497 1 d497.htm EQ ADVISORS TRUST EQ Advisors Trust

EQ Advisors TrustSM

 

Prospectus dated May 1, 2009

 

 

 

This Prospectus describes Portfolios* offered by EQ Advisors Trust and the Class IA and Class IB shares offered by the Trust on behalf of each Portfolio that you can choose as investment alternatives. Each Portfolio has its own investment objective and strategies that are designed to meet different investment goals. This Prospectus contains information you should know before investing. Please read this Prospectus carefully before investing and keep it for future reference.

 

 

Equity Portfolios

 

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income

EQ/Capital Guardian Research

 

Fixed Income Portfolios

 

EQ/Bond Index

EQ/Long Term Bond

EQ/Money Market

 

 

  * Not all of these Portfolios may be available as an investment in your variable life or annuity product or under your retirement plan. In addition, certain of these Portfolios may be available only as underlying investment portfolios of certain other portfolios of EQ Advisors Trust and may not be available directly as an investment plan under your variable life or annuity product or retirement plan. Please consult your product prospectus or retirement plan documents to see which Portfolios are available under your contract or plan.

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved any Portfolio’s shares or determined if this Prospectus is accurate or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

 

Version 19

(92948)

 

EQ Advisors Trust


Overview

 

 

 

EQ ADVISORS TRUST

 

EQ Advisors Trust (the “Trust”) consists of sixty-nine (69) distinct mutual funds, each with its own investment strategy and risk/reward profile. This Prospectus describes the Class IA and Class IB shares of five (5) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), for the Trust’s Class IB shares. Each Portfolio is a diversified Portfolio. Information on each Portfolio, including its investment objectives, investment strategies and investment risks can be found on the pages following this Overview. In addition, a Glossary of Terms is provided at the back of this Prospectus.

 

The Trust’s shares are currently sold only to insurance company separate accounts in connection with variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity certificates and contracts (the “Contracts”) issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (“AXA Equitable”), AXA Life and Annuity Company, other affiliated or unaffiliated insurance companies and to The AXA Equitable 401(k) Plan (“AXA Equitable Plan”). Shares also may be sold to other tax-qualified retirement plans, to other series of the Trust and to series of AXA Premier VIP Trust, a separate registered investment company managed by AXA Equitable that currently sells its shares to such accounts and plans. The Prospectus is designed to help you make informed decisions about the Portfolios that are available under your Contract or under the AXA Equitable Plan or other retirement plan. You will find information about your Contract and how it works in the accompanying prospectus for the Contract if you are a Contractholder or participant in a retirement plan under a Contract. Please read that prospectus carefully and retain it for future reference.

 

AXA Equitable, through its AXA Funds Management Group unit (the “Manager”), is the investment manager to each Portfolio.

 

The day-to-day portfolio management of each Portfolio is provided by investment sub-advisers (the “Advisers”). Information regarding the Manager and the Advisers is included under “Management of the Trust” and “About the Investment Portfolios” in this Prospectus. The Manager has been granted relief by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to appoint, dismiss and replace Advisers and amend advisory agreements subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and without obtaining shareholder approval (the “Multi-Manager Order”). The Manager also may allocate a Portfolio’s assets to additional Advisers subject to approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. If a new Adviser is retained for a Portfolio, shareholders would receive notice of such action. However, the Manager may not enter into an advisory agreement with an “affiliated person” of the Manager (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (“Affiliated Adviser”), such as AllianceBernstein L.P. or AXA Rosenberg Investment Management LLC, unless the advisory agreement with the Affiliated Adviser is approved by the affected Portfolio’s shareholders.

 

The co-distributors of the Portfolios are AXA Advisors, LLC and AXA Distributors, LLC.

 

An investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Because you could lose money by investing in these Portfolios, be sure to read all risk disclosures carefully before investing.

 

2   Overview   EQ Advisors Trust


Table of contents

 

 

 

1.    About the Investment Portfolios

   4

Equity Portfolios

   5

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income

   5

EQ/Capital Guardian Research

   8

Fixed Income Portfolios

   10

EQ/Bond Index

   10

EQ/Long Term Bond

   13

EQ/Money Market

   15

2.    More Information on Risks and
Benchmarks

   17

Risks

   17

Benchmarks

   21

4.    Management of the Trust

   22

The Trust

   22

The Manager

   22

Management Fees

   22

Expense Limitation Agreement

   23

Legal Proceedings Relating to the Advisers

  

5.    Fund Distribution Arrangements

   24

6.    Buying and Selling Shares

   25

7.    How Portfolio Shares are Priced

   27

8.    Dividends and Other Distributions and
Tax Consequences

   28

9.    Glossary of Terms

   29

10.  Financial Highlights

   30

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Table of contents   3


1. About the investment portfolios

 

 

 

This section of the Prospectus provides a complete description of the principal investment objective, strategies, and risks of each of the Portfolios. Of course, there can be no assurance that any Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. The investment objective and, except as otherwise noted, the investment policies of a Portfolio are not fundamental policies and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

 

As described more fully on the following pages, the EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income, EQ/Bond Index and EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolios each has a policy that it will invest at least 80% of its net assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name. These policies may not be changed without providing at least sixty (60) days’ written notice to the shareholders of the affected Portfolio.

 

For temporary defensive purposes, each Portfolio may invest, without limit, in cash, money market instruments or high quality short-term debt securities, including repurchase agreements. To the extent that a Portfolio is invested in these instruments, the Portfolio will not be pursuing its investment goal.

 

Please note that:

 

 

A fuller description of each of the principal risks and of the benchmarks is included in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks,” which follows the description of each Portfolio in this section of the Prospectus.

 

 

Additional information concerning each Portfolio’s strategies, investments, and risks can also be found in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

4   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


Equity Portfolios

 

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: Seeks to achieve a combination of growth and income to achieve an above-average and consistent total return.

 

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. The Portfolio intends to invest primarily in dividend-paying common stocks of U.S. large capitalization companies. Large capitalization companies currently are treated as those companies with market capitalization in excess of $10 billion at the time of investment. The Portfolio also may invest in equity securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.

 

The Portfolio invests primarily in common stocks, but it may also invest in other securities that the Adviser believes provide opportunities for capital growth and income, such as preferred stocks, warrants and securities convertible into common stock. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in foreign securities, including securities of issuers located in developed and developing economies. The Portfolio may invest in foreign issuers through depositary receipts.

 

The Adviser focuses primarily on companies that offer the potential for capital appreciation combined with an above market level of dividend income. In choosing investments, the Adviser utilizes a quantitative process to identify and evaluate companies for potential investment. The Adviser generally uses the following guidelines in constructing the portfolio: (1) each individual stock holding will pay a dividend at least annually; (2) the overall portfolio yield will be greater than the dividend yield on the S&P 500 Index; and (3) at least 80% of the stocks (measured by net assets) will pay a dividend that exceeds the dividend yield on the S&P 500 Index. The Adviser may sell a security for a variety of reasons, such as to invest in a company offering superior investment opportunities.

 

THE PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

An investment in the Portfolio is not guaranteed; you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio. When you sell your shares of the Portfolio, they could be worth more or less than what you paid for them.

 

This Portfolio invests in common stocks, therefore, its performance may go up or down depending on general equity market conditions. Performance also may be affected by one or more of the following risks, which are described in detail in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

   

Convertible Securities Risk

 

   

Equity Risk

 

   

Foreign Securities Risk

 

Currency Risk

 

Depositary Receipts Risk

 

Emerging Markets Risk

 

   

Large-Cap Company Risk

 

   

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk

 

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart below illustrates the Portfolio’s annual total returns for the calendar years indicated and some of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing yearly changes in the Portfolio’s performance. The table below shows the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, 2008 and compares the Portfolio’s performance to the returns of a broad-based index. Past performance is not an indication of future performance.

 

The Portfolio’s performance shown below includes the performance of its predecessor registered investment company (Enterprise Equity Income Portfolio, a series of Enterprise Accumulation Trust) advised using the same investment objective and strategy as the Portfolio. For these purposes, the Portfolio is considered to be the successor to the Enterprise Equity Income Portfolio whose inception date is December 1, 1998, and the performance results of the Portfolio (to which the assets of the predecessor were transferred on July 9, 2004) and its predecessor have been linked.

 

Both the bar chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. The performance results do not reflect any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IB

 

LOGO

 

Best quarter (% and time period)      Worst quarter (% and time period)
15.82% (2003 4th Quarter)      –18.63% (2008 4th Quarter)

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   5


Equity Portfolios (continued)

 

Average Annual Total Returns  
      One Year    Five Years      Ten Years  

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio — Class IA Shares**

   –32.11%    0.58%      1.10%  

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio — Class IB Shares

   –32.34%    0.36%      0.99%  

Russell 1000 Value Index†

   –36.85%    –0.79%      1.36%  
**   For periods prior to the date Class IA shares commenced operations (December 13, 2004), performance information shown is the performance of Class IB shares which reflects the effect of 12b-1 fees paid by Class IB shares. Class IA shares do not pay any 12b-1 fees.
  For more information on this index, see the following section “More Information on Risk and Benchmarks.”

 

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

There are no fees or charges to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio, reinvest dividends or exchange into other Portfolios.

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Portfolio assets)

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio

  Class IA Shares   Class IB Shares

Management Fee

  0.75%   0.75%  

Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)

  None   0.25%†

Other Expenses

  0.17%   0.17%  

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.92%   1.17%  

Less Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement*

  –0.12%   –0.12%  

Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses**

  0.80%   1.05%  
  The maximum annual distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee for the Portfolio’s Class IB shares is 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. Under an arrangement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee currently is limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. This arrangement will be in effect at least until April 30, 2010.
*   Pursuant to a contract, the Manager has agreed to make payments or waive its management, administrative and other fees to limit the expenses of the Portfolio through April 30, 2010 (unless the Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this arrangement) (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) so that the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses of the Portfolio (exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, capitalized expenses, fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Portfolio invests and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the amount shown above under Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses. The Manager may be reimbursed the amount of any such payments and waivers in the future provided that the payments or waivers are reimbursed within three years of the payment or waiver being made and the combination of the Portfolio’s expense ratio and such reimbursements do not exceed the Portfolio’s expense cap. The Manager may discontinue these arrangements at any time after April 30, 2010. For more information on the Expense Limitation Agreement, see “Management of the Trust – Expense Limitation Agreement.”
**   A portion of the brokerage commissions that the Portfolio pays may be used to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses. This arrangement did not affect the Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other investment options.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense limitation arrangement is not renewed. This Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses of the Portfolio. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The costs in this Example would be the same whether or not you redeemed all of your shares at the end of these periods. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be substantially higher. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the Example is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. Based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

      Class IA
Shares
   Class IB
Shares

1 Year

   $ 82    $ 107

3 Years

   $ 281    $ 360

5 Years

   $ 498    $ 632

10 Years

   $ 1,120    $ 1,410

 

WHO MANAGES THE PORTFOLIO

 

Boston Advisors, LLC (“Boston Advisors”), One Federal Street, 26th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, is the Adviser to the Portfolio. Boston Advisors and its predecessor company have been providing investment management since 1982. Total assets under management for Boston Advisors as of December 31, 2008 were $1.5 billion.

 

The management of and investment decisions for the Portfolio are made by the Institutional Portfolio Management team of Boston Advisors. Each member of the investment team serves as Portfolio Manager and Analyst and is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio. The members of the Institutional Portfolio Management team who manage the Portfolio are: Michael J. Vogelzang, CFA, Douglas A. Riley, CFA, and Lisa A. Sebesta, CFA.

 

Michael J. Vogelzang, CFA, is President and Chief Investment Officer of Boston Advisors and heads the management team for the Portfolio. Mr. Vogelzang has been President and Chief Investment Officer of Boston Advisors since 1997.

