MEMORANDUM OF CHANGES
VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 172
The Prospectus filed with Amendment No. 1 of the Registration Statement
on Form S-6 has been revised to reflect information regarding the deposit of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 on September 2, 1999. An effort has been
made to set forth below each of the major changes and also to reflect the same
by blacklining the marked counterparts of the Prospectus submitted with the
Amendment.
Cover Page. The date of the Prospectus has been completed.
Pages 2-3. "The Summary of Essential Financial Information" section
and "Fee Table" have been completed.
Pages 5-6. Revisions have been made and the portfolio has been
completed.
Pages 7-9. The descriptions of the Security issuers have been
completed.
Pages 10-11. The Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
and Statement of Condition have been completed.
FILE NO. 333-83985
CIK #1025324
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
Amendment No. 1
to
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 FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 172
B. Name of Depositor: VAN KAMPEN FUNDS 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 FUNDS INC.
Attention: Mark J. Kneedy Attention: A. Thomas Smith III, General Counsel
111 West Monroe Street One Parkview Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60603 Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
E. Title of securities being registered: Units of proportionate interest
F. Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
/ X / Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective at 2:00
p.m. on September 2, 1999 pursuant to Rule 487.
Baird
Utility & Communications Trust, Series 1
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Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 includes the unit investment trust
described above (the "Trust"). The Trust seeks to increase the value of your
investment and provide dividend income by investing in a diversified portfolio
of stocks primarily issued by utility and communications companies selected by
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. Of course, we cannot guarantee that the
Trust will achieve its objective.
September 2, 1999
You should read this prospectus and retain it for future reference.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of the
Units or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any contrary
representation is a criminal offense.
Summary of Essential Financial Information
September 2, 1999
Public Offering Price
Aggregate value of Securities per Unit (1) $ 9.900
Sales charge 0.395
Less deferred sales charge 0.295
Public offering price per Unit (2) $ 10.000
Trust Information
Initial number of Units (3) 15,102
Aggregate value of Securities (1) $ 149,514
Estimated initial distribution per Unit (4) $ .09
Estimated annual dividends per Unit (4) $ .39101
Redemption price per Unit (5) $ 9.60
General Information
Initial Date of Deposit September 2, 1999
Mandatory Termination Date September 2, 2002
Initial Record Date December 10, 1999
Initial Distribution Date December 25, 1999
Record Dates Tenth day of March, June, September and December
Distribution Dates Twenty-fifth day of March, June,
September and December
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(1) Each Security is valued at the last closing sale price on its principal
trading exchange or, if not listed, at the last asked price on the day
before the Initial Date of Deposit. You will bear all or a portion of the
expenses incurred in organizing and offering your Trust. The Public
Offering Price includes the estimated amount of these costs. The Trustee
will deduct these expenses from your Trust at the end of the initial
offering period (approximately four months). The estimated amount is
described on the next page.
(2) The Public Offering Price will include any accumulated dividends or cash in
the Income or Capital Accounts.
(3) The number of Units may be adjusted so that the Public Offering Price per
Unit equals $10 at the Evaluation Time on the Initial Date of Deposit. The
number of Units and fractional interest of each Unit will increase or
decrease to the extent of any adjustment.
(4) This estimate is based on the most recently declared dividends. Actual
distributions will vary due to a variety of factors, including changes in
Trust expenses. See "Risk Factors".
(5) The redemption price is reduced by any remaining deferred sales charge. The
redemption price includes the estimated organizational and offering costs.
The redemption price will not include these costs after the initial
offering period. See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units".
Fee Table
Transaction Fees (as % of offering price)
Initial sales charge (1)........................ 1.00%
Deferred sales charge (2)....................... 2.95%
----------
Maximum sales charge ........................... 3.95%
==========
Estimated Organizational Costs per Unit (3)..... $ 0.03049
==========
Estimated Annual Expenses per Unit
Trustee's fee and operating expenses............ $ 0.01333
Evaluation fees................................. $ 0.00250
Supervisory fees................................ $ 0.00250
----------
Estimated annual expenses per Unit.............. $ 0.01833
==========
Estimated Costs Over Time
One year........................................ $ 44
Three years..................................... $ 48
Five years...................................... N/A
Ten years....................................... N/A
This fee table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs that you
will bear and to present a comparison of fees. The "Estimated Costs Over Time"
example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a
5% annual return and redemption at the end of each period. This example assumes
that you reinvest distributions at the end of each year. Of course, you should
not consider this example as a representation of actual past or future expenses
or annual rate of return which may differ from those assumed for this example.
The sales charge and expenses are described under "Public Offering" and "Trust
Operating Expenses".
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The initial sales charge is the difference between the maximum sales charge
and the deferred sales charge.
(2) The deferred sales charge is actually equal to $0.295 per Unit. This amount
will exceed the percentage above if the Public Offering Price per Unit
falls below $10 and will be less than the percentage above if the Public
Offering Price per Unit exceeds $10. The deferred sales charge accrues
daily from January 10, 2000 through July 9, 2000. Your Trust pays a
proportionate amount of this charge on the 10th day of each month beginning
in the accrual period until paid in full.
(3) You will bear all or a portion of the expenses incurred in organizing and
offering your Trust. The Trustee will deduct the actual amount of these
expenses from your Trust at the end of the initial offering period.
Utility & Communications Trust
The Trust seeks to increase the value of your investment and provide dividend
income by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks issued by utility and
communications companies. The portfolio may offer a unique opportunity to
participate in the changing utility environment. Robert W. Baird & Co. selected
a portfolio that seeks to benefit from industry consolidation, technological
advances, and deregulation trends.
The utility industry has experienced an increase in deregulation in recent
years. Regulatory bodies once protected electric utilities but now these
companies are being forced to find innovative ways to thrive in an increasingly
competitive market place. Consolidation, technological advances and increased
competition are pushing utility companies into a variety of other businesses
such as long distance and local telephone and cable.
Robert W. Baird believes that the transformation of the utility industry is
still in its infancy. Baird believes that traditional electric utilities possess
a significant amount of under-utilized fiber-optic cable. Fiber-optic cable
allows data to be sent as colored light pulses through a cable thinner than a
pencil. This wire was formerly used to monitor equipment across the electric
utility service territories and is only now beginning to be utilized to
diversify into other businesses. Fiber-optic cables provide the bandwidth that
companies need to compete in the developing data and voice transmission business
segments. This may allow utility companies to consolidate into full service
providers for all utility, telephone, cable and information needs.
Consider these factors:
o More than 100 electric utilities currently offer Internet access.
(Wall Street Journal, September 21, 1998)
o Sophisticated electronics that could carry a few thousand telephone
calls 15 years ago can now carry more than 1 million at one time. (Dow
Jones Interactive)
o Electric utility companies own more than 40,000 miles of fiber-optic
cable. They have the nation's third largest telecommunications
infrastructure. (Forbes, April 1999)
As with any investment, we cannot guarantee that the Trust will achieve its
objective. The value of your Units may fall below the price you paid for the
Units. You should read the "Risk Factors" section before you invest.
About Robert W. Baird & Co. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated is the
Underwriter of your Trust. Baird is one of the nation's largest
regionally-headquartered investment bankers, serving individuals, corporations,
municipalities and institutional investors. Founded in Milwaukee in 1919, Baird
has developed a strong presence in the Midwest and has expanded into major
markets outside America's Heartland. The firm has 75 offices in 14 states.
Baird's research department is widely known and respected for its equity
research providing broad comprehensive coverage for its clients. Baird's special
expertise includes:
o Offering individuals a full range of high-quality investment services.
o Serving as a leading underwriter for corporations and municipalities.
o Offering a broad range of asset management services to individuals,
pension and profit-sharing plans, foundations and others.
o Providing highly-regarded investment research that enjoys an
international reputation.
o Working with institutional investors around the world.
Since 1982, Baird has been a member of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
family of companies. Baird is a member of the New York Stock Exchange and other
principal exchanges, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and
the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. You can contact Baird at (800)
792-2473 or visit their website at www.rwbaird.com.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Portfolio
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Cost of
Number Market Value Dividend Securities
of Shares Name of Issuer (1) per Share (2) Yield (3) to Trust (2)
------------ -------------------------- ------------- ---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
161 Alliant Energy Corporation $ 28.813 6.94% $ 4,638.81
68 ALLTEL Corporation 70.000 1.74 4,760.00
102 AT&T Corporation 47.250 1.86 4,819.50
103 BellSouth Corporation 44.938 1.69 4,628.56
117 CenturyTel, Inc. 40.063 0.45 4,687.31
253 Chesapeake Utilities Corporation 18.438 5.64 4,664.69
117 CMS Energy Corporation 39.500 3.70 4,621.50
154 Comcast Corporation 30.125 0.00 4,639.25
81 Duke Energy Corporation 57.875 3.80 4,687.88
184 Edison International 25.188 4.29 4,634.50
110 Enron Corporation 41.313 1.21 4,544.38
100 Florida Progress Corporation 46.500 4.69 4,650.00
86 FPL Group, Inc. 54.250 3.83 4,665.50
129 Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 35.938 6.90 4,635.94
157 KeySpan Corporation 29.688 6.00 4,660.94
61 MCI WorldCom, Inc. 76.000 0.00 4,636.00
197 MDU Resources Group, Inc. 23.500 3.57 4,629.50
261 Minnesota Power, Inc. 17.813 6.01 4,649.06
120 NICOR, Inc. 39.375 3.96 4,725.00
192 NiSource, Inc. 24.313 4.20 4,668.00
196 Northern States Power Company 23.938 6.06 4,691.75
116 Otter Tail Power Company 41.875 4.73 4,857.50
167 Reliant Energy, Inc. 27.688 5.42 4,623.81
96 SBC Communications, Inc. 49.875 1.95 4,788.00
208 Sempra Energy 22.313 6.99 4,641.00
171 Southern Company 27.063 4.95 4,627.69
105 Sprint Corporation 43.938 1.14 4,613.44
221 TECO Energy, Inc. 21.375 6.08 4,723.88
77 Time Warner, Inc. 61.813 0.29 4,759.56
202 UtiliCorp United, Inc. 23.188 5.18 4,683.88
186 Wisconsin Energy Corporation 24.875 6.27 4,626.75
160 WPS Resources Corporation 28.938 6.98 4,630.00
------------ -------------
4,658 $ 149,513.58
============ =============
</TABLE>
See "Notes to Portfolio".
Notes to Portfolio
(1) The Securities are initially represented by "regular way" contracts for the
performance of which an irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited
with the Trustee. Contracts to acquire Securities were entered into on
September 1, 1999 and have a settlement date of September 7, 1999 (see "The
Trust").
(2) The market value of each Security is based on the last closing sale price
on the applicable exchange or, if not listed, the last asked price on the
day before the Initial Date of Deposit. Other information regarding the
Securities, as of the Initial Date of Deposit, is as follows:
Profit
Cost to (Loss) To
Underwriter Underwriter
- -------------- --------------
$ 149,514 $ --
(3) Current Dividend Yield for each Security is based on the estimated annual
dividends per share and the Security's market value as of the close of
trading on the day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit. Estimated annual
dividends per share are calculated by annualizing the most recently
declared dividends or by adding the most recent interim and final dividends
declared and reflect any foreign withholding taxes.
