTH   DREYFUS      CAPITAL     
average Separate     GROWTH      GROWTH      BALANCED     INCOME   SMALL CAP  APPRECIATION  
Account assets)      PORTFOLIO5/ PORTFOLIO5/ PORTFOLIO5/ PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO    
                     ----------  ---------   ---------   --------- ---------  -------------    
<S>                   <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>  
   Mortality and      1.25%       1.25%       1.25%      1.25%     1.25%       1.25%
   Expense Risk
   Charge

Administration
Charge                0.00%       0.00%       0.00%      0.00%     0.00%       0.00%  

   Other Fees and     0.00%       0.00%       0.00%      0.00%     0.00%       0.00%
   Expenses of the
   Separate Account
   Total              1.25%       1.25%       1.25%      1.25%     1.25%       1.25%
Separate
Account Annual
Expenses

FUND ANNUAL Expenses4/
(as a percentage of
Fund average net
assets after fee
waiver and/or
expense reimburse-
ment, if any)
    
   
   Management Fees    0.72%       0.66%       0.79%      0.75%     0.75%       0.75%

   Other Expenses     0.04%       0.14%       0.15%      0.08%     0.04%       0.09%

   Total Fund Annual  0.76%       0.80%       0.94%      0.83%     0.79%       0.84%
   Expenses

SEPARATE ACCOUNT                              MERRILL    MERRILL   MERRILL     
ANNUAL EXPENSES3/    THE DREYFUS              LYNCH      LYNCH     LYNCH      
(as a percentage of  SOCIALLY                 V.S.F.     V.S.F.    V.S.F.    MERRILL LYNCH
average Separate     RESPONSIBLE              BASIC      GLOBAL    HIGH      V.S.F.      
Account assets)      GROWTH       DREYFUS     VALUE      STRATEGY  CURRENT   DOMESTIC     
                     FUND,        STOCK       FOCUS      FOCUS     INCOME    MONEY MARKET 
                     INC.6/       INDEX FUND  FUND       FUND      FUND      FUND        
                     ------       ----------  ----       ------    --------  ------------        
                                                                               
   Mortality and      1.25%       1.25%       1.25%      1.25%     1.25%       1.25%
   Expense Risk Charge

   Administration     0.00%       0.00%       0.00%      0.00%     0.00%       0.00%
   Charge

   Other Fees and     0.00%       0.00%       0.00%      0.00%     0.00%       0.00%
   Expenses of the
   Separate Account

   Total Separate     1.25%       1.25%       1.25%      1.25%     1.25%       1.25%
   Account Annual
   Expenses
</TABLE>


FUND ANNUAL Expenses4/
as a  percentage of 
Fund average net assets
after fee waiver and/or
expense reimbursement, 
if any)
   Management Fees    0.72%     0.245%    0.60%    0.65%     0.49%     0.50%

   Other Expenses     0.24%     0.055%    0.06%    0.06%     0.05%     0.04%

   Total Fund Annual  0.96%     0.30 %    0.66%    0.71%     0.54%     0.54%
   Expenses
    


                                    Page 16
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                                              PBHG INSURANCE    
SEPARATE ACCOUNT                 MORGAN                      PBHG INSURANCE   SERIES FUND,    
ANNUAL EXPENSES3/      STRONG    STANLEY      MORGAN         SERIES FUND,     INC. - PBHG     
(as a percentage of    SPECIAL   U.S. REAL    STANLEY -      INC. - PBHG      TECHNOLOGY &    
average Separate       FUND II,  ESTATE       FIXED INCOME   GROWTH II        COMMUNICATIONS  
Account assets)        INC.      PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO7/      PORTFOLIO7/     
                       ----      ---------    ---------      -----------      -----------     
<S>                    <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>             <C>   
   Mortality and       1.25%        1.25%       1.25%         1.25%           1.25% 
   Expense Risk                                                               
   Charge

   Administration      0.00%        0.00%       0.00%         0.00%           0.00%
   Charge

   Other Fees and      0.00%        0.00%       0.00%         0.00%           0.00%
   Expenses of the
   Separate Account

   Total Separate      1.25%        1.25%       1.25%         1.25%           1.25%
   Account Annual
   Expenses

Fund Annual
Expenses4/as a
percentage of Fund
average net assets
after fee waiver
and/or expense
reimbursement, if any)
    
   
   Management Fees     1.00%        0.80%       0.40%         0.85%           0.61%

   Other Expenses      0.17%        0.30%       0.30%         0.30%           0.59%

   Total Fund Annual   1.17%        1.10%       0.70%         1.15%           1.20%
   Expenses
</TABLE>

3 Annual expenses are the same for each Sub-Account. These expenses are based on
expenses incurred for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.

4 Information regarding each underlying Fund has been provided to the Company by
each Fund, and the Company has not independently verified such information. Data
for each Fund are for its fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.  Actual  expenses
in future years may be higher or lower.

5 The fees and  expenses in the table  above are based on gross  expenses of the
shares of each Portfolio before expense offset  arrangements for the fiscal year
ended  December  31,  1996.  The  information  for each  Portfolio is net of fee
waivers or reductions from Janus Corporation.  Fee reductions for the Aggressive
Growth,  Worldwide Growth and Balanced  Portfolios  reduce the management fee to
the level of the corresponding  Janus retail fund. Other waivers, if applicable,
are first applied  against the management  fee and then against other  expenses.
Without such waivers and  reductions,  the  Management  Fee,  Other Expenses and
Total  Operating  Expenses for the Portfolios  would have been 0.79%,  0.04% and
0.83%,  respectively,  for Aggressive Growth Portfolio,  0.77%, 0.14% and 0.91%,
respectively,  for  Worldwide  Growth  Portfolio  and  0.92%,  0.15% and  1.07%,
respectively,  for Balanced Portfolio. Janus Corporation may modify or terminate
the  waivers  or  reductions  at any time  upon at least 90 days'  notice to the
Trustees of a Portfolio.

6 Fund  expenses are net of  management  fees and other  expenses  waived and/or
reimbursed.  In the absence of such fee waivers and/or  expense  reimbursements,
Management  Fees,  Other Expenses and Total  Portfolio  Expenses for The Dreyfus
Socially  Responsible  Growth Fund, Inc. would have been 0.75%,  0.24% and 0.99%
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.

7 The adviser has voluntarily  agreed to waive or limit its fees or assume other
expenses  of  the  PBHG   Insurance   Series  Fund,   Inc.--PBHG   Technology  &
Communications Portfolio and PBHG Growth II Portfolio through December 31, 1997,
so that total  operating  expenses of each  Portfolio  will not exceed  1.20% of
average daily net assets.  Such waiver or expense  reimbursements by the adviser
are subject to repayment by the Portfolio in future years if such  repayment can
be achieved without an increase in the total operating expenses of the Portfolio
above  1.20% of  average  daily net  assets.  Absent  such fee waiver or expense
reimbursement,  the estimated  Management Fees and Total Operating  Expenses for
the  PBHG  Technology  &  Communication  Portfolio  would be  0.85%  and  1.44%,
respectively. Given the projected asset size of the PBHG Growth II Portfolio, no
expense reimbursement or fee waiver is anticipated with respect to it.
    
                                    Page 17
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
EXAMPLES

If the Owner  surrenders his or her Contract at the end of the  applicable  time
period, the following expenses will be charged on a $1,000 investment,  assuming
a 5% annual return on assets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


SUB-ACCOUNT                                    1 Year    3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
- -----------                                    ------    -------    -------   --------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>        <C>       <C> 
Janus Aspen Series-Aggressive Growth             $92       $120       $157      $307
Portfolio

Janus Aspen Series-Worldwide Growth Portfolio    $92       $122       $159      $312

Janus Aspen Series-Balanced Portfolio            $94       $126       $167      $330

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Capital         $93       $123       $161      $317
Appreciation Portfolio

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth          $94       $127       $168      $333
Fund, Inc.

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Growth &        $92       $123       $161      $316
Income Portfolio
    
   
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Small Cap       $92       $121       $158      $311
Portfolio

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                         $87       $105       $130      $244

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $91       $117       $151      $293
Inc.-Basic Value Focus Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $91       $119       $154      $300
Inc.-Global Strategy Focus Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $90       $113       $144      $277
Inc.-High Current Income Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $90       $113       $144      $277
Inc.-Domestic Money Market Fund

Strong Special Fund II, Inc.                     $96       $134       $180      $359

Morgan Stanley Universal Funds-U.S. Real         $95       $131       $176      $351
Estate Portfolio

Morgan Stanley Universal Funds-Fixed Income      $91       $119       $153      $299
Portfolio

PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.-PBHG Growth     $96       $133       $179      $357
II Portfolio

PBHG Insurance Series Fund,                      $96       $135       $182      $363
Inc.-PBHGTechnology & Communications
Portfolio
</TABLE>
    


                                    Page 18
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
If the Owner does not surrender his or her Contract,  or it is  annuitized,  the
following  expenses  would be charged on a $1,000  investment  at the end of the
applicable time period, assuming a 5% annual return on assets:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
SUB-ACCOUNT                                     1 Year  3 Years  5 Years    10 Years
- -----------                                     ------  -------  -------    --------

<S>                                              <C>      <C>     <C>         <C> 
Janus Aspen Series-Aggressive Growth Portfolio   $22      $70     $127        $307

Janus Aspen Series-Worldwide Growth Portfolio    $22      $72     $129        $312

Janus Aspen Series-Balanced Portfolio            $24      $76     $137        $330

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Capital         $23      $73     $140        $317
Appreciation Portfolio

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund,    $24      $77     $138        $333
Inc.
    
   
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Growth &        $22      $73     $131        $316
Income Portfolio

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Small Cap       $22      $71     $128        $311
Portfolio

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                         $17      $55     $100        $244

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $21      $67     $121        $293
Inc.-Basic Value Focus Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $21      $69     $124        $300
Inc.-Global Strategy Focus Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $20      $63     $114        $277
Inc.-High Current Income Fund

Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,             $20      $63     $114        $277
Inc.-Domestic Money Market Fund

Strong Special Fund II, Inc.                     $26      $84     $150        $359

Morgan Stanley Universal Funds-U.S. Real         $25      $81     $146        $351
Estate Portfolio

Morgan Stanley Universal Funds-Fixed Income      $21      $69     $123        $299
Portfolio

PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.-PBGH Growth     $26      $83     $149        $357
II Portfolio

PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.-PBGH            $26      $85     $152        $363
Technology & Communications Portfolio
</TABLE>
    

                                    Page 19
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
The examples  assume the  reinvestment of all dividends and  distributions,  no
transfers among  Sub-Accounts or between Accounts and a 5% annual rate of return
as mandated by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

The purpose of the Examples is to assist an Owner in  understanding  the various
costs and expenses that the Owner will bear directly and indirectly with respect
to  investment  in the Separate  Account.  The table  reflects  expenses of each
Sub-Account  as well as of the  Fund  in  which  the  Sub-Account  invests.  See
"CHARGES AND  DEDUCTIONS"  on page 38 of this  Prospectus  and the  accompanying
prospectus  for the  applicable  Fund  for a more  complete  description  of the
various costs and expenses.

THE  EXAMPLES  SHOULD  NOT BE  CONSIDERED  A  REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR  FUTURE
EXPENSES OR ANNUAL RATES OF RETURN OF ANY  SUB-ACCOUNT OR FUND.  ACTUAL EXPENSES
AND  ANNUAL  RATES OF RETURN  MAY BE MORE OR LESS  THAN  THOSE  ASSUMED  FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THE EXAMPLES.  THE $25 CONTRACT  MAINTENANCE  FEE IS REFLECTED IN THE
EXAMPLES AS A CHARGE OF $1.00.
    

The fee table and  Examples  do not  include  charges  to the Owner for  premium
taxes.


                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
The financial  statements and reports of independent  public accountants for the
Company and the Separate  Account are  contained in the  Statement of Additional
Information.
    


                                    THE FUNDS

   
The Separate  Account  currently  has  seventeen  Funds that are  available  for
investment under the Contract.  Each Fund has separate investment objectives and
policies. As a result, each Fund operates as a separate investment portfolio and
the  investment  performance  of one  Fund  has  no  effect  on  the  investment
performance  of any other Fund.  There is no  assurance  that any of these Funds
will achieve their stated  objectives.  The Securities  and Exchange  Commission
does not supervise the management or the investment practices and/or policies of
any of the Funds.

The Separate  Account  invests  exclusively  in shares of the Funds listed below
(followed by a brief overview of each Fund's investment objective(s) and certain
investment policies):
    

JANUS ASPEN SERIES:

      AGGRESSIVE  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO.  A  nondiversified   portfolio  that  seeks
      long-term  growth of capital by investing  primarily in common stocks with
      an emphasis on securities issued by medium-sized companies.  The Portfolio
      may  invest  in  debt  securities,   including  junk  bonds.  For  further
      discussion of the risks  associated with investment in junk bonds,  please
      see the attached Janus Aspen Series prospectus.

      WORLDWIDE GROWTH PORTFOLIO.  A diversified  portfolio that seeks long-term
      growth of capital by investing  primarily in common  stocks of foreign and
      domestic issuers.  The Portfolio may invest in debt securities,  including
      junk bonds. For further discussion of the risks associated with investment
      in junk bonds, please see the attached Janus Aspen Series prospectus.

      BALANCED PORTFOLIO. A diversified portfolio that seeks long-term growth of
      capital  balanced by current income.  The Fund normally  invests 40-60% of
      its assets in securities selected primarily for their growth potential and
      40-60% of its assets in  securities  selected  primarily  for their income
      potential.  The Portfolio may invest in debt  securities,  including  junk
      bonds.  For further  discussion of the risks associated with investment in
      junk bonds, please see the attached Janus Aspen Series prospectus.

                                    Page 20
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Janus Corporation serves as the investment adviser to each of these Funds.

DREYFUS FUNDS

      CAPITAL  APPRECIATION  PORTFOLIO  (Dreyfus Variable  Investment Fund). The
      Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio's  primary  investment  objective  is  to
      provide  long-term  capital growth  consistent  with the  preservation  of
      capital. Current income is a secondary goal. It seeks to achieve its goals
      by investing principally in common stocks of domestic and foreign issuers,
      common  stocks  with  warrants  attached  and debt  securities  of foreign
      governments.

      The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the investment adviser and Fayez Sarofim
      & Co. serves as the sub-investment adviser to this Fund.

   
      GROWTH AND INCOME  PORTFOLIO The Growth and Income  Portfolio's goal is to
      provide  long-term  capital  growth,  current income and growth of income,
      consistent  with  reasonable   investment  risk.  This  Portfolio  invests
      primarily  in  equity   securities,   debt  securities  and  money  market
      instruments of domestic and foreign issuers.

      SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO (Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund).  (Dreyfus Variable
      Investment  Fund).  The Small Cap Portfolio's  goal is to maximize capital
      appreciation.  This  Portfolio  invests  primarily  in  common  stocks  of
      domestic and foreign issuers. This Portfolio will be particularly alert to
      companies   that  The  Dreyfus   Corporation   considers  to  be  emerging
      smaller-sized  companies which are believed to be  characterized by new or
      innovative products,  services or processes which should enhance prospects
      for growth in future earnings.

      The Dreyfus  Corporation  serves as  investment  adviser to the Growth and
      Income and Small Cap Portfolios.
    

      THE DREYFUS  SOCIALLY  RESPONSIBLE  GROWTH FUND, INC. The Dreyfus Socially
      Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.'s primary goal is to provide capital growth.
      It seeks to achieve this goal by investing  principally  in common stocks,
      or securities  convertible  into common stock, of companies  which, in the
      opinion of the Fund's  management,  not only meet  traditional  investment
      standards,  but also show evidence  that they conduct their  business in a
      manner  that  contributes  to the  enhancement  of the  quality of life in
      America. Current income is a secondary goal.

      The Dreyfus  Corporation  serves as the investment adviser and NCM Capital
      Management Group, Inc. serves as the sub-investment adviser to this Fund.

      DREYFUS  STOCK INDEX  FUND.  The Dreyfus  Stock  Index  Fund's  investment
      objective is to provide  investment  results that  correspond to the price
      and yield  performance of publicly  traded common stocks in the aggregate,
      as represented  by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite  Stock Price Index.
      The Stock Index Fund is neither  sponsored by nor affiliated with Standard
      & Poor's Corporation.

      The Dreyfus  Corporation,  located at 200 Park Avenue,  New York, New York
      10166, acts as the Fund manager and Mellon Equity Associates, an affiliate
      of Dreyfus located at 500 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, is
      the index manager.



                                    Page 21
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.

      BASIC VALUE FOCUS FUND.  The  investment  objective of the Fund is to seek
      capital appreciation and, secondarily,  income by investing in securities,
      primarily  equities,  that management of the Fund believes are undervalued
      and therefore  represent basic  investment  value.  The Fund seeks special
      opportunities  in securities  that are selling at a discount,  either from
      book  value  or  historical  price-earnings  ratios,  or seem  capable  of
      recovering  from  temporarily  out-of-favor   considerations.   Particular
      emphasis is placed on securities  that provide an  above-average  dividend
      return and sell at a below-average price-earnings ratio.

   
      GLOBAL  STRATEGY FOCUS FUND.  The  investment  objective of the Fund is to
      seek high total investment return by investing primarily in a portfolio of
      equity and fixed income securities,  including convertible securities,  of
      U.S.  and  foreign  issuers.  The Fund seeks to achieve its  objective  by
      investing  primarily in securities of issuers located in the U.S., Canada,
      Western Europe, the Far East and Latin America. Geographical allocation of
      the Fund's  investments is not limited,  and will be made primarily on the
      basis of anticipated  total return from investments,  considering  various
      factors including economic,  financial,  social,  national,  and political
      factors.   Investing   on  an   international   basis   involves   special
      considerations. See the attached Prospectus for the Fund.

      HIGH CURRENT INCOME FUND. The primary investment  objective of the Fund is
      to obtain as high a level of  current  income  as is  consistent  with its
      investment  policies  and prudent  investment  management.  As a secondary
      objective,  the Fund seeks capital  appreciation  when consistent with its
      primary  objective.  The Fund seeks to achieve its  objective by investing
      principally in fixed-income  securities that are rated in the lower rating
      categories of the established  rating services or in unrated securities of
      comparable  quality,  including junk bonds.  Investment in such securities
      entails  relatively  greater  risk of  loss of  income  or  principal.  An
      investment in this Fund may not be appropriate as the exclusive investment
      to fund a Contract. See the attached Prospectus for the Fund.
    

      DOMESTIC MONEY MARKET FUND.  The investment  objectives of the Fund are to
      seek preservation of capital,  maintain  liquidity and achieve the highest
      possible  current  income  consistent  with the  foregoing  objectives  by
      investing in short-term domestic money market securities.

      Merrill Lynch Asset Management,  L.P. serves as the investment  adviser to
      these Funds.

   
STRONG SPECIAL FUND II, INC.

      STRONG  SPECIAL  FUND II,  INC.  The  investment  objective  of the Strong
      Special  Fund  II is to  seek  capital  growth.  It  currently  emphasizes
      medium-sized    companies   that   the   Fund's   adviser   believes   are
      under-researched and attractively valued.

      Strong Capital  Management,  Inc. serves as the investment adviser to this
      Fund.
    


                                    Page 22
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS INC. :

      U.S.  REAL ESTATE  PORTFOLIO.  The  investment  objective of the U.S. Real
      Estate  Portfolio is above average  current  income and long-term  capital
      appreciation  by  investing  primarily  in equity  securities  of U.S. and
      non-U.S.  companies  principally engaged in the U.S. real estate industry,
      including Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

      Morgan Stanley Asset  Management Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan
      Stanley Group,  Inc.) serves as investment adviser to the U.S. Real Estate
      Portfolio.

      FIXED  INCOME  PORTFOLIO.  The  investment  objective  of the Fixed Income
      Portfolio  is to seek  above-average  total  return over a market cycle of
      three to five years by investing  primarily in a diversified  portfolio of
      securities  issued  by the U.S.  Government  and its  Agencies,  Corporate
      Bonds,  Mortgage-Backed  Securities,  Foreign Bonds and other Fixed Income
      Securities.

      Miller Anderson & Sherrard,  LLP (an indirect  wholly owned  subsidiary of
      Morgan Stanley Group,  Inc.) serves as the investment adviser to the Fixed
      Income Portfolio.
    
   
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC:

      PBHG  GROWTH II  PORTFOLIO.  The  investment  objective  of PBHG Growth II
      Portfolio is to seek capital appreciation by investing primarily in common
      stocks  and  convertible  securities  of  small  and  medium  size  growth
      companies  (market  capitalization  or annual revenue of up to $4 billion)
      that are considered to have an outlook for strong  earnings growth and the
      potential for significant capital appreciation.

      PBHG TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS  PORTFOLIO.  The investment  objective of
      the PBHG Technology & Communications Portfolio is to seek long-term growth
      of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of companies which rely
      extensively on technology or communications  in their product  development
      or operations,  or which may be experiencing  exceptional  growth in sales
      and earnings driven by technology or  communications-related  products and
      services.
    
      Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd. serves as the investment adviser to each
      of these Portfolios.

Meeting Fund objectives depends on various factors,  including,  but not limited
to, how well the  portfolio  managers  anticipate  changing  economic and market
conditions.

THERE  IS NO  ASSURANCE  THAT ANY OF  THESE  FUNDS  WILL  ACHIEVE  THEIR  STATED
OBJECTIVES.

INVESTMENTS  IN THESE  FUNDS ARE  NEITHER  INSURED  NOR  GUARANTEED  BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER ENTITY OR PERSON.

Since each of the Funds is  available  to separate  accounts of other  insurance
companies  offering  variable  annuity and variable life  products,  and certain
Funds may be available to qualified  pension and  retirement  plans,  there is a
possibility  that a material  conflict  may arise  between the  interests of the
Separate  Account and one or more other separate  accounts or plans investing in
the Fund. In the event of a material conflict,  the affected insurance companies
and  plans  will take any  necessary  steps to  resolve  the  matter,  including
stopping their separate  accounts from investing in the particular Fund. See the
Funds' prospectuses for greater detail.

                                    Page 23
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional information concerning the investment objectives and policies of each
Fund, the investment advisory services and administrative  services of each Fund
and  charges of each Fund can be found in the current  prospectus  for each Fund
which accompany this Prospectus.  The appropriate Funds'  prospectuses should be
read carefully before any decision is made concerning the allocation of Purchase
Payments to, or transfers among, the Sub-Accounts.

ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, OR SUBSTITUTIONS

The  Company  does not control  the Funds and cannot  guarantee  that any of the
Sub-Accounts  or any of the Funds will always be  available  for  allocation  of
Purchase Payments or transfers. The Company retains the right to make changes in
the Separate Account and its investments.

The Company  reserves  the right to  eliminate  the shares of any Fund held by a
Sub-Account  and to  substitute  shares of another  investment  company  for the
shares of any Fund,  if the  shares  of that  Fund are no longer  available  for
investment  or if, in the  Company's  judgment,  investment in any Fund would be
inappropriate  in view of the  purposes of the Separate  Account.  To the extent
required by the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended  ("1940  Act"),  or
other  applicable  law, a  substitution  of shares  attributable  to the Owner's
interest in a Sub-Account will not be made without prior notice to the Owner and
the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Nothing contained
herein shall prevent the Separate  Account from purchasing  other securities for
other  series or classes of variable  annuity  policies,  or from  effecting  an
exchange between series or classes of variable policies on the basis of requests
made by Owners.

New Sub-Accounts may be established when, in the sole discretion of the Company,
marketing,  tax, investment or other conditions so warrant. Any new Sub-Accounts
will be made  available to existing  Owners on a basis to be  determined  by the
Company.  Each  additional  Sub-Account  will  purchase  shares  in a Fund or in
another mutual fund or investment vehicle. The Company may also eliminate one or
more  Sub-Accounts,  if in its sole discretion,  marketing,  tax,  investment or
other  conditions so warrant.  In the event any  Sub-Account is eliminated,  the
Company will notify Owners and request a re-allocation  of the amounts  invested
in the eliminated Sub-Account.

In the event of any substitution or change, the Company may make such changes in
the Contract as may be necessary or appropriate to reflect such  substitution or
change.  Furthermore,  if deemed to be in the best  interests of persons  having
voting  rights under the  Contracts,  the Separate  Account may be operated as a
management company under the 1940 Act or any other form permitted by law, may be
de-registered  under  such  Act in the  event  such  registration  is no  longer
required, or may be combined with one or more separate accounts.


                                PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

From time to time, the Company may advertise yields and/or total returns for the
Sub-Accounts.  THESE  FIGURES ARE BASED ON  HISTORICAL  INFORMATION  AND ARE NOT
INTENDED TO INDICATE FUTURE PERFORMANCE.  For performance data and a description
of the methods used to determine  yield and total  return,  see the Statement of
Additional Information.

YIELD DATA

The yield of the  Money  Market  Sub-Account  refers  to the  annualized  income
generated  by an  investment  in that  Sub-Account  over a  specified  seven-day
period.  The Company may also advertise the effective  yield of the Money Market


                                    Page 24
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub-Account  which is  calculated  similarly  but, when  annualized,  the income
earned by an investment in that  Sub-Account  is assumed to be  reinvested.  The
effective  yield  will  be  slightly  higher  than  the  yield  because  of  the
compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment.

The yield of a Sub-Account other than the Money Market Sub-Account refers to the
annualized income generated by an investment in the Sub-Account over a specified
30-day period.

The yield  calculations  do not reflect the effect of any CDSC or premium  taxes
that may be applicable to a particular  Contract which would reduce the yield of
that Contract.

TOTAL RETURN DATA

The average  annual total return of a  Sub-Account  refers to return  quotations
assuming an investment has been held in the  Sub-Account  for various periods of
time  including,  but not  limited  to,  a  period  measured  from  the date the
Sub-Account commenced  operations.  When a Sub-Account has been in operation for
one, five and ten years, respectively, the average annual total return presented
will be  presented  for  these  periods,  although  other  periods  may  also be
provided.  The standardized  average annual total return quotations  reflect the
deduction of all applicable  charges  except for premium  taxes.  In addition to
standardized  average  annual  total return for a  Sub-Account,  the Company may
provide cumulative total return and/or other  non-standardized  total return for
the  Sub-Account.  Total  return  data that does not  reflect the CDSC and other
charges will be higher than the total return  realized by an investor who incurs
the charges.

Reports and  promotional  literature may contain the ranking of any  Sub-Account
derived from rankings of variable annuity separate  accounts or their investment
products tracked by Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  VARDS,  IBC/Donoghue's
Money Fund  Report,  Financial  Planning  Magazine,  Money  Magazine,  Bank Rate
Monitor,  Standard & Poor's Indices,  Dow Jones  Industrial  Average,  and other
rating  services,  companies,  publications,  or other persons who rank separate
accounts or other investment  products on overall performance or other criteria.
The Company may compare the performance of a Sub-Account with applicable indices
and/or  industry  averages.  Performance  information may present the effects of
tax-deferred  compounding  on  Sub-Account  investment  returns,  or  returns in
general, which may be illustrated by graphs, charts, or otherwise, and which may
include  comparisons of investment return on a tax-deferred basis with currently
taxable investment return.

The Company may also advertise performance figures for the Sub-Accounts based on
the  performance  of a Fund  prior to the time the  Separate  Account  commenced
operations.




                                    Page 25
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)
                               AND THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
     
         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)

Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company(REGISTERED  TRADEMARK) (the "Company"),
formerly  known as CarilloN Life  Insurance  Company,  is a stock life insurance
company.  It was  incorporated  under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1981. The
Company  is  principally  engaged  in the sale of  fixed  and  variable  annuity
policies.

The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great American(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)
Life Insurance  CompanY which is a wholly owned  subsidiary of American  Annuity
Group,  Inc., a publicly traded insurance  holding  company.  That company is in
turn indirectly  controlled by American Financial Group, Inc., a publicly traded
holding company.

The home office of the Company is located at 250 East Fifth Street,  Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202.

PUBLISHED RATINGS

The Company may from time to time publish in  advertisements,  sales  literature
and reports to Owners,  the ratings and other information  assigned to it by one
or more independent rating  organizations such as A.M. Best Company,  Standard &
Poor's,  and Duff &  Phelps.  The  purpose  of the  ratings  is to  reflect  the
financial strength and/or claims-paying ability of the Company and should not be
considered  as reflecting on the  investment  performance  of assets held in the
Separate  Account.  Each year the A.M. Best Company reviews the financial status
of thousands of insurers, culminating in the assignment of Best's Ratings. These
ratings  reflect their current  opinion of the relative  financial  strength and
operating  performance of an insurance company in comparison to the norms of the
life/health  insurance industry.  In addition,  the claims-paying ability of the
Company as  measured by Standard & Poor's or Duff & Phelps may be referred to in
advertisements  or sales  literature or in reports to Owners.  These ratings are
opinions of those  agencies as to an  operating  insurance  company's  financial
capacity  to meet the  obligations  of its  insurance  and  annuity  policies in
accordance  with  their  terms.  Such  ratings  do not  reflect  the  investment
performance  of the Separate  Account or the degree of risk  associated  with an
investment in the Separate Account.

THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

Annuity  Investors  Variable  Account A was  established  by the  Company  as an
insurance  company  separate  account under the laws of the State of Ohio on May
26, 1995,  pursuant to  resolutions  of the Company's  Board of  Directors.  The
Separate Account is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the 1940 Act as a unit investment  trust.  However,  the Securities and Exchange
Commission  does not supervise the  management  or the  investment  practices or
policies of the Separate Account.

The assets of the  Separate  Account  are owned by the Company but they are held
separately from the other assets of the Company.  The Ohio Revised Code provides
that the  assets of a  separate  account  are not  chargeable  with  liabilities
incurred in any other  business  operation  of the  Company.  Income,  gains and
losses incurred on the assets in the Separate Account,  whether or not realized,
are credited to or charged against the Separate Account, without regard to other
income, gains or losses of the Company. Therefore, the investment performance of
the Separate  Account is entirely  independent of the investment  performance of
the Company's general account assets or any other separate account maintained by
the Company.

Under  Ohio  law,  the  assets  of the  Separate  Account  will be held  for the
exclusive  benefit of Owners of, and the persons  entitled to payment under, the
Contracts offered by this Prospectus and under all other contracts which provide
for accumulated  values or dollar amount payments to reflect  investment results
of the  Separate  Account.  The  obligations  arising  under the  Contracts  are
obligations of the Company.

                                    Page 26
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
The Separate Account is divided into Sub-Accounts,  each of which invests solely
in a specific  corresponding  Fund.  (See "THE  FUNDS," page 20.) Changes to the
Sub-Accounts  may be made at the  discretion  of the Company.  (See  "Additions,
Deletions, or Substitutions," page 24.)
    


                                   THE FIXED ACCOUNT

The  Fixed  Account  is a part of the  Company's  general  account.  Because  of
exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the general account have not
been  registered  under the Securities  Act of 1933, nor is the general  account
registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Accordingly, neither the
general account nor any interest therein is generally  subject to the provisions
of these Acts, and the staff of the Securities and Exchange  Commission does not
generally  review  the  disclosures  in the  prospectus  relating  to the  Fixed
Account.  Disclosures  regarding the Fixed Account and the general  account may,
however,  be subject to certain generally  applicable  provisions of the federal
securities laws relating to the accuracy and  completeness of statements made in
the prospectus.

The  Company  has sole  discretion  to invest the  assets of the Fixed  Account,
subject to applicable law. The Company delegates the investment of the assets of
the Fixed Account to American Money  Management  Corporation.  Allocation of any
amounts to the Fixed  Account does not entitle  Owners to share  directly in the
investment  experience  of  these  assets.  The  Company  assumes  the  risk  of
investment  gain or loss on the portion of the Account  Value  allocated  to the
Fixed  Account.  All  assets  held in the  general  account  are  subject to the
Company's general liabilities from business operations.

FIXED ACCOUNT OPTIONS

   
There are currently five options under the Fixed Account: the Fixed Accumulation
Account option;  and the guarantee period options referred to in the Contract as
the Fixed  Account  Options  One-Year,  Three-Year,  Five-Year,  and  Seven-Year
Guarantee Period,  respectively.  Different Fixed Account options may be offered
by the Company at any time.  Purchase Payments allocated and amounts transferred
to the Fixed  Account  options  accumulate  interest at the  applicable  current
interest rate declared by the Company's  Board of Directors,  and if applicable,
for the duration of the guarantee period selected.
    

The Company guarantees a minimum rate of interest for the Fixed Account options.
The guaranteed rate is 3% per year, compounded annually.

RENEWAL OF FIXED ACCOUNT OPTIONS

The following  provisions  apply to all Fixed Account  options  except the Fixed
Accumulation Account option.

At the end of a guarantee period, and for the thirty days immediately  preceding
the end of such  guarantee  period,  the Owner may elect a new option to replace
the Fixed Account option that is then expiring.  The entire amount  maturing may
be reallocated to any of the then-current  options under the Contract (including
the  various  Sub-Accounts  within the  Separate  Account),  except that a Fixed
Account  option  with a  guarantee  period  that would  extend  past the Annuity
Commencement  Date may not be selected.  In particular,  in the case of renewals
occurring  within one year of such  Commencement  Date,  the only Fixed  Account
option available is the Fixed Accumulation Account option.

If the Owner does not specify a new Fixed Account option in accordance  with the
preceding  paragraph,  the Owner will be deemed to have  elected  the same Fixed
Account  option as is expiring,  so long as the guarantee  period of such option
does not extend beyond the Annuity  Commencement  Date. In the event that such a


                                    Page 27
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

period  would extend  beyond the Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the Owner will be
deemed to have  selected  the Fixed  Account  option with the longest  available
guarantee  period that  expires  prior to the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  or,
failing that, the Fixed Accumulation Account Option.


                                     THE CONTRACTS

Each Contract is an individual flexible premium deferred annuity. The rights and
benefits are  described  below and in each  Contract.  The Company  reserves the
right to make any  modification  to conform the  Contracts to, or give the Owner
the benefit of, any  applicable  law. The  obligations  under the  Contracts are
obligations of the Company.

Fixed Account  Values,  Variable  Account  Values,  benefits and charges will be
calculated  separately  for each  Contract.  The  various  administrative  rules
described below will apply separately to each Contract,  unless otherwise noted.
The Company reserves the right to terminate any Contract at any time the Account
Value is less than $500.  Upon the  termination of a Contract,  the Company will
pay the Owner the Surrender Value.

RIGHT TO CANCEL

   
The Owner may  cancel  the  Contract  by giving the  Company  written  notice of
cancellation  and  returning the Contract  before  midnight of the twentieth day
following  the date the  Owner  receives  the  Contract.  The  Contract  must be
returned to the Company,  and the required notice must be given in person, or to
the agent who sold it to the Owner,  or by mail.  If by mail,  the return of the
Contract  or the  notice is  effective  on the date it is  postmarked,  with the
proper  address and with postage  paid. If the Owner cancels the Contract as set
forth above,  the Contract will be void and the Company will refund the Purchase
Payment(s) plus or minus any investment gains or losses under the Contract as of
the end of the Valuation  Period during which the returned  Contract is received
by the Company.  Where required by state law, the right to cancel provision of a
Contract may provide for refund of a different  amount, or a right to cancel for
a different period of time, than described above.
    




                                    Page 28
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   PURCHASE PAYMENTS

PURCHASE PAYMENTS

   
The minimum initial Purchase Payment for Qualified  Contracts  purchased under a
periodic  payment program is $50; for other  Qualified  contracts,  $2,000;  for
Non-Qualified  Contracts  purchased under a periodic payment program,  $100; and
for other Non-Qualified  Contracts,  $5,000. Tax-free transfers and rollovers to
the  Contracts  must be at  least  $5,000.  Both  Contracts  require  subsequent
Purchase  Payments of at least $50 per month.  Purchase  Payments  and  tax-free
transfers or rollovers may be sent to the Company at its  Administrative  Office
at any time before the Annuity Commencement Date so long as the Contract has not
been fully surrendered.
    

Each  Purchase  Payment  will be  applied  by the  Company  to the credit of the
Owner's  Account.  If the  application  form is in good order,  the Company will
apply the  initial  Purchase  Payment  to an  account  for the Owner  within two
business days of receipt of the Purchase Payment at the  Administrative  Office.
If the  application  form is not in good order,  the Company will attempt to get
the application form in good order within five business days. If the application
form is not in good order at the end of this period, the Company will inform the
Owner of the reason for the delay and that the Purchase Payment will be returned
immediately  unless he or she  specifically  consents to the Company keeping the
Purchase  Payment  until  the  application  form  is in  good  order.  Once  the
application  form is in good order,  the Purchase Payment will be applied to the
Owner's Account within two business days.

Each  additional  Purchase  Payment is  credited  to a  Contract  as of the next
Valuation Date following the receipt of such additional Purchase Payment.

No Purchase  Payment for any Contract may exceed $500,000 without prior approval
of the Company.

ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS

The Company will allocate  Purchase Payments to the Fixed Account options and/or
to the  Sub-Accounts  according  to  instructions  received by Written  Request.
Allocations must be made in whole percentages.


                                     ACCOUNT VALUE

The Account Value is equal to the aggregate value of the Owner's interest in the
Sub-Account(s)  and the Fixed  Account  options  as of the end of any  Valuation
Period.  The value of the Owner's  interest in all Sub-Accounts is the "Variable
Account  Value,"  and the value of the  Owner's  interest  in all Fixed  Account
options is the "Fixed Account Value."



                                    Page 29
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


FIXED ACCOUNT VALUE

The Fixed  Account  Value  for the  Contract  at any time is equal  to:  (a) the
Purchase Payment(s) allocated to the Fixed Account; plus (b) amounts transferred
to the Fixed Account;  plus (c) interest credited to the Fixed Account; less (d)
any charges, surrenders,  deductions, amounts transferred from the Fixed Account
or other adjustments made in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.

VARIABLE ACCOUNT VALUE

Purchase  Payments may be allocated among, and Account Values may be transferred
to,  the  various  Sub-Accounts  within  the  Separate  Account,  subject to the
provisions  of the  Contract  governing  transfers.  For each  Sub-Account,  the
Purchase  Payment(s)  or amounts  transferred  are converted  into  Accumulation
Units.  The number of Accumulation  Units credited is determined by dividing the
dollar amount directed to each Sub-Account by the value of the Accumulation Unit
for that  Sub-Account  at the end of the Valuation  Period on which the Purchase
Payment(s) or transferred amount is received.

The following events will result in the cancellation of an appropriate number of
Accumulation Units of a Sub-Account:

      (1)  transfer from a Sub-Account;

      (2)  full or partial surrender of the Variable Account Value;

      (3)  payment of a Death Benefit;

      (4)  application of the Variable Account Value to a Settlement Option;

      (5)  deduction of the Contract Maintenance Fee; or

      (6)  deduction of any Transfer Fee.

Accumulation Units will be canceled as of the end of the Valuation Period during
which the Company receives a Written Request  regarding the event giving rise to
such  cancellation,  or an  applicable  Commencement  Date,  or  the  end of the
Valuation  Period on which the Contract  Maintenance Fee or Transfer Fee is due,
as the case may be.

The Variable Account Value for a Contract at any time is equal to the sum of the
number of Accumulation Units for each Sub-Account  attributable to that Contract
multiplied by the Accumulation Unit value  ("Accumulation  Unit Value") for each
Sub-Account at the end of the preceding Valuation Period.



                                    Page 30
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE

The initial Accumulation Unit Value for each Sub-Account,  with the exception of
the Money  Market  Sub-Account,  was set at $10. The initial  Accumulation  Unit
Value  for the  Money  Market  Sub-Account  was set at  $1.00.  Thereafter,  the
Accumulation  Unit Value at the end of each Valuation Period is the Accumulation
Unit Value at the end of the previous  Valuation  Period  multiplied  by the Net
Investment Factor, as described below.

NET INVESTMENT FACTOR

The Net  Investment  Factor  is a  factor  applied  to  measure  the  investment
performance  of a  Sub-Account  from one  Valuation  Period  to the  next.  Each
Sub-Account has a Net Investment  Factor for each Valuation  Period which may be
greater or less than one. Therefore,  the value of an Accumulation Unit for each
Sub-Account  may  increase  or  decrease.  The  Net  Investment  Factor  for any
Sub-Account  for any  Valuation  Period is determined by dividing (1) by (2) and
subtracting (3) from the result, where:

      (1)  is equal to:

           a. the Net Asset Value per share of the Fund held in the Sub-Account,
determined at the end of the applicable Valuation Period; plus

           b.  the  per  share  amount  of  any  dividend  or net  capital  gain
distributions  made by the Fund held in the  Sub-Account,  if the  "ex-dividend"
date occurs during the applicable Valuation Period; plus or minus

           c. a per share charge or credit for any taxes  reserved for, which is
determined by the Company to have resulted from the investment operations of the
Sub-Account;

      (2) is the Net Asset Value per share of the Fund held in the  Sub-Account,
determined at the end of the immediately preceding Valuation Period; and

      (3) is the factor  representing  the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge and
the  Administration  Charge deducted from the Sub-Account for the number of days
in the applicable Valuation Period.











                                    Page 31
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       TRANSFERS

Prior to the applicable  Commencement  Date, the Owner may transfer amounts in a
Sub-Account to a different  Sub-Account  and/or one or more of the Fixed Account
options. The minimum transfer amount is $500. If the Sub-Account balance is less
than $1,000 at the time of the transfer,  the entire  amount of the  Sub-Account
balance must be transferred.  The Owner may also transfer amounts from any Fixed
Account  option to any other  Fixed  Account  option  and/or  one or more of the
Sub-Accounts.  If a transfer is being made from a Fixed Account option  pursuant
to the "Renewal of Fixed Account  Options"  provision of the "THE FIXED ACCOUNT"
section of this Prospectus,  then the entire amount of that Fixed Account option
subject  to renewal  at that time may be  transferred  to any one or more of the
Sub-Accounts.  In any other case,  transfers  from any Fixed Account  option are
subject to a  cumulative  limit  during each  Contract  Year of 20% of the Fixed
Account option's value as of the most recent Contract anniversary. Fixed Account
transfers are not permitted during the first Contract Year. The minimum transfer
amount from any Fixed Account  option is $500. The Company may from time to time
change the amount  available for transfer from the Fixed  Accumulation  Account.
Amounts  previously  transferred  from Fixed Account options to the Sub-Accounts
may not be  transferred  back to the Fixed  Account  options for a period of six
months from the date of transfer.

The Company  charges a Transfer Fee of $25 for each transfer in excess of twelve
during the same Contract Year.

TELEPHONE TRANSFERS

An  Owner  may  place a  request  for all or part  of the  Account  Value  to be
transferred by telephone.  All transfers must be in accordance with the terms of
the Contract.  Transfer  instructions  are currently  accepted on each Valuation
Date  between  9:30 a.m.  and 4:00 p.m.  Eastern  Time at (800)  789-6771.  Once
instructions  have  been  accepted,  they  may not be  rescinded;  however,  new
telephone instructions may be given the following day.

The Company will not be liable for complying with telephone  instructions  which
the Company reasonably  believes to be genuine, or for any loss, damage, cost or
expense  in  acting  on  such  telephone  instructions.   The  Owner  or  person
controlling  payments  will bear the risk of such loss.  The Company will employ
reasonable  procedures to determine that telephone  instructions are genuine. If
the  Company  does not employ  such  procedures,  the  Company may be liable for
losses due to  unauthorized  or fraudulent  instructions.  These  procedures may
include, among others, tape recording telephone instructions.

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING

Prior to the applicable  Commencement  Date,  the Owner may establish  automatic
transfers from the Money Market  Sub-Account to any other  Sub-Account(s),  on a
monthly or quarterly basis, by submitting to the Administrative  Office a Dollar
Cost Averaging  Authorization  Form. No Dollar Cost  Averaging  transfers may be
made to any of the Fixed Account  options.  The Dollar Cost Averaging  transfers
will take place on the last  Valuation Date of each calendar month or quarter as
requested by the Owner.

In order to be eligible for Dollar Cost Averaging, the value of the Money Market
Sub-Account  must be at  least  $10,000,  and the  minimum  amount  that  may be
transferred is $500.

Dollar Cost Averaging will automatically  terminate if any Dollar Cost Averaging
transfer  would cause the balance of the Money Market  Sub-Account to fall below
$500.  At that time,  the Company  will then  transfer  the balance of the Money
Market   Sub-Account  to  the  other   Sub-Account(s)  in  the  same  percentage
distribution as directed in the Dollar Cost Averaging Authorization Form.



                                    Page 32
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dollar  Cost  Averaging  transfers  will not count  toward the twelve  transfers
permitted under the Contract without a Transfer Fee charge.

Before  electing  Dollar Cost  Averaging,  an Owner  should  consider  the risks
involved in switching between investments  available under the Contract.  Dollar
Cost Averaging  requires  regular  investments  regardless of fluctuating  price
levels and does not guarantee  profits or prevent losses in a declining  market.
An Owner should  consider his or her financial  ability to continue  Dollar Cost
Averaging transfers through periods of changing price levels.

   
The Owner may terminate  Dollar Cost  Averaging  services at any time,  but must
give the  Company  at least 30 days'  notice to change  any  automatic  transfer
instructions that are currently in place.
    

PORTFOLIO REBALANCING

In  connection  with the  allocation of Purchase  Payments to the  Sub-Accounts,
and/or the Fixed Accumulation  Account,  the Owner may elect to have the Company
perform Portfolio  Rebalancing  services.  The election of Portfolio Rebalancing
instructs the Company to automatically transfer amounts between the Sub-Accounts
and the Fixed  Accumulation  Account  to  maintain  the  percentage  allocations
selected by the Owner.

Prior to the  applicable  Commencement  Date,  the  Owner  may  elect  Portfolio
Rebalancing by submitting to the Administrative  Office a Portfolio  Rebalancing
Authorization  Form.  In  order to be  eligible  for the  Portfolio  Rebalancing
program,  the Owner  must have a minimum  Account  Value of  $10,000.  Portfolio
Rebalancing  transfers  will  take  place  on the  last  Valuation  Date of each
calendar quarter.

Portfolio  Rebalancing  transfers  will not count  toward the  twelve  transfers
permitted under the Contract without a Transfer Fee charge.

   
The Owner may terminate  Portfolio  Rebalancing  services at any time,  but must
give the  Company  at least 30 days'  notice to change  any  automatic  transfer
instructions that are already in place.
    

INTEREST SWEEP

Prior to the  applicable  Commencement  Date,  the  Owner  may  elect  automatic
transfers of the income from each Fixed Account option to the Sub-Account(s), by
submitting to the Administrative  Office an Interest Sweep  Authorization  Form.
Interest  Sweep  transfers  will take place on the last  Valuation  Date of each
calendar quarter.

In order to be eligible for the Interest Sweep program,  the value of each Fixed
Account option selected must be at least $5,000.  The maximum amount that may be
transferred from each Fixed Account option selected is 20% of such Fixed Account
option's  value per year.  Any  amounts  transferred  under the  Interest  Sweep
program reduce the 20% maximum otherwise allowed.

Interest Sweep  transfers will not count toward the twelve  transfers  permitted
under the Contract without a Transfer Fee charge.

   
The Owner may terminate the Interest Sweep  program,  at any time, but must give
the  Company  at  least  30  days'  notice  to  change  any  automatic  transfer
instructions that are already in place.
    

CHANGES BY THE COMPANY

   
The Company  reserves the right,  in the Company's  sole  discretion  and at any
time,  to  terminate,  suspend or modify any aspect of the  transfer  privileges
    


                                    Page 33
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   
described above without prior notice to Owners,  as permitted by applicable law.
The Company may also impose an annual fee or increase the current annual fee, as
applicable,  for any of the  foregoing  services in amount(s) as the Company may
then determine to be reasonable for participation in the service.
    


                                      SURRENDERS

SURRENDER VALUE

The Owner may surrender a Contract in full for the Surrender  Value,  or partial
surrenders may be made for a lesser amount, by Written Request at any time prior
to the Annuity Commencement Date. The amount of any partial surrender must be at
least $500. A partial  surrender  cannot reduce the Surrender Value to less than
$500.  Surrenders  will be deemed to be withdrawn  first from the portion of the
Account  Value  that  represents  accumulated  earnings  and then from  Purchase
Payments.  For  purposes of the  Contract,  Purchase  Payments  are deemed to be
withdrawn on a "first-in, first-out" basis.

The amount available for surrender will be the Surrender Value at the end of the
Valuation Period in which the Written Request is received.

The Surrender Value at any time is an amount equal to:
            (1) the  Account  Value  as of the end of the  applicable  Valuation
Period; less
            (2) any applicable CDSC; less
            (3) any outstanding loans; and less
            (4) any  applicable  premium  tax or  other  taxes  not  previously
                deducted.

On full surrender, a full Contract Maintenance Fee will also be deducted as part
of the calculation of the Surrender Value.

   
A full or  partial  surrender  may be  subject  to a CDSC as set  forth  in this
prospectus. (See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC")," page 38.)
    

Surrenders  will  result in the  cancellation  of  Accumulation  Units from each
applicable  Sub-Account(s) and/or a reduction of the Fixed Account Value. In the
case of a full surrender, the Contract will be terminated.

   
Surrenders  may be subject to a 10% premature  distribution  penalty tax if made
before the Owner  reaches  age 59 1/2,  and may  further be subject to  federal,
state or locAl income tax, as well as significant  tax law  restrictions  in the
case of Qualified Contracts. (See "FEDERAL TAX MATTERS," page 47.)
    

SUSPENSION OR DELAY IN PAYMENT OF SURRENDER VALUE

The  Company  has the right to suspend or delay the date of payment of a partial
or full surrender of the Variable Account Value for any period:

       (1) when the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is closed or trading on the
NYSE is restricted;

       (2)  when an  emergency  exists  (as  determined  by the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission) as a result of which (a) the disposal of securities in the
Separate  Account  is not  reasonably  practicable  or (b) it is not  reasonably
practicable  to  determine  fairly the value of the net  assets in the  Separate
Account; or

       (3) when the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  so  permits  for the
protection of security holders.

                                    Page 34
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Company  further  reserves the right to delay payment of any partial or full
surrender of the Fixed Account Value for up to six months after the receipt of a
Written Request.

A surrender  request will be effective when all  appropriate  surrender  request
forms are received. Payments of any amounts derived from a Purchase Payment paid
by check may be delayed until the check has cleared.

