First Trust (registered trademark)
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1
The Trust. The First Trust (registered trademark) Special Situations
Trust, Series 145 (the "Trust") is a unit investment trust consisting of
a portfolio of common stocks issued by energy companies.
The objective of the Trust is to provide for potential capital
appreciation by investing the Trust's portfolio in common stocks issued
by energy companies (the "Equity Securities"). See "Schedule of
Investments." The Trust has a mandatory termination date ("Mandatory
Termination Date" or "Trust Ending Date") as set forth under "Summary of
Essential Information." There is, of course, no guarantee that the
objective of the Trust will be achieved. Each Unit of the Trust
represents an undivided fractional interest in all the Equity Securities
deposited in the Trust.
The Equity Securities deposited in the Trust's portfolio have no fixed
maturity date and the value of these underlying Equity Securities will
fluctuate with changes in the values of stocks in general. See
"Portfolio."
The Sponsor may, from time to time during a period of up to
approximately 360 days after the Initial Date of Deposit, deposit
additional Equity Securities or cash (including a letter of credit) with
instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in the Trust. Such
deposits of additional Equity Securities or cash will, therefore, be
done in such a manner that the original proportionate relationship
amongst the individual issues of the Equity Securities shall be
maintained. Any deposit by the Sponsor of additional Equity Securities,
or the purchase of additional Equity Securities pursuant to a cash
deposit, will duplicate, as nearly as is practicable, the original
proportionate relationship established on the Initial Date of Deposit,
and not the actual proportionate relationship on the subsequent date of
deposit, since the two may differ. Any such difference may be due to the
sale, redemption or liquidation of any Equity Securities deposited in
the Trust on the Initial, or any subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "What
is the First Trust Special Situations Trust?" and "How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?"
Public Offering Price. The Public Offering Price per Unit of the Trust
during the initial offering period is equal to the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the
closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and the ask prices of
over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata
share of cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust,
plus an initial sales charge equal to the difference between the maximum
sales charge of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum
remaining deferred sales charge, initially $0.20 per Unit. Commencing on
May 31, 1996, and on the last business day of each month thereafter,
through February 28, 1997, a deferred sales charge of $0.02 will be
assessed per Unit per month. Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment but still during the initial offering
period will be subject to the initial sales charge and the remaining
deferred sales charge payments not yet collected. The deferred sales
charge will be paid from funds in the Income and/or Capital Accounts, if
sufficient, or from the periodic sale of Equity Securities. The total
maximum sales charge assessed to Unit holders on a per Unit basis will
be 4.5% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.615% of the net
amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge), subject to a
reduction beginning May 1, 1997. A pro rata share of accumulated
dividends, if any, in the Income Account is included in the
Public Offering Price. Upon completion of
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Nike Securities L.P.
Sponsor of First Trust (registered trademark)
1-800-621-9533
The date of this Prospectus is April 10, 1996
Page 1
the deferred sales charge period, the
secondary market Public Offering Price per Unit will not include
deferred payments, but will instead include only a one-time initial
sales charge of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.712%
of the net amount invested), which will be reduced by 1/2 of 1% on each
subsequent May 1, commencing May 1, 1997 to a minimum sales charge of
3.0%. The minimum amount which an investor may purchase in the Trust is
$1,000 ($250 for an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement
plans). The sales charge is reduced on a graduated scale for sales
involving at least 5,000 Units. See "How is the Public Offering Price
Determined?"
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK, AND UNITS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK
INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
Estimated Net Annual Distributions. The estimated net annual dividend
distributions to Unit holders (based on the most recent quarterly or
semi-annual ordinary dividend declared with respect to the Equity
Securities in the Trust) on the Initial Date of Deposit for the Energy
Growth Trust, Series 1 was $.1643 per Unit. The actual net annual
dividend distributions per Unit will vary with changes in fees and
expenses of the Trust, with changes in dividends received and with the
sale or liquidation of Equity Securities; therefore, there is no
assurance that the estimated net annual dividend distributions will be
realized in the future.
Dividend and Capital Distributions. Distributions of dividends and
capital, if any, received by the Trust, net of expenses of the Trust,
will be paid on the Distribution Date to Unit holders of record on the
Record Date as set forth in the "Summary of Essential Information."
Distributions of funds in the Capital Account, if any, will be made at
least annually in December of each year. Any distribution of income
and/or capital will be net of the expenses of the Trust. See "What is
the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?" Additionally, upon termination
of the Trust, the Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of Units for
redemption, to each Unit holder his pro rata share of the Trust's
assets, less expenses, in the manner set forth under "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?"
Secondary Market for Units. After the initial offering period, while
under no obligation to do so, the Sponsor intends to maintain a market
for Units of the Trust and offer to repurchase such Units at prices
which are based on the aggregate underlying value of Equity Securities
in the Trust (generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed
Equity Securities and the bid prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities) plus or minus cash, if any, in the Capital and Income
Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary market is maintained during the
initial offering period, the prices at which Units will be repurchased
will also be based upon the aggregate underlying value of the Equity
Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the closing sale prices
of listed Equity Securities and the ask prices of over-the-counter
traded Equity Securities) plus or minus cash, if any, in the Capital and
Income Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary market is not maintained, a
Unit holder may redeem Units through redemption at prices based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
(generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and the bid prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities) plus or minus a pro rata share of cash, if any, in the
Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust. A Unit holder tendering 2,500
Units or more for redemption may request a distribution of shares of
Equity Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration
charges) in lieu of payment in cash. Units subject to a deferred sales
charge which are sold or tendered for redemption prior to such time as
the entire deferred sales charge on such Units has been collected will
be assessed the amount of the remaining deferred sales charge at the
time of sale or redemption. See "How May Units be Redeemed?"
Termination. Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity
Securities will begin to be sold in connection with the termination of
the Trust. The Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution
of the sale of the Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination
of the Trust specifying the time or times at which Unit holders may
surrender their certificates for cancellation shall be given by the
Trustee to each Unit holder at his address appearing on the registration
books of the Trust maintained by the Trustee. At least 60 days prior to
the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust, the Trustee will provide
written notice thereof to all Unit holders and will include with such
notice a form to enable Unit holders to elect a distribution of shares
of Equity Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration
charges) if such Unit holder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust,
rather than to receive payment in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata
Page 2
share of the amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of
Equity Securities. To be effective, the election form, together with
surrendered certificates and other documentation required by the
Trustee, must be returned to the Trustee at least five business days
prior to the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust. Unit holders not
electing a distribution of shares of Equity Securities will receive a
cash distribution within a reasonable time after the Trust is
terminated. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital
Distributed?"
Risk Factors. An investment in the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the risks associated therewith, including, among other
factors, the possible deterioration of either the financial condition of
the issuers of the Equity Securities or the general condition of the
stock market, changes in interest rates and economic recession.
As the Trust consists of common stocks of companies engaged in the explora-
tion, production and distribution of oil and natural gas, investors should
be aware of risks specific to the energy industry, including the effects of
international politics, production controls, energy conservation, the
success of exploration projects and tax and other regulatory policies of
various governments. Volatility in the market price of the Equity
Securities in the Trust also changes the value of the Units of the Trust.
Unit holders tendering Units for redemption during periods of market
volatility may receive redemption proceeds which are more or less than
they paid for the Units. The Trust's portfolio is not managed and Equity
Securities will not be sold by the Trust regardless of market fluctuations,
although certain Equity Securities may be sold under certain limited
circumstances. See "What are Equity Securities?-Risk Factors."
Page 3
Summary of Essential Information
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
of the Equity Securities-April 10, 1996
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
General Information
<S> <C>
Initial Number of Units (1) 15,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1) 1/15,000
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities in Portfolio (2) $146,037
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities per Unit $ 9.7358
Maximum Sales Charge 4.5% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(4.615% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge) (3) $ .4493
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $ (.2000)
Public Offering Price per Unit (3) $ 9.9851
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit $ 9.5358
Redemption Price per Unit (based on aggregate underlying
value of Equity Securities less the deferred sales charge) (4) $ 9.5358
</TABLE>
CUSIP Number 33718R 450
First Settlement Date April 15, 1996
Mandatory Termination Date May 1, 2001
Discretionary Liquidation Amount The Trust may be terminated if
the value thereof is less than
the lower of $2,000,000 or 20%
of the total value of Equity
Securities deposited in the
Trust during the primary
offering period.
Trustee's Annual Fee $.0097 per Unit outstanding.
Evaluator's Annual Fee $.0030 per Unit outstanding,
payable to an affiliate of the
Sponsor. Evaluations for
purposes of sale, purchase or
redemption of Units are made as
of the close of trading
(4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the
New York Stock Exchange on each
day on which it is open.
Supervisory Fee (5) Maximum of $.0035 per Unit
outstanding annually payable to
an affiliate of the Sponsor.
Estimated Annual Organizational
and Offering Costs (6) $.006 per Unit.
Income Distribution Record Date Fifteenth day of each June and
December commencing June 15, 1996.
Income Distribution Date (7) Last day of each June and
December commencing June 30, 1996.
[FN]
______________
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, the
number of Units of the Trust may be adjusted so that the Public Offering
Price per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. Therefore, to the extent
of any such adjustment, the fractional undivided interest per Unit will
increase or decrease accordingly, from the amounts indicated above.
(2) Each Equity Security listed on a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ National Market System is valued at the last closing sale price,
or if no such price exists or if the Equity Security is not so listed,
at the closing ask price thereof.
(3) The maximum sales charge consists of an initial sales charge and a
deferred sales charge. The initial sales charge applies to all Units and
represents an amount equal to the difference between the maximum sales
charge for the Trust of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the amount
of the maximum remaining deferred sales charge (initially $0.20 per
Unit). Subsequent to the initial date of deposit, the amount of the
initial sales charge will vary with changes in the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities underlying the Trust. In addition to the
initial sales charge, Unit holders will pay a deferred sales charge of
$0.02 per Unit per month commencing May 31, 1996 and on the last
business day of each month thereafter through February 28, 1997. During
the initial offering period, Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment will be subject to the initial sales
charge and the remaining deferred sales charge payments not yet
collected. These deferred sales charge payments will be paid from funds
in the Income and/or Capital Accounts, if sufficient, or from the
periodic sale of Equity Securities. See "Fee Table" and "Public
Offering" for additional information. Commencing on March 1, 1997, the
secondary market sales charge will not include the deferred sales charge
payments but will instead include only a one-time initial sales charge
of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and will decrease by 1/2 of 1% on
each subsequent May 1, commencing May 1, 1997 to a minimum sales charge
of 3.0% as described under "Public Offering." On the Initial Date of
Deposit there will be no accumulated dividends in the Income Account.
Anyone ordering Units after such date will pay a pro rata share of any
accumulated dividends in such Income Account. The Public Offering Price
as shown reflects the value of the Equity Securities at the opening of
business on the Initial Date of Deposit and establishes the original
proportionate relationship amongst the individual securities. No sales
to investors will be executed at this price. Additional Equity
Securities will be deposited during the day of the Initial Date of
Deposit which will be valued as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time and sold to
investors at a Public Offering Price per Unit based on this valuation.
(4) See "How May Units be Redeemed?"
(5) In addition, the Sponsor will be reimbursed for bookkeeping and other
administrative expenses currently at a maximum annual rate of $.0028 per
Unit.
