EQUITY INVESTOR FUND MEDIA PORT 2000 SER A DEF ASSET FUNDS
S-6/A, 2000-04-19
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<PAGE>
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 19, 2000

                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-96373
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                     -------------------------------------

                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-6

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

                   FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                    OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
                        TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2

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

A. EXACT NAME OF TRUST:

                              EQUITY INVESTOR FUND

                                MEDIA PORTFOLIO
                                 2000 SERIES A
                          (FORMERLY CONCEPT SERIES 44)
                              DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

B. NAME OF DEPOSITORS:

               MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                           SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

C. COMPLETE ADDRESS OF DEPOSITORS' PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                        <C>                        <C>
                            MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,      SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
                                   FENNER &             388 GREENWICH STREET
                              SMITH INCORPORATED             23RD FLOOR
                              DEFINED ASSET FUNDS        NEW YORK, NY 10013
                                P. O. BOX 9051
                           PRINCETON, NJ 08543-9051
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
   1285 AVENUE OF THE
        AMERICAS
   NEW YORK, NY 10019
                                                      DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                                                           TWO WORLD TRADE
                                                         CENTER--59TH FLOOR
                                                         NEW YORK, NY 10048
</TABLE>

D. NAMES AND COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF AGENTS FOR SERVICE:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                        <C>                        <C>                        <C>
    ROBERT E. HOLLEY         TERESA KONCICK, ESQ.         MICHAEL KOCHMANN          DOUGLAS LOWE, ESQ.
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED         MERRILL LYNCH        SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.  DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
    1200 HARBOR BLVD.            P.O. BOX 9051            388 GREENWICH ST.       TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
   WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07087     PRINCETON, NJ 08543-9051      NEW YORK, NY 10013             59TH FLOOR
                                                                                    NEW YORK, NY 10048
</TABLE>

                                   COPIES TO:
                          PIERRE DE SAINT PHALLE, ESQ.
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                               NEW YORK, NY 10017

E. TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:

  An indefinite number of Units of Beneficial Interest pursuant to Rule 24f-2
       promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

F. APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC.

 As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

/X/ Check box if it is proposed that this Registration Statement shall become
effective upon filing on April 26, 2000, pursuant to Rule 487.
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<PAGE>
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities 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 State.
<PAGE>
                                        SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, PRELIMINARY
PROSPECTUS DATED APRIL 19, 2000

                           DEFINED ASSET FUNDS--REGISTERED TRADEMARK--
                           ----------------------------------------------------

                           EQUITY INVESTOR FUND
                           MEDIA PORTFOLIO 2000 SERIES A
                           (A UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST)
                           -  CAPITAL APPRECIATION
                           -  OPTIONAL REINVESTMENT OF CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

         SPONSOR:
         MERRILL LYNCH,
         PIERCE, FENNER &
         SMITH
         INCORPORATED
         SALOMON SMITH     -----------------------------------------------------
         BARNEY INC.       The Securities and Exchange Commission has not
         PAINEWEBBER       approved or disapproved these Securities or passed
         INCORPORATED      upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any
         DEAN WITTER       representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
         REYNOLDS INC.     Prospectus dated April   , 2000.
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Defined Asset Funds--Registered Trademark--
Defined Asset Funds-Registered Trademark- is America's oldest and largest family
of unit investment trusts, with over $160 billion sponsored over the last 28
years. Defined Asset Funds has been a leader in unit investment trust research
and product innovation. Our family of Funds helps investors work toward their
financial goals with a full range of quality investments, including municipal,
corporate and government bond portfolios, as well as domestic and international
equity portfolios.

Defined Asset Funds offer a number of advantages:
  - A disciplined strategy of buying and holding with a long-term view is the
    cornerstone of Defined Asset Funds.
  - Fixed portfolio: Defined Funds follow a buy and hold investment strategy;
    funds are not managed and portfolio changes are limited.
  - Defined Portfolios: We choose the stocks and bonds in advance, so you know
    what you're investing in.
  - Professional research: Our dedicated research team seeks out stocks or bonds
    appropriate for a particular fund's objectives.
  - Ongoing supervision: We monitor each portfolio on an ongoing basis.
No matter what your investment goals, risk tolerance or time horizon, there's
probably a Defined Asset Fund that suits your investment style. Your financial
professional can help you select a Defined Asset Fund that works best for your
investment portfolio.

<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>
CONTENTS
                                       PAGE
                                        --
Risk/Return Summary..................    3
What You Can Expect From Your
  Investment.........................    6
  Income.............................    6
  Records and Reports................    6
The Risks You Face...................    6
  Concentration Risk.................    6
  Litigation and Legislation Risks...    6
Selling or Exchanging Units..........    6
  Sponsors' Secondary Market.........    7
  Selling Units to the Trustee.......    7
  Rollover/Exchange Option...........    8
How The Fund Works...................    8
  Pricing............................    8
  Evaluations........................    9
  Income.............................    9
  Expenses...........................    9
  Portfolio Changes..................   10
  Portfolio Termination..............   11
  No Certificates....................   11
  Trust Indenture....................   11
  Legal Opinion......................   12
  Auditors...........................   12
  Sponsors...........................   12
  Trustee............................   12
  Underwriters' and Sponsors'
    Profits..........................   13
  Public Distribution................   13
  Code of Ethics.....................   13
  Year 2000 Issues...................   14
  Advertising and Sales Literature...   14
Taxes................................   14
Supplemental Information.............   16
Financial Statements.................   17
  Report of Independent Accountants..   17
  Statement of Condition.............   17
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
 1.  WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO'S OBJECTIVE?

     The Portfolio seeks capital appreciation
     by investing in a fixed portfolio of
     common stocks in the media industry.

     You can participate in the Portfolio by
     purchasing units. Each unit represents an
     equal share of the stocks in the
     Portfolio and receives an equal share of
     income and principal distributions, if
     any.

 2.  WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTMENT
     STRATEGY?

  -  The Portfolio contains   stocks in the
     media industry, including advertising,
     cable, broadcasting, film, leisure,
     printing and publishing.

