VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST SER 45
487, 1996-11-19
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                                                  File No.  333-14851
                                                          CIK #897012
                                    
                                    
                   Securities and Exchange Commission
                      Washington, D.C.  20549-1004
                                    
                                    
                             Amendment No. 1
                                   to
                                Form S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2.


A.   Exact Name of Trust:          Van Kampen American Capital Equity
                                   Opportunity Trust, Series 45

B.   Name of Depositor:            Van Kampen American Capital
                                   Distributors, Inc.

C.   Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

                                   One Parkview Plaza
                                   Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

D.   Name and complete address of agents for service:

     Chapman and Cutler            Van Kampen American Capital
     Attention:  Mark J. Kneedy    Distributors, Inc.
     111 West Monroe Street        Attention:  Don G. Powell, Chairman
     Chicago, Illinois  60603      One Parkview Plaza
                                   Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

E.   Title and amount of securities being registered:  An indefinite
     number of Units of proportionate interest pursuant to Rule 24f-2
     under the Investment Company Act of 1940

F.   Proposed maximum offering price to the public of the securities
     being registered: Indefinite

G.   Amount of registration fee:  Not applicable

H.   Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:
                                    
     As Soon As Practicable After the Effective Date of the Registration
     Statement



/ X / Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
      on November 19, 1996 pursuant to Rule 487.
     
     

          Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust
                                Series 45
                                    
                          Cross Reference Sheet

                 Pursuant to Rule 404(c) of Regulation C
                    under the Securities Act of 1933
               (Form N-8B-2 Items Required by Instruction
                     1 as to Prospectus on Form S-6)

    Form N-8B-2                                     Form S-6
    Item Number                              Heading in Prospectus


                I.  Organization and General Information

 1. (a)  Name of trust                  )  Prospectus Front Cover Page

    (b)  Title of securities issued     )  Prospectus Front Cover Page

 2. Name and address of Depositor       )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )   Information
                                        )  Trust Administration

 3. Name and address of Trustee         )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )   Information
                                        )  Trust Administration

 4. Name and address of principal       )  *
      underwriter

 5. Organization of trust               )  The Trust

 6. Execution and termination of        )  The Trust
      Trust Indenture and Agreement     )  Trust Administration

 7. Changes of Name                     )  *

 8. Fiscal year                         )  *

 9. Material Litigation                 )  *


                II.  General Description of the Trust and
                         Securities of the Trust

10. General information regarding       )  The Trust
      trust's securities and            )  Federal Taxation
      rights of security holders        )  Public Offering
                                        )  Rights of Unitholders
                                        )  Trust Administration

11. Type of securities comprising       )  Prospectus Front Cover Page
      units                             )  The Trust
                                        )  Trust Portfolio

12. Certain information regarding       )  *
      periodic payment certificates     )

13. (a) Loan, fees, charges and expenses)  Prospectus Front Cover Page
                                        )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )   Information
                                        )  Trust Portfolio
                                        )
                                        )  Trust Operating Expenses
                                        )  Public Offering
                                        )  Rights of Unitholders

    (b)  Certain information regarding  )
           periodic payment plan        )  *
           certificates                 )

    (c)  Certain percentages            )  Prospectus Front Cover Page
                                        )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )   Information
                                        )
                                        )  Public Offering
                                        )  Rights of Unitholders

    (d)  Certain other fees, expenses or)  Trust Operating Expenses
           charges payable by holders   )  Rights of Unitholders

    (e)  Certain profits to be received )  Public Offering
           by depositor, principal      )  *
           underwriter, trustee or any  )  Trust Portfolio
           affiliated persons           )

    (f)  Ratio of annual charges        )  *
           to income                    )

14. Issuance of trust's securities      )  Rights of Unitholders

15. Receipt and handling of payments    )  *
      from purchasers                   )

16. Acquisition and disposition of      )  The Trust
      underlying securities             )  Rights of Unitholders
                                        )  Trust Administration

17. Withdrawal or redemption            )  Rights of Unitholders
                                        )  Trust Administration
18. (a)  Receipt and disposition        )  Prospectus Front Cover Page
           of income                    )  Rights of Unitholders

    (b)  Reinvestment of distributions  )  *

    (c)  Reserves or special Trusts     )  Trust Operating Expenses
                                        )  Rights of Unitholders
    (d)  Schedule of distributions      )  *

19. Records, accounts and reports       )  Rights of Unitholders
                                        )  Trust Administration

20. Certain miscellaneous provisions    )  Trust Administration
      of Trust Agreement                )

21. Loans to security holders           )  *

22. Limitations on liability            )  Trust Portfolio
                                        )  Trust Administration
23. Bonding arrangements                )  *

24. Other material provisions of        )  *
    Trust Indenture Agreement           )


              III.  Organization, Personnel and Affiliated
                          Persons of Depositor

25. Organization of Depositor           )  Trust Administration

26. Fees received by Depositor          )  *

27. Business of Depositor               )  Trust Administration

28. Certain information as to           )  *
      officials and affiliated          )
      persons of Depositor              )

29. Companies owning securities         )  *
      of Depositor                      )
30. Controlling persons of Depositor    )  *

31. Compensation of Officers of         )  *
      Depositor                         )

32. Compensation of Directors           )  *

33. Compensation to Employees           )  *

34. Compensation to other persons       )  *


             IV.  Distribution and Redemption of Securities

35. Distribution of trust's securities  )  Public Offering
      by states                         )

36. Suspension of sales of trust's      )  *
      securities                        )

37. Revocation of authority to          )  *
      distribute                        )

38. (a)  Method of distribution         )
                                        )
    (b)  Underwriting agreements        )  Public Offering
                                        )
    (c)  Selling agreements             )

39. (a)  Organization of principal      )  *
           underwriter                  )

    (b)  N.A.S.D. membership by         )  *
           principal underwriter        )

40. Certain fees received by            )  *
      principal underwriter             )

41. (a)  Business of principal          )  Trust Administration
           underwriter                  )

    (b)  Branch offices or principal    )  *
           underwriter                  )

    (c)  Salesmen or principal          )  *
           underwriter                  )

42. Ownership of securities of          )  *
      the trust                         )

43. Certain brokerage commissions       )  *
      received by principal underwriter )

44. (a)  Method of valuation            )  Prospectus Front Cover Page
                                        )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )    Information
                                        )  Trust Operating Expenses
                                        )  Public Offering

    (b)  Schedule as to offering        )  *
           price                        )

    (c)  Variation in offering price    )  *
           to certain persons           )

46. (a)  Redemption valuation           )  Rights of Unitholders
                                        )  Trust Administration

    (b)  Schedule as to redemption      )  *
           price                        )

47. Purchase and sale of interests      )  Public Offering
      in underlying securities          )  Trust Administration


           V.  Information Concerning the Trustee or Custodian

48. Organization and regulation of      )  Trust Administration
      Trustee                           )

49. Fees and expenses of Trustee        )  Summary of Essential Financial
                                        )    Information
                                        )  Trust Operating Expenses

50. Trustee's lien                      )  Trust Operating Expenses

                                    
     VI.  Information Concerning Insurance of Holders of Securities

51. Insurance of holders of trust's     )  Cover Page
      securities                        )  Trust Operating Expenses

52. (a)  Provisions of trust agreement  )
           with respect to replacement  )  Trust Administration
           or elimination portfolio     )
           securities                   )

    (b)  Transactions involving         )
           elimination of underlying    )  *
           securities                   )

    (c)  Policy regarding substitution  )
           or elimination of underlying )  Trust Administration
           securities                   )

    (d)  Trustamental policy not        )  *
           otherwise covered            )

53. Tax Status of trust                 )  Federal Taxation


               VII.  Financial and Statistical Information

54. Trust's securities during           )  *
      last ten years                    )

55.                                     )
56. Certain information regarding       )  *
57.   periodic payment certificates     )
58.                                     )

59. Financial statements (Instructions  )  Report of Independent Certified
      1(c) to Form S-6)                 )    Public Accountants
                                        )  Statement of Condition

________________________________________________________
* Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required
     


November 19, 1996

Van Kampen American Capital

Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45

Brand Name Equity Trust, Series 3

   
The Fund. Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45 (the
"Fund") is comprised of one unit investment trust, Brand Name Equity
Trust, Series 3 (the "Trust"). The Trust offers investors the
opportunity to purchase Units representing proportionate interests in a fixed
portfolio of equity securities issued by companies diversified within the
non-durable consumer goods industry including common stocks of foreign
issuers, all of which are in American Depositary Receipt ("ADRs") form
or New York Share form ("Equity Securities" or "Securities").
See "Trust Portfolio". Unless terminated earlier, the Trust will
terminate on November 16, 2001 and any Securities then held will, within a
reasonable time thereafter, be liquidated or distributed by the Trustee. Any
Securities liquidated at termination will be sold at the then current market
value for such Securities; therefore, the amount distributable in cash to a
Unitholder upon termination may be more or less than the amount such
Unitholder paid for his Units.
    

Attention Foreign Investors. If you are not a United States citizen or
resident, distributions from the Trust will generally be subject to U.S.
Federal withholding taxes; however, under certain circumstances treaties
between the United States and other countries may reduce or eliminate such
withholding tax. See "Federal Taxation." Such investors should consult
their tax advisers regarding the imposition of U.S. withholding on
distributions.

Objectives of the Trust. The objectives of the Trust are to provide the
potential for capital appreciation and income, consistent with the
preservation of invested capital, by investing in a portfolio of equity
securities of companies engaged in the design, production and distribution of
products diversified within the non-durable consumer goods industry. See "
Objectives and Securities Selection." There is, of course, no guarantee
that the objectives of the Trust will be achieved.

   
Public Offering Price. The Public Offering Price of the Units of the Trust
includes the aggregate underlying value of the Securities in the Trust's
portfolio, the initial sales charge described below, and cash, if any, in the
Income and Capital Accounts held or owned by the Trust. The initial sales
charge is equal to the difference between the maximum total sales charge of
4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum deferred sales charge ($0.20
per Unit). The monthly deferred sales charge ($0.0333 per Unit) will begin
accruing on a daily basis on May 19, 1997 and will continue to accrue through
November 18, 1997. The monthly deferred sales charge will be charged to the
Trust, in arrears, commencing June 19, 1997 and will be charged on the 19th
day of each month thereafter through November 19, 1997. Unitholders will be
assessed only that portion of the deferred sales charge payments not yet
collected. This deferred sales charge will be paid from funds in the Capital
Account, if sufficient, or from the periodic sale of Securities. The total
maximum sales charge assessed to Unitholders on a per Unit basis will be 4.5%
of the Public Offering Price (4.712% of the aggregate value of the Securities
less the deferred sales charge), subject to reduction as set forth in "
Public Offering--General." During the initial offering period, the sales
charge is reduced on a graduated scale for sales involving at least 5,000
Units. If Units were available for purchase at the close of business on the
day before the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering Price per Unit
would have been $10.02. For sales charges in the secondary market, see "
Public Offering." The minimum purchase is 100 Units except for certain
transactions described under "Public Offering--Unit Distribution" . See
"Public Offering." 
    

Additional Deposits. The Sponsor may, from time to time during a period of up
to approximately six months after the Initial Date of Deposit, deposit
additional Securities in the Trust as provided under "The Trust." 

   
Dividend and Capital Distributions. Distributions of dividends and capital, if
any, received by the Trust will be paid in cash on the applicable Distribution
Date to Unitholders of record on the record date as set forth in the "
Summary of Essential Financial Information." The initial estimated
distribution will be $.04 per Unit and will be made on March 25, 1997 to
Unitholders of record on March 10, 1997. Gross dividends received by the Trust
will be distributed to Unitholders. Expenses of the Trust will be paid with
proceeds from the sale of Securities. For the consequences of such sales, see
"Federal Taxation" . Additionally, upon termination of the Trust, the
Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of Units for redemption, to each
Unitholder his pro rata share of the Trust's assets, less expenses, in the
manner set forth under "Rights of Unitholders--Distributions of Income and
Capital." 
    

Units of the Trust are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank and are not federally insured or otherwise protected by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any
other agency and involve investment risk, including the loss of the principal
amount invested.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Secondary Market for Units. After the initial offering period, although not
obligated to do so, the Sponsor intends to maintain a market for Units of the
Trust and offer to repurchase such Units at prices which are based on the
aggregate underlying value of Equity Securities in the Trust (generally
determined by the closing sale or bid prices of the Securities) plus or minus
cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary
market is maintained during the initial offering period, the prices at which
Units will be repurchased will be based upon the aggregate underlying value of
the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the closing sale
or asked prices of the Securities) plus or minus cash, if any, in the Capital
and Income Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary market is not maintained, a
Unitholder may redeem Units through redemption at prices based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust plus or minus
a pro rata share of cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the
Trust. A Unitholder tendering 1,000 or more Units for redemption may request a
distribution of shares of Securities (reduced by customary transfer and
registration charges) in lieu of payment in cash. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units." Units sold or tendered for redemption
prior to such time as the entire deferred sales charge has been collected will
be assessed the amount of the remaining deferred sales charge at the time of
sale or redemption.

Termination. Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date Equity Securities
will begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The
Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sale of the
Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination of the Trust specifying
the time or times at which Unitholders may surrender their certificates for
cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unitholder at his address
appearing on the registration books of the Trust maintained by the Trustee. At
least 30 days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide
written notice thereof to all Unitholders and will include with such notice a
form to enable Unitholders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity
Securities if such Unitholder owns at least 1,000 Units of the Trust, rather
than to receive payment in cash for such Unitholder's pro rata share of the
amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity Securities. All
Unitholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares. To be
effective, the election form, together with surrendered certificates if
issued, and other documentation required by the Trustee, must be returned to
the Trustee at least five business days prior to the Mandatory Termination
Date. Unitholders not electing a distribution of shares of Equity Securities
will receive a cash distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities
within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated. See "Trust
Administration--Amendment or Termination." 

Reinvestment Option. Unitholders of any Van Kampen American Capital-sponsored
unit investment trust may utilize their redemption or termination proceeds to
purchase units of any other Van Kampen American Capital trust in the initial
offering period accepting rollover investments subject to a reduced sales
charge to the extent stated in the related prospectus (which may be deferred
in certain cases). Unitholders also have the opportunity to have their
distributions reinvested into additional Units of the Trust, if Units are
available at the time of reinvestment, or into an open-end management
investment company as described herein. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Reinvestment Option." 

Risk Factors. An investment in the Trust should be made with an understanding
of the risks associated therewith, including the possible deterioration of
either the financial condition of the issuers, the general condition of the
stock market, volatile interest rates and risks related to an investment in
the non-durable consumer goods industry. See "Risk Factors." 


<TABLE>
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST, SERIES 45

Summary of Essential Financial Information
At the Close of Business on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit: November 18, 1996

   Sponsor: Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
Supervisor: Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp.
            (An affiliate of the Sponsor)
 Evaluator: American Portfolio Evaluation Services
            (A division of an affiliate of the Sponsor)
   Trustee: The Bank of New York

<CAPTION>
   
General Information                                                                    
                                                                                       
<S>                                                                        <C>         
Number of Units <F1>......................................................       15,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit <F1>..................     1/15,000
Public Offering Price: ...................................................             
 Aggregate Value of Securities in Portfolio <F2>.......................... $    146,473
 Aggregate Value of Securities per Unit .................................. $       9.76
 Maximum Sales Charge <F3>................................................ $        .46
 Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit...................................... $        .20
 Public Offering Price Per Unit <F3><F4><F5>.............................. $      10.02
Redemption Price per Unit <F6>............................................ $       9.56
Secondary Market Repurchase Price per Unit <F6>........................... $       9.56
Excess of Public Offering Price per Unit over Redemption Price per Unit... $        .46
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                   <C>      <C>                                                                                 
Supervisor's Annual Supervisory Fee...         Maximum of $.0025 per Unit                                                          
Evaluator's Annual Evaluation Fee.....         Maximum of $.0025 per Unit                                                          
Evaluation Time.......................         4:00 P.M. New York time                                                             
Mandatory Termination Date............         November 16, 2001                                                                   
Minimum Termination Value.............         The Trust may be terminated if the net asset value of the Trust is less than        
                                               $500,000 unless the net asset value of the Trust deposits has exceeded $15,000,000, 
                                               then the Trust Agreement may be terminated if the net asset value of the Trust is   
                                               less than $3,000,000.                                                               
    
</TABLE>






<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                              <C>                                                   
Estimated Annual Dividends per Unit <F7>........ $.16960                                               
Trustee's Annual Fee............................ $.008 per Unit                                        
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses <F8>... $.00218 per Unit                                      
Income Distribution Record Date................. Tenth day of March, June, September and December      
Income Distribution Date........................ Twenty-fifth of March, June, September and December   
Capital Account Record Date..................... Tenth day of December                                 
Capital Account Distribution Date............... Twenty-fifth day of December                          

- ----------
<FN>
<F1>As of the close of business on any day on which the Sponsor is the sole
Unitholder of the Trust, the number of Units may be adjusted so that the
Public Offering Price per Unit will equal approximately $10. Therefore, to the
extent of any such adjustment the fractional undivided interest per Unit will
increase or decrease from the amount indicated above.

<F2>Each Equity Security listed on a national securities exchange is valued at the
closing sale price or, if the Equity Security is not listed, at the closing
ask price thereof.

<F3>The Maximum Sales Charge consists of an initial sales charge and a deferred
sales charge. The initial sales charge is applicable to all Units and
represents an amount equal to the difference between the Maximum Sales Charge
of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the amount of the maximum deferred
sales charge of $0.20 per Unit. Subsequent to the Initial Date of Deposit, the
amount of the initial sales charge will vary with changes in the aggregate
value of the Securities in the Trust. In addition to the initial sales charge,
Unitholders will pay a deferred sales charge of $0.0333 per Unit per month
which will begin accruing on a daily basis on May 19, 1997 and will continue
to accrue through November 18, 1997. The monthly deferred sales charge will be
charged to the Trust, in arrears, commencing June 19, 1997 and will be charged
on the 19th day of each month thereafter through November 19, 1997. Units
purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge payment will be
subject only to the portion of the deferred sales charge payments not yet
collected. These deferred sales charge payments will be paid from funds in the
Capital Account, if sufficient, or from the periodic sale of Securities. The
total maximum sales charge will be 4.5% of the Public Offering Price (4.712%
of the aggregate value of the Securities in the Trust less the deferred sales
charge). See the "Fee Table" below and "Public Offering--Offering
Price".

<F4>On the Initial Date of Deposit there will be no cash in the Income or Capital
Accounts. Anyone ordering Units after such date will have included in the
Public Offering Price a pro rata share of any cash in such Accounts.

<F5>Commencing on November 19, 1997, the secondary market sales charge will not
include deferred payments but will instead include only a one-time initial
sales charge of 4.0% of the Public Offering Price and will be reduced by .5 of
1% on each subsequent November 19, to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%. See "
Public Offering." 

<F6>The Redemption Price per Unit and the Secondary Market Repurchase Price per
Unit are reduced by the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge.

<F7>Estimated annual dividends are based on annualizing the most recently declared
dividends taking into consideration any foreign withholding taxes. Estimated
Annual Dividends per Unit are based on the number of Units, the fractional
undivided interest in the Securities per Unit and the aggregate value of the
Securities per Unit as of the Initial Date of Deposit. Investors should note
that the actual annual dividends received per Unit will vary from the
estimated amount due to changes in the factors described in the preceding
sentence and actual dividends declared and paid by the issuers of the
Securities.

   
<F8>The Trust (and therefore Unitholders) will bear all or a portion of its
organizational costs (including costs of preparing the registration statement,
the trust indenture and other closing documents, registering Units with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and states, the initial audit of the
portfolio and the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee but not including
the expenses incurred in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising material and any other selling expenses) as is common for mutual
funds. Total organizational expenses will be amortized over the life of the
Trust. See "Trust Operating Expenses" and "Statement of
Condition." Historically, the sponsors of unit investment trusts have paid
all the costs of establishing such trusts. Estimated Annual Organizational
Expenses have been estimated based on a projected trust size of $70,000,000.
To the extent the Trust is larger or smaller, the actual organizational
expenses paid by the Trust (and therefore by Unitholders) will vary from the
estimated amount set forth above.
    
