PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
485APOS, 1997-10-23
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                                                       Registration No. 33-44670

                       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.__9__ __X__

                                     and/or

         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

                                    Amendment No._____ _____

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

           Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Depositor)

              The Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa       50392
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices)         (Zip Code)

Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code     (515) 248-3842

      M. D. Roughton, The Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa 50392
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Registrant  has  heretofore  registered  an  indefinite  amount of such Separate
Account B Variable  Annuity  Contracts under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant
to Rule  24f-2;  Registrant  filed a 24f-2  notice  for the fiscal  year  ending
December 31, 1996 on February 27, 1997.

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

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

            ___   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

            _X_   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

            ___   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

            ___   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

            ___   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

         If appropriate, check the following box:

    ___  This  post-effective  amendment  designates a new effective  date for a
         previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>
           PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
              PREMIER VARIABLE - GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS

                       Registration Statement on Form N-4
                              Cross Reference Sheet

Form N-4 Item                         Caption in Prospectus
Part A
 1. Cover Page                Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
                                Separate Account B Premier Variable (A Group
                                Variable Annuity Contract for Employer-
                                Sponsored Qualified and Non-Qualified
                                Retirement Plans)

 2. Definitions               Glossary of Special Terms

 3. Synopsis                  Expense Table and Example, Summary

 4. Condensed Financial       Condensed Financial Information,
    Information                 Independent Auditors

 5. General Description       Summary, Description of
    of Registrant               Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                                Company, Principal Mutual Life
                                Insurance Company Separate Account B,
                                Voting Rights

 6. Deductions                Expense Table and Example, Deductions Under the
                                Contracts, Mortality and Expense Risks Charge,
                                Other Expenses, Application Fee and Transfer
                                Fee, Contract Administrative Expense,
                                Recordkeeping Expense, Sales Charge, 
                                Distribution of the Contract
                              
 7. General Description of    Summary, The Contract, Contract Values
    Varaible Annuity Contract   and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement
                                Date, Income Benefits, Payment on Death of
                                Plan Participant, Withdrawals and Transfers,
                                Other Contractual Provisions, Contractholders'
                                Inquiries

 8. Annuity Period            Income Benefits

 9. Death Benefit             Payment on Death of Plan Participant,
                                Federal Tax Status

10. Purchases and Contract    Summary, The Contract, Contract Values and
    Value                       Accounting Before Annuity Commencement
                                Date, Other Contractual Provisions, 
                                Distribution of the Contract

11. Redemptions               Summary, Income Benefits, Withdrawals and 
                                Transfers

12. Taxes                     Summary, Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
                                Separate Account B, Income Benefits,
                                Federal Tax Status

13. Legal Proceedings         Legal Proceedings

14. Table of Contents of      Table of Contents of the Statement
    the Statement of            of Additional Information  
    Additional Information      



Part B                       Statement of Additional Information Caption**

15. Cover Page               Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B Premier Variable - A Group
                               Variable Annuity Contract for Employer
                               Sponsored Qualified and Non-Qualified
                               Retirement Plans Issued by Principal Mutual Life
                               Insurance Company

16. Table of Contents        Table of Contents

17. General Information      None
    and History

18. Services                 Independent Auditors**

19. Purchase of Securities   Summary**, Deductions Under
    Being Offered              the Contracts**, Withdrawals and Transfers**,
                               Distribution of the Contract**

20. Underwriters             Summary**, Distribution of the Contract**,
                               Underwriting Commissions

21. Calculation of           Calculation of Yield and Total Return
    Performance Data

22. Annuity Payments         Income Benefits**

23. Financial Statements     Financial Statements

** Prospectus caption given where appropriate.
<PAGE>

                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                PREMIER VARIABLE

                       (A Group Variable Annuity Contract

                        For Employer- Sponsored Qualified

                       And Non-Qualified Retirement Plans)


        Issued by Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company (the "Company")

   
                        Prospectus dated _______________
    

     This Prospectus  concisely sets forth  information  about Principal  Mutual
Life Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B, Premier Variable (a Group Variable
Annuity  Contract)  (the  "Contract")  that an  investor  ought  to know  before
investing. It should be read and retained for future reference.

   
     Additional  information  about the  Contracts,  including  a  Statement  of
Additional  Information,   dated  _______________,   has  been  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Statement of Additional  Information is
incorporated  by reference  into this  Prospectus.  The table of contents of the
Statement of Additional  Information  appears on page 35 of this  Prospectus.  A
copy of the Statement of Additional Information can be obtained, free of charge,
upon request by writing or telephoning:
    


                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group
                              Des Moines, IA 50392
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373


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


   
     This  Prospectus is valid only when  accompanied by the current  prospectus
for Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. The Fund's prospectus should be kept
for future reference.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
Glossary of Special Terms .................................................... 3
Expense Table and Example .................................................... 6
Condensed Financial Information............................................... 8
Summary  ..................................................................... 9
Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company .......................10
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B ...................11
Deductions Under the Contract ................................................13
     Mortality and Expense Risks Charge ......................................13
Other Expenses................................................................13
     Application Fee..........................................................13
     Contract Administration Expense..........................................14
     Recordkeeping Expense....................................................14
     Location Fee ............................................................16
     Flexible Income Option Charge............................................16
     Documentation Expense....................................................16
     Sales Charge ............................................................16
     Special Services.........................................................17
Surplus Distribution at Sole Discretion of the Company .......................17
The Contract  ................................................................17
     Contract Values and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement Date .........17
         Investment Accounts .................................................17
         Unit Value ..........................................................17
         Net Investment Factor ...............................................18
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for All Divisions 
              Except the Money Market Division................................18
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for the 
              Money Market Division...........................................18
     Income Benefits .........................................................19
         Variable Annuity Payments............................................19
              Selecting a Variable Annuity ...................................19
              Forms of Variable Annuities ....................................19
              Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates ..............................21
              Determining the Amount of the First Variable Annuity Payment ...21
              Determining the Amount of the Second and Subsequent Monthly
                  Variable Annuity Payments ..................................22
              Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Variable Annuity 
                  Payments ...................................................22
         Flexible Income Option...............................................22
     Payment on Death of Plan Participant.....................................23
         Prior to Annuity Purchase Date ......................................23
         Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date .................................24
     Withdrawals and Transfers ...............................................24
         Cash Withdrawals ....................................................24
         Transfers Between Divisions .........................................25
         Transfers to the Contract ...........................................25
         Transfers to a Companion Contract ...................................25
         Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents ................25
         Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer .........................25
         Loans................................................................26
     Other Contractual Provisions ............................................26
         Contribution Limits .................................................26
         Assignment ..........................................................26
         Cessation of Contributions ..........................................26
         Substitution of Securities...........................................26
         Changes in the Contract .............................................27
                                                                            Page
Statement of Values...........................................................27
Services Available by Telephone...............................................27
Distribution of the Contract..................................................28
Performance Calculation.......................................................28
Voting Rights ................................................................29
Federal Tax Status............................................................29
     Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants.......................29
         Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans...........................................30
         Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plans..........................31
         401(a) Plans.........................................................31
         Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans..................................32
         General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans.................................33
     Fund Diversification.....................................................33
State Regulation..............................................................34
Legal Opinions................................................................34
Legal Proceedings.............................................................34
Registration Statement........................................................34
Independent Auditors..........................................................34
Contractholders' Inquiries....................................................34
Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information..................35
    

     This  Prospectus  does not constitute an offer of, or  solicitation  of any
offer  to  acquire,  any  interest  or  participation  in the  Contracts  in any
jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation may not lawfully be made. No
person is authorized to give any information or to make any  representations  in
connection with the Contracts other than those contained in this Prospectus.

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

Aggregate  Investment  Account Value -- The sum of the Investment Account Values
for Investment Accounts which correlate to a Plan Participant.

Annual  Average  Balance -- The total value at the beginning of the Deposit Year
of all  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  under the
contract and other Plan assets which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  that are
not  allocated to the contract or an  Associated  or Companion  Contract but for
which the Company provides recordkeeping  services ("Outside Assets"),  adjusted
by the  time  weighted  average  of  Contributions  to,  and  withdrawals  from,
Investment  Accounts  and Outside  Assets (if any) which  correlate  to the Plan
Participant during the period.

Annuity  Change  Factor -- The factor used to determine the change in value of a
Variable Annuity in the course of payment.

Annuity Commencement Date -- The beginning date for Annuity Payments.

Annuity Premium -- The amount applied under the Contract to purchase an annuity.

Annuity  Purchase Date -- The date an Annuity  Premium is applied to purchase an
annuity.

Associated  Contract  -- An annuity  contract  issued by the Company to the same
Contractholder  to fund  the  same or a  comparable  Plan as  determined  by the
Company.

Commuted  Value -- The dollar value,  as of a given date,  of remaining  Annuity
Payments.  It is  determined  by the Company  using the interest rate assumed in
determining  the initial  amount of monthly  income and assuming no variation in
the amount of monthly payments after the date of determination.

Companion Contract -- An unregistered group annuity contract offering guaranteed
interest   crediting   rates  and  which  is  issued  by  the   Company  to  the
Contractholder  for the purpose of funding  benefits under the Plan. The Company
must agree in writing that a contract is a Companion Contract.

Contract Date -- The date this contract is effective,  as shown on the face page
of the contract.

Contract  Year -- A period  beginning  on a Yearly  Date and  ending  on the day
before the next Yearly Date.

Contractholder  -- The entity to which the contract  will be issued,  which will
normally be an Employer, an association,  or a trust established for the benefit
of Plan Participants and their beneficiaries.

Contributions  -- Amounts  contributed  under the contract which are accepted by
the Company.

Deposit  Year  --  The  twelve-month  period  ending  on a day  selected  by the
Contractholder.

   
Division  -- The part of  Separate  Account B which is  invested in shares of an
Account of a Mutual Fund.
    

Employer -- The corporation,  sole  proprietor,  firm,  organization,  agency or
political subdivision named as employer in the Plan and any successor.

Flexible Income Option -- A periodic distribution from the contract in an amount
equal to the minimum  annual amount  determined  in accordance  with the minimum
distribution  rules  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  or a  greater  amount  as
requested by the Owner of Benefits.

Funding Agent -- An insurance  company,  custodian or trustee  designated by the
Contractholder and authorized to receive any amount or amounts  transferred from
the  contract  described  in this  Prospectus.  Funding  Agent  will  also  mean
Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company where the  Contractholder  directs the
Company to transfer such amounts from the contract  described in this Prospectus
to another group annuity contract issued by the Company to the Contractholder.

Internal Revenue Code ("Code") -- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the  regulations  thereunder.  Reference to the Internal  Revenue Code means
such Code or the corresponding provisions of any subsequent revenue code and any
regulations thereunder.

Investment  Account  --  An  account  that  correlates  to  a  Plan  Participant
established  under  the  contract  for each  type of  Contribution  and for each
Division in which the Contribution is invested.

Investment  Account Value -- The value of an  Investment  Account for a Division
which on any date will be equal to the  number of units  then  credited  to such
account  multiplied  by the Unit  Value of this  series  of  contracts  for that
Division for the Valuation Period in which such date occurs.

   
Mutual Fund -- A registered  open-end  investment  company or Account thereof in
which a Division of Separate Account B invests.
    

Net  Investment  Factor -- The factor used to determine the change in Unit Value
of a Division during a Valuation Period.

   
Normal  Income Form -- The form of benefit to be provided  under the Plan if the
Owner of Benefits does not elect some other form. If the Plan does not specify a
Normal Income Form,  the Normal Income Form shall be: (a) for an unmarried  Plan
Participant,  the single life with ten years certain annuity option described in
this  Prospectus,  or (b) for a married  Plan  Participant,  the joint  one-half
survivor annuity option described in this Prospectus.
    

Notification -- Any form of notice received by the Company at the Company's home
office  and  approved  in  advance  by  the  Company  including  written  forms,
electronic transmissions, telephone transmissions, facsimiles and photocopies.

Owner of Benefits -- The entity or individual that has the exclusive right to be
paid benefits and exercise rights and privileges pursuant to such benefits.  The
Owner of Benefits is the Plan  Participant  under all contracts except contracts
used to fund General Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plans (see "Summary")  wherein the
Contractholder is the Owner of Benefits.

Plan -- The plan  established by the Employer in effect on the date the contract
is executed and as amended from time to time,  which the Employer has designated
to the Company in writing as the Plan funded by the contract.

Plan  Participant  -- A person who is (i) a participant  under the Plan,  (ii) a
beneficiary  of a deceased  participant,  or (iii) an  alternate  payee  under a
Qualified  Domestic Relations Order in whose name an Investment Account has been
established under this contract.

Qualified  Domestic  Relations Order -- A Qualified  Domestic Relations Order as
defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 414 (p)(1)(A).

Quarterly Date -- The last Valuation Date of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth
month of each Deposit Year.

   
Separate Account B -- A separate  account  established by the Company under Iowa
law to receive  Contributions  under the contract offered by this Prospectus and
other contracts  issued by the Company.  It is divided into  Divisions,  each of
which invest in a  corresponding  Account of the  Principal  Variable  Contracts
Fund, Inc.
    

Termination of Employment -- A Plan Participant's termination of employment with
the Employer, determined under the Plan and as reported to the Company.

Total and Permanent  Disability -- The condition of a Plan Participant  when, as
the result of  sickness  or  injury,  the Plan  Participant  is  prevented  from
engaging in any substantial  gainful activity and such total disability has been
continuous for a period of at least six months.  For contracts sold in the state
of  Pennsylvania,  the term shall have the same  meaning as defined in the Plan.
The Plan  Participant  must submit due proof  thereof which is acceptable to the
Company.

Unit Value -- The value of a unit of a Division of Separate Account B.

   
Valuation  Date -- The date as of which the net  asset  value of an  Account  is
determined.

Valuation  Period -- The period between the time as of which the net asset value
of an Account is determined on one Valuation  Date and the time as of which such
value is determined on the next following Valuation Date.

Variable Annuity Payments -- A series of periodic payments, the amounts of which
are not guaranteed but which will increase or decrease to reflect the investment
experience  of the  Capital  Value  Division  of  Separate  Account B.  Periodic
payments  made pursuant to the Flexible  Income Option are not Variable  Annuity
Payments.
    

Variable  Annuity  Reserves -- The reserves  held for annuities in the course of
payment for the contract.

Yearly Date -- The Contract Date and the same day of each year thereafter.

EXPENSE TABLE AND EXAMPLE

   
     The following  tables depict fees and expenses  applicable to the aggregate
of all  Investment  Accounts that  correlate to a Plan  Participant  established
under the contract.  The purpose of the table is to assist the Owner of Benefits
in  understanding  the various costs and expenses that an Owner of Benefits will
bear directly or indirectly. The table reflects expenses of the Separate Account
as well as the expenses of the Account in which the Separate Account invests and
is based on expenses  incurred  during the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996.
The Example below which  includes  only  mortality and expense risks charges and
expenses of the underlying  Accounts,  should not be considered a representation
of past or future expenses;  actual expenses may be greater or lesser than those
shown. See "Deductions under the Contract."
    


                                  EXPENSE TABLE

   
     Transaction Expenses                            None
     Annual Contract Fee                             None
     Separate Account Annual Expenses
       (as a percentage of average account value)
       Mortality and Expense Risk Fees               .42%
     Annual Expenses of Accounts
       (as a percentage of average net assets of the
       following Accounts)
                                       Management      Other     Total Accounts
                                          Fees       Expenses    Annual Expenses


     Balanced Account                     .60%         .03%           .63%
     Bond Account                         .50          .03            .53
     Capital Value Account                .48          .01            .49
     Government Securities Account        .50          .02            .52
     Growth Account                       .50          .02            .52
     International Account                .75          .15            .90
     MidCap Account                       .64          .02            .66
     Money Market Account                 .50          .06            .56
    


     The Expense  Table  depicts fees and expenses  applicable  to the Aggregate
Investment  Account  Values  which  correlate  to a Plan  Participant  under the
Contract.  It does  not  include  expenses  billed  directly  to and paid by the
Contractholder  pursuant to a separate  service and expense  agreement  with the
Contractholder. Except as noted below, the Contractholder must pay the following
expenses  (subject to certain  adjustments;  see "Deductions Under the Contract"
and "Other Expenses"):

   
Application Fee                            $925 Application Fee. 
                                           

Contract Administration Expenses*          $650 for  Standard  Plans  ($1,000  
                                           for custom or outside  Plans) + the
                                           amount  determined  under the Annual
                                           Expense Table on page 14
                                           (minimum of $750).
                                           
Recordkeeping Expenses*                    A graded  scale  starting at $34 per 
                                           Plan Participant plus $1,366 (minimum
                                           of $2,250 per Plan)(This  charge may 
                                           be  deducted from Investment Accounts
                                           of inactive Plan Participants.) (If 
                                           the Company provides recordkeeping 
                                           services for plan assets other than 
                                           assets under this  contract or an 
                                           Associated or Companion Contract, the
                                           Contractholder must pay an outside 
                                           asset recordkeeping charge that  
                                           varies depending on the number of 
                                           Plan Participants to which such 
                                           Outside Assets correlate).
    

Location Fee (if applicable)               $150 per quarter ($600 annually) for 
                                           each additional employee group or
                                           location.


Flexible Income Option Charge              $25 for each Plan  Participant  
                                           receiving benefits under the Flexible
                                           Income Option (this charge may be 
                                           deducted from Investment Accounts of 
                                           inactive Plan Participants).


   
Documentation Expenses                     $125 for initial setup or 
    (for Standard Plan)                    restatement. Additional costs 
                                           apply for Custom-Written plans.
    
   

Compensation to Registered                 Either 4.5% of the first  $5,000 of 
    Representative                         annual Contributions grading down to 
                                           .25% of contributions in excess of 
                                           $500,000 or 3.0% of the first $50,000
                                           of annual Contributions grading down
                                           to .25% of Contributions in excess of
                                           $3,000,000.

   
* May be more or less depending on the number of Plan  Participants and services
performed by Company. See "Other Expenses."
    


                                     EXAMPLE

   
Regardless of whether the     Separate Account   
Investment  Accounts  which       Division       1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
correlate to a Plan           ----------------   ------ ------- ------- --------
Participant are surrendered
at the end of the applicable                         
time period:                 Balanced              $10     $31     $53      $118
                             Bond                   $9     $27     $48      $106
   The Owner of Benefits     Capital Value          $8     $26     $46      $101
   would pay the  following  Government Securities  $9     $27     $47      $105
   expenses on a $1,000      Growth                 $9     $27     $47      $105
   investment, assuming a    International         $13     $39     $68      $149
   5% annual return on       MidCap                $10     $32     $55      $121
   assets:                   Money Market           $9     $28     $49      $110
    


CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Financial   statements   are  included  in  the   Statement  of  Additional
Information. Following are Unit Values for the Premier Variable Annuity Contract
for the periods ended December 31.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Accumulation Unit Value           
                                            -------------------------          Number of Accumulation Units
                                            Beginning          End             Outstanding at End of Period
                                            of period       of period                 (in thousands)
                                            ---------       ---------          ----------------------------
<S>  <C>                                     <C>             <C>                            <C>    
   
     Balanced Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                $1.212          $1.366                         7,467
         1995                                  .976           1.212                         3,317
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .976                           125
     Bond Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.232           1.257                         2,612
         1995                                 1.012           1.232                         1,208 
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000           1.012                            31
     Capital Value Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.510           1.858                        17,962
         1995                                 1.148           1.510                        14,824
         1994                                 1.147           1.148                        13,967
         1993                                 1.067           1.147                         7,980
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.067                            84
     Government Securities Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.265           1.302                         7,513
         1995                                 1.066           1.265                         7,159
         1994                                 1.120           1.066                         6,431
         1993                                 1.021           1.120                         2,553
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.021                            40
     Growth Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.253           1.404                         6,802
         1995                                 1.001           1.253                         2,860
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000           1.001                           110
     International Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.090           1.358                         4,298
         1995                                  .958           1.090                         1,672
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .958                           137
     MidCap Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.274           1.537                         5,722
         1995                                  .991           1.274                         1,896
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .991                           119
     Money Market Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1996                                 1.128           1.181                         5,379
         1995                                 1.072           1.128                         2,959
         1994                                 1.036           1.072                         1,791
         1993                                 1.013           1.036                           901
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.013                         2,969
    

<FN>
     (1) Commenced operations on October 3, 1994.
     (2) Commenced operations on July 15, 1992.
</FN>
</TABLE>

SUMMARY

     The  following  summary  should be read in  conjunction  with the  detailed
information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.

Contract Offered

     The group variable annuity contract offered by this Prospectus is issued by
the Company and designed to aid in retirement  planning.  The contract  provides
for the  accumulation  of  Contributions  and the  payment of  Variable  Annuity
Payments on a completely variable basis.

     The contract is generally available to fund the following types of plans:

     1.  Tax Deferred Annuity Plans ("TDA Plan"). Annuity purchase plans adopted
         pursuant to Section  403(b) of the Code by certain  organizations  that
         qualify for  tax-exempt  status under Section  501(c)(3) of the Code or
         are eligible  public  schools or colleges.  TDA Contracts are issued to
         Contractholders,  which typically are such tax-exempt  organizations or
         an association  representing such  organization or its employees.  Plan
         Participants  may obtain certain  Federal income tax benefits  provided
         under Section 403(b) of the Code (see "Federal Tax Status").

     2.  Public  Employee  Deferred  Compensation  Plans ("PEDC  Plan").  Public
         Employee Deferred Compensation plans or programs adopted by a unit of a
         state or local  government  and  nonprofit  organizations  pursuant  to
         Section 457 of the Code. (See "Federal Tax Status"). Note: The contract
         is not currently offered to fund governmental 457 Plans in the state of
         New York.

     3.  Qualified  Pension or  Profit-Sharing  Plans  ("401(a)  Plans").  Plans
         adopted pursuant to Section 401(a) of the Code.  Participants of 401(a)
         Plans obtain income tax benefits  provided  under the Code as qualified
         pension plans.

     4.  Creditor-Exempt    or    General    Creditor     Non-Qualified    Plans
         ("Creditor-Exempt"  or "General  Creditor"  Plan).  Employer  sponsored
         savings,  compensation or other plans the  contributions  for which are
         made without Internal Revenue Code restrictions generally applicable to
         qualified retirement plans. (See "Federal Tax Status").

     The contract will be sold primarily by persons who are insurance  agents of
or brokers for  Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance  Company.  In addition,  these
persons will usually be registered representatives of Princor Financial Services
Corporation,  which acts as distributor for the Contract.  See  "Distribution of
the Contract."

Contributions

     The contract prescribes no limits on the minimum  Contribution which may be
made to an  Investment  Account.  Plan  Participant  maximum  Contributions  are
discussed under "Federal Tax Status."  Contributions  may also be limited by the
Plan. The Company may also limit Contributions on 60-days notice.

   
     All  Contributions  made  pursuant to the Contract are  allocated to one or
more Investment  Accounts which correlate to a Plan  Participant.  An Investment
Account is established  for each type of  Contribution  for each Division of the
Separate Account as directed by the Owner of Benefits.  Currently, the Divisions
available  under the Contract are:  Balanced,  Bond,  Capital Value,  Government
Securities,  Growth, International,  MidCap and Money Market. The Contractholder
may choose to limit the number of Divisions  available to the Owner of Benefits,
but the  Money  Market  Division  may not be so  restricted  to the  extent  the
Division is  necessary to permit the Company to allocate  initial  Contributions
and the  Capital  Value  Division  may not be so  restricted  to the  extent the
Division is necessary to permit the Company to pay  Variable  Annuity  Payments.
Additional Divisions may be added in the future. If no direction is provided for
a particular Contribution,  such Contribution will be allocated to an Investment
Account which is invested in the Money Market Division.
    

Separate Account B

   
     Each  of  the  Divisions  corresponds  to  one of  the  Accounts  in  which
Contributions  may be  invested.  The  objective of the contract is to provide a
return on amounts contributed that will reflect the investment experience of the
Accounts  in  which  the  Divisions  to which  Contributions  are  directed  are
invested. The value of the Contributions accumulated in Separate Account B prior
to the Annuity Commencement Date will vary with the investment experience of the
Accounts.

     Each of the  Divisions  invests only in shares of Accounts of the Principal
Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as indicated in the table below.

                                         Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc.
                                         ---------------------------------------
               Division                                  Account
               --------                                  -------
     Balanced Division                           Balanced Account
     Bond Division                               Bond Account
     Capital Value Division                      Capital Value Account
     Government Securities Division              Government Securities Account
     Growth Division                             Growth Account
     International Division                      International Account
     MidCap Division                             MidCap Account
     Money Market Division                       Money Market Account
    

Distributions, Transfers, and Withdrawals

   
     Variable  Annuity  Payments will be made on and after a Plan  Participant's
Annuity  Commencement  Date.  All  Variable  Annuity  Payments  will reflect the
performance  of the Account  underlying the Capital Value Division and therefore
the  annuitant  is  subject  to the risk  that the  amount of  variable  annuity
payments may decline. (See "Income Benefits.")
    

     Generally,  at any time prior to the Annuity  Purchase  Date,  the Owner of
Benefits  may  transfer  all or  any  portion  of an  Investment  Account  which
correlates  to a  Plan  Participant  to  another  available  Investment  Account
correlating to such Plan Participant. If a Companion Contract has been issued to
the  Contractholder to fund the Plan, and if permitted by the Plan and Companion
Contract,  amounts  transferred from such Companion  Contract may be invested in
this  contract  to  establish  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate  to a Plan
Participant at any time at least one month before the Annuity Commencement Date.
Similarly, if the Company has issued a Companion Contract to the Contractholder,
and if permitted by the Plan and the Companion Contract,  the Owner of Benefits,
subject to certain  limitations,  may file a  Notification  with the  Company to
transfer all or a portion of the Investment  Account values which correlate to a
Plan Participant to the Companion  Contract.  (See "Withdrawals and Transfers.")
In  addition,  subject to any Plan  limitations  or any  reduction  for  vesting
provided  for in the Plan as to amounts  available,  the Owner of  Benefits  may
withdraw  cash  from  the  Investment   Accounts  that  correlate  to  the  Plan
Participant  at  any  time  prior  to  the  Plan  Participant's  termination  of
employment,  disability,  retirement or the Annuity Purchase Date subject to any
charges  that  may be  applied.  See  "Withdrawals  and  Transfers."  Note  that
withdrawals  before age 59 1/2 may involve an income tax  penalty.  See "Federal
Tax Status." No withdrawals are permitted after the Annuity Purchase Date.

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (The "Company")

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company is a mutual life insurance company
with its home office at The Principal  Financial Group, Des Moines,  Iowa 50392,
telephone number 515-247-5111.  It was originally incorporated under the laws of
the  State of Iowa in 1879 as  Bankers  Life  Association,  changed  its name to
Bankers  Life  Company in 1911 and  changed  its name to  Principal  Mutual Life
Insurance  Company in 1986. It is a member of The Principal  Financial  Group, a
diversified family of insurance and financial services corporations.

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company is authorized to do business in the
50 states of the United States,  the District of Columbia,  the  Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia,  Manitoba,
Ontario and Quebec. The Company offers a full range of products and services for
businesses, groups and individuals including individual insurance, pension plans
and group/employee  benefits. The Company has ranked in the upper one percent of
life  insurers  in assets  and  premium  income  and has  consistently  received
excellent  ratings from the major rating firms based upon the  Company's  claims
paying  ability.  The Company has $56.8 billion in assets under  management  and
serves more than 9.7 million individuals and their families.

PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

     Separate  Account B was  established  on January  12,  1970  pursuant  to a
resolution (as amended) of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company.  Under Iowa insurance  laws and  regulations  the income,  gains or
losses,  whether or not  realized,  of  Separate  Account B are  credited  to or
charged  against  the assets of Separate  Account B without  regard to the other
income, gains or losses of the Company.  Although the assets of Separate Account
B, equal to the reserves and other liabilities arising under the contract,  will
not be charged with any liabilities  arising out of any other business conducted
by the Company,  the reverse is not true.  Hence, all obligations  arising under
the  contract,  including  the promise to make Variable  Annuity  Payments,  are
general corporate obligations of the Company.

     Separate  Account B was registered on July 17, 1970 with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act
of 1940,  as amended.  Such  registration  does not involve  supervision  by the
Commission of the investments or investment policies of Separate Account B.

   
     Separate  Account B is divided into Divisions each of which invests only in
shares of an Account of the Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as indicated
in the table below.

                 Division                                 Account
                 --------                                 -------  
     Balanced Division                          Balanced Account
     Bond Division                              Bond Account
     Capital Value Division                     Capital Value Account
     Government Securities Division             Government Securities Account
     Growth Division                            Growth Account
     International Division                     International Account
     MidCap Division                            MidCap Account
     Money Market Division                      Money Market Account

     The Mutual Fund is a diversified,  open-end management  investment company.
The investment Manager for the Mutual Fund is Principal Management  Corporation.
The  Accounts  are also used to fund  variable  life  insurance  contracts.  See
"Eligible  Purchasers  and  Purchase of Shares" in the Fund's  prospectus  for a
discussion of the potential risks associated with "mixed funding."

     The  investment  objective of the  Balanced  Account is to generate a total
return  consisting of current  income and capital  appreciation  while  assuming
reasonable  risks in  furtherance  of the  investment  objective.  In seeking to
achieve the investment  objective,  the Account invests  primarily in growth and
income-oriented  common stocks  (including  securities  convertible  into common
stocks), corporate bonds and debentures and short-term money market instruments.
The portions of the Account's total assets invested in equity  securities,  debt
securities  and  short-term  money market  instruments  are not fixed,  although
ordinarily  40% to 70% of the  Account's  portfolio  will be  invested in equity
securities with the balance of the portfolio invested in debt securities.

     The investment  objective of the Bond Account is to provide as high a level
of income as is consistent with  preservation of capital and prudent  investment
risk. In seeking to achieve the investment objective,  the Account predominantly
invests  in  marketable  fixed-income  securities.   Investments  will  be  made
generally on a long-term basis, but the Account may make short-term  investments
from time to time as deemed prudent by the Account's Manager.  Longer maturities
typically  provide  better  yields  but will  subject  the  Account to a greater
possibility of substantial changes in the values of its portfolio  securities as
interest rates change.

     The investment  objective of the Capital Value Account is long-term capital
appreciation and growth of investment income.  This Account invests primarily in
common stocks but may invest in other securities.

