EQUITY INVESTOR FUND SEL TEN PORT 1997 INT SER 5 UK HK & JP
497, 1997-11-12
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                                        DEFINED ASSET FUNDSSM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

EQUITY INVESTOR 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 5                      The common stocks in the United Kingdom Portfolio
UNITED KINGDOM,               were selected by following a strategy that invests
HONG KONG 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 Hong Kong 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 Hang Seng Index having the highest
                              dividend yields two business days prior to the
                              date of this Prospectus.
                              The common stocks in the Japan Portfolio were
                              selected by following a strategy that invests for
                              a period of about one year in the ten common
                              stocks in the Nikkei 225 Index having the highest
                              dividend yields four business days prior to the
                              date of this Prospectus.
                              The Portfolios, especially the Hong Kong and Japan
                              Portfolios, may be considered speculative and
                              therefore they may be appropriate only for those
                              investors able and willing to assume higher price
                              risk and volatility and currency fluctuations. The
                              Portfolios should be considered as vehicles for
                              investing a portion of your 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,
                              Hong Kong dollars or Japanese yen, as applicable,
                              on November 7, 1997.
                              An investor may invest in Units of one or more
                              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
                               HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
SPONSORS:                      COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
Merrill Lynch,                 OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
Pierce, Fenner & Smith         CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Incorporated                   Inquiries should be directed to the Trustees at
Smith Barney Inc.              the telephone numbers
PaineWebber Incorporated       shown on the back cover of this prospectus.
Prudential Securities          Prospectus dated November 7, 1997.
Incorporated                   INVESTORS SHOULD READ THIS PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.      AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

 
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Def ined 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, Hang
Seng Index or 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 $1.2 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.
 
Hong Kong reverted to the sovereignty of The People's Republic of China
('China') on July 1, 1997. The Sponsors are unable to predict the level of
market liquidity or volatility which may prevail subsequent to the handover.
While China has committed to preserve for 50 years the economic and social
freedoms currently enjoyed in Hong Kong, there can be no assurance that China
will abide by its commitment.
 
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 November 7, 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,
3:30 a.m. New York Time for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and 1:00 a.m. New York
Time for the Tokyo Stock Exchange).
 
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 November 13, 1998, your units will be redeemed
and your proceeds will be reinvested in units of a new United Kingdom, Hong Kong
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, for U.S. tax purposes, 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 (or deemed to be received) by the
Portfolio, even though the dividend payments may be subject to withholding taxes
or may be used to pay expenses of the Portfolio and regardless of whether you
reinvest your dividends in the Portfolio. You will not be entitled under the
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to the new 20% maximum federal tax rate for capital
gains derived from a Portfolio. (See U.S. Taxation in Part B.)
 
                                      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 or the charge for
organizational expenses. (See U.S. Taxation in Part B.)
TERMINATION DATE
The Portfolios will terminate by December 18, 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 maximum sales charge of 2.75% of the offering price,
of which $17.50 per 1,000 units is deferred. For example, on a $1,000
investment, 2.75% less $17.50 (or about 1%) is deducted when they buy and the
remaining $990 is invested in the Strategy Stocks. The initial sales charge is
reduced on purchases of $50,000 or more, as described in Part B. 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
                          -----------   -----------
Initial Sales Charge             1.000% $      10.00
Deferred Sales Charge
 per Year                        1.750%        17.50
                          -----------   -----------
Maximum Sales Charge             2.750% $      27.50
                          -----------   -----------
                          -----------   -----------
Sales Charge Imposed
 Per Year on Reinvested
 Dividends
  United Kingdom and
   Hong Kong Portfolios          1.225% $      12.25
  Japan Portfolio                0.350% $       3.50

 
Estimated Operating Expenses and the cumulative costs are provided below for
each Portfolio.
 
REDEEMING OR 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 November 7, 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%
/ / Banks                                  10
/ / Building & Construction                         10
/ / Conglomerate                              10
/ / Music Recording/Retailing                        10
/ / Sugar                                  10
/ / Telecommunications                           10
  / / Transportation/Marine                         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. company. The U.K Inland Revenue have 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 United
Kingdom Taxation in Part B.)
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
 

                           AS A % OF    AMOUNT PER
                          NET ASSETS    1,000 UNITS
                          -----------   -----------
Trustee's Fee                     .090% $       0.89
Portfolio Supervision,
  Bookkeeping and
  Administrative Fees             .045          0.45
Organizational Expenses           .204          2.02
Other Operating
  Expenses                        .097          0.96
                          -----------   -----------
TOTAL                             .436% $       4.32

 
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.
 
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
 
The deferred sales charge will be deducted from the net asset value of the
Portfolio monthly beginning February 16, 1998 and thereafter on the first of
each month through November 1, 1998.
 
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       $78      $127       $261

 
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 April and September, 1998, if you own units on the 10th of those months.
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Defined United Kingdom Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Equity Investor Fund
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series 5                November 7, 1997
United Kingdom Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             PRICE
                                                                           PER SHARE           COST
                                        PERCENTAGE         CURRENT        TO PORTFOLIO     TO PORTFOLIO
                                       OF PORTFOLIO     DIVIDEND YIELD         IN            IN U.S.
NAME OF ISSUER                             (1)               (2)          U.S. DOLLARS     DOLLARS (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>

1. Courtaulds PLC                               10.22%             5.94%  $       4.674   $     36,927.25
2. BTR PLC                                       9.68              5.49           3.396         34,975.38
3. Allied Domecq PLC                             9.96              4.88           8.180         35,992.39
4. Peninsular & Oriental Steam
   Navigation Company                            9.92              4.47          11.567         35,858.59
5. British Telecommunications PLC               10.00              4.30           7.689         36,138.04
6. Tate & Lyle PLC                              10.16              3.98           7.807         36,695.23
7. Blue Circle Industries PLC                    9.99              3.85           6.012         36,073.68
8. Imperial Chemical Industries PLC             10.00              3.60          15.056         36,134.65
9. National Westminster Bank PLC                10.00              3.52          14.446         36,116.02
10. EMI Group PLC                               10.07              3.42           8.265         36,364.98
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                               100.00%                                    $    361,276.21
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                      --------------                                      --------------

</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Based on Cost to Portfolio 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
   November 7, 1997.
(3) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on November 7, 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
    $2,160.83.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
The securities were acquired on November 7, 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 Portfolio during the last three years. Affiliates of the Sponsors may serve
as specialists in the securities in this Portfolio 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 Portfolio. 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>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Past Performance of Prior United Kingdom Portfolios
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select United Kingdom Portfolios, first available in 1993, are now offered in
various cycles -- or Series -- each starting at different times during a year.
The following table shows the actual performance of each Portfolio of four of
these Series. The table also shows the Average Annual Total Return and the
Cumulative Total Return for these four Series. These past performance returns
reflect an investment made in the initial Portfolio of each Series and assume
annual rollovers into successor Portfolios of the same Series. Past performance
of the Portfolios and the Series is no guarantee of future results of the Select
Ten Strategy or of any Portfolio currently offered.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               ANNUALIZED
                                              --------------------------------------------    CUMULATIVE
                                               DIVIDEND                          TOTAL          TOTAL
      SERIES A                 TERM            YIELD(1)     APPRECIATION(2)    RETURN(3)        RETURN
- --------------------    ------------------    ----------    -------------    -------------    ----------
<S>                     <C>                   <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

1994                         1/5/94-2/3/95           3.28%           -7.27%           -3.99%
1995                        1/9/95-2/23/96           3.94             1.94             5.88
1996                       1/22/96-2/28/97           4.26            -1.48             2.78
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)           1/5/94-9/30/97             --               --             3.99
  Cumulative
  Total Return              1/5/94-9/30/97             --               --               --         15.72%*
      SERIES B
- --------------------
1993**                     6/21/93-7/22/94           3.61            10.34            13.95
1994                        5/6/94-6/16/95           4.61             3.38             7.99
1995                       5/10/95-6/28/96           3.88           -14.05           -10.17
1996                       5/20/96-6/27/97           4.74            13.89            18.63
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          6/21/93-9/30/97             --               --             9.68
  Cumulative
  Total Return             6/21/93-9/30/97             --               --               --         48.50%*
      SERIES C
- --------------------
1993                      9/28/93-10/28/94           3.95             5.74             9.69
1994                       9/7/94-10/13/95           4.32            -6.58            -2.26
1995                      9/12/95-10/31/96           4.70            -3.42             1.28
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          9/28/93-9/30/97             --               --             7.45
  Cumulative
  Total Return             9/28/93-9/30/97             --               --               --         33.39%*
      SERIES 3
- --------------------
1996                       7/22/96-8/29/97           6.47            11.54            18.01
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --            26.84
  Cumulative
  Total Return             7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --               --         32.76%*

</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Dividends paid on the securities to the Portfolio less ongoing expenses,
    divided by maximum initial public offering price.
(2) Represents the difference between initial unit price and redemption or
    liquidation price on the ending date (reflecting payment of deferred sales
    charges, brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio and, beginning with
    1995 Series B, organization expenses, and assumes reinvestment of dividends
    on the distribution dates), divided by the maximum initial public offering
    price.
 