(6) The Trust (and therefore Unit holders) will bear all or a portion of
its organizational and offering costs (including costs of preparing the
registration statement, the trust indenture and other closing documents,
registering Units with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
states, the initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the
initial fees and expenses of the Trustee but not including the expenses
incurred in the printing of preliminary and final prospectuses, and
expenses incurred in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses) as is common for
mutual funds. Total organizational and offering expenses will be charged
off over a period not to exceed five years from the Initial Date of
Deposit. See "What are the Expenses and Charges?" and "Statement of Net
Assets." Historically, the sponsors of unit investment trusts have paid
all the costs of establishing such trusts.
(7) Distributions from the Capital Account will be made monthly payable
on the last day of the month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth
day of such month if the amount available for distribution equals at
least $1.00 per 100 Units. Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in
the Capital Account, if any, will be made in December of each year.
Page 4
FEE TABLE
This Fee Table is intended to help you to understand the costs and
expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly. See "Public
Offering" and "What are the Expenses and Charges?" Although the Trust
has a term of five years and is a unit investment trust rather than a
mutual fund, this information is presented to permit a comparison of fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount
per Unit
________
<S> <C> <C>
Unit holder Transaction Expenses
Initial sales charge imposed on purchase
(as a percentage of offering price) 2.50%(a) $ .249
Deferred sales charge per year
(as a percentage of original purchase price) 2.00%(b) .200
______ ______
4.50% $ .449
====== ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Estimated Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Trustee's fee .099% $.0097
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative,
organizational and offering expenses, and evaluation fees .189% .0185
Other operating expenses .023% .0022
______ ______
Total .311% $.0304
====== ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Example
_______
Cumulative Expenses Paid for Period:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
______ _______ _______
<S> <C> <C> <C>
An investor would pay the following expenses on a
$1,000 investment, assuming the Energy Growth Trust,
Series 1 has an estimated operating expense ratio of
.311% and a 5% annual return on the investment
throughout the periods $48 $54 $61
</TABLE>
The example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and
utilizes a 5% annual rate of return as mandated by Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations applicable to mutual funds. For purposes
of the example, the deferred sales charge imposed on reinvestment of
dividends is not reflected until the year following payment of the
dividend; the cumulative expenses would be higher if sales charges on
reinvested dividends were reflected in the year of reinvestment. The
example should not be considered a representation of past or future
expenses or annual rate of return; the actual expenses and annual rate
of return may be more or less than those assumed for purposes of the
example.
[FN]
_______________
(a) The Initial Sales Charge is actually the difference between the
maximum total sales charge of 4.5% and the maximum remaining deferred
sales charge (initially $0.20 per Unit) and would exceed 2.5% if the
Public Offering Price exceeds $10.00 per Unit.
(b) The actual fee is $0.02 per month per Unit, irrespective of purchase
or redemption price, deducted monthly commencing May 31, 1996 through
February 28, 1997. If a Unit holder sells or redeems Units before all of
these deductions have been made, the balance of the deferred sales
charge payments remaining will be deducted from the sales or redemption
proceeds. If the Unit price exceeds $10.00 per Unit, the deferred sales
charge will be less than 2.0%. Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment will also be subject to the remaining
deferred sales charge payments.
Page 5
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145
What is The First Trust Special Situations Trust?
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145 is one of a series
of investment companies created by the Sponsor under the name of The
First Trust Special Situations Trust, all of which are generally
similar, but each of which is separate and is designated by a different
series number (the "Trust"). This Series consists of an underlying
separate unit investment trust designated as: Energy Growth Trust,
Series 1. The Trust was created under the laws of the State of New York
pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture"), dated the Initial Date
of Deposit, with Nike Securities L.P. as Sponsor, The Chase Manhattan
Bank (National Association) as Trustee, and First Trust Advisors L.P. as
Portfolio Supervisor and Evaluator.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee
confirmations of contracts for the purchase of common stocks together
with an irrevocable letter or letters of credit of a financial
institution in an amount at least equal to the purchase price of such
securities. In exchange for the deposit of securities or contracts to
purchase securities in the Trust, the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor
documents evidencing the entire ownership of the Trust.
The objective of the Energy Growth Trust is to provide for capital
appreciation potential by investing in common stocks issued primarily by
energy companies, which the Sponsor believes are those best positioned
to take advantage of the rising global demand for energy. See "Schedule
of Investments" for Energy Growth Trust, Series 1. The worldwide demand
for energy will continue to increase, driven primarily by rapid
development in newly industrialized countries in Asia, Eastern Europe
and Latin America. Currently, rising demand is being met by adequate
supply from energy producers. However, energy prices may rise by
decade's end, as steadily higher global demand for energy outstrips
energy supplies. Industry overcapacity and declining energy prices in
the 1980s forced energy companies to become more competitive under
difficult conditions. Energy companies have greatly improved their
operating efficiencies through cost cutting, consolidation and new
technologies. Cost cutting has occurred through sizable work force
reductions and the use of technology to lower overhead and production
costs. Consolidation and the divestiture of non-core assets has reduced
industry capacity and allowed companies to focus on their core
operations. New technologies are expected to continue to lead to the
discovery of additional energy reserves and lower the cost of developing
these reserves. Given these measures, energy companies are positioned
for significantly improved profitability, if and when energy prices
increase.
With the deposit of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Sponsor established a percentage relationship between the
amounts of Equity Securities in the Trust's portfolio. From time to time
following the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor, pursuant to the
Indenture, may deposit additional Equity Securities in the Trust, or
cash with instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in the
Trust, and Units may be continuously offered for sale to the public by
means of this Prospectus, resulting in a potential increase in the
outstanding number of Units of the Trust. Any deposit by the Sponsor of
additional Equity Securities, or the purchase of additional Equity
Securities pursuant to a cash deposit, will duplicate, as nearly as is
practicable, the original proportionate relationship and not the actual
proportionate relationship on the subsequent date of deposit, since the
two may differ. Any such difference may be due to the sale, redemption
or liquidation of any of the Equity Securities deposited in the Trust on
the Initial, or any subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?" The original percentage
relationship of each Equity Security to the Trust is set forth herein
under "Schedule of Investments." Since the prices of the underlying
Equity Securities will fluctuate daily, the ratio, on a market value
basis, will also change daily. The portion of Equity Securities
represented by each Unit will not change as a result of the deposit of
additional Equity Securities in the Trust. If the Sponsor deposits cash,
however, existing and new investors may experience a dilution of their
investment and a reduction in their anticipated income because of
fluctuations in the prices of the Equity Securities between the time of
the cash deposit and the purchase of the Equity Securities and because
the Trust will pay the associated brokerage fees. To minimize this
Page 6
effect, the Trust will try to purchase the Equity Securities as close to
the evaluation time or as close to the evaluation price as possible.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, each Unit of the Trust represented the
undivided fractional interest in the Equity Securities deposited in the
Trust set forth under "Summary of Essential Information." To the extent
that Units of the Trust are redeemed, the aggregate value of the Equity
Securities in the Trust will be reduced and the undivided fractional
interest represented by each outstanding Unit of the Trust will
increase. However, if additional Units are issued by the Trust in
connection with the deposit of additional Equity Securities or cash by
the Sponsor, the aggregate value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
will be increased by amounts allocable to additional Units, and the
fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit of the Trust will
be decreased proportionately. See "How May Units be Redeemed?"
What are the Expenses and Charges?
With the exception of bookkeeping and other administrative services
provided to the Trust for which the Sponsor will be reimbursed in
amounts set forth under "Summary of Essential Information," the Sponsor
will not receive any fees in connection with its activities relating to
the Trust. Such bookkeeping and administrative charges may be increased
without approval of the Unit holders by amounts not exceeding
proportionate increases under the category "All Services Less Rent of
Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index published by the United States
Department of Labor. The fees payable to the Sponsor for such services
may exceed the actual costs of providing such services for this Trust,
but at no time will the total amount received for such services rendered
to all unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
Sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Sponsor of
supplying such services in such year. First Trust Advisors L.P., an
affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive an annual supervisory fee, which
is not to exceed the amount set forth under "Summary of Essential
Information," for providing portfolio supervisory services for the
Trust. Such fee is based on the number of Units outstanding in the Trust
on January 1 of each year except for the year or years in which an
initial offering period occurs in which case the fee for a month is
based on the number of Units outstanding at the end of such month. The
fee may exceed the actual costs of providing such supervisory services
for this Trust, but at no time will the total amount received for
portfolio supervisory services rendered to all unit investment trusts of
which Nike Securities L.P. is the Sponsor in any calendar year exceed
the aggregate cost to First Trust Advisors L.P. of supplying such
services in such year. In providing such supervisory services, the
portfolio Supervisor may purchase research services from a variety of
sources which may include underwriters or dealers of the Trust.
Subsequent to the initial offering period, the Evaluator, an affiliate
of the Sponsor, will receive a fee as indicated in the "Summary of
Essential Information." The fee may exceed the actual costs of providing
such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time will the total
amount received for evaluation services rendered in any calendar year to
all unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the Sponsor
exceed the aggregate cost to First Trust Advisors L.P. of supplying such
services in such year. The Trustee pays certain expenses of the Trust
for which it is reimbursed by the Trust. The Trustee will receive for
its ordinary recurring services to the Trust an annual fee as set forth
in the "Summary of Essential Information." Such fee will be based upon
the largest aggregate number of Units of the Trust outstanding at any
time during the year. For a discussion of the services performed by the
Trustee pursuant to its obligations under the Indenture, reference is
made to the material set forth under "Rights of Unit Holders."
The Trustee's and Evaluator's fees are payable from the Income Account
of the Trust to the extent funds are available and then from the Capital
Account of the Trust. Since the Trustee has the use of the funds being
held in the Capital and Income Accounts for payment of expenses and
redemptions and since such Accounts are noninterest-bearing to Unit
holders, the Trustee benefits thereby. Part of the Trustee's
compensation for its services to the Trust is expected to result from
the use of these funds. However, the Trustee may bear from its own
resources certain expenses relating to the Trust, including a portion of
the Trust's organization and offering costs and brokerage commissions
which are not borne directly by the Trust. The Trustee's and Evaluator's
fees may be increased without approval of the Unit holders by amounts
not exceeding proportionate increases under the category "All Services
Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index published by the
United States Department of Labor.
Page 7
Expenses incurred in establishing the Trust, including costs of
preparing the registration statement, the trust indenture and other
closing documents, registering Units with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and states, the initial audit of the Trust portfolio and the
initial fees and expenses of the Trustee and any other out-of-pocket
expenses, will be paid by the Trust and charged off over a period not to
exceed five years from the Initial Date of Deposit. The following
additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust: all legal and
annual auditing expenses of the Trustee incurred by or in connection
with its responsibilities under the Indenture; the expenses and costs of
any action undertaken by the Trustee to protect the Trust and the rights
and interests of the Unit holders; fees of the Trustee for any
extraordinary services performed under the Indenture; indemnification of
the Trustee for any loss, liability or expense incurred by it without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of
or in connection with its acceptance or administration of the Trust;
indemnification of the Sponsor for any loss, liability or expense
incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in
acting as Depositor of the Trust; all taxes and other government charges
imposed upon the Securities or any part of the Trust (no such taxes or
charges are being levied or made or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor,
contemplated). The above expenses and the Trustee's annual fee, when
paid or owing to the Trustee, are secured by a lien on the Trust. In
addition, the Trustee is empowered to sell Equity Securities in the
Trust in order to make funds available to pay all these amounts if funds
are not otherwise available in the Income and Capital Accounts of the
Trust. Since the Equity Securities are all common stocks and the income
stream produced by dividend payments is unpredictable, the Sponsor
cannot provide any assurance that dividends will be sufficient to meet
any or all expenses of the Trust. As described above, if dividends are
insufficient to cover expenses, it is likely that Equity Securities will
have to be sold to meet Trust expenses. These sales may result in
capital gains or losses to Unit holders. See "What is the Federal Tax
Status of Unit Holders?"
