DEFINED ASSET FUNDS MUNICIPAL INVT TR FD INTERM TERM SER 242
497, 1994-11-18
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Def ined
 
Asset FundsSM
 
MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT          This Defined Fund is a portfolio of preselected
TRUST FUND                    securities, formed for the purpose of providing
- ------------------------------interest income which in the opinion of counsel
                              is, with certain exceptions, exempt from regular
Intermediate Term Series--242 Federal income taxes under existing law through
A Unit Investment Trust       investment in a defined portfolio of fixed rate
14,530 Units                  Debt Obligations with fixed maturity or
/ /  Tax Free                 disposition dates ranging from 2003 to 2006,
/ /  Monthly Income           issued primarily by states, municipalities, public
/ /  Professional Selection   authorities and similar entities or by certain
6.20%                         U.S. territories or possessions, and rated
ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN      investment grade or having, in the opinion of
AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994       Defined Asset Funds research analysts, comparable
6.38%                         credit characteristics. Although interest on
ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN    certain of the Debt Obligations in this Fund may
AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994       be a preference item for purposes of Alternative
                              Minimum Tax, the yield on these obligations is
                              generally higher than on obligations of comparable
                              quality that are not subject to AMT. The value of
                              the Units of the Fund will fluctuate with the
                              value of the Portfolio of underlying Securities.
                              The Estimated Current Return and Estimated Long
                              Term Return figures shown give different
                              information about the return to investors.
                              Estimated Current Return on a Unit shows a net
                              annual current cash return based on the initial
                              Public Offering Price and the maximum applicable
                              sales charge and is computed by multiplying the
                              estimated net annual interest rate per Unit by
                              $1,000 and dividing the result by the Public
                              Offering Price per Unit (including the sales
                              charge but not including accrued interest).
                              Estimated Long Term Return shows a net annual
                              long-term return to investors holding to maturity
                              based on the yield on the individual bonds in the
                              Portfolio, weighted to reflect the time to
                              maturity (or in certain cases to an earlier call
                              date) and market value of each bond in the
                              Portfolio, adjusted to reflect the Public Offering
                              Price (including the sales charge) and estimated
                              expenses. Unlike Estimated Current Return,
                              Estimated Long Term Return takes into account
                              maturities of the underlying Securities and
                              discounts and premiums. Distributions of income on
                              Units are generally subject to certain delays; if
                              the Estimated Long Term Return figure shown took
                              these delays into account, it would be lower. Both
                              Estimated Current Return and Estimated Long Term
                              Return are subject to fluctuations with changes in
                              Portfolio composition (including the redemption,
                              sale or other disposition of Securities in the
                              Portfolio), changes in the market value of the
                              underlying Securities and changes in fees and
                              expenses. Estimated cash flows for the Fund are
                              available without charge from the Sponsors upon
                              request.
                              Minimum purchase: 1 Unit.

 

                              --------------------------------------------------
                              THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR
                              DISAPPROVED
                              BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY
                              STATE
                              SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR
                              ANY
SPONSORS:                     STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
Merrill Lynch,                ACCURACY
Pierce, Fenner & Smith        OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
Incorporated                  TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Smith Barney Inc.             INQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TRUSTEE AT
PaineWebber Incorporated      1-800-323-1508.
Prudential Securities         PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 17, 1994
Incorporated                  READ AND RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.     REFERENCE.
 
 
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DEFINED ASSET FUNDSSM is America's oldest and largest family of unit investment
trusts with over $90 billion sponsored since 1970. Each Defined Fund is a
portfolio of preselected securities. The portfolio is divided into 'units'
representing equal shares of the underlying assets. Each unit receives an equal
share of income and principal distributions.
 
With Defined Asset Funds you know in advance what you are investing in and that
changes in the portfolio are limited. Most defined bond funds pay interest
monthly and repay principal as bonds are called, redeemed, sold or as they
mature. Defined equity funds offer preselected stock portfolios with defined
termination dates.
 
Your financial advisor can help you select a Defined Fund to meet your personal
investment objectives. Our size and market presence enable us to offer a wide
variety of investments. Defined Funds are available in the following types of
securities: municipal bonds, corporate bonds, government bonds, utility stocks,
growth stocks, even international securities denominated in foreign currencies.
 
Termination dates are as short as one year or as long as 30 years. Special funds
are available for investors seeking extra features: insured funds, double and
triple tax-free funds, and funds with 'laddered maturities' to help protect
against rising interest rates. Defined Funds are offered by prospectus only.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
 

Investment Summary..........................................                 A-3
Tax-Free vs. Taxable Income.................................                 A-5
Underwriting Account........................................                 A-7
Fee Table...................................................                 A-8
Report of Independent Accountants...........................                 A-9
Statement of Condition......................................                A-10
Portfolio...................................................                A-11
Description of Fund Investments.............................                   1
Risk Factors................................................                   2
How To Buy..................................................                  16
How To Sell.................................................                  17
Income and Distributions....................................                  18
Exchange Option.............................................                  21
Taxes.......................................................                  22
Administration of the Fund..................................                  24
Trust Indenture.............................................                  24
Miscellaneous...............................................                  25
Appendix A..................................................                 A-1
Appendix B..................................................                 B-1
Appendix C..................................................                 C-1
 
                                      A-2
 
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT SUMMARY AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994 (THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE
INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT)(a)
 

ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(b)
(based on Public Offering Price)                                         6.20%
ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(b)
(based on Public Offering Price)                                         6.38%
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT
(including 4.00% sales charge)                             $         1,012.29(c)
FACE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES--                                $       14,530,000
INITIAL NUMBER OF UNITS--(d)                                           14,530
SPONSORS' REPURCHASE PRICE AND
REDEMPTION PRICE PER UNIT(e)
(based on bid side evaluation)                             $           957.80(c)
FRACTIONAL UNDIVIDED INTEREST IN FUND REPRESENTED BY EACH
UNIT--                                                             1/14,530TH
CALCULATION OF PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
  Aggregate offer side evaluation
    of Securities in Fund..................................$    14,120,240.20
                                                           ------------------
  Divided by 14,530 Units..................................$           971.80
  Plus sales charge of 4.00% of
    Public Offering Price (4.167% of
    net amount invested in
    Securities)(f).........................................             40.49
                                                           ------------------
  Public Offering Price per Unit...........................          1,012.29
  Plus accrued interest(g).................................              1.39
                                                           ------------------
    Total..................................................$         1,013.68
                                                           ------------------
                                                           ------------------

 
PREMIUM AND DISCOUNT ISSUES IN PORTFOLIO
  Face amount of Securities with offer side
                            evaluation:                            over par--35%
                                                     at a discount from par--65%
 

PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE FACE AMOUNT OF DEBT
  OBLIGATIONS ISSUED AT 'ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT' (see
  Taxes)....................................................                34%
CALCULATION OF ESTIMATED NET ANNUAL INTEREST RATE PER UNIT
(based on face amount of $1,000 per Unit)
  Annual interest rate per Unit.............................             6.425%
  Less estimated annual expenses per Unit ($1.49) expressed
    as a percentage.........................................              .149%
                                                            ------------------
  Estimated net annual interest rate
    per Unit................................................             6.276%
                                                            ------------------
                                                            ------------------

 

DAILY RATE AT WHICH ESTIMATED NET
INTEREST ACCRUES PER UNIT--                                              .0174%
MONTHLY INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS
  First distribution to be paid on the 25th
  day of January, 1995 to Holders of
  record on the 10th day of January, 1995...................$             2.25
  Calculation of second and following
  distributions, to be paid on the 25th
  day of each month:
  Estimated net annual interest rate per Unit times
    $1,000..................................................$            62.76
  Divided by 12.............................................$             5.23

 

REDEMPTION PRICE PER UNIT LESS THAN:
  Public Offering Price by....................................$            54.49
  Sponsors' Initial Repurchase Price by.......................$            14.00
 
RECORD DAY--The 10th day of each month
 
DISTRIBUTION DAY--The 25th day of each month

 

MINIMUM CAPITAL DISTRIBUTION
    No distribution need be made from Capital Account if
    balance is less than $5.00 per Unit

 
SPONSORS' PROFIT (LOSS) ON DEPOSIT............................$       141,690.60
 

TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL FEE AND EXPENSES(h)
    $1.49 per Unit commencing September, 1995 (see Income and
    Distributions--Fund Expenses)
PORTFOLIO SUPERVISION FEE(i)
    Maximum of $0.35 per $1,000 face amount of underlying Debt Obligations (see
    Income and Distributions--Fund Expenses)
EVALUATOR'S FEE FOR EACH EVALUATION
    Minimum of $5.00 (see Income and Distributions--Fund Expenses)
EVALUATION TIME
    3:30 P.M. New York Time
MANDATORY TERMINATION DATE
    Trust must be terminated no later than one year
    after the maturity date of the last maturing Debt
    Obligation listed under Portfolio (see Portfolio).
MINIMUM VALUE OF FUND
    Trust may be terminated if value of Fund is less than 40% of the face amount
    of Securities in the
    Portfolio on the date of their deposit.

 
- ------------------
   (a) The Indenture was signed and the deposit was made on the date of this
Prospectus.
   (b) Estimated Current Return represents annual interest income after
estimated annual expenses divided by the maximum public offering price including
a 4.00% maximum sales charge. Estimated Long Term Return is the net annual
percentage return based on the yield on each underlying Debt Obligation weighted
to reflect market value and time to maturity or earlier call date. Estimated
Long Term Return is adjusted for estimated expenses and the maximum offering
price but not for delays in the Fund's distribution of income. Estimated Current
Return shows current annual cash return to investors while Estimated Long Term
Return shows the return on Units held to maturity, reflecting maturities,
discounts and premiums on underlying Debt Obligations. Each figure will vary
with purchase price including sales charge, changes in the net interest income
and the redemption, sale or other disposition of Debt Obligations in the
Portfolio.
   (c) Plus accrued interest.
   (d) The Sponsors may create additional Units during the offering period of
the Fund.
   (e) During the initial offering period, the Fund's Sponsors intend to offer
to purchase Units at prices based on the offer side value of the underlying
Securities. Thereafter, the Sponsors intend to maintain such a market based on
the bid side value of the underlying Securities, which will be equal to the
Redemption Price. (See How To Sell.)
   (f) The sales charge during the initial offering period and in the secondary
market will be reduced on a graduated scale in the case of purchases of 250 or
more Units; the secondary market sales charge will also vary depending on the
maturities of the underlying Securities (see Appendix B). Any resulting
reduction in the Public Offering Price will increase the effective current and
long term returns on a Unit.
   (g) Figure shown represents interest accrued on underlying Securities from
the Initial Date of Deposit to expected date of settlement (normally five
business days after purchase) for Units purchased on Initial Date of Deposit
(see How To Buy--Accrued Interest).
   (h) During the first year the Trustee's Annual Fee and Expenses will be
reduced by $0.91 per Unit. Estimated annual interest income per Unit (estimated
annual interest rate per Unit times $1,000) will be $63.34, estimated expenses
per Unit will be $0.58 and estimated net annual income per Unit will remain the
same (see Income and Distributions--Income).
   (i) The Sponsors may also be reimbursed for bookkeeping or other
administrative expenses not exceeding their actual costs, currently at a maximum
annual rate of $0.10 per Unit.
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT SUMMARY AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994 (CONTINUED)
 
     OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND--To provide higher tax exempt income for investors
who are not subject to Alternative Minimum Tax through investment in a fixed
portfolio consisting of intermediate term, fixed-income Debt Obligations with
fixed maturity or disposition dates, issued by states, municipalities, public
authorities and similar entities or by certain United States territories or
possessions and either rated investment grade or backed by third-party
obligations that are rated investment grade or having, in the opinion of Defined
Asset Funds research analysts, credit characteristics comparable to those of
investment grade securities. There is no assurance that this objective will be
met because it is subject to the continuing ability of issuers of the Debt
Obligations held by the Fund to meet their principal and interest requirements
or of individual third-party obligors to meet their obligations under their
third-party obligations, as well as to investors not being subject to the
Alternative Minimum Tax. Furthermore, the market value of the underlying Debt
Obligations, and therefore the value of the Units, will fluctuate with changes
in interest rates and other factors. (See Risk Factors.)
 
     PORTFOLIO AT A GLANCE--
 
     DIVERSIFICATION--The Portfolio contains 10 different issues of state,
municipal and public authority intermediate-term Debt Obligations. Approximately
52% of the aggregate face amount of the Portfolio consists of Debt Obligations
of issuers in Georgia (21%), New York (16%) and Illinois (15%). Because of
possible maturity, sale or other disposition of Securities, the size,
composition, and return of the Portfolio may change at any time.
 
     INVESTMENT QUALITY--9 issues are rated investment grade: Standard & Poor's
rated 2 issues AAA and 1 issue A; Moody's rated 1 issue Aa and 4 issues A; and
Fitch rated 1 issue A. The remaining issue, while not rated, is secured by a
letter of credit that is rated AAA by Standard & Poor's. (See Appendix A.)
 
     INTERMEDIATE-TERM MATURITIES--The issues have maturity or disposition dates
ranging from 2003 to 2006. These maturities give investors an opportunity to
take advantage of current intermediate-term rates.
 
     CALL PROTECTION--Issuers are usually able to redeem bonds under optional
refunding and sinking fund provisions. Optional refunding redemptions, which may
redeem all or part of an issue, are in most cases initially at a premium, and
then in subsequent years at declining prices, but typically not below par value.
Approximately 41% of the aggregate face amount of the Portfolio is not subject
to optional refunding redemptions prior to maturity; approximately 59% of the
aggregate face amount of the Portfolio is subject to optional refunding
redemption but not before 2001 and then at prices initially not less than 102%
of par. Bonds are also generally subject to mandatory sinking fund redemptions
at par over the life of the issue and may also provide for redemption at par
prior or in addition to optional or mandatory redemption dates or maturity (see
Footnote (2) to Portfolio).
 
     RISK FACTORS--Investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding
that the value of the underlying Portfolio may decline with increases in
interest rates. In recent years, there have been wide fluctuations in interest
rates and thus in the value of fixed-rate debt obligations generally. The
Sponsors cannot predict future economic policies or their consequences or,
therefore, the course or extent of any similar fluctuations in the future. Since
the interest on certain of the Debt Obligations is a preference item for
purposes of Alternative Minimum Tax, the Fund may be appropriate only for
investors who are not subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (see Taxation below).
 
     All issues are payable from the income of a specific project or authority,
which can be divided by source of revenue as follows: Lease Rental
Appropriation, 1; Financial Institutions, 2; State/Local Municipal Electric
Utilities, 1; Housing, 1; Special Tax Issues, 2; Transportation, 1;
Universities/Colleges, 1 and Industrial Development Revenue, 1. The Fund is not
considered to be concentrated in any particular category of debt obligations.*
(See Risk Factors for a brief summary of certain investment risks pertaining to
the obligations held by the Fund.)
 
     Approximately 15% of the aggregate face amount of the Portfolio is insured
or guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by insurance policies
issued by certain municipal bond insurance companies (see Risk Factors--Insured
Obligations). In addition, approximately 21% of the aggregate face amount of the
Portfolio is backed by a letter of credit of a U.S. branch or agency of a
foreign bank, which is an irrevocable obligation of the U.S. branch or agency
(see Risk Factors--Obligations Backed by Letters of Credit).
 
- ---------------
* A Fund is considered to be 'concentrated' in a particular category when the
Debt Obligations in that category constitute 25% or more of the Portfolio (see
Risk Factors).
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
                               Def ined
                               Asset Funds
 
INVESTOR'S GUIDE      DEFINED MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUNDS
MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT  Our defined portfolios of municipal bonds offer investors
TRUST FUND            a simple and convenient way to earn monthly income. And by
- --------------------  purchasing municipal Defined Funds, investors not only
INTERMEDIATE TERM     avoid the problem of selecting municipal bonds by
SERIES                themselves, but also gain the advantage of diversification
                      by investing in bonds of several different issuers.
                      Spreading your investment among different securities and
                      issuers reduces your risk, but does not eliminate it.
                      MONTHLY TAX-FREE INTEREST INCOME
                      The Fund pays monthly income, even though the underlying
                      bonds pay interest semi-annually. This income is generally
                      100% exempt under existing laws from regular federal
                      income tax, but not from Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
                      The portfolio contains AMT municipal bonds which generally
                      offer higher rates than other types of municipals for
                      investors not subject to AMT. Depending on where you live,
                      some of the income also may be exempt from certain state
                      and local personal income taxes. Any gain on disposition
                      of the underlying bonds will be subject to tax.
                      INTERMEDIATE MATURITIES
                      Most of the bonds in the Fund's portfolio will mature or
                      can be resold by the Fund in about 10 years. These
                      maturities give investors an opportunity to take advantage
                      of current intermediate-term rates.
                      ENHANCED PROTECTION
                      To further protect your investment, some of the bonds in
                      the Fund may be secured by letters of credit, guarantees
                      or other third party obligations. This enhanced protection
                      pertains only to these bonds and not to the Units
                      themselves. The remaining bonds in the Fund are either
                      rated at least A by Fitch, Moody's or Standard & Poor's
                      or, in the opinion of Defined Asset Funds research
                      analysts, have comparable credit characteristics. Of
                      course, the market value of the underlying bonds and the
                      value of the units, will fluctuate with changes in
                      interest rates and other factors.
                      PROFESSIONAL SELECTION AND SUPERVISION
                      The Fund contains a variety of securities selected by
                      experienced buyers and market analysts. The Fund is not
                      actively managed. However, the portfolio is regularly
                      reviewed and a security can be sold if retaining it would
                      be detrimental to investors' interests.
                      A LIQUID INVESTMENT
                      Although not legally required to do so, the Sponsors have
                      maintained a secondary market for their Defined Asset
                      Funds for over 20 years. You can cash in your units at any
                      time. Your price is based on the market value of the bonds
                      in the Fund's portfolio at that time as determined by an
                      independent evaluator. Or, you can exchange your
                      investment for another Defined Fund at a reduced sales
                      charge. There is never a fee for cashing in your
                      investments.
                      REINVESTMENT OPTION
                      You can elect to automatically reinvest your distributions
                      into a separate portfolio of tax-exempt bonds. Reinvesting
                      helps to compound your income federally tax-free.
                      RISK FACTORS
                      Unit price fluctuates and is affected by interest rates as
                      well as the financial condition of the issuers of the
                      bonds.

 
<PAGE>
                          TAX-FREE VS. TAXABLE INCOME
                  A COMPARISON OF TAXABLE AND TAX-FREE YIELDS
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>
TAXABLE INCOME 1994*                       % TAX                               TAX-FREE YIELD OF
  SINGLE RETURN        JOINT RETURN       BRACKET       3%         3.5%         4%         4.5%         5%         5.5%
                                                                      IS EQUIVALENT TO A TAXABLE YIELD OF
<S>                <C>                  <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>  
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $0-36,900                15.00        3.53        4.12        4.71        5.29        5.88        6.47
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0-22,100                                    15.00        3.53        4.12        4.71        5.29        5.88        6.47
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $36,900-89,150           28.00        4.17        4.86        5.56        6.25        6.94        7.64
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$22,100-53,500                               28.00        4.17        4.86        5.56        6.25        6.94        7.64
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $89,150-140,000          31.00        4.35        5.07        5.80        6.52        7.25        7.97
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$53,500-115,000                              31.00        4.35        5.07        5.80        6.52        7.25        7.97
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $140,000-250,000         36.00        4.69        5.47        6.25        7.03        7.81        8.59
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$115,000-250,000                             36.00        4.69        5.47        6.25        7.03        7.81        8.59
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    OVER $250,000            39.60        4.97        5.79        6.62        7.45        8.28        9.11
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVER $250,000                                39.60        4.97        5.79        6.62        7.45        8.28        9.11
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<CAPTION>
TAXABLE INCOME 1994*
  SINGLE RETURN        6%         6.5%         7%
<S>               <C>            <C>          <C> 
- ------------------
                         7.06        7.65        8.24
- ------------------
$0-22,100                7.06        7.65        8.24
- ------------------
                         8.33        9.03        9.72
- ------------------
$22,100-53,500           8.33        9.03        9.72
- ------------------
                         8.70        9.42       10.14
- ------------------
$53,500-115,000          8.70        9.42       10.14
- ------------------
                         9.38       10.16       10.94
- ------------------
$115,000-250,000         9.38       10.16       10.94
- ------------------
                         9.93       10.76       11.59
- ------------------
OVER $250,000            9.93       10.76       11.59
- ------------------
</TABLE>
 
To compare the yield of a taxable security with the yield of a tax-free
security, find your taxable income and read across. The table incorporates
current Federal income tax rates and assumes that all income would otherwise be
taxed at the investor's highest tax rate. Yield figures are for example only.
 
*Based upon net amount subject to Federal income tax after deductions and
exemptions. This table does not reflect the possible effect of other tax
factors, such as the alternative minimum tax, personal exemptions, the phase out
of the tax benefit of exemptions, itemized deductions or the possible partial
disallowance of deductions. Consequently, holders are urged to consult their own
tax advisers in this regard.
 
                              MUNICIPAL BONDS AND
                          THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX
 

      INCOME+        MUNICIPAL BOND 'PREFERENCE'
                           INTEREST INCOME*
                       (STATE INCOME TAX RATES)
SINGLE ++ JOINT ++      0%        7%       11%
- --------------------------------------------------
          $50,000    $25,000   $20,000   $17,000
- --------------------------------------------------
$30,000              $22,000   $18,000   $16,000
- --------------------------------------------------
          $100,000   $29,000   $20,000   $15,000
- --------------------------------------------------
$55,000              $24,000   $18,000   $15,000
- --------------------------------------------------
          $225,000   $36,000   $18,000    $9,000
- --------------------------------------------------
$205,000             $33,000   $17,000    $9,000
- --------------------------------------------------
Notes:
* Assuming no 'preference' or similar items
  except for municipal bond 'preference'
  interest income and state income taxes.
 
 + Regular taxable income plus state income
  taxes and personal exemptions.
 
 ++ Assuming no dependents.
 
     Under the tax law, interest income on certain municipal bonds, although
exempt from regular federal income tax, is treated as a 'preference' item for
purposes of the alternative minimum tax (the 'AMT').
 
     The table above shows amounts of such municipal bond 'preference' interest
income that individual taxpayers could receive in 1994 without becoming subject
to the AMT. The table gives information for single and joint returns of
individuals having no dependents. The table provides three income levels and
three hypothetical state income tax rates.
 
     The table assumes that the taxpayer has no 'preference' or similar items
which must be added to 'regular' taxable income in computing the alternative
minimum taxable income, other than the stated amount of municipal bond
'preference' interest income and state income taxes. The table does not reflect
the phase out of the tax benefit of personal exemptions, the possible
disallowance of deductions. The table further assumes that the stated amount of
municipal bond 'preference' interest income is subject to state income taxes. If
the taxpayer has any other 'preference' or similar items (e.g., real estate
taxes, appreciation on charitable contributions of property, accelerated
depreciation, losses from passive activities and certain interest deductions)
then the amount of municipal bond 'preference' interest income that the taxpayer
could have before being subject to the AMT would be less. Home mortgage
interest, charitable contributions and certain other items are deductible from
adjusted gross income in computing 'regular' taxable income and are not added
back in computing alternative minimum taxable income. Holders are urged to
consult their own tax advisers.
 

 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
                        MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
                            INTERMEDIATE TERM SERIES
                              DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
I want to learn more about automatic reinvestment in the Investment Accumulation
Program. Please send me information about participation in the Municipal Fund
Accumulation Program, Inc. and a current Prospectus.
My name (please
print) _________________________________________________________________________
My address (please print):
Street and Apt.
No. ____________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip
Code ___________________________________________________________________________
This page is a self-mailer. Please complete the information above, cut along the
dotted line, fold along the lines on the reverse side, tape, and mail with the
Trustee's address displayed on the outside.
<PAGE>
 

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL                                              NO POSTAGE
FIRST CLASS     PERMIT NO. 644     NEW YORK, NY                  NECESSARY
                                                                 IF MAILED
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE                                  IN THE
          THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.                       UNITED STATES
          UNIT TRUST DEPARTMENT
          BOX 2051
          NEW YORK, NY 10081
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Fold along this line.)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Fold along this line.)
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT SUMMARY AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994 (CONTINUED)
 
     Certain Debt Obligations may have been issued under bond resolutions or
trust indentures which provided for the issuance of bonds in small
denominations. The Sponsors believe that all the Debt Obligations in the
Portfolio would be readily marketable or, in the case of certain Debt
Obligations which are guaranteed, insured or otherwise secured by banks,
thrifts, insurance companies or other corporations or entities, marketable to
institutions should it be necessary for the Trustee to sell Debt Obligations to
meet redemptions (see Risk Factors--Liquidity).
 
     The Securities are generally not listed on a national securities exchange.
Whether or not the Securities are listed, the principal trading market for the
Securities will generally be in the over-the-counter market. As a result, the
existence of a liquid trading market for the Securities may depend on whether
dealers will make a market in the Securities. There can be no assurance that a
market will be made for any of the Securities, that any market for the
Securities will be maintained or of the liquidity of the Securities in any
markets made. In addition, the Fund may be restricted under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 from selling Securities to any Sponsor. The price at which
the Securities may be sold to meet redemptions and the value of the Fund will be
adversely affected if trading markets for the Securities are limited or absent.
 
     PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE--During the initial offering period and any offering
of additional Units, the Public Offering Price of the Units is based on the
aggregate offer side evaluation of the underlying Securities (the price at which
they could be directly purchased by the public assuming they were available)
divided by the number of Units outstanding, plus a sales charge of 4.167%* of
the offer side evaluation per Unit (the net amount invested); this results in a
sales charge of 4.00%* of the Public Offering Price. For secondary market sales
charges, see Appendix B. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price computed
as of the Evaluation Time for all sales made subsequent to the previous
evaluation, plus cash per Unit in the Capital Account not allocated to the
purchase of specific Securities and net interest accrued. The Public Offering
Price on the Initial Date of Deposit, and on subsequent dates, will vary from
the Public Offering Price set forth on page A-3 (see How To Buy; How To Sell).
 
     MONTHLY DISTRIBUTIONS--Monthly distributions of interest and any principal
or premium received by the Fund will be made in cash, on or shortly after the
25th day of each month to Holders of record on the 10th day of the month
commencing with the first distribution on the date indicated on page A-3 (see
Income and Distributions). Alternatively, Holders may elect to have their
monthly distributions reinvested in The Municipal Fund Accumulation Program,
Inc. Further information about the program, including a current prospectus, may
be obtained by returning the enclosed form. (See Income and
Distributions--Investment Accumulation Program).
 
     ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN; ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN--Estimated Current
Return on a Unit shows the return based on the Public Offering Price and the
maximum applicable sales charge of 4.00%* and is computed by multiplying the
estimated net annual interest rate per Unit (which shows the return per Unit
based on $1,000 face amount) by $1,000 and dividing the result by the Public
Offering Price per Unit (not including accrued interest). Estimated Long Term
Return on a Unit of the Fund shows a net annual long-term return to investors
holding to maturity based on the yield on the individual Debt Obligations in the
Portfolio weighted to reflect the time to maturity (or in certain cases to an
earlier call date) and market value of each Debt Obligation in the Portfolio,
adjusted to reflect the Public Offering Price (including the maximum applicable
sales charge of 4.00%*) and estimated expenses. The net annual interest rate per
Unit and the net annual long-term return to investors will vary with changes in
the fees and expenses of the Trustee and Sponsors and the fees of the Evaluator
which are paid by the Fund, and with the exchange, redemption, sale, prepayment
or maturity of the underlying Securities; the Public Offering Price will vary
with any reduction in sales charges paid in the case of purchases of 250 or more
Units, as well as with fluctuations in the offer side evaluation of the
underlying Securities. Therefore, it can be expected that the Estimated Current
Return and Estimated Long Term Return will fluctuate in the future. (See Income
and Distributions--Returns.)
 
     TAXATION--In the opinion of special counsel to the Sponsors, each Holder
will be considered to have received the interest on his pro rata portion of each
Debt Obligation when interest on the Debt Obligation is received by the Fund. In
the opinion of bond counsel rendered on the date of issuance of the Debt
Obligation, this interest is exempt under existing law from regular Federal
income taxes (except in certain circumstances depending on the Holder) but may
be subject to state and local taxes. In addition, interest on certain of the
Debt Obligations, as indicated under Portfolio (approximately 27% of the
aggregate face amount of the Portfolio) will be a preference item for purposes
of Alternative Minimum Tax ('AMT'). Any gain on the disposition of a Holder's
pro rata portion of a Debt Obligation will be subject to tax. (See Portfolio;
Taxes.)
 
     MARKET FOR UNITS--The Sponsors, though not obligated to do so, intend to
maintain a secondary market for Units based on the aggregate bid side evaluation
of the underlying Securities. If this market is not maintained a Holder will be
able to dispose of his Units through redemption at prices also based on the
aggregate bid side evaluation of the underlying Securities. There is no fee for
selling your Units. Market conditions may cause the
 
- ---------------
* This sales charge during the initial offering period and in the secondary
market will be reduced on a graduated scale in the case of purchases of 250 or
more Units (see Appendix B).
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT SUMMARY AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994 (CONTINUED)
prices available in the market maintained by the Sponsors or available upon
exercise of redemption rights to be more or less than the total of the amount
paid for Units plus accrued interest. (See How To Buy; How To Sell.)
 
     UNDERWRITING--One of the Sponsors has participated as sole underwriter,
managing underwriter or members of an underwriting syndicate from which
approximately 15% of the aggregate face amount of the Portfolio was acquired.
None of the Sponsors has acted as agent in the direct placement of any of the
Debt Obligations.
 
                              UNDERWRITING ACCOUNT
 
     The names and addresses of the Underwriters and their several interests in
the Underwriting Account are:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>                                                                       <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith        P.O. Box 9051, Princeton, N.J. 08543-9051                                       74.88%
Incorporated
Smith Barney Inc.                            Two World Trade Center--101st Floor, New York, N.Y. 10048
                                                                                                                               .69
PaineWebber Incorporated                     1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019                               10.84
Prudential Securities Incorporated           One Seaport Plaza--199 Water Street, New York, N.Y. 10292                        7.40
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.                    Two World Trade Center--59th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10048                         5.85
Gruntal & Co. Inc.                           14 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10005                                              .34
                                                                                                              --------------------
                                                                                                                            100.00%
                                                                                                              --------------------
                                                                                                              --------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT SUMMARY AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 1994 (CONTINUED)
                                   FEE TABLE
 
     THIS FEE TABLE IS INTENDED TO ASSIST INVESTORS IN UNDERSTANDING THE COSTS
AND EXPENSES THAT AN INVESTOR IN THE FUND WILL BEAR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. SEE
HOW TO BUY AND INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS--FUND EXPENSES. ALTHOUGH THE FUND IS A
UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST RATHER THAN A MUTUAL FUND, THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED
TO PERMIT A COMPARISON OF FEES.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
UNITHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
  Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases during the Initial Offering Period (as a percentage
     of Public Offering Price).......................................................................................      4.00%
  Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases during the Secondary Offering Period (as a percentage of Public Offering
     Price)..........................................................................................................      4.50%
                                                                                                                       ---------
ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
  (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS1)
  Trustee's Fee......................................................................................................      .073%
  Portfolio Supervision, Bookkeeping and Administrative Fees.........................................................      .041%
  Other Operating Expenses...........................................................................................      .040%
                                                                                                                       ---------
     Total...........................................................................................................      .154%
                                                                                                                       ---------
                                                                                                                       ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
1Based on the mean of the bid and offer side evaluations; this figure may differ
from that set forth as estimated annual expenses per unit expressed as a
percentage on p. A-3.
 
                                    EXAMPLE
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>
                                                                                CUMULATIVE EXPENSES PAID FOR PERIOD OF:
                                                                               -----------------------------------------
                                                                                   1 YEAR       3 YEARS        5 YEARS
                                                                               -----------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                           <C>           <C>           <C>
  An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
     assuming the Fund's estimated operating expense ratio of .154% and a 5%
     annual return on the investment throughout the periods..................   $      42     $      45      $      48
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                  10 YEARS
                                                                               -------------
<S>                                                                           <C>
  An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
     assuming the Fund's estimated operating expense ratio of .154% and a 5%
     annual return on the investment throughout the periods..................    $      59
</TABLE>
 
The Example assumes reinvestment of all distributions into additional units of
the Fund (a reinvestment option different from that offered by this Fund--see
Income and Distributions--Investment Accumulation Program) and utilizes a 5%
annual rate of return as mandated by Securities and Exchange Commission
regulations applicable to mutual funds. The Cumulative Expenses reflect both
sales charges and operating expenses on an increasing investment (because the
net annual return is reinvested). In addition to the charges described above, a
Holder selling or redeeming his Units in the secondary market (before the Fund
terminates) will receive a price based on the then-current bid side evaluation
of the underlying securities. The difference between this bid side evaluation
and the offer side evaluation (the basis for the Public Offering Price), as of
the day before the Initial Date of Deposit, is $14.00 per Unit. Of course, this
difference may change over time. The Example should not be considered a
representation of past or future expenses or annual rate of return; the actual
expenses and annual rate of return may be more or less than those assumed for
purposes of the Example.
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Sponsors, Trustee and Holders of Municipal Investment Trust Fund,
Intermediate Term Series--242, Defined Asset Funds:
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition, including the
portfolio, of Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Intermediate Term Series--242,
Defined Asset Funds as of November 17, 1994. This financial statement is the
responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
this financial statement based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. The deposit on November
17, 1994 of an irrevocable letter or letters of credit for the purchase of
securities, as described in the statement of condition, was confirmed to us by
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A, the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Trustee, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Municipal Investment Trust
Fund, Intermediate Term Series--242, Defined Asset Funds at November 17, 1994 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, N.Y.
November 17, 1994
                                       A-9
<PAGE>
                        MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
                         INTERMEDIATE TERM SERIES--242
                              DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
    STATEMENT OF CONDITION AS OF INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT, NOVEMBER 17, 1994
 

TRUST PROPERTY
Investment in Debt Obligations(1):
          Contracts to purchase Debt
          Obligations...................                    $      14,120,240.20
Accrued interest to Initial Date of
     Deposit on underlying Debt
     Obligations........................                              213,707.68
                                                            --------------------
            Total.......................                    $      14,333,947.88
                                                            --------------------
                                                            --------------------
LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF HOLDERS
Liability--Accrued interest to Initial
     Date of Deposit on underlying
     Debt Obligations(2)................                    $         213,707.68
Interest of Holders--
     14,530 Units of fractional
     undivided interest outstanding:
       Cost to investors(3).............$      14,708,559.90
       Gross underwriting
       commissions(4)...................         (588,319.70)
                                        --------------------
Net amount applicable to investors......                    $      14,120,240.20
                                                            --------------------
            Total.......................                    $      14,333,947.88
                                                            --------------------
                                                            --------------------


- ------------------
 
(1) Aggregate cost to the Fund of the Debt Obligations listed under Portfolio is
    based upon the offer side evaluation determined by the Evaluator at the
    Evaluation Time on the business day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit as
    set forth under How To Buy. See also the column headed Cost of Debt
    Obligations to Fund under Portfolio. An irrevocable letter or letters of
    credit in the amount of $14,204,716.56 has been deposited with the Trustee.
    The amount of such letter or letters of credit includes $13,978,549.60
    (equal to the purchase price to the Sponsors) for the purchase of
    $14,530,000 face amount of Debt Obligations in connection with contracts to
    purchase Debt Obligations, plus $226,166.96 covering accrued interest to the
    earlier of the date of settlement for the purchase of Units or the date of
    delivery of the Debt Obligations. The letter or letters of credit has been
    issued by The Bank of Yokohama, Ltd., New York Branch.
 
(2) Representing, as set forth under How To Buy--Accrued Interest, a special
    distribution by the Trustee of an amount equal to accrued interest on the
    Debt Obligations as of the Initial Date of Deposit.
 
(3) Aggregate public offer price (exclusive of interest) computed on the basis
    of the offer side evaluation of the underlying Debt Obligations as of the
    Evaluation Time on the Business Day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit.
 
(4) Assumes a sales charge of 4.00% computed on the basis set forth under How To
    Buy.
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
  PORTFOLIO OF MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,  ON THE INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT,
 
  INTERMEDIATE TERM SERIES--242                                NOVEMBER 17, 1994
  DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>
                                                                                               MATURITY OR
                  PORTFOLIO NO. AND TITLE OF               RATINGS         FACE                DISPOSITION
               DEBT OBLIGATIONS CONTRACTED FOR               (1)          AMOUNT       COUPON      DATE
      --------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------------------------------------
<S>   <C>                                                <C>        <C>                 <C>        <C>
    1)Alaska State Hsg. Fin. Corp., Gen. Hsg. Purpose     Aa(m)      $      2,000,000   6.10%       12/1/06
        Bonds, Series 1992 A
    2)California Educl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds             A(m)                275,000   5.80        11/1/04
        (Southwestern Univ. Proj.), Series 1994                               240,000   5.90        11/1/05
    3)Development Auth. of Richmond Cnty., GA, Rev.       AAA*              3,000,000   6.95        12/1/04
        Rfdg. Bonds (Ruetgers Chemical Corp. Proj.),
        Series 1984 (Deutsche Bank, A.G.-Letter of
        Credit)
    4)Regional Trans. Auth., Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake,    AAA               1,735,000   7.75         6/1/03
        McHenry and Will Counties, IL, Gen. Oblig.
        Bonds, Series 1994 D (Financial Guaranty Ins.)
    5)Regional Trans. Auth., Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake,    AAA                 415,000   7.75         6/1/06
        McHenry and Will Counties, IL, Gen. Oblig.
        Bonds, Series 1994 C (Financial Guaranty Ins.)
    6)New England Educl. Loan Mktg. Corp., MA, Stud.      A1(m)             1,500,000   5.625        7/1/04
        Loan Rfdg. Bonds, Series 1993 F++
    7)Missouri Higher Educ. Loan Auth. Stud. Loan         A(m)              1,000,000   6.50        2/15/06
        Subordinate Lien Rev. Bonds, Subordinate Series
        1992++
    8)New York State Dorm. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Upstate      A(f)                920,000   5.25         7/1/05
        Comm. Colleges, Series 1994 A
    9)New York City, NY, Indl. Dev. Agy., Spec. Fac.      A                 1,470,000   5.80         1/1/05
        Rev. Bonds (Terminal One Group Assoc. L.P.
        Proj.), Series 1994++
   10)North Carolina Eastern Muni. Pwr. Agy., Pwr. Sys.   A(m)              1,975,000   6.25         1/1/03
        Rev. Bonds, Rfdg. Series 1991 A
                                                                     ----------------
                                                                     $     14,530,000
                                                                     ----------------
                                                                     ----------------
<CAPTION> 
                                             COST OF
           OPTIONAL          SINKING           DEBT         YIELD TO MATURITY
           REFUNDING          FUND         OBLIGATIONS      ON INITIAL DATE OF
        REDEMPTIONS (2)  REDEMPTIONS (2)   TO FUND (3)         DEPOSIT (3)
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>               <C>             <C>                  <C>
    1)                --          --    $     1,870,480.00    6.900%
 
    2)                --          --            257,213.00    6.700
           11/1/04 @ 102          --            223,490.40    6.800
    3)     12/1/01 @ 103          --          3,021,390.00    6.850
 
    4)                --          --          1,911,189.25    6.200
 
    5)                --          --            456,641.10    6.500
 
    6)                --          --          1,357,155.00    7.000
 
    7)     2/15/02 @ 102          --            968,920.00    6.900
 
    8)      7/1/04 @ 102          --            797,529.60    7.050
 
    9)      1/1/04 @ 102          --          1,348,401.60    6.950
 
   10)      1/1/02 @ 102          --          1,907,830.25    6.800
 
                                        ------------------
                                        $    14,120,240.20
                                        ------------------
                                        ------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
- ------------
 
NOTES
 
(1)  These ratings are (i) ratings of the issues themselves by Standard & Poor's
     or, if followed by '(m)', by Moody's, by '(f)', by Fitch; except that, (ii)
     '*' following a rating indicates that it is a rating of the letter of
     credit securing the Debt Obligation, (iii) '**' indicates that it is a
     rating of the outstanding debt obligations of the institution providing the
     letter of credit or guarantee (or a rating of the claims-paying ability of
     the insurance company insuring the issue), and (iv) '***' indicates that
     while there is no such available rating, in the opinion of the Agent for
     the Sponsors, the issue has credit characteristics comparable to debt
     obligations rated A or better. (See Appendix A.)
 
(2)  Certain Debt Obligations are first subject to optional redemptions (which
     may be exercised in whole or in part) on the dates and at the prices
     indicated under the Optional Refunding Redemptions column in the table. In
     subsequent years Debt Obligations are redeemable at declining prices, but
     typically not below par value. Some issues may be subject to sinking fund
     redemption or extraordinary redemption without premium prior to the dates
     shown.
 
   Debt Obligations may provide for redemption at par prior or in addition to
   any optional or mandatory redemption dates or maturity, for example, if
   proceeds are not able to be used as contemplated, if the project is sold by
   the owner, if the project is condemned and sold, if the project is destroyed
   and insurance proceeds are used to redeem the Debt Obligations, if interest
   on the Debt Obligations becomes subject to taxation, if any related credit
   support expires prior to maturity and is not renewed or substitute credit
   support not obtained, if, in the case of housing obligations, mortgages are
   prepaid, or in other special circumstances.
 
   Sinking fund redemptions are all at par and generally redeem only part of an
    issue. Some Debt Obligations may have mandatory sinking funds which contain
   optional provisions permitting the issuer to increase the principal amount of
   bonds called on a mandatory redemption date. The sinking fund redemptions
   with optional provisions may, and optional refunding redemptions generally
   will, occur at times when the redeemed Debt Obligations have an offer side
    evaluation which represents a premium over par. To the extent that the Debt
    Obligations were deposited in the Fund at a price higher than the redemption
    price, this will represent a loss of capital when compared with the original
    Public Offering Price of the Units. Monthly distributions will generally be
   reduced by the amount of the income which would otherwise have been paid with
    respect to redeemed Debt Obligations and there will be distributed to
   Holders any principal amount and premium received on such redemption after
    satisfying any redemption requests received by the Fund. The estimated
   current return and estimated long term return in this event may be affected
   by redemptions. The tax effect on Holders of redemptions and related
   distributions is described under Taxes.
 
(3)  Evaluation of Debt Obligations by the Evaluator is made on the basis of
    current offer side evaluation. The offer side evaluation is greater than the
     current bid side evaluation of the Debt Obligations, which is the basis on
     which Redemption Price per Unit is determined (see How to
     Sell--Redemption). The aggregate value based on the bid side evaluation at
     the Evaluation Time on the business day prior to the Initial Date of
     Deposit was $13,916,820.20, which is $203,420.00 (1.4% of the aggregate
     face amount) lower than the aggregate Cost of Debt Obligations to Fund
     based on the offer side evaluation.
 
   Yield to Maturity on Initial Date of Deposit of Debt Obligations was computed
    on the basis of the offer side evaluation at the Evaluation Time on the
   business day prior to Initial Date of Deposit. Percentages in this column
   represent Yield to Maturity on Initial Date of Deposit unless followed by '+'
   which indicates yield to an earlier redemption date. (See Income and
   Distribution--Returns for a description of the computation of yield price.)
                      ------------------------------------
 
   Debt Obligations are represented entirely by contracts to purchase such Debt
    Obligations, which were entered into by the Sponsors during the period
    November 15, 1994 to November 16, 1994. All contracts are expected to be
    settled by the settlement date for the purchase of Units except the Debt
    Obligations in Portfolio Numbers 3, 4 and 5 (approximately 35% of the
   aggregate face amount of the Portfolio) which have been purchased on a when,
   as and if issued basis, or have a delayed delivery, and are expected to be
   settled 6 to 11 days after the settlement date for purchase of Units.
 
    ++ Subject to AMT (see Investment Summary--Taxation; Taxes).
 
                                      A-12

<PAGE>


                       MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
                             DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
                              PROSPECTUS PART B
                                  AMT SERIES
                                INSURED SERIES
                           INTERMEDIATE TERM SERIES
                            MONTHLY PAYMENT SERIES
                                 STATE SERIES
 
DESCRIPTION OF FUND INVESTMENTS
 
PORTFOLIO SELECTION
 
     Experienced  professional buyers and research  analysts for Defined Asset
Funds, with  information  on  the  markets  for  suitable  securities  and  on
thousands  of  issues,  selected  securities  for  the  Fund's  portfolio (the
'Portfolio'),  considering  its   investment  objective   and  other   factors
including:  (1) the quality of the Debt  Obligations, as evidenced by a rating
in the category  A or better  by at least  one recognized rating  organization
(see  Appendix  A) or  comparable  credit enhancement  or  (in the  opinion of
Defined Asset  Funds research)  credit characteristics;  (2) yield  and  price
relative  to  comparable securities;  (3)  diversification as  to  purpose and
location of issuer, subject to availability of suitable debt obligations;  and
(4)  maturities (including call protection). There is no leverage or borrowing
to increase the risk to the Fund,  nor does the Portfolio contain other  kinds
of securities to enhance yield.
 
     Composition  of the Portfolio is  summarized under Investment Summary and
the names and certain characteristics of the debt obligations in the Portfolio
(the 'Debt  Obligations' or  the  'Securities') are  listed in  the  financial
statements.
 
     Yields on debt obligations depend on factors including general conditions
of  the  municipal  bond  market  and the  general  bond  markets,  size  of a
particular offering,  and the  maturity and  rating of  the particular  issue.
Ratings  represent opinions of  the rating organizations as  to the quality of
securities rated, but these are  general (not absolute) standards of  quality.
Yields  can  vary  among  obligations  with  similar  maturities,  coupons and
ratings.
 
     Neither the Sponsors nor the Trustee are liable for any default,  failure
or  defect in a Security. If a  contract to purchase any Debt Obligation fails
(a  'Failed  Debt  Obligation'),  the  Sponsors  are  authorized  to   deposit
Replacement  Securities which  (i) are tax-exempt  bonds issued by  a state or
political subdivision or  a U.S. territory  or possession; (ii)  have a  fixed
maturity  or  disposition  date  substantially  similar  to  the  Failed  Debt
Obligation; (iii) are  rated A  or better by  at least  one recognized  rating
organization or have comparable credit characteristics; and (iv) are not when,
as  and if  issued. Replacement Securities  must be deposited  within 110 days
after deposit of the failed contract,  at a cost not exceeding funds  reserved
for  purchasing the  Failed Debt  Obligation and  at a  yield to  maturity and
current  return,  as  of   the  date  the   failed  contract  was   deposited,
substantially  equivalent  (considering  then  current  market  conditions and
relative creditworthiness) to those of the Failed Debt Obligation.
 