     The  Government  Securities  Account has an investment  objective of a high
level of current income, liquidity and safety of principal. The Account seeks to
achieve this objective through the purchase of obligations  issued or guaranteed
by the United States Government or its agencies, with up to 55% of the Account's
assets invested in Government National Mortgage Association  Certificates ("GNMA
Certificates"). Account shares, however, are not guaranteed by the United States
Government.  The value of the Account's investments fluctuates as interest rates
change.  The value  rises when  rates  decline  and falls  when rates  increase.
Expected  prepayments of mortgages included in a GNMA certificate can affect the
market value of the  certificate,  and actual  prepayments can affect the return
ultimately received.

     The objective of the Growth  Account is growth of capital.  Realization  of
current  income will be incidental  to the  objective of growth of capital.  The
Fund will invest  primarily in common stocks,  but it may invest in other equity
securities.  In pursuit of the Account's investment objective,  investments will
be made  in  securities  which  as a  group  appear  to  possess  potential  for
appreciation  in market value.  Common stocks chosen for  investment may include
those of companies which have a record of sales and earnings growth that exceeds
the  growth  rate of  corporate  profits  of the S & P 500 or  which  offer  new
products or new services.  The policy of investing in securities which have high
potential  for growth of capital  can mean that the assets of the Account may be
subject to greater risk than securities which do not have such potential.

     The investment objective of the International  Account is to seek long-term
growth of capital  through  investment  in a portfolio of equity  securities  of
companies domiciled in any of the nations of the world. The Account intends that
its  investments  normally will be allocated among various  countries.  Although
there is no limitation  on the  percentage of assets that may be invested in any
one country or denominated in any one currency, the Account intends under normal
market  conditions  to have at least 65% of its assets  invested  in  securities
issued by  corporations  of at least  three  countries,  one of which may be the
United States. Investments may be made anywhere in the world, but it is expected
that primary  consideration  will be given to investing in the securities issued
by  corporations of Western  Europe,  North America and Australasia  (Australia,
Japan and Far East Asia) that have developed  economies.  Changes in investments
may be  made  as  prospects  change  for  particular  countries,  industries  or
companies.

     The objective of the MidCap Account is to achieve capital appreciation. The
strategy  of this  Account  is to invest  primarily  in the  common  stocks  and
securities  (both debt and preferred  stock)  convertible  into common stocks of
emerging  and other  growth-oriented  companies  that,  in the  judgment  of the
Account's Manager, are responsive to changes within the marketplace and have the
fundamental  characteristics  to support  growth.  In pursuing its  objective of
capital appreciation,  the MidCap Account may invest, for any period of time, in
any industry, in any kind of growth-oriented company, whether new and unseasoned
or well known and established.

     The Money Market Account has an investment  objective of obtaining  maximum
current income available from short-term securities consistent with preservation
of principal  and  maintenance  of liquidity by investing all of its assets in a
portfolio of money market  instruments.  This Account  invests in United  States
dollar  denominated  instruments  having a maturity of 397 days or less that the
Manager,  subject to the oversight of the Fund's board of directors,  determines
present  minimal credit risks and which at the time of acquisition are "Eligible
Securities" as that term is defined in  regulations  issued under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.  See the Fund's  prospectus  for details.  The value of the
investments held by this Account may fluctuate, although the net asset value per
share is normally expected to remain at $1.00. However, its yield will vary with
changes in short-term interest rates. Over the last two decades there has been a
general  correlation  between short-term  interest rates and the cost of living,
but there has been no exact  correlation  and for some  periods  such rates have
declined while the cost of living has risen.

     Additional   information   concerning   these  Accounts,   including  their
investment policies and restrictions,  investment  management fees and operating
expenses is given in the prospectus for the Fund. A Prospectus for the Principal
Variable  Contracts  Fund, Inc. is attached to and follows this  Prospectus.  It
should be read carefully in conjunction with this Prospectus before investing.

     Each  Division  purchases  shares  of an  Account  at net asset  value.  In
addition,  all  distributions  made by an Account with respect to shares held by
Divisions of Separate  Account B are reinvested at net asset value in additional
shares of the same Account.  Contract benefits are provided and charges are made
in effect by  redeeming  Account  shares at net asset  value.  Values  under the
Contract,  both before and after the commencement of Variable Annuity  Payments,
will increase or decrease to reflect the investment  performance of the Accounts
and Owners of Benefits assume the risks of such change in values.
    

     The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Internal Revenue
Code. The operations of Separate  Account B are part of the total  operations of
the Company but are treated  separately for  accounting and financial  statement
purposes and are considered separately in computing the Company's tax liability.
Separate  Account B is not affected by federal  income taxes paid by the Company
with respect to its other operations, and under existing federal income tax law,
investment  income and capital gains  attributable to Separate Account B are not
taxed.  The Company reserves the right to charge Separate Account B with, and to
create a reserve for, any tax liability which the Company  determines may result
from maintenance of Separate Account B. To the best of the Company's  knowledge,
there is no current prospect of any such liability.

DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT

     A mortality and expense risks charge is deducted under the contract.  There
are also  deductions  from and  expenses  paid out of the  assets of the  mutual
funds. These expenses are described in the Funds' prospectus.

A.   Mortality and Expense Risks Charge

     Variable  Annuity  Payments  will  not be  affected  by  adverse  mortality
     experience or by any excess in the actual sales and administrative expenses
     over the charges  provided  for in the  contract.  The Company  assumes the
     risks that (i) Variable  Annuity Payments will continue for a longer period
     than anticipated and (ii) the allowance for administration  expenses in the
     annuity  conversion rates will be insufficient to cover the actual costs of
     administration  relating to Variable Annuity  Payments.  For assuming these
     risks,  the  Company,  in  determining  Unit  Values and  Variable  Annuity
     Payments, makes a charge as of the end of each Valuation Period against the
     assets of Separate Account B held with respect to the contract.  The charge
     is equivalent to a simple annual rate of .42%. The Company does not believe
     that it is  possible  to  specifically  identify  that  portion of the .42%
     deduction  applicable to the separate risks involved,  but estimates that a
     reasonable approximate allocation would be .28% for the mortality risks and
     .14% for the expense  risks.  The mortality and expense risks charge may be
     changed by the  Company at any time by giving not less than  60-days  prior
     written notice to the  Contractholder.  However,  the charge may not exceed
     1.25% on an annual  basis,  and only one change may be made in any one-year
     period.  If the charge is  insufficient  to cover the  actual  costs of the
     mortality  and expense risk assumed,  the  financial  loss will fall on the
     Company;  conversely, if the charge proves more than sufficient, the excess
     will be a gain to the Company.

OTHER EXPENSES

     The Contractholder is obligated to pay additional  expenses associated with
the  acquisition and servicing of the contract in accordance with the terms of a
Service and Expense Agreement between the Contractholder and the Company.  These
expenses are not deductible  from  Investment  Accounts which  correlate to Plan
Participants,  except that the recordkeeping  expense and Flexible Income Option
charge  attributable to inactive Plan Participants  (Plan  Participants who have
died,  retired or  terminated  employment  or who are  Totally  and  Permanently
Disabled and alternate payees under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order) may at
the   Contractholder's   election  be  deducted  from  such  Plan  Participant's
Investment  Account Values.  The expenses which the  Contractholder  must pay if
applicable,  include an application fee, transfer fee,  contract  administration
expense,  recordkeeping expense,  location fee, a Flexible Income Option charge,
documentation expense and in some cases a sales charge. As part of the Company's
policy of  ensuring  client  satisfaction  with the  services it  provides,  the
Company may agree to waive the  assessment of all or a portion of these expenses
or charges  (except for the sales  charge) in  response to any  reasonably-based
complaint from the  Contractholder  as to the quality of the services covered by
such expenses or charges that the Company is unable to rectify.  These  expenses
are described below:

   
A.   Application Fee

     A $925  application  fee is  charged  to the  Contractholder  in the  first
     Contract  Year.  If a Companion  Contract has been issued by the Company to
     the  Contractholder  to fund the Plan, the application fee will be assessed
     to  the  Companion  Contract.   The  total  application  fee  paid  by  the
     Contractholder  to obtain  both  contracts  will not  exceed  $925.  If the
     Company has issued an Associated  Contract to the Contractholder to fund an
     employee benefit plan administered by the Company,  the application fee for
     the contract described in this prospectus will be waived by the Company.
    

B.   Contract Administration Expense

   
     The Contractholder  must also pay a contract  administration  expense.  The
     contract administration expense is charged quarterly and is equal to 1/4 of
     the amount  derived by adding $650 ($1,000 for custom or outside  plans) to
     the amount  calculated by multiplying the Quarter end Balance at the end of
     each Deposit Year Quarter by the Annual Expense  percentage below.  Quarter
     end Balance is the total of all Investment  Accounts under the contract and
     other  Plan  assets not  allocated  to the  contract  or an  Associated  or
     Companion  Contract  ("Outside  Assets")  at the end of each  Deposit  Year
     Quarter.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Expense Percentage
           Over         But Not Over              The Annual Expense Is:          Top of Bracket
           ----         ------------      ---------------------------------     ------------------
<S>   <C>               <C>               <C>                                        <C>    
      $        0        $   262,500       $750 minimum                               .002857
          262,500         1,000,000       [.0020 x ending balance] + $225            .002225
        1,000,000         5,000,000       [.0010 x ending balance] + $1,225          .001245
        5,000,000        10,000,000       [.0005 x ending balance] + $3,725          .000873
       10,000,000        30,000,000       [.0004 x ending balance] + $4,725          .000558
       30,000,000                         [.0003 x ending balance] + $7,725
</TABLE>

     Example:  Assume a  $3,500,000  total fund at the end of the  Quarter for a
               standard  plan. The contract  administration  charge is $1,343.75
               derived as follows: [.0010 x $3,500,000] + $1,225 = $4,725 + $650
               = $5,375 / 4 = $1,343.75.
    

     The  contract  administration  expense is also  charged  if all  Investment
     Accounts  which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  are canceled  during the
     Deposit Year as a result of a withdrawal.  The amount  attributable to such
     Investment  Accounts is determined  as described  above but is pro-rated to
     the date of cancellation.

     The contract  administration  expense will be reduced by 10% if the Company
     has issued an Associated Contract to the Contractowner.

   
     The  contract   administration   expense  for  an  employer   with  both  a
     nonqualified  plan in the  contract  offered  under this  prospectus  and a
     401(k) Plan in a Flexible  Investment  Annuity ("FIA")  Contract (and which
     meets our underwriting  guidelines) will be calculated based on the quarter
     end value of the  investment  accounts  under  both  contracts  (plus  $750
     annually  for general  creditor  nonqualified  plans or $1,000 for creditor
     exempt  plans)  and the  proportionate  charge  will be  allocated  to Plan
     Participants in each contract.
    

C.   Recordkeeping Expense

     The  Contractholder  must also pay a recordkeeping  expense.  The quarterly
     recordkeeping expense is 1/4 of the charge determined from the table below.
     The amount of the charge is  determined  at the end of each  quarter  based
     upon the number of Plan  Participants,  both active and inactive,  for whom
     there are Investment Accounts under the contract at the end of the quarter.

   
                                            Annual Expense (Benefit Report
             Plan Participants                Sent to the Contractholder)
             -----------------              ------------------------------
                1-19                                    $2,250
                20-49                    $34 per Plan Participant  + $  1,366
                50-99                    $31 per Plan Participant  + $  1,516
                100-299                  $28 per Plan Participant  + $  1,816
                300-499                  $23 per Plan Participant  + $  3,316
                500 - 999                $19 per Plan Participant  + $  5,316
                1,000 - 2,499            $14 per Plan Participant  + $ 10,316
                2,500 - 4,999            $12 per Plan Participant  + $ 15,316
                5,000 and over           $10 per Plan Participant  + $ 25,316

     Example:  Assume 600 Plan  Participants  with  Benefit  Reports sent to the
               Contractholder:  The  expense  is  $16,716  [600 x $19 = $11,400+
               $5,316 =  $16,716]  / 4 =  $4,179.  This  would be $6.96 per Plan
               Participant, per quarter.
    

     The  recordkeeping  expense  is  increased  by $3 per Plan  Participant  if
     benefit reports are mailed directly to Plan Participants' homes.

     If, instead of quarterly benefit reports, the Company provides such reports
     annually,  the recordkeeping  expense is reduced by 9%. Similarly,  if such
     reports are provided semi-annually, the recordkeeping expense is reduced by
     6%. If such  reports are  provided on a monthly  basis,  the  recordkeeping
     expense is increased by 24%.

     If  the   Company   performs   more  (or  less)   than  two   401(k)/401(m)
     non-discrimination  tests in a Deposit Year, the  recordkeeping  expense is
     increase  (reduced) by 3% for each  additional  test performed (or test not
     performed).

   
     The  recordkeeping  expense  is reduced  by 10% if Plan  Contributions  are
     reported in the Company's standard format by modem.  Effective on the first
     day of the Deposit Year in 1999,  this 10% reduction will be  discontinued.
     There will be an additional 5% charge is  contributions  are reported using
     tape/diskette or an additional 10% charge if reported using paper.

     Effective  on the first day of the  Deposit  Year in 1998,  a charge of $15
     will be made  to the  account  of plan  participants  who  make  investment
     changes/transfers   using   paper   rather   than  our   toll-free   number
     (1-800-633-1373).

     The recordkeeping expense for an employer with both a non-qualified plan in
     the  contract  offered  under this  prospectus  and a 401(k)  plan in a FIA
     contract  will be determined at the point in scale reached under the 401(k)
     plan.
    

     If the initial Deposit Year is less than twelve months,  an adjustment will
     be made in the amount of the  charge so that the full  amount of the annual
     charge per Plan Participant will be assessed during the year.

     If all Investment Accounts  attributable to a Plan Participant are canceled
     during the Deposit Year as a result of a withdrawal, the unassessed portion
     of the full annual  charge  attributable  to the Plan  Participant  will be
     charged.

     If  the  Company  provides  recordkeeping  services  for  Plan  assets  not
     allocated to the contract or an Associated or Companion  Contract ("Outside
     Assets"),  the  Contractholder  must  pay an  Outside  Asset  recordkeeping
     expense. The annual charge is calculated based upon the following table.

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

   
              Number of Plan Participants             Outside Asset
                  with Outside Accounts            Annual Recordkeeping
                   During the Quarter                     Expense
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     1-25                       $1,000 minimum
                     26-49                      $15.30 per member + $614.70
                     50-99                      $13.95 per member + $682.20
                     100-299                    $12.60 per member + $817.20
                     300-499                    $10.35 per member + $1,492.20
                     500-999                    $8.55 per member + $2,392.20
                     1000-2499                  $6.30 per member + $4,642.20
                     2500-4999                  $5.40 per member + $6,842.20
                     5000 and over              $4.50 per member + $11,392.20
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

     The charge  calculated in accordance with the above table will be increased
     by 15% for the  second  and each  additional  Outside  Asset  for which the
     Company provides recordkeeping  services.  One-fourth of the annual Outside
     Asset Recordkeeping Charge will be billed on a quarterly basis. This charge
     does  not  apply  if  the  Outside  Assets  which  correlate  to  the  Plan
     Participant consist solely of shares of mutual funds for which a subsidiary
     of the Company serves as investment adviser.

     The Contractholder may elect to have the recordkeeping expense attributable
     to  investments   in  this  contract  which   correlate  to  inactive  Plan
     Participants  deducted  from the  Investment  Account  Values  of such Plan
     Participants. In such case, the Company will reduce the charge if necessary
     so  that  it  will  not  exceed  1% of  the  Plan  Participant's  aggregate
     Investment  Account  Values at the time the charge is made.  The portion of
     the charge  attributable to a Plan  Participant will be allocated to his or
     her Investment Account in proportion to their relative value.

D.   Location Fee

     Contractholders  may request  the Company to provide  services to groups of
     employees  at multiple  locations.  If the Company  agrees to provide  such
     services,  the Contractholder will be charged $150 on a quarterly basis for
     each additional employee group or location.

E.   Flexible Income Option Charge

     An additional  charge of $25 annually will be made for any Plan Participant
     receiving benefits under the Flexible Income Option. The charge is added to
     the  portion  of  the  recordkeeping  expense  attributable  to  such  Plan
     Participants.  If the Contractowner has elected to deduct the recordkeeping
     expense from the  Investment  Accounts of inactive Plan  Participants,  the
     Flexible Income Option Charge will also be deducted from such accounts.  If
     a Plan  Participant is receiving  benefits under the Flexible Income Option
     from a Companion Contract to which a Flexible Income Option Charge applies,
     the charge will not apply to the contract described in this Prospectus.

F.   Documentation Expense

   
     The Company  provides a sample Plan document and summary plan  descriptions
     to the  Contractholder.  The  Contractholder  will  be  billed  $125 if the
     Contractholder  uses a  Principal  Mutual  Standard  Plan.  If the  Company
     provides a sample  custom-written  Plan, the Contractholder  will be billed
     $700 for the  initial  Plan or for any  restatement  thereof,  $300 for any
     amendments  thereto,   and  $500  for  standard  summary  plan  description
     booklets.  If the  Contractholder  adopts a Plan other than one provided by
     the  Company,  a $900  charge  will be made for  summary  plan  description
     booklets requested by the Contractholder, if any.
    

G.   Sales Charge

     A sales charge will be billed to and paid by the  Contractholder  according
to one of the following schedules:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Schedule A                                     Schedule B
     --------------------------------------------   ------------------------------------------
        Amount of Plan       Amount Payable as a         Amount of Plan      Amount Payable as
         Contributions         Percent of Plan            Contributions       Percent of Plan
     in Each Deposit Year       Contributions         In Each Deposit Year     Contributions
     --------------------    -------------------    ----------------------   -----------------
<S>  <C>           <C>              <C>             <C>         <C>                <C>  
     The first     $  5,000         4.50%           The first   $   50,000         3.00%
     The next         5,000         3.00            The next        50,000         2.00
     The next         5,000         1.70            The next       400,000         1.00
     The next        35,000         1.40            The  next    2,500,000         0.50
     The next        50,000         0.90            Excess over  3,000,000         0.25
     The next       400,000         0.60
     Excess over    500,000         0.25
</TABLE>

     The  applicable  sales charge will be determined by the Company.  The sales
     charge  described  in  Schedule B will apply for  certain  salary  deferral
     Plans.  The sales charge  described in Schedule A will apply if the Plan is
     not a salary deferral Plan or if the Plan is a salary deferral Plan subject
     to reduced  sales  expenses.  The  Contractholder  will be  notified of the
     applicable   sales  charge   prior  to  the   issuance  of  the   Contract.
     Contributions  made by the Contractholder to the contract described in this
     prospectus,  a  Companion  Contract  or any  Associated  Contract  will  be
     combined for purposes of applying the above sales charge schedules.

     The Company will not charge a sales charge to  Contractholders  who acquire
     the contract either: (1) directly from the Company upon a recommendation of
     an  independent  pension  consultant  who  charges  a fee for  its  pension
     consulting  services and who receives no  remuneration  from the Company in
     association  with  the  sale of the  contract;  or (2)  through  registered
     representatives  of the Principal  Underwriter who are also Group Insurance
     Representative employees of the Company.

H.   Special Services

     If  requested  by the  Contractholder,  the  Company  may  provide  special
     services  not  provided  as  part  of  the  contract   administration   and
     recordkeeping services. The Company will charge the Contractholder the cost
     of providing such services.

SURPLUS DISTRIBUTION AT SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY

     It is not anticipated that any divisible surplus will ever be distributable
to the contract in the future  because the contract is not expected to result in
a  contribution  to the  divisible  surplus  of  the  Company.  However,  if any
distribution  of  divisible  surplus  is  made,  it will  be made to  Investment
Accounts in the form of additional units.

THE CONTRACT

   
     The contract  will  normally be issued to an Employer or  association  or a
trust established for the benefit of Plan Participants and their  beneficiaries.
The Company  will issue a  pre-retirement  certificate  describing  the benefits
under the contract to Plan  Participants who reside in a state that requires the
issuance of such  certificates.  The initial  Contribution which correlates to a
Plan  Participant  will be invested in the Division or Divisions that are chosen
as of the end of the Valuation Period in which such  Contribution is received by
the  Company  at  its  home  office  in Des  Moines,  Iowa.  If  the  allocation
instructions  are  late,  or  not  completed,   the  Company  will  invest  such
unallocated  Contributions  in  the  Money  Market  Division  on the  date  such
Contributions  are  received.  Subsequently,  the Company will transfer all or a
portion of such  Contributions as of the date complete  allocation  instructions
are received by the Company in accordance with the allocation specified therein.
After complete  allocation  instructions have been received by the Company,  all
current and future Contributions will be allocated to the chosen Divisions as of
the end of the Valuation  period in which such  Contributions  are received.  If
complete allocation instructions are not received by the Company within 105 days
after the initial Contributions are allocated to the Money Market Division,  the
Company  will  remit  the  Contributions   plus  any  earnings  thereon  to  the
Contractholder.  The Contractholder may limit the number of Divisions  available
to the Owner of Benefits, but the Money Market Division may not be so restricted
to the extent the  Division  is  necessary  to permit  the  Company to  allocate
initial  Contributions as described above and the Capital Value Division may not
be so  restricted  to the extent the Division is necessary to permit the Company
to pay Variable Annuity Payments.
    

A.   Contract Values and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement Date

     1.   Investment Accounts

         An Investment  Account or Accounts  correlating  to a Plan  Participant
         will be established for each type of Contribution and for each Division
         of Separate Account B in which such Contribution is invested.

         Investment  Accounts will be maintained  until the  Investment  Account
         Values are either (a) applied to effect Variable Annuity benefits,  (b)
         paid to the Owner of Benefits or the  beneficiary,  (c)  transferred in
         accordance  with the provisions of the contract or (d) cancelled to pay
         the recordkeeping  expenses for a Plan Participant where Termination of
         Employment,  retirement or death has occurred or for an alternate payee
         under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

         Each  Contribution  will be  allocated  to the  Division  or  Divisions
         designated by the Notification on file with the Company and will result
         in a credit of units to the appropriate  Investment Account. The number
         of units so credited  will be determined by dividing the portion of the
         Contributions  allocated  to the  Division  by the Unit  Value for such
         Division for the  Valuation  Period within which the  Contribution  was
         received by the Company at its home office in Des Moines, Iowa.

     2.  Unit Value

   
         The Unit  Value for a Contract  which  participates  in a  Division  of
         Separate  Account  B  determines  the  value of an  Investment  Account
         consisting of contributions  allocated to that Division. The Unit Value
         for each  Division for the contract is  determined on each day on which
         the net asset value of its underlying  Account is determined.  The Unit
         Value  for a  Valuation  Period  is  determined  as of the  end of that
         period.  The  investment  performance  of the  underlying  Account  and
         deducted expenses affect the Unit Value.
    

         For this series of contracts,  the Unit Value for each Division will be
         fixed at $1.00 for the  Valuation  Period in which the first  amount of
         money is  credited to the  Division.  A  Division's  Unit Value for any
         later  Valuation  Period is equal to its Unit Value for the immediately
         preceding Valuation Period multiplied by the Net Investment Factor (see
         below) for that  Division  for this series of  contracts  for the later
         Valuation Period.

     3.  Net Investment Factor

         Each  Net  Investment  Factor  is  the  quantitative   measure  of  the
         investment performance of each Division of Separate Account B.

         For any  specified  Valuation  Period the Net  Investment  Factor for a
         Division for this series of contracts is equal to

   
         (a)  the  quotient  obtained by  dividing  (i) the net asset value of a
              share of the  underlying  Account  as of the end of the  Valuation
              Period,  plus  the per  share  amount  of any  dividend  or  other
              distribution made by the Account during the Valuation Period (less
              an adjustment for taxes,  if any) by (ii) the net asset value of a
              share of the  Account as of the end of the  immediately  preceding
              Valuation Period,
    

                                   reduced by

         (b)  a mortality and expense risks charge,  equal to a simple  interest
              rate for the  number of days  within  the  Valuation  Period at an
              annual  rate of 0.42%.  

         The amounts  derived from applying the rate  specified in  subparagraph
         (b) above and the amount of any taxes referred to in  subparagraph  (a)
         above  will be  accrued  daily and will be  transferred  from  Separate
         Account B at the discretion of the Company.

     4.  Hypothetical  Example of  Calculation  of Unit Value for All  Divisions
         Except the Money Market Division

   
         The  computation  of the Unit Value may be illustrated by the following
         hypothetical  example.  Assume  that the  current  net asset value of a
         Account  share is  $14.8000;  that  there  were no  dividends  or other
         distributions made by the Account and no adjustment for taxes since the
         last  determination;  that the net asset value of a Account  share last
         determined was $14.7800;  that the last Unit Value was $1.0185363;  and
         that the  Valuation  Period was one day. To  determine  the current Net
         Investment Factor, divide $14.8000 by $14.7800 which produces 1.0013532
         and deduct from this amount the  mortality  and expense risks charge of
         0.0000090, which is the rate for one day that is equivalent to a simple
         annual  rate of  0.33%.  The  result,  1.0013442,  is the  current  Net
         Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0185363) is then multiplied
         by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0013442)  which  produces a
         current Unit Value of $1.0199054.
    

     5.  Hypothetical  Example of Calculation of Unit Value for the Money Market
         Division

   
         The  computation  of the Unit Value may be illustrated by the following
         hypothetical  example.  Assume  that the  current  net asset value of a
         Account share is $1.0000;  that a dividend of .0328767  cents per share
         was declared by the Account prior to calculation of the net asset value
         of the Account share and that no other  distributions and no adjustment
         for taxes  were made since the last  determination;  that the net asset
         value of a Account  share last  determined  was $1.0000;  that the last
         Unit Value was $1.0162734; and that the Valuation Period was one day.
    

         To determine  the current Net  Investment  Factor,  add the current net
         asset value ($1.0000) to the amount of the dividend  ($.000328767)  and
         divide by the last net asset  value  ($1.0000),  which when  rounded to
         seven places  equals  1.0003288.  Deduct from this amount the mortality
         and expense  risks charge of .0000090 (the  proportionate  rate for one
         day based on a simple annual rate of 0.33%).  The result (1.0003198) is
         the current Net Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0162734) is
         then  multiplied  by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0003198),
         resulting in a current Unit Value of $1.0165984.

B.   Income Benefits

     Income  Benefits  consist of either monthly  Variable  Annuity  Payments or
     periodic payments made on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis
     pursuant to the Flexible Income Option.

     1.  Variable Annuity Payments

   
         The amount  applied to provide  Variable  Annuity  Payments  must be at
         least  $1,750.  Variable  Annuity  Payments  will  be  provided  by the
         Investment  Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant held under
         the Capital  Value  Division.  Thus,  if the Owner of  Benefits  elects
         Variable Annuity  Payments,  any amounts that are to be used to provide
         Variable  Annuity  Payments will be transferred to Investment  Accounts
         held under the Capital Value  Division as of the last Valuation Date in
         the month which begins two months before the Annuity Commencement Date.
         After  any such  transfer,  the  value of the  Capital  Value  Division
         Investment  Accounts  will be applied on the Annuity  Purchase  Date to
         provide Variable Annuity Payments. The Annuity Commencement Date, which
         will be one month  following  the Annuity  Purchase  Date,  will be the
         first day of a month. Thus, if the Annuity  Commencement Date is August
         1,  the  Annuity  Purchase  Date  will be July 1,  and the  date of any
         transfers to a Capital Value  Division  Investment  Account will be the
         Valuation Date immediately preceding July 1.
    

         The  Annuity  Commencement  Date must be no later  than  April 1 of the
         calendar year following the calendar year in which the Plan Participant
         attains age 70 1/2. See "Federal Tax Status."

         a.   Selecting a Variable Annuity

              Variable  Annuity  Payments  will be made to an Owner of  Benefits
              beginning  on  the  Annuity   Commencement   Date  and  continuing
              thereafter  on the first day of each  month.  An Owner of Benefits
              may select an Annuity  Commencement  Date by  Notification  to the
              Company.  The date  selected may be the first day of any month the
              Plan allows  which is at least one month  after the  Notification.
              Generally,  the Annuity  Commencement Date cannot begin before the
              Plan  Participant  is age 59 1/2,  separated  from service,  or is
              totally  disabled.  See "Federal  Tax Status" for a discussion  of
              required  distributions and the federal income tax consequences of
              distributions.

              At any time not less than one month  preceding the desired Annuity
              Commencement  Date,  an Owner of Benefits  may,  by  Notification,
              select one of the annuity  options  described below (see "Forms of
              Variable  Annuities").  If no annuity  option has been selected at
              least one month before the Annuity  Commencement  Date, and if the
              Plan  does  not  provide  one,  payments  which  correlate  to  an
              unmarried Plan  Participant  will be made under the annuity option
              providing  Variable Life Annuity with Monthly Payments Certain for
              Ten Years.  Payments to a married  Plan  Participant  will be made
              under the annuity  option  providing a Variable  Life Annuity with
              One-Half Survivorship.

         b.   Forms of Variable Annuities

              Because of certain restrictions  contained in the Internal Revenue
              Code  and  regulations  thereunder,   an  annuity  option  is  not
              available  under a contract used to fund a TDA Plan,  PEDC Plan or
              401(a) Plan unless (i) the joint or  contingent  annuitant  is the
              Plan  Participant's  spouse  or  (ii)  on the  Plan  Participant's
              Annuity  Commencement  Date, the present value of the amount to be
              paid while the Plan  Participant  is living is greater than 50% of
              the present value of the total benefit to the Plan Participant and
              the Plan Participant's  beneficiary (or contingent  annuitant,  if
              applicable).

              An Owner of Benefits may elect to have  Investment  Account Values
              applied under one of the following  annuity options.  However,  if
              the monthly  Variable  Annuity Payment would be less than $20, the
              Company may, at its sole option, pay the Investment Account Values
              in full settlement of all benefits otherwise available.

