N-6/A 1 dn6a.htm SURVIVORSHIP VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE Survivorship Variable Universal Life
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Registration No. 333-136308

Registration No. 811-21933

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-6

 

  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES   
  ACT OF 1933    ¨
  Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1    x
  Post-Effective Amendment No.         ¨

and/or

 

  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT   
  COMPANY ACT OF 1940    ¨
  Amendment No. 5    x

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT II

(Exact Name of Registrant)

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Name of Depositor)

 

720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin   53202
(Address of Depositor’s Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Depositor’s Telephone Number, including Area Code 414-271-1444

ROBERT J. BERDAN, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Terry R. Young, Assistant General Counsel

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

720 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Approximate date of proposed public offering: January 31, 2007.

Title of Securities Being Registered: Interests in the Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II under flexible premium variable adjustable survivorship life insurance policies.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box ¨

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

 

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

 

  ¨ on (DATE) 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

 

  ¨ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until a further amendment is filed which specifically states that this registration statement shall hereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

 



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P r o s p e c t u s

[                    ], 2007

Survivorship Variable Universal Life

Issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

and Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II

This prospectus describes a flexible premium variable survivorship universal life insurance policy (the "Policy") issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. The Policy is a long-term investment designed to provide a Life Insurance Benefit upon the death of the second of the Insureds to die (the “second death”). This prospectus provides basic information that you should know before purchasing the Policy. You should consider the Policy in conjunction with other insurance you own. Replacing your existing life insurance with this Policy may not be to your advantage. In addition, it may not be to your advantage to finance the purchase or maintenance of this Policy through a loan or through withdrawals from another policy. Please consult your Network Representative.

You may choose to invest your Net Premiums in one or more Divisions of the Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II (the "Separate Account"). Each Division of the Separate Account invests exclusively in shares of a single series of a Fund (a "Portfolio”). Each Portfolio available as an investment option under the Policy is identified below:

 

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.   
Small Cap Growth Stock Portfolio    Large Cap Core Stock Portfolio
T. Rowe Price Small Cap Value Portfolio    Capital Guardian Domestic Equity Portfolio
Aggressive Growth Stock Portfolio    T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio
International Growth Portfolio    Index 500 Stock Portfolio
Franklin Templeton International Equity Portfolio    Asset Allocation Portfolio
AllianceBernstein Mid Cap Value Portfolio    Balanced Portfolio
Index 400 Stock Portfolio    High Yield Bond Portfolio
Janus Capital Appreciation Portfolio    Select Bond Portfolio
Growth Stock Portfolio    Money Market Portfolio

Fidelity® Variable Insurance Products Fund III

Mid Cap Portfolio

 

Russell Investment Funds   
Multi-Style Equity Fund    Core Bond Fund
Aggressive Equity Fund    Real Estate Securities Fund
Non-U.S. Fund   

Please note that the Policy and the Portfolios are not guaranteed to achieve their goals; are not federally insured; are not bank deposits; are not endorsed by any bank or government agency; and are subject to risks, including loss of the principal amount invested.

Please carefully read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectuses for the corresponding Portfolios and keep them for future reference. These prospectuses provide information that you should know before investing in the Policy. No person is authorized to make any representation in connection with the offering of the Policy other than those contained in these prospectuses.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved the Policy or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The Policy may not be available in all states and is only offered where it can be lawfully sold.

LOGO


Table of Contents

Contents of this Prospectus

 

     Page

Summary of Policy Benefits and Risks

   1

Benefits of the Policy

   1

Risks of the Policy

   2

Fee and Expense Tables

   3

Transaction Fees

   3

Periodic Charges (Other than Portfolio Operating Expenses)

   3

Range of Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

   6

Northwestern Mutual

   7

The Separate Account

   7

The Funds

   7

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.

   8

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III

   9

Russell Investment Funds

   9

Information About the Policy

   9

Purchasing a Policy

   9

Specified Amount

   9

When Insurance Coverage Takes Effect

   10

Right to Return Policy

   10

Ownership Rights

   10

Modifying the Policy

   10

Premium Payments

   10

Allocating Premiums to the Separate Account

   11

Policy Value and Invested Assets

   12

Death Benefit

   12

Life Insurance Benefit

   12

Death Benefit Options

   13

Minimum Death Benefit

   13

Changing Death Benefit Options

   14

Payment Plan Options

   14

Surrender and Withdrawals

   15

Policy Loans

   16

Termination and Reinstatement

   16

Other Policy Transactions

   17

Transfers

   17

Short Term and Excessive Trading

   17

Dollar Cost Averaging

   18

Portfolio Rebalancing

   18

Charges and Deductions

   18

Premium Expense Charges

   18

Monthly Policy Charges and Service Charges

   19

Surrender Charge

   20

Portfolio Expenses

   20

Other Policy Provisions

   20

Naming a Beneficiary

   20

Incontestability

   20

Suicide

   20

Misstatement of Age or Sex

   20

Policy Split Right

   20

Deferral of Determination and Payment

   20

Dividends

   21

Voting Rights

   21

Reports and Financial Statements

   21

Legal Proceedings

   21

Owner Inquiries

   22

Illustrations

   22

Tax Considerations

   22

Distribution of the Policy

   25

Glossary of Terms

   26

Additional Information

   29

Appendix A

   30


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PROSPECTUS

Summary of Policy Benefits and Risks

The Policy is a flexible premium variable survivorship universal life insurance policy that provides life insurance protection in the event of the death of the second of the Insureds to die (the “second death”). The Life Insurance Benefit payable to the Beneficiary may vary and your Policy Value will vary based on the investment performance of the Divisions you choose. You may make withdrawals and loans from your Policy Value under the Policy subject to certain conditions described in the Policy and this prospectus. You may surrender the Policy at any time. We do not guarantee any minimum Policy Value or Cash Surrender Value. You could lose some or all of your money.

This summary describes the Policy's important benefits and risks. More complete information is included elsewhere in this prospectus, in the Portfolio prospectuses and in the Policy. Most of the capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined at the end of this prospectus in the Glossary of Terms.

Benefits of the Policy

Death Benefit

The primary benefit of the Policy is the life insurance protection that it provides. The Life Insurance Benefit is payable on the second death while the Policy is in force. The Policy offers three Death Benefit options:

Option A - Specified Amount;

Option B - Specified Amount Plus Policy Value; and

Option C - Specified Amount Plus Cumulative Premiums Paid Minus Cumulative Withdrawals.

Under each of these options, you select the Specified Amount subject to our limits described on page 9. (See "Specified Amount.") We increase the Death Benefit, if necessary, in order for the Policy to meet minimum death benefit requirements under the Code. After a Policy is issued, you may change your Death Benefit option or increase or decrease the Specified Amount, upon written request, subject to our approval.

Surrenders, Withdrawals and Loans

You may surrender your Policy for the Cash Surrender Value, subject to a surrender charge during the first ten Policy Years. You may also withdraw part of your Policy Value, subject to certain conditions. In addition, you may borrow up to a maximum of 90% of the excess of your Policy Value over any applicable surrender charge, using the Policy as security. Withdrawals and loans reduce your Cash Surrender Value and Death Benefit, and increase the risk that your Policy will lapse. Surrenders, withdrawals and loans also may have adverse tax consequences.

Payment Plan Options

Life Insurance Benefit and surrender proceeds are payable in a lump sum or under one of several fixed payment plan options we offer. More detailed information concerning these payment plan options is included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Allocation of Premiums and Invested Assets

You control the amount and timing of Premium Payments, within limits. You may direct the allocation of your Premium Payments among the Divisions of the Separate Account, change your investment selections, and transfer Invested Assets among the Divisions subject to certain limitations. You also may make automated transactions using our Dollar Cost Averaging and Portfolio Rebalancing programs.

Right to Return Policy

You may return the Policy for a refund within 10 days (or later where required by state law) after you receive it by returning the Policy to us at our Home Office or to your Network Representative. The amount of your refund will equal the Invested Assets under the Policy on the date we receive the returned Policy at our Home Office plus any previously deducted Premium Expense Charge, Monthly Policy Charges and Service Charges, unless state law requires otherwise. A complete explanation of your right to return the Poicy may be found on the face page of your Policy.

Tax Considerations

Your Policy is structured to meet the definition of a life insurance contract under the Code. We may need to limit the amount of Premium Payments you make under the Policy to ensure that your Policy continues to meet that definition. Current federal tax law generally excludes all Death Benefits of a life insurance policy from the gross income of the Beneficiary. In addition, you generally are not subject to taxation on any increase in the Policy Value until it is withdrawn, and you will be able to transfer Invested Assets among the Divisions of the Separate Account tax free. Generally, you are taxed at ordinary income rates on surrender and withdrawal proceeds only if those amounts, when added to all previous distributions, exceed the total Premium Payments made.

 

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Risks of the Policy

Policy for Long-Term Protection

Your Policy is designed to serve your long-term life insurance protection need. It is not suitable for short-term life insurance protection nor for short-term investing.

Investment Risk

Your Policy Value will fluctuate with the performance of the Divisions among which you allocate your Invested Assets. Amounts you allocate among the Divisions may grow in value, decline in value or grow less than you expect depending on the investment performance of the corresponding Portfolios. Your Invested Assets are not guaranteed, and you can lose money. You may be required to pay more premiums than originally planned in order to keep the Policy in force.

A comprehensive discussion of the investment objectives and risks of each Portfolio may be found in each Portfolio’s prospectus. There is no assurance that any Portfolio will achieve its stated investment objective. The Policy is not designed for frequent or short-term trading.

Policy Lapse

Insufficient Premium Payments, poor investment results, withdrawals and unpaid loans or loan interest may cause your Policy to lapse, meaning you will no longer have any life insurance coverage. If, on a Monthly Processing Date, the Cash Surrender Value (taking into account any applicable surrender charge) is not enough to pay the Monthly Policy Charge, your Policy will enter a 61-day grace period. If your Policy enters a grace period, we will notify you that the Policy will lapse (terminate without value) at the end of the grace period unless you make a sufficient payment. Your Policy may be reinstated within three years after it has lapsed, subject to certain conditions.

Policy Loan Risks

A Policy loan, whether or not repaid, will affect your Policy Value over time because the amounts borrowed do not participate in the investment performance of the Divisions. The Life Insurance Benefit is reduced by the amount of any outstanding Policy Debt. If you surrender the Policy or allow it to lapse while Policy Debt is outstanding, the amount of Policy Debt, to the extent it has not previously been taxed, will be considered as an amount you received and taxed accordingly. Policy Debt reduces the Cash Surrender Value, and increases the risk that your Policy will lapse.

Limitations on Access to Your Values

We will deduct a surrender charge if you surrender your Policy in the first ten Policy Years. Even if you have Invested Assets, it is possible that you will receive no Cash Surrender Value if you surrender the Policy in the first few Policy Years. You should purchase the Policy only if you have the financial ability to keep it in force for a substantial period of time. You should not purchase the Policy if you intend to surrender all or part of your Policy in the near future.

Even if you do not ask to surrender the Policy, surrender charges may play a role in determining whether the Policy will lapse, because surrender charges affect the Cash Surrender Value, which is a measure we use to determine whether your Policy will enter a grace period (and possibly lapse). See “Policy Lapse” above.

You may withdraw a portion of the Cash Surrender Value, subject to limitations on the amount that may be withdrawn. (See"Withdrawals.") A withdrawal will reduce the Cash Surrender Value and Life Insurance Benefit. The minimum amount of a withdrawal is $250.

A surrender, loan or withdrawal may have tax consequences.

Adverse Tax Consequences

Our understanding of the principal tax considerations for the Policy under current tax law is set forth in this prospectus. There are areas of some uncertainty under current law, and we do not address the likelihood of future changes in the law or interpretations thereof. Among other risks, your Policy may become a modified endowment contract (as defined under the Code) if the cumulative Premium Payments exceed a defined limit. If a Policy is treated as a modified endowment contract, surrenders, withdrawals and Policy loans will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent there are earnings in the Policy, and a 10% penalty tax may apply to these distributions. Excessive Policy loans could cause a Policy to terminate with insufficient value to pay the tax due upon termination.

Risk of an Increase in Current Fees and Expenses

Certain insurance charges are currently assessed at less than their maximum levels. We may increase these current charges in the future up to the guaranteed maximum levels based on the Company's emerging experience or future expections, as determined in its

sole discretion, with respect to, but not limited to, mortality, expenses, reinsurance costs, taxes, persistency, capital requirements,

 

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reserve requirements, and changes in applicable laws. In addition, the operating expenses of the Portfolios are not guaranteed and may increase or decrease over time. If fees and expenses are increased, you may need to increase the amount and/or frequency of Premium Payments to keep the Policy in force.

Fee and Expense Tables

The following tables describe the fees and expenses that are payable when you buy, own, and surrender the Policy. See "Charges and Expenses" for a more detailed description.

Transaction Fees

The first table describes the fees and expenses that are payable at the time that you buy the Policy, make Premium Payments, Surrender the Policy, make withdrawals, transfer Invested Assets among the Divisions, or make certain changes to the Policy.

 

Transaction Fees

Charge

  

When Charge is Deducted

  

Amount Deducted

     

Current Charge

  

Guaranteed Maximum Charge

State Premium Tax Charge    Upon each Premium Payment    2.00% of Premium Payment    No maximum - Charge may increase to reflect actual costs
OBRA Expense Charge (federal deferred acquisition cost charge)1    Upon each Premium Payment    1.30% of Premium Payment   
Sales Load    Upon each Premium Payment    6.40% of premium up to Target Premium2 in Policy Years 1-10; 2.40% of premium up to Target Premium in Policy Years 11 and beyond; and 2.40% of premium in excess of Target Premium for each Policy Year    Same as current charge
Surrender Charge    Upon surrender during the first ten Policy Years    50% of the premiums paid in the first Policy Year grading to zero at the end of the tenth Policy Year3    Same as current charge
Withdrawal Fee    Upon withdrawal    Currently waived    $25.00
Transfer Fee    Upon transfer    Currently waived    $25.00
Change in Death Benefit Option Fee    Upon change in Death Benefit Option    Currently waived    $25.00
Change in Specified Amount Fee    Upon change in Specified Amount    Currently waived    $25.00 per change after first change in a Policy Year

1 Due to a federal tax law change under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, as amended, ("OBRA"), insurance companies are generally required to capitalize and amortize certain acquisition expenses rather than currently deducting such expenses. Due to this capitalization and amortization, the corporate income tax burden on insurance companies has been affected. We currently make a charge of 1.30% against each premium payment to compensate us for corporate income taxes.
2 The Target Premium is a hypothetical annual premium, which is based on the Specified Amount, and the Insureds’ ages, genders and underwriting classes. The Target Premium for your Policy is shown on the Policy Schedule Pages.
3 The surrender charge percentage is applied to the premiums actually paid during the first Policy Year or the Target Premium, whichever is less. The percentage remains level during Policy Year one, and declines monthly to zero in Policy Years two through ten. For more information on the surrender charge, see "Surrender Charges" in this prospectus. The “Schedule of Maximum Charges” to your Policy will indicate the maximum surrender charges applicable to your Policy.

Periodic Charges (Other than Portfolio Operating Expenses)

The next table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the Policy, other than the operating expenses for the Portfolios. See “Charges and Expenses” for a more detailed description.

 

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Periodic Charges (Other than Portfolio Operating Expenses)1

Charge

  

When Charge is Deducted

  

Amount Deducted

     

Current Charge

  

Guaranteed Maximum Charge

Cost of Insurance Charge2

        
Maximum Charge3    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date    $83.33 per $1,000 of net amount at risk    Same as current charge
Minimum Charge4    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date    $0.0000169 per $1,000 of net amount at risk    Same as current charge
Charge for Insureds with Issue Ages 45, Premier Non-Tobacco classification (varies by Policy duration)    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date    $0.000332 per $1,000 of net amount at risk    Same as current charge
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge         
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge – Invested Assets Component    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date    0.05% (0.00417% monthly rate) of Invested Assets    0.90% (0.075% monthly rate) of Invested Assets
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge - Specified Amount Component5         
Maximum Charge6    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $0.14333 per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge
Minimum Charge7    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $0.00333 per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge
Charge for Insureds Issue Age 45    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $0.03417 per $1,000 Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge
Administrative Charge    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date    $5.00    $7.50
Deferred Sales Charge    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    0.625% of premium paid in the first Policy Year up to Target Premium for Policy Years 1-10    Same as current charge
Policy Debt Expense Charge    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date where there is Policy Debt   

0.090% (0.07% monthly rate) of Policy Debt for Policy Years 1-10

 

0.35% (0.02917% monthly rate) of Policy Debt for Policy Years 11 and above

   All Policy Years 2.00% (0.16667% monthly rate) of Policy Debt

 

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Periodic Charges (Other than Portfolio Operating Expenses)1

Charge

  

When Charge is Deducted

  

Amount Deducted

     

Current Charge

  

Guaranteed Maximum Charge

Underwriting and Issue Charge8         
Maximum Charge9    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $0.035 per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge
Minimum Charge10    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $.015 per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge
Charge for Insureds Issue Age 45, Premier Non-Tobacco classification    Monthly, on each Monthly Processing Date during the first ten Policy Years    $0.015 per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount    Same as current charge

 

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1 The charges described in this table may vary based upon one or more of the following characteristics: Insureds’ underwriting classes, Issue Ages, and sex; underwriting amount; Specified Amount; Target Premium; and Policy duration. Your Policy Schedule Pages will indicate the guaranteed maximum charge for each periodic charge under your Policy.
2 The Cost of Insurance Charge will vary based on the Insureds’ Issue Ages and underwriting classes; Policy duration; and Specified Amount. The Cost of Insurance Charges shown in the table may not be representative of the rates a particular Owner may pay. Request an illustration for personalized information. (See “Illustrations.") The net amount at risk is approximately equal to the Death Benefit minus the Policy Value.
3 The maximum Cost of Insurance Charge assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: one male and one female, Attained Age 120 of the younger Insured, both substandard risk classification. The maximum Cost of Insurance Charge shown may also apply to other combinations of Policy duration and Insured characteristics.
4 The minimum Cost of Insurance Charge assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: both female, both Issue Age 20, both Premier Non-Tobacco classification. The minimum Cost of Insurance Charge shown may also apply to other combinations of Policy duration and Insured characteristics.
5 The table of rates is included in Appendix A.
6 The maximum Mortality and Expense Risk Charge – Specified Amount Component assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: one male and one female, Issue Ages 75 and older.
7 The minimum Mortality and Expense Risk Charge – Specified Amount Component assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: one male and one female, Issue Ages 25 and younger.
8 The charge may not exceed $900-$2,100 ($75-$175 monthly amount) based on the risk classification of the Insureds.
9 The maximum Underwriting and Issue Charge assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: substandard risk classification.
10 The minimum Underwriting and Issue Charge assumes that the Insureds have the following characteristics: standard risk classification.

Range of Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

The next table describes the Portfolio fees and expenses that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the Policy. The table shows the minimum and maximum fees and expenses charged by any of the Portfolios for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The first line of the table lists expenses that do not reflect fee waivers or expense limits and reimbursements, nor do they reflect short-term trading redemption fees, if any, charged by the Portfolios. More detail concerning each Portfolio’s fees and expenses is contained in the prospectus for each Portfolio.

 

     Minimum     Maximum  

Range of Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

(expenses include investment advisory fees, distribution (12b-1) fees, and other expenses as a percentage of average underlying Portfolio assets)*

   0.20 %   1.26 %

Range of Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Contractual Fee Waiver or Reimbursement**

   0.20 %   1.15 %

* For certain Portfolios, certain expenses were reimbursed or fees waived during 2005. It is anticipated that these voluntary expense reimbursement and fee waiver arrangements will continue past the current year, although they may be terminated at any time. After taking into account these arrangements and any contractual fee waiver or expense reimbursement arrangement, annual Portfolio operating expenses would have ranged from a minimum of 0.20% to a maximum of 1.12%.
** The "Range of Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Contractual Fee Waiver or Reimbursement" line in the above table shows the minimum and maximum fees and expenses charged by any of the Portfolios that have contractual fee waiver or reimbursement arrangements in place. Those contractual arrangements are designed to reduce total annual Portfolio operating expenses for Owners and will continue until April 30, 2007. For more information about which Portfolios currently have such contractual reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements in place, see the Portfolio prospectuses.

 

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Northwestern Mutual

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, offers insurance products and investment products and advisory services that are designed to address its clients’ needs for financial security and protection, wealth accumulation and distribution and estate preservation. Organized as a mutual life insurance company by a special act of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1857, the Company is licensed to conduct a conventional life insurance business in the District of Columbia and in all states of the United States. Its total assets exceed $132 billion as of December 31, 2005. The Home Office is located at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

"Northwestern Mutual," "we," "us," "Company," and "our" in this prospectus mean The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

The Separate Account

We established Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II (the "Separate Account") by action of our Trustees on March 22, 2006, in accordance with the provisions of Wisconsin insurance law. The Separate Account is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). We own the assets in the Separate Account and we are obligated to pay all benefits under the Policies. We may use the Separate Account to support other variable life insurance policies we issue. We have divided the Separate Account into Divisions, each of which invests in shares of one Portfolio of the Funds.

You may allocate the money you invest under your Policy among the Divisions. Each Division corresponds to one of the Portfolios of the Funds. Under Wisconsin law, Separate Account assets are held separate from our other assets and are not part of our general account. Income, gains, and losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Separate Account will be credited to or charged against the Separate Account without regard to our other income, gains, or losses. Income, gains, and losses credited to, or charged against, a Division reflect that Division's own investment performance and not the investment performance of our other assets. We may not use the Separate Account's assets to pay any of our liabilities other than those arising from the Policies and any other variable life insurance Policies funded by the Separate Account. We may, however, use all of our assets (except those held in certain other separate accounts) to satisfy our obligations under your Policy.

Where permitted by law and subject to any required regulatory approvals or votes by Policy Owners, we reserve the right to:

 

    operate the Separate Account or a Division either as a unit investment trust or a management investment company under the 1940 Act, or in any other form permitted by law, if deemed by the Company to be in the best interest of Policy Owners;

 

    invest current and future assets of a Division in securities of another Portfolio as a substitute for shares of a Portfolio already purchased or to be purchased;

 

    register or deregister the Separate Account under the 1940 Act or change its classification under that Act;

 

    create new separate accounts;

 

    combine the Separate Account with any other separate account;

 

    transfer the assets and liabilities of the Separate Account to another separate account;

 

    add, delete or make substitutions for the securities and other assets held or purchased by the Separate Account;

 

    terminate and/or liquidate the Separate Account;

 

    restrict or eliminate any voting rights of Policy Owners or other persons having voting rights as to the Separate Account; and

 

    make any changes to the Separate Account to conform with, or required by any change in, federal tax law, the 1940 Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other applicable federal or state laws.

In the event that we take any of these actions, we may make an appropriate endorsement of your Policy and take other actions necessary to comply with applicable law.

The Funds

A variety of investment options are offered under the Policy for the allocation of Invested Assets. However, the Company does not endorse or recommend a particular option, nor does it provide asset allocation or investment advice. You are responsible for choosing your investment options and should make your choices based on your individual situation and risk tolerances. After making your

 

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initial allocation decisions, you should monitor your allocations and periodically review the options you select and the amounts allocated to each to ensure your selections continue to be appropriate. The amounts you invest in a particular Division are not guaranteed and, because both principal and any return on the investment are subject to market risk, you can lose money.

The assets of each Division are invested in a corresponding Portfolio that is a series of one of the following mutual funds:

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc; Fidelity® Variable Insurance Products Fund III; and the Russell Investment Funds. The Separate Account buys shares of the Portfolios at their respective net asset values without sales charge. The Portfolios are available for investment only by separate accounts supporting variable insurance products and are not publicly traded. Their performance can differ substantially from publicly traded mutual funds with similar names. The specific Portfolios available under your Policy may change from time to time, and not all Portfolios in which assets of the Separate Account are invested may be available under your Policy.

The investment objectives of each Portfolio are set forth below. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT ANY OF THE PORTFOLIOS WILL ACHIEVE ITS STATED OBJECTIVE(S). YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTFOLIOS, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF RISKS, CONDITIONS OF INVESTING, AND FEES AND EXPENSES OF EACH PORTFOLIO IN THE PORTFOLIO PROSPECTUSES. READ THE PROSPECTUSES FOR THE PORTFOLIOS CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING.

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.