(3) Appreciation plus Dividend Yield. Reflects reinvestment of dividends,
    deduction of maximum applicable sales charges and ongoing expenses, but no
    adjustment for taxes payable.
 
(4) Average Annual Total Return for a Series includes the brokerage commissions
    paid in selling securities received in kind on annual rollovers and the
    waiver of any up-front sales charge on those rollovers.
 
 * These figures are not annualized.
 
** 1993 Series A rolled into 1994 Series B.
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Hypothetical Performance Information--FT Strategy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select Ten United Kingdom Portfolios are based on a strategy of investing equal
amounts in the 10 highest dividend-yielding stocks ('Strategy Stocks') in the FT
Index each year. Although the Strategy Stocks underperformed the FT Index in
five of the last 20 years (seven years if Portfolio sales charges and expenses
were deducted from Strategy Stock performance), their total return over the
entire period outperformed the FT Index. This is why the Sponsors recommend
following the Strategy for at least three to five years. The results below are
hypothetical for the following reasons: None of these figures reflects
reinvestment of dividends or any sales charges, expenses or brokerage
commissions which investors in the Portfolio bear. Portfolio performance will
also differ from the hypothetical performance of Strategy Stocks because the
Select Ten United Kingdom Portfolios are established at various times during a
year, Portfolios may not be fully invested at all times or equally weighted in
all 10 stocks, and their stocks are normally purchased or sold at prices and
currency exchange rates different from the closing prices and currency exchange
rates used in buying and selling Portfolio units. Past performance is no
guaranty of future results of the Strategy or any Select Ten United Kingdom
Portfolio.

             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               7.98                      6.31             14.29             15.33                      4.72             20.05
1997               4.11                      5.27              9.38             12.83                      3.46             16.29
(through
9/30)

</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 the period, 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
    the period, 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 or quarter 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.
    Individual year Total Returns do not take into consideration any
    reinvestment of dividend income.
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
- ---------------------------------------------------
Defining Your Hong Kong Portfolio
- ---------------------------------------------------
 
Based upon the principal business of each issuer and current market values, the
following industries are represented in the Portfolio:
                                   APPROXIMATE
                               PORTFOLIO PERCENTAGE
 
/ / Real Estate/Properties                     70%
/ / Airline                                    10
/ / Hotels/Motels                              10
/ / Transportation                             10
The Hong Kong Portfolio is concentrated in common stocks of real estate and
property companies and all of the stocks represent Hong Kong issuers. Since mid
October 1997, Hong Kong stocks have declined steeply in extreme volatility,
changing by more than 10% a day in some cases. Investors should also note that
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997. Events subsequent to
the handover may adversely affect real estate or property values or the market
value of Hong Kong stocks generally. (See Risk Factors in Part B.)
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
 

                          AS A % OF    AMOUNT PER
                         NET ASSETS    1,000 UNITS
                         -----------   -----------
Trustee's Fee                    .090% $       0.89
Portfolio Supervision,
  Bookkeeping and
  Administrative Fees            .046% $       0.45
Organizational
  Expenses                       .212% $       2.10
Other Operating Ex-
penses                           .155% $       1.54
                         -----------   -----------
TOTAL                            .503% $       4.98

 
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.
 
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
 
The deferred sales charge will be deducted from the net asset value of the
Portfolio monthly beginning February 16, 1998, and thereafter on the 1st of each
month through November 1, 1998.
 
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
 $33       $80      $130       $268

 
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 $5.08 per 1,000 units, have not been
reflected.
 
SEMI-ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS
 
You will receive a distribution of any dividend income, net of expenses, on the
25th of April and September 1998, if you own units on the 10th of those months.
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Defined Hong Kong Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Equity Investor Fund
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series 5                November 7, 1997
Hong Kong Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             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. Shun Tak Holdings Ltd.                       10.23%             9.13%  $       0.333   $     35,972.06
2. Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.          9.87              8.04           4.954         34,678.57
3. The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd.                     9.77              7.59           1.908         34,342.26
4. Hysan Development Co., Ltd.                   9.63              7.53           1.992         33,863.67
5. Amoy Properties Ltd.                         10.09              7.46           0.815         35,448.20
6. Great Eagle Holdings Ltd.                    10.07              7.44           1.416         35,409.39
7. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.                   9.60              7.11           0.964         33,727.85
8. Hang Lung Development Co., Ltd.              10.43              7.10           1.358         36,670.55
9. Henderson Investment Ltd.                    10.16              7.00           0.776         35,700.43
10. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd.      10.15              6.13           0.802         35,687.49
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                               100.00%                                    $    351,500.47
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                      --------------                                      --------------
</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 November 7, 1997.
(3) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on November 7, 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. Profit to the Sponsors on deposit of the Securities was
    $276.58.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
The securities were acquired on November 7, 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-10
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Past Performance of Prior Hong Kong Portfolios
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select Ten Hong Kong Portfolios, first available in 1993, are now offered in
various cycles -- or Series -- each starting at different times during a year.
The following table shows the actual performance of each Portfolio of five of
these Series. The table also shows the Average Annual Total Return and the
Cumulative Total Return for these five Series. These past performance returns
reflect an investment made in the initial Portfolio of each Series and assume
annual rollovers into successor Portfolios of the same Series. Past performance
of the Portfolios and the Series is no guarantee of future results of the Select
Ten Strategy or of any Portfolio currently offered.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               ANNUALIZED
                                              --------------------------------------------    CUMULATIVE
                                               DIVIDEND                          TOTAL          TOTAL
      SERIES A                 TERM            YIELD(1)     APPRECIATION(2)    RETURN(3)        RETURN
- --------------------    ------------------    ----------    -------------    -------------    ----------
<S>                     <C>                   <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

1994                         1/5/94-2/3/95           2.75%          -45.93%          -43.18%
1995                        1/9/95-2/23/96           5.18            31.56            36.74
1996                       1/22/96-2/28/97           3.60             4.43             8.03
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)           1/5/94-9/30/97             --               --            -4.25
  Cumulative
  Total Return              1/5/94-9/30/97             --               --               --        -15.00%*
      SERIES B
- --------------------
1996                       4/23/96-6/13/97           4.89             1.19             6.08
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          4/23/96-9/30/97             --               --             3.23
  Cumulative
  Total Return             4/23/96-9/30/97             --               --               --          4.68%*
      SERIES C
- --------------------
1993                       6/21/93-7/22/94           4.66            12.72            17.38
1994                        5/9/94-6/16/95           4.52           -10.86            -6.34
1995**                     5/10/95-6/28/96           4.27            13.86            18.13
1996                       5/20/96-6/27/97           4.29             5.41             9.70
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          6/21/93-9/30/97             --               --             6.66
  Cumulative
  Total Return             6/21/93-9/30/97             --               --               --         31.75%*
      SERIES D
- --------------------
1993                      9/28/93-10/28/94           5.03             2.29             7.32
1994                       9/7/94-10/13/95           4.46           -29.71           -25.25
1995***                   9/12/95-10/31/96           4.80            15.88            20.68
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          9/28/93-9/30/97             --               --             2.78
  Cumulative
  Total Return             9/28/93-9/30/97             --               --               --         11.64%*
      SERIES 3
- --------------------
1996                       7/22/96-8/29/97           4.41            -2.28             2.13
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --             5.53
  Cumulative
  Total Return             7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --               --          6.63%*

</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Dividends paid on the securities to the Portfolio less ongoing expenses,
    divided by maximum initial public offering price.
 
(2) Represents the difference between initial unit price and redemption or
    liquidation price on the ending date (reflecting payment of deferred sales
    charges, brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio and, beginning with
    1995 Series B, organization expenses, and assumes reinvestment of dividends
    on the distribution dates), divided by the maximum initial public offering
    price.
 
