Exhibit 1.1
                           AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc.
                                Debt Securities
                            -----------------------
                             Underwriting Agreement
                                                                 June 11, 1998

To the Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in the
respective Pricing Agreements
hereinafter described.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").  The Company was formed in connection
with a Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan"), pursuant to which American Mutual
Life Insurance Company, an Iowa mutual life insurance company ("American
Mutual") was reorganized into a mutual insurance holding company structure on
June 30, 1996.  The Company is the sole shareholder of AmerUs Life Insurance
Company, an Iowa stock life insurance company ("AmerUs Life"), which is the
successor company of American Mutual.  When the context requires, references
herein to AmerUs Life shall be deemed to be references to American Mutual prior
to the date AmerUs Life was formed. On October 23, 1997, the Company acquired
Delta Life Corporation ("Delta") and on December 19, 1997, the Company acquired
AmVestors Financial Corporation ("AmVestors").  The acquisition of Delta and the
acquisition of AmVestors are hereinafter referred to as the "Acquisition".

Following the offering of the Designated Securities, and subject to
obtaining the approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner, the Company intends
to offer up to $150 million of its unit securities, consisting of the Company's
subordinated debt securities and a contract to purchase shares of Class A Common
Stock, no par value ("Class A Common Stock") of the Company.  Such unit
securities are hereinafter referred to as the "Units" and the offering of the
Units is hereinafter referred to as the "Units Offering".  The consummation of
the offering of the Designated Securities and the Units Offering are not
conditioned on one another.

The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.

1.   Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to
time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives").  The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives.  This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities.  The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein.  Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the initial public
offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price to the
Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of
such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such
Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and the commission, if any, payable to the
Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date, time and manner
of delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor.  The Pricing
Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and
the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Securities.  A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an
executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an
exchange of facsimile communications or any other rapid transmission device
designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted.  The
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.

2.   The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:

          (a)  A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-50249) (the
     "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities and the
     Units has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
     "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective
     amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered
     to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration
     Statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
     prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the other
     Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form;
     other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the
     offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule
     462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which
     became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial
     Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has
     heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission (other
     than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and
     regulations of the Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore
     delivered to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective
     amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has
     been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the
     Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to
     Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary
     Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement, any
     post-effective amendment thereto and the Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and the documents
     incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the Initial
     Registration Statement at the time such part of the Initial Registration
     Statement became effective but excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the
     time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or
     such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or
     hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the
     "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Securities, in the
     form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing,
     with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being
     hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
     include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the
     applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary
     Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
     amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
     shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date
     of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
     incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
     the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Initial Registration
     Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the
     Company filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
     the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement that is
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference
     to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to
     the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
     Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
     hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the
     date of such filing);

          (b)  The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
     they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
     be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
     the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto,
     when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as
     the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements
     of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty shall
     not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an
     Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly
     for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such
     Securities;

          (c)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
     further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
     the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
     Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
     and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
     Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
     filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
     contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and
     warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
     upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
     by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives
     expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
     such Securities;

          (d)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained
     since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or
     interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of
     which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term
     debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse
     change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change,
     in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position,
     shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
     Prospectus;

          (e)  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title
     in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
     personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or
     such as do not materially affect the value of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not interfere with the use made and
     proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries;
     and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its
     subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
     leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with
     the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the
     Company and its subsidiaries; 

          (f)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
     a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa; each
     subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
     jurisdiction of incorporation; and each of the Company and its subsidiaries
     has the power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and
     conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been duly
     qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is
     in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns
     or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such
     qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
     reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;