The Securities. A brief description of each of the issuers of the Securities is
listed below.
Alliant Energy Corporation. Alliant Energy Corporation provides
public-utility service to customers in the Midwest. The company's utility
subsidiaries serve electric, natural gas, and water customers in Illinois, Iowa,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
ALLTEL Corporation. ALLTEL Corporation provides wireline and wireless
communications and information services. The company, through its subsidiaries,
provides wireline, long-distance, network access and Internet
services, wireless communications, wide-area paging service, information
processing management services, and advanced applications software. ALLTEL also
publishes telephone directories.
AT&T Corporation. AT&T Corporation offers communication services and
products. The company provides voice, data, and video telecommunications
services to consumers, large and small businesses, and government entities. AT&T
and its subsidiaries furnish regional, domestic, international, and local
telecommunication services. The company also provides cellular telephone and
wireless services, as well as other services.
BellSouth Corporation. BellSouth Corporation, through its two wholly owned
subsidiaries BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. and BellSouth Enterprises, Inc.,
provides telecommunications services, systems, and products. BellSouth
Telecommunications provides wireline telecommunications services to the
Southeastern US. BellSouth Enterprises provides domestic and international
wireless communications services.
CenturyTel, Inc. CenturyTel, Inc., an integrated communications company,
provides local exchange telephone services and wireless telephone services. The
company also provides long distance, Internet access, and security monitoring
services. CenturyTel operates throughout the United States.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a
utility company that provides natural gas transmission and distribution, propane
distribution, and information technology services. The company distributes
natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Delaware,
Maryland, and Florida. Chesapeake Utilities' propane is distributed to customers
in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
CMS Energy Corporation. CMS Energy Corporation provides energy services and
develops, owns, and operates energy facilities around the world. The company is
involved in electric and gas utility operations, electric power production, oil
and gas exploration and production, natural gas transmission, storage, and
processing, international energy distribution, and energy marketing, services,
and trading.
Comcast Corporation. Comcast Corporation develops, manages, and operates
hybrid fiber-coaxial broadband cable communications networks. The company also
provides programming content. Comcast is implementing high-speed Internet access
service and digital video applications.
Duke Energy Corporation. Duke Energy Corporation, an integrated energy and
services provider, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy
in central and western North Carolina and the western portion of South Carolina.
The company also provides interstate transportation and storage of natural gas
for customers primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states.
Edison International. Edison International, through its subsidiaries,
develops, acquires, owns, and operates electric power generation facilities
worldwide. The company also provides capital and financial services for energy
and infrastructure projects, as well as manages and sells real estate projects.
Additionally, Edison provides integrated energy services, utility outsourcing,
and consumer products.
Enron Corporation. Enron Corporation explores for and produces natural gas
and crude oil in the United States and internationally. The company transports
natural gas through pipelines to markets throughout the United States. Enron
also generates and transmits electricity to markets in the northwestern United
States, as well as develops, constructs, and operates power plants.
Florida Progress Corporation. Florida Progress Corporation is the holding
company for Florida Power Corporation. The company provides electric utility
services to customers in west central Florida. Florida Progress is also involved
in coal mining, marine transportation and services, and rail services.
FPL Group, Inc. FPL Group, Inc. is a public utility holding company. The
company, through its subsidiary, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells
electric energy. FPL's customers are located throughout the east and lower west
coasts of Florida.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. is a
diversified holding company that delivers a variety of services to the people of
Hawaii. The company's subsidiaries offer electric utilities, savings banks,
freight transportation, and other businesses, primarily in the state of Hawaii.
KeySpan Corporation. KeySpan Corporation, through its subsidiaries,
distributes natural gas to customers in New York City and on Long Island, New
York. The company also provides gas-marketing and energy services, generates
electricity, and provides electric transmission-and-distribution operating
services and customer-billing services.
MCI WorldCom, Inc. MCI WorldCom, Inc. provides consumers and businesses with
local, long distance, Internet, data, and international communications services.
The company's telecommunications products and services include switched and
dedicated long distance and local products, dedicated and dial-up Internet
access, wireless services, 800 services, calling cards, private lines, and debit
cards.
MDU Resources Group, Inc. MDU Resources Group, Inc., a natural resource
company, distributes natural gas and operates electric power generation,
transmission, and distribution facilities. The company serves communities in
North Dakota, eastern Montana, northern and western South Dakota, and northern
Wyoming.
Minnesota Power, Inc. Minnesota Power, Inc. provides electric service in
northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The company's other operations
include water services, automotive services, and investments in Florida real
estate and various securities.
NICOR, Inc. NICOR, Inc. is a holding company. The company's principal
businesses are Nicor Gas, a gas distribution company, and Tropical Shipping, a
containerized shipping business which operates between Florida and the
Caribbean. NICOR also owns energy-related subsidiaries and is a partner in Nicor
Energy L.L.C., a provider of unrelated energy products and services.
NiSource, Inc. NiSource, Inc. is a utility/energy-based holding company
providing electric energy, natural gas, and water to the public. The company,
through its subsidiaries, markets and trades energy, generates power, transmits,
supplies, and stores gas, develops and manages energy projects, installs,
repairs, and maintains underground pipelines, and locates utility lines.
Northern States Power Company. Northern States Power Company generates,
transmits, and distributes electricity to customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and Michigan. The company also distributes natural
gas to customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Michigan, as well as
provides a variety of energy-related services throughout these areas.
Otter Tail Power Company. Otter Tail Power Company produces, transmits,
distributes, and sells electric energy. The company, through its subsidiary,
also provides natural gas to commercial and institutional customers in Iowa,
South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Otter Tail has investments in
manufacturing operations, health services operations, and other business
operations.
Reliant Energy, Inc. Reliant Energy, Inc. is an international energy
services company. The company's retail group consists of three natural gas
utilities and one electric utility, as well as a retail marketing group which
provides unregulated retail energy products and services. Reliant's wholesale
group invests in power generation projects and provides wholesale trading and
marketing services.
SBC Communications, Inc. SBC Communications, Inc. is a telecommunications
company with wireless customers across the United States, as well as investments
in telecommunications businesses internationally. The company offers local and
long-distance telephone service, wireless communications, paging, Internet
access, and messaging, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory
advertising and publishing.
Sempra Energy. Sempra Energy is an energy services holding company with
operations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other countries in
Latin America. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides a variety of
value-added electric and natural gas products and services.
Southern Company. Southern Company is the parent company of Alabama Power,
Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Savannah Electric. The company
supplies electricity, as well as provides energy-related marketing, trading, and
technical services, and wireless telecommunications.
Sprint Corporation. Sprint Corporation provides telecommunications services.
The company's principal activities include long distance service, local service,
product distribution, and directory publishing activities. Sprint's other
activities include emerging businesses, interests in international
telecommunications companies, and interest in an Internet service provider.
TECO Energy, Inc. TECO Energy, Inc. is a diversified, energy-related utility
holding company. The company, through various subsidiaries, provides retail
electric service to customers in west central Florida, as well as purchases,
distributes, and markets natural gas for residential, commercial, industrial,
and electric power generation customers.
Time Warner, Inc. Time Warner, Inc. is a media and entertainment company
with operations in entertainment, cable networks, publishing, and cable. The
company has interests in cable television programming, magazine publishing, book
publishing, direct marketing, filmed entertainment, television production,
television broadcasting, recorded music, music publishing, and cable television
systems.
UtiliCorp United, Inc. UtiliCorp United, Inc. is an international electric
and gas company with customers and operations across the United States, as well
as in Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia. The company operates
regulated electric and gas utilities in eight states and one Canadian province,
and markets natural gas and electricity across most of North America.
Wisconsin Energy Corporation. Wisconsin Energy Corporation, through its
subsidiaries, provides electric, gas, and steam. The company generates,
transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy in Wisconsin and the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. Wisconsin Energy also purchases, distributes, and sells
natural gas in Wisconsin. In addition, the company generates, distributes, and
sells steam in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
WPS Resources Corporation. WPS Resources Corporation is a holding company
with regulated utility and non-regulated business units. The company, through
its subsidiaries, operates a regulated electric and gas utility and
non-regulated leasing service. WPS' electric and gas customers are located in
northeastern and central Wisconsin and an adjacent part of upper Michigan.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of Van Kampen Funds Inc. and the Unitholders of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172:
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the related
portfolio of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 as of September 2, 1999.
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 Focus Portfolios, Series
172 as of September 2, 1999, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
September 2, 1999
STATEMENT OF CONDITION
As of September 2, 1999
INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES
Contracts to purchase Securities (1) $ 149,514
-----------
Total $ 149,514
===========
LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
Liabilities--
Organizational costs (2) $ 460
Deferred sales charge liability (3) 4,455
Interest of Unitholders--
Cost to investors (4) 151,020
Less: Gross underwriting commission
and organizational costs (2)(4)(5) 6,421
-----------
Net interest to Unitholders (4) 144,599
-----------
Total $ 149,514
===========
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 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 which has been deposited with the Trustee.
(2) A portion of the Public Offering Price represents an amount sufficient to
pay for all or a portion of the costs incurred in establishing the Trust.
The amount of these costs are set forth in the "Fee Table". A distribution
will be made as of the close of the initial offering period to an account
maintained by the Trustee from which this obligation of the investors will
be satisfied.
(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 sales charge are
computed on the bases set forth under "Public Offering-- Offering Price".
(5) Assumes the maximum sales charge.
THE TRUST
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The Trust was created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to a
Trust Indenture and Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated the date of
this Prospectus (the "Initial Date of Deposit"), among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as
Sponsor, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp. as Supervisor, The Bank of New
York, as Trustee, and American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van
Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator.
The Trust offers the opportunity to purchase Units representing proportionate
interests in a portfolio of stocks. The Trust may be an appropriate medium for
investors who desire to participate in a portfolio of stocks with greater
diversification than they might be able to acquire individually.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited delivery statements
relating to contracts for the purchase of the Securities and an irrevocable
letter of credit in the amount required for these purchases with the Trustee. In
exchange for these contracts the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor documentation
evidencing the ownership of Units of the Trust. Unless otherwise terminated as
provided in the Trust Agreement, the Trust will terminate on the Mandatory
Termination Date and any remaining Securities will be liquidated or distributed
by the Trustee within a reasonable time. As used in this Prospectus the term
"Securities" means the securities (including contracts to purchase these
securities) listed in "Portfolio" any additional securities deposited into the
Trust.
Additional Units 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 or the
equivalent) with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As additional
Units are issued by the Trust, the aggregate value of the Securities will be
increased and the fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit will be
decreased. The Sponsor may continue to make additional deposits into the Trust
following the Initial Date of Deposit provided that the additional deposits will
be in amounts which will maintain, as nearly as practicable, the same
proportionate relationship among the number of shares of each Security in the
Trust's portfolio that existed immediately prior to the subsequent deposit.
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 deposit and the purchase of the Securities and because
the Trust will pay the associated brokerage or acquisition fees.
Each Unit 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
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.
The Trust consists of (a) the Securities (including contracts for the
purchase thereof) listed under the "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 related Income and Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor nor the
Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of the Securities.
OBJECTIVES AND SECURITIES SELECTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The objective of the Trust is to increase the value of your investment and
provide dividend income by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks
primarily issued by utility and communications companies selected by Robert W.
Baird & Co. Incorporated (the "Underwriter"). We cannot guarantee that the Trust
will achieve its objective. In selecting the Securities, the Underwriter
considered the factors described under "Utility & Communications Trust".
The Underwriter uses the list of Securities in its independent capacity as a
broker-dealer and investment adviser to various individuals and entities. The
Underwriter may also distribute this information to various individuals and
entities. The Underwriter may recommend or effect transactions in the
Securities. This may have an adverse effect on the prices of the Securities.
This also may have an impact on the price the Trust pays for the Securities and
the price received upon Unit redemptions or Trust termination.
The Underwriter acts as agent or principal in connection with the purchase
and sale of equity securities, including the Securities, and may act as a market
maker in the Securities. The Underwriter also issues reports and makes
recommendations on the Securities. The Underwriter's research department may
receive compensation based on commissions generated by research and/or sales of
Units.
You should note that the Underwriter applied the selection criteria to the
Securities for inclusion in the Trust as of the Initial Date of Deposit. After
this date, the Securities may no longer meet the selection criteria. Should a
Security no longer meet the selection criteria, we will generally not remove the
Security from the portfolio.
RISK FACTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Volatility. The Trust invests in common stocks of U.S. companies. The
value of Units will fluctuate with the value of these stocks and may be more or
less than the price you originally paid for your Units. The market value of
common stocks sometimes moves up or down rapidly and unpredictably. Because the
Trust is unmanaged, the Trustee will not sell stocks in response to market
fluctuations as is common in managed investments. As with any investment, we
cannot guarantee that the performance of the Trust will be positive over any
period of time.
Dividends. Common stocks represent ownership interests in the issuers and are
not obligations of the issuers. Accordingly, common stockholders have a right to
receive dividends only after the company has provided for payment of its
creditors, bondholders and preferred stockholders. Common stocks do not assure
dividend payments. Dividends are paid only when declared by an issuer's board of
directors and the amount of any dividend may vary over time.
Utility Issuers. The Trust invests in different types of utility companies.
These issuers primarily include companies involved in the production and
distribution of electricity, natural gas or water, cable, internet and
communications companies. These companies face risks related to obtaining
adequate return on invested capital despite rate increases, financing large
construction programs, restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays
due to governmental regulations, difficulty of the capital markets in absorbing
utility securities, the ability to obtain fuel for power generation at adequate
prices and the effects of energy conservation. Utility stocks have generally
been particularly susceptible to interest rate movements. The price of these
stocks may fall if interest rates rise.
Utility companies face substantial government regulation concerning rates and
licensing, construction and operation of facilities. Government authorities must
generally approve rate increases and voters in many states have the ability to
impose limits on rate adjustments. Because many utilities plan budgets far in
advance, any unexpected limitations on rates could negatively affect a company's
profits. In addition, this industry has experienced significant deregulation in
the recent past. Deregulation may increase competition which can have a negative
impact on certain companies and result in lower utility rates. Certain utility
companies own or operate nuclear generating facilities. Nuclear facilities have
experienced substantial cost increases, construction delays and licensing
difficulties. These companies face problems associated with the use of
radioactive materials and disposal of radioactive waste. A major accident at a
nuclear plant, such as the accident at a plant in Chernobyl in the former Soviet
Union, would have a significant negative impact on certain issuers.
Telecommunications Issuers. The Trust also invests significantly in
telecommunications companies. These companies are subject to substantial
governmental regulation. For example, the United States government and state
governments regulate permitted rates of return and the kinds of services that a
company may offer. This industry has experienced substantial deregulation in
recent years. Deregulation may lead to fierce competition for market share and
can have a negative impact on certain companies. Competitive pressures are
intense and telecommunications stocks can experience rapid volatility. Certain
telecommunications products may become outdated very rapidly. A company's
performance can be hurt if the company fails to keep pace with technological
advances. Certain smaller companies in the portfolio may involve greater risk
than larger, established issuers. Smaller companies may have limited product
lines, markets or financial resources. Their securities may trade in lower
volumes than larger companies. As a result, the prices of these securities may
fluctuate more than the prices of other issuers.
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure. The following two paragraphs constitute "Year
2000 Readiness Disclosure" within the meaning of the Year 2000 Information and
Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998. If computer systems used by the Sponsor,
Evaluator, Supervisor, Trustee or other service providers to the Trust do not
properly process date-related information after December 31, 1999, the resulting
difficulties could adversely impact the Trust. This is commonly known as the
"Year 2000 Problem". The Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor and Trustee are taking
steps to address this problem and to obtain reasonable assurances that other
service providers to the Trust are taking comparable steps. We cannot guarantee
that these steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Trust.
This problem may impact corporations to varying degrees based on factors such as
industry sector and degree of technological sophistication. We cannot predict
what impact, if any, this problem will have on the issuers of the Securities.
In addition, computer failures throughout the financial services industry
beginning January 1, 2000 could have a detrimental affect on the markets for the
Securities. Improperly functioning trading systems may result in settlement
problems and liquidity issues. Moreover, corporate and governmental data
processing errors may adversely affect issuers and overall economic
uncertainties. Remediation costs will affect the earnings of individual issuers.
These costs could be substantial. Issuers may report these costs inconsistently
in U.S. and foreign financial markets. All of these issues could adversely
affect the Securities and the Trust.
No FDIC Guarantee. An investment in your Trust is not a deposit of any bank
and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
any other government agency.
PUBLIC OFFERING
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General. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price which includes the
underlying value of the Securities, the initial sales charge, and cash, if any,
in the Income and Capital Accounts. The "Fee Table" describes the sales charge
in detail. If any deferred sales charge payment date is not a business day, we
will charge the payment to the Trust on the next business day. If you purchase
Units after the initial deferred sales charge payment, you will only pay the
remaining portion of the deferred sales charge. On September 2, 2000, the
secondary market sales charge will reduce to 3.45% and will not include deferred
payments. This sales charge will reduce by 0.5% on each following September 2,
to a minimum of 2.95%. A portion of the Public Offering Price includes an amount
of Securities to pay for all or a portion of the organizational costs incurred
in establishing your Trust. These costs include the cost of preparing documents
relating to the Trust (such as the prospectus, trust agreement and closing
documents), federal and state registration fees, the initial fees and expenses
of the Trustee and legal and audit expenses. The initial offering period sales
charge is reduced as follows:
Aggregate
Dollar Amount
of Units Purchased* Sales Charge
- --------------------- ----------------
$50,000 - $99,999 3.75%
$100,000 - $249,999 3.50
$250,000 - $499,999 3.25
$500,000 - $999,999 2.95
$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.
Any sales charge reduction is borne by the selling broker, dealer or
agent.The reduced sales charge structure will also apply on all purchases by the
same person from any one dealer of units of Van Kampen-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 the units purchased are of a unit investment trust purchased on
the Initial Purchase 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 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 the amount of
such reduction. To determine the applicable sales charge reduction 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 to be additional purchases by the purchaser for
the purposes of calculating the applicable sales charge. 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. If you purchase
Units on more than one day to achieve the discounts described in this paragraph,
the discount allowed on any single day will apply only to Units purchased on
that day (a retroactive discount is not given on all prior purchases).
During the initial offering period, unitholders of any Van Kampen-sponsored
unit investment trust may utilize their redemption or termination proceeds to
purchase Units of the Trust at the Public Offering Price per Unit less 1%.
Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to brokers and
dealers for purchases 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 spouses or children under 21 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.
Employees, officers and directors (including their spouses, children,
grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law,
sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and trustees, custodians or fiduciaries for the
benefit of such persons) of Van Kampen Funds 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.
The minimum purchase is 100 Units (or $1,000) but may vary by selling firm.
However, 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.
Offering Price. The Public Offering Price of 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. The
initial price of the Securities was determined by Interactive Data Corporation,
a firm regularly engaged in the business of evaluating, quoting or appraising
comparable securities. The Evaluator will generally determine the value of the
Securities as of the Evaluation Time on each business day and will adjust the
Public Offering Price of Units accordingly. This Public Offering Price will be
effective for all orders received prior to the Evaluation Time on each business
day. The Evaluation Time is the close of the New York Stock Exchange on each
Trust business day. Orders received by the Trustee or Sponsor for purchases,
sales or redemptions after that time, or on a day which is not a business day,
will be held until the next determination of price. The term "business day", as
used herein and under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units", excludes
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
The aggregate underlying value of the Securities during the initial offering
period is determined on each business day by the Evaluator in the following
manner: If the Securities are listed on a national or foreign 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 Securities are not listed on a national or foreign
securities exchange 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
Securities on the ask side of the market or (c) by any combination of the above.
The value of any foreign securities is based on the applicable currency exchange
rate in U.S. dollars as of the Evaluation Time. The value of the Securities for
purposes of secondary market transactions and redemptions is described under
"Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units".
In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any
broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities but rather the
entire pool of Securities, taken as a whole, which are represented by the Units.
Unit Distribution. Units will be distributed to the public by the Sponsor,
broker-dealers and others at the Public Offering Price. 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 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
described below.
Aggregate Concession
Dollar Amount or Agency
of Units Distributed* Commission
- --------------------- ----------------
Up to $49,999 3.00%
$50,000 - $99,999 2.80
$100,000 - $249,999 2.55
$250,000 - $499,999 2.30
$500,000 - $999,999 2.00
$1,000,000 or more 1.50
- ---------------
*The breakpoint concessions or agency commissions are also applied on a Unit
basis using a breakpoint equivalent of $10 per Unit and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the distributor.
Any discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling dealer or
agent as indicated under "General" above. For transactions involving unitholders
of other Van Kampen unit investment trusts who use their redemption or
termination proceeds to purchase Units of the Trust, the total concession or
agency commission will amount to 2.00% per Unit. For all secondary market
transactions the total concession or agency commission will amount to 70% of the
applicable sales charge. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no
case shall the total of any concessions, agency commissions and any additional
compensation allowed or paid to any broker, dealer or other distributor of Units
with respect to any individual transaction exceed the total sales charge
applicable to such transaction. 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.
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.
Sponsor and Underwriter Compensation. The Underwriter will receive a gross
sales commission equal to the total sales charge applicable to each transaction.
The Sponsor will receive from the Underwriter the difference between the gross
sales commission and an amount equal to the broker concessions or agency
commissions described under "Unit Distribution". In addition, the Underwriter
will receive additional compensation during the initial offering period of 0.10%
of the Public Offering Price per Unit if it distributes at least $10 million,
0.15% of the Public Offering Price per Unit if it distributes at least $15
million and 0.20% of the Public Offering Price per Unit if it distributes at
least $20 million. Any sales charge discount provided to investors will be borne
by the selling dealer or agent. In addition, the Sponsor will realize a profit
or loss as a result of the difference between the price paid for the Securities
by the Sponsor and the cost of the Securities to the Trust on the Initial Date
of Deposit as well as on subsequent deposits. 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. The Sponsor or Underwriter may realize profit or loss as a result of
the possible fluctuations in the market value of the Securities, since all
proceeds received from purchasers of Units are retained by the Sponsor or
Underwriter. In maintaining a secondary market, the Underwriter will realize
profits or 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) or from a redemption of repurchased Units
at a price above or below the purchase price. Cash, if any, made available to
the Sponsor or Underwriter prior to the date of settlement for the purchase of
Units may be used in the Sponsor's or Underwriter's business and may be deemed
to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject to the limitations of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
An affilliate of the Sponsor may have participated in a public offering of
one or more of the Securities. The Sponsor, an affiliate or their employees may
have a long or short position in these Securities. An affiliate may act as a
specialist or market marker for these Securities. An officer, director or
employee of the Sponsor or an affiliate may be an officer or director for
issuers of the Securities.
Market for Units. Although it is not obligated to do so, the Underwriter
currently intends to maintain a market for Units and to purchase Units at the
secondary market repurchase price (which is described under "Right of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units"). The Underwriter may discontinue purchases of
Units or discontinue purchases at this price at any time. In the event that a
secondary market is not maintained, a Unitholder will be able to dispose of
Units by tendering them to the Trustee for redemption at the Redemption Price.
See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units". Unitholders should contact
their broker to determine the best price for Units in the secondary market.
Units sold prior to the time the entire deferred sales charge has been collected
will be assessed the amount of any remaining deferred sales charge at the time
of sale. The Trustee will notify the Underwriter of any Units tendered for
redemption. If the Underwriter's bid in the secondary market equals or exceeds
the Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase the Units not later than the day
on which Units would have been redeemed by the Trustee. The Underwriter may sell
repurchased Units at the secondary market Public Offering Price per Unit.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. Units are available for purchase in
connection with certain types of tax-sheltered retirement plans, including
Individual Retirement Accounts for the individuals, Simplified Employee Pension
Plans for employees, qualified plans for self-employed individuals, and
qualified corporate pension and profit sharing plans for employees. The minimum
purchase for qualified retirement plans is 25 Units but may vary by selling
firm. The purchase of Units may be limited by the plans' provisions and does not
itself establish such plans.
RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS
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Distributions. Dividends, interest and any net proceeds from the sale of
Securities received by the Trust will generally be distributed to Unitholders on
each Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on the preceding Record Date.
These dates appear under "Summary of Essential Financial Information". A person
becomes a Unitholder of record on the date of settlement (generally three
business days after Units are ordered). Unitholders may elect to receive
distributions in cash or to have distributions reinvested into additional Units.
You may also reinvest distributions in certain Van Kampen mutual funds. See
"Rights of Unitholders--Reinvestment Option".
Dividends and interest received by the Trust are credited to the Income
Account of the Trust. Other receipts (e.g., capital gains, proceeds from the
sale of Securities, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account. Proceeds received
on the sale of any Securities, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of
Units or pay deferred sales charges, fees or expenses, will be distributed to
Unitholders. Proceeds received from the disposition of any 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. Any
distribution to Unitholders consists of each Unitholder's pro rata share of the
estimated annual income to be received by the Trust and any available amounts in
the Capital Account as of the related Record Date.
Reinvestment Option. Unitholders may have distributions automatically
reinvested in additional Units under the Automatic Reinvestment Option (to the
extent Units may be lawfully offered for sale in the state in which the
Unitholder resides) through two options. Brokers and dealers can use the
Dividend Reinvestment Service through Depository Trust Company or purchase the
Automatic Reinvestment Option CUSIP. Unitholders will be subject to any
remaining deferred sales charge payments due on Units. To participate in this
reinvestment option, a Unitholder must file with the Trustee a written notice of
election, together with any certificate representing Units and other
documentation that the Trustee may then require, at least five days prior to the
related Record Date. A Unitholder's election will apply to all Units owned by
the Unitholder and will remain in effect until changed by the Unitholder. If
Units are unavailable for reinvestment, distributions will be paid in cash.
Purchases of additional Units made pursuant to the reinvestment plan will be
made at the net asset value for Units as of the Evaluation Time on the
Distribution Date.
Under the Guaranteed Reinvestment Option Unitholders may elect to have
distributions automatically reinvested in certain Van Kampen mutual funds (the
"Reinvestment Funds"). Each Reinvestment Fund has investment objectives which
differ from those of the Trust. The prospectus relating to each Reinvestment
Fund describes its investment policies and how to begin reinvestment. A
Unitholder may obtain a prospectus for the Reinvestment Funds from the Sponsor.
Purchases of shares of a Reinvestment Fund will be made at a net asset value
computed on the Distribution Date. Unitholders with an existing Guaranteed
Reinvestment Option account (whereby a sales charge is imposed on distribution
reinvestments) may transfer their existing account into a new account which
allows purchases of Reinvestment Fund shares at net asset value.
A participant may elect to terminate his or her reinvestment plan and receive
future distributions in cash by notifying the Trustee in writing no later than
five days before a distribution date. The Sponsor, each Reinvestment Fund, and
its investment adviser shall have the right to suspend or terminate the
reinvestment plan at any time.
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. Certificates must be tendered to the
Trustee, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with
signature guaranteed (or by providing satisfactory indemnity in connection with
lost, stolen or destroyed certificates) and by payment of applicable
governmental charges, if any. On the seventh day following the tender, the
Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit equal to
the Redemption Price per Unit next computed on the date of tender. The "date of
tender" is deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee,
except that with respect to Units received by the Trustee after the Evaluation
Time or on a day which is not a Trust business day, the date of tender is deemed
to be the next business day.
Unitholders tendering 1,000 or more Units (or $10,000) of the Trust for
redemption may request an in kind distribution of equity securities equal to the
Redemption Price per Unit on the date of tender. An in kind distribution will be
made by the Trustee through the distribution of each of the euquity securities
in book-entry form to the account of the Unitholder's broker-dealer at
Depository Trust Company. Amounts representing fractional shares will be
distributed in cash. The Trustee may adjust the nujmber of shares of any
Security included in a Unitholder's in kind distribution of whole shares.
The Trustee may sell Securities to satisfy Unit redemptions. 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
at the time of redemption.
The Redemption Price per Unit and the secondary market repurchase price per
Unit are equal to 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 and interest receivable on the Securities in the
Trust 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 and sales charges of the Trust. During the initial
offering period, the redemption price and the secondary market repurchase price
will also include estimated organizational costs. For these purposes, the
Evaluator may determine the value of the Securities in the following manner: If
the Securities are listed on a national or foreign 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 Securities are not so listed or, if so listed and the
principal market therefore is other than on the exchange, the evaluation may be
based on the current bid price on the over-the-counter market. If current bid
prices are unavailable or inappropriate, the evaluation may be determined (a) on
the basis of current bid prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the
Securities on the bid side of the market or (c) by any combination of the above.
The value of any foreign securities is based on the applicable currency exchange
rate in U.S. dollars as of the Evaluation Time.
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 SEC determines that
trading on that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as a result of
which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably practicable, or
for other periods as the SEC may permit.
Certificates. Ownership of Units is evidenced in book entry form unless a
Unitholder makes a written request to the Trustee that ownership be in
certificate form. Units are transferable by making a written request to the
Trustee and, in the case of Units in certificate form, by presentation of the
certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unitholder must sign the written
request, and certificate or transfer instrument, exactly as his name appears on
the records of the Trustee and on the face of any certificate with the signature
guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP") or a signature guarantee program 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. Fractional Units will not
be issued. 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 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.
Reports Provided. Unitholders will receive a statement of dividends, interest
and other amounts received by the Trust for each distribution. Within a
reasonable time after the end of each year, each person who was a Unitholder
during that year will receive a statement describing dividends, interest and
capital received, actual Trust distributions, Trust expenses, a list of the
Securities and other Trust information. Unitholders may obtain the Evaluator's
evaluations of the Securities upon request.
TRUST ADMINISTRATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Administration. The Trust is not a managed fund and, except as
provided in the Trust Agreement, Securities generally will not be sold or
replaced. The Sponsor may, however, direct that Securities be sold in certain
limited circumstances to protect the Trust based on advice from the Supervisor.
These situations may include events such as the issuer having defaulted on
payment of any of its outstanding obligations or the price of a Security has
declined to such an extent or other credit factors exist so that in the opinion
of the Sponsor retention of the Security would be detrimental to the Trust. In
addition, the Trustee may sell Securities to redeem Units or pay Trust expenses
or deferred sales charges. The Trustee must reject any offer for securities or
property in exchange for the Securities. If securities or property are
nonetheless acquired by the Trust, the Sponsor may direct the Trustee to sell
the securities or property and distribute the proceeds to Unitholders or to
accept the securities or property for deposit in the Trust. Should any contract
for the purchase of any of the Securities fail, the Sponsor will (unless
substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover the purchase are
reinvested in substitute Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement)
refund the cash and sales charge attributable to the failed contract to all
Unitholders on or before the next distribution date.
When your Trust sells Securities, the composition and diversity of the
Securities in the Trust 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 Securities are to be sold. In
effecting purchases and sales of the 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 of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee and the Sponsor may amend the
Trust Agreement without the consent of Unitholders to correct any provision
which may be defective or to make other provisions that will not adversely
affect Unitholders (as determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee).
The Trust Agreement may not be amended to increase the number of Units or permit
acquisition of securities in addition to or substitution for the Securities
(except as provided in the Trust Agreement). The Trustee will notify Unitholders
of any amendment.
Termination. The Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date or
upon the sale or other disposition of the last Security held in the Trust. The
Trust may be terminated at any time with consent of Unitholders representing
two-thirds of the outstanding Units or by the Trustee when the value of the
Trust is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has exceeded
$15,000,000) (the "Minimum Termination Value"). Unitholders will be notified of
any termination. The Trustee may begin to sell Securities in connection with a
Trust termination during a period beginning nine business days before, and no
later than, the Mandatory Termination Date. Approximately thirty days before
this date, the Trustee will notify Unitholders of the termination. Unitholders
will receive a final cash distribution within a reasonable time after the
Mandatory Termination Date. All distributions will be net of Trust expenses and
costs. Unitholders will receive a final distribution statement following
termination. The Information Supplement contains further information regarding
termination of the Trust. See "Additional Information".
Limitations on Liabilities. The Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor and Trustee
are under no liability 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 is 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 is not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith under
the Trust Agreement. The Trustee is not liable for any taxes or other
governmental charges imposed on the Securities, on it as Trustee under the Trust
Agreement or on 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
and Supervisor may rely on any evaluation furnished by the Evaluator and have no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator shall
be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information available to it.
