EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES
10-Q, 1997-11-13
LIFE INSURANCE
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                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                           ==============

                              FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

                                  OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    For the transition period from __________ to __________

               Commission file number      0-8590

                     Equitable of Iowa Companies
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Iowa                                      42-1083593
(State or other jurisdiction of           (IRS employer identification no.)
incorporation or organization)

909 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa                  50309-2899
(Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (515) 698-7000


___________________________________________________________________________
Former name, former address and formal fiscal year, if changed since last
                                report

  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes /X/  No / /

          APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
             PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a
plan confirmed by a court.                            Yes / /  No / /

                APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

  Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 0 shares of Common Stock
as of November 12, 1997.

 
                            FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_____________________________

Person for whom the Financial Information is given:    EQUITABLE OF IOWA
                                                       COMPANIES AND ITS
                                                       SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)    (Preceding Year)
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                <C>                 <C>
REVENUES:
 Annuity and interest sensitive life      
  product charges                                  $29,789             $19,006
 Traditional life insurance premiums                 9,642               9,814
 Net investment income                             202,892             180,346
 Realized gains on investments                       8,476               4,510
 Other income                                        8,895               7,047
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   259,694             220,723
INSURANCE BENEFITS AND EXPENSES:
 Annuity and interest sensitive life benefits:
  Interest credited to account balances            126,612             111,156
  Benefit claims incurred in excess of
   account balances                                  5,070               1,993
 Traditional life insurance benefits                10,817               9,831
 Increase (decrease) in future policy
  benefits                                            (898)                733
 Distributions to participating
  policyholders                                      6,429               6,284
 Underwriting, acquisition and insurance
  expenses:
  Commissions                                       50,887              35,409
  General expenses                                  16,028              13,676
  Insurance taxes                                    2,376               2,007
  Policy acquisition costs deferred                (60,707)            (42,600)
  Amortization:
   Deferred policy acquisition costs                26,646              21,287
   Present value of in force acquired                2,285                 915
   Goodwill                                            430                 215
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   185,975             160,906

Interest expense                                     4,160               3,091
Other expenses                                       9,840               5,765
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   199,975             169,762
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                    59,719              50,961
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited):       (CONTINUATION)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)    (Preceding Year)
                                               (Dollars in thousands,
                                               except per share data)
<S>                                                <C>                 <C> 
Income taxes:
 Current                                           $16,606             $17,522
 Deferred                                            2,742                (343)
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                    19,348              17,179
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                    40,371              33,782

Equity income, net of related tax expense
 of $16 in 1996                                         --                  28
                                         __________________  __________________
Net income before distributions on
 company-obligated, mandatorily-
 redeemable securities                              40,371              33,810

Distributions on company-obligated,
 mandatorily-redeemable securities,
 of subsidiary trusts                               (3,772)             (2,115)
                                         __________________  __________________
         NET INCOME                                $36,599             $31,695
                                         ==================  ==================


NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (average
 shares used: 1997 - 32,056,971;
 1996 - 31,935,891):                                 $1.14               $0.99
                                         ==================  ==================

CASH DIVIDENDS PAID PER COMMON SHARE                $0.165              $0.150
</TABLE>


















See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)    (Preceding Year)
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                               <C>                 <C>
REVENUES:
 Annuity and interest sensitive life
  product charges                                  $78,294             $48,953
 Traditional life insurance premiums                28,740              29,712
 Net investment income                             593,001             528,612
 Realized gains on investments                      16,953              15,828
 Other income                                       25,743              16,756
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   742,731             639,861
INSURANCE BENEFITS AND EXPENSES:
 Annuity and interest sensitive life benefits:
  Interest credited to account balances            366,563             328,380
  Benefit claims incurred in excess of
   account balances                                  9,882               6,367
 Traditional life insurance benefits                34,373              34,761
 Decrease in future policy benefits                 (4,210)             (2,275)
 Distributions to participating
  policyholders                                     18,942              18,753
 Underwriting, acquisition and insurance
  expenses:
  Commissions                                      128,020              97,402
  General expenses                                  70,372              36,129
  Insurance taxes                                    7,137               6,110
  Policy acquisition costs deferred               (155,848)           (117,917)
  Amortization:
   Deferred policy acquisition costs                73,653              59,485
   Present value of in force acquired                4,465                 915
   Goodwill                                          1,317                 252
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   554,666             468,362

Interest expense                                    11,987              10,832
Other expenses                                      28,181              13,929
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   594,834             493,123
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   147,897             146,738

</TABLE>










See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited):       (CONTINUATION)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)    (Preceding Year)
                                                 (Dollars in thousands,
                                                 except per share data)
<S>                                                <C>                 <C>
Income taxes:
 Current                                           $45,742             $47,996
 Deferred                                            2,204               2,869
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                    47,946              50,865
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                    99,951              95,873
Equity income (loss), net of related
 tax (expense) benefit of $(191) in
 1997 and $62 in 1996                                  355                 (86)
                                         __________________  __________________
Net income before distributions on 
 company-obligated, mandatorily-
 redeemable securities                             100,306              95,787

Distributions on company-obligated,
 mandatorily-redeemable securities,
 of subsidiary trusts                              (10,239)             (2,115)
                                         __________________  __________________
         NET INCOME                                $90,067             $93,672
                                         ==================  ==================

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (average
 shares used: 1997 - 32,040,666;
 1996 - 31,880,469):                                 $2.81               $2.94
                                         ==================  ==================

CASH DIVIDENDS PAID PER COMMON SHARE                $0.480              $0.435

</TABLE>


















See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           September 30, 1997  December 31, 1996
                                           __________________  _________________
                                                   (Dollars in thousands,
                                                    except per share data)
<S>                                              <C>                <C>
ASSETS

Investments:
 Fixed maturities, available for sale, at
  fair value (cost: 1997 - $8,109,467;
  1996 - $7,557,735)                              $8,426,489         $7,731,964
 Equity securities, at fair value
  (cost:  1997 - $43,004; 1996 - $48,857)             62,058             77,181
 Mortgage loans on real estate                     1,946,989          1,720,114
 Real estate, less allowances for
  depreciation of $747 in 1997
  and $4,588 in 1996                                  12,929              8,613
 Policy loans                                        198,575            190,487
 Short-term investments                              137,511             37,922
                                           __________________  _________________
Total investments                                 10,784,551          9,766,281

Cash and cash equivalents                             32,969             18,201

Securities and indebtedness of
 related parties                                      12,357              8,305

Accrued investment income                            146,314            135,291

Notes and other receivables                           45,754             22,464

Deferred policy acquisition costs                    762,544            733,158

Present value of in force acquired                    78,156             83,051

Property and equipment, less
 allowances for depreciation of
 $17,523 in 1997 and $13,835 in 1996                  14,063             10,465

Current income taxes recoverable                       8,233              5,424

Intangible assets, less accumulated
 amortization of $3,143 in 1997 and
 $1,579 in 1996                                       50,330             46,726

Other assets                                         103,048             82,434

Separate account assets                            2,533,253          1,657,879
                                           __________________  _________________
   TOTAL ASSETS                                  $14,571,572        $12,569,679
                                           ==================  =================
</TABLE>



See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited):   (CONTINUATION)
                                                              
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          September 30, 1997  December 31, 1996
                                          __________________  _________________
                                                  (Dollars in thousands,
                                                   except per share data)
<S>                                             <C>                <C>
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Policy liabilities and accruals:
 Future policy benefits:
  Annuity and interest sensitive
   life products                                 $9,461,488         $8,675,175
  Traditional life insurance products               708,751            712,296
  Unearned revenue reserve                           24,267             20,461
 Other policy claims and benefits                    10,657              7,481
                                          __________________  _________________
                                                 10,205,163          9,415,413

Other policyholders' funds:
 Advance premiums and other deposits                    562                597
 Accrued dividends                                   12,708             12,807
                                          __________________  _________________
                                                     13,270             13,404

Deferred income taxes                                84,281             45,681
Commercial paper notes                              140,800            104,600
Long-term debt                                      100,000            100,000
Other liabilities                                   302,909            211,903
Separate account liabilities                      2,533,253          1,657,879
                                          __________________  _________________
   TOTAL LIABILITIES                             13,379,676         11,548,880

Commitments and contingencies

Company-obligated, mandatorily-redeemable
 securities, of subsidiary trust                    175,000            125,000

Stockholders' equity:
 Serial preferred stock, without par
  value, authorized 2,500,000 shares                     --                 --
 Common stock, without par value (stated
  value $1.00 per share), authorized 70,000,000
  shares, issued and outstanding 32,067,735
  shares in 1997 and 31,988,410 in 1996              32,068             31,988
 Additional paid-in capital                          87,398             85,140
 Unrealized appreciation of securities at
  fair value                                        148,638            104,711
 Retained earnings                                  752,870            678,219
 Unearned compensation (deduction)                   (4,078)            (4,259)
                                          __________________  _________________
   TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                     1,016,896            895,799
                                          __________________  _________________
   TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
     EQUITY                                     $14,571,572        $12,569,679
                                          ==================  =================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)     (Preceding Year)
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                             <C>                 <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 Net income                                        $90,067             $93,672
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash provided by operations:
  Adjustments related to annuity and
   interest sensitive life products:
    Interest credited to account balances          362,688             326,528
    Charges for mortality and
     administration                                (58,754)            (49,811)
    Change in unearned revenues                      3,164               1,548
  Increase (decrease) in traditional life
   policy liabilities and accruals                     601                (337)
  Decrease in other policyholders' funds              (134)               (217)
  Increase in accrued investment income            (11,023)             (4,096)
  Policy acquisition costs deferred               (155,848)           (117,917)
  Amortization of deferred policy
   acquisition costs                                73,653              59,485
  Amortization of present value of in
   force acquired                                    4,465                 915
  Change in other assets, other liabilities,
   and accrued income taxes                         36,411             (18,486)
  Provision for depreciation and
   amortization                                      8,035                  69
  Provision for deferred income taxes                2,243               2,908
  Share of (income) losses of related
   parties                                            (546)                132
  Realized gains on investments                    (16,953)            (15,828)
                                         __________________  __________________
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES                                    338,069             278,565

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 Sale, maturity or repayment of investments:
  Fixed maturities - available for sale            723,238             453,098
  Equity securities                                 21,334              12,366
  Mortgage loans on real estate                     70,613              29,817
  Real estate                                        2,648               7,213
  Policy loans                                      24,282              25,745
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                   842,115             528,239
 Acquisition of investments:
  Fixed maturities - available for sale         (1,259,542)           (614,575)
  Equity securities                                (12,363)            (13,287)
  Mortgage loans on real estate                   (305,174)           (512,943)
  Real estate                                         (100)               (681)
  Policy loans                                     (32,369)            (26,452)
  Short-term investments - net                     (99,589)             (1,826)
                                         __________________  __________________
                                                (1,709,137)         (1,169,764)
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited):    (CONTINUATION)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                         September 30, 1997  September 30, 1996
                                         __________________  __________________
                                           (Current Year)     (Preceding Year)
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>
INVESTING ACTIVITIES - continued

 Disposal of investments accounted for
  by the equity method                              $3,785                 $18
 Additions to investments accounted
  for by the equity method                          (5,669)                 --
 Sales of property and equipment                       112                  86
 Purchase of subsidiary, net of cash
  acquired                                              --            (136,172)
 Purchases of property and equipment                (7,795)             (3,861)
                                         __________________  __________________
    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES         (876,589)           (781,454)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 Issuance of commercial paper - net                 36,200              17,300
 Receipts from annuity and interest sensitive
  life policies credited to policyholder
  account balances                               1,529,979           1,170,426
 Return of policyholder account balances
  on annuity contracts and interest
  sensitive life policies                       (1,047,599)           (778,154)
 Issuance of company-obligated, mandatorily-
  redeemable securities                             50,000             125,000
 Issuance of stock under stock plans                   124                 484
 Cash dividends paid                               (15,416)            (13,927)
                                         __________________  __________________
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES                                    553,288             521,129
                                         __________________  __________________

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS               14,768              18,240

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING
 OF YEAR                                            18,201              10,730
                                         __________________  __________________
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF
 PERIOD                                            $32,969             $28,970
                                         ==================  ==================

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW
 INFORMATION

Cash paid during the period for:
 Interest                                          $14,462             $12,889
 Income taxes                                       47,611              52,506

Non-cash investing activities:
 Foreclosure of mortgage loans                       7,913                 675

</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for
interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article
10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the
information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting
principles for annual financial statements.  In the opinion of management,
all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been
included.  All adjustments were of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise
noted in Management's Discussion and Analysis and the Notes to Financial
Statements.  Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997
are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
year ending December 31, 1997.  For further information, refer to the
consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

On August 13, 1996, Equitable of Iowa Companies ("Equitable") acquired all of
the outstanding capital stock of BT Variable, Inc. ("BT Variable") from
Whitewood Properties Corp. ("Whitewood") pursuant to the terms of a Stock
Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 1996 between Equitable and Whitewood
(the "Purchase Agreement").  Refer to Note 4 for additional information.

NOTE 2 -- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

FIXED MATURITIES:  All of the company's fixed maturity securities are
designated as available for sale although the company is not precluded from
designating fixed maturity securities as held for investment or trading at
some future date.  Investments classified as available for sale securities
are reported at fair value and unrealized gains and losses on these securities
are included directly in stockholders' equity, after adjustment for related
changes in deferred policy acquisition costs, present value of in force
acquired, policy reserves and deferred income taxes.  Securities the company
has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are designated as
"held for investment".  Held for investment securities are reported at cost
adjusted for amortization of premiums and discounts.  Changes in the fair
value of these securities, except for declines that are other than temporary,
are not reflected in the company's financial statements.  Sales of securities
designated as held for investment are severely restricted by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115.  Securities bought and held
principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are designated as
trading securities.  Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are
included in current earnings.  Transfers of securities between categories are
restricted and are recorded at fair value at the time of the transfer.
Securities determined to have a decline in value that is other than temporary
are written down to estimated fair value which becomes the security's new cost
basis by a charge to realized losses in the company's Statement of Income.
Premiums and discounts are amortized/accrued utilizing the scientific interest
method which results in a constant yield over the security's expected life.
Amortization/accrual of premiums and discounts on mortgage-backed securities
incorporates a prepayment assumption to estimate the securities' expected
lives.

EQUITY SECURITIES:  Equity securities (common and nonredeemable preferred
stocks) are reported at estimated fair value if readily marketable or
conversion value, if applicable, or at cost if not readily marketable.  The
change in unrealized appreciation and depreciation of marketable equity
securities (net of related deferred income taxes, if any) is included directly
in stockholders' equity.  Equity securities determined to have a decline in
value that is other than temporary are written down to estimated fair value
which becomes the security's new cost basis, by a charge to realized losses in
the company's Statement of Income.

MORTGAGE LOANS:  Mortgage loans on real estate are reported at cost adjusted
for amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts.  If the value of any
mortgage loan is determined to be impaired (i.e. when it is probable that the
company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual
terms of the loan agreement), the carrying value of the mortgage loan is
reduced to the present value of expected future cash flows from the loan,
discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, or to the loan's observable
market price, or the fair value of the underlying collateral.  The carrying
value of impaired loans is reduced by the establishment of a valuation
allowance which is adjusted at each reporting date for significant changes in
the calculated value of the loan.  Changes in this valuation allowance are
charged or credited to income.

REAL ESTATE:  Real estate, which includes real estate acquired through
foreclosure, is reported at cost less allowances for depreciation.  Real
estate acquired through foreclosure, or in-substance foreclosure, is recorded
at the lower of cost (which includes the balance of the mortgage loan, any
accrued interest and any costs incurred to obtain title to the property) or
fair value at or before the foreclosure date.  The carrying value of these
assets is subject to review when events or circumstances indicate an
impairment might exist.  If the estimated undiscounted cash flows is less
than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment in value is deemed to
exist and an impairment loss is recognized.  The carrying value of the asset
is written down to an amount representing the sum of the estimated
undiscounted cash flows which becomes the asset's new cost basis.

OTHER INVESTMENTS:  Policy loans are reported at unpaid principal.  Short-
term investments are reported at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums
and accrual of discounts.  Investments accounted for by the equity method
include investments in, and advances to, various joint ventures and
partnerships.

FAIR VALUES:  Estimated fair values, as reported herein, of publicly traded
fixed maturity securities are as reported by an independent pricing service.
Fair values of conventional mortgage-backed securities not actively traded in
a liquid market are estimated using a third party pricing system.  This
pricing system uses a matrix calculation assuming a spread over U.S. Treasury
bonds based upon the expected average lives of the securities.  Fair values
of private placement bonds are estimated using a matrix that assumes a spread
(based on interest rates and a risk assessment of the bonds) over U.S.
Treasury bonds.  Estimated fair values of redeemable preferred stocks are as
reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC").
Estimated fair values of equity securities are based on the latest quoted
market prices, or conversion value, if applicable.  Estimated fair values of
the company's investment in its registered separate accounts are based upon
the quoted fair value of the securities comprising the individual portfolios
underlying the separate accounts.  Fair values of equity securities which are
not readily marketable, are estimated based upon values which are
representative of the fair values of issues of comparable yield and quality.
Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of specific
identification and average cost methods for manager initiated and issuer
initiated disposals, respectively.

FIXED MATURITY AND EQUITY SECURITIES
At September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996, amortized cost, gross unrealized
gains and losses and estimated fair values of the company's fixed maturity
securities, all of which are designated as available for sale, are as follows:
                                                          
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Gross       Gross   Estimated
                                Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized        Fair
September 30, 1997                   Cost       Gains      Losses       Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                           (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                            <C>           <C>         <C>       <C>
U.S. government and
 governmental agencies
 and authorities:
  Mortgage-backed securities     $277,852     $11,067       ($104)   $288,815
  Other                            33,036       1,409         (10)     34,435
States, municipalities and
 political subdivisions            14,842       1,309          --      16,151
Foreign governments                12,621       3,084          --      15,705
Public utilities                1,203,523      55,237      (5,099)  1,253,661
Investment grade corporate      3,230,670     201,182      (3,919)  3,427,933
Below investment grade
 corporate                        821,271      28,364      (5,510)    844,125
Mortgage-backed securities      2,515,045      52,087     (21,850)  2,545,282
Redeemable preferred stock            607          --        (225)        382
                               _______________________________________________
Total                          $8,109,467    $353,739    ($36,717) $8,426,489
                               ===============================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Gross       Gross   Estimated
                                Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized        Fair
December 31, 1996                    Cost       Gains      Losses       Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                           (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                            <C>           <C>         <C>       <C>
U.S. government and
 governmental agencies
 and authorities:
  Mortgage-backed securities     $322,244      $9,796     ($1,002)   $331,038
  Other                            90,456       2,127      (1,424)     91,159
States, municipalities and
 political subdivisions            15,131       1,134          --      16,265
Foreign governments                10,572       2,706          --      13,278
Public utilities                1,241,270      41,270     (15,796)  1,266,744
Investment grade corporate      2,789,228     157,554     (16,755)  2,930,027
Below investment grade
 corporate                        733,182      14,230     (16,049)    731,363
Mortgage-backed securities      2,355,036      41,925     (45,258)  2,351,703
Redeemable preferred stock            616          --        (229)        387
                               _______________________________________________
Total                          $7,557,735    $270,742    ($96,513) $7,731,964
                               ===============================================
</TABLE>

At September 30, 1997, net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturity
securities designated as available for sale totaled $317,022,000.  This
appreciation caused an increase in stockholders' equity of $136,253,000 at
September 30, 1997 (net of deferred income taxes of $73,367,000, an adjustment
of $106,972,000 to deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of in
force acquired of $430,000).  At December 31, 1996, net unrealized investment
gains on fixed maturity securities designated as available for sale totaled
$174,229,000.  This appreciation caused an increase in stockholders' equity of
$76,387,000 at December 31, 1996 (net of deferred income taxes of $43,678,000
and an adjustment of $54,164,000 to deferred policy acquisition costs).  No
fixed maturity securities were designated as held for investment or trading at
September 30, 1997 or December 31, 1996.  Short-term investments, all with
maturities of 30 days or less, have been excluded from the above schedules.
Amortized cost approximates fair value for these securities.

At September 30, 1997, net unrealized appreciation of equity securities of
$19,054,000 was comprised of gross unrealized appreciation of $42,000 on the
company's investment in Equitable Life's registered separate account, gross
unrealized appreciation of $19,381,000 on an investment in a real estate
investment trust, and gross unrealized depreciation of $369,000 on other
equity securities.  The company's investment in the real estate investment
trust had an estimated fair value of $56,527,000 and a cost basis of
$37,146,000 at September 30, 1997.  The estimated fair value of the company's
investment is based upon conversion value.  Conversion value is derived from
the quoted market value of the publicly traded security into which the
company's investment can be converted and the issuer's cash flow from
operations.  As such, changes in operating cash flows or the quoted market
price of the issuer may result in significant volatility in the estimated
fair value of the company's investment.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities,
designated as available for sale, by contractual maturity, at September 30,
1997, are shown below.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual
maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations
with or without call or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Estimated
                                                  Amortized            Fair
September 30, 1997                                     Cost           Value
____________________________________________________________________________
                                                   (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                              <C>             <C>
Due within one year                                 $10,941         $10,962
Due after one year through five years               371,802         384,466
Due after five years through ten years            2,273,211       2,371,306
Due after ten years                               2,660,616       2,825,658
                                               _____________________________
                                                  5,316,570       5,592,392
Mortgage-backed securities                        2,792,897       2,834,097
                                               _____________________________
Total                                            $8,109,467      $8,426,489
                                               =============================
</TABLE>








An analysis of sales, maturities and principal repayments of the company's
fixed maturities portfolio, all of which were designated as available for
sale for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Gross      Gross    Proceeds
Nine months ended                 Amortized   Realized   Realized        from
 September 30, 1997                    Cost      Gains     Losses        Sale
______________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
Scheduled principal repayments,
 calls and tenders                 $349,321     $9,115      ($310)   $358,126
Sales                               361,508      9,923     (6,319)    365,112
                                 _____________________________________________
Total                              $710,829    $19,038    ($6,629)   $723,238
                                 =============================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Gross      Gross    Proceeds
Nine months ended                 Amortized   Realized   Realized        from
 September 30, 1996                    Cost      Gains     Losses        Sale
______________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>         <C>          <C>      <C>
Scheduled principal repayments,
 calls and tenders                 $236,058    $10,581      ($286)   $246,353
Sales                               203,750      3,400       (405)    206,745
                                 _____________________________________________
Total                              $439,808    $13,981      ($691)   $453,098
                                 =============================================
</TABLE>


























MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of mortgage-backed securities,
which comprise 34% of the company's investment in fixed maturity securities
at September 30, 1997, by type, are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Estimated
                                                  Amortized            Fair
                                                       Cost           Value
                                               _____________________________
                                                   (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                              <C>             <C>
Mortgage-backed securities:
  Government and agency guaranteed pools:
   Very accurately defined maturities               $17,446         $18,290
   Planned amortization class                        70,429          74,890
   Targeted amortization class                       18,600          18,851
   Sequential pay                                    87,190          88,543
   Pass through                                      84,188          88,242
  Private Label CMOs and REMICs:
   Very accurately defined maturities                30,735          31,564
   Planned amortization class                        25,681          27,064
   Targeted amortization class                      410,284         408,439
   Sequential pay                                 1,987,271       2,014,760
   Mezzanines                                        37,426          38,184
   Private placements and subordinate issues         23,647          25,270
                                               _____________________________
Total mortgage-backed securities                 $2,792,897      $2,834,097
                                               =============================
</TABLE>

During periods of significant interest rate volatility, the mortgages
underlying mortgage-backed securities may prepay more quickly or more slowly
than anticipated.  If the principal amount of such mortgages are prepaid
earlier than anticipated during periods of declining interest rates,
investment income may decline due to reinvestment of these funds at lower
current market rates.  If principal repayments are slower than anticipated
during periods of rising interest rates, increases in investment yield may
lag behind increases in interest rates because funds will remain invested at
lower historical rates rather than reinvested at higher current rates.  To
mitigate this prepayment volatility, the company invests primarily in
intermediate tranche collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs").  CMOs are
pools of mortgages segregated into sections, or tranches, which provide
sequential retirement of bonds rather than a pro-rata share of principal
return in the pass-through structure.  The company owns no "interest only" or
"principal only" mortgage-backed securities.  Further, the company has not
purchased obligations at significant premiums, thereby limiting exposure to
loss during periods of accelerated prepayments.  At September 30, 1997,
unamortized premiums on mortgage-backed securities totaled $4,596,000 and
unaccrued discounts on mortgage-backed securities totaled $49,110,000.

OTHER INVESTMENT INFORMATION
INVESTMENT VALUATION ANALYSIS:  The company analyzes its investment portfolio
at least quarterly in order to determine if the carrying value of any of its
investments has been impaired.  The carrying value of debt and equity
securities is written down to fair value by a charge to realized losses when
an impairment in value appears to be other than temporary.

At September 30, 1997, one mortgage loan with a carrying value of $33,000 was
delinquent by 90 days or more.  During the first quarter of 1997, the value
of a mortgage loan with a book value of $4,021,000 was determined to be
impaired other than temporary.  At that time, a valuation allowance was
established to reduce the carrying value of this mortgage loan to its
estimated fair value, resulting in a charge to investment income of $245,000.
The company foreclosed on the property in June 1997, and based upon an
appraisal, recorded a permanent write-down on the real estate investment of
$430,000 resulting in a charge to realized losses.  During the second quarter
of 1997, the company foreclosed on a mortgage loan with a book value of
$3,892,000.  At this time the company does not believe any permanent
impairment exists on this property.  At December 31, 1996, no investments
were identified as having an impairment other than temporary.

The carrying value of investments which have been non-income producing for
the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and the year ending December 31,
1996, totaled $239,000 related to a real estate property.

INVESTMENT DIVERSIFICATIONS:  The company's investment policies related to
its investment portfolio require diversification by asset type, company and
industry and sets limits on the amount which can be invested in an individual
issuer.  Such policies are at least as restrictive as those set forth by
regulatory authorities.  The percentages quoted in the following sentences
relate to the holdings at September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996,
respectively.  Fixed maturity investments included investments in various non-
governmental mortgage-backed securities (30% in 1997 and 1996), public
utilities (16% in 1997 and 1996), basic industrials (24% in 1997, 23% in 1996)
and consumer products (11% in 1997, 12% in 1996).  Mortgage loans on real
estate have been analyzed by geographical location and there are no
concentrations of mortgage loans in any state exceeding ten percent in 1997
and 1996.  Mortgage loans on real estate have also been analyzed by collateral
type with significant concentrations identified in retail facilities (26% in
1997, 28% in 1996), industrial buildings (29% in 1997 and 1996), multi-family
residential buildings (18% in 1997, 20% in 1996) and office buildings (25% in
1997, 22% in 1996).  Equity securities (which represent 0.4% of the company's
investments) consist primarily of investments in the company's registered
separate accounts and an investment of $56,527,000 in a real estate investment
trust.  Real estate and investments accounted for by the equity method are not
significant to the company's overall investment portfolio.

No investment in any person or its affiliates (other than bonds issued by
agencies of the United States government) exceeded ten percent of
stockholders' equity at September 30, 1997.

NOTE 3 -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - RISK MANAGEMENT

HEDGING PROGRAM:  During the second quarter of 1996, the company implemented
a hedging program under which certain derivative financial instruments,
interest rate caps ("caps") and cash settled put swaptions ("swaptions"), were
purchased to reduce the negative effects of potential increases in withdrawal
activity related to the company's annuity liabilities which may result from
extreme increases in interest rates.  The company purchased caps and
swaptions, all during the second quarter of 1996, with notional amounts
totaling approximately $600,000,000 and $1,300,000,000, respectively, all of
which were outstanding at September 30, 1997.  The company paid approximately
$21,100,000 in premiums for these caps and swaptions.  The cost of this
program has been incorporated into the company's product pricing.  The caps
and swaptions do not require any additional payments by the company.

In January 1997, the company introduced an equity-indexed annuity product
which provides a guaranteed base rate of return with a higher potential return
linked to the performance of a broad based equity index.  Concurrently, the
company implemented a hedging program to purchase Standard & Poor's ("S&P")
500 ([email protected].) Index Call Options ("call options", or collectively
with the interest rate caps and cash settled put swaptions, "instruments").
Call options are purchased to hedge potential increases in policyholder
account balances for equity-indexed annuity policies resulting from increases
in the index to which the product is linked.  During the first nine months of
1997, the company paid approximately $12,364,000 in premiums for call options
which mature beginning in 2002 through 2004.  The cost of this program has
been incorporated into the company's pricing of its equity-indexed annuity
product.  The call options do not require any additional payments by the
company.

The agreements for the caps and swaptions entitle the company to receive
payments from the instruments' counterparties on future reset dates if
interest rates, as specified in the agreements, rise above a specified fixed
rate (9.0% and 9.5%). The amount of such payments to be received by the
company for the interest rate caps, if any, will be calculated by taking the
excess of the current applicable rate over the specified fixed rate, and
multiplying this excess by the notional amount of the caps.  Payments on cash
settled put swaptions are also calculated based upon the excess of the current
applicable rate over the specified fixed rate multiplied by the notional
amount.  The product of this rate differential times the notional amount is
assumed to continue for a series of defined future semi-annual payment dates
and the resulting hypothetical payments are discounted to the current payment
date using the discount rate defined in the agreement.  The agreements for the
call options entitle the company to receive payments from the counterparty if
the S&P 500 index exceeds the specified strike price on the maturity date.
The amount of such payments to be received by the company for the call
options, if any, will be calculated by taking the excess of the average
closing price (as defined in the contract) at maturity over the specified
strike price, and multiplying this excess by the number of S&P 500 units
defined in the contract.  Any payments received from the counterparties will
be recorded as an adjustment to interest credited.

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of notional amounts
for the caps and swaptions at September 30, 1997:
                                                          
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    1998       1999       2000      2001       2002       Total
________________________________________________________________________________
                                      (Dollars in thousands)
<S>             <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Interest rate
  caps                                          $400,000   $200,000    $600,000
Cash settled
  put swaptions $100,000   $400,000   $400,000   350,000     50,000   1,300,000
               _________________________________________________________________
Total notional
  amount        $100,000   $400,000   $400,000  $750,000   $250,000  $1,900,000
               =================================================================
</TABLE>

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT:  Premiums paid to purchase these instruments are
deferred and included in other assets.  Premiums are amortized and included
in interest credited to account balances over the term of the instruments on
a straight-line basis.  The company has recorded amortization of $4,034,000
and $1,851,000 in the first nine months of 1997, and 1996, respectively.
Unrealized gains and losses on caps and swaptions and related assets or
liabilities will not be recorded in income until realized.  The call options
are carried at amortized cost plus the intrinsic value, if any, of the call
option as of the valuation date.  The future policy benefit liability for the
equity-indexed annuity product is established as the full account value
without regard to the performance of the equity index, plus the intrinsic
value, if any, as of the valuation date.  The Financial Accounting Standards
Board ("FASB") and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") are
evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements for these instruments.
The SEC amended its derivative disclosure rules in January 1997 requiring
additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures by December 31, 1997.
FASB has issued an exposure draft titled "Accounting for Derivative and
Similar Financial Instruments and for Hedging Activities" which, if adopted
as a Statement of Financial Accounting Standards in its current form, would
require the company to change its accounting treatment for these instruments.
The requirements of any final standard which may result from this exposure
process are not known at this time and, therefore, the impact of such a
standard on the company's financial statements cannot be determined at this
time.

Any unrealized gain or loss on the caps and swaptions is off-balance sheet
and therefore, is not reflected in the financial statements.  The effect of
changes in intrinsic value (which may vary from estimated market value) of
the call options and future policy benefits will be reflected in the financial
statements in the period of change.  The following table summarizes the
amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value on
these instruments as of September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Gross       Gross   Estimated
                                Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized        Fair
September 30, 1997                   Cost       Gains      Losses       Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                          (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                               <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Interest rate caps                 $4,346                  $3,367        $979
Cash settled put swaptions         10,005                   6,345       3,660
S&P 500 call options               10,583      $2,284          66      12,801
                                ______________________________________________
Total                             $24,934      $2,284      $9,778     $17,440
                                ==============================================
</TABLE>

The decline in fair value from amortized cost reflects changes in interest
rates and market conditions since time of purchase.

EXPOSURE TO LOSS - COUNTERPARTY NONPERFORMANCE:  The company is exposed to
the risk of losses in the event of non-performance by the counterparties of
these instruments.  Losses recorded in the company's financial statements in
the event of non-performance will be limited to the unamortized premium
(remaining amortized cost) paid to purchase the instrument plus the recorded
intrinsic value, if any, for the call options because no additional payments
are required by the company on these instruments after the initial premium.
Counterparty non-performance would result in an economic loss if interest
rates exceeded the specified fixed rate or, for the S&P 500 index call
options, the average closing price at maturity exceeded the specified strike
price.  Economic losses would be measured by the net replacement cost, or
estimated fair value, for such instruments.  The estimated fair value is the
average of quotes, if more than one quote is available, obtained from related
and unrelated counterparties.  The company limits its exposure to such losses
by: diversifying among counterparties, limiting exposure to any individual
counterparty based upon that counterparty's credit rating, and limiting its
exposure by instrument type to only those instruments that do not require
future payments.  For purposes of determining risk exposure to any individual
counterparty, the company evaluates the combined exposure to that counterparty
on both a derivative financial instruments' level and on the total investment
portfolio credit risk and reports its exposure to senior management at least
monthly.  The maximum potential economic loss (the cost of replacing an
instrument or the net replacement value) due to nonperformance of the
counterparties will increase or decrease during the life of the instruments as
a function of maturity and market conditions.


The company determines counterparty credit quality by reference to ratings
from independent rating agencies.  As of September 30, 1997, the ratings
assigned by Standard & Poor's Corporation by instrument with respect to the
net replacement value (fair value) of the company's instruments was as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

September 30, 1997                       Net Replacement Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                Interest Cash Settled
                                    Rate          Put      S&P 500
                                    Caps    Swaptions Call Options      Total
                             _________________________________________________
                                          (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                 <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Counterparties credit quality:
  AAA                               $629       $1,844                  $2,473
  AA+ to AA-                         350        1,114      $10,023     11,487
  A+ to A-                            --          702        2,778      3,480
                             _________________________________________________
Total                               $979       $3,660      $12,801    $17,440
                             =================================================
</TABLE>

NOTE 4 -- ACQUISITION

TRANSACTION:  On August 13, 1996, Equitable acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of BT Variable Inc., ("BT Variable"), a New York corporation,
from Whitewood Properties Corp. ("Whitewood"), a New York corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Bankers Trust Company ("Bankers Trust"), pursuant
to the terms of a Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 1996 between Equitable
and Whitewood.  BT Variable, a New York corporation, in turn, owns all the
outstanding capital stock of Golden American Life Insurance Company ("Golden
American"), a Delaware stock life insurance company, and all of the
outstanding capital stock of Directed Services, Inc. ("DSI"), a New York
corporation and registered broker dealer and investment adviser.  In exchange
for the outstanding capital stock of BT Variable, Equitable paid $93,000,000
in cash to Whitewood in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
Equitable also paid $51,000,000 in cash to Bankers Trust to retire certain
debt owed by BT Variable to Bankers Trust pursuant to a revolving credit
arrangement.  The funds used in completing the acquisition were obtained
primarily through a July 1996 offering of securities undertaken by Equitable
of Iowa Companies Capital Trust (the "Trust"), an affiliate of Equitable, the
proceeds of which were loaned to Equitable in exchange for subordinated
debentures issued by Equitable to the Trust.  Additional funds were provided
by reducing short-term investments of Equitable and its insurance
subsidiaries.  Funds provided by Equitable's insurance subsidiaries were
transferred to Equitable in the form of dividends paid.  The acquisition was
accounted for using the purchase method, and the results of operations of BT
Variable are included in the consolidated statement of income from the date
of acquisition.  Subsequent to the acquisition, the BT Variable, Inc. name
was changed to EIC Variable, Inc. On April 30, 1997, EIC Variable, Inc. was
liquidated and its investments in Golden American and DSI were transferred to
Equitable while the remainder of its net assets were contributed to Golden
American.

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT:  The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase
resulting in a new basis of accounting, reflecting estimated fair values for
assets and liabilities at August 13, 1996.  The purchase price was allocated
to the three companies purchased - BT Variable, DSI, and Golden American.
Goodwill relating to the acquisition was established for the excess of the
acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired and pushed
down to Golden American.  The acquisition cost was preliminary with respect
to the final settlement of taxes with Bankers Trust and estimated expenses.
The total amount of goodwill and other intangibles deferred relating to the
acquisition was comprised of $41,113,000 of estimated goodwill and
approximately $4,695,000 of costs of issuance of the preferred securities
mentioned above.  At June 30, 1997, goodwill was increased by $1,848,000 to
adjust the value of a receivable existing at the acquisition date.  Goodwill
and preferred securities issuance costs will be amortized on a straight-line
basis over 25 years and 35 years, respectively, and the carrying value will
be reviewed periodically for any indication of impairment in value.

