MEMORANDUM OF CHANGES
VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 194
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 194 on November 15, 1999. An effort has been
made to set forth below each of the major changes from the material previously
submitted 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 4-5. The portfolio has been completed and various information
has been updated.
Pages 6-9. The descriptions of the issuers of the Securities have been
revised.
Pages 10-11. The Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
and Statement of Condition have been completed.
FILE NO. 333-90509
CIK #1025525
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 194
B. Name of Depositor: VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC.
C. Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:
One Parkview Plaza
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 undivided beneficial
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 November 15, 1999 pursuant to Rule 487.
Van Kampen
Focus Portfolios(SM)
A Division of Van Kampen Funds Inc.
Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust, Series 3
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Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194 includes the unit investment trust
described above (the "Trust"). The Trust uses a refined indexing strategy that
seeks to identify a diversified portfolio of well-known, undervalued stocks. The
Trust seeks to provide above-average total return by increasing the value of
your Units and providing dividend income. Of course, we cannot guarantee that
the Trust will achieve its objective.
November 15, 1999
You should read this prospectus and retain it for future reference.
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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
November 15, 1999
Public Offering Price
Aggregate value of Securities per Unit (1) $ 10.000
Sales charge 0.095
Less deferred sales charge 0.095
Public offering price per Unit (2) $ 10.000
Trust Information
Initial number of Units (3) 14,873
Aggregate value of Securities (1) $ 148,727
Estimated initial distribution per Unit (June 2000) (4) $ .13
Estimated annual dividends per Unit (4) $ .24366
Redemption price per Unit (5) $ 9.86
General Information
Initial Date of Deposit November 15, 1999
Mandatory Termination Date November 15, 2000
Record Dates June 10 and December 10
Distribution Dates June 25 and December 25
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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 business
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 (currently anticipated to be one day). 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 quarterly dividends or
interim and final dividends accounting for any foreign withholding taxes.
Actual dividends may vary due to a variety of factors. 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 0.00%
Deferred sales charge (1) 0.95%
----------
Maximum sales charge 0.95%
==========
Maximum sales charge on reinvested dividends 0.95%
==========
Estimated Organizational Costs per Unit (2) $ 0.00785
==========
Estimated Annual Expenses per Unit
Trustee's fee and operating expenses $ 0.01593
Supervisory and evaluation fees $ 0.00500
----------
Estimated annual expenses per Unit $ 0.02093
==========
Estimated Costs Over Time
One year $ 12
Three years $ 36
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 roll your investment into a new series of the Trust each year. Of
course, you should not consider this example 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".
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(1) The deferred sales charge is actually equal to $0.095 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 September 9, 2000. Your Trust pays a
proportionate amount of this charge on the tenth day of each month
beginning in the accrual period until paid in full.
(2) 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.
Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust
The Trust combines two simple investment strategies: the European Strategy
and the Pacific Strategy. The Trust portfolio includes stocks from each
strategy.
The European Strategy begins with the stocks in the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Europe Index. We screen these stocks to include only those
companies with positive one- and three-year sales and earnings growth and three
years of positive dividend growth. We then rank the remaining stocks by market
capitalization and select the top 75%. We then select the twenty highest
dividend-yielding stocks for the strategy.
The Pacific Strategy begins with the Morgan Stanley Capital International
Pacific Index. We screen these stocks to include only those companies with
positive one- and three-year sales and earnings growth rates and three years of
consecutive dividend increases. We then rank the remaining stocks by price to
book ratio and select the ten stocks with the lowest price to book ratios for
the strategy. When the Trust terminates you can elect to follow the strategy by
redeeming your Units and reinvesting the proceeds in a new trust portfolio, if
available.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Portfolio
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Current Cost of
Number Market Value Dividend Securities
of Shares Name of Issuer (1) per Share (2) Yield (3) to Trust (2)
---------- ----------------------------------- --------------- ----------- -------------
Pacific Strategy
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
531 Australian Gas Light Company, Limited $ 5.755 4.29% $ 3,056.02
113 Bridgestone Corporation 26.076 0.38% 2,946.62
500 CLP Holdings, Limited 4.594 4.54% 2,296.97
74 Honda Motor Company, Limited 39.530 0.48% 2,925.24
106 Kao Corporation 29.746 0.56% 3,153.03
243 Lend Lease Corporation, Limited 12.562 3.07% 3,052.59
849 Southcorp, Limited 3.574 3.61% 3,034.69
387 Wesfarmers, Limited 7.781 5.56% 3,011.30
896 Woolworths, Limited 3.454 3.36% 3,095.16
94 Yamato Transport Company, Limited 32.290 0.36% 3,035.23
European Strategy
55 Cimenteries CBR Cementbedrijven 109.289 2.09% 6,010.90
35 Compagnie de Saint Gobain 166.359 1.69% 5,822.56
18 Electrabel SA 350.881 3.14% 6,315.85
56 Eridania Beghin-Say SA 109.908 4.26% 6,154.86
261 Hagemeyer N.V. 22.549 2.81% 5,885.35
42 Imerys 140.352 1.76% 5,894.80
61 Lafarge SA 97.731 1.64% 5,961.57
148 Lagardere S.C.A. 39.990 1.71% 5,918.53
109 Linde AG 53.922 1.82% 5,877.51
90 Pernod Ricard 66.977 1.96% 6,027.93
154 RWE AG 38.700 2.40% 5,959.81
172 Sampo Insurance Company, Limited 35.088 2.02% 6,035.15
106 SEITA 54.180 0.00% 5,743.09
37 Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux SA 160.373 1.48% 5,933.81
375 Tabacalera SA 16.037 2.27% 6,013.99
1,200 Telecom Italia SpA 4.892 2.21% 5,870.03
45 Total Fina SA 133.128 1.32% 5,990.77
638 United Utilities Plc 9.417 7.61% 6,008.26
194 Volkswagen AG 30.248 2.51% 5,868.11
518 Zardoya Otis SA 11.249 3.09% 5,826.89
- ---------- -------------
8,107 $ 148,726.62
========== =============
</TABLE>
See "Notes to Portfolio".
The MSCI Europe Index is a common benchmark used to compare investments in
Europe. Created in 1969, the index currently includes nearly 600 stocks from 15
developed European countries. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The MSCI Pacific Index is a common benchmark used to compare investments in
the Pacific region. Created in 1969, the index currently includes over 430
stocks from five developed Pacific region countries. These countries include
Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. We eliminate stocks
traded in Singapore from the Pacific strategy to help limit exposure to
uncertain political and economic conditions.
The Trust is designed as part of a long-term investment strategy. You may
achieve more consistent overall results by following the strategy over several
years. For more information see "Special Redemption and Rollover".
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
November 12, 1999 and have settlement dates ranging from November 16, 1999
to November 30, 1999 (see "The Trust").
(2) The market value of each Security is based on the most recent closing sale
price on the applicable exchange or, if not listed, the last asked price on
the business day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit (based on the
currency exchange rates as of the close of the Lisbon Stock Exchange).
Other information regarding the Securities, as of the Initial Date of
Deposit, is as follows:
Profit
Cost to (Loss) To
Sponsor Sponsor
-------------- -------------
$ 148,580 $ 147
(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 most recent
close of trading on the business 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.
Pacific Strategy
Australian Gas Light Company, Limited. Australian Gas Light Company, Limited
distributes, transports and sells natural gas and oil throughout Australasia.
The company primarily produces and sells petroleum products, constructs and
operates pipelines and retails/wholesales LPG. The company also owns and
operates an electricity distribution network covering the Melbourne area and
invests in gas industry companies.
Bridgestone Corporation. Bridgestone Corporation designs, produces, and sells
automobile tires. The company acquired Firestone (US), and also has a technical
license agreement with Goodyear (US). Bridgestone supplies tires to Goodyear on
original equipment manufacture basis.
CLP Holdings, Limited. CLP Holdings, Limited is an investment holding company
whose subsidiaries generate and supply electricity to Kowloon and the New
Territories in Hong Kong. The company also exports electric power to Guangdong
Province in the People's Republic of China. Its subsidiaries are involved in
property investment and development.
Honda Motor Company, Limited. Honda Motor Company, Limited develops,
manufactures, distributes and finances motorcycles, automobiles and power
products. The company's manufacturing operations are conducted worldwide. Major
overseas manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, Canada,
United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Brazil.
Kao Corporation. Kao Corporation is a manufacturer of household and chemical
products. The company's products include cosmetics, laundry and cleaning
products, hygiene products, fatty chemicals, edible oils and specialty
chemicals. Kao has production sites in Taiwan and Thailand.
Lend Lease Corporation, Limited. Lend Lease Corporation, Limited provides
real estate project management, project design, project financing and
construction services along with property development. The company also manages
REIT's and limited partnerships, provides funds management services including
superannuation, unit trusts, life insurance, investment advice, asset management
and fund manager of infrastructure assets.
Southcorp, Limited. Southcorp, Limited operates through three business
sectors. The wine group operates vineyards and exports wine in the United
States, Europe and the United Kingdom. The packaging group produces food and
beverage cans, milk/juice containers and aseptic packaging. Southcorp also
manufactures water heaters.
Wesfarmers, Limited. Wesfarmers, Limited is a diversified company that
manufactures fertilizers and chemicals. Wesfarmers processes and distributes gas
and mines and produces for coal, retails building materials and hardware and has
forestry and timber production operations and provides rural and insurance
services. Wesfarmers provides general and freezer freight transportation
services.
Woolworths, Limited. Woolworths, Limited operates supermarkets, specialty and
discount stores, liquor and electronics stores throughout Australia. Woolworths
also manufactures processed foods, exports and wholesales foods and petrol
retailing. The company's store names include "Woolworths", "Dick Smith", "Crazy
Prices", "Rockmans" and "Big W".
Yamato Transport Company, Limited. Yamato Transport Company, Limited provides
door-to-door parcel delivery service. The company has developed nationwide
delivery system, specializing in time-specified delivery. Yamato operates
household moving business overseas.
European Strategy
Cimenteries CBR Cementbedrijven. Cimenteries CBR Cementbedrijven produces
construction materials. The company quarries limestone, gravel, sand, clay and
shale and produces cement and ready-mixed concrete. Cimenteries CBR also
manufactures concrete pipe and block. The company operates in Belgium, China,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Canada
and the United States.
Compagnie de Saint Gobain. Compagnie de Saint Gobain produces engineered
materials such as industrial ceramics, flat glass, insulation, abrasives, pipes,
fiber reinforcements, building materials and containers. The company was
nationalized in 1982 and was the first French company to be privatized in
December 1986. Saint-Gobain has operations in France and approximately 41 other
countries.
Electrabel SA. Electrabel SA generates and sells electricity and distributes
natural gas in Belgium. The company distributes electricity to consumers and
industrial customers, distributes fuel to nuclear power stations and manages the
nuclear fuel cycle. Electrabel produces and distributes steam and drinking water
to customers and offers cable television services.
Eridania Beghin-Say SA. Eridania Beghin-Say SA refines, manufactures and
processes agricultural products. These products include sugar, starch
derivatives, refined oils and proteins, animal feed and packaged consumer food
products. Subsidiaries of the company include Distillerie de la Region de
Chalons, ISI (Italy) and Matravideki Cukorgyar (Hungary).
Hagemeyer N.V. Hagemeyer N.V. markets and distributes branded products
including electronic goods, automobiles, household appliances and luxury goods.
The company distributes brands including "Newey & Eyre", "Nationwide Lamps",
"Puma", "Rolex", "Minolta", "General Electric", "Panasonic", "Saab", "Kia",
"Zippo", "Hewlett-Packard" and "Microsoft". Hagemeyer operates in Europe, the
Americas and Asia.
Imerys. Imerys manufactures and sells building materials, extracts minerals
and processes metals. The company produces clay roofing tiles, slate and
concrete components. Imerys is active throughout France and also has operations
through subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Spain, the Czech Republic, China,
Canada, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United
States.
Lafarge SA. Lafarge SA produces building materials. The company produces
cement, concrete and aggregates, gypsum, specialty coatings and paints. Lafarge
sells its products internationally.
Lagardere S.C.A. Lagardere S.C.A. is a holding company with interests in the
publishing, distribution, audiovisual production and services,
aerospace/defense, telecommunications, automobile, transportation, multimedia
and banking sectors. The company's subsidiaries include Matra Hachette and
Grolier, Inc.
Linde AG. Linde AG manufactures a variety of industrial and commercial
materials handling products and vehicles, as well as refrigeration and climate
control systems for food stores and various commercial and industrial
applications. The company also engineers and builds various plants and
production systems and provides industry-specific gases. Linde operates and
sells its products worldwide.
Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard manufactures anise-based spirits, whiskey, wines
and fruit juices. The company's brands include "Richard Pastis 51" and "Pernod"
anise-based spirits and "Orangina" fruit drinks. Pernod also distributes "Wild
Turkey", "Jameson" and "Clan Campbell" whiskeys and produces processed fruits
for the food industry. The company is active in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
RWE AG. RWE AG, through subsidiaries, offers products and services in the
energy, mining, raw materials, petroleum, chemicals, waste disposal, mechanical
and plant engineering, construction and civil engineering business sectors. The
company operates worldwide.
Sampo Insurance Company, Limited. Sampo Insurance Company, Limited offers
general insurance, life insurance, reinsurance and pension insurance. The
company operates in Finland and internationally.
SEITA. SEITA manufactures cigarettes including Gauloises and Gitanes brands
as well as pipe and loose tobacco. The company distributes its own products and
its competitors' products. It also manufactures and markets cigars and matches.
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux SA. Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux SA distributes water,
treats waste water, distributes electricity and gas, offers cable television
services and produces television programming.
Tabacalera S.A. Tabacalera S.A. manufactures, sells, imports and exports
tobacco products. The company also distributes fiscal securities, postage stamps
and public/private certificates issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Tobacco and stamps are sold to commercial wholesale outlets in Spain and
worldwide.
Telecom Italia SpA. Telecom Italia SpA is the financial parent of companies
operating in the fields of telecommunications, manufacturing, electronics and
network construction. The company's subsidiaries are also active in publishing,
telematics information and auxiliary services.
Total Fina SA. Total Fina SA explores for, produces, refines, transports and
markets oil and natural gas. The company also operates a chemical division which
produces rubber, paint, ink, adhesives and resins. In addition, Total has
interests in coal mining and in nuclear power, cogeneration and electricity
generation. The company operates worldwide.
United Utilities Plc. United Utilities Plc is a multi-utility business whose
activities include water supply and distribution, wastewater services,
facilities management, and electricity distribution and supply, with interests
in gas supply and telecommunications. The company provides services to
approximately seven million people, primarily in Northwest England. The company
operates internationally.
Volkswagen AG. Volkswagen AG manufactures economy and luxury automobiles,
sports cars and trucks for sale worldwide. The company produces the "Golf",
"Polo", "Jetta", "Beetle" and Audi "A4" and "A6". Volkswagen also owns Seat and
Skoda, which manufacture and sell cars in Spain and in southern and eastern
Europe.
Zardoya Otis SA. Zardoya Otis SA manufactures, installs and services
elevators and elevator equipment. The company also exports manufactured elevator
equipment to be installed by Otis Elevator firms around the world.
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 194:
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the related
portfolio of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194 as of November 15, 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
194 as of November 15, 1999, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November 15, 1999
STATEMENT OF CONDITION
As of November 15, 1999
INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES
Contracts to purchase Securities (1) $ 148,727
-------------
Total $ 148,727
-------------
-------------
LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
Liabilities--
Organizational costs (2) $ 117
Deferred sales charge liability (3) 1,413
Interest of Unitholders--
Cost to investors (4) 148,730
Less: Gross underwriting commission
and organizational costs (2)(4)(5) 1,533
-------------
Net interest to Unitholders (4) 147,197
-------------
Total $ 148,727
-------------
-------------
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(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 investors the opportunity to purchase Units representing
proportionate interests in a portfolio of actively traded equity securities
which are components of major stock market indexes. 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 and who are seeking to achieve a better performance than the
related indexes through an investment in the highest dividend yielding stocks of
these indexes. An investment in approximately equal values of such stocks each
year has in most instances provided a higher total return than investments in
all of the stocks which are components of the respective indexes.
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" for the Trust and any additional securities
deposited into the Trust.
Additional Units of the Trust may be issued at any time by depositing in the
Trust (i) additional Securities, (ii) contracts to purchase Securities together
with cash or irrevocable letters of credit or (iii) cash (or a letter of credit)
with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As additional Units are
issued by the Trust, 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 percentage
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 of the Trust initially offered represents an undivided interest in
the Trust. To the extent that any Units are redeemed by the Trustee or
additional Units are issued as a result of additional Securities being deposited
by the Sponsor, the fractional undivided interest in the Trust represented by
each unredeemed Unit will increase or decrease accordingly, although the actual
interest in the Trust 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 applicable "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 provide an above average total return
through a combination of potential capital appreciation and dividend income,
consistent with the preservation of invested capital, by investing in a
portfolio of actively traded equity securities selected using the Trust's
investment strategy. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its
objective. The Trust selection criteria is described in "Europe/Pacific Strategy
Trust."
The publisher of the indexes has not participated in any way in the creation
of the Trust or in the selection of stocks included in the Trust and have not
approved any information herein relating thereto.
The Trust portfolio is selected by implementing the Trust strategy as of
November 5, 1999 (the "Selection Time"). In the case of securities traded on a
foreign securities exchange, the dividend yield is computed by adding the most
recent interim and final dividends declared and dividing the result by the
market value at the Selection Time.
The Trust seeks to achieve better performance than the related indexes.
Investment in a number of companies having high dividends relative to their
stock prices or low price to book ratios (because their stock prices may be
undervalued) is designed to increase the potential for higher returns over time.
The Trust investment strategy is designed to be implemented on an annual basis.
Investors who hold Units through Trust termination may have investment results
that differ significantly from a Unit investment that is reinvested into a new
trust every twelve months.
A balanced investment portfolio incorporates various style and capitalization
characteristics. The Sponsor offers unit trusts with a variety of styles and
capitalizations to meet your needs. The Sponsor determines style characteristics
(growth and value) based on the criteria used in selecting the Trust portfolio.
Generally, a growth portfolio includes companies in a growth phase of their
business with increasing earnings. A value portfolio generally includes
companies with low relative price-earnings ratios that the Sponsor believes are
undervalued. The Sponsor determines market capitalizations as follows based on
the weighted median market capitalization of a portfolio: Small-Cap -- less than
$1 billion; Mid-Cap -- $1 billion to $5 billion; and Large-Cap -- over $5
billion. The Sponsor determines all style and capitalization characteristics as
of the Initial Date of Deposit and the characteristics may vary thereafter. The
Sponsor will not remove a Security from the Trust as a result of any change in
characteristics.
Investors should note that the above criteria were applied to the Securities
for inclusion in the Trust as of six business days prior to the Initial Date of
Deposit. Subsequent to this date, the Securities may no longer be included in an
index or meet the above criteria. Should a Security no longer be included in
these indexes or meet the selection criteria, the Security will not as a result
thereof be removed from its Trust portfolio.
RISK FACTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Volatility. The Trust invests in stocks of foreign 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 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. Stocks represent ownership interests in the issuers and are not
obligations of the issuers. 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.
Foreign Stocks. Because the Trust invests in foreign stocks, the Trust
involves additional risks that differ from an investment in domestic stocks.
These risks include the risk of losses due to future political and economic
developments, international trade conditions, foreign withholding taxes and
restrictions on foreign investments and exchange of securities. The Trust also
involves the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar
and foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of the stocks. The Trust
involves the risk that information about the stocks is not publicly available or
is inaccurate due to the absence of uniform accounting and financial reporting
standards. In addition, some foreign securities markets are less liquid than
U.S. markets. This could cause the Trust to buy stocks at a higher price or sell
stocks at a lower price than would be the case in a highly liquid market.
Foreign securities markets are often more volatile and involve higher trading
costs than U.S. markets, and foreign companies, securities markets and brokers
are also generally not subject to the same level of supervision and regulation
as in the U.S.
Europe. The Trust invests in stocks principally traded in Europe. The Trust
involves additional risks that differ from an investment in United States
companies. In recent years, many European countries have participated in an
effort to create a single European market. As part of this effort, the euro is
scheduled to become the legal currency of participating European countries
beginning January 1, 1999. At that time the currencies of these countries will
no longer exist in their own right but will instead become denominations of the
euro. It is uncertain which European countries, if any, will participate in the
single European currency. We cannot predict the impact that a single currency
will have on foreign exchange rates, interest rates or the value of your Trust.
The issuers of the European stocks are subject to the effects of the recent
political and social change in Europe. We cannot predict the impact of these
changes on your Trust.
Pacific Region. The Trust also invests in stocks that principally trade in
Pacific region countries. The Trust involves additional risks that differ from
an investment in United States companies. The Pacific region countries include
Australia, New Zealand and countries in Asia. Social, political and economic
instability may be significantly greater in certain Pacific region countries
than that typically associated with the United States and Western European
countries. Any instability could significantly disrupt Pacific region markets
and could adversely affect the value of Units. The MSCI Indexes seek to focus on
developed countries. Nonetheless, Pacific region countries are in various stages
of economic development. Some economies are substantially less developed than
the U.S. economy. Adverse conditions in these emerging market countries can
negatively impact the economies of the developed market countries in the region.
Many of these countries depend significantly on international trade. As a
result, protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading
partners can hurt these economies. These countries may also be sensitive to
world commodity prices and vulnerable to recession in other countries. While
some Pacific region countries have experienced rapid growth, many countries have
immature financial sectors, economic problems or archaic legal systems. Pacific
region economies have experienced difficulties in recent years. Some of these
difficulties include declines in the value of currencies, gross domestic product
and corporate earnings, political turmoil and stock markets volatility. In 1997,
a significant drop in Thailand's currency set off a wave of currency
depreciations throughout South and Southeast Asia. Most of the area's stock
markets fell dramatically in reaction to these events. Consumer demand in these
countries has been weak due to increased unemployment. Exports have been weak
due to a general reduction in global growth. Interest rates and inflation have
also increased in many of these countries.
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.
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure. These 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 Trusts.
PUBLIC OFFERING
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General. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price which includes the
underlying value of the Securities, 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 on
the next business day. If you purchase Units after the initial deferred sales
charge payment, you will only pay that portion of the payments not yet
collected. A portion of the Public Offering Price includes an amount of
Securities to pay for all or a portion of the 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 minimum purchase is 100 Units (25 Units for retirement accounts) 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 of Unitholders--Redemption of Units", excludes Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays observed by the New York Stock Exchange. The term "business
day" also excludes any day on which more than 33% of the Securities are not
traded on their principal trading exchange due to a customary business holiday
on that 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 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 in the Trust, 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
equal to 0.67% of the Public Offering Price per Unit.
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. The breakpoint
concessions or agency commissions are also applied on a Unit basis utilizing a
breakpoint equivalent of $10 per Unit and will be applied on whichever basis is
more favorable to the broker, dealer or agent.
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 Compensation. The Sponsor will receive a gross sales commission equal
to the total sales charge applicable to each transaction. 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 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. Cash, if any, made available to the Sponsor prior
to the date of settlement for the purchase of Units may be used in the Sponsor's
business and may be deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject to the
limitations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
An affiliate 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 or related securities. An affiliate
may act as a specialist or market maker 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. The Sponsor does not currently intend to maintain a market
for Units or to purchase Units at any secondary market repurchase price. A
Unitholder may, however, 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 Sponsor
of any tendered of Units for redemption. The Sponsor may purchase the Units not
later than the day on which Units would have been redeemed by the Trustee. If
the Sponsor decides to maintain a secondary market, the Sponsor 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 these accounts is reduced to 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 and any net proceeds from the sale of Securities
received by the Trust will 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. Distributions may
also be reinvested into Van Kampen mutual funds. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Reinvestment Option".
Dividends 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
available cash in the Income and Capital Accounts 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 the
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.
In addition, 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 these
reinvestment plans 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 of the Trust for redemption may
request an in kind distribution of Securities equal to the Redemption Price per
Unit on the date of tender. The Trust generally does not offer in kind
distributions of portfolio securities that are held in foreign markets. An in
kind distribution will be made by the Trustee through the distribution of each
of the Securities in book-entry form to the account of the Unitholder's
broker-dealer at Depository Trust Company. Amounts representing fractional
shares will be distributed in cash. The Trustee may adjust the number of shares
of any Security included in a Unitholder's in kind distribution to facilitate
the 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. Special federal income tax consequences will result
if a Unitholder requests an in kind distribution. See "Taxation".
The Redemption Price per Unit and the secondary market repurchase price per
Unit are equal to the pro rata share of each Unit determined on the basis of (i)
the cash on hand in the Trust, (ii) the value of the Securities in the Trust and
(iii) dividends receivable on the 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, (b) the accrued expenses of the
Trust and (c) any unpaid deferred sales charge payments. During the initial
offering period, the redemption price and the secondary market repurchase price
will include estimated organizational and offering 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 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.
Special Redemption and Rollover. We currently intend to offer a subsequent
series of the Trust for a Rollover when the Trust terminates. On the Mandatory
Termination Date you will have the option to (1) participate in the Rollover and
have your Units reinvested into a subsequent trust series, (2) receive an in
kind distribution of Securities (if applicable) or (3) receive a cash
distribution.
If you elect to participate in the Rollover, your Units will be redeemed on
the Mandatory Termination Date. As the redemption proceeds become available, the
proceeds (including dividends) will be invested in a new trust series at the
public offering price for the new trust. The Trustee will attempt to sell
Securities to satisfy the redemption as quickly as practicable on the Mandatory
Termination Date. We do not anticipate that the sale period will be longer than
one day, however, certain factors could affect the ability to sell the
Securities and could impact the length of the sale period. The liquidity of any
Security depends on the daily trading volume of the Security and the amount
available for redemption and reinvestment on any day.
We intend to make subsequent trust series available for sale at various times
during the year. Of course, we cannot guarantee that a subsequent trust or
sufficient units will be available or that any subsequent trusts will offer the
same investment strategies or objectives as the current Trust. We cannot
guarantee that a Rollover will avoid any negative market price consequences
resulting from trading large volumes of securities. Market price trends may make
it advantageous to sell or buy securities more quickly or more slowly than
permitted by the Trust procedures. We may, in our sole discretion, modify a
Rollover or stop creating units of a trust at any time regardless of whether all
proceeds of Unitholders have been reinvested in a Rollover. If we decide not to
offer a subsequent series, Unitholders will be notified prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date. Cash which has not been reinvested in a Rollover will be
distributed to Unitholders shortly after the Mandatory Termination Date.
Rollover participants may receive taxable dividends or realize taxable capital
gains which are reinvested in connection with a Rollover but may not be entitled
to a deduction for capital losses due to the "wash sale" tax rules. Due to the
reinvestment in a subsequent trust, no cash will be distributed to pay any
taxes. See "Taxation".
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 certificates
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 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 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
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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 the 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.
Pursuant to an exemptive order, a terminating Trust is permitted to sell
Securities to a new trust series if those Securities meet the investment
strategy of the new trust. The exemption enables the Trust to eliminate
commission costs on these transactions. The price for those securities will be
the closing sale price on the sale date on the exchange where the Securities are
principally traded, as certified by the Sponsor.
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 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 and provide a form enabling qualified
Unitholders to elect an in kind distribution of Securities. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units". This form must be returned at least five
business days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. Unitholders will receive
a final cash distribution within a reasonable time after the Mandatory
Termination Date (unless the Unitholder has elected an in kind distribution or
is a participant in the final Rollover). 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 Trusts. 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 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 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 a
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 shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a
successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be
reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.
Trustee. The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under
the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its unit investment trust
division offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (800) 221-7668.
The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the
Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law. 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 may from time to time in its advertising
and sales materials compare the then current estimated returns on the Trust and
returns over specified time periods on other similar Van Kampen trusts or
investment strategies utilized by the Trust (which may show performance net of
expenses and charges which the Trust would have charged) with returns on other
taxable 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 common stocks 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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General. The following is a general discussion of certain of the federal
income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Units.
The summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as capital assets
(generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Unitholders should
consult their tax advisers in determining the federal, state, local and any
other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Units in
the Trust.
For purposes of the following discussion and opinions, it is assumed that
each Security is equity for federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of
Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor, under existing law:
1. The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes; each Unitholder will be treated as the owner of a pro rata
portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the Code; and the income of the
Trust will be treated as income of the Unitholders thereof under the Code. Each
Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share of income
derived from each Security when such income is considered to be received by the
Trust.
2. A Unitholder will be considered to have received all of the dividends paid
on his pro rata portion of each Security when such dividends are considered to
be received by the Trust regardless of whether such dividends are used to pay a
portion of any deferred sales charge imposed. Unitholders will be taxed in this
manner regardless of whether distributions from the Trust are actually received
by the Unitholder or are automatically reinvested (see "Rights of
Unitholders--Reinvestment Option").
3. 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 from the Trust 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
closest to the date the Unitholder purchases 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 the
calculation of basis. For federal income tax purposes, a Unitholder's pro rata
portion of dividends, as defined by Section 316 of the Code, paid by a
corporation with respect to a Security held by the Trust 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 exceed 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 Security shall generally be treated as
capital gain. In general, the holding period for such capital gain will be
determined by the period of time a Unitholder has held his Units.
4. A Unitholder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of 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 gains and losses for federal income tax purposes. In
particular, a Rollover Unitholder should be aware that a Rollover Unitholder's
loss, if any, incurred in connection with the exchange of Units for units in the
next new series of the Trust (the "New Fund") will generally be disallowed with
respect to the disposition of any Securities pursuant to such exchange to the
extent that such Unitholder is considered the owner of substantially identical
securities under the wash sale provisions of the Code taking into account such
Unitholder's deemed ownership of the securities underlying the Units in the New
Fund in the manner described above, if such substantially identical securities
were acquired within a period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after
such disposition. However, any gains incurred in connection with such an
exchange by a Rollover Unitholder would be recognized. Unitholders should
consult their tax advisers regarding the recognition of 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. 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 any deferred sales charge
imposed.
Dividends Received Deduction. To the extent dividends received by the Trust
are attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns Units will not
be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to its pro rata
portion of such dividends, since the dividends received deduction is generally
available only with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by Unitholders. Each
Unitholder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is deductible by
the Unitholder to the same extent as though the expense had been paid directly
by him. It should be noted that as a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986,
certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax
return preparation fees and employee business expenses will be deductible by an
individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such individual's adjusted gross
income. Unitholders may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of the
Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the limitation on
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 (although losses incurred by Rollover Unitholders
may be subject to disallowance, as discussed above). The Internal Revenue
Service Restructuring 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 for 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 involved 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 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 of certain Securities in the Trust. A
Unitholder may also under certain circumstances request an in kind distribution
of certain Securities in the Trust upon the termination of the Trust. A
Unitholder will generally receive cash representing his pro rata portion of the
foreign Securities in the Trust. See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of
Units". The Unitholder requesting an in kind distribution will be liable for
expenses related thereto (the "Distribution Expenses") and the amount of such in
kind distribution will be reduced by the amount of the Distribution Expenses.
See "Rights of 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 owned 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 a Security or for a foreign 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 or such foreign 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.
Rollover Unitholders. As discussed in "Rights of Unitholders--Special
Redemption and Rollover," a Unitholder may elect to become a Rollover
Unitholder. To the extent a Rollover Unitholder exchanges his Units for Units of
the New Fund in a taxable transaction, such Unitholder will recognize gains, if
any, but generally will not be entitled to a deduction for any losses recognized
upon the disposition of any Securities pursuant to such exchange to the extent
that such Unitholder is considered the owner of substantially identical
securities under the wash sale provisions of the Code taking into account such
Unitholder's deemed ownership of the securities underlying the Units in the New
Fund in the manner described above, if such substantially identical securities
were acquired within a period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after
such disposition under the wash sale provisions contained in Section 1091 of the
Code. In the event a loss is disallowed under the wash sale provisions, special
rules contained in Section 1091(d) of the Code apply to determine the
Unitholder's tax basis in the securities acquired. Rollover Unitholders are
advised to consult their tax advisers.
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 for
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 corporation 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 a
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.
Unitholders desiring to purchase Units for tax-deferred plans and IRAs should
consult their broker-dealers for details on establishing such accounts. Units
may also be purchased by persons who already have self-directed plans
established.
In the opinion of special counsel to the Fund 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
in 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 Supervisor and Evaluator, which are affiliates of the Sponsor, will
receive the annual fee for portfolio supervisory and evaluation services set
forth in the "Fee Table". 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.
General. The fees and expenses of the Trust will accrue on a daily basis. The
deferred sales charge, fees and expenses are paid out of the Capital Account of
the Trust. When these amounts are paid by or owing to the Trustee, they are
secured by a lien on the Trust's portfolio. It is expected that Securities will
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
Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust .............. 4
Notes to Portfolio.......................... 5
The Securities.............................. 6
Report of Independent Certified
Public Accountants....................... 9
Statement of Condition ..................... 10
The Trust................................... A-1
Objectives and Securities Selection......... A-1
Risk Factors................................ A-2
Public Offering............................. A-4
Rights of Unitholders....................... A-6
Trust Administration........................ A-9
Taxation.................................... A-11
Trust Operating Expenses.................... A-15
Other Matters............................... A-15
Additional Information...................... A-15
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When Units of the Trust are no longer available this prospectus may be used as a
preliminary prospectus for a future Trust. If this prospectus is used for future
Trusts you should note the following:
The information in this prospectus is not complete with respect to future Trust
series and may be changed. No person may sell Units of future Trusts until a
registration statement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell Units and is not
soliciting an offer to buy Units in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
PROSPECTUS
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November 15, 1999
Van Kampen
Focus Portfolios(SM)
A Division of Van Kampen Funds Inc.
Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust,
Series 3
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77056
Please retain this prospectus for future reference.
Van Kampen
Information Supplement
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194
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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. You
should read this Information Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus. It does not include all of the
information that you should consider before investing in the Trust. This
Information Supplement may not be used to offer or sell Units without the
Prospectus. You can obtain copies of the Prospectus 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.
All capitalized terms have been defined in the Prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page
Risk Factors 2
The Indexes 3
Sponsor Information 6
Trustee Information 7
Trust Termination 7
RISK FACTORS
Price Volatility. Because the Trust invests in stocks of foreign companies,
you should understand the risks of investing in 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. 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 the 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.
Dividends. Stocks represent ownership interests in a company and are not
obligations of the company. 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.
Foreign Stocks. Because the Trust invests in foreign stocks, it involves
additional risks that differ from an investment in domestic stocks. Investments
in foreign securities may involve a greater degree of risk than those in
domestic securities. There is generally less publicly available information
about foreign companies in the form of reports and ratings similar to those that
are published about issuers in the United States. Also, foreign issuers are
generally not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting
requirements comparable to those applicable to United States issuers. With
respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of adverse
changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation,
nationalization or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or
other assets of the Trust, political or social instability, or diplomatic
developments which could affect United States investments in those countries.
Moreover, industrial foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from
the United States' economy in terms of growth of gross national product, rate of
inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of
payments position. Foreign securities markets are generally not as developed or
efficient as those in the United States. While growing in volume, they usually
have substantially less volume than the New York Stock Exchange, and securities
of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable United States issuers. Fixed commissions on foreign exchanges are
generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States exchanges. There
is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges,
brokers and listed issuers than in the United States.
Foreign Currencies. The Trust also involves the risk that fluctuations in
exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively
affect the value of the stocks. For example, if a foreign stock rose 10% in
price but the U.S. dollar gained 5% against the related foreign currency, a U.S.
investor's return would be reduced to about 5%. This is because the foreign
currency would "buy" fewer dollars or, conversely, a dollar would buy more of
the foreign currency. Many foreign currencies have fluctuated widely against the
U.S. dollar for a variety of reasons such as supply and demand of the currency,
investor perceptions of world or country economies, political instability,
currency speculation by institutional investors, changes in government policies,
buying and selling of currencies by central banks of countries, trade balances
and changes in interest rates. The Trust's foreign currency transactions will be
conducted with foreign exchange dealers acting as principals on a spot (i.e.,
cash) buying basis. These dealers realize a profit based on the difference
between the price at which they buy the currency (bid price) and the price at
which they sell the currency (offer price). The Evaluator will estimate the
currency exchange rates based on current activity in the related currency
exchange markets, however, due to the volatility of the markets and other
factors, the estimated rates may not be indicative of the rate the Trust might
obtain had the Trustee sold the currency in the market at that time.
Liquidity. Whether or not the stocks in the 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 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 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 Trusts 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.
THE INDEXES
While the MSCI index methodology has evolved to capture the growth of the
investment universe, the index philosophy has never been compromised to simplify
the complicated process of investing: MSCI indices are based on detailed
analysis to make it easier for the investor to measure international
performance. Constituents are selected for a country index through the following
process: (1) Define the "Market"; (2) Capture 60% of the market capitalization
of the country across all industry groups; (3) Select the most liquid securities
within each industry; (4) Select stocks with sufficient free float; (5) Avoid
cross-ownership; and (6) Apply full market capitalization weights.
The initial research for the MSCI Indices covers the full breadth of the
global equity securities market. Country specialists track the evolution of both
listed and unlisted shares of domestically listed companies in nearly every
country in the world. Based in Geneva, these country teams collect share,
pricing, ownership, float and liquidity data for effectively all companies
worldwide. Sources for this information are local stock exchanges and brokerage
firms, newspapers, and company contacts. From this master matrix, the total
country market capitalization is adjusted for double-counting and non-domiciled
companies. All of the companies within this research coverage are eligible for
inclusion in the MSCI indices except non-domiciled companies, investment trusts
and mutual funds.
Once the total country market capitalization is analyzed, 60% of the
capitalization of each industry group and thus 60% of the entire market is
targeted for each MSCI index. This ensures that the index reflects the industry
characteristics of the overall market, and permits the construction of accurate
regional and global industry indices. Research coverage in MSCI products and
publications extends beyond the index coverage (60%) to capture 80% of the
market for each country. This coverage includes daily performance as well as
monthly valuation ratios and summarized financial statement data. When selecting
the constituents of an index, the most effective industry classification is
used--either the local convention or the MSCI schema of 38 industry groups--in
order to mirror the industry characteristics of the local market. Once the
selection process is complete, the index constituents are re-classified into the
MSCI schema of 38 industries and 8 economic sectors in order to facilitate
cross-country comparisons. The MSCI classification schema has been adopted by
Reuters for their industry classification. Securities are selected to represent
an industry based on size and the portion of earnings and revenues attributable
to that industry group. Even within an industry the goal is to represent the
full diversity of business segments. An industry representation may exceed the
60% target because one or two large companies dominate an industry. Similarly,
an industry may fall below the 80% level under conventional analysis because its
companies lack good liquidity and float, or because of extensive
cross-ownership.
A goal of the MSCI index construction process is to select the most liquid
stocks within each industry group, all other things being equal, since liquidity
is necessary but not the sole determinant for inclusion in the index. Liquidity
is monitored by monthly average trading value over time in order to determine
normal levels of volume, excluding temporary peaks and troughs. A stock's
liquidity is significant not only in absolute terms, but also relative to its
market capitalization and to average liquidity for the country as a whole.
Float is monitored for every security in the market, and low float (a small
percentage of shares freely tradable) may exclude a stock from consideration in
the index. But float can be difficult to determine: in some markets good sources
are generally not available; in other markets, information on smaller and less
prominent issues can be subject to error and time lags. Government ownership and
cross-ownership positions can change over time and are not always made public.
Float also tends to be defined differently depending on the source. Thus,
evaluations of float run the risk of penalizing those markets that have good
disclosure, regardless of the actual degree of availability of shares. As with
liquidity, sufficient float is an important consideration, not an inflexible
rule.
Cross-ownership occurs when one company has a significant ownership in
another company in the same country. In situations where cross-ownership is
substantial, including both companies in an index can skew industry weights,
distort country-level valuations (such as country price-earnings and price-book
value ratios) and overstate a country's true market size. An integral part of
the country research function is identifying cross ownerships in order to avoid
or minimize them. Country specialists in Geneva do much of the cross-ownership
identification through researching company reports, local newspapers and stock
exchange data.
All standard MSCI indices are weighted by each company's full market
capitalization (both listed and unlisted shares). This approach has the
significant advantage of objectivity--the number of shares outstanding for a
company is a constituent figure for companies around the world and is easily
agreed upon and obtainable. Full market capitalization weighting is favored to
other weighting schemes for both theoretical and practical reasons: (a) it is
impossible to judge whether a position which is currently in firm hands might be
available in the future; (b) the quality and timeliness of information on float
varies from market to market and adjustments penalize those markets with the
highest standards of disclosure; (c) the most serious consequence of float
limitations is limited liquidity which can be monitored objectively; much effort
is spent in researching and monitoring these factors when selecting constituents
for each country index but once a security is selected, it is included in the
index at its full market value. A growing number of very sizable companies have
been brought or are expected to be brought to the market with modest initial
tranches being publicly available. At the same time, the obvious relevance of
these companies instantly positions them among the core investment opportunities
in their market. In order to allow the MSCI indices to capture this new market
trend, in very exceptional cases, a company may be included at a portion of its
total market capitalization.
Morgan Stanley Capital International. Recognized as a world leader in
global financial research, Morgan Stanley monitors more than 4,500 companies in
51 countries, representing 80% of the total market value of the world's stock
markets. The Morgan Stanley Capital International ("MSCI") databases are used as
a benchmark by more than 90% of the investment community. With hundreds of
analysts located across the globe, MSCI provides comprehensive research and
in-depth knowledge about general markets and specific companies around the
world.
Since 1968, MSCI global indices have presented an array of investment
opportunities available to the international investor, including indices such as
the MSCI USA Index and the MSCI EAFESM Index. These indices seek to represent an
accurate normal portfolio. In addition, index valuation ratios and company-level
fundamental data provide tools for the international investor. MSCI believes
that local stock exchange indices are not comparable with one another due to
differences in the representation of the local market, mathematical formulas,
methods of adjusting for capital changes, and base dates. The same criteria and
calculation methodology are applied across all MSCI indices. Further, while
accounting standards continue to differ according to local customs and
practices, fundamental data is analyzed and presented in a uniform and
meaningful manner in MSCI indices--allowing investors to compare investment
opportunities across markets. Each MSCI country index is constructed so as to
minimize double counting, assuring that all industry groups are proportionately
represented, and that each country's contribution to the global or regional
index is accurately based on its market capitalization.
In 1986, Morgan Stanley acquired the indices and data from Capital
International Perspective, S.A. ("CIPSA") based in Geneva, Switzerland. CIPSA
has been researching and publishing international indices since 1969 and
continues to be solely responsible for the decisions regarding constituent
additions and deletions as well as any other methodological modifications to the
indices. Morgan Stanley contributes its expertise in technology and the
marketing and distribution of the MSCI Indices and publications. Selection of
the constituents for MSCI Indices is conducted independent of the Sponsor which
has no input regarding the components of any index.
The MSCI Indices are the exclusive property of Morgan Stanley. Morgan
Stanley Capital International is a service mark of Morgan Stanley and has been
licensed for use by Van Kampen Funds Inc.
This fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morgan Stanley.