 

Douglas A. Riley, CFA, is Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager and has been with Boston Advisors in that capacity since 2002.

 

6   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


 

Lisa A. Sebesta, CFA, is Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager and has been with Boston Advisors in that capacity since 2006. Prior to that time, she was a Portfolio Manager at Batterymarch Financial Management since 2000.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Adviser, the Portfolio Manager(s)’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) and the Portfolio Manager(s)’ ownership of shares of the Portfolio to the extent applicable.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   7


Equity Portfolios (continued)

 

EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: Seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital.

 

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities of United States issuers and securities whose principal markets are in the United States, including American Depositary Receipts and other United States registered foreign securities. The Portfolio invests primarily in common stocks of companies with a market capitalization greater than $1 billion at the time of purchase. The Portfolio seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital through investments in a portfolio comprised primarily of equity securities which may include convertible securities; the Adviser seeks to invest in stocks whose prices are not excessive relative to book value, or in companies whose asset values are understated. The Adviser may sell a security for a variety of reasons, including to invest in a company believed to offer superior investment opportunities.

 

The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its total assets, at the time of purchase, in securities of issuers domiciled outside the United States and not included in the S&P 500 (i.e., foreign securities). In determining the domicile of an issuer, the Adviser takes into account where the company is legally organized, the location of its principal corporate offices, where it conducts its principal operations and the location of its primary listing.

 

THE PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

An investment in the Portfolio is not guaranteed; you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio. When you sell your shares of the Portfolio, they could be worth more or less than what you paid for them.

 

This Portfolio invests in common stocks, therefore, its performance may go up or down depending on general equity market conditions. Performance also may be affected by one or more of the following risks, which are described in detail in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

   

Convertible Securities Risk

 

   

Equity Risk

 

   

Foreign Securities Risk

 

Currency Risk

 

Depositary Receipts Risk

 

   

Large-Cap Company Risk

 

   

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk

 

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart below illustrates the Portfolio’s annual total returns for the calendar years indicated and some of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing yearly changes in the Portfolio’s performance. The inception date for this Portfolio is May 1, 1999. The table below shows the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one year, five years and since inception through December 31, 2008 and compares the Portfolio’s performance to the returns of a broad-based index. Past performance is not an indication of future performance.

 

Both the bar chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. The performance results do not reflect any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IB

 

LOGO

 

Best quarter: (% and time period)      Worst quarter: (% and time period)
16.00% (2003 2nd Quarter)      –23.38% (2008 4th Quarter)

 

Average Annual Total Returns     
      One Year    Five Years   

Since

Inception

EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio — Class IA Shares**

   –39.50%    –3.91%    –1.05%

EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio — Class IB Shares

   –39.62%    –4.15%    –1.19%

S&P 500 Index†

   –37.00%    –2.19%    –2.31%
**   For periods prior to the date Class IA shares commenced operations (March 25, 2002), performance information shown is the performance of Class IB shares which reflects the effect of 12b-1 fees paid by Class IB shares. Class IA shares do not pay any 12b-1 fees.
  For more information on this index, see the following section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

8   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


 

There are no fees or charges to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio, reinvest dividends or exchange into other Portfolios.

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

(expenses that are deducted from Portfolio assets)

EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio

  Class IA Shares   Class IB Shares

Management Fee

  0.65%   0.65%  

Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)

  None   0.25%†

Other Expenses

  0.12%   0.12%  

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.77%   1.02%  

Less Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement*

  –0.05%   –0.05%

Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses**

  0.72%   0.97%  
  The maximum annual distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee for the Portfolio’s Class IB shares is 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. Under an arrangement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee currently is limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. This arrangement will be in effect at least until April 30, 2010.
*   Pursuant to a contract, the Manager has agreed to make payments or waive its management, administrative and other fees to limit the expenses of the Portfolio through April 30, 2010 (unless the Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this arrangement) (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) so that the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses of the Portfolio (exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, capitalized expenses, fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Portfolio invests and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the amount shown above under Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses. The Manager may be reimbursed the amount of any such payments and waivers in the future provided that the payments or waivers are reimbursed within three years of the payment or waiver being made and the combination of the Portfolio’s expense ratio and such reimbursements do not exceed the Portfolio’s expense cap. The Manager may discontinue these arrangements at any time after April 30, 2010. For more information on the Expense Limitation Agreement, see “Management of the Trust – Expense Limitation Agreement.”
**   A portion of the brokerage commissions that the Portfolio pays may be used to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses. Including this reduction the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses for the Portfolio would be 0.71% for Class IA shares and 0.96% for Class IB shares.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other investment options.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense limitation arrangement is not renewed. This Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses of the Portfolio. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The costs in this Example would be the same whether or not you redeemed all of your shares at the end of these periods. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be substantially higher. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the Example is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. Based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

     

Class IA

Shares

  

Class IB

Shares

1 Year

   $ 74    $ 99

3 Years

   $ 241    $ 320

5 Years

   $ 423    $ 558

10 Years

   $ 949    $ 1,243

 

WHO MANAGES THE PORTFOLIO

 

Capital Guardian Trust Company (“Capital Guardian”), 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. Capital Guardian has been providing investment management services since 1968 and has been the Adviser to the Portfolio since it commenced operations. As of December 31, 2008, Capital Guardian had $65 billion in assets under management.

 

Research portfolios are comprised of a team of investment analysts who are responsible for making investment decisions for the portfolio within their individual area of coverage. Each of Capital Guardian’s research portfolios has one or more Research Portfolio Coordinator(s). They are responsible for, among other things, facilitating the communication of investment ideas, monitoring cash flows and allocating the portfolio’s assets among the analysts. Capital Guardian’s Investment Committee oversees this process. Research Portfolio Coordinators also have analyst responsibilities within the research portfolio.

 

Irfan Furniturwala and Cheryl Frank serve as research coordinators for the Fund and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio.

 

Irfan M. Furniturwala is a vice president and co-research portfolio coordinator of U.S. equities for Capital International Research, Inc. with research responsibilities for semiconductors, U.S. storage, peripherals and computer hardware companies. Mr. Furniturewala joined Capital International as an analyst in 2001.

 

Cheryl E. Frank is a vice president and co-research portfolio coordinator of U.S. equities for Capital International Research, Inc. with research responsibilities for the health care services sector, drug retail industry, and software. Ms. Frank joined Capital International in 2002.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Adviser, the Portfolio Manager(s)’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) and the Portfolio Manager(s)’ ownership of shares of the Portfolio to the extent applicable.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   9


Fixed Income Portfolios

 

EQ/Bond Index Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: Seeks to achieve a total return before expenses that approximates the total return performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, including reinvestment of coupon payments, at a risk level consistent with that of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

 

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes), determined at time of purchase, in debt securities that are included in the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (“Aggregate Bond Index”). The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective of achieving (before expenses) the total return performance of the Aggregate Bond Index, including reinvestment of coupon payments, at a risk level consistent with that of the Aggregate Bond Index. The Portfolio generally invests in a well-diversified portfolio that is representative of the domestic investment grade bond market, including government and credit securities, agency mortgage pass-through securities, credit securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Further, the Portfolio is managed at all times duration neutral to the Aggregate Bond Index and overall sector and quality weightings also are closely replicated to the Index, with individual security selection based upon criteria generated by the Adviser’s credit and research group, security availability, and the Adviser’s analysis of the impact on the portfolio’s weightings

 

While complete replication of the Aggregate Bond Index is not possible, the Portfolio employs a stratified sample approach to build a portfolio whose broad characteristics match those of the Index. Individual securities holdings may differ from the Index, and the Portfolio may not track the performance of the Index perfectly due to the expenses and the transaction costs, the size and frequency of cash flow into and out of the Portfolio and differences between how and when the Portfolio and the Index are valued. The Adviser may also purchase or sell futures contracts on fixed-income securities in lieu of investment directly in fixed-income securities themselves. The Adviser may also purchase or sell futures contracts on the Aggregate Bond Index (or other fixed-income securities indices), if and when they become available.

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Index was composed of 9,111 investment grade fixed income securities with at least one year remaining to maturity and $250 million in par value outstanding. Each security is weighted by amount outstanding, which means larger securities have greater representation in the Index than smaller ones. Securities in the Index may include U.S. government securities, corporate debt securities and mortgage- and asset-based debt securities.

 

THE PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

An investment in the Portfolio is not guaranteed; you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio. When you sell your shares of the Portfolio, they could be worth more or less than what you paid for them.

 

This Portfolio invests in fixed income securities, therefore, its performance may go up or down depending on general debt market conditions. Performance also may be affected by one or more of the following risks, which are described in detail in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

   

Derivatives Risk

 

Futures and Options Risk

 

   

Fixed Income Risk

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk

 

Credit Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Investment Grade Securities Risk

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk

 

   

Index Fund Risk

 

   

Liquidity Risk

 

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart below illustrates the Portfolio’s annual total returns for the calendar years indicated and some of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing yearly changes in the Portfolio’s performance. The table below shows the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, 2008 and compares the Portfolio’s performance to the returns of a broad-based index.

 

The Portfolio’s performance shown below includes the performance of its predecessor registered investment company (MONY Intermediate Term Bond Portfolio, a series of the MONY Series Fund, Inc.) advised using an investment objective and strategy, which differ from those used by the Portfolio. For these purposes, the Portfolio is considered to be the successor to the MONY Intermediate Term Bond Portfolio whose inception date is March 1, 1985, and the performance results of the Portfolio (to which the assets of the predecessor were transferred on July 9, 2004) and its predecessor have been linked.

 

Past performance is not an indication of future performance. This may be particularly true for this Portfolio because prior to August 25, 2006 the Portfolio and its predecessor had a different investment objective and invested in an actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities. The Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in fixed income securities in a manner that is intended to track the performance of the Index. If the Portfolio and its predecessor had historically invested substantially all of their assets in fixed income securities in a manner that was intended to track the performance of the Index, the performance of the Portfolio and its predecessor may have been different. In addition, the Portfolio was advised by different Advisers prior to December 1, 2008.

 

10   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


 

Both the bar chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. The performance results do not reflect any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IA

 

LOGO

 

Best quarter (% and time period)      Worst quarter (% and time period)
4.97% (2008 4th Quarter)      –2.62% (2004 2nd Quarter)

 

Average Annual Total Returns
      One Year    Five Years    Ten Years

EQ/Bond Index Portfolio — Class IA Shares

   5.49%    3.81%    4.74%

EQ/Bond Index Portfolio — Class IB Shares*

   5.32%    3.57%    4.42%

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index†

   5.24%    4.65%    5.63%
*   For periods prior to the date Class IB Shares commenced operations (June 20, 2005), performance information shown is the performance of Class IA Shares adjusted to reflect the 12b-1 fees paid by Class IB Shares.
  For more information on this index, see the following section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

There are no fees or charges to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio, reinvest dividends or exchange into other Portfolios.

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Portfolio assets)
   

EQ/Bond Index Portfolio

  Class IA Shares   Class IB Shares

Management Fee

  0.35%   0.35%

Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)

  None     0.25%†

Other Expenses

  0.39%   0.39%

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.74%   0.99%

Less Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement*

  –0.29%   –0.29%

Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.45%   0.70%
  The maximum annual distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee for the Portfolio’s Class IB shares is 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. Under an arrangement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee currently is limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. This arrangement will be in effect at least until April 30, 2010.
*   Pursuant to a contract, the Manager has agreed to make payments or waive its management, administrative and other fees to limit the expenses of the Portfolio through April 30, 2010 (unless the Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this arrangement) (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) so that the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses of the Portfolio (exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, capitalized expenses, fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Portfolio invests and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the amount shown above under Net Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses. The Manager may be reimbursed the amount of any such payments and waivers in the future provided that the payments or waivers are reimbursed within three years of the payment or waiver being made and the combination of the Portfolio’s expense ratio and such reimbursements do not exceed the Portfolio’s expense cap. The Manager may discontinue these arrangements at any time after April 30, 2010. For more information on the Expense Limitation Agreement, see “Management of the Trust – Expense Limitation Agreement.”