SINCE THE OWNER ASSUMES THE INVESTMENT RISK AND BECAUSE  CERTAIN  SURRENDERS ARE
SUBJECT TO A CDSC, THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID UPON SURRENDER OF THE CONTRACT  (TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT ANY PRIOR  SURRENDERS)  MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN THE TOTAL PURCHASE
PAYMENTS.

When  Contracts  offered  by this  Prospectus  are  issued  in  connection  with
retirement plans which meet the requirements of Sections 401, 403, 408 or 457 of
the Code, as applicable, reference should be made to the terms of the particular
plans for any additional limitations or restrictions on surrenders.

FREE WITHDRAWAL PRIVILEGE

Subject to the  provisions of the Contract,  the Company will waive the CDSC, to
the extent applicable, on full or partial surrenders as follows:

            (1) during the first  Contract  Year, on an amount equal to not more
than 10% of all Purchase Payments received; and

   
            (2) during the second and succeeding  Contract  Years,  on an amount
equal to not more than the greater of: (a)  accumulated  earnings as of the last
Contract Anniversary (Account Value in excess of Purchase Payments);  or (b) 10%
of the Account Value as of the last Contract Anniversary.
    

If the Free  Withdrawal  Privilege is not exercised  during a Contract  Year, it
does not carry over to the next Contract Year.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL

Prior to the applicable  Commencement Date, the Owner, by Written Request to the
Administrative  Office, may elect to withdraw money automatically from the Fixed
Account and/or the  Sub-Accounts.  To be eligible for the Systematic  Withdrawal
program, the Account Value must be at least $10,000 at the time of election. The
minimum  monthly  amount that can be withdrawn is $100.  Systematic  withdrawals
will be subject to the CDSC to the extent the amount withdrawn  exceeds the Free
Withdrawal  Privilege  (See  "CHARGES AND  DEDUCTIONS,"  page 38.) The Owner may
begin or discontinue  systematic  withdrawals at any time by Written  Request to
the Company, but at least 30 days' notice must be given to change any systematic
withdrawal instructions that are currently in place.

Systematic  withdrawals  may have tax  consequences or may be limited by tax law
restrictions. (See "FEDERAL TAX MATTERS," page 47.)


                                 CONTRACT LOANS

If  permitted  under the  Contract,  an Owner may obtain a loan using his or her
interest  under  such  Contract  as the only  security  for the loan.  Loans are
subject to  provisions of the Code. A tax adviser  should be consulted  prior to
exercising  loan   privileges.   Loan  provisions  are  described  in  the  loan
endorsement to the Contract.

                                    Page 35
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The amount of any loan will be deducted from any Death Benefit.  In addition,  a
loan,  whether or not repaid,  will have a permanent effect on the Account Value
because the investment  results of the investment options will only apply to the
unborrowed portion of the Account Value. The longer the loan is outstanding, the
greater  the  effect  is  likely  to  be.  The  effect  could  be  favorable  or
unfavorable.  If the investment results are greater than the rate being credited
on amounts held in the loan account while the loan is  outstanding,  the Account
Value will not increase as rapidly as it would if no loan were  outstanding.  If
investment results are below that rate, the Account Value will be higher than it
would have been if no loan had been outstanding.


                                  DEATH BENEFIT

WHEN A DEATH BENEFIT WILL BE PAID

A Death Benefit will be paid under the Contract if:

      (1) the  Owner  or the  joint  owner,  if any,  dies  before  the  Annuity
Commencement Date and before the Contract is fully surrendered;

      (2)   the Death Benefit Valuation Date has occurred; and

      (3)   a spouse does not become the Successor Owner.

If a Death Benefit becomes payable:

      (1)   it will be in lieu of all other benefits under the Contract; and

      (2) all other  rights  under the Contract  will be  terminated  except for
rights related to the Death Benefit.

Only one Death Benefit will be paid under the Contract





















                                    Page 36
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DEATH BENEFIT VALUES

If the Owner dies before  attaining  age 75 and before the Annuity  Commencement
Date, the Death Benefit is an amount equal to the greatest of:

      (1) the  Account  Value on the  Death  Benefit  Valuation  Date,  less any
applicable premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial
surrenders, and less any outstanding loans;

      (2) the total  Purchase  Payment(s),  less any  applicable  premium tax or
other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial surrenders,  and less any
outstanding loans; or

      (3) the largest Death Benefit amount on any Contract  Anniversary prior to
death that is an exact  multiple of five and occurs  prior to the Death  Benefit
Valuation  Date,  less any applicable  premium tax or other taxes not previously
deducted,  less any partial  surrenders after such Death Benefit was determined,
and less any outstanding loans.

If the Owner dies after  attaining  Age 75 and before the  Annuity  Commencement
Date, the Death Benefit is an amount equal to the greatest of:

      (1) the  Account  Value on the  Death  Benefit  Valuation  Date,  less any
applicable premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial
surrenders, and less any outstanding loans;

      (2) the total  Purchase  Payment(s),  less any  applicable  premium tax or
other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial surrenders,  and less any
outstanding loans; or

      (3) the largest Death Benefit amount on any Contract  Anniversary prior to
death that is both an exact  multiple  of five and  occurs  prior to the date on
which the Owner attained Age 75, less any applicable  premium tax or other taxes
not previously  deducted,  less any partial  surrenders after such Death Benefit
was determined, and less any outstanding loans.

In any event, if the Contract is issued after any Owner has attained age 75, and
any Owner dies before the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the amount of the Death
Benefit will be the greater of:

      (1) the  Account  Value on the  Death  Benefit  Valuation  Date,  less any
applicable premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial
surrenders, and less any outstanding loans; or

      (2) the total  Purchase  Payment(s),  less any  applicable  premium tax or
other taxes not previously deducted,  less any partial surrenders,  and less any
outstanding loans.

DEATH BENEFIT COMMENCEMENT DATE

The  Beneficiary  may designate the Death Benefit  Commencement  Date by Written
Request  within one year of the Owner's death.  If no designation is made,  then
the Death Benefit Commencement Date will be one year after the Owner's death.

FORM OF DEATH BENEFIT

   
Death  Benefit  payments will be Fixed Dollar  Benefit  payments made monthly in
accordance  with the terms of Option A with a period  certain of 48 months under
the "SETTLEMENT OPTIONS" section of this prospectus. (See page 41.)
    



                                    Page 37
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


In lieu of that, the Owner may elect at any time before his or her death to have
Death  Benefit  payments  made in one  lump  sum or  pursuant  to any  available
settlement option under the "SETTLEMENT OPTIONS" section of this prospectus.  If
the  Owner  does not  make any such  election,  the  Beneficiary  may make  that
election  at any time  after the  Owner's  death and  before  the Death  Benefit
Commencement Date.

BENEFICIARY

Non-Qualified  Contracts may be jointly owned by two people. If there is a joint
owner  and  that  joint  owner  survives  the  Owner,  the  joint  owner  is the
Beneficiary,  regardless of any  designation  made by the Owner.  If there is no
surviving joint owner, and in the case of Qualified  Contracts,  the Beneficiary
is the person or persons so designated in the application,  if any, or under the
Change of Beneficiary provision of the Contract. If the Owner has not designated
a Beneficiary,  or if no Beneficiary designated by the Owner survives the Owner,
then the Beneficiary will be the Owner's estate.


                             CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS

There are two types of charges and deductions. First, there are charges assessed
under the Contract.  These charges include the CDSC, the Administration  Charge,
the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge,  Premium Taxes and Transfer  Fees. All of
these  charges  are  described  below  and some may not be  applicable  to every
Contract.  Second,  there  are  Fund  expenses  for  fund  management  fees  and
administration  expenses.  These  fees  are  described  in  the  prospectus  and
statement of additional information for each Fund.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ("CDSC")

No  deduction  for  front-end  sales  charges  is made from  Purchase  Payments.
However,  the  Company  may deduct a CDSC of up to 7% of  Purchase  Payments  on
certain  surrenders to partially cover certain expenses  incurred by the Company
relating to the sale of the Contract,  including  commissions paid, the costs of
preparation of sales  literature  and other  promotional  costs and  acquisition
expenses.

The CDSC applies to and is calculated  separately for each Purchase Payment. The
CDSC percentage varies according to the number of full years elapsed between the
date of  receipt  of a  Purchase  Payment  and the date a  Written  Request  for
surrender  is made.  The amount of the CDSC is  determined  by  multiplying  the
amount  withdrawn  subject to the CDSC by the CDSC percentage in accordance with
the  following  table.  Surrenders  will be deemed to be  withdrawn  first  from
accumulated  earnings  (which may be  surrendered  without  charge)  and then to
Purchase Payments on a first-in, first-out basis.




















                                    Page 38
<PAGE>



INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Number of Full Years Elapsed Between        Contingent Deferred Sales 
  Date of Receipt of Purchase Payment         Charge as a Percentage of
and Date Written Request for Surrender       Associated Purchase Payment
              Received                            Payment Surrendered
- ---------------------------------------      ---------------------------

                       0                                    7%
===============================================================================
                       1                                    6%
===============================================================================
                       2                                    5%
===============================================================================
                       3                                    4%
===============================================================================
                       4                                    3%
===============================================================================
                       5                                    2%
===============================================================================
                       6                                    1%
===============================================================================
                    7 or more                               0%
===============================================================================


In no event  shall  the CDSC  assessed  against  the  Contract  exceed 7% of the
aggregate Purchase Payment(s).

   
Any  Purchase  Payments  that have been held by the  Company  for at least seven
years may be  surrendered  free of any CDSC.  The CDSC  will not be  imposed  on
amounts surrendered under the Free Withdrawal  Privilege.  (See "Free Withdrawal
Privilege," page 35.)
    

No CDSC is assessed upon payment of the Death Benefit.

   
The CDSC will be waived  upon  surrender  if the  Contract  is  modified  by the
Long-Term Care Waiver Rider and the Owner is confined in a licensed  Hospital or
Long-Term Care Facility,  as those terms are defined in the Rider,  for at least
90 days beginning on or after the first Contract Anniversary. This Rider may not
be available in all jurisdictions.
    

The CDSC may be reduced or waived in connection with certain Contracts where the
Company incurs reduced sales and servicing  expenses,  such as Contracts offered
to active employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and/or affiliates.

For  Qualified  Contracts  only,  the CDSC  will be waived if the Owner has been
determined by the Social Security  Administration  to be "disabled" as that term
is defined in the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended.

In addition,  for Contracts qualified under the Code, the CDSC will be waived if
(i) the Owner incurs a separation from service, has attained age 55 and has held
the Contract  for at least seven years;  or (ii) the Owner has held the Contract
for fifteen years or more.

The Company  reserves the right to terminate,  suspend or modify  waivers of the
CDSC, without prior notice to Owners, as permitted by applicable law.



                                    Page 39
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   
The CDSC may be reduced or waived on  partial  or full  surrenders  from a Fixed
Account option to the extent required to satisfy state law.
    

MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES

   
On each Contract Anniversary, the Company deducts an annual Contract Maintenance
Fee as partial  compensation for expenses  relating to the issue and maintenance
of the Contract,  and the Separate Account.  The annual Contract Maintenance Fee
is $25.  If the  Contract  is  surrendered  in full on any day other than on the
Contract  Anniversary,  the Contract Maintenance Fee will be deducted in full at
the time of such surrender.  If a Variable Annuity Benefit is elected, a portion
of the $25 Annual Fee will be deducted from each Benefit Payment.
    

The Company  will waive the  Contract  Maintenance  Fee if the Account  Value is
equal to or greater  than $30,000 on the date of the  assessment  of the Charge.
The  Contract  Maintenance  Fee may also be waived in  connection  with  certain
Contracts  where the Company incurs reduced  Contract  issuance and  maintenance
expenses, such as Contracts offered to active employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, and/or affiliates.

   
The Company has not imposed an  Administration  Charge and has set the  Contract
Maintenance  Fee at a level such that the Company  will recover no more than the
anticipated and estimated costs associated with  administering the Contracts and
Separate  Account.  The  Company  does  not  expect  to make a  profit  from the
administrative  charges of a particular Contract. The Company does not expect to
make a profit from the Contract Maintenance Fee.
    

   
    
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE

The Company  imposes a Mortality  and Expense  Risk Charge as  compensation  for
bearing  certain  mortality and expense  risks under the Contract.  For assuming
these risks, the Company makes a daily charge equal to .003403% corresponding to
an  effective  annual  rate of  1.25%  of the  daily  Net  Asset  Value  of each
Sub-Account in the Separate  Account.  The Company  estimates that the mortality
risk  component  of this  charge is 0.75% of the  daily Net Asset  Value of each
Sub-Account  and the expense risk component is 0.50%. In connection with certain
Contracts where the Company incurs reduced sales and servicing expenses, such as
Contracts  offered to active employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and/or affiliates, the Company may offer a Contract with a Mortality and Expense
Risk Charge equal to an effective annual rate of 0.95%. This is equal to a daily
charge  of  0.002590%.  The  Company  estimates  that for these  Contracts,  the
mortality risk component of this charge is 0.75% of the daily Net Asset Value of
each  Sub-Account  and the expense risk  component is 0.20%.  The  Mortality and
Expense Risk Charge is imposed  before the Annuity  Commencement  Date and after
the Annuity  Commencement  Date if a Variable  Annuity Benefit is selected.  The
Company  guarantees  that the  Mortality  and  Expense  Risk  Charge  will never
increase for a Contract.  The  Mortality and Expense Risk Charge is reflected in
the Accumulation Unit values for each Sub-Account.

The  mortality   risks  assumed  by  the  Company  arise  from  its  contractual
obligations to make annuity payments  (determined in accordance with the annuity
tables and other provisions contained in the Contracts and to pay Death Benefits
prior to the Annuity Commencement Date.

The Company also bears  substantial  risk in  connection  with the Death Benefit
before the Annuity Commencement Date, since in certain circumstances the Company
may be  obligated to pay a larger Death  Benefit  amount than the  then-existing
Account Value of a Contract.

                                    Page 40
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The expense  risk assumed by the Company is the risk that the  Company's  actual
expenses in administering the Contracts and the Separate Account will exceed the
amount recovered through the Contract Maintenance Fees and Transfer Fees.

If the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge is  insufficient  to cover actual costs
and risks assumed, the loss will fall on the Company. Conversely, if this charge
is more than  sufficient,  any excess will be profit to the Company.  Currently,
the Company expects a profit from this charge.

The Company  recognizes that the CDSC may not generate  sufficient  funds to pay
the  cost  of  distributing  the  Contracts.  To the  extent  that  the  CDSC is
insufficient to cover the actual cost of Contract  distribution,  the deficiency
will be met from the  Company's  general  corporate  assets  which  may  include
amounts, if any, derived from the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge.

PREMIUM TAXES

Certain state and local governments  impose premium taxes. These taxes currently
range up to 5.0%  depending  upon the  jurisdiction.  The  Company,  in its sole
discretion and in compliance  with any applicable  state law, will determine the
method used to recover  premium tax expenses  incurred.  The Company will deduct
any  applicable  premium  taxes  from  the  Account  Value  either  upon  death,
surrender,  annuitization,  or at the  time  Purchase  Payments  are  made  to a
Contract,  but no earlier than when the Company has a tax liability  under state
law.

TRANSFER FEE

The Company currently imposes a $25 fee for each transfer in excess of twelve in
a single  Contract  Year.  The  Company  will  deduct the charge from the amount
transferred.

FUND EXPENSES

   
The  value of the  assets in the  Separate  Account  reflects  the value of Fund
shares  and  therefore  the fees and  expenses  paid by each  Fund.  The  annual
expenses  of each Fund are set out in the  "Summary of  Expenses"  tables at the
front of this  Prospectus.  A complete  description of the fees,  expenses,  and
deductions  from the  Funds  are found in the  respective  prospectuses  for the
Funds. (See "THE FUNDS," page 20.)
    


                               SETTLEMENT OPTIONS

ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

The Annuity Commencement Date is shown on the Contract  Specifications page. The
Owner may change the Annuity  Commencement Date by Written Request made at least
30 days prior to the date that Annuity Benefit  payments are scheduled to begin.
In no  event  can the  Annuity  Commencement  Date be later  than  the  Contract
Anniversary  following the 85th  birthday of the eldest Owner,  or 5 years after
the Contract Effective Date, whichever is later.

ELECTION OF SETTLEMENT OPTION

If the Owner is alive on the  Annuity  Commencement  Date and  unless  otherwise
directed,  the Company will apply the Account Value, less premium taxes, if any,
according to the Settlement Option elected.


                                    Page 41
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If no election has been made on the Annuity  Commencement Date, the Company will
begin payments  based on Settlement  Option B (Life Annuity with Payments for at
Least a Fixed  Period),  described  below,  with a fixed  period of 120  monthly
payments assured.

BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Benefit Payments may be calculated and paid: (1) as a Fixed Dollar Benefit;  (2)
as a Variable Dollar Benefit; or (3) as a combination of both.

If only a Fixed Dollar  Benefit is to be paid,  the Company will transfer all of
the  Account  Value  to  the  Company's   general   account  on  the  applicable
Commencement  Date,  or on the Death  Benefit  Valuation  Date (if  applicable).
Similarly,  if only a Variable  Dollar  Benefit is  elected,  the  Company  will
transfer  all of the  Account  Value  to the  Sub-Accounts  as of the end of the
Valuation  Period  immediately  prior to the applicable  Commencement  Date; the
Company  will  allocate  the  amount   transferred  among  the  Sub-Accounts  in
accordance with a Written Request. No transfers between the Fixed Dollar Benefit
and the Variable  Dollar  Benefit will be allowed after the  Commencement  Date.
However,  after the  Variable  Dollar  Benefit has been paid for at least twelve
months,  the person  controlling  payments  may,  no more than once each  twelve
months  thereafter,  transfer  all or part of the  Benefit  Units upon which the
Variable  Dollar Benefit is based from the  Sub-Account(s)  then held to Benefit
Units in different Sub-Account(s).

If a Variable  Dollar  Benefit is elected,  the amount to be applied  under that
benefit is the  Variable  Account  Value as of the end of the  Valuation  Period
immediately  preceding  the  applicable  Commencement  Date.  If a Fixed  Dollar
Benefit is to be paid,  the amount to be applied under that benefit is the Fixed
Account Value as of the applicable Commencement Date, or as of the Death Benefit
Valuation Date (if applicable).

FIXED DOLLAR BENEFIT

Fixed Dollar Benefit  payments are  determined by multiplying  the Fixed Account
Value  (expressed  in thousands  of dollars and after  deduction of any fees and
charges, loans, or applicable premium tax not previously deducted) by the amount
of the monthly  payment per $1,000 of value obtained from the Settlement  Option
Table for the settlement  option  elected.  Fixed Dollar  Benefit  payments will
remain level for the duration of the payment period.

If at the time a Fixed  Dollar  Benefit is elected,  the  Company has  available
options or rates on a more  favorable  basis than those  guaranteed,  the higher
benefits  shall be applied  and shall not  change  for as long as that  election
remains in force.

VARIABLE DOLLAR BENEFIT

The first  monthly  Variable  Dollar  Benefit  payment  is equal to the  Owner's
Variable Account Value (expressed in thousands of dollars and after deduction of
any fees and charges,  loans, or applicable premium tax not previously deducted)
as of the end of the  Valuation  Period  immediately  preceding  the  applicable
Commencement  Date multiplied by the amount of the monthly payment per $1,000 of
value obtained from the Settlement  Option Table for the Benefit  Payment option
elected less the pro-rata portion of the Contract Maintenance Fee.

The number of Benefit Units in each  Sub-Account held by the Owner is determined
by dividing  the dollar  amount of the first  monthly  Variable  Dollar  Benefit
payment from each  Sub-Account by the Benefit Unit Value for that Sub-Account as
of the applicable  Commencement  Date. The number of Benefit Units remains fixed
during  the  payment  period,   except  as  a  result  of  any  transfers  among
Sub-Accounts after the applicable Commencement Date.


                                    Page 42
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The dollar  amount of the  second and any  subsequent  Variable  Dollar  Benefit
payment will reflect the investment  performance of the Sub-Account(s)  selected
and may vary  from  month to  month.  The total  amount  of the  second  and any
subsequent  Variable  Dollar  Benefit  payment  will be  equal to the sum of the
payments  from  each  Sub-Account  less  a  pro-rata  portion  of  the  Contract
Maintenance  Fee. Where an Owner elects a Variable  Dollar  Benefit,  there is a
risk that only one Benefit Payment will be made under any settlement option, if:
(i) at the end of the applicable  Valuation Period, the Owner's Variable Account
Value has declined to zero;  or (ii) the person on whose life  Benefit  Payments
are based dies prior to the second Benefit Payment.

The payment from each  Sub-Account is found by multiplying the number of Benefit
Units held in each Sub-Account by the Benefit Unit Value for that Sub-Account as
of the end of the fifth Valuation Period preceding the due date of the payment.

The Benefit Unit Value for each  Sub-Account  is originally  established  in the
same manner as Accumulation Unit values.  Thereafter, the Benefit Unit Value for
a Sub-Account is determined by multiplying  the Benefit Unit Value as of the end
of the preceding  Valuation Period by the Net Investment  Factor,  determined as
set forth above under  "Accumulation  Unit Value", for the Valuation Period just
ended.  The product is then  multiplied by the assumed daily  investment  factor
(0.99991781),  for the  number of days in the  Valuation  Period.  The factor is
based on the assumed net  investment  rate of 3% per year,  compounded  annually
that is reflected in the Settlement Option Tables.

   
TRANSFERS AFTER THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

After the Annuity  Commencement Date, no transfers between the Fixed Account and
the Separate  Account are permitted.  However,  after a Variable  Dollar Annuity
Benefit  has been paid for at least  twelve  months,  the  Participant  may,  by
Written Request to the  Administrative  Office,  transfer  Annuity Units between
Sub-Accounts no more than once during a twelve-month period.

ANNUITY TRANSFER FORMULA

Transfers after the Annuity  Commencement Date are implemented  according to the
following formulas:

       (1) Determine the number of units to be transferred  from the Sub-Account
as follows:

            = AT/AUV1

       (2) Determine the number of Annuity Units  remaining in such  Sub-Account
(after the transfer):

            =UNIT1-AT/AUV1

       (3) Determine the number of Annuity Units in the  transferee  Sub-Account
(after the transfer):

            =UNIT2 + AT/AUV2

       (4) Subsequent  Variable Dollar Annuity Benefit payments will reflect the
changes in Annuity  Units in each  Sub-Account  as of the next  Variable  Dollar
Annuity Benefit payment's due date.

Where:

(AUV1) is the Annuity Unit Value of the  Sub-Account  that the transfer is being
made from as of the end of the Valuation Period in which the transfer request is
received.
    



                                    Page 43
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
(AUV2) is the Annuity Unit Value of the  Sub-Account  that the transfer is being
made from as of the end of the Valuation Period in which the transfer request is
received.

(UNIT1) is the number of Annuity Units in the  Sub-Account  that the transfer is
being made from, before the transfer.

(UNIT2) is the number of Annuity Units in the  Sub-Account  that the transfer is
being made to, before the transfer.

(AT) is the dollar amount being transferred from the Sub-Account.
    

SETTLEMENT OPTIONS

OPTION A:   INCOME FOR A FIXED PERIOD

The Company will make periodic  payments for a fixed  period.  The first payment
will be paid as of the last day of the  initial  Payment  Interval.  The maximum
time over which  payments  will be made by the  Company or money will be held by
the Company is 30 years. The Option A Table applies to this Option.

OPTION B:   LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS FOR AT LEAST A FIXED PERIOD

The Company  will make  periodic  payments for at least a fixed  period.  If the
person on whose life  Benefit  Payments  are based  lives  longer than the fixed
period,  then the Company will make payments  until his or her death.  The first
payment will be paid as of the first day of the initial  Payment  Interval.  The
Option B Tables apply to this Option.

OPTION C:   JOINT AND ONE-HALF SURVIVOR ANNUITY

The Company will make periodic payments until the death of the primary person on
whose  life  Benefit  Payments  are based;  thereafter,  the  Company  will make
one-half of the  periodic  payment  until the death of the  secondary  person on
whose life  Benefit  Payments  are based.  The Company will require Due Proof of
Death of the primary person on whose life Benefit  Payments are based. The first
payment will be paid as of the first day of the initial  Payment  Interval.  The
Option C Tables apply to this Option.

OPTION D:   ANY OTHER FORM

The Company will make periodic  payments in any other form of settlement  option
which is acceptable to us at the time of an election.

MINIMUM AMOUNTS

Presently,  the minimum amount of a Benefit Payment under any settlement  option
is $50. If an Owner  selects a Payment  Interval  under which a Benefit  Payment
would be less than $50,  the  Company  will  advise the Owner that a new Payment
Interval  must be  selected so that the  Benefit  Payment  will be at least $50.
Generally,  monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual  and annual Payment  Intervals are
available.  From time to time,  the Company may require  Benefit  Payments to be
made by direct deposit or wire transfer to the account of a designated payee.

Minimum  amounts,  Payment  Intervals  and  other  terms and  conditions  may be
modified by the Company at any time without prior notice to Owners, as permitted
by applicable law. If the Company changes the minimum  amounts,  the Company may
change any current or future payment amounts and/or Payment Intervals to conform


                                    Page 44
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

with  the  change.  More  than  one  settlement  option  may be  elected  if the
requirements  for each  settlement  option elected are  satisfied.  Once payment
begins under a settlement option, the settlement option may not be changed.

All factors,  values,  benefits and reserves under the Contract will not be less
than those required by the law of the state in which the Contract is delivered.

SETTLEMENT OPTION TABLES

The  Settlement  Option  Tables in Appendix A show the payments that the Company
will make at sample Payment  Intervals for each $1,000 applied at the guaranteed
interest rate.

Rates for monthly payments for ages or fixed periods not shown in the Settlement
Option  Tables  will be  calculated  on the same basis as those shown and may be
obtained  from the  Company.  Fixed  periods  shorter  than  five  years are not
available, except as a Death Benefit Settlement Option.

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

NON-PARTICIPATING

The Contracts do not pay dividends or share in the Company's divisible surplus.

MISSTATEMENT

If the age and/or sex of a person on whose life  Benefit  Payments  are based is
misstated,  the payments or other  benefits under the Contract shall be adjusted
to the amount which would have been payable based on the correct age and/or sex.
If the Company made any underpayments  based on any misstatement,  the amount of
any underpayment with interest shall be immediately paid in one sum. In addition
to any other remedies that may be available at law or at equity, the Company may
deduct any overpayments made, with interest,  from any succeeding payment(s) due
under the Contract.

PROOF OF EXISTENCE AND AGE

The  Company  may  require  proof of age  and/or sex of any person on whose life
Benefit Payments are based.

DISCHARGE OF LIABILITY

Upon  payment of any  partial or full  surrender,  or any Benefit  Payment,  the
Company  shall be  discharged  from all  liability  to the  extent  of each such
payment.

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACT

The Owner of a Non-Qualified  Contract may transfer ownership at any time during
his or her lifetime. Any such transfer is subject to the following:

            1) it must be made by Written Request; and

            2) unless otherwise elected or required by law, it will not cancel a
designation of an Annuitant or Beneficiary  or any  settlement  option  election
previously made.

                                    Page 45
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


QUALIFIED CONTRACT

The Owner of a Qualified Contract may not transfer ownership.

ASSIGNMENT

NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACT

The Owner of a  Non-Qualified  Contract may assign all or any part of his or her
rights under the Contract except rights to:

            (1) designate or change a Beneficiary;
            (2) designate or change an Annuitant;
            (3) transfer ownership; and
            (4) elect a settlement option.

The person to whom an assignment is made is called an assignee.

The Company is not responsible for the validity of any assignment. An assignment
must be in writing  and must be  received  at the  Administrative  Office of the
Company.  The  Company  will not be bound by an  assignment  until  the  Company
acknowledges  it. An assignment is subject to any payment made or any action the
Company takes before the Company  acknowledges  it. An  assignment  may be ended
only by the assignee or as provided by law.

QUALIFIED CONTRACT

The Owner of a Qualified  Contract  may not assign or in any way alienate his or
her interest under the Contract.

ANNUAL REPORT

At least once each  Contract  Year,  the  Company  will  provide a report of the
Contract's  current values and any other information  required by law, until the
first to occur of the following:

      1)    the date the Contract is fully surrendered;
      2)    the Annuity Commencement Date; or
      3)    the Death Benefit Commencement Date.

INCONTESTABILITY

No Contract shall be contestable by the Company.

ENTIRE CONTRACT

The Company issues the Contracts in consideration  and acceptance of the payment
of the  initial  Purchase  Payment.  In those  states  that  require  a  written
application,  a copy of the  application  will be attached to and become part of
the Contract.  Only statements in the application,  if any, or made elsewhere by
the Owner in  consideration  for the  Contract  will be used to void the Owner's
interest under the Contract,  or to defend a claim based on it. Such  statements
are representations and not warranties.

                                    Page 46
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHANGES -- WAIVERS

No  changes or waivers of the terms of the  Contract  are valid  unless  made in
writing by the Company's President,  Vice President,  or Secretary.  The Company
reserves  the right  both to  administer  and to change  the  provisions  of the
Contract to conform to any applicable  laws,  regulations or rulings issued by a
governmental agency.

NOTICES AND DIRECTIONS

The Company will not be bound by any authorization,  election or notice which is
not made by Written Request.

Any written notice  requirement by the Company to the Owner will be satisfied by
the mailing of any such required  written  notice,  by first-class  mail, to the
Owner's last known address as shown on the Company's records.


                               FEDERAL TAX MATTERS

INTRODUCTION

The following  discussion is a general description of federal tax considerations
relating to the Contract and is not intended as tax advice.  This  discussion is
not  intended  to  address  the  tax  consequences  resulting  from  all  of the
situations  in which a person may be entitled  to or may receive a  distribution
under a Contract.  Any person concerned about tax implications  should consult a
competent tax advisor before  initiating  any  transaction.  This  discussion is
based upon the Company's understanding of the present federal income tax laws as
they  are  currently   interpreted   by  the  Internal   Revenue   Service.   No
representation  is made as to the likelihood of the  continuation of the present
federal income tax laws or of the current interpretation by the Internal Revenue
Service.  Moreover, no attempt has been made to consider any applicable state or
other tax laws.

   
A Contract may be  purchased  on a  tax-qualified  or  non-tax-qualified  basis.
Qualified  Contracts are designed for use in connection  with plans  entitled to
special  income tax treatment  under  Section 401, 403, or 408 of the Code.  The
ultimate effect of federal income taxes on the amounts held under a Contract, on
Benefit  Payments,  and on the economic  benefit to the Owner or the Beneficiary
may  depend  on the  type  of  Contract  and the tax  status  of the  individual
concerned.

Certain  requirements  must be satisfied in purchasing a Qualified  Contract and
receiving  distributions  from such a Contract  in order to  continue to receive
favorable  tax  treatment.  The  Company  makes no attempt to provide  more than
general   information   about  use  of  Contracts  with  the  various  types  of
tax-qualified  arrangements.  Owners and  Beneficiaries  are cautioned  that the
rights of any person to any benefits may be subject to the terms and  conditions
of the tax-qualified arrangement,  regardless of the terms and conditions of the
Contract. Some tax-qualified  arrangements are subject to distribution and other
requirements  that are not incorporated in the  administration  of the Contract.
Owners are responsible for determining  that  contributions,  distributions  and
other  transactions with respect to Qualified  Contracts satisfy applicable law.
Therefore, purchasers of Qualified Contracts should seek competent legal and tax
advice  regarding  the  suitability  of the  Contract for their  situation,  the
applicable requirements, and the tax treatment of the rights and benefits of the
Contract. The Statement of Additional Information discusses the requirements for
qualifying as an annuity.

    


                                    Page 47
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL

Section 72 of the Code governs  taxation of  annuities  in general.  The Company
believes  that the  Owner  who is a  natural  person  generally  is not taxed on
increases in the value of an Account until  distribution  occurs by  withdrawing
all or part of the Account Value (E.G., surrenders or annuity payments under the
Settlement  Option  elected.) The taxable portion of a distribution (in the form
of a single sum payment or an annuity) is generally taxable as ordinary income.

The  following  discussion  generally  applies to a Contract  owned by a natural
person.

SURRENDERS

QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

In the case of a surrender under a Contract,  other than  Systematic  Withdrawal
Option payments treated as Annuity Benefit Payments for tax purposes, a pro-rata
portion of the amount  received is taxable,  generally based on the ratio of the
"investment in the contract" to the individual's total accrued benefit under the
annuity.  The  "investment in the contract"  generally  equals the amount of any
non-deductible and/or  non-excludable  Purchase Payments paid by or on behalf of
any  individual.  Special tax rules may be available  for certain  distributions
from a Qualified Contract.

NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

In the case of a surrender under a Non-Qualified  Contract, the amount recovered
is  taxable  to the  extent  that  the  Account  Value  immediately  before  the
surrender,  reduced by any applicable  charges,  exceeds the  "investment in the
contract" at such time.

ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Although  the tax  consequences  may vary  depending  on the  Settlement  Option
elected under the Contract,  in general,  only the portion of a Benefit  Payment
that represents the amount by which the Account Value exceeds the "investment in
the  contract"  will  be  taxed;  after  the  "investment  in the  contract"  is
recovered,  the full amount of any additional  Benefit Payments is taxable.  For
Variable Dollar Benefit Payments, the taxable portion is generally determined by
an equation that  establishes  a specific  dollar amount of each payment that is
not taxed.  The dollar amount is determined by dividing the  "investment  in the
contract" by the total number of expected periodic payments. However, the entire
distribution  will be taxable once the recipient has recovered the dollar amount
of his or her  "investment in the contract." For Fixed Dollar Benefit  Payments,
in general there is no tax on the portion of each payment which  represents  the
same ratio that the  "investment  in the contract"  bears to the total  expected
value  of the  Benefit  Payments  for the  term of the  payments;  however,  the
remainder  of each  Benefit  Payment  is  taxable.  In  either  case,  once  the
"investment  in the contract" has been fully  recovered,  the full amount of any
additional Benefit Payments is taxable. If Benefit Payments cease as a result of
an Owner's  death  before full  recovery of the  "investment  in the  contract,"
consult a  competent  tax adviser  regarding  deductibility  of the  unrecovered
amount.



                                    Page 48
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PENALTY TAX

   
In  general,  a 10%  premature  distribution  penalty tax applies to the taxable
portion of a  distribution  from a Contract  prior to age 59 1/2.  Exceptions to
this penalty tax are available to  distributions  made on account of disability,
death,  and  certain  payments  for  life  and life  expectancy.  Certain  other
exceptions  may  apply  depending  on  the  tax-qualification  of  the  Contract
involved. A 25% premature  distribution penalty applies to certain distributions
from a Savings  Incentive  Match Plan for  Employees  (SIMPLE) IRA  described in
Section 408(p) of the Code.
    

TAXATION OF DEATH BENEFIT PROCEEDS

Amounts may be  distributed  under a Contract  because of the death of an Owner.
Generally such amounts are includable in the income of the recipient as follows:
(1) if  distributed  in a lump sum,  they are taxed in the same manner as a full
surrender as described above, or (2) if distributed  under a Settlement  Option,
they are taxed in the same manner as Benefit Payments, as described above.

TRANSFERS, ASSIGNMENTS, OR EXCHANGES OF THE CONTRACT

A transfer of ownership or an assignment  of a Contract,  the  designation  of a
Beneficiary  who is not also the Owner, or the exchange of a Contract may result
in certain tax consequences to the Owner that are not discussed herein.

QUALIFIED CONTRACTS - GENERAL

The  Qualified  Contract is designed  for use with several  types of  retirement
plans. The tax rules  applicable to Owner and  Beneficiaries in retirement plans
vary according to the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan.

TEXAS OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM
   
Section 36.105 of the Texas  Educational Code permits  participants in the Texas
Optional  Retirement  Program  ("ORP') to withdraw their interests in a variable
annuity policy issued under the ORP only upon: (1)  termination of employment in
the Texas  public  institutions  of higher  education;  (2)  retirement;  or (3)
attainment of age 70 1/2; or (4) death.  Section 830.205 of the Texas Government
Code provides that benefits under the optional  retirement  program ("ORP") vest
after  one year of  participation.  Accordingly,  an  Account  Value  cannot  be
withdrawn or distributed without written  certification from the employer of the
ORP participant's vesting status and, if the participant is living and under age
70 1/2, the participant's retirement or other termination from employment.
    

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

Code sections 219 and 408 permit individuals or their employers to contribute to
an individual retirement program known as an "Individual  Retirement Annuity" or
"IRA".  Under applicable  limitations,  certain amounts may be contributed to an
IRA that are deductible  from an individual's  gross income.  Employers also may
establish a Simplified  Employee  Pension (SEP) Plan or Savings  Incentive Match
Plan for  Employees  (SIMPLE)  to provide IRA  contributions  on behalf of their
employees.




                                    Page 49
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAX-SHELTERED ANNUITIES

   
Section 403(b) of the Code permits the purchase of "tax-sheltered  annuities" by
public schools and certain charitable,  educational and scientific organizations
described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code. These qualifying  employers may make
contributions  to the Contracts for the benefit of their  employees.  Subject to
certain limits, such contributions are not includable in the gross income of the
employee until the employee receives  distributions under the Contract.  Amounts
attributable to contributions made under a salary reduction  agreement cannot be
distributed  until the  employee  attains age 59 1/2,  separates  from  service,
becomes disabled, incurs a hardship or dies.
    

PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS

   
Code  section 401 permits  employers to establish  various  types of  retirement
plans  for  employees,  and  permits  self-employed   individuals  to  establish
retirement plans for themselves and their employees.  These retirement plans may
permit the purchase of the Contracts to accumulate  retirement savings under the
plans.  Purchasers  of a Contract for use with such plans should seek  competent
advice regarding the suitability of the proposed plan documents and the Contract
for their specific needs.
    

CERTAIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

Under  Section  457 of the  Code,  governmental  and  certain  other  tax-exempt
employers  may  invest  in  annuity   contracts  in  connection   with  deferred
compensation  plans  established  for the  benefit  of  their  employees.  Other
employers  may invest in annuity  contracts  in  connection  with  non-qualified
deferred  compensation  plans  established  for the benefit of their  employees.
Under these plans,  contributions made for the benefit of the employees will not
be includable in the employees' gross income until distributed from the plan.

WITHHOLDING

Pension and annuity  distributions  generally are subject to withholding for the
recipient's  federal  income tax  liability at rates that vary  according to the
type of distribution  and the recipient's tax status.  Federal  withholding at a
flat 20% of the taxable part of the distribution is required if the distribution
is eligible for rollover and the  distribution is not paid as a direct rollover.
In other cases,  recipients  generally are provided the opportunity to elect not
to have tax withheld from distributions.

POSSIBLE CHANGES IN TAXATION

There is always the possibility that the tax treatment of annuities could change
by  legislation  or other  means  (such  as IRS  regulations,  revenue  rulings,
judicial decisions,  etc.).  Moreover, it is also possible that any change could
be retroactive (that is, effective prior to the date of the change).



                                    Page 50
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES

As noted above, the foregoing  discussion of the federal income tax consequences
is not  exhaustive  and special  rules are  provided  with  respect to other tax
situations  not discussed in this  Prospectus.  Further,  the federal income tax
consequences discussed herein reflect the Company's understanding of current law
and the law may  change.  Federal  estate tax  consequences  and state and local
estate,  inheritance,  and other tax  consequences  of  ownership  or receipt of
distributions  under the Contract depend on the  circumstances  of each Owner or
recipient of the  distribution.  A competent tax adviser should be consulted for
further information.

GENERAL

At the time the initial Purchase  Payment is paid, a prospective  purchaser must
specify  whether  the  purchase  is a  Qualified  Contract  or  a  Non-Qualified
Contract.  If the  initial  Purchase  Payment is  derived  from an  exchange  or
surrender  of  another  annuity  contract,  the  Company  may  require  that the
prospective  purchaser provide information with regard to the federal income tax
status of the previous annuity  contract.  The Company will require that persons
purchase  separate  Contracts  if they desire to invest  monies  qualifying  for
different annuity tax treatment under the Code. Each such separate Contract will
require the minimum initial Purchase Payment stated above.  Additional  Purchase
Payments under a Contract must qualify for the same federal income tax treatment
as the initial Purchase Payment under the Contract;  the Company will not accept
an  additional  Purchase  Payment  under a Contract  if the  federal  income tax
treatment of such Purchase  Payment would be different  from that of the initial
Purchase Payment.




















                                    Page 51
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACT

AAG Securities,  Inc. ("AAG  Securities"),  an affiliate of the Company,  is the
principal underwriter and distributor of the Contracts.  AAG Securities may also
serve as an underwriter and  distributor of other  contracts  issued through the
Separate  Account and  certain  other  Separate  Accounts of the Company and any
affiliates  of the Company.  AAG  Securities  is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of
American  Annuity  Group,  Inc., a publicly  traded company which is an indirect
subsidiary of American  Financial Group,  Inc. AAG Securities is registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). Its principal offices
are located at 250 East Fifth Street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202. The Company pays
AAG Securities for acting as underwriter under a distribution agreement.

AAG Securities will sell Contracts  through its registered  representatives.  In
addition,   AAG   Securities  may  enter  into  sales   agreements   with  other
broker-dealers  to solicit  applications  for the Contracts  through  registered
representatives  who are  licensed to sell  securities  and  variable  insurance
products.  These agreements  provide that  applications for the Contracts may be
solicited by registered  representatives of the broker-dealers  appointed by the
Company to sell its  variable  life  insurance  and  variable  annuities.  These
broker-dealers  are registered  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and
are members of the NASD. The  registered  representatives  are authorized  under
applicable state regulations to sell variable annuities.

   
The Company or AAG Securities may pay commissions to registered  representatives
of AAG securities and other  broker-dealers  of up to 8.5% of Purchase  Payments
made under the  Contracts  ("Commissions").  These  Commissions  are  reduced by
one-half for contracts issued to Owners over age 75. When permitted by state law
and in exchange for lower initial Commissions, AAG Securities and/or the Company
may pay trail commissions to registered representatives of AAG Securities and to
other  broker-dealers.  Trail  commissions  are not expected to exceed 1% of the
Account Value of a Contract on an annual basis. To the extent  permissible under
current law, the company and/or AAG Securities may pay  production,  persistency
and managerial bonuses as well as other promotional incentives, in cash or other
compensation,  to  registered  representatives  of AAG  Securities  and/or other
broker-dealers.
    

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no pending legal  proceedings  affecting  the Separate  Account or AAG
Securities.  The  Company is  involved  in various  kinds of routine  litigation
which, in management's judgment, are not of material importance to the Company's
assets or the Separate Account.


                                  VOTING RIGHTS

To the extent  required by applicable  law, all Fund shares held in the Separate
Account will be voted by the Company at regular and special shareholder meetings
of the respective  Funds in accordance with  instructions  received from persons
having voting interests in the corresponding Sub-Account.  If, however, the 1940
Act  or  any  regulation  thereunder  should  be  amended,  or  if  the  present
interpretation  thereof should change,  or if the Company  determines that it is
allowed to vote all shares in its own right, the Company may elect to do so.

The person  with the voting  interest  is the Owner,  or the person  controlling
payments,  if different from the Owner.  The number of votes which are available
will  be  calculated  separately  for  each  Sub-Account.   Before  the  Annuity
Commencement  Date,  that number  will be  determined  by  applying  the Owner's
percentage interest, if any, in a particular  Sub-Account to the total number of
votes  attributable to that  Sub-Account.  The Owner, or the person  controlling
payments,  if  different  from  the  Owner,  holds  a  voting  interest  in each
Sub-Account  to  which  the  Account  Value  is  allocated.  After  the  Annuity


                                    Page 52
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Commencement  Date, the number of votes  decreases as Annuity  Payments are made
and as the number of Accumulation Units for a Contract decreases.

The number of votes of a Fund will be determined as of the date  coincident with
the date  established  by that  Fund for  shareholders  eligible  to vote at the
meeting  of  the  Fund.  Voting   instructions  will  be  solicited  by  written
communication prior to such meeting in accordance with procedures established by
the respective Funds.

Shares as to which no timely  instructions  are  received and shares held by the
Company  as to  which  Owners  have no  beneficial  interest  will be  voted  in
proportion  to the voting  instructions  which are received  with respect to all
Contracts  participating in the Sub-Account.  Voting  instructions to abstain on
any item will be applied on a pro-rata  basis to reduce the votes eligible to be
cast.

Each person or entity  having a voting  interest in a  Sub-Account  will receive
proxy material, reports and other material relating to the appropriate Fund.

It should  be noted  that the Funds  are not  required  to hold  annual or other
regular meetings of shareholders.


                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company has filed a registration statement (the Registration Statement) with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 relating
to the Contracts offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus has been filed as a
part of the  Registration  Statement and does not contain all of the information
set forth in the Registration  Statement and exhibits thereto,  and reference is
hereby made to such Registration  Statement and exhibits for further information
relating  to  the  Company  or  the  Contracts.  Statements  contained  in  this
Prospectus, as to the content of the Contracts and other legal instruments,  are
summaries.  For a complete statement of the terms thereof,  reference is made to
the  instruments   filed  as  exhibits  to  the  Registration   Statement.   The
Registration  Statement and the exhibits  thereto may be inspected and copied at
the office of the  Commission,  located at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,
D.C.

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Statement of Additional  Information is available  which contains more details
concerning the subjects discussed in this Prospectus. The following is the Table
of Contents for that Statement:











                                    Page 53
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            PAGE
ANNUITY INVESTORS - LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY(REGISTERED TRADEMARK)              1
General Information and History                                               2
State Regulation                                                              2

SERVICES                                                                      3
Safekeeping of Separate Account Assets                                        3
Records and Reports                                                           3
Experts                                                                       3

DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS                                                 3

CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION                                        4
Money Market Sub-Account Standardized Yield Calculation                       4
Other Sub-Account Standardized Yield Calculation                              5
Standardized Total Return Calculation                                         6
Hypothetical Performance Data                                                 7
Other Performance Data                                                        8

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS                                                          10
Taxation of the Company                                                      10
Tax Status of the Contract                                                   11

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                                                         12







                                    Page 54
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

   
Copies  of the  Statement  of  Additional  Information  dated  May 1,  1997  are
available  without  charge.  To request a copy,  please  clip this coupon on the
dotted line above, enter your name and address in the spaces provided below, and
mail to: Annuity Investors Life Insurance  Company,  P.O. Box 5423,  Cincinnati,
Ohio 45201-5423.
    


Name:      _____________________________________________________________

Address:   _____________________________________________________________

City:      _____________________________________________________________

State:     _____________________________________________________________

Zip:       _____________________________________________________________





























                                    Page 55
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                   APPENDIX A

QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

            OPTION A TABLE -- INCOME FOR A FIXED PERIOD Payments for
                 fixed number of years for each $1,000 applied.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms                                Terms                                Terms 
 of                                  of                                   of    
Pay-           Semi  Quar-           Pay-          Semi   Quar-           Pay-          Semi-    Quar-
ments  Annual Annual terly  Monthly  ments Annual Annual  terly  Monthly  ments Annual  Annual   terly   Monthly
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years                               Years                                 Years
<S>    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>     <C>  <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>   <C>     <C>     <C>     <C> 
 6     184.60  91.62  45.64  15.18   11   108.08  53.64   26.72   8.88     16    79.61   39.51   19.68   6.54
 7     160.51  79.66  39.68  13.20   12   100.46  49.86   24.84   8.26     17    75.95   37.70   18.78   6.24
 8     142.46  70.70  35.22  11.71   13    94.03  46.67   23.25   7.73     18    72.71   36.09   17.98   5.98
 9     128.43  63.74  31.75  10.56   14    88.53  43.94   21.89   7.28     19    69.81   34.65   17.26   5.74
10     117.23  58.18  28.98   9.64   15    83.77  41.57   20.71   6.89     20    67.22   33.36   16.62   5.53
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



















                                    Page 56
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               OPTION B TABLES - LIFE ANNUITY
                          With Payments For At Least A Fixed Period

                     ------------------------------------------------
                             60 MONTHS 120      180       240 MONTHS
                                        MONTHS   MONTHS
                     ------------------------------------------------
                       Age
                     ------------------------------------------------
                       55        $4.42    $4.39     $4.32      $4.22
                       56         4.51     4.47      4.40       4.29
                       57         4.61     4.56      4.48       4.35
                       58         4.71     4.65      4.56       4.42
                       59         4.81     4.75      4.64       4.49
                       60         4.92     4.86      4.73       4.55
                       61         5.04     4.97      4.83       4.62
                       62         5.17     5.08      4.92       4.69
                       63         5.31     5.20      5.02       4.76
                       64         5.45     5.33      5.12       4.83
                       65         5.61     5.46      5.22       4.89
                       66         5.77     5.60      5.33       4.96
                       67         5.94     5.75      5.43       5.02
                       68         6.13     5.91      5.54       5.08
                       69         6.33     6.07      5.65       5.14
                       70         6.54     6.23      5.76       5.19
                       71         6.76     6.41      5.86       5.24
                       72         7.00     6.58      5.96       5.28
                       73         7.26     6.77      6.06       5.32
                       74         7.53     6.95      6.16       5.35
                     ------------------------------------------------









                                    Page 57
<PAGE>


INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          OPTION C TABLE - JOINT AND ONE-HALF SURVIVOR ANNUITY Monthly
         payments for each $1,000 of proceeds by ages of persons named*.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIMARY                              SECONDARY AGE
 AGE
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         60     61    62     63     64     65     66    67     68     69     70
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>     <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>     <C>   <C>    <C>  
  60    $4.56  $4.58 $4.61  $4.63  $4.65  $4.67  $4.69 $4.71   $4.73 $4.75  $4.76
  61     4.63   4.66  4.69   4.71   4.73   4.76   4.78  4.80    4.82  4.84   4.86
  62     4.71   4.74  4.77   4.80   4.82   4.85   4.87  4.90    4.92  4.94   4.96
  63     4.79   4.82  4.85   4.88   4.91   4.94   4.97  5.00    5.02  5.05   5.07
  64     4.88   4.91  4.94   4.98   5.01   5.04   5.07  5.10    5.13  5.15   5.18
  65     4.96   5.00  5.03   5.07   5.11   5.14   5.17  5.20    5.24  5.27   5.30
  66     5.05   5.09  5.13   5.17   5.21   5.24   5.28  5.32    5.35  5.38   5.42
  67     5.14   5.18  5.23   5.27   5.31   5.35   5.39  5.43    5.47  5.51   5.54
  68     5.23   5.28  5.33   5.37   5.42   5.46   5.50  5.55    5.59  5.63   5.67
  69     5.33   5.38  5.43   5.48   5.53   5.57   5.62  5.67    5.72  5.76   5.81
  70     5.43   5.48  5.53   5.59   5.64   5.69   5.74  5.80    5.85  5.90   5.95
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*Payments  after the death of the  Primary  Payee will be one-half of the amount
shown.




NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS


             OPTION A TABLE - INCOME FOR A FIXED PERIOD Payments for
               fixed number of years for each $1,000 applied.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms                                Terms                                Terms 
 of                                  of                                   of    
Pay-           Semi  Quar-           Pay-          Semi   Quar-           Pay-          Semi-    Quar-
ments  Annual Annual terly  Monthly  ments Annual Annual  terly  Monthly  ments Annual  Annual   terly   Monthly
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years                               Years                                Years
<S>    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>      <C> <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>   <C>     <C>      <C>      <C> 
 6     184.60  91.62  45.64  15.18    11  108.08  53.64   26.72   8.88    16    79.61   39.51    19.68    6.54
 7     160.51  79.66  39.68  13.20    12  100.46  49.86   24.84   8.26    17    75.95   37.70    18.78    6.24
 8     142.46  70.70  35.22  11.71    13   94.03  46.67   23.25   7.73    18    72.71   36.09    17.98    5.98
 9     128.43  63.74  31.75  10.56    14   88.53  43.94   21.89   7.28    19    69.81   34.65    17.26    5.74
10     117.23  58.18  28.98   9.64    15   83.77  41.57   20.71   6.89    20    67.22   33.36    16.62    5.53
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>






                                    Page 58
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                OPTION B TABLES - LIFE ANNUITY
                         With Payments For At Least A Fixed Period

                     ------------------------------------------------
                               60         120        180      240 
                      MALE   MONTHS      MONTHS    MONTHS    MONTHS
                     ------------------------------------------------
                       Age
                     ------------------------------------------------
                       55        $4.68    $4.62     $4.53      $4.39
                       56         4.78     4.72      4.61       4.45
                       57         4.89     4.82      4.69       4.51
                       58         5.00     4.92      4.78       4.58
                       59         5.12     5.03      4.87       4.64
                       60         5.25     5.14      4.96       4.71
                       61         5.39     5.26      5.06       4.78
                       62         5.53     5.39      5.16       4.84
                       63         5.69     5.52      5.26       4.90
                       64         5.85     5.66      5.36       4.96
                       65         6.03     5.81      5.46       5.02
                       66         6.21     5.96      5.56       5.08
                       67         6.41     6.11      5.66       5.13
                       68         6.62     6.28      5.76       5.18
                       69         6.84     6.44      5.86       5.23
                       70         7.07     6.61      5.96       5.27
                       71         7.32     6.78      6.05       5.31
                       72         7.58     6.96      6.14       5.34
                       73         7.85     7.14      6.23       5.37
                       74         8.14     7.32      6.31       5.40
                     ------------------------------------------------




                                    Page 59

<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                OPTION B TABLES (CONTINUED)

                     -------------------------------------------------
                                  60         120       180      240 
                      FEMALE      MONTHS    MONTHS    MONTHS   MONTHS
                     -------------------------------------------------
                       Age
                     -------------------------------------------------
                        55        $4.25     $4.22    $4.18      $4.10
                        56         4.33      4.30     4.25       4.17
                        57         4.41      4.38     4.32       4.23
                        58         4.50      4.47     4.40       4.30
                        59         4.60      4.56     4.48       4.37
                        60         4.70      4.66     4.57       4.44
                        61         4.81      4.76     4.66       4.51
                        62         4.93      4.86     4.75       4.58
                        63         5.05      4.98     4.85       4.65
                        64         5.18      5.10     4.95       4.72
                        65         5.32      5.22     5.05       4.79
                        66         5.47      5.36     5.16       4.86
                        67         5.63      5.50     5.26       4.93
                        68         5.80      5.65     5.37       5.00
                        69         5.98      5.80     5.49       5.06
                        70         6.18      5.96     5.60       5.12
                        71         6.39      6.14     5.71       5.18
                        72         6.62      6.31     5.83       5.23
                        73         6.86      6.50     5.94       5.28
                        74         7.12      6.69     6.04       5.32
                     -------------------------------------------------









                                    Page 60
<PAGE>

INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY                          PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          OPTION C TABLE - JOINT AND ONE-HALF SURVIVOR ANNUITY Monthly
         payments for each $1,000 of proceeds by ages of persons named*.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     MALE                              FEMALE SECONDARY AGE
   PRIMARY
     AGE
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              60     61     62     63    64     65     66     67     68     69    70
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>     <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>     <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>  
      60      $4.70 $4.73  $4.76  $4.79 $4.82   $4.85 $4.88  $4.91  $4.94  $4.96 $4.99
      61       4.78  4.81   4.84   4.88  4.91    4.94  4.97   5.00   5.03   5.06  5.09
      62       4.86  4.89   4.93   4.96  5.00    5.03  5.07   5.10   5.13   5.16  5.19
      63       4.94  4.97   5.01   5.05  5.09    5.13  5.16   5.20   5.24   5.27  5.31
      64       5.02  5.06   5.10   5.14  5.18    5.23  5.27   5.31   5.34   5.38  5.42
      65       5.10  5.15   5.19   5.24  5.28    5.33  5.37   5.41   5.46   5.50  5.54
      66       5.19  5.24   5.28   5.33  5.38    5.43  4.84   5.52   5.57   5.62  5.66
      67       5.28  5.33   5.38   5.43  5.48    5.53  5.59   5.64   5.69   5.74  5.79
      68       5.37  5.42   5.48   5.53  5.59    5.64  5.70   5.75   5.81   5.86  5.92
      69       5.46  5.52   5.57   5.63  5.69    5.75  5.81   5.87   5.93   5.99  6.05
      70       5.55  5.61   5.67   5.74  5.80    5.86  5.93   5.99   6.06   6.12  6.19
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*Payments  after the death of the  Primary  Payee will be one-half of the amount
shown.



         Monthly payments for each $1,000 of proceeds by ages of persons named*.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     MALE                               FEMALE PRIMARY AGE
   SECONDARY
      AGE
             --------------------------------------------------------------------------
               60    61     62     63    64     65     66     67     68     69    70
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>     <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>     <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>  
      60      $4.46 $4.54  $4.62  $4.71 $4.79   $4.88 $4.98  $5.07  $5.17  $5.27 $5.38
      61       4.48  4.56   4.65   4.73  4.82    4.91  5.01   5.11   5.21   5.31  5.42
      62       4.50  4.58   4.67   4.75  4.85    4.94  5.04   5.14   5.25   5.36  5.47
      63       4.52  4.60   4.69   4.78  4.87    4.97  5.07   5.17   5.28   5.40  5.51
      64       4.53  4.62   4.71   4.80  4.90    5.00  5.10   5.21   5.32   5.44  5.56
      65       4.55  4.63   4.72   4.82  4.92    5.02  5.13   5.24   5.35   5.48  5.60
      66       4.56  4.65   4.74   4.84  4.94    5.05  5.16   5.27   5.39   5.51  5.64
      67       4.57  4.66   4.76   4.86  4.96    5.07  5.18   5.30   5.42   5.55  5.68
      68       4.59  4.68   4.78   4.88  4.98    5.09  5.21   5.33   5.45   5.59  5.72
      69       4.60  4.69   4.79   4.89  5.00    5.11  5.23   5.36   5.48   5.62  5.76
      70       4.61  4.70   4.80   4.91  5.02    5.13  5.25   5.38   5.51   5.65  5.80
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*Payments  after the death of the  Primary  Payee will be one-half of the amount
shown.





                                    Page 61
<PAGE>

   
           ANNUITY INVESTORS[REGISTERED TRADEMARK] VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                                       OF
         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY[REGISTERED TRADEMARK]
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                     FOR THE
                 COMMODORE NAUTICUS[REGISTERED TRADEMARK] GROUP
                       FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITY
                                     AND THE
                              COMMODORE AMERICUSSM
                 INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED ANNUITIES
                                    ISSUED BY
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
           P.O. BOX 5423, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45201-5423, (800) 789-6771
    

   
The Statement of Additional  Information  expands upon subjects discussed in the
current  Prospectus  for  The  Commodore  Nauticus[REGISTERED  TRADEMARK]  Group
Flexible Premium Deferred  Variable Annuity Contract and the current  Prospectus
for The Commodore  Americus[SERVICEMARK]  Individual  Flexible  Premium Deferred
Variable Annuity  Contracts (each, the "Contract")  offered by Annuity Investors
Life Insurance Company[REGISTERED  TRADEMARK]. A copy of either Prospectus dated
May 1, 1997, as  supplemented  from time to time, may be obtained free of charge
by writing to Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company,  Administrative  Office,
P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5423. Terms used in the current Prospectus
for each Contract are incorporated in this Statement of Additional Information.
    
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD BE READ
ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS FOR THE APPLICABLE CONTRACT.
   
Dated May 1, 1997
    
 
<PAGE>


   
        The  following   information   supplements   the   information   in  the
Prospectuses about the Contracts and Certificates.  Terms used in this Statement
of  Additional  Information  have the same  meaning as to a  Contract  as in the
Prospectus for that Contract.
    
         ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY[REGISTERED TRADEMARK]

GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY
   
        Annuity  Investors Life  Insurance  Company[REGISTERED  TRADEMARK]  (the
"Company"),  formerly known as Carillon Life Insurance Company,  is a stock life
insurance company  incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1981. The
name change  occurred in the state of domicile on April 12, 1995. The Company is
principally engaged in the sale of fixed and variable annuity policies.
    
   
        The Company was acquired in November,  1994, by American  Annuity Group,
Inc. ("AAG") a Delaware  corporation that is a publicly traded insurance holding
company.  Great American Insurance Company ("GAIC"),  an Ohio corporation,  owns
80% of the common  stock of AAG.  GAIC is a multi-line  insurance  carrier and a
wholly owned  subsidiary of Great American  Holding  Company  ("GAHC"),  an Ohio
corporation. GAHC is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Financial Corporation
("AFC"),  an Ohio  corporation.  AFC is a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of American
Financial Group,  Inc. ("AFG"),  an Ohio  corporation.  AFG is a publicly traded
holding  company  which is  engaged,  through  its  subsidiaries,  in  financial
businesses  that include  annuities,  insurance  and  portfolio  investing,  and
non-financial businesses.
    
STATE REGULATION

       The Company is subject to the insurance  laws and  regulations of all the
jurisdictions  where it is  licensed  to operate.  The  availability  of certain
Contract  rights and  provisions  depends on state  approval  and/or  filing and
review processes in each such jurisdiction. Where required by law or regulation,
the Contracts will be modified accordingly.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>


                                    SERVICES

SAFEKEEPING OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT ASSETS

       Title to assets  of the  Separate  Account  is held by the  Company.  The
Separate  Account assets are kept separate and apart from the Company's  general
account assets.  Records are maintained of all purchases and redemptions of Fund
shares held by each of the Sub-Accounts.

        Title to assets of the Fixed  Account  is held by the  Company  together
with the Company's general account assets. 

RECORDS AND REPORTS

   
        All records and accounts  relating to the Fixed Account and the Separate
Account  will  be  maintained  by the  Company.  As  presently  required  by the
provisions of the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"),  and
rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder  which  pertain to the  Separate
Account,  reports  containing such information as may be required under the 1940
Act or by  other  applicable  law or  regulation  will be  sent  to  each  Owner
semi-annually at the Owner's last known address of record.
    

EXPERTS
   
       The financial  statements of the Separate Account and the statutory-basis
financial  statements  of the Company  included in this  Statement of Additional
Information have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, to the
extent indicated in their reports thereon also appearing  elsewhere herein. Such
financial  statements  have been  included  herein in reliance upon such reports
given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
    

                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS

       The  offering of the  Contracts  is expected  to be  continuous,  and the
Company  does  not  anticipate  discontinuing  the  offering  of the  Contracts.
However,  the Company  reserves  the right to  discontinue  the  offering of the
Contracts.

   
        During the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996,  AAG  Securities,  Inc.
("AAG Securities"),  the principal underwriter and distributor of the Contracts,
received $192,085 in commissions with respect to the Contracts,  of which $4,538
was retained by AAG Securities.
    


                                      -3-
<PAGE>



                     CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

MONEY MARKET SUB-ACCOUNT STANDARDIZED YIELD CALCULATION

       In accordance  with rules and  regulations  adopted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Company computes the Money Market Sub-Account's current
annualized  yield for a  seven-day  period in a manner  which does not take into
consideration  any realized or unrealized gains or losses on shares of the Money
Market Fund or on its portfolio  securities.  This current  annualized  yield is
computed by determining  the net change  (exclusive of realized gains and losses
on the sale of securities and unrealized  appreciation and  depreciation) in the
value of a hypothetical account having a balance of one unit of the Money Market
Sub-Account at the beginning of such seven-day period,  dividing such net change
in the  value of the  hypothetical  account  by the  value  of the  hypothetical
account at the  beginning of the period to determine  the base period return and
annualizing this quotient on a 365-day basis. The net change in the value of the
hypothetical  account reflects the deductions for the Mortality and Expense Risk
and  Administration  Charges and income and expenses  accrued during the period.
Because of these deductions,  the yield for the Money Market  Sub-Account of the
Separate  Account  will be lower than the yield for the Money Market Fund or any
comparable substitute funding vehicle.

        The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  also  permits the Company to
disclose  the  effective  yield of the  Money  Market  Sub-Account  for the same
seven-day  period,  determined on a compounded  basis.  The  effective  yield is
calculated according to the following formula:

   
                                           365/7
EFFECTIVE YIELD = [(BASE PERIOD RETURN + 1)     ] - 1

       The effective  yield and yields for the Money Market  Sub-Account for the
seven-day period ended December 31, 1996 are as follows:

      MONEY MARKET SUB-ACCOUNT       YIELD      EFFECTIVE YIELD
      ------------------------       -----      ---------------

      Standard Contract              3.81%           3.88%
      Enhanced Contract              4.10%           4.19%
    

       The yield on amounts held in the Money Market  Sub-Account  normally will
fluctuate on a daily basis.  Therefore,  the disclosed  yield for any given past
period is not an indication or representation of future yields. The Money Market
Sub-Account's  actual  yield is affected  by changes in interest  rates on money
market  securities,  average  portfolio  maturity  of the Money  Market  Fund or
substitute funding vehicle,  the types and quality of portfolio  securities held


                                      -4-
<PAGE>



by he Money Market Fund or substitute funding vehicle,  and operating  expenses.
IN  ADDITION,  THE YIELD  FIGURES DO NOT  REFLECT  THE EFFECT OF ANY  CONTINGENT
DEFERRED  SALES CHARGE  ("CDSC") (OF UP TO 7% OF PURCHASE  PAYMENTS) THAT MAY BE
APPLICABLE ON SURRENDER.

OTHER SUB-ACCOUNT STANDARDIZED YIELD CALCULATIONS

        The Company may from time to time disclose the current  annualized yield
of one or more of the Sub-Accounts (other than the Money Market Sub-Account) for
30-day  periods.  The  annualized  yield of a  Sub-Account  refers to the income
generated by the Sub-Account over a specified 30-day period.  Because this yield
is annualized,  the yield generated by a Sub-Account during the 30-day period is
assumed to be generated  each 30-day  period.  The yield is computed by dividing
the net investment  income per Accumulation Unit earned during the period by the
price  per  unit on the  last  day of the  period,  according  to the  following
formula:
           a - b     6
YIELD=   2[----- + 1) -1]
             cd
Where:

        a =    net investment income earned during the period by the Portfolio
               attributable to the shares owned by the Sub-Account.

        b =    expenses  for the  Sub-Account  accrued  for the  period  (net of
               reimbursements).

        c =    the average daily number of Accumulation Units outstanding during
               the period.

        d =    the maximum offering price per Accumulation  Unit on the last day
               of the period.

        Net  investment  income will be determined in accordance  with rules and
regulations  established  by the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  Accrued
expenses will include all recurring fees that are charged to all Contracts.  The
yield  calculations do not reflect the effect of any CDSC that may be applicable
to a particular  Contract.  CDSCs range from 7% to 0% of the  Purchase  Payments
withdrawn  depending  on the  elapsed  time since the  receipt of such  Purchase
Payments.

        Because of the charges and deductions  imposed by the Separate  Account,
the yield for a Sub-Account  will be lower than the yield for the  corresponding
Fund.  The yield on amounts held in a Sub-Account  normally will  fluctuate over
time.  Therefore,  the disclosed yield for any given period is not an indication


                                      -5-
<PAGE>



or representation of future yields or rates of return. The Sub-Account's  actual
yield will be affected by the types and quality of portfolio  securities held by
the Fund and its operating expenses.

STANDARDIZED TOTAL RETURN CALCULATION

       The  Company may from time to time also  disclose  average  annual  total
returns for one or more of the Sub-Accounts for various periods of time. Average
annual  total  return  quotations  are  computed by finding  the average  annual
compounded  rates of return over one-,  five- and  ten-year  periods  that would
equal the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable  value,  according to
the following formula:

        n
P(1 + T)  = ERV

Where

        P      =    a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.

        T      =    average annual total return.

        n      =    number of years.

        ERV    =    "ending  redeemable value" of a hypothetical  $1,000 payment
                    made at the beginning of the one-,  five- or ten-year period
                    at the  end of the  one-,  five-,  or  ten-year  period  (or
                    fractional portion thereof).

   
        All  recurring  fees  that are  charged  to each  type of  Contract  are
recognized  in the ending  redeemable  value.  The average  annual  total return
calculations  will reflect the effect of any CDSCs that may be  applicable  to a
particular period for that type of Contract.
    



                                      -6-
<PAGE>


   
                        STANDARDIZED ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
                                                   1 Year            1 Year
                                                (to 12/31/96)1/  (to 12/31/96)2/
EQUITY SUB-ACCOUNTS

Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio               18.94%          19.32%
Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio              -1.88%          -1.57%
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund - Capital           15.50%          15.87%
Appreciation Portfolio
The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth 
  Fund, Inc.                                         11.23%          11.59%
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                             12.52%          12.88%
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Focus Fund                 10.70%          11.05%

BALANCED SUB-ACCOUNTS

Merrill Lynch Global Strategy Focus Portfolio        3.27%            3.60%
Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio                       6.24%            6.58%

INCOME SUB-ACCOUNTS

Merrill Lynch High Current Income Portfolio          1.40%            1.72%
Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio               -5.81%           -5.50%
    
   
1/    Standard Contract;  annual mortality and expense risk charge of 1.25% of
daily net asset value.

2/    Enhanced Contract;  annual mortality and expense risk charge of 0.95% of
daily net asset value.
    


HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE DATA

       The  Company  may also  disclose  "hypothetical"  performance  data for a
Sub-Account,  for periods  BEFORE the  Sub-Account  commenced  operations.  Such
performance  information  for the  Sub-Account  will be calculated  based on the
performance of the  corresponding  Fund and the assumption  that the Sub-Account
was in existence for the same periods as those  indicated for the Fund, with the
level  of  Contract  charges  currently  in  effect.  The Fund  used  for  these
calculations will be the actual Fund in which the Sub-Account invests.

        This type of hypothetical  performance  data may be disclosed on both an
average annual total return and a cumulative  total return basis.  Moreover,  it
may be disclosed  assuming that the Contract is not surrendered  (i.e.,  with no
deduction for a CDSC) or assuming that the Contract is surrendered at the end of
the applicable period (i.e., reflecting a deduction for any applicable CDSC).


                                      -7-
<PAGE>



OTHER PERFORMANCE DATA
   
       The Company also may from time to time refer in  advertisements  to total
return  performance  data that are not  calculated  according to the formula set
forth  above  ("non-standardized  return").  Non-standardized  return  may,  for
example,  reflect  no CDSC  and no  Contract  Maintenance  Fee  and may  present
performance  data  for a  period  of  time  other  than  that  required  by  the
standardized  format. The Company may from time to time also disclose cumulative
total return  calculated  using the  following  formula  assuming  that the CDSC
percentage is 0%:
    

CTR = (ERV/P) - 1

Where:
   
        CTR  =    the  cumulative  total  return  net of  Sub-Account  recurring
                  charges,  other than the  Contract  Maintenance  Fee,  for the
                  period.
    

        ERV  =    ending  redeemable  value of a hypothetical  $1,000 payment at
                  the beginning of the one-, five- or ten-year period at the end
                  of the one,  five or ten-year  period (or  fractional  portion
                  thereof).

        P    =    a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.

All  non-standardized  performance data will be advertised only if the requisite
standardized performance data is also disclosed.

        The Contracts may be compared in advertising  materials to  Certificates
of Deposit  ("CDs")  or other  investments  issued by banks or other  depository
institutions.  Variable  annuities  differ  from  bank  investments  in  several
respects.  For example,  variable  annuities may offer higher potential  returns
than CDs.  However,  unless you have elected to invest in only the Fixed Account
Options,  the  Company  does  not  guarantee  your  return.  Also,  none of your
investments  under a  Contract,  whether  allocated  to the Fixed  Account  or a
Sub-Account, are FDIC-insured.

        Advertising  materials for the Contracts may, from time to time, address
retirement needs and investing for retirement, the usefulness of a tax-qualified
retirement  plan,  saving for college,  or other investment  goals.  Advertising
materials for the Contracts may discuss,  generally, the advantages of investing
in  a  variable  annuity  and  the  Contract's  particular  features  and  their
desirability  and may compare  Contract  features  with those of other  variable
annuities and investment  products of other issuers.  Advertising  materials may


                                      -8-
<PAGE>



also include a discussion of the balancing of risk and return in connection with
the  selection  of  investment   options  under  the  Contracts  and  investment
alternatives  generally,  as well as a  discussion  of the risks and  attributes
associated with the investment options under the Contracts. A description of the
tax  advantages  associated  with  the  Contracts,   including  the  effects  of
tax-deferral  under a variable  annuity or  retirement  plan  generally,  may be
included as well.  Advertising  materials for the Contracts may quote or reprint
financial or business  publications and periodicals,  including model portfolios
or  allocations,  as they relate to current  economic and political  conditions,
management  and  composition  of the underlying  Funds,  investment  philosophy,
investment techniques,  the desirability of owning a Contract and other products
and services offered by the Company or AAG Securities, Inc. ("AAG Securities").

        The Company or AAG Securities may provide  information  designed to help
individuals  understand  their  investment  goals and explore various  financial
strategies.  Such information may include:  information  about current economic,
market and political  conditions;  materials that describe general principles of
investing,  such as asset allocation,  diversification,  risk tolerance and goal
setting;  questionnaires  designed to help create a personal  financial profile;
worksheets used to project savings needs based on assumed rates of inflation and
hypothetical rates of return; and alternative investment strategies and plans.

        Ibbotson   Associates  of  Chicago,   Illinois   ("Ibbotson")   provides
historical returns of the capital markets in the United States, including common
stocks,    small    capitalization    stocks,    long-term    corporate   bonds,
intermediate-term  government bonds, long-term government bonds, Treasury bills,
the U.S. rate of inflation (based on the Consumer Price Index), and combinations
of various capital markets. The performance of these capital markets is based on
the returns of different indices.

        Advertising materials for the Contracts may use the performance of these
capital markets in order to demonstrate  general  risk-versus-reward  investment
scenarios.  Performance comparisons may also include the value of a hypothetical
investment  in any of  these  capital  markets.  The  risk  associated  with the
security types in any capital market may or may not correspond directly to those
of the  Sub-Accounts  and the  Funds.  Advertising  materials  may also  compare
performance to that of other  compilations  or indices that may be developed and
made available in the future.

        In  addition,  advertising  materials  may  quote  various  measures  of
volatility and benchmark  correlations  for the  Sub-Accounts and the respective
Funds and compare these volatility measures and correlations with those of other
separate  accounts and their  underlying  funds.  Measures of volatility seek to


                                      -9-
<PAGE>



compare a  sub-account's,  or its  underlying  fund's,  historical  share  price
fluctuations  or total  returns to those of a  benchmark.  Measures of benchmark
correlation  indicate how valid a comparative  benchmark may be. All measures of
volatility and correlation are calculated using averages of historical data.

                            FEDERAL TAX MATTERS

       The Contracts  and any  Certificates  thereunder  are designed for use by
individuals as a non-tax-qualified  annuity (including Contracts purchased by an
employer  in  connection  with a Code  Section  457  or  non-qualified  deferred
compensation  plan),  and  with  arrangements  which  qualify  for  special  tax
treatment  under  Sections  401,  403, 408 of the Code.  The ultimate  effect of
federal taxes on the Account  Value,  on Annuity  Benefits,  and on the economic
benefit to the Owner, the Beneficiary  and/or Participant may depend on the type
of  retirement  plan  for  which  the  Contract  is  purchased,  on the  tax and
employment  status of the individual  concerned and on the Company's tax status.
THE  FOLLOWING  DISCUSSION  IS GENERAL AND IS NOT  INTENDED  AS TAX ADVICE.  Any
person concerned about tax implications  should consult a competent tax adviser.
This discussion is based upon the Company's understanding of the present federal
income  tax laws as they  are  currently  interpreted  by the  Internal  Revenue
Service.  No  representation  is made as to the  likelihood of  continuation  of
present  federal  income  tax  laws  or of the  current  interpretations  by the
Internal  Revenue  Service.  Moreover,  no attempt has been made to consider any
applicable state or other tax laws.

TAXATION OF THE COMPANY

       The  Company  is  taxed  as a  life  insurance  company  under  Part I of
Subchapter L of the Code.  Since the Separate  Account is not an entity separate
from the Company,  and its operations form a part of the Company, it will not be
taxed separately as a "regulated  investment  company" under Subchapter M of the
Code.  Investment income and realized capital gains are automatically applied to
increase  reserves under the Contracts.  Under existing  federal income tax law,
the Company  believes that the Separate Account  investment  income and realized
net capital gains will not be taxed to the extent that such income and gains are
applied to increase the reserves under the Contracts.

        Accordingly,  the  Company  does not  anticipate  that it will incur any
federal  income  tax  liability   attributable  to  the  Separate  Account  and,
therefore,  the Company does not intend to make  provisions  for any such taxes.
However, if changes in the federal tax laws or interpretations thereof result in
the Company being taxed on income or gains attributable to the Separate Account,
then the Company may impose a charge against the Separate  Account (with respect
to some or all Contracts) in order to set aside provisions to pay such taxes.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>



TAX STATUS OF THE CONTRACT

       Section  817(h) of the Code requires  that with respect to  Non-Qualified
Contracts,   the  investments  of  the  Funds  be  "adequately  diversified"  in
accordance  with Treasury  regulations  in order for the Contracts to qualify as
annuity  contracts  under  federal tax law.  The Separate  Account,  through the
Funds, intends to comply with the diversification requirements prescribed by the
Treasury  in Reg.  Sec.  1.817-5,  which  affect  how the  Funds'  assets may be
invested.

   
        In  certain   circumstances,   Owners  of  individual  variable  annuity
contracts  and  participants  under  group  variable  annuity  contracts  may be
considered  the owners,  for federal  income tax purposes,  of the assets of the
separate  accounts  used to support  their  contracts.  In those  circumstances,
income and gains from the separate  account  assets would be  includible  in the
variable contract owner's gross income.  The Internal Revenue Service has stated
in published rulings that a variable contract owner will be considered the owner
of  separate  account  assets  if the  contract  owner  possesses  incidents  of
ownership in those assets,  such as the ability to exercise  investment  control
over the assets. The Treasury Department has also announced,  in connection with
the issuance of regulations concerning  diversification,  that those regulations
"do not provide guidance  concerning the circumstances in which investor control
of the  investments of a segregated  asset account may cause the investor (i.e.,
the Owner or Participant),  rather than the insurance company,  to be treated as
the owner of the assets in the  account."  This  announcement  also  stated that
guidance  would be issued by way of  regulations  or rulings  on the  "extent to
which  policyholders  may direct their  investments  to  particular  subaccounts
without  being  treated as owners of the  underlying  assets." As of the date of
this Statement of Additional Information, no guidance has been issued.
    
        The  ownership  rights under the Contracts are similar to, but different
in certain  respects from,  those  described by the Internal  Revenue Service in
rulings  in which it was  determined  that  contract  owners  were not owners of
separate  account assets.  For example,  the Owner or Participant has additional
flexibility in allocating Purchase Payments and Account Value. These differences
could  result in an Owner's  or  Participant's  being  treated as the owner of a
pro-rata portion of the assets of the Separate Account and/or Fixed Account.  In
addition, the Company does not know what standards will be set forth, if any, in
the  regulations or rulings which the Treasury  Department has stated it expects
to issue.  The Company  therefore  reserves the right to modify the Contracts as
necessary to attempt to prevent an Owner or  Participant  from being  considered
the owner of a pro-rata share of the assets of the Separate Account.



                                      -11-
<PAGE>



                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
   
       The audited  financial  statements  of the Separate  Account for the year
ended  December 31, 1996 and the  Company's  audited  statutory-basis  financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 are included herein.
    
The financial statements of the Company included in this Statement of Additional
Information  should be considered  only as bearing on the ability of the Company
to meet its  obligations  under the Contracts.  They should not be considered as
bearing  on the  investment  performance  of the  assets  held  in the  Separate
Account.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>




   

                      ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996




                                    CONTENTS

                         Report of Independent Auditors

                          Audited Financial Statements

                       Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                             Statement of Operations
                       Statement of Changes in Net Assets
                          Notes to Financial Statements

    

<PAGE>


   
ERNST & YOUNG LLP         1300 Chiquita Center              Phone: 513 621 6454
6454

                              250 East Fifth Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
    
   
                         Report of Independent Auditors

Contractholders of Annuity Investors Variable Account A
and
Board of Directors of Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company

We have  audited the  accompanying  statement of assets and  liabilities  of the
Annuity  Investors  Variable  Account  A  (comprised  of  the  Dreyfus  Variable
Investment Fund Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio,  Dreyfus Socially  Responsible
Growth Fund,  Inc.,  Dreyfus  Stock Index Fund,  Janus Aspen  Series  Aggressive
Growth  Portfolio,  Janus Aspen Series Worldwide Growth  Portfolio,  Janus Aspen
Series Balanced Portfolio, Janus Aspen Series Short-Term Bond Portfolio, Merrill
Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc. Basic Value Focus Fund, Merrill Lynch Variable
Series Funds,  Inc.  Global  Strategy Focus Fund,  Merrill Lynch Variable Series
Funds,  Inc. High Current Income Fund, and Merrill Lynch Variable  Series Funds,
Inc.  Domestic Money Market Fund  Sub-Accounts) as of December 31, 1996, and the
related  statements  of  operations  and changes in net assets for the year then
ended.  These  financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audit.
    
   
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with
the custodian.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting  principles used
and significant estimates made by management,  as well as evaluating the overall
financial  statement  presentation.   We  believe  that  our  audit  provides  a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
    
   
In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all  material  respects,  the  financial  position  of  each  of the  respective
sub-accounts  constituting  the  Annuity  Investors  Variable  Account  A as  of
December 31, 1996, and the results of their  operations and changes in their net
assets for the year then ended in conformity with generally accepted  accounting
principles.
    
   
                                   ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio
February 28, 1997
    


                                      -14-
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                               ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                               STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
=================================================================================================================== 
<S>       <C>                                                                                <C>
Assets:
     Investments in portfolio shares, at net asset value (Note 2)
          Dreyfus Variable Investment Funds:
               Capital Appreciation Portfolio, 18,967.336 shares (cost $406,745)...........            $  416,902               
               Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc., 9,116.438 shares (cost-$183,359)....               183,149
                                                                                                                 
               Stock Index Fund, 17,818.125 shares (cost-$353,102) ........................               361,352
          Janus Aspen Series:                                                                                    
               Aggressive Growth Portfolio, 32,665.778 shares (cost- $599,092) ............               595,824
               Worldwide Growth Portfolio, 34,327.515 shares (cost- $643,967) .............               667,326
               Balanced Portfolio, 40,102.354 shares (cost -$583,384) .....................               592,312
               Short-Term Bond Portfolio, 4,399.742 shares (cost-$44,349) .................                43,865
          Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.:                                                             
               Basic Value Focus Fund, 5,695.788 shares (cost-$79,600) ....................                83,956
               Global Strategy Focus Fund, 1,754.771 shares (cost-$22,862) ................                24,339
               High Current Income Fund, 6,938.501 shares (cost-$78,251) ..................                79,030
               Domestic Money Market Fund, 340,994.99 shares (cost-$341,054) ..............               341,054
                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                 
                     Total assets..........................................................             3,389,109
                                                                                                                 
Liabilities:                                                                                                     
     Amount due to Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company (Note 4) ......................                 8,687
                                                                                                                 
                     Net assets............................................................            $3,380,422
================================================================================================================= 

  Net assets  attributable to variable annuity contract holders (Note 2):   Units       Unit Value
                                                                        ----------------------------
            Dreyfus Variable Investment Funds:
            Capital Appreciation Portfolio - Basic contract......        33,424.286      $12.330543    $  412,140
            Capital Appreciation Portfolio- Enhanced contract....           313.603       12.369954         3,879  
            Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. -Basic                15,316.028       11.924561       182,637  
  contract                                                                                                       
            Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.-Enhanced                   0.000       11.962818             0  
  contract                                                                                                       
            Stock Index Fund-Basic contract......................        29,203.177       12.092195       353,131  
            Stock Index Fund-Enhanced contract...................           600.306       12.130821         7,282  
       Janus Aspen Series:                                                                                       
            Aggressive Growth Portfolio-Basic contract...........        52,219.342       10.979832       573,359  
            Aggressive Growth Portfolio-Enhanced contract........         1,910.271       11.015008        21,042  
            Worldwide Growth Portfolio-Basic contract............        50,730.352       13.048360       661,947  
            Worldwide Growth Portfolio-Enhanced contract.........           272.267       13.090061         3,564  
            Balanced Portfolio-Basic contract....................        49,603.384       11.670308       578,886  
            Balanced Portfolio-Enhanced contract.................         1,024.467       11.707739        11,994  
            Short-term Bond Portfolio-Basic contract.............         4,216.270       10.332080        43,563  
            Short-term Bond Portfolio-Enhanced contract..........            17.440       10.365199           181  
       Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.:                                                                
            Basic Value Focus Fund-Basic contract................         6,820.503       12.094664        82,492  
            Basic Value Focus Fund-Enhanced contract.............            96.296       12.133199         1,168  
            Global Strategy Focus Fund-Basic contract............         2,114.707       11.294096        23,884  
            Global Strategy Focus Fund-Enhanced contract.........            30.061       11.330202           341  
            High Current Income Fund-Basic contract..............         6,837.357       11.119068        76,025  
            High Current Income Fund-Enhanced contract...........           255.389       11.148637         2,847  
            Domestic Money Market-Fund Basic contract............       325,331.820        1.041216       338,741  
            Domestic Money Market Fund-Enhanced contract.........         1,260.991        1.045819         1,319  
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Net Assets attributable to variable annuity contract holders......................     3,380,422
   ==============================================================================================================

                 Net Assets........................................................................     3,380,422
   ==============================================================================================================

                  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
    
</TABLE>

                                                     -15-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   

                                                             ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A

 
                                                                    STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996


                                               Dreyfus Variable Investment Funds                 Janus Aspen Series               
                                           -------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------------
                                               Variable       Socially                                                  Short-
                                               Capital      Responsible   Stock    Aggressive  Worldwide                Term
                                            Appreciation      Growth      Index      Growth     Growth     Balanced     Bond
                                              Portfolio      Fund, Inc.   Fund     Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio     
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>              <C>          <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>    
Investment income:
    Dividends from investments in 
      portfolio shares                            3,207        6,574       5,938        638       4,200       6,684     980 
                                                                                                                            
Expenses:                                                                                                                   
    Mortality and expense risk                                                                                                 
    fees (Note 4)                                   883          512         939      1,423       1,815       1,431     122      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            
    Net investment income                         2,324        6,062       4,999       (785)      2,385        5,253     858
                                                                                                                            
Net realized gain (loss) and unrealized                                                                                     
appreciation (deprecation) on investments:                                                                                  
    Net realized gain (loss) on sale of                                                                                     
    investments in portfolio shares                  90          289         512        173       2,393         711     (0) 
    Net change in unrealized appreciation                                                                                   
    (depreciation) of investments in                                                                                        
    portfolio shares                             10,517         (209)      8,250     (3,268)     23,360       8,927   (484) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
   Net gain (loss) on investments                                                                          
   in portfolio shares                           10,247           80       8,762     (3,095)     25,753       9,638   (484) 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets                                                                                            
from operations                                  12,571        6,142      13,761     (3,880)     28,138      14,891    374
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                           Merril Lynch Variable Series Fund, Inc.
                                                  -------------------------------------------------------            
                                                   Basic     Global        High        Domestic                          
                                                   Value    Strategy      Current        Money                           
                                                   Focus      Focus       Income        Market                               
                                                   Fund       Fund         Fund          Fund      Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            

Investment income:                                        
    Dividends from investments in                         
      portfolio shares                                93          0          862        4,007       33,183
                                                                                                          
Expenses:                                                                                                 
    Mortality and expense risk                       
    fees (Note 4)                                    296        114          157          995        8,687
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          
    Net investment income                           (203)      (114)         705        3,012       24,496
                                                                                                          
Net realized gain (loss) and unrealized                                                                   
appreciation (deprecation) on investments:                                                                
    Net realized gain (loss) on sale of                                                                   
    investments in portfolio shares                  496          0          (10)           0        4,654
    Net change in unrealized appreciation 
    (depreciation) of investments in               
    portfolio shares                               4,356      1,476          778            0       53,343
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net gain (loss) on investments                  
   in portfolio shares                             4,852      1,476          768            0       57,997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets                                                                    
from operations                                    4,649      1,362        1,473        3,012       82,493
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

                                                     -16-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                              STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                               Dreyfus Variable Investment Funds                 Janus Aspen Series              
                                           -------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------------
                                               Variable       Socially                                                  Short-
                                               Capital      Responsible   Stock    Aggressive  Worldwide                Term
                                            Appreciation      Growth      Index      Growth     Growth     Balanced     Bond
                                              Portfolio      Fund, Inc.   Fund     Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>           <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>        
Changes from operations:
    Net investment income                  $    2,324       $  6,062      4,999       (785)      2,385       $5,253       858    
    Net realized gain (loss) on sale
    of investments in portfolio shares             90            289        512        173       2,393          711        (0)   
    Net change in unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) of investments 
    in portfolio shares                        10,157           (209)     8,250     (3,268)     23,360        8,927      (484)   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Net increase (decrease) in net 
    assets from operations                     12,571          6,142      3,761     (3,880)     28,138       14,891       374    
             

Changes from principal transactions:
    Contract purchase payments                412,062        171,247    339,471    586,354     631,446      571,341    43,280    
    Contract redemptions                         (457)        (1,164)    (1,044)    (2,136)     (1,623)        (476)        0    
    Net transfers (to) from fixed account      (8,157)         6,412      8,225     14,063       7,550        5,124        90    

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

    Net increase in net assets from
    principal transactions                    403,448        176,495    346,652    598,281     637,373      575,989    43,370    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase in net assets                416,019        182,637    360,413    594,401     665,511      590,880    43,744    
Net assets, beginning of period                     0              0          0          0           0            0         0    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period                     416,019        182,637    360,413    594,401     665,511      590,880    43,744    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                      Merril Lynch Variable Series Fund, Inc.                                   
                                             ---------------------------------------------------------- 
                                              Basic     Global        High        Domestic           
                                              Value    Strategy      Current        Money            
                                              Focus      Focus       Income        Market            
                                              Fund       Fund         Fund          Fund         Total  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes from operations:                  
    Net investment income                      (203)     (114)        705           3,012        24,496         
    Net realized gain (loss) on sale                                                                
    of investments in portfolio shares          496         0         (10)              0         4,654        
    Net change in unrealized appreciation                                                           
    (depreciation) of investments                                                                   
    in portfolio shares                       4,356     1,476         778               0        53,343        
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                                    
    Net increase (decrease) in net                                                                  
    assets from operations                    4,649     1,362       1,473           3,012        82,493 
                                                                                                    
Changes from principal transactions:                                                                
    Contract purchase payments                80,350    22,977     76,120          403,339    3,337,987 
    Contract redemptions                        (166)      (52)      (252)               0       (7,370)
    Net transfers (to) from fixed account     (1,173)      (62)     1,531          (66,291)     (32,688)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                                    
    Net increase in net assets from                                                                 
    principal transactions                    79,011    22,863     77,399          337,048    3,297,929 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase in net assets                83,660    24,225     78,872          340,060    3,380,422 
Net assets, beginning of period                    0         0          0                0            0 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period                   $ 83,660  $ 24,225   $ 78,872        $ 340,060   $  380,422 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

                                                     -17-
<PAGE>

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                                           STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (CONTINUED)
                                                    Year Ended December 31, 1996



                                                           Basic Contracts

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Dreyfus Variable investment Funds                Janus Aspen Series                    
                         ------------------------------------       -----------------------------------------------
                            Variable   Socially                                                                    
                            Capital    Responsible     Stock        Aggressive   Worldwide                  Short- 
                         Appreciation    Growth        Index          Growth      Growth     Balanced       Term   
                           Portfolio   Fund, Inc.      Fund          Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio      Bond   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                           <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>  
Units outstanding,            0.000        0.000         0.000           0.000        0.000       0.000       0.000
December 31, 1995

Units purchased          34,422.778   15,640.606    29,479.189      52,474.764   51,619.416  50,768.075   4,216.270

Units redeemed             (998.492)    (324.578)     (276.012)       (255.422)    (889.064) (1,164.691)      0.000

Units outstanding
December 31, 1996        33,424.286   15,316.028    29,203.177      52,219.342   50,730.352  49,603.384   4,216.270

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


                                 Basic Contracts

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                         Basic       Global         High         Domestic
                         Value      Strategy      Current         Money
                         Focus        Focus        Income         Market
                         Fund         Fund          Fund           Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Units outstanding,         0.000        0.000         0.000            0.000
December 31, 1995

Units purchased        6,930.204    2,124.185     6,860.213      391,560.413

Units redeemed          (109.701)      (9.478)      (22.856)     (66,228.583)

Units outstanding
December 31, 1996      6,820.503    2,114.707     6,837.357      325,331.820

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
</TABLE>

                                                     -18-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
                                                         Enhanced Contracts
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Dreyfus Variable investment Funds                     Janus Aspen Series                  
                         ------------------------------------       ------------------------------------------------- 
                            Variable   Socially                                                                       
                            Capital    Responsible     Stock        Aggressive   Worldwide                    Short-  
                         Appreciation    Growth        Index          Growth      Growth     Balanced         Term    
                           Portfolio   Fund, Inc.      Fund          Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio        Bond    
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>        <C>           <C>              <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>     
Units outstanding,            0.000      0.000         0.000            0.000      0.000        0.000         0.000   
December 31, 1995

Units purchased             313,603      0.000       600.306        1,910.271    272.267    1,024.467        17.440   

Units redeemed                0.000      0.000         0.000            0.000      0.000        0.000         0.000   

Units outstanding
December 31, 1996           313.603      0.000       600.306        1,910.271    272.267    1,024.467        17.440   

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


                               Enhanced Contracts
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.
                      -----------------------------------------------------
                        Basic         Global         High         Domestic
                         Value        Strategy      Current         Money
                         Focus         Focus        Income         Market
                         Fund          Fund          Fund           Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding,      0.000         0.000         0.000            0.000
December 31, 1995

Units purchased        96.296        30.061       255.389        1,260.991

Units redeemed          0.000         0.000         0.000            0.000

Units outstanding
December 31, 1996      96.296        30.061       255.389        1,260.991

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


                  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

</TABLE>

    
                                                     -19-

<PAGE>

   
                      ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996
    
   
(1)     GENERAL

        Annuity Investors Variable Account A (the "Account") is registered under
        the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  as a unit  investment
        trust.  The  Account  was  established  on May 26,  1995  and  commenced
        operations  on December 7, 1995 as a segregated  investment  account for
        individual and group  variable  annuity  contracts  which are registered
        under the  Securities  Act of 1933.  The  operations  of the Account are
        included in the operations of Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company
        (the  "Company")  pursuant to the provisions of the Ohio Insurance Code.
        The Company is an indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary of American Annuity
        Group, Inc., ("AAG"), a publicly traded insurance holding company listed
        on the New York Stock  Exchange.  The  Company is  licensed in 44 states
        with the majority of the production in the Midwest.
    
   
        Comparative  financial  statements  are not presented as the Account did
        not have any financial activity in 1995.
    
   
        At December 31, 1996, the following investment options were available:

                THE DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS:
                                Capital Appreciation Portfolio
                                Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
                                Stock Index Fund

                JANUS ASPEN SERIES:
                                Aggressive Growth Portfolio
                                Worldwide Growth Portfolio
                                Balanced Portfolio
                                Short-Term Bond Portfolio

                MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC. :
                                Domestic Money Market Fund
                                Basic Value Focus Fund
                                Global Strategy Focus Fund
                                High Current Income Fund
    
   
(2)     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally
        accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
        assumptions that affect the amount reported in the financial  statements
        and  accompanying  notes.  Changes in  circumstances  could cause actual
        results to differ materially from those estimates.
    




                                      -20-
<PAGE>


   
                      ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996
    
   
        INVESTMENTS
        -----------

        Investments  are  valued  using  the net asset  value of the  respective
        portfolios  at the  end of  each  business  day of the  New  York  Stock
        Exchange,   with  the   exception  of  business   holidays.   Investment
        transactions  are accounted for on the trade date (the date the order to
        buy or sell is executed).  The cost of investments sold is determined on
        a  specific   identification  basis.  The  Account  does  not  hold  any
        investments which are restricted as to resale.
    
   
        Net  investment   income,   net  realized  gain  (loss)  and  unrealized
        appreciation   (depreciation)   on  investments  are  allocated  to  the
        contracts on each valuation date based on each contract's pro rata share
        of the assets of the Account as of the beginning of the valuation date.
    
   
        FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
        --------------------

        No provision for federal income taxes has been made in the  accompanying
        financial  statements because the operations of the Account are included
        in the total  operations  of the  Company,  which is  treated  as a life
        insurance  company for federal income tax purposes under Subchapter L of
        the Internal  Revenue Code.  Net  investment  income and realized  gains
        (losses)  will be retained in the Account and will not be taxable  until
        received by the  contract  owner or  beneficiary  in the form of annuity
        payments or other distributions.
    
   
        NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT HOLDERS
        ------------------------------------------------------------

        The variable  annuity  contract  reserves are  comprised of net contract
        purchase  payments less  redemptions  and benefits.  These  reserves are
        adjusted  daily for the net  investment  income  and net  realized  gain
        (loss) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments.
    

                                      -21-
<PAGE>


   
                      ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996
    
   
(3)     PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS IN PORTFOLIO SHARES

        The aggregate  cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of  investments
        in all portfolio  shares for the twelve  months ended  December 31, 1996
        are as follows:

                                                                        Proceeds
                                                           Cost of        from
                                                          Purchases       Sales
                                                        -------------  ---------

           Dreyfus Variable Investment Funds:
              Variable Capital Appreciation Portfolio   $   416,285       9,630
               Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.       187,037       3,968
               Stock Index Fund                             359,968       7,377
           Janus Aspen Series:
              Aggressive Growth Portfolio                   600,450       1,531
              Worldwide Growth Portfolio                    658,159      16,587
              Balanced Portfolio                            600,469      17,796
              Short-Term Bond Portfolio                      44,403          53
           Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.:
              Basic Value Focus Fund                         86,446       7,342
              Global Strategy Focus Fund                     22,875          13
              High Current Income Fund                       79,869       1,608
              Domestic Money Market Fund                    420,222      79,168
                                                         ----------    --------

              Total                                      $3,476,183    $145,073
                                                         ==========    ========
    
   
 (4)    DEDUCTIONS AND EXPENSES

        Although  periodic   annuitization  payments  to  contract  owners  vary
        according  to  the  investment  performance  of the  sub-accounts,  such
        payments are not affected by mortality or expense experience because the
        Company assumes the mortality risk and expense risk under the contracts.
    
   
        The mortality risk assumed by the Company  results from the life annuity
        payment  option in the  contracts,  in which the Company  agrees to make
        annuity payments regardless of how long a particular  annuitant or other
        payee lives.  The annuity  payments are  determined in  accordance  with
        annuity  purchase rate provisions  established at the time the contracts
        are issued. Based on the actuarial  determination of expected mortality,
        the Company is required to fund any  deficiency  in the annuity  payment
        reserves from its general account assets.
    
   
        The expense risk assumed by the Company is the risk that the  deductions
        for sales and  administrative  expenses may prove  insufficient to cover
        the actual sales and administrative  expenses. Under the Basic Contract,
        the Company  deducts a fee from the Account  each day for  assuming  the
        mortality  and expense  risks.  This fee is equal on an annual  basis to
        1.25 percent of the daily value of the total investments of the Account.
        These fees  aggregated  $8,622 for the twelve months ended  December 31,
        1996 and are included in the amounts due to the Company.
    


                                      -22-
<PAGE>


   
                      ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996
    
   
        In connection with certain contracts in which the Company incurs reduced
        sales  and  servicing  expenses,  such as  contracts  offered  to active
        employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries  and/or  affiliates,
        the Company may offer an Enhanced Contract. Under the Enhanced Contract,
        the Company  deducts a fee from the Account  each day for  assuming  the
        mortality  and expense  risks.  This fee is equal on an annual  basis to
        0.95 percent of the daily value of the total investments of the Account.
        These fees  aggregated $65 for the twelve months ended December 31, 1996
        and are included in the amounts due to the Company.
    
   
        Pursuant to an administrative agreement between AAG and the Company, AAG
        subsidiaries  provide sales and  administrative  services to the Company
        and the  Account.  The  Company  may  deduct a  percentage  of  purchase
        payments  surrendered to cover sales expenses.  The percentage decreases
        to 0 percent  from a maximum  of 7.0  percent  based  upon the number of
        years the purchase payment has been held.
    
   
        In addition,  the Company may deduct units from  contracts  annually and
        upon  full  surrender  to  cover  an  administrative  fee of $25.  These
        expenses totaled $175 for the twelve months ended December 31, 1996.
    
   
(5)     OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

        AAG  Securities,  Inc.,  an affiliate of the Company,  is the  principal
        underwriter and performs all variable  annuity sales functions on behalf
        of the Company.
    
   
(6)     NET ASSETS

        Net assets consisted of the following at December 31, 1996:

            Proceeds from the sales of units since 
               organization, less cost of units redeemed           $3,297,929
            Undistributed net investment income                        24,496
            Undistributed net realized gains on 
               sale of investments                                      4,654
            Net unrealized appreciation of investments                 53,343
                                                                   ----------

                Net assets                                         $3,380,422
    

                                      -23-
<PAGE>




   

                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                      STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                         AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995








                                    CONTENTS


                         Report of Independent Auditors


                  Audited Statutory-Basis Financial Statements


                        Balance Sheets - Statutory-Basis
                   Statements of Operations - Statutory-Basis
         Statements of Changes in Capital and Surplus - Statutory-Basis
                   Statements of Cash Flows - Statutory-Basis
                  Notes to Statutory-Basis Financial Statements

                           Other Financial Information

        Supplemental Schedule of Selected Statutory-Basis Financial Data
    Note to Supplemental Schedule of Selected Statutory-Basis Financial Data

    

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

   
ERNST & YOUNG LLP                      1300 Chiquita Center      Phone: 513 621 
645
                              250 East Fifth Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
    

   
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
    
   
Board of Directors
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company

We have  audited  the  accompanying  statutory-basis  balance  sheets of Annuity
Investors  Life  Insurance  Company ("the  Company") as of December 31, 1996 and
1995,  and the related  statutory-basis  statements  of  operations,  changes in
capital and surplus,  and cash flows for the years then ended.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.
    
   
We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
    
   
As described in Notes B and J to the financial statements,  the Company presents
its financial  statements in conformity with the accounting practices prescribed
or permitted  by the Ohio  Insurance  Department,  which  practices  differ from
generally accepted accounting  principles.  The variances between such practices
and generally accepted accounting principles and the effects on the accompanying
financial statements are described in Notes B and J.
    
   
In our opinion,  because of the effects of the matter described in the preceding
paragraph,  the financial statements referred to above do not present fairly, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the financial position
of Annuity  Investors Life  Insurance  Company at December 31, 1996 and 1995, or
the results of its operations or its cash flows for the years then ended.
    
   
Also, in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material  respects,  the  financial  position of Annuity  Investors  Life
Insurance  Company  at  December  31,  1996 and  1995,  and the  results  of its
operations  and its cash  flows  for the years  then  ended in  conformity  with
accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Ohio Insurance Department.
    
   
Our  audits  were  conducted  for the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion  on the
statutory-basis   financial  statements  taken  as  a  whole.  The  accompanying
supplemental schedule of selected statutory-basis financial data is presented to
comply  with  the  National  Association  of  Insurance   Commissioners'  Annual
Statement  Instructions  and  is not a  required  part  of  the  statutory-basis
financial  statements.  Such  information  has been  subjected  to the  auditing
procedures applied in our audit of the statutory-basis financial statements and,
in our opinion,  is fairly  stated in all  material  respects in relation to the
statutory-basis financial statements taken as a whole.
    
   
Cincinnati, Ohio                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
February 28, 1997
    
                                      -25-
<PAGE>

   

                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                 STATUTORY-BASIS


                                                               December 31
                                                      --------------------------
                                                          1996           1995
                                                      -----------    -----------
ADMITTED ASSETS
Cash and investments:
    Fixed maturities - at amortized cost
       (market value - $22,445,536 and $8,648,412)    $22,996,685    $ 8,554,641
    Policy loans                                           41,190           --
    Short-term investments                                841,000     15,169,930
    Cash                                                  475,770         93,584
    Other invested assets                                  75,000           --
                                                      -----------    -----------

    Total cash and investments                         24,429,645     23,818,155

Investment income due and accrued                         437,051        220,028
Federal income tax recoverable                            392,995           --
Separate Account assets                                 3,389,109           --
                                                      -----------    -----------

    TOTAL ADMITTED ASSETS                             $28,648,800    $24,038,183
                                                      ===========    ===========


LIABILITIES, CAPITAL AND SURPLUS
Annuity reserves                                      $ 3,676,377    $ 2,842,013
Commissions due and accrued                                53,746            966
General expenses due and accrued                           26,759          7,000
Transfers to Separate Accounts due
  and accrued (net)                                      (206,980)          --
Taxes, licenses and fees due and accrued                    1,900          3,000
Federal income tax payable                                   --            8,952
Asset valuation reserve                                    58,437          2,848
Payable to parent and affiliates                          303,718         58,423
Other liabilities                                           9,402           --
Separate Account liabilities                            3,389,109           --
                                                      -----------    -----------

    TOTAL LIABILITIES                                   7,312,468      2,923,202
                                                      -----------    -----------

Common stock, par value- $125 and $100:
    - 25,000 shares authorized
    - 20,000 shares issued and outstanding              2,500,000      2,000,000
Gross paid-in and contributed surplus                  17,550,000     18,050,000
Unassigned surplus                                      1,286,332      1,064,981
                                                      -----------    -----------

    TOTAL CAPITAL AND SURPLUS                          21,336,332     21,114,981
                                                     ------------   ------------

    TOTAL LIABILITIES, CAPITAL AND SURPLUS           $ 28,648,800   $ 24,038,183
                                                     ============   ============

                   See notes to statutory financial statements
    


                                      -26-
<PAGE>
   

                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 STATUTORY-BASIS



                                                             December 31
                                                   --------------------------
                                                        1996           1995
                                                   -----------    -----------  

REVENUES
    Premiums and annuity considerations            $    38,838    $    58,695
    Deposit-type funds                               4,355,900         16,107
    Net investment income                            1,500,424        552,141
    Other income (expense)                                (639)          --
                                                   -----------    -----------

           Total revenue                             5,894,523        626,943

BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
    Increase in aggregate reserves                     834,364        157,637
    Policyholders' benefits                            408,089        109,607
    Commissions on premiums, annuity
       considerations and deposit-type funds           257,666            966
    Commissions and expense allowances on
       reinsurance assumed                              48,353         48,689
    General insurance expenses                       1,138,281         34,588
    Taxes, licenses and fees                           103,174         53,577
    Net transfers to Separate Accounts               3,090,948           --
                                                   -----------    -----------

           Total benefits and expenses               5,880,875        405,064
                                                   -----------    -----------

Gain from operations before federal income taxes        13,648        221,879

Provision for federal income taxes                       2,280         74,941
                                                   -----------    -----------

Gain from operations after federal income
   taxes before net realized capital gains              11,368        146,938

Net realized capital gains (losses)
    Gross realized capital gains (losses)              (26,813)            15
    Capital gains tax expense                             --               (5)
    Interest maintenance reserve transfer
       (net of tax)                                     17,428             (8)
                                                   -----------    -----------

           Net realized capital gains (losses)
           after transfer to IMR                        (9,385)             2
                                                   -----------    -----------

NET INCOME                                         $     1,983    $   146,940
                                                   ===========    ===========


                   See notes to statutory financial statements
    

                                      -27-
<PAGE>



   


                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                  STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL AND SURPLUS
                                 STATUTORY-BASIS



                                                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                       1996               1995
                                                   ------------   -------------
COMMON STOCK
    Balance at beginning of year                   $  2,000,000    $  2,000,000 
    Transfer from gross paid in and                                             
      contributed surplus                               500,000            --   
                                                   ------------    ------------ 
                                                                                
           Balance at end of year                  $  2,500,000    $  2,000,000 
                                                   ============    ============ 
                                                                                
GROSS PAID-IN AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS                                           
Balance at beginning of year                       $ 18,050,000    $  3,350,000 
Capital contribution                                       --        14,700,000 
    Transfer to common stock                           (500,000)           --   
                                                   ------------    ------------ 
                                                                                
           Balance at end of year                  $ 17,550,000    $ 18,050,000 
                                                   ============    ============ 
                                                                                
UNASSIGNED FUNDS                                                                
    Balance at beginning of year                   $  1,064,981    $    920,890 
    Net income                                            1,983         146,940 
    Increase in non-admitted assets                     (85,271)           --   
    Increase in asset valuation reserve                 (55,589)           --   
    Adjustment for prior year taxes                     360,228          (2,849)
                                                   ------------    ------------ 
                                                                                
           Balance at end of year                  $  1,286,332    $  1,064,981 
                                                   ============    ============ 
                                                                                
TOTAL CAPITAL AND SURPLUS                          $ 21,336,332    $ 21,114,981 
                                                   ============    ============ 
                                                  

                   See notes to statutory financial statements
    

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 STATUTORY-BASIS


                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31

                                                     1996               1995
                                                 -------------     -------------
OPERATIONS:
    Premiums and annuity considerations           $     38,838     $     58,695 
    Deposit-type funds                               4,355,900           16,107 
    Net investment income                            1,365,858          512,777 
    Net increase in policy loans                       (41,190)            --   
    Policyholder benefits paid                        (408,089)        (109,607)
    Commissions, expenses and premium and                                       
       other taxes paid                             (1,479,640)        (128,854)
    Net transfers to Separate Accounts              (3,297,928)            --   
    Federal income taxes paid                          (44,000)         (42,813)
    Other cash provided                                186,214           47,151 
                                                  ------------     ------------ 
                                                                                
        Net cash provided by operations                675,963          353,456 
                                                                                
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                                                           
    Sale, maturity or repayment of bonds             2,383,321        1,167,103 
    Purchase of bonds                              (16,931,028)      (1,462,567)
    Other cash applied                                 (75,000)            --   
                                                  ------------     ------------ 
                                                                                
        Net cash used in investment activities     (14,622,707)        (295,464)
                                                                                
FINANCING AND MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES:                                         
    Capital contribution                                   --        14,700,000 
                                                   -----------     ------------ 
                                                                                
        Net cash provided by financing and                                      
         miscellaneous activities                         --        14,700,000  
                                                 -------------     -----------  
                                                                                
        Net (decrease) increase in cash and                                     
         short-term investments                  $ (13,946,744)    $ 14,757,992 
                                                 =============     ============ 
                                                                                
RECONCILIATION BETWEEN YEARS                                                    
    Cash and short-term investments                                             
       at beginning of year                      $  15,263,514     $    505,522 
    Net (decrease) increase in cash                                             
      and short-term investments                   (13,946,744)      14,757,992 
                                                 -------------     ------------
                                                                                
        Cash and short-term investments                                         
         at end of year                          $   1,316,770     $ 15,263,514 
                                                 =============     ============
                                                                   

                   See notes to statutory financial statements
    

                                      -29-
<PAGE>


   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                  NOTES TO STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
    
   
A.  GENERAL

Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company  ("AILIC"),  a life insurance company
domiciled in the State of Ohio,  is an indirectly  owned  subsidiary of American
Annuity Group,  Inc.,  ("AAG"),  a publicly traded  financial  services  holding
company of which American  Financial  Group,  Inc. ("AFG") owns 81%. On November
29, 1994, AILIC,  formerly Carillon Life Insurance  Company,  was purchased from
Great American Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFG.
    
   
AILIC's primary product is the variable  annuity sold to both the individual and
group markets. This product is marketed to hospitals,  501(c)(3)  organizations,
public education institutions and other qualified and non-qualified markets.
    
   
B.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying  financial  statements have been prepared
in conformity with accounting  practices prescribed or permitted by the National
Association  of  Insurance   Commissioners   ("NAIC")  and  the  Ohio  Insurance
Department,  which vary in some  respects  from  generally  accepted  accounting
principles ("GAAP"). The more significant of these differences are as follows:
    
   
(a) annuity receipts and deposit-type funds are accounted for as revenues versus
liabilities;
(b) an Interest Maintenance Reserve ("IMR") is provided whereby interest related
realized gains and losses are deferred and amortized into investment income over
the expected remaining life of the security sold;
(c) Asset Valuation  Reserves
("AVR") are provided which  reclassify a portion of surplus to liabilities;  
(d)  investments in bonds  considered  "available for sale" (as defined by GAAP)
are generally recorded at amortized cost versus market;
(e) certain general expenses and commissions  relating to the acquisition of new
business are capitalized to Deferred Acquisition Costs ("DAC") and amortized for
GAAP; and
(f) the cost of certain assets designated as "non-admitted  assets" (principally
advance commissions paid to agents), is charged against surplus.
    
   
Preparation of the financial  statements  requires  management to make estimates
and  assumptions  that affect amounts  reported in the financial  statements and
accompanying notes. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as
more  information  becomes  known which could  impact the amounts  reported  and
disclosed herein.
    
   
Certain  reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements
to conform to the current year's presentation.
    
   
INVESTMENTS  Asset values are generally  stated as follows:  Bonds not backed by
other  loans,  where  permitted,  at amortized  cost using the interest  method;
loan-backed bonds and structured securities,  where permitted, at amortized cost
using the interest method;  short-term  investments at cost; and policy loans at
unpaid balances.
    


                                      -30-
<PAGE>


   
Prepayment  assumptions  for  loan-backed  bonds and structured  securities were
obtained  from  broker  dealer  survey  values  or  internal  estimates.   These
assumptions  are  consistent  with  the  current   interest  rate  and  economic
environment.  Significant  changes in  estimated  cash  flows from the  original
purchase assumptions are accounted for on a prospective basis.
    
   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                  NOTES TO STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
    
   
As  prescribed  by the  NAIC,  the  market  value  for  investments  in bonds is
determined  by the  values  included  in the  Valuations  of  Securities  manual
published by the NAIC's  Securities  Valuation  Office.  Those values  generally
represent  quoted  market  value  prices  for  securities  traded in the  public
marketplace  or  analytically  determined  values  by the  Securities  Valuation
Office.
    
   
Short-term  investments having original  maturities of three months or less when
purchased are  considered to be cash  equivalents  for purposes of the financial
statements.
    
   
The carrying values of cash and short-term  investments  approximate  their fair
values.
    
   
Gains or losses on sales of securities are recognized at the time of disposition
with the amount of gain or loss determined on the specific identification basis.
    
   
The IMR applies to  interest-related  realized  capital gains and losses (net of
tax) and is intended to defer realized  gains and losses  resulting from changes
in the general level of interest  rates.  The IMR is amortized  into  investment
income over the approximate remaining life of the investments sold.
    
   
The AVR  provides  for  possible  credit-related  losses  on  securities  and is
calculated  according to a specified  formula as  prescribed by the NAIC for the
purpose of  stabilizing  surplus  against  fluctuations  in the market  value of
investment  securities.  Changes in the  required  reserve  balances are made by
direct credits or charges to surplus.
    
   
PREMIUMS Annuity premiums and deposit-type  funds are recognized as revenue when
due.
    
   
SEPARATE  ACCOUNTS  Separate  account  assets and  liabilities  reported  in the
accompanying  balance sheets  represent funds that are separately  administered,
principally for annuity contracts, and for which the contractholder, rather than
AILIC, bears the investment risk. Separate account contractholders have no claim
against the assets of the general account of AILIC.  Separate account assets are
reported at market  value.  The  operations  of the  separate  accounts  are not
included in the  accompanying  financial  statements.  Fees  charged on separate
account policyholder deposits are included in other income.
    
   
ANNUITY  RESERVES  Annuity  reserves are developed by actuarial  methods and are
determined  based on published tables using statutory  specified  interest rates
and valuation  methods that will provide,  in the  aggregate,  reserves that are
greater  than or equal to the minimum  amounts  required by law. The fair market
value of the reserves approximates the statement value.
    
   
REINSURANCE  Reinsurance premiums,  benefits and expenses are accounted for on a
basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original  policies issued
and the terms of the reinsurance contracts.
    


                                      -31-
<PAGE>

   

                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            NOTES TO STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
    
   
C.  INVESTMENTS

At  December  31,  1996,  fixed  maturity  investments  in U.S.  Government  and
government  agencies and  authorities had a carrying value of $9.0 million and a
market  value of $8.7  million,  gross  unrealized  gains of  $42,370  and gross
unrealized losses of ($361,158).  All other corporate fixed maturity investments
at December 31, 1996,  had a carrying  value of $13.9  million,  market value of
$13.7 million, gross unrealized gains of $111,747 and gross unrealized losses of
($344,107).  At December 31, 1995, fixed maturity investments in U.S. Government
and government agencies and authorities had a carrying value and market value of
$7.3 million,  gross unrealized gains of $74,700 and gross unrealized  losses of
($45,100).  All other corporate fixed maturity investments at December 31, 1995,
had a  carrying  value of $1.3  million,  market  value of $1.4  million,  gross
unrealized gains of $64,700 and gross unrealized losses of ($600).
    
   
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturity  investments were $2.4 million in 1996 and
$1.2 million in 1995.  Gross realized gains of $3,525 and $18 and gross realized
losses of $30,338  and $3 were  realized  on those  sales  during 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
    
   
U.S.  Treasury Notes with a carrying value of $6.1 million at December 31, 1996,
were on deposit as required by the insurance departments of various states.
    
   
The table below sets forth the scheduled  maturities  of AILIC's fixed  maturity
investments as of December 31, 1996:
    

   
                                              Carrying                Market
                                                Value                 Value
Bonds by maturity:
  Due within 1 year or less                  $   100,629          $     102,406
  Over 1 year through 5 years                  5,968,341              5,886,647
  Over 5 years through 10 years               12,735,872             12,421,027
  Over 10 years through 20 years               3,655,618              3,500,404
  Over 20 years                                  536,225                535,052
                                             -----------            -----------

       Total bonds by maturity               $22,996,685            $22,445,536
                                             ===========            ===========

Net investment income consisted 
 of the following:

                                                 1996                     1995
                                                 ----                     ----

    Bonds                                    $ 1,369,442          $     447,488
    Short-term investments                       159,533                 72,980
    Cash on hand and on deposit                    1,250                 41,582
    Policy loans                                   1,153                      -
    Aggregate write-ins for investment 
      income                                          54                      -
                                              ----------          -------------

               Gross investment income         1,531,432                562,050

    Investment expenses                          (31,008)                (9,909)
                                              ----------          -------------

               Net investment income          $1,500,424          $     552,141
                                              ==========          =============
    

                                      -32-
<PAGE>


   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            NOTES TO STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
    
   
D.  FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

AILIC's amount of federal income taxes incurred for  recoupement in the event of
future losses is approximately $2,000 in 1996.
    
   
E.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On December 30, 1993,  AILIC  entered into a  reinsurance  agreement  with Great
American  Life  Insurance  Company  ("GALIC"),   an  affiliated  Ohio  domiciled
insurance company, which became AILIC's immediate parent in 1995. As a result of
the  transaction,  AILIC assumed $2.6 million in deferred  annuity  reserves and
received an equivalent amount of assets. Premiums of $38,838 in 1996 and $58,695
in 1995  consisted  of assumed  reinsurance  from GALIC in  accordance  with the
agreement.  The  reinsurance  agreement will be terminated as of January 1, 1997
and an equal amount of assets and annuity reserves will be transferred to GALIC.
    
   
AILIC has an agreement  with American  Money  Management,  Inc. (an  affiliate),
subject to the  direction of the Finance  Committee of AILIC,  whereby  American
Money Management,  Inc., provides investment  management  services.  In 1996 and
1995, AILIC paid $15,095 and $11,666, respectively, in management fees.
    
   
AILIC has an agreement with AAG Securities,  Inc., a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
AAG,  whereby AAG  Securities is the principal  underwriter  and  distributor of
AILIC's variable contracts.  AILIC pays AAG Securities for acting as underwriter
under a distribution  agreement. In 1996 and 1995, AILIC paid $257,666 and $966,
respectively, in commissions.
    
   
Certain administrative,  management, accounting, data processing,  underwriting,
claim,  collection and investment services are provided under agreements between
AILIC  and  affiliates  at  charges  not   unfavorable  to  AILIC  or  insurance
affiliates. In 1996 and 1995, AILIC paid $277,505 and $0, respectively,  in fees
to affiliates.
    
   
F.  DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

The amount of dividends  which can be paid by AILIC  without  prior  approval of
regulatory  authorities  is  subject to  restrictions  relating  to capital  and
surplus and net income. AILIC may pay approximately $1.3 million in dividends in
1997 based on capital and surplus, without prior approval.
    
   
G.  ANNUITY RESERVES, EXCLUDING SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

At  December  31,  1996,  $2.7  million  or 72.2% of AILIC's  annuity  reserves,
excluding  Separate Accounts,  were subject to discretionary  withdrawal without
adjustment,  and $1.0 million or 27.8% were subject to discretionary  withdrawal
at book value less  surrender  charges of 5% or more. As of 1995,  there were no
purchase payments allocated or investments held in the Separate Account.
    


                                      -33-
<PAGE>

   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            NOTES TO STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995

    
   
H.  SEPARATE ACCOUNT

The Company writes individual and group  non-guaranteed  variable annuities.  In
1996,  the  General  Account  had  net  transfers  to the  Separate  Account  of
$3,090,948,  consisting of transfers to the Separate  Account of $3,337,987  and
transfers from the Separate Account of $247,039,  including  contingent deferred
sales  charges of  $198,353.  In 1995,  there were no  transfers  to or from the
Separate Account.
    
   
All Separate  Account reserves are  non-guaranteed  and subject to discretionary
withdrawal  at market  value.  In 1995,  there were no reserves in the  Separate
Account.  In 1996,  funds in the  Separate  Account had a total  market value of
$3,389,109 and amortized cost of $3,335,765,  resulting in net unrealized  gains
of $53,344, consisting of gross unrealized gains of $57,307 and gross unrealized
losses of ($3,963).
    
   
I.  OTHER ITEMS

The  increase in the number of  insurance  companies  that are under  regulatory
supervision  has resulted,  and is expected to continue to result,  in increased
assessments  by state  guaranty  funds  to  cover  losses  to  policyholders  of
insolvent or rehabilitated insurance companies.  Those mandatory assessments may
be partially  recovered  through  deduction in future  premium  taxes in certain
states. GALIC is responsible for payment of all assessments relating to premiums
earned in accordance with the reinsurance agreement discussed in Note E.
    
   
The Company  increased  the par value on the  authorized  shares of common stock
from  $100  a  share  to  $125  a  share  during  1996.   This   resulted  in  a
reclassification between gross paid in and contributed surplus and common stock.
    
   
J.  VARIANCES FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

The  accompanying  financial  statements  have been prepared in conformity  with
accounting  practices  prescribed  or permitted by the National  Association  of
Insurance  Commissioners ("NAIC") and the Ohio Insurance Department,  which vary
in some respects from generally accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP").  The
following  table  summarizes the  differences  between net income and surplus as
determined in accordance  with statutory  accounting  practices and GAAP for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995:
    


                                      -34-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
                                                              NET INCOME                 CAPITAL AND SURPLUS
                                                      ----------------------------    ---------------------------
                                                             1996          1995            1996          1995
                                                      -------------   ------------    -------------  ------------

<S>                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>         
As reported on a statutory basis                     $      1,983    $    146,940    $ 21,336,332    $ 21,114,981
    Commissions capitalized to DAC                        257,666             954         257,666             954
    General expenses capitalized to DAC                   569,139            --           569,139            --
    Taxes, licenses and fees capitalized to DAC            51,587            --            51,587            --
    Amortization of DAC                                   (51,969)           --           (51,969)           --
    Capital gains transferred to IMR, net of tax          (17,428)              8         (17,428)              8
    Amortization of IMR, net of tax                           814            --               814            --
    Contingent deferred sales charge                     (262,297)           --          (262,297)           --
    Federal income taxes                                 (190,841)         (3,051)       (190,841)         (3,051)
    Unrealized gain (loss) adjustment                        --              --          (352,697)         38,109
    AVR adjustment                                           --              --            55,589           2,848
    Non-admitted assets adjustment                           --              --            85,271            --
    Prior year tax adjustment                                --              --          (360,228)           --
    Prior year stat to GAAP cumulative adjustments           --              --            38,868            --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------

        Total GAAP adjustments                            356,671          (2,089)       (176,526)         38,868
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------

GAAP basis                                           $    358,654    $    144,851    $ 21,159,806    $ 21,153,849
                                                     ============    ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

    


                                      -35-
<PAGE>















   
                           OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    













                                      -36-
<PAGE>

   
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
        SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF SELECTED STATUTORY-BASIS FINANCIAL DATA
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996


Investment income earned:
    Bonds                                                         $  1,369,442
    Short-term investments                                             159,533
    Cash on hand and on deposit                                          1,250
    Policy loans                                                         1,153
    Aggregate write-ins for investment income                               54
                                                                 -------------

               Gross investment income                            $  1,531,432
                                                                  ============

Bonds and short-term investments by class (statement value):
    Class      "1"                                                 $19,566,716
    Class      "2"                                                   2,334,053
    Class      "3"                                                   1,126,918
    Class      "4"                                                     809,998
                                                                 -------------

               Total bonds and short-term investments by class     $23,837,685
                                                                   ===========

Bonds traded:
    Publicly                                                       $22,665,384
    Privately                                                          331,301

               Total bonds traded                                  $22,996,685

Short-term investments (book value)                              $     841,000
                                                                 =============

Cash on deposit                                                  $     475,770
                                                                 =============

Group annuities not fully paid--account balance                   $  3,676,377
                                                                  ============

Bonds and short-term investments by maturity (statement value):
    Due within 1 year or less                                    $     941,629
    Over 1 year through 5 years                                      5,968,341
    Over 5 years through 10 years                                   12,735,872
    Over 10 years through 20 years                                   3,655,618
    Over 20 years                                                      536,225
                                                                 -------------
 
               Total by maturity                                   $23,837,685
    

   
NOTE--BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying schedule presents selected statutory-basis financial data as of
December  31, 1996 and for the year then ended for  purposes of  complying  with
paragraph 9 of the Annual Audited  Financial  Reports in the General  section of
the  National   Association  of  Insurance   Commissioners'   Annual   Statement
Instructions  and agrees to or is included  in the  amounts  reported in AILIC's
1996 Statutory Annual Statement as filed with the Ohio Insurance Department.
    

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
 PART C
 Other Information


 Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 (a)  Financial Statements

      All required  financial  statements are included in Parts A
      or B of this Registration Statement.

 (b)  Exhibits

      (1)       Resolution of the Board of Directors of Annuity  Investors  Life
                Insurance Company authorizing establishment of Annuity Investors
                Variable Account A.1/

      (2)       Not Applicable.

      (3)       (a)  Distribution   Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance Company and AAG Securities, Inc.2/ -

   
                (b)  Form of Selling  Agreement  between Annuity  Investors Life
                     Insurance  Company,   AAG  Securities,   Inc.  and  another
                     Broker-Dealer.2/
    

      (4)       (a)  Individual Contract Forms.

   
                     (i)   Form  of  Qualified   Individual   Flexible   Premium
                           Deferred Annuity Contract.2/

                     (ii)  Form of Non-Qualified Individual Contract.2/
    

                (b)  Endorsements to Individual Contracts.

   
                     (i)   Form of Loan Endorsement to Individual Contract.2/

                     (ii)  Form  of  Tax  Sheltered   Annuity   Endorsement   to
                           Individual Contract.2/

                     (iii) Form of Qualified Pension, Profit Sharing and Annuity
                           Plan Endorsement to Qualified Individual Contract.2/

                     (iv)  Form  of  Employer  Plan  Endorsement  to  Individual
                           Contract.2/

                     (v)  Form of Individual  Retirement Annuity  Endorsement to
                          Individual Contract.2/

                     (vi) Form of Texas Optional  Retirement Program Endorsement
                          to Individual Contract.2/
    


<PAGE>



   
                     (vii) Form of  Long-Term  Care Waiver  Rider to  Individual
                           Contract (filed herewith).

                     (viii) Form of SIMPLE IRA Endorsement (filed herewith).

     (5)        (a)  Form  of  Application  for  Individual   Flexible   Premium
                     Deferred Annuity Contract (filed herewith).

     (6)        (a)  Articles  of  Incorporation   of  Annuity   Investors  Life
                     Insurance Company.1/

                     (i)   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, adopted April
                           9, 1996 and  approved by  Secretary of State of State
                           of Ohio on July 11, 1996 (filed herewith).

                     (ii)  Amendment  to  Articles  of  Incorporation,   adopted
                           August 9, 1996 and  approved by Secretary of State of
                           State of Ohio on December 23, 1996 (filed herewith).

               (b)   Code of  Regulations  of Annuity  Investors  Life Insurance
                     Company.1/

     (7)       Not applicable.

     (8)       (a)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance Company and Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund.1/ -

                (b)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance Company and Dreyfus Stock Index Fund.1/

                (c)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance  Company  and The  Dreyfus  Socially  Responsible
                     Fund, Inc.1/

                (d)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance Company and Janus Aspen Series.2/

                (e)  Amended  and  Restated   Participation   Agreement  between
                     Annuity  Investors Life Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch
                     Variable Series Funds, Inc.2/

                (f)  Agreement  between Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
                     and Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.2/

                (g)  Service  Agreement between Annuity Investors Life Insurance
                     Company and American Annuity Group, Inc.1/

                (h)  Agreement  between AAG  Securities,  Inc. and AAG Insurance
                     Agency, Inc.1/

                (i)  Investment Service Agreement between Annuity Investors Life
                     Insurance Company and American Annuity Group, Inc.1/

    


                                      - 2 -


<PAGE>



   
                (j)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance  Company and Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.
                     (filed herewith).

                (k)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance  Company and Strong Special Fund II, Inc.  (filed
                     herewith).

                (l)  Participation  Agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
                     Insurance  Company and PBHG  Insurance  Series  Fund,  Inc.
                     (filed herewith).

                (m)  Amended  and   Restated   Agreement   between  The  Dreyfus
                     Corporation  and Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company
                     (filed herewith).

                (n)  Service  Agreement between Annuity Investors Life Insurance
                     Company and Janus Capital Corporation (filed herewith).

     (9)   Opinion and Consent of Counsel.1/

     (10)  Consent of Independent Auditors (filed herewith).

     (11)  No financial statements are omitted from Item 23.

     (12)  Not Applicable.

     (13)  Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations (filed herewith).

     (14)  Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith).

    

      _________________

      1/       Filed with Form N-4 on December 27, 1995.
      2/       Filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on July 26, 1996.


                                      - 3 -


<PAGE>





Item 25. Directors and Officers of Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company

                               Principal
                               Business        Positions and Offices
Name                           Address         With the Company
- ----                           -------         ---------------------

Robert Allen Adams               (1)           President, Director
Stephen Craig Lindner            (1)           Director
William Jack Maney, II           (1)           Assistant Treasurer and
                                               Director
James Michael Mortensen          (1)           Executive Vice President,
                                               Assistant Secretary and
                                               Director
Mark Francis Muething            (1)           Senior Vice President,
                                               Secretary, General Counsel and
                                               Director
Jeffrey Scott Tate               (1)           Director
Thomas Kevin Liguzinski          (1)           Senior Vice President
Charles Kent McManus             (1)           Senior Vice President
Robert Eugene Allen              (1)           Vice President and Treasurer
Arthur Ronald Greene, III        (1)           Vice President
Betty Marie Kasprowicz           (1)           Vice President and Assistant
                                               Secretary
Michael Joseph O'Connor          (1)           Vice President and Chief
                                               Actuary
Lynn Edward Laswell              (1)           Assistant Vice President and
                                               Assistant Treasurer

(1) P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5423.

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

   
The Depositor, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Great  American Life  Insurance  Company,  which is a wholly
owned subsidiary of American Annuity Group,  Inc. The Registrant,  Annuity
Investors  Separate  Account A, is a segregated  asset  account of Annuity
Investors  Life  Insurance   Company.   The  following   chart  shows  the
affiliations  among  Annuity  Investors  Life  Insurance  Company  and its
parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities.
    



                                      - 4 -


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.                                                                       
==============================                                                     % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
                                                          STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE   
                                                          DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------      --------------    ------------------
   
<S>                                                       <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>
AHH Holdings, Inc.                                        Florida        12/27/95          49           Holding Company
  Columbia Financial Company                              Florida        10/26/93         100           Real Estate Holding Company
  American Heritage Holding Corporation                   Delaware       11/02/94         100           Home Builder
    Heritage Homes Realty, Inc.                           Florida        07/20/93         100           Home Sales
    Southeast Title, Inc.                                 Florida        05/16/95         100           Title Company
  Heritage Home Finance Corporation                       Florida        02/10/94         100           Finance Company
American Financial Capital Trust I                        Delaware       09/14/96         100           Statutory Business Trust
American Financial Corporation                            Ohio           11/15/55         100           Holding Company
  AFC Coal Properties, Inc.                               Ohio           12/18/96         100           Real Estate Holding Company
  American Barge & Towing Company                         Ohio           03/25/82         100           Inactive
    Spartan Transportation Corporation                    Ohio           07/19/83         100           Mgmt-River Transportation
                                                                                                          Equipment
  American Financial Corporation                          Ohio           08/27/63         100           Inactive
  American Money Management Corporation                   Ohio           03/01/73         100           Investment Management
  American Money Management International, N.V            Netherland     05/10/85         100           Securities Management
                                                           Antilles
  American Premier Underwriters, Inc.                     Pennsylvania   1846             100(2)        Diversified
    The Ann Arbor Railroad Company                        Michigan       09/21/1895        99           Inactive
    The Associates of the Jersey Company                  New Jersey     11/10/1804       100           Inactive
    Cal Coal, Inc.                                        Illinois       05/30/79         100           Inactive
    The Indianapolis Union Railway Company                Indiana        11/19/1872       100           Inactive
    Lehigh Valley Railroad Company                        Pennsylvania   04/21/1846       100           Inactive
    Millennium Dynamics, Inc.                             Ohio           07/31/95         100           Design, Marketing &Servicing
                                                                                                          of Comp. Software
    The New York and Harlem Railroad Company              New York       04/25/1831        97           Inactive
    The Owasco River Railway, Inc.                        New York       06/02/1881       100           Inactive
    PCC Real Estate, Inc.                                 New York       12/15/86         100           Holding Company
      PCC Chicago Realty Corp.                            New York       12/23/86         100           Real Estate Developer
      PCC Gun Hill Realty Corp.                           New York       12/18/85         100           Real Estate Developer
      PCC Michigan Realty, Inc.                           Michigan       11/09/87         100           Real Estate Developer
      PCC Scarsdale Realty Corp.                          New York       06/01/86         100           Real Estate Developer
        Scarsdale Depot Associates, L.P.                  Delaware       05/05/89          80           Real Estate Developer
    Penn Central Energy Management Company                Delaware       05/11/87         100           Energy Operations Manager
    Pennsylvania Company                                  Delaware       12/05/58         100           Holding Company
      Atlanta Casualty Company                            Illinois       06/13/72         100(2)        Property/Casualty Insurance
        American Premier Insurance Company                Indiana        11/30/89         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Atlanta Specialty Insurance Company               Iowa           02/06/74         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Mr. Agency of Georgia, Inc.                       Georgia        04/01/77         100           Insurance Agency
          Atlanta Casualty General Agency, Inc.           Texas          03/15/61         100           Managing General Agency
          Atlanta Insurance Brokers, Inc.                 Georgia        02/06/71         100           Insurance Agency
          Treaty House, Ltd. (d/b/a Mr. Budget)           Nevada         11/02/71         100           Insurance Premium Finance
        Penn Central U.K. Limited                         United Kingdom 10/28/92         100           Insurance Holding Company
          Insurance (GB) Limited                          United Kingdom 05/13/92         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
      Delbay Corporation                                  Delaware       12/27/62         100           Inactive
    


                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>


==============================================================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
==============================================================
American Financial Corporation                                                     % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
  American Premier Underwriters, Inc.                     STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE
    Pennsylvania Company                                  DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------   -----------------    ------------------
   
      Great Southwest Corporation                         Delaware       10/25/78         100           Real Estate Developer
        World Houston, Inc.                               Delaware       05/30/74         100           Real Estate Developer
      Hangar Acquisition Corp.                            Ohio           10/06/95         100           Aircraft Investment
      Infinity Insurance Company                          Florida        07/09/55         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Infinity Agency of Texas, Inc.                    Texas          07/15/92         100           Managing General Agency
        The Infinity Group, Inc.                          Indiana        07/22/92         100           Insurance Holding Company
        Infinity Select Insurance Company                 Indiana        06/11/91         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Infinity Southern Insurance Corporation           Alabama        08/05/92         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Leader National Insurance Company                 Ohio           03/20/63         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
          Budget Insurance Premiums, Inc.                 Ohio           02/14/64         100           Premium Finance Company
          Leader National Agency, Inc.                    Ohio           04/05-63         100           Brokering Agent
          Leader National Agency of Texas, Inc.           Texas          01/25/94         100           Managing General Agency
          Leader National Insurance Agency of Arizona     Arizona        12/05/73         100           Brokering Agent
          Leader Preferred Insurance Company              Ohio           11/07/94         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
          Leader Specialty Insurance Company              Indiana        03/10/94         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
      PCC Technical Industries, Inc.                      California     03/07/55         100           Holding Company
        ESC, Inc.                                         California     11/02/62         100           Connector Accessories
        Marathon Manufacturing Companies, Inc.            Delaware       11/18/83         100           Holding Company
          Marathon Manufacturing Company                  Delaware       12/07/79         100           Inactive
        PCC Maryland Realty Corp.                         Maryland       08/18/93         100           Real Estate Holding Company
        Penn Camarillo Realty Corp.                       California     11/24/92         100           Real Estate Holding Company
      Penn Towers, Inc.                                   Pennsylvania   08/01/58         100           Inactive
      Republic Indemnity Company of America               California     12/05/72         100           Workers' Compensation Ins.
        Republic Indemnity Company of California          California     10/13/82         100           Workers' Compensation Ins.
        Republic Indemnity Medical Management, Inc.       California     03/25/96         100           Medical Bill Review
        Timberglen Limited                                United Kingdom 10/28/92         100           Investments
      Risico Management Corporation                       Delaware       01/10/89         100           Risk Management
      Windsor Insurance Company                           Indiana        11/05/87         100(2)        Property/Casualty Insurance
        American Deposit Insurance Company                Oklahoma       12/28/66         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
          Granite Finance Co., Inc.                       Texas          11/09/65         100           Premium Financing
        Coventry Insurance Company                        Ohio           09/05/89         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        El Aguila Compania de Seguros, S.A. de C.V.       Mexico         11/24/94         100(2)        Property/Casualty Insurance
        Moore Group Inc.                                  Georgia        12/19/62         100           Insurance Holding Company/
                                                                                                           Agency
          Casualty Underwriters, Inc.                     Georgia        10/01/54          51           Insurance Agency
          Dudley L. Moore Insurance, Inc.                 Louisiana      03/30/78   beneficial interest Insurance Agency
          Hallmark General Insurance Agency, Inc.         Oklahoma       06/16/72   beneficial interest Insurance Agency
          Middle Tennessee Underwriters, Inc.             Tennessee      11/14/69         100           Insurance Agency
            Insurance Finance Company                     Tennessee      01/03/62         100           Premium Financing
          Windsor Group, Inc.                             Georgia        05/23/91         100           Insurance Holding Company
        Regal Insurance Company                           Indiana        11/05/87         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
        Texas Windsor Group, Inc.                         Texas          06/23/88         100           Insurance Agency
    Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines                   New Jersey     06/14/01          66.67        Inactive
    Pittsburgh and Cross Creek Railroad Company           Pennsylvania   08/14/70          83           Inactive
    

<PAGE>


==============================================================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
==============================================================
American Financial Corporation
  American Premier Underwriters, Inc.                                              % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
                                                          STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE
                                                          DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------   -----------------    ------------------
   
    Terminal Realty Penn Co.                              District of    09/23/68         100           Inactive
    United Railroad Corp.                                 Delaware       11/25/81         100           Inactive
      Detroit Manufacturers Railroad Company              Michigan       01/30/02          82           Inactive
    Waynesburg Southern Railroad Company                  Pennsylvania   09/01/66         100           Inactive
  Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (and subsidiaries)  New Jersey     03/30/99          43.09(2)     Production/Processing/
                                                                                                          Distribution of Food
                                                                                                          Products
  Dixie Terminal Corporation                              Ohio           04/23/70         100           Commercial Leasing
  Fairmont Holdings, Inc.                                 Ohio           12/15/83         100           Holding Company
  FWC Corporation                                         Ohio           03/16/83         100           Financial Services
  Great American Holding Corporation                      Ohio           11/30/77         100           Holding Company
    Great American Insurance Company                      Ohio           3/7/1872         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
      A B I Group, Inc.                                   Minnesota      07/27/78         100           Inactive
        American Business Risk Services, Inc.             Minnesota      04/19/78         100           Inactive
        American Insurance Management Agency, Inc.        Minnesota      11/16/82         100           Inactive
        Consolidated Underwriters, Inc.                   Texas          10/14/80         100           Inactive
      Agricultural Excess and Surplus Insurance Company   Delaware       02/28/79         100           Excess & Surplus Lines Ins.
      Agricultural Insurance Company                      Ohio           03/23/05         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
      American Alliance Insurance Company                 Arizona        09/11/45         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
      American Annuity Group, Inc.                        Delaware       05/15/87          81.38(2)     Holding Company
        AAG Holding Company, Inc.                         Ohio           09/11/96         100           Holding Company
          American Annuity Group Capital Trust I          Delaware       09/13/96         100           Financing Vehicle
          American Annuity Group Capital Trust II         Delaware       03/11/97         100           Financing Vehicle
          Great American Life Insurance Company           Ohio           12/15/59         100           Life Insurance Company
            Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company      Ohio           11/31/81         100           Life Insurance Company
            Assured Security Life Insurance Company, Inc. South Dakota   05/12/78         100           Life Insurance Company
            CHATBAR, Inc.                                 Massachusetts  11/02/93         100           Hotel Operator
            Driskill Holding, Inc.                        Texas          06/07/95  beneficial interest  Hotel Management
            GALIC Brothers, Inc.                          Ohio           11/12/93          80           Real Estate Management
            GALIC Life Insurance Company                  Ohio           06/21/94         100           Life Ins. Co. (Lic. Pending)
            Great American Life Assurance Company         Ohio           08/10/67         100           Life Insurance Company
            Loyal American Life Insurance Company         Alabama        05/18/55         100           Life Insurance Company
              ADL Financial Services, Inc.                North Carolina 09/10/70         100           Marketing Services
              Purity Financial Corporation                Florida        12/21/91         100           Marketing Services
            Prairie National Life Insurance Company       South Dakota   02/11/76         100           Life Insurance Company
              American Memorial Life Insurance Company    South Dakota   03/18/59         100           Life Insurance Company
                Great Western Life Insurance Company      Montana        05/01/80         100           Life Insurance Company
                Rushmore National Life Insurance Company  South Dakota   04/16/37         100           Life Insurance Company
        AAG Insurance Agency, Inc.                        Kentucky       12/06/94         100           Life Insurance Agency
          AAG Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc.     Massachusetts  05/25/95         100           Insurance Agency
        AAG Securities, Inc.                              Ohio           12/10/93         100           Broker-Dealer
        American DataSource, Inc.                         Delaware       06/15/90         100           Pre-need Trust Services
        American Memorial Marketing Services, Inc.        Washington     06/19/80         100           Marketing Services

                                      -7-
    
<PAGE>


==============================================================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
==============================================================
American Financial Corporation                                                     % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
  Great American Holding Corporation                      STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE
    Great American Insurance Company                      DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------   -----------------    ------------------
    American Annuity Group, Inc.
   
      CSW Management Services, Inc.                       Texas          06/27/85         100           Pre-need Trust Admin.
                                                                                                          Services
      GALIC Disbursing Company                            Ohio           05/31/94         100           Payroll Servicer
        Keyes-Graham Insurance Agency, Inc.               Massachusetts  12/23/87         100           Insurance Agency
        International Funeral Associates, Inc.            Delaware       05/07/86         100           Coop. Buying Funeral Dirs.
        Laurentian Credit Services Corporation            Delaware       10/07/94         100           Inactive
        Laurentian Marketing Services, Inc.               Delaware       12/23/87         100           Marketing Services
        Laurentian Securities Corporation                 Delaware       01/30/90         100           Inactive
        Lifestyle Financial Investments, Inc.             Ohio           12/29/93         100           Marketing Services
           Lifestyle Financial Investments Agency of      Ohio           03/07/94  beneficial interest  Life Insurance Agency
                Ohio, Inc.
           Lifestyle Financial Investments of Indiana,    Indiana        02/24/94         100           Life Insurance Agency
                Inc.
           Lifestyle Financial Investments of Kentucky,   Kentucky       10/03/94         100           Insurance Agency
                Inc.
              Lifestyle Financial Investments of the      Minnesota      06/10/85         100           Insurance Agency
                     Northwest, Inc.
              Lifestyle Financial Investments of the      North Carolina 07/13/94         100           Insurance Agency
                     Southeast, Inc.
        Loyal Marketing Services, Inc.                    Alabama        07/20/90         100           Marketing Services
        Purple Cross Insurance Agency, Inc.               Delaware       11/07/89         100           Insurance Agency
        Retirement Resource Group, Inc.                   Indiana        02/07/95         100           Insurance Agency
          RRG of Alabama, Inc.                            Alabama        09/22/95         100           Life Insurance Agency
          RRG of Ohio, Inc.                               Ohio           02/20/96  beneficial interest  Insurance Agency
          RRG of Texas, Inc.                              Texas          06/02/95         100           Life Insurance Agency
        SPELCO (UK) Ltd.                                  United Kingdom 00/00/00          99           Inactive
        SWTC, Inc.                                        Delaware       00/00/00         100           Inactive
        SWTC Hong Kong Ltd.                               Hong Kong      00/00/00         100           Inactive
        Technomil Ltd.                                    Delaware       00/00/00         100           Inactive
      American Custom Insurance Services, Inc.            Ohio           07/27/83         100           Management Holding Company
        American Custom Insurance Services California,    California     05/18/92         100           Insurance Agency & Brokerage
           Inc.
        Eden Park Insurance Brokers, Inc.                 California     02/13/90         100           Wholesale Brokerage for
                                                                                                          Surplus Lines
        Professional Risk Brokers, Inc.                   Illinois       03/01/90         100           Insurance Agency
        Professional Risk Brokers Insurance, Inc.         Massachusetts  04/19/94         100           Surplus Lines Brokerage
        Professional Risk Brokers of Connecticut, Inc.    Connecticut    07/09/92         100           Insurance Agency & Brokerage
        Professional Risk Brokers of Ohio, Inc.           Ohio           12/17/86         100           Insurance Agency & Brokerage
        Utility Insurance Services, Inc.                  Texas          04/06/95         100(2)        Texas Local Recording Agency
        Utility Management Services, Inc.                 Texas          09/07/65         100           Texas Managing Gen. Agency
      American Custom Insurance Services Illinois, Inc.   Illinois       07/08/92         100           Underwriting Office
      American Dynasty Surplus Lines Insurance Company    Delaware       01/12/82         100           Excess & Surplus Lines Ins.
      American Eagle Group, Inc.                          Delaware       10/03/86          48.6(3)      Holding Company
        AE Insurance Agency, Inc.                         California     12/17/91         100           Inactive
        AOA Corporation                                   Texas          11/12/91         100           Inactive
        American Eagle Insurance Company                  Texas          12/07/84         100           Property/Casualty Insurer
          American Eagle Reinsurance Organization, Inc.   Texas          08/31/70         100           Inactive
          American Meridian Insurance Company Limited     Bermuda        01/01/81         100           Inactive
    

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>


==============================================================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
==============================================================
American Financial Corporation                                                     % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
  Great American Holding Corporation                      STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE
    Great American Insurance Company                      DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------   -----------------    ------------------
   American Eagle Group, Inc.
   
