AETNA INCOME SHARES
PRER14A, 1996-04-11
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                                 SCHEDULE 14A
                    Information Required in Proxy Statement

                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of1934
                               (Amendment No. )

Filed by the  Registrant [ X ] 
Filed by a Party other than the  Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
    14a-6(e)(2)  
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement 
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials  
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12
 ..............................................................................
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
                              Aetna Income Shares

    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[  ] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2)
of  Schedule  14A.
[ ] $500 per each  party to the  controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule  
14a-6(i)(3).  
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11

 1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 ..............................................................................
 2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 ..............................................................................
 3) Per unit price or other  underlying  value of  transction
    computed  pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on
    which the filing fee is calculted and state how it was determined):
 ..............................................................................
 4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 ..............................................................................
 5)  Total fee paid:
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[X]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided by Exchange
    Act Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting
    fee was paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration
    statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 1)  Amount Previously Paid:
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 2)  Form, Schedule or Registration StatementNo.:
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 3)  Filing Party:
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 4)  Date Filed:

<PAGE>



                                                              PRELIMINARY COPY

                                [May 1, 1996]


Dear Fellow Shareholders and Contractholders,

     You are  cordially  invited by the Trustees of Aetna  Income  Shares (the
"Fund") to attend a Special  Meeting of  Shareholders on June 17, 1996 at 9:00
a.m. to consider several  recommendations  which are important to you and your
Fund.

     Each of the matters to be voted at this  meeting is reviewed in detail in
the enclosed Notice and Proxy  Statement,  including (i) election of Trustees,
(ii) an amendment to the Declaration of Trust,  (iii) a new advisory agreement
with a change in  investment  advisory  fee paid by the  Fund,  and (iv) a new
sub-advisory  arrangement.  These latter two recommendations are of particular
importance to you.

     Over the past  several  years,  the Aetna  organization  has  conducted a
thorough,  strategic review of its investment operations with the objective of
significantly modernizing and enhancing its capabilities. This review included
an analysis of resources,  pricing strategies and organizational  structure in
comparison  to   competitive   practice  and   customer/market   requirements.
Significant  enhancements have been made to date as a result of this study and
this Special Meeting is to authorize further significant steps in this regard.

     The  investment  advisory fee  currently  paid by your Fund to Aetna Life
Insurance and Annuity Company ("Aetna") has remained unchanged since 1984 and,
according to data prepared by Lipper Analytical Services,  Inc., is the second
lowest  paid  by any of the 19  Corporate  A rated  bond  funds  sold  through
variable insurance contracts it analyzed. During this time period, the expense
required to attract and retain  resources  to achieve  competitive  investment
performance has increased  substantially.  Your Fund's portfolio managers must
monitor an  ever-increasing,  complex and  sophisticated set of securities and
other  financial  instruments  across a broad  range of asset  classes in both
domestic and international markets.

     To respond to these dynamic market  conditions,  over the past two years,
Aetna has made  significant  investments in and enhancements to its investment
advisory  capacity.  A number of highly  qualified and experienced  investment
professionals with a breadth of different  technical expertise have been hired
to manage your Fund under a new  market-competitive  compensation program. New
quantitative  research and analytic  tools have been designed and  implemented
along with  significant  upgrades in data bases,  information  management  and
reporting systems to improve the depth of analysis  capabilities,  reduce risk
and create quicker response time in volatile markets.

     After a comprehensive review of the (i) resources required to effectively
manage your Fund,  (ii) the enhanced  services  provided by Aetna to the Fund,
and (iii) an in-depth analysis of competitive  advisory fees, the Trustees are
recommending  an increase in the management fee paid by the Fund. The Trustees
believe the new advisory contract is fair to you, your Fund and Aetna and will
assure for the future that  essential  financial  resources  are  available to
provide products  responsive to market demands and  competitive,  high quality
advisory services in increasingly complex financial markets.

<PAGE>

     To  further  enhance  the depth and  quality of its  investment  advisory
capabilities and better position itself competitively,  the Aetna organization
has decided to establish a single stand-alone investment management subsidiary
to focus its advisory activities. As part of this strategic initiative,  Aetna
will combine its investment management operations ($22 billion of assets under
management) with another Aetna affiliate,  Aeltus Investment Management,  Inc.
("Aeltus"),  which currently manages approximately $11 billion of total assets
primarily  for pension  account  clients.  The combined  entity will be called
Aeltus,  and it is proposed  that Aeltus be appointed as  sub-advisor  to your
Fund. This business  structure is used by a number of investment  providers in
today's marketplace.

     Aeltus  will  bring to the  combined  entity  more  depth  of  personnel,
additional effective styles of investment management and enhanced research and
quantitative modeling capability. Further, through the combined larger entity,
your Fund will  benefit  from such  things as an  enhanced  ability to execute
securities transactions.

     The Trustees have  carefully  considered  this  combination  of Aetna and
Aeltus  investment  management  operations and unanimously  recommend that you
approve the sub-advisory  agreement with Aeltus. The Trustees believe that the
establishment of a focused, stand-alone investment management entity is in the
best long-term interest of your Fund.

     Your participation in this process is very important. If your contract is
held in Aetna's  Separate  Account D, Aetna has no  authority  to vote  shares
attributable  to your  contract.  Therefore,  if Aetna  does not  receive  any
instructions  from you,  Aetna will abstain from voting these  shares.  If you
cannot  attend  the  meeting,   you  can  vote  by  filing  out  the  enclosed
authorization  card in the postage prepaid envelop provided.  Please complete,
sign, and return the enclosed card so that your shares will be represented. If
you later decide to attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy at that time
and vote your shares in person.

     If you have any  questions  related to the  Special  Meeting  and/or this
proxy, please call us at 1-800-___-____.

Sincerely,


Shaun P. Mathews
President

                                      2
<PAGE>

May 1, 1996                                                    PRELIMINARY COPY



                           NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
                            of the Shareholders of
                              AETNA INCOME SHARES


A Special Meeting of the Shareholders of Aetna Income Shares (the "Fund") will
be held on June 17,  1996,  at 9:00  a.m.,  Eastern  time,  at 151  Farmington
Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06156-8962 for the following purposes:

          1.  to elect nine  Trustees  to serve  until  their  successors  are
              elected and qualified;

          2.  to approve or disapprove a Subadvisory Agreement among the Fund,
              Aetna Life  Insurance  and Annuity  Company  ("Aetna"),  and its
              affiliate, Aeltus Investment Management, Inc.;

          3.  to approve or  disapprove a new  Investment  Advisory  Agreement
              between  the Fund  and  Aetna,  the  Fund's  current  investment
              adviser;

          4.  to approve or disapprove an amendment to the Fund's  Declaration
              of Trust to modify  the  Fund's  liability  and  indemnification
              provisions; and

          5.  to transact such other  business as may properly come before the
              meeting and any adjournments thereof.

          Shareholders  of record at the close of  business  on April 30, 1996
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.




                                                Susan E. Bryant
                                                Secretary

<PAGE>

May 1, 1996

                                  PRELIMINARY
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                April 11, 1996


     This Proxy  Statement is given to you to provide  information  you should
review before voting on the matters listed on the Notice of Special Meeting on
the previous page.  Your vote is being solicited by the Board of Trustees (the
"Trustees")  of Aetna  Income  Shares (the  "Fund")  for a special  meeting of
shareholders to be held on June 17, 1996, and, if the meeting is adjourned, at
any adjournment of that meeting, for the purposes listed on the Notice.

     This  Statement  describes  the  matters  that  will be  voted  on at the
meeting.  The  solicitation  of votes is made by the mailing of this Statement
and the  accompanying  Proxy or  authorization  card on or about May 1,  1996.
Aetna Life  Insurance and Annuity  Company  ("Aetna") and its  affiliates  may
contact  contract  holders and their  representatives  directly  commencing in
March 1996 to discuss the proposals described in this Statement.  The expenses
in connection  with  preparing  this  Statement and its  enclosures and of all
solicitations will be paid by Aetna, the Fund's investment adviser.

     A copy of the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1995,  was mailed to  shareholders  on or about  February xx, 1996. The Annual
Report is available upon request,  without charge, to anyone entitled to vote.
If you did not  receive an Annual  Report,  you may  request one by writing to
___________________, 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 06156-8962,
or by calling 1-800-xxx-xxxx.

     Shareholders  of record on April 30, 1996,  the record date, are entitled
to be present and to vote at the meeting or any adjourned  meeting.  As of the
record date,  Aetna and its  subsidiary,  Aetna  Insurance  Company of America
("Aetna  Insurance") were the record  shareholders of ____ shares (___% of the
outstanding  shares) of the Fund.  These  shares were owned by Aetna and Aetna
Insurance as depositors for their  respective  variable  annuity  contracts or
variable life insurance policies (the "Contracts") issued to you or to a group
of which you are a part.  Under the terms of the  Contracts you have the right
to instruct Aetna how to vote the shares related to your interest through your
Contract.  The  remaining  __________  shares  (______%)  of the Fund are held
directly by shareholders who are not affiliated with Aetna.  This Statement is
used to  solicit  instructions  for  voting  shares as well as for  soliciting
proxies from  individual  shareholders  in the Fund.  All persons  entitled to
direct  the voting of shares,  whether or not they are  shareholders,  will be
described as voting for purposes of this Statement.

     The shares  held by Aetna and Aetna  Insurance  are held on behalf of the
following Separate Accounts which hold assets for the Contracts:


                                      1
<PAGE>


Aetna Variable Annuity Account B -          ___________________ shares (_____%)
Aetna Variable Annuity Account C -          ___________________ shares (_____%)
Aetna Variable Annuity Account D -          ___________________ shares (_____%)
Aetna Variable Life Account B -             ___________________ shares (_____%)
Aetna Insurance Variable
Annuity Account I -                         ___________________ shares (_____%)

     Aetna and Aetna  Insurance will vote the shares in the Fund held in their
names as directed.  The group Contract  holder of some group Contracts has the
right to direct the vote for all shares under the  Contract,  for,  against or
abstaining, in the same proportions as shares for which instructions have been
given under the same Contract.  If Aetna does not receive voting  instructions
for all of the shares held under  Contracts,  Aetna and Aetna  Insurance  will
vote all the shares in all the listed Accounts, except Account D, for, against
or  abstaining,  in the same  proportions  as the  shares  for which they have
received  instructions.  Aetna will only vote shares of the Fund held  through
Aetna's Variable Annuity Account D for which it receives instructions and will
not vote shares for which no instructions are received.

     All shares voted at the meeting will be counted as present at the meeting
whether they vote for,  against or abstain on the Proposals.  More than 50% of
the total  outstanding  shares of the Fund must be present  at the  meeting to
have a quorum to conduct  business.  Proposal  2  (Approval  of a  Subadvisory
Agreement) and Proposal 3 (Approval of Investment  Advisory Agreement) require
the vote of a "majority of the outstanding  voting  securities" of the Fund to
be approved.  The remaining  proposals can be approved by the vote of a simple
majority of shares  present at the  meeting.  A "majority  of the  outstanding
voting  securities" of the Fund means 67% of the shares of the Fund present at
the meeting,  assuming a majority of the shares are present; or, more than 50%
of all the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the Fund,  if less.  A vote to
abstain  is  effectively  a  negative  vote  since the  proposals  require  an
affirmative vote to be approved.

     In the event  that a quorum of  shareholders  is not  represented  at the
meeting,  the meeting may be adjourned  until a quorum  exists,  or, even if a
quorum is represented,  the meeting may be adjourned until sufficient votes to
approve any of the proposals  are  received.  The persons named as proxies may
propose  and  vote  for one or more  adjournments  of the  meeting.  Adjourned
meetings must be held within a reasonable  time after the date  originally set
for the meeting (but not more than 6 months after the date of this Statement).
Solicitation  of votes may  continue  to be made  without  any  obligation  to
provide any additional notice of the adjournment. The persons named as proxies
will  vote  shares  in favor of an  adjournment  at their  discretion  whether
instructions  for those  shares are to vote for,  against  or to abstain  from
voting on any of the proposals to be considered at the meeting.

     The  number  of shares  that you may vote are shown on the  authorization
card accompanying this Statement.  The number of shares which you are entitled
to vote is  calculated  according to the formula  described in your  Contract.
Votes may be  revoked by written  notice to Aetna  prior to the  meeting or by
attending  the  meeting  in person and  indicating  that you want to vote your
shares.

                                      2
<PAGE>


     The  duly  appointed   proxies  or  authorized   persons  may,  at  their
discretion,  vote upon any other matters that are raised at the meeting or any
adjournments.  Additional  matters  would only  include  matters that were not
expected at the date of this Statement.


                           MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

                                  PROPOSAL 1

                             ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

The persons  listed in the table below are  nominated  to serve as Trustees of
the Fund until  their  successors  are  elected and  qualified.  The  Nominees
consent to being  named in this  proposal.  The  Nominees  currently  serve as
Trustees and will  continue to serve if reelected  by the  shareholders.  Once
elected, the Trustees continue to serve indefinitely.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Principal Occupation,                                        Shares of the
                                    Employment or Public                         First               Fund
Name, Age and Position              Directorships                                Became a         Beneficially
with the Fund                       during last five years                       Trustee             Owned

<S>                                 <C>                                          <C> 
Morton Ehrlich                      Chairman and Chief Executive                 1988
61 years of age                     Officer, Integrated Management
Trustee                             Corp. and Universal Research
                                    Technologies (since January
                                    1992); President, LIFECO Travel
                                    Services Corp. (from October
                                    1988 to December 1991).


Maria T. Fighetti                   Attorney, New York City                      1994
52 years of age                     Department of Mental Health
Trustee                             (since 1973).


David L. Grove                      Private Investor, Economic/                  1984
77 years of age                     Financial Consultant
Trustee                             (since December 1988).


Timothy A. Holt*                    Senior Vice President and Chief              1996
43 years of age                     Financial Officer, Aetna (since
Trustee                             February 1996); Vice President,
                                    Portfolio  Management  Group,  Aetna  Life
                                    Insurance   Company   (since  ___);   Vice
                                    President, Portfolio Management Group, The
                                    Aetna  Casualty and Surety  Company (since
                                    ______).

                                       3

<PAGE>

Daniel P. Kearney*                  Director and President of Aetna              1994
56 years of age                     Executive Vice President of Aetna
Trustee                             Life and Casualty Company.


Sidney Koch                         Senior Adviser, Hambro America,              1994
60 years of age                     Inc. (since January 1993); Senior
Trustee                             Adviser, Daiwa Securities America,
                                    Inc. (from 1991 to January 1993)
                                    Executive Vice President, Daiwa
                                    Securities America, Inc. (from 1986
                                    to January 1991).


Shaun P. Mathews*                   Vice President and Director of               1991
40 years of age                     Aetna (since March 1991); Assistant
Trustee and                         Vice President, Pension Operations
President                           (from July 1989 to March 1991);
                                    Assistant Vice President, Corporate
                                    Planning, Aetna Life and Casualty
                                    Company (from April 1988 to June
                                    1989).


