Registration No. 333-28831
1940 Act No. 811-05903
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2 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:
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
B. Name of depositor:
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
C. Complete address of depositor's principal executive offices:
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
D. Name and complete address of agents for service:
Copy to:
JAMES A. BOWEN ERIC F. FESS
c/o Nike Securities L.P. c/o Chapman and Cutler
1001 Warrenville Road 111 West Monroe Street
Lisle, Illinois 60532 Chicago, Illinois 60603
E. Title and Amount of Securities Being Registered:
An indefinite number of Units pursuant to Rule 24f-2
promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended
F. Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price to the Public of
the Securities Being Registered: Indefinite
G. Amount of Filing Fee: $0.00
H. Approximate date of proposed sale to 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 on July 10, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule
487.
THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS TRUST, SERIES 185
Cross-Reference Sheet
(Form N-8B-2 Items required by Instructions as
to the Prospectus in Form S-6)
Form N-8B-2 Item Number Form S-6 Heading in Prospectus
I. ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION
1. (a) Name of trust Prospectus front cover
(b) Title of securities issued Summary of Essential
Information
2. Name and address of each depositor Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
3. Name and address of trustee Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
4. Name and address of principal Information as to
underwriters Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
5. State of organization of trust The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust
6. Execution and termination of Other Information
trust agreement
7. Changes of name *
8. Fiscal year *
9. Litigation *
II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND SECURITIES OF THE TRUST
10. (a) Registered or bearer Public Offering
securities
(b) Cumulative or distributive The First Trust
securities Special Situations
Trust
(c) Redemption Rights of Unitholders
(d) Conversion, transfer, etc. Rights of Unitholders
(e) Periodic payment plan *
(f) Voting rights Rights of Unitholders
(g) Notice of certificateholders Other Information
(h) Consents required Rights of Unitholders;
Other Information
(i) Other provisions The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust
11. Types of securities comprising The First Trust
units Special
Situations Trust
Schedule of
Investments
12. Certain information regarding
periodic payment certificates *
13. (a) Load, fees, expenses, etc. Summary of Essential
Information; Public
Offering; The First
Trust Special
Situations Trust
(b) Certain information regarding
periodic payment certificates *
(c) Certain percentages Summary of Essential
Information; The
First Trust Special
Situations Trust;
Public Offering
(d) Certain other fees, etc.
payable by holders Rights of Units
Holders
(e) Certain profits receivable
by depositor, principal,
underwriters, trustee or The First Trust
affiliated persons Special
Situations Trust
(f) Ratio of annual charges *
to income
14. Issuance of trust's securities Rights of Unit Holders
15. Receipt and handling of payments
from purchasers *
16. Acquisition and disposition of
underlying securities The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust; Rights of Unit
Holders;
17. Withdrawal or redemption The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust; Public
Offering; Rights of
Unit Holders
18. (a) Receipt, custody and Rights of Unit Holders
disposition of income
(b) Reinvestment of distributions Rights of Unit Holders
(c) Reserves or special funds Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
(d) Schedule of distributions *
19. Records, accounts and reports Rights of Unit Holders
20. Certain miscellaneous provisions
of trust agreement
(a) Amendment Other Information
(b) Termination Other Information
(c) and (d) Trustee, removal Information as
and successor to Sponsor, Trustee
and Evaluator
(e) and (f) Depositor, removal Information as
and successor to Sponsor, Trustee
and Evaluator
21. Loans to security holders *
22. Limitations on liability The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust;
Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee
and Evaluator
23. Bonding arrangements Contents of
Registration
Statement
24. Other material provisions *
of trust agreement
III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR
25. Organization of depositor Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
26. Fees received by depositor *
27. Business of depositor Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
28. Certain information as to
officials and affiliated *
persons of depositor
29. Voting securities of depositor *
30. Persons controlling depositor *
31. Payment by depositor for certain
services rendered to trust *
32. Payment by depositor for certain
other services rendered to trust *
33. Remuneration of employees of
depositor for certain services
rendered to trust *
34. Remuneration of other persons
for certain services rendered *
to trust
IV. DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION
35. Distribution of trust's Public Offering
securities by states
36. Suspension of sales of trust's
securities *
37. Revocation of authority to *
distribute
38. (a) Method of distribution Public Offering
(b) Underwriting agreements Public Offering
(c) Selling agreements Public Offering
39. (a) Organization of principal Information as
underwriters to Sponsor, Trustee
and Evaluator
(b) N.A.S.D. membership of
principal underwriters Information as to
Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
40. Certain fees received by See Items 13(a) and
principal underwriters 13(e)
41. (a) Business of principal Information as to
underwriters Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
(b) Branch offices of
principal underwriters *
(c) Salesmen of principal *
underwriters
42. Ownership of trust's securities
by certain persons *
43. Certain brokerage commissions
received by principal *
underwriters
44. (a) Method of valuation Summary of Essential
Information; The
First Trust Special
Situations Trust,
Public Offering
(b) Schedule as to offering *
price
(c) Variation in offering Public Offering
price to certain persons
45. Suspension of redemption rights *
46. (a) Redemption valuation Rights of Unit Holders
(b) Schedule as to redemption *
price
47. Maintenance of position in Public Offering;
underlying securities Rights
of Unit Holders
V. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
48. Organization and regulation of Information as
trustee to Sponsor, Trustee
and Evaluator
49. Fees and expenses of trustee The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust
50. Trustee's lien The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust
VI. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF
SECURITIES
51. Insurance of holders of
trust's securities *
VII. POLICY OF REGISTRANT
52. (a) Provisions of trust The First Trust
agreement with respect to Special
selection or elimination of Situations Trust;
underlying securities Rights of Unit Holders
(b) Transactions involving
elimination of underlying *
securities
(c) Policy regarding substitution The First Trust
or elimination of underlying Special
securities Situations Trust;
Rights of Unit Holders
(d) Fundamental policy not
otherwise covered *
53. Tax status of Trust The First Trust
Special Situations
Trust
VIII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION
54. Trust's securities during *
last ten years
55.
56.
57. Certain information regarding
period payment certificates *
58.
59. Financial statements Report of Independent
(Instruction 1(c) to Form S-6) Auditors; Statement of
Net Assets
* Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.
SELECT RISING DIVIDENDS TRUST SERIES
The Trust. The First Trust (registered trademark) Special Situations
Trust, Series 185, consists of the unit investment trust set forth above
(the "Trust"). The Trust consists of a fixed, diversified portfolio of
common stocks which, in the opinion of J.C. Bradford's Equity Research
Department, have the potential to provide investors increased dividend
income throughout the life of the Trust and modify risk through
diversification (the "Equity Securities"). There is, however, no
assurance that the Trust will increase dividends over the life of the
Trust.
See "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust. The Trust has a mandatory
termination date (the "Mandatory Termination Date" or "Trust Ending
Date") of approximately four years from the date of this Prospectus as
set forth under "Summary of Essential Information." There is, of course,
no guarantee that the objectives of the Trust will be achieved.
Each Unit of the Trust represents an undivided fractional interest in
all the Equity Securities deposited therein. The Equity Securities
deposited in the Trust's portfolio have no fixed maturity date and the
value of these underlying Equity Securities will fluctuate with changes
in the values of stocks in general. See "Portfolio."
The Sponsor may, from time to time after the Initial Date of Deposit,
deposit additional Equity Securities in the Trust or cash (including a
letter of credit) with instructions to purchase additional Equity
Securities in the Trust. Such deposits of additional Equity Securities
or cash will, therefore, be done in such a manner that the original
proportionate relationship amongst the individual issues of the Equity
Securities shall be maintained. Any deposit by the Sponsor of additional
Equity Securities, or the purchase of additional Equity Securities
pursuant to a cash deposit, will duplicate, as nearly as is practicable,
the original proportionate relationship established on the Initial Date
of Deposit, and not the actual proportionate relationship on the
subsequent date of deposit, since the two may differ. Any such
difference may be due to the sale, redemption or liquidation of any
Equity Securities deposited in the Trust on the Initial, or any
subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "What is the First Trust Special
Situations Trust?" and "How May Equity Securities be Removed from the
Trust?"
Public Offering Price. The Public Offering Price per Unit of the Trust
during the initial offering period is equal to the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the
closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and the ask prices of
the over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata
share of cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust,
plus a sales charge of 4.25% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(equivalent to 4.439% of the net amount invested). A pro rata share of
accumulated dividends, if any, in the Income Account is included in the
Public Offering Price. The secondary market Public Offering Price per
Unit of the Trust will be based upon the aggregate underlying value of
the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the closing
sale prices of listed Equity Securities and the bid prices of the over-
the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata share of
cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust plus a
maximum sales charge of 4.25% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(equivalent to 4.439% of the net amount
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
J.C. Bradford & Co.
The date of this Prospectus is July 10, 1997
Page 1
invested) subject to a reduction beginning August 1, 1998. A pro rata
share of accumulated dividends, if any, in the Income Account of the
Trust is included in the Public Offering Price. The minimum amount which
an investor may purchase is $2,000 ($1,000 for Individual Retirement
Accounts or other retirement plans). Only whole Units may be purchased.
The sales charge imposed on Trust Units is reduced on a graduated scale
for sales involving at least 10,000 Units. See "How is the Public
Offering Price Determined?"
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK, AND UNITS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK
INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
Estimated Net Annual Distributions. The estimated net annual dividend
distributions to Unit holders (based on the most recent quarterly or
semi-annual ordinary dividend declared with respect to the Equity
Securities in the Trust) on the Initial Date of Deposit was $.3081 per
Unit. The actual net annual dividend distributions per Unit will vary
with changes in fees and expenses of the Trust, with changes in
dividends received and with the sale or liquidation of Equity
Securities; therefore, there is no assurance that the net annual
dividend distributions will be realized in the future.
Dividend and Capital Distributions. Distributions of dividends and
capital, if any, received by the Trust, net of expenses, will be paid on
the Distribution Date to Unit holders of record on the Record Date as
set forth in the "Summary of Essential Information." Distributions of
funds in the Capital Account, if any, will be made at least annually in
December of each year. Any distribution of income and/or capital will be
net of the expenses of the Trust. See "What is the Federal Tax Status of
Unit Holders?" Any Unit holder may elect to have each distribution of
income or capital on his or her Units automatically reinvested in
additional Units of the Trust without a sales charge. Additionally, upon
termination of the Trust, the Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of
Units for redemption, to each remaining Unit holder his or her pro rata
share of the Trust's assets, less expenses, in the manner set forth
under "Rights of Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?"
Secondary Market for Units. While under no obligation to do so, the
Sponsor and the Underwriter intend to maintain a market for Units of the
Trust and offer to repurchase such Units at prices which are based on
the aggregate underlying value of Equity Securities in the Trust
(generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and the bid prices of the over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities) plus or minus cash, if any, in the Capital and Income
Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary market is not maintained, a Unit
holder may redeem Units through the Trustee at prices based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
(generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and either the ask prices (during the initial offering
period) or the bid prices (subsequent to the initial offering period) of
the over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata
share of cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust.
A Unit holder tendering 2,500 Units or more of the Trust for redemption
may request a distribution of shares of Equity Securities (reduced by
customary transfer and registration charges) in lieu of payment in cash.
See "How May Units be Redeemed?"
Termination. The Trust will terminate approximately four years after the
Initial Date of Deposit regardless of market conditions at that time.
Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity Securities will
begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The
Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sale of
the Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination of the Trust
specifying the time or times at which Unit holders may surrender their
certificates for cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unit
holder at his address appearing on the registration books of the Trust
maintained by the Trustee. At least 30 days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date of the Trust, the Trustee will provide written notice
thereof to all Unit holders and will include with such notice a form to
enable Unit holders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity
Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration charges) if
such Unit holder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than
receive payment in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity
Securities. To be effective, the election form, together with
surrendered certificates and other documentation required by the
Trustee, must be returned to the Trustee at least five business days
prior to the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust. See "Rights of
Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?"
Page 2
Risk Factors. An investment in the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the risks associated therewith, including, among other
factors, the possible deterioration of either the financial condition of
the issuers or the general condition of the stock market, changes in
interest rates, changes in dividend rates or an economic recession. The
Trust is not actively managed and Equity Securities will not be sold by
the Trust to take advantage of market fluctuations or changes in
anticipated rates of appreciation. See "What are Equity Securities?-Risk
Factors."
Page 3
Summary of Essential Information
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
of the Equity Securities-July 10, 1997
Underwriter: J.C. Bradford & Co.
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
General Information
<S> <C>
Initial Number of Units(1) 14,929
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit(1) 1/14,929
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities in Portfolio (2) $ 142,951
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities per Unit $ 9.575
Sales Charge of 4.25% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(4.439% of the net amount invested) $ .425
Public Offering Price per Unit (3) $ 10.000
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit $ 9.575
Redemption Price per Unit (4) $ 9.575
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
CUSIP Number 337182 505
First Settlement Date July 15, 1997
Mandatory Termination Date August 1, 2001
Discretionary Liquidation Amount The Trust may be terminated if the value of the Equity Securities is less
than the lower of $4,000,000 or 40% of the total value of Equity Securities
deposited in a Trust during the initial offering period.
Trustee's Annual Fee $.0074 per Unit outstanding.
Evaluator's Annual Fee $.0017 per Unit outstanding, payable to an affiliate of the Sponsor.
Evaluations for purposes of sale, purchase or redemption of Units are made
as of the close of trading (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the New
York Stock Exchange on each day on which it is open.
Supervisory Fee (5) Maximum of $.0035 per Unit outstanding annually payable to an affiliate of
the Sponsor.
Estimated Annual Amortization of
Organizational and Offering Costs (6) $.0035 per Unit.
Income Distribution Record Date First day of each March, June, September and December commencing December
1, 1997.
Income Distribution Date (7) Fifteenth day of March, June, September and December commencing December
15, 1997.
</TABLE>
[FN]
______________
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, the
number of Units of the Trust may be adjusted so that the Public Offering
Price per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. Therefore, to the extent
of any such adjustment, the fractional undivided interest per Unit will
increase or decrease accordingly, from the amounts indicated above.
(2) Each listed Equity Security is valued at the last closing sale price,
or if no such price exists or if the Equity Securities are not so
listed, at the closing ask price thereof.
(3) On the Initial Date of Deposit there will be no accumulated dividends
in the Income Account. Anyone ordering Units after such date will pay a
pro rata share of any accumulated dividends in such Income Account. The
Public Offering Price as shown reflects the value of the Equity
Securities at the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit and
establishes the original proportionate relationship amongst the
individual securities. No sales to investors will be executed at this
price. Additional Equity Securities will be deposited during the day of
the Initial Date of Deposit which will be valued as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time and sold to investors at a Public Offering Price per Unit based on
this valuation.
(4) See "How May Units be Redeemed?"
(5) In addition, the Sponsor will be reimbursed for bookkeeping and other
administrative expenses currently at a maximum annual rate of $.0028 per
Unit.
(6) The Trust (and therefore Unit holders) will bear all or a portion of
its organizational and offering costs (including costs of preparing the
registration statement, the trust indenture and other closing documents,
registering Units with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
states, the initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the
initial fees and expenses of the Trustee but not including the expenses
incurred in the printing of preliminary and final prospectuses, and
expenses incurred in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses) as is common for
mutual funds. Total organizational and offering expenses will be charged
off over a period not to exceed the life of the Trust (approximately
four years). See "What are the Expenses and Charges?" and "Statement of
Net Assets." Historically, the sponsors of unit investment trusts have
paid all the costs of establishing such trusts.
(7) Distributions from the Capital Account will be made monthly payable
on the fifteenth day of the month to Unit holders of record on the first
day of such month if the amount available for distribution equals at
least $1.00 per 100 Units. Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in
the Capital Account, if any, will be made in December of each year.
Page 4
SELECT RISING DIVIDENDS TRUST SERIES
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
What is The First Trust Special Situations Trust?