PRESENT VALUE OF IN FORCE ACQUIRED: As part of the acquisition, a portion of
the cost was allocated to the right to receive future cash flows from the
insurance contracts existing with Golden American at the date of acquisition.
This allocated cost represents the present value of in force acquired ("PVIF")
which reflects the value of those purchased policies calculated by discounting
the actuarially determined expected future cash flows at the discount rate
determined by the company.

An analysis of the PVIF asset for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 is
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                      <C>
Beginning balance                        $83,051
Imputed interest                           4,653
Amortization                              (9,118)
Adjustment for unrealized
 gains on available for
 sale securities                            (430)
                                  _______________
Ending balance                           $78,156
                                  ===============
</TABLE>







Interest is imputed on the unamortized balance of PVIF at rates of 7.70% to
7.80%.  Amortization of PVIF is charged to expense and the asset is adjusted
for the change in unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities.
During the second quarter of 1997, PVIF was unlocked by $2,293,000 to reflect
narrower current spreads than the gross profit model assumed.  Based on
current conditions and assumptions as to future events on acquired policies
in force, the expected approximate net amortization for the next five years,
relating to the balance of the PVIF as of September 30, 1997, is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Year       Amount
_______________________________
        (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                     <C>
Remainder of 1997       $2,300
             1998       10,100
             1999        9,600
             2000        8,300
             2001        7,200
             2002        6,100
</TABLE>

Actual amortization may vary from the schedule above based upon changes in
assumptions and experience.

NOTE 5 -- MERGER

TRANSACTION:  On October 23, 1997, Equitable of Iowa Companies ("Equitable")
shareholders approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger Agreement")
dated as of July 7, 1997, between Equitable, PFHI Holdings, Inc. ("PFHI"),
and ING Groep N.V. ("ING").  On October 24, 1997, PFHI, a Delaware
corporation, acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Equitable
pursuant to the Merger Agreement.  PFHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING,
a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands.
Equitable, an Iowa corporation, in turn, owns all the outstanding capital
stock of Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa and Golden American Life
Insurance Company and their wholly-owned subsidiaries.  Equitable also owns
all the outstanding capital stock of Locust Street Securities, Inc., Equitable
Investment Services, Inc., Directed Services, Inc., Equitable of Iowa
Companies Capital Trust, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II and
Equitable of Iowa Securities Network, Inc.  In exchange for the outstanding
capital stock of Equitable, ING will pay total consideration of approximately
$2,200,000,000 in cash and stock plus the assumption of approximately
$400,000,000 in debt according to the Merger Agreement.  As a result of the
merger, Equitable of Iowa Companies was merged into PFHI which was
simultaneously renamed Equitable of Iowa Companies, Inc. 

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT:  The merger will be accounted for as a purchase
resulting in a new basis of accounting, reflecting estimated fair values for
assets and liabilities for Equitable and its subsidiaries as of the date of
the merger.  The excess of the total acquisition cost over the fair value of
the net assets acquired will be recorded as goodwill.

NOTE 6 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

REINSURANCE:  In the normal course of business, the company seeks to limit
its exposure to loss on any single insured and to recover a portion of
benefits paid by ceding reinsurance to other insurance enterprises or
reinsurers.  Reinsurance coverages for life insurance vary according to the
age and risk classification of the insured with retention limits ranging up
to $500,000 of coverage per individual life.  The company does not use
financial or surplus relief reinsurance.

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the company from its obligations to its
policyholders.  To the extent that reinsuring companies are later unable to
meet obligations under reinsurance agreements, the company's life insurance
subsidiaries would be liable for these obligations, and payment of these
obligations could result in losses to the company.  To limit the possibility
of such losses the company evaluates the financial condition of its
reinsurers, monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from factors such
as similar geographic regions, and limits its exposure to any one reinsurer.
At September 30, 1997, the company had reinsurance treaties with 15
reinsurers, all of which are deemed to be long-duration, retroactive
contracts, and has established a receivable totaling $17,662,000 for reserve
credits, reinsurance claims and other receivables from these reinsurers.  No
allowance for uncollectible amounts has been established since none of the
receivables are deemed to be uncollectible, and because such receivables,
either individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the company's
operations.  The company's liability for future policy benefits and notes and
other receivables has been increased by $15,921,000 at September 30, 1997,
for reserve credits on reinsured policies.  This "gross-up" of assets and
liabilities for reserve credits on reinsurance had no impact on the company's
net income.  Insurance premiums and product charges have been reduced by
$2,417,000 in the third quarter and $6,818,000 in the first nine months of
1997 compared to $1,984,000 and $5,431,000 for the same periods of 1996.
Insurance benefits and expenses have been reduced by $1,718,000 for the third
quarter and $4,869,000 in the first nine months of 1997 compared to
$1,190,000, and $4,186,000 in the same periods of 1996.  The amount of
reinsurance assumed is not significant.

INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS:  At September 30, 1997, outstanding commitments to
fund mortgage loans on real estate, mortgage-backed securities and equity
investments totaled $116,695,000, $15,341,000 and $8,684,000, respectively.

GUARANTY FUND ASSESSMENTS:  Assessments are levied on the company's life
insurance subsidiaries by life and health guaranty associations in most
states in which these subsidiaries are licensed to cover losses of
policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated insurers.  In some states, these
assessments can be partially recovered through a reduction in future premium
taxes.  The company cannot predict whether and to what extent legislative
initiatives may affect the right to offset.  The associated cost for a
particular insurance company can vary significantly based upon its premium
volume by line of business and state premiums levels as well as its potential
for premium tax offset.  The company has established a reserve to cover such
assessments and regularly reviews information regarding known failures and
revises its estimates of future guaranty fund assessments.  During the third
quarter and first nine months of 1997, the company accrued and charged to
expense $135,000 and $417,000, respectively.  At September 30, 1997, the
company has an undiscounted reserve of $43,806,000 to cover estimated future
assessments (net of related anticipated premium tax credits) and has
established an asset totaling $14,482,000 for assessments paid which may be
recoverable through future premium tax offsets.  The company believes this
reserve is sufficient to cover expected future insurance guaranty fund
assessments, based upon previous premium levels, and known insolvencies at
this time.

COMPANY-OBLIGATED, MANDATORILY-REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY
TRUST II:  On April 3, 1997, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II
(the "Trust II"), a consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable,
issued $50,000,000 of its 8.424% Capital Securities (the "Capital
Securities").  Concurrent with the issuance of the Trust II's Capital
Securities, Equitable issued to the Trust II $50,000,000 in principal amount,
of its 8.424% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debt
Securities") due April 1, 2027.  The sole assets of the Trust II are and will
remain the Debt Securities and any accrued interest thereon.  The interest
and other payment dates on the Debt Securities correspond to the distribution
and other payment dates on the Capital Securities.  The Debt Securities
mature on April 1, 2027, and are redeemable by Equitable, in whole, at the
occurrence of a special event.  The Capital Securities will mature or be
called simultaneously with the Debt Securities.  The Capital Securities have
a liquidation value of $1,000 per capital security plus accrued and unpaid
distributions.  As of September 30, 1997, 50,000 shares of Capital Securities
were outstanding.

Equitable has obligations under the Debt Securities, the Capital Securities
Agreement, the Declaration of Trust, as amended, and the Indenture, as amended
by the First Supplemental Indenture.  These obligations, when considered
together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by Equitable of the
Trust II's obligations under the Capital Securities.

The company utilized the estimated net proceeds of approximately $49,237,000
from the issuance of Capital Securities, for general corporate purposes
including, but not limited to, investments in its subsidiaries.

EARNINGS PER SHARE:  In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board issued Statement No. 128, "Earnings per Share", which is required to be
adopted on December 31, 1997.  At that time the company will be required to
disclose both basic earnings per share and fully diluted earnings per share
on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial
statements.  The impact of the fully-diluted earnings per share would dilute
primary earnings per share by approximately $0.02 and $0.06 per share for the
third quarter and the first nine months of 1997, respectively, and $0.01 and
$0.05 for the same periods of 1996.

LITIGATION:  USG is a defendant in a class action complaint filed in the
state circuit court of Kentucky in September 1997.  The suit claims
unspecified damages and injunctive relief as a result of alleged improper
actions related to the interest rate adjustment provisions of USG's fixed
annuity contracts.  The case has been removed to Federal Court in the
Northern District of Kentucky.  The original plaintiff putative class
representative has been joined by an additional named plaintiff who claims
also to be a class representative.  The company believes the allegations are
without merit.  The suit is in the early procedural stage.  The company
intends to defend the suit vigorously, including vigorously contesting its
class action status.  ING advised the company this litigation would not
effect the terms or closing of the merger between Equitable and a subsidiary
of ING.  The amount of any liability which may arise as a result of this
suit, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated and no provision for loss has
been made in the accompanying financial statements.

The company has entered into a proposed settlement of two related and
virtually identical class-action lawsuits regarding alleged improper life
insurance sales practices.  The company denies the allegations in these class-
action lawsuits, but entered into this settlement to limit additional expense
and burden on the company's operations.  The class-action lawsuits were filed
in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa
Division) in February of 1996, and in the Superior Court of Arizona (Pima
County) in July of 1997.  Subject to the approval of the federal court in the
Florida action and the Arizona court in the Arizona action, hearings
regarding final approval of the settlement are anticipated to be scheduled
during the fourth quarter of 1997 or the first quarter of 1998.  Two
different but related class-action lawsuits are also pending against the
company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegany County, Pennsylvania, and
the District Court for Bexar County Texas.  These two class-action lawsuits,
filed in June of 1996 and April of 1996, respectively, are still pending, but
the company expects the claims asserted therein to be resolved as a part of
the proposed settlement in the Florida and Arizona actions.

During the second quarter of 1997, the company accrued a pre-tax expense of
approximately $20,495,000 for policy liabilities and administrative and other
costs anticipated with the proposed settlement.  Owners of approximately
130,000 universal and whole life insurance policies issued by the company
from 1984 through 1996 may be eligible to receive the following benefits
provided by the proposed settlement: 1) one-time enhancement to the interest
component of the policy; 2) one-time enhancement to the dividend component of
the policy; 3) optional premium loans that would allow policyholders to
borrow at reduced rates; 4) enhanced value deferred annuities to holders of
affected policies; 5) enhanced value immediate annuities to affected
policyholders; and 6) enhanced value life policies to affected policyholders.
In addition, the proposed settlement provides Individual Claim-Review Relief
(an arbitration-type process) for policyholders who believe they may have
been misled or otherwise harmed in connection with their policies.

In the ordinary course of business, the company and its subsidiaries are also
engaged in certain other litigation, none of which management believes is
material.

Vulnerability from Concentrations:  The company has various concentrations in
its investment portfolio (see Note 2 for further information).  The company's
asset growth, net investment income and cash flow are primarily generated
from the sale of individual fixed annuity policies, variable products and
associated future policy benefits and separate account liabilities.
Substantial changes in tax laws that would make these products less
attractive to consumers, extreme fluctuations in interest rates or stock
market returns which may result in higher lapse experience than assumed,
could cause a severe impact to the company's financial condition.  The
company has purchased interest rate caps and swaptions for its hedging
program (see Note 3) to mitigate the financial statement impact of
significant increases in interest rates.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS

The purpose of this section is to discuss and analyze the company's
consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity and
capital resources.  This analysis should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes which appear elsewhere in
this report.  The company reports financial results on a consolidated basis.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and
its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned at September 30, 1997.  The
company's primary subsidiaries are Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa
("Equitable Life"), Golden American Life Insurance Company ("Golden
American") and USG Annuity & Life Company ("USG").



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
_____________________

ACQUISITION

On August 13, 1996, Equitable of Iowa Companies ("Equitable") acquired all of
the outstanding capital stock of BT Variable, Inc. ("BT Variable") and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Golden American and Directed Services, Inc.
("DSI") for $144,000,000.  Golden American is a Delaware stock life insurance
company and DSI is a New York corporation and registered broker/dealer and
investment adviser.  The purchase price consisted of $93,000,000 in cash paid
to Whitewood Properties Corporation (parent of BT Variable) and $51,000,000
in cash paid to Bankers Trust (parent of Whitewood) to retire certain debt
owed by BT Variable to Bankers Trust.  The funds used in completing the
acquisition were obtained primarily through a July 1996 offering of
securities undertaken by Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust (the
"Trust"), an affiliate of Equitable, the proceeds of which were loaned to
Equitable in exchange for subordinated debentures issued by Equitable to the
Trust.  Additional funds were provided by reducing short-term investments of
Equitable and its insurance subsidiaries.  Funds provided by Equitable's
insurance subsidiaries were transferred to Equitable in the form of dividends
paid.  Subsequent to the acquisition, the BT Variable, Inc. name was changed
to EIC Variable, Inc. ("EIC Variable").  On April 30, 1997, EIC Variable,
Inc. was liquidated and its investments in Golden American and DSI were
transferred to Equitable while the remainder of its net assets were
contributed to Golden American.

The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the first
nine months of 1997 results of operations include the operations of EIC
Variable, Golden American and DSI.  Information provided for the first nine
months of 1996 includes the operations of these companies for the period
August 14, 1996 through September 30, 1996.  Certain additional information
has been provided in this discussion on a pro forma combined basis, as if the
operations of BT Variable had been included in the first nine months of 1996,
to assist the reader in assessing the operations and prospects of the company
as it is currently comprised.  The following table reflects actual results
for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996.























PREMIUMS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Quarter ended September 30              1997     Change     Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                 <C>           <C>     <C>          <C>
Fixed annuity premiums              $488,088       48.6%  $159,624     $328,464
Variable annuity premiums:
 Separate account                    232,499      169.1    146,090       86,409
 Fixed account                        89,471      404.9     71,751       17,720
                                 _______________________________________________
Total variable annuity premiums      321,970      209.2    217,841      104,129
                                 _______________________________________________
Total annuity premiums               810,058       87.3    377,465      432,593

Life insurance premiums:
 First year and single premiums       10,224       18.1      1,563        8,661
 Renewal premiums                     24,343        2.5        605       23,738
                                 _______________________________________________
Total life insurance premiums         34,567        6.7      2,168       32,399
                                 _______________________________________________
Total premiums                      $844,625       81.6%  $379,633     $464,992
                                 ===============================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Nine months ended September 30          1997     Change     Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                               <C>           <C>       <C>        <C>
Fixed annuity premiums            $1,099,274       20.5%  $187,098     $912,176
Variable annuity premiums:
 Separate account                    593,089      229.8    413,246      179,843
 Fixed account                       234,795    1,077.0    214,846       19,949
                                 _______________________________________________
Total variable annuity premiums      827,884      314.4    628,092      199,792
                                 _______________________________________________
Total annuity premiums             1,927,158       73.3    815,190    1,111,968

Life insurance premiums:
 First year and single premiums       32,686       31.1      7,755       24,931
 Renewal premiums                     72,690        4.8      3,344       69,346
                                 _______________________________________________
Total life insurance premiums        105,376       11.8     11,099       94,277
                                 _______________________________________________
Total premiums                    $2,032,534       68.5%  $826,289   $1,206,245
                                 ===============================================
</TABLE>

Total annuity and life insurance premiums, increased 81.6%, to $844,625,000
in the third quarter and increased 68.5%, to $2,032,534,000, in the first
nine months of 1997.  Fixed annuity premiums increased 48.6%, to $488,088,000
in the third quarter and increased 20.5%, to $1,099,274,000, in the first
nine months of 1997 as a result of increased sales through financial
institutions, agents and broker/dealer channels.  In addition, the company's
equity-indexed annuity product, introduced in January 1997 resulted in
$60,047,000 of third quarter production.  Variable annuity premiums continue
to reflect strong growth, with a 209.2% increase in the third quarter and a
314.4% increase in the first nine months of 1997.  This increase is due, in
part, to the August 13, 1996 acquisition of Golden American, broadening
distribution channels, and sales of variable annuities in New York through
the company's recently formed subsidiary, First Golden.

Golden American reported variable annuity premiums of $146,119,000 and
$378,250,000, and variable life premiums of $3,261,000 and $13,639,000, in
the third quarter and first nine months of 1997, respectively.  Equitable
Life introduced its variable annuity product in the fourth quarter of 1994.
Variable annuities have grown as a percentage of the company's total premiums
due to market conditions which have made products with variable returns
relatively more attractive than products with fixed returns, expansion of
variable product offerings and growth and diversification of distribution
channels.  As a result, variable annuity premiums have grown to 40.8% of
total premiums in the first nine months of 1997, compared to 16.6% for the
first nine months of 1996.  Fixed annuity premiums represent 54.1% of total
premiums in the first nine months of 1997, compared to 75.6% for the same
period of 1996, while life insurance premiums represent approximately 5.1% of
total premiums in the first nine months of 1997, compared to 7.8% for the
same period of 1996.

The acquisition of Golden American has complemented and significantly enhanced
the company's existing variable annuity business.  As a result of the
acquisition, the company has expanded the distribution of its variable
products, and plans to continue this expansion as well as market fixed
products through Golden American's distribution system.  The company believes
the product diversification achieved with the acquisition of Golden American,
expansion and diversification of distribution channels, its commitment to
customer service, the quality of its investment portfolio, competitive pricing
and its overall financial strength will continue to attract consumers to its
annuity products as consumers seek a secure return on their retirement savings.
The diversity of products and distribution channels the company now offers is
intended to improve the stability of sales under a variety of market
conditions.  Insurance agents and broker/dealers are attracted to sell the
company's products by several factors, including the company's diversified
product portfolio, competitive commissions, rapid policy issuance and level of
agent support.

The tables above include premiums for Golden American for the third quarter
and first nine months of 1997 and for the period August 14, 1996 through
September 30, 1996.  As a result, the premiums provide insight as to the
reported results of operations.  However, the significant increase in variable
annuity premiums is primarily attributable to the acquisition of Golden
American and significant growth in sales of Equitable Life's variable annuity
products.  The following tables are provided on a pro forma combined basis
including Golden American premiums for the third quarter and first nine months
of 1997 and 1996.










