EQUITY INCOME FUND SEL TEN PORT 1997 INTL SR A UK & J DEF
487, 1997-01-24
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-15199

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                       ---------------------------------
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
 
                                    FORM S-6

 
                       ---------------------------------
 
                   FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                    OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
                        TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
 
                       ---------------------------------
 
A. EXACT NAME OF TRUST:
 
                               EQUITY INCOME FUND
                SELECT TEN PORTFOLIO 1997 INTERNATIONAL SERIES A
                     (UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN PORTFOLIOS)
                              DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
 
B. NAMES OF DEPOSITORS:
 
               MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                       PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
 
C. COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF DEPOSITORS' PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
 

 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,      SMITH BARNEY INC.    DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
        FENNER &           388 GREENWICH STREET        TWO WORLD TRADE
   SMITH INCORPORATED           23RD FLOOR           CENTER--59TH FLOOR
   DEFINED ASSET FUNDS      NEW YORK, NY 10013       NEW YORK, NY 10048
      P.O. BOX 9051
PRINCETON, NJ 08543-9051

 

  PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES  PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
      INCORPORATED          1285 AVENUE OF THE
   ONE NEW YORK PLAZA            AMERICAS
   NEW YORK, NY 10292       NEW YORK, NY 10019

 
D. NAMES AND COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF AGENTS FOR SERVICE:
 

  TERESA KONCICK, ESQ.      LAURIE A. HESSLEIN       LEE B. SPENCER, JR.
      P.O. BOX 9051        388 GREENWICH STREET      ONE NEW YORK PLAZA
PRINCETON, NJ 08543-9051   NEW YORK, N.Y. 10013      NEW YORK, NY 10292
 
                                                         COPIES TO:
    ROBERT E. HOLLEY        DOUGLAS LOWE, ESQ.     PIERRE DE SAINT PHALLE,
   1285 AVENUE OF THE    130 LIBERTY STREET--29TH           ESQ.
        AMERICAS                   FLOOR            450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
   NEW YORK, NY 10019       NEW YORK, NY 10006       NEW YORK, NY 10017

 
E. TITLE AND AMOUNT OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:
 
  An indefinite number of Units of Beneficial Interest pursuant to Rule 24f-2
       promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
F. PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE SECURITIES BEING
REGISTERED: Indefinite
 
G. AMOUNT OF FILING FEE: Not applicable
 
/ x / Check box if it is proposed that this Registration Statement will become
effective upon filing on January 24, 1997 pursuant to Rule 487.
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
   
                                        DEFINED ASSET FUNDSSM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

EQUITY INCOME FUND            The objective of these Defined Portfolios is total
SELECT TEN PORTFOLIO          return through a combination of capital
1997 INTERNATIONAL            appreciation and current dividend income.
SERIES A                      The common stocks in the United Kingdom Portfolio
UNITED KINGDOM                were selected by following a strategy that invests
AND                           for a period of about one year in the ten common
JAPAN PORTFOLIOS              stocks in the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary
(UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS)      Share Index (the FT Index) having the highest
- ------------------------------dividend yields two business days prior to the
/ / DESIGNED FOR TOTAL RETURN date of this Prospectus.
/ / DEFINED PORTFOLIOS OF 10  The common stocks in the Japan Portfolio were
    HIGHEST DIVIDEND YIELDING selected by following a strategy that invests for
    INDEX STOCKS              a period of about one year in the ten common
/ / DIVIDEND INCOME           stocks in the Nikkei 225 Index having the highest
                              dividend yields five business days prior to the
                              date of this Prospectus.
                              The Portfolios, especially the Japan Portfolio,
                              may be considered speculative and therefore they
                              may be appropriate only for those investors able
                              and willing to assume the increased risks of
                              higher price volatility and currency fluctuations
                              associated with investments in international
                              equities. The Portfolios should be considered as
                              vehicles for investing a portion of an investor's
                              assets in foreign securities and not as a complete
                              equity investment program. The value of units will
                              fluctuate with the value of the common stocks in
                              the applicable Portfolio and with currency
                              fluctuations and no assurance can be given that
                              dividends will be paid or that the units will
                              appreciate in value.
                              Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts herein are
                              stated in U.S. dollars computed on the basis of
                              the exchange rate for British pounds sterling or
                              Japanese yen, as applicable, on January 24, 1997.
                              An investor may invest in Units of one or both
                              Portfolios.
                              Minimum purchase: $250 per Portfolio.

 

                               -------------------------------------------------
                               THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR
                               DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                               COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
SPONSORS:                      HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
Merrill Lynch,                 COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
Pierce, Fenner & Smith         OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
Incorporated                   CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Smith Barney Inc.              Inquiries should be directed to the Trustee at
PaineWebber Incorporated       1-800-323-1508.
Prudential Securities          Prospectus dated January 24, 1997.
Incorporated                   INVESTORS SHOULD READ THIS PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.      AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

    
 
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Defined Asset FundsSM

   
Defined Asset Funds is America's oldest and largest family of unit investment
trusts, with over $115 billion sponsored in the last 25 years. Each Defined
Asset Fund is a portfolio of preselected securities. The portfolio is divided
into 'units' representing equal shares of the underlying assets. Each unit
receives an equal share of income and principal distributions.
    
 
Defined Asset Funds offer several defined 'distinctives'. You know in advance
what you are investing in and that changes in the portfolio are limited - a
defined portfolio. Most defined bond funds pay interest monthly - defined
income. The portfolio offers a convenient and simple way to invest - simplicity
defined.
 
Your financial professional can help you select a Defined Asset Fund to meet
your personal investment objectives. Our size and market presence enable us to
offer a wide variety of investments. The Defined Asset Funds family offers:
 
o Municipal bond portfolios
o Corporate bond portfolios
o Government bond portfolios
o Equity portfolios
o International bond and equity portfolios
 
The terms of Defined Funds are as short as one year or as long as 30 years.
Special defined bond funds are available including: insured funds, double and
triple tax-free funds and funds with 'laddered maturities' to help protect
against changing interest rates. Defined Asset Funds are offered by prospectus
only.
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining the Strategy
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
   
The Select Ten Portfolios follow a simple, time-tested Strategy: buy
approximately equal amounts of the ten highest dividend-yielding common stocks
(Strategy Stocks) of the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary Share Index or the
Nikkei 225 Index* and hold them for about one year. At the end of the year, each
Portfolio will be liquidated and the Strategy reapplied to that Index to select
a new portfolio. As of two business days prior to the initial date of deposit,
Select Ten Portfolios hold approximately $1.3 billion of the International
Strategy Stocks. Each Select Ten Portfolio is designed to be part of a longer
term strategy and investors are advised to follow the Strategy for at least 
three to five years. So long as the Sponsors continue to offer new portfolios, 
investors will have the option to reinvest into a new portfolio each year at a 
reduced sales charge. The Sponsors reserve the right not to offer new 
portfolios.
    

- ---------
* The publishers of these Indexes are not affiliated with the Sponsors, have not
participated in any way in the creation of the Portfolios or in the selection of
stocks included in the Portfolios and have not reviewed or approved any
information included in this Prospectus.
 
 
The Strategy provides a disciplined approach to investing based on a buy and
hold philosophy, which ignores market timing and investment research and rejects
active management. The Sponsors anticipate that each Portfolio will remain
unchanged over its one-year life despite any adverse developments concerning an
issuer, an industry or the economy or a stock market generally.
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your Risks
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
The Strategy Stocks, as the 10 highest dividend yielding stocks in the related
Index, generally share attributes that have caused them to have lower prices or
higher yields relative to the other stocks in those Indexes. The Strategy Stocks
may, for example, be experiencing financial difficulty, or be out of favor in
the market because of weak performance, poor earnings forecasts or negative
publicity; or they may be reacting to general market cycles. The Strategy is
therefore contrarian in nature. The Strategy Stocks are chosen solely by
application of the Strategy to determine the highest-yielding Index stocks. The
Portfolios do not reflect any investment recommendations of the Sponsors and one
or more of the stocks in a Portfolio may, from time to time, be subject to sell
recommendations from one or more of the Sponsors.
 
The Portfolios are not appropriate investments for those who are not comfortable
with the Strategy. They may not be appropriate for investors seeking either
preservation of capital or high current income, nor would they be appropriate
for investors unable or unwilling to assume the increased risks of higher price
volatility and currency fluctuations associated with investments in
international equities trading in non-U.S. currencies. The Portfolios should be
considered as vehicles for investing a portion of an investor's assets in
foreign securities and not as a complete equity investment program.
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
There can be no assurance that the market factors that caused the relatively low
prices and high yields of the Strategy Stocks will change, that any negative
conditions adversely affecting the stock price will not deteriorate, that the
dividend rates on the Strategy Stocks will be maintained or that share prices
will not decline further during the life of a Portfolio, or that the Strategy
Stocks will continue to be included in the related Index. Investors should note
that the composition of the related Indexes may change with greater frequency
than comparable United States stock indexes and that a Strategy Stock which is
deleted from the related Index or delisted from the related stock exchange may
suffer a significant decrease in liquidity or price deterioration.
 
Unit price fluctuates with the value of a Portfolio, and the value of a
Portfolio could be affected by changes in the financial condition of the
issuers, changes in the various industries represented in the Portfolios,
movements in stock prices generally and in currency exchange rates, the impact
of purchase and sale of securities for a Portfolio (especially during the
primary offering period of units and during the rollover period) and other
factors. Also, the return on an investment in a Portfolio will be lower than the
hypothetical returns on Strategy Stocks because the Portfolio has sales charges,
brokerage commissions and expenses, purchases Strategy Stocks at different
prices and is not fully invested at all times and because of other factors
described under Performance Information.
 
Unlike mutual funds, the Portfolios are not actively managed and the Sponsors
receive no management fee. The adverse financial condition of an issuer or any
market movement in the price of a security will not require the sale of
securities from a Portfolio. Although the Sponsors may instruct the Trustee to
sell securities under certain limited circumstances, given the investment
philosophy of the Portfolios, the Sponsors are not likely to do so. The
Portfolios may continue to purchase or hold securities originally selected even
though the market value and yields on the securities may have changed or the
securities may no longer be included in the related Index.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your Investment
- ---------------------------------------------------
   
 
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PER 1,000 UNITS                                  $1,000.00
 
The Public Offering Price as of January 24, 1997 is based on the aggregate value
of the underlying securities and any cash held to purchase securities, divided
by the number of units outstanding times 1,000, plus the initial sales charge.
The Public Offering Price on any subsequent date will vary. The underlying
securities are valued by the Trustee on every business day on the basis of their
closing sale prices (11:30 a.m. New York Time for the London Stock Exchange, and
1:00 a.m. New York Time for the Tokyo Stock Exchange).
 
SALES CHARGES
 
The total sales charge for this investment combines an initial up-front sales
charge and a deferred sales charge that will be deducted from the net asset
value of a Portfolio monthly beginning April 1, 1997 and thereafter on the 1st
of each month through January 1, 1998.
 
ROLLOVER OPTION
 
When these Select Ten International Portfolios are about to terminate, you may
have the option to roll your proceeds into the next portfolio of the then
current Strategy Stocks. If you hold your Units with one of the Sponsors and
notify your financial adviser by January 28, 1998, your units will be redeemed
and your proceeds will be reinvested in units of a new United Kingdom or Japan
Portfolio. If you decide not to roll over your proceeds, you will receive a cash
distribution after the Fund terminates. Of course you can sell or redeem your
Units at any time prior to termination.
    
 
REINVESTMENT OPTION
 
You can elect to automatically reinvest your distributions into additional units
of a Portfolio subject only to the deferred sales charge remaining at the time
of reinvestment. Reinvesting helps to compound your income for a greater total
return.
 
TAXES
 
In the opinion of counsel, you will be considered to have received all the
dividends paid on your pro rata portion of each security in a Portfolio when
those dividends are received by the Portfolio, even though a portion of the
dividend payments may be used to pay expenses of the Portfolio and regardless of
whether you reinvest your dividends in the Portfolio.
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
TAX BASIS REPORTING
 
The proceeds received when you sell this investment will reflect the deduction
of the deferred sales charge and the charge for organizational expenses. In
addition, the annual statement and the relevant tax reporting forms you receive
at year-end will be based upon the amount paid to you (net of the deferred sales
charge and the charge for organizational expenses). Accordingly, you should not
increase your basis in your units by the deferred sales charge and the charge
for organizational expenses. (See Taxes).
 
TERMINATION DATE
   
 
The Portfolios will terminate by February 27, 1998. The final distribution will
be made within a reasonable time afterward. A Portfolio may be terminated
earlier if its value is less than 40% of the value of the securities when
deposited.
    
 
SPONSORS' PROFIT OR LOSS
 
The Sponsors' profit or loss from the Portfolios will include applicable sales
charges, fluctuations in the Public Offering Price or secondary market price of
units and a gain or loss on the initial and subsequent deposits of securities
(see Defined Portfolios; Sponsors' and Underwriters' Profits in Part B).
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your Costs
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
SALES CHARGES
 
First-time investors pay a 1% maximum sales charge when they buy. For example,
on a $1,000 investment, $990 is invested in the Strategy Stocks. In addition, a
deferred sales charge of $1.75 per 1,000 units will be deducted from a
Portfolio's net asset value each month over the last ten months of the
Portfolio's life ($17.50 total). This deferred method of payment keeps more of
your money invested over a longer period of time. If you roll the proceeds of
your investment into a new portfolio, you will not be subject to the 1% initial
charge, just the $17.50 deferred fee. Although this is a unit investment trust
rather than a mutual fund, the following information is presented to permit a
comparison of fees and an understanding of the direct or indirect costs and
expenses that you pay.
 
   

                            As a %
                          of Initial
                            Public
                           Offering     Amount per
                             Price      1,000 Units
                          -----------   -----------
Maximum Initial Sales
 Charge                          1.000% $      10.00
Deferred Sales Charge
  per Year                       1.750%        17.50
                          -----------   -----------
                                 2.750% $      27.50
                          -----------   -----------
                          -----------   -----------
Sales Charge Imposed
  Per Year on
  Reinvested Dividends
    United Kingdom
      Portfolio                  1.400% $      14.00
    Japan Portfolio              0.350% $       3.50

 
Estimated Operating Expenses and the cumulative costs are provided below for
each Portfolio.
 
SELLING YOUR INVESTMENT
 
You may sell or redeem your units at any time prior to the termination of a
Portfolio. Your price will be based on the then current net asset value. The
redemption and secondary market repurchase price as of January 24, 1997 was
$972.50 per 1,000 units ($27.50 per 1,000 units less than the Public Offering
Price). This price reflects deductions of the deferred sales charge which
declines over the last ten months of a Portfolio ($17.50 initially). If you sell
your units before the termination of the Portfolio, you will pay the remaining
balance of the deferred sales charge. In addition, after the initial offering
period, the repurchase and cash redemption prices for units will be further
reduced to reflect the estimated costs of liquidating securities to meet the
redemption. If you reinvest in a new Portfolio, you will pay your share of any
brokerage commissions on the sale of underlying securities when your units are
liquidated during the rollover.
    
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your United Kingdom Portfolio
- ---------------------------------------------------
   
 
Based upon the principal business of each issuer and current market values, the
following industries are represented in the Portfolio:
                                   APPROXIMATE
                               PORTFOLIO PERCENTAGE
 
/ / Chemicals                               20%
/ / Conglomerate                            20
/ / Electrical Equipment                    10
/ / Sugar                                   10
/ / Telecommunications                      10
/ / Transportation/Marine                   10
/ / Utilities/Gas                           10
/ / Wines/Spirits                           10
The United Kingdom Portfolio is not considered to be concentrated in any
particular industry, and all of the stocks represent United Kingdom issuers.
 