</TABLE>






FEE TABLE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Fee Table is intended to assist investors in understanding the costs and
expenses that an investor in the Trust will bear directly or indirectly. See
"Public Offering--Offering Price" and "Trust Operating
Expenses" . Although the Trust is a unit investment trust rather than a
mutual fund, this information is presented to permit a comparison of fees.
Investors should note that while these examples are based on the public
offering price and the estimated fees for the Trust, the actual public
offering price and fees could vary from the estimated amounts below.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                    <C>           <C>           
Unitholder Transaction Expenses (as of the Initial Date of Deposit) (as a percentage of offering                         Amount Per
price)                                                                                                                   100 Units 
                                                                                                                     --------------
 Initial Sales Charge Imposed on Purchase............................................................. 2.50% <F1>    $        25.00
 Deferred Sales Charge................................................................................ 2.00% <F2>             20.00
                                                                                                       ------------- --------------
                                                                                                       4.50%         $        45.00
                                                                                                       ============= ==============
 Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends ................................................ 2.00% <F3>    $        20.00
                                                                                                       ============= ==============
   
Estimated Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as of the Initial Date of Deposit) (as a percentage of                                   
aggregate value)                                                                                                                   
 Trustee's Fee ....................................................................................... 0.082%        $         0.80
 Portfolio Supervision and Evaluation Fees ........................................................... 0.051%                  0.50
 Organizational Costs................................................................................. 0.022%                  0.22
 Other Operating Expenses ............................................................................ 0.038%                  0.37
                                                                                                       ------------- --------------
 Total ............................................................................................... 0.193%        $         1.89
                                                                                                       ============= ==============
</TABLE>




Example 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Cumulative Expenses Paid for Period of:         
                                                                                   ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>        
                                                                                       1 Year      3 Years     5 Years     10 Years
                                                                                   ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a                                                    
5% annual return and redemption at the end of each time period                     $        47 $        51 $        55          N/A
    

The example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and
utilizes a 5% annual rate of return as mandated by Securities and Exchange
Commission regulations applicable to mutual funds. For purposes of the
example, the deferred sales charge imposed on reinvestment of dividends is not
reflected until the year following payment of the dividend; the cumulative
expenses would be higher if sales charges on reinvested dividends were
reflected in the year of reinvestment. The example should not be considered as
a representation of past or future expenses or annual rate of return; the
actual expenses and annual rate of return may be more or less than those
assumed for purposes of the example.

- ----------
<FN>
<F1>The Initial Sales Charge is actually the difference between 4.50% and the
maximum deferred sales charge ($20.00 per 100 Units) and would exceed 2.5% if
the Public Offering Price exceeds $1,000 per 100 Units.

<F2>The actual fee is $0.20 per Unit, irrespective of purchase or redemption
price, deducted each month over the six months commencing June 19, 1997
(approximately $3.33 per 100 Units per month). If a holder sells or redeems
Units before all of these deductions have been made, the balance of the
deferred sales charge payments remaining will be deducted from the sales or
redemption proceeds. If Unit price exceeds $10 per Unit, the deferred portion
of the sales charge will be less than 2%; if Unit price is less than $10 per
Unit, the deferred portion of the sales charge will exceed 2%. Units purchased
subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge payment will be subject to
only that portion of the deferred sales charge payments not yet collected.

<F3>Reinvested dividends will be subject only to the deferred sales charge
remaining at the time of reinvestment. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Reinvestment Option".
</TABLE>




THE TRUST

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45 is comprised
of one unit investment trust, Brand Name Equity Trust, Series 3. The Trust was
created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to a Trust Indenture
and Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated the date of this
Prospectus (the "Initial Date of Deposit"), among Van Kampen American
Capital Distributors, Inc., as Sponsor, American Portfolio Evaluation
Services, a division of Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp.,
as Evaluator, Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., as
Supervisor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.

The Trust offers investors the opportunity to purchase Units representing
proportionate interests in a portfolio of actively traded equity securities
issued by companies diversified within the non-durable consumer goods
industry. Diversification of assets in the Trust will not eliminate the risk
of loss always inherent in the ownership of securities.

On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee the
Securities indicated under "Portfolio" herein, including delivery
statements relating to contracts for the purchase of certain such Securities
and an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution in the
amount required for such purchases. Thereafter, the Trustee, in exchange for
such Securities (and contracts) so deposited, delivered to the Sponsor
documentation evidencing the ownership of that number of Units of the Trust
indicated in "Summary of Essential Financial Information." Unless
otherwise terminated as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Trust will
terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date, and Securities then held will
within a reasonable time thereafter be liquidated or distributed by the
Trustee.

   
Additional Units of the Trust may be issued at any time by depositing in the
Trust (i) additional Securities, (ii) or contracts to purchase securities
together with cash or irrevocable letters of credit or (iii) cash (including a
letter of credit) with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As
additional Units are issued by the Trust as a result of the deposit of
additional Securities by the Sponsor, the aggregate value of the Securities in
the Trust will be increased and the fractional undivided interest in the Trust
represented by each Unit will be decreased. The Sponsor may continue to make
additional deposits of Securities or cash with instructions to purchase
Securities into the Trust for a period of up to approximately six months
following the Initial Date of Deposit, provided that such additional deposits
will be in amounts which will maintain the same proportionate relationship
among the number of shares of each Equity Security in the Trust's portfolio
that existed immediately prior to any such subsequent deposit. Any deposit by
the Sponsor of additional Equity Securities will duplicate this actual
proportionate relationship and not the original proportionate relationship on
the subsequent date of deposit, since the original proportionate relationship
may be different than the actual proportionate relationship. Any such
difference may be due to the sale, redemption or liquidation of any of the
Equity Securities deposited in the Trust on the Initial, or any subsequent,
Date of Deposit. If the Sponsor deposits cash, however, existing and new
investors may experience a dilution of their investments and a reduction in
their anticipated income because of fluctuations in the prices of the
Securities between the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the
Securities and because the Trust will pay the associated brokerage fees. To
minimize this effect, the Trust will attempt to purchase the Securities as
close to the Evaluation Time or as close to the evaluation prices as possible. 
    

Each Unit of the Trust initially offered represents an undivided interest in
the Trust. To the extent that any Units are redeemed by the Trustee or
additional Units are issued as a result of additional Securities being
deposited by the Sponsor, the fractional undivided interest in the Trust
represented by each unredeemed Unit will increase or decrease accordingly,
although the actual interest in the Trust represented by such fraction will
remain unchanged. Units will remain outstanding until redeemed upon tender to
the Trustee by Unitholders, which may include the Sponsor, or until the
termination of the Trust Agreement.





OBJECTIVES AND SECURITIES SELECTION

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The objectives of the Trust are to provide the potential for capital
appreciation and income, consistent with the preservation of invested capital.
The portfolio is described under "Trust Portfolio" and in "
Portfolio". The Sponsor has attempted to select a portfolio of leading
brand name companies that provide the potential for growth at sustainably
higher rates than the general stock market for an extended period of time. In
selecting the Securities, the Sponsor considered the following factors, among
others: (a) the issuer's position within the industry, (b) breadth and
stability of the issuer's business base and (c) growth potential. Most of the
products produced by the issuers included in the Trust are consumable products
used around the world. The Sponsor believes that global demographics provide
the potential for growth in these products in excess of overall economic
growth. The companies included in the Trust are generally leaders in their
field and the Sponsor believes these leadership positions should be sustained
given the stability of the markets generally and the strength of these brand
name companies. In addition, the Sponsor has attempted to select companies
with superior management which can help the company maintain a leadership
position within its market. The Sponsor has attempted to select companies
which exhibit attractive balance sheets, strong cash flow and above-average
returns on investment. Exploitation of the attractive product markets requires
investment to drive future growth. Debt capacity and cash flow may help to
provide a company the ability to reinvest in the business while a high return
on investment (and return on equity) may provide the potential for high growth
rates from reinvestment. 
    

Stocks have been acknowledged as one of the best ways to stay ahead of
inflation over time. An investment of $100 in common stocks (as represented by
the Standard & Poor's 500 Index) on January 1, 1971 would have been worth
approximately $1,966 by June 30, 1996. Over the same time period, $100
invested in long-term U.S. Government bonds would have been worth
approximately $913, $100 invested in short-term U.S. Treasury bills would have
been worth approximately $554 and $100 growing at the rate of inflation would
have been worth approximately $395. In addition, over the period January 1,
1991 through June 30, 1996, an investment of $10,000 in the stocks included in
the Morgan Stanley Consumer Index and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index would
have been worth approximately $24,187 and $23,720, respectively, while $10,000
growing at the rate of inflation over the same period would have been worth
approximately $11,738.

The Morgan Stanley Consumer Index is an unmanaged statistical composite
measuring the performance of 30 stocks from 21 consumer-oriented industries.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index is an unmanaged statistical composite
measuring the performance of 500 stocks from 83 industrial groups. Investors
should note that the Morgan Stanley Consumer Index does not include all of the
Securities in the Trust portfolio and the Trust is not designed to correlate
with this or any other index. Of course, the figures above represent past
performance of these investment categories and there is no guarantee of future
results, either of these categories or of the Trust. The Trust also includes a
sales charge and expenses which are not reflected above.

Consumer Products Companies. Companies within the non-durable consumer goods
industry are typically considered growth companies. A growth company is
generally defined as a relatively steady performer over time which provides
the potential to sustain an above-average growth rate during various economic
cycles. Because of their size, resilience and strength, brand name companies
appear to be some of the most favorable growth companies in which to invest.
Additionally, the Sponsor believes that brand name companies are poised to
benefit as access to and consumer demand in developing countries continues to
grow.

Many of the companies behind brand name products are industry leaders in both
domestic and international markets. They are established, well-managed,
financially strong and proven performers. Recently, many have undertaken
restructuring and expansion projects which have increased their profit
potential. As large companies, they are able to provide their brands with a
great deal of support, including large advertising budgets able to produce
sales beyond the life of a campaign, research and development prowess
producing high quality and new products, effective distribution and
promotional efforts creating widespread exposure throughout the retail
industry, and exposure to international markets and expansion of operations to
capitalize on growth opportunities in developing countries worldwide. The
Sponsor believes that as cost differences between brand name and generic
products shrink, consumers will be willing to pay a premium for brand name
products they recognize and believe to be of better quality.

The Food and Beverage Industry. The Department of Commerce ranks the food and
beverage industry as the second largest U.S. manufacturing sector. In recent
years, this industry has had consistently positive earnings and has tended to
be recession-resistant. Performance has reflected consumer demand more than
general economic conditions.

Food processing companies include manufacturers of packaged foods such as
canned and frozen foods, baked goods, desserts, jelly, coffee and hot
chocolate, and processors of agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables,
cereals, flour, meat and poultry, including pet food. Distributors include
food wholesalers (companies that distribute food products to retailers,
restaurants and institutions) and retailers, supermarket chains and
restaurants. The beverage companies represented manufacture alcoholic and
non-alcoholic drinks. The issuers in the Trust include companies that have
successfully adapted to new consumer demands such as developing low calorie,
low fat and low sodium products for a public increasingly concerned with
health and fitness. The Sponsor anticipates that continued adaptation will
result in consumer support and lead to continued growth. 

Pharmaceutical Industry. The medical sector has historically provided
investors with significant growth opportunities. One of the industries
included in the sector is pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies
develop, manufacture and sell prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In
addition, they are well known for the significant amounts of money they spend
on research and development. As the population of the United States ages, the
companies involved in the pharmaceutical field will continue to search for and
develop new drugs through advanced technologies and diagnostics. On a
world-wide basis, pharmaceutical companies are involved in the development and
distribution of drugs and vaccines. These activities may make the
pharmaceutical sector very attractive for investors seeking the potential for
growth in their investment portfolio.

General. An investor will be subject to taxation on the dividend income
received from the Trust and on gains from the sale or liquidation of
Securities (see "Federal Taxation"). Investors should be aware that
there is not any guarantee that the objectives of the Trust will be achieved
because they are subject to the continuing ability of the respective Security
issuers to continue to declare and pay dividends and because the market value
of the Securities can be affected by a variety of factors. Common stocks may
be especially susceptible to general stock market movements and to volatile
increases and decreases of value as market confidence in and perceptions of
the issuers change. Investors should be aware that there can be no assurance
that the value of the underlying Securities will increase or that the issuers
of the Equity Securities will pay dividends on outstanding common shares. Any
distributions of income will generally depend upon the declaration of
dividends by the issuers of the Securities and the declaration of any
dividends depends upon several factors including the financial condition of
the issuers and general economic conditions.

Investors should note that the above criteria were applied to the Equity
Securities selected for inclusion in the Trust as of the Initial Date of
Deposit. Subsequent to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Securities may no
longer meet such criteria. Should an Equity Security no longer meet such
criteria, such Equity Security will not, simply as a result of such fact, be
removed from the portfolio of the Trust.

Investors should be aware that the Trust is not a "managed" fund and
as a result the adverse financial condition of a company will not result in
its elimination from the portfolio except under extraordinary circumstances
(see "Trust Administration--Portfolio Administration"). In addition,
Securities will not be sold by the Trust to take advantage of market
fluctuations or changes in anticipated rates of appreciation. Investors should
note in particular that the Securities were selected by the Sponsor as of the
Initial Date of Deposit. The Trust may continue to purchase or hold Securities
originally selected through this process even though the evaluation of the
attractiveness of the Securities may have changed and, if the evaluation were
performed again at that time, the Securities would not be selected for the
Trust.





TRUST PORTFOLIO

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The Trust consists of 31 different issues of Equity Securities which are
primarily issued by established companies with extensive domestic and
international operations that are engaged in the design, production and
distribution of products within the non-durable consumer goods industry,
including common stocks of foreign issuers (all of which are in American
Depositary Receipt or New York Share form). All of the Equity Securities are
listed on a national securities exchange, the NASDAQ National Market System or
are traded in the over-the-counter market. The following is a general
description of each of the companies included in the Trust. 
    

American Home Products Corporation. American Home Products Corporation is a
research-based pharmaceutical and health care products company and is a
developer, manufacturer and marketer of prescription drugs and
over-the-counter medications. The company also produces women's health care
products, vaccines, generic pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products,
agricultural products, animal health care products, medical devices, and
infant and food products.

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. is a diversified
corporation whose subsidiaries include a brewery organization and a major
producer of fresh baked goods. The company's interests also include snack food
production, can manufacturing, metallized paper printing, barley malting,
international brewing/marketing of beer, theme park operations and ownership
of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball team.

Avon Products, Inc. Avon Products, Inc. is a worldwide manufacturer and
direct-seller of beauty products, fashion jewelry and prestige fragrances. The
company markets its products to women in 119 countries through approximately
1.7 million independent representatives. Avon also offers gift and decorative
products such as ceramics, glassware, collectibles and ornaments.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company researches,
develops, manufactures and markets prescription and non-prescription drugs,
medical devices, health and skin care products, toiletries and beauty aids.
The company's line of drugs include cardiovascular drugs and antibiotics,
central nervous system drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, diagnostic agents and
others.

Campbell Soup Company. Campbell Soup Company is a major manufacturer of canned
soups both condensed and ready-to-serve. The company also produces other
convenience foods which include "Swanson" frozen dinners, "
Prego" spaghetti sauce, "Pepperidge Farm" bakery products and many
other brand name products. Campbell's distributes its products to chain
stores, distributors and wholesalers worldwide.

Clorox Company. Clorox Company develops, manufactures and sells grocery store
products both domestically and internationally. The company's product lines
include laundry additives, home cleaning products, cat litter and
insecticides, charcoal grill products and salad dressings and sauces. Clorox
also produces products for the janitorial, institutional and food service
industries.

The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company manufactures, markets and
distributes soft drinks, soft-drink syrups and concentrates worldwide,
including "Coca-Cola," "Diet Coke," "Tab," "
Sprite," "Diet Sprite," "Fanta," "Fresca," "
Cherry Coke," "Diet Cherry Coke," "PowerAde," "
Fruitopia" and "Minute Maid" sodas. Other products include juices,
juice-drinks and mixers like "Minute Maid," "Hi-C" and "
Bacardi" brands.

Colgate-Palmolive Company. Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer
products company whose core products consist of oral care, body care,
household surface care, fabric care and animal nutrition and dietary care.
Colgate-Palmolive markets its products internationally under a variety of
brand names including "Colgate," "Palmolive," "Ajax," 
"Fab" and "Irish Spring" as well as "Hill's Science
Diet" and "Prescription Diet." 

CPC International, Inc. CPC International, Inc. is a major food company with
operations in 58 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and
South Africa. The company produces a variety of branded foods which include
"Hellmann's" mayonnaise, "Skippy" peanut butter, "
Knorr's" dehydrated soups, "Mazola" corn oil, as well as starches,
syrups, desserts, bakery, pasta and bread spreads.

Eastman Kodak Company. Eastman Kodak Company develops, manufactures and
markets consumer and commercial imaging products. The various segments provide
a number of products and services including cameras, photofinishing, film,
audiovisual equipment and plastics. The company's products and services are
offered worldwide.

General Mills, Inc. General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets consumer food
products. Major U.S. businesses include "Big G" cereals; "Betty
Crocker" dessert, side dish and dinner mixes; snack products; "Gold
Medal" flour and "Yoplait" and "Columbo" yogurts. General
Mills sells its products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Latin
America. 

Gillette Company. Gillette Company manufactures shaving, toiletry, stationery
and dental products. The company produces disposable and electric razors,
replacement blades, "Right Guard" and "Soft and Dry" 
deodorants, "Toni" hair care products, "Paper Mate," "
Flair" and "Waterman" pens, "Liquid Paper" correction
fluid, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Gillette sells its products
internationally. 

Heinz (H.J.) Company. Heinz (H.J.) Company manufactures and markets food
products. The company produces ketchup, sauces, vinegar, pickles, canned tuna,
pet food, frozen potatoes, meat products and corn syrup and other items.
Heinz's subsidiary, Weight Watchers International operates and franchises
weight control centers and licenses diet foods to other manufacturers. The
company sells its products internationally. 

Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson manufactures and sells a broad range of
products in health care and other fields. The company's business is divided
into the consumer, professional and pharmaceutical segments. Products include
contraceptives, therapeutics, veterinary products, dental products, surgical
instruments, dressings and apparel and nonprescription drugs.

Kellogg Company. Kellogg Company manufactures cereal products and convenience
foods. The company produces "Rice Krispies," "Special K," "
Frosted Flakes," "Froot Loops" and other cereals. Other
subsidiaries offer dessert mixes, soup bases, gelatin desserts and yogurt
products. Kellogg sells its products in the United States and other countries. 

Liz Claiborne, Inc. Liz Claiborne, Inc. designs and markets a wide range of
women's and men's apparel and related items, such as fragrances. The company
focuses on women's designs for work and leisure-time needs, as well as men's
separates, including sweaters, pants, shirts and jackets. Products are
manufactured to the company's specifications and sold to department and
specialty stores in the United States and abroad. 

Mattel, Inc. Mattel, Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer and marketer
of children's toys. The company's core product line includes "Barbie," 
"Fisher-Price," "Disney" and "Hot Wheels" toys and
accessories. Mattel markets its products in more than 140 nations throughout
the world. 

McDonald's Corporation. McDonald's Corporation develops, operates, franchises
and services a worldwide system of restaurants. These restaurants prepare,
assemble, package and sell a limited menu of quickly-prepared,
moderately-priced foods. There are over 19,200 restaurants in the United
States and 94 countries worldwide. Food items include hamburgers, chicken,
salads, breakfast foods and beverages. 

Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. manufactures and produces a wide range of
human and animal health products and services. The company also has a human
health managed prescription drug program. Products include anti-hypertensives,
cardiovasculars, anti-inflammatories, vaccines and glaucoma treatments. Animal
products include preventions for canine heartworm disease and poultry disease. 

