UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrantx
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant¨
Check the appropriate box:
¨ | | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ | | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | | Definitive Proxy Statement |
¨ | | Definitive Additional Materials |
¨ | | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
(Name of Registrant as specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨ | | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
| (1) | | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (2) | | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (3) | | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
| (4) | | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
¨ | | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ | | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
| (1) | | Amount Previously Paid: |
| (2) | | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
18 CHESTNUT STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01608-1928
TELEPHONE: (508) 799-4441
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON MAY 15, 2003
The Annual Meeting of variable annuity contract owners of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Insurance Company will be held at the Home Office of the Company, 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, Thursday, May 15, 2003. The purpose of the meeting is to consider and act upon the following:
1. | | Election of two (2) members to the Board of Managers in accordance with the Rules and Regulations; |
2. | | Ratification of the selection and appointment of Ernst and Young LLP as independent auditors for the Accumulation Fund for 2003; and |
3. | | Transaction of any other business which may properly be brought before the meeting and adjournment thereof. |
The number of votes which may be cast is indicated on each proxy and was determined on the basis of variable accumulation and annuity units credited under a contract funded by the Accumulation Fund as of April 1, 2003, which is also the record date for determining those having the right to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Individuals other than the contract owner who have a vested interest under a contract issued to fund a pension, profit-sharing or other arrangement have the right to instruct the contract owner with respect to the votes attributable to such interest, or, if they are annuitants receiving payments or are participants under a group tax deferred variable annuity contract for employees of a public school system or of a charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to vote directly. Contract owners, annuitants, and participants under group tax deferred contracts are requested to return their proxies promptly to The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Insurance Company through its proxy solicitor, Management Information Services Corp. Proxies may be withdrawn at any time before the meeting by returning a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. A proxy may also be withdrawn in the event of personal attendance at the meeting. Other holders of vested interests under variable annuity contracts are requested to forward their proxies promptly to the contract owner. Such other holders may also withdraw their proxies at any time before they are exercised by returning a written revocation to the contract owner.
April 25, 2003
IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY TO ASSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY IN THE EVENT OF YOUR PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING.
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| | /s/ SUSAN N. ROTH
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| | Susan N. Roth Secretary, Board of Managers |
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
18 CHESTNUT STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01608-1528
TELEPHONE: (508) 799-4441
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement, which is being mailed on or about April 25, 2003, is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Managers of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund (the “Fund”), a separate account of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Insurance Company (“PRV”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of UnumProvident Corporation (“UnumProvident”) of proxies in the accompanying form for the purposes of the May 15, 2003, Annual Meeting as set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting (the “Notice”). The Annual Report of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2002, was previously forwarded.A copy of the Annual Report of the Fund may be obtained without charge from PRV by writing to Susan N. Roth, The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund, 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 or by calling (800) 821-1693.
A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by filing a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the person with whom the proxy was filed. A proxy shall be suspended if the person entitled to vote at the meeting is present and elects to vote in person.
It is the intention of the persons named in the proxy, unless otherwise specifically instructed in the proxy, to vote in favor of the matters described in the Notice and this Proxy Statement, and in their discretion on other matters properly coming before the meeting.
Management Information Services Corp. has been retained by PRV to solicit proxies by mail. The cost of soliciting proxies, which is expected to be nominal, will be borne by UnumProvident. In addition to solicitation by mail, certain directors and officers of PRV or members of the Board of Managers of the Fund may solicit proxies in person or by telephone. No officer or manager of the Fund receives compensation or reimbursement from the Fund for such solicitation.