Corine T. Norgaard**                Dean, School of Management,                  1984
58 years of age                     State University at New York
Trustee                             (Binghamton) (since August 1993);
                                    Professor, accounting, University of
                                    Connecticut (from September 1969
                                    to June 1993); Director, The Advest
                                    Group, Inc. (holding company for
                                    brokerage firm) (since August
                                    1983).

                                       4

<PAGE>

Richard G. Scheide                  Private banking consultant (since            1992
66 years of age                     July 1992); Consultant, Fleet Bank
Trustee                             (from July 1991 to July 1992);
                                    Executive Vice President and
                                    Manager, Trust and Private
                                    Banking, Bank of New England,
                                    N.A. and Bank of New England
                                    Company (from June 1976 to July
                                    1991).

<FN>
*  Interested  persons as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940
   Act") and the  related  rules of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
   ("Commission").

** Dr.  Norgaard is a director of a holding company that has as a subsidiary a
   broker-dealer  that sells  contracts  for Aetna.  The Fund is offered as an
   investment  option under the  Contracts.  Her position as a director of the
   holding company may cause her to be an "interested  person" for purposes of
   the 1940 Act.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     The business address of each Nominee is 151 Farmington Avenue,  Hartford,
Connecticut  06156.  The Fund held four meetings during 1995 all of which were
in person. Mr. Kearney was unable to attend any of the board meetings in 1995.
All other Trustees attended all meetings.

     Each Nominee is currently a director or trustee of each of the  following
management  investment  companies  managed by Aetna:  Aetna Series Fund, Inc.,
Aetna Variable Fund;  Aetna Variable Encore Fund;  Aetna  Investment  Advisers
Fund,   Inc.;  Aetna   Generation   Portfolios,   Inc.;  and  Aetna  GET  Fund
(collectively with the Fund, the "Fund Complex").

     As of April 30,  1996,  Trustees  and  officers of the Fund  beneficially
owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding shares.

Remuneration of Officers and Trustees

     None of the Fund's officers nor any Aetna employee  Trustees are entitled
to any compensation from the Fund. During 1995, the following  Trustees earned
the following for their services as Trustees to the Fund and the Fund Complex:

                                       5

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Aggregate                         Total Compensation
                                    Compensation                       From Fund Complex
                                     From Fund                         Paid to Trustees

<S>                                   <C>                                   <C>    
Morton Ehrlich                        $3,169                                $46,000
Maria T. Fighetti                     $3,169                                $46,000
David L. Grove*                       $3,169                                $46,500
Sidney Koch                           $3,169                                $47,000
Corine T. Norgaard                    $3,505                                $51,000
Richard G. Scheide                    $3,169                                $46,500
                                     -------                              ---------
         Total                       $19,350                              $283,000

<FN>
* Mr. Grove elected to defer all compensation.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Committees

     The Trustees have standing Audit, Contract Review and Pricing Committees.
The  Contract  Review and Audit  Committees  include all  Trustees who are not
employees of Aetna. Dr. Norgaard is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and
Mr.  Koch is the  Chairperson  of the  Contract  Review  Committee.  The Audit
Committee reviews the relationship between the Fund and its independent public
accountants.  The  Contract  Review  Committee  reviews the Fund's  investment
advisory,  subadvisory and administrative services contracts at least annually
in connection with  considering  the  continuation  of those  contracts.  That
Committee  also  meets  any time  there is a  proposal  to amend  any of those
agreements.   The  Fund's   Pricing   Committee   consists   of  Mr.   Mathews
(Chairperson),  Mr. Koch, Dr. Norgaard, and Mr. Scheide. The Pricing Committee
is  responsible  for acting upon and  approving  the Fund's net asset value at
times of market  disruption  or in any  situation  where the range of possible
valuations  of  individual  securities  could cause the net asset value of the
Fund's  shares  to vary by one cent or more per  share.  In  1995,  the  Audit
Committee met two times,  the Contract Review Committee met two times, and the
Pricing  Committee met once. All members of these committees  attended all the
committee meetings.  The Board of Trustees does not have a standing nominating
committee for the Fund nor a standing compensation committee.

                                       6

<PAGE>

                                  PROPOSAL 2

                      APPROVAL OF A SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

     The  Trustees  have   unanimously   approved,   and  recommend  that  the
shareholders of the Fund approve,  a subadvisory  agreement (the  "Subadvisory
Agreement")  among the Fund, Aetna, and Aetna's  affiliate,  Aeltus Investment
Management,  Inc. ("Aeltus").  A copy of the Subadvisory Agreement is included
with this Statement as Exhibit A.

Why is Aetna proposing a Subadvisory arrangement?

     As part of a strategic  review of its  investment  operations,  the Aetna
organization   performed  an  in-depth  analysis  of  various   organizational
structures.  It has concluded that it should  combine its investment  advisory
businesses into a single stand-alone investment management subsidiary. From an
operating   perspective,   this  is   intended   primarily   as  a   corporate
restructuring.  To accomplish  this goal,  Aetna would combine its  investment
management  operations with those of Aetna's  affiliate,  Aeltus. The combined
entity  would be a separate  corporate  entity  managing  over $33  billion in
assets  and  would  operate  under  the name  Aeltus.  This  type of  business
structure is used by a number of investment  providers in today's  marketplace
and is  consistent  with  maintaining  a  focused,  well-qualified  and  fully
integrated investment  capability.  Complementing the significant  investments
and enhancements Aetna has made to its advisory capabilities over the last two
years,  Aeltus  would  add  more  depth  of  personnel,  different  styles  of
investment  management  and  additional  research  and  quantitative  modeling
capability.  Your Fund would  benefit  from this  larger  investment  advisory
entity by such things as more efficient execution of securities transactions.

What is being proposed?

         To accomplish the combination,  the investment personnel and staff of
Aetna would be  transferred  to Aeltus.  Aetna and the Fund would enter into a
subadvisory  agreement  with  Aeltus  to  provide  the  investment  management
services  to your  Fund.  Although  Aeltus  is  already  a part  of the  Aetna
organization,  the 1940 Act requires that the shareholders of the Fund approve
the Subadvisory Agreement.  Under the proposed Subadvisory  Agreement,  Aeltus
would be responsible  for deciding which  securities to buy, which to sell and
which  to keep for the  Fund.  It  would  also be  placing  trades  for  those
securities  with third party  broker-dealers  and,  to the extent  directed by
Aetna, would be handling the back office  administrative  functions related to
those  activities.   It  is  expected  that  those  activities  would  include
determining the value of the Fund's net assets on a daily basis and preparing,
and providing to Aetna,  such other reports,  data and information as Aetna or
the Trustees  request from time to time. In connection  with the management of
the Fund's portfolio, Aeltus would be responsible for assuring that the assets
acquired  for the  Fund  are in  compliance  with the  Fund's  objectives  and
policies.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     Aetna  would  bear  the  ultimate   responsibility   for  overseeing  the
investment advice provided to the Fund. It would monitor Aeltus' activities to
ensure that Aeltus is following  regulatory and Board  policies,  restrictions
and guidelines in managing the Fund's assets.  Aetna would be responsible  for
reporting  to the  Trustees  on a  regular  basis  and  assuring  that  Aeltus
maintains an adequate compliance  program.  The many years of experience Aetna
has in managing  assets for mutual funds and for its own portfolio will enable
it to monitor Aeltus' activities to the advantage of the Fund's shareholders.

Who is Aeltus?

     Aeltus is a  Connecticut  corporation  organized  in 1972  under the name
Aetna Capital  Management,  Inc. It currently has its principal offices at 242
Trumbull  St.,  Hartford,   Connecticut.   Aeltus  is  a  part  of  the  Aetna
organization,  and currently is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Aetna Retirement
Services,  Inc., which is also the parent of Aetna. Aetna Retirement  Services
is an indirect,  wholly-owned subsidiary of Aetna Life and Casualty Company, a
financial services company with stock listed for trading on the New York Stock
Exchange.  John Y. Kim  currently  serves as the  President,  Chief  Executive
Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Aeltus.  Aeltus is registered with the
Commission as an investment adviser.

What are the material  terms of the  proposed  Subadvisory  Agreement  between
Aetna and Aeltus?

     The  Subadvisory  Agreement  gives  Aeltus  broad  latitude in  selecting
securities  for the Fund  subject to Aetna's  oversight.  The  Agreement  also
allows Aeltus to place trades through brokers of its choosing and to take into
consideration the quality of the brokers'  services and execution,  as well as
services such as research and providing equipment or paying Fund expenses,  in
setting the amount of  commissions  paid to a broker.  The use of research and
expense reimbursements in determining and paying commissions is referred to as
"soft  dollar"  practices.  Aeltus will only use soft dollars for services and
expenses  to the  extent  Aetna is  authorized  to do so under the  Investment
Advisory Contract,  but only as authorized by applicable law and the rules and
regulations of the Commission.

     The Subadvisory  Agreement  requires Aeltus to reduce its fee if Aetna is
required to do so under the Investment Advisory Agreement. Aetna has agreed to
reduce its fee or reimburse  the Fund if the expenses  borne by the Fund would
exceed the expense  limitations of any jurisdiction in which the Fund's shares
are qualified for sale. Aetna would not be obligated to reimburse the Fund for
any expenses  which  exceed the amount of its advisory fee for that year.  The
Subadvisory  Agreement obligates Aeltus to reduce its fee by 60% of the amount
of Aetna's fee reduction.

     The  Subadvisory  Agreement  provides  that,  if  approved,  it  will  be
effective August 1, 1996, or, if the meeting is adjourned, on the first day of
the next  month  following  the date on which  the  shareholders  approve  the
Subadvisory  Agreement,   and  will  continue  until  December  31,  1997  and
thereafter from year to year if approved by the Trustees, including a majority
of  the  Independent  Trustees.   The  Subadvisory  Agreement  will  terminate
automatically if the Investment Advisory Agreement terminates or if there is a
change in control of Aeltus. It can be terminated by Aeltus, Aetna or the Fund
on 60 days'  notice.  If the  Subadvisory  Agreement  terminates,  the  Fund's
investment adviser would automatically assume all management functions for the
Fund.  The  Subadviser  can be held  liable  to the  Adviser  and the Fund for
negligence,  bad faith,  willful  malfeasance  or  reckless  disregard  of its
obligations or duties under the Subadvisory Agreement.

                                       8

<PAGE>

What will the Subadvisory Agreement cost the Fund?

     The Subadvisory Agreement provides that Aetna will pay Aeltus a fee at an
annual  rate up to 0.25% of the  average  daily net assets of the Fund.  Aetna
believes  this  compensation  is fair and  reasonable  for the services  being
provided by Aeltus.  This fee is not charged back to, or paid by, the Fund; it
is paid by Aetna  out of its own  resources,  including  fees and  charges  it
receives from or in connection with the Fund.

What is the Board of Trustees recommendation?

     The Board of Trustees  unanimously  recommends voting FOR approval of the
Subadvisory Agreement.

What   factors   did  the  Board  of  Trustees   consider   in  reaching   its
recommendation?

     The Trustees  considered the proposed  Subadvisory  Agreement at meetings
held on December 12, 1995,  and  February  28,  1996.  Moreover,  the Contract
Review Committee of the Board of Trustees,  consisting  solely of Trustees who
are not employees of Aetna,  considered the Subadvisory  Agreement at meetings
held on December 11,  1995,  February 6, 1996,  and February 27, 1996.  At all
such  meetings,  the Trustees  were  advised  throughout  by Messrs.  Goodwin,
Procter & Hoar, their own independent counsel.

     The Trustees'  recommendation was based on their conclusion that approval
of the  Subadvisory  Agreement  would mean that the  shareholders  of the Fund
would receive the benefits of the talents of both Aetna and Aeltus working for
the Fund.

What happens if the Subadvisory Agreement is not approved?

     If the  Subadvisory  Agreement is not approved,  Aetna would  continue as
investment  adviser to the Fund and would retain  access to all of its current
investment advisory capabilities.

                                       9

<PAGE>

                                  PROPOSAL 3

                APPROVAL OF A NEW INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT


     The  Trustees  have  unanimously   approved  a  new  Investment  Advisory
Agreement  (the  "Advisory  Agreement")  between  the  Fund  and  Aetna as its
investment adviser and recommend that you vote FOR this Proposal.

What is being proposed?

     As  part  of  its  comprehensive,  strategic  review  of  its  investment
management  operations and products,  during the past several years, Aetna has
been reviewing its various  agreements and arrangements for providing services
to, and managing,  the funds it advises.  Based on this review, Aetna proposed
and the Trustees approved a new Administrative Services Agreement for the Fund
which, as discussed below,  will be effective May 1, 1996, and it has proposed
a restructuring of its investment advisory operations as described in Proposal
2. Aetna is also proposing to enter into a new Investment  Advisory  Agreement
with the Fund  providing  an increase in the annual fee from 0.25% to 0.40% of
average daily net assets as more fully  discussed  below.  The Trustees of the
Fund are  unanimously  recommending  approval of the new  Investment  Advisory
Agreement for the reasons identified below.

What are the primary  differences  between the  existing  Investment  Advisory
Agreement and the proposed Investment Advisory Agreement?

     The proposed Advisory Agreement has been updated in several respects. The
language has been simplified where possible;  the liability provisions make it
clear that Aetna is liable to the Fund for Aetna's  negligence;  it provides a
new fee schedule for Aetna;  and it expands  Aetna's  ability to use brokerage
commissions  to pay Fund expenses to the extent allowed by current law. A copy
of the proposed Advisory  Agreement is included with this Statement as Exhibit
B and the existing agreement is included as Exhibit C.

     Under both the  existing  and proposed  investment  advisory  agreements,
Aetna is obligated to manage and oversee the Fund's day to day  operations and
to manage its  investment  portfolio,  whether  directly  or as  discussed  in
Proposal 2 under a Subadvisory Agreement with Aeltus.

What are the other significant provisions of the Advisory Agreement?

     The Advisory Agreement gives Aetna broad latitude in selecting securities
for the Fund subject to the Trustees'  oversight.  Under the Agreement,  Aetna
may delegate to a subadviser  its functions in managing the Fund's  investment
portfolio,  subject  to  Aetna's  oversight.  See  Proposal  2.  The  Advisory
Agreement  allows Aetna to place trades through brokers of its choosing and to
take into consideration the quality of the brokers' services and execution, as
well as services such as research,  providing equipment to the Fund, or paying
Fund expenses,  in setting the amount of commissions  paid to a broker.  Aetna
will only use these  commissions  for  services  and  expenses  to the  extent
authorized by applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Commission.

                                      10
<PAGE>

         Under the Advisory  Agreement,  Aetna has agreed to reduce its fee or
reimburse the Fund if the expenses  borne by the Fund would exceed the expense
limitations of any  jurisdiction  in which the Fund's shares are qualified for
sale.  Aetna would not be  obligated  to  reimburse  the Fund for any expenses
which  exceed  the amount of its  advisory  fee for that  year.  The  Advisory
Agreement  also  provides that Aetna would be  responsible  for all of its own
costs including costs of Aetna personnel  required to carry out its investment
advisory duties.