         Aviation Adjustment Bureau, Inc.                 Texas          05/08/79         100           Claims Servicing
         Aviation Elite Reinsurance Organization, Inc.    Texas          11/22/72         100           Inactive
         Aviation Office of America, Inc.                 Texas          02/15/77         100           Insurance Agency
       American Empire Surplus Lines Insurance Company    Delaware       07/15/77         100           Excess & Surplus Lines Ins.
         American Empire Insurance Company                Ohio           11/26/79         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
           American Signature Underwriters, Inc.          Ohio           04/08/96         100           Insurance Agency
           Specialty Underwriters, Inc.                   Texas          05/19/76         100           Insurance Agency
         Fidelity Excess and Surplus Insurance Company    Ohio           06/30/87         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       American Financial Enterprises, Inc.               Connecticut    1871              82.62(2)     Closed End Investment Co.
       American Insurance Agency, Inc.                    Kentucky       07/27/67         100           Insurance Agency
       American National Fire Insurance Company           New York       08/22/47         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       American Special Risk, Inc.                        Illinois       12/29/81         100           Insurance Broker/Managing
                                                                                                          General Agency
         American Special Risk I of Arizona, Inc.         Arizona        02/06/90         100           Inactive
       American Spirit Insurance Company                  Indiana        04/05/88         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       Brothers Property Corporation                      Ohio           09/08/87          80           Real Estate Investment
         Brothers Barrington Corporation                  Oklahoma       03/18/94         100           Real Estate Holding Corp.
         Brothers Cincinnatian Corporation                Ohio           01/25/94         100           Hotel Manager
         Brothers Columbine Corporation                   Oklahoma       03/18/94         100           Real Estate Holding Corp.
         Brothers Landing Corporation                     Louisiana      02/24/94         100           Real Estate Holding Corp.
         Brothers Pennsylvanian Corporation               Pennsylvania   12/23/94         100           Real Estate Holding Corp.
         Brothers Port Richey Corporation                 Florida        12/06/93         100           Apartment Manager
         Brothers Property Management Corporation         Ohio           09/25/87         100           Real Estate Management
         Brothers Railyard Corporation                    Texas          12/14/93         100           Apartment Manager
       Contemporary American Insurance Company            Illinois       04/16/96         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       Crop Managers Insurance Agency, Inc.               Kansas         08/09/89         100           Insurance Agency
       Dempsey & Siders Agency, Inc.                      Ohio           05/09/56         100           Insurance Agency
       Eagle American Insurance Company                   Ohio           07/01/87         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       Eden Park Insurance Company                        Indiana        01/08/90         100           Special Risk Surplus Lines
       FCIA Management Company, Inc.                      New York       09/17/91          79           Servicing Agent
       The Gains Group, Inc.                              Ohio           01/26/82         100           Marketing of Advertising
       Great American Lloyd's, Inc.                       Texas          08/02/83         100           Attorney-in-Fact - Texas
                                                                                                          Lloyd's Company
       Great American Lloyd's Insurance Company           Texas          10/09/79   beneficial interest Lloyd's Plan Insurer
       Great American Management Services, Inc.           Ohio           12/05/74         100           Data Processing and
                                                                                                          Equipment Leasing
         American Payroll Services, Inc.                  Ohio           02/20/87         100           Payroll Services
       Great American Re Inc.                             Delaware       05/14/71         100           Reinsurance Intermediary
       Great American Risk Management, Inc.               Ohio           04/21/80         100           Insurance Risk Management
       Great Texas County Mutual Insurance Company        Texas          04/29/54   beneficial interest Property/Casualty Insurance
       Grizzly Golf Center, Inc.                          Ohio           11/08/93         100           Operate Golf Courses
       Homestead Snacks Inc.                              California     03/02/79         100(2)        Meat Snack Distribution
         Giant Snacks, Inc.                               Delaware       07/06/89         100           Meat Snack Distribution
    

                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>


==============================================================
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
==============================================================
American Financial Corporation                                                     % OF STOCK OWNED(1)
  Great American Holding Corporation                      STATE OF       DATE OF       BY IMMEDIATE
    Great American Insurance Company                      DOMICILE       INCORP.      PARENT COMPANY    NATURE OF BUSINESS
                                                          --------       -------   -----------------    ------------------

   
       Key Largo Group, Inc.                              Florida        07/28/81         100           Land Developer & Resort
                                                                                                          Operator
         Key Largo Group Utility Company                  Florida        11/26/84         100           Water & Sewer Utility
       Mid-Continent Casualty Company                     Oklahoma       02/26/47         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
         Mid-Continent Insurance Company                  Oklahoma       08/13/92         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
         Oklahoma Surety Company                          Oklahoma       08/05/68         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       National Interstate Corporation                    Ohio           01/26/89          52.15        Holding Company
         American Highways Insurance Agency               California     05/05/94         100           Insurance Agency
         National Interstate Insurance Agency of Texas,   Texas          06/07/89   beneficial interest Insurance Agency
                Inc.
         National Interstate Insurance Agency, Inc.       Ohio           02/13/89         100           Insurance Agency
         National Interstate Insurance Company            Ohio           02/10/89         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
         Safety, Claims & Litigation Services, Inc.       Pennsylvania   06/23/95          90           Claims Third Party
                                                                                                          Administrator
       North America Livestock, Inc.                      Florida        12/03/82         100           Managing General Agency
       OBGC Corporation                                   Florida        11/23/77          80           Real Estate Development
       Pointe Apartments, Inc.                            Minnesota      06/24/93         100           Real Estate Holding Corp.
       Seven Hills Insurance Company                      New York       06/30/32         100           Property/Casualty
                                                                                                          Reinsurance
       Stonewall Insurance Company                        Alabama        02/1866          100           Property/Casualty Insurance
       Stone Mountain Professional Liability Agency, Inc. Georgia        08/07/95         100           Insurance Agency
       Tamarack American, Inc.                            Delaware       06/10/86         100           Management Holding Company
       Transport Insurance Company                        Ohio           05/25/76         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
         American Commonwealth Development Company        Texas          07/23/63         100           Real Estate Development
           ACDC Holdings Corporation                      Texas          05/04/81         100           Real Estate Development
         Instech Corporation                              Texas          09/02/75         100           Claim & Claim Adjustment
                                                                                                          Services
         TICO Insurance Company                           Ohio           06/03/80         100           Property/Casualty Insurance
         Transport Managing General Agency, Inc.          Texas          05/19/89         100           Managing General Agency
         Transport Insurance Agency, Inc.                 Texas          08/21/89   beneficial interest Insurance Agency
       Transport Underwriters Association                 California     05/11/45         100           Holding Company/Agency
One East Fourth, Inc.                                     Ohio           02/03/64         100           Commercial Leasing
PCC 38 Corp.                                              Illinois       12/23/96         100           Real Estate Holding Company
Pioneer Carpet Mills, Inc.                                Ohio           04/29/76         100           Carpet Manufacturing
TEJ Holdings, Inc.                                        Ohio           12/04/84         100           Real Estate Holdings
Three East Fourth, Inc.                                   Ohio           08/10/66         100           Commercial Leasing


(1) Except Director's Qualifying Shares.
(2) Total percentage owned by parent shown and by other affiliated company(ies).
(3) Convertible Preferred Stock.
    


</TABLE>
    
                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>


Item 27. Number of Contract Owners

   
         As of March 31, 1997, there were 417 Contract Owners.
    

Item 28. Indemnification

(a) The Code of Regulations of Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company provides
in Article V as follows:

         The  Corporations  shall,  to the full extent  permitted by the General
         Corporation Law of Ohio,  indemnify any person who is or was a director
         or  officer  of the  Corporation  and  whom it may  indemnify  pursuant
         thereto.  The Corporation  may, within the sole discretion of the Board
         of  Directors,  indemnify in whole or in part any other persons whom it
         may indemnify pursuant thereto.

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

(b) The directors and officers of Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company are
covered  under  a  Directors  and  Officers   Reimbursement  Policy.  Under  the
Reimbursement  Policy,  directors and officers are  indemnified for loss arising
from any covered  claim by reason of any  Wrongful  Act in their  capacities  as
directors or officers, except to the extent the Company has indemnified them. In
general,  the term "loss" means any amount  which the  directors or officers are
legally  obligated to pay for a claim for Wrongful  Acts.  In general,  the term
"Wrongful  Acts"  means  any  breach  of  duty,  neglect,  error,  misstatement,
misleading  statement,  omission  or act by a director or officer  while  acting
individually  or  collectively  in their  capacity as such claimed  against them
solely by reason of their being  directors and officers.  The limit of liability
under the program is $20,000,000  for the policy year ending  September 1, 1997.
The primary  policy  under the  program is with  National  Union Fire  Insurance
Company of Pittsburgh, PA. in the name of American Premier Underwriters, Inc.



                                 - 11 -


<PAGE>



Item 29. Principal Underwriter

   
AAG  Securities,  Inc. is the  underwriter  and  distributor of the Contracts as
defined in the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940  ("1940  Act").  It is also the
underwriter and distributor of Annuity Investors(REGISTERED  TRADEMARK) Variable
Account B.
    

(a)  AAG  Securities, Inc. does not act as a principal  underwriter,  depositor,
sponsor or  investment  adviser for any  investment  company  other than Annuity
Investors Variable Account A.

(b)  Directors and Officers of AAG Securities, Inc.


Name and Principal                    Position with
Business Address                      AAG Securities, Inc.
- ------------------                    --------------------
   
Thomas Kevin Liguzinski (1)           Chief Executive Officer and Director
Charles Kent McManus                  Senior Vice President
Mark Francis Muething (1)             Vice President, Secretary and
                                      Director
William Jack Maney, II (1)            Director
Jeffrey Scott Tate (1)                Director
James Lee Henderson (1)               President
Andrew Conrad Bambeck, III (1)        Vice President
William Claire Bair, Jr. (1)          Treasurer
    


(1) 250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(c) Not applicable.

Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts and records  required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940
Act and the rules under it are  maintained  by Lynn E. Laswell,  Assistant  Vice
President of the Company, at the Administrative Office.

Item 31. Management Services

Not applicable.

Item 32. Undertakings

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

(b)  Registrant  undertakes  that  it  will  include  either  (1) as part of any
application to purchase a Contract offered by the Prospectus, a space that an


                                  -12-


<PAGE>



applicant can check to request a Statement of Additional  Information,  or (2) a
post  card or  similar  written  communication  affixed  to or  included  in the
Prospectus  that the  applicant can remove to send for a Statement of Additional
Information.

(c) Registrant  undertakes to deliver any Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information  and any financial  statements  required to be made available  under
this Form promptly upon written or oral request to the Company at the address or
phone number listed in the Prospectus.

   
(d)  Registrant  represents  that  the  fees  and  charges  deducted  under  the
Contracts,  in the  aggregate,  are  reasonable  in  relation  to  the  services
rendered,  the  expenses  expected to be incurred  and the risks  assumed by the
Company.
    













                                 - 13 -


<PAGE>







                                   SIGNATURES

   
     As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of
1940, the Registrant certifies that it has caused this Post- Effective Amendment
No.  1 to  its  Registration  Statement  to be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned in the City of  Cincinnati,  State of Ohio on the 28th day of April,
1997.
    

                               ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE
                               ACCOUNT A
                               (REGISTRANT)

                                       /s/ Robert Allen Adams
                               By:__________________________________
                                       Robert Allen Adams
                                       Chairman of the Board, President
                                       and Director, Annuity Investors
                                       Life Insurance Company


                               ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE
                               COMPANY
                               (DEPOSITOR)

                                     /s/ Robert Allen Adams
                               By:__________________________________
                                     Robert Allen Adams
                                     Chairman of the Board, President
                                     and Director


     As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration  Statement has
been  signed  by the  following  persons  in  the  capacities  and on the  dates
indicated.


   
/s/ Robert Allen Adams         
___________________________                             April 28, 1997
Robert Allen Adams              Principal Executive
                                Officer, Director
/s/ Robert Eugene Allen        
___________________________                             April 28, 1997
Robert Eugene Allen             Principal Financial 
                                Officer
/s/ Lynn E. Laswell
___________________________                             April 28, 1997
Lynn Edward Laswell             Principal Accounting 
                                Officer
    

                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>




   
/s/ Stephen Craig Lindner   
___________________________                      April 28, 1997
Stephen Craig Lindner           Director


/s/ William J. Maney, II
___________________________                      April 28, 1997
William Jack Maney, II          Director


/s/ James M. Mortensen
___________________________                      April 28, 1997
James Michael Mortensen         Director


/s/ Mark F. Muething
___________________________                      April 28, 1997
Mark Francis Muething           Director


/s/ Jeffrey Scott Tate
___________________________                      April 28, 1997
Jeffrey Scott Tate              Director
    


                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                   -----------

Exhibit No.      Description of Exhibit
- -----------      ----------------------

   
(1)              Resolution of the Board of Directors of Annuity
                 Investors Life Insurance Company authorizing
                 establishment of Annuity Investors Variable
                 Account A.1/
(3)(a)           Distribution Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and AAG Securities, Inc.1/
(3)(b)           Form of Selling Agreement between Annuity
                 Investors Life Insurance Company, AAG Securities,
                 Inc. and another Broker-Dealer.2/
(4)(a)(i)        Form of Qualified Individual Flexible Premium
                 Deferred Annuity Contract.2/
(4)(a)(ii)       Form of Non-Qualified Individual Contract.2/
                                                           --
(4)(b)(i)        Form of Loan Endorsement to Individual Contract.2/
(4)(b)(ii)       Form of Tax Sheltered Annuity Endorsement to
                 Individual Contract.2/
(4)(b)(iii)      Form of Qualified Pension, Profit Sharing and
                 Annuity Plan Endorsement to Qualified Individual
                 Contract.2/
(4)(b)(iv)       Form of Employer Plan Endorsement to Individual
                 Contract.2/
(4)(b)(v)        Form of Individual Retirement Annuity Endorsement
                 to Individual Contract.2/
(4)(b)(vi)       Form of Texas Optional Retirement Program
                 Endorsement to Individual Contract.2/
(4)(b)(vii)      Form of Long-Term Care Waiver Rider to Individual
                 Contract (filed herewith).
(4)(b)(viii)     Form of SIMPLE IRA Endorsement (filed herewith).
(5)(a)           Form of Application for Individual Flexible Premium
                 Deferred Annuity Contract (filed herewith).
(6)(a)           Articles of Incorporation of Annuity Investors Life
                 Insurance Company.1/
(6)(a)(i)        Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, adopted
                 April 9, 1996 and approved by Secretary of State of
                 State of Ohio on July 11, 1996 (filed herewith).
(6)(a)(ii)       Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, adopted
                 August 9, 1996 and approved by Secretary of State
                 of State of Ohio on December 3, 1996 (filed
                 herewith).
(6)(b)           Code of Regulations of Annuity Investors Life
                 Insurance Company.1/
(8)(a)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and Dreyfus Variable
                 Investment Fund.1/
(8)(b)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and Dreyfus Stock Index
                 Fund.1/
    

                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>



   
(8)(c)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and The Dreyfus Socially
                 Responsible Fund.1/
(8)(d)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and Janus Aspen Series.2/
(8)(e)           Amended and Restated Participation Agreement
                 between Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
                 and Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds, Inc.2/
(8)(f)           Agreement between Annuity Investors Life Insurance
                 Company and Merrill Lynch Asset Management,
                 L.P.2/
(8)(g)           Service Agreement between Annuity Investors Life
                 Insurance Company and American Annuity Group,
                 Inc.1/
(8)(h)           Agreement between AAG Securities, Inc. and AAG
                 Insurance Agency, Inc.1/
(8)(i)           Investment Service Agreement between Annuity
                 Investors Life Insurance Company and American
                 Annuity Group, Inc.1/
(8)(j)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and Morgan Stanley
                 Universal Funds, Inc. (filed herewith)
(8)(k)           Participation agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and Strong Special Fund II,
                 Inc. (filed herewith)
(8)(l)           Participation Agreement between Annuity Investors
                 Life Insurance Company and PBHG Insurance Series
                 Fund, Inc. (filed herewith).
(8)(m)           Amended and Restated Agreement between The Dreyfus
                 Corporation and Annuity Investors Life Insurance
                 Company (filed herewith).
(8)(n)           Service Agreement between Annuity Investors Life
                 Insurance Company and Janus Capital Corporation
                 (filed herewith).
(9)              Opinion and Consent of Counsel.1/ 

(10)             Consent of Independent Auditors (filed herewith).

(11)             No financial statements are omitted from Item 23.

(12)             Not Applicable.

(13)             Schedule  for  Computation  of  Performance  Quotations  (filed
                 herewith).

(14)             Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith).
    




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

   
1/    Filed with Form N-4 on December 27, 1995.

2/    Filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on July 26, 1996.
    



                                     - 17 -



                                                               Exhibit 4(b)(vii)

                           LONG-TERM CARE WAIVER RIDER


This rider is part of your  Contract.  The words  "we," "us" and "our"  refer to
Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company.  The words "you" and "your" refer to
the Owner of the  Contract,  or the joint  owner,  if any. If both the Owner and
joint owner, if any, are non-natural  person(s) the words "you" and "your" refer
to the Annuitant.  BENEFIT.  We will waive the Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge
under the Contract if you meet all of the following conditions:

       1  You are confined to a Long-Term Care Facility or Hospital for at least
          ninety (90) days in a row.

       2  A Physician prescribes the confinement and it is Medically Necessary.

       3  The  first  day of  confinement  is more  than one (1) year  after the
          Contract Effective Date.

       4  We receive a Written  Request to surrender  or to start  distributions
          under the Contract and satisfactory proof of your confinement. We must
          receive the  Written  Request  and proof of  confinement  no more than
          ninety  (90) days after you are  discharged  from the  Long-Term  Care
          Facility or Hospital, and before this rider terminates.


DEFINITIONS.  Capitalized terms have the meanings given to them in the Contract,
except as shown below.


"LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY"  means a Skilled  Nursing  Facility or an Intermediate
Care Facility. "Long-Term Care Facility" does not mean any of the following:

       1  A place that primarily treats drug addicts or alcoholics.

       2  A home for the aged or mentally ill, a community  living center,  or a
          place that primarily provides residential care or retirement care.

       3  A place owned or operated by a member of your Immediate Family.


"SKILLED  NURSING  FACILITY"  means a facility  that meets all of the  following
conditions:

       1  It is in the United States or its territories.

       2  It  maintains a license and  operates  as a Skilled  Nursing  Facility
          under the laws of the State or territory in which it is located.

       3  It provides  skilled  nursing care under the supervision of a licensed
          Physician.

       4  It provides nursing services twenty-four (24) hours a day by, or under
          the supervision of, a registered graduate professional nurse (R.N.).

       5  It maintains a daily medical record of each patient.




<PAGE>



"INTERMEDIATE  CARE  FACILITY"  means a facility that meets all of the following
conditions:

       1  It is in the United States or its territories.

       2  It maintains a license and operates as an  Intermediate  Care Facility
          under the laws of the State or territory in which it is located.

       3  It provides nursing services twenty-four (24) hours a day by, or under
          the supervision of, a registered graduate professional nurse (R.N.) or
          a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.).

       4  It maintains a daily medical record of each patient.


"HOSPITAL" means a facility that meets all of the following conditions:

       1  It is in the United States or its territories.

       2  It  maintains  a license as a hospital  under the laws of the State or
          territory in which it is located.

       3  A staff of licensed Physicians supervises it.

       4  It provides nursing services twenty-four (24) hours a day by, or under
          the supervision of, a registered graduate professional nurse (R.N.).

       5  It operates  primarily  for the care and treatment of sick and injured
          persons as inpatients for a charge.

       6  It maintains, or has access to, medical, diagnostic and major surgical
          facilities.

"PHYSICIAN"  means a licensed  medical  doctor  (M.D.) or a  licensed  doctor of
osteopathy (D.O.)  practicing  within the scope of his or her license.  The term
"Physician" does not include you, or a member of your Immediate  Family.  In the
case of a non-natural person Owner, or joint owner, if any, the term "Physician"
does not include an employee, officer, director, or agent of the Owner, or joint
owner, if any.

"MEDICALLY  NECESSARY" means  appropriate and consistent with the diagnosis of a
Physician and with accepted standards of practice, and which could not have been
omitted without adversely affecting your condition.

"IMMEDIATE   FAMILY"  means  any  spouse,   children,   parents,   grandparents,
grandchildren, siblings, or in-laws.

TERMINATION.  This  rider  will  terminate  and  shall  have no  value  when the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge imposed under the Contract equals 0%, or on the
date  distributions  start under the  Contract,  or on the date the  Contract is
terminated,  whichever comes first.  The Company reserves the right to terminate
this rider and the benefits  under it at anytime if ownership of the Contract is
changed.

This rider is not a separate contract.  This rider changes your Contract only as
and to the  extent  stated.  In the case of  conflict  with  other  terms of the
Contract, the terms of this rider shall control.

Signed for us at our office as of the date of issue.


/s/ Betty Kasprowicz                         /s/ James M. Mortenson
- -------------------------                    -------------------------
Betty Kasprowicz                             James M. Mortenson
Secretary                                    Executive Vice President


                                                              Exhibit 4(b)(viii)
                         ANNUITY INVESTORS(SERVICEMARK)
                             LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            A Stock Insurance Company
           Domicile Address: 580 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                             Administrative Office:
                   P. O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5423


                             SIMPLE IRA ENDORSEMENT

The policy is changed as set out below to make it a SIMPLE Individual Retirement
Annuity.


ADDITIONAL  TAX LAW  RESTRICTIONS.  This policy is intended to receive  premiums
under a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers ("SIMPLE")
that  qualifies  under  Internal  Revenue Code  ("IRC")  Section  408(p).  It is
restricted  as  required  by  federal  tax law.  We may change the terms of this
policy or administer  this policy at any time as needed to comply with that law.
Any such change may be applied retroactively.

ADDITIONAL PREMIUM REQUIREMENTS. This policy will accept premiums contributed on
behalf of an  employee by his or her  employer  under the terms of a SIMPLE plan
described in IRC Section 408(p). In addition,  this policy will accept transfers
or  rollovers  from  other  SIMPLE  Individual  Retirement  Annuities  or SIMPLE
Individual  Retirement  Accounts  of the  employee.  No other  premiums  will be
accepted. The $2,000 limitation on premiums stated in the IRA provisions of this
policy shall not apply.


This is part of your  policy.  It is not a separate  contract.  It  changes  the
policy only as and to the extent stated. In all cases of conflict with the other
terms of the policy, the provisions of this Endorsement shall control.

         Signed for us at our office as of the date of issue.

          /s/ Betty Kasprowicz               /s/ James M. Mortensen
          --------------------               ----------------------
          Betty Kasprowicz                   James M. Mortensen
          Assistant Secretary                Executive Vice President


                                                                    EXHIBIT 5(a)
                         ANNUITY INVESTORS(SERVICEMARK)
                             LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            P.O. BOX 5423, CINCINNATI, OH 45201-5423 (800) 789-6771
                         INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT APPLICATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

OWNER/ANNUITANT INFORMATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                           CONTRACT OWNER

<S>                                                 <C>  
Name___________________________________________     Sex:  M /_/  F  /_/
Address________________________________________     Date of Birth:    ______________________________________
City, State Zip________________________________     Daytime Phone # (___________)___________________________
Social Security #______________________________     Evening Phone # (___________)___________________________

                                   JOINT CONTRACT OWNER (IF APPLICABLE)

Name___________________________________________     Sex:  M /_/  F  /_/
Social Security #______________________________     Date of Birth:    ______________________________________

                                    ANNUITANT (IF OTHER THAN OWNER)

Name____________________________________________    Sex: M F  Date of Birth: _______________________________

           PRIMARY BENEFICIARY                                        CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY
Name ___________________________________________    Name ___________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________    Address ________________________________________________
City, State Zip_________________________________    City, State Zip_________________________________________
Relationship to Owner:__________________________    Relationship to Owner:__________________________________

PURCHASE PAYMENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/_/  Single Premium   Amount $_______________________    

/_/  Salary Reduction/Flex Premium  First Payment Date  ________Frequency ______Modal Payment $____________

Name of Employer (TSA/SEP-IRA Only)_____________________________________ Case Number_______________________

Tax Qualification /_/  TSA /_/   IRA /_/  SEP-IRA /_/  Nonqualified /_/  Other ____________________________

PURCHASE PAYMENT ALLOCATION: (PLEASE CHECK THE SELECTED ACCOUNT(S).  ALLOCATIONS MUST BE WHOLE PERCENTAGES.)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VARIABLE ACCOUNTS:                             ALLOCATION                                                        ALLOCATION
[DREYFUS CORPORATION]                                         [MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC.]
/_/  [Small Cap Portfolio-VIF]                 ___________%   /_/ [U.S. Real Estate Portfolio]                    ___________%
/_/  [Capital Appreciation Portfolio-VIF]      ___________%   /_/ [Fixed Income Portfolio]                        ___________%
/_/  [The Socially Responsible Growth Fund]    ___________%    [PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.]
/_/  [Dreyfus Stock Index Fund]                ___________%   /_/ [Technology & Communications Portfolio]         ___________%
/_/  [Growth and Income Portfolio-VIF]         ___________%   /_/ [Growth II Portfolio]                           ___________%
   [JANUS CORPORATION (ASPEN SERIES)]                            [STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.]
/_/  [Worldwide Growth]                        ___________%   /_/ [Strong Special Fund II]                        ___________%
/_/  [Aggressive Growth]                       ___________%      FIXED ACCOUNTS:
/_/  [Balanced]                                ___________%   /_/ [Fixed Accumulation Account]                    ___________%
   [MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES]                            /_/ [Fixed Option 1-Year Guarantee]                 ___________%
/_/  [Basic Value Focus]                       ___________%   /_/ [Fixed Option 3-Year Guarantee]                 ___________%
/_/  [Global Strategy Focus]                   ___________%   /_/ [Fixed Option 5-Year Guarantee]                 ___________%
/_/  [High Current Income]                     ___________%   /_/ [Fixed Option 7-Year Guarantee]                 ___________%
/_/  [Domestic Money Market Fund]              ___________%

                                               TOTAL ALLOCATION   ___100%___

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


REPLACEMENT
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will the  proposed  contract  replace  any  existing  annuity or life  insurance
contract or certificate? /_/ Yes /_/ No


SUITABILITY REVIEW (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE OWNER)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEC/NASD  rules  require that all  registered  representatives  have  reasonable
grounds for  believing  that an investment is suitable for you. This decision is
made upon the facts  disclosed  by you. If you are not  certain of a  particular
value, please make a reasonable estimate.

Tax Bracket: ___%  Investment Risk Tolerance: /_/  Low  /_/   Moderate /_/  High

Investment Objectives: /_/ Growth /_/ Income /_/ Growth and Income 
                      /_/  Capital Preservation
Purpose of Investment: /_/ Retirement /_/ Diversification /_/ 
                       Other (Specify)__________________________________________
Aggregate Family Net Worth (Excluding Real Estate and Furnishings): $___________
Annual Family Income: $_____________

THE INFORMATION AS STATED ABOVE IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.

________________________________________________________
AGENT'S SIGNATURE (Agent must sign here)

I  UNDERSTAND  THE  REPRESENTATIVE  HAS  REQUESTED  SUITABILITY  INFORMATION  AS
REQUIRED BY THE SEC, BUT I CHOOSE NOT TO PROVIDE IT.

___________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF OWNER (Owner must sign if Suitability Review is not completed)

SIGNATURE
________________________________________________________________________________

I hereby apply for the  individual  annuity  contract as set forth above. I have
read and  understand  each of the  statements  and answers on this form.  I HAVE
RECEIVED CURRENT  PROSPECTUSES FOR ANNUITY INVESTORS  VARIABLE ACCOUNT A AND THE
FUNDS. I UNDERSTAND THAT ANNUITY PAYMENTS OR SURRENDER  VALUES,  WHEN BASED UPON
THE  INVESTMENT  EXPERIENCE  OF THE  SEPARATE  ACCOUNT,  ARE  VARIABLE  AND  NOT
GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT.

SIGNED AT:  ____________________________, this__ day of________________, 19___
            City             State

_________________________________       ________________________________________
Signature of Owner                      Signature of Joint Owner (If Applicable)

AGENT'S STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To the best of my knowledge  and belief,  the annuity  applied for /_/ is /_/ is
not intended to replace  insurance or an annuity on the proposed Owner with this
or any other company. I also certify that an appropriate exclusion allowance was
calculated (if  applicable)  for the named Owner, in accordance with current tax
laws and regulations.

Signature of Agent __________________ Agent Name (Please Print) ________________

Agent Number ________________________ Agent Phone Number _______________________

Date ______________________           Principal Signature ______________________


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ FOR HOME OFFICE USE ONLY:                                                   /
/                                                                             /
/                                                                             /
/                                                                             /
/                                                                             /
/                                                                             /
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AA800(SP/FP 96)-3                                                     AP aiapp





                                                                Exhibit 6 (a)(i)

                         CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE
                          ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


         The  undersigned  President and Senior Vice  President and Secretary of
Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company,  an Ohio corporation for profit (the
"Corporation"),  do hereby  certify that in a writing  dated as of April 9, 1996
signed by the sole shareholder of the Corporation,  the following  resolution to
amend the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation was adopted:

            "RESOLVED:  That the Articles of Incorporation,  as amended,  of the
            Corporation  be amended by deleting  Article  FOURTH in its entirety
            and replacing therefor the following:

                Fourth. The number of shares which the Corporation is authorized
                to have outstanding is Fifteen Thousand  (15,000),  all of which
                shall be  Common  Shares,  par  value One  Hundred  Twenty  Five
                Dollars ($125)."

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  have hereunto  subscribed  their
names as of the 19th day of April, 1996.

                                      /s/ Robert A. Adams
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Robert A. Adams
                                      President



                                       /s/ Mark F. Muething
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Mark F. Muething
                                       Senior Vice President and Secretary



                                                                Exhibit 6(a)(ii)
                         CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE
                          ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

         The  undersigned  President and Senior Vice  President and Secretary of
Annuity  Investors Life Insurance  Company,  an Ohio corporation for profit (the
"Corporation),  do hereby  certify that in a writing  dated as of August 9, 1996
signed by the sole shareholder of the Corporation,  the following  resolution to
amend the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation was adopted:

            "RESOLVED:  That the Articles of Incorporation,  as amended,  of the
            Corporation  be amended by deleting  Article  FOURTH in its entirety
            and replacing therefor the following:

                Fourth. The number of shares which the Corporation is authorized
                to have  outstanding  is Twenty Five Thousand  (25,000),  all of
                which shall be Common Shares,  par value One Hundred Twenty Five
                Dollars ($125)."

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  have hereunto  subscribed  their
names as of the 14th day of August, 1996.

                                /s/ Robert A. Adams
                                -----------------------------------
                                Robert A. Adams
                                President


                                /s/ Mark F. Muething
                                -----------------------------------
                                Senior Vice President and Secretary


                                                                  Exhibit (8)(j)












                             PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT


                                      AMONG


                      MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC.,

                      MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.

                         MILLER ANDERSON & SHERRERD, LLP

                                       AND

                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   DATED AS OF

                                   MAY 1, 1997















<PAGE>



TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------


                                                                            PAGE

      ARTICLE I.        Purchase of Fund Shares                               2

      ARTICLE II        Representations and Warranties                        5 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE III.            Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders             
                            and Proxy Statements, Voting                      6 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE IV.       Sales Material and Information                        8 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE V         Fees and Expenses                                    10 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE VI.       Diversification                                      10
                                                                                
      ARTICLE VII.      Potential Conflicts                                  11
                                                                                
      ARTICLE VIII.     Indemnification                                      13 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE IX.       Applicable Law                                       19 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE X.        Termination                                          19 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE XI.       Notices                                              21 
                                                                                
      ARTICLE XII.      Miscellaneous                                        22 
                                                                                
      SCHEDULE A  Portfolios of Morgan Stanley Universal Funds              A-1 
                   Available for Purchase by Annuity Investors                  
                         Life Insurance Company                                 
                                                                                
      SCHEDULE B  Separate Accounts and Contracts                           B-1 
                                                                                
      SCHEDULE C  Proxy Voting Procedures                                   
 
                                                                             


<PAGE>




            THIS AGREEMENT,  made and entered into as of the 1st day of May 1997
      by and among ANNUITY  INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE  COMPANY  (hereinafter  the
      "Company"),  an Ohio corporation,  on its own behalf and on behalf of each
      separate  account of the  Company set forth on Schedule B hereto as may be
      amended  from time to time (each such account  hereinafter  referred to as
      the "Account"),  and MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC. (hereinafter the
      "Fund"), a Maryland corporation,  and MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
      and  MILLER  ANDERSON  &  SHERRERD,  LLP  (hereinafter   collectively  the
      "Advisers" and individually the "Adviser"),  a Delaware  corporation and a
      Pennsylvania limited liability partnership, respectively.


      WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is  available  to act as (i) the  investment  vehicle  for  separate
accounts  established  by  insurance  companies  for  individual  and group life
insurance  policies and annuity  contracts  with  variable  accumulation  and/or
pay-out provisions  (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as
"Variable  Insurance  Products")  and (ii) the  investment  vehicle  for certain
qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter "Qualified Plans"); and

      WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Fund as an investment
vehicle  under  their  Variable  Insurance  Contracts  enter into  participation
agreements  with  the  Fund  and  the  Advisers  (the  "Participating  Insurance
Companies");

      WHEREAS,  shares of the Fund are divided  into  several  series of shares,
each  representing the interest in a particular  managed portfolio of securities
and other  assets,  any one or more of which may be made  available  under  this
Agreement,  as may be  amended  from  time to time by  mutual  agreement  of the
parties hereto (each such series hereinafter referred to as a "Portfolio"); and

      WHEREAS,  the Fund  intends  to offer  shares of the  series  set forth on
Schedule A (each such series hereinafter  referred to as a "Portfolio"),  as may
be amended from time to time by mutual  agreement of the parties  hereto,  under
this Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and

      WHEREAS,  the Fund has obtained an order from the  Securities and Exchange
Commission,   dated   September   19,  1996  (File  No.   812-10118),   granting
Participating  Insurance  Companies  and  Variable  Insurance  Product  separate
accounts  exemptions  from the provisions of Sections 9(a),  13(a),  15(a),  and
15(b) of the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended  (hereinafter the "1940
Act"),  and Rules  6e-2(b)(15)  and  6e-3(T)(b)(15)  thereunder,  to the  extent

<PAGE>



necessary  to  permit  shares  of the  Fund to be sold to and  held by  Variable
Annuity  Product  separate  accounts of both  affiliated and  unaffiliated  life
insurance  companies  and  Qualified  Plans  (hereinafter  the  "Shared  Funding
Exemptive Order"); and

      WHEREAS,  the Fund is  registered  as an  open-end  management  investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are  registered  under the  Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and

      WHEREAS,  each Adviser is duly  registered as an investment  adviser under
the  Investment  Advisers  Act of 1940,  as amended,  and any  applicable  state
securities laws; and

      WHEREAS, each Adviser manages certain Portfolios of the Fund; and

      WHEREAS,   Morgan  Stanley  &  Co.  Incorporated  (the  "Underwriter")  is
registered  as a  broker/dealer  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended  (hereinafter  the  "1934  Act"),  is a member in good  standing  of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD") and serves
as principal underwriter of the shares of the Fund; and

      WHEREAS,  the Company has  registered  or will register  certain  Variable
Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and

      WHEREAS,  each Account is a duly organized,  validly  existing  segregated
asset  account,  established  by resolution  or under  authority of the Board of
Directors  of the  Company,  on the date shown for such  Account  on  Schedule B
hereto,  to set aside and invest assets  attributable to the aforesaid  Variable
Insurance Product; and

      WHEREAS,  the Company has  registered  or will  register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and

      WHEREAS,  to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  insurance  laws  and
regulations,  the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf
of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products and
the  Underwriter  is  authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at net
asset value;

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of their mutual promises,  the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:


                       ARTICLE I. PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES

      1.1. The Fund agrees to make  available for purchase by the Company shares
of the  Portfolios  set forth on Schedule A and shall execute  orders placed for
each Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt


                                       2
<PAGE>



by the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the
Company  shall be the  designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each
Account  and  receipt by such  designee  shall  constitute  receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:00 a.m.  Eastern time
on the next following  Business Day.  "Business Day" shall mean any day on which
the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates
its net  asset  value  pursuant  to the  rules of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

      1.2. The Fund, so long as this Agreement is in effect,  agrees to make its
shares available indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset value per
share by the Company and its Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates
its net asset value pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
and the Fund shall use  reasonable  efforts to calculate such net asset value on
each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  the Board of Directors of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may
refuse to permit the Fund to sell  shares of any  Portfolio  to any  person,  or
suspend or terminate  the offering of shares of any  Portfolio if such action is
required by law or by regulatory  authorities having  jurisdiction or is, in the
sole  discretion  of the  Board  acting  in good  faith  and in  light  of their
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable  state laws,  necessary in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.

      1.3.  The  Fund  agrees  that  shares  of the  Fund  will be sold  only to
Participating  Insurance  Companies and their  separate  accounts and to certain
Qualified Plans. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.

      1.4.  The Fund will not make its  shares  available  for  purchase  by any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing  provisions
substantially  the same as Articles I, III, V, VII and Section 2.5 of Article II
of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.

      1.5. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash,  on the  Company's  request,  any
full or  fractional  shares  of the Fund  held by the  Company,  executing  such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed  after receipt by
the Fund or its  designee of the request for  redemption.  For  purposes of this
Section  1.5,  the  Company  shall be the  designee  of the Fund for  receipt of
requests for  redemption  from each Account and receipt by such  designee  shall
constitute  receipt by the Fund;  provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption on the next following Business Day.

      1.6. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares
offered by the then current  prospectus  of the Fund shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus.  The Variable  Insurance Products issued
by the Company, under which amounts may be invested in the Fund (hereinafter the
"Contracts"),  are listed on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated  herein


                                       3
<PAGE>


by  reference,  as such  Schedule B may be  amended  from time to time by mutual
written  agreement of all of the parties hereto.  The Company will give the Fund
and the Adviser 45 days written notice of its intention to make available in the
future, as a funding vehicle under the Contracts,  any other investment  company
with an investment objective  substantially  similar to that of any of the Funds
Portfolios offered by the Company.

      1.7. The Company  shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after
an order to purchase  Fund shares is made in accordance  with the  provisions of
Section 1.1 hereof.  Payment shall be in federal funds  transmitted by wire. For
purposes of Section 2.10 and 2.11, upon receipt by the Fund of the federal funds
so wired,  such funds  shall cease to be the  responsibility  of the Company and
shall become the responsibility of the Fund.

      1.8.  Issuance  and  transfer  of the Fund's  shares will be by book entry
only.  Stock  certificates  will not be issued to the  Company  or any  Account.
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an  appropriate  title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.

      1.9.  The Fund  shall  furnish  same  day  notice  (by wire or  telephone,
followed by written  confirmation)  to the Company of any income,  dividends  or
capital gain  distributions  payable on the Fund's  shares.  The Company  hereby
elects to receive all such income  dividends and capital gain  distributions  as
are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional shares of that Portfolio.  The
Company  reserves  the right to revoke  this  election  and to receive  all such
income  dividends and capital gain  distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify
the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such  dividends  and
distributions.

      1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably  practical after
the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time)
and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share  available
by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.


                                       4
<PAGE>


                  ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered  under the 1933 Act;  that the  Contracts  will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material  respects with all applicable  federal and state laws
and that the sale of the  Contracts  shall comply in all material  respects with
state insurance  suitability  requirements.  The Company further  represents and
warrants  that it is an insurance  company duly  organized  and in good standing
under  applicable  law and that it has  legally  and  validly  established  each
Account  prior to any  issuance or sale thereof as a  segregated  asset  account
under Section  3907.15 of the Ohio Revised Code and has  registered or, prior to
any  issuance or sale of the  Contracts,  will  register  each Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts.

      2.2. The Fund  represents  and warrants  that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this  Agreement  shall be  registered  under the 1933 Act, duly  authorized  for
issuance and sold in  compliance  with the laws of the State of Maryland and all
applicable  federal  and  state  securities  laws and that the Fund is and shall
remain  registered  under the 1940 Act.  The Fund shall  amend the  registration
statement  for its shares  under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time
as required in order to effect the continuous  offering of its shares.  The Fund
shall  register and qualify the shares for sale in  accordance  with the laws of
the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund.

      2.3 The Fund  represents  that it is  currently  qualified  as a Regulated
Investment  Company under  Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended  (the  "Code"),  and that it will make  every  effort to  maintain  such
qualification  (under  Subchapter M or any successor or similar  provision)  and
that it will notify the Company  immediately  upon having a reasonable basis for
believing  that it has  ceased to so  qualify or that it might not so qualify in
the future.

      2.4. The Company  represents  that the Contracts are currently  treated as
life insurance policies or annuity contracts, under applicable provisions of the
Code and that it will make every effort to maintain  such  treatment and that it
will notify the Fund  immediately  upon having a reasonable  basis for believing
that the  Contracts  have  ceased to be so  treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future.

      2.5.   The Fund  represents  that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution  expenses  pursuant  to Rule  12b-1  under the 1940  Act,  the Fund
undertakes to have a board of directors,  a majority of whom are not  interested
persons of the Fund,  formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.

      2.6.  The Fund makes no  representation  as to  whether  any aspect of its
operations  (including,  but not limited to, fees and  expenses  and  investment


                                       5
<PAGE>



policies)  complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states
except that the Fund represents that the Fund's  investment  policies,  fees and
expenses  are and shall at all times remain in  compliance  with the laws of the
State of Maryland and the Fund represents that their  respective  operations are
and shall at all times remain in material  compliance with the laws of the State
of Maryland to the extent required to perform this Agreement.

      2.7.  The  Fund  represents  that it is  lawfully  organized  and  validly
existing  under  the  laws of the  State of  Maryland  and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.

      2.8. Each Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered  in all  material  respects  under all  applicable  federal and state
securities  laws  and  that it will  perform  its  obligations  for the  Fund in
compliance  in all material  respects with the laws of its state of domicile and
any applicable state and federal securities laws.

      2.9.  The Fund  represents  and  warrants  that its  directors,  officers,
employees,  and  other  individuals/entities   dealing  with  the  money  and/or
securities  of the Fund are and shall  continue to be at all times  covered by a
blanket  fidelity  bond or similar  coverage  for the  benefit of the Fund in an
amount not less than the minimal coverage as required  currently by Rule 17g-(1)
of the 1940 Act or related  provisions as may be promulgated  from time to time.
The  aforesaid  blanket  fidelity  bond shall  include  coverage for larceny and
embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.

      2.10.  The Company  represents  and  warrants  that all of its  directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or  securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket  fidelity
bond or  similar  coverage,  in an  amount  not less than the  minimum  coverage
required  currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may
be promulgated  from time to time. The aforesaid  includes  coverage for larceny
and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees to
make all  reasonable  efforts to see that this bond or another  bond  containing
these  provisions  is always in  effect,  and  agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.


 ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING

      3.1.  The Fund or its  designee  shall  provide the  Company  with as many
printed  copies of the Fund's  current  prospectus  and  statement of additional
information as the Company may reasonably  request. If requested by the Company,
in lieu of providing printed copies the Fund shall provide  camera-ready film or
computer diskettes  containing the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional
information,  and such other assistance as is reasonably  necessary in order for
the  Company  once  each  year  (or more  frequently  if the  prospectus  and/or


                                       6
<PAGE>



statement of additional  information for the Fund is amended during the year) to
have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together
in one document,  and to have the statement of  additional  information  for the
Fund and the  statement of  additional  information  for the  Contracts  printed
together  in one  document.  Alternatively,  the  Company  may print the  Fund's
prospectus  and/or its statement of additional  information in combination  with
other fund companies' prospectuses and statements of additional information.

      3.2. Except as provided in this Section 3.2., all expenses of printing and
distributing Fund prospectuses and statements of additional information shall be
the expense of the  Company.  For  prospectuses  and  statements  of  additional
information provided by the Company to its existing owners of Contracts in order
to update  disclosure  as required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, the cost
of  printing  shall be borne by the Fund.  If the  Company  chooses  to  receive
camera-ready  film or computer  diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of
the Fund's prospectus, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an amount equal to
the product of x and y where x is the number of such prospectuses distributed to
owners of the Contracts,  and y is the Fund's per unit cost of  typesetting  and
printing  the Fund's  prospectus.  The same  procedures  shall be followed  with
respect to the Fund's statement of additional information. The Company agrees to
provide the Fund or its  designee  with such  information  as may be  reasonably
requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's expenses do not include the cost
of printing any prospectuses or statements of additional  information other than
those actually distributed to existing owners of the Contracts.

      3.3. The Fund's  statement of additional  information  shall be obtainable
from the Fund,  the Company or such other person as the Fund may  designate,  as
agreed upon by the parties.

      3.4. The Fund,  at its expense,  shall  provide the Company with copies of
its proxy statements,  reports to shareholders, and other communications (except
for prospectuses and statements of additional information,  which are covered in
section 3.1) to  shareholders  in such quantity as the Company shall  reasonably
require for distributing to Contract owners.

      3.5.  If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:

                   (i)  solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;

                   (ii)  vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
                         received from Contract owners; and


                                       7
<PAGE>

     
                   (iii) vote Fund shares  for which no  instructions  have been
                         received in the same proportion  as Fund shares of such
                         Portfolio for which instructions have been received,

so long  as and to the  extent  that  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require  pass-through  voting  privileges
for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares
held in any segregated  asset account in its own right, to the extent  permitted
by law. The Fund and the Company shall follow the procedures, and shall have the
corresponding responsibilities, for the handling of proxy and voting instruction
solicitations,  as set forth in  Schedule  C attached  hereto  and  incorporated
herein by reference.  Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
ensuring  that  each  of  their  separate  accounts  participating  in the  Fund
calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth
on Schedule C, which standards will also be provided to the other  Participating
Insurance Companies.

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

      3.7. The Fund shall use reasonable  efforts to provide Fund  prospectuses,
reports to  shareholders,  proxy  materials  and other Fund  communications  (or
camera-ready  equivalents)  to  the  Company  sufficiently  in  advance  of  the
Company's  mailing dates to enable the Company to complete,  at reasonable cost,
the printing, assembling and/or distribution of the communications in accordance
with applicable laws and regulations.


                   ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION

      4.1. The Company shall  furnish,  or shall cause to be  furnished,  to the
Fund or its  designee,  each  piece of  sales  literature  or other  promotional
material in which the Fund or the  Adviser(s)  is named,  at least ten  Business
Days  prior  to its  use.  No such  material  shall  be used if the  Fund or its
designee  reasonably  objects to such use within ten Business Days after receipt
of such material.

      4.2.   The   Company   shall  not  give  any   information   or  make  any
representations  or statements  on behalf of the Fund or concerning  the Fund in
connection  with  the  sale of the  Contracts  other  than  the  information  or
representations  contained in the  registration  statement or prospectus for the


                                       8
<PAGE>



Fund shares,  as such  registration  statement and  prospectus may be amended or
supplemented  from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its
designee, except with the permission of the Fund.

      4.3.  The  Fund or its  designee  shall  furnish,  or  shall  cause  to be
furnished,  to the Company or its  designee,  each piece of sales  literature or
other  promotional  material in which the Company and/or its Account(s) is named
at least ten Business Days prior to its use.

              No such  material  shall be used if the  Company  or its  designee
reasonably  objects to such use within ten Business  Days after  receipt of such
material.

      4.4. The Fund and the Advisers shall not give any  information or make any
representations  on  behalf of the  Company  or  concerning  the  Company,  each
Account,  or the  Contracts,  other  than  the  information  or  representations
contained in a registration  statement or prospectus for the Contracts,  as such
registration  statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented  from time
to time, or in published reports for each Account which are in the public domain
or  approved by the Company for  distribution  to Contract  owners,  or in sales
literature  or  other  promotional  material  approved  by  the  Company  or its
designee, except with the permission of the Company.

      4.5. The Fund will  provide to the Company at least one  complete  copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports,  proxy statements,  sales literature and other  promotional  materials,
applications for exemptions,  requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above,  that relate to the Fund or its  shares,  contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Securities and Exchange  Commission or
other regulatory authorities.

      4.6. The Company  will  provide to the Fund at least one complete  copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports,  solicitations  for voting  instructions,  sales  literature  and other
promotional  materials,  applications  for  exemptions,  requests  for no action
letters,  and all amendments to any of the above,  that relate to the investment
in the Fund  under  the  Contracts,  contemporaneously  with the  filing of such
document  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or  other  regulatory
authorities.

      4.7.  For  purposes of this Article IV, the phrase  "sales  literature  or
other  promotional  material"  includes,  but  is  not  limited  to,  any of the
following  that refer to the Fund or any  affiliate of the Fund:  advertisements
(such as material published,  or designed for use in, a newspaper,  magazine, or
other  periodical,  radio,  television,  telephone or tape recording,  videotape
display,  signs or billboards,  motion pictures,  or other public media),  sales
literature  (I.E.,  any  written  communication  distributed  or made  generally


                                       9
<PAGE>



available to customers or the public, including brochures,  circulars,  research
reports,  market letters,  form letters,  seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training  materials  or  other  communications  distributed  or  made  generally
available  to some or all  agents or  employees,  and  registration  statements,
prospectuses,  statements of additional  information,  shareholder  reports, and
proxy materials.


                          ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES

      5.1. The Fund shall pay no fee or other  compensation to the Company under
this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements a
plan  pursuant  to  Rule  12b-1  to  finance  distribution  expenses,  then  the
Underwriter  may make  payments  to the  Company or to the  underwriter  for the
Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing.

      5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the  Fund.  The Fund  shall see to it that all its  shares  are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law
and, if and to the extent  deemed  advisable  by the Fund,  in  accordance  with
applicable  state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for
the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and
filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement,  proxy materials and
reports,  setting the prospectus in type, setting in type and printing the proxy
materials  and  reports  to  shareholders  (including  the costs of  printing  a
prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the preparation of all statements
and notices  required by any federal or state law, and all taxes on the issuance
or transfer of the Fund's shares.

      5.3.  The  Company  shall bear the  expenses  of  distributing  the Fund's
prospectus,  proxy  materials  and reports to owners of Contracts  issued by the
Company.


                           ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION

      6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the  Contracts in such a
manner as to ensure that the  Contracts  will be treated as  variable  contracts
under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope
of the  foregoing,  the Fund will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code  and  Treasury   Regulation   1.817-5,   relating  to  the  diversification
requirements for variable annuity,  endowment,  or life insurance  contracts and


                                       10
<PAGE>



any amendments or other  modifications  to such Section or  Regulations.  In the
event of a breach of this  Article VI by the Fund,  it will take all  reasonable
steps (a) to notify  Company of such breach and (b) to adequately  diversify the
Fund so as to achieve  compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation
817-5.


                       ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

      7.1.  The Board will  monitor the Fund for the  existence  of any material
irreconcilable  conflict  between the  interests of the  contract  owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons,  including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory  authority;  (b) a change in applicable  federal or state  insurance,
tax, or securities  laws or  regulations,  or a public  ruling,  private  letter
ruling,  no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities  regulatory  authorities;  (c) an  administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding;  (d) the manner in which the investments of
any Portfolio are being managed;  (e) a difference in voting  instructions given
by Variable  Insurance  Product  owners;  or (f) a decision  by a  Participating
Insurance Company to disregard the voting  instructions of contract owners.  The
Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an  irreconcilable
material conflict exists and the implications thereof.

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

      7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board,  or a majority of its
disinterested  members,  that a material  irreconcilable  conflict  exists,  the
Company and other Participating  Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the  extent  reasonably  practicable  (as  determined  by a  majority  of the
disinterested  directors),  take  whatever  steps  are  necessary  to  remedy or
eliminate  the  irreconcilable  material  conflict,  up to  and  including:  (1)
withdrawing  the assets  allocable to some or all of the separate  accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different  investment
medium,  including  (but not  limited  to)  another  Portfolio  of the Fund,  or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected  Contract owners and, as appropriate,  segregating the assets of
any appropriate  group (I.E.,  annuity  contract  owners,  life insurance policy
owners,  or  variable  contract  owners of one or more  Participating  Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation,  or offering to the affected
contract owners the option of making such a change;  and (2)  establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account.

                                       11

<PAGE>


      7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard  contract owner voting  instructions  and that decision
represents a minority  position or would  preclude a majority  vote, the Company
may be required,  at the Fund's  election,  to withdraw  the affected  Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
(at  the  Company's  expense);   provided,  however  that  such  withdrawal  and
termination  shall be limited to the extent  required by the foregoing  material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board.

