TEXAS PORTFOLIO SERIES
FT 286
FT 286 consists of a unit investment trust known as Texas Portfolio
Series (the "Trust"). The Trust consists of a diversified portfolio of
common stocks (the "Securities") issued by companies headquartered or
incorporated in the State of Texas. The Trust seeks to provide above-
average total return through capital appreciation.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
First Trust (registered trademark)
1-800-621-1s675
The date of this Prospectus is February 19, 1999
Page 1
Table of Contents
Page Number
Summary of Essential Information 3
Fee Table 4
Report of Independent Auditors 5
Statement of Net Assets 6
Schedule of Investments 7
The FT Series 8
Portfolio 9
Risk Factors 9
Portfolio Securities Descriptions 10
Public Offering 12
Distribution of Units 14
The Sponsor's Profits 15
The Secondary Market 15
How We Purchase Units 15
Expenses and Charges 15
Tax Status 16
Retirement Plans 17
Rights of Unit Holders 18
Income and Capital Distributions 18
Redeeming Your Units 19
Removing Securities from the Trust 20
Amending or Terminating the Indenture 21
Information on the Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator 22
Other Information 23
Page 2
Summary of Essential Information
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
of the Securities-February 18, 1999
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
General Information
Initial Number of Units (1) 14,928
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1) 1/14,928
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Securities per Unit (2) $ 9.900
Maximum Sales Charge of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price
per Unit (4.545% of the net amount invested, exclusive of
the deferred sales charge) (3) $ .450
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $ (.350)
Public Offering Price per Unit (4) $ 10.000
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (5) $ 9.550
Redemption Price per Unit (based on aggregate underlying
value of Securities less the deferred sales charge) (5) $ 9.550
Cash CUSIP Number 30264U 754
Reinvestment CUSIP Number 30264U 762
Security Code 56480
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
First Settlement Date February 23, 1999
Mandatory Termination Date February 18, 2004
Discretionary Liquidation Amount The Trust may be terminated if the value of the Securities is less than the
lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of Securities deposited in
the Trust during the initial offering period.
Income Distribution Record Date Fifteenth day of each June and December, commencing June 15, 1999.
Income Distribution Date (6) Last day of each June and December, commencing June 30, 1999.
______________
<FN>
(1) As of the close of business on February 19, 1999 we may
adjust the number of Units of the Trust so that the Public Offering
Price per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. If we make such an
adjustment, the fractional undivided interest per Unit will vary from
the amount indicated above.
(2) Each Security, if listed on a securities exchange, is valued at its
last closing sale price. If a Security is not listed, or if no closing
sale price exists, it is valued at its closing ask price. Evaluations
for purposes of determining the purchase, sale or redemption price of
Units are made as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day on which it is open (the
"Evaluation Time").
(3) The maximum sales charge consists of an initial sales charge and a
deferred sales charge. See "Fee Table" and "Public Offering" for
additional information regarding these charges.
(4) The Public Offering Price shown above reflects the value of the
Securities on the business day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit. No
investor will purchase Units at this price. Additional Units may be
created during the day of the Initial Date of Deposit which, along with
the Units described above, will be valued as of the Evaluation Time on
the Initial Date of Deposit and sold to investors at the Public Offering
Price per Unit based on this valuation. On the Initial Date of Deposit
the Public Offering Price per Unit will not include any accumulated
dividends on the Securities. After the Initial Date of Deposit, the
Public Offering Price per Unit will include a pro rata share of any
accumulated dividends on the Securities.
(5) Until the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or
the end of the initial offering period the Sponsor's Initial Repurchase
Price per Unit and the Redemption Price per Unit will include the
estimated organization costs per Unit set forth under
"Fee Table." After such date, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price and
Redemption Price per Unit will not include such estimated organization
costs. See "Redeeming Your Units."
(6) Distributions from the Capital Account will be made monthly on the
last day of the month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth day of
such month if the amount available for distribution equals at least
$1.00 per 100 Units. Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in the
Capital Account, if any, will be made in December of each year.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 3
Fee Table
This Fee Table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you
buy and hold Units of the Trust. See "Public Offering" and "Expenses and
Charges." Although the Trust has a term of approximately five years and
is a unit investment trust rather than a mutual fund, this information
shows you a comparison of fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount
per Unit
________
<S> <C> <C>
Unit Holder Transaction Expenses
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Initial sales charge imposed on purchase 1.0%(a) $ .100
Deferred sales charge 3.5%(b) .350
________ ________
Maximum sales charge 4.5% $ .450
======== ========
Maximum sales charge imposed on Reinvested Dividends 3.5%(c) $ .350
======== ========
Organization Costs
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Estimated Organization Costs .240%(d) $ .024
======== ========
Estimated Annual Trust Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative and evaluation fees .100% $.0098
Trustee's fee and other operating expenses .153% .0150
________ ________
Total .253% $.0248
======== ========
</TABLE>
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Trust with the cost of investing in other investment products. The
example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trust for the periods
shown and sell all your Units at the end of those periods. The example
also assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the
Trust's operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs may
vary, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
______ _______ _______
$499 $551 $608
You will pay the following expenses if you do not sell your Units at the
end of each period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
______ ________ _______
<S> <C> <C>
$499 $551 $608
The example does not reflect sales charges on reinvested dividends and
other distributions. If these sales charges were included, your costs
would be higher.
________________
<FN>
(a) The amount of the initial sales charge will vary depending on the
purchase price of your Units. The amount of the initial sales charge is
actually the difference between the maximum sales charge (4.5% of the
Public Offering Price) and the maximum remaining deferred sales charge
(initially $.35 per Unit). When the Public Offering Price exceeds $10.00
per Unit, the initial sales charge will exceed 1.00% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit.
(b) The deferred sales charge is a fixed dollar amount equal to $.35 per
Unit, which will be deducted in five monthly installments of $.07 per
Unit beginning September 20, 1999 and on the 20th day of each month
thereafter (or the preceding business day if the 20th day is not a
business day) through January 20, 2000. If you buy Units at a price of
less than $10.00 per Unit, the dollar amount of the deferred sales
charge will not change but the deferred sales charge on a percentage
basis will be more than 3.5% of the Public Offering Price. If you
purchase Units after the first deferred sales charge payment has been
deducted, your purchase price will include both the initial sales charge
and any remaining deferred sales charge payments.
(c) Reinvested Dividends will be subject only to the deferred sales
charge remaining at the time of reinvestment. See "Income and Capital
Distributions."
(d) You will bear all or a portion of the costs incurred in organizing
the Trust. These estimated organization costs are
included in the price you pay for your Units and will be deducted from
the assets of the Trust at the earlier of six months after the Initial
Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 4
Report of Independent Auditors
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
FT 286
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of FT 286, comprised of Texas Portfolio Series,
as of the opening of business on February 18, 1999. 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 February 18,
1999. 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 FT 286,
comprised of the Texas Portfolio Series, at the opening of business on
February 18, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 1999
Page 5
Statement of Net Assets
Texas Portfolio Series
FT 286
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-February 18, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
NET ASSETS
Investment in Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $147,787
Less liability for reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (358)
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4) (5,225)
________
Net assets $142,204
========
Units outstanding 14,928
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Cost to investors (5) $149,280
Less maximum sales charge (5) (6,718)
Less estimated reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (358)
________
Net assets $142,204
========
<FN>
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
(1) Aggregate cost of the Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" is based on their aggregate underlying value.
(2) An irrevocable letter of credit issued by The Chase Manhattan Bank,
of which $200,000 is allocable to the Trust, has been deposited with the
Trustee as collateral, covering the monies necessary for the purchase of
the Securities according to their purchase contracts.
(3) A portion of the Public Offering Price consists of an amount sufficient
to reimburse the Sponsor for all or a portion of the costs of
establishing the Trust. These costs have been estimated at $.0240 per
Unit for the Trust. A payment will be made as of the earlier of six
months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial
offering period to an account maintained by the Trustee from which the
obligations of the investors to the Sponsor will be satisfied. To the
extent that actual organization costs are greater than the estimated
amount, only the estimated organization costs added to the Public
Offering Price will be reimbursed to the Sponsor and deducted from the
assets of the Trust.
(4) Represents the amount of mandatory deferred sales charge
distributions from the Trust ($.35 per Unit), payable to us in five
equal monthly installments beginning on September 20, 1999 and on the
twentieth day of each month thereafter (or if such date is not a
business day, on the preceding business day) through January 20, 2000.
If you redeem Units before January 20, 2000 you will have to pay the
remaining amount of the deferred sales charge applicable to such Units
when you redeem them.
(5) The aggregate cost to investors in the Trust includes a maximum
sales charge (comprised of an initial and a deferred sales charge)
computed at the rate of 4.5% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(equivalent to 4.545% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the
deferred sales charge), assuming no reduction of sales charge as set
forth under "Public Offering."
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 6
Schedule of Investments
Texas Portfolio Series
FT 286
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-February 18, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Market
of Aggregate Value Cost of
Number Ticker Symbol and Offering per Securities
of Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Price Share to Trust (2)
_________ ________________________________ ____________ ______ ____________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
106 AMR AMR Corporation 4% $55.563 $ 5,890
89 AGC American General Corporation 4% 66.188 5,891
152 AFS Associates First Capital Corporation 4% 38.750 5,890
134 BMCS BMC Software, Inc. 4% 43.313 5,804
173 BNI Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation 4% 34.313 5,936
101 CCU Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 4% 59.313 5,991
143 CPQ Compaq Computer Corporation 4% 40.813 5,836
128 CFR Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. 4% 46.750 5,984
170 DS Dallas Semiconductor Corporation 4% 35.063 5,961
74 DELL Dell Computer Corporation 4% 81.563 6,036
273 DO Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. 4% 21.438 5,853
674 ESV ENSCO International Incorporated 4% 8.938 6,024
129 EDS Electronic Data Systems Corporation 4% 45.500 5,869
96 ENE Enron Corporation 4% 61.938 5,946
85 XON Exxon Corporation 4% 68.625 5,833
323 DHI D.R. Horton, Inc. 4% 18.125 5,854
122 KMB Kimberly-Clark Corporation 4% 48.375 5,902
1,022 FLC R&B Falcon Corporation 4% 5.813 5,941
114 SBC SBC Communications, Inc. 4% 51.000 5,814
224 SYY SYSCO Corporation 4% 26.750 5,992
356 SRV Service Corporation International 4% 16.563 5,896
205 LUV Southwest Airlines Co. 4% 29.000 5,945
192 SE Sterling Commerce, Inc. 4% 31.000 5,952
158 SZA Suiza Foods Corporation 4% 37.438 5,915
64 TXN Texas Instruments, Incorporated 4% 91.125 5,832
_____ ________
Total Investments 100% $147,787
===== ========
__________
<FN>
(1) All Securities are represented by regular way contracts to purchase
such Securities for the performance of which an irrevocable letter of
credit has been deposited with the Trustee. The contracts to purchase
Securities were entered into by the Sponsor on February 17, 1999.
(2) The cost of the Securities to the Trust represents the aggregate
underlying value with respect to the Securities acquired (generally
determined by the last sale prices of the listed Securities and the ask
prices of the over-the-counter traded Securities on the business day
preceding the Initial Date of Deposit). The valuation of the Securities
has been determined by the Evaluator, an affiliate of the Sponsor. The
aggregate underlying value of the Securities on the Initial Date of
Deposit was $147,787. Cost and loss to Sponsor relating to the
Securities sold to the Trust were $147,938 and $151, respectively.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 7
The FT Series
The FT Series Defined.
We, Nike Securities L.P. (the "Sponsor"), have created several similar
yet separate series of an investment company which we have named the FT
Series. We designate each of these investment company series, the FT
Series, with a different series number.
You may get more specific details on some of the information in this
Prospectus in an "Information Supplement" by calling the Trustee at 1-
800-682-7520.
What We Call the Trust.
This FT Series consists of a unit investment trust known as Texas
Portfolio Series.
Mandatory Termination Date.
The Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date,
approximately five years from the date of this prospectus. This date is
shown in "Summary of Essential Information." The Trust was created under
the laws of the State of New York by a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture")
dated the Initial Date of Deposit. This agreement, entered into between
Nike Securities L.P., as Sponsor, The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee
and First Trust Advisors L.P. as Portfolio Supervisor and Evaluator,
governs the operation of the Trust.
How We Created the Trust.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, we deposited contracts to buy common
stocks ("Securities") (fully backed by an irrevocable letter of credit
of a financial institution) with the Trustee. In return for depositing
the Securities, the Trustee delivered documents to us representing our
ownership of the Trust, in the form of units ("the Units").
With the deposit of the contracts to buy Securities on the Initial Date
of Deposit we established a percentage relationship among the Securities
in the Trust's portfolio, as stated under "Schedule of Investments."
After the Initial Date of Deposit, we may deposit additional Securities
in the Trust, or cash (including a letter of credit) with instructions
to buy more Securities, in order to create new Units for sale. If we
create additional Units we will attempt, to the extent practicable, to
maintain the original percentage relationship established among the
Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit, and not the actual percentage
relationship existing on the day we are creating Units, since the two
may differ. This difference may be due to the sale, redemption or
liquidation of any of the Securities.
Since the prices of the underlying Securities will fluctuate daily, the
ratio of Securities in the Trust, on a market value basis, will also
change daily. The portion of Securities represented by each Unit will
not change as a result of the deposit of additional Securities or cash
in the Trust. If we deposit cash, you and new investors may experience a
dilution of your investment. This is because prices of Securities will
fluctuate between the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the
Securities, and because the Trust will pay brokerage fees to buy
Securities. To reduce this dilution, the Trust will try to buy the
Securities as close to the evaluation time and as close to the
evaluation price as possible.
An affiliate of the Trustee may receive these brokerage fees or the
Trustee may, from time to time, retain and pay us (or an affiliate) to
act as agent for the Trust to buy Securities. If we or an affiliate of
ours act as agent to the Trust, we will be subject to the restrictions
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
We cannot guarantee that the Trust will keep its present size and
composition for any length of time. Securities may periodically be sold
under certain circumstances, and the proceeds from these sales will be
used to meet Trust obligations or distributed to Unit holders, but will
not be reinvested. The Trust will not, however, sell Securities to take
advantage of market fluctuations or changes in anticipated rates of
appreciation or depreciation, or if the Securities no longer meet the
criteria by which they were selected. You will not be able to dispose of
any of the Securities in the Trust or vote the Securities. As the holder
of the Securities, the Trustee will vote all of the Securities and will
do so based on our instructions.
Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for a failure in any of the
Securities. However, if a contract for the purchase of any of the
Securities initially deposited in the Trust fails, unless we can
purchase substitute Securities ("Replacement Securities") we will refund
to you that portion of the purchase price and sales charge resulting
Page 8
from the failed contract on the next Income Distribution Date. Any
Replacement Security the Trust acquires will be identical to those from
the failed contract. The Trustee must purchase the Replacement
Securities within 20 days after it receives notice of a failed contract,
and the purchase price may not be more than the amount of funds reserved
for the purchase of the failed contract.
Portfolio
Objectives
The Trust's objective is to provide investors with the potential for
above-average capital appreciation through an investment in a
diversified portfolio of common stocks of companies that are
headquartered or incorporated in the State of Texas. The Trust has an
expected life of approximately five years. A diversified portfolio helps
to offset the risks normally associated with such an investment,
although it does not eliminate them entirely.
One investment principle that some industry experts believe can improve
an investor's likelihood of success is to "invest in what you know."
Texas is home to some of the nation's most well-known companies
including Exxon, Kimberly-Clark, Compaq and Dell. These companies, along
with others included in the Texas Portfolio Series, represent the great
diversity the State of Texas offers. The Texas Portfolio Series seeks to
provide above-average capital appreciation by investing in these leading
companies.
The following factors support our positive outlook for Texas-based
companies:
- - 7% of the United States population resides in the State of Texas, making
it the second most populous state in the United States.
- - The recent influx of high-tech companies has helped Texas increase its
electronics exports by more than 100% since 1993.
- - With higher exports come more jobs. Since 1993, Texas has created over 1
million new jobs, more than any other state.
- - Texas has one of the world's largest economies, comparable in size to
the economy of Spain.
- - Texas is a vital transportation center offering four hub airports, more
than any other state.