The Board of Managers of the Fund has fixed April 1, 2003, as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determination of the contract owners entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and the number of votes to which such persons are entitled. On the Record Date there were 719,385.915 variable accumulation and annuity units outstanding (collectively, variable accumulation and annuity units will hereinafter be referred to as “Units”), each of which is entitled to one vote. Fractional Units will be voted on a pro rata basis. Only variable annuity contract owners, annuitants and participants under group tax deferred variable annuity contracts (collectively, such variable annuity contract owners, annuitants, and participants will hereinafter be referred to as “contract owners”) are entitled to vote at the meeting but others having a vested interest under a pension, profit-sharing or other plan or arrangement have the right to instruct the owner of the contract with respect to the votes attributable to Units representing such interests. Such instruction may be given by promptly forwarding the executed proxy to the owner of the contract. The interest represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions on the proxy if the proxy is promptly executed and returned.
For purposes of the Meeting, a quorum is the presence in person or by proxy of the lesser of one hundred variable annuity contract owners entitled to vote or variable annuity contract owners entitled to vote ten percent of the Units. A quorum being present, the adoption or rejection of the matters specified in the Notice will be decided with respect to each series of the Fund by the vote of a majority of the Units voted of each series.
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CONTRACT OWNERS PROPOSALS
Contract owners’ proposals for action at the next annual meeting must be received by Management at its principal office by January 19, 2004, to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement and proxy form, and by April 3, 2004, to be considered for presentation at the annual meeting of contract owners currently scheduled for May 17, 2004. No contract owners’ proposals were received for this year’s meeting.
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
As of the Record Date, the members of the Board of Managers of the Fund and the directors and principal officers of PRV, as a group, through their ownership of individual variable annuity contracts, owned beneficially and of record no Units.
The following Contractowners beneficially owned more than 5% of the units in the Separate Account as of the Record Date:
Name
| | Address
| | Number of Units Beneficially Owned
| | Percent
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Paul Revere Emp Pension Plan Attn: UnumProvident Corporation | | 2211 Congress Street Portland, ME 04122 | | 452340.197 | | 6.29 |
Guenther E. Herpfer | | 60 Tupelo Road Swampscott, MA 02159 | | 38512.545 | | 5.35 |
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FUND, PRV AND THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Fund is an open-end, diversified investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) and is the separate account through which PRV sets aside, separate and apart from its general assets, assets attributable to its variable annuity contracts.
PRV is a stock life insurance company organized under Massachusetts General Laws and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company (“PRL”), a Massachusetts corporation, which is indirectly wholly owned by UnumProvident. The principal office of PRV is at 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. PRV’s principal business is the sale and administration of life and annuity insurance policies. PRV serves as insurer and principal underwriter and as an investment adviser to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement. PRV is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser and as a broker-dealer.
PRV has historically also served as administrator of the Separate Account. On May 8, 1998, the Board of Managers approved a Separate Account Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 15, 1998, between PRV and The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (“VALIC”), whereby VALIC became the Administrator of the Separate Account. The principal office of VALIC is at 205 East 10th Street, Amarillo, Texas. The change in administrator did not result in any changes in administration and sales fees. On a periodic basis, the Administrator reports to the Board of Managers on the Separate Account and on the services provided pursuant to the Agreement.
INFORMATION CONCERNING MFS INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS, INC.
MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc. (“MFSI”), formerly MFS Asset Management, Inc., is a Delaware corporation with its principal offices at 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. MFSI, together with its parent
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corporation, Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”) and its predecessor organizations, have a history of money management dating from 1924. MFSI is directly owned by Sun Life of Canada (US) Financial Services Holdings, Inc., which is in turn owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada—US Operations Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, which is in turn owned by Sun Life Financial Services of Canada, Inc.
As of December 31, 2002, MFS and its subsidiaries including MFSI, had over $112.5 billion in assets under management, which included over $13.1 billion in assets managed by MFSI.
MFS serves as investment advisor to certain mutual fund and insurance company separate accounts, including serving as a sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to a contract with PRV for such services.
INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
(1) Name, Address, and Age
| | (2) Position(s) Held with the Separate Account
| | (3) Term of Office and Length of Time Served
| | (4) Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
| | (5) Number of Portfolios in Separate Account Overseen by Director or Nominee for Director
| | (6) Other Directorships Held by Director or Nominee For Director
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H. C. “Lan” Goodwin (68) 24 Waters Road Sutton, MA 01590 | | Member, Board of Managers | | 2002-2004 elected to board in 2002 | | President of Manufacturers Service Center, Inc. | | 2 | | None |
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Gordon T. Miller (80) 14 Eastwood Road Shrewsbury, MA 01545 | | Vice Chairman, Board of Managers | | 2001-2004 34 years of service | | Retired; Former Vice President and Director of Industrial Relations of Barry Wright Corporation, Newton Lower Falls, MA. (antivibration products) | | 2 | | None |
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Joan Sadowsky (73) 770 Salisbury Street Apt. 576 Worcester, MA 01609 | | Member, Board of Managers | | 2000-2003 17 years of service | | Retired; Former Vice President of Human Resources, Atlas Distributing Corporation, Auburn, MA (beverage distribution) | | 2 | | None |
The members of the Board of Managers listed below are “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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(1) Name, Address, and Age
| | (2) Position(s) Held with the Separate Account
| | (3) Term of Office and Length of Time Served
| | (4) Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
| | (5) Number of Portfolios in Separate Account Overseen by Director or Nominee for Director
| | (6) Other Directorships Held by Director or Nominee For Director
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Donald Boggs* (57) 1 Fountain Square Chattanooga, TN 37402 | | Chairman Board of Managers | | 2001-2004 5 years of service | | Senior Vice President UnumProvident Corporation Chattanooga, Tennessee | | 2 | | None |
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David G. Fussell* (55) 1 Fountain Square Chattanooga, TN 37402 | | Member, Board of Managers | | 2002-2003 1 year of service | | Senior Vice President UnumProvident Corporation, Chattanooga, Tennessee | | 2 | | None |
* | | Officers of PRV, (the investment advisor, underwriter and sponsoring insurance company) and other subsidiaries within the UnumProvident holding company system. |
None of the members of the Board of Managers who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 owns beneficially or of record securities of PRV or any of its affiliates.
ITEM 1: MANAGEMENT AND ELECTION OF MANAGERS
Under Article III of the Rules and Regulations of the Fund, members of the Board of Managers are elected at the annual meeting to serve for the term of three years, succeeding those whose terms are then expiring, provided that when the terms of more than two members of the Board expire in the same year, the term of members to be elected shall be adjusted in such a manner that terms of at least one but not more than two members shall expire in each of the next three years.
William J. Short retired from the Board during 2002. The Board of Managers elected H.C. “Lan” Goodwin to fill the vacancy, as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of the Fund, to serve for the remainder of Mr. Short’s term, which expires in 2004. Four (4) regular meetings of the Board of Managers were held in 2002 and each member of the Board attended at least 75 percent of the meetings. The Board of Managers does not have nominating, audit, or compensation committees.
Under the terms of the 1940 Act, the Fund must have a Board of Managers, not more than sixty-percent of the members of which are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Accumulation Fund or its Investment Advisor/Principal Underwriter as defined in the 1940 Act. Two members of the Board of Managers whose terms continue—namely Mr. Miller and Mr. Goodwin—are not deemed to be “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Ms. Sadowsky, who is nominated for re-election, is not deemed to be an “interested person.” Mr. Boggs whose term continues, and Mr. Fussell, who is nominated for re-election, are deemed to be “interested persons” by virtue of their status as officers of the Investment Advisor and the principal underwriter of the Fund.
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In the event that any nominee should become unavailable to serve for any reason, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will consult with Management and vote for such substitute nominee or nominees as Management may recommend. At this time Management knows of no reason why any nominee would be unavailable to serve.
