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EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF IOWA
SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS
The following supersedes certain information appearing in the Prospectuses
of Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Separate Account A ("Separate
Account") dated April 1, 1996.
The purpose of this supplement is to notify you of a proposal to substitute
shares of the Advantage Portfolio of Equi-Select Series Trust ("Trust") for
shares of the Government Securities Portfolio and the Short-Term Bond Portfolio
of the Trust (collectively, the "Portfolios").
On January 31, 1996, Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa (the
"Company") filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") requesting an order approving the Substitution. Upon obtaining
the order from the Commission approving the Substitution, and subject to any
prior approval by applicable insurance authorities, the Company and Separate
Account propose to effect the Substitution as soon as is practicable.
The Company has proposed the Substitution to provide a transfer of the
assets of the Portfolios that currently and in the future may be expected to be
of insufficient size to promote consistent investment performance or to reduce
operating expenses. The transfer of assets is also expected to assist the
Company in further expanding assets with resulting benefits to Owners.
An Owner, prior to the date of Substitution, may transfer his or her
Portfolios' Sub-Accounts' value to any other sub-account of the Separate Account
with any limitation or charge being imposed. Moreover, following the
Substitution for a period of 30 days, the Company will permit transfers from the
Advantage Portfolio's Sub-Account to any other sub-account of the Separate
Account without any limitation or charge being imposed. After the 30 days, any
transfers from the Advantage Portfolio's Sub-Account will be subject to the
restrictions described in the Prospectus.
A complete list of all Portfolios of the Trust in which the Separate
Account invests is set forth in the Prospectus. You may obtain a Prospectus by
writing or calling the Company at the address or telephone number set out below.
The Company believes, based on its review of existing federal income tax
laws and regulations, that the Substitution will not have any tax consequences
to Owners.
The Company will effect the Substitution by simultaneously placing an order
to redeem the shares of the Portfolios and an order to purchase shares of the
Advantage Portfolio of the Trust. The Company will bear the expenses
attributable to the Substitution. The Company will send affected Owners a notice
within five days after the Substitution.
CUSTOMER SERVICES: 800-344-6864
Issued by: Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa
Distributed by: Equitable of Iowa Securities Network, Inc.
604 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
The date of this Supplement is April 1, 1996.