              Variable  Life  Annuity with  Monthly  Payments  Certain for Zero,
              Five, Ten, Fifteen or Twenty Years or Installment Refund Period --
              a Variable Annuity which provides monthly payments during the Plan
              Participant's lifetime, and further provides that if, at the death
              of the Plan Participant,  monthly payments have been made for less
              than a minimum period, e.g. five years, any remaining payments for
              the balance of such period shall be paid to the Owner of Benefits,
              if the  Owner of  Benefits  is not the Plan  Participant,  or to a
              designated  beneficiary unless the beneficiary requests in writing
              that the  Commuted  Value of the  remaining  payments be paid in a
              single  sum.  (Designated   beneficiaries  entitled  to  take  the
              remaining  payments  or the  Commuted  Value  thereof  rather than
              continuing  monthly payments should consult with their tax advisor
              to be made aware of the differences in tax treatment.)

              The  minimum  period may be either  zero,  five,  ten,  fifteen or
              twenty years or the period (called  "installment  refund  period")
              consisting  of the number of months  determined  by  dividing  the
              amount  applied under the option by the initial  payment.  If, for
              example,   $14,400  is  applied   under  a  life  option  with  an
              installment  refund  period,  and if  the  first  monthly  payment
              provided by that amount, as determined from the applicable annuity
              conversion  rates,  would be $100, the minimum period would be 144
              months ($14,400 divided by $100 per month) or 12 years. A variable
              life  annuity  with an  installment  refund  period  guarantees  a
              minimum  number of  payments,  but not the  amount of any  monthly
              payment or the amount of aggregate  monthly  payments.  The longer
              the minimum period selected, the smaller will be the amount of the
              first annuity payment.

              Under the Variable  Life Annuity  with Zero Years  Certain,  which
              provides monthly payments to the Owner of Benefits during the Plan
              Participant's  lifetime,  it would be  possible  for the  Owner of
              Benefits to receive no annuity  payments  if the Plan  Participant
              died prior to the due date of the first  payment  since payment is
              made only during the lifetime of the Plan Participant.

              Joint and Survivor  Variable  Life  Annuity with Monthly  Payments
              Certain for Ten Years -- a Variable Annuity which provides monthly
              payments for a minimum period of ten years and  thereafter  during
              the joint  lifetimes  of the Plan  Participant  on whose  life the
              annuity is based and the  contingent  annuitant  named at the time
              this option is elected,  and continuing  after the death of either
              of them for the amount  that would  have been  payable  while both
              were living during the remaining lifetime of the survivor.  In the
              event the Plan  Participant  and the  contingent  annuitant do not
              survive beyond the minimum ten year period, any remaining payments
              for the  balance  of such  period  will  be paid to the  Owner  of
              Benefits, if the owner of Benefits is not the Plan Participant, or
              to a designated  beneficiary  unless the  beneficiary  requests in
              writing that the Commuted Value of the remaining  payments be paid
              in a single sum.  (Designated  beneficiaries  entitled to take the
              remaining  payments  or the  Commuted  Value  thereof  rather than
              continuing  monthly payments should consult with their tax advisor
              to be made aware of the differences in tax treatment.)

              Joint and Two-Thirds  Survivor Variable Life Annuity -- a variable
              annuity which provides  monthly payments during the joint lives of
              a  Plan  Participant  and  the  person  designated  as  contingent
              annuitant  with  two-thirds  of the  amount  that  would have been
              payable while both were living  continuing  until the death of the
              survivor.

              Variable  Life Annuity with  One-Half  Survivorship  -- a variable
              annuity which  provides  monthly  payments  during the life of the
              Plan  Participant  with one-half of the amount  otherwise  payable
              continuing so long as the contingent annuitant lives.

              Under the Joint and Two-thirds  Survivor Variable Life Annuity and
              under the Variable  Life Annuity with  One-Half  Survivorship,  it
              would be  possible  for the Owner of  Benefits  and/or  contingent
              annuitant to receive no annuity  payments if the Plan  Participant
              and  contingent  annuitant  both died prior to the due date of the
              first payment since payment is made only during their lifetimes.

              Other Options -- Other Variable  Annuity  options  permitted under
              the  applicable  Plan may be arranged by mutual  agreement  of the
              Owner of Benefits and the Company.

         c.   Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates

              Because  women as a class live longer than men, it has been common
              that  retirement  annuities of equal cost for women and men of the
              same age will provide  women less periodic  income at  retirement.
              The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Arizona  Governing
              Committee  vs.  Norris that sex distinct  annuity  tables under an
              employer-sponsored  benefit plan result in discrimination  that is
              prohibited  by Title VII of the Federal  Civil Rights Act of 1964.
              The Court further ruled that sex distinct  annuity  tables will be
              deemed  discriminatory only when used with values accumulated from
              employer  contributions made after August 1, 1983, the date of the
              ruling.

              Title VII applies  only to  employers  with 15 or more  employees.
              However, certain State Fair Employment Laws and Equal Payment Laws
              may apply to employers with less than 15 employees.

              The contract described in this Prospectus offers both sex distinct
              and sex neutral annuity  conversion  rates.  The annuity rates are
              used to  convert a Plan  Participant's  pre-retirement  Investment
              Account Values to a monthly  lifetime income at retirement.  Usage
              of either  sex  distinct  or sex  neutral  annuity  rates  will be
              determined by the Contractholder.

              For each form of variable  annuity,  the annuity  conversion rates
              determine how much the first monthly Variable Annuity Payment will
              be for each  $1,000 of the  Investment  Account  Value  applied to
              effect the variable  annuity.  The conversion  rates vary with the
              form of annuity,  date of birth,  and, if sex  distinct  rates are
              used,  the  sex  of  the  Plan   Participant  and  the  contingent
              annuitant,  if any. The sex neutral  guaranteed annuity conversion
              rates are based  upon (i) an  interest  rate of 2.5% per annum and
              (ii)  mortality  according  to the  "1983  Table a for  Individual
              Annuity  Valuation"  projected  with Scale G to the year 2001, set
              back  five  years  in  age.  The sex  distinct  female  rates  are
              determined  for all Plan  Participants  in the same way as neutral
              rates,  as  described  above.  The sex  distinct  male  rates  are
              determined  for  all  Plan  Participants  in the  same  way as sex
              neutral rates,  as described  above,  except  mortality is not set
              back five years in age. The guaranteed  annuity  conversion  rates
              may be changed, but no change which would be less favorable to the
              Owner of Benefits will take effect for a current Plan Participant.

              The contract  provides that an interest rate of not less than 2.5%
              per annum will represent the assumed investment return.  Currently
              the assumed  investment  return used in determining  the amount of
              the  first  monthly  payment  is 4% per  annum.  This  rate may be
              increased  or  decreased  by the  Company  in the future but in no
              event will it be less than 2.5% per annum. If, under the contract,
              the actual  investment  return (as  measured by an Annuity  Change
              Factor,  defined below) should always equal the assumed investment
              return,  Variable  Annuity  Payments  would remain  level.  If the
              actual   investment   return  should  always  exceed  the  assumed
              investment  return,  Variable  Annuity  Payments  would  increase;
              conversely,   if  it  should  always  be  less  than  the  assumed
              investment return, Variable Annuity Payments would decrease.

              The current 4% assumed  investment  return is higher than the 2.5%
              interest rate reflected in the annuity  conversion rates contained
              in the contract.  With a 4% assumption,  Variable Annuity Payments
              will commence at a higher  level,  will increase less rapidly when
              actual  investment  return  exceeds  4%,  and will  decrease  more
              rapidly when actual  investment return is less than 4%, than would
              occur with a lower assumption.

         d.   Determining the Amount of the First Variable Annuity Payment

              The initial amount of monthly annuity income shall be based on the
              option  selected,  the age of the Plan  Participant and contingent
              annuitant, if any, and the Investment Account Values applied as of
              the Annuity Purchase Date. The initial monthly income payment will
              be  determined  on the  basis  of  the  annuity  conversion  rates
              applicable on such date to such conversions under all contracts of
              this  class  issued  by the  Company.  However,  the basis for the
              annuity conversion rates will not produce payments less beneficial
              to the Owner of Benefits  than the annuity  conversion  rate basis
              described above.

         e.   Determining  the  Amount  of the  Second  and  Subsequent  Monthly
              Variable Annuity Payments

   
              The second and subsequent  monthly  Variable Annuity Payments will
              increase or decrease in response to the  investment  experience of
              the Account  underlying the Capital Value Division.  The amount of
              each payment will be determined by  multiplying  the amount of the
              monthly Variable Annuity Payment due in the immediately  preceding
              calendar  month by the Annuity Change Factor for the Capital Value
              Division  for the  Contract  for the  calendar  month in which the
              Variable Annuity Payment is due.

              Each Annuity  Change Factor for the Capital  Value  Division for a
              calendar month is the quotient of (1) divided by (2), below:

              (1) The number which results from dividing (a) the Contract's Unit
                  Value for the Capital Value  Division for the first  Valuation
                  Date in the  calendar  month  beginning  one month  before the
                  given calendar month by (b) the Contract's Unit Value for such
                  Division for the first  Valuation  Date in the calendar  month
                  beginning two months before the given calendar month.
    

              (2) An amount equal to one plus the  effective  interest  rate for
                  the number of days between the two Valuation  Dates  specified
                  in  subparagraph  (1) above at the  interest  rate  assumed to
                  determine  the  initial  payment of  variable  benefits to the
                  Owner of Benefits.

         f.   Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Variable Annuity Payments

   
              Assume that on the date one month before the Annuity  Commencement
              Date the Investment  Account Value that is invested in the Capital
              Value Division which  correlates to a Plan Participant is $37,592.
              Using the appropriate  annuity  conversion  factor (assuming $5.88
              per $1,000 applied) the Investment  Account Value provides a first
              monthly  Variable  Annuity  Payment of $221.04.  To determine  the
              amount of the second monthly payment assume that the Capital Value
              Division  Unit  Value  as of  the  first  Valuation  Date  in  the
              preceding  calendar  month was $1.3712044 and the Unit Value as of
              the first  Valuation Date in the second  preceding  calendar month
              was  $1.3273110.  The  Annuity  Change  Factor  is  determined  by
              dividing  $1.3712044 by $1.3273110,  which equals  1.0330694,  and
              dividing  the result by an amount  corresponding  to the amount of
              one increased by an assumed  investment  return of 4% (which for a
              thirty day period is  1.0032288).  1.0330694  divided by 1.0032288
              results in an Annuity  Change  Factor for the month of  1.0297446.
              Applying this factor to the amount of Variable Annuity Payment for
              the previous month results in a current monthly payment of $227.61
              ($221.04 multiplied by 1.0297446 equals $227.61).
    

     2.  Flexible Income Option

         Instead of Variable Annuity Payments an Owner of Benefits may choose to
         receive  Income  Benefits  under the  Flexible  Income  Option.  Unlike
         Variable  Annuity  Payments,  payments under the Flexible Income Option
         may be made  from any  Division  of the  Separate  Account.  Under  the
         Flexible Income Option, the Company will pay to the Owner of Benefits a
         portion of the Investment Accounts on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual
         or annual basis on the date or dates requested each Year and continuing
         for a period  not to  exceed  the life or life  expectancy  of the Plan
         Participant,  or the  joint  lives  or life  expectancy  of  such  Plan
         Participant and the contingent  annuitant,  if the contingent annuitant
         is the Plan Participant's  spouse. If the Notification does not specify
         from which Investment Accounts payments are to be made, amounts will be
         withdrawn  on a pro rata  basis  from  all  Investment  Accounts  which
         correlate to the Plan Participant.  Payments will end, however,  on the
         date no amounts  remain in such  Accounts or the date such Accounts are
         paid or applied in full as described below. Payments will be subject to
         the following:

         a.   The  life  expectancy  of  the  Plan   Participant  and  the  Plan
              Participant's  spouse,  if  applicable,   will  be  determined  in
              accordance with the life expectancy  tables  contained in Internal
              Revenue  Regulation  Section  1.72-9.   Life  expectancy  will  be
              determined as of the date on which the first payment is made. Life
              expectancy will be redetermined annually thereafter.

         b.   Payments  may begin any time after the Flexible  Income  Option is
              requested.  Payments  must  begin no later  than the  latest  date
              permitted or required by the Plan or regulation to be the Owner of
              Benefit's Annuity Commencement Date.

         c.   Payments  will  be  made  annually,  semiannually,  quarterly,  or
              monthly as requested by the Owner of Benefits and agreed to by the
              Company.  The  annual  amount  payable  will be the  lesser of the
              Aggregate  Investment  Account Values which  correlate to the Plan
              Participant or the minimum annual amount  determined in accordance
              with the minimum distribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code.

         d.   If the Plan Participant should die before the Aggregate Investment
              Account  Value has been paid or  applied  in full,  the  remaining
              Investment  Account Values will be treated as benefits  payable at
              death as described in this Prospectus.

         e.   Year for  purposes  of  determining  payments  under the  Flexible
              Income  Option  means the  twelve  month  period  starting  on the
              installment  payment starting date and each  corresponding  twelve
              month period thereafter.

         An Owner of  Benefits  may  request a payment in excess of the  minimum
         described above. Such payment may be equal to all or any portion of the
         Investment Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant;  provided,
         however,  that if the requested payment would reduce the total value of
         such  accounts to a total balance of less than $1,750 then such request
         will be a request for the total of such Investment Accounts.

         The Owner of Benefits may request  termination  of the Flexible  Income
         Payments by giving the Company  Notification  (i)  requesting an excess
         payment  equal to the  remaining  balance of the  Aggregate  Investment
         Account Values which correlate to a Plan  Participant,  (ii) requesting
         that the remaining balance of the Aggregate  Investment  Account Values
         be applied to provide  Variable Annuity Payments or (iii) a combination
         of (i) and (ii), as long as the amount applied to provide an annuity is
         at least $1,750. The Company will make such excess payment on the later
         of (i) the date  requested,  or (ii) the date seven (7)  calendar  days
         after the Company receives the Notification.  The Annuity  Commencement
         Date for  amounts  so  applied  will be one  month  after  the  Annuity
         Purchase Date. The Annuity Purchase Date for amounts so applied will be
         the first Valuation Date in the month  following the Company's  receipt
         of the  Notification  or the first  Valuation  Date of such  subsequent
         month as requested.

         An  additional  annual  charge  of  $25.00  will be made if an Owner of
         Benefits  elects to receive  benefits under the Flexible Income Option.
         This  charge  may  be  deducted  from  the  Investment  Accounts  which
         correlate  to the Plan  Participant  only if such Plan  Participant  is
         inactive. In such case, the Company will reduce the charge if necessary
         so that when combined  with any other expense being  deducted from such
         Investment  Accounts,  the aggregate of such charges will not exceed 1%
         of the Plan  Participant's  aggregate  Investment Account Values at the
         time the charge is made.  The portion of the charge  attributable  to a
         Plan participant will be allocated to his or her Investment  Account in
         proportion to their relative values.

C.   Payment on Death of Plan Participant

     1.  Prior to Annuity Purchase Date

         If a Plan  Participant  dies prior to the Annuity  Purchase  Date,  the
         Company,  upon  receipt of due proof of death and any waiver or consent
         required  by  applicable  state  law,  will pay the  death  benefit  in
         accordance  with the  provisions  of the Plan.  The amount of the death
         benefit is determined  by the terms of the Plan.  The Owner of Benefits
         may elect to either (1) leave the assets in the  contract to the extent
         permitted  by  applicable  law;  (2) receive such value as a single sum
         benefit;  or (3) apply the Investment Account Values which correlate to
         the Plan  Participant  to purchase  Variable  Annuity  Payments for the
         beneficiary if the aggregate  value of such  Investment  Accounts is at
         least $1,750.  If the beneficiary does not provide  Notification to the
         Company  within 120 days of the date the Company  receives due proof of
         death,  (i.e. a certified  copy of the death  certificate,  a certified
         copy of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding
         of death,  a written  statement  by a medical  doctor who  attended the
         deceased  during his last illness.),  the beneficiary  will be deemed a
         Plan Participant under the contract described in the Prospectus.

         A beneficiary  may elect to have all or a part of the amount  available
         under   this   contract   transferred   to  any   Companion   Contract.
         Alternatively,  this  contract  may  accept  all or part of the  amount
         available under a Companion Contract to establish an Investment Account
         or Accounts for a  beneficiary  under this  contract.  If the aggregate
         value of such Investment  Accounts is less than $1,750, the Company may
         at its option pay the beneficiary the value of such accounts in lieu of
         all other benefits.

         An election to receive  Variable Annuity Payments must be made prior to
         the  single sum  payment to the  beneficiary.  Annuity  income  must be
         payable  as  lifetime  annuity  income  with  no  benefits  beyond  the
         beneficiary's life or life expectancy.  In addition,  the amount of the
         monthly  Variable Annuity Payments must be at least $20, or the Company
         may at its option pay the beneficiary the value of the Variable Annuity
         Reserves  in lieu of all  other  benefits.  The  beneficiary's  Annuity
         Purchase Date will be the first day of the calendar month  specified in
         the  election,  but in no event prior to the first day of the  calendar
         month  following the date the  Notification is received by the Company.
         The amount to be applied will be determined as of the Annuity  Purchase
         Date. The beneficiary's Annuity Commencement Date will be the first day
         of  the  calendar  month  following  the  Annuity  Purchase  Date.  The
         beneficiary must be a natural person in order to elect Variable Annuity
         Payments. The election must be in writing. The annuity conversion rates
         applicable to a beneficiary  shall be the annuity  conversion rates the
         Company makes available to all beneficiaries  under this contract.  The
         beneficiary   will  receive  a  written   description  of  the  options
         available.

      2. Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date

         Upon the death of a Plan Participant subsequent to the Annuity Purchase
         Date, no benefits will be available except as may be provided under the
         form of annuity  selected.  If provided  for under the form of annuity,
         the Owner of  Benefits  or  beneficiary  will  continue  receiving  any
         remaining  payments  unless the Owner of  Benefits  or the  beneficiary
         requests in writing that the Commuted  Value of the remaining  payments
         be paid in a single sum.

D.   Withdrawals and Transfers

     1.  Cash Withdrawals

         The contract is designed for and intended to be used to fund retirement
         Plans.  However,  subject  to any Plan  limitations,  any  restrictions
         imposed by provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or any reduction for
         vesting provided for in the Plan as to amounts available,  the Owner of
         Benefits may withdraw cash from the Investment Accounts which correlate
         to a Plan  Participant at any time prior to the Annuity  Purchase Date.
         The Internal Revenue Code generally  provides that  distributions  from
         the contracts  (except  those used to fund  Creditor  Exempt or General
         Creditor Non-qualified Plans) may begin only after the Plan Participant
         attains age 59 1/2, terminates employment, dies or becomes disabled, or
         in the  case  of  deemed  hardship  (or,  for  PEDC  Plans,  unforeseen
         emergencies).  Withdrawals  before age 59 1/2 may involve an income tax
         penalty. See "Federal Tax Status."

         The procedure with respect to cash withdrawals is as follows:

         (a) The Plan must allow for such withdrawal.

         (b)  The  Company  must  receive  a  Notification   requesting  a  cash
              withdrawal  from the Owner of Benefits on a form either  furnished
              or approved by the  Company.  The  Notification  must  specify the
              amount to be  withdrawn  for each  Investment  Account  from which
              withdrawals  are  to  be  made.  If  no   specification  is  made,
              withdrawals  from  Investment  Accounts will be made on a pro rata
              basis.

         (c)  If a  certificate  has been  issued to the Owner of  Benefits  the
              Company  may require  that any  requests  be  accompanied  by such
              certificate.

         (d)  If the Aggregate  Investment  Account Values are  insufficient  to
              satisfy  the amount of the  requested  withdrawal  and  applicable
              charges,  if any,  the amount paid will be reduced to satisfy such
              charges.

         Any cash  withdrawal  will  result in the  cancellation  of a number of
         units  from  each  Investment  Account  from  which  values  have  been
         withdrawn.  The number of units  cancelled  from an Investment  Account
         will be equal to the amount  withdrawn from that Account divided by the
         Unit Value for the Division of Separate  Account B in which the Account
         is  invested  for the  Valuation  Period in which the  cancellation  is
         effective.

         (Special Note: Under the Texas Education Code, Plan Participants  under
         contracts  issued in connection with Optional  Retirement  Programs for
         certain  employees  of  Texas  institutions  of  higher  education  are
         prohibited from making  withdrawals  except in the event of termination
         of employment,  retirement or death of the Plan Participant.  Also, see
         "Federal  Tax  Status"  for  a   description   of  further   withdrawal
         restrictions.)

     2.  Transfers Between Divisions

         Upon  Notification,  all or a  portion  of the  value  of a  Investment
         Account which  correlates to a Plan  Participant  may be transferred to
         another  available   Investment   Account   correlating  to  such  Plan
         Participant for the same type of Contribution.
         Transfers may be made at any time before the Annuity Purchase Date.

         A transfer will be effective as of the end of the  Valuation  Period in
         which the request is received.  Any amount  transferred  will result in
         the  cancellation  of units in the  Investment  Account  from which the
         transfer is made.  The number of units  cancelled  will be equal to the
         amount  transferred  from that account divided by the Unit Value of the
         Division for the  Valuation  Period in which the transfer is effective.
         The  transferred  amount will result in the  crediting  of units in the
         Investment  Account to which the transfer is made.  The number of units
         credited  will be  equal  to the  amount  transferred  to that  account
         divided by the Unit Value of the Division for the  Valuation  Period in
         which the transfer is effective.

     3.  Transfers to the Contract

         If a  Companion  Contract  has been  issued by the  Company to fund the
         Plan,  and except as otherwise  provided by the  applicable  Plan,  the
         contract  described in this  Prospectus  may accept all or a portion of
         the  proceeds  available  under the  Companion  Contract at any time at
         least one month before Annuity  Commencement Date, subject to the terms
         of the Companion Contract.

      4. Transfers to a Companion Contract

         If a  Companion  Contract  has been  issued by the  Company to fund the
         Plan,  except as  otherwise  provided  by the  applicable  Plan and the
         provisions  of the  Companion  Contract,  an Owner of  Benefits  may by
         Notification transfer all or a portion of the Investment Account Values
         which correlate to a Plan Participant to the Companion Contract. If the
         Notification does not state otherwise, amounts will be transferred on a
         pro rata basis from the Investment Accounts which correlate to the Plan
         Participant.  Transfers  with respect to a Plan  Participant  from this
         contract  to the  Companion  Contract  will  not be  permitted  if this
         contract  has  accepted,  within the  six-month  period  preceding  the
         proposed  transfer  from this  contract to the  Companion  Contract,  a
         transfer from an unmatured  Investment  Account which correlates to the
         Plan Participant established under the Companion Contract. An unmatured
         Investment  Account is an Investment  Account which has not reached the
         end of its  interest  guarantee  period.  In all other  respects,  such
         transfers  are subject to the same  provisions  regarding  frequency of
         transfer,  effective  date of  transfer  and  cancellation  of units as
         described above in "Transfers Between Divisions."

     5.  Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents

         The  contract  allows  the  Investment   Account  Values  of  all  Plan
         Participants  to be transferred  to an alternate  Funding Agent with or
         without the consent of the Plan Participants. Transfers to an alternate
         Funding Agent require Notification from the Contractholder.  The amount
         to be  transferred  will be  equal  to the  Investment  Account  Values
         determined  as of  the  end  of  the  Valuation  Period  in  which  the
         Notification  is  received.  Such  transfers  will  be  subject  to the
         contract administration expense and recordkeeping expense.

     6.  Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer

   
         Any cash withdrawal or transfer to be made from the contract or between
         Investment Accounts in accordance with the preceding paragraphs will be
         made (i) within seven calendar days after Notification for such payment
         or  transfer  is  received by the Company at its Home Office or (ii) on
         the  requested  date of payment or transfer,  if later.  However,  such
         withdrawal or transfer may be deferred during any period when the right
         to redeem Account shares is suspended as permitted under  provisions of
         the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  as amended.  The right to redeem
         shares may be  suspended  during any period when (a) trading on the New
         York Stock  Exchange is restricted as determined by the  Securities and
         Exchange  Commission or such Exchange is closed for other than weekends
         and holidays;  (b) an emergency exists, as determined by the Securities
         and  Exchange  Commission,  as a result  of which (i)  disposal  by the
         Account of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or (ii)
         it is not  reasonably  practicable  for the Account fairly to determine
         the value of its net assets;  or (c) the Commission by order so permits
         for the protection of security holders. If any deferment of transfer or
         withdrawal is in effect and has not been cancelled by  Notification  to
         the  Company  within  the  period  of  deferment,   the  amount  to  be
         transferred or withdrawn  shall be determined as of the first Valuation
         Date following expiration of the permitted  deferment,  and transfer or
         withdrawal  will be made within seven  calendar  days  thereafter.  The
         Company will notify the  Contractholder  of any deferment  exceeding 30
         days.
    

     7.  Loans.

         The Company  will not make  available  a loan  option for the  contract
         described in this Prospectus.

E.   Other Contractual Provisions

     1.  Contribution Limits

         The contract prescribes no limits on the minimum Contribution which may
         be  made  to  an  Investment   Account  which   correlates  to  a  Plan
         Participant. Plan Participant maximum Contributions are discussed under
         "Federal  Tax Status."  Contributions  may also be limited by the Plan.
         The Company may also limit Contributions on 60-days notice.

     2.  Assignment

         No  benefits in the course of payment  under a contract  used to fund a
         TDA  Plan,  401(a)  Plan  or  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified  Plan  are
         assignable, by any Owner of Benefits, Plan Participant,  beneficiary or
         contingent annuitant and all such benefits under such contracts,  shall
         be exempt from the claims of creditors to the maximum extent  permitted
         by law.  Benefits in the course of payment for  contracts  used to fund
         PEDC plans and General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans are assignable only
         by the  Contractholder  and such  benefits are subject to the claims of
         the Contractholder's general creditors.

         Investment  Account Values which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  are
         non-forfeitable  by the Owner of Benefits;  provided,  however,  if the
         Plan  specifically  so  provides,   Investment   Account  Values  which
         correlate to a Plan Participant shall be reduced to the extent required
         by the  vesting  provisions  of the  Plan as of the  date  the  Company
         receives Notification of the event requiring the reduction.

     3.  Cessation of Contributions

         A cessation  of  Contributions  with  respect to all Plan  Participants
         shall occur at the election of the Contractholder  upon Notification to
         the  Company,  on the  date  the  Plan  terminates  or on the  date  no
         Investment  Account Values remain under the contract or at the election
         of the Company upon 60-days notice to the  Contractholder.  Following a
         cessation of  Contributions  all terms of the contract will continue to
         apply except that no further Contributions may be made.

      4. Substitution of Securities

   
         If shares of an Account are not  available  at some time in the future,
         or if in the judgment of the Company further  investment in such shares
         would no longer be appropriate,  there may be substituted  therefor, or
         Contributions  received  after a date  specified  by the Company may be
         applied to purchase (i) shares of another account or another registered
         open-end investment company or (ii) securities or other property as the
         Company should in its discretion select. In the event of any investment
         pursuant to clause (ii) above,  the Company can make such changes as in
         its judgment are necessary or  appropriate in the frequency and methods
         of determination of Unit Values, Net Investment Factors, Annuity Change
         Factors,  and Investment  Account Values,  including any changes in the
         foregoing which will provide for the payment of an investment  advisory
         fee; provided,  however, that any such changes shall be made only after
         approval by the Insurance  Department of the State of Iowa. The Company
         will give written notice to each Owner of Benefits of any  substitution
         or such  change and any  substitution  will be subject to the rules and
         regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    

      5. Changes in the Contract

         The terms of a contract may be changed at any time by written agreement
         between the Company and the  Contractholder  without the consent of any
         Plan  Participant,  Owner  of  Benefits,   beneficiary,  or  contingent
         annuitant.  However,  except as required by law or regulation,  no such
         change  shall apply to variable  annuities  which were in the course of
         payment  prior to the  effective  date of the change.  The Company will
         notify any Contractholder affected by any change under this paragraph.

         The Company may unilaterally change the Contract at any time, including
         retroactive  changes,  in order to meet the  requirements of any law or
         regulation  issued by any  governmental  agency to which the Company is
         subject.  The Company may add  Divisions  to Separate  Account B at any
         time.  In  addition,  the Company  may, on 60-days  prior notice to the
         Contractholder,   unilaterally   change   the  basis  for   determining
         Investment  Account  Values,  the Net  Investment  Factor,  the Annuity
         Purchase Rates and the Annuity Change  Factor;  the guaranteed  annuity
         conversion rates; the Recordkeeping Expense and Contract Administration
         Charge;  and the  provisions  with  respect to  transfers  to or from a
         Companion Contract or between Investment Accounts.

         However,  no  amendment or change will apply to annuities in the course
         of payment except to the extent  necessary to meet the  requirements of
         any law or  regulation  issued  by a  governmental  agency to which the
         Company is subject.  In addition,  no change in the guaranteed  annuity
         conversion rates will take effect for a current Plan Participant if the
         effect of such amendment or change would be less favorable to the Owner
         of Benefits. Also, any change in the contract administration expense or
         recordkeeping  expense  will  not  take  affect  as to  any  Investment
         Accounts to be transferred  to an Alternate  Funding Agent if, prior to
         the date of the  amendment  or change is to take  affect,  the  Company
         receives a written request from the  Contractholder  for payment of all
         such Investment  Account Values to the Alternate Funding Agent and such
         request is not revoked.

         Furthermore,  the Company may, on 60-days notice to the  Contractholder
         affected by the change,  unilaterally  change the mortality and expense
         risks  charge  provided  that (a) the charge  shall in no event  exceed
         1.25%, (b) the charge shall not be changed more frequently than once in
         any one year period and (c) no change  shall apply to  annuities  which
         were in the  course  of  payment  prior  to the  effective  date of the
         change.

STATEMENT OF VALUES

     The Company  will  furnish each Owner of Benefits at least once during each
year a statement showing the number of units credited to the Investment  Account
or  Accounts  which  correlate  to the Plan  Participant,  Unit  Values for such
Investment Accounts and the resulting Investment Account Values.

SERVICES AVAILABLE BY TELEPHONE

     The  following  transactions  may be exercised by telephone by any Owner of
Benefits:   1)  transfers  between  Investment  Accounts;   and  2)  changes  in
Contribution allocation percentages. The telephone transactions may be exercised
by telephoning  1-800-633-1373.  Telephone transfer requests must be received by
the close of the New York Stock  Exchange  on a day when the Company is open for
business to be  effective  that day.  Requests  made after that time or on a day
when the Company is not open for business  will be effective  the next  business
day.