U.K. TAXES
 
The Portfolio will report as gross income each investor's pro rata share of
dividends earned by the Portfolio grossed-up to reflect the payment of certain
U.K. taxes by the relevant U.K. corporation. The U.K Inland Revenue has approved
a special procedure under which the Trustee may claim a refund of a portion of
such U.K. taxes under the U.S.-U.K. Treaty on behalf of investors. (See U.S.
Taxation in Part B.)
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
 

                           AS A % OF    AMOUNT PER
                          NET ASSETS    1,000 UNITS
                          -----------   -----------
Trustee's Fee                     .078% $       0.77
Portfolio Supervision,
  Bookkeeping and
  Administrative Fees             .046% $       0.45
Organizational Expenses           .132% $       1.31
Other Operating
  Expenses                        .062% $       0.62
                          -----------   -----------
TOTAL                             .318% $       3.15

 
The Portfolio (and therefore the investors) will bear all or a portion of its
organizational costs--including costs of preparing the registration statement,
the trust indenture and other closing documents, registering units with the SEC
and the states and the initial audit of the Portfolio--as is common for mutual
funds.
 
These estimates do not include the costs of purchasing and selling the
underlying Strategy Stocks.
 
COSTS OVER TIME
 
You would pay the following cumulative expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
a 5% annual return on the investment throughout the indicated periods and
redemption at the end of the period:
 

1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
 $31       $75      $121       $249

 
Although the Portfolio has a term of only one year and is a unit investment
trust rather than a mutual fund, this information is presented to permit a
comparison of fees, assuming the principal amount and distributions are rolled
over each year into a new Series subject only to the deferred sales charge and
fund expenses.
 
This example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and uses a
5% annual rate of return as mandated by SEC regulations applicable to mutual
funds. For purposes of the example, the deferred sales charge imposed on
reinvestment of dividends is not reflected until the year following payment of
the dividend; the cumulative expenses would be higher if sales charges on
reinvested dividends were reflected in the year of reinvestment.
 
The example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses
or annual rates of return; the actual expenses and annual rates of return may be
more or less than the example. Reductions to the repurchase and cash redemption
prices in the secondary market to recoup the costs of liquidating securities to
meet redemption, currently estimated at $1.99 per 1,000 units, have not been
reflected.
 
SEMI-ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS
 
You will receive distributions of any dividend income, net of expenses, on the
25th of May and November, 1997, if you own units on the 10th of those months.
    
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
   
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                        Defined United Kingdom Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE><CAPTION>
 
Equity Income Fund
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series A                January 24, 1997
United Kingdom Portfolio
 
                                                                            PRICE
                                                                           PER SHARE           COST
                                        PERCENTAGE         CURRENT        TO PORTFOLIO       TO FUND
                                       OF PORTFOLIO     DIVIDEND YIELD         IN            IN U.S.
NAME OF ISSUER                             (1)               (2)          U.S. DOLLARS     DOLLARS (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>           <C>             <C> 
1. British Gas PLC                               9.81%             6.49%  $       3.635   $     29,445.34
2. Allied Domecq PLC                            10.20              5.64           6.807         30,631.06
3. BTR PLC                                      10.11              5.38           4.278         30,371.63
4. Peninsular & Oriental Steam
   Navigation Company                           10.13              4.89          10.141         30,423.68
5. British Telecommunications PLC               10.08              4.53           6.880         30,272.42
6. BICC PLC                                     10.11              4.42           4.530         30,349.68
7. Hanson PLC                                    9.95              4.31           1.509         29,869.86
8. Courtaulds PLC                                9.84              4.24           6.156         29,550.25
9. Imperial Chemical Industries PLC             10.06              4.17          12.085         30,212.24
10. Tate & Lyle PLC                              9.71              3.89           7.116         29,175.34
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                               100.00%                                    $    300,301.50
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                      --------------                                      --------------
</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Based on Cost to Fund in U.S. dollars.
(2) Current Dividend Yield for each security was generally calculated by adding
    the most recent interim and final dividends declared on the security and
    dividing the result by its market value as of the close of trading on
    January 24, 1997.
(3) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on January 24, 1997, the initial date of deposit, converted
    into U.S. dollars on the offer side of the exchange rate at the evaluation
    time on that date. The value of the Securities on any subsequent business
    day will vary. Loss to the Sponsors on deposit of the Securities was
    $2,110.99.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
The securities were acquired on January 24, 1997 and are represented entirely by
contracts to purchase the securities. Any of the Sponsors may have acted as
underwriters, managers or co-managers of a public offering of the securities in
this Fund during the last three years. Affiliates of the Sponsors may serve as
specialists in the securities in this Fund on one or more stock exchanges and
may have a long or short position in any of these securities or in options on
any of them, and may be on the opposite side of public orders executed on the
floor of an exchange where the securities are listed. An officer, director or
employee of any of the Sponsors may be an officer or director of one or more of
the issuers of the securities in the Fund. A Sponsor may trade for its own
account as an odd-lot dealer, market maker, block positioner and/or arbitrageur
in any of the securities or in options on them. Any Sponsor, its affiliates,
directors, elected officers and employee benefits programs may have either a
long or short position in any securities or in options on them.
    
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Performance Information--FT Strategy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The following table compares the actual performance of the FT Index and the
hypothetical performance of approximately equal amounts invested in each of the
FT Strategy Stocks (but not any Select Ten Portfolio) at the beginning of each
year and reinvesting the proceeds annually for the past 20 years as of December
31 in each of these years. These results represent past performance of the FT
Strategy Stocks, and may not be indicative of future results of the Strategy or
the Portfolio. The FT Strategy Stocks underperformed the FT Index five of the
last 20 years (seven years if Portfolio sales charges and expenses were deducted
from Strategy Stock performance). There can be no assurance that any Portfolio
will outperform the related Index over its one-year life or that the Strategy
will not lose money over consecutive annual periods. Also, an investment in the
Portfolio may not realize as high a total return as a direct investment in the
FT Strategy Stocks, since the Portfolio has sales charges and expenses and may
not be fully invested at all times. In addition, dividends on the FT Strategy
Stocks are subject to withholding by the U.K. Actual performance of a Portfolio
will also differ from quoted performance of the FT Strategy Stocks and the FT
Index because the quoted performance figures are annual figures based on closing
sales prices on December 31, while the Portfolios are established and liquidated
at various times during the year. Performance variances may also result because
stocks are normally purchased or sold at prices and currency exchange rates
different from the closing price and currency exchange rate used to determine
the Portfolio's net asset value and not all stocks may be weighted equally at
all times.
             COMPARISON OF DIVIDENDS, APPRECIATION AND TOTAL RETURN
 (FIGURES REFLECT CONVERSION INTO U.S. DOLLARS AT APPLICABLE CURRENCY EXCHANGE
                                     RATES
          BUT NOT SALES CHARGES, FUND EXPENSES, COMMISSIONS OR TAXES)
<TABLE><CAPTION>


                          FT STRATEGY STOCKS(1)                                               FT INDEX*
        ----------------------------------------------------------    ----------------------------------------------------------
                             ACTUAL DIVIDEND            TOTAL                              ACTUAL DIVIDEND            TOTAL
YEAR    APPRECIATION(2)          YIELD(3)             RETURN(4)       APPRECIATION(2)          YIELD(3)             RETURN(4)
- ----    --------------    ----------------------    --------------    --------------    ----------------------    --------------
<S>              <C>                <C>              <C>             <C>                            <C>             <C>
1977              73.41%                    13.86%            87.27%            53.46%                     8.46%            61.92%
1978               7.22                     10.51             17.73              3.57                      6.35              9.92
1979              -5.75                     10.51              4.76             -3.94                      7.53              3.59
1980              16.49                     13.66             30.15             22.57                      9.20             31.77
1981             -14.02                      7.76             -6.26            -10.36                      5.06             -5.30
1982              34.04                      9.99             44.03             -4.41                      4.83              0.42
1983              34.17                      7.89             42.06             16.60                      5.34             21.94
1984              -0.85                      6.35              5.50             -2.26                      4.41              2.15
1985              69.36                      9.28             78.64             48.25                      6.49             54.74
1986              26.35                      6.53             32.88             19.14                      5.22             24.36
1987              40.49                      7.61             48.10             32.97                      6.02             38.99
1988               5.19                      6.19             11.38              1.62                      5.12              6.74
1989              22.08                      6.63             28.71             17.57                      5.23             22.80
1990               1.91                      7.35              9.26              4.31                      5.98             10.29
1991               8.70                      7.87             16.57              9.36                      5.29             14.65
1992              -1.41                      5.68              4.27             -6.33                      4.00             -2.33
1993              31.55                      6.14             37.69             14.24                      4.16             18.40
1994               0.42                      5.04              5.46             -2.43                      4.32              1.89
1995               5.20                      5.63             10.83             13.07                      4.56             17.63
1996               6.30                      7.99             14.29             15.33                      4.72             20.05

</TABLE>

Changes in the exchange rates of the pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar
affected these figures significantly in certain years. These changes ranged from
minus 25% in 1981 and 1984 to plus 21% in 1987, and averaged minus 1.85% over
the last 20 years. See Foreign Currency Exchange Rates table under Risk Factors
in Part B.
- ----------------------------
    

 *  Source: Datastream International, Inc. The Sponsors have not independently
    verified these data, but they have no reason to believe these data are
    incorrect in any material respect.
(1) The FT Strategy Stocks for any given year were selected by ranking the
    dividend yields for each of the stocks in the FT Index as of the beginning
    of that year, as provided by Datastream International Inc. The yields were
    generally computed by adding together the interim and final dividends for
    each of the stocks (these companies generally pay one interim and a final
    dividend per fiscal year) declared in the preceding year divided by that
    stock's market value on the first trading day that year on the London Stock
    Exchange.
(2) Appreciation for the Strategy Stocks is calculated by subtracting the market
    value of these stocks at the opening value on the first trading day on the
    London Stock Exchange in a given year from the market value of those stocks
    at the closing value on the last trading day in that year, and dividing the
    result by the market value of the stocks at the opening value on the first
    trading day in that year. Appreciation for the FT Index is calculated by
    subtracting the opening value of the FT Index on the first trading day in
    each year from the closing value of the FT Index on the last trading day in
    that year, and dividing the result by the opening value of the FT Index on
    the first trading day in that year.
(3) Actual Dividend Yield for the FT Strategy Stocks is calculated by adding the
    total dividends received on the stocks in the year and dividing the result
    by the market value of the stocks on the first trading day in that year.
    Actual Dividend Yield for the FT Index is calculated by taking the total
    dividends credited to the FT Index and dividing the result by the opening
    value of the FT Index on the first trading day of the year.
(4) Total Return represents the sum of Appreciation and Actual Dividend Yield.
    Total Return does not take into consideration any reinvestment of dividend
    income.
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your Japan Portfolio
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
Based upon the principal business of each issuer and current market values, the
following industries are represented in the Portfolio:
                                   APPROXIMATE
                               PORTFOLIO PERCENTAGE
 
/ / Utilities/Gas and Electric              50%
/ / Oil/Gas                                 20
/ / Distributor/Wholesale                   10
/ / Electrical Equipment                    10
/ / Engineering & Construction              10
The Japan Portfolio is concentrated in gas and electric utility stocks, and all
of the stocks represent Japanese issuers. (See Risk Factors in Part B.)
 
The Portfolio will report as gross income each investor's pro rata share of
dividends earned by the Portfolio grossed-up to reflect any taxes withheld on
the dividends.
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
 

                          AS A % OF    AMOUNT PER
                         NET ASSETS    1,000 UNITS
                         -----------   -----------
Trustee's Fee                    .080% $       0.79
Portfolio Supervision,
  Bookkeeping and
  Administrative Fees            .045% $       0.45
Organizational
  Expenses                       .163% $       1.61
Other Operating Ex-
penses                           .119% $       1.18
                         -----------   -----------
TOTAL                            .407% $       4.03

 
The Portfolio (and therefore the investors) will bear all or a portion of its
organizational costs--including costs of preparing the registration statement,
the trust indenture and other closing documents, registering units with the SEC
and the states and the initial audit of the Portfolio--as is common for mutual
funds.
 
These estimates do not include the costs of purchasing and selling the
underlying Strategy Stocks.
 
COSTS OVER TIME
 
You would pay the following cumulative expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
a 5% annual return on the investment throughout the indicated periods and
redemption at the end of the period:
 

1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
 $32       $77      $126       $258

 
Although the Portfolio has a term of only one year and is a unit investment
trust rather than a mutual fund, this information is presented to permit a
comparison of fees, assuming the principal amount and distributions are rolled
over each year into a new Series subject only to the deferred sales charge and
fund expenses.
 
This example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and uses a
5% annual rate of return as mandated by SEC regulations applicable to mutual
funds. For purposes of the example, the deferred sales charge imposed on
reinvestment of dividends is not reflected until the year following payment of
the dividend; the cumulative expenses would be higher if sales charges on
reinvested dividends were reflected in the year of reinvestment.
 
The example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses
or annual rates of return; the actual expenses and annual rates of return may be
more or less than the example. Reductions to the repurchase and cash redemption
prices in the secondary market to recoup the costs of liquidating securities to
meet redemption, currently estimated at $4.55 per 1,000 units, have not been
reflected.
 
ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
 
You will receive a distribution of any dividend income, net of expenses, on the
25th of November, 1997, if you own units on the 10th of November.
    
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Defined Japan Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE><CAPTION>

Equity Income Fund
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series A                January 24, 1997
Japan Portfolio
 

                                                                             PRICE
                                                                           PER SHARE           COST
                                        PERCENTAGE         CURRENT        TO PORTFOLIO       TO FUND
                                       OF PORTFOLIO     DIVIDEND YIELD         IN            IN U.S.
NAME OF ISSUER                             (1)               (2)          U.S. DOLLARS     DOLLARS (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>       
1. Tonen Corporation                            10.12%             2.00%  $      10.067   $     40,268.46
2. Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.                9.97              1.78          18.876         39,639.26
3. Kansai Electric Power Company,
Inc.                                            10.01              1.77          18.960         39,815.44
4. Tokyo Electric Power                         10.04              1.68          19.966         39,932.89
5. Japan Energy Corp.                            9.65              1.40           2.399         38,389.26
6. Hazama Corporation                            9.95              1.36           2.475         39,597.32
7. Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.                       9.98              1.35           3.968         39,681.21
8. Tomen Corporation                             9.99              1.35           2.483         39,731.54
9. Osaka Gas Co.                                10.16              1.33           2.525         40,402.68
10. Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.                         10.13              1.33           2.517         40,268.46
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                               100.00%                                    $    397,726.52
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                      --------------                                      --------------

</TABLE>

- ----------------------------
(1) Based on Cost to Fund in U.S. dollars.
(2) Current Dividend Yield for each security was calculated by adding the most
    recent interim and final dividends declared on the security and dividing the
    result by its market value as of the close of trading on January 24, 1997.
(3) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on January 24, 1997, the initial date of deposit, converted
    into U.S. dollars on the offer side of the exchange rate at the evaluation
    time on that date. The value of the Securities on any subsequent business
    day will vary. Loss to the Sponsors on deposit of the Securities was
    $994.32.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
The securities were acquired on January 24, 1997 and are represented entirely by
contracts to purchase the securities. Any of the Sponsors may have acted as
underwriters, managers or co-managers of a public offering of the securities in
this Fund during the last three years. Affiliates of the Sponsors may serve as
specialists in the securities in this Fund on one or more stock exchanges and
may have a long or short position in any of these securities or in options on
any of them, and may be on the opposite side of public orders executed on the
floor of an exchange where the securities are listed. An officer, director or
employee of any of the Sponsors may be an officer or director of one or more of
the issuers of the securities in the Fund. A Sponsor may trade for its own
account as an odd-lot dealer, market maker, block positioner and/or arbitrageur
in any of the securities or in options on them. Any Sponsor, its affiliates,
directors, elected officers and employee benefits programs may have either a
long or short position in any securities or in options on them.
    
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Performance Information--Nikkei 225 Strategy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   

The following table compares the actual performance of the Nikkei 225 Index and
the hypothetical performance of approximately equal amounts invested in each of
the Nikkei Strategy Stocks (but not any Select Ten Portfolio) at the beginning
of each year and reinvesting the proceeds annually for the past 20 years as of
December 31 in each of these years. These results represent past performance of
the Nikkei Strategy Stocks, and may not be indicative of future results of the
Strategy or the Portfolio. The Nikkei Strategy Stocks underperformed the Nikkei
225 Index in seven of the last 20 years (eight years if Portfolio sales charges
and expenses were deducted from Strategy Stock performance). There can be no
assurance that any Portfolio will outperform the related Index over its one-year
life or that the Strategy will not lose money over consecutive annual periods.
Also, an investment in the Japan Portfolio may not realize as high a total
return as a direct investment in the Nikkei Strategy Stocks, since the Portfolio
has sales charges and expenses and may not be fully invested at all times.
Actual performance of a Portfolio will also differ from quoted performance of
the Nikkei Strategy Stocks and the Nikkei 225 Index because the quoted
performance figures are annual figures based on closing sales prices on December
31, while the Portfolios are established and liquidated at various times during
the year. Performance variances may also result because stocks are normally
purchased or sold at prices and currency exchange rates different from the
closing price and currency exchange rate used to determine the Portfolio's net
asset value and not all stocks may be weighted equally at all times.
 
             COMPARISON OF DIVIDENDS, APPRECIATION AND TOTAL RETURN
 
   (FIGURES REFLECT CONVERSION INTO U.S. DOLLARS AT APPLICABLE EXCHANGE RATES
          BUT NOT SALES CHARGES, FUND EXPENSES, COMMISSIONS OR TAXES)
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>

                        NIKKEI STRATEGY STOCKS(1)                                         NIKKEI 225 INDEX*
        ----------------------------------------------------------    ----------------------------------------------------------
                             ACTUAL DIVIDEND            TOTAL                              ACTUAL DIVIDEND            TOTAL
YEAR    APPRECIATION(2)          YIELD(3)             RETURN(4)       APPRECIATION(2)          YIELD(3)             RETURN(4)
- ----    --------------    ----------------------    --------------    --------------    ----------------------    --------------
<S>              <C>                <C>              <C>                     <C>             <C>                     <C>
1977              49.39%                     4.89%            54.28%            19.14%                     2.41%            21.55%
1978              69.05                      3.05             72.10             52.35                      2.97             55.32
1979              -3.31                      2.42             -0.89            -11.49                      1.49            -10.00
1980              34.72                      4.21             38.93             27.20                      2.27             29.47
1981              14.89                      3.55             18.44              0.49                      1.71              2.20
1982              -5.61                      3.07             -2.54             -2.26                      1.49             -0.77
1983              27.00                      4.04             31.04             25.01                      2.07             27.08
1984              -0.05                      3.16              3.11              7.43                      1.49              8.92
1985              49.46                      3.55             53.01             42.41                      1.78             44.19
1986              75.32                      2.51             77.83             81.97                      1.81             83.78
1987              91.23                      2.44             93.67             49.58                      1.13             50.71
1988              61.43                      1.61             63.04             35.60                      0.97             36.57
1989              21.99                      0.97             22.96             12.21                      0.59             12.80
1990             -41.87                      0.88            -40.99            -35.08                      0.29            -34.79
1991               5.35                      1.55              6.90              4.74                      0.82              5.56
1992             -17.66                      1.49            -16.17            -26.33                      0.57            -25.76
1993              19.55                      1.97             21.52             14.87                      1.07             15.94
1994              26.11                      1.88             27.99             27.16                      1.14             28.30
1995              -6.31                      1.33             -4.98             -2.99                      0.69             -2.30
1996             -18.29                      1.51            -16.78            -13.00                      0.57            -12.43

</TABLE>
 
Changes in the exchange rates of the Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar
affected these figures significantly. These changes ranged from minus 23% in
1979 to plus 23% in 1987 and averaged plus 4.82% annually over the last 20
years. See Foreign Currency Exchange Rates table under Risk Factors in Part B.
There can be no assurance that similar appreciation will continue during the
life of the Portfolio or successive rollover periods.
    
 
- ----------------------------
 *  Source: Datastream International, Inc. The Sponsors have not independently
    verified these data, but they have no reason to believe these data are
    incorrect in any material respect.
(1) The Nikkei Strategy Stocks for any given year were selected by ranking the
    dividend yields for each of the stocks in the Nikkei 225 Index as of the
    beginning of that year, as provided by Datastream International Inc. The
    yields were generally computed by adding together the interim and final
    dividends for each of the stocks (these companies generally pay one interim
    and a final dividend per fiscal year) declared in the preceding year divided
    by that stock's market value on the first trading day that year on the Toyko
    Stock Exchange.
 
(2) Appreciation for the Nikkei Strategy Stocks is calculated by subtracting the
    market value of these stocks at the opening value on the first trading day
    on the Toyko Stock Exchange in a given year from the market value of those
    stocks at the closing value on the last trading day in that year, and
    dividing the result by the market value of the stocks at the opening value
    on the first trading day in that year. Appreciation for the Nikkei 225 Index
    is calculated by subtracting the opening value of the Nikkei 225 Index on
    the first trading day in each year from the closing value of the Nikkei 225
    Index on the last trading day in that year, and dividing the result by the
    opening value of the Nikkei 225 Index on the first trading day in that year.
 
(3) Actual Dividend Yield for the Nikkei Strategy Stocks is calculated by adding
    the total dividends received on the stocks in the year and dividing the
    result by the market value of the stocks on the first trading day in that
    year. Actual Dividend Yield for the Nikkei 225 Index is calculated by taking
    the total dividends credited to the Nikkei 225 Index and dividing the result
    by the opening value of the Nikkei 225 Index on the first trading day of the
    year.
 
(4) Total Return represents the sum of Appreciation and Actual Dividend Yield.
    Total Return does not take into consideration any reinvestment of dividend
    income.
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
   
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Sponsors, Trustee and Holders of Defined Asset Funds Equity Income Fund,
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series A (United Kingdom and Japan
Portfolios) (the 'Fund'):
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of condition and the related
portfolios included in the prospectus of the Fund as of January 24, 1997. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of the irrevocable letters of credit deposited for the purchase of
securities, as described in the statements of condition, with the Trustee. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of January 24, 1997
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, N.Y.
January 24, 1997
 
                 STATEMENTS OF CONDITION AS OF JANUARY 24, 1997
 
TRUST PROPERTY
<TABLE><CAPTION>

                                                            UNITED KINGDOM              JAPAN
                                                              PORTFOLIO               PORTFOLIO
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
<S>                                                      <C>                     <C>            
Investments--Contracts to purchase Securities(1).........$         300,301.50    $         397,726.52
Organizational Costs(2)..................................          222,700.00              193,200.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
        Total............................................$         523,001.50    $         590,926.52
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF HOLDERS
    Accrued Liability(2)                                 $         222,700.00    $         193,200.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
    Subtotal                                             $         222,700.00    $         193,200.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
Interest of Holders of fractional undivided interest
  outstanding
  (United Kingdom Portfolio--303,334 units; Japan
  Portfolio--401,743 units)(3):
  Cost to investors(4)...................................$         303,334.00    $         401,743.00
  Gross underwriting commissions(5)......................           (3,032.50)              (4,016.48)
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
    Subtotal                                             $         300,301.50    $         397,726.52
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
        Total                                            $         523,001.50    $         590,926.52
                                                         --------------------    --------------------
                                                         --------------------    --------------------

</TABLE>
- ------------
 
       (1) Aggregate cost to each Portfolio of the securities listed under
Defined Portfolio based on the U.S. dollar offer side value of the relevant
exchange rate determined by the Trustee at the evaluation time on January 24,
1997. The contracts to purchase securities are collateralized by irrevocable
letters of credit which have been issued by San Paolo Bank, New York Branch, in
the amount of $701,133.33 and deposited with the Trustee. The amount of the
letters of credit includes $698,028.02 for the purchase of securities.
       (2) This represents a portion of the Fund's organizational costs which
will be deferred and amortized over the life of the Fund. Organizational costs
have been estimated based on projected total assets of $290 million. To the
extent the Fund is larger or smaller, the estimates may vary.
       (3) Because the value of securities at the evaluation time on the Initial
Date of Deposit may differ from the amounts shown in these statements of
condition, the number of Units offered on the day following the Initial Date of
Deposit will be adjusted from the initial number of Units to maintain the $1,000
per 1,000 Units offering price only for that day. The Public Offering Price on
any subsequent business day will vary.
       (4) Aggregate public offering price computed on the basis of the U. S.
dollar value of the underlying securities based on the U.S. dollar offer side
value of the relevant exchange rate at the evaluation time on January 24, 1997.
       (5) Assumes the initial maximum sales charge per 1,000 units of 1.00% of
the Public Offering Price. A deferred sales charge of $1.75 per 1,000 Units per
month is payable on April 1, 1997 and thereafter on the 1st day of each month
through January 1, 1998. Distributions will be made to an account maintained by
the Trustee from which the deferred sales charge obligation of the investors to
the Sponsors will be satisfied. If units are redeemed prior to January 1, 1998,
the remaining portion of the distribution applicable to such units will be
transferred to such account on the redemption date.
    
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
                             DEFINED ASSET FUNDSSM
                               PROSPECTUS--PART B
         EQUITY INCOME FUND SELECT TEN PORTFOLIOS--INTERNATIONAL SERIES
                      UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN PORTFOLIOS
             FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND MAY BE OBTAINED
              BY WRITING OR CALLING THE TRUSTEE AT THE ADDRESS AND
        TELEPHONE NUMBER SET FORTH ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
                                     Index
 
   

                                              PAGE
                                              ----
Fund Description...........................      1
Risk Factors...............................      4
How to Buy Units...........................      8
How to Redeem or Sell Units................      9
Income, Distributions and Reinvestment.....     11
Portfolio Expenses.........................     11
Taxes......................................     12

                                              PAGE
                                              ----
Foreign Taxation...........................     14
Records and Reports........................     16
Trust Indenture............................     16
Miscellaneous..............................     17
Exchange Option............................     18
Supplemental Information...................     19
 
FUND DESCRIPTION
 
THE STRATEGY
 
    Simple strategies can sometimes be the most effective. The United Kingdom
and Japan Portfolios seek total return by acquiring the ten highest yielding
stocks in the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary Share Index (FT Index) and the
Nikkei 225 Index, respectively, as of the dates indicated in Part A, after
giving effect to any forthcoming changes to an index announced prior to those
dates, and holding them for about one year. This investment strategy is based on
three time-tested investment principles: time in the market is more important
than timing the market; the stocks to buy are the ones everyone else is selling;
and dividends can be an important part of total return. Defined Asset Funds can
make some of them available to investors with the Select Ten International
Portfolios. Global markets can move in different directions. While some markets
may be experiencing rapid growth, others may be in decline. These markets can
offer attractive growth opportunities. An investment in the Fund can be
cost-efficient, avoiding the odd-lot costs of buying small quantities of
securities directly. Purchasing a portfolio of these stocks as opposed to one or
two offers greater diversification. For each Portfolio there are only one
investment decision and two semi-annual dividends. Investment in a number of
companies with high dividends relative to their stock prices is designed to
increase a Portfolio's potential for higher total returns. Each Portfolio's
return will consist of a combination of capital appreciation and current
dividend income. Each Portfolio will terminate in about one year, when investors
may choose to either receive the distribution in cash or reinvest in the next
Series (if available) at a reduced sales charge. There can be no assurance that
the dividend rates on the selected stocks will be maintained. Reduction or
elimination of a dividend could adversely affect the stock price as well.
 
    The FT Index. The FT Index began as the Financial News Industrial Ordinary
Share Index in London in 1935 and became the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary
Share Index in 1947. This Index is an unweighted average of the share prices of
selected companies, which are highly capitalized, major factors in their
industries; their stocks are widely held by individuals and institutional
investors. The following are the stocks currently represented in the FT Index:
    
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
   

<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>                                        <C>

Allied Domecq PLC                    British Airways PLC                      Marks & Spencer PLC
ASDA Group PLC                       Cadbury Schweppes PLC                    National Westminster Bank PLC
BICC PLC                             Courtaulds PLC                           The Peninsular & Oriental Steam
The BOC Group PLC                    The General Electric Company PLC         Navigation Company
BTR PLC                              Glaxo Wellcome PLC                       Reuters Holdings PLC
Blue Circle Industries PLC           Grand Metropolitan PLC                   Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance
The Boots Company PLC                GKN PLC                                  Group PLC
The British Petroleum Company        Guinness PLC                             SmithKline Beecham PLC
PLC                                  Hanson PLC                               Tate & Lyle PLC
British Telecommunications PLC       Imperial Chemical Industries PLC         Thorn EMI PLC
British Gas PLC                      Lucas Industries PLC                     Vodafone Group PLC
                             
                                 
    

</TABLE>
 
    The Nikkei 225 Index.  The Nikkei Stock Average, or Nikkei 225 Index is a
price-weighted index of 225 Japanese companies listed in the First Section of
the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Nikkei 225 was first published in 1950, and is
well known both inside and outside Japan. The Nikkei 225 average is calculated
as a price-weighted average of the component stock prices, adjusted by a divisor
to account for non-market factors, rights and changes to the constituent issues.
The following are the stocks currently represented in the Nikkei 225 Index:
                                 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                      <C>
 
Ajinomoto Co. Inc.                   Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.                 Kajima Corporation
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd.          Fuji Spinning Co. Ltd.                   Kanebo Ltd.
Aoki Corporation                     Fujikura Ltd.                            Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.
Asahi Breweries Ltd.                 Fujita Corporation                       Kawasaki Heavy Ind. Ltd.
Asahi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.     Fujitsu Ltd.                             Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd.
Asahi Denka Kogyo K.K.               Furukawa Co. Ltd.                        Kawasaki Steel Corporation
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd.                 Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.               Keihin Electric Express
Bridgestone Corporation              Hazama Corporation                       Railway Co.
Canon Inc.                           Heiwa Real Estate Co. Ltd.               Keio Teito Electric
Chichibu Onoda Cement                Hino Motors Ltd.                         Railway Co. Ltd.
Corporation                          Hitachi Ltd.                             Keisei Electric Railway
Chiyoda Corporation                  Hitachi Zosen Corporation                Co. Ltd.
Chubu Electric Power Co.             Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd.                Kikkoman Corporation
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.               Honda Motor Co. Ltd.                     Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd.
Dai Ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd.            Honen Corporation Industries Inc.        Kobe Steel Ltd.
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.         Iseki and Co. Ltd.                       Komatsu Ltd.
Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co.         Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy                Konica Corporation
Ltd.                                 Industries                               Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd.
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd.        Isuzu Motors Ltd.                        Kubota Corporation
Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K.              Itochu Corporation                       Kumagai Gumi Co.
Dowa Mining Co. Ltd.                 Iwatani International Corporation        Kuraray Co. Ltd.
Ebara Corporation                    Japan Energy Corporation                 Kyokuyo
Fuji Bank Ltd.                       Japan Securities Finance Co. Ltd.        Kyowa Hakko Kogyo
Fuji Electric Co. Ltd.               Japan Steel Works Ltd.              
                                 
                                 
Marubeni Corporation                 Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing           Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation
                                     Co.                                      Navix Line Ltd.                           
Marui Co., Ltd.                      Mitsubishi Trust and                     NEC Corporation                           
Maruzen Co., Ltd.                    Banking Corporation                      New Oji Paper Co.                         
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co    Mitsubishi Warehouse and                 NGK Insulators Ltd.                       
Mazda Motor                          Transport                                Nichirei Corporation                      
Meidensha Corporation                Mitsui and Co. Ltd.                      Nichiro Corporation                       
Meiji Milk Products                  Mitsui Engineering and                   Nichiro Gyogyo Kaisha Ltd.                
Meiji Seika                          Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.                    Nihon Cement Co. Ltd.                     
Mercian Corporation                  Mitsui Fuddsan Co. Ltd.                  Niigata Engineering Co. Ltd.              
Minebea Co., Ltd.                    Mitsui Marine and Fire                   Nikko Securities Co. Ltd.                 
Mitsubishi Bank                      Insurance Co.                            Nikon Corporation                         
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation      Mitsui Mining and Smelting Ltd.          Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing           
Mitsubishi Corporation               Mitsui Mining Co. Ltd.                   Co.                                       
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation      Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.                 Nippon Carbide Industries                 
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd.           Mitsui Soko Co. Ltd.                     Co. Inc.                                  
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries          Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Inc.             Nippon Carbon Co. Ltd.                    
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation     Mitsui Trust and Banking                 Nippon Chemical Industrial                
Mitsubishi Oil Co. Ltd.              Co. Ltd.                                 Co. Ltd.                                  
Mitsubishi Papers Mills Ltd.         Mitsukoshi Ltd.                          Nippon Denko Co. Ltd.                     
Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd.            Morinaga and Co. Ltd.                    Nippon Express Co. Ltd.                   

 
                                       2
<PAGE>

Nippon Flour Mills Co. Ltd.               Rasa Industries Ltd.                     Teikoku Oil
Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd.                    Ricoh Company Ltd.                       Tekken Corporation
Nippon Light Metal Co. Ltd.               Sakura Bank Ltd.                         Toa Corporation
Nippon Metal Industry Co. Ltd.            Sankyo Co. Ltd.                          Toagosei Chemical Industry
Nippon Oil Co. Ltd.                       Sankyu Inc.                              Tobishima Corporation
Nippon Paper Ind. Co. Ltd.                Sanwa Bank                               Tobu Railway
Nippon Piston Ring Co. Ltd.               Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.                  Toei Co.
Nippon Sharyo Ltd.                        Sapporo Breweries Ltd.                   Toho Rayon
Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd.               Sato Kogyo Co. Ltd.                      Toho Zinc Co. Ltd.
Nippon Shinpan Co. Ltd.                   Seika Corporation                        Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd.
Nippon Soda Co. Ltd.                      Sharp Corporation                        Tokio Marine and Fire
Nippon Steel Corporation                  Shimizu Corporation                      Insurance Co.
Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd.                 Shimura Kako Co., Ltd.                   Tokyo Dome Corporation
Nippon Synthetic Chemical                 Shin Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.              Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc.  
Industry                                  Shinagawa Refractories                   Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.
Nippon Telegraph and                      Co. Ltd.                                 Tokyo Rope Mfg.
Telephone NTT                             Shionogi and Co. Ltd.                    Tokyu Corporation
Nippon Yakin Kogyo                        Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.                  Tokyu Department Store
Nippon Yusen K.K.                         Showa Denko K.K.                         Tomen Corporation
Nippondenso Co. Ltd.                      Showa Line Ltd.                          Tonen Corporation
Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd.           Showa Electric Wire and                  Toppan Printing Co. Ltd.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.                     Cable Co. Ltd.                           Topy Industries
Nisshin Flour Milling Co. Ltd.            Sony Corporation                         Toray Industries
Nisshin Oil Mills Ltd.                    Sumitomo Bank Ltd.                       Toshiba Corporation
Nisshinbo                                 Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.               Tosoh Corporation
Nissho Iwai Corporation                   Sumitomo Coal Mining                     Toto Ltd.
Nitto Boseki Co. Ltd.                     Co. Ltd.                                 Toyo Seikan Kaisha
NKK Corporation                           Sumitomo Corporation                     Toyobo Co. Ltd.
NOF Corporation                           Sumitomo Electric Industries             Toyota Motor Corporation
Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.                Ltd.                                     UBE Industries Unitika Ltd.
Noritake Co. Ltd.                         Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.           Yamaha Corporation
NSK Limited                               Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.           Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical
NTN Corporation                           Sumitomo Metal Mining Ltd.               Yasuda Fire & Marine
Obayashi Corporation                      Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd.           Insurance
Odakyu Electric Railway                   Suzuki Motor Corporation                 Yokogawa Electric
OKI Electric Industry Co.                 Taisei Corporation                       Yokohama Rubber Company
Okuma Corporation                         Takara Shuzo                             Ltd.
Osaka Gas Co. Ltd.                        Takeda Chemical Industries               Yuasa Corporation                       
Pioneer Electronic Corporation            Teijin Ltd.
</TABLE>

 
PORTFOLIO SELECTION
 
   
    The Fund consists of two separate portfolios, the United Kingdom Portfolio
and the Japan Portfolio, which contain common stocks in the FT Index and the
Nikkei 225 Index, respectively, having the highest dividend yield as of the
dates indicated in Part A. 'Highest dividend yield' means the yield for each
Security calculated by adding the most recent interim and final dividends
declared on that Security and dividing the result by the market value of that
Security. This rate is historical and there is no assurance that any dividends
will be declared or paid in the future on the Securities. No leverage or
borrowing is used nor do the Portfolios contain other kinds of securities to
enhance yield.
    
 
    The Strategy selection process is a straightforward, objective, mathematical
application that ignores any subjective factors concerning an issuer in the
related index, an industry or the economy generally. The application of the
Strategy may cause a Portfolio to own a stock that the Sponsors do not recommend
for purchase and, in fact, the Sponsors may have sell recommendations on a
number of the stocks in a Portfolio at the time the stocks are selected for
inclusion in the Portfolio. Various theories attempt to explain why a common
stock is among the ten highest yielding stocks in the related index at any given
time: the issuer may be in financial difficulty or out of favor in the market
because of weak earnings or performance or forecasts or negative publicity;
uncertainties relating to pending or threatened litigation or pending or
proposed legislation or government regulation; the stock may be a cyclical stock
reacting to national or international economic developments; or the market may
be anticipating a reduction in or the
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
elimination of the company's dividend. Some of the foregoing factors may be
relevant to only a segment of an issuer's overall business yet the publicity may
be strong enough to outweigh otherwise solid business performance. In addition,
companies in certain industries have historically paid high dividends.
 
    The deposit of the Securities in each Portfolio on the initial date of
deposit established a proportionate relationship among the number of shares of
each Security in that Portfolio. During the 90-day period following the initial
date of deposit the Sponsors may deposit additional Securities in order to
create new Units, maintaining to the extent possible that original proportionate
relationship. Deposits of additional Securities subsequent to the 90-day period
must generally replicate exactly the proportionate relationship among the number
of shares of each Security in a Portfolio at the end of the initial 90-day
period. The ability to acquire each Security at the same time will generally
depend upon the Security's availability and any restrictions on the purchase of
that Security under the federal securities laws or otherwise.
 
   
    Additional Units may also be created by the deposit of cash (including a
letter of credit) with instructions to purchase additional Securities. This
practice could cause both existing and new investors to experience a dilution of
their investments and a reduction in their anticipated income because of price
fluctuations in the Securities between the time of the cash deposit and the
actual purchase of the additional Securities and because the associated
brokerage fees will be an expense of the Portfolio. To minimize the risk of
price fluctuations when purchasing Securities, each Portfolio will try to
purchase Securities as close to the Evaluation Time or at prices as close to the
evaluated prices as possible and may purchase Securities on exchanges other than
the London and Tokyo Stock Exchanges. A Portfolio may also enter into program
trades with unaffiliated broker/dealers, which could have the effect of
increasing brokerage commissions while reducing market risk.
    
 
    Because each Portfolio in a Defined Asset Fund is a preselected portfolio,
you know the securities before you invest. Of course, the Portfolios will change
somewhat over time, as Securities are purchased upon creation of additional
Units, as Securities are sold to meet Unit redemptions or in other limited
circumstances.
 
PORTFOLIO SUPERVISION
 
    Each Portfolio follows a buy and hold investment strategy in contrast to the
frequent portfolio changes of a managed fund based on economic, financial and
market analyses. Although each Portfolio is regularly reviewed, because of the
Strategy the Portfolio is unlikely to sell any of the Securities other than to
satisfy redemptions of units, or to cease buying additional shares in connection
with the issuance of Additional Units. More specifically, adverse developments
concerning a Security including the adverse financial condition of the issuer, a
failure to maintain a current dividend rate, the institution of legal
proceedings against the issuer, a default under certain documents materially and
adversely affecting the future declaration of dividends, or a decline in the
price or the occurrence of other market or credit factors (including a public
tender offer or a merger or acquisition transaction) that might otherwise make
retention of the Security detrimental to the interest of investors, will
generally not cause a Portfolio to dispose of a Security or cease buying it.
Furthermore, each Portfolio will likely continue to hold a Security and purchase
additional shares notwithstanding its ceasing to be included among the ten
highest dividend yielding stocks in the related Index or even its deletion from
that Index.
 
RISK FACTORS
 
    An investment in a Portfolio entails certain risks, including the risk that
the value of your investment will decline if the financial condition of the
issuers of the Securities becomes impaired or if the general condition of the
relevant stock market worsens and the risk that holders of common stocks have
generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with
the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks
issued by, the issuer. Moreover, common stocks do not represent an obligation of
the issuer and therefore do not offer any assurance of income or provide the
degree of protection of capital provided by debt securities. Common stocks in
general may be especially susceptible to general stock market movements and to
volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and
perceptions of the issuers change. These perceptions are based on unpredictable
factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and
fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or
contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking crises. The
Sponsors cannot predict the direction or scope of any of these factors.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>


    Foreign Issuers. Investments in securities of foreign issuers involve risks
that are different from investments in securities of domestic issuers. These
risks may include future political and economic developments, the possibility of
exchange controls or other governmental restrictions on the payment of
dividends, less publicly available information and the absence of uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and
requirements.
 
   
    The information set forth below has been extracted from various governmental
and private publications, but no representation can be made as to its accuracy;
furthermore, no representation is made that any correlation exists between the
state of the economy of the United Kingdom and the value of any Securities held
by the United Kingdom Portfolio or between the economy of Japan and the value of
any Securities held by the Japan Portfolio.
 
UNITED KINGDOM PORTFOLIO RISK FACTORS
 
    The United Kingdom Portfolio contains common stocks of British companies
engaged in such industries as the chemical industry, the food and beverage
industry, the transportation industry, telecommunications and utilities. Many of
these industries are subject to extensive government regulation which may have a
materially adverse effect on the performance of their securities.
 
    The economy of the United Kingdom is focused upon the private services
sector, which includes the wholesale and retail sector, banking, finance,
insurance, and tourism. Services as a whole account for a majority of the United
Kingdom's gross national product and make a significant contribution to the
country's balance of payments. In addition, the United Kingdom, as a member of
the European Union (the 'EU'), formerly known as the European Community, is
subject to the effects of the recent rapid political and social change
throughout Europe although the extent and nature of future economic development
in the United Kingdom and Europe and the impact of such development upon the
value of the securities in the United Kingdom Portfolio is impossible to
predict.
    
 
JAPAN PORTFOLIO RISK FACTORS
 
    The Japan Portfolio contains common stocks of Japanese companies trading on
the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the 'TSE').
 
    Volatility of the TSE. Although the market for Japanese stocks traded on the
First Section of the TSE is substantial in terms of trading volume and
liquidity, the TSE has nonetheless exhibited significant market volatility in
the past several years. The general weakness in TSE prices since 1989 has
adversely affected financial institutions (including banks and insurance
companies) heavily invested in the market, in turn contributing to weakness in
the Japanese economy.
 
    Political Factors. Reports of official improprieties, resignations and
political reallignments have recently been followed by significant economic
reforms. There is currently uncertainty as to the future of Japan's political
outlook (including the influence and effectiveness of Japan's bureaucracy) and
the impact of these political factors on the Japanese economy and the stock
market.
 
    Economic Factors. The Japanese economy experienced its worst recession since
World War II in the 1990s and the economy has been largely stagnant since
October 1993. Japan has also recently experienced a period of prolonged price
deflation and weak real estate prices. While the economy has recently shown
signs of recovery, it is unclear whether the recovery is sustainable and to what
extent such recovery will continue without continued fiscal stimulus by the
Japanese government. Strains on the financial system in the form of
non-performing loans of financial institutions and real estate companies have
also been one of the major causes of Japan's economic weakness. Resolution of
the bad debt problem may require disproportionate contributions by major banks.
Structural problems of overregulation, excessive government intervention and
under-consumption could undercut Japan's economic recovery. Japanese exports
could be adversely affected by pressure from trading partners -- particularly
the U.S. -- to improve trade imbalances. As reflected in the table 'Changes in
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates' below, up until earlier this year, general
appreciation of the Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar had been a
significant factor in the overall appreciation. As evidenced by the depreciation
of the yen earlier this year, there can be no assurance that the value of the
yen will appreciate, or might not further depreciate, which could adversely
affect the performance of the Japan Portfolio.
 
 
                                       5
<PAGE>

    Japanese Utilities. The Japan Portfolio is considered to be concentrated in
common stocks of gas and electric utility companies. The ability of utilities to
pay dividends is dependent on various factors, including the percentage of
earnings paid out in the form of dividends ('pay out ratio'), the rates they may
charge their customers, the demand for a utility's services and the cost of
providing those services. Utilities are particularly sensitive to, among other
things, the effects of inflation on operating and construction costs, the
unpredictability of future usage requirements and the costs and availability of
fuel. The demand for a utility's services is influenced by, among other factors,
competition, weather conditions and economic conditions. Electric utilities, for
example, have experienced increased competition as a result of the availability
of other energy sources, the effects of conservation on the use of electricity,
self-generation by industrial customers and the generation of electricity by
co-generators and other independent power producers. Utilities which distribute
natural gas also are subject to competition from alternative fuels, including
fuel oil, propane and coal.
 
VOLATILITY
   
 
    Foreign stock prices may be more volatile than U.S. stock prices. The
following table demonstrates the volatility of the Nikkei 225 Index and the FT
Index in comparison to that of the Dow Jones Industrial Average by showing for
each index the number of trading days during the period from January 1, 1989
through December 31, 1996, on which the value of the index in local currency
gained or lost 1%, 2% and 3% of its value as of the previous trading day.
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>

                                                      NUMBER OF TRADING DAYS WITH GAINS OR LOSSES SHOWN
                                                    -----------------------------------------------------
                                                     NIKKEI                                  DOW JONES
       PERCENTAGE GAINS OR LOSSES                     225                 FT                 INDUSTRIAL
           IN VALUE OF INDEX                         INDEX               INDEX                AVERAGE
- ----------------------------------------            --------             -----             --------------
<S>                                                  <C>                  <C>                    <C>
1%......................................                  688               409                        310
2%......................................                  248                42                         40
3%......................................                   97                12                         11

</TABLE>

    Previous performance is no guarantee of future results; any index may
display more or less volatility in the future.
 
