GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8
485BPOS, 2000-05-26
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<PAGE>

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2000
                                          Registration No. 33-56297
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              ---------------------

                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO
                                    FORM S-6
                    FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES AC
                    OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
                        TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
                             ----------------------

A.       Exact Name of Trust:

               GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

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

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box).
 __
/__/   immediately upon filing on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b);
 __
/X_/   on May 31, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b);
 __
/__/   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a);
 __
/__/   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485.

<PAGE>

CUSIP: 383H741808R

                  Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8

                                   (LOGO)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The objectives of the Trust are to attempt to obtain safety of capital through
investment in stripped United States Treasury issued notes or bonds paying no
current interest and to attempt to provide for capital appreciation through
investment in Class A shares of the Prudential Equity Fund, Inc. (the 'Fund'),
an open-end, diversified, registered management investment company. The
objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital. The Fund will seek to
achieve this objective by investing primarily in common stocks of major,
established corporations which the Fund's investment adviser believes are in
sound financial condition and have the potential for price appreciation greater
than broadly-based stock indexes. The Fund may invest in equity-related
securities such as preferred stock and convertible securities. The Fund may use
derivatives, including options on stocks and stock indexes and foreign currency
contracts and futures contracts and related options, for hedging or to improve
the Fund's returns. There can be no assurance that the Fund or the Trust will
achieve its objectives. Units of the Trust may be suited for purchase by
Individual Retirement Accounts, Keogh Plans and other tax-deferred retirement
plans.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor:
                                           Prudential Securities (LOGO)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please read and retain                              Prospectus dated
this Prospectus for future reference                May 31, 2000


<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    This Prospectus does not contain all the information with respect to the
investment company set forth in its registration statement and exhibits relating
thereto which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington D.C. under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, and to which reference is hereby made.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Trust

    Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8 consists of one underlying unit
investment trust (the 'Trust' or 'GSET' as the context requires) composed of
stripped United States Treasury issued notes or bonds bearing no current
interest (the'Treasury Obligations') and Class A shares ('Fund Shares') of the
Prudential Equity Fund, Inc. (the 'Fund'), an open-end, diversified, registered
management investment company, or contracts and funds for the purchase thereof
(the Treasury Obligations and the Fund Shares, collectively, the 'Securities').
The Trust contains Treasury Obligations maturing in approximately 6 years and
Fund Shares.

    The objectives of the Trust are to attempt to obtain safety of capital
through investment in stripped United States Treasury issued notes or bonds
paying no current interest and to attempt to provide for capital appreciation
through investment in shares of the Fund. The objective of the Fund is long-term
growth of capital. The Fund will seek to achieve this objective by investing
primarily in common stocks of major, established corporations which the Fund's
investment adviser believes are in sound financial condition and have the
potential for price appreciation greater than broadly-based stock indexes. There
can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The
Fund may also invest in options on stocks and stock indexes. The Fund may also
buy and sell futures and options on futures, foreign currency forward contracts,
options on foreign currencies and futures contracts on foreign currencies and
options thereon pursuant to limits described herein. These various hedging and
return enhancement strategies, including the use of derivatives, are considered
speculative and may result in higher risks and costs to the Fund. The Fund's
holdings can vary significantly from broad stock market indexes and, as a
result, the Fund's performance can deviate from the performance of these
indexes. There is, of course, no assurance that the Trust's objectives will be
achieved.

    The Trust is structured to contain a sufficient amount of Treasury
Obligations to insure that an investor will receive, at the maturity of such
Trust, $15.00 per unit. However, an investor holding his Units to Trust maturity
may suffer a loss to the extent the investor's purchase cost of a Unit exceeds
$15.00 since the capital protection is limited to the aggregate maturity value
per Unit of Treasury Obligations. An investor who sells his Units prior to Trust
maturity may suffer a loss to the extent that the price he receives upon the
sale of his Units is less than the purchase price of his Units. The price paid
for a Unit may differ from that set forth herein due to changes in the value of
the Securities in the portfolio subsequent to the date of the Summary of
Essential Information. There is no assurance that a purchaser of Units on the
date of the Prospectus or subsequent to such date will receive, upon
termination, the purchase price per Unit. The Fund has not been structured to
generate dividends and therefore dividend distributions by the Trust are likely
to be insignificant. The maximization of dividend income is not an objective of
the Trust. The Trust is 'concentrated' in Fund Shares, so investors should be
aware that the potential for capital appreciation is directly related to the
investment performance of the Fund itself.

    The Sponsor may, from time to time, deposit additional Treasury Obligations
and Fund Shares in the Trust while maintaining the proportionate relationship
between the maturity amount of the Treasury Obligations and the number of Fund
Shares immediately prior to such deposit. Any additional Treasury Obligations
added to the Trust will be United States Treasury notes or bonds substantially
identical to those then held in the Trust.

The Fund

    The objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital. The Fund seeks to
achieve this objective by investing primarily in common stocks of major,
established corporations which the Fund's investment adviser believes are in
sound financial condition and have prospects of price appreciation greater than
broadly-based stock indexes. These companies may be small, medium or large
capitalization companies. The Fund's portfolio managers use a blend of
investment styles, investing in stocks that are undervalued, given the company's
earnings, assets, cash flow and dividends, as well as investing in companies
experiencing some or all of the following: a price/earnings ratio lower than
earnings per share growth, strong market position, improving profitability and
distinctive attributes such as unique marketing ability, strong research and
development, new product flow and financial strength. The Fund may also invest
in other equity-related securities including nonconvertible preferred stock,
warrants and rights that can be exercised to obtain stock, investments

                                      A-i

<PAGE>
in various types of business ventures, including partnerships and joint
ventures; real estate investment trusts; American Depositary Receipts (ADRs);
and similar securities. The Fund also may buy convertible securities. These are
securities--like bonds, corporate notes and preferred stock--that the Fund can
convert into the company's common stock or some other equity security.
Generally, the Fund considers selling a security when it has increased in value
to the point where it is no longer undervalued in the opinion of the investment
adviser. The Fund may invest in investment-grade short-term debt obligations
(those rated BBB/Baa or above), including money market instruments. The shares
of the Fund are subject to the risks of common stock investment, and there can
be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund
may invest up to 30% of its assets in foreign securities, which involve
additional risks. Such investment risks include future adverse political and
economic developments, possible seizure or nationalization of the company in
whose securities the Fund has invested, currency risk and possible establishment
of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws that might adversely
affect the value of the Fund's investment or the payment of dividends.

    The Fund may also engage in various portfolio strategies, including using
derivatives, to attempt to reduce certain risks of its investments and to
attempt to enhance return. These strategies include (1) the purchase and writing
(that is, sale) of put options and call options on equity securities, (2) the
purchase and sale of put and call options on indexes, (3) the purchase and sale
of exchange traded stock index futures and options thereon and (4) the purchase
and sale of options on foreign currencies and futures contracts on foreign
currencies and options thereon. The Fund may engage in these transactions on
securities or commodities exchanges or, in the case of equity, stock index and
foreign currency options, also in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may also
purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts. The Fund, and thus the
investor, may lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies. The
Fund's ability to use these strategies may be limited by market conditions,
regulatory limits and tax considerations and there can be no assurance that any
of these strategies will succeed. New financial products and risk management
techniques continue to be developed and the Fund may use these new investments
and techniques to the extent they are consistent with its investment objective
and policies.

    Although the Fund will seek the objective of long-term growth of capital,
there can be no assurance it will be attained. The objective of the Fund may not
be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

Investment Risks

    Investors should be aware of the risks which an investment in Units of the
Trust may entail. During the life of the Trust, the value of the portfolio
Securities and hence the Units will fluctuate and therefore the Public Offering
Price and Redemption Price per Unit may be more or less than the price paid by
the investor.

    The value of the Treasury Obligations will fluctuate inversely with changes
in interest rates and the value of Fund Shares will vary as the value of the
underlying portfolio securities of the Fund increases or decreases. The Treasury
Obligations are subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during
periods of changing interest rates than securities of comparable quality which
make periodic interest payments. See 'The Trust--Stripped U.S. Treasury
Obligations.'

    Since the Fund invests primarily in common stock, there is the risk that the
price of particular stocks it owns could go down, or the value of the equity
markets or a sector of them could go down. Stock markets are volatile. The
Fund's holdings can vary significantly from broad stock market indexes. As a
result, the Fund's performance can deviate from the performance of these
indexes. In addition, the Fund may invest in foreign securities and derivatives.
See 'The Trust--Investment Policies and Restrictions of the Fund.' FOR
ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS RELATING TO INVESTMENT IN THE FUND, SEE PART B OF THIS
PROSPECTUS.

    Although the Trust is structured to return $15.00 per unit to a Unit Holder
through the distribution of the Treasury Obligations' maturity value on the
mandatory termination date of the Trust, an investor will have included the
accrual of original issue discount on such Treasury Obligations in income for
federal income tax purposes and will have paid federal income tax on such
accrual. An investor holding his Units to Trust maturity may suffer a loss to
the extent the investor's purchase cost of a Unit exceeds $15.00 since the
capital protection is limited to the aggregate maturity value per Unit of
Treasury Obligations. Similarly, an investor who sells his Units prior to Trust
maturity may suffer a loss to the extent that the price he receives upon the
sale of his Units is less than the purchase price of his Units.

                                      A-ii

<PAGE>
Distributions

    Distributions, if any, of dividends, 12b-1 fee amounts received by the Trust
from the Sponsor in respect of Fund Shares (net of Trust expenses),
distributions of any net capital gains and net investment income received in
respect of Fund Shares, and proceeds of the sale of Fund Shares not used to
redeem Units will be made quarterly on or shortly after the Quarterly
Distribution Date to Unit Holders of record on the Quarterly Record Date
immediately preceding such Quarterly Distribution Date. No distribution will be
made if the amount available for distribution is less than $2.50 per 100 Units
(see 'Rights of Unit Holders--Distributions'). Alternatively, Unit Holders may
have their distributions reinvested (see 'Reinvestment of Trust Distributions').
Accrual of original issue discount on the Treasury Obligations will not be
distributed on a current basis, although Unit Holders will be subject to income
tax at ordinary income rates as if a current distribution of such amounts had
been made (see 'Tax Status of the Trust'). Upon termination of the Trust, the
Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of Units for cancellation, to each Unit
Holder, his pro rata share of such Trust's net assets including the proceeds of
Fund Shares sold unless a Unit Holder elects to receive Fund Shares pursuant to
an 'in kind' distribution of the number of Fund Shares attributable to his
Units, in the manner set forth under 'Amendment and Termination of the
Indenture--Termination.' Upon termination, a Unit Holder may invest the proceeds
from the Treasury Obligations in Fund Shares at such Shares' net asset value.

Public Offering Price

    The Public Offering Price of the Units during the initial offering period is
equal to the aggregate offering side evaluation of the underlying Treasury
Obligations and the net asset value of the Fund Shares (excluding any sales
charge), divided by the number of Units outstanding plus a sales charge equal to
5.00% of the Public Offering Price (5.263% of the net amount invested) per Unit.
Any cash held by the Trust will be added to the Public Offering Price. After the
initial public offering period, the Public Offering Price of the Units is
computed by adding to the aggregate bid side evaluation of the Treasury
Obligations the aggregate net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust, dividing
such sum by the number of Units outstanding and then adding a sales charge of
5.00% of the Public Offering Price (5.263% of the net amount invested). Any
money in the Income and Principal Accounts other than money required to redeem
tendered Units will be added to the Public Offering Price. The sales charge is
reduce on a graduated scale for sales involving at least 2,000 Units (see
'Public Offering of Units--Volume Discount'). The minimum purchase is 100 Units
except the minimum purchase is 20 Units in the case of Individual Retirement
Accounts, Keogh Plans and other tax-deferred retirement plans.

Secondary Market

    The Sponsor, although not obligated to do so, presently intends to maintain
a secondary market to repurchase the Units based on the aggregate bid side
evaluation of the Treasury Obligations and the net asset value of the Fund
Shares. If such market is not maintained, a Unit Holder will be able to dispose
of his Units through redemption at prices based on the aggregate bid side
evaluation of the Treasury Obligations and the net asset value of the Fund
Shares (see 'Rights of Unit Holders--Redemption'). Market conditions may cause
such prices to be greater or less than the amount paid for Units and may result
in a loss to a Unit Holder upon the disposition of a Unit.

Special Risk Considerations

    An investment in Units of the Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks entailed in an investment in (i) the stripped United States Treasury
issued notes or bonds bearing no current interest (see 'The Trust--Stripped U.S.
Treasury Obligations' on pages B-2 and B-3) and (ii) a mutual fund which invests
in the type of securities in which the Fund invests (see 'The Trust--Investment
Policies and Restrictions of the Fund' on pages B-5 through B-12 and 'The
Trust--Fund Risk Factors' on page B-15). The Trust's objectives are to attempt
to obtain safety of capital through investment in the stripped United States
Treasury issued notes or bonds paying no current interest and to attempt to
provide for capital appreciation through an investment in Fund Shares. The Trust
is 'concentrated' in Fund Shares so investors should be aware that the potential
for capital appreciation is directly related to the investment performance of
the Fund itself. Additionally, changes in the price of the Treasury Obligations
and changes in the net asset value of the Fund Shares will affect the price of
the Trust's Units.

                               Portfolio Summary

    $12,450,000 face amount of Treasury Obligations maturing on November 15,
2006 and 333,084 Fund Shares were held in the Trust on May 2, 2000. The Treasury
Obligations and the Fund Shares represented 56.7% and 43.3%, respectively, of
the total of the aggregate offering side evaluation of Treasury Obligations in
the Trust and the aggregate value of Fund Shares on May 2, 2000.

                                     A-iii

<PAGE>
                        SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

                  GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8
                               As of May 2, 2000

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                           <C>
AGGREGATE MATURITY VALUE OF TREASURY OBLIGATIONS...........................................   $   12,450,000
AGGREGATE NUMBER OF FUND SHARES............................................................          333,084
NUMBER OF UNITS............................................................................          830,000
FRACTIONAL UNDIVIDED INTEREST IN THE TRUST REPRESENTED BY EACH UNIT........................      1/830,000th
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
  Aggregate offering side evaluation of Treasury Obligations in the Trust..................   $ 8,189,734.50
  Aggregate value of Fund Shares(2)........................................................     6,265,310.04
  Cash value...............................................................................       (33,636.21)
                                                                                              --------------
  Total....................................................................................   $14,421,408.33
                                                                                              --------------
                                                                                              --------------
  Divided by 830,000 Units.................................................................   $       17.375
  Plus sales charge of 5.00% of Public Offering Price (5.263% of net amount invested)(4)...             .914
                                                                                              --------------
  Public Offering Price per Unit(3)........................................................   $       18.289
                                                                                              --------------
                                                                                              --------------
REDEMPTION AND SPONSOR'S REPURCHASE PRICE PER UNIT (based on bid side evaluation underlying
  Treasury Obligations and net asset value of the Fund Shares, $.914 less than Public
  Offering Price per Unit)(2)..............................................................   $       17.375
QUARTERLY RECORD DATES: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1.
QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION DATES: February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15.
TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL FEE (including estimated expenses and Evaluator's fee) $1.67 per 100 Units
  outstanding.
EVALUATOR'S FEE FOR EACH EVALUATION OF TREASURY OBLIGATIONS: $5.00
EVALUATION TIME: 4:15 P.M. New York Time
MANDATORY TERMINATION DATE: November 15, 2006
MINIMUM VALUE OF TRUST: The Trust may be terminated if the value of Trust assets at any
  time is less than 40% of the aggregate maturity values of Treasury Obligations calculated
  after the most recent deposit of Treasury Obligations.
DATE OF DEPOSIT; February 22, 1995(1)
</TABLE>
- ------------
    (1) The Date of Deposit. The Date of Deposit is the date on which the Trust
Indenture and Agreement was signed and the initial deposit of Securities with
the Trustee was made.

    (2) Calculated by multiplying the aggregate number of Fund Shares by the
current net asset value per share (excluding any sales load on the Fund Shares).

    (3) This Public Offering Price is computed as of May 2, 2000 and may vary
from the Public Offering Price on the date of this Prospectus or any subsequent
date.

    (4) Certain transactions are entitled to a reduced sales charge. (See
'Public Offering of Units--Volume Discount.')
- ------------
    For an explanation of the management fees paid by the Fund (for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999, 0.46% of Fund average net assets), see page B-13.

                                      A-iv
<PAGE>

<AUDIT-REPORT>

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

THE UNIT HOLDERS, SPONSOR AND TRUSTEE
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

We have audited the statement of financial condition, including the schedule
of portfolio securities, of the Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8
as of January 31, 2000 and the related statements of operations and changes
in net assets for each of the three years in the period then ended.  These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustee (see Footnote
(a)(1)).  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements.  Our procedures included confirmation of the
securities owned as of January 31, 2000 as shown in the statement of
financial condition and schedule of portfolio securities by correspondence
with The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Trustee.  An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates made
by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Government
Securities Equity Trust Series 8 as of January 31, 2000, and the results of
its operations and the changes in its net assets for each of the three years
in the period then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
May 12, 2000
                                      A-1
</AUDIT-REPORT>

<PAGE>

                            STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

                                     January 31, 2000

                                      TRUST PROPERTY

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Investments in Securities at market value (amortized cost $13,456,928
  including accretion of $2,534,002) (Note (a) and Schedule of
  Portfolio Securities Notes (4) and (5))                                   $15,060,695

Other receivable                                                                 54,738

Cash                                                                            388,615

           Total                                                             15,504,048

                                 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Less Liabilities:

   Accrued Trust fees and expenses                                                5,681

   Redemption payable                                                           418,250

           Total liabilities                                                    423,931

Net Assets:

   Balance applicable to 905,000 Units of fractional
     undivided interest outstanding (Note (c)):

      Capital, plus unrealized market appreciation
        of $1,603,767                                         $15,060,695

      Undistributed principal and net investment income
        (Note (b))                                                 19,422


           Net assets                                                       $15,080,117

Net asset value per Unit ($15,080,117 divided by 905,000 Units)             $   16.6631

</TABLE>
                             See notes to financial statements

                                            A-2

<PAGE>

                                  STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     For the years ended January 31,
                                                      2000         1999         1998
<S>                                                <C>          <C>          <C>
Investment income:

   Interest                                        $  688,867   $  797,898   $  856,303

   Dividends                                          111,406      211,361      322,023

   Other income                                        29,857       29,788       33,902

           Total income                               830,130    1,039,047    1,212,228

Less expenses:

   Trust fees and expenses                             18,232       22,103       22,206

           Total expenses                              18,232       22,103       22,206

           Investment income - net                    811,898    1,016,944    1,190,022

Net gain (loss) on investments:

   Capital gain distributions received              1,045,434      708,241      564,429

   Realized gain on securities sold or
     redeemed                                       1,040,920    1,053,715      821,838

   Unrealized market (depreciation) appre-
     ciation                                       (3,427,768)    (214,220)   1,690,676

           Net (loss) gain on investments          (1,341,414)   1,547,736    3,076,943

Net (decrease) increase in net assets
  resulting from operations                        $ (529,516)  $2,564,680   $4,266,965

</TABLE>
                             See notes to financial statements

                                            A-3

<PAGE>

                            STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    For the years ended January 31,
                                                   2000          1999          1998
<S>                                             <C>           <C>           <C>
Operations:

   Investment income - net                      $   811,898   $ 1,016,944   $ 1,190,022

   Capital gain distributions received            1,045,434       708,241       564,429

   Realized gain on securities sold or
     redeemed                                     1,040,920     1,053,715       821,838

   Unrealized market (depreciation) appre-
     ciation                                     (3,427,768)     (214,220)    1,690,676

           Net (decrease) increase in net
             assets resulting from operations      (529,516)    2,564,680     4,266,965

Less Distributions to Unit Holders:

   Principal                                     (1,031,915)    (753,516)     (557,715)

   Investment income - net                         (104,405)    (136,033)     (341,417)

           Total distributions                   (1,136,320)    (889,549)     (899,132)

Capital Share Transactions:

   Redemption of 300,000 Units, 250,000
     Units and 320,000 Units, respectively      (5,374,975)   (4,549,963)   (5,071,177)

   Income distribution on redemption                 (2,296)      (1,536)       (3,673)

           Net capital share transactions        (5,377,271)  (4,551,499)   (5,074,850)

Net decrease in net assets                       (7,043,107)  (2,876,368)   (1,707,017)

Net assets:

   Beginning of year                             22,123,224   24,999,592    26,706,609

   End of year (including undistributed prin-
     cipal and net investment income of $19,422,
     $9,081 and $9,112, respectively)           $15,080,117  $22,123,224   $24,999,592

</TABLE>
                             See notes to financial statements

                                            A-4

<PAGE>
                        NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

                              January 31, 2000

(a) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a
Unit Investment Trust.  The following is a summary of the significant
accounting policies of the Trust:

(1) Basis of Presentation

     The Trustee has custody of and responsibility for all accounting
and financial books, records, financial statements and related data
of the Trust and is responsible for establishing and maintaining a
system of internal controls directly related to, and designed to
provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability
of, financial reporting of the Trust.  The Trustee is also
responsible for all estimates and accruals reflected in the Trust's
financial statements.  The Evaluator determines the price for each
underlying Security included in the Trust's Schedule of Portfolio
Securities on the basis set forth in Part B of this Prospectus,
"Public Offering of Units - Public Offering Price".  Under the
Securities Act of 1933 ("the Act"), as amended, the Sponsor is
deemed to be an issuer of the Trust Units.  As such, the Sponsor
has the responsibility of an issuer under the Act with respect to
financial statements of the Trust included in the Registration
Statement under the Act and amendments thereto.

(2) Investments

     Investments are stated at market value as determined by the
Evaluator based on the bid side evaluations of the Zero Coupon
Treasury Obligations, and by calculations based on the net asset
value per share of the mutual fund, on the last day of trading
during the period.  The value on the date of initial deposit
(February 22, 1995) represents the cost of investments to the Trust
based on the offering side evaluations and the net asset value per
share, of the Treasury Obligations and mutual fund shares,
respectively, as of the close of business on the date of initial
deposit.  The cost of investments purchased subsequent to the date
of initial deposit is based on the offering side evaluations and
the net asset value per share, respectively, at the date of
purchase.  The difference between the initial cost and face amount
of the Treasury Obligations at the date of purchase is being
amortized over the period of its maturity date using the interest
method.

(3) Income Taxes

     The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for
Federal income tax purposes; accordingly, no provision is required
for such taxes.

(4) Expenses

     The Trust pays an annual Trustee's fee, estimated expenses,
Evaluator's fees, and an annual Sponsor's portfolio supervision
fee, and may incur additional charges as explained under "Expenses
and Charges" in Part B of this Prospectus.

                                   A-5

<PAGE>
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

                              January 31, 2000

(b) DISTRIBUTIONS

     Distributions from the income and principal accounts, if any, by the
Trust are made to Unit Holders on a quarterly basis and distributions of
any net capital gains received in respect of the mutual fund shares will
be made at least annually to Unit Holders of record.  Income from the
amortization of original issue discount on the Zero Coupon Treasury
Obligations will not be distributed on a current basis.  Upon
termination of the Trust, the Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of
Units for cancellation, to each Unit Holder his pro rata share of the
Trust's assets, less expenses, in the manner set forth under "Amendment
and Termination of the Trust - Termination" herein.

(c) COST TO INVESTORS

     The cost to investors represents the aggregate initial public offering
price as of the respective dates of deposit exclusive of accrued
interest.



     A reconciliation of the cost of Units to investors to the net amount
applicable to investors as of January 31, 2000 follows:

<TABLE>
        <S>                                                    <C>
        Cost to investors                                       $ 27,246,845
        Less:  Gross underwriting commissions (sales charge)      (1,297,469)
        Net cost to investors                                     25,949,376
        Cost of securities sold or redeemed, including
          interest accretion of $1,816,505                       (16,842,955)
        Unrealized market appreciation                             1,603,767
        Accumulated interest accretion                             4,350,507
        Net amount applicable to investors                      $ 15,060,695
</TABLE>

(d) OTHER INFORMATION


     Selected data for a Unit of the Trust during each year:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              For the years ended January 31,
                                                 2000        1999       1998
       <S>                                    <C>          <C>        <C>
       Principal distributions during year    $ 1.0080    $  .5849     $.3806

       Net investment income distributions
          during year                         $   .101    $  .1038     $.2284

       Net asset value at end of year         $16.6631    $18.3595   $17.1819

       Trust Units outstanding at end
          of year                              905,000   1,205,000  1,455,000
</TABLE>
                                      A-6

<PAGE>

                       SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

                 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

                              January 31, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Port-
folio                      Name of Issuer/                               Face Amount/       Market Value
 No.              Title of Portfolio Security <F1>                      Number of Shares      <F4><F5>
 <C>    <S>                                                             <C>                 <C>
  1.    Stripped United States Treasury Obligations maturing
         on November 15, 2006 <F2>                                       $13,575,000        $ 8,639,673

  2.    Class A shares of the Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.
        ($17.68 per Fund Share) <F3>                                         363,180          6,421,022

                                                                                            $15,060,695
</TABLE>
                    See notes to schedule of portfolio securities

                                       A-7

<PAGE>
                NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

              GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST SERIES 8

                            January 31, 2000

<F1> None of the Securities is redeemable by operation of optional call
provisions.

<F2> The Zero Coupon Treasury Obligations have been purchased at a
discount from their par value because there is no stated interest
income thereon (such Securities are often referred to as zero
coupon securities).  Over the life of the Treasury Obligations such
discount accrues and upon maturity thereof the holders will receive
100% of the Treasury Obligation maturity amount thereof.

<F3> The mutual fund's manager is Prudential Investments Fund Management
LLC.  The Prudential Investment Corporation, doing business as
Prudential Investments, furnishes investment advisory services in
connection with the management of the mutual fund.

<F4> The market value of the Treasury Obligations as of January 31, 2000
was determined by the Evaluator on the basis of bid side
evaluations for the Securities at such date.  The market value of
the mutual fund shares was calculated by multiplying the aggregate
number of shares by the current net asset value per share at such
date.

<F5> At January 31, 2000, the unrealized market appreciation of
Securities was comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
       <S>                                        <C>
       Gross unrealized market appreciation       $1,603,767
       Gross unrealized market depreciation             -
       Unrealized market appreciation             $1,603,767
</TABLE>

     The amortized cost of the Securities for Federal income tax
purposes was $13,456,928 at January 31, 2000.

                                 A-8

<PAGE>
                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST
                                    SERIES 8

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

                                   THE TRUST

    The Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8 (the 'Trust' or 'GSET' as
the context requires) was created under the laws of the State of New York,
pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Agreement and a related Reference Trust
Agreement dated the Date of Deposit (collectively, the 'Indenture')* among
Prudential Securities Incorporated (the 'Sponsor' or 'Prudential Securities'),
United States Trust Company of New York, the predecessor trustee to The Chase
Manhattan Bank (the 'Trustee') and Kenny Information Systems, Inc. (the
'Evaluator'). The Sponsor is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of The
Prudential Insurance Company of America.

    The objectives of the Trust are to attempt to obtain safety of capital
through investment in stripped United States Treasury issued notes or bonds
paying no current interest (the 'Treasury Obligations') and to attempt to
provide for capital appreciation through investment in Class A shares ('Fund
Shares') of Prudential Equity Fund, Inc. (the 'Fund'), an open-end, diversified,
registered management investment company (the Treasury Obligations and Fund
Shares hereinafter, collectively, referred to as 'Securities'). The Fund's
investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Fund seeks to achieve
this objective by investing primarily in common stocks of major, established
corporations which the Fund's investment adviser believes are in sound financial
condition and have the potential for price appreciation greater than
broadly-based stock indexes. The Fund may also invest in other equity-related
securities. There is of course no assurance that the Trust's or the Fund's
objectives will be achieved.

Trust Formation

    On the Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee the
underlying Securities or confirmations of contracts for the purchase of such
Securities at prices equal to the evaluation of the Treasury Obligations on the
offering side of the market on the Date of Deposit as determined by the
Evaluator and the net asset value of the Fund Shares (see 'Schedule of Portfolio
Securities'). The Trust was created simultaneously with the deposit of the
Securities with the Trustee and the execution of the Indenture. The Trustee then
immediately delivered to the Sponsor certificates of beneficial interest (the
'Certificates') representing the units (the 'Units') comprising the entire
ownership of the Trust. Through this Prospectus, the Sponsor is offering the
Units for sale to the Public. The holders of Units (the 'Unit Holder' or 'Unit
Holders' as the context requires) will have the right to have their Units
redeemed at a price based on the aggregate bid side evaluation of the Treasury
Obligations as determined by the Evaluator and the net asset value of the Fund
Shares (the 'Redemption Price'), if the Units cannot be sold in the secondary
market which the Sponsor, although not obligated to, presently intends to
maintain. The Trust has a mandatory termination date set forth under 'Summary of
Essential Information,' but may be terminated prior thereto upon the occurrence
of certain events (see 'Amendment and Termination of the
Indenture--Termination'), including a reduction in the value of the Trust below
the value set forth under 'Summary of Essential Information.'

    With the deposit of the Securities in the Trust on the Date of Deposit, the
Sponsor established a proportionate relationship between the maturity amounts of
Treasury Obligations and the number of Fund Shares in the Portfolio. Subsequent
to the initial deposit of Securities on the Date of Deposit, the Sponsor may,
but is not obligated to, deposit additional Securities (including contracts
together with an irrevocable letter of credit for the purchase thereof) in the
Trust, to receive in exchange therefor additional Units and to offer such Units
to the public by means of this Prospectus. A subsequent deposit by the Sponsor
of Treasury Obligations and Fund Shares will maintain the proportionate
relationship between the maturity amount of Treasury Obligations and the number
of Fund Shares immediately prior to such deposit; the deposited Treasury
Obligations will be substantially identical to those held in the Trust
immediately prior to the subsequent deposit. Each Unit owned by each Unit Holder
will represent the same proportionate interest in the Trust. As additional Units
are issued by the Trust as a result of the deposit of additional Securities by
the Sponsor, the aggregate value of the Securities in the Trust will be
increased and the fractional undivided interest in the Trust represented by each
Unit will be decreased.
- ------------
    * Reference is hereby made to said Indenture and any statements contained
herein are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of said Indenture.

                                      B-1

<PAGE>
    On a recent date, each Unit represented the fractional undivided interest in
the Securities and net income of the Trust set forth under 'Summary of Essential
Information.' The Trust Portfolio has been structured so that a Unit Holder will
receive, at the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust, an amount per Unit at
least equal to $15.00 even if the value of the Fund Shares were to decline to
zero. Of course, whether or not a Unit Holder makes a profit or suffers a loss
depends on whether his purchase price was less than or exceeded $15.00 per Unit.
A Unit Holder selling his Units prior to the Mandatory Termination Date may
suffer a loss to the extent the sale price of his Units is less than the
purchase price. Because certain of the Securities from time to time may be sold
under circumstances described herein and because additional Securities may be
deposited into the Trust from time to time, the Trust is not expected to retain
its present size and composition. If any Units are redeemed by the Trustee, the
number of Securities in the Trust will be reduced by an amount allocable to
redeemed Units and the fractional undivided interest in such Trust represented
by each unredeemed Unit will be increased. Units will remain outstanding until
redeemed upon tender to the Trustee by any Unit Holder (which may include the
Sponsor) or until the termination of the Trust pursuant to the Indenture.

    Notwithstanding the availability of the above-mentioned irrevocable
letter(s) of credit, it is expected that the Sponsor will pay for the Securities
as the contracts for their purchase become due. To the extent Units are sold
prior to the settlement of such contracts, the Sponsor will receive the purchase
price of such Units prior to the time at which it pays for Securities pursuant
to such contracts and have the use of such funds during this period.

    Units will be sold to investors at the Public Offering Price next computed
after receipt of the investor's order to purchase Units, if Units are available
to fill orders on the day that such price is set. If Units are not available or
are insufficient to fill the order (e.g., if demand for Units exceeds the Units
available for sale and the Sponsor is not yet able to create additional Units)
the investor's order will be rejected by the Sponsor. The number of Units
available may be insufficient to meet demand because of the Sponsor's inability
to or decision not to purchase and deposit Treasury Obligations of the required
type and/or Fund Shares in amounts sufficient to maintain the proportionate
relationship between maturity values of Treasury Obligations and numbers of Fund
Shares of the Fund required to create additional Units. The Sponsor may, if
unable to accept orders on any given day, offer to execute the order as soon as
sufficient Units can be created. An investor will be deemed to place a new order
for that number of Units each day until that order is accepted. The investor's
order will then be executed, when Units are available, at the Public Offering
Price next calculated after such continuing order is accepted. The investor
will, of course, be able to revoke his purchase offer at any time prior to
acceptance by the Sponsor. The Sponsor will execute orders to purchase in the
order it determines that they are received, i.e., orders received first will be
filled first except that indications of interest prior to the effectiveness of
the registration of the offering of Trust Units which become orders upon
effectiveness will be accepted according to the order in which the indications
of interest were received.

    On a recent date the Trust consisted of the Securities listed under
'Schedule of Portfolio Securities' or contracts to acquire such Securities
together with a letter of credit to provide the amount necessary to complete the
purchase of such Securities. Neither the Sponsor nor any affiliate of the
Sponsor will be liable in any way for any default, failure or defect in any
Securities.

Securities Selection

    In selecting Treasury Obligations for deposit in the Trust, the following
factors, among others, were considered by the Sponsor: (i) the prices and yields
of such securities and (ii) the maturities of such securities. In selecting the
Fund Shares for deposit in the Trust, the following factors, among others, were
considered by the Sponsor: (i) the historical performance of the Fund and (ii)
the nature of the underlying Fund portfolio.

    The Trust consists of such of the Securities listed under 'Schedule of
Portfolio Securities' herein as may continue to be held from time to time in the
Trust, newly deposited Securities meeting requirements for creation of
additional Units and undistributed cash receipts from the Fund and proceeds
realized from the disposition of Securities.

Stripped U.S. Treasury Obligations

    The Treasury Obligations in the portfolio consist of United States Treasury
Obligations which have been stripped by the United States Treasury of their
unmatured interest coupons or such stripped coupons or receipts or certificates
evidencing such obligations or coupons. The obligor with respect to the Treasury
Obligations is the United States Government. Such Treasury Obligations may
include certificates that represent rights to receive the payments that comprise
a U.S. Government bond.
                                      B-2

<PAGE>
    U.S. Treasury bonds evidence the right to receive a fixed payment at a
future date from the U.S. Government, and are backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government. The Treasury Obligations can be purchased at a
deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive one fixed
payment at a specific date in the future and does not receive any periodic
interest payments. The effect of owning deep discount obligations which do not
make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the
original investment but also, in effect, on all discount earned during the life
of the discount obligation. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at the same
rate eliminates the risk of being unable to reinvest the income on such
obligations at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the discount obligation,
but at the same time eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at higher rates
in the future. For this reason, the Treasury Obligations are subject to
substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market
interest rates than are securities of comparable quality which pay interest on a
current basis. Investors should be aware that income in respect of the accrual
of original issue discount on the Treasury Obligations, although not distributed
on a current basis, will be subject to income tax on a current basis at ordinary
income tax rates (see 'Tax Status of the Trust').

    The following disclosure concerning the Fund and its affiliates has been
provided by Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC. While the Sponsor has
not independently verified this information, it has no reason to believe that
such information is not current in all material respects. No representation is
made herein as to the accuracy or adequacy of such information.

Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.

    The portfolio of the Trust also contains Class A shares (the 'Fund Shares')
of Prudential Equity Fund, Inc. (the 'Fund'). On December 31, 1999, the net
assets of the Fund were approximately $5,003,918,631. The manager of the Fund is
Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC ('PIFM'). The subadviser to the Fund
is The Prudential Investment Corporation, doing business as Prudential
Investments ('PI'), generally referred to throughout this prospectus as the
Fund's investment adviser. It is contemplated that another affiliate of The
Prudential Insurance Corporation of America, Jennison Associates LLC
('Jennison'), will become the Fund's subadvisor during 2000, so references to
the investment advisor include Jennison.

    The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital.
Providing current income is not an objective of the Fund. Any income produced is
expected to be minimal. An investor should not consider purchase of Fund Shares
as equivalent to a complete investment program.

    The State Street Bank and Trust Company (the 'Custodian') is the custodian
of the Fund's assets. Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (the 'Transfer and
Dividend Disbursing Agent') serves as the Fund's dividend disbursing and
transfer agent. The Fund's prospectus is available to persons interested in
purchasing Units of the Trust upon request.

General Information Regarding the Fund

    The Fund intends normally to pay semi-annual dividends representing
substantially all of its net investment income (which includes, among other
items, dividends and interest), if any, and to distribute at least annually any
net realized capital gains. By so doing and meeting certain diversification of
assets and other requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the 'Code'), the Fund intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment
company under the Code. The status of the Fund as a regulated investment company
does not involve government supervision of management or of its investment
practices or policies. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally
will be relieved of liability for United States federal income tax on that
portion of its net investment income and net realized capital gains which it
distributes to its Fund shareholders. Amounts not distributed on a timely basis
in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a
nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund
intends to make distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution
requirement. Any dividend or distribution by the Fund has the effect of reducing
the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the
dividend or distribution (see 'Net Asset Value of the Fund Shares').

                                      B-3

<PAGE>
                        FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FUND
           (for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated)

    The following financial highlights contain selected data for a Class A share
of common stock of the Fund, total return, ratios to average net assets and
other supplemental data for the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                                 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1999           1998           1997           1996           1995
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of year...........    $    19.76     $    19.85     $    17.26     $    16.44     $    13.24
Income from investment operations
  Net investment income......................           .26            .31            .38            .35            .27
  Net realized and unrealized gain on
    investments and foreign currencies.......          2.15           1.37           3.70           2.52           3.88
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
  Total from investment operations...........          2.41           1.68           4.08           2.87           4.15
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
Less distributions:
  Dividends from net investment income.......          (.27)          (.28)          (.36)          (.35)          (.27)
  Distributions from net realized capital
    gains....................................         (2.61)         (1.49)         (1.13)         (1.69)          (.68)
  Distributions in excess of net investment
    income...................................            --             --             --           (.01)            --
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
      Total distributions....................         (2.68)         (1.77)         (1.49)         (2.05)          (.95)
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
Net asset value, end of year.................    $    19.29     $    19.76     $    19.85     $    17.26     $    16.44
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                 ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
Total ReturnPound:...........................         12.50%          8.41%         23.88%         17.94%         31.58%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of year (000)................    $2,240,250     $2,290,659     $1,912,802     $1,443,466     $1,158,111
Average net assets (000).....................    $2,217,410     $2,088,616     $1,709,030     $1,233,792     $  908,365
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses, including distribution fees......           .86%           .85%           .88%           .89%           .91%
  Expenses, excluding distribution fees......           .61%           .60%           .63%           .64%           .66%
  Net investment income......................          1.25%          1.41%          1.87%          2.07%          1.82%
Portfolio turnover...........................             9%            25%            13%            19%            18%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
Pound Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is
       calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale on
      the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of
      dividends and distributions.

                                      B-4

<PAGE>
Investment Policies and Restrictions of the Fund

    The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The Fund
will seek to achieve this objective by investing primarily in common stocks of
major, established corporations which the Fund's investment adviser believes are
in sound financial condition and have the potential for price appreciation
greater than broadly-based stock indexes. The Fund may also invest in other
equity-related securities and in investment-grade short-term debt obligations.
The shares of the Fund are subject to the risks of common stock investment, and
there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in foreign securities, which may
involve additional investment risks. Such risks include future adverse political
and economic developments, possible seizure or nationalization of the company in
whose securities the Fund has invested and possible establishment of exchange
controls or other foreign governmental laws that might adversely affect the
value of the Fund's investment or the payment of dividends.

    Risk Management and Return Enhancement Strategies

    The Fund may also engage in various portfolio strategies, including using
derivatives, to try to reduce certain risks of its investments and to attempt to
enhance return. These strategies include (1) the purchase and writing (that is,
sale) of put options and call options on equity securities, (2) the purchase and
sale of put and call options on indexes, (3) the purchase and sale of exchange
traded stock index futures and options thereon and (4) the purchase and sale of
options on foreign currencies and futures contracts on foreign currencies and
options thereon. The Fund may engage in these transactions on securities or
commodities exchanges or, in the case of equity, stock index and foreign
currency options, also in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may also
purchase and sell foreign currency forward contracts. The Fund, and thus the
investor, may lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies. The
Fund's ability to use these strategies may be limited by market conditions,
regulatory limits and tax considerations and there can be no assurance that any
of these strategies will succeed. If new financial products and risk management
techniques are developed, the Fund may use them to the extent they are
consistent with its investment objective and policies.

    Options Transactions

    Options on Equity Securities. The Fund intends to purchase and write (that
is, sell) put and call options on equity securities that are traded on
securities exchanges, on NASDAQ ('NASDAQ options') or in the over-the-counter
market ('OTC options'). A call option is a short-term contract (having a
duration of nine months or less) pursuant to which the purchaser, in return for
a premium paid, has the right to buy the security underlying the option at a
specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option or, in the
case of a European-style option, at the expiration of the option. The writer of
the call option receives a premium and has the obligation, if the option is
exercised, to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise
price. There is no limitation on the amount of call options the Fund may write.
A put option is a similar contract which gives the purchaser, who pays a
premium, the right to sell the underlying security at a specified price during
the term of the option. The writer of the put, who receives the premium, has the
obligation to buy the underlying security upon exercise at the exercise price.
The Fund, as the writer of a put option might, therefore, be obligated to
purchase underlying securities for more than their current market price. The
Fund will purchase put options only when its investment adviser perceives
significant short-term risk, but substantial long-term appreciation, in the
underlying security.

    The Fund will write only 'covered' call options. A written call option is
covered if, as long as the Fund is obligated under the option, it (i) owns the
security underlying the option or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire
that security without additional consideration (or for additional consideration
held in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of
other securities in its portfolio or (ii) holds on a share-for-share basis a
call on the same security as the call written by the Fund where the exercise
price of the call held is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call
written provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or other
liquid assets in a segregated account with its custodian. The premium paid by
the purchaser of an option will reflect, among other things, the relationship of
the exercise price to the market price and volatility of the underlying
security, the remaining term of the option, supply and demand and interest
rates.

    If the writer of an option wishes to terminate the obligation, he or she may
effect a 'closing purchase transaction.' This is accomplished by buying an
option of the same series as the option previously written. The effect of the
purchase is that the writer's position will be cancelled by the clearing
corporation. However, a writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction
after he or she has been notified of the exercise of an option. Similarly, an
investor who is the holder of an option may liquidate his or her position by
effecting a 'closing sale transaction.' This is accomplished by selling an
option of the same series as the option previously purchased. There is no
guarantee that either a closing purchase or a

                                      B-5

<PAGE>
closing sale transaction can be effected. To secure the obligation to deliver
the underlying security in the case of a call option, the writer of an
exchange-traded option or a NASDAQ option is required to pledge for the benefit
of the broker the underlying security or other assets in accordance with the
rules of The Options Clearing Corporation ('OCC'), an institution created to
interpose itself between buyers and sellers of options. Technically, the OCC
assumes the other side of every purchase and sale transaction on an exchange
and, by doing so, guarantees the transaction.

    In the case of OTC options, it is not possible to effect a closing
transaction in the same manner as exchange-traded options because a clearing
corporation is not interposed between the buyer and seller of the option. In
order to terminate the obligation represented by an OTC option, the Fund would
need to agree to the termination of the obligation represented by an OTC option
with the counterparty thereto. Any such cancellation, if agreed to, may require
the Fund to pay a premium to the counterparty. Alternatively, the Fund could
write an OTC put option in effect to close its position on an OTC call option or
write a call option to close its position on an OTC put option. However, the
Fund would remain exposed to each counterparty's credit risk on the call or put
option until such option is exercised or expires. There is no guarantee that the
Fund will be able to write put or call options, as the case may be, that will
effectively close an existing position.

    The Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of
the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or is
more than the premium paid to purchase the option; conversely, the Fund will
realize a loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is
more than the premium received from writing the option or is less than the
premium paid to purchase the option. Because increases in the market price of a
call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the
underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is
likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying
security owned by the Fund.

    The Fund may also purchase a 'protective put,' that is, a put option
acquired for the purpose of protecting a portfolio security from a decline in
market value. In exchange for the premium paid for the put option, the Fund
acquires the right to sell the underlying security at the exercise price of the
put regardless of the extent to which the underlying security declines in value.
The loss to the Fund is limited to the premium paid for, and transaction costs
in connection with, the put plus the initial excess, if any, of the market price
of the underlying security over the exercise price. However, if the market price
of the security underlying the put rises, the profit the Fund realizes on the
sale of the security will be reduced by the premium paid for the put option less
any amount (net of transaction costs) for which the put may be sold. Similar
principles apply to the purchase of puts on stock indexes, as described below.

    Options on Stock Indexes. The Fund may also purchase and write (that is,
sell) put and call options on stock indexes traded on securities exchanges, on
NASDAQ or in the over-the-counter market. Options on stock indexes are similar
to options on stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery
of stock at a specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the
right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing
level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the
case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the
option. This amount of cash is equal to such difference between the closing
price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars
times a specified multiple (the 'multiplier'). The writer of the option is
obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount.

    The multiplier for an index option performs a function similar to the unit
of trading for a stock option. It determines the total dollar value per contract
of each point in the difference between the exercise price of an option and the
current level of the underlying index. A multiplier of 100 means that a
one-point difference will yield $100. Options on different indexes may have
different multipliers.

    The value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the
index rather than the price of a particular stock. Therefore, whether the Fund
will realize a gain or loss on the purchase or sale of an option on an index
depends upon movements in the level of stock prices in the stock market
generally or in an industry or market segment rather than movements in the price
of a particular stock. Accordingly, successful use by the Fund of options on
indexes would be subject to the investment adviser's ability to predict
correctly movements in the direction of the stock market generally or of a
particular industry. This requires different skills and techniques than
predicting changes in the price of individual stocks. The Fund's investment
adviser currently uses these techniques in conjunction with the management of
other mutual funds.

    Unlike stock options, all settlements are in cash, with the result that a
call writer cannot determine the amount of its settlement obligations in advance
and, unlike call writing on specific stocks, cannot provide in advance for, or
cover, its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying securities. In addition, unless the Fund has other

                                      B-6

<PAGE>
liquid assets which are sufficient to satisfy the exercise of a call, the Fund
would be required to liquidate portfolio securities or borrow in order to
satisfy the exercise.

    The Fund's successful use of options on indexes depends upon the investment
adviser's ability to predict the direction of the market and is subject to
various additional risks. The correlation between movements in the index and the
price of the securities being written against is imperfect and the risk from
imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the Fund's portfolio
diverges from the composition of the relevant index. Accordingly, a decrease in
the value of the securities being written against may not be wholly offset by a
gain on the exercise of a stock index put option held by the Fund. Likewise, if
a stock index call option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund may incur a
loss on the transaction which is not offset, wholly or in part, by an increase
in the value of the securities being written against, which securities may,
depending on market circumstances, decline in value.

    Option Position Limits. Transactions by the Fund in options on securities
and on stock indexes will be subject to limitations, if any, established by each
of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities (including NASDAQ)
governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or
purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert,
regardless of whether the options are written on the same or different
exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in
one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options
which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or
purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Fund's investment adviser.
An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation
of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain
other sanctions.

    Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund is permitted to purchase and write
put and call options on foreign currencies and on futures contracts on foreign
currencies traded on securities exchanges or boards of trade (foreign and
domestic) for hedging purposes in a manner similar to that in which foreign
currency forward contracts and futures contracts on foreign currencies will be
employed. Options on foreign currencies and on futures contracts on foreign
currencies are similar to options on stock, except that the Fund has the right
to take or make delivery of a specified amount of foreign currency, rather than
stock.

    The Fund may purchase and write options to hedge the Fund's portfolio
securities denominated in foreign currencies. If there is a decline in the
dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund's portfolio securities are
denominated, the dollar value of such securities will decline even though the
foreign currency value remains the same. To hedge against the decline of the
foreign currency, the Fund may purchase put options on futures contracts on such
foreign currency. If the value of the foreign currency declines, the gain
realized on the put option would offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect
such decline would have on the value of the portfolio securities. Alternatively,
the Fund may write a call option on a futures contract on the foreign currency.
If the value of the foreign currency declines, the option would not be exercised
and the decline in the value of the portfolio securities denominated in such
foreign currency would be offset in part by the premium the Fund received for
the option.

    If, on the other hand, the investment adviser anticipates purchasing a
foreign security and also anticipates a rise in the value of such foreign
currency (thereby increasing the cost of such security), the Fund may purchase
call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset,
at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements of the exchange rates.
Alternatively, the Fund could write a put option on the currency and, if the
exchange rates move as anticipated, the option would expire unexercised.

    Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

    The Fund may enter into foreign currency forward contracts to protect the
value of its portfolio against future changes in the level of currency exchange
rates. A forward contract on foreign currency is an obligation to purchase or
sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days
agreed upon by the parties from the date of the contract at a price set on the
date of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market
conducted directly between currency traders (typically large commercial banks)
and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirements,
and no commissions are charged for such trades.

    The Fund may not use forward contracts to generate income, although the use
of such contracts may incidentally generate income. There is no limitation on
the value of forward contracts into which the Fund may enter. However, the
Fund's dealings in forward contracts will be limited to hedging involving either
specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the
purchase or sale of a forward contract with respect to specific receivables or
payables of the Fund generally arising in connection with the purchase or sale
of its portfolio securities and accruals of interest or

                                      B-7

<PAGE>
dividends receivable and Fund expenses. Position hedging is the sale of a
foreign currency with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or
quoted in that currency or in a different foreign currency (cross-hedge). The
Fund will not speculate in forward contracts. The Fund may not position hedge
(including cross-hedge) with respect to a particular currency for an amount
greater than the aggregate market value (determined at the time of making any
sale of a forward contract) of the securities being hedged.

    When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency, or when the Fund anticipates the receipt in a
foreign currency of dividends or interest payments on a security which it holds,
the Fund may desire to 'lock in' the U.S. dollar price of the security or the
U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be.
By entering into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars for the
purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying
transaction, the Fund will be able to protect itself against possible loss
resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and
the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the
security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is
declared, and the date on which such payments are made or received.
Additionally, when the investment adviser believes that the currency of a
particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S.
dollar, the Fund may enter into a forward contract, for a fixed amount of
dollars, to sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some
or all of the portfolio securities of the Fund denominated in such foreign
currency.

    Futures Transactions

    Stock Index Futures. The Fund may use stock index futures traded on a
commodities exchange or board of trade for certain hedging and risk management
purposes and to attempt to enhance return in accordance with regulations of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission ('CFTC'). The Fund, and thus its investors,
may lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies.

    A stock index futures contract is an agreement in which the writer (or
seller) of the contract agrees to deliver to the buyer an amount of cash equal
to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific
stock index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price
at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying stocks in
the index is made. When the futures contract is entered into, each party
deposits with a broker or in a segregated custodial account approximately 5% of
the contract amount, called the 'initial margin.' Subsequent payments to and
from the broker, called 'variation margin,' will be made on a daily basis as the
price of the underlying stock index fluctuates, making the long and short
positions in the futures contracts more or less valuable, a process known as
'marked to market.'

    Options on Stock Index Futures. The Fund may also purchase and write options
on stock index futures for certain hedging, return enhancement and risk
management purposes. In the case of options on stock index futures, the holder
of the option pays a premium and receives the right, upon exercise of the option
at a specified price during the option period, to assume a position in a stock
index futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short
position if the option is a put). If the option is exercised by the holder
before the last trading day during the option period, the option writer delivers
the futures position, as well as any balance in the writer's futures margin
account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the stock
index futures contract at exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less
than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the stock index
future. If it is exercised on the last trading day, the option writer delivers
to the option holder cash in an amount equal to the difference between the
option exercise price and the closing level of the relevant index on the date
the option expires.

    Futures Contracts on Foreign Currencies. The Fund may buy and sell futures
contracts on foreign currencies ('futures contracts') and purchase and write
options thereon, for hedging and risk management purposes. The Fund will engage
in transactions in only those futures contracts and options thereon that are
traded on a commodities exchange or a board of trade. A 'sale' of a futures
contract on foreign currency means the assumption of a contractual obligation to
deliver the specified amount of foreign currency at a specified price in a
specified future month. A 'purchase' of a futures contract means the assumption
of a contractual obligation to acquire the currency called for by the contract
at a specified price in a specified future month. At the time a futures contract
is purchased or sold, the Fund must allocate cash or securities as a deposit
payment (initial margin). Thereafter, the futures contract is valued daily and
the payment of 'variation margin' may be required, resulting in the Fund's
paying or receiving cash that reflects any decline or increase, respectively, in
the contract's value, a process known as 'marked-to-market.'

                                      B-8

<PAGE>
    Limitations on Purchases and Sales of Futures Contracts and Options
Thereon. Under the regulations of the Commodity Exchange Act, an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 'Investment
Company Act') is exempt from the definition of 'commodity pool operator,'
subject to compliance with certain conditions. The exemption is conditioned upon
the Fund's purchasing and selling futures contracts and options thereon for bona
fide hedging transactions, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures
contracts and options thereon for any other purpose to the extent that the
aggregate initial margin and option premiums do not exceed 5% of the liquidation
value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund intends to engage in futures
transactions and options thereon in accordance with the regulations of the CFTC.
The Fund intends to purchase and sell stock index futures and options thereon as
a hedge against changes, resulting from market conditions, in the value of
securities which are held in the Fund's portfolio or which the Fund intends to
purchase. The Fund intends to purchase and sell futures contracts on foreign
currencies and options thereon as a hedge against changes in the value of the
currencies to which the Fund is subject or to which the Fund expects to be
subject in connection with future purchases. The Fund also intends to purchase
and sell stock index futures and options thereon and futures contracts on
foreign currencies and options thereon when they are economically appropriate
for the reduction of risks inherent in the ongoing management of the Fund. The
Fund also intends to purchase and sell stock index futures and options thereon
for return enhancement.

    The Fund's successful use of futures contracts and options thereon depends
upon the investment adviser's ability to predict the direction of the market and
is subject to various additional risks. The correlation between movements in the
price of a futures contract and the price of the securities being hedged is
imperfect and there is a risk that the value of the securities being hedged may
increase or decrease at a greater rate than the related futures contract,
resulting in losses to the Fund. The use of these instruments will hedge only
the currency risks associated with investments in foreign securities, not market
risks. Certain futures exchanges or boards of trade have established daily
limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or option thereon may
vary, either up or down, from the previous day's settlement price. These daily
limits may restrict the Fund's ability to purchase or sell certain futures
contracts or options thereon on any particular day. In addition, if the Fund
purchases futures to hedge against market advances before it can invest in
common stock in an advantageous manner and the market declines, the Fund might
experience a loss on the futures contract. In addition, the ability of the Fund
to close out a futures position or an option depends on a liquid secondary
market. There is no assurance that at any particular time liquid secondary
markets will exist for any particular futures contract or option thereon.

    Risks of Hedging and Return Enhancement Strategies

    Participation in the options or futures markets and in currency exchange
transactions involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund
would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The Fund, and thus its
investors, may lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies. If
the investment adviser's prediction of movements in the direction of the
securities, foreign currency or interest rate markets is inaccurate, the adverse
consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position than if such
strategies were not used. Risks inherent in the use of these strategies include
(1) dependence on the investment adviser's ability to predict correctly
movements in the direction of interest rates, securities prices and currency
markets; (2) imperfect correlation between the price of options and futures
contracts and options thereon and movements in the prices of the securities or
currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that skills needed to use these strategies
are different from those needed to select portfolio securities; (4) the possible
absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time;
(5) the risk that the counterparty may be unable to complete the transaction;
and (6) the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio
security at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the
possible need for the Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous
time, due to the need for the Fund to maintain 'cover' or to segregate assets in
connection with hedging transactions.

    Other Investments and Policies

    Foreign Investments. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in
securities of foreign issuers. American Depositary Receipts ('ADRs') and
American Depositary Shares ('ADSs') are not considered foreign securities for
purposes of the limitation. Investing in securities of foreign companies and
countries involves certain considerations and risks which are not typically
associated with investing in securities of domestic companies. Foreign companies
are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
standards or other requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S.
companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of
foreign securities exchanges, brokers and public companies than exists in the
United States. Dividends and interest paid by foreign issuers may be subject to
withholding and other foreign taxes which may decrease the net return on such
investments as

                                      B-9

<PAGE>
compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies. There
may be the possibility of expropriations, confiscatory taxation, political,
economic or social instability or diplomatic developments which could affect
assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. In addition, a portfolio of
foreign securities may be adversely affected by fluctuations in the relative
rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations and by exchange
control regulations.

    There may be less publicly available information about foreign companies and
governments compared to reports and ratings published about U.S. companies.
Foreign securities markets have substantially less volume than, for example, the
New York Stock Exchange and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid
and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Brokerage
commissions and other transaction costs of foreign securities exchanges are
generally higher than in the United States.

    Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements,
whereby the seller of a security agrees to repurchase that security from the
Fund at a mutually agreed-upon time and price. The repurchase date is usually
quite short, possibly overnight or a few days, although it may extend over a
number of months. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price,
reflecting an agreed-upon rate of return effective for the period of time the
Fund's money is invested in the repurchase agreement. The Fund's repurchase
agreements will at all times be fully collateralized in an amount at least equal
to the resale price. The instruments held as collateral are valued daily, and if
the value of the instruments declines, the Fund will require additional
collateral. If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral securing the
repurchase agreement declines, the Fund may incur a loss. The Fund participates
in a joint repurchase account with other investment companies managed by PIFM
pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC').

    When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities. The Fund may purchase or sell
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When-issued or delayed
delivery transactions arise when securities are purchased or sold by the Fund
with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is
considered to be an advantageous price and yield to the Fund at the time of
entering into the transaction. The Fund's custodian will maintain, in a
segregated account of the Fund, cash, or other liquid assets having a value
equal to or greater than the Fund's purchase commitments. The securities so
purchased are subject to market fluctuation and no interest accrues to the
purchaser during the period between purchase and settlement. At the time of
delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase
price and an increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase
the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.

    Borrowing. The Fund may borrow up to 20% of the value of its total assets
(calculated when the loan is made) for temporary, extraordinary or emergency
purposes or for the clearance of transactions. The Fund may pledge up to 20% of
its total assets to secure these borrowings.

    Securities Lending. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers or
dealers, banks or other recognized institutional borrowers of securities,
provided that the borrower at all times maintains cash or other liquid assets or
secures an irrevocable letter of credit in favor of the Fund in an amount equal
to at least 100%, determined daily, of the market value of the securities loaned
which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations.
During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund
an amount equivalent to any dividend or interest paid on such securities and the
Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn additional income, or it may
receive an agreed-upon amount of interest income from the borrower. As a matter
of policy, the Fund cannot lend more than 30% of the value of its total assets.
The Fund may pay reasonable administration and custodial fees in connection with
a loan.

    Short Sales Against-the-Box. The Fund may make short sales of securities or
maintain a short position, provided that at all times when a short position is
open, the Fund owns an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, an equal
amount of the securities of the same issuer as the securities sold short (a
short sale 'against-the-box'), and that not more than 25% of the Fund's net
assets (determined at the time of the short sale) may be subject to such sales.

    Illiquid Securities. The Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in
illiquid securities. If the Fund were to exceed this limit, the investment
advisor would take prompt action to reduce the Fund's holdings in illiquid
securities to no more than 15% of its net assets, as required by applicable law.
Illiquid securities include repurchase agreements which have a maturity of
longer than seven days, securities with legal or contractual restrictions on
resale (restricted securities) and securities that are not readily marketable in
securities markets either within or outside of the United States. Restricted
securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act')

                                      B-10

<PAGE>
and privately placed commercial paper for which there is a readily available
market are treated as liquid only when deemed liquid under procedures
established by the Board of Directors. Investing in Rule 144A securities could
have the effect of increasing the level of Fund illiquidity to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become, for a limited time, uninterested in
purchasing Rule 144A securities. Repurchase agreements subject to demand are
deemed to have a maturity equal to the applicable notice period.

    The staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased OTC options and
the assets used as 'cover' for written OTC options are illiquid securities
unless the Fund and the counterparty have provided for the Fund, at the Fund's
option, to unwind the OTC option. The exercise of such an option ordinarily
would involve the payment by the Fund of an amount designed to reflect the
counterparty's economic loss from an early termination, but does allow the Fund
to treat the assets used as 'cover' as 'liquid.'

    Investment Restrictions

    The following restrictions are fundamental policies. Fundamental policies
are those which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. A 'majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities' means the lesser of (i) 67% of the voting shares
represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares
are present in person or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding voting shares.

    The Fund may not:

         1. Purchase any security (other than obligations of the U.S.
    Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if as a result with respect
    to 75% of the Fund's total assets, more than 5% of the Fund's total assets
    (taken at current value) would then be invested in securities of a single
    issuer.

         2. Make short sales of securities except short sales against-the-box
    (but the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the
    clearance of transactions).

         3. Concentrate its investments in any one industry (no more than 25% of
    the Fund's total assets will be invested in any one industry).

         4. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
    that the Fund may borrow up to 20% of the value of its total assets
    (calculated when the loan is made) for temporary, extraordinary or emergency
    purposes or for the clearance of transactions. The Fund may pledge up to 20%
    of the value of its total assets to secure such borrowings. For the purpose
    of this restriction, obligations of the Fund to Directors pursuant to
    deferred compensation arrangements, the purchase or sale of securities on a
    when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the purchase and sale of options,
    futures contracts and foreign currency forward contracts and collateral
    arrangements with respect to the purchase and sale of options, futures
    contracts, options on futures contracts and foreign currency forward
    contracts are not deemed to be the issuance of a senior security or a pledge
    of assets.

         5. Purchase any security if as a result the Fund would then hold more
    than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer.

         6. Buy or sell commodities or commodity contracts or real estate or
    interests in real estate except that the Fund may purchase and sell stock
    index futures contracts, options thereon and forward foreign currency
    exchange contracts and securities which are secured by real estate and
    securities of companies which invest or deal in real estate.

         7. Act as underwriter except to the extent that, in connection with the
    disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter
    under certain federal securities laws.

         8. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
    management.

         9. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except by
    purchases in the open market involving only customary brokerage commissions
    and as a result of which not more than 10% of its total assets (taken at
    current value) would be invested in such securities, or except as part of a
    merger, consolidation or other acquisition.

        10. Invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
    development programs, although it may invest in the common stock of
    companies which invest in or sponsor such programs.

                                      B-11

<PAGE>
        11. Make loans, except through (i) repurchase agreements and (ii) loans
    of portfolio securities (limited to 30% of the Fund's total assets). (The
    purchase of a portion of an issue of securities distributed publicly,
    whether or not the purchase is made on the original issuance, is not
    considered the making of a loan.)

    Whenever any fundamental investment policy or investment restriction states
a maximum percentage of the Fund's assets, it is intended that if the percentage
limitation is met at the time the investment is made, a later change in
percentage resulting from changing total or net asset values will not be
considered a violation of such policy. However, in the event that the Fund's
asset coverage for borrowings falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action
to reduce its borrowings, as required by applicable law.

Net Asset Value of the Fund Shares

    The net asset value ('NAV') per share is the total value of the Fund
(assets, including securities at value, minus liabilities) divided by the number
of shares outstanding. The value of investments listed on national securities
exchanges and NASDAQ National Market System securities is the last sale price as
of the close of the exchange or, in the absence of recorded sales, the mean
between the last bid and asked prices on such day, or at the bid price in the
absence of an asked price. Securities or other assets for which reliable market
quotations are not readily available or for which the pricing agent or principal
market maker does not provide a valuation methodology or provides a valuation or
methodology that, in the judgment of the Manager or investment adviser (or
Valuation Committee or Board of Directors) does not represent fair value, are
valued by the Valuation Committee or Board of Directors in consultation with the
Manager or investment adviser. Should an extraordinary event, which is likely to
affect the value of a security, occur after the close of an exchange on which a
portfolio security is traded, such security will be valued at fair value
considering factors determined in good faith by the investment adviser under
procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board
of Directors. Options on stocks and stock indexes traded on national securities
exchanges are valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked
prices on the respective exchange and futures contracts and options thereon are
valued at their last sale prices as of the close of trading on the applicable
commodities exchange or board of trade. If there were no sales on the applicable
options or commodities exchange, options on stocks and stock indexes and stock
index futures and options thereon are valued at the mean between the most
recently quoted bid and asked prices of the respective exchange or board of
trade. Short-term securities which mature in more than 60 days are valued at
current market quotations as supplied by an independent pricing agent or
principal market maker. Short-term securities which mature in 60 days or less
are valued at amortized cost, unless this is determined not to represent fair
value by the Board of Directors. The Fund will compute its NAV once daily at
4:15 P.M., New York time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading except on days on which no orders to purchase, sell or redeem Fund
shares have been received or days on which changes in the value of the Fund's
portfolio securities do not affect the NAV. The New York Stock Exchange is
closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

    In the event that the New York Stock Exchange closes early on any business
day, the NAV shall be determined at the time between such closing and 4:15 p.m.,
New York time. In addition, the Fund may compute its net asset value as of any
time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its
staff.

The Fund's Investment Manager

    The Fund has a Board of Directors which, in addition to overseeing the
actions of PIFM, PI and the Distributor (as defined below), decides upon matters
of general policy. PIFM conducts and supervises the daily business operations of
the Fund. PI furnishes daily investment advisory services.

    The manager of the Fund is Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC
('PIFM'), a corporation located at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street,
Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077. PIFM and its predecessors have served as manager
or administrator to investment companies since 1987.

    For its services, PIFM receives, pursuant to the Management Agreement with
the Fund (the 'Management Agreement'), a fee at an annual rate of .50 of 1% of
the Fund's average daily net assets up to and including $500 million, .475 of 1%
of the Fund's average daily net assets from $500 million to $1 billion and .45
of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. The fee is
computed daily and payable monthly. The Management Agreement also provides that,
in the event the expenses of the Fund (including the fees of PIFM, but excluding
interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, distribution fees and litigation and
indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the
ordinary course of the Fund's business) for any fiscal year exceed the lowest
applicable annual expense limitation

                                      B-12

<PAGE>
established and enforced pursuant to the statutes or regulations of any
jurisdiction in which the Fund's shares are qualified for offer and sale, the
compensation due to PIFM will be reduced by the amount of such excess. No such
reductions were required during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. No
jurisdiction currently limits the Fund's expenses.

    In connection with its management of the corporate affairs of the Fund, PIFM
bears the following expenses:

        (a) the salaries and expenses of all of its and the Fund's personnel
    except the fees and expenses of Directors who are not affiliated persons of
    PIFM or PI;

        (b) all expenses incurred by PIFM or by the Fund in connection with
    managing the ordinary course of the Fund's business, other than those
    assumed by the Fund as described below; and

        (c) the costs and expenses payable to PI pursuant to the subadvisory
    agreement between PIFM and PI (the 'Subadvisory Agreement').

    Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the
payment of the following expenses: (a) the fees payable to PIFM, (b) the fees
and expenses of Directors who are not affiliated persons of PIFM or PI, (c) the
fees and certain expenses of the Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing
Agent, including the cost of providing records to PIFM in connection with its
obligation of maintaining required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund's
shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent
accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer
taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f)
all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g)
the fees of any trade associations of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the
cost of stock certificates representing shares of the Fund, (i) the cost of
fidelity and liability insurance, (j) the fees and expenses involved in
registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of its shares with the
SEC and the states, including the preparation and printing of the Fund's
registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) allocable
communications expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of
shareholders' and Directors' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing
reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount
necessary for distribution to shareholders, (l) litigation and indemnification
expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of
the Fund's business and (m) distribution fees.

    The Management Agreement provides that PIFM will not be liable for any error
of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters
to which the Management Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty.

    PIFM has entered into the Subadvisory Agreement with PI. The Subadvisory
Agreement provides that PI will furnish investment advisory services in
connection with the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, PI is
obligated to keep certain books and records of the Fund. PIFM continues to have
responsibility for all investment advisory services pursuant to the Management
Agreement and supervises PI's performance of such services. PI is paid by PIFM
at the annual rate of .250 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets up to
$500 million, .226 of 1% of average daily net assets between $500 million and $1
billion and .203 of 1% of average daily net assets over $1 billion for
furnishing those services.

    The current portfolio managers of the Fund are Thomas R. Jackson, a Managing
Director of PI, who has managed the Fund since 1990, and Philip Schettewi, CFA,
who began co-managing the Fund in May 2000. Mr. Jackson joined PI in 1990 and
has over 30 years of professional equity investment management experience. He
earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and is a member of the New York Society of
Security Analysts. Mr. Schettewi, Head of Public Equity for Prudential Global
Asset Management ('PGAM'), joined PGAM in May 1999 from Loomis, Sayles &
Company, where he was a Managing Partner, Director and Chief Investment Officer
for almost ten years. He earned a B.A. in economics from the University of
Maryland and has completed graduate course work at George Washington University.
Mr. Schettewi also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and
is a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research.

The Fund's Plan of Distribution

    Under a Distribution and Service Plan (the 'Plan') adopted by the Fund under
Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act and a distribution agreement (the
'Distribution Agreement'), Prudential Investment Management Services LLC ('PIMS'
or the 'Distributor') incurs the expenses of distributing the Fund's Class A
shares. These expenses include commissions and account servicing fees paid to,
or on account of, brokers or financial institutions which have entered into
agreements with the Distributor, advertising expenses, the cost of printing and
mailing prospectuses to

                                      B-13

<PAGE>
potential investors and indirect and overhead costs of the Distributor
associated with the sale of Fund shares, including lease, utility,
communications and sales promotion expenses.

    Under the Plan, the Fund is obligated to pay distribution and/or service
fees to the Distributor as compensation for its distribution and service
activities, not as reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. If the
Distributor's expenses exceed its distribution and service fees, the Fund will
not be obligated to pay any additional expenses. If the Distributor's expenses
are less than such distribution and service fees, it will retain its full fees
and realize a profit.

    The distribution and/or service fees may also be used by the Distributor to
compensate on a continuing basis brokers in consideration for the distribution,
marketing, administrative and other services and activities provided by brokers
with respect to the promotion of the sale of the Fund's shares and the
maintenance of related shareholder accounts.

    Under the Plan, the Fund may pay the Distributor for its
distribution-related activities with respect to Class A shares at an annual rate
of up to .30 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares. The
Plan provides that (i) up to .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the
Class A shares may be used to pay for personal service and/or the maintenance of
shareholder accounts (service fee) and (ii) total distribution fees (including
the service fee of .25 of 1%) may not exceed .30 of 1% of the average daily net
assets of the Class A shares. The Distributor contractually agreed to limit its
distribution-related fees payable under the Plan to .25 of 1% of the average
daily net assets of the Class A shares for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999 and has contractually agreed to limit its distribution-related fees payable
under the Plan to .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A
shares for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.

    The Fund records all payments made under the Plan as expenses in the
calculation of net investment income. For the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999, the Distributor received payments of $5,543,526 under the Plan, which was
spent primarily on payment of account servicing fees to financial advisors and
other persons who sell Class A shares. The Distributor also received
approximately $910,124 in initial sales charges in connection with the sale of
Class A shares for the year ended December 31, 1999.

    The Plan provides that it shall continue in effect from year to year
provided that a majority of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a
majority of the Directors who are not 'interested persons' of the Fund (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement related to the
Plan (the 'Rule 12b-1 Directors'), vote annually to continue the Plan. The Plan
may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Directors
or of a majority of the outstanding Class A shares of the Fund. The Fund will
not be obligated to pay distribution and service fees incurred under the Plan if
it is terminated or not continued.

    In addition to distribution and service fees paid by the Fund under the
Plan, PIFM (or one of its affiliates) may make payments out of its own resources
to dealers (including Prudential Securities) and other persons who distribute
shares of the Fund. Such payments may be calculated by reference to the net
asset value of shares sold by such persons or otherwise.

    The Distributor is subject to the rule of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. governing maximum sales charges.

    Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Sponsor has agreed to
pay to the Trust the 12b-1 fees it receives with respect to Fund Shares held by
the Trust. Fund Shares held directly by an investor (other than the Trust)
including Fund Shares purchased pursuant to 'Reinvestment of Trust
Distributions' will, however, be subject to 12b-1 fees (see 'Reinvestment of
Trust Distributions').

Risk of Investment in Units

    The SEC issued an exemptive order pursuant to which Fund Shares were
deposited by the Sponsor in the Trust. In the application for such order, the
Sponsor agreed to take certain steps to ensure that the Trust's investment in
Fund Shares is equitable to all parties and particularly that the interests of
the Unit Holders are protected. Accordingly, any sales charges which would
otherwise be applicable will be waived on Fund Shares sold to the Trust. The
Sponsor will receive a sales charge on all Units sold. In addition, the
Indenture requires the Trustee to vote all Fund Shares held in the Trust in the
same manner and ratio on all proposals as the vote of owners of Fund Shares not
held by the Trust.

    The Fund's Shares may appreciate or depreciate in value (or pay dividends)
depending on the full range of economic and market influences affecting the
securities in which the Fund is invested and the success of the Fund's
management in
                                      B-14

<PAGE>
anticipating or taking advantage of such opportunities as they may occur. In
addition, in the event of the inability of the investment adviser to act and/or
claims or actions against the Fund by regulatory agencies or other persons or
entities, the value of the Fund Shares may decline thereby causing a decline in
the value of Units. Termination of the Fund prior to the Termination Date of the
Trust may result in the termination of the Trust sooner than anticipated. Prior
to a purchase of Units, investors should determine that the aforementioned risks
are consistent with their investment objectives.

Fund Risk Factors

    All Fund investments involve risk and there can be no guarantee against loss
resulting from an investment in the Fund, nor can there be any assurance that
the Fund's investment objective will be attained. As with any investment in
securities, the value of, and income from, an investment in the Fund can
decrease as well as increase, depending on a variety of factors which may affect
the values and income generated by the Fund's portfolio securities, including
general economic conditions, market factors and currency exchange rates.
Additionally, investment decisions made by the Fund's investment adviser will
not always be profitable or prove to have been correct. The Fund's holdings can
vary significantly from broad stock market indexes. As a result, the Fund's
performance can deviate from the performance of these indexes. The Fund is not
intended as a complete investment program.

    The net asset value of the Fund's Shares, like the value of the Treasury
Obligations, will fluctuate over the life of the Trust and may be more or less
than the price paid therefor by the Trust. An investment in Units of the Trust
should be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in ownership of Fund
Shares. However, the Sponsor believes that, upon termination of the Trust on the
mandatory termination date, even if the Fund Shares are worthless, the Treasury
Obligations will provide sufficient cash at maturity to equal $15.00 per Unit.
Part of such cash will, however, represent the accrual of taxable original issue
discount on the Treasury Obligations.

    A UNIT HOLDER PURCHASING A UNIT ON THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR THEREAFTER
MAY RECEIVE TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTIONS MADE UPON TERMINATION
OF THE TRUST, THAT ARE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT PAID FOR A UNIT.

    Sales of Securities in the Portfolio under certain permitted circumstances
may result in an accelerated termination of the Trust. It is also possible that,
in the absence of a secondary market for the Units or otherwise, redemptions of
Units may occur in sufficient numbers to reduce the portfolio to a size
resulting in such termination. In addition, the Trust may be terminated if the
net aggregate value of the Trust is less than 40% of the aggregate maturity
values of the Treasury Obligations calculated immediately after the most recent
deposit of Treasury Obligations in the Trust (see 'Amendment and
Termination--Termination'). Early termination of the Trust may have important
consequences to the Unit Holder; e.g., to the extent that Units were purchased
with a view to an investment of longer duration, the overall investment program
of the investor may require readjustment; or the overall return on investment
may be less than anticipated, and may result in a loss to a Unit Holder.

    In the event of the early termination of the Trust, the Trustee will cause
the Fund Shares to be sold and the proceeds thereof distributed to the Unit
Holders in proportion to their respective interests therein, unless a Unit
Holder elects to receive Fund Shares 'in kind' (see 'Amendment and Termination
of the Indenture--Termination'). Proceeds from the sale of the Treasury
Obligations will be paid in cash.

    The Trustee will have no power to vary the investments of the Trust, i.e.,
the Trustee will have no managerial power to take advantage of market variations
to improve a Unit Holder's investment but may dispose of Securities only under
limited circumstances (see 'Sponsor--Responsibility').

    To the best of the Sponsor's knowledge there was no litigation pending as of
the Date of Deposit in respect of any Security which might reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Trust. At any time after the
Date of Deposit, litigation may be instituted on a variety of grounds with
respect to the Securities. The Sponsor is unable to predict whether any such
litigation may be instituted, or if instituted, whether such litigation might
have a material adverse effect on the Trust.

The Units

    On a recent date, each Unit represented a fractional undivided interest in
the Securities and the net income of the Trust set forth under 'Summary of
Essential Information.' Thereafter, if any Units are redeemed by the Trustee,
the amount of Securities in the Trust will be reduced by amounts allocable to
redeemed Units, and the fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit
in the balance will be increased, although the actual interest in the Trust
represented by
                                      B-15

<PAGE>
each Unit will remain unchanged. Units will remain outstanding until redeemed
upon tender to the Trustee by any Unit Holder (which may include the Sponsor)
or until the termination of the Trust itself (see 'Rights of Unit
Holders--Redemption' and 'Amendment and Termination of the
Indenture--Termination').

                            TAX STATUS OF THE TRUST

In the opinion of Messrs. Cahill Gordon & Reindel, counsel for the Sponsor,
under existing law:

        The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for United
    States federal income tax purposes and income of the Trust will be treated
    as income of the Unit Holders in the manner set forth below. Each Unit
    Holder will be considered the owner of a pro rata portion of each asset of
    the Trust under the grantor trust rules of Sections 671-678 of the Internal
    Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 'Code').

        Each Unit Holder will be required to include in his gross income, as
    determined for federal income tax purposes, original issue discount with
    respect to his pro rata portion of the Treasury Obligations held by the
    Trust at the same time and in the same manner as though the Unit Holder were
    the direct owner of such pro rata portion. Each Unit Holder will be
    considered to have received the distributions paid on his pro rata portion
    of the Fund Shares held in the Trust (including such portion of such
    distributions used to pay fees and expenses of the Trust) when such
    distributions are received or deemed to be received by the Trust. An
    individual Unit Holder who itemizes deductions will be entitled to an
    itemized deduction for his pro rata share of fees and expenses paid by the
    Trust as though such fees and expenses were paid directly by the Unit
    Holder, but only to the extent that this amount together with the Unit
    Holder's other miscellaneous deductions exceeds 2% of his adjusted gross
    income. A corporate Unit Holder will not be subject to this 2% floor.

        Each Unit Holder will have a taxable event when a Security is disposed
    of (whether by sale, exchange, redemption, or payment at maturity) or when
    the Unit Holder redeems or sells his Units. The total tax cost of each Unit
    to a Unit Holder must be allocated among the assets held in the Trust in
    proportion to the relative fair market values thereof on the date the Unit
    Holder purchases his Units.

    The tax basis of a Unit Holder with respect to his interest in a Treasury
Obligation will be increased by the amount of original issue discount thereon
properly included in the Unit Holder's gross income as determined for federal
income tax purposes.

    The amount of gain recognized by a Unit Holder on a disposition of Fund
Shares or Treasury Obligations by the Trust will be equal to the difference
between such Unit Holder's pro rata portion of the gross proceeds realized by
the Trust on the disposition and the Unit Holder's tax basis in his pro rata
portion of the Fund Shares or Treasury Obligations disposed of, determined as
described in the preceding paragraphs. Any such gain recognized on a sale or
exchange and any such loss will be capital gain or loss, except that gain or
loss recognized by a financial institution with respect to a Treasury Obligation
or by a dealer with respect to Fund Shares or Treasury Obligations will be
ordinary income or loss. Any capital gain or loss arising from the disposition
of a Unit Holder's pro rata interest in a Security will be long-term capital
gain or loss if the Unit Holder has held his Units and the Trust has held the
Security for more than one year. A capital loss due to sale or redemption of a
Unit Holder's interest with respect to Fund Shares held in the Trust will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains
derived by the Unit Holder from such interest if the Unit Holder has held such
interest for six months or less. The holding period for this purpose will be
determined by applying the rules of Sections 246(c)(3) and (4) of the Code.
Under the Code, capital gain of individuals, estates and trusts from Securities
held for more than 1 year, is subject to a maximum nominal tax rate of 20%. Net
capital gain may result in a disallowance of itemized deductions and/or affect a
personal exemption phase-out.

    If the Unit Holder sells or redeems a Unit for cash he is deemed thereby to
have disposed of his entire pro rata interest in all Trust assets represented by
the Unit and will have taxable gain or loss measured by the difference between
his per Unit tax basis for such assets, as described above, and the amount
realized.

    Each Unit Holder's interest in each Treasury Obligation is treated as an
interest in an original issue discount obligation. The original issue discount
on each Treasury Obligation will be taxed as ordinary income for federal income
tax purposes and will be equal to the excess of the maturity value of the Unit
Holder's interest in the Treasury Obligation over its cost to the Unit Holder. A
Unit Holder will be required to include in gross income for each taxable year a
portion of this original issue discount and will be subject to income tax
thereon even though the income is not distributed. Original issue discount is
treated for federal income tax purposes as income earned under a constant
interest formula
                                      B-16

<PAGE>
which takes into account the semi-annual compounding of accrued interest,
resulting in an increasing amount of original issue discount accruing in each
year.

    A Unit Holder who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States
and is not a United States domestic corporation (a 'foreign Unit Holder') will
not generally be subject to United States federal income taxes, including
withholding taxes, on his pro rata share of the original issue discount on the
Treasury Obligations held in the Trust, any gain from the sale or other
disposition of his, her or its pro rata interest in a Treasury Obligation or
Fund Share held in the Trust, any undistributed gain retained by the Fund and
designated by the Fund to be taken into account by its shareholders or any
capital gain dividend received by the Trust from the Fund, which original issue
discount is not effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign Unit
Holder of a trade or business within the United States and which gain is either
(I) not from sources within the United States or (II) not so effectively
connected, provided that:

        (a) with respect to original issue discount (i) the Treasury Obligations
    are in registered form and were issued after July 18, 1984, and (ii) the
    foreign Unit Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related (within
    the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code) to The Prudential Insurance
    Company of America;

        (b) with respect to any U.S.-source capital gain, the foreign Unit
    Holder (if an individual) is not present in the United States for 183 days
    or more during his or her taxable year in which the gain was realized and so
    certifies; and

        (c) the foreign Unit Holder provides the required certifications
    regarding (i) his, her or its status, (ii) in the case of U.S.-source
    income, the fact that the original issue discount or gain is not effectively
    connected with the conduct by the foreign Unit Holder of a trade or business
    within the United States, and (iii) if determined to be required, the
    controlled foreign corporation matter mentioned in clause (a)(ii) above.

    Fund distributions paid to foreign Unit Holders either directly or through
the Trust and not constituting income effectively connected with the conduct of
a trade or business within the United States by the distributee will be subject
to United States federal withholding taxes at a 30% rate or a lesser rate
established by treaty unless the Fund distribution is a capital gain dividend.
Foreign Unit Holders should consult their own tax counsel with respect to United
States tax consequences of ownership of Units.

    Each Unit Holder (other than a foreign Unit Holder who has properly provided
the certifications described in the preceding paragraph) will be requested to
provide the Unit Holder's taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to
certify that the Unit Holder has not been notified that payments to the Unit
Holder are subject to back-up withholding. If the taxpayer identification number
and an appropriate certification are not provided as required, a 31% back-up
withholding will apply.

    The Fund has elected to qualify for and intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under the Code and to meet applicable requirements
with respect to its gross income, diversification of holdings and distributions
so that the Fund (but not the Trust Unit Holders) will be relieved of federal
income tax on the amounts distributed by the Fund to the Trust. Such
distributions may include taxable net investment income and net capital gain
from sales of securities held by the Fund. It is also possible for the Fund to
retain net capital gains for investment, in which event the Fund will be subject
to Federal income tax on the retained amount; but may, as a regulated investment
company, designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a
notice to those persons who were its shareholders (including the Trust and thus
its Unit Holders) at the close of the Fund's taxable year.

    If the Fund were to so retain any net capital gains for investment, its
shareholders (including Trust Unit Holders) (a) would be required to include in
gross income for tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate
shares of the undistributed net capital gain of the Fund, and (b) would be
deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on
the undistributed net capital gain so that the amount of tax deemed paid by each
such shareholder would be credited against the shareholder's United States
federal income tax liability and a refund could be claimed to the extent that
credits exceeded such liability. For United States federal income tax purposes,
the basis of shares of the Fund owned by a shareholder of the Fund (including a
Trust Unit Holder) would be increased by an amount equal to the difference
between the amount of undistributed capital gains required to be so included in
computing such Fund shareholder's long-term capital gains and the tax deemed
paid on such undistributed capital gains by such shareholder in respect of such
shares.

    Capital gain distributions, if any, made by the Fund, as a regulated
investment company, are taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of how
long the Fund shareholder (including a Trust Unit Holder) has held the Fund's
shares, and
                                      B-17

<PAGE>
are not eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporations.
Other dividend distributions by the Fund may, depending upon the circumstances,
be eligible for such dividends received deduction, in whole or in part.

    Generally, dividends paid by the Fund, as a regulated investment company,
are treated as received by the Trust, and thus its Unit Holders, in the taxable
year in which the distribution is made by the Fund; however, any dividend
declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year,
payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and
actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as received
on December 31 of the preceding year.

    Non-taxable Fund distributions reduce the Unit Holder's tax cost basis with
respect to his interest in Fund Shares held by the Trust and are treated as a
gain from the sale of such interest if and to the extent that such distributions
exceed the tax cost basis of the Unit Holder with respect to his interest in
Fund Shares held by the Trust.

    Income received by the Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes
imposed by foreign jurisdictions. In some instances, these taxes are limited by
treaty between the United States and the relevant foreign jurisdiction. Treaty
benefits may be available to the Fund to the same extent as they would be to
individual U.S. shareholders. However, in some situations the Fund will be
eligible for such benefits only if it can establish that a minimum specified
percentage of the capital of the Fund is owned directly or indirectly by
individual residents or citizens of the United States.

    The Code places a floor of 2% of adjusted gross income on miscellaneous
itemized deductions, including investment expenses, of individuals (and estates
and trusts other than grantor trusts, to the extent provided in the
regulations). The Code also directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue
regulations prohibiting indirect deductions through a mutual fund or other
pass-through entity of amounts not allowable as a deduction under this rule if
paid or incurred directly by such an investor, but such regulations are not to
apply to indirect deductions through a 'publicly offered regulated investment
company,' which the Fund is believed to be. The 2% floor rule will, however,
apply in any event to investment expenses of the Trust, as opposed to the Fund,
and affected Unit Holders should aggregate such expenses with their other
miscellaneous deductions in applying the 2% rule. The Trust cannot predict
whether or not the Fund will qualify as a 'publicly offered regulated investment
company.'

    In addition, under the Code, the allowable amount of certain itemized
deductions claimed by individual taxpayers, including investment expenses, is
subject to an overall limitation applicable to individual taxpayers with
adjusted gross income in excess of a $117,950 threshold amount ($58,975 for a
married taxpayer filing separately). The $117,950 (or $58,975) threshold amount
will be indexed for inflation after 1996. The overall limitation reduces the
otherwise allowable amount of the affected itemized deductions by the lesser of
(i) 3% of the adjusted gross income in excess of the threshold amount or (ii)
80% of the amount of otherwise allowable affected itemized deductions. The other
limitations contained in the Code on the deduction of itemized expenses,
including the 2% floor described above, are applied prior to this overall
limitation.

    The Code also imposes a 4% excise tax on untaxed undistributed income of
regulated investment companies. If the Fund distributes in each calendar year an
amount equal to the sum of a least 98% of its ordinary income for such calendar
year and 98% of its capital gain net income for the 12 month period ended on
October 31 of each calendar year (or on December 31 if the Fund qualifies to so
elect and does so) and distributes an amount equal to the 2% balances not later
than the close of the succeeding calendar year, the Fund will not be subject to
this 4% excise tax. For purposes of this excise tax, any net long-term capital
gain in excess of net short-term capital loss retained by the Fund for any
fiscal year ending on or before the close of the calendar year but designated as
undistributed capital gains taxable to shareholders as described above is
treated as if distributed to the Fund's shareholders.

    The Fund may invest in passive foreign investment companies, various options
and futures contracts and hedging transactions and may be subject to foreign
currency fluctuations, all of which have unique federal income tax consequences.
Such investments and currency fluctuations may affect the character, timing and
amount of gain or ordinary income to be recognized by persons holding Fund
Shares.

    Interest paid by a Unit Holder other than a corporation on indebtedness
properly allocable to Units will be deductible as investment interest to the
extent permitted by Section 163(d) of the Code.

    As of the end of each calendar year, the Trustee will furnish to each Unit
Holder an annual statement containing information relating to the dividends
(including capital gain dividends) received or deemed received, rebated 12b-1
fees received from the Sponsor, discount accrued on the Securities, the gross
proceeds received by the Trust from the

                                      B-18

<PAGE>
disposition of any Security (resulting from redemption or payment at maturity of
any Security or the sale by the Trust of any Security), and the fees and
expenses paid by the Trust.

    The foregoing discussion relates only to United States federal income taxes.
Unit Holders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation.

    Investors should consult their tax counsel for advice with respect to their
own particular tax situations.

                                RETIREMENT PLANS

    Units in the Trust may be suitable for purchase by Individual Retirement
Accounts, Keogh Plans, pension funds and other qualified retirement plans.
Investors considering participation in any such plan should review the laws
specifically related thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers
with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such plan.

                            PUBLIC OFFERING OF UNITS

Public Offering Price

    The Public Offering Price of the Units during the initial offering period is
computed by adding to the aggregate offering side evaluation of the Treasury
Obligations the aggregate net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust, dividing
such sum by the number of Units outstanding and then adding a sales charge of
5.00% of the Public Offering Price (5.263% of the net amount invested). Money in
the Income and Principal Accounts other than money required to redeem previously
tendered Units will be added to the Public Offering Price.

    After the initial public offering period, the Public Offering Price of the
Units will be computed by adding to the aggregate bid side evaluation of the
Treasury Obligations the aggregate net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust,
dividing such sum by the number of Units outstanding and then adding a sales
charge of 5.00% of the Public Offering Price (5.263% of the net amount
invested). Money in the Income and Principal Accounts other than money required
to redeem previously tendered Units will be added to the Public Offering Price.

    The Public Offering Price on the date of this Prospectus or on any
subsequent date will vary from the Public Offering Price set forth in the
'Summary of Essential Information' in accordance with fluctuations in the value
of the Treasury Obligations and net asset value of the Fund Shares in the Trust.

    The Public Offering Price shall be determined for the Trust by the Evaluator
in the following manner: the aggregate value of the Units shall be determined
during the initial offering period on the basis of the offering prices of the
Treasury Obligations (determined by the Evaluator) and the net asset value of
the Fund Shares as determined by the Fund, and following the initial offering
period on the basis of the bid prices for the Treasury Obligations (determined
by the Evaluator) and the net asset value of the Fund Shares as determined by
the Fund.

    On a recent date, the Public Offering Price per Unit (based on the offering
side evaluation of the Treasury Obligations and the net asset value of the Fund
Shares in the Trust) exceeded the Redemption Price and the Sponsor's Secondary
Market Repurchase Price per Unit (each based upon the bid side evaluation of the
Treasury Obligations and the net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust) by the
amounts set forth in 'Summary of Essential Information.'

Public Distribution

    During the initial public offering period (i) for Units issued on the Date
of Deposit and (ii) for additional Units issued after such date in respect of
additional deposits of Securities, Units will be distributed to the public by
the Sponsor and through dealers at the Public Offering Price, calculated on each
business day. The initial offering period is 30 days unless all Units are sold
prior thereto, whereupon the initial public offering period will terminate. The
initial public offering period may be extended by the Sponsor so long as
additional deposits are being made or Units remain unsold. Upon termination of
the initial offering period, in each case, unsold Units or Units acquired by the
Sponsor in the secondary market referred to below may be offered to the public
by this Prospectus at the then current Public Offering Price calculated daily.

    The Sponsor intends to qualify Units in states selected by the Sponsor for
sale by the Sponsor and through dealers who are members of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Sales to dealers will be made at prices
which include a concession of 68% of the sales charge per Unit, but subject to
change from time to time at the discretion of the

                                      B-19

<PAGE>
Sponsor (such price does not include volume purchase discounts, which are
available only to non-dealer purchasers). The Sponsor reserves the right to
reject, in whole or in part, any order for the purchase of Units.

    A dealer will receive a concession of the sales charge per Unit as set forth
under Volume Discount herein. Sales by a dealer will be aggregated with the
dealer receiving the greatest concession level for all Units sold by such dealer
up to a maximum of 75% of the sales load.

Secondary Market

    While not obligated to do so, it is the Sponsor's present intention to
maintain a secondary market for Units and to continuously offer to repurchase
Units from Unit Holders at the applicable Sponsor's Repurchase Price (see
'Summary of Essential Information'). The Sponsor's Repurchase Price is computed
by adding to the aggregate of the bid side evaluation of the Treasury
Obligations the net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust, and cash on hand in
the Trust and dividends receivable on Fund Shares (other than cash deposited by
the Sponsor for the purchase of Securities) deducting therefrom amounts required
to redeem previously tendered Units and amounts required for distribution to
Unit Holders of record as of a date prior to the evaluation, accrued expenses of
the Trustee, Evaluator, and counsel, taxes and governmental charges, if any, and
any Reserve Account and then dividing the resulting sum by the number of Units
outstanding, as of the date of such computation. There is no sales charge
incurred when a Unit Holder sells Units back to the Sponsor. Any Units
repurchased by the Sponsor at the Sponsor's Repurchase Price may be reoffered to
the public by Sponsor at the then current Public Offering Price. Any profit or
loss resulting from the resale of such Units will be for the account of the
Sponsor.

    If the supply of Units exceeds demand (or for any other business reason),
the Sponsor may, at any time, occasionally, from time to time, or permanently,
discontinue the repurchase of Units of this Series at the Sponsor's Repurchase
Price, without notice. In such event, although under no obligation to do so, the
Sponsor may, as a service to Unit Holders, offer to repurchase Units at the
'Redemption Price,' a price based on the current bid prices for the Treasury
Obligations and the net asset value of the Fund Shares. Alternatively, Unit
Holders may redeem their Units through the Trustee.

Profit of Sponsor

    The Sponsor receives a sales charge on the Units as indicated herein in the
chart below under 'Volume Discount.' On the sale of Units to dealers, the
Sponsor will retain the difference between the dealer concession and the sales
charge (see 'Public Distribution').

    The Sponsor may have also realized a profit (or sustained a loss) on the
deposit of the Treasury Obligations in the Trust representing the difference
between the cost of the Treasury Obligations to the Sponsor and the cost of the
Treasury Obligations to the Trust. The Sponsor will deposit all Fund Shares into
the Trust at net asset value. During the initial offering period, to the extent
additional Units continue to be issued and offered for sale to the public, the
Sponsor may realize additional profit (or sustain a loss) due to daily
fluctuations in the offering prices of the Treasury Obligations and in the net
asset value of the Fund Shares in the Trust and thus in the Public Offering
Price of Units received by the Sponsor. Cash, if any, received by the Sponsor
from the Unit Holders prior to the settlement date for purchase of Units or
prior to the payment for Securities upon their delivery may be used in the
Sponsor's business to the extent permitted by applicable regulations and may be
of benefit to the Sponsor.

    The Sponsor may also realize profits (or sustain losses) while maintaining a
secondary market in the Units, in the amount of any difference between the
prices at which the Sponsor buys Units and the prices at which the Sponsor
resells such Units or the prices at which the Sponsor redeems such Units, as the
case may be.

Volume Discount

    Although under no obligation to do so, the Sponsor intends to permit volume
purchasers of Units to purchase Units at a reduced sales charge. The Sponsor may
at any time upon prior notice to Unit Holders change the amount by which the
sales charge is reduced, or may discontinue the discount altogether.

    The sales charges for the Trust in the primary and secondary market will be
reduced pursuant to the following graduated scale for sales to any person of at
least 2,000 Units.
                                      B-20

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Sales Charge
                                                                              Primary and Secondary Market
                                                                        -----------------------------------------
                                                                         Percent        Percent
                                                                        of Public        of Net
                                                                         Offering        Amount          Dealer
Number of Units                                                           Price         Invested       Concession
- --------------------------------------------------------------------    ----------      --------       ----------
<S>                                                                     <C>             <C>            <C>
Less than 2,000 Units...............................................      5.00%         5.263%           65%
2,000-7,999 Units...................................................      4.75%         4.986%           65%
8,000-19,999 Units..................................................      4.25%         4.358%           70%
20,000-39,999 Units.................................................      3.75%         3.896%           73%
40,000-79,999 Units.................................................      3.00%         3.092%           75%
80,000 Units or more................................................      2.00%         2.041%           75%
</TABLE>

    The reduced sales charges as shown on the chart above will apply to such
purchases of Units in any fourteen-day period which qualify for the volume
discount by the same person, including a partnership or corporation, other than
a dealer, in the amounts stated herein, and for this purpose, purchases of Units
of this Trust will be aggregated with concurrent purchases of Units of any other
trust that may be offered by the Sponsor.

    Units held in the name of the purchaser's spouse or in the name of a
purchaser's child under the age of 21 are deemed for the purposes hereof to be
registered in the name of the purchaser. The reduced sales charges are also
applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary, including a partnership or
corporation, purchasing Units for a single trust estate or single fiduciary
account.

Employee Discount

    The Sponsor intends, at the discretion of the Sponsor, to permit employees
of Prudential Securities and its subsidiaries and affiliates to purchase Units
of the Trust at a price based on the offering side evaluation of the Treasury
Obligations and the net asset value of Fund Shares in the Trust plus a reduced
sales charge of $5.00 per 100 Units, subject to a limit of 5% of the Units.

                                EXCHANGE OPTION

    Unit Holders may elect to exchange any or all of their Units of this Series
of the Government Securities Equity Trust for units of one or more of any other
series in the Prudential Securities family of unit investment trusts (except
Series of Government Securities Equity Trust) or for any units of any additional
trusts that may from time to time be made available for such exchange by the
Sponsor (collectively referred to as the 'Exchange Trusts'). Such units may be
acquired at prices based on reduced sales charges per unit. The purpose of such
reduced sales charge is to permit the Sponsor to pass on to the Unit Holder who
wishes to exchange Units the cost savings resulting from such exchange of Units.
The cost savings result from reductions in the time and expense related to
advice, financial planning and operational expense required for the Exchange
Option.

    Exchange Trusts may have different investment objectives; a Unit Holder
should read the prospectus for the applicable Exchange Trust carefully to
determine its investment objective prior to exercise of this option.

    This option will be available provided the Sponsor maintains a secondary
market in both the Units of this Series and units of the applicable Exchange
Trust and provided that units of the applicable Exchange Trust are available for
sale and are lawfully qualified for sale in the jurisdiction in which the Unit
Holder is a resident. While it is the Sponsor's present intention to maintain a
secondary market for the units of all such trusts, there is no obligation on its
part to do so. Therefore, there is no assurance that a market for units will in
fact exist on any given date on which a Unit Holder wishes to sell or exchange
his Units; thus there is no assurance that the Exchange Option will be available
to any Unit Holder. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or
terminate this option at any time without further notice to Unit Holders. In the
event the Exchange Option is not available to a Unit Holder at the time he
wishes to exercise it, the Unit Holder will be immediately notified and no
action will be taken with respect to his Units without further instruction from
the Unit Holder.

    To exercise the Exchange Option, a Unit Holder should notify the Sponsor of
his desire to exchange his Units for one or more units of the Exchange Trusts.
If units of the applicable outstanding series of the Exchange Trust are at that
time available for sale, the Unit Holder may select the series or group of
series for which he desires his Units to be exchanged.

                                      B-21

<PAGE>
The Unit Holder will be provided with a current prospectus or prospectuses
relating to each series in which he indicates interest.

    Units of the Exchange Trust trading in the secondary market maintained by
the Sponsor, if so maintained, will be sold to the Unit Holder at a price equal
to the evaluation price per unit of the securities in that portfolio and the
applicable sales charge of $15 per unit of the Exchange Trust. The reduced sales
charge for units of any Exchange Trust acquired during the initial offering
period for such units will result in a price for such units equal to the
offering side evaluation per unit of the securities in the Exchange Trust's
portfolio plus accrued interest plus a reduced sales charge of $25 per Exchange
Trust unit. The reduced sales charge for a unit holder of an Exchange Trust
exchanging into this series of Government Securities Equity Trust will be $.23
per Unit for Units purchased in the secondary market and $.37 per Unit for Units
purchased during the initial offering period. Exchange transactions will be
effected only in whole units; thus, any proceeds not used to acquire whole units
will be paid to the exchanging Unit Holder unless the Unit Holder adds the
amount of cash necessary to purchase one additional whole Exchange Trust unit.

    Owners of units of any registered unit investment trust, other than
Prudential Securities Incorporated sponsored trusts, which was initially offered
at a minimum applicable sales charge of 3.0% of the public offering price
exclusive of any applicable sales charge discounts, may elect to apply the cash
proceeds of sale or redemption of those units directly to acquire units of any
Exchange Trust trading in the secondary market at the reduced sales charge of
$20 per Unit, subject to the terms and conditions applicable to the Exchange
Option. To exercise this option, the owner should notify his retail broker. He
will be given a prospectus of each series in which he indicates interest, units
of which are available. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or
terminate the option at any time without further notice, including the right to
increase the reduced sales charge applicable to this option (but not in excess
of $5 more per unit than the corresponding fee then charged for a unit of an
Exchange Trust which is being exchanged).

    For example, assume that a Unit Holder, who has three units of a Trust with
a 4.25% sales charge and a current price of $1,100 per unit, sells his units and
exchanges the proceeds for units of a series of an Exchange Trust with a current
price of $950 per unit and an ordinary sales charge of 4.25%. The proceeds from
the Unit Holder's units will aggregate $3,300. Since only whole units of an
Exchange Trust may be purchased under the Exchange Option, the Holder would be
able to acquire four units in the Exchange Trust for a total cost of $3,860
($3,800 for units and $60 for the $15 per unit sales charge) by adding an extra
$560 in cash. Were the Unit Holder to acquire the same number of units at the
same time in the regular secondary market maintained by the Sponsor, the price
would be $3,968.68 [$3,800 for the units and $168.68 for the 4.25% sales charge
(4.439% of the net amount invested)].

Federal Income Tax Consequences

    An exchange of Units pursuant to the Exchange Option will constitute a
'taxable event' under the Code, i.e., a Unit Holder will recognize gain or loss
at the time of the exchange except that upon an exchange of Units of this Series
of the Government Securities Equity Trust for units of any other series of the
Exchange Trusts which are grantor trusts for United States federal income tax
purposes the Internal Revenue Service may seek to disallow any loss incurred
upon such exchange to the extent that the underlying securities in each trust
are substantially identical and the purchase of units of an Exchange Trust takes
place less than thirty-one days after the sale of the Units. Unit Holders are
advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of
exchanging Units in their particular case. In particular, Unit Holders who
exchange Units of this Series of the Government Securities Equity Trust for
units of any other series of Exchange Trusts within 91 days of acquisition of
the Units should consult their tax advisors as to the possible application of
Section 852(f) of the Code to the exchange.

                      REINVESTMENT OF TRUST DISTRIBUTIONS

    Distributions by the Trust, if any, of dividend income received by the
Trust, 12b-1 fee amounts paid by the Sponsor, distributions of any net capital
gains received in respect of Fund Shares and proceeds of the sale of Fund Shares
not used to redeem Units will be made quarterly on or shortly after the
Quarterly Distribution Date to Unit Holders of record on the Quarterly Record
Date immediately preceding such Quarterly Distribution Date. A Unit Holder will
receive such amounts in cash unless such Unit Holder directs The Chase Manhattan
Bank, acting as distribution agent, to invest such amounts on behalf of the
participating Unit Holder in Fund Shares at such shares' net asset value, which
shares will be subject to 12b-1 expenses. Investment in Fund Shares is
conditioned upon their lawful qualification for sale in the jurisdiction in
which the Unit Holder resides. There can be no assurance, however, that such
qualification will be obtained.
                                      B-22

<PAGE>
    The appropriate prospectus will be sent to the Unit Holder. A Unit Holder's
election to participate in a reinvestment program will apply to all Units of the
Trust owned by such Unit Holder. The Unit Holder should read the prospectus for
the reinvestment program carefully before deciding to participate.

                              EXPENSES AND CHARGES

Initial Expenses

    All expenses and charges incurred prior to or in the establishment of the
Trust were incurred by the Sponsor and the Distributor.

Fees

    The Trustee will receive for its services under the Indenture an annual fee
in the amount set forth in the 'Summary of Essential Information.'

    For each evaluation of the Treasury Obligations in the Trust, the Evaluator
shall receive a fee as set forth in the 'Summary of Essential Information.'

    The Trustee's fees and the Evaluator's fees are payable quarterly on or
before each Distribution Date from the Income Account, to the extent funds are
available therein and thereafter from the Principal Account. Any of such fees
may be increased without approval of the Unit Holders in proportion to increases
under the classification 'All Services Less Rent' in the Consumer Price Index
published by the United States Department of Labor. The Trustee also receives
benefits to the extent that it holds funds on deposit in various non-interest
bearing accounts created under the Agreement.

Other Charges

    The following additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust as more
fully described in the Indenture: (a) fees of the Trustee for extraordinary
services, (b) expenses of the Trustee (including legal and auditing expenses)
and of counsel designated by the Sponsor, (c) various governmental charges, (d)
expenses and costs of any action taken by the Trustee to protect the Trust and
the rights and interests of the Unit Holders, (e) indemnification of the Trustee
for any loss, liability or expenses incurred by it in the administration of the
Trust without gross negligence, bad faith, willful misfeasance or willful
misconduct on its part or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties, (f)
indemnification of the Sponsor for any losses, liabilities and expenses incurred
in acting as Sponsor or Depositor under the Indenture without gross negligence,
bad faith, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct or reckless disregard of
its obligations and duties, (g) expenditures incurred in contacting Unit Holders
upon termination of the Trust and (h) to the extent then lawful, expenses
(including legal, auditing and printing expenses) of maintaining registration or
qualification of the Units and/or the Trust under Federal or State securities
laws subsequent to initial registration so long as the Sponsor is maintaining a
market for the Units. The accounts of the Trust will be audited not less
frequently than annually by independent public accountants selected by the
Sponsor. The cost of such audit will be an expense of the Trust.

    The fees and expenses set forth herein are payable out of the Trust and when
paid by or owing to the Trustee are secured by a lien on the Trust. If the cash
dividend, capital gains distributions and 12b-1 fee payments made by the Sponsor
to the Trust are insufficient to provide for amounts payable by the Trust, the
Trustee has the power to sell Fund Shares (not Treasury Obligations) to pay such
amounts. To the extent Fund Shares are sold, the size of the Trust will be
reduced and the proportions of the types of Securities will change. Such sales
might be required at a time when Fund Shares would not otherwise be sold and
might result in lower prices than might otherwise be realized. Moreover, due to
the minimum amount in which Fund Shares may be required to be sold, the proceeds
of such sales may exceed the amount necessary for the payment of such fees and
expenses. If the cash dividends, capital gains distributions and 12b-1 fee
payments made by the Sponsor to the Trust and proceeds of Fund Shares sold after
deducting the ordinary expenses are insufficient to pay the extraordinary
expenses of the Trust, the Trustee has the power to sell Treasury Obligations to
pay such extraordinary expenses.
                                      B-23

<PAGE>
                       Government Securities Equity Trust

                            REINVESTMENT APPLICATION

I/We hereby authorize and direct The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)
to apply all distributions that I/we have elected to be reinvested as a
registered unitholder(s) of a Government Securities Equity Trust Series towards
the purchase of additional shares of the Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.

I/We hold Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8
   (This Series can only reinvest into the Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.)

The authorization shall continue in effect until written notice of revocation
is given by the certificate holder or his personal representatives.

<TABLE>
  <S>                                                           <C>
  Name(s) in Which Unit Trust is Registered
  Social Security or Tax Identification Number
  Signature                                                      DATE
  Signature of Joint Tenant (if any)                             DATE
  My/Our Brokerage Firm Is:
  My/Our Account Number Is:
</TABLE>

    Forward application to:         The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                    P.O. Box 834
                                    New York, NY 10003

<PAGE>
                      [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>
                             RIGHTS OF UNIT HOLDERS

Certificates

    Ownership of Units is evidenced by registered certificates executed by the
Trustee and the Sponsor. Certificates are transferable or interchangeable upon
presentation at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, properly endorsed or
accompanied by an instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Trustee and
executed by the Unit Holder or his authorized attorney, together with the
payment of $2.00, if required by the Trustee (not currently required), or such
other amount as may be determined by the Trustee and approved by the Sponsor,
and any other tax or governmental charge imposed upon the transfer of
Certificates. The Trustee will replace any mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate upon proper identification, satisfactory indemnity and payment of
charges incurred. Any mutilated Certificate must be presented to the Trustee
before any substitute Certificate will be issued.

Certain Limitations

    The death or incapacity of any Unit Holder will not operate to terminate the
Trust nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Unit Holder to
claim an accounting or to take any other action or proceeding in any court for a
partition or winding up of the Trust.

    No Unit Holder shall have the right to vote except with respect to removal
of the Trustee or amendment and termination of the Trust as prescribed in the
Indenture (see 'Administration of the Trust--Amendment' and 'Administration of
the Trust--Termination'). Unit Holders shall have no right to control the
operation or administration of the Trust in any manner.

Distributions

    The terms of the Treasury Obligations do not provide for periodic payment to
the holders thereof of the annual accrual of discount. To the extent that
dividends, distributions and/or 12b-1 fee payments from the Sponsor become
payable with respect to the Fund Shares held in the Trust, the Trustee will
collect such amounts as they become payable and credit such amounts to a
separate Income Account created pursuant to the Indenture. All other moneys
received by the Trustee with respect to the Fund Shares shall be credited to the
Principal Account. Quarterly distributions to each Unit Holder of record as of
the immediately preceding Quarterly Record Date will be made on the next
following Quarterly Distribution Date and shall consist of an amount
substantially equal to such Unit Holder's pro rata share of the distributable
cash balances in the Income Account and the Principal Account, if any, computed
as of the close of business on such Quarterly Record Date. No quarterly
distribution will be made if the amount available for distribution is less than
$2.50 per 100 Units, except that, no less than once a year, on a Quarterly
Distribution Date, the Trustee shall distribute the entire cash balances in the
Principal and Income Accounts. All funds collected or received will be held by
the Trustee in trust without interest to Unit Holders as part of the Trust until
required to be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
Such funds will be segregated by separate recordation on the trust ledger of the
Trustee so long as such practice preserves a valid preference of Unit Holders
under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, or if such preference is not
preserved, the Trustee shall handle such funds in such other manner as shall
constitute the segregation and holding thereof in trust within the meaning of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as the same may be from time to time
amended. To the extent permitted by the Indenture and applicable banking
regulations, such funds are available for use by the Trustee pursuant to normal
banking procedures.

    The Trustee is authorized by the Indenture to withdraw from the Principal
Account to the extent funds are not sufficient in the Income Account such
amounts as it deems necessary to establish a reserve for any taxes or other
governmental charges that may be payable out of the Trust, which amounts will be
credited to a separate Reserve Account. If the Trustee determines that the
amount in the Reserve Account is greater than the amount necessary for payment
of any taxes or other governmental charges, it will promptly recredit the excess
to the Account from which it was withdrawn. In addition, the Trustee may
withdraw from the Income Account, to the extent available, that portion of the
Redemption Price which represents income.

    The balance paid on any redemption, including income, if any, shall be
withdrawn from the Principal Account of the Trust to the extent that funds are
available. If such available balance is insufficient, the Trustee is empowered
to sell Securities in order to provide moneys for redemption of Units tendered
(see 'Rights of Unit Holders--Redemption').

                                      B-24

<PAGE>
Reports and Records

    With each distribution, the Trustee will furnish to the Unit Holders a
statement of the amount of dividends and other receipts, if any, distributed,
expressed in each case as a dollar amount per Unit.

    Within a reasonable time after the end of each calendar year, the Trustee
will furnish to each person who was a Unit Holder of record at any time during
the calendar year a statement setting forth: (1) as to the Income Account:
dividends and other cash amounts received, deductions for payment of applicable
taxes and for fees and expenses of the Trust, redemptions of Units, and the
balances remaining after such distributions and deductions, expressed both as a
total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the pro rata share of
each Unit outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (2) as to
the Principal Account: the dates of disposition and identity of any Securities
and the net proceeds received therefrom, deductions for payments of applicable
taxes and for fees and expenses of the Trust and redemptions of Units, and the
balance remaining after such distributions and deductions, expressed both as a
total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the pro rata share of
each Unit outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (3) a list
of the Securities held and the number of Units outstanding on the last business
day of such calendar year; (4) the Redemption Price per Unit based upon the last
computation thereof made during such calendar year; (5) amounts actually
distributed during such calendar year from the Income Account and from the
Principal Account, separately stated, expressed both as total dollar amounts and
as dollar amounts representing the pro rata share of each Unit outstanding on
the last business day of such calendar year; and (6) an annual report of
original issue discount accrual.

    The Trustee shall keep available for inspection by Unit Holders at all
reasonable times during usual business hours books of record and account of its
transactions as Trustee, including records of the names and addresses of Unit
Holders, a current list of Securities in the portfolio and a copy of the
Indenture.

Redemption

   Tender of Units

    Units may be tendered to the Trustee for redemption at its unit investment
trust office of 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, upon delivery of a
request for redemption and the Certificates for the Units requested to be
redeemed and payment of any relevant tax. At the present time there are no
specific taxes related to the redemption of the Units. No redemption fee will be
charged by the Sponsor or the Trustee. Units redeemed by the Trustee will be
cancelled.

    Certificates for Units to be redeemed must be properly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, although redemptions without
the necessity of Certificate presentation will be effected for record Unit
Holders for whom Certificates have not been issued. Unit Holders must sign
exactly as their name appears on the face of the Certificate with the signature
guaranteed by an officer of a national bank or trust company or by a member firm
of either the New York, Midwest or Pacific Stock Exchanges or other financial
institution acceptable to the Trustee, if any. In certain instances the Trustee
may require additional documents such as, but not limited to, trust instruments,
certificates of death, appointments as executor or administrator or certificates
of corporate authority.

    Within seven calendar days following such tender, or if the seventh calendar
day is not a business day, on the first business day prior thereto, the Unit
Holder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit tendered
equal to the Redemption Price per Unit computed as of the Evaluation Time set
forth in the 'Summary of Essential Information' on the date of tender (see
'Redemption--Computation of Redemption Price per Unit'). The 'date of tender' is
deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee, except that as
regards Units received after the Evaluation Time, the date of tender is the next
day on which such Exchange is open for trading, and such Units will be deemed to
have been tendered to the Trustee on such day for redemption at the Redemption
Price computed on that day.

    There is no sales charge incurred when a Unit Holder tenders his Units to
the Trustee for redemption. All amounts paid on redemption representing income
will be withdrawn from the Income Account to the extent moneys are available;
all other amounts will be paid from the Principal Account. The Trustee is
required by the Indenture to sell Fund Shares and Treasury Obligations, to the
extent possible in the same ratio as the ratio of Fund Shares and Treasury
Obligations then held in the Trust, in order to provide moneys for redemption of
Units tendered. To the extent Securities are sold, the size of the Trust will be
reduced. Such sales could result in a loss to the Trust. The redemption of a
Unit for cash will constitute a taxable event for the Unit Holder under the Code
(see 'Tax Status of the Trust').
                                      B-25

<PAGE>
   Purchase by the Sponsor of Units Tendered for Redemption

    The Indenture requires that the Trustee notify the Sponsor of any tender of
Units for redemption. So long as the Sponsor is maintaining a bid in the
secondary market, the Sponsor, prior to the close of business on the second
succeeding business day, may purchase any Units tendered to the Trustee for
redemption at the price so bid by making payment therefor to the Unit Holder in
an amount not less than the Redemption Price and not later than the day on which
the Units would otherwise have been redeemed by the Trustee, i.e., the Unit
Holder will receive the Redemption Price from the Sponsor within 7 days of the
date of tender (see 'Public Offering of Units--Secondary Market'). Units held by
the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee for redemption as any other Units.
The price of any Units resold by the Sponsor will be the Public Offering Price
determined in the manner provided in this Prospectus (see 'Public Offering of
Units--Public Offering Price '). Any profit resulting from the resale of such
Units will belong to the Sponsor, which likewise will bear any loss resulting
from a reduction in the offering or redemption price subsequent to its
acquisition of such Units (see 'Public Offering of Units--Profit of Sponsor').

   Computation of Redemption Price per Unit

    The Redemption Price per Unit is determined as of the Evaluation Time on the
date any such determination is made. The Redemption Price is each Unit's pro
rata share, determined by the Trustee, of the sum of:

           (1) the aggregate bid side evaluation of the Treasury
       Obligations in the Trust, as determined by the Evaluator, and the
       net asset value of the Fund Shares in the Trust determined as of
       the Evaluation Time set forth in the 'Summary of Essential
       Information'; and

           (2) cash on hand in the Trust and dividends receivable on Fund
       Shares (other than cash deposited by the Sponsor for the purchase
       of Securities);

less amounts representing (a) accrued taxes and governmental charges payable out
of the Trust, (b) the accrued expenses of the Trust, and (c) cash held with
respect to previously tendered Units or for distribution to Unit Holders of
record as of a date prior to the evaluation, and (d) any Reserve Account
('Redemption Price').

    The right of redemption may be suspended and payment of the Redemption Price
per Unit postponed for more than seven calendar days following a tender of Units
for redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is
closed, other than for weekend and holiday closing, or trading on that Exchange
is restricted or during which (as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or evaluation of
the Securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may by order permit. Neither the Trustee nor
the Sponsor is liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damage that
may result from any such suspension or postponement.

            COMPARISON OF PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE AND REDEMPTION PRICE

    While the Public Offering Price of Units during the initial offering period
is determined on the basis of the current offering price of the Treasury
Obligations and the net asset value of Fund Shares, the Public Offering Price of
Units in the secondary market and the Redemption Price of Units are determined
on the basis of the current bid prices of the Treasury Obligations and the net
asset value of the Fund Shares. The bid prices for the Securities are expected
to be less than the offering prices. The amount realized by a Unit Holder upon
any redemption of Units may be less than the price paid by him for such Units.

                                    SPONSOR

    Prudential Securities Incorporated ('Prudential Securities') is a Delaware
corporation and is engaged in the underwriting, securities and commodities
brokerage business and is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., other
major securities exchanges and commodity exchanges and the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. Prudential Securities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Prudential Securities Group Inc. and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The
Prudential Insurance Company of America, is engaged in the investment advisory
business. Prudential Securities has acted as principal underwriter and managing
underwriter of other investment companies. In addition to participating as a
member of various selling groups or as an agent of other investment companies,
Prudential Securities executes orders on behalf of investment companies for the
purchase and sale of securities of such companies and sells securities to such
companies in its capacity as a broker or dealer in securities.

                                      B-26

<PAGE>
Limitations on Liability

    The Sponsor is liable for the performance of its obligations arising from
its responsibilities under the Indenture, but will be under no liability to Unit
Holders for taking any action or refraining from taking any action in good faith
or for errors in judgment and will not be responsible in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any Security or for depreciation or loss incurred
by reason of the sale of any Securities, except in cases of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties
(see 'Sponsor--Responsibility').

Responsibility

    The Trust is not a managed registered investment company. Securities will
not be sold by the Trustee to take advantage of ordinary market fluctuations.

    Although the Sponsor and Trustee do not presently intend to dispose of
Securities, the Indenture permits the Sponsor to direct the Trustee to dispose
of any Security in the Trust for the purpose of redeeming Units tendered for
redemption and to dispose of Fund Shares to pay Trust expenses.

    The proceeds resulting from the disposition of any Security in the Trust
will be distributed as set forth under 'Rights of Unit Holders--Distributions'
to the extent such proceeds are not utilized for the purpose of redeeming Units
or paying Trust expenses.

Resignation

    If at any time the Sponsor shall resign under the Indenture or shall fail to
perform or be incapable of performing its duties thereunder or shall become
bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, the Indenture
directs the Trustee to either (1) appoint a successor Sponsor or Sponsors at
rates of compensation deemed reasonable by the Trustee not exceeding amounts
prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, (2) act as Sponsor itself
without terminating the Trust or (3) terminate the Trust. The Trustee will
promptly notify Unit Holders of any such action.

                                    TRUSTEE

    The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, a national banking association with
its principal executive office at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10017 and
its unit investment trust office at 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.
The Trustee is subject to supervision by the Comptroller of the Currency, the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System. In connection with the storage and handling of certain
Securities deposited in the Trust, the Trustee may use the services of The
Depository Trust Company. These services may include safekeeping of the
Securities and coupon-clipping, computer book-entry transfer and institutional
delivery services. The Depository Trust Company is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the Banking Law of the State of New York, a member of
the Federal Reserve System and a clearing agency registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

Limitations on Liability

    The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible in any way for depreciation
or loss incurred by reason of the disposition of any moneys, Securities or
Certificates or in respect of any evaluation or for any action taken in good
faith reliance on prima facie properly executed documents except in cases of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its
obligations and duties. In addition, the Indenture provides that the Trustee
shall not be personally liable for any taxes or other governmental charges
imposed upon or in respect of the Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay
under current or future laws of the United States or any other taxing authority
having jurisdiction.

Responsibility

    The Trustee shall not be liable for any default, failure or defect in any
Security or for any depreciation or loss by reason of any such sale of Fund
Shares or by reason of the failure of the Sponsor to give directions to the
Trustee.

    Additionally, the Trustee may sell Securities designated by the Sponsor, or
if not so directed, in its own discretion, for the purpose of redeeming Units
tendered for redemption. Fund Shares will be sold first unless the Sponsor is
able to sell Treasury Obligations and Fund Shares in the proportionate
relationship between the maturity values of the Treasury Obligations and the
number of Fund Shares.
                                      B-27

<PAGE>
    Amounts received by the Trust upon the sale of any Security under the
conditions set forth above will be deposited in the Principal Account when
received and to the extent not used for the redemption of Units will be
distributable by the Trustee to Unit Holders of record on the Quarterly Record
Date next prior to a Quarterly Distribution Date.

    For the information relating to the responsibilities of the Trustee under
the Indenture, reference is also made to the material set forth under 'Rights of
Unit Holders' and 'Sponsor--Resignation.'

Resignation

    By executing an instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor,
the Trustee and any successor may resign. In such an event the Sponsor is
obligated to appoint a successor trustee as soon as possible. If the Trustee
becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by
public authorities, the Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
as provided in the Indenture. The Sponsor may also remove the Trustee for any
other reason that the Sponsor determines to be in the best interest of the Unit
Holders. Such resignation or removal shall become effective upon the acceptance
of appointment by the successor trustee. If upon resignation of a trustee no
successor has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within thirty days
after notification, the retiring trustee may apply to a court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. The resignation or removal of a
trustee becomes effective only when the successor trustee accepts its
appointment as such or when a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a
successor trustee. A successor trustee has the same rights and duties as the
original trustee except to the extent, if any, that the Indenture is modified as
permitted by its terms.

                                   EVALUATOR

    The Evaluator is Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J.J. Kenny
Co., Inc., with main offices located at 65 Broadway, New York, New York 10006.

Limitations on Liability

    The Trustee, Sponsor and Unit Holders may rely on any evaluation furnished
by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
Determinations by the Evaluator under the Indenture shall be made in good faith
upon the basis of the best information available to it; provided, however, that
the Evaluator shall be under no liability to the Trustee, Sponsor or Unit
Holders for errors in judgment. The Evaluator shall, however, be liable for its
own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
its obligations and duties under the Indenture.

Responsibility

    The Indenture requires the Evaluator to evaluate the Treasury Obligations on
the basis of their bid prices on the last business day of June and December in
each year, on the day on which any Unit is tendered for redemption and on any
other day such evaluation is desired by the Trustee or is requested by the
Sponsor. For information relating to the responsibility of the Evaluator to
evaluate the Treasury Obligations, see 'Public Offering of Units--Public
Offering Price.'

Resignation

    The Evaluator may resign or may be removed by the Sponsor, and the Sponsor
is to use its best efforts to appoint a satisfactory successor. Such resignation
or removal shall become effective upon the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Evaluator. If upon resignation of the Evaluator no successor accepts
appointment within thirty days after notice of resignation, the Evaluator may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor.

                   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE INDENTURE

Amendment

    The Indenture may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor without the
consent of Unit Holders (a) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement
any provision thereof which may be defective or inconsistent, (b) to change any
provision thereof as may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
or any successor governmental agency, and (c) to make such other provisions as
shall not adversely affect the interest of the Unit Holders; provided that the
Indenture may also be amended by the Sponsor and the Trustee with the consent of
Unit Holders evidencing 51% of the Units at the time outstanding for the
purposes of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights
of Unit Holders. In no event shall the Indenture be amended so as to increase
the number of Units issuable thereunder except as the result of the additional

                                      B-28

<PAGE>
deposits of Securities, to permit the deposit of Securities after the Date of
Deposit except in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Indenture as
initially adopted, to permit any other acquisition of securities or other
property by the Trustee either in addition to or in substitution for any of the
Securities on hand in the Trust or to permit the Trustee to vary the investment
of the Unit Holders or to empower the Trustee to engage in business or to engage
in investment activities not specifically authorized in the Indenture as
originally adopted; or so as to adversely affect the characterization of the
Trust as a grantor trust for Federal income tax purposes. In the event of any
amendment, the Trustee is obligated to promptly notify all Unit Holders of the
substance of such amendment.

Termination

    The Trust may be terminated at any time by the consent of the holders of 51%
of the Units or by the Trustee upon the direction of the Sponsor when the
aggregate net value of all Trust assets as shown by an evaluation made as
described under 'Evaluator--Responsibility' is less than 40% of the aggregate
maturity values of the Treasury Obligations deposited in the Trust on the Date
of Deposit and subsequent thereto calculated after the most recent deposit of
Treasury Obligations in the Trust or if there has been a material change in the
Fund's objectives or if Replacement Treasury Obligations are not acquired.
However, in no event may the Trust continue beyond the Mandatory Termination
Date set forth under 'Summary of Essential Information.' In the event of
termination, written notice thereof will be sent by the Trustee to all Unit
Holders.

    Within a reasonable period after termination, the Trustee will sell any
Securities remaining in the Trust (other than Fund Shares for which an in kind
distribution has been requested) and, after paying all expenses and charges
incurred by the Trust, will distribute to each Unit Holder, upon surrender for
cancellation of his Certificate for Units, his pro rata share of: (i) the amount
realized upon disposition of the Fund Shares unless the Unit Holder notifies the
Trustee in writing of his preference for distribution 'in kind,' (ii) the amount
realized upon the disposition or maturity of the Treasury Obligations and (iii)
any other assets of the Trust. A Unit Holder may invest the proceeds of the
Treasury Obligations in Fund Shares at such shares' net asset value, which shall
be subject to 12b-1 expenses. The sale of the Securities in the Trust upon
termination may result in a lower amount than might otherwise be realized if
such sale were not required at such time and, therefore, the amount realized by
a Unit Holder on termination may be less than the principal amount of Treasury
Obligations represented by the Units held by such Unit Holder.

Tax Impact of In Kind Distribution Upon Termination

    Under the position taken by the Internal Revenue Service in Revenue Ruling
90-7, a distribution by the Trustee to a Unit Holder (or to his agent) of his
pro rata share of the Fund Shares in kind upon termination of the Trust will not
be a taxable event to the Unit Holder. Such Unit Holder's basis for Fund Shares
so distributed (other than any Fund Shares purchased with his pro rata share of
the proceeds of Treasury Obligations) will be equal to his basis for the same
Fund Shares (previously represented by his Units) prior to such distribution and
his holding period for such Fund Shares will be the shorter of the period during
which he held his Units and the period for which the Securities were held in the
Trust. A Unit Holder will have a taxable gain or loss, which will be a capital
gain or loss except in the case of a dealer or a financial institution, when the
Unit Holder disposes of such Securities in a taxable transfer.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

    The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Cahill
Gordon & Reindel, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, as special counsel
for the Sponsor.

                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    The Statement of Financial Condition and Schedule of Portfolio Securities of
the Government Securities Equity Trust included in this Prospectus have been
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, certified public accountants, as stated in
their report appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon such report
given upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                      B-29

<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   No person is authorized to give any information or to make any
representations with respect to this investment company not contained in this
Prospectus; and any information or representation not contained herein must not
be relied upon as having been authorized. This Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any state to
any person to whom it is not lawful to make such offer in such state.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST
                            Series 8

                      Table of Contents

                                                            Page
                                                           -----
<S>                                                        <C>
Summary of Essential Information........................    A-iv
Independent Auditors' Report............................     A-1
Statement of Financial Condition........................     A-2
Schedule of Portfolio Securities........................     A-7
The Trust...............................................     B-1
    Trust Formation.....................................     B-1
    Securities Selection................................     B-2
    Stripped U.S. Treasury Obligations..................     B-2
    Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.........................     B-3
    General Information Regarding the Fund..............     B-3
    Investment Policies and Restrictions of the Fund....     B-5
    Net Asset Value of the Fund Shares..................    B-12
    The Fund's Investment Manager.......................    B-12
    The Fund's Plan of Distribution.....................    B-13
    Risk of Investment in Units.........................    B-14
    Fund Risk Factors...................................    B-15
    The Units...........................................    B-15
Tax Status of the Trust.................................    B-16
Retirement Plans........................................    B-19
Public Offering of Units................................    B-19
    Public Offering Price...............................    B-19
    Public Distribution.................................    B-19
    Secondary Market....................................    B-20
    Profit of Sponsor...................................    B-20
    Volume Discount.....................................    B-20
    Employee Discount...................................    B-21
Exchange Option.........................................    B-21
    Federal Income Tax Consequences.....................    B-22
Reinvestment of Trust Distributions.....................    B-22
Expenses and Charges....................................    B-23
    Initial Expenses....................................    B-23
    Fees................................................    B-23
    Other Charges.......................................    B-23
Rights of Unit Holders..................................    B-24
    Certificates........................................    B-24
    Certain Limitations.................................    B-24
    Distributions.......................................    B-24
    Reports and Records.................................    B-25
    Redemption..........................................    B-25
Comparison of Public Offering Price and Redemption
Price...................................................    B-26
Sponsor.................................................    B-26
    Limitations on Liability............................    B-27
    Responsibility......................................    B-27
    Resignation.........................................    B-27
Trustee.................................................    B-27
    Limitations on Liability............................    B-27
    Responsibility......................................    B-27
    Resignation.........................................    B-28
Evaluator...............................................    B-28
    Limitations on Liability............................    B-28
    Responsibility......................................    B-28
    Resignation.........................................    B-28
Amendment and Termination of the Indenture..............    B-28
    Amendment...........................................    B-28
    Termination.........................................    B-29
    Tax Impact of In Kind Distribution Upon
    Termination.........................................    B-29
Legal Opinions..........................................    B-29
Independent Auditors....................................    B-29
</TABLE>

                                    (LOGO)

                                    Sponsor
                        Prudential Securities Incorporated
                               One Seaport Plaza
                                199 Water Street
                            New York, New York 10292

                                    Trustee
                             The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017

                                   Evaluator
                          Kenny S&P Evaluation Services,
                                 a division of
                              J.J. Kenny Co., Inc.
                                  65 Broadway
                            New York, New York 10006

                                  Fund Shares
                           Prudential Equity Fund, Inc.
                              Gateway Center Three
                              100 Mulberry Street
                            Newark, New Jersey 07102

<PAGE>


     This  Post-Effective  Amendment to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-6
comprises the following papers and documents:

                  The facing sheet on Form S-6.

                  The Prospectus.

                  Signatures.

     Consent of independent  public  accountants  and consent of evaluator;  all
other consents were previously filed.

                  The following Exhibits:

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

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

           *Ex-4.a            -       Trust Indenture and Agreement dated May
                                        16, 1989.

            *Ex-23            -       Consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services,
                                        a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc. (as
                                        evaluator)

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

         ****Ex-99            -       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 15b-1 and 15b3-1 under the
                                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (1934
                                        Act File No. 8-27154).

        ****Ex-99.2           -       Affiliations of Sponsor with other
                                        investment companies.

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

       *****Ex-99.4           -       Investment Advisory Agreement.

- --------------------
*    Filed herewith.
                                      II-1

**   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 172,  Registration  No. 33-54681 (filed October 13, 1994),  National
     Equity Trust, Top Ten Portfolio Series 3, Registration No. 333-15919 (filed
     January 31, 1997) and National Equity Trust,  Low Five Portfolio Series 17,
     Registration No. 333-44543 (filed January 20, 1998).

***  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 (filed August 9, 1996) and National
     Equity Trust,  S&P 500 Strategy Trust Series 2,  Registration No. 333-39521
     (filed October 14, 1998).

**** 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 31,  Registration  No.  333-96071 (filed February 3,
     2000).

*****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 164, Registration No. 33-66108 (filed February 28, 2000).

                                      II-2

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant,
Government  Securities  Equity Trust Series 8 certifies that it meets all of the
requirements for effectiveness of this Registration  Statement  pursuant to Rule
485(b) under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and has duly caused this  Registration
Statement  or  amendment  thereto 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
25th day of May, 2000.

                           Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8
                           (Registrant)

                           By PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
                                    (Depositor)

                           By the following persons,1 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,
                                           Manger Unit Investment
                                           Manger Trust Department,
                                           as authorized signatory for
                                           Prudential Securities Incorporated
                                           and Attorney-in-Fact for the persons
                                           listed above)
___________________________
1       Pursuant to Powers of Attorney previously filed.

                                      II-3

<PAGE>

                               CONSENT OF COUNSEL

     The consent of counsel to the use of its name in the Prospectus included
in this  Registration  Statement is contained in its opinion  filed as Exhibit
5 to this Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the use in the Post Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration
Statement No. 33-56297 of the Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8 of
our report dated May 12, 2000 appearing in the Prospectus, which is a part
of such Registration Statement, and to the reference to our Firm under the
heading "Auditors" in such Prospectus.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
May 24, 2000
                                     II-5


<PAGE>
===============================================================================

                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST

                          TRUST INDENTURE AND AGREEMENT

                  for all series formed on or subsequent to the
                         effective date specified below

                                      Among

                        PRUDENTIAL-BACHE SECURITIES INC.
                                  As Depositor

                     UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

                                   As Trustee

                          STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION

                                  As Evaluator

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


                               Dated: May 16, 1989

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                          TRUST INDENTURE AND AGREEMENT
                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

                                   ARTICLE II

                    DEPOSIT OF SECURITIES; ACCEPTANCE OF TRUST;
                      ISSUANCE OF UNITS; FORM OF CERTIFICATES

   Section 2.01.        Deposit of Securities.................................12
   Section 2.02.        Acceptance of Trust...................................12
   Section 2.03.        Issue of Units........................................12
   Section 2.04.        Form of Certificates..................................13
   Section 2.05.        Deposit of Additional Securities......................13
   Section 2.06.        Register of Units.....................................13

                                   ARTICLE III

                             ADMINISTRATION OF TRUST

   Section 3.01.        Initial Costs.........................................14
   Section 3.02.        Income Account........................................14
   Section 3.03.        Principal Account.....................................14
   Section 3.04.        Reserve Account.......................................14
   Section 3.05.        Distribution........................ .................15
   Section 3.06.        Distribution Statements...............................17
   Section 3.07.        Replacement Securities................................19
   Section 3.08.        Sale of Securities................... ................19
   Section 3.09.        Notice and Sale by Trustee............................20
   Section 3.10.        Notice to Depositor...................................20
   Section 3.11.        Trustee Not to Amortize...............................21

<PAGE>

                                                                            Page

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       EVALUATION OF SECURITIES; EVALUATOR

   Section 4.01.        Evaluation by Evaluator...............................21
   Section 4.02.        Tax Reports...........................................21
   Section 4.03.        Evaluator's Compensation.............. ...............22
   Section 4.04.        Liability of Evaluator................................22
   Section 4.05.        Successor Evaluator...................................22

                                    ARTICLE V

                TRUST EVALUATION; REDEMPTION, PURCHASE, TRANSFER,
                   INTERCHANGE OR REPLACEMENT OF CERTIFICATES

   Section 5.01.        Trust Evaluation....................... ..............23
   Section 5.02.        Redemptions by Trustee; Purchases by Depositor........24
   Section 5.03.        Transfer or Interchange of Certificates...............26
   Section 5.04.        Certificates Mutilated, Destroyed, Stolen-or Lost.....26

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                     TRUSTEE

   Section 6.01.        General Definition of Trustee's Liabilities, Rights  and
                        Duties................................................27
   Section 6.02.        Books, Records and Reports........      ..............30
   Section 6.03.        Indenture and List of Securities on File..............31
   Section 6.04.        Compensation..........................................31
   Section 6.05.        Removal and Resignation of Trustee; Successor.........32
   Section 6.06.        Qualifications of Trustee.............................34

                                   ARTICLE VII

                             RIGHTS OF UNIT HOLDERS

   Section 7.01.        Beneficiaries of Trust................................34
   Section 7.02.        Rights, Terms and Conditions..........................34

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

                                                                            Page


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                    DEPOSITOR

   Section 8.01.        Liabilities; Power of Attorney.............. .........35
   Section 8.02.        Discharge.............................................35
   Section 8.03.        Successors............................................36
   Section 8.04.        Resignation...........................................37
   Section 8.05.        Additional Depositors.................................37
   Section 8.06.        Exclusions from Liability.............................37

                                   ARTICLE IX

                 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS; MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

   Section 9.01.        Amendments....................... ....................38
   Section 9.02.        Notice of Amendment...................................39
   Section 9.03.        Termination...........................................39
   Section 9.04.        Construction..........................................41
   Section 9.05.        Registration of Units.................................41
   Section 9.06.        Written Notice........................................41
   Section 9.07.        Severability..................... ....................42
   Section 9.08.        Dissolution of Depositors Not to Terminate............42
   Section 9.09.        Name..................................................42

   EXECUTION......................................................... ........43
   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................44

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

This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture.

                                      -iii-


<PAGE>

     TRUST  INDENTURE  AND AGREEMENT  dated May 16, 1989 among  PRUDENTIAL-BACHE
SECURITIES  INC.  as  Depositor,  United  States  Trust  Company  of New York as
Trustee, and Standard & Poor's Corporation as Evaluator.

     WITNESSETH that:

     WHEREAS,  Prudential-Bache  Securities  Inc., the Trustee and the Evaluator
are  entering  into this  Trust  Indenture  and  Agreement  for the  purpose  of
establishing  certain of the terms,  covenants and  conditions of the Government
Securities  Equity  Trust  Series  1, and each  subsequent  Series  which may be
established  from time to time hereafter,  incorporating  by reference the terms
hereof; and

     WHEREAS,  for the  Government  Securities  Equity  Trust Series 1, and each
subsequent Series of the Government Securities Equity Trust, to which this Trust
Indenture and  Agreement is  applicable,  the  Depositor,  the Trustee,  and the
Evaluator shall execute a separate  Reference Trust Agreement  incorporating  by
reference  this Trust  Indenture and  Agreement  and  effecting  any  amendment,
supplement or variation from or to such  incorporation by reference with respect
to the related  series,  and specifying  for that series:  (i) the United States
Treasury  obligations and Fund Shares deposited in trust and the number of Units
delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the United States Treasury  Obligations
and Fund Shares pursuant to Section 2.03; (ii) the initial fractional  undivided
interest  represented  by each Unit in each  Trust;  (iii) the first  Settlement
Date;  (iv) the  first  Quarterly  Computation  Date;  (v) the  first  Quarterly
Distribution  Date; (vi) the first Quarterly  Record Date; (vii) the name of the
Depositor;  and (viii) any other change or addition contemplated or permitted by
this Trust Indenture and Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the Depositor will acquire and,  concurrently  with the execution
and delivery of the appropriate Reference Trust Agreement, will deposit in trust
with the Trustee the United States  Treasury  Obligations  and Fund Shares to be
listed in the Schedules thereto, all to be held by the Trustee in trust upon the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth as amended, supplemented or varied by
such  Reference  Trust  Agreement,  for the use and  benefit  of all  registered
holders of units of  fractional  undivided  interest  in the Trust to which such
Reference Trust Agreement relates; and


     WHEREAS,  concurrently  with the  receipt  of the  aforesaid  deposit,  the
Trustee will record on its books the ownership by the Depositor thereof of units
of fractional  undivided  interest in such  Securities and in the Income Account
and  the  Principal  Account  maintained  under  this  Indenture  in the  manner
hereinafter  provided (which units of fractional  undivided interest so recorded
respectively  will represent in the aggregate  110% of the  beneficial  interest
established hereby in such Securities, Income Account and Principal Account) and
will execute in the name of the Depositor thereof certificates  representing the
ownership of the

<PAGE>
                                      -2-

aggregate  number of Units  specified in such  Reference  Trust
Agreement (hereinafter called the "Certificates"); and

     WHEREAS, the form of the Certificates shall be substantially as follows:


<PAGE>
                                     -3-

No. ______                                                        ________ Units

                            CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP

                                 --evidencing--

                              An Undivided Interest

                                   --in the--

                       GOVERNMENT SECURITIES EQUITY TRUST

                                     SERIES

                                                                         CUSIP

                                                                  [-----------]
                                                                  [-----------]

     This is to certify that _______ is the owner and registered  holder of this
Certificate  evidencing  the  ownership of Unit(s) of undivided  interest in the
Series of the Government  Securities  Equity Trust that is specified on the face
hereof  (hereinafter  called the  "Trust").  The Trust was  created by the Trust
Indenture and Agreement  applicable to this Series of the Government  Securities
Equity  Trust,  as  amended,  supplemented  or  varied  by the  Reference  Trust
Agreement  applicable to this Series of the Government  Securities  Equity Trust
(such Trust  Indenture and Agreement as amended,  supplemented or varied by such
Reference Trust  Agreement  being  hereinafter  called the  "Indenture"),  among
PRUDENTIAL-BACHE  SECURITIES INC.  (hereinafter called the 'Depositor"),  United
States Trust Company of New York (hereinafter called the "Trustee") and Standard
& Poor's Corporation (hereinafter called the "Evaluator"). The Trust consists of
(1) such of the  United  States  Treasury  Obligations  (hereinafter  called the
"Treasury  Obligations")  and mutual fund shares  (hereinafter  called the "Fund
Shares") listed in the Schedule of the Reference Trust Agreement relating to the
Trust,  and contracts for the purchase of such securities and certified  checks,
cash or an  irrevocable  letter of  credit  issued by a  commercial  bank,  or a
combination  thereof  in the  amount  required  for such  purpose  (collectively
referred to as the "Securities") and such of the Additional  Securities that may
be deposited in the Trust, and any other securities that may be deposited in the
Trust as Replacement Securities, as may from time to time continue to be held as
part of the Trust and (2) such cash  amounts as from time to time may be held in
the Income Account and the Principal  Account for the Trust maintained under the
Indenture in the manner described in this Certificate.

<PAGE>
                                     -4-

     At any given time this Certificate  shall represent a fractional  undivided
interest in the Trust,  the numerator of which  fraction  shall be the number of
Units set forth on the face hereof and the denominator of which shall be the sum
of the total of all Units of the Trust which are outstanding at such time.

     The  Depositor  hereby  grants  and  conveys  all of its  right,  title and
interest in and to the Trust to the extent of the fractional  undivided interest
represented  hereby to the registered holder of this Certificate  subject to and
in pursuance of the Indenture,  all the terms, conditions and covenants of which
are incorporated herein as if fully set forth at length.

     The  registered  holder of this  Certificate  is  entitled at any time upon
tender of this  Certificate to the Trustee at its corporate  trust office in the
City of New York, and upon payment of any tax or other governmental  charges, to
receive,  on the seventh  calendar day following the day on which such tender is
made,  or, if such calendar day is not a business day, on the first business day
prior to such  calendar  day, an amount in cash equal to the  evaluation  of the
fractional  undivided interest in the Trust evidenced by this Certificate,  upon
the  basis  provided  for in the  Indenture.  The  right  of  redemption  may be
suspended  and the date of payment may be postponed  for any period during which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed or trading on that Exchange is restricted,
for any  period  during  which  an  emergency  exists  so that  disposal  of the
Securities  held  in  the  Trust  is  not  reasonably  practicable  or it is not
reasonably practicable to determine fairly the value of such Securities,  or for
such other  periods  as the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  may by order
permit.

     Dividend  income and l2b-1 fee rebate  amounts  received  by the Trustee as
part of the Trust shall be credited by the Trustee to the Income  Account of the
Trust. The fractional  undivided interest represented by this Certificate in the
balance in the Income  Account of the Trust  (after the  deductions  referred to
below)  shall be computed as of the  Quarterly  Computation  Date and paid on or
shortly after the Quarterly  Distribution  Date to Unit Holders of record on the
Quarterly Record Date immediately preceding the Quarterly Distribution Date. The
next computation shall be made as of the next succeeding  Quarterly  Computation
Date, and thereafter as of each succeeding Quarterly Computation Date.

     All monies  (other  than  dividend  income  and 12b-1 fee  rebate  amounts)
received by the Trustee as part of the Trust  (including  amounts  received from
the sale,  liquidation,  redemption  or maturity of any  Securities  held in the
Trust)  shall be credited by the Trustee to a separate  Principal  Account.  The
fractional  undivided  interest  represented  by this  Certificate  in the  cash
balance in the Principal Account of the Trust (after the deductions  referred to
below) shall be computed  quarterly as of the  Quarterly  Computation  Date.  An
amount in cash equal to the sum of said  fractional  undivided  interest  in the
Income  and  Principal   Accounts,   shall  be   distributed  on  the  Quarterly
Distribution  Date or within a  reasonable  period of time  thereafter,  to Unit
Holders  of  record on the  Quarterly  Record  Date  immediately  preceding  the

<PAGE>
                                      -5-

Quarterly  Distribution Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Trustee shall
not be  required  to make a  distribution  unless  the  aggregate  cash  balance
available  for  distribution  in the Income and  Principal  Accounts is at least
$2.50 per 110  Units.  However,  not less than  once per  year,  on a  Quarterly
Distribution  Date, the Trustee shall  distribute the entire cash balance in the
Income and  Principal  Accounts  available for  distribution  unless the Trustee
receives the agreement of the Depositor to forego a distribution.

     Distributions  from the Income and Principal Accounts shall be made by mail
at the post office  address of the holder hereof  appearing in the  registration
books of the Trustee.

     From time to time  deductions  shall be made from the  Income  Account  and
Principal Account, as more fully set forth in the Indenture,  for redemptions of
Units,  compensation  of the Trustee  and  Evaluator,  reimbursement  of certain
expenses  incurred by or on behalf of the Trustee,  certain  legal  expenses and
payment of, or the establishment of a reserve for, applicable taxes, if any.

     Within a reasonable period of time after the end of each calendar year, but
not later than the time  required  by any  applicable  law,  the  Trustee  shall
furnish to the registered  holder of this Certificate a statement setting forth,
among other  things,  the amounts  received  and  deductions  therefrom  and the
amounts  distributed  during the preceding  year in respect of dividend  income,
capital gain, and sales, redemptions,  liquidation,  or maturities of Securities
held in the Trust.

     This Certificate  shall be transferable by the registered  holder hereof by
presentation  and surrender  hereof at the corporate trust office of the Trustee
properly  endorsed or  accompanied  by a written  instrument or  instruments  of
transfer in form  satisfactory  to the Trustee  and  executed by the  registered
holder  hereof  or  his  authorized  attorney.  Certificates  of the  Trust  are
interchangeable  for one or more  Certificates in an equal  aggregate  number of
units of undivided  interest in the Trust at the  corporate  trust office of the
Trustee, in denominations of a single unit of undivided interest or any multiple
thereof.

     The holder hereof may be required to pay a charge of $2.00 per  Certificate
issued in connection  with the transfer or interchange of this  Certificate  and
will be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in  connection  with  the  transfer,  interchange  or  other  surrender  of this
Certificate.
     The holder of this Certificate, by virtue of the acceptance hereof, assents
to and shall be bound by the terms of the Indenture,  a copy of which is on file
and available for  inspection at the corporate  trust office of the Trustee,  to
which reference is made for all the terms, conditions and covenants thereof.

<PAGE>
                                      -6-

     The Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this Certificate is
registered  upon the books of the Trustee as the owner  hereof for all  purposes
and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     The Trust shall  terminate  upon the  maturity,  redemption,  sale or other
disposition  of the last Security held therein,  provided,  however,  that in no
event shall the  Indenture and the Trust  continue  beyond the date set forth in
Part II of the Reference Trust  Agreement.  The Indenture also provides that the
Trust may be terminated at any time by the written consent of the holders of 51%
of the units of undivided interest in the Trust and under certain  circumstances
which include a decrease in the aggregate value of the Trust assets to less than
40% of the maturity  amounts of the Treasury  Obligations  calculated  after the
most  recent  deposit  of the  Treasury  Obligations  in  the  Trust.  Upon  any
termination,  the Trustee shall fully liquidate the Securities then held, if any
(unless the Unit Holder  notifies  the  Trustee,  in writing,  of an election to
receive Fund Shares in-kind,  in which event the Trustee shall distribute to the
Unit Holder such amount of  Fund-Shares  in-kind),  and  distribute pro rata the
cash and property then held in the Trust upon surrender of the Certificates, all
in the manner provided in the Indenture. Upon termination,  the Trustee shall be
under no further obligation with respect to the Trust,  except to hold the funds
in trust without interest until distribution as aforesaid and shall have no duty
upon any such  termination to  communicate  with the holder hereof other than by
mail at the address of such holder  appearing in the  registration  books of the
Trustee.

     This  Certificate  shall not become valid or binding for any purpose  until
properly executed by the Trustee under the Indenture.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Prudential-Bache  Securities  Inc.  has  caused  this
Certificate to be executed in facsimile by its Senior Vice President; and United
States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee,  has caused this Certificate to be
executed in its corporate name by an authorized officer.

Dated:

                                            PRUDENTIAL-BACHE SECURITIES
                                            INC., DEPOSITOR

                                            By:____________________________
                                                   Senior Vice President
<PAGE>
                                      -7-

                                            UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF
                                            NEW YORK, TRUSTEE

                                            By:___________________________
                                                Authorized Officer
<PAGE>
                                     -8-


     The following  abbreviations,  when used in the  inscription on the face of
this  certificate,  shall be  construed  as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:


TEN COM  as tenants in common          UNIF GIFT MIN ACT _____ Custodian ______
                                                        (Cust)          (Minor)

TEN ENT           as tenants by the          under Uniform Gifts to Minors
                  entireties

JT TEN        as joint tenants with right    Act________________________________
              of survivorship and not as                   (State)
              tenants in common

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                   ASSIGNMENT

For Value Received ___________________________________________________________

Please insert Social Security or Other
         Identifying Number of Assignee

[                              ]
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto________________________________________

the within Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______
______________________________________________________________ attorney, to
transfer the within Certificate on the books of the Trustee, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            The signature(s) to this assignment
                                            must correspond with the name(s) as
                                            written upon the face of the
                                            certificate without alteration or
                                            enlargement or any change whatever.

                                            Signature guarantee should be made
                                            by the Depositor, a member of the
                                            New York, American,  Midwest or
                                            Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a


<PAGE>

                                      -9-


                                            commercial bank or trust company
                                            having its principal office or
                                            correspondent in the City of New
                                            York.

                                            Signature Guarantee

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

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


     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
agreements herein contained,  the Depositor, the Trustee and the Evaluator agree
as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

     Section  1.01.  Whenever used in this  Indenture  the  following  words and
phrases,  unless  the  context  clearly  indicates  otherwise,  shall  have  the
following meanings:

(1)  "Additional  Securities"  shall mean such Securities (as defined herein) as
     are listed in Supplementary  Schedules of the Reference Trust Agreement and
     which have been  deposited  to effect an increase  over the number of Units
     initially specified in Part II of the Reference Trust Agreement.

(2)  "Additional  Units" shall mean such Units (as defined herein) as are issued
     in respect of Additional Securities.

(3)  "Basic  Agreement"  shall mean this Trust  Indenture and Agreement dated as
     indicated on the cover page hereof as originally executed, or if amended as
     hereinafter  provided,  as so amended,  exclusive of the terms contained in
     any related Reference Trust Agreement.

(4)  "Business  day" shall  mean any day other than a Saturday  or Sunday or, in
     the  City  of  New  York,  a  legal  holiday,  or a day  on  which  banking
     institutions are authorized by law to close.

(5)  "Certificate"  shall  mean  any  one of the  certificates  executed  by the
     Trustee and the Depositor  evidencing  ownership of an undivided fractional
     interest in the Trust.

<PAGE>
                                      -10-


(6)  "Contract Securities" shall mean Securities which are to be acquired by the
     Trust  pursuant  to  contracts  which have been  assigned  to the  Trustee,
     including  (i)  Securities  listed in the Schedule to the  Reference  Trust
     Agreement and Supplementary Schedules thereto and (ii) Securities which the
     Depositor  has  contracted  to purchase  for the Trust  pursuant to Section
     3.07.

(7)  "Depositor"  of the Trust shall have the meaning  assigned to it in Part II
     of the Reference Trust Agreement.

(8)  "Evaluation Time" shall mean 4:15 P.M. New York Time.

(9)  "Evaluator"  shall mean Standard & Poor's  Corporation  or any  corporation
     into which such firm may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
     any corporation  resulting from any merger or  consolidation  to which such
     firm shall be a party, or any firm succeeding to all or  substantially  all
     of the business of such firm;  or any  successor  evaluator as  hereinafter
     provided for.

(10) "Fund"  shall  mean the mutual  fund set forth in Part II of the  Reference
     Trust Agreement.

(11) "Fund  Shares"  shall  mean  shares of the Fund set forth in Part II of the
     Reference Trust Agreement relating to such Trust or contracts and funds for
     the purchase thereof.

(12) "Indenture"   shall  mean  the  Basic   Agreement,   as  further   amended,
     supplemented or varied by the Reference Trust Agreement.

(13) "Quarterly  Computation Date" of a Trust shall have the meaning assigned to
     it in Part II of the Reference Trust Agreement relating to such Trust.

(14) "Quarterly Distribution Date" of a Trust shall have the meaning assigned to
     it in Part II of the Reference Trust Agreement relating to such Trust.

(15) "Quarterly Record Date" of a Trust shall have the meaning assigned to it in
     Part II of the Reference Trust Agreement relating to such Trust.

(16) "Reference Trust Agreement" shall mean a supplement to the Basic Agreement,
     the purpose of which shall be to amend,  supplement  and/or vary certain of
     the terms contained in the Basic Agreement.  Each Reference Trust Agreement
     together with the Basic  Agreement to the extent that such Reference  Trust
     Agreement  incorporates it by reference,  defines all the terms, rights and
     duties relevant to the series of the Government Securities Equity Trust, to
     which such Reference Trust Agreement relates.

<PAGE>
                                      -11-

(17) "Replacement   Treasury   Obligation"  shall  mean  a  Treasury  Obligation
     purchased by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof.

(18) "Securities" shall mean both the Fund Shares and the United States Treasury
     Obligations  deposited  in trust and listed on a schedule  attached  to the
     Reference  Trust  Agreement  and  on  any  supplemental  schedule  thereto,
     including  contracts  for the purchase of such  securities,  and  certified
     checks,  cash or an  irrevocable  letter of credit  issued by a  commercial
     bank, or a combination thereof in the amount required for such purpose.

(19) "Trust" shall mean the trust created by this  Indenture,  which trust shall
     be  denominated  as indicated in Part II of the Reference  Trust  Agreement
     relating  to such  trust and which  shall  consist of the  Securities  held
     pursuant  and subject to this  Indenture  together  with all  undistributed
     dividend  income or other  amounts  received  or accrued  thereon,  and any
     undistributed  net capital gains and proceeds realized from the disposition
     of Securities.

(20) "Trustee"  shall mean  United  States  Trust  Company  of New York,  or any
     successor trustee as hereinafter provided for.

(21) "Unit" shall represent a fractional  undivided interest in and ownership of
     the Trust initially  equal to the fraction  specified for the Trust in Part
     II of the Reference  Trust  Agreement  relating to the Trust.  From time to
     time, the  denominator of each of these fractions shall be decreased by the
     number of any such Units  redeemed as  provided in Section  5.02 hereof and
     increased by the number of any Additional Units created pursuant to Section
     2.05 hereof.

(22) "Unit Holder" shall mean the  registered  holder of any unit as recorded on
     the  books of the  Trustee,  his  legal  representatives  and heirs and the
     successors  of any other legal entity  which is a registered  holder of any
     unit and as such shall be deemed a beneficiary of the Trust created by this
     Indenture to the extent of his pro rata share thereof.

(23) "United States Treasury Obligations" ("Treasury  Obligation(s)") shall mean
     debt obligations of the government of the United States or agencies thereof
     or  obligations of an entity the payment of which is guaranteed by the full
     faith and credit of the United  States,  which have been  stripped of their
     unmatured  interest  coupons or such  coupons or receipts  or  certificates
     evidencing  such  obligations  or  coupons or  contracts  and funds for the
     purchase  thereof.  The obligor or guarantor of each obligation is the U.S.
     Government.  Such  obligations  may  include  certificates  that  represent
     ownership of the payments that comprise a U.S. government bond.

<PAGE>
                                      -12-

(24) Words importing the singular number shall include the plural number in each
     case  and  vice  versa,   and  words   importing   persons   shall  include
     corporations, and associations, as well as natural persons.

(25) The  words  "herein",  "hereby",   "herewith",   "hereof",   "hereinafter",
     "hereunder", "hereinabove",  "hereafter", "heretofore" and similar words or
     phrases of reference and  association  shall refer to this indenture in its
     entirety.

(26) "12b-1  fee  rebate"  shall  mean,  where  applicable,  an  amount of money
     received  by the Trustee in respect of l2b-1 fees  assessed  on  particular
     Fund Shares held by the Trust.

                                   ARTICLE II

                   DEPOSIT OF SECURITIES; ACCEPTANCE OF TRUST;
                     ISSUANCE OF UNITS; FORM OF CERTIFICATES

     Section 2.01. Deposit of Securities:  The Depositor,  concurrently with the
execution and delivery of the Reference Trust Agreement,  has deposited with the
Trustee in trust the Securities listed in the Schedule or Schedules  attached to
such  Reference  Trust  Agreement  in bearer  form or duly  endorsed in blank or
accompanied  by all necessary  instruments  of assignment and transfer in proper
form to be held, administered and applied by the Trustee as herein provided. The
Depositor  shall deliver the Securities  listed on said Schedule or Schedules to
the Trustee which were not actually  delivered  concurrently  with the execution
and  delivery  of the  Reference  Trust  Agreement  within  90 days  after  said
execution and delivery or, if Section 3.07 applies,  within such shorter  period
as if specified in Section 3.07.

     Section 2.02.  Acceptance of Trust:  The Trustee  hereby  accepts the Trust
created by this  Indenture  for the use and  benefit of the Unit  Holders in the
Trust, subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

     Section 2.03.  Issue of Units: By executing the Reference Trust  Agreement,
the Trustee  will  thereby  acknowledge  receipt of the deposit  relating to the
Trust to which such Reference  Trust Agreement  relates,  referred to in Section
2.01,  and  simultaneously  with  the  receipt  of said  deposit,  will  execute
Certificates  substantially in the form above recited representing the ownership
of all  Units  of the  Trust  as  specified  in Part II of the  Reference  Trust
Agreement and deliver same to the Depositor.

<PAGE>
                                      -13-


     The Trusts created by this  Indenture are separate and distinct  trusts for
all  purposes  and the assets of one such trust may not be  commingled  with the
assets of any other nor shall the  expenses of any such trust be charge  against
the other. The Certificates representing the ownership of a fractional undivided
interest in one Trust shall not be exchangeable  for  certificates  representing
the ownership of an undivided fractional interest in any other.

     Section 2.04. Form of Certificates: Each Certificate referred to in Section
2.03 shall be in substantially the form hereinabove  recited,  numbered serially
for  identification in fully registered form,  transferable only on the books of
the Trustee as herein provided,  executed  manually by an authorized  officer of
the Trustee and in facsimile by a Senior Vice  President of the Depositor of the
Trust to which the  Certificate  relates,  and dated the date of  execution  and
delivery by the Trustee.

     Section 2.05.  Deposit of Additional  Securities:  From time to time and in
the discretion of the  Depositor,  the Depositor may make deposits of Additional
Securities,  provided that the  proportional  relationship  between the maturity
amount of the  Treasury  Obligations  and the number of Fund Shares  immediately
prior to such deposit is maintained;  also provided that any additional Treasury
Obligations are substantially  identical with those then held in the Trust. Each
deposit of Additional  Securities shall be listed in and made in accordance with
a Supplementary  Schedule to the Reference  Trust Agreement  stating the date of
such  deposit and the number of  Additional  Units being  issued  therefor.  The
Trustee shall acknowledge in such Supplementary Schedule receipt of the deposit,
and  simultaneously  with the receipt of said  deposit,  reflect  the  aggregate
number of Additional Units specified in such Supplementary Schedule by executing
Certificates  representing  the  ownership of such Units and deliver same to the
Depositor. Such Additional Securities shall be held, administered and applied by
the  Trustee  in the same  manner as herein  provided  for the  Securities.  The
execution  by the  Depositor  in  connection  with  the  deposit  of  Additional
Securities of a  Supplementary  Schedule to the Reference  Trust Agreement shall
constitute the approval by the Depositor as  satisfactory  in form and substance
of the contracts to be entered into or assumed by the Trustee with regard to any
Additional Securities listed on such Supplementary Schedule and authorization to
the  Trustee on behalf of the Trust to enter into or assume such  contracts  and
otherwise  to carry  out the  terms  and  provisions  thereof  or to take  other
appropriate action in order to complete the deposit of the Additional Securities
covered thereby into the Trust.

     Section 2.06.  Register of Units:  A register  shall be kept by the Trustee
containing the names and addresses of Unit Holders and the number of Units owned
by  each  Unit  Holder,  and in  which  all  issues,  exchanges,  transfers  and
cancellations of Units shall be recorded.

<PAGE>
                                      -14-


                                   ARTICLE III

                             Administration of Trust

     Section 3.01.  Initial Costs:  With respect to each Trust,  the cost of the
initial  preparation,  printing  and  execution  of the  Certificates  and  this
Indenture,  and other reasonable expenses in connection  therewith shall be paid
by the  Depositor  and/or such other entity as the  Depositor  shall  determine;
provided,  however,  that the  liability on the part of the  Depositor  for such
initial  costs,  fees and  expenses  shall not include any fees,  costs or other
expenses  incurred in  connection  herewith  after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture,  and the deposit  relating to the Trust,  referred to in Section
2.01.

     Section 3.02. Income Account: The Trustee shall collect the dividend income
on (the  Securities  in the  Trust as such are paid,  and all  12b-1 fee  rebate
amounts,  and  credit  such  amounts  to a  separate  account to be known as the
"Income Account."

     Section  3.03.  Principal  Account:  The  Securities  in the  Trust and all
monies,  including  capital  gains paid on the Fund  Shares,  other than amounts
credited to the Income Account for the Trust, received by the Trustee in respect
of the  Securities in the Trust shall be credited to a separate  account for the
Trust to be known as the "Principal Account" for the Trust.

     Section 3.04. Reserve Account: From time to time the Trustee shall withdraw
from the Principal  Account to the extent funds on deposit in the Income Account
are not  sufficient  such  amounts  as it, in its sole  discretion,  shall  deem
requisite to establish a reserve for any applicable taxes or other  governmental
charges that may be payable out of the Trust. Such amounts so withdrawn shall be
credited  to a  separate  account  for the  Trust  which  shall  be known as the
"Reserve  Account."  The Trustee shall not be required to distribute to the Unit
Holders any of the amounts in the Reserve Account; provided, however, that if it
shall,  in its sole  discretion,  determine  that  such  amounts  are no  longer
necessary for payment of any  applicable  taxes or other  governmental  charges,
then it shall  promptly  deposit  such  amounts in the account from which it was
withdrawn  or,  if such  Trust  has  been  terminated  or is in the  process  of
termination,  the Trustee  shall  distribute  to each Unit Holder  thereof  such
holder's  interest  in the  Reserve  Account  of such Trust in  accordance  with
Section 9.03.

<PAGE>

                                      -15-

     Section 3.05.  Distribution:  As of each Quarterly Computation Date for the
Trust, the Trustee shall:

(a)  deduct from the Income  Account,  or, to the extent funds are not available
     in such Account,  from the Principal Account and pay to itself individually
     the  amounts  that it is at the time  entitled to receive on account of its
     services  theretofore  performed and its expenses,  losses and  liabilities
     theretofore incurred pursuant to Section 6.04;

(b)  deduct from the Income  Account,  or, to the extent funds are not available
     in such Account,  from the  Principal  Account and pay to the Evaluator the
     amount that it is at the time entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.03;
     and

(c)  deduct from the Income  Account,  or, to the extent funds are not available
     in such Income Account,  from the Principal Account, an amount equal to the
     unpaid fees and expenses, if any, including  registration charges, Blue Sky
     fees,   printing  costs,   attorneys'   fees,   auditing  costs  and  other
     miscellaneous  out-of-pocket  expenses,  as  certified  by  the  Depositor,
     incurred  in  keeping  the  registration  of the  Units  and the Trust on a
     current basis pursuant to Section 9.05, provided,  however, that no portion
     of such amount  shall be deducted or paid unless the payment  thereof  from
     the Trust is at that time lawful.  if the cash  dividend,  12b-1 fee rebate
     and capital gains  distributions  to the Trust are  insufficient to provide
     for  amounts  payable  pursuant to  paragraphs  (a),  (b),  and (c) of this
     Section  3.05,  the Trustee has the power to sell Fund Shares (not Treasury
     Obligations) to pay such amounts.

     On each Quarterly  Distribution  Date or within a reasonable period of time
thereafter,  the Trustee shall provide the following distribution elections: (1)
distributions  by mail to each Unit Holder of record at the close of business on
the immediately  preceding  Quarterly  Record Date at his post office address as
shown on the books of the  Trustee of such Unit  Holder's  pro rata share of the
balance  of  the  Income  Account,   computed  as  of  the  preceding  Quarterly
Computation  Date for the Trust,  plus such Unit  Holder's pro rata share of the
distributable cash balance of the Principal Account of the Trust, computed as of
the preceding  Quarterly Record Date for the Trust, except as reduced by (x) any
amounts  deducted  pursuant to Paragraphs  (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.05
and (y) any amounts needed to redeem Units pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof,  (2)
investment of the amount otherwise  distributable pursuant to election (1) above
in Fund Shares,  or (3) distributions to be made to the designated agent for any
other investment program,  when, as and if, available to the Unit Holder through
the  Depositor.  If no election is offered by the Depositor or if no election is
specified by the Unit Holder at the time of purchase of any Unit, distributions,
if any, shall be made by mail to the Unit Holder as provided in (1) above.  Once
a distribution  election has been chosen by the Unit Holder, such election shall
remain in effect until  changed by the Unit Holder.  Such change of election may
be made by  notification  thereof to the Trustee.  A transferee  of any Unit may
make his  distribution  election in the manner as set forth  above.  The Trustee
shall be entitled to receive in writing a  notification  from the Unit Holder as
to his or her change of  address.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Trustee
shall not be required to make a  distribution  unless the aggregate cash balance
available  for  distribution  in the Income and  Principal  Accounts is at least
$2.50 per 110  Units.  However,  not less than  once per  year,  on a  Quarterly
Distribution  Date, the Trustee shall  distribute the entire cash balance in the
Income and  Principal  Accounts  available for  distribution  unless the Trustee
receives the agreement of the Depositor to forego a distribution.

<PAGE>
                                      -16-

     If the  Depositor  fails to  replace  any  failed  Treasury  Obligation  in
accordance  with Section 3.07, the Trustee shall  distribute to all Unit Holders
the cost to the Trust  attributable  to such Treasury  Obligation not later than
the next  Quarterly  Distribution  Date and, to the extent funds are provided by
the Depositor, will at such time distribute on behalf of the Depositor the sales
charges attributable to such Treasury Obligation.

     If less than all monies  attributable to a failed Treasury  Obligation have
been applied by the Trustee to purchase  Replacement Treasury  Obligations,  the
Trustee shall distribute the remaining monies to Unit Holders not later than the
next Quarterly Distribution Date.

     All amounts (i) permitted to be withdrawn from the Principal  Account under
this  Indenture  in order to satisfy  obligations  which,  pursuant to the terms
hereof,  are first to be paid out of the income  Account to the extent funds are
available, or (ii) permitted to be withdrawn from the Principal Account pursuant
to Section  5.02  hereof,  may be made only from the  balance  in the  Principal
Account after  excluding  capital  amounts being held for  distribution  to Unit
Holders of record on the Record  Date for a prior  Quarterly  Distribution  Date
pursuant to the following  paragraph.  The Principal Account shall be reimbursed
for any such amounts  described  in clause (i) of the  preceding  sentence  when
sufficient funds are next available in the Income Account after giving effect to
the  payment  from the Income  Account of all amounts  otherwise  required to be
deducted therefrom at that time.

     The amounts to be so  distributed to each Unit Holder of the Trust shall be
that pro rata share of the cash balance of the Income and Principal  Accounts of
the Trust,  computed as set forth above,  as shall be  represented  by the Units
registered in the name of such Unit Holder.

     In the  computation  of each such  share,  fractions  of less than one cent
shall be  omitted.  After any such  distribution  provided  for above,  any cash
balance  remaining in the Income  Account or the Principal  Account of the Trust
shall be held in the same manner as other amounts subsequently deposited in each
of such Income or Principal Accounts, respectively.

<PAGE>
                                      -17-

     For the purpose of distribution as herein  provided,  the holders of record
on the  registration  books of the  Trustee  at the  close of  business  on each
Quarterly Record Date shall be conclusively  entitled to such distribution,  and
no  liability  shall  attach to the  Trustee  by reason of  payment  to any such
registered  Unit Holder of record.  Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent
the payment of amounts from the Income Account and the Principal  Account of the
Trust to  individual  Unit Holders by means of one check,  draft or other proper
instrument,  provided that the appropriate  statement of such distribution shall
be furnished therewith as provided in Section 3.06 hereof.

     Section 3.06. Distribution Statements: With each distribution, if any, from
the  Income or  Principal  Accounts  of the Trust the  Trustee  shall set forth,
either in the instrument by means of which payment of such  distribution is made
or in an accompanying  statement,  the amount being  distributed  from each such
account expressed as a dollar amount per Unit.

     Within a  reasonable  period of time  after the last  business  day of each
calendar  year, but not later than required by law, the Trustee shall furnish to
each person who at any time during such  calendar  year was a Unit Holder of the
Trust a statement setting forth, with respect to such calendar year:

     (A) as to the Income Account of the Trust:

(1)      the amount of dividends received on the Fund Shares,

(2)  the  deductions  for  payment  of  applicable  taxes,  or other  government
     charges, if any, compensation of the Evaluator and fees and expenses of the
     Trustee, and transfers to the Reserve Account, and any expenses paid by the
     Trust pursuant to Section 3.05 hereof,

(3)  all l2b-1 fee rebate amounts,

(4)  any other amount credited or deducted from the Income Account, and

(5)  the balance remaining after such  distributions  and deductions,  expressed
     both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar  amount per Unit  outstanding
     on the last business day of such calendar year;

     (B) as to the Principal Account of the Trust:

<PAGE>
                                      -18-

(1)  the dates of the sale,  maturity,  liquidation  or redemption of any of the
     Securities,  the identity of such Securities and the net proceeds  received
     therefrom, excluding any portion thereof credited to the Income Account,

(2)  the amount paid for purchases of Replacement  Treasury Obligations pursuant
     to Section 3.07, and for redemptions pursuant to Section 5.02,

(3)  the  deductions  for  payment of  applicable  taxes and other  governmental
     charges, if any, compensation of the Evaluator and fees and expenses of the
     Trustee,  transfers to the Reserve  Account and any other  expenses paid by
     the Trust under Section 3.05 hereof,

(4)  the amount credited to or deducted from the Principal Account on account of
     distributions of capital gains, if any, on Fund Shares, and

(5)  any other amount credited to or deducted from the Principal Amount, and

(6)  the balance remaining after such  distributions  and deductions,  expressed
     both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar  amount per Unit  outstanding
     on the last business day of such calendar year; and

     (C) the following information:

(1)  a list of the  Securities  held in the Trust as of the last business day of
     such calendar year,

(2)  the number of Units of such Trust  outstanding  on the last business day of
     the calendar year,

(3)  the Unit Value (as defined in Section 5.01) based on the last evaluation of
     such Trust made during such calendar year, and

(4)  the amounts actually  distributed during such calendar year from the Income
     and Principal Accounts of the Trust,  separately stated,  expressed both as
     total  dollar  amounts and as dollar  amounts per Unit  outstanding  on the
     record dates for such distributions.

<PAGE>
                                      -19-

Section 3.07. Replacement Securities: In the event that any Contract Security is
     not delivered due to any occurrence, act or event beyond the control of the
     Depositor and of the Trustee (such a Contract  Security being herein called
     a "Special Security"), the Depositor shall notify the Trustee in writing of
     such failed  contract and may instruct the Trustee to purchase  Replacement
     Securities  which have been selected by the Depositor  having a cost not in
     excess  of the  cost of the  Special  Securities  not so  delivered.  To be
     eligible for inclusion in the Trust,  the Replacement  Securities which the
     Depositor  selects  must:  M  in  the  case  of  Treasury   Obligations  be
     substantially identical to every Treasury Obligation then in the Trust; and
     (ii) be purchased  within  twenty days after  delivery of the Trustee or to
     the of notice of the failed contract Depositor, whichever occurs first. Any
     Replacement Securities received by the Trustee shall be deposited hereunder
     and shall be subject to the terms and  conditions of this  Indenture to the
     same extent as other  Securities  deposited  hereunder.  No such deposit of
     Replacement Securities shall be made after the earlier of (i) 90 days after
     the date of  execution  and  delivery  of the  applicable  Reference  Trust
     Agreement or (ii) the first  Quarterly  Record Date to occur after the date
     of execution and delivery of the applicable Reference Trust Agreement.

     Whenever a Replacement  Security is acquired by the  Depositor  pursuant to
the  provisions  of this  Section  3.07,  the  Trustee  shall,  within five days
thereafter,  mail to all Unit Holders notices of such acquisition,  including an
identification  of the Special Security and the Replacement  Security  acquired.
The purchase  price of a Replacement  Security shall be paid out of the funds in
the Principal  Account  attributable to the Special  Security which it replaces.
The  Trustee  shall  not or  loss  be  liable  or  responsible  in any  way  for
depreciation  incurred  by  reason of any  purchase  made  pursuant  to any such
instructions  from the  Depositor  and in the absence of such  instructions  the
Trustee  shall have no duty to purchase any  Replacement  Securities  under this
Indenture.  The  Depositor  shall not be liable for any failure to instruct  the
Trustee to  purchase  any  Replacement  Security  or for errors of  judgment  in
selecting  any  Replacement  Security.   The  Trustee  shall  have  no  duty  or
responsibility with respect to the selection of any Replacement Security.

     Section 3.08. Sale of Securities: In order to maintain the sound investment
character of the Trust,  the Depositor may by written  notice direct the Trustee
to sell or  liquidate  Securities  at such price and time and in such  manner as
shall  be  determined  by  the  Depositor,   provided  that  the  Depositor  has
determined,  with respect to the Securities to be sold,  that any one or more of
the following conditions exist:

     (a) that  there  has been a default  by the  issuer  of the  Securities  in
payment of declared dividends or redemption of Fund Shares;

<PAGE>
                                      -20-

     (b) that any  action or  proceeding  has been  instituted  in law or equity
seeking  to  restrain  or  enjoin  the  payment  under any such  Securities,  or
attacking the validity of any of the Securities,  or that there exists any other
legal  question  or  impediment  affecting  such  Securities  or the  payment of
dividends on the same;

     (c) that there has been a default in the payment of  principal  or interest
on any outstanding obligations of the issuer of any of the Securities;

     (d) that there has been a decline in market price of any such Securities to
such an  extent,  or such  other  market or credit  factor  exists,  that in the
opinion of the Depositor the retention of such  Securities  would be detrimental
to the Trust and to the interests of the Unit Holders; and

     Upon receipt of such direction  from the Depositor,  upon which the Trustee
shall rely,  the  Trustee  shall  proceed to sell the  specified  Securities  in
accordance  with such  direction,  and upon  receipt of the proceeds of any such
sale,  after  deducting  therefrom  any fees and  expenses of the  Trustee,  any
brokerage  charges,  taxes or other  governmental  charges,  shall  deposit such
proceeds  in  the  Principal  Account.  The  Trustee  shall  not  be  liable  or
responsible in any way for  depreciation  or loss incurred by reason of any sale
made pursuant to any such direction or by reason of the failure of the Depositor
to give any such  direction,  and in the absence of such  direction  the Trustee
shall have no duty to sell any Securities under this Section 3.08.

     Section 3.09.  Notice and Sale by Trustee:  If at any time there has been a
failure to pay a declared  dividend on the Fund Shares the Trustee  shall notify
the  Depositor  thereof.  If within  thirty  days  after such  notification  the
Depositor  has not given any written  instruction  to sell or to hold or has not
taken any other action in  connection  with such Fund Shares,  the Trustee shall
sell  such  Fund  Shares  forthwith,  and the  Trustee  shall  not be  liable or
responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of such sale.

     Section 3.10. Notice to Depositor: In the event that the Trustee shall have
been  notified  at any time of any action to be taken or proposed to be taken by
holders of the Securities in a Trust (including but not limited to the making of
any demand,  direction,  request, giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the
voting with respect to any amendment or supplement to any indenture, resolution,
agreement or other  instrument  under or pursuant to which the  Securities  have
been issued) the Trustee shall promptly notify the Depositor and shall thereupon
take such action or refrain  from taking any action (not  inconsistent  with its
duties as Trustee) as the Depositor shall in writing direct; provided,  however,
that the Trustee shall vote the Fund Shares as closely as possible,  in the same
manner  and the same  general  proportion,  as the  shares  of such Fund held by
owners other than the Trust are voted; and provided,  further  however,  that if
the  Depositor  shall not within five business days of the giving of such notice
to the  Depositor  direct the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action,
the  Trustee  shall take such action as it, in its sole  discretion,  shall deem
advisable.  Neither the  Depositor nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person
for any action or failure to take action with respect to this section.

<PAGE>
                                      -21-

     Section  3.11.  Trustee  Not to  Amortize:  Nothing in this  Indenture,  or
otherwise,  shall be  construed  to require the Trustee to make any  adjustments
between the Interest Account and the Principal Account of the Trust by reason of
any premium or discount in respect of any of the  Securities  except as required
by any applicable law or accounting practice.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                       Evaluation of Securities; Evaluator

     Section  4.01.  Evaluation  by Evaluator:  The  Evaluator  shall  determine
separately  and promptly  furnish to the Trustee and the Depositor  upon request
the per Unit value of the Securities in the Trust as of the  Evaluation  Time on
the bid side of the market on the days on which the Trustee shall make the Trust
Evaluation  required by Section 5.01 and, in addition,  (i) as of the Evaluation
Time on the  offering  side of the market each  business  day during the initial
public offering period, (ii) if and as long as requested by the Depositor on the
offering side of the market on each business day following  such initial  public
offering  period,  and (iii) on any other day  requested by the Depositor or the
Trustee. In making the evaluations the Evaluator may determine the value of each
issue of the securities in the Trust by the following methods or any combination
thereof which it deems appropriate:  (i) on the basis of current bid or offering
prices of such  securities  as  obtained  from  investment  dealers  or  brokers
(including the Depositor) who customarily deal in securities comparable to those
held by the Trust,  or (ii) if bid or offering  prices are not available for any
of such  securities,  on the  basis of bid or  offering  prices  for  comparable
securities,  or (iii) by appraisal or (iv) by any combination of the above.  The
Evaluator shall also make a per Unit  evaluation of the Securities  deposited in
the Trust as of the times said  Securities are deposited  under this  Indenture.
Such evaluation  shall be made on the same basis as set forth above and shall be
based upon offering prices of said Securities.  The Evaluator's determination of
the offering  price of the  Securities of the Trust on the date of deposit shall
be included in the Schedules attached to the Reference Trust Agreement.

     Section  4.02.  Tax  Reports:  For the  purpose of aiding  Unit  Holders to
satisfy any reporting  requirements of applicable  Federal or state tax law, the
Evaluator  shall make available to the Trustee and the Trustee shall transmit to
any Unit Holder upon written request of such Unit Holder any determinations made
by the Evaluator pursuant to Section 4.01.

<PAGE>
                                      -22-

     Section 4.03.  Evaluator's  Compensation:  As compensation for its services
hereunder,  the Evaluator,  with respect to each series, shall receive against a
statement  therefor  submitted  to  the  Trustee  quarterly  on or  before  each
Quarterly  Distribution  Date from the Income  Account  to the extent  funds are
available and thereafter  from the Principal  Account the amount as set forth in
the Summary of Essential  Information in the  Prospectus for each  evaluation of
the series, provided,  however, that if at any time the fee of the Trustee shall
have been increased  pursuant to Section 6.04, the compensation of the Evaluator
hereunder shall at the same time be ratably increased.

     Section  4.04.  Liability of  Evaluator:  The Trustee,  Depositor  and Unit
Holders may rely on any evaluation  furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no
responsibility  for  the  accuracy  thereof.  The  determinations  made  by  the
Evaluator  hereunder  shall be made in good  faith  upon  the  basis of the best
information  available to it. The  Evaluator  shall be under no liability to the
Trustee,  the  Depositor  or Unit  Holders  for  errors in  judgment;  provided,
however,  that this  provision  shall not  protect  the  Evaluator  against  any
liability  to  which  it  would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith or gross  negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.

     Section  4.05.  Successor  Evaluator:  (a) The  Evaluator may resign and be
discharged  hereunder,  by  executing  an  instrument  in writing  resigning  as
Evaluator and filing the same with the Depositor and the Trustee,  not less than
60 days before the date specified in such  instrument  when,  subject to Section
4.05(e),  such  resignation  is to take effect.  Upon  receiving  such notice of
resignation,  the  Depositor  and the  Trustee  shall use their best  efforts to
appoint  a  successor   evaluator  having   qualifications  and  at  a  rate  of
compensation  satisfactory  to the Depositor and the Trustee.  Such  appointment
shall be made by written  instrument  executed by the Depositor and the Trustee,
in duplicate,  one copy of which shall be delivered to the  resigning  Evaluator
and one copy to the successor evaluator.  The Depositor may remove the Evaluator
at any time upon 30 days'  written  notice  and  appoint a  successor  evaluator
having  qualifications  and  at a  rate  of  compensation  satisfactory  to  the
Depositor.  Such appointment shall be made by written instrument executed by the
Depositor,  in duplicate,  one copy of which shall be delivered by the Evaluator
so removed and one copy to the successor  evaluator.  Notice of such resignation
or removal  and  appointment  of a  successor  evaluator  shall be mailed by the
Trustee to each Unit Holder.

     (b) Any successor evaluator appointed hereunder shall execute,  acknowledge
and  deliver to the  Depositor  and the  Trustee an  instrument  accepting  such
appointment  hereunder,  and such successor  evaluator  without any further act,
deed or conveyance shall become vested with all the rights,  powers,  duties and
obligations of its predecessor hereunder with like effect as if originally named
Evaluator  herein  and shall be bound by all the terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement.

<PAGE>
                                      -23-

     (c) In case  at any  time  the  Evaluator  shall  resign  and no  successor
evaluator shall have been appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days
after notice of resignation  has been received by the Depositor and the Trustee,
the Evaluator may forthwith apply to a court of competent  jurisdiction  for the
appointment  of a  successor  evaluator.  Such court may  thereupon,  after such
notice,  if any,  as it may deem  proper  and  prescribe,  appoint  a  successor
evaluator.

     (d) Any  corporation  into which the  Evaluator  hereunder may be merged or
with which it may be consolidated,  or any corporation resulting from any merger
or  consolidation  to which the  Evaluator  hereunder  shall be a party,  or any
corporation  succeeding  to all or  substantially  all  of the  business  of the
Evaluator  hereunder,  shall be the  successor  evaluator  under this  Agreement
without the  execution or filing of any paper,  instrument  or further act to be
done on the part of the parties  hereto,  anything  herein,  or in any agreement
relating to such merger or  consolidation,  by which the  Evaluator  may seek to
retain  certain  powers,  rights and  privileges  theretofore  obtaining for any
period  of  time  following  such  merger  or  consolidation,  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding.

     (e) Any  resignation  or  removal of the  Evaluator  and  appointment  of a
successor  evaluator  pursuant  to this  Section  shall  become  effective  upon
acceptance of appointment  by the successor  evaluator as provided in subsection
(b) hereof.
                                    ARTICLE V

                Trust Evaluation; Redemption, Purchase, Transfer,

                   Interchange or Replacement of Certificates

     Section 5.01. Trust Evaluation: The Trustee shall make an evaluation of the
Trust as of 4:15 p.m. New York Time, (i) on the last business day of each of the
months of June and  December,  (ii) on the day on which any Unit of the Trust is
tendered  for  redemption,  and (iii) on any other day desired by the Trustee or
requested by the Depositor. Such evaluations shall take into account and itemize
separately  (1) the cash on hand in the Trust  (other  than monies on deposit in
the Reserve Account, funds deposited on the date hereof by the Depositor for the
purchase of Securities  and not  theretofore  credited to the Principal  Account
pursuant to Section  3.03 and funds in the  Principal  Account  with  respect to
which contracts for the purchase of the Replacement Securities have been entered
into pursuant to Section  3.07),  (2) the value of each Security in the Trust on
the bid side of the market as determined  by the  Evaluator  pursuant to Section
4.01,  and (3) all other  assets of the Trust.  For each such  evaluation  there
shall be  deducted  from  the sum of the  above  (i)  amounts  representing  any
applicable taxes or governmental  charges payable out of the Trust and for which
no deductions shall have previously been made for the purpose of addition to the
Reserve  Account,  (ii)  amounts  representing  accrued  expenses  of the  Trust
including  but not  limited to unpaid  fees and  expenses of the Trustee and the
Evaluator and expenses of the Trust (including legal and auditing expenses),  in
each case as reported by the Trustee to the Evaluator on or prior to the date of
evaluation and (ii) cash held for distribution to Unit Holders of record as of a
date prior to the evaluation then being made. The value of the pro rata share of
each Unit of the Trust  determined on the basis of any such evaluation  shall be
referred to herein as the "Unit Value".

<PAGE>
                                     -24-

     The Trustee shall promptly  advise the Depositor of each  determination  of
Unit Value made by it as above  provided,  and,  shall  promptly  furnish to the
Depositor  with such  information  regarding the  Principal,  Income and Reserve
Accounts as the Depositor may reasonably request.

     Section 5.02.  Redemptions  by Trustee;  Purchases by  Depositor:  Any Unit
evidenced by a Certificate  tendered for redemption by a Unit Holder or his duly
authorized  attorney to the Trustee at its corporate trust office in the City of
New York, shall be redeemed by the Trustee on the seventh calendar day following
the day on which tender for  redemption  is made,  provided  that if such day of
redemption  is not a business day, then such Unit shall be redeemed on the first
business day prior thereto (being herein called the "Redemption Date").  Subject
to payment by such Unit Holder of any tax or other  governmental  charges  which
may be imposed thereon,  redemption of such Unit is to be made by payment on the
Redemption Date of cash equivalent to the Unit Value,  determined by the Trustee
as of 4:15 p.m. on the date of tender.  Units  received  for  redemption  by the
Trustee on any day after 4:15 p.m.  will be held by the  trustee  until the next
day on which the New York Stock  Exchange is open for trading and will be deemed
to have  been  tendered  on such  day for  redemption  at the  Redemption  Price
computed on that day.

     The  Trustee  may in its  discretion,  and shall  when so  directed  by the
Depositor,  suspend the right of  redemption  for Units of the Trust or postpone
the date of  payment  of the  Redemption  Price  therefor  for more  than  seven
calendar days  following the day on which tender for  redemption is made (1) for
any  period  during  which the New York Stock  Exchange  is closed  (other  than
customary  weekend and holiday closings) or during which trading on the New York
Stock  Exchange is  restricted;  (2) for any period  during  which an  emergency
exists,  as a result of which  disposal  by the Trust of the  Securities  is not
reasonably  practicable or it is not reasonably  practicable to determine fairly
in accordance herewith the value of the Securities; or (3) for such other period
as the Securities and Exchange  Commission may by order permit,  and the Trustee
shall not be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damage which may
result from any such suspension or postponement.

<PAGE>
                                      -25-

     Not  later  than the close of  business  on the day of tender of a Unit for
redemption by a Unit Folder other than the  Depositor,  the Trustee shall notify
the Depositor of such tender or such mandatory redemption.  Such Depositor shall
have the right to purchase such Unit by notifying the Trustee of its election to
make such purchase as soon as practicable  thereafter but in no event subsequent
to the close of business on the second  business day after the day on which such
Unit was tendered for  redemption.  Such  purchase  shall be made by payment for
such  Unit by the  Depositor  to the Unit  Holder  not  later  than the close of
business on the Redemption Date of an amount not less than the Redemption  Price
which would otherwise be payable by the Trustee to such Unit Holder.

     Any Unit so purchased by the  Depositor  may at the option of the Depositor
be tendered to the Trustee for  redemption at the corporate  trust office of the
Trustee in the manner provided in the first paragraph of this Section 5.02.

     If the Depositor  does not elect to purchase any Unit of the Trust tendered
to the Trustee for  redemption,  or if a Unit is being tendered by the Depositor
for redemption,  that portion of the Redemption  Price which  represents  income
shall be withdrawn from the Income Account of the Trust to the extent available.
The balance paid on any redemption,  including  accrued and unpaid interest,  if
any,  shall be withdrawn  from the Principal  Account of the Trust to the extent
that funds are available for such purpose.  If such  available  balance shall be
insufficient the Trustee shall sell or redeem such of the Securities held in the
Trust as are  currently  designated  for such  purposes by the  Depositor as the
Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem necessary.  The Trustee shall sell, to
the extent possible,  Fund Shares and Treasury  Obligations in the same ratio as
the ratio of Fund Shares and Treasury Obligations then held in the Trust. To the
extent the sale of  Securities  in such ratio is not in the best interest of the
Unit  Holders,  Fund  Shares  shall  be  sold  prior  to the  sale  of  Treasury
Obligations.  In the event that funds are withdrawn  from the Principal  Account
for payment of amounts  representing  income,  the  Principal  Account  shall be
reimbursed for such funds so withdrawn when sufficient  funds are next available
in the Income Account.

     The Depositor  shall maintain with the Trustee a current list of Securities
held in the Trust  designated  to be sold for the purpose of redemption of Units
of the  Trust,  and for  payment of  expenses  hereunder,  provided  that if the
Depositor shall for any reason fail to maintain such a list, the Trustee, in its
sole  discretion,  may designate a current list of Securities for such purposes.
The net  proceeds  of any  sales  of  Securities  from  such  list  representing
principal shall be credited to the Principal Account of the Trust.

<PAGE>
                                      -26-

     The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible in any way for  depreciation
or loss  incurred  by  reason  of any sale or  redemptions  of  Securities  made
pursuant to this Section 5.02.

     Certificates  evidencing Units redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall
be  cancelled by the Trustee,  and any Unit or Units  redeemed  pursuant to this
Section 5.02 shall be terminated by such redemption.

     Section 5.03.  Transfer or Interchange of Certificates:  A Certificate (and
the Units it represents) may be transferred by the registered  holder thereof by
presentation  and surrender of such Certificate at the corporate trust office of
the  Trustee  properly  endorsed  or  accompanied  by a  written  instrument  or
instruments of transfer in form  satisfactory to the Trustee and executed by the
Unit Holder or his authorized attorney,  whereupon a new registered  Certificate
or  Certificates  for the same  number  of Units of the  Trust  executed  by the
Trustee and the Depositor will be issued in exchange and substitution  therefor.
Certificates  issued pursuant to this Indenture are  interchangeable  for one or
more other  Certificates in an equal aggregate  number of Units of the Trust and
all  Certificates  issued  shall be issued in  denominations  of one unit or any
integral multiple thereof as may be requested by the Unit Holder.

     The  Trustee  may deem and treat the person in whose  name any  Certificate
shall  be  registered  upon  the  books  of the  Trustee  as the  owner  of such
Certificate for all purposes hereunder, and the Trustee shall not be affected by
any  notice to the  contrary,  nor be liable to any  person or in any way for so
deeming  and  treating  the  person in whose  name any  Certificate  shall be so
registered.

     A sum  sufficient to pay any tax or other  governmental  charge that may be
imposed in connection with any such transfer or interchange shall be paid by the
Unit Holder to the  Trustee.  The Trustee may require a Unit Holder to pay $2.00
for each new Certificate issued on any such transfer or interchange.

     All Certificates  cancelled pursuant to this Indenture shall be disposed of
by the Trustee without liability on its part.

     Section 5.04.  Certificates Mutilated,  Destroyed,  Stolen-or Lost: in case
any  Certificate  shall become  mutilated or be destroyed,  stolen or lost,  the
Trustee shall execute and deliver a new Certificate in exchange and substitution
therefor   upon  the  Unit   Holder's   furnishing   the  Trustee   with  proper
identification  and indemnity  satisfactory to the Trustee,  complying with such
other  reasonable  regulations  and  conditions as the Trustee may prescribe and
paying such expenses as the Trustee may incur. Any mutilated  Certificate  shall
be duly surrendered and cancelled before any new Certificate  shall be issued in
exchange and substitution  therefor.  Upon the issuance of any new Certificate a
sum sufficient to pay any tax or other  governmental  charge will be imposed and
payment of the fees and  expenses of the Trustee may be  required.  Any such new
Certificate  issued  pursuant to this  Section  shall  constitute  complete  and
indefeasible  evidence  of  ownership  in the Trust,  as if  originally  issued,
whether or not the lost,  stolen or destroyed  Certificate shall be found at any
time.

<PAGE>
                                      -27-

     In the event the Trust has terminated or is in the process of  termination,
the  Trustee  may,  instead  of  issuing  a  new  Certificate  in  exchange  and
substitution for any Certificate which shall have become mutilated or shall have
been  destroyed,  stolen or lost,  make the  distributions  in  respect  of each
mutilated,  destroyed,  stolen or lost Certificate  (without  surrender  thereof
except in the case of a  mutilated  Certificate)  as  provided  in Section  9.03
hereof if the Trustee is  furnished  with such  security or  indemnity as it may
require to save it harmless, and in the case of destruction,  loss or theft of a
Certificate,  evidence to the  satisfaction  of the Trustee of the  destruction,
loss or theft of such Certificate and of the ownership thereof.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                     Trustee

     Section  6.01.  General  Definition  of Trustee's  Liabilities,  Rights and
Duties: in addition to and notwithstanding the other duties, rights,  privileges
and liabilities of the Trustee as elsewhere set forth herein, the liabilities of
the Trustee are further defined as follows:

     (a) all monies deposited with or received by the Trustee hereunder shall be
held by it without interest in trust as part of the Trust or the Reserve Account
until  required  to be  disbursed  in  accordance  with the  Provisions  of this
Indenture  and such moneys will be  segregated  by separate  recordation  on the
trust ledger of the Trustee so long as such Practice preserves a valid reference
under  applicable  law, or if such  preference  is not so preserved  the Trustee
shall  handle  such  moneys  in  such  other  manner  as  shall  constitute  the
segregation and holding hereof in Investment Company Act of 1940; as part of the
Trustee's  compensation the Trustee may benefit from cash balances in the income
and Principal Accounts, as provided in Section 6.04;

     (b) the Trustee  shall be under no  liability  for any action taken in good
faith on any appraisal, paper, order, list, demand, request, consent, affidavit,
notice, opinion, direction,  evaluation,  endorsement,  assignment,  resolution,
draft or other  document  whether or not of the same kind prima  facie  properly
executed,  or for the  disposition of monies,  any of the  Securities,  Units or
Certificates issued pursuant to this Indenture,  or in respect of any evaluation
which it is required to make or is required or  permitted to have made by others
under  this  Indenture  or  otherwise,  except  by  reason  of its  own  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith or gross  negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of its reckless  disregard of its  obligations  and duties  hereunder;
provided,  however,  that  the  Trustee  shall  not in any  event be  liable  or
responsible for any of the provisions of this Indenture, insofar as the same may
appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions  hereof, may be
concurred in by the parties to the Indenture and such an interpretation shall be
binding upon the parties to the Indenture. The parties to the Indenture shall be
under no liability for any good faith interpretation of the Indenture;

<PAGE>
                                      -28-

     (c) the Trustee shall not be responsible  for or in respect of the recitals
herein,  the validity or  sufficiency of this Indenture or for the due execution
hereof  by  the  Depositor  or  the  Evaluator,  or  for  the  form,  character,
genuineness,  sufficiency,  value or  validity  of any  Securities  or for or in
respect  of the  validity  of  sufficiency  of the  Certificates  or of the  due
execution thereof by the Depositor,  and the Trustee shall in no event assume or
incur any  liability,  duty or  obligation  to any Unit Holder or the  Depositor
other  than  as  expressly  provided  for  herein.  The  Trustee  shall  not  be
responsible  for or in respect of the validity of any signatures by or on behalf
of the Depositor or the Evaluator;

     (d) the Trustee shall not be under any  obligation to appear in,  prosecute
or defend  any  action,  which in its  opinion  may  involve  it in  expense  or
liability,  unless as often as required by the  Trustee,  it shall be  furnished
with reasonable  security and indemnity  against such expense or liability,  and
any pecuniary cost of the Trustee from such actions shall be deductible from and
a charge against the income and Principal Accounts of the Trust.  Subject to the
foregoing the Trustee shall in its  discretion  undertake  such action as it may
deem  necessary  at any and all times to  protect  the Trust and the  rights and
interests of the Unit Holders pursuant to the terms of this Indenture; provided,
however,  that  the  expenses  and  costs  of  such  actions,   undertakings  or
proceedings  shall be  reimbursable to the Trustee from the Income and Principal
Accounts,  and the payment of such costs and expenses shall be secured by a lien
on the Trust prior to the interests of the Unit Holders;

     (e) the Trustee may employ agents, attorneys,  accountants and auditors and
shall not be  answerable  for the  default  or  misconduct  of any such  agents,
attorneys,  accountants  or auditors if such agents,  attorneys,  accountants or
auditors shall have been selected with reasonable that if the Trustee chooses to
care; provided,  however, employ the Depository Trust Company in connection with
the storage and handling of, and the  furnishing of  administrative  services in
connection with the  Securities,  the Trustee will be answerable for any default
or  misconduct of the  Depository  Trust Company and its employees and agents as
fully and to the same extent as if such default or misconduct had been committed
or occasioned by the Trustee. The Trustee shall be fully protected in respect of
any  action  under  this  Agreement  taken,  or  suffered,  in good faith by the
Trustee,  in  accordance  with the opinion of its  counsel.  The accounts of the
Trusts  shall be  audited  not less  frequently  than  annually  by  independent
certified public accountants designated from time to time by the Depositor,  and
the  reports  of such  accountants  shall be  furnished  by the  Trustee to Unit
Holders upon request.  The fees and expenses charged by such agents,  attorneys,
accountants or auditors shall constitute an expense of the Trustee  reimbursable
from the Income and Principal Accounts of the Trust as set forth in Section 6.04
hereof;

<PAGE>
                                      -29-

     (f) if at any time there is only one  Depositor  acting  hereunder and such
Depositor  shall  resign  pursuant to Section 8.04 or shall fail to undertake or
perform any of the duties which by the terms of this  Agreement  are required by
it to be undertaken  or performed or the Depositor  shall be dissolved or become
incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of
the  Depositor or of its  property  should be a pointed,  or any public  officer
shall take charge or control of the  Depositor or of its property or affairs for
the purpose of  rehabilitation,  conservation or  liquidation,  then in any such
case, the Trustee may: (1) appoint a successor depositor who shall act hereunder
in all respects in place or the Depositor  which successor shall be satisfactory
to the Trustee,  and which may be compensated  semiannually,  at rates deemed by
the Trustee to be  reasonable  under the  circumstances,  by deduction  from the
Income  Account of the Trust or, to the extent  funds are not  available in such
Account,  from the Principal Account of the Trust but no such deduction shall be
made exceeding such reasonable amount as the Securities and Exchange  Commission
may prescribe in accordance with Section  26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment  Company
Act of 1940, or (2) act as Depositor  itself without  terminating  the Trust, or
(3) terminate the Indenture and the Trust created hereby and liquidate the Trust
in the manner provided in Section 9.03;

     (g) if the  aggregate  net  value  of all  Trust  assets  as  shown  by any
evaluation  by the Trustee  pursuant to Section  5.01 hereof is less than 40% of
the  aggregate  maturity  amounts of the Treasury  Obligations  deposited in the
Trust  calculated  after the most recent deposit of Treasury  obligations in the
Trust  (without  reduction  for  disposition  of  Treasury  Obligations),  or if
Replacement  Treasury  Obligations  are not  acquired,  or if  there  has been a
material change in the Fund's objectives,  the Trustee shall when so directed by
the Depositor, terminate this Indenture and the and the trust created hereby and
liquidate the Trust, all in the manner provided in Section 9.03;

<PAGE>
                                      -30-

     (h) the Trustee is  authorized  and empowered to execute and file on behalf
of the Trust any and all  documents,  in connection  with consents to service of
process, required to be filed under the securities laws of the various States in
order to permit the sale of Units of the Trust in such States by the Depositor;

     (i) in no  event  shall  the  Trustee  be  liable  for any  taxes  or other
governmental  charges  imposed upon or in respect of the  Securities or upon the
interest  thereon or upon it as Trustee  hereunder  or upon or in respect of the
Trust  which it may be  required  to pay under any  present or future law of the
United States of America or of any other taxing authority having jurisdiction in
the  premises.  For all such taxes and  charges and for any  expenses  which the
Trustee may sustain or incur with respect to such taxes or charges,  the Trustee
shall be reimbursed and indemnified out of the Reserve Account and/or the Income
and Principal  Accounts of the Trust, and the payment of such amounts so paid by
the Trustee  shall be secured by a lien on the Trust prior to the  interests  of
the Unit Holders;

     (j) the Trustee except by reason of its own gross negligence,  lack of good
faith or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties hereunder shall not
be liable for any action  taken,  omitted or  suffered to be taken by it in good
faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the  discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

     (k) the  Trustee  shall  sell Fund  Shares  for the  purpose  of payment of
expenses   hereunder  to  the  extent  that  the  Income  Account   amounts  are
insufficient  to pay such  expenses.  The net proceeds of any such sales of Fund
Shares, to the extent not used for payment of expenses, shall be credited to the
Principal Account;

     (l) so long as shall be required by Section  26(a)(2)(C)  of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, no payment to the Depositor or to any principal underwriter
(as  defined  in such  Act) for the  Trust or to any  affiliated  person  (as so
defined)  or agent of the  Depositor  or such  underwriter  shall be allowed the
Trustee  as an  expense  except  for  payment  not in excess of such  reasonable
amounts as the Securities and Exchange  Commission may prescribe as compensation
for  performing  bookkeeping  and other  administrative  services of a character
normally performed by the Trustee itself.

     Section  6.02.  Books,  Records and Reports:  The Trustee shall keep proper
books of record and account of all the transactions  under this Indenture at its
corporate trust office  including a record of the name and address of, the Units
held by,  and the  Certificates  issued  by the Trust  and held by,  every  Unit
Holder, and the books and records shall be open to inspection by any Unit Holder
of the Trust at all  reasonable  times  during the usual  business  hours of the
Trustee at its corporate office.

<PAGE>
                                      -31-

     The  Trustee  shall make such  annual or other  reports as may from time to
time be  required  under any  applicable  state or  federal  statute  or rule or
regulation thereunder.

     Section 6.03.  Indenture and List of Securities on File:  The Trustee shall
keep a certified  copy in duplicate  original of this  Indenture  (including the
Reference Trust  Agreement) on file at its corporate trust office  available for
inspection at all  reasonable  times during the usual business hours by any Unit
Holder, together with a current list of the Securities in the Trust.

     Section 6.04. Compensation: For services performed under this Indenture the
Trustee shall receive as compensation  such amount as specified in the Reference
Trust Agreement. Such compensation shall be payable quarterly in an amount equal
to one-fourth of the estimated  annual  compensation of the Trustee on or before
each  Quarterly  Distribution  Date from the Income Account to the extent monies
are available and thereafter from the Principal Account and shall be computed on
the basis of the  greatest  amount of Units in the Trust at any time  during the
previous quarter with respect to which such compensation is being computed.  The
Trustee may from time to time adjust its computation set forth above;  provided,
however,  that the total  adjustment  upward does not, at the effective  time of
such  adjustment,  exceed the percentage of the total  increase,  after the date
hereof,  in  consumer  prices for  services  as  measured  by the United  States
Department of Labor  Consumer  Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent" or,
if such Index is no longer published, in a similar index to be determined by the
Trustee  and the  Depositor.  The  consent  or  concurrence  of any Unit  Holder
hereunder  shall not be  required  for any such  adjustment  or  increase.  Such
compensation  shall be deemed to  provide  only for the usual  normal and proper
functions  undertaken as Trustee pursuant to this Indenture.  In addition to the
foregoing  compensation,  as part of the  Trustee's  compensation  for  ordinary
services performed under this Indenture, the Trustee is entitled to the benefits
to the  Trustee  that may  result  from  positive  balances  in the  Income  and
Principal  Accounts.  In  addition,  the Trustee may charge,  to the extent then
lawful,  the Income and Principal Accounts of the Trust for any and all expenses
(including  but not  limited  to  legal,  auditing  and  printing  expenses)  of
maintaining  registration or  qualification  of the Units and/or the Trust under
Federal or state  securities laws subsequent to initial  registration so long as
the  Depositor is  maintaining  a market for the Units and including the fees of
counsel which may be retained by the Trustee in connection  with its  activities
hereunder,  and disbursements incurred hereunder and additional compensation for
any  extraordinary  services  performed  by the  Trustee  hereunder  and various
governmental  charges,  expenses and costs of any action taken by the Trustee to
protect  the Trust and the rights and  interests  of Unit  Holders,  expenses of
indemnification  or the  Depositor for any losses,  liabilities  and expenses in
acting as Depositor  under the Indenture  without gross  negligence,  bad faith,
willful  misfeasance or willful  misconduct or disregard of its  obligations and
duties,  expenses  incurred in contacting  Unit Holders upon  termination of the
Trust and the cost of independent  public accountant  auditors of the Trust. The
Trustee shall be indemnified by the Trust and held harmless  against any loss or
liability  accruing  to it  without  gross  negligence,  bad  faith  or  willful
misconduct on its part,  arising out of or in connection  with the acceptance or
administration of the Trust, including the costs and expenses (including counsel
fees) of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. If the
cash  balances  in the  Income  and  Principal  Accounts  of the Trust  shall be
insufficient to provide for amounts payable  pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and
(c) of Section 3.05 hereof, the Trustee shall have the power to sell Fund Shares
of the Trust.  In the event the  proceeds of such sale are  insufficient  to pay
ordinary expenses of the Trust, such deficit shall be paid by the distributor of
the Fund Shares  without  right to  reimbursement  for such amounts paid. If the
aggregate  cash balances of the Income and Principal  Accounts plus the proceeds
of the sale of the Fund Shares  after  deducting  ordinary  trust  expenses  are
insufficient to pay  extraordinary  trust  expenses,  the Trustee shall have the
power to sell Treasury Obligations of the Trust. The Trustee shall not be liable
or  responsible  in any way for  depreciation  or loss incurred by reason of any
sale of Securities made pursuant to this Section 6.04. Any monies payable to the
Trustee  pursuant to this Section  shall be secured by a lien on the Trust prior
to the interests of the Unit Holders.

<PAGE>
                                      -32-

     Section 6.05. Removal and Resignation of Trustee;  Successor: The following
provisions  shall  govern the  removal  and  resignation  of the Trustee and the
appointment of any successor trustee:

     (a) the Trustee or any trustee or trustees  hereafter  appointed may resign
and be  discharged  of the trusts  created by this  Indenture,  by  executing an
instrument in writing resigning as Trustee of the Trust and filing the same with
the Depositor and mailing a copy of a notice of  resignation to all Unit Holders
then of  record,  not less than sixty days  before  the date  specified  in such
instrument when, subject to Section 6.05(e), such resignation is to take effect.
Upon receiving such notice of resignation,  the Depositor shall promptly appoint
a  successor  trustee  as  hereinafter  provided,  by  written  instrument,   in
duplicate, one copy of which shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one
copy to the successor trustee. If at any time the Trustee shall become incapable
of acting, or shall have an order of relief entered with respect to it, or shall
be  adjudicated  a bankrupt or  insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its
property shall be appointed,  or any public officer shall take charge or control
of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purposes of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation,  or if the Depositor determines that removal of the
Trustee is in the best interest of the Unit  Holders,  then in any such case the
Depositor  may remove the Trustee  and  appoint a  successor  trustee by written
instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the  successor  trustee;  provided that a notice of such
removal and appointment of a successor  trustee shall be mailed by the Depositor
to each Unit Holder then of record;

<PAGE>
                                      -33-

     (b) any successor  trustee appointed  hereunder shall execute,  acknowledge
and deliver to the Depositor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment hereunder,  and such successor trustee without any further act,
deed or conveyance shall become vested with all the rights,  powers,  duties and
obligations of its predecessor hereunder with like effect as if originally named
Trustee  herein  and  shall be bound by all the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Indenture.  Upon the request of such  successor  trustee,  the retiring  Trustee
shall,  upon  payment of any  amounts due the  retiring  Trustee,  or  provision
therefor to the  satisfaction of such retiring  Trustee,  execute and deliver an
instrument  acknowledged by them  transferring to such successor trustee all the
rights  and powers of the  retiring  Trustee;  and the  retiring  Trustee  shall
transfer,  deliver  and pay over to the  successor  trustee all  Securities  and
monies at the time held by it hereunder, together with all necessary instruments
of transfer and assignment or other  documents  properly  executed  necessary to
effect such transfer and such of the records or copies thereof maintained by the
retiring  Trustee  in the  administration  hereof  as may  be  requested  by the
successor  trustee,  and shall  thereupon  be  discharged  from all  duties  and
responsibilities under this Indenture. The retiring Trustee shall,  nevertheless
retain a lien upon all  Securities  and monies at the time held by thereunder to
secure any amounts then due the retiring Trustee;

     (c) in case at any time the Trustee  shall resign and no successor  trustee
shall have been appointed and have accepted appointment within thirty days after
notice of resignation has been received by the Depositor,  the retiring  Trustee
may forthwith apply to a court of competent  jurisdiction for the appointment of
a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon,  after such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee;

     (d) any corporation into which any trustee  hereunder may be merged or with
which it may be  consolidated,  or any corporation  resulting from any merger or
consolidation  to which any  trustee  hereunder  shall be a party,  shall be the
successor  trustee under this  Indenture  without the execution or filing of any
paper,  instrument or further act to be done on the part of the parties  hereto,
anything herein,  or in any agreement  relating to such merger to retain certain
powers,  rights  and  privileges  theretofore  obtaining  for any period of time
following such merger or consolidation, to the contrary notwithstanding;

     (e)  any  resignation  or  removal  of the  Trustee  and  appointment  of a
successor   trustee  pursuant  to  this  Section  shall  become  effective  upon
acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in subsection (b)
hereof.

<PAGE>
                                      -34-

     Section 6.06. Qualifications of Trustee: The Trustee shall be a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or the State of
New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers
and having at all times an aggregate capital,  surplus, and undivided profits of
not less than  $5,000,000 and having its principal  office and place of business
in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                             Rights of Unit Holders

     Section 7.01.  Beneficiaries  of Trust:  By the purchase and  acceptance or
other  lawful  delivery  and  acceptance  of a Unit of the Trust the Unit Holder
shall be deemed to be a  beneficiary  of such Trust and vested  with all rights,
title and interest in the Trust  attributable to such Unit, subject to the terms
and conditions of this Indenture and of the Certificate evidencing such Unit.

     Section 7.02. Rights, Terms and Conditions: In addition to the other rights
and powers set forth in the other  provisions and conditions of this  Indenture,
the Unit Holders shall have the following rights and powers and shall be subject
to the following terms and conditions:

     (a) a Unit  Holder  may at any time  tender  his Units to the  Trustee  for
redemption in accordance with Section 5.02;

     (b) the  death or  incapacity  of any Unit  Holder  shall  not  operate  to
terminate this indenture or the Trust, nor entitle his legal  representatives or
heirs to claim an accounting or to take any action or proceeding in any court of
competent jurisdiction for a partition or winding up of the Trust, nor otherwise
affect the rights,  obligations  and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of
them. Each Unit Holder  expressly waives any right he may have under any rule of
law, or the provisions of any statute,  or otherwise,  to require the Trustee at
any time to  account,  in any manner  other than as  expressly  provided in this
Indenture,  in respect of the  Securities or monies from time to time  received,
held and applied by the Trustee hereunder;

     (c) no Unit Holder shall have any right to vote or in any manner  otherwise
control the operation  and  management  of the Trust or the  obligations  of the
parties  hereto,  nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms
of the Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Unit Holders from time
to time as  partners  or members of any  association;  nor shall any Unit Holder
ever be under any  liability to any third  persons by reason of any action taken
by the parties to this Indenture, or any other cause whatsoever.

<PAGE>
                                      -35-

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                    Depositor

     Section  8.01.  Liabilities;  Power  of  Attorney:  The  Depositor,  or the
Depositors  if there be more than one,  shall be severally  liable in accordance
herewith  for the  obligations  imposed  upon and  undertaken  by the  Depositor
hereunder,  provided, however, that, without in any way affecting or diminishing
such several  liability,  each Depositor of the Trust shall  indemnify the other
Depositors thereof and hold such other Depositors  harmless from and against any
and all costs,  expenses and liabilities  (including attorneys' fees) which such
other  Depositors  may suffer or incur as a result of or by reason of any act or
failure to act hereunder on the part or the indemnifying Depositor. At all times
prior to the  termination  of the Trust and while the  Depositors  thereof shall
continue to act jointly  hereunder,  there shall be  maintained on file with the
Trustee a power of  attorney  executed  in favor of one  Depositor  by the other
Depositors  constituting and appointing the nonexecuting  Depositor the true and
lawful agent and  attorney-in-fact  of the  executing  Depositors to execute and
deliver  for and on  behalf of the  executing  Depositors  any and all  notices,
opinions,  certificates,  lists,  demands,  directions,  instruments,  or  other
documents  provided or permitted  to be executed or delivered by the  Depositors
hereunder  in  connection  with the Trust or to take any other action in respect
hereof.  Such power of attorney  shall  continue  in effect as to the  executing
Depositors  until written  notice of  revocation  thereof has been given by such
executing  Depositors  to the  Trustee.  Prior  to  receipt  of such  notice  of
revocation the Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon such power of
attorney as authorizing the non-executing Depositor to give any notice, opinion,
certificate, list, demand, direction,  instrument or other document provided for
or permitted  hereunder or to take any other action in respect  hereof on behalf
of the executing Depositors as to which such power of attorney is in effect.

     Section 8.02. Discharge: If there be more than one Depositor, the following
provisions  shall  provide for the discharge of a Depositor and the liability of
the Depositors in the event of the discharge of a Depositor:

(a)  in the event that any  Depositor  shall fail to undertake or perform any of
     the duties  which by the terms of this  Agreement  are required by it to be
     undertaken or performed  and such failure shall  continue for 30 days after
     notice to the Depositors  from the Trustee or if any Depositor shall become
     incapable of acting or shall have any order of relief  entered with respect
     to it, or a receiver of the property of any Depositor shall be appointed or
     any public  officer  shall take charge or control of any  Depositor  or its
     property  or affairs  for the purpose of  rehabilitation,  conservation  or
     liquidation,  then such Depositor shall forthwith be and shall be deemed to
     be discharged forever as a Depositor  hereunder and thereupon the remaining
     Depositors  shall  act  hereunder  without  the  necessity  of any other or
     further action on its part or on the part of the Trustee;

<PAGE>
                                      -36-

(b)  in the event that the power of attorney  referred to in Section  8.01 shall
     be revoked by written  notice given by an executing  Depositor and it shall
     not be  replaced  within  one  business  day by another  power of  attorney
     conforming with the requirements of said Section 8.01 the Depositors of the
     Trust shall be deemed to have been unable to reach  agreement  with respect
     to action to be taken  jointly by them  hereunder  in  connection  with the
     Trust and thereupon  the Depositor  which has revoked the power of attorney
     executed by it shall be discharged  hereunder  upon the  expiration of such
     one-day  period and  thereupon  the other  Depositors  shall act  hereunder
     without the  necessity  of any other or further  action on their part or on
     the part of the Trustee;

(c)  notwithstanding  the  discharge of a Depositor  of the Trust in  accordance
     with this Section 8.02, such Depositor shall continue to be fully liable in
     accordance  with the  provisions  hereof  in  respect  of  action  taken or
     refrained from under this  Agreement by the  Depositors  before the date of
     such discharge or by the undis-charged  Depositors before or after the date
     of such  discharge,  as fully and to the same extent as if no discharge has
     occurred.

     Section 8.03. Successors:  The covenants,  provisions and agreements herein
contained shall in every case be binding upon any successor or successors to any
Depositor and shall be binding upon the General  Partners of any Depositor which
may be a partnership  and upon the capital  interest of the limited  partners of
any Depositor which may be a partnership. In the event of the death, resignation
or withdrawal of any partner of any Depositor  which may be a  partnership,  the
partner so dying,  resigning  or  withdrawing  shall be  relieved of all further
liability hereunder if at the time of such death, resignation or withdrawal such
Depositor  maintains  a net  worth  (determined  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles)  of at least  $1,000,000.  In the  event of an
assignment  by any  Depositor to a successor  corporation  or a  Partnership  as
permitted by the next following sentence,  such Depositor and, if such Depositor
is a partnership,  its partners shall be relieved of all further liability under
this  Agreement.  Any  Depositor  may transfer all or  substantially  all of its
assets to a  corporation  or  partnership  which carries on the business of such
Depositor,  if at the time of such transfer such  successor duly assumes all the
obligations of such Depositor under this Agreement.

<PAGE>
                                      -37-

     Section 8.04. Resignation:  If at any time any Depositor of the Trust shall
desire to resign its  position  as such a  Depositor  hereunder,  the  Depositor
desiring  to resign  may  resign by  delivering  to the  Trustee  an  instrument
executed by such  resigning  Depositor  and upon such  delivery,  the  resigning
Depositor  shall be  discharged  and shall no  longer  be  liable in any  manner
hereunder  except  as to acts or  omissions  occurring  prior to such  delivery;
provided,  however, that concurrently with or subsequent to such resignation the
Trustee  may  appoint a new  Depositor  to act and to assume  the  duties of the
resigning  Depositor  by an  instrument  executed  by the  Trustee  and  the new
Depositor.  Such new Depositor  shall not be under any  liability  hereunder for
occurrences  or  omissions  prior to the  effective  time of  execution  of such
instrument.

     Section  8.05.  Additional  Depositors:  The Depositor of the Trust and the
Trustee may at any time appoint one or more  corporations or partnerships to act
as new Depositor of such Trust,  in addition to those currently  serving,  by an
instrument  executed by such Depositor,  the Trustee,  and such  corporations or
partnerships;  provided,  however,  that at the time of such  execution each new
Depositor  maintains  a net  worth  (determined  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting  principles) of at least $1,000,000.  Upon such execution, a
new  Depositor  shall be deemed to be a depositor  for all  purposes  under this
Indenture,  and the covenants,  provisions and agreements herein contained shall
in every case be binding upon such new  Depositor  and shall be binding upon the
General  Partner of any such new Depositor  which may be a partnership  and upon
the capital interest of the limited partners of any such new Depositor which may
be a  partnership,  but such new  Depositor  shall  not be liable  hereunder  or
occurrences  or  omissions  prior to the  effective  time of  execution  of such
instrument.

     Section 8.06.  Exclusions from Liability:  The following  provisions  shall
provide for certain exclusions from the liability of the Depositor:

     (a) no  Depositor  of the Trust shall be under any  liability  to any other
Depositor of the Trust,  such Trust or the Unit Holders thereof,  for any action
taken or for refraining  from the taking of any action in good faith pursuant to
this  Agreement,  or for errors in judgment or liable or  responsible in any way
for  depreciation  or loss incurred by reason of the  acquisition or sale of any
Securities;  provided,  however,  that  this  provision  shall not  protect  the
Depositor against any liability to which it would otherwise be subject by reason
of  willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith or gross  negligence  or by  reason of its
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The Depositor of the
Trust may rely in good  faith on any  paper,  order,  notice,  list,  affidavit,
receipt,  evaluation,  opinion,  endorsement,  assignment,  draft  or any  other
document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted to them, or any
of them, by any other Depositor of the Trust, the Trustee,  the Evaluator or any
other  person.  The  Depositor  shall in no event be deemed to have  assumed  or
incurred any liability, duty, or obligation to any Unit Holder, the Evaluator or
the Trustee other than as expressly provided for herein;

<PAGE>
                                      -38-

     (b) the Depositor shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute
or defend any legal action which in its opinion may involve it in any expense or
liability; provided, however, that the Depositor may in its discretion undertake
any such action  which it may deem  necessary  or  desirable  in respect of this
Agreement  and the rights and duties of the parties  hereto and the interests of
the Unit Holders hereunder;

     (c) none of the provisions of this Agreement  shall be deemed to protect or
purport to protect the Depositor of the Trust against any liability to the Trust
or to the Unit  Holders  thereof  or to each  other  (if  there is more than one
Depositor)  to which the  Depositor  would  otherwise  be  subject  by reason of
willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or gross  negligence in the  performance of the
duties of the Depositor,  or by reason of the Depositor's  reckless disregard of
the obligations and duties of the Depositor under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                 Additional Covenants; Miscellaneous Provisions

     Section 9.01.  Amendments:  This Indenture may be amended from time to time
by the parties hereto or their respective successors, without the consent of any
of the Unit Holders (a) to cure any  ambiguity or to correct or  supplement  any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision  contained  herein;  or (b) to change any  provision  hereof as may be
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental
agency  exercising  similar  authority;  or (c) to make such other  provision in
regard to matters or questions  arising  hereunder as shall not adversely affect
the  interests of the Unit  Holders;  provided,  that the  Indenture may also be
amended by the  Depositor  and the  Trustee  (or the  Performance  of any of the
provisions  of the  Indenture  may be waived)  with the consent of Unit  Holders
evidencing 51% of the Units at the time outstanding  under the Indenture for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
or the  provisions  of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
Unit Holders;  provided,  further,  that this Indenture (including any Reference
Trust Agreement) may not be amended (nor may any provision thereof be waived) so
as to (1)  permit an  increase  in the  number of Units  issuable  except as the
result of the deposit of Additional Securities, as herein provided, or to reduce
the  relative  interest in the Trust of any Unit Holder  without his consent (2)
permit the deposit or  acquisition  of  Securities or other  property  either in
addition to or in  substitution  for any of the  Securities on hand in the Trust
except in the manner  permitted by the Trust  Indenture as in effect on the Date
of Deposit,  or to provide  the Trustee  with the power to engage in business or
investment.   activities  not  specifically  authorized  in  this  Indenture  as
originally adopted or (3) adversely affect the  characterization of the Trust as
a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes.

<PAGE>
                                      -39-

     Section  9.02.  Notice of  Amendment:  Promptly  after the execution of any
amendment  the Trustee shall furnish  written  notification  of the substance of
such amendment to all Unit Holders then of record at their  addresses  appearing
on the registration books of the Trustee.

     Section 9.03.  Termination:  The Trust shall  terminate  upon the maturity,
redemption,  sale or other  disposition  as the case may be of the last Security
held in the Trust unless sooner  terminated  upon the direction of the Depositor
to the Trustee.  The Trust may be terminated upon the direction of the Depositor
when  the  aggregate  net  of all  Trust  assets  as  shown  in the  Evaluator's
evaluation  is less than 40% of the aggregate  maturity  amounts of the Treasury
Obligations  deposited in the Trust  calculated after the most recent deposit of
Treasury Obligations in the Trust (without reduction for disposition of Treasury
obligations),  or if Replacement  Treasury  obligations are not acquired,  or if
there is a material change in the Fund's  investment  objectives as hereinbefore
specified  and may be  terminated  at any  time by the  written  consent  of the
Holders  of Fifty One per cent of the Units of the Trust;  provided,  that in no
event shall the Trust continue beyond the Termination  Date as set forth in Part
II of  the  Reference  Trust  Agreement.  Written  notice  of  any  termination,
specifying  the time or  times at which  the  Unit  Holders  of such  Trust  may
surrender  any  Certificates  they hold for  cancellation  shall be given by the
Trustee to each Unit Holder at his address  appearing on the registration  books
of the Trustee.

     (a) Within a reasonable  period of time after  termination of the Trust the
Trustee shall  liquidate  such  Securities of the Trust then held, if any, as it
shall deem necessary for payment of Trust expenses, to the extent the amounts in
the Income and Principal Accounts are insufficient, and shall:

     (i)  deduct  from the Income  Account  of the Trust or, to the extent  that
funds are not available in such Account, from the Principal Account of the Trust
and pay to itself  individually  an amount  equal to the sum of (1) its  accrued
compensation for its ordinary  recurring  services in connection with the Trust,
(2) any  compensation due it for its  extraordinary  services and (3) any costs,
expenses or indemnities in connection with the Trust as provided herein;

     (ii)  deduct  from the Income  Account of the Trust or, to the extent  that
funds are not available in such Account, from the Principal Account of the Trust
and pay any unpaid fee and  expenses of the  Evaluator  in  connection  with the
Trust;

<PAGE>
                                      -40-

     (iii) deduct from the Income Account of the Trust or the Principal  Account
of the Trust any amounts  which may be required to be  deposited  in the Reserve
Account of the Trust to provide  for  payment of any  applicable  taxes or other
governmental  charges  and any  other  amounts  which  may be  required  to meet
expenses incurred under this Indenture in connection with the Trust.

     (b) The Trustee shall fully  liquidate the remaining  Treasury  Obligations
and shall, upon each Unit Holder's surrender for cancellation of his Certificate
or  Certificates,  distribute  to each Unit Holder such Unit  Holder's  pro rata
interest in the balance of the Income Account and Principal Account of the Trust
and the proceeds of such liquidation.

     The amounts to be so  distributed to each Unit Holder shall be the pro rata
share of the balance of the total Income and Principal  Accounts of the Trust as
shall be represented by the Units therein held by such Unit Holder.

     (c) A Unit  Holder  may  notify  the  Trustee  in  writing on or before the
Evaluation Time on the Termination  Date as to whether such Unit Holder desires:
1) to receive  his pro rata share of the Fund Shares  in-kind;  or 2) to receive
the cash  proceeds  from the sale of his pro rata share of the Fund Shares.  The
Trustee shall  liquidate all Fund Shares not distributed  in-kind.  Unit Holders
who do not notify the Trustee of their  election will receive cash from the sale
of their pro rata share of Fund  Shares  (option 2). In any case,  Unit  Holders
will  receive  their pro rata share of the  Treasury  Obligations  and any other
assets of the Trust in cash.

     (d) A Unit Holder choosing in-kind distribution of Fund Shares will receive
such  distribution no later than the seventh  calendar day after the Termination
Date (or if such day is not a Business  Day,  then the first  Business Day prior
thereto),  subject  to payment  by such Unit  Holder of any tax or  governmental
charges which may be imposed thereon.  This  distribution  shall consist of such
Unit  Holder's  pro rata  portion in whole shares of the Fund Shares held in the
Trust  as  of  the  Termination  Date.  Fractional  share  entitlement  will  be
distributed in cash.

     (e) Together with such  distribution to each Unit Holder as provided for in
(b) of this Section,  the Trustee shall furnish to each such Unit Holder a final
distribution statement as of the date of computation of the amount distributable
to Unit Holders,  setting forth the  information in  substantially  the form and
manner provided for in Section 3.06 hereof.

<PAGE>
                                      -41-

     The Trustee  shall be under no liability  with respect to monies held by it
in the Income,  Reserve and Principal  Accounts upon termination  except to hold
the same in trust without  interest  until  disposed of in  accordance  with the
terms of this Indenture.

     The  Trustee  may in its  discretion,  and shall  when so  directed  by the
Depositor in writing,  postpone the  Termination  Date (1) for any period during
which the New York Stock  Exchange is closed  other than  customary  weekend and
holiday  closings;  (2)  for any  period  during  which  (as  determined  by the
Securities and Exchange Commission by rule,  regulation or order) (i) trading on
the New York Stock  Exchange  is  restricted  or (ii) an  emergency  exists as a
result  of which  disposal  by the  Trust of the  Securities  is not  reasonably
practicable  or  it  is  not  reasonably  practicable  fairly  to  determine  in
accordance  herewith the value of the  Securities  for the purposes of any Trust
Evaluation;  or (3) for  such  other  periods  as the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission may by order permit.

     In the event  that all of the Unit  Holders  who hold  Certificates  of the
Trust shall not surrender their Certificates for cancellation  within six months
after the time  specified in the  above-mentioned  written  notice,  the Trustee
shall give a second written notice to the remaining  holders of  Certificates to
surrender  their  Certificates  for  cancellation  and receive  the  liquidation
distribution  with respect  thereto.  If within one year after the second notice
all the  Certificates  shall not have been  surrendered  for  cancellation,  the
Trustee may take steps,  or may appoint an agent to take  appropriate  steps, to
contact the  remaining  holders of  Certificates  concerning  surrender of their
Certificates  and the cost  thereof  shall be paid out of the  monies  and other
assets which remain in trust hereunder.

     Section 9.04. Construction: This Indenture is delivered in the State of New
York,  and all laws or rules of  construction  of such  State  shall  govern the
rights of the parties hereto and the Unit Holders and the  interpretation of the
provisions  hereof.  Headings  and titles  herein are for  convenience  only and
should not influence such interpretation.

     Section 9.05. Registration of Units: The Depositor agrees and undertakes on
its own part to register the units with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
or other applicable  governmental agency pursuant to applicable federal or state
statutes, if such registration shall be required,  and to do all things that may
be necessary or required to comply with this  provision  during the term of each
Trust which refers to this Indenture and the Trustee shall incur no liability or
be under any obligation or expense in connection therewith.

     Section 9.06. Written Notice: Any notice, demand,  direction or instruction
to be given to the  Depositor  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be duly
given if mailed or delivered to the  Depositor c/o  Prudential-Bache  Securities
Inc. at One Seaport Plaza,  New York, New York 11292 or at such other address as
shall be specified by the Depositor to the other parties hereto in writing.  Any
notice, demand,  direction or instruction to be given to the Trustee shall be in
writing and shall be duly given if mailed or  delivered to the  corporate  trust
office of the  Trustee,  45 Wall  Street,  New York,  New York 11005  Attention:
Corporate  Trust and Agency Division or such other address as shall be specified
to the other parties by the Trustee in writing. Any notice, demand, direction or
instruction  to be given to the Evaluator  shall be in writing and shall be duly
given if mailed or delivered to the Evaluator,  Attention:  Vice President, Bond
Department, 25 Broadway, New York, New York 11004 or such other address as shall
be specified to the other parties hereto by the Evaluator in writing. Any notice
to be given to the Unit  Holders  shall be duly given if mailed or  delivered to
each Unit  Holder at the address of such holder  appearing  on the  registration
books of the Trustee.

<PAGE>
                                      -42-

     Section  9.07.  Severability:   If  any  one  or  more  of  the  covenants,
agreements,  provisions or terms of this Indenture shall be held contrary to any
express  provision  of law or  contrary  to policy of  express  law,  though not
expressly  prohibited,  or  against  public  policy,  or  shall  for any  reason
whatsoever be held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms
shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants,  agreements,  provisions
or  terms  of  this  Indenture  and  shall  in no way  affect  the  validity  or
enforceability of the other provisions of this Indenture or of the Certificates,
or the rights of the Unit Holders.

     Section 9.08.  Dissolution of Depositors Not to Terminate:  The dissolution
of one or all of the  Depositors  (if  more  than  one)  from or for  any  cause
whatsoever  shall not operate to terminate this Indenture  insofar as the duties
and obligations of the Trustee and Evaluator are concerned.

     Section  9.09.  Name:   Depositor  reserves  the  right  to  use  the  name
"Government  Securities  Equity Trust," with a  distinguishing  series number or
name, without the consent of the Trustee.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Prudential-Bache Securities Inc. has caused this Trust
Indenture and Agreement to be executed by one of its Senior Vice  Presidents and
its corporate seal to be hereto affixed and attested by its Assistant Secretary;
United  States  Trust  Company of New York has caused this Trust  Indenture  and
Agreement  to be  executed  by one of its  Assistant  vice  Presidents  and  its
corporate  seal  to be  hereto  affixed  and  attested  by one of its  Assistant
Secretaries  and Standard & Poor's  Corporation  has caused this Trust Indenture
and  Agreement  to be executed by  facsimile  signature by one of its Group Vice
Presidents or Assistant  Vice  Presidents  and its  corporate  seal to be hereto
affixed and attested by facsimile  signature  by one of its Vice  Presidents  or
Secretaries; all as of the day, month and year first above written.

<PAGE>
                                      -43-


                                             PRUDENTIAL-BACHE SECURITIES INC.,
                                               Depositor

                                           By__________________________________
                                             Senior Vice-President
(SEAL)

ATTEST:

By___________________________
    Assistant Secretary

                                                    UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
                                                         OF NEW YORK, Trustee

                                               By______________________________

                                                       Assistant Vice President

(SEAL)

ATTEST:

By___________________________
    Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>



STATE OF NEW YORK  )
                   :  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )

     I,  CARLOS R.  LUCIANO,  a Notary  Public in and for the said County in the
State  aforesaid,  do  hereby  certify  that  JOHN A.  McGUIRE  and Wm.  Hausser
personally  known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the
foregoing  instrument  and  personally  known  to me to be  the  Assistant  Vice
President and Assistant Secretary,  respectively, of United States Trust Company
of New  York,  a  corporation,  appeared  before  me  this  day in  person,  and
acknowledged  that they signed,  sealed with the corporate seal of United States
Trust Company of New York,  and delivered the said  instrument as their free and
voluntary  act  as  such  Assistant  Vice  President  and  Assistant  Secretary,
respectively,  and as the free and  voluntary  act of said United  States  Trust
Company of New York for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

     GIVEN, under my hand and notarial seal this 12th day of May, 1989.


                                                     -----------------------
                                                     Notary Public
(SEAL)

                                                 STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION
                                                          Evaluator

                                            By_________________________________
                                              Title:  Vice President

(SEAL)

ATTEST

By ____________________________
    Title:  Vice President




<PAGE>
                   Letterhead of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services
                      (a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc.)

                                  May 25, 2000

Prudential Securities Incorporated
1 New York Plaza
New York, NY  10292

                  Re:  Government Securities Equity Trust
                       Post-Effective Amendment No. 5
                       Government Securities Equity Trust Series 8

Gentlemen:

     We have examined the post-effective Amendment to the Registration Statement
File No.  33-56297 for the  above-captioned  trust. We hereby  acknowledge  that
Kenny S&P Evaluation  Services,  a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc. is currently
acting as the  evaluator  for the  trust.  We hereby  consent  to the use in the
Registration  Statement of the  references to Kenny S&P Evaluation  Services,  a
division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc. as evaluator.

     In  addition,   we  hereby  confirm  that  the  ratings  indicated  in  the
above-referenced  Amendment to the  Registration  Statement  for the  respective
bonds comprising the Trust portfolio are the ratings currently  indicated in our
KENNYBASE database as of the date of the evaluation report.

     You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with the Securities
and Exchange commission.

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     Frank A. Ciccotto
                                                     Frank A. Ciccotto
                                                     Vice President


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