The investment adviser for the Northwestern Mutual Series Fund is Mason Street Advisors, LLC ("MSA"), our wholly-owned company. The investment advisory agreements for the respective Portfolios provide that MSA will provide services and bear certain expenses of the Fund. MSA employs a staff of investment professionals to manage the assets of the Fund and the other advisory clients of MSA. We provide related facilities and personnel, which MSA uses in performing its investment advisory functions. MSA has retained Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, Capital Guardian Trust Company, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Alliance Capital Management L.P. and Janus Capital Management LLC under investment sub-advisory agreements to provide investment advice to the Portfolios bearing their names or derivatives thereof.

 

Portfolio

  

Investment Objective

  

Sub-adviser (if applicable)

Small Cap Growth Stock Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital   
T. Rowe Price Small Cap Value Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital    T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Aggressive Growth Stock Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital   
International Growth Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital   

Franklin Templeton International Equity

Portfolio

   Long-term growth of capital    Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC
AllianceBernstein Mid Cap Value    Long-term growth of capital; current income is a secondary objective    Alliance Capital Management L.P.
Index 400 Stock Portfolio   

Investment results that approximate the

performance of the Standard & Poor's

MidCap 400® Index

  
Janus Capital Appreciation Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital    Janus Capital Management LLC
Growth Stock Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital   
Large Cap Core Stock Portfolio   

Long-term growth of capital and

income

  

Capital Guardian Domestic Equity

Portfolio

  

Long-term growth of capital and

income

   Capital Guardian Trust Company
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio   

Long-term growth of capital and

income

   T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Index 500 Stock Portfolio   

Investment results that approximate the

performance of the S&P 500® Index

  
Asset Allocation Portfolio   

To realize as high a level of total return

as is consistent with reasonable

investment risk

  
Balanced Portfolio    To realize as high a level of total return as is consistent with prudent investment risk   
High Yield Bond Portfolio    High current income and capital appreciation   
Select Bond Portfolio    To realize as high a level of total return as is consistent with prudent investment risk; a secondary objective is to seek preservation of shareholders' capital   
Money Market Portfolio   

Maximum current income consistent

with liquidity and stability of capital*

  

* An investment in a money market portfolio is neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. During extended periods of low interest rates, the yield of a money market portfolio may also become extremely low and possibly negative.

 

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Fidelity® Variable Insurance Products Fund III

The Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio is a series of Variable Insurance Products Fund III. The Separate Account buys Service Class 2 shares of the Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio, the investment adviser for which is the Fidelity Management & Research Company.

 

Portfolio

  

Investment Objective

VIP Mid Cap Portfolio    Long-term growth of capital

Russell Investment Funds

The assets of each of the Portfolios comprising the Russell Investment Funds are invested by one or more investment management organizations researched and recommended by Frank Russell Company ("Russell"), and an affiliate of Russell, Russell Investment Management Company ("RIMCo") (formerly Frank Russell Investment Management Company). RIMCo also advises, operates, and administers the Russell Investment Funds. Russell is our majority-owned subsidiary.

 

Portfolio

  

Investment Objective

Multi-Style Equity Fund    Long-term growth of capital
Aggressive Equity Fund    Long-term growth of capital
Non-U.S. Fund    Long-term growth of capital
Core Bond Fund    Current income and the preservation of capital
Real Estate Securities Fund    Current income and long-term growth of capital

Information About the Policy

Purchasing a Policy

When you purchase your Policy, you enter into a contract with us. Your Policy, together with your Application and any amendments, endorsements, riders and additional benefits are the entire contract. To purchase a Policy, you must submit the Application and, in most cases, an initial Premium Payment, to us through a licensed Northwestern Mutual Network Representative. Generally, the Policy is available for Insureds between Issue Ages 20-85. We must receive evidence of insurability that satisfies our underwriting standards before we will issue a Policy. We reserve the right to reject an Application for any reason permitted by law.

Although we do not anticipate delays in our receipt and processing of Applications or Premium Payments, we may experience such delays to the extent Applications, underwriting information and Premium Payments to our Home Office are not received on a timely basis. Such delays could result in delays in the issuance of Policies and the allocation of Premium Payments under existing Policies.

Specified Amount

Your Policy’s initial amount of insurance coverage is its Initial Specified Amount. You select the Initial Specified Amount when you apply for the Policy, subject to a minimum and our insurability and other underwriting requirements. The Specified Amount must be at least $1,000,000 if the older Insured is Issue Age 20-49 and $500,000 if the older Insured is Issue Age 50-85. We reserve the right to modify the minimum Specified Amount and underwriting requirements at any time. You may increase or decrease the Specified Amount while the Policy is in force, upon written request and subject to our approval. We will permit an increase only if, at the time requested, the insurance in force, as increased, is within our issue limits, our insurability requirements are met, and the increase request is received prior to the Policy Anniversary nearest the older Insured’s 85th birthday. We will not permit a decrease if such decrease results in a Specified Amount less than the minimum Specified Amount we would require for issuance of a new Policy at the time of the change. An increase or decrease in the Specified Amount will be effective on the Monthly Processing Date on which a written request is received at our Home Office. If the written request is not received on a Monthly Processing Date, the change in Specified Amount will be effective on the next Monthly Processing Date. We reserve the right to charge for more than one change to the Specified Amount in a Policy Year. We will deduct any such charge from the Invested Assets. (See “Charges and Expenses.")

 

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When Insurance Coverage Takes Effect

Generally, we will accept the Policy Application and issue a Policy if we determine that the Insureds meet our underwriting and administrative requirements. If a Premium Payment is paid with your Application, insurance coverage becomes effective on the Date of Issue, which is the later of the date the Application is signed or the date all medical evidence required for underwriting is provided. If a Premium Payment is first made at the time of Policy delivery, there is no insurance coverage prior to Policy delivery.

Your Policy Date is the date we use to determine the Issue Age of the Insureds, which is used to determine the cost of insurance rates. The Policy Date also is the date used to establish Policy Years. Generally, the Policy Date is the Date of Issue. However, with our approval and subject to state insurance law limitations, we may backdate your Policy Date up to six months or future date it up to 30 days from Date of Issue. Backdating may lower your cost of insurance rate, but you will be assessed Monthly Policy Charges retroactive to the Policy Date you select, rather than from the date your Policy is put in force. Future dating is sometimes requested to permit multiple insurance polices to have the same Policy Date to facilitate administration. Modifying your Policy Date may require adjustments to your first Premium Payment relating to premium expenses and Monthly Policy Charge for the period between the date your Policy was approved and the Policy Date. Both the Date of Issue and the Policy Date may be found in your Policy Schedule Pages.

Right to Return Policy

You may return the Policy for a refund within 10 days (or later where required by state law) after you receive it by returning the Policy to us at our Home Office or to the Network Representative who sold it to you. The amount of your refund will equal the Invested Assets under the Policy on the date we receive the returned Policy at our Home Office plus any previously deducted Premium Expense Charge, Monthly Policy Charge and Service Charges, unless state law requires otherwise.

Ownership Rights

As the Owner of the Policy, you make the decisions about the Policy and Policy benefits while it is in force, without the consent of any Beneficiary. If the Policy has more than one Owner, decisions with respect to the Policy and its benefits may be exercised only with the consent and authorization of all Owners.

To transfer ownership of the Policy to another person, the Owner must provide us written notification of the transfer and must supply any required information about the new Owner. We will not be responsible to the new Owner for any payment or other action taken by us until the written notification of the transfer is received by us at our Home Office. The transfer of ownership will then be effective as of the date the transfer form was signed. We may require you to send the Policy to our Home Office for endorsement to reflect the transfer of ownership. If the Owner is not the surviving Insured, the Owner may name or change a successor Owner, who will become the new Owner upon the Owner’s death.

Modifying the Policy

Any Policy change that you request is subject to our then current insurability and processing requirements. Processing requirements may include, for example, completion of certain forms and satisfying certain evidentiary requirements. Upon notice to you, we may modify the Policy:

 

    to conform the Policy, our operations, or the Separate Account's operations to the requirements of any law (including any regulation issued by a government agency) to which the Policy, the Company, or the Separate Account is subject;

 

    to assure continued qualification of the Policy as a life insurance contract under the federal tax laws; or

 

    to reflect a change in the Separate Account's operation.

If the Policy is changed or modified, we may make appropriate endorsements to the Policy and we may require you to send your Policy to our Home Office for endorsement. Any modification or waiver of our rights or requirements under the Policy must be in writing and signed by an officer of the Company. No agent or other person may bind us by waiving or changing any provision contained in the Policy.

Premium Payments

A minimum initial Premium Payment is required to put your Policy in force. No insurance will take effect until the minimum initial Premium Payment is made. The minimum initial Premium Payment is based on the Issue Age,

 

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underwriting class and sex of the Insureds, and the Initial Specified Amount. Although you must make sufficient Premium Payments to keep the Policy in force, after we issue the Policy there is no required schedule or amount of Premium Payments.

You may send Premium Payments to our Home Office or to a payment center designated by us. All payments must be made in U.S. Dollars payable through a U.S. financial institution. Upon your request, we will furnish you a receipt signed by an officer of the Company. We accept Premium Payments by check or electronic funds transfer (EFT). If you make a Premium Payment with a check or bank draft and, for whatever reason, it is later returned unpaid or uncollected, or if a Premium Payment by EFT is reversed, we reserve the right to reverse the transaction. We also reserve the right to recover any resulting losses incurred by us by withdrawing a sufficient amount of Invested Assets.

You may not make any Premium Payments after the Policy Anniversary nearest the younger Insured's 121st birthday. You may not make additional Premium Payments of less than $25. A Premium Payment that would either exceed cumulative premiums illustrated in the Application or increase the Policy’s Death Benefit more than it increases the Policy Value will be accepted only if: the insurance in force, as increased, will be within our issue limits; our insurability requirements are met; and the Premium Payment is received prior to the Policy Anniversary nearest the older Insured’s 85th birthday. We have the right to limit or refund a Premium Payment or make distributions from the Policy as necessary to continue to qualify the Policy as life insurance under federal tax law. If mandated under applicable law, we may be required to reject a Premium Payment.

Allocating Premiums to the Separate Account

When you apply for a Policy, you must instruct us in the Application or supplement to the Application to allocate your Net Premium to one or more Divisions of the Separate Account.

If your initial Premium Payment is submitted with your Application, we will transfer the initial Net Premium to our General Account, and the initial Net Premium will remain in our General Account until the In Force Date. We will credit the initial Net Premium with interest while it remains in the General Account. We may change the rate of interest we credit initial Net Premiums held in our General Account at any time and in our sole discretion. On the In Force Date, we will transfer and credit the initial Net Premium and accrued interest to the Money Market Division of the Separate Account. If the In Force Date is not a Valuation Date, then we will transfer and credit the initial Net Premium and accrued interest on the next Valuation Date. If payment is not made with your Application, we will transfer and credit the initial Net Premium to the Money Market Division of the Separate Account on the Valuation Date we receive it in the Home Office, provided all other requirements have been satisfied. If it is not received on a Valuation Date, we will transfer and credit the initial Net Premium on the next Valuation Date. Premium Payments received at our Home Office before the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on a Valuation Date are deemed to be received and credited on that Valuation Date. If they are received after the close of trading on a Valuation Date, or a day other than a Valuation Date, they are deemed to be received and credited on the next Valuation Date.

The date on which we allocate your initial Net Premium among the Divisions in accordance with your instructions is referred to as the “Initial Allocation Date.” Prior to the Initial Allocation Date, we transfer and credit Net Premiums to the Money Market Division of the Separate Account. On and after the Initial Allocation Date, we transfer and credit Net Premiums to the Divisions of the Separate Account based on your instructions then in effect. The Initial Allocation Date is shown in the Policy Schedule Pages.

Your Initial Allocation Date is determined by a series of rules.

First, if you have requested a Policy Date that is later than the date your Policy is approved, your Initial Allocation Date will not be earlier than the future Policy Date you requested.

Second, in states that require us to refund your entire initial Premium Payment, your Initial Allocation Date will be the latest of the day we receive your initial Premium Payment, the day after your right to return the Policy expires and the day we receive notice of delivery of your Policy.

Third, in states where the right to return policy law permits us to base your refund on the value of Invested Assets, if your initial Premium Payment is submitted with your Application and your Policy is issued as applied for, your Initial Allocation Date will be the In Force Date; if we issue your Policy other than as applied for, your Initial Allocation Date will be the day we are notified of Policy delivery. If your initial Premium Payment is not submitted with your Application, your Initial Allocation Date will be the later of the day we are notified of Policy delivery or the day we receive your initial Premium Payment.

 

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The initial allocation instructions we receive from you will remain in effect for subsequent Net Premiums until we receive your written request to change them. The change will be effective on the Valuation Date on or next following the date we receive your written instructions at our Home Office. If your written request is not in good order, meaning it does not satisfy our then current requirements, we will continue to credit Net Premiums to your Policy according to the allocation instructions then in effect. If your written request is not in good order, we will notify you by telephone and/or e-mail in an effort to conform your request with our then current requirements. Premium Payments received at our Home Office before the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on a Valuation Date are deemed to be received and credited on that Valuation Date. If they are received on or after the close of trading on a Valuation Date, or a day other than a Valuation Date, they are deemed to be received and credited on the next Valuation Date.

You may also submit allocation instructions by telephone or via the Internet ("electronic instructions") in accordance with our then current telephone or Internet procedures provided you have properly authorized us to accept electronic instructions in advance. (For information on our current telephone and internet procedures, including our current telephone and internet addresses see the "Owner Inquiries” section of the prospectus.) However, we are not required to accept electronic instructions, and we will not be responsible for losses resulting from transactions based on unauthorized electronic instructions, provided we follow procedures reasonably designed to verify the authenticity of electronic instructions.

Investment returns from amounts allocated to the Divisions will vary with the investment performance of the Divisions and will be reduced by Policy charges. You bear the entire investment risk for amounts you allocate to the Divisions. You should periodically review your allocation schedule in light of market conditions and your overall life insurance and financial objectives.

Policy Value and Invested Assets

The Policy Value is equal to the Invested Assets plus Policy Debt. On the In Force Date, Invested Assets equal the Net Premium plus any accrued interest less the Monthly Policy Charge. After the In Force Date, Invested Assets equal Invested Assets on the immediately preceding Valuation Date, plus any of the following items applicable to the current Valuation Date:

 

    any increase attributable to the portion of Invested Assets in Divisions that experience a positive rate of return for the current Valuation Period;

 

    any additional Net Premium;

 

    any loan repayment and accrued loan interest payment; and

 

    any dividends directed to increase Policy Value.

minus any of the following items applicable to the current Valuation Date:

 

    any decrease attributable to the portion of Invested Assets in Divisions that experience a negative rate of return for the current Valuation Period;

 

    the Monthly Policy Charge;

 

    any policy loans;

 

    any withdrawals and withdrawal fees; and

 

    any fees for changes in Death Benefit Option, changes in Specified Amount, or transfers.

Death Benefit

Life Insurance Benefit

As long as your Policy is in force, we will pay the Life Insurance Benefit to your Beneficiary or Beneficiaries once we receive at our Home Office satisfactory proof of the second death. No benefit is payable on the death of the first of the Insureds to die. We may require you to return the Policy. We will pay the Life Insurance Benefit in a lump sum either by issuing a check or, at the option of your Beneficiary, by establishing a fixed payment plan in the Beneficiary's name (See “Payment Plan Options.") Payments under these plans are from our General Account, and are subject to the claims of our creditors.

 

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The amount of the Life Insurance Benefit will be:

 

    the Death Benefit; minus

 

    the amount of any Policy Debt; minus

 

    any Monthly Policy Charges due and unpaid if the second death occurs during the Policy Grace Period.

These amounts will be determined as of the second death. Even though the Owner does not have the right to take any Policy loans or withdrawals after the date of the second death, any Policy loans or withdrawals that are taken after the date of the second death will be deducted from the Life Insurance Benefit.

We will pay the Life Insurance Benefit to the Beneficiary if he or she survives the Insured and is alive on the date of payment. (See “Other Policy Provisions –Naming a Beneficiary.”) We will pay interest on the Life Insurance Benefit from the date of the second death until the benefit is paid either by a check or into a payment plan. Interest will be paid at a rate we determine or as required by applicable state law.

Death Benefit Options

The Death Benefit before the Policy Anniversary nearest the younger Insured's 121st birthday is determined by the Death Benefit option in effect at the time of the death of the second of the Insureds to die. The Death Benefit on and after the Policy Anniversary nearest the younger Insured's 121st birthday will be equal to the Policy Value.

The Policy provides for three Death Benefit options. The option you choose on your Application will generally depend on whether you prefer an increasing Death Benefit or a larger Policy Value, but in each case the Death Benefit will be at least the Minimum Death Benefit required for your Policy to qualify as life insurance under the Code. We calculate the amount available under the applicable Death Benefit option as of the date of the second death.

Specified Amount (Option A)

Specified Amount plus Policy Value (Option B)

Specified Amount plus Cumulative Premiums minus Cumulative Withdrawals (Option C)

Minimum Death Benefit

The Minimum Death Benefit is the amount required by federal tax law to maintain the Policy as a life insurance contract. Under any of the Death Benefit options, we will increase the Death Benefit if necessary to satisfy this requirement.

A Policy must satisfy one of two testing methods to qualify as life insurance for federal income tax purposes. You may choose either the Guideline Premium/Cash Value Corridor Test or the Cash Value Accumulation Test. Both tests require the Policy's Death Benefit to equal or exceed a defined relationship to, or multiple of, the Policy Value. The minimum multiple decreases as the age of the younger Insured increases. You make the choice of testing methods when you purchase a Policy and it cannot be changed. For the Guideline Premium/Cash Value Corridor Test the minimum multiples of Death Benefit to the Policy Value are shown in the following table.

Guideline Premium/Cash Value - Corridor Test Multiples

 

Attained Age of

Younger

Insured*

 

Corridor%

 

Attained Age of

Younger

Insured*

 

Corridor%

£40   250   60   130
41   243   61   128
42   236   62   126
43   229   63   124
44   222   64   122
45   215   65   120
46   209   66   119
47   203   67   118
48   197   68   117
49   191   69   116
50   185   70   115

 

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Attained Age of

Younger

Insured*

 

Corridor%

 

Attained Age of

Younger

Insured*

 

Corridor%

51   178   71   113
52   171   72   111
53   164   73   109
54   157   74   107
55   150   75 - 90   105
56   146   91   104
57   142   92   103
58   138   93   102
59   134   94   101
    95 or more   100

* Assumes the younger of the Insured is the last to die whether or not he or she dies first.

For the Cash Value Accumulation Test, the minimum multiples of Death Benefit to the Policy Value are calculated using net single premiums based on the issue age of both Insureds, the Policy's underwriting classification, the Policy’s duration and a 4% interest rate.

Generally, the Guideline Premium/Cash Value Corridor Test has lower minimum multiples than the Cash Value Accumulation Test, usually resulting in better Cash Surrender Value accumulation for a given amount of premium and Specified Amount. This is because the Guideline Premium/Cash Value Corridor Test generally requires a lower Death Benefit and therefore a lower corresponding cost of insurance charge. However, the Guideline Premium/Cash Value Corridor Test limits the amount of premium payment that may be paid in each Policy Year. Generally, the Cash Value Accumulation Test has no such annual limitation, and allows more Premium Payments to be paid during the early Policy Years.

Changing Death Benefit Options

You may change Death Benefit options at any time while the Policy is in force, upon written request and subject to our approval. Death Benefit option changes are subject to our insurability requirements and issue limits. In addition, we will not permit a change if it would result in either (i) your Policy being disqualified as a life insurance contract under federal tax law or (ii) a Specified Amount less than the minimum Specified Amount we require for issuance of a new Policy at the time of the change. A Death Benefit option change may affect the Policy Value and Specified Amount. The Cost of Insurance Charge will increase if a change results in a larger net amount at risk. (See “Monthly Policy Charges and Surrender Charge.”) A death Benefit Option change results in the same net amount at risk at the time of the change, but may result in a larger net amount at risk over time had the change not occurred. For example, a change from Death Benefit Option A to Option B should result in moving from a net amount at risk that would decline over time (assuming increasing Policy Value) to net amount at risk that would remain level over time. Changing the Death Benefit option may have tax consequences. (See “Tax Considerations.”)

A change in the Death Benefit option will be effective on the Monthly Processing Date on which a written request is received at our Home Office. If the written request is not received on a Monthly Processing Date, it will be effective on the next Monthly Processing Date. We reserve the right to charge for a Death Benefit option change, and will deduct any such charges from Invested Assets. (See “Charges and Expenses.") The Cost of Insurance Charge will increase if a change results in a larger net amount at risk. (See “Monthly Policy Charges and Surrender Charge.”)

Payment Plan Options

Upon the second death, in lieu of a lump sum payment your Beneficiary may elect to receive his or her share of the Life Insurance Benefit by one of the following fixed payment plan options. You may also elect to have surrender proceeds paid by either of these options. Payments under a fixed payment plan option are not affected by the investment performance of the Divisions after the proceeds are applied to the selected payment plan. Payment under fixed payment plan options will be based on rates declared by the Company when the payment plan is entered into. Those rates will not be less than the rates shown in the Policy. The monthly income payment rates in the Policy life income plans are based on interest at an annual effective rate of 2.50% and the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with projected mortality improvements using 125% of Projection Scale G. Ages are adjusted to reflect mortality improvement from the Issue Date of the Policy to the start of the payment plan. The same rate will apply to the Net Premium paid to increase the amount of the monthly payment under a Life Income payment plan. (See "Increase of Monthly Income.") There is no additional charge for electing a fixed payment plan option. We may offer additional payment plans.

Single Life Income. We will make monthly payments for the selected certain period. The options for the certain period are zero years (meaning without a certain period), ten years, twenty years or a refund period which continues until the sum of the payments that have been made is equal to the amount that was originally applied under the payment plan. If the payee lives longer than the certain period, payments will continue for his or her life. If the payee dies before the end of the certain period, the balance of the certain period payments will be paid to the payment plan beneficiary or beneficiaries your Beneficiary designates.

Joint and Survivor Life Income. We will make monthly payments for a 10-year certain period, and thereafter for as long as either of the individuals upon whose lives income payments are based is living. If both payees die before the end of the certain period, the balance of the certain period payments will be paid to the payment plan beneficiary or beneficiaries your Beneficiary designates.

In generally, the monthly payments under a joint and survivor life income plan will be lower than, but may be payable for a longer period than, a single life income plan.

 

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The Owner may elect a payment plan for each Beneficiary's share of the Life Insurance Benefit:

 

    before the second death; or

 

    during the first 60 days after the second death, if the second of the Insureds to die is not the Owner at the time of the second death. An election made during that 60 day period may not be revoked.

Subject to the Owner's rights, and upon providing any information that we may require, a direct or contingent Beneficiary may elect a payment plan for his or her share of the Life Insurance Benefit and/or name his or her own beneficiary for the payment plan value, if any, remaining on his death. If no such payment plan beneficiary is named, then the payment plan beneficiary for the remaining value, if any, shall be the estate of the deceased direct or contingent Beneficiary. Payment plan beneficiaries will continue to receive payments of the remaining value under the terms of the payment plan in effect on the death of the direct or contingent Beneficiary.

Withdrawal

The remaining value, if any, in a payment plan may be withdrawn in a lump sum upon the death of all individuals upon whose lives income payments are based. The withdrawal value will be the present value of any unpaid payments for the remaining certain period. The present value will be based on the rate of interest used to determine the amount of the payments.

Limitations

A direct or contingent Beneficiary who is a natural person may be paid under a Life Income payment plan only if the payments depend on his or her life. A non-natural person may be paid under a Life Income payment plan only if the payments depend on the life of an Insured's spouse or the Insured’s dependent.

Payment Frequency.

Upon written request, we will make payments once every 3, 6 or 12 months instead of each month.

Increase Of Monthly Income

A direct or contingent Beneficiary may, at the time the payment plan elected takes effect, increase the amount of the monthly payments under the payment plan by making an annuity premium payment to the Company. We will apply the net annuity premium to the payment plan. The net annuity premium is the amount of the annuity premium payment less a charge of not more than 2% and less any premium tax. The net annuity premium will be applied under the same payment plan and at the same rates as the proceeds. The Company may limit this net annuity premium to an amount that is equal to the direct or contingent Beneficiary's share of the proceeds payable under this Policy.

Surrender and Withdrawals of Policy Value

Surrenders

You may surrender your Policy for the Cash Surrender Value at any time while either Insured is alive and the Policy is in force. The Cash Surrender Value will change daily in response to the investment performance of the Divisions in which you are invested. We determine the Cash Surrender Value on the Valuation Date we receive your written surrender request at our Home Office, except that if we receive your written request after the close of business on a Valuation Date or on a non-Valuation Date, we will determine the Cash Surrender Value as of the close of business on the next Valuation Date.

We do not guarantee any minimum Cash Surrender Value. We may require you to return your Policy to our Home Office when you request a surrender of the Policy. We will pay surrender proceeds in a lump sum or under a payment plan option you select. (See “Payment Plan Options.") A surrender may have tax consequences.

Withdrawals

Upon written request received at our Home Office, you may make a withdrawal from your Policy Value, subject to the Company’s right to assess a charge deducted from Invested Assets in an amount up to $25 per withdrawal (currently waived). You may make no more than four withdrawals in a Policy Year. Each withdrawal must be at least $250, and you may not withdraw an amount that would:

 

    reduce the Loan Value (net of any applicable service charge) to less than the Policy Debt;

 

    reduce the Specified Amount to less than the minimum Specified Amount that the Company would require for issuance of a Policy at the time of withdrawal; or

 

    reduce the Cash Surrender Value to less than the sum of three times the most recent Monthly Policy Charge and any applicable service charge.

 

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A withdrawal of Policy Value decreases Invested Assets and may also have tax consequences. (See “Tax Considerations.") A withdrawal may also decrease the Specified Amount used to determine the Death Benefit. Specifically, if the Death Benefit Option A is in effect at the time of withdrawal, the Specified Amount will be reduced by the excess, if any, of the Specified Amount over the result of (a) minus (b) where:

 

  (a) is the Death Benefit immediately prior to the withdrawal; and

 

  (b) is the amount of the withdrawal and applicable service charge.

If we receive your written request for withdrawal at our Home Office on or before the close of business on a Valuation Date, the withdrawal will be effective as of the close of business on that Valuation Date. If we receive your written request after the close of business on a Valuation Date or on a non-Valuation Date, the withdrawal will be effective as of the close of business on the next Valuation Date. On the Valuation Date on which a withdrawal from the Policy Value is effective, Invested Assets will be reduced by the amount of the withdrawal. The amount of the withdrawal will be allocated among each Division in proportion to the Invested Assets in each Division.

Policy Loans

While the Policy is in force you may submit a request for a loan in an amount that, when added to the existing Policy Debt, is not greater than your Loan Value. You may increase the risk that your Policy will lapse (terminate with no value) if you take a loan. A Policy loan may have tax consequences. (See “Tax Considerations.")

Interest on a Policy loan accrues on a daily basis at an annual effective rate of interest of 5%, and is included in Policy Debt as it accrues. Interest is due and payable on each Policy Anniversary. If interest is not paid when due, we will add accrued and unpaid interest to the principal loan balance, which consists of outstanding loans and interest added to principal. Policy Debt reduces the Cash Surrender Value and may cause the Policy to lapse. (See "Termination and Reinstatement.")

We will take an amount equal to the loan ("loan amount") from the Separate Account Divisions in proportion to the amounts in the Divisions. We will also deduct from Invested Assets a Policy Debt Expense Charge on each Monthly Processing Date while there is Policy Debt. The loan accrues interest at an annual effective rate of 5%. A Policy loan, even if you repay it, will have a permanent effect on the Policy Value, the Cash Surrender Value, and the Death Benefit because the loan amounts do not participate in the Separate Account's investment results while the loan is outstanding. We deduct any Policy Debt from the Policy Value upon surrender and from the Life Insurance Benefit payable on the second death.

You may repay a Policy loan, including any accrued interest outstanding, in whole or in part, at any time while either Insured is alive and the Policy is in force. Upon such payment, we will transfer an amount equal to the payment amount from our General Account to the Separate Account Divisions in proportion to the Premium Payment allocation instructions then in effect. We will credit those payments when we receive them in our Home Office. If we receive your payment before the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a Valuation Date, we will process your payment on that Valuation Date. If we receive your payment on or after the close of trading on a Valuation Date, or on a day that is not a Valuation Date, we will process your payment on the next Valuation Date.

If there is Policy Debt, payments received at our Home Office will be treated as payments to reduce Policy Debt unless designated as Premium Payments.

Termination and Reinstatement

If the Cash Surrender Value is less than the Monthly Policy Charge on any Monthly Processing Date, your Policy will enter into a 61-day grace period (“Policy Grace Period”) and terminate (or lapse) with no value and your life insurance coverage will end, unless you submit a payment to keep the Policy in force. The Policy Grace Period begins on the date that we send you a notice. The notice will indicate the minimum payment amount required to keep the Policy in force and the date by which you must make the payment. Upon receipt of the payment, we will allocate the payment, less any current and past due and unpaid Monthly Policy Charges, to the Divisions of the Separate Account, based on your allocation instructions then in effect. If the second death occurs during the Policy Grace Period, we will deduct any Monthly Policy Charges due and unpaid from the Life Insurance Benefit.

After your Policy has terminated, you may reinstate it within three years (or longer if required under state law) following the termination date, subject to our approval and satisfying our underwriting requirements. The Policy may not be reinstated if either of the Insureds dies after the end of the Policy Grace Period. To reinstate the Policy, you must make a payment equal to the amount that will cover all Monthly Policy Charges that were due and unpaid before the end of the Policy Grace Period and three times the Monthly

 

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Policy Charge due on the reinstatement effective date. If we approve the Application for reinstatement, the effective date of the reinstated Policy will be the Monthly Processing Date on which the reinstatement Application is received at our Home Office, but if the Application is not received on a Monthly Processing Date then it will be effective on the next Monthly

Processing Date. Any Policy Debt that was outstanding when the Policy terminated will also be reinstated. You do not have the right to reinstate your Policy if you surrender it for the Cash Surrender Value.

On the effective date of the reinstatement, the Policy Value will be equal to the sum of:

 

    the Net Premium paid upon reinstatement; and

 

    any Policy Debt on the termination date; minus

the sum of:

 

    all Monthly Policy Charges due and unpaid prior to the expiration of the Grace Period; and

 

    the Monthly Policy Charge due on the reinstatement effective date.

On the later of the effective date of the reinstatement or the date we approve the Application for reinstatement, we will allocate the Policy Value less any Policy Debt among the Separate Account Divisions based on the allocation instructions then in effect, if such date is a Valuation Date. If such date is not a Valuation Date, then we will allocate this amount on the next Valuation Date.

For a discussion of the tax effects associated with termination and reinstatement of a Policy, see “Tax Considerations."

Other Policy Transactions

Transfers

Subject to the limitations on short-term and excessive trading discussed below, you may make as many as twelve transfers between and among the Divisions of the Separate Account during a Policy Year. You may request the transfer in writing. If we receive your request for transfer before the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a Valuation Date, we will process your request on that Valuation Date. If we receive your request on or after the close of trading on a Valuation Date, or on a day that is not a Valuation Date, we will process your request on the next Valuation Date.

Although no fee is currently charged, we reserve the right to charge a transfer fee of $25. We deduct this charge from each Division in proportion to the amounts in each Division after the transfer. We also reserve the right to impose a minimum and/or maximum size on the transfer amounts. In addition, certain Portfolios in which the Divisions invest may impose redemption fees. These fees are described in the Portfolios' prospectuses.

Eligible Owners may submit transfer instructions by telephone or via the Internet at www.nmfn.com ("electronic instructions") in accordance with our then current telephone or Internet procedures. (For information regarding our current telephone and internet transfer procedures, including our current telephone and internet addresses, see the "Owner Inquiries" section of the prospectus.) However, we are not required to accept electronic instructions, and we will not be responsible for losses resulting from transactions based on unauthorized electronic instructions, provided we follow procedures reasonably designed to verify the authenticity of electronic instructions. We reserve the right to limit, modify, suspend or terminate the ability to make transfers via electronic instructions.

Short Term and Excessive Trading

Short term and excessive trading (sometimes referred to as "market timing") may present risks to a Portfolio's long-term investors, such as Owners and other persons who may have material rights under the Policy (e.g., Beneficiaries), because it can, among other things, disrupt Portfolio investment strategies, increase Portfolio transaction and administrative costs, require higher than normal levels of cash reserves to fund unusually large or unexpected redemptions, and adversely affect investment performance. These risks may be greater for Portfolios that invest in securities that may be more vulnerable to arbitrage trading, including foreign securities and thinly traded securities, such as small cap stocks and non-investment grade bonds. These types of trading activities also may dilute the value of long-term investors' interests in a Portfolio if it calculates its net asset value using closing prices that are no longer accurate. Accordingly, we discourage market timing activities.

To deter short term and excessive trading, we have adopted and implemented policies and procedures which are designed to control abusive trading practices. We seek to apply these policies and procedures uniformly to all Policy Owners, except to the extent we are prevented from doing so under applicable state or federal law or regulation. Any exceptions must be either expressly permitted by our

 

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policies and procedures or subject to an approval process described in them. Because exceptions are permitted, it is possible that investors may be treated differently and, as a result, some may be allowed to engage in trading activity that might be viewed as market timing.

Among the steps we have taken to reduce the frequency and effect of these practices are monitoring trading activity and imposing trading restrictions. Further, a Policy Owner who is identified as having made a transfer in and out of the same Division ("round trip transfer") in an amount in excess of $10,000 within fourteen calendar days will be restricted from making additional transfers after the third such round trip transfer until the next Policy Anniversary, and sent a letter informing him or her of the restriction. Thereafter, the same Policy Owner will be similarly restricted after the second such round trip transfer. A Policy Owner investor who is identified as having made one or more round trip transfers within thirty calendar days aggregating more than one percent (1%) of the total assets of the Portfolio underlying a Division will be sent a warning letter after the first such round trip transfer and will be restricted from making additional transfers until the next Policy Anniversary date after the second such round trip transfer. Thereafter, the same Policy Owner will be similarly restricted after the first such round trip transfer. These limitations do not apply to transfers by the Company (e.g., automatic asset transfers, scheduled or systematic transactions involving Portfolio rebalancing or dollar cost averaging) or to initial allocations or changes in allocations.

These policies and procedures may change from time to time in our sole discretion without notice; provided, however, Policy Owners would be given advance, written notice if the policies and procedures were revised to accommodate market timing. Additionally, the Funds may have their own policies and procedures described in their prospectuses that are designed to limit or restrict frequent trading. Such policies and procedures may provide for the imposition of a redemption fee and may require us to provide transaction information to the Fund.

If we believe your trading activity is in violation of, or inconsistent with, our policies and procedures or otherwise is potentially disruptive to the interests of other investors, you may be asked to stop such activities, and future investments, allocations or transfers by you may be rejected without notice. Because we retain discretion to determine what action is appropriate in a given situation, investors may be treated differently and some may be allowed to engage in activities that might be viewed as market timing.

We intend to monitor events and the effectiveness of our policies and procedures in order to identify whether instances of potentially abusive trading practices are occurring. However, we may not be able to identify all instances of abusive trading practices, nor completely eliminate the possibility of such activities, and there may be technological limitations on our ability to impose restrictions on the trading practices of Policy Owners.

Dollar Cost Averaging

You may elect to participate in a dollar cost averaging ("DCA") program by making an election to do so in the Application or by completing an election form and sending it to our Home Office. There is no additional charge for DCA. Under our DCA program, while the Policy is in force you may authorize us to transfer monthly a fixed dollar amount or fractional amount from the Money Market Division to other Divisions. The transfers continue until you instruct us otherwise, or until the amount in the Money Market Division is exhausted. Your request to participate in this program is effective when we receive your completed Application or election form at our Home Office. You may elect to increase or decrease the amount of transfer payments under our DCA program. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the DCA program at any time.

DCA does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. Carefully consider your willingness to continue Premium Payments during periods of both low and high prices.

Portfolio Rebalancing

Portfolio rebalancing helps you to maintain your allocation of Invested Assets among the Divisions over time. If you elect automatic rebalancing, we automatically transfer your Invested Assets and apply new Net Premiums (unless you specify otherwise) in accordance with the allocation percentages you specify. Portfolio rebalancing may reduce the amount of your Invested Assets allocated to the better performing Divisions.

You may choose to rebalance monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. We do not charge a transfer fee for automatic Portfolio rebalancing. You may elect Portfolio rebalancing and modify or terminate your election at any time by submitting a written request to our Home Office. We may change, terminate, limit or suspend this feature at any time.

Charges and Deductions

Premium Expense Charges

We deduct a charge from each Premium Payment for state premium taxes and a portion of our federal corporate taxes. Premium taxes vary from state to state and currently range from 0.0% to 3.5% of life insurance premiums. The 2.00% rate that we charge is what we have determined to be an average. The tax rate for a particular state may be lower, higher, or equal to the 2.00% deduction, although we will charge 2.00% regardless of the state in which you live.

 

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Due to a federal tax law change under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, as amended ("OBRA"), insurance companies are generally required to capitalize and amortize certain acquisition expenses rather than currently deduct such expenses. Due to this capitalization and amortization, the corporate income tax burden on insurance companies has been affected. We make a charge of 1.30% against each Premium Payment to compensate us for this additional corporate tax burden.

The total amount of the current charges attributable to state premium taxes and OBRA, as described above, is 3.30% of each Premium Payment. Tax charges may increase to reflect changes in tax laws.

We generally deduct a charge, or "sales load," of 6.4% for sales costs from premiums paid, up to the Target Premium in Policy Years 1-10 and 2.4% of Premium Payments, up to the Target Premium, in all Policy Years thereafter. For all Policy Years, there is a 2.4% charge on all Premium Payments in excess of the Target Premium. We expect to recover our expenses of selling and advertising ("distribution expenses") from this amount, over the period while the Policies are in force, and from the Deferred Sales charges and surrender charges described below. The amounts we deduct for distribution expenses in a Policy Year are not specifically related to distribution expenses incurred that year. To the extent that distribution expenses exceed the amounts deducted, we will pay the expenses from our other assets. These assets may include, among other things, any gain realized from the charge against the assets of the Separate Account for the mortality and expense risks we have assumed. (See “Charges Against the Invested Assets.") To the extent that the amounts deducted for distribution expenses exceed the amounts needed, we will realize a gain.

Monthly Policy Charges and Service Charges

We deduct a Monthly Policy Charge from Invested Assets on each Monthly Processing Date. The Monthly Policy Charge includes 1) the monthly Cost of Insurance Charge, 2) the monthly Mortality and Expense Risk Charge Invested Assets Component, 3) the monthly Mortality and Expense Risk Charge Specified Amount Component, 4) the monthly Administrative Charge, 5) the monthly Underwriting and Issue Charge, 6) the monthly Deferred Sales Charge, and, if applicable, 7) the monthly Policy Debt Expense Charge. These components of the Monthly Policy Charge are described in the following paragraphs.

As part of the Monthly Policy Charge, we deduct a Cost of Insurance Charge. We determine the amount by multiplying the net amount at risk by the cost of insurance rate, which is based on the Issue Age, sex, and risk classifications of the Insured persons as well as the Specified Amount, the Policy date and Policy duration. The net amount at risk is approximately equal to the Death Benefit currently in effect less the Policy Value. The net amount at risk will be affected by investment performance, the amount and timing of Premium Payments, and the charges and expenses for the Policy. The maximum costs of insurance rates are included in the Policy.

As part of the Monthly Policy Charge, we deduct a Monthly Mortality and Expense Risk Charge—Invested Assets Component. The maximum amount of the charge is equal to an annual rate of 0.90% (0.075% monthly rate) of Invested Assets. Currently the charge is equal to an annual rate of 0.05% (0.00417% monthly rate) of Invested Assets. The mortality risk is the risk that Insureds may not live as long as we estimated. The expense risk includes the risk that expenses of issuing and administering the Policies may exceed the estimated costs. We will realize a gain from this charge to the extent it is not needed to provide benefits and pay expenses under the Policies.

As part of the Monthly Policy Charge, we deduct a Monthly Mortality and Expense Risk Charge—Specified Amount Component. The Specified Amount Component is based on the initial Specified Amount and the Issue Ages of the Insureds, and applies during the first 10 Policy Years. The range on an annual basis is from $0.04 ($0.00333 monthly) per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount if both Insureds are issue age 25 or younger, up to $1.72 ($0.14333 monthly) per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount if both Insureds are issue age 75 or older. A table of rates and an example are included in Appendix A. The mortality risk is the risk that Insureds may not live as long as we estimated. The expense risk includes the risk that expenses of issuing and administering the Policies may exceed the estimated costs. Our revenues attributable to this charge may exceed our mortality and expense costs covered by this charge.

As part of the Monthly Policy Charge, we deduct the Monthly Administrative Charge of not more than $90.00 ($7.50 monthly). Currently this charge is $60.00 ($5.00 monthly). This charge is for administrative expenses, including costs of Premium Payment collection, processing claims, keeping records and communicating with Policy Owners.

We also deduct the Monthly Underwriting and Issue Charge as part of the Monthly Policy Charge. This charge applies during the first ten Policy Years and is based on the Initial Specified Amount and the risk classification of the Insureds on the Date of Issue. The charge ranges from $0.18 to $0.42 ($0.015 to $0.035 monthly) per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount, with a maximum annual charge of $900 to $2,100 ($75 to $175 monthly).

As part of the Monthly Policy Charge, we deduct the Monthly Deferred Sales Charge during the first ten Policy Years. The charge applied in the first Policy Year is 7.5% (0.625% monthly rate) of cumulative premiums paid to date (up to the Target Premium). The charge applied during Policy Years 2-10 is equal to 7.5% (0.625% monthly rate) of the premium paid in the first Policy Year (up to the Target Premium). This charge is for sales expenses.

 

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In addition, we deduct the Monthly Policy Debt Expense Charge for the expenses and taxes associated with the Policy Debt, if any. The maximum amount of the charge is equal to an annual rate of 2.0% (0.16667% monthly rate) of Policy Debt. Currently the charge is equal to an annual rate of 0.90% (0.075% monthly rate) of Policy Debt for Policy Years one through ten and 0.35% (0.02917% monthly rate) of Policy Debt for Policy Years 11 and thereafter.

The Policy provides for transaction fees or service charges to be deducted from the Invested Assets on the dates on which transactions take place. These service charges are $25 per change if more than one change occurs in Specified Amount in a Policy Year, $25 per withdrawal, $25 per transfer of assets among the Divisions of the Separate Account, and $25 per change of the Death Benefit option. Currently we waive all of these fees.

We will apportion deductions from Invested Assets among the Divisions of the Separate Account in proportion to the amounts invested in the Divisions.

Surrender Charge

A surrender charge will be deducted from Invested Assets during the first ten Policy Years if the Policy is surrendered. The surrender charge during the first Policy Year is 50% of the premium payment paid up to the Target Premium. After the first Policy Year, the surrender charge grades down monthly in Policy Years two through ten to zero.

Portfolio Expenses

The value of the net assets of each Division reflects the management fees and other expenses incurred by the corresponding Portfolio in which the Division invests. For further information, consult the Portfolio's prospectuses and the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses table included in the Fee Table of this prospectus.

Other Policy Provisions

Naming a Beneficiary

You must name a Beneficiary at the time you apply for your Policy on your Application, but you may change the Beneficiary before the second death and during the first 60 days after the second death if you are not the second of the Insureds to die. Naming or changing a Beneficiary will be made after receipt of your written request in our Home Office effective as of the date you sign your request. Any Beneficiary change terminates all rights under previous Beneficiary designations. We will not be responsible for any payment or other action we take with respect to your Policy before we receive your written request, and we may require the Policy to be sent to us for endorsement to reflect the Beneficiary change.

Incontestability

We will not contest a Policy after it has been in force during the lifetime of at least one of the Insureds for two years from the Date of Issue or the date of reinstatement. We will not contest a change to the Policy that was subject to insurability requirements after the change has been in force during the lifetime of at least one of the Insureds for two years from the date of the change.

Suicide

If either Insured dies by suicide within one year from the Date of Issue, the amount payable under the Policy will be limited to the Premium Payments, less the amount of any Policy Debt and withdrawals. If either Insured dies by suicide within one year of the date of issuance of an increase in the amount of insurance, which was subject to insurability requirements, the amount payable with respect to the increase will be limited to the amounts charged for the cost of insurance and other expenses attributable to the increase.

Misstatement of Age or Sex

If the age or sex of either Insured has been misstated, we will adjust all charges, values and benefits to reflect the correct age and sex.

Policy Split Right

The Policy permits the Owner to exchange the Policy for two policies, one on the life of each Insured, without evidence of insurability, if there are certain changes in the federal estate tax law. (See “Tax Considerations – Policy Split Right.”) The exchange must be made while both Insureds are alive and the written request must be received at our Home Office no more than 180 days after the change in federal tax law.

Collateral Assignment

You may assign a Policy as collateral security. We are not responsible for the validity or effect of a collateral assignment and we will not be deemed to know of an assignment before receipt of the assignment in writing at our Home Office. The interests of any Beneficiary will be subject to any collateral assignment made either before or after any Beneficiary is named. The collateral assignee is not an Owner. A collateral assignment is not a transfer of ownership. (See “Ownership Rights.")

Deferral of Determination and Payment

We will ordinarily pay Policy Benefits (i.e., Policy Loans, Cash Surrender Values, and withdrawals) within seven days after we

 

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receive all required documents at our Home Office. However, we may defer determination and payment of benefits if:

 

    the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC; or

 

    the SEC permits, by an order, the postponement of any payment for the protection of Owners; or

 

    the SEC determines that an emergency exists that would make the disposal of securities held in the Separate Account or the determination of their value not reasonably practicable.

If you have submitted a check or draft to our Home Office, we have the right to defer payment of Life Insurance Benefit, surrender, withdrawal, loan, or payment plan proceeds until the check or draft has been honored.

If mandated under applicable law, we may be required to freeze an Owner's Policy Value and thereby refuse to pay any requests for

transfer, withdrawal, surrender, loan, or Life Insurance Benefit, until instructions are received from the appropriate regulatory or other lawful authority. We may also be required to provide additional information about you, your Policy, and your trading activities to government regulators.

Dividends

This Policy is eligible to share in the divisible surplus, if any, of the Company. We determine in our sole discretion the amount and appropriate allocation of divisible surplus each year. Divisible surplus credited to your Policy is referred to as a dividend. We will credit dividends attributable to your Policy, if any, on the Policy Anniversary. There is no guaranteed method or formula for the determination or allocation of divisible surplus. Even if there is a divisible surplus, the payment of a dividend on this Policy is not guaranteed. It is not expected that any dividends will be payable on this Policy.

We will pay annual dividends, if any, in cash or you may use them to increase the Policy Value. If you do not provide direction as to the use of dividends, we will use them to increase the Policy Value. Dividends used to increase the Policy Value will be allocated to the Divisions of the Separate Account according to the allocation of Net Premiums then in effect.

Voting Rights

As long as the Separate Account continues to be registered as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act, and as long as Separate Account assets of a particular Division are invested in shares of a given Portfolio, we will vote the shares of that Portfolio held in the Separate Account in accordance with instructions we receive from the Owners of Policy Value supported by assets of that Division. Each Owner will receive periodic reports relating to the Portfolios, proxy material and a form with which to give instructions with respect to the proportion of shares of the Portfolio held in the Separate Account corresponding to the Owner’s Policy Value. We will vote shares for which no instructions have been received and shares held in our General Account in the same proportion as the shares for which instructions have been received from Policy Owners. The effect of such proportional voting is that a small number of Owners may control the outcome of a vote.

Reports and Financial Statements

For each Policy Year, we will send you a statement showing the Death Benefit, Policy Value and any Policy Debt (including interest charged) as of the Policy Anniversary. We will also send you a confirmation statement when you make a Premium Payment, transfer among Divisions, make a withdrawal of Policy Value, take a Policy loan, or Surrender the Policy. The annual statement and confirmation statements will show the apportionment of Invested Assets among the Divisions.

Annually, we will send you a report containing financial statements of the Separate Account and, semi-annually, we will send you reports containing financial information and schedules of investments for the Portfolios underlying the Divisions to which your Invested Assets are allocated. The financial statements of the Company are contained in the Statement of Additional Information. Because the Separate Account commenced operations after the end of Fiscal Year 2006, financial statements for the Separate Account are currently not available. To receive a copy of the Statement of Additional Information, call 1-888-455-2232.