The portfolio employs a disciplined "buy and hold" philosophy, placing a
strong emphasis on the future prospects of the companies rather than
focusing on short-term performance. The portfolio is diversified by
investing in several industries including computers and software,
communications, transportation, financial services and energy, but is
considered concentrated in technology companies. To help reduce high
risk, the portfolio avoids small market capitalization stocks, newly-
issued stocks and stocks with little or no earnings.
An investment in this Trust should be made with the understanding that
companies in the State of Texas, as in any state, are subject to and may
be affected by various factors, including the general state of the
economy, legislative changes and consumer spending trends.
Of course, as with any similar investments, there can be no guarantee
that the objective of the Trust will be achieved. See "Risk Factors" for
a discussion of the risks of investing in the Trust.
Risk Factors
Price Volatility. The Trust invests in common stocks of companies that
are headquartered or incorporated in the State of Texas. The value of
the Trust's Units will fluctuate with changes in the value of these
common stocks. Common stock prices fluctuate for several reasons
including changes in investors perceptions of the financial condition of
an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when
political or economic events affecting the issuers occur.
Because the Trust is not managed, the Trustee will not sell stocks in
response to or in anticipation of market fluctuations, as is common in
managed investments. As with any investment, we cannot guarantee that
the performance of the Trust will be positive over any period of time or
that you won't lose money. Units of the Trust are not deposits of any
bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency.
Dividends. There is no guarantee that the issuers of the Securities will
declare dividends in the future or that if declared they will either
remain at current levels or increase over time.
Technology Industry. The Trust is considered to be concentrated in
common stock of technology companies. Technology companies are generally
subject to the risks of rapidly changing technologies, rapid product
obsolescence, fierce competition, the loss of patent, copyright and
trademark protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry
standards and frequent new product introductions. In addition,
Page 9
technology company stocks can experience extreme price and volume
fluctuations that are often unrelated to the operating performance of
such companies. The success of these companies depends in substantial
part on the timely and successful introduction of new products or
services and there is no guarantee that the technology companies
selected for the Trust will be able to respond in a timely manner to
compete in this rapidly developing and competitive marketplace.
Legislation/Litigation. From time to time, various legislative
initiatives are proposed in the United States and abroad which may have
a negative impact on certain companies represented in the Trust. In
addition, litigation regarding any of the issuers of the Securities or
their respective industries may negatively impact the share prices of
these Securities. We cannot predict what impact any pending or proposed
legislation or pending or threatened litigation will have on the share
prices of the Securities.
Year 2000 Problem. Many computer systems were not designed to properly
process information and data involving dates of January 1, 2000 and
thereafter. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." We do not
expect that any of the computer system changes necessary to prepare for
January 1, 2000 will cause any major operational difficulties for the
Trust. However, we are unable to predict what impact the Year 2000
Problem will have on any of the issuers of the Securities.
Portfolio Securities Descriptions
AMR Corporation, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the parent of
American Airlines, Inc. which services over 165 destinations. The
corporation also operates various subsidiaries, including The SABRE
Group, which offers electronic distribution of travel through its
reservation system.
American General Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a
diversified financial services organization. The company provides
retirement services, life insurance, consumer loans and offers retail
financing programs through operations in 41 states, Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Associates First Capital Corporation, headquartered in Irving, Texas,
provides finance, leasing and related services to individual consumers
and businesses in the United States and worldwide.
BMC Software, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, provides systems
management solutions for host mainframe and distributed information
systems. The company also sells and provides maintenance, enhancement
and support services for its products.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, headquartered in Fort Worth,
Texas, through Burlington Northern Railroad Company, operates a railroad
system throughout the United States which transports coal, industrial,
agricultural, intermodal, and automotive products and various
merchandise. Burlington Northern operates railroad tracks in 28 western
states and two Canadian provinces.
Clear Channel Communications, Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas,
a diversified media company, is involved in radio, television and
outdoor advertising. The company owns or programs AM and FM radio
stations and television stations in the southwest, southeast, northeast
and midwest.
Compaq Computer Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, supplies
desktop and portable personal computers. The company designs, develops
and manufactures personal computers, workstations, communications
products, tower personal computer servers and peripheral products.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a
holding company for two national banks. The company operates financial
centers in Texas and provides asset and liability management, as well as
accounting, planning, budgeting and insurance services. The banks
provide commercial banking services for business clients.
Dallas Semiconductor Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
develops, manufactures and markets a diversified range of integrated
circuits and semiconductor-based systems which are used for computing,
communication, industrial and other applications.
Dell Computer Corporation, headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, designs,
develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports a variety of
Page 10
computer systems, including desktops, notebooks, and network servers
which are sold worldwide.
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, drills
offshore oil and gas wells for client companies. The company's fleet
consists of 46 offshore rigs which include semisubmersibles, jackups,
and a drillship. The company operates in the waters off of six continents.
ENSCO International Incorporated, headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
provides offshore contract drilling in the North Sea, the Asia Pacific
region, the Gulf of Mexico and off the China coast, as well as marine
transportation services in the Gulf of Mexico. The company also serves
the oil and gas industry.
Electronic Data Systems Corporation, headquartered in Plano, Texas,
offers systems and technology services, business process management,
management consulting and electronic business services. The company's
services include the management of computers, networks, information
systems, information processing facilities, business operations and
related personnel.
Enron Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, produces and markets
natural gas and electricity; and it develops, constructs and operates
energy and water facilities worldwide. The company also provides
physical commodities and risk management and financial services to
customers worldwide.
Exxon Corporation, headquartered in Irving, Texas, explores for and
produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures petroleum products; and
transports and sells crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products. The
company also manufactures and markets basic petrochemicals, including
olefins and aromatics, as well as supplies specialty rubbers and
additives for fuels and lubricants.
D.R. Horton, Inc., headquartered in Arlington, Texas, principally
constructs and sells single-family homes. The company operates in the
mid-Atlantic, midwest, west, southeast and southwest United States.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, headquartered in Irving, Texas, manufactures
disposable hygiene products and specialty papers. The company's brands
include "Huggies," "Pull-Ups," "Kotex," "Depends," "Kleenex," "Scott"
and "Waldorf." The company sells its products worldwide.
R&B Falcon Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates marine-
based drilling rigs for the international oil and gas industry. The
fleet includes drillships, semisubmersible rigs, a floating production
vessel, jackup rigs, tender rigs and barge drilling and workover rigs.
SBC Communications, Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a
telecommunications company with wireless customers across the United
States, as well as investments in telecommunications business. The
company offers local and long-distance telephone service, paging,
wireless communications, messaging, Internet access, telecommunications
equipment and directory advertising and publishing.
SYSCO Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, markets and
distributes foodservice products. The company provides food and related
products and services to restaurants, healthcare and educational
facilities, lodging establishments and other foodservice customers. The
company distributes its products throughout the continental United
States and portions of Alaska and Canada.
Service Corporation International, headquartered in Houston, Texas,
provides death care services worldwide and operates funeral homes,
cemeteries and crematoria located on five continents. The company also
provides capital financing to independent funeral home and cemetery
operators, and pre-need life insurance to finance pre-arranged funerals.
Southwest Airlines Co., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides
primarily short-haul, high frequency, point-to-point service. The
company provides services to airports in 25 states and offers
unrestricted, unlimited, everyday coach fares to its customers.
Sterling Commerce, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides
electronic commerce products, services and solutions worldwide.
Customers include banking, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceutical,
retail, telecommunications and transportation industries.
Suiza Foods Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, makes and
distributes fresh milk products and refrigerated ready-to-serve fruit
drinks; fresh milk and related dairy products; and packaged ice.
Texas Instruments, Incorporated, headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
provides semiconductor products worldwide and designs and supplies
digital signal processing solutions. The company's products also include
calculators, controls and sensors, metallurgical materials and digital
Page 11
light processing technologies.
We have obtained the foregoing descriptions from sources we deem
reliable. We have not independently verified the provided information
either in terms of accuracy or completeness.
Public Offering
The Public Offering Price.
You may buy Units at the Public Offering Price. The Public Offering
Price per Unit is comprised of the following:
- - the aggregate underlying value of the Securities;
- - the amount of any cash in the Income and Capital Accounts;
- - dividends receivable on Securities; and
- - the total sales charge (which combines an initial up-front sales
charge and a deferred sales charge).