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

      7.6.  For  purposes of  Sections  7.3  through  7.6 of this  Agreement,  a
majority of the  disinterested  members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be  required to  establish  a new funding  medium for the
Contracts.  The Company  shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding  medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of  a  majority  of  Contract  owners  materially   adversely  affected  by  the
irreconcilable material conflict.

      7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended,  or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated  thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as  defined  in the Shared  Funding  Exemptive  Order) on terms and  conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating  Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended,  and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable;
and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this  Agreement  shall
continue in effect only to the extent  that terms and  conditions  substantially
identical  to such  Sections  are  contained  in such  Rule(s)  as so amended or
adopted.

                                       12
<PAGE>


                          ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION

      8.1.  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
            ------------------------------

      8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each
member of the Board and officers, and each Adviser and each director and officer
of each Adviser,  and each person,  if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties"  and  individually,  "Indemnified  Party," for purposes of this Section
8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in  settlement  with the  written  consent of the  Company)  or  litigation
(including  reasonable  legal and  other  expenses),  to which  the  Indemnified
Parties  may become  subject  under any  statute,  regulation,  at common law or
otherwise,  insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions  in  respect  thereof)  or  settlements  are  related  to  the  sale  or
acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:

                              (i)  arise  out of or are  based  upon any  untrue
            statements  or  alleged  untrue  statements  of  any  material  fact
            contained  in the  registration  statement  or  prospectus  for  the
            Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales  literature for the
            Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the  foregoing),
            or arise  out of or are  based  upon  the  omission  or the  alleged
            omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated
            therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,
            provided that this agreement to indemnify  shall not apply as to any
            Indemnified  Party if such  statement  or omission  or such  alleged
            statement  or omission was made in reliance  upon and in  conformity
            with  information  furnished  to the  Company by or on behalf of the
            Fund for use in the  registration  statement or  prospectus  for the
            Contracts or in the Contracts or sales  literature (or any amendment
            or supplement)  or otherwise for use in connection  with the sale of
            the Contracts or Fund shares; or

                              (ii) arise out of or as a result of  statements or
            representations (other than statements or representations  contained
            in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature of the
            Fund not supplied by the Company,  or persons  under its control and
            other than statements or  representations  authorized by the Fund or
            an Adviser) or unlawful  conduct of the Company or persons under its
            control,  with respect to the sale or  distribution of the Contracts
            or Fund shares; or

                              (iii)  arise out of or as a result  of any  untrue
            statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact contained
            in a registration statement,  prospectus, or sales literature of the


                                       13
<PAGE>


            Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement  thereto or the omission
            or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required to be
            stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements  therein  not
            misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon
            and in conformity  with  information  furnished to the Fund by or on
            behalf of the Company; or

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

                              (v)  arise  out of or  result  from  any  material
            breach of any representation  and/or warranty made by the Company in
            this  Agreement  or arise out of or result  from any other  material
            breach of this Agreement by the Company.

                              Each  of  sub-section  (i)  through  (v)  of  this
            Section  8.1(a) is limited by and in accordance  with the provisions
            of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.

                  8.1(b).   The   Company   shall  not  be  liable   under  this
            indemnification  provision  with  respect  to  any  losses,  claims,
            damages,  liabilities or litigation  incurred or assessed against an
            Indemnified  Party as such may arise from such  Indemnified  Party's
            willful   misfeasance,   bad  faith,  or  gross  negligence  in  the
            performance of such Indemnified  Party's duties or by reason of such
            Indemnified  Party's  reckless  disregard of  obligations  or duties
            under this Agreement.

                  8.1(c).   The   Company   shall  not  be  liable   under  this
            indemnification  provision with respect to any claim made against an
            Indemnified  Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified
            the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
            other first legal process  giving  information  of the nature of the
            claim shall have been served upon such  Indemnified  Party (or after
            such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on
            any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such
            claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability  which 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  the  Indemnified  Parties,  the
            Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the
            defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume
            the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in


                                       14
<PAGE>


            the  action.  After  notice  from the  Company  to such party of the
            Company'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  Company  will not be liable to such party
            under this  Agreement for any legal or other  expenses  subsequently
            incurred by such party  independently in connection with the defense
            thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

                  8.1(d).  The  Indemnified  Parties  will  promptly  notify the
            Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against
            them in  connection  with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or
            the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.

                  8.2.  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ADVISERS

                  8.2(a).  Each Adviser  agrees,  with respect to each Portfolio
            that it manages, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each
            of its directors and officers and each person,  if any, who controls
            the  Company  within  the  meaning  of  Section  15 of the  1933 Act
            (collectively,   the   "Indemnified   Parties"   and   individually,
            "Indemnified  Party," for  purposes of this Section 8.2) against any
            and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
            in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation
            (including  reasonable  legal  and  other  expenses)  to  which  the
            Indemnified  Parties may become subject under any statute, at common
            law  or  otherwise,   insofar  as  such  losses,  claims,   damages,
            liabilities   or  expenses  (or  actions  in  respect   thereof)  or
            settlements  are related to the sale or acquisition of shares of the
            Portfolio that it manages or the Contracts and:

                              (i)  arise  out of or are  based  upon any  untrue
                        statement  or alleged  untrue  statement of any material
                        fact   contained  in  the   registration   statement  or
                        prospectus  or  sales  literature  of the  Fund  (or any
                        amendment or  supplement  to any of the  foregoing),  or
                        arise  out of or are  based  upon  the  omission  or the
                        alleged  omission  to  state  therein  a  material  fact
                        required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
                        statements  therein not  misleading,  provided that this
                        agreement  to  indemnify  shall  not  apply  as  to  any
                        Indemnified  Party if such statement or omission or such
                        alleged  statement or omission was made in reliance upon
                        and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund
                        by  or  on  behalf  of  the   Company  for  use  in  the

                                       15
<PAGE>


                        registration  statement or prospectus for the Fund or in
                        sales  literature  (or any amendment or  supplement)  or
                        otherwise  for use in  connection  with  the sale of the
                        Contracts or Portfolio shares; or

                              (ii) arise out of or as a result of  statements or
                        representations     (other    than     statements     or
                        representations contained in the registration statement,
                        prospectus  or sales  literature  for the  Contracts not
                        supplied  by the Fund or persons  under its  control and
                        other than statements or  representations  authorized by
                        the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund, Adviser(s)
                        or  Underwriter  or persons  under their  control,  with
                        respect to the sale or  distribution of the Contracts or
                        Portfolio shares; or

                              (iii)  arise out of or as a result  of any  untrue
                        statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                        contained in a registration  statement,  prospectus,  or
                        sales   literature   covering  the  Contracts,   or  any
                        amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission
                        or alleged  omission  to state  therein a material  fact
                        required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
                        statement or statements therein not misleading,  if such
                        statement  or  omission   was  made  in  reliance   upon
                        information  furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
                        the Fund; or

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

                              (v)  arise  out of or  result  from  any  material
                        breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the
                        Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from
                        any  other  material  breach  of this  Agreement  by the
                        Adviser;  as  limited  by and  in  accordance  with  the
                        provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.

                  8.2(b).   An   Adviser   shall  not  be  liable   under   this
            indemnification  provision  with  respect  to  any  losses,  claims,
            damages,  liabilities or litigation  incurred or assessed against an
            Indemnified  Party as such may arise from such  Indemnified  Party's
            willful   misfeasance,   bad  faith,  or  gross  negligence  in  the
            performance of such Indemnified  Party's duties or by reason of such
            Indemnified  Party's  reckless  disregard of obligations  and duties
            under this Agreement.

                                       16
<PAGE>


                  8.2(c).   An   Adviser   shall  not  be  liable   under   this
            indemnification  provision with respect to any claim made against an
            Indemnified  Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified
            the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
            other first legal process  giving  information  of the nature of the
            claim shall have been served upon such  Indemnified  Party (or after
            such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on
            any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such
            claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability  which 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  the  Indemnified  Parties,  the
            Adviser will be entitled to participate,  at its own expense, in the
            defense  thereof.  The Adviser  also shall be entitled to assume the
            defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
            action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser'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  Adviser  will  not be  liable  to  such  party  under  this
            Agreement for any legal or other expenses  subsequently  incurred by
            such party  independently  in  connection  with the defense  thereof
            other than reasonable costs of investigation.

                  8.2(d).  The Company agrees  promptly to notify the Adviser of
            the commencement of any litigation or proceedings  against it or any
            of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale
            of the Contracts or the operation of each Account.

                  8.3.  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
                        ---------------------------

                  8.3(a).  The Fund agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless the
            Company,  and each of its directors and officers and each person, if
            any, who  controls  the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of
            the 1933 Act (hereinafter  collectively,  the "Indemnified  Parties"
            and individually,  "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section
            8.3)  against  any  and all  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities
            (including  amounts paid in settlement  with the written  consent of
            the  Fund) or  litigation  (including  reasonable  legal  and  other
            expenses) to which the Indemnified  Parties may become subject under
            any  statute,  at common law or  otherwise,  insofar as such losses,
            claims,  damages,  liabilities  or  expenses  (or actions in respect
            thereof) or settlements result from the gross negligence,  bad faith
            or  willful  misconduct  of the  Board or any  member  thereof,  are
            related to the operations of the Fund and:


                                       17
<PAGE>

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

                                    (ii)  arise  out  of  or  result   from  any
                        material  breach of any  representation  and/or warranty
                        made by the Fund in this  Agreement  or arise  out of or
                        result from any other material  breach of this Agreement
                        by the Fund;

                  8.3(b).   The   Fund   shall   not  be   liable   under   this
            indemnification  provision  with  respect  to  any  losses,  claims,
            damages,  liabilities or litigation  incurred or assessed against an
            Indemnified Party as may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful
            misfeasance,  bad faith,  or gross  negligence in the performance of
            such  Indemnified  Party's  duties or by reason of such  Indemnified
            Party's  reckless  disregard  of  obligations  and duties under this
            Agreement.

                  8.3(c).   The   Fund   shall   not  be   liable   under   this
            indemnification  provision with respect to any claim made against an
            Indemnified  Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified
            the Fund in writing  within a  reasonable  time after the summons or
            other first legal process  giving  information  of the nature of the
            claim shall have been served upon such  Indemnified  Party (or after
            such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on
            any  designated  agent),  but failure to notify the Fund of any such
            claim  shall not relieve  the Fund from any  liability  which 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 the Indemnified Parties, the Fund
            will be entitled to participate,  at its own expense, in the defense
            thereof.  The Fund also  shall be  entitled  to assume  the  defense
            thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.
            After  notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund'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
            Fund will not be liable to such party under this  Agreement  for any
            legal  or  other  expenses   subsequently  incurred  by  such  party
            independently  in  connection  with the defense  thereof  other than
            reasonable costs of investigation.

                  8.3(d).  The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the
            commencement  of any litigation or proceedings  against it or any of
            its  respective  officers  or  directors  in  connection  with  this
            Agreement,  the issuance or sale of the  Contracts,  with respect to
            the  operation  of either  Account,  or the sale or  acquisition  of
            shares of the Fund.


                                       18
<PAGE>


                           ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW

                  9.1.  This  Agreement  shall be construed  and the  provisions
            hereof  interpreted  under  and in  accordance  with the laws of the
            State of New York.

                  9.2. This Agreement  shall be subject to the provisions of the
            1933,  1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings
            thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and
            regulations  as the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  may grant
            (including,  but not limited to, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order)
            and  the  terms  hereof  shall  be  interpreted   and  construed  in
            accordance therewith.


                             ARTICLE X. TERMINATION

                  10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and
            effect until the first to occur of:

                  (a)   termination by any party for any reason by sixty (60)
            days advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or

                  (b)  termination  by the Company by written notice to the Fund
            and the  Adviser  with  respect  to any  Portfolio  based  upon  the
            Company's  determination  that  shares  of  such  Portfolio  is  not
            reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or

                  (c)  termination  by the Company by written notice to the Fund
            and the Adviser  with  respect to any  Portfolio in the event any of
            the  Portfolio's  shares  are  not  registered,  issued  or  sold in
            accordance  with  applicable  state  and/or  federal law or such law
            precludes the use of such shares as the underlying  investment media
            of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or

                  (d)  termination  by the Company by written notice to the Fund
            and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
            Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated  Investment Company under
            Subchapter  M  of  the  Code  or  under  any  successor  or  similar
            provision,  or if the Company reasonably  believes that the Fund may
            fail to so qualify; or

                                       19
<PAGE>


                  (e)  termination  by the Company by written notice to the Fund
            and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
            Portfolio falls to meet the diversification  requirements  specified
            in Article VI hereof; or

                  (f)  termination  by either the Fund by written  notice to the
            Company if the Fund shall determine,  in its sole judgment exercised
            in good  faith,  that the Company  has  suffered a material  adverse
            change in its business, operations, financial condition or prospects
            since  the date of this  Agreement  or is the  subject  of  material
            adverse publicity, or

                  (g)  termination  by the Company by written notice to the Fund
            and  the  Adviser,  if the  Company  shall  determine,  in its  sole
            judgment  exercised  in good  faith,  that  either  the  Fund or the
            Adviser  has  suffered a material  adverse  change in its  business,
            operations,  financial condition or prospects since the date of this
            Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity; or

                  (h)  termination  by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice
            to the  Company,  if the Company  gives the Fund and the Adviser the
            written notice  specified in Section 1.6 hereof and at the time such
            notice  was given  there was no  notice of  termination  outstanding
            under any other provision of this Agreement;  provided,  however any
            termination under this Section 10.1(h) shall be effective forty five
            (45) days after the notice specified in Section 1.6 was given.

                  10.2.  Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement,  the
            Fund shall at the option of the Company,  continue to make available
            additional  shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and  conditions
            of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date
            of  termination  of  this  Agreement  (hereinafter  referred  to  as
            "Existing, Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners
            of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to direct  reallocation
            of  investments  in the Fund,  redemption of investments in the Fund
            and/or investment in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase
            payments under the Existing  Contracts.  The parties agree that this
            Section 10.2 shall not apply to any  terminations  under Article VII
            and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by
            Article VII of this Agreement.

                  10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to
            the  Contracts  (as distinct  from Fund shares  attributable  to the
            Company's  assets held in the  Account)  except (i) as  necessary to
            implement Contract Owner initiated or approved transactions, or (ii)
            as required by state and/or  federal laws or regulations or judicial
            or  other  legal  precedent  of  general  application   (hereinafter

                                       20
<PAGE>


            referred  to  as  a  "Legally  Required  Redemption")  or  (iii)  as
            permitted  by an order of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
            pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, the Company
            will  promptly  furnish to the Fund the  opinion of counsel  for the
            Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund)
            to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a
            Legally  Required  Redemption.  Furthermore,  except in cases  where
            permitted  under the terms of the  Contracts,  the Company shall not
            prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
            was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the
            Fund 90 days prior written notice of its intention to do so.


ARTICLE .  NOTICES

                  Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered
            or  certified  mail to the other  party at the address of such party
            set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time
            to time specify in writing to the other party.

                  If to the Fund:

                      Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.
                        1221 Avenue of the Americas
                        New York, New York  10020
                        Attention:  Harold J. Schaaff, Jr., Esq.

                  If to Adviser:

                      Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
                        1221 Avenue of the Americas
                        New York, New York  10020
                        Attention: Harold J. Schaaff, Jr., Esq.

                  If to Adviser:

                        Miller Anderson & Sherrerd, LLP
                        One Tower Bridge
                      West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
                        Attention: Lorraine Truten


                                       21
<PAGE>


                  If to the Company:

                    Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
                        250 East Fifth Street
                        Cincinnati, Ohio  45202
                        Attention:  Mark F. Muething, Esq.


                           ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS

                  12.1.  All persons  dealing  with the Fund must look solely to
            the property of the Fund for the  enforcement  of any claims against
            the Fund as neither  the  Board,  officers,  agents or  shareholders
            assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf
            of the Fund.

                  12.2.  Subject  to  the  requirements  of  legal  process  and
            regulatory authority,  each party hereto shall treat as confidential
            the names and  addresses  of the  owners  of the  Contracts  and all
            information  reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any
            other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement, shall
            not  disclose,  disseminate  or utilize such names and addresses and
            other  confidential  information until such time as it may come into
            the  public  domain  without  the  express  written  consent  of the
            affected party.

                  12.3.   The  captions  in  this  Agreement  are  included  for
            convenience  of reference only and in no way define or delineate any
            of the provisions  hereof or otherwise affect their  construction or
            effect.

                  12.4. This Agreement may be executed  simultaneously in two or
            more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one
            and the same instrument.

                  12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
            invalid  by a  court  decision,  statute,  rule  or  otherwise,  the
            remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

                  12.6.  Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party
            and all  appropriate  governmental  authorities  (including  without
            limitation  the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  the National
            Association of Securities  Dealers and state  insurance  regulators)
            and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and
            records in connection with any  investigation or inquiry relating to
            this   Agreement   or   the   transactions    contemplated   hereby.
            Notwithstanding  the generality of the foregoing,  each party hereto
            further agrees to furnish the Ohio Insurance  Commissioner  with any

                                       22
<PAGE>


            information  or reports in connection  with services  provided under
            this  Agreement  which  such  Commissioner  may  request in order to
            ascertain whether the insurance  operations of the Company are being
            conducted in a manner consistent with the Ohio Insurance Regulations
            and any other applicable law or regulations.

                  12.7. The rights,  remedies and obligations  contained in this
            Agreement are  cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights,
            remedies  and  obligations  at law or in equity,  which the  parties
            hereto are entitled to under state and federal laws.

                  12.8.  This  Agreement  or any of the rights  and  obligations
            hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written
            consent of all parties hereto;  provided,  however,  that an Adviser
            may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations  hereunder to
            any affiliate of or company  under common  control with the Adviser,
            if such  assignee is duly  licensed  and  registered  to perform the
            obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.

                  12..9  The  Company  shall  furnish,  or  shall  cause  to  be
            furnished,  to the  Fund or its  designee  copies  of the  following
            reports:

                        (a)  the  Company's  annual  statement  (prepared  under
                  statutory  accounting  principles) and annual report (prepared
                  under generally accepted accounting  principles  ("GAAP"),  if
                  any),  as soon as  practical  and in any event  within 90 days
                  after the end of each fiscal year;

                        (b) the Company's quarterly statements  (statutory) (and
                  GAAP, if any), as soon as practical and in any event within 45
                  days after the end of each quarterly period:

                        (c) any financial statement, proxy statement,  notice or
                  report   of  the   Company   sent   to   stockholders   and/or
                  policyholders, as soon as practical after the delivery thereof
                  to stockholders;

                        (d) any registration  statement  (without  exhibits) and
                  financial reports of the Company filed with the Securities and
                  Exchange Commission or any state insurance regulator,  as soon
                  as practical after the filing thereof;

                        (e)  any  other  report  submitted  to  the  Company  by
                  independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim
                  or special audit made by them of the books of the Company,  as
                  soon as practical after the receipt thereof.


                                       23
<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
            Agreement  to be  executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly
            authorized  representative  and  its  seal to be  hereunder  affixed
            hereto as of the date specified above.


            ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


            By:   ______________________________
                  NAME:
                  TITLE:



            MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC.


            By:   ______________________________
                  NAME:
                  TITLE:



            MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.


            By:   ______________________________
                  NAME:
                  TITLE:



            MILLER ANDERSON & SHERRERD, LLP


            By:   ______________________________
                  NAME:
                  TITLE:

<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE A


                  PORTFOLIOS OF MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS
                  AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY ANNUITY INVESTORS
                  LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT


            FIXED INCOME
            MID CAP VALUE
            VALUE
            U.S. REAL ESTATE
            EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY






























                                       A-1


<PAGE>





                                  SCHEDULE B

                         SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND                  FORM NUMBER AND NAME OF CONTRACT   
DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS        FUNDED BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------        --------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>
ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT A -        A800(NQ96)-3      INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
MAY 26, 1995                                                    DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT

                                              A800(Q96)-3       INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
                                                                DEFERRED ANNUITY

                                              G800(95)-3        GROUP FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
                                                                DEFERRED ANNUITY

ANNUITY INVESTORS VARIABLE ACCOUNT B -        A801-BD           INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
DECEMBER 19, 1996                             (NQ REV. 3/97)-3  DEFERRED ANNUITY
                                         
                                              A801-BD           INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
                                              (Q REV. 3/97)-3   DEFERRED ANNUITY

                                              G801-BD(97)-3     GROUP FLEXIBLE PREMIUM
                                                                DEFERRED ANNUITY

</TABLE>







                                     B-1


<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE C

                             PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
                             -----------------------

The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies and voting  instructions  relating to the Fund.  The defined
terms  herein shall have the meanings  assigned in the  Participation  Agreement
except that the term "Company"  shall also include the department or third party
assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.

 .     The  proxy  proposals  are  given to the  Company  by the Fund as early as
      possible  before the date set by the Fund for the  shareholder  meeting to
      enable the Company to consider and prepare for the  solicitation of voting
      instructions   from  owners  of  the  Contracts  and  to  facilitate   the
      establishment of tabulation procedures.  At this time the Fund will inform
      the Company of the Record,  Mailing and Meeting  dates.  This will be done
      verbally approximately two months before meeting.

 .     Promptly  after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run", or
      other  activity,  which will  generate the names,  addresses and number of
      units  which  are  attributed  to each  contract  owner/policyholder  (the
      "Customer")  as of the Record Date.  Allowance  should be made for account
      adjustments  made  after  this date that  could  affect  the status of the
      Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.

      Note:  The number of proxy  statements  is  determined  by the  activities
      described  in this Step #2. The Company  will use its best efforts to call
      in the number of Customers to the Fund , as soon as possible, but no later
      than two weeks after the Record Date.

 .     The Fund's  Annual  Report  must be sent to each  Customer  by the Company
      either  before  or  together  with  the  Customers'   receipt  of  voting,
      instruction  solicitation  material. The Fund will provide the last Annual
      Report  to  the  Company  pursuant  to the  terms  of  Section  3.3 of the
      Agreement to which this Schedule relates.

 .     The text and format for the Voting  Instruction  Cards ("Cards" or "Card")
      is provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense, shall
      produce and  personalize  the Voting  Instruction  Cards.  The Fund or its
      affiliate must approve the Card before it is printed.  Allow approximately
      2-4  business  days for  printing  information  on the Cards.  Information
      commonly found on the Cards includes:


                                     C-1
<PAGE>


      name (legal name as found on account registration)
      .     address
      .     fund or account number
      .     coding to state number of units
      .     individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
            (already on Cards as printed by the Fund).

(This and  related  steps may occur  later in the  chronological  process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)

 .     During this time, the Fund will develop, produce and pay for the Notice of
      Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one  document).  Printed and folded notices
      and  statements  will be sent to  Company  for  insertion  into  envelopes
      (envelopes and return envelopes are provided and paid for by the Company).
      Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will include:

      .     Voting Instruction Card(s)
      .     One proxy notice and statement (one document)
      .     return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the
            Company or its tabulation agent
      .     "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended.  (This is a small,
            single sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly
            as possible and that their vote is important.  One copy will be
            supplied by the Fund.)
      .     cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and
            approved in advance by the Fund.

 .     The above  contents  should be received by the Company  approximately  3-5
      business days before mail date.  Individual  in charge at Company  reviews
      and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
      completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.

 .     Package mailed by the Company.
      *     The Fund  must  allow at  least a  15-day  solicitation  time to the
            Company  as  the  shareowner.  (A  5-week  period  is  recommended.)
            Solicitation  time is  calculated  as  calendar  days  from (but NOT
            including,) the meeting, counting backwards.

 .     Collection and tabulation of Cards begins.  Tabulation usually takes place
      in another  department  or another  vendor  depending on process  used. An
      often used  procedure  is to sort Cards on arrival by  proposal  into vote
      categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.


                                        C-2


<PAGE>

      Note:  Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information
      would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure and has not been
      required by the Fund in the past.

 .     Signatures  on Card  checked  against  legal name on account  registration
      which was printed on the Card.
      Note: For Example,  if the account  registration  is under "John A. Smith,
      Trustee,"  then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and
      is the signature needed on the Card.

 .     If Cards are mutilated,  or for any reason are illegible or are not signed
      properly,  they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory letter and a
      new  Card  and  return  envelope.  The  mutilated  or  illegible  Card  is
      disregarded  and  considered  to be NOT  RECEIVED  for  purposes  of  vote
      tabulation.  Any Cards  that  have  been  "kicked  out"  (e.g.  mutilated,
      illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e.,  examined as to why
      they did not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are usually
      remedied individually.

 .     There are various control  procedures used to ensure proper  tabulation of
      votes and accuracy of that  tabulation.  The most prevalent is to sort the
      Cards as they first arrive into  categories  depending upon their vote; an
      estimate of how the vote is  progressing  may then be  calculated.  If the
      initial  estimates and the actual vote do not  coincide,  then an internal
      audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.

 .     The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted to
      shares.  (It is very  important  that the Fund  receives  the  tabulations
      stated in terms of a  percentage  and the number of SHARES.) The Fund must
      review and approve tabulation format.

 .     Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund on
      the  morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m.  Eastern  time.  The
      Fund may  request an earlier  deadline  if  reasonable  and if required to
      calculate the vote in time for the meeting.

 .     A  Certification  of Mailing  and  Authorization  to Vote  Shares  will be
      required  from the Company as well as an original  copy of the final vote.
      The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.


                                     C-3

<PAGE>

 .     The Company  will be required to box and archive the Cards  received  from
      the  Customers.  In the event that any vote is  challenged or if otherwise
      necessary for legal, regulatory,  or accounting purposes, the Fund will be
      permitted reasonable access to such Cards.

 .     All approvals  and  "signing-off'  may be done orally,  but must always be
      followed up in writing.


































                                     C-4






                                                                  EXHIBIT (8)(k)


                             PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT



            THIS  AGREEMENT,  is made as of April 25, 1997, by and among Annuity
Investors Life Insurance Company ("Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of
each separate account of the Company set forth on Exhibit A-1 to this Agreement,
as may be amended from time to time (collectively,  "Account"),  Strong Variable
Insurance Funds, Inc. ("Strong  Variable") on behalf of the Portfolios of Strong
Variable  listed on the  attached  Exhibit A as such Exhibit may be amended from
time to time  (the  "Designated  Portfolios"),  Strong  Special  Fund  II,  Inc.
("Special  Fund"),  Strong  Capital  Management,   Inc.  (the  "Adviser"),   the
investment  adviser and transfer agent for the Special Fund and Strong Variable,
and Strong Funds Distributors, Inc. ("Distributors"), the distributor for Strong
Variable and the Special Fund (each, a "Party" and collectively, the "Parties").


      WHEREAS,  beneficial interests in Strong Variable are divided into several
series of  shares,  each  representing  the  interest  in a  particular  managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (each, a "Portfolio");

      WHEREAS,  to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  insurance  laws  and
regulations,  the  Company  intends to purchase  shares of Special  Fund and the
Designated  Portfolios  ("Fund"  or  "Funds"  shall be  deemed  to refer to each
Designated  Portfolio and the Special Fund to the extent the context  requires),
on behalf of the Account to fund the  variable  annuity  contracts  that use the
Funds as an underlying investment medium (the "Contracts");

      WHEREAS,  the Company,  Adviser and Distributors  desire to facilitate the
purchase  and  redemption  of shares of the Funds by the Company for the Account
through one account in each Fund (each an "Omnibus Account") to be maintained of
record by the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

      WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires to  provide  administrative  services  and
functions (the  "Services") for purchasers of Contracts  ("Owners") on the terms
and conditions set forth herein;

      WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life
insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");

      WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Account as a unit
investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"); and

      WHEREAS,  the Company  desires to utilize shares of one or more Portfolios
as an investment vehicle of the Account.



<PAGE>



            NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual promises set forth
herein, the Company, Funds, Adviser and Distributors agree as follows:

1.    PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES.  Company  agrees to perform the  administrative
functions and services  specified in Exhibit B attached hereto with respect to
the shares of the Funds included in the Account.

2.    THE OMNIBUS ACCOUNTS.

      2.1 Each  Omnibus  Account  will be  opened  based  upon  the  information
contained in Exhibit C hereto. In connection with each Omnibus Account,  Company
represents  and warrants  that it is  authorized  to act on behalf of each Owner
effecting transactions in the Omnibus Account and that the information specified
on Exhibit C hereto is correct.

      2.2 Each Fund shall designate each Omnibus Account with an account number.
These account numbers will be the means of  identification  when the Parties are
transacting in the Omnibus  Accounts.  The assets in the Accounts are segregated
from the Company's own assets.  The Adviser agrees to cause the Omnibus Accounts
to be kept open on each Fund's  books,  as  applicable,  regardless of a lack of
activity or small  position size except to the extent the Company takes specific
action to close an Omnibus Account or to the extent a Fund's prospectus reserves
the right to close  accounts  which are inactive or of a small position size. In
the latter two cases,  the Adviser will give prior notice to the Company  before
closing an Omnibus Account.

      2.3 The Company agrees to provide  Adviser such  information as Adviser or
Distributors  may reasonably  request  concerning  Owners as may be necessary or
advisable to enable Company and  Distributors  to comply with  applicable  laws,
including  state "Blue Sky" laws relating to the sales of shares of the Funds to
the Accounts.

3.    FUND SHARES TRANSACTIONS.

      3.1 IN  GENERAL.  Shares of the Funds shall be sold on behalf of the Funds
by Distributors and purchased by Company for the Account and, indirectly for the
appropriate  subaccount  thereof  at the net asset  value  next  computed  after
receipt  by  Distributors  of each  order of the  Company  or its  designee,  in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement,  the then current prospectuses
of  the  Funds,  and  the  Contracts.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  each  Fund
("Directors") may refuse to sell shares of the applicable Fund to any person, or
suspend  or  terminate  the  offering  of shares  of the Fund if such  action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction. Company agrees


                                       2
<PAGE>



to purchase and redeem the shares of the Funds in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement, of the Contracts and of the then current prospectuses for the
Contracts and Funds. Except as necessary to implement  transactions as specified
in the  Contracts or as initiated  by the Owners,  or as otherwise  permitted by
state or federal laws or  regulations,  Company shall not redeem shares of Funds
attributable to the Contracts.

      3.2 PURCHASE AND  REDEMPTION  ORDERS.  On each day that a Fund is open for
business (a "Business  Day"),  the Company shall aggregate and calculate the net
purchase or redemption order resulting from investment in and redemptions  under
the  Contracts  for  shares of the Fund that it  received  prior to the close of
trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  (the "NYSE") (i.e.  3:00 p.m.,  Central
time,  unless the NYSE closes at an earlier time in which case such earlier time
shall apply) and communicate to  Distributors,  by telephone or facsimile (or by
such  other  means as the  Parties  hereto  may  agree to in  writing),  the net
aggregate purchase or redemption order (if any) for the Omnibus Account for such
Business Day (such  Business  Day is sometimes  referred to herein as the "Trade
Date").  The Company will communicate such orders to Distributors  prior to 8:00
a.m.,  Central time,  on the next  Business Day  following  the Trade Date.  All
trades  communicated to Distributors by the foregoing  deadline shall be treated
by Distributors  as if they were received by Distributors  prior to the close of
trading on the Trade Date.

      3.3   SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS.

            (a)  PURCHASES.  Company will wire,  or arrange for the wire of, the
      purchase  price of each  purchase  order to the  custodian for the Fund in
      accordance  with  written  instructions  provided by  Distributors  to the
      Company so that either (1) such funds are  received by the  custodian  for
      the Fund prior to 12:00  (noon),  Central  time,  on the next Business Day
      following the Trade Date, or (2)  Distributors  is provided with a Federal
      Funds wire  system  reference  number  prior to such  12:00 noon  deadline
      evidencing  the entry of the wire  transfer of the  purchase  price to the
      applicable  custodian  into the Federal  Funds wire  system  prior to such
      time.  Company  agrees  that if it fails to  provide  funds to the  Fund's
      custodian by the close of business on the next  Business Day following the
      Trade Date, then, at the option of  Distributors,  (i) the transaction may
      be   canceled,   or  (ii)  the   transaction   may  be  processed  at  the
      next-determined  net asset value for the  applicable  Fund after  purchase
      order funds are received.  In such event,  the Company shall indemnify and
      hold harmless  Distributors,  Adviser and the Funds from any  liabilities,
      costs and damages either may suffer as a result of such failure.

            (b)  REDEMPTIONS.  The Adviser will use its best efforts to cause to
      be  transmitted  to such  custodial  account  as Company  shall  direct in
      writing,  the proceeds of all redemption  orders placed by Company by 8:00
      a.m.,  Central time, on the Business Day  immediately  following the Trade
      Date, by wire transfer on that Business Day. Should Company need to extend
      the  settlement  on a  trade,  it will  contact  Adviser  to  discuss  the
      extension.  For purposes of determining the length of settlement,  Adviser
      agrees to treat the Account no less favorably than other  shareholders  of
      the Funds.  Each wire transfer of redemption  proceeds shall indicate,  on


                                       3
<PAGE>


      the Federal Funds wire system,  the amount  thereof  attributable  to each
      Fund; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that if the number of entries would be too great
      to be  transmitted  through the  Federal  Funds wire  system,  the Adviser
      shall,  on the day the wire is sent,  fax such  entries  to  Company or if
      possible,  send via direct or  indirect  systems  access  until  otherwise
      directed by the Company in writing.

            (c)  AUTHORIZED  PERSONS.   The  following  persons  are  each  duly
      authorized  to act on behalf of the  Company  and the  Account  under this
      Agreement.   The  Funds,   Adviser  and   Distributors   are  entitled  to
      conclusively  rely on verbal  or  written  instructions  that  Adviser  or
      Distributors  reasonably  believes  were  originated  by any  one of  said
      persons. The Company shall inform Adviser and Distributors of additions to
      or subtractions  from this list of authorized  persons pursuant to Section
      13, hereof:

             Lynn Laswell                      Laura Lally
             Brian Sponaugle                   Chris Accurso
             Todd Gayhart                      John Burress


      3.4 BOOK ENTRY ONLY.  Issuance and transfer of shares of a Fund will be by
book entry  only.  Stock  certificates  will not be issued to the Company or the
Account.  Shares of the Funds ordered from  Distributors will be recorded in the
appropriate book entry title for the Account.

      3.5 DISTRIBUTION  INFORMATION.  The Adviser or Distributors  shall provide
the Company  with all  distribution  announcement  information  as soon as it is
announced  by the  Funds.  The  distribution  information  shall set  forth,  as
applicable,  ex-dates,  record date, payable date,  distribution rate per share,
record date share  balances,  cash and reinvested  payment amounts and all other
information  reasonably requested by the Company. Where possible, the Adviser or
Distributors shall provide the Company with direct or indirect systems access to
the Adviser's systems for obtaining such distribution information.

      3.6 REINVESTMENT.  All dividends and capital gains  distributions  will be
automatically  reinvested  on the  payable  date  in  additional  shares  of the
applicable  Fund at net asset value in accordance  with each Fund's then current
prospectus.

      3.7  PRICING  INFORMATION.  Distributors  shall  use its best  efforts  to
furnish to the Company  prior to 6:00 p.m.,  Central  time, on each Business Day
each Fund's  closing net asset value for that day, and for those Funds for which
such information is calculated,  the daily accrual for interest rate factor (mil
rate).  Such  information  shall be communicated  via fax, or indirect or direct
systems access acceptable to the Company.

      3.8   PRICE ERRORS.

            (a) In the event  adjustments  are  required to correct any error in
      the  computation  of the net asset value of shares of a Fund,  the Fund or
      Adviser shall promptly notify Company after discovering the need for those
      adjustments  which result in a  reimbursement  to an Account in accordance


                                       4
<PAGE>



      with such Fund's then current policies on reimbursement.  Notification may
      be made  orally  or via  direct  or  indirect  systems  access.  Any  such
      notification  shall be promptly  followed  by a letter  written on Fund or
      Adviser  letterhead  and  shall  state  for  each  day for  which an error
      occurred  the  incorrect  price,  the  correct  price,  and, to the extent
      communicated to the Fund's  shareholder,  the reason for the price change.
      Funds and Adviser agree that Company may send this writing,  or derivation
      thereof  (so long as such  derivation  is  approved in advance by Funds or
      Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) to Owners that
      are affected by the price change.

            (b) If the  Account  received  amounts  in excess of the  amounts to
      which it otherwise  would have been entitled prior to an adjustment for an
      error,  Company,  when  requested  by Funds or Adviser,  will use its best
      efforts to collect  such excess  amounts  from the  Account.  In no event,
      however, shall Company be liable to Funds or Adviser for any such amounts.

            (c) If an adjustment is to be made in accordance with subsection (a)
      above to  correct  an error  which has  caused  the  Account to receive an
      amount less than that to which it is entitled, Funds or Adviser shall make
      all necessary  adjustments (within the parameters  specified in subsection
      (a)) to the number of shares  owned in the Account and  distribute  to the
      Company the amount of such underpayment for credit to the Account.

      3.9 AGENCY.  Distributors hereby appoints the Company as its agent for the
limited purpose of accepting  purchase and redemption  instructions  pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3..

      3.10 QUARTERLY  REPORTS.  Adviser agrees to provide Company a statement of
Fund assets as soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after the end
of each fiscal year quarter,  and a statement  certifying  the compliance by the
Funds  during that fiscal  quarter  with the  diversification  requirements  and
qualification  as a regulated  investment  company.  In the event of a breach of
Section 6.4(a),  Adviser will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of
such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance
within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.

4. PROXY SOLICITATIONS AND VOTING. The Company shall, at its expense, distribute
or arrange for the distribution of all proxy materials furnished by the Funds to
the Account and shall: (i) solicit voting  instructions  from Owners;  (ii) vote
the Fund shares in accordance with instructions  received from Owners; and (iii)
vote the Fund shares for which no  instructions  have been received,  as well as
shares  attributable  to it, in the same  proportion  as Fund  shares  for which
instructions  have been received from Owners,  so long as and to the extent that
the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")  continues to interpret the
1940 Act, to require pass-through voting privileges for various contract owners.
The Company and its agents will not  recommend  action in  connection  with,  or
oppose or interfere  with, the  solicitation of proxies for the Fund shares held
for Owners.


                                       5
<PAGE>


5.    CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS.
      -----------------------

      5.1  PROSPECTUSES.  The  Adviser or  Distributors,  at its  expense,  will
provide the Company with as many copies of the current  prospectus for the Funds
as the  Company  may  reasonably  request  for  distribution,  at the  Company's
expense, to existing or prospective Owners.

      5.2  SHAREHOLDER  MATERIALS.   The  Adviser  and  Distributors  shall,  as
applicable, provide in bulk to the Company or its authorized representative,  at
a single  address and at no expense to the Company,  the  following  shareholder
communications  materials  prepared  for  circulation  to Owners  in  quantities
requested by the Company which are  sufficient  to allow mailing  thereof by the
Company and, to the extent required by applicable  law, to all Owners:  proxy or
information statements, annual reports, semi-annual reports, and all initial and
updated prospectuses, supplements and amendments thereof. None of the Funds, the
Adviser or Distributors  shall be responsible for the cost of distributing  such
materials to Owners.

6.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

            6.1   The Company represents and warrants that:

            (a) It is an insurance  company duly  organized and in good standing
      under the laws of the State of Ohio and that it has  legally  and  validly
      established  the  Account  prior  to any  issuance  or sale  thereof  as a
      segregated  asset  account and that the Company has and will  maintain the
      capacity to issue all Contracts  that may be sold; and that it is and will
      remain duly registered,  licensed,  qualified and in good standing to sell
      the Contracts in all the  jurisdictions  in which such Contracts are to be
      offered or sold;

            (b) It is and  will  remain  duly  registered  and  licensed  in all
      material  respects under all applicable  federal and state  securities and
      insurance laws and shall perform its  obligations  hereunder in compliance
      in all material respects with any applicable state and federal laws;

            (c) The Contracts are and will be registered under the 1933 Act, and
      are and will be  registered  and qualified for sale in the states where so
      required;  and the Account is and will be registered as a unit  investment
      trust in accordance with the 1940 Act and shall be a segregated investment
      account for the Contracts;

            (d) The Contracts are currently treated as annuity contracts,  under
      applicable  provisions  of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended
      (the "Code"), and the Company will maintain such treatment and will notify
      Adviser,  Distributors  and Funds promptly upon having a reasonable  basis
      for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they
      might not be so treated in the future;


                                       6
<PAGE>


            (e) It is registered as a transfer  agent pursuant to Section 17A of
      the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"),  or is
      not required to be registered as such;

            (f)   The  arrangements  provided  for in this  Agreement  will be
      disclosed to the Owners; and

            (g) It is registered as a  broker-dealer  under the 1934 Act and any
      applicable state  securities laws,  including as a result of entering into
      and  performing  the  Services  set  forth  in this  Agreement,  or is not
      required to be registered as such.

            6.2 The Funds each  represent  and  warrant  that Fund  shares  sold
      pursuant to this  Agreement are and will be registered  under the 1933 Act
      and the Fund is and will be registered as a registered  investment company
      under the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  in each case,  except to the
      extent the Company is so notified in writing;

      6.3   Distributors represents and warrants that:

            (a)   It is and will be a member in good  standing of the NASD and
      is and will be registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC; and

            (b) It will sell and distribute  Fund shares in accordance  with all
      applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

      6.4   Adviser represents and warrants that:

            (a) It will cause each Fund to invest  money from the  Contracts  in
      such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts  will be treated as variable
      annuity  contracts under the Code and the regulations  issued  thereunder,
      and that each Fund will comply with Section  817(h) of the Code as amended
      from  time  to  time  and  with  all  applicable  regulations  promulgated
      thereunder;

            (b) It is and  will  remain  duly  registered  and  licensed  in all
      material  respects under all applicable  federal and state  securities and
      insurance laws and shall perform its  obligations  hereunder in compliance
      in all material respects with any applicable state and federal laws; and



                                       7
<PAGE>



      6.5   Each of the Parties  hereto  represents and warrants to the others
      that:

            (a) It has full power and authority  under  applicable  law, and has
      taken all action  necessary,  to enter into and perform this Agreement and
      the person  executing this Agreement on its behalf is duly  authorized and
      empowered to execute and deliver this Agreement;

            (b)  This  Agreement   constitutes  its  legal,  valid  and  binding
      obligation,  enforceable  against it in  accordance  with its terms and it
      shall comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations
      applicable to it by virtue of entering into this Agreement;

            (c) No consent or authorization  of, filing with, or other act by or
      in respect of any governmental  authority,  is required in connection with
      the execution, delivery,  performance,  validity or enforceability of this
      Agreement;

            (d) The execution,  performance  and delivery of this Agreement will
      not result in it violating  any  applicable  law or breaching or otherwise
      impairing any of its contractual obligations;

            (e)   Each  Party  hereto  is  entitled  to  rely  on any  written
      records or instructions provided to it by another Party; and

            (f) Its directors, officers, employees, and investment advisers, and
      other individuals/entities  dealing with the money or securities of a Fund
      are and shall  continue to be at all times  covered by a blanket  fidelity
      bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less
      than  the  amount  required  by  the  applicable  rules  of  the  National
      Association  of  Securities   Dealers,   Inc.  ("NASD")  and  the  federal
      securities  laws,  which bond  shall  include  coverage  for  larceny  and
      embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.

7.    SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
      ------------------------------

      7.1 NASD FILINGS. The Company shall promptly inform Distributors as to the
status  of all  sales  literature  filings  pertaining  to the  Funds  and shall
promptly  notify   Distributors  of  all  approvals  or  disapprovals  of  sales
literature  filings  with the NASD.  For  purposes of this Section 7, the phrase
"sales  literature  or  other  promotional   material"  shall  be  construed  in
accordance with all applicable securities laws and regulations.

      7.2  COMPANY  REPRESENTATIONS.  The  Company  shall not make any  material
representations  concerning the Adviser, the Distributors,  or a Fund other than
the information or representations contained in: (a) a registration statement of
the Fund or prospectus of a Fund, as amended or supplemented  from time to time;
(b) published  reports or statements of the Funds which are in the public domain


                                       8
<PAGE>



or are approved by Distributors  or the Funds; or (c) sales  literature or other
promotional material of the Funds.

      7.3  ADVISER,  DISTRIBUTORS  AND FUND  REPRESENTATIONS.  None of  Adviser,
Distributors or any Fund shall make any material representations  concerning the
Company  other  than the  information  or  representations  contained  in: (a) a
registration   statement  or  prospectus  for  the  Contracts,   as  amended  or
supplemented  from time to time;  (b)  published  reports or  statements  of the
Contracts or the Account  which are in the public  domain or are approved by the
Company; or (c) sales literature or other promotional material of the Company.

      7.4  TRADEMARKS,  ETC. Except to the extent required by applicable law, no
Party shall use any other Party's  names,  logos,  trademarks or service  marks,
whether registered or unregistered, without the prior consent of such Party.

      7.5 INFORMATION FROM DISTRIBUTORS AND ADVISER. Upon request,  Distributors
or  Adviser  will  provide  to  Company  at  least  one  complete  copy  of  all
registration  statements,  prospectuses,  Statements of Additional  Information,
reports, proxy statements,  solicitations for voting instructions,  applications
for exemptions, requests for no action letters, and all amendments to any of the
above,  that relate to the Funds,  in final form as filed with the SEC, NASD and
other regulatory authorities.

      7.6  INFORMATION  FROM COMPANY.  Company will provide to  Distributors  at
least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements
of Additional Information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales
literature  and  other  promotional  materials,   applications  for  exemptions,
requests  for no action  letters and all  amendments  to any of the above,  that
relate to a Fund and the  Contracts,  in final form as filed with the SEC,  NASD
and other regulatory authorities.

      7.7 REVIEW OF MARKETING MATERIALS. If so requested by Company, the Adviser
or Distributors  will use its best efforts to review sales  literature and other
marketing  materials  prepared by Company which relate to the Funds, the Adviser
or  Distributors  for factual  accuracy as to such  entities,  provided that the
Adviser or  Distributors  is provided at least five (5) Business  Days to review
such materials.  Neither the Adviser nor Distributors will review such materials
for  compliance  with  applicable  laws.  Company shall provide the Adviser with
copies of all sales literature and other marketing  materials which refer to the
Funds,  the Company or  Distributors  within five (5) Business  Days after their
first use,  regardless  of whether the Adviser or  Distributors  has  previously
reviewed such materials. If so requested by the Adviser or Distributors, Company
shall cease to use any sales  literature or marketing  materials  which refer to
the  Funds,  the  Adviser  or  Distributors  that the  Adviser  or  Distributors
determines to be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise unacceptable.


                                       9
<PAGE>



8.    FEES AND EXPENSES.
      -----------------

      8.1 FUND REGISTRATION  EXPENSES.  Fund or Distributors shall bear the cost
of registration and qualification of Fund shares; preparation and filing of Fund
prospectuses   and  registration   statements,   proxy  materials  and  reports;
preparation  of all  other  statements  and  notices  relating  to the  Fund  or
Distributors  required  by any federal or state law;  payment of all  applicable
fees, including,  without limitation,  any fees due under Rule 24f-2 of the 1940
Act,  relating  to a Fund;  and all taxes on the  issuance  or  transfer of Fund
shares on the Fund's records.

      8.2 CONTRACT  REGISTRATION  EXPENSES.  The Company shall bear the expenses
for the  costs  of  preparation  and  filing  of the  Company's  prospectus  and
registration  statement with respect to the Contracts;  preparation of all other
statements and notices relating to the Account or the Contracts  required by any
federal or state law;  expenses for the  solicitation  and sale of the Contracts
including all costs of printing and distributing  all copies of  advertisements,
prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, proxy materials, and reports
to Owners or potential  purchasers  of the  Contracts as required by  applicable
state and federal law; payment of all applicable fees relating to the Contracts;
all costs of drafting,  filing and  obtaining  approvals of the Contracts in the
various states under applicable insurance laws; filing of annual reports on form
N-SAR, and all other costs associated with ongoing compliance with all such laws
and its obligations hereunder.

9.    INDEMNIFICATION.
      ---------------

      9.1   INDEMNIFICATION BY COMPANY.

            (a) Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds, Adviser
      and  Distributors  and each of their  directors,  officers,  employees and
      agents,  and each  person,  if any,  who  controls  any of them within the
      meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each,  an  "Indemnified  Party" and
      collectively,  the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 9.1)
      from  and  against  any  and  all  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities
      (including  amounts  paid  in  settlement  with  the  written  consent  of
      Company), and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses),  to
      which the  Indemnified  Parties  may  become  subject  under any  statute,
      regulation,   at  common  law  or  otherwise  (collectively,   hereinafter
      "Losses"), insofar as such Losses:

                  (i) arise out of or are based  upon any untrue  statements  or
            alleged  untrue  statements  of any material  fact  contained in the
            registration  statement,  prospectus  or  sales  literature  for the
            Contracts  or  contained  in the  Contracts  (or  any  amendment  or
            supplement  to any of the  foregoing),  or arise out of or are based
            upon  the  omission  or the  alleged  omission  to state  therein  a
            material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
            statements  therein not  misleading,  PROVIDED  that this  paragraph
            9.1(a) shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement
            or  omission  or such  alleged  statement  or  omission  was made in
            reliance upon and in conformity with written  information  furnished
 

                                       10
<PAGE>


            to Company by or on behalf of a Fund,  Distributors  or Adviser  for
            use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or
            in the Contracts (or any amendment or  supplement)  or otherwise for
            use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

                  (ii)  arise  out  of,  or  as  a  result  of,   statements  or
            representations  or wrongful conduct of Company or its agents,  with
            respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares;
            or

                  (iii)  arise out of any untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue
            statement of a material fact contained in a registration  statement,
            prospectus,  or sales  literature  covering a Fund or any  amendment
            thereof or supplement  thereto,  or the omission or alleged omission
            to state therein a material fact required to be stated  therein,  or
            necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,  if such a
            statement or omission was made in reliance upon written  information
            furnished  to a Fund,  Adviser  or  Distributors  by or on behalf of
            Company; or

                  (iv) arise out of, or as a result  of, any  failure by Company
            or persons under its control to provide the Services and furnish the
            materials contemplated under the terms of this Agreement; or

                  (v) arise out of, or result from,  any material  breach of any
            representation  or  warranty  made by Company  or persons  under its
            control in this  Agreement  or arise out of or result from any other
            material  breach of this  Agreement by Company or persons  under its
            control;  as limited by and in  accordance  with the  provisions  of
            Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) hereof; or

                  (vi) arise out of, or as a result of,  adherence by Adviser or
            Distributors  to  instructions  that  it  reasonably  believes  were
            originated by persons specified in Section 3.2(c), hereof.