PRO FORMA PREMIUMS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Quarter ended September 30              1997     Change     Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                 <C>           <C>     <C>          <C>
Fixed annuity premiums              $488,088       48.6%  $159,625     $328,463
Variable annuity premiums:
 Separate account:
  Equitable Life                     174,063      140.1    101,565       72,498
  Golden American                     58,436       45.2     18,205       40,231
 Fixed account:
  Equitable Life                       1,788        8.7        143        1,645
  Golden American                     87,683      224.7     60,684       26,999
                                 _______________________________________________
Total variable annuity premiums      321,970      127.8    180,597      141,373
                                 _______________________________________________
Total annuity premiums               810,058       72.4    340,222      469,836

Life insurance premiums:
 Equitable Life & USG                 31,305        1.2        356       30,949
 Golden American                       3,262      (25.7)    (1,128)       4,390
                                 _______________________________________________
Life insurance premiums               34,567       (2.2)      (772)      35,339
                                 _______________________________________________
Total premiums                      $844,625       67.2%  $339,450     $505,175
                                 ===============================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Nine months ended September 30          1997     Change     Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                               <C>             <C>     <C>        <C>
Fixed annuity premiums            $1,099,274       20.5%  $187,098     $912,176
Variable annuity premiums:
 Separate account:
  Equitable Life                     443,363      167.2    277,431      165,932
  Golden American                    149,726        6.2      8,796      140,930
 Fixed account:
  Equitable Life                       6,271       61.9      2,397        3,874
  Golden American                    228,524       55.0     81,096      147,428
                                 _______________________________________________
Total variable annuity premiums      827,884       80.7    369,720      458,164
                                 _______________________________________________
Total annuity premiums             1,927,158       40.6    556,818    1,370,340

Life insurance premiums:
 Equitable Life & USG                 91,736       (1.2)    (1,090)      92,826
 Golden American                      13,640       14.1      1,683       11,957
                                 _______________________________________________
Life insurance premiums              105,376        0.6        593      104,783
                                 _______________________________________________
Total premiums                    $2,032,534       37.8%  $557,411   $1,475,123
                                 ===============================================
</TABLE>

On a pro forma combined basis, total annuity and life insurance premiums
increased 67.2% in the third quarter to $844,625,000 and increased 37.8% in
the first nine months of 1997 to $2,032,534,000.  On a pro forma combined
basis, variable annuity separate account premiums increased 106.2% in the
third quarter to $232,499,000 and increased 93.3% to $593,089,000 in the
first nine months of 1997.  The variable annuity fixed account increased
212.4% in the third quarter to $89,471,000 and increased 55.2% to $234,795,000
during the first nine months of 1997 on a pro forma basis.  This increase in
variable annuity premiums is the result of the company's broadening
distribution channels and the sale of variable annuities in New York through
its recently formed subsidiary, First Golden.  Equitable Life introduced its
variable annuity product in the fourth quarter of 1994 and premiums from this
product have grown dramatically over the last two years although year over
year percentage increases have declined due to increases in the amount of in
force attributable to this product.  The company expects variable annuity
premiums to continue to grow as it expands and diversifies its product
offerings and distribution channels, but year over year percentage increases
will decline as the amount of variable annuities in force increases.
Equitable Life and USG offer interest-sensitive and traditional life insurance
products Golden American offers only variable products, including variable
life insurance.  Premiums, net of reinsurance, for variable annuity and
variable life products from significant sellers for the nine months ended
September 30, 1997 are as follows:  Paine Webber, $110,000,000 or 13%; Smith
Barney, $143,000,000 or 17%; Locust Street Securities, Inc., an affiliate,
$124,000,000 or 15%; and Primerica Financial Services, $190,000,000 or 23%.
Primerica Financial Services has indicated that it may discontinue the sales
relationship in the second quarter of 1998.  Discussion is currently ongoing
regarding this.

REVENUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Quarter ended September 30             1997      Change     Change       1996
______________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>             <C>     <C>       <C>
Annuity and interest
  sensitive life
  product charges                   $29,789        56.7%   $10,783    $19,006
Traditional life insurance
  premiums                            9,642        (1.7)      (172)     9,814
Net investment income               202,892        12.5     22,546    180,346
Realized gains on
  investments                         8,476        87.9      3,966      4,510
Other income                          8,895        26.2      1,848      7,047
                                ______________________________________________
                                   $259,694        17.7%   $38,971   $220,723
                                ==============================================
</TABLE>








<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Percentage     Dollar
Nine months ended September 30         1997      Change     Change       1996
______________________________________________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>             <C>    <C>        <C>
Annuity and interest
  sensitive life
  product charges                   $78,294        59.9%   $29,341    $48,953
Traditional life insurance
  premiums                           28,740        (3.3)      (972)    29,712
Net investment income               593,001        12.2     64,389    528,612
Realized gains on
  investments                        16,953         7.1      1,125     15,828
Other income                         25,743        53.6      8,987     16,756
                                ______________________________________________
                                   $742,731        16.1%  $102,870   $639,861
                                ==============================================
</TABLE>

Total revenues increased 17.7% in the third quarter and 16.1% in the first
nine months of 1997.  Annuity and interest sensitive life insurance product
charges increased 56.7% in the third quarter and 59.9% in the first nine
months of 1997.  Excluding Golden American, annuity and interest sensitive
life product charges increased 42.3% in the third quarter and increased 33.9%
in the first nine months of 1997.  These product charges consist primarily of
cost of insurance charges, policy administrative charges and surrender
charges that increase as the company's policyholder liabilities grow,
including variable separate account liabilities.  In addition, withdrawals
and surrenders of the company's annuity products which contain a "market
value adjustment" feature generate greater surrender charge income as
interest rates increase and lower surrender charge income as interest rates
decrease.  Surrender charge income allows the company to recover a portion of
the expenses incurred to generate policy sales and partially offsets the
amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs related to surrendered
policies.  Premiums from traditional life insurance products, which are
included in revenue, decreased 1.7% in the third quarter and 3.3% in the
first nine months of 1997, as a result of the company's continued emphasis on
the more popular universal life and fixed premium, current interest life
insurance products (for which premiums are not included in revenues).

Net investment income increased 12.5% in the third quarter and 12.2% in the
first nine months of 1997 due to the increase in invested assets.  During the
third quarter and first nine months of 1997, the company had realized gains
on the sale of investments of $8,476,000, and $16,953,000 compared to gains
of $4,510,000, and $15,828,000 in the same periods of 1996.

Other income increased 26.2% in the third quarter and 53.6% in the first nine
months of 1997 as a result of the acquisition of DSI and an increase in
commission income from an affiliated broker/dealer.  The increase in
commission income from the broker/dealers is substantially offset by an
increase in other expense.

EXPENSES

Total insurance benefits and expenses increased $25,069,000, or 15.6%, to
$185,975,000 in the third quarter and $86,304,000, or 18.4% to $554,666,000
in the first nine months of 1997.  Interest credited to annuity and interest
sensitive life account balances increased $15,456,000, or 13.9%, to
$126,612,000 in the third quarter and $38,183,000, or 11.6% to $366,563,000
in the first nine months of 1997 as a result of higher account balances
associated with those products.  The amortization of financial instruments
purchased for the company's hedging programs during 1996 and 1997 increased
interest credited to account balances by $1,492,000 during the third quarter
and $4,034,000 during the first nine months of 1997.  See further discussion
of the hedging programs in the Financial Instruments - Risk Management
section below.

The company's policy is to change rates credited to policy accounts as the
company's investment portfolio yield changes.  Most of the company's interest
sensitive products, including fixed annuities, interest sensitive life
policies and participating policies, allow for interest rate adjustments at
least annually.  The company also sells deferred annuities with multi-year
interest rate guarantees.  The design of these products makes them competitive
with savings alternatives such as certificates of deposit.  The following
table summarizes the effective annual yield on assets invested to support
policy accounts for interest-sensitive products, the average annual interest
rate credited to those products and the interest rate spread for the nine
months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996.  Yield on assets and cost of funds
are estimated by calculating the weighted average of the nine month end values
for those items.

Golden American is included in the tables below for the first nine months of
1997 and for the period August 14, 1996 through September 30, 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Yield on      Credited      Interest
Nine months ended September 30           Assets          Rate   Rate Spread
____________________________________________________________________________
<S>                                        <C>           <C>           <C>
Average base rate (excluding first
  year bonus):
   1997                                    8.34%         5.54%         2.80%
   1996                                    8.44          5.58          2.86

Average total (including first
  year bonus):
   1997                                    8.34          5.72          2.62
   1996                                    8.44          5.84          2.60

</TABLE>

















At September 30, 1997 and 1996, the effective annual yield on assets, credited
rate and interest rate spread were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Yield on      Credited      Interest
September 30,                            Assets          Rate   Rate Spread
____________________________________________________________________________
<S>                                        <C>           <C>           <C>
Base rate (excluding first
  year bonus):
   1997                                    8.29%         5.56%         2.73%
   1996                                    8.45          5.50          2.95

Total (including first year bonus):
   1997                                    8.29          5.73          2.56
   1996                                    8.45          5.74          2.71

</TABLE>

The base interest credited rate represents the average interest rate credited
to policy accounts for interest sensitive products, including annuities,
interest sensitive life policies and participating policies.  The total
interest credited rate includes first year bonus interest credited to certain
policies.

Death benefits on traditional life products and benefit claims incurred in
excess of account balances increased $2,287,000, or 30.3%, to $9,840,000 in
the third quarter and $1,541,000, or 6.0%, to $27,085,000 in the first nine
months of 1997.  After adjustment for charges for mortality risk, reserves
released on death claims and taxes, the overall impact of mortality on net
income was more favorable in 1997 by approximately $1,471,000 in the third
quarter and $652,000 on a year-to-date basis.

Commissions increased $15,478,000, or 43.7%, to $50,887,000 in the third
quarter and $30,618,000, or 31.4% to $128,020,000 in the first nine months of
1997.  Excluding Golden American, commissions increased 28.0% in the third
quarter and 11.2% in the first nine months of 1997.  Insurance taxes increased
$369,000, or 18.4%, to $2,376,000 in the third quarter and $1,027,000, or
16.8%, to $7,137,000 in the first nine months of 1997.  Increases and
decreases in commissions and insurance taxes are generally related to changes
in the level of annuity sales.  Commissions are also affected by the mix of
annuity sales.  Most costs incurred as the result of new sales have been
deferred, and thus have very little impact on total insurance expenses.

General expenses increased $2,352,000, or 17.2%, to $16,028,000 in the third
quarter and $34,243,000, or 94.8% to $70,372,000 in the first nine months of
1997.  The increase in 1997 is primarily attributable to an accrual of
$20,495,000 in the second quarter related to the litigation settlement accrual
(see further discussion in the Accounting and Legal Developments - Litigation
section below) and Golden American expenses.  Golden American was acquired in
the third quarter of 1996, and therefore is included in 1996 expenses for the
period August 14, 1996 through September 30, 1996.  In addition, Golden
American uses a network of wholesalers to distribute its products and the
salaries of these wholesalers are included in general expenses.  The company
experienced growth in sales of fixed and variable annuities through these
wholesalers during 1997.  The portion of these salaries and related expenses
which vary with sales production levels are deferred, thus having little
impact on current earnings.  Management expects general expenses to continue
to increase substantially in 1997 as a result of the inclusion of Golden
American operations for the full year and the continued emphasis on expanding
the salaried wholesaler distribution network as well as certain expenses
associated with the ING merger.

Most of the company's annuity products have surrender charges which are
designed to discourage early withdrawals and to allow the company to recover
a portion of the expenses incurred to generate annuity sales in the event of
early withdrawal.  Withdrawal rates have been impacted by certain factors.
(1) The company expected and has experienced an increase in withdrawals as
its annuity liabilities age.  (2) Withdrawals tend to increase in periods of
rising interest rates as policyholders seek higher returns on their savings.
The company has implemented a hedging program which uses certain derivative
instruments (interest rate caps and swaptions) to reduce the negative effect
of increased withdrawal activity which may result from extreme increases in
interest rates (see further discussion of the hedging program in the
financial instruments section below).

The following table summarizes the annualized annuity withdrawal rates and
the life insurance lapse ratios for the three and nine months ended September
30, 1997 and 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30          September 30
                                     __________________    __________________
                                       1997      1996        1997      1996
                                     ________  ________    ________  ________
<S>                                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Annuity withdrawals                     11.4%      9.0%       10.2%      8.6%

Life insurance lapse ratio               8.9%      7.8%        8.1%      7.5%
</TABLE>

The withdrawal ratio for the company's annuity products is calculated by
dividing aggregate surrenders and withdrawals by beginning of period account
balances.  The company's annualized lapse ratio for life insurance is measured
in terms of face amount and uses A.M. Best's formula.

The amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs ("DPAC") increased by
$5,359,000, or 25.2%, in the third quarter and $14,168,000, or 23.8% in the
first nine months of 1997.  Increases in amortization of deferred acquisition
costs related to operating earnings are the result of increases in the
deferred policy acquisition cost asset (before adjustment to reflect the
impact of SFAS No. 115) as costs of generating sales of the company's products
are deferred and amortized in later periods.  Also, higher withdrawals and
surrenders of the company's products have accelerated the amortization of
deferred acquisition costs related to those products although surrender
charges assessed on certain withdrawals offset some of the earnings impact of
this accelerated amortization.  Amortization related to realized gains
declined as a result of a decrease in realized and prepayment gains from
assets backing fixed annuity and interest sensitive life insurance
liabilities.







A breakdown of the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Percentage      Dollar
Quarter ended September 30            1997      Change      Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                              (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>
Amortization related to:
  Operating income                 $24,092        19.5%     $3,928      $20,164
  Realized gains                     2,554       127.4       1,431        1,123
                               -------------------------------------------------
Total                              $26,646        25.2%     $5,359      $21,287
                               =================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Percentage      Dollar
Nine months ended September 30        1997      Change      Change         1996
________________________________________________________________________________
                                              (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>           <C>       <C>          <C>
Amortization related to:
  Operating income                 $69,404        27.1%    $14,798      $54,606
  Realized gains                     4,249       (12.3)       (630)       4,879
                               -------------------------------------------------
Total                              $73,653        23.8%    $14,168      $59,485
                               =================================================
</TABLE>

As a part of the acquisition of Golden American, $85,796,000 of the cost was
allocated to the right to receive future cash flows from the insurance
contracts existing with Golden American at the date of acquisition.  This
allocated cost represents the present value of in force acquired ("PVIF")
which reflects the value of those purchased policies calculated by
discounting the actuarially determined expected future cash flows at the
discounted rate determined by the company.  Amortization of PVIF totaled
$2,285,000 in the third quarter and $4,465,000 in the first nine months of
1997 ($915,000 from August 14, 1996 to September 30, 1996).  During the
second quarter of 1997, PVIF was unlocked by $2,293,000 to reflect narrower
current spreads than the gross profit model assumed.  Based on current
conditions and assumptions as to the impact of future events on acquired
policies in force, amortization of PVIF is expected to be approximately
$2,300,000 for the remainder of 1997, $10,100,000 in 1998, $9,600,000 in
1999, $8,300,000 in 2000, $7,200,000 in 2001 and $6,100,000 in 2002.  Actual
amortization may vary based upon changes in assumptions and experience.

The acquisition of Golden American was accounted for as a purchase resulting
in a new basis of accounting, reflecting estimated fair values for assets and
liabilities at the acquisition date.  Goodwill of $41,113,000 was established
for the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of net assets
acquired.  The acquisition cost was preliminary with respect to the final
settlement of taxes with Bankers Trust and estimated expenses.  At June 30,
1997, goodwill was increased by $1,848,000 to adjust the value of a receivable
existing at the acquisition date.  Amortization of goodwill relating to Golden
American during the third quarter totaled $411,000 and $1,261,000 during the
first nine months of 1997 ($196,000 in the third quarter and first nine months
of 1996).  Amortization of goodwill attributed to licenses acquired in
conjunction with the purchase of USG totaled $19,000 in the third quarter and
$56,000 in the first nine months of 1997 and 1996, respectively.  Goodwill
resulting from the acquisition of Golden American is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over 25 years and is expected to total approximately
$1,644,000 annually.

Other expenses increased $4,075,000, or 70.7% to $9,840,000 in the third
quarter and $14,252,000, or 102.3% to $28,181,000 in the first nine months of
1997.  The increase in other expenses resulted from increased commissions
paid to registered representatives selling investment products through the
company's broker/dealer operations and accounting, custodial and
administrative expenses of variable products operations.

On July 23, 1996, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust (the "Trust"), a
consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of the company issued $125,000,000 of
8.70% Trust Originated Preferred Securities.  In addition, on April 3, 1997,
Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II (the "Trust II"), a consolidated,
wholly-owned subsidiary of the company issued $50,000,000 of 8.424% Capital
Securities.  See Liquidity and Capital Resources section below for a
discussion of these transactions.  Pre-tax distributions to the holders of
these company-obligated, mandatorily-redeemable securities totaled $3,772,000
in the third quarter and $10,239,000 in the first nine months of 1997
($2,115,000 in the third quarter and first nine months of 1996).

INCOME

Operating income (income excluding realized gains and losses, commercial
mortgage and mortgage-backed securities prepayment gains and related
amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and the second quarter 1997
litigation settlement accrual), increased $3,781,000, or 13.0%, in the third
quarter and $8,538,000, or 10.0% in the first nine months of 1997.  Net
income increased $4,904,000, or 15.5%, in the third quarter and decreased
$3,605,000, or 3.8%, in the first nine months of 1997.  A breakdown of income
is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarter ended September 30                1997                    1996
______________________________________________________________________________
                                     $       Per Share       $       Per Share
                                 _____________________________________________
                                 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                               <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>
Operating income                  $32,884       $1.03     $29,103       $0.91
Realized gains (net of tax):
  Gains realized on disposal
    of investments                  5,598        0.17       2,932        0.09
  Commercial mortgage and
    mortgage-backed securities
    prepayment gains (losses)        (222)      (0.01)        390        0.02
  Realized gains related
    amortization of DPAC           (1,661)      (0.05)       (730)      (0.03)
                                 _____________________________________________
                                    3,715        0.11       2,592        0.08
                                 _____________________________________________
Net income                        $36,599       $1.14     $31,695       $0.99
                                 =============================================
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine months ended September 30            1997                    1996
______________________________________________________________________________
                                     $       Per Share       $       Per Share
                                 _____________________________________________
                                 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                               <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>
Operating income                  $93,921       $2.93     $85,383       $2.68
Realized gains (net of tax):
  Gains realized on disposal
    of investments                 11,108        0.35      10,288        0.32
  Commercial mortgage and
    mortgage-backed securities
    prepayment gains                1,121        0.04       1,172        0.04
  Realized gains related
    amortization of DPAC           (2,761)      (0.09)     (3,171)      (0.10)
Litigation settlement accrual     (13,322)      (0.42)         --          --
                                 _____________________________________________
                                   (3,854)      (0.12)      8,289        0.26
                                 _____________________________________________
Net income                        $90,067       $2.81     $93,672       $2.94
                                 =============================================
</TABLE>

Average shares outstanding totaled 32,056,971 in the third quarter and
32,040,666 in the first nine months of 1997 up from 31,935,891 and 31,880,469
in the same periods of 1996.