The price you pay for your Units will differ from the amount stated
under "Summary of Essential Information" due to various factors,
including fluctuations in the prices of the Securities and changes in
the value of the Income and/or Capital Accounts.
The Securities purchased with the portion of the Public Offering Price
intended to be used to reimburse the Sponsor for the Trust's
organization costs (including costs of preparing the registration
statement, the 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) will be purchased in the same proportionate
relationship as all the Securities contained in the Trust. Securities
will be sold to reimburse the Sponsor for the Trust's organization costs
at the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the
end of the initial offering period (a significantly shorter time period
than the life of the Trust). During the period ending with the earlier
of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the
initial offering period, there may be a decrease in the value of the
Securities. To the extent the proceeds from the sale of these Securities
are insufficient to repay the Sponsor for the Trust organization costs,
the Trustee will sell additional Securities to allow the Trust to fully
reimburse the Sponsor. In that event, the net asset value per Unit will
be reduced by the amount of additional Securities sold. Although the
dollar amount of the reimbursement due to the Sponsor will remain fixed
and will never exceed the amount set forth for the Trust in "Statement
of Net Assets," this will result in a greater effective cost per Unit to
Unit holders for the reimbursement to the Sponsor. To the extent actual
organization costs are less than the estimated amount, only the actual
organization costs will be deducted from the assets of the Trust. When
Securities are sold to reimburse the Sponsor for organization costs, the
Trustee will sell such Securities to an extent which will maintain the same
proportionate relationship among the Securities contained in the Trust
as existed prior to such sale.
Although you are not required to pay for your Units until three business
days following the order for purchase (the "date of settlement"), you
may pay before then. You will become the owner of Units on the date of
settlement if payment has been received. If you pay for your Units
before the date of settlement, we may use your payment during this time
and it may be considered a benefit to us, subject to the limitations of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Minimum Purchase.
The minimum amount you can purchase of the Trust is $1,000 worth of
Units ($500 if you are purchasing Units for your Individual Retirement
Account or any other qualified retirement plan).
Sales Charges.
The sales charge you will pay has both an initial and a deferred
component. The initial sales charge, which you will pay at the time of
purchase, is initially equal to approximately 1% of the Public Offering
Price of a Unit. This initial sales charge is actually equal to the
difference between the maximum sales charge of 4.5% of the Public Offering
Price and the maximum remaining deferred sales charge (initially $.35 per
Unit). The initial sales charge will vary from 1% with changes in the aggre-
gate underlying value of the Securities, changes in the Income and Capital
Accounts and as deferred sales charge payments are made. In addition, five
monthly deferred sales charge payments of $.07 per Unit will be deducted from
the Trust's assets on approximately the twentieth day of each month from
September 20, 1999 through January 20, 2000. The maximum sales charge
assessed during the initial offering period will be 4.5% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit (equivalent to 4.545% of the net amount
invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge).
After the initial offering period, if you purchase Units after the last
deferred sales charge payment has been assessed, your sales charge will
consist of a one-time initial sales charge of 4.5% of the Public
Offering Price (equivalent to 4.712% of the net amount invested), which
will be reduced by 1/2 of 1% on each subsequent February 28, commencing
February 28, 2000, to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%.
Discounts for Certain Persons.
If you invest at least $50,000 (except if you are purchasing for a "wrap
fee account" as described below), the maximum sales charge is reduced,
as follows:
Page 12
Your maximum
If you invest sales charge
(in thousands):* will be:
______________________ ____________
$ 50 but less than $100 4.25%
$100 but less than $250 4.00%
$250 but less than $500 3.50%
$500 or more 2.50%
* The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a Unit basis
utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and
will be applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
The 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.
The reduced sales charge for quantity purchases will apply only to
purchases made by the same person on any one day from any one
dealer. You may combine same-day purchases of Trust Units and units of
other similarly structured equity unit trusts for which we act as
Principal Underwriter and which are currently in the initial offering
period to meet the above volume purchase levels. We will consider Units
you purchase in the name of your spouse or your child under 21 years of
age to be purchases by you for determining the reduced sales charge. The
reduced sales charges will also apply to a trustee or other fiduciary
purchasing Units for a single trust estate or single fiduciary account.
You must inform your dealer of any combined purchases before the sale in
order to be eligible for the reduced sales charge. Any reduced sales is
the responsibility of the broker/dealer or other selling agent making
the sale.
If you own units of any other unit investment trusts sponsored by us you
may use your redemption or termination proceeds from these trusts to
purchase Units of the Trust subject only to any remaining deferred sales
charge to be collected on Units of the Trust. Please note that you will
be charged the amount of any remaining deferred sales charge on units
you redeem when you redeem them.
The following persons may purchase Units at the Public Offering Price
less the applicable dealer concession:
- - Employees, officers and directors of the Sponsor, our related
companies, dealers and their affiliates, and vendors providing services
to us.
- - Immediate family members of the above (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).
If you purchase Units through registered broker/dealers who charge
periodic fees for financial planning, investment advisory or asset
management services or provide these services as part of an investment
account where a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed, you may
purchase Units in the primary or secondary market at the Public Offering
Price, less the concession we would typically allow such broker/dealer.
See "Distribution of Units-Dealer Concessions."
Every investor will be charged the deferred sales charge per Unit
regardless of any discounts. However, if you are eligible to receive a
discount such that the maximum sales charge you must pay is less than
the applicable maximum deferred sales charge, you will be credited the
difference between your maximum sales charge and the maximum deferred
sales charge at the time you buy your Units.
The Value of the Securities.
The aggregate underlying value of the Securities in the Trust will be
determined as follows: if the Securities are listed on a securities
exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, their value is generally based on
the closing sale prices on that exchange or system (unless it is
determined that these prices are not appropriate as a basis for
valuation). However, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange
or system, they are valued based on the closing ask prices. If the
Securities are not so listed, or, if so listed and the principal market
for them is other than on that exchange or system, the evaluation will
generally be based on the current ask prices on the over-the-counter
market (unless it is determined that these prices are not appropriate as
a basis for evaluation). If current ask prices are unavailable, the
evaluation is generally determined:
a) on the basis of current ask prices for comparable securities,
b) by appraising the value of the Securities on the ask side of the
market, or
c) by any combination of the above.
The Evaluator on each business day will appraise the value of the
Securities in the Trust as of the Evaluation Time and will adjust the
Page 13
Public Offering Price of the Units according to this valuation. This
Public Offering Price will be effective for all orders received before
the Evaluation Time on each such day. If we or the Trustee receive
orders for purchases, sales or redemptions after that time, or on a day
which is not a business day, they will be held until the next
determination of price. The term "business day" as used in this
prospectus will exclude Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays as
observed by the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"): New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
After the initial offering period is over, the secondary market Public
Offering Price will be determined based on the aggregate underlying
value of the Securities in the Trust, plus or minus cash, if any, in the
Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust plus the applicable sales
charge. We calculate the aggregate underlying value of the Securities
during the secondary market the same way as described above for sales
made during the initial offering period, except that bid prices are used
instead of ask prices when necessary.
Distribution of Units
We intend to qualify Units of the Trust for sale in a number of states.
During the initial offering period, Units will be sold at the current
Public Offering Price. When the initial offering period ends, Units we
have reacquired may be offered by this prospectus at the secondary
market Public Offering Price (see "The Secondary Market").
Dealer Concessions.
Dealers and other selling agents can purchase Units at prices which
represent a concession or agency commission of 3.2% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit (or 65% of the maximum sales charge after
February 28, 2000). However, dealers and other selling agents will
receive a concession on the sale of Units subject only to any remaining
deferred sales charge equal to $.22 per Unit on Units sold subject to
the maximum deferred sales charge or 63% of the then current maximum
remaining deferred sales charge on Units sold subject to less than the
maximum deferred sales charge. Dealers and other selling agents will
receive an additional volume concession or agency commission of 0.30% of
the Public Offering Price if they purchase at least $100,000 worth of
Units on the Initial Date of Deposit or $250,000 on any day thereafter
or if they were eligible to receive a similar concession in connection
with sales of similarly structured trusts sponsored by us which are
currently in the initial offering period.
