SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 _______________ FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. ----------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Maryland 22-273-6509 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- (State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification no.) One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 ---------------------------------------- ------------ (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange Title of each class on which each class is to be so registered to be registered ------------------- ---------------------- 5.875% Series D Cumulative New York Stock Exchange Preferred Stock If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X] If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [ ] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: 333-106081 Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class) Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered. The section captioned "Description of Series D Preferred and Series E Auction Rate Preferred" in the Registrant's form of Prospectus filed as part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2/A (No. 333-106081), dated October 2, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference. Item 2. Exhibits. The following exhibits have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission: (1) Form of Certificate for Common Shares (a) (2) Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(b) (3) Specimen Certificate for 7.20% Tax Advantaged Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock("Series B Preferred")(c) (4) Specimen Certificate for 5.875% Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series D Preferred") (d) (5) Articles Supplementary for the Series B Preferred (c) (6) Articles Supplementary defining the rights of holders of the Series D Preferred(d) _________________ (a) Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2(d)to Pre- Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos.33-06146 and 811-4700) as filed with the Commission on August 14, 1986. (b) Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 Nos. 333-45951 and 811-4700; as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 1998. (c) Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 Nos. 333-47012 and 811-4700; as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2001. (d) Incorporated by reference to from the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2, File Nos. 333-106081 and 811-4700, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2003 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. ------------------------------ (Registrant) Date: October 6, 2003 By: /s/ Gus Coutsorous ---------------------------- Name: Gus Coutsorous Title: Vice President and Treasurer