     Although  neither the Separate  Account nor the Company is responsible  for
the  authenticity of telephone  transaction  requests,  the right is reserved to
refuse to accept telephone  requests when in the opinion of the Company it seems
prudent  to do so.  The  Owner of  Benefits  bears  the risk of loss  caused  by
fraudulent telephone instructions the Company reasonably believes to be genuine.
The Company will employ reasonable  procedures to assure telephone  instructions
are genuine and if such  procedures are not followed,  the Company may be liable
for losses due to  unauthorized  or  fraudulent  transactions.  Such  procedures
include recording all telephone instructions, requesting personal identification
information such as the caller's name, daytime telephone number, social security
number and/or birthdate and sending a written confirmation of the transaction to
the Owner of  Benefits'  address  of  record.  Owners  of  Benefits  may  obtain
additional information and assistance by telephoning the toll free number.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACT

     The contract,  which is  continuously  offered,  will be sold  primarily by
persons who are  insurance  agents of or brokers for the Company  authorized  by
applicable  law to sell life and other forms of personal  insurance and variable
annuities. In addition, these persons will usually be registered representatives
of Princor Financial Services  Corporation,  a Member of The Principal Financial
Group,  Des Moines,  Iowa,  50392-0200,  a  broker-dealer  registered  under the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and a member of the  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Princor Financial Services  Corporation,  the principal
underwriter, is paid for the distribution of the Contract in accordance with two
separate  schedules one of which  provides for payment of 4.5% of  Contributions
scaling down for  Contributions  in excess of $5,000 and one which  provides for
payments of 3.0% of  Contributions  scaling down for  Contributions in excess of
$50,000.  The Contract may also be sold through  other  selected  broker-dealers
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Princor Financial Services
Corporation is also the principal  underwriter for various registered investment
companies organized by the Company. Princor Financial Services Corporation is an
indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

PERFORMANCE  CALCULATION

   
     The  Separate  Account may publish  advertisements  containing  information
(including graphs,  charts, tables and examples) about the performance of one or
more of its  Divisions.  The  contract  was not offered  prior to July 15, 1992.
However,  the Divisions  invest in Accounts of the Principal  Variable  Contract
Fund, Inc. These Accounts correspond to open-end  investment  companies ("mutual
funds") which,  effective January 1, 1998, were reorganized into the Accounts of
the Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as follows:

             Old Mutual Fund Name                 New Corresponding Account Name
             --------------------                 ------------------------------
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.                Balanced Account
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc.                    Bond Account
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.    Capital Value Account
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.         MidCap Account
     Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.   Government Securities Account
     Principal Growth Fund, Inc.                  Growth Account
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.            Money Market Account
     Principal World Fund, Inc.                   International Account

Some of the Accounts  (under their former  names) were offered prior to the date
that the  Contract  was  available.  Thus,  the  Separate  Account  may  publish
advertisements  containing information about the hypothetical performance of one
or more of its  Divisions  for this  contract had the contract been issued on or
after the date the Account in which such Division invests was first offered. The
yield and total return figures  described  below will vary depending upon market
conditions, the composition of the underlying Account's portfolios and operating
expenses.  These  factors  and  possible  differences  in the  methods  used  in
calculating  yield and total return  should be  considered  when  comparing  the
Separate Account  performance figures to performance figures published for other
investment  vehicles.  The Separate  Account may also quote rankings,  yields or
returns as published  by  independent  statistical  services or  publishers  and
information  regarding  performance of certain market  indices.  Any performance
data quoted for the Separate Account represents only historical  performance and
is not intended to indicate future  performance.  For further information on how
the  Separate  Account  calculates  yield  and  total  return  figures,  see the
Statement of Additional Information.
    

     From  time to  time  the  Separate  Account  advertises  its  Money  Market
Division's  "yield"  and  "effective  yield."  Both yield  figures  are based on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
"yield" of the division  refers to the income  generated by an investment in the
division  over  a  seven-day   period  (which  period  will  be  stated  in  the
advertisement).  This income is then "annualized." That is, the amount of income
generated by the  investment  during that week is assumed to be  generated  each
week over a 52-week period and is shown as a percentage of the  investment.  The
"effective  yield" is  calculated  similarly  but, when  annualized,  the income
earned by an  investment  in the  division  is  assumed  to be  reinvested.  The
"effective  yield"  will be  slightly  higher  than the  "yield"  because of the
compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment.

     In addition,  from time to time,  the Separate  Account may  advertise  its
"yield" for the Bond  Division  and  Government  Securities  Division  for these
contracts.  The "yield" of the Divisions is determined  by  annualizing  the net
investment income per unit for a specific, historical 30-day period and dividing
the result by the ending maximum offering price of the unit for the same period.

     Also,  from time to time,  the Separate  Account will advertise the average
annual total return of its various  divisions.  The average  annual total return
for  any  of the  divisions  is  computed  by  calculating  the  average  annual
compounded  rate of return over the stated  period that would  equate an initial
$1,000 investment to the ending redeemable contract value.

VOTING RIGHTS

   
     The Company shall vote Account shares held in Separate Account B at regular
and special  meetings of  shareholders  of each Account,  but will follow voting
instructions  received  from persons  having the voting  interest in the Account
shares.

     The number of Account  shares as to which a person has the voting  interest
will be  determined  by the  Company  as of a date  which  will not be more than
ninety days prior to the meeting of the Account, and voting instructions will be
solicited by written communication at least ten days prior to the meeting.

     During the accumulation  period, the Owner of Benefits is the person having
the  voting  interest  in the  Account  shares  attributable  to the  Investment
Accounts which correlate to the Plan  Participant.  The number of Account shares
held in Separate Account B which are attributable to each Investment  Account is
determined by dividing the Investment  Account Value  attributable to a Division
of  Separate  Account  B by the net asset  value of one share of the  underlying
Account.

     During the annuity  period,  the person then  entitled to Variable  Annuity
Payments  has the voting  interest in the  Account  shares  attributable  to the
Variable Annuity.  The number of Account shares held in Separate Account B which
are  attributable to each Variable Annuity is determined by dividing the reserve
for the Variable Annuity by the net asset value of one Account share. The voting
interest  in the  Account  shares  attributable  to the  Variable  Annuity  will
ordinarily decrease during the annuity period since the reserve for the Variable
Annuity decreases due to the reduction in the expected payment period.

     Account shares for which Owners of Benefits or payees of Variable Annuities
are entitled to give voting instructions,  but for which none are received,  and
shares of the Fund owned by the Company will be voted in the same  proportion as
the aggregate shares for which voting instructions have been received.
    

     Proxy  material  will be provided to each person  having a voting  interest
together with an appropriate form which may be used to give voting  instructions
to the Company.

   
     If the Company  determines  pursuant to applicable  law that Account shares
held in Separate  Account B need not be voted pursuant to instructions  received
from persons  otherwise  having the voting interest as provided above,  then the
Company may vote Account shares held in Separate Account B in its own right.
    

FEDERAL TAX STATUS

     It should be recognized that the  descriptions  below of the federal income
tax status of amounts received under the contracts are not exhaustive and do not
purport to cover all situations. A qualified tax advisor should be consulted for
complete  information.  (For the federal tax status of the Company and  Separate
Account B, see "Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B".)

A.   Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants

     The  contract  offered  in  connection  with this  Prospectus  is used with
     retirement  programs which receive  favorable tax deferred  treatment under
     Federal income tax law and deferred annuity contracts  purchased with after
     tax dollars.  Annuity payments or other amounts received under the contract
     are subject to income tax withholding. The amounts withheld will vary among
     recipients  depending on the tax status of the  individual  and the type of
     payments from which taxes are withheld.

     Contributions  to  contracts  used  to  fund  Creditor-Exempt  and  General
     Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plans do not enjoy  the  advantages  available  to
     qualified retirement plans, but Contributions invested in contracts used to
     Fund   Creditor-Exempt   Non-qualified   Retirement   Plans   may   receive
     tax-deferred treatment of the earnings, until distributed from the contract
     as retirement benefits.

     1.  Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans-- (Section 403(b) Annuities for Employees
         of Certain Tax-Exempt Organizations or Public Educational Institutions)

         Contributions.  Under  section  403(b)  of the Code,  payments  made by
         certain  employers  (i.e.,   tax-exempt   organizations,   meeting  the
         requirements  of section  501(c)(3) of the Code and public  educational
         institutions)  to purchase  annuity  contracts for their  employees are
         excludable  from the gross  income of  employees to the extent that the
         aggregate Purchase Payments do not exceed the limitations prescribed by
         section 402(g),  section  403(b)(2),  and section 415 of the Code. This
         gross income exclusion applies to employer  contributions and voluntary
         salary reduction contributions.

         An individual's voluntary salary reduction  contributions under section
         403(b) are  generally  limited to the lesser of $9,500 or 25 percent of
         net  salary  (or 20  percent  of  gross  salary);  additional  catch-up
         contributions  are  permitted  under  certain  circumstances.  Combined
         employer and salary reduction  contributions  are generally  limited to
         approximately  25 percent of net salary.  In  addition,  for plan years
         beginning after December 31, 1988,  employer  contributions must comply
         with various  nondiscrimination  rules; these rules may have the effect
         of  further  limiting  the rate of  employer  contributions  for highly
         compensated employees.

         Taxation  of   Distributions.   Distributions   are   restricted.   The
         restrictions  apply to amounts  accumulated  after  December  31,  1988
         (including  voluntary  contributions  after that date and  earnings  on
         prior and current voluntary contributions).  These restrictions require
         that no  distributions  will be permitted prior to one of the following
         events: (1) attainment of age 59 1/2, (2) separation from service,  (3)
         death, (4) disability,  or (5) hardship (hardship distributions will be
         limited to the amount of salary  reduction  contributions  exclusive of
         earnings thereon).

         All  distributions  from a section  403(b)  Plan are taxed as  ordinary
         income of the recipient in  accordance  with section 72 of the Code and
         are  subject  to 20%  income tax  withholding.  Distributions  received
         before the recipient  attains age 59 1/2 generally are subject to a 10%
         penalty tax in addition to regular  income tax.  Certain  distributions
         are excepted from this penalty tax, including  distributions  following
         (1) death, (2) disability,  (3) separation from service during or after
         the year the Participant reaches age 55, (4) separation from service at
         any age if the  distribution  is in the form of payments  over the life
         (or life  expectancy) of the Plan  Participant (or the Plan Participant
         and Beneficiary), and (5) distributions not in excess of tax deductible
         medical expenses.

         Required  Distributions.  Generally,  distributions from section 403(b)
         Plans  must  commence  no  later  than  April  1 of the  calendar  year
         following the calendar year in which the Plan  Participant  attains age
         70 1/2 and such  distributions must be made over a period that does not
         exceed  the  life  expectancy  of the  Plan  Participant  (or the  Plan
         Participant   and   Beneficiary).   Plan   Participants   employed   by
         governmental  entities and certain church  organizations  may delay the
         commencement  of payments  until April 1 of the calendar year following
         retirement if they remain employed after attaining age 70 1/2. However,
         upon the death of the Plan  Participant  prior to the  commencement  of
         annuity  payments,  the amount  accumulated  under the contract must be
         distributed  within five years or, if  distributions  to a  beneficiary
         designated  under the  contract  commence  within  one year of the Plan
         Participant's  death,  distributions are permitted over the life of the
         beneficiary  or over a period not  extending  beyond the  beneficiary's
         life  expectancy.  If the  Plan  Participant  has  commenced  receiving
         annuity   distributions   prior  to  the  Plan   Participant's   death,
         distributions  must continue at least as rapidly as under the method in
         effect at the date of death.  Amounts  accumulated  under a contract on
         December  31,  1986,  are not  subject to these  minimum  distributions
         requirements.  A penalty  tax of 50% will be  imposed  on the amount by
         which the minimum required  distribution in any year exceeds the amount
         actually distributed in that year.

         Tax-Free  Transfers and  Rollovers.  The Code provides for the tax-free
         exchange of one annuity contract for another annuity contract,  and the
         IRS has ruled that total or partial amounts transferred between section
         403(b)  annuity  contracts  and/or  403(b)(7)  custodial  accounts  may
         qualify as tax-free exchanges under certain circumstances. In addition,
         section  403(b) of the Code  permits  tax-free  rollovers  of  eligible
         rollover  distributions  from  section  403(b)  programs to  Individual
         Retirement Accounts (IRAs) under certain circumstances.  If an eligible
         rollover  distribution  is  taken as a  direct  rollover  to an IRA (or
         another 403(b) plan) the mandatory 20% income tax withholding  does not
         apply. However, the 20% mandatory withholding requirement does apply to
         an  eligible  rollover  distribution  that  is  not  made  as a  direct
         rollover. In addition, such a rollover must be completed within 60 days
         of receipt of the distribution.

     2.  Public Employee  Deferred  Compensation  Plans--  (Section 457 Unfunded
         Deferred   Compensation   Plans  of  Public  Employers  and  Tax-Exempt
         Organizations)

         Contributions.  Under section 457 of the Code,  individuals who perform
         services for a unit of a state or local government may participate in a
         deferred  compensation  program.  Tax-exempt  employers  may  establish
         deferred  compensation  plans under section 457 only for a select group
         of  management  or  highly  compensated  employees  and/or  independent
         contractors.

         This  type of  program  allows  individuals  to defer  the  receipt  of
         compensation   which  would  otherwise  be  presently  payable  and  to
         therefore  defer the payment of Federal  income  taxes on the  amounts.
         Assuming  that the program  meets the  requirements  to be considered a
         Public  Employee  Deferred  Compensation  Plan  (an  "PEDC  Plan"),  an
         individual  may  contribute  (and thereby defer from current income for
         tax  purposes)  the  lesser  of  $7,500  or 33 1/3% of the  individuals
         includible  compensation.  (Includible  compensation means compensation
         from the  employer  which is  current  includible  in gross  income for
         Federal tax purposes.) During the last three years before an individual
         attains  normal  retirement  age,  additional  catch-up  deferrals  are
         permitted.

         The amounts  which are deferred may be used by the employer to purchase
         the contract offered by this  Prospectus.  The contract is owned by the
         employer  and,  in fact,  is subject  to the  claims of the  employer's
         creditors. The employee has no present rights or vested interest in the
         contract and is only  entitled to payment in  accordance  with the PEDC
         Plan provisions.

         Taxation of  Distributions.  Amounts  received by an individual from an
         PEDC Plan are  includible in gross income for the taxable year in which
         such amounts are paid or otherwise made available.

         Distributions Before Separation from Service.  Distributions  generally
         are not permitted  under an PEDC Plan prior to separation  from service
         except  for  unforeseeable  emergencies.  Emergency  distributions  are
         includible  in the gross income of the  individual in the year in which
         paid.

         Required   Distributions.   Beginning  January  1,  1989,  the  minimum
         distribution  requirements  for PEDC  Plans are  generally  the same as
         those for qualified  plans and section 403(b) Plans  Contracts,  except
         that no amounts are exempted from minimum distribution requirements.

         Tax Free  Transfers and  Rollovers.  Federal income tax law permits the
         tax free transfer of PEDC Plan amounts to another PEDC Plan, but not to
         an IRA or other type of plan.

     3.  401(a) Plans

         Contributions.  Under  Section  401(a)  of the Code,  payments  made by
         employers  to  purchase  annuity  Contracts  for  their  employees  are
         excludable  from the gross  income of  employees to the extent that the
         aggregate Purchase Payments do not exceed the limitations prescribed by
         section  402(g),  and  section  415  of the  Code.  This  gross  income
         exclusion  applies  to  employer  contributions  and  voluntary  salary
         reduction contributions.

         An individual's  voluntary salary reduction  contributions for a 401(k)
         plan are generally limited to $9,500 (1997 limit).

         For 401(a)  qualified  plans,  the maximum annual  contribution  that a
         member  can  receive  is  limited  to the  lesser of 25% of  includible
         compensation or $30,000.

         Taxation  of  Distributions.   Distributions   are  restricted.   These
         restrictions require that no distributions of employer contributions or
         salary  deferrals  will  be  permitted  prior  to one of the  following
         events: (1) attainment of age 59 1/2, (2) separation from service,  (3)
         death,  (4)  disability,  or (5) for  certain  401(a)  Plans,  hardship
         (hardship  distributions  will  be  limited  to the  amount  of  salary
         reduction  contributions  exclusive  of earnings  thereon).  In-service
         distributions  may be permitted under various  circumstances in certain
         plans.

         All  distributions  from a section  401(a)  Plan are taxed as  ordinary
         income of the  recipient  in  accordance  with  section 72 of the Code.
         Distributions   received  before  the  recipient  attains  age  59  1/2
         generally  are  subject to a 10%  penalty  tax in  addition  to regular
         income tax. Certain  distributions  are excepted from this penalty tax,
         including  distributions  following  (1)  death,  (2)  disability,   3)
         separation  from service during or after the year the Plan  Participant
         reaches  age  55,  (4)  separation  from  service  at  any  age  if the
         distribution  is in the  form  of  payments  over  the  life  (or  life
         expectancy)  of the  Plan  Participant  (or the  Plan  Participant  and
         Beneficiary),  and (5)  distributions  not in excess of tax  deductible
         medical expenses.

         Required  Distributions.  Generally,  distributions from section 401(a)
         Plans  must  commence  no  later  than  April  1 of the  calendar  year
         following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2
         and such  distributions must be made over a period that does not exceed
         the life expectancy of the Plan  Participant  (or the Plan  Participant
         and  Beneficiary).  Following  the death of the Plan  Participant,  the
         distribution  requirements  are generally  the same as those  described
         with respect to 403(b)  Plans.  A penalty tax of 50% will be imposed on
         the  amount  by which the  minimum  required  distribution  in any year
         exceeds the amount actually distributed in that year.

         Tax-Free  Transfers and  Rollovers.  The Code provides for the tax-free
         exchange  of  one  annuity  contract  for  another  annuity   contract.
         Distributions  from a 401(a) Plan may also be transferred to a Rollover
         IRA.

     4.  Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans

         Certain employers may establish  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified  Plans.
         Under  such  Plans  the  employer  formally  funds  the Plan  either by
         purchasing an annuity  contract or by  transferring  funds on behalf of
         Plan  Participants to a trust  established for the benefit of such Plan
         Participants  with a  direction  to the  trustee  to use the  funds  to
         purchase an annuity contract.  The Trustee is the Contractholder and is
         considered the nominal owner of the contract.  Each Plan Participant as
         a Trust beneficiary,  is an Owner of Benefits under the contract and is
         treated as the owner for income tax purposes.

         Taxation of Contract  Earnings.  Since each Plan Participant for income
         tax  purposes  is  considered  the owner of the  Investment  Account or
         Accounts  which  correlate  to  such  Participant,  any  increase  in a
         Participant's  Investment  Account Value  resulting from the investment
         performance  of the  Contract  is not  taxable to the Plan  Participant
         until received by such Plan Participant.

         Contributions.  Payments made by the employer to the Trust on behalf of
         a Plan Participant are currently  includible in the Plan  Participant's
         gross income as additional  compensation  and, if such payments coupled
         with the Plan Participant's other compensation is reasonable in amount,
         such payments are currently deductible as compensation by the Employer.

         Taxation of  Distributions.  In general,  partial  redemptions  from an
         Investment  Account that are not received by a Plan  Participant  as an
         annuity  under  the  contract   allocated  to   post-August   13,  1982
         Contributions under a preexisting contract are taxed as ordinary income
         to the extent of the  accumulated  income or gain  under the  contract.
         Partial  redemptions  from a contract  that are allocated to pre-August
         14, 1982  Contributions  under a  preexisting  contract  are taxed only
         after the Plan  Participant  has received all of the "investment in the
         contract"  (Contributions  less any  amounts  previously  received  and
         excluded from gross income).

         In the case of a complete redemption of an Investment Account under the
         contract (regardless of the date of purchase), the amount received will
         be taxed as  ordinary  income to the extent  that it  exceeds  the Plan
         Participant's investment in the contract.

         If a Plan Participant  purchases two or more contracts from the Company
         (or an affiliated company) within any twelve month period after October
         21, 1988, those contracts are treated as a single contract for purposes
         of measuring the income on a partial redemption or complete surrender.

         When  payments  are  received  as an  annuity,  the Plan  Participant's
         investment  in the  contract  is treated as received  ratably  over the
         expected  payment  period of the annuity and excluded from gross income
         as a tax-free  return of capital.  Individuals  who commence  receiving
         annuity  payments on or after January 1, 1987,  can exclude from income
         only  their  unrecovered   investment  in  the  contract.   Where  such
         individuals die before they have recovered  their entire  investment in
         the  contract on a tax-free  basis,  are entitled to a deduction of the
         unrecovered amount on their final tax return.

         In addition to regular income taxes,  there is a 10% penalty tax on the
         taxable portion of a distribution  received before the Plan Participant
         attains age 59 1/2 under the contract,  unless the distribution is; (1)
         made to a Beneficiary  on or after death of the Plan  Participant,  (2)
         made upon the disability of the Plan Participant;  (3) part of a series
         of substantially equal annuity payments for the life or life expectancy
         of the Plan Participant or the Plan  Participant and  Beneficiary;  (4)
         made  under  an  immediate  annuity  contract,   or  (5)  allocable  to
         Contributions made prior to August 14, 1982.

         Required  Distributions.  The Internal  Revenue Code does not require a
         Plan Participant under a Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plan to commence
         receiving  distributions  at any particular time and does not limit the
         duration  of annuity  payments.  However,  the  contract  provides  the
         Annuity  Commencement  Date  must be no later  than the  April 1 of the
         calendar  year  following  the calendar  year in which the  Participant
         attains  age 70 1/2.  However,  upon the death of the Plan  Participant
         prior to the commencement of annuity payments,  the amount  accumulated
         under  the  contract  must be  distributed  within  five  years  or, if
         distributions to a beneficiary  designated under the contract  commence
         within  one year of the Plan  Participant's  death,  distributions  are
         permitted  over  the  life  of the  beneficiary  or over a  period  not
         extending  beyond  the  beneficiary's  life  expectancy.  If  the  Plan
         Participant has commenced receiving annuity  distributions prior to the
         Plan  Participant's  death,  distributions  must  continue  at least as
         rapidly as under the method in effect at the date of death.

         Tax-Free Exchanges. Under Section 1035 of the Code, the exchange of one
         annuity  contract  for  another  is not a taxable  transaction,  but is
         reportable to the IRS. Transferring Investment Account Values from this
         contract to a Companion  Contract  would fall within the  provisions of
         Section 1035 of the Code.

     5.  General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans

         Contributions.  Private  taxable  employers  may  establish  informally
         funded,  General  Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plans for a select  group of
         management  or  highly   compensated   employees   and/or   independent
         contractors.  Certain  arrangements of nonprofit employers entered into
         prior to August 16, 1989, and not subsequently modified, are subject to
         the rules discussed below.

         Informally funded General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans represent a bare
         contractual  promise on the part of the  employer  to pay wages at some
         future  time.  The  contract  used to  informally  fund the  employer's
         obligation is owned by the employer and is subject to the claims of the
         employer's  creditors.  The Plan  Participant  has no present  right or
         vested  interest  in the  contract  and is only  entitled to payment in
         accordance   with  Plan   provisions.   If  the  Employer  who  is  the
         Contractholder,  is not a natural person, the contract does not receive
         tax-deferred   treatment  afforded  other   Contractholders  under  the
         Internal Revenue Code.

         Taxation of  Distributions.  Amounts  received by an individual  from a
         General  Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plan are includible in the employee's
         gross  income for the  taxable  year in which such  amounts are paid or
         otherwise made  available.  Such amounts are deductible by the employer
         when paid to the individual.

B.   Fund Diversification

     Separate Account  investments  must be adequately  diversified in order for
     the  increase in the value of  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified  Contracts to
     receive tax-deferred treatment. In order to be adequately diversified,  the
     portfolio  of  each  underlying  mutual  Fund  must,  as of the end of each
     calendar quarter or within 30 days thereafter, have no more than 55% of its
     assets invested in any one investment,  70% in any two investments,  80% in
     any three investments and 90% in any four investments. Failure of a Fund to
     meet the  diversification  requirements  could  result in tax  liability to
     Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Contractholders.

     The investment  opportunities of the Funds could  conceivably be limited by
     adhering to the above diversification  requirements.  This would affect all
     Contractholders,   including   those   owners   of   contracts   for   whom
     diversification is not a requirement for tax-deferred treatment.

STATE REGULATION

     The Company is subject to the laws of the State of Iowa governing insurance
companies and to regulation by the Insurance Department of the State of Iowa. An
annual  statement  in a  prescribed  form  must be filed by March 1 in each year
covering the  operations of the Company for the preceding year and its financial
condition  on  December  31st of such year.  Its books and assets are subject to
review or examination by the  Commissioner  of Insurance of the State of Iowa or
his  representatives  at all times,  and a full examination of its operations is
conducted  periodically by the National Association of Insurance  Commissioners.
Iowa law and regulations also prescribe permissible  investments,  but this does
not involve supervision of the investment management or policy of the Company.

     In addition,  the Company is subject to the insurance laws and  regulations
of other states and jurisdictions in which it is licensed to operate. Generally,
the insurance  departments of these states and  jurisdictions  apply the laws of
the state of domicile in determining the field of permissible investments.

LEGAL OPINIONS

     Legal matters applicable to the issue and sale of the contracts,  including
the right of the Company to issue  contracts under Iowa Insurance Law, have been
passed upon by Gregg Narber, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     There are no legal  proceedings  pending to which  Separate  Account B is a
party or which would materially affect Separate Account B.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     This  Prospectus  omits some  information  contained  in the  Statement  of
Additional  Information (or Part B of the Registration  Statement) and Part C of
the  Registration  Statement which the Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission.   The  Statement  of  Additional   Information  is  hereby
incorporated  by  reference  into this  Prospectus.  A copy of the  Statement of
Additional  Information can be obtained upon request, free of charge, by writing
or telephoning Princor Financial Services Corporation.  You may obtain a copy of
Part C of the  Registration  Statement  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  Washington, D.C. from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed
fees.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The  financial  statements  of  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company
Separate  Account B and the consolidated  financial  statements of The Principal
Financial Group(R) (comprised of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company and its
subsidiaries) which are included in the Statement of Additional Information have
been  audited  by  Ernst & Young  LLP,  independent  auditors,  for the  periods
indicated in their  reports  thereon which appear in the Statement of Additional
Information.

CONTRACTHOLDERS' INQUIRIES

     Contractholders' inquiries should be directed to Princor Financial Services
Corporation,  A Member  of The  Principal  Financial  Group,  Des  Moines,  Iowa
50392-0200, (515) 247-5711.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     The table of  contents  for the  Statement  of  Additional  Information  is
provided below.

                                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                          Page

     Independent Auditors...............................................    3

     Underwriting Commissions...........................................    3

     Calculation of Yield and Total Return..............................    3

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B

              Report of Independent Auditors............................    5

              Financial Statements......................................    6

     The Principal Financial Group(R)

              Report of Independent Auditors............................   23

              Financial Statements......................................   24


     To  obtain  a copy of the  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  free of
charge, write or telephone:

                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group
                            Des Moines, IA 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373


GP 34573 A-8
<PAGE>
                                    PART B

           PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

            PREMIER VARIABLE - A GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT FOR

         EMPLOYER SPONSORED QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

                ISSUED BY PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                       Statement of Additional Information

   
                              dated _______________


         This Statement of Additional  Information  provides  information  about
Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B Premier Variable -
Group Variable Annuity Contracts (the "Contract" or the "Contracts") in addition
to the  information  that  is  contained  in the  Contract's  Prospectus,  dated
________________.
    

         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It should
be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which can be obtained free
of charge by writing or telephoning:



                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group
                           Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

Independent Auditors ....................................................... 3

Underwriting Commissions.................................................... 3

Calculation of Yield and Total Return....................................... 3

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B

         Report of Independent Auditors..................................... 5

         Financial Statements............................................... 6

The Principal Financial Group(R)

         Report of Independent Auditors.....................................23

         Financial Statements...............................................24


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Ernst & Young LLP, Des Moines, Iowa, serve as independent auditors for Principal
Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B and  Principal  Mutual Life
Insurance Company and perform audit and accounting services for Separate Account
B and The Company.

UNDERWRITING COMMISSIONS

Aggregate  dollar  amount of  underwriting  commissions  paid to and retained by
Princor Financial Services Corporation for all Separate Account B contracts:

                Year                Paid To          Retained by

                1996           $11,090,837.12         $14,528.47
                1995            $5,326,848.77         $26,014.78
                1994            $2,347,858.73         $60,600.11

CALCULATION OF YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN

   
The  Separate  Account  may  publish   advertisements   containing   information
(including graphs,  charts, tables and examples) about the performance of one or
more of its  Divisions.  The  contract  was not offered  prior to July 15, 1992.
However,  the Divisions  invest in Accounts of the Principal  Variable  Contract
Fund, Inc. These Accounts correspond to open-end  investment  companies ("mutual
funds") which,  effective January 1, 1998, were reorganized into the Accounts of
the Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as follows:

           Old Mutual Fund Name                  New Corresponding Account Name
     -----------------------------------------   ------------------------------
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.               Balanced Account
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc.                   Bond Account
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.   Capital Value Account
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.        MidCap Account
     Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.  Government Securities Account
     Principal Growth Fund, Inc.                 Growth Account
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.           Money Market Account
     Principal World Fund, Inc.                  International Account

Some of the Accounts  (under their former  names) were offered prior to the date
that the  Contract  was  available.  Thus,  the  Separate  Account  may  publish
advertisements  containing information about the hypothetical performance of one
or more of its  Divisions  for this  contract had the contract been issued on or
after the date the Account in which such Division invests was first offered. The
yield and total return figures  described  below will vary depending upon market
conditions, the composition of the underlying Account's portfolios and operating
expenses.  These  factors  and  possible  differences  in the  methods  used  in
calculating  yield and total return  should be  considered  when  comparing  the
Separate Account  performance figures to performance figures published for other
investment  vehicles.  The Separate  Account may also quote rankings,  yields or
returns as published  by  independent  statistical  services or  publishers  and
information  regarding  performance of certain market  indices.  Any performance
data quoted for the Separate Account represents only historical  performance and
is not intended to indicate future performance.
    

From time to time the Account advertises its Money Market Division's "yield" and
"effective  yield"  for  these  contracts.  Both  yield  figures  are  based  on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
"yield" of the Division  refers to the income  generated by an investment  under
the  contract in the  Division  over a seven-day  period  (which  period will be
stated in the  advertisement).  This income is then  "annualized."  That is, the
amount of income  generated by the investment  during that week is assumed to be
generated  each week over a 52-week  period and is shown as a percentage  of the
investment.  The "effective yield" is calculated similarly but, when annualized,
the income earned by an investment in the division is assumed to be  reinvested.
The "effective  yield" will be slightly  higher than the "yield"  because of the
compounding  effect  of  this  assumed  reinvestment.  Neither  yield  quotation
reflects sales load deducted from purchase  payments which,  if included,  would
reduce the "yield" and  "effective  yield." For the period  ending  December 31,
1996,  the  7-day   annualized  and  effective  yields  were  4.64%  and  4.74%,
respectively.

From time to time, the Separate  Account will advertise the average annual total
return of its various  divisions for these  contracts.  The average annual total
return for any of the divisions is computed by  calculating  the average  annual
compounded  rate of return over the stated  period that would  equate an initial
$1,000 investment to the ending redeemable contract value.

Assuming the  contract  had been offered as of the dates  indicated in the table
below,  the  hypothetical  average  annual total returns for the periods  ending
December 31, 1996 are:

                                 One Year       Five Year          Ten Year

Balanced Division                 12.71%         11.19%           11.79%(1)
Bond Division                      1.98%          7.84%            9.18%(1)
Captial Accumulation Division      23.04%        13.70%           12.71%
Emerging Growth Division           20.66%        16.25%           17.34%(1)
Government Securities Division     2.96%          6.32%            8.28%(2)
Growth Division                   12.09%         15.73%(3)           --
Money Market Division              4.68%          3.79%            5.37%
World Division                    24.63%         12.45%(3)           --

(1) Period from  December  18, 1987 - December 31, 1996 
(2) Period from April 9,
1987 - December 31, 1996 
(3) Period from May 2, 1994 - December 31, 1996
<PAGE>

                         Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  statements of financial position
of The  Principal  Financial  Group (the  Company) as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, and the related  consolidated  statements of  operations,  equity 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.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position of The Principal
Financial Group at December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of
its  operations  and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the  consolidated  financial  statements,  in 1996 the
Company adopted certain  accounting  changes to conform with generally  accepted
accounting principles for mutual life insurance  enterprises,  and retroactively
restated the 1995 financial statements for the change.

/s/ Ernst & Young

Des Moines, Iowa
February 7, 1997
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                             Statement of Net Assets

                                December 31, 1996




Assets
Investments:
   Aggressive Growth Division:
      Principal Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc. - 5,015,647 shares at net asset 
<S>                                                                                       <C>          
        value of $14.52 per share (cost - $68,556,580)                                    $  72,827,189
   Asset Allocation Division:
      Principal Asset Allocation Fund, Inc. - 2,615,216 shares at net asset 
        value of $11.48 per share(cost - $29,412,890)                                        30,022,679
   Balanced Division:
      Principal Balanced Fund, Inc. - 5,227,046 shares at net asset value
        of $14.44 per share (cost - $72,961,005)                                             75,478,532
   Bond Division:
      Principal Bond Fund, Inc. - 4,515,157 shares at net asset value
        of $11.33 per share (cost - $51,557,619)                                             51,156,727
   Capital Accumulation Division:
      Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc. - 5,502,884 shares at net 
        asset value of $29.84 per share (cost - $152,349,374)                               164,206,061
   Emerging Growth Division:
      Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. - 4,111,887 shares at net
        asset value of $29.74 per share (cost - $104,926,679)                               122,287,543
   Government Securities Division:
      Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc. - 7,800,306 shares at
        net asset value of $10.31 per share (cost - $80,859,708)                             80,421,152
   Growth Division:
      Principal Growth Fund, Inc. - 7,137,809 shares at net asset 
        value of $13.79 per share (cost - $87,379,604)                                       98,430,386
   Money Market Division:
      Principal Money Market Fund, Inc. - 40,738,362 shares at net 
        asset value (cost) of $1.00 per share                                                40,738,362
   World Division:
      Principal World Fund, Inc. - 5,416,972 shares at net asset value 
        of $13.02 per share (cost - $60,038,392)                                             70,528,972
                                                                                      =====================
Net assets                                                                                 $806,097,603
                                                                                      =====================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statement of Net Assets (continued)




                                                                        Unit
                                                       Units            Value
                                                 ------------------- ------------
                                                 ------------------- ------------
Net assets are represented by:
   Aggressive Growth Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
<S>                                                    <C>              <C>              <C>          
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  3,970,831       $18.34           $  72,827,189

   Asset Allocation Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  2,263,999        13.26              30,022,679

   Balanced Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Personal Variable                               1,015,409         1.36               1,379,720
        Premier Variable                                7,466,712         1.37              10,195,711
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  4,661,481        13.71              63,903,101
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                            75,478,532
   Bond Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Personal Variable                                 274,142         1.25                 342,860
        Premier Variable                                2,612,249         1.26               3,283,167
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  3,872,056        12.28              47,530,700
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                            51,156,727
   Capital Accumulation Division:
      Currently payable annuity contracts:
        Bankers Flexible Annuity                            8,376        21.75                 182,179
        Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                62,760         4.54                 285,099
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Bankers Flexible Annuity                          279,871        21.75               6,087,431
        Pension Builder Plus                            3,538,347         4.15              14,676,410
        Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA               513,388         4.54               2,332,142
        Personal Variable                               2,914,582         1.84               5,361,512
        Premier Variable                               17,961,848         1.86              33,366,293
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  6,267,307        16.26             101,914,995
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                           164,206,061
   Emerging Growth Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Personal Variable                                 829,824         1.53               1,269,228
        Premier Variable                                5,722,211         1.54               8,795,394
        The Principal Variable Annuity                  7,284,770        15.41             112,222,921
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                  ---------------------
                                                                                           122,287,543
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statement of Net Assets (continued)




                                                                                              Unit
                                                                             Units            Value
                                                                       ------------------- ------------
Net assets are represented by (continued):
   Government Securities Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
<S>                                                                           <C>            <C>              <C>           
        Pension Builder Plus                                                  1,177,927      $  1.87          $    2,208,125
        Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                                     399,361         1.97                 785,763
        Personal Variable                                                     1,936,349         1.29               2,496,826
        Premier Variable                                                      7,513,193         1.30               9,783,076
        The Principal Variable Annuity                                        5,442,706        11.97              65,147,362
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                                  80,421,152
   Growth Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Personal Variable                                                       813,860         1.40               1,137,156
        Premier Variable                                                      6,802,207         1.40               9,551,201
        The Principal Variable Annuity                                        6,088,570        14.41              87,742,029
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                                  98,430,386
   Money Market Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Pension Builder Plus                                                    590,285         1.83               1,077,889
        Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                                      26,921         1.89                  50,788
        Personal Variable                                                       841,211         1.17                 981,411
        Premier Variable                                                      5,379,334         1.18               6,337,610
        The Principal Variable Annuity                                        2,928,858        11.03              32,290,664
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                                  40,738,362
   World Division:
      Contracts in accumulation period:
        Personal Variable                                                       487,316         1.35                 658,659
        Premier Variable                                                      4,298,126         1.36               5,838,045
        The Principal Variable Annuity                                        4,797,313        13.35              64,032,268
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                        ---------------------
                                                                                                                  70,528,972
                                                                                                        =====================
Net assets                                                                                                      $806,097,603
                                                                                                        =====================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                             Statement of Operations

                          Year ended December 31, 1996




                                                                             Aggressive     Asset Allocation
                                                                          Growth Division       Division       Balanced Division
                                                            Combined
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>                   <C>                 <C>       
   Dividends                                                  $18,172,373  $     509,777         $   856,100         $1,925,027
   Capital gains distributions                                 32,450,453      6,549,914           1,528,766          3,811,144
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                               50,622,826      7,059,691           2,384,866          5,736,171

Expenses:
   Mortality and expense risks                                  6,754,861        566,830             267,227            552,989
   Administration charges                                         522,693         28,925               3,394              9,695
   Contingent sales charges                                       379,429         25,052              18,520             20,237
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                                7,656,983        620,807             289,141            582,921
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
Net investment income                                          42,965,843      6,438,884           2,095,725          5,153,250

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
Net realized gains on investments                              11,061,913      1,143,445             188,720             98,838
Change in net unrealized appreciation/
   depreciation of investments                                 32,048,646      3,397,775             206,378          1,366,906
                                                         ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                         ================ ================= ================== ==================
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
                                                              $86,076,402    $10,980,104          $2,490,823         $6,618,994
                                                         ================ ================= ================== ==================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Capital        Emerging Growth      Government                       Money Market
 Bond Division       Accumulation         Division         Securities     Growth Division     Division       World Division
                       Division                             Division
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------


<S>                  <C>                <C>                 <C>               <C>             <C>              <C>         
   $2,883,564        $  2,824,460       $     889,099       $4,377,421        $1,130,290      $1,648,495       $  1,128,140
            -          17,683,076           1,921,631                -           236,417               -            719,505
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
    2,883,564          20,507,536           2,810,730        4,377,421         1,366,707       1,648,495          1,847,645


      454,051           1,416,717             980,616          758,402           808,416         396,012            553,601
        3,582             318,880              36,468           66,615            17,437          29,567              8,130
       22,229              97,937              41,369           47,306            41,516          39,803             25,460
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
      479,862           1,833,534           1,058,453          872,323           867,369         465,382            587,191
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
    2,403,702          18,674,002           1,752,277        3,505,098           499,338       1,183,113          1,260,454



       84,385           7,614,291           1,000,612          266,471           216,275               -            448,876

     (906,639)          1,107,485          12,364,939       (1,358,430)        7,137,078               -          8,733,154
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------
- ----------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- -----------------

   $1,581,448         $27,395,778         $15,117,828       $2,413,139        $7,852,691      $1,183,113        $10,442,484
================= =================== ================= ================= ================ ================ =================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statements of Changes in Net Assets

                                                                            Aggressive     Asset Allocation
                                                            Combined      Growth Division       Division       Balanced Division
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------

<S>                                                        <C>               <C>              <C>                 <C>         
Net assets at January 1, 1995                              $177,884,053      $  3,684,502     $  3,025,421        $  3,819,712

Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                                     16,691,109         1,912,227          549,562             899,632
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                 2,865,382           448,426           74,402             103,410
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation
      of investments                                         31,314,846           912,921          490,584           1,347,509
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
                                                             50,871,337         3,273,574        1,114,548           2,350,551
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per payment
      fees and applicable premium taxes                     283,284,033        14,908,019        7,493,760          17,579,517
   Contract terminations                                    (51,871,322)         (147,494)         (76,769)           (243,855)
   Death benefit payments                                      (616,609)         (111,616)         (30,363)            (22,485)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                         (591,573)          (23,563)         (12,654)            (56,396)
   Transfer payments to other contracts                    (112,300,367)       (2,385,375)        (672,843)         (2,164,022)
   Annuity payments                                             (48,233)                -                -                   -
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from principal
   transactions                                             117,855,929        12,239,971        6,701,131          15,092,759
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
Total increase                                              168,727,266        15,513,545        7,815,679          17,443,310
                                                        ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
                                                        ================ ================= ================== ==================
Net assets at December 31, 1995                            $346,611,319       $19,198,047      $10,841,100         $21,263,022
                                                        ================ ================= ================== ==================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Capital           Emerging         Government                       Money Market
  Bond Division       Accumulation      Growth Division     Securities     Growth Division     Division      World Division
                        Division                             Division
- ------------------ -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------

<S>                     <C>                  <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>          <C>         
    $  3,056,349        $  89,730,411        $  9,965,696      $30,273,698      $  8,101,324      $17,109,486  $  9,117,454



         806,529            8,803,011             354,473        2,021,914           479,398          656,604         207,759
          50,961            1,908,275             241,047         (303,527)          254,149                -          88,239

         679,932           12,768,964           5,294,039        3,801,338         3,955,502                -       2,064,057
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------

       1,537,422           23,480,250           5,889,559        5,519,725         4,689,049          656,604       2,360,055


      15,702,412           37,285,598          28,874,128       24,062,104        29,628,926       92,190,303      15,559,266
        (274,508)         (34,074,636)           (420,250)      (9,547,633)         (428,438)      (6,320,639)       (337,100)
         (44,089)             (80,185)            (14,885)        (129,425)          (44,665)         (97,824)        (41,072)
         (73,005)             (87,530)            (52,968)         (96,784)          (50,522)         (85,680)        (52,471)
      (1,275,948)         (12,547,912)         (2,056,332)      (4,638,749)       (3,992,441)     (81,142,762)     (1,423,983)
               -              (48,233)                  -                -                 -                -               -
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------

      14,034,862           (9,552,898)         26,329,693        9,649,513        25,112,860        4,543,398      13,704,640
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
      15,572,284           13,927,352          32,219,252       15,169,238        29,801,909        5,200,002      16,064,695
- ------------------ --------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
================== ===================== ================ ================= ================ ================ ==================
     $18,628,633         $103,657,763         $42,184,948      $45,442,936       $37,903,233      $22,309,488     $25,182,149
================== ===================== ================ ================= ================ ================ ==================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                 Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

                                                                                 Aggressive     Asset Allocation
                                                               Combined        Growth Division       Division      Balanced Division
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                                                                                                   
<S>                                                             <C>                <C>              <C>                 <C>        
Net assets at January 1, 1996                                   $346,611,319       $19,198,047      $10,841,100         $21,263,022

Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                                          42,965,843         6,438,884        2,095,725           5,153,250
   Net realized gains on investments                              11,061,913         1,143,445          188,720              98,838
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation
      of investments                                              32,048,646         3,397,775          206,378           1,366,906
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
                                                                  86,076,402        10,980,104        2,490,823           6,618,994
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per payment
      fees and applicable premium taxes                          694,702,137        55,392,385       19,059,581          52,586,838
   Contract terminations                                         (66,787,528)       (1,366,444)      (1,010,182)         (1,643,846)
   Death benefit payments                                           (668,045)           (2,653)               -            (126,235)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                            (3,510,262)         (159,580)        (189,515)           (377,428)
   Transfer payments to other contracts                         (250,275,882)      (11,214,670)      (1,169,128)         (2,842,813)
   Annuity payments                                                  (50,538)                -                -                   -
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Increase in net assets from principal transactions
                                                                 373,409,882        42,649,038       16,690,756          47,596,516
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Total increase                                                   459,486,284        53,629,142       19,181,579          54,215,510
                                                           ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                                           ================== ================= ================== =================
Net assets at December 31, 1996                                 $806,097,603       $72,827,189      $30,022,679         $75,478,532
                                                           ================== ================= ================== =================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        Capital        Emerging Growth       Government                         Money Market
  Bond Division      Accumulation          Division          Securities     Growth Division       Division        World Division
                       Division                               Division
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------

<S>                      <C>              <C>                  <C>               <C>              <C>                <C>        
     $18,628,633         $103,657,763     $  42,184,948        $45,442,936       $37,903,233      $  22,309,488      $25,182,149



       2,403,702           18,674,002         1,752,277          3,505,098           499,338          1,183,113        1,260,454
          84,385            7,614,291         1,000,612            266,471           216,275                  -          448,876

        (906,639)           1,107,485        12,364,939         (1,358,430)        7,137,078                  -        8,733,154
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------

       1,581,448           27,395,778        15,117,828          2,413,139         7,852,691          1,183,113       10,442,484


      38,496,000           82,813,992        73,546,898         53,225,139        59,193,247        219,306,074       41,081,983
      (1,339,557)         (38,943,389)       (2,654,193)       (10,402,344)       (3,020,145)        (4,638,362)      (1,769,066)
        (137,325)             (44,752)          (23,654)           (97,177)          (49,795)          (155,982)         (30,472)
        (515,754)            (358,969)         (309,539)          (698,302)         (305,373)          (433,930)        (161,872)
      (5,556,718)         (10,263,824)       (5,574,745)        (9,462,239)       (3,143,472)      (196,832,039)      (4,216,234)
               -              (50,538)                -                  -                 -                  -                -
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------

      30,946,646           33,152,520        64,984,767         32,565,077        52,674,462         17,245,761       34,904,339
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
      32,528,094           60,548,298        80,102,595         34,978,216        60,527,153         18,428,874       45,346,823
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
================== ================== =================== ================= ================= ================== ==================
     $51,156,727         $164,206,061      $122,287,543        $80,421,152       $98,430,386      $  40,738,362      $70,528,972
================== ================== =================== ================= ================= ================== ==================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1996


1.  Investment and Accounting Policies

Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B is a  segregated
investment account of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company (Principal Mutual)
and is registered under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment
trust, with no stated limitations on the number of authorized units. As directed
by  eligible  contractholders,  Separate  Account B invests  solely in shares of
Principal  Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.,  Principal Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.,
Principal  Balanced Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Capital
Accumulation  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Emerging  Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
Government  Securities Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal Money
Market  Fund,  Inc.,  and  Principal  World  Fund,  Inc.,  diversified  open-end
management  investment companies organized by Principal Mutual.  Investments are
stated at the closing net asset values per share on December 31, 1996.

The  average  cost  method is used to  determine  realized  gains and  losses on
investments.  Dividends  are taken  into  income on an  accrual  basis as of the
ex-dividend date.

After December 31, 1996,  Principal Mutual no longer accepted  contributions for
Pension  Builder Plus contracts.  Contractholders  are being given the option of
withdrawing  their  funds or  transferring  to another  contract.  In  addition,
Principal  Mutual no longer accepts  contributions  for Bankers Flexible Annuity
contracts.

2.  Expenses

Principal Mutual is compensated for the following expenses:

Bankers  Flexible  Annuity  Contracts - Mortality  and expense  risks assumed by
Principal Mutual are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate of
0.48% of the asset value of each contract. An annual administration charge of $7
for each  participant's  account is deducted as compensation for  administrative
expenses.  The  mortality  and expense  risk and annual  administration  charges
amounted to $29,412 and $1,281, respectively, during the year ended December 31,
1996.  A sales charge of up to 7% was deducted  from each  contribution  made on
behalf of each participant. The sales charge was deducted from the contributions
by Principal Mutual prior to their transfer to Separate Account B.

Pension  Builder  Plus  Contracts  -  Mortality  and  expense  risks  assumed by
Principal Mutual are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate of
1.4965%  (1.0001%  for a Rollover  Individual  Retirement  Annuity) of the asset
value of each  contract.  A contingent  sales charge of up to 7% may be deducted
from withdrawals made during the first 10 years of a contract,  except for death
or  permanent  disability.  An annual  administration  charge  will be  deducted
ranging  from  a  minimum  of  $25  to  a  maximum  of  $275  depending  upon  a

<PAGE>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Expenses (continued)

participant's investment account values and the number of participants under the
retirement plan and their participant  investment account value. The charges for
mortality  and  expense  risks,  contingent  sales,  and  annual  administration
amounted to $553,979, $70,529, and $345,900, respectively, during the year ended
December 31, 1996.

Personal  Variable  Contracts - Mortality and expense risks assumed by Principal
Mutual are  compensated  for by a charge  equivalent  to an annual rate of 0.64%
(0.55% through June 30, 1996) of the asset value of each contract.  A contingent
sales charge of up to 5% may be deducted  from  withdrawals  from an  investment
account which correlates to a plan participant made during the first seven years
from the date the  first  contribution  which  relates  to such  participant  is
accepted by Principal  Mutual.  This charge does not apply to  withdrawals  made
from investment  accounts which  correlate to a plan  participant as a result of
the plan participant's death or permanent  disability.  An annual administration
charge  of $31 (1995 - $31) for each  participant's  account  plus  0.35% of the
annual average  balance of investment  account values which  correlate to a plan
participant will be deducted on a quarterly basis. The charges for mortality and
expense risks,  contingent sales and annual administration  amounted to $68,986,
$42,892, and $27,281, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1996.

Premier  Variable  Contracts - Mortality  and expense risks assumed by Principal
Mutual are  compensated  for by a charge  equivalent  to an annual rate of 0.42%
(0.33%  through  June 30, 1996) of the asset value of each  contract.  An annual
administration  charge of $300 for each contract account plus .35% of the annual
average  balance of investment  account values under the contract will be billed
or deducted on a quarterly  basis.  The charges for mortality  expense risks and
annual administration amounted to $261,025 and $9,158, respectively,  during the
year ended December 31, 1996.  There were no contingent  sales charges  provided
for in these contracts.

The  Principal  Variable  Annuity -  Mortality  and  expense  risks  assumed  by
Principal Mutual are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate of
1.25% of the asset value of each contract. A contingent sales charge of up to 6%
may be  deducted  from the  withdrawals  made  during  the  first six years of a
contract, except for death, annuitization,  permanent disability, confinement in
a health care facility,  or terminal illness. An annual administration charge of
the lessor of two percent of the accumulated value or $30 is deducted at the end
of the  contract  year.  Principal  Mutual  reserves  the  right  to  charge  an
additional  administrative  fee  of up to  0.15%  of the  asset  value  of  each
Division.  This fee is currently  being  waived.  The mortality  expense  risks,
contingent sales, and annual  administration  amounted to $5,841,459,  $266,007,
and $139,074, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1996.
<PAGE>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Federal Income Taxes

Operations  of  Separate  Account B are a part of the  operations  of  Principal
Mutual.  Under  current  practice,  no federal  income  taxes are  allocated  by
Principal  Mutual to the operations of Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company
Separate Account B.

4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities

The aggregate units and cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments
were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Year ended December 31, 1996
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Units           Amount               Units           Amount
                                          Purchased        Purchased           Redeemed         Redeemed
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                         <C>              <C>                  <C>            <C>          
      The Principal Variable Annuity         3,416,591       $  62,452,075          769,423      $  13,364,153

   Asset Allocation Division:
      The Principal Variable Annuity         1,544,152          21,444,448          191,810          2,657,967

   Balanced Division:
      Personal Variable                        900,014           1,242,103          211,977            272,089
      Premier Variable                       5,270,554           7,416,331        1,120,817          1,444,677
      The Principal Variable Annuity         3,548,083          49,664,576          259,759          3,856,478
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                             9,718,651          58,323,010        1,592,553          5,573,244
   Bond Division:
      Personal Variable                        285,136             369,062          112,030            138,062
      Premier Variable                       1,952,308           2,549,386          547,808            675,630
      The Principal Variable Annuity         3,045,208          38,461,117          574,453          7,215,525
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                             5,282,652          41,379,565        1,234,291          8,029,217
   Capital Accumulation Division:
      Bankers Flexible Annuity                  11,898             852,606           58,526            965,050
      Pension Builder Plus                     613,448           4,544,826        7,042,406         27,014,157
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                34,576             622,428        1,641,455          6,423,138
      Personal Variable                      1,293,441           2,795,547          715,206          1,184,726
      Premier Variable                       6,804,423          15,405,949        3,666,783          6,140,022
      The Principal Variable Annuity         4,618,190          79,100,172          582,660          9,767,913
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                            13,375,976         103,321,528       13,707,036         51,495,006
   Emerging Growth Division:
      Personal Variable                        716,271           1,017,826          174,386            241,556
      Premier Variable                       4,583,657           6,499,991          757,309          1,081,357
      The Principal Variable Annuity         4,746,934          68,839,812          521,488          8,297,672
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                          -------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
                                            10,046,862          76,357,629        1,453,183          9,620,585
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

                                                                     Year ended December 31, 1996
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units                Amount               Units              Amount
                                               Purchased            Purchased            Redeemed            Redeemed
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
   Government Securities Division:
<S>                                              <C>                <C>                    <C>                <C>           
      Pension Builder Plus                           224,490        $       525,632         2,784,796         $    5,186,539
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                       1,918                 49,120         1,374,538              2,618,548
      Personal Variable                              723,523              1,041,512           676,962                867,506
      Premier Variable                             3,069,889              4,387,401         2,715,719              3,448,465
      The Principal Variable Annuity               4,181,060             51,598,893           761,477              9,411,325
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                   8,200,880             57,602,558         8,313,492             21,532,383
   Growth Division:
      Personal Variable                              713,466                950,832           177,314                234,080
      Premier Variable                             5,218,991              6,959,663         1,276,677              1,711,826
      The Principal Variable Annuity               3,810,008             52,649,457           340,777              5,440,246
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                   9,742,465             60,559,952         1,794,768              7,386,152
   Money Market Division:
      Pension Builder Plus                           172,768                392,894           909,680              1,654,451
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                 35                 13,779           412,615                760,905
      Personal Variable                            3,693,865              4,468,236         3,995,717              4,765,060
      Premier Variable                            31,816,273             36,988,147        29,395,716             33,985,887
      The Principal Variable Annuity              16,446,056            179,091,511        14,887,402            161,359,390
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                  52,128,997            220,954,567        49,601,130            202,525,693
   World Division:
      Personal Variable                              423,219                522,642            95,601                114,884
      Premier Variable                             3,372,385              4,182,033           746,605                929,782
      The Principal Variable Annuity               3,081,130             38,224,953           429,786              5,720,169
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                   6,876,734             42,929,628         1,271,992              6,764,835
                                            ------------------ --------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                            ================== ===================== ================== ====================
                                                 120,333,960           $745,324,960        79,929,678           $328,949,235
                                            ================== ===================== ================== ====================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year ended December 31, 1995
                                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Units              Amount               Units               Amount
                                                         Purchased           Purchased           Redeemed             Redeemed
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                                        <C>                   <C>               <C>                  <C>         
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,162,971            $16,957,154          201,095           $  2,804,956

   Asset Allocation Division:
      The Principal Variable Annuity                          678,626              8,127,343           70,172                876,650

   Balanced Division:
      Personal Variable                                       334,553                385,447           11,639                 14,109
      Premier Variable                                      4,677,390              5,246,438        1,485,326              1,592,984
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,080,849             12,976,336           78,060              1,008,737
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            6,092,792             18,608,221        1,575,025              2,615,830
   Bond Division:
      Personal Variable                                       123,065                148,020           22,243                 25,730
      Premier Variable                                      1,840,967              2,123,674          663,884                722,145
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,184,200             14,349,589           83,479              1,032,017
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            3,148,232             16,621,283          769,606              1,779,892
   Capital Accumulation Division:
      Bankers Flexible Annuity                                 (2,074)               586,673           26,790                484,160
      Pension Builder Plus                                  1,177,659              6,843,608        7,859,266             22,762,416
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                   1,886,220              1,378,668        5,357,391             11,244,730
      Personal Variable                                     1,106,595              1,748,682          408,298                529,070
      Premier Variable                                      9,404,706             13,956,170        8,547,118             10,455,522
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,739,038             22,863,899          206,288              2,651,689
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                           15,312,144             47,377,700       22,405,151             48,127,587
   Emerging Growth Division:
      Personal Variable                                       292,833                348,128           18,735                 22,981
      Premier Variable                                      2,320,114              2,651,113          543,652                613,426
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        2,252,301             26,559,212          165,780              2,237,880
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            4,865,248             29,558,453          728,167              2,874,287

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

                                                                              Year ended December 31, 1995
                                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Units              Amount               Units               Amount
                                                         Purchased           Purchased           Redeemed             Redeemed
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
   Government Securities Division:
<S>                                                        <C>                <C>                  <C>                <C>           
      Pension Builder Plus                                    586,364         $    1,344,275        2,795,319         $    4,747,357
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                     117,394                407,431        2,462,194              4,357,297
      Personal Variable                                       724,111                966,857          408,940                483,072
      Premier Variable                                      4,015,136              5,118,317        3,286,750              3,736,310
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,576,129             18,708,169          125,206              1,549,586
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            7,019,134             26,545,049        9,078,409             14,873,622
   Growth Division:
      Personal Variable                                       288,529                338,347           15,831                 18,761
      Premier Variable                                      3,384,751              3,805,395          634,749                707,988
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        2,193,600             26,238,189          338,161              4,062,924
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            5,866,880             30,381,931          988,741              4,789,673
   Money Market Division:
      Pension Builder Plus                                    259,307                585,027          928,805              1,623,965
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                      73,307                206,073        1,861,305              3,275,611
      Personal Variable                                     4,808,023              5,271,738        4,407,096              4,786,833
      Premier Variable                                     19,308,743             21,221,953       18,140,572             19,805,796
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        6,262,716             65,784,577        5,594,373             58,377,161
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                           30,712,096             93,069,368       30,932,151             87,869,366
   World Division:
      Personal Variable                                       147,751                154,436            9,257                 10,003
      Premier Variable                                      2,079,728              2,137,579          544,500                566,419
      The Principal Variable Annuity                        1,337,260             13,699,818          126,959              1,503,012
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                            3,564,739             15,991,833          680,716              2,079,434
                                                     ------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
                                                     ================== ==================== ================== ====================
                                                           78,422,862           $303,238,335       67,429,233           $168,691,297
                                                     ================== ==================== ================== ====================
</TABLE>

Purchases include reinvested dividends and capital gains.

Money Market purchases include transactions where investment allocations are not
known at the time of the deposit.  Redemptions reflect subsequent allocations to
directed investment divisions.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



5.  Net Assets

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

                                                                                                               Net Unrealized
                                                                                                                Appreciation
                                                                                          Accumulated Net      (Depreciation)
                                                       Combined       Unit Transactions  Investment Income     of Investments
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>                <C>                 <C>         
      The Principal Variable Annuity                   $  72,827,189      $  61,520,104      $  7,036,476        $  4,270,609

   Asset Accumulation Division:
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      30,022,679         26,903,818         2,509,072             609,789

   Balanced Division:
      Personal Variable                                    1,379,720          1,256,243             98,597             24,880
      Premier Variable                                    10,195,711          9,039,835            790,665            365,211
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      63,903,101         56,916,021          4,859,644          2,127,436
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          75,478,532         67,212,099          5,748,906          2,517,527
   Bond Division:
      Personal Variable                                      342,860            337,692             16,621            (11,453)
      Premier Variable                                     3,283,167          3,137,358            188,841            (43,032)
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      47,530,700         45,146,759          2,730,348           (346,407)
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          51,156,727         48,621,809          2,935,810           (400,892)
   Capital Accumulation Division:
      Bankers Flexible Annuity                             6,269,610          1,223,652          3,467,049          1,578,909
      Pension Builder Plus                                14,676,410          9,061,050          3,383,150          2,232,210
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                  2,617,241          1,601,037            608,334            407,870
      Personal Variable                                    5,361,512          4,111,369            797,887            452,256
      Premier Variable                                    33,366,293         24,904,371          5,188,107          3,273,815
      The Principal Variable Annuity                     101,914,995         85,550,057         12,453,311          3,911,627
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                         164,206,061        126,451,536         25,897,838         11,856,687
   Emerging Growth Division:
      Personal Variable                                    1,269,228          1,106,793             19,852            142,583
      Premier Variable                                     8,795,394          7,458,640            186,583          1,150,171
      The Principal Variable Annuity                     112,222,921         94,053,742          2,101,069         16,068,110
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                         122,287,543        102,619,175          2,307,504         17,360,864
   Government Securities Division:
      Pension Builder Plus                                 2,208,125          1,895,024            305,297              7,804
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                    785,763            663,396            128,582             (6,215)
      Personal Variable                                    2,496,826          2,321,860            205,773            (30,807)
      Premier Variable                                     9,783,076          8,955,630            855,616            (28,170)
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      65,147,362         61,690,559          3,837,971           (381,168)
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          80,421,152         75,526,469          5,333,239           (438,556)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




5.  Net Assets (continued)

                                                                                                               Net Unrealized
                                                                                                                Appreciation
                                                                                          Accumulated Net      (Depreciation)
                                                       Combined       Unit Transactions  Investment Income     of Investments
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
   Growth Division:
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>           
      Personal Variable                               $    1,137,156     $    1,039,273     $       10,425     $       87,458
      Premier Variable                                     9,551,201          8,421,782            136,389            993,030
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      87,742,029         76,959,897            811,838          9,970,294
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          98,430,386         86,420,952            958,652         11,050,782
   Money Market Division:
      Pension Builder Plus                                 1,077,889            985,117             92,772                  -
      Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                     50,788             46,119              4,669                  -
      Personal Variable                                      981,411            975,322              6,089                  -
      Premier Variable                                     6,337,610          6,303,955             33,655                  -
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      32,290,664         32,119,647            171,017                  -
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          40,738,362         40,430,160            308,202                  -
   World Division:
      Personal Variable                                      658,659            565,011             12,253             81,395
      Premier Variable                                     5,838,045          4,891,233            136,780            810,032
      The Principal Variable Annuity                      64,032,268         53,176,031          1,257,084          9,599,153
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                          70,528,972         58,632,275          1,406,117         10,490,580
                                                   ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- --------------------
                                                   ================== ================== =================== ====================
                                                        $806,097,603       $694,338,397        $54,441,816        $57,317,390
                                                   ================== ================== =================== ====================
</TABLE>
                         Report of Independent Auditors


Board of Directors and Participants
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company


We have audited the  accompanying  statement  of net assets of Principal  Mutual
Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account  B  (comprising,  respectively,  the
Aggressive  Growth,  Asset Allocation,  Balanced,  Bond,  Capital  Accumulation,
Emerging  Growth,   Government  Securities,   Growth,  Money  Market  and  World
Divisions) as of December 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations for
the year then ended,  and changes in net assets for each of the two years in the
period 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. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with
the transfer agent. An audit also includes  assessing the accounting  principles
used and  significant  estimates made by  management,  as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement  presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company  Separate  Account  B at  December  31,  1996,  and the  results  of its
operations  for the year then ended,  and the changes in its net assets for each
of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.

/s/ Ernst & Young

Des Moines, Iowa
February 7, 1997
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
                      Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                                   Year ended December 31
                                                     1996          1995*
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                        (In Millions)
Revenue
Premiums and annuity and other considerations        $5,121        $5,243
Policy and contract charges                             655           580
Net investment income                                 2,780         2,693
Net realized capital gains                              436           122
Commissions and other income                            150           143
                                                 ----------------------------
Total revenue                                         9,142         8,781

Expenses
Benefits, claims and settlement expenses              6,087         6,142
Dividends to policyowners                               299           307
Operating expenses                                    1,926         1,781
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 ----------------------------
Total expenses                                        8,312         8,230
                                                 ----------------------------

Income before income taxes                              830           551

Income taxes                                            304           207
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 ============================
Net income                                          $   526       $   344
                                                 ============================

* As restated.  See Note 1.

See accompanying notes.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
                  Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

                                                               December 31
                                                            1996         1995*
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        ------------------------
                                                              (In Millions)

Assets
Debt securities, available-for-sale                        $21,974      $21,837
Equity securities, available-for-sale                        1,023        1,446
Mortgage loans                                              12,409       11,380
Real estate                                                  2,474        2,263
Policy loans                                                   736          711
Other investments                                               68           79
Cash and cash equivalents                                      271          295
Accrued investment income                                      464          479
Deferred acquisition costs                                   1,058          938
Property held for Company use                                  222          210
Separate account assets                                     17,218       12,957
Other assets                                                 1,225        1,369
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        ========================
Total assets                                               $59,142      $53,964
                                                        ========================
                                                        ========================

Liabilities
Contractholder funds                                       $23,194      $22,465
Future policy benefits and claims                           10,575       10,058
Other policyowner funds                                        454          476
Policyowner dividends payable                                  447          455
Debt                                                           399          361
Income taxes currently payable                                 283          214
Deferred income taxes                                          623          930
Separate account liabilities                                17,166       12,891
Other liabilities                                            1,347        1,508
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        ------------------------
Total liabilities                                           54,488       49,358

Equity
Surplus                                                      3,803        3,277
Net unrealized gains on available- securities          860        1,336
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net                    (9)          (7)
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        ------------------------
Total equity                                                 4,654        4,606
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        ========================
Total liabilities and equity                               $59,142      $53,964
                                                        ========================

* As restated.  See Note 1.

See accompanying notes.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          The Principal Financial Group
                        Consolidated Statements of Equity

                                                                Net Unrealized
                                                                   Gains on       Foreign Currency
                                                              Available-for-Sale    Translation
                                                    Surplus       Securities      Adjustment, net   Total Equity
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          (In Millions)

<S>                                                 <C>           <C>                    <C>           <C>   
   Balances at January 1, 1995*                     $2,933        $     48               $(6)          $2,975

   Net income                                          344               -                 -              344
   Increase in unrealized appreciation on debt
     securities available-for-sale                       -           1,834                 -            1,834
   Increase in unrealized appreciation on equity
     securities available-for-sale                       -             411                 -              411
   Adjustments for assumed changes in
     amortization pattern:
     Deferred acquisition costs                          -            (315)                -             (315)
     Unearned revenue reserves                           -              52                 -               52
   Provision for deferred income taxes                   -            (694)                -             (694)
   Change in foreign currency translation
     adjustment, net                                     -               -                (1)              (1)
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Balances at December 31, 1995                     3,277           1,336                (7)           4,606

   Net income                                          526               -                 -              526
   Decrease in unrealized appreciation on debt
     securities available-for-sale                       -            (543)                -             (543)
   Decrease in unrealized appreciation on equity
     securities available-for-sale                       -            (262)                -             (262)
   Adjustments for assumed changes in
     amortization pattern:
     Deferred acquisition costs                          -              83                 -               83
     Unearned revenue reserves                           -             (11)                -              (11)
   Provision for deferred income tax benefit             -             257                 -              257
   Change in foreign currency translation
     adjustment, net                                     -               -                (2)              (2)
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ===============================================================
   Balances at December 31, 1996                    $3,803         $   860               $(9)          $4,654
                                                  ===============================================================

* As restated.  See Note 1.

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          The Principal Financial Group
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                                                                 Year ended December 31
                                                                                  1996          1995*
                                                                              -----------------------------
                                                                              -----------------------------
                                                                                     (In Millions)
Operating activities
<S>                                                                              <C>           <C> 
Net income                                                                           $526          $344
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
   activities:
   Amortization of deferred acquisition costs                                         178           145
   Additions to deferred acquisition costs                                           (215)         (206)
   Accrued investment income                                                           15             6
   Contractholder and policyowner liabilities and dividends                           240           523
   Current and deferred income taxes                                                   20            93
   Net realized capital gains                                                        (436)         (122)
   Depreciation and amortization expense                                              112            97
   Other                                                                             (230)          437
                                                                              -----------------------------
                                                                              -----------------------------
Net adjustments                                                                      (316)          973
                                                                              -----------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                                             210         1,317

Investing activities 
Available-for-sale securities:
   Purchases                                                                      (11,762)      (13,195)
   Sales                                                                            8,949         9,333
   Maturities                                                                       2,796         2,485
Mortgage loans acquired or originated                                              (2,955)       (2,837)
Mortgage loans sold or repaid                                                       1,619         1,702
Real estate acquired                                                                 (166)         (143)
Real estate sold                                                                      253            38
Net change in policy loans                                                            (25)          (28)
Net change in property held for company use                                           (18)          (44)
Net change in other investments                                                       (74)          (11)
                                                                              -----------------------------
Net cash used in  investment activities                                            (1,383)       (2,700)

Financing activities
Issuance of debt                                                                       43            21
Principal repayments of debt                                                          (29)          (71)
Proceeds of short-term borrowings                                                   1,451           990
Repayment of short-term-borrowings                                                 (1,282)         (990)
Investment contract deposits                                                        7,496         6,756
Investment contract withdrawals                                                    (6,530)       (5,310)
                                                                              -----------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities                                           1,149         1,396
                                                                              -----------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                  (24)           13

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                        295           282
                                                                              -----------------------------
                                                                              =============================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                        $     271     $     295
                                                                              =============================

* As restated.  See Note 1.

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1996

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

The Principal  Financial  Group (the Company),  comprised of Principal  Mutual
Life Insurance Company (Principal Mutual) and its subsidiaries, is a diversified
financial services  organization engaged in the marketing and management of life
insurance,  annuity,  health, pension and other financial products and services,
primarily in the United States.

Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its
majority-owned  subsidiaries  have been  prepared in conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP).  Less than  majority-owned  entities in
which the Company has at least a 20%  interest  are reported on the equity basis
in the consolidated  statements of financial position as other investments.  All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Total assets of the unconsolidated entities amounted to $1.5 billion at December
31, 1996 and $1.7  billion at December 31, 1995,  and total  revenues  were $349
million in 1996 and $320  million in 1995.  During  1996 and 1995,  the  Company
included $(3) million and $(9) million,  respectively,  in net investment income
representing   the   Company's   share  of  current   year  net  losses  of  the
unconsolidated entities.

Accounting Changes

Prior to 1996, the Company prepared its financial  statements in conformity with
reporting  practices  prescribed or permitted by the  Insurance  Division of the
Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa. Such practices were considered GAAP
for mutual life insurance companies through 1995. Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB)  Interpretation  (FIN) No. 40,  Applicability of Generally Accepted
Accounting  Principles  to  Mutual  Life  Insurance  and Other  Enterprises,  as
amended,  which is effective  for 1996 annual  financial  statements,  no longer
permits  statutory-basis  financial statements to be described as being prepared
in conformity with GAAP.

Accordingly,   the  Company  has  adopted  GAAP,  including  various  accounting
pronouncements but primarily Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 120,  Accounting and Reporting by Mutual Life Insurance  Enterprises  and by
Insurance  Enterprises  for Certain  Long-Duration  Participating  Contracts and
Statement of Position (SOP) 95-1, Accounting for Certain Insurance Activities of
Mutual  Life   Insurance   Enterprises,   which  address  the   accounting   for
long-duration and short-duration insurance and reinsurance contracts,  including
all participating business.

<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of FIN No. 40,  SFAS No.  120 and SOP 95-1,  the
effect of the changes  from the  statutory  basis to GAAP  accounting  have been
applied  retroactively and the previously issued 1995 financial  statements have
been  restated  for the change.  The effect of the changes  applicable  to years
prior to January 1,  1995,  has been  presented  as a  restatement  of equity as
follows (in millions):

   Equity at January 1, 1995, as previously reported             $1,927
   Adjustment for the cumulative effect on prior years of
     retroactively adopting GAAP                                  1,048
                                                             ---------------
                                                             ===============
   Equity at January 1, 1995, as restated                        $2,975
                                                             ===============

The adoption of GAAP had the effect of  increasing  net income for 1996 and 1995
by approximately $111 million and $81 million, respectively.

Future Application of Accounting Standards

In June 1996,  the FASB  issued  SFAS No.  125,  Accounting  for  Transfers  and
Servicing of Financial Assets and  Extinguishments of Liabilities.  SFAS No. 125
provides consistent accounting standards for securitizations and other transfers
of financial assets,  determines when financial assets  (liabilities)  should be
considered sold (settled) and removed from the statement of financial  position,
and determines when related revenues and expenses should be recognized. SFAS No.
125 is generally  effective for transfers and servicing of financial  assets and
extinguishments of liabilities occurring after December 31, 1996.

SFAS No. 125 was subsequently amended in December 1996 by SFAS No. 127, Deferral
of the Effective Date of Certain  Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125. SFAS No.
127 deferred for one year the  effective  date for  transfers  and  servicing of
repurchase agreements,  dollar rolls, securities lending, secured borrowings and
collateral and similar transactions.  These Statements will be applicable to the
Company. Management believes that they will not have a significant impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The  preparation  of  the  Company's   consolidated   financial  statements  and
accompanying  notes requires  management to make estimates and assumptions  that
affect the amounts reported and disclosed. These estimates and assumptions could
change in the future as more information  becomes known,  which could impact the
amounts  reported and disclosed in the  consolidated  financial  statements  and
accompanying notes.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)




1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Significant Risks

The following is a description of the most significant risks facing  diversified
financial service organizations and how the Company mitigates those risks:

Legal or  regulatory  risk is the risk that  changes in the legal or  regulatory
environment  in which an insurer  operates will create  additional  expenses not
anticipated by the insurer in pricing its products.  The Company  mitigates this
risk by offering a wide range of products and  operating  throughout  the United
States  and the world,  thus  reducing  its  exposure  to any single  product or
jurisdiction,  and also by employing  underwriting  practices which identify and
minimize the adverse impact of this risk.

Credit  risk is the risk that  issuers  of  securities  owned by the  Company or
borrowers on mortgage  loans on real estate will  default or that other  parties
that owe the Company  money,  will not pay. The Company  minimizes  this risk by
adhering to a conservative  investment strategy, by maintaining sound credit and
collection policies and by providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.

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

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash  equivalents  include cash on hand,  money market  instruments and
other debt issues with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased.

Investments

Investments in debt and equity  securities are classified as  available-for-sale
and,  accordingly,  are carried at fair value. (See Note 10 for policies related
to the determination of fair value.) The cost of debt securities is adjusted for
amortization  of premiums  and accrual of  discounts,  both  computed  using the
interest method. The cost of debt and equity securities is adjusted for declines
in value that are other  than  temporary.  For the  loan-backed  and  structured
securities included in the bond portfolio, the Company recognizes income using a
constant  effective  yield  based  on  currently   anticipated   prepayments  as
determined  by  broker-dealer  surveys or internal  estimates  and the estimated
lives of the securities.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Investment real estate is reported at cost less accumulated  depreciation.  Such
real estate is carried net of valuation allowances when indicators of impairment
are present and the  undiscounted  cash flows to be generated by the real estate
exceed carrying  amounts.  Properties  acquired  through loan  foreclosures  are
recorded at fair market value at the time of  foreclosure  or receipt of deed in
lieu of  foreclosure.  This becomes the new cost basis of the real estate and is
subject  to  further  potential  carrying  amount  reductions  as  a  result  of
depreciation and quarterly  valuation  determinations.  Changes in the valuation
allowance  are charged or credited to income.  Depreciation  expense is computed
primarily  on the  basis  of  accelerated  and  straight-line  methods  over the
estimated  useful  lives of the assets.  Real estate  expected to be disposed is
carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less cost to sell.

Commercial  and  residential  mortgage  loans are reported at cost  adjusted for
amortization  of premiums and accrual of discounts,  computed using the interest
method, and net of valuation allowances. Any changes in the valuation allowances
are reported as realized gains  (losses) on  investments.  The Company  measures
impairment based upon the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the
loan's effective  interest rate. If foreclosure is probable,  the measurement of
impairment is based upon the fair value of the collateral.

Net realized  capital gains and losses on investments  are determined  using the
specific identification basis.

Policy loans and other investments are primarily reported at cost.

Futures and Forward Contracts and Interest Rate and Equity Swaps (Derivatives)

The Company uses financial futures contracts,  forward purchase  commitments and
interest rate swaps to hedge risks  associated  with interest rate  fluctuations
and uses equity  swaps to hedge risks  associated  with market  fluctuations  of
certain  unaffiliated  common stocks.  Realized capital gains and losses on both
those contracts that hedge risks associated with interest rate  fluctuations and
equity swaps are recognized in the period incurred.

Contractholder and Policyowner Liabilities

Contractholder and policyowner liabilities  (contractholder funds, future policy
benefits and claims and other policyowner funds) include reserves for investment
contracts and reserves for universal life,  limited payment,  participating  and
traditional life insurance policies.  Investment  contracts are contractholders'
funds left with the  Company  and  generally  include  reserves  for pension and
annuity contracts.  Reserves on investment contracts are equal to the cumulative
deposits less any applicable charges plus credited interest.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Reserves for universal life insurance contracts are equal to cumulative premiums
less charges plus credited  interest which  represents the account balances that
accrue to the benefit of the policyowners, excluding surrender charges. Reserves
for  non-participating  term life insurance contracts are computed on a basis of
assumed  investment  yield,  mortality,  morbidity  and  expenses,  including  a
provision for adverse deviation, which generally vary by plan, year of issue and
policy  duration.  Investment  yield  is  based  on  the  Company's  experience.
Mortality,  morbidity and withdrawal rate assumptions are based on experience of
the Company and are periodically  reviewed  against both industry  standards and
experience.

Reserves for participating  life insurance  contracts are based on the net level
premium reserve for death and endowment policy benefits.  This net level premium
reserve is calculated  based on dividend fund interest rate and mortality  rates
guaranteed in calculating the cash surrender values described in the contract.

Some of the Company's  policies and contracts require payment of fees in advance
for services that will be rendered over the estimated  lives of the policies and
contracts.  These  payments are  established as unearned  revenue  reserves upon
receipt and included in other policyowner  funds in the consolidated  statements
of  financial  position.  These  unearned  revenue  reserves  are  amortized  to
operations over the estimated lives of these policies and contracts.

The  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims is an  estimate  of the
ultimate  net cost of  reported  and  unreported  losses not yet  settled.  This
liability  is estimated  using  actuarial  analyses and case basis  evaluations.
Although  considerable  variability is inherent in such  estimates,  the Company
believes that the liability for unpaid claims is adequate.  These  estimates are
continually  reviewed and, as adjustments to this  liability  become  necessary,
such adjustments are reflected in current operations.

Recognition of Premiums, Fees and Benefits

Traditional individual life and health insurance products include those products
with fixed and  guaranteed  premiums and benefits,  and consist  principally  of
whole life and term life insurance policies and certain immediate annuities with
life  contingencies.  Life insurance premiums and immediate annuity premiums are
recognized as premium revenue when due.

Group life and health  insurance  premiums  are  generally  recorded  as premium
revenue over the term of the coverage.  Some group  contracts allow for premiums
to be  adjusted to reflect  emerging  experience.  Such  adjusted  premiums  are
recognized in the period that the related experience emerges. Fees for contracts
providing claim  processing or other  administrative  services are recorded over
the period the service is provided.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Related  policy  benefits and expenses for  individual and group life and health
insurance  products  are  associated  with  earned  premiums  and  result in the
recognition of profits over the expected lives of the policies and contracts.

Universal  life-type  policies are insurance  contracts  with terms that are not
fixed and  guaranteed.  Amounts  received as payments for such contracts are not
reported  as  premium  revenues.  Revenues  for  universal  life-type  insurance
contracts consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy initiation
and  administration,  surrender  charges and other fees that have been  assessed
against policy account  values.  Policy  benefits and claims that are charged to
expense  include  interest  credited to contracts and benefit claims incurred in
the period in excess of related policy account balances.

Investment   contracts  do  not  subject  the  Company  to  risks  arising  from
policyowner  mortality  or  morbidity,   and  consist  primarily  of  Guaranteed
Investment Contracts (GICs) and certain deferred annuities.  Amounts received as
payments  for  investment  contracts  are  established  as  investment  contract
liability  balances  and are not  reported  as premium  revenues.  Revenues  for
investment  contracts  consist of  investment  income and policy  administration
charges.  Investment  contract  benefits  that are  charged to  expense  include
benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related  investment  contract
liability  balances  and  interest  credited to  investment  contract  liability
balances.

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Commissions and other costs  (underwriting,  issuance and agency  expenses) that
vary  with and are  primarily  related  to the  acquisition  of new and  renewal
insurance  policies and  investment  contract  business are  capitalized  to the
extent  recoverable.  Acquisition  costs that are not deferrable and maintenance
costs are charged to operations as incurred.

Deferred  acquisition  costs for  universal  life-type  insurance  contracts and
participating  life  insurance  policies  and  investment  contracts  are  being
amortized  over the lives of the  policies  and  contracts  in  relation  to the
emergence  of estimated  gross profit  margins.  This  amortization  is adjusted
retrospectively when estimates of current or future gross profits and margins to
be realized  from a group of products and  contracts  are revised.  The deferred
acquisition costs of  non-participating  term life insurance  policies are being
amortized  over  the  premium-paying   period  of  the  related  policies  using
assumptions consistent with those used in computing policyowner liabilities.

Deferred acquisition costs are subject to recoverability  testing at the time of
policy issue and loss recognition  testing at the end of each accounting period.
Deferred  acquisition  costs  would  be  written  off to the  extent  that it is
determined  that future policy  premiums and  investment  income or gross profit
margins would not be adequate to cover related losses and expenses.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Reinsurance

The Company  enters into  reinsurance  agreements  with other  companies  in the
normal  course of  business.  The  Company may assume  reinsurance  from or cede
reinsurance to other companies.  Reinsurance premiums, expenses,  recoveries and
reserves  related to reinsured  business are accounted  for on bases  consistent
with those used in accounting for the original  policies issued and the terms of
the  reinsurance   contracts,   reported  on  a  gross  basis.  The  Company  is
contingently  liable with respect to reinsurance ceded to other companies in the
event the reinsurer is unable to meet the obligations it has assumed.

Separate Accounts

The  separate  account  assets and  liabilities  presented  in the  consolidated
financial  statements  represent  the  fair  market  value  of  funds  that  are
separately  administered  by the Company for contracts with equity,  real estate
and fixed-income  investments.  The separate account contract owner, rather than
the Company,  bears the  investment  risk of these funds.  The separate  account
assets are  legally  segregated  and are not subject to claims that arise out of
any  other   business  of  the   Company.   The  Company   receives  a  fee  for
administrative, maintenance and investment advisory services that is included in
the consolidated  statements of operations.  Deposits, net investment income and
realized and  unrealized  capital gains and losses on the separate  accounts are
not reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

The Company  files a  consolidated  income tax return that  includes  all of its
qualifying  subsidiaries and has a policy of allocating  income tax expenses and
benefits to companies in the group based upon pro rata  contribution  of taxable
income or operating  losses.  The Company is taxed at corporate rates on taxable
income based on existing tax laws.  Current income taxes are charged or credited
to operations  based upon amounts  estimated to be payable or  recoverable  as a
result of taxable  operations  for the current year.  Deferred  income taxes are
provided for the tax effect of differences in the financial reporting and income
tax bases of assets and  liabilities  and net  operating  losses  using  enacted
income tax rates and laws.  The effect on deferred  tax assets and  deferred tax
liabilities  of a change in tax rates is  recognized in operations in the period
in which the change is enacted.

Foreign Exchange

The  Company's  foreign  subsidiaries'  statements  of  financial  position  and
operations  are translated at the current  exchange  rates and average  exchange
rates for the year, respectively. Resulting translation adjustments are reported
as a component of equity.  Other  translation  adjustments for foreign  currency
transactions that affect cash flows are reported in current operations.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company accounts for its pension benefits and postretirement  benefits other
than pension (medical, life insurance and long-term care) using the full accrual
method.

Property Held for Company Use

Property  held for  Company use  includes  home  office  properties  and related
leasehold  improvements.   Property  held  for  Company  use  is  shown  in  the
consolidated  statements  of  financial  position  at cost less  allowances  for
accumulated  depreciation.  Provisions  for  depreciation  of property  held for
Company  use are  computed  principally  on the  straight-line  method  over the
estimated useful lives of the assets.  Property held for Company use and related
accumulated depreciation are as follows (in millions):

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

   Property held for Company use              $285          $266
   Accumulated depreciation                    (63)          (56)
                                        =============================
   Property held for Company use, net         $222          $210
                                        =============================

Other Assets

Intangible assets are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of
financial  position.  The cost of  acquired  subsidiaries  in excess of the fair
value of the net assets (i.e.,  goodwill) and other intangible assets (primarily
customer lists and institutional  customer  relationships) have been recorded in
connection  with  acquisitions.  These assets are  amortized on a  straight-line
basis  primarily over 40 years with the exception of assets  acquired after 1995
which are amortized  over ten years.  The carrying  amount of goodwill and other
intangible  assets is reviewed  periodically  for  indicators  of  impairment in
value. Intangible assets and related accumulated amortization are as follows (in
millions):

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

   Goodwill                               $135          $113
   Accumulated amortization                (22)          (31)
                                    -----------------------------
   Goodwill, net                           113            82

   Other intangible assets, net             34            56
                                    -----------------------------

   Total intangible assets                $147          $138
                                    =============================
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Mortgage  servicing rights of $272 million and $176 million at December 31, 1996
and  1995,  respectively,  are  included  in other  assets  in the  consolidated
statements  of  financial  position  and  represent  the cost of  purchasing  or
originating the right to service mortgage loans. These costs are capitalized and
amortized to operations  over the estimated  remaining  lives of the  underlying
loans using the interest method and taking into account  appropriate  prepayment
assumptions. Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are periodically assessed for
impairment,  which is  recognized in the  consolidated  statements of operations
during the period in which  impairment  occurs by  establishing a  corresponding
valuation allowance.

Other assets are reported primarily at cost.

Reclassifications

Certain  reclassifications  have been made to the 1995  financial  statements to
conform to the 1996 consolidated presentation.

2.  Investments

Under  SFAS No.  115,  Accounting  for  Certain  Investments  in Debt and Equity
Securities,   securities   are  generally   classified  as   available-for-sale,
held-to-maturity,  or  trading.  The  Company  has  classified  its entire  debt
securities  portfolio  as  available-for-sale,  although  it  is  generally  the
Company's  intent to hold these  securities  to  maturity.  The Company has also
classified all equity securities as available-for-sale. Securities classified as
available-for-sale are reported at fair value in the consolidated  statements of
financial  position with the related unrealized holding gains and losses on such
available-for-sale  securities  reported as a separate component of equity after
adjustments for related changes in deferred acquisition costs,  unearned revenue
reserves and deferred income taxes.

<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

The cost,  gross  unrealized  gains and losses and fair value of debt and equity
securities  available-for-sale  as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, are as follows
(in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Gross           Gross
                                                                Unrealized      Unrealized         Fair
                                                   Cost            Gains          Losses          Value
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
   December 31, 1996
   Bonds:
<S>                                              <C>           <C>                  <C>          <C>      
     United States Government and agencies       $     246     $       1            $  1         $     246
     States and political subdivisions                 303            13               -               316
     Corporate - public                              4,487           200              15             4,672
     Corporate - private                            12,876           737              25            13,588
     Mortgage-backed securities                      3,112            60              27             3,145
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    21,024         1,011              68            21,967
   Redeemable preferred stocks                           5             2               -                 7
                                              ===============================================================
     Total debt securities                         $21,029        $1,013             $68           $21,974
                                              ===============================================================
     Total equity securities                     $     502       $   536             $15          $  1,023
                                              ===============================================================

   December 31, 1995
   Bonds:
     United States Government and agencies        $    294     $       4           $   -          $    298
     States and political subdivisions                 281            19               -               300
     Corporate - public                              4,467           328              16             4,779
     Corporate - private                            12,211         1,081              57            13,235
     Mortgage-backed securities                      3,085           134               4             3,215
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    20,338         1,566              77            21,827
   Redeemable preferred stocks                          11             1               2                10
                                              ===============================================================
     Total debt securities                         $20,349        $1,567             $79           $21,837
                                              ===============================================================
     Total equity securities                     $     663       $   794             $11          $  1,446
                                              ===============================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

The cost and fair value of debt  securities  available-for-sale  at December 31,
1996, by expected maturity, are as follows (in millions):

                                                Cost      Fair Value
                                               ----------------------
                                               ----------------------

   Due in one year or less                      $  1,290   $  1,314
   Due after one year through five years           6,486      6,720
   Due after five years through ten years          6,271      6,590
   Due after ten years                             3,865      4,198
                                               ----------------------
                                               ----------------------
                                                  17,912     18,822
   Mortgage-backed and other securities without
     a single maturity date                        3,117      3,152
                                               ----------------------
                                               ======================
   Total                                         $21,029    $21,974
                                               ======================

The above summarized activity is based on expected maturities. Actual maturities
may differ because borrowers may have the right to call or pre-pay obligations.

Major  categories  of net  investment  income  are  summarized  as  follows  (in
millions):

                                                  Year ended December 31
                                                   1996           1995
                                               -----------------------------

   Debt securities available-for-sale              $1,608        $1,603
   Equity securities available-for-sale                33            41
   Mortgage loans                                     922         1,008
   Real estate                                        338           162
   Policy loans                                        49            48
   Cash and cash equivalents                           15             8
   Other                                               60            24
                                               -----------------------------
                                               -----------------------------
                                                    3,025         2,894

   Less investment expenses                          (245)         (201)
                                               -----------------------------
                                               =============================
   Net investment income                           $2,780        $2,693
                                               =============================
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

The major  components of realized  capital  gains  (losses) on  investments  are
summarized as follows (in millions):

                                                  Year ended December 31
                                                   1996           1995
                                               -----------------------------

   Debt securities, available-for-sale:
     Gross gains                                    $121           $144
     Gross losses                                    (73)           (40)
   Equity securities, available-for-sale:
     Gross gains                                     451             40
     Gross losses                                     (5)            (9)
   Mortgage loans                                     (4)             3
   Real estate                                        14              6
   Other                                             (68)           (22)
                                               =============================
   Net realized capital gains                       $436           $122
                                               =============================

Proceeds  from  sales  of  investments  (excluding  maturity  proceeds)  in debt
securities  were $7.8 billion and $6.5  billion in 1996 and 1995,  respectively.
Gross gains of $76  million and $93 million and gross  losses of $69 million and
$54 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively, were realized on those sales. Of the
1996 and 1995 proceeds, $7.2 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively,  relates to
sales of mortgage-backed securities.