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other investment options.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense limitation arrangement is not renewed. This Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses of the Portfolio. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The costs in this Example would be the same whether or not you redeemed all of your shares at the end of these periods. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be substantially higher. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the Example is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. Based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

      Class IA
Shares
   Class IB
Shares

1 Year

   $ 46    $ 72

3 Years

   $ 207    $ 286

5 Years

   $ 383    $ 519

10 Years

   $ 891    $ 1,187

 

WHO MANAGES THE PORTFOLIO

 

SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSgA FM”), is located at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. SSgA FM is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. As of December 31, 2008, SSgA FM had over $118.5 billion in assets under management. SSgA FM and other advisory affiliates of State Street Corporation make up State Street Global Advisors (“SSgA”), the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

 

The Portfolio is managed by SSgA’s Passive Fixed Income Team. Portfolio managers John Kirby and Elya Schwartzman jointly and primarily have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Bond Index Portfolio.

 

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   11


Fixed Income Portfolios (continued)

 

John Kirby is a Principal of SSgA FM and a Vice President of SSgA. Mr. Kirby is the head of the firm’s Fixed Income Index team and has managed the product since 1999 and portfolios within the group since 1997. In addition to portfolio management, Mr. Kirby’s responsibilities include risk management and product development. Elya Schwartzman is a Principal of SSgA FM and a Vice President of SSgA. Mr. Schwartzman is a member of the Fixed Income Index team. Previously, Mr. Schwartzman spent ten years as an analyst and portfolio manager in the Active Credit group, covering a broad group of industry sectors in both investment grade and speculative grade markets. He has been working in the Fixed Income field since 1996.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Adviser, the Portfolio Manager(s)’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) and the Portfolio Manager(s)’ ownership of shares of the Portfolio to the extent applicable.

 

12   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


 

EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: Seeks to maximize income and capital appreciation through investment in long-maturity debt obligations.

 

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

The Portfolio invests in investment-grade fixed-income securities issued by a diverse mix of corporations, the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, as well as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio’s net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, are invested in such securities.

 

All securities in the Portfolio are rated investment-grade at the time of purchase. An investment-grade security carries a minimum rating of credit quality issued by an independent rating agency at the time of purchase. The Adviser may sell a security for a variety of reasons, including to invest in a company believed to offer superior investment opportunities.

 

Specific securities in the Portfolio can have expected maturities as short as one day, or as long as 30 years or more, but the Portfolio as a whole is expected to have an average maturity of longer than eight years and an effective duration between 8 and 15 years. Duration is a measure of the weighted average maturity of cash flows on the bonds held by the Portfolio and can be used by the Adviser as a measure of the sensitivity of the market value of the Portfolio to changes in interest rates. Generally, the longer the duration of the Portfolio, the more sensitive its market value will be to changes in interest rates.

 

THE PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

An investment in the Portfolio is not guaranteed; you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio. When you sell your shares of the Portfolio, they could be worth more or less than what you paid for them.

 

This Portfolio invests in fixed income securities, therefore, its performance may go up or down depending on general debt market conditions. Performance also may be affected by one or more of the following risks, which are described in detail in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

   

Fixed Income Risk

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk

 

Credit Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Investment Grade Securities Risk

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk

 

   

Liquidity Risk

 

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart below illustrates the Portfolio’s annual total returns for the calendar years indicated and some of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing yearly changes in the Portfolio’s performance. The table below shows the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, 2008 and compares the Portfolio’s performance to the returns of a broad-based index. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. This may be particularly true for this Portfolio because a different Adviser advised the Portfolio prior to October 1, 2006.

 

The Portfolio’s performance shown below includes the performance of its predecessor registered investment company (MONY Long Term Bond Portfolio, a series of The MONY Series Fund, Inc.) advised using the same investment objective and strategy as the Portfolio. For these purposes, the Portfolio is considered to be the successor to the MONY Long Term Bond Portfolio whose inception date is March 20, 1985, and the performance results of the Portfolio (to which the assets of the predecessor were transferred on July 9, 2004) and its predecessor have been linked.

 

Both the bar chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. The performance results do not reflect any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IA

 

LOGO

 

Best quarter (% and time period)      Worst quarter (% and time period)
12.17% (2008 4th Quarter)      –5.52% (2008 3rd Quarter)

 

Average Annual Total Returns
      One Year    Five Years    Ten Years

EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolio — Class IA Shares

   5.21%    5.16%    5.73%

EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolio — Class IB Shares*

   5.01%    4.92%    5.48%

Barclays Capital Long Government/Credit Bond Index†

   8.44%    6.31%    6.62%
*   For periods prior to the date the Class IB shares commenced operations (April 29, 2005), performance information shown is that of the Class IA Shares adjusted to reflect the 12b-1 fees paid by Class IB Shares.
  For more information on this index, see the following section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   13


Fixed Income Portfolios (continued)

 

 

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

There are no fees or charges to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio, reinvest dividends or exchange into other Portfolios.

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Portfolio assets)
   

EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolio

  Class IA Shares   Class IB Shares

Management Fee

  0.38%   0.38%

Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)

  None     0.25%†

Other Expenses

  0.14%   0.14%

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.52%   0.77%
  The maximum annual distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee for the Portfolio’s Class IB shares is 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. Under an arrangement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee currently is limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. This arrangement will be in effect at least until April 30, 2010.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other investment options.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense limitation arrangement is not renewed. This Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses of the Portfolio. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The costs in this Example would be the same whether or not you redeemed all of your shares at the end of these periods. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be substantially higher. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the Example is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. Based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

      Class IA
Shares
   Class IB
Shares

1 Year

   $ 53    $ 79

3 Years

   $ 167    $ 246

5 Years

   $ 291    $ 428

10 Years

   $ 653    $ 954

 

WHO MANAGES THE PORTFOLIO

 

BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock Financial”), 40 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022. BlackRock Financial, together with its investment management affiliates, is one of the world’s largest asset management firms. As of December 31, 2008, BlackRock Financial and its affiliates had approximately $1.3 trillion in assets under management.

 

The management of and investment decisions for the Portfolio are made by Stuart Spodek, Matthew Marra and Andrew J. Phillips, who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio.

 

Stuart Spodek, Managing Director since 2002 and co-head of US Fixed Income within BlackRock’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group. He is responsible for managing fixed income portfolios, with a sector emphasis on global government bonds, derivative instruments, and implementing yield curve strategy across global portfolios. Mr. Spodek joined BlackRock in 1993 as an analyst in BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group and became a portfolio manager in 1995.

 

Matthew Marra is a Managing Director of BlackRock since 2006, and is a member of Blackrock’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group. Mr. Marra’s primary responsibility is managing total return portfolios with a sector emphasis on Treasury and agency securities. Mr. Marra has been a member of BlackRock’s fixed income team since 1997.

 

Andrew J. Phillips is a Managing Director of BlackRock since 1999, and is co-head of U.S. Fixed Income within BlackRock’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group. He is responsible for the consistent implementation of investment strategies across all total return accounts. Mr. Phillips is also a member of the mortgage securities team. Mr. Phillips has been a member of BlackRock’s fixed income team since 1991.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Adviser, the Portfolio Manager(s)’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) and the Portfolio Manager(s)’ ownership of shares of the Portfolio to the extent applicable.

 

14   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


 

EQ/Money Market Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: Seeks to obtain a high level of current income, preserve its assets and maintain liquidity.

 

THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

The Portfolio invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Portfolio will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less.

 

The instruments in which the Portfolio invests include:

 

 

marketable obligations of, or guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;

 

 

certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, bank notes, time deposits and interest bearing savings deposits issued or guaranteed by:

 

(a) domestic banks (including their foreign branches) or savings and loan associations having total assets of more than $1 billion and which are FDIC members in the case of banks, or insured by the FDIC, in the case of savings and loan associations; or

 

(b) foreign banks (either by their foreign or U.S. branches) having total assets of at least $5 billion and having an issue of either (i) commercial paper rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Prime-1 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or (ii) long term debt rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody’s;

 

 

commercial paper (rated at least A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s or, if not rated, issued by domestic or foreign companies having outstanding debt securities rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody’s) and participation interests in loans extended by banks to such companies;

 

 

mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities that have remaining maturities of less than one year;

 

 

corporate debt obligations with remaining maturities of less than one year, rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody’s, as well as corporate debt obligations rated at least A by S&P or Moody’s, provided the corporation also has outstanding an issue of commercial paper rated at least A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s;

 

 

floating rate or master demand notes; and

 

 

repurchase agreements covering securities in which the Portfolio may invest.

 

If the Adviser believes a security held by the Portfolio is no longer deemed to present minimal credit risk, the Portfolio will dispose of the security as soon as practicable unless the Board of Trustees determines that such action would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio.

 

Purchases of securities that are unrated must be ratified by the Board of Trustees. Because the market value of debt obligations fluctuates as an inverse function of changing interest rates, the Portfolio seeks to minimize the effect of such fluctuations by investing only in instruments with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less at the time of investment. Time deposits with maturities greater than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

 

The Portfolio may make use of various other investment strategies, including investing up to 20% of its total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments of foreign branches of foreign banks. Normally, the Portfolio invests at least 25% of its net assets in bank obligations.

 

It is not anticipated that any Portfolio affiliate will purchase any distressed assets from the Portfolio, make a capital infusion, enter into a capital support agreement or take other actions to prevent the per share value of the Portfolio from falling below $0.995.

 

The credit quality of the securities held by the Portfolio can change rapidly in certain market environments, and the default of a single holding could have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration. The Portfolio’s NAV can be severely impacted by forced selling during periods of high redemption pressures and/or illiquid markets. In addition, the actions of a few large investors in the Portfolio may have a significant adverse effect on other shareholders.

 

A low-interest rate environment may prevent the Portfolio from providing a positive yield, cause the Portfolio to pay Portfolio expenses out of Portfolio assets or impair the Portfolio’s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 NAV. AXA Equitable may, in its sole discretion, maintain a temporary defensive position with respect to the Portfolio. Although not required to do so, as a temporary defensive measure, AXA Equitable may take measures (including waiving its fees owed by the Portfolio) designed to maintain the Portfolio’s daily yield, exclusive of any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, at 0.25% or higher for Class IA shares and 0.00% or higher for Class IB shares for the benefit of the Portfolio’s current shareholders.

 

THE PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

An investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

 

Performance may be affected by one or more of the following risks, which are described in detail in the section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

   

Banking Industry Sector Risk

 

   

Fixed Income Risk

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk

 

Credit Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk

 

EQ Advisors Trust   About the investment portfolios   15


Fixed Income Portfolios (continued)

 

   

Foreign Securities Risk

 

   

Money Market Risk

 

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart below illustrates the Portfolio’s annual total returns for the calendar years indicated and some of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing yearly changes in the Portfolio’s performance. The table below shows the Portfolio’s average annual total returns for the past one, five and ten years through December 31, 2008 and compares the Portfolio’s performance to the returns on three-month U.S. Treasury bills. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. This may be particularly true for this Portfolio because a different Adviser managed the Portfolio prior to June 10, 2005.