            This indemnification provision is in addition to any liability which
      the Company may otherwise have.

            (b) Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
      with respect to any Losses to which an Indemnified  Party would  otherwise
      be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance,  bad
      faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified  Party's
      duties or by reason of such  Indemnified  Party's  reckless  disregard  of
      obligations or duties under this Agreement.

            (c) Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
      with  respect to any claim made against an  Indemnified  Party unless such
      Indemnified  Party  shall  have  notified  Company  in  writing  within  a
      reasonable  time after the  summons or other first  legal  process  giving
      information  of the nature of the claim  shall have been  served upon such
  

                                       11
<PAGE>


      Indemnified  Party (or after such  Indemnified  Party shall have  received
      notice of such  service on any  designated  agent),  but failure to notify
      Company of any such claim shall not  relieve  Company  from any  liability
      which it may have to the  Indemnified  Party  otherwise than on account of
      this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against
      any  Indemnified  Party,  and it notified  the  indemnifying  Party of the
      commencement   thereof,   the  indemnifying  Party  will  be  entitled  to
      participate  therein  and,  to the  extent  that it may wish,  assume  the
      defense  thereof,  with counsel  satisfactory to such  Indemnified  Party.
      After notice from the  indemnifying  Party of its  intention to assume the
      defense of an action, the Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any
      additional counsel obtained by it, and the indemnifying Party shall not be
      liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section for any legal or other
      expenses  subsequently  incurred by such  Indemnified  Party in connection
      with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The
      Indemnified Party may not settle any action without the written consent of
      the indemnifying  Party. The indemnifying  Party may not settle any action
      without  the  written  consent  of  the  Indemnified   Party  unless  such
      settlement  completely and finally releases the Indemnified Party from any
      and all  liability.  In either event,  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
      withheld.

            (d) The  Indemnified  Parties will  promptly  notify  Company of the
      commencement  of any  litigation or  proceedings  against the  Indemnified
      Parties in  connection  with the  issuance  or sale of Fund  shares or the
      Contracts or the operation of a Fund.

      9.2   INDEMNIFICATION BY ADVISER AND DISTRIBUTORS.
            -------------------------------------------

            (a) Adviser and  Distributors  agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
      Company and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents and each
      person,  if any, who controls  Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
      the  1933  Act  (each,  and  "Indemnified  Party"  and  collectively,  the
      "Indemnified  Parties"  for  purposes of this Section 9.2) against any and
      all Losses to which the  Indemnified  Parties may become subject under any
      statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses:

                  (i) arise out of or are based  upon any  untrue  statement  or
            alleged  untrue  statement  of any  material  fact  contained in the
            registration  statement or prospectus or sales  literature of a Fund
            (or any amendment or supplement to any of the  foregoing),  or arise
            out of or are based upon the  omission  or the  alleged  omission to
            state  therein a  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
            necessary to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  PROVIDED
            that this Section 9.2(a) shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party
            if such statement or omission or such alleged  statement or omission
            was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
            furnished  to a Fund,  Adviser  or  Distributors  by or on behalf of


                                       12
<PAGE>



            Company for use in the  registration  statement or prospectus  for a
            Fund or in sales  literature  (or any  amendment or  supplement)  or
            otherwise  for use in  connection  with the sale of the Contracts or
            Fund shares; or

                  (ii)  arise  out  of,  or  as  a  result  of,   statements  or
            representations  or wrongful  conduct of Adviser or  Distributors or
            persons under its control,  with respect to the sale or distribution
            of Fund shares; or

                  (iii)  arise out of any untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue
            statement of a material fact contained in a registration  statement,
            prospectus,  or sales  literature  covering  the  Contracts,  or any
            amendment thereof or supplement  thereto, or the omission or alleged
            omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated
            therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
            if such  statement  or omission  was made in reliance  upon  written
            information  furnished  to  Company  by or on behalf of  Adviser  or
            Distributors; or

                  (iv) arise out of, or as a result  of, any  failure by Adviser
            or Distributors or persons under its control to provide the services
            and  furnish  the  materials  contemplated  under  the terms of this
            Agreement; or

                  (v)  arise out of or result  from any  material  breach of any
            representation  or  warranty  made by  Adviser  or  Distributors  or
            persons  under  its  control  in this  Agreement  or arise out of or
            result from any other  material  breach of this Agreement by Adviser
            or Distributors  or persons under its control;  as limited by and in
            accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) hereof.

            This indemnification provision is in addition to any liability which
      Adviser and Distributors may otherwise have.

            (b)  Adviser  and  Distributors  shall  not  be  liable  under  this
      indemnification   provision  with  respect  to  any  Losses  to  which  an
      Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified
      Party's  willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith,  or  gross  negligence  in the
      performance  of such  Indemnified  Party's  duties  or by  reason  of such
      Indemnified  Party's  reckless  disregard of obligations  and duties under
      this Agreement or to Company.

            (c)  Adviser  and  Distributors  shall  not  be  liable  under  this
      indemnification  provision  with  respect  to any claim  made  against  an
      Indemnified  Party  unless  such  Indemnified  Party  shall have  notified
      Adviser and  Distributors  in writing  within a reasonable  time after the
      summons or other first legal process  giving  information of the nature of
      the claim  shall have been served  upon such  Indemnified  Party (or after
      such  Indemnified  Party shall have received notice of such service on any
      designated  agent),  but failure to notify Adviser and Distributors of any
      such claim shall not relieve Adviser and  Distributors  from any liability


                                       13
<PAGE>



      which it may have to the  Indemnified  Party  otherwise than on account of
      this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against
      any  Indemnified  Party,  and it notified  the  indemnifying  Party of the
      commencement   thereof,   the  indemnifying  Party  will  be  entitled  to
      participate  therein  and,  to the  extent  that it may wish,  assume  the
      defense  thereof,  with counsel  satisfactory to such  Indemnified  Party.
      After notice from the  indemnifying  Party of its  intention to assume the
      defense of an action, the Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any
      additional counsel obtained by it, and the indemnifying Party shall not be
      liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section for any legal or other
      expenses  subsequently  incurred by such  Indemnified  Party in connection
      with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The
      Indemnified Party may not settle any action without the written consent of
      the indemnifying  Party. The indemnifying  Party may not settle any action
      without  the  written  consent  of  the  Indemnified   Party  unless  such
      settlement  completely and finally releases the Indemnified Party from any
      and all  liability.  In either event,  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
      withheld.

            (d)  The  Indemnified  Parties  will  promptly  notify  Adviser  and
      Distributors of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings  against
      the  Indemnified  Parties in  connection  with the issuance or sale of the
      Contracts or the operation of the Account.

10.   POTENTIAL CONFLICTS.
      -------------------

      10.1  MONITORING BY DIRECTORS FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.  The Directors of
each  Fund  will  monitor  the  Fund  for any  potential  or  existing  material
irreconcilable conflict of interest between the interests of the contract owners
of all separate  accounts  investing  in the Fund,  including  such  conflict of
interest  with  any  other  separate  account  of any  other  insurance  company
investing  in the Fund.  An  irreconcilable  material  conflict  may arise for a
variety of reasons,  including:  (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory
authority;  (b) a change in  applicable  federal  or state  insurance,  tax,  or
securities  laws or  regulations,  or a public  ruling,  private  letter ruling,
no-action or  interpretive  letter,  or any similar action by insurance,  tax or
securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in
any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of the Fund are
being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity
contract  owners and  variable  life  insurance  contract  owners or by contract
owners of  different  life  insurance  companies  utilizing  the Fund;  or (f) a
decision  by  Company  to  disregard  the voting  instructions  of  Owners.  The
Directors shall promptly inform the Company,  in writing, if they determine that
an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.

      10.2 MONITORING BY THE COMPANY FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. The Company will
promptly notify the Directors, in writing, of any potential or existing material
irreconcilable  conflicts  of interest,  as described in Section 10.1 above,  of
which it is aware.  The Company will assist the  Directors in carrying out their
responsibilities  under any applicable provisions of the federal securities laws
and any exemptive  orders granted by the SEC ("Exemptive  Order"),  by providing


                                       14
<PAGE>



the Directors, in a timely manner, with all information reasonably necessary for
the Directors to consider any issues raised.  This includes,  but is not limited
to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Directors  whenever  Owner voting
instructions are disregarded.

      10.3 REMEDIES.  If it is determined by a majority of the  Directors,  or a
majority of disinterested  Directors,  that a material  irreconcilable  conflict
exists,  as  described  in Section  10.1 above,  the Company  shall,  at its own
expense  take   whatever   steps  are  necessary  to  remedy  or  eliminate  the
irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including,  but not limited to: (a),
withdrawing  the assets  allocable to some or all of the separate  accounts from
the  applicable  Fund and  reinvesting  such  assets in a  different  investment
medium,  including (but not limited to) another fund managed by the Adviser,  or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all  affected  Owners  and,  as  appropriate,  segregating  the assets of any
particular  group that votes in favor of such  segregation,  or  offering to the
affected owners the option of making such a change; and (b),  establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account.

      10.4  CAUSES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

            (a)  STATE  INSURANCE  REGULATORS.   If  a  material  irreconcilable
      conflict arises because a particular state insurance  regulator's decision
      applicable  to the  Company  conflicts  with the  majority  of other state
      regulators,   then  the  Company  will  withdraw  the  affected  Account's
      investment  in the  applicable  Fund and  terminate  this  Agreement  with
      respect  to such  Account  within  the  period of time  permitted  by such
      decision, but in no event later than six months after the Directors inform
      the  Company in writing  that it has  determined  that such  decision  has
      created an irreconcilable material conflict;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
      withdrawal and termination  shall be limited to the extent required by the
      foregoing material  irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
      the disinterested  Directors.  Until the end of the foregoing period,  the
      Distributors  and Funds shall  continue to accept and implement  orders by
      the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund to the
      extent such actions do not violate applicable law.

            (b) DISREGARD OF OWNER VOTING. If a material irreconcilable conflict
      arises   because  of  Company's   decision  to   disregard   Owner  voting
      instructions  and that  decision  represents a minority  position or would
      preclude a majority  vote,  Company  may be  required,  at the  applicable
      Fund's  election,  to withdraw the  Account's  investment in said Fund. No
      charge or penalty will be imposed  against the Account as a result of such
      withdrawal.

      10.5  LIMITATIONS ON  CONSEQUENCES.  For purposes of Sections 10.3 through
10.5  of  this  Agreement,  a  majority  of the  disinterested  Directors  shall
determine  whether any proposed action  adequately  remedies any  irreconcilable
material  conflict.  In no event will a Fund, the Adviser or the Distributors be
required to establish a new funding medium for any of the Contracts. The Company
shall not be required by Section 10.3 to establish a new funding  medium for the
Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Owners
affected  by the  irreconcilable  material  conflict.  In  the  event  that  the


                                       15
<PAGE>



Directors  determine  that any proposed  action does not  adequately  remedy any
irreconcilable  material conflict,  then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the applicable Fund and terminate this Agreement as quickly as may
be required to comply with  applicable  law,  but in no event later than six (6)
months  after the  Directors  inform the  Company  in  writing of the  foregoing
determination,  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict.

      10.6 CHANGES IN LAWS. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T)
are  amended,  or Rule 6e-3 is  adopted,  to provide  exemptive  relief from any
provision of the Act or the rules  promulgated  thereunder with respect to mixed
or shared  funding  (as  defined  in the  Funds'  Exemptive  Order) on terms and
conditions  materially  different from those  contained in the Funds'  Exemptive
Order,  then (a) the Funds and/or the Company,  as appropriate,  shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and
Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections
10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the
extent that terms and  conditions  substantially  identical to such Sections are
contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.

11.   MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.
      ----------------------

            (a) Recordkeeping and other administrative  services to Owners shall
      be the  responsibility of the Company and shall not be the  responsibility
      of the Funds,  Adviser or Distributors.  None of the Funds, the Adviser or
      Distributors  shall  maintain  separate  accounts  or records  for Owners.
      Company  shall  maintain and preserve all records as required by law to be
      maintained and preserved in connection  with providing the Services and in
      making shares of the Funds available to the Account.

            (b) Upon the  request of the  Adviser or  Distributors,  the Company
      shall  provide   copies  of  all  the  historical   records   relating  to
      transactions  between the Funds and the  Account,  written  communications
      regarding  the Funds to or from the Account and other  materials,  in each
      case (1) as are  maintained  by the Company in the ordinary  course of its
      business and in compliance  with applicable law, and (2) as may reasonably
      be   requested   to  enable  the   Adviser   and   Distributors,   or  its
      representatives,  including  without  limitation  its  auditors  or  legal
      counsel,  to (A)  monitor  and review the  Services,  (B) comply  with any
      request of a  governmental  body or  self-regulatory  organization  or the
      Owners,  (C)  verify  compliance  by the  Company  with the  terms of this
      Agreement,  (D) make required  regulatory  reports, or (E) perform general
      customer  supervision.  The Company agrees that it will permit the Adviser
      and  Distributors  or such  representatives  of either to have  reasonable
      access to its personnel and records in order to facilitate  the monitoring
      of the quality of the Services.

            (c) Upon the request of the  Company,  the Adviser and  Distributors
      shall  provide   copies  of  all  the  historical   records   relating  to
      transactions  between the Funds and the  Account,  written  communications


                                       16
<PAGE>



      regarding  the Funds to or from the Account and other  materials,  in each
      case (1) as are  maintained by the Adviser and  Distributors,  as the case
      may be, in the  ordinary  course of its business  and in  compliance  with
      applicable  law,  and (2) as may  reasonably  be  requested  to enable the
      Company, or its representatives, including without limitation its auditors
      or legal counsel, to (A) comply with any request of a governmental body or
      self-regulatory  organization or the Owners,  (B) verify compliance by the
      Adviser  and  Distributors  with  the  terms of this  Agreement,  (C) make
      required regulatory reports, or (D) perform general customer supervision.

            (d) The  Parties  agree to  cooperate  in good  faith  in  providing
      records to one another pursuant to this Section 11.

12.   TERM AND TERMINATION.
      --------------------

      12.1  TERM  AND  TERMINATION  WITHOUT  CAUSE.  The  initial  term  of this
Agreement  shall be for a  period  of one year  from  the  date  hereof.  Unless
terminated  as to any Fund upon not less than  thirty  (30) days  prior  written
notice to the other Parties, this Agreement shall thereafter automatically renew
for the remaining  Funds from year to year,  subject to  termination at the next
applicable  renewal date upon not less than 30 days prior  written  notice.  Any
Party may  terminate  this  Agreement as to any Fund  following the initial term
upon six (6) months advance written notice to the other Parties.

      12.2 TERMINATION BY FUND, DISTRIBUTORS OR ADVISER FOR CAUSE. Adviser, Fund
or  Distributors  may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the Company,
if any of them shall  determine,  in its sole judgment  exercised in good faith,
that (a) the Company has  suffered a material  adverse  change in its  business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or
is the subject of material  adverse  publicity;  or (b) any of the Contracts are
not registered,  issued or sold in accordance with applicable  state and federal
law or such law  precludes the use of Fund shares as the  underlying  investment
media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company.

      12.3  TERMINATION  BY  COMPANY  FOR  CAUSE.  Company  may  terminate  this
Agreement by written notice to the Adviser,  Funds and Distributors in the event
that (a) any of the Fund shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance
with  applicable  state or  federal  law or such law  precludes  the use of such
shares  as the  underlying  investment  media of the  Contracts  issued or to be
issued by the Company;  (b) the Funds cease to qualify as  Regulated  Investment
Companies  under  Subchapter  M of the Code or under any  successor  or  similar
provision,  or if the Company reasonably  believes that the Funds may fail to so
qualify; or (c) a Fund fails to meet the diversification  requirements specified
in Section 6.4(a).

      12.4 TERMINATION BY ANY PARTY.  This Agreement may be terminated as to any
Fund by any Party at any time (A) by giving 30 days' written notice to the other
Parties in the event of a material  breach of this  Agreement by the other Party


                                       17
<PAGE>
 


or  Parties  that is not  cured  during  such  30-day  period,  and (B) (i) upon
institution  of formal  proceedings  relating  to the  legality of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement  against the Account,  Company,  Funds,  Adviser or
Distributors by the NASD, the SEC or any other regulatory body provided that the
terminating  Party  has a  reasonable  belief  that the  institution  of  formal
proceedings is not without foundation and will have a material adverse impact on
the terminating  Party, (ii) by the  non-assigning  Party upon the assignment of
this Agreement in contravention of the terms hereof,  or (iii) as is required by
law, order or instruction by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or a regulatory
body or  self-regulatory  organization  with  jurisdiction  over the terminating
Party.

      12.5  LIMIT  ON  TERMINATION.  Notwithstanding  the  termination  of  this
Agreement with respect to any or all Funds,  for so long as any Contracts remain
outstanding  and invested in a Fund each Party hereto shall  continue to perform
such of its  duties  hereunder  as are  necessary  to ensure the  continued  tax
deferred  status thereof and the payment of benefits  thereunder,  except to the
extent proscribed by law, the SEC or other regulatory body.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  nothing  in  this  Section  12.5  obligates  a Fund to  continue  in
existence.  In the event that any Fund elects to terminate its  operations,  the
Company shall,  as soon as  practicable,  obtain an exemptive  order or order of
substitution  from the SEC to remove all Owners from the  applicable  Fund.  

13.   NOTICES.
      -------

      All notices  hereunder  shall be given in writing  (and shall be deemed to
have been duly given upon  receipt)  by  delivery in person,  by  facsimile,  by
registered or certified mail or by overnight  delivery (postage prepaid,  return
receipt requested) to the respective Parties as follows:

            If to Strong Variable:

                  Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
                  100 Heritage Reserve
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53051
                  Attention: General Counsel
                  Facsimile No.:  414/359-3948

            If to Special Fund:

                  Strong Special Fund II, Inc.
                  100 Heritage Reserve
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53051
                  Attention: General Counsel
                  Facsimile No.:  414/359-3948


                                       18
<PAGE>



            If to Adviser:

                  Strong Capital Management, Inc.
                  100 Heritage Reserve
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53051
                  Attention: General Counsel
                  Facsimile No.:  414/359-3948

            If to Distributors:

                  Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
                  100 Heritage Reserve
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53051
                  Attention: General Counsel
                  Facsimile No.:  414/359-3948

            If to Company:

                  Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
                  250 East Fifth Street
                  Cincinnati, OH 45202
                  Attention: Mark F. Muething
                  Facsimile No.:  (513) 357-3397

14.   MISCELLANEOUS.
      -------------

      14.1. CAPTIONS.   The  captions  in  this  Agreement  are  included  for
convenience of reference only and in no way affect the  construction or effect
of any provisions hereof.

      14.2. ENFORCEABILITY.  If any  portion of this  Agreement  shall be held
or  made  invalid  by a  court  decision,  statute,  rule  or  otherwise,  the
remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

      14.3. COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement may be executed  simultaneously  in
two or more  counterparts,  each of which taken together shall  constitute one
and the same instrument.

      14.4. REMEDIES  NOT  EXCLUSIVE.  The rights,  remedies  and  obligations
contained in this  Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all
rights,  remedies  and  obligations,  at law or in equity,  which the  Parties
hereto are entitled to under state and federal laws.

      14.5.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Subject to the  requirements of legal process and
regulatory authority, the Funds and Distributors shall treat as confidential the
names  and  addresses  of  the  owners  of the  Contracts  and  all  information
reasonably  identified  as  confidential  in writing by the Company  hereto and,
except as  permitted  by this  Agreement,  shall not  disclose,  disseminate  or
utilize such names and addresses and other confidential  information without the
express  written  consent of the Company until such time as it may come into the
public domain.


                                       19
<PAGE>



      14.6. GOVERNING   LAW.   This   Agreement   shall  be  governed  by  and
interpreted  in  accordance  with the internal  laws of the State of Wisconsin
applicable  to  agreements  fully  executed  and  to  be  performed   therein;
exclusive of conflicts of laws.

      14.7.  SURVIVABILITY.  Sections  6, 7.2,  7.3,  7.4, 9, 11 and 12.5 hereof
shall survive termination of this Agreement. In addition, all provisions of this
Agreement  shall  survive  termination  of this  Agreement in the event that any
Contracts are invested in a Fund at the time the termination  becomes  effective
and shall survive for so long as such Contracts remain so invested.

      14.8.  AMENDMENT  AND WAIVER.  No  modification  of any  provision of this
Agreement  will be binding  unless in writing  and  executed  by the Party to be
bound  thereby.  No waiver of any  provision of this  Agreement  will be binding
unless  in  writing  and   executed   by  the  Party   granting   such   waiver.
Notwithstanding  anything in this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  the Company may
unilaterally  amend Exhibit A hereto to add additional series of Strong Variable
Funds ("New  Funds") as Funds by sending to the Company a written  notice of the
New Funds Any valid waiver of a provision set forth herein shall not  constitute
a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.  In addition, any such waiver
shall  constitute a present  waiver of such provision and shall not constitute a
permanent future waiver of such provision.

      14.9. ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to
the  benefit  of the  Parties  and  their  respective  successors  and  assigns;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that neither  this  Agreement  nor any rights,  privileges,
duties or  obligations  of the Parties may be assigned by any Party  without the
written  consent  of the other  Parties  or as  expressly  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

      14.10.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  contains the full and complete
understanding  between the Parties with respect to the transactions  covered and
contemplated  hereunder,  and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the  Parties  relating to the subject  matter  hereof,  whether  oral or
written, express or implied.

      14.11.  RELATIONSHIP  OF PARTIES;  NO JOINT VENTURE,  ETC.  Except for the
limited  purpose  provided in Section 3.8, it is understood  and agreed that the
Company shall be acting as an  independent  contractor and not as an employee or
agent of the Adviser,  Distributors or the Funds,  and none of the Parties shall
hold itself out as an agent of any other Party with the  authority  to bind such
Party.  Neither the execution nor  performance of this Agreement shall be deemed
to create a partnership or joint venture by and among any of the Company, Funds,
Adviser, or Distributors.

      14.12.      EXPENSES.  All expenses  incident to the performance by each
Party of its  respective  duties  under this  Agreement  shall be paid by that
Party.

      14.13.      TIME  OF  ESSENCE.  Time  shall  be of the  essence  in this
Agreement.


                                       20
<PAGE>


      14.14.      NON-EXCLUSIVITY.   Each  of  the  Parties  acknowledges  and
agrees that this Agreement and the arrangements  described herein are intended
to be  non-exclusive  and  that  each of the  Parties  is free to  enter  into
similar agreements and arrangements with other entities.

      14.15.  OPERATIONS  OF  FUNDS.  In no way  shall  the  provisions  of this
Agreement limit the authority of the Funds,  the Company or Distributors to take
such action as it may deem  appropriate  or  advisable  in  connection  with all
matters relating to the operation of such Fund and the sale of its shares. In no
way shall the provisions of this Agreement limit the authority of the Company to
take such action as it may deem  appropriate or advisable in connection with all
matters  relating to the provision of Services or the shares of funds other than
the Funds offered to the Account.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the Parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                      ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


                                      
                                       By:
                                            -----------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:


                                      STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


                                      By:  -----------------------------------
                                      Name:   Stephen J. Shenkenberg
                                      Title:  Vice President

                                      STRONG FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.


                                      By:  
                                             ----------------------------------
                                      Name:   Stephen J. Shenkenberg
                                      Title:  Vice President

                                      STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
                                      on behalf of the Designated Portfolios


                                      By:    ----------------------------------
                                      Name:   Stephen J. Shenkenberg
                                      Title:  Vice President

                                      STRONG SPECIAL FUND II, INC.


                                      By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                      Name:   Stephen J. Shenkenberg
                                      Title:  Vice President



                                       21
<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT A-1
                                SEPARATE ACCOUNTS



Annuity Investors Variable Account A
Annuity Investors Variable Account B























                                       22


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

The following is a list of Designated Portfolios under this Agreement:

Strong Growth Fund II




























                                       23

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT B

                                  THE SERVICES

            Company shall perform the following services. Such services shall be
the  responsibility  of the Company and shall not be the  responsibility  of the
Funds, Adviser or Distributors.

      1. Maintain separate records for each Account, which records shall reflect
Fund shares ("Shares") purchased and redeemed,  including the date and price for
all  transactions,  Share  balances,  and the name and  address  of each  Owner,
including zip codes and tax identification numbers.

      2. Credit  contributions  to  individual  Owner  accounts  and invest such
contributions in shares of the Funds to the extent so designated by the Owner.

      3. Disburse or credit to the Owners, and maintain records of, all proceeds
of  redemptions  of Fund shares and all other  distributions  not  reinvested in
shares.

      4.  Prepare  and  transmit  to the  Owners,  periodic  account  statements
showing,  among other  things,  the total  number of Fund shares owned as of the
statement  closing date,  purchases and  redemptions of shares during the period
covered by the statement,  the net asset value of the Funds as of a recent date,
and the  dividends  and other  distributions  paid during the  statement  period
(whether paid in cash or reinvested in shares).

      5. Transmit to the Owners,  as required by applicable  law,  prospectuses,
proxy materials,  shareholder  reports,  and other  information  provided by the
Adviser, Distributors or Funds and required to be sent to shareholders under the
Federal securities laws.

      6. Transmit to Distributors purchase orders and redemption requests placed
by the Account and arrange for the transmission of funds to and from the Funds.

      7. Transmit to Distributors  such periodic  reports as Distributors  shall
reasonably  conclude is necessary to enable the Funds to comply with  applicable
Federal securities and state Blue Sky requirements.

      8.    Transmit to the each Account  confirmations of purchase orders and
redemption requests placed by each Account.



                                       24
<PAGE>



      9. Maintain all account balance  information for the Account and daily and
monthly purchase summaries expressed in shares and dollar amounts.

      10.  Prepare,  transmit and file any Federal,  state and local  government
reports and returns as required by law with respect to each  account  maintained
on behalf of the Account.

      11.  Respond to Owners'  inquiries  regarding,  among other things,  share
prices,  account  balances,  dividend options,  dividend  amounts,  and dividend
payment dates.


















                                       25

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT C
                               ACCOUNT INFORMATION

1. Entity in whose name each Account will be opened:
                                       Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
   Mailing address:                    P.O. Box 5423
                                       Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423t


2. Employer ID number (For internal use only):  31-1021738

3. Authorized contact persons: The following persons are authorized on behalf of
   the Company to effect transactions in each Account:

   Lynn Laswell                       513-333-6281
   Brian Sponaugle                    513-357-3396
   Todd Gayhart                       513-333-6005
   Laura Lally                        513-333-6217
   Chris Accurso                      513-357-3261
   John Burress                       513-357-3194

4. Will the Accounts have telephone exchange?         ___ Yes   __X__ No 
   (THIS OPTION LETS COMPANY  REDEEM  SHARES BY TELEPHONE AND APPLY THE PROCEEDS
   FOR PURCHASE IN ANOTHER IDENTICALLY REGISTERED STRONG FUNDS ACCOUNT.)

5. Will the Accounts have telephone redemption?          ___ Yes   __X__ No 
   (THIS  OPTION LETS  COMPANY SELL SHARES BY  TELEPHONE.  THE PROCEEDS  WILL BE
   WIRED TO THE BANK ACCOUNT SPECIFIED BELOW.)

6. All dividends and capital gains will be reinvested automatically.



                                       26
<PAGE>



7. Instructions for all outgoing wire transfers: The Provident Bank
                                                 Cincinnati, OH 45202
                                                 ABA # 042000424
                                                 For the Account of Annuity
                                                 Investors Life Insurance 
                                                 Company Depository Account
                                                 Account # 0697-394
                                                 Amount:
                                                 Attn.: Wire Transfer Department

8.  If  this  Account  Information  Form  contains  changed   information,   the
undersigned  authorized  officer has executed this amended  Account  Information
Form as of the  date  set  forth  below  and  acknowledges  the  agreements  and
representations  set forth in the  Participation  Agreement between the Company,
the Funds, Adviser and Distributors:


   --------------------------------------    ---------------------
   (SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED OFFICER)         (DATE)


9.  Company represents under penalty of perjury that:

      (i)   The employer ID number on this form is correct; and

      (ii) Company is not subject to backup  withholding  because (a) Company is
exempt from  backup  withholding,  (b) Company has not been  notified by the IRS
that it is  subject to backup  withholding  as a result of failure to report all
interest or  dividends,  or (c) the IRS has  notified  the Company that it is no
longer  subject  to backup  withholding.  (Cross  out (ii) if  Company  has been
notified  by the  IRS  that it is  subject  to  backup  withholding  because  of
underreporting interest or dividends on its tax return.)


PLEASE  NOTE:   DISTRIBUTORS  EMPLOYS  REASONABLE  PROCEDURES  TO  CONFIRM  THAT
INSTRUCTIONS  COMMUNICATED  BY  TELEPHONE  ARE GENUINE AND MAY NOT BE LIABLE FOR
LOSSES DUE TO UNAUTHORIZED OR FRAUDULENT INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE SEE THE PROSPECTUS
FOR THE  APPLICABLE  FUND FOR MORE  INFORMATION  ON THE  TELEPHONE  EXCHANGE AND
REDEMPTION PRIVILEGES.


FOR STRONG  INTERNAL USE:  THIS ACCOUNT  INFORMATION  FORM MAY BE A COPY.  THE
ORIGINAL ACCOUNT  INFORMATION FORM IS ATTACHED TO THE PARTICIPATION  AGREEMENT
WITH THE ADVISER AND RETAINED IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.


                                       27
<PAGE>


                                 April 25, 1997


Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
250 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Attention: Mark F. Muething

Dear Mark:         Re:   Fee Letter Relating to the Annuity Investors Life
                         Insurance Company Participation Agreement.


      Pursuant  to the  Participation  Agreement  by and  among  Strong  Capital
Management,  Inc.  ("Strong"),  Annuity  Investors Life  Insurance  Company (the
"Company"),  Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., Strong Special Fund II, Inc.
and Strong Funds  Distributors,  Inc.  ("Distributors")  dated as April 25, 1997
(the "Participation Agreement"), the Company will provide certain administrative
services on behalf of the  registered  investment  companies  or series  thereof
specified in Exhibit A (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds").

      In  recognition of the reduction in  administrative  expenses that derives
from the performance of said administrative  services,  Strong agrees to pay the
Company the fee specified below for each Fund specified in Exhibit A hereto.

            (a) For average  aggregate  amounts (as calculated in paragraph (b),
      below) invested through variable  insurance products issued by the Company
      with the Funds, the monthly fee shall equal the percentage  (calculated in
      paragraph (b), below) of the applicable annual fee for each Fund specified
      in Exhibit A.

            (b) For purposes of computing the fee  contemplated in paragraph (a)
      above,  Strong  shall  calculate  and pay to the  Company  an amount  with
      respect to each Fund equal to the  product  of: (a) the product of (i) the
      number of calendar days in the  applicable  month divided by the number of
      calendar  days in  that  year  (365 or 366 as  applicable)  and  (ii)  the
      applicable  percentage  specified in Exhibit A, hereto,  multiplied by (b)
      the  average  daily  market  value of the  investments  held in such  Fund
      pursuant to the Participation Agreement computed by totaling the aggregate
      investment (share net asset value multiplied by the total number of shares
      held) on each day  during the  calendar  month and  dividing  by the total
      number of days during such month.

            (c) Strong  shall  calculate  the  amount of the  payment to be made
      pursuant to this Letter  Agreement at the end of each  calendar  month and
      will make such payment to the Company  within 30 days after  receiving the
      report  referenced in paragraph (e), below. Fees will be paid, at Strong's
      election,  by wire transfer or by check.  All payments  hereunder shall be
      considered  final unless disputed by the Company in writing within 60 days
      of receipt.

            (d) The parties agree that the fees  contemplated  herein are solely
      for shareholder  servicing and other  administrative  services provided by
      the Company  and do not  constitute  payment in any manner for  investment
      advisory, distribution, trustee, or custodial services.


                                       28
<PAGE>



            (e) The  Company  agrees to  provide  Strong by the 15th day of each
      month with a report which indicates the number of Owners that hold through
      a  Contract  interests  in each  Account  as of the last day of the  prior
      month.

            (f) If requested in writing by Strong, and at Strong's expense,  the
      Company shall provide to Strong, by February 14th of each year, a "Special
      Report" from a nationally recognized accounting firm reasonably acceptable
      to Strong which  substantiates  for each month of the prior calendar year:
      (a) the number of Owners that hold, through an Account,  interests in each
      Account maintained by the Company on the last day of each month which held
      shares  for  which  the fee  provided  for in this  Letter  Agreement  was
      received by the Company, (b) that any fees billed to Strong for such month
      were accurately  determined in accordance with this Letter Agreement,  and
      (c) such other  information  in  connection  with this  Agreement  and the
      Participation Agreement as may be reasonably requested by Strong.

            (g) The  parties  hereto  agree that Strong may  unilaterally  amend
      Schedule A hereto to add additional investment companies or series thereof
      ("New Funds") as Funds subject to the provisions of this Letter  Agreement
      by sending to the Company a written notice of the New Funds and indicating
      therein  the  fees  to  be  paid  to  the  Company  with  respect  to  the
      administrative  services provided pursuant to the Participation  Agreement
      in connection with such New Funds.

            (h) This Letter  Agreement shall  terminate upon  termination of the
      Participation Agreement. Accordingly, all payments pursuant to this Letter
      Agreement shall cease upon termination of the Participation Agreement.

            (i)  Capitalized  terms not otherwise  defined herein shall have the
      meaning assigned to them in the Participation Agreement.

      If you are in  agreement  with the  foregoing,  please sign and date below
where indicated and return one copy of this signed letter agreement to me.

                                       Very truly yours,

         
                                       Stephen J. Shenkenberg
                                       Vice President



Accepted and agreed as of April 25, 1997 by
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
- ---------------------------------------
By:
Name and Title:



                                       29
<PAGE>



                   EXHIBIT A TO LETTER DATED APRIL 25, 1997

The Funds subject to this Agreement and applicable annual fees are as follows:

                FUND                               ANNUAL FEE

      Strong Special Fund II, Inc.                     .20%
      Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
             Strong Growth Fund II                     .20%

























                                       30


                                                                    EXHIBIT 8(l)


                          FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT


      THIS  AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of May, 1997, by and among the PBHG
INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. ("FUND"), a Maryland  corporation,  PILGRIM BAXTER &
ASSOCIATES,  LTD. ("Adviser"),  a Delaware  corporation,  ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY ("LIFE COMPANY"), a life insurance company organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio.

      WHEREAS,  FUND is registered  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "`40 Act"), as
an open-end, diversified management investment company; and

      WHEREAS,  FUND  is  organized  as  a  series  fund  comprised  of  several
Portfolios  ("Portfolios"),  with  those  currently  available  being  listed on
Appendix A hereto; and

      WHEREAS,  FUND was  organized  to act as the  funding  vehicle for certain
variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts ("Variable Contracts")
offered  by  life  insurance  companies  through  separate  accounts  ("Separate
Accounts")  of  such  life   insurance   companies   ("Participating   Insurance
Companies"); and

      WHEREAS,  FUND may also offer its shares to certain  qualified pension and
retirement plans ("Qualified Plans"); and

      WHEREAS, FUND will apply for an order from the SEC, granting Participating
Insurance  Companies and their separate accounts  exemptions from the provisions
of Sections 9(a),  13(a),  15(a) and 15(b) of the `40 Act, and Rules 6e-2(b)(15)
and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)  thereunder,  to the extent necessary to permit shares of the
Portfolios  of the FUND to be sold to and  held by  Variable  Contract  separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated  Participating  Insurance Companies
and Qualified Plans ("Exemptive Order"); and

      WHEREAS,  LIFE  COMPANY  has  established  or will  establish  one or more
separate  accounts  ("Separate  Accounts")  to offer  Variable  Contracts and is
desirous  of having  FUND as one of the  underlying  funding  vehicles  for such
Variable Contracts; and

      WHEREAS, ADVISER is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under
the Investment  Advisers Act of 1940 and as a broker-dealer under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and acts as the FUND's investment adviser; and

      WHEREAS,  to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  insurance  laws  and
regulations,  LIFE  COMPANY  intends  to  purchase  shares  of FUND to fund  the
aforementioned  Variable Contracts and FUND is authorized to sell such shares to
LIFE COMPANY at net asset value;



<PAGE>



      NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of their mutual promises,  LIFE COMPANY,
FUND, and ADVISER agree as follows:

                         Article I. SALE OF FUND SHARES

      1.1 FUND agrees to make available to the Separate Accounts of LIFE COMPANY
shares of the  selected  Portfolios  as listed on Appendix B for  investment  of
purchase  payments of Variable  Contracts  allocated to the designated  Separate
Accounts as provided in FUND's Registration Statement.

      1.2 FUND  agrees to sell to LIFE  COMPANY  those  shares  of the  selected
Portfolios of FUND which LIFE COMPANY  orders,  executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by FUND or its designee
of the order for the shares of FUND.  For  purposes of this  Section  1.2,  LIFE
COMPANY  shall be the  designee  of FUND for  receipt  of such  orders  from the
designated  Separate  Account  and  receipt by such  designee  shall  constitute
receipt by FUND;  provided that LIFE COMPANY receives the order by 4:00 p.m. New
York time and FUND  receives  notice from LIFE COMPANY by telephone or facsimile
(or by such other  means as FUND and LIFE  COMPANY may agree in writing) of such
order by 8:30 a.m. New York time on the next following  Business Day.  "Business
Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading
and on which FUND  calculates  its net asset value  pursuant to the rules of the
SEC.

      1.3  FUND  agrees  to  redeem  on  LIFE  COMPANY's  request,  any  full or
fractional  shares of FUND held by LIFE  COMPANY,  executing  such requests on a
daily basis at the net asset value next  computed  after  receipt by FUND or its
designee of the request for  redemption,  in accordance  with the  provisions of
this agreement and FUND's Registration  Statement.  For purposes of this Section
1.3,  LIFE  COMPANY  shall be the  designee of FUND for receipt of requests  for
redemption  from the  designated  Separate  Account and receipt by such designee
shall  constitute  receipt by FUND;  provided  that LIFE  COMPANY  receives  the
request for redemption by 4:00 p.m. New York time and FUND receives  notice from
LIFE COMPANY by telephone or facsimile  (or by such other means as FUND and LIFE
COMPANY may agree in writing) of such  request for  redemption  by 8:30 a.m. New
York time on the next following Business Day.

      1.4 FUND shall furnish,  on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to LIFE
COMPANY of any income  dividends  or capital gain  distributions  payable on the
shares of any Portfolio of FUND.  LIFE COMPANY hereby elects to receive all such
income dividends and capital gain  distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's
shares in additional shares of the Portfolio.  FUND shall notify LIFE COMPANY or
its designee of the number of shares so issued as payment of such  dividends and
distributions.

      1.5 FUND  shall  make the net  asset  value  per  share  for the  selected
Portfolio(s)  available to LIFE  COMPANY on a daily basis as soon as  reasonably
practicable  after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its


                                       2
<PAGE>



best efforts to make such net asset value  available by 7:00 p.m. New York time.
The FUND  shall  provide  such net asset  values to LIFE  COMPANY  by  facsimile
transmission or in such other manner as FUND and LIFE COMPANY may agree. If FUND
provides  LIFE  COMPANY  with   materially   incorrect  share  net  asset  value
information  through  no fault of LIFE  COMPANY,  LIFE  COMPANY on behalf of the
Separate  Accounts,  shall be entitled to an  adjustment to the number of shares
purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any material
error in the calculation of net asset value per share,  dividend or capital gain
information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to LIFE COMPANY.

      1.6 At  the  end  of  each  Business  Day,  LIFE  COMPANY  shall  use  the
information  described in Section 1.5 to calculate  Separate Account unit values
for the day.  Using these unit  values,  LIFE  COMPANY  shall  process each such
Business  Day's  Separate  Account  transactions  based on requests and premiums
received  by it by the  close of  trading  on the  floor  of the New York  Stock
Exchange  (currently 4:00 p.m. New York time) to determine the net dollar amount
of FUND shares which shall be  purchased  or redeemed at that day's  closing net
asset value per share. The net purchase or redemption orders so determined shall
be  transmitted  to FUND by LIFE  COMPANY  by 8:30  a.m.  New  York  Time on the
Business Day next following LIFE COMPANY's receipt of such requests and premiums
in accordance with the terms of Sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof.

      1.7 If LIFE  COMPANY's  order  requests the purchase of FUND shares,  LIFE
COMPANY  shall  pay for such  purchase  by wiring  federal  funds to FUND or its
designated  custodial  account  on the  day the  order  is  transmitted  by LIFE
COMPANY.  If LIFE  COMPANY's  order  requests a net  redemption  resulting  in a
payment of redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY,  FUND shall use its best efforts
to wire the redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY by the next Business Day. In any
event,  proceeds  shall be wired to LIFE COMPANY  within three  Business Days or
such longer period permitted by the '40 Act or the rules,  orders or regulations
thereunder  and FUND  shall  notify  the  person  designated  in writing by LIFE
COMPANY as the  recipient  for such  notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m.  New York
Time the same Business Day that LIFE COMPANY  transmits the redemption  order to
FUND.

      1.8 FUND  agrees  that all shares of the  Portfolios  of FUND will be sold
only to  Participating  Insurance  Companies which have agreed to participate in
FUND  to  fund  their  Separate  Accounts  and/or  to  Qualified  Plans,  all in
accordance with the  requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986,  as amended  ("Code") and Treasury  Regulation  1.817-5.  Shares of the
Portfolios of FUND will not be sold directly to the general public.

      1.9 FUND may refuse to sell  shares of any  Portfolio  to any  person,  or
suspend or terminate the offering of the shares of or liquidate any Portfolio of
FUND if such  action is  required  by law or by  regulatory  authorities  having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the FUND
(the "Board"), acting in good faith and in light of its duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, deemed necessary, desirable or appropriate and in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolios.


                                       3
<PAGE>


      1.10 Issuance and transfer of Portfolio shares will be by book entry only.
Stock  certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY or the Separate Accounts.
Shares ordered from Portfolio will be recorded in appropriate  book entry titles
for the Separate Accounts.

                   Article II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                               ------------------------------

      2.1 LIFE COMPANY  represents and warrants that it is an insurance  company
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio and that
it has legally and validly  established  each  Separate  Account as a segregated
asset  account under such laws,  and that AAG  Securities,  Inc.,  the principal
underwriter for the Variable  Contracts,  is registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "'34 Act").

      2.2 LIFE COMPANY  represents and warrants that it has registered or, prior
to any issuance or sale of the Variable  Contracts,  will register each Separate
Account as a unit investment  trust ("UIT") in accordance with the provisions of
the `40 Act and cause each Separate  Account to remain so registered to serve as
a segregated asset account for the Variable Contracts,  unless an exemption from
registration is available.

      2.3 LIFE COMPANY  represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts will
be  registered  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933 (the  "`33  Act")  unless an
exemption from  registration  is available  prior to any issuance or sale of the
Variable  Contracts and that the Variable  Contracts  will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material  respects with all applicable  federal and state laws
and further that the sale of the Variable Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with applicable state insurance law suitability requirements.

      2.4 LIFE COMPANY  represents and warrants that the Variable  Contracts are
currently  and at the  time of  issuance  will  be  treated  as life  insurance,
endowment or annuity contracts under applicable  provisions of the Code, that it
will  maintain  such  treatment  and that it will notify FUND  immediately  upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Variable  Contracts have ceased
to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.

      2.5 FUND  represents  and warrants  that the Fund shares  offered and sold
pursuant  to this  Agreement  will be  registered  under the '33 Act and sold in
accordance  with all  applicable  federal  and  state  laws,  and FUND  shall be
registered under the `40 Act prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale of
such shares.  FUND,  subject to Section 1.9 above,  shall amend its registration
statement  under  the `33 Act and the `40 Act from time to time as  required  in
order to effect the continuous  offering of its shares.  FUND shall register and
qualify its shares for sale in  accordance  with the laws of the various  states
only if and to the extent deemed advisable by FUND.

      2.6 FUND  represents and warrants that each Portfolio will comply with the
diversification  requirements  set forth in Section  817(h) of the Code, and the
rules  and  regulations   thereunder,   including  without  limitation  Treasury


                                       4
<PAGE>


Regulation  1.817-5,  and will notify  LIFE  COMPANY  immediately  upon having a
reasonable  basis for  believing any Portfolio has ceased to comply or might not
so comply and will immediately take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify
the Portfolio to achieve compliance.

      2.7 FUND  represents and warrants that each  Portfolio  invested in by the
Separate  Account  intends  to elect to be treated  as a  "regulated  investment
company"  under  Subchapter M of the Code, and to qualify for such treatment for
each  taxable  year and will  notify  LIFE  COMPANY  immediately  upon  having a
reasonable  basis for  believing  it has  ceased to so  qualify  or might not so
qualify in the future.

      2.8.  ADVISER  represents  and  warrants  that it is and will  remain duly
registered and licensed in all material  respects  under all applicable  federal
and state  securities  laws and  shall  perform  its  obligations  hereunder  in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal laws.

                 Article III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS
                              -------------------------------

      3.1 FUND shall prepare and be responsible  for filing with the SEC and any
state regulators requiring such filing all shareholder reports,  notices,  proxy
materials  (or  similar  materials  such  as  voting  instruction   solicitation
materials),  prospectuses and statements of additional information of FUND. FUND
shall  bear  the  costs of  registration  and  qualification  of  shares  of the
Portfolios,  preparation and filing of the documents  listed in this Section 3.1
and all taxes and filing fees to which an issuer is subject on the  issuance and
transfer of its shares.

      3.2 At least  annually,  FUND or its designee  shall provide LIFE COMPANY,
free of charge,  with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares of
the  Portfolios  as LIFE  COMPANY may  reasonably  request for  distribution  to
existing  Variable  Contract owners whose Variable  Contracts are funded by such
shares.  FUND or its designee  shall  provide LIFE  COMPANY,  at LIFE  COMPANY's
expense,  with as many copies of the current  prospectus  for the shares as LIFE
COMPANY may reasonably  request for  distribution  to prospective  purchasers of
Variable  Contracts.  If requested by LIFE COMPANY in lieu thereof,  FUND or its
designee  shall provide such  documentation  (including a "camera ready" copy of
the new  prospectus  as set in type or, at the  request  of LIFE  COMPANY,  as a
diskette in the form sent to the financial  printer) and other  assistance as is
reasonably  necessary  in  order  for the  parties  hereto  once a year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the shares is  supplemented or amended) to have
the prospectus for the Variable Contracts and the prospectus for the FUND shares
printed  together  in one  document.  The  expenses  of  such  printing  will be
apportioned between (a) LIFE COMPANY and (b) FUND in proportion to the number of
pages of the Variable  Contract and FUND's  prospectus,  taking account of other
relevant  factors  affecting the expense of printing,  such as covers,  columns,
graphs and  charts;  FUND to bear the cost of  printing  the  FUND's  prospectus
portion of such document for  distribution  only to owners of existing  Variable
Contracts  funded by the FUND's  shares and LIFE  COMPANY to bear the expense of


                                       5
<PAGE>


printing  the  portion  of such  documents  relating  to the  Separate  Account;
provided,  however,  LIFE  COMPANY  shall  bear all  printing  expenses  of such
combined  documents where used for distribution to prospective  purchasers or to
owners of existing  Variable  Contracts not funded by the FUND's shares.  In the
event  that LIFE  COMPANY  requests  that FUND or its  designee  provide  FUND's
prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette format, FUND shall be responsible for
providing  the  prospectus in the format in which it is accustomed to formatting
prospectuses  and shall bear the expense of  providing  the  prospectus  in such
format (e.g. typesetting  expenses),  and LIFE COMPANY shall bear the expense of
adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses.

      3.3 FUND will provide LIFE COMPANY with at least one complete  copy of all
exemptive  applications  and all  amendments or  supplements to any of the above
that relate to the  Portfolios  promptly  after the filing of each such document
with the SEC or other regulatory  authority.  FUND, at its expense, will provide
LIFE COMPANY with as many copies of its proxy statement,  annual and semi-annual
reports to shareholders as LIFE COMPANY may reasonably  require for distribution
to existing  Variable  Contract  owners.  LIFE COMPANY will provide FUND with at
least  one  complete  copy  of  all   prospectuses,   statements  of  additional
information,  annual  and  semi-annual  reports,  proxy  statements,   exemptive
applications  and all  amendments or supplements to any of the above that relate
to a Separate  Account  promptly after the filing of each such document with the
SEC or other regulatory authority.

                           Article IV. SALES MATERIALS
                                       ---------------

      4.1 LIFE COMPANY will furnish, or will cause to be furnished,  to FUND and
ADVISER,  each piece of sales literature or other promotional  material in which
FUND or ADVISER  is named,  at least  fifteen  (15)  Business  Days prior to its
intended  use.  No such  material  will be  used if FUND or  ADVISER  reasonably
objects to its use in writing  within ten (10)  Business  Days after  receipt of
such material.

      4.2 FUND and ADVISER will furnish, or will cause to be furnished,  to LIFE
COMPANY,  each piece of sales literature or other promotional  material in which
LIFE COMPANY or its Separate  Accounts are named, at least fifteen (15) Business
Days prior to its intended  use. No such  material  will be used if LIFE COMPANY
reasonably  objects to its use in writing  within ten (10)  Business  Days after
receipt of such material.

      4.3 FUND and its affiliates  and agents shall not give any  information or
make any  representations  on behalf of LIFE COMPANY or concerning LIFE COMPANY,
the Separate Accounts,  or the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY,  other
than the information or representations contained in a registration statement or
prospectus  for such  Variable  Contracts,  as such  registration  statement and
prospectus  may be amended or  supplemented  from time to time, or in reports of
the Separate  Accounts or reports  prepared for  distribution  to owners of such
Variable  Contracts,  or in  sales  literature  or  other  promotional  material
approved by LIFE COMPANY or its designee,  except with the written permission of
LIFE COMPANY.