Sponsor. Van Kampen Funds Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the Sponsor of the
Trust. The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
Van Kampen Funds 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. As of November 30, 1998, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen
Funds Inc. was $135,236,000 (audited). The Information Supplement contains
additional information about the Sponsor.
If the Sponsor fails to perform any of its duties under the Trust Agreement
or becomes incapable of acting or declares bankruptcy 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. Additional information
regarding the Trustee is set forth in the Information Supplement, including the
Trustee's qualifications and duties, its ability to resign, the effect of a
merger involving the Trustee and the Sponsor's ability to remove and replace the
Trustee. See "Additional Information".
Performance Information. The Sponsor and Underwriter may from time to time in
advertising and sales materials compare the current returns on the Trust and
returns over specified time periods on other similar trusts (which may show
performance net of expenses and charges which the Trust would have charged) with
returns on other investments such as the common stocks comprising the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, the S&P 500, other investment indices, corporate or U.S.
government bonds, bank CDs, money market accounts or money market funds, or with
performance data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar
Publications, Inc. or various publications, each of which has characteristics
that may differ from those of the Trust. Information on percentage changes in
the dollar value of Units may be included from time to time in advertisements,
sales literature, reports and other information furnished to current or
prospective Unitholders. Total return figures may not be averaged and may not
reflect deduction of the sales charge, which would decrease return. No provision
is made for any income taxes payable. Past performance may not be indicative of
future results. The Trust portfolio is not managed and Unit price and return
fluctuate with the value of the securities in the portfolio, so there may be a
gain or loss when Units are sold. As with other performance data, performance
comparisons should not be considered representative of the Trust's relative
performance for any future period.
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 of your
Trust. 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 opinion, it is assumed
that each Security in the Trust 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 Security asset when such income is considered to be received
by the Trust.
2. Each Unitholder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes of a
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 pro rata portion of each 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
initial tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Security held by the Trust.
Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with regard to 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 a 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 Security which exceeds
such current and accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a
Unitholder's tax basis in such 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.
3. A Unitholder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of Securities held by the Trust will generally be
considered a capital gain, except in the case of a dealer or a financial
institution. A Unitholder's portion of loss, if any, upon the sale or redemption
of Units or the disposition of 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 Unitholder will be considered to have
received all of the dividends paid on his pro rata portion of each Security when
such dividends are received by the Trust regardless of whether such dividends
are used to pay a portion of a deferred sales charge. Unitholders will be taxed
in this manner regardless of whether distributions from the Trust are actually
received by the Unitholder or are automatically reinvested. 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 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. 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. Unitholders should consult with their
tax advisers with respect to the limitations on and possible modifications to
the dividends received deduction.
Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by 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.
Unitholders should consult with their own tax advisers regarding the
deductibility of Trust expenses.
Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Securities by the
Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unitholder may recognize
taxable gain (or loss) when a Security is disposed of by the Trust or if the
Unitholder disposes of a Unit. The Internal Revenue Service Restructing and
Reform Act of 1998 (the "1998 Tax Act") provides that 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) realized from property
(with certain exclusions) is subject to a maximum marginal stated tax rate of
20% (10% in the case of certain taxpayers in the lowest tax bracket). 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.
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. Capital gains realized
from assets held for one year or less are taxed at the same rates as ordinary
income.
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 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, offsetting notional principal
contracts, futures or forward contracts or similar transactions) as constructive
sales for purposes of recognition of gain (but not of 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's 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 held by the Trust will depend on whether or not a
Unitholder receives cash in addition to Securities. A "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
Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion in the Securities held by
the Trust. However, if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange for a
fractional share of such 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 a
Security held by the Trust.
Because the Trust will own many Securities, a Unitholder who requests an in
kind distribution will have to analyze the tax consequences with respect to each
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 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 Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unitholder of his
Units. The cost of the Units is allocated among the Securities held in the Trust
in accordance with the proportion of the fair market values of such 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 Security.
A Unitholder's tax basis in his Units and his pro rata portion of a Security
held by the Trust will be reduced to the extent dividends paid with respect to
such Security are received by the Trust which are not taxable as ordinary income
as described above.
Other Matters. 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 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 corporations for a three-year period ending with the close
of its taxable year preceding payment was 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 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 Securities, the gross proceeds received by the
Trust from the disposition of any Security (resulting from redemption or the
sale of any 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.
Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding potential foreign, state
or local taxation with respect to the Units.
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.
However, the Evaluator, which is an affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive the
annual fee for evaluation services set forth in the "Fee Table". The Supervisor,
which is also an affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive the annual fee described
in the "Fee Table" for portfolio supervisory services for the Trust. These fees
may exceed the actual costs of providing these services to the Trust but at no
time will the total amount received for supervisory and evaluation services
rendered to all Van Kampen unit investment trusts in any calendar year exceed
the aggregate cost of providing these services in that year.
Trustee's Fee. For its services the Trustee will receive the fee from the
Trust set forth in the "Fee Table" (which includes the estimated amount of
miscellaneous Trust expenses). The Trustee benefits to the extent there are
funds 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.
Miscellaneous Expenses. 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) foreign custodial and transaction
fees, (h) costs associated with liquidating the securities held in the Trust
portfolio, (i) any offering costs incurred after the end of the initial offering
period and (j) expenditures incurred in contacting Unitholders upon termination
of the Trust. The Trust may pay the expenses of updating its registration
statement each year. Unit investment trust sponsors have historically paid these
expenses.
General. The fees and expenses of the Trust will accrue on a daily basis. The
deferred sales charge, fees and expenses are generally paid out of the Capital
Account. When these amounts are paid by or owing to the Trustee, they are
secured by a lien on the Trust's portfolio. Securities may be sold to pay these
amounts which will result in capital gains or losses to Unitholders. See
"Taxation". The Supervisor's, Evaluator's and Trustee's 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 or, if this category is not published, in a comparable category.
OTHER MATTERS
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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 to the Trustee
and as special counsel for New York tax matters.
Independent Certified Public Accountants. The statement of condition and the
related portfolio 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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement filed by the Trust with the SEC. The Information
Supplement, which has been filed with the SEC, includes more detailed
information concerning the Securities, investment risks and general information
about the Trust. The Information Supplement may be obtained by contacting the
Trustee at (800) 856-8487 or is available along with other related materials at
the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Title Page
----- ----
Summary of Essential Financial Information.. 2
Fee Table................................... 3
Utility & Communications Trust.............. 4
Notes to Portfolio.......................... 6
The Securities.............................. 7
Report of Independent Certified
Public Accountants....................... 10
Statement of Condition ..................... 11
The Trust................................... A-1
Objectives and Securities Selection......... A-1
Risk Factors................................ A-2
Public Offering............................. A-3
Rights of Unitholders....................... A-7
Trust Administration........................ A-9
Taxation.................................... A-11
Trust Operating Expenses.................... A-14
Other Matters............................... A-15
Additional Information...................... A-15
PROSPECTUS
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September 2, 1999
Utility & Communications Trust,
Series 1
Baird / (logo)
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
1-800-RW-BAIRD
(1-800-792-2473)
www.rwbaird.com
Please retain this prospectus for future reference.
Information Supplement
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172
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This Information Supplement provides additional information concerning the
risks and operations of the Trust which is not described in the Prospectus. This
Information Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus, does not include all of the
information that an investor should consider before investing in the Trust and
may not be used to offer or sell Units without the Prospectus. Copies of the
Prospectus can be obtained by contacting the Sponsor at One Parkview Plaza,
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181 or by contacting your broker. This Information
Supplement is dated as of the date of the Prospectus and all capitalized terms
have been defined in the Prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page
Risk Factors 2
Sponsor Information 4
Trustee Information 5
Trust Termination 6
RISK FACTORS
Price Volatility. Because the Trust invests in common stocks, you should
understand the risks of investing in common stocks before purchasing Units.
These risks include the risk that the financial condition of the company or the
general condition of the stock market may worsen and the value of the stocks
(and therefore Units) will fall. Common stocks are especially susceptible to
general stock market movements. The value of common stocks often rises or falls
rapidly and unpredictably as market confidence and perceptions of companies
change. These perceptions are based on factors including expectations regarding
government economic policies, inflation, interest rates, economic expansion or
contraction, political climates and economic or banking crises. The value of
Units will fluctuate with the value of the stocks in a Trust and may be more or
less than the price you originally paid for your Units. As with any investment,
we cannot guarantee that the performance of a Trust will be positive over any
period of time. Because the Trust is unmanaged, the Trustee will not sell stocks
in response to market fluctuations as is common in managed investments. In
addition, because some Trusts hold a relatively small number of stocks, you may
encounter greater market risk than in a more diversified investment.
Dividends. Common stocks represent ownership interests in a company and are
not obligations of the company. Accordingly, common stockholders have a right to
receive payments from the company that is subordinate to the rights of
creditors, bondholders or preferred stockholders of the company. This means that
common stockholders have a right to receive dividends only if a company's board
of directors declares a dividend and the company has provided for payment of all
of its creditors, bondholders and preferred stockholders. If a company issues
additional debt securities or preferred stock, the owners of these securities
will have a claim against the company's assets before common stockholders if the
company declares bankruptcy or liquidates its assets even though the common
stock was issued first. As a result, the company may be less willing or able to
declare or pay dividends on its common stock.
Liquidity. Whether or not the stocks in a Trust are listed on a stock
exchange, the stocks may delist from the exchange or principally trade in an
over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market
could depend on whether dealers will make a market in the stocks. We cannot
guarantee that dealers will maintain a market or that any market will be liquid.
The value of the stocks could fall if trading markets are limited or absent.
Additional Units. The Sponsor may create additional Units of a Trust by
depositing into the Trust additional stocks or cash with instructions to
purchase additional stocks. A cash deposit could result in a dilution of your
investment and anticipated income because of fluctuations in the price of the
stocks between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the stocks and
because the Trust will pay brokerage fees.
Voting. Only the Trustee may sell or vote the stocks in a Trust. While you
may sell or redeem your Units, you may not sell or vote the stocks in your
Trust. The Sponsor will instruct the Trustee how to vote the stocks. The Trustee
will vote the stocks in the same general proportion as shares held by other
shareholders if the Sponsor fails to provide instructions.
Year 2000. The Trust could be negatively impacted if computer systems used
by the Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor or Trustee or other service providers to
the Trust do not properly process date-related information after January 1,
2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem". The Sponsor, Evaluator,
Supervisor and Trustee are taking steps to address this problem and to obtain
reasonable assurances that other service providers to the Trust are taking
comparable steps. We cannot guarantee that these steps will be sufficient to
avoid any adverse impact on the Trust. This problem is expected to impact
corporations to varying degrees based on factors such as industry sector and
degree of technological sophistication. We cannot predict what impact, if any,
this problem will have on the issuers of stocks in the Trust.