REMUNERATION OF MANAGERS
UnumProvident paid all expenses relative to the operation of the Fund including Board of Managers’ fees. Accordingly, no member of the Board of Managers receives any remuneration from the Fund. The total aggregate remuneration paid to all members of the Board of Managers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, was $5,400.00. This amount represents consideration paid for attendance at meetings of the Board of Managers. Those members of the Board of Managers deemed to be interested persons received direct remuneration or an indirect benefit as officers of PRV. None of the members of the Board of Managers, or officers of the Fund, who are also officers or employees of PRV or its affiliates, received any remuneration from the Fund.
Information concerning the nominees for re-election, as well as members of the Board of Managers whose terms will continue, follows with the same abbreviations of company names as used previously. Unless the contract owner withholds authorization on the proxy, it is intended that the interest represented by the proxy will be voted in favor of the election of the nominees.
None of the members of the Board of Managers who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 owns beneficially or of record securities of PRV or any of its affiliates.
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Managers, including a majority of the Managers who are not deemed to be “interested persons”, has, on February 28, 2002, selected Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, to audit the accounts of the Fund for the year 2002. Ernst & Young LLP has audited the accounts of the Fund each year since 1968. The appointment of independent auditors is ratified or rejected annually by the variable annuity contract owners.
Ernst & Young LLP has advised the Board of Managers of the Fund that neither its firm nor any of its members or associates has any direct or any material indirect financial interest in the Fund or any of its affiliates other than as independent auditors. All audit and other fees paid to the auditors for work related to the Fund are paid by UnumProvident and are not charged to or paid from the Fund.
Audit Fees – Ernst & Young LLP billed UnumProvident $20,000.00 for the audit of the financial statements of the Fund for 2002.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees – The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP to the Fund, the investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser, or UnumProvident in 2002 for such services rendered to them was $0.00.
All Other Fees—The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP to the Fund, the investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser, or UnumProvident in 2002 for such services rendered to them was $0.00.
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The Board of Managers recommends ratification of the selection and appointment of such firm as independent auditors of the Fund for the period stated. The Board of Managers has not considered whether the services provided by Ernst & Young LLP are compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent auditor. In the event the variable annuity contract owners do not ratify the selection by the Board of Managers of this firm or if Ernst & Young LLP shall decline to act or otherwise become incapable of acting, or if its employment be otherwise discontinued, the Board of Managers will select other independent auditors.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are not expected to be present at the annual meeting.
ITEM 3: OTHER BUSINESS
Management is not aware of any other business to come before the meeting. In case of any such business properly brought before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment in the interest of the Fund.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
/s/ DONALD E. BOGGS
Donald E. Boggs
Chairman, Board of Managers
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PROXY
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
BOARD OF MANAGERS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald Boggs and Susan Roth or either of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, to represent and to cast the votes of the undersigned as shown on the reverse side at the Annual Meeting of Contractowners of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund to be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 15, 2003, and at any adjournment thereof, with respect to the proposals on the reverse side and as set forth in the Notice.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Contractowners and the Proxy Statement issued by the Board of Managers and revokes any Proxy heretofore given with respect to the votes covered by this Proxy.
| | Dated 2003 | | |
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| | Contractowner Signature(s) Title (If Applicable) | | (Please Sign in Box) |
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or a number 2 pencil.x
PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted as directed. IN THE ABSENCE OF ACCOMPANYING DIRECTION BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTEDFOR PROPOSALS ONE AND TWO.
| | | | FOR ALL | | WITHHOLDauthority for all | | FOR ALLexcept as noted at left |
1. | | ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS (Board of Managers favor a vote FOR) (01) Joan Sadowsky (02) David G. Fussell (Instruction: To withhold a vote for a nominee, check “For All Except” and write that nominee’s number on the line below.) | | ¨ | | ¨ | | ¨ |
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| | | | FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN |
2. | | PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE ACCUMULATION FUND. (Board of Managers favors a vote FOR) | | ¨ | | ¨ | | ¨ |
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3. | | In their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. | | | | | | |
PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE