AMERICAN SKANDIA LIFE ASSURANCE CORP/CT
424B3, 2000-10-24
INSURANCE CARRIERS, NEC
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                   Supplement to Prospectus Dated May 1, 2000

                        Supplement dated October 23, 2000

This Supplement should be retained with the current Prospectus for your variable
annuity  contract  issued  by  American   Skandia  Life  Assurance   Corporation
("American  Skandia").  If you do not have a current prospectus,  please contact
American Skandia at 1-800-SKANDIA.

                            A. NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION

American  Skandia has filed an exemptive  application  with the  Securities  and
Exchange    Commission   ("SEC")   to   substitute   the   following   "Replaced
Portfolio/Sub-Account" with the "Substitute Portfolio/Sub-account". The Replaced
Portfolios/Sub-accounts  described  below are only available until the effective
date of the  Substitution,  at which  time  they  will  cease to be  offered  as
investment options. The Substitute Portfolios/Sub-accounts are only available as
of the date of the Fund  Substitution  and are only  available to those Contract
Owners affected by the Fund Substitution.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
             REPLACED PORTFOLIO/SUB-ACCOUNT                                         SUBSTITUTE PORTFOLIO/SUB-ACCOUNT

--------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                      <C>
Alger American Growth portfolio of The Alger American Fund/AA            AST Alger Growth portfolio of American Skandia Trust/AST
Growth Sub-account                                                       Alger Growth Sub-account
--------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------
The Alger  American  Fund - Growth:  seeks  long-term  capital           AST Alger  Growth:  seeks  long-term  capital  growth.  The
appreciation.  The  Portfolio  focuses  on  growing  companies           Portfolio invests primarily in equity  securities,  such as
that generally have broad product  lines,  markets,  financial           common  or  preferred  stocks,  that  are  listed  on  U.S.
resources    and   depth   of    management.    Under   normal           exchanges or in the over-the-counter  market. The Portfolio
circumstances,  the Portfolio  invests primarily in the equity           focuses  on growing  companies  that  generally  have broad
securities  of large  companies.  The  Portfolio  considers  a           product lines,  markets,  financial  resources and depth of
large  company to have a market  capitalization  of $1 billion           management.  The  Portfolio  normally  invests at least 65%
or greater.                                                              of its  total  assets  in equity  securities  of  companies
                                                                         that, at the time of purchase of the securities, have total
                                                                         market capitalizations of $1 billion or greater.

--------------------------------------------------------------- --- ---- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Alger American MidCap Growth portfolio of The Alger American             AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth portfolio of American Skandia
Fund/AA MidCap Growth Sub-account                                        Trust/AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth Sub-account
--------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------- --- ---- -----------------------------------------------------------
The  Alger  American  Fund - MidCap  Growth:  seeks  long-term           AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth:  seeks long-term  capital growth.
capital   appreciation.   The  Portfolio  focuses  on  midsize           The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities,  such
companies  with  promising  growth  potential.   Under  normal           as  common or  preferred  stocks,  that are  listed on U.S.
circumstances,  the Portfolio  invests primarily in the equity           exchanges or in the  over-the-counter  market. Under normal
securities of companies having a market  capitalization within           circumstances,  the  Portfolio  invests  primarily  in  the
the range of companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index                       equity    securities   of   companies   having   a   market
                                                                         capitalization  within  the range of  companies  in the S&P
                                                                         MidCap 400 Index.
--------------------------------------------------------------- --- ---- -----------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

We expect to receive the SEC Exemptive  Order and complete the  Substitution  by
the end of November 2000.  Those Contract  Owners  effected by the  Substitution
will receive  additional  information  from American  Skandia  notifying them of
their rights under the SEC Exemptive Order.

For a 30 day period following the Substitution,  Contract Owners will be allowed
to transfer Account Value out of the Replaced Portfolio/Sub-account to any other
investment  options available under the Annuity.  Any such transfers during this
period  will  not  count in  determining  whether  the  maximum  number  of free
transfers has been  exceeded.  Additionally,  the transfer of Account Value from
the Replaced Portfolio/Sub-account to the Substitute Portfolio/Sub-account would
also not be subject  to a  transfer  fee nor count in  determining  whether  the
maximum number of free transfers have been exceeded.  The Substitution  will not
affect your rights or our  obligations  under the Annuity and  American  Skandia
will bear any expenses in connection with the Substitution.


<PAGE>


                    B. ADDITIONAL VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS

The underlying  Portfolios  shown below are being offered as Sub-accounts  under
your Annuity.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Underlying Mutual Fund Portfolio Annual Expenses
                               (as a percentage of the average net assets of the underlying Portfolios)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------- --------------- ------------- --------------- -------------- -------------- ----------
                                                Management     Other          12b-1 Fees    Total Annual        Fee        Net
                                                   Fees         Expenses                      Portfolio    Waivers and     Annual
            UNDERLYING PORTFOLIO                                                              Operating      Expense       Fund
                                                                                              Expenses    Reimbursement(1) Operating
                                                                                                                           Expenses

--------------------------------------------- --------------- ------------- --------------- -------------- -------------- ----------
American Skandia Trust: (2)
<S>                                                <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>           <C>
  AST Scudder Japan 3                              1.00%         0.36%           0.04%           1.40%          0.00%         1.40%
  AST Federated Aggressive Growth 3                0.95%         0.23%           0.04%           1.22%          0.00%         1.22%
  AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth 4                       0.80%         0.23%           0.00%           1.03%          0.18%         0.85%
  AST Alger Growth 4                               0.75%         0.23%           0.00%           0.98%          0.19%         0.79%
  AST Kinetics Internet 3                          1.00%         0.23%           0.04%           1.27%          0.00%         1.27%
  AST Janus Strategic Value 3                      1.00%         0.23%           0.04%           1.27%          0.00%         1.27%
  AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture 3                 0.80%         0.23%           0.04%           1.07%          0.00%         1.07%
  AST Gabelli All-Cap Value 3                      0.95%         0.23%           0.04%           1.22%          0.00%         1.22%
Wells Fargo Variable Trust:
  WFVT Equity Income                               0.55%         0.37%           0.25%           1.17%          0.17%         1.00%
--------------------------------------------- --------------- ------------- --------------- -------------- -------------- ----------
</TABLE>

1    The  Investment  Manager of American  Skandia Trust has agreed to reimburse
     and/or waive fees for certain  Portfolios  until at least April 30,  20001.
     The caption "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" reflects the Portfolios'
     fees and expenses before such waivers and reimbursements, while the caption
     "Net Annual Fund  Operating  Expenses"  reflects the effect of such waivers
     and reimbursements.

2    American  Skandia  Trust (the  "Trust")  adopted a  Distribution  Plan (the
     "Distribution Plan") under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
     to permit  an  affiliate  of the  Trust's  Investment  Manager  to  receive
     brokerage  commissions in connection with purchases and sales of securities
     held by Portfolios of the Trust,  and to use these  commissions  to promote
     the sale of shares of such  Portfolios.  The  staff of the  Securities  and
     Exchange  Commission  takes the position that commission  amounts  received
     under the Distribution Plan should be reflected as distribution expenses of
     the Portfolios.  The Portfolios would pay the same or comparable commission
     amounts irrespective of the Distribution Plan;  accordingly,  total returns
     for  the  Portfolios  are  not  expected  to  be  adversely  affected.  The
     Distribution Fee estimates are derived from data regarding each Portfolio's
     brokerage  transactions,  and the proportions of such transactions directed
     to selling dealers,  for the period ended December 31, 1999. However, it is
     not  possible  to  determine  with  accuracy  actual  amounts  that will be
     received under the Distribution Plan. Such amounts will vary based upon the
     level of a Portfolio's brokerage activity,  the proportion of such activity
     directed under the Distribution Plan, and other factors.

3    These Portfolios commenced operations in October 2000. "Other Expenses" and
     "12b-1  Fees"  shown are based on  estimated  amounts  for the fiscal  year
     ending December 31, 2000.

4    These Portfolios  commenced  operations in October 2000, however,  they are
     only  available  as of the  date of the  Fund  Substitution  and  are  only
     available  to those  Contract  Owners  affected  by the Fund  Substitution.
     "Other Expenses" and "12b-1 Fees" shown are based on estimated  amounts for
     the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.


<PAGE>


EXPENSE EXAMPLES

The  Expense  Examples  shown  below are being  added  with  respect  to the new
Portfolios that are being offered as Sub-accounts under your Annuity.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Expense Examples
                                                 (amounts shown are rounded to the nearest dollar)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                         -------------------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------
                                     If you  surrender  your  Annuity at the                      If  you  do  not  surrender   your
                                     end of the applicable time period,  you                      Annuity   at   the   end   of  the
                                     would pay the  following  expenses on a                      applicable  time  period  or begin
                                     $1,000  investment,  assuming 5% annual                      taking  annuity  payments  at such
                                     return on assets:                                            time,  you would pay the following
                                                                                                  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,
                                                                                                  assuming   5%  annual   return  on
                                                                                                  assets:
                                       -------------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------


                                       After:                                           After:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ------
Sub-Account:                             1 Year    3 Years    5 Years   10 Years          1 Year     3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
<S>                                        <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>
AST Scudder Japan                          104        144       187        320               29         89        152        320
AST Federated Aggressive Growth            102        139       178        303               27         84        143        303
AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth                    99        128       159        265               24         73        124        265
AST Alger Growth                            98        126       157        260               23         71        122        260
AST Kinetics Internet                      103        141       181        308               28         86        146        308
AST Janus Strategic Value                  103        141       181        308               28         86        146        308
AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture             101        134       170        287               26         79        135        287
AST Gabelli All-Cap Value                  102        139       178        303               27         84        143        303
WFVT Equity Income                         100        132       167        280               25         77        132        280
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
</TABLE>

The Expense Examples for the PSA prior contract are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       -------------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------
                                     If you  surrender  your  Annuity at the                      If  you  do  not  surrender   your
                                     end of the applicable time period,  you                      Annuity   at   the   end   of  the
                                     would pay the  following  expenses on a                      applicable  time  period  or begin
                                     $1,000  investment,  assuming 5% annual                      taking  annuity  payments  at such
                                     return on assets:                                            time,  you would pay the following
                                                                                                  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,
                                                                                                  assuming   5%  annual   return  on
                                                                                                  assets:
                                       -------------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------


                                       After:                                           After:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ------
Sub-Account:                             1 Year    3 Years    5 Years   10 Years          1 Year     3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
<S>                                         <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>
AST Scudder Japan                           99        139       182        320               29         89        152        320
AST Federated Aggressive Growth             97        134       173        303               27         84        143        303
AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth                    94        123       154        265               24         73        124        265
AST Alger Growth                            93        121       152        260               23         71        122        260
AST Kinetics Internet                       98        136       176        308               28         86        146        308
AST Janus Strategic Value                   98        136       176        308               28         86        146        308
AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture              96        129       165        287               26         79        135        287
AST Gabelli All-Cap Value                   97        134       173        303               27         84        143        303
WFVT Equity Income                          95        127       162        280               25         77        132        280
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


The Expense  Examples for contracts sold outside of the State of New York are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       -------------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------
                                     If you  surrender  your  Annuity at the                      If  you  do  not  surrender   your
                                     end of the applicable time period,  you                      Annuity   at   the   end   of  the
                                     would pay the  following  expenses on a                      applicable  time  period  or begin
                                     $1,000  investment,  assuming 5% annual                      taking  annuity  payments  at such
                                     return on assets:                                            time,  you would pay the following
                                                                                                  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,
                                                                                                  assuming   5%  annual   return  on
                                                                                                  assets:
                                       -------------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------


                                       After:                                           After:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
Sub-Account:                             1 Year    3 Years    5 Years   10 Years          1 Year     3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
<S>                                        <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>
AST Scudder Japan                          104        149       192        320               29         89        152        320
AST Federated Aggressive Growth            102        144       183        303               27         84        143        303
AST Alger Mid-Cap Growth                    99        133       164        265               24         73        124        265
AST Alger Growth                            98        131       162        260               23         71        122        260
AST Kinetics Internet                      103        146       186        308               28         86        146        308
AST Janus Strategic Value                  103        146       186        308               28         86        146        308
AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture             101        139       175        287               26         79        135        287
AST Gabelli All-Cap Value                  102        144       183        303               27         84        143        303
WFVT Equity Income                         100        137       172        280               25         77        132        280
---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
</TABLE>

The following is being added to the section entitled "Investment Options?"

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

WHAT ARE THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE PORTFOLIOS?

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
                                                                                                               PORTFOLIO
      STYLE/                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES/POLICIES                              ADVISOR/
       TYPE                                                                                                   SUB-ADVISOR
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
<S>                 <C>                                                                                     <C>
                    AST Scudder  Japan:  seeks  long-term  capital  growth.  The                            Scudder  Kemper
                    Portfolio  pursues its investment  objective by investing at                            Investments, Inc.
                    least 80% of net assets in Japanese securities (those issued
                    by  Japan-based  companies  or their  affiliates,  or by any
INTER-NATIONAL      company that  derives  more than half of its  revenues  from
    EQUITY          Japan).  The  Portfolio  may  invest  in stocks of any size,
                    including  up to 30% of its net assets in smaller  companies
                    that are traded over-the-counter. The Portfolio's focus on a
                    single  country  could give rise to increased  risk,  as the
                    Portfolio's   investments  will  not  be  diversified  among
                    countries   having   varying   characteristics   and  market
                    performance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    AST Federated  Aggressive Growth:  seeks capital growth. The                           Federated Investment
                    Portfolio  pursues its investment  objective by investing in                                 Counseling
                    equity securities of companies  offering superior  prospects
                    for earnings growth.  The Portfolio  focuses its investments
 SMALL CAP          on the equity securities of smaller companies, but it is not
  GROWTH            subject to any specific market capitalization  requirements.
                    The Portfolio may invest in foreign issuers through American
                    Depositary Receipts. The Portfolio's strategies with respect
                    to  security  analysis,  market  capitalization  and  sector
                    allocation  are  designed to produce a  portfolio  of stocks
                    whose long-term  growth  prospects are  significantly  above
                    those of the S&P 500 Index.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------


<PAGE>



------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                                                                                                               PORTFOLIO
       STYLE/                                     INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES/POLICIES                                 ADVISOR/
       TYPE                                                                                                   SUB-ADVISOR
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector funds generally  diversify their investments  across particular  economic
sectors or a single industry.  However, because those investments are limited to
a comparatively narrow segment of the economy, sector funds are generally not as
diversified  as most mutual  funds.  Sector funds tend to be more  volatile than
other types of funds.  The value of fund shares may go up and down more  rapidly
than other funds. Each sector of the economy may also have different  regulatory
or other risk factors that can cause  greater  fluctuations  in the share price.
Please read the prospectus for the  underlying  sector fund for further  details
about the risks of the particular sector of the economy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    AST Kinetics  Internet:  seeks long-term  growth of capital.                         Kinetics Asset
                    Under normal  circumstances,  the Portfolio invests at least                         Management,Inc.
                    65%  of its  total  assets  in  common  stocks,  convertible
                    securities,  warrants and other equity securities having the
                    characteristics   of  common   stocks,   such  as   American
SECTOR              Depositary Receipts and International  Depositary  Receipts,
                    of domestic  and foreign  companies  that are engaged in the
                    Internet   and   Internet-related   activities.    Portfolio
                    securities  will  be  selected  by  the   Sub-advisor   from
                    companies  that are engaged in the  development of hardware,
                    software and  telecommunications  solutions  that enable the
                    transaction of business on the Internet by  individuals  and
                    companies,  as well as  companies  that offer  products  and
                    services primarily via the Internet.  The Portfolio seeks to
                    invest in the equity  securities of companies whose research
                    and development efforts may result in higher stock values.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    AST  Janus  Strategic  Value:   seeks  long-term  growth  of                        Janus Capital
                    capital.  The  Portfolio  pursues its objective by investing                         Corporation
                    primarily in common  stocks with the potential for long-term
                    growth of  capital  using a  "value"  approach.  This  value
                    approach emphasizes investments in companies the Sub-advisor
 LARGE CAP          believes are undervalued  relative to their intrinsic worth.
  VALUE             Realization  of  income is not a  significant  consideration
                    when choosing  investments for the Portfolio.  The Portfolio
                    will generally focus on the securities of larger  companies,
                    however,   it  may  invest  in  the  securities  of  smaller
                    companies,  including  start-up  companies offering emerging
                    products or services.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    AST Lord Abbett  Bond-Debenture:  seeks high current  income                        Lord,  Abbett & Co.
                    and the  opportunity  for capital  appreciation to produce a
                    high total return.  The  Portfolio  pursues its objective by
                    normally  investing in high yield and investment  grade debt
                    securities,  securities  convertible  into common  stock and
                    preferred stocks. Under normal circumstances,  the Portfolio
 BOND               invests  at least  65% of its total  assets in fixed  income
                    securities  of various  types.  The  Portfolio may find good
                    value   in   high   yield   securities,   sometimes   called
                    "lower-rated bonds" or "junk bonds," and frequently may have
                    more than half of its assets  invested in those  securities.
                    At least 20% of the  Portfolio's  assets must be invested in
                    any combination of investment  grade debt  securities,  U.S.
                    Government  securities and cash  equivalents.  The Portfolio
                    may also make  significant  investments  in  mortgage-backed
                    securities.  Although  the  Portfolio  expects to maintain a
                    weighted  average  maturity  in the  range  of seven to nine
                    years, there are no restrictions on the overall Portfolio or
                    on individual securities.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    AST  Gabelli  All-Cap  Value:   seeks  capital  growth.  The                        GAMCO Investors, Inc.
                    Portfolio  pursues its  objective by investing  primarily in
                    readily   marketable  equity  securities   including  common
                    stocks,   preferred   stocks  and  securities  that  may  be
                    converted at a later time into common  stock.  The Portfolio
ALL-CAP             may invest in the securities of companies of all sizes,  and
EQUITY              may emphasize either larger or smaller  companies at a given
                    time based on the  Sub-advisor's  assessment  of  particular
                    companies and market  conditions.  The Portfolio  focuses on
                    companies that appear underpriced  relative to their private
                    market value ("PMV").  PMV is the value that the Portfolio's
                    Sub-advisor  believes informed investors would be willing to
                    pay for a company.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
                    WFVT Equity Income: seeks long-term capital appreciation and                        Wells Fargo Bank,  N.A.
                    above-average  dividend  income.  The Portfolio  pursues its
                    objective  primarily by  investing  in the common  stocks of
                    large,  high-quality  domestic  companies with above-average
EQUITY INCOME       return  potential  based on current  market  valuations  and
                    above-average   dividend   income.   Under   normal   market
                    conditions,  the Portfolio invests at least 65% of its total
                    assets in income producing  equity  securities and in issues
                    of companies  with market  capitalizations  greater than the
                    median of the Russell 1000 Index.
------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
</TABLE>


                      C. PORTFOLIO/SUB-ACCOUNT NAME CHANGES

1.   Effective October 23, 2000 GAMCO Investors,  Inc. will be the new portfolio
     sub-advisor  for the AST T. Rowe Price Small  Company Value  portfolio.  In
     connection with this change the portfolio's name is changed to "AST Gabelli
     Small-Cap Growth."

2.   Effective August 8, 2000 T. Rowe Price  International,  Inc. became the new
     portfolio sub-advisor for the AST T. Rowe Price Global Bond portfolio.

                       D. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FREE TRANSFERS

The maximum  number of transfers  you can make between  investment  options each
Annuity Year without  being  subject to a Transfer Fee is increased  from twelve
(12) to twenty (20).

                              E. PARTIAL EXCHANGES

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The  following  paragraph  replaces the  corresponding  paragraph  under the Tax
Considerations section in your Annuity prospectus:

Special rules in relation to tax-free exchanges under Section 1035:

On November 22, 1999, the Internal Revenue Service issued an acquiescence in the
decision of the United States Tax Court in Conway v.  Commissioner (111 T.C. 350
(1998)) that a taxpayer's partial surrender of a non-qualified  annuity contract
and  direct  transfer  of the  resulting  proceeds  for  the  purchase  of a new
non-qualified annuity contract qualifies as a non-taxable exchange under Section
1035 of the Internal Revenue Code. "Acquiescence" means that the IRS accepts the
holding of the Court in a case and that the IRS will follow it in  disposing  of
cases with the same controlling  facts.  Prior to the Conway decision,  industry
practice has been to treat a partial surrender of account value as fully taxable
to the extent of any gain in the  contract  for tax  reporting  purposes  and to
"step-up"  the  basis  in  the  contract  accordingly.  However  with  the  IRS'
acquiescence in the Conway  decision,  partial  surrenders may be treated in the
same way as tax-free  1035  exchanges of entire  contracts,  therefore  avoiding
current taxation of any gains in the contract as well as the 10% IRS tax penalty
on pre-age 59 1/2 withdrawals.  The IRS reserved the right to treat transactions
it considers  abusive as  ineligible  for this  favorable  partial 1035 exchange
treatment.  We do not know what  transactions  may be  considered  abusive.  For
example, we do not know how the IRS may view early withdrawals or annuitizations
after a partial exchange. As of the date of this prospectus supplement,  we will
treat a partial  surrender of this type as a "tax-free"  exchange for future tax
reporting purposes, except to the extent that we, as a reporting and withholding
agent,  believe that we would be expected to deem the transaction to be abusive.
However,  some insurance companies may not recognize these partial surrenders as
tax-free exchanges and may report them as taxable distributions to the extent of
any  gain  distributed  as  well  as  subjecting  the  taxable  portion  of  the
distribution to the 10% IRS early distribution  penalty. We strongly urge you to
discuss any  transaction  of this type with your tax advisor  before  proceeding
with the transaction.

While the  principles  expressed in the Conway  decision  appear  applicable  to
partial  exchanges from life  insurance,  there is no guidance from the Internal
Revenue  Service as to whether it concurs with  non-recognition  treatment under
Section  1035 of the Code for such  transactions.  We will  continue to report a
partial  surrender of a life insurance  policy as subject to current taxation to
the  extent of any gain.  In  addition,  please be  cautioned  that no  specific
guidance  has been  provided  as to the  impact  of such a  transaction  for the
remaining life insurance policy, particularly as to the subsequent methods to be
used to test for  compliance  under  the Code  for both the  definition  of life
insurance and the definition of a modified endowment contract.


ASAP-SUPP. (10/23/2000)                                        VAASAP 10/23/2000


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