Dealers and other selling agents who sell Units of the Trust during the
initial offering period in the dollar amounts shown below will be
entitled to the following additional sales concessions as a percentage
of the Public Offering Price:
Total Sales
per Trust Additional
(in millions): Concession:
___________________ __________
$ 1 but less than $2 0.10%
$ 2 but less than $3 0.15%
$ 3 but less than $10 0.20%
$10 or more 0.30%
We reserve the right to change the amount of concessions or agency
commissions from time to time. Certain commercial banks may be making
Units of the Trust available to their customers on an agency basis. A
portion of the sales charge paid by these customers is kept by or given
to the banks in the amounts shown above. Under the Glass-Steagall Act,
banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust Units. However, the Glass-
Steagall Act does allow certain agency transactions. In Texas and in
certain other states, any banks making Units available must be
registered as broker/dealers under state law.
Award Programs.
From time to time we may sponsor programs which provide awards to a
dealer's registered representatives who have sold a minimum number of
Units during a specified time period. We may also pay fees to qualifying
dealers for services or activities which are meant to result in sales of
Units of the Trust. In addition, we will pay to dealers who sponsor
sales contests or recognition programs that conform to criteria we
establish, or participate in sales programs we sponsor, amounts equal to
no more than the total applicable sales charges on the unit sales
generated by such persons during such programs. We make these payments
out of our own assets, and not out of the Trust's assets. These programs
Page 14
will not change the price you pay for your Units or the amount that the
Trust will receive from the Units sold.
Investment Comparisons.
From time to time we may compare the then current estimated returns of
the Trust (which may show performance net of the expenses and charges
the Trust would have incurred) and returns over specified periods of
other similar trusts we sponsor in our advertising and sales materials,
with (1) returns on other taxable investments such as the common stocks
comprising various market indexes, corporate or U.S. Government bonds,
bank CDs and money market accounts or funds, (2) performance data from
Morningstar Publications, Inc. or (3) information from publications such
as Money, the New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week,
Forbes or Fortune. The investment characteristics of the Trust, which
are described more fully elsewhere in this prospectus, differ from other
comparative investments. You should not assume that these performance
comparisons will be representative of the Trust's future relative
performance.
The Sponsor's Profits
We will receive a gross sales commission equal to the maximum sales
charge per Unit less any reduced sales charge as stated in "Public
Offering." Also, any difference between our cost to purchase the
Securities and the price at which we sell them to the Trust is considered a
profit or loss. (See Note 2 of "Schedule of Investments.") During the
initial offering period, dealers and others may also realize profits or
sustain losses as a result of fluctuations after the Date of Deposit in
the Public Offering Price they receive when they sell the Units.
In maintaining a market for Units, any difference between the price at
which Units are purchased and the price at which they are sold (which
includes a maximum sales charge for the Trust) or redeemed will be a
profit or loss to us. The secondary market Public Offering Price of
Units may be more or less than the cost of those Units to us.
The Secondary Market
Although we are not obligated to, we intend to maintain a market for the
Units after the initial offering period and continuously offer to
purchase Units at prices based on the Redemption Price per Unit.
We will pay all expenses to maintain a secondary market, except the
Evaluator fees and Trustee costs to transfer and record the ownership of
Units. We may discontinue purchases of Units at any time. IF YOU WISH TO
DISPOSE OF YOUR UNITS, YOU SHOULD ASK US FOR THE CURRENT MARKET PRICES
BEFORE MAKING A TENDER FOR REDEMPTION TO THE TRUSTEE. If you sell Units
or tender them for redemption before you have paid the total deferred
sales charge on your Units, you will have to pay the remainder of the
deferred sales charge at that time.
How We Purchase Units
The Trustee will notify us of any tender of Units for redemption. If our
bid at that time is equal to or greater than the Redemption Price per
Unit, we may purchase the Units. You will receive the proceeds from the
sale of Units we purchase no later than if they were redeemed by the
Trustee. We may tender Units we hold to the Trustee for redemption as
any other Units. If we elect not to purchase Units, the Trustee may sell
tendered Units in the over-the-counter market, if any. However, the
amount you will receive is the same as you would have received on
redemption of the Units.
The Public Offering Price of any Units we acquire will be consistent
with the Public Offering Price described in the then effective
prospectus. Any profit or loss from the resale or redemption of such
Units will belong to us.
Expenses and Charges
The estimated annual expenses of the Trust are listed under "Fee Table."
If actual expenses exceed the estimate, the Trust will bear the excess.
The Trustee will pay operating expenses of the Trust from the Income
Account of the Trust if funds are available, and then from the Capital
Account. The Income and Capital Accounts are noninterest-bearing to Unit
holders, so the Trustee benefits from the use of these funds.
As Sponsor, we will be compensated for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services to the Trust, and will receive brokerage fees
when the Trust uses us (or an affiliate of ours) as agent in buying or
selling Securities. First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of ours,
Page 15
acts as both Portfolio Supervisor and Evaluator to the Trust and will
receive the fees set forth under "Fee Table" for providing portfolio
supervisory and evaluation services to the Trust. In providing portfolio
supervisory services, the Portfolio Supervisor may purchase research
services from a number of sources, which may include underwriters or
dealers of the Trust.
The fees payable to the Portfolio Supervisor, Evaluator and Trustee are
based on the largest aggregate number of Units of the Trust outstanding
at any time during the calendar year, except during the initial offering
period, in which case these fees are calculated based on the largest
number of Units outstanding during the period for which compensation is
paid. These fees may be adjusted for inflation without Unit holders'
approval, but in no case will the annual fees paid to us or our
affiliates for providing a given service to all unit investment trusts
for which we provide such services be more than the actual cost of
providing such service in such year.
The Trust may also incur the following charges:
- - All legal and annual auditing expenses of the Trustee according to
its responsibilities under the Indenture;
- - The expenses and costs incurred by the Trustee to protect the Trust
and the rights and interests of the Unit holders;
- - Fees for any extraordinary services the Trustee performed under the
Indenture;
- - Payment for any loss, liability or expense the Trustee incurred
without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, in
connection with its acceptance or administration of the Trust;
- - Payment for any loss, liability or expenses we incurred without
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 now in place or
planned as far as we know).
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, if there
is not enough cash in the Income or Capital Accounts of the Trust, the
Trustee has the power to sell Securities to make cash available to pay
these charges. Since the Securities are all common stocks and dividend
income is unpredictable, we cannot guarantee that dividends will be
sufficient to meet any or all expenses of the Trust. These sales may
result in capital gains or losses to the Unit holders. See "Tax Status."
The Trust will be audited on an annual basis. So long as we are making a
secondary market for Units, we will bear the cost of these annual audits
to the extent the cost exceeds $0.0050 per Unit. Otherwise, the Trust
will pay for the audit. You can receive a copy of the audited financial
statements by notifying the Trustee.
Tax Status
This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax
consequences of owning Units of the Trust. This section is current as of
the date of this prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change
frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax
consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do
not describe your situation if you are a non-U.S. person, a
broker/dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In
addition, this section does not describe your state or foreign taxes. As
with any investment, you should consult your own tax professional about
your particular consequences.
Trust Status.
The Trust will not be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes. As a Unit owner, you will be treated as the owner of a pro
rata portion of the Securities and other assets held by the Trust, and
as such you will be considered to have received a pro rata share of
income (i.e., dividends and capital gains, if any) from each Security
when such income is considered to be received by the Trust. This is true
even if you elect to have your distributions automatically reinvested
into additional Units. In addition, the income from the Trust which you
must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by
amounts used to pay the deferred sales charge.
Page 16
Your Tax Basis and Income or Loss upon Disposition.
If your Trust disposes of Securities, you will generally recognize gain
or loss. If you dispose of your Units or redeem your Units for cash, you
will also generally recognize gain or loss. To determine the amount of
this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in the related
Securities from your share of the total proceeds received in the
transaction. You can generally determine your initial tax basis in each
Security or other Trust asset by apportioning the cost of your Units,
generally including sales charges, among each Security or other Trust
asset ratably according to their value on the date you purchase your
Units. In certain circumstances, however, you may have to adjust your
tax basis after you purchase your Units (for example, in the case of
certain dividends that exceed a corporation's accumulated earnings and
profits).
