UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
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:
| x | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ¨ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
THE 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):
| x | No fee required. |
| ¨ | 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: |
| (5) | Total fee paid: |
| ¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ¨ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
| (1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
| (2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
| (3) | Filing Party: |
| (4) | Date Filed: |
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY
CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
18 CHESTNUT STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01608-1928
TELEPHONE: (508)799-4441
The Annual Meeting of Contractowners who hold contracts issued pursuant to The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund (the “Fund”) will be held at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the Home Office of the Company, Legal Conference Room D, 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608. You have the right to cast votes at this meeting.
Enclosed are the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card. Please sign and return the Proxy Card in the enclosed envelope so that it will be received by the Board of Managers of the FundNO LATER THAN June 26, 2009. You may keep all other material. If you are present at the meeting, you may vote in person even though you have sent in your Proxy Card.
Your contract/certificate number and the total number of votes you may cast are shown on the Proxy Card.
| Yours sincerely, |
/s/ Susan N. Roth |
| Susan N. Roth, Secretary |
Enclosures
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 JUNE 29, 2009
Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the owners of contracts for which reserves are held in The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund (the “Fund”) of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Insurance Company (the “Company”), which meeting shall be held at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the Home Office of the Company, Legal Conference Room D, 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following:
| 1. | Election of two (2) members of the Board of Managers in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Fund; |
| 2. | Ratification of the selection and appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Independent Auditors for the Fund in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Fund; |
| 3. | Approval of the filing of an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to terminate the Fund’s registration as an investment company; |
| 4. | Approval to make the Fund’s investment objective and all of its investment policies non-fundamental rather than fundamental; and |
| 5. | Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
The date fixed by the Board of Managers as the Record Date for the determination of Contractowners entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting was at the close of business on April 30, 2009. A Contractowner will be entitled to vote only if he/she was a Contractowner on the Record Date and is still a Contractowner on the date of the meeting.
It is important that your vote be represented at the meeting. Please refer to the enclosed material for detailed information on voting procedures and return the Proxy Card as soon as possible.
June 5, 2009
IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD PROMPTLY TO ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY IN THE EVENT OF YOUR PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING.
/s/ Susan N. Roth |
| Susan N. Roth, Secretary |
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF CONTRACTOWNERS OF
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY
CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
18 CHESTNUT STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01608-1928
TELEPHONE: (508)799-4441
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Managers of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund (the “Fund”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Contractowners to be held on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) at the Home Office of the Company, Legal Conference Room D, 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608. The cost of soliciting the proxies will be borne by Unum Group. Proxies may be solicited by telephone, by mail or in person by directors, officers, agents, or regular employees of Unum Group who will not be compensated for such services. The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (“VALIC”), 205 East 10th Street, Amarillo, Texas, 79105, has been retained as the Administrator of the Fund. The Administrator has contracted with Broadridge Financials Solutions, Inc. to provide Proxy mailing and collection services to the Fund. The costs of these services will be paid by Unum Group. Contractowners may revoke their proxies at any time prior to the voting thereof by submitting written notice of revocation to the Fund c/o Unum Group at 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402. Any Contractowner attending the meeting may vote in person, whether or not a Proxy has been previously submitted. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying notice of meeting and Proxy Card are first being mailed to Contractowners on or about June 5, 2009.
The Annual Report to Contractowners covering operations of the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, including financial statements, has been previously provided.An additional copy of the Annual Report and the most recent Semi-Annual Report succeeding the Annual Report, will be provided free of charge, upon request, to any Contractowner.Contractowners may contact Linda Daughetee toll free at (800)718-8824, or by writing c/o Unum Group, Attention: Susan N. Roth, 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402, to request the Annual and/or Semi-Annual Reports.