          (g)  Each of the Company and the Company's subsidiaries that are
     required to be organized and licensed as insurance companies or insurance
     holding companies (the "Insurance Companies") is duly organized and
     licensed as an insurance or insurance holding company in its respective
     jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as the case may be, and is
     duly licensed or authorized in each other jurisdiction where it is required
     to be so licensed or authorized to conduct its business as described in the
     Prospectus, in each case with such exceptions, individually or in the
     aggregate, as would not have a material adverse effect on the general
     affairs, management, financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
     operations of the Company (such individual or aggregate effect being herein
     referred to as a "Material Adverse Effect"); each of the Insurance
     Companies is in compliance with the requirements of the insurance laws and
     regulations of its respective jurisdiction of organization or
     incorporation, as the case may be, and the insurance laws and regulations
     of other jurisdictions which are applicable to it, and has filed all
     notices, reports, documents or other information ("Notices") required to be
     filed thereunder, in each case, with such exceptions, individually or in
     the aggregate, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as
     otherwise specifically described in the Prospectus, no Insurance Company
     has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to
     the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent,
     license, certificate, permit, registration or qualification ("Approvals")
     from such insurance regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by any of
     the Insurance Companies in any case where it could be reasonably expected
     that obtaining such Approvals or the failure to obtain such Approvals would
     have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (h)  Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Insurance Companies
     has filed all Notices pursuant to, and has obtained all Approvals required
     to be obtained under, and has otherwise complied with all requirements of,
     all applicable insurance laws and regulations (excluding insurance securi-
     ties laws other than those of the State of Iowa), in connection with the
     issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the Units, in each case
     with the exception of the approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner (the
     "Commissioner") in connection with the Units Offering under Section 46.10
     of Division 191 under the Iowa Administrative Code ("191 IAC 46.10" or the
     "191 IAC 46.10 Exception")) and with such other exceptions (other than the
     insurance laws and regulations of the State of Iowa, as to which no
     exception, other than the 191 IAC 46.10 Exception, is taken), individually
     or in the aggregate, as would not affect the validity of the Designated
     Securities, their issuance or the transactions contemplated hereby or have
     a Material Adverse Effect; and no such Notices or Approvals are required to
     be filed or obtained by any of the Insurance Companies in connection with
     the issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the Units, in each
     case with the exception of the approval of the Commission in connection
     with the Units Offering under 191 IAC 46.10 and with such other exceptions
     (other than the insurance laws of the State of Iowa, as to which no
     exception, other than the 191 IAC 46.10 Exception, is taken), individually
     or in the aggregate, as would not affect the validity of the Designated
     Securities or the Units, their issuance or the transactions contemplated
     hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (i)  The Company and its subsidiaries previously filed all Notices
     required to be filed pursuant to, and previously obtained all Approvals
     required to be obtained under, and have otherwise complied with all
     requirements of, all applicable insurance laws and regulations in
     connection with the Acquisition, in each case (other than the insurance
     laws and regulations of the State of Iowa, in the case of the acquisition
     of Delta, and other than the laws and regulations of the State of Kansas
     and the State of Iowa, in the case of the acquisition of AmVestors, as to
     which no exception is taken in either case) with such exceptions as (i)
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) would not affect the
     validity, performance or consummation of the Acquisition;

          (j)  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
     Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
     have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
     non-assessable; all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
     subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
     are fully paid and non-assessable and except as disclosed in the Prospectus
     are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all
     liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

          (k)  The Securities and the Units have been duly authorized by the
     Company and the AmerUs Capital Trust II, as applicable, and, when
     Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement,
     the Indenture and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
     Securities, such Designated Securities will have been duly executed,
     authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally
     binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
     Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to
     the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly
     qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for
     such Designated Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture
     will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in
     accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating
     to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
     Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the
     descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
     with respect to such Designated Securities;

          (l)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus with resepct to the Units,
     the issue and sale of the Securities and the Units by the Company, the
     compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities and
     the Indenture, the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and any
     Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein and
     therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
     under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
     agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to
     which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of
     the provisions of the charter or other organizational documents or bylaws
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any statute or any order, rule
     or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
     jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
     properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
     qualification (each, a "Consent") of or with any such court or governmental
     agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities and the
     Units or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
     by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or the consummation by the
     Company of the transactions contemplated by the Indenture, except (i) the
     registration under the Act of the Securities; (ii) such as have been, or
     will have been prior to the Time of Delivery, obtained under the Trust
     Indenture Act; (iii) approvals required under the Iowa insurance laws and
     regulations, all of which approvals, with the exception of the approval of
     the Commission in connection with the Units Offering under 191 IAC 46.10,
     have been obtained; (iv) such consents, approvals, authorizations,
     registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities
     or Blue Sky laws (including insurance securities laws other than the
     insurance securities laws of the State of Iowa) in connection with the
     purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters; and
     (v) except as disclosed in the Prospectus;

          (m)  The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Description of Debt Securities" and "Description of Notes", insofar as
     they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and
     under the caption "Risk Factors   Regulatory and Related Risks"; "  Risks
     Relating to the Closed Block"; "Reorganization and Recent Acquisitions";
     "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to
     describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are
     accurate, complete and fair;

          (n)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in
     violation of its charter or other organizational documents or bylaws or
     (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation,
     agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed
     of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
     it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound which
     default would have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (o)  Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
     governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate
     have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
     a whole; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings
     are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
     others;

          (p)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is and, after
     giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will be an
     "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company",
     as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
     (the "Investment Company Act");

          (q)  Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with
     the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba
     within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes; 

          (r)  KPMG Peat Marwick L.L.P., who have certified certain financial
     statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P.,
     who have certified certain financial statements of Delta and its
     subsidiaries, and Deloitte & Touche, L.L.P., who have certified certain
     financial statements of AmVestors and its subsidiaries, are each
     independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder; and

          (s)  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
     Designated Securities have each been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company.

3.   Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such
Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

4.   (a)  Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter
pursuant to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in
such Pricing Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in
such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours'
prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company
to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by
such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor to the Company
in funds specified in such Pricing Agreement, all in the manner and at the place
and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and
time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such
Securities.    

(b)  The documents to be delivered at the Time of Delivery for the
Designated Securities specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement by or on
behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the cross
receipt for the Designated Securities specified in the applicable Pricing
Agreement and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to
Section 7(j) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell,
125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 (the "Closing Location"), and the
Designated Securities will be delivered at the Closing Location, all at such
Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 2:30 p.m.,
New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of
Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered
pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties
hereto.  For the purposes of this Agreement "New York Business Day" shall mean
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.

5.   The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:

          (a)  To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation
     to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
     Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
     the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second
     business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement
     relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such
     earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; to make no
     further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing
     Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and prior to the Time of
     Delivery for such Designated Securities which shall be disapproved by the
     Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable notice
     thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or
     supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with
     copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or
     information statements required to be filed by the Company with the
     Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange
     Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection
     with the offering or sale of such Securities, and during such same period
     to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof,
     of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
     or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
     Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the
     Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the
     use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the
     qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
     of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or
     of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in
     the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order
     preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the
     Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best
     efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

          (b)  Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
     Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
     offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
     Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit
     the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as
     long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Securities,
     provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to
     qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
     process in any jurisdiction;

          (c)  Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business
     Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to
     furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City as
     amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may
     reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any
     time in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at
     such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus
     as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any
     other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or
     supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the
     Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the
     Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare
     and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in
     securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time
     reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the
     Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
     compliance;

          (d)  To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
     practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
     effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
     under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
     (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the
     rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the
     option of the Company, Rule 158);

          (e)  During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
     Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including
     the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such
     Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives
     and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer,
     sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the
     Company which mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and
     which are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the
     prior written consent of Salomon Brothers Inc and Goldman, Sachs & Co.;

          (f)  If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall
     file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance
     with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
     Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the
     Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or
     give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule
     111(b) under the Act;

          (g)  During a period of five years from the effective date of the
     Registration Statement, to furnish Salomon Brothers Inc and to Goldman,
     Sachs & Co. copies of all reports or other communications (financial or
     other) furnished to shareholders, and deliver to Salomon Brothers Inc and
     Goldman, Sachs & Co. (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any
     reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission
     or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the
     Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the
     business and financial condition of the Company as the Underwriters may
     from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a
     consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its
     subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its shareholders
     generally or to the Commission);

          (h)  To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the
     Designated Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under the
     caption "Use of Proceeds"; and

          (i)  Not to invest, reinvest or otherwise use the proceeds received by
     the Company in such a manner, or take any action, or omit to take any
     action, that would cause the Company to become an "investment company" as
     that term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

6.   The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (a) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (b) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents
(including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with
the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Designated Securities; (c) all
expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and
sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
such qualification; (d) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the
Securities on a national securities exchange; (e) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities; (f) the filing fees incident to, and
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with,
any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of
the terms of the sale of the Securities; (g) the cost of preparing the
Securities; (h) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any
Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection
with any Indenture and the Securities; and (i) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of the Company's obligations hereunder which are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Section.  It is understood, however,
that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of
their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and
any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

7.   The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or
incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the
following additional conditions:

(a)  The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such
filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section
5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M.,
Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have
been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the
part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives'
reasonable satisfaction;

(b)  Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for
such Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
this Agreement, the validity of the Designated Securities being delivered at
such time of delivery, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and such other
related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel
shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request
to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c)     Counsel for the Company satisfactory to the Representatives shall have
furnished to the Representatives their written opinion (a draft of such opinion
is attached as Annex II(b) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, to the effect that:

            (i)   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
        as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa,
        with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
        and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented;

           (ii)   The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in
        the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued shares
        of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized
        and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;

          (iii)   To such counsel's knowledge and other than as set forth in the
        Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there are no legal or
        governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
        subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
        of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to
        the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
        aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of such
        counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
        contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

           (iv)   This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
        Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
        delivered by the Company;

            (v)   The Designated Securities and the Units have been duly
        authorized; the Designated Securities have been duly executed,
        authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally
        binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided
        by the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms,
        subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
        fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other laws
        of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
        and to general equity principles (whether such principles are
        considered in a proceeding in equity or in law); and the Designated
        Securities and the Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in
        the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

           (vi)   The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
        by the parties thereto and, assuming due authorization, execution and
        delivery by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding
        instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
        enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
        transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other laws of general
        applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
        general equity principles (whether such principles are considered in a
        proceeding in equity or in law); and the Indenture has been duly
        qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

          (vii)   The statements set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented under the captions "Description of Debt Securities", and
        "Description of Notes" insofar as they purport to constitute a summary
        of the terms of the Designated Securities, and under the captions
        "Risk Factors   Regulatory and Related Risks"; "  Risks Relating to
        the Closed Block"; "Reorganization and Recent Acquisitions"; "Plan of
        Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe
        the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are
        accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;

         (viii)   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is an
        "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment
        company", as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act;

           (ix)   The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
        amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
        related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
        opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
        Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material
        respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
        applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
        thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any of such
        documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case
        may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which
        became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact
        or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
        necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the
        case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
        Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or
        omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
        statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
        were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and

            (x)   The Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto made
        by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the Designated
        Securities (other than the financial statements, financial data and
        related schedules therein and Form T-1, as to which such counsel need
        express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with
        the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules
        and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume any
        responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
        statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
        except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (vi) of this
        Section 7(c), nothing has come to their attention which would cause
        them to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration
        Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior
        to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements,
        financial data and related schedules therein and Form T-1, as to which
        such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of
        a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
        stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
        misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by
        the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial
        statements, financial data and related schedules therein and Form T-1,
        as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue
        statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
        necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
        circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that, as
        of the Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the
        Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
        supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery
        (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein and
        Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains
        an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
        fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
        circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and they do
        not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be
        filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required to
        be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be
        incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented or required to be described in the Registration Statement
        or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or
        incorporated by reference or described as required;

        In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that insofar as
   their opinion under clause (x) above relates to the accuracy and
   completeness of the Prospectus and Registration Statement and amendments or
   supplements thereto, it is based upon a general review with representatives
   of the Company, AmerUs Life, Delta and AmVestors, and their independent
   accountants, of the information contained therein, without independent
   verification by such counsel of the accuracy or completeness of such
   information. Such counsel may also rely upon the opinions of other
   competent counsel and, as to factual matters, on certificates of officers
   of the Company, AmerUs Life, Delta or AmVestors and of state officials, in
   which case their opinion is to state that they are so doing and copies of
   such opinions or certificates are to be attached to the opinion unless such
   opinions or certificates (or, in the case of certificates, the information
   therein) have been furnished to the Representatives otherwise.

        In rendering such opinion, such counsel may also state that they have
   relied as to facts necessary to the determination of materiality, to a
   certain extent, upon the judgment of officers and representatives of the
   Company, Delta, AmVestors or AmerUs Life.

        Any opinion or statement expressed or made pursuant to this Section
   7(c) which is expressed or made to be "to our knowledge" or is otherwise
   qualified by words of like import means that the lawyers in the firm of
   such counsel who have served as counsel to the Company, AmerUs Group, AMHC,
   AmerUs Life (or, at any time prior to the date AmerUs Life was formed,
   American Mutual) or any other subsidiary of the Company have no current
   conscious awareness of any facts or information contrary to such opinion or
   statement.

(d)     Joseph K. Haggerty, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel of
the Company, shall have furnished to you his written opinion, dated the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to
you, to the effect that:

        (i)   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
        a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa,
        AmerUs Life and Delta have each been duly incorporated and are validly
        existing as a stock life insurance company in good standing under the
        laws of the State of Iowa, and American Investors Life Insurance
        Company ("American") and Financial Benefit Life Insurance Company
        ("FBL") have each been duly incorporated and are validly existing as
        stock insurance companies in good standing under the laws of the State
        of Kansas,  each with power and authority (corporate and other) to own
        its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
        as amended or supplemented;

        (ii)   The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
        Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued shares of
        capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
        issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;

        (iii)   Each of the Company and its subsidiaries not listed in paragraph
        7(d)(i) has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the
        transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each
        other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts
        any business so as to require such qualification or is subject to no
        material liability or disability by reason of failure to be so
        qualified in any such jurisdiction (such counsel being entitled to
        rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local
        counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of
        officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, provided that such
        counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are
        justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);

           (iv)   Each of the Company's subsidiaries not listed in
        paragraph 7(d)(i) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
        as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
        of incorporation; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of
        each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized
        and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and, except as
        disclosed in the Prospectus, are owned directly or indirectly by the
        Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims
        (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this
        clause upon opinions of local counsel and in respect to matters of
        fact upon certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
        subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes
        that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and
        certificates);

        (v)   The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title
        in fee simple to all real property owned by them, in each case free
        and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are
        described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or such as do
        not materially affect the value of the Company and its subsidiaries,
        taken as a whole, and do not interfere with the use made and proposed
        to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and
        any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and
        its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and
        enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not
        interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property
        and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries (in giving the
        opinion in this clause, such counsel may state that no examination of
        record titles for the purpose of such opinion has been made, and that
        he is relying upon a general review of the titles of the Company and
        its subsidiaries, upon opinions of local counsel and abstracts,
        reports and policies of title companies rendered or issued at or
        subsequent to the time of acquisition of such property by the Company
        or its subsidiaries, upon opinions of counsel to the lessors of such
        property and, in respect to matters of fact, upon certificates of
        officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such
        counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are
        justified in relying upon such opinions, abstracts, reports, policies
        and certificates);

        (vi)   Except as disclosed in the Prospectus with respect to the Units,
        the issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the Units by the
        Company, the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of
        the Designated Securities and the Indenture, the compliance by the
        Company with this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
        the Designated Securities, and the consummation of the transactions
        herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
        breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
        constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
        loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel
        to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which
        the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the
        property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
        subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the
        provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the
        Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such
        counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
        jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
        their properties except that in order to commence the Units Offering,
        the Company must obtain the approval of the Commissioner under 191 IAC
        46.10;

          (vii)   To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set
        forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there are no legal
        or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
        subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
        of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to
        the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
        aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of such
        counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
        contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

         (viii)   This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
        Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
        delivered by the Company;

           (ix)   The Company and its subsidiaries previously filed all Notices
        required to be filed pursuant to, and previously obtained all
        Approvals required to be obtained under, and have otherwise complied
        with all requirements of, all applicable insurance laws and
        regulations in connection with the Acquisition, in each case (other
        than the insurance laws and regulations of the State of Iowa, in the
        case of the acquisition of Delta, and other than the laws and
        regulations of the State of Kansas, in the case of the acquisition of
        AmVestors, as to which no exception is taken in either case) with such
        exceptions as (i) would not have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii)
        would not affect the validity, performance or consummation of the
        Acquisition;    

(x)      Each of the Insurance Companies is duly organized and licensed,
        or qualifies, as an insurance or insurance holding company in its
        respective jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as the case
        may be, and is duly licensed or authorized in each other jurisdiction
        where it is required to be so licensed or authorized to conduct its
        business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, in
        each case with such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, as
        would not have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Insurance
        Companies is in compliance with the requirements of the insurance laws
        and regulations of its respective jurisdiction of organization or
        incorporation, as the case may be, and the insurance laws and
        regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable to it, and has
        filed all Notices required to be filed thereunder, in each case, with
        such exceptions as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and,
        except as otherwise specifically described in the Prospectus as
        amended or supplemented and except pursuant to the approval of the
        Commission in connection with the Units Offering under 191 IAC 46.10,
        no Insurance Company has received any notification from any insurance
        regulatory authority to the effect that any additional Approvals from
        such insurance regulatory authority are needed to be obtained by any
        of the Insurance Companies in any case where it could be reasonably
        expected that obtaining such Approvals or the failure to obtain such
        Approvals would have a Material Adverse Effect;

        (xi)   Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Insurance Companies
        has filed all Notices pursuant to, and has obtained all Approvals
        required to be obtained under, and has otherwise complied with all
        requirements of, all applicable insurance laws and regulations
        (excluding insurance securities laws other than those of the State of
        Iowa), in connection with the issuance and sale of the Designated
        Securities and the Units, in each case with the exception of the
        approval of the Commission in connection with the Units Offering under
        191 IAC 46.10 and such other exceptions (other than the insurance laws
        of the State of Iowa, as to which no exception, other than the 191 IAC
        46.10 Exception, is taken), individually or in the aggregate, as would
        not affect the validity of the Designated Securities, their issuance
        or the transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse
        Effect; and no such Notices or Approvals are required to be filed or
        obtained by any of the Insurance Companies in connection with the
        issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the Units, in each
        case with the exception of the approval of the Commission in
        connection with the Units Offering under 191 IAC 46.10 and such other
        exceptions (other than the insurance laws and regulations of the State
        of Iowa, as to which no exception, other than the 191 IAC 46.10
        Exception, is taken), individually or in the aggregate, as would not
        affect the validity of the Designated Securities, their issuance or
        the transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse
        Effect;

          (xii)   No Consent of or with any court or governmental agency or body
        having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any
        of their properties is required for the issue and sale of the
        Designated Securities or the Units or the consummation by the Company
        of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Pricing
        Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the transactions
        contemplated by the Indenture, except (i) the registration under the
        Act of the Designated Securities, (ii) such as have been obtained
        under the Trust Indenture Act, (iii) such  Consents as may be required
        under state securities, insurance securities or Blue Sky laws in
        connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated
        Securities or the Units by the Underwriters and (iv) approvals
        required under the Iowa insurance laws and regulations, all of which
        approvals, with the exception of the approval of the Commission in
        connection with the Units Offering under 191 IAC 46.10, have been
        obtained;

        (xiii)   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
        of its charter or other organizational documents or bylaws or in
        default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
        agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage,
        deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument
        to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be
        bound;

          (xiv)   The statements set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
        supplemented under the captions "Description of the Debt Securities"
        and "Description of the Notes"; "Risk Factors   Regulatory and Related
        Risks"; "  Risks Relating to the Closed Block"; "Reorganization and
        Recent Acquisitions"; "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting",
        insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and
        documents referred to therein; are in each case accurate, complete and
        fair in all material respects; and

         (xv)   Although he does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
        completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
        Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
        except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (xiv) of
        this Section 7(d), he has no reason to believe that, as of its
        effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment
        thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than
        the financial statements, financial data and related schedules therein
        and Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
        contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein not misleading or that, as of their respective
        dates, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further
        amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time
        of Delivery (other than the financial statements, financial data and
        related schedules therein and Form T-1, as to which such counsel need
        express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact
        or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
        therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
        not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery, any of the
        Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
        or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company
        prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements,
        financial data and related schedules therein and Form T-1, as to which
        such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of
        a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make
        the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
        they were made, not misleading; and he does not know of any amendment
        to the Registration Statement required to be filed or of any contracts
        or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit
        to the Registration Statement or required to be described in the
        Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
        which are not filed or described as required.

        In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that insofar as his
   opinion under clause (xv) above relates to the accuracy and completeness of
   the Prospectus and Registration Statement and amendments or supplements
   thereto, it is based upon a general review with representatives of the
   Company and AmerUs Life, and their independent accountants, of the
   information contained therein, without independent verification by such
   counsel of the accuracy or completeness of such information.  Such counsel
   may also rely upon the opinions of other competent counsel and, as to
   factual matters, on certificates of officers of the Company or AmerUs Life
   and of state officials, in which case his opinion is to state that he is so
   doing and copies of such opinions or certificates are to be attached to the
   opinion unless such opinions or certificates (or, in the case of
   certificates, the information therein) have been furnished to the
   Representatives otherwise.

   (e)  On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities at
a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have certified the
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to
the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the Registration
Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with the Commission
containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than such effective
date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set
forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of
Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request
and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy
of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as
Annex III hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and
as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex IV hereto);

(f)     (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the
Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities any loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus
as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating
to the Designated Securities there shall not have been any change in the capital
stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change,
or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general
affairs, management, financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing
Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the effect of which, in any
such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the
Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Designated
Securities;

(g)     On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded AmerUs Life's, Delta Life and Annuity Company's ("Delta Life"),
American or FBL's financial strength or claims paying ability by A.M. Best or by
any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is
defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act (a
"Rating Organization"); and (ii) no such Rating Organization shall have publicly
announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative
implications, its rating of AmerUs Life's, Delta Life's, American's or FBL's
financial strength or claims paying ability; and (iii) no downgrading shall have
occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock
or the Company's financial strength or claims paying ability by any Rating
Organization, and (iv) no Rating Organization shall have publicly announced that
it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its
rating of any of the Company's debt securities or preferred stock or the
Company's financial strength or claims paying ability;

        (h)  On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotations National Market ("NASDAQ"); (ii) a suspension or material
limitation in trading in the Company's securities on NASDAQ; (iii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New
York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities
involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in this
Clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Designated
Securities;

        (i)  The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section
5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York
Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and

        (j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the respective representations and
warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the
performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed
at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections
(a) and (f) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives
may reasonably request.

8. (a)  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
relating to such Securities.

(b)     Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus
supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

(c)     Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection.  In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, without the written
consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be
sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential
party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment
(i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)     If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof), referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities
on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. 
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this Subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d).  The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The obligations of the
Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect
to such Securities and not joint.

(e)     The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

9. (a)  If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein.  If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to
purchase such Designated Securities on such terms.  In the event that, within
the respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Company that
they have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the
Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of
such Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the
right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a
period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may
thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the
Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the
Representatives may thereby be made necessary.  The term "Underwriter" as used
in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with
like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing
Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities.

(b)     If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of
the Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated
Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement
relating to such Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.

(c)     If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10.     The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the indemnity agreement of
the Company in subsection (a) of Section 8 hereof, the representations and
warranties in subsections (b) and (c) of Section 2 hereof and any representation
or warranty as to the accuracy of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
contained in any certificate furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 7
hereof, insofar as they may constitute a basis for indemnification for
liabilities (other than payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) arising under the Act,
shall not extend to the extent of any interest therein of a controlling person
or partner of an Underwriter who is a director, officer or controlling person of
the Company when the Registration Statement has become effective, except in each
case to the extent that an interest of such character shall have been determined
by a court of appropriate jurisdiction as not against public policy as expressed
in the Act.  Unless in the opinion of counsel for the Company the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, the Company will, if a claim for such
indemnification is asserted, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question of whether such interest is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

11.     If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

12.     In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' questionnaire, or telex constituting such
questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request.  Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

13.     This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent
provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company
and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.

14.     Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement.  As used
herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office
in Washington, D.C.  is open for business.

15.     This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

16.     This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one
or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

                                 Very truly yours,
                                 AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc.
                                 By: /s/ Roger K. Brooks                
                                      ------------------------------------
                                       Name: Roger K. Brooks
                                       Title: Chairman, President and 
                                            Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>
                                                                             



                               Pricing Agreement

Salomon Brothers Inc
Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
   As Representatives of the several
        Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Salomon Brothers Inc,
388 Greenwich Street,
New York, New York 10013.
                                                               June 11, 1998
Ladies and Gentlemen:

AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting
Agreement, dated June 11, 1998 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), to issue and sell
to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the
Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities").  Each
of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to
the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and
each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to
have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement.  Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you.  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined.  The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.

An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto,
the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the
Underwriters, on the one hand, and the Company and AmerUs Life Insurance
Company, on the other hand.  It is understood that your acceptance of this
letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the
authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which
shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without
warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers
thereof.
                                      Very truly yours,
                                      AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc.
                                      By: /s/ Roger K. Brooks                
                                           -------------------------------
                                            Name: Roger K. Brooks
                                            Title: Chairman, President and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer

Accepted as of the date hereof:
Salomon Brothers Inc
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Chase Securities Inc.
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation

Salomon Brothers Inc

By:  /s/ Tim Devine                                                 
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
       Name: Tim Devine
       Title: Associate

   ---------------------------------------

   On behalf of each of the Underwriters
                                    SCHEDULE I







                                                                    Principal
                                                                    Amount of
                                                                    Designated
                                                                    Securities
                                                                    to be
                                 Underwriter                        Purchased
                                 -----------                        ----------
Salomon Brothers Inc$  43,750,000
Goldman,  Sachs & Co.    43,750,000
Chase Securities Inc    18,750,000
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation    18,750,000
                                                                    ----------
        Total $125,000,000
                                                                    ==========
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
   Title of Designated Securities:
   6.95% Senior Notes due 2005
Aggregate principal amount:
   $125,000,000
Price to Public:
   99.880% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
   interest, if any, 
   from June 16, 1998
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
   99.255% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
   interest, if any, from June 16, 1998
Form of Designated Securities:

   Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities deposited
   with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian, to be
   made available for checking by the Representatives at least twenty-four hours
   prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of DTC.
Specified funds for payment of purchase price:
   Wire transfer of Federal (same day) funds
Time of Delivery:
   9:30 a.m. (New York City time), June 16, 1998
Indenture:
   Indenture dated June 16, 1998, between the Company and First Union National
   Bank, as Trustee
Maturity:

   June 15, 2005
Interest Rate:
   6.950%
Interest Payment Dates:
   June 15 and December 15, commencing December 15, 1998
Redemption Provisions:
   No provisions for redemption
Sinking Fund Provisions:
   No sinking fund provisions
Defeasance provisions:

   The provisions of the Indenture relating to defeasance set forth in Article
   IV thereof apply to the Designated Securities.

Closing location for delivery of Designated Securities:

   Sullivan & Cromwell
   125 Broad Street
   New York, New York  10004

Names and addresses of Representatives:
   Designated Representatives:

        Salomon Brothers Inc
        Goldman, Sachs & Co.

   Address for Notices, etc.:

        c/o Salomon Brothers Inc
        388 Greenwich Street
        New York, New York  10013
                                                                            
<PAGE>
                                                                       ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

  (i)   They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published rules and regulations thereunder;

 (ii)   In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
financial information and schedules audited (and, if applicable, financial
forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by them and included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the related
published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a
review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements,
selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial forecasts
and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited financial statements
of the Company for the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their
reports thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the representative or
representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to include
an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as its
or their representatives and are attached hereto;

(iii)   They have made a review in accordance with standards established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited condensed
consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated
statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included in the
Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus as indicated in their reports thereon copies of which are attached
hereto; and on the basis of specified procedures including inquiries of
officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting
matters regarding whether the unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing came to
their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange
Act and the related published rules and regulations;

 (iv)   The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company for the
five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and included or
incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the corresponding amounts (after
restatement where applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements
for five such fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in
the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

  (v)   They have compared the information in the Prospectus under selected
captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on the basis of
limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to their attention as a
result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to believe that this
information does not conform in all material respects with the disclosure
requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;

 (vi)   On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a reading
of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred to below, a
reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Company and its
subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the
Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters
and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter,
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

        (A)  (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
   consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
   included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference in
   the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in
   the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
   applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the related
   published rules and regulations, or (ii) any material modifications should
   be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
   consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
   included in the Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports
   on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in
   conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

        (B)  any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items
   included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in the
   unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items
   were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on
   a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding
   amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
   incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
   the most recent fiscal year;

        (C)  the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the
   Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed financial
   statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income statement
   data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in
   Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the
   basis for the audited financial statements included or incorporated by
   reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
   fiscal year;

        (D)  any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements
   included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to
   form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
   of the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro
   forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts
   in the compilation of those statements;

        (E)  as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of
   such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock
   (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock
   appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon
   conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding
   on the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
   reference in the Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term
   debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated
   net current assets or stockholders' equity or other items specified by the
   Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
   Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest
   balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
   except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the
   Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in
   such letter; and

        (F)  for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
   included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the specified
   date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated net
   revenues or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of
   consolidated net income or other items specified by the Representatives, or
   any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case
   as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any
   other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives,
   except in each case for increases or decreases which the Prospectus
   discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
   and

(vii)   In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures,
inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in
paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out certain specified
procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
information specified by the Representatives which are derived from the general
accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the
Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or
in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the
Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of such amounts,
percentages and financial information with the accounting records of the Company
and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.

All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as
defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on
the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities.