UNUMPROVIDENT COMPLETES RECAPTURE OF CLOSED BLOCK BUSINESS

CHATTANOOGA, TN (Sept. 27, 2005) – UnumProvident Corporation (NYSE: UNM) today announced that it has completed its previously announced agreement with Centre Life Reinsurance Ltd. to recapture its closed block individual income protection business originally ceded to Centre in 1996 by Unum Life Insurance Company of America. The business includes $1.6 billion in invested assets transferred to UnumProvident and $185 million of annual premium. The effective date of the recapture of this ceded business was Aug. 8, 2005.

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About UnumProvident
UnumProvident (UNM) is the largest provider of group and individual disability income protection insurance in the United States and United Kingdom. Through its subsidiaries, UnumProvident Corporation insures more than 25 million people and paid $5.9 billion in total benefits to customers in 2004. With primary offices in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Portland, Maine, the company employs more than 12,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.unumprovident.com.