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES
 
    Because securities of non-U.S. issuers generally pay dividends and trade in
foreign currencies, there is the risk that the U.S. dollar value of these
securities will vary with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Most foreign
currencies have fluctuated widely in value against the U.S. dollar because of
changing investor perceptions, currency speculation by institutional investors,
supply and demand of the respective currency, the soundness of the world economy
and the relative strength of the respective economy, the impact of actual and
proposed government policies, interest rate differentials between currencies and
the balance of imports and exports of goods and services and transfers of income
and capital from one country to another.
 
    The following table shows fluctuations in the value of the British pound and
Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar in the past 20 years.
 
                   CHANGES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES
 

          RANGE OF
         FLUCTUATIONS
            U.S.          CHANGE IN            RANGE OF
           DOLLAR/       U.K. POUND          FLUCTUATIONS          CHANGE IN
         U.K. POUND       STERLING/         JAPANESE YEN/        JAPANESE YEN/
PERIOD    STERLING*     U.S. DOLLAR**        U.S. DOLLAR*        U.S. DOLLAR**
- -----    -----------    -------------    --------------------    -------------

  1977   1.908-1.700             10.68           292.91-285.95            18.03
  1978   2.095-1.807              6.32           242.54-177.39            18.92
  1979   2.332-1.979              8.52           250.75-193.75           -23.18
  1980   2.452-2.134              6.75           259.47-202.30            15.31
  1981   2.427-1.763            -25.00           245.39-199.05            -8.33
  1982   1.933-1.593            -18.18           278.16-218.75            -6.87
  1983   1.623-1.415            -11.30           247.58-226.75             1.19
  1984   1.492-1.158            -25.43           251.25-222.70            -8.14
  1985   1.494-1.044             19.94           263.43-200.25            20.15
  1986   1.555-1.377              2.03           202.70-152.00            20.65
  1987   1.886-1.468             21.21           159.40-121.25            23.95
  1988   1.896-1.663             -3.48           136.52-121.10            -3.29
  1989   1.823-1.500            -12.04           149.62-123.60           -15.01
  1990   1.976-1.595             16.37           159.90-125.05             5.53
  1991   1.999-1.602             -3.24           141.90-124.90             8.10
  1992   2.004-1.505            -23.44           134.53-119.35            -0.02
  1993   1.590-1.417             -2.36           126.10-101.10            10.58
  1994   1.637-1.461              5.46           113.10- 96.77            10.76
  1995   1.641-1.530             -0.77           104.29- 81.09            -3.85
  1996   1.714-1.493              9.32           116.21-103.45           -12.01

 
- --------------
*  DRI/McGrawHill.
** Ibbotson Associates.
    
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
    A Portfolio's foreign exchange transactions may be conducted either on a
spot (i.e., cash) or forward foreign exchange basis. Foreign currency exchange
transactions are generally conducted on a principal basis and foreign exchange
dealers realize a profit based upon the difference between the price at which
they are willing to buy a particular currency (bid price) and the price at which
they are willing to sell the currency (offer price). The cost to the Portfolio
of engaging in these foreign currency transactions also varies with such factors
as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market
conditions then prevailing. Portfolio evaluations include the cost of buying or
selling a forward foreign exchange contract in the relevant currency to
correspond to the settlement period for purchases and redemptions of Units.
 
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
 
    At the present time the Sponsors do not believe that any of the Securities
is subject to exchange control restrictions which would materially interfere
with payment to a Portfolio of amounts due on the Securities. There can be no
assurance that exchange control regulations might not be adopted in the future
which might adversely affect payments to a Portfolio. In addition, the adoption
of exchange control regulations or other legal restrictions could have an
adverse impact on the marketability of international securities in a Portfolio
and on the ability of that Portfolio to satisfy redemptions.
 
LIQUIDITY
 
    Sales of foreign securities by a Portfolio in United States securities
markets are ordinarily subject to severe restrictions and will generally be made
only in foreign securities markets. Securities may be traded in foreign
countries where the securities markets are not as developed or efficient and may
not be as liquid as those in the United States. A foreign market's liquidity
might become impaired as a result of economic or political turmoil in a country
in whose currency a Portfolio had a substantial portion of its assets invested,
or should relations between the United States and such foreign country
deteriorate markedly. Additionally, the principal trading market for the
Securities, even if otherwise listed, may be the over-the-counter market in
which liquidity will depend on whether dealers will make a market in the
Securities.
 
LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION
 
    The Sponsors do not know of any pending litigation as of the initial date of
deposit that might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on a
Portfolio, although pending litigation may have a material adverse effect on the
value of Securities in a Portfolio. In addition, at any time after the initial
date of deposit, litigation may be initiated on a variety of grounds, or
legislation may be enacted, affecting the Securities in a Portfolio or the
issuers of the Securities. Changing approaches to regulation may have a negative
impact on certain companies represented in a Portfolio. There can be no
assurance that future litigation, legislation, regulation or deregulation will
not have a material adverse effect on a Portfolio or will not impair the ability
of the issuers of the Securities to achieve their business goals.
 
LIFE OF THE FUND; FUND TERMINATION
 
    The size and composition of a Portfolio will be affected by the level of
redemptions of Units that may occur from time to time. Principally, this will
depend upon the number of investors seeking to sell or redeem their Units or
participating in a rollover. Each Portfolio will be terminated no later than the
mandatory termination date specified in Part A of the Prospectus. They will
terminate earlier upon the disposition of the last Security in that Portfolio or
upon the consent of investors holding 51% of the Units. A Portfolio may also be
terminated earlier by the Sponsors once its total assets have fallen below the
minimum value specified in Part A of the Prospectus. A decision by the Sponsors
to terminate a Portfolio early, which will likely be made following the
rollover, will be based on factors such as its size relative to its original
size, the ratio of Portfolio expenses to income, and the cost of maintaining a
current prospectus.
 
    Notice of impending termination will be provided to investors and thereafter
units will no longer be redeemable. On or shortly before termination, the
Trustee will seek to dispose of any Securities remaining in a Portfolio although
any Security unable to be sold at a reasonable price may continue to be held by
the Trustee in a liquidating trust pending its final disposition. A proportional
share of the expenses associated with termination, including brokerage costs in
disposing of Securities, will be borne by investors remaining at that time. This
may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds those investors are to
receive in any final distribution.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
HOW TO BUY UNITS
 
    Units are available from any of the Sponsors at the Public Offering Price.
The Public Offering Price varies each Business Day with changes in the value of
the Portfolio and other assets and liabilities of the Fund.
 
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
 
    Units are charged a combination of Initial and Deferred Sales Charges equal,
in the aggregate, to a maximum charge of 2.75% of the Public Offering Price or,
for quantity purchases of units of all Select Portfolios by an investor and the
investor's spouse and minor children, or by a single trust estate or fiduciary
account, made on a single day, the following percentages of the public offering
price:
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>
                                                                               APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
                                                                             (GROSS UNDERWRITING PROFIT)
                                                                             ---------------------------
                                                                               AS % OF
                                                                               PUBLIC       AS % OF NET
                                                                              OFFERING         AMOUNT
AMOUNT PURCHASED                                                                PRICE         INVESTED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------   -----------    ------------
<S>                                                                               <C>             <C>      <C>
Less than $50,000.........................................................           2.75%          2.778%
$50,000 to $99,999........................................................           2.50           2.519
$100,000 to $249,999......................................................           2.00           2.005
$250,000 to $2,499,999....................................................           1.75           1.750
$2,500,000 or more........................................................           1.00           1.000
</TABLE>
 
    The Deferred Sales Charge is a monthly charge of $1.75 per 1,000 units and
is accrued in ten monthly installments commencing on the date indicated in Part
A of this Prospectus. Units redeemed or repurchased prior to the accrual of the
final Deferred Sales Charge installment will have the amount of any remaining
installments deducted from the redemption or repurchase proceeds or deducted in
calculating an in-kind distribution, although this deduction will be waived in
the event of the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of
1986) of an investor. The Initial Sales Charge is equal to the aggregate sales
charge, determined as described above, less the aggregate amount of any
remaining installments of the Deferred Sales Charge.
 
    It is anticipated that Securities will not be sold to pay the Deferred Sales
Charge until after the date of the last installment. Investors will be at risk
for market price fluctuations in the Securities from the several installment
accrual dates to the dates of actual sale of Securities to satisfy this
liability.
 
    Employees of certain Sponsors and Sponsor affiliates and non-employee
directors of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. may purchase Units subject only to the
Deferred Sales Charge.
 
EVALUATIONS
   
    Evaluations are determined by the Trustee on each Business Day. This
excludes Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays as observed by the New
York Stock Exchange: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, for the
United Kingdom Portfolio, 'business day' shall exclude the following U.K.
holidays: Easter Monday, May Day, Summer Bank Holiday and Boxing Day; for the
Japan Portfolio, 'business day' shall also exclude the following Japanese
Holidays: the four-day Year End Holiday, Adults Day, National Foundation Day
observance, Vernal Equinox Day, Greenery Day, Constitution Memorial Day,
Childrens Day observance, Respect for the Aged Day observance, Autumnal Equinox
Day, Health-Sports Day, Culture Day observance and Emperor's Birthday. If the
Securities are listed on a securities exchange, evaluations are generally based
on closing sales prices on that exchange (unless the Trustee deems these prices
inappropriate) or, if closing sales prices are not available, at the mean
between the closing bid and offer prices. If the Securities are not listed or if
listed but the principal market is elsewhere, the evaluation is generally
determined based on sales prices of the Securities on the over-the-counter
market or, if sales prices in that market are not available, on the basis of the
mean between current bid and offer prices for the Securities or for comparable
securities or by appraisal or by any combination of these methods. Neither the
Sponsors nor the Trustee guarantee the enforceability, marketability or price of
any Securities. All evaluations are converted to U.S. dollars at the then
current exchange rates which include the cost of a forward foreign exchange
contract in the relevant currency to correspond to the requirement that the
Trustee settle redemption requests in U.S. dollars within seven days.
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
NO CERTIFICATES
 
    All investors are required to hold their Units in uncertifcated form and in
'street name' by their broker, dealer or financial institution at the Depository
Trust Company ('DTC').
 
HOW TO REDEEM OR SELL UNITS
 
    You can redeem your Units at any time for net asset value. In addition, the
Sponsors have maintained an uninterrupted secondary market for Units for over 20
years and will ordinarily buy back Units at net asset value. The following
describes these two methods to redeem or sell Units in greater detail.
 
REDEEMING UNITS
 
    You can always redeem your Units for net asset value. This can be done by
contacting your broker, dealer or financial institution that holds your Units in
street name. In certain instances, additional documents may be required such as
a trust instrument, certificate of corporate authority, certificate of death or
appointment as executor, administrator or guardian.
 
    Within seven days after the receipt of your request (and any necessary
documents), a check will be mailed to you in an amount equal to the net asset
value of your Units. Because of the sales charge, market movements or changes in
the Portfolio, net asset value at the time you redeem your Units may be greater
or less than the original cost of your Units. Net asset value is calculated each
Business Day by adding the value of the Securities, declared but unpaid
dividends on the Securities, cash and the value of any other Fund assets;
deducting unpaid taxes or other governmental charges, accrued but unpaid Fund
expenses and any remaining Deferred Sales Charges, unreimbursed Trustee
advances, cash held to redeem Units or for distribution to investors and the
value of any other Fund liabilities; and dividing the result by the number of
outstanding Units. After the initial offering period, net asset value will be
reduced to reflect the cost to the Fund of liquidating Securities to pay the
redemption price.
 
    As long as the Sponsors are maintaining a secondary market for Units (as
described below), the Trustee will not actually redeem your Units but will sell
them to the Sponsors for net asset value. If the Sponsors are not maintaining a
secondary market, the Trustee will redeem your Units for net asset value or will
sell your Units in the over-the-counter market if the Trustee believes it will
obtain a higher net price for your Units. If the Trustee is able to sell the
Units for a net price higher than net asset value, you will receive the net
proceeds of the sale.
 
    If cash is not available in the Fund's Income and Capital Accounts to pay
redemptions, the Trustee may sell Securities selected by the Agent for the
Sponsors based on market and credit factors determined to be in the best
interest of the Fund. These sales are often made at times when the Securities
would not otherwise be sold and may result in lower prices than might be
realized otherwise and may also reduce the size and diversity of the Fund. If
Securities sales are made during a time when additional Units are being created
by the purchase of additional Securities (as described under Portfolio
Selection), Securities will be sold in a manner designed to maintain, to the
extent practicable, the proportionate relationship among the number of shares of
each Security in the Portfolio.
 
    Any investor owning Units representing at least the lesser of Securities
with a value of at least U.S.$500,000 or 10% of the net asset value of a
Portfolio who redeems those Units prior to the rollover notification date
indicated in Part A of the Prospectus may, in lieu of cash redemption, request
distribution in kind of an amount and value of Securities per Unit equal to the
otherwise applicable Redemption Price per Unit. Whole shares of each Security
together with cash from the Capital Account equal to any fractional shares to
which the investor would be entitled (less any Deferred Sales Charge payable)
will be paid over to a distribution agent and either held for the account of the
investor or disposed of in accordance with instructions of the investor. Any
brokerage commissions as well as any transfer and ongoing custodial fees on
sales of Securities in connection with in-kind redemptions will be borne by the
redeeming investors. The in-kind redemption option may be terminated by the
Sponsors at any time upon prior notice to investors.
 
    Redemptions may be suspended or payment postponed (i) if the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (ii) if
the SEC determines that trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted or
that an emergency exists making disposal or evaluation of the Securities not
reasonably practicable or (iii) for any other period permitted by SEC order.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
SPONSORS' SECONDARY MARKET FOR UNITS
 
    The Sponsors, while not obligated to do so, will buy back Units at net asset
value without any other fee or charge as long as they are maintaining a
secondary market for Units. Because of the sales charge, market movements or
changes in the portfolio, net asset value at the time you sell your Units may be
greater or less than the original cost of your Units. The Sponsors may resell
the Units to other buyers or redeem the Units by tendering them to the Trustee.
You should consult your financial professional for current market prices to
determine if other broker-dealers or banks are offering higher prices for Units.
 
    The Sponsors may discontinue the secondary market for Units without prior
notice if the supply of Units exceeds demand or for other business reasons.
Regardless of whether the Sponsors maintain a secondary market, you have the
right to redeem your Units for net asset value with the Trustee at any time, as
described above.
 
ROLLOVER
   
    In lieu of redeeming their Units or receiving liquidation proceeds upon the
termination of the Fund, investors who hold their Units with one of the Sponsors
may elect, by contacting their financial adviser prior to the rollover
notification date indicated in Part A, to apply their proportional interest in
the Securities and other Portfolio assets toward the purchase of units of a new
United Kingdom or Japan Portfolio of the Select Ten Portfolio 1998 International
Series (the 'New 1998 International Portfolios') (if available). The New 1998
International Portfolios will invest in the ten highest yielding stocks in the
FT and Nikkei 225 Indexes, respectively, as of that time and it is expected that
the terms of the New 1998 International Portfolios, including this rollover
feature, will be substantially the same as those of these Portfolios.
 
    A rollover of an investor's units is accomplished by the in-kind redemption
of his Units followed by the sale of the underlying Securities by a distribution
agent on behalf of participating investors and the reinvestment of the sale
proceeds (net of brokerage fees, governmental charges and other sale expenses)
in units of a New 1998 International Portfolio at their net asset value.
 
