PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
485APOS, 2000-02-28
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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._14__ __X__

                                     and/or

         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

                                    Amendment No._____ _____

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

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

                        Principal 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)


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

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

            _X_   on May 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

            ___   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 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 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 Life Insurance
                                Company, Principal 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, Compensation to Sales,
                                Representative, Distribution of the Contract

 7. General Description of    Summary, The Contract, Contract Values
    Variable 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 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 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 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 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 Life Insurance Company (the "Company")

                         Prospectus dated _____________

This Prospectus  concisely sets forth information about Principal 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 ___ 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 company 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") which should be kept for
future reference.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                        Page
Glossary of Special Terms ..............................................  3
Expense Table and Example ..............................................  5
Summary  ...............................................................  7
Condensed Financial Information.........................................  9
Description of Principal Life Insurance Company ........................ 10
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B .................... 10
Deductions Under the Contract .......................................... 12
     Mortality and Expense Risks Charge ................................ 12
Other Expenses  ........................................................ 12
     Application Fee.................................................... 12
     Contract Administration Expense.................................... 12
     Recordkeeping Expense.............................................. 13
     Location Fee ...................................................... 14
     Flexible Income Option Charge...................................... 14
     Documentation Expense.............................................. 14
     Compensation to Sales Representative............................... 15
     Special Services................................................... 15
Surplus Distribution at Sole Discretion of the Company ................. 15
The Contract  .......................................................... 15
     Contract Values and Accounting
     Before Annuity Commencement Date .................................. 15
         Investment Accounts ........................................... 15
         Unit Value .................................................... 16
         Net Investment Factor ......................................... 16
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation
              of Unit Value for All Divisions Except the
              Money Market Division..................................... 16
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation
              of Unit Value for the Money Market Division............... 16
     Income Benefits ................................................... 17
         Variable Annuity Payments...................................... 17
              Selecting a Variable Annuity ............................. 17
              Forms of Variable Annuities .............................. 17
              Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates ........................ 18
              Determining the Amount
              of the First Variable Annuity Payment .................... 19
              Determining the Amount of the
                  Second and Subsequent Monthly
                  Variable Annuity Payments ............................ 19
              Hypothetical Example of Calculation
              of Variable Annuity Payments ............................. 19
         Flexible Income Option......................................... 20
     Payment on Death of Plan Participant............................... 20
         Prior to Annuity Purchase Date ................................ 20
         Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date ........................... 21
     Withdrawals and Transfers ......................................... 21
         Cash Withdrawals .............................................. 21
         Transfers Between Divisions ................................... 22
         Transfers to the Contract ..................................... 22
         Transfers to a Companion Contract ............................. 22
         Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents .......... 22
         Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer ................... 22
         Loans ......................................................... 23
     Other Contractual Provisions ...................................... 23
         Contribution Limits ........................................... 23
         Assignment .................................................... 23
         Cessation of Contributions .................................... 23
         Substitution of Securities..................................... 23
         Changes in the Contract ....................................... 23
Statement of Values..................................................... 24
Services Available by Telephone......................................... 24
Distribution of the Contract............................................ 24
Performance Calculation................................................. 24
Voting Rights .......................................................... 25
Federal Tax Status...................................................... 26
     Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants................. 26
         Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans..................................... 26
         Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plans.................... 27
         401(a) Plans................................................... 27
         Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans............................ 28
         General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans........................... 29
     Fund Diversification............................................... 29
State Regulation ....................................................... 29
Legal Opinions  ........................................................ 30
Legal Proceedings ...................................................... 30
Registration Statement.................................................. 30
Independent Auditors.................................................... 30
Contractholders' Inquiries.............................................. 31
Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information............ 31

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

Account -- Series or  portfolio  of a Mutual  Fund in which a  Separate  Account
Division invests.

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 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 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, 1999. 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                    .__%        .__%             .__%
     Bond Account                        .__         .__              .__
     Capital Value Account               .__         .__              .__
     Government Securities Account       .__         .__              .__
     Growth Account                      .__         .__              .__
     International Account               .__         .__              .__
     MidCap Account                      .__         .__              .__
     Money Market Account                .__         .__              .__


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"):
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
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 __ (minimum of $1,500).

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).
                                        Additional location charge.

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 restatement. Additional costs apply for Custom-Written plans.
   (for Standard Plan)

Compensation to Sales                   Either 4.5% of the first  $5,000 of annual  Contributions
Representative                          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."
</TABLE>
<TABLE>

                                     EXAMPLE
<CAPTION>
Regardless of whether the Investment
Accounts which correlate to a Plan                Separate Account
Participant are surrendered at the end               Division              1 Year       3 Years        5 Years      10 Years
of the applicable time period:                   ------------------        ------       -------        -------      --------
     <S>                                         <C>                        <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>
     The Owner of Benefits would pay             Balanced                   $__           $__            $__          $___
     the following expenses on a $1,000          Bond                       $__           $__            $__          $___
     investment, assuming a 5% annual            Capital Value              $__           $__            $__          $___
     return on assets:                           Government Securities      $__           $__            $__          $___
                                                 Growth                     $__           $__            $__          $___
                                                 International              $__           $__            $__          $___
                                                 MidCap                     $__           $__            $__          $___
                                                 Money Market               $__           $__            $__          $___
</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 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.

           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.