                                       6
<PAGE>


      4.4  LIFE  COMPANY  and its  affiliates  and  agents  shall  not  give any
information  or make any  representations  on behalf of FUND or concerning  FUND
other  than the  information  or  representations  contained  in a  registration
statement or prospectus for FUND, as such registration  statement and prospectus
may be amended or  supplemented  from time to time,  or in sales  literature  or
other  promotional  material  approved by FUND or its designee,  except with the
written permission of FUND.

      4.5 For purposes of this Agreement,  the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional  material" or words of similar import include,  without  limitation,
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use, in a newspaper,
magazine or other periodical,  radio,  television,  telephone or tape recording,
videotape display, signs or billboards,  motion pictures or other public media),
sales  literature  (such  as  any  written  communication  distributed  or  made
generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,  circulars,
research reports,  market letters,  form letters,  seminar texts, or reprints or
excerpts of any other  advertisement,  sales literature,  or published article),
educational or training  materials or other  communications  distributed or made
generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements,
prospectuses,  statements of  additional  information,  shareholder  reports and
proxy  materials,  and any  other  material  constituting  sales  literature  or
advertising  under National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  ("NASD")
rules, the `40 Act or the '33 Act.

                         Article V. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
                                    -------------------

      5.1 The parties  acknowledge  that FUND will be filing an application with
the SEC to request an order granting  relief from various  provisions of the '40
Act and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit FUND shares to be
sold to and held by Variable  Contract  separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated  Participating  Insurance  Companies  and  Qualified  Plans.  It is
anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if issued, shall require FUND and
each Participating  Insurance Company to comply with conditions and undertakings
substantially  as provided in this  Section 5. If the  Exemptive  Order  imposes
conditions  materially  different from those provided for in this Section 5, the
conditions  and  undertakings  imposed by the Exemptive  Order shall govern this
Agreement and the parties hereto agree to amend this Agreement  consistent  with
the Exemptive Order. The Fund will not enter into a participation agreement with
any other Participating  Insurance Company unless it imposes the same conditions
and undertakings as are imposed on LIFE COMPANY hereby.

      5.2 The  Board  will  monitor  FUND  for  the  existence  of any  material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of Variable Contract owners of all
separate  accounts  investing in FUND. An  irreconcilable  material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons,  which may  include:  (a) an action by any state
insurance  regulatory  authority;  (b) a change in  applicable  federal or state
insurance,  tax, or securities laws or regulations,  or a public ruling, private


                                       7
<PAGE>



letter ruling or any similar action by insurance,  tax or securities  regulatory
authorities;  (c)  an  administrative  or  judicial  decision  in  any  relevant
proceeding;  (d) the manner in which the  investments of FUND are being managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by Variable Contract owners; (f) a
decision  by  a  Participating   Insurance   Company  to  disregard  the  voting
instructions of Variable Contract owners and (g) if applicable,  a decision by a
Qualified Plan to disregard the voting instructions of plan participants.

      5.3 LIFE  COMPANY will report any  potential or existing  conflicts to the
Board.  LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assisting the Board in carrying out
its duties in this regard by providing the Board with all information reasonably
necessary  for the Board to  consider  any  issues  raised.  The  responsibility
includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the LIFE COMPANY to inform the
Board  whenever it has  determined to disregard  Variable  Contract owner voting
instructions.  These responsibilities of LIFE COMPANY will be carried out with a
view only to the interests of the Variable Contract owners.

      5.4 If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested Directors,
determines  that  a  material  irreconcilable  conflict  exists  affecting  LIFE
COMPANY,  LIFE COMPANY, at its expense and to the extent reasonably  practicable
(as determined by a majority of the Board's disinterested Directors),  will take
any steps necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict,
including;  (a) withdrawing the assets  allocable to some or all of the Separate
Accounts from FUND or any Portfolio  thereof and  reinvesting  those assets in a
different  investment  medium,  which may include another  Portfolio of FUND, or
another  investment  company;  (b)  submitting  the  question as to whether such
segregation  should be implemented to a vote of all affected  Variable  Contract
owners and as appropriate,  segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e
variable  annuity or  variable  life  insurance  Contract  owners of one or more
Participating  Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation,  or
offering to the affected  Variable  Contract  owners the option of making such a
change; and (c) establishing a new registered  management investment company (or
series  thereof)  or managed  separate  account.  If a  material  irreconcilable
conflict  arises  because  of LIFE  COMPANY's  decision  to  disregard  Variable
Contract  owner voting  instructions,  and that  decision  represents a minority
position or would preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at the
election of FUND, to withdraw the Separate Account's  investment in FUND, and no
charge  or  penalty  will  be  imposed  as a  result  of  such  withdrawal.  The
responsibility  to take such  remedial  action  shall be carried out with a view
only to the interests of the Variable Contract owners.

      For the  purposes of this  Section  5.4, a majority  of the  disinterested
members  of the  Board  shall  determine  whether  or not  any  proposed  action
adequately  remedies any  irreconcilable  material conflict but in no event will
FUND or  ADVISER  (or any  other  investment  adviser  of FUND) be  required  to
establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract.  Further, LIFE COMPANY
shall not be required by this Section 5.4 to establish a new funding  medium for
any Variable  Contracts  if any offer to do so has been  declined by a vote of a
majority of Variable  Contract owners  materially and adversely  affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.


                                       8
<PAGE>



      5.5  The  Board's  determination  of the  existence  of an  irreconcilable
material  conflict  and its  implications  shall be made known  promptly  and in
writing to LIFE COMPANY.

      5.6 No less than  annually,  LIFE  COMPANY  shall submit to the Board such
reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the Board
may fully carry out its obligations.  Such reports, materials, and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board.

                               Article VI. VOTING
                                           ------

      6.1 LIFE  COMPANY  will  provide  pass-through  voting  privileges  to all
Variable  Contract  owners so long as the SEC continues to interpret the `40 Act
as  requiring  pass-through  voting  privileges  for Variable  Contract  owners.
Accordingly,  LIFE COMPANY, where applicable,  will vote shares of the Portfolio
held in its Separate  Accounts in a manner  consistent with voting  instructions
timely  received  from  its  Variable  Contract  owners.  LIFE  COMPANY  will be
responsible for assuring that each of its Separate Accounts that participates in
FUND   calculates   voting   privileges  in  a  manner   consistent  with  other
Participating  Insurance  Companies.  LIFE COMPANY will vote shares for which it
has not received timely voting  instructions,  as well as shares it owns, in the
same  proportion  as its votes  those  shares for which it has  received  voting
instructions.

      6.2 If and to the extent  Rule 6e-2 and Rule  6e-3(T) are  amended,  or if
Rule 6e-3 is adopted,  to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the `40
Act or the rules  thereunder  with respect to mixed and shared  funding on terms
and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the Exemptive
Order, then FUND, and/or the Participating  Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall  take such  steps as may be  necessary  to comply  with Rule 6e-2 and Rule
6e-3(T),  as amended,  and Rule 6e-3,  as adopted,  to the extent such Rules are
applicable.

                          Article VII. INDEMNIFICATION
                                       ---------------

      7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY LIFE COMPANY.  LIFE COMPANY agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless FUND, ADVISER and each of their directors,  principals,  officers,
employees  and agents and each  person,  if any,  who  controls  FUND or ADVISER
within the meaning of Section 15 of the `33 Act (collectively,  the "Indemnified
Parties" for  purposes of this Article VII) against any and all losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities  (including  amounts paid in  settlement  with the written
consent of LIFE COMPANY,  which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld) or
litigation  (including  reasonable  legal  and  other  expenses),  to which  the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,  regulation, at common
law or  otherwise,  insofar as such  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
expenses (or actions in respect  thereof) or settlements are related to the sale
or acquisition of FUND's shares or the Variable Contracts and:

      (a)   arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
            untrue  statements  of  any  material  fact  contained  in  the
            Registration Statement or prospectus for the Variable Contracts
            or  contained in the Variable  Contracts  (or any  amendment or


                                     9
<PAGE>


            supplement  to any of the  foregoing),  or arise  out of or are
            based  upon  the  omission  or the  alleged  omission  to state
            therein  a  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein  or
            necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  not  misleading,
            provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to
            any  Indemnified  Party if such  statement  or omission or such
            alleged  statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
            conformity with information  furnished to LIFE COMPANY by or on
            behalf  of  FUND  for  use in  the  registration  statement  or
            prospectus  for  the  Variable  Contracts  or in  the  Variable
            Contracts or sales  literature (or any amendment or supplement)
            or  otherwise  for  use in  connection  with  the  sale  of the
            Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or

      (b)   arise out of or as a result of  statements  or  representations
            (other than  statements  or  representations  contained  in the
            registration statement,  prospectus or sales literature of FUND
            not supplied by LIFE COMPANY,  or persons under its control) or
            wrongful  conduct of LIFE COMPANY or persons under its control,
            with  respect  to the  sale  or  distribution  of the  Variable
            Contracts or FUND shares; or

      (c)   arise out of any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement
            of a  material  fact  contained  in a  registration  statement,
            prospectus,  or  sales  literature  of  FUND  or any  amendment
            thereof  or  supplement  thereto  or the  omission  or  alleged
            omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
            therein  or  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  not
            misleading  if such  statement  or  omission  or  such  alleged
            statement  or  omission  was  made  in  reliance  upon  and  in
            conformity with  information  furnished to FUND by or on behalf
            of LIFE COMPANY; or

      (d)   arise as a result of any  failure  by LIFE  COMPANY  to provide
            substantially  the services and furnish the materials under the
            terms of this Agreement; or

      (e)   arise  out  of or  result  from  any  material  breach  of  any
            representation  and/or  warranty  made by LIFE  COMPANY in this
            Agreement  or arise  out of or result  from any other  material
            breach of this Agreement by LIFE COMPANY.

      7.2 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification  provision
with respect to any losses, claims, damages,  liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified  Party's duties or by reason of such  Indemnified  Party's  reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement.


                                    10
<PAGE>



      7.3 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification  provision
with  respect  to any claim  made  against  an  Indemnified  Party  unless  such
Indemnified  Party  shall  have  notified  LIFE  COMPANY  in  writing  within  a
reasonable   time  after  the  summons  or  other  first  legal  process  giving
information  of the  nature  of the  claim  shall  have  been  served  upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify LIFE COMPANY of any
such claim shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY from any  liability  which 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,  LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to participate at
its own  expense  in the  defense of such  action.  LIFE  COMPANY  also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof,  with counsel  satisfactory to the party
named in the  action.  After  notice  from LIFE  COMPANY  to such  party of LIFE
COMPANY's  election to assume the defense thereof,  the Indemnified  Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any  additional  counsel  retained by it, and LIFE
COMPANY will not be liable to such party under this  Agreement  for any legal or
other expenses  subsequently  incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

      7.4  INDEMNIFICATION  BY ADVISER.  ADVISER  agrees to  indemnify  and hold
harmless LIFE COMPANY and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents
and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY within the meaning of Section
15 of the `33 Act (collectively,  the "Indemnified  Parties" for the purposes of
this  Article  VII)  against any and all losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities
(including  amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of ADVISER which
consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld) or litigation (including reasonable
legal and other  expenses) to which the  Indemnified  Parties may become subject
under any statute,  or regulation,  at common law or otherwise,  insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
or  settlements  are related to the sale or  acquisition of FUND's shares or the
Variable Contracts and:

      (a)   arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged
            untrue   statement  of  any  material  fact  contained  in  the
            registration  statement or  prospectus  or sales  literature of
            FUND (or any amendment or supplement to any of the  foregoing),
            or arise out of or are based upon the  omission  or the alleged
            omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
            therein  or  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  not
            misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not
            apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission
            or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon
            and in conformity with information furnished to ADVISER or FUND
            by or on behalf  of LIFE  COMPANY  for use in the  registration
            statement or prospectus for FUND or in sales literature (or any
            amendment or  supplement)  or otherwise  for use in  connection
            with the sale of the Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or

                                    11
<PAGE>


      (b)   arise out of or as a result of  statements  or  representations
            (other than  statements  or  representations  contained  in the
            registration statement,  prospectus or sales literature for the
            Variable Contracts not supplied by ADVISER or persons under its
            control)  or  wrongful  conduct  of FUND or  ADVISER or persons
            under their control,  with respect to the sale or  distribution
            of the Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or

      (c)   arise out of any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement
            of a  material  fact  contained  in a  registration  statement,
            prospectus,   or  sales   literature   covering   the  Variable
            Contracts,  or any amendment  thereof or supplement  thereto or
            the  omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material
            fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary  to make the
            statements  therein  not  misleading,   if  such  statement  or
            omission or such  alleged  statement  or  omission  was made in
            reliance upon and in conformity with  information  furnished to
            LIFE COMPANY for inclusion therein by or on behalf of FUND; or

      (d)   arise  as a  result  of  (i)  a  failure  by  FUND  to  provide
            substantially  the services and furnish the materials under the
            terms of this  Agreement;  or (ii) a failure by a  Portfolio(s)
            invested  in  by  the  Separate  Account  to  comply  with  the
            diversification  requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code; or
            (iii) a failure by a  Portfolio(s)  invested in by the Separate
            Account to qualify as a "regulated  investment  company"  under
            Subchapter M of the Code; or

      (e)   arise as a result of any  failure by FUND or ADVISER to provide
            substantially  the services and furnish the materials under the
            terms of this Agreement; or

      (f)   arise  out  of or  result  from  any  material  breach  of  any
            representation   and/or   warranty  made  by  ADVISER  in  this
            Agreement  or arise  out of or result  from any other  material
            breach of this Agreement by ADVISER.

      7.5 ADVISER shall not be liable under this indemnification  provision with
respect to any losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or litigation to which an
Indemnified  Party  would  otherwise  be subject  by reason of such  Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified  Party's duties or by reason of such  Indemnified  Party's  reckless
disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.

      7.6 ADVISER shall not be liable under this indemnification  provision with
respect to any claim made against an Indemnified  Party unless such  Indemnified
Party shall have notified  ADVISER in writing within a reasonable time after the
summons or other first legal  process  giving  information  of the nature of the


                                    12
<PAGE>



claim  shall  have been  served  upon  such  Indemnified  Party  (or after  such
Indemnified  Party shall have received  notice of such service on any designated
agent),  but  failure  to notify  ADVISER of any such  claim  shall not  relieve
ADVISER from any liability  which 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 the Indemnified  Parties,
ADVISER  shall be  entitled  to  participate  at its own  expense in the defense
thereof.  ADVISER  also shall be entitled to assume the  defense  thereof,  with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from ADVISER
to such  party  of  ADVISER's  election  to  assume  the  defense  thereof,  the
Indemnified  Party shall bear the fees and  expenses of any  additional  counsel
retained  by it,  and  ADVISER  will not be  liable  to such  party  under  this
Agreement for any legal or other  expenses  subsequently  incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.

                      Article VIII. TERM; TERMINATION
                                    -----------------

      8.1 This  Agreement  shall be  effective  as of the date  hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.

      8.2  This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following
provisions:

      (a)   At the option of LIFE COMPANY or FUND at any time from the date
            hereof upon 60 days' notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to
            by the parties;

      (b)   At  the  option  of  LIFE  COMPANY,  if  FUND  shares  are  not
            reasonably  available to meet the  requirements of the Variable
            Contracts  as  determined  by LIFE  COMPANY.  Prompt  notice of
            election to terminate shall be furnished by LIFE COMPANY,  said
            termination  to be effective  ten days after  receipt of notice
            unless FUND makes  available a  sufficient  number of shares to
            reasonably  meet the  requirements  of the  Variable  Contracts
            within said ten-day period;

      (c)   At the option of LIFE COMPANY,  upon the  institution of formal
            proceedings  against  FUND by the SEC,  the NASD,  or any other
            regulatory body, the expected or anticipated  ruling,  judgment
            or  outcome  of  which  would,  in  LIFE  COMPANY's  reasonable
            judgment,  materially impair FUND's ability to meet and perform
            FUND's  obligations  and  duties  hereunder.  Prompt  notice of
            election to  terminate  shall be furnished by LIFE COMPANY with
            said termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;

      (d)   At  the  option  of  FUND,   upon  the  institution  of  formal
            proceedings  against LIFE COMPANY by the SEC, the NASD,  or any
            other  regulatory  body,  the expected or  anticipated  ruling,
            judgment  or  outcome  of which  would,  in  FUND's  reasonable
            judgment,  materially impair LIFE COMPANY's ability to meet and
            perform its obligations and duties hereunder.  Prompt notice of
            election  to  terminate  shall be  furnished  by FUND with said
            termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;


                                    13
<PAGE>


      (e)   In the event FUND's shares are not  registered,  issued or sold
            in accordance with applicable state or federal law, or such law
            precludes the use of such shares as the  underlying  investment
            medium  of  Variable  Contracts  issued or to be issued by LIFE
            COMPANY.  Termination  shall be effective upon such  occurrence
            without notice;

      (f)   At the  option  of  FUND if the  Variable  Contracts  cease  to
            qualify as annuity  contracts or life insurance  contracts,  as
            applicable, under the Code, or if FUND reasonably believes that
            the  Variable  Contracts  may fail to so  qualify.  Termination
            shall be effective upon receipt of notice by LIFE COMPANY;

      (g)   At the  option  of LIFE  COMPANY,  upon  FUND's  breach  of any
            material provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been
            cured to the satisfaction of LIFE COMPANY within ten days after
            written notice of such breach is delivered to FUND;

      (h)   At the  option  of FUND,  upon  LIFE  COMPANY's  breach  of any
            material provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been
            cured to the satisfaction of FUND within ten days after written
            notice of such breach is delivered to LIFE COMPANY;

      (i)   At the  option  of  FUND,  if the  Variable  Contracts  are not
            registered,  issued  or  sold  in  accordance  with  applicable
            federal  and/or  state  law.  Termination  shall  be  effective
            immediately upon such occurrence without notice;

      (j)   In the event  this  Agreement  is  assigned  without  the prior
            written consent of LIFE COMPANY, FUND, and ADVISER, termination
            shall be effective  immediately  upon such  occurrence  without
            notice.

      8.3  Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.2  hereof,  FUND  shall,  at the  option  of LIFE  COMPANY,  continue  to make
available  additional FUND shares, as provided below,  pursuant to the terms and
conditions  of this  Agreement,  for all  Variable  Contracts  in  effect on the
effective  date of termination  of this  Agreement  (hereinafter  referred to as


                                    14
<PAGE>



"Existing  Contracts").  Specifically,  without  limitation,  if LIFE COMPANY so
elects,  the owners of the Existing  Contracts or LIFE COMPANY,  whichever shall
have legal  authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate  investments in
FUND,  redeem  investments  in FUND  and/or  invest in FUND upon the  payment of
additional premiums under the Existing Contracts.  In the event of a termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof,  LIFE COMPANY,  as promptly as
is practicable  under the  circumstances,  shall notify FUND and ADVISER whether
LIFE  COMPANY  elects to  continue  to make FUND  shares  available  after  such
termination.   If  FUND  shares   continue  to  be  made  available  after  such
termination,  the  provisions  of this  Agreement  shall  remain in  effect  and
thereafter  either  FUND or LIFE  COMPANY may  terminate  the  Agreement,  as so
continued  pursuant  to this  Section  8.3,  upon sixty (60) days prior  written
notice to the other party.

      8.4 Except as necessary to implement  Variable  Contract  owner  initiated
transactions,  or as  required  by state  insurance  laws or  regulations,  LIFE
COMPANY shall not redeem the shares  attributable to the Variable  Contracts (as
opposed to the shares attributable to LIFE COMPANY's assets held in the Separate
Accounts),  and LIFE COMPANY  shall not prevent  Variable  Contract  owners from
allocating  payments  to a  Portfolio  that was  otherwise  available  under the
Variable  Contracts  until  thirty (30) days after the LIFE  COMPANY  shall have
notified FUND of its intention to do so.


                               Article IX. NOTICES
                                           -------

      Any notice hereunder shall be given by registered or certified mail return
receipt  requested  to the other  party at the  address  of such party set forth
below or at such other  address  as such party may from time to time  specify in
writing to the other party.

          If to FUND:
              PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
              1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300
              Wayne, PA 19087
              Attention:   Mr. Brian F. Bereznak

          With a copy to:
              PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
              1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300
              Wayne, PA 19087
              Attention:  John M. Zerrr, Esq.

          If to the ADVISER:
              PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
              1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300
              Wayne, PA 19087
              Attention:   Mr. Brian F. Bereznak

          With a copy to:
              PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
              1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300
              Wayne, PA 19087
              Attention:  John M. Zerr, Esq.

                                    15
<PAGE>




          If to LIFE COMPANY:
              Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
              250 East Fifth Street
              Cincinnati, OH  45202
              Attention:  Mark E. Muething

      Notice  shall be deemed  given on the date of receipt by the  addressee as
evidenced by the return receipt.

                          Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
                                     -------------

      10.1 The  captions in this  Agreement  are  included  for  convenience  of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.

      10.2  This  Agreement  may be  executed  simultaneously  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of which taken  together  shall  constitute one and the same
instrument.

      10.3 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall
not be affected thereby.

      10.4  This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  and  the  provisions   hereof
interpreted  under  and in  accordance  with  the  laws of the  Commonwealth  of
Pennsylvania.  It  shall  also  be  subject  to the  provisions  of the  federal
securities  laws and the rules and  regulations  thereunder and to any orders of
the SEC granting exemptive relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.

      10.5  It  is  understood  and  expressly   stipulated   that  neither  the
shareholders of shares of any Portfolio nor the Directors or officers of FUND or
any Portfolio shall be personally liable hereunder. No Portfolio shall be liable
for the liabilities of any other  Portfolio.  All persons dealing with FUND or a
Portfolio  must  look  solely  to  the  property  of  FUND  or  that  Portfolio,
respectively,  for enforcement of any claims against FUND or that Portfolio.  It
is also  understood  that each of the Portfolios  shall be deemed to be entering
into a  separate  Agreement  with LIFE  COMPANY  so that it is as if each of the
Portfolios  had signed a separate  Agreement with LIFE COMPANY and that a single
document is being signed simply to facilitate  the execution and  administration
of the Agreement.

      10.6 Each party shall  cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental  authorities  (including  without  limitation the SEC, the NASD and
state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities  reasonable access
to its books  and  records  in  connection  with any  investigation  or  inquiry
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

      10.7 The rights,  remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights,  remedies and obligations,
at law or in equity,  which the parties  hereto are  entitled to under state and
federal laws.

      10.8 No  provision  of this  Agreement  may be amended or  modified in any
manner except by a written agreement  properly  authorized and executed by FUND,
ADVISER and the LIFE COMPANY.

                                    16
<PAGE>



      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized officers
to execute this Fund Participation Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.

                                    PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.


                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:



                                    PILGRIM BAXTER & ASSOCIATES, LTD.


                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:



                                    ANNUITY INVESTORS
                                    LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:


                                    17
<PAGE>



                                   APPENDIX A


PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. - PORTFOLIOS
- ---------------------------------------------

PBHG Growth II Portfolio

PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio

PBHG Technology & Communications Portfolio











<PAGE>



                                   APPENDIX B



SEPARATE ACCOUNTS                         SELECTED PORTFOLIOS
- -----------------                         -------------------

Annuity Investors Variable          PBHG Growth II Portfolio
Account A                           PBHG Technology and Communications Portfolio

Annuity Investors Variable          PBHG Growth II Portfolio
Account B                           PBHG Technology and Communications Portfolio
                                    PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio


                                                                  Exhibit (8)(m)


                         AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT


                  AGREEMENT  made  as of the  24th  day of  April,  1997  by and
between (i) The Dreyfus  Corporation  ("Dreyfus"),  a New York corporation;  and
(ii) Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company ("Client"), an Ohio corporation.


WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS,  each of the investment  companies  listed on Schedule A hereto as such
Schedule may be amended  from time to time  (collectively  the "Dreyfus  Funds,"
each a "Fund") are investment  companies registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and

WHEREAS,   Client  has  entered  into  a  Fund   Participation   Agreement  (the
"Participation  Agreement")  with each of the Dreyfus Funds listed on Schedule A
hereto; and

WHEREAS,  Dreyfus provides investment advisory and/or administrative services to
the Dreyfus Funds; and

WHEREAS,  Premier Mutual Fund Services,  Inc. ("Premier") is the distributor for
the Dreyfus Funds; and

WHEREAS,   the  parties  hereto  have  agreed  to  arrange  separately  for  the
performance of sub-accounting services for owners of shares of the Dreyfus Funds
who maintain their shares in a variable annuity account with Client; and

WHEREAS,  Dreyfus  desires Client to perform such services and Client is willing
and able to furnish such services on the terms and  conditions  hereinafter  set
forth.

NOW,   THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  the  premises  and  mutual  covenants
hereinafter contained, each party hereto severally agrees as follows:

1. Client agrees to perform the  administrative  services specified in Exhibit A
hereto (the  "Administrative  Services") for the benefit of the  shareholders of
the  Dreyfus  Funds  who  maintain  their  shares of any such  Dreyfus  Funds in
variable  annuity and variable  life  insurance  accounts  with Client and whose
shares are  included in the master  account  ("Master  Account")  referred to in
paragraph 1 of Exhibit A (collectively, the "Client Customers").

2. Client  represents  and agrees that it will maintain and preserve all records
as required by law to be maintained  and preserved in connection  with providing



<PAGE>



the Administrative  Services, and will otherwise comply with all laws, rules and
regulations  applicable  to the  Administrative  Services.  Upon the  request of
Dreyfus  or  its  representatives,  Client  shall  provide  copies  of  all  the
historical records relating to transactions between the Dreyfus Funds and Client
Customers,  and  written  communications  regarding  the Fund(s) to or from such
Customers and other  materials,  in each case as may  reasonably be requested to
enable  Dreyfus  or  its  representatives,   including  without  limitation  its
auditors, legal counsel or distributor, to monitor and review the Administrative
Services,  or to comply with any request of the board of directors,  or trustees
or  general  partners  (collectively,  the  "Directors")  of  any  Fund  or of a
governmental body, self-regulatory organization or a shareholder.  Client agrees
that it will permit Dreyfus, the Dreyfus Funds or their  representatives to have
reasonable  access to its  personnel  and  records  in order to  facilitate  the
monitoring of the quality of services.

3.  Client  may,  with  the  consent  of  Dreyfus,  contract  with or  establish
relationships  with  other  parties  for  the  provision  of the  Administrative
Services or other activities of Client required by the Agreement,  provided that
Client  shall be fully  responsible  for the acts and  omissions  of such  other
parties.

4.  Client  hereby  agrees to notify  Dreyfus  promptly  if for any reason it is
unable  to  perform  fully  and  promptly  any of  its  obligations  under  this
Agreement.

5. Client hereby represents and covenants that it does not, and will not, own or
hold or control  with power to vote any shares of the  Dreyfus  Funds  which are
registered  in the name of  Client  or the name of its  nominee  and  which  are
maintained in Client variable annuity accounts.  Client represents  further that
it is registered as a broker-dealer  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "1934 Act"),  and any applicable state securities laws, and as a
transfer  agent  under the 1934 Act,  or is not  required  to be so  registered,
including  as a result  of  entering  into this  Agreement  and  performing  the
Administrative Services.


6. The  provisions  of the  Agreement  shall in no way  limit the  authority  of
Dreyfus,  or any  Dreyfus  Fund or  Premier  to take such  action as any of such
parties  may deem  appropriate  or  advisable  in  connection  with all  matters
relating to the operations of any of such funds and/or sale of its shares.


7. In consideration of the performance of the Administrative Services by Client,
Dreyfus  agrees to pay Client a monthly  fee at an annual rate which shall equal
 .20 of 1% of the value of each Fund's (except  Dreyfus Stock Index Fund) average
daily net assets  maintained  in the Master  Account for Client  Customers.  The
payments by Dreyfus to Client relate solely to administrative  services only and
do not constitute payment in any manner for administrative  services provided by
Client to Client Customers or any separate account organized by Client,  for any
investment  advisory  services  or for  costs of  distribution  of any  variable
insurance contracts.


                                       2
<PAGE>


8. Client  shall  indemnify  and hold  harmless the Dreyfus  Funds,  The Dreyfus
Corporation,  Dreyfus Service Corporation  ("DSC"),  Premier,  and each of their
respective  officers,  directors,  employees and agents from and against any and
all losses,  claims,  damages,  expenses, or liabilities that any one or more of
them may incur including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses
and costs arising out of or related to the  performance  or  non-performance  of
Client of its responsibilities under this Agreement.

9. This Agreement may be terminated  without penalty at any time by Client or by
Dreyfus  as to all of the  Dreyfus  Funds  collectively,  upon 180 days  written
notice to the other  party.  The  provisions  of  paragraphs  2, 8, and 10 shall
continue  in  full  force  and  effect  after  termination  of  this  Agreement.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  this  Agreement  shall not  require  Client to
preserve any records (in any medium or format) relating to this Agreement beyond
the time periods  otherwise  required by the laws to which Client or the Dreyfus
Funds are subject  provided  that such  records  shall be offered to the Dreyfus
Funds in the event Client decides to no longer  preserve such records  following
such time periods.

10.  After the date of any  termination  of this  Agreement in  accordance  with
paragraph 9, no fee will be due with respect to any amounts  first placed in the
Master Account for Client Customers after the date of such termination. However,
notwithstanding  any such  termination,  Dreyfus  will remain  obligated  to pay
Client the fee specified in paragraph 7 with respect to the value of each Fund's
average daily net assets maintained in the Master Account as of the date of such
termination,  for so long as such  amounts  are held in the Master  Account  and
Client  continues to provide the  Administrative  Services  with respect to such
amounts in conformity  with this  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  or any provision
hereof,  shall  survive  termination  to the extent  necessary for each party to
perform its obligations  with respect to amounts for which a fee continues to be
due subsequent to such termination.

11. Client  understands  and agrees that the  obligations  of Dreyfus under this
Agreement are not binding upon any of the Dreyfus Funds, upon any of their Board
members or upon any shareholder of any of the Funds.

12. It is  understood  and agreed that in  performing  the  services  under this
Agreement Client,  acting in its capacity described herein,  shall at no time be
acting as an agent for Dreyfus,  or DSC, or Premier or any of the Dreyfus Funds.
Client agrees, and agrees to cause its agents,  not to make any  representations
concerning a Fund except those contained in the Fund's then-current  prospectus,
in current sales literature furnished by the Fund, Dreyfus or Premier to Client,
or in the  then-current  prospectus for a variable  annuity contract or variable
life insurance  policy issued by Client,  or then current sales  literature with
respect to such variable  annuity  contract or variable life  insurance  policy,
approved by Dreyfus.


                                       3
<PAGE>



13. This Agreement,  including the provisions set forth herein in Section 7, may
only be  amended  pursuant  to a  written  instrument  signed by the party to be
charged.  This Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto,  by operation of
law or otherwise, without the prior, written consent of the other party.

14.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed  by the laws of the  State of New York,
without   giving  effect  to  the   principles  of  conflicts  of  law  of  such
jurisdiction.

15. This Agreement,  including its Exhibit and Schedule,  constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the matters dealt with herein, and
supersedes any previous agreements and documents with respect to such matters.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement
as of the date first above written.

ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Print or Type Name of Client

By:      /s/  Mark F. Muething
         -------------------------------
         Authorized Signatory

         Mark F. Muething, Senior Vice President
         ----------------------------------------
         Print or Type Name



THE DREYFUS CORPORATION

By:      /s/  Lawrence S. Kash
         -------------------------------
         Authorized Signatory

         Lawrence S. Kash
         -------------------------------
         Print or Type Name



                                       4
<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE A


Annuity Investors Variable Account A (May 26, 1995)

Fund Code     Fund Name
112           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Capital Appreciation Portfolio
108           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Growth and Income Portfolio
121           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Small Cap Portfolio
111           The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
763           Dreyfus Stock Index Fund


Annuity Investors Variable Account B (December 19, 1996)

Fund Code     Fund Name
112           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Capital Appreciation Portfolio
108           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Growth and Income Portfolio
121           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Small Cap Portfolio
117           Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Money Market Portfolio
111           The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.
763           Dreyfus Stock Index Fund



<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A


Pursuant to the Agreement by and among the parties hereto,  Client shall perform
the following Administrative Services:

1.  Maintain  separate  records for each Client  Customer,  which  records shall
reflect shares purchased and redeemed and share balances.  Client shall maintain
the  Master  Account  with the  transfer  agent of the Fund on  behalf of Client
Customers and such Master  Account shall be in the name of Client or its nominee
as the record owner of the shares owned by such Client Customers.

2. For each  Fund,  disburse  or credit  to Client  Customers  all  proceeds  of
redemptions of shares of the Fund and all dividends and other  distributions not
reinvested in shares of the Fund.

3. Prepare and transmit to Client Customers  periodic account statements showing
the total  number of shares owned by the  Customer as of the  statement  closing
date, purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the Customer during the period
covered by the statement,  and the dividends and other distributions paid to the
Customer during the statement period (whether paid in cash or reinvested in Fund
shares).

4.  Transmit  to  Client   Customers  proxy  materials  and  reports  and  other
information  received by Client from any of the Funds and required to be sent to
shareholders  under the federal  securities laws and, upon request of the Fund's
transfer agent, transmit to Client Customers material fund communications deemed
by the Fund,  through its Board of Directors or other similar governing body, to
be necessary and proper for receipt by all fund beneficial shareholders.

5.  Transmit to the Fund's  transfer  agent  purchase and  redemption  orders on
behalf of Client Customers.

6. Provide to the Funds,  or to the transfer agent for any of the Funds,  or any
of the  agents  designated  by any of  them,  such  periodic  reports  as  shall
reasonably  be  concluded  to be  necessary  to enable each of the Funds and its
distributor to comply with State Blue Sky requirements.



                                                                  Exhibit (8)(n)
JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

December 6, 1996


Mr. Mark F. Muething
Senior Vice President
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
10th Floor, Chiquita Center
250 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio  45202

Dear Mr. Muething:

         This letter sets forth the agreement  between  Annuity  Investors  Life
Insurance   Company  (the  "Company"),   and  Janus  Capital   Corporation  (the
"Adviser"), concerning certain administrative services.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES  AND  EXPENSES.   Administrative  services  for  the
   separate accounts of the Company (the "Accounts") which invest in one or more
   portfolios  (collectively,  the  "Portfolios")  of Janus  Aspen  Series  (the
   "Trust") pursuant to the Participation  Agreement between the Company and the
   Trust  dated  September  1, 1995  (the  "Participation  Agreement"),  and for
   purchasers of variable annuity or life insurance  contracts (the "Contracts")
   issued  through  the  Accounts  are  the   responsibility   of  the  Company.
   Administrative services for the Portfolios, in which the Accounts invest, and
   for purchasers of shares of the  Portfolios,  are the  responsibility  of the
   Trust.  These  administrative  services the Company intends to provide to the
   Trust and its  Portfolios are set forth in Schedule A attached to this letter
   agreement, which may be amended from time to time.

2. SERVICE  FEE. In  consideration  of the  anticipated  administrative  expense
   savings  resulting  to the Trust from the  Company's  services,  the  Adviser
   agrees to pay the  Company a fee  ("Service  Fee"),  computed  daily and paid
   monthly in  arrears,  at an annual  rate equal to fifteen  (15) basis  points
   (0.15%) of the average  monthly value of the shares of the Portfolios held in
   the  Accounts,  such  payments to commence  following  the month in which the
   average monthly value of investments by the Accounts reaches $50 million. The
   Service Fee will be correspondingly suspended if the average monthly value of
   such investments drops below $50 million in any month.

   For purposes of this Paragraph 2, the average  monthly value of the shares of
   the  Portfolios  will be  based  on the sum of the  daily  net  asset  values
   calculated by the  Portfolios in a month divided by the number of days in the
   month.

100 Fillmore Street, Suite 300
Denver, Colorado  80206-4923
303/333-3863


<PAGE>



3. NATURE OF PAYMENTS.  The parties to this letter agreement recognize and agree
   that the Adviser's payments to the Company relate to administrative  services
   only and do not constitute payment in any manner for administrative  services
   provided by the Company to the Account or to the  Contracts,  for  investment
   advisory  services or for costs of  distribution of Contracts or of shares of
   the  Portfolios,  and  that  these  payments  are not  otherwise  related  to
   investment advisory or distribution services or expenses.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

   a. The Adviser  represents and warrants that in the event the Trustees of the
      Trust  approve the payment of all or any portion of the Service Fee by the
      Trust,  the Trust will calculate in the same manner the Service Fee to all
      insurance  companies that have entered into Service Fee arrangements  with
      the Adviser and/or the Trust (the "Participating Insurance Companies").

   b. The Company  represents  and warrants  that:  (1) it and its employees and
      agents meet the requirements of applicable law,  including but not limited
      to federal  and state  securities  law and state  insurance  law,  for the
      performance of services  contemplated herein; and (2) it will not purchase
      Trust  shares  of  the   Portfolios   with  Account  assets  derived  from
      tax-qualified  retirement  plans  except  indirectly,   through  Contracts
      purchased in connection  with such plans and that the Service Fee does not
      include any payment to the Company that is  prohibited  under the Employee
      Retirement  Income  Securities  Act of 1974  ("ERISA") with respect to any
      assets of a Contract  owner invested in a Contract using the Portfolios as
      investment vehicles.

   c. The Company  represents,  warrants and agrees that: (1) the payment of the
      Service  Fee by the  Adviser is  designed  to  reimburse  the  Company for
      providing  administrative  services  to the  Trust  that the  Trust  would
      customarily  pay and does not represent  reimbursement  to the Company for
      providing  administrative services to the Contract or Account as described
      in Section 26 of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "!940 Act") and
      the rules and  regulations  thereunder;  (2) no portion of the Service Fee
      will be rebated by the Company to any Contract owner;  and (3) if required
      by applicable  law, the Company will  disclose to each Contract  owner the
      existence  of the  Service Fee  received  by the Company  pursuant to this
      letter  agreement in a form consistent with the requirements of applicable
      law and will  disclose the amount of the Service Fee, if any, that is paid
      by the Trust.

5.    INDEMNIFICATION

   a. The Company  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the Adviser and its
      directors,  officers,  and employees from any and all loss,  liability and
      expense resulting from any gross negligence or willful wrongful act of the
      Company in performing its services under this letter  agreement,  from the
      inaccuracy or breach of any representation  made in this letter agreement,
      or from a breach of a material provision of this letter agreement,  except
      to the  extent  such  loss,  liability  or  expense  is the  result of the
      Adviser's  willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith  or gross  negligence  in the
      performance of its duties.





                                       2
<PAGE>



   b. The Adviser  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the Company and its
      directors, officers, agents and employees from any and all loss, liability
      and expense resulting from any gross negligence or willful wrongful act of
      the Adviser in performing its services under this letter  agreement,  from
      the  inaccuracy  or  breach  of any  representation  made in  this  letter
      agreement,  or from a  breach  of a  material  provision  of  this  letter
      agreement,  except to the extent  such loss,  liability  or expense is the
      result of the Company's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence
      in the performance of its duties.

6. TERMINATION.

   a. Either party may terminate  this letter  agreement,  without  penalty,  on
      sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party.

   b. This letter  agreement will terminate at the option of either party in the
      event of the termination of the Participation Agreement.

   c. This letter agreement will terminate immediately upon the determination of
      either party, with the advice of counsel,  that the payment of the Service
      Fee is in conflict with applicable law.

7. AMENDMENT. This letter agreement may be amended only upon mutual agreement of
   the parties hereto in writing.

8. CONFIDENTIALITY.  The  terms of this  letter  agreement  will be  treated  as
   confidential  and will not be  disclosed  to the public or any outside  party
   except  with each  party's  prior  written  consent,  as  required  by law or
   judicial process or as provided in paragraph 4c herein.

9. ASSIGNMENT.  This  letter  agreement  may not be  assigned  (as that  term is
   defined in the 1940 Act) by either party without the prior  written  approval
   of the other party, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld,  except
   that the Adviser  may assign its  obligations  under this  letter  agreement,
   including  the payment of all or any portion of the Service Fee, to the Trust
   upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the Company.

10.GOVERNING  LAW. This letter  agreement  will be construed and the  provisions
   hereof  interpreted  under  and in  accordance  with the laws of the State of
   Colorado.

11.COUNTERPARTS.  This letter agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
   which will be deemed an original  but all of which will  together  constitute
   one and the same instrument.

If this letter agreement is consistent with your understanding of the matters we
discussed  concerning  administrative  expense  payments,  kindly sign below and
return a signed copy to us.

Very truly yours,

JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:  /S/  DAVID W. AGOSTINE
     ---------------------------
Name:  DAVID W. AGOSTINE
Title:  VICE PRESIDENT


ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:  /S/ MARK F. MUETHING
     ----------------------------
Name:  MARK F. MUETHING
Title:  SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Attachment:  Schedule A


                                       3
<PAGE>






                                                    Schedule A


Pursuant to the letter agreement to which this Schedule is attached, the Company
will  perform  administrative  services  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the
following:

         1.  Print  and  mail  to  Contract  owners  copies  of the  Portfolios'
prospectuses,  proxy materials,  periodic fund reports to shareholders and other
materials  that the Trust is  required  by law or  otherwise  to  provide to its
shareholders.

         2.  Provide  Contract  owner  services  including,  but not limited to,
financial   consultants'  advice  with  respect  to  inquiries  related  to  the
Portfolios (not including information about performance or related to sales) and
communicating with Contract owners about Portfolio (and subaccount) performance.

         3.  Provide  other  administrative  support  for the Trust as  mutually
agreed to by the Company and the Adviser and relieve the Trust of other usual or
incidental administrative services provided to individual Contract owners.






                                                                    EXHIBIT (10)





                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the  reference to our firm under the caption  "Experts" and to the
use of our reports  dated  February,  28, 1997,  with  respect to the  financial
statements of Annuity  Investors  Life Insurance  Company and Annuity  Investors
Variable  Account  A  included  in the  Post-effective  Amendment  No.  1 to the
Registration  Statement (Form N-4 File Nos.  33-65409 and 811-07299) and related
Statement of Additional Information of Annuity Investors Variable Account A.



                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Ernst & Young LLP



Cincinnati, Ohio
April 25, 1997



                                                                    Exhibit (13)
                    ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                            Standardized Performance
                             N-4 Part C, Exhibit 13
                                December 31, 1996
                                        n
                                  P(1+T) =ERV


P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = "ending  redeemable  value" of a  hypothetical  $1,000 payment made at the
beginning of the one-year period.

                     DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           VARIABLE CAPITAL                 
BASIC CONTRACTS:           APPRECIATION              SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH      STOCK INDEX
- ----------------           ----------------          ---------------------------      -----------
<S>                     <C>                         <C>                               <C>
      n                              1                           1                               1
P(1+T) = ERV            1,000.00(1+T) =1,154.95     1,000.00(1+T) =1,112.30         1,000.00(1+T) =1,125.23
     n                                 1                           1                               1
(1+T) =ERV/P                      (1+T) =1.1550              (1+T) 1=1.1123                   (1+T) =1.1252
T=(ERV/P)-1                          T=1.1550-1                  T=1.1123-1                      T=1.1252-1
T=                                       0.1550                      0.1123                          0.1252
or T=                                     15.50%                      11.23%                          12.52%



ENHANCED CONTRACTS:
- -------------------
      n                              1                           1                                 1
P(1+T) =ERV             1,000.00(1+T) =1,158.7      1,000.00(1+T) =1,115.85           1,000.00(1+T) =1,128.77
     n                                1                            1                                 1                
(1+T) =ERV/P                     (1+T) =1.1587                (1+T) =1.1159                     (1+T) =1.1288
T=(ERV/P)-1                         T=1.1587-1                   T=1.1159-1                        T=1.1288-1
T=                                      0.1587                       0.1159                            0.1288
or T=                                    15.87%                       11.59%                            12.88%

</TABLE>

<PAGE>




                                     ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             Standardized Performance
                                              N-4 Part C, Exhibit 13
                                                 December 31, 1996
                                                        n
                                                  P(1+T) = ERV

P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = "ending  redeemable  value" of a  hypothetical  $1,000 payment made at the
beginning of the one-year period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                JANUS ASPEN SERIES
                                                ------------------

BASIC CONTRACTS:    AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND     WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND       BALANCED FUND          SHORT-TERM BOND PORTFOLIO
- ----------------    ----------------------     ---------------------       -------------          -------------------------

<S>                 <C>                     <C>                        <C>                         <C>            <C>     
      n                          1                       1                         1                             1
P(1+T) =ERV         1,000.00(1+T) =981.20   1,000.00(1+T) =1,189.44   1,000.00(1+T) =1,062.39       1,000.00(1+T) =941.87
     n                          1                          1                        1                             1
(1+T) =ERV/P                 (1+T) =.9812             (1+T) =1.1894            (1+T) =1.06239                (1+T) =.9419
T=(ERV/P)-1                     T=.9812-1                T=1.1894-1               T=1.06239-1                   T=.9419-1
T=                               (0.0188)                    0.1894                    0.0624                    (0.0581)
orT=                               -1.88%                    18.94%                     6.24%                      -5.81%



ENHANCED CONTRACTS
- ------------------
      n                           1                        1                           1                         1
P(1+T) =ERV          1,000.00(1+T) =984.31    1,000.00(1+T) =1,193.19     1,000.00(1+T) =1,065.84   1,000.00(1+T) =944.97
     n                             1                         1                           1                        1
(1+T) =ERV/P                  (1+T) =.9843              (1+T) =1.1932               (1+T) =1.0658            (1+T) =.9450
T=(ERV/P)-1                      T=.9843-1                 T=1.1932-1                  T=1.0658-1               T=.9450-1
T=                                 (0.0157)                    0.1932                      0.0658                (0.0550)
or T=                                -1.57%                    19.32%                       6.58%                  -5.50%

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                     ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             Standardized Performance
                                              N-4 Part C, Exhibit 13
                                                 December 31, 1996
                                                        n
                                                  P(1+T)  = ERV

P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = "ending  redeemable  value" of a  hypothetical  $1,000 payment made at the
beginning of the one-year period.

                                     MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.
                                     -----------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

BASIC CONTRACTS:        BASIC VALUE FOCUS             GLOBAL STRATEGY FOCUS           HIGH CURRENT INCOME
- ----------------        -----------------             ---------------------           -------------------
<S>                     <C>                           <C>                            <C>                         
      n                              1                             1                              1  
P(1+T) =ERV             1,000,00(1+T) =1,106.99       1,000.00(1+T) =1,032.69        1,000.00(1+T) =1,013.99
     n                                 1                             1                              1
(1+T) =ERV/P                      (1+T) =1.1070                 (1+T) =1.0327                  (1+T) =1.0140
T=(ERV/P)-1                          T=1.1070-1                    T=1.0327-1                     T=1.0140-1
T=                                       0.1070                        0.0327                         0.0140
or T=                                     10.70%                         3.27%                          1.40%


ENHANCED CONTRACTS:
- -------------------
       n                              1                            1                                1
P(1 +T) =ERV            1,000.00(1 +T) =1,110.49     1,000.00(1 +T) =1,036.02         1,000.00(1 +T) =1,017.24
     n                                1                              1                              1
(1+T) =ERV/P                     (1+T) =1.1105                  (1+T) =1.0360                  (1+T) =1.017.24
T=(ERV/P)-1                         T=1.1105-1                     T=1.0360-1                       T=1.0172-1
T=                                      0.1105                         0.0360                           0.0172
or T=                                    11.05%                          3.60%                            1.72%

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                     ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                             Standardized Performance
                                              N-4 Part C, Exhibit 13
                                                 December 31, 1996

YIELD AND EFFECTIVE YIELD FOR MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS DOMESTIC MONEY
                              MARKET SUB-ACCOUNTS
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                     BASIC CONTRACTS:        
                     ----------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
((((Ending UV/Beginning UV)-1)/7)*365)                                             ((((1.157043/1.156199)-1)/7)*365)
                                                                                              (((1.000730-1)/7)*365)
                                                                                                    ((.00730/7)*365)
                                                                                                      (.000104)*365)
                                                                                                               .0381
                                                                                                  or            3.81%

                   ENHANCED CONTRACTS:
                   -------------------
((((Ending UV/Beginning UV)-1)/7)*365)                                             ((((1.173866/1.172943)-1)/7)*365)
                                                                                              (((1.000787-1)/7)*365)
                                                                                                  ((0.000787/7)*365)
                                                                                                      (.000112)*365)
                                                                                                               .0410
                                                                                                   or          4.10%

                                                  EFFECTIVE YIELD
                                                  ---------------

                     BASIC CONTRACTS:
                     ----------------
                     (365/7)                                                                         (365/7) 
(((Ending UV/Beg. UV)       -1)*100)                                            (((1.157043/1.156199)       -1)*100)
                                                                                                    (52.143) 
                                                                                        (((1.000730)        -1)*100)
                                                                                                    ((1.0388-1)*100)
                                                                                                        (0.0388*100)
                                                                                                               .0388
                                                                                                   or          3.88%

                   ENHANCED CONTRACTS:
                   -------------------
                     (365/7)                                                                         (365/7)
(((Ending UV/Beg. UV)       -1)*100)                                            (((1.173866/1.172943)       -1)*100)
                                                                                                    (52.143)  
                                                                                       (((1 .000787)        -1)*100)
                                                                                                    ((1.0419-1)*100)
                                                                                                         (.0419*100)
                                                                                                              .0419
                                                                                                   or          4.19%


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            6
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          3,335,765
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         3,389,109
<RECEIVABLES>                                          0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3,389,109
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                               0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                              0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                8,687
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                        0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                               0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            581,599
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                  0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                               0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                               0
<NET-ASSETS>                                   3,380,422
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 33,183
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                      0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     8,687
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           24,496
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           4,654
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                         53,343
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             82,493
<EQUALIZATION>                                         0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                              0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                               0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                  0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          651,877
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       70,279
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                    0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           581,598
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                             0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                        0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                  0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                        0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                              0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                    0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                        0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                   0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission