UNUMPROVIDENT TO PRESENT AT MERRILL LYNCH INVESTORS CONFERENCE

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Feb. 7, 2006) – UnumProvident Corporation (NYSE: UNM) announced today that it will present at the Merrill Lynch Insurance Investors Conference on Feb. 16, 2006. Mr. Thomas R. Watjen, president and chief executive officer, will represent UnumProvident and is scheduled to speak at 10:50 a.m. (Eastern).

There will also be a live audio webcast of the presentation at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/ML/insurance06/38305196.cfm. This webcast will be archived for 14 days.

During UnumProvident’s presentation, Mr. Watjen will focus on the Company’s fourth quarter 2005 results, general business strategy, and future growth opportunities.

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 $6 billion in total benefits to customers in 2005. With primary offices in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Portland, Maine, the company employs nearly 12,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.unumprovident.com.

Safe Harbor Agreement
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding UnumProvident Corporation's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.