If you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net
capital gain is generally 20% (10% for certain taxpayers in the lowest tax
bracket). Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-
term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if
the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the
holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date
you purchase your Units to determine the holding period of your Units. The tax
rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are
generally the same as for ordinary income. The tax code may, however,
treat certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations.
In-Kind Distributions.
Under certain circumstances, you may request an In-Kind Distribution of
Securities when you redeem your Units or at the Trust's termination. If
you request an In-Kind Distribution you will be responsible for any
expenses related to this distribution. By electing to receive an In-Kind
Distribution, you will receive an undivided interest in whole shares of
stock plus, possibly, cash.
You will not recognize gain or loss if you only receive Securities in
exchange for your pro rata portion of the Securities held by the Trust.
However, if you also receive cash in exchange for a fractional share of
a Security held by the Trust, you will generally recognize gain or loss
based on the difference between the amount of cash you receive and your
tax basis in such fractional share of the Security.
Limitations on the Deductibility of Trust Expenses.
Generally, for federal income tax purposes, you must take into account
your full pro rata share of the Trust's income, even if some of that
income is used to pay Trust expenses. You may deduct your pro rata share
of each expense paid by the Trust to the same extent as if you directly
paid the expense. You may, however, be required to treat some or all of
the expenses of the Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions.
Individuals may only deduct certain miscellaneous itemized deductions to
the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income.
Foreign, State and Local Taxes.
Under the existing income tax laws of the State and City of New York,
the Trust will not be taxed as a corporation, and the income of the
Trust will be treated as the income of the Unit holders in the same
manner as for federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax
advisor regarding potential foreign, state or local taxation with
respect to your Units.
Retirement Plans
You may purchase Units of the Trust for:
- - Individual Retirement Accounts
- - Keogh Plans
- - pension funds, and
- - other tax-deferred retirement plans.
Generally, the federal income tax on capital gains and income received
in each of the above plans is deferred until you receive distributions.
These distributions are generally treated as ordinary income but may, in
some cases, be eligible for special averaging or tax-deferred rollover
treatment. Before participating in a plan like this, you should review
the tax laws regarding these plans and consult your attorney or tax
advisor. Brokerage firms and other financial institutions offer these
plans with varying fees and charges.
Page 17
Rights of Unit Holders
Unit Ownership.
The Trustee will treat as record owner of Units that person registered
as such on its books. If you request certificates representing the Units
you ordered for purchase they will be delivered three business days
after your order or shortly thereafter. You may transfer or redeem Units
represented by a certificate by endorsing it and surrendering it to the
Trustee, along with a written instrument(s) of transfer. You must sign
exactly as your name appears on the face of the certificate with your
signature guaranteed by an eligible institution. In certain cases the
Trustee may require additional documentation before they will transfer
or redeem your Units.
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 identification purposes.
You may also choose to hold your Units in uncertificated form. If you
choose this option, the Trustee will keep an account for you and will
credit your account with the number of Units you purchase. Within two
business days of the issuance or transfer of Units held in
uncertificated form, the Trustee will send to you, as the registered
owner of Units:
- - a written initial transaction statement containing a description of
your Trust;
- - the number of Units issued or transferred;
- - your name, address and taxpayer identification number;
- - a notation of any liens or restrictions of the issuer and any adverse
claims; and
- - the date the transfer was registered.
Uncertificated Units may be transferred the same way as certificated
Units, except that no certificate needs to be presented to the Trustee.
Also, no certificate will be issued when the transfer takes place unless
you request it. You may at any time request that the Trustee issue
certificates for your Units.
As a Unit holder, you may be required to pay a nominal fee to the
Trustee for each certificate reissued or transferred, and to pay any
government charge that may be imposed for each transfer or exchange. The
Trustee does not require such charge now, nor are they currently
contemplating doing so. If a certificate gets lost, stolen or destroyed,
you may be required to furnish indemnity to the Trustee to receive
replacement certificates. You must surrender mutilated certificates to
the Trustee for replacement.
Unit Holder Reports.
In connection with each distribution, the Trustee will provide you with
a statement detailing the per Unit amount of income (if any)
distributed. After the end of each calendar year, the Trustee will
provide you with the following information:
1. a summary of transactions in the Trust for the year;
2. any Securities sold during the year and the Securities held at the
end of that year by the Trust;
3. the Redemption Price per Unit, computed on the 31st day of December
of such year (or the last business day before); and
4. amounts of income and capital distributed during the year.
You may request from the Trustee copies of the evaluations of the
Securities as prepared by the Evaluator to enable you to comply with
federal and state tax reporting requirements.
Income and Capital Distributions
You will begin receiving distributions on your Units only after you
become a Record Owner. It is your responsibility to notify the Trustee
when you become Record Owner of the Units, but normally your
broker/dealer provides this notice. The Trustee will credit any
dividends received on the Trust's Securities to the Income Account of
the Trust. All other receipts, such as return of capital, are credited
to the Capital Account of the Trust.
The Trustee will distribute any net income in the Income Account on or
near the Income Distribution Dates to Unit holders of record on the
preceding Income Distribution Record Date. See "Summary of Essential
Information." Distribution amounts will vary with changes in the Trust's
fees and expenses, in dividends received and with the sale of
Securities. The Trustee will distribute amounts in the Capital Account
on the last day of each month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth
Page 18
day of each month provided the amount equals at least $1.00 per 100
Units. However, amounts in the Capital Account from the sale of
Securities designated to meet redemptions of Units, to pay the deferred
sales charge or to pay expenses will not be distributed. The Trustee is
not required to pay interest on funds held in the Income or Capital
Accounts of the Trust. However, the Trustee may earn interest on these
funds, thus benefiting from the use of such funds.
We anticipate that the deferred sales charge will be collected from the
Capital Account of the Trust and that there will be enough money in the
Capital Account to cover these costs. If there is not enough money in
the Capital Account to pay the deferred sales charge, the Trustee may
sell Securities to meet the shortfall. We will designate an account
where distributions will be made to pay the deferred sales charge.
The Trustee is required by the Internal Revenue Service to withhold a
certain percentage of any distribution the Trust makes and deliver such
amount to the Internal Revenue Service if the Trustee does not have your
Tax Identification Number. You may recover this amount by giving your
Tax Identification Number to the Trustee, or when you file a tax return.
Normally, the selling broker gives your Tax Identification Number to the
Trustee. However, you should check your statements from the Trustee to
make sure they have the number to avoid this "back-up withholding." If
not, you should provide it to the Trustee as soon as possible.
Within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated you will receive
the pro rata share of the money from the disposition of the Securities.
However, if you are eligible, you may elect to receive an In-Kind
Distribution as described under "Amending or Terminating the Indenture."
All Unit holders will receive a pro rata share of any other assets
remaining in the Trust, excluding any unpaid expenses of the Trust.
The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within the
Trust for any state and local taxes and any governmental charges to be
paid out of the Trust.
Distribution Reinvestment Option. You may elect to have each
distribution of income and/or capital reinvested into additional Units
of the Trust by notifying the Trustee at least 10 days before any Record
Date. Each later distribution of income and/or capital on your Units
will be reinvested by the Trustee into additional Units of the Trust.
You will have to pay any remaining deferred sales charge on any Units
acquired pursuant to this distribution reinvestment option. This option
may not be available in all states. Please note that even if you
reinvest distributions, they are still considered distributions for
income tax purposes.
Redeeming Your Units
You may redeem all or a portion of your Units at any time by sending the
certificates representing the Units you want to redeem to the Trustee at
its unit investment trust office. If your Units are held in
uncertificated form, you need only to deliver a request for redemption
to the Trustee. In either case, the certificates or the redemption
request you send to the Trustee must be properly endorsed with proper
instruments of transfer and signature guarantees as explained in "Rights
of Unit Holders-Unit Ownership" (or by providing satisfactory indemnity
if the certificates were lost, stolen, or destroyed). No redemption fee
will be charged, but you are responsible for any governmental charges
that apply. Three business days after the day you tender your Units (the
"Date of Tender") you will receive cash in an amount for each Unit equal
to the Redemption Price per Unit calculated at the Evaluation Time on
the Date of Tender.