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185 is one of a series
of investment companies created by the Sponsor under the name of The
First Trust Special Situations Trust, all of which are generally similar
but each of which is separate and is designated by a different series
number (the "Trust"). This Series consists of the underlying separate
unit investment trust designated as: Select Rising Dividends Trust
Series. The Trust was created under the laws of the State of New York
pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture"), dated the Initial Date
of Deposit, with Nike Securities L.P. as Sponsor, The Chase Manhattan
Bank as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P. as Portfolio Supervisor
and Evaluator.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee
confirmations of contracts for the purchase of common stocks issued by
companies (the "Equity Securities"), together with an irrevocable letter
or letters of credit of a financial institution in an amount at least
equal to the purchase price of such Equity Securities. In exchange for
the deposit of securities or contracts to purchase securities in the
Trust, the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor documents evidencing the
entire ownership of the Trust.
The Trust is designed as a simple way to implement an investment
strategy which combines the benefits of dividends, dividend growth and
capital appreciation. This strategy seeks to provide an investor with
superior long-term performance. The defensive benefits of the "rising
dividend strategy" have typically been reduced volatility and stabilized
returns. In the opinion of the Underwriter, this strategy may prove
effective in various market environments. Of course, as with any equity
investment, there is market risk and there is no guarantee that these
objectives will be attained by the Trust.
In selecting companies which have the potential to achieve the Trust's
objectives, the Underwriter utilized the following screening process,
except up to 20% of the portfolio may consist of Equity Securities which
may not meet all of the screening criteria. Initially, only companies
with a minimum market capitalization of $1 billion were eligible for
inclusion in the Trust. From this list of companies, only those
companies which (i) raised their annual dividend a minimum of 6% over
each of the last five years, (ii) increased their dividends annually
over a minimum of ten years, (iii) had an annual dividend yield greater
than 1.5%, and (iv) have an estimated future earnings per share growth
rate of at least 10% were selected for the Trust. The Underwriter
believes that companies which satisfy these factors are likely to
consistently raise annual dividends.
The Trust has been designed to achieve the following objectives:
Provide a Higher Stream of Income Year After Year. The Trust portfolio
is comprised of an elite group of companies, of which at least 80% have
the impressive record of having paid and raised dividends ten
consecutive years. Collectively, these strong companies have raised
dividends by at least 100% in ten years. The Underwriter believes that
these companies are highly likely to continue passing earnings to
investors in the form of dividend increases.
Capital Appreciation with Blue Chip Stocks. Growth is a major objective
of the Trust and just as important as dividends in this total return
strategy. Share price appreciation and regular dividend increases are
highly correlated, because the market rewards companies with the
earnings strength which dividend payments reflect; however, this
correlation may change in the future. The Underwriter screened for
fundamental indicators of appreciation potential, such as the
requirement that each company have at least a 10% earnings per share
growth rate estimate, which is higher than the Standard & Poor's 500
Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500"). In addition, the
Underwriter screened for fundamental indicators of value, resulting in a
portfolio with a lower price to earnings ratio than that of the S&P 500.
The Trust's portfolio of 24 companies with average capitalization of $14
billion provides good capital appreciation potential with high quality,
blue chip stocks.
Reduced Volatility and Modified Risk through Diversification. Dividend
income, which is a more stable component of total return on equities
than share price change, has historically had the effect of cushioning
price volatility. Therefore, an investment in companies with records of
consistently raising dividends, even during down markets, should provide
relative stability of returns. Risk is further modified by
Page 5
diversification into 24 companies and several industries. All stock
investments are subject to price volatility and risk of capital loss.
This investment seeks to reduce risk, although it cannot be entirely
eliminated.
Investors whose objective is building wealth for the future can take
advantage of the Trust's dividend reinvestment feature. Compounding
dividends can increase total returns over time. A 20-year study of
investment returns, ending December 1996, shows dividends accounted for
58% of total return in dollar terms invested in the S&P 500: $1.00
invested grew to $6.89 in capital appreciation only, compared to $15.13
including dividends and reinvestment, per Ibbotson & Associates. Of
course, there is no guarantee that future dividends will grow as in this
historical example or that the objectives of the Trust will be achieved.
See "Schedule of Investments" and "What are the Equity Securities?-Risk
Factors" for the Select Rising Dividends Trust Series. There is,
however, no assurance that the objective of the Select Rising Dividends
Trust will be achieved.
The Trust has a mandatory termination date, as set forth under "Summary
of Essential Information." Each Unit of the Trust represents an
undivided fractional interest in all the Equity Securities deposited in
such Trust.
With the deposit of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Sponsor established a percentage relationship between the
amounts of Equity Securities in the Trust's portfolio. See "Schedule of
Investments" for the Trust. From time to time following the Initial Date
of Deposit, the Sponsor, pursuant to the Indenture, may deposit
additional Equity Securities in the Trust, or cash (including a letter
of credit) with instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in
the Trust, and Units may be continuously offered for sale to the public
by means of this Prospectus, resulting in a potential increase in the
outstanding number of Units of the Trust. Any deposit by the Sponsor of
additional Equity Securities, or the purchase of additional Equity
Securities pursuant to a cash deposit, will duplicate, as nearly as is
practicable, the original proportionate relationship and not the actual
proportionate relationship on the subsequent date of deposit, since the
two may differ. Any such difference may be due to the sale, redemption
or liquidation of any of the Equity Securities deposited in the Trust on
the Initial, or any subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?" Since the prices of the
underlying Equity Securities will fluctuate daily, the ratio, on a
market value basis, will also change daily. The portion of Equity
Securities represented by each Unit will not change as a result of the
deposit of additional Equity Securities in the Trust. If the Sponsor
deposits cash, however, existing and new investors may experience a
dilution of their investment and a reduction in their anticipated income
because of fluctuations in the prices of the Equity Securities between
the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the Equity Securities
and because the Trust will pay the associated brokerage fees. To
minimize this effect, the Trust will try to purchase the Equity
Securities as close to the evaluation time or as close to the evaluation
price as possible. The Trustee may from time to time retain and pay
compensation to the Sponsor (or an affiliate of the Sponsor) to act as
agent for the Trust with respect to acquiring Equity Securities for the
Trust. In acting in such capacity, the Sponsor or its affiliate will be
held subject to the restrictions under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, each Unit of the Trust represented the
undivided fractional interest in the Equity Securities deposited in the
Trust as set forth under "Summary of Essential Information." To the
extent that Units of the Trust are redeemed, the aggregate value of the
Equity Securities in the Trust will be reduced and the undivided
fractional interest represented by each outstanding Unit of the Trust
will increase. However, if additional Units are issued by the Trust in
connection with the deposit of additional Equity Securities or cash by
the Sponsor, the aggregate value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
will be increased by amounts allocable to additional Units, and the
fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit of the Trust will
be decreased proportionately. See "How May Units be Redeemed?" The Trust
has a Mandatory Termination Date as set forth herein under "Summary of
Essential Information."
What are the Expenses and Charges?
With the exception of brokerage fees discussed above and bookkeeping and
other administrative services provided to the Trust, for which the
Sponsor will be reimbursed in amounts as set forth under "Summary of
Essential Information," the Sponsor will not receive any fees in
connection with its activities relating to the Trust. Certain of the
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expenses incurred in establishing the Trust, including the cost of the
initial preparation of documents relating to the Trust, Federal and
state registration fees, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee,
legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses may be paid by the
Sponsor, and may, in part, be paid by the Trustee.
First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive an
annual supervisory fee, which is not to exceed the amount set forth
under "Summary of Essential Information," for providing portfolio
supervisory services for the Trust. Such fee is based on the number of
Units outstanding in the Trust on January 1 of each year except for the
year or years in which an initial offering period occurs in which case
the fee for a month is based on the number of Units outstanding at the
end of such month. In providing such supervisory services, the Portfolio
Supervisor may purchase research services from a variety of sources
which may include dealers of the Trust.
Subsequent to the initial offering period, First Trust Advisors L.P.,
the Evaluator and an affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive a fee as
indicated in the "Summary of Essential Information" for the Trust.
The Trustee pays certain expenses of the Trust for which it is
reimbursed by the Trust. The Trustee will receive for its ordinary
recurring services to the Trust an annual fee as indicated in the
"Summary of Essential Information" for the Trust based upon the largest
aggregate number of Units of the Trust outstanding at any time during
the calendar year. For a discussion of the services performed by the
Trustee pursuant to its obligations under the Indenture, reference is
made to the material set forth under "Rights of Unit Holders."
The Trustee's and the above described fees are payable from the Income
Account of the Trust to the extent funds are available and then from the
Capital Account of the Trust. Since the Trustee has the use of the funds
being held in the Capital and Income Accounts for payment of expenses
and redemptions and since such Accounts are noninterest-bearing to Unit
holders, the Trustee benefits thereby. Part of the Trustee's
compensation for its services to the Trust is expected to result from
the use of these funds.
Each of the above mentioned fees may be increased without approval of
the Unit holders by amounts not exceeding proportionate increases under
the category "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price
Index published by the United States Department of Labor. In addition,
with respect to the fees payable to the Sponsor or an affiliate of the
Sponsor for providing bookkeeping and other administrative services,
supervisory services and evaluation services, such individual fees may
exceed the actual costs of providing such services for the Trust, but at
no time will the total amount received for such services rendered to all
unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the Sponsor in
any calendar year exceed the actual cost to the Sponsor or its affiliate
of supplying such services in such year.
Certain or all of the expenses incurred in establishing the Trust,
including costs of preparing the registration statement, the trust
indenture and other closing documents, registering Units with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and states, the initial audit of the
Trust's portfolio and the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee and
any other out-of-pocket expenses, will be paid by the Trust and charged
off over a period not to exceed the life of the Trust, approximately
four years. The following additional charges are or may be incurred by
the Trust: all legal expenses of the Trustee incurred by or in
connection with its responsibilities under the Indenture; the expenses
and costs of any action undertaken by the Trustee to protect the Trust
and the rights and interests of the Unit holders; fees of the Trustee
for any extraordinary services performed under the Indenture;
indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expense
incurred by it without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on
its part, arising out of or in connection with its acceptance or
administration of the Trust; indemnification of the Sponsor for any
loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, bad faith
or willful misconduct in acting as Depositor of the Trust; all taxes and
other government charges imposed upon the Securities or any part of the
Trust (no such taxes or charges are being levied or made or, to the
knowledge of the Sponsor, contemplated). The above expenses and the
Trustee's annual fee, when paid or owing to the Trustee, are secured by
a lien on the Trust. In addition, the Trustee is empowered to sell
Equity Securities in the Trust in order to make funds available to pay
all these amounts if funds are not otherwise available in the Income and
Capital Accounts of the Trust. Since the Equity Securities are all
common stocks and the income stream produced by dividend payments is
unpredictable, the Sponsor cannot provide any assurance that dividends
will be sufficient to meet any or all expenses of the Trust. As
described above, if dividends are insufficient to cover expenses, it is
likely that Equity Securities will have to be sold to meet Trust
Page 7
expenses. These sales may result in capital gains or losses to Unit
holders. See "What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?"
The Indenture requires the Trust to be audited on an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent auditors selected by the Sponsor. So
long as the Sponsor is making a secondary market for the Units, the
Sponsor is required to bear the cost of such annual audits to the extent
such cost exceeds $.005 per Unit. Unit holders of the Trust covered by
an audit may obtain a copy of the audited financial statements upon
request.
What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?
The following is a general discussion of certain of the Federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Units. The summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as
"capital assets" (generally, property held for investment) within the
meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code"). Unit holders should consult their tax advisers in determining
the Federal, state, local and any other tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of Units in the Trust.
In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor,
under existing law:
1. The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for
Federal income tax purposes; each Unit holder will be treated as the
owner of a pro rata portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the
Code; and the income of the Trust will be treated as income of the Unit
holders thereof under the Code. Each Unit holder will be considered to
have received his pro rata share of the income derived from each Equity
Security when such income is considered to be received by the Trust.
2. Each Unit holder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes
of an Equity Security (whether by sale, taxable exchange, liquidation,
redemption, or otherwise) or upon the sale or redemption of Units by
such Unit holder. The price a Unit holder pays for his Units is
allocated among his pro rata portion of each Equity Security held by the
Trust (in proportion to the fair market values thereof on the valuation
date closest to the date the Unit holder purchases his Units) in order
to determine his tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity
Security held by the Trust. It should be noted that certain legislative
proposals have been made which could affect the calculation of basis for
Unit holders holding securities that are substantially identical to the
Equity Securities. Unit holders should consult their own tax advisors
with regard to the calculation of basis. For Federal income tax
purposes, a Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends, as defined by
Section 316 of the Code, paid by a corporation with respect to an Equity
Security held by the Trust is taxable as ordinary income to the extent
of such corporation's current and accumulated "earnings and profits." A
Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends paid on such Equity Security
which exceeds such current and accumulated earnings and profits will
first reduce a Unit holder's tax basis in such Equity Security, and to
the extent that such dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such
Equity Security shall generally be treated as capital gain. In general,
any such capital gain will be short-term unless a Unit holder has held
his Units for more than one year. Certain of the issuers of the Equity
Securities intends to qualify under special Federal income tax rules as
"real estate investment trusts" (a "REIT," shares of such issuer held by
the Trust shall be referred to as the "REIT Shares"). Because Unit
holders are deemed to directly own a pro rata portion of the REIT Shares
as discussed above, Unit holders are advised to consult their tax
advisers for information relating to the tax consequences of owning the
REIT Shares. Provided such issuers qualify as a REIT, certain
distributions by such issuers on the REIT Shares may qualify as "capital
gain dividends," taxable to shareholders (and, accordingly, to the Unit
holders as owners of a pro rata portion of the REIT Shares) as long-term
capital gains, regardless of how long a shareholder has owned such
shares. In addition, distributions of income or capital gains declared
on REIT Shares in October, November or December will be deemed to have
been paid to shareholders (and, accordingly, to the Unit holders as
owners of a pro rata portion of the REIT Shares) on December 31 of the
year they are declared, even when paid by the REIT during the following
January and received by shareholders or Unit holders in such following
year.
3. A Unit holder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or
redemption of Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the
Page 8
Trust will generally be considered a capital gain except in the case of
a dealer or financial institution and will be long-term if the Unit
holder has held his Units for more than one year (the date on which the
Units are acquired (i.e., the "trade date") is excluded for purposes of
determining whether the Units have been held for more than one year). A
Unit holder's portion of loss, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the Trust will
generally be considered a capital loss (except in the case of a dealer
or financial institution) and, in general, will be long-term if the Unit
holder has held his Units for more than one year. Unit holders should
consult their tax advisers regarding the recognition of gains and losses
for Federal income tax purposes. In addition, special rules, as
described below, apply to a Unit holder's pro rata portion of the REIT
Shares.
Dividends Received Deduction. A Unit holder will be considered to have
received all of the dividends paid on his pro rata portion of each
Equity Security when such dividends are received by the Trust. Unit
holders will be taxed in this manner regardless of whether distributions
from the Trust are actually received by the Unit holder or are
automatically reinvested.
A corporation that owns Units will generally be entitled to a 70%
dividends received deduction with respect to such Unit holder's pro rata
portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the extent such dividends
are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed above) in the same manner
as if such corporation directly owned the Equity Securities paying such
dividends (other than corporate Unit holders, such as "S" corporations,
which are not eligible for the deduction because of their special
characteristics and other than for purposes of special taxes such as the
accumulated earnings tax and the personal holding corporation tax).
However, a corporation owning Units should be aware that Sections 246
and 246A of the Code impose additional limitations on the eligibility of
dividends for the 70% dividends received deduction. These limitations
include a requirement that stock (and therefore Units) must generally be
held at least 46 days (as determined under Section 246(c) of the Code).
Final regulations have recently been issued which address special rules
that must be considered in determining whether the 46-day holding period
requirement is met. Moreover, the allowable percentage of the deduction
will be reduced from 70% if a corporate Unit holder owns certain stock
(or Units) the financing of which is directly attributable to
indebtedness incurred by such corporation. DIVIDENDS RECEIVED ON THE
REIT SHARES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION. It
should be noted that various legislative proposals that would affect the
dividends received deduction have been introduced. Unit holders should
consult with their tax advisers with respect to the limitations on and
possible modifications to the dividends received deduction.
Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by Unit Holders. Each
Unit holder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is
deductible by the Unit holder to the same extent as though the expense
had been paid directly by such Unit holder, subject to the following
limitation. It should be noted that as a result of the Tax Reform Act of
1986, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment
expenses, tax return preparation fees and employee business expenses
will be deductible by an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of
such individual's adjusted gross income. Unit holders may be required to
treat some or all of the expenses of the Trust as miscellaneous itemized
deductions subject to this limitation.
Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Securities by
the Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unit holder may
recognize taxable gain (or loss) when an Equity Security is disposed of
by the Trust or if the Unit holder disposes of a Unit. However, any loss
realized by a Unit holder with respect to the disposition of his or her
pro rata portion of the REIT Shares, to the extent such Unit holder has
owned his Units for less than six months or the Trust has held the REIT
Shares for less than six months, will be treated as long-term capital
loss to the extent of such Unit holder's pro rata portion of any capital
gain dividends received (or deemed to have been received) with respect
to the REIT Shares. For taxpayers other than corporations, net capital
gains (which is defined as net long-term capital gain over net short-
term capital loss for a taxable year) are subject to a maximum stated
marginal tax rate of 28%. However, it should be noted that legislative
proposals are introduced from time to time that affect tax rates and
could affect relative differences at which ordinary income and capital
gains are taxed.
"The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993" (the "Tax Act") raised tax
rates on ordinary income while capital gains remain subject to a 28%
maximum stated rate for taxpayers other than corporations. Because some
Page 9
or all capital gains are taxed at a comparatively lower rate under the
Tax Act, the Tax Act includes a provision that recharacterizes capital
gains as ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions
that are "conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered
into after April 30, 1993. Unit holders and prospective investors should
consult with their tax advisers regarding the potential effect of this
provision on their investment in Units.
If the Unit holder disposes of a Unit, he is deemed thereby to have
disposed of his entire pro rata interest in all assets of the Trust
involved including his pro rata portion of all the Equity Securities
represented by the Unit.
Legislative proposals have been made that would treat certain
transactions designed to eliminate or reduce risk of loss and
opportunities for gain as constructive sales for purposes of recognition
of gain (but not loss). Unit holders should consult their own tax
advisors with regard to any such constructive sale rules.
Special Tax Consequences of In-Kind Distributions Upon Redemption of
Units and Termination of the Trust. As discussed in "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?," under certain
circumstances a Unit holder who owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust
may request an In-Kind Distribution upon the redemption of Units or the
termination of the Trust. The Unit holder requesting an In-Kind
Distribution will be liable for expenses related thereto (the
"Distribution Expenses") and the amount of such In-Kind Distribution
will be reduced by the amount of the Distribution Expenses. See "Rights
of Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?" As previously
discussed, prior to the redemption of Units or the termination of the
Trust, a Unit holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each
of the Trust's assets for Federal income tax purposes. The receipt of an
In-Kind Distribution will result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided
interest in whole shares of stock plus, possibly, cash.
The potential tax consequences that may occur under an In-Kind
Distribution will depend on whether or not a Unit holder receives cash
in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity Security" for this purpose
is a particular class of stock issued by a particular corporation. A
Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unit holder only
receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion
in the Equity Securities held by the Trust. However, if a Unit holder
also receives cash in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity
Security held by the Trust, such Unit holder will generally recognize
gain or loss based upon the difference between the amount of cash
received by the Unit holder and his tax basis in such fractional share
of an Equity Security held by the Trust.
Because the Trust will own many Equity Securities, a Unit holder who
requests an In-Kind Distribution will have to analyze the tax
consequences with respect to each Equity Security owned by the Trust.
The amount of taxable gain (or loss) recognized upon such exchange will
generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the rules
described above by such Unit holder with respect to each Equity Security
owned by the Trust. Unit holders who request an In-Kind Distribution are
advised to consult their tax advisers in this regard.
Computation of the Unit Holder's Tax Basis. Initially, a Unit holder's
tax basis in his Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unit
holder for his Units. The cost of the Units is allocated among the
Equity Securities held in the Trust in accordance with the proportion of
the fair market values of such Equity Securities as of the valuation
date nearest the date the Units are purchased in order to determine such
Unit holder's tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity Security.
A Unit holder's tax basis in his Units and his pro rata portion of an
Equity Security held by the Trust will be reduced to the extent
dividends paid with respect to such Equity Security are received by the
Trust which are not taxable as ordinary income as described above.
General. Each Unit holder will be requested to provide the Unit holder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the
Unit holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that
payments to the Unit holder are subject to back-up withholding. If the
proper taxpayer identification number and appropriate certification are
not provided when requested, distributions by the Trust to such Unit
holder (including amounts received upon the redemption of Units) will be
subject to back-up withholding. Distributions by the Trust will
generally be subject to United States income taxation and withholding in
the case of Units held by non-resident alien individuals, foreign
corporations or other non-United States persons. Such persons should
consult their tax advisers.
Unit holders will be notified annually of the amounts of dividends
Page 10
includable in the Unit holder's gross income and amounts of Trust
expenses which may be claimed as itemized deductions.
Unit holders desiring to purchase Units for tax-deferred plans and IRAs
should consult their broker for details on establishing such accounts.
Units may also be purchased by persons who already have self-directed
plans established. See "Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for
Retirement Plans?"
The foregoing discussion relates only to United States Federal income
taxation of Unit holders; Unit holders may be subject to state and local
taxation in other jurisdictions. The term U.S. Unit holder means an
owner of a Unit of the Trust that (a) is (i) for United States federal
income tax purpose 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 any political subdivision
thereof, (iii) an estate, the income of which is subject to United
States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a
trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the Trust and one or more United
States fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the Trust, or (b) does not qualify as a U.S. Unit holder in
paragraph (a) but whose income from a Unit is effectively connected with
such Unit holder's conduct of a United States trade or business. The
term includes certain former citizens of the United States whose income
and gain on the Units will be taxable. Unit holders should consult their
tax advisers regarding potential foreign, state or local taxation with
respect to the Units, and foreign investors should consult their tax
advisers with respect to United States tax consequences of ownership of
Units.
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, Special Counsel to the
Trusts for New York tax matters, under the existing income tax laws of
the State of New York, each Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation and the income of the Trusts will be treated as the income
of the Unit holders thereof.
Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for Retirement Plans?
Units of the Trust may be well suited for purchase by Individual
Retirement Accounts, Keogh Plans, pension funds and other tax-deferred
retirement plans. Generally, the Federal income tax relating to capital
gains and income received in each of the foregoing plans is deferred
until distributions are received. Distributions from such plans are
generally treated as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be eligible
for special averaging or tax-deferred rollover treatment. Investors
considering participation in any such plan should review specific tax
laws related thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers
with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such plan. Such
plans are offered by brokerage firms and other financial institutions.
Fees and charges with respect to such plans may vary.
PORTFOLIO
What are Equity Securities?
The Trust consists of different issues of Equity Securities which are
listed on a national securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market or
traded in the over-the-counter market. See "What are the Equity
Securities Selected for the Select Rising Dividends Trust Series?"
All of the Equity Securities are of domestic companies. There are no
preferred stock or convertible debt issues, nor are there stocks of
foreign companies.
Risk Factors. An investment of Units of the Select Rising Dividends
Trust should be made with an understanding of the risks such an
investment may entail. The Trust consists of such of the Equity
Securities listed under "Schedule of Investments" as may continue to be
held from time to time in the Trust and any additional Equity Securities
acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Trust
Agreement together with cash held in the Income and Capital Accounts.
Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any
failure in any of the Equity Securities. However, should any contract
for the purchase of any of the Equity Securities initially deposited
hereunder fail, the Sponsor will, unless substantially all of the moneys
held in the Trust to cover such purchase are reinvested in substitute
Equity Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement, refund the
cash and sales charge attributable to such failed contract to all Unit
Page 11
holders on the next distribution date.
Because certain of the Equity Securities from time to time may be sold
under certain circumstances described herein, and because the proceeds
from such events will be distributed to Unit holders and will not be
reinvested, no assurance can be given that the Trust will retain for any
length of time its present size and composition. Due to the short
duration of the Trust there is no assurance that the Trust's objective
will be achieved or that the Trust will provide for capital appreciation
or dividend distributions in excess of the Trust's expenses. Although
the portfolio is not managed, the Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to
sell Equity Securities under certain limited circumstances. Pursuant to
the Indenture and with limited exceptions, the Trustee may elect to keep
or sell any securities or other property acquired in exchange for Equity
Securities such as those acquired in connection with a merger or other
transaction. See "How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust?"
Equity Securities, however, will not be sold by the Trust to take
advantage of market fluctuations or changes in anticipated rates of
appreciation or depreciation.
Whether or not the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities
exchange, the principal trading market for the Equity Securities may be
in the over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid
trading market for the Equity Securities may depend on whether dealers
will make a market in the Equity Securities. There can be no assurance
that a market will be made for any of the Equity Securities, that any
market for the Equity Securities will be maintained or of the liquidity
of the Equity Securities in any markets made. In addition, the Trust may
be restricted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from selling
Equity Securities to the Sponsor. The price at which the Equity
Securities may be sold to meet redemptions, and the value of the Trust,
will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Equity Securities
are limited or absent.
An investment in Units should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in common stocks entails, including the risk that
the financial condition of the issuers of the Equity Securities or the
general condition of the common stock market may worsen and the value of
the Equity Securities and therefore the value of the Units may decline.
Common stocks are especially susceptible to general stock market
movements and to volatile increases and decreases of value as market
confidence in and perceptions of the issuers change. These perceptions
are based on unpredictable factors including expectations regarding
government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and
interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or
regional political, economic or banking crises. Shareholders of common
stocks have rights to receive payments from the issuers of those common
stocks that are generally subordinate to those of creditors of, or
holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks of, such issuers.
Shareholders of common stocks of the type held by the Trust have a right
to receive dividends only when and if, and in the amounts, declared by
the issuer's board of directors and have a right to participate in
amounts available for distribution by the issuer only after all other
claims on the issuer have been paid or provided for. Common stocks do
not represent an obligation of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer
any assurance of income or provide the same degree of protection of
capital as do debt securities. The issuance of additional debt
securities or preferred stock will create prior claims for payment of
principal, interest and dividends which could adversely affect the
ability and inclination of the issuer to declare or pay dividends on its
common stock or the rights of holders of common stock with respect to
assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of common
stocks is subject to market fluctuations for as long as the common
stocks remain outstanding, and thus the value of the Equity Securities
in the portfolios may be expected to fluctuate over the life of the
Trust to values higher or lower than those prevailing on the Initial
Date of Deposit.
Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred
stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of
the entity, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the
issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt
obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Cumulative
preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends and
any cumulative preferred stock dividend omitted is added to future
dividends payable to the holders of cumulative preferred stock.
Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights on
liquidation which are senior to those of common stockholders.
Unit holders will be unable to dispose of any of the Equity Securities
in the Portfolio, as such, and will not be able to vote the Equity
Securities. As the holder of the Equity Securities, the Trustee will
have the right to vote all of the voting stocks in the Trust and will
vote such stocks in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor.
Page 12
The Underwriter has acquired or will acquire the Equity Securities for
the Sponsor and thereby benefits from transaction fees. The Underwriter,
in its general securities business, acts as agent or principal in
connection with the purchase and sale of equity securities, including
the Equity Securities in the Trust, and may act as a market maker in
certain of the Equity Securities. The Underwriter also from time to time
may issue reports on and make recommendations relating to equity
securities, which may include the Equity Securities.
Investors should also note that because the Underwriter uses the list of
Equity Securities which comprises the portfolio in its independent
capacity as a broker/dealer and as an investment advisor to individuals,
mutual funds, employee benefit plans and other institutions and persons
and distributes this information to various individuals and entities,
the Underwriter may recommend or effect from time to time the purchase
or sale of one or more of the Equity Securities. This may have an effect
on the prices of the Equity Securities which is adverse to the interest
of the purchasers of Units of the Trust. Additionally, this may have an
impact on the price paid by the Trust for the Equity Securities as well
as the price received upon redemption of the Units or upon the
termination of the Trust.
What are the Equity Securities Selected for the Select Rising Dividends
Trust Series?
ALLTEL, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with subsidiaries,
provides wireline local and network access service, wireless
communications, wide-area paging and fiber optic-based long-distance
telephone service, information processing management services and
advanced applications software. The company also publishes telephone
directories for affiliates and other independent telephone companies.
AMP Incorporated, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, designs,
makes and sells a broad range of electronic, electrical and electro-
optic connection devices and interconnection systems and connector-
intensive assemblies to original equipment manufacturers, utilities,
government agencies, value-added resellers and others in more than 104
countries.
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis,
Missouri, through subsidiaries, brews beer, makes metal beverage
containers, recycles metal and glass beverage containers and operates
theme parks.
Brown-Forman Corporation (Class B), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky,
produces, imports, exports, bottles and markets wines, distilled spirits
and craft beers; and it produces and sells china, crystal, jewelry, flat-
ware, linens, luggage and accessories. The company's operations are comprised
of two segments: Wine and Spirits and Consumer Durables.
The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, California, makes and
sells non-durable consumer products sold mainly through grocery stores,
mass merchandisers and other retail outlets, including laundry
additives, home cleaning products, charcoal, insecticides, cat litter,
dressings and sauces, water filtration systems and professional products.
Dean Foods Company, headquartered in Franklin Park, Illinois, through
subsidiaries, processes, sells and distributes dairy, vegetable, pickle
and specialty food products. The company processes and sells dairy
products, which include fluid milk and cultured products, ice cream and
extended shelf life products; vegetable products, which include frozen
and canned vegetables; pickle products, which include pickles, relishes
and specialty items; and specialty food products, which include powdered
products, sauces, puddings and dips.
Emerson Electric Co., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, designs,
makes and sells electrical, electromechanical and electronic products
and systems.
First Union Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina,
through subsidiaries, conducts a wide range of commercial and retail
banking and trust services, and provides other financial services
including mortgage banking, investment banking, home equity lending,
leasing, insurance and securities brokerage.
Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Riverside, California,
produces manufactured housing and recreational vehicles (motor homes,
travel trailers, folding trailers and slide-in truck campers) sold in 49
states and Canada. The company also operates three supply companies
which produce components for the primary manufacturing operations.
Page 13
H.J. Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, makes,
packages and sells processed food products, including ketchup and
sauces/condiments, pet food, baby food, frozen meals and snacks, frozen
potatoes and vegetables, soups, beans and pasta. The company also
provides weight control services and sells food products to foodservice
operators.
Hubbell, Inc. (Class B), headquartered in Orange, Connecticut, makes and
sells high quality electrical and electronic products for commercial,
industrial, telecommunications and utility applications. Products
include low voltage products and high voltage products.
JDN Realty Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a self-
managed real estate investment trust which owns and operates 47 shopping
center properties in nine states.
KeyCorp, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, through subsidiaries,
conducts a banking business through more than 1,200 full-service banking
offices in 15 states. The company also provides trust, personal
financial cash management, investment banking and international banking
services.
Lancaster Colony Corporation, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, makes and
sells specialty foods such as salad dressings, sauces, noodles, pastas,
snacks, desserts and frozen products; automotive accessories and
components; and glassware and candles.
Merck & Co., headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, discovers,
develops, makes and markets a broad range of human and animal health
products and services. The company also administers managed prescription
drug programs.
J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, provides
corporate finance advice and arranges financing; underwrites and trades
securities; manages pension and other investment funds; provides
operational services; and offers banking and asset management services.
National Health Investors, Inc., headquartered in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee, is a self-managed real estate investment trust which invests
in income-producing healthcare facilities located in 24 states including
191 long-term care facilities, four acute-care hospitals, eight medical
office buildings, and 19 residential projects for the developmentally
disabled. The company also has investments in three assisted-care
facilities and six retirement facilities.
PPG Industries, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, makes
protective and decorative coatings, flat glass, fabricated glass
products, continuous strand fiberglass, and industrial and specialty
chemicals. Markets for the company's products include manufacturing,
construction, automotive and chemical processing.
Regions Financial Corporation, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama,
through subsidiaries, conducts a general commercial banking business
through 281 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and
Tennessee, and provides services in mortgage banking, credit life
insurance, leasing, commercial accounts receivable and securities
brokerage.
SYSCO Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, distributes a wide
range of food and related products to the foodservice industry through
105 distribution facilities and self-service centers in the United
States and Canada. The company provides its products and services to
approximately 255,000 restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other
establishments.
SouthTrust Corporation, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, conducts a
general banking business through 518 banking offices in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Tennessee. The company also provides computer services, mobile home
finance servicing, trust services, credit life insurance, insurance
agency operations, investment services, mortgage banking and leasing.
Walden Residential Properties, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
operates as a self-administered, self-managed, real estate investment
trust which owns 55 multifamily residential properties containing 17,205
apartment units in 11 states in the southwestern and southeastern United
States. The company also manages on a fee basis ten more properties with
2,814 apartment units.
Wallace Computer Services, Inc., headquartered in Lisle, Illinois,
designs, makes and sells business forms, commercial and promotional
graphics printing, computer labels, machine ribbons, computer hardware
and software, computer accessories, office products and electronic forms.
Winston Hotels, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a
self-managed real estate investment trust which invests in a portfolio
of real property investments consisting of 21 hotels, including 12
Hampton Inns and eight Comfort Inns.
Page 14
What are Some Additional Considerations for Investors?
Investors should be aware of certain other considerations before making
a decision to invest in the Trust.
The value of the Equity Securities will fluctuate over the life of the
Trust and may be more or less than the price at which they were
deposited in the Trust. The Equity Securities may appreciate or
depreciate in value (or pay dividends) depending on the full range of
economic and market influences affecting these securities, including the
impact of the Sponsor's purchase and sale of the Equity Securities
(especially during the primary offering period of Units of the Trust)
and other factors.
The Sponsor and the Trustee shall not be liable in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any Equity Security. In the event of a
notice that any Equity Security will not be delivered ("Failed Contract
Obligations") to the Trust, the Sponsor is authorized under the
Indenture to direct the Trustee to acquire other Equity Securities
("Replacement Securities"). Any Replacement Security will be identical
to those which were the subject of the failed contract. The Replacement
Securities must be purchased within 20 days after delivery of the notice
of a failed contract and the purchase price may not exceed the amount of
funds reserved for the purchase of the Failed Contract Obligations.
If the right of limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraphs is not utilized to acquire Replacement Securities in the
event of a failed contract, the Sponsor will refund the sales charge
attributable to such Failed Contract Obligations to all Unit holders of
the Trust and the Trustee will distribute the principal attributable to
such Failed Contract Obligations not more than 120 days after the date
on which the Trustee received a notice from the Sponsor that a
Replacement Security would not be deposited in the Trust. In addition,
Unit holders should be aware that, at the time of receipt of such
principal, they may not be able to reinvest such proceeds in other
securities at a yield equal to or in excess of the yield which such
proceeds would have earned for Unit holders of the Trust.
The Indenture also authorizes the Sponsor to increase the size of the
Trust and the number of Units thereof by the deposit of additional
Equity Securities, or cash (including a letter of credit) with
instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities, in the Trust and
the issuance of a corresponding number of additional Units. If the
Sponsor deposits cash, existing and new investors could experience a
dilution of their investments and a reduction in anticipated income
because of fluctuations in the prices of the Equity Securities between
the time of the cash deposit and the actual purchase of the Equity
Securities and because the Trust will pay the brokerage fees associated
therewith.
The Trust consists of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" for the Trust (or contracts to purchase such Securities) as
may continue to be held from time to time in the Trust and any
additional Equity Securities acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to
the provisions of the Indenture (including provisions with respect to
deposits into the Trust of Equity Securities or cash in connection with
the issuance of additional Units).
Once all of the Equity Securities in the Trust are acquired, the Trustee
will have no power to vary the investments of the Trust, i.e., the
Trustee will have no managerial power to take advantage of market
variations to improve a Unit holder's investment, and may dispose of
Equity Securities only under limited circumstances. See "How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?"
To the best of the Sponsor's knowledge, there is no litigation pending
as of the Initial Date of Deposit in respect of any Equity Security
which might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Trust. At any time after the Initial Date of Deposit, litigation may
be instituted on a variety of grounds with respect to the Equity
Securities. The Sponsor is unable to predict whether any such litigation
will be instituted, or if instituted, whether such litigation might have
a material adverse effect on the Trust.
Legislation. From time to time Congress considers proposals to reduce
the rate of the dividends-received deductions. Enactment into law of a
proposal to reduce the rate would adversely affect the after-tax return
to investors who can take advantage of the deduction. Unit holders are
urged to consult their own tax advisers. Further, at any time after the
Initial Date of Deposit, legislation may be enacted, with respect to the
Equity Securities in the Trust or the issuers of the Equity Securities.
Changing approaches to regulation, particularly with respect to the
environment, may have a negative impact on certain companies represented
in the Trust. There can be no assurance that future legislation,
regulation or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on
the Trust or will not impair the ability of the issuers of the Equity
Securities to achieve their business goals.
Page 15
PUBLIC OFFERING
How is the Public Offering Price Determined?
Units are offered at the Public Offering Price. During the initial
offering period, the Public Offering Price is based on the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust, plus or minus
cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust, plus a
sales charge of 4.25% of the Public Offering Price per Unit (equivalent
to 4.439% of the net amount invested) subject to a reduction beginning
August 1, 1998, divided by the number of outstanding Units of the Trust.
During the initial offering period, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price is
based on the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the
Trust, plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of
the Trust divided by the number of Units of the Trust outstanding. For
secondary market sales of the Trust, the Public Offering Price is also
based on the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the
Trust, plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of
the Trust, plus a maximum sales charge of 4.25% of the Public Offering
Price per Unit (equivalent to 4.439% of the net amount invested), subject
to reduction commencing August 1, 1998, divided by the number of
outstanding Units of the Trust.
The minimum amount which an investor may purchase of the Trust is $2,000
($1,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts or other retirement plans).
Only whole Units may be purchased. The applicable sales charge for
primary and secondary market sales of the Trust is reduced by a discount
as indicated below for volume purchases as a percentage of the Public
Offering Price (except for sales made pursuant to a "wrap fee account"
or similar arrangements as set forth below):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Units* Discount
_______________ ________
<S> <C>
10,000 to 24,999 0.50%
25,000 to 49,999 1.00%
50,000 or more 1.50%
</TABLE>
[FN]
* The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a dollar basis
utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and
will be applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
The breakpoints will be adjusted to take into consideration purchase
orders stated in dollars which cannot be completely fulfilled due to the
requirement that only whole Units be issued.
Any such reduced sales charge shall be the responsibility of the selling
Underwriter, broker/dealer, bank or other selling agent. The reduced
sales charge structure will apply on all purchases of Units in the Trust
by the same person on any one day from the Underwriter, broker/dealer,
bank or other selling agent. Additionally, Units of the Trust purchased
in the name of the spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a child of
such purchaser under 21 years of age will be deemed, for the purposes of
calculating the applicable sales charge, to be additional purchases by
the purchaser. The reduced sales charges on purchases of Units of the
Trust will also be applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing
securities for a single trust estate or single fiduciary account. The
purchaser must inform the Underwriter, broker/dealer, bank or other
selling agent of any such combined purchase prior to the sale in order
to obtain the indicated discount. In addition, employees, officers and
directors (including their immediate family members, defined as spouses,
children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-
law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and trustees,
custodians or fiduciaries for the benefit of such persons) of the
Underwriter, Sponsor, broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents and
their affiliates can purchase Units of the Trust at the Public Offering
Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows broker/dealers.
Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to
dealers and other selling agents for purchases (see "Public Offering-How
are Units Distributed?") by investors who purchase Units through
registered investment advisors, certified financial planners or
registered broker/dealers who in each case either charge periodic fees
for financial planning, investment advisory or asset management
services, or provide such services in connection with the establishment
of an investment account for which a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is
imposed.
Had the Units of the Trusts been available for sale on the business day
prior to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering Price would
have been as indicated in "Summary of Essential Information." The Public
Offering Price of Units on the date of the prospectus or during the
initial offering period may vary from the amount stated under "Summary
of Essential Information" in accordance with fluctuations in the prices
of the underlying Equity Securities. During the initial offering period,
the aggregate value of the Units of the Trust shall be determined on the
basis of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities therein
plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the
Trust. The aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities will be
Page 16
determined in the following manner: if the Equity Securities are listed,
this evaluation is generally based on the closing sale prices on that
exchange or that system (unless it is determined that these prices are
inappropriate as a basis for valuation) or, if there is no closing sale
price on that exchange or system, at the closing ask prices. If the
Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so listed and the principal
market therefore is other than on the exchange, the evaluation shall
generally be based on the current ask prices on the over-the-counter
market (unless it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as a
basis for evaluation). If current ask prices are unavailable, the
evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of current ask
prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the value of the
Equity Securities on the ask side of the market or (c) by any
combination of the above.
After the completion of the initial offering period, the secondary
market Public Offering Price will be equal to the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities therein, plus or minus cash, if any, in
the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust plus the applicable sales
charge. The calculation of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity
Securities for secondary market sales is calculated in the same manner
as described above for sales made during the initial offering period
with the exception that bid prices are used instead of ask prices.
Although payment is normally made three business days following the
order for purchase (the "date of settlement"), payment may be made prior
thereto. A person will become an owner of Units on the date of
settlement provided payment has been received. Cash, if any, made
available to the Sponsor prior to the date of settlement for the
purchase of Units may be used in the Sponsor's business and may be
deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject to the limitations of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of Certificates representing
Units so ordered will be made three business days following such order
or shortly thereafter. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Units be
Redeemed?" for information regarding the ability to redeem Units ordered
for purchase.
How are Units Distributed?
During the initial offering period (i) for Units issued on the Initial
Date of Deposit and (ii) for additional Units issued after such date as
additional Equity Securities are deposited by the Sponsor, Units will be
distributed to the public at the then current Public Offering Price.
During such period, the Sponsor may deposit additional Equity Securities
or cash in the Trust and create additional Units. Units reacquired by
the Sponsor during the initial offering period (at prices based upon the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust plus or
minus a pro rata share of cash, if any, in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust) may be resold at the then current Public Offering
Price. Upon the termination of the initial offering period, unsold Units
created or reacquired during the initial offering period will be sold or
resold at the then current Public Offering Price.
Upon completion of the initial offering, Units repurchased in the
secondary market (see "Will There be a Secondary Market?") may be
offered by this prospectus at the secondary market public offering price
determined in the manner described above.
It is the intention of the Sponsor to qualify Units of the Trust for
sale in a number of states. Sales of the Trust initially will be made to
dealers and others at prices which represent a concession or agency
commission of 3.1% of the Public Offering Price, and, for secondary
market sales, 3.1% of the Public Offering Price (or 65% of the then
current maximum sales charge after August 1, 1998).
Effective on each August 1, beginning August 1, 1998, the sales charge
will be reduced by 1/2 of 1% to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%. However,
resales of Units of the Trust by such dealers and others to the public
will be made at the Public Offering Price described in the prospectus.
The Sponsor reserves the right to change the amount of the concession or
agency commission from time to time. Certain commercial banks may be
making Units of the Trusts available to their customers on an agency
basis. A portion of the sales charge paid by these customers is retained
by or remitted to the banks in the amounts indicated above. Under the
Glass-Steagall Act, banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust Units;
however, the Glass-Steagall Act does permit certain agency transactions
and the banking regulators have not indicated that these particular
agency transactions are not permitted under such Act. In Texas and in
certain other states, any banks making Units available must be
registered as broker/dealers under state law.
Page 17
What are the Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits?
The Underwriter of the Trust will receive a gross sales commission equal
to 4.25% of the Public Offering Price of the Units (equivalent to 4.439%
of the net amount invested), less any reduced sales charge for quantity
purchases as described under "Public Offering-How is the Public Offering
Price Determined?" See "Underwriting" for information regarding the
receipt of the excess gross sales commissions by the Sponsor from the
Underwriter. In addition, the Sponsor may be considered to have realized
a profit or to have sustained a loss, as the case may be, in the amount
of any difference between the cost of the Equity Securities to the Trust
(which is based on the Evaluator's determination of the aggregate
offering price of the underlying Equity Securities of such Trust on the
Initial Date of Deposit as well as subsequent deposits) and the cost of
such Equity Securities to the Sponsor. See "Underwriting" and Note (2)
of "Schedule of Investments." During the initial offering period, the
dealers and other selling agents also may realize profits or sustain
losses as a result of fluctuations after the Initial Date of Deposit in
the Public Offering Price received by the dealers and other selling
agents upon the sale of Units.
In maintaining a market for the Units, the Sponsor and the Underwriter
will also realize profits or sustain losses in the amount of any
difference between the price at which Units are purchased and the price
at which Units are resold (which price includes a sales charge of 4.25%
of the Public Offering Price per Unit subject to reduction beginning
August 1, 1998) or redeemed. The secondary market public offering price
of Units may be greater or less than the cost of such Units to the
Sponsor or the Underwriter.
Will There be a Secondary Market?
After the initial offering period, although it is not obligated to do
so, the Sponsor and Underwriter intend to maintain a market for the
Units and continuously offer to purchase Units at prices, subject to
change at any time, based upon the aggregate underlying value of the
Equity Securities in the Trust plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income
and Capital Accounts of the Trust. All expenses incurred in maintaining
a secondary market, other than the fees of the Evaluator and the costs
of the Trustee in transferring and recording the ownership of Units,
will be borne by the Sponsor. If the supply of Units exceeds demand, or
for some other business reason, the Sponsor may discontinue purchases of
Units at such prices. IF A UNIT HOLDER WISHES TO DISPOSE OF HIS UNITS,
HE SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE SPONSOR AS TO CURRENT MARKET PRICES PRIOR TO
MAKING A TENDER FOR REDEMPTION TO THE TRUSTEE.
RIGHTS OF UNIT HOLDERS
How is Evidence of Ownership Issued and Transferred?
The Trustee is authorized to treat as the record owner of Units that
person who is registered as such owner on the books of the Trustee.
Ownership of Units may be evidenced by registered certificates executed
by the Trustee and the Sponsor. Delivery of certificates representing
Units ordered for purchase is normally made three business days
following such order or shortly thereafter. Certificates are
transferable by presentation and surrender to the Trustee properly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. Certificates to be redeemed must be properly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unit
holder must sign exactly as his name appears on the face of the
certificate with the signature guaranteed by a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other
signature guaranty program in addition to, or in substitution for,
STAMP, as may be accepted by the Trustee. In certain instances the
Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not limited to,
trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or
administrator or certificates of corporate authority. Record ownership
may occur before settlement.
Certificates will be issued in fully registered form, transferable only
on the books of the Trustee in denominations of one Unit or any multiple
thereof, numbered serially for purposes of identification.
