NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST TOP TEN PORTFOLIO SERIES 17
S-6, 1999-04-23
Previous: CAREINSITE INC, S-1/A, 1999-04-23
Next: FLAGSTAR TRUST, 8-A12G, 1999-04-23




<PAGE>

   
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 1999    

                                            Registration No. 333-      
=============================================================================
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ______________________
                                   FORM S-6
                  FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                   OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
                       TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
                            _____________________
A.    Exact Name of Trust:
                           NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST
                           Top Ten Portfolio Series 17    

B.    Name of depositor:
                      PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED

C.    Complete address of depositor's principal executive office:
                              One Seaport Plaza
                               199 Water Street
                           New York, New York 10292

D.    Name and complete address of agent for service:
                                                            Copy to:
          LEE B. SPENCER, JR., ESQ.                  KENNETH W. ORCE, ESQ.
      PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED            CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL
              One Seaport Plaza                         80 Pine Street
               199 Water Street                     New York, New York 10005
           New York, New York 10292

E.    Title and amount of securities being registered:
                       An indefinite number of Units of 
                             NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST,
                         Top Ten Portfolio Series 17    
                    Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 promulgated under the
                    Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended

F.    Proposed maximum aggregate offering price to the public of the
      securities being registered:
                                    Indefinite     

G.    Amount of filing fee:
                                      N/A          

H.    Approximate date of proposed sale to public:
      As soon as practicable after the effective date of the registration
      statement.
===========================================================================
      The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
registration statement shall hereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.



<PAGE>


                           NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST
                         Top Ten Portfolio Series 17    

                            CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET

                   Pursuant to Rule 404(c) of Regulation C
                       under the Securities Act of 1933


                (Form N-8B-2 Items required by Instruction as
                        to the Prospectus in Form S-6)


            Form N-8B-2                                     Form S-6
            Item Number                               Heading in Prospectus

                   I.  Organization and General Information

1.    (a)   Name of Trust .........................)  Prospectus front cover
      (b)   Title of securities issued ............)

2.    Name and address of each depositor ..........   Sponsor; Prospectus back
                                                        cover

3.    Name and address of trustee .................   Trustee

4.    Name and address of each principal
        underwriter ...............................   Sponsor

5.    State of organization of trust ..............   The Trust

6.    Execution and termination of trust
        agreement .................................   Summary of Essential
                                                        Information; The
                                                        Trust; Amendment and
                                                        Termination of the
                                                        Indenture

7.    Changes of Name .............................)            *

8.    Fiscal year .................................)            *

9.    Litigation ..................................)            *

                  II.  General Description of the Trust and
                              Securities of the Trust

_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                     i
<PAGE>


10.   (a)   Registered or bearer securities .......)            *
      (b)   Cumulative or distributive
              securities ..........................             *
      (c)   Redemption ............................   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Redemption
      (d)   Conversion, transfer, etc. ............   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Redemption
      (e)   Periodic payment plan .................)            *
      (f)   Voting rights .........................             *
      (g)   Notice to certificateholders ..........   The Trust; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders -- Reports
                                                        and Records; Sponsor
                                                        -- Responsibility;
                                                        Sponsor --
                                                        Resignation; Trustee
                                                        -- Resignation;
                                                        Amendment and
                                                        Termination of the
                                                        Indenture
      (h)   Consents required .....................   The Trust; Amendment and
                                                        Termination of the
                                                        Indenture
      (i)   Other provisions ......................   Tax Status

11.   Type of securities comprising units .........   Prospectus front cover;
                                                        The Trust

12.   Certain information regarding
        periodic payment certificates .............             *

13.   (a)   Load, fees, expenses, etc. ............   Summary of Essential
                                                        Information; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Public Offering Price;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Sponsor's and
                                                        Underwriter's Profits;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Volume
                                                        Discount; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Employee Discount;
                                                        Exchange Option;
                                                        Reinvestment Program;
                                                        Expenses and Charges;
                                                        Sponsor --
                                                        Responsibility
_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                  ii
<PAGE>