The Board of Managers (“Board”) has fixed the close of business on April 30, 2009 (the “Record Date”) as the record date for the determination of Contractowners entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. On the Record Date, (“Record Date”), there were 72,931.537 variable accumulation and annuity units outstanding of the Fund with a total value of $666,152.66 entitling the Contractowners to one vote for each dollar of value represented by units credited to such persons as of such Record Date. Contractowners of record at the close of business on the Record Date, who are still Contractowners on June 29, 2009, will be entitled to vote at the meeting.
Units eligible to be voted for which a Proxy Card is properly signed and returned prior to the beginning of the Annual Meeting will be voted as directed. If directions are not given or directions are not in accordance with the options listed on a signed and returned Proxy Card, such units will be voted FOR each proposition for which the Board of Managers recommends a vote FOR.
Unsigned or unreturned Proxy Cards will not be counted for quorum or voting purposes. For issues as to which there is a choice on the Proxy Card, a vote to abstain will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, and counted as an “ABSTENTION” rather than as either a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST.”
For purposes of the Annual Meeting, under the Fund’s Rules and Regulations, a quorum consists of one hundred Contractowners or Contractowners entitled to cast ten (10) percent of the votes, whichever is lesser, represented in person or by proxy. A quorum being present, vote of the majority of the quorum of outstanding units represented in person or by proxy will determine the adoption or rejection of the matters specified in the Notice, except for Items 3 and 4. For Items 3 and 4, approval requires the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, which means the vote of either (a) 67% or more of the voting interests of the Contractowners present and entitled to vote if voting interests of over 50% are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the voting interests in the Fund, whichever is less.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FUND, THE COMPANY
AND THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”), through which the Company sets aside, separate and apart from its general assets, assets attributable to its variable annuity contracts.
The Company 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 and wholly-owned by Unum Group. The principal office of the Company is located at 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608. The Company’s principal business is the sale and administration of life and annuity insurance policies. The Company serves as insurer and principal underwriter and as an investment adviser to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Company is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser.
The Company has historically also served as administrator of the Fund. On May 8, 1998, the Board of Managers approved a Separate Account Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 15, 1998, between the Company and VALIC, whereby VALIC became the Administrator of the Fund. The principal office of VALIC is located at 205 East 10th Street, Amarillo, Texas, 79105. 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 Fund and on the services provided pursuant to the Agreement.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER
MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc. (“MFSI”), formerly MFS Asset Management, Inc., is a Delaware corporation with its principal offices located at 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116. MFSI, together with its parent 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, 2008, MFS and its subsidiaries, including MFSI, had over $127.6 billion in assets under management, which included over $28.0 billion in assets managed by MFSI.
MFSI serves as investment adviser to certain mutual fund and insurance company separate accounts, including serving as a sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to a contract with the Company for such services.
ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS
The Fund does not have a policy regarding director attendance at Annual Meetings of Contractowners. In 2008, all of the members of the Board of Managers attended the Annual Meeting.
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
Due to the size and structure of the Fund and its Board, the Board does not have a standing audit committee, and as a result does not have an audit committee charter. The functions that would be performed by the audit committee are performed by the entire Board.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
The Nominating Committee is responsible for the following functions:
| a. | Making nominations for Independent Director membership on the Board of Managers: and |
| b. | Review of the composition of the Board of Managers to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skills from those already on the Board of Managers. |
Members of the Nominating Committee include H. C. Goodwin and Joan Sadowsky, none of whom is an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act. The Nominating Committee did not meet during the last fiscal year (2008) of the Fund. The Board of Managers adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee on May 23, 2008, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Fund does not have a compensation committee or other standing committees.
REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
Unum Group 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 by Unum Group to Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Sadowsky for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, was $7,200.00. This amount represents consideration paid for attendance at meetings of the Board of Managers. Due to his passing earlier this year, Mr. Miller is no longer a member of the Board of Managers.
Those members of the Board of Managers deemed to be interested persons, Mr. Boggs and Mr. Fussell, received no remuneration for their service as members of Board of Managers of the Fund. As of May 20, 2009, Mr. Boggs is no longer a member of the Board of Managers.
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
Contractowners are asked to vote for the re-election of nominees Joan Sadowsky and David G. Fussell to serve as members of the Board of Managers for a three year term or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. The nominees do not own or have any interest in the Fund units. The nominees have consented to serve if elected. If the proposed nominees should become unavailable for any reason, the Board of Managers may designate another person to serve in his or her place. Four (4) regular meetings of the Board of Managers were held in 2008, and each member of the Board attended these meetings.
Recommendation
The Board of Managers unanimously recommends a vote for the election of these nominees as managers.
INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
The following table provides information concerning the members of the Board of Managers and nominees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act:
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | |||||
Name, Address, and Age | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and | Principal Occupation(s) Years | Number of Portfolios in | Other Directorships Held by | |||||
H. C. Goodwin (74) 11 Waters Road Millbury, MA 01527 | Member, Board of Managers | 2008-2011 7 years of service | President of Manufacturers Service Center, Inc. (metal and plastic parts manufacturer) | 2 | None | |||||
Gordon T. Miller (85)* 27 Briarwood Circle Worcester, MA 01606 | ||||||||||
Joan Sadowsky (79) 770 Salisbury Street Apt. 576 Worcester, MA 01609 | Member, Board of Managers | 2007-2010 23 years of service | Retired; Former Vice President of Human Resources, Atlas Distributing Corporation, Auburn, MA (beverage distribution) | 2 | None | |||||
| * | Mr. Miller is no longer a member of the Board of Managers. |
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 Act owns beneficially or of record securities of the Company or any of its affiliates.
INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
(Continued)
The following table provides information concerning the members of the Board of Managers and nominees who are “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act.
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | |||||
Name, Address, and Age | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director or Nominee for Director | Other Directorships Held by Director or Nominee For Director | |||||
David G. Fussell* (61) 1 Fountain Square Chattanooga, TN 37402 | Chairman, Board of Managers | 2007-2010 7 years of service | Senior Vice President of | 2 | None | |||||
| * | Former officers of the Company, and other subsidiaries of Unum Group. Effective May 20, 2009, Donald E. Boggs, an interested person of the Fund, resigned from the Board due to the passing of Mr. Miller so that a majority of remaining members would be disinterested persons. |
The following table provides information concerning the dollar range of equity securities owned beneficially by each Manager and Nominee for election as Manager as of December 31, 2008:
| (1) | (2) | (3) | ||
Name of Director or Nominee | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Funds Overseen or to be Overseen by Director or Nominee in Family of Investment Companies | ||
H.C. Goodwin | None | None | ||
Gordon T. Miller* | None | None | ||
Joan Sadowsky | None | None | ||
Donald E. Boggs | None | None | ||
David G. Fussell | None | None | ||
| * | Mr. Miller and Mr. Boggs are no longer members of the Board of Managers. |
CONTRACTOWNER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD
The Board of Managers has adopted a process for Contractowners to send communications to the Board. Contractowners interested in communicating with the Board of Managers or certain members thereof, may do so by writing to the Secretary of the Board of Managers (The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund), 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402. Under the process adopted by the Board of Managers, the Secretary reviews all such correspondence and regularly provides to the Chairman a log and copies of all such correspondence. The Chairman shall determine whether further distribution of such correspondence is appropriate and to where it should be sent. Any member of the Board of Managers may at any time review this log and request copies of any such correspondence.
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 the Company, as a group, owned beneficially and of record no Units.
The following Contractowners beneficially owned more than 5% of the units in the Fund as of the Record Date:
Name | Address | Number of Units Beneficially Owned | Percent | ||||
Leo Hochman | 17 Herbert Road Worchester, MA 01602 | 11,146.069 | 15.28 | % | |||
Marilyn Pellet | 72 Whitehill Drive West Hartford, CT 06117 | 7,402.469 | 10.15 | % | |||
Bruce Garand | 128 Ridgecrest Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505 | 5,543.660 | 7.60 | % | |||
James Coules | c/o Dennis Coules, Trustee PO Box 328 Kelvin Grove, GLD4059 Australia | 5,016.679 | 6.88 | % | |||
Celia Wallace | c/o Chunchula Energy Corp 3632 Dauphin Street, #101B Mobile, AL 36608 | 4,105.136 | 5.63 | % | |||
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Managers, including a majority of the Managers who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act, has selected Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors to audit the accounts of the Fund for the current fiscal year. 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 Contractowners.
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 Unum Group and are not charged to or paid from the Fund.
There are no non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young LLP to the Fund, the investment adviser, or control persons of the investment adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund.
In the event the Contractowners 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.
Recommendation
The Board of Managers unanimously recommends ratification of the selection and appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Fund for the current fiscal year.
Audit Fees – Ernst & Young LLP billed Unum Group $19,100.00 for the audit of the financial statements of the Fund for 2008, and $18,100.00 for the audit of the financial statements of the Fund for 2007.
Audit-Related Fees – The aggregate fees for audit-related services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP to the Fund, the investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser in 2008 and 2007 for such services were $0.00 and $0.00.
Tax Fees– The aggregate fees related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services to the Fund for fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, were $0.00 and $0.00.
All Other Fees – The aggregate fees rendered 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 Unum Group for such services to the Fund in 2008 and 2007 were $0.00 and $0.00.
ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO TERMINATE THE FUND’S REGISTRATION AS AN
INVESTMENT COMPANY
The Board of Managers is asking Contractowners to approve Item 3 to allow the Fund to terminate its investment company registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Background
The Fund is a managed separate account of the Company that is currently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act as a diversified open-end management investment company. The Fund was established by the Company on December 22, 1965 for the purpose of funding certain variable annuity contracts (“Contracts”). In 1984, the Company discontinued the public offering of the Contracts and has not accepted additional contributions or transfers into the Fund under existing Contracts since January 16, 2007. As of April 30, 2009, the Fund had a total of 84 beneficial owners of Contracts and approximate total assets of $666,152.
A managed separate account with 100 or fewer beneficial owners that is no longer issuing variable annuity contracts may file an application to terminate its investment company registration with the SEC on the grounds that it is no longer an investment company within the meaning of the Act. In anticipation of the number of the Fund’s beneficial owners falling to 100 or below in the near future, the Board of Managers is seeking Contractowner approval of Item 3.
Once it has 100 or fewer beneficial owners, the Fund will no longer be an investment company within the meaning of the Act, thereby making continued registration under and compliance with the Act unnecessary. Terminating the Fund’s registration would alleviate the Fund of various burdens associated with requirements imposed by the Act, including, among others, burdens relating to the composition of the Board; the updating of the Fund’s registration under the Act; the preparation, filing, and delivery of various reports under the Act; the approval of and requirements pertaining to the Fund’s investment adviser, sub-adviser, and independent accountants; and certain investment restrictions the relief from which would make managing the Fund’s small and decreasing assets easier.
If Item 3 is approved, the Fund will file an application to deregister the Fund after the number of beneficial owners in the Fund falls to 100 or below. If the SEC grants the Fund’s application to deregister, the Fund will continue to operate while Contractowners remain invested in the Fund in accordance with state insurance law. However, the Fund would no longer be subject to the Act and the regulations thereunder. Approval of this Item 3 requires the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, which means the vote of either (a) 67% or more of the voting interests of the Contractowners present and entitled to vote if voting interests of over 50% are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the voting interest in the Fund, whichever is less.
Item 3 is independent of Item 4 described below and, as a result, the approval of one item is not dependent on the approval of the other.
Recommendation
The Board of Managers unanimously recommends that Contractowners of the Fund approve Item 3.
ITEM 4: APPROVAL TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND INVESTMENT
POLICIES OF THE FUND NON-FUNDAMENTAL RATHER THAN FUNDAMENTAL
The Board of Managers is asking Contractowners to approve Item 4 to make the Fund’s investment objective and investment policies “non-fundamental” rather than “fundamental”. Approval of Item 4 would allow the Board to change the Fund’s investment objective and these investment policies, from time to time, without the delay and expense associated with obtaining a Contractowner vote.
Background
The investment objective and investment policies of the Fund are attached as Exhibit B. The investment objective and investment policies govern the investment activities of the Fund and limit its ability to invest in certain types of securities or engage in certain types of transactions. The Fund’s investment objective and certain investment policies are currently “fundamental,” as described in Exhibit B, which means that they may not be changed without the approval of a majority in interest of Contracts having a voting interest in the Fund constituting either (a) 67% or more of the voting interests of the Contractowners present and entitled to vote if voting interests of over 50% are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the voting interest in the Fund, whichever is less. Other investment policies, as described in Exhibit B, are currently non-fundamental, which means that they can be changed by the Board of Managers without a vote of Contractowners.
Approval of Item 4 would make the Fund’s investment objective and all of its investment policies, rather than just some of them, non-fundamental. This will allow the Fund to avoid the costs and delays associated with a Contractowner meeting if the Board of Managers decides to make future changes to the Fund’s investment objective and/or investment policies. At the present time, the Board of Managers does not anticipate changing the investment objective of the Fund. However, given the small and declining asset base of the Fund, the Board anticipates that it may need to change one or more of the Fund’s investment policies to give the Fund’s investment adviser and sub-adviser greater investment flexibility in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. In particular, if Item 3 above is approved and the Fund terminates its registration under the Act, it is likely the Fund will change its investment policies as necessary or appropriate to permit investments in shares of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds for diversification and other purposes.
Item 4 is independent of Item 3 described above and, as a result, the approval of one item is not dependent on the approval of the other.
Recommendation
The Board of Managers unanimously recommends that Contractowners of the Fund approve Item 4.
LITIGATION
There are no material legal proceedings currently pending to which the Company or the Fund is a party, or to which its property is subject.
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.
CONTRACTOWNER PROPOSALS
Contractowner proposals intended to be presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Contractowners must be received by the Fund c/o Unum Group at 1 Fountain Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402, Attention: Susan N. Roth, no later than December 31, 2009, to be considered for inclusion in the Fund Proxy Statement and Proxy Card. No Contractowner proposals were received for this year’s meeting.
| BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS |
/s/ David G. Fussell |
| David G. Fussell, Chairman |
Exhibit A
THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND
NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER
Nominating Committee Membership and Term
The Nominating Committee (“Committee”) of The Paul Revere Variable Annuity Contract Accumulation Fund (“Fund”) shall be composed entirely of one or more members of the Fund’s Board of Managers (“Board”) who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act, as defined below (“Independent Managers”).
The Committee shall continue in existence on a permanent basis until dissolved by the Board. The term of any member of the Committee shall be subject to the limitations set out, from time to time, in the Rules and Regulations of the Fund. Subject to the foregoing, the Committee shall elect a chair (the “Chair”) for such term as it shall determine.
Committee Chair, Recorder
The Chair may designate a person (the “recorder”) to record the proceedings of the Committee’s meetings and maintain materials related to the operation of the Committee (“records”). The recorder may be outside legal counsel employed by the Fund. To ensure the independence of the Committee, neither the Committee nor the recorder shall be required to submit any such records to the Board and, instead, may maintain such records independently of the Board until directed to do otherwise by a vote of the Board.
Board Nominations and Functions
| 1. | The Committee shall make nominations for and select the Independent Manager members of the Board. |
| 2. | The control of the nomination and selection process for Independent Manager membership shall rest exclusively with the Committee. |
| 3. | The selection and nomination process shall include such functions as researching, canvassing, recruiting, interviewing, considering, soliciting and formally naming candidates. |
| 4. | The Committee shall evaluate candidates’ qualifications for Independent Manager membership and their independence from the Fund’s investment advisers and other principal service providers. Candidates selected may not be an “interested person” of the Fund as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). In determining nominees’ qualifications for Board membership, the Committee may consider such other factors as it may determine to be relevant to fulfilling the role of being a member of the Board. The Committee shall consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, e.g. business, financial or family relationships with the Fund’s investment advisers or the other principal service providers. |
| 5. | In carrying out its responsibilities, the Committee may consider the extent to which the Committee believes that it is appropriate to invite Fund management (“Management”) to provide input as to Independent Manager candidates and request Management to provide administrative assistance in the selection and nomination process. However, any such participation by Management in the selection and nomination process shall not preclude or excuse the Committee from the responsibility to canvas, recruit, interview and solicit Independent Manager candidates. |
| 6. | The Committee shall periodically review the composition of the Board to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skills from those already on the Board. |
Committee Nominations and Functions
| 1. | The Committee shall make nominations for membership on all committees of the Board and shall review Board committee assignments as necessary. |
| 2. | The Committee shall review as necessary the responsibilities of any committees of the Board, whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. The Committee shall make recommendations for any such action to the full Board. |
Independence of Counsel to the Independent Managers
The Committee shall consider and review, at least annually, the independence of outside counsel, if any, to the Independent Managers of the Fund and the basis of the determination must be included in the minutes of the appropriate meeting of the Committee.
Other Powers and Responsibilities
| 1. | The Committee shall normally meet annually and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances require at the call of the Committee’s Chair for such business as the Board or the Committee shall determine consistent with this Charter. |
| 2. | The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund. |
| 3. | The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the full Board. |
| 4. | The Committee shall consider such matters as are appropriate under this Charter and shall report to the Board such nominations, or other findings and recommendations, as the Committee shall deem fit to report. |
| 5. | Any nomination, or other recommendation that the Board take action on any given matter, shall be reported to the Board sufficiently in advance of the next Board meeting to allow all members of the Board to give the matter full and adequate consideration prior to taking action. |
Limitations on Powers
The Committee has no authority to take action on behalf of the full Board.
Adopted by the Nominating Committee on May 23, 2008.
Exhibit B
A.Investment Policies and Restrictions
The fundamental investment policies and restrictions of the Accumulation Fund (including Series Q and Series N) are enumerated in Items 1 and 4 through 10 below. They may not be changed without the approval of a majority in interest of contracts having a voting interest in the Accumulation Fund. A majority as used in this Prospectus, means (a) 67% or more of the voting interests of the Contractowners present and entitled to vote if voting interests of over 50% are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the voting interest in the Accumulation Fund, whichever is less. Items 2, 3 and 11 through 15 are not fundamental investment policies and may be changed by the Board of Managers.
| 1. | The growth of capital is the primary investment objective of the Accumulation Fund. Assets of the Accumulation Fund, including any earned income and realized capital gains, shall be kept fully invested except for reasonable amounts held in cash to meet current expenses or normal contract payments and for reasonable amounts held for temporary periods pending investment in accordance with the investment policy. |
| 2. | Common stocks believed to have potential for growth will usually constitute a major portion of the Accumulation Fund portfolio but in keeping with the objective of growth of capital, the investments may be made from time to time in other securities. When deemed necessary for defensive purposes, the Accumulation Fund may substantially increase the portion of its assets invested in fixed income obligations and held in cash. |
| 3. | Investments of the Accumulation Fund are controlled by provisions of Sections 132H, Chapter 175 of the General Laws of Massachusetts. In general, this releases the Accumulation Fund assets from investment restrictions applicable to life insurance company reserve investments, limits investments in securities of any one issuer to 10% of the value of the Accumulation Fund assets and requires common stock purchases to be listed or admitted to trading on a securities exchange located in the United States or Canada or to be traded in the over-the-counter securities market. Such section as may be amended from time to time will be followed. |
The Accumulation Fund will not:
| 4. | Acquire more than 5% of the voting securities of any one issuer. |
| 5. | Purchase the securities of an issuer, if, immediately after and as a result of such purchase, the value of its holdings in the securities of such issuer shall exceed 5% of the value of its total assets. |
| 6. | Invest more than 25% of the value of its assets in any one industry. |
| 7. | Engage in the purchase or sale of interests in real estate which are not readily marketable. |
| 8. | Borrow money except from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes and then not to exceed 5% of the value of its assets. |
| 9. | Engage in the purchase or sale of commodities or commodity contracts. |
| 10. | Act as an underwriter of securities of another issuer (except where the Accumulation Fund may be deemed to be a statutory underwriter in connection with the disposition of restricted securities). |
| 11. | Make purchases on margin, except such short-term credit as is necessary for clearance of transactions. |
| 12. | Make short sales of securities. |
| 13. | Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management. |
| 14. | Purchase securities of other investment companies except (i) of closed-end companies in the open market at customary brokerage commissions and then with an aggregate investment in such securities not exceeding 5% of the value of its assets and the total outstanding voting interest in any one such investment company not to exceed 3% or (ii) as a part of a merger or consolidation. |
| 15. | Invest in excess of 10% of the value of its assets in restricted securities. |
LABEL BELOW FOR MIS USE ONLY!
PO# M-3640
UNUM GROUP #606
PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANN CONTRACT ACC #503, 504
ORIGINAL 1UP POLY 05-06-09 JM
DAVE (UNUM GROUP - PAUL REVERE 503, 504 - 2009 DC)
REVISION #1 05-07-09 JM
MIS EDITS: # OF CHANGES / PRF 1 PRF 2
OK TO PRINT AS IS* *By signing this form you are authorizing
MIS to print this form in its current state.
SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZING PRINTING DATE
UNUM
UNUM GROUP
C/O PROXY TABULATOR
P.O. BOX 9112
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
To Vote by Telephone
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand.
2) Call toll-free 1-888-221-0697
3) Follow the recorded instructions.
To Vote by Internet
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand.
2) Go to www.proxyweb.com
3) Follow the on-screen instructions.
To Vote by Mail
1) Read the Proxy Statement.
2) Check the appropriate boxes on reverse side.
3) Sign, date and return your completed card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD IF YOU VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE.
PROXY THE PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT ACCUMULATION FUND PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF MANAGERS
999 999 999 999 99
FUND/INSURANCE COMPANY NAME PRINTS HERE
The undersigned hereby appoints David G. Fussell and Susan N. 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. Eastern Time on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the Home Office of the Company, Legal Conference Room D, 18 Chestnut Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608, 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.
Date , 2009
Contractowner Signature(s) Title (If Applicable) (Please sign in Box)
UNUM PAUL R DC
LABEL BELOW FOR MIS USE ONLY!
PO# M-3640
UNUM GROUP #606
PAUL REVERE VARIABLE ANN CONTRACT ACC #503, 504
ORIGINAL 1UP POLY 05-06-09 JM
DAVE (UNUM GROUP - PAUL REVERE 503, 504 - 2009 DC)
REVISION #1 05-11-09 JM
REVISION #2 05-12-09 JM
REVIEW #1 5/12/09 KD
MIS EDITS: # OF CHANGES ___/___ PRF 1___ PRF 2___
OK TO PRINT AS IS* *By signing this form you are authorizing
MIS to print this form in its current state.
SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZING PRINTING DATE
This proxy when properly executed will be voted as directed. IN THE ABSENCE OF ACCOMPANYING DIRECTION BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS ONE AND TWO.
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or number 2 pencil. X
UNUM GROUP
PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS.
1. Election of two (2) members of the Board of Managers in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Fund;
(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 above.)
2. Ratification of the selection and appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Independent Auditors for the Fund in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Fund;
3. Approval of the filing of an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to terminate the Fund’s registration as an investment company;
4. Approval to make the Fund’s investment objective and all of its investment policies non-fundamental rather than fundamental; and
5. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof.
FOR WITHHOLD FOR ALL
ALL authority for all except as noted at left
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
UNUM Paul R DC