The Date of Tender is considered to be the date on which the Trustee
receives your certificates or redemption request (if such day is a day
the NYSE is open for trading). However, if your certificates or redemption
request are received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (or after any earlier
closing time on a day on which the NYSE is scheduled in advance to close
at such earlier time), the Date of Tender is the next day the NYSE is open
for trading.
Any amounts paid on redemption representing income will be withdrawn
from the Income Account of the Trust if funds are available for that
purpose, or from the Capital Account. All other amounts paid on
redemption will be taken from the Capital Account of the Trust.
If you are tendering 1,000 Units or more for redemption, rather than
receiving cash you may elect to receive a distribution of shares of
Securities (an "In-Kind Distribution") in an amount and value equal to
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the Redemption Price per Unit by making this request in writing to the
Trustee at the time of tender. However, no In-Kind Distribution requests
submitted during the nine business days prior to the Trust's Mandatory
Termination Date will be honored. Where possible, the Trustee will make
an In-Kind Distribution by distributing each of the Securities in book-
entry form to your bank or broker/dealer account at the Depository Trust
Company. The Trustee will subtract any customary transfer and
registration charges from your In-Kind Distribution. As a tendering Unit
holder, you will receive your pro rata number of whole shares of the
Securities that make up the portfolio, and cash from the Capital Account
equal to the fractional shares to which you are entitled. If there is
not enough money in the Capital Account to pay the required cash
distribution, the Trustee may have to sell Securities.
The Internal Revenue Service will require the Trustee to withhold a
portion of your redemption proceeds if the Trustee has not previously
been provided your Taxpayer Identification Number. For more information
about this withholding, see "Income and Capital Distributions." If the
Trustee does not have your Taxpayer Identification Number, you must
provide it at the time of the redemption request.
The Trustee may sell Securities in the Trust to make funds available for
redemption. If Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust
will be reduced. These sales may result in lower prices than if the
Securities were sold at a different time.
Your right to redeem Units (and therefore, your right to receive
payment) may be delayed:
1. if the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday
closings);
2. if the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") determines that
trading on the NYSE is restricted or that an emergency exists making
sale or evaluation of the Securities not reasonably practical; or
3. for any other period permitted by SEC order.
The Trustee is not liable to any person for any loss or damage which may
result from such a suspension or postponement.
The Redemption Price.
The Redemption Price per Unit is determined by the Trustee by:
adding
1. cash in the Income and Capital Accounts not designated to purchase
Securities;
2. the aggregate underlying value of the Securities held in the Trust; and
3. dividends receivable on the Securities trading ex-dividend as of the
date of computation.
deducting
1. any applicable taxes or governmental charges that need to be paid out
of the Trust;
2. any amounts owed to the Trustee for its advances;
3. estimated accrued expenses of the Trust, including, but not limited
to, fees and expenses of the Trustee (including legal fees), and 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 before the evaluation being made; and
5. other liabilities incurred by the Trust; and
dividing
1. the result by the number of outstanding Units of the Trust.
Any remaining deferred sales charge on the Units when you redeem them
will be deducted from your redemption proceeds. In addition, until the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period, the Redemption Price per Unit will include
estimated organization costs as set forth under "Fee
Table."
The aggregate underlying value of the Securities for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price during the secondary market is
determined in the same manner as that used to calculate the secondary
market Public Offering Price as discussed in "Public Offering-The Value
of the Securities."
Removing Securities from the Trust
The portfolio of the Trust is not managed. However, we may, but are not
required to, direct the Trustee to dispose of a Security in certain
limited circumstances. These circumstances include, but are not limited
to, situations in which:
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- - the issuer of the Security defaults in the payment of a declared
dividend;
- - any action or proceeding prevents the payment of dividends;
- - there is any legal question or impediment affecting the Security;
- - the issuer of the Security has breached a covenant which would affect
the payment of dividends or the issuer's credit standing, or otherwise
damage the sound investment character of the Security; or
- - the issuer has defaulted on the payment on any other of its
outstanding obligations to such an extent or other such credit factors
exist so that, in our opinion, keeping the Security would be harmful to
the Trust.
Except in the limited instance in which the Trust may acquire
Replacement Securities to replace failed contracts to purchase
Securities, as described in "The FT Series," the Trust may not acquire
any securities or other property other than the Securities. The Trustee,
on behalf of the Trust, will reject any offer for new or exchanged
securities or property in exchange for a Security, such as those
acquired in a merger or other transaction. If such exchanged securities
or property are nevertheless acquired by the Trust, at our instruction,
they will either be sold or held in the Trust. In making the
determination as to whether to sell or hold the exchanged securities or
property we may get advice from the Portfolio Supervisor. Any proceeds
received from the sale of Securities, exchanged securities or property
will be credited to the Capital Account of the Trust for distributions
to Unit holders or to meet redemption requests. The Trustee may retain
and pay us or an affiliate of ours to act as agent for the Trust to
facilitate selling Securities, exchanged securities or property from the
Trust. If we or our affiliate act in this capacity, we will be held
subject to the restrictions under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
The Trustee may also sell Securities that we designate; or, without our
direction, in its own discretion, in order to meet redemption requests
or pay expenses.
In designating which Securities should be sold, we will try to maintain
the proportionate relationship among the Securities. If this is not
possible, the composition and diversity of the Securities in the Trust
may be changed. To get the best price for the Trust we may have to
specify minimum amounts (generally 100 shares) in which blocks of
Securities are to be sold. We may consider sales of units of unit
investment trusts which we sponsor in making recommendations to the
Trustee on the selection of broker/dealers to execute the Trust's
portfolio transactions, or when acting as agent for the Trust in
acquiring or selling Securities on behalf of the Trust.
Amending or Terminating the Indenture
Amendments. The Indenture may be amended by us and the Trustee without
your consent:
- - to cure ambiguities;
- - to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;
- - to make any amendment required by any governmental agency; or
- - to make other changes determined not to be materially adverse to your
best interests (as determined by us and the Trustee).
Termination. As provided by the Indenture, the Trust will terminate on
the Mandatory Termination Date stated in the "Summary of Essential
Information." The Trust may be terminated prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date:
- - upon the consent of 100% of the Unit holders;
- - if the value of the Securities owned by the Trust as shown by any
evaluation is less than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total
value of Securities deposited in the Trust during the initial offering
period; or
- - in the event that Units of the Trust not yet sold aggregating more
than 60% of the Units of such Trust are tendered for redemption by
underwriters, including the Sponsor.
In the event of termination, the Trustee will send prior written notice
thereof to all Unit holders which will specify how you should tender
your certificates, if any, to the Trustee. If the Trust is terminated
due to this last reason, we will refund to each purchaser of Units of
such Trust the entire sales charge paid by such purchaser; however,
termination of the Trust prior to the Mandatory Termination Date for any
other stated reason will result in all remaining unpaid deferred sales
charges on your Units being deducted from your termination proceeds. For
various reasons, the Trust may be reduced below the Discretionary
Page 21
Liquidation Amount and could therefore be terminated prior to the
Mandatory Termination Date.
Unless terminated earlier, the Trustee will begin to sell Securities in
connection with the termination of the Trust during the period beginning
nine business days prior to, and no later than, the Mandatory
Termination Date. We will determine the manner, timing and execution of
the sale of Securities as part of the termination of the Trust. Because
the Trustee must sell the Securities within a relatively short period of
time, the sale of Securities as part of the termination process may
result in a lower amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale
were not required at this time.
If you own at least 1,000 Units of the Trust the Trustee will send you a
form at least 30 days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date which will
enable you to receive shares of Securities included in the Trust
(reduced by customary transfer and registration charges) rather than the
typical cash distribution representing your pro rata interest in the
Trust. You must notify the Trustee at least ten business days prior to
the Mandatory Termination Date if you elect this In-Kind Distribution
option. If you do not elect to participate in the In-Kind Distribution
option for eligible Unit holders you will receive a cash distribution
from the sale of the remaining Securities, along with your interest in
the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust, within a reasonable time
after the Trust is terminated. Regardless of the distribution involved,
the Trustee will deduct from the Trust any accrued costs, expenses,
advances or indemnities provided by the Indenture, including estimated
compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any amounts
required as a reserve to pay any taxes or other governmental charges.