 

The Portfolio’s performance shown below includes the performance of its predecessor registered investment company (HRT/Alliance Money Market Portfolio) advised using the same investment objective and strategy as the Portfolio. For these purposes, the Portfolio is considered to be the successor entity to the HRT/Alliance Money Market Portfolio whose inception date is July 13, 1981, and the performance results of the Portfolio (to which the assets of the predecessor were transferred on October 18, 1999) and its predecessor have been linked.

 

Both the bar chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. The performance results do not reflect any insurance and Contract-related fees and expenses, which would reduce the performance results.

 

Calendar Year Annual Total Returns — Class IA

 

LOGO

 

Best quarter (% and time period)      Worst quarter (% and time period)
1.62% (2000 4th Quarter)      0.10% (2004 1st Quarter)
The Portfolio’s 7-day yield for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 was 0.04% and the effective yield was 0.04%.

 

Average Annual Total Returns
      One Year    Five Years    Ten Years

EQ/Money Market Portfolio — Class IA Shares

   2.36%    3.17%    3.32%

EQ/Money Market Portfolio — Class IB Shares

   2.13%    2.93%    3.06%

3-Month Treasury Bill†

   2.06%    3.25%    3.45%
  For more information on this index, see the following section “More Information on Risks and Benchmarks.”

 

 

 

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The table below does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See the Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

There are no fees or charges to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio, reinvest dividends or exchange into other Portfolios.

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

(expenses that are deducted from Portfolio assets)

   

EQ/Money Market Portfolio

  Class IA Shares   Class IB Shares

Management Fee

  0.30%   0.30%

Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 fees)

  None     0.25%†

Other Expenses

  0.17%   0.17%

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

  0.47%   0.72%
  The maximum annual distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee for the Portfolio’s Class IB shares is 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. Under an arrangement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the distribution and/or service (12b-1) fee currently is limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Portfolio’s Class IB shares. This arrangement will be in effect at least until April 30, 2010.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other investment options.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. This Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses of the Portfolio. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The costs in this Example would be the same whether or not you redeemed all of your shares at the end of these periods. This Example does not reflect any Contract-related fees and expenses, including redemption fees (if any) at the Contract level. If such fees and expenses were reflected, the total expenses would be substantially higher. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the Example is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. Based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

      Class IA
Shares
   Class IB
Shares

1 Year

   $ 48    $ 74

3 Years

   $ 151    $ 230

5 Years

   $ 263    $ 401

10 Years

   $ 591    $ 894

 

WHO MANAGES THE PORTFOLIO

 

The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus”), 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10106, is the Adviser to the Portfolio. Dreyfus was founded in 1951 and currently manages approximately 200 mutual fund portfolios. As of December 31, 2008, Dreyfus had approximately $350 billion in assets under management.

 

16   About the investment portfolios   EQ Advisors Trust


2. More information on risks and benchmarks

 

 

 

Risks

 

Risk is the chance that you will lose money on your investment or that it will not earn as much as you expect. In general, the greater the risk, the more money your investment can earn for you and the more you can lose. Like other investment companies, the value of each Portfolio’s shares may be affected by the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), principal investment strategies and particular risk factors. Consequently, each Portfolio may be subject to different risks. Some of the risks, including principal risks, of investing in the Portfolios are discussed below. However, other factors may also affect each Portfolio’s investment results.

 

There is no guarantee that a Portfolio will achieve its investment objective(s) or that it will not lose value.

 

General Investment Risks: Each Portfolio is subject to the following risks:

 

Adviser Selection Risk: The risk that AXA Equitable’s process for selecting or replacing an Adviser and its decision to select or replace an Adviser does not produce the intended results.

 

Asset Class Risk: There is the risk that the returns from the types of securities in which a Portfolio or portion thereof invests will underperform the general securities markets or different asset classes. Different types of securities and asset classes tend to go through cycles of outperformance and underperformance in comparison to the general securities markets.

 

Market Risk: The risk that the securities markets will move down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably based on overall economic conditions and other factors.

 

Portfolio Management Risk: The risk that strategies used by the Manager or the Advisers and their securities selections fail to produce the intended results.

 

Securities Lending Risk: For purposes of realizing additional income, each Portfolio or portion thereof may lend securities to broker-dealers approved by the Board of Trustees. Generally, any such loan of portfolio securities will be continuously secured by collateral at least equal to the value of the security loaned. Such collateral will be in the form of cash, marketable securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies, or a standby letter of credit issued by qualified banks. The risks in lending portfolio securities consist of possible delay in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially or a decline in the value of the collateral held by a Portfolio or portion thereof. Loans will only be made to firms deemed by the Manager to be of good standing and will not be made unless, in the judgment of the Adviser or Manager, as applicable, the consideration to be earned from such loans would justify the risk.

 

Security Risk: The risk that the value of a security may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably based upon a change in a company’s financial condition as well as overall market and economic conditions.

 

Security Selection Risk: The Manager or the Adviser(s) for each Portfolio or portion thereof, as applicable, selects particular securities in seeking to achieve the Portfolio’s objective within its overall strategy. The securities selected for the Portfolio or portion thereof may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Portfolio or portion thereof. As a result the Portfolio or portion thereof may underperform other funds with the same objective or in the same asset class.

 

As indicated in “About the Investment Portfolios – The Principal Risks,” a particular Portfolio may be subject to the following as principal risks. In addition, to the extent a Portfolio invests in a particular type of investment, it will be subject to the risks of such investment as described below:

 

Banking Industry Sector Risk. To the extent a Portfolio invests in the banking industry, it is exposed to the risks generally associated with such industry, including interest rate risk, credit risk and the risk that regulatory developments relating to the banking industry may affect its investment.

 

Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities may include both convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Such securities may be converted into shares of the underlying common stock at either a stated price or stated rate. Therefore, convertible securities enable the holder to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock. Convertible securities provide higher yields than the underlying common stock, but generally offer lower yields than nonconvertible securities of similar quality. The value of convertible securities fluctuates in relation to changes in interest rates and, in addition, fluctuates in relation to the underlying common stock. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Portfolio or portion thereof is called for redemption, the Portfolio or portion thereof will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Investments by certain of the Portfolios in convertible debt securities are not subject to any ratings restrictions, although each Adviser will consider such ratings, and any changes in such ratings, in its determination of whether a Portfolio should invest and/or continue to hold the securities.

 

Derivatives Risk: Derivatives are financial contracts whose value is based on the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. A Portfolio’s or portion thereof’s investment in derivatives may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments. These transactions are subject to changes in the underlying security on which such transactions are based. Even a small investment in derivative securities can have a

 

EQ Advisors Trust   More information on risks and benchmarks   17


 

significant impact on a Portfolio’s or portion thereof’s exposure to stock market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk and portfolio management risk depending on the type of underlying asset, reference rate or index. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate well with the underlying asset, reference rate or index. These types of transactions will be used primarily as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset and/or for hedging purposes. When a derivative security is used as a hedge against an offsetting position that a Portfolio or portion thereof also holds, any loss generated by the derivative security should be substantially offset by gains on the hedged instrument, and vice versa. To the extent that a Portfolio or portion thereof uses a derivative security for purposes other than as a hedge, that Portfolio or portion thereof is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative security and any loss generated by the derivative security will not be offset by a gain.

 

Futures and Options Risk: To the extent a Portfolio uses futures and options, it is exposed to additional volatility and potential losses.

 

Equity Risk: Stocks and other equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline in value over short or over extended periods. The value of such securities will change based on changes in a company’s financial condition and in overall market and economic conditions.

 

Fixed Income Risk: To the extent that any of the Portfolios invest a substantial amount of assets in fixed income securities, a Portfolio may be subject to the following risks:

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Asset-backed securities represent interests in pools of consumer loans such as credit card receivables, automobile loans and leases, leases on equipment such as computers, and other financial instruments and are subject to certain additional risks. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, the Portfolio may exhibit additional volatility. The risk of default by borrowers is greater during periods of rising interest rates and/or unemployment rates. In addition, the principal on asset-backed securities may be prepaid at any time, which will reduce the yield and market value. When interest rates are declining, there are usually more prepayments of loans as borrowers are motivated to pay off debt and refinance at new lower rates, which will shorten the life of these securities. The reinvestment of cash received from prepayments will, therefore, usually be at a lower interest rate than the original investment, lowering the Portfolio’s yield. Prepayments also vary based on, among other factors, general economic conditions and other demographic conditions.

 

If a Portfolio purchases asset-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool of assets, the Portfolio as a holder of those securities may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. In addition, instability in the markets for asset-backed securities may affect the liquidity of such securities, which means that a Portfolio may be unable to sell such securities at an advantageous time and price. As a result, the value of such securities may decrease and a Portfolio may incur greater losses on the sale of such securities than under more stable market conditions. Furthermore, instability and illiquidity in the market for lower-rated asset-backed securities may affect the overall market for such securities, thereby impacting the liquidity and value of higher-rated securities.

 

Credit Risk: The actual or perceived reduction in the creditworthiness of debt issuers generally will have adverse effects on the values of their debt securities. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security or counterparty to a Portfolio’s transactions will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or otherwise will be unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations. Each of the Portfolios may be subject to credit risk to the extent that it invests in debt securities or engages in transactions, such as securities loans or repurchase agreements, which involve a promise by a third party to honor an obligation to the Portfolio. Credit risk is particularly significant for the Portfolios that may invest a material portion of their assets in “junk bonds” or lower-rated securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk: The price of a bond or a fixed income security is dependent upon interest rates. Therefore, the share price and total return of a Portfolio investing a significant portion of its assets in bonds or fixed income securities will vary in response to changes in interest rates. A rise in interest rates causes the value of a bond to decrease, and vice versa. There is the possibility that the value of a Portfolio’s investment in bonds or fixed income securities may fall because bonds or fixed income securities generally fall in value when interest rates rise. The longer the term of a bond or fixed income instrument, the more sensitive it will be to fluctuations in value from interest rate changes. Changes in interest rates may have a significant effect on Portfolios holding a significant portion of their assets in fixed income securities with long term maturities.

 

Investment Grade Securities Risk: Debt securities are rated by national bond ratings agencies. Securities rated BBB by S&P or Fitch or Baa by Moody’s are considered investment grade securities, but are somewhat riskier than higher rated obligations because they are regarded as having only an adequate capacity to pay principal and interest, and are considered to lack outstanding investment characteristics.

 

18   More information on risks and benchmarks   EQ Advisors Trust


 

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that the principal on mortgage-backed securities may be prepaid at any time, which will reduce the yield and market value. If interest rates fall, the rate of prepayments tends to increase as borrowers are motivated to pay off debt and refinance at new lower rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, a Portfolio that holds mortgage-related securities may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, the risk of default by borrowers is greater during periods of rising interest rates and/or unemployment rates. The early retirement of particular classes or series of a collateralized mortgage obligation held by a Portfolio would have the same effect as the prepayment of mortgages underlying other mortgage-backed securities.

 

If a Portfolio purchases mortgage-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Portfolio as a holder of those securities may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. For example, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to the Portfolio as a holder of such subordinated securities, reducing the values of those securities or in some cases rendering them worthless. Certain mortgage-backed securities may include securities backed by pools of mortgage loans made to “subprime” borrowers or borrowers with blemished credit histories; the risk of defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include such subprime mortgages. The underwriting standards for subprime loans are more flexible than the standards generally used by banks for borrowers with non-blemished credit histories with regard to the borrowers credit standing and repayment ability. Borrowers who qualify generally have impaired credit histories, which may include a record of major derogatory credit items such as outstanding judgments or prior bankruptcies. In addition, they may not have the documentation required to qualify for a standard mortgage loan. As a result, the mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are likely to experience rates of delinquency, foreclosure, and bankruptcy that are higher, and that may be substantially higher, than those experienced by mortgage loans underwritten in a more traditional manner. In addition, changes in the values of the mortgaged properties, as well as changes in interest rates, may have a greater effect on the delinquency, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and loss experience of the mortgage loans in the mortgage pool than on mortgage loans originated in a more traditional manner. Moreover, instability in the markets for mortgage-backed securities may affect the liquidity of such securities, which means that a Portfolio may be unable to sell such securities at an advantageous time and price. As a result, the value of such securities may decrease and a Portfolio may incur greater losses on the sale of such securities than under more stable market conditions. Furthermore, instability and illiquidity in the market for lower-rated mortgage-backed securities may affect the overall market for such securities, thereby impacting the liquidity and value of higher-rated securities.