Nabisco Holdings Corporation. Nabisco Holdings Corporation manufactures and
sells a variety of packaged foods. Products include candy, cookies, oatmeal,
condiments and dog treats. The company sells its line under a number of brand
names including "Ritz," "Bubble Yum," "Stella D'Oro," 
"Blue Bonnet" and "Snackwell's." Nabisco operates worldwide.

Nestle SA. Nestle SA is a holding company. The company has subsidiaries that
produce and sell drinks, cereals, powdered milk, culinary products, frozen
food, chocolate, ready-to-eat dishes, refrigerated products, food service
products, pet food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Nestle has 494 production
facilities in approximately 71 countries. 

Nike, Inc. Nike, Inc. designs, develops and markets a wide variety of
high-quality footwear and apparel products. Apparel includes tennis, running,
bicycling and fitness wear as well as athletic bags and accessory items. The
company markets its products through retail stores in the United States and
throughout the world.

PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo, Inc. operates on a worldwide basis in the soft drink,
snack food and restaurant business segments. Some of the company's products
include "Pepsi-Cola," "Slice" and "Mountain Dew" soft
drinks and "Frito-Lay" snack foods. The company also operates "
Pizza Hut," "Taco Bell" and "Kentucky Fried Chicken" 
restaurants worldwide.

The Procter & Gamble Company. The Procter & Gamble Company manufactures and
distributes household products. Its laundry and cleaning, personal care and
food and beverage segments are distributed primarily through grocery stores
and other retail outlets. Products of the pulp and chemicals segment are sold
directly to the users. The company's products are sold throughout the United
States and abroad.

Sara Lee Corporation. Sara Lee Corporation is a worldwide manufacturer and
marketer of consumer products including packaged meats, bakery items, coffee,
personal products and household and personal care items. The company's brand
names include "Sara Lee" food items, "Jimmy Dean" packaged
meats, "Coach" leatherware, "Hanes" clothing and hosiery, "
L'eggs" hosiery, "Champion" activewear and other brand names.

Schering-Plough Corporation. Schering-Plough Corporation discovers, develops,
manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Pharmaceutical
products include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vision care
products and animal health care products. The consumer products group consists
of cosmetics, proprietary medicines, toiletries and foot care products.

Unilever NV. Unilever NV manufactures branded and packaged consumer goods,
including food, detergents and personal care products. The company also,
through National Starch and Chemical in the United States, has interests in
the development and production of resins and specialty organic chemicals for
industrial use. Unilever markets its products worldwide. 

The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company is a diversified
international entertainment company. The company, through it's subsidiaries,
owns and operates theme parks and resorts, film studios, consumer products,
television networks, radio networks, cable networks, newspapers and magazines.
Disney owns, among others, ABC Television, ABC Radio, The Disney Channel,
Disney Land and Disney MGM Studios.

Warner-Lambert Company. Warner-Lambert Company discovers, develops,
manufactures and markets pharmaceutical, consumer health care and
confectionary products. The company's products include "Listerine" 
mouthwash, "Trident" gum, "Schick" razors, "Tetra" 
fish food, "Sudafed" and "Benadryl" decongestants, "
Halls" cough drops, "Dilantin" epilepsy drug, "Centrax" 
tranquilizer, "Neosporin" topical antibiotic and other products.

Wendy's International, Inc. Wendy's International, Inc. operates, develops and
franchises a system of fast food restaurants. The restaurants offer
hamburgers, salads and chicken sandwiches. The company operates or franchises
over 4,500 "Wendy's" and "Tim Hortons" restaurants in the
United States and 33 countries and territories.

Wrigley (WM) Jr. Company. Wrigley (WM) Jr. Company manufactures chewing gum.
The company produces and sells gum under the brand names "Wrigley's
Spearmint," "Doublemint," "Juicy Fruit" and "Big
Red" . Other brand names include "Freedent," "Orbit," "
Hubba Bubba" and "Extra" . Wrigley sells its products in the United
States, Europe, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, Taiwan and other countries.

General. The Trust consists of (a) the Securities listed under "
Portfolio" as may continue to be held from time to time in the Trust, (b)
any additional Securities acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the
provisions of the Trust Agreement and (c) any cash held in the Income and
Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable in any
way for any failure in any of the Securities. However, should any contract for
the purchase of any of the Securities initially deposited hereunder fail, the
Sponsor will, unless substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to
cover such purchase are reinvested in substitute Securities in accordance with
the Trust Agreement, refund the cash and sales charge attributable to such
failed contract to all Unitholders on the next distribution date.

Because certain of the Equity Securities from time to time may be sold under
certain circumstances described herein, and because the proceeds from such
events will in most cases be distributed to Unitholders and will not be
reinvested, no assurance can be given that the Trust will retain for any
length of time its present size and composition. Although the portfolio is not
managed, the Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to sell Equity Securities under
certain limited circumstances. See "Trust Administration--Portfolio
Administration." Equity Securities, however, will not be sold by the Trust
to take advantage of market fluctuations or changes in anticipated rates of
appreciation or depreciation.





RISK FACTORS

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Consumer Products, Food and Beverage, and Pharmaceutical Companies. Investment
in securities issued by non-durable consumer products companies should be made
with an understanding of the many factors which may have an adverse impact on
the credit quality of the particular company or industry. These include
cyclicality of revenues and earnings, changing consumer demands, regulatory
restrictions, products liability litigation and other litigation resulting
from accidents, extensive competition (including that of low-cost foreign
companies), unfunded pension fund liabilities and employee and retiree benefit
costs and financial deterioration resulting from leveraged buy-outs, takeovers
or acquisitions. In general, expenditures on consumer products will be
affected by the economic health of consumers. Various factors such as
recession and any related tightening of consumer credit and spending may have
a continuing adverse effect on the industry. Other factors of particular
relevance to the profitability of the industry are the effects of increasing
environmental regulation on packaging and on waste disposal, the continuing
need to conform with foreign regulations governing packaging and the
environment, the outcome of trade negotiations and their effect on foreign
subsidies and tariffs, foreign exchange rates, the price of oil and its effect
on energy costs, inventory cutbacks by retailers, transportation and
distribution costs, health concerns relating to the consumption of certain
products, the effect of demographics on consumer demand, the availability and
cost of raw materials and the ongoing need to develop new products and to
improve productivity.

Investment in stocks of the food and beverage industry, including
manufacturers of packaged foods, processors of agricultural products, beverage
companies and food distributors, should be made with an understanding of the
many factors that may have an adverse impact on the value of the stocks of
these companies and their ability to pay dividends. These factors include the
sensitivity of revenues, earnings, and financial condition to economic
conditions, changing consumer demands or preferences, fluctuations in the
prices of agricultural commodities, fluctuations in the cost of other raw
materials such as packaging, and the effects of inflation on pricing
flexibility. The revenues and earnings of these companies can also be affected
by extensive competition that can result in lost sales or in lower margins
resulting from efforts to maintain market share. Food and beverage companies
are also subject to regulation under various federal laws--such as the Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act--as well as state, local and foreign laws and
regulations. Costs associated with complying with changing regulatory
restrictions, such as food labeling requirements, could adversely affect
earnings. Food and beverage companies are also becoming increasingly exposed
to risks associated with international operation, including foreign currency
fluctuations and future political and economic developments in other
countries. Other risk factors include potential deterioration in financial
condition resulting from litigation related to product liability, accidents,
or trademark or patent disputes; unfunded pension liability; changing
accounting standards and leveraged buyouts, takeovers, or recapitalizations.

An investment in Units of the Trust should be made with an understanding of
the characteristics of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries
and the risks which such investment may entail. Pharmaceutical and medical
technology companies are companies involved in drug development and production
services. Such companies have potential risks unique to their sector of the
health care field. Such companies are subject to governmental regulation of
their products and services, a factor which could have a significant and
possibly unfavorable effect on the price and availability of such products or
services. Furthermore, such companies face the risk of increasing competition
from generic drug sales, the termination of their patent protection for drug
products and the risk that technological advances will render their products
or services obsolete. The research and development costs of bringing a drug to
market are substantial and include lengthy governmental review processes, with
no guarantee that the product will ever come to market. Many of these
companies may have losses and not offer certain products for some time. Such
companies may also have persistent losses during a new product's transition
from development to production, and revenue patterns may be erratic.

Legislative proposals concerning health care have been under consideration by
federal and state governments from time to time in recent years. These
proposals span a wide range of topics, including cost and price controls
(which might include a freeze on the prices of prescription drugs), national
health insurance, incentives for competition in the provision of health care
services, tax incentives and penalties related to health care insurance
premiums and promotion of pre-paid health care plans. The Sponsor is unable to
predict the effect of any of these proposals, if enacted, on the issuers of
Equity Securities in the Trust.

Foreign Issuers. Since certain of the Equity Securities in the Trust consist
of securities to foreign issuers, an investment in the Trust involves some
investment risks that are different in some respects from an investment in a
trust that invests entirely in securities of domestic issuers. Those
investment risks include future political and governmental restrictions which
might adversely affect the payment or receipt of payment of dividends on the
relevant Equity Securities. In addition, for the foreign issuers that are not
subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
there may be less publicly available information than is available from a
domestic issuer. Also, foreign issuers are not necessarily subject to uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and
requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. However, due
to the nature of the issuers of Equity Securities included in the Trust, the
Sponsor believes that adequate information will be available to allow the
Supervisor to provide portfolio surveillance.

   
The securities of the foreign issuers in the Trust are in American Depositary
Receipt or New York Share form. ADRs evidence American Depositary Receipts
which represent common stock deposited with a custodian in a depositary.
American Depositary Shares, and receipts therefor (ADRs), are issued by an
American bank or trust company to evidence ownership of underlying securities
issued by a foreign corporation. New York Shares are similar to and are
generally subject to similar risks as ADRs. These instruments may not
necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which
they may be converted. For purposes of the discussion herein, the term ADR
generally includes American Depositary Shares. ADRs may be sponsored or
unsponsored. In an unsponsored facility, the depositary initiates and arranges
the facility at the request of market makers and acts as agent for the ADR
holder, while the company itself is not involved in the transaction. In a
sponsored facility, the issuing company initiates the facility and agrees to
pay certain administrative and shareholder-related expenses. Sponsored
facilities use a single depositary and entail a contractual relationship
between the issuer, the shareholder and the depositary; unsponsored facilities
involve several depositaries with no contractual relationship to the company.
The depositary bank that issues an ADR generally charges a fee, based on the
price of the ADR, upon issuance and cancellation of the ADR. This fee would be
in addition to the brokerage commissions paid upon the acquisition or
surrender of the security. In addition, the depositary bank incurs expenses in
connection with the conversion of dividends or other cash distributions paid
in local currency into U.S. dollars and such expenses are deducted from the
amount of the dividend or distribution paid to holders, resulting in a lower
payout per underlying shares represented by the ADR than would be the case if
the underlying share were held directly. Investors should be aware that the
Trustee of the Trust may act as the depositary bank for certain ADRs which may
include certain of the Securities. Certain tax considerations, including tax
rate differentials and withholding requirements, arising from applications of
the tax laws of one nation to nationals of another and from certain practices
in the ADR market may also exist with respect to certain ADRs. In varying
degrees, any or all of these factors may affect the value of the ADR compared
with the value of the underlying shares in the local market. In addition, the
rights of holders of ADRs may be different than those of holders of the
underlying shares, and the market for ADRs may be less liquid than that for
the underlying shares. ADRs are registered securities pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933 and may be subject to the reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
    

For those Equity Securities that are ADRs, currency fluctuations will affect
the U.S. dollar equivalent of the local currency price of the underlying
domestic share and, as a result, are likely to affect the value of the ADRs
and consequently the value of the Equity Securities. The foreign issuers of
securities that are ADRs may pay dividends in foreign currencies which must be
converted into dollars. Most foreign currencies have fluctuated widely in
value against the United States dollar for many reasons, including supply and
demand of the respective currency, the soundness of the world economy and the
strength of the respective economy as compared to the economies of the United
States and other countries. Therefore, for any securities of issuers (whether
or not they are in ADR form) whose earnings are stated in foreign currencies,
or which pay dividends in foreign currencies or which are traded in foreign
currencies, there is a risk that their United States dollar value will vary
with fluctuations in the United States dollar foreign exchange rates for the
relevant currencies.

On the basis of the best information available to the Sponsor at the present
time, none of the Equity Securities are subject to exchange control
restrictions under existing law which would materially interfere with payment
to the Trust of dividends due on, or proceeds from the sale of, the Equity
Securities. However, there can be no assurance that exchange control
regulations might not be adopted in the future which might adversely affect
payment to the Trust. In addition, the adoption of exchange control
regulations and other legal restrictions could have an adverse impact on the
marketability of international securities in the Trust and on the ability of
the Trust to satisfy its obligation to redeem Units tendered to the Trustee
for redemption. 

Equity Securities. An investment in Units should be made with an understanding
of the risks which an investment in common stocks entails, including the risk
that the financial condition of the issuers of the Equity Securities or the
general condition of the common stock market may worsen and the value of the
Equity Securities and therefore the value of the Units may decline. Common
stocks are especially susceptible to general stock market movements and to
volatile increases and decreases of value as market confidence in and
perceptions of the issuers change. These perceptions are based on
unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government economic,
monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion
or contraction, global or regional political, economic or banking crises.
Shareholders of common stocks have rights to receive payments from the issuers
of those common stocks that are generally subordinate to those of creditors
of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks of, such issuers.
Shareholders of common stocks of the type held by the Trust have a right to
receive dividends only when and if, and in the amounts, declared by the
issuer's board of directors and have a right to participate in amounts
available for distribution by the issuer only after all other claims on the
issuer have been paid or provided for. Certain of the issuers may currently be
in arrears with respect to preferred stock dividend payments. Common stocks do
not represent an obligation of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer any
assurance of income or provide the same degree of protection of capital as do
debt securities. The issuance of additional debt securities or preferred stock
will create prior claims for payment of principal, interest and dividends
which could adversely affect the ability and inclination of the issuer to
declare or pay dividends on its common stock or the rights of holders of
common stock with respect to assets of the issuer upon liquidation or
bankruptcy. The value of common stocks is subject to market fluctuations for
as long as the common stocks remain outstanding, and thus the value of the
Equity Securities in the portfolio may be expected to fluctuate over the life
of the Trust to values higher or lower than those prevailing on the Initial
Date of Deposit or at the time a Unitholder purchases Units.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and
debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the entity, have
generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison
with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred
stocks issued by, the issuer. Cumulative preferred stock dividends must be
paid before common stock dividends and any cumulative preferred stock dividend
omitted is added to future dividends payable to the holders of cumulative
preferred stock. Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights
on liquidation which are senior to those of common stockholders.

Whether or not the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities
exchange, the principal trading market for the Equity Securities may be in the
over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market
for the Equity Securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in
the Equity Securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made
for any of the Equity Securities, that any market for the Equity Securities
will be maintained or of the liquidity of the Equity Securities in any markets
made. In addition, the Trust may be restricted under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 from selling Equity Securities to the Sponsor. The price at which
the Equity Securities may be sold to meet redemptions, and the value of the
Trust, will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Equity Securities
are limited or absent.

As described under "Trust Operating Expenses," all of the expenses of
the Trust will be paid from the sale of Securities from the Trust. It is
expected that such sales will be made at the end of the initial offering
period and each month thereafter through termination of the Trust. Such sales
will result in capital gains and losses and may be made at times and prices
which adversely affect the Trust. For a discussion of the tax consequences of
such sales, see "Federal Taxation." 

   
The Trust Agreement authorizes the Sponsor to increase the size of the Trust
and the number of Units thereof by the deposit of additional Securities, or
cash (including a letter of credit) with instructions to purchase additional
Securities, in the Trust and the issuance of a corresponding number of
additional Units. If the Sponsor deposits cash, existing and new investors may
experience a dilution of their investments and a reduction in their
anticipated income because of fluctuations in the prices of the Securities
between the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the Securities and
because the Trust will pay the associated brokerage fees. To minimize this
effect, the Trust will attempt to purchase the Securities as close to the
Evaluation Time or as close to the evaluation prices as possible. 
    

Unitholders will be unable to dispose of any of the Equity Securities in the
portfolio, as such, and will not be able to vote the Equity Securities. As the
holder of the Equity Securities, the Trustee will have the right to vote all
of the voting stocks in the Trust and will vote such stocks in accordance with
the instructions of the Sponsor. In the absence of any such instructions by
the Sponsor, the Trustee will vote such stocks so as to insure that the stocks
are voted as closely as possible in the same manner and the same general
proportion as are shares held by owners other than the Trust.






FEDERAL TAXATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a general discussion of certain of the federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Units. The
summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as "capital assets" 
(generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code" ). Unitholders should
consult their tax advisers in determining the federal, state, local and any
other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Units in
the Trust.

In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor, under
existing law:

1. The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for federal income
tax purposes; each Unitholder will be treated as the owner of a pro rata
portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the Code; and the income of
the Trust will be treated as income of the Unitholders thereof under the Code.
Each Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share of
income derived from the Trust asset when such income is considered to be
received by the Trust.

2. A Unitholder will be considered to have received all of the dividends paid
on his pro rata portion of each Equity Security when such dividends are
considered to be received by the Trust regardless of whether such dividends
are used to pay a portion of the deferred sales charge. Unitholders will be
taxed in this manner regardless of whether distributions from the Trust are
actually received by the Unitholder or are automatically reinvested.

3. Each Unitholder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes of an
Equity Security (whether by sale, exchange, liquidation, redemption, or
otherwise) or upon the sale or redemption of Units by such Unitholder (except
to the extent an in kind distribution of stock is received by such Unitholder
as described below). The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion of each
Equity Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the fair market values
thereof on the valuation date nearest the date the Unitholder purchase his
Units) in order to determine his initial tax basis for his pro rata portion of
each Equity Security held by the Trust. For federal income tax purposes, a
Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends as defined by Section 316 of the
Code paid with respect to an Equity Security held by the Trust are taxable as
ordinary income to the extent of such corporation's current and accumulated
"earnings and profits" . A Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends
paid on such Equity Security which exceeds such current and accumulated
earnings and profits will first reduce a Unitholder's tax basis in such Equity
Security, and to the extent that such dividends exceed a Unitholder's tax
basis in such Equity Security shall generally be treated as capital gain. In
general, any such capital gain will be short-term unless a Unitholder has held
his Units for more than one year.

4. A Unitholder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the Trust will generally
be considered a capital gain except in the case of a dealer or a financial
institution and, in general, will be long-term if the Unitholder has held his
Units for more than one year (the date on which the Units are acquired (i.e.,
the "trade date") is excluded for purposes of determining whether the
Units have been held for more than one year). A Unitholder's portion of loss,
if any, upon the sale or redemption of Units or the disposition of Equity
Securities held by the Trust will generally be considered a capital loss
(except in the case of a dealer or a financial institution) and, in general,
will be long-term if the Unitholder has held his Units for more than one year.
Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the recognition of
such capital gains and losses for federal income tax purposes.

Deferred Sales Charge. Generally, the tax basis of a Unitholder includes sales
charges, and such charges are not deductible. A portion of the sales charge
for the Trust is deferred. It is possible that for federal income tax purposes
a portion of the deferred sales charge may be treated as interest which would
be deductible by a Unitholder subject to limitations on the deduction of
investment interest. In such case, the non-interest portion of the deferred
sales charge would be added to the Unitholder's tax basis in his Units. The
deferred sales charge could cause the Unitholder's Units to be considered to
be debt-financed under Section 246A of the Code which would result in a small
reduction of the dividends received deduction. In any case, the income (or
proceeds from redemption) a Unitholder must take into account for federal
income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts deducted to pay the deferred
sales charge. Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers as to the
income tax consequences of the deferred sales charge.

Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns Units will generally be
entitled to a 70% dividends received deduction with respect to such
Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the
extent such dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed above, and
are attributable to domestic corporations) in the same manner as if such
corporation directly owned the Equity Securities paying such dividends (other
than corporate Unitholders, such as "S" corporations, which are not
eligible for the deduction because of their special characteristics and other
than for purposes of special taxes such as the accumulated earnings tax and
the personal holding corporation tax). However, a corporation owning Units
should be aware that Sections 246 and 246A of the Code impose additional
limitations on the eligibility of dividends for the 70% dividends received
deduction. These limitations include a requirement that stock (and therefore
Units) must generally be held at least 46 days (as determined under Section
246(c) of the Code). Final regulations have been recently issued which address
special rules that must be considered in determining whether the 46 day
holding requirement is met. Moreover, the allowable percentage of the
deduction will be reduced from 70% if a corporate Unitholder owns certain
stock (or Units) the financing of which is directly attributable to
indebtedness incurred by such corporation. It should be noted that various
legislative proposals that would affect the dividends received deduction have
been introduced. Unitholders should consult with their tax advisers with
respect to the limitations on and possible modifications to the dividends
received deduction. To the extent dividends received by the Trust are
attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns Units will not
be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to its pro rata
portion of such dividends, since the dividends received deduction is generally
available only with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations. 

Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by Unitholders. Each
Unitholder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is deductible by
the Unitholder to the same extent as though the expense had been paid directly
by him. It should be noted that as a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986,
certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax
return preparation fees and employee business expenses will be deductible by
an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such individual's adjusted
gross income. Unitholders may be required to treat some or all of the expenses
of the Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.

Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Equity Securities by
the Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unitholder may
recognize taxable gain (or loss) when an Equity Security is disposed of by the
Trust or if the Unitholder disposes of a Unit. For taxpayers other than
corporations, net capital gains are subject to a maximum marginal stated tax
rate of 28%. However, it should be noted that legislative proposals are
introduced from time to time that affect tax rates and could affect relative
differences at which ordinary income and capital gains are taxed.

The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the "Act" ) raised tax rates on
ordinary income while capital gains remain subject to a 28% maximum stated
rate for taxpayers other than corporations. Because some or all capital gains
are taxed at a comparatively lower rate under the Act, the Act includes a
provision that would recharacterize capital gains as ordinary income in the
case of certain financial transactions that are "conversion
transactions" effective for transactions entered into after April 30,
1993. Unitholders and prospective investors should consult with their tax
advisers regarding the potential effect of this provision on their investment
in Units.

If a Unitholder disposes of a Unit he is deemed thereby to have disposed of
his entire pro rata interest in all assets of the Trust including his pro rata
portion of all Equity Securities represented by a Unit.

Special Tax Consequences of In Kind Distributions Upon Redemption of Units or
Termination of the Trust. As discussed in "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units" , under certain circumstances a
Unitholder tendering Units for redemption may request an In Kind Distribution.
A Unitholder may also under certain circumstances request an In Kind
Distribution upon the termination of the Trust. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units." As previously discussed, prior to the
redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust, a Unitholder is
considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of the Trust assets for
federal income tax purposes. The receipt of an In Kind Distribution will
result in a Unitholder receiving an undivided interest in whole shares of
stock plus, possibly, cash.

The potential tax consequences that may occur under an In Kind Distribution
with respect to each Equity Security held by the Trust will depend on whether
or not a Unitholder receives cash in addition to Equity Securities. An "
Equity Security" for this purpose is a particular class of stock issued by
a particular corporation. A Unitholder will not recognize gain or loss if a
Unitholder only receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata
portion in the Equity Securities held by the Trust. However, if a Unitholder
also receives cash in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity Security
held by the Trust, such Unitholder will generally recognize gain or loss based
upon the difference between the amount of cash received by the Unitholder and
his tax basis in such fractional share of an Equity Security held by the Trust.

Because the Trust will own many Equity Securities, a Unitholder who requests
an In Kind Distribution will have to analyze the tax consequences with respect
to each Equity Security owned by the Trust. The amount of taxable gain (or
loss) recognized upon such exchange will generally equal the sum of the gain
(or loss) recognized under the rules described above by such Unitholder with
respect to each Equity Security owned by the Trust. Unitholders who request an
In Kind Distribution are advised to consult their tax advisers in this regard.

Computation of the Unitholder's Tax Basis. Initially, a Unitholder's tax basis
in his Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unitholder of his
Units. The cost of the Units is allocated among the Equity Securities held in
the Trust in accordance with the proportion of the fair market values of such
Equity Securities on the valuation date nearest the date the Units are
purchased in order to determine such Unitholder's tax basis for his pro rata
portion of each Equity Security.

A Unitholder's tax basis in his Units and his pro rata portion of an Equity
Security held by the Trust will be reduced to the extent dividends paid with
respect to such Equity Security are received by the Trust which are not
taxable as ordinary income as described above.

General. Each Unitholder will be requested to provide the Unitholder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the
Unitholder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that payments
to the Unitholder are subject to back-up withholding. If the proper taxpayer
identification number and appropriate certification are not provided when
requested, distributions by the Trust to such Unitholder (including amounts
received upon the redemption of Units) will be subject to back-up withholding.
Distributions by the Trust (other than those that are not treated as United
States source income, if any) will generally be subject to United States
income taxation and withholding in the case of Units held by non-resident
alien individuals, foreign corporations or other non-United States persons.
Such persons should consult their tax advisers.

In general, income that is not effectively connected to the conduct of a trade
or business within the United States that is earned by non-U.S. Unitholders
and derived from dividends of foreign corporations will not be subject to U.S.
withholding tax provided that less than 25 percent of the gross income of the
foreign corporations for a three-year period ending with the close of its
taxable year preceding payment was not effectively connected to the conduct of
a trade or business within the United States. In addition, such earnings may
be exempt from U.S. withholding pursuant to a specific treaty between the
United States and a foreign country. Non-U.S. Unitholders should consult their
own tax advisers regarding the imposition of U.S. withholding on distributions
from the Trust.

It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Equity
Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may be subject to
foreign withholding taxes and Unitholders should consult their tax advisers
regarding the potential tax consequences relating to the payment of any such
withholding taxes by the Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof
will nevertheless be treated as income to the Unitholders. Because, under the
grantor trust rules, an investor is deemed to have paid directly his share of
foreign taxes that have been paid or accrued, if any, an investor may be
entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for United States tax purposes
with respect to such taxes. Investors should consult their tax advisers with
respect to foreign withholding taxes and foreign tax credits.

At the termination of the Trust, the Trustee will furnish to each Unitholder
of the Trust a statement containing information relating to the dividends
received by the Trust on the Equity Securities, the gross proceeds received by
the Trust from the disposition of any Equity Security (resulting from
redemption or the sale of any Equity Security), and the fees and expenses paid
by the Trust. The Trustee will also furnish annual information returns to
Unitholders and to the Internal Revenue Service.

In the opinion of Kroll & Tract LLP, special counsel to the Trust for New York
tax matters, the Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation and the
income of the Trust will be treated as the income of the Unitholders under the
existing income tax laws of the State and City of New York.

The foregoing discussion relates only to the tax treatment of U.S. Unitholders
("U.S. Unitholders" ) with regard to federal and certain aspects of New
York State and City income taxes. Unitholders may be subject to taxation in
New York or in other jurisdictions and should consult their own tax advisers
in this regard. As used herein, the term "U.S. Unitholder" means an
owner of a Unit of the Trust that (a) is (i) for United States federal income
tax purposes a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation,
partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or
trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source or (b) does not qualify as a U.S. Unitholder in
paragraph (a) but whose income from a Unit is effectively connected with such
Unitholder's conduct of a United States trade or business. The term also
includes certain former citizens of the United States whose income and gain on
the Units will be taxable.





TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation of Sponsor and Evaluator. The Sponsor will not receive any fees
in connection with its activities relating to the Trust. However, Van Kampen
American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., which is an affiliate of the
Sponsor, will receive an annual supervisory fee which is not to exceed the
amount set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information," 
for providing portfolio supervisory services for the Trust. Such fee (which is
based on the number of Units outstanding on January 1 of each year for which
such compensation relates except during the initial offering period in which
event the calculation is based on the number of Units outstanding at the end
of the month of such calculation) may exceed the actual costs of providing
such supervisory services for this Trust, but at no time will the total amount
received for portfolio supervisory services rendered to Series 1 and
subsequent series of Van Kampen Merritt Equity Opportunity Trust (and its
successors) and to any other unit investment trusts sponsored by the Sponsor
for which the Supervisor provides portfolio supervisory services in any
calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Supervisor of supplying such
services in such year. In addition, the Evaluator, which is a division of Van
Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., shall receive the annual
per Unit evaluation fee set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial
Information" (which amount is based on the number of Units outstanding on
January 1 of each year for which such compensation relates except during the
initial offering period in which event the calculation is based on the number
of Units outstanding at the end of the month of such calculation) for
regularly evaluating the Trust portfolio. The foregoing fees are payable as
described under "General" below. Both of the foregoing fees may be
increased without approval of the Unitholders by amounts not exceeding
proportionate increases under the category "All Services Less Rent of
Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index published by the United States
Department of Labor or, if such category is no longer published, in a
comparable category. The Sponsor will receive sales commissions and may
realize other profits (or losses) in connection with the sale of Units and the
deposit of the Securities as described under "Public Offering--Sponsor
Compensation." 

Trustee's Fee. For its services the Trustee will receive the annual per Unit
fee from the Trust set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial
Information" (which amount is based on the number of Units outstanding on
January 1 of each year for which such compensation relates except during the
initial offering period in which event the calculation is based on the number
of Units outstanding at the end of the month of such calculation). The
Trustee's fees are payable as described under "General" below. The
Trustee benefits to the extent there are funds for future distributions,
payment of expenses and redemptions in the Capital and Income Accounts since
these Accounts are non-interest bearing and the amounts earned by the Trustee
are retained by the Trustee. Part of the Trustee's compensation for its
services to the Trust is expected to result from the use of these funds. Such
fees may be increased without approval of the Unitholders by amounts not
exceeding proportionate increases under the category "All Services Less
Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index published by the United
States Department of Labor or, if such category is no longer published, in a
comparable category. For a discussion of the services rendered by the Trustee
pursuant to its obligations under the Trust Agreement, see "Rights of
Unitholders--Reports Provided" and "Trust Administration." 

Miscellaneous Expenses. Expenses incurred in establishing the Trust, including
the cost of the initial preparation of documents relating to the Trust
(including the Prospectus, Trust Agreement and certificates), federal and
state registration fees, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, legal
and accounting expenses, payment of closing fees and any other out-of-pocket
expenses, will be paid by the Trust and amortized over the life of the Trust.
The following additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust: (a)
normal expenses (including the cost of mailing reports to Unitholders)
incurred in connection with the operation of the Trust, (b) fees of the
Trustee for extraordinary services, (c) expenses of the Trustee (including
legal and auditing expenses) and of counsel designated by the Sponsor, (d)
various governmental charges, (e) expenses and costs of any action taken by
the Trustee to protect the Trust and the rights and interests of Unitholders,
(f) indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expenses
incurred in the administration of the Trust without negligence, bad faith or
wilful misconduct on its part and (g) expenditures incurred in contacting
Unitholders upon termination of the Trust. The expenses set forth herein are
payable as described under "General" below.

General. During the initial offering period of the Trust, all of the fees and
expenses will accrue on a daily basis and will be charged to the Trust, in
arrears, at the end of the initial offering period. After the initial offering
period of the Trust, all of the fees and expenses of the Trust will accrue on
a daily basis and will be charged to the Trust, in arrears, on a monthly basis
as of the tenth day of each month. The fees and expenses are payable out of
the Capital Account. When such fees and expenses are paid by or owing to the
Trustee, they are secured by a lien on the Trust's portfolio. It is expected
that the balance in the Capital Account will be insufficient to provide for
amounts payable by the Trust and that Equity Securities will be sold from the
Trust to pay such amounts. These sales will result in capital gains or losses
to Unitholders. See "Federal Taxation".





PUBLIC OFFERING

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
General. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price. The Public Offering
Price is based on the aggregate underlying value of the Securities in the
Trust's portfolio, the initial sales charge described below, and cash, if any,
in the Income and Capital Accounts held or owned by the Trust. The initial
sales charge is equal to the difference between the maximum total sales charge
for the Trust of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum deferred
sales charge for the Trust ($0.20 per Unit). The monthly deferred sales charge
($0.0333 per Unit) will begin accruing on a daily basis on May 19, 1997 and
will continue to accrue through November 18, 1997. The monthly deferred sales
charge will be charged to the Trust, in arrears, commencing June 19, 1997 and
will be charged on the 19th day of each month thereafter through November 19,
1997. If any deferred sales charge payment date is not a business day, the
payment will be charged to the Trust on the next business day. Unitholders
will be assessed only that portion of the deferred sales charge accrued from
the time they became Unitholders of record. Units purchased subsequent to the
initial deferred sales charge payment will be subject to only that portion of
the deferred sales charge payments not yet collected. This deferred sales
charge will be paid from funds in the Capital Account, if sufficient, or from
the periodic sale of Securities. The total maximum sales charge assessed to
Unitholders on a per Unit basis will be 4.5% of the Public Offering Price
(4.712% of the aggregate value of the Securities in the Trust less the
deferred sales charge). The sales charge for secondary market transactions is
described under "Offering Price" below. The initial sales charge
applicable to quantity purchases is, during the initial offering period,
reduced on a graduated basis to any person acquiring 5,000 or more Units as
follows:

 



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregate Number of                                                                
Units Purchased *       Dollar Amount of Sales  Charge Reduction Per Unit          
- ----------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                                                       
5,000-9,999              $0.03                                                     
10,000-24,999            $0.05                                                     
25,000-49,999            $0.10                                                     
50,000-99,999            $0.15                                                     
100,000 or more          $0.20                                                     
_______________ 
*The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a dollar basis   
utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and will be   
applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor. The breakpoints will 
be adjusted to take into consideration purchase orders stated in dollars which     
cannot be completely fulfilled due to the Trust's requirement that only whole      
Units be issued.                                                                   
</TABLE>




The sales charge reduction will primarily be the responsibility of the selling
broker, dealer or agent. This reduced sales charge structure will apply on all
purchases by the same person from any one dealer of units of Van Kampen
American Capital-sponsored unit investment trusts which are being offered in
the initial offering period (a) on any one day (the "Initial Purchase
Date" ) or (b) on any day subsequent to the Initial Purchase Date if (1)
the units purchased are of a unit investment trust purchased on the Initial
Purchase Date, and (2) the person purchasing the units purchased a sufficient
amount of units on the Initial Purchase Date to qualify for a reduced sales
charge on such date. In the event units of more than one trust are purchased
on the Initial Purchase Date, the aggregate dollar amount of such purchases
will be used to determine whether purchasers are eligible for a reduced sales
charge. Such aggregate dollar amount will be divided by the public offering
price per unit (on the day preceding the date of purchase) of each respective
trust purchased to determine the total number of units which such amount could
have purchased of each individual trust. Purchasers must then consult the
applicable trust's prospectus to determine whether the total number of units
which could have been purchased of a specific trust would have qualified for a
reduced sales charge and, if so qualified, the amount of such reduction.
Assuming a purchaser qualifies for a sales charge reduction or reductions, to
determine the applicable sales charge reduction or reductions it is necessary
to accumulate all purchases made on the Initial Purchase Date and all
purchases made in accordance with (b) above. Units purchased in the name of
the spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a child of such purchaser under 21
years of age will be deemed for the purposes of calculating the applicable
sales charge to be additional purchases by the purchaser. The reduced sales
charges will also be applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing
securities for one or more trust estate or fiduciary accounts.

During the initial offering period of the Trust, unitholders of any Van Kampen
American Capital-sponsored unit investment trust may utilize their redemption
or termination proceeds to purchase Units of this Trust subject only to the
deferred sales charge described herein.

Employees of Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. and its affiliates
may purchase Units of the Trust at the current Public Offering Price less the
underwriting commission or the dealer's concession in the absence of an
underwriting commission. Registered representatives of selling brokers,
dealers, or agents may purchase Units of the Trust at the current Public
Offering Price less the dealer's concession during the initial offering period
and for secondary market transactions.

Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price (for purchases which do not qualify for a sales charge
reduction for quantity purchases) less the concession the Sponsor typically
allows to brokers and dealers for purchases (see "Public Offering--Unit
Distribution") by (1) investors who purchase Units through registered
investment advisers, certified financial planners and registered
broker-dealers who in each case either charge periodic fees for financial
planning, investment advisory or asset management service, or provide such
services in connection with the establishment of an investment account for
which a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed, (2) bank trust
departments investing funds over which they exercise exclusive discretionary
investment authority and that are held in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or
similar capacity, (3) any person who for at least 90 days, has been an
officer, director or bona fide employee of any firm offering Units for sale to
investors or their immediate family members (as described above) and (4)
officers and directors of bank holding companies that make Units available
directly or through subsidiaries or bank affiliates. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Prospectus, such investors, bank trust departments,
firm employees and bank holding company officers and directors who purchase
Units through this program will not receive sales charge reductions for
quantity purchases.

Offering Price. The Public Offering Price of the Units will vary from the
amounts stated under "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in
accordance with fluctuations in the prices of the underlying Securities in the
Trust.

As indicated above, the price of the Units was established by adding to the
determination of the aggregate underlying value of the Securities an amount
equal to the difference between the maximum total sales charge of 4.5% of the
Public Offering Price and the maximum deferred sales charge ($0.20 per Unit)
and dividing the sum so obtained by the number of Units outstanding. The
Public Offering Price shall also include the proportionate share of any cash
held in the Capital Account. This computation produced a gross underwriting
profit equal to 4.5% of the Public Offering Price. Such price determination as
of the close of business on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit was
made on the basis of an evaluation of the Securities in the Trust prepared by
Interactive Data Corporation, a firm regularly engaged in the business of
evaluating, quoting or appraising comparable securities. After the close of
business on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit, the Evaluator will
appraise or cause to be appraised daily the value of the underlying Securities
as of the Evaluation Time on days the New York Stock Exchange is open and will
adjust the Public Offering Price of the Units commensurate with such
valuation. Such Public Offering Price will be effective for all orders
received prior to the Evaluation Time on each such day. Orders received by the
Trustee or Sponsor for purchases, sales or redemptions after that time, or on
a day when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, will be held until the next
determination of price. Unitholders who purchase Units subsequent to the
Initial Date of Deposit will pay an initial sales charge equal to the
difference between the maximum total sales charge for the Trust of 4.5% of the
Public Offering Price and the maximum deferred sales charge for the Trust
($0.20 per Unit) and will be assessed a deferred sales charge of $0.0333 per
Unit on each of the remaining deferred sales charge payment dates as set forth
in "Public Offering--General" . The Sponsor currently does not intend
to maintain a secondary market after May 18, 2001. Commencing on November 19,
1997, the secondary market sales charge will not include deferred payments but
will instead include only a one-time initial sales charge of 4.0% of the
Public Offering Price and will be reduced by.5 of 1% on each subsequent
November 19, to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%.

The value of the Equity Securities during the initial offering period is
determined on each business day by the Evaluator in the following manner: if
the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities exchange this
evaluation is generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange
(unless it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis for
valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange, at the
closing ask prices. If the Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so
listed and the principal market therefor is other than on the exchange, the
evaluation shall generally be based on the current ask price on the
over-the-counter market (unless it is determined that these prices are
inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current ask prices are
unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of
current ask prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the value of
the Equity Securities on the ask side of the market or (c) by any combination
of the above.

In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any
broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities in the Trust
but rather the entire pool of Securities, taken as a whole, which are
represented by the Units.

Unit Distribution. During the initial offering period, Units will be
distributed to the public by the Sponsor, broker-dealers and others at the
Public Offering Price. Upon the completion of the initial offering period,
Units repurchased in the secondary market, if any, may be offered by this
Prospectus at the secondary market Public Offering Price in the manner
described above.

The Sponsor intends to qualify the Units for sale in a number of states.
Broker-dealers or others will be allowed a concession or agency commission in
connection with the distribution of Units during the initial offering period
of 3.20% per Unit. Volume concessions or agency commissions of an additional
 .30% of the Public Offering Price will be given to any broker/dealer or bank,
who purchases from the Sponsor at least $100,000 (or 10,000 Units) on the
Initial Date of Deposit or $250,000 (or 25,000 Units) on any day thereafter.
Any quantity discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling
dealer or agent as indicated under "General" above. However, for
transactions involving unitholders of any Van Kampen American
Capital-sponsored unit investment trust who purchase Units during the initial
offering period with redemption or termination proceeds from such trust, the
concession or agency commission will be 1% per Unit. For secondary market
transactions, the concession or agency commission will amount to 70% of the
sales charge applicable to the transaction. The breakpoints described above
are also applied on a dollar basis utilizing a breakpoint equivalent of $10
per Unit and will be applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the
broker, dealer or agent. The breakpoints will be adjusted to take into
consideration purchase orders stated in dollars which cannot be completely
fulfilled due to the Trust's requirement that only whole Units be issued. 

Certain commercial banks are making Units of the Trust available to their
customers on an agency basis. A portion of the sales charge (equal to the
agency commission referred to above) is retained by or remitted to the banks.
Under the Glass-Steagall Act, banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust
Units; however, the Glass-Steagall Act does permit certain agency transactions
and the banking regulators have not indicated that these particular agency
transactions are not permitted under such Act. In addition, state securities
laws on this issue may differ from the interpretations of federal law
expressed herein and banks and financial institutions may be required to
register as dealers pursuant to state law.

To facilitate the handling of transactions, sales of Units shall normally be
limited to transactions involving a minimum of 100 Units except as stated
herein. In connection with fully disclosed transactions with the Sponsor, the
minimum purchase requirement will be that number of Units set forth in the
contract between the Sponsor and the related broker or agent. The Sponsor
reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any order for the purchase
of Units and to change the amount of the concession or agency commission to
dealers and others from time to time.

Sponsor Compensation. The Sponsor will receive a gross sales commission equal
to 4.5% of the Public Offering Price of the Units (equivalent to 4.712% of the
aggregate value of Securities less the deferred sales charge), less any
reduced sales charge for quantity purchases (as described under "
General" above). Any quantity discount provided to investors will be borne
by the selling broker, dealer or agent as indicated under "General" 
above.

In addition, the Sponsor will realize a profit or will sustain a loss, as the
case may be, as a result of the difference between the price paid for the
Securities by the Sponsor and the cost of such Securities to the Trust on the
Initial Date of Deposit as well as on subsequent deposits. See "Notes to
Portfolio." The Sponsor has not participated as sole underwriter or as
manager or as a member of the underwriting syndicates or as an agent in a
private placement for any of the Securities in the Trust portfolio. The
Sponsor may further realize additional profit or loss during the initial
offering period as a result of the possible fluctuations in the market value
of the Securities in the Trust after a date of deposit, since all proceeds
received from purchasers of Units (excluding dealer concessions and agency
commissions allowed, if any) will be retained by the Sponsor. Broker-dealers
or others (each "a distributor") who distribute 1,000,000 - 1,999,999
Units during the initial offering period will receive additional compensation
from the Sponsor, after the close of the initial offering period, of $0.01 for
each Unit it distributes; or each distributor who distributes 2,000,000 -
2,999,999 Units will receive additional compensation of $0.015 for each Unit
it distributes; or each distributor who distributes 3,000,000 or more Units
will receive additional compensation of $0.02 for each Unit it distributes.
The breakpoints described above are also applied on a dollar basis utilizing a
breakpoint equivalent of $10 per Unit and will be applied on whichever basis
is more favorable to the distributor. The breakpoints will be adjusted to take
into consideration purchase orders stated in dollars which cannot be
completely fulfilled due to the Trust's requirement that only whole Units be
issued.

Broker-dealers of the Trust, banks and/or others may be eligible to
participate in a program in which such firms receive from the Sponsor a
nominal award for each of their representatives who have sold a minimum number
of units of unit investment trusts created by the Sponsor during a specified
time period. In addition, at various times the Sponsor may implement other
programs under which the sales forces of brokers, dealers, banks and/or others
may be eligible to win other nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or
under which the Sponsor will reallow to such brokers, dealers, banks and/or
others that sponsor sales contests or recognition programs conforming to
criteria established by the Sponsor, or participate in sales programs
sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount not exceeding the total applicable sales
charges on the sales generated by such persons at the public offering price
during such programs. Also, the Sponsor in its discretion may from time to
time pursuant to objective criteria established by the Sponsor pay fees to
qualifying entities for certain services or activities which are primarily
intended to result in sales of Units of the Trust. Such payments are made by
the Sponsor out of its own assets, and not out of the assets of the Trust.
These programs will not change the price Unitholders pay for their Units or
the amount that the Trust will receive from the Units sold.

A person will become the owner of Units on the date of settlement provided
payment has been received. Cash, if any, made available to the Sponsor prior
to the date of settlement for the purchase of Units may be used in the
Sponsor's business and may be deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject
to the limitations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

As stated under "Public Market" below, the Sponsor intends to maintain
a secondary market for Units of the Trust for the period indicated. In so
maintaining a market, the Sponsor will also realize profits or sustain losses
in the amount of any difference between the price at which Units are purchased
and the price at which Units are resold (which price includes the applicable
sales charge). In addition, the Sponsor will also realize profits or sustain
losses resulting from a redemption of such repurchased Units at a price above
or below the purchase price for such Units, respectively.

Public Market. Although it is not obligated to do so, the Sponsor intends to
maintain a market for the Units offered hereby and offer continuously to
purchase Units at prices, subject to change at any time, based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust. If the
supply of Units exceeds demand or if some other business reason warrants it,
the Sponsor may either discontinue all purchases of Units or discontinue
purchases of Units at such prices. It is the current intention of the Sponsor
to maintain a market for Units through May 18, 2001 only. In the event that a
market is not maintained for the Units and the Unitholder cannot find another
purchaser, a Unitholder desiring to dispose of his Units may be able to
dispose of such Units only by tendering them to the Trustee for redemption at
the Redemption Price. See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units." 
 A Unitholder who wishes to dispose of his Units should inquire of his broker
as to current market prices in order to determine whether there is in
existence any price in excess of the Redemption Price and, if so, the amount
thereof. Units sold prior to such time as the entire deferred sales charge on
such Units has been collected will be assessed the amount of the remaining
deferred sales charge at the time of sale.

Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. Units of the Trust are available for purchase
in connection with certain types of tax-sheltered retirement plans, including
Individual Retirement Accounts for individuals, Simplified Employee Pension
Plans for employees, qualified plans for self-employed individuals, and
qualified corporate pension and profit sharing plans for employees. The
purchase of Units of the Trust may be limited by the plans' provisions and
does not itself establish such plans.





RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS

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Certificates. The Trustee is authorized to treat as the record owner of Units
that person who is registered as such owner on the books of the Trustee.
Ownership of Units of the Trust will be evidenced by certificates unless a
Unitholder or the Unitholder's registered broker-dealer makes a written
request to the Trustee that ownership be in book entry form. Units are
transferable by making a written request to the Trustee and, in the case of
Units evidenced by a certificate, by presentation and surrender of such
certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unitholder must sign such written
request, and such certificate or transfer instrument, exactly as his name
appears on the records of the Trustee and on the face of any certificate
representing the Units to be transferred with the signature guaranteed by a
participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("
STAMP") or such other signature guarantee program in addition to, or in
substitution for, STAMP as may be accepted by the Trustee. In certain
instances the Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not
limited to, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor
or administrator or certificates of corporate authority. Certificates will be
issued in denominations of one Unit or any whole multiple thereof.

Although no such charge is now made or contemplated, the Trustee may require a
Unitholder to pay a reasonable fee for each certificate reissued or
transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with each such transfer or interchange. Destroyed, stolen,
mutilated or lost certificates will be replaced upon delivery to the Trustee
of satisfactory indemnity, evidence of ownership and payment of expenses
incurred. Mutilated certificates must be surrendered to the Trustee for
replacement.

Distributions of Income and Capital. Any dividends received by the Trust with
respect to the Equity Securities therein are credited by the Trustee to the
Income Account. Other receipts (e.g., capital gains, proceeds from the sale of
Securities, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account of the Trust. Proceeds
from the sale of Securities to meet redemptions of Units shall be segregated
within the Capital Account from proceeds from the sale of Securities made to
satisfy the fees, expenses and charges of the Trust.

The Trustee will distribute any income received with respect to any of the
Securities in the Trust on or about the Income Distribution Dates to
Unitholders of record on the preceding Income Record Dates. See "Summary
of Essential Financial Information." Proceeds received on the sale of any
Securities in the Trust, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of Units,
pay the deferred sales charge or pay fees and expenses, will be distributed
annually on the Capital Account Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on
the preceding Capital Account Record Date. Proceeds received from the
disposition of any of the Securities after a record date and prior to the
following distribution date will be held in the Capital Account and not
distributed until the next distribution date applicable to such Capital
Account. The Trustee is not required to pay interest on funds held in the
Capital or Income Accounts (but may itself earn interest thereon and therefore
benefits from the use of such funds).

The distribution to Unitholders as of each record date will be made on the
following distribution date or shortly thereafter and shall consist of each
Unitholder's pro rata share of the cash in the Income Account. Because
dividends are not received by the Trust at a constant rate throughout the
year, such distributions to Unitholders are expected to fluctuate from
distribution to distribution. Persons who purchase Units will commence
receiving distributions only after such person becomes a record owner.
Notification to the Trustee of the transfer of Units is the responsibility of
the purchaser, but in the normal course of business such notice is provided by
the selling broker-dealer.

At the end of the initial offering period and as of the tenth day of each
month thereafter, the Trustee will deduct from the Capital Account amounts
necessary to pay the expenses of the Trust (as determined on the basis set
forth under "Trust Operating Expenses"). The Trustee also may withdraw
from the Income and Capital Accounts such amounts, if any, as it deems
necessary to establish a reserve for any governmental charges payable out of
the Trust. Amounts so withdrawn shall not be considered a part of the Trust's
assets until such time as the Trustee shall return all or any part of such
amounts to the appropriate accounts. In addition, the Trustee may withdraw
from the Income and Capital Accounts such amounts as may be necessary to cover
redemptions of Units.

It is anticipated that the deferred sales charge will be collected from the
Capital Account. To the extent that amounts in the Capital Account are
insufficient to satisfy the then current deferred sales charge obligation,
Equity Securities will be sold to meet such shortfall. Distributions of
amounts necessary to pay the deferred portion of the sales charge will be made
to an account maintained by the Trustee for purposes of satisfying
Unitholders' deferred sales charge obligations.

Reinvestment Option. Unitholders of the Trust may elect to have each
distribution of income, capital gains and/or capital on their Units
automatically reinvested in additional Units of the Trust subject to the
remaining deferred sales charge payments due on Units, if any (to the extent
Units may be lawfully offered for sale in the state in which the Unitholder
resides). To participate in the reinvestment plan, a Unitholder may either
contact his or her broker or agent or file with the Trustee a written notice
of election at least ten days prior to the Record Date for which the first
distribution is to apply. A Unitholder's election to participate in the
reinvestment plan will apply to all Units of the Trust owned by such
Unitholder and such election will remain in effect until changed by the
Unitholder.

Reinvestment plan distributions may be reinvested in Units already held in
inventory by the Sponsor (see "Public Offering--Public Market") or,
until such time as additional Units cease to be issued by the Trust (see "
The Trust"), distributions may be reinvested in such additional Units. If
Units are unavailable in the secondary market, distributions which would
otherwise have been reinvested shall be paid in cash to the Unitholder on the
applicable Distribution Date.

Purchases of additional Units made pursuant to the reinvestment plan will be
made subject to any remaining deferred sales charge based on the net asset
value for Units of the Trust as of the Evaluation Time on the related
Distribution Dates. Under the reinvestment plan, the Trust will pay the
Unitholder's distributions to the Trustee which in turn will purchase for such
Unitholder full and fractional Units of the Trust and will send such
Unitholder a statement reflecting the reinvestment.

Unitholders may also elect to have each distribution of income, capital gains
and/or capital on their Units automatically reinvested in shares of any Van
Kampen American Capital mutual funds (except for B shares) which are
registered in the Unitholder's state of residence. Such mutual funds are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Reinvestment Funds".

Each Reinvestment Fund has investment objectives which differ in certain
respects from those of the Trust. The prospectus relating to each Reinvestment
Fund describes the investment policies of such fund and sets forth the
procedures to follow to commence reinvestment. A Unitholder may obtain a
prospectus for the respective Reinvestment Funds from Van Kampen American
Capital Distributors, Inc. at One Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
60181. Texas residents who desire to reinvest may request that a broker-dealer
registered in Texas send the prospectus relating to the respective fund.

After becoming a participant in a reinvestment plan, each distribution of
income, capital gains and/or capital on the participant's Units will, on the
applicable distribution date, automatically be applied, as directed by such
person, as of such distribution date by the Trustee to purchase shares (or
fractions thereof) of the applicable Reinvestment Fund at a net asset value as
computed as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such
date. Unitholders with an existing Guaranteed Reinvestment Option (GRO)
Program account (whereby a sales charge is imposed on distribution
reinvestments) may transfer their existing account into a new GRO account
which allows purchases of Reinvestment Fund shares at net asset value as
described above. Confirmations of all reinvestments by a Unitholder into a
Reinvestment Fund will be mailed to the Unitholder by such Reinvestment Fund.

A participant may at any time prior to five days preceding the next succeeding
distribution date, by so notifying the Trustee in writing, elect to terminate
his or her reinvestment plan and receive future distributions on his or her
Units in cash. There will be no charge or other penalty for such termination.
The Sponsor, each Reinvestment Fund, and its investment adviser shall have the
right to suspend or terminate the reinvestment plan at any time.

Reports Provided. The Trustee shall furnish Unitholders in connection with
each distribution a statement of the amount of income and the amount of other
receipts (received since the preceding distribution), if any, being
distributed, expressed in each case as a dollar amount representing the pro
rata share of each Unit outstanding. For as long as the Sponsor deems it to be
in the best interest of the Unitholders, the accounts of the Trust shall be
audited, not less frequently than annually, by independent certified public
accountants, and the report of such accountants shall be furnished by the
Trustee to Unitholders upon request. Within a reasonable period of time after
the end of each calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to each person who at
any time during the calendar year was a registered Unitholder a statement (i)
as to the Income Account: income received, deductions for applicable taxes and
for fees and expenses of the Trust, for redemptions of Units, if any, and the
balance remaining after such distributions and deductions, expressed in each
case both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the pro
rata share of each Unit outstanding on the last business day of such calendar
year; (ii) as to the Capital Account: the dates of disposition of any
Securities and the net proceeds received therefrom, deductions for payment of
applicable taxes, fees and expenses of the Trust held for distribution to
Unitholders of record as of a date prior to the determination and the balance
remaining after such distributions and deductions expressed both as a total
dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the pro rata share of each
Unit outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (iii) a list
of the Securities held and the number of Units outstanding on the last
business day of such calendar year; (iv) the Redemption Price per Unit based
upon the last computation thereof made during such calendar year; and (v)
amounts actually distributed during such calendar year from the Income and
Capital Accounts, separately stated, expressed as total dollar amounts.

In order to comply with federal and state tax reporting requirements,
Unitholders will be furnished, upon request to the Trustee, evaluations of the
Securities in the Trust furnished to it by the Evaluator.

Redemption of Units. A Unitholder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by
tender to the Trustee at its unit investment trust division office at 101
Barclay Street, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10286 and, in the case of Units
evidenced by a certificate, by tendering such certificate to the Trustee, duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with signature
guaranteed (or by providing satisfactory indemnity, as in connection with
lost, stolen or destroyed certificates) and by payment of applicable
governmental charges, if any. No redemption fee will be charged. On the third
business day following such tender, the Unitholder will be entitled to receive
in cash an amount for each Unit equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next
computed after receipt by the Trustee of such tender of Units. The "date
of tender" is deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the
Trustee, except that as regards Units received after the Evaluation Time the
date of tender is the next day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and such Units will be deemed to have been tendered to the Trustee
on such day for redemption at the redemption price computed on that day.

The Trustee is empowered to sell Securities in order to make funds available
for redemption if funds are not otherwise available in the Capital and Income
Accounts to meet redemptions. The Securities to be sold will be selected by
the Trustee from those designated on a current list provided by the Supervisor
for this purpose. Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.

Unitholders tendering 1,000 Units or more for redemption may request from the
Trustee in lieu of a cash redemption a distribution in kind ("In Kind
Distributions") of an amount and value of Securities per Unit equal to the
Redemption Price per Unit as determined as of the evaluation next following
the tender. An In Kind Distribution on redemption of Units will be made by the
Trustee through the distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form
to the account of the Unitholder's bank or broker-dealer at Depository Trust
Company. The tendering Unitholder will receive his pro rata number of whole
shares of each of the Securities comprising the portfolio and cash from the
Capital Account equal to the fractional shares to which the tendering
Unitholder is entitled. In implementing these redemption procedures, the
Trustee shall make any adjustments necessary to reflect differences between
the Redemption Price of the Securities distributed in kind as of the date of
tender. If funds in the Capital Account are insufficient to cover the required
cash distribution to the tendering Unitholder, the Trustee may sell Securities
according to the criteria discussed above. For the tax consequences related to
an In Kind Distribution see "Federal Taxation." 

To the extent that Securities are redeemed in kind or sold, the size of the
Trust will be, and the diversity of the Trust may be, reduced. Sales may be
required at a time when Securities would not otherwise be sold and may result
in lower prices than might otherwise be realized. The price received upon
redemption may be more or less than the amount paid by the Unitholder
depending on the value of the Securities in the portfolio at the time of
redemption.

The Redemption Price per Unit (as well as the secondary market Public Offering
Price) will be determined on the basis of the aggregate underlying value of
the Equity Securities in the Trust, plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income
and Capital Accounts. On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering
Price per Unit (which includes the sales charge) exceeded the values at which
Units could have been redeemed by the amounts shown under "Summary of
Essential Financial Information." While the Trustee has the power to
determine the Redemption Price per Unit when Units are tendered for
redemption, such authority has been delegated to the Evaluator which
determines the price per Unit on a daily basis. The Redemption Price per Unit
is the pro rata share of each Unit in the Trust determined on the basis of (i)
the cash on hand in the Trust, (ii) the value of the Securities in the Trust
and (iii) dividends receivable on the Equity Securities trading ex-dividend as
of the date of computation, less (a) amounts representing taxes or other
governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (b) the accrued sales
charges or expenses of the Trust. The Evaluator may determine the value of the
Equity Securities in the Trust in the following manner: if the Equity
Securities are listed on a national securities exchange this evaluation is
generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange (unless it is
determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis for valuation) or,
if there is no closing sale price on that exchange, at the closing bid prices.
If the Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so listed and the principal
market therefore is other than on the exchange, the evaluation shall generally
be based on the current bid price on the over-the-counter market (unless these
prices are inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current bid prices are
unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of
current bid prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the value of
the Equity Securities on the bid side of the market or (c) by any combination
of the above.

As stated above, the Trustee may sell Securities to cover redemptions. When
Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust will be reduced. Such
sales may be required at a time when Securities would not otherwise be sold
and might result in lower prices than might otherwise be realized.

The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any period
during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than for customary
weekend and holiday closings, or any period during which the Securities and
Exchange Commission determines that trading on that Exchange is restricted or
an emergency exists, as a result of which disposal or evaluation of the
Securities in the Trust is not reasonably practicable, or for such other
periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by order permit.





TRUST ADMINISTRATION

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Sponsor Purchases of Units. The Trustee shall notify the Sponsor of any tender
of Units for redemption. If the Sponsor's bid in the secondary market at that
time equals or exceeds the Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase such
Units by notifying the Trustee before the close of business on the next
succeeding business day and by making payment therefor to the Unitholder not
later than the day on which the Units would otherwise have been redeemed by
the Trustee. Units held by the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee for
redemption as any other Units.

The offering price of any Units acquired by the Sponsor will be in accord with
the Public Offering Price described in the then currently effective prospectus
describing such Units. Any profit resulting from the resale of such Units will
belong to the Sponsor which likewise will bear any loss resulting from a lower
offering or redemption price subsequent to its acquisition of such Units.

Portfolio Administration. The portfolio of the Trust is not "managed" 
by the Sponsor, Supervisor or the Trustee; their activities described herein
are governed solely by the provisions of the Trust Agreement. Traditional
methods of investment management for a managed fund typically involve frequent
changes in a portfolio of securities on the basis of economic, financial and
market analyses. The Trust, however, will not be managed. The Trust Agreement,
however, provides that the Sponsor may (but need not) direct the Trustee to
dispose of an Equity Security in certain events such as the issuer having
defaulted on the payment on any of its outstanding obligations or the price of
an Equity Security has declined to such an extent or other such credit factors
exist so that in the opinion of the Sponsor, the retention of such Securities
would be detrimental to the Trust. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the
Sponsor is not authorized to direct the reinvestment of the proceeds of the
sale of Securities in replacement securities except in the event the sale is
the direct result of serious adverse credit factors affecting the issuer of
the Security which, in the opinion of the Sponsor, would make the retention of
such Security detrimental to the Trust. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement and
with limited exceptions, the Trustee may sell any securities or other
properties acquired in exchange for Equity Securities such as those acquired
in connection with a merger or other transaction. If offered such new or
exchanged securities or property, the Trustee shall reject the offer. However,
in the event such securities or property are nonetheless acquired by the
Trust, they may be accepted for deposit in the Trust and either sold by the
Trustee or held in the Trust pursuant to the direction of the Sponsor (who may
rely on the advice of the Supervisor). Therefore, except as stated under "
Trust Portfolio" for failed securities and as provided in this paragraph,
the acquisition by the Trust of any securities other than the Securities is
prohibited. Proceeds from the sale of Securities (or any securities or other
property received by the Trust in exchange for Equity Securities), unless held
for reinvestment as herein provided, are credited to the Capital Account for
distribution to Unitholders, to meet redemptions or to pay charges and
expenses of the Trust.

As indicated under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units" above,
the Trustee may also sell Securities designated by the Supervisor, or if not
so directed, in its own discretion, for the purpose of redeeming Units of the
Trust tendered for redemption and the payment of expenses.

The Supervisor, in designating Equity Securities to be sold by the Trustee,
will generally make selections in order to maintain, to the extent
practicable, the proportionate relationship among the number of shares of
individual issues of Equity Securities. To the extent this is not practicable,
the composition and diversity of the Equity Securities may be altered. In
order to obtain the best price for the Trust, it may be necessary for the
Supervisor to specify minimum amounts (generally 100 shares) in which blocks
of Equity Securities are to be sold.

Amendment or Termination. The Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustee
and the Sponsor without the consent of any of the Unitholders (1) to cure any
ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision thereof which may be
defective or inconsistent, or (2) to make such other provisions as shall not
adversely affect the Unitholders (as determined in good faith by the Sponsor
and the Trustee), provided, however, that the Trust Agreement may not be
amended to increase the number of Units (except as provided in the Trust
Agreement). The Trust Agreement may also be amended in any respect by the
Trustee and Sponsor, or any of the provisions thereof may be waived, with the
consent of the holders of 51% of the Units then outstanding, provided that no
such amendment or waiver will reduce the interest in the Trust of any
Unitholder without the consent of such Unitholder or reduce the percentage of
Units required to consent to any such amendment or waiver without the consent
of all Unitholders. The Trustee shall advise the Unitholders of any amendment
promptly after execution thereof.

The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of Unitholders representing
66 2/3% of the Trust Units then outstanding or by the Trustee when the value
of the Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than that amount set forth
under Minimum Termination Value in "Summary of Essential Financial
Information." The Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event
that a sufficient number of Units not yet sold are tendered for redemption by
the Sponsor so that the net worth of the Trust would be reduced to less than
40% of the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited in the
Trust. If the Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold Units
the Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units the entire sales charge
paid by such purchaser. The Trust Agreement will terminate upon the sale or
other disposition of the last Security held thereunder, but in no event will
it continue beyond the Mandatory Termination Date stated under "Summary of
Essential Financial Information." 

Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity Securities will begin to
be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The Sponsor will
determine the manner, timing and execution of the sales of the Equity
Securities. The Sponsor shall direct the liquidation of the Securities in such
manner as to effectuate orderly sales and a minimal market impact. In the
event the Sponsor does not so direct, the Securities shall be sold within a
reasonable period and in such manner as the Trustee, in its sole discretion,
shall determine. Written notice of any termination specifying the time or
times at which Unitholders may surrender their certificates for cancellation,
if any are then issued and outstanding, shall be given by the Trustee to each
Unitholder so holding a certificate at his address appearing on the
registration books of the Trust maintained by the Trustee. At least 30 days
before the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide written notice
thereof to all Unitholders and will include with such notice a form to enable
Unitholders owning 1,000 or more Units to request an In Kind Distribution
rather than payment in cash upon the termination of the Trust. To be
effective, this request must be returned to the Trustee at least five business
days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. On the Mandatory Termination
Date (or on the next business day thereafter if a holiday) the Trustee will
deliver each requesting Unitholder's pro rata number of whole shares of each
of the Equity Securities in the portfolio to the account of the broker-dealer
or bank designated by the Unitholder at Depository Trust Company. The value of
the Unitholder's fractional shares of the Equity Securities will be paid in
cash. Unitholders with less than 1,000 Units and those not requesting an In
Kind Distribution will receive a cash distribution from the sale of the
remaining Equity Securities within a reasonable time following the Mandatory
Termination Date. Regardless of the distribution involved, the Trustee will
deduct from the funds of the Trust any accrued costs, expenses, advances or
indemnities provided by the Trust Agreement, including estimated compensation
of the Trustee, costs of liquidation and any amounts required as a reserve to
provide for payment of any applicable taxes or other governmental charges. Any
sale of Equity Securities in the Trust upon termination may result in a lower
amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not required at such
time. The Trustee will then distribute to each Unitholder his pro rata share
of the balance of the Income and Capital Accounts.

Within 60 days of the final distribution Unitholders will be furnished a final
distribution statement, in substantially the same form as the annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the
Trustee in its sole discretion will determine that any amounts held in reserve
are no longer necessary, it will make distribution thereof to Unitholders in
the same manner.

Limitations on Liabilities. The Sponsor, the Evaluator, the Supervisor and the
Trustee shall be under no liability to Unitholders for taking any action or
for refraining from taking any action in good faith pursuant to the Trust
Agreement, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence (negligence in the case of
the Trustee) in the performance of their duties or by reason of their reckless
disregard of their obligations and duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee
of any of the Securities. In the event of the failure of the Sponsor to act
under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be
liable for any action taken by it in good faith under the Trust Agreement.

The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental charges
imposed upon or in respect of the Securities or upon the interest thereon or
upon it as Trustee under the Trust Agreement or upon or in respect of the
Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay under any present or future law
of the United States of America or of any other taxing authority having
jurisdiction. In addition, the Trust Agreement contains other customary
provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee.

The Trustee, Sponsor, Supervisor and Unitholders may rely on any evaluation
furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the accuracy
thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator under the Trust Agreement shall be
made in good faith upon the basis of the best information available to it,
provided, however, that the Evaluator shall be under no liability to the
Trustee, Sponsor or Unitholders for errors in judgment. This provision shall
not protect the Evaluator in any case of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

   
Sponsor. Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, is the Sponsor of the Trust. The Sponsor is an indirect
subsidiary of VK/AC Holding, Inc. On October 31, 1996, VK/AC Holding, Inc.
became a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Group Inc.
pursuant to the closing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger among Morgan
Stanley Group Inc., MSAM Holdings II, Inc. and MSAM Acquisition Inc., whereby
MSAM Acquisition Inc. was merged with and into VK/AC Holding, Inc. and VK/AC
Holding, Inc. was the surviving corporation (the "Acquisition"). As a
result of the Acquisition, VK/AC Holding, Inc. became a wholly owned
subsidiary of MSAM Holdings II, Inc. which, in turn, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Group Inc. Morgan Stanley Group Inc. and various
of its directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries, including Morgan Stanley
Asset Management Inc., an investment adviser ("MSAM"), Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, and
Morgan Stanley International, are engaged in a wide range of financial
services. Their principal businesses include securities underwriting,
distribution and trading; merger, acquisition, restructuring and other
corporate finance advisory activities; merchant banking; stock brokerage and
research services; asset management; trading of futures, options, foreign
exchange commodities and swaps (involving foreign exchange, commodities,
indices and interest rates); real estate advice, financing and investing; and
global custody, securities clearance services and securities lending. As of
September 30, 1996, MSAM, together with its affiliated investment advisory
companies, had approximately $103.5 billion of assets under management and
fiduciary advice. Prior to October 31, 1996, VK/AC Holding, Inc. was
controlled, through the ownership of a substantial majority of its common
stock, by The Clayton & Dubilier Private Equity IV Limited Partnership. Van
Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. specializes in the underwriting and
distribution of unit investment trusts and mutual funds with roots in money
management dating back to 1926. The Sponsor is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and has offices at One Parkview Plaza,
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181, (708) 684-6000 and 2800 Post Oak Boulevard,
Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 993-0500. It maintains a branch office in
Philadelphia and has regional representatives in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles,
New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa. As of September 30, 1996 the total
stockholders' equity of Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. was
$123,020,000 (unaudited). (This paragraph relates only to the Sponsor and not
to the Trust or to any other Series thereof. The information is included
herein only for the purpose of informing investors as to the financial
responsibility of the Sponsor and its ability to carry out its contractual
obligations. More detailed financial information will be made available by the
Sponsor upon request.)

As of September 30, 1996, the Sponsor and its affiliates managed or supervised
approximately $58.6 billion of investment products, of which over $23.0
billion is invested in municipal securities. The Sponsor and its affiliates
managed $47.1 billion of assets, consisting of $28.8 billion for 60 open end
mutual funds (of which 48 are distributed by Van Kampen American Capital
Distributors, Inc.), $12.6 billion for 38 closed-end funds and $5.6 billion
for 114 institutional accounts. The Sponsor has also deposited approximately
$26 billion of unit investment trusts. All of Van Kampen American Capital's
open-end funds, closed-end funds and unit investment trusts are professionally
distributed by leading financial firms nationwide. Based on cumulative assets
deposited, the Sponsor believes that it is the largest sponsor of insured
municipal unit investment trusts, primarily through the success of its Insured
Municipals Income Trust(R)or the IM-IT(R)trust. The Sponsor also
provides surveillance and evaluation services at cost for approximately $13
billion of unit investment trust assets outstanding. Since 1976, the Sponsor
has serviced over two million investor accounts, opened through retail
distribution firms.
    

If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its
affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint
a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be
reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.

Trustee. The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under
the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its unit investment trust
division offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (800)
221-7668. The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by
the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law.

The duties of the Trustee are primarily ministerial in nature. It did not
participate in the selection of Securities for the Trust portfolio.

In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall keep proper books of
record and account of all transactions at its office for the Trust. Such
records shall include the name and address of, and the number of Units of the
Trust held by, every Unitholder of the Fund. Such books and records shall be
open to inspection by any Unitholder at all reasonable times during the usual
business hours. The Trustee shall make such annual or other reports as may
from time to time be required under any applicable state or federal statute,
rule or regulation (see "Rights of Unitholders--Reports Provided" ).
The Trustee is required to keep a certified copy or duplicate original of the
Trust Agreement on file in its office available for inspection at all
reasonable times during the usual business hours by any Unitholder, together
with a current list of the Securities held in the Trust.

Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee or any successor trustee may resign and
be discharged of its responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement by
executing an instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor. The
Trustee or successor trustee must mail a copy of the notice of resignation to
all Unitholders then of record, not less than 60 days before the date
specified in such notice when such resignation is to take effect. The Sponsor
upon receiving notice of such resignation is obligated to appoint a successor
trustee promptly. If, upon such resignation, no successor trustee has been
appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification,
the retiring Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor. The Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a
successor trustee as provided in the Trust Agreement at any time with or
without cause. Notice of such removal and appointment shall be mailed to each
Unitholder by the Sponsor. Upon execution of a written acceptance of such
appointment by such successor trustee, all the rights, powers, duties and
obligations of the original trustee shall vest in the successor. The
resignation or removal of a Trustee becomes effective only when the successor
trustee accepts its appointment as such or when a court of competent
jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee.

Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to
which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor trustee. The Trustee
must be a banking corporation organized under the laws of the United States or
any state and having at all times an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000. 




OTHER MATTERS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal Opinions. The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon
by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as
counsel for the Sponsor. Kroll & Tract LLP has acted as counsel for the
Trustee.

Independent Certified Public Accountants. The statement of condition and the
related securities portfolio at the Initial Date of Deposit included in this
Prospectus have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as set forth in their report in this Prospectus, and are
included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.




REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Board of Directors of Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
and the Unitholders of Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity 
Trust, Series 45 (Brand Name Equity Trust): 

We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the related 
portfolio of Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 
45 (Brand Name Equity Trust) as of November 19, 1996. The statement of 
condition and portfolio are the responsibility of the Sponsor. Our 
responsibility is to express an opinion on such financial statements 
based on our audit.                                                

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to 
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are 
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test 
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of an irrevocable letter 
of credit deposited to purchase securities by correspondence with the 
Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used 
and significant estimates made by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the 
overall financial statement presentation. We believe our audit provides a 
reasonable basis for our opinion.  

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Van Kampen 
American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45 (Brand Name Equity
Trust) as of November 19, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted 
accounting principles. 
                       
                                                    GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November 19, 1996







<TABLE>
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST,
SERIES 45
STATEMENT OF CONDITION
As of November 19, 1996

<CAPTION>
<S>                                             <C>        
   
Investment in Securities:                                  
                                                           
Contracts to purchase securities <F1>.......... $   146,473
Organizational costs <F2>......................      76,211
                                                -----------
 ............................................... $   222,684
                                                ===========
Liabilities and Interest of Unitholders:                   
Liabilities--..................................            
Accrued organizational costs <F2>.............. $    76,211
Deferred sales charge liability <F3>...........       3,000
Interest of Unitholders-- .....................            
Cost to investors <F4>.........................     150,300
Less: Gross underwriting commission <F4><F5>...       6,827
                                                -----------
Net interest to Unitholders <F4>...............     143,473
                                                -----------
Total.......................................... $   222,684
                                                ===========
- ----------
<FN>
<F1>The aggregate value of the Securities listed under "Portfolio" and
their cost to the Trust are the same. The value of the Securities is
determined by Interactive Data Corporation on the bases set forth under "
Public Offering--Offering Price" . The contracts to purchase Securities are
collateralized by an irrevocable letter of credit of $146,473which has been
deposited with the Trustee.

<F2>The Trust will bear all or a portion of its organizational costs, which will
be deferred and amortized over the life of the Trust. Organizational costs
have been estimated based on a projected trust size of $70,000,000. To the
extent the Trust is larger or smaller, the estimate will vary.
    

<F3>Represents the amount of mandatory distributions from the Trust on the bases
set forth under "Public Offering" .

<F4>The aggregate public offering price and the aggregate sales charge of 4.5% are
computed on the bases set forth under "Public Offering--Offering Price" 
 and "Public Offering--Sponsor Compensation" and assume all single
transactions involve less than 5,000 Units. For single transactions involving
5,000 or more Units, the sales charge is reduced (see "Public
Offering--General" ) resulting in an equal reduction in both the Cost to
investors and the Gross underwriting commission while the Net interest to
Unitholders remains unchanged.

<F5>Assumes the maximum sales charge.
</TABLE>

 



<TABLE>
BRAND NAME EQUITY TRUST, SERIES 3
PORTFOLIO (VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST, SERIES 45)
   
as of the Initial Date of Deposit: November 19, 1996

<CAPTION>
                                                                     Estimated                    
                                                                     Annual        Cost of        
Number  of                                          Market Value     Dividends     Securities     
Shares        Name of Issuer<F1>                    per Share<F2>    per Share<F2> to Trust<F2>   
- ------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------- ---------------
 <S>          <C>                                   <C>              <C>     <C>   <C>            
          75  American Home Products Corporation    $        62.750  $   1.64      $     4,706.25 
         114  Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.                 41.250      0.96            4,702.50 
          83  Avon Products, Inc.                            56.750      1.16            4,710.25 
          43  Bristol-Myers Squibb Company                  108.875      3.00            4,681.63 
          57  Campbell Soup Company                          82.875      1.38            4,723.88 
          44  Clorox Company                                107.750      2.32            4,741.00 
          90  The Coca-Cola Company                          52.250      0.50            4,702.50 
          50  Colgate-Palmolive Company                      95.500      1.88            4,775.00 
          59  CPC International, Inc.                        80.625      1.64            4,756.88 
          57  Eastman Kodak Company                          83.375      1.60            4,752.38 
          79  General Mills, Inc.                            59.875      2.00            4,730.13 
          64  Gillette Company                               74.000      0.72            4,736.00 
         127  Heinz (H.J) Company                            37.375      1.16            4,746.63 
          93  Johnson & Johnson                              50.625      0.76            4,708.13 
          69  Kellogg Company                                68.125      1.68            4,700.63 
         110  Liz Claiborne, Inc.                            42.750      0.45            4,702.50 
         159  Mattel, Inc.                                   29.875      0.24            4,750.13 
          97  McDonald's Corporation                         48.375      0.30            4,692.38 
          58  Merck & Co., Inc.                              81.625      1.60            4,734.25 
         123  Nabisco Holdings Corporation                   38.500      0.62            4,735.50 
+         84  Nestle SA                                      56.500      0.90**          4,746.00 
          84  Nike, Inc.                                     55.500      0.30            4,662.00 
         148  PepsiCo, Inc.                                  31.875      0.46            4,717.50 
          44  The Procter & Gamble Company                  107.875      1.80            4,746.50 
         120  Sara Lee Corporation                           39.875      0.84            4,785.00 
          68  Schering-Plough Corporation                    70.000      1.32            4,760.00 
+         28  Unilever NV                                   167.750      3.12**          4,697.00 
          66  The Walt Disney Company                        71.375      0.44            4,710.75 
          66  Warner-Lambert Company                         71.500      1.38            4,719.00 
         228  Wendy's International, Inc.                    20.750      0.24            4,731.00 
          80  Wrigley (WM) Jr. Company                       58.875      0.68            4,710.00 
       2,667  .....................................                                $   146,473.30 
============                                                                       ============== 
    
</TABLE>




NOTES TO PORTFOLIO

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
(1) All of the Securities are represented by "regular way" contracts
for the performance of which an irrevocable letter of credit has been
deposited with the Trustee. At the Initial Date of Deposit, Securities may
have been delivered to the Sponsor pursuant to certain of these contracts; the
Sponsor has assigned to the Trustee all of its right, title and interest in
and to such Securities. Contracts to acquire Securities were entered into on
November 18, 1996 and are expected to settle on November 21, 1996 (see "
The Trust").

(2) The market value of each of the Securities is based on the closing sale
price of each listed Security on the applicable exchange, or if not so listed,
on the ask price on the day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit. Estimated
annual dividends are based on annualizing the most recently declared
dividends. The aggregate value of the Securities on the day prior to the
Initial Date of Deposit based on the closing sale price of each listed
Security, and on the bid price if not so listed, (which is the basis on which
the Redemption Price per Unit will be determined) was $146,442. The ask price
of the applicable Securities (the basis on which the Public Offering Price per
Unit will be determined during the initial offering period) is greater than
the bid price of such Securities. Other information regarding the Securities
in the Trust, as of the Initial Date of Deposit, is as follows: 



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Estimated   
                   Profit       Annual      
                   (Loss) to                
Cost to Sponsor    Sponsor      Dividends   
<S>                <C>          <C>         
$146,473           $--          $2,544      
</TABLE>

A security marked by "+" indicates an American Depositary Receipt or
New York Shares. "**" Indicates that the dividends shown reflect the
net amounts after giving effect to foreign withholding taxes.
    




No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations
not contained in this Prospectus; and any information or representation not
contained herein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund
or the Sponsor. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any state to any person to whom
it is not lawful to make such offer in such state.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title                                  Page
- ------                                 -----
   
Summary of Essential Financial
  Information                            3
Fee Table                                5
The Trust                                6
Objectives and Securities Selection      7
Trust Portfolio                          9
Risk Factors                            12
Federal Taxation                        16
Trust Operating Expenses                20
Public Offering                         21
Rights of Unitholders                   26
Trust Administration                    30
Other Matters                           35
Report of Independent Certified Public
  Accountants                           35
Statement of Condition                  36
Portfolio                               37
Notes to Portfolio                      38
    



This Prospectus contains information concerning the Fund and the Sponsor, but
does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statements and exhibits relating thereto, which the Fund has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and to which reference is
hereby made.

PROSPECTUS

November 19, 1996

Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45
Brand Name Equity Trust, Series 3


A Wealth of Knowledge A Knowledge of Wealth (sm) 

VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL

One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77056

Please retain this Prospectus for future reference.

     This  Amendment  of Registration Statement comprises  the  following
papers and documents:
     
     
     The facing sheet

     The Cross-Reference Sheet

     The Prospectus

     The signatures

     The consents of independent public accountants and legal counsel


The following exhibits:

1.1  Copy of Trust Agreement.

3.1  Opinion  and  consent of counsel as to legality of securities  being
     registered.

3.2  Opinion of Counsel as to the Federal Income tax status of securities
     being registered.

3.3  Opinion  and  consent  of  counsel as to  New  York  tax  status  of
     securites being registered.

4.1  Consent of Interactive Data Corporation.

4.2  Consent of Independent Certified Public Acountants.

EX-27Financial Data Schedule.
                                    
                               
                                  Signatures
     
     The  Registrant,  Van  Kampen  American Capital  Equity  Opportunity
Trust, Series 45, hereby identifies Van Kampen Merritt Equity Opportunity
Trust,  Series  4, Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity  Trust,
Series  13  and  Van  Kampen American Capital Equity  Opportunity  Trust,
Series  14 for purposes of the representations required by Rule  487  and
represents the following: (1) that the portfolio securities deposited  in
the  series as to the securities of which this Registration Statement  is
being  filed  do  not  differ materially in type or  quality  from  those
deposited  in  such  previous  series; (2) that,  except  to  the  extent
necessary to identify the specific portfolio securities deposited in, and
to  provide essential financial information for, the series with  respect
to  the  securities of which this Registration Statement is being  filed,
this  Registration Statement does not contain disclosures that differ  in
any  material respect from those contained in the registration statements
for such previous series as to which the effective date was determined by
the  Commission or the staff; and (3) that it has complied with Rule  460
under the Securities Act of 1933.
     
     Pursuant  to  the requirements of the Securities Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant, Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust,  Series
45  has  duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement  to  be
signed  on  its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,  in
the  City  of Chicago and State of Illinois on the 19th day of  November,
1996.
                                    Van Kampen American Capital Equity
                                       Opportunity Trust, Series 45


                                    By Van Kampen American Capital
                                       Distributors, Inc.
                                    
                                    
                                    By Sandra A. Waterworth
                                       Vice President
     
     Pursuant  to  the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,  this
Amendment  to  the Registration Statement has been signed  below  by  the
following persons in the capacities and on November 19, 1996.

    Signature              Title

Don G. Powell         Chairman and Chief Executive)
                       Officer                    )

William R. Rybak      Senior Vice President and   )
                       Chief Financial Officer    )

Ronald A. Nyberg      Director                    )
William R. Molinari   Director                    )



                                                     Sandra A. Waterworth
                                                      (Attorney-in-fact*)


     *An  executed  copy of each of the related powers  of  attorney  was
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with  the
Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Insured Municipals Income Trust and
Investors' Quality Tax-Exempt Trust, Multi-Series 203 (File No. 33-65744)
and  with  the  Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Insured  Municipals
Income Trust, 170th Insured Multi-Series (File No. 33-55891) and the same
are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

                                                            Exhibit 1.1



          Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust
                                Series 45
                             Trust Agreement
                                                                 
                                        Dated:  November 19, 1996
     
     This Trust Agreement among Van Kampen American Capital Distributors,
Inc., as Depositor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of
Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van
Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., as Supervisory
Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, sets forth certain
provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference to the
document entitled "Van Kampen Merritt Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 1
and Subsequent Series, Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, Effective
November 21, 1991" (herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust") and such provisions as are set forth in full and such provisions
as are incorporated by reference constitute a single instrument.  All
references herein to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections
of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
     
     
                            Witnesseth That:
     
     In consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein
contained, the Depositor, Evaluator, Supervisory Servicer and Trustee
agree as follows:
     
     
                                 Part I
                 Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
     
     Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, all the provisions
contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust are herein
incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a
part of this instrument as fully and to the same extent as though said
provisions had been set forth in full in this instrument.
     
     
                                 Part II
                  Special Terms and Conditions of Trust
     
     The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed to:
     
          1.   The Securities defined in Section 1.01(22), listed in the
     Schedule hereto, have been deposited in trust under this Trust
     Agreement.
     
          2.   The fractional undivided interest in and ownership of the
     Trust represented by each Unit is the amount set forth under
     "Summary of Essential Financial Information - Fractional Undivided
     Interest in the Trust per Unit" in the Prospectus.  Such fractional
     undivided interest may be (a) increased by the number of any
     additional Units issued pursuant to Section 2.03,(b) increased or
     decreased in connection with an adjustment to the number of Units
     pursuant to Section 2.03, or (c) decreased by the number of Units
     redeemed pursuant to Section 5.02.
     
          3.   Section 1.01(1) shall be amended to read as follows:
               
               "(1)  "Depositor" shall mean Van Kampen American Capital
               Distributors, Inc. and its successors in interest, or any
               successor depositor appointed as hereinafter provided."
     
          4.   Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
               
               "(3)   "Evaluator"  shall mean American  Portfolio
               Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen American
               Capital Investment Advisory Corp. and its successors in
               interest, or any successor evaluator appointed  as
               hereinafter provided."
     
          5.   Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
               
               "(4)  "Supervisory Servicer"  shall mean Van Kampen
               American Capital Investment Advisory Corp. and its
               successors in interest, or any successor portfolio
               supervisor appointed as hereinafter provided."
          
          6.   Section 1.01(19) shall be amended to read as follows:
               
               "(19)  "Percentage Ratio" shall mean, for each Trust which
               will issue additional Units pursuant to Section 2.03
               hereof, (a) the percentage relationship among the Equity
               Securities based on the number of shares of each Equity
               Security per Unit existing immediately prior to such
               additional deposit with respect to the Select Equity Trust
               and (b) the percentage relationship existing on the
               Initial Date of Deposit among the maturity value per Unit
               of the Zero Coupon Obligations, each Equity Security per
               Unit as a percent of all shares of Equity Securities and
               the sum of the maturity value per Unit of the Zero Coupon
               Obligations and all Equity Securities attributable to each
               Unit with respect to the Select Equity and Treasury Trust.
               The Percentage Ratio shall be adjusted to the extent
               necessary, and may be rounded, to reflect the occurrence
               of a stock dividend, a stock split or a similar event
               which affects the capital structure of the issuer of an
               Equity Security."
     
          7.   The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is November 19,
     1996.
     
          8.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary appearing in the
     Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, "Van Kampen American Capital
     Equity Opportunity Trust" will replace "Select Equity Trust."
     
          9.   The second sentence in the second paragraph of Section
     3.11 shall be revised as follows:  "However, should any issuance,
     exchange or substitution be effected notwithstanding such rejection
     or without an initial offer, any securities, cash and/or property
     received shall be deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if
     securities or property, by the Trustee unless the Depositor advises
     the Trustee to keep such securities, cash or properties."
     
         10.   Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
     is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph which shall
     be entitled Section 3.17.:
               
               "Section 3.17. Deferred Sales Charge.  If the prospectus
               related to the Trust specifies a deferred sale charge, the
               Trustee shall, on the dates specified in and as permitted
               by such Prospectus, withdraw from the Capital Account, an
               amount per Unit specified in such Prospectus and credit
               such amount to a special non-Trust account maintained at
               the Trustee out of which the deferred sales charge will be
               distributed to the Depositor.  If the balance in the
               Capital  Account is insufficient to make any  such
               withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as directed by  the
               Depositor, either advance funds in an amount equal to the
               proposed withdrawal and be entitled to reimbursement of
               such advance upon the deposit of additional monies in the
               Capital Account, sell Securities and credit the proceeds
               thereof to such special Depositor's account or credit (if
               permitted by law) Securities in kind to such special
               Depositor's Account.  If a Unitholder redeems Units prior
               to full payment of the deferred sales charge, the Trustee
               shall, if so provided in the related Prospectus, on the
               Redemption Date, withhold from the Redemption Price
               payable to such Unitholder an amount equal to the unpaid
               portion of the deferred sales charge and distribute such
               amount to such special Depositor's Account.  The Depositor
               may at any time instruct the Trustee in writing to
               distribute to the Depositor cash or Securities previously
               credited to the special Depositor's Account."
     
         11.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard
     Terms and Conditions of Trust, the requisite number of Units needed
     to be tendered to exercise an In Kind Distribution as set forth in
     Sections 5.02 and 8.02 shall be that number set forth in the
     Prospectus.
     
         12.   Section 8.02 is hereby revised to require an affirmative
     vote of Unitholders representing 66 2/3% of the then outstanding
     Units to terminate the Trust rather than the 51% indicated therein.
     
         13.   Section 3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
     shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
               
               "Section  3.01.     Initial Costs.  The  following
               organization and regular and recurring expenses of the
               Trust shall be borne by the Trustee:  (a) to the extent
               not  borne by the Depositor, expenses incurred  in
               establishing a Trust, including the cost of the initial
               preparation and typesetting of the registration statement,
               prospectuses (including preliminary prospectuses), the
               indenture, and other documents relating to the Trust,
               Securities and Exchange Commission and state blue sky
               registration fees, the costs of the initial valuation of
               the portfolio and audit of the Trust, the initial fees and
               expenses of the Trustee, and legal and other out-of-pocket
               expenses related thereto, but not including the expenses
               incurred in the printing of preliminary prospectuses and
               prospectuses, expenses incurred in the preparation and
               printing of brochures and other advertising materials and
               any other selling expenses, (b) the amount specified in
               Section 3.05 and Article VIII, (c) to the extent permitted
               by Section 6.02, auditing fees and, to the extent not
               borne by the Depositor, expenses incurred in connection
               with maintaining the Trust's registration statement
               current with Federal and State authorities, (d) any
               Certificates issued after the Initial Date of Deposit ;
               and (e) expenses of any distribution agent.  The Trustee
               shall be reimbursed for those organizational expenses
               referred to in clause (a) as provided in the Prospectus.
     
         14.   Section 6.01(i) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
     Trust shall be amended by adding the following to the beginning of
     such Section:
               
               "Except as provided in Sections 3.01 and 3.05,"
     
         15.   Section 8.04 is hereby amended by deleting the first word
     of such Section and replacing it with the following:
          
          "Except as provided in Sections 3.01 and 3.05, the"
     
         16.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
     annual audit of the Trust's accounts described in Section 6.02 shall
     not be required.
     
         17.   Section 2.03(a) shall be amended by adding the following
     sentence immediately after the first sentence of such Section:  "The
     number of Units may be increased through a split of the Units or
     decreased through a reverse split thereof, as directed by the
     Depositor, on any day on which the Depositor is the only Unitholder,
     which revised number of Units shall be recorded by the Trustee on
     its books."
     
         18.   Sections 4.01(b) and (c) are hereby replaced with the
     following:
          
             "(b)   During the initial offering period such Evaluation
          shall be made in the following manner: if the Securities are
          listed on a national securities exchange, such Evaluation shall
          generally be based on the last available sale price on or
          immediately prior to the Evaluation Time on the exchange which
          is the principal market therefor, which shall be deemed to be
          the New York Stock Exchange if the Securities are listed
          thereon (unless the Evaluator deems such price inappropriate as
          a basis for evaluation) or, if there is no such available sale
          price on such exchange.  If the Securities are not so listed
          or, if so listed, the principal market therefor is other than
          on such exchange or there is no such available sale price on
          such exchange, such Evaluation shall generally be based on the
          following methods or any combination thereof whichever the
          Evaluator deems appropriate:  (i) in the case of Equity
          Securities, on the basis of the current ask price (unless the
          Evaluator deems such price inappropriate as a basis for
          evaluation), (ii) on the basis of current offering prices for
          the Zero Coupon Obligations as obtained from investment dealers
          or brokers who customarily deal in securities comparable to
          those held by the Fund, (iii) if offering or ask prices are not
          available for the Zero Coupon Obligations or the Equity
          Securities, on the basis of offering or ask  price  for
          comparable securities, (iv) by determining the valuation of the
          Zero Coupon Obligations or the Equity Securities on the
          offering or ask side of the market by appraisal or (v) by any
          combination of the above.  For each Evaluation, the Evaluator
          shall  also confirm and furnish to the Trustee and  the
          Depositor, on the basis of the information furnished to the
          Evaluator by the Trustee as to the value of all Trust assets
          other than Securities, the calculation of the Trust Fund
          Evaluation to be computed pursuant to Section 5.01.
          
              (c)   For purposes of the Trust Fund Evaluations required
          by Section 5.01 in determining Redemption Value and Unit Value,
          Evaluation of the Securities shall be made in the manner
          described in 4.01(b), on the basis of current bid prices for
          the Zero Coupon Obligations and, except in those cases in which
          the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities
          exchange and the last available sale prices are utilized, on
          the basis of the last available bid prices of the Equity
          Securities."
     
         19.   Section 3.05(a) is hereby replaced with the following:
          
             "(a)   On or immediately after the tenth the day of each
          month, the Trustee shall satisfy itself as to the adequacy of
          the Reserve Account, making any further credits thereto as may
          appear appropriate in accordance with Section 3.04 and shall
          then with respect to each Trust:
               
                   (i)   deduct from the Capital Account and pay to
               itself individually the amounts that it is at the time
               entitled to receive pursuant to Section 6.04;
               
                  (ii)   deduct from the Capital Account and pay to, or
               reserve for, the Evaluator the amount that it is at the
               time entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.03;
               
                 (iii)   deduct from the Capital Account and pay to
               counsel, as hereinafter provided for, an amount equal to
               unpaid fees and expenses, if any, of such counsel pursuant
               to Section 3.08, as certified to by the Depositor; and
               
                  (iv)   deduct from the Capital Account and pay to, or
               reserve for, the Supervisory Servicer the amount that it
               is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.13."
     
         20.   Section 2.01(b) is hereby replaced with the following:
          
              (b)   From time to time following the Initial Date of
          Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its discretion,
          to  assign, convey to and deposit with the Trustee  (i)
          additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by
          all necessary instruments of assignment and transfer in proper
          form (or Contract Obligations relating to such Securities),
          and/or (ii) cash (or a Letter of Credit in lieu of cash) with
          instructions to purchase additional Securities, in an amount
          equal to the portion of the Unit Value of the Units created by
          such deposit attributable to the Securities to be purchased
          pursuant to such instructions.  Such deposit of additional
          Securities or cash with instructions to purchase additional
          Securities shall be made, in each case, pursuant  to  a
          Supplemental Indenture accompanied by a legal opinion issued by
          legal counsel satisfactory to the Depositor.  Instructions to
          purchase additional Securities shall be in writing, and shall
          specify the name of the Security, CUSIP number, if any,
          aggregate amount, price or price range and date  to  be
          purchased.  When requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall
          act as broker to execute purchases in accordance with such
          instructions; the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation
          therefor in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
          The  Trustee  shall have no liability for any  loss  or
          depreciation resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the
          Depositor's instructions or made by the Depositor as broker,
          except by reason of its own negligence, lack of good faith or
          willful misconduct.
          
          In connection with any deposit pursuant to this Section 2.01(b)
          in the Select Equity and Treasury Trust, the Depositor shall be
          obligated to determine that the maturity value of the Zero
          Coupon Obligations included in the deposit, divided by the
          number of Units created by reason of the deposit, shall equal
          at least $10.00.
          
          The Depositor, in each case, shall ensure that each deposit of
          additional Securities pursuant to this Section shall be, as
          nearly as is practicable, in the identical ratio as the
          Percentage Ratio for such Securities as is specified in the
          Trust Agreement for each Trust.  The Depositor shall deliver
          the additional Securities which were not delivered concurrently
          with the deposit of additional Securities and which were
          represented by Contract Obligations within 10 calendar days
          after such deposit of additional Securities (the "Additional
          Securities Delivery Period").  If a contract to buy such
          Securities between the Depositor and seller is terminated by
          the seller thereof for any reason beyond the control of the
          Depositor or if for any other reason the Securities are not
          delivered to the Trust by the end of the Additional Securities
          Delivery Period for such deposit, the Trustee shall immediately
          draw on the Letter of Credit, if any, in its entirety, apply
          the  moneys in accordance with Section 2.01(d), and the
          Depositor shall forthwith take the remedial action specified in
          Section 3.12. If the Depositor does not take the action
          specified in Section 3.12 within 10 calendar days of the end of
          the Additional Securities Delivery Period, the Trustee shall
          forthwith take the action specified in Section 3.12.
     
     In Witness Whereof, Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
has caused this Trust Agreement to be executed by one of its Vice
Presidents or Assistant Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be
hereto  affixed and attested by its Secretary or one of its  Vice
Presidents or Assistant Secretaries, American Portfolio Evaluation
Services, a division of Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory
Corp., and Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., have
each caused this Trust Indenture and Agreement to be executed by their
respective President or one of their respective Vice Presidents and the
corporate seal of each to be hereto affixed and attested to by the
Secretary, Assistant Secretary or one of their respective Vice Presidents
or Assistant Vice Presidents and The Bank of New York, has caused this
Trust Agreement to be executed by one of its Vice Presidents and its
corporate seal to be hereto affixed and attested to by one of its
Assistant Treasurers all as of the day, month and year first above
written.
     
     
                                    Van Kampen American Capital
                                       Distributors, Inc.

                                    
                                    By Sandra A. Waterworth
                                       Vice President
Attest:


By Gina M. Scumaci
Assistant Secretary
                                    American Portfolio Evaluation
                                       Services, a division of Van Kampen
                                       American Capital Investment
                                       Advisory Corp.

                                                                       
                                    By Dennis J. McDonnell
                                       President
Attest

By Scott E. Martin
Assistant Secretary
                                    
                                    Van Kampen American Capital
                                       Investment Advisory Corp.

                                                                   
                                    By Dennis J. McDonnell
                                       President
Attest

By Scott E. Martin
Assistant Secretary
                                    
                                    The Bank of New York

                                                                       
                                    By Jeffrey Bieselin
                                       Vice President
Attest

By Norbert Loney
Assistant Treasurer



                      Schedule A to Trust Agreement
                     Securities Initially Deposited
                                    
                                   in
                                    
     Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45

(Note:  Incorporated herein and made a part hereof is the "Portfolio" as
set forth in the Prospectus.)
     
     

                                                           Exhibit 3.1

                           Chapman and Cutler
                         111 West Monroe Street
                        Chicago, Illinois  60603
                                    
                            November 19, 1996
                                    
                                    
                                    
Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181
     
     
     Re:Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45

Gentlemen:
     
     We   have   served  as  counsel  for  Van  Kampen  American  Capital
Distributors,  Inc.  as  Sponsor and Depositor  of  Van  Kampen  American
Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45 (hereinafter referred  to  as
the  "Trust"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery
of  a  Trust Agreement dated November 19, 1996, among Van Kampen American
Capital  Distributors, Inc., as Depositor, American Portfolio  Evaluation
Services,  a division of Van Kampen American Capital Investment  Advisory
Corp.,  as  Evaluator,  Van Kampen American Capital  Investment  Advisory
Corp.,  as  Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York,  as  Trustee,
pursuant  to  which  the Depositor has delivered  to  and  deposited  the
Securities listed in the Schedule to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee
and  pursuant to which the Trustee has provided to or on the order of the
Depositor  documentation  evidencing ownership  of  Units  of  fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust (hereinafter referred to
as the "Units"), created under said Trust Agreement.
     