  -  Technology today is reshaping the media
     industry. Cable and satellite TV are
     expanding the range of viewing options;
     the Internet, e-publishing, electronic
     marketing and other NEW MEDIA are
     reconfiguring the publishing and
     advertising landscapes. Global marketing
     agencies are blending traditional
     approaches with the latest technologies
     to serve their clients in novel ways.

  -  While the classic media trio -- print,
     radio and broadcast television --
     continues to offer content and venues for
     news, entertainment and marketing, we
     believe the companies embracing new media
     technologies may be tomorrow's media
     leaders. Our team of securities buyers
     and industry analysts has been monitoring
     this mix of evolving technology and
     traditional media, and based on their
     recommendations, we anticipate growth
     among select firms. Combining both
     content providers and infrastructure
     companies, Defined Assets Funds' Media
     Portfolio offers you a chance to take
     part in the potential success of this
     industry.

     -- ADVERTISING - Benefiting from the
        generally strong economy worldwide,
        the advertising industry overall
        remains healthy and vibrant. Over the
        next two years, this sector may
        experience continued earnings growth
        while expanding into such services as
        public relations, market research,
        consulting

     and health-care promotion. Many
      advertising firms have recently
      established Internet subsidiaries that
      may boost their growth prospects.

     -- BROADCAST/CABLE TV - The pending
        AOL/Time Warner merger is just the
        latest step toward integrating new
        technology with traditional media
        outlets. Likewise, many markets have
        yet to be fully developed. In the
        U.S., nearly 80% of households
        subscribe to cable TV; in Europe and
        Japan, subscription rates are only 25%
        and 30%, respectively. We believe the
        advent of digital TV, increasing
        channel choices, Internet tie-ins and
        expanding cable availability may tend
        to stimulate growth.

     -- PRINTING/PUBLISHING - New technologies
        are affecting the publishing industry
        in many ways, and we believe merger
        activity may add to future growth. A
        number of publishers have welcomed the
        digital revolution, offering online
        services, CD-ROMs and other related
        products. Many Internet publishing
        companies have been enjoying
        extraordinary returns; those reluctant
        to keep pace have not been as
        fortunate.

  -  Based on a combination of fundamental and
     valuation measurements, the stocks were
     selected by the Agent for the Sponsors
     from a proprietary database after passing
     screens for market capitalization,
     earnings and liquidity. In addition, the
     stocks were selected based on expected
     earnings growth, credit and liquidity.
     The common stocks chosen for the
     Portfolio are considered by analysts for
     the Agent for the Sponsors to be among
     the most attractive in the media
     industry.

  -  The Portfolio plans to hold the stocks in
     the Portfolio for about two years. At the
     end of approximately two years, we will
     liquidate the Portfolio and apply a
     similar Strategy to select a new
     portfolio, if available.
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
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                               Defined Portfolio
- -------------------------------------------------------------------

Equity Investor Fund
Media Portfolio 2000 Series A
Defined Asset Funds

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<TABLE>
                                                      ---------------                 ---------------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>                <C>          <C>
                                                          100.00%                       $
                                                          ======                        ===========
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------
(1) Based on Cost to Portfolio.
(2) Valuation by the Trustee made on the basis of closing sale prices at the
    evaluation time on April 25, 2000, the business day prior to the initial
    date of deposit. The value of the Securities on any subsequent business day
    will vary.
 * These securities currently pay dividends.
 + The issuer is a foreign corporation; dividends, if any, will be subject to
   withholding taxes.
                          ----------------------------
The securities were acquired on April 25, 2000 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
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.
                          ----------------------------

                   PLEASE NOTE THAT IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS USED AS A PRELIMINARY
                   PROSPECTUS
                   FOR A FUTURE FUND IN THIS SERIES, THE PORTFOLIO WILL CONTAIN
                   DIFFERENT
                   STOCKS FROM THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE.
<PAGE>
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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
 3.  WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE REPRESENTED IN THE
     PORTFOLIO?

     Based upon the principal business of each
     issuer and current market values, the
     Portfolio represents the following
     sectors of the media industry:
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
 4.  WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT RISKS?

<C>  <S>
     YOU CAN LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE
     PORTFOLIO. THIS CAN HAPPEN FOR VARIOUS
     REASONS, INCLUDING:

  -  Stock prices can be volatile.

  -  Share prices may decline during the life
     of the Portfolio.

  -  Because the Portfolio is concentrated in
     the media industry, adverse developments
     in this industry may adversely effect the
     value of your units.

  -  The Portfolio may continue to purchase or
     hold the stocks originally selected even
     though their market value or yield may
     have changed.

  -  The Portfolio does not reflect any
     investment recommendations of the
     Sponsors, and any one or more of the
     stocks in the Portfolio may be subject to
     sell recommendations from one or more of
     the Sponsors.

 5.  IS THIS PORTFOLIO APPROPRIATE FOR YOU?

     Yes, if you want capital appreciation.
     You will benefit from a professionally
     selected and supervised portfolio whose
     risk is reduced by investing in equity
     securities of different issuers.
     The Portfolio is NOT appropriate for you
     if you are not comfortable with the
     Strategy or are unwilling to take the
     risk involved with an equity investment.
     It may not be appropriate for you if you
     are seeking preservation of capital or
     high current income.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
 6.  WHAT ARE THE PORTFOLIO'S FEES AND
     EXPENSES?

     This table shows the costs and expenses
     you may pay, directly or indirectly,
     when you invest in the Portfolio.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
                                                 %         $
     Trustee's Fee
                                                 %         $
     Portfolio Supervision,
     Bookkeeping and
     Administrative Fees   (including
     updating
     expenses)
<CAPTION>
     ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
                                          AS A % OF        AMOUNT
                                             NET         PER 1,000
                                           ASSETS          UNITS
                                          ---------      ---------
<C>  <S>                                  <C>            <C>
                                                 %         $
     Creation and   Development Fee
                                                 %         $
     Other Operating Expenses
                                          -------          -----
                                                 %         $
     TOTAL
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
     The Creation and Development Fee (estimated at
     $.00248 per unit) is an annual charge that
     compensates the Sponsors for the creation and
     development of the Portfolio and is computed
     based on the Portfolio's average daily net
     asset value through the date of collection.
     This fee historically had been included in the
     sales fee.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>                                        <C>
     ORGANIZATION COSTS per 1,000 units                $
     (deducted from Portfolio assets at
     the close of the initial offering
     period)
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>                                   <C>
     INVESTOR FEES

                                             4.00%
     Maximum Sales Fee (Load) on new
     purchases (as a percentage of $1,000
     invested)
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
     You will pay an up-front sales fee of
     approximately 1.00%. In addition, six monthly
     deferred sales charges of $2.50 per 1,000 units
     ($15.00 annually) will be deducted from the
     Portfolio's net asset value each year of the
     Portfolio's two-year life (     1, 2001,
     through      1, 2001, and      1, 2001 through
          1, 2001).
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
     EXAMPLE
     This example may help you compare the
     cost of investing in the Portfolio to the
     cost of investing in other funds.
     The example assumes that you invest
     $10,000 in the Portfolio for the periods
     indicated and sell all your units at the
     end of those periods. The example also
     assumes a 5% return on your investment
     each year and that the Portfolio's
     operating expenses stay the same.
     Although your actual costs may be higher
     or lower, based on these assumptions your
     costs would be:
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>  <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>
     1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
       $        $        $        $
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
     The aggregate fees and expenses will not
     exceed the applicable NASD limit, which
     is 6.25% of the initial public offering
     price.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C>  <S>
 7.  IS THE PORTFOLIO MANAGED?
     Unlike a mutual fund, the Portfolio is
     not managed and stocks are not sold
     because of market changes. The Sponsors
     monitor the portfolio and may instruct
     the Trustee to sell securities under
     certain limited circumstances. However,
     given the investment philosophy of the
     Portfolio, the Sponsors are not likely to
     do so.

 8.  HOW DO I BUY UNITS?
     You can buy units from any of the
     Sponsors and other broker-dealers. The
     Sponsors are listed later in this
     prospectus. Some banks may offer units
     for sale through special arrangements
     with the Sponsors, although certain legal
     restrictions may apply.

     The minimum investment is $250.

     UNIT PRICE PER 1,000 UNITS          $999.
     (as of April 25, 2000)

     Unit price is based on the net asset
     value of the Portfolio plus the up-front
     sales fee. Unit price also includes the
     estimated organization costs shown on
     page 4, to which no sales fee has been
     applied.

     The Portfolio stocks are valued by the
     Trustee on the basis of their closing
     prices at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time every
     business day. Unit price changes every
     day with changes in the prices of the
     stocks.

 9.  HOW DO I SELL UNITS?

     You may sell your units at any time to
     any Sponsor or the Trustee for the net
     asset value determined at the close of
     business on the date of sale, less any
     remaining deferred sales fee and the
     costs of liquidating securities to meet
     the redemption.

10.  HOW ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE AND TAXED?

     The Fund pays distributions of any
     dividend income, net of expenses, on the
     25th of      and      , 2000 and      and
          , 2001 if you own units on the 10th
     of those months. Distributions of
     ordinary income will be dividends for
     federal income tax purposes and may be
     eligible for the dividends-received
     deduction for corporations. Distributions
     to foreign investors will generally be
     subject to withholding taxes.

11.  WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?

     REINVESTMENT
     You may choose to reinvest your
     distributions into additional units of
     the Portfolio. Unless you choose
     reinvestment, you will receive your
     distributions in cash.

     EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES
     You may exchange units of this Portfolio
     for units of certain other Defined Asset
     Funds. You may also exchange into this
     Portfolio from certain other funds. We
     charge a reduced sales fee on designated
     exchanges.
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR INVESTMENT

INCOME

The Portfolio will pay to you any income it has received two times during its
life.

There can be no assurance that any dividends will be declared or paid.

RECORDS AND REPORTS

You will receive:
- - a notice from the Trustee if new equity securities are deposited in exchange
  or substitution for equity securities originally deposited;
- - annual reports on Portfolio activity; and
- - annual tax information. THIS WILL ALSO BE SENT TO THE IRS. YOU MUST REPORT THE
  AMOUNT OF INCOME RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR TAX ADVISOR IN
  THIS REGARD.

You may request audited financial statements of the Portfolio from the Trustee.

You may inspect records of Portfolio transactions at the Trustee's office during
regular business hours.

THE RISKS YOU FACE

CONCENTRATION RISK

When stocks in a particular industry make up 25% or more of the Portfolio, it is
said to be "concentrated" in that industry, which makes the Portfolio less
diversified.

Here is what you should know about the Portfolio's concentration in stocks of
the media sector.

LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION RISKS

We do not know of any pending litigation that might have a material adverse
effect upon the Portfolio.

Future tax legislation could affect the value of the Portfolio by:
  - reducing the dividends-received deduction or
  - increasing the corporate tax rate resulting in less money available for
    dividend payments.

SELLING OR EXCHANGING UNITS

You can sell your units at any time for a price based on their net asset value.
Your net asset value is calculated each business day by:
  - ADDING the value of the Portfolio Securities, cash and any other Portfolio
    assets;
  - SUBTRACTING accrued but unpaid Portfolio expenses, unreimbursed Trustee
    advances, cash held to buy back units or for distribution to investors, and
    any other Portfolio liabilities; and
  - DIVIDING the result by the number of outstanding units.

Your net asset value when you sell may be more or less than your cost because of
sales fees, market movements and changes in the Portfolio.

As of the close of the initial offering period, the price you receive will be
reduced to pay the Portfolio's estimated organization costs.

If you sell your units before the final deferred sales fee installment, the
amount of

                                       6
<PAGE>
any remaining payments will be deducted from your proceeds.

SPONSORS' SECONDARY MARKET

While we are not obligated to do so, we will buy back units at net asset value
less any remaining deferred sales fee and the cost of liquidating Securities to
meet the redemption. We may resell the units to other buyers or to the Trustee.

We have maintained a secondary market continuously for more than 28 years, but
we could discontinue it without prior notice for any business reason.

SELLING UNITS TO THE TRUSTEE

Regardless of whether we maintain a secondary market, you can sell your units to
the Trustee at any time by contacting your broker, dealer or financial
institution that holds your units in street name. Sometimes, additional
documents are needed such as a trust document, certificate of corporate
authority, certificate of death or appointment as executor, administrator or
guardian.

Within seven days after your request and the necessary documents are received,
the Trustee will mail a check to you. Contact the Trustee for additional
information.

As long as we are maintaining a secondary market, the Trustee will sell your
units to us at a price based on net asset value. If there is no secondary
market, the Trustee will sell your units in the over-the-counter market if it
believes it can obtain a higher price. In that case, you will receive the net
proceeds of the sale.

If the Portfolio does not have cash available to pay you for the units you are
selling, the agent for the Sponsors will select securities to be sold. These
sales could be made at times when the securities would not otherwise be sold and
may result in your receiving less than you paid for your unit and also reduce
the size and diversity of the Portfolio.

If you sell units with a value of at least $250,000, you may choose to receive
your distribution "in kind." If you so choose, you will receive securities and
cash with a total value equal to the price of your units. The Trustee will try
to distribute securities in the portfolio pro rata, but it reserves the right to
distribute only one or a few securities. The Trustee will act as your agent in
an in-kind distribution and will either hold the securities for your account or
transfer them as you instruct. You must pay any transaction costs as well as
transfer and ongoing custodial fees on sales of securities distributed in kind.

There could be a delay in paying you for your units:
  - if the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and
    holiday closings);
  - if the SEC determines that trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
    restricted or that an emergency exists making sale or evaluation of the
    securities not reasonably practicable; and
  - for any other period permitted by SEC order.

                                       7
<PAGE>
ROLLOVER/EXCHANGE OPTION

When this Portfolio is about to terminate, you may have the option to roll your
proceeds into the next Media Portfolio if one is available.

If you hold your Units with one of the Sponsors and notify your financial
adviser by April   , 2002, your units will be redeemed and certain distributed
securities plus the proceeds from the sale of the remaining distributed
securities will be reinvested in units of a new Media Portfolio. If you decide
not to roll over your proceeds, you will receive a cash distribution (or, if you
so choose, an in-kind distribution) after the Portfolio terminates.

The Portfolio will terminate by      , 2002. However, the Sponsors may extend
the termination date for a period no longer than 30 days without notice to unit
holders.

If you continue to hold your units, you may exchange units of this Portfolio any
time before this Portfolio terminates for units of certain other Defined Asset
Funds at a reduced sales fee if your investment goals change. In addition, you
may exchange into this Portfolio from certain other Defined Asset Funds and unit
trusts. To exchange units, you should talk to your financial professional about
what portfolios are exchangeable, suitable and currently available.

We may amend or terminate the options to exchange your units or roll your
proceeds at any time without notice.

HOW THE FUND WORKS

PRICING

Units are charged a combination of initial and deferred sales fees.

In addition, during the initial offering period, a portion of the price of a
unit also consists of securities to pay all or some of the costs of organizing
the Portfolio including:
  - cost of initial preparation of legal documents;
  - federal and state registration fees;
  - initial fees and expenses of the Trustee;
  - initial audit; and
  - legal expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses.

The estimated organization costs will be deducted from the assets of the
Portfolio as of the close of the initial offering period.

The deferred sales fee is generally a monthly charge of $2.50 per 1,000 units
and is accrued in six monthly installments each year of the Portfolio's life.
Units redeemed or repurchased prior to the accrual of the final deferred sales
fee installment will have the amount of any remaining installments deducted from
the redemption or repurchase proceeds or deducted in calculating an in-kind
distribution, however, 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.
If you redeem or sell your units before      1, 2001, you will pay only the
balance of any deferred sales fee remaining for the first year. If you redeem or
sell your units on or after      1, 2001 you will pay

                                       8
<PAGE>
the remaining balance of the deferred sales fee for the second year. The initial
sales fee is equal to the aggregate sales fee less the aggregate amount of any
remaining installments of the deferred sales fee.

It is anticipated that securities will not be sold to pay the deferred sales fee
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.

EVALUATIONS

The Trustee values the securities on each business day (i.e., any day other than
Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays as observed by the New York Stock
Exchange: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
If the securities are listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market, evaluations are generally based on closing sales prices on that
exchange or that system or, if closing sales prices are not available, at the
mean between the closing bid and offer prices.

INCOME
- - The annual income per unit, 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 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 receives an equal share of distributions of dividend income 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. The Trustee credits dividends
  received to an Income Account and other receipts to a Capital Account. The
  Trustee may establish a reserve account by withdrawing from these accounts
  amounts it considers appropriate to pay any material liability. These accounts
  do not bear interest.

EXPENSES

The Trustee is paid a fee monthly. It also benefits when it holds cash for the
Portfolio in non-interest bearing accounts. The Trustee may also receive
additional amounts:
  - for extraordinary services and costs of indemnifying the Trustee and the
    Sponsors;
  - costs of actions taken to protect the Portfolio and other legal fees and
    expenses;
  - expenses for keeping the Portfolio's registration statement current; and
  - Portfolio termination expenses and any governmental charges.

The Sponsors are currently reimbursed up to 70 CENTS per 1,000 units annually
for providing portfolio supervisory, bookkeeping and administrative services and
for any other

                                       9
<PAGE>
expenses properly chargeable to the Portfolio. Legal, typesetting, electronic
filing and regulatory filing fees and expenses associated with updating the
Portfolio's registration statement yearly are also now chargeable to the
Portfolio. While this fee may exceed the amount of these costs and expenses
attributable to this Portfolio, the total of these fees for all Series of
Defined Asset Funds will not exceed the aggregate amount attributable to all of
these Series for any calendar year. Certain of these expenses were previously
paid for by the Sponsors.

The Sponsors will receive an annual Creation and Development Fee of .25% of the
Portfolio's average daily net asset value through the date of collection. This
fee, which has historically been included in the gross sales fee, compensates
the Sponsors for the creation and development of the Portfolio's objective and
policies and portfolio composition and size, selection of service providers and
information services. No portion of the Creation and Development Fee is applied
to the payment of distribution expenses or as compensation for sales efforts.

The Trustee's and Sponsors' fees may be adjusted for inflation without
investors' approval.

The maximum sales fee is 4.00%. If you hold units in certain eligible accounts
offered by the Sponsors, you will pay no sales fee. Employees and non-employee
directors of the Sponsors may be charged a reduced sales fee of no less than
$5.00 per 1,000 Units. If your aggregate sales fee is less than the deferred
sales fee, you will be given additional units which will decrease the effective
maximum sales fee to the amount shown below.

The maximum sales fee is effectively reduced if you invest as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      YOUR MAXIMUM SALES
   IF YOU INVEST:        FEE WILL BE:
   --------------     ------------------
<S>                   <C>
Less than $50,000            4.00%
$50,000 to $99,999           3.75%
$100,000 to $249,999         3.25%
$250,000 to $999,999         3.00%
$1,000,000 or more           2.25%
</TABLE>

The deferred sales fees you owe are paid from the Capital Account. Although we
may collect the deferred sales charge monthly, to keep Units more fully invested
we do not currently plan to pay the deferred sales charge until after the
rollover notification date.

The Sponsors will pay advertising and selling expenses at no charge to the
Portfolio. If Portfolio expenses exceed initial estimates, the Portfolio will
owe the excess. The Trustee has a lien on Portfolio assets to secure
reimbursement of Portfolio expenses and may sell securities if cash is not
available.

PORTFOLIO CHANGES

If we maintain a secondary market in units but are unable to sell the units that
we buy in the secondary market, we will redeem units, which may affect the size
and composition of the portfolio.

We decide whether to offer for sale units that we acquire in the secondary
market after reviewing:
  - diversity of the Portfolio;
  - size of the Portfolio relative to its original size;

                                       10
<PAGE>
  - ratio of Portfolio expenses to income; and
  - cost of maintaining a current prospectus.

If a Portfolio is buying or selling a stock actively traded on a national
securities exchange or certain foreign exchanges, it may buy from or sell to
another Defined Asset Fund at the stock's closing sale price (without any
brokerage commissions).

PORTFOLIO TERMINATION

When the Portfolio is about to terminate you will receive a notice, and you will
be unable to sell your units after that time. Unless you choose to receive an
in-kind distribution of securities, we will sell any remaining securities, and
you will receive your final distribution in cash.

You will pay your share of the expenses associated with termination, including
brokerage costs in selling securities. This may reduce the amount you receive as
your final distribution.

NO CERTIFICATES

All investors are required to hold their Units in uncertificated form and in
"street name" by their broker, dealer or financial institution at the Depository
Trust Company.

TRUST INDENTURE

The Portfolio is a "unit investment trust" governed by a Trust Indenture, a
contract among the Sponsors and the Trustee, which sets forth their duties and
obligations and your rights. A copy of the Indenture is available to you on
request to the Trustee. The following summarizes certain provisions of the
Indenture.

The Sponsors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture without your consent:
  - to cure ambiguities;
  - to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;
  - to make any amendment required by any governmental agency; or
  - to make other changes determined not to be materially adverse to your best
    interest (as determined by the Sponsors).

Investors holding 51% of the units may amend the Indenture. Every investor must
consent to any amendment that changes the 51% requirement. No amendment may
reduce your interest in the Portfolio without your written consent.

The Trustee may resign by notifying the Sponsors. The Sponsors may remove the
Trustee without your consent if:
  - it fails to perform its duties;
  - it becomes incapable of acting or bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by
    public authorities; or
  - the Sponsors determine that its replacement is in your best interest.

Investors holding 51% of the units may remove the Trustee. The Trustee may
resign or be removed by the Sponsors without the consent of investors. The
resignation or removal of the Trustee becomes effective when a successor accepts
appointment. The Sponsors will try to appoint a successor promptly; however, if
no successor has accepted within 30 days after notice of

                                       11
<PAGE>
resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition a court to appoint a successor.

Any Sponsor may resign as long as one Sponsor with a net worth of $2 million
remains and agrees to the resignation. The remaining Sponsors and the Trustee
may appoint a replacement. If there is only one Sponsor and it fails to perform
its duties or becomes bankrupt the Trustee may:
  - remove it and appoint a replacement Sponsor;
  - liquidate the Portfolio; or
  - continue to act as Trustee without a Sponsor.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated acts as agent for the
Sponsors.

The Trust Indenture contains customary provisions limiting the liability of the
Trustee and the Sponsors.

LEGAL OPINION

Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, as
special counsel for the Sponsors, has given an opinion that the units are
validly issued.

AUDITORS

Deloitte & Touche LLP, 2 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281,
independent accountants, audited the Statement of Condition included in this
prospectus.

SPONSORS

The Sponsors are:

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED (a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.)
P.O. Box 9051,
Princeton, NJ 08543-9051

DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC. (a principal operating subsidiary of Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter & Co.)
Two World Trade Center--59th Floor,
New York, NY 10048

PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED (a wholly-owned subsidiary of PaineWebber Group Inc.)
1285 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10019

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. (an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup
Inc.)
388 Greenwich Street--23rd Floor,
New York, NY 10013

Each Sponsor is a Delaware corporation and it, or its predecessor, has acted as
sponsor to many unit investment trusts. As a registered broker-dealer each
Sponsor buys and sells securities (including investment company shares) for
others (including investment companies) and participates as an underwriter in
various selling groups.

TRUSTEE

The Bank of New York, Unit Trust Department, P.O. Box 974, Wall Street Division,
New York, NY 10268-0974 is the Trustee. It is supervised by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and
New York State banking authorities.

                                       12
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITERS' AND SPONSORS' PROFITS

Underwriters receive sales charges when they sell units. Sponsors also realize a
profit or loss on deposit of the securities shown under Defined Portfolio. Any
cash made available by you to the Sponsors before the settlement date for those
units may be used in the Sponsors' businesses to the extent permitted by federal
law and may benefit the Sponsors.

A Sponsor or Underwriter may realize profits or sustain losses on stocks in the
Portfolio which were acquired from underwriting syndicates of which it was a
member.

The Sponsors will receive an annual Creation and Development Fee of .25% of the
Portfolio's average daily net asset value through the date of collection. This
annual fee, which has historically been included in the gross sales fee,
compensates the Sponsors for the creation and development of the Portfolio's
objective and policies and portfolio composition and size, selection of service
providers and information services. No portion of the Creation and Development
Fee is applied to the payment of distribution expenses or as compensation for
sales efforts.

During the initial offering period, the Sponsor may realize profits or sustain
losses on units they hold due to fluctuations in the price per unit. The
Sponsors experienced a loss of $     on the initial deposit of the Securities.
Any profit or loss to the Portfolio will be effected by the receipt of
applicable sales fees and a gain or loss on subsequent deposits of securities.
In maintaining a secondary market, 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 or redeem them.

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

During the initial offering period, units will be distributed to the public by
the Sponsors and dealers who are members of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.

Dealers will be entitled to the concession stated below on Units sold or
redeemed during the first year. On Units held in the second year, the dealer
will be entitled to an additional concession of $11 per 1,000 Units ($5 per
1,000 Units for purchases of $1 million or more).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              DEALER CONCESSION
                                                      AS
                                                A % OF PUBLIC
                        AMOUNT PURCHASED        OFFERING PRICE
                        ----------------      -----------------
<S>                    <C>                  <C>
                       Less than $50,000             2.00%
                       $50,000 to $99,999            1.80%
                       $100,000 to
                       $249,999                      1.45%
                       $250,000 to
                       $999,999                      1.25%
                       $1,000,000 and over           0.50%
</TABLE>

The Sponsors do not intend to qualify units for sale in any foreign countries.
This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell units in any country where
units cannot lawfully be sold.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Portfolio and the Agent for the Sponsors have each adopted a code of ethics
requiring pre-clearance and reporting of personal securities transactions by its
employees with access to information on Portfolio transactions. Subject to
certain conditions, the codes permit employees to

                                       13
<PAGE>
invest in Portfolio securities for their own accounts. The codes are designed to
prevent fraud, deception and misconduct against the Portfolio and to provide
reasonable standards of conduct. These codes are on file with the Commission and
you may obtain a copy by contacting the Commission at the address listed on the
back cover of this prospectus.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many computer systems were designed in such a way that they may be unable to
distinguish between the year 2000 and the year 1900 (commonly known as the "Year
2000 Problem"). To date, we are not aware of any major operational difficulties
resulting from the computer system changes necessary to prepare for the Year
2000. However, there can be no assurance that the Year 2000 Problem will not
adversely affect the issuers of the securities contained in the Portfolio. We
cannot predict whether any impact would be material to the Portfolio as a whole.

ADVERTISING AND SALES LITERATURE

Advertising and sales literature may contain past performance of the Portfolio,
either in dollars or average annualized or cumulative returns (changes in market
prices with dividends reinvested) for various periods, compared to the Standard
& Poor's 500 Index, or other appropriate market indices. Returns reflect
deduction of actual Portfolio expenses and maximum sales charges.

Sales material may discuss developing a long-term financial plan, working with
your financial professional; the nature and risks of various investment
strategies and Defined Asset Funds that could help you toward your financial
goals and the importance of discipline; how securities are selected for these
funds, how the funds are created and operated, features such as convenience and
costs, and options available for certain types of funds including automatic
reinvestment, rollover, exchanges and redemption. It may also summarize some
similarities and differences with mutual funds and discuss the philosophy of
spending time in the market rather than trying to time the market, including
probabilities of negative returns over various holding periods.

Sales literature and articles may state research opinions on the economy,
countries and industry sectors and include a list of funds generally appropriate
for pursuing these recommendations.

TAXES

The following summarizes some of the important income tax consequences of
holding Units. It assumes that you are not a dealer, financial institution,
insurance company or other investor with special circumstances or subject to
special rules. You should consult your own tax adviser about your particular
circumstances.

In the opinion of our counsel, under existing law:

GENERAL TREATMENT OF THE FUND AND YOUR INVESTMENT

The Portfolio intends to qualify for special tax treatment as a regulated
investment company so that it will not be subject to federal income tax on the
portion of its

                                       14
<PAGE>
taxable income that it distributes to investors in a timely manner.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Distributions to you of the Portfolio's dividend income and of the Portfolio's
gains from Securities it has held for one year or less will generally be taxed
to you as ordinary income, to the extent of the Portfolio's taxable income not
attributable to the Portfolio's net capital gain. Distributions to you in excess
of the Portfolio's taxable income will be treated as a return of capital and
will reduce your basis in your Units. To the extent such distributions exceed
your basis, they will be treated as gain from the sale of your Units.

Distributions to you that are treated as ordinary income will constitute
dividends for federal income tax purposes. Corporate investors may be eligible
for the 70% dividends-received deduction with respect to these distributions.
You should consult your tax adviser in this regard.

Distributions to you of the Portfolio's net capital gain will generally be
taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held
your Units.

Dividends received by the Portfolio from foreign issuers will in most cases be
subject to withholding taxes, although these taxes may be reduced by treaties
between the United States and the relevant country.

GAIN OR LOSS UPON DISPOSITION

You will generally recognize capital gain or loss when you dispose of your Units
for cash (by sale or redemption), when you exchange your units for units of
another Defined Asset Fund or when the Trustee disposes of the Securities in the
Portfolio. If you receive Securities upon redemption of your Units (including
pursuant to the rollover option), you will generally recognize capital gain or
loss equal to the difference between your basis in your Units and the fair
market value of the Securities received in redemption.

If your net long-term capital gains exceed your net short-term capital losses,
the excess may be subject to tax at a lower rate than ordinary income. Any
capital gain or loss that you recognize upon disposition of your Units will be
long-term if you have held your Units for more than one year and short-term
otherwise. Because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations, you may not be able to deduct all of your capital losses. You
should consult your tax adviser in this regard.

YOUR BASIS IN THE SECURITIES

Your aggregate basis in the Units will generally be equal to the cost of your
Units, including the initial sales charge and the Creation and Development Fee.
You should not increase your basis in your Units by deferred sales charges or
organizational expenses.

FOREIGN INVESTORS

If you are a foreign investor and you are not engaged in a U.S. trade or
business, you generally will be subject to 30% withholding tax (or a lower
applicable treaty rate) on your share of dividends received by the Portfolio.
You should consult your tax

                                       15
<PAGE>
adviser about the possible application of federal, state and local, and foreign
taxes.

RETIREMENT PLANS

You may wish to purchase units for an Individual Retirement Account ("IRAs") or
other retirement plan. Generally, capital gains and income received in each of
these plans are exempt from federal taxation. All distributions from these types
of plans are generally treated as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be
eligible for tax-deferred rollover treatment. You should consult your attorney
or tax adviser about the specific tax rules relating to these plans. These plans
are offered by brokerage firms, including the Sponsors of this Portfolio, and
other financial institutions. Fees and charges with respect to such plans may
vary.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

You can receive at no cost supplemental information about the Portfolio by
calling the Trustee. The supplemental information includes more detailed risk
disclosure and general information about the structure and operation of the
Portfolio. The supplemental information is also available from the SEC.

                                       16
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Sponsors, Trustee and Holders of Equity Investor Fund, Media Portfolio 2000
Series A, Defined Asset Funds (the "Portfolio"):

We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the related defined
portfolio included in the prospectus of the Portfolio as of April   , 2000. This
financial statement is the responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 statement is free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our procedures included
confirmation of an irrevocable letter of credit deposited for the purchase of
securities, as described in the statement of condition, with the Trustee. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of the Portfolio as of April   ,
2000 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, NY
April   , 2000

                  STATEMENT OF CONDITION AS OF APRIL 26, 2000

TRUST PROPERTY

<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>
Investments--Contracts to purchase Securities(1).........  $
                                                           --------------------
        Total............................................  $
                                                           ====================
LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF HOLDERS
    Reimbursement of Sponsors for organization
     expenses(2).........................................  $
                                                           --------------------
    Subtotal
                                                           --------------------
Interest of Holders of 357,060 Units of fractional
  undivided interest outstanding:(3)
  Cost to investors(4)...................................  $
  Gross underwriting commissions and organization
    expenses(5)(2).......................................                     ()
                                                           --------------------
    Subtotal
                                                           --------------------
        Total............................................  $
                                                           ====================
</TABLE>

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

        (1) Aggregate cost to the Portfolio of the securities listed under
Defined Portfolio determined by the Trustee at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on April
25, 2000. The contracts to purchase securities are collateralized by an
irrevocable letter of credit which has been issued by      , New York Branch, in
the amount of $     and deposited with the Trustee. The amount of the letter of
credit includes $     for the purchase of securities.
        (2) A portion of the Unit Price consists of securities in an amount
sufficient to pay all or a portion of the costs incurred in establishing the
Portfolio. These costs have been estimated at $2.03 per 1,000 Units. A
distribution will be made as of the close of the initial offering period to an
account maintained by the Trustee from which the organization expense obligation
of the investors will be satisfied. If the actual organizational costs exceed
the estimated aggregate amount shown above, the Sponsors will pay for this
excess amount.
        (3) Because the value of securities at the evaluation time on the
Initial Date of Deposit may differ from the amounts shown in this statement of
condition, the number of Units offered on the Initial Date of Deposit will be
adjusted to maintain the $999.  per 1,000 Units offering price only for that
day. The Unit Price on any subsequent business day will vary.
        (4) Aggregate public offering price computed on the basis of the value
of the underlying securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on April 25, 2000.
        (5) Assumes the maximum initial sales charge per 1,000 units of 1.00% of
the Unit Price. A deferred sales charge of $2.50 per 1,000 Units is payable on
     1, 2001 and thereafter on the 1st day of each month through      1, 2001;
and monthly      1, 2001 through      1, 2001. Distributions will be made to an
account maintained by the Trustee from which the deferred sales charge
obligation of the investors to the Sponsors will be satisfied.

                                       17
<PAGE>
              Defined
            Asset Funds-Registered Trademark->

<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>
HAVE QUESTIONS ?                         EQUITY INVESTOR FUND
Request the most                         MEDIA PORTFOLIO 2000 SERIES A
recent free Information                  (A Unit Investment Trust)
Supplement that gives more               ---------------------------------------
details about the Fund,                  This Prospectus does not contain
by calling:                              complete information about the
The Bank of New York                     investment company filed with the
1-800-221-7771                           Securities and Exchange Commission in
                                         Washington, D.C. under the:
                                         - Securities Act of 1933 (file no.
                                         333-96373) and
                                         - Investment Company Act of 1940 (file
                                         no. 811-3044).
                                         TO OBTAIN COPIES AT PRESCRIBED RATES--
                                         WRITE: Public Reference Section of the
                                         Commission
                                         450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
                                         D.C. 20549-6009
                                         CALL: 1-800-SEC-0330.
                                         VISIT: http://www.sec.gov.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         No person is authorized to give any
                                         information or representations about
                                         this Fund not contained in this
                                         Prospectus or the Information
                                         Supplement, and you should not rely on
                                         any other information.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         When units of this Fund are no longer
                                         available, this Prospectus may be used
                                         as a preliminary prospectus for a
                                         future series, but some of the
                                         information in this Prospectus will be
                                         changed for that series.
                                         UNITS OF ANY FUTURE SERIES MAY NOT BE
                                         SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED
                                         UNTIL THAT SERIES HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE
                                         WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                         COMMISSION. NO UNITS CAN BE SOLD IN ANY
                                         STATE WHERE A SALE WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
                                                                  100615RR--4/00
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROSPECTUS

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

 I. Bonding arrangements of each of the Depositors are incorporated by reference
to Item A of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 under the
Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Monthly Payment
Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241).

 II. The date of organization of each of the Depositors is set forth in Item B
of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 under the Securities Act of
1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined
Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241) and is herein incorporated by reference
thereto.

III. The Charter and By-Laws of each of the Depositors are incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibits 1.3 through 1.12 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund,
Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241).

IV. Information as to Officers and Directors of the Depositors has been filed
pursuant to Schedules A and D of Form BD under Rules 15b1-1 and 15b3-1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated by reference to the SEC
filings indicated and made a part of this Registration Statement:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>                   <C>
          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..........         8-7221
          PaineWebber Incorporated....................................        8-16267
          Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ..................................        8-14172
          Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ..................................         8-8177
</TABLE>

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

    B. The Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Numbers of the
Sponsors and Trustee are as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>                   <C>
          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..........       13-5674085
          PaineWebber Incorporated....................................       13-2638166
          Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ..................................       94-0899825
          Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ..................................       13-1912900
          The Bank of New York, Trustee...............................       13-4941102
</TABLE>

                                  UNDERTAKING

The Sponsors undertake that they will not make any amendment to the Supplement
to this Registration Statement which includes material changes without
submitting the amendment for Staff review prior to distribution.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
                         SERIES OF EQUITY INVESTOR FUND
        DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO RULE 487 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      SEC
SERIES NUMBER                                                     FILE NUMBER
- -------------                                                     -----------
<S>                                                           <C>
Equity Investor Fund, Select S&P Industrial Portfolio 1998
Series H....................................................       333-64577
"MERIT" 1987 Series (The Merrill Equity Research Investment
Trust)......................................................        33-10989
</TABLE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

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

    The facing sheet of Form S-6.

    The Prospectus.

    Additional Information not included in the Prospectus (Part II).

The following exhibits:

<TABLE>
      <S>              <C>
       1.1             -- Form of Trust Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                       1.1 to the Registration Statement of Equity Income Fund, Select
                         S&P Industrial Portfolio 1997 Series A. 1933 Act File No. 33-
                         05683.
       1.1.1           -- Form of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust Effective
                       October 21, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1.1 to
                         the Registration Statement of Municipal Investment Trust Fund,
                         Multistate Series--48, 1933 Act File No. 33-50247).
       1.2             -- Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters (incorporated by
                       reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement of The
                         Corporate Income Fund, One Hundred Ninety-Fourth Monthly
                         Payment Series, 1933 Act File No. 2-90925).
       1.11.1          -- Merrill Lynch Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to
                       Exhibit 1.11.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
                         Registration Statement of Equity Participation Series, Low Five
                         Portfolio, Defined Asset Funds, 1933 Act File No. 333-05685).
       1.11.2          -- Equity Investor Fund Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference
                       to Exhibit 1.11.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
                         Registration of Equity Participation Series Low Five Portfolio,
                         Defined Asset Funds, 1933 Act File No. 333-05685).
      *3.1             -- Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities being
                       issued including their consent to the use of their names under
                         the heading "How The Fund Works--Legal Opinion" in the Prospec-
                         tus.
      *5.1             -- Consent of independent accountants.
       9.1             -- Information Supplement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                       9.1 to the Registration Statement of Equity Income Fund, Select
                         Ten Portfolio 1999 International Series A (United Kingdom
                         Portfolio), 1933 Act File No. 33-70593).
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------
*To be filed by amendment.

                                      R-1
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURE

    The registrant hereby identifies the series number of Equity Investor Fund
listed on page R-1 for the purposes of the representations required by Rule 487
and represents the following:

    1) That the portfolio securities deposited in the series as to which this
       registration statement is being filed do not differ materially in type or
       quality from those deposited in such previous series;

    2) That, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio
       securities deposited in, and to provide essential information for, the
       series with respect to which this registration statement is being filed,
       this registration statement does not contain disclosures that differ in
       any material respect from those contained in the registration statements
       for such previous series as to which the effective date was determined by
       the Commission or the staff; and

    3) That it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.
                                   SIGNATURES

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT HAS
DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE OF NEW YORK ON THE 19TH DAY OF
APRIL 2000.

               SIGNATURES APPEAR ON PAGES R-3, R-4, R-5 AND R-6.

    A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or
Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the
Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.

    A majority of the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors of PaineWebber Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or
Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the
Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.

    A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc. has signed this Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney authorizing the person signing this
Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement to do so on
behalf of such members.

    A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Salomon Smith Barney
Inc. has signed this Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration
Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney authorizing the person signing this
Registration Statement or Amendment to the Registration Statement to do so on
behalf of such members.

                                      R-2
<PAGE>
               MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
                                   DEPOSITOR

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under
  the Board of Directors of Merrill         Form SE and the following 1933 Act
  Lynch, Pierce,                            File
  Fenner & Smith Incorporated:              Number: 333-70593
</TABLE>

     GEORGE A. SCHIEREN
     JOHN L. STEFFENS

By JAY M. FIFE
    (As authorized signatory for Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
    Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
    Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)

                                      R-3
<PAGE>
                           SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
                                   DEPOSITOR

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
By the following persons, who constitute a majority of        Powers of Attorney
  the Board of Directors of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.:          have been filed
                                                                under the 1933 Act
                                                                File Numbers:
                                                                333-63417 and
                                                                333-63033
</TABLE>

     MICHAEL A. CARPENTER
     DERYCK C. MAUGHAN

     By GINA LEMON
       (As authorized signatory for
       Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and
       Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)

                                      R-4
<PAGE>
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                                   DEPOSITOR

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  the Board of Directors of PaineWebber     under
  Incorporated:                             the following 1933 Act File
                                            Number: 2-61279
</TABLE>

     MARGO N. ALEXANDER
     TERRY L. ATKINSON
     BRIAN M. BAREFOOT
     STEVEN P. BAUM
     MICHAEL CULP
     REGINA A. DOLAN
     JOSEPH J. GRANO, JR.
     EDWARD M. KERSCHNER
     JAMES P. MacGILVRAY
     DONALD B. MARRON
     ROBERT H. SILVER
     MARK B. SUTTON
     By ROBERT E. HOLLEY
       (As authorized signatory for
       PaineWebber Incorporated
       and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)

                                      R-5
<PAGE>
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                                   DEPOSITOR

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
By the following persons, who constitute  Powers of Attorney have been filed
  a majority of                             under Form SE and the following 1933
  the Board of Directors of Dean Witter     Act File Numbers: 33-17085,
  Reynolds Inc.:                            333-13039, 333-47553 and 333-89009
</TABLE>

     BRUCE F. ALONSO
     RICHARD M. DeMARTINI
     RAYMOND J. DROP
     JAMES F. HIGGINS
     JOHN J. MACK
     MITCHELL M. MERIN
     STEPHEN R. MILLER
     PHILIP J. PURCELL
     JOHN H. SCHAEFER
     THOMAS C. SCHNEIDER
     ALAN A. SCHRODER
     ROBERT G. SCOTT
     By MICHAEL D. BROWNE
       (As authorized signatory for
       Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
       and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)

                                      R-6


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