Utility Issuers. An investment in Units of the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the characteristics of the public utility industry and the
risks which such an investment may entail. General problems of the public
utility industry include the difficulty in obtaining an adequate return on
invested capital despite frequent increases in rates which have been granted by
the public service commissions having jurisdiction, the difficulty in financing
large construction programs during an inflationary period, the restrictions on
operations and increased cost and delays attributable to environmental and other
regulatory considerations, the difficulty of the capital markets absorbing
utility debt and equity securities, the difficulty in obtaining fuel for
electric generation at reasonable prices, and the effects of energy
conservation. There is no assurance that public service commissions will grant
rate increases in the future or that any such increases will be adequate to
cover operating and other expenses and debt service requirements. All of the
public utilities which are issuers of the Securities have been experiencing many
of these problems in varying degrees. Furthermore, utility stocks are
particularly susceptible to interest rate risk, generally exhibiting an inverse
relationship to interest rates. As a result, electric utility stock prices may
be adversely affected as interest rates rise. There can be no assurance that
these customers will place additional orders, or that an issuer of Securities
will obtain orders of similar magnitude as past orders form other customers.
Similarly, the success of certain companies is tied to a relatively small
concentration of products or technologies with intense competition between
companies. Accordingly, a decline in demand of such products, technologies or
from such customers could have a material adverse impact on issuers of the
Securities.
Utilities are generally subject to extensive regulation by state utility
commissions which, for example, establish the rates which may be charged and the
appropriate rate of return on an approved asset base, which must be approved by
the state commissions. Certain utilities have had difficulty from time to time
in persuading regulators, who are subject to political pressures, to grant rate
increases necessary to maintain an adequate return on investment and voters in
many states have the ability to impose limits on rate adjustments (for example,
by initiative or referendum). Any unexpected limitations could negatively affect
the profitability of utilities whose budgets are planned far in advance. In
addition, gas pipeline and distribution companies have had difficulties in
adjusting to short and surplus energy supplies, enforcing or being required to
comply with long-term contracts and avoiding litigation from their customers, on
the one hand, or suppliers, on the other.
Certain of the issuers of the Securities may own or operate nuclear
generating facilities. Governmental authorities may from time to time review
existing, and impose additional, requirements governing the licensing,
construction and operation of nuclear power plants. Nuclear generating projects
in the electric utility industry have experienced substantial cost increases,
construction delays and licensing difficulties. These have been caused by
various factors, including inflation, high financing costs, required design
changes and rework, allegedly faulty construction, objections by groups and
governmental officials, limits on the ability to finance, reduced forecasts of
energy requirements and economic conditions. This experience indicates that the
risk of significant cost increases, delays and licensing difficulties remain
present until completion and achievement of commercial operation of any nuclear
project. Also, nuclear generating units in service have experienced unplanned
outages or extensions of scheduled outages due to equipment problems or new
regulatory requirements sometimes followed by a significant delay in obtaining
regulatory approval to return to service. A major accident at a nuclear plant
anywhere, such as the accident at a plant in Chernobyl, could cause the
imposition of limits or prohibitions on the operation, construction or licensing
of nuclear units.
In view of the uncertainties discussed above, there can be no assurance that
any company's share of the full cost of nuclear units under construction
ultimately will be recovered in rates or the extent to which a company could
earn an adequate return on its investment in such units. The likelihood of a
significantly adverse event occurring in any of the areas of concern described
above varies, as does the potential severity of any adverse impact. It should be
recognized, however, that one or more of such adverse events could occur and
individually or collectively could have a material adverse impact on a company's
financial condition, the results of its operations, its ability to make interest
and principal payments on its outstanding debt or to pay dividends.
Other general problems of the gas, water, telephone and electric utility
industries (including state and local joint action power agencies) include
difficulty in obtaining timely and adequate rate increases, difficulty in
financing large construction programs to provide new or replacement facilities
during an inflationary period, rising costs of rail transportation to transport
fossil fuels, the uncertainty of transmission service costs for both interstate
and intrastate transactions, changes in tax laws which adversely affect a
utility's ability to operate profitably, increased competition in service costs,
recent reductions in estimates of future demand for electricity and gas in
certain areas of the country, restrictions on operations and increased cost and
delays attributable to environmental considerations, uncertain availability and
increased cost of capital, unavailability of fuel for electric generation at
reasonable prices, including the steady rise in fuel costs and the costs
associated with conversion to alternate fuel sources such as coal, availability
and cost of natural gas for resale, technical and cost factors and other
problems associated with construction, licensing, regulation and operation of
nuclear facilities for electric generation, including, among other
considerations, the problems associated with the use of radioactive materials
and the disposal of radioactive wastes, and the effects of energy conservation.
Each of the problems referred to could adversely affect the ability of the
issuers of any Securities to make dividend payments.
Telecommunications Issuers. Because the Trust is concentrated in the
telecommunications industry, the value of the Units of this Trust may be
susceptible to factors affecting the telecommunications industry. The
telecommunications industry is subject to governmental regulation and the
products and services of telecommunications companies may be subject to rapid
obsolescence. These factors could affect the value of Units. Telephone companies
in the United States, for example, are subject to both state and federal
regulations affecting permitted rates of returns and the kinds of services that
may be offered. Certain types of companies represented in a Trust portfolio are
engaged in fierce competition for a share of the market of their products. As a
result, competitive pressures are intense and the stocks are subject to rapid
price volatility. While a Trust portfolio concentrates on the securities of
established suppliers of traditional telecommunication products and services, a
Trust may also invest in smaller telecommunications companies which may benefit
from the development of new products and services. These smaller companies may
present greater opportunities for capital appreciation, and may also involve
greater risk than large, established issuers. Such smaller companies may have
limited product lines, market or financial resources, and their securities may
trade less frequently and in limited volume than the securities of larger, more
established companies. As a result, the prices of the securities of such smaller
companies may fluctuate to a greater degree than the prices of securities of
other issuers.
Additional Units. The Sponsor may create additional Units of the Trust by
depositing into the Trust additional stocks or cash with instructions to
purchase additional stocks. A cash deposit could result in a dilution of your
investment and anticipated income because of fluctuations in the price of the
stocks between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the stocks and
because the Trust will pay brokerage fees.
Voting. Only the Trustee may sell or vote the stocks in the Trust. While you
may sell or redeem your Units, you may not sell or vote the stocks in the Trust.
The Sponsor will instruct the Trustee how to vote the stocks. The Trustee will
vote the stocks in the same general proportion as shares held by other
shareholders if the Sponsor fails to provide instructions.
SPONSOR INFORMATION
Van Kampen Funds Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the Sponsor of the Trust.
The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary of Van Kampen Investments Inc. Van Kampen
Investments Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSAM Holdings II, Inc., which
in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
("MSDW").
MSDW, 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.
Van Kampen Funds 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. As of November 30, 1998, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen
Funds Inc. was $135,236,000 (audited). (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 March 31, 1999, the Sponsor and its Van Kampen affiliates managed or
supervised approximately $75 billion of investment products. The Sponsor and its
Van Kampen affiliates managed $64 billion of assets, consisting of $36.6 billion
for 50 open-end mutual funds, $19.5 billion for 39 closed-end funds and $8.2
billion for 106 institutional accounts. The Sponsor has also deposited more than
3,200 unit trusts amounting to approximately $35.4 billion of assets. All of Van
Kampen'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 or evaluation services at cost for approximately $13.4
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 fails to perform any of its duties under the Trust Agreement
or becomes incapable of acting or becomes 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 INFORMATION
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. 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. 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.
TRUST TERMINATION
The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of Unitholders
representing 66 2/3% of the Units of such Trust then outstanding or by the
Trustee when the value of the Securities owned by the Trust, as shown by any
evaluation, is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has
exceeded $15,000,000). The Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event
that a sufficient number of Units of the Trust not yet sold are tendered for
redemption by the Sponsor, so that the net worth of such 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 by the Sponsor, 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.
Commencing during the period beginning nine business days prior to, and no
later than, the Mandatory Termination Date, Securities may 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 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. At least 30 days before
the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide written notice of any
termination to all Unitholders of the appropriate Trust. Unitholders will
receive a cash distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities within a
reasonable time following the Mandatory Termination Date. 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 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 of each Trust 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 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.
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS
This Amendment of Registration Statement comprises the following papers
and documents:
The facing sheet
The Prospectus
The signatures
The consents of independent public accountants and legal counsel
The following exhibits:
1.1 Copy of Trust Agreement.
3.1 Opinion and consent of counsel as to legality of securities being
registered.
3.2 Opinion of counsel as to the Federal Income tax status of securities
being registered.
3.3 Opinion and consent of counsel as to New York tax status of securities
being registered.
4.1 Consent of Interactive Data Corporation.
4.2 Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants.
SIGNATURES
The Registrant, Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172, hereby
identifies Van Kampen Merritt Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 1, Series 2,
Series 4 and Series 7 and Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust,
Series 13, Series 14, Series 57 and Series 89 for purposes of the
representations required by Rule 487 and represents the following: (1) that the
portfolio securities deposited in the series as to the securities of which this
Registration Statement is being filed do not differ materially in type or
quality from those deposited in such previous series; (2) that, except to the
extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio securities deposited in, and
to provide essential financial information for, the series with respect to the
securities of which this Registration Statement is being filed, this
Registration Statement does not contain disclosures that differ in any material
respect from those contained in the registration statements for such previous
series as to which the effective date was determined by the Commission or the
staff; and (3) that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of
1933.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 has duly caused this
Amendment to the 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 September, 1999.
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172
By Van Kampen Funds Inc.
By Christine K. Putong
Assistant Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below on September 2,
1999 by the following persons who constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of Van Kampen Funds Inc.
SIGNATURE TITLE
Richard F. Powers III Chairman and Chief Executive )
Officer )
John H. Zimmerman III President and Chief Operating )
Officer )
William R. Rybak Executive Vice President and )
Chief Financial Officer )
A. Thomas Smith III Executive Vice President, )
General Counsel and Secretary )
Michael H. Santo Executive Vice President )
Christine K. Putong
(Attorney-in-fact*)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*An executed copy of each of the related powers of attorney is filed
herewith or was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with the Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 136 (File No. 333-70897) and the same are hereby incorporated herein by
this reference.
EXHIBIT 1.1
VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS
SERIES 172
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: September 2, 1999
This Trust Agreement among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as Depositor,
American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen Investment
Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as
Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, sets forth certain
provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference to the
document entitled "Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series
87 and Subsequent Series, Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, Effective
January 27, 1998" (herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust")
and such provisions as are set forth in full and such provisions as are
incorporated by reference constitute a single instrument. All references herein
to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust.
WITNESSETH THAT:
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein
contained, the Depositor, Evaluator, Supervisory Servicer and Trustee agree as
follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, all the provisions
contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust are herein incorporated
by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this
instrument as fully and to the same extent as though said provisions had been
set forth in full in this instrument.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed to:
1. The Securities defined in Section 1.01(24), listed in the Schedule
hereto, have been deposited in trust under this Trust Agreement.
2. The fractional undivided interest in and ownership of each Trust
represented by each Unit is an amount the numerator of which is one and the
denominator of which is the amount set forth under "Summary of Essential
Financial Information - Initial Number of Units" in the Prospectus. Such
fractional undivided interest may be (a) increased by the number of any
additional Units issued pursuant to Section 2.03, (b) increased or decreased in
connection with an adjustment to the number of Units pursuant to Section 2.03,
or (c) decreased by the number of Units redeemed pursuant to Section 5.02.
3. The terms "Capital Account Record Date" and "Income Account Record
Date" shall mean the "Record Dates" set forth under "Summary of Essential
Financial Information" in the Prospectus.
4. The terms "Capital Account Distribution Date" and "Income Account
Distribution Date" shall mean the "Distribution Dates" set forth under "Summary
of Essential Financial Information" in the Prospectus.
5. The term "Mandatory Termination Date" shall mean the "Mandatory
Termination Date" set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information"
in the Prospectus.
6. Section 6.01(e) is hereby replaced with the following:
(e) (1) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2) of this
paragraph, the Trustee may employ agents, sub-custodians, attorneys,
accountants and auditors and shall not be answerable for the default or
misconduct of any such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants
or auditors if such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants or
auditors shall have been selected with reasonable care. The Trustee
shall be fully protected in respect of any action under this Indenture
taken or suffered in good faith by the Trustee in accordance with the
opinion of counsel, which may be counsel to the Depositor acceptable to
the Trustee, provided, however that this disclaimer of liability shall
not excuse the Trustee from the responsibilities specified in
subparagraph (2) below. The fees and expenses charged by such agents,
sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants or auditors shall constitute an
expense of the Trust reimbursable from the Income and Capital Accounts
of the affected Trust as set forth in section 6.04 hereof.
(2) The Trustee may place and maintain in the care of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (which is employed by the Trustee as a
sub-custodian as contemplated by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph (e)
and which may be an affiliate or subsidiary of the Trustee or any other
entity in which the Trustee may have an ownership interest) any
investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market
is outside the United States, and such cash and cash equivalents in
amounts reasonably necessary to effect the Trust's transactions in such
investments, provided that:
(a) The Trustee shall perform all duties assigned to
the Foreign Custody Manager by Rule 17f-5 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR ss. 270.17f-5) ("Rule 17f-5"), as
now in effect or as such rule may be amended in the future.
The Trustee shall not delegate such duties.
(b) The Trustee shall exercise reasonable care,
prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility
for the safekeeping of Trust assets would exercise, and shall
be liable to the Trust for any loss occurring as a result of
its failure to do so.
(c) The Trustee shall indemnify the Trust and hold
the Trust harmless from and against any risk of loss of Trust
assets held in accordance with the foreign custody contract.
(d) The Trustee shall maintain and keep current
written records regarding the basis for the choice or
continued use of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian
pursuant to this subparagraph for a period of not less than
six years from the end of the fiscal year in which the Trust
was terminated, the first two years in an easily accessible
place. Such records shall be available for inspection by
Unitholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission at the
Trustee's offices at all reasonable times during its usual
business hours.
(3) "Eligible Foreign Custodian" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in Rule 17f-5.
(4) "Foreign Custody Manager" shall have the meaning assigned
to it in Rule 17f-5.
7. Section 1.01 (1), (3) and (4) shall be replaced in their entirety by
the following:
(1) "Depositor" shall mean Van Kampen Funds Inc. and its
succesors in interest, or any successor depositor appointed as hereinafter
provided.
(3) "Evaluator" shall mean American Portfolio Evaluation
Services (a division of a Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.) and its
successors in interest, or any successor evaluator appointed as hereinafter
provided.
(4) "Supervisory Servicer" shall mean Van Kampen Investment
Advisory Corp. and its successors in interest, or any successor portfolio
supervisor appointed as hereinafter provided.
8. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust and subject to the requirements set forth in this paragraph,
unless the Prospectus otherwise requires, the Sponsor may, on any Business Day
(the "Trade Date"), subscribe for additional Units as follows:
(a) Prior to the Evaluation Time on such Business Day, the
Sponsor shall provide notice (the "Subscription Notice") to the Trustee, by
telephone or by written communication, of the Sponsor's intention to subscribe
for additional Units. The Subscription Notice shall identify the additional
Securities to be acquired (unless such additional Securities are a precise
replication of the then existing portfolio) and shall either (i) specify the
quantity of additional Securities to be deposited by the Sponsor on the
settlement date for such subscription or (ii) instruct the Trustee to purchase
additional Securities with an aggregate value as specified in the Subscription
Notice.
(b) Promptly following the Evaluation Time on such Business Day,
the Sponsor shall verify with the Trustee the number of additional Units to be
created.
(c) Not later than the time on the settlement date for such
subscription when the Trustee is to deliver or assign the additional Units
created hereby, the Sponsor shall deposit with the Trustee (i) any additional
Securities specified in the Subscription Notice (or contracts to purchase such
additional Securities together with cash or a letter of credit in the amount
necessary to settle such contracts) or (ii) cash or a letter of credit in an
amount equal to the aggregate value of the additional Securities specified in
the Subscription Notice, and adding and subtracting the amounts specified in the
first and second sentences of Section 5.01, computed as of the Evaluation Time
on the Business Day preceding the Trade Date divided by the number of Units
outstanding as of the Evaluation Time on the Business Day preceding the Trade
Date, times the number of additional Units to be created.
(d) On the settlement date for such subscription, the Trustee
shall, in exchange for the Securities and cash or letter of credit described
above, deliver to, or assign in the name of or on the order of, the Sponsor the
number of Units verified by the Sponsor with the Trustee.
9. Section 3.15 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby
replaced in its entirety by the following:
Section 3.15. Deferred Sales Charge. If the Prospectus related to
the Trust specifies a deferred sale charge, the Trustee shall, on each
Deferred Sales Charge Payment Date and as permitted by such Prospectus,
withdraw from the Capital Account an amount per Unit equal to the Deferred
Sales Charge Payment and credit such amount to a special non-Trust account
maintained at the Trustee out of which the deferred sales charge will be
distributed to the Depositor. If the balance in the Capital Account is
insufficient to make any such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as directed
by the Depositor, either advance funds in an amount equal to the proposed
withdrawal and be entitled to reimbursement of such advance upon the
deposit of additional moneys in the Capital Account, sell Securities and
credit the proceeds thereof to such special Depositor's account or credit
(if permitted by law) Securities in kind to such special Depositor's
Account. If a Unitholder redeems Units prior to full payment of the
deferred sales charge, the Trustee shall, if so provided in the related
Prospectus, on the Redemption Date, withhold from the Redemption Price
payable to such Unitholder an amount equal to the unpaid portion of the
deferred sales charge and distribute such amount to such special
Depositor's Account. The Depositor may at any time instruct the Trustee in
writing to distribute to the Depositor cash or Securities previously
credited to the special Depositor's account. Amounts to be credited to the
special Depositor's account with respect to each Deferred Sales Charge
Payment are due and payable to the Depositor on the related Deferred Sales
Charge Payment Date.
The term "Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates" shall mean the
10th day of each month beginning January 10, 2000 and continuing through
July 10, 2000. If any Deferred Sales Charge Payment Date is not a Business
Day, that Deferred Sales Charge Payment Date shall be deemed to be the
next business day. The term "Deferred Sales Charge Payment" shall mean a
fraction of the total maximum deferred sales charge specified in the
Prospectus, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is
equal to the total number of Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Trust Agreement to
be executed and their corporate seals to be hereto affixed and attested; all as
of the day, month and year first above written.
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
By James J. Boyne
Senior Vice President
Attest:
By Weston B. Wetherell
Vice President
American Portfolio Evaluation Services,
a division of Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.
By James J. Boyne
Senior Vice President
Attest
By Weston B. Wetherell
Vice President
Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.
By James J. Boyne
Senior Vice President
Attest
By Weston B. Wetherell
Vice President
The Bank of New York
By Jeffrey Cohen
Vice President
Attest
By Robert Weir
Assistant Treasurer
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
SECURITIES INITIALLY DEPOSITED
IN
VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 172
(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof is the "Portfolio" as set
forth in the Prospectus.)
EXHIBIT 3.1
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
September 2, 1999
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172
---------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc. as Sponsor and
Depositor of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 (hereinafter referred to as
the "Trust"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of a
Trust Agreement dated September 2, 1999, among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as
Depositor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen
Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.,
as Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, pursuant to which
the Depositor has delivered to and deposited the Securities listed in the
Schedule to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee and pursuant to which the
Trustee has provided to or on the order of the Depositor documentation
evidencing ownership of Units of fractional undivided interest in and ownership
of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as the "Units"), created under said Trust
Agreement.
In connection therewith we have examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement and the
execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the Units in the
Trust have been duly authorized; and
2. The certificates evidencing the Units in the Trust, when duly
executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee in accordance
with the aforementioned Trust Agreement, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of such Trust and the Depositor in accordance with
the terms thereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 333-83985) relating to the Units referred to
above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EXHIBIT 3.2
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
September 2, 1999
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
New York, New York 10286
Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172
---------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc., Depositor of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 (the "Fund"), in connection with the
issuance of Units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund, under a Trust
Agreement, dated September 2, 1999 (the "Indenture") among Van Kampen Funds
Inc., as Depositor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van
Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory
Corp., as Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. The Fund
is comprised of one unit investment trust, Utility & Communications Trust,
Series 1 Series (the "Trust").
In this connection, we have examined the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, the Indenture, and such other instruments and documents as we have
deemed pertinent.
The assets of the Trust will consist of a portfolio of equity
securities (the "Securities") as set forth in the Prospectus. For purposes of
the following discussion and opinion, it is assumed that each Security is equity
for federal income tax purposes.
Based upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of such matters of
law as we consider to be applicable, we are of the opinion that, under existing
United States Federal income tax law:
(i) The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation
for Federal income tax purposes but will be governed by the provisions
of subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of chapter 1, Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (the "Code").
(ii) Each Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata
share of each asset of the Trust in the proportion that the number of
Units held by him bears to the total number of Units outstanding. Under
subpart E, subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Code, income of the Trust
will be treated as income of each Unitholder in the proportion
described, and an item of Trust income will have the same character in
the hands of a Unitholder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
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. A Unitholder's pro rata portion of
distributions of cash or property by a corporation with respect to a
Security ("dividends" as defined by Section 316 of the Code ) is
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 Security which exceeds such current and
accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce the Unitholder's tax
basis in such Security, and to the extent that such dividends exceed a
Unitholder's tax basis in such Security, shall be treated as gain from
the sale or exchange of property.
(iii) The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion of
each Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the fair market
values thereof on the valuation date closest to the date the Unitholder
purchases his Units), in order to determine his tax basis for his pro
rata portion of each Security held by the Trust.
(iv) Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unitholder (subject
to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code) upon redemption or
sale of his Units, except to the extent an in kind distribution of
Securities is received by such Unitholder from the Trust as discussed
below. Such gain or loss is measured by comparing the proceeds of such
redemption or sale with the adjusted basis of his Units. Before
adjustment, such basis would normally be cost if the Unitholder had
acquired his Units by purchase. Such basis will be reduced, but not
below zero, by the Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends with
respect to each Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.
(v) If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by
sale, taxable exchange, liquidation, redemption, payment on maturity or
otherwise) gain or loss will be recognized to the Unitholder (subject
to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code) and the amount
thereof will be measured by comparing the Unitholder's aliquot share of
the total proceeds from the transaction with his basis for his
fractional interest in the asset disposed of. Such basis is ascertained
by apportioning the tax basis for his Units (as of the date on which
his Units were acquired) among each of the Trust assets (as of the date
on which his Units were acquired) ratably according to their values as
of the valuation date nearest the date on which he purchased such
Units. A Unitholder's basis in his Units and of his fractional interest
in each Trust asset must be reduced, but not below zero, by the
Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect to each
Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.
(vi) Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances, a
Unitholder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of Securities upon the redemption of Units or upon the
termination of the Trust. 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's assets.
The receipt of an in kind distribution will result in a Unitholder
receiving an undivided interest in whole shares of stock and possibly
cash. The potential federal income tax consequences which may occur
under an in kind distribution with respect to each Security owned by
the Trust will depend upon whether or not a Unitholder receives cash in
addition to Securities. A "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 Securities in
exchange for his or her pro rata portion in the Securities held by the
Trust. However, if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange for a
fractional share of a 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 a Security held by the Trust. The total amount of
taxable gains (or losses) recognized upon such redemption will
generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the
rules described above by the redeeming Unitholder with respect to each
Security owned by the Trust.
A domestic corporation owning Units in the Trust may be eligible for
the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant to Section 243(a) of the Code 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), subject to the
limitations imposed by Sections 246 and 246A of the Code.
To the extent dividends received by a 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.
Section 67 of the Code provides that certain itemized deductions, such
as investment expenses, tax return preparation fees and employee business
expenses will be deductible by individuals 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.
A Unitholder will recognize taxable gain (or loss) when all or part of
his pro rata interest in a Security is either sold by the Trust or redeemed or
when a Unitholder disposes of his Units in a taxable transaction, in each case
for an amount greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor, subject to various
non-recognition provisions of the Code.
It should be noted that payments to a Trust of dividends on 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. A
required holding period is imposed for such credits.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or exchange will, under current
law, generally be capital gain or loss.
The scope of this opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth
herein, and, except as expressly set forth above, we express no opinion with
respect to any other taxes, including foreign, state or local taxes or
collateral tax consequences with respect to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Units.
Very truly yours
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EXHIBIT 3.3
WINSTON & STRAWN
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166-4193
September 2, 1999
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172
c/o The Bank of New York, As Trustee
101 Barclay Street, 17 West
New York, New York 10286
Dear Sirs:
We have acted as special counsel for the Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 172 (the "Fund") consisting of Utility & Communications Trust, Series 1
(individually, a "Trust" and, in the aggregate the "Trusts") for purposes of
determining the applicability of certain New York taxes under the circumstances
hereinafter described.
The Fund is created pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture"),
dated as of today (the "Date of Deposit") among Van Kampen Funds Inc. (the
"Depositor"), American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of an affiliate
of the Depositor, as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., an
affiliate of the Depositor, as Supervisory Servicer (the "Supervisory
Servicer"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). As described
in the prospectus relating to the Fund dated today to be filed as an amendment
to a registration statement heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Prospectus") (File
Number 333-83985), the objectives of the Fund are to provide the potential for
dividend income and capital appreciation through investment in a fixed portfolio
of actively traded equity securities in the industries denominated in the
Trust's name. It is noted that no opinion is expressed herein with regard to the
Federal tax aspects of the securities, the Trust, units of the Trust (the
"Units"), or any income, gains or losses in respect thereof.
As more fully set forth in the Indenture and in the Prospectus, the
activities of the Trustee will include the following:
On the Date of Deposit, the Depositor will deposit with the Trustee
with respect to the Trust the securities and/or contracts and cash for the
purchase thereof together with an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount
required for the purchase price of the securities comprising the corpus of the
Trust as more fully set forth in the Prospectus.
The Trustee did not participate in the selection of the securities to
be deposited in the Trust, and, upon the receipt thereof, will deliver to the
Depositor a registered certificate for the number of Units representing the
entire capital of the Trust as more fully set forth in the Prospectus. The
Units, which are represented by certificates ("Certificates"), will be offered
to the public upon the effectiveness of the registration statement.
The duties of the Trustee, which are ministerial in nature, will
consist primarily of crediting the appropriate accounts with cash dividends
received by the Fund and with the proceeds from the disposition of securities
held in the Fund and the proceeds of the treasury obligation on maturity and the
distribution of such cash dividends and proceeds to the Unit holders. The
Trustee will also maintain records of the registered holders of Certificates
representing an interest in the Fund and administer the redemption of Units by
such Certificate holders and may perform certain administrative functions with
respect to an automatic reinvestment option.
Generally, equity securities held in the Trust may be removed therefrom
by the Trustee at the direction of the Depositor upon the occurrence of certain
specified events which adversely affect the sound investment character of the
Fund, such as default by the issuer in payment of declared dividends or of
interest or principal on one or more of its debt obligations.
Prior to the termination of the Fund, the Trustee is empowered to sell
equity securities designated by the Supervisory Servicer only for the purpose of
redeeming Units tendered to it and of paying expenses for which funds are not
available. The Trustee does not have the power to vary the investment of any
Unit holder in the Fund, and under no circumstances may the proceeds of sale of
any equity securities held by the Fund be used to purchase new equity securities
to be held therein.
Article 9-A of the New York Tax Law imposes a franchise tax on business
corporations, and, for purposes of that Article, Section 208(l) defines the term
"corporation" to include, among other things, "any business conducted by a
trustee or trustees wherein interest or ownership is evidenced by certificate or
other written instrument."
The Regulations promulgated under Section 208 provide as follows:
A business conducted by a trustee or trustees in which
interest or ownership is evidenced by certificate or other
written instrument includes, but is not limited to, an
association commonly referred to as a "business trust" or
"Massachusetts trust". In determining whether a trustee or
trustees are conducting a business, the form of the agreement
is of significance but is not controlling. The actual
activities of the trustee or trustees, not their purposes and
powers, will be regarded as decisive factors in determining
whether a trust is subject to tax under Article 9-A. The mere
investment of funds and the collection of income therefrom,
with incidental replacement of securities and reinvestment of
funds, does not constitute the conduct of a business in the
case of a business conducted by a trustee or trustees. 20
NYCRR 1-2.5(b)(2) (July 11, 1990).
New York cases dealing with the question of whether a trust will be
subject to the franchise tax have also delineated the general rule that where a
trustee merely invests funds and collects and distributes the income therefrom,
the trust is not engaged in business and is not subject to the franchise tax.
Burrell v. Lynch, 274 A.D. 347, 84 N.Y.S.2d 171 (3rd Dept. 1948), order
resettled, 274 A.D. 1083, 85 N.Y.S.2d 705 (3rd Dept. 1949).
In an Opinion of the Attorney General of the State of New York, 47 N.Y.
Att'y. Gen. Rep. 213 (Nov. 24, 1942), it was held that where the trustee of an
unincorporated investment trust was without authority to reinvest amounts
received upon the sales of securities and could dispose of securities making up
the trust only upon the happening of certain specified events or the existence
of certain specified conditions, the trust was not subject to the franchise tax.
In the instant situation, the Trustee is not empowered to, and we
assume will not, sell equity securities contained in the corpus of the Fund and
reinvest the proceeds therefrom. Further, the power to sell such equity
securities is limited to circumstances in which the credit-worthiness or
soundness of the issuer of such equity security is in question or in which cash
is needed to pay redeeming Unit holders or to pay expenses, or where the Fund is
liquidated subsequent to the termination of the Indenture. In substance, the
Trustee will merely collect and distribute income and will not reinvest any
income or proceeds, and the Trustee has no power to vary the investment of any
Unit holder in the Fund.
Under Subpart E of Part I, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the grantor of a trust will be
deemed to be the owner of the trust under certain circumstances, and therefore
taxable on his proportionate interest in the income thereof. Where this Federal
tax rule applies, the income attributed to the grantor will also be income to
him for New York income tax purposes. See TSB-M-78(9)(c), New York Department of
Taxation and Finance, June 23, 1978.
By letter dated today, Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, counsel for the
Depositor, rendered their opinion that each Unit holder will be considered as
owning a share of each asset of the Trust in the proportion that the number of
Units held by such holder bears to the total number of Units outstanding and the
income of a Trust will be treated as the income of each Unit holder in said
proportion pursuant to Subpart E of Part I, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the
Code.
Based on the foregoing and on the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and
Cutler, counsel for the Depositor, dated today, upon which we specifically rely,
we are of the opinion that under existing laws, rulings, and court decisions
interpreting the laws of the State and City of New York:
1. The Trust will not constitute an association taxable as a
corporation under New York law, and, accordingly, will not be subject
to tax on its income under the New York State franchise tax or the New
York City general corporation tax.
2. The income of the Trust will be treated as the income of the
Unit holders under the income tax laws of the State and City of New
York.
3. Unit holders who are not residents of the State of New York
are not subject to the income tax laws thereof with respect to any
interest or gain derived from the Fund or any gain from the sale or
other disposition of the Units, except to the extent that such
interest or gain is from property employed in a business, trade,
profession or occupation carried on in the State of New York.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement relating to the Units and to the use of our name and the
reference to our firm in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.
Very truly yours,
WINSTON & STRAWN
EXHIBIT 4.1
Interactive Data
FINANCIAL TIMES Information
100 William Street, 15th Floor,
New York, NY 10038 USA
Tel: (212) 269-6300 Fax: (212) 771-6445
September 1, 1999
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 172 Utility & Communications Trust,
Series 1 (A Unit Investment Trust) Registered Under the Securities Act of
1933, File No. 333-83985
Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement for the above captioned
Fund, a copy of which is attached hereto.
We hereby consent to the reference in the Prospectus and Registration
Statement for the above captioned Fund to Interactive Data Corporation, as the
Evaluator, and to the use of the Obligations prepared by us which are referred
to in such Prospectus and Statement.
You are authorized to file copies of this letter with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Very truly yours,
Steve Miano
Director Fixed Income Data Operations
EXHIBIT 4.2
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT
We have issued our report dated September 2, 1999 on the statement of
condition and related securities portfolio of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 172 as of September 2, 1999 contained in the Registration Statement on
Form S-6 and Prospectus. We consent to the use of our report in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and to the use of our name as it appears under the
caption "Other Matters-Independent Certified Public Accountants."
Grant Thornton LLP
Chicago, Illinois
September 2, 1999
