FILE NO: 333-
CIK #1025244
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM S-6
For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2.
A. Exact name of Trust: VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY
TRUST, SERIES 98
B. Name of Depositor: VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
C. Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace Illinois 60181
D. Name and complete address of agents for service:
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Attention: Mark J. Kneedy Attention: Don G. Powell, Chairman
111 West Monroe Street One Parkview Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60603 Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
E. Title of securities being registered: Units of undivided fractional
beneficial interests
F. Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
____________________________________________ __________________________
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The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file
a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a)
may determine.
<PAGE>
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST
SERIES 98
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
PURSUANT TO RULE 404(C) OF REGULATION C
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(FORM N-8B-2 ITEMS REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION
1 AS TO PROSPECTUS ON FORM S-6)
FORM N-8B-2 FORM S-6
ITEM NUMBER HEADING IN PROSPECTUS
I. ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION
1. (a) Name of trust ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
(b) Title of securities issued ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
2. Name and address of Depositor ) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
) Trust Administration
3. Name and address of Trustee ) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
) Trust Administration
4. Name and address of principal ) Trust Administration
underwriter
5. Organization of trust ) The Trust
6. Execution and termination of ) The Trust
Trust Indenture and Agreement ) Trust Administration
7. Changes of Name ) *
8. Fiscal year ) *
9. Material Litigation ) *
<PAGE>
II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND
SECURITIES OF THE TRUST
10. General information regarding ) The Trust
Trust's securities and ) Federal Taxation
rights of security holders ) Public Offering
) Rights of Unitholders
) Trust Administration
) Risk Factors
11. Type of securities comprising ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
units ) The Trust
) Trust Portfolio
) Risk Factors
12. Certain information regarding ) *
periodic payment certificates )
13. (a) Loan, fees, charges and ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
expenses ) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
) Trust Portfolio
)
) Trust Operating Expenses
) Public Offering
) Rights of Unitholders
(b) Certain information )
regarding periodic ) *
payment plan certificates )
(c) Certain percentages ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
)
) Public Offering
) Rights of Unitholders
(d) Certain other fees, ) Trust Operating Expenses
expenses or charges ) Rights of Unitholders
payable by holders )
(e) Certain profits to be ) Public Offering
received by depositor, ) Trust Portfolio
principal underwriter, )
trustee or any )
affiliated persons )
(f) Ratio of annual charges ) *
to income )
14. Issuance of Trust's securities ) Rights of Unitholders
15. Receipt and handling of payments ) *
from purchasers )
16. Acquisition and disposition of ) The Trust
underlying securities ) Rights of Unitholders
) Trust Administration
17. Withdrawal or redemption ) Rights of Unitholders
) Trust Administration
18. (a) Receipt and disposition ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
of income ) Rights of Unitholders
(b) Reinvestment of ) *
distributions )
(c) Reserves or special funds ) Trust Operating Expenses
) Rights of Unitholders
(d) Schedule of distributions ) *
19. Records, accounts and reports ) Rights of Unitholders
) Trust Administration
20. Certain miscellaneous provisions ) Trust Administration
of Trust Agreement )
21. Loans to security holders ) *
22. Limitations on liability ) Trust Portfolio
) Trust Administration
23. Bonding arrangements ) *
24. Other material provisions of ) *
Trust Indenture Agreement )
III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED
PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR
25. Organization of Depositor ) Trust Administration
26. Fees received by Depositor ) *
27. Business of Depositor ) Trust Administration
28. Certain information as to ) *
officials and affiliated )
persons of Depositor )
29. Companies owning securities ) *
of Depositor )
30. Controlling persons of Depositor ) *
31. Compensation of Officers of ) *
Depositor )
32. Compensation of Directors ) *
33. Compensation to Employees ) *
34. Compensation to other persons ) *
IV. DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
35. Distribution of trust's ) Public Offering
securities by states )
36. Suspension of sales of trust's ) *
securities )
37. Revocation of authority to ) *
distribute )
38. (a) Method of distribution )
)
(b) Underwriting agreements ) Public Offering
)
(c) Selling agreements )
39. (a) Organization of principal ) *
underwriter )
(b) N.A.S.D. membership by ) *
principal underwriter )
40. Certain fees received by ) *
principal underwriter )
41. (a) Business of principal ) Trust Administration
underwriter )
(b) Branch offices or principal ) *
underwriter )
(c) Salesmen or principal ) *
underwriter )
42. Ownership of securities of ) *
the trust )
43. Certain brokerage commissions ) *
received by principal )
underwriter )
44. (a) Method of valuation ) Prospectus Front Cover Page
) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
) Trust Operating Expenses
) Public Offering
(b) Schedule as to offering ) *
price )
(c) Variation in offering price ) *
to certain persons )
46. (a) Redemption valuation ) Rights of Unitholders
) Trust Administration
(b) Schedule as to redemption ) *
price )
47. Purchase and sale of interests ) Public Offering
in underlying securities ) Trust Administration
V. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
48. Organization and regulation of ) Trust Administration
trustee )
49. Fees and expenses of trustee ) Summary of Essential Financial
) Information
) Trust Operating Expenses
50. Trustee's lien ) Trust Operating Expenses
VI. INFORMATION CONCERNING INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
51. Insurance of holders of trust's )
securities ) *
52. (a) Provisions of trust agreement )
with respect to replacement ) Trust Administration
or elimination portfolio )
securities )
(b) Transactions involving )
elimination of underlying ) *
securities )
(c) Policy regarding substitution )
or elimination of underlying ) Trust Administration
securities )
(d) Fundamental policy not ) *
otherwise covered )
53. Tax Status of trust ) Federal Taxation
VII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION
54. Trust's securities during ) *
last ten years )
55. )
56. Certain information regarding ) *
57. periodic payment certificates )
58. )
59. Financial statements ) Report of Independent Certified
(Instructions 1(c) to Form S-6)) Public Accountants
) Statement of Condition
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* Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required
<PAGE>
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securitites and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer, solictation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED APRIL 2, 1998
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
May __, 1998
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL
FIRST ALBANY CORP. BANKING TRUST, SERIES 1
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THE FUND. Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 98
(the "Fund") is comprised of one unit investment trust, First Albany Corp.
Banking Trust, Series 1 (the "Trust"). The Trust offers investors the
opportunity to purchase Units representing proportionate interests in a fixed
portfolio of equity securities issued by regional banks and thrifts ("Equity
Securities" or "Securities"). See "Trust Portfolio". Unless terminated earlier,
the Trust will terminate on May __, 2000 and any Securities then held will,
within a reasonable time thereafter, be liquidated or distributed by the
Trustee. Any Securities liquidated at termination will be sold at the then
current market value for such Securities; therefore, the amount distributable in
cash to a Unitholder upon termination may be more or less than the amount such
Unitholder paid for his Units.
ATTENTION FOREIGN INVESTORS. If you are not a United States citizen or
resident, distributions will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding
taxes; however, under certain circumstances treaties between the United States
and other countries may reduce or eliminate such withholding tax. See "Federal
Taxation." Such investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the
imposition of U.S. withholding on distributions.
OBJECTIVE OF THE TRUST. The objective of the Trust is to provide the
potential for capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of equity
securities issued by regional banks and thrifts. See "Objective and Securities
Selection." There is, of course, no guarantee that the objective of the Trust
will be achieved.
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE. The Public Offering Price of the Units of the Trust
includes the aggregate underlying value of the Securities in the Trust's
portfolio, an intial sales charge and cash, if any, in the Income and Capital
Accounts held or owned by the Trust. The initial sales charge is computed as
described under "Public Offering--General". Unitholders will also be subject to
a deferred sales charge described under "Public Offering--General". During the
initial offering period, the sales charge is reduced on a graduated scale for
sales involving at least 10,000 Units. If Units were available for purchase at
the close of business on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public
Offering Price per Unit would have been that amount set forth under "Summary of
Essential Financial Information". For sales charges in the secondary market, see
"Public Offering". The minimum purchase is 100 Units except for certain
transactions described under "Public Offering--Unit Distribution" and may vary
by selling firm. See "Public Offering."
ADDITIONAL DEPOSITS. The Sponsor may, from time to time after the
Initial Date of Deposit, deposit additional Securities in the Trust as provided
under "The Trust."
Units of the Trust are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or other
obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution or any government
agency and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of the
principal amount invested.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE
DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL DISTRIBUTIONS.
Distributions of dividends and capital, if any, received by the Trust will be
paid in cash on the applicable Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on the
record date as set forth in the "Summary of Essential Financial Information."
The initial estimated distribution will be $.__ per Unit and will be made on
June 25, 1998 to Unitholders of record on June 10, 1998. Gross dividends
received by the Trust will be distributed to Unitholders. Expenses of the Trust
will be paid with proceeds from the sale of Securities. For the consequences of
such sales, see "Federal Taxation". Additionally, upon termination of the Trust,
the Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of Units for redemption, to each
Unitholder his pro rata share of the Trust's assets, less expenses, in the
manner set forth under "Rights of Unitholders--Distributions of Income and
Capital."
SECONDARY MARKET FOR UNITS. After the initial offering period, although not
obligated 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 or bid prices of the 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 be based upon the aggregate underlying value of
the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the closing sale or
asked prices of the Securities) plus or minus cash, if any, in the Capital and
Income Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary market is not maintained, a
Unitholder may redeem Units through redemption 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 Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust.
A Unitholder tendering 1,000 or more Units for redemption may request a
distribution of shares of Securities (reduced by customary transfer and
registration charges) in lieu of payment in cash. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units."
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 Unitholders may surrender their certificates for
cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unitholder at his address
appearing on the registration books of the Trust maintained by the Trustee. At
least 30 days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide
written notice thereof to all Unitholders and will include with such notice a
form to enable Unitholders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity
Securities if such Unitholder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather
than to receive payment in cash for such Unitholder's pro rata share of the
amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity Securities. All
Unitholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares. To be effective,
the election form, together with surrendered certificates if issued, and other
documentation required by the Trustee, must be returned to the Trustee at least
five business days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. Unitholders not
electing a distribution of shares of Equity Securities will receive a cash
distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities within a reasonable time
after the Trust is terminated. See "Trust Administration--Amendment or
Termination."
REINVESTMENT OPTION. Unitholders of any Van Kampen American Capital-sponsored
unit investment trust may utilize their redemption or termination proceeds to
purchase units of any other Van Kampen American Capital trust in the initial
offering period accepting rollover investments subject to a reduced sales charge
to the extent stated in the related prospectus (which may be deferred in certain
cases). Unitholders also have the opportunity to have their distributions
reinvested into additional Units of the Trust, if Units are available at the
time of reinvestment, or into an open-end management investment company as
described herein. See "Rights of Unitholders--Reinvestment Option."