Morgan Stanley makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the
owners of this fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of
investing in funds generally or in this fund particularly or the ability of the
MSCI Indices to track general stock market performance. Morgan Stanley is the
licensor of certain trademarks, service marks and trade names of Morgan Stanley
and of the MSCI Indices which are determined, composed and calculated by Morgan
Stanley without regard to the issuer of this fund or this fund. Morgan Stanley
has no obligation to take the needs of the issuer of this fund or the owners of
this fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the MSCI
Indices. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for and has not participated in the
determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of this fund to be
issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Units of
this fund is redeemable for cash. Morgan Stanley has no obligation or liability
to owners of this fund in connection with the administration, marketing or
trading of this fund.
ALTHOUGH MORGAN STANLEY SHALL OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION IN OR FOR
USE IN THE CALCULATION OF AN INDEX FROM SOURCES WHICH MORGAN STANLEY CONSIDERS
RELIABLE, NEITHER MORGAN STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY GUARANTEES THE ACCURACY
AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF AN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NEITHER MORGAN
STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO
RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, LICENSEE'S CUSTOMERS AND COUNTERPARTIES,
OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF AN INDEX OR
ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED HEREUNDER OR
FOR ANY OTHER USE. NEITHER MORGAN STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY MAKES ANY EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND MORGAN STANLEY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT
TO AN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING,
IN NO EVENT SHALL MORGAN STANLEY OR ANY OTHER PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES
(INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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 shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a
successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be
reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.
TRUSTEE 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 the 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 the Trust would be reduced
to less than 40% of the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited
in the Trust. If the Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold
Units 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 will begin to be sold in
connection with the termination of the Trust. The Sponsor will determine the
manner, timing and execution of the sales of the 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 Trust and in the case of the Trust will
include with such notice a form to enable Unitholders owning 1,000 or more Units
to request an in kind distribution of the U.S.-traded Securities. To be
effective, this request must be returned to the Trustee at least five business
days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. On the Mandatory Termination Date
(or on the previous business day if a holiday) the Trustee will deliver each
requesting Unitholder's pro rata number of whole shares of the U.S.-traded
Securities in the Trust to the account of the broker-dealer or bank designated
by the Unitholder at Depository Trust Company. A Unitholder electing an in kind
distribution will not receive a distribution of shares of the foreign
exchange-traded Securities but will instead receive cash representing his pro
rata portion of such Securities. The value of the Unitholder's fractional shares
of the Securities will be paid in cash. Unitholders with less than 1,000 Units,
Unitholders in the Trust with 1,000 or more Units not requesting an in kind
distribution and Unitholders who do not elect the Rollover Option will receive a
cash distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities within a reasonable
time following the Mandatory Termination Date. Regardless of the distribution
involved, the Trustee will deduct from the funds of the Trust any accrued costs,
expenses, advances or indemnities provided by the Trust Agreement, including
estimated compensation of the Trustee, costs of liquidation and any amounts
required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes or other
governmental charges. Any sale of Securities in a 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 the Unitholder of the
Trust his pro rata share of the balance of the Income and Capital Accounts of
the Trust.
The Sponsor currently intends to, but is not obligated to, offer for sale
units of a subsequent series of the Trust pursuant to the Rollover Option. There
is, however, no assurance that units of any new series of the Trust will be
offered for sale at that time, or if offered, that there will be sufficient
units available for sale to meet the requests of any or all Unitholders.
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 STATEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 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 194 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 194 has duly caused this
Amendment No. 1 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 15th day of November, 1999.
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194
By Van Kampen Funds Inc.
By Christine K. Putong
Assistant Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below on November
15, 1998 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 194
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: November 15, 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. The term "Rollover Notification Date" shall mean approximately one
month prior to the "Mandatory Termination Date" set forth under "Summary of
Essential Financial Information" in the Prospectus.
7. The term "Special Redemption Date" shall mean the "Mandatory
Termination Date" set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information"
in the Prospectus.
8. 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.
9. 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
successors in interest, or any successor depositor appointed as
hereinafter provided.
(3) "Evaluator" shall mean American Portfolio Evaluation Services
(a division of an 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 as hereinafter provided.
10. 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.
11. 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 February 10, 1999 and continuing
through September 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" as it relates to any Deferred Sales Charge Payment Date shall
mean that portion of the total maximum deferred sales charge specified
in the Prospectus which has accrued since the preceding Deferred Sales
Charge Payment Date.
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 194
(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
November 15, 1999
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194
---------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc. as Sponsor and
Depositor of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194 (hereinafter referred to as
the "Trust"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of a
Trust Agreement dated November 15, 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. 333-90509) 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
November 15, 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 194
---------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc., Depositor of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194 (the "Fund"), in connection with the
issuance of Units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund, under a Trust
Agreement dated November 15, 1999 (the "Indenture") among Van Kampen Funds Inc.,
as Depositor, 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 described in the
prospectus for the Fund (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 securities (the
"Securities") as set forth in the Prospectus. For purposes of this 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 are 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 certain Securities upon the redemption of Units or upon
the termination of the Trust. A Unitholder will generally receive cash
representing his pro rata portion of the foreign Securities in 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 of the Securities held by the
Trust. However, if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange for a
Security (or 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 Security (or fractional share of a Security) held
by such 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.
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.
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. A required holding period is imposed for such credits.
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 a Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions
subject to this limitation.
A Unitholder will recognize taxable gain (or loss) when all or part of
the 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.
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, NY 10166-4193
November 15, 1999
Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 194
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 194 (the "Fund") consisting of Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust, Series 3
(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 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 333-90509),
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 of companies engaged in, providing services to companies in,
the industry identified in Trust's name, or are the type of securities
identified in the name of the Trusts. It is noted that no opinion is expressed
herein with regard to the Federal tax aspects of the securities, the Trusts,
units of the Trusts (the "Units"), or any interest, 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 each 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 Trusts, and, upon the receipt thereof, will deliver to the
Depositor a registered certificate for the number of Units representing the
entire capital of the Trusts 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 Trusts 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(1) 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 a 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. Each of the Trusts 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 Trusts 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) 771-6545
November 12, 1999
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios Europe/Pacific Strategy Trust, Series 3 (A Unit
Investment Trust) Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933, File No.
333-90509
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 Registration 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 November 15, 1999 on the statement of
condition and related securities portfolio of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 194 as of November 15, 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
November 15, 1999