     Because each  Defined  Fund is  a  portfolio of  preselected  securities,
purchasers know in advance what they are investing in. The Portfolio is listed
in the prospectus so that generally the securities, maturities, call dates and
ratings  are known  when they buy.  Of course, the  Portfolio changes somewhat
over time as additional Securities are deposited, as Securities are called  or
redeemed,  or  as  they  are  sold to  meet  redemptions  and  in  the limited
circumstances described below.
 
PORTFOLIO SUPERVISION
 
     The Fund  is  a  unit investment  trust  which  follows a  buy  and  hold
investment  strategy. Traditional methods of  investment management for mutual
funds typically involve frequent changes  in fund holdings based on  economic,
financial  and market analyses.  Because the Fund is  not actively managed, it
may retain  an issuer's  securities  despite adverse  financial  developments.
However,  Defined Asset Funds' experienced financial analysts regularly review
the Portfolio, and the Sponsors may instruct the Trustee to sell securities in
the following
 
                                      1
<PAGE>
 
circumstances: (i) default  in payment of  amounts due on  the security;  (ii)
institution  of  certain legal  proceedings;  (iii) other  legal  questions or
impediments affecting the  security or  payments thereon;  (iv) default  under
certain  documents adversely  affecting debt service  or in  payments on other
securities of the same  issuer or guarantor; (v)  decline in projected  income
pledged for debt service on a revenue bond; (vi) if a security becomes taxable
or otherwise inconsistent with the Fund's investment objectives; (vii) a right
to  sell  or redeem  the  security pursuant  to  a guarantee  or  other credit
support; or (viii) decline in security price or other market or credit factors
(including advance  refunding) that,  in the  opinion of  Defined Asset  Funds
research,  makes retention  of the  security detrimental  to the  interests of
Holders. If there is a payment default  on any Security and the Agent for  the
Sponsors  fails to  instruct the  Trustee within 30  days after  notice of the
default, the Trustee will sell the Security.
 
     The Trustee must reject any  offer by an issuer  of a Debt Obligation  to
exchange  another security pursuant to a  refunding or refinancing plan unless
(a) the Debt Obligation is in default or (b) in the written opinion of Defined
Asset Funds  research  analysts,  a  default is  probable  in  the  reasonably
foreseeable  future, and the Sponsors instruct the Trustee to accept the offer
or take any other action  with respect to the  offer as the Sponsors  consider
appropriate.
 
RISK FACTORS
 
     An  investment  in units  of beneficial  interest  in the  Fund ('Units')
should be  made with  an understanding  of the  risks which  an investment  in
fixed-rate  debt obligations may entail, including  the risk that the value of
the Portfolio and hence of the  Units will decline with increases in  interest
rates. In recent years there have been wide fluctuations in interest rates and
thus  in  the value  of fixed-rate  debt  obligations generally.  The Sponsors
cannot predict future economic policies  or their consequences or,  therefore,
the  course or extent of any similar fluctuations in the future. To the extent
that payment  of amounts  due  on Debt  Obligations  depends on  revenue  from
publicly  held  corporations, an  investor should  understand that  these Debt
Obligations, in many cases, do not  have the benefit of covenants which  would
prevent  the corporations from engaging in capital restructurings or borrowing
transactions in connection with  corporate acquisitions, leveraged buyouts  or
restructurings,  which could  have the effect  of reducing the  ability of the
corporation to  meet its  obligations and  may  in the  future result  in  the
ratings  of the  Debt Obligations  and the  value of  the underlying Portfolio
being reduced.
 
     The  Securities  are  generally  not  listed  on  a  national  securities
exchange.  Whether or  not the  Securities are  listed, the  principal trading
market for the Securities will generally be in the over-the-counter market. As
a result, the  existence of  a liquid trading  market for  the Securities  may
depend  on whether dealers will make a  market in the Securities. There can be
no assurance that a market  will be made for any  of the Securities, that  any
market  for  the Securities  will be  maintained  or of  the liquidity  of the
Securities in any markets made. In addition, the Fund may be restricted  under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 from selling Securities to any Sponsor. The
price at which the Securities may be sold to meet redemptions and the value of
the  Fund will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Securities are
limited or absent.
 
     Certain of the Securities in the Fund may have been deposited at a market
discount. Securities trade at less than  par value because the interest  rates
on  the Securities are lower than interest on comparable debt securities being
issued  at  currently  prevailing  interest  rates.  The  current  returns  of
securities  trading at a market discount are lower than the current returns of
comparably rated  debt  securities  of  a similar  type  issued  at  currently
prevailing  interest  rates because  discount securities  tend to  increase in
market value as they approach maturity  and the full principal amount  becomes
payable. If currently prevailing interest rates for newly issued and otherwise
comparable  securities  increase,  the market  discount  of  previously issued
securities will become deeper and  if currently prevailing interest rates  for
newly  issued comparable securities decline, the market discount of previously
issued securities will be reduced,  other things being equal. Market  discount
attributable  to  interest rate  changes does  not indicate  a lack  of market
confidence in the issue.
 
     Certain of the Securities in the Fund may have been deposited at a market
premium. Securities  trade at  a premium  because the  interest rates  on  the
Securities are higher than interest on comparable debt securities being issued
at  currently  prevailing interest  rates. The  current returns  of securities
trading at a market premium are higher than the current returns of  comparably
rated  debt  securities  of  a similar  type  issued  at  currently prevailing
interest rates because premium securities tend to decrease in market value  as
they  approach maturity when the face  amount becomes payable. Because part of
the purchase price is thus returned not at maturity but through current income
payments, an early redemption of  a premium security at  par will result in  a
reduction  in yield  to the Fund.  If currently prevailing  interest rates for
newly issued and otherwise comparable securities increase, the market  premium
of  previously  issued securities  will  decline and  if  currently prevailing
interest rates for newly
 
                                      2
<PAGE>
 
issued comparable securities decline, the market premium of previously  issued
securities   will  increase,   other  things   being  equal.   Market  premium
attributable to interest rate changes  does not indicate market confidence  in
the issue.
 
     Holders  of Units will be 'at  risk' with respect to Securities purchased
on a when, as and if issued basis or for delayed delivery (i.e., either a gain
or loss may result  from fluctuations in the  offering side evaluation of  the
Securities) from the date they commit for Units.
 
     As set forth under Investment Summary and Portfolio, the Fund may contain
or  be concentrated in one or more  of the types of Debt Obligations discussed
below. An investment in the Fund should  be made with an understanding of  the
risks  that these securities may entail, certain of which are described below.
In addition, investment in a  single State Trust, as  opposed to a Fund  which
invests in the obligations of several states, may involve some additional risk
due  to the  decreased diversification  of economic,  political, financial and
market risks.  Political restrictions  on  the ability  to tax  and  budgetary
constraints  affecting the  state government may  result in  reductions of, or
delays in the payment of, state aid to cities, counties, school districts  and
other  local  units of  government which,  in turn,  may strain  the financial
operations and  have  an  adverse  impact on  the  creditworthiness  of  these
entities.   State  agencies,   colleges  and  universities   and  health  care
organizations,  with  municipal  debt  outstanding,  may  also  be  negatively
impacted by reductions in state appropriations.
 
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
 
     Certain  of  the  Debt  Obligations  in  the  Portfolio  may  be  general
obligations of a governmental entity that  are secured by the taxing power  of
the  entity. General obligation bonds are backed by the issuer's pledge of its
full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.
However, the  taxing  power of  any  governmental  entity may  be  limited  by
provisions  of state constitutions or laws  and an entity's credit will depend
on many  factors, including  an erosion  of  the tax  base due  to  population
declines,  natural  disasters,  declines  in the  state's  industrial  base or
inability to attract  new industries, economic  limits on the  ability to  tax
without  eroding the  tax base and  the extent  to which the  entity relies on
Federal or state aid,  access to capital markets  or other factors beyond  the
entity's control.
 
     As  a  result of  the recession's  adverse impact  upon both  revenue and
expenditures, as well as other factors, many state and local governments  have
confronted  deficits which were the most  severe in recent years. Many issuers
are facing highly  difficult choices  about significant  tax increases  and/or
spending  reductions  in  order  to  restore  budgetary  balance.  Failure  to
implement these actions  on a timely  basis could force  the issuers to  issue
additional debt to finance deficits or cash flow needs.
 
     In  addition,  certain  of  the  Debt  Obligations  in  the  Fund  may be
obligations of  issuers who  rely  in whole  or in  part  on ad  valorem  real
property taxes as a source of revenue. Certain proposals, in the form of state
legislative  proposals or voter initiatives, to limit ad valorem real property
taxes have  been  introduced  in  various states,  and  an  amendment  to  the
constitution  of the State of California,  providing for strict limitations on
ad valorem real  property taxes, has  had a significant  impact on the  taxing
powers of local governments and on the financial condition of school districts
and  local  governments in  California. It  is  not possible  at this  time to
predict the final impact of such measures, or of similar future legislative or
constitutional measures, on school districts and local governments or on their
abilities to make future payments on their outstanding debt obligations.
 
MORAL OBLIGATION BONDS
 
     The Fund may also include 'moral obligation' bonds. If an issuer of moral
obligation bonds is unable to meet its obligations, the repayment of the bonds
becomes a  moral  commitment  but not  a  legal  obligation of  the  state  or
municipality  in question. Even though  the state may be  called on to restore
any deficits in  capital reserve funds  of the agencies  or authorities  which
issued  the  bonds, any  restoration generally  requires appropriation  by the
state legislature and  accordingly does not  constitute a legally  enforceable
obligation or debt of the state. The agencies or authorities generally have no
taxing power.
 
REFUNDED DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
      Refunded Debt Obligations are typically secured by direct obligations of
the  U.S.  Government, or  in some  cases obligations  guaranteed by  the U.S.
Government, placed in an escrow  account maintained by an independent  trustee
until  maturity  or a  predetermined  redemption date.  These  obligations are
generally noncallable prior to maturity or the predetermined redemption  date.
In  a few isolated instances, however, bonds which were thought to be escrowed
to maturity have been called for redemption prior to maturity.
 
                                      3
<PAGE>
 
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS ('IDRS')
 
     IDRs,  including  pollution   control  revenue   bonds,  are   tax-exempt
securities  issued by  states, municipalities,  public authorities  or similar
entities ('issuers')  to  finance  the  cost  of  acquiring,  constructing  or
improving various projects, including pollution control facilities and certain
manufacturing facilities. These projects are usually operated by corporations.
IDRs  are not  general obligations  of governmental  entities backed  by their
taxing power. Issuers are only obligated to pay amounts due on the IDRs to the
extent that funds are  available from the unexpended  proceeds of the IDRs  or
from  receipts  or  revenues under  arrangements  between the  issuer  and the
corporate operator of the project. These arrangements may be in the form of  a
lease,   installment  sale  agreement,  conditional  sale  agreement  or  loan
agreement, but in  each case the  payments to  the issuer are  designed to  be
sufficient to meet the payments of amounts due on the IDRs.
 
     IDRs  are generally  issued under  bond resolutions,  agreements or trust
indentures pursuant to which the revenues  and receipts payable to the  issuer
by the corporate operator of the project have been assigned and pledged to the
holders  of the IDRs or a trustee for  the benefit of the holders of the IDRs.
In certain cases, a  mortgage on the underlying  project has been assigned  to
the  holders of the IDRs or a trustee  as additional security for the IDRs. In
addition, IDRs are frequently directly guaranteed by the corporate operator of
the project or by an affiliated company. Regardless of the structure,  payment
of  IDRs  is  solely  dependent upon  the  creditworthiness  of  the corporate
operator of the  project, corporate guarantor  and credit enhancer.  Corporate
operators  or guarantors that are industrial companies may be affected by many
factors which  may  have  an adverse  impact  on  the credit  quality  of  the
particular  company  or industry.  These include  cyclicality of  revenues and
earnings, regulatory and environmental restrictions, litigation resulting from
accidents   or   environmentally-caused   illnesses,   extensive   competition
(including   that  of  low-cost  foreign  companies),  unfunded  pension  fund
liabilities or off-balance sheet items, and financial deterioration  resulting
from  leveraged buy-outs or takeovers. However, as discussed below, certain of
the IDRs in the Portfolio may be additionally insured or secured by letters of
credit issued by banks or otherwise guaranteed or secured to cover amounts due
on the IDRs in the event of default in payment by an issuer.
 
STATE AND LOCAL MUNICIPAL UTILITY OBLIGATIONS
 
     The ability of utilities  to meet their  obligations under revenue  bonds
issued  on their behalf  is dependent on various  factors, including the rates
they may charge their customers, the demand for their services and the cost of
providing those services. Utilities,  in particular investor-owned  utilities,
are  subject  to extensive  regulation relating  to the  rates which  they may
charge customers. Utilities can experience regulatory, political and  consumer
resistance  to rate increases. Utilities engaged in long-term capital projects
are especially sensitive to regulatory lags and disallowances in granting rate
increases. Any  difficulty in  obtaining timely  and adequate  rate  increases
could adversely affect a utility's results of operations.
 
     The  demand  for  a  utility's services  is  influenced  by,  among other
factors, competition,  weather conditions  and economic  conditions.  Electric
utilities,  for example, have experienced increased competition as a result of
the availability of other energy sources,  the effects of conservation on  the
use of electricity, self-generation by industrial customers and the generation
of  electricity by co-generators and  other independent power producers. Also,
increased  competition  will  result  if  federal  regulators  determine  that
utilities  must open their transmission  lines to competitors. Utilities which
distribute natural gas also are subject to competition from alternative fuels,
including fuel oil, propane and coal and the impact of deregulation.
 
     The utility industry is  an increasing cost business  making the cost  of
generating  electricity  more  expensive and  heightening  its  sensitivity to
regulation. A  utility's  costs are  affected  by  its cost  of  capital,  the
availability  and cost of  fuel and other  factors. There can  be no assurance
that a utility  will be able  to pass  on these increased  costs to  customers
through  increased rates. Utilities incur substantial capital expenditures for
plant and equipment. In the future they will also incur increasing capital and
operating expenses to comply with environmental legislation such as the  Clean
Air  Act of 1990, and  other energy, licensing and  other laws and regulations
relating to, among other things, air emissions, the quality of drinking water,
waste water discharge,  solid and hazardous  substance handling and  disposal,
and   siting  and  licensing  of  facilities.  Environmental  legislation  and
regulations are changing rapidly and are the subject of current public  policy
debate  and  legislative  proposals.  It  is  increasingly  likely  that  many
utilities will be  subject to  more stringent environmental  standards in  the
future   that  could  result  in   significant  capital  expenditures.  Future
legislation and regulation  could include, among  other things, regulation  of
so-called  electromagnetic  fields associated  with electric  transmission and
distribution lines as well as emissions of carbon dioxide and other  so-called
greenhouse  gases  associated with  the  burning of  fossil  fuels. Compliance
 
                                      4
<PAGE>
 
with  these  requirements  may  limit   a  utility's  operations  or   require
substantial  investments  in new  equipment and,  as  a result,  may adversely
affect a utility's results of operations.
 
     The electric utility industry in  general is subject to various  external
and  additional factors including (a) the  effects of inflation upon the costs
of operation and  construction, (b)  uncertainties in  predicting future  load
requirements,  (c)  increased  financing  requirements  coupled  with  limited
availability of capital, (d) exposure  to cancellation and penalty charges  on
new generating units under construction, (e) problems of cost and availability
of  fuel, (f) litigation and proposed legislation designed to delay or prevent
construction of generating and other facilities, (g) the uncertain effects  of
conservation  on the use of electric energy and (h) increased competition as a
result of  the availability  of other  energy sources  and state  deregulation
efforts. These factors may delay the construction and increase the cost of new
facilities, limit the use of, or necessitate costly modifications to, existing
facilities,  impair the  access of  electric utilities  to credit  markets, or
substantially increase the cost of credit for electric generating facilities.
 
     The National Energy  Policy Act  ('NEPA'), which became  law in  October,
1992,  makes it  mandatory for a  utility to permit  non-utility generators of
electricity access to its transmission system for wholesale customers, thereby
increasing competition for electric utilities. NEPA also mandated  demand-side
management  policies to be considered by utilities. NEPA prohibits the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission  from mandating electric  utilities to engage  in
retail  wheeling, which is competition  among suppliers of electric generation
to provide  electricity to  retail customers  (particularly industrial  retail
customers)  of  a utility.  However, under  NEPA, a  state can  mandate retail
wheeling under certain conditions. California,  Michigan, New Mexico and  Ohio
have  instituted  investigations  into  the  possible  introduction  of retail
wheeling within their respective states, which could foster competition  among
the  utilities.  Retail  wheeling  might  result  in  the  issue  of  stranded
investment (investment  in assets  not being  recovered in  base rates),  thus
hampering a utility's ability to meet its obligations.
 
     There  is concern by  the public, the scientific  community, and the U.S.
Congress regarding  environmental  damage resulting  from  the use  of  fossil
fuels.  Congressional support for the increased  regulation of air, water, and
soil contaminants is building  and there are a  number of pending or  recently
enacted  legislative proposals which may affect the electric utility industry.
In particular, on  November 15,  1990, legislation  was signed  into law  that
substantially  revises the  Clean Air  Act (the  '1990 Amendments').  The 1990
Amendments seek  to improve  the  ambient air  quality throughout  the  United
States  by  the  year 2000.  A  main feature  of  the 1990  Amendments  is the
reduction of sulphur dioxide and  nitrogen oxide emissions caused by  electric
utility  power  plants,  particularly those  fueled  by coal.  Under  the 1990
Amendments the  U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency  ('EPA')  must  develop
limits  for nitrogen  oxide emissions by  1993. The  sulphur dioxide reduction
will be achieved in  two phases. Phase I  addresses specific generating  units
named  in the 1990  Amendments. In Phase  II the total  U.S. emissions will be
capped at  8.9 million  tons by  the year  2000. The  1990 Amendments  contain
provisions  for allocating allowances  to power plants  based on historical or
calculated levels. An allowance  is defined as the  authorization to emit  one
ton of sulphur dioxide.
 
     The 1990 Amendments also provide for possible further regulation of toxic
air  emissions from electric  generating units pending  the results of several
federal government studies to be presented to Congress by the end of 1995 with
respect  to  anticipated  hazards  to  public  health,  available   corrective
technologies, and mercury toxicity.
 
     Electric  utilities which own or operate nuclear power plants are exposed
to risks inherent in the nuclear industry. These risks include exposure to new
requirements resulting from extensive federal and state regulatory  oversight,
public  controversy,  decommissioning costs,  and  spent fuel  and radioactive
waste disposal issues. While nuclear power construction risks are no longer of
paramount concern,  the  emerging  issue is  radioactive  waste  disposal.  In
addition,  nuclear plants typically require  substantial capital additions and
modifications throughout their operating lives to meet safety,  environmental,
operational  and regulatory  requirements and  to replace  and upgrade various
plant systems. The high degree  of regulatory monitoring and controls  imposed
on  nuclear plants  could cause  a plant to  be out  of service  or on limited
service for long periods. When a  nuclear facility owned by an  investor-owned
utility  or a state or local municipality is  out of service or operating on a
limited service basis, the  utility operator or its  owners may be liable  for
the  recovery of replacement power costs.  Risks of substantial liability also
arise from the operation of nuclear facilities and from the use, handling, and
possible radioactive emissions associated with nuclear fuel. Insurance may not
cover all types or amounts of loss which may be experienced in connection with
the  ownership  and  operation  of  a  nuclear  plant  and  severe   financial
consequences  could  result from  a  significant accident  or  occurrence. The
Nuclear  Regulatory  Commission  has  promulgated  regulations  mandating  the
establishment  of  funded  reserves  to assure  financial  capability  for the
eventual
 
                                      5
<PAGE>
 
decommissioning of licensed nuclear facilities. These funds are to be  accrued
from  revenues  in amounts  currently estimated  to be  sufficient to  pay for
decommissioning  costs.  Since  there  have  been  very  few  nuclear   plants
decommissioned to date, these estimates may be unrealistic.
 
     The  ability  of state  and  local joint  action  power agencies  to make
payments on bonds they have issued is dependent in large part on payments made
to them pursuant to power supply or similar agreements. Courts in  Washington,
Oregon  and Idaho  have held  that certain  agreements between  the Washington
Public  Power  Supply  System  ('WPPSS')   and  the  WPPSS  participants   are
unenforceable  because the  participants did not  have the  authority to enter
into the agreements. While these decisions are not specifically applicable  to
agreements  entered into by public entities in  other states, they may cause a
reexamination of  the  legal  structure  and  economic  viability  of  certain
projects  financed by joint action power agencies, which might exacerbate some
of the  problems referred  to above  and possibly  lead to  legal  proceedings
questioning the enforceability of agreements upon which payment of these bonds
may depend.
 
LEASE RENTAL OBLIGATIONS
 
     Lease  rental obligations  are issued for  the most  part by governmental
authorities that  have no  taxing power  or other  means of  directly  raising
revenues.  Rather, the authorities  are financing vehicles  created solely for
the construction of buildings (administrative offices, convention centers  and
prisons,  for example) or the purchase  of equipment (police cars and computer
systems, for example) that will  be used by a  state or local government  (the
'lessee'). Thus, the obligations are subject to the ability and willingness of
the  lessee government  to meet its  lease rental payments  which include debt
service on the obligations.  Willingness to pay may  be subject to changes  in
the  views of citizens and government officials  as to the essential nature of
the finance  project. Lease  rental  obligations are  subject, in  almost  all
cases,  to the annual  appropriation risk, i.e., the  lessee government is not
legally obligated to budget and appropriate for the rental payments beyond the
current fiscal  year.  These obligations  are  also  subject to  the  risk  of
abatement  in many states--rental obligations cease  in the event that damage,
destruction or condemnation of the project prevents its use by the lessee. (In
these cases, insurance provisions and reserve funds designed to alleviate this
risk become important credit factors). In  the event of default by the  lessee
government,  there  may  be significant  legal  and/or  practical difficulties
involved in  the reletting  or sale  of  the project.  Some of  these  issues,
particularly those for equipment purchase, contain the so-called 'substitution
safeguard',  which bars the lessee government, in the event it defaults on its
rental payments, from the purchase or  use of similar equipment for a  certain
period  of  time.  This  safeguard  is  designed  to  insure  that  the lessee
government will appropriate the necessary funds even though it is not  legally
obligated  to do so,  but its legality  remains untested in  most, if not all,
states.
 
SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING OBLIGATIONS
 
     Multi-family housing  revenue bonds  and single  family mortgage  revenue
bonds  are state  and local  housing issues that  have been  issued to provide
financing for various housing projects. Multi-family housing revenue bonds are
payable primarily from  the revenues  derived from mortgage  loans to  housing
projects  for low to moderate  income families. Single-family mortgage revenue
bonds are  issued for  the  purpose of  acquiring from  originating  financial
institutions notes secured by mortgages on residences.
 
     Housing  obligations are not  general obligations of  the issuer although
certain obligations may be supported to some degree by Federal, state or local
housing subsidy programs. Budgetary constraints experienced by these  programs
as  well as  the failure  by a state  or local  housing issuer  to satisfy the
qualifications required  for coverage  under these  programs or  any legal  or
administrative  determinations  that the  coverage  of these  programs  is not
available to  a  housing  issuer,  probably  will  result  in  a  decrease  or
elimination  of subsidies available for payment of amounts due on the issuer's
obligations. The ability of housing issuers  to make debt service payments  on
their  obligations will also be affected  by various economic and non-economic
developments including, among other things, the achievement and maintenance of
sufficient  occupancy  levels  and  adequate  rental  income  in  multi-family
projects,  the  rate of  default on  mortgage  loans underlying  single family
issues and the  ability of  mortgage insurers  to pay  claims, employment  and
income  conditions  prevailing  in local  markets,  increases  in construction
costs, taxes,  utility  costs and  other  operating expenses,  the  managerial
ability  of project managers, changes in laws and governmental regulations and
economic trends  generally  in  the  localities  in  which  the  projects  are
situated.  Occupancy of  multi-family housing  projects may  also be adversely
affected by high  rent levels  and income limitations  imposed under  Federal,
state or local programs.
 
     All single family mortgage revenue bonds and certain multi-family housing
revenue  bonds  are prepayable  over the  life of  the underlying  mortgage or
mortgage  pool,  and  therefore  the  average  life  of  housing   obligations
 
                                      6
<PAGE>
 
cannot  be determined.  However, the  average life  of these  obligations will
ordinarily be  less than  their stated  maturities. Single-family  issues  are
subject  to  mandatory redemption  in  whole or  in  part from  prepayments on
underlying  mortgage  loans;  mortgage  loans  are  frequently  partially   or
completely  prepaid  prior to  their final  stated maturities  as a  result of
events such  as declining  interest  rates, sale  of the  mortgaged  premises,
default,  condemnation or casualty loss. Multi-family issues are characterized
by mandatory redemption  at par upon  the occurrence of  monetary defaults  or
breaches   of  covenants  by  the   project  operator.  Additionally,  housing
obligations are generally subject  to mandatory partial  redemption at par  to
the  extent that proceeds from  the sale of the  obligations are not allocated
within a stated period (which may be within  a year of the date of issue).  To
the  extent that  these obligations  were valued  at a  premium when  a Holder
purchased Units, any prepayment at  par would result in  a loss of capital  to
the Holder and, in any event, reduce the amount of income that would otherwise
have been paid to Holders.
 
     The   tax  exemption  for  certain   housing  revenue  bonds  depends  on
qualification under  Section 143  of the  Internal Revenue  Code of  1986,  as
amended  (the 'Code'), in the case of  single family mortgage revenue bonds or
Section 142(a)(7) of the Code or other  provisions of Federal law in the  case
of  certain multi-family housing  revenue bonds (including  Section 8 assisted
bonds). These sections of the Code or other provisions of Federal law  contain
certain  ongoing requirements, including requirements relating to the cost and
location of the  residences financed with  the proceeds of  the single  family
mortgage revenue bonds and the income levels of tenants of the rental projects
financed  with the proceeds  of the multi-family  housing revenue bonds. While
the issuers of  the bonds  and other  parties, including  the originators  and
servicers of the single-family mortgages and the owners of the rental projects
financed  with the multi-family  housing revenue bonds,  generally covenant to
meet these ongoing  requirements and generally  agree to institute  procedures
designed  to ensure that these requirements are met, there can be no assurance
that these ongoing requirements will be consistently met. The failure to  meet
these  requirements could cause  the interest on the  bonds to become taxable,
possibly retroactively from the date  of issuance, thereby reducing the  value
of  the bonds,  subjecting the  Holders to  unanticipated tax  liabilities and
possibly  requiring  the  Trustee  to  sell  the  bonds  at  reduced   values.
Furthermore,  any  failure  to  meet  these  ongoing  requirements  might  not
constitute an event  of default under  the applicable mortgage  or permit  the
holder  to accelerate payment of the bond  or require the issuer to redeem the
bond. In  any event,  where the  mortgage is  insured by  the Federal  Housing
Administration,  its consent may  be required before  insurance proceeds would
become payable to redeem the mortgage bonds.
 
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY OBLIGATIONS
 
     The ability of hospitals and other  health care facilities to meet  their
obligations  with respect to revenue bonds issued on their behalf is dependent
on various  factors, including  the level  of payments  received from  private
third-party  payors and government  programs and the  cost of providing health
care services.
 
     A significant portion of the revenues of hospitals and other health  care
facilities is derived from private third-party payors and government programs,
including  the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both private third-party payors
and government programs have undertaken cost containment measures designed  to
limit  payments  made  to  health  care  facilities.  Furthermore,  government
programs are subject  to statutory  and regulatory  changes, retroactive  rate
adjustments,  administrative rulings and  government funding restrictions, all
of which may materially decrease the rate of program payments for health  care
facilities.  Certain special  revenue obligations (i.e.,  Medicare or Medicaid
revenues) may  be payable  subject to  appropriations by  state  legislatures.
There  can  be no  assurance that  payments  under governmental  programs will
remain at  levels comparable  to present  levels or  will, in  the future,  be
sufficient  to cover  the costs  allocable to  patients participating  in such
programs. In addition, there can be no assurance that a particular hospital or
other health  care  facility  will  continue  to  meet  the  requirements  for
participation in such programs.
 
     The  costs of providing health care services are subject to increase as a
result of, among other  factors, changes in  medical technology and  increased
labor  costs. In addition, health care  facility construction and operation is
subject to federal,  state and local  regulation relating to  the adequacy  of
medical   care,  equipment,  personnel,  operating  policies  and  procedures,
rate-setting, and  compliance  with  building codes  and  environmental  laws.
Facilities  are  subject  to  periodic inspection  by  governmental  and other
authorities  to  assure  continued  compliance  with  the  various   standards
necessary  for licensing and accreditation.  These regulatory requirements are
subject to change and, to comply, it may be necessary for a hospital or  other
health  care facility to  incur substantial capital  expenditures or increased
operating expenses to effect changes  in its facilities, equipment,  personnel
and services.
 
     Hospitals  and other  health care  facilities are  subject to  claims and
legal actions  by patients  and others  in the  ordinary course  of  business.
Although  these claims  are generally  covered by  insurance, there  can be no
assurance
 
                                      7
<PAGE>
 
that a claim will not exceed the insurance coverage of a health care  facility
or  that insurance coverage  will be available  to a facility.  In addition, a
substantial increase  in the  cost  of insurance  could adversely  affect  the
results of operations of a hospital or other health care facility. The Clinton
Administration  may impose regulations  which could limit  price increases for
hospitals or  the level  of  reimbursements for  third-party payors  or  other
measures  to reduce health care  costs and make health  care available to more
individuals, which would reduce  profits for hospitals.  Some states, such  as
New  Jersey,  have significantly  changed  their reimbursement  systems.  If a
hospital cannot  adjust to  the new  system by  reducing expenses  or  raising
rates,   financial  difficulties  may  arise.  Also,  Blue  Cross  has  denied
reimbursement for  some  hospitals  for services  other  than  emergency  room
services.  The lost volume  would reduce revenues  unless replacement patients
were found.
 
     Certain hospital bonds may provide for redemption at par at any time upon
the sale by the issuer of the hospital facilities to a non-affiliated  entity,
if  the hospital becomes subject  to ad valorem taxation,  or in various other
circumstances. For example, certain hospitals may have the right to call bonds
at par if the hospital may be legally required because of the bonds to perform
procedures against specified religious  principles or to disclose  information
that  is considered confidential or  privileged. Certain FHA-insured bonds may
provide that all or a portion of those bonds, otherwise callable at a premium,
can be called at par in certain  circumstances. If a hospital defaults upon  a
bond  obligation, the realization of Medicare  and Medicaid receivables may be
uncertain and, if the bond obligation  is secured by the hospital  facilities,
legal  restrictions on  the ability to  foreclose upon the  facilities and the
limited alternative uses to  which a hospital can  be put may severely  reduce
its collateral value.
 
     The  Internal  Revenue  Service  is currently  engaged  in  a  program of
intensive audits of certain large tax-exempt hospital and health care facility
organizations. Although these audits have not yet been completed, it has  been
reported  that the  tax-exempt status  of some  of these  organizations may be
revoked. At this time, it is uncertain whether any of the hospital and  health
care  facility obligations  held by  the Fund will  be affected  by such audit
proceedings.
 
AIRPORT, PORT AND HIGHWAY REVENUE OBLIGATIONS
 
     Certain facility  revenue  bonds are  payable  from and  secured  by  the
revenues  from the ownership  and operation of  particular facilities, such as
airports (including airport  terminals and  maintenance facilities),  bridges,
marine  terminals,  turnpikes and  port  authorities. For  example,  the major
portion of  gross airport  operating  income is  generally derived  from  fees
received  from signatory airlines pursuant to  use agreements which consist of
annual  payments  for  airport  use,  occupancy  of  certain  terminal  space,
facilities, service fees, concessions and leases. Airport operating income may
therefore be affected by the ability of the airlines to meet their obligations
under   the  use  agreements.  The  air  transport  industry  is  experiencing
significant variations in earnings and traffic, due to increased  competition,
excess  capacity, increased  aviation fuel,  deregulation, traffic constraints
and other  factors. As  a  result, several  airlines are  experiencing  severe
financial  difficulties. Several airlines including America West Airlines have
sought protection  from their  creditors under  Chapter 11  of the  Bankruptcy
Code.  In  addition, other  airlines such  as  Midway Airlines,  Inc., Eastern
Airlines, Inc. and  Pan American  Corporation have  been liquidated.  However,
Continental  Airlines and Trans  World Airlines have  emerged from bankruptcy.
The Sponsors cannot predict what effect these industry conditions may have  on
airport revenues which are dependent for payment on the financial condition of
the  airlines and their usage of the particular airport facility. Furthermore,
proposed legislation would provide the  U.S. Secretary of Transportation  with
the temporary authority to freeze airport fees upon the occurrence of disputes
between  a  particular  airport  facility  and  the  airlines  utilizing  that
facility.
 
     Similarly, payment on bonds related  to other facilities is dependent  on
revenues  from the projects, such  as use fees from  ports, tolls on turnpikes
and bridges  and rents  from buildings.  Therefore, payment  may be  adversely
affected  by reduction in revenues  due to such factors  and increased cost of
maintenance or decreased use of a facility, lower cost of alternative modes of
transportation or scarcity of fuel and reduction or loss of rents.
 
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL BONDS
 
     Bonds issued for  solid waste disposal  facilities are generally  payable
from  dumping fees and from revenues that may be earned by the facility on the
sale of electrical energy generated in  the combustion of waste products.  The
ability  of solid waste disposal facilities  to meet their obligations depends
upon the continued use of the facility, the successful and efficient operation
of the facility and, in the case of waste-to-energy facilities, the  continued
ability  of the facility to generate electricity on a commercial basis. All of
these factors may be affected by a failure of municipalities to fully  utilize
the   facilities,  an  insufficient  supply  of  waste  for  disposal  due  to
 
                                      8
<PAGE>
 
economic or population decline, rising construction and maintenance costs, any
delays in construction  of facilities, lower-cost  alternative modes of  waste
processing and changes in environmental regulations. Because of the relatively
short  history of  this type  of financing,  there may  be technological risks
involved in  the  satisfactory  construction  or  operation  of  the  projects
exceeding those associated with most municipal enterprise projects. Increasing
environmental  regulation  on  the  federal,  state  and  local  level  has  a
significant impact  on waste  disposal facilities.  While regulation  requires
more  waste  producers  to  use waste  disposal  facilities,  it  also imposes
significant costs  on  the facilities.  These  costs include  compliance  with
frequently changing and complex regulatory requirements, the cost of obtaining
construction  and operating permits, the cost  of conforming to prescribed and
changing equipment  standards  and  required methods  of  operation  and,  for
incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities, the cost of disposing of the waste
residue  that remains  after the disposal  process in  an environmentally safe
manner. In  addition, waste  disposal facilities  frequently face  substantial
opposition  by  environmental  groups  and  officials  to  their  location and
operation, to the  possible adverse  effects upon  the public  health and  the
environment  that may be caused by wastes disposed of at the facilities and to
alleged improper operating procedures. Waste disposal facilities benefit  from
laws  which  require waste  to  be disposed  of in  a  certain manner  but any
relaxation of these laws could cause  a decline in demand for the  facilities'
services.  Finally, waste-to-energy facilities are  concerned with many of the
same issues facing utilities insofar as they derive revenues from the sale  of
energy  to  local  power  utilities (see  State  and  Local  Municipal Utility
Obligations above).
 
SPECIAL TAX BONDS
 
     Special tax bonds are payable from and secured by the revenues derived by
a municipality from a particular  tax such as a tax  on the rental of a  hotel
room,  on the purchase of food and  beverages, on the rental of automobiles or
on the consumption of liquor. Special tax bonds are not secured by the general
tax  revenues  of  the  municipality,  and  they  do  not  represent   general
obligations  of the municipality. Therefore, payment  on special tax bonds may
be adversely affected by a reduction in revenues realized from the  underlying
special tax due to a general decline in the local economy or population or due
to  a decline in the  consumption, use or cost of  the goods and services that
are subject to  taxation. Also,  should spending  on the  particular goods  or
services  that are subject to the special tax decline, the municipality may be
under no obligation to  increase the rate  of the special  tax to ensure  that
sufficient revenues are raised from the shrinking taxable base.
 
TRANSIT AUTHORITY OBLIGATIONS
 
     Mass  transit  is  generally  not  self-supporting  from  fare  revenues.
Therefore, additional financial  resources must  be made  available to  ensure
operation  of  mass transit  systems as  well  as the  timely payment  of debt
service. Often such financial resources  include Federal and state  subsidies,
lease  rentals paid by funds of the state or local government or a pledge of a
special tax such as  a sales tax or  a property tax. If  fare revenues or  the
additional financial resources do not increase appropriately to pay for rising
operating  expenses, the ability of the  issuer to adequately service the debt
may be adversely affected.
 
MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS
 
     Water and sewer bonds are generally  payable from user fees. The  ability
of  state and local water and sewer  authorities to meet their obligations may
be affected  by failure  of  municipalities to  utilize fully  the  facilities
constructed by these authorities, economic or population decline and resulting
decline  in  revenue from  user charges,  rising construction  and maintenance
costs and  delays  in  construction of  facilities,  impact  of  environmental
requirements,  failure  or  inability to  raise  user charges  in  response to
increased costs, the difficulty  of obtaining or  discovering new supplies  of
fresh water, the effect of conservation programs and the impact of 'no growth'
zoning ordinances. In some cases this ability may be affected by the continued
availability  of Federal and state financial  assistance and of municipal bond
insurance for future bond issues.
 
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE OBLIGATIONS
 
     The ability of  universities and  colleges to meet  their obligations  is
dependent  upon various  factors, including  the size  and diversity  of their
sources  of  revenues,  enrollment,  reputation,  management  expertise,   the
availability  and restrictions on  the use of endowments  and other funds, the
quality and maintenance costs of campus facilities, and, in the case of public
institutions,  the  financial  condition  of  the  relevant  state  or   other
governmental   entity  and  its  policies   with  respect  to  education.  The
institution's ability  to  maintain  enrollment levels  will  depend  on  such
factors  as tuition costs, demographic trends, geographic location, geographic
diversity and quality  of the  student body, quality  of the  faculty and  the
diversity of program offerings.
 
                                      9
<PAGE>
 
     Legislative  or regulatory action in the  future at the Federal, state or
local level may directly or indirectly affect eligibility standards or  reduce
or  eliminate the availability of funds for  certain types of student loans or
grant  programs,  including  student  aid,  research  grants  and   work-study
programs, and may affect indirect assistance for education.
 
PUERTO RICO
 
     The  Portfolio  may contain  Debt Obligations  of  issuers which  will be
affected  by  general  economic  conditions  in  Puerto  Rico.  Puerto  Rico's
unemployment  rate  remains significantly  higher  than the  U.S. unemployment
rate. Furthermore, the economy is  largely dependent for its development  upon
U.S. policies and programs that are being reviewed and may be eliminated.
 
     The  Puerto Rican  economy is  affected by  a number  of Commonwealth and
Federal investment incentive programs.  For example, Section  936 of the  Code
provides  for  a  credit  against  Federal  income  taxes  for  U.S. companies
operating on the island  if certain requirements are  met. The Omnibus  Budget
Reconciliation  Act of 1993  imposes limits on such  credit, effective for tax
years beginning  after 1993.  In addition,  from time  to time  proposals  are
introduced in Congress which, if enacted into law, would eliminate some or all
of  the benefits of  Section 936. Although  no assessment can  be made at this
time of  the  precise effect  of  such limitation,  it  is expected  that  the
limitation  of  Section 936  credits would  have a  negative impact  on Puerto
Rico's economy.
 
     Aid for  Puerto  Rico's economy  has  traditionally depended  heavily  on
Federal  programs,  and current  Federal  budgetary policies  suggest  that an
expansion of aid to Puerto Rico is  unlikely. An adverse effect on the  Puerto
Rican  economy could result from other U.S. policies, including a reduction of
tax benefits for  distilled products,  further reduction  in transfer  payment
programs  such as food  stamps, curtailment of  military spending and policies
which could lead to a stronger dollar.
 
     In a plebiscite held in November, 1993, the Puerto Rican electorate chose
to  continue   Puerto   Rico's  Commonwealth   status.   Previously   proposed
legislation,  which  was not  enacted, would  have  preserved the  federal tax
exempt status  of  the  outstanding  debts  of  Puerto  Rico  and  its  public
corporations  regardless of the outcome of  the referendum, to the extent that
similar obligations  issued  by states  are  so  treated and  subject  to  the
provisions of the Code currently in effect. There can be no assurance that any
pending or future legislation finally enacted will include the same or similar
protection  against loss of tax exemption. The November 1993 plebiscite can be
expected to have both direct and indirect consequences on such matters as  the
basic  characteristics of future Puerto Rico debt obligations, the markets for
these obligations,  and  the types,  levels  and quality  of  revenue  sources
pledged for the payment of existing and future debt obligations. Such possible
consequences  include legislative proposals seeking  restoration of the status
of Section 936 benefits otherwise subject to the limitations discussed  above.
However,  no assessment  can be made  at this  time of the  economic and other
effects of a change in federal laws  affecting Puerto Rico as a result of  the
November 1993 plebiscite.
 
OBLIGATIONS BACKED BY LETTERS OF CREDIT
 
     Certain  Debt Obligations may  be secured by letters  of credit issued by
commercial banks or savings banks,  savings and loan associations and  similar
institutions  ('thrifts')  or  are  direct  obligations  of  banks  or thrifts
pursuant to 'loans-to-lenders'  programs. The  letter of credit  may be  drawn
upon,  and the Debt  Obligations consequently redeemed, if  an issuer fails to
pay amounts due  on the Debt  Obligation or defaults  under its  reimbursement
agreement with the issuer of the letter of credit or, in certain cases, if the
interest  on the Debt Obligation  is deemed to be  taxable and full payment of
amounts due is not made by the  issuer. The letters of credit are  irrevocable
obligations  of  the  issuing  institutions, which  are  subject  to extensive
governmental regulations which may limit both  the amounts and types of  loans
and  other financial commitments which may be made and interest rates and fees
which may be charged.
 
     The profitability of financial institutions (and therefore their  ability
to  honor  letters of  credit  or guarantees)  is  largely dependent  upon the
availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations
under prevailing money  market conditions. Also,  general economic  conditions
play  an important  part in  the operations of  this industry  and exposure to
credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers  might
affect  an institution's ability  to meet its obligations.  In the late 1980's
and early 1990's the credit ratings  of U.S. banks and bank holding  companies
were  subject to extensive downgrades due  primarily to deterioration in asset
quality and the attendant impact on earnings and capital adequacy. Major  U.S.
banks, in particular, suffered from a decline in asset quality in the areas of
construction  and commercial real estate loans.  These problem loans have been
largely addressed. During the early 1990's the credit ratings of many  foreign
banks have also been subject to
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
significant  downgrades  due to  a deterioration  in  asset quality  which has
negatively impacted  earnings  and  capital adequacy.  The  decline  in  asset
quality  of major foreign banks has been brought about largely by recessionary
conditions in their local economies. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
('FDIC') indicated that in 1990, 168 federally insured banks with an aggregate
total of  $45.7 billion  in assets  failed  and that  in 1991,  124  federally
insured  banks  with an  aggregate total  of $64.3  billion in  assets failed.
During 1992, the FDIC resolved 120 failed banks with combined assets of  $44.2
billion.  In 1993, a  total of 41  banks with combined  assets of $3.5 billion
were closed. The 1993 total was the lowest level in twelve years. Bank holding
companies and other financial institutions may  not be as highly regulated  as
banks,   and  may  be  more  able  to  expand  into  other  non-financial  and
non-traditional businesses.
 
     Historically, thrifts primarily financed residential and commercial  real
estate by making fixed-rate mortgage loans and funded those loans from various
types  of deposits. Thrifts were restricted as  to the types of accounts which
could be offered and the  rates that could be  paid on those accounts.  During
periods  of high interest  rates, large amounts of  deposits were withdrawn as
depositors invested in  Treasury bills  and notes  and in  money market  funds
which  provided  liquidity and  high yields  not subject  to regulation.  As a
result  the  cost  of  thrifts'  funds  exceeded  income  from  mortgage  loan
portfolios and other investments, and their financial positions were adversely
affected.   Laws  and  regulations  eliminating  interest  rate  ceilings  and
restrictions on types of accounts that may be offered by thrifts were designed
to permit thrifts to compete for deposits on the basis of current market rates
and to improve their financial positions.
 
     Recent legislation, including the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery
and Enforcement  Act  of  1989,  the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
Improvement  Act  of  1991  ('FDICIA') and  the  Resolution  Trust Corporation
Refinancing, Restructuring,  and Improvement  Act of  1991 have  significantly
altered  the  legal  rules and  regulations  governing banks  and  thrifts and
mandated  early   and  aggressive   regulatory  intervention   for   unhealthy
institutions.  For  those thrifts  that have  failed, either  the FDIC  or the
Resolution  Trust  Corporation  ('RTC')  will  be  appointed  as  receiver  or
conservator.   Periodic  efforts   by  recent   Administrations  to  introduce
legislation broadening the ability  of banks and thrifts  to compete with  new
products generally have not been successful, but if enacted could lead to more
failures  as a  result of  increased competition  and added  risks. Failure to
enact such legislation, on the other hand, may lead to declining earnings  and
an  inability to compete  with unregulated financial  institutions. Efforts to
expand the ability of  federal thrifts to branch  on an interstate basis  have
been  initially successful through promulgation of regulations. Legislation to
liberalize interstate branching for  banks has been  stalled in Congress,  but
may  be more successful this year. Consolidation is likely to continue in both
cases. The Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') is attempting to require
the expanded use  of market  value accounting by  banks and  thrifts, and  has
imposed  rules requiring market accounting  for investment securities held for
sale. Adoption of these and similar  rules may result in increased  volatility
in the reported health of the industry and mandated regulatory intervention to
correct such problems.
 
     Investors  should realize  that should the  FDIC or the  RTC make payment
under a letter of credit prior to the scheduled maturity or disposition  dates
of  the related Debt Obligation their  investment will be returned sooner than
originally anticipated.  The  possibility  of  such  early  payment  has  been
increased  significantly by  the enactment  of FDICIA,  which requires federal
regulators of insured banks, savings banks, and thrifts to act more quickly to
address the  problems of  undercapitalized institutions  than previously,  and
specifies  in more  detail the  actions they  must take.  One such requirement
virtually compels  the  appointment  of  a receiver  or  conservator  for  any
institution  when its ratio of tangible equity to total assets declines to two
percent.  Others  force  aggressive  intervention   in  the  business  of   an
institution at even earlier stages of deterioration.
 
     Certain letters of credit or guarantees backing Debt Obligations may have
been  issued by a  foreign bank or  corporation or similar  entity (a 'Foreign
Guarantee'). On the  basis of  information available  to the  Sponsors at  the
present  time no Foreign Guarantee is subject to exchange control restrictions
under existing law which would materially interfere with payments to the  Fund
under  the Foreign Guarantee. However, there can be no assurance that exchange
control regulations might  not be  adopted in  the future  which might  affect
adversely  the payment to the Fund. Nor  are there any withholding taxes under
existing law applicable to payments made on any Foreign Guarantee. While there
can be no assurance that withholding taxes might not be imposed in the future,
provision is made in the instruments governing any Foreign Guarantee that,  in
substance, to the extent permitted by applicable law, additional payments will
be made by the guarantor so that the total amount paid, after deduction of any
applicable  tax, will not be less than the  amount then due and payable on the
Foreign Guarantee.  The adoption  of exchange  control regulations  and  other
legal  restrictions could have  an adverse impact on  the marketability of any
Debt Obligations backed by a Foreign Guarantee and on the ability of the  Fund
to  satisfy  its  obligation  to  redeem Units  tendered  to  the  Trustee for
redemption (see How to Sell).
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
OBLIGATIONS BACKED BY INSURANCE
 
     Certain Debt Obligations (the 'Insured Debt Obligations') may be  insured
or  guaranteed  by  AMBAC  Indemnity  Corporation  ('AMBAC'),  Asset  Guaranty
Reinsurance  Co.  ('Asset  Guaranty'),  Capital  Guaranty  Insurance   Company
('CGIC'),  Capital Markets  Assurance Corp.  ('CAPMAC'), Connie  Lee Insurance
Company  ('Connie   Lee'),  Continental   Casualty  Company   ('Continental'),
Financial   Guaranty  Insurance  Company   ('Financial  Guaranty'),  Financial
Security Assurance Inc.  ('FSA'), Firemen's Insurance  Company of Newark,  New
Jersey  ('Firemen's'), Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation ('MBIA')
or National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. ('National Union')
(collectively, the 'Insurance Companies').  The claims-paying ability of  each
of  these companies,  unless otherwise indicated,  is rated AAA  by Standard &
Poor's or another acceptable national  rating agency. The ratings are  subject
to change at any time at the discretion of the rating agencies. In determining
whether  to insure  bonds, the Insurance  Companies severally  apply their own
standards. The  cost of  this insurance  is  borne either  by the  issuers  or
previous  owners of the bonds  or by the Sponsors.  The insurance policies are
non-cancellable and  will  continue in  force  so  long as  the  Insured  Debt
Obligations are outstanding and the insurers remain in business. The insurance
policies  guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on but do not
guarantee the market value of the Insured Debt Obligations or the value of the
Units. The  insurance  policies  generally  do  not  provide  for  accelerated
payments   of  principal  or  cover   redemptions  resulting  from  events  of
taxability. If the issuer of any  Insured Debt Obligation should fail to  make
an  interest or  principal payment,  the insurance  policies generally provide
that the Trustee or its agent shall give notice of nonpayment to the Insurance
Company or its agent  and provide evidence of  the Trustee's right to  receive
payment.  The Insurance Company is then required to disburse the amount of the
failed payment to the Trustee or its agent and is thereafter subrogated to the
Trustee's right to receive payment from the issuer.
 
      Financial information  relating  to  the Insurance  Companies  has  been
obtained  from publicly available information. No representation is made as to
the accuracy or adequacy of the information  or as to the absence of  material
adverse  changes  since  the information  was  made available  to  the public.
Standard & Poor's  has rated the  Units of  any Insured Fund  AAA because  the
Insurance  Companies have insured the Debt Obligations. The assignment of such
AAA ratings is due to Standard & Poor's assessment of the creditworthiness  of
the  Insurance Companies and of their ability  to pay claims on their policies
of  insurance.  In   the  event   that  Standard  &   Poor's  reassesses   the
creditworthiness  of any Insurance Company which would result in the rating of
an Insured  Fund being  reduced, the  Sponsors are  authorized to  direct  the
Trustee to obtain other insurance.
 
      The following are brief descriptions of certain Insurance Companies. The
financial  information presented  for each  company has  been determined  on a
statutory basis and is unaudited.
 
      AMBAC is a Wisconsin-domiciled stock insurance company, regulated by the
Insurance Department of the State of Wisconsin, and licensed to do business in
various states,  with  admitted  assets of  approximately  $1,988,000,000  and
policyholders'  surplus of  approximately $749,000,000  as of  March 31, 1994.
AMBAC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMBAC Inc., a financial holding  company
which  is publicly owned  following a complete  divestiture by Citibank during
the first quarter of 1992.
 
      Asset Guaranty is a New York  State insurance company licensed to  write
financial  guarantee,  credit,  residual  value  and  surety  insurance. Asset
Guaranty commenced operations in mid-1988 by providing reinsurance to  several
major  monoline insurers. The parent holding  company of Asset Guaranty, Asset
Guarantee Inc. (AGI), merged  with Enhance Financial  Services (EFS) in  June,
1990  to  form Enhance  Financial Services  Group Inc.  (EFSG). The  two main,
100%-owned subsidiaries  of  EFSG,  Asset  Guaranty  and  Enhance  Reinsurance
Company,  share  common management  and physical  resources. After  an initial
public offering completed in February 1992 and the sale by Merrill Lynch & Co.
of its stake, EFSG is  49.8%-owned by the public,  29.9% by US West  Financial
Services,  14.1%  by  Manufacturers  Life Insurance  Co.  and  6.2%  by senior
management. Both ERC  and Asset  Guaranty are  rated 'AAA'  for claims  paying
ability  by Duff & Phelps, ERC is rated triple-A for claims-paying-ability for
both S&P and  Moody's. Asset  Guaranty received  a 'AA'  claims-paying-ability
rating  from S&P  during August  1993, but remains  unrated by  Moody's. As of
March  31,  1994   Asset  Guaranty  had   admitted  assets  of   approximately
$142,000,000 and policyholders' surplus of approximately $73,000,000.
 
      CGIC,   a  monoline   bond  insurer  headquartered   in  San  Francisco,
California, was established in November 1986 to assume the financial  guaranty
business  of United  States Fidelity and  Guaranty Company ('USF&G').  It is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital Guaranty Corporation ('CGC') whose stock is
owned by: Constellation  Investments, Inc.,  an affiliate of  Baltimore Gas  &
Electric,  Fleet/Norstar  Financial  Group,  Inc.,  Safeco  Corporation, Sibag
Finance Corporation, an  affiliate of  Siemens AG, USF&G,  the eighth  largest
property/casualty
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
company  in the U.S. as measured by  net premiums written, and CGC management.
As of  March  31,  1994,  CGIC had  total  admitted  assets  of  approximately
$288,000,000 and policyholders' surplus of approximately $171,000,000.
 
      CAPMAC  commenced operations in  December 1987, as  the second mono-line
financial guaranty insurance  company (after FSA)  organized solely to  insure
non-municipal  obligations. CAPMAC, a New  York corporation, is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of CAPMAC Holdings, Inc. (CHI), which was sold in 1992 by  Citibank
(New  York State)  to a  group of  12 investors  led by  the following: Dillon
Read's Saratoga Partners  II; L.P., an  acquisition fund; Caprock  Management,
Inc.,  representing Rockefeller family interests;  Citigrowth Fund, a Citicorp
venture capital group; and  CAPMAC senior management  and staff. These  groups
control  approximately  70%  of the  stock  of CHI.  CAPMAC  had traditionally
specialized in guaranteeing  consumer loan and  trade receivable  asset-backed
securities. Under the new ownership group CAPMAC intends to become involved in
the   municipal  bond  insurance  business,   as  well  as  their  traditional
non-municipal business. As  of March  31, 1994 CAPMAC's  admitted assets  were
approximately  $188,000,000 and  its policyholders'  surplus was approximately
$145,000,000.
 
      Connie Lee is  a wholly  owned subsidiary of  College Construction  Loan
Insurance Association ('CCLIA'), a government-sponsored enterprise established
by  Congress to provide American academic  institutions with greater access to
low-cost  capital  through  credit  enhancement.  Connie  Lee,  the  operating
insurance  company, was incorporated in 1987 and began business as a reinsurer
of tax-exempt bonds of colleges,  universities, and teaching hospitals with  a
concentration on the hospital sector. During the fourth quarter of 1991 Connie
Lee  began underwriting primary bond insurance which will focus largely on the
college and  university sector.  CCLIA's founding  shareholders are  the  U.S.
Department  of  Education,  which owns  36%  of  CCLIA, and  the  Student Loan
Marketing Association  ('Sallie Mae'),  which owns  14%. The  other  principal
owners   are:  Pennsylvania   Public  School   Employees'  Retirement  System,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Kemper Financial Services, Johnson family
funds  and   trusts,  Northwestern   University,  Rockefeller   &  Co.,   Inc.
administered  trusts  and  funds,  and  Stanford  University.  Connie  Lee  is
domiciled in the  state of Wisconsin  and has  licenses to do  business in  47
states  and the District of Columbia. As of March 31, 1994, its total admitted
assets  were  approximately  $185,000,000   and  policyholders'  surplus   was
approximately $104,000,000.
 
     Continental  is a wholly-owned subsidiary of  CNA Financial Corp. and was
incorporated under  the  laws of  Illinois  in 1948.  As  of March  31,  1994,
Continental  had  policyholders' surplus  of approximately  $3,410,000,000 and
admitted assets  of approximately  $19,140,000,000.  Continental is  the  lead
property-casualty company of a fleet of carriers nationally known and marketed
as 'CNA Insurance Companies'. CNA is rated AAI by Standard & Poor's.
 
     Financial Guaranty, a New York stock insurance company, is a wholly-owned
subsidiary  of FGIC  Corporation, which  is wholly  owned by  General Electric
Capital Corporation. The investors in  the FGIC Corporation are not  obligated
to  pay  the debts  of  or the  claims  against Financial  Guaranty. Financial
Guaranty  commenced  its  business   of  providing  insurance  and   financial
guarantees  for a  variety of  investment instruments  in January  1984 and is
currently authorized to  provide insurance in  49 states and  the District  of
Columbia.  It files reports  with state regulatory agencies  and is subject to
audit and  review  by those  authorities.  As of  March  31, 1994,  its  total
admitted  assets  were  approximately  $1,995,000,000  and  its policyholders'
surplus was approximately $805,000,000.
 
     FSA is a monoline property and casualty insurance company incorporated in
New York  in 1984.  It  is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of  Financial  Security
Assurance Holdings Ltd., which was acquired in December 1989 by US West, Inc.,
the  regional Bell  Telephone Company serving  the Rocky  Mountain and Pacific
Northwestern states.  U.S. West  is  currently seeking  to  sell FSA.  FSA  is
licensed  to engage in  the surety business  in 42 states  and the District of
Columbia. FSA  is engaged  exclusively in  the business  of writing  financial
guaranty  insurance, on  both tax-exempt  and non-municipal  securities. As of
March 31, 1994, FSA had  policyholders' surplus of approximately  $368,000,000
and total admitted assets of approximately $759,000,000.
 
     Firemen's,   which  was  incorporated  in  New   Jersey  in  1855,  is  a
wholly-owned subsidiary of  The Continental  Corporation and a  member of  The
Continental  Insurance Companies, a  group of property  and casualty insurance
companies the claims paying ability of which is rated AA-by Standard & Poor's.
It  provides  unconditional  and   non-cancellable  insurance  on   industrial
development  revenue bonds. As of March 31, 1994, the total admitted assets of
Firemen's were approximately $2,206,000,000 and its policyholders' surplus was
approximately $422,000,000.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
     MBIA is the  principal operating  subsidiary of MBIA  Inc. The  principal
shareholders  of MBIA Inc. were originally  Aetna Casualty and Surety Company,
The Fund  American  Companies, Inc.,  subsidiaries  of CIGNA  Corporation  and
Credit  Local  de France,  CAECL, S.A.  These  principal shareholders  now own
approximately 13% of  the outstanding common  stock of MBIA  Inc. following  a
series  of four public equity  offerings over a five-year  period. As of March
31, 1994,  MBIA  had  admitted  assets  of  approximately  $3,152,000,000  and
policyholders' surplus of approximately $998,000,000.
 
     National  Union is a stock insurance company incorporated in Pennsylvania
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of  American International Group, Inc.  National
Union  was organized in 1901 and is currently licensed to provide insurance in
50 states and the District of Columbia. It files reports with state  insurance
regulatory  agencies and is  subject to regulation, audit  and review by those
authorities including the State of New York Insurance Department. As of  March
31,  1994, the  total admitted assets  and policyholders'  surplus of National
Union were  approximately  $8,517,000,000  and  approximately  $1,422,000,000,
respectively.
 
     Insurance  companies  are subject  to regulation  and supervision  in the
jurisdictions  in  which  they  do  business  under  statutes  which  delegate
regulatory,   supervisory  and   administrative  powers   to  state  insurance
commissioners. This regulation, supervision  and administration relate,  among
other  things, to: the standards of solvency which must be met and maintained;
the licensing of insurers and their  agents; the nature of and limitations  on
investments; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; approval
of  policy forms  and premium rates;  periodic examinations of  the affairs of
insurance companies; annual  and other  reports required  to be  filed on  the
financial  condition  of  insurers  or for  other  purposes;  and requirements
regarding reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other matters. Regulatory
agencies require that premium rates  not be excessive, inadequate or  unfairly
discriminatory.  Insurance regulation  in many states  also includes 'assigned
risk' plans,  reinsurance  facilities, and  joint  underwriting  associations,
under  which all  insurers writing  particular lines  of insurance  within the
jurisdiction must  accept, for  one or  more of  those lines,  risks that  are
otherwise  uninsurable.  A  significant  portion of  the  assets  of insurance
companies is required by law to be held in reserve against potential claims on
policies and is not available to general creditors.
 
     Although the  Federal  government  does  not  regulate  the  business  of
insurance,   Federal  initiatives  can   significantly  impact  the  insurance
business. Current and proposed Federal measures which may significantly affect
the insurance business include pension regulation (ERISA), controls on medical
care costs,  minimum standards  for  no-fault automobile  insurance,  national
health  insurance, personal privacy protection, tax law changes affecting life
insurance  companies  or  the   relative  desirability  of  various   personal
investment  vehicles and  repeal of  the current  antitrust exemption  for the
insurance business. (If  this exemption is  eliminated, it will  substantially
affect  the way premium rates are  set by all property-liability insurers.) In
addition, the Federal government operates in  some cases as a co-insurer  with
the private sector insurance companies.
 
     Insurance  companies are also affected by  a variety of state and Federal
regulatory measures and judicial  decisions that define  and extend the  risks
and  benefits  for  which  insurance is  sought  and  provided.  These include
judicial redefinitions of risk  exposure in areas  such as products  liability
and state and Federal extension and protection of employee benefits, including
pension,  workers' compensation,  and disability  benefits. These developments
may result in short-term adverse effects on the profitability of various lines
of insurance.  Longer-term  adverse effects  can  often be  minimized  through
prompt  repricing of coverages and revision of policy terms. In some instances
these developments  may  create new  opportunities  for business  growth.  All
insurance  companies  write  policies  and  set  premiums  based  on actuarial
assumptions about mortality,  injury, the  occurrence of  accidents and  other
insured  events. These assumptions,  while well supported  by past experience,
necessarily do not take account of future events. The occurrence in the future
of unforeseen circumstances  could affect  the financial condition  of one  or
more  insurance companies.  The insurance  business is  highly competitive and
with the deregulation of financial  service businesses, it should become  more
competitive.  In addition, insurance companies may expand into non-traditional
lines of business which may involve different types of risks.
 
LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION
 
     To the best knowledge of the Sponsors, there is no litigation pending  as
of  the Initial Date of Deposit in respect of any Debt Obligations which might
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the Fund. At any
time after  the Initial  Date of  Deposit, litigation  may be  initiated on  a
variety  of  grounds, or  legislation  may be  enacted,  with respect  to Debt
Obligations  in   the  Fund.   Litigation,   for  example,   challenging   the
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
issuance  of pollution  control revenue  bonds under  environmental protection
statutes may affect the validity of Debt Obligations or the tax-free nature of
their interest. While the  outcome of litigation of  this nature can never  be
entirely  predicted, opinions  of bond  counsel are  delivered on  the date of
issuance of each Debt  Obligation to the effect  that the Debt Obligation  has
been  validly  issued and  that the  interest thereon  is exempt  from Federal
income tax.  In addition,  other factors  may arise  from time  to time  which
potentially  may impair the  ability of issuers  to make payments  due on Debt
Obligations.
 
     Under the  Federal  Bankruptcy Act,  a  political subdivision  or  public
agency  or instrumentality of any state, including municipalities, may proceed
to restructure  or otherwise  alter the  terms of  its obligations,  including
those  of the type comprising the Fund's Portfolio. The Sponsors are unable to
predict what effect, if any, this type of legislation might have on the Fund.
 
     From time to  time Congress considers  proposals to tax  the interest  on
state  and local obligations, such as  the Debt Obligations. The Supreme Court
clarified in South Carolina  v. Baker (decided April  20, 1988) that the  U.S.
Constitution  does not prohibit Congress  from passing a nondiscriminatory tax
on interest  on state  and local  obligations. This  type of  legislation,  if
enacted  into law, could adversely affect  an investment in Units. Holders are
urged to consult their own tax advisers.
 
PAYMENT OF THE DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND LIFE OF THE FUND
 
     Because certain of the Debt Obligations from time to time may be redeemed
or prepaid or will mature in accordance with their terms or may be sold  under
certain  circumstances described  herein, no assurance  can be  given that the
Fund will retain for any length of time its present size and composition. Many
of the Debt  Obligations may be  subject to redemption  prior to their  stated
maturity  dates  pursuant to  optional  refunding or  sinking  fund redemption
provisions or  otherwise  (see Portfolio  in  Part A).  In  general,  optional
refunding redemption provisions are more likely to be exercised when the offer
side  evaluation is at a premium  over par than when it  is at a discount from
par. Generally, the  offer side evaluation  of Debt Obligations  will be at  a
premium  over par when market interest rates fall below the coupon rate on the
Debt Obligations. The percentage of the face amount of Debt Obligations  which
were  acquired on the Date of Deposit at an offer side evaluation in excess of
par is set  forth under Investment  Summary. Certain Debt  Obligations in  the
Portfolio  may be subject to sinking fund  provisions early in the life of the
Fund. These provisions  are designed  to redeem  a significant  portion of  an
issue  gradually over the  life of the  issue; obligations to  be redeemed are
generally chosen by lot.  Additionally, the size and  composition of the  Fund
will be affected by the level of redemptions of Units that may occur from time
to   time  and   the  consequent  sale   of  Debt  Obligations   (see  How  to
Sell--Redemption). Principally, this  will depend upon  the number of  Holders
seeking to sell or redeem their Units and whether or not the Sponsors continue
to  reoffer Units acquired by  them in the secondary  market. Factors that the
Sponsors will consider in  the future in determining  to cease offering  Units
acquired in the secondary market include, among other things, the diversity of
the  Portfolio remaining at  that time, the  size of the  Fund relative to its
original size, the ratio  of Fund expenses to  income, the Fund's current  and
long-term  returns, the degree to which Units may be selling at a premium over
par relative  to  other  funds sponsored  by  the  Sponsors and  the  cost  of
maintaining a current prospectus for the Fund. These factors may also lead the
Sponsors  to seek to  terminate the Fund  earlier than would  otherwise be the
case (see Trust Indenture).
 
LIQUIDITY
 
     Certain of the  Debt Obligations  may have been  guaranteed or  similarly
secured  by  insurance  companies  or  other  corporations  or  entities.  The
guarantee or  similar  commitment may  constitute  a security  (a  'Restricted
Security')  that cannot, in  the opinion of  counsel, be sold  publicly by the
Trustee without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or
similar  provisions  of law  subsequently  enacted. The  Sponsors nevertheless
believe that, should a sale of these Debt Obligations be necessary in order to
meet redemption,  the  Trustee  should  be able  to  consummate  a  sale  with
institutional  investors.  Up to  40%  of the  Portfolio  may consist  of Debt
Obligations  purchased  from  various  banks   and  thrifts  and  other   Debt
Obligations with guarantees which may constitute Restricted Securities.
 
     The  Portfolio may  contain certain  Debt Obligations  purchased directly
from  issuers.  These  Debt  Obligations  are  generally  issued  under   bond
resolutions  or  trust  indentures  providing for  the  issuance  of  bonds in
publicly saleable denominations (usually  $100,000), may be  sold free of  the
registration  requirements of  the Securities  Act of  1933 and  are otherwise
structured in contemplation of ready marketability. In addition, the  Sponsors
generally  obtain letters of intention to repurchase or to use best efforts to
remarket these Debt Obligations from the issuers, the placement agents  acting
in  connection with their sale or the entities providing the additional credit
support, if
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
any. These letters do not express  legal obligations; however, in the  opinion
of the Sponsors, these Debt Obligations should be readily marketable.
 
TAX EXEMPTION
 
     In  the opinion of bond counsel rendered  on the date of issuance of each
Debt Obligation, the interest on each Debt Obligation is excludable from gross
income under existing law for regular  Federal income tax purposes (except  in
certain circumstances depending on the Holder) but may be subject to state and
local  taxes and  may be  a preference  item for  purposes of  the Alternative
Minimum Tax (see Portfolio in Part  A; Taxes below). As discussed under  Taxes
below,  interest on some or all of  the Debt Obligations may become subject to
regular Federal income tax, perhaps  retroactively to their date of  issuance,
as a result of changes in Federal law or as a result of the failure of issuers
(or  other  users of  the proceeds  of  the Debt  Obligations) to  comply with
certain ongoing requirements.
 
     Moreover, the Internal Revenue Service has announced an expansion of  its
examination program with respect to tax-exempt bonds. The expanded examination
program  will consist of, among  other measures, increased enforcement against
abusive transactions, broader audit coverage (including the expected  issuance
of  audit guidelines)  and expanded compliance  achieved by  means of expected
revisions to the tax-exempt bond information return forms. At this time, it is
uncertain whether the tax exempt status  of any of the Debt Obligations  would
be  affected by  such proceedings,  or whether such  effect, if  any, would be
retroactive.
 
     In certain cases, a Debt Obligation  may provide that if the interest  on
the  Debt Obligation should  ultimately be determined to  be taxable, the Debt
Obligation would become due and payable  by its issuer, and, in addition,  may
provide  that any related letter  of credit or other  security could be called
upon if the issuer failed to satisfy  all or part of its obligation. In  other
cases,  however, a  Debt Obligation  may not  provide for  the acceleration or
redemption of the Debt Obligation or a call upon the related letter of  credit
or  other security upon a determination of taxability. In those cases in which
a Debt Obligation does not provide for acceleration or redemption or in  which
both  the issuer and the bank or other  entity issuing the letter of credit or
other security are unable to meet their obligations to pay the amounts due  on
the  Debt Obligation as a result of a determination of taxability, the Trustee
would be obligated to sell the Debt Obligation and, since it would be sold  as
a  taxable  security, it  is  expected that  it  would have  to  be sold  at a
substantial discount  from current  market price.  In addition,  as  mentioned
above, under certain circumstances Holders could be required to pay income tax
on  interest received prior to the date on which the interest is determined to
be taxable.
 
HOW TO BUY
 
     Units are available from any of the Underwriters and other broker-dealers
at the Public Offering  Price (including the applicable  sales charge) plus  a
proportionate  share  of any  cash held  by  the Fund  in the  Capital Account
(unless allocated to the purchase of specific securities) and net accrued  and
undistributed  interest.  Because both  the  value of  Securities  and accrued
interest change, the Public Offering Price varies each Business Day.
 
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
 
     In the initial offering period, the Public Offering Price is based on the
next offer side  evaluation of  the Securities,  and includes  a sales  charge
based  on the number of Units of a  single Fund or Trust purchased on the same
or any preceding day by a single purchaser. See Initial Offering Sales  Charge
Schedule  in Appendix B. The purchaser or  his dealer must notify the Sponsors
at the time of purchase of any  previous purchase to be aggregated and  supply
sufficient  information to  permit confirmation of  eligibility; acceptance of
the purchase order is  subject to such confirmation.  Purchases of Fund  Units
may  not be aggregated with purchases of  any other unit trust. This procedure
may be amended or terminated at any time without notice.
 
     In the secondary market (after  the initial offering period), the  Public
Offering Price is based on the next bid side evaluation of the Securities, and
includes  a sales charge based (a) on the  number of Units of the Fund and any
other Series of  Municipal Investment  Trust Fund purchased  in the  secondary
market  on the  same day  by a  single purchaser  (see Secondary  Market Sales
Charge Schedule  in Appendix  B)  and (b)  the  maturities of  the  underlying
Securities  (see  Effective Sales  Charge  in Appendix  B).  To qualify  for a
reduced sales charge, the  dealer must confirm  that the sale  is to a  single
purchaser  or is purchased for  its own account and  not for distribution. For
these purposes, Units  held in  the name of  the purchaser's  spouse or  child
under  21 years  of age are  deemed to be  purchased by a  single purchaser. A
trustee or other fiduciary purchasing securities for a single trust estate  or
single fiduciary account is also considered a single purchaser.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
     In  the secondary  market, the Public  Offering Price  is further reduced
depending on  the  maturities  of  the various  bonds  in  the  Portfolio,  by
determining  a sales charge  percentage for each bond,  as stated in Effective
Sales Charge in Appendix B. The sales charges so determined, multiplied by the
bid side evaluation of the Securities, are aggregated and the total divided by
the number of Units  outstanding to determine the  Effective Sales Charge.  On
any  purchase,  the Effective  Sales Charge  is  multiplied by  the applicable
secondary market sales  charge percentage  (depending on the  number of  Units
purchased)  in order  to determine  the sales  charge component  of the Public
Offering Price.
 
     Employees of  certain Sponsors  and Sponsor  affiliates and  non-employee
directors of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. may purchase Units at any time at prices
including a sales charge of not less than $5 per Unit.
 
SECURITIES EVALUATIONS
 
     The Public Offering Price is based on the evaluation of Securities in the
Fund, at the offer or bid side as described above, at the Evaluation Time next
following receipt of the order. Evaluations are determined by the Evaluator as
described  under  Redemption on  each Business  Day (this  excludes Saturdays,
Sundays and the following holidays as observed by the New York Stock Exchange:
New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
 
ACCRUED INTEREST
 
     Net accrued interest is added to the Public Offering Price, the Sponsors'
Repurchase Price  and  the Redemption  Price  per Unit.  This  represents  the
interest  accrued on  the Securities, net  of Fund expenses,  from the Initial
Date of Deposit to, but not including, the settlement date for Units (less any
prior distributions of interest income to Holders). Securities deposited  also
carry  accrued but unpaid interest up to the Initial Date of Deposit. To avoid
having Holders pay this  additional accrued interest  (which earns no  return)
when  they purchase Units, the Trustee advances and distributes this amount to
the Sponsors; it  recovers this  advance from  interest received  on the  Debt
Obligations.  Because  of varying  interest payment  dates on  the Securities,
accrued interest at any time will exceed the interest actually received by the
Fund.
 
CERTIFICATES
 
     Certificates for Units are issued upon request, and are transferable upon
payment  of  any  taxes  or  governmental  charges  and  compliance  with  the
requirements  for  redeeming Certificates  (see Redemption).  Certain Sponsors
collect additional  charges  for  registering  and  shipping  Certificates  to
purchasers.  Lost or mutilated  Certificates can be  replaced upon delivery of
satisfactory indemnity and payment of costs.
 
COMPARISON OF PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE, SPONSORS' INITIAL REPURCHASE PRICE,
SECONDARY MARKET REPURCHASE PRICE AND REDEMPTION PRICE
 
     On the  business day  prior to  the Initial  Date of  Deposit the  Public
Offering  Price per Unit  (which includes the sales  charge) and the Sponsors'
Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (each based on the offer side evaluation  of
the Securities in the Fund--see above) exceeded the Sponsors' Repurchase Price
and  the Redemption  Price per  Unit (each  based on  the bid  side evaluation
thereof--see How  to Sell--Redemption)  by  the amounts  set forth  under  the
Investment Summary.
 
     The  initial Public Offering Price per Unit  of the Trust and the Initial
Repurchase Price are based  on the offer side  evaluations of the  Securities.
The  secondary market Public Offering Price and the Sponsors' Repurchase Price
in the secondary market are based  on bid side evaluations of the  Securities.
In  the past, the bid  prices of publicly offered  tax-exempt issues have been
lower than the offer prices by as much as 3 1/2% or more of face amount in the
case of inactively traded issues and  as little as  1/2  of 1% in the case  of
actively  traded issues, but  the difference between the  offer and bid prices
has averaged between 1 and 2% of face amount; the difference on the day before
the date of this Prospectus is stated in a note to the Portfolio.
 
HOW TO SELL
 
SPONSORS' MARKET FOR UNITS
 
     Holders can  cash  in Units  at  any time  without  a fee.  The  Sponsors
(although  not obligated to  do so) normally repurchase  any Units offered for
sale, at  the repurchase  price  next computed  after  receipt of  the  order.
Because  of  the sales  charge and  fluctuations  in the  market value  of the
Securities (among other  reasons) the repurchase  price may be  less than  the
investor's cost for the Units. Holders disposing of Units should consult their
financial
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
professional  as to current market prices to determine if other broker-dealers
or banks offer higher prices for those Units.
 
     The Sponsors  may discontinue  this market  without prior  notice if  the
supply  of Units exceeds demand or for  other business reasons; in that event,
the Sponsors may still purchase Units at the redemption price as a service  to
Holders.  Although the  Sponsors may reoffer  Units repurchased, alternatively
they may  redeem those  Units; see  Redemption for  a description  of  certain
consequences of redemptions to remaining Holders.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Holders  may redeem  Units by tendering  to the  Trustee Certificates (if
issued) or a request for redemption. Certificates must be properly endorsed or
accompanied by  a  written transfer  instrument.  Each Holder  must  sign  the
Certificate, transfer instrument or request exactly as the name appears on the
face  of  the  Certificate;  signatures  must  be  guaranteed  by  an eligible
guarantor institution  or in  another  manner acceptable  to the  Trustee.  In
certain  instances, additional documents may be required such as a certificate
of death, trust instrument, certificate of corporate authority or  appointment
as  executor, administrator  or guardian.  If the  Sponsors are  maintaining a
market for Units, they will purchase any Units tendered at the price described
in the preceding section. If the Sponsors do not purchase Units tendered,  the
Trustee  is authorized in its discretion to sell Units in the over-the-counter
market if it believes  it will obtain  for the redeeming  Holder a higher  net
price.
 
     Redemptions   may   be  suspended   or   payment  postponed   in  limited
circumstances: (1) if  the New York  Stock Exchange is  closed other than  for
customary weekend and holiday closings; (2) if the SEC determines that trading
on  that  Exchange is  restricted or  an emergency  exists making  disposal or
evaluation of the Securities not reasonably practicable; or (3) for any  other
period which the SEC by order permits.
 
     On  the seventh calendar day after  tender (the preceding Business Day if
the seventh day is not  a Business Day), the Holder  will be mailed an  amount
per  Unit equal to the  Redemption Price Per Unit  at the Evaluation Time next
following receipt of the  tender. As noted  above, this price  may be more  or
less than the cost of those Units.
 
     Redemption Price per Unit is computed each Business Day by adding (a) the
aggregate  bid  side  evaluation  of  the Securities,  (b)  cash  in  the Fund
(excluding cash held to pay contracts  to purchase Securities or in a  reserve
account),  (c) accrued  but unpaid  interest on the  Securities up  to but not
including the  payment date  and (d)  the aggregate  value of  any other  Fund
assets;  deducting (v) unpaid taxes or other governmental charges, (w) accrued
but unpaid Fund expenses, (x) unreimbursed Trustee advances, (y) cash held  to
redeem Units or for distribution to Holders and (z) the aggregate value of any
other Fund liabilities; and dividing the result by the Units outstanding as of
the  computation. Evaluations of Securities are determined by the Evaluator as
follows: During the initial syndicate offering period for any Debt Obligation,
its evaluation  will be  at the  syndicate offer  price unless  the  Evaluator
determines  that this price does not  accurately reflect the market value. For
Securities traded over-the-counter, the evaluation  is generally based on  the
closing  sales prices on that market  (unless the Evaluator deems these prices
inappropriate for valuation). If closing  sales prices are not available,  the
evaluation is generally determined on the basis of current bid or offer prices
for  the  Securities or  (if not  available) for  comparable securities  or by
appraising the value or any combination of these methods.
 
     The value  of any  insurance is  reflected  in the  market value  of  any
Insured  Debt Obligation. The Sponsors  believe that this is  a fair method of
valuing the Insured Debt Obligations and the insurance.
 
     If cash is not available in the Fund's Income and Capital Accounts to pay
redemptions, the Trustee is  authorized to sell  Securities. Securities to  be
sold  will  be selected  by  the Agent  for  the Sponsors  in  accordance with
procedures specified in the Indenture, based on market and credit factors that
they determine  are  in the  best  interests of  the  Fund. The  Sponsors  are
authorized  to specify minimum  face amounts in which  Securities are sold, to
obtain a better price for the Fund. When Securities are sold (or mature or are
called), the  size  and  diversity of  the  Fund  is reduced.  Sales  to  meet
redemptions  are often  made at times  when Securities would  not otherwise be
sold, and may result in lower prices than might be realized otherwise.
 
INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
 
INCOME
 
     Income is received by the Fund  upon semi-annual payments of interest  on
the  Debt Obligations held in the Portfolio.  Some of the Debt Obligations may
be  purchased  on   a  when,  as   and  if   issued  basis  or   may  have   a
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
delayed  delivery (see  Portfolio). Since  interest on  these Debt Obligations
does not begin to accrue until the date  of delivery to the Fund, in order  to
provide  tax-exempt income  to the  Holders for  this non-accrual  period, the
Trustee's Annual Fee and Expenses is  reduced by the interest that would  have
accrued  on these  Debt Obligations  between the  initial settlement  date for
Units and  the  delivery  dates  of  the  Debt  Obligations.  This  eliminates
reduction in Monthly Income Distributions. Should when-issued Debt Obligations
be   issued  later  than  expected,  the   fee  reduction  will  be  increased
correspondingly. If the  amount of the  Trustee's Annual Fee  and Expenses  is
insufficient to cover the additional accrued interest, the Sponsors will treat
the contracts as Failed Debt Obligations. As the Trustee is authorized to draw
on  the letter of credit deposited by  the Sponsors before the settlement date
for these Debt Obligations and deposit the proceeds in an account for the Fund
on which it pays no interest, its  use of these funds compensates the  Trustee
for the reduction described above.
 
RETURNS
 
     Estimated  Current  Return represents  annual  cash to  be  received from
interest-bearing Debt Obligations  in the Portfolio  (net of estimated  annual
expenses) divided by the Public Offering Price (including sales charge).
 
     Estimated  Long-Term Return is  a measure of  the estimated return earned
over the estimated life of the Fund. This represents an average of the  yields
to  maturity (or earliest call date for  obligations trading at a premium over
the call  price) of  the  Debt Obligations  in  the Portfolio,  calculated  in
accordance  with accepted bond  practice and adjusted  to reflect expenses and
sales charges. Bonds are customarily offered  on a 'yield price' basis,  which
reflects  computation of  yield to  maturity (or call  date) and  not only the
interest payable but  amortization or  accretion to  a specified  date of  any
premium  over or  discount from  par (maturity)  value in  the bond's purchase
price. In calculating Estimated  Long Term Return, the  average yield for  the
Portfolio  is derived by weighting each  Debt Obligation's yield by its market
value and the time remaining to the call or maturity date depending on how the
Debt Obligation is  priced. The average  Portfolio yield is  then adjusted  to
reflect estimated expenses and the maximum sales charge. This calculation does
not  reflect certain  delays in  distributing income  nor the  timing of other
receipts and distributions on Units; depending on maturities, it may therefore
overstate or understate the impact of sales charges. Both of these factors may
result in a lower figure.
 
     Both  Estimated  Current  Return  and  Estimated  Long  Term  Return  can
fluctuate  with changes in Portfolio composition,  in market value of the Debt
Obligations, in Fund expenses and  sales charges; these returns therefore  can
vary  materially  from the  figures at  the time  of purchase.  Any difference
between Estimated Current Return and Estimated Long Term Return will  probably
fluctuate  at least as frequently. No return  estimate can be predictive of an
investor's actual return because  an investor's actual  return will depend  on
many  factors, including the value of the underlying Debt Obligations when the
investor purchases and  sells Units of  the Fund  and the period  of time  the
investor  holds the Units.  Therefore, Estimated Current  Return and Estimated
Long Term Return  are designed  to be  comparative rather  than predictive.  A
yield calculation which is more comparable to an individual bond may be higher
or lower than Estimated Current Return or Estimated Long Term Return which are
more comparable to return calculations used by other investment products.
 
FUND ACCOUNTS
 
     Interest  received is credited to an Income Account and other receipts to
a Capital Account. A  Reserve Account may be  created by withdrawing from  the
Income  or Capital Accounts  amounts considered appropriate  by the Trustee to
reserve for any material amount  that may be payable  out of the Fund.  Monies
held by the Trustee in the various accounts for the Fund do not bear interest.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     The  initial estimated  net annual  interest rate  per Unit  is stated in
Investment Summary.  This is  based  on $1,000  face  amount per  Unit,  after
deducting  estimated annual Fund expenses. The  rate will change as Securities
mature, are called or sold or otherwise disposed of, as Replacement Securities
are deposited  and as  Fund  expenses change.  Because  the Portfolio  is  not
actively  managed,  income distributions  may not  be  affected by  changes in
interest rates. Subject  to the  financial conditions  of the  issuers of  the
Securities, the amount of income should be substantially maintained as long as
the  Portfolio remains unchanged; however,  optional bond redemptions or other
Portfolio changes may occur more frequently when interest rates decline, which
would result in early return of principal.
 
     Each Unit receives an  equal share of  monthly distributions of  interest
income and any principal distributed, substantially equal to the proportionate
income   during   the  month   preceding   the  Record   Day   less  estimated
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
expenses. Interest  on the  Debt Obligations  is  received by  the Fund  on  a
semi-annual  or annual  basis. Therefore,  it takes  several months  after the
Initial Date  of  Deposit  for  the Trustee  to  receive  sufficient  interest
payments  on the Securities to begin  distributions to Holders; see Investment
Summary for estimates of the first and following Monthly Income Distributions.
When a Security is sold, redeemed  or otherwise disposed of, accrued  interest
is  received by the Fund.  Further, because interest on  the Securities is not
received by  the Fund  at a  constant rate  throughout the  year, any  Monthly
Income  Distribution may be more or  less than the interest actually received.
To eliminate fluctuations in the Monthly Income Distribution, the Trustee will
advance amounts  necessary to  provide approximately  equal distributions;  it
will   be  reimbursed,  without  interest,   from  interest  received  on  the
Securities. However, the  amount of Monthly  Income Distributions will  change
over time as described above.
 
     Along  with the Monthly Income Distributions, the Trustee will distribute
the Holder's pro rata share of  the distributable cash balance of the  Capital
Account,  computed as of the close of business on the preceding Record Day (if
at least  equal  to the  Minimum  Capital Distribution  stated  in  Investment
Summary). Principal proceeds received from disposition of any Security after a
Record  Day and  prior to  the related  Distribution Day  will be  held in the
Capital Account subject to distribution  on the second following  Distribution
Day.  The first distribution for a purchaser of Units between a Record Day and
the related Distribution Day will be made on the second following Distribution
Day.
 
     Any funds held to acquire Replacement Securities which have not been used
to purchase  Securities  within 90  days  after the  initial  deposit,  unless
promptly  used  to purchase  Replacement  Securities, will  be  distributed to
Holders together with the attributable sales charge and interest  attributable
to those funds. This interest will not be exempt from tax.
 
INVESTMENT ACCUMULATION PROGRAM
 
     Distributions  of interest and  any principal or  premium received by the
Fund will be paid in cash unless the Holder elects to have these distributions
reinvested without sales  charge in the  Municipal Fund Accumulation  Program,
Inc. (the 'Program'). The Program is an open-end management investment company
whose  investment objective  is to obtain  income that is  exempt from regular
Federal income taxes through investment in a diversified portfolio  consisting
primarily of state, municipal and public authority debt obligations rated A or
better  or  with  comparable  credit  characteristics.  Reinvesting  compounds
earnings free from Federal tax. Holders  participating in the Program will  be
subject  to  State  and  local income  taxes  to  the same  extent  as  if the
distributions had been received in cash, and most of the income on the Program
is subject to  State and  local income  taxes. For  more complete  information
about  the Program, including  charges and expenses,  return the enclosed form
for a prospectus. Read it carefully  before you decide to participate.  Notice
of election to participate must be received by the Trustee in writing at least
ten  days before the Record Day for the first distribution to which the notice
is to apply.
 
FUND EXPENSES
 
     See Trustee's  Annual  Fee  and Expenses  under  Investment  Summary  for
estimated  annual Fund expenses;  if actual expenses  exceed the estimate, the
excess will be  borne by the  Fund. The  annual fee solely  for the  Trustee's
services  is  $0.70 per  $1,000 face  amount of  Debt Obligations,  payable in
monthly installments. The  Trustee also benefits  when it holds  cash for  the
Fund  in non-interest  bearing accounts.  Possible additional  charges include
Trustee fees and  expenses for extraordinary  services, costs of  indemnifying
the Trustee and the Sponsors to the extent permitted by law and the Indenture,
costs  of action taken to protect the  Fund and other legal fees and expenses,
Fund termination expenses and any governmental charges. The Trustee has a lien
on Fund  assets  to  secure  reimbursement of  these  amounts,  and  may  sell
Securities  for this purpose. The Sponsors receive an annual fee for Portfolio
supervisory services at the maximum stated under Investment Summary, based  on
the  initial face  amount in  any calendar year.  While this  may exceed their
costs of providing these services to the Fund, the total supervision fees from
all Municipal Investment  Trust Fund Series  will not exceed  their costs  for
these  services to all of those Series  during any calendar year. The Sponsors
may  also  be  reimbursed  for  their  costs  of  providing  bookkeeping   and
administrative  services to the Fund. The Trustees's, Sponsors' and Evaluators
fees may be adjusted for inflation without Holders' approval.
 
LOW COSTS
 
     All expenses in establishing the Fund, including the cost of the  initial
preparation  and  printing of  documents  relating to  the  Fund, cost  of the
initial evaluation,  the  initial fees  and  expenses of  the  Trustee,  legal
expenses,
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
advertising and selling expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, will be
paid from the Underwriting Account at no charge to the Fund.
 
     Sales  charges on Defined Asset Funds range from under 1.0% to 5.5%. This
may be less than you might pay to buy a comparable mutual fund. Defined  Asset
Funds have no 12b-1 or back-end load fees. These Funds can be a cost-effective
way  to purchase and hold investments. Annual operating expenses are generally
lower than for managed funds. Because  Defined Funds have no management  fees,
limited  transaction  costs  and  no  ongoing  marketing  expenses,  operating
expenses are generally less than 0.25% a year. When compounded annually, small
differences in expense ratios can make a big difference in expenses.
 
FUND PERFORMANCE
 
     Information on the performance  of the Fund for  various periods, on  the
basis  of  changes in  Unit  price plus  the  amount of  income  and principal
distributions reinvested, may be included from time to time in advertisements,
sales literature,  reports  and  other information  furnished  to  current  or
prospective  investors. Total  return figures  are not  averaged, and  may not
reflect deduction  of  the sales  charge,  which would  decrease  the  return.
Average  annualized  return figures  reflect  deduction of  the  maximum sales
charge. No provision is  made for any income  taxes payable. Past  performance
may  not be indicative  of future results.  The Fund is  not actively managed.
Unit price and return fluctuate with the value of the Bonds in the  Portfolio,
so there may be a gain or loss when Units are sold.
 
     Fund  performance may be compared to  performance on the same basis (with
distributions reinvested) of  Moody's Municipal Bond  Averages or  performance
data  from publications such as  Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar
Publications, Inc., Money Magazine,  The New York Times,  U.S. News and  World
Report,  Barron's  Business  Week,  CDA  Investment  Technology,  Inc., Forbes
Magazine or  Fortune Magazine.  As with  other performance  data,  performance
comparisons  should not  be considered  representative of  the Fund's relative
performance for any future period.
 
EXCHANGE OPTION
 
     Holders may exchange  Units (except  of Short Intermediate  Series) at  a
reduced  sales charge for units  of one or more series  of the types listed in
Appendix C ('Exchange Funds'). This includes the current maximum sales  charge
and exchange fee for each type of Exchange Fund. (If units held less than five
months  are exchanged  for a  series with a  higher regular  sales charge, the
Holder will pay  the difference between  the sales charges  paid on the  units
exchanged and the regular sales charge for the units acquired, if greater than
the exchange fee.)
 
      The  current  return from  taxable fixed  income securities  is normally
higher than that available from tax exempt fixed income securities. Certain of
the Exchange Funds do  not provide for periodic  payments of interest and  are
best  suited  for  purchase by  IRA's,  Keogh  plans, pension  funds  or other
tax-deferred retirement plans. Consequently, some of the Exchange Funds may be
inappropriate  investments  for  some   Holders.  Appendix  C  lists   certain
characteristics  of each type of Exchange  Fund which a Holder should consider
in determining whether it would be an appropriate investment and therefore  an
appropriate exchange for Units of the Fund.
 
     Holders of Exchange Funds can similarly exchange units of those funds for
Units  of the Fund. However,  units of series offered  at a maximum applicable
sales charge  below 3.50%  of  the public  offering price  (including  certain
series  of Exchange Funds listed in Appendix  C) are not eligible for exchange
except that Holders may exchange Units of  the Fund for Freddie Mac or  Select
Ten  Series during their initial offering periods. Holders of other registered
unit investment trusts originally offered at a maximum applicable sales charge
of at least  3.0% ('Conversion  Trusts') may  similarly acquire  Units at  the
exchange fee.
 
     To  make an exchange, a Holder  should contact his financial professional
to find  out  what suitable  Exchange  Funds are  available  and to  obtain  a
prospectus. The Holder may only acquire units of an Exchange Fund in which the
Sponsors maintain a secondary market and which are lawfully available for sale
in  the  state where  the  Holder resides.  Except  for the  sales  charge, an
exchange is like any other purchase and sale of units in the secondary market.
An exchange is a taxable event  normally requiring recognition of any gain  or
loss on the units exchanged. However, the Internal Revenue Service may seek to
disallow  a loss  if the  portfolio of  the units  acquired is  not materially
different from the portfolio  of the units  exchanged; Holders should  consult
their  own tax advisers. If the proceeds of units exchanged is insufficient to
acquire a  whole  number  of Exchange  Fund  units,  the Holder  may  pay  the
difference in cash (not exceeding the price of a single unit acquired).
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
     As  the Sponsors are not obligated to  maintain a secondary market in any
series, there can  be no  assurance that  units of  a desired  series will  be
available  for exchange. The  Exchange Option may be  amended or terminated by
the Sponsors at any time, without notice to Holders.
 
TAXES
 
     The following discussion  addresses only  the tax  consequences of  Units
held as capital assets and does not address the tax consequences of Units held
by dealers, financial institutions or insurance companies.
 
     In  the  opinion  of  Davis  Polk &  Wardwell,  special  counsel  for the
Sponsors, under existing law:
 
        The Fund is not  an association taxable as  a corporation for  Federal
     income  tax purposes, and income received by  the Fund will be treated as
     the income of the Holders in the manner set forth below.
 
        Each Holder will be considered the owner of a pro rata portion of each
     Debt Obligation in  the Fund under  the grantor trust  rules of  Sections
     671-679 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 'Code'). In
     order to determine the face amount of a Holder's pro rata portion of each
     Debt  Obligation on  the Initial Date  of Deposit, see  Face Amount under
     Portfolio. The  total cost  to a  Holder of  his Units,  including  sales
     charges, is allocated to his pro rata portion of each Debt Obligation, in
     proportion  to  the fair  market values  thereof on  the date  the Holder
     purchases his Units, in order to determine his tax basis for his pro rata
     portion of each Debt Obligation. In order for a Holder who purchases  his
     Units  on the Initial Date of Deposit  to determine the fair market value
     of his pro rata portion of each Debt Obligation on such date, see Cost of
     Debt Obligations to Fund under Portfolio.
 
        Each Holder will be  considered to have received  the interest on  his
     pro  rata  portion of  each  Debt Obligation  when  interest on  the Debt
     Obligation is  received by  the  Fund. In  the  opinion of  bond  counsel
     (delivered on the date of issuance of the Debt Obligation), such interest
     will  be  excludable from  gross income  for  regular Federal  income tax
     purposes (except  in certain  limited circumstances  referred to  below).
     Amounts  received  by  the Fund  pursuant  to  a bank  letter  of credit,
     guarantee or  insurance policy  with respect  to payments  of  principal,
     premium  or interest  on a  Debt Obligation  will be  treated for Federal
     income tax purposes in the  same manner as if  such amounts were paid  by
     the issuer of the Debt Obligation.
 
        The  Fund may contain Debt Obligations which were originally issued at
     a discount  ('original issue  discount'). The  following principles  will
     apply to each Holder's pro rata portion of any Debt Obligation originally
     issued  at a discount. In general,  original issue discount is defined as
     the difference between the  price at which a  debt obligation was  issued
     and its stated redemption price at maturity. Original issue discount on a
     tax-exempt  obligation issued after September 3, 1982 is deemed to accrue
     as tax-exempt interest over  the life of the  obligation under a  formula
     based  on the compounding of interest.  Original issue discount on a tax-
     exempt obligation  issued before  July 2,  1982 is  deemed to  accrue  as
     tax-exempt  interest ratably  over the  life of  the obligation. Original
     issue discount  on any  tax-exempt obligation  issued during  the  period
     beginning  July 2, 1982  and ending September  3, 1982 is  also deemed to
     accrue as tax-exempt interest over  the life of the obligation,  although
     it  is not clear whether such accrual is ratable or is determined under a
     formula based on the compounding of interest. If a Holder's tax basis for
     his pro rata  portion of  a Debt  Obligation issued  with original  issue
     discount  is greater  than its 'adjusted  issue price' but  less than its
     stated redemption  price at  maturity  (as may  be adjusted  for  certain
     payments),  the Holder will be considered  to have purchased his pro rata
     portion of the Debt  Obligation at an  'acquisition premium'. A  Holder's
     adjusted tax basis for his pro rata portion of the Debt Obligation issued
     with original issue discount will include original issue discount accrued
     during  the  period such  Holder held  his Units.  Such increases  to the
     Holder's tax  basis  in his  pro  rata  portion of  the  Debt  Obligation
     resulting  from the accrual of original  issue discount, however, will be
     reduced by the amortization of any such acquisition premium.
 
        If a Holder's tax basis for his pro rata portion of a Debt  Obligation
     exceeds  the  redemption price  at maturity  thereof (subject  to certain
     adjustments), the Holder  will be  considered to have  purchased his  pro
     rata  portion of the Debt Obligation with 'amortizable bond premium'. The
     Holder is required  to amortize such  premium over the  term of the  Debt
     Obligation.  Such amortization is  only a reduction of  basis for his pro
     rata portion of the Debt Obligation and does not result in any  deduction
     against  the  Holder's  income. Therefore,  under  some  circumstances, a
     Holder may recognize  taxable gain when  his pro rata  portion of a  Debt
     Obligation  is  disposed of  for  an amount  equal  to or  less  than his
     original tax basis therefor.
 
        A Holder will recognize taxable gain or  loss when all or part of  his
     pro  rata portion of a Debt Obligation is  disposed of by the Fund for an
     amount greater or less than his adjusted tax basis. Any such taxable gain
     or
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
     loss will  be  capital  gain or  loss,  except  that any  gain  from  the
     disposition  of a Holder's pro rata portion of a Debt Obligation acquired
     by the Holder at a 'market  discount' (i.e., where the Holder's  original
     tax  basis for  his pro  rata portion  of the  Debt Obligation  (plus any
     original issue discount which will accrue thereon until its maturity)  is
     less  than its stated  redemption price at maturity)  would be treated as
     ordinary income to the extent the gain does not exceed the accrued market
     discount. Capital gains are generally taxed at the same rate as  ordinary
     income.  However,  the excess  of net  long-term  capital gains  over net
     short-term capital losses  may be  taxed at  a lower  rate than  ordinary
     income  for certain  noncorporate taxpayers.  A capital  gain or  loss is
     long-term if the asset is held for  more than one year and short-term  if
     held  for one year or less. The deduction of capital losses is subject to
     limitations. A Holder will also be considered to have disposed of all  or
     part  of his pro  rata portion of  each Debt Obligation  when he sells or
     redeems all or some of his Units.
 
        Under Section 265 of the Code, a Holder (except a corporate Holder) is
     not entitled to a deduction for his  pro rata share of fees and  expenses
     of  the Fund,  because the fees  and expenses are  incurred in connection
     with the production of tax-exempt income. Further, if borrowed funds  are
     used by a Holder to purchase or carry Units of the Fund, interest on this
     indebtedness  will not be deductible for  Federal income tax purposes. In
     addition, under rules used by the Internal Revenue Service, the  purchase
     of  Units may be  considered to have  been made with  borrowed funds even
     though the borrowed funds are not  directly traceable to the purchase  of
     Units.
 
        Under  the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, the Fund
     is not an association taxable as a corporation and income received by the
     Fund will be treated as the income  of the Holders in the same manner  as
     for Federal income tax purposes, but will not necessarily be tax-exempt.
 
        Holders  will be  taxed in  the manner  described above  regardless of
     whether the  distributions from  the Fund  are actually  received by  the
     Holders   or  are   automatically  reinvested   in  the   Municipal  Fund
     Accumulation Program, Inc.
 
        From time  to time  proposals  are introduced  in Congress  and  state
     legislatures  which, if enacted into law, could have an adverse impact on
     the tax-exempt  status  of the  Debt  Obligations. It  is  impossible  to
     predict  whether any legislation in respect of the tax status of interest
     on the Debt  Obligations may be  proposed and eventually  enacted at  the
     Federal or state level.
 
        The  foregoing discussion relates only  to Federal and certain aspects
     of New York  State and  City income taxes.  Depending on  their state  of
     residence,  Holders may be subject to state and local taxation and should
     consult their own tax advisers in this regard.
 
                                   *  *  *
 
     The Fund may include  Debt Obligations issued after  August 7, 1986  (see
Investment Summary--Taxation and Portfolio in Part A). Interest (including any
original  issue  discount) on  certain  of these  Debt  Obligations will  be a
preference item  for  purposes of  the  alternative minimum  tax  ('AMT').  In
addition,  a corporate Holder should  be aware that the  accrual or receipt of
tax-exempt interest not  subject to the  AMT may give  rise to an  alternative
minimum tax liability (or increase an existing liability) because the interest
income  will be included in the  corporation's 'adjusted current earnings' for
purposes of the adjustment to  alternative minimum taxable income required  by
Section  56(g) of the Code, and will be taken into account for purposes of the
environmental tax on  corporations under  Section 59A  of the  Code, which  is
based on alternative minimum taxable income. In addition, interest on the Debt
Obligations must be taken into consideration in computing the portion, if any,
of  social security  benefits that will  be included in  an individual's gross
income and subject to Federal income  tax. Holders are urged to consult  their
own tax advisers concerning an investment in Units.
 
     At  the time of issuance of each  Debt Obligation, an opinion relating to
the validity of the Debt Obligation  and to the exemption of interest  thereon
from  regular Federal income  taxes was or  will be rendered  by bond counsel.
Neither the Sponsors  nor Davis Polk  & Wardwell  have made or  will make  any
review  of the proceedings relating to the issuance of the Debt Obligations or
the basis for these opinions. The tax exemption is dependent upon the issuer's
(and other  users')  compliance with  certain  ongoing requirements,  and  the
opinion of bond counsel assumes that these requirements will be complied with.
However,  there can  be no  assurance that the  issuer (and  other users) will
comply with  these requirements,  in  which event  the  interest on  the  Debt
Obligation  could be determined  to be taxable retroactively  from the date of
issuance.
 
     In the case  of certain Debt  Obligations, the opinions  of bond  counsel
indicate  that interest on  these Debt Obligations  received by a 'substantial
user' of  the  facilities  being  financed with  the  proceeds  of  such  Debt
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
Obligations,   or  persons  related  thereto,  for  periods  while  such  Debt
Obligations are held by such a user or related person, will not be exempt from
regular Federal  income  taxes, although  interest  on such  Debt  Obligations
received  by  others  would  be  exempt  from  regular  Federal  income taxes.
'Substantial user' is defined under U.S. Treasury Regulations to include  only
a  person whose gross revenue derived  with respect to the facilities financed
by the issuance of bonds is more than  5% of the total revenue derived by  all
users  of these facilities, or who occupies more than 5% of the usable area of
these facilities  or  for  whom  these  facilities  or  a  part  thereof  were
specifically  constructed,  reconstructed or  acquired. 'Related  persons' are
defined to include certain  related natural persons, affiliated  corporations,
partners and partnerships.
 
     After  the end of  each calendar year,  the Trustee will  furnish to each
Holder an annual  statement containing  information relating  to the  interest
received  by the Fund on the Debt  Obligations, the gross proceeds received by
the  Fund  from  the  disposition  of  any  Debt  Obligation  (resulting  from
redemption  or payment at maturity  of any Debt Obligation  or the sale by the
Fund of any Debt Obligation), and the fees and expenses paid by the Fund.  The
Trustee will also furnish annual information returns to each Holder and to the
Internal  Revenue  Service. Holders  are required  to  report to  the Internal
Revenue Service the amount of tax-exempt interest received during the year.
 
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND
 
RECORDS
 
     The Trustee keeps a register of the names, addresses and holdings of  all
Holders.  The  Trustee also  keeps records  of the  transactions of  the Fund,
including a current list of the Securities and a copy of the Indenture,  which
may be inspected by Holders at reasonable times during business hours.
 
REPORTS TO HOLDERS
 
     With  each distribution, the Trustee includes a statement of the interest
and any other receipts  being distributed. Within five  days after deposit  of
Debt  Obligations  in  exchange  or  substitution  for  Debt  Obligations  (or
contracts) previously  deposited,  the Trustee  will  send a  notice  to  each
Holder,  identifying  both the  Debt Obligations  removed and  the Replacement
Securities deposited. The Trustee  sends each record  Holder an annual  report
summarizing transactions in the Fund's accounts and amounts distributed during
the year and Securities held, number of Units outstanding and Redemption Price
at  year end,  among other  matters. Holders  may obtain  copies of Securities
evaluations from the Trustee to enable  them to comply with Federal and  state
tax  reporting requirements. Fund accounts are audited annually by independent
accountants  selected  by  the  Sponsors;  audited  financial  statements  are
available on request.
 
TRUST INDENTURE
 
     The  Fund is a  'unit investment trust'  created under New  York law by a
Trust Indenture  (the 'Indenture')  among the  Sponsors, the  Trustee and  the
Evaluator. This Prospectus summarizes various provisions of the Indenture, but
each  statement  herein  is qualified  in  its  entirety by  reference  to the
Indenture.
 
     The Indenture may  be amended by  the Sponsors and  the Trustee,  without
consent  by Holders: (a) to  cure ambiguities or to  correct or supplement any
defective or inconsistent provision, (b) to make any amendment required by the
SEC or  other  governmental  agency, or  (c)  to  make any  other  change  not
materially  adverse to the interest of Holders (as determined in good faith by
the Sponsors). The Indenture  may also be amended  upon consent of Holders  of
51%  of the Units. No  amendment may reduce the interest  of any Holder in the
Fund without the Holder's consent or  reduce the percentage of Units  required
to consent to any amendment without unanimous consent of Holders. Holders will
be notified on the substance of any amendment.
 
     The  Fund will be terminated, and any remaining Securities sold, no later
than the mandatory termination date  specified in Investment Summary. It  will
terminate earlier upon the disposition of the last Security, upon direction of
the  Sponsors  if  total  assets  are below  the  minimum  value  specified in
Investment Summary or upon consent of Holders of 51% of the Units. The Trustee
will  notify  each  Holder  in   writing  within  a  reasonable  time   before
termination,   specifying  when  Certificates  should  be  surrendered.  After
termination, the Trustee will sell any remaining Securities and distribute (by
check mailed to the Holder) each Holder's  pro rata interest in the Fund,  net
of  any  unpaid fees,  taxes, governmental  and other  charges and  subject to
surrender of any outstanding Certificate by the Holder.
 
     Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has been appointed  as
Agent for the Sponsors by the other Sponsors.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
     The  Trustee may resign upon notice to the Sponsors; it may be removed by
direction of  Holders of  51% of  the Units  at any  time or  by the  Sponsors
without  consent of Holders if it becomes incapable of acting or bankrupt, its
affairs are  taken  over by  public  authorities, or  if  for any  reason  the
Sponsors  determine in good faith that its replacement is in the best interest
of the Holders. The Evaluator may resign or be removed by the Sponsors and the
Trustee without  consent of  Holders.  The resignation  or removal  of  either
becomes effective upon acceptance of appointment by a successor; in this case,
the  Sponsors (and the Trustee in the  case of a successor Evaluator) will use
their  best  efforts  to  appoint  a  successor  promptly;  however,  if  upon
resignation  no  successor  has  accepted  appointment  within  30  days after
notification, the  resigning Trustee  or Evaluator  may apply  to a  court  of
competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor.
 
     Any  Sponsor may resign if one remaining Sponsor maintains a net worth of
$2,000,000 and is agreeable to the resignation. A new Sponsor may be appointed
by the  remaining  Sponsors  and the  Trustee  to  assume the  duties  of  the
resigning  Sponsor. If there is  only one Sponsor and  it fails to perform its
duties or becomes  incapable of acting  or bankrupt or  its affairs are  taken
over by public authorities, the Trustee may (a) appoint a successor Sponsor at
rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding
amounts  prescribed by the  SEC, or (b) terminate  the Indenture and liquidate
the Fund or (c) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the Indenture.
 
     The Sponsors, the Trustee and the  Evaluator are not liable to any  other
party  (including Holders)  for any  act or omission  in the  conduct of their
responsibilities absent  bad  faith, willful  misfeasance,  negligence  (gross
negligence  in  the case  of a  Sponsor)  or reckless  disregard of  duty. The
Trustee will not be personally liable for taxes or other governmental  charges
with  respect to  the Securities or  interest thereon.  The Indenture contains
other customary provisions limiting liability of the Trustee.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
TRUSTEE
 
     The Trustee is named on  the back cover of  the Prospectus and is  either
Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking corporation with its corporate trust
office  at 4  Albany Street,  7th Floor,  New York,  New York  10015 (which is
subject to supervision by the New  York Superintendent of Banks, the FDIC  and
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ('Federal Reserve')); The
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., a national banking association with its Unit Trust
Department  at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza--3B, New York, New York 10081 (which is
subject to supervision by  the Comptroller of the  Currency, the FDIC and  the
Federal  Reserve); Bank of New  York, a New York  banking corporation with its
Unit Investment Trust  Department at 101  Barclay Street, New  York, New  York
10286 (which is subject to regulation by the New York Superintendent of Banks,
the  FDIC and the Federal Reserve; or (acting as Co-Trustees) Investors Bank &
Trust Company, a Massachusetts  trust company with  its unit investment  trust
servicing  group at One  Lincoln Plaza, Boston,  Massachusetts 02111 (which is
subject to supervision by  the Massachusetts Commissioner  of Banks, the  FDIC
and  the Federal Reserve) and  The First National Bank  of Chicago, a national
banking association  with its  corporate trust  office at  One First  National
Plaza,   Suite  0126,  Chicago,  Illinois  60670-0126  (which  is  subject  to
supervision by  the Comptroller  of the  Currency, the  FDIC and  the  Federal
Reserve).  Unless otherwise  indicated, when  Investors Bank  & Trust  and The
First National Bank of Chicago act as Co-Trustees, the term 'Trustee' in  this
Prospectus refers to these banks as co-trustee.
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
     The  legality of the Units has been passed upon by Davis Polk & Wardwell,
450 Lexington Avenue,  New York, New  York 10017, as  special counsel for  the
Sponsors.  Emmet Marvin & Martin, 120 Broadway,  New York, New York 10271, act
as counsel for the Bank  of New York, as Trustee.  Bingham, Dana & Gould,  150
Federal  Street, Boston,  Massachusetts 02110,  act as  counsel for  The First
National Bank of Chicago and Investors  Bank & Trust Company, as  Co-Trustees.
Hawkins,  Delafield & Wood, 67  Wall Street, New York,  New York 10005, act as
counsel for Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee.
 
AUDITORS
 
     The Statement of  Condition in Part  A was audited  by Deloitte &  Touche
LLP,  independent accountants, as  stated in their opinion.  It is included in
reliance upon that opinion given on the  authority of that firm as experts  in
accounting and auditing.
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
SPONSORS
 
     Each   Sponsor  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.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner  & Smith Incorporated,  a subsidiary of  Merrill
Lynch  &  Co., Inc.,  is engaged  in the  investment advisory  business. Smith
Barney Inc., an investment  banking and securities  broker-dealer firm, is  an
indirect  wholly-owned subsidiary of The  Travelers Inc. Prudential Securities
Incorporated, a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Prudential  Securities Group  Inc.
and  an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Prudential Insurance Company
of America,  is  engaged in  the  investment advisory  business.  Dean  Witter
Reynolds  Inc., a  principal operating subsidiary  of Dean  Witter, Discover &
Co., is engaged in the investment advisory business. PaineWebber  Incorporated
is  engaged  in  the  investment  advisory  business  and  is  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of PaineWebber Group Inc. Each  Sponsor, or one of its  predecessor
corporations,  has acted as Sponsor  of a number of  series of unit investment
trusts.  Each  Sponsor  has  acted  as  principal  underwriter  and   managing
underwriter  of  other  investment  companies. The  Sponsors,  in  addition to
participating as  members of  various selling  groups or  as agents  of  other
investment companies, execute orders on behalf of investment companies for the
purchase  and sale  of securities  of these  companies and  sell securities to
these companies in their capacities as brokers or dealers in securities.
 
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
 
     On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsors, acting as managers for  the
underwriters  ('Underwriters') named under Underwriting Account, deposited the
Debt Obligations  listed  under Portfolio  (or  purchase contracts  for  these
Securities  together with  a letter  of credit  to complete  the purchase), in
exchange for Units representing the entire ownership of the Fund.
 
     During the  initial offering  period  Units will  be distributed  to  the
public  at  the Public  Offering Price  through  the Underwriting  Account and
dealers. The initial offering period is 30 days or less if all Units are sold.
If some Units initially  offered have not been  sold, the Sponsors may  extend
the  initial  offering  period for  up  to four  additional  successive 30-day
periods. Upon  the completion  of  the initial  offering, Units  which  remain
unsold  or were repurchased may be offered by this Prospectus at the secondary
market Public Offering Price.
 
     The Sponsors intend  to qualify  Units for sale  in all  states in  which
qualification  is  deemed necessary  through the  Underwriting Account  and by
dealers who are  members of  the National Association  of Securities  Dealers,
Inc.;  however, Units of  a State Trust will  be offered for  sale only in the
State for which the Trust  is named, except that Units  of a New Jersey  Trust
will  also be offered in Connecticut, and Units  of a New York Trust will also
be offered in Connecticut, Florida and Puerto Rico. The Sponsors do not intend
to qualify Units for  sale in any foreign  countries and this Prospectus  does
not  constitute  an offer  to sell  Units  in any  country where  Units cannot
lawfully be sold. Sales  to dealers and to  introducing dealers, if any,  will
initially  be made  at prices which  represent a concession  of the applicable
rate specified in  Appendix B,  but the Agent  for the  Sponsors reserves  the
right  to change the rate  of the concession to  dealers and the concession to
introducing dealers from time  to time. Any dealer  or introducing dealer  may
reallow a concession up to the concession to dealers.
 
UNDERWRITERS' AND SPONSORS' PROFITS
 
     Upon  sale of the  Units, the Underwriters will  receive sales charges at
the rates listed in Appendix B. The Sponsors also realized the profit or  loss
on  deposit  of  the Securities  stated  in  Investment Summary.  This  is the
difference between the cost of the Securities to the Fund (based on the  offer
side  evaluation of  the Securities  on the Initial  Date of  Deposit) and the
Sponsors' cost of the Securities. The  amount of any additional fees  received
in  connection with the direct placement of certain Debt Obligations deposited
in the Portfolio is also stated in Investment Summary. In addition, a  Sponsor
or  Underwriter may realize  profits or sustain losses  on Debt Obligations it
deposits in the Fund which were acquired from underwriting syndicates of which
it was a member. During the  initial offering period the Underwriting  Account
also  may realize profits or sustain losses  as a result of fluctuations after
the Initial Date of  Deposit in the  Public Offering Price  of the Units  (see
Investment  Summary). In maintaining a secondary  market for Units (see Market
for Units), the Sponsors  will also realize profits  or sustain losses in  the
amount  of any difference between  the prices at which  they buy Units and the
prices at which they  resell these Units (which  include the sales charge)  or
the  prices at which  they redeem the  Units. Cash, if  any, made available by
buyers of Units to the Sponsors prior to a settlement date for the purchase of
Units may be used in the Sponsors' businesses to the extent permitted by  Rule
15c3-3  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and may be of benefit to the
Sponsors.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
 
     Each Sponsor (or a predecessor) has acted as Sponsor of various series of
Defined Asset Funds.  A subsidiary of  Merrill Lynch, Pierce,  Fenner &  Smith
Incorporated  succeeded in 1970 to  the business of Goodbody  & Co., which had
been a co-Sponsor of Defined Asset Funds since 1964. That subsidiary  resigned
as  Sponsor of  each of  the Goodbody series  in 1971.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated has been co-Sponsor and the Agent for the Sponsors
of each series  of Defined  Asset Funds  created since  1971. Shearson  Lehman
Brothers  Inc. ('Shearson') and certain  of its predecessors were underwriters
beginning in 1962 and co-Sponsors from 1965  to 1967 and from 1980 to 1993  of
various  Defined Asset  Funds. As  a result of  the acquisition  of certain of
Shearson's assets by  Smith Barney, Harris  Upham & Co.  Incorporated and  The
Travelers  Inc. (formerly Primerica Corporation), Smith Barney Inc. now serves
as  co-Sponsor  of   various  Defined  Asset   Funds.  Prudential   Securities
Incorporated  and  its predecessors  have been  underwriters of  Defined Asset
Funds since 1961  and co-Sponsors since  1964, in which  year its  predecessor
became successor co-Sponsor to the original Sponsor. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
and  its predecessors  have been underwriters  of various  Defined Asset Funds
since 1964  and  co-Sponsors  since 1974.  PaineWebber  Incorporated  and  its
predecessor have co-Sponsored certain Defined Asset Funds since 1983.
 
     The Sponsors have maintained secondary markets in Defined Asset Funds for
over  20 years. For decades informed  investors have purchased unit investment
trusts for dependability  and professional selection  of investments.  Defined
Asset  Funds  offers an  array of  simple  and convenient  investment choices,
suited to  fit a  wide variety  of personal  financial goals--a  buy and  hold
strategy  for capital accumulation, such as for children's education or a nest
egg for  retirement, or  attractive, regular  current income  consistent  with
relative  protection of capital. There are Defined  Funds to meet the needs of
just about any investor.  Unit investment trusts  are particularly suited  for
the  many investors who  prefer to seek long-term  profits by purchasing sound
investments  and  holding  them,  rather  than  through  active  trading.  Few
individuals  have  the  knowledge, resources  or  capital  to buy  and  hold a
diversified portfolio on their own; it would generally take a considerable sum
of money  to  obtain the  breadth  and  diversity offered  by  Defined  Funds.
Sometimes it takes a combination of Defined Funds to plan for your objectives.
 
     One  of the most important investment  decisions an investor faces may be
how to allocate  his investments  among asset  classes. Diversification  among
different  kinds of investments can balance the risks and rewards of each one.
Most  investment  experts  recommend  stocks  for  long-term  capital  growth.
Long-term  corporate bonds offer relatively high  rates of interest income. By
purchasing both defined equity and  defined bond funds, investors can  receive
attractive  current  income,  as  well  as  growth  potential,  offering  some
protection against inflation.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
     The following chart shows the average annual compounded rate of return of
selected asset classes over  the 10-year and  20-year periods ending  December
31,  1993, compared to the rate of inflation over the same periods. Of course,
this chart  represents past  performance of  these investment  categories  and
there  is no  guarantee of  future results, either  of these  categories or of
Defined Funds. Defined Funds also have  sales charges and expenses, which  are
not reflected in the chart.
 
          Stocks (S&P 500)
          20 yr                                       12.76%
          10 yr                                                 14.94%
          Small-company stocks
          20 yr                                                        18.82%
          10 yr                             9.96%
          Long-term corporate bonds
          20 yr                            10.16%
          10 yr                                             14.00%
          U.S. Treasury bills (short-term)
          20 yr                  7.49%
          10 yr              6.35%
          Consumer Price Index
          20 yr           5.92%
          10 yr  3.73%
          0           2           4           6           8           10 
           12          14          16          18          20%
 
                              Source: Ibbotson Associates (Chicago).
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
 
     Instead   of  having  to  select  individual  securities  on  their  own,
purchasers of Defined Funds benefit from the expertise of Defined Asset Funds'
experienced buyers and research analysts. In addition, they gain the advantage
of diversification by investing in units of a Defined Fund holding  securities
of  several different issuers. Such diversification reduces risk, but does not
eliminate it. While  the portfolio  of managed  funds, such  as mutual  funds,
continually  changes,  defined  bond funds  offer  a defined  portfolio  and a
schedule of income  distributions defined in  the prospectus. Investors  know,
generally,  when they buy, the issuers,  maturities, call dates and ratings of
the securities in the portfolio. Of course, the portfolio may change  somewhat
over  time as additional securities are deposited, as securities mature or are
called or redeemed or as they are sold to meet redemptions and in the  limited
other  circumstances. Investors  buy bonds  for dependability--they  know what
they can expect to earn and that principal is distributed as the bonds mature.
Investors also know at the time of purchase their estimated income and current
and long-term returns, subject  to credit and market  risks and to changes  in
the portfolio or the fund's expenses.
 
     Defined Asset Funds offers a variety of fund types. The tax exemption for
municipal  bonds, which  makes them  attractive to  high-bracket taxpayers, is
offered  by  Defined  Municipal  Investment  Trust  Funds.  Defined  Municipal
Investment  Trust Funds have provided investors  with tax-free income for more
than 30 years. Municipal Defined Funds  offer a simple and convenient way  for
investors to earn monthly income free from regular Federal income tax. Defined
Corporate  Income  Funds,  with  higher  current  returns  than  municipal  or
government funds, are  suitable for Individual  Retirement Accounts and  other
tax-advantaged  accounts and provide investors a  simple and convenient way to
earn monthly income. Defined Government Securities Income Funds provide a  way
to  participate in  markets for  U.S. government  securities while  earning an
attractive current return. Defined International Bond Funds, invested in bonds
payable in foreign  currencies, offer a  potential to profit  from changes  in
currency  values  and  possibly  from  interest  rates  higher  than  paid  on
comparable U.S. bonds, but investors incur a higher risk for these potentially
greater returns. Historically, stocks have offered growth of capital, and thus
some protection against inflation, over  the long term. Defined Equity  Income
Funds  offer participation  in the stock  market, providing  current income as
well as the possibility of capital appreciation. The S&P Index Trusts offer  a
convenient  and  inexpensive way  to  participate in  broad  market movements.
Concept Series seek to capitalize on selected anticipated economic,  political
or business trends. Utility Stock Series, consisting of stocks of issuers with
established  reputations  for regular  cash  dividends, seek  to  benefit from
dividend increases. Select Ten Portfolios  seek total return by investing  for
one year in the ten highest yielding stocks on a designated stock index.
 
                                      28
<PAGE> 
                                  APPENDIX A
 
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS (AS DESCRIBED BY THE RATING COMPANIES THEMSELVES)
 
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP, A DIVISION OF MCGRAW-HILL, INC.
 
     AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
     AA--Debt  rated AA has a  very strong capacity to  pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
 
     A--Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes  in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
 
     BBB--Debt  rated BBB  is regarded as  having an adequate  capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse  economic conditions  or changing  circumstances are  more
likely  to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
 
     BB, B, CCC, CC--Debt rated BB, B, CCC and CC is regarded, on balance,  as
predominately  speculative with respect to capacity  to pay interest and repay
principal in accordance  with the terms  of the obligation.  BB indicates  the
lowest  degree of speculation and CC  the highest degree of speculation. While
such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics,  these
are  outweighed  by large  uncertainties or  major  risk exposures  to adverse
conditions.
 
     The ratings may be modified  by the addition of a  plus or minus sign  to
show relative standing within the major rating categories.
 
     A  provisional rating, indicated  by 'p' following  a rating, assumes the
successful completion of  the project being  financed by the  issuance of  the
debt  being rated and  indicates that payment of  debt service requirements is
largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the
project. This rating, however, while  addressing credit quality subsequent  to
completion  of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk
of default upon failure of, such completion.
 
     NR--Indicates  that  no  rating  has   been  requested,  that  there   is
insufficient  information on which to base a  rating or that Standard & Poor's
does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
 
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
     Aaa--Bonds which are rated  Aaa are judged to  be the best quality.  They
carry  the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as
'gilt edge'. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin and principal is  secure. While the various protective  elements
are  likely to change, such changes as  can be visualized are most unlikely to
impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
 
     Aa--Bonds which are  rated Aa are  judged to  be of high  quality by  all
standards.  Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known
as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because  margins
of  protection may  not be  as large  as in  Aaa securities  or fluctuation of
protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements
present which make  the long-term  risks appear  somewhat larger  than in  Aaa
securities.
 
     A--Bonds  which are rated A  possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to  be considered as  upper medium grade  obligations. Factors  giving
security  to principal and interest are  considered adequate, but elements may
be present  which  suggest a  susceptibility  to impairment  sometime  in  the
future.
 
     Baa--Bonds   which  are  rated   Baa  are  considered   as  medium  grade
obligations, i.e.,  they  are neither  highly  protected nor  poorly  secured.
Interest  payments and principal security appear  adequate for the present but
certain protective  elements  may  be lacking  or  may  be  characteristically
unreliable  over  any  great  length  of  time.  Such  bonds  lack outstanding
investment characteristics  and in  fact have  speculative characteristics  as
well.
 
     Ba--Bonds  which are  rated Ba are  judged to  have speculative elements;
their future cannot  be considered as  well assured. Often  the protection  of
interest  and principal  payments may be  very moderate, and  thereby not well
 
                                     a-1
<PAGE>
 
safeguarded during both  good and bad  times over the  future. Uncertainty  of
position characterizes bonds in this class.
 
     B--Bonds  which  are  rated  B  generally  lack  characteristics  of  the
desirable investment.  Assurance  of interest  and  principal payments  or  of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.
 
     Rating  symbols may include numerical modifiers  1, 2 or 3. The numerical
modifier 1  indicates that  the  security ranks  at the  high  end, 2  in  the
mid-range,  and 3 nearer the low end, of the generic category. These modifiers
of rating symbols give  investors a more precise  indication of relative  debt
quality in each of the historically defined categories.
 
     Conditional  ratings, indicated by  'Con.', are sometimes  given when the
security for  the  bond  depends  upon  the completion  of  some  act  or  the
fulfillment  of some condition. Such bonds are given a conditional rating that
denotes  their  probable  credit  stature  upon  completion  of  that  act  or
fulfillment of that condition.
 
     NR--Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:
(a)  an application for rating was not  received or accepted; (b) the issue or
issuer belongs to  a group of  securities that are  not rated as  a matter  of
policy;  (c) there  is a  lack of  essential data  pertaining to  the issue or
issuer or (d) the issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is  not
published in Moody's publications.
 
FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
     AAA--These bonds are considered to be investment grade and of the highest
quality.  The obligor has  an extraordinary ability to  pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
 
     AA--These bonds  are  considered  to  be investment  grade  and  of  high
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal, while very
strong,  is somewhat  less than  for AAA rated  securities or  more subject to
possible change over the term of the issue.
 
     A--These bonds are considered to be investment grade and of good quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to  be
strong,  but may be more vulnerable  to adverse changes in economic conditions
and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
 
     BBB--These  bonds  are   considered  to  be   investment  grade  and   of
satisfactory  quality.  The  obligor's  ability  to  pay  interest  and  repay
principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions
and circumstances, however are more likely  to weaken this ability than  bonds
with higher ratings.
 
     A  'I' or a 'J' sign after a rating symbol indicates relative standing in
its rating.
 
DUFF & PHELPS CREDIT RATING CO.
 
     AAA--Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being  only
slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
 
     AA--High  credit quality. Protection  factors are strong.  Risk is modest
but may vary slightly from time to time because of economic condtions.
 
     A--Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk factors are
more variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
 
     A 'I' or a 'J' sign after a rating symbol indicates relative standing  in
its rating.
 
                                     a-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE><CAPTION>
                                  APPENDIX B
                    INITIAL OFFERING SALES CHARGE SCHEDULE
 
                                                      SALES CHARGE
                                       (GROSS UNDERWRITING PROFIT)
                                      AS PERCENT OF       AS PERCENT OF  DEALER CONCESSION AS   PRIMARY MARKET
                                     OFFER SIDE PUBLIC     NET AMOUNT    PERCENT OF PUBLIC       CONCESSION TO
NUMBER OF UNITS                      OFFERING PRICE          INVESTED     OFFERING PRICE        INTRODUCING DEALERS
 
          MONTHLY PAYMENT SERIES, MULTISTATE SERIES, INSURED SERIES
<S>                                            <C>              <C>                <C>               <C>       
Less than 250......................            4.50%            4.712%             2.925%            $   32.40
250 - 499..........................            3.50             3.627              2.275                 25.20
500 - 749..........................            3.00             3.093              1.950                 21.60
750 - 999..........................            2.50             2.564              1.625                 18.00
1,000 or more......................            2.00             2.041              1.300                 14.40
 
                  INTERMEDIATE SERIES (TEN YEAR MATURITIES)
 
Less than 250......................            4.00%            4.167%             2.600%            $   28.80
250 - 499..........................            3.00             3.093              1.950                 21.60
500 - 749..........................            2.50             2.564              1.625                 18.00
750 - 999..........................            2.00             2.040              1.300                 14.40
1,000 or more......................            1.50             1.523              0.975                 10.00
 
             INTERMEDIATE SERIES (SHORT INTERMEDIATE MATURITIES)
 
Less than 250......................            2.75%            2.828%             1.788%            $   19.80
250 - 499..........................            2.25             2.302              1.463                 16.20
500 - 749..........................            1.75             1.781              1.138                 12.60
750 - 999..........................            1.25             1.266              0.813                  9.00
1,000 or more......................            1.00             1.010              0.650                  7.20

</TABLE>
 
                    SECONDARY MARKET SALES CHARGE SCHEDULE
 
                   ACTUAL SALES CHARGE AS %   DEALER CONCESSION AS % OF
 NUMBER OF UNITS   OF EFFECTIVE SALES CHARGE  EFFECTIVE SALES CHARGE
1-249                            100%                        65%
250-499                           80%                        52%
500-749                           60%                        39%
750-999                           45%                     29.25%
1,000 or more                     35%                     22.75%
 
                            EFFECTIVE SALES CHARGE
 
                              (AS PERCENT    (AS PERCENT
          TIME TO             OF BID SIDE      OF PUBLIC
          MATURITY            EVALUATION)  OFFERING PRICE
Less than six months                   0%              0%
Six months to 1 year               0.756%           0.75%
Over 1 year to 2 years             1.523%           1.50%
Over 2 years to 4 years            2.564%           2.50%
Over 4 years to 8 years            3.627%           3.50%
Over 8 years to 15 years           4.712%           4.50%
Over 15 years                      5.820%           5.50%
 
     For  this purpose, a Security will be  considered to mature on its stated
maturity date unless it has been called for redemption or funds or  securities
have been placed in escrow to redeem it on an earlier date, or is subject to a
mandatory  tender,  in which  case  the earlier  date  will be  considered the
maturity date.
 
                                     b-1
<PAGE>
 
                                  APPENDIX C
                                EXCHANGE FUNDS
 
                                                                 REDUCED
                                              MAXIMUM          SALES CHARGE
                NAME OF                    APPLICABLE         FOR SECONDARY
             EXCHANGE FUND               SALES CHARGE(A)        MARKET(B)
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- MUNICIPAL
 INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
    Monthly Payment, State and                   5.50%(c) $15 per unit
      Multistate Series
    Intermediate Term Series                     4.50%(c) $15 per unit
    Insured Series                               5.50%(c) $15 per unit
    AMT Monthly Payment Series                   5.50%(c) $15 per unit
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- MUNICIPAL INCOME
  FUND
    Insured Discount Series                      5.50%(c) $15 per unit
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- INTERNATIONAL
  BOND FUND
    Multi-Currency Series                        3.75%    $15 per unit
    Australian and New Zealand Dollar            3.75%    $15 per unit
      Bond Series
    Australian Dollar Bonds Series               3.75%    $15 per unit
    Canadian Dollar Bonds Series                 3.75%    $15 per unit
 
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- CORPORATE INCOME
  FUND
    Monthly Payment Series                       5.50%    $15 per unit
    Intermediate Term Series                     4.75%    $15 per unit
    Cash or Accretion Bond Series and            3.50%    $15 per 1,000 units
      SELECT Series
    Insured Series                               5.50%    $15 per unit
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- GOVERNMENT
  SECURITIES INCOME FUND
    GNMA Series (other than those                4.25%    $15 per unit
      below)
    GNMA Series E or other GNMA Series           4.25%    $15 per 1,000 units
      having units with an initial face
      value of $1.00
    Freddie Mac Series                           3.75%    $15 per 1,000 units
 
                NAME OF                                      INVESTMENT
             EXCHANGE FUND                                CHARACTERISTICS
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- MUNICIPAL
 INVESTMENT TRUST FUND

<TABLE>
 <S>                                     <C>
    Monthly Payment, State and           long-term, fixed rate, tax-exempt income
      Multistate Series
    Intermediate Term Series             intermediate-term, fixed rate, tax-exempt income
    Insured Series                       long-term,   fixed   rate,   tax-exempt    income,
                                         underlying   securities   insured   by   insurance
                                         companies
    AMT Monthly Payment Series           long-term, fixed rate, income exempt from  regular
                                         federal income tax but partially subject to AMT
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- MUNICIPAL INCOME
  FUND
    Insured Discount Series              long-term, fixed rate, insured, tax-exempt current
                                         income, taxable capital gains
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- INTERNATIONAL
  BOND FUND
    Multi-Currency Series                intermediate-term,  fixed rate, payable in foreign
                                         currencies, taxable income
    Australian and New Zealand Dollar    intermediate-term,   fixed   rate,   payable    in
      Bond Series                        Australian and New Zealand dollars, taxable income
    Australian Dollar Bonds Series       intermediate-term,    fixed   rate,   payable   in
                                         Australian dollars, taxable income
    Canadian Dollar Bonds Series         short intermediate-term,  fixed rate,  payable  in
                                         Canadian dollars, taxable income
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- CORPORATE INCOME
  FUND
    Monthly Payment Series               long-term, fixed rate, taxable income
    Intermediate Term Series             intermediate-term, fixed rate, taxable income
    Cash or Accretion Bond Series and    intermediate-term, fixed rate, underlying
      SELECT Series                      securities  are  collateralized  compound interest
                                         obligations, taxable income, appropriate for IRA's
                                         or tax-deferred retirement plans
    Insured Series                       long-term, fixed rate, taxable income,  underlying
                                         securities are insured
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-- GOVERNMENT
  SECURITIES INCOME FUND
    GNMA Series (other than those        long-term,  fixed rate, taxable income, underlying
      below)                             securities backed by the full faith and credit  of
                                         the United States
    GNMA Series E or other GNMA Series   long-term,  fixed rate, taxable income, underlying
      having units with an initial face  securities backed by the full faith and credit  of
      value of $1.00                     the   United  States,  appropriate  for  IRA's  or
                                         tax-deferred retirement plans
    Freddie Mac Series                   intermediate term,  fixed  rate,  taxable  income,
                                         underlying  securities are backed  by Federal Home
                                         Loan  Mortgage   Corporation  but   not  by   U.S.
                                         Government.

</TABLE>
 
(a) As  described in the prospectuses relating to certain Exchange Funds, this
    sales charge for  secondary market  sales may  be reduced  on a  graduated
    scale in the case of quantity purchases.
 
(b) The  reduced sales charge for Units acquired during their initial offering
    period is: $20 per unit for Series for which the Reduced Sales Charge  for
    Secondary Market (above) is $15 per unit; $20 per 100 units for Series for
    which the Reduced Sales Charge for Secondary Market (above) is $15 per 100
    units  and $20  per 1,000  units for  Series for  which the  Reduced Sales
    Charge for Secondary Market is $15 per 1,000 unit.
 
(c) Subject to  reduction  depending  on  the  maturities  of  the  underlying
    Securities.
 
(d) The  reduced sales  charge for  the Sixth  Utility Common  Stock Series of
    Equity Income Fund  is $15 per  2,000 units and  for prior Utility  Common
    Stock Series is $7.50 per unit.
 
                                     c-1
<PAGE>
 
 
                                                                 REDUCED
                                              MAXIMUM          SALES CHARGE
                NAME OF                    APPLICABLE         FOR SECONDARY
             EXCHANGE FUND               SALES CHARGE(A)        MARKET(B)
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS--EQUITY INCOME FUND
    Utility Common Stock Series                  4.50%    $15 per 1,000 units(d)
    Concept Series                               4.00%    $15 per 100 units
    Select Ten Portfolios (domestic and          2.75%    $17.50 per 1,000 units
      international)
 
                NAME OF                                      INVESTMENT
             EXCHANGE FUND                                CHARACTERISTICS
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS--EQUITY INCOME FUND

<TABLE>
 <S>                                     <C>
    Utility Common Stock Series          dividends,  taxable income,  underlying securities
                                         are common stocks of public utilities
    Concept Series                       underlying securities constitute a  professionally
                                         selected  portfolio  of  common  stocks consistent
                                         with an investment idea or concept
    Select Ten Portfolios (domestic and  10  highest   dividend   yielding  stocks   in   a
      international)                     designated  stock index; seeks higher total return
                                         than that stock index; terminates after one year
 
                                     c-2
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                             Def ined
                             Asset FundsSM
 
SPONSORS:                          MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT
Merrill Lynch,                     TRUST FUND
Pierce, Fenner & Smith IncorporatedIntermediate Term Series--242
Unit Investment Trusts             A Unit Investment Trust
P.O. Box 9051                      PROSPECTUS
Princeton, N.J. 08543-9051         This Prospectus does not contain all of the
(609) 282-8500                     information with respect to the investment
Smith Barney Inc.                  company set forth in its registration
Unit Trust Department              statement and exhibits relating thereto which
Two World Trade Center             have been filed with the Securities and
101st Floor                        Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. under
New York, N.Y. 10048               the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
1-800-298-UNIT                     Company Act of 1940, and to which reference
PaineWebber Incorporated           is hereby made.
1200 Harbor Blvd.                  No person is authorized to give any
Weehawken, N.J. 07087              information or to make any representations
(201) 902-3000                     with respect to this investment company not
Prudential Securities Incorporated contained in this Prospectus; and any
One Seaport Plaza                  information or representation not contained
199 Water Street                   herein must not be relied upon as having been
New York, N.Y. 10292               authorized. This Prospectus does not
(212) 776-1000                     constitute an offer to sell, or a
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.          solicitation of an offer to buy, securities
Two World Trade Center             in any state to any person to whom it is not
59th Floor                         lawful to make such offer in such state.
New York, N.Y. 10048
(212) 392-2222
EVALUATOR:
Kenny S&P Evaluation Services
65 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10006
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS:
Deloitte & Touche LLP
2 World Financial Center
9th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10281-1414
TRUSTEE:
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
Unit Trust Department
Box 2051
New York, NY 10048
1-800-323-1508

 
                                                     15013--11/94




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