 

Foreign Securities Risk: A Portfolio’s or portion thereof’s investments in foreign securities, including depositary receipts, involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. securities that can adversely affect a Portfolio’s or portion’s performance. Foreign markets, particularly emerging markets, may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. The value of a Portfolio’s or portion’s investment may be negatively affected by changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle. A Portfolio or portion thereof may be subject to the following risks associated with investing in foreign securities:

 

Currency Risk: The risk that fluctuations in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from a Portfolio’s or portion thereof’s investment in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses.

 

Depositary Receipts: A Portfolio or portion thereof may invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of depositary receipts or other securities that are convertible into securities of foreign issuers. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust company that evidence underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. European Depositary Receipts (issued in Europe) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) (issued throughout the world) each evidence a similar ownership arrangement. A Portfolio or portion thereof may invest in unsponsored depositary receipts. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: There are greater risks involved in investing in emerging market countries and/or their securities markets. Generally, economic structures in these countries are less diverse and mature than those in developed countries, and their political systems are less stable. Investments in emerging market countries may be affected by national policies that restrict foreign investment in certain issuers or industries. The small size of their securities markets and low trading volumes can make investments illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed countries

 

EQ Advisors Trust   More information on risks and benchmarks   19


 

and such securities may be subject to abrupt and severe price declines. As a result, a Portfolio or portion thereof investing in emerging market countries may be required to establish special custody or other arrangements before investing.

 

Index-Fund Risk: Certain Portfolios and the Index Allocated Portions of certain Portfolios invest in the securities included in a relevant index or a representative sample of securities regardless of market trends. These Portfolios and the Index Allocated Portions of these Portfolios cannot modify their investment strategies to respond to changes in the economy, which means they may be particularly susceptible to a general decline in the market segment relating to the relevant index. In addition, although each of these Portfolios (or portion thereof) attempts to closely track its benchmark index, the Portfolio (or portion thereof) may not invest in all of the securities in the index. Therefore, there can be no assurance that performance of the Portfolio (or portion thereof) will match that of the benchmark index. Also, each Portfolio’s (or portion’s) returns, unlike those of the benchmark index, are reduced by the fees and operating expenses of the Portfolio.

 

Large-Cap Company Risk: Larger more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Many larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

 

Liquidity Risk: Certain securities held by a Portfolio may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the seller would like. A Portfolio may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that a Portfolio may lose money or be prevented from earning capital gains if it cannot sell a security at the time and price that is most beneficial to the Portfolio. Portfolios that invest in privately-placed securities, certain small company securities, high-yield bonds, mortgage-backed securities or foreign or emerging market securities, which have all experienced periods of illiquidity, are subject to liquidity risks. A particular Portfolio may be more susceptible to some of these risks than others, as noted in the description of each Portfolio.

 

Money Market Risk: Although a money market fund is designed to be a relatively low risk investment, it is not entirely free of risk. Despite the short maturities and high credit quality of the EQ/Money Market Portfolio’s investments, increases in interest rates and deteriorations in the credit quality of the instruments the Portfolio has purchased may reduce the Portfolio’s yield. In addition, the Portfolio is still subject to the risk that the value of an investment may be eroded over time by inflation.

 

Small-Cap and/or Mid-Cap Company Risk: A Portfolio’s or portion thereof’s investments in small-cap and mid-cap companies may involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established issuers. Smaller companies generally have narrower product lines, more limited financial resources and more limited trading markets for their stock, as compared with larger companies. Their securities may be less well- known and trade less frequently and in more limited volume than the securities of larger, more established companies. In addition, small-cap and mid-cap companies are typically subject to greater changes in earnings and business prospects than larger companies. Consequently, the prices of small company stocks tend to rise and fall in value more frequently than the stocks of larger companies. Although investing in small-cap and mid-cap companies offers potential for above-average returns, the companies may not succeed and the value of their stock could decline significantly. In general, these risks are greater for small-capitalization companies than for mid-capitalization.

 

20   More information on risks and benchmarks   EQ Advisors Trust


 

Benchmarks

 

The performance of each of the Trust’s Portfolios as shown in the section “About the Investment Portfolios” is compared to that of a broad-based securities market index, an index of funds with similar investment objectives and/or a blended index. Each of the Portfolios’ annualized rates of return are net of: (i) its investment management fees; and (ii) its other expenses. These rates are not the same as the actual return you would receive under your Contract.

 

Broad-based securities indices are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed investment company portfolios. Broad-based securities indices are also not subject to contract and insurance-related expenses and charges. Investments cannot be made directly in a broad-based securities index. Comparisons with these benchmarks, therefore, are of limited use. They are included because they are widely known and may help you to understand the universe of securities from which each Portfolio is likely to select its holdings.

 

Each benchmark branded “Barclays Capital” was formerly branded “Lehman Brothers.” No other changes have been made to these benchmarks.

 

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (“Aggregate Bond Index”) covers the dollar denominated investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, MBS pass-through securities (including hybrid ARMs as of April 1, 2007), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-based securities. To qualify for inclusion in the Aggregate Bond Index, a bond must have at least one year remaining to final maturity and must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment grade. The bond also must be dollar-denominated and non-convertible.

 

Barclays Capital Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Index is an unmanaged, market value weighted index of investment grade, fixed-rate debt securities including government and corporate securities with maturities between one and ten years.

 

Russell 1000® Value Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks that measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with lower price to book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

 

Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index (referred to here in as “Standard & Poor’s 500 Index” or “S&P 500 Index”) is an unmanaged weighted index of common stocks of 500 of the largest U.S. industrial, transportation, utility and financial companies, deemed by Standard & Poor’s to be representative of the larger capitalization portion of the United States stock market. The index is capitalization weighted, thereby giving greater weight to companies with the largest market capitalizations.

 

3-Month Treasury Bill. A negotiable debt obligation issued by the U.S. government and backed by its full faith and credit, having a maturity of three months.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   More information on risks and benchmarks   21


4. Management of the Trust

 

 

 

This section gives you information on the Trust, the Manager and the Advisers for the Portfolios. More detailed information concerning each of the Advisers and portfolio managers is included in the description for each Portfolio in the section “About the Investment Portfolios.”

 

The Trust

 

The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company. The Trust’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall management of the Trust and the Portfolios. The Trust issues shares of beneficial interest that are currently divided among sixty-nine (69) Portfolios, each of which has authorized Class IA and Class IB shares. This Prospectus describes the Class IA and Class IB shares of five (5) Portfolios. Each Portfolio has its own objective, investment strategies and risks, which have been previously described in this Prospectus.

 

The Manager

 

AXA Equitable, through its AXA Funds Management Group unit (the “Manager”), 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, currently serves as the Manager of the Trust. AXA Equitable is a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc., a subsidiary of AXA, a French insurance holding company.

 

The Manager has a variety of responsibilities for the general management and administration of the Trust and the Portfolios. With respect to the Trust’s Portfolios, the Manager’s management responsibilities include the selection and monitoring of Advisers for the Portfolios.

 

The Manager plays an active role in monitoring each Portfolio (or portion thereof) and Adviser and uses portfolio analytics systems to strengthen its evaluation of performance, style, risk levels, diversification and other criteria. The Manager also monitors each Adviser’s portfolio management team to determine whether its investment activities remain consistent with the Portfolios’ or portion thereof’s investment style and objectives.

 

Beyond performance analysis, the Manager monitors significant changes that may impact the Adviser’s overall business. The Manager monitors continuity in the Adviser’s operations and changes in investment personnel and senior management. The Manager performs due diligence reviews with each Adviser no less frequently than annually.

 

The Manager obtains detailed, comprehensive information concerning Portfolio (or portion thereof) and Adviser performance and Portfolio (or portion thereof) operations that is used to supervise and monitor the Advisers and the Portfolio (or portion thereof) operations. A team is responsible for conducting ongoing investment reviews with each Adviser and for developing the criteria by which Portfolio (or portion thereof) performance is measured.

 

The Manager selects Advisers from a pool of candidates, including its affiliates, to manage the Portfolios (or portions thereof). The Manager may appoint, dismiss and replace Advisers and amend advisory agreements subject to the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Manager also may allocate a Portfolio’s assets to additional Advisers subject to the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and has discretion to allocate each Portfolio’s assets among a Portfolio’s current Advisers. The Manager recommends Advisers for each Portfolio to the Trust’s Board of Trustees based upon its continuing quantitative and qualitative evaluation of each Adviser’s skills in managing assets pursuant to specific investment styles and strategies. Short-term investment performance, by itself, is not a significant factor in selecting or terminating an Adviser, and the Manager does not expect to recommend frequent changes of Advisers.

 

The Manager has received an exemptive order from the SEC to permit it and the Trust’s Board of Trustees to appoint, dismiss and replace Advisers and to amend the advisory agreements between the Manager and the Advisers without obtaining shareholder approval. Accordingly, the Manager is able, subject to the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to appoint, dismiss and replace Advisers and to amend advisory agreements without obtaining shareholder approval. If a new Adviser is retained for a Portfolio, shareholders will receive notice of such action. However, the Manager may not enter into an advisory agreement with an Affiliated Adviser, such as AllianceBernstein L.P. or AXA Rosenberg Investment Management LLC, unless the advisory agreement with the Affiliated Adviser, including compensation, is also approved by the affected Portfolio’s shareholders.

 

Management Fees

 

Each Portfolio pays a fee to the Manager for management services. The table below shows the annual rate of the management fees (as a percentage of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets) that the Manager received in 2008 for managing each of the Portfolios included in the table and the rate of the management fees waived by the Manager in 2008 in accordance with the provisions of the Expense Limitation Agreement, as defined below, between the Manager and the Trust with respect to certain of the Portfolios.

 

Management Fees Paid by the Portfolios in 2008

 

Portfolios    Annual
Rate
Received
   Rate of Fees
Waived and
Expenses
Reimbursed

EQ/Bond Index

   0.35%    0.29%

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income

   0.75%    0.12%

EQ/Capital Guardian Research

   0.65%    0.05%

EQ/Long Term Bond

   0.38%    N/A   

EQ/Money Market

   0.30%    N/A   

 

The Advisers are paid by the Manager. Changes to the advisory fees may be negotiated, which could result in an increase or decrease in the amount of the management fee retained by the Manager, without shareholder approval.

 

22   Management of the Trust   EQ Advisors Trust


 

AXA Equitable also currently serves as the Administrator of the Trust. The administrative services provided to the Trust by AXA Equitable include, among others, coordination of the Trust’s audit, financial statements and tax returns; expense management and budgeting; legal administrative services and compliance monitoring; portfolio accounting services, including daily net asset value accounting; operational risk management; and oversight of the Trust’s proxy voting policies and procedures and anti-money laundering program. For administrative services, in addition to the management fee, each Portfolio pays AXA Equitable an annual fee of $30,000 plus its proportionate share of an asset-based administration fee for the Trust. The Trust’s asset-based administration fee is equal to an annual rate of 0.12% of the first $3 billion of total Trust average daily net assets, 0.11% of the next $3 billion, 0.105% of the next $4 billion, 0.10% of the next $20 billion and 0.0975% thereafter.