Information on the Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator
The Sponsor.
We, Nike Securities L.P., specialize in the underwriting, trading and
wholesale distribution of unit investment trusts under the "First Trust"
brand name and other securities. An Illinois limited partnership formed
in 1991, we act as Sponsor for successive series of:
- - The First Trust Combined Series
- - FT Series (formerly known as The First Trust Special Situations Trust)
- - The First Trust Insured Corporate Trust
- - The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds
- - The First Trust GNMA
First Trust introduced the first insured unit investment trust in 1974.
To date we have deposited more than $20 billion in First Trust unit
investment trusts. Our employees include a team of professionals with
many years of experience in the unit investment trust industry.
We are a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
and Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Our principal offices
are at 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532; telephone number
(630) 241-4141. As of December 31, 1997, the total partners' capital of
Nike Securities L.P. was $11,724,071 (audited).
This information refers only to the Sponsor and not to the Trust or to
any series of the Trust or to any other dealer. We are including this
information only to inform you of our financial responsibility and our
ability to carry out our contractual obligations. We will provide more
detailed financial information on request.
The Trustee.
The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, and its principal executive
office is 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. If you have questions regarding the Trust, you may
call the Customer Service Help Line at 1-800-682-7520. The Trustee is
supervised 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 has not participated in selecting the Securities; it only
provides administrative services.
Limitations of Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee.
The Sponsor and the Trustee will not be liable to Unit holders for
taking any action or for not taking any action in good faith according
to the Indenture. We will also not be accountable for errors in
judgment. We will only be liable for our own willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence (ordinary negligence in the Trustee's case) or
reckless disregard of our obligations and duties. The Trustee is not
Page 22
liable for any loss or depreciation when the Securities are sold. If we
fail to act under the Indenture, the Trustee may do so, and the Trustee
will not be liable for any action it takes in good faith under the
Indenture.
The Trustee will not be liable for any taxes or other governmental
charges or interest on the Securities which the Trustee may be required
to pay under any present or future law of the United States or of any
other taxing authority with jurisdiction. Also, the Indenture states
other provisions regarding the liability of the Trustee.
If we do not perform any of our duties under the Indenture or are not
able to act or become bankrupt, or if our affairs are taken over by
public authorities, then the Trustee may:
- - appoint a successor Sponsor, paying them a reasonable rate not more
than that stated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
- - terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trust, or
- - continue to act as Trustee without terminating the Indenture.
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 Trustee, Sponsor and Unit holders may rely on the accuracy of any
evaluation prepared by the Evaluator. The Evaluator will make
determinations in good faith based upon the best available information.
However, the Evaluator will not be liable to the Trustee, Sponsor or
Unit holders for errors in judgment.
Other Information
Legal Opinions.
Our counsel is Chapman and Cutler, 111 W. Monroe St., Chicago, Illinois,
60603. They have passed upon the legality of the Units offered hereby
and certain matters relating to federal tax law. Carter, Ledyard &
Milburn acts as the Trustee's counsel, as well as special New York tax
counsel for the Trust.
Experts.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the Trust's
statement of net assets, including the schedule of investments at the
opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, as set forth in
their report. We've included the Trust's statement of net assets,
including the schedule of investments, in the prospectus and elsewhere
in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report,
given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Supplemental Information.
If you write or call the Trustee, you will receive free of charge
supplemental information about this Series, which has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and to which we have referred
throughout. This information states more specific risk information about
the Trust.
Page 23
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
TEXAS PORTFOLIO SERIES
FT 286
Sponsor:
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road, Suite 300
Lisle, Illinois 60532
1-630-241-4141
Trustee:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
4 New York Plaza, 6th floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
1-800-682-7520
24-Hour Pricing Line:
1-800-446-0132
This Prospectus contains information relating to Texas Portfolio Series,
but does not contain all of the information about this investment
company as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. under the:
- Securities Act of 1933 (file no. 333-63359) and
- Investment Company Act of 1940 (file no. 811-05903)
To obtain copies at prescribed rates -
Write: Public Reference Section of the Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
Call: 1-800-SEC-0330
Visit: http://www.sec.gov
February 19, 1999
PLEASE RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Page 24
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
The FT Series
Information Supplement
This Information Supplement provides additional information concerning
the structure, operations and risks of the unit investment trust
contained in FT 286 not found in the prospectus for the Trust. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus and does not include all of
the information you should consider before investing in the Trust. This
Information Supplement should be read in conjunction with the prospectus
for the Trust in which you are considering investing ("Prospectus").
This Information Supplement is dated February 18, 1999. Capitalized
terms have been defined in the Prospectus.
Table of Contents
Risk Factors
Securities 1
Concentrations 1
Technology Companies 1
Risk Factors
Securities. 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 Securities or
the general condition of the relevant stock market may worsen, and the
value of the 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. Both U.S. and foreign
markets have experienced substantial volatility and significant declines
recently as a result of certain or all of these factors.
Dividends. 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. 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.
Concentrations
Technology Companies. An investment in Units of the Trust should be made
with an understanding of the characteristics of the technology industry
and the risks which such an investment may entail.
Technology companies generally include companies involved in the
development, design, manufacture and sale of computers and peripherals,
software and services, data networking/communications equipment,
internet access/information providers, semiconductors and semiconductor
equipment and other related products, systems and services. The market
for these products, especially those specifically related to the
Internet, is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product
obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and
frequent new product introductions. The success of the issuers of the
Securities depends in substantial part on the timely and successful
introduction of new products. An unexpected change in one or more of the
technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for
products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse
affect on an issuer's operating results. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance that the issuers of the Securities will be able to respond in
a timely manner to compete in the rapidly developing marketplace.
Based on trading history of common stock, factors such as announcements
of new products or development of new technologies and general
conditions of the industry have caused and are likely to cause the
market price of high-technology common stocks to fluctuate
substantially. In addition, technology company stocks have experienced
extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated to
the operating performance of such companies. This market volatility may
adversely affect the market price of the Securities and therefore the
ability of a Unit holder to redeem Units at a price equal to or greater
than the original price paid for such Units.
Page 1
Some key components of certain products of technology issuers are
currently available only from single sources. There can be no assurance
that in the future suppliers will be able to meet the demand for
components in a timely and cost effective manner. Accordingly, an
issuer's operating results and customer relationships could be adversely
affected by either an increase in price for, or an interruption or
reduction in supply of, any key components. Additionally, many
technology issuers are characterized by a highly concentrated customer
base consisting of a limited number of large customers who may require
product vendors to comply with rigorous industry standards. Any failure
to comply with such standards may result in a significant loss or
reduction of sales. Because many products and technologies of technology
companies are incorporated into other related products, such companies
are often highly dependent on the performance of the personal computer,
electronics and telecommunications industries. There can be no assurance
that these customers will place additional orders, or that an issuer of
Securities will obtain orders of similar magnitude as past orders from
other customers. Similarly, the success of certain technology companies
is tied to a relatively small concentration of products or technologies.
Accordingly, a decline in demand of such products, technologies or from
such customers could have a material adverse impact on issuers of the
Securities.
Many technology companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights,
trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their
proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no
assurance that the steps taken by the issuers of the Securities to
protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent
misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not
independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or
superior to such issuers' technology. In addition, due to the increasing
public use of the Internet, it is possible that other laws and
regulations may be adopted to address issues such as privacy, pricing,
characteristics, and quality of Internet products and services. For
example, recent proposals would prohibit the distribution of obscene,
lascivious or indecent communications on the Internet. The adoption of
any such laws could have a material adverse impact on the Securities in
the Trust.
Like many areas of technology, the semiconductor business environment is
highly competitive, notoriously cyclical and subject to rapid and often
unanticipated change. Recent industry downturns have resulted, in part,
from weak pricing, persistent overcapacity, slowdown in Asian demand and
a shift in retail personal computer sales toward the low end, or "sub-
$1,000" segment. Industry growth is dependent upon several factors,
including: the rate of global economic expansion; demand for products
such as personal computers and networking and communications equipment;
excess productive capacity and the resultant effect on pricing; and the
rate of growth in the market for low-priced personal computers.
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