FINANCIAL CONDITION
___________________

INVESTMENTS

The financial statement carrying value of the company's total investment
portfolio increased 10.6% in the first nine months of 1997.  The amortized
cost basis of the company's total investment portfolio grew 9.4% during the
same period.  All of the company's investments, other than mortgage loans and
real estate, are carried at fair value in the company's financial statements.
As such, growth in the carrying value of the company's investment portfolio
included changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation of fixed maturity
and equity securities as well as growth in the cost basis of these securities.
Growth in the cost basis of the company's investment portfolio resulted from
the investment of premiums from the sale of the company's fixed annuity and
insurance products.  The company manages the growth of its insurance
operations in order to maintain adequate capital ratios.













INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO SUMMARY:  To support the company's fixed annuities and
life insurance products, cash flow was invested primarily in fixed maturity
securities.  At September 30, 1997, the company's investment portfolio was
comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Yield at
                                                       Estimated         Amort-
                                   Amortized   % of         Fair   % of    ized
                                        Cost  Total        Value  Total    Cost
                                 _______________________________________________
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                              <C>          <C>    <C>          <C>      <C>
Investment cash and short-term
 investments                        $136,400    1.3%    $136,400    1.3%    5.7%
Governments and agency mortgage-
 backed securities                   338,351    3.3      355,107    3.3     8.1
Conventional mortgage-backed
 securities                        2,515,045   24.6    2,545,282   23.8     7.8
Investment grade corporate
 securities                        4,434,800   43.3    4,681,975   43.9     8.0
Below-investment grade corporate
 securities                          821,271    8.0      844,125    7.9     9.1
Mortgage loans                     1,946,989   19.0    2,038,127   19.1     8.2
                                 _______________________________________________
  Total cash and fixed income
    investments                   10,192,856   99.5   10,601,016   99.3     8.0
Equity securities                     43,004    0.4       62,058    0.6    11.0
Real estate                           12,929    0.1       12,929    0.1     2.3
                                 _______________________________________________
  Total investments              $10,248,789  100.0% $10,676,003  100.0%    8.1%
                                 ===============================================
</TABLE>

   Estimated fair values of publicly traded securities are as reported
   by an independent pricing service.  Fair values of conventional
   mortgage-backed securities not actively traded in a liquid market are
   estimated using a third party pricing system.  This pricing system
   uses a matrix calculation assuming a spread over U.S. Treasury bonds
   based upon the expected average lives of the securities.  Fair values
   of private placement bonds are estimated using a matrix that assumes
   a spread (based on interest rates and a risk assessment of the bonds)
   over U.S. Treasury bonds.  Estimated fair values of redeemable
   preferred stocks are as reported by the National Association of
   Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC").  Fair values of mortgage loans on
   real estate are estimated by discounting expected cash flows, using
   interest rates currently being offered for similar loans.  Estimated
   fair values of equity securities are based on the latest quoted
   market prices or conversion value, if applicable.  Estimated fair
   values of the company's investment in its registered separate
   account, included in equity securities, are based upon the quoted
   fair value of the securities comprising the individual portfolios
   underlying the separate account.  Fair value of owned real estate is
   estimated to be equal to, or in excess of, carrying value based upon
   appraised values.




FIXED MATURITY SECURITIES:  At September 30, 1997, the ratings assigned by
Standard & Poor's Corporation to the individual securities in the company's
fixed maturities portfolio are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Amortized     % of     Estimated     % of
                                       Cost    Total    Fair Value    Total
                                ____________________________________________
                                              (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                              <C>           <C>      <C>           <C>
 U.S. governments, agencies
  & AAA Corporates               $2,775,881     34.2%   $2,822,744     33.5%
  AA+ to AA-                        362,925      4.5       380,964      4.5
  A+ to A-                        2,324,984     28.7     2,456,792     29.2
  BBB+ to BBB-                    1,671,401     20.6     1,763,513     20.9
  BB+ to BB-                        650,160      8.0       671,426      8.0
  B+ to B-                          158,865      2.0       161,361      1.9
Issues not rated by S&P
 (by NAIC rating):
  Rated 1 (AAA to A-)                89,426      1.1        93,047      1.1
  Rated 2 (BBB+ to BBB-)             26,355      0.3        27,825      0.3
  Rated 3 (BB+ to BB-)               40,198      0.5        41,020      0.5
  Rated 5 (CCC+ to C)                 8,665      0.1         7,415      0.1
  Redeemable preferred stock            607       --           382       --
                                ____________________________________________
Total fixed maturities           $8,109,467    100.0%   $8,426,489    100.0%
                                ============================================
</TABLE>

All of the company's fixed maturity securities are designated as available
for sale although the company is not precluded from designating fixed
maturity securities as held for investment or trading at some future date.
Investments classified as available for sale securities are reported at fair
value and unrealized gains and losses on these securities are included
directly in stockholders' equity, after adjustment for related changes in
deferred policy acquisition costs, present value of in force acquired, policy
reserves and deferred income taxes.  Securities the company has the positive
intent and ability to hold to maturity are designated as "held for
investment".  Held for investment securities are reported at cost adjusted for
amortization of premiums and discounts.  Changes in the fair value of these
securities, except for declines that are other than temporary, are not
reflected in the company's financial statements.  Sales of securities
designated as held for investment are severely restricted by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115.  Securities bought and held
principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are designated
as trading securities.  Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are
included in current earnings.  Transfers of securities between categories are
restricted and are recorded at fair value at the time of the transfer.
Securities determined to have a decline in value that is other than temporary
are written down to estimated fair value which becomes the security's new
cost basis by a charge to realized losses in the company's Statement of
Income.  Premiums and discounts are amortized/accrued utilizing the scientific
interest method which results in a constant yield over the security's
expected life.  Amortization/accrual of premiums and discounts on mortgage-
backed securities incorporates a prepayment assumption to estimate the
securities' expected lives.

On September 30, 1997, fixed income securities with an amortized cost of
$8,109,467,000 and an estimated fair value of $8,426,489,000 were designated
as available for sale.  Unrealized holding gains on these securities, net of
adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs, present value of in force
acquired and deferred income taxes, increased stockholders' equity by
$136,253,000, or $4.25 per share at September 30, 1997, compared to an
increase of $76,387,000, or $2.38 per share at December 31, 1996.

Net unrealized appreciation of fixed maturity investments of $317,022,000 was
comprised of gross appreciation of $353,739,000 and gross depreciation of
$36,717,000.

The percentage of the company's portfolio invested in below investment grade
securities increased slightly during the first nine months of 1997.  At
September 30, 1997, the amortized cost value of the company's total investment
in below investment grade securities consisted of investments in 100 issuers
totaling $821,271,000, or 8.0% of the company's investment portfolio compared
to 93 issuers totaling $733,182,000, or 7.8%, at December 31, 1996.  The
company intends to purchase additional below investment grade securities but
it does not expect the percentage of its portfolio invested in below
investment grade securities to exceed 10% of the investment portfolio.  At
September 30, 1997, the yield at amortized cost on the company's below
investment grade portfolio was 9.1% compared to 8.0% for the company's
investment grade corporate bond portfolio.  The company estimates the fair
value of its below investment grade portfolio was $844,125,000, or 102.8% of
amortized cost value, at September 30, 1997.

Below investment grade securities have different characteristics than
investment grade corporate debt securities.  Risk of loss upon default by the
borrower is significantly greater with respect to below investment grade
securities than with other corporate debt securities.  Below investment grade
securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other
creditors of the issuer.  Also, issuers of below investment grade securities
usually have higher levels of debt and are more sensitive to adverse economic
conditions, such as recession or increasing interest rates, than are
investment grade issuers.  The company attempts to reduce the overall risk in
its below investment grade portfolio, as in all of its investments, through
careful credit analysis, strict investment policy guidelines, and
diversification by company and by industry.

The company analyzes its investment portfolio, including below investment
grade securities, at least quarterly in order to determine if its ability to
realize its carrying value on any investment has been impaired.  For debt and
equity securities, if impairment in value is determined to be other than
temporary (i.e. if it is probable that the company will be unable to collect
all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the security), the cost
basis of the impaired security is written down to fair value, which becomes
the security's new cost basis.  The amount of the write-down is included in
earnings as a realized loss.  Future events may occur, or additional or
updated information may be received, which may necessitate future write-downs
of securities in the company's portfolio.  Significant write-downs in the
carrying value of investments could materially adversely affect the company's
net income in future periods.

During the first nine months of 1997, fixed maturity securities designated as
available for sale with a combined amortized cost value of $349,321,000 were
called or repaid by their issuers generating net realized gains totaling
$8,805,000.  In total, net pre-tax gains from sales, calls, repayments,
tenders and writedowns of fixed maturity investments amounted to $12,409,000
in the first nine months of 1997.

The company's fixed maturity investment portfolio had a combined yield at
amortized cost of 8.0% at September 30, 1997 and 8.1% at December 31, 1996.

At September 30, 1997, no fixed maturity securities were deemed to have
impairments in value that are other than temporary.

EQUITY SECURITIES:  At September 30, 1997, the company owned equity
securities with a combined cost of $43,004,000 and an estimated fair value of
$62,058,000.  Gross appreciation of equity securities totaled $19,422,000 and
gross depreciation totaled $368,000.  Equity securities are primarily
comprised of the company's investment in shares of the mutual funds underlying
the company's registered separate accounts and an investment in a real estate
investment trust.  The company's investment in the real estate investment trust
had an estimated fair value of $56,527,000 and a cost basis of $37,146,000 at
September 30, 1997.  The estimated fair value of the company's investment is
based upon conversion value.  Conversion value is derived from the quoted
market value of the publicly traded security into which the company's
investment can be converted and the issuer's cash flow from operations.  As
such, changes in operating cash flows or the quoted market price of the issuer
may result in significant volatility in the estimated fair value of the
company's investment.

MORTGAGE LOANS:  Mortgage loans make up approximately 19.0% of the company's
investment portfolio.  The company resumed active mortgage lending in 1994 to
broaden its investment alternatives and has continued to increase the lending
activity.  Mortgages outstanding increased to $1,946,989,000 from
$1,720,114,000 at December 31, 1996.  The company's mortgage loan portfolio,
excluding farm loans, includes 633 loans with an average size of $3,076,000,
and average seasoning of 3.5 years if weighted by the number of loans, and
1.5 years if weighted by mortgage loan carrying values.  The company's
mortgage loans are typically secured by occupied buildings in major
metropolitan locations and not speculative developments, and are diversified
by type of property and geographic location.  At September 30, 1997, the
yield on the company's mortgage loan portfolio was 8.2%.

Distribution of these loans by type of collateral is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         % of
                                # of      Carrying   Mortgage
                               Loans         Value  Portfolio
                               _______________________________
Collateral Breakdown                 (Dollars in thousands)
______________________________
<S>                              <C>    <C>             <C>
  Multi-family residential       101      $349,249       17.9%
  Industrial                     229       561,046       28.8
  Office buildings               146       493,796       25.4
  Retail                         148       509,175       26.2
  Farm                             3            65        0.0
  Other                            9        33,658        1.7
                               _______________________________
Total                            636    $1,946,989      100.0%
                               ===============================
</TABLE>





Distribution of these loans by geographic location is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         % of
                                # of      Carrying   Mortgage
                               Loans         Value  Portfolio
                               _______________________________
Geographic Breakdown                 (Dollars in thousands)
______________________________
<S>                              <C>    <C>             <C>
  New England                     10       $40,273        2.1%
  Middle Atlantic                 87       308,524       15.9
  South Atlantic                 102       351,498       18.1
  East North Central             123       407,704       20.9
  West North Central              79       241,352       12.4
  East South Central              22        78,643        4.0
  West South Central              33        85,382        4.4
  Mountain                        44       125,740        6.4
  Pacific                        136       307,873       15.8
                               _______________________________
Total                            636    $1,946,989      100.0%
                               ===============================
</TABLE>

At September 30, 1997, one mortgage loan with a carrying value of $33,000 was
delinquent by 90 days or more.  During the first quarter of 1997, the value
of a mortgage loan with a book value of $4,021,000 was determined to be
impaired other than temporary.  At that time, a valuation allowance was
established to reduce the carrying value of this mortgage loan to its
estimated fair value, resulting in a charge to investment income of $245,000.
The company foreclosed on the property in June, 1997 and based upon an
appraisal, recorded a permanent write-down on the real estate investment of
$430,000 resulting in a charge to realized losses.  During the second quarter
of 1997, the company foreclosed on a mortgage loan with a book value of
$3,892,000.  At this time the company does not believe any permanent
impairment exists on this property.  The company does not expect to incur
material losses from its mortgage loan portfolio because of the historically
low default rate in the company's mortgage loan portfolio and because the
company has been able to recover 100.8% of the principal amount of problem
mortgages resolved in the last three years.

REAL ESTATE:  At September 30, 1997, the company owned real estate totaling
$12,929,000, including properties acquired through foreclosure valued at
$9,679,000.

In total, the company has experienced a relatively small number of problems
with its total investment portfolio, with none of the company's investment in
default at September 30, 1997.  The company estimates its total investment
portfolio, excluding policy loans, had a fair value equal to 104.2% of
amortized cost value for accounting purposes at September 30, 1997.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - RISK MANAGEMENT

HEDGING PROGRAM:  During the second quarter of 1996, the company implemented
a hedging program under which certain derivative financial instruments,
interest rate caps ("caps") and cash settled put swaptions ("swaptions"),
were purchased to reduce the negative effects of potential increases in
withdrawal activity related to the company's annuity liabilities which may
result from extreme increases in interest rates.  The company purchased caps
and swaptions, all during the second quarter of 1996, with notional amounts
totaling approximately $600,000,000 and $1,300,000,000, respectively, all of
which were outstanding at September 30, 1997.  The company paid approximately
$21,100,000 in premiums for these caps and swaptions.  The cost of this
program has been incorporated into the company's product pricing.  The caps
and swaptions do not require any additional payments by the company.

In January 1997, the company introduced an equity-indexed annuity product
which provides a guaranteed base rate of return with a higher potential
return linked to the performance of a broad based equity index.  At the same
time, the company implemented a hedging program to purchase Standard & Poor's
("S&P") 500 ([email protected].) Index Call Options ("call options", or
collectively with the interest rate caps and cash settled put swaptions,
"instruments").  Call options are purchased to hedge potential increases in
policyholder account balances for equity-indexed annuity policies resulting
from increases in the index to which the product is linked.  During the first
nine months of 1997, the company paid approximately $12,364,000 in premiums
for call options which mature beginning in 2002 through 2004.  The cost of
this program has been incorporated into the company's pricing of its equity-
indexed annuity product.  The call options do not require any additional
payments by the company.

The agreements for the caps and swaptions entitle the company to receive
payments from the instruments' counterparties on future reset dates if
interest rates, as specified in the agreements, rise above a specified fixed
rate (9.0% and 9.5%). The amount of such payments to be received by the
company for the interest rate caps, if any, will be calculated by taking the
excess of the current applicable rate over the specified fixed rate, and
multiplying this excess by the notional amount of the caps.  Payments on cash
settled put swaptions are also calculated based upon the excess of the
current applicable rate over the specified fixed rate multiplied by the
notional amount.  The product of this rate differential times the notional
amount is assumed to continue for a series of defined future semi-annual
payment dates and the resulting hypothetical payments are discounted to the
current payment date using the discount rate defined in the agreement.  The
agreements for the call options entitle the company to receive payments from
the counterparty if the S&P 500 index exceeds the specified strike price on
the maturity date.  The amount of such payments to be received by the company
for the call options, if any, will be calculated by taking the excess of the
average closing price (as defined in the contract) at maturity over the
specified strike price, and multiplying this excess by the number of S&P 500
units defined in the contract.  Any payments received from the counterparties
will be recorded as an adjustment to interest credited.

















The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of notional amounts
for the caps and swaptions at September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    1998       1999       2000      2001       2002       Total
________________________________________________________________________________
                                      (Dollars in thousands)
<S>             <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Interest rate
  caps                                          $400,000   $200,000    $600,000
Cash settled
  put swaptions $100,000   $400,000   $400,000   350,000     50,000   1,300,000
               _________________________________________________________________
Total notional
  amount        $100,000   $400,000   $400,000  $750,000   $250,000  $1,900,000
               =================================================================
</TABLE>

Any unrealized gain or loss on the caps and swaptions is off-balance sheet
and therefore, is not reflected in the financial statements.  The effect of
changes in intrinsic value (which may vary from estimated market value) of
the call options and future policy benefits will be reflected in the financial
statements in the period of change.  The following table summarizes the
amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value on
these instruments as of September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Gross       Gross   Estimated
                                Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized        Fair
September 30, 1997                   Cost       Gains      Losses       Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                          (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                               <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Interest rate caps                 $4,346                  $3,367        $979
Cash settled put swaptions         10,005                   6,345       3,660
S&P 500 call options               10,583      $2,284          66      12,801
                                ______________________________________________
Total                             $24,934      $2,284      $9,778     $17,440
                                ==============================================
</TABLE>

The decline in fair value from amortized cost reflects changes in interest
rates and market conditions since time of purchase.

EXPOSURE TO LOSS - COUNTERPARTY NONPERFORMANCE:  The company is exposed to
the risk of losses in the event of non-performance by the counterparties of
these instruments.  Losses recorded in the company's financial statements in
the event of non-performance will be limited to the unamortized premium
(remaining amortized cost) paid to purchase the instrument plus the recorded
intrinsic value, if any, for the call options because no additional payments
are required by the company on these instruments after the initial premium.
Counterparty non-performance would result in an economic loss if interest
rates exceeded the specified fixed rate or, for the S&P 500 index call
options, the average closing price at maturity exceeded the specified strike
price.  Economic losses would be measured by the net replacement cost, or
estimated fair value, for such instruments.  The estimated fair value is the
average of quotes, if more than one quote is available, obtained from related
and unrelated counterparties.  The company limits its exposure to such losses
by: diversifying among counterparties, limiting exposure to any individual
counterparty based upon that counterparty's credit rating, and limiting its
exposure by instrument type to only those instruments that do not require
future payments.  For purposes of determining risk exposure to any individual
counterparty, the company evaluates the combined exposure to that counterparty
on both a derivative financial instruments' level and on the total investment
portfolio credit risk and reports its exposure to senior management at least
monthly.  The maximum potential economic loss (the cost of replacing an
instrument or the net replacement value) due to nonperformance of the
counterparties will increase or decrease during the life of the instruments as
a function of maturity and market conditions.

