SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES CAPITAL TRUST - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Delaware 42-1456092 - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------- (State of Incorporation or Organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.) c/o Equitable of Iowa Companies, Sponsor 604 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Name of each exchange on which to be so registered each class is to be registered ------------------- ------------------------------ 8.70% Trust Originated Preferred New York Stock Exchange Securities SM ("TOPrS SM") (Liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (together with the rights of holders of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Guarantee and back-up undertakings, consisting of obligations of Equitable of Iowa Companies as set forth in the Declaration of Trust (including the obligation to pay expenses of Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust), the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures thereto, and the Debt Securities issued to Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Title of Class) Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered. See "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES" included in the Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2). Item 2. Exhibits. The securities described herein are to be registered on the New York Stock Exchange, on which no other securities of the Registrant are registered. Accordingly, the following exhibits, required in accordance with Part II to the Instructions as to the exhibits on Form 8-A, have been duly filed with the New York Stock Exchange: (a) Registrant's Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement No. 333- 1909 on Form S-3 as filed on July 3, 1996, and incorporated herein by this reference (b) Registrant's Certificate of Trust as filed as Exhibit 4.8 to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-1909 and incorporated herein by this reference (c) Registrant's Declaration of Trust as filed as Exhibit 4.9 to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-1909, as amended by the First Amendment to Declaration of Trust and filed as Exhibit 4.9.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-1909, each of which are incorporated herein by this reference (d) Form of Preferred Security included in the First Amendment to Declaration of Trust as filed as Exhibit 4.9.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-1909 and incorporated herein by this reference SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. "Registrant" EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES CAPITAL TRUST By:/s/ Fred S. Hubbell ______________________________________ Fred S. Hubbell, as Regular Trustee By:/s/ Paul E. Larson ______________________________________ Paul E. Larson, as Regular Trustee Date: July 22, 1996 SM "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.