RISK FACTORS. An investment in the Trust should be made with an understanding
of the risks associated therewith, including the possible deterioration of the
financial condition of the issuers, the general condition of the stock market,
volatile interest rates and risks related to an investment in banks and thrifts.
See "Risk Factors."
FIRST ALBANY CORP. BANKING TRUST, SERIES 1
SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE DAY BEFORE THE INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT:
MAY __, 1998
SPONSOR: VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
SUPERVISOR: VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL
INVESTMENT ADVISORY CORP.
EVALUATOR: AMERICAN PORTFOLIO EVALUATION SERVICES
(A DIVISION OF AN AFFILIATE OF THE SPONSOR)
TRUSTEE: THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Number of Units (1)
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1)
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Value of Securities in Portfolio (2) $
Aggregate Value of Securities per Unit $
Maximum Sales Charge (3) $
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $
Public Offering Price Per Unit (3)(4) $
Redemption Price per Unit $
Secondary Market Repurchase Price per Unit $
Excess of Public Offering Price per Unit over Redemption
Price per Unit $
Supervisor's Annual Supervisory Fee Maximum of $.0025 per Unit
Evaluator's Annual Evaluation Fee Maximum of $.0025 per Unit
Evaluation Time Close of the New York Stock Exchange
Mandatory Termination Date May __, 2000
Minimum Termination Value The Trust may be terminated if the
net asset value of the Trust is
less than $500,000 unless the net
asset value of the Trust deposits
has exceeded $15,000,000, then the
Trust Agreement may be terminated if
the net asset value of the Trust is
less than $3,000,000.
Estimated Annual Dividends per Unit (5) $
Trustee's Annual Fee and Miscellaneous
Expense per Unit $.01023
Estimated Annual Organizational
Expenses per Unit (6) $
Income Distribution Record Date Tenth day of March, June, September
and December
Income Distribution Date Twenty-fifth of March, June, September
and December
Capital Account Record Date Tenth day of December
Capital Account Distribution Date Twenty-fifth day of December
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(1)As of the close of business on any day on which the Sponsor is the sole
Unitholder of the Trust, the number of Units may be adjusted so that the
Public Offering Price per Unit will equal approximately $10. Therefore, to
the extent of any such adjustment the fractional undivided interest per Unit
will increase or decrease from the amount indicated above.
(2)Each Equity Security listed on a national securities exchange is valued at
the closing sale price or, if the Equity Security is not 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 is applicable to all Units and
represents an amount equal to the difference between the total sales charge
(3.25% of the Public Offering Price) and the amount of the deferred sales
charge ($0.225 per Unit). Unitholders will also be subject to a deferred
sales charge equal to $0.225 per Unit. Subsequent to the Initial Date of
Deposit, the amount of the initial sales charge will vary with changes in the
aggregate value of the Securities. Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment will be subject only to that portion the
deferred sales charge payment not yet collected. These deferred sales charge
payments will be paid from funds in the Capital Account, if sufficient, or
from the periodic sale of Securities. See the "Fee Table" below and "Public
Offering--General". On the Initial Date of Deposit there will be no cash in
the Income or Capital Accounts. Anyone ordering Units after such date will
have included in the Public Offering Price a pro rata share of any cash in
such Accounts.
(4)Commencing on May __, 1999, the secondary market sales charge will be
2.75% and will not include a deferred sales charge. See "Public Offering."
(5)Estimated annual dividends are based on annualizing the most recently
declared dividends taking into consideration any foreign withholding taxes.
Estimated Annual Dividends per Unit are based on the number of Units, the
fractional undivided interest in the Securities per Unit and the aggregate
value of the Securities per Unit as of the Initial Date of Deposit. Investors
should note that the actual annual dividends received per Unit will
vary from the estimated amount due to changes in the factors described in
the preceding sentence and actual dividends declared and paid by the
issuers of the Securities.
(6)The Trust (and therefore Unitholders) will bear all or a portion of its
organizational 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 portfolio and the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee but not
including the expenses incurred in the preparation and printing of brochures
and other advertising material and any other selling expenses) as is common
for mutual funds. Total organizational expenses will be amortized over the
life of the Trust. See "Trust Operating Expenses" and "Statement of
Condition." Historically, the sponsors of unit investment trusts have paid
all the costs of establishing such trusts.
FEE TABLE
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This Fee Table is intended to assist investors in understanding the costs and
expenses that an investor in the Trust will bear directly or indirectly. See
"Public Offering--General" and "Trust Operating Expenses". Although the Trust
has a fixed term, and is a unit investment trust rather than a mutual fund, this
information is presented to permit a comparison of fees. Investors should note
that while the example is based on the public offering price and the estimated
fees for the Trust, the actual public offering price and fees could
vary.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT PER
UNITHOLDER TRANSITION EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGEOF OFFERING PRICE) 100 UNITS
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<S> <C> <C>
Initial Sales Charge Imposed on Purchase (1) 1.00% $ 10.00
Deferred Sales Charges (2) 2.25% 22.50
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Total Sales Charge 3.25% $ 32.50
======== ===========
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (3) 2.25% $ 22.50
======== ===========
ESTIMATED ANNUAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE VALUE)
Trustee's Fee 0.081% $ 0.80
Portfolio Supervision and Evaluation Fees 0.051% $ 0.50
Organizational Costs % $
Other Operating Expenses 0.042% $ 0.42
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Total % $
======== ===========
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE
CUMULATIVE EXPENSES PAID FOR PERIOD OF:
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1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------- ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
assuming a5% annual return and redemption at the end of each time period $ $ $ N/A N/A
</TABLE>
The example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at the
end of each year and utilizes a 5% annual rate of return as mandated by
Securities and Exchange Commission regulations applicable to mutual funds. For
purpose 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
as 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.
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(1)The Initial Sales Charge is actually the difference between the Total Sales
Charge (3.25%) of the Public Offering Price and the Deferred Sales Charges
($0.225 per Unit) and would exceed 1.00% if the Public Offering Price exceeds
$10 per Unit.
(2)The actual deferred sales charge is $0.225 per Unit, irrespective of purchase
or redemption price, deducted over eight months. If a Unitholder sells or
redeems Units before all of the deferred sales charge payments have been
deducted, the balance of the remaining payments will be deducted from the
sales or redemption proceeds. If Unit price exceeds $10 per Unit, the
deferred portion of the sales charge will be less than 2.25%; if Unit price
is less than $10 per Unit, the deferred portion of the sales charge will
exceed 2.25%. Units purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge
payment will be subject to only that portion of the deferred sales charge
payments not yet collected.
(3)Reinvested dividends will be subject only to the deferred sales charge
remaining at the time of reinvestment. See "Rights of Unitholders--Reinvestment
Option".
THE TRUST
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Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 98 is comprised
of one unit investment trust, First Albany Corp. Banking Trust, Series 1. The
Trust was created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to a Trust
Indenture and Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated the date of this
Prospectus (the "Initial Date of Deposit"), among Van Kampen American Capital
Distributors, Inc., as Sponsor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a
division of Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator,
Edward D. Jones, as Supervisor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
The Trust offers investors the opportunity to purchase Units representing
proportionate interests in a portfolio of actively traded equity securities
issued by regional banks and thrifts. Diversification of assets in the Trust
will not eliminate the risk of loss always inherent in the ownership of
securities.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee the
Securities indicated under "Portfolio" herein, including delivery statements
relating to contracts for the purchase of certain such Securities and an
irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution in the amount
required for such purchases. Thereafter, the Trustee, in exchange for such
Securities (and contracts) so deposited, delivered to the Sponsor documentation
evidencing the ownership of that number of Units of the Trust indicated in
"Summary of Essential Financial Information." Unless otherwise terminated as
provided in the Trust Agreement, the Trust will terminate on the Mandatory
Termination Date and Securities then held will within a reasonable time
thereafter be liquidated or distributed by the Trustee.
Additional Units of the Trust may be issued at any time by depositing in the
Trust (i) additional Securities, (ii) contracts to purchase securities together
with cash or irrevocable letters of credit or (iii) cash (or a letter of credit)
with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As additional Units are
issued by the Trust as a result of the deposit of additional Securities, the
aggregate value of the Securities in the Trust will be increased and the
fractional undivided interest in the Trust represented by each Unit will be
decreased. The Sponsor may continue to make additional deposits of Securities or
cash with instructions to purchase Securities into the Trust following the
Initial Date of Deposit, provided that such additional deposits will be in
amounts which will maintain, as nearly as practicable, the same percentage
relationship among the number of shares of each Equity Security in the Trust's
portfolio that existed immediately prior to any such subsequent deposit. Any
deposit of additional Equity Securities will duplicate, as nearly as is
practicable, this actual proportionate relationship and not the original
proportionate relationship on the Initial Date of Deposit, since the actual
proportionate relationship may be different than the original proportionate
relationship. 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. Existing and new investors may
experience a dilution of their investments and a reduction in their anticipated
income because of fluctuations in the prices of the Securities between the time
of the cash deposit and the purchase of the Securities and because the Trust
will pay the associated brokerage fees.
Each Unit of the Trust initially offered represents an undivided interest
in the Trust. To the extent that any Units are redeemed by the Trustee or
additional Units are issued as a result of additional Securities being deposited
by the Sponsor, the fractional undivided interest in the Trust represented
by each unredeemed Unit will increase or decrease accordingly, although the
actual interest in the Trust represented by such fraction will remain unchanged.
Units will remain outstanding until redeemed upon tender to the Trustee by
Unitholders, which may include the Sponsor, or until the termination of the
Trust Agreement.
OBJECTIVE AND SECURITIES SELECTION
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The objective of the Trust is to provide the potential for capital
appreciation. The portfolio is described under "Trust Portfolio" and in
"Portfolio". The Securities were selected by First Albany Corp. (the "Managing
Underwriter"). In selecting the Securities, First Albany chose regional banks
and thrifts which, in its opinion, represented sound investment opportunities in
the banking sector. First Albany believes that the Trust may benefit from
increased merger and acquisition activity that has recently characterized the
banking industry.
A healthy economy, marked by moderate growth and low inflation, has helped
bolster the banking industry's strength. Other fundamental changes have helped
establish banking institutions across the country as comprehensive financial
institutions. First Albany believes that the following trends may offer the
potential for growth: deregulation of the banking sector; an increased number of
consolidations and mergers; growing assets under management; relatively stable
interest rates; low inflationary expectations; steady economic growth; strong
credit quality; technology-driven operational efficiencies; demographic shifts
that demand wide-ranging investment products and services; continued investment
in financial markets; and increased demand for private banking and asset
management. Of course, there can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve its
objective and any change in these factors and expectations could have an adverse
impact on the Trust.
GENERAL. An investor will be subject to taxation on the dividend income
received from the Trust and on gains from the sale or liquidation of Securities
(see "Federal Taxation"). Investors should be aware that there is not any
guarantee that the objectives of the Trust will be achieved because they are
subject to the continuing ability of the respective Security issuers to continue
to declare and pay dividends and because the market value of the Securities can
be affected by a variety of factors. Common stocks may be 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. Investors
should be aware that there can be no assurance that the value of the underlying
Securities will increase or that the issuers of the Equity Securities will pay
dividends on outstanding common shares. Any distributions of income will
generally depend upon the declaration of dividends by the issuers of the
Securities and the declaration of any dividends depends upon several factors
including the financial condition of the issuers and general economic
conditions.
Investors should note that the above criteria were applied to the Equity
Securities selected for inclusion in the Trust as of the Initial Date of
Deposit. Subsequent to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Securities may no longer
meet such criteria. Should an Equity Security no longer meet such criteria, such
Equity Security will not, simply as a result of such fact, be removed from the
portfolio of the Trust.
Investors should be aware that the Trust is not a "managed" fund and as a
result the adverse financial condition of a company will not result in its
elimination from the portfolio except under extraordinary circumstances (see
"Trust Administration--Portfolio Administration"). In addition, Securities will
not be sold by the Trust to take advantage of market fluctuations or changes in
anticipated rates of appreciation. Investors should note in particular that the
Securities were selected by the Sponsor as of the Initial Date of Deposit. The
Trust may continue to purchase or hold Securities originally selected through
this process even though the evaluation of the attractiveness of the Securities
may have changed and, if the evaluation were performed again at that time, the
Securities would not be selected for the Trust.
TRUST PORTFOLIO
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The Trust consists of __ different issues of Equity Securities issued
primarily by regional banks and thrifts. All of the Equity Securities are listed
on a national securities exchange, the NASDAQ National Market System or are
traded in the over-the-counter market. The following is a general description of
each of the companies included in the Trust.
GENERAL. The Trust consists of (a) the Securities listed under "Portfolio" as
may continue to be held from time to time in the Trust, (b) any additional
Securities acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the
Trust Agreement and (c) any 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 Securities. However, should any contract for the purchase of any
of the 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 Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement,
refund the cash and sales charge attributable to such failed contract to all
Unitholders 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 in most cases be distributed to Unitholders 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 Securities under certain
limited circumstances. See "Trust Administration--Portfolio Administration."
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.
RISK FACTORS
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GENERAL. 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. 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, 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 or at the time a
Unitholder purchases Units.
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.
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.
The Trust Agreement authorizes the Sponsor to increase the size of each Trust
and the number of Units thereof by the deposit of additional Securities, or cash
(or a letter of credit) with instructions to purchase additional Securities, in
the Trust and the issuance of a corresponding number of additional Units. If the
Sponsor deposits cash, existing and new investors may experience a dilution of
their investments and a reduction in their anticipated income because of
fluctuations in the prices of the Securities between the time of the cash
deposit and the purchase of the Securities and because each Trust will pay the
associated brokerage fees. As described under "Trust Operating Expenses," all of
the expenses of the Trust will be paid from the sale of Securities from the
Trust. It is expected that such sales will be made at the end of the initial
offering period and each month thereafter through termination of the Trust. Such
sales will result in capital gains and losses and may be made at times and
prices which adversely affect the Trust. For a discussion of the tax
consequences of such sales, see "Federal Taxation."
Unitholders 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. In the absence of any such instructions by the
Sponsor, the Trustee will vote such stocks so as to insure that the stocks are
voted as closely as possible in the same manner and the same general proportion
as are shares held by owners other than the Trust.
Like other investment companies, financial and business organizations and
individuals around the world, the Trust could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by the Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor or Trustee or other
service providers to the Trust do not properly process and calculate
date-related information and data from and after January 1, 2000. This is
commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." The Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor
and Trustee are taking steps that they believe are reasonably designed to
address the Year 2000 Problem with respect to computer systems that they use and
to obtain reasonable assurances that comparable steps are being taken by the
other service providers. At this time, however, there can be no assurance that
these steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact to the Trust.
The Year 2000 Problem is expected to impact corporations, which may include
issuers of Equity Securities contained in the Trust, to varying degrees based
upon various factors, including, but not limited to, their industry sector and
degree of technological sophistication. The Sponsor is unable to predict what
impact, if any, the Year 2000 Problem will have on issuers of the Equity
Securities contained in the Trust.
BANKING ISSUERS. The Trust is concentrated in securities issued by companies
in the banking industry. In view of this, an investment in Units should be made
with an understanding of the problems and risks inherent in the banking industry
in general. Banking institutions are especially subject to the adverse effects
of economic recession, volatile interest rates, portfolio concentrations in
geographic markets and in commercial and residential real estate loans, and
competition from new entrants in their fields of business. Economic conditions
in the real estate markets can have a significant effect upon banking
institutions because they generally have a substantial percentage of their
assets invested in loans secured by real estate. Banking institutions are
subject to extensive federal regulation and, when such institutions are
state-chartered, to state regulation as well. Regulatory actions, such as
increases in the minimum capital requirements applicable to commercial banks to
the FDIC, can negatively impact earnings and the ability of an institution to
pay dividends. Furthermore, neither federal insurance of deposits nor
governmental regulation, however, ensures the solvency of profitability of
banking institutions, or insures against any risk of investment in the
securities issued by such institutions.
Financial institutions and their holding companies are extensively regulated
under federal and state laws. As a result, the business, financial condition and
prospects of banks can be materially affected not only by management decisions
and general economic conditions, but also by applicable statutes and regulations
and other regulatory pronouncements and policies promulgated by regulatory
agencies with jurisdiction over the banks, such as the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System ("FRB"), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
("OCC"), the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS"), the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and the state banking regulators. The effect of
such statutes, regulations, and other pronouncements and policies can be
significant, cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty and can change
over time. Furthermore, such statutes, regulations, and other pronouncements and
policies are intended to protect depositors and the FDIC's deposit insurance
funds, not to protect stockholders. Bank holding companies as well as their
subsidiary banks are subject to enforcement actions by their regulators for
regulatory violations. In addition to compliance with statutory and regulatory
limitations and requirements concerning financial and operating matters,
regulated financial institutions must file periodic and other reports and
information with their regulators and are subject to examination by each of
their regulators.
The statutory requirements applicable to and regulatory supervision of bank
holding companies and their subsidiary banks have increased significantly and
have undergone substantial change in recent years. To a great extent, these
changes are embodied in the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and
Enforcement Act ("FIRREA"), enacted in August 1989, the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"), enacted in December
1991, and the regulations promulgated under FIRREA and FDICIA. The impact of
regulations promulgated pursuant to FDICIA on the business and financial
condition and prospects of banks cannot be predicted with certainty. Banks
currently face significant competition from other financial institutions such as
mutual funds, securities and brokerage companies, credit unions, mortgage
banking corporations and insurance companies, and increased competition may
result from broadening national interstate banking powers and liberalization of
certain restrictions on the activities of nonbank subsidiaries of banks. May of
these competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have
greater access to capital markets and offer a broader array of financial
services than the issuers of the Securities. There can be no assurance that such
issuers will be able to compete effectively in their markets, and the results of
operations could be adversely affected if circumstances affecting the nature or
level of competition change.
Federal legislation has become effective in recent years which serves to
lessen or remove certain legal barriers to interstate banking and branching by
financial institutions. The legislation may result in an increase in the
nationwide consolidation activity occurring among financial institutions by
facilitating interstate bank operations and acquisitions. The legislation does,
however, allow states to "opt out" of interstate branching and certain states
have opted out to the legislations. The effects of changes in interstate banking
cannot be predicted, however, it is likely that there will be increased
competition within the regional banking industry which could have an adverse
impact on certain issuers. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board has approved
applications by bank holding companies to engage, through nonbank subsidiaries,
in certain securities-related activities, provided that the subsidiaries would
not be "principally engaged" in such activities for purposes of Section 20 of
the Glass-Steagall Act. In certain situations, holding companies may be able to
use such subsidiaries to underwrite and deal in corporate debt and equity
securities. The Federal Reserve Board has recently liberalized the standards
used in determining whether a subsidiary is principally engaged in such
activities. From time to time bills have been introduced in Congress that would
remove many of the Glass-Steagall Act restraints. This and any future
liberalization of Glass-Steagall could result in increased competition which
could be have an adverse impact on certain issuers. The Sponsor makes no
prediction as to what, if any additional bank regulatory reform might be adopted
or what ultimately effect such reform might have on the Trust's portfolio.
FEDERAL TAXATION
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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"). Unitholders 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.
For purposes of the following discussion and opinions, it is assumed that each
Equity Security is equity for federal income tax purposes.
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 Unitholder 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 Unitholders thereof under the Code. Each
Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share of income
derived from each Trust asset when such income is considered to be received by
the Trust.
2. A Unitholder will be considered to have received all of the dividends paid
on his pro rata portion of each Equity Security when such dividends are
considered to be received by the Trust. Unitholders will be taxed in this manner
regardless of whether distributions from the Trust are actually received by the
Unitholder or are automatically reinvested.
3. Each Unitholder 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 Unitholder (except to
the extent an in kind distribution of stock is received by such Unitholder as
described below). The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally including
sales charges, is allocated among his or her pro rata portion of each Equity
Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the fair market values thereof on
the valuation date nearest the date the Unitholder purchase his Units) in order
to determine his or her tax basis for his or her pro rata portion of each Equity
Security held by the Trust. Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers
with regard to the calculation of basis. For federal income tax purposes, a
Unitholder'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
are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of such corporation's current and
accumulated "earnings and profits". A Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends
paid on such Equity Security which exceeds such current and accumulated earnings
and profits will first reduce a Unitholder's tax basis in such Equity Security,
and to the extent that such dividends exceed a Unitholder's tax basis in such
Equity Security shall generally be treated as capital gain. In general, the
holding period for such capital gain will be determined by the period of time a
Unitholder has held his Units.
4. A Unitholder'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). A Unitholderportion 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). Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding
the recognition of such capital gains and losses for federal income tax
purposes.
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Generally, the tax basis of a Unitholder includes
sales charges, and such charges are not deductible. A portion of the sales
charge for the Trust is deferred. The income (or proceeds from redemption) a
Unitholder must take into account for Federal income tax purposes is not reduced
by amounts deducted to pay the deferred sales charge. Unitholders should consult
their own tax advisers as to the income tax consequences of the deferred sales
charge.
DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION. A corporation that owns Units will generally be
entitled to a 70% dividends received deduction with respect to such Unitholder's
pro rata portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the extent such
dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed above, and are
attributable to domestic corporations) in the same manner as if such corporation
directly owned the Equity Securities paying such dividends (other than corporate
Unitholders, 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 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 Unitholder
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. Unitholders should consult with their tax advisers with respect
to the limitations on and possible modifications to the dividends received
deduction. To the extent dividends received by the Trust are attributable to
foreign corporations, a corporation that owns Units will not be entitled to the
dividends received deduction with respect to its pro rata portion of such
dividends, since the dividends received deduction is generally available only
with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
LIMITATIONS ON DEDUCTIBILITY OF TRUST EXPENSES BY UNITHOLDERS. Each
Unitholder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is deductible by
the Unitholder to the same extent as though the expense had been paid directly
by him. 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. Unitholders 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 EQUITY SECURITIES BY
THE TRUST OR DISPOSITION OF UNITS. As discussed above, a Unitholder may
recognize taxable gain (or loss) when an Equity Security is disposed of by the
Trust or if the Unitholder disposes of a Unit. For taxpayers other than
corporations, net capital gain (which is defined as net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss for the taxable year) is subject to a maximum
marginal stated tax rate of either 28% or 20%, depending upon the holding
periods of the capital assets. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding
period for the asset is more than one year, and is short-term if the holding
period for the asset is one year or less. Generally, capital gains realized from
assets held for more than one year but not more than 18 months are taxed at a
maximum marginal stated tax rate of 28% and capital gains realized from assets
(with certain exclusions) held for more than 18 months are taxed at a maximum
marginal stated tax rate of 20% (10% in the case of certain taxpayers in the
lowest tax bracket). Further, capital gains realized from assets held for one
year or less are taxed at the same rates as ordinary income. Legislation is
currently pending that provides the appropriate methodology that should be
applied in netting the realized capital gains and losses. Such legislation is
proposed to be effective retroactively for tax years ending after May 6, 1997.
Note that the date on which a Unit is acquired (i.e., the "trade date") is
excluded for purposes of determining the holding period of the Unit. 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.
In addition, please note that capital gains may be recharacterized as
ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions that are
considered "conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered into
after April 30, 1993. Unitholders and prospective investors should consult with
their tax advisers regarding the potential effect of this provision on their
investment in Units.
If a Unitholder disposes of a Unit he is deemed thereby to have disposed of
his entire pro rata interest in all assets of the Trust including his pro rata
portion of all Equity Securities represented by a Unit. The Taxpayer Relief Act
of 1997 (the "1997 Tax Act") includes provisions that treat certain transactions
designed to reduce or eliminate risk of loss and opportunities for gain (e.g.,
short sales, off-setting notional principal contracts, futures or forward
contracts, or similar transactions) as constructive sales for purposes of
recognition of gain (but not loss) and for purposes of determining the holding
period. Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with regard to any
such constructive sales rules.
SPECIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF IN KIND DISTRIBUTIONS UPON REDEMPTION OF UNITS OR
TERMINATION OF THE TRUST. As discussed in "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of
Units", under certain circumstances a Unitholder tendering Units for redemption
may request an In Kind Distribution. A Unitholder may also under certain
circumstances request an In Kind Distribution upon the termination of the Trust.
See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units." As previously discussed, prior
to the redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust, a Unitholder 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
Unitholder receiving an undivided interest in whole shares of stock plus,
possibly, cash.
The potential tax consequences that may occur under an In Kind Distribution
with respect to each Security owned by the Trust will depend on whether or not a
Unitholder 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 Unitholder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unitholder only
receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion in the
Equity Securities held by the Trust. However, if a Unitholder also receives cash
in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity Security held by the Trust, such
Unitholder will generally recognize gain or loss based upon the difference
between the amount of cash received by the Unitholder 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 Unitholder 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 Unitholder with respect to
each Equity Security owned by the Trust. Unitholders who request an In Kind
Distribution are advised to consult their tax advisers in this regard.
COMPUTATION OF THE UNITHOLDER'S TAX BASIS. Initially, a Unitholder's tax
basis in his or her Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unitholder
of his or her 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 on the valuation date nearest the date
the Units are purchased in order to determine such Unitholder's tax basis for
his pro rata portion of each Equity Security.
A Unitholder's tax basis in his Units and his or her 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 Unitholder will be requested to provide the Unitholder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the Unitholder
has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that payments to the
Unitholder 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 Unitholder (including amounts
received upon the redemption of Units) will be subject to back-up withholding.
Distributions by the Trust (other than those that are not treated as United
States source income, if any) 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.
In general, income that is not effectively connected to the conduct of a
trade or business within the United States that is earned by non-U.S.
Unitholders and derived from dividends of foreign corporations will not be
subject to U.S. withholding tax provided that less than 25 percent of the gross
income of the foreign corporation for a three-year period ending with the close
of its taxable year preceding payment was not effectively connected to the
conduct of a trade or business within the United States. In addition, such
earnings may be exempt from U.S. withholding pursuant to a specific treaty
between the United States and a foreign country. Non-U.S. Unitholders should
consult their own tax advisers regarding the imposition of U.S. withholding on
distributions from the Trust.
It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Equity
Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may be subject to
foreign withholding taxes and Unitholders should consult their tax advisers
regarding the potential tax consequences relating to the payment of any such
withholding taxes by the Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof will
nevertheless be treated as income to the Unitholders. Because, under the grantor
trust rules, an investor is deemed to have paid directly his share of foreign
taxes that have been paid or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a
foreign tax credit or deduction for United States tax purposes with respect to
such taxes. The 1997 Tax Act imposes a required holding period for such credits.
Investors should consult their tax advisers with respect to foreign withholding
taxes and foreign tax credits.
At the termination of the Trust, the Trustee will furnish to each Unitholder
of the Trust a statement containing information relating to the dividends
received by the Trust on the Equity Securities, the gross proceeds received by
the Trust from the disposition of any Equity Security (resulting from redemption
or the sale of any Equity Security), and the fees and expenses paid by the
Trust. The Trustee will also furnish annual information returns to Unitholders
and to the Internal Revenue Service.
In the opinion of special counsel to the Trust for New York tax matters, the
Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of the Trust
will be treated as the income of the Unitholders under the existing income tax
laws of the State and City of New York.
The foregoing discussion relates only to the tax treatment of U.S.
Unitholders ("U.S. Unitholders") with regard to federal and certain aspects of
New York State and City income taxes. Unitholders may be subject to taxation in
New York or in other jurisdictions and should consult their own tax advisers in
this regard. As used herein, the term "U.S. Unitholder" means an owner of a Unit
of the Trust that (a) is (i) for United States federal income tax purposes a
citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or
other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or
of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust the income of
which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its
source or (b) does not qualify as a U.S. Unitholder in paragraph (a) but whose
income from a Unit is effectively connected with such Unitholder's conduct of a
United States trade or business. The term also includes certain former citizens
of the United States whose income and gain on the Units will be taxable.
TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES
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COMPENSATION OF SPONSOR, SUPERVISOR AND EVALUATOR. The Sponsor will not
receive any fees in connection with its activities relating to the Trust. The
Supervisor will receive an annual supervisory fee which is not to exceed the
amount set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information," for
providing portfolio supervisory services for the Trust. Such fee (which is based
on the number of Units outstanding on January 1 of each year for which such
compensation relates except during the initial offering period in which event
the calculation is based on the number of Units outstanding at the end of the
month of such calculation) 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 by the Supervisor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the
Supervisor of supplying such services in such year. In addition, the Evaluator,
which is a division of Van Kampen American Capital Investment Advisory Corp.,
shall receive the annual per Unit evaluation fee set forth under "Summary of
Essential Financial Information" (which amount is based on the number of Units
outstanding on January 1 of each year for which such compensation relates except
during the initial offering period in which event the calculation is based on
the number of Units outstanding at the end of the month of such calculation) for
regularly evaluating the Trust portfolio. The foregoing fees are payable as
described under "General" below. Both of the foregoing fees may be increased
without approval of the Unitholders 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 or, if such
category is no longer published, in a comparable category. The Sponsor will
receive sales commissions and may realize other profits (or losses) in
connection with the sale of Units and the deposit of the Securities as described
under "Public Offering--Sponsor Compensation."
TRUSTEE'S FEE. For its services the Trustee will receive the annual per Unit
fee from the Trust set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information"
(which amount is based on the number of Units outstanding on January 1 of each
year for which such compensation relates except during the initial offering
period in which event the calculation is based on the number of Units
outstanding at the end of the month of such calculation). The Trustee's fees are
payable as described under "General" below. The Trustee benefits to the extent
there are funds for future distributions, payment of expenses and redemptions in
the Capital and Income Accounts since these Accounts are non-interest bearing to
Unitholders and the amounts earned by the Trustee are retained by the Trustee.
Part of the Trustee's compensation for its services to the Trust is expected to
result from the use of these funds. Such fees may be increased without approval
of the Unitholders 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 or, if such category is no
longer published, in a comparable category. For a discussion of the services
rendered by the Trustee pursuant to its obligations under the Trust Agreement,
see "Rights of Unitholders--Reports Provided" and "Trust Administration."
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in establishing the Trust,
including the cost of the initial preparation of documents relating to the Trust
(including the Prospectus, Trust Agreement and certificates), federal and state
registration fees, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, legal and
accounting expenses, payment of closing fees and any other out-of-pocket
expenses, will be paid by the Trust and amortized over the life of the Trust.
The following additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust: (a) normal
expenses (including the cost of mailing reports to Unitholders) incurred in
connection with the operation of the Trust, (b) fees of the Trustee for
extraordinary services, (c) expenses of the Trustee (including legal and
auditing expenses) and of counsel designated by the Sponsor, (d) various
governmental charges, (e) expenses and costs of any action taken by the Trustee
to protect the Trust and the rights and interests of Unitholders, (f)
indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expenses incurred in
the administration of the Trust without negligence, bad faith or wilful
misconduct on its part, (g) accrual of costs associated with liquidating the
securities and (h) expenditures incurred in contacting Unitholders upon
termination of the Trust. The expenses set forth herein are payable as described
under "General" below.