Legal Proceedings

Northwestern Mutual, like other life insurance companies, is ordinarily involved in litigation. Although the outcome of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that, as of the date of this prospectus, there are no pending or threatened lawsuits that will have a materially adverse impact on the ability of Northwestern Mutual to meet its obligations under the Policy, on the Separate Account, or on NMIS and its ability to perform its duties as underwriter for the Separate Account.

 

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Owner Inquiries

Get up-to-date information about your Policy at your convenience with your Policy number and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Call Northwestern Mutual Express toll-free at 1-800-519-4665 to review Policy values, transfer among Divisions, change the allocation instructions and obtain Division performance information. With your User ID and password you can also visit our website (www.nmfn.com) to access Division performance information, forms for routine service, and daily values for Policies you own. Eligible Owners may also transfer Invested Assets among the Divisions and change the allocation of future Premium Payments online. For enrollment information, please contact us at 1-800-388-8123. If you have questions about making a surrender or filing a claim, please contact your Network Representative or call the Variable Life Service Center at 1-866-424-2609.

Illustrations

Your Network Representative will provide you with illustrations for a Policy upon your request when you apply for a Policy and while your Policy is in force. When you apply for a Policy, the illustrations will be based on the information you give us about the proposed Insureds and will reflect such factors as the Specified Amount, Death Benefit option and Premium Payments that you select. While the Policy is in force, the illustrations will reflect the performance of your Policy to date and will show how the Death Benefit and Policy Value for a Policy would vary based on hypothetical future investment results. These should be based upon realistic expectations given your own individual situation.

Illustrations for variable life insurance policies do not project or predict investment results. The illustrated values assume that non-guaranteed elements such as dividends, Policy charges and level investment returns will not change. Given the volatility of the securities markets over time, the illustrated scenario is unlikely to occur and actual Policy Value, Death Benefit, Cash Surrender Value, and certain expenses (which will vary with the investment performance of the Portfolios) will be more or less than those illustrated. In addition, the actual timing and amounts of payments, deductions, expenses and any values removed from the Policy will also impact product performance. Due to these variations, even a Portfolio that averaged the same return as illustrated will produce values which will be more or less than those which were originally illustrated.

Tax Considerations

General

The following discussion provides a general description of federal income tax considerations relating to the Policy. The discussion is based on current provisions of the Code as currently interpreted by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service. We do not intend this as tax advice. The discussion is not exhaustive, it does not address the likelihood of future changes in federal income tax law or interpretations thereof, and it does not address state or local tax considerations which may be significant in the purchase and ownership of a Policy.

This tax discussion is intended for the promotion of the Company’s products. It does not constitute legal or tax advice, and is not intended to be used and cannot be used to avoid any penalties that may be imposed on a taxpayer. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Life Insurance Qualification

Section 7702 of the Code defines life insurance for federal income tax purposes. Under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code, a Policy will generally be treated as life insurance for federal tax purposes if at all times it meets either a guideline premium test (GLPT) or a cash value accumulation test (CVAT). You must choose either the GLPT or the CVAT before the Policy is issued. Once the Policy is issued, you may not change to a different test. The Life Insurance Benefit will vary depending on which test is used. The GLPT has two components, a premium limit component and a corridor component. The premium limit restricts the amount of premium that can be paid into the Policy. The corridor requires that the Life Insurance Benefit be at least a certain percentage (varying each year by age of the younger Insured) of the Policy Value. The CVAT does not have a premium limit, but does have a corridor that requires that the Life Insurance Benefit be at least a certain percentage (varying based on the age, sex and risk classification of the Insured) of the Policy Value. The corridor under the CVAT is different from the corridor under the GLPT. Specifically, the CVAT corridor requires more Life Insurance Benefit in relation to Policy Value than is required by the GLPT corridor. Therefore, as your Policy Value increases your Life Insurance Benefit will increase more rapidly under CVAT than it would under GLPT. In deciding whether or not to choose the CVAT, you should consider that the CVAT generally permits more premiums to be contributed to a Policy, but may require the Policy to have a higher Life Insurance Benefit, which may increase certain charges. We have designed the Policy to comply with these rules. We will return premiums that would cause a Policy to be disqualified as life insurance, or take any other action that may be necessary for the Policy to qualify as life insurance.

 

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Section 817(h) of the Code authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to set standards for diversification of the investments underlying variable life insurance policies. Final regulations have been issued pursuant to this authority. Failure to meet the diversification requirements would disqualify the Policies as life insurance for purposes of Section 7702 of the Code. We intend to comply with these requirements.

On July 24, 2003, the Internal Revenue Service issued Rev. Ruls. 2003-91 and 2003-92 that provide guidance on when a Policy Owner's control of separate account assets will cause the policy owner, and not the life insurance company, to be treated as the owner of those assets. Important indicators of investor control are the ability of the policy owner to select the investment advisor, the investment strategy or the particular investments of the separate account. If the owner of a policy were treated as the owner of the mutual fund shares held in the Separate Account, the income and gains related to those shares would be included in the owner's gross income for federal income tax purposes. We believe that we own the assets of the Separate Account under current federal income tax law.

Tax Treatment of Life Insurance

While a Policy is in force, increases in the Policy Value as a result of investment experience are not subject to federal income tax until there is a distribution as defined by the Code. The Death Benefit received by a Beneficiary will ordinarily not be subject to federal income tax.

Unless the Policy is a modified endowment contract, as described below, a loan received under a Policy will not be treated as a distribution subject to current federal income tax. Interest paid by individual Owners of the Policies will ordinarily not be deductible. You should consult a qualified tax advisor as to the deductibility of interest paid or accrued. (See "Business Owned Life Insurance.")

As a general rule, the proceeds from a withdrawal of Policy Value will be taxable only to the extent that the withdrawal exceeds the basis of the Policy. The basis of the Policy is generally equal to the Premium Payments less any amounts previously received as tax-free distributions. Dividends, if any, whether paid in cash, or applied to increase Policy Value, are taxed as withdrawals. However, the reduction in the basis of the Policy is offset by a corresponding increase in basis when the dividend is applied to increase Policy Value or pay premiums. In certain circumstances, a withdrawal of Policy Value during the first 15 Policy Years may be taxable to the extent that the Policy Value exceeds the basis of the Policy. This means that the amount withdrawn may be taxable even if that amount is less than the basis of the Policy.

Caution must be used when taking cash out of a Policy through policy loans. If interest is not paid annually, it is added to the principal amount and the total amount will continue to accrue interest for as long as the loan is maintained on the Policy. The policy loan, increased by accrued interest, reduces the Cash Surrender Value of the Policy. If the Policy remains in force until the second death, the loan will be repaid from the tax-free Death Benefit. However, if the Policy lapses or is surrendered, the loan (which includes the total amount of the loan plus accrued interest) will be repaid from the Policy, and the Policy Value will be taxable to the extent it exceeds the amount of Premium Payments. In extreme situations, Policy Owners can face what is called the "surrender squeeze." The surrender squeeze occurs when the unborrowed Policy Value, less the applicable surrender charge, is insufficient to cover the Monthly Policy Charge or to cover the tax due if the Policy terminates. If the unborrowed Policy Value, less the applicable surrender charge, is insufficient to cover the Monthly Policy Charges, then either additional Premium Payments would have to be made and/or loan repayments would have to be paid or the Policy would terminate and any income tax due would have to be made with other assets.

An exchange of the Policy for another life insurance policy, an endowment contract or an annuity contract covering the same Insureds or a surviving Insured may be done on a tax-free basis; however, any cash received or loan repaid in an exchange will be taxed to the extent of the gain in the Policy (i.e., on a gain-first basis). Special tax rules may apply when ownership of a Policy is transferred. You should seek qualified tax advice if you plan a transfer of ownership.

Modified Endowment Contracts

A Policy will be classified as a modified endowment contract if the cumulative Premium Payments paid during the first seven Policy Years exceed a defined "seven-pay" limit. The seven-pay limit is the sum of the premium payments at any time net of expense and administrative charges that would have been paid on or before that time if the Policy provided for paid-up benefits after seven level annual payments based on defined interest and mortality assumptions. A Policy will be treated as a modified endowment contract unless any excess premiums are withdrawn from the Policy with interest within 60 days after the end of the Policy Year in which they are paid.

Whenever there is a "material change" under a Policy, it will generally be treated as a new contract for purposes of determining whether the Policy is a modified endowment contract, and it will be subjected to a new seven-pay period and a new seven-pay limit. The new seven-pay limit would be determined by taking into account the Policy Value of the Policy at the time of such change. A materially changed Policy would be considered a modified endowment contract if it failed to satisfy the new seven-pay limit. A material change could occur, for example, as a result of an increase in the Death Benefit, the addition of an optional benefit or the payment of a premium payment that is considered "unnecessary" under the Code.

If the Death Benefit under the Policy during the first seven years is reduced during the lifetime of either Insured, for example, by

 

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making a withdrawal of Policy Value or by requesting a decrease in the Specified Amount or, in some cases, by lapsing the Policy, the seven-pay Premium Payment limit will be redetermined based on the reduced level of benefits and applied retroactively for purposes of the seven-pay test. If the premiums previously paid are greater than the recalculated seven-pay limit, the Policy will become a modified endowment contract.

A life insurance policy which is received in exchange for a modified endowment contract will also be considered a modified endowment contract.

If a Policy is a modified endowment contract, any distribution from the Policy will be taxed on a gain-first basis. Distributions for this purpose include a loan (including any increase in the loan amount to pay interest on an existing loan or an assignment or a pledge to secure a loan), a withdrawal of Policy Value, a surrender of the Policy, and dividends paid in cash but not dividends retained by the Company to increase Policy Value. If a Policy terminates while there is a Policy loan, the cancellation of the loan and accrued loan interest also will be treated as a distribution to the extent not previously treated as such. Any such distributions will be considered taxable income to the extent the Policy Value exceeds the basis in the Policy. For modified endowment contracts, the basis would be increased by the amount of any prior loan under the Policy that was considered taxable income. For purposes of determining the taxable portion of any distribution, all modified endowment contracts issued by Northwestern Mutual to the same Policy owner (excluding certain qualified plans) during any calendar year are aggregated. The Treasury Department has authority to prescribe additional rules to prevent avoidance of gain-first taxation on distributions from modified endowment contracts.

A 10% penalty tax will apply to the taxable portion of a distribution from a modified endowment contract. The penalty tax will not, however, apply to distributions (i) to taxpayers 59 1/2 years of age or older, (ii) in the case of a disability (as defined in the Code) or (iii) received as part of a series of substantially equal periodic annuity payments for the life (or life expectancy) of the taxpayer or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the taxpayer and the taxpayer's beneficiaries. The exceptions generally do not apply to life insurance policies owned by corporations or other entities.

Business Owned Life Insurance

Business-owned life insurance may be subject to certain additional rules. Section 101(j) of the Code provides that the Death Benefit payable under business-owned life insurance in which the business is also the beneficiary will be taxable unless (i) the insured is an eligible employee and (ii) the employee is given notice of the insurance and the maximum face amount and consents to be insured and to the continuation of the insurance after the employee terminates service with the employer. Generally, an eligible employee is an officer, a director, a person who owns more than 5% of the business, an employee earning more than $100,000 annually (increased for cost of living after 2006) or an employee who is among the highest paid 35% of employees. The law also imposes an annual reporting and record-keeping obligation on the employer.

Section 264(a) (1) of the Code generally disallows a deduction for Premium Payments on Policies by anyone who is directly or indirectly a beneficiary under the Policy. Increases in Policy Value may also be subject to tax under the corporation alternative minimum tax provisions. Section 264(a)(4) of the Code disallows an interest deduction on loans taken against business-owned life insurance policies unless the policies cover key persons and then only to the extent the aggregate amount of the loans on any key person does not exceed $50,000. Generally, a key person means an officer or a 20% owner. However, the number of key persons will be limited to the greater of (a) five individuals, or (b) the lesser of 5% of the total officers and employees of the taxpayer or 20 individuals. Deductible interest for these Policies will be subject to limits based on current market rates.

In addition, Section 264(f) disallows a proportionate amount of a business's interest deduction on non-life insurance indebtedness based on the amount of unborrowed Policy Value of non-exempt life insurance policies held in relation to other business assets. Exempt policies include policies held by natural persons unless the business is a direct or indirect beneficiary under the policy and policies owned by a business and insuring employees, directors, officers and 20% owners (as well as joint policies insuring 20% owners and their spouses).

Split-Dollar Arrangements

Life insurance purchased under a split dollar arrangement is subject to special tax rules. Treasury regulations regarding the taxation of split dollar arrangements provide that split dollar arrangements must be taxed under one of two mutually exclusive tax regimes depending on the ownership of the underlying life insurance policy. Collateral assignment split dollar arrangements, in which the employee owns the policy, must be taxed under a loan regime. Where such an arrangement imposes a below market interest rate or no interest rate, the employee is taxed on the imputed interest under Section 7872 of the Code. Endorsement split dollar arrangements, in which the employer owns the policy, must be taxed under an economic benefit regime. Under this regime, the employee is taxed each year on (i) the value of the current life insurance protection provided to the employee, (ii) the amount of policy Cash Surrender Value to which the employee has current access, and (iii) the value of any other economic benefits provided to the employee during the taxable year.

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, it is a criminal offense for an employer with publicly traded stock to extend or arrange a personal loan to a director or executive officer. One issue that has not been clarified is whether each Premium Payment paid by such an employer under a split dollar arrangement with a director or executive officer is a personal loan subject to the new law.

 

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Section 409A of the Code imposes requirements for nonqualified deferred compensation plans with regard to the timing of deferrals, distribution triggers, funding mechanisms and reporting requirements. Nonqualified deferred compensation plans that fail to meet these conditions are taxed currently on all compensation previously deferred and interest earned thereon and are assessed an additional 20% penalty. The law does not limit the use of life insurance as an informal funding mechanism for nonqualified deferred compensation plans, but proposed Treasury regulations provide that certain split dollar arrangements will be treated as nonqualified deferred compensation plans that must comply with the new rules. Further guidance is expected on this issue.

Valuation of Life Insurance

Special valuation rules apply to Policies distributed from a qualified plan to a participant or transferred by an employer to an employee. IRS Notice 2005-25 provides a safe harbor formula for valuing variable life insurance under which the value is the greater of the interpolated terminal reserve or the cash value (adjusted by a surrender factor for policies distributed from qualified plans), both increased by a pro rata portion of the estimated dividends for the Policy Year.

Estate Tax and Generation Skipping Tax Planning

The amount of the Life Insurance Benefit will generally be includible in the owner's estate for federal estate tax purposes and any applicable state inheritance tax if the second of the Insureds to die owns the Policy. If the Owner is not the last surviving Insured, the fair market value of the Policy will be includible in the Owner's estate. An unlimited marital deduction permits deferral of federal estate and gift taxes until the death of the Owner’s surviving spouse.

If ownership of the Policy is transferred, either directly or in trust, to a person two or more generations younger than the owner, the value of the Policy may be subject to a generation skipping transfer tax.

Section 2010 of the Code provides a $2 million exemption amount for estate tax and generation skipping tax purposes for 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a $3.5 million exemption amount for 2009. The exemption amount for gift tax purposes is $1 million for 2006 to 2010. The top estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax rate is 46% in 2006 and 45% in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2010, the estate tax and generation skipping transfer tax are repealed and the gift tax rate is reduced to 35%. Unless these rules are extended or made permanent, they will be sunsetted or repealed in 2011 and the rules in effect in 2001 ($1 million exemption amount and 55% maximum tax rate) will be reinstated. It is generally believed that the estate and generation skipping tax repeal will not be made permanent but that further changes may be made.

Policy Split Right

The Policy permits the Owner to exchange the Policy for two policies, one on the life of each Insured, without evidence of insurability, if a change in the federal estate tax law results in the permanent repeal of the unlimited marital deduction or the estate tax, a 50% or greater reduction in the estate tax rate or a permanent increase in the applicable exclusion amount to $4 million or more. The change must be made while both Insureds are alive and the request must be received no more than 180 days after the enactment of a law containing any of the above provisions.

The Internal Revenue Service has ruled with respect to one taxpayer that such a transaction would be treated as a non-taxable exchange. If not, such a split of the Policy could result in the recognition of taxable income.

Other Tax Considerations

Pursuant to regulations issued in 2003, taxpayers are required to annually report all "reportable transactions" as defined in the regulations. "Reportable transactions" include transactions that are offered under conditions of confidentiality as to tax treatment and involve an advisor who receives a fee of $250,000 or more, or transactions that include a tax indemnity. Rev. Proc. 2003-25 further held that the purchase of life insurance policies by a business does not, by itself, constitute a "reportable transaction".

Depending on the circumstances, the exchange of a Policy, a Policy loan, or a change in ownership or an assignment of the Policy may have federal income tax consequences. In addition, federal, state and local transfer, estate, inheritance, and other tax consequences of Policy ownership, Premium Payments and receipt of Policy proceeds depend on the circumstances of each Policy Owner or Beneficiary.

Distribution of the Policy

We sell the Policy through our Network Representatives who also are registered representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (“NMIS”). NMIS, our wholly-owned company, was organized under Wisconsin law in 1998 and is located at 611 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. NMIS is a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of NASD, Inc. NMIS is the principal underwriter of the Policy and has entered into a Distribution Agreement with us. The Policies are available exclusively through NMIS and our Network Representatives.

The maximum commission payable to the registered representative who sells the Policy is 40% of Target Premium and 2.75% of

 

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Premium Payments in excess of that amount during the first Policy Year; 6% of Target Premium and 2.75% of Premium Payments in excess of that amount paid in Policy Years 2-10 and 2% of Premium Payments thereafter. In addition, a commission of 0.10% of Invested Assets is paid at the end of Policy Years 2-10 and 0.07% of Invested Assets at the end of Policy Years 11 and later. The entire amount of the sales commissions is passed through the Distributor to the registered representative who sold the Policy and to his or her manager. The Company pays compensation and bonuses for the Distributor’s management team, and other expenses of distributing the Policies.

Because registered representatives of the Distributor are also our appointed agents, they are eligible for various cash benefits, such as bonuses, insurance benefits, and non-cash compensation programs that we offer, such as conferences, achievement recognition, prizes, and awards. In addition, Distributor's registered representatives who meet certain productivity, persistency and length of service standards and/or their managers may be eligible for additional compensation. Sales of the Policies may help registered representatives and/or their managers qualify for such benefits. Certain of the Distributor's registered representatives and managers may receive other payments from us for the recruitment and training of personnel, production of promotional literature and similar services.

We receive compensation from certain investment advisers and/or administrators (and/or affiliates thereof) of the Funds in connection with administrative and record-keeping services we provide to the Funds. Such compensation may range up to 0.10% of the assets of a Portfolio attributable to the Policy. Some advisers or administrators may pay us more than others. Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, our wholly owned broker-dealer, also receives 12b-1 fees deducted from certain Funds' Portfolio assets and additional payments from the Funds' distributors or their affiliates for providing certain distribution-related services for those Portfolios. For additional information see the Portfolio prospectuses.

Commissions and other incentives and payments described above are not charged directly to Owners or to the Separate Account. We intend to recoup commissions and other sales expenses through fees and charges deducted under the Policy.

Glossary of Terms

APPLICATION

The form completed by the applicant when applying for coverage under the Policy. This includes any:

1. amendments or endorsements;

2. supplemental Applications;

3. reinstatement Applications; and

4. policy change Applications.

BENEFICIARY(IES)

The person(s) so named in the Application, unless later changed, to whom any Life Insurance Benefit is payable upon the second death, subject to the conditions and provisions of the Policy. The term includes direct and contingent Beneficiaries and any further payees of the Life Insurance Benefit.

CASH SURRENDER VALUE

The amount we pay you when you surrender your Policy, which is equal to the Policy Value minus the sum of Policy Debt and any surrender charge that would be imposed.

CODE

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

DATE OF ISSUE

The date on which insurance coverage takes effect when a Premium Payment is made with the Application, and the date on which the suicide and contestable periods begin. The date is shown on the Policy Schedule Page.

DEATH BENEFIT

The gross amount payable to the Beneficiary upon the second death, before the deduction of Policy Debt and other adjustments. (See “Life Insurance Benefit.”)

DIVISION

A subdivision of the Separate Account. We invest each Division's assets exclusively in shares of one Portfolio.

FUND

A Fund is registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end management investment company or as a unit investment trust, or is not required to be registered under the Act. The Fund is available as an investment option under the Policy. The assets of each of the Divisions of the Separate Account are used to purchase shares of the corresponding Portfolio of a Fund.

 

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GENERAL ACCOUNT

All assets of the Company, other than those held in the Separate Account or in other separate accounts that have been or may be established by the Company.

HOME OFFICE

Our office at 720 East Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4797.

IN FORCE DATE

The date on which the initial net Premium Payment is transferred from the General Account to the separate Account.

INITIAL ALLOCATION DATE

The date identified in the Policy Schedule Pages on which we allocate Net Premium or Invested Assets to the Divisions of the Separate Account according to the Owner's instructions.

INITIAL SPECIFIED AMOUNT

The Specified Amount of coverage on the Policy Date of Issue.

INSURED

Each of the persons named as an Insured on the Application.

INVESTED ASSETS

The sum of all amounts in the Divisions of the Separate Account.

ISSUE AGE

The age of an Insured on his/her birthday nearest the Policy Date.

LIFE INSURANCE BENEFIT

The net amount payable upon the second death. The Life Insurance Benefit equals the Death Benefit reduced by any outstanding Policy Debt and other adjustments if the second death occurs during the grace period.

LOAN VALUE

An amount equal to 90% of the excess of the Policy Value on the date of the loan over the surrender charge that would be applicable to a surrender on the date of the loan.

MONTHLY POLICY CHARGE

The amount equal to the sum of:

1. the monthly cost of insurance charge;

2. the monthly underwriting and issue charge;

3. the monthly mortality and expense risk charge;

4. the monthly administrative charge;

5. the monthly deferred sales charge; and

6. the monthly Policy Debt Expense charge, if applicable.

MONTHLY PROCESSING DATE

The first Monthly Processing Date is the Policy Date; thereafter, the Monthly Processing Date is the same day of each month as the Policy Date. If the Monthly Processing Date would otherwise fall on the 29th, 30th or 31st of the month, monthly processing will occur on that day or on the last day of the month if the month does not have that day.

NET PREMIUM(S)

The amount of Premium Payment remaining after the Premium Expense Charge has been deducted.

NETWORK REPRESENTATIVE

An individual who is authorized to sell you the Policy and who is both licensed as a Northwestern Mutual insurance agent and registered as a representative of our affiliate, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, the principal underwriter of the Policy.

OWNER (You, Your)

The person named in the Application as the Owner, or the person who becomes Owner by transfer or succession.

POLICY ANNIVERSARY

The same day and month as the Policy Date in each year following the first Policy Year.

 

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POLICY DATE

The date shown on the Policy Schedule Page from which the following are computed:

1. Policy Year;

2. Policy Anniversary;

3. Monthly Processing Date; and

4. the Issue Age of each Insured.

POLICY DEBT

The total amount of all outstanding Policy loans, including both principal and accrued interest.

POLICY GRACE PERIOD

A 61-day period after which a Policy will lapse if you do not make a sufficient payment.

POLICY VALUE

The sum of Invested Assets and Policy Debt.

POLICY YEAR

A year that starts on the Policy Date or on a Policy Anniversary.

PORTFOLIO

A series of a Fund available for investment under the Policy which corresponds to a particular Division of the Separate Account.

PREMIUM PAYMENT

All payments you make under the Policy other than loan repayments.

SEPARATE ACCOUNT

Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II.

SPECIFIED AMOUNT

The amount you select, subject to minimums and underwriting requirements we establish, used in determining the insurance coverage on the Insureds’ lives.

TARGET PREMIUM

A hypothetical annual premium, which is based on the Specified Amount, and the age and other characteristics of the Insureds, such as their sex, used to compute part of the Premium Expense Charge, the Deferred Sales Charge, the Surrender Charge and the sales commission.

VALUATION DATE

Any day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, except for any days specified in the Policy's prospectus and any day that a Division's corresponding investment option does not value its shares. A Valuation Date ends when the NYSE closes.

VALUATION PERIOD

The time between the close of business on a Valuation Date and the close of business on the next Valuation Date.

 

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Additional Information

More information about Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II (the “Separate Account”) is included in a Statement of Additional Information (SAI), which is dated the same day as this prospectus, is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and is available free of charge from The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. To request a free copy of the Separate Account's SAI, or current annual report, call us toll-free at 1-888-455-2232. Information about the Separate Account (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Separate Account are available on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, or they may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F St., NE, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

Your Network Representative will provide you with illustrations for a Survivorship Variable Universal Life Policy free of charge upon your request. The illustrations show how the Death Benefit, Invested Assets and Cash Surrender Value for a Policy would vary based on hypothetical investment results. Your Network Representative will also respond to other inquiries you may have regarding the Policy, or you may contact the Variable Life Service Center at 1-866-424-2609.

Investment Company Act File No. 811- 21933

 

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APPENDIX A

Mortality and Expense Risk Charge—Specified Amount Component

Table of Charges Per $1,000 of Initial Specified Amount

 

Issue

Age*

 

Annual

Charge

20-25   $ 0.04
26     0.05
27     0.06
28     0.07
29     0.08
30     0.09
31     0.10
32     0.11
33     0.12
34     0.13
35     0.14
36     0.17
37     0.19
38     0.22
39     0.25
40     0.28
41     0.30
42     0.33
43     0.36
44     0.38
45     0.41
46     0.44
47     0.47
48     0.50
49     0.53
50     0.57
51     0.60
52     0.63
53     0.66
54     0.69
55     0.72
56     0.77
57     0.83
58     0.88
59     0.94
60     0.99
61     1.04
62     1.10
63     1.15
64     1.21
65     1.26
66     1.31
67     1.35
68     1.40
69     1.44
70     1.49
71     1.54
72     1.58
73     1.63
74     1.67
75-85     1.72

* The Issue Age used in this calculation equals the younger Insured Issue Age plus an age adjustment. The age adjustment is based on the age difference (older Issue Age minus younger Issue Age) and this schedule:

 

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Age Difference

(years)

  Age Adjustment
(years)
0-1   0
2-4   1
5-8   2
9-14   3
15-24   4
25-34   5
35-44   6
45-54   7
55-65   8

Example: For a Policy at Issue Ages 65 and 60 and a Specified Amount of $1,000,000, the age adjustment is 2 and the Issue Age is 62. The annual charge per $1,000 of Specified Amount is $1.10. The Monthly Policy Charge—Mortality and Expense Risk Charge—Specified Amount component will be $1,100.04 annually, or $91.67 monthly, for this Policy.

Note: In no event will the sum of the Monthly Policy Charge—Mortality and Expense Risk Charge—Specified Amount component annual charge and the Monthly Policy Charge—Underwriting and Issue Charge annual charge exceed $1.90 per $1,000 of initial Specified Amount. The Monthly Policy Charge—Underwriting and Issue Charge will be reduced to meet this constraint if necessary.

281940

 

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NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT II

(Registrant)

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Depositor)

720 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE

MILWAUKEE, WI 53202

1-888-455-2232

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Survivorship Variable Universal Life

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) contains additional information regarding the Survivorship Variable Universal Life insurance policy (the “Policy”) offered by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Northwestern Mutual”). This SAI is not a prospectus, and should be read together with the prospectus for the Policy dated [ ], 2007. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus by writing or calling Northwestern Mutual at the address or phone number shown above, or by visiting the Northwestern Mutual website at www.nmfn.com. Capitalized terms in this SAI have the same meanings as in the prospectus for the Policy.

The date of this Statement of Additional Information is [  ], 2007

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page

DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICY

   B-3

EXPERTS

   B-3

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT

   B-3

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

   F-1

 

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DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICY

The Policy will be offered on a continuous basis exclusively through our Network Representatives, who are also registered representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (“NMIS”). NMIS, our wholly-owned company, is the principal underwriter of the Policy and is located at 611 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

Because the Registrant has not commenced operations, no underwriting commissions have been paid to or retained by NMIS. Nor have any amounts been paid to other underwriters or broker-dealers.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Northwestern Mutual, and the related notes and report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP included in this Statement of Additional Information are so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides audit services for the Account. The address of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 100 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1800, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT

Because the Registrant has not commenced operations, financial statements for the Registrant are not currently available.

 

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The following financial statements of Northwestern Mutual should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of Northwestern Mutual to meet its obligations under the Policies.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

(in millions)

 

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

Assets:

             

Bonds

   $ 65,899    $ 60,930

Common and preferred stocks

     8,120      7,414

Mortgage loans

     18,118      17,240

Real estate

     1,620      1,619

Policy loans

     10,265      9,750

Other investments

     6,935      5,774

Cash and temporary investments

     2,124      2,949
    

  

Total investments

     113,081      105,676

Due and accrued investment income

     1,183      1,133

Net deferred tax assets

     1,057      936

Deferred premium and other assets

     1,983      1,894

Separate account assets

     15,753      14,318
    

  

Total assets

   $ 133,057    $ 123,957
    

  

Liabilities and Surplus:

             

Reserves for policy benefits

   $ 94,144    $ 87,588

Policyowner dividends payable

     4,270      3,910

Interest maintenance reserve

     839      943

Asset valuation reserve

     2,529      2,556

Income taxes payable

     593      665

Other liabilities

     4,548      5,043

Separate account liabilities

     15,753      14,318
    

  

Total liabilities

     122,676      115,023

Surplus

     10,381      8,934
    

  

Total liabilities and surplus

   $ 133,057    $ 123,957
    

  

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in millions)

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 
     2005

   2004

    2003

 

Revenue:

                       

Premiums

   $ 11,363    $ 10,682     $ 10,307  

Net investment income

     6,543      6,117       5,737  

Other income

     494      511       501  
    

  


 


Total revenue

     18,400      17,310       16,545  
    

  


 


Benefits and expenses:

                       

Benefit payments to policyowners and beneficiaries

     4,577      4,487       4,079  

Net additions to policy benefit reserves

     6,445      6,181       6,260  

Net transfers to separate accounts

     664      422       288  
    

  


 


Total benefits

     11,686      11,090       10,627  

Commissions and operating expenses

     1,774      1,741       1,690  
    

  


 


Total benefits and expenses

     13,460      12,831       12,317  
    

  


 


Gain from operations before dividends and taxes

     4,940      4,479       4,228  

Policyowner dividends

     4,269      3,880       3,765  
    

  


 


Gain from operations before taxes

     671      599       463  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     57      (124 )     (90 )
    

  


 


Net gain from operations

     614      723       553  

Net realized capital gains

     310      94       139  
    

  


 


Net income

   $ 924    $ 817     $ 692  
    

  


 


 

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

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Surplus

(in millions)

 

     For the year ended
December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 

Beginning of year balance

   $ 8,934     $ 7,547     $ 7,217  

Net income

     924       817       692  

Change in net unrealized capital gains

     343       645       1,171  

Change in net deferred income tax

     237       28       (137 )

Change in nonadmitted assets and other

     (84 )     (115 )     (96 )

Change in asset valuation reserve

     27       12       (1,300 )
    


 


 


Net increase in surplus

     1,447       1,387       330  
    


 


 


End of year balance

   $ 10,381     $ 8,934     $ 7,547  
    


 


 


 

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

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(in millions)

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                        

Premiums and other income received

   $ 8,074     $ 7,584     $ 6,984  

Investment income received

     6,347       5,999       5,727  

Disbursement of policy loans, net of repayments

     (515 )     (199 )     (254 )

Benefit payments to policyowners and beneficiaries

     (4,794 )     (4,650 )     (4,312 )

Net transfers to separate accounts

     (657 )     (418 )     (284 )

Commissions, expenses and taxes paid

     (2,000 )     (1,900 )     (1,637 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     6,455       6,416       6,224  
    


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                        

Proceeds from investments sold or matured:

                        

Bonds

     72,406       47,537       75,838  

Common and preferred stocks

     3,969       3,300       2,392  

Mortgage loans

     2,585       1,867       1,843  

Real estate

     120       109       356  

Other investments

     1,389       1,258       1,047  
    


 


 


       80,469       54,071       81,476  
    


 


 


Cost of investments acquired:

                        

Bonds

     77,345       52,323       79,994  

Common and preferred stocks

     3,896       3,150       2,708  

Mortgage loans

     3,464       2,670       2,534  

Real estate

     261       259       191  

Other investments

     2,661       1,757       1,387  
    


 


 


       87,627       60,159       86,814  
    


 


 


Net cash applied to investing activities

     (7,158 )     (6,088 )     (5,338 )
    


 


 


Cash flows from financing and miscellaneous sources:

                        

Net inflows on deposit-type contracts

     52       32       142  

Other cash applied

     (174 )     (5 )     (248 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (applied to) financing and other activities:

     (122 )     27       (106 )
    


 


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and temporary investments

     (825 )     355       780  

Cash and temporary investments, beginning of year

     2,949       2,594       1,814  
    


 


 


Cash and temporary investments, end of year

   $ 2,124     $ 2,949     $ 2,594  
    


 


 


 

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

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

1. Basis of Presentation and Changes in Accounting Principles

 

The accompanying consolidated statutory financial statements include the accounts of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (together, “the Company”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company offers life, annuity, disability income and long-term care insurance products to the personal, business and estate markets.

 

The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin (“statutory basis of accounting”). See Notes 3 and 12. Financial statements prepared on the statutory basis of accounting differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), primarily because on a GAAP basis: (1) certain policy acquisition costs are deferred and amortized, (2) investment valuations and policy benefit reserves are established using different methods and assumptions, (3) deposit-type contracts, for which premiums, benefits and reserve changes are not included in revenue or benefits as reported in the statement of operations, are defined differently, (4) majority-owned, non-insurance subsidiaries are consolidated, (5) changes in deferred taxes are reported as a component of net income and (6) no deferral of realized investment gains and losses is permitted. The effects on the financial statements of the Company attributable to the differences between the statutory basis of accounting and GAAP are material.

 

2. New Accounting and Reporting Pronouncements

 

Following is a summary of new statutory basis accounting or disclosure requirements that were adopted by the Company for the first time during 2005.

 

Investments in Subsidiary, Controlled and Affiliated Entities

 

Statement of Statutory Accounting Principles No. 88 requires that the Company’s equity method investments in any non-insurance subsidiary, controlled or affiliated entity (“SCA”) be supported by audited GAAP financial statements of the SCA. Any equity method investment in an SCA that is not supported by audited GAAP financial statements must be nonadmitted and thereby excluded from reported assets and surplus. Prior to the adoption of this new guidance, the GAAP financial statements on which equity method investments in SCAs were based were not required to be audited. As required by the new guidance, this change was adopted prospectively beginning in 2005.

 

In preparation for adoption of the new guidance, the Company made capital contributions during 2005 of its investment interest in certain unaudited SCAs to another wholly-owned subsidiary for which audited GAAP financial statements are prepared annually. The aggregate equity method statement value and fair value of the investment interests transferred were $987 million and $1.3 billion, respectively. These capital contributions were made at statement value, and no capital gain or loss was reported as a result of these transfers.

 

At December 31, 2005, the equity method statement value of the SCA investments transferred continue to be admitted in the reported value of the Company’s investment assets and surplus. Certain other SCA investments with an aggregate equity method statement value of $85 million did not meet the requirements of the new guidance and were nonadmitted at December 31, 2005. This increase in nonadmitted assets is included as a direct reduction of surplus in the consolidated statement of changes in surplus for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

Impact of Medicare Modernization Act on Postretirement Benefits

 

Statutory Accounting Principles Interpretation No. 04-17 requires the Company to evaluate the impact of Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“the Act”) on its liability for postretirement health benefits. The Act introduces a voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare Part D, effective January 1, 2006. Under the Act, employers can receive subsidy payments from the federal government if they provide equivalent drug benefits to qualified plan participants who do not elect to enroll in Medicare Part D.

 

The Company has determined that the drug benefits provided by its existing postretirement health plan are actuarially equivalent to the new Medicare benefit, and as a result the Company is eligible for the government subsidy. Accordingly, the plan’s projected benefit obligation was reduced by $22 million upon the adoption of this new guidance on January 1, 2005. This reduction was treated as a deferred experience gain, which will be amortized as a reduction of net periodic postretirement cost over a period of up to 18 years, the average remaining years of

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

service for active plan participants. For the year ended December 31, 2005, this amortization reduced net periodic postretirement cost by $3 million. See Note 9.

 

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Disclosures

 

Statutory Accounting Principles Working Group Issue No. 2005-1 requires that certain additional disclosures be made regarding the Company’s pension and postretirement benefits provided to employees and financial representatives. These additional disclosures include a summary of plan investment assets, a description of the related investment policy, expected plan contributions to be made by the Company during the upcoming fiscal year and an estimate of the benefits to be paid to plan participants over the next ten years. See Note 9.

 

Other Than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments

 

Statutory Accounting Principles Interpretation No. 02-07 requires that a decline in the value of an investment security due to an increase in market interest rates be recognized as other-than-temporary only if management has the intent to sell the security as of the reporting date. This interpretation has been incorporated into the Company’s impairment policy but did not have a material effect on the impairments recognized in 2005.

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with the statutory basis of accounting requires management to make estimates or assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods then ended. Actual future results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

 

Investments

 

See Notes 4 and 15 regarding the reported statement value and estimated fair value of the Company’s investments in bonds, common and preferred stocks, mortgage loans and real estate.

 

Policy Loans

 

Policy loans primarily represent amounts borrowed from the Company by life insurance policyowners, secured by the cash value of the related policies, and are reported in the financial statements at unpaid principal balance.

 

Other Investments

 

Other investments consist primarily of partnership investments (including real estate, venture capital and leveraged buyout fund limited partnerships), real estate joint ventures and unconsolidated non-insurance subsidiaries organized as limited liability companies. These investments are valued based on the equity method of accounting.

 

Other investments also include $97 million and $104 million of interests in oil and natural gas production at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These oil and gas interests are accounted for using the full cost method, a method permitted by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin (“OCI”). The NAIC “Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual” does not provide accounting guidance for oil and gas interests.

 

Other investments also include leveraged leases and derivative financial instruments. See Note 4 for a description of the Company’s investments in leveraged leases and Note 5 regarding the Company’s use of derivatives and their presentation in the financial statements.

 

Temporary Investments

 

Temporary investments represent securities that had maturities of one year or less at purchase and are reported at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

 

Net Investment Income

 

Net investment income primarily represents interest and dividends received or accrued on bonds, mortgage loans, policy loans and other investments. It also includes amortization of any purchase premium or discount using the interest method, adjusted retrospectively for any change in estimated yield-to-maturity. Accrued investment income more than 90 days past due is nonadmitted and reported as a direct reduction of surplus. Accrued investment income that is ultimately deemed uncollectible is reported as a reduction of net investment income in the period that such determination is made. Net investment income also includes dividends paid to the Company from accumulated earnings of joint ventures, partnerships and unconsolidated non-insurance subsidiaries and prepayment fees on bonds and mortgages. Net investment income is reduced by investment management expenses, real estate depreciation, depletion related to energy assets and interest costs associated with securities lending.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Interest Maintenance Reserve

 

The Company is required to maintain an interest maintenance reserve (“IMR”). The IMR is used to defer realized gains and losses, net of income tax, on fixed income investments and derivatives that are attributable to changes in interest rates. Net realized gains and losses deferred to the IMR are amortized into investment income over the estimated remaining term to maturity of the investment sold or the asset/liability hedged by the derivative.

 

Investment Capital Gains and Losses

 

Realized capital gains and losses are recognized based upon specific identification of securities sold. Realized capital losses also include valuation adjustments for impairment of bonds, stocks, mortgage loans, real estate and other investments that have experienced a decline in fair value that management considers to be other-than-temporary. Factors considered in evaluating whether a decline in value is other-than-temporary include: (1) the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer in relation to the anticipated recovery, and (3) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in value. Realized capital gains and losses as reported in the consolidated statement of operations exclude any IMR deferrals. See Note 4 regarding realized capital gains and losses.

 

Unrealized capital gains and losses primarily represent changes in the reported fair value of common stocks and changes in valuation adjustments made for bonds in or near default. Changes in the Company’s share of undistributed earnings of joint ventures, partnerships and unconsolidated non-insurance subsidiaries are also classified as changes in unrealized capital gains and losses. See Note 4 regarding changes in unrealized capital gains and losses.

 

Asset Valuation Reserve

 

The Company is required to maintain an asset valuation reserve (“AVR”). The AVR represents a reserve liability for invested asset valuation using a formula prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). The AVR is designed to protect surplus against potential declines in the value of the Company’s investments. Increases or decreases in AVR are reported as direct adjustments to surplus.

 

Separate Accounts

 

Separate account assets and related policy liabilities represent the segregation of balances attributable to variable life insurance and variable annuity products. Policyowners bear the investment performance risk associated with variable products. Separate account assets are invested at the direction of the policyowner in a variety of mutual fund options. Variable annuity policyowners also have the option to invest in a fixed interest rate annuity issued by the general account of the Company. Separate account assets are reported at fair value based primarily on quoted market prices. See Note 8.

 

Premium Revenue

 

Life insurance premiums are recognized as revenue at the beginning of each policy year. Disability income and long-term care insurance premiums are recognized as revenue when due to the Company. Annuity premiums are recognized as revenue when received. Considerations received on supplementary insurance contracts without life contingencies are deposit-type transactions and thereby excluded from revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. Premium revenue is reported net of ceded reinsurance, see Note 10.

 

Other Income

 

Other income primarily represents ceded reinsurance expense allowances and various insurance policy charges. See Note 10.

 

Benefit Payments to Policyowners and Beneficiaries

 

Benefit payments to policyowners and beneficiaries include death, surrender, disability and long-term care benefits, as well as matured endowments and payments on supplementary insurance contracts that include life contingencies. Benefit payments on supplementary insurance contracts without life contingencies are deposit-type transactions and thereby excluded from benefits in the consolidated statement of operations. Benefit payments are reported net of ceded reinsurance recoveries, see Note 10.

 

Reserves for Policy Benefits

 

Reserves for policy benefits represent the net present value of future policy benefits, less future policy premiums, estimated using actuarial methods based on mortality and morbidity experience tables and valuation interest rates prescribed or permitted by the OCI. These actuarial tables and methods include assumptions regarding future mortality and morbidity. Actual future experience could differ from the assumptions used to make these reserve estimates. See Note 6.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Commissions and Operating Expenses

 

Commissions and other operating costs, including costs of acquiring new insurance policies, are generally charged to expense as incurred.

 

Electronic Data Processing Equipment and Software

 

The cost of electronic data processing (“EDP”) equipment and operating system software used in the Company’s business is generally capitalized and depreciated over three years using the straight-line method. Non-operating system software is generally capitalized and depreciated over a maximum of five years. EDP equipment and operating software assets of $33 million and $37 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, are classified as other assets in the consolidated statement of financial position and are net of accumulated depreciation of $88 million and $68 million, respectively. Non-operating software costs, net of accumulated depreciation, are nonadmitted assets and thereby excluded from reported assets and surplus in the consolidated statement of financial position. Depreciation expense for EDP equipment and software totaled $71 million, $56 million and $42 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment

 

The cost of furniture, fixtures and equipment, including leasehold improvements, is generally capitalized and depreciated over the useful life of the assets using the straight-line method. Furniture, fixtures and equipment costs, net of accumulated depreciation, are nonadmitted assets and thereby excluded from reported assets and surplus in the consolidated statement of financial position. Depreciation expense for furniture, fixtures and equipment totaled $7 million, $7 million and $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Policyowner Dividends

 

Nearly all life, disability income and long-term care insurance policies and certain annuity contracts issued by the Company are participating. Annually, the Company’s Board of Trustees approves dividends payable on participating policies during the subsequent fiscal year, which are accrued and charged to operations when approved. Participating policyowners generally have the option to direct their dividends to be paid in cash, used to reduce future premiums due or used to purchase additional insurance. Dividends used by policyowners to purchase additional insurance are reported as premiums in the consolidated statement of operations, but are not included in premiums received or benefit payments in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

Nonadmitted Assets

 

Certain assets are designated as nonadmitted on the statutory basis of accounting. Such assets, principally related to pension funding, amounts advanced to or due from the Company’s financial representatives, furniture, fixtures, equipment and non-operating software (net of accumulated depreciation) and certain invested assets are excluded from reported assets and surplus in the consolidated statement of financial position. Changes in nonadmitted assets are reported as a direct adjustment to surplus in the consolidated statement of changes in surplus.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior year footnote disclosures have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

4. Investments

 

Bonds

 

Investments in bonds are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost, less any valuation adjustment. The interest method is used to amortize any purchase premium or discount. Use of the interest method for loan-backed bonds and structured securities includes estimates of future prepayments obtained from independent sources. Prepayment assumptions are updated at least annually, using the retrospective adjustment method to recognize related changes in the estimated yield-to-maturity of such securities. Prior to 2004, the prospective adjustment method was used. The cumulative effect of this change in method as of January 1, 2004 was immaterial.

 

Valuation adjustments are made for bonds in or near default, which are reported at the lower of amortized cost or fair value, or for bonds with a decline in fair value that management considers to be other-than-temporary. See Note 3 regarding investment capital gains and losses. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported value of bonds was reduced by $174 million and $121 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments.

 

Disclosure of estimated fair value is based upon values published by the Securities Valuation Office (“SVO”) of the NAIC. In the absence of SVO-published values, estimated fair value is based upon quoted market prices, if available. For bonds without quoted market prices, fair value is estimated using independent pricing services or internally developed pricing models.

 

Statement value and estimated fair value of bonds at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     Reconciliation to Estimated Fair Value

December 31, 2005


  

Statement

Value


  

Gross

Unrealized

Gains


  

Gross

Unrealized

Losses


   

Estimated

Fair

Value


          (in millions)      

U.S. Government

   $ 7,309    $ 266    $ (77 )   $ 7,498

States, territories and possessions

     96      1      (3 )     94

Special revenue and assessments

     12,505      114      (197 )     12,422

Public utilities

     3,507      126      (49 )     3,584

Banks, trust and insurance companies

     7,521      364      (98 )     7,787

Industrial and miscellaneous

     34,961      1,303      (355 )     35,909
    

  

  


 

     $ 65,899    $ 2,174    $ (779 )   $ 67,294
    

  

  


 

     Reconciliation to Estimated Fair Value

December 31, 2004


  

Statement

Value


  

Gross

Unrealized

Gains


  

Gross

Unrealized

Losses


   

Estimated

Fair

Value


          (in millions)      

U.S. Government

   $ 8,848    $ 475    $ (47 )   $ 9,276

States, territories and possessions

     264      43      (1 )     306

Special revenue and assessments

     11,207      178      (28 )     11,357

Public utilities

     3,915      304      (6 )     4,213

Banks, trust and insurance companies

     8,254      542      (41 )     8,755

Industrial and miscellaneous

     28,442      1,621      (179 )     29,884
    

  

  


 

Total

   $ 60,930    $ 3,163    $ (302 )   $ 63,791
    

  

  


 

 

Statement value and estimated fair value of bonds by contractual maturity at December 31, 2005 are presented below. Estimated maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

    

Statement

Value


  

Estimated

Fair Value


     (in millions)

Due in one year or less

   $ 971    $ 980

Due after one year through five years

     10,835      11,050

Due after five years through ten years

     17,234      17,489

Due after ten years

     16,196      17,214
    

  

       45,236      46,733

Mortgage-backed and structured securities

     20,663      20,561
    

  

Total

   $ 65,899    $ 67,294
    

  

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Common and Preferred Stocks

 

Common stocks are generally reported in the financial statements at fair value, which is based upon quoted market prices, if available. For common stocks without quoted market prices, fair value is estimated using independent pricing services or internally developed pricing models. The equity method is generally used to value investments in common stock of unconsolidated non-insurance subsidiaries. See Note 12 regarding the statement value of the Company’s investment in Frank Russell Company.

 

Preferred stocks rated “1” (highest quality), “2” (high quality), or “3” (medium quality) by the SVO are reported in the financial statements at amortized cost. All other preferred stock is reported at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Estimated fair value is based upon quoted market prices, if available. For preferred stock without quoted market prices, fair value is estimated using independent pricing services or internally developed pricing models.

 

Valuation adjustments are made for preferred stocks rated “4” (low quality), “5” (lower quality) or “6” (lowest quality) by the SVO, which are reported at the lower of cost or fair value, or for common and preferred stocks with a decline in fair value that management considers to be other-than-temporary. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported value of common and preferred stocks was reduced by $172 million and $108 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments.

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Mortgage loans are reported in the financial statements at unpaid principal balance, less any valuation allowance or unamortized commitment or origination fee. Such fees are generally deferred upon receipt and amortized into investment income using the interest method.

 

Mortgage loans are considered impaired when, based on current information, management considers it probable that the Company will be unable to collect all principal and interest due according to the contractual terms of the loan. If necessary, a valuation adjustment is made to reduce the carrying value of an impaired loan to the lower of unpaid principal balance or estimated net realizable value based on appraisal of the collateral property. If the impairment is considered to be temporary, the valuation adjustment is reported as an unrealized loss. Valuation adjustments for impairments considered to be other-than-temporary are reported as realized losses. The reported value of mortgage loans was reduced by $2 million for valuation adjustments at each of December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

The maximum and minimum interest rates for mortgage loans originated during 2005 were 7.8% and 3.7%, respectively, while these rates during 2004 were 8.8% and 2.3%, respectively. The aggregate ratio of amounts loaned to the value of collateral for mortgage loans originated during 2005 and 2004 were 59% and 65%, respectively, with a maximum of 100% for any single loan during each of 2005 and 2004.

 

Real Estate

 

Real estate investments are reported in the financial statements at cost, less any valuation adjustment, encumbrances and accumulated depreciation of buildings and other improvements using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the improvements. An investment in real estate is considered impaired when, based on current information, the estimated fair value of the property is lower than depreciated cost. The estimated fair value is primarily based upon the present value of future cash flow (for commercial properties) or the capitalization of stabilized net operating income (for multi-family residential properties). When the Company determines that an investment in real estate is impaired, a valuation adjustment is made to reduce the carrying value to estimated fair value, net of encumbrances. Valuation adjustments are reported as a realized loss. The reported value of real estate investments was reduced by $27 million for valuation adjustments at each of December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported value of real estate included $185 million and $190 million, respectively, of real estate properties occupied by the Company.

 

Leveraged Leases

 

Leveraged leases primarily represent investments in commercial aircraft or real estate properties that are leased to third parties and serve as collateral for non-recourse borrowings. Leveraged leases are valued at the present value of future minimum lease payments plus the residual value of the leased asset and classified as other investments in the consolidated statement of financial position. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported value of leveraged leases was $342 million and $458 million, respectively. When the Company determines that an investment in

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

leveraged leases is impaired, the lease value is recalculated with a valuation adjustment made to reduce the statement value. Valuation adjustments are reported as a realized loss. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported value of leveraged leases was reduced by $106 million and $98 million, respectively, of valuation adjustments.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Capital Gains and Losses

 

Realized investment gains and losses for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31, 2005


   

For the year ended

December 31, 2004


   

For the year ended

December 31, 2003


 
    

Realized

Gains


  

Realized

Losses


   

Net

Realized

Gains

(Losses)


   

Realized

Gains


  

Realized

Losses


   

Net

Realized

Gains

(Losses)


   

Realized

Gains


  

Realized

Losses


   

Net

Realized

Gains

(Losses)


 
     (in millions)  

Bonds

   $ 454    $ (536 )   $ (82 )   $ 816    $ (369 )   $ 447     $ 1,369    $ (861 )   $ 508  

Common and preferred stocks

     909      (196 )     713       521      (211 )     310       397      (402 )     (5 )

Mortgage loans

     3      (1 )     2       —        (1 )     (1 )     12      —         12  

Real estate

     64      (1 )     63       48      (8 )     40       198      —         198  

Other investments

     140      (177 )     (37 )     325      (522 )     (197 )     145      (286 )     (141 )
    

  


 


 

  


 


 

  


 


     $ 1,570    $ (911 )     659     $ 1,710    $ (1,111 )     599     $ 2,121    $ (1,549 )     572  
    

  


         

  


         

  


       

Less: IMR gains (losses)

                    (61 )                    317                      538  

Less: Capital gains taxes (benefit)

             410                      188                      (105 )
                   


                


                


Net realized capital gains

                  $ 310                    $ 94                    $ 139  
                   


                


                


 

Proceeds from the sale of bond investments totaled $72 billion, $47 billion and $83 billion for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Realized losses (before capital gains taxes) included $276 million, $116 million and $405 million of valuation adjustments for declines in fair value of investments that were considered to be other-than-temporary for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of bonds and common and preferred stocks for which the estimated fair value had temporarily declined and remained below cost as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2005

 
     Decline For Less Than 12 Months

    Decline For Greater Than 12 Months

 
     Cost

  

Fair

Value


   Difference

    Cost

  

Fair

Value


   Difference

 
     (in millions)  

Bonds

   $ 26,488    $ 25,975    $ (513 )   $ 5,752    $ 5,486    $ (266 )

Common and preferred stocks

     68      64      (4 )     81      62      (19 )
    

  

  


 

  

  


Total

   $ 26,556    $ 26,039    $ (517 )   $ 5,833    $ 5,548    $ (285 )
    

  

  


 

  

  


 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

     December 31, 2004

 
     Decline For Less Than 12 Months

    Decline For Greater Than 12 Months

 
     Cost

  

Fair

Value


   Difference

    Cost

  

Fair

Value


   Difference

 
     (in millions)  

Bonds

   $ 13,173    $ 12,953    $ (220 )   $ 1,698    $ 1,616    $ (82 )

Common and preferred stocks

     746      704      (42 )     375      318      (57 )
    

  

  


 

  

  


Total

   $ 13,919    $ 13,657    $ (262 )   $ 2,073    $ 1,934    $ (139 )
    

  

  


 

  

  


 

Changes in net unrealized investment gains and losses for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 
     (in millions)  

Bonds

   $ (43 )   $ 42     $ 188  

Common and preferred stocks

     304       818       1,372  

Other investments

     198       75       163  
    


 


 


       459       935       1,723  

Change in deferred taxes

     (116 )     (290 )     (552 )
    


 


 


     $ 343     $ 645     $ 1,171  
    


 


 


 

Securities Lending

 

The Company has entered into securities lending agreements whereby certain investment securities are loaned to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. The aggregate statement value of loaned securities was $2.9 billion and $2.5 billion at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company’s policy requires a minimum of 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities, calculated on a daily basis, as collateral in the form of either cash or securities held by the Company or a trustee. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, unrestricted cash collateral held by the Company of $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, is classified as cash and invested assets and the offsetting collateral liability of $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, is classified as other liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, additional non-cash collateral of $539 million and $359 million, respectively, was held on the Company’s behalf by a trustee and is not included in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

5. Derivative Financial Instruments

 

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into derivative transactions, generally to mitigate the risk to assets and surplus from fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and other market risks. On the statutory basis of accounting, derivatives used for hedging purposes are classified as “cash flow” hedges, which mitigate the risk of variability in future cash flows from the position being hedged, or “fair value” hedges, which mitigate the risk of changes in fair value of the position being hedged. Derivatives classified as hedges that meet the specific requirements for hedge accounting are accounted for in a manner that is consistent with the item being hedged (e.g., at amortized cost or fair value). Derivatives used as hedges, but that do not meet the specific requirements for hedge accounting, are accounted for at fair value.

 

In addition to hedging, the Company uses derivatives for the purpose of investment “replication.” A replication is a derivative transaction that, when entered into in conjunction with other investments, serves to replicate in the aggregate the characteristics of otherwise permissible investments. Derivatives used as part of a replication are accounted for in a manner consistent with the replicated asset (e.g., at amortized cost or fair value).

 

The reported statement value of derivatives is classified as other investments in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

Fair value is estimated as the amount that the Company would expect to receive or pay upon termination of the derivative contract as of the reporting date. Changes in fair value on open derivative positions accounted for at fair value are reported as unrealized capital gains or losses. Upon maturity or termination of derivative positions accounted for at fair value, capital gains and losses are reported as realized.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

The Company does not take positions in derivatives for income generation purposes. The Company held the following derivative positions at December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     December 31, 2005

    December 31, 2004

 

Derivative Instrument


   Notional
Amount


   Statement
Value


    Fair
Value


    Notional
Amount


   Statement
Value


    Fair
Value


 
                (in millions)             

Cash Flow Hedges:

                                      

Interest rate floors

   $ 1,250    $ 20     $ 34     $ 925    $ 17     $ 36  

Swaptions

     818      33       19       681      30       21  

Foreign currency swaps

     312      —         (10 )     93      —         (14 )

Construction loan forwards

     19      —         1       82      —         3  

Foreign currency covers

     67      —         67       12      —         12  

Interest rate swaps

     292      3       11       351      —         9  

Interest rate basis swaps

     80      —         —         80      —         —    

Commodity swaps

     3      1       1       3      —         —    

Fair Value Hedges:

                                              

Credit default swaps

     220      (3 )     (3 )     220      (3 )     (3 )

Foreign currency forwards

     1,735      13       13       4,171      (72 )     (72 )

Fixed income futures

     1,775      —         —         345      —         —    

Short equity index futures

     441      —         —         —        —         —    

Purchased put options

     —        —         —         —        —         —    

Replications:

                                              

Fixed income

     136      —         (1 )     210      —         2  

Long equity futures

     5      —         —         152      —         —    

Long fixed income futures

     —        —         —         —        —         —    

 

The notional amounts of derivative financial instruments are used to contractually denominate the transactions and do not represent the amounts exchanged between the parties.

 

Cash Flow Hedges:

 

Interest rate floors are used to mitigate the asset/liability risks of a significant and sustained decrease in interest rates for certain of the Company’s insurance products. Floors entitle the Company to receive settlement payments from the counterparties if interest rates decline below a specified level. Interest rate floors qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Swaptions are used to mitigate the asset/liability risks of a significant and sustained increase or decrease in interest rates for certain of the Company’s insurance products. A swaption is a contractual agreement whereby one party holds an option to enter into an interest rate swap with another party on predefined terms. Swaptions qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Foreign currency swaps are used to mitigate exposure to variable U.S. dollar cash flows from certain bonds denominated in foreign currencies. A foreign currency swap is a contractual agreement to exchange the currencies of two different countries at a specified rate of exchange in the future. Foreign currency swaps qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Construction loan forwards are entered into to mitigate exposure to market fluctuations for the forecasted purchase of GNMA loan certificates. Construction loan forwards entitle the Company to purchase GNMA loan certificates at a predetermined price at a date in the future that does not exceed 10 years. Construction loan forwards qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Foreign currency covers are used to mitigate the foreign exchange risk on trades of investments denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currency covers obligate the Company to pay or receive a specified amount of foreign currency at a future date at a specified exchange rate. Foreign currency covers qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Interest rate swaps are used to mitigate exposure to interest rate risk on certain floating and fixed rate bonds. An interest rate swap is a contractual agreement to pay a rate of interest based upon a reference index in exchange for a fixed rate of interest established at the origination of the contract. Certain of the Company’s interest rate swaps qualify for hedge accounting, while others do not. Unrealized gains of $2 million and $1 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on contracts that did not qualify for hedge accounting.

 

F-14


Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Interest rate basis swaps are used to mitigate the basis risk on certain hedges of variable rate preferred stocks. An interest rate basis swap is a contractual agreement to pay a rate of return based upon one reference index in exchange for receiving a rate of return based upon a different reference index. Interest rate basis swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting. No unrealized gains or losses were recognized during 2005 or 2004 on these contracts.

 

Commodity swaps are used to mitigate exposure to market fluctuations for the forward sale of crude oil and natural gas production. They are contractual agreements whereby one party pays a floating commodity price in exchange for a specified fixed commodity price. Commodity swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting. An unrealized gain of $1 million and unrealized losses of $400 thousand were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on these contracts.

 

Fair Value Hedges:

 

Credit default swaps are used to mitigate the credit risk associated with investments in bonds of specific issuers. A credit default swap allows the Company to put the bond to a counterparty at par upon a “credit event” sustained by the bond issuer. A credit event is defined as bankruptcy, failure to pay or obligation acceleration. Certain of the Company’s credit default swaps qualify for hedge accounting, while others do not. Unrealized gains of $1 million and unrealized losses of $3 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on contracts that did not qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Foreign currency forwards are used to mitigate the foreign exchange risk for portfolios of investments denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currency forward contracts obligate the Company to deliver a specified amount of foreign currency at a future date at a specified exchange rate. Foreign currency forward contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting. Unrealized gains of $85 million and unrealized losses of $29 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on these contracts.

 

Fixed income futures are used to mitigate interest rate risk for a portion of the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio. Fixed income futures contracts obligate the Company to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price. Fixed income futures contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting. Unrealized losses of $9 million and $2 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on these contracts.

 

Short equity index futures are used to mitigate exposure to market fluctuations for the Company’s portfolio of common stocks. Futures contracts obligate the Company to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price. These futures contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting. Unrealized losses of $1 million and $0 were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on these contracts.

 

Purchased put options are used to mitigate exposure to credit risk associated with a specific security. Purchased put options give the Company the ability to sell a financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price. These options do not qualify for hedge accounting. No unrealized gains or losses were recognized during 2005 or 2004 on these contracts.

 

Replications:

 

Fixed income replications are used to replicate a bond investment through the use of credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, credit default indexes and cash market instruments. These replication transactions, including the derivative components, are reported at amortized cost. The average fair value of such contracts was ($4) million and $3 million during 2005 and 2004, respectively. A realized loss of $10 million and a realized gain of $300 thousand were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on the termination of these contracts.

 

Long equity futures replications are used to gain equity market investment exposure. These replication transactions are reported at fair value, with changes in fair value reflected as a component of unrealized gains and losses until such time as the contracts are terminated. The average fair value of such contracts was $230 million and $141 million during 2005 and 2004, respectively. Realized losses of $2 million and realized gains of $15 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on the termination of these contracts.

 

Long fixed income futures replications are used to manage the duration of the fixed income portfolio and mitigate exposure to interest rate changes. These replication transactions are reported at fair value, with changes in fair value reflected as a component of unrealized gains and losses until such time as the contracts are terminated. The average fair value of such contracts was $342 million and $384 million during 2005 and 2004, respectively. Realized gains of $7 million and $6 million were recognized during 2005 and 2004, respectively, on the termination of these contracts.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

6. Reserves for Policy Benefits

 

General account reserves for policy benefits at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are summarized below:

 

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

     (in millions)

Life insurance reserves

   $ 83,590    $ 77,418

Annuity reserves and deposit liabilities

     5,193      5,037

Disability income and long-term care unpaid claims and claim reserves

     3,373      3,234

Disability income and long-term care active life reserves

     1,988      1,899
    

  

Total reserves for policy benefits

   $ 94,144    $ 87,588
    

  

 

Life insurance reserves on substantially all policies issued since 1978 are based on the Commissioner’s Reserve Valuation Method (“CRVM”) using the 1958, 1980 or 2001 CSO mortality tables with interest rates ranging from 3.5% to 5.5%. Other life insurance reserves are primarily based on the net level premium method, using various mortality tables at interest rates ranging from 2% to 4.5%. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had $930 billion of total life insurance in-force, including $12 billion of life insurance in-force for which gross premiums were less than net premiums according to the standard valuation methods and assumptions prescribed by the OCI.

 

Tabular cost has been determined from the basic data for the calculation of policy reserves. Tabular cost less actual reserves released has been determined from the basic data for the calculation of reserves and reserves released. Tabular interest has been determined from the basic data for the calculation of policy reserves. Tabular interest on funds not involving life contingencies is calculated as the product of the valuation rate of interest times the mean of the amount of funds subject to such rate held at the beginning and end of the year of valuation.

 

Additional premiums are charged for substandard lives for policies issued after January 1, 1956. Net level premium or CRVM mean reserves are based on multiples of mortality tables or one-half the net flat or other extra mortality charge. The Company waives deduction of fractional premiums upon death of an insured and returns any portion of the final premium beyond the date of death. Cash values are not promised in excess of the legally computed reserves.

 

Deferred annuity reserves on contracts issued since 1985 are primarily based on the Commissioner’s Annuity Reserve Valuation Method with interest rates ranging from 3.5% to 6.25%. Other deferred annuity reserves are based on contract value. Immediate annuity reserves are based on present value of expected benefit payments with interest rates ranging from 3.5% to 7.5%. Changes in future policy benefits on supplementary contracts without life contingencies are classified as deposit-type transactions and thereby excluded from net additions to policy benefit reserves in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the withdrawal characteristics of the Company’s general account annuity reserves and deposit liabilities were as follows:

 

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

     (in millions)

Subject to discretionary withdrawal

             

- with market value adjustment

   $ 1,276    $ 1,290

- without market value adjustment

     2,508      2,413

Not subject to discretionary withdrawal

     1,409      1,334
    

  

Total

   $ 5,193    $ 5,037
    

  

 

Unpaid claims and claim reserves for disability income policies are based on the present value of expected benefit payments, primarily using the 1985 Commissioner’s Individual Disability Table A (“CIDA”), modified for Company experience in the first four years of disability, with interest rates ranging from 3% to 5.5%. Unpaid claims and claim reserves for long-term care policies are based on the present value of expected benefit payments using industry-based long-term care experience with a 4.5% interest rate.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Reserves for unpaid claims, losses and loss adjustment expenses on disability income and long-term care insurance were $3.4 billion and $3.2 billion at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The table below provides a summary of the changes in these reserves for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

     For the year ended
December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in millions)  

Balance at January 1

   $ 3,234     $ 3,083  

Incurred related to:

                

Current year

     462       472  

Prior year

     68       45  
    


 


Total incurred

     530       517  

Paid related to:

                

Current year

     (18 )     (18 )

Prior year

     (373 )     (348 )
    


 


Total paid

     (391 )     (366 )
    


 


Balance at December 31

   $ 3,373     $ 3,234  
    


 


 

The changes in reserves for incurred claims related to prior years are generally the result of ongoing analysis of recent loss development trends.

 

Active life reserves for disability income policies issued since 1987 are primarily based on the two-year preliminary term method using the 1985 CIDA for morbidity with a 4.0% interest rate. Active life reserves for prior disability income policies are based on the net level premium method, using the 1964 Commissioner’s Disability Table for morbidity with interest rates ranging from 3.0% to 4.0%.

 

Active life reserves for long-term care policies consist of mid-terminal reserves and unearned premium. Mid-terminal reserves are based on the one-year preliminary term method, industry-based morbidity experience, total terminations based on the 1983 Individual Annuity Mortality table without lapses or the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality table with lapses, with an interest rate of either 4.0% or 4.5%. For reserves using lapse assumptions, a separate calculation is performed using interest rates ranging from 5.2% to 6.0% and excluding lapses. Reserves resulting from the separate calculation are compared in the aggregate to the statutory minimum and the greater of the two is held.

 

7. Premium and Annuity Considerations Deferred and Uncollected

 

Gross deferred and uncollected insurance premiums represent life insurance premiums due to be received from policyowners through the next respective policy anniversary dates. Net deferred and uncollected premiums represent only the portion of gross premiums related to mortality charges and interest, and are reported as an asset in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

Deferred and uncollected premiums at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2005

   December 31, 2004

     Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

     (in millions)

Ordinary new business

   $ 171    $ 81    $ 162    $ 76

Ordinary renewal

     1,647      1,348      1,570      1,283
    

  

  

  

     $ 1,818    $ 1,429    $ 1,732    $ 1,359
    

  

  

  

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

8. Separate Accounts

 

Following is a summary of separate account liabilities by withdrawal characteristic at December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

     (in millions)

Subject to discretionary withdrawal

             

- with market value adjustment

   $ 13,098    $ 11,987

- without market value adjustment

     —        —  

Not subject to discretionary withdrawal

     2,434      2,109

Non-policy liabilities

     221      222
    

  

Total separate account liabilities

   $ 15,753    $ 14,318
    

  

 

While separate account liability values are not guaranteed by the Company, variable annuity and variable life insurance products do include guaranteed minimum death benefits underwritten by the Company. General account reserves for policy benefits included $8 million attributable to these benefits at each of December 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Premiums and other considerations received from variable life and variable annuity policyowners during the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were $1.6 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. These amounts are reported as premiums in the consolidated statement of operations. The subsequent transfer of these receipts to the separate accounts is reported in transfers to separate accounts in the consolidated statement of operations, net of amounts received from the separate accounts to provide for policy benefit payments to variable product policyowners.

 

Following is a summary reconciliation of amounts reported as transfers to and from separate accounts in the summary of operations of the Company’s NAIC Separate Account Annual Statement with the amount reported as net transfers to separate accounts in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:

 

     For the year ended
December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 
     (in millions)  

From Separate Account Annual Statement:

                        

Transfers to separate accounts

   $ 1,721     $ 1,428     $ 1,224  

Transfers from separate accounts

     (1,043 )     (1,012 )     (1,125 )
    


 


 


       678       416       99  

Reconciling adjustments:

                        

Investment management and administrative charges

     —         —         73  

Mortality, breakage and taxes

     (14 )     6       116  
    


 


 


Net transfers to separate accounts

   $ 664     $ 422     $ 288  
    


 


 


 

9. Employee and Representative Benefit Plans

 

The Company sponsors noncontributory defined benefit retirement plans (“plans”) for all eligible employees and financial representatives. These include tax-qualified plans, as well as nonqualified plans that provide benefits to certain participants in excess of ERISA limits for qualified plans. The Company’s funding policy for the tax qualified plans is to make annual contributions that are no less than the minimum amount needed to comply with the requirements of ERISA and no greater than the maximum amount deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Company contributed $180 million and $38 million to the qualified employee retirement plan during 2005 and 2004, respectively, and expects to contribute $38 million in 2006.

 

In addition to defined pension benefits, the Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits (“postretirement benefits”) to retired employees, financial representatives and eligible dependents. Substantially all employees and financial representatives will become eligible for these benefits if they reach retirement age while working for the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

Aggregate assets and projected benefit obligations of the defined benefit plans and for postretirement benefits at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and changes in assets and obligations for the years then ended, were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit Plans

    Postretirement Benefit Plans

 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 
     (in millions)  

Fair value of plan assets at January 1

   $ 1,950     $ 1,738     $ 22     $ 20  

Changes in plan assets:

                                

Actual return on plan assets

     173       208       1       4  

Company contributions

     180       38       —         —    

Actual plan benefits paid

     (39 )     (34 )     (2 )     (2 )
    


 


 


 


Fair value of plan assets at December 31

   $ 2,264     $ 1,950     $ 21     $ 22  
    


 


 


 


Projected benefit obligation at January 1

   $ 2,041     $ 1,729     $ 196     $ 166  

Changes in benefit obligation:

                                

Service cost of benefits earned

     72       70       20       18  

Interest cost on projected obligations

     118       111       11       11  

Projected plan benefits paid

     (45 )     (40 )     (11 )     (10 )

Experience losses (gains)

     47       171       (8 )     11  
    


 


 


 


Projected benefit obligation at December 31

   $ 2,233     $ 2,041     $ 208     $ 196  
    


 


 


 


Plan assets are invested primarily in common stocks and corporate debt securities through a separate account of the Company. The investment objective of the plans is to maximize long-term total rate of return, consistent with prudent investment risk management and in accordance with ERISA requirements. Investments are made for the sole interest of the plans’ participants.

 

While significant exposure to publicly traded equity securities is warranted by the long-term nature of expected benefit payments, diversification across asset classes is maintained to provide a risk/reward profile consistent with the objectives of the plans’ participants. Diversified equity investments are subject to an aggregate maximum exposure of 75%, with holdings in any one corporate issuer not to exceed 3% of total assets. Asset mix is rebalanced regularly to maintain holdings within target asset allocation ranges. The measurement date for plan assets is December 31, with the fair value of plan assets based primarily on quoted market values.

 

Plan assets by asset class at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit Plans

    Postretirement Benefit Plans

 
     2005

   % of
FV


    2004

   % of
FV


    2005

   % of
FV


    2004

   % of
FV


 
     (in millions)  

Bonds

   $ 965    43 %   $ 856    44 %   $ 9    42 %   $ 9    43 %

Preferred stock

     7    0 %     7    0 %     —      0 %     —      0 %

Public common stock

     1,239    55 %     1,058    54 %     12    58 %     13    57 %

Private equities and other

     53    2 %     29    2 %     —      0 %     —      0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Total assets

   $ 2,264    100 %   $ 1,950    100 %   $ 21    100 %   $ 22    100 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

The projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) represents the actuarial net present value of future benefit obligations. For defined benefit plans, PBO includes assumptions as to future salary increases. This measure is consistent with the ongoing concern assumption and is mandated for measuring pension obligations. The accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) is similar to the calculation of the PBO, but is based only on current salaries, with no assumption of future salary increases. The aggregate ABO for the defined benefit plans of the Company was $1.8 billion and $1.6 billion at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes assumptions used in estimating the projected benefit obligations at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:

 

     Defined Benefit Plans

    Postretirement Benefit Plans

 
     2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

    2003

 

Discount rate

   5.75 %   6.00 %   6.50 %   5.75 %   6.00 %   6.50 %

Long-term rate of return on plan assets

   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %

Annual increase in compensation

   4.50 %   4.50 %   4.50 %   4.50 %   4.50 %   4.50 %

 

The long-term rates of return on plan assets are estimated assuming an allocation of plan assets among asset classes consistent with December 31, 2005. Returns are estimated by asset class

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

based on the current risk free interest rate plus a risk premium. The risk premium is based on historical returns and other factors such as expected reinvestment returns and anticipated asset manager performance.

 

The projected benefit obligation for postretirement benefits at December 31, 2005 and 2004 assumed an annual increase in future retiree medical costs of 10%, grading down to 5% over five years and remaining level thereafter. A further increase in the assumed healthcare cost trend of 1% in each year would increase the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2005 by $19 million and net periodic postretirement benefit expense during 2005 by $3 million. A decrease in the assumed healthcare cost trend of 1% in each year would reduce the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2005 and net periodic postretirement benefit expense during 2005 by the same amounts.

 

Following is an aggregate reconciliation of the funded status of the plans to the related financial statement liability reported by the Company at December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     Defined Benefit
Plans


    Postretirement
Benefit Plans


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 
     (in millions)  

Fair value of plan assets at December 31

   $ 2,264     $ 1,950     $ 21     $ 22  

Projected benefit obligation at December 31

     2,233       2,041       208       196  
    


 


 


 


Funded status

     31       (91 )     (187 )     (174 )

Unrecognized net experience losses

     513       466       44       50  

Unrecognized initial net asset

     (557 )     (577 )     —         —    

Additional minimum liability

     (10 )     (16 )     —         —    

Nonadmitted asset

     (326 )     (114 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


Net pension liability

   $ (349 )   $ (332 )   $ (143 )   $ (124 )
    


 


 


 


 

Unrecognized net experience gains or losses represent cumulative amounts by which plan experience for return on plan assets or growth in benefit liabilities have varied from related assumptions. These differences accumulate without recognition in the Company’s financial statements unless they exceed 10% of plan assets or projected benefit obligation, whichever is greater. If they exceed this limit, they are amortized into net periodic benefit costs over the remaining average years of service until retirement of the plan participants, which is currently fourteen years for employee plans and twelve years for field representative plans.

 

Unrecognized initial asset represents the amount by which the fair value of plan assets exceeded the projected benefit obligation for funded pension plans upon the adoption of the statutory basis of accounting for pensions as of January 1, 2001. The Company has elected not to record a direct credit to surplus for this excess, electing instead to amortize this unrecognized initial asset as a credit to net periodic benefit cost in a systematic manner until exhausted.

 

An additional minimum liability is required if a plan’s accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets or accrued pension liabilities. This liability was $10 million, $16 million and $7 million at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Changes in the liability are reported as a direct adjustment to surplus in the consolidated statement of changes in surplus.

 

Any net pension assets for funded plans are nonadmitted and are thereby excluded from reported assets and surplus in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

The components of net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit Plans

    Postretirement Benefits

 
     2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

    2003

 
     (in millions)  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

                                                

Service cost of benefits earned

   $ 72     $ 70     $ 64     $ 20     $ 18     $ 15  

Interest cost on projected obligations

     118       111       103       11       11       10  

Amortization of experience gains and losses

     15       13       34       1       1       2  

Amortization of initial net asset

     (20 )     (21 )     (46 )     —         —         —    

Expected return on plan assets

     (166 )     (138 )     (113 )     (4 )     (1 )     (1 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net periodic expense

   $ 19     $ 35     $ 42     $ 28     $ 29     $ 26  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

The expected benefit payments by the defined benefit plans and the postretirement plans for the years 2006 through 2015 are as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit
Plans


   Postretirement
Benefit Plans


     (in millions)

2006

   $ 52    $ 11

2007

     58      13

2008

     65      14

2009

     72      16

2010

     80      17

2011-2015

     581      115
    

  

     $ 908    $ 186
    

  

 

The Company also sponsors a contributory 401(k) plan for eligible employees and a noncontributory defined contribution plan for financial representatives. For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 the Company expensed total contributions to these plans of $25 million, $24 million and $23 million, respectively.

 

10. Reinsurance

 

The Company limits its exposure to life insurance death benefits by ceding insurance coverage to various reinsurers. The Company retains a maximum of $35 million of coverage per individual life and a maximum of $50 million of coverage per joint life. The Company also cedes a portion of its exposure to group disability benefits on a coinsurance basis and has an excess reinsurance contract for certain individual disability income policies issued prior to 1999 with retention limits varying based upon coverage type. The Company also participates in catastrophic risk sharing pools.

 

Amounts shown in the consolidated financial statements are reported net of the impact of reinsurance. Reserves for policy benefits at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were reported net of ceded reserves of $1.3 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively.

 

The effects of reinsurance on premium revenue and benefits expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 
     (in millions)  

Direct premium revenue

   $ 12,078     $ 11,397     $ 10,959  

Premiums ceded

     (715 )     (715 )     (652 )
    


 


 


Net premium revenue

   $ 11,363     $ 10,682     $ 10,307  
    


 


 


Direct benefit expense

     12,161       11,568       11,110  

Benefits ceded

     (475 )     (478 )     (483 )
    


 


 


Net benefit expense

   $ 11,686     $ 11,090     $ 10,627  
    


 


 


 

In addition, the Company reported $182 million, $207 million and $184 million in allowances from reinsurers for reimbursement of commissions and other expenses on ceded business for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These amounts are classified as other income in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyowners. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. There were no reinsurance recoverables at December 31, 2005 and 2004 that were considered by management to be uncollectible.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

11. Income Taxes

 

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return including the following entities:

 

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC

   Frank Russell Company

Northwestern International Holdings, Inc.

  

Bradford, Inc.

NML Real Estate Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries

  

Network Planning Advisors, LLC

NML Securities Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries

  

Mason Street Advisors, LLC

Northwestern Investment Management Company, LLC

  

NML – CBO, LLC

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company

  

JYD Assets, LLC

 

The Company collects from or refunds to these subsidiaries their share of consolidated income taxes determined under written tax-sharing agreements. During 2004, the Company sold its majority interest in Baird Holding Company (see Note 14). Prior to the sale, Baird Holding Company was included in the Company’s consolidated income tax return. Federal income tax returns for years through 2001 are closed as to further assessment of tax. The liability for income taxes payable in the consolidated statement of financial position reflects taxes payable at the reporting date plus a provision for additional taxes that may become due with respect to the open tax years.

 

The Company accounts for deferred tax assets and liabilities, which reflect the financial statement impact of cumulative temporary differences between the tax and financial statement bases of assets and liabilities. The significant components of the net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     December 31,

      
     2005

   2004

   Change

 
     (in millions)       
                        

Deferred tax assets:

                      

Policy acquisition costs

   $ 794    $ 757    $ 37  

Investment assets

     135      118      17  

Policy benefit liabilities

     1,705      1,644      61  

Benefit plan obligations

     313      284      29  

Guaranty fund assessments

     7      10      (3 )

Nonadmitted assets

     63      61      2  

Other

     63      37      26  
    

  

  


Gross deferred tax assets

     3,080      2,911      169  
    

  

  


Deferred tax liabilities:

                      

Premium and other receivables

     539      504      35  

Investment assets

     1,480      1,464      16  

Other

     4      7      (3 )
    

  

  


Gross deferred tax liabilities

     2,023      1,975      48  
    

  

  


Net deferred tax assets

   $ 1,057    $ 936    $ 121  
    

  

  


 

The statutory basis of accounting limits the amount of gross deferred tax assets that can be included in Company surplus. This limit is based on a formula that takes into consideration available loss carryback capacity, expected timing of reversal for existing temporary differences, gross deferred tax liabilities and the level of Company surplus. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company’s gross deferred tax assets did not exceed this limitation.

 

Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities related to unrealized gains and losses on investments are reported as a component of changes in unrealized capital gains and losses in the consolidated statement of changes in surplus. Other net changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are direct adjustments to surplus and separately reported in the consolidated statement of changes in surplus.

 

The major components of current income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:

 

     For the year ended
December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 
     (in millions)  

Income tax

   $ 113     $ (85 )   $ (65 )

Tax credits

     (56 )     (39 )     (25 )
    


 


 


Total current tax expense (benefit)

   $ 57     $ (124 )   $ (90 )
    


 


 


 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

The Company’s taxable income can vary significantly from gain from operations before taxes due to temporary and permanent differences in revenue recognition and expense deduction between tax and financial statement bases of reporting.

 

In previous years the Company was subject to an “equity tax” that was applied only to mutual life insurance companies. In March 2002, Congress passed legislation that suspended the equity tax for tax years 2001 through 2003. While the Company was subject to the equity tax in 2004, no related expense recognition was considered necessary. Legislation was enacted in April 2004 that permanently repealed the equity tax effective January 1, 2005.

 

The Company’s effective tax rates were 16%, 12% and 13% for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The effective rate is not the statutory rate applied to the Company’s taxable income or loss by the Internal Revenue Service. It is a financial statement relationship that represents the ratio between the sum of total taxes, including those that affect net income and changes in deferred taxes not related to unrealized gains and losses on investments, to the sum of gain from operations before taxes and pretax net realized gains or losses. These financial statement effective rates were different than the applicable federal tax rate of 35% due primarily to differences between book and tax recognition of net investment income and realized capital gains and losses, as well as prior year adjustments.

 

Income taxes paid in 2005 and prior years of $1.1 billion are available at December 31, 2005 for recoupment in the event of future tax losses.

 

12. Frank Russell Company Acquisition and Goodwill

 

The Company acquired Frank Russell Company (“Russell”) effective January 1, 1999. Russell, a global leader in multi-manager investment services, provides investment products and services in more than 39 countries. The initial purchase price of approximately $1.0 billion was funded with a combination of cash, senior notes issued by Russell and bank debt. The purchase agreement also called for additional contingent consideration to be paid to the former owners of Russell based upon the financial performance of Russell during the five year period ended December 31, 2003.

 

The acquisition was accounted for using the statutory purchase method, whereby the excess of the acquisition price over the fair value of Russell net assets at the time of the acquisition was attributed to goodwill reported in the accounts of Russell. Further, the statutory purchase method required that the Company’s cost basis of its investment in Russell be reduced, through a direct reduction of Company surplus, for the amount by which Russell goodwill exceeded 10% of the Company’s surplus at the time of the acquisition.

 

The Company applied for, and was granted, permission by the OCI for an alternative accounting treatment (“permitted practice”), whereby all Russell goodwill, including any subsequent additions to goodwill resulting from payment of contingent purchase consideration, be charged off as a direct reduction of Company surplus. This permitted practice differs from that required by the NAIC “Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual,” which requires that any goodwill not in excess of 10% of the Company’s surplus be amortized using a straight-line method over the period during which the acquiring entity benefits economically or ten years, whichever is shorter.

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company had made cumulative direct reductions of surplus for goodwill associated with the Russell acquisition of $981 million. These charge-offs exceeded the Company’s equity method investment basis in Russell by $531 million and $581 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, which is classified as a reduction of the Company’s total investment in common stocks.

 

If the Company had not received permission for this alternative accounting treatment, Company surplus as reported in the statement of financial position would have been greater by $257 million, $320 million and $358 million at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and net income as reported in the statement of operations would have been lower by $63 million, $61 million and $53 million for the years then ended, respectively.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

13. Contingencies and Guarantees

 

The Company has unconditionally guaranteed repayment of $350 million of senior notes and up to $50 million of bank borrowings owed by Russell.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company has guaranteed certain obligations of other affiliates and made guarantees of operating leases or future minimum compensation payments on behalf of its financial representatives. The maximum exposure under these guarantees totaled approximately $386 million at December 31, 2005. The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that payments will be required under these guarantees and therefore has not accrued a contingent liability in the consolidated statement of financial position. In addition, the Company routinely makes commitments to fund mortgage loans or other investments in the normal course of business. These commitments aggregated to $3.7 billion at December 31, 2005 and were extended at market interest rates and terms.

 

The Company is engaged in various legal actions in the normal course of its investment and insurance operations. In the opinion of management, losses that may ultimately result from such actions would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position at December 31, 2005.

 

14. Related Party Transactions

 

During 2005, the Company and other affiliates redeemed $94 million of seed money from mutual funds within the Company’s Mason Street Funds, Inc. subsidiary. The Company recognized $6 million of losses on these redemptions.

 

The Company has agreed to combine the Mason Street mutual funds with new or existing mutual funds of two competitors. These transactions are subject to approval by fund shareholders at a meeting that is anticipated to take place at the end of March 2006. The financial statement impact on the Company during 2006 of these combinations is expected to be immaterial. Following the exchange of Mason Street fund shares for shares in the respective competitor funds, the Company will be required to maintain investments of up to $900 million in the funds for up to three years following the closing of the transaction. At December 31, 2005 the Company held investments in Mason Street funds totaling $971 million, which are reported at fair value as common stocks in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

See Note 2 regarding certain related party transactions made during 2005 in conjunction with the adoption of new accounting guidance for investments in subsidiary, controlled or affiliated entities.

 

On May 13, 2004 the Company sold its majority interest in Baird Holding Company (“Baird”) to Baird management and employees. At the time of the sale, the Company owned approximately 51% of Baird common stock, with Baird management and employees owning the remainder. The Company realized a $30 million gain on the sale of its remaining interest in Baird, which was included in realized capital gains in the consolidated statement of operations during 2004. The Company financed a substantial portion of the sale price through the purchase of $240 million of subordinated notes, with attached warrants, issued by Baird. These notes have interest rates of between 6.50% and 8.25% and maturities of between ten and twelve years. Notes in the amount of $210 million remain outstanding at December 31, 2005 and are classified as bonds in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

During 2004, the Company refinanced a credit facility owed by Russell and provided additional capital through the purchase, at par, of $258 million of notes issued by Russell. These notes have interest rates of between 4.19% and 6.35% and maturities of between five and ten years. Notes in the amount of $191 million remain outstanding at December 31, 2005 and are classified as bonds in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

During 2004, the Company transferred certain investments to a wholly-owned subsidiary as a capital contribution. The fair value of these securities was $222 million at the time of the transfer. Realized capital gains of $2 million were recognized during 2004 upon the transfer of these assets.

 

During 2003, the Company transferred certain investments to a majority-owned subsidiary as a capital contribution. The fair value of these securities was $219 million at the time of the transfer. Realized capital losses of $7 million were recognized during 2003 upon the transfer of these assets.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

 

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Notes to Consolidated Statutory Financial Statements

December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of investment assets, including derivatives, and certain policy liabilities at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2005

   December 31, 2004

     Statement
Value


   Fair
Value


   Statement
Value


   Fair
Value


     (in millions)

Assets:

                           

Bonds

   $ 65,899    $ 67,294    $ 60,930    $ 63,791

Common and preferred stocks

     8,120      10,844      7,414      9,312

Mortgage loans

     18,118      18,766      17,240      18,674

Real estate

     1,620      2,542      1,619      2,415

Policy loans

     10,265      11,603      9,750      10,771

Other investments

     6,935      8,393      5,774      6,730

Cash and temporary investments

     2,124      2,124      2,949      2,949

Liabilities:

                           

Investment-type insurance reserves

   $ 4,100    $ 3,892    $ 4,023    $ 3,824

 

The fair value of bonds is generally based upon values published by the SVO of the NAIC and upon quoted market prices when no SVO value is available. The estimated fair value of common and preferred stocks are based upon quoted market prices if available. For those not actively traded, fair value is estimated using independent pricing services or internally developed pricing models. See Note 12 regarding the statement value of the Company’s investment in Russell. The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated by discounting estimated future cash flows using market interest rates for debt with comparable credit risk and maturities. Real estate fair value is estimated by discounting estimated future cash flows using market interest rates. Policy loan fair value is estimated based on discounted projected cash flows using market interest rates and assumptions regarding future loan repayments based on Company experience. Other investments include real estate joint ventures, which are valued by discounting estimated future cash flows using market interest rates, as well as other joint ventures and partnerships, for which the equity accounting basis approximates fair value. Other investments also include derivative financial instruments, for which fair value is estimated as the amount that the Company would expect to receive or pay upon termination of the derivative contract as of the reporting date.

 

The estimated fair value of investment-type insurance reserves is estimated by discounting estimated future cash flows at market interest rates for similar instruments with comparable maturities.

 

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PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

 

       

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1800

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Telephone (414) 212 1600

Facsimile (414) 212 1880

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees and Policyowners of

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

We have audited the accompanying statutory consolidated statement of financial position of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statutory statements of operations, of changes in surplus and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards as established by the Auditing Standards Board (United States) and in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

As described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company prepared these consolidated financial statements using accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin (statutory basis of accounting), which practices differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements are not intended to represent a presentation in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The effects on the consolidated financial statements of the variances between the statutory basis of accounting and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, although not reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.

 

In our opinion, because of the effects of the matter discussed in the preceding paragraph, the consolidated financial statements referred to above do not present fairly in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the financial position of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, or the results of their operations or their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, on the basis of accounting described in Note 1.

 

/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

January 24, 2006

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 26. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

  

Description

  

Filed Herewith/Incorporated Herein By Reference To

(a)    Resolution of Board of Trustees of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company establishing the Account, dated March 22, 2006    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136124, filed July 28, 2006
(b)    Not Applicable   
(c)    Distribution Agreement Between The Northwestern Life Insurance Company and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, dated May 1, 2006    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (c) to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136124, filed July 28, 2006
(d)1    Northwestern Mutual Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Survivorship Life Insurance Policy, TT.SVUL. (0107) with Policy Split Provision, TT.SUL.PS.(0805)    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)1 to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136308, filed August 4, 2006
(d)2    Endorsement Regarding Qualification Of Variable Life Policy As A Life Insurance Contract, AMDT.FLSF.(0199)    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)2 to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136308, filed August 4, 2006
(e)    Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Application, 90-1 L.I.(0198) with Application Supplement, (90-1.SVUL.Supp.(0107)    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e) to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136308, filed August 4, 2006
(f)1(a)    Restated Articles of Incorporation of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (adopted July 26, 1972)    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A(6)(a) to Form S-6 Post-Effective Amendment No. 18, File No. 2-89972, filed April 26, 1996
(f)1(b)    Amended By-Laws of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company dated December 4, 2002    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (f) to Form N-6 Post-Effective Amendment No. 8, File No. 333-36865, filed February 28, 2003
(h)1(a)(1)    Participation Agreement dated March 16, 1999 Among Russell Insurance Funds, Russell Fund Distributors, Inc. and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(8)(a) to Form N-4 Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, File No. 2-29240, filed on April 28, 2005
(h)1(a)(2)    Amendment No. 1 dated August 7, 2000 to the Participation Agreement dated March 16, 1999 Among Russell Insurance Funds, Russell Fund Distributors, Inc. and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)1(a)(2) to Form N-6 initial Registration Statement, File No. 333-136124, filed July 28, 2006
(h)1(a)(3)    Amendment No. 2 dated October 13, 2006 to Participation Agreements dated March 16, 1999 and August 7, 2000, respectively, by and among The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Russell Investment Funds,    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)1(a)(3) to Form N-6 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, File No. 333-136124, filed December 13, 2006

 

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   f/k/a “Russell Insurance Funds,” and Russell Fund Distributors, Inc., adding Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II and Northwestern Mutual Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Survivorship Life Insurance Policy, TT.SVUL.(0107)   
(h)1(b)(1)    Participation Agreement dated May 1, 2003 among Variable Insurance Products Funds, Fidelity Distributors and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(8)(b) to Form N-4 Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, File No. 2-29240, filed on April 28, 2005
(h)1(b)(2)    Amendment No. 1 dated October 18, 2006 to Participation Agreement dated May 1, 2003, by and among The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Fidelity Distributors Corporation, and each of Variable Insurance Products Fund, Variable Insurance Products Fund II, and Variable Insurance Products Fund III, adding Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II and Northwestern Mutual Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Survivorship Life Insurance Policy, TT.SVUL.(0107)    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)1(b)(2) to Form N-6 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, File No. 333-136124, filed December 13, 2006
(h)1(c)(1)    Administrative Service Fee Agreement dated February 28, 1999 between The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Frank Russell Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(8)(c) to Form N-4 Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, File No. 2-29240, filed on April 28, 2005
(h)1(c)(2)    Service Agreement dated May 1, 2003 between Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(8)(c)(2) to Form N-4 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, File No. 333-133380, filed on August 8, 2006
(h)1(c)(3)    Amendment dated August 1, 2004 to the Service Agreement dated May 1, 2003 between Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(8)(c)(3) to Form N-4 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, File No. 333-133380, filed on August 8, 2006
(j)    Not Applicable   
(k)    Opinion and Consent of Robert J. Berdan, Esq. dated December 15, 2006    Filed herewith
(l)    Not Applicable   
(m)    Not Applicable   
(n)    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated December 15, 2006    Filed herewith
(o)    Not Applicable   
(p)    Not Applicable   
(q)    Memorandum describing Issuance, Transfer and Redemption Procedures    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) to Form N-6 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, File No. 333-136124, filed December 13, 2006

 

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Item 27. Directors and Officers of the Depositor

The following lists include all of the Trustees, executive officers and other officers of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company without regard to their activities relating to variable life insurance policies or their authority to act or their status as “officers” as that term is used for certain purposes of the federal securities laws and rules thereunder.

TRUSTEES – As of September 30, 2006

 

Name

  

Business Address

Edward E. Barr    2050 Center Avenue
   Suite 567
   Fort Lee, NJ 07024
John M. Bremer    The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
   720 East Wisconsin Avenue
   Milwaukee, WI 53202
Peter W. Bruce    The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
   720 East Wisconsin Avenue
   Milwaukee, WI 53202
Robert C. Buchanan    Fox Valley Corporation
   100 West Lawrence Street (54911)
   P.O. Box 727
   Appleton, WI (54912-0727)
George A. Dickerman    68 Normandy Road
   Longmeadow, MA 01106-1259
David J. Drury    Poblocki & Sons, LLC
   922 South 70th Street
   Milwaukee, WI 53214
Connie K. Duckworth    ARZU
   77 Stone Gate Lane
   Lake Forest, IL 60045
David A. Erne    Reinhart Boener Van Deuren, sc
   1000 North Water Street
   Suite 2100
   Milwaukee, WI 53202
James P. Hackett    Steelcase, Inc.
   901 – 44th Street
   Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Hans Helmerich   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

1437 South Boulder

Tulsa, OK 74119

 

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Stephen F. Keller    101 South Las Palmas Avenue
   Los Angeles, CA 90004
Barbara A. King    Landscape Structures, Inc.
   Route 3
   601-7th Street South
   Delano, MN 55328
Margery Kraus    APCO Worldwide
   700 12th Street, NW, Suite 800
   Washington, DC 20005
J. Thomas Lewis    228 St. Charles Avenue
   Suite 1024
   New Orleans, LA 70130
Ulice Payne, Jr.    Addison-Clifton, L.L.C.
   13555 Bishop’s Court
   Suite 245
   Brookfield, WI 53005
H. Mason Sizemore, Jr.    2054 N.W. Blue Ridge Drive
   Seattle, WA 98177
Peter M. Sommerhauser    Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
   780 North Water Street
   Milwaukee, WI 53202-3590
John E. Steuri    52 River Ridge Road
   Little Rock, AR 72227-1518
John J. Stollenwerk    Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation
   201 East Seven Hills Road
   P.O. Box 998
   Port Washington, WI 53074-0998
Barry L. Williams    Williams Pacific Ventures, Inc.
   4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 3700
   San Francisco, CA 94111
Kathryn D. Wriston    c/o Shearman & Sterling
   599 Lexington Avenue, Room 1064
   New York, NY 10022
Edward J. Zore    The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
   720 East Wisconsin Avenue
   Milwaukee, WI 53202

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS – As of September 30, 2006

 

Name

  

Title

Edward J. Zore    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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John M. Bremer    Chief Operating Officer (Chief Compliance Officer)
Peter W. Bruce    Chief Insurance Officer
William H. Beckley    Executive Vice President (Agencies)
Gary A. Poliner    Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Mason G. Ross    Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
John E. Schlifske    Executive Vice President (Investment Products & Services and Affiliates)
Mark G. Doll    Senior Vice President (Public Markets)
Christine H. Fiasca    Senior Vice President (Agency Services)
William C. Koenig    Senior Vice President & Chief Actuary
Jean M. Maier    Senior Vice President (Insurance Operations)
Meridee J. Maynard    Senior Vice President (Life Product)
Gregory C. Oberland    Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Marcia Rimai    Senior Vice President (Business Integration Services)
Charles D. Robinson    Senior Vice President (IPS Strategy)
Robert J. Berdan    Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Michael G. Carter    Vice President (Field Compensation & Planning)
Steven T. Catlett    Vice President (Corporate Services)
Eric P. Christophersen    Vice President (Compliance/Best Practices)
David D. Clark    Vice President (Real Estate)
Gloster B. Current    Vice President (Policyowner Services)
John M. Grogan    Vice President (Disability Income)
John C. Kelly    Vice President & Controller
John L. Kordsmeier    Vice President (New Business)
Susan A. Lueger    Vice President (Human Resources)
Jeffrey J. Lueken    Vice President (Securities)
Raymond J. Manista    Vice President (Corporate Planning)
David W. Simbro    Vice President (Long Term Care)
Brenda F. Skelton    Vice President (Communications)
Calvin R. Schmidt    Vice President (Investment Product Operations)
Todd M. Schoon    Vice President (Agencies)
J. Edward Tippetts    Vice President (Wealth Management)
Donald G. Tyler    Vice President (IPS Products & Sales)
Martha M. Valerio    Vice President (Information Systems)
Michael L. Youngman    Vice President (Government Relations)

OTHER OFFICERS – As of December 1, 2006

 

Name

  

Title

John Abbott    Director-Field Benefit Consultants Field Benefit Reps
Carl Amick    VP-Risk Management Operations
Jason Anderson    Assistant Director Tax
Mark Backe    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Rebekah Barsch    Vice President Investment Product Lines
Doug Bates    VP Federal Relations
Blaise Beaulier    Director of Project Portfolio Management
Beth M. Berger    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Frederick W. Bessette    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Maryann Bialo    Asst. Director DI Benefit
Mark Bishop    Regional VP
Mark Bishop    Regional VP Field Supv
Carrie Bleck    Director Policyowner Services
Melissa Bleidorn    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Sandra Botcher    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary

 

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Anne Brower    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Michael S. Bula    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Pency Byhardt    VP of Field Development
Gwen Canady    Director Corporate Reporting
Shanklin Cannon    Medical Director
Kurt Carbon    Director Life Lay Standards
Susan A Cerbins    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Jan Chase    Asst. Director-DI Underwriting
Michael S. Chick    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Walt Chossek    Director-IPS Finance
Walt Chossek    Director-Finance
Barbara Courtney    Director Mutual Fund Accounting
Domingo G. Cruz    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Dennis Darland    Asst. Director DI Benefit
Glen De Zeeuw    VP Agency Dev
Cheryl DeLonay    Assistant Director - Pershing/NMIS Support
Mark Diestelmeier    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
John E. Dunn    Vice President & Investment Products and Services Counsel
Somayajulu Durvasula    VP Agency Dev
James R. Eben    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Mike Ertz    Director of Field Recruiting
Marcia E. Facey    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Carol Flemma    Director-IPS Bus Development/Comm
Don Forecki    Director Investment Operations
Gerald E. Fradin    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Steve Frankl    Director-Sales Strategy and Support
James C. Frasher    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Matthew E. Gabrys    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
John Garofani    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Sheila Gavin    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Don Gehrke    Director - Retail Investment Operations
Tim Gerend    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Wally Givler    Vice President Investment Accounting
Kevin M. Gleason    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Bob Gleeson    Vice President & Medical Director
Mark Gmach    Regional VP
Karl Gouverneur    Vice President & Chief Architect
Dennis Goyette    Assistant Director - Invest Client Services
C. Claibourne Greene    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Tom Guay    Vice President Underwriting Standards
Greg Gurlik    Director Long Term Care Product Development
David Harley    Assistant Director - Retail Invest Operations
Wayne Heidenreich    Medical Director
Gary Hewitt    Vice President & Treasurer
Patricia Hillmann    Director - Annuity Customer Service
Mark W. Humphrey    Director-Architecture Construction Environmental Services
Sharon A. Hyde    Asst. Director Disability Benefit
Elizabeth Idleman    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Bob Johnson    Director NMIS Compliance
Todd Jones    Director- IPS Finance
Todd Jones    Asst. Director- IPS Finance
Martha Kendler    Director-Annuities

 

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David B. Kennedy    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Mollie Kenny    Regulatory Consultant
Don Kiefer    Vice President Actuary
James Koelbl    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Abim Kolawole    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Robert Kowalsky    Vice President Information Systems
Carol L. Kracht    Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Investment Counsel
Cindy Kutschenreuter    Assistant Director - Data Delivery & Reporting
Todd Kuzminski    Director Investment Accounting
Donna Lemanczyk    Director-Investment Closing
Elizabeth Lentini    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Sally J. Lewis    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
James Lodermeier    Senior Actuary
George R. Loxton    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Cindy Lubbert    Asst. Director-DI Underwriting
Dean Mabie    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Jon Magalska    Actuary
Steve Mannebach    Director Field Development
Jeff Marks    Director Special Projects
Steve Martinie    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Ted Matchulat    Director Product Compliance
Michael J. Mazza    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Allan McDonell    Director - Retail Investment Services
James L. McFarland    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Patrick McKeown    Investment Research Consultant
Larry S. Meihsner    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Bob Meilander    Vice President Corporate Actuary
Christopher Menting    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Richard E. Meyers    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Joanne Migliaccio    Director of Distribution Operations
Michael Mihm    Director-IPS Field Consulting
Jay Miller    VP Advanced Planning
Jill Mocarski    Medical Director
Lynn Molitor    Assistant Director - Annuities
Karen Molloy    Director Banking & Cash Management
Scott J. Morris    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Jennifer W. Murphy    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Lisa Myklebust    Assistant Director - Adv WMC/NMIS RIA
Tim Nelson    Director Market Conduct
David K. Nelson    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Mary S. Nelson    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Michelle Nelson    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Leon Nesbitt    VP Agency Dev
Jeffrey Niehaus    Director-Business Retirement Markets
David Nunley    Director Tax Compliance
Daniel O’Meara    Regional VP Field Supv
Kathy Oman    Director - Systems and Projects
Timothy Otto    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Art Panighetti    Vice President Tax
Randy M. Pavlick    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Charles Pendley    VP Agency Dev
David W. Perez    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary

 

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Judith L. Perkins    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Pete Peterson    Director Long Term Care Administration
William C. Pickering    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Nora M. Platt    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Harvey W. Pogoriler    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Steve Radke    VP Leg & Reg Relations
Dave Remstad    Vice President Specialty Markets
Peter K. Richardson    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Dan Riedl    VP Distribution Policies and Operations
Kathleen M. Rivera    Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
Bethany Rodenhuis    Vice President Audit
Tammy Roou    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Tim Schaefer    Vice President Information Systems
Linda Schaefer    Director-Special Investigative Unit
Thomas F. Scheer    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Jane Ann Schiltz    Vice President Business Markets
Kathleen H. Schluter    Vice President & Tax Counsel
Rodd Schneider    Vice President & Litigation Counsel
Catherine L. Shaw    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Sherri Shickert    Director Policyowner Services
David Silber    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Stephen M. Silverman    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Mark W. Smith    Associate General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Warren Smith    Assistant Director-Architecture
Diane Smith    Assistant Director Policyowner Services
Richard Snyder    Director-Mutual Funds
Steve Sperka    Director DI Benefits
Paul Steffen    Regional VP
Karen Stevens    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Steve Stone    Director IS Finance
Brenda J. Stugelmeyer    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Cheryl Svehlek    Director-Administration
Rachel Taknint    Vice President, Department Planning and Operations & Associate General Counsel
Bill Taylor    Director of Financial Security Planning
Paul Tews    Director Investment Planning
Kellen Thiel    Director-Managed Products
John M. Thompson    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Douglas D. Timmer    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Derek Tyus    Director of Strategic Analysis & Planning
Sandi Scott-Tyus    Director Policyowner Services
Mary Beth Van Groll    Vice President Information Systems
Andrew T. Vedder    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Natalie Versnik    Director Policyowner Services
Andy Ware    Vice President Actuary
Joel Weiner    Medical Director
Jackie Wheeler    Assistant Director Policyowner Service
Catherine A. Wilbert    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Don Wilkinson    VP Agency Administration
Don Wilkinson    Vice President Agency Administration
Jeff Williams    VP Compliance Risk Management & Chief Compliance Officer NMIS

 

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Brian Wilson    Director-IPS National Sales
John Wilson    Director Long Term Care Sales Support
Robert Wright    Director-Affinity Funds
Catherine M. Young    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Terry R. Young    Asst. General Counsel & Asst. Secretary
Rick Zehner    VP Life Products
Patricia Zimmerman    Director-Inv Technology & Dev
Patti Zimmermann    Director Investment Technology & Development
Todd Zinkgraf    Director - Annuity Operations

The business addresses for all of the executive officers and other officers is 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

 

Item 28. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with the Depositor or Registrant

The subsidiaries of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Northwestern Mutual”), as of November 17, 2006 are set forth on pages C-9 through C-11. In addition to the subsidiaries set forth on pages C-9 through C-11, the following separate investment accounts (which include the Registrant) may be deemed to be either controlled by, or under common control with, Northwestern Mutual:

 

  1. NML Variable Annuity Account A

 

  2. NML Variable Annuity Account B

 

  3. NML Variable Annuity Account C

 

  4. Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account

 

  5. Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc. and Russell Investment Funds (the “Funds”), shown below as subsidiaries of Northwestern Mutual, are investment companies, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, offering their shares to the separate accounts identified above; and the shares of the Funds held in connection with certain of the accounts are voted by Northwestern Mutual in accordance with voting instructions obtained from the persons who own, or are receiving payments under, variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies issued in connection with the separate accounts, or in the same proportions as the shares which are so voted.

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL CORPORATE STRUCTURE1

(as of November 17, 2006)

 

Name of Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

Alexandra International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Amber, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Baraboo, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Bayridge, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Bradford, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Brendan International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Burgundy, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Carlisle Ventures, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Cass Corporation – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Chateau, Inc. – 100% ownership of Common & Class B Preferred Stock

   Delaware

Chateau, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Chateau I, LP – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Coral, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

 

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Diversey, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Foxkirk, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Frank Russell Company – 90.86% ownership

   Washington

Frank Russell Investment Management Company – 90.86% ownership

   Washington

Green Room Properties, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Hazel, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Health Invest, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Higgins, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Highbrook International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Hobby, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

INV Corp. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Jerusalem Avenue Property, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Justin International FSC, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

JYD Assets, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

KerryAnne International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Klode, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Kristiana International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Lake Bluff, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Larkin, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Logan, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Lydell, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Mallon International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Maroon, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Mason & Marshall, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Mason Street Advisors, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Mitchell, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM Albuquerque Inc. – 100% ownership

   New Mexico

NM-Exchange, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM Harrisburg, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Pennsylvania

NM Imperial, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM Lion, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM Majestic Holdings, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM RE Funds, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NM Regal, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NMIS Alabama Agency, LLC – 100% ownership

   Alabama

NMIS Massachusetts Insurance Agency, LLC – 100% ownership

   Massachusetts

NMIS Georgia Agency, LLC – 100% ownership

   Georgia

NML Buffalo Agency, Inc. – 100% ownership

   New York

NML-CBO, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NML Development Corporation – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NML/Mid-Atlantic, Inc. – 100% ownership

   New Jersey

NML Real Estate Holdings, LLC – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

NML Securities Holdings, LLC – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

NVOP, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

NVOP, LLC – 75% ownership

   Delaware

NVOP Fairfax Ridge – 75% ownership

   Delaware

NW Pipeline, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Texas

Network Planning Advisors, L.L.C. – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

New Arcade, LLC – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

Nicolet, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

North Van Buren, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Northwestern Ellis Company – 100% ownership

   Nova Scotia

Northwestern Foreign Holdings B.V. – 100% ownership

   Netherlands

Northwestern International Holdings, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

 

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Northwestern Investment Management Company, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company – 100% ownership

   Illinois

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

Northwestern Mutual Las Vegas, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Nevada

Northwestern Mutual Life International, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc. – 100%2 ownership

   Maryland

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company – 100% ownership

   Federal Savings Bank
   (subject to jurisdiction of the Office of Thrift Supervision)

Northwestern Real Estate Partnership Holdings, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Northwestern Reinsurance Holdings N.V. – 100% ownership

   Netherlands

Northwestern Securities Partnership Holdings, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Olive, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Painted Rock Development Company – 100% ownership

   Arizona

Park Forest Northeast, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

RE Corporation – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Regina International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Rocket Sports, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Texas

Russell Investment Funds – 90.86% ownership

   Massachusetts

Russet, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Scotty, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Solar Resources, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Wisconsin

Stadium and Arena Management, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Strategic Employee Benefit Services of New Mexico, Inc. – 100% ownership

   New Mexico

Summit Mall, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Travers International Sales, Inc. – 100% ownership

   U.S. Virgin Islands

Tupelo, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

Walden OC, LLC – 100% ownership

   Delaware

White Oaks, Inc. – 100% ownership

   Delaware

 

(1) Certain subsidiaries are omitted on the basis that, considered in the aggregate at year end 2005, they did not constitute a significant subsidiary as defined by Regulation S-X. Except for certain Real Estate Partnerships/LLCs/Equity Interests, includes general account NM investments where NM’s ownership interest is greater than 50%. Excluded is the entire corporate structure under Frank Russell Company.

 

(2) Aggressive Growth Stock, Alliance Bernstein Mid Cap Value, Asset Allocation, Balanced, Capital Guardian Domestic Equity, Franklin Templeton International Equity, Growth Stock, High Yield Bond, Index 400 Stock, Index 500 Stock, International Growth Stock, Janus Capital Appreciation, Large Cap Core Stock, Money Market, Select Bond, Small Cap Growth Stock, T. Rowe Price Small Cap Value, T. Rowe Price Equity Income.

 

Item 29. Indemnification

(a) That portion of the By-laws of the Depositor, Northwestern Mutual, relating to indemnification of Trustees and officers is set forth in full in Article VII of the By-laws of Northwestern Mutual, amended by resolution and previously filed as Exhibit A(6)(b) to the registration statement of Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account (File No. 333-59103) on July 15, 1998.

(b) Section 10 of the Distribution Agreement dated May 1, 2006 between Northwestern Mutual and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (“NMIS”) provides substantially as follows:

B. Indemnification by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless NMIS, its successors and assigns, and their respective officers, directors, and employees (together referred to as “NMIS Related Persons”), from any and all joint or several losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including any reasonable investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which

 

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NMIS and/or any NMIS Related Persons may become subject, under any law, regulation or NASD rule, at common law or otherwise, that arises out of or are based upon (i) any breach of this Agreement by the Company and (ii) any untrue statement of or omission to state a material fact (except for information supplied by or on behalf of NMIS or for which NMIS is responsible) contained in any Registration Statement, Contract prospectus, SAI or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Material.

This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have; provided, however, that no person shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this provision for any loss, claim, damage or liability due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the person seeking indemnification.

C. Indemnification by NMIS. NMIS agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its successors and assigns, and their respective officers, trustees or directors, and employees (together referred to as “ Company Related Persons”), from any and all joint or several losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including any reasonable investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which the Company and/or any Company Related Persons may become subject, under any law, regulation or NASD rule, at common law or otherwise, that arises out of or are based upon (i) any breach of this Agreement by NMIS and (ii) any untrue statement of or omission to state a material fact (except for information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or for which the Company is responsible) contained in any Registration Statement, Contract prospectus, SAI or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Material, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing by NMIS to the Company specifically for use in the preparation of the aforesaid material.

This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability that NMIS may otherwise have; provided however, that no person shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this provision for any loss, claim, damage or liability due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the person seeking indemnification.

D. Indemnification Generally. Any person seeking indemnification under this section shall promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing after receiving notice of the commencement of any action as to which a claim for indemnification will be made; provided, however, that failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve such party from any liability which it may have to such person otherwise than on account of this section.

The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of the indemnified person but such participation will not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by such party in defending himself, herself or itself.

 

Item 30. Principal Underwriters

(a) NMIS is the principal underwriter of the securities of the Registrant. NMIS also acts as the principal underwriter for the NML Variable Annuity Account A (811-21887), the NML Variable Annuity Account B (811-1668), the NML Variable Annuity Account C (811-21886), and the Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account (811-3989).

 

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(b) As of July 1, 2006, the directors and officers of NMIS are as follows:

 

Name

  

Position

Jason T. Anderson    Assistant Treasurer
Mark J. Backe    Secretary
Rebekah B. Barsch    Vice President, Investment Products
William H. Beckley    Director
Mark S. Bishop    Regional Vice President, Field Supervision
Michael G. Carter    Vice President, Field Compensation & Planning
Walter J. Chossek    Treasurer, Financial & Operations Principal
Eric P. Christophersen    Vice President, Comliance/Best Practices
Gloster B. Current    Vice President, Variable Life Servicing
David J. Dorshorst    Director, Compensation Services
Michael S. Ertz    Director, Recruiting and Retention
Christina H. Fiasca    Director
Dennis J. Fitzpatrick    Director, Supervision of Todd Business
Carol J. Flemma    Director, Marketing, Training & Communication
Anne A. Frigo    Director, Fixed Insurance Products: Compliance Training
Don P. Gehrke    Director, Retail Investment Operations
Mark J. Gmach    Regional Vice President, Field Supervision
Dennis P. Goyette    Acting Supervisor, Annuity Operations
Mark A. Gregory    Assistant Director,Registered Investment Advisor Compliance
Laila V. Hick    Director, Field Supervision Standards
Karla D. Hill    Director, Human Resources
Patricia J. Hillman    Director, Annuity Customer Services
Diane B. Horn    Director, BD Operations Compliance; Policy, Procedures & Communications, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer
Robert J. Johnson    Director, Compliance Oversight; Chief Compliance Officer of NMIS Registered Investment Advisor
Martha M. Kendler    Director, Annuity Product Line
John L. Kordsmeier    Vice President, Variable Underwriting & Issue
Gregory S. Leslie    Compliance Registered Options Principal (CROP)
Jean M. Maier    Director; Senior Vice President, Insurance Operations
James M. Makowski    Assistant Director, Field Compliance
Steven C. Mannebach    Director, Field Training & Development
Meridee J. Maynard    Senior Vice President, Life Product
Mac McAuliffe    Regional Vice President
Allan J. McDonell    Securities Principal (MSP); Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Primary Contact
Jeffrey L. Michaelson    Assistant Director, Mutual Funds
Joanne M. Migliaccio    Director, Contract, License and Registration
Michael J. Mihm    Director, Business Development
Jay W. Miller    Vice President, Advanced Planning
Diana L. Moro-Goane    Director, Marketing Materials Review
Jennifer Murphy    Assistant Secretary
Timothy D. Nelson    Director, Market Conduct
Jeffrey J. Niehaus    Director, Business Retirement Markets
Jennifer O’Leary    Assistant Treasurer
Daniel J. O’Meara    Regional Vice President, Field Supervision
Michael J. Patkunas    Regional Vice President
Chris E. Peterson    Regional Vice President
Georganne K. Prom    New Business Compliance Coordinator
Michael A. Reis    Assistant Treasurer
Daniel A. Riedl    Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

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Charles D. Robinson    Senior Vice President, IPS Strategy
Robin E. Rogers    Assistant Director, License & Registration
John E. Schlifske    Director; President and CEO
Jeffrey P. Schloemer    Assistant Director, Compliance Assurance
Calvin R. Schmidt    Vice President, Investment Product Operations & Systems
Todd M. Schoon    Vice President, Agencies
Richard P. Snyder    Director, Mutual Funds
William H. Taylor    Director, Financial Security Planning
Kellen A. Thiel    Director, Managed Products
Donald G. Tyler    Vice President, Investment Products and Sales
Thomas A. Waisnor    Regional Vice President
Gwendolyn K. Weithaus    Assistant Director, Broker/Dealer Product Distribution Compliance
Alan M. Werth    Third Party Sales Consultant
Donald R. Wilkinson    Vice President, Field Management
Jeffrey B. Williams    Vice President, Compliance Risk Management & Chief Compliance Officer of NMIS Broker-Dealer, Executive Representative
Brian D. Wilson    National Sales Director
Robert J. Wright    Director, Affinity Funds Distribution and Planning

The address for each director and officer of NMIS is 611 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

(c) Not applicable. Registrant has not commenced operations.

 

Item 31. Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books or other documents required to be maintained in connection with the Registrant’s operations are maintained in the physical possession of Northwestern Mutual at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.

 

Item 32. Management Services

There are no management-related service contracts, other than those referred to in Part A or Part B of this Registration Statement, under which management-related services are provided to the Registrant and pursuant to which total payments of $5,000 or more were made during any of the last three fiscal years.

 

Item 33. Fee Representation

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company hereby represents that the fees and charges deducted under the variable adjustable life insurance policies which are the subject of this registration statement, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by the insurance company under the policies.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account II, has duly caused this Amended Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf, in the City of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, on the 15 day of December, 2006.

 

    NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL VARIABLE LIFE
    ACCOUNT II (Registrant)
        By  

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE

INSURANCE COMPANY (Depositor)

Attest:   /s/ ROBERT J. BERDAN       By:   /s/ EDWARD J. ZORE
  Robert J. Berdan, Vice President,         Edward J. Zore, President
  General Counsel and Secretary         and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amended Registration Statement has been signed by the Depositor on the 15 day of December, 2006.

 

      THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Depositor)
Attest:   /s/ ROBERT J. BERDAN       By:   /s/ EDWARD J. ZORE
  Robert J. Berdan, Vice President,         Edward J. Zore, President
  General Counsel and Secretary         and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amended Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities with the Depositor and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

   
/s/ EDWARD J. ZORE    Trustee, President and  
Edward J. Zore    Chief Executive Officer;  
   Principal Accounting Officer  
/s/ GARY A. POLINER    Executive Vice President and  
Gary A. Poliner    Chief Financial Officer;  
   Principal Financial Officer  
    
/s/ JOHN C. KELLY    Vice President and Controller;  
John C. Kelly    Principal Accounting Officer  

 

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/s/ J. THOMAS LEWIS*   Trustee  
J. Thomas Lewis    
/s/ STEPHEN F. KELLER*   Trustee  
Stephen F. Keller    
/s/ KATHRYN D. WRISTON*   Trustee  
Kathryn D. Wriston    
/s/ BARRY L. WILLIAMS*   Trustee  
Barry L. Williams    
/s/ EDWARD E. BARR*   Trustee  
Edward E. Barr    
/s/ ROBERT C. BUCHANAN*   Trustee  
Robert C. Buchanan    
/s/ H. MASON SIZEMORE, JR.*   Trustee  
H. Mason Sizemore, Jr.    
/s/ JOHN J. STOLLENWERK*   Trustee  
John J. Stollenwerk    
/s/ GEORGE A. DICKERMAN*   Trustee  
George A. Dickerman    
/s/ JOHN E. STEURI*   Trustee  
John E. Steuri    
/s/ BARBARA A. KING*   Trustee  
Barbara A. King    
/s/ PETER M. SOMMERHAUSER*   Trustee  
Peter M. Sommerhauser    
/s/ JAMES P. HACKETT*   Trustee  
James P. Hackett    
/s/ JOHN M. BREMER*   Trustee  
John M. Bremer    

 

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/s/ PETER W. BRUCE*   Trustee  
Peter W. Bruce    
/s/ DAVID A. ERNE*   Trustee  
David A. Erne    
/s/ MARGERY KRAUS*   Trustee  
Margery Kraus    
/s/ CONNIE K. DUCKWORTH*   Trustee  
Connie K. Duckworth    
/s/ ULICE PAYNE, JR.*   Trustee  
Ulice Payne, Jr.    
/s/ DAVID J. DRURY*   Trustee  
David J. Drury    
/s/ HANS HELMERICH*   Trustee  
Hans Helmerich    

 

*By:   /s/ EDWARD J. ZORE
  Edward J. Zore, Attorney in fact,
  pursuant to the Power of Attorney
  filed with the initial Registration
  Statement on August 4, 2006

Each of the signatures is affixed as of December 15, 2006

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBITS FILED WITH FORM N-6

PRE-EFFECTIVE AMDNEMNT NO. 1 TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

FOR

SURVISORSHIP VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE

 

Exhibit   

Description

    
(k)    Opinion and Consent of Robert J. Berdan, Esq. dated December 15, 2006    Filed herewith
(n)    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated December 15, 2006    Filed herewith