The company determines counterparty credit quality by reference to ratings
from independent rating agencies.  As of September 30, 1997, the ratings
assigned by Standard & Poor's Corporation by instrument with respect to the
net replacement value (market value) of the company's instruments was as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

September 30, 1997                       Net Replacement Value
______________________________________________________________________________
                                Interest Cash Settled
                                    Rate          Put      S&P 500
                                    Caps    Swaptions Call Options      Total
                             _________________________________________________
                                          (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                 <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Counterparties credit quality:
  AAA                               $629       $1,844                  $2,473
  AA+ to AA-                         350        1,114      $10,023     11,487
  A+ to A-                            --          702        2,778      3,480
                             _________________________________________________
Total                               $979       $3,660      $12,801    $17,440
                             =================================================
</TABLE>

OTHER ASSETS

Accrued investment income increased $11,023,000 primarily due to an increase
in the amortized cost of new fixed income investments and in the overall size
of the portfolio.  Deferred policy acquisition costs increased $29,386,000
over year-end 1996 levels.  Excluding the adjustment to reflect the impact of
SFAS No. 115, deferred policy acquisition costs increased $82,195,000 as the
deferral of current period costs, primarily commissions incurred to generate
insurance and annuity sales, totaled $155,848,000.  Amortization of costs
deferred totaled $73,653,000.

Present value of in force acquired (PVIF) was established as a result of the
recent acquisition of variable annuity and life insurance business in force
on Golden American.  At September 30, 1997, PVIF was $78,156,000 and
amortization (excluding the impact of SFAS No. 115) totaled $4,465,000 for
the first nine months of 1997.

At September 30, 1997, the company had $2,533,253,000 of separate account
assets compared to $1,657,879,000 at December 31, 1996.  The increase in
separate account assets is due to the growth in the company's variable
annuity products.  At September 30, 1997, the company had total assets of
$14,571,572,000 an increase of 15.9% over total assets at December 31, 1996.

LIABILITIES

In conjunction with the volume of annuity and insurance sales, and the
resulting increase in business in force, the company's liability for policy
liabilities and accruals increased $789,750,000, or 8.4%, during the first
nine months of 1997.

Reserves for the company's annuity contracts, including separate account
reserves for variable contracts, increased $1,590,454,000, or 16.4%, to
$11,268,863,000 at September 30, 1997.  Life insurance reserves, including
separate account reserves for variable life policies, increased $46,942,000,
or 3.7%, during the first nine months of 1997 to $1,306,614,000.

The company incorporates a number of features in its annuity products designed
to reduce early withdrawal or surrender of the policies and to partially
compensate the company for its costs if policies are withdrawn early.  Current
surrender charge periods on fixed annuity policies typically range from five
years to the term of the policy.  During the first nine months of 1997, 86% of
such policies issued by Equitable Life and USG had a surrender charge period
of seven years or more.  The initial surrender charge on Equitable Life and
USG fixed annuity policies ranges from 5% to 20% of the premium and decreases
over the surrender charge period.

The following table summarizes the company's non-par deferred fixed annuity
liabilities and sales for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 by
surrender charge range category.  Notwithstanding policy features, the
withdrawal rates of policyholder funds may be affected by changes in interest
rates.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Deferred             Deferred
                                Fixed                Fixed
                              Annuity    % of      Annuity    % of
Surrender Charge %              Sales   Total  Liabilities   Total
___________________________________________________________________
                                     (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                          <C>        <C>     <C>          <C>
No surrender charge                               $749,219     9.7%
1 to 4 percent                                     965,510    12.5
5 to 6 percent               $109,729    11.4%   1,635,294    21.3
7 to 9 percent                777,593    81.2    3,059,908    39.8
10 percent and greater         70,517     7.4    1,285,911    16.7
                          _________________________________________
                             $957,839   100.0%  $7,695,842   100.0%
                          =========================================
</TABLE>

Deferred income taxes increased $38,600,000 to $84,281,000 at September 30,
1997, from December 31, 1996 of which $29,689,000 of the increase relates to
the change in unrealized appreciation of fixed maturity securities designated
as available for sale.  Total consolidated debt increased $36,200,000 during
the first nine months of 1997 as the company issued additional commercial
paper.  Commercial paper, issued to offset short-term timing differences in
investment related cash receipts and disbursements (investment smoothing) and
to provide for short-term operating needs, amounted to $140,800,000 at
September 30, 1997.  At September 30, 1997, $16,960,000 of the commercial
paper was issued for investment smoothing purposes.  Other liabilities
increased $91,006,000 from year-end 1996 levels primarily due to the
establishment of the litigation settlement accrual (see further discussion in
the Accounting and Legal Developments - Litigation section below), increases
in draft accounts payable, securities payable, outstanding checks,
remittances unapplied and mortgage trust funds, partially offset by decreases
in transfer and suspense accounts, guaranty fund assessment reserve and other
payables.

Separate account liabilities increased $875,374,000 to $2,533,253,000 from
December 31, 1996, due to the growth in the company's variable annuity
products.  At September 30, 1997, the company had total liabilities of
$13,379,676,000 compared to $11,548,880,000 at December 31, 1996, a 15.9%
increase.

TRUST SECURITIES

On July 23, 1996, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust, a consolidated,
wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, issued $125,000,000 of 8.70% Trust
Originated Preferred Securities (see Liquidity and Capital Resources section
below).  The net proceeds of this offering were used to fund, in part, the
acquisition of BT Variable, Inc.

On April 3, 1997, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II, a
consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, issued $50,000,000 of
8.424% Capital Securities (see Liquidity and Capital Resources section below).
The company utilized the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate
purposes including, but not limited to, investments in its subsidiaries.

EQUITY

At September 30, 1997, stockholders' equity was $1,016,896,000, or $31.74 per
share, compared to $895,799,000 or $28.00 per common share at year end 1996.
Unrealized appreciation of available for sale fixed maturity securities
increased stockholders' equity by $136,253,000, or $4.25 per share, after
adjustments to deferred acquisition costs and deferred income taxes, at
September 30, 1997 compared to an increase of $76,387,000 or $2.38 per share
at December 31, 1996.  The ratio of consolidated debt to total capital was
16.8% (15.4% excluding SFAS No. 115) at September 30, 1997, compared to 16.7%
(17.8% excluding SFAS No. 115) at year-end 1996.  At September 30, 1997,
there were 32,067,735 common shares outstanding compared to 31,988,410 shares
at December 31, 1996.

The effects of inflation and changing prices on the company are not material
since insurance assets and liabilities are both primarily monetary and remain
in balance.  An effect of inflation, which has been low in recent years, is a
decline in purchasing power when monetary assets exceed monetary liabilities.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
_______________________________

The liquidity requirements of the company's subsidiaries are met by cash flow
from annuity and insurance premiums, investment income, and maturities of
fixed maturity investments and mortgage loans.  The company primarily uses
funds for the payment of annuity and insurance benefits, operating expenses
and commissions, and the purchase of new investments.

The company's home office operations are currently housed in a leased 200,000
square foot office building in downtown Des Moines, Iowa which houses all of
the company's Des Moines based home office operations, a leased location in
Wilmington, Delaware and a leased location in New York, New York.  The company
began moving in July 1997 to the new Des Moines location and the majority of
Des Moines operations were moved during the third quarter.  The company
anticipates an additional $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 for fixed assets will be
spent during 1997 for the new location.  In addition, the company intends to
increase its commitment to improve product development, customer service and
operating efficiencies by spending approximately $9,000,000 to $11,000,000
over the next three years on capital needs, primarily for information
technology, as compared to the approximately $5,400,000 spent in 1996.  No
other material capital expenditures are planned.

Equitable has studied its computer software and hardware to determine its
exposure to the change of the century date problem.  The year 2000 date
problem consists of a date format shortcoming where the year is represented
by only two digits causing programs that perform arithmetic operations,
comparisons, or sorting of date fields to yield incorrect results.  The
projected cost of the year 2000 project is approximately $5,000,000 to
$8,000,000.  The work began in 1997 and is expected to be completed during
the second quarter of 1999.  The cost will be directly reflected in the
Statement of Income as incurred.

The company issues short-term debt, including commercial paper notes, for
working capital needs, investment smoothing and to provide short-term
liquidity.  At September 30, 1997, the company had $140,800,000 in commercial
paper notes outstanding, an increase of $36,200,000 from December 31, 1996.
The company's commercial paper is rated A1 by Standard and Poor's, D1 by Duff
& Phelps Credit Rating Co., and P2 by Moody's.  As a result of the merger,
the company is retiring its outstanding commercial paper with funding from an
ING affiliate.

To enhance short term liquidity and back up its outstanding commercial paper
notes, the company maintains a line of credit agreement with several banks.
On May 10, 1996, the company amended its agreement to increase the line of
credit to $300,000,000.  The line of credit was amended on October 22, 1997,
and will expire on December 1, 1997.  The terms of the agreement require the
company to maintain certain adjusted consolidated tangible net worth levels.
"Adjusted consolidated tangible net worth" is defined as consolidated
stockholders' equity, adjusted to exclude the effects of SFAS No. 115, less
intangible assets.  The most restrictive covenant requires the company
maintain adjusted consolidated tangible net worth equal to or in excess of
the sum of (1) $490,000,000, plus (2) 50% of consolidated net income from
January 1, 1995 to the end of the most recent quarter, plus (3) net proceeds
from the issuance of capital stock from January 1, 1995 to the end of the
most recent quarter.  At September 30, 1997, $361,754,000 of retained earnings
were free of restrictions and could be distributed to the company's public
stockholders.

Since Equitable of Iowa Companies is a holding company, funds required to
meet its debt service requirements, dividend payments and other expenses are
primarily provided by its subsidiaries.  On August 12, 1996, Equitable Life
paid a dividend of $24,000,000 to provide additional funding for the
acquisition of Golden American.  The ability of Equitable Life and Golden
American to pay dividends to the parent company is restricted because prior
approval of insurance regulatory authorities is required for payment of
dividends to the stockholder which exceed an annual limitation.  During the
remainder of 1997, Equitable Life and Golden American could pay dividends to
the parent company of approximately $95,363,000 and $2,186,000, respectively,
without prior approval of statutory authorities.  The company's insurance
subsidiaries have maintained adequate statutory capital and surplus and have
not used surplus relief or financial reinsurance, which have come under
scrutiny by many state insurance departments.

The NAIC's risk-based capital requirements require insurance companies to
calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula.  These
requirements are intended to allow insurance regulators to identify
inadequately capitalized insurance companies based upon the type and mixture
of risks inherent in the company's operations.  The formula includes
components for asset risk, liability risk, interest rate exposure and other
factors.  The company's insurance subsidiaries have complied with the NAIC's
risk-based capital reporting requirements.  Amounts reported indicate the
company's insurance subsidiaries have total adjusted capital (as defined in
the requirements) which is well above all required capital levels.

Writing and supporting increased volumes of annuity and insurance business
requires increased amounts of capital and surplus for the company's insurance
operations.  Historically, the company has funded growth in its insurance
operations internally through the retention of earnings.  Increased levels of
growth in recent years have required capital contributions in excess of
amounts generated by operating activities.  In February 1995, the company
issued $100,000,000 of 8.5% notes, maturing on February 15, 2005, receiving
net proceeds of $98,812,000, after expenses.  The company contributed
$50,000,000 of the proceeds to its insurance subsidiaries and applied the
remaining net proceeds to the repayment of outstanding commercial paper
notes.

In order to respond to capital needs, the company will utilize retained
earnings or receive financing from a subsidiary of ING.

On July 23, 1996, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust (the "Trust"), a
consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable, issued $125,000,000 of
its 8.70% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities").
Concurrent with the issuance of the Trust's Preferred Securities, Equitable
issued to the Trust $128,866,000 in principal amount of its 8.70%
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debt Securities") due July
30, 2026.  The sole assets of the Trust are and will remain the Debt
Securities and any accrued interest thereon.  The interest and other payment
dates on the Debt Securities correspond to the distribution and other payment
dates on the Preferred Securities.  The Debt Securities mature on July 30,
2026, with an option to extend the maturity an additional 19 years, and are
redeemable by Equitable, in whole or in part, beginning July 30, 2001.  The
Preferred Securities will mature or be called simultaneously with the Debt
Securities.  The Preferred Securities have a liquidation value of $25 per
Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid distributions.  As of September
30, 1997, 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Securities were outstanding.

Equitable has obligations under the Debt Securities, the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement, the Declaration of Trust, as amended, and the Indenture,
as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture.  These obligations, when
considered together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by
Equitable of the Trust's obligations under the Preferred Securities.  Net
proceeds of approximately $120,305,000 from the issuance of $125,000,000 of
Preferred Securities were used to fund, in part, the acquisition of BT
Variable, a New York Corporation who owns all the outstanding capital stock
of Golden American Life Insurance Company and Directed Services, Inc.
 
As discussed above, on August 13, 1996, Equitable acquired all of the
outstanding capital stock of BT Variable from Whitewood, pursuant to the
terms of the Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 1996 between Equitable and
Whitewood.  In exchange for the outstanding capital stock of BT Variable,
Equitable paid $93,000,000 in cash to Whitewood in accordance with the terms
of the Purchase Agreement.  Equitable also paid $51,000,000 in cash to
Bankers Trust to retire certain debt owed by BT Variable to Bankers Trust
pursuant to a revolving credit arrangement.  The funds used in completing the
acquisition were obtained primarily through the July 1996 offering of
securities undertaken by the Trust, the proceeds of which were loaned to
Equitable in exchange for subordinated debentures issued by Equitable to the
Trust.  Additional funds were provided by reducing short-term investments of
Equitable and its insurance subsidiaries.  Funds provided by Equitable's
insurance subsidiaries were transferred to Equitable in the form of dividends
paid.  Subsequent to the acquisition, the name BT Variable, Inc. was changed
to EIC Variable, Inc. ("EIC Variable").  On April 30, 1997, EIC Variable, was
liquidated and its investment in Golden American and DSI were transferred to
Equitable while the remainder of its net assets were contributed to Golden
American.

On April 3, 1997, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II (the "Trust
II"), a consolidated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable, issued
$50,000,000 of its 8.424% Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities").
Concurrent with the issuance of the Trust II's Capital Securities, Equitable
issued to the Trust II $50,000,000 in principal amount, of its 8.424%
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") due April 1,
2027.  The sole assets of the Trust II are and will remain the Debentures and
any accrued interest theron.  The interest and other payment dates on the
Debentures correspond to the distribution and other payment dates on the
Capital Securities.  The Debentures mature on April 1, 2027, and are
redeemable by Equitable, in whole, at the occurrence of a special event.  The
Capital Securities will mature or be called simultaneously with the
Debentures.  The Capital Securities have a liquidation value of $1,000 per
security plus accrued and unpaid distributions.  As of September 30, 1997,
50,000 shares of Capital Securities were outstanding.

Equitable has obligations under the Debentures, the Capital Securities
Agreement, the Declaration of Trust, as amended, and the Indenture, as
amended by the First Supplemental Indenture.  These obligations, when
considered together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by
Equitable of the Trust II's obligations under the Capital Securities.

The company utilized the net proceeds of approximately $49,237,000 from the
issuance of Capital Securities for general corporate purposes including, but
not limited to, investments in its subsidiaries.

TRANSACTION:  On October 23, 1997, Equitable of Iowa Companies ("Equitable")
shareholders approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger Agreement")
dated as of July 7, 1997, between Equitable, PFHI Holdings, Inc. ("PFHI"),
and ING Groep N.V. ("ING").  On October 24, 1997, PFHI, a Delaware
corporation, acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Equitable
pursuant to the Merger Agreement.  PFHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING,
a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands.
Equitable, an Iowa corporation, in turn, owns all the outstanding capital
stock of Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa and Golden American Life
Insurance Company and their wholly-owned subsidiaries.  Equitable also owns
all the outstanding capital stock of Locust Street Securities, Inc.,
Equitable Investment Services, Inc., Directed Services, Inc., Equitable of
Iowa Companies Capital Trust, Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II
and Equitable of Iowa Securities Network, Inc.  In exchange for the
outstanding capital stock of Equitable, ING will pay total consideration of
approximately $2,200,000,000 in cash and stock plus the assumption of
approximately $400,000,000 in debt according to the Merger Agreement.  As a
result of the merger, Equitable of Iowa Companies was merged into PFHI which
was simultaneously renamed Equitable of Iowa Companies, Inc.

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT:  The merger will be accounted for as a purchase
resulting in a new basis of accounting, reflecting estimated fair values for
assets and liabilities for Equitable and its subsidiaries as of the date of
the merger.  The excess of the total acquisition cost over the fair value of
the net assets acquired will be recorded as goodwill.

The company intends to continue growing its insurance operations.  Future
growth in the company's insurance operations may require additional capital.
Sources of additional capital include the retention of earnings and as a
result of the recent merger, other capital resources from affiliates will be
available.

The company's insurance subsidiaries operate under the regulatory scrutiny of
each of the state insurance departments supervising business activities in
the states where each company is licensed.  The company is not aware of any
current recommendations by these regulatory authorities which, if they were
to be implemented, would have a material effect on the company's liquidity,
capital resources or operations.

INSURANCE INDUSTRY ISSUES
_________________________

The company's insurance subsidiaries are assessed contributions by life and
health guaranty associations in almost all states to indemnify policyholders
of failed companies.  In several states the company may reduce premium taxes
paid to recover a portion of assessments paid to the states' guaranty fund
association.  This right of "offset" may come under review by the various
states, and the company cannot predict whether and to what extent legislative
initiatives may affect this right to offset.  Also, some state guaranty
associations have adjusted the basis by which they assess the cost of
insolvencies to individual companies.  The company believes its reserve for
future guaranty fund assessments is sufficient to provide for assessments
related to known insolvencies.  This reserve is based upon management's
current expectation of the availability of this right of offset, known
insolvencies and state guaranty fund assessment bases.  However, changes in
the basis whereby assessments are charged to individual companies and changes
in the availability of the right to offset assessments against premium tax
payments could materially affect the company's results.

Currently, the company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and
supervision by the states in which they are admitted to transact business.
State insurance laws generally establish supervisory agencies with broad
administrative and supervisory powers related to granting and revoking
licenses to transact business, establishing guaranty fund associations,
licensing agents, market conduct, approving policy forms, regulating premium
rates for some lines of business, establishing reserve requirements,
prescribing the form and content of required financial statements and
reports, determining the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and
surplus and regulating the type and amount of investments permitted.

The insurance regulatory framework continues to be scrutinized by various
states, the federal government and the NAIC.  The NAIC, in conjunction with
state regulators reviews existing insurance laws and regulations on a
continuing basis.