GENERAL. During the initial offering period of the Trust, all of the fees and
expenses will accrue on a daily basis and will be charged to the Trust, in
arrears, at the end of the initial offering period. After the initial offering
period of the Trust, all of the fees and expenses of the Trust will accrue on a
daily basis and will be charged to the Trust, in arrears, on a monthly basis as
of the tenth day of each month. The fees and expenses are payable out of the
Capital Account. When such fees and expenses are paid by or owing to the
Trustee, they are secured by a lien on the Trust's portfolio. It is expected
that the balance in the Capital Account will be insufficient to provide for
amounts payable by the Trust and that Equity Securities will be sold from the
Trust to pay such amounts. These sales will result in capital gains or losses to
Unitholders. See "Federal Taxation".
PUBLIC OFFERING
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GENERAL. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price. The Public Offering
Price is based on the aggregate underlying value of the Securities in the
Trust's portfolio, the initial sales charge described below and cash, if any, in
the Income and Capital Accounts held or owned by the Trust. The initial sales
charge is equal to the difference between the total sales charge (3.25% of the
Public Offering Price) and the amount of the deferred sales charge ($0.225 per
Unit). Unitholders will also be subject to a deferred sales charge equal to
$0.225 per Unit. The monthly deferred sales charge will begin accruing on a
daily basis on September __, 1998 and will continue to accrue through May __,
1999 and will be charged, in arrears, commencing October __, 1998 and will be
charged on the __th day of each month thereafter May, 1999. If any deferred
sales charge payment date is not a business day, the payment will be charged on
the next business day. Unitholders will be assess only that portion of the
deferred sales charge accrued from the time they became Unitholders of record.
Units purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge payment will be
subject only to that portion the deferred sales charge payments not yet
collected. These deferred sales charge payments will be paid from funds in the
Capital Account, if sufficient, or from the periodic sales of Securities. The
sales charge applicable to quantity purchases is, during the initial offering
period, reduced on a graduated basis as follows:
AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT SALES
OF UNITS PURCHASED * CHARGE
------------------------- ----------
$100,000-$249,999 3.00%
$250,000-$499,999 2.75
$500,000-$999,999 2.50
$1,000,000 or more 2.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a Unit basis utilizing a
breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
The sales charge reduction will primarily be the responsibility of the
selling broker, dealer or agent. This reduced sales charge structure will apply
on all purchases by the same person from any one dealer of units of Van Kampen
American Capital-sponsored unit investment trusts which are being offered in the
initial offering period (a) on any one day (the "Initial Purchase Date") or (b)
on any day subsequent to the Initial Purchase Date if (1) the units purchased
are of a unit investment trust purchased on the Initial Purchase Date, and (2)
the person purchasing the units purchased a sufficient amount of units on the
Initial Purchase Date to qualify for a reduced sales charge on such date. In the
event units of more than one trust are purchased on the Initial Purchase Date,
the aggregate dollar amount of such purchases will be used to determine whether
purchasers are eligible for a reduced sales charge. Such aggregate dollar amount
will be divided by the public offering price per unit (on the day preceding the
date of purchase) of each respective trust purchased to determine the total
number of units which such amount could have purchased of each individual trust.
Purchasers must then consult the applicable trust's prospectus to determine
whether the total number of units which could have been purchased of a specific
trust would have qualified for a reduced sales charge and, if so qualified, the
amount of such reduction. Assuming a purchaser qualifies for a sales charge
reduction or reductions, to determine the applicable sales charge reduction or
reductions it is necessary to accumulate all purchases made on the Initial
Purchase Date and all purchases made in accordance with (b) above. Units
purchased in the name of the spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a child of
such purchaser ("immediate family members") 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 one or more trust estate or fiduciary
accounts.
During the initial offering period of the Trust, unitholders of any Van
Kampen American Capital-sponsored unit investment trust may utilize their
redemption or termination proceeds to purchase Units of this Trust at the Public
Offering Price less 1%.
Employees, officers and directors (including their 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 Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. and
its affiliates, dealers and their affiliates, and vendors providing services to
the Sponsor may purchase Units at the Public Offering Price less the applicable
dealer concession.
Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price (for purchases which do not qualify for a sales charge reduction
for quantity purchases) less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to
brokers and dealers for purchases (see "Public Offering--Unit Distribution") by
(1) investors who purchase Units through registered investment advisers,
certified financial planners and registered broker-dealers who in each case
either charge periodic fees for financial planning, investment advisory or asset
management service, or provide such services in connection with the
establishment of an investment account for which a comprehensive "wrap fee"
charge is imposed, (2) bank trust departments investing funds over which they
exercise exclusive discretionary investment authority and that are held in a
fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, (3) any person who for at
least 90 days, has been an officer, director or bona fide employee of any firm
offering Units for sale to investors or their immediate family members (as
described above) and (4) officers and directors of bank holding companies that
make Units available directly or through subsidiaries or bank affiliates.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Prospectus, such investors,
bank trust departments, firm employees and bank holding company officers and
directors who purchase Units through this program will not receive sales charge
reductions for quantity purchases.
OFFERING PRICE. The Public Offering Price of the Units will vary from the
amounts stated under "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in accordance
with fluctuations in the prices of the underlying Securities in the Trust.
As indicated above, the price of the Units was established by adding to the
determination of the aggregate underlying value of the Securities an amount
equal to the initial sales charge and dividing the sum so obtained by the number
of Units outstanding. The Public Offering Price shall also include the
proportionate share of any cash held in the Capital Account. Such price
determination as of the close of business on the day before the Initial Date of
Deposit was made on the basis of an evaluation of the Securities in the Trust
prepared by Interactive Data Corporation, a firm regularly engaged in the
business of evaluating, quoting or appraising comparable securities. After the
close of business on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit, the Evaluator
will appraise or cause to be appraised daily the value of the underlying
Securities as of the Evaluation Time on days the New York Stock Exchange is open
and will adjust the Public Offering Price of the Units commensurate with such
valuation. Such Public Offering Price will be effective for all orders received
prior to the Evaluation Time on each such day. Orders received by the Trustee or
Sponsor for purchases, sales or redemptions after that time, or on a day when
the New York Stock Exchange is closed, will be held until the next determination
of price. Unitholders will pay an initial sales charge equal to the difference
between the total sales charge and the deferred sales charge ($0.225 per Unit)
and will be assessed a deferred sales charge of $0.225 per Unit as set forth in
"Public Offering--General". Commencing on May __, 1999, the secondary market
sales charge will be 2.75% of the Public Offering Price and will not include a
deferred sales charge.
The value of the Equity Securities during the initial offering period is
determined on each business day by the Evaluator in the following manner: If the
Equity Securities are listed on a securities exchange this evaluation is
generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange (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, 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 price 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.
In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any
broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities in the Trust
but rather the entire pool of Securities, taken as a whole, which are
represented by the Units.
UNIT DISTRIBUTION. During the initial offering period, Units will be
distributed to the public by the Sponsor, broker-dealers and others at the
Public Offering Price. Upon the completion of the initial offering period, Units
repurchased in the secondary market, if any, may be offered by this Prospectus
at the secondary market Public Offering Price in the manner described above.
The Sponsor intends to qualify the Units for sale in a number of states.
Brokers, dealers and others will be allowed a concession or agency commission in
connection with the distribution of Units during the initial offering period as
set forth in the following table. A portion of such concessions or agency
commissions represents amounts paid by the Sponsor to such brokers, dealers and
others out of its own assets as additional compensation.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INITIAL OFFERING PERIOD CONCESSION
AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF UNITS PURCHASED * AGENCY COMMISSION PER UNIT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
$10-99,999 2.25%
$100,000-$249,999 2.00
$250,000-$499,999 1.90
$500,000-$999,999 1.75
$1,000,000 or more 1.40
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
*The breakpoint concessions, agency commissions or additional payments are
also applied on a Unit basis utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above
table of $10 per Unit and will be applied on whichever basis is more
favorable to the investor.
Any discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling dealer or
agent as indicated under "General" above. However, for transactions involving
unitholders of any Van Kampen American Capital-sponsored unit investment trust
who purchase Units during the initial offering period with redemption or
termination proceeds from such trust, the concession or agency commission will
be 1.50% per Unit. For secondary market transactions, the concession or agency
commission will amount to 70% of the sales charge applicable to the transaction.
The breakpoint concessions or agency commissions are applied on either a Unit or
dollar basis utilizing a breakpoint equivalent of $10 per Unit and will be
applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the broker-dealer.
Certain commercial banks are making Units of the Trust available to their
customers on an agency basis. A portion of the sales charge (equal to the agency
commission referred to above) is retained by or remitted to the banks. 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 addition, state securities laws on this issue may
differ from the interpretations of federal law expressed herein and banks and
financial institutions may be required to register as dealers pursuant to state
law.
To facilitate the handling of transactions, sales of Units shall normally be
limited to transactions involving a minimum of 100 Units (25 Units for qualified
retirement plans) and may vary by selling firm. In connection with fully
disclosed transactions with the Sponsor, the minimum purchase requirement will
be that number of Units set forth in the contract between the Sponsor and the
related broker or agent. The Sponsor reserves the right to reject, in whole or
in part, any order for the purchase of Units and to change the amount of the
concession or agency commission to dealers and others from time to time.
SPONSOR COMPENSATION. The Sponsor will receive a gross sales commission equal
to 3.25% of the Public Offering Price of the Units (equivalent to 3.359% of the
aggregate value of Securities less the deferred sales charge), less any reduced
sales charge for purchases (as described under "General" above). Any discount
provided to investors will be borne by the Managing Underwriter or the selling
broker, dealer or agent as indicated under "General" above.
In addition, the Sponsor or Managing Underwriter will realize a profit or
will sustain a loss, as the case may be, as a result of the difference between
the price paid for the Securities by the Sponsor or Managing Underwriter and the
cost such Securities to the Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit. See "Notes to
Portfolio." The Sponsor has not participated as sole underwriter or as manager
or as a member of the underwriting syndicates or as an agent in a private
placement for any of the Securities in the Trust portfolio. The Sponsor may
further realize additional profit or loss during the initial offering period as
a result of the possible fluctuations in the market value of the Securities in
the Trust after a date of deposit, since all proceeds received from purchasers
of Units (excluding dealer concessions and agency commissions allowed, if any)
will be retained by the Sponsor.
Broker-dealers of the Trust, banks and/or others may be eligible to
participate in a program in which such firms receive from the Sponsor a nominal
award for each of their representatives who have sold a minimum number of units
of unit investment trusts created by the Sponsor during a specified time period.
In addition, at various times the Sponsor may implement other programs under
which the sales forces of brokers, dealers, banks and/or others may be eligible
to win other nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or under which the
Sponsor will reallow to such brokers, dealers, banks and/or others that sponsor
sales contests or recognition programs conforming to criteria established by the
Sponsor, or participate in sales programs sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount
not exceeding the total applicable sales charges on the sales generated by such
persons 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 entities 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 Unitholders
pay for their Units or the amount that the Trust will receive from the Units
sold.
A person will become the owner of 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.
As stated under "Public Market" below, the Sponsor intends to maintain a
secondary market for Units of the Trust. In so maintaining a market, 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 the applicable sales charge). In addition, the
Sponsor will also realize profits or sustain losses resulting from a redemption
of such repurchased Units at a price above or below the purchase price for such
Units, respectively.
PUBLIC MARKET. Although it is not obligated to do so, the Sponsor intends to
maintain a market for the Units offered hereby and offer continuously to
purchase Units at prices, subject to change at any time, based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (computed as
indicated under "Offering Price" above and "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of
Units"). If the supply of Units exceeds demand or if some other business reason
warrants it, the Sponsor may either discontinue all purchases of Units or
discontinue purchases of Units at such prices. In the event that a market is not
maintained for the Units and the Unitholder cannot find another purchaser, a
Unitholder desiring to dispose of his Units may be able to dispose of such Units
only by tendering them to the Trustee for redemption at the Redemption Price.
See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units." A Unitholder who wishes to
dispose of his Units should inquire of his broker as to current market prices in
order to determine whether there is in existence any price in excess of the
Redemption Price and, if so, the amount thereof. Units sold 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.
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Units of the Trust are available for purchase
in connection with certain types of tax-sheltered retirement plans, including
Individual Retirement Accounts for individuals, Simplified Employee Pension
Plans for employees, qualified plans for self-employed individuals, and
qualified corporate pension and profit sharing plans for employees. The purchase
of Units of the Trust may be limited by the plans' provisions and does not
itself establish such plans. The minimum purchase for qualified retirement plans
is 25 Units and may vary by selling firm.
RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATES. 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 of the Trust will be evidenced by certificates unless a
Unitholder or the Unitholder's registered broker-dealer makes a written request
to the Trustee that ownership be in book entry form. Units are transferable by
making a written request to the Trustee and, in the case of Units evidenced by a
certificate, by presentation and surrender of such certificate to the Trustee
properly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. A Unitholder must sign such written request, and such certificate or
transfer instrument, exactly as his name appears on the records of the Trustee
and on the face of any certificate representing the Units to be transferred with
the signature guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other signature guarantee 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 denominations of one Unit or any whole multiple thereof.
Although no such charge is now made or contemplated, the Trustee may require
a Unitholder to pay a reasonable fee for each certificate reissued or
transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with each such transfer or interchange. Destroyed, stolen, mutilated or lost
certificates will be replaced upon delivery to the Trustee of satisfactory
indemnity, evidence of ownership and payment of expenses incurred. Mutilated
certificates must be surrendered to the Trustee for replacement.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME AND CAPITAL. Any dividends received by the Trust with
respect to the Equity Securities therein are credited by the Trustee to the
Income Account. Other receipts (e.g., capital gains, proceeds from the sale of
Securities, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account of the Trust. Proceeds
from the sale of Securities to meet redemptions of Units shall be segregated
within the Capital Account from proceeds from the sale of Securities made to
satisfy the fees, expenses and charges of the Trust.
The Trustee will distribute any income received with respect to any of the
Securities in the Trust on or about the Income Distribution Dates to Unitholders
of record on the preceding Income Record Dates. See "Summary of Essential
Financial Information." Proceeds received on the sale of any Securities in the
Trust, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of Units, pay the deferred
sales charge or pay fees and expenses, will be distributed annually on the
Capital Account Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on the preceding
Capital Account Record Date. Proceeds received from the disposition of any of
the Securities after a record date and prior to the following distribution date
will be held in the Capital Account and not distributed until the next
distribution date applicable to such Capital Account. The Trustee is not
required to pay interest on funds held in the Capital or Income Accounts (but
may itself earn interest thereon and therefore benefits from the use of such
funds).
The distribution to Unitholders as of each record date will be made on the
following distribution date or shortly thereafter and shall consist of each
Unitholder's pro rata share of the cash in the Income Account. Because dividends
are not received by the Trust at a constant rate throughout the year, such
distributions to Unitholders are expected to fluctuate from distribution to
distribution. 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.
At the end of the initial offering period and as of the tenth day of each
month thereafter, the Trustee will deduct from the Capital Account amounts
necessary to pay the expenses of the Trust (as determined on the basis set forth
under "Trust Operating Expenses"). The Trustee also may withdraw from the Income
and Capital Accounts such amounts, if any, as it deems necessary to establish a
reserve for any governmental charges payable out of the Trust. Amounts so
withdrawn shall not be considered a part of the Trust's assets until such time
as the Trustee shall return all or any part of such amounts to the appropriate
accounts. In addition, the Trustee may withdraw from the Income and Capital
Accounts such amounts as may be necessary to cover redemptions of Units.
REINVESTMENT OPTION. Unitholders of the Trust may elect to have each
distribution of income, capital gains and/or capital on their Units
automatically reinvested in additional Units of the Trust subject only to any
remaining deferred sales charge, pursuant to the "Automatic Reinvestment Option"
(to the extent Units may be lawfully offered for sale in the state in which the
Unitholder resides). To participate in the reinvestment plan, a Unitholder may
either contact his or her broker or agent or file with the Trustee a written
notice of election at least five days prior to the Record Date for which the
first distribution is to apply. A Unitholder's election to participate in the
reinvestment plan will apply to all Units of the Trust owned by such Unitholder
and such election will remain in effect until changed by the Unitholder.
Reinvestment plan distributions may be reinvested in Units already held in
inventory by the Sponsor (see "Public Offering--Public Market") or, until such
time as additional Units cease to be issued by the Trust (see "The Trust"),
distributions may be reinvested in such additional Units. If Units are
unavailable in the secondary market, distributions which would otherwise have
been reinvested shall be paid in cash to the Unitholder on the applicable
Distribution Date.
Purchases of additional Units made pursuant to the reinvestment plan will be
made based on the net asset value for Units of the Trust as of the Evaluation
Time on the related Distribution Dates. Under the reinvestment plan, the Trust
will pay the Unitholder's distributions to the Trustee which in turn will
purchase for such Unitholder full and fractional Units of the Trust and will
send such Unitholder a statement reflecting the reinvestment.
Unitholders may also elect to have each distribution of income, capital gains
and/or capital on their Units automatically reinvested in shares of certain Van
Kampen American Capital or Morgan Stanley mutual funds which are registered in
the Unitholder's state of residence. Such mutual funds are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Reinvestment Funds".
Each Reinvestment Fund has investment objectives which differ in certain
respects from those of the Trust. The prospectus relating to each Reinvestment
Fund describes the investment policies of such fund and sets forth the
procedures to follow to commence reinvestment. A Unitholder may obtain a
prospectus for the respective Reinvestment Funds from Van Kampen American
Capital Distributors, Inc. at One Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
60181. Texas residents who desire to reinvest may request that a broker-dealer
registered in Texas send the prospectus relating to the respective fund.
After becoming a participant in a reinvestment plan, each distribution of
income, capital gains and/or capital on the participant's Units will, on the
applicable distribution date, automatically be applied, as directed by such
person, as of such distribution date by the Trustee to purchase shares (or
fractions thereof) of the applicable Reinvestment Fund at a net asset value as
computed as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such date.
Unitholders with an existing Guaranteed Reinvestment Option (GRO) Program
account (whereby a sales charge is imposed on distribution reinvestments) may
transfer their existing account into a new GRO account which allows purchases of
Reinvestment Fund shares at net asset value as described above. Confirmations of
all reinvestments by a Unitholder into a Reinvestment Fund will be mailed to the
Unitholder by such Reinvestment Fund.
A participant may at any time prior to five days preceding the next
succeeding distribution date, by so notifying the Trustee in writing, elect to
terminate his or her reinvestment plan and receive future distributions on his
or her Units in cash. There will be no charge or other penalty for such
termination. The Sponsor, each Reinvestment Fund, and its investment adviser
shall have the right to suspend or terminate the reinvestment plan at any time.
REPORTS PROVIDED. The Trustee shall furnish Unitholders in connection with
each distribution a statement of the amount of income and the amount of other
receipts (received since the preceding distribution), if any, being distributed,
expressed in each case as a dollar amount representing the pro rata share of
each Unit outstanding. For as long as the Sponsor deems it to be in the best
interest of the Unitholders, the accounts of the Trust shall be audited, not
less frequently than annually, by independent certified public accountants, and
the report of such accountants shall be furnished by the Trustee to Unitholders
upon request. 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 registered Unitholder (i) a statement as to the Income
Account: income received, deductions for applicable taxes and for fees and
expenses of the Trust, for redemptions of Units, if any, and the balance
remaining after such distributions and deductions, expressed in each case both
as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the pro rata share
of each Unit outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (ii) a
statement as to the Capital Account: the dates of disposition of any Securities
and the net proceeds received therefrom, deductions for payment of applicable
taxes, fees and expenses of the Trust held for distribution to Unitholders of
record as of a date prior to the determination and the balance remaining after
such distributions and deductions expressed both as a total dollar amount and as
a dollar amount representing the pro rata share of each Unit outstanding on the
last business day of such calendar year; (iii) a list of the Securities held and
the number of Units outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year;
(iv) the Redemption Price per Unit based upon the last computation thereof made
during such calendar year; and (v) amounts actually distributed during such
calendar year from the Income and Capital Accounts, separately stated, expressed
as total dollar amounts.
In order to comply with federal and state tax reporting requirements,
Unitholders will be furnished, upon request to the Trustee, evaluations of the
Securities in the Trust furnished to it by the Evaluator.
REDEMPTION OF UNITS. A Unitholder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by
tender to the Trustee at its Unit Investment Trust Division, 101 Barclay Street,
20th Floor, New York, New York 10286 and, in the case of Units evidenced by a
certificate, by tendering such certificate to the Trustee, duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with signature guaranteed (or by
providing satisfactory indemnity, as in connection with lost, stolen or
destroyed certificates) and by payment of applicable governmental charges, if
any. No redemption fee will be charged. On the third business day following such
tender, the Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each
Unit equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next computed after receipt by 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 that as regards Units
received after the Evaluation 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 redeemed 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 redemption.
The Trustee is empowered to sell Securities in order to make funds available
for redemption if funds are not otherwise available in the Capital and Income
Accounts to meet redemptions. The Securities to be sold will be selected by the
Trustee from those designated on a current list provided by the Supervisor for
this purpose. Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.
Unitholders tendering 1,000 Units or more for redemption may request from the
Trustee a distribution in kind ("In Kind Distribution") of an amount and value
of Securities per Unit equal to the Redemption Price per Unit as determined as
of the evaluation next following the tender. An In Kind Distribution on
redemption of Units will be made by the Trustee through the distribution of each
of the Securities in book-entry form to the account of the Unitholder's bank or
broker-dealer at Depository Trust Company. The tendering Unitholder will receive
his pro rata number of whole shares of each of the Securities comprising the
portfolio and cash from the Capital Account equal to the fractional shares to
which the tendering Unitholder is entitled. In implementing these redemption
procedures, the Trustee shall make any adjustments necessary to reflect
differences between the Redemption Price of the Securities distributed in kind
as of the date of tender. If funds in the Capital Account are insufficient to
cover the required cash distribution to the tendering Unitholder, the Trustee
may sell Securities according to the criteria discussed above. For the tax
consequences related to an In Kind Distribution see "Federal Taxation."
To the extent that Securities are redeemed in kind or sold, the size of the
Trust will be, and the diversity of the Trust may be, reduced. Sales may be
required at a time when Securities would not otherwise be sold and may result in
lower prices than might otherwise be realized. The price received upon
redemption may be more or less than the amount paid by the Unitholder depending
on the value of the Securities in the portfolio at the time of redemption.
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. On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering
Price per Unit (which includes the sales charge) exceeded the values at which
Units could have been redeemed by the amounts shown under "Summary of Essential
Financial Information." While the Trustee has the power to determine the
Redemption Price per Unit when Units are tendered for redemption, such authority
has been delegated to the Evaluator which determines the price per Unit on a
daily basis. The Redemption Price per Unit is the pro rata share of each Unit in
the Trust determined on the basis of (i) the cash on hand in the Trust, (ii) the
value of the Securities in the Trust and (iii) dividends receivable on the
Equity Securities trading ex-dividend as of the date of computation, less (a)
amounts representing taxes or other governmental charges payable out of the
Trust and (b) the accrued expenses or sales charge of the Trust. The Evaluator
may determine the value of the Equity Securities in the Trust in the following
manner: if the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities exchange
this evaluation is generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange
(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, at the
closing bid prices. If the Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so listed
and the principal market therefore is other than on the exchange, the evaluation
shall generally be based on the current bid price 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 any period during which the Securities and
Exchange Commission determines that trading on that Exchange is restricted or an
emergency exists, as a result of which disposal or evaluation of the Securities
in the Trust is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may by order permit.
TRUST ADMINISTRATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSOR PURCHASES OF UNITS. 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 the close of business on the next
succeeding business day and by making payment therefor to the Unitholder 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.
The offering price of any Units acquired by the Sponsor will be in accord
with the Public Offering Price described in the then currently effective
prospectus describing such Units. Any profit resulting from the resale of such
Units will belong to the Sponsor which likewise will bear any loss resulting
from a lower offering or redemption price subsequent to its acquisition of such
Units.
PORTFOLIO ADMINISTRATION. The portfolio of the Trust is not "managed" by the
Sponsor, Supervisor or the Trustee; their activities described herein are
governed solely by the provisions of the Trust Agreement. Traditional methods of
investment management for a managed fund typically involve frequent changes in a
portfolio of securities on the basis of economic, financial and market analyses.
The Trust, however, will not be managed. The Trust Agreement, however, provides
that the Sponsor may (but need not) direct the Trustee to dispose of an Equity
Security in certain events such as the issuer having defaulted on the payment on
any of its outstanding obligations or the price of an 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 Securities would be detrimental to
the Trust. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement and with limited exceptions, the
Trustee may sell any securities or other properties 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 Supervisor).
Therefore, except as stated under "Trust Portfolio" for failed securities and as
provided in this paragraph, the acquisition by the Trust of any securities other
than the Securities is prohibited. Proceeds from the sale of Securities (or any
securities or other property received by the Trust in exchange for Equity
Securities) are credited to the Capital Account for distribution to Unitholders
or to pay fees and expenses of the Trust.
As indicated under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units" above, the
Trustee may also sell Securities designated by the Supervisor, 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.
To the extent practicable, the Supervisor may (but is not obligated to)
designate Securities to be sold by the Trustee in order to maintain 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 Supervisor to specify minimum
amounts (generally 100 shares) in which blocks of Equity Securities are to be
sold. In effecting purchases and sales of a Trust's portfolio securities, the
Sponsor may direct that orders be placed with and brokerage commissions be paid
to brokers, including brokers which may be affiliated with the Trust, the
Sponsor or dealers participating in the offering of Units. In addition, in
selecting among firms to handle a particular transaction, the Sponsor may take
into account whether the firm has sold or is selling units of unit investment
trusts which it sponsors.
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. The Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustee
and the Sponsor without the consent of any of the Unitholders (1) to cure any
ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision thereof which may be
defective or inconsistent, or (2) to make such other provisions as shall not
adversely affect the Unitholders (as determined in good faith by the Sponsor and
the Trustee), provided, however, that the Trust Agreement may not be amended to
increase the number of Units (except as provided in the Trust Agreement). The
Trust Agreement may also be amended in any respect by the Trustee and Sponsor,
or any of the provisions thereof may be waived, with the consent of the holders
of 51% of the Units then outstanding, provided that no such amendment or waiver
will reduce the interest in the Trust of any Unitholder without the consent of
such Unitholder or reduce the percentage of Units required to consent to any
such amendment or waiver without the consent of all Unitholders. The Trustee
shall advise the Unitholders of any amendment promptly after execution thereof.
The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of Unitholders
representing 66 2/3% of the Trust Units then outstanding or by the Trustee when
the value of the Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than that amount set
forth under Minimum Termination Value in "Summary of Essential Financial
Information." The Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event that a
sufficient number of Units not yet sold are tendered for redemption by the
Sponsor so that the net worth of the Trust would be reduced to less than 40% of
the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited in the Trust. If the
Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold Units the Sponsor will
refund to each purchaser of Units the entire sales charge paid by such
purchaser. The Trust Agreement will terminate upon the sale or other disposition
of the last Security held thereunder, but in no event will it continue beyond
the Mandatory Termination Date stated under "Summary of Essential Financial
Information."
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 sales of the Equity
Securities. The Sponsor shall direct the liquidation of the Securities in such
manner as to effectuate orderly sales and a minimal market impact. In the event
the Sponsor does not so direct, the Securities shall be sold within a reasonable
period and in such manner as the Trustee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine. Written notice of any termination specifying the time or times at
which Unitholders may surrender their certificates for cancellation, if any are
then issued and outstanding, shall be given by the Trustee to each Unitholder so
holding a certificate at his address appearing on the registration books of the
Trust maintained by the Trustee. At least 30 days before the Mandatory
Termination Date the Trustee will provide written notice thereof to all
Unitholders and will include with such notice a form to enable Unitholders
owning 1,000 or more Units to request an In Kind Distribution rather than
payment in cash upon the termination of the Trust. To be effective, this request
must be returned to the Trustee at least five business days prior to the
Mandatory Termination Date. On the Mandatory Termination Date (or on the next
business day thereafter if a holiday) the Trustee will deliver each requesting
Unitholder's pro rata number of whole shares of each of the Equity Securities in
the portfolio to the account of the broker-dealer or bank designated by the
Unitholder at Depository Trust Company. The value of the Unitholder's fractional
shares of the Equity Securities will be paid in cash. Unitholders with less than
2,500 Units and those not requesting an In Kind Distribution will receive a cash
distribution from the sale of the remaining Equity Securities within a
reasonable time following the Mandatory Termination Date. 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, 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 Unitholder his pro rata share of the balance of the Income and Capital
Accounts.
Within 60 days of the final distribution, Unitholders will be furnished a
final distribution statement, in substantially the same form as the annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee
in its sole discretion will determine that any amounts held in reserve are no
longer necessary, it will make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the same
manner.
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES. The Sponsor, the Evaluator, the Supervisor and
the Trustee shall be under no liability to Unitholders for taking any action or
for refraining from taking any action in good faith pursuant to the Trust
Agreement, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence (negligence in the case of
the Trustee) in the performance of their duties or by reason of their reckless
disregard of their obligations and duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of
any of the Securities. In the event of the failure of the Sponsor to act under
the Trust Agreement, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be liable for
any action taken by it in good faith under the Trust Agreement.
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 Trust Agreement 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 Trust Agreement contains other customary provisions limiting
the liability of the Trustee.
The Trustee, Sponsor, Supervisor and Unitholders may rely on any evaluation
furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the accuracy
thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator under the Trust Agreement 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 Unitholders 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.
SPONSOR. Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, is the Sponsor of the Trust. The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary
of VK/AC Holding, Inc. VK/AC Holding, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSAM
Holdings II, Inc., which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley,
Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD").
MSDWD is a global financial services firm with a market capitalization of
more than $21 billion which was created by the merger of Morgan Stanley Group
Inc. with and into Dean Witter, Discover & Co. on May 31, 1997. MSDWD, together
with various of its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries, is engaged in a
wide range of financial services through three primary businesses: securities,
asset management and credit services. These principal businesses include
securities underwriting, distribution and trading; merger, acquisition,
restructuring and other corporate finance advisory activities; merchant banking;
stock brokerage and research services; asset management; trading of futures,
options, foreign exchange commodities and swaps (involving foreign exchange,
commodities, indices and interest rates); real estate advice, financing and
investing; global custody, securities clearance services and securities lending;
and credit card services. As of June 2, 1997, MSDWD, together with its
affiliated investment advisory companies, had approximately $270 billion of
assets under management, supervision or fiduciary advice.
Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. specializes in the
underwriting and distribution of unit investment trusts and mutual funds with
roots in money management dating back to 1926. The Sponsor is a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and has offices at One Parkview
Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181, (630) 684-6000 and 2800 Post Oak
Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 993-0500. It maintains a branch office in
Philadelphia and has regional representatives in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles,
New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa. As of November 30, 1996, the total
stockholders' equity of Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc. was
$129,451,000 (unaudited). (This paragraph relates only to the Sponsor and not to
the Trust or to any other Series thereof. 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.)
As of September 30, 1997 the Sponsor and its Van Kampen American Capital
affiliates managed or supervised approximately $65.3 billion of investment
products, of which over $10.85 billion is invested in municipal securities. The
Sponsor and its Van Kampen American Capital affiliates managed $54 billion of
assets, consisting of $34.3 billion for 55 open-end mutual funds (of which 46
are distributed by Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.) $14.2 billion
for 37 closed-end funds and $5.5 billion for 106 institutional accounts. The
Sponsor has also deposited approximately $26 billion of unit investment trusts.
All of Van Kampen American Capital's open-end funds, closed-ended funds and unit
investment trusts are professionally distributed by leading financial firms
nationwide. Based on cumulative assets deposited, the Sponsor believes that it
is the largest sponsor of insured municipal unit investment trusts, primarily
through the success of its Insured Municipals Income Trust(R) or the IM-IT(R)
trust. The Sponsor also provides surveillance and evaluation services at cost
for approximately $13 billion of unit investment trust assets outstanding. Since
1976, the Sponsor has serviced over two million investor accounts, opened
through retail distribution firms.
If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) 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, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.
TRUSTEE. The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under
the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its unit investment trust
division offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, (800)
221-7668. The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the
Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law.
The duties of the Trustee are primarily ministerial in nature. It did not
participate in the selection of Securities for the Trust portfolio.
In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall keep proper books
of record and account of all transactions at its office for the Trust. Such
records shall include the name and address of, and the number of Units of the
Trust held by, every Unitholder of the Fund. Such books and records shall be
open to inspection by any Unitholder at all reasonable times during the usual
business hours. The Trustee shall make such annual or other reports as may from
time to time be required under any applicable state or federal statute, rule or
regulation (see "Rights of Unitholders--Reports Provided"). The Trustee is
required to keep a certified copy or duplicate original of the Trust Agreement
on file in its office available for inspection at all reasonable times during
the usual business hours by any Unitholder, together with a current list of the
Securities held in the Trust.
Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee or any successor trustee may resign
and be discharged of its responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement by
executing an instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor. The
Trustee or successor trustee must mail a copy of the notice of resignation to
all Unitholders then of record, not less than 60 days before the date specified
in such notice when such resignation is to take effect. The Sponsor upon
receiving notice of such resignation is obligated to appoint a successor trustee
promptly. If, upon such resignation, no successor trustee has been appointed and
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 Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee as
provided in the Trust Agreement at any time with or without cause. Notice of
such removal and appointment shall be mailed to each Unitholder by the Sponsor.
Upon execution of a written acceptance of such appointment by such successor
trustee, all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the original trustee
shall vest in the 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 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.
OTHER MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGAL OPINIONS. The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon
by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as
counsel for the Sponsor. Winston & Strawn has acted as counsel for the Trustee.
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. . The statement of condition and
the related securities portfolio at the Initial Date of Deposit included in this
Prospectus have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public
accountants, as set forth in their report in this Prospectus, and are included
herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of Van Kampen American Capital Distributors, Inc.
and the Unitholders of Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust,
Series 98.
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the related
portfolio of Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 98
as of May __, 1998. The statement of condition and portfolio are the
responsibility of the Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
such financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our
procedures included confirmation of an irrevocable letter of credit deposited
to purchase securities by correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Van Kampen American
Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 98, May __, 1998, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
May __, 1998
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST,
SERIES 98
STATEMENT OF CONDITION
AS OF MAY __, 1998
INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES:
Contracts to purchase securities (1) $
Organizational costs (2)
-------------
$
=============
LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
Liabilities--
Accrued organizational costs (2) $
Deferred sales charge liability (3) $
Interest of Unitholders--
Cost to investors (4)
Less: Gross underwriting commission (4) (5)
-------------
Net interest to Unitholders (4)
-------------
Total $
=============
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)The aggregate value of the Securities listed under "Portfolio" and their
cost to the Trust are the same. The value of the Securities is determined by
Interactive Data Corporation on the bases set forth under "Public
Offering--Offering Price". The contracts to purchase Securities are
collateralized by an irrevocable letter of credit of $ ___ which has been
deposited with the Trustee.
(2)The Trust will bear all or a portion of its organizational costs, which will
be deferred and amortized over the life of the Trust. Organizational costs
have been estimated based on a projected trust size of $_____. To the extent
the Trust is larger or smaller, the estimate will vary.
(3) Represents the amount of mandatory distributions from the Trust on the bases
set forth under "Public Offering".
(4)The aggregate public offering price and the aggregate initial sales charge
are computed on the bases set forth under "Public Offering--Offering Price"
and "Public Offering--Sponsor Compensation" and assume all single
transactions involve less than 10,000 Units. For single transactions
involving 10,000 or more Units, the sales charge is reduced (see "Public
Offering--General") resulting in an equal reduction in both the Cost to
investors and the Gross underwriting commission while the Net interest to
Unitholders remains unchanged.
(5) Assumes the maximum sales charge.
FIRST ALBANY CORP. BANKING TRUST, SERIES 1
PORTFOLIO (VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST, SERIES 98)
AS OF THE INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT: MAY __, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED
ANNUAL COST OF
NUMBER MARKET VALUE DIVIDENDS SECURITIES
OF SHARES NAME OF ISSUER (1) PER SHARE (2) PER SHARE (2) TO TRUST (2)
- ---------- -------------------------------------------- --------------- -------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------- ------------------
$
========== ==================
</TABLE>
NOTES TO PORTFOLIO
(1) All of the Securities are represented by "regular way" contracts for the
performance of which an irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited with the
Trustee. At the Initial Date of Deposit, Securities may have been delivered to
the Sponsor pursuant to certain of these contracts; the Sponsor has assigned to
the Trustee all of its right, title and interest in and to such Securities.
Contracts to acquire Securities were entered into on May __, 1998 and are
expected to settle on May __, 1998 (see "The Trust"). (2) The market value of
each of the Securities is based on the closing sale price of each listed
Security on the applicable exchange, or if not so listed, on
the ask price on the day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit. Estimated
annual dividends are based on annualizing the most recently declared
dividends. The aggregate value of the Securities on the day prior to the
Initial Date of Deposit based on the closing sale price of each listed
Security, and on the bid price if not so listed, (which is the basis on
which the Redemption Price per Unit will be determined) was $ _____. The ask
price of the applicable Securities (the basis on which the Public Offering
Price per Unit will be determined during the initial offering period) is
greater than the bid price of such Securities. Other information regarding
the Securities in the Trust, as of the Initial Date of Deposit, is as
follows:
PROFIT ESTIMATED
COST TO (LOSS) TO ANNUAL
SPONSOR SPONSOR DIVIDENDS
-------------- -------------- --------------
$ $ $
-------------------------------------------------
The Managing Underwriter or an affiliate of the Sponsor may have participated
as issuer, sole underwriter, managing underwriter or member of an underwriting
syndicate in a public offering of one or more of the stocks in the Trust. The
Managing Underwriter or an affiliate of the Sponsor may serve as a specialist in
the stocks in the Trust on one or more stock exchanges and may have a long or
short position in any of these stocks or in options on any of these stocks, and
may be on the opposite side of public orders executed on the floor of an
exchange where such stocks are listed. An officer, director or employee of the
Managing Underwriter, the Sponsor or an affiliate may be an officer or director
of one or more of the issuers of the stocks in the Trust. The Managing
Underwriter or an affiliate of the Sponsor may trade for its own account as an
odd-lot dealer, market maker, block positioner and/or arbitrageur in any stocks
or options relating thereto. The Managing Underwriter, the Sponsor, their
affiliates, directors, elected officers and employee benefit programs may have
either a long or short position in any stock or option of the issuers.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations
not contained in this Prospectus; and any information or representation not
contained herein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund
or the Sponsor. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any state to any person to whom it
is not lawful to make such offer in such state.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE PAGE
Summary of Essential Financial
Information........................... 3
The Trust................................... 6
Objective and Securities Selection.......... 7
Trust Portfolio............................. 7
Risk Factors................................ 8
Federal Taxation............................ 11
Trust Operating Expenses.................... 15
Public Offering............................. 16
Rights of Unitholders....................... 20
Trust Administration........................ 24
Other Matters............................... 29
Report of Independent Certified
Public Accountants.................... 30
Statement of Condition ..................... 31
Portfolio................................... 32
Notes to Portfolio.......................... 33
- --------------
This Prospectus contains information concerning the Fund and the Sponsor, but
does not contain all of 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.
PROSPECTUS
-----------------------------
MAY __, 1998
FIRST ALBANY CORP.
BANKING TRUST,
SERIES 1
VAN KAMPEN
AMERICAN CAPITAL
EQUITY OPPORTUNITY
TRUST, SERIES 98
------ A Wealth of Knowledge oA Knowledge of Wealthsm ------
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77056
Please retain this Prospectus for future reference.
S-1
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The Cross-Reference Sheet
The Prospectus
The signatures
The consents of independent public accountants
and legal counsel
The following exhibits:
1.1 Proposed form of Trust Agreement (to be supplied by amendment).
3.1 Opinion and consent of counsel as to legality of securities being
registered (to be supplied by amendment).
3.2 Opinion and consent of counsel as to New York tax status of securities
being registered (to be supplied by amendment).
4.1 Consent of Interactive Data Corporation (to be supplied by amendment).
4.2 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP (to be supplied by amendment).
EX-27 Financial Data Schedule (to be supplied by amendment).
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 98 has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of
Illinois on the 2nd day of April, 1998.
VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST, SERIES 98
(Registrant)
By VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
(Depositor)
GINA COSTELLO______________________________________
Assistant Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below on April 2, 1998 by the following
persons who constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Van Kampen
American Capital Distributors, Inc.
SIGNATURE TITLE
Don G. Powell Chairman and Chief Executive )
Officer )
John H. Zimmerman President and Chief Operating )
Officer
Ronald A. Nyberg Executive Vice President and )
General Counsel
William R. Rybak Executive Vice President and )
Chief Financial Officer )
GINA COSTELLO
(Attorney-in-fact*)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*An executed copy of each of the related powers of attorney was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-6 of Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust,
Series 64 (File No. 333-33087) Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity
Trust, Series 87 (File No. 333-44581) and the same are hereby incorporated
herein by this reference.