 

A discussion of the basis for the decision by the Trust’s Board of Trustees to approve the investment management agreements with AXA Equitable and the investment advisory agreements with the Advisers with respect to the Portfolios is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Expense Limitation Agreement

 

In the interest of limiting through April 30, 2010 (unless the Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this arrangement) the expenses of each Portfolio listed in the following table, the Manager has entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust with respect to those Portfolios (“Expense Limitation Agreement”). Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Manager has agreed to make payments or waive its management, administrative and other fees to limit the expenses of the Portfolios listed below so that the annual operating expenses of each Portfolio (other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, fees and expenses of other investment companies in which a Portfolio invests, dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of each Portfolio’s business) do not exceed the following respective expense ratios:

 

Expense Limitation Provisions

 

     Total Expenses Limited to
(% of daily net assets)
Portfolios   Class IA
Shares
   Class IB
Shares

EQ/Bond Index

  0.45%    0.70%

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income

  0.80%    1.05%

EQ/Capital Guardian Research

  0.72%    0.97%

 

The Manager may be reimbursed the amount of any such payments and waivers in the future provided that the payments or waivers are reimbursed within three years of the payment or waiver being made and the combination of the Portfolio’s expense ratio and such reimbursements do not exceed the Portfolio’s expense cap. If the actual expense ratio is less than the expense cap and the Manager has recouped any eligible previous payments made, the Portfolio will be charged such lower expenses.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Management of the Trust   23


5. Fund distribution arrangements

 

 

 

The Trust offers two classes of shares on behalf of each Portfolio: Class IA shares and Class IB shares. AXA Advisors, LLC (“AXA Advisors”) and AXA Distributors, LLC (“AXA Distributors”) serve as the co-distributors for the Class IA and Class IB shares of the Trust. Both classes of shares are offered and redeemed at their net asset value without any sales load. AXA Advisors and AXA Distributors are affiliates of AXA Equitable. Both AXA Advisors and AXA Distributors are registered as broker-dealers under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Trust’s Class IB shares. Under the Class IB Distribution Plan, the Class IB shares of the Trust are charged an annual fee to compensate each of the co-distributors for promoting, selling and servicing shares of the Portfolios. The annual fee equals 0.25% (subject to 0.50% maximum) of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to Class IB Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Portfolio’s assets on an on going basis, over time, the fees will increase your cost of investing and may cost you more than other types of charges.

 

The co-distributors may receive payments from certain Advisers of the Portfolios or their affiliates to help defray expenses for sales meetings or seminar sponsorships that may relate to the Contracts and/or the Advisers’ respective Portfolios. These sales meetings or seminar sponsorships may provide the Advisers with increased access to persons involved in the distribution of the Contracts. The co-distributors also may receive marketing support from the Advisers in connection with the distribution of the Contracts.

 

24   Fund distribution arrangements   EQ Advisors Trust


6. Buying and selling shares

 

 

 

All shares are purchased and sold at their net asset value without any sales load. All redemption requests will be processed and payment with respect thereto will normally be made within seven days after tender. The Portfolios reserve the right to suspend or change the terms of purchasing or selling shares.

 

The Trust may suspend the right of redemption for any period or postpone payment for more than seven days when the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than a weekend or holiday) or when trading is restricted by the SEC or the SEC declares that an emergency exists. Redemptions may also be suspended and payments may be postponed for more than seven days during other periods permitted by the SEC. A Portfolio may pay the redemption price in whole or part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities in lieu of cash or may take up to seven days to pay a redemption request in order to raise capital, when it is detrimental for a Portfolio to make cash payments as determined in the sole discretion of AXA Equitable.

 

Frequent transfers or purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares, including market timing and other program trading or short-term trading strategies, may be disruptive to the Portfolios. Excessive purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio may adversely affect Portfolio performance and the interests of long-term investors by requiring the Portfolio to maintain larger amounts of cash or to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price. For example, when market timing occurs, a Portfolio may have to sell its holdings to have the cash necessary to redeem the market timer’s shares. This can happen when it is not advantageous to sell any securities, so the Portfolio’s performance may be hurt. When large dollar amounts are involved, market timing can also make it difficult to use long-term investment strategies because a Portfolio cannot predict how much cash it will have to invest. In addition, disruptive transfers or purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares may impede efficient portfolio management and impose increased transaction costs, such as brokerage costs, by requiring the portfolio manager to affect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities. Similarly, a Portfolio may bear increased administrative costs as a result of the asset level and investment volatility that accompanies patterns of excessive or short-term trading. Portfolios that invest a significant portion of their assets in foreign securities, in securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies, or in high-yield securities tend to be subject to the risks associated with market timing and short-term trading strategies to a greater extent than funds that do not. Securities trading in overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio securities values occur after the close of the overseas market but prior to the close of the U.S. market. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies and high-yield securities also present arbitrage opportunities because the market for such securities may be less liquid than the market for the securities of larger companies and higher quality bonds which could result in pricing inefficiencies.

 

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures regarding disruptive transfer activity. The Trust and the Portfolios discourage frequent purchases and redemptions of portfolio shares by Contractholders and will not make special arrangements to accommodate such transactions in Portfolio shares. As a general matter, each Portfolio and the Trust reserve the right to reject a transfer that they believe, in their sole discretion is disruptive (or potentially disruptive) to the management of the Portfolio.

 

The Trust’s policies and procedures seek to discourage what it considers to be disruptive trading activity. The Trust seeks to apply its policies and procedures to all Contractholders uniformly, including omnibus accounts. It should be recognized, however, that such policies and procedures are subject to limitations:

 

 

They do not eliminate the possibility that disruptive transfer activity, including market timing, will occur or that portfolio performance will be affected by such activity.

 

 

The design of such policies and procedures involves inherently subjective judgments, which AXA Equitable, on behalf of the Trust, seeks to make in a fair and reasonable manner consistent with the interests of all Contractholders.

 

 

The limits on AXA Equitable’s ability to monitor certain potentially disruptive transfer activity means that some Contractholders may be treated differently than others, resulting in the risk that some Contractholders may be able to engage in frequent transfer activity while others will bear the effect of that frequent transfer activity.

 

If AXA Equitable, on behalf of the Trust, determines that a Contractholder’s transfer patterns among the Trust’s Portfolios are disruptive to the Trust’s Portfolios, it may, among other things, restrict the availability of personal telephone requests, facsimile transmissions, automated telephone services, internet services or any electronic transfer services. AXA Equitable may also refuse to act on transfer instructions of an agent acting under a power of attorney who is acting on behalf of more than one owner. In making these determinations, AXA Equitable may consider the combined transfer activity of Contracts that it believes are under common ownership, control or direction.

 

The Trust currently considers transfers into and out of (or vice versa) the same Portfolio within a five-business day period as potentially disruptive transfer activity. In order to reduce disruptive activity, it monitors the frequency of transfers, including the size of transfers in relation to portfolio assets, in each Portfolio. The Trust aggregates inflows and outflows for each Portfolio on a daily basis. When a potentially disruptive transfer into or out of a Portfolio occurs on a day when the Portfolio’s net inflows and outflows exceed an established monitoring threshold, AXA Equitable sends a letter to the Contractholder explaining that there is a policy against disruptive transfer activity and that if such activity continues, AXA Equitable may take action to restrict the availability of

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Buying and selling shares   25


 

voice, fax and automated transaction services. If such Contractholder is identified a second time as engaging in potentially disruptive transfer activity, AXA Equitable currently restricts the availability of voice, fax and automated transaction services. AXA Equitable currently applies such action for the remaining life of each affected Contract. Because AXA Equitable exercises discretion in determining whether or not to take the actions discussed above, some Contractholders may be treated differently than others, resulting in the risk that some Contractholders may be able to engage in frequent transfer activity while others will bear the effect of the frequent transfer activity. Although AXA Equitable currently provides a letter to Contractholders who have engaged in disruptive transfer activity of its intention to restrict access to communication services, AXA Equitable may not continue to provide such letters. Consistent with seeking to discourage potentially disruptive transfer activity, AXA Equitable or the Trust may also, in its sole discretion and without further notice, change what it considers potentially disruptive transfer activity and its monitoring procedures and thresholds, as well as change its procedures to restrict this activity. You should consult the Contract prospectus that accompanies this Prospectus for information on other specific limitations on the transfer privilege.

 

The above policies and procedures with respect to frequent transfers or purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares also apply to retirement plan participants, but do not apply to AXA Equitable’s funds of funds.

 

Notwithstanding our efforts, we may be unable to detect or deter market timing activity by certain persons, which can lead to disruption of management of, and excess costs to, a particular Portfolio.

 

26   Buying and selling shares   EQ Advisors Trust


7. How portfolio shares are priced

 

 

 

“Net asset value” is the price of one share of a Portfolio without a sales charge, and is calculated each business day using the following formula:

 

Net Asset Value =   Total market value
of securities
  +   Cash and
other assets
    Liabilities
                        
  Number of outstanding shares        

 

The net asset value of Portfolio shares is determined according to this schedule:

 

 

A share’s net asset value is determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) on the days the Exchange is open for trading. This is normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

 

 

The price for purchasing or redeeming a share will be based upon the net asset value next calculated after an order is received and accepted by a Portfolio or its designated agent.

 

 

A Portfolio heavily invested in foreign securities may have net asset value changes on days when shares cannot be purchased or sold because foreign securities sometimes trade on days when a Portfolio’s shares are not priced.

 

Generally, Portfolio securities are valued as follows:

 

 

Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) – most recent sales price or official closing price or if there is no sale or official closing price, latest available bid price.

 

 

Debt securities – based upon pricing service valuations.

 

 

Securities traded on foreign exchanges – most recent sales or bid price on the foreign exchange or market, unless a significant event or circumstance occurs after the close of that market or exchange that will materially affect its value. In that case, fair value as determined by or under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. Foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollar equivalent daily at current exchange rates.

 

 

Options – last sales price or, if not available, previous day’s sales price. If the bid price is higher or the asked price is lower than the last sale price, the higher bid or lower asked price may be used. Options not traded on an exchange or actively traded are valued according to fair value methods.

 

 

Futures – last sales price or, if there is no sale, latest available bid price.

 

 

Investment Company Securities – shares of open-end mutual funds (other than ETFs) held by a Portfolio will be valued at the net asset value of the shares of such funds as described in these funds’ prospectuses.

 

 

Other Securities – other securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which valuation cannot be provided are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. For example, a security whose trading has been halted during the trading day may be fair valued based on the available information at the time of the close of the trading market. Similarly, securities for which there is no ready market (e.g., securities of certain small capitalization issuers, high yield securities and certain issuers located in emerging markets) also may be fair valued. Some methods for valuing these securities may include: fundamental analysis (earnings multiple, etc.), matrix pricing, discounts from market prices of similar securities, or discounts applied due to the nature and duration of restrictions on the disposition of the securities.

 

All securities held in the EQ/Money Market Portfolio are valued at amortized cost. The EQ/Money Market Portfolio seeks to maintain a constant net asset value per share of $1.00, but there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.

 

Events or circumstances affecting the values of portfolio securities that occur between the closing of their principal markets and the time the net asset value is determined, such as foreign securities trading on foreign exchanges that close before the time the net asset value of Portfolio shares is determined, may be reflected in the Trust’s calculations of net asset values for each applicable Portfolio when the Trust deems that the particular event or circumstance would materially affect such Portfolio’s net asset value. Such events or circumstances may be company specific, such as an earning report, country or region specific, such as a natural disaster, or global in nature. Such events or circumstances also may include price movements in the U.S. securities markets.