A task force of the NAIC is currently undertaking a project to codify a
comprehensive set of statutory insurance accounting rules and regulations.
This project is not expected to be completed earlier than 1999.  Specific
recommendations have been set forth in papers issued by the NAIC for industry
review.  The company is monitoring and, through an industry trade association,
actively participating in this process, but the potential impact of any
changes in insurance accounting standards is not yet known.

In 1995, the NAIC adopted Guideline XXXIII, which, based upon liabilities at
December 31, 1996, requires the company to increase annuity reserves in its
statutory financial statements by approximately $23,000,000.  The company has
received approval from the Iowa and Oklahoma insurance departments for a
three year phase in.  The 1996 statutory financial statements included an
increase in fixed annuity reserves of approximately $7,200,000 pursuant to
the requirements of the guideline.  The quarterly statutory financial
statements include an increase in annuity reserves of approximately
$2,202,000 pursuant to the requirements of the guideline for the nine months
ended September 30, 1997.  The guideline has no effect on financial statements
prepared in accordance with GAAP.

There has been increased scrutiny by insurance regulators and the insurance
industry itself of insurance sales and marketing activities.  New rules for
life insurance illustrations have been adopted as a model regulation by the
NAIC.  Many states have adopted the regulation effective January 1, 1997, and
an NAIC committee has begun to work on the issue of annuity marketing.  The
company conducts an ongoing thorough review of its sales and marketing process
and continues to emphasize its compliance efforts.

Legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding changes in the regulation of
banks and other financial services businesses and restructuring of the federal
income tax system could, if adopted and depending on the form they take, have
an adverse impact on the company by altering the competitive environment for
its products.  The outcome and timing of any such changes cannot be
anticipated at this time, but the company will continue to monitor
developments in order to respond to any opportunities or increased competition
that may occur.

ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
_________________________________

EARNINGS PER SHARE:  In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board issued Statement No. 128, "Earnings per Share", which is required to be
adopted on December 31, 1997.  At that time the company will be required to
disclose both basic earnings per share and fully diluted earnings per share
on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial
statements.  The impact of the fully-diluted earnings per share would dilute
primary earnings per share by approximately $0.02 and $0.01 per share for the
third quarters of 1997 and 1996, respectively, and $0.06 and $0.05 per share
for the first nine months of 1997 and 1996, respectively.

DERIVATIVES:  On June 20, 1996, the FASB issued an exposure draft of its
Proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards "Accounting for
Derivative and Similar Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities".  This
proposed standard, if adopted in the form presented in the exposure draft,
would establish accounting and reporting standards for derivative and other
similar financial instruments and for hedging activities which are
significantly different than practices currently used by the company and
others.  The proposed standard would require the recognition of all
derivatives in the statement of financial condition and would require that
these instruments be measured at fair value.  Changes in the fair value of the
derivative would be recorded in the enterprise's Statement of Income in the
period of change.  If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be
designated as (1) a fair value hedge, (2) a cash flow hedge, or (3) a foreign
currency hedge.  Changes in fair value of derivatives designated as fair
value hedges would be recognized in earnings in the period of change along
with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item.  For a derivative
designated as a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss from changes in fair value
would be reported as a component of other comprehensive income (see below)
outside of earnings in the period of change and recognized in earnings on the
projected date of the forecasted transaction.  Changes in fair value of
foreign currency hedges would also be reported in other comprehensive income
to the extent they offset foreign currency transaction gain or loss.  Any
excess gain or loss from changes in fair value of the foreign currency hedge
would be recognized in earnings.  In most cases, the criteria which must be
met to qualify for "hedge" treatment are very restrictive and would preclude
many common hedging practices in use today.  Because of this concern, and the
significant volatility in earnings and stockholders' equity which would
result from application of the accounting required by the proposed standard,
FASB received a large number of comment letters regarding this proposal, most
of which were critical of the approach proposed by FASB.  As a result of this
and other aspects of FASB's procedural requirements for adoption of a new
SFAS,  FASB has announced various modifications to the accounting and
reporting requirements proposed in the exposure draft.  Many of these
modifications are directed at easing restrictions on hedge accounting and
correcting technical problems with the exposure draft.  The impact on the
company's financial statements of any change in accounting for derivatives
cannot be estimated until the final form of such requirements is known.

On January 28, 1997, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted
new disclosure rules for derivative financial instruments.  The new rules
require expanded disclosure of accounting policies for derivatives in
footnotes to financial statements, as well as disclosure of quantitative and
qualitative information concerning market risk of derivatives and other
financial instruments to be presented outside the financial statements.
Quantitative disclosures regarding market risk sensitive instruments may be
presented as: 1) a tabular presentation of fair value information and
contract terms, 2) a sensitivity analysis presenting potential losses in
future earnings, fair values or cash flows from hypothetical changes in
market rates and prices, or 3) a value at risk presentation of the potential
loss in future earnings, fair values or cash flows from market movements over
a stated period of time and related probability of such loss.  The company
will be required to provide the new disclosures for the first time in its
financial statements and Form 10K for the period ended December 31, 1998,
although the SEC has indicated it expects the expanded accounting policy
disclosures in current filings.  The company has provided disclosures in its
footnotes and Management's Discussion and Analysis which comply with the
accounting policy disclosure requirements in addition to much of the required
quantitative disclosures.  The company is analyzing the rules for additional
requirements and will provide required disclosures no later than in its
December 31, 1998 financial statements.

GUARANTY FUND ASSESSMENTS:  On December 5, 1996, the American Institute of
CPAs ("AICPA") issued an exposure draft of its Proposed Statement of Position
on "Accounting for Guaranty-Fund Assessments".  This proposed standard
provides: (1) guidance for determining when an insurance enterprise should
recognize a liability for guaranty fund and other assessments; (2) guidance
on how to measure the liability and allows discounting the liability, if the
amount and timing of the cash payments are fixed and reliably determinable;
(3) criteria for when an asset may be recognized for a portion or all of the
assessment liability or paid assessment that can be recovered through premium
tax offsets or policy surcharges; and (4) requirements for disclosure of
certain information.  The company's liability established for guaranty fund
assessments and related premiums tax offset at September 30, 1997 is
undiscounted and adequately reserves for guaranty fund assessments based upon
the Proposal as currently written.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:  In June 1997, FASB issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income".
Comprehensive income is defined as "the change in equity of a business
enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and
circumstances from nonowner sources.  It includes all changes in equity
during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and
distributions to owners".  Comprehensive income will be reported in either
one or two statements of financial performance and an enterprise will be
required to report an amount representing total comprehensive income.  In
addition to items currently reported in net income, comprehensive income
would include in other comprehensive income such items as changes in fair
value of fixed maturity securities designated as available for sale, changes
in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow or foreign currency
hedges and unrecognized assets or liabilities of pension plans pursuant to
SFAS No. 87. This new standard will not change the company's reported net
income but will increase the prominence of changes in the items listed above.
This proposal is expected to cause increased volatility in stockholders'
equity primarily due to fluctuations in the fair value of derivatives not
currently reflected in equity.  The new standard is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 1997.  Reclassification of financial
statements for prior periods provided for comparable purposes is required.

SEGMENT DISCLOSURES:  In June 1997, FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information".  This statement
establishes standards for reporting about operating segments and products and
services, geographic areas and major customers in a company's public
financial statements.  Segments are to be defined consistent with the basis
management uses internally to assess performance and allocate resources.
Segment disclosures include segment profit or loss, certain revenue and
expense items and segment assets.  This statement will be effective for
periods beginning after December 15, 1997.  In the initial year of
application, comparative information for earlier years is to be restated.

LITIGATION:  USG is a defendant in a class action complaint filed in the
state circuit court of Kentucky in September 1997.  The suit claims
unspecified damages and injunctive relief as a result of alleged improper
actions related to the interest rate adjustment provisions of USG's fixed
annuity contracts.  The company believes the allegations are without merit.
The case has been removed to Federal Court in the Northern District of
Kentucky.  The original plaintiff putative class representative has been
joined by an additional named plaintiff who claims also to be a class
representative.  The suit is in the early procedural stage.  The company
intends to defend the suit vigorously, including vigorously contesting its
class action status.  ING advised the company this litigation would not
effect the terms or closing of the merger between Equitable and a subsidiary
of ING.  The amount of any liability which may arise as a result of this
suit, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated and no provision for loss has
been made in the accompanying financial statements.

The company has entered into a proposed settlement of two related and
virtually identical class-action lawsuits regarding alleged improper life
insurance sales practices.  The company denies the allegations in these class-
action lawsuits, but entered into this settlement to limit additional expense
and burden on the company's operations.  The class-action lawsuits were filed
in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa
Division) in February of 1996, and in the Superior Court of Arizona (Pima
County) in July of 1997.  Subject to the approval of the federal court in the
Florida action and the Arizona court in the Arizona action, hearings
regarding final approval of the settlement are anticipated to be scheduled
during the fourth quarter of 1997 or the first quarter of 1998.  Two
different but related class-action lawsuits are also pending against the
company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegany County, Pennsylvania, and
the District Court for Bexar County Texas.  These two class-action lawsuits,
filed in June of 1996 and April of 1996, respectively, are still pending, but
the company expects the claims asserted therein to be resolved as a part of
the proposed settlement in the Florida and Arizona actions.

During the second quarter of 1997, the company accrued a pre-tax expense of
approximately $20,495,000 for policy liabilities and administrative and other
costs anticipated with the proposed settlement.  Owners of approximately
130,000 universal and whole life insurance policies issued by the company
from 1984 through 1996 may be eligible to receive the following benefits
provided by the proposed settlement: 1) one-time enhancement to the interest
component of the policy; 2) one-time enhancement to the dividend component of
the policy; 3) optional premium loans that would allow policyholders to
borrow at reduced rates; 4) enhanced value deferred annuities to holders of
affected policies; 5) enhanced value immediate annuities to affected
policyholders; and 6) enhanced value life policies to affected policyholders.
In addition, the proposed settlement provides Individual Claim-Review Relief
(an arbitration-type process) for policyholders who believe they may have
been misled or otherwise harmed in connection with their policies.

In the ordinary course of business, the company and its subsidiaries are also
engaged in certain other litigation, none of which management believes is
material.



































CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
_________________________________________________________

Any forward-looking statement contained herein or in any other oral or
written statement by the company or any of its officers, directors or
employees is qualified by the fact that actual results of the company may
differ materially from such statement due to the following important factors,
among other risks and uncertainties inherent in the company's business:

1. Prevailing interest rate levels which may affect the ability of the
   company to sell its products, the market value of the company's
   investments and the lapse rate of the company's policies, notwithstanding
   product design features intended to enhance persistency of the company's
   products.

2. Changes in the federal income tax laws and regulations which may affect
   the relative tax advantages of advantages of the company's products.

3. Changes in the regulation of financial services, including bank sales and
   underwriting of insurance products, which may affect the competitive
   environment for the company's products.

4. Increasing competition in the sale of the company's products.

5. Other factors affecting the performance of the company, including, but
   not limited to, market conduct claims and other litigation (including the
   matters described above in "Accounting and Legal Developments -
   Litigation" section), insurance industry insolvencies, stock market
   performance, investment performance of the underlying portfolios of the
   variable products, variable product design and sales volume by
   significant sellers of the company's variable products.





























                       PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      USG is a defendant in a class action complaint filed in the state
      circuit court of Kentucky in September 1997.  The suit claims
      unspecified damages and injunctive relief as a result of alleged
      improper actions related to the interest rate adjustment provisions of
      USG's fixed annuity contracts.  The company believes the allegations
      are without merit. The case has been removed to Federal Court in the
      Northern District of Kentucky.  The original plaintiff putative class
      representative has been joined by an additional named plaintiff who
      claims also to be a class representative.  The suit is in the early
      procedural stage.  The company intends to defend the suit vigorously,
      including vigorously contesting its class action status.  ING advised
      the company this litigation would not effect the terms or closing of
      the merger between Equitable and a subsidiary of ING.  The amount of
      any liability which may arise as a result of this suit, if any, cannot
      be reasonably estimated and no provision for loss has been made in the
      accompanying financial statements.
      
      The company has entered into a proposed settlement of two related and
      virtually identical class-action lawsuits regarding alleged improper
      life insurance sales practices.  The company denies the allegations in
      these class-action lawsuits, but entered into this settlement to limit
      additional expense and burden on the company's operations.  The class-
      action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the
      Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division) in February of 1996, and
      in the Superior Court of Arizona (Pima County) in July of 1997.
      Subject to the approval of the federal court in the Florida action and
      the Arizona court in the Arizona action, hearings regarding final
      approval of the settlement are anticipated to be scheduled during the
      fourth quarter of 1997 or the first quarter of 1998.  Two different
      but related class-action lawsuits are also pending against the company
      in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegany County, Pennsylvania, and the
      District Court for Bexar County Texas.  These two class-action
      lawsuits, filed in June of 1996 and April of 1996, respectively, are
      still pending, but the company expects the claims asserted therein to
      be resolved as a part of the proposed settlement in the Florida and
      Arizona actions.
      
      During the second quarter of 1997, the company accrued a pre-tax
      expense of approximately $20,495,000 for policy liabilities and
      administrative and other costs anticipated with the proposed
      settlement.  Owners of approximately 130,000 universal and whole life
      insurance policies issued by the company from 1984 through 1996 may be
      eligible to receive the following benefits provided by the proposed
      settlement: 1) one-time enhancement to the interest component of the
      policy; 2) one-time enhancement to the dividend component of the
      policy; 3) optional premium loans that would allow policyholders to
      borrow at reduced rates; 4) enhanced value deferred annuities to
      holders of affected policies; 5) enhanced value immediate annuities to
      affected policyholders; and 6) enhanced value life policies to
      affected policyholders.  In addition, the proposed settlement provides
      Individual Claim-Review Relief (an arbitration-type process) for
      policyholders who believe they may have been misled or otherwise
      harmed in connection with their policies.
      
      In the ordinary course of business, the company and its subsidiaries
      are also engaged in certain other litigation, none of which management
      believes is material.

Item 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         (a)  Exhibits

              A list of exhibits included as part of this report is set forth
              in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits
              and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

         (b)  The following reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter
              ended September 30, 1997:

              (i)  The company's report on Form 8-K filed July 10, 1997,
                   containing the Press Release regarding the company's
                   agreement to merge with ING Groep N.V.

             (ii)  The company's report on Form 8-K filed July 11, 1997,
                   containing the company's Agreement and Plan of Merger with
                   ING Groep N.V.

            (iii)  The company's report on Form 8-K filed September 16, 1997,
                   containing the company's Press Release regarding the class
                   action complaint filed against USG, a subsidiary of
                   Equitable.

             (iv)  The company's report on Form 8-K filed September 25, 1997,
                   containing the company's Press Release regarding the
                   declaration by the company's board of directors of a regular
                   quarterly dividend.































                                  SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



DATE:  November 13, 1997                EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES, INC.
                                        A Delaware corporation as successor to
                                        Equitable of Iowa Companies, an Iowa
                                        corporation.





                                        By /s/  Paul E. Larson
                                           _________________________________
                                        Executive Vice President and CFO
                                        (Principal Financial Officer)



                                        By /s/  David A. Terwilliger
                                           _________________________________
                                        Vice President, Treasurer and
                                        Controller
                                        (Principal Accounting Officer)





























                                   
                                   INDEX

                            Exhibits to Form 10-Q
                     Nine Months ended September 30, 1997
                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES

2    PLAN OF ACQUISITION
     (a)     Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 1996, between 
             Equitable and Whitewood Properties Corp. (incorporated by 
             reference from Exhibit 2 in Form 8-K filed August 28, 1996) 

     (b)     Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 7, 1997, among
             ING Groep N.V., PFHI Holdings, Inc. and Equitable (incorporated
             by reference from Exhibit 2 in Form 8-K filed July 11, 1997)
             
3    ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS
     (a)     Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended through April 29,
             1993, filed as Exhibit 3(a) to Form 10-Q for the period ended 
             June 30, 1993, is incorporated by reference 

     (b)     Amended and restated By-Laws filed as Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K dated
             November 11, 1991, is incorporated by reference 

4    INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
     (a)     Letter Agreement to furnish Commission upon request copies of 
             other long-term debt instruments 

     (b)(i)  Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 1 to Form 8-K dated April 30, 
             1992, is incorporated by reference   

       (ii)  First amendment to Rights Agreement changing Rights Agent filed 
             as Exhibit 4(b)(ii) to Form 10-Q for the period ended September
             30, 1992, is incorporated by reference

      (iii)  Second amendment to Rights Agreement dated April 29, 1993, 
             adjusting Purchase Price filed as Exhibit 2.2 to Form 8-A/A dated
             May 13, 1993, is incorporated by reference

       (iv)  Third Amendment to Rights Agreement dated June 16, 1997, changing
             Rights Agent filed as Exhibit 1 to Form 8-K dated June 16, 1997,
             is incorporated by reference

        (v)  Fourth Amendment to Rights Agreement dated September 18, 1997,
             amending rights agreement to restrict applicability to pending
             merger transaction, filed as Exhibit 2(g)(v) to Form 8-A/A dated
             September 19, 1997

     (c)(i)  Indenture dated as of January 17, 1995 by and between Equitable
             of Iowa Companies and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
             Trustee, relating to the company's $100,000,000 of 8.5% Notes 
             due 2005 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the 
             company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 
             33-57343 filed January 18, 1995)

       (ii)  Form of Global 8.5% Note dated February 22, 1995 due February 
             15, 2005 in the principal amount of $100,000,000 (incorporated 
             by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to the company's Report on Form 
             8-K filed February 15, 1995)


                                   INDEX

                            Exhibits to Form 10-Q
                     Nine Months ended September 30, 1997
                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES    

      (iii)  Form of First Supplemental Indenture dated July 18, 1996, 
             including therein the Form of Subordinated Deferrable Interest 
             Debenture, relating to the company's $128,866,000 of 8.70% 
             Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (incorporated by 
             reference from Exhibit 4.7.1 to the company's Report on Form 
             8-K filed July 3, 1996)

       (iv)  Form of Second Supplemental Indenture dated October 24, 1997,
             relating to the assumption of the company's Indenture Securities
             by PFHI Holdings, Inc.

        (v)  Form of Indenture dated March 31, 1997, including therein the 
             Form of Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture, relating to
             the company's $51,550,000 of 8.424% Subordinated Deferrable
             Interest Debentures (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1
             to the company's Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 1997)

       (vi)  Form of First Supplemental Indenture dated October 24, 1997, 
             relating to the assumption of the company's Debentures by PFHI
             Holdings, Inc.

     (d)(i)  Certificate of Trust of Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust
             (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.8 to the company's
             Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 333-1909
             filed March 22, 1996)

        (ii) Certificate of Trust of Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust
             II (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the company's
             Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 1997)

     (e)(i)  Declaration of Trust of Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust
             (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.9 to the company's
             Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 333-1909 
             filed March 22, 1996)

       (ii)  Form of First Amendment to Declaration of Trust of Equitable of 
             Iowa Companies Capital Trust dated July 18, 1996, including
             therein the form of Preferred Securities, relating to
             $125,000,000 of Trust Originated Preferred Securities issued by
             Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust (incorporated by
             reference from Exhibit 4.9.1 to the company's Report on Form 8-K
             filed July 3, 1996)

      (iii)  Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Equitable of Iowa
             Companies Capital Trust II dated March 31, 1997, including therein
             the form of Capital Securities, relating to $50,000,000 of Trust
             Originated Capital Capital Securities issued by Equitable of Iowa
             Companies Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
             4.3 to the company's Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 1997)





                                   INDEX

                            Exhibits to Form 10-Q
                     Nine Months ended September 30, 1997
                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES    
     
     (f)(i)  Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement by Equitable of
             Iowa Companies dated July 18, 1996 relating to $125,000,000 of
             Trust Originated Preferred Securities issued by Equitable of Iowa
             Companies Capital Trust (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
             4.10 to the company's Report on Form 8-K filed July 3, 1996)

        (ii) Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated April 3,
             1997 relating to $50,000,000 of Trust Originated Capital
             Securities issued by Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II
             (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.5 to the company's 
             Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 1997)                      

10   MATERIAL CONTRACTS
     (a)     Executive compensation plans and arrangements *

        (i)  Restated Executive Severance Pay Plan filed as Exhibit 10(a)(i)
             to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, is
             incorporated by reference
                          
       (ii)  Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan filed as Exhibit 10(b) to
             Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989, is incorporated
             by reference 

      (iii)  1982 Stock Incentive Plan filed as Exhibit 10(c) to Form 10-K for
             the year ended December 31, 1989, is incorporated by reference

       (iv)  Excess Benefit Plan filed as Exhibit 10(d) to Form 10-K for the
             year ended December 31, 1989, is incorporated by reference

        (v)  Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan filed as Exhibit 10(e) to
             Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989, is incorporated
             by reference

       (vi)  Executive Flexible Perquisite Program filed as Exhibit 10(f) to
             Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992, is incorporated
             by reference

      (vii)  Restated and Amended Key Employee Incentive Plan filed as Exhibit
             A of Registrant's Proxy Statement dated March 14, 1995, is
             incorporated by reference

     (viii)  Restated and Amended 1992 Stock Incentive Plan Registration
             Statement No. 33-57492, filed as Exhibit B of Registrant's Proxy
             Statement dated March 14, 1995, is incorporated by reference
   
       (ix)  1996 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit A
             of Registrant's Proxy Statement dated April 25, 1996, is
             incorporated by reference

             * Management contracts or compensation plans required to be filed
               as an Exhibit pursuant to Item 14(c) of Form 10(K).

11   STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS                    

                                   INDEX

                            Exhibits to Form 10-Q
                     Nine Months ended September 30, 1997
                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES    

21   SUBSIDIARIES LIST                                                  

23   CONSENT OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

     (a) Consent of independent auditors (not required)                 
     (b) Consent of counsel (not required)                              

27   FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE (ELECTRONIC FILING ONLY)                   

99   ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS

     Independence Policy filed as an Exhibit to Form 8-K dated November 11,
     1991, is incorporated by reference                             










































                                                               Exhibit 4(a)





November 13, 1997

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street NW
Washington, DC  20549

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The company agrees to furnish the Commission upon request copies of the
following long-term debt instruments:

1.    Credit Agreement, as amended, between Equitable of Iowa Companies and
      Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent, and the Bank of
      New York, as Administrative Agent, and participating banks, dated May
      10, 1996, re:  line of credit in amount of $300,000,000.



Very truly yours,

/s/  Paul E. Larson

Paul E. Larson
Executive Vice President and CFO
Equitable of Iowa Companies
































                                                            Exhibit 4(c)(iv)


                        SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                        Dated as of October 24, 1997


                                   among


                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES


                             PFHI HOLDINGS, INC.


                                    and


               THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Trustee


                                    to


                                 INDENTURE


           Dated as of January 17, 1995, as amended and supplemented
         by the FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of July 18, 1996


                                  between


                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES


                                    and


               THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Trustee











     SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of October 24, 1997 (the "Second
Supplemental Indenture") by and among Equitable of Iowa Companies, an Iowa
corporation (the "Issuer"), PFHI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Successor Company"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), under the Indenture dated as
of January 17, 1995 between the Issuer and the Trustee, as amended and
supplemented (the "Indenture").

     WHEREAS, the Issuer executed and delivered the Indenture to the Trustee
to provide for the future issuance of the Issuer's unsecured debt securities
(the "Securities") to be issued from time to time in one or more series as
might be determined by the Issuer in an unlimited aggregate principal amount
which may be authenticated and delivered as provided in the Indenture;

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Issuer established,
and on February 22, 1995 issued, a series of Securities known as its 8-1/2%
Notes due 2005 (the "1995 Notes"), the form and substance of such 1995 Notes
and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof set forth as provided in the
Indenture and an Officer's Certificate dated as of February 14, 1995;

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of Indenture, the Issuer established, and
on July 23, 1996 issued, a series of Securities known as its 8.70%
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2026 (the "1996 Debentures",
and together with the 1995 Notes, the "Indenture Securities"), the form and
substance of such 1996 Debentures and the terms, provisions and conditions
thereof set forth as provided in the Indenture and the First Supplemental
Indenture dated as of July 18,1996 between the Issuer and the Trustee (the
"First Supplemental Indenture");

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July
7, 1997 by and among the Issuer, the Successor Company and ING Groep N.V.
("ING"), the Issuer will be merged with and into the Successor Company (the
"Merger") on October 24, 1997 (the "Effective Date"), with the Successor
Company being the survivor of the Merger;

     WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the Indenture provides, among other things, that
the Issuer will not merge or consolidate with any other person unless: (i)
either the Issuer shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor
person shall be a person organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly
assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the
Securities and the performance of every covenant of the Indenture on the part
of the Issuer to be performed or observed; and (ii) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, no event of default with respect to the
Securities, or event that after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
become an event of default with respect  to the Securities, shall have
occurred and be continuing;

     WHEREAS, Section 9.2 of the Indenture provides that in the case of any
such merger in accordance with Section 9.1, and following such assumption by
the successor,  such successor shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Issuer with the same effect as if it had been named in the Indenture, and the
Issuer shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the
Indenture;

     WHEREAS, Section 8.1(c) of the Indenture provides, among other things,
that without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities, the Issuer,
when authorized by resolution by its Board of Directors, and the Trustee may
from time to time and at any time enter into a supplemental indenture to,
among other things, evidence the succession of another entity to the Issuer
and the assumption by the successor entity of the covenants, agreements and
obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture;

     WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Successor Company, by due corporate action,
have determined to execute this Second Supplemental Indenture whereby the
Successor Company will assume the due and punctual payment of the principal
of and interest on the Indenture Securities and the performance of every
covenant of the Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or
observed with respect to the Indenture Securities; and

     WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Second Supplemental Indenture
a valid, binding and legal agreement have been performed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and other
valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
Issuer and the Successor Company covenant and agree with the Trustee, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all the holders of the Indenture
Securities, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I

               ASSUMPTION OF THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES

     Section 1.1    ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.  As of the Effective Date,
contemporaneous with the Merger, the Successor Company does hereby assume the
due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all of the
Indenture Securities and the performance of every covenant of the Indenture
on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed with respect to the
Indenture Securities.

                                  ARTICLE II

                              CLOSING DOCUMENTS

     Section 2.1    DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE.  In accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall receive from
the Issuer prior to the Effective Date an Officer's Certificate certifying
that the Merger and this Second Supplemental Indenture comply with the
requirements of the Indenture, and an Opinion of Counsel, each satisfying the
provisions of Section 11.5 of the Indenture.

                                 ARTICLE III

                                MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 3.1    TRUSTEE'S ACCEPTANCE.  The Trustee accepts the provisions
of this Second Supplemental Indenture upon the terms and conditions set forth
in the Indenture; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing acceptance shall not
make the Trustee responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of
recitals or statements by other parties herein.

     Section 3.2    INDENTURE TO REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.  Except as
herein expressly provided, the Indenture, is in all respects ratified and
confirmed and all its terms, provisions and conditions shall be and remain in
full force and effect.

     Section 3.3    RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.  All recitals in this Second
Supplemental Indenture are made by the Issuer and the Successor Company only
and not by the Trustee.  All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in
respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the
Trustee shall be applicable in respect hereof as fully and with like effect
as if set forth herein in full.

     Section 3.4    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  All covenants and agreements in
this Second Supplemental Indenture made by the Issuer and the Successor
Company shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.

     Section 3.5    NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER.  Any notice or demand
which by any provision of this Second Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture
is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the
holders of the Indenture Securities to or on the Issuer may be given or
served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as
otherwise specifically provided herein or in the Indenture) addressed (until
another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to:
Equitable of Iowa Companies, Inc., 909 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-
2899; Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

     Section 3.6    CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.  If any provision of
this Second Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by operation of Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
imposed duties shall control.

     Section 3.7    GOVERNING LAW.  This Second Supplemental Indenture shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws, but not
the laws as to conflicts or choice of law, of the State of New York.

     Section 3.8    TITLES, HEADINGS, ETC..  The Article and Section headings
of this Second Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.

     Section 3.9    SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  In case any provision in this
Second Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     Section 3.10   EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS.  This Second Supplemental
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but
one and the same instrument.




















     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date and year first
above written.


                              EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES

                              By:   /s/ Paul E. Larson
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Paul E. Larson
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Executive Vice President and Chief
                                    _______________________________________
                                        Financial Officer
                                    _______________________________________

                              PFHI HOLDINGS, INC.

                              By:   /s/ Jeffrey E. Morrison
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Jeffrey E. Morrison
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Vice President
                                    _______________________________________


                              THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                              as Trustee

                              By:   /s/ Richard D. Manella
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Richard D. Manella
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Vice President
                                    _______________________________________






















[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]







                                                           Exhibit 4(c)(vi)


                         FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                         Dated as of October 24, 1997


                                   among


                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES


                             PFHI HOLDINGS, INC.


                                    and


                THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Trustee


                                    to


                                 INDENTURE


                         Dated as of March 31, 1997


                                  between


                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES


                                    and


                THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Trustee











     FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of October 24, 1997 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture") by and among Equitable of Iowa Companies, an Iowa
corporation (the "Issuer"), PFHI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Successor Company"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), under the Indenture dated as
of March 31, 1997 between the Issuer and the Trustee, as amended and
supplemented (the "Indenture").

     WHEREAS, on April 3, 1997, the Issuer issued $51,550,000 in aggregate
principal amount of 8.424% Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due 2027 (the "Series A 1997 Debentures") pursuant to the terms of
the Indenture;

     WHEREAS, on June 6, 1997, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and an exchange offer made by the Issuer pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of April 3, 1997, the Issuer issued $51,550,000 in
aggregate principal amount of 8.424% Series B Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due 2027 (the "Series B 1997 Debentures") in exchange for
all the outstanding Series A 1997 Debentures, which Series A 1997 Debentures
were thereafter cancelled by the Trustee and returned to the Company;

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July
7, 1997 by and among the Issuer, the Successor Company and ING Groep N.V.
("ING"), the Issuer will be merged with and into the Successor Company (the
"Merger") on October 24, 1997 (the "Effective Date"), with the Successor
Company being the survivor of the Merger;

     WHEREAS, Section 10.01 of the Indenture provides, among other things,
that the Issuer will not merge or consolidate with any other person unless:
(i) either the Issuer shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor
person shall be a person organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly
assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the
Series B 1997 Debentures and the performance of every covenant of the
Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed; and (ii)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no event of default with
respect to the Series B 1997 Debentures, or event that after notice or lapse
of time, or both, would become an event of default with respect  to the
Series B 1997 Debentures, shall have occurred and be continuing;

     WHEREAS, Section 10.02 of the Indenture provides that in the case of any
such merger in accordance with Section 10.01, and following such assumption
by the successor,  such successor shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Issuer with the same effect as if it had been named in the Indenture, and the
Issuer shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the
Indenture;

     WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a) of the Indenture provides, among other things,
that without the consent of the holders of any of the Series B 1997
Debentures, the Issuer, when authorized by resolution by its Board of
Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into a
supplemental indenture to, among other things, evidence the succession of
another entity to the Issuer and the assumption by the successor entity of
the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture;

     WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Successor Company, by due corporate action,
have determined to execute this First Supplemental Indenture whereby the
Successor Company will assume the due and punctual payment of the principal
of and interest on the Series B 1997 Debentures and the performance of every
covenant of the Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or
observed with respect to the Series B 1997 Debentures; and

     WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture
a valid, binding and legal agreement have been performed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and other
valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
Issuer and the Successor Company covenant and agree with the Trustee, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all the holders of the Series B 1997
Debentures, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I

                ASSUMPTION OF THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES

     Section 1.1    ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.  As of the Effective Date,
contemporaneous with the Merger, the Successor Company does hereby assume the
due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all of the
Series B 1997 Debentures and the performance of every covenant of the
Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed with respect
to the Series B 1997 Debentures.

                                  ARTICLE II

                              CLOSING DOCUMENTS

     Section 2.1    DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE.  In accordance with the
provisions of Section 10.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall receive from
the Issuer prior to the Effective Date an Officer's Certificate certifying
that the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture comply with the
requirements of the Indenture, and an Opinion of Counsel, each satisfying the
provisions of Section 13.06 of the Indenture.

                                 ARTICLE III

                                MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 3.1    TRUSTEE'S ACCEPTANCE.  The Trustee accepts the provisions
of this First Supplemental Indenture upon the terms and conditions set forth
in the Indenture; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing acceptance shall not
make the Trustee responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of
recitals or statements by other parties herein.

     Section 3.2    INDENTURE TO REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.  Except as
herein expressly provided, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and
confirmed and all its terms, provisions and conditions shall be and remain in
full force and effect.

     Section 3.3    RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.  All recitals in this First
Supplemental Indenture are made by the Issuer and the Successor Company only
and not by the Trustee.  All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in
respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the
Trustee shall be applicable in respect hereof as fully and with like effect
as if set forth herein in full.

     Section 3.4    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  All covenants and agreements in
this First Supplemental Indenture made by the Issuer and the Successor
Company shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.

     Section 3.5    NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER.  Any notice or demand
which by any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture
is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the
holders of the Series B 1997 Debentures to or on the Issuer may be given or
served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as
otherwise specifically provided herein or in the Indenture) addressed (until
another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to:
Equitable of Iowa Companies, Inc., 909 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-
2899; Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

     Section 3.6    CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.  If any provision of
this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by operation of Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
imposed duties shall control.

     Section 3.7    GOVERNING LAW.  This First Supplemental Indenture shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws, but not
the laws as to conflicts or choice of law, of the State of New York.

     Section 3.8    TITLES, HEADINGS, ETC..  The Article and Section headings
of this First Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.

     Section 3.9    SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  In case any provision in this First
Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     Section 3.10   EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS.  This First Supplemental
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but
one and the same instrument.




























     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date and year first
above written.


                              EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES

                              By:   /s/ Paul E. Larson
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Paul E. Larson
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Executive Vice President and Chief
                                    _______________________________________
                                        Financial Officer
                                    _______________________________________


                              PFHI HOLDINGS, INC.

                              By:   /s/ Jeffrey E. Morrison
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Jeffrey E. Morrison
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Vice President
                                    _______________________________________


                              THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                              as Trustee

                              By:   /s/ Richard D. Manella
                                    _______________________________________
                              Name:     Richard D. Manella
                                    _______________________________________
                              Title:    Vice President
                                    _______________________________________





















[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

                                                                Exhibit 11

                         EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES
                Consolidated Net Income Per Share Computation


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30            September 30
                                 _______________________________________________
                                    1997        1996        1997        1996
                                 ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
                                  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
PRIMARY:

  Net income                        $36,599     $31,695     $90,067     $93,672
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========
  Average shares
   outstanding                   32,056,971  31,935,891  32,040,666  31,880,469
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========
  Net income per share                $1.14       $0.99       $2.81       $2.94
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========

FULLY DILUTED:

  Net income                        $36,599     $31,695     $90,067     $93,672
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========

  Average shares
   outstanding                   32,056,971  31,935,891  32,040,666  31,880,469

  Add: Net effect of dilutive
       stock options - based on
       the treasury stock method
       using period-end market
       price, if higher than
       average market
       price                        703,051     459,612     712,416     484,791
                                 ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
       Total                     32,760,022  32,395,503  32,753,082  32,365,260
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========
Net income per share                  $1.12       $0.98       $2.75       $2.89
                                 =========== =========== =========== ===========
<FN>
NOTE:   This computation is required by Regulation S-K Item 601 and is filed
       as an Exhibit under Item 6(a) of Form 10-Q.  Fully diluted earnings
       per share calculated above has not been presented on the face of the
       company's Consolidated Statements of Income because dilution is less
       than three percent and, therefore, presentation is not required by
       Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15.
</TABLE>





                                                                Exhibit  21




The company's subsidiaries are:

                  Name                                State of Organization
________________________________________________      _____________________

  Equitable Investment Services, Inc.                          Iowa
  Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa                     Iowa
  Equitable of Iowa Securities Network, Inc.                   Iowa
  Locust Street Securities, Inc.                               Iowa
  Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust                  Delaware
  Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II               Delaware
  Golden American Life Insurance Company                     Delaware
  Directed Services, Inc.                                    New York

All are wholly-owned.

USG Annuity & Life Company, an Oklahoma corporation, and Equitable American
Insurance Company, an Iowa corporation, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa.  First Golden American Life
Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation, is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Golden American Life Insurance Company.  In addition, these
entities own other subsidiaries which are not considered in the aggregate to
be a significant subsidiary as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission
rules.

All subsidiaries do business only under their corporate names.




























<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         8,426,489
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      62,058
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,946,989
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   12,929
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              10,784,551
<CASH>                                          32,969
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         762,544
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              14,571,572
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             10,170,239
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             24,267
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  10,657
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           13,270
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                240,800
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        32,068
<OTHER-SE>                                     984,828
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                14,571,572
                                      28,740
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            593,001
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              16,953
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 104,037
<BENEFITS>                                     425,550
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     73,653
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            55,463
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                147,897
<INCOME-TAX>                                    47,946
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             90,067
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    90,067
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.75
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
        




</TABLE>


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