(3) Appreciation plus Dividend Yield. Reflects reinvestment of dividends,
    deduction of maximum applicable sales charges and ongoing expenses, but no
    adjustment for taxes payable.
 
(4) Average Annual Total Return for a Series includes the brokerage commissions
    paid in selling securities received in kind on annual rollovers and the
    waiver of any up-front sales charge on those rollovers.
 
 * These figures are not annualized.
 
 ** 1995 Series B rolled into 1996 Series C.
 
*** 1995 Series C rolled into 1996 Series D.
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Hypothetical Performance Information--Hang Seng Strategy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select Ten Hong Kong Portfolios are based on a strategy of investing equal
amounts in the 10 highest dividend-yielding stocks ('Strategy Stocks') in the
Hang Seng Index each year. Although the Strategy Stocks underperformed the Hang
Seng Index in nine of the last 19 years (10 years if Portfolio sales charges and
expenses were deducted from Strategy Stock performance), their total return over
the entire period outperformed the Hang Seng Index. This is why the Sponsors
recommend following the Strategy for at least three to five years The results
below are hypothetical for the following reasons: None of these figures reflects
reinvestment of dividends or any sales charges, expenses or brokerage
commissions which investors in the Portfolio bear. Portfolio performance will
also differ from the hypothetical performance of Strategy Stocks because the
Select Ten Hong Kong Portfolios are established at various times during a year,
Portfolios may not be fully invested at all times or equally weighted in all 10
stocks, and their stocks are normally purchased or sold at prices and currency
exchange rates different from the closing prices and currency exchange rates
used in buying and selling Portfolio units. Past performance is no guaranty of
future results of the Strategy or any Select Ten Hong Kong Portfolio. In
addition, the Hang Seng Index is weighted by market capitalization while the
Portfolio stocks are more or less equally weighted. While the Hong Kong dollar
exchange rate has been pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1983, there can no
assurance that this arrangement will continue in the future.
 
             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>

                       HANG SENG STRATEGY STOCKS(1)                                        HANG SENG 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>

1978              19.82%                     8.22%            28.04%            17.83%                     5.68%            23.51%
1979              72.63                      9.65             82.28             72.27                      6.06             78.33
1980              34.03                      7.37             41.40             61.60                      4.23             65.83
1981             -10.94                      7.08             -3.86            -13.75                      2.68            -11.07
1982             -46.13                      7.16            -38.97            -51.24                      3.45            -47.79
1983             -15.40                      7.92             -7.48             -6.92                      6.03             -0.89
1984              53.82                     11.50             65.32             36.45                      6.09             42.54
1985              40.25                      7.27             47.52             46.33                      4.77             51.10
1986              54.50                      5.99             60.49             46.90                      4.26             51.16
1987              -2.15                      5.18              3.03            -10.06                      3.33             -6.73
1988              28.02                      6.02             34.04             16.07                      4.53             20.60
1989               2.66                      6.75              9.41              5.55                      4.64             10.19
1990              -1.93                      8.04              6.11              6.71                      5.28             11.99
1991              40.07                      8.44             48.51             42.41                      5.84             48.25
1992              32.08                      6.86             38.94             28.87                      4.76             33.63
1993             100.80                      6.19            106.99            116.14                      4.97            121.11
1994             -34.93                      3.48            -31.45            -31.22                      2.39            -28.83
1995              10.25                      5.86             16.11             23.03                      3.92             26.95
1996              23.19                      4.63             27.82             33.52                      4.21             37.73
1997               2.75                      2.97              5.72             11.82                      2.19             14.01
(through 9/30)

</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
 *  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 Hang Seng Strategy Stocks for any given year were selected by ranking
    the dividend yields for each of the stocks in the Hang Seng 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 Hong
    Kong Stock Exchange.
 
(2) Appreciation for the Hang Seng 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 or
    quarter, 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
    Hang Seng Index is calculated by subtracting the opening value of the Hang
    Seng Index on the first trading day in each year from the closing value of
    the Hang Seng Index on the last trading day in that year or quarter, and
    dividing the result by the opening value of the Hang Seng Index on the first
    trading day in that year.
 
(3) Actual Dividend Yield for the Hang Seng 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 Hang Seng Index is calculated by
    taking the total dividends credited to the Hang Seng Index and dividing the
    result by the opening value of the Hang Seng Index on the first trading day
    of the year.
 
(4) Total Return represents the sum of Appreciation and Actual Dividend Yield.
    Individual year Total Returns do not take into consideration any
    reinvestment of dividend income.
 
                                      A-12
<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
 
/ / Construction/Engineering                31%
/ / Oil/Gas                                 20
/ / Utilities/Gas and Electric              20
/ / Financial Services/Banking               9
/ / Distributor/Wholesale                   10
/ / Transportation                          10
The Japan Portfolio is concentrated in common stocks of engineering and
construction companies. These industries are experiencing extreme difficulties
in Japan, stock prices of companies in this sector in 1997 have fallen
significantly more than market prices in general, and industry consolidation is
likely. All of the stocks represent Japanese issuers.
 
JAPANESE TAXES
 
The Portfolio will report as gross income each investor's pro rata share of
dividends earned by the Portfolio as well as Japanese tax withheld from these
dividends. Since the national tax authority of Japan has not granted approval
for the Trustee to file a specified application under the U.S-Japan Treaty on
behalf of investors, investors may not in practice be able to benefit from a
reduced withholding rate provided by the Treaty. (See Japanese Taxation in Part
B.)
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
 

                          AS A % OF    AMOUNT PER
                         NET ASSETS    1,000 UNITS
                         -----------   -----------
Trustee's Fee                    .091% $       0.90
Portfolio Supervision,
  Bookkeeping and
  Administrative Fees            .046          0.45
Organizational
  Expenses                       .282          2.79
Other Operating Ex-
penses                           .137          1.36
                         -----------   -----------
TOTAL                            .556% $       5.50

 
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.
 
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
 
The deferred sales charge will be deducted from the net asset value of the
Portfolio monthly beginning February 16, 1998, and thereafter on the 1st of each
month through November 1, 1998.
 
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
 $33       $82      $133       $273

 
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 September, 1998, if you own units on the 10th of that month.
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Defined Japan Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Equity Investor Fund
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series 5                November 7, 1997
Japan Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             PRICE
                                                                           PER SHARE           COST
                                        PERCENTAGE         CURRENT        TO PORTFOLIO     TO PORTFOLIO
                                       OF PORTFOLIO     DIVIDEND YIELD         IN            IN U.S.
NAME OF ISSUER                             (1)               (2)          U.S. DOLLARS     DOLLARS (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>

1. Fujita Corporation                           10.23%             4.00%  $       0.647   $     34,923.20
2. Tonen Corporation                            10.16              3.03           6.936         34,680.68
3. Nippon Shinpan Co. Ltd.                       9.33              2.92           1.770         31,867.42
4. Tekken Corporation                           10.16              2.65           1.827         34,713.02
5. Sato Kogyo Co. Ltd.                          10.87              2.35           0.825         37,105.90
6. Japan Energy Corporation                      9.94              2.29           1.415         33,953.11
7. Sankyu Inc.                                   9.80              2.22           1.455         33,468.07
8. Tomen Corporation                             9.43              2.21           1.463         32,190.78
9. Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.               10.09              1.97          16.411         34,462.41
10. Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.              9.99              1.90          17.057         34,114.79
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                               100.00%                                    $    341,479.38
                                      --------------                                      --------------
                                      --------------                                      --------------
</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Based on Cost to Portfolio 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 November 7, 1997.
(3) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on November 7, 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
    $1,038.33.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
The securities were acquired on November 7, 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 Portfolio during the last three years. Affiliates of the Sponsors may serve
as specialists in the securities in this Portfolio 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 Portfolio. 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-14
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Past Performance of Prior Japan Portfolios
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select Ten Japan Portfolios, first available in 1996, are now offered in various
cycles -- or Series -- each starting at different times during a year. The
following table shows the actual performance of each Portfolio of three of these
Series. The table also shows the Average Annual Total Return and the Cumulative
Total Return for these three Series. These past performance returns reflect an
investment made in the initial Portfolio of each Series and assume annual
rollovers into successor Portfolios of the same Series. Past performance of the
Portfolios and the Series is no guarantee of future results of the Select Ten
Strategy or of any Portfolio currently offered.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               ANNUALIZED
                                              --------------------------------------------    CUMULATIVE
                                               DIVIDEND                          TOTAL          TOTAL
      SERIES A                 TERM            YIELD(1)     APPRECIATION(2)    RETURN(3)        RETURN
- --------------------    ------------------    ----------    -------------    -------------    ----------
<S>                     <C>                   <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

1996                       1/22/96-2/28/97           0.89%          -30.42%          -29.53%
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          1/22/96-9/30/97             --               --           -30.54
  Cumulative
  Total Return             1/22/96-9/30/97             --               --               --        -45.99%*
      SERIES B
- --------------------
1996                       5/20/96-6/27/97           0.79           -22.25           -21.46
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          5/20/96-9/30/97             --               --           -39.85
  Cumulative
  Total Return             5/20/96-9/30/97             --               --               --        -50.02%*
      SERIES 3
- --------------------
1996                       7/22/96-8/29/97           0.70           -29.53           -28.83
  Average Annual
  Total Return(4)          7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --           -41.32
  Cumulative
  Total Return             7/22/96-9/30/97             --               --               --        -47.02%*

</TABLE>
 
- ----------------------------
(1) Dividends paid on the securities to the Portfolio less ongoing expenses,
    divided by maximum initial public offering price.
(2) Represents the difference between initial unit price and redemption or
    liquidation price on the ending date (reflecting payment of deferred sales
    charges, brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio and, organization
    expenses, and assumes reinvestment of dividends on the distribution dates),
    divided by the maximum initial public offering price.
 
(3) Appreciation plus Dividend Yield. Reflects reinvestment of dividends,
    deduction of maximum applicable sales charges and ongoing expenses, but no
    adjustment for taxes payable.
 
(4) Average Annual Total Return for a Series includes the brokerage commissions
    paid in selling securities received in kind on annual rollovers and the
    waiver of any up-front sales charge on those rollovers.
 
 * These figures are not annualized.
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Hypothetical Performance Information--Nikkei 225 Strategy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Select Ten Japan Portfolios are based on a strategy of investing equal amounts
in the 10 highest dividend-yielding stocks ('Strategy Stocks') in the Nikkei 225
Index each year. Although the 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), their total return over
the entire period outperformed the Nikkei 225 Index. This is why the Sponsors
recommend following the Strategy for at least three to five years. The results
below are hypothetical for the following reasons: None of these figures reflects
reinvestment of dividends or any sales charges, expenses or brokerage
commissions which investors in the Portfolio bear. Portfolio performance will
also differ from the hypothetical performance of Strategy Stocks because the
Select Ten Japan Portfolios are established at various times during a year,
Portfolios may not be fully invested at all times or equally weighted in all 10
stocks, and their stocks are normally purchased or sold at prices and currency
exchange rates different from the closing prices and currency exchange rates
used in buying and selling Portfolio units. Past performance is no guaranty of
future results of the Strategy or any Select Ten Japan Portfolio.
 
             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
1997             -26.80                      1.32            -25.48            -11.42                      0.53            -10.89
(through 9/30)

</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 Tokyo
    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 Tokyo Stock Exchange in a given year from the market value of those
    stocks at the closing value on the last trading day in the period, 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 the period, 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 or quarter 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.
    Individual year Total Returns do not take into consideration any
    reinvestment of dividend income.
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Sponsors, Trustees and Holders of Defined Asset Funds Equity Investor Fund,
Select Ten Portfolio 1997 International Series 5 (United Kingdom, Hong Kong 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 November 7, 1997. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustees. 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 Trustees. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by the Trustees, 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 November 7, 1997
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, N.Y.
November 7, 1997
 
                 STATEMENTS OF CONDITION AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 1997
 
TRUST PROPERTY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            UNITED KINGDOM            HONG KONG                 JAPAN
                                                              PORTFOLIO               PORTFOLIO               PORTFOLIO
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
<S>                                                      <C>                     <C>                     <C>

Investments--Contracts to purchase Securities(1).........$         361,276.21    $         351,500.47    $         341,479.38
Organizational Costs(2)..................................$         117,160.00    $         115,500.00    $          47,430.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
        Total............................................$         478,436.21    $         467,000.47    $         388,909.38
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF HOLDERS
    Accrued Liability(2)                                 $         117,160.00    $         115,500.00    $          47,430.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    Subtotal                                             $         117,160.00    $         115,500.00    $          47,430.00
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
Interest of Holders of fractional undivided interest
  outstanding
  (United Kingdom Portfolio--364,925 units; Hong Kong
  Portfolio-- 355,051 units; Japan Portfolio--344,928
  units)(3):
  Cost to investors(4)...................................$         364,925.00    $         355,051.00    $         344,928.00
  Gross underwriting commissions(5)......................           (3,648.79)              (3,550.53)              (3,448.62)
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
    Subtotal                                             $         361,276.21    $         351,500.47    $         341,479.38
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
        Total                                            $         478,436.21    $         467,000.47    $         388,909.38
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
                                                         --------------------    --------------------    --------------------
</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 Trustees at the evaluation time on November 7,
1997. The contracts to purchase securities are collateralized by irrevocable
letters of credit which have been issued by DBS Bank, New York Branch, in the
amount of $1,057,178.64 and deposited with the Trustees. The amount of the
letters of credit includes $1,054,256.06 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 $130 million. To the
extent the Fund is larger or smaller, the amount 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 business 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 November 7, 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 February 16, 1998 and thereafter on the 1st day of each
month through November 1, 1998. Distributions will be made to accounts
maintained by the Trustees from which the deferred sales charge obligation of
the investors to the Sponsors will be satisfied. If units are redeemed prior to
November 1, 1998, the remaining portion of the distribution applicable to such
units will be transferred to such account on the redemption date.
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
                             DEFINED ASSET FUNDSSM
                               PROSPECTUS--PART B
        EQUITY INVESTOR FUND SELECT TEN PORTFOLIOS--INTERNATIONAL SERIES
                 UNITED KINGDOM, HONG KONG 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...............................      5
How to Buy Units...........................     10
How to Redeem or Sell Units................     11
Income, Distributions and Reinvestment.....     13
Portfolio Expenses.........................     13
                                              PAGE
                                              ----
Taxes......................................     14
Records and Reports........................     18
Trust Indenture............................     18
Miscellaneous..............................     19
Exchange Option............................     21
Supplemental Information...................     21

 
FUND DESCRIPTION
 
THE STRATEGY
 
    Simple strategies can sometimes be the most effective. The United Kingdom,
Hong Kong and Japan Portfolios seek total return by acquiring the ten highest
yielding stocks in the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary Share Index (FT
Index), the Hang Seng 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 is only one investment decision. 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>
Allied Domecq PLC
ASDA Group PLC
The BOC Group PLC
BTR PLC
Blue Circle Industries PLC
The Boots Company PLC
The British Petroleum Company
PLC
British Telecommunications PLC
BG PLC
British Airways PLC
Cadbury Schweppes PLC
Courtaulds PLC
The General Electric Company PLC
Glaxo Wellcome PLC
Grand Metropolitan PLC
GKN PLC
Granada PLC
Guinness PLC
Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
Lucas Industries PLC
Lloyds TSB PLC
Marks & Spencer PLC
National Westminster Bank PLC
The Peninsular & Oriental Steam
Navigation Company
Reuters Holdings PLC
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance
Group PLC
SmithKline Beecham PLC
Tate & Lyle PLC
Thorn EMI PLC
Vodafone Group PLC
 
    The Hang Seng Index.  The Hang Seng Index, first published in 1969, is a
recognized indicator of stock market performance in Hong Kong. It is computed on
an arithmetic basis, weighted by market capitalization, and represents
approximately 70% of the total market capitalization of stocks listed on the
Hong Kong Exchange. The companies represented are among the most highly
capitalized in Hong Kong. Index stocks include companies intended to represent
four major market sectors; commerce and industry, finance, properties and
utilities. The following are the stocks currently represented in the Hang Seng
Index.
 
Amoy Properties Ltd.
The Bank of East Asia Ltd.
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd.
The China Light & Power
Company Ltd.
Citic Pacific Ltd.
First Pacific Company Ltd.
Great Eagle Holdings Ltd.
Guangdong Investment Ltd.
Hang Lung Development
Company Ltd.
Hang Seng Bank Ltd.
Henderson Investment Ltd.
Henderson Land Development
Company Ltd.
Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd.
The Hong Kong and China Gas
Company Ltd.
The Hong Kong and Shanghai
Hotels Ltd.
Hong Kong Telecommunications
Ltd.
Hopewell Holdings Ltd.
HSBC Holdings PLC
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.
Hysan Development Company Ltd.
Johnson Electric Holdings Ltd.
New World Development
Company Ltd.
Oriental Press Group Ltd.
Shangri-La Asia Ltd.
Shun Tak Holdings Limited
Sino Land Company Ltd.
South China Morning Post
(Holdings) Ltd.
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Swire Pacific Ltd. (A)
Television Broadcasts Ltd.
The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd.
Wheelock and Company Ltd.
 
    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:
 
Ajinomoto Co. Inc.
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd.
Aoki Corporation
Asahi Breweries Ltd.
Asahi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.
Asahi Denka Kogyo K.K.
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd.
Bridgestone Corporation
Canon Inc.
Chichibu Onoda Cement
Corporation
Chiyoda Corporation
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Dai Ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd.
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.
Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co.
Ltd.
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd.
Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K.
Dowa Mining Co. Ltd.
Ebara Corporation
Fuji Bank Ltd.
Fuji Electric Co. Ltd.
Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.
Fuji Spinning Co. Ltd.
Fujikura Ltd.
Fujita Corporation
Fujitsu Ltd.
Furukawa Co. Ltd.
Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.
Hazama Corporation
Heiwa Real Estate Co. Ltd.
Hino Motors Ltd.
Hitachi Ltd.
Hitachi Zosen Corporation
Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
Honen Corporation Industries Inc.
Iseki and Co. Ltd.
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy
Industries
Isuzu Motors Ltd.
Itochu Corporation
Iwatani International Corporation
Japan Energy Corporation
Japan Securities Finance Co. Ltd.
Japan Steel Works Ltd.
Kajima Corporation
Kanebo Ltd.
Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.
Kawasaki Heavy Ind. Ltd.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd.
Kawasaki Steel Corporation
Keihin Electric Express
Railway Co.
Keio Teito Electric
Railway Co. Ltd.
Keisei Electric Railway
Co. Ltd.
Kikkoman Corporation
Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd.
Kobe Steel Ltd.
Komatsu Ltd.
Konica Corporation
Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd.
Kubota Corporation
Kumagai Gumi Co.
Kuraray Co. Ltd.
Kyokuyo
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo
Marubeni Corporation
Marui Co., Ltd.
Maruzen Co., Ltd.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
Mazda Motor
Meidensha Corporation
Meiji Milk Products
Meiji Seika
Mercian Corporation
Minebea Co., Ltd.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
Mitsubishi Bank
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
Mitsubishi Oil Co. Ltd.
Mitsubishi Papers Mills Ltd.
Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd.
Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing
Co.
Mitsubishi Trust and
Banking Corporation
Mitsubishi Warehouse and
Transport
Mitsui and Co. Ltd.
Mitsui Engineering and
Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
Mitsui Fuddsan Co. Ltd.
Mitsui Marine and Fire
Insurance Co.
Mitsui Mining and Smelting Ltd.
Mitsui Mining Co. Ltd.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.
Mitsui Soko Co. Ltd.
Mitsui Trust and Banking
Co. Ltd.
Mitsukoshi Ltd.
Morinaga and Co. Ltd.
Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation
Navix Line Ltd.
NEC Corporation
New Oji Paper Co.
NGK Insulators Ltd.
Nichirei Corporation
Nichiro Corporation
Nichiro Gyogyo Kaisha Ltd.
Nihon Cement Co. Ltd.
Niigata Engineering Co. Ltd.
Nikko Securities Co. Ltd.
Nikon Corporation
Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Co.
Nippon Carbide Industries
Co. Inc.
Nippon Carbon Co. Ltd.
Nippon Chemical Industrial
Co. Ltd.
Nippon Denko Co. Ltd.
Nippon Express Co. Ltd.
Nippon Flour Mills Co. Ltd.
Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd.
Nippon Light Metal Co. Ltd.
Nippon Metal Industry Co. Ltd.
Nippon Oil Co. Ltd.
Nippon Paper Ind. Co. Ltd.
Nippon Piston Ring Co. Ltd.
Nippon Sharyo Ltd.
Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd.
Nippon Shinpan Co. Ltd.
Nippon Soda Co. Ltd.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd.
Nippon Synthetic Chemical
Industry
Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone NTT
Nippon Yakin Kogyo
Nippon Yusen K.K.
Nippondenso Co. Ltd.
Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
Nisshin Flour Milling Co. Ltd.
Nisshin Oil Mills Ltd.
Nisshinbo
Nissho Iwai Corporation
Nitto Boseki Co. Ltd.
NKK Corporation
NOF Corporation
Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.
Noritake Co. Ltd.
NSK Limited
NTN Corporation
Obayashi Corporation
Odakyu Electric Railway
OKI Electric Industry Co.
Okuma Corporation
Osaka Gas Co. Ltd.
Pioneer Electronic Corporation
Rasa Industries Ltd.
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Sakura Bank Ltd.
Sankyo Co. Ltd.
Sankyu Inc.
Sanwa Bank
Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
Sapporo Breweries Ltd.
Sato Kogyo Co. Ltd.
Seika Corporation
Sharp Corporation
Shimizu Corporation
Shimura Kako Co., Ltd.
Shin Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.
Shinagawa Refractories
Co. Ltd.
Shionogi and Co. Ltd.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.
Showa Denko K.K.
Showa Line Ltd.
Showa Electric Wire and
Cable Co. Ltd.
Sony Corporation
Sumitomo Bank Ltd.
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.
Sumitomo Coal Mining
Co. Ltd.
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Electric Industries
Ltd.
Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.
Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.
Sumitomo Metal Mining Ltd.
Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd.
Suzuki Motor Corporation
Taisei Corporation
Takara Shuzo
Takeda Chemical Industries
Teijin Ltd.
Teikoku Oil
Tekken Corporation
Toa Corporation
Toagosei Chemical Industry
Tobishima Corporation
Tobu Railway
Toei Co.
Toho Rayon
Toho Zinc Co. Ltd.
Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd.
Tokio Marine and Fire
Insurance Co.
Tokyo Dome Corporation
Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc.
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.
Tokyo Rope Mfg.
Tokyu Corporation
Tokyu Department Store
Tomen Corporation
Tonen Corporation
Toppan Printing Co. Ltd.
Topy Industries
Toray Industries
Toshiba Corporation
Tosoh Corporation
Toto Ltd.
Toyo Seikan Kaisha
Toyo Tire & Rubber Company
Toyobo Co. Ltd.
Toyota Motor Corporation
UBE Industries Unitika Ltd.
Yamaha Corporation
Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical
Yasuda Fire & Marine
Insurance
Yokogawa Electric
Yokohama Rubber Company
Ltd.
Yuasa Corporation
 
PORTFOLIO SELECTION
 
    The Fund consists of three separate portfolios, the United Kingdom
Portfolio, the Hong Kong Portfolio and the Japan Portfolio, which contain common
stocks in the FT Index, the Hang Seng 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
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
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 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, Hong Kong 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.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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, withholding taxes,
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, between the economy of Hong Kong and the value
of any Securities held by the Hong Kong 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 banking, the chemical industry, the building and
construction industry, the transportation industry, telecommunications and
insurance. 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.
 
HONG KONG PORTFOLIO RISK FACTORS
 
    The Portfolio contains common stocks of companies trading on the Hong Kong
Exchange. Hong Kong, which has been a colony of Great Britain since the 1840's,
will revert to the sovereignty of The People's Republic of China ('China') on
July 1, 1997. Investors should note that this is prior to the termination date
for the Portfolio. Under British rule, the Hong Kong government has generally
followed a laissez-faire policy towards industry, and over the ten year period
between 1983 and 1993, Real Gross Domestic Product increased at an average
annual rate of approximately 6%. There are no major import, export or foreign
exchange restrictions, and regulation of business is generally minimal with
certain exceptions, including regulated entry into certain sectors of the
economy.
 
    In 1984, pursuant to a Joint Declaration with China, the United Kingdom
agreed to surrender sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997. On July 1,
1997, Hong Kong became a special administrative region ('SAR') directly under
the authority of the central government of China. The political principle
underlying the 1984 Joint Declaration was 'one country, two systems.' Hong
Kong's new constitution is the Basic Law (promulgated by China in 1990), which
binds the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the SAR government and
provides a framework in which the legal system operating in Hong Kong prior to
the handover can continue.
 
    The Basic Law provides, among other things, that the Hong Kong SAR will
exercise a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs, and
enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power. The Basic Law also
provides that the socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the
Hong Kong SAR, and that the previous capitalist system and way of life shall
remain unchanged for 50 years. In addition, the Basic Law provides that the
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
laws previously in force in Hong Kong shall be maintained, except for any laws
that contravene the Basic Law, and subject to any amendment by the legislature
of the Hong Kong SAR. The Basic Law further provides that the Government of the
Hong Kong SAR shall provide an appropriate economic and legal environment for
the maintenance of the status of Hong Kong as an international financial center.
The power of interpretation of the Basic Law is vested in the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress of China, although the courts of the Hong Kong
SAR may interpret the Basic Law in adjudicating cases before them, subject to
certain limitations. No assurance can be given as to the effect of the
resumption of Chinese sovereignty or the implementation or interpretation of the
Basic Law on Hong Kong or the Hong Kong stock market.
 
    A constitutional reform package intended to broaden the basis of popular
representation in the Legislative Council was enacted in June 1994 in the face
of strong opposition from China. On March 24, 1996, the Preparatory Committee
appointed by China to oversee the transition to Chinese sovereignty voted to
disband the Legislative Council that was elected in September 1995 pursuant to
the Constitutional reform package immediately following the resumption of
Chinese sovereignty and to replace it with an appointed provisional legislature,
whose members were selected in December 1996 by a specially constituted
selection committee which also elected Tung Chee-hwa, a leading Hong Kong
businessman, to be the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. In January
1997, the Preparatory Committee's legal sub-group proposed the modification or
repeal of approximately 25 laws, including portions of the Bill of Rights, which
it claimed were contrary to the Basic Law. On February 23, 1997, the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress resolved that certain pieces of
legislation and parts of others, which had been earlier identified by the
Preparatory Committee as being in contravention of the Basic Law, would not be
adopted as laws of the Hong Kong SAR with effect from July 1, 1997. At a
ceremony held on July 1, 1997 in the hours immediately following the change in
sovereignty, Tung Chee-hwa was sworn in as Chief Executive and the provisional
legislature was sworn in as the Provisional Legislative Council of the Hong Kong
SAR. The Provisional Legislative Council immediately passed legislation
confirming bills passed by it prior to the handover including bills amending
certain legislation identified as being in contravention of the Basic Law. Also
at the ceremony, Tung Chee-hwa delivered a speech setting out certain policy
objectives for the new SAR Government. Among these were pledges to resolve the
housing needs of Hong Kong, to increase the production of new housing and to
clamp down on speculation in the property market. Market reaction to these
pledges in the days following the handover was mixed.
 
    Following the handover, the SAR Government tabled a bill to suspend certain
legislation that was passed at the final sitting of the previous Legislative
Council just prior to the handover. The SAR Government also unveiled rules for
the first post-handover elections to the Legislative Council which would replace
the Provisional Legislative Council. These rules included a change to the
single-seat, single-vote system used in the 1995 elections to elect councillors
for geographical constituencies. Under the new rules, these councillors would be
returned by proportional representation.
 
    A challenge to the legal system of the Hong Kong SAR arose soon after the
handover and the matter has been referred directly to the Court of Appeal, which
is scheduled to hear the case at the end of July 1997. The Court of Appeal will
have to decide, among other things, whether the laws in force before July 1,
1997 are still active, whether the Provisional Legislative Council is a validly
constituted body and whether it had the power to pass the legislation on July 1,
1997 referred to above.
 
    It is possible that the outcome of these matters and the actions of the Hong
Kong SAR Government and other parties both in Hong Kong and abroad may damage
public confidence, increase market volatility or have an adverse effect on the
Hong Kong stock market. It should also be noted that, the government of China
has no procedures for the orderly succession of its leadership. The Sponsors
cannot predict what effect the death of certain members of the current
leadership, who are very aged, may have on the prices of the stocks in the Hong
Kong Portfolio. However, the death of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in
February, 1997 did not have any immediate adverse effect on the Hong Kong stock
market.
 
    Hong Kong Exchange. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. (the 'Hong Kong
Stock Exchange'), with a total market capitalization as of September 30, 1997 of
approximately US$562.1 billion, is the second largest stock market in Asia,
measured by market capitalization, behind that of Japan. As of that date, 633
companies and 1,592 securities (including ordinary shares, warrants and other
derivative instruments) were listed on the Hong Kong Exchange. The Securities
and Futures Commission exercises supervision of the securities, financial
investment and commodities futures industry.
 
    The constituent stocks of the Hang Seng Index are subject to change, and
delisting of shares of any issuers may have an adverse impact on the performance
of the Portfolio, although delisting would not necessarily result in the
disposal of the stock of these companies, nor would it prevent the Portfolio
from purchasing such Securities in connection with the issuance of additional
Units or the purchase of additional Hong Kong Securities. Jardine Matheson
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Holdings Ltd. and Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd. delisted from the Hong Kong
Stock Exchange as of November 30, 1994 and three other Jardine affiliates
delisted as of February 28, 1995. These five Jardine companies represented
almost 10% of the total capitalization of the Hang Seng Index at that time. In
addition, following Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese sovereignty, an increased
number of Chinese companies may become listed in Hong Kong, thereby changing the
composition of the stock market and, potentially, the composition of the Hang
Seng Index.
 
    Hong Kong Real Estate and Property Companies. The Portfolio is considered to
be concentrated in common stocks of companies engaged in real estate asset
management, development, leasing, property sales and other related activities.
Many factors may have an adverse impact on the companies in this industry,
including economic recession, the cyclical nature of real estate markets,
competitive overbuilding, unusually adverse weather conditions, changing
demographics, changes in governmental regulations (including tax laws and
environmental, building, zoning and sales regulations), increases in real estate
taxes or costs of material and labor, the inability to secure performance
guarantees or insurance as required, the unavailability of investment capital
and the inability to obtain construction financing or mortgage loans at rates
acceptable to builders and purchasers of real estate.
 
    Additionally, a number of Hong Kong real estate companies are now involved
in the purchase and development of real estate in China, especially in the
cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzen. The property market in a
number of these cities has experienced a rise in real estate prices for
residential and office space and construction costs and a growing supply of
residential and office space. The imposition of macro-economic controls in China
in July 1993 and the introduction of the Land Appreciation Tax in early 1994 may
also have affected the property market in China.
 
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 is experiencing its worst recession
since World War II in the 1990s and the economy has been largely stagnant since
October 1993. Strains on the financial system in the form of non-performing
loans of financial institutions and real estate companies (see below) have been
one of the major causes of Japan's economic weakness. Resolution of the bad debt
problem may require disproportionate contributions by major banks. Japanese
exports could be adversely affected by pressure from trading partners --
particularly the U.S. -- to improve trade imbalances.
 
    Japanese Engineering and Construction Companies. The Japan Portfolio is
concentrated in common stocks of engineering and construction companies, which
are currently operating in an extremely weak economic environment. The Japanese
government is reported to have spent as much as 66 trillion yen in recent years
(1992-1996) on public works projects, which boosted many of the smaller
companies in this industry. Now, however, the Ministry of Construction has
cancelled as many as six dam projects and halted 12 more; and the Ministry has
been quoted as stating that it will cut its budget for the public works projects
it either directly or indirectly funds by 10 percent in the 1998 fiscal year
ending in March 1999. At least two of the companies represented in the Portfolio
could be directly affected by this action.
 
    Many Japanese engineering and construction companies have very large real
estate investments, some of which they may have to sell to pay off huge debts
that resulted when the Japanese real estate boom of the 1980s collapsed. But
land prices in Japan have fallen dramatically since 1991, by as much as 25
percent countrywide and 70 percent in Tokyo itself. The salability of some of
these companies' real estate is therefore questionable. In addition, many
Japanese banks encumbered with hard-to recover loans they made to engineering
and construction companies are now faced with the need to clear these bad debts
before the government forces drastic banking industry reforms.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
VOLATILITY
 
    Foreign stock prices may be more volatile then U.S. stock prices. The
following table demonstrates the volatility of the Nikkei 225 Index, the Hang
Seng 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 September 30, 1997, on which the value of the index
in local currency gains 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
PERCENTAGE GAINS             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NIKKEI   DOW JONES
    OR LOSSES                 HANG SENG                225                 FT                 INDUSTRIAL
IN VALUE OF INDEX               INDEX                 INDEX               INDEX                AVERAGE
- -----------------            -----------             --------             -----             --------------
<S>                          <C>                     <C>                  <C>               <C>

1%...............                     757                  763               355                        439
2%...............                     261                  275                54                         43
3%...............                      96                  106                13                         12
</TABLE>
 
    Previous performance is no guarantee of future results; any index may
display more or less volatility in the future.
 
    In 1989, the Hang Seng Index rose to 3,310 in May from its previous year-end
level of 2,687 but fell to 2,094 in early June following the events at Tiananmen
Square. The Hang Seng Index gradually climbed in subsequent months but fell by
181 points on October 13, 1989 (approximately 6.5%) following a substantial fall
in the U.S. stock markets, and at the year end closed at a level of 2,837. Also,
during 1994 the Hang Seng Index lost approximately 31% of its value. On October
23, 1997, the Hang Seng Index dropped by 1,211 points (approximately 10.4%) and
had lost 18% of its value by the end of the week. The decline was triggered
initially by the Hong Kong monetary authority's decision to raise interest rates
in order to protect the Hong Kong dollar against speculative activity by
currency traders. The rising interest rates and fear of potential currency
devaluation led to volatile trading, especially in interest-rate sensitive
banking and property company stocks, and a drop in the value of the Hang Seng
Index of as much as 13.7% in one day on October 28, 1997. By October 30, 1997,
the Hang Seng Index had lost 19.9% of its value from the previous year, and
35.9% from the record high reached in August 1997.
 
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. Since 1983,
the Hong Kong dollar has been 'pegged' to the U.S. dollar although there is no
guarantee that the Hong Kong dollar will continue to be pegged to the U.S.
dollar in the future. If the Hong Kong dollar ceased to be pegged to the U.S.
dollar there could be an adverse effect on the value of the Hong Kong Portfolio.
Currencies are geneally traded by leading international commercial banks and
institutional investors. From time to time, central banks in a number of
countries also are major buyers and sellers of foreign currencies, mostly to
prevent or reduce substantial exchange rate fluctuations. 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.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
    The following table shows fluctuations in the value of the British pound,
Hong Kong dollar and Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar in the past 20
years.
 
                   CHANGES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          RANGE OF                     RANGE OF
         FLUCTUATIONS   CHANGE IN     FLUCTUATIONS
            U.S.        U.K. POUND     HONG KONG        CHANGE IN           RANGE OF
           DOLLAR/      STERLING/       DOLLAR/         HONG KONG         FLUCTUATIONS          CHANGE IN
         U.K. POUND        U.S.          U.S.            DOLLAR/         JAPANESE YEN/        JAPANESE YEN/
PERIOD    STERLING*      DOLLAR**       DOLLAR*       U.S. DOLLAR**       U.S. DOLLAR*        U.S. DOLLAR**
- -----    -----------    ----------    -----------    ----------------    --------------    --------------------
<S>      <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>                 <C>               <C>

  1977   1.908-1.700          10.68   4.717-4.618                 1.24    292.91-285.95                    18.03
  1978   2.095-1.807           6.32   4.840-4.601                -4.07    242.54-177.39                    18.92
  1979   2.332-1.979           8.52   5.243-4.739                -3.02    250.75-193.75                   -23.18
  1980   2.452-2.134           6.75   5.211-4.784                -3.68    259.47-202.30                    15.31
  1981   2.427-1.763         -25.00   6.155-5.125               -10.62    245.39-199.05                    -8.33
  1982   1.933-1.593         -18.18   6.940-5.662               -14.45    278.16-218.75                    -6.87
  1983   1.623-1.415         -11.30   8.750-6.472               -19.78    247.58-226.75                     1.19
  1984   1.492-1.158         -25.43   7.990-7.775                -0.55    251.25-222.70                    -8.14
  1985   1.494-1.044          19.94   7.860-7.722                 0.15    263.43-200.25                    20.15
  1986   1.555-1.377           2.03   7.825-7.766                 0.20    202.70-152.00                    20.65
  1987   1.886-1.468          21.21   7.814-7.750                 0.58    159.40-121.25                    23.95
  1988   1.896-1.663          -3.48   7.824-7.768                -0.81    136.52-121.10                    -3.29
  1989   1.823-1.500         -12.04   7.816-7.773                 0.10    149.62-123.60                   -15.01
  1990   1.976-1.595          16.37   7.817-7.754                 0.09    159.90-125.05                     5.53
  1991   1.999-1.602          -3.24   7.875-7.711                 0.27    141.90-124.90                     8.10
  1992   2.004-1.505         -23.44   7.777-7.723                 0.44    134.53-119.35                    -0.02
  1993   1.590-1.417          -2.36   7.766-7.723                 0.25    126.10-101.10                    10.58
  1994   1.637-1.461           5.46   7.753-7.730                -0.18    113.10- 96.77                    10.76
  1995   1.641-1.530          -0.77   7.768-7.730                 0.04    104.29- 81.09                    -3.85
  1996   1.714-1.493           9.32   7.742-7.724                -0.01    116.21-103.45                   -12.01
  1997   1.714-1.579           6.09   7.735-7.738                 0.05    127.10-111.26                     4.16
(through
  9/30

</TABLE>
 
- ---------
*  DRI/McGrawHill.
** Ibbotson Associates.
 
    The Trustee is required to conduct a Portfolio's foreign currency
conversions either on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward foreign exchange basis,
whichever will synchronize the currency conversions as exactly as practicable
with the settlement dates of the relevant foreign stock or with the dividend
distribution dates of the Portfolio, as the case may be. Foreign currency
conversions 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 conversions 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.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
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.
 
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:
 

                                   APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
                                 (GROSS UNDERWRITING PROFIT)
                                 ---------------------------
                                   AS % OF
                                   PUBLIC       AS % OF NET
                                  OFFERING         AMOUNT
AMOUNT PURCHASED                    PRICE         INVESTED
- ------------------------------   -----------    ------------
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 $999,999..........           1.75           1.750
$1,000,000 or more............           1.00           1.000

 
    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.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
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
Hong Kong Portfolio, 'business day' shall also exclude the following Hong Kong
holidays in 1997: Lunar New Year's Day and the following day, the third day of
the Lunar New Year, Ching Ming Festival, Easter Monday, Queen's Birthday and the
following Monday, the first and second day of July, Tuen Ng Festival,
Sino-Japanese War Victory Day (18th August), National Day (1st October) and, the
second day of October, the day following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Chung
Yeung Festival and the first weekday following Christmas Day; and 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.
 
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
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
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.$250,000 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.
 
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
1998 Portfolio of the Select Ten Portfolio International Series (a 'New 1998
International Portfolio') (if available). The New 1998 International Portfolios
will invest in the ten highest yielding stocks in the FT, Hang Seng 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.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    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 realized on the rollover 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 1998 International Portfolio 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.
 
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. Trustee 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,
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
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 Investor 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 Defined Asset Funds, currently estimated at $0.10 per 1,000 Units.
The Trustee's and Sponsors' fees may be adjusted for inflation without
investors' approval.
 
    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
persons with special tax circumstances, such as dealers, financial institutions,
insurance companies or former U.S. citizens or long term residents.
 
    As used herein, the term 'U.S. Investor' means an owner of a Unit in the
United Kingdom Portfolio, Hong Kong Portfolio or Japan Portfolio that is, for
United States federal income tax purposes, (i) 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. An investor
that is not a U.S. Investor but whose income from a Unit is effectively
connected with such Investor's conduct of a United States trade or business will
generally be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Investor but should consult his
or its tax adviser in this regard.
 
    The following discussion relates only to U.S. Investors. Since the
Portfolios hold only 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.
 
    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 amounts are received or
    converted by the Portfolio, regardless of whether such dividends are subject
    to withholding taxes or used to pay a portion of the Portfolio's expenses or
    whether they are automatically reinvested (see Reinvestment Plan).
 
       Dividends considered to have been received by a corporate U.S. Investor
    will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction because the
    dividends-received deduction is generally only available for dividends
    received from domestic corporations.
 
       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. 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
    and should consult their tax advisers in this regard. IRAs and other plans
    addressed below under 'Retirement Plans' should note that they are not
    likely to be eligible to claim any Treaty Payment (as defined below under
    'United Kingdom Taxation', which provides further details).
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
       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 and should
    consult their tax advisers in this regard. For further details, see
    'Japanese Taxation' below.
 
       An individual U.S. Investor who itemizes deductions will be entitled to
    deduct his pro rata share of Portfolio expenses 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 Code further restricts the
    ability of an individual U.S. Investor with an adjusted gross income in
    excess of a specified amount (for 1997, $121,200 or $60,600 for a married
    person filing a separate return) to claim itemized deductions (including his
    pro rata share of Portfolio expenses).
 
       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 Portfolio 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 U.S. Investor will generally recognize capital gain or loss when the
    U.S. Investor disposes of his Units (by sale, redemption or otherwise) or
    when the Trustee disposes of the Securities from the Portfolio. However,
    deductions will be disallowed for such losses realized by U.S. Investors who
    invest in New 1998 International Portfolios ('rollover U.S. Investors')
    within 30 days after incurring such losses to the extent that the securities
    in that series are substantially identical to the old Securities.
    Furthermore, a U.S. Investor will generally not recognize gain or loss upon
    the distribution of a pro rata amount of each of the Securities by the
    Trustee to a U.S. Investor (or to his agent) in redemption of Units, except
    to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares. The redeeming
    U.S. Investor's basis for such Securities will be equal to his basis for the
    same Securities (previously represented by his Units) prior to such
    redemption, and his holding period for such Securities will include the
    period during which he held his Units. Capital gain on a disposition of
    Units or Securities by U.S. Investors will generally be U.S. source income.
    Any foreign currency gain or loss with respect to an investment in the
    Portfolio will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss.
 
       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 individuals and other 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 a noncorporate rollover U.S.
    Investor, this lower rate will be unavailable if, as of the beginning of the
    rollover period, the rollover U.S. Investor has held his or her shares for
    less than a year and a day. Investors will not be entitled under the
    recently enacted Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to the new 20% maximum federal
    tax rate for capital gains derived from the Portfolios.
 
       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 U.S. or foreign jurisdictions and should consult their own tax
    advisers in this regard.
 
                                   *  *  *  *
 
    At the termination of a Portfolio, the Trustee will furnish to each investor
an annual statement containing information relating to the dividends received by
the Portfolio on the Securities, the cash 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.
 
UNITED KINGDOM TAXATION
 
    The following discussion addresses certain U.K. tax consequences of the
ownership of Units of the United Kingdom Portfolio held by certain U.S.
Investors only. For the U.S. tax consequences to U.S. Investors, see U.S.
Taxation.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
The discussion does not address the tax consequences for non-U.S. investors, who
should consult their own tax advisers in this respect.
 
    General. 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. Investors in 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 below. Accordingly,
prospective investors should consult their U.K. tax advisers 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
individual who receives a dividend from a U.K. company 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. company 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. Accordingly, for such 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. In the absence of agreeing to such a
procedure, U.S. Investors 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 tax payable in the U.S., 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.
 
                                   *  *  *  *
 
    As mentioned in 'United Kingdom -- Taxation of Dividends' above, for a U.S.
Investor to be able to claim Treaty Payments it would be necessary to agree a
special procedure with the Inland Revenue in advance. The Inland Revenue operate
a special procedure under which trustees of funds like the Fund may claim Treaty
Payments on behalf of Investors. The Inland Revenue have agreed to such
procedure in respect of the Fund, under the terms of which the Trustee may claim
Treaty Payments on behalf of U.S. Investors in the United Kingdom Portfolio. The
amount of any Treaty Payment obtained by the Trustee with respect to a dividend
will be reflected in the net asset value of the Portfolio and will be
distributed to investors on the first Distribution Date after the Treaty Payment
is received by the Portfolio.
 
HONG KONG TAXATION
 
    The following discussion addresses only the Hong Kong tax consequences to
investors of Units in the Hong Kong Portfolio. The taxation of non-U.S.
investors in their own countries of residence as a result of their ownership,
sale, exchange or other disposition of Units in the Hong Kong Portfolio will be
governed by the internal tax laws of the countries of residence of the non-U.S.
investors. Accordingly, non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors in
this regard.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
    The Sponsors have been advised by Johnson Stokes & Master, the Sponsors'
special Hong Kong counsel, that the following summary accurately describes the
Hong Kong tax consequences under existing law to all investors of Units of the
Hong Kong Portfolio. This discussion is for general purposes only and assumes
that the investor is not carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong
Kong and has no profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong in respect of the
carrying on of such trade, profession or business. Investors should consult
their tax advisors as to the Hong Kong tax consequences of ownership of the
Units of the Hong Kong Portfolio applicable to their particular circumstances.
 
    Taxation of Dividends. Amounts in respect of dividends paid to investors of
Units of the Hong Kong Portfolio are not taxable in Hong Kong and therefore will
not be subject to the deduction of any withholding tax in Hong Kong.
 
    Profits Tax. An investor of Units of the Hong Kong Portfolio (other than a
person carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong) will not be
subject to Hong Kong profits tax on any gain or profits made on the realization
or other disposal of his units.
 
    Hong Kong Estate Duty. Units of the Hong Kong Portfolio should generally not
give rise to a liability to Hong Kong estate duty, if the value of the property
passing on the death of a deceased that is situated in Hong Kong does not exceed
HK$7 million. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers in
this regard.
 
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
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 adviser 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 (prior to the year 2000) 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 advisers 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
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
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 ($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 ($4,000 in a spousal
account) or 100% of earned income; the investment must be made in cash. However,
the deductible amount of a contribution by an individual covered by an employer
retirement plan 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 a married individual filing a joint return) or $200 (in the case of
a married individual filing a separate return). Under the recently enacted
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, these income threshholds will gradually be
increased by the year 2004 to $50,000 for a single individual and $80,000 for a
married individual filing jointly. 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 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. Under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
the 10% surtax will be waived for withdrawals for certain educational and
first-time homebuyers expenses. The Taxpayer Relief Act also provides, subject
to certain income limitations, for a special type of IRA under which
contributions would be non-deductible but distributions would be tax-free if the
account were held for at least five years and the account holder was aged at
least 59 1/2 at the time of distribution.
 
    Corporate Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans. A pension or profit-sharing plan
for employees of a corporation may purchase Units.
 
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.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    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.
 
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 Trustee and its address are stated on the back cover of the Prospectus.
The Trustee is 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 Morgan Stanley,
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
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
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 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 generally 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 review 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.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
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
maintaining a secondary market and which are lawfully for sale in the state
where you reside. 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 adviser. 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.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                              Defined
                              Asset FundsSM
 

SPONSORS AND UNDERWRITERS:         EQUITY INVESTOR FUND
Merrill Lynch,                     SELECT TEN PORTFOLIO
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated1997 INTERNATIONAL SERIES 5
Defined Asset Funds                UNITED KINGDOM,
P.O. Box 9051                      HONG KONG AND
Princeton, NJ 08543-9051           JAPAN PORTFOLIOS
(609) 282-8500
Smith Barney Inc.                  This Prospectus does not contain all of the
Unit Trust Department              information with respect to the investment
388 Greenwich Street--23rd Floor   company set forth in its registration
New York, NY 10013                 statement and exhibits relating thereto which
(212) 816-4000                     have been filed with the Securities and
PaineWebber Incorporated           Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. under
1200 Harbor Blvd.                  the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Weehawken, NJ 07087                Company Act of 1940, and to which reference
(201) 902-3000                     is hereby made. Copies of filed material can
Prudential Securities Incorporated be obtained from the Public Reference Section
One New York Plaza                 of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
New York, NY 10292                 Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.
(212) 778-6164                     The Commission also maintains a Web site that
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.          contains information statements and other
Two World Trade Center--59th Floor information regarding registrants such as
New York, NY 10048                 Defined Asset Funds that file electronically
(212) 392-2222                     with the Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
TRUSTEE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM     ------------------------
PORTFOLIO:                         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.
TRUSTEE FOR THE HONG KONG          ------------------------
AND JAPAN PORTFOLIOS:              When Units of this Fund are no longer
The Bank of New York               available and for investors who will reinvest
P.O. Box 974                       into subsequent International Select Ten
Wall Street Division               Portfolios, this Prospectus may be used as a
New York, NY 10268-0974            preliminary prospectus for a future series,
1-800-221-7771                     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.

 

                                                        11339--11/97




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