 

The effect of fair value pricing as described above is that securities may not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Trust’s Board of Trustees believes reflects fair value. As such, fair value pricing is based on subjective judgments and it is possible that fair value may differ materially from the value realized on a sale. This policy is intended to assure that the Portfolio’s net asset value fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing. Also, fair valuation of a Portfolio’s securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Portfolio’s NAV by those traders.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   How portfolio shares are priced   27


8. Dividends and other distributions and tax consequences

 

 

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The Portfolios (other than the EQ/Money Market Portfolio) generally distribute most or all of their net investment income and their net realized gains, if any, annually. The EQ/Money Market Portfolio normally declares and distributes dividends daily and distributes net investment income and its net realized gains, if any, annually. Dividends and other distributions by a Portfolio are automatically reinvested at net asset value in shares of that Portfolio.

 

Tax Consequences

 

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation, and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company, for federal tax purposes. A Portfolio will be so treated if it meets specified federal income tax rules, including requirements regarding types of investments, limits on investments, types of income, and distributions. A regulated investment company that satisfies those requirements is not taxed at the entity (Portfolio) level to the extent it passes through its net income and gains to its shareholders by making distributions. Although the Trust intends that each Portfolio will be operated to have no federal tax liability, if a Portfolio does have any federal tax liability, that would hurt its investment performance. Also, any Portfolio that invests in foreign securities or holds foreign currencies could be subject to foreign taxes that could reduce its investment performance.

 

It is important for each Portfolio to maintain its regulated investment company status (and to satisfy certain other requirements) because the shareholders of a Portfolio that are insurance company separate accounts will then be able to use a ”look-through” rule in determining whether the Contracts indirectly funded by the Portfolio meet the investment diversification rules for separate accounts. If a Portfolio failed to meet those diversification rules, owners of non-pension plan Contracts funded through that Portfolio would be taxed immediately on the accumulated investment earnings under their Contracts and would lose any benefit of tax deferral. AXA Equitable, in its capacity as Manager and administrator of the Trust, therefore carefully monitors compliance with all of the regulated investment company rules and separate account investment diversification rules.

 

Contractholders seeking to more fully understand the tax consequences of their investment should consult with their tax advisers or the insurance company that issued their Contract or refer to their Contract prospectus.

 

28   Dividends and other distributions and tax consequences   EQ Advisors Trust


9. Glossary of Terms

 

 

 

Bid price — The price a prospective buyer is ready to pay. This term is used by traders who maintain firm bid and offer prices in a given security by standing ready to buy or sell security units at publicly quoted prices.

 

Core investing — An investment style that includes both the strategies used when seeking either growth companies (those with strong earnings growth) or value companies (those that may be temporarily out of favor or have earnings or assets not fully reflected in their stock price).

 

Derivative — A financial instrument whose value and performance are based on the value and performance of an underlying asset, reference rate or index.

 

Diversification — The strategy of investing in a wide range of companies to reduce the risk if an individual company suffers losses.

 

Duration — A measure of how much a bond’s price fluctuates with changes in interest rates.

 

Earnings growth — A pattern of increasing rate of growth in earnings per share from one period to another, which usually causes a stock’s price to rise.

 

Fundamental analysis — An analysis of the balance sheet and income statements of a company in order to forecast its future stock price movements. Fundamental analysis considers past records of assets, earnings, sales, products, management and markets in predicting future trends in these indicators of a company’s success or failure. By appraising a company’s prospects, analysts using such an approach assess whether a particular stock or group of stocks is undervalued or overvalued at its current market price.

 

Growth investing — An investment style that emphasizes companies with strong earnings growth. Growth investing is generally considered more aggressive than “value” investing.

 

Interest rate — Rate of interest charged for the use of money, usually expressed as an annual rate.

 

Market capitalization — Market price of a company’s shares multiplied by number of shares outstanding. A common measure of the relative size of a company.

 

Net asset value (NAV) — The market value of one share of a Portfolio on any given day without taking into account any sales charges. It is determined by dividing a Portfolio’s total net assets by the number of shares outstanding.

 

Price-to-book value ratio — Current market price of a stock divided by its book value, or net asset value.

 

Price-to-earnings ratio — Current market price of a stock divided by its earnings per share. Also known as the “multiple,” the price-to-earnings ratio gives investors an idea of how much they are paying for a company’s earning power and is a useful tool for evaluating the costs of different securities.

 

Value investing — An investment style that focuses on companies that may be temporarily out of favor or have earnings or assets not fully reflected in their stock prices.

 

Volatility — The general variability of a Portfolio’s value resulting from price fluctuations of its investments. In most cases, the more diversified a Portfolio is, the less volatile it will be.

 

Yield — The rate at which a Portfolio earns income, expressed as a percentage. Mutual fund yield calculations are standardized, based upon a formula developed by the SEC.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Financial Highlights   29


10. Financial Highlights

 

 

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the financial performance for each Portfolio’s Class IA and Class IB shares. The financial information in the table below is for the past five (5) years (or, if shorter, the period of the Portfolio’s operations). The financial information below for the Class IA and Class IB shares of each Portfolio has been derived from the financial statements of each Portfolio, which have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s report on each Portfolio’s financial statements as of December 31, 2008 and the financial statements themselves appear in the Trust’s Annual Report.

 

Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that a shareholder would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions). The total return figures shown below do not reflect any separate account or Contract fees and charges. The total return figures would be lower if they did reflect such fees and charges. The information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements contained in the Trust’s Annual Report which are incorporated by reference into the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and available upon request.

EQ/Bond Index Portfolio

 

    Class IA     Class IB  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,     June 20, 2005*
to
December 31, 2005(e)
 
    2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004     2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)    

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 10.12     $ 10.01     $ 10.11     $ 10.69     $ 11.56     $ 10.13     $ 10.02     $ 10.12     $ 10.77  
                                                                       

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                 

Net investment income

    0.45       0.51       0.45       0.42       0.55       0.43       0.48       0.44       0.21  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

    0.10       0.15       (0.06 )     (0.33 )     (0.30 )     0.11       0.15       (0.07 )     (0.21 )
                                                                       

Total from investment operations

    0.55       0.66       0.39       0.09       0.25       0.54       0.63       0.37       #
                                                                       

Less distributions:

                 

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.45 )     (0.55 )     (0.48 )     (0.49 )     (1.10 )     (0.43 )     (0.52 )     (0.46 )     (0.47 )

Distributions from realized gains

                (0.01 )     (0.18 )     (0.02 )                 (0.01 )     (0.18 )
                                                                       

Total dividends and distributions

    (0.45 )     (0.55 )     (0.49 )     (0.67 )     (1.12 )     (0.43 )     (0.52 )     (0.47 )     (0.65 )
                                                                       

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 10.22     $ 10.12     $ 10.01     $ 10.11     $ 10.69     $ 10.24     $ 10.13     $ 10.02     $ 10.12  
                                                                       

Total return (b)

    5.49 %     6.66 %     3.85 %     0.89 %     2.24 %     5.32 %     6.38 %     3.58 %     (0.03 )%
                                                                       

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                 

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

  $ 61,519     $ 38,039     $ 40,299     $ 47,085     $ 61,708     $ 3,382     $ 995     $ 598     $ 251  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

                 

After waivers (a)

    0.45 %     0.45 %     0.65 %     0.75 %(c)     0.75 %     0.70 %     0.70 %     0.90 %(c)     1.00 %(c)

Before waivers (a)

    0.74 %     0.70 %     0.72 %     0.76 %(c)     0.78 %     0.99 %(c)     0.95 %     0.97 %(c)     1.01 %(c)

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:

                 

After waivers (a)

    4.44 %     4.97 %     4.45 %     3.91 %(c)     3.91 %     4.19 %     4.71 %     4.30 %     3.66 %(c)

Before waivers (a)

    4.14 %     4.72 %     4.37 %     3.90 %(c)     3.88 %     3.88 %     4.46 %     4.18 %     3.65 %(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

    55 %     35 %     153 %     49 %     13 %     55 %     35 %     153 %     49 %

Effect of contractual expense limitation during the period:

                 

Per share benefit to net investment income

  $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.01     $ #   $ #   $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.01     $ #

 

30   Financial Highlights   EQ Advisors Trust


Financial Highlights (cont’d)

 

EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio(n)

 

    Class IA     Class IB  
    Year Ended December 31,     December 13,
2004* to

December 31,
2004(e)
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)       2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004(e)  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 6.54     $ 6.91     $ 6.35     $ 6.06     $ 5.99     $ 6.56     $ 6.93     $ 6.36     $ 6.07     $ 5.27  
                                                                               

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income

    0.13       0.21       0.14       0.12       0.01       0.17       0.19       0.12       0.10       0.09  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

    (2.20 )     0.05       0.88       0.27       0.15       (2.26 )     0.05       0.89       0.28       0.85  
                                                                               

Total from investment operations

    (2.07 )     0.26       1.02       0.39       0.16       (2.09 )     0.24       1.01       0.38       0.94  
                                                                               

Less distributions:

                   

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.14 )     (0.15 )     (0.14 )     (0.10 )     (0.09 )     (0.13 )     (0.13 )     (0.12 )     (0.09 )     (0.14 )

Distributions from realized gains

    (0.07 )     (0.48 )     (0.32 )                 (0.07 )     (0.48 )     (0.32 )            
                                                                               

Total dividends and distributions

    (0.21 )     (0.63 )     (0.46 )     (0.10 )     (0.09 )     (0.20 )     (0.61 )     (0.44 )     (0.09 )     (0.14 )
                                                                               

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 4.26     $ 6.54     $ 6.91     $ 6.35     $ 6.06     $ 4.27     $ 6.56     $ 6.93     $ 6.36     $ 6.07  
                                                                               

Total return (b)

    (32.11 )%     3.89 %     16.17 %     6.47 %     1.78 %     (32.34 )%     3.61 %     16.01 %     6.19 %     17.88 %
                                                                               

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

  $ 376,369     $ 123,390     $ 104,746     $ 109,196     $ 117,151     $ 247,769     $ 343,385     $ 344,728     $ 260,079     $ 92,294  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

                   

After waivers (a)

    0.80 %     0.80 %     0.80 %     0.80 %     0.80 %(c)     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    0.80 %     0.80 %     0.80 %     0.79 %     0.80 %(c)     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.04 %     1.05 %

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    0.92 %     0.89 %     0.87 %     0.83 %     0.89 %(c)     1.17 %(c)     1.14 %     1.12 %     1.08 %     1.21 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:

                   

After waivers (a)

    2.61 %     2.93 %     2.09 %     1.90 %     1.85 %(c)     3.07 %     2.68 %     1.84 %     1.65 %     1.60 %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    2.61 %     2.93 %     2.09 %     1.91 %     1.85 %(c)     3.07 %     2.68 %     1.84 %     1.66 %     1.60 %

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    2.49 %     2.84 %     2.02 %     1.87 %     1.76 %(c)     2.97 %     2.59 %     1.77 %     1.62 %     1.44 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    88 %     65 %     84 %     92 %     55 %     88 %     65 %     84 %     92 %     55 %

Effect of contractual expense limitation during the period:

                   

Per share benefit to net investment income

  $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ #   $ #   $ #   $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ #   $ #   $ 0.01  

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Financial Highlights   31


Financial Highlights (cont’d)

 

EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio(h)(p)

 

    Class IA     Class IB  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004(e)     2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004(e)  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 13.87     $ 13.94     $ 12.50     $ 11.86     $ 10.75     $ 13.88     $ 13.95     $ 12.51     $ 11.86     $ 10.76  
                                                                               

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income

    0.13       0.13       0.11       0.09       0.10       0.10       0.09       0.07       0.06       0.07  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

    (5.55 )     0.13       1.44       0.65       1.11       (5.54 )     0.13       1.45       0.66       1.10  
                                                                               

Total from investment operations

    (5.42 )     0.26       1.55       0.74       1.21       (5.44 )     0.22       1.52       0.72       1.17  
                                                                               

Less distributions:

                   

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.13 )     (0.18 )     (0.11 )     (0.10 )     (0.10 )     (0.11 )     (0.14 )     (0.08 )     (0.07 )     (0.07 )

Distributions from realized gains

    (0.20 )     (0.15 )                       (0.20 )     (0.15 )                  
                                                                               

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.33 )     (0.33 )     (0.11 )     (0.10 )     (0.10 )     (0.31 )     (0.29 )     (0.08 )     (0.07 )     (0.07 )
                                                                               

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 8.12     $ 13.87     $ 13.94     $ 12.50     $ 11.86     $ 8.13     $ 13.88     $ 13.95     $ 12.51     $ 11.86  
                                                                               

Total return

    (39.50 )%     1.89 %     12.32 %     6.32 %     11.28 %     (39.62 )%     1.63 %     12.12 %     6.05 %     10.89 %
                                                                               

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net assets, end of year (000’s)

  $ 18,434     $ 36,235     $ 4,494     $ 3,981     $ 523     $ 1,011,551     $ 1,997,795     $ 1,060,928     $ 1,025,615     $ 1,028,221  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

                   

After waivers

    0.70 %     0.70 %     0.70 %     0.70 %     0.70 %     0.95 %     0.95 %     0.95 %     0.95 %     0.95 %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly

    0.69 %     0.70 %     0.69 %     0.69 %     0.65 %     0.94 %     0.95 %     0.94 %     0.94 %     0.90 %

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly

    0.77 %     0.76 %     0.75 %     0.70 %     0.70 %     1.02 %     1.01 %     1.00 %     0.95 %     0.95 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:

                   

After waivers

    1.14 %     0.92 %     0.81 %     0.72 %     0.82 %     0.89 %     0.59 %     0.56 %     0.47 %     0.57 %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly

    1.15 %     0.93 %     0.82 %     0.73 %     0.87 %     0.90 %     0.59 %     0.57 %     0.48 %     0.62 %

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly

    1.08 %     0.86 %     0.76 %     0.72 %     0.82 %     0.83 %     0.52 %     0.51 %     0.47 %     0.57 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    41 %     68 %     28 %     30 %     20 %     41 %     68 %     28 %     30 %     20 %

Effect of contractual expense limitation during the year:

                   

Per share benefit to net investment income

  $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ #   $ #   $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ #   $ #

 

32   Financial Highlights   EQ Advisors Trust


Financial Highlights (cont’d)

 

EQ/Long Term Bond Portfolio

 

    Class IA     Class IB  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,     April 29,
2005* to
December 31,
2005(e)
 
    2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004     2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)    

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 13.69     $ 13.27     $ 13.54     $ 13.54     $ 14.37     $ 13.69     $ 13.27     $ 13.55     $ 13.77  
                                                                       

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                 

Net investment income

    0.71       0.67       0.63       0.60       0.77       0.67       0.64       0.60       0.38  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

    #     0.33       (0.33 )     (0.19 )     0.32       0.02       0.32       (0.35 )     (0.23 )
                                                                       

Total from investment operations

    0.71       1.00       0.30       0.41       1.09       0.69       0.96       0.25       0.15  
                                                                       

Less distributions:

                 

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.75 )     (0.58 )     (0.57 )     (0.29 )     (1.50 )     (0.72 )     (0.54 )     (0.53 )     (0.25 )

Distributions from realized gains

    (0.08 )                 (0.12 )     (0.42 )     (0.08 )                 (0.12 )
                                                                       

Total dividends and distributions

    (0.83 )     (0.58 )     (0.57 )     (0.41 )     (1.92 )     (0.80 )     (0.54 )     (0.53 )     (0.37 )
                                                                       

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 13.57     $ 13.69     $ 13.27     $ 13.54     $ 13.54     $ 13.58     $ 13.69     $ 13.27     $ 13.55  
                                                                       

Total return (b)

    5.21 %     7.72 %     2.08 %     3.03 %     7.92 %     5.01 %     7.35 %     1.82 %     1.13 %
                                                                       

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                 

Net assets, end of period (000’s)

  $ 1,194,074     $ 1,117,060     $ 693,119     $ 537,340     $ 100,561     $ 173,213     $ 147,867     $ 108,067     $ 58,672  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets:

                 

After waivers

    0.52 %     0.53 %     0.55 %     0.60 %(c)     0.75 %       %       %       %       %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    0.52 %     0.53 %     0.55 %     0.60 %(c)     N/A       0.77 %     0.78 %     0.80 %     0.85 %(c)

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    0.52 %     0.53 %     0.55 %     0.60 %(c)     0.75 %     0.77 %     0.78 %     0.80 %     0.85 %(c)

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:

                 

After waivers

    5.27 %     4.99 %     4.75 %     4.36 %(c)     4.69 %       %       %       %       %

After waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    5.27 %     4.99 %     4.75 %     4.36 %(c)     N/A       5.01 %     4.73 %     4.50 %     4.11 %(c)

Before waivers and fees paid indirectly (a)

    5.27 %     4.99 %     4.75 %     4.36 %(c)     4.69 %     5.01 %     4.73 %     4.50 %     4.11 %(c)

Portfolio turnover rate

    251 %     522 %     233 %     69 %     36 %     251 %     522 %     233 %     69 %

Effect of contractual expense limitation during the period:

                 

Per share benefit to net investment income

  $     $     $     $     $ #   $       $       $       $    

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Financial Highlights   33


Financial Highlights (cont’d)

 

EQ/Money Market Portfolio(s)(v)

 

    Class IA     Class IB  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004     2008(e)     2007(e)     2006(e)     2005(e)     2004  

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.001     $ 1.002     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.001  
                                                                               

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                   

Net investment income

    0.020       0.048       0.046       0.029       0.012       0.019       0.046       0.044       0.027       0.009  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    0.003             #     #     (0.001 )     0.002             #     #     (0.001 )
                                                                               

Total from investment operations

    0.023       0.048       0.046       0.029       0.011       0.021       0.046       0.044       0.027       0.008  
                                                                               

Less distributions:

                   

Dividends from net investment income

    (0.023 )     (0.048 )     (0.046 )     (0.030 )     (0.012 )     (0.021 )     (0.046 )     (0.044 )     (0.027 )     (0.009 )
                                                                               

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.001     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000     $ 1.000  
                                                                               

Total return

    2.36 %     4.97 %     4.72 %     2.85 %     1.02 %     2.13 %     4.71 %     4.46 %     2.65 %     0.77 %
                                                                               

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                   

Net assets, end of year (000’s)

  $ 2,037,507     $ 869,405     $ 831,695     $ 737,535     $ 598,718     $ 1,928,723     $ 1,199,272     $ 918,153     $ 773,184     $ 774,625  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

    0.47 %     0.45 %     0.44 %     0.39 %     0.39 %     0.72 %(c)     0.70 %     0.69 %     0.64 %     0.64 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

    2.03 %     4.83 %     4.65 %     2.86 %     1.01 %     1.95 %     4.57 %     4.42 %     2.61 %     0.76 %

 

34   Financial Highlights   EQ Advisors Trust


Financial Highlights (cont’d)

 

 

* Commencement of Operations.
**** Prior to December 31, 2007, these ratios were not provided.
The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period does not accord with the aggregate net income and/or gain on investments for that period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of the Portfolio shares in relation to fluctuating market value of the investments in the Portfolio.
# Per share amount is less than $0.01.
Amount is less than 1%.
‡‡ Amount is less than 0.01%.
(a) Ratios for periods less than one year are annualized.
(b) Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(c) Reflects overall fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expense.
(d) Reflects purchases and sales from change in investment strategy.
(e) Net investment income and capital changes per share are based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Expenses do not include the expenses of the underlying funds.
(h) On July 6, 2007, this Portfolio received, through a substitution transaction, the assets and liabilities of the EQ/Capital Guardian U.S. Equity Portfolio that followed the same objectives as this Portfolio. Information prior to the year ended December 31, 2007 represents the results of operations of the EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio.
(k) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (38.49)%.
(l) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (38.69)%.
(n) On September 9, 2005, this Portfolio received, through a substitution transaction, the assets and liabilities of the EQ/MONY Equity Income Portfolio that followed the same objectives as this Portfolio. Information prior to the year ended December 31, 2005 represents the results of operations of the EQ/Boston Advisors Equity Income Portfolio.
(p) On September 9, 2005, this Portfolio received, through a substitution transaction, the assets and liabilities of the EQ/MONY Diversified Portfolio and EQ/ MONY Equity Growth Portfolio that followed the same objectives as this Portfolio. Information prior to the year ended December 31, 2005 represents the results of operations of the EQ/Capital Guardian Research Portfolio.
(s) On September 9, 2005, this Portfolio received, through a substitution transaction, the assets and liabilities of the EQ/MONY Money Market Portfolio that followed the same objectives as this Portfolio. Information prior to the year ended December 31, 2005 represents the results of operations of the EQ/Money Market Portfolio.
(v) On July 7, 2005, this Portfolio split in the form of a dividend payable in shares of the Portfolio in order to establish a $1.00 net asset value. The dividend consisted of 10.345 shares and 10.303 shares in exchange for one (1) share of the Portfolio’s Class IA and Class IB shares, respectively. All transactions in capital stock and per share data prior to this date have been restated to give effect to the split.
(w) Includes dividend expense.
(x) Effective May 1, 2007, the Manager has voluntarily waived management and administration fees and reimbursed all other expenses (exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, capitalized expenses, expenses of investment companies in which the Portfolio invests, Rule 12b-1 fees and extraordinary expenses).
(y) In 2007, 0.48% and 0.41% of the Portfolio’s total return for Class IA and Class IB, respectively, consists of voluntary payments made by unaffiliated service providers in connection with cash which remained under-invested for a period of time. These payments positively impacted the net asset value of the Portfolio’s Class IA and Class IB shares by $0.07 and $0.06, respectively, per share and are included in net realized and unrealized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions.
(z) In 2007, 0.04% of the Portfolio’s total return for each class consists of a voluntary payment made by the Adviser in connection with cash which remained under-invested for a period of time. This payment positively impacted the net asset value of the Portfolio’s Class IA and Class IB shares by $0.01 per share and is included in net realized and unrealized gain on investments.
(aa) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (39.65)%.
(bb) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (39.78)%.
(cc) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (42.04)%.
(dd) Includes a gain incurred resulting from a litigation payment. Without this gain, the total return would have been (42.20)%.

 

EQ Advisors Trust   Financial Highlights   35


 

 

 

If you would like more information about the Portfolios, the following documents are available free upon request. The Trust does not have a website available for accessing such information.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports — Include more information about the Portfolios’ investments and performance. The reports usually include performance information, a discussion of market conditions and the investment strategies that affected the Portfolios’ performance during the last fiscal year.

 

Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — Provides more detailed information about the Portfolios, has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure — A description of the Portfolios’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of their portfolio securities holdings is available in the Portfolios’ SAI.

 

To order a free copy of a Portfolio’s SAI and/or Annual and Semi-Annual Report, request other information about a Portfolio, or make shareholder inquiries, contact your financial professional, or the Portfolios at:

 

EQ Advisors Trust

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104

Telephone: 1-877-222-2144

 

EQ Advisors Trust currently does not maintain a website where investors can access the SAI or shareholder reports.

Your financial professional or EQ Advisors Trust will also be happy to answer your questions or

to provide any additional information that you may require.

 

Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Portfolios are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at:

 

http://www.sec.gov.

 

Investors may also obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following

E-mail address:

publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC’s

Public Reference Section,

Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

EQ Advisors Trust

 

(Investment Company Act File No. 811-07953)

 

© 2009 EQ Advisors Trust