The Indenture requires the Trust to be audited on an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent auditors selected by the Sponsor. So
long as the Sponsor is making a secondary market for the Units, the
Sponsor is required to bear the cost of such annual audits to the extent
such cost exceeds $0.0050 per Unit. Unit holders of the Trust covered by
an audit may obtain a copy of the audited financial statements upon
request.
What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?
The following is a general discussion of certain of the Federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Units. The summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as
"capital assets" (generally, property held for investment) within the
meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code"). Unit holders should consult their tax advisers in determining
the Federal, state, local and any other tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of Units in the Trust.
In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor,
under existing law:
1. The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for
Federal income tax purposes; each Unit holder will be treated as the
owner of a pro rata portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the
Code; and the income of the Trust will be treated as income of the Unit
holders thereof under the Code. Each Unit holder will be considered to
have received his pro rata share of the income derived from each Equity
Security when such income is considered to be received by the Trust.
2. Each Unit holder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes
of an Equity Security (whether by sale, exchange, liquidation,
redemption, or otherwise) or upon the sale or redemption of Units by
such Unit holder. The price a Unit holder pays for his Units is
allocated among his pro rata portion of each Equity Security held by the
Trust (in proportion to the fair market values thereof on the date the
Unit holder purchases his Units) in order to determine his tax basis for
his pro rata portion of each Equity Security held by the Trust. For
Federal income tax purposes, a Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends, as defined by Section 316 of the Code, paid by a corporation
with respect to an Equity Security held by the Trust is taxable as
ordinary income to the extent of such corporation's current and
accumulated "earnings and profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends paid on such Equity Security which exceed such current and
Page 8
accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a Unit holder's tax
basis in such Equity Security, and to the extent that such dividends
exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such Equity Security shall generally
be treated as capital gain. In general, any such capital gain will be
short-term unless a Unit holder has held his Units for more than one year.
3. A Unit holder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or
redemption of Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the
Trust will generally be considered a capital gain except in the case of
a dealer or a financial institution and will be long-term if the Unit
holder has held his Units for more than one year (the date on which the
Units are acquired (i.e., the trade date) is excluded for purposes of
determining whether the Units have been held for more than one year). A
Unit holder's portion of loss, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the Trust will
generally be considered a capital loss (except in the case of a dealer
or a financial institution) and, in general, will be long-term if the
Unit holder has held his Units for more than one year. Unit holders
should consult their tax advisers regarding the recognition of such
capital gains and losses for Federal income tax purposes.
Dividends Received Deduction. A Unit holder will be considered to have
received all of the dividends paid on his pro rata portion of each
Equity Security when such dividends are received by the Trust.
A corporation that owns Units will generally be entitled to a 70%
dividends received deduction with respect to such Unit holder's pro rata
portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the extent such dividends
are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed above) in the same manner
as if such corporation directly owned the Equity Securities paying such
dividends (other than corporate Unit holders, such as "S" corporations,
which are not eligible for the deduction because of their special
characteristics and other than for purposes of special taxes such as the
accumulated earnings tax and the personal holding corporation tax).
However, a corporation owning Units should be aware that Sections 246
and 246A of the Code impose additional limitations on the eligibility of
dividends for the 70% dividends received deduction. These limitations
include a requirement that stock (and therefore Units) must generally be
held at least 46 days (as determined under Section 246(c) of the Code).
Final regulations have been recently issued which address special rules
that must be considered in determining whether the 46-day holding
requirement is met. Moreover, the allowable percentage of the deduction
will be reduced from 70% if a corporate Unit holder owns certain stock
(or Units) the financing of which is directly attributable to
indebtedness incurred by such corporation.
It should be noted that various legislative proposals that would affect
the dividends received deduction have been introduced. Unit holders
should consult with their tax advisers with respect to the limitations
on and possible modifications to the dividends received deduction.
Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by Unit holders. Each
Unit holder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is
deductible by the Unit holder to the same extent as though the expense
had been paid directly by such Unit holder. It should be noted that as a
result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, certain miscellaneous itemized
deductions, such as investment expenses, tax return preparation fees and
employee business expenses will be deductible by an individual only to
the extent they exceed 2% of such individual's adjusted gross income.
Unit holders may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of the
Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Securities by
the Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unit holder may
recognize taxable gain (or loss) when an Equity Security is disposed of
by the Trust or if the Unit holder disposes of a Unit. For taxpayers
other than corporations, net capital gains are subject to a maximum
stated marginal tax rate of 28%. However, it should be noted that
legislative proposals are introduced from time to time that affect tax
rates and could affect relative differences at which ordinary income and
capital gains are taxed.
The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the "Tax Act") raised tax rates
on ordinary income while capital gains remain subject to a 28% maximum
stated rate for taxpayers other than corporations. Because some or all
capital gains are taxed at a comparatively lower rate under the Tax Act,
the Tax Act includes a provision that recharacterizes capital gains as
ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions that are
Page 9
"conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered into after
April 30, 1993. Unit holders and prospective investors should consult
with their tax advisers regarding the potential effect of this provision
on their investment in Units.
If the Unit holder disposes of a Unit, he is deemed thereby to have
disposed of his entire pro rata interest in all assets of the Trust
involved including his pro rata portion of all the Equity Securities
represented by the Unit.
Special Tax Consequences of In-Kind Distributions Upon Redemption of
Units or Termination of the Trust. As discussed in "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?", under certain
circumstances a Unit holder who owns at least 2,500 Units may request an
In-Kind Distribution upon the redemption of Units or the termination of
the Trust. The Unit holder requesting an In-Kind Distribution will be
liable for expenses related thereto (the "Distribution Expenses") and
the amount of such In-Kind Distribution will be reduced by the amount of
the Distribution Expenses. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How are Income
and Capital Distributed?" As previously discussed, prior to the
redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust, a Unit holder is
considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of the Trust assets for
Federal income tax purposes. The receipt of an In-Kind Distribution will
result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided interest in whole shares
of stock plus, possibly, cash.
The potential tax consequences that may occur under an In-Kind
Distribution will depend on whether or not a Unit holder receives cash
in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity Security" for this purpose
is a particular class of stock issued by a particular corporation. A
Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unit holder only
receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion
in the Equity Securities held by the Trust. However, if a Unit holder
also receives cash in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity
Security held by the Trust, such Unit holder will generally recognize
gain or loss based upon the difference between the amount of cash
received by the Unit holder and his tax basis in such fractional share
of an Equity Security held by the Trust.
Because the Trust will own many Equity Securities, a Unit holder who
requests an In-Kind Distribution will have to analyze the tax
consequences with respect to each Equity Security owned by the Trust.
The amount of taxable gain (or loss) recognized upon such exchange will
generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the rules
described above by such Unit holder with respect to each Equity Security
owned by the Trust. Unit holders who request an In-Kind Distribution are
advised to consult their tax advisers in this regard.
Computation of the Unit holder's Tax Basis. Initially, a Unit holder's
tax basis in his Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unit
holder for his Units. The cost of the Units is allocated among the
Equity Securities held in the Trust in accordance with the proportion of
the fair market values of such Equity Securities as of the valuation
date nearest the date the Units are purchased in order to determine such
Unit holder's tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity Security.
A Unit holder's tax basis in his Units and his pro rata portion of an
Equity Security held by the Trust will be reduced to the extent
dividends paid with respect to such Equity Security are received by the
Trust which are not taxable as ordinary income as described above.
General. Each Unit holder will be requested to provide the Unit holder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the
Unit holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that
payments to the Unit holder are subject to back-up withholding. If the
proper taxpayer identification number and appropriate certification are
not provided when requested, distributions by the Trust to such Unit
holder (including amounts received upon the redemption of Units) will be
subject to back-up withholding. Distributions by the Trust will
generally be subject to United States income taxation and withholding in
the case of Units held by non-resident alien individuals, foreign
corporations or other non-United States persons. Such persons should
consult their tax advisers.
Unit holders will be notified annually of the amounts of income
dividends includable in the Unit holder's gross income and amounts of
Trust expenses which may be claimed as itemized deductions.
Unit holders desiring to purchase Units for tax-deferred plans and IRAs
should consult their broker for details on establishing such accounts.
Units may also be purchased by persons who already have self-directed
plans established. See "Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for
Retirement Plans?"
Page 10
The foregoing discussion relates only to United States Federal income
taxation of Unit holders; Unit holders may be subject to state and local
taxation in other jurisdictions. Unit holders should consult their tax
advisers regarding potential state or local taxation with respect to the
Units, and foreign investors should consult their tax advisers with
respect to United States tax consequences of ownership of Units.
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, Special Counsel to the
Trust for New York tax matters, under the existing income tax laws of
the State of New York, the Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation and the income of the Trust will be treated as the income of
the Unit holders thereof.
Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for Retirement Plans?
Units of the Trust may be well suited for purchase by Individual
Retirement Accounts, Keogh Plans, pension funds and other tax-deferred
retirement plans. Generally, the Federal income tax relating to capital
gains and income received in each of the foregoing plans is deferred
until distributions are received. Distributions from such plans are
generally treated as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be eligible
for special averaging or tax-deferred rollover treatment. Investors
considering participation in any such plan should review specific tax
laws related thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers
with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such plan. Such
plans are offered by brokerage firms and other financial institutions.
Fees and charges with respect to such plans may vary.
PORTFOLIO
What are Equity Securities?
The Trust consists of different issues of Equity Securities which are
listed on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market
System or traded in the over-the-counter market. See "What are the
Equity Securities Selected for Energy Growth Trust, Series 1?" for a
general description of the companies.
Risk Factors. An investment in Units of the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the problems and risks such an investment may entail.
The Energy Growth Trust, Series 1 invests in Equity Securities of
companies involved in the energy industry, including the conventional
areas of oil, gas, electricity and coal, and newer sources of energy
such as nuclear, geothermal, oil shale and solar power. The business
activities of companies held in the Trust may include: production,
generation, transmission, marketing, control, or measurement of energy
or energy fuels; providing component parts or services to companies
engaged in the above activities; energy research or experimentation; and
environmental activities related to the solution of energy problems,
such as energy conservation and pollution control. Companies
participating in new activities resulting from technological advances or
research discoveries in the energy field were also considered for this
Trust.
The securities of companies in the energy field are subject to changes
in value and dividend yield which depend, to a large extent, on the
price and supply of energy fuels. Swift price and supply fluctuations
may be caused by events relating to international politics, energy
conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other
regulatory policies of various governments. As a result of the
foregoing, the Equity Securities in the Trust may be subject to rapid
price volatility. The Sponsor is unable to predict what impact the
foregoing factors will have on the Equity Securities during the life of
the Trust.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the factors which will
most likely shape the energy industry include the price and availability
of oil from the Middle East, changes in United States environmental
policies and the continued decline in U.S. production of crude oil.
Possible effects of these factors may be increased U.S. and world
dependence on oil from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
("OPEC") and highly uncertain and potentially more volatile oil prices.
Factors which the Sponsor believes may increase the profitability of oil
and petroleum operations include increasing demand for oil and petroleum
products as a result of the continued increases in annual miles driven
and the improvement in refinery operating margins caused by increases in
average domestic refinery utilization rates. The existence of surplus
crude oil production capacity and the willingness to adjust production
levels are the two principal requirements for stable crude oil markets.
Without excess capacity, supply disruptions in some countries cannot be
compensated for by others. Surplus capacity in Saudi Arabia and a few
Page 11
other countries and the utilization of that capacity prevented, during
the Persian Gulf crisis, and continues to prevent, severe market
disruption. Although unused capacity contributed to market stability in
1990 and 1991, it ordinarily creates pressure to overproduce and
contributes to market uncertainty. The likely restoration of a large
portion of Kuwait and Iraq's production and export capacity over the
next few years could lead to such a development in the absence of
substantial growth in world oil demand. Formerly, OPEC members attempted
to exercise control over production levels in each country through a
system of mandatory production quotas. Because of the crisis in the
Middle East, the mandatory system has since been replaced with a
voluntary system. Production under the new system has had to be
curtailed on at least one occasion as a result of weak prices, even in
the absence of supplies from Kuwait and Iraq. The pressure to deviate
from mandatory quotas, if they are reimposed, is likely to be
substantial and could lead to a weakening of prices. In the longer term,
additional capacity and production will be required to accommodate the
expected large increases in world oil demand and to compensate for
expected sharp drops in U.S. crude oil production and exports from the
Soviet Union. Only a few OPEC countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have
the petroleum reserves that will allow the required increase in
production capacity to be attained. Given the large-scale financing that
is required, the prospect that such expansion will occur soon enough to
meet the increased demand is uncertain.
Declining U.S. crude oil production will likely lead to increased
dependence on OPEC oil, putting refiners at risk of continued and
unpredictable supply disruptions. Increasing sensitivity to
environmental concerns will also pose serious challenges to the industry
over the coming decade. Refiners are likely to be required to make heavy
capital investments and make major production adjustments in order to
comply with increasingly stringent environmental legislation, such as
the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act. If the cost of these changes
is substantial enough to cut deeply into profits, smaller refiners may
be forced out of the industry entirely. Moreover, lower consumer demand
due to increases in energy efficiency and conservation, gasoline
reformulations that call for less crude oil, warmer winters or a general
slowdown in economic growth in this country and abroad could negatively
affect the price of oil and the profitability of oil companies. No
assurance can be given that the demand for or prices of oil will
increase or that any increases will not be marked by great volatility.
Some oil companies may incur large cleanup and litigation costs relating
to oil spills and other environmental damage. Oil production and
refining operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations governing air emissions and the
disposal of hazardous materials. Increasingly stringent environmental
laws and regulations are expected to require companies with oil
production and refining operations to devote significant financial and
managerial resources to pollution control. General problems of the oil
and petroleum products industry include the ability of a few influential
producers to significantly affect production, the concomitant volatility
of crude oil prices, increasing public and governmental concern over air
emissions, waste product disposal, fuel quality and the environmental
effects of fossil-fuel use in general.
In addition, any future scientific advances concerning new sources of
energy and fuels or legislative changes relating to the energy industry
or the environment could have a negative impact on the petroleum
products industry. While legislation has been enacted to deregulate
certain aspects of the oil industry, no assurances can be given that new
or additional regulations will not be adopted. Each of the problems
referred to could adversely affect the financial stability of the
issuers of any petroleum industry stocks in the Trust.
Certain of the Equity Securities in the Trust are of foreign issuers,
and therefore, an investment in the Trust involves some investment risks
that are different in some respects from an investment in a trust that
invests entirely in securities of domestic issuers. Those investment
risks include future political and governmental restrictions which might
adversely affect the payment or receipt of payment of dividends on the
relevant Equity Securities, currency exchange rate fluctuations,
exchange control policies, and the limited liquidity and small market
capitalization of such foreign countries' securities markets. In
addition, for foreign issuers that are not subject to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, there may be less
publicly available information than is available from a domestic issuer.
Also, foreign issuers are not necessarily subject to uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements
comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. However, due to the
nature of the issuers of the Equity Securities included in the Trust,
Page 12
the Sponsor believes that adequate information will be available to
allow the Portfolio Supervisor to provide portfolio surveillance.
Certain of the securities of the foreign issuers in the Trust are in ADR
form. ADRs evidence American Depositary Receipts which represent common
stock deposited with a custodian in a depositary. American Depositary
Shares, and receipts therefor (ADRs), are issued by an American bank or
trust company to evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a
foreign corporation. These instruments may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may
be converted. For purposes of the discussion herein, the term ADR
generally includes American Depositary Shares.
ADRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. In an unsponsored facility, the
depositary initiates and arranges the facility at the request of market
makers and acts as agent for the ADR holder, while the company itself is
not involved in the transaction. In a sponsored facility, the issuing
company initiates the facility and agrees to pay certain administrative
and shareholder-related expenses. Sponsored facilities use a single
depositary and entail a contractual relationship between the issuer, the
shareholder and the depositary; unsponsored facilities involve several
depositaries with no contractual relationship to the company. The
depositary bank that issues an ADR generally charges a fee, based on the
price of the ADR, upon issuance and cancellation of the ADR. This fee
would be in addition to the brokerage commissions paid upon the
acquisition or surrender of the security. In addition, the depositary
bank incurs expenses in connection with the conversion of dividends or
other cash distributions paid in local currency into U.S. dollars and
such expenses are deducted from the amount of the dividend or
distribution paid to holders, resulting in a lower payout per underlying
shares represented by the ADR than would be the case if the underlying
share were held directly. Certain tax considerations, including tax rate
differentials and withholding requirements, arising from applications of
the tax laws of one nation to nationals of another and from certain
practices in the ADR market may also exist with respect to certain ADRs.
In varying degrees, any or all of these factors may affect the value of
the ADR compared with the value of the underlying shares in the local
market. In addition, the rights of holders of ADRs may be different than
those of holders of the underlying shares, and the market for ADRs may
be less liquid than that for the underlying shares. ADRs are registered
securities pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and may be subject to
the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the Equity Securities that are ADRs, currency fluctuations will
affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the local currency price of the
underlying domestic share and, as a result, are likely to affect the
value of the ADRs and consequently the value of the Equity Securities.
The foreign issuers of securities that are ADRs may pay dividends in
foreign currencies which must be converted into dollars. Most foreign
currencies have fluctuated widely in value against the United States
dollar for many reasons, including supply and demand of the respective
currency, the soundness of the world economy and the strength of the
respective economy as compared to the economies of the United States and
other countries. Therefore, for any securities of issuers (whether or
not they are in ADR form) whose earnings are stated in foreign
currencies, or which pay dividends in foreign currencies or which are
traded in foreign currencies, there is a risk that their United States
dollar value will vary with fluctuations in the United States dollar
foreign exchange rates for the relevant currencies.
The Trust consists of such of the Equity Securities listed under
"Schedule of Investments" as may continue to be held from time to time
in the Trust and any additional Equity Securities acquired and held by
the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, together
with cash held in the Income and Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor
nor the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of the
Equity Securities. However, should any contract for the purchase of any
of the Equity Securities initially deposited hereunder fail, the Sponsor
will, unless substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover
such purchase are reinvested in substitute Equity Securities in
accordance with the Trust Agreement, refund the cash and sales charge
attributable to such failed contract to all Unit holders on the next
distribution date.
Because certain of the Equity Securities from time to time may be sold
under certain circumstances described herein, and because the proceeds
from such events will be distributed to Unit holders and will not be
reinvested, no assurance can be given that the Trust will retain for any
length of time its present size and composition. Although the Portfolio
is not managed, the Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to sell Equity
Page 13
Securities under certain limited circumstances. Pursuant to the
Indenture and with limited exceptions, the Trustee may sell any
securities or other property acquired in exchange for Equity Securities
such as those acquired in connection with a merger or other transaction.
If offered such new or exchanged securities or property, the Trustee
shall reject the offer. However, in the event such securities or
property are nonetheless acquired by the Trust, they may be accepted for
deposit in the Trust and either sold by the Trustee or held in the Trust
pursuant to the direction of the Sponsor (who may rely on the advice of
the Portfolio Supervisor). See "How May Equity Securities be Removed
from the Trust?" Equity Securities, however, will not be sold by the
Trust to take advantage of market fluctuations or changes in anticipated
rates of appreciation or depreciation.
Whether or not the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities
exchange, the principal trading market for the Equity Securities may be
in the over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid
trading market for the Equity Securities may depend on whether dealers
will make a market in the Equity Securities. There can be no assurance
that a market will be made for any of the Equity Securities, that any
market for the Equity Securities will be maintained or of the liquidity
of the Equity Securities in any markets made. In addition, the Trust may
be restricted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from selling
Equity Securities to the Sponsor. The price at which the Equity
Securities may be sold to meet redemptions and the value of the Trust
will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Equity Securities
are limited or absent.
An investment in Units should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in common stocks entails, including the risk that
the financial condition of the issuers of the Equity Securities or the
general condition of the common stock market may worsen and the value of
the Equity Securities and therefore the value of the Units may decline.
The past market and earnings performance of the Equity Securities in the
Trust is not predictive of their future performance. Common stocks are
especially susceptible to general stock market movements and to volatile
increases and decreases of value as market confidence in and perceptions
of the issuers change. These perceptions are based on unpredictable
factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary
and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or
contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking
crises. Shareholders of common stocks have rights to receive payments
from the issuers of those common stocks that are generally subordinate
to those of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred
stocks of, such issuers. Shareholders of common stocks of the type held
by the Trust have a right to receive dividends only when and if, and in
the amounts, declared by the issuer's board of directors and have a
right to participate in amounts available for distribution by the issuer
only after all other claims on the issuer have been paid or provided
for. Common stocks do not represent an obligation of the issuer and,
therefore, do not offer any assurance of income or provide the same
degree of protection of capital as do debt securities. The issuance of
additional debt securities or preferred stock will create prior claims
for payment of principal, interest and dividends which could adversely
affect the ability and inclination of the issuer to declare or pay
dividends on its common stock or the rights of holders of common stock
with respect to assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy. The
value of common stocks is subject to market fluctuations for as long as
the common stocks remain outstanding, and thus the value of the Equity
Securities in the Portfolio may be expected to fluctuate over the life
of the Trust to values higher or lower than those prevailing on the
Initial Date of Deposit.
Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred
stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of
the entity, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the
issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt
obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Cumulative
preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends and
any cumulative preferred stock dividend omitted is added to future
dividends payable to the holders of cumulative preferred stock.
Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights on
liquidation which are senior to those of common stockholders.
Unit holders will be unable to dispose of any of the Equity Securities
in the Portfolio, as such, and will not be able to vote the Equity
Securities. As the holder of the Equity Securities, the Trustee will
have the right to vote all of the voting stocks in the Trust and will
vote such stocks in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor.
Page 14
What are the Equity Securities Selected for Energy Growth Trust, Series 1?
Natural Gas
Enron Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of the
world's leading integrated natural gas companies with approximately $14
billion in assets. The company operates one of the largest natural gas
transmission systems, purchases and markets natural gas, produces and
markets natural gas liquids worldwide and is the largest independent
marketer of electricity in North America. Enron Corp. owns 61% of Enron
Oil & Gas Company, an independent (non-integrated) exploration and
production company in the United States and which is also included in
the Trust. The company also owns 52% of Enron Global Power & Pipelines
L.L.C., which owns and operates power plants and natural gas pipelines
in emerging markets; and is one of the largest independent developers
and producers of electricity in the world.
Sonat, Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is an integrated oil
and natural gas company engaged in exploration and production of oil and
natural gas, interstate transmission of natural gas, and natural gas and
electric power marketing.
Oil and Gas (Production)
Apache Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, explores for,
produces and develops natural gas and crude oil. The company holds
acreage under lease mostly in the Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast and Rocky
Mountain regions in the United States. Apache Corporation also has
international interests.
Enron Oil & Gas Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of the
largest independent (non-integrated) oil and gas companies in the United
States in terms of domestic proved reserves. Eighty-eight percent of the
company's year-end 1995 reserve base was located in North America.
Additionally, 92% of the company's reserve base consisted of natural gas
reserves. The company is 61% owned by Enron Corporation, which is also
included in the Trust.
Nuevo Energy Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, explores and
produces oil and natural gas primarily in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas,
offshore California and the Gulf of Mexico. The company also owns and
operates gas plants, pipeline facilities and other oil and gas-related
assets.
Oilfield Services and Equipment
BJ Services Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, provides cementing
and stimulation pressure pumping, coiled tubing and casing and tubing
services for the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells. The
company also offers commissioning and leak detection services on
offshore platforms, pipelines and refineries.
Baker Hughes, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading,
worldwide supplier of products, services and solutions to the oil and
gas processing industries.
Input/Output, Inc., headquartered in Stafford, Texas, has designed,
manufactured and marketed seismic instruments worldwide for 27 years.
Nabors Industries, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates more
than 250 land rigs. Offshore, the company operates platforms (including
labor contracts), barge rigs and jack-ups. The company participates in
significant oil, gas and geothermal drilling markets throughout the
world. Complementing its drilling and workover services, Nabors
Industries, Inc. provides comprehensive oil field engineering, logistics
and management services.
Schlumberger, Ltd., headquartered in New York, New York, offers services
to the petroleum industry. The company provides drilling, measurement
while drilling and oil well logging services. Schlumberger, Ltd. also
manufactures electricity and gas meters, power transmission equipment,
computer aided design systems and electronic payment systems. The
company sells its products and services worldwide.
Tidewater, Inc., headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, owns and
operates the world's largest fleet (including the Hornbeck vessels)
serving the international offshore energy industry. The company also
owns and operates the largest rental fleet of natural gas compressors in
the United States.
Western Atlas, Inc., headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, is a
global leader in oil field information services and industrial
automation systems with annual revenues of $2.2 billion.
Page 15
Oils, Integrated
Amoco Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the
largest U.S. integrated oil and chemical companies. Amoco Corporation
explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas worldwide and
manufactures and markets petroleum products and chemicals for a variety
of customers.
Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) is a large integrated oil company
based in Los Angeles, California, which conducts its principal
operations in the United States. The company explores for, develops and
produces petroleum gas, buys and sells petroleum liquids and natural gas
and mines and sells coal. Atlantic Richfield Company also refines,
transports and markets petroleum products and manufactures and sells
chemical and specialty products.
Chevron Corporation, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is an
international oil company with activities in the United States and
abroad. The company is involved in worldwide, integrated petroleum
operations which explore for, develop and produce petroleum liquids and
natural gas as well as transporting the products. The company is also
involved in the mineral and chemical industry.
Exxon Corporation, headquartered in Irving, Texas, is principally
involved in the energy industry. The company explores for and produces
crude oil and natural gas, manufactures petroleum products, explores for
and mines coal and minerals and transports and sells crude oil, natural
gas and petroleum products.
Repsol S.A. (ADR), headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is an integrated gas,
oil and petrochemical company engaged in several aspects of the
petroleum and natural gas industries in Spain and internationally. The
company owns 45% of Gas Natural, Spain's largest distributor of natural
gas, which owns 91% of ENAGAS. Repsol was Spain's largest industrial
company with revenues of U.S. $18 billion in 1994.
Royal Dutch Petroleum Company, headquartered in The Netherlands, owns
60% of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies. These companies are
involved in the petroleum industry from exploration to final processing
and delivery. The company has no operations of its own and the whole of
its income is derived from its 60% interest in the Royal Dutch/Shell
Group of companies.
Texaco, Inc., headquartered in White Plains, New York, is engaged in the
worldwide exploration, production, transportation, refining and
marketing of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products, including
petrochemicals. Texaco owns, leases or has interests in extensive
production, manufacturing, marketing, transportation and other
facilities throughout the world.
YPF Socied Anonima (ADR), headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is
an integrated natural gas and oil company which explores for, develops
and produces oil and natural gas in Argentina. The company also markets,
refines, transports and distributes oil and other various petroleum
products, petroleum derivatives, liquid petroleum gas and petrochemicals.
What are Some Additional Considerations for Investors?
Investors should be aware of certain other considerations before making
a decision to invest in the Trust.
The value of the Equity Securities will fluctuate over the life of the
Trust and may be more or less than the price at which they were
deposited in the Trust. The Equity Securities may appreciate or
depreciate in value (or pay dividends), depending on the full range of
economic and market influences affecting these securities.
The Sponsor and the Trustee shall not be liable in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any Security. In the event of a notice
that any Equity Security will not be delivered ("Failed Contract
Obligations") to the Trust, the Sponsor is authorized under the
Indenture to direct the Trustee to acquire other Equity Securities
("Replacement Securities"). Any Replacement Security will be identical
to those which were the subject of the failed contract. The Replacement
Securities must be purchased within 20 days after delivery of the notice
of a failed contract, and the purchase price may not exceed the amount
of funds reserved for the purchase of the Failed Contract Obligations.
If the right of limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraphs is not utilized to acquire Replacement Securities in the
event of a failed contract, the Sponsor will refund the sales charge
attributable to such Failed Contract Obligations to all Unit holders of
the Trust and the Trustee will distribute the principal attributable to
such Failed Contract Obligations not more than 120 days after the date
Page 16
on which the Trustee received a notice from the Sponsor that a
Replacement Security would not be deposited in the Trust. In addition,
Unit holders should be aware that at the time of receipt of such
principal, they may not be able to reinvest such proceeds in other
securities at a yield equal to or in excess of the yield which such
proceeds would have earned for Unit holders of the Trust.
The Indenture also authorizes the Sponsor to increase the size of the
Trust and the number of Units thereof by the deposit of additional
Equity Securities, or cash (including a letter of credit) with
instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in the Trust and
the issuance of a corresponding number of additional Units. If the
Sponsor deposits cash, existing and new investors could experience a
dilution of their investments and a reduction in anticipated income
because of fluctuations in the prices of the Equity Securities between
the time of the cash deposit and the actual purchase of the Equity
Securities and because the Trust will pay the brokerage fees associated
therewith.
The Trust consists of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" (or contracts to purchase such Securities) that may
continue to be held from time to time in the Trust, and any additional
Equity Securities acquired and held by the Trust, pursuant to the
provisions of the Indenture (including provisions with respect to
deposits into the Trust of Equity Securities, in connection with the
issuance of additional Units).
Once all of the Equity Securities in the Trust are acquired, the Trustee
will have no power to vary the investments of the Trust, i.e., the
Trustee will have no managerial power to take advantage of market
variations to improve a Unit holder's investment and may dispose of
Equity Securities only under limited circumstances. See "How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?"
To the best of the Sponsor's knowledge, there is no litigation pending
as of the Initial Date of Deposit in respect of any Equity Security
which might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Trust. At any time after the Initial Date of Deposit, litigation may
be instituted on a variety of grounds with respect to the Equity
Securities. The Sponsor is unable to predict whether any such litigation
will be instituted, or if instituted, whether such litigation might have
a material adverse effect on the Trust.
PUBLIC OFFERING
How is the Public Offering Price Determined?
Units are offered at the Public Offering Price. During the initial
offering period, the Public Offering Price is based on the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally
determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and
the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity Securities), plus or
minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust,
plus an initial sales charge equal to the difference between the maximum
sales charge of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum
remaining deferred sales charge, initially $0.20 per Unit. Commencing on
May 31, 1996, and on the last business day of each month thereafter,
through February 28, 1997, a deferred sales charge of $0.02 will be
assessed per Unit per month. Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment but still during the initial offering
period will be subject to the initial sales charge and the remaining
deferred sales charge payments not yet collected. The deferred sales
charge will be paid from funds in the Income and/or Capital Accounts, if
sufficient, or from the periodic sale of Equity Securities. The total
maximum sales charge assessed to Unit holders on a per Unit basis will
be 4.5% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.615% of the net
amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge) subject to a
reduction beginning May 1, 1997.
During the initial offering period, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price is
based on the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the
Trust (generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities), plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust and divided by the number of Units of the Trust
outstanding. For secondary market sales after the completion of the
deferred sales charge period, the Public Offering Price is also based on
the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
(generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and the bid prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities), plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust, plus a one-time initial sales charge of 4.5% of
the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.712% of the net amount
invested) and divided by the number of outstanding Units of the Trust.
Page 17
The minimum amount which an investor may purchase of the Trust is $1,000
($250 for an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plans).
The applicable sales charge for both primary and secondary market sales
is reduced by a discount as indicated below for volume purchases (except
for sales made pursuant to a "wrap fee account" or similar arrangements
as set forth below):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Primary and Secondary
_____________________
Percent of Percent of
Offering Net Amount
Number of Units Price Invested
_______________ ________ __________
<S> <C> <C>
5,000 but less than 10,000 0.25% 0.2506%
10,000 but less than 25,000 0.50% 0.5025%
25,000 but less than 50,000 1.00% 1.0101%
50,000 or more 2.00% 2.0408%
</TABLE>
Any such reduced sales charge shall be the responsibility of the selling
broker/dealer, bank or other selling agent. The reduced sales charge
structure will apply on all purchases of Units in the Trust by the same
person on any one day from any one broker/dealer, bank or other selling
agent. Additionally, Units purchased in the name of the spouse of a
purchaser or in the name of a child of such purchaser under 21 years of
age will be deemed, for the purposes of calculating the applicable sales
charge, to be additional purchases by the purchaser. The reduced sales
charges will also be applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary
purchasing securities for a single trust estate or single fiduciary
account. The purchaser must inform the broker/dealer, bank or other
selling agent of any such combined purchase prior to the sale in order
to obtain the indicated discount. In addition, with respect to the
employees, officers and directors (including their immediate family
members, defined as spouses, children, grandchildren, parents,
grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law and
daughters-in-law, and trustees, custodians or fiduciaries for the
benefit of such persons) of the Sponsor and broker/dealers, banks or
other selling agents and their subsidiaries, Units may be purchased at
the Public Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically
allows to dealers and other selling agents.
Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to
dealers and other selling agents for purchases (see "Public Offering-How
are Units Distributed?") by investors who purchase Units through
registered investment advisers, certified financial planners or
registered broker-dealers who in each case either charge periodic fees
for financial planning, investment advisory or asset management
services, or provide such services in connection with the establishment
of an investment account for which a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is
imposed.
Had the Units of the Trust been available for sale on the business day
prior to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering Price would
have been as indicated in "Summary of Essential Information." The Public
Offering Price of Units on the date of the prospectus or during the
initial offering period may vary from the amount stated under "Summary
of Essential Information" in accordance with fluctuations in the prices
of the underlying Equity Securities. During the initial offering period,
the aggregate value of the Units of the Trust shall be determined on the
basis of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities therein
plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the
Trust. The aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities during
the initial offering period will be determined in the following manner:
if the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities exchange or
the NASDAQ National Market System, this evaluation is generally based on
the closing sale prices on that exchange or that system (unless it is
determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis for valuation)
or, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange or system, at the
closing ask prices. If the Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so
listed and the principal market therefor is other than on the exchange,
the evaluation shall generally be based on the current ask prices on the
over-the-counter market (unless it is determined that these prices are
inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current ask prices are
unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of
current ask prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the
value of the Equity Securities on the ask side of the market or (c) by
any combination of the above.
After the completion of the initial offering period, the secondary
market Public Offering Price will be equal to the aggregate underlying
Page 18
value of the Equity Securities therein, plus or minus cash, if any, in
the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust plus the applicable sales
charge. The aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities for
secondary market sales is calculated in the same manner as described
above for sales made during the initial offering period with the
exception that bid prices are used instead of ask prices.
Although payment is normally made three business days following the
order for purchase (the "date of settlement"), payment may be made prior
thereto. A person will become owner of the Units on the date of
settlement provided payment has been received. Cash, if any, made
available to the Sponsor prior to the date of settlement for the
purchase of Units may be used in the Sponsor's business and may be
deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject to the limitations of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of Certificates representing
Units so ordered will be made three business days following such order
or shortly thereafter. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Units be
Redeemed?" for information regarding the ability to redeem Units ordered
for purchase.
How are Units Distributed?
During the initial offering period (i) for Units issued on the Initial
Date of Deposit and (ii) for additional Units issued after such date as
additional Equity Securities or cash are deposited by the Sponsor, Units
will be distributed to the public at the then current Public Offering
Price. The initial offering period may be up to approximately 360 days.
During such period, the Sponsor may deposit additional Equity Securities
or cash in the Trust and create additional Units. Units reacquired by
the Sponsor during the initial offering period (at prices based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust plus or
minus a pro rata share of cash, if any in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust) may be resold at the then current Public Offering
Price. Upon the termination of the initial offering period, unsold Units
created or reacquired during the initial offering period will be sold or
resold at the then current Public Offering Price.
Upon completion of the initial offering, Units repurchased in the
secondary market (see "Will There be a Secondary Market?") may be
offered by this prospectus at the secondary market public offering price
determined in the manner described above.
It is the intention of the Sponsor to qualify Units of the Trust for
sale in a number of states. Sales initially will be made to dealers and
other selling agents at prices which represent a concession or agency
commission of 3.0% of the Public Offering Price, and, for secondary
market sales, 3.0% of the Public Offering Price (or 65% of the then
current maximum sales charge after May 1). Volume concessions or agency
commissions of an additional 0.10% of the Public Offering Price will be
given to any broker/dealer or bank, who purchases from the Sponsor at
least $100,000 on the Initial Date of Deposit, $250,000 on any day
thereafter or $100,000 of The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds,
Series 237. Volume concessions or agency commissions of an additional
0.25% of the Public Offering Price will be given to any broker/dealer or
bank who purchases from the Sponsor at least $500,000 of the Trust on
the Initial Date of Deposit or any day thereafter. Effective on each May
1, commencing May 1, 1997, such sales charge will be reduced by 1/2 of
1% to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%. However, resales of Units of the
Trust by such dealers and other selling agents to the public will be
made at the Public Offering Price described in the prospectus. The
Sponsor reserves the right to change the amount of the concession or
agency commission from time to time. Certain commercial banks may be
making Units of the Trust available to their customers on an agency
basis. A portion of the sales charge paid by these customers is retained
by or remitted to the banks in the amounts indicated above. Under the
Glass-Steagall Act, banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust Units;
however, the Glass-Steagall Act does permit certain agency transactions
and the banking regulators have not indicated that these particular
agency transactions are not permitted under such Act. In Texas and in
certain other states, any banks making Units available must be
registered as broker/dealers under state law.
From time to time the Sponsor may implement programs under which
broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents of the Trust may receive
nominal awards from the Sponsor for each of their registered
representatives who have sold a minimum number of UIT Units during a
specified time period. In addition, at various times the Sponsor may
implement other programs under which the sales force of a broker/dealer,
bank or other selling agent may be eligible to win other nominal awards
for certain sales efforts, or under which the Sponsor will reallow to
Page 19
any such dealer that sponsors sales contests or recognition programs
conforming to criteria established by the Sponsor, or participates in
sales programs sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount not exceeding the
total applicable sales charges on the sales generated by such person at
the public offering price during such programs. Also, the Sponsor in its
discretion may from time to time pursuant to objective criteria
established by the Sponsor pay fees to qualifying dealers for certain
services or activities which are primarily intended to result in sales
of Units of the Trust. Such payments are made by the Sponsor out of its
own assets, and not out of the assets of the Trust. These programs will
not change the price Unit holders pay for their Units or the amount that
the Trust will receive from the Units sold.
The Sponsor may from time to time in its advertising and sales materials
compare the then current estimated returns on the Trust and returns over
specified periods on other similar Trusts sponsored by Nike Securities
L.P. with returns on other taxable investments such as corporate or U.S.
Government bonds, bank CDs and money market accounts or money market
funds, each of which has investment characteristics that may differ from
those of the Trust. U.S. Government bonds, for example, are backed by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and bank CDs and money
market accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government.
Money market accounts and money market funds provide stability of
principal, but pay interest at rates that vary with the condition of the
short-term debt market. The investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
Trust performance may be compared to performance on a total return basis
with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price
Index, or performance data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and
Morningstar Publications, Inc. or from publications such as Money, The
New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Forbes or
Fortune. As with other performance data, performance comparisons should
not be considered representative of the Trust's relative performance for
any future period.
What are the Sponsor's Profits?
The Sponsor of the Trust will receive a gross sales commission equal to
4.5% of the Public Offering Price of the Units (equivalent to 4.615% of
the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge), less
any reduced sales charge for quantity purchases as described under
"Public Offering-How is the Public Offering Price Determined?" See
"Public Offering-How are Units Distributed?" for information regarding
the receipt of additional concessions available to dealers and other
selling agents. In addition, the Sponsor may be considered to have
realized a profit or to have sustained a loss, as the case may be, in
the amount of any difference between the cost of the Equity Securities
to the Trust (which is based on the Evaluator's determination of the
aggregate offering price of the underlying Equity Securities of such
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit as well as subsequent deposits) and
the cost of such Equity Securities to the Sponsor. See Note (2) of
"Schedule of Investments." During the initial offering period, the
dealers and other selling agents also may realize profits or sustain
losses as a result of fluctuations after the Initial Date of Deposit in
the Public Offering Price received by the dealers and other selling
agents upon the sale of Units.
In maintaining a market for the Units, the Sponsor will also realize
profits or sustain losses in the amount of any difference between the
price at which Units are purchased and the price at which Units are
resold (which price includes a sales charge of 4.5% subject to reduction
beginning May 1, 1997) or redeemed. The secondary market public offering
price of Units may be greater or less than the cost of such Units to the
Sponsor.
Will There be a Secondary Market?
After the initial offering period, although not obligated to do so, the
Sponsor intends to maintain a market for the Units and continuously
offer to purchase Units at prices, subject to change at any time, based
upon the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the
Trust plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of
the Trust. All expenses incurred in maintaining a secondary market,
other than the fees of the Evaluator and the costs of the Trustee in
transferring and recording the ownership of Units, will be borne by the
Sponsor. If the supply of Units exceeds demand, or for some other
business reason, the Sponsor may discontinue purchases of Units at such
prices. IF A UNIT HOLDER WISHES TO DISPOSE OF HIS UNITS, HE SHOULD
Page 20
INQUIRE OF THE SPONSOR AS TO CURRENT MARKET PRICES PRIOR TO MAKING A
TENDER FOR REDEMPTION TO THE TRUSTEE. Units subject to a deferred sales
charge which are sold or tendered for redemption prior to such time as
the entire deferred sales charge on such Units has been collected will
be assessed the amount of the remaining deferred sales charge at the
time of sale or redemption.
RIGHTS OF UNIT HOLDERS
How is Evidence of Ownership Issued and Transferred?
The Trustee is authorized to treat as the record owner of Units that
person who is registered as such owner on the books of the Trustee.
Ownership of Units may be evidenced by registered certificates executed
by the Trustee and the Sponsor. Delivery of certificates representing
Units ordered for purchase is normally made three business days
following such order or shortly thereafter. Certificates are
transferable by presentation and surrender to the Trustee properly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. Certificates to be redeemed must be properly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unit
holder must sign exactly as his name appears on the face of the
certificate with the signature guaranteed by a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other
signature guaranty program in addition to, or in substitution for,
STAMP, as may be accepted by the Trustee. In certain instances the
Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not limited to,
trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or
administrator or certificates of corporate authority.
Certificates will be issued in fully registered form, transferable only
on the books of the Trustee in denominations of one Unit or any multiple
thereof, numbered serially for purposes of identification.
Unit holders may elect to hold their Units in uncertificated form. The
Trustee will maintain an account for each such Unit holder and will
credit each such account with the number of Units purchased by that Unit
holder. Within two business days of the issuance or transfer of Units
held in uncertificated form, the Trustee will send to the registered
owner of Units a written initial transaction statement containing a
description of the Trust; the number of Units issued or transferred; the
name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, of the new
registered owner; a notation of any liens and restrictions of the issuer
and any adverse claims to which such Units are or may be subject or a
statement that there are no such liens, restrictions or adverse claims;
and the date the transfer was registered. Uncertificated Units are
transferable through the same procedures applicable to Units evidenced
by certificates (described above), except that no certificate need be
presented to the Trustee and no certificate will be issued upon the
transfer unless requested by the Unit holder. A Unit holder may at any
time request the Trustee to issue certificates for Units.
Although no such charge is now made or contemplated, a Unit holder may
be required to pay $2.00 to the Trustee per certificate reissued or
transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with each such transfer or exchange. For new certificates
issued to replace destroyed, stolen or lost certificates, the Unit
holder may be required to furnish indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
and pay such expenses as the Trustee may incur. Mutilated certificates
must be surrendered to the Trustee for replacement.
How are Income and Capital Distributed?
The Trustee will distribute any net income received with respect to any
of the securities in the Trust on or about the Income Distribution Dates
to Unit holders of record on the preceding Income Record Date. See
"Summary of Essential Information." Persons who purchase Units will
commence receiving distributions only after such person becomes a record
owner. Notification to the Trustee of the transfer of Units is the
responsibility of the purchaser, but in the normal course of business
such notice is provided by the selling broker-dealer. The pro rata share
of cash in the Capital Account of the Trust will be computed as of the
fifteenth day of each month. Proceeds received on the sale of any Equity
Securities in the Trust, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of
Units or pay expenses, will, however, be distributed on the last day of
each month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth day of such month
if the amount available for distribution equals at least $1.00 per 100
Units. The Trustee is not required to pay interest on funds held in the
Capital Account of the Trust (but may itself earn interest thereon and
therefore benefit from the use of such funds). Notwithstanding,
Page 21
distributions of funds in the Capital Account, if any, will be made on
the last day of each December to Unit holders of record as of December
15. See "What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?"
Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of any distribution made by
the Trust if the Trustee has not been furnished the Unit holder's tax
identification number in the manner required by such regulations. Any
amount so withheld is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and
may be recovered by the Unit holder only when filing a tax return. Under
normal circumstances the Trustee obtains the Unit holder's tax
identification number from the selling broker. However, a Unit holder
should examine his or her statements from the Trustee to make sure that
the Trustee has been provided a certified tax identification number in
order to avoid this possible "back-up withholding." In the event the
Trustee has not been previously provided such number, one should be
provided as soon as possible.
Within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated, each Unit holder
will, upon surrender of his Units for redemption, receive: (i) the pro
rata share of the amounts realized upon the disposition of Equity
Securities, unless he elects an In-Kind Distribution as described below
and (ii) a pro rata share of any other assets of the Trust, less
expenses of the Trust. Not less than 60 days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date of the Trust, the Trustee will provide written notice
thereof to all Unit holders and will include with such notice a form to
enable Unit holders to elect a distribution of whole shares of Equity
Securities (an "In-Kind Distribution"), if such Unit holder owns at
least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than to receive payment in cash
for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the amounts realized upon the
disposition by the Trustee of Equity Securities. An In-Kind Distribution
will be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges. To be
effective, the election form, together with surrendered certificates and
other documentation required by the Trustee, must be returned to the
Trustee at least five business days prior to the Mandatory Termination
Date of the Trust. A Unit holder may, of course, at any time after the
Equity Securities are distributed, sell all or a portion of the shares.
The Trustee will credit to the Income Account of the Trust any dividends
received on the Equity Securities therein. All other receipts (e.g.
return of capital, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account of the Trust.
The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within the
Trust for state and local taxes, if any, and any governmental charges
payable out of the Trust.
What Reports will Unit Holders Receive?
The Trustee shall furnish Unit holders in connection with each
distribution a statement of the amount of income, if any, and the amount
of other receipts, if any, which are being distributed, expressed in
each case as a dollar amount per Unit. Within a reasonable period of
time after the end of each calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to
each person who at any time during the calendar year was a Unit holder
of the Trust the following information in reasonable detail: (1) a
summary of transactions in the Trust for such year; (2) any Equity
Securities sold during the year and the Equity Securities held at the
end of such year by the Trust; (3) the redemption price per Unit based
upon a computation thereof on the 31st day of December of such year (or
the last business day prior thereto); and (4) amounts of income and
capital distributed during such year.
In order to comply with Federal and state tax reporting requirements,
Unit holders will be furnished, upon request to the Trustee, evaluations
of the Securities in the Trust furnished to it by the Evaluator.
How May Units be Redeemed?
A Unit holder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by tender to the
Trustee at its corporate trust office in the City of New York of the
certificates representing the Units to be redeemed, or in the case of
uncertificated Units, delivery of a request for redemption, duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with signature
guaranteed as explained above (or by providing satisfactory indemnity,
as in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed certificates), and
payment of applicable governmental charges, if any. No redemption fee
will be charged. On the third business day following such tender, the
Unit holder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit
equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next computed after receipt by
Page 22
the Trustee of such tender of Units. The "date of tender" is deemed to
be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee, except for Units
received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, the date of tender is the next
day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and such
Units will be deemed to have been tendered to the Trustee on such day
for redemption at the redemption price computed on that day. Units so
redeemed shall be cancelled.
Any Unit holder tendering 2,500 Units or more for redemption may request
by written notice submitted at the time of tender from the Trustee in
lieu of a cash redemption a distribution of shares of Equity Securities
in an amount and value of Equity Securities per Unit equal to the
Redemption Price Per Unit as determined as of the evaluation next
following tender. To the extent possible, in-kind distributions ("In-
Kind Distributions") shall be made by the Trustee through the
distribution of each of the Equity Securities in book-entry form to the
account of the Unit holder's bank or broker-dealer at the Depository
Trust Company. An In-Kind Distribution will be reduced by customary
transfer and registration charges. The tendering Unit holder will
receive his pro rata number of whole shares of each of the Equity
Securities comprising the portfolio and cash from the Capital Account
equal to the fractional shares to which the tendering Unit holder is
entitled. The Trustee may adjust the number of shares of any issue of
Equity Securities included in a Unit holder's In-Kind Distribution to
facilitate the distribution of whole shares, such adjustment to be made
on the basis of the value of Equity Securities on the date of tender. If
funds in the Capital Account are insufficient to cover the required cash
distribution to the tendering Unit holder, the Trustee may sell Equity
Securities in the manner described above.
Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a
Unit redemption if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unit
holder's tax identification number in the manner required by such
regulations. Any amount so withheld is transmitted to the Internal
Revenue Service and may be recovered by the Unit holder only when filing
a tax return. Under normal circumstances the Trustee obtains the Unit
holder's tax identification number from the selling broker. However, any
time a Unit holder elects to tender Units for redemption, such Unit
holder should make sure that the Trustee has been provided a certified
tax identification number in order to avoid this possible "back-up
withholding." In the event the Trustee has not been previously provided
such number, one must be provided at the time redemption is requested.
Any amounts paid on redemption representing income shall be withdrawn
from the Income Account of the Trust to the extent that funds are
available for such purpose, or from the Capital Account. All other
amounts paid on redemption shall be withdrawn from the Capital Account
of the Trust.
The Trustee is empowered to sell Equity Securities of the Trust in order
to make funds available for redemption. To the extent that Equity
Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust will be
reduced. Such sales may be required at a time when Equity Securities
would not otherwise be sold and might result in lower prices than might
otherwise be realized.
The Redemption Price per Unit (as well as the secondary market Public
Offering Price) will be determined on the basis of the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust plus or minus
cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust. The
Redemption Price per Unit is the pro rata share of each Unit determined
by the Trustee by adding: (1) the cash on hand in the Trust other than
cash deposited in the Trust to purchase Equity Securities not applied to
the purchase of such Equity Securities; (2) the aggregate value of the
Equity Securities held in the Trust, as determined by the Evaluator on
the basis of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in
the Trust next computed; and (3) dividends receivable on the Equity
Securities trading ex-dividend as of the date of computation; and
deducting therefrom: (1) amounts representing any applicable taxes or
governmental charges payable out of the Trust; (2) any amounts owing to
the Trustee for its advances; (3) an amount representing estimated
accrued expenses of the Trust, including but not limited to fees and
expenses of the Trustee (including legal and auditing fees), the
Evaluator and supervisory fees, if any; (4) cash held for distribution
to Unit holders of record of the Trust as of the business day prior to
the evaluation being made; and (5) other liabilities incurred by the
Trust; and finally dividing the results of such computation by the
number of Units of the Trust outstanding as of the date thereof.
The aggregate value of the Equity Securities used to calculate the
Redemption Price per Unit will be determined in the following manner: if
Page 23
the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities exchange or
the NASDAQ National Market System, this evaluation is generally based on
the closing sale prices on that exchange or that system (unless it is
determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis for valuation)
or, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange or system, at the
closing bid prices. If the Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so
listed and the principal market therefor is other than on the exchange,
the evaluation shall generally be based on the current bid prices on the
over-the-counter market (unless these prices are inappropriate as a
basis for evaluation). If current bid prices are unavailable, the
evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of current bid
prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the value of the
Equity Securities on the bid side of the market or (c) by any
combination of the above.
The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any
period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than
for customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which the
Securities and Exchange Commission determines that trading on the New
York Stock Exchange is restricted or any emergency exists, as a result
of which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may by order permit. Under certain extreme circumstances, the
Sponsor may apply to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an order
permitting a full or partial suspension of the right of Unit holders to
redeem their Units. The Trustee is not liable to any person in any way
for any loss or damage which may result from any such suspension or
postponement.
How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor?
The Trustee shall notify the Sponsor of any tender of Units for
redemption. If the Sponsor's bid in the secondary market at that time
equals or exceeds the Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase such
Units by notifying the Trustee before 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same
business day and by making payment therefor to the Unit holder not later
than the day on which the Units would otherwise have been redeemed by
the Trustee. Units held by the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee
for redemption as any other Units. In the event the Sponsor does not
purchase Units, the Trustee may sell Units tendered for redemption in
the over-the-counter market, if any, as long as the amount to be
received by the Unit holder is equal to the amount he would have
received on redemption of the Units.
The offering price of any Units acquired by the Sponsor will be in
accord with the Public Offering Price described in the then effective
prospectus describing such Units. Any profit or loss resulting from the
resale or redemption of such Units will belong to the Sponsor.
How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust?
The Portfolio of the Trust is not "managed" by the Sponsor or the
Trustee; their activities described herein are governed solely by the
provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture provides that the Sponsor may
(but need not) direct the Trustee to dispose of an Equity Security in
the event that an issuer defaults in the payment of a dividend that has
been declared, that any action or proceeding has been instituted
restraining the payment of dividends or there exists any legal question
or impediment affecting such Equity Security, that the issuer of the
Equity Security has breached a covenant which would affect the payments
of dividends, the credit standing of the issuer or otherwise impair the
sound investment character of the Equity Security, that the issuer has
defaulted on the payment on any other of its outstanding obligations,
that the price of the Equity Security has declined to such an extent or
other such credit factors exist so that in the opinion of the Sponsor,
the retention of such Equity Securities would be detrimental to the
Trust. Except as stated under "Portfolio-What are Some Additional
Considerations for Investors?" for Failed Obligations, the acquisition
by the Trust of any securities or other property other than the Equity
Securities is prohibited. Pursuant to the Indenture and with limited
exceptions, the Trustee may sell any securities or other property
acquired in exchange for Equity Securities such as those acquired in
connection with a merger or other transaction. If offered such new or
exchanged securities or property, the Trustee shall reject the offer.
However, in the event such securities or property are nonetheless
acquired by the Trust, they may be accepted for deposit in the Trust and
either sold by the Trustee or held in the Trust pursuant to the
direction of the Sponsor (who may rely on the advice of the Portfolio
Page 24
Supervisor). Proceeds from the sale of Equity Securities (or any
securities or other property received by the Trust in exchange for
Equity Securities) by the Trustee are credited to the Capital Account of
the Trust for distribution to Unit holders or to meet redemptions.
The Trustee may also sell Equity Securities designated by the Sponsor,
or if not so directed, in its own discretion, for the purpose of
redeeming Units of the Trust tendered for redemption and the payment of
expenses.
The Sponsor, in designating Equity Securities to be sold by the Trustee,
will generally make selections in order to maintain, to the extent
practicable, the proportionate relationship among the number of shares
of individual issues of Equity Securities. To the extent this is not
practicable, the composition and diversity of the Equity Securities may
be altered. In order to obtain the best price for the Trust, it may be
necessary for the Sponsor to specify minimum amounts (generally 100
shares) in which blocks of Equity Securities are to be sold.
INFORMATION AS TO SPONSOR, TRUSTEE AND EVALUATOR
Who is the Sponsor?
Nike Securities L.P., the Sponsor, specializes in the underwriting,
trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities.
Nike Securities L.P., an Illinois limited partnership formed in 1991,
acts as Sponsor for successive series of The First Trust Combined
Series, The First Trust Special Situations Trust, The First Trust
Insured Corporate Trust, The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds and
The First Trust GNMA. First Trust introduced the first insured unit
investment trust in 1974 and to date more than $9 billion in First Trust
unit investment trusts have been deposited. The Sponsor's employees
include a team of professionals with many years of experience in the
unit investment trust industry. The Sponsor is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and Securities Investor
Protection Corporation and has its principal offices at 1001 Warrenville
Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532; telephone number (708) 241-4141. As of
December 31, 1995, the total partners' capital of Nike Securities L.P.
was $9,033,760 (audited). (This paragraph relates only to the Sponsor
and not to the Trust or to any series thereof or to any other
Underwriter. The information is included herein only for the purpose of
informing investors as to the financial responsibility of the Sponsor
and its ability to carry out its contractual obligations. More detailed
financial information will be made available by the Sponsor upon request.)
Who is the Trustee?
The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), a
national banking association with its principal executive office located
at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, New York 10081 and its unit
investment trust office at 770 Broadway, New York, New York 10003. Unit
holders who have questions regarding the Trusts may call the Customer
Service Help Line at 1-800-682-7520. The Trustee is subject to
supervision by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
The Trustee, whose duties are ministerial in nature, has not
participated in the selection of the Equity Securities. For information
relating to the responsibilities of the Trustee under the Indenture,
reference is made to the material set forth under "Rights of Unit
Holders."
The Trustee and any successor trustee may resign by executing an
instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor and mailing a
copy of a notice of resignation to all Unit holders. Upon receipt of
such notice, the Sponsor is obligated to appoint a successor trustee
promptly. If the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt
or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, the Sponsor may
remove the Trustee and appoint a successor as provided in the Indenture.
If upon resignation of a trustee no successor has accepted the
appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor. The resignation or removal of a trustee becomes effective
only when the successor trustee accepts its appointment as such or when
a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee.
Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the
successor Trustee. The Trustee must be a banking corporation organized
Page 25
under the laws of the United States or any State and having at all times
an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than
$5,000,000.
Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee
The Sponsor and the Trustee shall be under no liability to Unit holders
for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action in good
faith pursuant to the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be
liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence (ordinary negligence in the case of the Trustee) or reckless
disregard of their obligations and duties. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the
Trustee of any of the Equity Securities. In the event of the failure of
the Sponsor to act under the Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder
and shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith under
the Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental
charges imposed upon or in respect of the Securities or upon the
interest thereon or upon it as Trustee under the Indenture or upon or in
respect of the Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay under any
present or future law of the United States of America or of any other
taxing authority having jurisdiction. In addition, the Indenture
contains other customary provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee.
If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the
Indenture or becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt or its
affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (a)
appoint a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the
Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or (b) terminate the Indenture and
liquidate the Trust as provided herein, or (c) continue to act as
Trustee without terminating the Indenture.
Who is the Evaluator?
The Evaluator is First Trust Advisors L.P., an Illinois limited
partnership formed in 1991 and an affiliate of the Sponsor. The
Evaluator's address is 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532. The
Evaluator may resign or may be removed by the Sponsor or the Trustee, in
which event the Sponsor and the Trustee are to use their best efforts to
appoint a satisfactory successor. Such resignation or removal shall
become effective upon the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Evaluator. If upon resignation of the Evaluator no successor has
accepted appointment within 30 days after notice of resignation, the
Evaluator may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor.
The Trustee, Sponsor and Unit holders may rely on any evaluation
furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator under the Indenture
shall be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information
available to it, provided, however, that the Evaluator shall be under no
liability to the Trustee, Sponsor or Unit holders for errors in
judgment. This provision shall not protect the Evaluator in any case of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties.
OTHER INFORMATION
How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?
The Sponsor and the Trustee have the power to amend the Indenture
without the consent of any of the Unit holders when such an amendment is
(1) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of
the Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision contained therein, or (2) to make such other provisions as
shall not adversely affect the interest of the Unit holders (as
determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee).
The Indenture provides that the Trust shall terminate upon the Mandatory
Termination Date indicated herein under "Summary of Essential
Information." The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of 100%
of the Unit holders of the Trust or by the Trustee when the value of the
Equity Securities owned by the Trust as shown by any evaluation, is less
than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of Equity
Securities deposited in such Trust during the primary offering period,
or in the event that Units of the Trust not yet sold aggregating more
than 60% of the Units of the Trust are tendered for redemption by a
Page 26
broker/dealer, including the Sponsor. If the Trust is liquidated because
of the redemption of unsold Units of the Trust by a broker/dealer, the
Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units of the Trust the entire
sales charge paid by such purchaser. In the event of termination,
written notice thereof will be sent by the Trustee to all Unit holders
of the Trust. Within a reasonable period after termination, the Trustee
will follow the procedures set forth under "How are Income and Capital
Distributed?"
Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity Securities will
begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The
Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sale of
the Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination of the Trust
specifying the time or times at which Unit holders may surrender their
certificates for cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unit
holder at his address appearing on the registration books of the Trust
maintained by the Trustee. At least 60 days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date of the Trust the Trustee will provide written notice
thereof to all Unit holders and will include with such notice a form to
enable Unit holders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity
Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration charges), if
such Unit holder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than to
receive payment in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity
Securities. To be effective, the election form, together with
surrendered certificates and other documentation required by the
Trustee, must be returned to the Trustee at least five business days
prior to the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust. Unit holders not
electing a distribution of shares of Equity Securities will receive a
cash distribution from the sale of the remaining Equity Securities
within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated. Regardless of
the distribution involved, the Trustee will deduct from the funds of the
Trust any accrued costs, expenses, advances or indemnities provided by
the Trust Agreement, including estimated compensation of the Trustee and
costs of liquidation and any amounts required as a reserve to provide
for payment of any applicable taxes or other governmental charges. Any
sale of Equity Securities in the Trust upon termination may result in a
lower amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not
required at such time. The Trustee will then distribute to each Unit
holder his pro rata share of the balance of the Income and Capital
Accounts.
Legal Opinions
The legality of the Units offered hereby and certain matters relating to
Federal tax law have been passed upon by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West
Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as counsel for the Sponsor.
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, will act as counsel for the Trustee and as
special New York tax counsel for the Trust.
Experts
The statement of net assets, including the schedule of investments, of
the Trust at the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit
appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement has been audited
by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon appearing elsewhere herein and in the Registration Statement,
and is included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Page 27
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS TRUST, SERIES 145
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 145, comprised of Energy Growth Trust, Series 1, at the opening
of business on April 10, 1996. This statement of net assets is the
responsibility of the Trust's Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on this statement of net assets based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of net assets is
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement
of net assets. Our procedures included confirmation of the letter of
credit held by the Trustee and deposited in the Trust on April 10, 1996.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the
overall presentation of the statement of net assets. We believe that our
audit of the statement of net assets provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of net assets referred to above presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145, comprised of Energy Growth
Trust, Series 1, at the opening of business on April 10, 1996 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
April 10, 1996
Page 28
Statement of Net Assets
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
April 10, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NET ASSETS
<S> <C>
Investment in Equity Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $146,037
Organizational and offering costs (3) 45,000
________
191,037
Less accrued organizational and offering costs (3) (45,000)
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4) (3,000)
________
Net assets $143,037
========
Units outstanding 15,000
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
<S> <C>
Cost to investors (5) $149,777
Less sales charge (5) (6,740)
________
Net assets $143,037
========
</TABLE>
[FN]
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
(1) Aggregate cost of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" is based on their aggregate underlying value.
(2) An irrevocable letter of credit totaling $200,000 issued by Bankers
Trust Company has been deposited with the Trustee as collateral, which
is sufficient to cover the monies necessary for the purchase of the
Equity Securities pursuant to contracts for the purchase of such Equity
Securities.
(3) The Trust will bear all or a portion of its estimated organizational
and offering costs which will be deferred and charged off over a period
not to exceed five years from the Initial Date of Deposit. The estimated
organizational and offering costs are based on 1,500,000 Units of the
Trust expected to be issued. To the extent the number of Units issued is
larger or smaller, the estimate will vary.
(4) Represents the amount of mandatory distributions from the Trust ($.20
per Unit), payable to the Sponsor in ten equal monthly installments
beginning on May 31, 1996, and on the last business day of each month
thereafter through February 28, 1997. If Units are redeemed prior to
February 28, 1997, the remaining amount of the deferred sales charge
applicable to such Units will be payable at the time of redemption.
(5) The aggregate cost to investors includes a sales charge computed at
the rate of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.615% of
the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge),
assuming no reduction of sales charge for quantity purchases.
Page 29
Schedule of Investments
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
April 10, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Market Cost of
of Aggregate Value Equity
Number Ticker Symbol and Offering per Securities
of Shares Name of Issuer of Equity Securities (1) Price Share to Trust (2)
_________ _______________________________________ ___________ ______ ____________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NATURAL GAS
194 ENE Enron Corporation 5.00% $ 37.625 $ 7,299
190 SNT Sonat, Inc. 4.99% 38.375 7,291
OIL AND GAS (PRODUCTION)
262 APA Apache Corporation 5.00% 27.875 7,303
267 EOG Enron Oil & Gas Company 5.03% 27.500 7,343
262 NEV Nuevo Energy Company 5.02% 28.000 7,336
OILFIELD SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT
193 BJS BJ Services Company 5.04% 38.125 7,358
245 BHI Baker Hughes, Inc. 4.97% 29.625 7,258
207 IO Input/Output, Inc. 5.05% 35.625 7,374
488 NBR Nabors Industries, Inc. 5.01% 15.000 7,320
85 SLB Schlumberger, Ltd. 5.01% 86.000 7,310
165 TDW Tidewater, Inc. 4.94% 43.750 7,219
120 WAI Western Atlas, Inc. 5.01% 61.000 7,320
OILS, INTEGRATED
99 AN Amoco Corporation 5.01% 73.875 7,314
60 ARC Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) 4.98% 121.250 7,275
129 CHV Chevron Corporation 4.98% 56.375 7,273
87 XON Exxon Corporation 4.98% 83.500 7,265
199 REP Repsol S.A. (ADR) 5.01% 36.750 7,313
50 RD Royal Dutch Petroleum Company 5.02% 146.625 7,331
83 TX Texaco, Inc. 4.95% 87.125 7,231
352 YPF YPF Socied Anonima (ADR) 5.00% 20.750 7,304
______ ________
Total Investments 100% $146,037
====== ========
</TABLE>
[FN]
______________
(1) All Equity Securities are represented by regular way contracts to
purchase such Equity Securities for the performance of which an
irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited with the Trustee. The
contracts to purchase Equity Securities were entered into by the Sponsor
on April 9, 1996.
(2) The cost of the Equity Securities to the Trust represents the
aggregate underlying value with respect to the Equity Securities
acquired (generally determined by the last sale prices of the listed
Equity Securities and the ask prices of the over-the-counter traded
Equity Securities on the business day preceding the Initial Date of
Deposit). The valuation of the Equity Securities has been determined by
the Evaluator, an affiliate of the Sponsor. The aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit was
$146,037. Cost and loss to Sponsor relating to the Equity Securities
sold to the Trust were $146,159 and $122, respectively.
Page 30
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Page 31
CONTENTS:
Summary of Essential Information 4
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 145:
What is The First Trust Special Situations Trust? 6
What are the Expenses and Charges? 7
What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders? 8
Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for
Retirement Plans? 11
Portfolio:
What are Equity Securities? 11
Risk Factors 11
What are the Equity Securities Selected for
Energy Growth Trust, Series 1? 15
What are Some Additional Considerations for Investors? 16
Public Offering:
How is the Public Offering Price Determined? 17
How are Units Distributed? 19
What are the Sponsor's Profits? 20
Will There be a Secondary Market? 20
Rights of Unit Holders:
How is Evidence of Ownership Issued and Transferred? 21
How are Income and Capital Distributed? 21
What Reports will Unit Holders Receive? 22
How May Units be Redeemed? 22
How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor? 24
How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust? 24
Information as to Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator:
Who is the Sponsor? 25
Who is the Trustee? 25
Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee 26
Who is the Evaluator? 26
Other Information:
How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated? 26
Legal Opinions 27
Experts 27
Report of Independent Auditors 28
Statement of Net Assets 29
Notes to Statement of Net Assets 29
Schedule of Investments 30
_______________
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS RELATING THERETO, WHICH THE FUND
HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940,
AND TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE.
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
Energy Growth Trust
Series 1
Nike Securities, L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road, Suite 300
Lisle, Illinois 60532
1-708-241-4141
Trustee:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association)
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003
1-800-682-7520
April 10, 1996
PLEASE RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Page 32