Unit holders may elect to hold their Units in uncertificated form. The
Trustee will maintain an account for each such Unit holder and will
credit each such account with the number of Units purchased by that Unit
holder. Within two business days of the issuance or transfer of Units
held in uncertificated form, the Trustee will send to the registered
owner of Units a written initial transaction statement containing a
description of the Trust; the number of Units issued or transferred; the
name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, of the new
Page 18
registered owner; a notation of any liens and restrictions of the issuer
and any adverse claims to which such Units are or may be subject or a
statement that there are no such liens, restrictions or adverse claims;
and the date the transfer was registered. Uncertificated Units are
transferable through the same procedures applicable to Units evidenced
by certificates (described above), except that no certificate need be
presented to the Trustee and no certificate will be issued upon the
transfer unless requested by the Unit holder. A Unit holder may at any
time request the Trustee to issue certificates for Units.
Although no such charge is now made or contemplated, a Unit holder may
be required to pay $2.00 to the Trustee per certificate reissued or
transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with each such transfer or exchange. For new certificates
issued to replace destroyed, stolen or lost certificates, the Unit
holder may be required to furnish indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
and pay such expenses as the Trustee may incur. Mutilated certificates
must be surrendered to the Trustee for replacement.
How are Income and Capital Distributed?
The Trustee will distribute any net income received with respect to any
Equity Securities in the Trust on or about the Income Distribution Dates
to Unit holders of record on the preceding Income Record Dates. See
"Summary of Essential Information." Persons who purchase Units will
commence receiving distributions only after such person becomes a record
owner. Notification to the Trustee of the transfer of Units is the
responsibility of the purchaser, but in the normal course of business
such notice is provided by the selling broker/dealer. Proceeds received
on the sale of any Equity Securities in the Trust, to the extent not
used to meet redemptions of Units or pay expenses, will, however, be
distributed on the fifteenth day of each month to Unit holders of record
on the first day of such month if the amount available for distribution
equals at least $1.00 per 100 Units. The Trustee is not required to pay
interest on funds held in the Capital Account of the Trust (but may
itself earn interest thereon and therefore benefit from the use of such
funds). Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in the Capital Account,
if any, will be made on the fifteenth day of each December to Unit holders
of record as of December 1. See "What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit
Holders?"
Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of any distribution made by
the Trust if the Trustee has not been furnished the Unit holder's tax
identification number in the manner required by such regulations. Any
amount so withheld is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and
may be recovered by the Unit holder under certain circumstances by
contacting the Trustee, otherwise the amount may be recoverable only
when filing a tax return. Under normal circumstances the Trustee obtains
the Unit holder's tax identification number from the selling broker.
However, a Unit holder should examine his or her statements from the
Trustee to make sure that the Trustee has been provided a certified tax
identification number in order to avoid this possible "back-up
withholding." In the event the Trustee has not been previously provided
such number, one should be provided as soon as possible.
Within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated, each Unit holder
will, upon surrender of his Units for redemption, receive (i) the pro
rata share of the amounts realized upon the disposition of Equity
Securities, unless he or she elects an In-Kind Distribution as described
under "How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?" and (ii) a pro
rata share of any other assets of the Trust, less expenses of the Trust.
The Trustee will credit to the Income Account of the Trust any dividends
received on the Equity Securities therein. All other receipts (e.g.
return of principal, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account of the
Trust.
The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within the
Trust for state and local taxes, if any, and any governmental charges
payable out of the Trust.
Distribution Reinvestment Option. Any Unit holder may elect to have each
distribution of income or capital on his or her Units automatically
reinvested in additional Units of the Trust. Each person who purchases
Units of the Trust may elect to become a participant in the Distribution
Reinvestment Option by notifying the Trustee of his or her election. The
Distribution Reinvestment Option may not be available in all states. In
order to enable a Unit holder to participate in the Distribution
Page 19
Reinvestment Option with respect to a particular distribution, they must
notify the Trustee of their election at least 10 days prior to the
Record Date for such distribution. Each subsequent distribution of
income or capital on the participant's Units will be automatically
applied by the Trustee to purchase additional Units of the Trust. IT
SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT EVEN IF DISTRIBUTIONS ARE REINVESTED, THEY ARE
STILL TREATED AS DISTRIBUTIONS FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
What Reports will Unit Holders Receive?
The Trustee shall furnish Unit holders in connection with each
distribution a statement of the amount of income, if any, and the amount
of other receipts, if any, which are being distributed, expressed in
each case as a dollar amount per Unit. Within a reasonable period of
time after the end of each calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to
each person who at any time during the calendar year was a Unit holder
of the Trust the following information in reasonable detail: (1) a
summary of transactions in the Trust for such year; (2) any Equity
Securities sold during the year and the Equity Securities held at the
end of such year by the Trust; (3) the redemption price per Unit based
upon a computation thereof on the 31st day of December of such year (or
the last business day prior thereto); and (4) amounts of income and
capital distributed during such year.
In order to comply with Federal and state tax reporting requirements,
Unit holders will be furnished, upon request to the Trustee, evaluations
of the Securities in the Trust furnished to it by the Evaluator.
How May Units be Redeemed?
A Unit holder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by tender to the
Trustee at its unit investment trust office in the City of New York of
the certificates representing the Units to be redeemed, or in the case
of uncertificated Units, delivery of a request for redemption, duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with signature
guaranteed as explained above (or by providing satisfactory indemnity,
as in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed certificates), and
payment of applicable governmental charges, if any. No redemption fee
will be charged. On the third business day following such tender, the
Unit holder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit
equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next computed after receipt by
the Trustee of such tender of Units. The "date of tender" is deemed to
be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee (if such day is a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading), except
that as regards Units received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (or as of
any earlier closing time on a day on which the New York Stock Exchange
is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier time), the date of
tender is the next day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading and such Units will be deemed to have been tendered to the
Trustee on such day for redemption at the redemption price computed on
that day. Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.
Any Unit holder tendering 2,500 Units or more of the Trust for
redemption may request by written notice submitted at the time of tender
from the Trustee in lieu of a cash redemption a distribution of shares
of Equity Securities in an amount and value of Equity Securities per
Unit equal to the Redemption Price Per Unit as determined as of the
evaluation next following tender. To the extent possible, In-Kind
Distributions ("In-Kind Distributions") shall be made by the Trustee
through the distribution of each of the Equity Securities in book-entry
form to the account of the Unit holder's bank or broker/dealer at the
Depository Trust Company. An In-Kind Distribution will be reduced by
customary transfer and registration charges. The tendering Unit holder
will receive his pro rata number of whole shares of each of the Equity
Securities comprising the portfolio and cash from the Capital Account
equal to the fractional shares to which the tendering Unit holder is
entitled. The Trustee may adjust the number of shares of any issue of
Equity Securities included in a Unit holder's In-Kind Distribution to
facilitate the distribution of whole shares, such adjustment to be made
on the basis of the value of Equity Securities on the date of tender. If
funds in the Capital Account are insufficient to cover the required cash
distribution to the tendering Unit holder, the Trustee may sell Equity
Securities in the manner described above.
Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a
Unit redemption if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unit
holder's tax identification number in the manner required by such
regulations. For further information regarding this withholding, see
"How are Income and Capital Distributed?" In the event the Trustee has
not been previously provided such number, one must be provided at the
time redemption is requested.
Page 20
Any amounts paid on redemption representing income shall be withdrawn
from the Income Account of the Trust to the extent that funds are
available for such purpose, or from the Capital Account. All other
amounts paid on redemption shall be withdrawn from the Capital Account
of the Trust.
The Trustee is empowered to sell Equity Securities of the Trust in order
to make funds available for redemption. To the extent that Equity
Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust will be
reduced. Such sales may be required at a time when Equity Securities
would not otherwise be sold and might result in lower prices than might
otherwise be realized.
The Redemption Price per Unit will be determined on the basis of the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust plus or
minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust. The
Redemption Price per Unit is the pro rata share of each Unit determined
by the Trustee by adding: (1) the cash on hand in the Trust other than
cash deposited in the Trust to purchase Equity Securities not applied to
the purchase of such Equity Securities; (2) the aggregate value of the
Equity Securities (including "when issued" contracts, if any) held in
the Trust, as determined by the Evaluator on the basis of the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust next computed;
and (3) dividends receivable on the Equity Securities trading ex-
dividend as of the date of computation; and deducting therefrom: (1)
amounts representing any applicable taxes or governmental charges
payable out of the Trust; (2) any amounts owing to the Trustee for its
advances; (3) an amount representing estimated accrued expenses of the
Trust, including but not limited to fees and expenses of the Trustee
(including legal fees), the Evaluator and supervisory fees, if any; (4)
cash held for distribution to Unit holders of record of the Trust as of
the business day prior to the evaluation being made; and (5) other
liabilities incurred by the Trust; and finally dividing the results of
such computation by the number of Units of the Trust outstanding as of
the date thereof.
The aggregate value of the Equity Securities will be determined in the
following manner: if the Equity Securities are listed, this evaluation
is generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange or that
system (unless it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as a
basis for valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on that
exchange or system, at the closing bid prices. If the Equity Securities
are not so listed or, if so listed and the principal market therefore is
other than on the exchange, the evaluation shall generally be based on
the current bid prices on the over-the-counter market (unless these
prices are inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current bid
prices are unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on
the basis of current bid prices for comparable securities, (b) by
appraising the value of the Equity Securities on the bid side of the
market or (c) by any combination of the above.
The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any
period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than
for customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which the
Securities and Exchange Commission determines that trading on the New
York Stock Exchange is restricted or any emergency exists, as a result
of which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may by order permit. Under certain extreme circumstances, the
Sponsor may apply to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an order
permitting a full or partial suspension of the right of Unit holders to
redeem their Units. The Trustee is not liable to any person in any way
for any loss or damage which may result from any such suspension or
postponement.
How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor?
The Trustee shall notify the Sponsor of any tender of Units for
redemption. If the Sponsor's bid in the secondary market at that time
equals or exceeds the Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase such
Units by notifying the Trustee before 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same
business day and by making payment therefor to the Unit holder not later
than the day on which the Units would otherwise have been redeemed by
the Trustee. Units held by the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee
for redemption as any other Units. In the event the Sponsor does not
purchase Units, the Trustee may sell Units tendered for redemption in
the over-the-counter market, if any, as long as the amount to be
received by the Unit holder is equal to the amount he would have
received on redemption of the Units.
The offering price of any Units acquired by the Sponsor will be in
accord with the Public Offering Price described in the then effective
prospectus describing such Units. Any profit or loss resulting from the
resale or redemption of such Units will belong to the Sponsor.
Page 21
How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust?
The portfolio of the Trust is not "managed" by the Sponsor or the
Trustee. Their respective activities described herein are governed
solely by the provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture provides that
the Sponsor may (but need not) direct the Trustee to dispose of an
Equity Security in the event that an issuer defaults in the payment of a
dividend that has been declared, that any action or proceeding has been
instituted restraining the payment of dividends or there exists any
legal question or impediment affecting such Equity Security, that the
issuer of the Equity Security has breached a covenant which would affect
the payments of dividends, the credit standing of the issuer or
otherwise impair the sound investment character of the Equity Security,
that the issuer has defaulted on the payment on any other of its
outstanding obligations, that the price of the Equity Security has
declined to such an extent or other such credit factors exist so that in
the opinion of the Sponsor, the retention of such Equity Securities
would be detrimental to the Trust. Except as stated under "Portfolio-
What are Some Additional Considerations for Investors?" for Failed
Obligations, the acquisition by the Trust of any securities or other
property other than the Equity Securities is prohibited. Pursuant to the
Indenture and with limited exceptions, the Trustee may sell any
securities or other property acquired in exchange for Equity Securities
such as those acquired in connection with a merger or other transaction.
If offered such new or exchanged securities or property, the Trustee
shall reject the offer. However, in the event such securities or
property are nonetheless acquired by the Trust, they may be accepted for
deposit in the Trust and either sold by the Trustee or held in the Trust
pursuant to the direction of the Sponsor (who may rely on the advice of
the Portfolio Supervisor). Proceeds from the sale of Equity Securities
by the Trustee are credited to the Capital Account of the Trust for
distribution to Unit holders or to meet redemptions. The Trustee may,
from time to time, retain and pay compensation to the Sponsor (or an
affiliate of the Sponsor) to act as agent for the Trust with respect to
selling Equity Securities from the Trust. In acting in such capacity,
the Sponsor or its affiliate will be held subject to the restrictions
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The Trustee may also sell Equity Securities designated by the Sponsor,
or if not so directed, in its own discretion, for the purpose of
redeeming Units of the Trust tendered for redemption and the payment of
expenses.
The Sponsor, in designating Equity Securities to be sold by the Trustee,
will generally make selections in order to maintain, to the extent
practicable, the proportionate relationship among the number of shares
of individual issues of Equity Securities. To the extent this is not
practicable, the composition and diversity of the Equity Securities may
be altered. In order to obtain the best price for a Trust, it may be
necessary for the Sponsor to specify minimum amounts (generally 100
shares) in which blocks of Equity Securities are to be sold. The Sponsor
may consider sales of units of unit investment trusts which it sponsors
in making recommendations to the Trustee as to the selection of
broker/dealers to execute the Trust's portfolio transactions.
INFORMATION AS TO UNDERWRITER, SPONSOR, TRUSTEE AND EVALUATOR
Who is the Underwriter?
J.C. Bradford & Co., the Underwriter, is one of America's top ten
investment firms located outside New York City. Founded in 1927, J.C.
Bradford & Co. is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and currently
has over 90 offices, primarily across the Southeast. A major strength of
the firm is its primary research and national correspondence network
which provides coverage of major U.S. corporations.
J.C. Bradford & Co. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange and the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System,
Inc. (Nasdaq).
Who is the Sponsor?
Nike Securities L.P., the Sponsor, specializes in the underwriting,
trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities.
Nike Securities L.P., an Illinois limited partnership formed in 1991,
acts as Sponsor for successive series of The First Trust Combined
Series, The First Trust Special Situations Trust, The First Trust
Insured Corporate Trust, The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds and
The First Trust GNMA. First Trust introduced the first insured unit
investment trust in 1974 and to date more than $9 billion in First Trust
Page 22
unit investment trusts have been deposited. The Sponsor's employees
include a team of professionals with many years of experience in the
unit investment trust industry. The Sponsor is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and Securities Investor
Protection Corporation and has its principal offices at 1001 Warrenville
Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532; telephone number (630) 241-4141. As of
December 31, 1996, the total partners' capital of Nike Securities L.P.
was $9,005,203 (audited). (This paragraph relates only to the Sponsor
and not to the Trust or to any series thereof or to any dealer. The
information is included herein only for the purpose of informing
investors as to the financial responsibility of the Sponsor and its
ability to carry out its contractual obligations. More detailed
financial information will be made available by the Sponsor upon request.)
Who is the Trustee?
The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, with its principal executive
office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and its unit
investment trust office at 4 New York Plaza, 6th floor, New York, New
York 10004-2413. Unit holders who have questions regarding the Trust may
call the Customer Service Help Line at 1-800-682-7520. The Trustee is
subject to supervision by the Superintendent of Banks of the State of
New York, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The Trustee, whose duties are ministerial in nature, has not
participated in the selection of the Equity Securities. For information
relating to the responsibilities of the Trustee under the Indenture,
reference is made to the material set forth under "Rights of Unit
Holders."
The Trustee and any successor trustee may resign by executing an
instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor and mailing a
copy of a notice of resignation to all Unit holders. Upon receipt of
such notice, the Sponsor is obligated to appoint a successor trustee
promptly. If the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt
or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, the Sponsor may
remove the Trustee and appoint a successor as provided in the Indenture.
If upon resignation of a trustee no successor has accepted the
appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor. The resignation or removal of a trustee becomes effective
only when the successor trustee accepts its appointment as such or when
a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee.
Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the
successor Trustee. The Trustee must be a banking corporation organized
under the laws of the United States or any State and having at all times
an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than
$5,000,000.
Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee
The Sponsor and the Trustee shall be under no liability to Unit holders
for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action in good
faith pursuant to the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be
liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence (ordinary negligence in the case of the Trustee) or reckless
disregard of their obligations and duties. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the
Trustee of any of the Equity Securities. In the event of the failure of
the Sponsor to act under the Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder
and shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith under
the Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental
charges imposed upon or in respect of the Equity Securities or upon the
interest thereon or upon it as Trustee under the Indenture or upon or in
respect of 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 Indenture
contains other customary provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee.
If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the
Indenture or becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt or its
affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (a)
appoint a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the
Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or (b) terminate the Indenture and
liquidate the Trust as provided herein, or (c) continue to act as
Trustee without terminating the Indenture.
Page 23
Who is the Evaluator?
The Evaluator is First Trust Advisors L.P., an Illinois limited
partnership formed in 1991 and an affiliate of the Sponsor. The
Evaluator's address is 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532. The
Evaluator may resign or may be removed by the Sponsor and the Trustee,
in which event the Sponsor and the Trustee are to use their best efforts
to appoint a satisfactory successor. Such resignation or removal shall
become effective upon the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Evaluator. If upon resignation of the Evaluator no successor has
accepted appointment within 30 days after notice of resignation, the
Evaluator may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor.
The Trustee, Sponsor and Unit holders may rely on any evaluation
furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator under the Indenture
shall be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information
available to it, provided, however, that the Evaluator shall be under no
liability to the Trustee, Sponsor or Unit holders for errors in
judgment. This provision shall not protect the Evaluator in any case of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties.
OTHER INFORMATION
How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?
The Sponsor and the Trustee have the power to amend the Indenture
without the consent of any of the Unit holders when such an amendment is
(1) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of
the Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision contained therein, or (2) to make such other provisions as
shall not adversely affect the interest of the Unit holders (as
determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee).
The Indenture provides that the Trust shall terminate upon the Mandatory
Termination Date indicated herein under "Summary of Essential
Information." The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of 100%
of the Unit holders of the Trust or by the Trustee when the value of the
Equity Securities owned by the Trust as shown by any evaluation, is less
than the lower of $4,000,000 or 40% of the total value of Equity
Securities deposited in the Trust during the primary offering period, or
in the event that Units of the Trust not yet sold aggregating more than
60% of the Units of the Trust are tendered for redemption by
broker/dealers, including the Sponsor. If the Trust is liquidated
because of the redemption of unsold Units of the Trust, the Sponsor will
refund to each purchaser of Units of the Trust the entire sales charge
paid by such purchaser. In the event of termination, written notice
thereof will be sent by the Trustee to all Unit holders of the Trust.
Within a reasonable period after termination, the Trustee will follow
the procedures set forth under "How are Income and Capital Distributed?"
Commencing on the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity Securities will
begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The
Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sale of
the Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination of the Trust
specifying the time or times at which Unit holders may surrender their
certificates for cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unit
holder at his address appearing on the registration books of the Trust
maintained by the Trustee. At least 60 days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date of the Trust the Trustee will provide written notice
thereof to all Unit holders and will include with such notice a form to
enable Unit holders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity
Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration charges), if
such Unit holder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than to
receive payment in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
amounts realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity
Securities. To be effective, the election form, together with
surrendered certificates and other documentation required by the
Trustee, must be returned to the Trustee at least five business days
prior to the Mandatory Termination Date of the Trust. A Unit holder may,
of course, at any time after the Equity Securities are distributed, sell
all or a portion of the shares. Unit holders not electing a distribution
of shares of Equity Securities will receive a cash distribution from the
sale of the remaining Equity Securities within a reasonable time after
the Trust is terminated. Regardless of the distribution involved, the
Trustee will deduct from the funds of a Trust any accrued costs,
expenses, advances or indemnities provided by the Trust Agreement,
including estimated compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation
and any amounts required as a reserve to provide for payment of any
Page 24
applicable taxes or other governmental charges. Any sale of Equity
Securities in the Trust upon termination may result in a lower amount
than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not required at such
time. The Trustee will then distribute to each Unit holder his pro rata
share of the balance of the Income and Capital Accounts.
Legal Opinions
The legality of the Units offered hereby and certain matters relating to
Federal tax law have been passed upon by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West
Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as counsel for the Sponsor.
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, will act as counsel for the Trustee and as
special New York tax counsel for the Trust.
Experts
The statement of net assets, including the schedule of investments, of
the Trust at the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit
appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement has been audited
by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon appearing elsewhere herein and in the Registration Statement,
and is included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
UNDERWRITING
The Underwriter named below has purchased Units in the following amount:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number
Name Address of Units
____ _______ ________
<S> <C> <C>
UNDERWRITER
J.C. Bradford & Co. 330 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37201-1809 14,929
========
</TABLE>
On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Underwriter of the Trust became the
owner of the Units of the Trust and entitled to the benefits thereof, as
well as the risks inherent therein.
The Underwriter Agreement provides that a public offering of the Units
of the Trust will be made at the Public Offering Price described in the
prospectus. Units may also be sold to or through dealers and other
selling agents during the initial offering period and in the secondary
market at prices representing a concession or agency commission as
described in "Public Offering-How are Units Distributed?"
The Underwriter has agreed to underwrite additional Units of the Trust
as they become available. The Sponsor will receive from the Underwriter
the difference between the gross sales commission and the Underwriting
concession listed below. The Underwriting concession will be calculated
as a percentage of the Public Offering Price per Unit according to the
following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Underwriting Concession
____________ __________
<S> <C>
$10,000,000 but less than $15,000,000 3.20%
$15,000,000 but less than $20,000,000 3.30%
$20,000,000 but less than $30,000,000 3.35%
$30,000,000 or more 3.40%
</TABLE>
From time to time the Sponsor may implement programs under which
broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents of the Trust may receive
nominal awards from the Sponsor for each of their registered
representatives who have sold a minimum number of UIT Units during a
specified time period. In addition, at various times the Sponsor may
implement other programs under which the sales force of the
broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents may be eligible to win
other nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or under which the
Sponsor will reallow to any such broker/dealer, bank or other selling
agent that sponsors sales contests or recognition programs conforming to
criteria established by the Sponsor, or participates in sales programs
sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount not exceeding the total applicable
sales charges on the sales generated by such person at the public
offering price during such programs. Also, the Sponsor in its discretion
may from time to time pursuant to objective criteria established by the
Sponsor pay fees to the broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents
for certain services or activities which are primarily intended to
result in sales of Units of the Trust. Such payments are made by the
Sponsor out of its own assets, and not out of the assets of the Trust.
These programs will not change the price Unit holders pay for their
Page 25
Units or the amount that the Trust will receive from the Units sold.
The Sponsor may from time to time in its advertising and sales materials
compare the then current estimated returns on the Trust and returns over
specified periods on other similar Trusts sponsored by Nike Securities
L.P. with returns on other taxable investments such as the common stocks
comprising the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, other investment
indices, corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank CDs and money market
accounts or money market funds, each of which has investment
characteristics that may differ from those of the Trust. U.S. Government
bonds, for example, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government and bank CDs and money market accounts are insured by an
agency of the federal government. Money market accounts and money market
funds provide stability of principal, but pay interest at rates that
vary with the condition of the short-term debt market. The investment
characteristics of the Trust are described more fully elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
Information on percentage changes in the dollar value of Units, on the
basis of changes in Unit price may be included from time to time in
advertisements, sales literature, reports and other information
furnished to current or prospective Unit holders. Total return figures
are not averaged, and may not reflect deduction of the sales charge,
which would decrease the return. Average annualized return figures
reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge. No provision is made for
any income taxes payable.
Past performance may not be indicative of future results. The Trust's
portfolio is not managed. Unit price and return fluctuate with the value
of the common stocks in the Trust's portfolio, so there may be a gain or
loss when Units are sold.
Trust performance may be compared to performance on a total return basis
of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 Composite Price Stock
Index, or performance data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and
Morningstar Publications, Inc. or from publications such as Money, The
New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Forbes or
Fortune. As with other performance data, performance comparisons should
not be considered representative of the Trust's relative performance for
any future period.
Page 26
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS TRUST, SERIES 185
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 185, comprised of Select Rising Dividends Trust Series, as of the
opening of business on July 10, 1997. This statement of net assets is
the responsibility of the Trust's Sponsor. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on this statement of net assets based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of net assets is
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement
of net assets. Our procedures included confirmation of the letter of
credit held by the Trustee and deposited in the Trust on July 10, 1997.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the
overall presentation of the statement of net assets. We believe that our
audit of the statement of net assets provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of net assets referred to above presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185, comprised of Select Rising
Dividends Trust Series, at the opening of business on July 10, 1997 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
July 10, 1997
Page 27
Statement of Net Assets
SELECT RISING DIVIDENDS TRUST SERIES
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
July 10, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NET ASSETS
<S> <C>
Investment in Equity Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $142,951
Organizational and offering costs (3) 35,000
_________
177,951
Less accrued organizational and offering costs (3) (35,000)
_________
Net assets $142,951
=========
Units outstanding 14,929
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Cost to investors (4) $149,296
Less net sales charge (4) (6,345)
_________
Net assets $142,951
=========
</TABLE>
[FN]
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
(1) Aggregate cost of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" is based on their aggregate underlying value.
(2) An irrevocable letter of credit totaling $200,000 issued by The Chase
Manhattan Bank has been deposited with the Trustee as collateral,
covering the monies necessary for the purchase of the Equity Securities
pursuant to contracts for the purchase of such Equity Securities.
(3) The Trust will bear all or a portion of its estimated organizational
and offering costs which will be deferred and charged off over a period
not to exceed the life of the Trust (approximately four years). The
estimated organizational and offering costs are based on 2,500,000 Units
of the Trust expected to be issued. To the extent the number of Units
issued is larger or smaller, the estimate will vary.
(4) The aggregate cost to investors includes a sales charge computed at
the rate of 4.25% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 4.439% of
the net amount invested), assuming no reduction of sales charge for
quantity purchases.
Page 28
Schedule of Investments
SELECT RISING DIVIDENDS TRUST SERIES
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
July 10, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of Cost
Aggregate Market of Equity
Number Ticker Symbol and Offering Value per Securities to
of Shares Name of Issuer of Equity Securities (1) Price Share the Trust (2)
_________ _______________________________________ _____________ ________ _____________
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
309 AT ALLTEL 6.93% $ 32.063 $ 9,908
155 AMP AMP Incorporated 4.99% 46.000 7,130
167 BUD Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. 5.06% 43.313 7,233
114 BF/B Brown-Forman Corporation (Class B) 4.00% 50.125 5,714
23 CLX The Clorox Company 2.00% 124.000 2,852
64 DF Dean Foods Company 2.01% 45.000 2,880
52 EMR Emerson Electric Co. 2.00% 55.000 2,860
89 FTU First Union Corporation 6.00% 96.313 8,572
192 FLE Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. 3.96% 29.500 5,664
189 HNZ H.J. Heinz Company 5.99% 45.313 8,564
150 HUB/B Hubbell, Inc. (Class B) 5.06% 48.188 7,228
226 JDN JDN Realty Corporation 4.98% 31.500 7,119
101 KEY KeyCorp 4.03% 57.000 5,757
29 LANC Lancaster Colony Corporation 1.01% 49.625 1,439
28 MRK Merck & Co. 1.98% 101.188 2,833
94 JPM J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. 6.99% 106.375 9,999
185 NHI National Health Investors, Inc. 5.01% 38.688 7,158
95 PPG PPG Industries 4.00% 60.125 5,712
220 RGBK Regions Financial Corporation 5.04% 32.750 7,205
77 SYY SYSCO Corporation 1.99% 36.938 2,844
171 SOTR SouthTrust Corporation 5.05% 42.250 7,225
300 WDN Walden Residential Properties, Inc. 4.93% 23.500 7,050
89 WCS Wallace Computer Services, Inc. 2.00% 32.188 2,865
510 WINN Winston Hotels, Inc. 4.99% 14.000 7,140
________ ________
Total Investments 100% $142,951
======== ========
</TABLE>
[FN]
______________
(1) All Equity Securities are represented by regular way contracts to
purchase such Equity Securities for the performance of which an
irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited with the Trustee. The
contracts to purchase Equity Securities were entered into by the Sponsor
on July 9, 1997. The Trust has a mandatory termination date of August 1,
2001.
(2) The cost of the Equity Securities to the Trust represents the
aggregate underlying value with respect to the Equity Securities
acquired (generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed
Equity Securities and the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities on the business day preceding the Initial Date of Deposit).
The valuation of the Equity Securities has been determined by the
Evaluator, an affiliate of the Sponsor. The aggregate underlying value
of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit, was $142,951.
Cost and loss to Sponsor relating to the purchase of the Equity
Securities sold to the Trust were $143,032 and $81, respectively.
Page 29
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Page 30
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Page 31
CONTENTS:
Summary of Essential Information:
Select Rising Dividends Trust Series 4
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185:
What is The First Trust Special Situations Trust? 5
What are the Expenses and Charges? 6
What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders? 8
Why are Investments in the Trust Suitable for
Retirement Plans? 11
Portfolio:
What are Equity Securities? 11
Risk Factors 11
What are the Equity Securities Selected for the
Select Rising Dividends Trust Series? 13
What are Some Additional Considerations for
Investors? 15
Public Offering:
How is the Public Offering Price Determined? 16
How are Units Distributed? 17
What are the Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits? 18
Will There be a Secondary Market? 18
Rights of Unit Holders:
How is Evidence of Ownership Issued
and Transferred? 18
How are Income and Capital Distributed? 19
What Reports will Unit Holders Receive? 20
How May Units be Redeemed? 20
How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor? 21
How May Equity Securities be Removed
from the Trust? 22
Information as to Underwriter, Sponsor,
Trustee and Evaluator:
Who is the Underwriter? 22
Who is the Sponsor? 22
Who is the Trustee? 23
Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee 23
Who is the Evaluator? 24
Other Information:
How May the Indenture be Amended
or Terminated? 24
Legal Opinions 25
Experts 25
Underwriting 25
Report of Independent Auditors 27
Statement of Net Assets 28
Notes to Statement of Net Assets 28
Schedule of Investments 29
_________________
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS RELATING THERETO, WHICH THE TRUST
HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940,
AND TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE.
J.C. Bradford & Co.
SELECT RISING DIVIDENDS TRUST SERIES
J.C. Bradford & Co.
330 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37201-1809
Trustee:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
4 New York Plaza, 6th floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
1-800-682-7520
July 10, 1997
PLEASE RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Page 32
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
A. Bonding Arrangements of Depositor:
Nike Securities L.P. is covered by a Brokers' Fidelity Bond,
in the total amount of $1,000,000, the insurer being
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh.
B. This Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the
following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The Cross-Reference Sheet
The Prospectus
The signatures
Exhibits
Financial Data Schedule
S-1
SIGNATURES
The Registrant, The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 202, hereby identifies The First Trust Special Situations
Trust, Series 4 Great Lakes Growth and Treasury Trust, Series 1;
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18 Wisconsin
Growth and Treasury Securities Trust, Series 1; The First Trust
Special Situations Trust, Series 69 Target Equity Trust Value Ten
Series; The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 108; The
First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 119 Target 5 Trust,
Series 2 and Target 10 Trust, Series 8; and The First Trust
Special Situations Trust, Series 190 Biotechnology Growth Trust,
Series 3 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, The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series
185, has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the Village of Lisle and State of
Illinois on July 10, 1997.
THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS
TRUST, SERIES 185
By NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
Depositor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
S-2
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed
below by the following person in the capacity and on the date
indicated:
NAME TITLE* DATE
Robert D. Van Kampen Sole Director )
of Nike Securities )
Corporation, the ) July 10, 1997
General Partner of )
Nike Securities L.P.)
)
)
)Robert M. Porcellino
) Attorney-in-Fact**
)
)
* The title of the person named herein represents his
capacity in and relationship to Nike Securities L.P.,
Depositor.
** An executed copy of the related power of attorney was
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with the Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 of The
First Trust Combined Series 258 (File No. 33-63483) and
the same is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
S-3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" and to the use of our report dated July 10, 1997, in
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (Form S-6) (File
No. 333-28831) and related Prospectus of The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 185.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
July 10, 1997
CONSENTS OF COUNSEL
The consents of counsel to the use of their names in the
Prospectus included in this Registration Statement will be
contained in their respective opinions to be filed as Exhibits
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Registration Statement.
CONSENT OF FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
The consent of First Trust Advisors L.P. to the use of its
name in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement
will be filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.
S-4
EXHIBIT INDEX
1.1 Form of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust for The
First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22 and
certain subsequent Series, effective November 20, 1991
among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, United States
Trust Company of New York as Trustee, Securities
Evaluation Service, Inc., as Evaluator, and First Trust
Advisors L.P. as Portfolio Supervisor (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
43693] filed on behalf of The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 22).
1.1.1 Form of Trust Agreement for Series 185 among Nike
Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator
and Portfolio Supervisor.
1.2 Copy of Certificate of Limited Partnership of Nike
Securities L.P. (incorporated by reference to Amendment
No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.3 Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement of Nike Securities L.P. (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
42683] filed on behalf of The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.4 Copy of Articles of Incorporation of Nike Securities
Corporation, the general partner of Nike Securities
L.P., Depositor (incorporated by reference to Amendment
No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.5 Copy of By-Laws of Nike Securities Corporation, the
general partner of Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
(incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-
6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of The First Trust
Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.6 Underwriter Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42755] filed on
behalf of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 19).
2.1 Copy of Certificate of Ownership (included in Exhibit
1.1 filed herewith on page 2 and incorporated herein by
reference).
S-5
3.1 Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
registered.
3.2 Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of
securities being registered.
3.3 Opinion of counsel as to New York income tax status of
securities being registered.
3.4 Opinion of counsel as to advancement of funds by
Trustee.
4.1 Consent of First Trust Advisors L.P.
6.1 List of Directors and Officers of Depositor and other
related information (incorporated by reference to
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on
behalf of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 18).
7.1 Power of Attorney executed by the Director listed on
page S-3 of this Registration Statement (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
63483] filed on behalf of The First Trust Combined
Series 258).
S-6
THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS TRUST, SERIES 185
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: July 10, 1997
The Trust Agreement among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P.,
as Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor, sets forth certain
provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference
to the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
for The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22 and
certain subsequent Series, Effective November 20, 1991" (herein
called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"), 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, the Trustee, the
Evaluator and the Portfolio Supervisor agree as follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II and Part III 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:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit is 14,929 Units.
(2) The initial fractional undivided interest in and
ownership of the Trust represented by each Unit thereof shall be
1/14,929.
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio is as follows on the Initial Date
of Deposit:
6.93% ALLTEL, 4.99% AMP Incorporated, 5.06% Anheuser-
Busch Companies, Inc., 4.00% Brown-Forman Corporation
(Class B), 2.00% The Clorox Company, 2.01% Dean Foods
Company, 2.00% Emerson Electric Co., 6.00% First Union
Corporation, 3.96% Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., 5.99%
H.J. Heinz Company, 5.06% Hubbell, Inc. (Class B), 4.98%
JDN Realty Corporation, 4.03% KeyCorp, 1.01%
Lancaster Colony Corporation, 1.98% Merck & Co., 6.99%
J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc., 5.01% National Health
Investors, Inc., 4.00% PPG Industries, 5.04% Regions
Financial Corporation, 1.99% SYSCO Corporation, 5.05%
SouthTrust Corporation, 4.93% Walden Residential Properties,
Inc., 2.00% Wallace Computer Services, Inc., 4.99%
Winston Hotels, Inc.
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Summary of Essential Information."
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Summary of Essential Information."
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee of $.0017 per Unit, calculated based on the
largest number of Units outstanding during each period in respect
of which a payment is made pursuant to Section 3.05, payable on a
Distribution Date. Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time
will the total amount received for evaluation services rendered
to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the
Evaluator of supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee of $.0074 per Unit, calculated based on the
largest number of Units outstanding during each period in respect
of which a payment is made pursuant to Section 3.05. However, in
no event, except as may otherwise be provided in the Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust, shall the Trustee receive
compensation in any one year from any Trust of less than $2,000
for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is July 10,
1997.
J. The minimum amount of Equity Securities to be sold by
the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART III
A. Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
B. The term "Principal Account" as set forth in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced with the
term "Capital Account."
C. Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows and, in connection therewith, the third
paragraph of Section 3.02 shall be deleted:
(b)(1)From time to time following the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its
discretion, to assign, convey to and deposit with the
Trustee (i) additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and
transfer in proper form, (ii) Contract Obligations relating
to such additional Securities, accompanied by cash and/or
Letter(s) of Credit as specified in paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.01, or (iii) cash (or a Letter of Credit in lieu
of cash) with instructions to purchase additional
Securities, in an amount equal to the portion of the Unit
Value of the Units created by such deposit attributable to
the Securities to be purchased pursuant to such
instructions. Except as provided in the following
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in each case,
shall ensure that each deposit of additional Securities
pursuant to this Section shall maintain, as nearly as
practicable, the Percentage Ratio. Each such deposit of
additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a Notice of
Deposit of Additional Securities delivered by the Depositor
to the Trustee. Instructions to purchase additional
Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify the name
of the Security, CUSIP number, if any, aggregate amount,
price or price range and date to be purchased. When
requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as broker
to execute purchases in accordance with such instructions;
the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
(2) Additional Securities (or Contract Obligations
therefor) may, at the Depositor's discretion, be deposited
or purchase in round lots. If the amount of the deposit is
insufficient to acquire round lots of each Security to be
acquired, the additional Securities shall be deposited or
purchased in the order of the Security in the Trust most
under-represented immediately before the deposit with
respect to the Percentage Ratio.
(3) If at the time of a deposit of additional
Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the Initial
Date of Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement Securities
acquired to replace an issue deposited on the Initial Date
of Deposit) are unavailable, cannot be purchased at
reasonable prices or their purchase is prohibited or
restricted by applicable law, regulation or policies, the
Depositor may (i) deposit, or instruct the Trustee to
purchase, in lieu thereof, another issue of Securities or
Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a letter of
credit in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue of
Securities whose acquisition is not feasible with
instructions to acquire such Securities of such issue when
they become available.
(4) Any contrary authorization in the preceding
subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding, deposits of
additional Securities made after the 90-day period
immediately following the Initial Date of Deposit (except
for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations if
such deposits occur with 20 days from the date of a failure
occurring within such initial 90-day period) shall maintain
exactly the Percentage Ratio existing immediately prior to
such deposit.
(5) In connection with and at the time of any deposit
of additional Securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(b),
the Depositor shall exactly replicate Cash (as defined
below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
such deposit. For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
as to the Capital Account, cash or other property (other
than Securities) on hand in the Capital Account or
receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account as of
the date of the deposit (other than amounts to be
distributed solely to persons other than holders of Units
created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account, cash
or other property (other than Securities) received by the
Trust as of the date of the deposit or receivable by the
Trust in respect of a record date for a payment on a
Security which has occurred or will occur before the Trust
will be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by the
amount of any cash or other property received or receivable
on any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
calculations of distributions from the Income Account
pursuant to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or to be
made in respect of a Record Date occurring prior to the
deposit. Such replication will be made on the basis of a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units
created by the deposit and the denominator of which is the
number of Units which are outstanding immediately prior to
the deposit.
D. The second paragraph of Section 3.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following sentence:
"Any non-cash distributions (other than a non-taxable
distribution of the shares of the distributing corporation
which shall be retained by a Trust) received by a Trust
shall be dealt with in the manner described at Section 3.11,
herein, and shall be retained or disposed of by such Trust
according to those provisions. The proceeds of any
disposition shall be credited to the Income Account of a
Trust. Neither the Trustee nor the Depositor shall be
liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss
incurred by reason of any such sale."
E. Paragraph (c) of Subsection II of Section 3.05 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"On each Distribution Date the Trustee shall distribute
to each Unit holder of record at the close of business on
the Record Date immediately preceding such Distribution Date
an amount per Unit equal to such Unit holder's pro rata
share of the balance of the Capital Account (except for
monies on deposit therein required to purchase Contract
Obligations) computed as of the close of business on such
Record Date after deduction of any amounts provided in
Subsection I."
F. Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee shall
distribute to each Unit holder of record at the close of
business on the Record Date immediately preceding such
Distribution Date an amount per Unit equal to such Unit
holder's Income Distribution (as defined below), plus such
Unit holder's pro rata share of the balance of the Capital
Account (except for monies on deposit therein required to
purchase Contract Obligations) computed as of the close of
business on such Record Date after deduction of any amounts
provided in Subsection I, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall not be required to make a distribution from
the Capital Account unless the amount available for
distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
Each Trust shall provide the following distribution
elections: (1) distributions to be made by check mailed to
the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears on
the registration books of the Trustee, or (2) the following
reinvestment option:
The Trustee will, for any Unit holder who provides
the Trustee written instruction, properly executed and
in form satisfactory to the Trustee, received by the
Trustee no later than its close of business 10 business
days prior to a Record Date (the "Reinvestment Notice
Date"), reinvest such Unit holder's distribution from
the Income and Capital Accounts in Units of the Trust,
purchased from the Depositor, to the extent the
Depositor shall make Units available for such purchase,
at the Depositor's offering price as of the fifth
business day prior to the following Distribution Date,
and at such reduced sales charge as may be described in
the prospectus for the Trusts. If, for any reason, the
Depositor does not have Units of the Trust available
for purchase, the Trustee shall distribute such Unit
holder's distribution from the Income and Capital
Accounts in the manner provided in clause (1) of the
preceding paragraph. The Trustee shall be entitled to
rely on a written instruction received as of the
Reinvestment Notice Date and shall not be affected by
any subsequent notice to the contrary. The Trustee
shall have no responsibility for any loss or
depreciation resulting from any reinvestment made in
accordance with this paragraph, or for any failure to
make such reinvestment in the event the Depositor does
not make Units available for purchase.
Any Unit holder who does not effectively elect
reinvestment in Units of their respective Trust pursuant to
the preceding paragraph shall receive a cash distribution in
the manner provided in clause (1) of the second preceding
paragraph."
G. Section 3.05.II(b) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (b) For purposes of this Section 3.05, the Unit
holder's Income Distribution shall be equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata share of the cash balance in the Income
Account computed as of the close of business on the Record
Date immediately preceding such Income Distribution after
deduction of (i) the fees and expenses then deductible
pursuant to Section 3.05.I. and (ii) the Trustee's estimate
of other expenses properly chargeable to the Income Account
pursuant to the Indenture which have accrued, as of such
Record Date, or are otherwise properly attributable to the
period to which such Income Distribution relates."
H. Section 3.11 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following language:
"Section 3.11. Notice to Depositor.
In the event that the Trustee shall have been notified
at any time of any action to be taken or proposed to be
taken by at least a legally required number of holders of
any Securities deposited in a Trust, the Trustee shall take
such action or omit from taking any action, as appropriate,
so as to insure that the Securities are voted as closely as
possible in the same manner and the same general proportion
as are the Securities held by owners other than such Trust.
In the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
Securities or any other party shall be made to issue new
securities, or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities,
the Trustee shall reject such offer. However, should any
issuance, exchange or substitution be effected
notwithstanding such rejection or without an initial offer,
any securities, cash and/or property received shall be
deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if
securities or property, by the Trustee pursuant to the
Depositor's direction, unless the Depositor advises the
Trustee to keep such securities or property. The Depositor
may rely on the Portfolio Supervisor in so advising the
Trustee. The cash received in such exchange and cash
proceeds of any such sales shall be distributed to Unit
holders on the next distribution date in the manner set
forth in Section 3.05 regarding distributions from the
Capital Account. The Trustee shall not be liable or
responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by
reason of any such sale.
Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee shall be liable
to any person for any action or failure to take action
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.11.
Whenever new securities or property is received and
retained by a Trust pursuant to this Section 3.11, the
Trustee shall, within five days thereafter, mail to all Unit
holders of such Trust notices of such acquisition unless
legal counsel for such Trust determines that such notice is
not required by The Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended."
I. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I.(e) deduct from the Interest Account
or, to the extent funds are not available in such Account,
from the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount
that it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14.
J. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraphs
which shall be entitled Section 3.14.:
"Section 3.14. Bookkeeping and Administrative Expenses.
As compensation for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services of a character described in Section
26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to the
extent such services are in addition to, and do not
duplicate, the services to be provided hereunder by the
Trustee or the Portfolio Supervisor, the Depositor shall
receive against a statement or statements therefor submitted
to the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee
in an amount as set forth in the Prospectus times the number
of Units outstanding as of January 1 of such year except for
a year or years in which an initial offering period as
determined by Section 4.01 of this Indenture occurs, in
which case the fee for a month is based on the number of
Units outstanding at the end of such month (such annual fee
to be pro rated for any calendar year in which the Depositor
provides service during less than the whole of such year),
but in no event shall such compensation when combined with
all compensation received from other unit investment trusts
for which the Depositor hereunder is acting as Depositor for
providing such bookkeeping and administrative services in
any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Depositor
providing services to such unit investment trusts. Such
compensation may, from time to time, be adjusted provided
that the total adjustment upward does not, at the time of
such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total
increase, after the date hereof, in consumer prices for
services as measured by the United States Department of
Labor Consumer Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent
of Shelter" or similar index, if such index should no longer
be published. The consent or concurrence of any Unit holder
hereunder shall not be required for any such adjustment or
increase. Such compensation shall be paid by the Trustee,
upon receipt of invoice therefor from the Depositor, upon
which, as to the cost incurred by the Depositor of providing
services hereunder the Trustee may rely, and shall be
charged against the Income and Capital Accounts on or before
the Distribution Date following the Monthly Record Date on
which such period terminates. The Trustee shall have no
liability to any Certificateholder or other person for any
payment made in good faith pursuant to this Section.
If the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts
shall be insufficient to provide for amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 3.14, the Trustee shall have the
power to sell (i) Securities from the current list of
Securities designated to be sold pursuant to Section 5.02
hereof, or (ii) if no such Securities have been so
designated, such Securities as the Trustee may see fit to
sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 3.14.
Any moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this
Section 3.14 shall be secured by a prior lien on the Trust
Fund except that no such lien shall be prior to any lien in
favor of the Trustee under the provisions of Section 6.04
herein.
K. Section 5.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is amended by adding the following after the second
paragraph of such section:
"Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
the event that any tender of Units pursuant to this Section
5.02 would result in the disposition by the Trustee of less
than a whole Security, the Trustee shall distribute cash in
lieu thereof and sell such Securities as directed by the
Sponsors as required to make such cash available.
Unit holders may redeem 2,500 Units or more of a Trust
and request a distribution in kind of (i) such Unit holder's
pro rata portion of each of the Securities in such Trust, in
whole shares, and (ii) cash equal to such Unit holder's
pro rata portion of the Income and Capital Accounts as
follows: (x) a pro rata portion of the net proceeds of sale
of the Securities representing any fractional shares
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
Securities and (y) such other cash as may properly be
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the sum of
the cash balances of the Income and Capital Accounts in an
amount equal to the Unit Value determined on the basis of a
Trust Fund Evaluation made in accordance with Section 5.01
determined by the Trustee on the date of tender less amounts
determined in clauses (i) and (ii)(x) of this Section.
Subject to Section 5.05 with respect to Rollover Unit
holders, if applicable, to the extent possible,
distributions of Securities pursuant to an in kind
redemption of Units shall be made by the Trustee through the
distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form to
the account of the Unit holder's bank or broker-dealer at
the Depository Trust Company. Any distribution in kind will
be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges."
L. Paragraph (g) of Section 6.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following
after the first word thereof:
"(i) the value of any Trust as shown by an evaluation
by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof shall be less
than the lower of $4,000,000 or 40% of the total principal
amount of Securities deposited in such Trust, or (ii)"
M. Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(4) "Portfolio Supervisor" shall mean First Trust
Advisors L.P. and its successors in interest, or any
successor portfolio supervisor appointed as hereinafter
provided."
N. Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(3) "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P.
and its successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
appointed as hereinafter provided."
O. The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing supervisory portfolio
services under this Indenture, the Portfolio Supervisor
shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an
aggregate annual fee in an amount which shall not exceed
$0.0035 per Unit outstanding as of January 1 of such year
except for a Trust during the year or years in which an
initial offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of
this Indenture occurs, in which case the fee for a month is
based on the number of Units outstanding at the end of such
month (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year
in which the Portfolio Supervisor provides services during
less than the whole of such year), but in no event shall
such compensation when combined with all compensation
received from other series of the Trust for providing such
supervisory services in any calendar year exceed the
aggregate cost to the Portfolio Supervisor for the cost of
providing such services."
P. Section 3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Section 3.01. Initial Cost. The expenses incurred in
establishing a Trust, including the cost of the preparation
and typesetting of the registration statement, prospectuses
(including preliminary prospectuses), the indenture and
other documents relating to the Trust, printing of
Certificates, Securities and Exchange Commission and state
blue sky registration fees, the costs of the initial
valuation of the portfolio and audit of the Trust, the
initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, and legal and
other out-of-pocket expenses related thereto, but not
including the expenses incurred in the printing of
preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses, expenses incurred
in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses, to the
extent not borne by the Depositor, shall be borne by the
Trust. To the extent the funds in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust shall be insufficient to pay the
expenses borne by the Trust specified in this Section 3.01,
the Trustee shall advance out of its own funds and cause to
be deposited and credited to the Income Account such amount
as may be required to permit payment of such expenses. The
Trustee shall be reimbursed for such advance on each Record
Date from funds on hand in the Income Account or, to the
extent funds are not available in such Account, from the
Capital Account, in the amount deemed to have accrued as of
such Record Date as provided in the following sentence (less
prior payments on account of such advances, if any), and the
provisions of Section 6.04 with respect to the reimbursement
of disbursements for Trust expenses, including, without
limitation, the lien in favor of the Trustee therefor and
the authority to sell Securities as needed to fund such
reimbursement, shall apply to the payment of expenses and
the amounts advanced pursuant to this Section. For the
purposes of the preceding sentence and the addition provided
in clause (4) of the first sentence of Section 5.01, the
expenses borne by the Trust pursuant to this Section shall
be deemed to have been paid on the date of the Trust
Agreement and to accrue at a daily rate over the time period
specified for their amortization provided in the Prospectus;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
prevent, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, full
reimbursement for any advances made pursuant to this Section
no later than the termination of the Trust. For purposes of
calculating the accrual of organizational expenses under
this Section 3.01, the Trustee shall rely on the written
estimates of such expenses provided by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 5.01."
Q. Section 5.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The second sentence of the first paragraph of
Section 5.01 shall be amended by adding the following at the
conclusion thereof: ", plus (4) amounts representing
organizational expenses paid from the Trust less amounts
representing accrued organizational expenses of the Trust,
plus (5) all other assets of the Trust"
(ii) The following shall be added at the end of the
first paragraph of Section 5.01:
Until the Depositor has informed the Trustee that
there will be no further deposits of Additional
Securities pursuant to section 2.01(b), the Depositor
shall provide the Trustee with written estimates of (i)
the total organizational expenses to be borne by the
Trust pursuant to Section 3.01 and (ii) the total
number of Units to be issued in connection with the
initial deposit and all anticipated deposits of
additional Securities. For purposes of calculating the
Trust Fund Evaluation and Unit Value, the Trustee shall
treat all such anticipated expenses as having been paid
and all liabilities therefor as having been incurred,
and all Units as having been issued, in each case on
the date of the Trust Agreement, and, in connection
with each such calculation, shall take into account a
pro rata portion of such expense and liability based on
the actual number of Units issued as of the date of
such calculation. In the event the Trustee is informed
by the Depositor of a revision in its estimate of total
expenses or total Units and upon the conclusion of the
deposit of additional Securities, the Trustee shall
base calculations made thereafter on such revised
estimates or actual expenses, respectively, but such
adjustment shall not affect calculations made prior
thereto and no adjustment shall be made in respect
thereof.
R. Section 2.03(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended by adding the following sentence after the
first sentence of such section:
"The number of Units may be increased through a split
of the Units or decreased through a reverse split thereof,
as directed in writing by the Depositor, at any time when
the Depositor is the only beneficial holder of Units, which
revised number of Units shall be recorded by the Trustee on
its books. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the
Depositor's direction as certification that no person other
than the Depositor has a beneficial interest in the Units
and the Trustee shall have no liability to any person for
action taken pursuant to such direction."
S. The following shall be added immediately following the
first sentence of paragraph (c) of Section 2.01:
"The Trustee may allow the Depositor to substitute any
Letter(s) of Credit deposited with the Trustee in connection with
the deposits described in Section 2.01(a) and (b) with cash in an
amount sufficient to satisfy the obligations to which the
Letter(s) of Credit relates. Any substituted Letter(s) of Credit
shall be released by the Trustee."
T. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
3.15 and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, so
long as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nike Securities L.P., The Chase
Manhattan Bank and First Trust Advisors L.P. have each caused
this Trust Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate
seal to be hereto affixed and attested (if applicable) by
authorized officers; all as of the day, month and year first
above written.
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
Depositor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
By Thomas Porrazzo
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
Rosalia A. Raviele
Second Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
By Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof for the
Trust is the "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust as set forth
in the Prospectus.)
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
July 10, 1997
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
Re: The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., as
Sponsor and Depositor of The First Trust Special Situations
Trust, Series 185 in connection with the preparation, execution
and delivery of a Trust Agreement dated July 10, 1997 among Nike
Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and Portfolio
Supervisor, pursuant to which the Depositor has delivered to and
deposited the Securities listed in Schedule A to the Trust
Agreement with the Trustee and pursuant to which the Trustee has
issued to or on the order of the Depositor a certificate or
certificates representing units of fractional undivided interest
in and ownership of the Fund 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 Fund have been duly authorized; and
2. the certificates evidencing the Units in the Fund 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 the Fund 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. 333-28831)
relating to the Units referred to above, 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
EFF:erg
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
July 10, 1997
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
The Chase Manhattan Bank
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Re: The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
of The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185 (the
"Fund"), in connection with the issuance of units of fractional
undivided interests in the Trust of said Fund (the "Trust"),
under a Trust Agreement, dated July 10, 1997 (the "Indenture"),
among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and
Portfolio Supervisor.
In this connection, we have examined the Registration
Statement, the form of Prospectus proposed to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Indenture and such other
instruments and documents we have deemed pertinent. The opinions
expressed herein assume that the Trust will be administered, and
investments by the Trust from proceeds of subsequent deposits, if
any, will be made, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
The Trust holds Equity Securities as such term is defined in the
Prospectus. For purposes of the following discussion and
opinion, it is assumed that each Equity 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; each Unit holder
will be treated as the owner of a pro rata portion of each of the
assets of the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code") in the proportion that the number of Units held by him
bears to the total number of Units outstanding; the income of the
Trust will be treated as income of the Unit holders in the
proportion described above; and an item of Trust income will have
the same character in the hands of a Unit holder as it would have
in the hands of the Trustee. Each Unit holder 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.
II. The price a Unit holder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion
of each Equity Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the
fair market values thereof on the valuation date closest to the
date the Unit holder purchases his Units) in order to determine
his tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity Security
held by the Trust. For Federal income tax purposes, a Unit
holder's pro rata portion of dividends, as defined by Section 316
of the Code, paid by a corporation with respect to an Equity
Security held by the Trust is taxable as ordinary income to the
extent of such corporation's current and accumulated "earnings
and profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends paid
on such Equity Security which exceeds such current and
accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a Unit
holder's tax basis in such Equity Security, and to the extent
that such dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such
Equity Security shall be treated as gain from the sale or
exchange of property. In general, any such gain will be short
term unless a Unit holder has held his Units for more than one
year. Certain of the issuers of the Equity Securities intend to
qualify under special Federal income tax rules as "real estate
investment trusts" (a "REIT," and shares of such issuer held by
the Trust shall be referred to as the "REIT Shares"). Because
Unit holders are deemed to directly own a pro rate portion of the
REIT Shares as discussed above, Unit holders are advised to
consult their tax advisers for information relating to the tax
consequences of owning the REIT Shares. Provided such issuer
qualifies as a REIT, certain distributions by such issuer on the
REIT Shares may qualify as "capital gain dividends," taxable to
shareholders (and, accordingly, to the Unit holders as owners of
a pro rata portion of the REIT Shares) as long-term capital gain,
regardless of how long a shareholder has owned such shares. In
addition, distributions of income or capital gains declared on
REIT Shares in October, November, or December will be deemed to
have been paid to the shareholders (and, accordingly, to the Unit
holders as owners of a pro rata portion of the REIT Shares) on
December 31 of the year they are declared, even when paid by the
REIT during the following January and received by shareholders or
Unit holders in such following year.
III. Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unit holder
(subject to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code)
when the Trust disposes of an Equity Security (whether by sale,
exchange, liquidation, redemption, or otherwise) or upon
redemption or sale of Units by such Unit holder, except to the
extent an in kind distribution of stock is received by such Unit
holder from the Trust as discussed below. A Unit holder's
portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or redemption of Units or
the disposition of Equity Securities held by the Trust will
generally be considered a capital gain, except in the case of a
dealer or financial institution, and will generally be long-term
if the Unit holder has held his Units for more than one year.
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 Unit holder
had acquired his Units by purchase. Such basis will be reduced,
but not below zero, by the Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends with respect to each Equity Security which is not
taxable as ordinary income. However, any loss realized by a Unit
holder with respect to the disposition of his pro rata portion of
the REIT Shares, to the extent such Unit holder has owned his
Units for less than six months or the Trust has held the REIT
Shares for less than six months, will be treated as long-term
capital loss to the extent of the Unit holder's pro rata portion
of any capital gain dividends received (or deemed to have been
received) with respect to the REIT Shares.
IV. Under the indenture, under certain circumstances, a
Unit holder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of Equity Securities upon the redemption of Units or
upon the termination of the Trust. As previously discussed,
prior to the redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust,
a Unit holder 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 Unit holder 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 Equity Security owned by the
Trust will depend upon whether or not a United States Unit holder
receives cash in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity
Security" for this purpose is a particular class of stock issued
by a particular corporation. A Unit holder will not recognize
gain or loss if a Unit holder only receives Equity Securities in
exchange for his or her pro rata portion in the Equity Securities
held by the Trust. However, if a Unit holder also receives cash
in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity Security held by
the Trust, such Unit holder will generally recognize gain or loss
based upon the difference between the amount of cash received by
the Unit holder and his tax basis in such fractional share of an
Equity Security held by the Trust. 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 Unit holder with respect to each
Equity Security owned by the Trust.
A domestic corporation owning Units in the Trust may be
eligible for the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant to
Section 243(a) of the Code with respect to such Unit holders' pro
rata portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the extent
such dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed
above, and are attributable to domestic corporations), subject to
the limitations imposed by Sections 246 and 246A of the Code. It
should be noted that various legislative proposals that would
affect the dividends received deduction have been introduced.
Section 67 of the Code provides that certain miscellaneous
itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax return
preparation fees and employee business expenses will be
deductible by an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of
such individual's adjusted gross income. Unit holders may be
required to treat some or all of the expenses of the Trust as
miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
A Unit holder will recognize taxable gain (or loss)when all
or part of the pro rata interest in an Equity Security is either
sold by the Trust or redeemed or when a Unit holder disposes of
his Units in a taxable transaction, in each case for an amount
greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor.
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.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-28831)
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.
Very truly yours,
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF/erg
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
July 10, 1997
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
The First Trust Special Situations
Trust, Series 185
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Paul J. Holland
Vice President
Re: The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as special counsel with respect to New York
tax matters for The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series
185 (the "Trust"), which will be established under a Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust dated November 20, 1991, and a
related Trust Agreement dated as of today (collectively, the
"Indenture"), among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor (the
"Depositor"); First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and
Portfolio Supervisor and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee
(the "Trustee"). Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, units
of fractional undivided interest in the Trust (the "Units") will
be issued in the aggregate number set forth in the Indenture.
We have examined and are familiar with originals or
certified copies, or copies otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such documents as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. In giving this
opinion, we have relied upon the two opinions, each dated today
and addressed to the Trustee, of Chapman and Cutler, counsel for
the Depositor, with respect to the matters of law set forth
therein.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust will not constitute an association taxable as
a corporation under New York law, and accordingly will not be
subject to the New York State franchise tax or the New York City
general corporation tax.
2. Under the income tax laws of the State and City of New
York, the income of the Trust will be considered the income of
the holders of the Units.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement (No. 333-28831) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
registration of the sale of the Units and to the references to
our name under the captions "What is the Federal Tax Status of
Unit Holders?" and "Legal Opinions" in such Registration
Statement and the preliminary prospectus included therein.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
July 10, 1997
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
The First Trust Special Situations
Trust, Series 185
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Paul J. Holland
Vice President
Re: The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as counsel for The Chase Manhattan Bank
("Chase") in connection with the execution and delivery of a
Trust Agreement ("the Trust Agreement") dated today's date (which
Trust Agreement incorporates by reference certain Standard Terms
and Conditions of Trust dated November 20, 1991, and the same are
collectively referred to herein as the "Indenture") among Nike
Securities L.P., as Depositor (the "Depositor"), First Trust
Advisors L.P., as Evaluator; First Trust Advisors L.P., as
Portfolio Supervisor; and Chase, as Trustee (the "Trustee"),
establishing The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 185
(each, a "Trust"), and the confirmation by Chase, as Trustee
under the Indenture, that it has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership by the Depositor of a number of
units constituting the entire interest in the Trust (such
aggregate units being herein called "Units"), each of which
represents an undivided interest in the respective Trust which
consists of common stocks (including, confirmations of contracts
for the purchase of certain stocks not delivered and cash, cash
equivalents or an irrevocable letter of credit or a combination
thereof, in the amount required for such purchase upon the
receipt of such stocks), such stocks being defined in the
Indenture as Securities and referenced in the Schedule to the
Indenture.
We have examined the Indenture, a specimen of the
certificates to be issued hereunder (the "Certificates"), the
Closing Memorandum dated today's date, and such other documents
as we have deemed necessary in order to render this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. Chase is a duly organized and existing corporation
having the powers of a Trust Company under the laws of the State
of New York.
2. The Trust Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Chase and, assuming due execution and delivery by
the other parties thereto, constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of Chase.
3. The Certificates are in proper form for execution and
delivery by Chase, as Trustee.
4. Chase, as Trustee, has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership of the Units by the Depositor.
Upon receipt of confirmation of the effectiveness of the
registration statement for the sale of the Units filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, the Trustee may deliver Certificates for such Units, in
such names and denominations as the Depositor may request, to or
upon the order of the Depositor as provided in the Closing
Memorandum.
5. Chase, as Trustee, may lawfully advance to the Trust
amounts as may be necessary to provide periodic interest
distributions of approximately equal amounts, and be reimbursed,
without interest, for any such advances from funds in the
interest account, as provided in the Indenture.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have not considered,
among other things, whether the Securities have been duly
authorized and delivered.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
First Trust Advisors L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
July 10, 1997
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Re: THE FIRST TRUST SPECIAL SITUATIONS TRUST, SERIES 185
Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement File No.
333-28831 for the above captioned fund. We hereby consent to the
use in the Registration Statement of the references to First
Trust Advisors L.P. as evaluator.
You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely,
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from Amendment number 1 to form S-6 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such Amendment number 1 to form S-6.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> Select Rising Dividends Trust Series
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<S> <C>
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<PERIOD-START> JUL-10-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUL-10-1997
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