Cover Page 424(b)(3)
33-89510
<PAGE>
[EQUITABLE LOGO] MICHAEL HEGARTY
President and Chief Operating Officer
January 5, 2001
Dear EQUI-VEST(R) Owner
We are pleased to inform you of an important enhancement that we've made to your
EQUI-VEST(R) benefits. This enhancement resulted in an increase to the minimum
death benefit for many EQUI-VEST(R) contracts--at no additional cost to you.
GOOD NEWS
A key benefit of your EQUI-VEST(R) contract(1) is its minimum death
benefit--that is, the guarantee(2) that your beneficiary will never receive less
than the amount of money you have contributed over the life of the contract
(adjusted for any withdrawals), regardless of investment performance.(3)
However, the investment options you elected in your EQUI-VEST(R) contract may
have significantly appreciated, so your account value may be much greater than
your contributions (adjusted for withdrawals). If that was the case for your
EQUI-VEST(R) contract on December 31, 2000, we have good news for you! We
increased the minimum death benefit of your EQUI-VEST(R) contract to equal your
account value on that date.
HOW IT WORKS
Your contract's new minimum death benefit went into effect on January 1, 2001.
It will continue to be adjusted for new contributions and withdrawals. This
means that in the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive the greater
of either your EQUI-VEST(R) account value at that time or your account value on
December 31, 2000 adjusted for any subsequent contributions and
withdrawals.(3,4)
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Your total account value on December 31, 2000 is shown on the enclosed
statement. The statement also shows contributions and withdrawals you've made
since you purchased your contract. If the total account value shown is greater
than your contributions minus withdrawals, the minimum death benefit was
increased (as described above).
EVDBR-2000 EQ-00-116 (11/00)
<PAGE>
If the total account value on the statement is equal to or less than your
contributions minus withdrawals, the minimum death benefit was not changed; it
will remain equal to contributions you previously made--and to contributions you
make in the future, adjusted for withdrawals. In no case would this adjustment
have decreased the minimum death benefit of your contract.
Please attach this letter, along with the enclosed statement, to your
EQUI-VEST(R) contract for future reference. If you have any questions about this
change, please contact your financial professional or an Equitable customer
service representative at the address and phone number shown on your statement.
Sincerely,
/s/
----------------------------
1 EQUI-VEST(R) includes EQUI-VEST(R) Express(SM) and "Contract" includes both
contracts and certificates, as applicable.
2 All guarantees are backed by the claims paying ability of The Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States.
3 The amount your beneficiary will receive will be reduced by any outstanding
loan balance at the time of your death. Only section 403(b) TSA contracts and
certain other contracts provide for loans.
4 If you have an EQUI-VEST(R) contract under which you elected to have the
ratcheted death benefit, then in the event of your death, your beneficiary
will receive the greatest of (i) your EQUI-VEST(R) account value at that
time, (ii) your account value on December 31, 2000 adjusted for any
subsequent contributions and withdrawals, or (iii) the ratcheted death
benefit. The ratcheted death benefit was available only to certain contracts
issued after October 20, 1999 and had to be elected when the contract was
issued.
EQUI-VEST(R) is a registered service mark and Express(SM) is a service mark of
The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.
EQUI-VEST(R) and EQUI-VEST(R) Express(SM) are issued by The Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States and distributed by AXA Advisors, LLC (NY,
NY 10104).
EVDBR-2000 EQ-00-116 (11/00)
--------------------------------------
This letter supplements certain information in the EQUI-VEST(R) prospectuses
dated May 1, 2000, as supplemented to date. Keep this Supplement for future
reference