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>
                                                                                                                       Number of
                                                                      Accumulation Unit Value                     Accumulation Units
                                                                                                                      Outstanding
                                                      Beginning              End         Percentage of Change        End of Period
                                                      of Period           of Period        from Prior Period        (in thousands)
     <S>                                              <C>                  <C>                 <C>                      <C>
     Balanced Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                         $1.787               $1.822               1.96%                   16,370
         1998                                          1.604                1.787              11.41                    14,770
         1997                                          1.366                1.604              17.42                    10,617
         1996                                          1.212                1.366              12.71                     7,467
         1995                                           .976                1.212              24.18                     3,317
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)               1.000                 .976              (2.40)                      125
     Bond Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          1.484                1.440              (2.96)                    7,415
         1998                                          1.384                1.484               7.23                     6,013
         1997                                          1.257                1.384              10.10                     4,009
         1996                                          1.232                1.257               2.03                     2,612
         1995                                          1.012                1.232              21.74                     1,208
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)               1.000                1.012               1.20                        31
     Capital Value Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          2.689                2.563              (4.69)                   22,466
         1998                                          2.378                2.689              13.08                    22,328
         1997                                          1.858                2.378              27.99                    21,339
         1996                                          1.510                1.858              23.05                    17,962
         1995                                          1.148                1.510              31.53                    14,824
         1994                                          1.147                1.148               0.09                    13,967
         1993                                          1.067                1.147               7.50                     7,980
         1992(2)                                       1.000                1.067               6.70                        84
     Government Securities Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          1.543                1.532              (0.71)                    8,432
         1998                                          1.431                1.543               7.83                     8,358
         1997                                          1.302                1.431               9.91                     7,686
         1996                                          1.265                1.302               2.92                     7,513
         1995                                          1.066                1.265              18.67                     7,159
         1994                                          1.120                1.066              (4.82)                    6,431
         1993                                          1.021                1.120               9.70                     2,553
         1992(2)                                       1.000                1.021               2.10                        40
     Growth Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          2.145                2.488              15.99                    20,774
         1998                                          1.775                2.145              20.85                    16,370
         1997                                          1.404                1.775              26.42                    11,441
         1996                                          1.253                1.404              12.05                     6,802
         1995                                          1.001                1.253              25.17                     2,860
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)               1.000                1.001               0.10                       110
     International Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          1.663                2.085              25.38                    10,814
         1998                                          1.518                1.663               9.55                     9,442
         1997                                          1.358                1.518              11.78                     7,684
         1996                                          1.090                1.358              24.59                     4,298
         1995                                           .958                1.090              13.78                     1,672
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)               1.000                 .958              (4.20)                      137
     MidCap Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          1.940                2.184              12.58                    12,883
         1998                                          1.879                1.940               3.25                    12,204
         1997                                          1.537                1.879              22.25                     9,536
         1996                                          1.274                1.537              20.64                     5,722
         1995                                           .991                1.274              28.56                     1,896
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)               1.000                 .991              (0.90)                      119
     Money Market Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1999                                          1.296                1.354               4.48                    10,632
         1998                                          1.237                1.296               4.77                     9,868
         1997                                          1.181                1.237               4.74                     6,515
         1996                                          1.128                1.181               4.70                     5,379
         1995                                          1.072                1.128               5.22                     2,959
         1994                                          1.036                1.072               3.47                     1,791
         1993                                          1.013                1.036               2.27                       901
         1992(2)                                       1.000                1.013               1.30                     2,969
<FN>
     (1) Commenced operations on October 3, 1994.
     (2) Commenced operations on July 15, 1992.
</FN>
</TABLE>

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

Principal  Life  Insurance  Company is a 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. The name change to Principal Life Insurance Company and  reorganization
into a mutual  holding  company  structure  took place in 1998. The Company is a
company of the Principal  Financial Group, a diversified family of insurance and
financial services corporations.

Principal 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 $____  billion in assets under  management  and serves
more than ____ million individuals and their families.

PRINCIPAL 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.

You may allocate your net premium payments to certain  divisions of the Separate
Account and/or the Fixed Account.  Currently there are eight divisions available
to you.  Not all  divisions  are  available  in all  states.  A current  list of
divisions available in your state may be obtained from a sales representative or
our home office.

The underlying fund is a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 as an open-end  diversified  management  investment company. It provides
the investment vehicle for the Separate Account. A full description of the Fund,
its investment objectives,  policies and restrictions,  charges and expenses and
other  operational  information is contained in the attached  prospectus  (which
should be read  carefully  before  investing)  and the  Statement of  Additional
Information.  Additional  copies of these  documents are available  from a sales
representative or our home office.

Each  Division  invests in shares of a  corresponding  Account of an  underlying
mutual fund. The  underlying  mutual fund is NOT available to the general public
directly.  The underlying  mutual fund is available  only to provide  investment
options in variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts issued
by life insurance  companies.  Some of the underlying  mutual fund Accounts have
been established by investment advisers that manage publicly traded mutual funds
having  similar names and  investment  objectives.  While some of the underlying
mutual  fund  Accounts  may be  similar  to,  and may in fact be  modeled  after
publicly traded mutual funds, you should  understand that the underlying  mutual
fund Accounts are not otherwise  directly  related to any publicly traded mutual
fund.  Consequently,  the investment performance of publicly traded mutual funds
and of any underlying mutual fund Account may differ substantially.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Division                 Division Invests In           Investment Advisor                 Investment Objective
<S>                      <C>                           <C>                                <C>
Balanced                 Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to generate a total return consisting of
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   current income and capital appreciation
                         Balanced Account                                                 while assuming reasonable risks in
                                                                                          furtherance of this objective.

Bond                     Principal Variable Contracts  Principal Management Corporation   to provide as high a level of income as is
                         Fund, Inc.                                                       consistent with preservation of capital
                         Bond Account                                                     and prudent investment risk.

Capital Value            Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to provide long-term capital appreciation
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   and secondarily is growth of investment
                         Capital Value Account                                            income. The Account seeks to achieve its
                                                                                          investment objectives through the purchase
                                                                                          primarily of common stocks,but the Account
                                                                                          may invest in other securities.

Government Securities    Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to seek a high level of current income,
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   liquidity and safety of principal. The
                         Government Securities Account                                    Account seeks to achieve its objective
                                                                                          through the purchase of obligations issued
                                                                                          or guaranteed by the United States
                                                                                          Government or its agencies, with emphasis
                                                                                          on Government National Mortgage
                                                                                          Association Certificates ("GNMA
                                                                                          Certificates"). Account shares
                                                                                          are not guaranteed by the United States
                                                                                          Government.

Growth                   Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to seek growth of capital. The Account
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   seeks to achieve its objective through the
                         Growth Account                                                   purchase primarily of common stocks, but
                                                                                          the Account may invest in other
                                                                                          securities.

International            Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to seek long-term growth of capital by
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   investing in a portfolio of equity
                         International Account                                            securities domiciled in any of the nations
                                                                                          of the world.

MidCap                   Principal Variable Contracts  Invista Capital Management, LLC    to achieve capital appreciation by
                         Fund, Inc.                    through a sub-advisory agreement   investing primarily in securities of
MidCap Account                                         emerging and other growth-oriented
companies.

Money Market             Principal Variable Contracts  Principal Management Corporation   to seek as high a level of current income
                         Fund, Inc.                                                       available from short-term securities as is
                         Money Market Account                                             considered consistent with preservation of
                                                                                          principal and maintenance of liquidity by
                                                                                          investing all of its assets in a portfolio
                                                                                          of money market instruments.
</TABLE>

Principal  Management  Corporation  (the  "Manager") has executed a sub-advisory
agreement  with  Invista  Capital   Management  LLC.  Under  that   sub-advisory
agreement,  the  sub-advisor  agrees to assume the obligations of the Manager to
provide investment advisory services for a specific Account. For these services,
the sub-advisor is paid a fee by the Manager.

Accounts:       Balanced,  Capital Value,  Government Securities,  Growth,
                International and MidCap
Sub-Advisor:    Invista  Capital  Management,  LLC  ("Invista"),  an  indirectly
                wholly-owned  subsidiary of Principal Life Insurance Company and
                an  affiliate  of the  Manger was  founded  in 1985.  It manages
                investments for  institutional  investors,  including  Principal
                Life.  Assets  under  management  as of  December  31, 1999 were
                approximately  $35.3  billion.  Invista's  address  is 1800  Hub
                Tower, 699 Walnut, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.

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 Accounts.  These
expenses are described in the Fund's 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.  A
Contractholder may agree to pay all or a portion of these expenses separately or
have the fees  deducted  from  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate  to a Plan
Participant. If deducted from Investment Accounts, the charges will be allocated
among Investment  Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant in proportion
to the  relative  value of such  Accounts  and will be effected  by  canceling a
number  of  units  in each  such  Investment  Account  equal  to such  Account's
proportionate  share of the  deductions.  The expenses which the  Contractholder
pays,  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
     one-fourth  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.

           Over            But Not Over            The Annual Expense Is:
       -----------         -----------        ---------------------------------
       $         0         $   262,500        $1,500 minimum
           262,500           1,000,000        [.0020 x ending balance] + $225
         1,000,000           5,000,000        [.0010 x ending balance] + $1,225
         5,000,000          10,000,000        [.0005 x ending balance] + $3,725
        10,000,000          30,000,000        [.0004 x ending balance] + $4,725
        30,000,000                            [.0003 x ending balance] + $7,725

     Example: Assume a $8,500,000  Quarter-end  Balance for a standard plan. The
              quarterly  contract  administration  charge is  $2,156.25  derived
              as follows: [.0005 x $8,500,000] + $3,725 = $7,975 + $650 = $8,625
              / 4 = $2,156.25.

     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 Contractholder.

     The  contract   administration   expense  for  an  employer   with  both  a
     non-qualified  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  non-qualified  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 one-fourth 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)
       -----------------              -------------------------------------
           1-25                                      $2,250
           26-49                      $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  one   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 increased by 10% if Plan Contributions are not
     reported in the Company's standard format by modem.

     A  charge  of $15 is 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   + $6,892.20
             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.  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 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  pay  $125  if  the
     Contractholder  uses a Principal  Standard Plan. If the Company  provides a
     sample  custom-written  Plan,  the  Contractholder  will  pay  $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.   Compensation to Sales Representative

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

                                   Schedule A
                   -------------------------------------------
                      Amount of Plan       Amount Payable as a
                       Contributions         Percent of Plan
                   in Each Deposit Year       Contributions
                   ---------------------   -------------------
                   The first  $    5,000         4.50%
                   The next        5,000         3.00
                   The next        5,000         1.70
                   The next       35,000         1.40
                   The next       50,000         0.90
                   The next      400,000         0.60
                   Excess over   500,000         0.25


                                  Schedule B
                   -------------------------------------------
                       Amount of Plan      Amount Payable as
                        Contributions       Percent of Plan
                    In Each Deposit Year     Contributions
                   ---------------------   -------------------
                   The first$     50,000         3.00%
                   The next       50,000         2.00
                   The next      400,000         1.00
                   The  next   2,500,000         0.50
                   Excess over 3,000,000         0.25


     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 an
         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 an 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 an
         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 an 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.
         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

Telephone  Transactions 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.

TeleTouch(R) By calling TeleTouch at 1-800-547-7754 and inputting their personal
identification number, Plan Participants may access daily account and investment
information,  counselor  assistance and more.  This service is available  Sunday
through Friday from 2 a.m.
to midnight (CT) and Saturday from 2 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Principal   Retirement  Service Center sm  By  visiting  our  internet  site  at
www.principal.com  and inputting your personal  identification  number,  you can
access a variety of information including investment account values,  investment
results  and  retirement  planning  tools.  Plan  Participants  may also  change
investment directions, transfer money and rebalance their portfolios.


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 company 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 a
subsidiary of Principal Financial Services, Inc.

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
hypothetical  performance from the date of inception of the Account in which the
Division invests is derived by reducing the actual performance of the underlying
Account by the fees and charges of the Contract as if it had been in  existence.
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 Account 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 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 distributions (5) to alternate payee pursuant to
         a qualified  domestic  relations  order, (6) made on account of certain
         levies on income or  payments  and (7) 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  331/3%  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  or upon  reaching  age 70 1/2.
         Emergency  distributions  are  includible  in the  gross  income of the
         individual in the year in which paid.

         Required Distributions.  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 $10,500 (2000 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  Account 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 an Account to
     meet the  diversification  requirements  could  result in tax  liability to
     Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Contractholders.

     The investment  opportunities of the Accounts 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
her  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 Karen E. Shaff,  Senior 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 Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
and the  financial  statements  of Principal  Life  Insurance  Company 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 company 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................................................    4
     Underwriting Commissions............................................    4
     Calculation of Yield and Total Return...............................    4
     Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
              Report of Independent Auditors.............................    7
              Financial Statements.......................................    8
     Principal Life Insurance Company
              Report of Independent Auditors.............................   31
              Financial Statements.......................................   32

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

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


<PAGE>
                                     PART B

               PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

             PREMIER VARIABLE (A GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT FOR

        EMPLOYER- SPONSORED QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS)



                       Statement of Additional Information

                                dated May 1, 2000


         This Statement of Additional  Information  provides  information  about
Principal 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 May 1,
2000.

         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 company of
                          the Principal Financial Group
                           Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page

Independent Auditors .....................................................   4

Underwriting Commissions..................................................   4

Calculation of Yield and Total Return.....................................   4

Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B

         Report of Independent Auditors...................................   7

         Financial Statements.............................................   8

Principal Life Insurance Company

         Report of Independent Auditors...................................  31

         Financial Statements.............................................  32


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

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

         1999              $12,331,736.46                    --
         1998              $13,709,101.12                    --
         1997              $11,491,356.06                    $340.24
         1996              $11,090,837.12                 $14,528.47
         1995               $5,326,848.77                 $26,014.78

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
hypothetical  performance from the date of inception of the Account in which the
Division invests is derived by reducing the actual performance of the underlying
Account by the fees and charges of the Contract as if it had been in  existence.
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  ended  December  31,
1999,  the  7-day   annualized  and  effective  yields  were  5.05%  and  5.18%,
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, 1999 are:

                                    One Year         Five Year      Ten Year



  Balanced Division                    1.97%         13.31%          10.98%
  Bond Division                       -3.00%          7.30%           7.38%
  Capital Value Division              -4.69%         17.42%          12.53%
  Government Securities Division      -0.70%          7.54%           7.36%
  Growth Division                     15.95%         19.98%          18.49%(1)
  International Division              25.40%         16.83%          13.98%(1)
  MidCap Division                     12.57%         17.13%          14.94%
  Money Market Division                4.41%          4.78%           4.64%

  (1) Period from May 2, 1994 - December 31, 1999









                                     PART C
                            PREMIER VARIABLE CONTRACT
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (a)    Financial Statements included in the Registration Statement
                 (1)   Part A:*

                 (2)   Part B:*

          (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)
                 (4a)  Form of Variable Annuity Contract (Filed 12/16/97)
                 (4b)  Variable Annuity Contract Endorsement (Filed 12/16/97)
                 (4c)  Variable Annuity Contract Rider (Filed 12/16/97)
                 (5)   Form of Variable Annuity Application (Filed 10/23/97)
                 (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
                 (13a) Total Return Calculation (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (13b) Annualized Yield for Separate Account B (Filed 3/1/96)

*    to be filed by amendment

<PAGE>

Item 25.  Officers and Directors of the Depositor

          Principal   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

            BETSY J. BERNARD                 U.S. West
            Director                         1801 California Street
            Member, Nominating Committee     52nd Floor
                                             Denver, CO  80202

            JOCELYN CARTER-MILLER            Motorola, Inc.
            Director                         1000 Corporate Drive
            Member, Audit Committee          Suite 700
                                             Ft. Lauderdale, FL  33334

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

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

            J. BARRY GRISWELL                The Principal Financial Group
            Director, President              Des Moines, IA  50392
            and Chief Executive Officer

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

            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                         350 Park Avenue - 8th Floor
            Member, Nominating               New York, NY  10022
              Committee

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

            Federico F. Pena                 Vestar Capital Partners
            Member, Audit                    1225 17th Street, Ste 1660
              Committee                      Denver, CO  80202

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

            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

            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            Executive Vice President

            PAUL S. BOGNANNO                 Senior Vice President

            GARY M. CAIN                     Senior Vice President

            C. ROBERT DUNCAN                 Senior Vice President

            DENNIS P. FRANCIS                Senior Vice President

            MICHAEL H.GERSIE                 Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

            THOMAS J. GRAF                   Senior Vice President

            ROBB B. HILL                     Senior Vice President

            DANIEL J. HOUSTON                Senior Vice President

            ELLEN Z. LAMALE                  Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Actuary

            MARY A. O'KEEFE                  Senior Vice President

            RICHARD L. PREY                  Senior Vice President

            KAREN E. SHAFF                   Senior Vice President and
                                             General Counsel

            ROBERT A. SLEPICKA               Senior Vice President

            NORMAN R. SORENSEN               Senior Vice President

            CARL C. WILLIAMS                 Senior Vice President and Chief
                                             Information Officer

            LARRY D. ZIMPLEMAN               Senior Vice President

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

          Principal   Financial   Services,   Inc.  (an  Iowa   corporation)  an
          intermediate  holding company organized pursuant to Section 512A.14 of
          the Iowa Code.

          Subsidiaries   wholly-owned  by  Principal   Financial  Services, Inc.

          a.   Principal  Life  Insurance  Company (an Iowa  corporation) a life
               group, pension and individual insurance company.

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

          c.   PFG Do Brasil LTDA (Brazil) a Brazilian holding company.

          d.   Principal Financial Services  (Australia),  Inc. (an Iowa holding
               company)  formed to facilitate the  acquisition of the Australian
               business of BT Australia.

          e.   Principal Financial Services (NZ), Inc. (an Iowa holding company)
               formed to facilitate the acquisition of the New Zealand  business
               of BT Australia.

          f.   Principal Capital Management  (Singapore)  Limited  (a  Singapore
               asset management company).

          g.   Principal Capital  Management  (Europe) Limited a fund management
               company.

          h.   Principal Capital Management  (Ireland) Limited a fund management
               company.

          i.   Principal Financial Group Investments (Australia) Pty Limited.

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by Princor Financial Services Corporation:

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

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by PFG Do Brasil LTDA

          a.   Brasilprev    Previdencia   Privada    S.A.(Brazil)   a   pension
               administration company.

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by Principal Financial Services (Australia),
          Inc.:

          a.   Principal  Financial  Group  (Australia)  Holdings  Pty  Ltd.  an
               Australian  holding  company  organized  in  connection  with the
               contemplated acquisition of BT Australia Funds Management.

          Subsidiary  wholly-owned  by  Principal  Financial  Group  (Australia)
          Holdings Pty Ltd:

          a.   Principal  Financial  Group  (Australia)  Pty Ltd.  an  Australia
               holding   company   organized  on  connection  the   contemplated
               acquisition of BT Australia Funds Management.

          Subsidiary  wholly-owned by Principal  Financial Group (Australia) Pty
          Ltd:

          a.   BT  International  (Australia)  Limited  (an  Australian  holding
               company).

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by BT Investment (Australia) Limited:

          a.   Bankers Trust Australia Limited (an Australian holding company).

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by Bankers Trust Australia Limited:

          a.   BT Financial Group Limited an asset management company.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by BT Financial Group Limited:

          a.   BT Life Limited a commercial and investment linked life insurance
               company.

          b.   BT Funds  Management  Limited (an Australian  financial  services
               company).

          c.   BT  Funds  Management   (International)  Limited  (an  Australian
               financial services company).

          d.   BT  Securities   Limited  (an   Australian   financial   services
               company).

          e.   BT (Queensland) Pty Limited (an Australian  financial  services
               company).

          f.   BT Portfolio Services Pty Limited (an Australian financial
               services company).

          g.   BT  Australia  Corporate  Services  Pty  Limited  a holding
               company.

          h.   Oniston Pty Ltd (an Australian financial services company).

          i.   QV1 Pty Limited

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by BT Portfolio Services Limited:

          a.   BT Custodial  Services Pty Ltd (an Australian  financial services
               company).

          b.   National  Registry  Services Pty Ltd. (an  Australian  financial
               services company).

          c.   National  Registry  Services  (WA)  Pty  Limited  (an  Australian
               financial services company).

          d.   BT  Finance  &  Investments  Pty  Ltd  (an  Australian  financial
               services company).

          Subsidiaries organized and wholly-owned by BT Australia  Corporate
          Services Pty Limited:

          a.   BT Finance Pty Limited (an Australian financial services
               company).

          b.   Chifley  Services Pty Limited (an Australian  financial  services
               company).

          c.   BT  Nominees  Pty  Limited  (an  Australian   financial  services
               company).

          Subsidiary organized and wholly-owned by BT Funds Management Limited:

          a.   BT Tactical Asset  Management  Limited (an  Australian  financial
               services company).

          Subsidiary organized and wholly-owned by Principal  Financial Services
          (NZ), Inc.

          a.   BT Financial Group (NZ) Limited (a New Zealand holding company).

          b.   BT Hotel Group Pty Limited

          c.   BT Custodians Limited a manager and trustee of various unit
               trusts.

          d.   Dellarak Pty Limited a trustee company.

          Subsidiary  organized and  wholly-owned  by BT Financial Group (NZ)
          Limited:

          a.   BT  Portfolio  Service  (NZ)  Limited  (a New  Zealand  financial
               services company).

          b.   BT New Zealand Nominees Limited (a New Zealand financial services
               company).

          c.   BT  Funds  Management  (NZ)  Limited  (a  New  Zealand  financial
               services company).

          Subsidiary  organized and  wholly-owned  by Principal Financial Group
          Investments (Australia) Pty Limited:

          a.   Principal Hotels Holdings Pty Ltd. a holding company.

          Subsidiary  organized and  wholly-owned  by Principal Hotels Holdings
          Pty Ltd.:

          a.   Principal Hotels Australia Pty Ltd. a holding company.

          Subsidiary  organized and  wholly-owned  by Principal Hotels Australia
          Pty Ltd.:

          a.   BT Hotel Limited

          Principal Life Insurance  Company  sponsored the  organization  of the
          following mutual funds,  some of which it controls by virtue of owning
          voting securities:

               Principal  Balanced Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  0.15% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal Blue Chip Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  0.80% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal Bond Fund, Inc.(a Maryland Corporation) 0.67% of shares
               outstanding owned by Principal Life Insurance Company  (including
               subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal  Capital  Value Fund,  Inc.  (a  Maryland  Corporation)
               24.72% of  outstanding  shares owned by Principal  Life Insurance
               Company  (including  subsidiaries and  affiliates)on  January 31,
               2000.

               Principal Cash  Management  Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               5.73% of  outstanding  shares owned by Principal  Life  Insurance
               Company  (including  subsidiaries and affiliates)  on January 31,
               2000.

               Principal  Government  Securities  Income Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland
               Corporation)  0.03% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               January 31, 2000.

               Principal  Growth Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  0.37% of
               outstanding  shares owned by  Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal High Yield Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  7.80%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal Life Insurance Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal  International  Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (a Maryland
               Corporation) 34.31% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               January 31, 2000.

               Principal  International  Fund,  Inc.  (a  Maryland  Corporation)
               24.74% of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life Insurance
               Company  (including  subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31,
               2000.

               Principal   International   SmallCap   Fund,   Inc.  (a  Maryland
               Corporation) 31.00% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               January 31, 2000.

               Principal  Limited Term Bond Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               21.85% of shares outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance
               Company  (including  subsidiaries and  affiliates) on January 31,
               2000.

               Principal   LargeCap   Stock   Index   Fund,   Inc.  (a  Maryland
               Corporation)  100.00% of shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Life Insurance Company (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on
               February 24, 2000.

               Principal  MidCap Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  0.79% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000

               Principal  Partners   Aggressive  Growth  Fund,  Inc.(a  Maryland
               Corporation) 12.91% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               January 31, 2000

               Principal   Partners   LargeCap  Growth  Fund,   Inc.(a  Maryland
               Corporation)  100.00% of shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Life Insurance Company (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on
               February 24, 2000

               Principal   Partners   MidCap   Growth  Fund,   Inc.(a   Maryland
               Corporation)  100.00% of shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal
               Life Insurance Company (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on
               February 24, 2000

               Principal Real Estate Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 62.40%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal Life Insurance Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000

               Principal SmallCap Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  13.73% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal  Special  Markets Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               83.47%  of  shares  outstanding  of  the  International  Emerging
               Markets  Portfolio,  43.49%  of  the  shares  outstanding  of the
               International Securities Portfolio,  98.66% of shares outstanding
               of the  International  SmallCap  Portfolio and 100% of the shares
               outstanding  of the  Mortgage-Backed  Securities  Portfolio  were
               owned by Principal Life Insurance Company (including subsidiaries
               and affiliates) on January 31, 2000

               Principal  Tax-Exempt  Bond Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               0.05% of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance
               Company  (including subsidiaries and affiliates)  on January 31,
               2000.

               Principal Utilities Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 0.27% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on January 31, 2000.

               Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               100% of shares  outstanding  of the following  Accounts  owned by
               Principal  Life  Insurance  Company and its Separate  Accounts on
               January 31, 2000: Aggressive Growth, Asset Allocation,  Balanced,
               Blue Chip, Bond, Capital Value,  Government  Securities,  Growth,
               High  Yield,  International,   International  SmallCap,  LargeCap
               Growth,  MicroCap,  MidCap,  MidCap Growth,  MidCap Value,  Money
               Market, Real Estate,  SmallCap,  SmallCap Growth,  SmallCap Value
               Stock Index 500, and Utilities.

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

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

          b.   PT Asuransi Jiwa Principal Indonesia (an Indonesia Corporation) a
               life  insuranced  corporation  which offers group and  individual
               products.

          c.   Principal Development  Investors,  LLC (a Delaware Corporation) a
               limited liability company engaged in acquiring and improving real
               property through development and redevelopment.

          d.   Principal  Capital  Management,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation)  a
               limited  liability  company that provides  investment  management
               services.

          e.   Principal Net Lease  Investors,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation)  a
               limited liability company which operates as a buyer and seller of
               net leased investments.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal Capital Management, LLC:

          a.   Principal Structured Investments,  LLC (a Delaware Corporation) a
               limited  liability  company  that  provides  product  development
               administration,   marketing   and   asset   management   services
               associated with stable value products together with other related
               institutional    financial   services   including    derivatives,
               asset-liability  management,  fixed income investment  management
               and ancillary money management products.

          b.   Principal  Enterprise  Capital,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation)  a
               company engaged in the operation of nonresidential buildings.

          c.   Principal Commercial  Acceptance,  LLC (a Delaware Corporation) a
               limited  liability  company involved in purchasing,  managing and
               selling commercial real estate assets in the secondary market.

          d.   Principal Real Estate Investors,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation) a
               registered investment advisor.

          e.   Principal  Commercial  Funding,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation)  a
               correspondent lender and service provider for loans.

          f.   Principal Real Estate  Services,  LLC (a Delaware  Corporation) a
               limited  liability  company which acts as a property  manager and
               real estate service provider.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal Holding Company:

          a.   Principal  Bank (a Federal  Corporation)  a  Federally  chartered
               direct delivery savings bank.

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

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

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

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

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

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

          h.   HealthRisk   Resource  Group,   Inc.  (an  Iowa   Corporation)  a
               management services organization.

          i.   Invista  Capital   Management,   LLC  (an  Iowa   Corporation)  a
               registered investment adviser.

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

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

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

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

          n.   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.

          o.   Principal Product Network, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) an
               insurance broker.

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

          q.   Dental-Net,  Inc.  (an Arizona  Corporation)  holding  company of
               Employers  Dental  Services;   a  managed  dental  care  services
               organization. HMO and dental group practice.

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

          s.   Delaware  Charter  Guarantee  &  Trust  Company,   d/b/a  Trustar
               Retirement  Services (a  Delaware  Corporation)  a  nondepository
               trust company.

          t.   Professional  Pensions,   Inc.  (a  Connecticut   Corporation)  a
               corporation  engaged in sales,  marketing and  administration  of
               group  insurance  plans and  serves as a record  keeper and third
               party  administrator  for various clients'  defined  contribution
               plans.

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

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

          Subsidiaries  organized and  wholly-owned  by PT Asuransi Jiwa
          Principal Indonesia:

          a.   PT Jasa Principal Indonesia a defined benefit pension company.

          b.   PT Principal Capital Management Indonesia a fund management
               company.

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by Invista Capital Management, LLC:

          a.   Principal  Capital - Invista  Trust.  (a Delaware  Corporation) a
               business   trust  and   private   investment   company   offering
               non-registered units, initially, to tax-exempt entities.

         Subsidiary wholly-owned by Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.:

          a.   Principal  Wholesale  Mortgage,  Inc.  (an  Iowa  Corporation)  a
               brokerage and servicer of residential mortgages.

          b.   Principal Mortgage Reinsurance Company (a Vermont corporation)
               a mortgage reinsurance company.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by The Admar Group, Inc.:

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

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Dental-Net, Inc.

          a.   Employers  Dental  Services,  Inc.  (an  Arizona  corporation)  a
               prepaid dental plan organization.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Professional Pensions, Inc.:

          a.   Benefit Fiduciary Corporation (a Rhode Island corporation) serves
               as a corporate trustee for retirement trusts.

          b.   PPI Employee Benefits  Corporation (a Connecticut  corporation) a
               registered   broker-dealer  pursuant  to  Section  15(b)  of  the
               Securities  Exchange Act an a member of the National  Association
               of  Securities  Dealers  (NASD),  limited to the sale of open-end
               mutual funds and variable insurance products.

          c.   Boston  Insurance  Trust,  Inc.  (a  Massachusetts   corporation)
               authorized  by charter to serve as a trustee in  connection  with
               multiple-employer  group life insurance  trusts or  arrangements,
               and to generally  participate in the  administration of insurance
               trusts.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal International, Inc.:

          a.   Principal  International Espana, S.A. de Seguros de Vida (a Spain
               Corporation)  a  life  insurance  company   (individual   group),
               annuities and pension.

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

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

          d.   Principal  Asset  Management  Company  (Asia) Ltd.  (Hong Kong) a
               corporation which manages pension funds.

          e.   Principal  International Asia Limited (a Hong Kong Corporation) a
               corporation operating as a regional headquarters for Asia.

          f.   Principal  Insurance  Company  (Hong  Kong)  Limited (a Hong Kong
               Corporation) group life and group pension products.

          g.   Principal Trust Company (Asia) Limited (an Asia trust company).

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

          i.   Principal  Mexico  Compania  de  Seguros,  S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico
               Corporation) a life  insurance  company  (individual  and group),
               personal accidents.

          j.   Principal Pensiones, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico Corporation) a single
               premium annuity.

          k.   Principal Afore, S.A. de C.V. (a  Mexico Corporation), a  pension
               administration company.

          l.   Principal   Consulting   (India)   Private   Limited   (an  India
               corporation) an India consulting company.

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

          a.   Princor  International  Espana  Sociedad  Anonima  de  Agencia de
               Seguros (a Spain Corporation) an insurance agency.

          Subsidiary  wholly-owned  by Principal  International  (Asia)  Limited
          (Hong Kong):

          a.   BT Funds Management  (Asia) Limited (Hong Kong)(a Hong Kong
               Corporation) an asset management company.

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

          a.   Principal  Retiro  Compania  de  Seguros  de  Retiro,   S.A.  (an
               Argentina  Corporation)  an individual  annuity/employee  benefit
               company.

          b.   Principal   Life   Compania  de  Seguros,   S.A.  (an   Argentina
               Corporation) a life insurance company.

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

          a.   Principal  Compania  de  Seguros  de Vida  Chile  S.A.  (a  Chile
               Corporation) life insurance and annuity company.

          Subsidiary wholly-owned by Principal Compania de Seguros de Vida Chile
          S.A.:

          a.   Andueza  &  Principal   Creditos   Hipotecarios   S.A.  (a  Chile
               Corporation) a residential mortgage company.

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

          a.   Siefore  Principal,  S.A.  de  C.V.  (a  Mexico  Corporation)  an
               investment fund company.

Item 27.  Number of Contractowners - As of: December 31, 1999

                     (1)                          (2)               (3)
                                             Number of Plan      Number of
          Title of Class                      Participants     Contractowners
          --------------                     --------------    --------------
          BFA Variable Annuity Contracts           76                 8
          Pension Builder Contracts               571               325
          Personal Variable Contracts            5548               127
          Premier Variable Contracts            22384               266
          Flexible Variable Annuity Contract    39884             39884
          Freedom Variable Annuity Contract       218               218

Item 28.  Indemnification

               None

Item 29.       Principal Underwriters

     (a) Princor  Financial  Services  Corporation,  principal  underwriter  for
Registrant,  acts as principal  underwriter for,  Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.,
Principal Blue Chip Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Capital
Value Fund, Inc.,  Principal Cash Management Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Government
Securities Income Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal High Yield
Fund, Inc.,  Principal  International  Emerging  Markets Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
International Fund, Inc., Principal International SmallCap Fund, Inc., Principal
LargeCap  Stock  Index  Fund,  Inc., Principal  Limited  Term Bond  Fund,  Inc.,
Principal MidCap Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Partners  Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.,
Principal Partners LargeCap Growth Fund, Inc.,  Principal Partners MidCap Growth
Fund, Inc., Principal  Real Estate Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  SmallCap Fund, Inc.,
Principal  Special Markets Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Tax-Exempt Bond Fund,  Inc.,
Principal Utilities Fund, Inc.,  Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. and for
variable annuity  contracts  participating  in Principal 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 Section 408 of
the Internal  Revenue Code, and for variable life insurance  contracts issued by
Principal 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

  John E. Aschenbrenner        Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  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              Executive Vice President
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Jerald L. Bogart             Insurance License Officer
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  David J. Drury               Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ralph C. Eucher              Director and President
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Arthur S. Filean             Vice President
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Dennis P. Francis            Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Paul N. Germain              Vice President-
  The Principal                Mutual Fund Operations
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ernest H. Gillum             Vice President-
  The Principal                Compliance and Product
  Financial Group              Development
  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

  Susan R. Haupts              Marketing Officer
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Joyce N. Hoffman             Vice President and
  The Principal                Corporate Secretary
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Kraig L. Kuhlers             Marketing Officer
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ellen Z. Lamale              Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Julia M. Lawler              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

  Kelly A. Paul                Systems & Technology
  The Principal                Officer
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Elise M. Pilkington          Assistant Director -
  The Principal                Retirement Consulting
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Richard L. Prey              Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Layne A. Rasmussen           Controller-Mutual Funds
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Martin R. Richardson         Operations Officer-
  The Principal                Broker/Dealer Services
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Elizabeth R. Ring            Controller
  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

  Minoo Spellerberg            Compliance Officer
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

           (c)        (1)                       (2)

                                      Net Underwriting
            Name of Principal           Discounts and
               Underwriter               Commissions

            Princor Financial           $12,331,736.46
            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 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 Life Insurance Company
Separate  Account B, certifies that it meets the  requirements of Securities Act
Rule 485(b) 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 28th day of February, 2000

                         PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                 (Registrant)


                         By:  PRINCIPAL 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                   February 28, 2000
- --------------------           Director
D. J. Drury


/s/ D. C. Cunningham           Vice President and             February 28, 2000
- --------------------           Controller (Principal
D. C. Cunningham               Accounting Officer)


/s/ M. H. Gersie               Executive Vice President and    February 28, 2000
- --------------------           Chief Financial Officer
M. H. Gersie                   (Principal Financial Officer)


  (B. J. Bernard)*             Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
B. J. Bernard


  (J. Carter-Miller)*          Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
J. Carter-Miller


  (C. D. Gelatt, Jr.)*         Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
C. D. Gelatt, Jr.


  (J. B. Griswell)*            Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
J. B. Griswell


  (G. D. Hurd)*                Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
G. D. Hurd


  (C. S. Johnson)*             Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
C. S. Johnson


  (W. T. Kerr)*                Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
W. T. Kerr


  (L. Liu)*                    Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
L. Liu


  (V. H. Loewenstein)*         Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
V. H. Loewenstein


  (R. D. Pearson)*             Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
R. D. Pearson


  (F. F. Pena)*                Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
F. F. Pena


  (J. R. Price)*               Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
J. R. Price, Jr.


  (D. M. Stewart)*             Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
D. M. Stewart


  (E. E. Tallett)*             Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
E. E. Tallett


  (F. W. Weitz)*               Director                       February 28, 2000
- --------------------
F. W. Weitz


                           *By    /s/ David J. Drury
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  David J. Drury
                                  Chairman



                                  Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
                                  Previously Filed or Included Herein


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the undersigned director of Principal Life
Insurance Company,  an Iowa corporation (the "Company"),  hereby constitutes and
appoints D. J. Drury, J. B. Griswell,  G. R. Narber and J. N. Hoffman,  and each
of them (with full power to each of them to act alone),  the undersigned's  true
and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution to each,
for and on behalf  and in the  name,  place  and  stead of the  undersigned,  to
execute and file any of the documents referred to below relating to registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933 with respect to variable  annuity  contracts,
with premiums  received in connection  with such contracts held in the Principal
Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B on Form N-4 or other forms under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and  any  and  all  amendments  thereto  and  reports
thereunder  with all exhibits and all  instruments  necessary or  appropriate in
connection therewith, each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents and his or their
substitutes  being empowered to act with or without the others or other,  and to
have  full  power  and  authority  to do or  cause to be done in the name and on
behalf of the  undersigned  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
or  appropriate  with  respect  thereto to be done in and about the  premises in
order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as the
undersigned  might or could do in person;  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all
that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them, may do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director has hereunto set his hand this
28th day of February, 2000.


                                             /s/ Federico F. Pena
                                             __________________________
                                                 F. F. Pena




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