      (b)   Certain information regarding
              periodic payment certificates .......             *
      (c)   Certain percentages ...................   Summary of Essential
                                                        Information; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Public Offering Price;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Profit of
                                                        Sponsor; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Volume Discount;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Employee
                                                        Discount; Exchange
                                                        Option
      (d)   Price Differentials ...................   Public Offering of Units
                                                        -- Employee Discount
      (e)   Certain other fees, etc. payable
              by holders ..........................   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Certificates
      (f)   Certain other profits receivable
              by depositor, principal under-
              writer, trustee or affiliated
              persons .............................   The Trust -- Objectives
                                                        and Securities
                                                        Selection; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders --
                                                        Redemption -- Purchase
                                                        by the Sponsor of
                                                        Units Tendered for
                                                        Redemption
      (g)   Ratio of annual charges to
              income ..............................             *

14.   Issuance of trust's securities ..............   The Trust; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders --
                                                        Certificates

15.   Receipt and handling of payments from
        purchasers ................................             *

16.   Acquisition and disposition of under-
        lying securities ..........................   The Trust -- Portfolio
                                                        Summary; The Trust --
                                                        Objectives and
                                                        Securities Selection;
                                                        Rights of Unit Holders
_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                               iii
<PAGE>


                                                        -- Redemption; Sponsor
                                                        - Responsibility

17.   Withdrawal or redemption ....................   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Redemption

18.   (a)   Receipt, custody and disposition
              of income ...........................   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Distribution of
                                                        Interest and
                                                        Principal; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders - Reports
                                                        and Records
      (b)   Reinvestment of distributions .........   Reinvestment Programs
      (c)   Reserves or special funds .............   Expenses and Charges;
                                                        Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Distribution of
                                                        Interest and Principal
      (d)   Schedule of distributions .............             *

19.   Records, accounts and reports ...............   Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Distributions of
                                                        Interest and
                                                        Principal; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders --
                                                        Reports and Records

20.   Certain miscellaneous provisions of
        trust agreement ...........................   Sponsor -- Limitations
                                                        on Liabil-
      (a)   Amendment .............................)    ity; Sponsor --
                                                        Resignation;
      (b)   Termination ...........................)  Trustee -- Limitations
                                                        on Liabil-
      (c)   and (d) Trustee, removal and                ity; Trustee -
              successor ...........................)    Resignation;
                                                        Amendment and
                                                        Termination of
      (e)   and (f) Depositor, removal and              the Indenture
              successor ...........................)  

21.   Loans to security holders ...................             *

22.   Limitation on liability .....................   The Trust -- Portfolio
                                                        Summary; Sponsor --
                                                        Limitations on
                                                        Liability; Trustee --
_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                  iv
<PAGE>


                                                        Limitations on
                                                        Liability; Evaluator
                                                        -- Limitations on
                                                        Liability

23.   Bonding arrangements ........................   Additional Information
                                                        -- Item A

24.   Other material provisions of trust
        agreement .................................             *


                      III.  Organization, Personnel and
                       Affiliated Persons of Depositor

25.   Organization of depositor ...................   Sponsor

26.   Fees received by depositor ..................             *

27.   Business of depositor .......................   Sponsor

28.   Certain information as to officials
        and affiliated persons of
        depositor .................................   Contents of Registration
                                                        Statement -- Part II

29.   Companies controlling depositor .............   Sponsor

30.   Persons controlling depositor ...............             *

31.   Payments by depositor for certain
        services rendered to trust ................)            *

32.   Payments by depositor for certain
        other services rendered to trust ..........)            *

33.   Remuneration of employees of depositor
        for certain services rendered to
        trust .....................................)            *

34.   Remuneration of other persons for
        certain services rendered to trust ........)            *

35.   Distribution of trust's securities
        in states .................................   Public Offering of Units
                                                        -- Public Distribution

_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                      v
<PAGE>


36.   Suspension of sales of trust's
        securities ................................)            *

37.   Revocation of authority to distribute .......)            *

38.   (a)   Method of distribution ................)            *
      (b)   Underwriting agreements ...............   Public Offering of Units
      (c)   Selling agreements ....................)            *

39.   (a)   Organization of principal under-
              writer ..............................)  Sponsor
      (b)   N.A.S.D. membership of principal
              underwriter .........................)  Sponsor

40.   Certain fees received by principal
        underwriter ...............................             *

41.   (a)   Business of principal underwriter .....   Sponsor
      (b)   Branch offices of principal
              underwriter .........................)            *
      (c)   Salesmen of principal underwriter .....)            *

