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SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS
THE MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
DATED MAY 1, 1998
FINANCIAL RATINGS OF THE COMPANY
The contracts described in the Prospectus are issued by The
Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of North America (the "Company"). The
Company's financial ratings are as follows:
A++ A.M. Best
Superior in financial strength; 1st category of 15
AAA Duff & Phelps
Highest in claims paying ability; 1st category of 18
AA+ Standard & Poor's
Excellent in claims paying ability; 2nd category of 21
Aa2 Moody's
Excellent in financial strength; 3rd category of 21
These ratings, which are current as of the date of this supplement and
are subject to change, are assigned to The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company
of North America as a measure of the Company's ability to honor the death
benefit and life annuitization guarantees but not specifically to its products,
the performance (return) of these products, the value of any investment in these
products upon withdrawal or to individual securities held in any portfolio.
DCA PROMOTIONAL RATES
The Company is currently offering promotional rates in connection with
the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program. The promotional rates are available for
a limited time for new purchase payments of $100,000 or more allocated to either
a 6-month or a 12-month DCA fixed account investment option.
As of the date of this supplement, the promotional rates are 8% for the
12-month DCA option and 10% (annualized) for the 6-month DCA option. Both the 8%
and the 10% rates are effective annual interest rates and interest is earned for
the period of time amounts are in the DCA account. Since pre-determined amounts
in the DCA account will be transferred monthly into other sub-accounts, the
total dollar amount of interest earned in the 6-month DCA investment option will
be less than 10% of the initial amount invested. Similarly, the total dollar
amount of interest earned in the 12-month DCA investment option will be less
than 8% of the initial amount invested. The Company reserves the right to change
or terminate the promotional rates at any time for purchase payments made after
the effective date of the change.
To receive the promotional rates, the portion of your new purchase
payment allocated to the DCA investment option must be systematically
transferred into variable investment options over a 6 month or 12 month period,
as applicable. The monthly DCA transfer amount is determined by dividing the
portion of your new purchase payment allocated to the DCA investment option by
5.6 for the 6 month option, or 11 for the 12 month option. Each month, on the
date designated by the contract owner, the monthly DCA transfer amount will be
transferred to the variable investment options selected. At the end of the DCA
period, the remaining DCA account balance will be transferred to the variable
investment options selected. Contract owners should not rely on the
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promotional rates being in effect for subsequent payments. Subsequent payments
will receive the interest rate in effect at the time of payment.
A contract owner may discontinue the Dollar Cost Averaging program at
any time. The remaining balance of the contract owner's DCA account will then be
transferred to the 1-year fixed account and receive the interest rate in effect
at the time of the transfer, guaranteed for one year. For current 1-year fixed
account rates, call 1-800-557-2223.
DEATH BENEFIT BEFORE MATURITY DATE - AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT
The section entitled "Death Benefit Before Maturity Date - Amount of
Death Benefit" is amended as follows:
Effective October 1, 1998, for certificates issued on or after October
1, 1998 in Texas, the death benefit will be the death benefit described under
the subsection "Certificates Issued On or After May 1, 1998."
DEATH BENEFIT PROVISIONS - PRIOR CONTRACT DEATH BENEFIT PROVISIONS
The section entitled "Death Benefit Provisions - Prior Contract Death
Benefit Provisions" of Appendix D is supplemented as follows:
An Enhanced Death Benefit became available in Washington to contracts
issued August 15, 1994 or later and in New Jersey to contracts issued
October 3, 1994 or later.
This Enhanced Death Benefit provides for a minimum death benefit as
described above, except that the death benefit is "stepped up" each contract
year instead of the six contract year period. In addition, if the annuitant dies
after the first of the month following his or her 85th birthday, the minimum
death benefit is the greater of the contract value or the excess of the sum of
all purchase payments less the sum of any amounts deducted in connection with
partial withdrawals.
Contracts with a contract date prior to the date the Enhanced Death
Benefit first became available in that state may also be exchanged for a new
contract which provides for an alternative enhanced death benefit. See
supplement to this prospectus for The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of
North America Separate Account A entitled "Exchange Offer."
CHANGE OF ANNUITANT
The section entitled "Guaranteed Retirement Income Program" is
supplemented as follows:
The Annuitant may only be changed to an individual that is the same age
or younger than the current Annuitant.
SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 4, 1999.
V22/23.SUPP0199
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SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS
THE MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
DATED MAY 1, 1998
DCA PROMOTIONAL RATES
As described in a supplement to the Prospectus dated November 2, 1998,
the Company is currently offering promotional rates in connection with the
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program. The promotional rates are available for a
limited time for new purchase payments of $100,000 or more allocated to either a
6-month or a 12-month DCA fixed account investment option.
As of the date of this supplement, the promotional rates are 8% for the
12-month DCA option and 10% (annualized) for the 6-month DCA option. Both the 8%
and the 10% rates are effective annual interest rates and interest is earned for
the period of time amounts are in the DCA account. The Company reserves the
right to change or terminate the promotional rates at any time for purchase
payments made after the effective date of the change. Contract owners should not
rely on the promotional rates being in effect for subsequent payments.
Subsequent payments will receive the interest rate in effect at the time of
payment.
Please refer to the supplement dated November 2, 1998 for more complete
details.
SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 4, 1999.
V20/21MLAM.SUPP0199
V22/23MLAM.SUPP0199
V7MLAM.SUPP0199
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The Manufacturers Insurance Company of North America
73 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108
January 4, 1999
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20549
Attention: File Desk
Re: The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of North America Separate
Account A Registration Statements on Form N-4
File Nos. 33-76684 and 33-49604
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of the above-captioned registrant, we enclose herewith for
filing pursuant to Rule 497(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, two supplements
dated January 4, 1999 to the registrant's definitive prospectus dated May 1,
1998.
If you have any questions, please call the undersigned at
(617) 854-8628.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BETSY ANNE SEEL
- -------------------
Betsy Anne Seel
Counsel
Enclosure