     The  Advisory  Agreement  provides  that if approved it will be effective
August 1, 1996, or, if the meeting is adjourned,  on the first day of the next
month  following  the date on which  the  shareholders  approve  the  Advisory
Agreement,  and will continue until December 31, 1997 and thereafter from year
to year if approved by the Trustees,  including a majority of the  Independent
Trustees.  The Advisory  Agreement will terminate  automatically if there is a
change  in  control  of  Aetna.  It can be  terminated  by the  Trustees,  the
shareholders or Aetna on 60 days' notice.

     All of  these  provisions  are  the  same as in the  existing  investment
advisory  agreement which has been in effect since April 1994 when it was last
submitted to shareholders.  The 1994 amendments  involved  clarifying  Aetna's
responsibilities  and its ability to appoint a subadviser,  described  Aetna's
arrangements with  broker-dealers  and clarified the allocation of expenses to
each party.

Who is Aetna?

     Aetna is a Connecticut  corporation,  licensed as an insurance company in
all 50 states.  Through its  predecessors,  Aetna has been  offering  variable
products and  annuities to the public since the 1950's.  It currently  manages
approximately  $22 billion in assets.  Aetna is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Aetna Retirement  Services,  Inc., which, in turn, is a wholly-owned  indirect
subsidiary of Aetna Life and Casualty  Company.  Aetna is registered  with the
Commission as an investment  adviser and a broker-dealer.  Aetna serves as the
underwriter  for the Fund's  shares.  The  principal  offices of Aetna,  Aetna
Retirement Services,  Inc., and Aetna Life and Casualty Company are located at
151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 06156-8962.

Why has Aetna requested a change in its fees?

     The advisory fee  currently  paid to Aetna under the existing  investment
advisory  agreement is  determined at an annual rate of 0.25% of average daily
net assets. This fee was set in 1984 and has never been changed.  During 1995,
Aetna  received  $1,534,803  for its services in managing the Fund,  which had
assets as of December 31, 1995 of over $612 million.  The fee  established  in
1984 matched the fee structure that Aetna had utilized since the 1970s for its

                                      12

<PAGE>

mutual funds being sold primarily through group variable  Contracts and, after
1982, exclusively through variable Contracts. Until recently, Aetna, like most
other  providers  of  variable  products,  used  its own  mutual  funds as the
investment options under the Contracts.  As a result, Aetna took all its costs
and charges for the entire  product  into  consideration  in  determining  its
profits on its Contracts and did not evaluate the profitability of the Fund as
a separate  product.  Recently,  variable products have exploded in popularity
and growth and many  noninsurance  companies have  developed  funds to be sold
through  Contracts  issued  by  unaffiliated  insurance  companies.  To remain
competitive,  during the past five years,  Aetna expanded the funds it offered
under its Contracts from almost  exclusively  its own funds, to its own plus a
large number of funds offered by unaffiliated third parties.

         These   developments   caused  Aetna  to  evaluate   separately   the
profitability  and  viability  of each  Contract  it  offers  and each fund it
advises.  According  to data  prepared  by Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.
("Lipper")  as of December 31, 1994,  the annual fee  currently  being paid to
Aetna by the Fund was the second  lowest fee paid by any of the 19 Corporate A
rated bond funds sold  through  variable  Contracts  analyzed by Lipper.  Data
provided  by Lipper also showed  that for the same  period,  the Fund's  total
expenses  (annual  advisory fee plus other Fund expenses) were also the second
lowest of those 19 Corporate A rated bond funds.

     The fees  charged to advise the Fund were also very low when  compared to
the fees Aetna charges for managing its mutual funds  offered  directly to the
public.  The Aetna Bond Fund, a fund managed  almost  identically to the Fund,
with assets of  approximately  $7,340,000 as of October 31, 1995, paid Aetna a
fee, after fee waiver,  at an annual rate of 0.19% of average daily net assets
for the  year  ended  October  31,  1995.  This  fee  waiver,  howver,  may be
eliminated at any time,  and without it, the fee payable would be based on the
following schedule of annual rates of average daily net assets:

            0.50% on the first $250 million
            0.475% on the next $250 million
            0.450% on next $250 million
            0.425% on next $1.25 billion
            0.400% over $2 billion

     These fees are significantly  greater than the annual rate of 0.25% Aetna
currently receives for managing the Fund.

     As discussed above, Aetna has been charging the same fee for managing the
Fund since 1984 when the Fund first started  operations.  Since that time, but
more  noticeably  in the last few years,  the  financial  markets  have become
increasingly  complex and the need for high  quality  personnel,  research and
equipment has increased proportionately.  With the recent growth in the mutual
fund industry, such resources have become more expensive and harder to retain.

                                      12

<PAGE>

     During   the  past  two  years,   Aetna  has:   (i)  hired  a  number  of
highly-qualified and experienced investment professionals,  attracting them in
part by  replacing  its existing  compensation  structure  with a  competitive
compensation  program  designed  to attract and retain  such  personnel;  (ii)
instituted  the  use  of  quantitative   research  and  analytical  tools  and
techniques to augment its traditional  securities  selection processes for the
purpose of improving performance of the portfolios it manages,  including that
of the Fund;  and (iii)  upgraded its  information  and  reporting  systems to
increase  the  volume  of data  gathered,  the  speed at which  such  data are
collected, and its ability to analyze and report on such data.

     Aetna believes that these trends in the financial  markets will continue;
therefore,  the proposed advisory fees are critical to retaining the resources
it has added and are  necessary for Aetna to continue  providing  high quality
management to the Fund in an increasingly  competitive and dynamic environment
whether  through Aetna  directly or through Aeltus as discussed in Proposal 2.
Aetna believes  enhancements are integral to its goal of improving performance
and  reducing  volatility  for the  investment  portfolios  that  it  manages,
including  that of the  Fund,  and for the Fund to remain  competitive  in its
markets.

     Aetna believes that the proposed  advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.40%
of average  daily net assets is  competitive  with fees charged by  comparable
advisers for managing similar funds. If the new Advisory Agreement had been in
effect  for 1995,  the Fund  would have paid an  advisory  fee of  $2,448,598.
Although  this  represents a 60% increase over the amount it paid during 1995,
based on the data  provided by Lipper,  the proposed fee would still have been
lower than the average annual fee of 0.46% of average daily net assets charged
by the 19 Corporate A rated bond funds analyzed by Lipper.

What other fees or charges are paid by the Fund?

     Aetna has been receiving reimbursement by the Fund for its administrative
costs incurred in managing the Fund under an Administrative Services Agreement
with the Fund  effective  through  April  1996.  The  Administrative  Services
Agreement  provides  for the  reimbursement  of a share  of  Aetna's  overhead
related  to  managing  the Fund.  In  addition,  the Fund has been  paying its
ordinary recurring expenses such as legal fees, Trustees' fees, custodial fees
and insurance premiums. Under these agreements, in 1995, the Fund paid a total
of $414,821  (an annual  rate of 0.068% of average  daily net assets) to Aetna
for reimbursements of its costs in performing  administrative services and for
the Fund's other ordinary recurring expenses.

     As mentioned above, the Trustees approved a change to the  Administrative
Services  Agreement that would fix these charges so they would no longer vary.
This  arrangement was adopted so that the Fund would be able to fix the amount
of its costs and expenses. The new Administrative  Services Agreement with the
Fund  provides for a fixed fee at an annual rate of 0.08% of average daily net
assets.  The 0.08% fee is intended to approximate actual costs incurred during
the past few years which averaged 0.079%,  but also to take into consideration
the fact that Aetna  assumes all risks that its costs and the Fund's  expenses
may increase.

     The  following  table and example  summarize  the effect of the  proposed
advisory fee on Fund expenses.

                                      13

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
                                    COMPARATIVE FEE TABLE
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                   Average
                                                                                                 Annual Fees
                                                                                                  Charged by
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as a                 Fees as of        Proposed Fee              Other Funds
percentage of average daily net assets)              5/1/96**          for 8/1/96                 12/31/94*

<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                       <C>  
Management Fee                                        0.25%               0.40%                     0.46%

Administrative Costs and other Expenses               0.08%               0.08%                     0.10%

Total Fund Operating Expenses                         0.33%               0.48%                     0.56%

<FN>
*  Per Lipper Analytical   Services,   Inc.  and  before  waivers  or  expense
   reimbursements.  As shown in the above  table,  the total fees and expenses
   proposed  by  Aetna  of  0.48%  of  average   daily  net  assets  would  be
   significantly  less  than  the  average  of 0.56%  charged  by the 19 funds
   analyzed by Lipper.

** The  administrative  fee was changed by the Board of Trustees effective May
   1, 1996.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Example:

The  following  chart  shows  the  expenses  that  you  would  pay on a $1,000
investment under the existing and proposed fees and expenses  described above,
assuming  (1) a 5% annual  return and (2)  redemption  at the end of each time
period:

                                      14

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            1 year           3 years           5 years          10 years
                                            ------           -------           -------          --------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>               <C>              <C> 
Fees and Expenses as of 5/1/96               $3                $11               $19              $42

Proposed Fees and Expenses                   $5                $15               $27              $60
</TABLE>

     The purpose of the above table and example is to assist  shareholders  in
understanding the effects of the proposed fee on the fees and expenses charged
to the Fund. The Fund is only available through a variable annuity contract or
variable  life  policy.  The above table and  example do not reflect  separate
account and other  charges and  expenses,  including  sales  loads,  for these
Contracts. The example above should not be considered a representation of past
or future  expenses or returns of the Fund.  Actual  expenses  and returns may
vary from year to year and may be higher or lower than those shown above.

What is the proposed change to the liability and indemnification provisions?

     The  existing  advisory  agreement  provides  that Aetna is liable to the
Fund,  and the Fund is entitled to be indemnified by Aetna if the Fund suffers
a loss or  incurs  a  liability  as a  result  of  Aetna's  bad  faith,  gross
negligence or willful or reckless misconduct. The Trustees recommend that this
provision be revised so that the  standard is changed from "gross  negligence"
to simply  "negligence."  This  change  would  mean that  Aetna  would be held
accountable  for all its acts of negligence  that hurt the Fund,  not just its
acts  of  "gross"  negligence.   The  overall  effect  of  the  liability  and
indemnification  provision of the Advisory  Agreement  would be to provide the
Fund with greater protection.

What is the change in the use of brokerage commissions for the Fund?

     The  existing  agreement  allows  the  investment  adviser  to take  into
consideration  research  and  related  services  provided  by a broker  to the
adviser  in  paying   commissions  to  a  broker  for  the  Fund's   portfolio
transactions.  The Trustees  recommend that the investment adviser also should
be allowed  to take into  consideration  Fund  expenses  actually  paid by the
broker  on  behalf  of the Fund  where  it is  allowed  by  current  law.  The
investment  adviser  of the Fund is  required  to place  trades for the Fund's
securities  with brokers who provide  "best  execution."  This does not always
mean the lowest  commission if the broker  provides  research or other related
services  to  the  adviser.   Recent  developments  have  indicated  that  the
Commission  will also allow an adviser to place  trades with a broker,  and to
take into consideration in the commissions, actual expenses paid by the broker
for the Fund. This can only be done in compliance with certain reporting rules
and only with respect to expenses  that  directly  benefit the Fund paying the
commissions.  The proposed  Advisory  Agreement would allow such  transactions
subject to applicable laws.

                                      15
<PAGE>

What is the Board of Trustees recommendation?

     The Board of Trustees  unanimously  recommends voting FOR approval of the
Advisory Agreement.

What   factors   did  the  Board  of  Trustees   consider   in  reaching   its
recommendation?

     The Trustees  considered the proposed Advisory Agreement at meetings held
on December 12, 1995, and February 28, 1996. The Contract Review  Committee of
the Board of Trustees,  consisting solely of Trustees who are not employees of
Aetna,  considered  the Advisory  Agreement  at meetings  held on December 11,
1995,  February 6, 1996 and  February  27,  1996.  At all such  meetings,  the
Independent  Trustees were advised  throughout by Messrs.  Goodwin,  Procter &
Hoar, their own independent counsel.

     The Trustees'  approval of the new Advisory  Agreement  with an increased
fee was based on the following factors,  all of which they considered material
and which are listed in the order of their importance, with the most important
factor listed first:

          1.  The new fee will  provide  Aetna  with the  essential  financial
              resources it needs to compete  effectively  in the  increasingly
              complex and competitive financial markets.

          2.  The  Trustees   believe  that  Aetna  should   receive  a  fair,
              competitive  fee in order to provide it with adequate  resources
              to produce and provide  competitive,  high  quality  services on
              behalf of the Fund;  yet,  its  existing  fee has been in effect
              since  1984 and is the  second  lowest  fee among the  Fund's 19
              member competitive peer group analyzed by Lipper.

          3.  The new fee would compensate Aetna for costly enhancements it is
              currently maintaining and which have been made over the past two
              years with regard to investment, administrative, operational and
              shareholder services. These enhancements include: (i) the hiring
              of a number  of  highly  qualified  and  experienced  investment
              professionals,  (ii)  replacing its former  compensation  system
              with a more  competitive  system  designed to attract and retain
              such highly qualified  personnel,  (iii)  instituting the use of
              quantitative  research and analytical tools and techniques,  and
              (iv) upgrading its information and reporting systems.

          4.  The new fee would  reflect the  benefits to be derived  from the
              combination  of  Aetna's  and  Aeltus'   investment   management
              capabilities.

     In the course of its  deliberations,  the Trustees asked for and received
extensive data  concerning,  among other things,  (i) the nature,  quality and
scope of services that Aeltus, after combining with Aetna, would provide, (ii)
Aetna's  profitability,  (iii) Aetna's financial  condition,  (iv) the expense
ratios of the Fund both  before and after the  proposed  fee  increase  and as
compared with the Fund's competitive peer groups, and (v) the level of Aetna's
current fee in general and as compared to its competitive peer group.

                                      16
<PAGE>

What would happen if the Advisory Agreement is not approved?

     If the Advisory Agreement is not approved by the Fund's shareholders, the
existing  agreement  will continue in effect.  Although  Aetna expects that it
would proceed with the Subadvisory  Agreement with Aeltus, (if it is approved)
it would have fewer resources  available,  to manage your Fund  effectively in
the future.


                                  PROPOSAL 4

                           APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT
                          TO THE DECLARATION OF TRUST


     The Trustees have approved,  and recommend that the  shareholders  of the
Fund  approve,  deleting  and  restating  Articles  5.2 and 5.3 of the  Fund's
Declaration of Trust.

What is the purpose of the proposed changes?

     The  provisions  being amended relate to the liability of Trustees to the
Fund  and  the  indemnification  by the  Fund of  Trustees  and  officers  for
liabilities  incurred  while  acting as Trustees or officers of the Fund.  The
primary  purpose  of the  proposed  amendment  is to allow the Fund to advance
costs to a Trustee  if that  Trustee  is named in an action for which the Fund
would  ultimately  be obligated to indemnify  the Trustee  without the Trustee
being required to post collateral. The advancement of costs would be made only
if: (i) the Trustee provides security for the costs advanced; or (ii) the Fund
is insured against losses arising from unlawful advances;  or (iii) a majority
of a quorum of the Independent  Trustees who are not parties determines,  or a
written  opinion of  independent  legal  counsel  provides,  that based upon a
review of the readily available facts,  there is reason to believe the Trustee
ultimately will be entitled to  indemnification.  This provision would allow a
Fund to provide a Trustee with the  resources the Trustee would need to afford
an  adequate  defense  if the  Trustee is named in  litigation  related to the
Trustee's  activities in connection with the Fund without posting  collateral.
The amounts  advanced  would have to be repaid if there is a finding  that the
Trustee was not entitled to indemnification.

     The proposed changes also clarify that under most circumstances  Trustees
will not be liable for the wrongdoing of officers, agents, employees and other
service  providers to the Fund. The text of the proposed  amended Articles 5.2
and 5.3 are  attached  as Exhibit D. The  existing  language  is  attached  as
Exhibit E.

                                      17

<PAGE>

Why is the Board of Trustees recommending approval of the amendment?

     The  Trustees  believe  that  advancing  the costs of Trustees who may be
subject to litigation  without the need to post  collateral is critical to the
Fund's ability to attract and retain the best  qualified  individuals to serve
the Fund as Trustees and officers.  The proposed  amendment  complies with the
1940 Act's  limitations on  indemnification,  in that  indemnification  is not
available  in cases of willful  misfeasance,  gross  negligence,  bad faith or
reckless  disregard of the duties of office.  The  proposed  amendment is also
consistent with interpretive positions taken by the staff of the Commission.

     The  Trustees  and  officers  of the Fund are not  subject to any pending
litigation  against any of them  arising out of any alleged  breach of duty to
the Fund or its shareholders  and are not aware of any such threatened  claims
or of circumstances that might give rise to a claim. The Trustees  acknowledge
that current and future  Trustees  could  benefit from the proposed  amendment
and, therefore, the Trustees have a conflict of interest in this matter.

What is the Board of Trustees' recommendation?

     The Board of  Trustees  unanimously  recommends  voting FOR the  proposed
amendment.

     If the proposal is approved,  the  amendment  will take effect  August 1,
1996,  or, if the  meeting  is  adjourned,  on the first day of the next month
following the date on which the  shareholders  approve the  amendment.  If the
shareholders  of the Fund do not approve the proposed  amendment,  the current
provisions  of  the  Declaration  of  Trust  concerning  indemnification  will
continue in effect.

What factors did the Board of Trustees consider in making its recommendation?

     The Trustees  believe that  approval of the proposed  amendment  allowing
advancement of costs without  posting  collateral for  liabilities of Trustees
and  officers  and  clarifying  the  scope of  indemnification  is in the best
interests  of the Fund  because  it will  assist  the Fund in  attracting  and
retaining the best  qualified  people to serve as Trustees and officers of the
Fund.


                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Executive Officers of the Fund

     The  principal  executive  officers of the Fund and his or her  principal
occupation are set forth below.  The term of office of each executive  officer
of the Fund is until the next  annual  meeting of the Fund or until his or her
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

                                      18

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Name and                                          Position with the Fund
   Business Address                                  and other Principal Occupations

<S>                                                  <C>
Shaun P. Mathews                                     President and Trustee of the Fund; See
151 Farmington Avenue                                description under "Election of
Hartford, Connecticut 06156                          Trustees."

James C. Hamilton                                    Vice President and Treasurer of the Fund;
151 Farmington Avenue                                Chief Financial Officer, Aetna Investment
Services,
Hartford, Connecticut 06156                          Inc.; Vice President and Actuary, Aetna Life
                                                     Insurance Company.

Susan E. Bryant                                      Secretary of the Fund; Counsel to Aetna
151 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06156
</TABLE>

Directors and Principal Executive Officer of Aetna

     The name, business address and principal  occupation of Aetna's principal
executive officer and Directors are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Name and
   Business Address                                  Principal Occupations

<S>                                                  <C>
Christopher J. Burns                                 Director and Senior Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Sales and Service.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156

Laura R. Estes                                       Director and Senior Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Manage/Design Products and Service.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156

Timothy A. Holt                                      Director and Senior Vice President;
151 Farmington Avenue                                See description under "Election of
Hartford, Connecticut 06156                          Directors."

Gail P. Johnson                                      Director and Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Service and Retain Customers.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156

Daniel P. Kearney                                    Director, President and Principal
151 Farmington Avenue                                Executive Officer; See description
Hartford, Connecticut 06156                          under "Election of Directors."

                                      19

<PAGE>

John Y. Kim                                          Director and Senior Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Investment Management.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156

Shaun P. Mathews                                     Director and Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Intergrator; See description under
Hartford, Connecticut 06156                          "Election of Directors."

Glen Salow                                           Director and Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Information Technology.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156

Creed R. Terry                                       Director and Vice President,
151 Farmington Avenue                                Select and Manage Markets.
Hartford, Connecticut 06156
</TABLE>


OTHER BUSINESS

     The  management of the Fund knows of no other business to be presented at
the meeting other than the matters set forth in this  Statement.  If any other
business  properly  comes before the meeting,  the proxies will exercise their
best judgment in deciding how to vote on such matters.


                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     The  Declaration  of Trust and the By-Laws of the Fund  provide  that the
Fund need not hold  shareholder  meetings,  except as required by the 1940 Act
(or Massachusetts  law).  Therefore,  it is probable that no annual meeting of
shareholders  will be held in 1996 or in  subsequent  years until so required.
For those years in which annual shareholder meetings are held, proposals which
shareholders  of the  Fund  intend  to  present  for  inclusion  in the  proxy
materials with respect to the annual meeting of shareholders  must be received
by the Fund  within a  reasonable  period of time before the  solicitation  is
made.

                                      20

<PAGE>


     Please complete the enclosed authorization card and return it promptly in
the enclosed  self-addressed  postage-paid envelope. You may revoke your proxy
at any  time  prior  to the  meeting  by  written  notice  to the  Fund  or by
submitting an authorization card bearing a later date.


                                                Susan E. Bryant
                                                Secretary

                                      21

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX



                              AETNA INCOME SHARES
             THIS AUTHORIZATION CARD IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
                        BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND

Please refer to the Proxy  Statement for a discussion of these  matters.  This
authorization  card is solicited  in  connection  with the special  meeting of
shareholders  of the Fund to be held at 9:00 a.m.,  Eastern  Standard Time, on
June 17, 1996, and at any adjournment  thereof.  THIS AUTHORIZATION CARD, WHEN
PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  DIRECTS  SHAUN P. MATHEWS AND SUSAN E. BRYANT TO VOTE THE
SHARES LISTED BELOW AS DIRECTED AND REVOKES ALL PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CARDS.



1. Election of directors      [ ]  FOR all nominees listed below         
                                   (except as marked to the contrary below) 

                              [ ]  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
                                   for all nominees listed below

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee strike
a line through the nominee's name in the list below.)

Morton Ehrlich   Maria T. Fighetti   David L. Grove   Timothy A. Holt  
Daniel P. Kearney   Sidney Koch   Shaun P. Mathews   Corine T. Norgaard   
Richard G. Scheide

 
2.  Approve the Subadvisory Agreement.  [ ] FOR   [ ] AGAINST   [ ] ABSTAIN

3.  Approve the New Investment Advisory 
    Agreement.                          [ ] FOR   [ ] AGAINST   [ ] ABSTAIN

4.  Approve an amendment to the Declaration 
    of Trust.                           [ ] FOR   [ ] AGAINST   [ ] ABSTAIN
 

In their  discretion,  the  proxies  are  authorized  to vote upon such  other
business,  including  any  adjournment  of the meeting,  as may properly  come
before the meeting.

<PAGE>

                              AUTHORIZATION CARD


This authorization card, when properly executed and returned, will be voted in
the manner directed herein by the  undersigned.  If no direction is made, this
authorization  card will be voted FOR the  election of the  nominees  named in
this authorization card and FOR approval of the other proposals.

Please  sign  exactly  as name  appears on this  card.  When  account is joint
tenants, all should sign. When signing as administrator,  trustee or guardian,
please give title. If a corporation or partnership,  sign in entity's name and
by authorized person.



       X_____________________________

       X_____________________________

       Dated:  ______________________

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                             SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT is made by and among Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity  Company,
a Connecticut  insurance  corporation (the "Adviser"),  Aetna Income Shares, a
Massachusetts  Business Trust (the "Fund") and Aeltus  Investment  Management,
Inc., a Connecticut  corporation  (the  "Subadviser") as of the date set forth
below.

                               W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS,  the Fund is a  Massachusetts  Business Trust that is registered with
the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  as an open-end,
diversified,  management investment company,  under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and

WHEREAS,  both  the  Adviser  and  the  Subadviser  are  registered  with  the
Commission as investment  advisers under the Investment  Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended  (the  "Advisers  Act") and both are in the  business  of acting as
investment advisers; and

WHEREAS,  the Adviser has entered into an Investment  Advisory  Agreement with
the Fund (the "Investment  Advisory  Agreement") which appoints the Adviser as
the investment adviser for the Fund; and

WHEREAS,  Article  IV of the  Investment  Advisory  Agreement  authorizes  the
Adviser to delegate all or a portion of its  obligations  under the Investment
Advisory Agreement to a subadviser;

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:


I. APPOINTMENT AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE ADVISER

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Adviser and the Fund
hereby  appoint the  Subadviser  to manage the assets of the Fund as set forth
below in Section II, under the  supervision  of the Adviser and subject to the
approval  and  direction of the Fund's Board of Trustees  (the  "Board").  The
Subadviser  hereby accepts such  appointment and agrees that it shall, for all
purposes herein,  undertake such obligations as an independent  contractor and
not as an agent of the Adviser. The Subadviser agrees, that except as required
to  carry  out  its  duties  under  this  Agreement  or  otherwise   expressly
authorized, it has no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way.


<PAGE>

II. DUTIES OF THE SUBADVISER AND THE ADVISER

    A.   Duties of the Subadviser

     The Subadviser shall regularly provide  investment advice with respect to
     the  assets  held  by the  Fund  and  shall  continuously  supervise  the
     investment and reinvestment of cash,  securities and instruments or other
     property comprising the assets of the Fund. In carrying out these duties,
     the Subadviser shall:

         1.   select the securities to be purchased,  sold or exchanged by the
              Fund  or  otherwise   represented   in  the  Fund's   investment
              portfolio,  place trades for all such  securities  and regularly
              report  thereon  to  the  Adviser  and,  at the  request  of the
              Adviser, to the Board;

         2.   formulate and implement continuing programs for the purchase and
              sale of securities  and regularly  report thereon to the Adviser
              and, at the request of the Adviser or the Fund, to the Board;

         3.   obtain and  evaluate  pertinent  information  about  significant
              developments  and  economic,  statistical  and  financial  data,
              domestic,  foreign or otherwise,  whether  affecting the economy
              generally,  the Fund,  securities held by or under consideration
              for the Fund, or the issuers of those securities;

         4.   provide economic  research and securities  analyses as requested
              by the Adviser  from time to time,  or as the Adviser  considers
              necessary  or  advisable  in   connection   with  the  Adviser's
              performance of its duties hereunder; and

         5.   provide  such  financial   support,   administrative  and  other
              services,  such as preparation of financial data,  determination
              of the Fund's net asset  value,  preparation  of  financial  and
              performance  reports,  as the Adviser  from time to time,  deems
              necessary and  appropriate  and which the  Subadviser is willing
              and able to provide.

    B.   Duties of the Adviser

    The Adviser shall retain responsibility for oversight of all activities of
    the Subadviser and for monitoring its activities on behalf of the Fund. In
    carrying  out its  obligations  under this  Agreement  and the  Investment
    Advisory Agreement, the Adviser shall:

         1.   monitor the investment  program maintained by the Subadviser for
              the Fund and the Subadviser's  compliance program to ensure that
              the  Fund's   assets  are  invested  in   compliance   with  the
              Subadvisory  Agreement and the Fund's investment  objectives and
              policies  as  adopted  by the  Board and  described  in the most
              current  effective  amendment of the registration  statement for
              the Fund, as filed with the Commission  under the Securities Act
              of  1933,   as   amended,   and  the  1940  Act   ("Registration
              Statement");

                                      2

<PAGE>

         2.   review all data and financial reports prepared by the Subadviser
              to  assure  that  they  are  in   compliance   with   applicable
              requirements  and meet the  provisions  of  applicable  laws and
              regulations;

         3.   file all periodic  reports required to be filed by the Fund with
              the applicable regulatory authorities;

         4.   review and deliver to the Board all financial,  performance  and
              other reports prepared by the Subadviser under the provisions of
              this Agreement or as requested by the Adviser;

         5.   establish   and  maintain   regular   communications   with  the
              Subadviser to share information it obtains concerning the effect
              of developments and data on the investment program maintained by
              the Subadviser;

         6.   maintain  contact  with and  enter  into  arrangements  with the
              custodian,  transfer agent, auditors, outside counsel, and other
              third parties providing services to the Fund;

         7.   oversee all matters relating to (i) the offer and sale of shares
              of  the  Fund,   including   promotions,   marketing  materials,
              preparation  of  prospectuses,  filings with the  Commission and
              state   securities    regulators,    and    negotiations    with
              broker-dealers;    (ii)   shareholder    services,    including,
              confirmations,  correspondence  and  reporting to  shareholders;
              (iii) all  corporate  matters  on behalf of the Fund,  including
              monitoring  the  corporate  records  of  the  Fund,  maintaining
              contact with the Board,  preparing for, organizing and attending
              meetings  of  the  Board  and  the  Fund's  shareholders;   (iv)
              preparation of proxies when required;  and (v) any other matters
              not expressly delegated to the Subadviser by this Agreement.


III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    A.   Representations and Warranties of the Subadviser

    The  Subadviser hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows:

         1.   Due  Incorporation  and  Organization.  The  Subadviser  is duly
              organized and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
              Connecticut and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and  carry  out  its  duties  and  obligations   hereunder.   2.
              Registration.  The  Subadviser  is  registered  as an investment
              adviser  with the  Commission  under the  Advisers  Act,  and is
              registered or licensed as an investment adviser under all of the
              laws of all jurisdictions in which its activities  require it to
              be so registered or licensed. The Subadviser shall maintain such
              registration  or license in effect at all times  during the term
              of this Agreement.

                                       3

<PAGE>

         2.   Registration.  The  Subadviser  is  registered  as an investment
              adviser  with the  Commission  under the  Advisers  Act,  and is
              registered or licensed as an investment adviser under all of the
              laws of all jurisdictions in which its activities  require it to
              be so registered or licensed. The Subadviser shall maintain such
              registration  or license in effect at all times  during the term
              of this Agreement.

         3.   Regulatory  Orders.  The  Subadviser  is not subject to any stop
              orders,  injunctions or other orders of any regulatory authority
              affecting its ability to carry out the terms of this  Agreement.
              The Subadviser will notify the Adviser and the Fund  immediately
              if any such order is issued or if any  proceeding  is  commenced
              that could result in such an order.

         4.   Compliance.  The Subadviser has in place compliance  systems and
              procedures designed to meet the requirements of the Advisers Act
              and the  1940  Act and it shall  at all  times  assure  that its
              activities  in  connection  with  managing the Fund follow these
              procedures.

         5.   Authority.  The  Subadviser  is  authorized  to enter  into this
              Agreement and carry out the terms hereunder.

         6.   Best Efforts. The Subadviser at all times shall provide its best
              judgment and effort to the Fund in carrying out its  obligations
              hereunder.

    B.   Representations and Warranties of the Adviser


    The  Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

         1.   Due  Incorporation   and  Organization.   The  Adviser  is  duly
              organized and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
              Connecticut and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         2.   Registration. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser
              with the Commission under the Advisers Act, and is registered or
              licensed as an  investment  adviser under all of the laws of all
              jurisdictions  in  which  its  activities  require  it  to be so
              registered  or  licensed.   The  Adviser  shall   maintain  such
              registration  or license in effect at all times  during the term
              of this Agreement.

         3.   Regulatory  Orders.  The  Adviser  is not  subject  to any  stop
              orders,  injunctions or other orders of any regulatory authority
              affecting its ability to carry out the terms of this  Agreement.
              The Adviser will notify the Subadviser and the Fund  immediately
              if any such order is issued or if any  proceeding  is  commenced
              that could result in such an order.

                                      5

<PAGE>

         4.   Authority.   The  Adviser  is  authorized  to  enter  into  this
              Agreement and carry out the terms hereunder.

         5.   Best  Efforts.  The Adviser at all times shall  provide its best
              judgment and effort to the Fund in carrying out its  obligations
              hereunder.


    C.   Representations and Warranties of the Fund

    The  Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows:

         1.   Due  Incorporation  and  Organization.  The Fund  has been  duly
              formed as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of
              Massachusetts  and it is authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and carry out its obligations hereunder.

         2.   Registration.  The Fund is registered  as an investment  company
              with the  Commission  under the 1940 Act and  shares of the Fund
              are  registered  for  offer  and sale to the  public  under  the
              Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "1933  Act") and all
              applicable  state securities  laws. Such  registrations  will be
              kept in effect during the term of this Agreement.


IV. BROKER-DEALER RELATIONSHIPS

    A.   Portfolio Trades

The  Subadviser  shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities  for the Fund with brokers or dealers  selected by the  Subadviser,
which may  include  brokers or dealers  affiliated  with the  Subadviser.  The
Subadviser   shall  use  its  best  efforts  to  seek  to  execute   portfolio
transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Fund giving  consideration
to the  services  and  research  provided  and at  commission  rates  that are
reasonable in relation to the benefits received ("best execution").

    B.   Selection of Broker-Dealers

In selecting  broker-dealers  qualified  to execute a particular  transaction,
brokers or dealers may be selected  who also  provide  brokerage  and research
services  (as those  terms are  defined  in  Section  28(e) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934) to the Fund  and/or the other  accounts  over which the
Subadviser or its affiliates  exercise investment  discretion.  The Subadviser
may also  select  brokers or dealers to effect  transactions  for the Fund who
provide  payment for expenses of the Fund. The Subadviser is authorized to pay
a broker or dealer who  provides  such  brokerage  and  research  services  or
expenses, a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund that
is in excess of the amount of commission  another  broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that  transaction  if the Subadviser  determines in good
faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage,  research and other services  provided by such broker or dealer
and is paid in compliance with Section 28(e) or other rules and regulations of
the  Commission.  This  determination  may be viewed  in terms of either  that
particular transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Subadviser and
its  affiliates  have with  respect  to  accounts  over  which  they  exercise
investment  discretion.  The Board shall  periodically  review the commissions
paid by the Fund to  determine  if the  commissions  paid over  representative
periods of time were reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

                                       5

<PAGE>

V. CONTROL BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Any  investment  program  undertaken  by  the  Subadviser   pursuant  to  this
Agreement, as well as any other activities undertaken by the Subadviser at the
direction  of the  Adviser  with  respect  to the Fund,  shall at all times be
subject to any directives of the Board.


VI. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS

In carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at all
times conform to:

    A.   all  applicable  provisions  of  the  1940  Act  and  any  rules  and
         regulations adopted thereunder;

    B.   all policies and  procedures  of the Fund as adopted by the Board and
         as described in the Registration Statement;

    C.   the  provisions of the  Declaration  of Trust of the Fund, as amended
         from time to time;

    D.   the  provisions  of the bylaws of the Fund,  as amended  from time to
         time; and

    E.   any other applicable provisions of state or federal law.


VII.  COMPENSATION

    A.   Payment Schedule

    The  Adviser  shall  pay the  Subadviser,  as  compensation  for  services
    rendered  hereunder,  from its own assets,  an annual fee of up to .25% of
    the  average  daily net  assets in the Fund,  payable  monthly.  Except as
    hereinafter  set  forth,   compensation  under  this  Agreement  shall  be
    calculated  and  accrued  daily  at  the  rate  of  1/365  of  the  annual
    Subadvisory fee of up to .25% applied to the daily net assets of the Fund.
    If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a month
    or shall terminate  before the last day of a month,  compensation for that
    part of the month  this  Agreement  is in effect  shall be  prorated  in a
    manner consistent with the calculation of the fees set forth above.

                                       6

<PAGE>

    B. Reduction

    Payment of the Subadviser's  compensation for the preceding month shall be
    made as promptly as possible,  except as provided  below.  The  Subadviser
    acknowledges  that,  pursuant to the Investment  Advisory  Agreement,  the
    Adviser has agreed to reduce its fee or reimburse the Fund if the expenses
    borne by the Fund exceed the expense  limitations  applicable  to the Fund
    imposed by the securities laws or regulations of any jurisdiction in which
    the Fund shares are qualified for sale. Accordingly, the Subadviser agrees
    that, if, for any fiscal year, the total of all ordinary business expenses
    of  the  Fund,  including  all  investment  advisory  fees  but  excluding
    brokerage commissions,  distribution fees, taxes, interest,  extraordinary
    expenses  and certain  other  excludable  expenses,  would exceed the most
    restrictive expense limits imposed by any statute or regulatory  authority
    of any  jurisdiction  in which  shares  of the Fund are  offered  for sale
    (unless a waiver is obtained),  the  Subadviser  shall reduce its advisory
    fee to the extent  necessary to meet such expense  limit,  but will not be
    required to reimburse the Fund for any ordinary  business  expenses  which
    exceed the amount of its advisory fee for the fiscal year.  The Subadviser
    shall  contribute  to the  amount of such  reduction  by  reimbursing  the
    Adviser in  proportion  to the amounts  which the  Adviser and  Subadviser
    would have been  entitled  to receive for such year.  For the  purposes of
    this  paragraph,  the term "fiscal  year" shall exclude the portion of the
    current  fiscal year which  elapsed  prior to the  effective  date of this
    Agreement,  but shall include the portion of the then current  fiscal year
    has elapsed at the date of termination of this Agreement.


VIII. ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES

The Subadviser shall pay the salaries,  employment  benefits and other related
costs of those of its personnel engaged in providing  investment advice to the
Fund hereunder, including, but not limited to, office space, office equipment,
telephone and postage costs.  In the event the  Subadviser  incurs any expense
that is the  obligation  of the  Adviser  as set out in  this  Agreement,  the
Adviser shall  reimburse the Subadviser for such expense on  presentation of a
statement  indicating  the  expenses  incurred  and  the  amount  paid  by the
Subadviser.


IX. NONEXCLUSIVITY

The services of the  Subadviser  with respect to the Fund are not to be deemed
to be  exclusive,  and the  Subadviser  shall  be free  to  render  investment
advisory  and  administrative  or other  services to others  (including  other
investment companies) and to engage in other activities.  It is understood and
agreed that officers or directors of the  Subadviser  may serve as officers or
directors of the Adviser or officers or Trustees of the Fund; that officers or
directors  of the  Adviser or  officers  or  Trustees of the Fund may serve as
officers or directors of the  Subadviser  to the extent  permitted by law; and
that the officers and  directors of the  Subadviser  are not  prohibited  from
engaging  in any other  business  activity or from  rendering  services to any
other person, or from serving as partners,  officers, directors or trustees of
any other firm or trust, including other investment advisory companies.

                                      7

<PAGE>

X. TERM

This Agreement  shall become  effective at the close of business on _________,
1996, and shall remain in force and effect through  December 31, 1997,  unless
earlier   terminated  under  the  provisions  of  Article  XI.  Following  the
expiration of its initial  term,  the  Agreement  shall  continue in force and
effect  for one  year  periods,  provided  such  continuance  is  specifically
approved at least annually:

    A.   (1) by the Fund's  Trustees  or (2) by the vote of a majority  of the
         Fund's  outstanding voting securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42)
         of the 1940 Act), and

    B.   by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the  Trustees  who are not
         parties to this  Agreement or  interested  persons of a party to this
         Agreement  (other  than as a Trustee of the  Fund),  by votes cast in
         person at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.


XI. TERMINATION

This Agreement may be terminated:

    A.   at any time,  without  the  payment  of any  penalty,  by vote of the
         Fund's  Trustees or by vote of a majority of the  outstanding  voting
         securities of the Fund; or

    B.   by the  Adviser,  the  Fund or the  Subadviser  on sixty  (60)  days'
         written notice to the other party, unless written notice is waived by
         the party required to be notified; or

    C.   automatically   in  the  event  there  is  an  "assignment"  of  this
         Agreement, as defined in Section 2 (a) (4) of the 1940 Act.


XII. LIABILITY

    A. Liability of the Subadviser

    The  Subadviser  shall be  liable  to the Fund and the  Adviser  and shall
    indemnify the Fund and the Adviser for any losses incurred by the Fund, or
    the Adviser  whether in the  purchase,  holding or sale of any security or
    otherwise, to the extent that such losses resulted from an act or omission
    on the part of the  Subadviser  or its  officers,  directors or employees,
    that is found to involve willful misfeasance,  bad faith or negligence, or
    reckless  disregard by the Subadviser of its duties under this  Agreement,
    in connection with the services rendered by the Subadviser hereunder.

                                       8

<PAGE>

    B. Liability of the Fund, the Shareholders and the Trustees

    A copy of the  Declaration  of  Trust  of the  Fund is on  file  with  the
    Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given
    that this  instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as
    Trustees and not  individually and that the obligations of this instrument
    are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders  individually but
    are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund. No provision of
    this Agreement shall be construed to protect any Trustee or officer of the
    Fund or director or officer of the Adviser, from liability in violation of
    Section 17(h) and (i) of the 1940 Act.

XIII. NOTICES

Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered,
mailed  postage  paid,  or sent by other  delivery  service,  or by  facsimile
transmission to the following addresses:

    IF TO THE FUND OR THE ADVISER:

    151  Farmington  Avenue,  RE4C  Hartford,  Connecticut  06156 Fax  number:
    860/273-8340 Attn: Secretary

    IF TO THE SUBADVISER:

    242  Trumbull  Street   Hartford,   Connecticut   06103-1205  Fax  number:
    860/275-4440 Attention: President


XIV. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut.  Any
question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a
counterpart  in or otherwise  derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act
shall be resolved by  reference  to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and
to  interpretations  thereof,  if any, by the United  States Courts or, in the
absence of any controlling  decision of any such court, by rules,  regulations
or orders of the  Commission  issued  pursuant to the 1940 Act.  In  addition,
where the effect of a  requirement  of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision
of the Agreement is revised by rule,  regulation  or order of the  Commission,
such  provision  shall be  deemed to  incorporate  the  effect  of such  rule,
regulation or order.


XV. SERVICE MARK

The  service  mark of the Fund or  Adviser,  and the name  "Aetna"  have  been
adopted by the Fund with the permission of Aetna Life and Casualty Company and
their  continued  use is subject to the right of Aetna  Life and  Casualty  to
withdraw this permission in the event the Subadviser or another  subsidiary or
affiliated corporation of Aetna Life and Casualty should not be the investment
adviser of the Fund.

                                       9

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed  in  duplicate  by their  respective  officers  on the  ______ day of
______________, 19__.


                                      Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company



                                            By:_____________________________
Attest:____________________                 Name:___________________________
                                            Title:__________________________



                                      Aeltus Investment Management, Inc.


                                            By:_____________________________
Attest:____________________                 Name:___________________________
                                            Title:__________________________



                                       Aetna Income Shares

                                            By:_____________________________
Attest:____________________                 Name:___________________________
                                            Title:__________________________

                                      10

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B

                         INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT


THIS  AGREEMENT  is made by and  between  AETNA  LIFE  INSURANCE  AND  ANNUITY
COMPANY, a Connecticut  corporation (the "Adviser") and AETNA INCOME SHARES, a
Massachusetts  business trust (the "Fund"), as of the date set forth below the
parties' signatures.

                                W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS,  the Fund is registered  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "Commission") as an open-end, diversified,  management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and

WHEREAS,  the  Adviser is  registered  with the  Commission  as an  investment
adviser under the  Investment  Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act"), and is in the business of acting as an investment adviser; and

WHEREAS, the Fund and the Adviser desire to enter into an agreement to provide
for investment  advisory and management services for the Fund on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth;

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:


I. APPOINTMENT AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE ADVISER

Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and the policies and
control  of the  Fund's  Board of  Trustees  (the  "Board"),  the Fund  hereby
appoints  the  Adviser  to serve as the  investment  adviser  to the Fund,  to
provide the  investment  advisory  services set forth below in Section II. The
Adviser  agrees  that,  except as required to carry out its duties  under this
Agreement or otherwise  expressly  authorized,  it is acting as an independent
contractor  and not as an agent of the Fund and has no authority to act for or
represent the Fund in any way.


II. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER

In  carrying  out the  terms  of this  Agreement,  the  Adviser  shall  do the
following:

    A.   supervise all aspects of the operations of the Fund;

    B.   select the securities to be purchased,  sold or exchanged by the Fund
         or otherwise  represented in the Fund's investment  portfolio,  place
         trades for all such  securities  and regularly  report thereon to the
         Board;

<PAGE>

    C.   formulate and implement continuing programs for the purchase and sale
         of securities and regularly report thereon to the Board;

    D.   obtain  and  evaluate   pertinent   information   about   significant
         developments and economic,  statistical and financial data, domestic,
         foreign or otherwise,  whether affecting the economy  generally,  the
         Fund,  securities held by or under consideration for the Fund, or the
         issuers of those securities;

    E.   provide  economic  research  and  securities  analyses as the Adviser
         considers  necessary or advisable in  connection  with the  Adviser's
         performance of its duties hereunder;

    F.   obtain the services of,  contract with, and provide  instructions  to
         custodians and/or  subcustodians of the Fund's  securities,  transfer
         agents,  dividend paying agents,  pricing  services and other service
         providers as are necessary to carry out the terms of this Agreement;
 
    G.   prepare financial and performance reports, calculate and report daily
         net asset values, and prepare any other financial data or reports, as
         the Adviser from time to time, deems necessary or as are requested by
         the Board; and

    H.   take any other  actions  which  appear to the  Adviser  and the Board
         necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this Agreement.

III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    A.   Representations and Warranties of the Adviser

    Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Fund as follows:
 
         1.   Due  Incorporation   and  Organization.   The  Adviser  is  duly
              organized and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
              Connecticut and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.
 
         2.   Registration. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser
              with the Commission under the Advisers Act, and is registered or
              licensed  as  an  investment  adviser  under  the  laws  of  all
              jurisdictions  in  which  its  activities  require  it  to be so
              registered  or  licensed.   The  Adviser  shall   maintain  such
              registration  or license in effect at all times  during the term
              of this Agreement.
 
         3.   Best  Efforts.  The Adviser at all times shall  provide its best
              judgment and effort to the Fund in carrying out its  obligations
              hereunder.

                                      2

<PAGE>

    B.   Representations and Warranties of the Fund
 
    The  Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows:
 
         1.   Due  Incorporation  and  Organization.  The Fund  has been  duly
              formed as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of
              Massachusetts  and it is authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and carry out its obligations hereunder.
 
         2.   Registration.  The Fund is registered  as an investment  company
              with the  Commission  under the 1940 Act and  shares of the Fund
              are  registered  for  offer  and sale to the  public  under  the
              Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "1933  Act") and all
              applicable  state securities  laws. Such  registrations  will be
              kept in effect during the term of this Agreement.
 

        IV.    DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

    A.   Appointment of Subadviser
 
    Subject to the approval of the Board and the shareholders of the Fund, the
    Adviser may enter into a Subadvisory Agreement to engage a subadviser (the
    "Subadviser") to the Adviser with respect to the Fund.
 
    B.   Duties of Subadviser
 
    Under a Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser may be delegated some or all
    of the following duties of the Adviser:
 
         1.   determine   which   securities   from  which  issuers  shall  be
              purchased,   sold  or   exchanged   by  the  Fund  or  otherwise
              represented in the Fund's investment portfolio, place trades for
              all such securities and regularly report thereon to the Board;
 
         2.   formulate and implement continuing programs for the purchase and
              sale of the  securities  of such  issuers and  regularly  report
              thereon to the Board;
 
         3.   obtain and  evaluate  pertinent  information  about  significant
              developments  and  economic,  statistical  and  financial  data,
              domestic,  foreign or otherwise,  whether  affecting the economy
              generally,  the Fund,  securities held by or under consideration
              for the Fund, or the issuers of those securities;
 
         4.   provide economic research and securities analyses as the Adviser
              considers   necessary  or  advisable  in  connection   with  the
              Adviser's performance of its duties hereunder;
 
                                      3

<PAGE>

         5.   give  instructions to the custodian and/or  sub-custodian of the
              Fund  appointed by the Board,  as to deliveries  of  securities,
              transfers  of  currencies  and  payments of cash for the Fund as
              required to carry out the investment  activities of the Fund, in
              relation to the matters contemplated by this Agreement; and
 
         6.   provide  such  financial  support,  administrative  services and
              other duties as the Adviser deems necessary and appropriate.
 
    C.   Duties of the Adviser
 
    In the event the Adviser delegates certain responsibilities hereunder to a
    Subadviser, the Adviser shall, among other things:
 
         1.   monitor the investment  program maintained by the Subadviser for
              the Fund and the Subadviser's  compliance program to ensure that
              the  Fund's   assets  are  invested  in   compliance   with  the
              Subadvisory  Agreement and the Fund's investment  objectives and
              policies  as  adopted  by the  Board and  described  in the most
              current  effective  amendment of the registration  statement for
              the Fund, as filed with the Commission  under the Securities Act
              of  1933,   as   amended,   and  the  1940  Act   ("Registration
              Statement");
 
         2.   review all data and financial reports prepared by the Subadviser
              to  assure  that  they  are  in   compliance   with   applicable
              requirements  and meet the  provisions  of  applicable  laws and
              regulations;
 
         3.   establish   and  maintain   regular   communications   with  the
              Subadviser to share  information  it obtains with the Subadviser
              concerning the effect of developments and data on the investment
              program maintained by the Subadviser; and
 
         4.   oversee all matters relating to the offer and sale of the Fund's
              shares, the Fund's corporate  governance,  reports to the Board,
              contracts  with all  third  parties  on  behalf  of the Fund for
              services  to the Fund,  reports to  regulatory  authorities  and
              compliance with all applicable  rules and regulations  affecting
              the Fund's operations.


V. BROKER-DEALER RELATIONSHIPS

    A.   Portfolio Trades

    The Adviser,  at its own expense,  shall place all orders for the purchase
    and sale of  portfolio  securities  for the Fund with  brokers  or dealers
    selected by the Adviser,  which may include brokers or dealers  affiliated
    with the  Adviser.  The  Adviser  shall  use its best  efforts  to seek to
    execute portfolio transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Fund
    and at  commission  rates that are  reasonable in relation to the benefits
    received.
 
                                       4

<PAGE>

    B.   Selection of Broker-Dealers
 
    In selecting broker-dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction,
    brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research
    services  (as those terms are defined in Section  28(e) of the  Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934) to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the
    Adviser or its affiliates exercise investment discretion.  The Adviser may
    also  select  brokers or dealers to effect  transactions  for the Fund who
    provide payment for expenses of the Fund. The Adviser is authorized to pay
    a broker or dealer who provides such  brokerage  and research  services or
    expenses, a commission for executing a portfolio  transaction for the Fund
    that is in excess of the  amount of  commission  another  broker or dealer
    would  have  charged  for  effecting  that   transaction  if  the  Adviser
    determines  in good faith that such amount of  commission is reasonable in
    relation to the value of the brokerage and research  services  provided by
    such  broker or dealer and is paid in  compliance  with  Section  28(e) or
    other rules and regulations of the Commission.  This  determination may be
    viewed in terms of  either  that  particular  transaction  or the  overall
    responsibilities  that the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to
    accounts over which they exercise investment  discretion.  The Board shall
    periodically  review the commissions  paid by the Fund to determine if the
    commissions  paid over  representative  periods of time were reasonable in
    relation to the benefits received.


VI. CONTROL BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
Any investment  program  undertaken by the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement,
as well as any other  activities  undertaken  by the  Adviser on behalf of the
Fund pursuant thereto,  shall at all times be subject to any directives of the
Board.
 
 
VII. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS

In carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at all
times conform to:
 
    A.   all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;
 
    B.   the provisions of the registration statement of the Fund, as the same
         may be  amended  from  time to time,  under the 1933 Act and the 1940
         Act;
 
    C.   the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, as amended;
 
    D.   the provisions of the Bylaws of the Fund, as amended; and
 
    E.   any other applicable provisions of state and federal law.
 
                                       5

<PAGE>

VIII.    COMPENSATION

For the services to be rendered,  the  facilities  furnished  and the expenses
assumed  by the  Adviser,  the Fund shall pay to the  Adviser  an annual  fee,
payable  monthly,  equal to .40% of the average  daily net assets of the Fund.
Except as hereinafter  set forth,  compensation  under this Agreement shall be
calculated  and  accrued  daily at the rate of 1/365 of .40% of the  daily net
assets of the Fund.  If this  Agreement  becomes  effective  subsequent to the
first  day  of a  month  or  terminates  before  the  last  day  of  a  month,
compensation  for that part of the month this  Agreement is in effect shall be
prorated in a manner  consistent  with the  calculation  of the fees set forth
above. Subject to the provisions of Section X hereof, payment of the Adviser's
compensation  for the  preceding  month shall be made as promptly as possible.
For so long as a  Subadvisory  Agreement is in effect,  the Fund  acknowledges
that the Adviser will pay to the  Subadviser,  as  compensation  for acting as
Subadviser to the Fund, the fees specified in the Subadvisory Agreement.


IX.     EXPENSES

The expenses in connection  with the management of the Fund shall be allocated
between the Fund and the Adviser as follows:

    A.   Expenses of the Adviser
 
    The  Adviser shall pay:
 
         1.   the  salaries,  employment  benefits and other related costs and
              expenses  of  those  of  its  personnel   engaged  in  providing
              investment  advice to the Fund,  including  without  limitation,
              office space, office equipment, telephone and postage costs;

         2.   all fees and expenses of all Trustees,  officers and  employees,
              if any,  of the  Fund who are  employees  of the  Adviser  or an
              affiliated   entity,   including  any  salaries  and  employment
              benefits payable to those persons;

    B.   Expenses of the Fund

    The  Fund shall pay:

         1.   investment advisory fees pursuant to this Agreement;

         2.   brokers'   commissions,   issue  and  transfer  taxes  or  other
              transaction  fees payable in connection with any transactions in
              the  securities  in the  Fund's  investment  portfolio  or other
              investment  transactions incurred in managing the Fund's assets,
              including  portions of  commissions  that may be paid to reflect
              brokerage research services provided to the Adviser;

                                       6

<PAGE>

         3.   fees and  expenses  of the Fund's  independent  accountants  and
              legal counsel and the independent Trustees' legal counsel;

         4.   fees  and  expenses  of  any   administrator,   transfer  agent,
              custodian,  dividend, accounting, pricing or disbursing agent of
              the Fund;

         5.   interest and taxes;

         6.   fees and expenses of any  membership in the  Investment  Company
              Institute or any similar  organization  in which the Board deems
              it advisable for the Fund to maintain membership;

         7.   insurance premiums on property or personnel  (including officers
              and Trustees) of the Fund which benefit the Fund;

         8.   all  fees  and  expenses  of the  Fund's  Trustees,  who are not
              "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or
              the Adviser;

         9.   expenses of preparing,  printing and distributing proxies, proxy
              statements,  prospectuses  and  reports to  shareholders  of the
              Fund,  except  for  those  expenses  paid by  third  parties  in
              connection  with the  distribution  of Fund shares and all costs
              and expenses of shareholders' meetings;

         10.  all   expenses   incident  to  the  payment  of  any   dividend,
              distribution, withdrawal or redemption, whether in shares of the
              Fund or in cash;

         11.  costs and expenses of promoting  the sale of shares in the Fund,
              including preparing  prospectuses and reports to shareholders of
              the Fund, provided,  nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the
              charging  of  such  costs  to  third  parties  involved  in  the
              distribution and sale of Fund shares;

         12.  fees  payable  by the  Fund to the  Commission  or to any  state
              securities  regulator  or  other  regulatory  authority  for the
              registration  of shares of the Fund in any state or territory of
              the United States or of the District of Columbia;

         13.  all  costs  attributable  to  investor  services,  administering
              shareholder   accounts  and  handling   shareholder   relations,
              (including,   without   limitation,   telephone   and  personnel
              expenses),  which costs may also be charged to third  parties by
              the Adviser; and

         14.  any other ordinary,  routine expenses incurred in the management
              of the Fund's  assets,  and any  nonrecurring  or  extraordinary
              expenses,   including   organizational   expenses,    litigation
              affecting  the Fund and any  indemnification  by the Fund of its
              officers, Trustees or agents.

                                       7

<PAGE>

X. EXPENSE LIMITATION

If, for any fiscal year, the total of all ordinary  business  expenses payable
by the Fund,  including all investment  advisory fees but excluding  brokerage
commissions, distribution fees, taxes, interest and extraordinary expenses and
certain other excludable  expenses,  would exceed the most restrictive expense
limits imposed by any statute or regulatory  authority of any  jurisdiction in
which shares of the Fund are offered for sale  (unless a waiver is  obtained),
the Adviser shall reduce its advisory fee to the extent necessary to meet such
expense limit,  but the Adviser will not be required to reimburse the Fund for
any ordinary business expenses which exceed the amount of its advisory fee for
such  fiscal  year.  The  amount of any such  reduction  is to be borne by the
Adviser and shall be deducted from the monthly advisory fee otherwise  payable
to the Adviser  during such fiscal year.  For the purposes of this  paragraph,
the term "fiscal  year" shall  exclude the portion of the current  fiscal year
which  shall  have  elapsed  prior to the date  hereof and shall  include  the
portion of the then  current  fiscal year which shall have elapsed at the date
of termination of this Agreement.


XI.     ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Upon the request of the Board of  Trustees,  the  Adviser may perform  certain
accounting,  shareholder servicing or other administrative  services on behalf
of the Fund that are not required by this  Agreement.  Such  services  will be
performed on behalf of the Fund and the Adviser may receive from the Fund such
reimbursement for costs or reasonable compensation for such services as may be
agreed  upon  between the Adviser and the Board on a finding by the Board that
the provision of such services by the Adviser is in the best  interests of the
Fund and its  shareholders.  Payment or  assumption by the Adviser of any Fund
expense that the Adviser is not otherwise required to pay or assume under this
Agreement  shall not relieve the Adviser of any of its obligations to the Fund
nor  obligate  the  Adviser to pay or assume any similar  Fund  expense on any
subsequent  occasions.  Such services may include, but are not limited to, (a)
the  services  of  a  principal  financial  officer  of  the  Fund  (including
applicable office space, facilities and equipment) whose normal duties consist
of  maintaining  the financial  accounts and books and records of the Fund and
the services (including applicable office space,  facilities and equipment) of
any of the personnel operating under the direction of such principal financial
officer;  (b) the  services  of  staff to  respond  to  shareholder  inquiries
concerning the status of their accounts,  providing assistance to shareholders
in exchanges among the investment companies managed or advised by the Adviser,
changing account designations or changing addresses, assisting in the purchase
or redemption of shares;  or otherwise  providing  services to shareholders of
the Fund; and (c) such other administrative  services as may be furnished from
time to time by the Adviser to the Fund at the request of the Board.


XII. NONEXCLUSIVITY

The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed to be  exclusive,
and the Adviser shall be free to render investment  advisory or other services
to  others  (including  other  investment  companies)  and to  engage in other
activities,  so long as its  services  under this  Agreement  are not impaired
thereby.  It is  understood  and agreed that  officers  and  Directors  of the
Adviser may serve as officers  or Trustees of the Fund,  and that  officers or

                                       8

<PAGE>

Trustees of the Fund may serve as officers or  Directors of the Adviser to the
extent  permitted by law;  and that the officers and  directors of the Adviser
are not  prohibited  from  engaging  in any other  business  activity  or from
rendering services to any other person, or from serving as partners, officers,
directors or trustees of any other firm or trust,  including other  investment
companies.

XIII. TERM

This  Agreement  shall  become  effective at the close of business on the date
hereof and shall remain in force and effect,  subject to Paragraphs XIV and XV
hereof and approval by the Fund's shareholders, for a period of two years from
the date hereof.


XIV.    RENEWAL

Following the expiration of its initial  two-year  term,  the Agreement  shall
continue in force and effect from year to year, provided that such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually:

    A.   1. by the Fund's Trustees, or

         2.   by the  vote of a  majority  of the  Fund's  outstanding  voting
              securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act), and

    B.   by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the  Trustees  who are not
         parties to this  Agreement or  interested  persons of a party to this
         Agreement  (other than as a Trustees  of the Fund),  by votes cast in
         person at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.


XV. TERMINATION

This  Agreement  may be  terminated  at any time,  without  the payment of any
penalty, by vote of the Fund's Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding  voting  securities  (as  defined in Section  2(a)(42) of the 1940
Act),  or by the  Adviser,  on sixty  (60) days'  written  notice to the other
party.  The notice  provided for herein may be waived by the party required to
be notified.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
"assignment", as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act.


XVI. LIABILITY

    A.   Liability of the Adviser

    The Adviser  shall be liable to the Fund and shall  indemnify the Fund for
    any losses incurred by the Fund, whether in the purchase,  holding or sale
    of any security or otherwise, to the extent that such losses resulted from
    an act or omission on the part of the Adviser or its officers, Trustees or
    employees,  that is found to  involve  willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or
    negligence,  or reckless disregard by the Adviser of its duties under this
    Agreement,  in  connection  with  the  services  rendered  by the  Adviser
    hereunder.

                                       9

<PAGE>

    B.   Liability of the Fund, the Shareholders and the Trustees

    A copy of the  Declaration  of  Trust  of the  Fund is on  file  with  the
    Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given
    that this  instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as
    Trustees and not  individually and that the obligations of this instrument
    are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders  individually but
    are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund. No provision of
    this  Agreement  shall be  construed to protect any Trustees or officer of
    the  Fund or  director  or  officer  of the  Adviser,  from  liability  in
    violation of Section 17(h) and (i) of the 1940 Act.


XVII.  NOTICES

Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered,
mailed  postage  paid,  or sent by other  delivery  service,  or by  facsimile
transmission to each party at such address as each party may designate for the
receipt of notice. Until further notice, such addresses shall be:

    if to the Fund or the Adviser:
 
    151 Farmington Avenue, RE4C
    Hartford, Connecticut  06156
    Fax number: 860/273-8340
 
 
XVIII.  QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut.  Any
question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a
counterpart  in or otherwise  derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act
shall be resolved by  reference  to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and
to  interpretations  thereof,  if any, by the United  States Courts or, in the
absence of any controlling  decision of any such court, by rules,  regulations
or orders of the  Commission  issued  pursuant to the 1940 Act.  In  addition,
where the effect of a requirement  of the 1940 Act reflected in the provisions
of this Agreement is revised by rule,  regulation or order of the  Commission,
such  provisions  shall be  deemed to  incorporate  the  effect of such  rule,
regulation or order.


XIX. SERVICE MARK

The service  mark of the Fund and the name  "Aetna"  have been  adopted by the
Fund  with  the  permission  of Aetna  Life and  Casualty  Company  and  their
continued  use is subject to the right of Aetna Life and  Casualty  Company to
withdraw  this  permission  in the event the Adviser or another  subsidiary or
affiliated  corporation  of Aetna Life and Casualty  Company should not be the
investment adviser of the Fund.

                                      10

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed  in  duplicate  by  their  respective  officers  on  the  ___  day of
_______________, 199__.



                                    AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY



                                            By:_____________________________
Attest:____________________                 Name:___________________________
                                            Title:__________________________



                                   
                                    AETNA INCOME SHARES



                                            By:_____________________________
Attest:____________________                 Name:___________________________
                                            Title:__________________________

                                      11

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C

                        INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT


    THIS AGREEMENT is made by and between AETNA INCOME SHARES, a Massachusetts
business  trust (the "Fund") and AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY  COMPANY,  a
Connecticut  insurance  corporation (the "Adviser"),  as of the Date set forth
below.

                                R E C I T A L

    WHEREAS,  the Fund is  registered  as an open-end  diversified  management
investment  company under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

    WHEREAS,  the Adviser is  registered  as an  investment  adviser under the
Investment  Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and engages
in the business of acting as an investment adviser;

    WHEREAS,  the Fund and the Adviser  desire to enter into an  agreement  to
provide for investment  advisory and  management  services for the Fund on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

    NOW THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained
and other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


I.  APPOINTMENT AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE ADVISER

    The Adviser is hereby appointed to serve as the investment  adviser to the
Fund, to provide  investment  advisory services set forth below in Section II,
subject to the terms of this  Agreement  and the  policies  and control of the
Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board").  The Adviser  shall,  for all purposes
herein,  be deemed an independent  contractor and shall have, unless otherwise
expressly  provided or  authorized,  no authority to act for or represent  the
Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.


II. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER

    In carrying out the terms of this Agreement, the Adviser shall provide the
following services:

    A.   supervise all aspects of the operations of the Fund;

    B.   obtain  and  evaluate   pertinent   information   about   significant
         developments and economic,  statistical and financial data, domestic,
         foreign or otherwise,  whether affecting the economy generally or the
         Fund's portfolio and whether concerning the individual issuers of the
         securities  included in the Fund's  portfolio  or the  activities  in
         which the issuers  engage,  or with  respect to  securities  that the
         Adviser considers desirable for inclusion in the Fund's portfolio;

<PAGE>

    C.   determine  which issuers and  securities  shall be represented in the
         Fund's portfolio and regularly report thereon to the Board;

    D.   formulate  and  implement  continuing  programs for the purchases and
         sales of the securities of such issuers and regularly  report thereon
         to the Board;

    E.   give  instructions to the custodian and/or  sub-custodian of the Fund
         appointed by the Board as to deliveries of  securities,  transfers of
         currencies  and  payments  of cash for the  account  of the Fund,  in
         relation to the matters contemplated by this Agreement; and
 
    F.   take,  on behalf of the Fund,  all actions  which  appear to the Fund
         necessary to carry into effect the  purchase  and sale of  securities
         for the Fund and the supervisory  functions  listed above,  including
         the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the
         Fund.


III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    A.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ADVISER

    Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Fund as follows:

         1.   Due  Incorporation   and  Organization.   The  Adviser  is  duly
              organized and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
              Connecticut and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement
              and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.

         2.   Registration. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser
              with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") under
              the Advisers Act, and is registered or licensed as an investment
              adviser  under  the  laws  of all  jurisdictions  in  which  its
              activities  require  it to be so  registered  or  licensed.  The
              Adviser shall maintain such registration or license in effect at
              all times during the term of this Agreement.

         3.   Best  Efforts.  The Adviser at all times shall  provide its best
              judgment and effort to the Fund in carrying out its  obligations
              hereunder.

                                       2

<PAGE>

    B.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND

    The Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows:

         1.   Due  Organization.  The  Fund  has  been  duly  organized  as  a
              "business   trust"  under  the  laws  of  the   Commonwealth  of
              Massachusetts and is authorized to enter into this Agreement and
              carry out its terms.

         2.   Registration.  The Fund is registered  as an investment  company
              with  the SEC  under  the 1940  Act and  shares  of the Fund are
              registered for offer and sale to the public under the Securities
              Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the "1933  Act") and all  applicable
              state securities laws. Such registrations will be kept in effect
              during the term of this Agreement.


IV. DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

    A.   APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER

         Subject  to the  approval  of the Board and the  shareholders  of the
    Fund,  the  Adviser  may enter into a  Subadvisory  Agreement  to engage a
    subadviser (the "Subadviser") to the Adviser with respect to the Fund.

    B.   DUTIES OF SUBADVISER

         Under a Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser shall:

         1.   provide the Adviser with such economic  research and  securities
              analysis as the Adviser may from time to time consider necessary
              or advisable in connection with the Adviser's performance of its
              duties hereunder;

         2.   obtain and  evaluate  pertinent  information  about  significant
              developments  and  economic,  statistical  and  financial  data,
              domestic,  foreign or otherwise,  whether  affecting the economy
              generally or the Fund,  and whether  concerning  the  individual
              issuers  whose  securities  are  included  in  the  Fund  or the
              activities  in which such  issuers  engage,  or with  respect to
              securities that the Subadviser considers desirable for inclusion
              in the Fund's investment portfolio;

         3.   determine which issuers and securities shall be purchased,  sold
              or exchanged by the Fund or otherwise  represented in the Fund's
              investment portfolio and regularly report thereon to the Adviser
              and, at the request of the Adviser, to the Board; and

         4.   formulate and implement continuing programs for the purchase and
              sale of the  securities  of such  issuers and  regularly  report
              thereon to the Adviser  and, at the request of the  Adviser,  to
              the Board.

                                       3

<PAGE>

    C.   DUTIES OF THE ADVISER

         In the event the Adviser delegates certain responsibilities hereunder
    to a Subadviser, the Adviser shall, among other things:

         1.   monitor the investment  program maintained by the Subadviser for
              the Fund to  ensure  that the  Fund's  assets  are  invested  in
              compliance  with  the  Subadvisory   Agreement  and  the  Fund's
              Registration Statement;

         2.   consult   with  and  assist  the   Subadviser   in   maintaining
              appropriate  policies,   procedures  and  records  so  that  the
              Subadviser  operates  its business  and any  investment  program
              hereunder in compliance with applicable laws;

         3.   establish  and  maintain   periodic   communications   with  the
              Subadviser to share  information  it obtains with the Subadviser
              concerning the effect of developments and data on the investment
              program maintained by the Subadviser; and

         4.   oversee matters relating to Fund promotion,  marketing materials
              and the Subadviser's reports to the Board.


V.  BROKER-DEALER RELATIONSHIPS

    A.   PORTFOLIO TRADES

    The Adviser,  at its own expense,  shall place all orders for the purchase
and sale of portfolio securities for the Fund with brokers or dealers selected
by the  Adviser,  which may  include  brokers or dealers  affiliated  with the
Adviser.  The Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek to execute  portfolio
transactions  at prices that are  advantageous  to the Fund and at  commission
rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

    B.   SELECTION OF BROKER-DEALERS
 
    In selecting broker-dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction,
brokers or dealers may be selected  who also  provide  brokerage  and research
services  (as those  terms are  defined  in  Section  28(e) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended) to the Fund and/or the other  accounts over
which the  Adviser  or its  affiliates  exercise  investment  discretion.  The
Adviser is authorized  to pay a broker or dealer who provides  such  brokerage
and research  services a commission for executing a portfolio  transaction for
the Fund that is in  excess of the  amount  of  commission  another  broker or
dealer  would have  charged  for  effecting  that  transaction  if the Adviser
determines  in good faith that such  amount of  commission  is  reasonable  in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research  services provided by such
broker or dealer.  This  determination  may be viewed in terms of either  that
particular  transaction or the overall  responsibilities  that the Adviser and
its  affiliates  have with  respect  to  accounts  over  which  they  exercise
investment  discretion.  The Board shall  periodically  review the commissions
paid by the Fund to  determine  if the  commissions  paid over  representative
periods of time were reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

                                       4

<PAGE>

VI.   CONTROL BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

    Any  investment  program  undertaken  by  the  Adviser  pursuant  to  this
Agreement, as well as any other activities undertaken by the Adviser on behalf
of the Fund pursuant thereto,  shall at all times be subject to any directives
of the Board.


VII.  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS

    In carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at
all times conform to:

    A.   all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;

    B.   the provisions of the registration statement of the Fund, as the same
         may be  amended  from  time to time,  under the 1933 Act and the 1940
         Act;

    C.   the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, as amended;

    D.   the provisions of the By-Laws of the Fund, as amended; and

    E.   any other applicable provisions of state and federal law.


VIII.  COMPENSATION

    For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished and the expenses
assumed  by the  Adviser,  the Fund shall pay to the  Adviser  an annual  fee,
payable  monthly,  equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Except as hereinafter  set forth,  compensation  under this Agreement shall be
calculated  and accrued daily at the rate of 1/365 of the annual  advisory fee
applied  to the  daily  net  assets of the  Fund.  If this  Agreement  becomes
effective subsequent to the first day of a month or shall terminate before the
last day of a month, compensation for that part of the month this Agreement is
in effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the
fees as set forth  above.  Subject to the  provisions  of  Paragraph X hereof,
payment of the Adviser's compensation for the preceding month shall be made as
promptly as possible. For so long as a Subadvisory Agreement is in effect, the
Fund acknowledges that the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, as compensation
for acting as Subadviser to the Fund,  the fees  specified in the  Subadvisory
Agreement.

                                       5

IX.   EXPENSES

    The  expenses  in  connection  with the  management  of the Fund  shall be
allocable between the Fund and the Adviser as follows:

    A.   EXPENSES OF THE ADVISER

    The Adviser shall pay:

         1.   The  salaries,  employment  benefits and other  related costs of
              those of its personnel engaged in providing investment advice to
              the Fund,  including,  without limitation,  office space, office
              equipment, telephone and postage costs; and

         2.   Any  fees  and  expenses  of all  Trustees  of the  Fund who are
              employees  of  the  Adviser  or an  affiliated  entity  and  any
              salaries and employment benefits of officers of the Fund who are
              affiliated  persons of the Adviser for acting as officers of the
              Fund.

    B.   EXPENSES OF THE FUND

    The Fund shall pay:

         1.   Investment advisory fees pursuant to this Agreement;

         2.   Brokers'   commissions,   issue  and  transfer  taxes  or  other
              transaction  fees  chargeable in connection  with  securities or
              other investment transactions, including portions of commissions
              that may be paid to reflect brokerage research services provided
              to the Adviser;

         3.   Fees and expenses of the Fund's  independent  public accountants
              and outside legal counsel;

         4.   Expenses of printing and distributing proxies, proxy statements,
              prospectuses and reports to shareholders of the Fund,  except as
              such expenses may be borne by any distributor of the Fund;

         5.   Interest and taxes;

         6.   The fees and  expenses of those of the Fund's  Trustees  who are
              not  "interested  persons"  (as  defined in the 1940 Act) of the
              Fund or the Adviser;

         7.   Shareholders' meeting expenses;

         8.   Administrator, transfer agent, custodian and dividend disbursing
              agent fees and expenses;

                                       6

<PAGE>

         9.   Fees of dividend,  accounting or pricing agents appointed by the
              Fund;

         10.  Fees  payable by the Fund to the SEC or in  connection  with the
              registration  of shares of the Fund  under the laws of any state
              or  territory  of  the  United  States  or of  the  District  of
              Columbia;

         11.  Fees and assessments of the Investment  Company Institute or any
              successor organization or other association memberships approved
              by the Board;

         12.  Such  nonrecurring  or  extraordinary  expenses  as  may  arise,
              including organizational expenses, litigation affecting the Fund
              and any indemnification by the Fund of its officers, Trustees or
              agents with respect thereto;

         13.  All other ordinary  business expenses incurred in the operations
              of the  Fund  unless  specifically  provided  otherwise  in this
              paragraph IX;

         14.  All  costs  attributable  to  investor  services,  administering
              shareholder   accounts   and  handling   shareholder   relations
              (including,   without   limitation,   telephone   and  personnel
              expenses);

         15.  All   expenses   incident  to  the  payment  of  any   dividend,
              distribution, withdrawal or redemption, whether in shares of the
              Fund or in cash; and

         16.  Insurance premiums on property or personnel  (including officers
              and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit.


X. EXPENSE LIMITATION

    If, for any fiscal year,  the total of all ordinary  business  expenses of
the Fund,  including all  investment  advisory  fees but  excluding  brokerage
commissions, distribution fees, taxes, interest and extraordinary expenses and
certain other excludable  expenses,  would exceed the most restrictive expense
limits imposed by any statute or regulatory  authority of any  jurisdiction in
which shares of the Fund are offered for sale  (unless a waiver is  obtained),
the  Adviser  shall  reduce its  advisory  fee in order to reduce  such excess
expenses,  but will not be required  to  reimburse  the Fund for any  ordinary
business  expenses which exceed the amount of its advisory fee for such fiscal
year. The amount of any such reduction is to be borne by the Adviser and shall
be deducted from the monthly  management fee otherwise  payable to the Adviser
during such fiscal year. For the purposes of this paragraph,  the term "fiscal
year" shall  exclude  the portion of the current  fiscal year which shall have
elapsed  prior to the date  hereof and shall  include  the portion of the then
current  fiscal year which shall have  elapsed at the date of  termination  of
this Agreement.

                                       7

<PAGE>

XI.   ADDITIONAL SERVICES

    Upon the request of the Board, the Adviser may perform certain accounting,
shareholder  servicing or other administrative  services on behalf of the Fund
that are not required by this  Agreement.  Such  services will be performed on
behalf  of  the  Fund  and  the  Adviser  may  receive   from  the  Fund  such
reimbursement for costs or reasonable compensation for such services as may be
agreed  upon  between the Adviser and the Board on a finding by the Board that
the provision of such services by the Adviser is in the best  interests of the
Fund and its  shareholders.  Payment or  assumption by the Adviser of any Fund
expense that the Adviser is not otherwise required to pay or assume under this
Agreement  shall not relieve the Adviser of any of its obligations to the Fund
nor  obligate  the  Adviser to pay or assume any similar  Fund  expense on any
subsequent  occasions.  Such services may include, but are not limited to, (a)
the  services  of  a  principal  financial  officer  of  the  Fund  (including
applicable office space, facilities and equipment) whose normal duties consist
of maintaining  the financial  accounts and books and records of the Fund, and
the services (including applicable office space,  facilities and equipment) of
any of the personnel operating under the direction of such principal financial
officer;  (b) the  services  of  staff to  respond  to  shareholder  inquiries
concerning the status of their accounts;  providing assistance to shareholders
in exchanges among the investment companies managed or advised by the Adviser;
changing account designations or changing addresses; assisting in the purchase
or redemption of shares;  or otherwise  providing  services to shareholders of
the Fund; and (c) such other administrative  services as may be furnished from
time to time by the Adviser to the Fund at the request of the Board.


XII.  NON-EXCLUSIVITY

    The  services  of the  Adviser  to the  Fund  are not to be  deemed  to be
exclusive,  and the  Adviser  shall be free to render  investment  advisory or
other services to others (including other investment  companies) and to engage
in other  activities,  so long as its services  under this  Agreement  are not
impaired  thereby.  It is understood and agreed that officers and directors of
the Adviser may serve as officers or Trustees of the Fund,  and that  officers
or Trustees of the Fund may serve as officers or  directors  of the Adviser to
the extent  permitted  by law;  and that the  officers  and  directors  of the
Adviser are not  prohibited  from engaging in any other  business  activity or
from  rendering  services to any other  person,  or from  serving as partners,
officers,  directors or trustees of any other firm or trust,  including  other
investment companies.


XIII. TERM

    This Agreement shall become effective at the close of business on the date
hereof and shall remain in force and effect,  subject to Paragraphs XIV and XV
hereof and approval by the Fund's shareholders, for a period of two years from
the date hereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>

XIV.  RENEWAL

    Following the expiration of its initial two-year term, the Agreement shall
continue in force and effect from year to year, provided that such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually:

    A.   (1) by the Fund's  Trustees  or (2) by the vote of a majority  of the
         Fund's  outstanding voting securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42)
         of the 1940 Act), and

    B.   by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the  Trustees  who are not
         parties to this  Agreement or  interested  persons of a party to this
         Agreement  (other  than as a Trustee of the  Fund),  by votes cast in
         person at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.


XV. TERMINATION

    This  Agreement may be terminated at any time,  without the payment of any
penalty, by vote of the Fund's Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding  voting  securities  (as  defined in Section  2(a)(42) of the 1940
Act),  or by the  Adviser,  on sixty  (60) days'  written  notice to the other
party.  The notice  provided for herein may be waived by the party required to
be notified.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
"assignment", as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act.


XVI. LIABILITY OF ADVISER AND INDEMNIFICATION

    A.   LIABILITY

         In the absence of willful misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence
    on the part of the Adviser or its  officers,  directors or  employees,  or
    reckless disregard by the Adviser of its duties under this Agreement,  the
    Adviser shall not be liable to the Fund or to any  shareholder of the Fund
    for any act or omission  in the course of, or  connected  with,  rendering
    services  hereunder  or  for  any  losses  that  may be  sustained  in the
    purchase, holding or sale of any security.

    B.   INDEMNIFICATION

         In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
    reckless  disregard of obligations or duties  hereunder on the part of the
    Adviser or any officer, director or employee of the Adviser, to the extent
    permitted by applicable  law, the Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
    the Adviser  harmless  from and against  all  claims,  actions,  suits and
    proceedings at law or in equity,  whether brought or asserted by a private
    party or a  governmental  agency,  instrumentality  or entity of any kind,
    relating  to  the  sale,   purchase,   pledge  of,  advertisement  of,  or
    solicitation of sales or purchases of any security (whether of the Fund or
    otherwise)  by the Fund,  its officers,  Trustees,  employees or agents in
    alleged violation of applicable  federal,  state or foreign laws, rules or
    regulations.

                                       9

<PAGE>

XVII.  NOTICES

    Any  notices  under this  Agreement  shall be in  writing,  addressed  and
delivered  or mailed  postage  paid to the other party at such address as such
other party may designate for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice
to the other  party,  it is agreed that the address of the Adviser and that of
the  Fund  for  this  purpose  shall  be  151  Farmington  Avenue,   Hartford,
Connecticut 06156.


XVIII.  QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION

    This Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut.
Any question of  interpretation  of any term or  provision  of this  Agreement
having a counterpart  in or otherwise  derived from a term or provision of the
1940 Act shall be resolved by  reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or, in
the  absence  of  any  controlling  decision  of any  such  court,  by  rules,
regulations or orders of the SEC issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition,
where the effect of a requirement  of the 1940 Act reflected in the provisions
of this  Agreement is revised by rule,  regulation  or order of the SEC,  such
provisions shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,  regulation
or order.


XIX.  SERVICE MARK

    The service mark of the Fund and the name "Aetna" have been adopted by the
Fund  with the  permission  of Aetna  Life and  Casualty  Company,  and  their
continued  use is subject to the right of Aetna Life and  Casualty  Company to
withdraw  this  permission  in the event the Adviser or another  subsidiary or
affiliated  corporation of Aetna Life and Casualty  Corporation  should not be
the investment adviser of the Fund.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be  executed  in  duplicate  by their  respective  officers on the 13th day of
April, 1994.


Attest:                               AETNA INCOME SHARES


                                      By:  /s/Shaun P. Mathews
/s/Susan E. Bryant                        ---------------------------
- ---------------------                        Name:  Shaun P. Mathews
                                             Title:  President


Attest:                               AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND
                                      ANNUITY COMPANY

                                       By:  /s/James C. Hamilton
/s/Lucille M. Nickerson                    -------------------------
- -----------------------                      Name:  James C. Hamilton
                                             Title:  Vice President and
Treasurer                                    

                                      10

<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT D

    Article  5.2,  Nonliability  of  Trustees,   and  Others,  of  the  Fund's
Declaration of Trust, shall be amended and restated to read as follows:

    5.2 Nonliability of Trustees, and Others:

    The  exercise by the  Trustees of their  powers and  discretion  hereunder
shall be binding upon  everyone  interested.  A Trustee shall be liable to the
Trust and the  Shareholders  for such Trustee's own willful  misfeasance,  bad
faith,  gross  negligence or reckless  disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the  office of  Trustee,  and for  nothing  else,  and shall not be
liable for errors of  judgment  or  mistakes  of fact and law.  Subject to the
foregoing,  the Trustees  shall not be  responsible or liable in any event for
any  neglect  or  wrongdoing  of any  officer,  agent,  employee,  consultant,
adviser,  administrator,  distributor or principal  underwriter,  custodian or
transfer,  dividend disbursing,  shareholder  servicing or accounting agent of
the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any
other Trustee.  Furthermore,  no officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall
be liable to the Trust,  its  Shareholders,  or to any  Shareholder,  Trustee,
officer,  employee,  or agent for any action or failure to act  (including the
failure  to compel in any way any  former or acting  Trustee  to  redress  any
breach of trust),  except  upon a showing of bad faith,  willful  misfeasance,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties.

    Article 5.3, Indemnification, of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, shall be
amended and restated to read as follows:

    5.3  Indemnification.  The Trust shall  indemnify its Trustees,  officers,
employees  and agents and any person who serves at the request of the Trust as
a director,  officer,  employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise as follows:

    (a) Every  person who is or has been a Trustee or officer of the Trust and
persons  who serve at the  Trust's  request as  director or officer of another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other enterprise shall be
indemnified  by the  Trust to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by law  against
liability and against all expenses  reasonably  incurred or paid in connection
with any debt, claim, action,  demand,  suit,  proceeding,  judgment,  decree,
liability or obligation  of any kind in which he or she becomes  involved as a
party or  otherwise  by virtue of being or having been a Trustee or officer of
the Trust or of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or
other  enterprise  at the  request of the Trust and  against  amounts  paid or
incurred in the settlement thereof.

    (b) The words "claim," "action," "suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all
claims,  actions,  suits  or  proceedings  (civil,  criminal,  administrative,
legislative, investigative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened,
and the words  "liability" and "expenses" shall include,  without  limitation,
attorneys'  fees,  costs,  judgments,  amounts  paid  in  settlement,   fines,
penalties and other liabilities.

<PAGE>

    (c) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee,  officer,
employee or agent  against any liability to the Trust or its  shareholders  by
reason of  willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross  negligence,  or  reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of office.

    (d) The rights of  indemnification  herein provided may be insured against
by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable,  shall not affect any
other  rights  to which any  Trustee,  officer,  employee  or agent may now or
hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such
Trustee,  officer,  employee  or agent and shall  inure to the  benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

    (e) In the  absence of a final  decision on the merits by a court or other
body before which such proceeding was brought, an indemnification payment will
not be made,  except as provided in paragraph (f) of this  Article,  unless in
the  absence  of such a  decision,  a  reasonable  determination  based upon a
factual  review has been made (1) by a majority  vote of a quorum of non-party
Trustees who are not  interested  persons of the Trust,  or (2) by independent
legal counsel in a written  opinion that the  indemnitee was not liable for an
act of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard
of duties.

    (f) The Trust further  undertakes that advancement of expenses incurred in
the defense of a  proceeding  (upon  undertaking  for  repayment  unless it is
ultimately  determined that  indemnification is appropriate) against a Trustee
or officer of the Trust will not be made  absent the  fulfillment  of at least
one of the following conditions:  (i) the indemnitee provides security for his
undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising by reason of any
lawful  advances  or (iii) a majority of a quorum of  disinterested  non-party
Trustees  or  independent  legal  counsel  in a  written  opinion  shall  have
determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe the indemnitee  ultimately
will be entitled to indemnification.

    (g) No amendment of this  Declaration  or repeal of any of its  provisions
shall limit or eliminate the rights of indemnification provided hereunder with
respect to acts or omission occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT E

    Article 5.2,  Non-Liability  of Trustees,  and Others,  currently reads as
follows:

    5.2 Non-Liability of Trustees, and Others:

    No Trustee,  officer employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the
Trust, its Shareholders, or to any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or
agent for any action or failure to act (including the failure to compel in any
way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust),  except upon
a showing of bad faith,  willful  misfeasance,  gross  negligence  or reckless
disregard of duties.

    5.3 Indemnification

    (a) Every  person who is or was a Trustee,  officer  or  employee  of this
Trust or a director, officer or employee of any corporation which he served at
the request of this Trust (and his firm,  executors and administrators)  shall
have a right  to be  indemnified  by this  Trust  against  all  liability  and
reasonable  expenses  incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any
claim,  action,  suit or proceeding in which he may become involved as a party
or  otherwise  by reason of his being or having  been a  Trustee,  officer  or
employee of this Trust as a director, officer or employee of such corporation,
provided (1) said claim,  action,  suit or proceeding shall be prosecuted to a
final  determination  and he shall be vindicated on the merits,  or (2) in the
absence of such final  determination  vindicating him on the merits, the Board
shall  determine  that he acted in good  faith and in a manner  he  reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best  interests  of the Trust,  and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,  had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was  unlawful;  said  determination  to be made (i) by the
Board, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of disinterested Trustees; or
(ii) if such quorum is not obtainable or if a quorum of disinterested Trustees
so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the
Shareholders.

    (b) For purpose of the preceding subsection: (1) "liability and reasonable
expenses" shall include,  but not be limited to,  reasonable  counsel fees and
disbursements,  amounts  of any  judgment,  fine or  penalty,  and  reasonable
amounts paid in settlement;  (2) "claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding"  shall
include  every  such  claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether  civil or
criminal, derivative or otherwise, administrative,  judicial or investigative,
any appeal relating thereto, and shall include any reasonable  apprehension or
threat of such a claim, action, suit or proceeding; (3) a settlement,  plea of
nolo contendere, consent judgment, adverse civil judgment, or conviction shall
not of itself  create a  presumption  that the  conduct of the person  seeking
indemnification  did not meet the standard of conduct set forth in  subsection
(2) hereof.

<PAGE>

    (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the following  additional  limitations
shall apply with respect to any actin by or in the right of the Trust:  (1) no
indemnification  shall be made in respect of any claim,  issue or matter as to
which the person seeking indemnification shall have been adjudged to be liable
for  negligence  or  misconduct  in the  performance  of his duty to the Trust
unless the court  which made such a finding,  or any other  court of equity in
the county where the Trust has its principal  office  determines  that despite
the adjudication of liability,  such person is fairly and reasonably  entitled
to indemnity for some or all of such expenses;  and (2) indemnification  shall
extend only to reasonable  expenses,  including  reasonable counsel's fees and
disbursements,  and shall not include  judgments,  fines and  amounts  paid in
settlement.

    (d) The right of  indemnification  shall  extend to any  person  otherwise
entitled to it under this Article whether or not that person continues to be a
Trustee, officer or employee of this Trust or a director,  officer or employee
of such  corporation  at the time such liability or expense shall be incurred.
The right of  indemnification  shall  extend to the legal  representative  and
heirs of any person otherwise entitled to  indemnification.  If a person meets
the  requirements  of this  Article  with  respect to some matters in a claim,
action,  suit or  proceeding,  but not with  respect  to  others,  he shall be
entitled to indemnification  as to the former.  Expenses incurred in defending
an action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final
disposition  of such action,  suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board in
the specific case:  (1) upon receipt of an undertaking  for which security has
been provided by or on behalf of the Trustee,  director,  officer, employee or
agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is
entitled to be indemnified by the Trust as authorized in this Article,  or (2)
if the Trust is at the time of such advance  insured against losses arising by
reason of the advance.

    (e) This Article shall not exclude any other rights of  indemnification or
other rights to which any Trustee,  officer, or employee may be entitled to by
contract,  vote of the  Shareholders  or as a matter  of law.  If any  clause,
provision  or  application  of this  Section  5.3  shall be  determined  to be
invalid,  the other clauses,  provisions or applications of this section shall
not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect.

    (f) The Trust shall have the power to purchase and  maintain  insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a Trustee,  officer,  employee  or agent of
the Trust,  or is or was  serving at the  request of the Trust as a  director,
officer,  employee or agent of a corporation,  against any liability  asserted
against him and  incurred by him in any such  capacity,  or arising out of his
status as such, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify him
against such liability under the provisions of this Article.



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