42.   Ownership of trust's securities by
        certain persons ...........................)            *

43.   Certain brokerage commissions received
        by principal underwriter ..................)            *

44.   (a)   Method of valuation ...................   Summary of Essential
                                                        Information; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Public Offering Price;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Public
                                                        Distribution; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Secondary Market
      (b)   Schedule as to offering price .........             *
      (c)   Variation in offering price to
              certain persons .....................   Public Offering of Units
                                                        -- Public
                                                        Distribution; Public
                                                        Offering of Units --
                                                        Volume Discount;
                                                        Public Offering of
                                                        Units -- Employee

_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                     vi
<PAGE>


                                                        Discount; Exchange
                                                        Option

45.   Suspension of redemption rights .............             *

46.   (a)   Redemption Valuation ..................   Summary of Essential
                                                        Information; Rights of
                                                        Unit Holders --
                                                        Redemption --
                                                        Computation of
                                                        Redemption Price per
                                                        Unit
      (b)   Schedule as to redemption price .......             *

47.   Maintenance of position in underlying
        securities ................................   Public Offering of Units
                                                        -- Secondary Market;
                                                        Rights of Unit Holders
                                                        -- Redemption --
                                                        Computation of
                                                        Redemption Price per
                                                        Unit; Rights of Unit
                                                        Holders -- Redemption
                                                        -- Purchase by the
                                                        Sponsor of Units
                                                        Tendered for
                                                        Redemption


                   IV.  Information Concerning the Trustee
                                   or Custodian

48.   Organization and regulation of
        trustee ...................................   Trustee

49.   Fees and expenses of trustee ................   Expenses and Charges

50.   Trustee's lien ..............................   Expenses and Charges --
                                                        Other Charges


                   V.  Information Concerning Insurance of
                               Holders of Securities

51.   Insurance of holders of trust's
        securities .................................  The Trust -- Insurance
                                                        on the Securities in
                                                        the Portfolio of an
                                                        Insured Trust
             

_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                                   vii
<PAGE>


                          VI.  Policy of Registrant

52.   (a)   Provisions of trust agreement with
              respect to selection or elimina-
              tion of underlying securities .......   Prospectus front cover;
                                                        The Trust -- Portfolio
                                                        Summary; The Trust --
                                                        Insurance on the
                                                        Securities in the
                                                        Portfolio of an Insured
                                                        Trust; The Trust --
                                                        Objectives and 
                                                        Securities Selection;
                                                        Sponsor --            
                                                        Responsibility
      (b)   Transactions involving elimination
              of underlying securities ............             *
      (c)   Policy regarding substitution or
              elimination of underlying
              securities ..........................   Sponsor --
                                                        Responsibility
      (d)   Fundamental policy not otherwise
              covered .............................             *

53.   Tax status of trust .........................   Prospectus front cover;
                                                        Tax Status


                 VII.  Financial and Statistical Information

54.   Trust's securities during last ten
        years .....................................)            *

55.                                                )

56.   Certain information regarding periodic
        payment certificates ......................)            *

57.                                                )

58.                                                )

59.   Financial statements (Instruction 1(c)
        to Form S-6) ..............................   Statement of Financial
                                                        Condition of the Trust


_______________________

*    Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
                               viii
<PAGE>

                  Subject to Completion, Dated April 23, 1999     
          
                                        
                              NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST
                           Top Ten Portfolio Series 17    


                                     [LOGO]
            The attached final prospectus for a prior Series of National Equity
Trust is hereby used as a preliminary prospectus for Top Ten Portfolio Series
17.  The narrative information relating to the operation of this Series and the
structure of the final prospectus for this Series will be substantially the
same as that set forth in the attached prospectus.  Information with respect to
pricing, the number of Units, dates and summary information regarding the
characteristics of securities to be deposited in this Series is not now
available and will be different from that included in the attached final
prospectus since each Series has a unique Portfolio.  Accordingly, the
information contained herein with regard to the previous Series should be
considered as being presented for informational purposes only.  Investors
should contact account executives of the Sponsor who will be informed of the
expected effective date of this Series and who will be supplied with complete
information with respect to such Series on the day of effectiveness of the
registration statement relating to Units of this Series.    

             The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This
prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an
offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.  


<PAGE>


                              NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST
                           TOP TEN PORTFOLIO SERIES 16


             The prospectus dated April 8, 1999, File No. 333-72843 is hereby
incorporated by reference.


<PAGE>         





         PART II.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

                      CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item A -- Bonding Arrangements

            The employees of Prudential Securities Incorporated are covered
under Broker's Blanket Policies, Standard Form No. 14 in the aggregate amount
of $62,500,000.

Item B -- Contents of Registration Statement

            This Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the following
papers and documents:

            The cross-reference sheet.

            The Prospectus.

            Signatures.

            Listed below is the name and registration number of a previous
Series of National Equity Trust, the final prospectus of which, properly
supplemented, is used as a preliminary prospectus for National Equity 
Trust, Top Ten Portfolio Series 17.  This prior final prospectus is 
incorporated herein by reference.

     National Equity Trust,
     Top Ten Portfolio Series 16
     (Registration No. 333-72843)      

            Written consents of the following persons:

                  Cahill Gordon & Reindel (included in Exhibit 5).

              (2) Deloitte & Touche LLP

            The following Exhibits:

      (4) Ex-3.(i)      -     Certificate of Incorporation of Prudential
                                Securities Incorporated dated March 29, 1993.

      (7) Ex-3.(ii)     -     Revised By-Laws of Prudential Securities
                                Incorporated as amended through September 28,   
                                1998.


                                   II-1
<PAGE>


      (5)   Ex-4.a      -     Trust Indenture and Agreement, dated April 25, 
                                1995.

      (1)   Ex-4.b      -     Draft of Reference Trust Agreement.

      (2)   Ex-5        -     Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the
                                securities being registered.

      (6)   Ex-24       -     Powers of Attorney executed by a majority of the
                                Board of Directors of Prudential Securities
                                Incorporated.

            Ex-99.1     -     Information as to Officers and Directors of
                                Prudential Securities Incorporated is
                                incorporated by reference to Schedules A and D
                                of Form BD filed by Prudential Securities
                                Incorporated pursuant to Rules 15b1-1 and
                                15b3-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of
                                1934 (1934 Act File No. 8-16267).

      (3)   Ex-99.2     -     Affiliations of Sponsor with other investment
                                companies.

      (3)   Ex-99.3     -     Broker's Blanket Policies, Standard Form No. 14
                                in the aggregate amount of $62,500,000.

      (5)   Ex-99.4     -     Distribution Agency Agreement among Prudential   
                                Securities Incorporated, as Depositor, United  
                                States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee,  
                                and United States Trust Company of New York, as
                                Distribution Agent.

      (8)   Ex-99.5     -     Amendment to Distribution Agency Agreement among
                                Prudential Securities Incorporated, as 
                                Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as 
                                Trustee, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, 
                                as Distribution Agent.

      (9)   Ex-99.6     -     Amendment to Distribution Agency Agreement dated
                                September 23, 1996 among Prudential Securities
                                Incorporated, as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan 
                                Bank, as Trustee, and The Chase Manhattan Bank  
                                as Distribution Agent included as part of the 
                                Reference Trust Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.b
                                to National Equity Trust Top Ten Portfolio 
                                Series 1.    
____________________

   (1)  Filed herewith.

   (2)  To be filed by amendment.

   (3)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of Prudential Unit Trusts,
        Insured Tax-Exempt Series 1, Registration No. 2-89263.

   (4)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of Government Securities
        Equity Trust Series 5, Registration No. 33-57992.

   (5)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of National Equity Trust,
        Low Five Portfolio Series 1, Registration No. 33-55475.

   (6)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits of same designation filed with    
        the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the             
        Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of National     
        Municipal Trust, Series 172, Registration No. 33-54681, National        
        Equity Trust, Top Ten Portfolio Series 3, Registration No. 333-15919,   
        and National Equity Trust, Low Five Portfolio Series 17, Registration   
        No. 333-44543.

   (7)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of National Municipal Trust,
        Series 186, Registration No. 33-54697 and National Equity Trust, S&P    
        500 Strategy Trust Series 2, Registration No. 333-39521.

   (8)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the 
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration 
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of National Equity Trust,    
        Low Five Portfolio Series 6, Registration No. 333-01889. 

   (9)  Incorporated by reference to exhibit of same designation filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration 
        Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 of National Equity Trust
        Top Ten Portfolio Series 1, Registration No. 333-02753.
                                     
                                      II-2
<PAGE>


                                  SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant, National Equity Trust, Top Ten Portfolio Series 17 has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on
the 23rd day of April, 1999.     

                           NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST
                              Top Ten Portfolio Series 17
                                 (Registrant)


                    By PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
                                 (Depositor)



                  By the following persons*, who constitute
                   a majority of the Board of Directors of
                      Prudential Securities Incorporated

                    
                              A. Laurence Norton, Jr.
                              Leland B. Paton
                              Martin Pfinsgraff
                              Vincent T. Pica II   
                              James D. Price
                              Hardwick Simmons     
                              Lee B. Spencer, Jr.
                              
                              
                              By /s/ Kenneth Swankie
                              (Kenneth Swankie,
                              Senior Vice President,
                              Manager-Unit Investment Trust
                              Department,
                              As authorized signatory for 
                              Prudential Securities
                              Incorporated and         
                              Attorney-in-Fact for the
                              persons listed above)           
                             
____________________

*     Pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed.

                                 II-3
<PAGE>


                              CONSENT OF COUNSEL


            The consent of Cahill Gordon & Reindel to the use of its name in
the Prospectus included in this Registration Statement will be contained in
its opinion to be filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement.

                           _______________________


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


                          [to be filed by Amendment]


                                    II-4




<PAGE>
                                        Executed in 6 Parts    
                                          Counterpart No. (   )


                     NATIONAL EQUITY TRUST

                  TOP TEN PORTFOLIO SERIES 17

                   REFERENCE TRUST AGREEMENT


          This Reference Trust Agreement dated          , 1999
among Prudential Securities Incorporated, as Depositor and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, sets forth certain provisions 
in full and incorporates other provisions by reference to the 
document entitled "National Equity Trust Low Five Portfolio 
Series, Trust Indenture and Agreement" (the "Basic Agreement") 
dated April 25, 1995.  Such provisions as are set forth in full 
herein and such provisions as are incorporated by reference 
constitute a single instrument (the "Indenture"). 


                       WITNESSETH THAT:


          In consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the Depositor and the Trustee
agree as follows: 


                            Part I.

            STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST


          Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, all the
provisions contained in the Basic Agreement are herein
incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed
to be a part of this instrument as fully and to the same extent
as though said provisions had been set forth in full in this
instrument except that the Basic Agreement is hereby amended in
the following manner:

    A.   Article I, entitled "Definitions", paragraph 22, shall
         be amended as follows:

               "Trustee shall mean the Chase Manhattan Bank,
                or any successor trustee appointed as 
                hereinafter provided."

    B.   Article II, entitled "Deposit of Securities; Acceptance
         of Trust", shall be amended as follows:

                The second sentence of Section 2.03 Issue
                of Units shall be amended by deleting the
                words "on any day on which the Depositor
                is the only Unit Holder".

     

<PAGE>

                                    -2-



    C.    Article III, entitled "Administration of Trust", shall
          be amended as follows:

            (i)   Section 3.01 Initial Costs shall be
                  amended to substitute the following
                  language: 

                  Section 3.01. Initial Cost The costs
                  of organizing the Trust and sale of 
                  the Trust Units shall, to the extent
                  of the expenses reimbursable to the
                  Depositor provided below, be borne
                  by the Unit Holders, provided, however,          
                  that, to the extent all of such costs
                  are not borne by Unit Holders, the
                  amount of such costs not borne by
                  Unit Holders shall be borne by the 
                  Depositor and, provided further, 
                  however, that the liability on the 
                  part of the Depositor under this
                  section shall not include any fees 
                  or other expenses incurred in connection
                  with the administration of the Trust
                  subsequent to the deposit referred to
                  in Section 2.01.  Upon notification 
                  from the Depositor that the primary
                  offering period is concluded, the
                  Trustee shall withdraw from the 
                  Account or Accounts specified in the
                  Prospectus or, if no Account is 
                  therein specified, from the Principal
                  Account, and pay to the Depositor the
                  Depositor's reimbursable expenses of
                  organizing the Trust and sale of the 
                  Trust Units in an amount certified to
                  the Trustee by the Depositor.  If the
                  balance of the Principal Account is
                  insufficient to make such withdrawal,
                  the Trustee shall, as directed by the
                  Depositor, sell Securities identified
                  by the Depositor, or distribute to the
                  Depositor Securities having a value,
                  as determined under Section 4.01 as 
                  of the date of distribution, sufficient
                  for such reimbursement.  The reimburse-
                  ment provided for in this section shall 
                  be for the account of the Unitholders of
                  record at the conclusion of the primary
                  offering period and shall not be reflected
                  in the computation of the Unit Value prior
                  thereto.  As used herein, the Depositor's


<PAGE>

                                  
                                   -3-


                  reimbursable expenses of organizing the 
                  Trust and sale of the Trust Units shall
                  include the cost of the initial preparation
                  and typesetting of the registration 
                  statement, prospectuses (including 
                  preliminary prospectuses), the indenture, 
                  and other documents relating to the Trust,
                  SEC and state blue sky registration fees, the
                  cost of the initial valuation of the
                  portfolio and audit of the Trust, the
                  initial fees and expenses of the Trustee,
                  and legal and other out-of-pocket expenses
                  related thereto, but not including the 
                  expenses incurred in the printing of
                  preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses,
                  expenses incurred in the preparation and 
                  printing of brochures and other advertising
                  materials and any other selling expenses.
                  Any cash which the Depositor has identified
                  as to be used for reimbursement of
                  expenses pursuant to this Section shall be
                  reserved by the Trustee for such purpose
                  and shall not be subject to distribution or,
                  unless the Depositor otherwise directs,
                  used for payment of redemptions in excess
                  of the per-Unit amount allocable to Units
                  tendered for redemption.

           (ii)  The third paragraph of Section 3.05
                  Distribution shall be amended to add the
                  following sentence at the end thereof:
                 
                 "The Trustee shall make a special
                  distribution of the cash balance in the
                  Income and Principal accounts available
                  for such distribution to Unit Holders of
                  record on such dates as the Depositor
                  shall direct, provided however, that no
                  such distribution shall be made if the 
                  assets of the Trust subsequent to such
                  distribution would not exceed any
                  Deferred Sales Charge payable and other
                  trust expenses."

          (iii)  The second to the last paragraph of
                  Section 3.08 Sale of Securities shall be
                  amended to replace the word "equal" with
                  the following phrase: "be sufficient to
                  pay."


<PAGE>


                                  -4-

      
      D.    Reference to United States Trust Company of New York
            in its capacity as Trustee is replaced by the Chase
            Manhattan Bank throughout the Basic Agreement.

                                       Part II.

                         SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST


                  The following special terms and conditions are
            hereby agreed to: 

                  A.    The Trust is denominated National Equity
            Trust, Top Ten Portfolio Series 17.

                  B.    The Units of the Trust shall be subject to
            a deferred sales charge.

                  C.    The contracts for the purchase of common
            stock listed in Schedule A hereto are those which,
            subject to the terms of this Indenture, have been or
            are to be deposited in Trust under this Indenture as
            of the date hereof.

                  D.    The term "Depositor" shall mean Prudential
            Securities Incorporated.

                  E.    The aggregate number of Units referred to
            in Sections 2.03 and 9.01 of the Basic Agreement is
                     as of the date hereof.

                  F.    A Unit of the Trust is hereby declared
            initially equal to 1/     th of the Trust.

                  G.    The term "First Settlement Date" shall mean
                     , 1999.

                  H.    The terms "Computation Day" and "Record
            Date" shall mean        10,        10,        10, and
                   10.

                  I.    The term "Distribution Date" shall mean
                   25,        25,        25, and        25.

                  J.    The term "Termination Date" shall mean
                     , 2000.

                  K.    The Trustee's Annual Fee shall be $
            (per 1,000 Units) for 100,000,000 and above units
            outstanding; $0.80 (per 1,000 Units) for 50,000,000 -
            99,999,999 units outstanding; $0.86 (per 1,000 Units)
            for 49,999,999 and below units outstanding.  In
            calculating the Trustee's annual fee, the fee
            applicable to the number of units outstanding shall
            apply to all units outstanding.


<PAGE>

                                   -5-

                  L.    The Depositor's Portfolio supervisory
            service fee shall be $0.25 per 1,000 Units.

                  [Signatures and acknowledgments on separate pages]
     



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission