Cover Page 424(b)(3)
333-35594
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THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES -- SUPPLEMENT DATED
SEPTEMBER 1, 2000, TO MAY 1, 2000 PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ("SAI") FOR MEMBERS RETIREMENT PROGRAM
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This supplement modifies certain information in the above-referenced
prospectus and SAI, as supplemented to date (together, the "Prospectus). Unless
otherwise indicated, all other information included in the Prospectus remains
unchanged. The terms and section headings we use in this supplement have the
same meaning as in the Prospectus.
1. SUBSTITUTION OF THE ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX INVESTMENT FUND FOR THE
BT EQUITY 500 INDEX INVESTMENT FUND:
Effective October 6, 2000, subject to regulatory approval, EQ Advisors Trust
will substitute shares of the Alliance Equity Index portfolio for shares of the
BT Equity 500 Index portfolio. The name of the Alliance Equity Index portfolio
(and investment fund) will then be changed to "EQ Equity 500 Index" (see below).
Each of these portfolios follows a strategy of replicating the performance of
the S&P 500 Composite Index. Through the combination of these portfolios, EQ
Advisors Trust will realize economies of scale which can potentially reduce
operating expenses. Your account value will remain unchanged, as a result of
this substitution. However, the unit values of the units of these two investment
funds are different, and therefore, the number of EQ Equity 500 Index option
units that you will receive will be different than the number of BT Equity 500
Index option units that you had.
The following information regarding the EQ Equity Index portfolio and investment
fund replaces the information in each prospectus regarding the BT Equity Index
portfolio and investment fund:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL
TRUST RELATED EXPENSES PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSES EXPENSES
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PROGRAM
INVESTMENT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT 12B-1 EXPENSE MGMT. PROGRAM
FUND ADVISOR(1) MGMT.(2) FEE(3) OTHER(4) TOTAL CHARGE FEES OTHER(5) TOTAL TOTAL
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EQ EQUITY ALLIANCE 0.25% 0.25% 0.05% 0.55% 1.00% -- 0.40% 1.40% 1.95%
500 INDEX CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT
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</TABLE>
(1) The investment results you achieve in the investment fund will depend on
the investment performance of the corresponding Portfolio of the EQ
Advisors Trust that shares the same name as the option. The advisor shown
is the advisor who makes the investment decisions for the Portfolio.
(2) The management fee for the portfolio cannot be increased without a vote of
each portfolio's shareholders.
(3) The Class IB shares of EQ Advisors Trust are subject to fees imposed under
distribution plans (herein, the "Rule 12b-1 Plans") adopted by EQ Advisors
Trust pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended. The Rule 12b-1 Plan provides that EQ Trust, on behalf of each
portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of
a portfolio attributable to its Class IB shares in respect of activities
primarily intended to result in the sale of Class 1B shares.
(4) Other Expenses shown are those incurred in 1999. The amounts shown as
"Other Expenses" will fluctuate from year to year depending on actual
expenses. Since the "Other Expenses" for the EQ Equity 500 Index are lower
than they are for the BT Equity 500 Index, the expense examples in the "Fee
Table" section of the prospectus reflect a higher level of expenses with
respect to the account value allocated to the BT Equity 500 Index than will
apply once the substitution is effective.
(5) Reflects the amount deducted for the daily accrual of direct expenses.
See "How We determine the Unit Value" in the SAI.
127577 MRP