The Company actively manages its mortgage-backed securities portfolio to control
prepayment  risk. Gross gains of $64 million and $66 million and gross losses of
$53  million and $17 million in 1996 and 1995,  respectively,  were  realized on
sales of  mortgage-backed  securities.  At December  31,  1996,  the Company had
security  purchases  payable  totaling $331 million relating to the purchases of
mortgage-backed securities at forward dates.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

The  unrealized  appreciation  on  investments  in debt  and  equity  securities
available-for-sale  is reported as a separate  component  of equity,  reduced by
adjustments to deferred  acquisition  costs and unearned  revenue  reserves that
would have been  required as a charge or credit to  operations  had such amounts
been  realized and a provision  for  deferred  income  taxes.  The amount of net
unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities is as follows (in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      December 31
                                                                                  1996           1995
                                                                              -----------------------------

<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>   
   Unrealized appreciation on debt  securities, available-for-sale                 $945         $1,488
   Unrealized appreciation  on equity  securities, available-for-sale               521            783
   Adjustments for assumed changes in amortization pattern:
     Deferred acquisition costs                                                    (160)          (243)
     Unearned revenue reserves                                                       17             28
   Provision for deferred income taxes                                             (463)          (720)
                                                                              =============================
   Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities                           $860         $1,336
                                                                              =============================
</TABLE>

Commercial  mortgage loans and corporate  private  placement bonds originated or
acquired by the Company represent its primary areas of credit risk exposure.  At
December 31, 1996 and 1995, the commercial  mortgage portfolio is diversified by
geographic region and specific collateral property type as follows:

                Geographic Distribution              Property Type Distribution
                      December 31                           December 31
                -----------------------               -----------------------
                    1996        1995                      1996       1995
                -----------------------               -----------------------
                -----------------------               -----------------------

Pacific              30%         33%       Industrial      35%        38%
South Atlantic       22          21        Retail          34         30
North Central        17          16        Office          28         29
Mid Atlantic         15          16        Other            3          3
South Central         7           6
New England           5           5
Mountain              4           3
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

Mortgage  loans on real estate are considered  impaired  when,  based on current
information  and  events,  it is  probable  that the  Company  will be unable to
collect all amounts due according to  contractual  terms of the loan  agreement.
When the Company  determines  that a loan is impaired,  a provision  for loss is
established for the difference  between the carrying amount of the mortgage loan
and the estimated value. Estimated value is based on either the present value of
the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate,
the  loan's  observable  market  price  or fair  value  of the  collateral.  The
provision for losses is reported as realized gains (losses) on investments.

Mortgage loans deemed to be uncollectible  are charged against the allowance for
losses and subsequent  recoveries are credited to the allowance for losses.  The
allowance for losses is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to
absorb estimated probable credit losses. Management's periodic evaluation of the
adequacy of the allowance  for losses is based on the  Company's  past loan loss
experience,  known and inherent risks in the portfolio,  adverse situations that
may  affect  the  borrower's  ability  to  repay,  the  estimated  value  of the
underlying  collateral,  composition  of the loan  portfolio,  current  economic
conditions and other relevant factors.  The evaluation is inherently  subjective
as it requires  estimating  the amounts and timing of future cash flows expected
to be received on impaired loans that may change.

A summary of the changes in the mortgage loan allowance for losses is as follows
(in millions):

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

Balance at beginning of year                               $115           $127
Provision for losses                                         16             16
Releases due to write-downs, sales and foreclosures         (10)           (28)
                                                      ==========================
Balance at end of year                                     $121           $115
                                                         =======================

The corporate  private  placement  bond  portfolio is  diversified by issuer and
industry.  Restrictive  bond  covenants are monitored by the Company to regulate
the activities of issuers and control their leveraging capabilities.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

2.  Investments (continued)

The Company was servicing approximately 328,000 and 286,000 loans with aggregate
principal balances of approximately $24.4 and $19.9 billion at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively.  In connection with these mortgage servicing activities,
the Company held funds in trust for others totaling  approximately  $175 million
and $145 million at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. In connection with
its loan  administration  activities,  the Company advances payments of property
taxes and insurance  premiums and also advances  principal and interest payments
to  investors  in  advance of  collecting  funds from  specific  mortgagors.  In
addition,  the Company makes  certain  payments of attorney fees and other costs
related to loans in foreclosure. These amounts receivable are recorded, at cost,
as advances on serviced loans.  Amounts  advanced are considered in management's
evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan loss.

Real estate includes properties directly owned by the Company that are generally
held for  investment  purposes.  Real estate  holdings  and related  accumulated
depreciation are as follows (in millions):

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

   Real estate                            $2,743        $2,481
   Accumulated depreciation                 (269)         (218)
                                      =============================
   Real estate, net                       $2,474        $2,263
                                      =============================

Other  investments  include  properties  owned jointly with venture partners and
operated by the  partners.  Joint  ventures in which the Company has an interest
have  mortgage  loans  with the  Company  of $1.4  billion  and $1.5  billion at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.  The Company is committed to providing
additional  mortgage financing for such joint ventures  aggregating $146 million
at December 31, 1996.

Effective  December 29, 1995, the Company  entered into  short-term  equity swap
agreements  to mitigate its exposure to declines in the value of about  one-half
of its marketable  common stock portfolio.  Under the agreements,  the return on
that portion of the Company's  marketable common stock portfolio was swapped for
a fixed short-term  interest rate. The equity swaps were terminated  during 1996
and a realized  loss of $81  million  recorded.  Common  stocks of $633  million
associated  with these  equity  swaps were sold  during  1996 and a gain of $402
million recorded, resulting in a net realized gain of $321 million.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Derivatives Held or Issued for Purposes Other Than Trading

The Company uses exchange-traded  interest rate futures and forward contracts to
hedge against  interest rate risks.  The Company attempts to match the timing of
when interest rates are committed on insurance  products and on new investments.
However,  timing  differences do occur and can expose the Company to fluctuating
interest rates. Interest rate futures and forward contracts are used to minimize
these  risks.  In these  contracts,  the Company is subject to the risk that the
counterparties  will fail to perform and to the risks associated with changes in
the value of the underlying securities; however, such changes in value generally
are  offset by  opposite  changes  in the  value of the  hedged  items.  Futures
contracts  are  marked  to  market  and  settled  daily,   which  minimizes  the
counterparty  risk. The notional amounts of futures and forward  contracts ($148
million at December 31, 1996,  and $303 million at December 31, 1995)  represent
the extent of the Company's involvement but not the risk of loss.

The  Company  enters  into  interest  rate swaps to  minimize  its  exposure  to
fluctuations in interest rates. The most common use is to modify the duration of
an asset or  portfolio,  a less  common use is to convert a floating  rate asset
into a fixed rate asset. The notional principal amounts of the swaps outstanding
at December 31, 1996 and 1995, were $970 million and $599 million, respectively,
and the credit  exposure  at  December  31, 1996 and 1995 was $15 million and $8
million,  respectively.  The  Company is exposed to credit  loss in the event of
nonperformance  of  the  counterparties.   This  credit  risk  is  minimized  by
purchasing such agreements from financial institutions with superior performance
records.  The Company's current credit exposure on swaps is limited to the value
of interest  rate swaps that have become  favorable to the Company.  The average
unexpired terms of the swaps were approximately three years at both December 31,
1996 and 1995, respectively.  The net amount payable or receivable from interest
rate  swaps is  accrued as an  adjustment  to  interest  income.  The  Company's
interest rate swap agreements include cross-default  provisions when two or more
swaps are transacted with a given counterparty.

The Company  enters into currency  exchange swap  agreements to convert  certain
foreign  denominated  fixed rate assets into U.S. dollar  denominated fixed rate
assets  and  eliminate  the  exposure  to future  currency  volatility  on those
securities.  At December  31,  1996,  the Company had various  foreign  currency
exchange agreements with maturities ranging from 1997 to 2018, with an aggregate
notional amount involved of  approximately  $373 million and the credit exposure
was $9 million.  The average unexpired term of the swaps was approximately seven
years at December 31, 1996.

The Company uses  interest  rate floors in hedging a portion of its portfolio of
mortgage  servicing  rights from  prepayment  risk  associated  with  changes in
interest rates. At December 31, 1996, the Company had entered into interest rate
floors with a notional value of $1.3 billion. The floors provide for the receipt
of payments when interest  rates are below  predetermined  interest rate levels.
The  premiums  paid for floors are  included  in other  assets on the  Company's
consolidated statements of financial position.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

4.  Accident and Health Reserves

Activity  in the  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims,  which is
included with future policy benefits and claims in the  consolidated  statements
of financial position, is summarized as follows (in millions):

                                              Year ended December 31
                                               1996           1995
                                           -----------------------------

   Balance at beginning of year               $   810       $   824

   Incurred:
     Current year                               3,051         3,179
     Prior years                                  (29)           (5)
                                           -----------------------------
                                           -----------------------------
   Total incurred                               3,022         3,174

   Payments:
     Current year                               2,535         2,654
     Prior years                                  497           534
                                           -----------------------------
   Total payments                               3,032         3,188
                                           -----------------------------

   Balance at end of year:
     Current year                                 516           525
     Prior years                                  284           285
                                           -----------------------------
                                           =============================
   Total balance at end of year               $   800       $   810
                                           =============================

The activity  summary in the  liability  for unpaid  accident and health  claims
shows a decrease of $29 million and $5 million to the December 31, 1995 and 1994
liability for unpaid accident and health claims, respectively,  arising in prior
years. Such liability adjustments, which affected current operations during 1996
and 1995,  respectively,  resulted from  developed  claims for prior years being
different than were  anticipated  when the  liabilities  for unpaid accident and
health claims were originally estimated. These favorable development trends have
been considered in  establishing  the current year liability for unpaid accident
and health claims.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

5.  Debt

The  components  of debt as of December  31, 1996 and  December  31, 1995 are as
follows (in millions):

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

      7.875% notes payable, due 2024              $199          $199
      8% notes payable, due 2044                    99            99
      Mortgages and other notes payable            101            63
                                             ==============================
      Total debt                                  $399          $361
                                             ==============================

On March 10,  1994,  Principal  Mutual  issued  $300  million of surplus  notes,
including  $200 million due March 1, 2024 at a 7.875%  annual  interest rate and
the remaining  $100 million due March 1, 2044 at an 8% annual  interest rate. No
affiliates of the Company hold any portion of the notes. The discount and direct
costs  associated  with issuing these notes are being  amortized to expense over
their respective  terms using the interest method.  Each payment of interest and
principal on the notes, however, may be made only with the prior approval of the
Commissioner  of Insurance of the State of Iowa (the  Commissioner)  and only to
the extent that Principal  Mutual has sufficient  surplus  earnings to make such
payments.  For both of the years ended  December 31, 1996 and 1995,  interest of
$24 million was approved by the Commissioner, paid and charged to expense.

Subject to  Commissioner  approval,  the surplus  notes due March 1, 2024 may be
redeemed at Principal Mutual's election on or after March 1, 2004 in whole or in
part at a redemption price of approximately  103.6% of par. The approximate 3.6%
premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish over the following ten years.  These
surplus  notes may then be redeemed on or after March 1, 2014,  at a  redemption
price of 100% of the  principal  amount  plus  interest  accrued  to the date of
redemption.

In addition,  subject to Commissioner  approval, the notes due March 1, 2044 may
be redeemed at Principal  Mutual's  election on or after March 1, 2014, in whole
or in part at a redemption price of approximately 102.3% of par. The approximate
2.3% premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish  over the  following ten years.
These notes may be redeemed on or after March 1, 2024, at a redemption  price of
100% of the principal amount plus interest accrued to the date of redemption.

The  other   mortgages  and  notes  payable  are   financings  for  real  estate
developments.  The Company has obtained  loans with  various  lenders to finance
these developments. Outstanding principal balances as of December 31, 1996 range
from $1 million to $9 million with interest rates generally ranging from 5.9% to
7.7%.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

5.  Debt (continued)

At  December  31,  1996,  future  annual  maturities  of debt are as follows (in
millions):

   1997                                    $  29
   1998                                       17
   1999                                        2
   2000                                        2
   2001                                        2
   Thereafter                                347
                                         ----------
                                         ==========
   Total future maturities of debt          $399
                                         ==========

Cash  paid for  interest  for 1996 and  1995 was $52  million  and $50  million,
respectively.

The  Company  issues  commercial  paper  periodically  to  meet  its  short-term
financing needs and also has credit  facilities with various banks.  The Company
had outstanding  credit borrowings of $15 million at December 31, 1996 and other
outstanding  borrowings of $154 million at December 31, 1996. These  outstanding
borrowings are included in other  liabilities in the consolidated  statements of
financial position. There were no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 1995.


6.  Income Taxes

The Company's income tax expense (benefit) is as follows (in millions):

                                     Year ended December 31
                                      1996           1995
                                  -----------------------------

   Current income taxes:
     Federal                           $145           $104
     State and foreign                   (1)             5
     Realized capital gains             210             41
                                  -----------------------------
   Total current income taxes           354            150
   Deferred income taxes                (50)            57
                                  =============================
   Total income taxes                  $304           $207
                                  =============================

Due to the inherent  differences between income for financial reporting purposes
and income for tax purposes,  the Company's  provision for income taxes does not
have the customary  relationship of taxes to income. This difference between the
prevailing  corporate  income tax rate of 35% times the  pre-tax  income and the
Company's  effective tax rate on pre-tax  income is generally due to the Company
making  adequate  provisions  for  any  challenges  of the tax  filings  and tax
payments to the various taxing jurisdictions.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

6.  Income Taxes (continued)

The Internal  Revenue  Service (the  Service) has completed  examination  of the
consolidated  federal  income tax  returns of  Principal  Mutual and  affiliated
companies  through 1992. The Service has commenced its examination for the years
1993 and 1994. The Company believes that there are adequate  defenses against or
sufficient provisions for any challenges.

The  Company's  deferred  income tax  liabilities  and assets are as follows (in
millions):

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

   Deferred income tax liabilities            $1,110        $1,319
   Deferred income tax assets                    487           389
                                          =============================
   Deferred income taxes, net                $   623       $   930
                                          =============================

The Company's  significant  deferred income tax liabilities and assets relate to
unrealized  gains on  available-for-sale  debt and equity  securities,  deferred
acquisition  costs,  unrealized  joint venture  losses,  policy  liabilities and
accruals and contractholder  funds and claims,  policyowner  dividend liability,
prepaid  postretirement  benefits other than pension,  other investment  related
items and  premiums  and fees  receivable.  No  valuation  allowances  have been
recognized against deferred tax assets.

The Company  has not  recognized  deferred  taxes  related to the  undistributed
earnings of certain foreign  subsidiaries that are considered to be indefinitely
reinvested  because the Company does not expect to repatriate these earnings.  A
tax liability will be recognized when the Company expects  distribution of those
earnings in the form of dividends, sale of the investment or otherwise.

Cash paid for income  taxes in 1996 and 1995 was $285  million and $99  million,
respectively.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

7.  Employee and Agent Benefits

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering  substantially all of its
employees and certain  agents.  The  employees  and agents are  generally  first
eligible for the pension plans when they reach age 21. The pension  benefits are
based on the years of service and  generally the  employee's or agent's  average
annual  compensation  during the last five years of employment.  Partial benefit
accrual  of  pension  benefits  is  recognized  from  first   eligibility  until
retirement based on attained service divided by potential service to age 65 with
a minimum of 35 years of potential service.  The Company's policy is to fund the
cost of providing  pension  benefits in the years that the  employees and agents
are providing service to the Company. The Company's funding policy is to deposit
the actuarial  normal cost and any change in unfunded  accrued  liability over a
30-year period as a percentage of compensation.

The pension plans' combined funded status,  reconciled to amounts  recognized in
the consolidated statements of financial position and consolidated statements of
operations  as of and for the years  ended  December  31,  1996 and 1995,  is as
follows (in millions):

                                                                  December 31
                                                                 1996    1995
                                                                 ------------
                                                                 ------------
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
   Vested benefit obligation                                      $482   $439
                                                                 ============
                                                                 ============
   Accumulated benefit obligation                                 $495   $464
                                                                 ============
                                                                 ============

Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds
   and investment contracts of the Company                        $841   $723
Projected benefit obligation                                       732    670
                                                                 ------------
Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation              109     53

Unrecognized net (gains) losses and funding different from 
   that assumed and from changes in assumptions                    (29)    41
Unrecognized prior service cost                                     17      1
Unrecognized net transition asset                                  (60)   (70)
                                                                 ------------
                                                                 ============
Prepaid pension asset                                            $  37  $  25
                                                                 ============
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

Net periodic  pension  expense  (income)  included the following  components (in
millions):

                                                            Year ended
                                                            December 31
                                                       1996           1995
                                                    -------------------------

      Service cost                                     $  38         $  25
      Interest cost on projected benefit obligation       46            39
      Actual return on plan assets                      (118)         (144)
      Net amortization and deferral                       42            79
                                                    -------------------------
                                                    =========================
      Total net periodic pension expense (income)     $    8        $   (1)
                                                    =========================

The  weighted-average  assumed  discount rate used in determining  the projected
benefit obligation was 7.25% and 7% at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Some of the trusts  holding the plan assets are subject to income taxes at a 35%
tax rate while others are not subject to income  taxes.  For both 1996 and 1995,
the  expected  long-term  rates of return on plan assets were  approximately  6%
(after  estimated  income  taxes) for those  trusts  subject to income taxes and
approximately 10% for those trusts not subject to income taxes. The assumed rate
of increase in future  compensation  levels varies by age for both the qualified
and non-qualified pension plans.

In  addition,  the  Company has defined  contribution  plans that are  generally
available to all employees and agents who are age 21 or older and have completed
one year of service.  Eligible  participants  may  contribute up to 15% of their
compensation  or up to $ 9,500 in 1996 and $9,240 in 1995 annually to the plans.
The Company matches the participant's contribution with a 50% contribution up to
a maximum  contribution  of 2% of the  participant's  compensation.  The Company
contributed  $13  million  in 1996  and $11  million  in 1995 to  these  defined
contribution plans.

The Company also provides certain health care, life insurance and long-term care
benefits for retired  employees.  Substantially all employees are first eligible
for these postretirement  benefits when they reach age 57 and have completed ten
years of service with the Company. Partial benefit accrual of these health, life
and  long-term  care  benefits  is  recognized  from  first   eligibility  until
retirement based on attained service divided by potential service to age 65 with
a minimum of 35 years of potential service.  The Company's policy is to fund the
cost of providing retiree benefits in the years that the employees are providing
service to the Company. The Company's funding policy is to deposit the actuarial
normal cost and an accrued  liability  over a 30-year  period as a percentage of
compensation.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

The  postretirement  plans'  combined  funded  status,   reconciled  to  amounts
recognized in the consolidated statements of financial position and consolidated
statements  of  operations  as of and for the years ended  December 31, 1996 and
1995, is as follows (in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     December 31
                                                                                 1996            1995
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds and
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C> 
     investment contracts of the Company                                         $247            $208
   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:
     Retirees                                                                     (87)            (84)
     Eligible employees                                                           (38)            (39)
     Active employees not eligible to retire                                      (93)            (89)
                                                                            -------------------------------
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Total accumulated postretirement benefit obligation                           (218)           (212)
                                                                            -------------------------------
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Excess (deficiency) of plan assets over (under) accumulated
     postretirement benefit obligation                                             29              (4)

   Unrecognized net losses and funding different from that assumed and
     from changes in assumptions                                                  (10)             20
   Unrecognized net transition obligation                                          17              21
                                                                            -------------------------------
                                                                            ===============================
   Postretirement benefit asset                                                 $  36           $  37
                                                                            ===============================
</TABLE>

The net periodic  postretirement  benefit cost included the following components
(in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Year ended
                                                                                     December 31
                                                                                 1996            1995
                                                                            -------------------------------
                                                                            -------------------------------

<S>                                                                               <C>            <C> 
   Service cost                                                                   $12            $  7
   Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit cost                        15              14
   Actual return on plan assets                                                   (32)            (43)
   Amortization of transition obligation                                            4               4
   Net amortization of gains and losses                                            19              34
                                                                            ===============================
   Total net periodic postretirement benefit cost                                 $18             $16
                                                                            ===============================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

The  weighted-average  assumed discount rate used in determining the accumulated
postretirement  benefit  obligation  was 7.25% and 7% at  December  31, 1996 and
1995,  respectively.  Some of the trusts  holding the plan assets are subject to
income taxes at a 35% tax rate while others are not subject to income taxes. For
both 1996 and 1995, the expected  long-term  rates of return on plan assets were
approximately  6% (after  estimated  income  taxes) for those trusts  subject to
income taxes and  approximately 9% for those trusts not subject to income taxes.
These rates of return on plan assets vary by benefit type and employee group.

The  assumed  health  care cost trend  rate used in  measuring  the  accumulated
postretirement  benefit obligations starts at 11.5% in 1996, declines to 9.5% in
2001 and then  declines to an ultimate  rate of 6.5% in 2032. If the health care
cost trend rate  assumptions  were increased by 1% in each year, the accumulated
postretirement  benefits  obligation  for health  plans as of December  31, 1996
would increase by 19.5% ($33 million). The effect of this 1% increase would also
increase the aggregate of the service cost and interest  cost  components of the
net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  cost of health  plans for the year ended
December 31, 1996 by 24.5% ($6 million).

8.  Reinsurance

Reinsurance  contracts  do not  relieve  the  Company  from its  obligations  to
policyowners.  Failure of reinsurers to honor their  obligations could result in
losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial strength of potential
reinsurers  and  continually   monitors  the  financial   condition  of  present
reinsurers. The Company also monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from
similar  geographic  regions,  activities  or  economic  characteristics  of the
reinsurers  to minimize  its  exposure  to  significant  losses  from  reinsurer
insolvencies.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

8.  Reinsurance (continued)

The effect of reinsurance on premiums and annuity and other  considerations  and
benefits, claims and settlement expenses is as follows (in millions):

                                                        Year ended
                                                       December 31
                                                   1996            1995
                                                 -------------------------
                                                 -------------------------

Premiums and annuity and other considerations:
  Direct                                          $5,034          $5,171
  Assumed                                            116              99
  Ceded                                              (29)            (27)
                                                 =========================
Net premiums and annuity and other considerations $5,121          $5,243
                                                 =========================
                                                 =========================

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses:
  Direct                                          $6,003          $6,070
  Assumed                                            109              99
  Ceded                                              (25)            (27)
                                                 =========================
Net benefits, claims and settlement expenses      $6,087          $6,142
                                                 =========================

9.  Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company,  as a lessor,  leases industrial,  office,  retail and other wholly
owned investment real estate properties under various  operating leases.  Rental
income for all operating leases totaled $310 million in 1996 and $260 million in
1995. At December 31, 1996, future minimum annual rental commitments under these
noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in millions):

   1997                                     $   273
   1998                                         240
   1999                                         200
   2000                                         161
   2001                                         116
   Thereafter                                   444
                                          -------------
                                          =============
   Total future minimum lease receipts       $1,434
                                          =============
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

9.  Other Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

The Company,  as a lessee,  leases office space,  data processing  equipment and
office furniture and equipment under various  operating  leases.  Rental expense
for all operating leases totaled $73 million in 1996 and $69 million in 1995. At
December  31,  1996,  future  minimum  annual  rental  commitments  under  these
noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in millions):

   1997                                         $  58
   1998                                            42
   1999                                            32
   2000                                            21
   2001                                            14
   Thereafter                                      28
                                             -----------
                                                  195
   Less future sublease rental income               4
                                             -----------
   Total future minimum lease payments           $191
                                             ===========

The Company is a defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course
of its investment and insurance  operations.  In the opinion of management,  any
losses  resulting  from the resolution of such actions would not have a material
effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The Company is also subject to insurance  guarantee  laws in the states in which
it writes  business.  These  laws  provide  for  assessments  against  insurance
companies  for the  benefit  of  policyowners  and  claimants  in the  event  of
insolvency  of other  insurance  companies.  The  assessments  may be  partially
recovered  through a reduction in future  premium taxes in some states.  At both
December  31,  1996 and 1995,  approximately  $15  million is  reserved in other
liabilities in the  consolidated  statements of financial  position for possible
guarantee  fund  assessments  for which  notices have not been  received and the
Company does not anticipate receiving a premium tax credit.

10.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following  discussion  describes the methods and assumptions utilized by the
Company in estimating  its fair value  disclosures  for  financial  instruments.
Certain financial instruments,  particularly  policyowner liabilities other than
investment   contracts,   are   excluded   from  these  fair  value   disclosure
requirements. The techniques utilized in estimating the fair values of financial
instruments are affected by the assumptions used,  including  discount rates and
estimates  of the  amount  and  timing  of future  cash  flows.  Care  should be
exercised in deriving  conclusions  about the Company's  business,  its value or
financial position based on the fair value information of financial  instruments
presented  below.  The  estimates  shown are not  necessarily  indicative of the
amounts that would be realized in a one-time,  current market exchange of all of
the Company's financial instruments.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

10.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)

The Company defines fair value as the quoted market prices for those instruments
that are actively  traded in  financial  markets.  In cases where quoted  market
prices are not available, fair values are estimated using present value or other
valuation  techniques.  The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in
time,  based on available  market  information and judgments about the financial
instrument,  including estimates of timing, amount of expected future cash flows
and the credit standing of counterparts.  Such estimates do not consider the tax
impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In many cases, the fair
value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets. In
addition,  the  disclosed  fair  value  may  not be  realized  in the  immediate
settlement of the financial instrument.

Fair values of public debt and equity  securities  have been  determined  by the
Company from public quotations, when available. Private placement securities and
other debt and equity  securities are valued by  discounting  the expected total
cash flows.  Market rates used are  applicable to the yield,  credit quality and
average maturity of each security.

Fair values of  commercial  mortgage  loans are  determined by  discounting  the
expected  total cash flows using market rates that are  applicable to the yield,
credit quality and maturity of each loan.  Fair values of  residential  mortgage
loans are  determined by a pricing and  servicing  model using market rates that
are applicable to the yield, rate structure,  credit quality,  size and maturity
of each loan.

The fair values for assets  classified as policy loans,  other  investments  and
cash  and  cash  equivalents  in the  accompanying  consolidated  statements  of
financial position approximates their carrying amounts.

The fair values of the Company's  reserves and liabilities  for  investment-type
insurance contracts  (insurance,  annuity and other policy contracts that do not
involve  significant  mortality or morbidity risk and that are only a portion of
the  policyowner   liabilities  appearing  in  the  consolidated  statements  of
financial  position) are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses (based on
current  interest  rates being  offered for similar  contracts  with  maturities
consistent with those remaining for the investment-type contracts being valued).
The fair values for the Company's  insurance contracts  (insurance,  annuity and
other policy contracts that do involve significant mortality or morbidity risk),
other than  investment-type  contracts,  are not required to be  disclosed.  The
Company does consider,  however,  the various  insurance and investment risks in
choosing investments for both insurance and investment-type contracts.

Fair values for debt issues are estimated  using  discounted  cash flow analysis
based  on  the  Company's  incremental  borrowing  rate  for  similar  borrowing
arrangements.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

10.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)

The  carrying  amounts  and  estimated  fair values of the  Company's  financial
instruments at December 31, 1996 and 1995, are as follows (in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1996                         1995
                                                  ---------------------------  ----------------------------
                                                     Carrying       Fair         Carrying        Fair
                                                      Amount        Value         Amount         Value
                                                  ---------------------------  ----------------------------
                                                  ---------------------------  ----------------------------

 Assets (liabilities)

<S>                                                   <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>    
   Debt securities (see Note 2)                       $21,974       $21,974        $21,837       $21,837
   Equity securities (see Note 2)                       1,023         1,023          1,446         1,446
   Mortgage loans                                      12,409        12,823         11,380        11,965
   Policy loans                                           736           736            711           711
   Other investments                                       68            68             79            79
   Cash and cash equivalents                              271           271            295           295
   Investment-type insurance contracts                (22,196)      (22,158)       (21,538)      (21,960)
   Debt                                                  (399)         (427)          (361)         (401)
</TABLE>

11.  Statutory Insurance Financial Information

Principal  Mutual,  the  largest  member  of The  Principal  Financial  Group,
prepares  statutory  financial  statements  in  accordance  with the  accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of
Commerce of the State of Iowa. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include
a variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
as well as state laws,  regulations and general  administrative rules. Permitted
statutory  accounting  practices  encompass  all  accounting  practices  not  so
prescribed.  The  impact of any  permitted  accounting  practices  on  statutory
surplus is not material.  The  accounting  practices  used to prepare  statutory
financial  statements  for regulatory  filings differ in certain  instances from
GAAP.  Prescribed or permitted statutory  accounting practices are used by state
insurance departments to regulate the Company.
<PAGE>
                          The Principal Financial Group
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

11.  Statutory Insurance Financial Information (continued)

The following summary  reconciles the assets and equity at December 31, 1996 and
1995,  and net  income  for the years  ended  December  31,  1996 and  1995,  in
accordance  with statutory  reporting  practices  prescribed or permitted by the
Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa (Principal
Mutual only) with that reported in these consolidated GAAP financial  statements
(in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Assets       Equity     Net Income
                                                                  -----------------------------------------
                                                                  -----------------------------------------
   December 31, 1996
   As reported in accordance with statutory accounting practices
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>           <C> 
     - unconsolidated                                               $56,837       $2,504        $415
   Additions (deductions):
     Unrealized gain on debt securities available-for-sale              964          964           -
     Consolidation and basis changes of certain subsidiaries           (259)         (10)          -
     Adjustment for cash and cash equivalents                          (152)           -           -
     Adjustment to record statutory non-admitted assets                  52           52           -
     Investment adjustments other than debt securities                  766          911          53
     Adjustments to insurance reserves                                 (156)        (238)        (40)
     Deferral of policy acquisition costs                             1,058        1,058          38
     Adjustments for pension and postretirement accounting               78           78         (17)
     Surplus note reclassification as debt                                -         (298)          -
     Adjustments to dividend liabilities                                  -          123          (1)
     Provision for deferred federal income taxes                         (6)        (493)         60
     Other - net                                                        (40)           3          18
                                                                  -----------------------------------------
                                                                  =========================================
   As reported in these consolidated GAAP financial statements      $59,142       $4,654        $526
                                                                  =========================================
   December 31, 1995
   As reported in accordance with statutory accounting practices
     - unconsolidated                                               $51,268       $2,208        $263
   Additions (deductions):
     Unrealized gain on debt securities available-for-sale            1,553        1,553           -
     Consolidation and basis changes of certain subsidiaries            (95)         (10)         64
     Adjustment for cash and cash equivalents                          (245)           4           -
     Adjustment to record statutory non-admitted assets                  73           73           -
     Investment adjustments other than debt securities                  568          917          (4)
     Adjustments to insurance reserves                                 (128)        (152)         (8)
     Deferral of policy acquisition costs                               937          937          61
     Adjustments for pension and postretirement accounting               66           66         (11)
     Surplus note reclassification as debt                                -         (298)          -
     Adjustments to dividend liabilities                                  -          124           1
     Provision for deferred federal income taxes                         (9)        (770)        (20)
     Other - net                                                        (24)         (46)         (2)
                                                                  -----------------------------------------
                                                                  =========================================
   As reported in these consolidated GAAP financial statements      $53,964       $4,606        $344
                                                                  =========================================
</TABLE>

GP 34573 B-9

                                     PART C
                            PREMIER VARIABLE CONTRACT
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (a)    Financial Statements included in the Registration Statement
                 (1)   Part A:
                       Condensed Financial Information for the four years ended
                       December 31, 1996 and for the period  beginning  July 15,
                       1992 and ended December 31, 1992.