     In  connection therewith we have examined such pertinent records and
documents  and  matters of law as we have deemed necessary  in  order  to
enable us to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.
     
     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
     
          1.   The execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement and
     the execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the Units
     in the Trust have been duly authorized; and
     
           2.    The certificates evidencing the Units in the Trust,
     when  duly  executed  and delivered by the  Depositor  and  the
     Trustee  in accordance with the aforementioned Trust Agreement,
     will constitute valid and binding obligations of such Trust and
     the Depositor in accordance with the terms thereof.
     
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement  (File  No.  333-14851)  relating  to  the  Units
referred to above and to the use of our name and to the reference to  our
firm in said Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.
                                    
                                    Respectfully submitted,
                                    
                                    
                                    CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

MJK/cjw
     
     

                                                       Exhibit 3.2

                           Chapman and Cutler
                         111 West Monroe Street
                        Chicago, Illinois  60603
                                    
                            November 19, 1996



Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
New York, New York  10286
     
     
    Re:Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45


Gentlemen:
     
     We   have   acted  as  counsel  for  Van  Kampen  American   Capital
Distributors,  Inc.,  Depositor  of Van Kampen  American  Capital  Equity
Opportunity  Trust,  Series  45  (the "Fund"),  in  connection  with  the
issuance of Units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund,  under  a
Trust  Agreement  dated  November 19, 1996 (the  "Indenture")  among  Van
Kampen  American  Capital Distributors, Inc., as  Depositor,  Van  Kampen
American  Capital  Investment Advisory Corp., as  Evaluator,  Van  Kampen
American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., as Supervisory Servicer,  and
The  Bank  of  New York, as Trustee.  The Fund is comprised of  one  unit
investment trust, Brand Name Equity Trust, Series 3 (the "Trust").
     
     In this connection, we have examined the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, the Indenture, and such other instruments and documents as we
have deemed pertinent.
     
     The  assets  of  each  Trust will consist of a portfolio  of  equity
securities  (the "Equity Securities") as set forth in the Prospectus.
     
     Based  upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of such  matters
of law as we consider to be applicable, we are of the opinion that, under
existing United States Federal income tax law:
     
          (i)    The  Trust  is  not  an association  taxable  as  a
     corporation   but  will  be  governed  by  the  provisions   of
     subchapter  J  (relating  to Trusts)  of  chapter  1,  Internal
     Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code").
     
         (ii)   A Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata
     share  of  each asset of the Trust in the proportion  that  the
     number of Units held by him bears to the total number of  Units
     outstanding.  Under subpart E, subchapter J of chapter 1 of the
     Code,  income  of the Trust will be treated as income  of  each
     Unitholder  in the proportion described, and an item  of  Trust
     income  will  have  the  same  character  in  the  hands  of  a
     Unitholder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.   Each
     Unitholder  will be considered to have received  his  pro  rata
     share  of income derived from each Trust asset when such income
     is  considered to be received by the Trust.  A Unitholder's pro
     rata  portion  of  distributions  of  cash  or  property  by  a
     corporation with respect to an Equity Security ("dividends"  as
     defined  by  Section 316 of the Code ) are taxable as  ordinary
     income  to  the  extent  of  such  corporation's  current   and
     accumulated  "earnings and profits."  A Unitholder's  pro  rata
     portion  of dividends which exceed such current and accumulated
     earnings  and  profits will first reduce the  Unitholder's  tax
     basis  in  such  Equity Security, and to the extent  that  such
     dividends  exceed  a  Unitholder's tax  basis  in  such  Equity
     Security, shall be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of
     property.
     
        (iii)   The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally
     including  sales  charges,  is allocated  among  his  pro  rata
     portion  of  each  Equity Security held by the  Trust  (in  the
     proportion  to the fair market values thereof on the  valuation
     date  closest to the date the Unitholder purchases his  Units),
     in  order  to determine his initial tax basis for his pro  rata
     portion of each Equity Security held by the Trust.
     
         (iv)    Gain  or  loss will be recognized to  a  Unitholder
     (subject  to various nonrecognition provisions under the  Code)
     upon  redemption or sale of his Units, except to the extent  an
     in  kind  distribution of stock is received by such  Unitholder
     from a Trust as discussed below.  Such gain or loss is measured
     by  comparing the proceeds of such redemption or sale with  the
     adjusted  basis  of his Units.  Before adjustment,  such  basis
     would normally be cost if the Unitholder had acquired his Units
     by  purchase.  Such basis will be reduced, but not below  zero,
     by  the Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect
     to  each  Equity  Security which are not  taxable  as  ordinary
     income.
     
          (v)   If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by
     sale,  exchange, liquidation, redemption or otherwise) gain  or
     loss  will be recognized to the Unitholder (subject to  various
     nonrecognition  provisions  under  the  Code)  and  the  amount
     thereof  will be measured by comparing the Unitholder's aliquot
     share of the total proceeds from the transaction with his basis
     for  his  fractional interest in the asset disposed  of.   Such
     basis  is  ascertained by apportioning the tax  basis  for  his
     Units  (as of the date on which his Units were acquired)  among
     each  of the Trust assets of the Trust (as of the date on which
     his  Units were acquired) ratably according to their values  as
     of  the  valuation date nearest the date on which he  purchased
     such  Units.   A  Unitholder's basis in his Units  and  of  his
     fractional  interest in each Trust asset must be  reduced,  but
     not  below  zero,  by  the Unitholder's  pro  rata  portion  of
     dividends  with  respect to the Equity Security  which  is  not
     taxable as ordinary income.
     
         (vi)   Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances,  a
     Unitholder  tendering Units for redemption may  request  an  in
     kind  distribution of Equity Securities upon the redemption  of
     Units  or  upon  the termination of the Trust.   As  previously
     discussed,  prior to the redemption of Units or the termination
     of  the Trust, a Unitholder is considered as owning a pro  rata
     portion  of each of the Trust's assets.  The receipt of  an  in
     kind  distribution  will result in a United  States  Unitholder
     receiving  an undivided interest in whole shares of  stock  and
     possibly  cash.  The potential federal income tax  consequences
     which  may occur under an in kind distribution with respect  to
     each  Equity  Security  owned by the  Trust  will  depend  upon
     whether  or  not  a  United States Uniholder receives  cash  in
     addition  to Equity Securities.  An "Equity Security" for  this
     purpose  is  a particular class of stock issued by a particular
     corporation.  A Unitholder will not recognize gain or loss if a
     Unitholder only receives Equity Securities in exchange for  his
     or  her  pro rata portion in the Equity Securities held by  the
     Trust.  However, if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange
     for a fractional share of an Equity Security held by the Trust,
     such  Unitholder will generally recognize gain  or  loss  based
     upon the difference between the amount of cash received by  the
     Unitholder  and his tax basis in such fractional  share  of  an
     Equity Security held by the Trust.  The total amount of taxable
     gains   (or  losses)  recognized  upon  such  redemption   will
     generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized  under
     the  rules  described  above by the redeeming  Unitholder  with
     respect to each Equity Security owned by the Trust.
     
     Dividends  received by a Trust which are attributable to a  domestic
corporation  owning Units in the Trust and which are taxable as  ordinary
income  may be eligible for the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant
to  Section  243(a)  of the Code, subject to the limitations  imposed  by
Sections  246  and  246A of the Code.  It should be  noted  that  various
legislative proposals that would affect the dividends received  deduction
have been introduced.
     
     Section  67  of the Code provides that certain itemized  deductions,
such  as  investment expenses, tax return preparation fees  and  employee
business  expenses will be deductible by individuals only to  the  extent
they  exceed  2%  of such individual's adjusted gross income.   Temporary
regulations  have been issued which require Unitholders to treat  certain
expenses  of  the Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions  subject  to
this limitation.
     
     A  Unitholder will recognize taxable gain (or loss) when all or part
of  the  pro  rata interest in an Equity Security is either sold  by  the
Trust or redeemed or when a Unitholder disposes of his Units in a taxable
transaction,  in each case for an amount greater (or less) than  his  tax
basis therefor.
     
     It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Equity
Securities  that are attributable to foreign corporations may be  subject
to  foreign  withholding taxes and Unitholders should consult  their  tax
advisers regarding the potential tax consequences relating to the payment
of any such withholding taxes by the Trust.  Any dividends withheld as  a
result thereof will nevertheless be treated as income to the Unitholders.
Because under the grantor trust rules, an investor is deemed to have paid
directly  his share of foreign taxes that have been paid or  accrued,  if
any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for
United  States tax purposes with respect to such taxes.  Investors should
consult their tax advisers with respect to foreign withholding taxes  and
foreign tax credits.
     
     Any  gain recognized on a sale or exchange will, under current  law,
generally be capital gain or loss.
     
     The  scope  of this opinion is expressly limited to the matters  set
forth  herein,  and, except as expressly set forth above, we  express  no
opinion  with  respect to any other taxes, including  foreign,  state  or
local  taxes or collateral tax consequences with respect to the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Units.
                                    
                                    Very truly yours
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    Chapman and Cutler

MJK/cjw
     
     

                                                        Exhibit 3.3


                            Kroll & Tract LLP
                           520 Madison Avenue
                        New York, New York  10022
                                    
                                    
                            November 19, 1996
                                    
                                    
                                    
Van Kampen American Capital Equity
  Opportunity Trust, Series 45
c/o The Bank of New York,
As Trustee
101 Barclay Street, 17 West
New York, New York 10286

Dear Sirs:
     
     We have acted as special counsel for the Van Kampen American Capital
Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 45 (the "Fund") consisting of Brand Name
Equity  Trust,  Series 3 (the "Trust") for purposes  of  determining  the
applicability   of  certain  New  York  taxes  under  the   circumstances
hereinafter described.
     
        The   Fund  is  created  pursuant  to  a  Trust  Agreement   (the
"Indenture"), dated as of today (the "Date of Deposit") among Van  Kampen
American Capital Distributors, Inc. (the "Depositor"), American Portfolio
Evaluation  Services,  a  division  of  a  subsidiary  of  Depositor,  as
Evaluator and as Supervisor ("Supervisory Servicer") and The Bank of  New
York,  as  trustee  (the  "Trustee").  As  described  in  the  prospectus
relating  to  the  Fund  dated today to be filed as  an  amendment  to  a
registration statement heretofore filed with the Securities and  Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (respectively the
"Prospectus"  and the "Registration Statement") (File number  333-14851),
the  objectives  of  the  Fund are to provide the potential  for  capital
appreciation  and  income, consistent with the preservation  of  invested
capital,  by  investing in a portfolio of equity securities of  companies
from a variety of industries whose products are brand names.  It is noted
that  no  opinion  is  expressed herein with regard to  the  Federal  tax
aspects  of the securities, the Trust, units of the Trust (the  "Units"),
or any income, gains or losses in respect thereof.
     
     As  more fully set forth in the Indenture and in the Prospectus, the
activities of the Trustee will include the following:
     
     On  the Date of Deposit, the Depositor will deposit with the Trustee
with  respect to the Trust the securities and/or contracts and  cash  for
the purchase thereof together with an irrevocable letter of credit in the
amount  required for the purchase price of the securities comprising  the
corpus of the Trust as more fully set forth in the Prospectus.
     
     The  Trustee did not participate in the selection of the  securities
to be deposited in the Trust, and, upon the receipt thereof, will deliver
to  the  Depositor  a  registered certificate for  the  number  of  Units
representing the entire capital of the Trust as more fully set  forth  in
the  Prospectus.   The  Units,  which  are  represented  by  certificates
("Certificates"), will be offered to the public upon the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement.
     
     The  duties  of the Trustee, which are ministerial in  nature,  will
consist  primarily  of  crediting  the  appropriate  accounts  with  cash
dividends received by the Fund and with the proceeds from the disposition
of  securities  held  in  the  Fund and the  distribution  of  such  cash
dividends  and  proceeds  to  the Unitholders.   The  Trustee  will  also
maintain  records of the registered holders of Certificates  representing
an  interest in the Fund and administer the redemption of Units  by  such
Certificateholders and may perform certain administrative functions  with
respect to an automatic reinvestment option.
     
     Generally,  equity  securities held in  the  Trust  may  be  removed
therefrom  by  the  Trustee at the direction of the  Depositor  upon  the
occurrence of certain specified events which adversely affect  the  sound
investment  character  of  the Fund, such as default  by  the  issuer  in
payment of declared dividends or of interest or principal on one or  more
of its debt obligations.
     
     Prior  to termination of the Fund, the Trustee is empowered to  sell
equity  securities designated by the Supervisory Servicer  only  for  the
purpose  of  redeeming Units tendered to it and of  paying  expenses  for
which  funds are not available.  The Trustee does not have the  power  to
vary  the  investment  of  any Unitholder  in  the  Fund,  and  under  no
circumstances may the proceeds of sale of any equity securities  held  by
the Fund be used to purchase new equity securities to be held therein.
     
     Article  9-A  of  the New York Tax Law imposes a  franchise  tax  on
business corporations, and, for purposes of that Article, Section  208(l)
defines  the  term  "corporation" to include, among  other  things,  "any
business conducted by a trustee or trustees wherein interest or ownership
is evidenced by certificate or other written instrument."
     
     The Regulations promulgated under Section 208 provide as follows:
          
          A  business  conducted by a trustee  or  trustees  in
          which   interest   or  ownership  is   evidenced   by
          certificate or other written instrument includes, but
          is  not  limited to, an association commonly referred
          to  as  a  "business trust" or "Massachusetts trust".
          In  determining  whether a trustee  or  trustees  are
          conducting  a business, the form of the agreement  is
          of  significance but is not controlling.  The  actual
          activities  of  the  trustee or trustees,  not  their
          purposes  and  powers, will be regarded  as  decisive
          factors in determining whether a trust is subject  to
          tax  under Article 9-A.  The mere investment of funds
          and   the   collection  of  income  therefrom,   with
          incidental replacement of securities and reinvestment
          of  funds,  does  not constitute  the  conduct  of  a
          business  in  the case of a business conducted  by  a
          trustee  or trustees. 20 NYCRR 1-2.5(b)(2) (July  11,
          1990).
     
     New York cases dealing with the question of whether a trust will  be
subject  to the franchise tax have also delineated the general rule  that
where  a  trustee  merely invests funds and collects and distributes  the
income therefrom, the trust is not engaged in business and is not subject
to  the  franchise tax.  Burrell v. Lynch, 274 A.D. 347, 84 N.Y.S.2d  171
(3rd  Dept. 1948), order resettled, 274 A.D. 1083, 85 N.Y.S.2d  705  (3rd
Dept. 1949).
     
     In  an  Opinion of the Attorney General of the State  of  New  York,
47  N.Y. Att'y. Gen. Rep. 213 (Nov. 24, 1942), it was held that where the
trustee  of  an unincorporated investment trust was without authority  to
reinvest amounts received upon the sales of securities and could  dispose
of  securities  making  up the trust only upon the happening  of  certain
specified  events or the existence of certain specified  conditions,  the
trust was not subject to the franchise tax.
     
     In  the  instant situation, the Trustee is not empowered to, and  we
assume will not, sell securities contained in the corpus of the Fund  and
reinvest  the  proceeds  therefrom.  Further,  the  power  to  sell  such
securities is limited to circumstances in which the credit-worthiness  or
soundness  of  the issuer of such equity security is in  question  or  in
which cash is needed to pay redeeming Unit holders or to pay expenses, or
where  the  Fund  is  liquidated subsequent to  the  termination  of  the
Indenture.   In substance, the Trustee will merely collect and distribute
income and will not reinvest any income or proceeds, and the Trustee  has
no power to vary the investment of any Unit holder in a Trust.
     
     Under Subpart E of Part I, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the grantor  of  a  trust
will  be deemed to be the owner of the trust under certain circumstances,
and  therefore  taxable  on  his proportionate  interest  in  the  income
thereof.   Where this Federal tax rule applies, the income attributed  to
the  grantor will also be income to him for New York income tax purposes.
See TSB-M-78(9)(c), New York Department of Taxation and Finance, June 23,
1978.
     
     By  letter dated today, Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, counsel for  the
Depositor,  rendered  their  opinion  that  each  Unit  holder  will   be
considered as owning a share of each asset of the Trust in the proportion
that the number of Units held by such holder bears to the total number of
Units outstanding and the income of a Trust will be treated as the income
of  each Unit holder in said proportion pursuant to Subpart E of Part  I,
Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Code.
     
     Based  on  the foregoing and on the opinion of Messrs.  Chapman  and
Cutler,   counsel  for  the  Depositor,  dated  today,  upon   which   we
specifically  rely,  we  are  of the opinion that  under  existing  laws,
rulings  and court decisions interpreting the laws of the State and  City
of New York:

      1.    The  Trust will not constitute an association  taxable  as  a
corporation under New York law, and, accordingly, will not be subject  to
tax  on its income under the New York State franchise tax or the New York
City general corporation tax;

      2.    The income of the Trust will be treated as the income of  the
Unit holders under the income tax laws of the State and City of New York;
and

     3.   Unit holders who are not residents of the State of New York are
not  subject to the income tax laws thereof with respect to any  interest
or  gain  derived  from  the Fund or any gain  from  the  sale  or  other
disposition of the Units, except to the extent that such interest or gain
is  from property employed in a business, trade, profession or occupation
carried on in the State of New York.
     
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement relating to the Units and to the use of  our  name
and  the reference to our firm in the Registration Statement and  in  the
Prospectus.
                                    
                                    Very truly yours,
                                    
                                    
                                    Kroll & Tract LLP
MNS:to

                                                           Exhibit 4.1


Interactive Data
14 West Street
New York, NY  10005


November 19, 1996


Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
     
     
     Re:    Van Kampen American Capital Brand Name Equity Trust, Series 3
            (A Unit Investment Trust) Registered Under the Securities
            Act of 1933, File No. 333-14851

Gentlemen:
     
     We  have  examined the Registration Statement for the above  captioned
Fund.
     
     We  hereby consent to the reference in the Prospectus and Registration
Statement for the above captioned Fund to Interactive Data Corporation,  as
the  Evaluator, and to the use of the obligations prepared by us which  are
referred to in such Prospectus and Statement.
     
     You  are  authorized to file copies of this letter with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Very truly yours,


James Perry
Vice President



                                                             Exhibit 4.2

                                    
            Independent Certified Public Accountants' Consent
     
     We  have  issued our report dated November 19, 1996 on the statement
of  condition  and  related securities portfolio of Van  Kampen  American
Capital  Equity  Opportunity Trust, Series 45 as  of  November  19,  1996
contained  in the Registration Statement on Form S-6 and Prospectus.   We
consent  to  the  use  of  our report in the Registration  Statement  and
Prospectus  and  to the use of our name as it appears under  the  caption
"Other Matters-Independent Certified Public Accountants.'"



                                    Grant Thornton LLP

Chicago, Illinois
November 19, 1996
     
     

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This report reflects current period taken from 487 on November 19, 1996 it is
unaudited
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> BNET
       
<CAPTION>
<S>                         <C>                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>               YEAR                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               AUG-31-1997     
<PERIOD-START>                  NOV-19-1996     
<PERIOD-END>                    NOV-19-1996     
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                146473     
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>               146473     
<RECEIVABLES>                             0     
<ASSETS-OTHER>                        76211     
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                      0     
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       222684     
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                  0     
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                   0     
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>             79211     
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                   79211     
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                           0     
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>             143473     
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                 15000     
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                     0     
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                 0     
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                    0     
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   0     
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                  0     
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                  0     
<NET-ASSETS>                         143473     
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                         0     
<INTEREST-INCOME>                         0     
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0     
<EXPENSES-NET>                            0     
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   0     
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                  0     
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                 0     
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                     0     
<EQUALIZATION>                            0     
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                 0     
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                  0     
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                     0     
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                   0     
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               0     
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                       0     
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                    0     
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                   0     
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 0     
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                   0     
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                0     
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                     0     
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        0     
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                           0     
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                      0     
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                     0     
<PER-SHARE-NII>                           0     
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                   0     
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                      0     
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                 0     
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                      0     
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                       0     
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                           0     
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                    0     
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                      0     
        

</TABLE>


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