    The Sponsors intend to sell the distributed Securities, on behalf of the
distribution agent, as quickly as practicable and then to create units of each
New 1998 International Portfolio as quickly as possible, subject in both cases
to the Sponsors' sensitivity that the concentrated sale and purchase of large
volumes of securities may affect market prices in a manner adverse to the
interest of investors. Accordingly, the Sponsors may, in their sole discretion,
undertake a more gradual sale of the distributed Securities and a more gradual
creation of units of the New 1998 International Portfolios to help mitigate any
negative market price consequences caused by this large volume of securities
trades. In order to minimize potential losses caused by market movement during
the rollover period, the Sponsors may enter into program trades, which could
increase brokerage commissions payable by investors. There can be no assurance,
however, that any trading procedures will be successful or might not result in
less advantageous prices. Pending the investment of rollover proceeds in the
securities to comprise each new 1998 International Portfolio, those moneys may
be uninvested for up to several days. For those Securities in a Portfolio that
will also be in the similar New 1998 International Portfolio, a direct sale of
those securities between the two funds is now permitted pursuant to an SEC
exemptive order. These sales will be effected at the securities' closing sale
prices on the exchanges where they are principally traded, free of any brokerage
costs.
 
    Investors participating in the rollover may realize taxable capital gains
from the rollover but will not be entitled to a deduction for certain capital
losses and, because of the rollover procedures, will not receive a cash
distribution with which to pay those taxes. Investors who do not participate
will continue to hold their Units until the termination of the Portfolio;
however, depending upon the extent of participation in the rollover, the
aggregate size of the Portfolio may be sharply reduced resulting in a
significant increase in per Unit expenses.
 
    The Sponsors may, in their sole discretion and without penalty or liability
to investors, decide not to sponsor a new Select Ten Portfolio 1998
International Series or to modify the terms of the rollover. Prior notice of any
decision would be provided to investors.
    
 
    The Division of Investment Management of the SEC is of the view that the
rollover option constitutes an 'exchange offer' for the purposes of Section
11(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and would therefore be prohibited
absent an exemptive order. The Sponsors have received exemptive orders under
Section 11(c) which they believe permit them to offer the rollover, but no
assurance can be given that the SEC will concur with the Sponsors' position and
additional regulatory approvals may be required.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
INCOME, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REINVESTMENT
 
INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    The annual U.S. dollar income per Unit that is earned by a Portfolio, after
deducting estimated annual Portfolio expenses per Unit, will depend primarily
upon the amount of dividends declared and paid by the issuers of the Securities,
fluctuations in U.S. dollar exchange rates and changes in the expenses of the
Portfolio and, to a lesser degree, upon the level of purchases of additional
Securities and sales of Securities. There is no assurance that dividends on the
Securities will continue at their current levels or be declared at all.
 
    Each Unit in a Portfolio receives an equal share of distributions of
dividend income on the Securities in that Portfolio net of estimated expenses.
Because dividends on the Securities are not received at a constant rate
throughout the year, any distribution may be more or less than the amount then
credited to the Income Account. Dividends received are credited to an Income
Account in the relevant foreign currency and converted into U.S. dollars at the
current exchange rate upon declaration of a Portfolio distribution. Other
receipts are credited to a Capital Account after conversion into U.S. dollars at
the current rate. A Reserve Account may be created by withdrawing from the
Income and Capital Accounts amounts considered appropriate by the Trustee to
reserve for any material amount that may be payable out of a Portfolio. Funds
held by the Trustee in the various accounts do not bear interest. In addition,
distributions of amounts necessary to pay the Deferred Sales Charge will be made
from the Capital Account to an account maintained by the Trustee for purposes of
satisfying investors' sales charge obligations. Although the Sponsors may
collect the Deferred Sales Charge monthly, to keep Units more fully invested the
Sponsors currently do not anticipate sales of Securities to pay the Deferred
Sales Charge until after the rollover notification date. Proceeds of the
disposition of any Securities not used to pay Deferred Sales Charge or to redeem
Units will be held in the Capital Account and distributed on the final
Distribution Day or following liquidation of the Portfolios.
 
REINVESTMENT
 
    Principal and income distributions on Units may be reinvested by
participating in the reinvestment plan. Under the plan, the Units acquired for
investors will be either Units already held in inventory by the Sponsors or new
Units created by the Sponsors' deposit of additional Securities, contracts to
purchase additional Securities or cash (or a bank letter of credit in lieu of
cash) with instructions to purchase additional Securities. Deposits or purchases
of additional Securities will generally be made so as to maintain the then
existing proportionate relationship among the number of shares of each Security
in a Portfolio. Units acquired by reinvestment will not be subject to the
initial sales charge but will be subject to any remaining installments of
Deferred Sales Charge. The Sponsors reserve the right to amend, modify or
terminate the reinvestment plan at any time without prior notice. Investors
holding Units in 'street name' should contact their broker, dealer or financial
institution if they wish to participate in the reinvestment plan.
 
PORTFOLIO EXPENSES
   
    Estimated annual Portfolio expenses are listed in Part A of the Prospectus;
if actual expenses exceed the estimate, the excess will be borne by the
Portfolio. The estimated expenses do not include any brokerage commissions
payable by the Portfolio in buying and selling Securities. The Trustee's fees
shown in Part A of this Prospectus assume that the Portfolios will reach a size
estimated by the Sponsors and are based on a sliding fee scale that reduces the
per 1,000 units Trustee's fee as the size of a Portfolio increases. The
Trustee's annual fee is payable in monthly installments. The Trustee also
benefits when it holds cash for a Portfolio in non-interest bearing accounts.
Possible additional charges include Trustee fees and expenses for extraordinary
services, costs of indemnifying the Trustee and the Sponsors, costs of action
taken to protect the Fund and other legal fees and expenses, Fund termination
expenses and any governmental charges. The Trustee has a lien on Portfolio
assets to secure reimbursement of these amounts and may sell Securities for this
purpose if cash is not available. The Sponsors receive an annual fee currently
estimated at $0.35 per 1,000 Units to reimburse them for the cost of providing
Portfolio supervisory services. While the fee may exceed their costs of
providing these services to the Fund, the total supervision fees from all Series
of Equity Income Fund will not exceed their costs for these services to all of
those Series during any calendar year. The Sponsors may also be reimbursed for
their costs of providing bookkeeping and administrative services to the
Portfolios, currently estimated at $0.10 per 1,000 Units. The Trustee's and
Sponsors' fees may be adjusted for inflation without investors' approval.
    
 
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    Expenses incurred in establishing the Portfolios, including the cost of the
initial preparation of documents relating to the Portfolios, any foreign trading
costs (including commissions, custodial fees and stamp taxes), Federal and
State registration fees, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, legal
expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, will be paid by the Portfolios
and amortized over the life of the Portfolios. Advertising and selling expenses
will be paid from the Underwriting Account at no charge to the Portfolios.
Defined Asset Funds can be a cost-effective way to purchase and hold
investments. Annual operating expenses are generally lower than for managed
funds. Because Defined Asset Funds have no management fees, limited transaction
costs and no ongoing marketing expenses, operating expenses are generally less
than 0.25% a year. When compounded annually, small differences in expense ratios
can make a big difference in your investment results.
 
TAXES
 
U.S. TAXATION
 
    The following discussion addresses only the tax consequences of Units held
as capital assets and does not address the tax consequences of Units held by
dealers, financial institutions or insurance companies.
 
   
    As used herein, the term 'U.S. Investor' means an owner of a Unit in the
United Kingdom Portfolio or the Japan Portfolio that (a) is (i) for United
States federal income tax purposes a citizen or resident of the United States,
(ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii)
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source, or (b) is not a U.S. Investor under
(a) and whose income from a Unit is effectively connected with such Investor's
conduct of a United States trade or business. The term also includes certain
former citizens of the United States whose income and gain on the Units will be
taxable.
    
 
    In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel for the Sponsors,
under existing law:
 
       The Portfolios are not associations taxable as corporations for federal
    income tax purposes. Each U.S. Investor will be considered the owner of a
    pro rata portion of each Security in a Portfolio under the grantor trust
    rules of Sections 671-679 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
    (the 'Code'). Each U.S. Investor will be considered to have received all of
    the dividends paid on his pro rata portion of each Security and any exchange
    gain or loss resulting from the conversion into U.S. dollars of any such
    dividends paid in foreign currency when such dividends are received or
    converted by the Portfolio, regardless of whether such dividends are used to
    pay a portion of the Portfolio's current ongoing expenses or whether they
    are automatically reinvested (see Reinvestment Plan). The amount of dividend
    income and exchange gain or loss, if any, will be the U.S. dollar value
    based on the exchange rate in effect on the date a semi-annual Portfolio
    distribution is declared.
 
       Dividends considered to have been received by a U.S. Investor will not
    qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate investors.
 
       The United Kingdom Portfolio will report as gross income earned by U.S.
    Investors their pro rata share of dividends received by the Portfolio as
    well as their pro rata share of the associated Tax Credit Amount (as defined
    in 'United Kingdom Taxation' below), notwithstanding that it is not certain
    that U.S. Investors will receive any refund of U.K. taxes. Although a U.S.
    Investor is unlikely to be able to obtain directly Treaty Payments (as
    defined in 'United Kingdom Taxation' below) under the U.S.-U.K Treaty, the
    U.K. Inland Revenue has approved a special procedure under which the Trustee
    may claim Treaty Payments on behalf of investors in the United Kingdom
    Portfolio. The amount of any Treaty Payment obtained with respect to a
    dividend will be reflected in the net asset value of the Fund and will be
    distributed to investors on the first Distribution Date after the dividend
    is received by the Fund. Those U.S. Investors who hold Units on the relevant
    record date for dividends on the underlying Securities held by the United
    Kingdom Portfolio should be entitled, subject to applicable limitations, to
    either a credit or a deduction for foreign taxes payable with respect to
    such dividend payments. In addition, IRAs and other plans addressed below
    under 'Retirement Plans' should note that they are not eligible to claim any
    Treaty Payment (as defined below under 'United Kingdom Taxation').
 
       The Japan Portfolio will report as gross income earned by U.S. Investors
    their pro rata share of dividends received by the Portfolio as well as their
    pro rata share of the amount withheld with respect to such dividends. Those
    U.S. Investors who hold Units on the relevant record date for dividends on
    the underlying Securities held by the Japan Portfolio should be entitled,
    subject to applicable limitations, to either a credit or a deduction for
    foreign taxes payable with respect to such dividend payments.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
       An individual U.S. Investor who itemizes deductions will be entitled to
    deduct his pro rata share of current ongoing expenses paid by the Fund only
    to the extent that this amount together with the U.S. Investor's other
    miscellaneous deductions exceeds 2% of his adjusted gross income.
 
       The U.S. Investor's basis in his Units will equal the cost of his Units,
    including the initial sales charge. A portion of the sales charge is
    deferred until the termination of the Fund or the redemption of the Units.
    The proceeds received by a U.S. Investor upon such event will reflect
    deduction of the deferred amount (the 'Deferred Sales Charge' and a charge
    for organizational expenses). The annual statement and the relevant tax
    reporting forms received by U.S. Investors will be based upon the amounts
    paid to them, net of the Deferred Sales Charge and the charge for
    organizational expenses. Accordingly, U.S. Investors should not increase
    their basis in their Units by the Deferred Sales Charge or any amount used
    to pay organizational expenses.
 
   
       A distribution of Securities by the Trustee to a U.S. Investor (or to his
    agent) upon redemption of Units (or an exchange of Units for Securities by
    the investor with the Sponsor) will not be taxable to the U.S. Investor or
    to other investors. The redeeming or exchanging U.S. Investor's basis for
    such Securities will equal his basis for the same Securities (previously
    represented by his Units) prior to such redemption or exchange, and his
    holding period for such Securities will include the period during which he
    held his Units. A U.S. Investor will have a taxable gain or loss, which will
    be a capital gain or loss, when the U.S. Investor (or his agent) sells the
    Securities received in redemption for cash, when a redeeming or exchanging
    U.S. Investor receives cash in lieu of fractional shares, when the U.S.
    Investor sells his Units for cash or when the Trustee sells the Securities
    from the Portfolio. However, deductions will be disallowed for such losses
    realized by U.S. Investors who invest in a Portfolio of a new 1998
    International Series within 30 days after incurring such losses to the
    extent that the securities in the new series are substantially identical to
    the old Securities.
    
 
       In general, capital gains are currently taxed at the same rate as
    ordinary income. However, net capital gain (the excess of net long-term
    capital gains over net short-term capital losses) may be taxed at a lower
    rate than ordinary income for certain noncorporate taxpayers. A capital gain
    or loss is long-term if the asset is held for more than one year and
    short-term if held for one year or less. The deduction of capital losses is
    subject to limitations. The lower net capital gain tax rate will be
    unavailable to those noncorporate U.S. Investors who, as of the mandatory
    termination date (or earlier termination of a Portfolio), have held their
    Units for less than a year and a day. Similarly, with respect to
    noncorporate rollover U.S. Investors, this lower rate will be unavailable
    if, as of the beginning of the rollover period, those U.S. Investors have
    held their shares for less than a year and a day.
 
       Under the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, the
    Portfolios are not associations taxable as corporations and the income of
    the Portfolios will be treated as the income of the U.S. Investors in the
    same manner as for federal income tax purposes.
 
       The foregoing discussion relates only to the tax treatment of U.S.
    Investors with regard to federal and certain aspects of New York State and
    City income taxes. U.S. Investors may be subject to taxation in New York or
    in other jurisdictions and should consult their own tax advisors in this
    regard.
 
                                   *  *  *  *
 
    The foregoing discussion relates only to U.S. Investors (as defined above).
Since both Portfolios hold Securities of non-U.S. issuers, it is expected that
income earned by investors who are not U.S. Investors will not be treated as
U.S.-source income and should not be subject to any U.S. withholding tax.
 
    At the termination of the Portfolios, the Trustee will furnish to each
investor an annual statement containing information relating to the dividends
received by the Portfolio on the Securities, the gross proceeds received by the
Portfolio from the disposition of any Security (resulting from redemption or the
sale by the Portfolio of any Security), and the fees and expenses paid by the
Portfolio. The Trustee will also furnish annual information returns to each
investor and to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
FOREIGN TAXATION
 
UNITED KINGDOM TAXATION
 
    Tax Consequences of Ownership of Ordinary Shares. In the opinion of
Linklaters & Paines, the Sponsors' U.K. special counsel, based on the
description of the United Kingdom Portfolio in the Prospectus and on certain
representations made by special U.S. counsel to the Sponsors, this summary
accurately describes the material U.K. tax consequences to certain U.S. holders
of Units of the U.K. Portfolio. This summary is based upon current U.S. law,
U.K. taxation law, U.K. Inland Revenue practice, the U.S./U.K. convention
relating to taxes on income and capital gains (the 'Treaty') and the U.S./U.K.
estate and gift taxes convention (the 'Estate Tax Treaty'). The summary is a
general guide only and is subject to any changes in any of the aforesaid after
the date of this Prospectus (including changes on a retroactive basis) which may
affect the tax analysis described. Accordingly, prospective investors should
consult their U.K. tax advisors as to the U.K. tax consequences of owning Units
of the United Kingdom Portfolio applicable to their circumstances.
 
    Taxation of Dividends. Subject to the following paragraph, a U.K. resident
who receives a dividend from a U.K. corporation is generally entitled to a tax
credit, which is either offset against U.K. tax liabilities, or, in certain
circumstances, repaid. Under the Treaty, a U.S. Investor, who is resident in the
U.S. for the purposes of the Treaty, may be entitled to repayment of the tax
credit, but such repayment is subject to U.K. withholding tax of 15% on the sum
of the dividend and the tax credit. The tax credit (before such withholding) is
equal to one quarter of the dividend (the 'Tax Credit Amount'). Although such a
U.S. Investor who held shares directly in a U.K. corporation could generally
claim a refund of part of the Tax Credit Amount attributable to the dividend (a
'Treaty Payment'), the ability of such a U.S. Investor in the United Kingdom
Portfolio to claim a Treaty Payment is unclear where dividend payments are made
to an entity such as the Fund. For a U.S. Investor to be able to claim Treaty
Payments it would be necessary to agree to a special procedure with the U.K.
Inland Revenue in advance (see 'U.S. Taxation' above). In the absence of
agreeing to such a procedure, Investors who are U.S. persons may not in practice
be able to claim a Treaty Payment from the U.K. Inland Revenue.
 
    A U.K. company may elect for a dividend to be a 'foreign income dividend'
rather than an ordinary dividend. No tax credits are attributable to such
foreign income dividends.
 
    Taxation of Capital Gains. U.S. Investors who are neither resident nor
ordinarily resident in the U.K. will not be liable for U.K. tax on gains arising
on the disposal of Units unless the Units are used, held or acquired for the
purposes of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the U.K. through or
for the purposes of a permanent establishment or fixed base as defined in the
Treaty.
 
    U.K. Inheritance Tax. Individual U.S. Investors who are domiciled in the
U.S. (as defined by the Estate Tax Treaty) and who are not U.K. nationals (as
defined by the Estate Tax Treaty) will generally not be subject to U.K.
inheritance tax on death or on lifetime gifts of Units in the United Kingdom
Portfolio provided that any applicable U.S. federal gift or estate tax is paid,
unless the Units are part of the business property of U.K. permanent
establishments or pertain to U.K. fixed bases used for the performance of
personal services. Where the Units have been settled on trust, the Units will
generally not be subject to U.K. inheritance tax unless the settlor, at the time
of settlement, was not domiciled in the U.S. or was a U.K. national provided
that any applicable U.S. federal gift or estate tax is paid. In the exceptional
case where Units are subject to both U.K. inheritance tax and to U.S. federal
gift or estate tax, the Estate Tax Treaty generally provides for U.K. tax paid
to be credited against U.S. tax paid or for tax paid in the U.S. to be credited
against tax payable in the U.K based on rules set out in the Estate Tax Treaty.
 
                             *         *         *
 
   
    The aforesaid discussion addresses the U.K. tax consequences of Units of the
United Kingdom Portfolio held by U.S. Investors only. For the U.S. tax
consequences, to U.S. Investors, see U.S. Taxation. The discussion does not
address the tax consequences for non-U.S. investors who should consult their own
tax advisers in this respect.
 
JAPANESE TAXATION
 
    The Sponsors have been advised by Tomotsune Kimura and Mitomi, the Sponsors'
special Japanese counsel, that dividends paid to the Japan Portfolio by Japanese
corporations will be subject to a withholding tax of 20%. Generally, a 'resident
of the United States' that holds shares in a Japanese corporation and has no
permanent establishment in Japan is entitled to a reduced withholding tax rate
of 15% under the Convention between Japan and the United States of America for
the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with
respect to Taxes on Income (the 'Convention') if an application signed by such
    

                                       14
<PAGE>
resident or its agent is filed with the appropriate tax authority. The
Convention defines the term 'resident of the United States' to include trusts
which are treated as residents of the United States for United States income tax
purposes. In light of the fact that the Japan Portfolio is not a taxable entity
for federal income tax purposes (see 'Taxes--U.S. Taxation'), the Japan
Portfolio would not qualify as a U.S. resident within the meaning of the
Convention, and consequently, each investor in the Japan Portfolio will be
treated as the recipient of his pro rata share of dividends paid to the Japan
Portfolio and will be required to file the specified application in order to
benefit from the reduced withholding rate. The national tax authority of Japan
takes the position that the Trustee may not file the required application on
behalf of the investors. Accordingly, investors may not in practice be able to
benefit from the reduced withholding rate provided by the Convention. In
addition, Japanese gift and inheritance taxes may be imposed with respect to
Units of the Japan Portfolio upon legatees, heirs or donees of individuals who
are holders thereof.
 
    Securities transaction taxes will be imposed in the event of sales of
portfolio securities within Japan, currently at the rate of 0.21% of the sales
prices thereof. However, gains derived from sales of portfolio securities within
Japan will not be subject to Japanese income tax, assuming that the transferor
does not have a permanent establishment in Japan.
 
    The aforesaid discussion addresses the Japanese tax consequences to
residents of the United States (within the meaning of the Convention) of holding
Units of the Japan Portfolio. The discussion does not address the tax
consequences to an investor who is a non-resident of the United States.
Accordingly, such a non-resident investor should consult his own tax adivsor in
this respect.
 
RETIREMENT PLANS
 
    This Series of Equity Income Fund may be well suited for purchase by
Individual Retirement Accounts ('IRAs'), Keogh plans, pension funds and other
qualified retirement plans, certain of which are briefly described below.
Generally, capital gains and income received in each of the foregoing plans are
exempt from Federal taxation. All distributions from such plans are generally
treated as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be eligible for special 5 or
10 year averaging or tax-deferred rollover treatment. Investors holding IRAs,
Keogh plans and other tax-deferred retirement plans should consult their plan
custodian as to the appropriate disposition of distributions. Investors
considering participation in any of these plans should review specific tax laws
related thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisors with respect
to the establishment and maintenance of any of these plans. These plans are
offered by brokerage firms, including the Sponsor of this Fund, and other
financial institutions. Fees and charges with respect to such plans may vary.
 
   
    Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed--Keogh Plans. Units may be purchased
by retirement plans established for self-employed individuals, partnerships or
unincorporated companies ('Keogh plans'). The assets of a Keogh plan must be
held in a qualified trust or other arrangement which meets the requirements of
the Code. Keogh plan participants may also establish separate IRAs (see below)
to which they may contribute up to an additional $2,000 per year ($2,250, and
for tax years beginning after December 31, 1996, $4,000, in a spousal account).
 
    Individual Retirement Account--IRA. Any individual can establish an IRA or
make use of a qualified IRA arrangement for the purchase of Units of the Fund.
Any individual (including one covered by an employer retirement plan) can make a
contribution in an IRA equal to the lesser of $2,000 ($2,250, and for tax years
beginning after December 31, 1996, $4,000 in a spousal account) or 100% of
earned income; the investment must be made in cash. However, the deductible
amount an individual may contribute will be reduced if the individual or the
individual's spouse is covered by an employer maintained retirement plan and the
individual's adjusted gross income exceeds $25,000 (in the case of a single
individual), $40,000 (in the case of married individuals filing a joint return)
or $200 (in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). Certain
transactions which are prohibited under Section 408 of the Code will cause all
or a portion of the amount in an IRA to be deemed to the distributed and subject
to tax at that time. Unless nondeductible contributions were made in 1987 or a
later year, all distributions from an IRA will be
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
treated as ordinary income but generally are eligible for tax-deferred rollover
treatment. Taxable distributions made before attainment of age 59 1/2, except in
the case of the participant's death or disability or where the amount
distributed is part of a series of substantially equal periodic (at least
annual) payments that are to be made over the life expectancies of the
participant and his or her beneficiary, are generally subject to a surtax in an
amount equal to 10% of the distribution.
 
    Corporate Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans. A pension or profit-sharing plan
for employees of a corporation may purchase Units of the Fund.
 
RECORDS AND REPORTS
 
    Each Trustee keeps a register of the names, addresses and holdings of all
investors. The Trustee also keeps records of the transactions of the Portfolio,
including a current list of the Securities and a copy of the Indenture, which
may be inspected by investors at reasonable times during business hours.
 
    With each distribution, the Trustee includes a statement of the amounts of
income and any other receipts being distributed. Following the termination of a
Portfolio, the Trustee sends each investor of record a statement summarizing
transactions in the Portfolio's accounts including amounts distributed from
them, identifying Securities sold and purchased and listing Securities held and
the number of Units outstanding at termination and stating the Redemption Price
per 1,000 Units at termination, and the fees and expenses paid by the Portfolio,
among other matters. Portfolio accounts may be audited by independent
accountants selected by the Sponsors and any report of the accountants will be
available from the Trustee on request.
 
TRUST INDENTURE
 
    Each Portfolio is a 'unit investment trust' created under New York law by a
Trust Indenture among the Sponsors and the Trustee. This Prospectus summarizes
various provisions of the Indentures, but each statement is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Indentures.
 
    An Indenture may be amended by the Sponsors and the Trustee without consent
by investors to cure ambiguities or to correct or supplement any defective or
inconsistent provision, to make any amendment required by the SEC or other
governmental agency or to make any other change not materially adverse to the
interest of investors (as determined in good faith by the Sponsors). An
Indenture may also generally be amended upon consent of investors holding 51% of
the Units. No amendment may reduce the interest of any investor in a Portfolio
without the investor's consent or reduce the percentage of Units required to
consent to any amendment without unanimous consent of investors. Investors will
be notified of the substance of any amendment.
 
    The Trustee may resign upon notice to the Sponsors. It may be removed by
investors holding 51% of the Units at any time or by the Sponsors without the
consent of investors if it becomes incapable of acting or bankrupt, its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, or if under certain conditions the
Sponsors determine in good faith that its replacement is in the best interest of
the investors. The resignation or removal becomes effective upon acceptance of
appointment by a successor; in this case, the Sponsors will use their best
efforts to appoint a successor promptly; however, if upon resignation no
successor has accepted appointment within 30 days after notification, the
resigning Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a
successor.
 
    Any Sponsor may resign so long as one Sponsor with a net worth of $2,000,000
remains. A new Sponsor may be appointed by the remaining Sponsors and the
Trustee to assume the duties of the resigning Sponsor. If there is only one
Sponsor and it fails to perform its duties or becomes incapable of acting or
bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, the Trustee may
appoint a successor Sponsor at reasonable rates of compensation, terminate the
Indentures and liquidate the Fund or continue to act as Trustee without a
Sponsor. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has been appointed
as Agent for the Sponsors by the other Sponsors.
 
    The Sponsors and the Trustee are not liable to investors or any other party
for any act or omission in the conduct of their responsibilities absent bad
faith, willful misfeasance, negligence (gross negligence in the case of a
Sponsor) or reckless disregard of duty. The Indentures contain customary
provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
MISCELLANEOUS
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
    The legality of the Units has been passed upon by Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, as special counsel for the Sponsors.
 
AUDITORS
 
    The Statements of Condition in Part A of the Prospectus were audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent accountants, as stated in their opinion. It
is included in reliance upon that opinion given on the authority of that firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
TRUSTEES
 
    The Trustees and their addresses are stated on the back cover of the
Prospectus. The Trustees are subject to supervision by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and
the State of New York Banking Department.
 
SPONSORS
 
    The Sponsors are listed on the back cover of the Prospectus. They may
include Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Merrill Lynch Co. Inc.; Smith Barney Inc., an indirect wholly-
owned subsidiary of The Travelers Inc.; Prudential Securities Incorporated, an
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Prudential Insurance Company of America;
Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., a principal operating subsidiary of Dean Witter
Discover & Co., and PaineWebber Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
PaineWebber Group Inc. Each Sponsor, or one of its predecessor corporations, has
acted as Sponsor of a number of series of unit investment trusts. Each Sponsor
has acted as principal underwriter and managing underwriter of other investment
companies. The Sponsors, in addition to participating as members of various
selling groups or as agents of other investment companies, execute orders on
behalf of investment companies for the purchase and sale of securities of these
companies and sell securities to these companies in their capacities as brokers
or dealers in securities.
 
CODE OF ETHICS
 
    The Agent for the Sponsors has adopted a code of ethics requiring
preclearance and reporting of personal securities transactions by its personnel
who have access to information on Defined Asset Funds portfolio transactions.
The code is intended to prevent any act, practice or course of conduct which
would operate as a fraud or deceit on any Fund and to provide guidance to these
persons regarding standards of conduct consistent with the Agent's
responsibilities to the Funds.
 
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
 
    During the initial offering period and thereafter to the extent additional
Units continue to be offered for sale to the public by means of this Prospectus,
Units will be distributed directly to the public by this Prospectus at the
Public Offering Price determined in the manner provided above. The Sponsors
intend to qualify Units for sale in all states in which qualification is deemed
necessary through the Underwriting Account and by dealers who are members of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The Sponsors do not intend to
qualify Units for sale in any foreign countries and this Prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell Units in any country where Units cannot lawfully be
sold.
 
UNDERWRITERS' AND SPONSORS' PROFITS
 
    Upon sale of the Units, the Underwriters, which are listed on the back cover
of the Prospectus, will be entitled to receive sales charges; each Underwriters'
interest in the Underwriting Account will depend on the number of Units acquired
through the issuance of additional Units. The Sponsors also realize a profit or
loss on deposit of the Securities equal to the difference between the cost of
the Securities to the Fund (based on the aggregate value of the Securities on
their date of deposit) and the purchase price of the Securities to the Sponsors
plus commissions payable by the Sponsors. In addition, a Sponsor or Underwriter
may realize profits or sustain losses on Securities it deposits in the Fund
which were acquired from underwriting syndicates of which it was a member.
During the initial offering period, the Underwriting Account also may realize
profits or sustain losses as a result of fluctuations after the initial date of
deposit in the Public Offering Price of the Units. In maintaining a secondary
market for Units, the Sponsors will also realize profits or sustain losses in
the amount of any difference between the prices at which they buy Units and the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
prices at which they resell these Units (which include the sales charge) or the
prices at which they redeem the Units. Cash, if any, made available by buyers of
Units to the Sponsors prior to a settlement date for the purchase of Units may
be used in the Sponsors' businesses to the extent permitted by Rule 15c3-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and may be of benefit to the Sponsors.
 
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
    Total returns, average annualized returns or cumulative returns for various
periods of Strategy Stocks, the related index, the current or one or more prior
Select Ten Portfolios may be included from time to time in advertisements, sales
literature and reports to current or prospective investors. Total return shows
changes in Unit price during the period plus reinvestment of dividends and
capital gains, divided by the maximum public offering price. Average annualized
returns show the average return for stated periods of longer than a year.
Figures for actual Portfolios (but not Strategy Stocks or related index) reflect
deduction of all Portfolio expenses and unless otherwise stated the maximum
sales charge. No provision is made for any income taxes payable. Similar figures
may be given for Strategy Stocks and other Select Ten Portfolios applying the
Strategy to other indexes. Returns of Strategy Stocks of multiple Select Ten
Strategies may also be shown on a combined basis. Investors should bear in mind
that this represents past performance and is no assurance of future results of
the current or any future Portfolio. Advertisements and other material
distributed to prospective investors may include average annual total returns
(with dividends reinvested) of equity markets in major industrialized countries
over the last 10 years, as compiled by Morgan Stanley Capital International
Index. Advertisements and other material distributed to prospective investors
may include the average annual compounded rate of return on selected types of
assets for periods of at least 10 years, as compiled by Ibbotson Associates,
compared to the rate of inflation over the same period. These materials may also
compare the shrinking relative proportion of world stock market capitalization
represented by U.S. markets for different years.
 
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
 
    For decades informed investors have purchased unit investment trusts for
dependability and professional selection of investments. Defined Asset Funds'
philosophy is to allow investors to 'buy with knowledge' (because, unlike
managed funds, the portfolio is relatively fixed) and 'hold with confidence'
(because the portfolio is professionally selected and regularly reviewed).
Defined Asset Funds offers an array of simple and convenient investment choices,
suited to fit a wide variety of personal financial goals--a buy and hold
strategy for capital accumulation, such as for children's education or
retirement, or regular current income consistent with the preservation of
principal. Unit investment trusts are particularly suited for investors who
prefer to seek long-term profits by purchasing and holding investments, rather
than through active trading. Few individuals have the knowledge, resources or
capital to buy and hold a diversified portfolio on their own; it would generally
take a considerable sum of money to obtain the breadth and diversity that
Defined Asset Funds offer. Your investment objectives may call for a combination
of Defined Asset Funds.
 
    Defined Asset Funds reflect a buy and hold strategy that the Sponsors
believe can be more effective and less expensive than active management. This
strategy is premised on selection criteria and procedures, diversification and
regular monitoring by investment professionals. Various advertisements and sales
literature may summarize the results of economic studies concerning how stock
market movement has tended to be concentrated and how longer-term investments
can tend to reduce risk.
 
    One of the most important investment decisions you face may be how to
allocate your investments among asset classes. Diversification among different
kinds of investments can balance the risks and rewards of each one. Most
investment experts recommend stocks for long-term capital growth. Defined equity
funds offer growth potential and some protection against inflation.
 
EXCHANGE OPTION
 
    You may exchange Fund Units for units of other Select Ten Portfolios subject
only to the remaining deferred sales charge on the units received. You may
exchange your units of any Select Ten Portfolio, of any other Defined Asset Fund
with a regular maximum sales charge of at least 3.50%, or of any unaffiliated
unit trust with a regular maximum sales charge of at least 2.70%, for Units of
this Fund at their relative net asset values, subject only to a reduced sales
charge, or to any remaining Deferred Sales Charge, as applicable.
 
    To make an exchange, you should contact your financial professional to find
out what suitable exchange funds are available and to obtain a prospectus. You
may acquire units of only those exchange funds in which the Sponsors are
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
maintaining a secondary market and which are lawfully for sale in the state
where you reside. Except for the reduced sales charge, an exchange is a taxable
event normally requiring recognition of any gain or loss on the units exchanged.
However, the Internal Revenue Service may seek to disallow a loss if the
portfolio of the units acquired is not materially different from the portfolio
of the units exchanged; you should consult your own tax advisor. If the proceeds
of units exchanged are insufficient to acquire a whole number of exchange fund
units, you may pay the difference in cash (not exceeding the price of a single
unit acquired).
 
    As the Sponsors are not obligated to maintain a secondary market in any
series, there can be no assurance that units of a desired series will be
available for exchange. The Exchange Option may be amended or terminated at any
time without notice.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
 
    Upon writing or calling the Trustee shown on the back cover of this
Prospectus, investors will receive without charge supplemental information about
a Portfolio, which has been filed with the SEC. The supplemental information
includes more detailed risk factor disclosure about the types of securities that
may be part of the Portfolio and general information about the structure and
operation of the Fund.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
                              Defined
                              Asset FundsSM
 

SPONSORS AND UNDERWRITERS:         EQUITY INCOME FUND
Merrill Lynch,                     SELECT TEN PORTFOLIO
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated1997 INTERNATIONAL SERIES A
Defined Asset Funds                (UNITED KINGDOM AND
P.O. Box 9051                      JAPAN PORTFOLIOS)
Princeton, NJ 08543-9051
(609) 282-8500                     This Prospectus does not contain all of the
Smith Barney Inc.                  information with respect to the investment
Unit Trust Department              company set forth in its registration
388 Greenwich Street--23rd Floor   statement and exhibits relating thereto which
New York, NY 10013                 have been filed with the Securities and
(212) 816-4000                     Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. under
PaineWebber Incorporated           the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
1200 Harbor Blvd.                  Company Act of 1940, and to which reference
Weehawken, NJ 07087                is hereby made. Copies of filed material can
(201) 902-3000                     be obtained from the Public Reference Section
Prudential Securities Incorporated of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
One New York Plaza                 Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.
New York, NY 10292                 The Commission also maintains a Web site that
(212) 778-6164                     contains information statements and other
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.          information regarding registrants such as
Two World Trade Center--59th Floor Defined Asset Funds that file electronically
New York, NY 10048                 with the Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
(212) 392-2222                     ------------------------
TRUSTEE:                           No person is authorized to give any
The Chase Manhattan Bank           information or to make any representations
Customer Service Retail Department with respect to this investment company not
Bowling Green Station              contained in its registration statement and
P.O. Box 5187                      related exhibits; and any information or
New York, NY 10274-5187            representation not contained therein must not
1-800-323-1508                     be relied upon as having been authorized.
                                   ------------------------
                                   When Units of this Fund are no longer
                                   available and for investors who will reinvest
                                   into subsequent International Select Ten
                                   Portfolios, this Prospectus may be used as a
                                   preliminary prospectus for a future series,
                                   in which case investors should note the
                                   following:
                                   Information contained herein is subject to
                                   amendment. A registration statement relating
                                   to securities of a future series has been
                                   filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                   Commission. These securities may not be sold
                                   nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to
                                   the time the registration statement becomes
                                   effective.
                                   This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer
                                   to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
                                   buy nor shall there be any sale of these
                                   securities in any State in which such offer
                                   solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
                                   to registration or qualification under the
                                   securities laws of any such State.

 
                                                         11517--1/97
 
    

<PAGE>
                                    PART II
             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROSPECTUS
 

A. The following information relating to the Depositors is incorporated by 
reference to the SEC filings indicated and made a part of this Registration 
Statement.

 
 I. Bonding arrangements of each of the Depositors are incorporated by reference
to Item A of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 under the
Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Monthly Payment
Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241).
 
 II. The date of organization of each of the Depositors is set forth in Item B
of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 under the Securities Act of
1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined
Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241) and is herein incorporated by reference
thereto.
 
III. The Charter and By-Laws of each of the Depositors are incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibits 1.3 through 1.12 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund,
Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241).
 
IV. Information as to Officers and Directors of the Depositors has been filed
pursuant to Schedules A and D of Form BD under Rules 15b1-1 and 15b3-1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated by reference to the SEC
filings indicated and made a part of this Registration Statement:
 

          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated       8-7221
          Smith Barney Inc. ................................       8-8177
          PaineWebber Incorporated..........................      8-16267
          Prudential Securities Incorporated................      8-27154
          Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ........................      8-14172

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

B.  The Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Numbers of the 
Sponsors and Trustees are as follows:
 
   
          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated     13-5674085
          Smith Barney Inc. ................................     13-1912900
          PaineWebber Incorporated..........................     13-2638166
          Prudential Securities Incorporated................     22-2347336
          Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ........................     94-0899825
          The Chase Manhattan Bank, Trustee.................     13-4994650
    

 
    The Sponsors undertake that they will not make any amendment to the
Supplement to this Registration Statement which includes material changes
without submitting the amendment for Staff review prior to distribution.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
                         SERIES OF EQUITY INCOME FUND,
                            INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND,
                             CORPORATE INCOME FUND
                AND DEFINED ASSET FUNDS MUNICIPAL INSURED SERIES
        DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO RULE 487 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 

                                                                    SEC
SERIES NUMBER                                                   FILE NUMBER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity Income Fund, Index Series, S&P 500 Trust 2 and S&P
Midcap Trust................................................           33-44844
Equity Income Fund, Investment Philosophy Series 1991
Selected Industrial Portfolio...............................           33-39158
Equity Income Fund, Group One Overseas Index Fund Series 1
and 2.......................................................           33-05654
Equity Income Fund, Select Ten Portfolio--1995 Winter
Series......................................................           33-55811
Equity Income Fund, Select Ten Portfolio--1995 Spring
Series......................................................           33-55807
International Bond Fund, Australian and New Zealand Dollar
Bonds Series 19.............................................           33-15393
International Bond Fund, Australian and New Zealand Third
Short-Term Series...........................................           33-13200
International Bond Fund, Fourteenth Multi-Currency Series...           33-04447
Corporate Income Fund, First Short-Term Sterling Series.....            2-93990
Defined Asset Funds Municipal Insured Series................           33-54565

 
                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
The Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the following papers and
documents:
 
    The facing sheet of Form S-6.
 
    The Cross-Reference Sheet (incorporated by reference from the
Cross-Reference Sheet of the Registration Statement of Defined Asset Funds
Municipal Insured Series, 1933 Act File No. 33-54565).
 
    The Prospectus.
 
    Additional Information not included in the Prospectus (Part II).
 
    The following exhibits:
 

1.1     --Form of Trust Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to
          the Registration Statement of Equity Income Fund Select Ten
          Portfolio--1995 Spring Series, 1933 Act File No. 33-55807).
1.1.1   --Form of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust Effective as of October
          21, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1.1 to the
          Registration Statement of Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Multistate
          Series-48, 1933 Act File No. 33-50247).
1.2     --Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters (incorporated by reference
          to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act
          of 1933 of The Corporate Income Fund, One Hundred Ninety-Fourth
          Monthly Payment Series, 1933 Act File No. 2-90925).
3.1     --Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities being issued
          including their consent to the use of their name under the headings
          'Taxes' and 'Miscellaneous--Legal Opinion' in the Prospectus.
5.1     --Consent of independent accountants.
9.1     --Information Supplement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.1 to
          the Registration Statement of Equity Income Fund Select Ten Portfolio
          1996 International Series B (United Kingdom and Japan Portfolios),
          1933 Act File No. 333-00593.

 
                                      R-1
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby identifies the series numbers of Equity Income Fund,
International Bond Fund, Corporate Income Fund and Defined Asset Funds Municipal
Insured Series listed on page R-1 for the purposes of the representations
required by Rule 487 and represents the following:
 
    1) That the portfolio securities deposited in the series as to which this
       registration statement is being filed do not differ materially in type or
       quality from those deposited in such previous series;
 
    2) That, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio
       securities deposited in, and to provide essential information for, the
       series with respect to which this registration statement is being filed,
       this registration statement does not contain disclosures that differ in
       any material respect from those contained in the registration statements
       for such previous series as to which the effective date was determined by
       the Commission or the staff; and
 
    3) That it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
   
    PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE OF NEW YORK ON THE 24TH DAY OF
JANUARY, 1997.
    
 
             SIGNATURES APPEAR ON PAGE R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6 AND R-7.
 
    A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or
Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the
Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.
 
    A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Smith Barney Inc. has
signed this Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement
pursuant to Powers of Attorney authorizing the person signing this Registration
Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such
members.
 
     A majority of the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors of PaineWebber Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or
Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the
Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.
 
     A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Prudential
Securities Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or Amendment to
the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney authorizing the person
signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement
to do so on behalf of such members.
 
     A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc. has signed this Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney authorizing the person signing this
Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement to do so on
behalf of such members.
 
                                      R-2
<PAGE>
               MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
                                   DEPOSITOR
 

By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under
  the Board of Directors of Merrill         Form SE and the following 1933 Act
  Lynch, Pierce,                            File
  Fenner & Smith Incorporated:              Number: 33-43466

 
     HERBERT M. ALLISON, JR.
     BARRY S. FREIDBERG
     EDWARD L. GOLDBERG
     STEPHEN L. HAMMERMAN
     JEROME P. KENNEY
     DAVID H. KOMANSKY
     DANIEL T. NAPOLI
     THOMAS H. PATRICK
     JOHN L. STEFFENS
     DANIEL P. TULLY
     ROGER M. VASEY
     ARTHUR H. ZEIKEL
     DANIEL C. TYLER
     (As authorized signatory for Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
     Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
     Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
 
                                      R-3
<PAGE>
                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
                                   DEPOSITOR
 
   
By the following persons, who constitute a majority of      Powers of Attorney
  the Board of Directors of Smith Barney Inc.:                have been filed
                                                              under the 1933 Act
                                                              File Numbers:
                                                              33-49753, 33-55073
                                                              and 333-10441

     STEVEN D. BLACK
     JAMES BOSHART III
     ROBERT A. CASE
     JAMES DIMON
     ROBERT DRUSKIN
     ROBERT H. LESSIN
     WILLIAM J. MILLS, II
     MICHAEL B. PANITCH
     PAUL UNDERWOOD
    
 
     By GINA LEMON
       (As authorized signatory for
       Smith Barney Inc. and
       Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
 
                                      R-4
<PAGE>
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                                   DEPOSITOR
 

By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under
  the Executive Committee of the Board      the following 1933 Act File
  of Directors                              Number: 33-55073
  of PaineWebber Incorporated:

 
     DONALD B. MARRON
     JOSEPH J. GRANO, JR.
     By
       ROBERT E. HOLLEY
       (As authorized signatory for PaineWebber Incorporated
       and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
 
                                      R-5
<PAGE>
                       PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
                                   DEPOSITOR
 

By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under Form SE and the following 1933
  the Board of Directors of Prudential      Act File Number: 33-41631
  Securities
  Incorporated:

 
     ALAN D. HOGAN
     GEORGE A. MURRAY
     LELAND B. PATON
     HARDWICK SIMMONS
     By
       RICHARD R. HOFFMANN
       (As authorized signatory for Prudential Securities
       Incorporated and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
 
                                      R-6
<PAGE>
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                                   DEPOSITOR
 

By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under Form
  the Board of Directors of Dean Witter     SE and the following 1933 Act File
  Reynolds Inc.:                            Number:
                                            33-17085

 
   
     CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO
     JAMES F. HIGGINS
     STEPHEN R. MILLER
     PHILIP J. PURCELL
     THOMAS C. SCHNEIDER
     WILLIAM B. SMITH
    

     By
       MICHAEL D. BROWNE
       (As authorized signatory for Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
       and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
 
                                      R-7




                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.1
                             DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000
                                                                JANUARY 24, 1997
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS EQUITY INCOME FUND,
SELECT TEN PORTFOLIO 1997 INTERNATIONAL SERIES A
(UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN PORTFOLIOS)
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
SMITH BARNEY INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
C/O MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
P.O. BOX 9051
PRINCETON, N.J. 08543-9051
(609) 282-8500
Dear Sirs:
 
     We have acted as special counsel for you, as sponsors (the 'Sponsors') of
Defined Asset Funds Equity Income Fund, Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International
Series A (United Kingdom and Japan Portfolios) (the 'Fund'), in connection with
the issuance of units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund (the 'Units')
in accordance with the Trust Indentures relating to the Fund (the 'Indentures').
 
     We have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents and instruments as
we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of this opinion.
 
     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the execution and
delivery of the Indentures and the issuance of the Units have been duly
authorized by the Sponsors and (ii) the Units, when duly issued and delivered by
the Sponsors and the Trustee in accordance with the Indentures, will be legally
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 3.1 to the
Registration Statement relating to the Units filed under the Securities Act of
1933 and to the use of our name in such Registration Statement and in the
related prospectus under the headings 'Taxes' and 'Miscellaneous--Legal
Opinion.'
 
                                          Very truly yours,
 
                                          DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL


                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Sponsors and Trustee of Defined Asset Funds Equity Income Fund,
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series A (United Kingdom and Japan
Portfolios):
 
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement No. 333-15199 of our report
dated January 24, 1997, relating to the Statements of Condition of Defined Asset
Funds Equity Income Fund, Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series A
(United Kingdom and Japan Portfolios) and to the reference to us under the
heading 'Miscellaneous--Auditors' in the Prospectus which is a part of this
Registration Statement.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, N.Y.
January 24, 1997


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> SELECT TEN UKT97A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-24-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          300,302
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         300,302
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 222,700
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 523,002
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      222,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            222,700
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       300,302
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          303,334
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                   300,302
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                             0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                            0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                0
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        303,334
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> SELECT TEN JPT97A
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