                 (2)   Part B:
                       Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company Separate
                          Account B:
                          Report of Independent Auditors.
                          Statement of Net Assets, December 31, 1996.
                          Statement of Operations for the year ended 
                             December 31, 1996.
                          Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years
                             ended December 31, 1996 and 1995.
                          Notes to  Financial Statements.
                          The Principal Financial Group(R):
                          Report of Independent Auditors.
                          Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years
                             ended December 31, 1996 and 1995.
                          Consolidated Statements of Financial Position,
                              December 31, 1996 and 1995.
                          Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years
                             ended  December 31, 1996 and 1995.
                          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
                             years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995.
                          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          (b)    Exhibits
                 (1)   Board resolution of Registrant (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (3a)  Distribution Agreement (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (3b)  Selling Agreement (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (4)   Form of Variable Annuity Contract (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (4a)  Variable Annuity Contract Endorsement (Filed 4/15/97)
                 (5)   Form of Variable Annuity Application  
                 (6a)  Articles of Incorporation of Depositor (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (6b)  Bylaws of Depositor (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (9)   Opinion of Counsel (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (10a) Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
                 (10b) Powers of Attorney (Filed 4/15/97)
                 (13a) Total Return Calculation (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (13b) Annualized Yield for Separate Account B (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (27)  Financial Data Schedule for Separate Account B
<PAGE>
Item 25.  Officers and Directors of the Depositor

          Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  is  managed by a Board of
          Directors  which is elected by its  policyowners.  The  directors  and
          executive  officers of the Company,  their positions with the Company,
          including Board Committee  memberships,  and their principal  business
          address, are as follows:

            DIRECTORS:                       Principal
            Name, Positions and Offices      Business Address

            MARY VERMEER ANDRINGA            Vermeer Manufacturing Company
            Director                         Box 200
            Member, Nominating Committee     Pella, IA  50219-0200

            RUTH M. DAVIS                    The Pymatuning Group, Inc.
            Director                         Suite 570, 4900 Seminary Road
            Member, Nominating Committee     Alexandria, VA  22311

            DAVID J. DRURY                   The Principal Financial Group
            Director                         Des Moines, IA  50392
            Chairman of the Board
            Chief Executive Officer
            Chair,Executive Committee

            C. DANIEL GELATT, JR.            NMT Corporation
            Director                         2004 Kramer Street
            Member, Executive Committee      La Crosse, WI  54603
              Chair, Human Resources 
              Committee

            G. DAVID HURD                    The Principal Financial Group
            Director                         Des Moines, IA  50392
            Member, Executive and                                          
              Nominating Committees

            THEODORE M. HUTCHISON            4019 Oak Forest Drive    
            Director                         Des Moines, IA  50312
            Member, Audit Comittee

            CHARLES S. JOHNSON               Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
            Director                         400 Locust, Ste. 700 Capital Square
            Member, Audit Committee          Des Moines, IA 50309

            WILLIAM T. KERR                  Meredith Corporation
            Director                         1716 Locust St.
            Member, Executive Committee      Des Moines, IA  50309-3023
              and Chair, Nominating 
              Committee

            LEE LIU                          IES Industries Inc.
            Director                         Post Office Box 351
            Member, Executive and            Cedar Rapids, IA  52406
              Human Resources Committees

            VICTOR. H. LOEWENSTEIN           Egon Zehnder International
            Director                         55 East 59th Street
            Member, Audit                    New York, NY  10022
              Committee

            RONALD D. PEARSON                Hy-Vee, Inc.
            Director                         5820 Westown Parkway
            Member, Human Resources          West Des Moines, IA  50266
              Committee

            JOHN R. PRICE                    The Chase Manhattan Corporation
            Director                         270 Park Avenue - 44th Floor
            Member, Nominating Committee     New York, NY  10017

            JEAN-PIERRE C. ROSSO             Case Corporation
            Director                         700 State Street
            Member, Audit Committee          Racine, WI 53404

            DONALD M. STEWART                The College Board
            Director                         45 Columbus Avenue
            Member, Human Resources          New York, NY  10023-6992
              Committee

            ELIZABETH E. TALLETT             Dioscor, Inc.
            Director                         48 Federal Twist Road
            Chair, Audit Committee           Stockton, NJ  08559

            DEAN D. THORNTON                 1602- 34 Court West
            Director                         Seattle, WA  98199
            Member, Audit Committee 

            FRED W. WEITZ                    Essex Meadows, Inc.
            Director                         800 Second Avenue, Suite 150
            Member, Human Resources          Des Moines, IA  50309
              Committee


            Executive Officers (Other than Directors):

            JOHN E. ASCHENBRENNER            Senior Vice President

            RAY S. CRABTREE                  Executive Vice President

            THOMAS J. GAARD                  Senior Vice President

            MICHAEL H.GERSIE                 Senior Vice President

            THOMAS J. GRAF                   Senior Vice President

            J. BARRY GRISWELL                Executive Vice President

            RONALD E. KELLER                 Executive Vice President

            GREGG R. NARBER                  Senior Vice President and
                                             General Counsel

            RICHARD L. PREY                  Senior Vice President

            CHARLES E. ROHM                  Executive Vice President

            CARL C. WILLIAMS                 Senior Vice President and Chief
                                             Information Officer

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

             Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Depositor

             Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company  (incorporated as a mutual
             life  insurance  company  under  the laws of Iowa);  sponsored  the
             organization  of the  following  mutual  funds,  some of  which  it
             controls by virtue of owning voting securities:

               Principal    Asset    Allocation    Fund,    Inc.   (a   Maryland
               Corporation) 100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned  by  Principal
               Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  and its  separate  accounts  on
               August 11, 1997.

               Principal  Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life
               Insurance Company and its separate accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Princor  Balanced  Fund, Inc. (a  Maryland  Corporation) 1.86% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal Balanced Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 100.0% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company and its separate accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Princor Blue Chip Fund, Inc.  (a Maryland  Corporation)  1.42% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Princor Bond Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 1.49% of shares
               outstanding  owned by Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company on
               August 11, 1997.

               Principal  Bond Fund,  Inc.  (a Maryland  Corporation)  100.0% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company and its separate accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Princor   Capital    Accumulation    Fund,   Inc.   (a   Maryland
               Corporation) 31.35% of  outstanding  shares  owned  by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal   Capital   Accumulation   Fund,   Inc.   (a   Maryland
               Corporation)  100.0% of  outstanding  shares  owned by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company and its Separate Accounts on
               August 11, 1997.

               Princor Cash Management Fund, Inc. (a Maryland Corporation) 1.35%
               of  outstanding  shares owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on August 11,
               1997.

               Princor Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. (a Maryland Corporation) 0.62%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal  Emerging  Growth Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life
               Insurance Company and its Separate Accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Princor  Government  Securities  Income  Fund,  Inc.  (a Maryland
               Corporation)  0.40% of  shares  outstanding  owned  by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal   Government   Securities   Fund,   Inc.   (a  Maryland
               Corporation)  100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company and its Separate Accounts on
               August 11, 1997.

               Princor  Growth  Fund,  Inc.  (a Maryland  Corporation)  0.52% of
               outstanding  shares  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal  Growth Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  100.0% of
               outstanding  shares are owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company and its Separate Accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Princor High Yield Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 22.70% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal High Yield Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  100.0%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company and its Separate Accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Principal  International  Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (a Maryland
               Corporation)  100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 15, 1997.

               Principal   International   SmallCap   Fund,   Inc.  (a  Maryland
               Corporation)  100.0% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 15, 1997.

               Princor  Limited  Term Bond Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               53.17% of  shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life
               Insurance Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal Money Market Fund, Inc. (a Maryland Corporation) 100.0%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company and its Separate Accounts on August 11, 1997.

               Principal  Special  Markets Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               51.39% of the shares outstanding of the International  Securities
               Portfolio   and   84.13%  of  the  shares   outstanding   of  the
               Mortgage-Backed  Securities  Portfolio  were  owned by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 11, 1997.

               Princor Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Inc. (a Maryland Corporation) 0.56%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Princor   Tax-Exempt  Cash  Management  Fund,  Inc.  (a  Maryland
               Corporation)  1.00% of  shares  outstanding  owned  by  Principal
               Mutual Life Insurance Company on August 11, 1997.

               Princor Utilities Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)   1.54% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Princor  World  Fund,  Inc. (a  Maryland  Corporation)  22.96% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997.

               Principal  World Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  100.0% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
               Company on August 11, 1997

          Subsidiaries  organized  and  wholly-owned  by  Principal  Mutual Life
          Insurance Company:

               a.   Principal  Holding  Company (an Iowa  Corporation) A holding
                    company  wholly-owned  by  Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance
                    Company.

               b.   PT Asuransi Jiwa Principal  Egalita  Indonesia (an Indonesia
                    Corporation)

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal Holding Company:

               a.  Petula  Associates,  Ltd. (an Iowa  Corporation)  a real
                   estate development company.

               b.  Patrician Associates,  Inc. (a California Corporation) a real
                   estate development company.

               c.  Principal   Development   Associates,   Inc.  (a   California
                   Corporation) a real estate development company.

               d.  Princor Financial Services Corporation (an Iowa Corporation)
                   a registered broker-dealer.

               e.  Invista  Capital  Management,  Inc. (an Iowa  Corporation)  a
                   registered investment adviser.

               f.  Principal Marketing Services, Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) a
                   corporation formed to serve as an interface between marketers
                   and manufacturers of financial services products.

               g.  The Principal Financial Group, Inc. (a Delaware  corporation)
                   a general business corporation established in connection with
                   the new corporate identity. It is not currently active.

               h.  Delaware  Charter  Guarantee  &  Trust  Company  (a  Delaware
                   Corporation) a nondepository trust company.

               i.  Principal   Securities   Holding   Corporation   (a  Delaware
                   Corporation) a holding company.

               j.  Principal Health Care, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a developer
                   and administrator of managed care systems.

               k.  Principal  Financial  Advisors,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                   registered investment advisor.

               l.  Principal  Asset  Markets,   Inc.  (an  Iowa  Corporation)  a
                   residential mortgage loan broker.

               m.  Principal  Portfolio  Services,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                   mortgage due diligence company.

               n.  Principal International, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a company
                   formed for the purpose of international business development.

               o.  Principal   Spectrum    Associates,    Inc.   (a   California
                   Corporation) a real estate development company.

               p.   Principal Commercial Advisors,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    company that  purchases,  manages and sells  commercial real
                    estate assets.

               q.   Principal FC, Ltd. (an Iowa  Corporation) a limited  purpose
                    investment corporation.

               r.   Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    residential mortgage loan broker.

               s.   Equity FC, Ltd. (an Iowa Corporation)  engaged in investment
                    transactions   including  limited  partnership  and  limited
                    liability companies.

          Subsidiaries  organized and wholly-owned by Princor Financial Services
          Corporation:

               a.   Princor  Management  Corporation  (an  Iowa  Corporation)  a
                    registered investment advisor.

               b.   Principal Investors Corporation (a New Jersey Corporation) a
                    registered   broker-dealer  with  the  Securities   Exchange
                    Commission. It is not currently active.

          Subsidiary wholly owned by Principal Securities Holding Corporation:

               a.   Principal   Financial    Securities,    Inc.   (a   Delaware
                    Corporation) an investment banking and securities  brokerage
                    firm.

          Subsidiary wholly owned by Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company:

               a.   Trust  Consultants,   Inc.  (a  California   Corporation)  a
                    Consulting and Administration of Employee Benefit Plans.

          Subsidiaries  organized  and  wholly-owned  by Principal  Health Care,
          Inc.:

               a.   The Admar  Group,  Inc. (a Florida  Corporation)  a national
                    managed care service  organization that develops and manages
                    preferred provider organizations.

               b.   America's Health  Plan,  Inc.  (a  Maryland  Corporation)  a
                    developer of discount provider networks.

               c.   Principal Health Care Management Corporation (an Iowa
                    Corporation) provide management services to health
                    maintenance organizations.

               d.   Principal  Health  Care  of the  Carolinas,  Inc.  (a  North
                    Carolina Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               e.   Principal   Health  Care  of  Delaware,   Inc.  (a  Delaware
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               f.   Principal   Health   Care  of   Florida,   Inc.  (a  Florida
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               g.   Principal   Health   Care  of   Georgia,   Inc.  (a  Georgia
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               h.   Principal  Health  Care  of  Illinois,   Inc.  (an  Illinois
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               i.   Principal   Health  Care  of   Indiana,   Inc.  (a  Delaware
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               j.   Principal Health Care of Iowa, Inc. (an Iowa  Corporation) a
                    health maintenance organization.

               k.   Principal  Health  Care of Kansas  City,  Inc.  (a  Missouri
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               l.   Principal  Health  Care  of  Louisiana,  Inc.  (a  Louisiana
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               m.   Principal Health Care of the Mid-Atlantic,  Inc. (a Virginia
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               n.   Principal   Health  Care  of  Nebraska,   Inc.  (a  Nebraska
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               o.   Principal Health Care of Pennsylvania,  Inc. (a Pennsylvania
                    Corporation) a health  maintenance  organization.  

               p.   Principal  Health  Care  of  St.  Louis,  Inc.  (a  Delaware
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               q.   Principal  Health  Care of  South  Carolina,  Inc.  (A South
                    Carolina Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               r.   Principal  Health  Care  of  Tennessee,  Inc.  (a  Tennessee
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

               s.   Principal Health Care of Texas, Inc. ( a Texas  Corporation)
                    a health maintenance organization.

               t.   United  Health  Care   Services  of  Iowa,   Inc.  (an  Iowa
                    Corporation) a health maintenance organization.

          Subsidiary owned by The Admar Group, Inc.:

               a.   Admar Corporation (a California  Corporation) a managed care
                    services organization.

               b.   Admar Insurance Marketing, Inc. (a California Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

               c.   SelectCare Management Co., Inc. (a California Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

               d.   Image  Financial & Insurance  Services,  Inc. (a  California
                    Corporation) a managed care services organization.

               e.   WM. G.  Hofgard & Co.,  Inc. (a  California  Corporation)  a
                    managed care services organization.

               f.   Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc. (a Colorado Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

          Subsidiaries owned by Principal International, Inc.:

               a.   Principal  International  Espana, S.A. de Seguros de Vida (a
                    Spain Corporation).

               b.   Zao Principal International (a Russia Corporation) inactive.

               c.   Principal  International   Argentina,   S.A.  (an  Argentina
                    services corporation).

               d.   Principal   International   Asia   Limited   (a  Hong   Kong
                    Corporation).

               e.   Principal Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Kong
                    Corporation).

               f.   Principal    International   de   Chile,   S.A.   (a   Chile
                    Corporation) a holding company.

               g.   Principal Mexico Compania de Seguros, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico
                    Corporation) a life insurance company.

               h.   Afore Confia-Principal, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico Corporation).

               i.   Qualitas Medica, S.A. (an Argentina Corporation).

          Subsidiary owned by Principal International Espana, S.A. de Seguros de
          Vida:

               a.   Princor  International Espana S.A. de Agencia de Seguros
                    (a Spain Corporation).

          Subsidiaries  owned by Principal International Argentina, S.A.:

               a.   Ethika-S.A.  Administradora  de  Fondos  de  Jubilaciones  y
                    Pensiones (an Argentina company)

               b.   Princor  Compania de Seguros de Retiro,  S.A. (an  Argentina
                    Corporation).

               c.   Prinlife  Compania de Seguros de Vida,  S.A.  (an  Argentina
                    Corporation).

          Subsidiary owned by Principal International de Chile, S.A.:

               a.   BanRenta   Compania  de  Seguros  de  Vida,  S.A.  (a  Chile
                    Corporation) a life insurance company.

          Subsidiary owned by Afore Confia-Principal, S.A. de C.V.:

               a.   Siefore Confia-Principal, S.A. de C.V.
                    (a Mexico Corporation)

Item 27.  Number of Contractowners - As of: October 10, 1997              

                     (1)                          (2)               (3)
                                             Number of Plan      Number of
          Title of Class                      Participants     Contractowners
          --------------                     --------------    --------------
          BFA Variable Annuity Contracts               101           10
          Pension Builder Contracts                  1,298        1,669
          Personal Variable Contracts                4,008          134
          Premier Variable Contracts                16,349          257  
          Flexible Variable Annuity Contract        23,019       23,019

Item 28.  Indemnification

               None

Item 29.  Principal Underwriters

          (a)  Princor Financial Services Corporation, principal underwriter for
               Registrant,   acts  as  principal   underwriter  for,   Principal
               Aggressive  Growth Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Asset Allocation Fund,
               Inc.,  Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,
               Principal Capital  Accumulation  Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Emerging
               Growth Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Government  Securities Fund, Inc.,
               Principal  Growth Fund,  Inc.,  Principal High Yield Fund,  Inc.,
               Principal  Money Market Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Special  Markets
               Fund, Inc.,  Principal World Fund,  Inc.,  Princor Balanced Fund,
               Inc.,  Princor Blue Chip Fund,  Inc.,  Princor  Bond Fund,  Inc.,
               Princor Capital  Accumulation Fund, Inc., Princor Cash Management
               Fund,  Inc.,   Princor   Emerging  Growth  Fund,  Inc.,   Princor
               Government  Securities  Income Fund,  Inc.,  Princor Growth Fund,
               Inc.,  Princor High Yield Fund,  Inc.,  Princor Limited Term Bond
               Fund, Inc., Principal  International Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.,
               Principal  International  SmallCap Fund, Inc., Princor Tax-Exempt
               Bond Fund, Inc.,  Princor  Tax-Exempt Cash Management Fund, Inc.,
               Princor  Utilities Fund,  Inc.,  Princor World Fund, Inc. and for
               variable annuity contracts participating in Principal Mutual Life
               Insurance   Company   Separate   Account  B,  a  registered  unit
               investment  trust for  retirement  plans adopted by public school
               systems or certain tax-exempt  organizations  pursuant to Section
               403(b) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  Section  457  retirement
               plans,  Section 401(a) retirement  plans,  certain non- qualified
               deferred  compensation  plans and Individual  Retirement  Annuity
               Plans  adopted  pursuant to  Section408  of the Internal  Revenue
               Code,  and  for  variable  life  insurance  contracts  issued  by
               Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company  Variable Life Separate
               Account, a registered unit investment trust.

              (b)      (1)                 (2)        
                            
                                        Positions
                                        and offices                   
           Name and principal           with principal                
           business address             underwriter                   
          
           Robert W. Baehr              Marketing Services            
           The Principal                Officer
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
          
           Craig L. Bassett             Treasurer                     
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
          
           Michael J. Beer              Senior Vice President and     
           The Principal                Chief Operating Officer
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
          
           Mary L. Bricker              Assistant Corporate           
           The Principal                Secretary
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
          
           Ray S. Crabtree              Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           David J. Drury               Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Arthur S. Filean             Vice President                
           The Principal                                              
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Paul N. Germain              Assistant Vice President-     
           The Principal                Operations
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Michael H. Gersie            Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Ernest H. Gillum             Assistant Vice President-     
           The Principal                Registered Products           
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           William C. Gordon            Insurance License Officer     
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Thomas J. Graf               Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           J. Barry Griswell            Director and                  
           The Principal                Chairman of the               
           Financial Group              Board                         
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Joyce N. Hoffman             Vice President and            
           The Principal                Corporate Secretary
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Stephan L. Jones             Director and                  
           The Principal                President                     
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Ronald E. Keller             Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
                    
           John R. Lepley               Senior Vice                   
           The Principal                President - Marketing
           Financial Group              and Distribution
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Gregg R. Narber              Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Mark M. Oswald               Compliance Officer            
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Layne A. Rasmussen           Controller-Mutual Funds       
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Elizabeth R. Ring            Controller                    
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Charles E. Rohm              Director                      
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Michael D. Roughton          Counsel                       
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Jean B. Schustek             Product Compliance Officer-   
           The Principal                Registered Products
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Kyle R. Selberg              Vice President-               
           The Principal                Marketing
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Susan R. Sorensen            Marketing Officer             
           The Principal
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           Roger C. Stroud              Assistant Director-           
           The Principal                Marketing
           Financial Group
           Des Moines, IA 50392
           
           (c)        (1)                       (2)
           
                                      Net Underwriting
            Name of Principal           Discounts and
               Underwriter               Commissions

            Princor Financial           $11,090,837.12
            Services Corporation


                   (3)                       (4)                 (5)


             Compensation on             Brokerage
                Redemption              Commissions         Compensation

                     0                       0                    0

Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records

          All accounts,  books or other  documents of the Registrant are located
          at the offices of the Depositor,  The Principal  Financial  Group, Des
          Moines, Iowa 50392.

Item 31.  Management Services

          Inapplicable

Item 32. Undertakings

          The Registrant  undertakes that in restricting  cash  withdrawals from
          Tax  Sheltered  Annuities  to  prohibit  cash  withdrawals  before the
          Participant  attains age 59 1/2,  separates  from  service,  dies,  or
          becomes  disabled  or in the  case  of  hardship,  Registrant  acts in
          reliance of SEC No Action Letter addressed to American Counsel of Life
          Insurance (available November 28, 1988). Registrant further undertakes
          that:

          1.   Registrant  has included  appropriate  disclosure  regarding  the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  in its
               registration  statement,   including  the  prospectus,   used  in
               connection with the offer of the contract;

          2.   Registrant  will include  appropriate  disclosure  regarding  the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  in any
               sales  literature  used  in  connection  with  the  offer  of the
               contract;

          3.   Registrant will instruct sales  representatives  who solicit Plan
               Participants  to purchase the contract  specifically to bring the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  to the
               attention of the potential Plan Participants; and

          4.   Registrant will obtain from each Plan Participant who purchases a
               Section 403(b) annuity contract,  prior to or at the time of such
               purchase, a signed statement acknowledging the Plan Participant's
               understanding  of (a) the  restrictions on redemption  imposed by
               Section 403(b)(11), and (b) the investment alternatives available
               under the  employer's  Section 403(b)  arrangement,  to which the
               Plan Participant may elect to transfer his contract value.

  REPRESENTATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 26 OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company represents the fees and charges deducted
under the Policy,  in the aggregate,  are reasonable in relation to the services
rendered,  the expenses  expected to be incurred,  and the risks  assumed by the
Company.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant,  Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company  Separate  Account  B,  certifies  that it  meets  the  requirements  of
Securities Act Rule 485(a) for  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement and
has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned  thereto duly authorized in the City of Des Moines and
State of Iowa, on the October 23, 1997.


                         PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                 (Registrant)


                         By:  PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                 (Depositor)

                                   /s/ David J. Drury
                         By ______________________________________________
                              David J. Drury
                              Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

/s/ Joyce N. Hoffman
- -----------------------------------
Joyce N. Hoffman
Vice President and
  Corporate Secretary


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

Signature                          Title                           Date


/s/ D. J. Drury                Chairman and                    October 23, 1997
- --------------------           Chief Executive Officer
D. J. Drury



/s/ D. C. Cunningham           Vice President and              October 23, 1997
- --------------------           Controller (Principal
D. C. Cunningham               Accounting Officer)



/s/ M. H. Gersie               Senior Vice President           October 23, 1997
- --------------------           (Principal Financial
M. H. Gersie                   Officer)


  (M. V. Andringa)*            Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
M. V. Andringa


  (R. M. Davis)*               Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
R. M. Davis


  (C. D. Gelatt, Jr.)*         Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
C. D. Gelatt, Jr.


  (G. D. Hurd)*                Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
G. D. Hurd


  (T. M. Hutchison)*           Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
T. M. Hutchison


  (C. S. Johnson)*             Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
C. S. Johnson


  (W. T. Kerr)*                Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
W. T. Kerr


  (L. Liu)*                    Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
L. Liu


  (V. H. Loewenstein)*         Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
V. H. Loewenstein


  (R. D. Pearson)*             Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
R. D. Pearson


  (J. R. Price)*               Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
J. R. Price, Jr.


  (J-P. C. Rosso)*             Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
J-P. C. Rosso


  (D. M. Stewart)*             Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
D. M. Stewart


  (E. E. Tallett)*             Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
E. E. Tallett


  (D. D. Thornton)*            Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
D. D. Thornton


  (F. W. Weitz)*               Director                        October 23, 1997
- --------------------
F. W. Weitz


                           *By    /s/ David J. Drury
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  David J. Drury
                                  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



                                  Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
                                  Previously Filed or Included Herein

APPLICATION FOR GROUP ANNUITY CONTRACT

Application is made to: Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
                        711 High Street
                        Des Moines, Iowa  50392-0001
                        (515) 247-5111


It is understood that  contributions made to the contract are held in a separate
account;  that the separate  account invests such  contributions  in one or more
mutual  funds;  that any variable  annuity  payment made under the contract will
vary in  amount,  with the  amount  of  change  depending  upon  the  investment
performance of the mutual funds in which the separate account invests;  and that
Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company makes no guarantee as to the investment
performance thereof.

It is agreed that acceptance of any contract issued shall constitute approval by
the  applicant of the  provisions  in such contract as being in accord with this
application.

It is understood  that any  contribution to the contract for which an investment
direction  is not made or is  incomplete,  will be allocated to the money market
division  of the  separate  account  until such time as  Principal  Mutual  Life
Insurance Company receives complete  investment  directions.  Such contributions
will be allocated in accordance  with such  investment  direction as of the date
such  investment  direction  is received  by  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance
Company.

FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL STATES EXCEPT FL, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA, AND VA:
Any person who  knowingly  and with intent to defraud any  insurance  company or
other person,  submits a statement or claim or any  application  form containing
any  materially  false  information  or conceals for the purpose of  misleading,
information  concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance
act which is a crime.  Such  actions may be  considered  felonies and subject to
criminal and civil penalties, including imprisonment and fines.

FOR RESIDENTS OF OH, PA:
Any person who  knowingly  and with intent to defraud any  insurance  company or
other person files an application for insurance or statement of claim containing
any  materially  false  information  or conceals for the purpose of  misleading,
information  concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance
act, which is a crime and subjects such person to criminal and civil penalties.

FOR RESIDENTS OF FL:
Any person who  knowingly  and with  intent to injure,  defraud,  or deceive any
insurer  files a  statement  of claim or an  application  containing  any false,
incomplete, or misleading information is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

The undersigned  applicant intends for this contract to The undersigned agent is
aware that this contract will Replace an existing group annuity policy?  Replace
an existing group annuity policy?


        ___Yes  ___No                                   ___Yes  ___No


FOR RESIDENTS OF NJ:
Any person who includes any false or misleading  information  on an  application
for an insurance policy is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

FOR RESIDENTS OF MN:
This  policy or  contract  is not  protected  by the  Minnesota  Life and Health
Insurance Guaranty Association or the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty  Association.
In the case of insolvency,  payment of claim is not guaranteed.  Only the assets
of the insurer will be available to pay your claim.



Application is made to:    Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

Instructions: Fill in the appropriate information in the blanks and boxes below.
              Each numbered item should be completed.

1. _____________________________________________________________________________
        (Exact name of Applicant, e.g., "XYZ Co., Inc." or if Trustee,
            e.g., "Trustees of ABC Co., Inc. Retirement Plan")

2. _____________________________________________________________________________
                (Applicant's City & State)

3. Select the contract type below:

        ____ Personal Variable Contract
        ____ Premier Variable Contract


 _____________________________________________________________________________
                          (Fill in exact contract type)



4.   State  of  delivery  of this  contract  is  _______________________________
                                                       (Applicant's State)

5.   Advance payment of $_________________ is submitted with this application to
     be applied under this contract.

6.   The     effective      date     of     this      contract      shall     be
     ________________________________.

7.   The state of issue may  require  countersignature  by a  licensed  resident
     agent.  If no agent,  enter N/A.  The  designated  agent(s)  for this group
     contract is (are):

_____________________________________________________________________________
Agent's Name (Please  print or type) (If more than one agent,  list all) (If Fl,
include State License Number)

_____________________________________________________________________________
        Agent's Signature (If more than one, all must sign.)


8.   Signed  at   ____________________________________   this   _________day  of
     _______________, _________. (City, State)

     ------------------------------------   ------------------------------------
          Applicant's Signature                 Title (Trustee, if applicable)


     -------------------------------------
     Print or Type Applicant's Signature

                          Contract # ________________ (for home office use only)



GP 33276-1                                   (LOGO)    the Principal(r)
                                                                     Financial
                                                                     Group

                         Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Independent Auditors"
and to the use of our reports dated  February 7, 1997 (with respect to Principal
Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B) and February 7, 1997 (with
respect to The Principal Financial Group(R)), in Post-Effective  Amendment No. 9
to the Registration  Statement (Form N-4 No. 33-44670) and related Prospectus of
Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B Premier Variable -
Group Variable Annuity Contract.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
October 20, 1997

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         72961005
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        75478532
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                75478532
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  0
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         13143602
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          5017504
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                  75478532
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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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