UNUMPROVIDENT CFO ON EXTENDED LEAVE,
ZUBRETSKY ASSUMES ROLE ON INTERIM BASIS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (June 16, 2006) – UnumProvident Corporation (NYSE:UNM) today announced that Robert Greving, the company's chief financial officer and actuary, is on an extended leave of absence as he recovers from recent surgery. Joseph Zubretsky, senior executive vice president of finance, investments and corporate development, will assume the role of chief financial officer on an interim basis until Mr. Greving returns.

"Our thoughts are with Bob and his family during this period," said Thomas Watjen, president and chief executive officer. "All of us at UnumProvident wish him a full and speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back when he is completely able."

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Safe Harbor Statement
A “safe harbor” is provided for “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include such general matters as general economic or business conditions; events or consequences relating to terrorism and acts of war; competitive factors, including pricing pressures; legislative, regulatory, or tax changes; and the interest rate environment. More specifically, they include fluctuations in insurance reserve liabilities, projected new sales and renewals, persistency rates, incidence and recovery rates, pricing and underwriting projections and experience, retained risks in reinsurance operations, availability and cost of reinsurance, level and results of litigation, rating agency actions, regulatory actions and investigations, negative media attention, the level of pension benefit costs and funding, investment results, including credit deterioration of investments, and effectiveness of product and customer support. For further information of risks and uncertainties that could affect actual results, see the sections entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in UnumProvident’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and subsequently filed Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements are being made as of the date of this press release and UnumProvident expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein.