Registration No. 333-76241
1940 Act No. 811-05903
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6
FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF SECURITIES
OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
A. Exact name of trust:
FT 344
B. Name of depositor:
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
C. Complete address of depositor's principal executive offices:
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
D. Name and complete address of agents for service:
Copy to:
JAMES A. BOWEN ERIC F. FESS
c/o Nike Securities L.P. c/o Chapman and Cutler
1001 Warrenville Road 111 West Monroe Street
Lisle, Illinois 60532 Chicago, Illinois 60603
E. Title of Securities Being Registered:
An indefinite number of Units pursuant to Rule 24f-2
promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended
F. Approximate date of proposed sale to public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of the
Registration Statement.
|XXX|Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become
effective on June 24, 1999 at 2:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule
487.
________________________________
Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio
Series 2
FT 344
FT 344 consists of a unit investment trust known as Dow Jones Internet
Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2 (the "Trust"). The Trust
consists of a diversified portfolio of common stocks ("Securities") of
companies which comprise the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm). The
Trust seeks to provide above-average 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)
1-800-621-9533
The date of this prospectus is June 24, 1999
Page 1
Table of Contents
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 9
Portfolio 10
Risk Factors 11
Portfolio Securities Descriptions 12
Public Offering 14
Distribution of Units 16
The Sponsor's Profits 17
The Secondary Market 17
How We Purchase Units 17
Expenses and Charges 17
Tax Status 18
Retirement Plans 19
Rights of Unit Holders 19
Income and Capital Distributions 20
Redeeming Your Units 21
Reinvesting in a New Trust 22
Removing Securities from the Trust 23
Amending or Terminating the Indenture 23
Information on the Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator 24
Other Information 25
Page 2
Summary of Essential Information
Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2
FT 344
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-June 24, 1999
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Initial Number of Units (1) 15,419
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1) 1/15,419
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Securities per Unit (2) $ 10.000
Maximum Sales Charge of 1.50% of the Public Offering Price
per Unit (1.50% of the net amount invested, exclusive of
the deferred sales charge) (3) $ .150
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $ (.150)
Public Offering Price per Unit (4) $ 10.000
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (5) $ 9.850
Redemption Price per Unit (based on aggregate underlying
value of Securities less the deferred sales charge) (5) $ 9.850
Cash CUSIP Number 30264W 123
Reinvestment CUSIP Number 30264W 131
Security Code 56999
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
First Settlement Date June 29, 1999
Rollover Notification Date September 1, 2000
Special Redemption and Liquidation Period September 15, 2000 to September 26, 2000
Mandatory Termination Date (6) September 26, 2000
Income Distribution Record Date December 15, 1999
Income Distribution Date (7) December 31, 1999
______________
<FN>
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, 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 is entirely deferred. See "Fee Table" and
"Public Offering."
(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) During 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
the initial offering period, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price and
Redemption Price per Unit will not include such estimated organization
costs. See "Redeeming Your Units."
(6) See "Amending or Terminating the Indenture."
(7) At the Rollover Notification Date for Rollover Unit holders or upon
termination of the Trust for other Unit holders, amounts in the Income
Account (which consist of dividends on the Securities) will be included
in amounts distributed to Unit holders. We will distribute money from
the Capital Account monthly on the last day of each 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. In any
case, we will distribute any funds in the Capital Account as part of the
final liquidation distribution.
</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 15 months and
is a unit investment trust rather than a mutual fund, this information
allows you to compare fees, assuming that when the Trust terminates, the
principal amount and distributions are rolled over into a New Trust, and
you pay only the deferred sales charge.
<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 0.00% $.000
Deferred sales charge 1.50% $.150
________ ________
Maximum sales charge 1.50%(a) $.150
======== ========
Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends 1.50%(b) $.150
======== ========
Organization Costs
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Estimated organization costs .200%(c) $.0200
======== ========
Estimated Annual Trust Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative and evaluation fees .079% $.0080
Trustee's fee and other operating expenses .141%(d) .0142
________ ________
Total .220% $.0222
======== ========
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 10 Years
__________ ___________ ___________ ___________
$192 $578 $797 $1,618
This example will not differ if you hold rather than sell your Units at
the end of each period. 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 maximum sales charge is entirely deferred. The maximum sales
charge is a fixed dollar amount equal to $.15 per Unit which will be
deducted in three equal monthly installments of $.05 per Unit beginning
October 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
December 20, 1999. If you buy Units at a price of less than $10.00 per
Unit, the dollar amount of the sales charge will not change but the
sales charge on a percentage basis will be more than 1.5% of the Public
Offering Price. If you purchase Units after the first deferred sales
charge payment has been deducted, you will be charged the amount of the
previously collected deferred sales charge at the time of purchase and
will be subject to any remaining deferred sales charge payments not yet
collected.
(b) Reinvested dividends will be subject only to the deferred sales
charge remaining at the time of reinvestment. See "Income and Capital
Distributions."
(c) 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 end of the initial offering period.
(d) Includes estimated per Unit costs associated with a license fee as
described in "Expenses and Charges."
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 4
Report of Independent Auditors
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
FT 344
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of FT 344, comprised of the Dow Jones Internet
Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2, as of the opening of business
on June 24, 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 June 24, 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 344,
comprised of the Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio,
Series 2, at the opening of business on June 24, 1999 in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
June 24, 1999
Page 5
Statement of Net Assets
Dow Jones Internet Index Securities Portfolio, Series 2
FT 344
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit-June 24, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
NET ASSETS
Investment in Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $154,187
Less liability for reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (308)
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4) (2,313)
________
Net assets $151,566
========
Units outstanding 15,419
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Cost to investors (5) $154,187
Less maximum sales charge (5) (2,313)
Less estimated reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (308)
________
Net assets $151,566
========
_____________
<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 will be allocated 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 $.0200 per
Unit for the Trust. A payment will be made at end of the initial
offering period to an account maintained by the Trustee from which the
obligation of the investors to the Sponsor will be satisfied. To the
extent that actual organization costs are greater than the estimated
amount, only the estimated organization costs added to the Public
Offering Price will be reimbursed to the Sponsor and deducted from the
assets of the Trust.
(4) Represents the amount of mandatory deferred sales charge
distributions from the Trust ($.15 per Unit), payable to us in three
equal monthly installments beginning on October 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 December 20, 1999.
If you redeem Units before December 20, 1999 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 deferred
sales charge computed at the rate of 1.50% of the Public Offering Price
per Unit (equivalent to 1.50% 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
Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2
FT 344
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-June 24, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Percentage Market Cost of
of Ticker Symbol and of Aggregate Value per Securities to
Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Offering Price Share the Trust (2)
_____ ________________________________ __________ _________ _____________
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
E*COMMERCE
__________
46 AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. 3.51% $117.750 $ 5,417
69 AMTD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (Class A) 3.93% 87.750 6,055
39 BYND Beyond.com Corporation 0.83% 32.875 1,282
46 BCST Broadcast.com Inc. (3) 3.56% 119.500 5,497
36 COOL Cyberian Outpost, Inc. 0.23% 9.844 354
143 EGRP E*TRADE Group, Inc. 3.59% 38.688 5,532
35 EBAY eBay Inc. 3.32% 146.438 5,125
33 EGGS Egghead.com, Inc. 0.23% 10.688 353
55 HLTH Healtheon Corporation 3.15% 88.250 4,854
83 SEEK Infoseek Corporation 2.54% 47.250 3,922
55 LCOS Lycos, Inc. 3.34% 93.500 5,143
36 NTBK Net.B@nk, Inc. 0.81% 34.625 1,246
27 ONSL ONSALE, Inc. 0.32% 18.500 499
97 TMCS Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, Inc. (Class B) 1.43% 22.750 2,207
35 YHOO Yahoo! Inc. (3) 3.53% 155.500 5,442
INTERNET SERVICES
_________________
38 AXNT AXENT Technologies, Inc. 0.28% 11.563 439
38 ABOV AboveNet Communications Inc. 1.01% 40.813 1,551
88 AOL America Online, Inc. 6.40% 112.063 9,862
35 BVSN BroadVision, Inc. 1.36% 59.750 2,091
99 CMGI CMGI Inc. 6.35% 98.938 9,795
96 CNET CNET, Inc. 3.27% 52.563 5,046
90 CKFR CheckFree Holdings Corporation 1.68% 28.750 2,588
49 CHKP Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (4) 1.74% 54.813 2,686
28 CYCH CyberCash, Inc. 0.23% 12.563 352
60 DCLK DoubleClick Inc. 3.30% 84.938 5,096
40 ELNK EarthLink Network, Inc. 1.59% 61.250 2,450
185 ATHM Excite@Home 6.77% 56.438 10,441
56 EXDS Exodus Communications, Inc. 3.34% 91.938 5,149
</TABLE>
Page 7
Schedule of Investments (cont'd.)
Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2
FT 344
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-June 24, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Percentage Market Cost of
of Ticker Symbol and of Aggregate Value per Securities to
Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Offering Price Share the Trust (2)
______ ________________________________ ______________ _______ _____________
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
47 IDTC IDT Corporation 0.62% $ 20.313 $ 955
66 INSP InfoSpace.com, Inc. 1.98% 46.188 3,048
67 INKT Inktomi Corporation 5.10% 117.313 7,860
40 MSPG MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. 2.04% 78.625 3,145
41 NSOL Network Solutions, Inc. (Class A) 1.91% 71.938 2,949
50 OMKT Open Market, Inc. 0.44% 13.500 675
82 PSIX PSINet Inc. 2.55% 47.875 3,926
96 RNWK RealNetworks, Inc. 4.23% 67.938 6,522
130 SE Sterling Commerce, Inc. 3.12% 37.063 4,818
107 USWB USWeb Corporation 1.44% 20.750 2,220
50 VRIO Verio Inc. 1.93% 59.438 2,972
69 VRSN VeriSign, Inc. 3.00% 67.000 4,623
_______ ________
Total Investments 100% $154,187
======= ========
_____________
<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. We entered into purchase
contracts for the Securities on June 23, 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 closing sale prices of the listed Securities and the
ask prices of the over-the-counter traded Securities at the close of
business on the business day preceding the Initial Date of Deposit). The
valuation of the Securities has been determined by the Evaluator, an
affiliate of ours. The cost of the Securities to us and our loss (which
is the difference between the cost of the Securities to us and the cost
of the Securities to the Trust) are $154,267 and $80, respectively.
(3) Yahoo! Inc. ("Yahoo") has recently announced plans to acquire
Broadcast.com Inc. ("Broadcast.com"). As per the terms of the merger
agreement, each shareholder of Broadcast.com will receive .7722 shares
of Yahoo for each share of Broadcast.com held. As a result of this
expected transaction, it is anticipated that the Trust will receive
additional shares of common stock of Yahoo in exchange for the shares of
Broadcast.com which it holds. The transaction is subject to the approval
of the shareholders of both companies and various regulatory authorities.
(4) This Security represents the common stock of a foreign company which
trades directly on a U.S. national securities exchange.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 8
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 Dow Jones
Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2 .
Mandatory Termination Date.
The Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date,
approximately 15 months 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 the 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 ("Units").
With the deposit of the contracts to buy the 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 our 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 used to purchase additional securities. 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 or vote any of the Securities in the
Trust. 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 9
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 objective of the Trust is to provide the potential for above average
capital appreciation through an investment in common stocks of companies
which comprise the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm).
The Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm) is a modified market
capitalization index, the long-term goal of which is to represent 80% of
the market capitalization of Internet stocks by selecting a cross-
section of companies. It consists of 40 firms that derive the majority
of their revenue from the Internet. A total of 15 engage in e-commerce
while the other 25 are Internet service providers. The 40 companies
listed on the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm) also make up two
subindexes called the Dow Jones Internet Commerce Index (sm) and the
Dow Jones Internet Services Index (sm). To qualify for listing on these
subindexes, companies must generate at least 50% of their revenue from
the Internet, have a minimum of three months trading history, and have a
market capitalization of at least $100 million. No single company will
represent more than 10% of the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm).
The Internet has developed quite a following in the investment community
over the past few years. The returns posted by companies like Yahoo!,
America Online, Excite, Infoseek and Amazon.com have encouraged some
investors to chase short-term gains rather than invest for long-term
growth.
We believe that the Trust offers a more balanced approach to owning
these high-tech equities by providing a diversified portfolio of
companies that derive the majority of their revenue from the Internet.
The portfolio invests in the common stocks of companies that are listed
on the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm) as of the business day
prior to the date of this prospectus. The weighting of the Securities in
the Trust attempts to match the weighting of the common stocks in the
Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm) as of the close of business two
business days prior to the date of this prospectus, subject to the
limitation that only whole shares are purchased for the Trust.
The following factors support our positive outlook for the companies in
the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm):
- - The number of Internet addresses expanded by 45% over the past year,
for the period ended January 31, 1999. There are 43.2 million currently
registered Internet addresses, up from 29.7 million a year ago.
- - Advertising spending on the Internet has grown substantially from
$266 million in 1996 to $1.26 billion for the first three quarters of
1998. Consumer product companies account for 27% of spending, the most
on the Internet.
- - The small business community, defined as firms with less than 100
employees, represents 98% of all U.S. businesses, yet more than half of
these firms do not utilize the Internet. This represents a potential
growth opportunity.
Internet Demographics
1995 1998
____ ____
Percentage of Americans Who
Own a computer 36% 43%
Use the Internet 14% 41%
Go online every day 3% 12%
Use e-mail 10% 35%
Bought something online 1% 13%
Percentage of Internet Users Who
Get entertainment information 44% 73%
Get travel / vacation information 27% 68%
Get financial information 26% 49%
source: The Industry Standard, January 99
Investors looking for an affordable way to invest in the growth
potential of the Internet should consider the Trust. It invests in 40
Internet-related companies, something the average investor would not be
in a position to do without a substantial financial commitment. Also,
the disciplined "buy and hold" approach may prove to be an effective way
to cope with volatility over time.
The Trust consists of the securities contained in the Dow Jones Internet
Composite Index (sm) as of the business day prior to the Initial Date of
Deposit. The composition of the Trust will not be adjusted to reflect
changes in the composition of the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index
(sm) which occur after the Initial Date of Deposit. In addition, during
the initial offering period the Trust will not invest more than 5% of
its portfolio in shares of any one securities-related issuer.
Page 10
There is, of course, no guarantee that the objective of the Trust will
be achieved. The Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm) is compiled by
and is the property of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. ("Dow Jones"). The
Trust is not sponsored, managed, sold or promoted by Dow Jones and Dow
Jones has not participated in the creation of the Trust or in the
selection of the Securities. 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 listed on the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (sm). 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 the relatively short
15-month life of the Trust 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.
The Trust may be considered to be concentrated in Securities issued by
companies with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion. The share
prices of these small-cap companies are often more volatile than those
of larger companies. This is a result of several factors common to many
such issuers, including limited trading volumes, products or financial
resources, management inexperience and less publicly available
information.
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
Securities issued by companies which are involved in the Internet area
of the technology industry. Technology companies are generally subject
to the risks of rapidly changing technologies; short product life
cycles; fierce competition; aggressive pricing and reduced profit
margins; the loss of patent, copyright and trademark protections;
cyclical market patterns; evolving industry standards and frequent new
product introductions. Technology companies may be smaller and less
experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial
resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel.
Technology company stocks, especially those which are Internet-related,
have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often
unrelated to their operating performance. Also, the stocks of many
Internet companies have exceptionally high price-to-earnings ratios with
little or no earnings histories.
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
the industry represented by these issuers 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.
Foreign Stocks. Certain of the Securities are issued by foreign
companies which makes the Trust subject to more risks than if it
invested solely in domestic common stocks. Risks of foreign common
stocks include losses due to future political and economic developments,
foreign currency devaluations, restrictions on foreign investments and
exchange of securities, inadequate financial information, and lack of
liquidity of certain foreign markets.
Page 11
Portfolio Securities Descriptions
E*COMMERCE
__________
Amazon.com, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operates as an
on-line retailer of books, offering more than 2.5 million titles via a
commercial site on the World Wide Web.
Ameritrade Holding Corporation (Class A), headquartered in Omaha,
Nebraska, through subsidiaries, operates as an online discount brokerage
firm which provides brokerage and clearing services to individual
consumer investors and other financial institutions.
Beyond.com Corporation, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, operates
as an online reseller of commercial off-the-shelf computer software to
the consumer, small business and large enterprise markets.
Broadcast.com Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, aggregates and
broadcasts streaming media programming on the Web with the ability to
deliver live and on-demand audio and video programs over the Internet.
Cyberian Outpost, Inc., headquartered in Kent, Connecticut, operates as
a global Internet retailer of computer products including hardware,
software and peripheral products.
E*TRADE Group, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, provides
online discount brokerage services, using its proprietary processing
technology. Services include automated order placement, portfolio
tracking and related market information, news and other information.
eBay Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, operates an online
person-to-person trading community on the Internet, bringing together
buyers and sellers in an auction format to trade personal items such as
antiques, coins, collectibles, computers, memorabilia, stamps and toys.
Egghead.com, Inc., headquartered in Liberty Lake, Washington, sells
personal computer hardware, software and related products through the
Internet to consumers and businesses.
Healtheon Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California,
provides healthcare services including membership, administration,
financial management and clinical information over the Internet, private
intranets and other networks.
Infoseek Corporation, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, develops
and provides branded, comprehensive Web-based navigational services that
help users access and personalize the resources of the Internet.
Infoseek Service is a free service targeted at individual business and
consumer users.
Lycos, Inc., headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, owns and
operates a free global Internet navigation and community network which
provides Web search and navigation, communications and personalization
tools, homepage building, Web community services and a contemporary
shopping center.
Net.B@nk, Inc., headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, owns and operates
the Atlanta Internet Bank, which provides banking services to consumers
utilizing the Internet for commercial and financial services.
ONSALE, Inc., headquartered in Menlo Park, California, operates as an
electronic retailer specializing in selling refurbished and close-out
computers, peripherals and consumer electronics over the Internet via an
interactive 24-hour online auction.
Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, Inc. (Class B), headquartered in
Pasadena, California, provides local city guides, local advertising and
live event ticketing on the Internet.
Yahoo! Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, offers a family
of branded online media properties, including "YAHOO!" that is among the
most widely used sources of information and discovery on the World Wide
Web.
INTERNET SERVICES
_________________
AXENT Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Rockville, Maryland,
develops, markets, licenses and supports enterprise-wide information
security solutions for client/server computing environments.
AboveNet Communications Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California,
provides managed co-location and Internet connectivity solutions for
electronic commerce and other mission-critical Internet operations. The
company has public and private data exchange connections, including
relationships with top-tier network providers.
America Online, Inc., headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, provides online
services to consumers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan
offering subscribers a wide variety of services, including electronic
mail, conferencing, news, sports, Internet access, entertainment,
Page 12
weather, stock quotes, software, computing support, and online classes.
BroadVision, Inc., headquartered in Redwood City, California, provides
an integrated software application system, "BroadVision One-To-One,"
that enables businesses to create applications for interactive marketing
and selling services on the World Wide Web.
CMGI Inc., headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, invests in and
develops Internet companies. The company also operates direct marketing
companies and venture capital funds focused on the Internet.
CNET, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, provides
information on computers, the Internet and digital technologies through
sites on the Internet and television programming.
CheckFree Holdings Corporation, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia,
provides electronic commerce services, financial application software
and related products for financial institutions and businesses and their
customers.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., headquartered in Ramat-Gan,
Israel, develops, sells and supports network security software products
that enable connectivity with security and manageability.
CyberCash, Inc., headquartered in Reston, Virginia, provides Internet
payment processing services to businesses in the United States and
abroad by providing secure, convenient and cost-effective means for
effecting payments over the Internet.
DoubleClick Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, provides
comprehensive Internet advertising solutions for advertisers and Web
publishers.
EarthLink Network, Inc., headquartered in Pasadena, California, is an
Internet service provider focusing on providing reliable access, useful
information, assistance and services to its customers to encourage their
introduction to the Internet.
Excite@Home, headquartered in Redwood City, California, provides
navigation services and products for the Internet and the World Wide Web
which enable consumers, content providers and advertisers to access and
interact with one another more efficiently. The company also provides
Internet services over the cable television infrastructure and leased
digital telecommunications lines to consumers and businesses.
Exodus Communications, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California,
provides Internet system and network management solutions for
enterprises with mission-critical Internet operations.
IDT Corporation, headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, offers a broad
range of integrated and competitively priced long-distance telephone,
Internet access and Internet telephonic services in the United States
and abroad.
InfoSpace.com, Inc., headquartered in Redmond, Washington, provides
content services for the Internet such as yellow and white pages, maps,
classified ads, stock quotes and weather forecasts.
Inktomi Corporation, headquartered in San Mateo, California, develops
and markets scalable Internet software. The company's products include
search engine, shopping engine and traffic server network caching
products.
MindSpring Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia,
provides Internet access serving individual subscribers, including
individuals with little or no prior on-line experience.
Network Solutions, Inc. (Class A), headquartered in Herndon, Virginia,
provides worldwide Internet domain name registration services within the
".com," ".org," ".net" and ".edu" top-level domains. The company also
provides intranet consulting and network design and implementation
services to large companies.
Open Market, Inc., headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, develops,
markets, licenses and supports high performance software products that
allow the company's customers to conduct business-to-consumer and
business-to-business electronic commerce on the Internet and to deploy
Internet-based business applications within an enterprise.
PSINet Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, is a global facilities-
based Internet access provider to the business market, by means of its
high performance computer network, "PSINet."
RealNetworks, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, Washington, develops and
markets software products and services designed to enable users of
personal computers and other digital devices to send and receive real-
time media using current infrastructure.
Sterling Commerce, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, develops,
markets and supports electronic commerce software products and provides
electronic commerce network services that enable businesses to engage in
Page 13
business-to-business electronic communications and transactions.
USWeb Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, provides
intranet, extranet and Web site solutions and services to medium-sized
and large companies.
Verio Inc., headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, provides Internet
connectivity and enhanced Internet services to small and medium-sized
businesses.
VeriSign, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California, provides
digital certificate solutions and infrastructure needed by companies,
government agencies, trading partners and individuals to conduct secure
communications and commerce over the Internet and over intranets and
extranets using the Internet Protocol.
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 consists entirely of 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 ("SEC") 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 end of the initial offering period (a significantly shorter time
period than the life of the Trust). During 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 per Unit 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 the extent practicable, 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 your order (the "date of settlement"), you may pay before
then. You will become the owner of Units ("Record Owner") 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 maximum sales charge you will pay is entirely deferred. This
deferred sales charge is a fixed dollar amount equal to $.15 per Unit
which will be deducted in three equal monthly installments of $.05 per
Unit beginning October 20, 1999 and on the 20th day of each month
thereafter (or the preceding business day if the 20th day is not a
Page 14
business day) through December 20, 1999. On the Initial Date of Deposit
this fee will equal 1.5% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to
1.5% of the net amount invested), but because this amount is a fixed
dollar amount per Unit, it will vary from 1.5% of the Public Offering
Price per Unit as the Public Offering Price varies from $10 per Unit.
However, in no event will the maximum sales charge exceed 3% of the
Public Offering Price per Unit. If you purchase Units after the first
deferred sales charge payment has been deducted, you will be charged the
amount of the previously collected deferred sales charge at the time of
purchase and will be subject to any remaining deferred sales charge
payments not yet collected.
Discounts for Certain Persons.
If you invest at least $1 million (except if you are purchasing for a
"wrap fee account" as described below) the maximum sales charge will be
$.10 per Unit.
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. 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 charge is the responsibility of the
broker/dealer or other selling agent making the sale.
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, subject only to the Sponsor's retention of the sale charge. 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 will appraise the value of the Securities in the Trust as
of the Evaluation Time on each business day and will adjust the 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
Page 15
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 $.10 of the Public
Offering Price per Unit.
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:
Additional
Total Sales per Trust Concession
(in millions) per Unit
_____________________ ___________
$40 but less than $50 $.0050
$50 but less than $75 $.0125
$75 but less than $100 $.0150
$100 or more $.0200
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 our criteria, or
participate in our sales programs, amounts equal to no more than the
total applicable sales charges on Units sold 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 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.
Page 16
The Sponsor's Profits
We will receive a gross sales commission equal to the maximum sales
charge per Unit of the Trust 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 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 deferred 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 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,
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 will 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.
Page 17
In addition to the Trust's operating expenses, and the fees described
above, the Trust may also incur the following charges:
- - A quarterly license fee payable by the Trust for the use of certain
trademarks and trade names of Dow Jones;
- - All legal 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; and/or
- - 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."
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.
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.
Page 18
Rollovers.
If you elect to have your proceeds from the Trust rolled over into the
next series of the Trust, it is considered a sale for federal income tax
purposes, and any gain on the sale will be treated as a capital gain,
and any loss will be treated as a capital loss. However, any loss you
incur in connection with the exchange of your Units of the Trust for
units of the next series will generally be disallowed with respect to
this deemed sale and subsequent deemed repurchase, to the extent the two
trusts have identical Securities under the wash sale provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code.
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.
Some distributions by the Trust may be subject to foreign withholding
taxes. Any dividends withheld will nevertheless be treated as income to
you. However, because you are deemed to have paid directly your share of
foreign taxes that have been paid or accrued by the Trust, you may be
entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for U.S. tax purposes with
respect to such 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.
Rights of Unit Holders
Unit Ownership.
The Trustee will treat as Record Owner of Units persons 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 and surrendering it to the
Trustee, along with a written instrument(s) of transfer. You must sign
your name exactly as it 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.
Page 19
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 establish an account for you and
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 Record 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 ("TIN");
- - 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.
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:
- - A summary of transactions in the Trust for the year;
- - Any Securities sold during the year and the Securities held at the
end of that year by the Trust;
- - The Redemption Price per Unit, computed on the 31st day of December
of such year (or the last business day before); and
- - 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
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.
Page 20
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
TIN. You may recover this amount by giving your TIN to the Trustee, or
when you file a tax return. Normally, the selling broker gives your TIN
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, unless you are a
Rollover Unit holder, 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
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 TIN. For more information about this withholding, see
Page 21
"Income and Capital Distributions." If the Trustee does not have your
TIN, 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 diversification 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:
- - If the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday
closings);
- - If the 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
- - 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; and
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, 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
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."
Reinvesting in a New Trust
The Trust's portfolio has been selected on the basis of capital
appreciation potential for a limited time period. When the Trust is
about to terminate, you may have the option to roll your proceeds into
the next series of the Trust (the "New Trust") if one is available. We
intend to create the New Trust in conjunction with the termination of
the Trust and plan to use the same procedure we used to select the
portfolio for the Trust to the New Trust.
If you wish to have the proceeds from your Units rolled into the New
Trust you must notify the Trustee in writing of your election by the
Rollover Notification Date stated in the "Summary of Essential
Information." As a Rollover Unit holder, your Units will be redeemed and
the underlying Securities sold by the Trustee, in its capacity as
Distribution Agent, during the Special Redemption and Liquidation
Period. The Distribution Agent may engage us or other brokers as its
agent to sell the Securities.
Once all of the Securities are sold, your proceeds, less any brokerage
fees, governmental charges or other expenses involved in the sales, will
be used to buy units of the New Trust or trust with a similar investment
strategy that you have selected, provided such trusts are registered and
being offered. Accordingly, proceeds may be uninvested for up to several
days. Units purchased with rollover proceeds will generally be purchased
subject only to the maximum remaining deferred sales charge on such
units (currently expected to be $.15 per unit).
We intend to create New Trust units as quickly as possible, depending on
the availability of the Securities contained in the New Trust's
portfolio. Rollover Unit holders will be given first priority to
purchase New Trust units. We cannot, however, assure the exact timing of
Page 22
the creation of New Trust units or the total number of New Trust units
we will create. Any proceeds not invested on behalf of Rollover Unit
holders in New Trust units will be distributed within a reasonable time
after such occurrence. Although we believe that enough New Trust units
can be created, monies in the New Trust may not be fully invested on the
next business day.
Please note that there are certain tax consequences associated with
becoming a Rollover Unit holder. See "Tax Status." If you elect not to
participate as a Rollover Unit holder ("Remaining Unit holders"), you
will not incur capital gains or losses due to the Special Redemption and
Liquidation, nor will you be charged any additional sales charge. We may
modify, amend or terminate this rollover option upon 60 days notice.
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, including situations in which:
- - 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, the issuer's credit standing, or otherwise
damage the sound investment character of the Security;
- - The issuer has defaulted on the payment of any other of its
outstanding obligations; or
- - The price of the Security has declined to such an extent, or such
other credit factors exist, that in our opinion keeping the Security
would be harmful to the Trust.
Except in the limited instance in which the Trust acquires 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 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 diversification 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. The Trust may be terminated prior to the
Mandatory Termination Date:
Page 23
- - 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 ("Discretionary Liquidation Amount"); 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, including Unit holder's participating as Rollover Unit
holders, the Trust may be reduced below the Discretionary 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 an In-Kind Distribution of Securities (reduced by
customary transfer and registration charges) rather than the typical
cash distribution. 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 either the
Rollover Option or 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 $25 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, 1998, the total partners' capital of
Nike Securities L.P. was $18,506,548 (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.
Page 24
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.
Neither we nor the Trustee will 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 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 SEC,
- - 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 SEC and to which we have referred throughout. This information
states more specific risk information about the Trust.
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Page 27
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
Dow Jones Internet Index (sm) Securities Portfolio Series 2
FT 344
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
________________________
When Units of the Trust are no longer available, this prospectus may be
used as a preliminary prospectus for a future series, in which case you
should note the following:
________________________
THE INFORMATION IN THE PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE
MAY NOT SELL, OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO BUY, SECURITIES OF A FUTURE SERIES
UNTIL THAT SERIES HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION. NO SECURITIES CAN BE SOLD IN ANY STATE WHERE A SALE WOULD BE
ILLEGAL.
This prospectus contains information relating to Dow Jones Internet
Index (sm) Securities Portfolio, Series 2 , 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. 333-76241) 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
June 24, 1999
PLEASE RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Page 28
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 344 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.
This Information Supplement is dated June 24, 1999. Capitalized terms
have been defined in the prospectus.
Table of Contents
Risk Factors
Securities 1
Dividends 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, quality of Internet products and services and taxation
of transactions executed via the Internet. 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.
Page 2
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
A. Bonding Arrangements of Depositor:
Nike Securities L.P. is covered by a Brokers' Fidelity Bond,
in the total amount of $1,000,000, the insurer being
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh.
B. This Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the
following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The Prospectus
The signatures
Exhibits
S-1
SIGNATURES
The Registrant, FT 344, hereby identifies The First Trust
Special Situations Trust, Series 4; The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 18; The First Trust Special Situations
Trust, Series 69; The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 108; The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 119;
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 190; and FT 286
for purposes of the representations required by Rule 487 and
represents the following:
(1) that the portfolio securities deposited in the series
as to the securities of which this Registration Statement is
being filed do not differ materially in type or quality from
those deposited in such previous series;
(2) that, except to the extent necessary to identify the
specific portfolio securities deposited in, and to provide
essential financial information for, the series with respect to
the securities of which this Registration Statement is being
filed, this Registration Statement does not contain disclosures
that differ in any material respect from those contained in the
registration statements for such previous series as to which the
effective date was determined by the Commission or the staff; and
(3) that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities
Act of 1933.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Registrant, FT 344, has duly caused this Amendment to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Village of Lisle
and State of Illinois on June 24, 1999.
FT 344
By NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
Depositor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
S-2
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed
below by the following person in the capacity and on the date
indicated:
NAME TITLE* DATE
Robert D. Van Kampen Director of )
Nike Securities )
Corporation, the ) June 24, 1999
General Partner of )
Nike Securities L.P. )
)
)
David J. Allen Director of ) Robert M. Porcellino
Nike Securities ) Attorney-in-Fact**
Corporation, the )
General Partner of )
Nike Securities L.P.
* The title of the person named herein represents his
capacity in and relationship to Nike Securities L.P.,
Depositor.
** An executed copy of the related power of attorney
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with the Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 of The
First Trust Combined Series 258 (File No. 33-63483) and
the same is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
S-3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" and to the use of our report dated June 24, 1999 in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-6) (File
No. 333-76241) and related Prospectus of FT 344.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
June 24, 1999
CONSENTS OF COUNSEL
The consents of counsel to the use of their names in the
Prospectus included in this Registration Statement will be
contained in their respective opinions to be filed as Exhibits
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Registration Statement.
CONSENT OF FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
The consent of First Trust Advisors L.P. to the use of its
name in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement
will be filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.
S-4
EXHIBIT INDEX
1.1 Form of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust for The
First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22 and
certain subsequent Series, effective November 20, 1991
among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, United States
Trust Company of New York as Trustee, Securities
Evaluation Service, Inc., as Evaluator, and First Trust
Advisors L.P. as Portfolio Supervisor (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
43693] filed on behalf of The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 22).
1.1.1 Form of Trust Agreement for Series 344 among Nike
Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as Trustee, First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator, and
First Trust Advisors L.P., as Portfolio Supervisor.
1.2 Copy of Certificate of Limited Partnership of Nike
Securities L.P. (incorporated by reference to Amendment
No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.3 Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement of Nike Securities L.P. (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
42683] filed on behalf of The First Trust Special
Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.4 Copy of Articles of Incorporation of Nike Securities
Corporation, the general partner of Nike Securities
L.P., Depositor (incorporated by reference to Amendment
No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.5 Copy of By-Laws of Nike Securities Corporation, the
general partner of Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
(incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-
6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of The First Trust
Special Situations Trust, Series 18).
1.6 Underwriter Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42755] filed on
behalf of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 19).
2.1 Copy of Certificate of Ownership (included in Exhibit
1.1 filed herewith on page 2 and incorporated herein by
reference).
S-5
3.1 Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
registered.
3.2 Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of
securities being registered.
3.3 Opinion of counsel as to New York income tax status of
securities being registered.
3.4 Opinion of counsel as to advancement of funds by
Trustee.
4.1 Consent of First Trust Advisors L.P.
6.1 List of Directors and Officers of Depositor and other
related information (incorporated by reference to
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on
behalf of The First Trust Special Situations Trust,
Series 18).
7.1 Power of Attorney executed by the Director listed on
page S-3 of this Registration Statement (incorporated by
reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-
63483] filed on behalf of The First Trust Combined
Series 258).
S-6
MEMORANDUM
FT 344
File No. 333-76241
The Prospectus and the Indenture filed with Amendment No. 1
of the Registration Statement on Form S-6 have been revised to
reflect information regarding the execution of the Indenture and
the deposit of Securities on June 24, 1999 and to set forth
certain statistical data based thereon. In addition, there are a
number of other changes described below.
THE PROSPECTUS
Cover Page The date of the Trust has been added.
Page 3 The following information for the Trust appears:
The Aggregate Value of Securities initially
deposited have been added.
The initial number of units of the Trust
Sales charge
The Public Offering Price per Unit as of the
business day before the Initial Date of Deposit
The Mandatory Termination Date has been added.
Page 5 The Report of Independent Auditors has been
completed.
Page 6 The Statement of Net Assets has been completed.
Page 7-8 The Schedule of Investments has been completed.
Back Cover The date of the Prospectus has been included.
THE TRUST AGREEMENT AND STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
The Trust Agreement has been conformed to reflect
the execution thereof.
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
June 24, 1999
FT 344
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: June 24, 1999
The Trust Agreement among Nike Securities L.P., as
Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust
Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor, sets forth
certain provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by
reference to the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust for The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22
and certain subsequent Series, Effective November 20, 1991"
(herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"), and
such provisions as are incorporated by reference constitute a
single instrument. All references herein to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust.
WITNESSETH THAT:
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the Depositor, the Trustee, the
Evaluator and the Portfolio Supervisor agree as follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II and Part III hereof,
all the provisions contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety
and shall be deemed to be a part of this instrument as fully and
to the same extent as though said provisions had been set forth
in full in this instrument.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR DOW JONES INTERNET INDEX (SM) SECURITIES PORTFOLIO, SERIES 2
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust represented by
each Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio on the Initial Date of Deposit is
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of Investments."
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Summary of Essential Information."
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Summary of Essential Information."
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee in the amount of $.0030 per Unit, calculated
based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the
calendar year except during the initial offering period as
determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the
fee is calculated based on the largest number of units
outstanding during the period for which the compensation is paid
(such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Evaluator provides services during less than the whole of
such year). Such fee may exceed the actual cost of providing
such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time will the
total amount received for evaluation services rendered to unit
investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the sponsor in
any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Evaluator of
supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee in the amount of $.0095 per Unit, calculated
based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the
calendar year except during the initial offering period as
determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the
fee is calculated based on the largest number of units
outstanding during the period for which the compensation is paid
(such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Trustee provides services during less than the whole of such
year). However, in no event, except as may otherwise be provided
in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, shall the Trustee
receive compensation in any one year from any Trust of less than
$2,000 for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is June 24,
1999.
J. The minimum amount of Securities to be sold by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART III
A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, references to subsequent
Series established after the date of effectiveness of the First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 24 shall include FT 344.
B. The term "Principal Account" as set forth in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced with the
term "Capital Account."
C. Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
D. Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(3) "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P.
and its successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
appointed as hereinafter provided."
E. Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(4) "Portfolio Supervisor" shall mean First Trust
Advisors L.P. and its successors in interest, or any
successor portfolio supervisor appointed as hereinafter
provided."
F. Section 1.01(26) shall be added to read as follows:
"(26) The term "Rollover Unit holder" shall be defined
as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
G. Section 1.01(27) shall be added to read as follows:
"(27) The "Rollover Notification Date" shall be
defined as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information."
H. Section 1.01(28) shall be added to read as follows:
"(28) The term "Rollover Distribution" shall be
defined as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
I. Section 1.01(29) shall be added to read as follows:
"(29) The term "Distribution Agent" shall refer to the
Trustee acting in its capacity as distribution agent
pursuant to Section 5.05 herein."
J. Section 1.01(30) shall be added to read as follows:
"(30) The term "Special Redemption and Liquidation
Period" shall be as set forth in the Prospectus under
"Summary of Essential Information."
K. Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows:
(b)(1)From time to time following the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its
discretion, to assign, convey to and deposit with the
Trustee (i) additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and
transfer in proper form, (ii) Contract Obligations relating
to such additional Securities, accompanied by cash and/or
Letter(s) of Credit as specified in paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.01, or (iii) cash (or a Letter of Credit in lieu
of cash) with instructions to purchase additional
Securities, in an amount equal to the portion of the Unit
Value of the Units created by such deposit attributable to
the Securities to be purchased pursuant to such
instructions. Except as provided in the following
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in each case,
shall ensure that each deposit of additional Securities
pursuant to this Section shall maintain, as nearly as
practicable, the Percentage Ratio. Each such deposit of
additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a Notice of
Deposit of Additional Securities delivered by the Depositor
to the Trustee. Instructions to purchase additional
Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify the name
of the Security, CUSIP number, if any, aggregate amount,
price or price range and date to be purchased. When
requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as broker
to execute purchases in accordance with such instructions;
the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
(2) Additional Securities (or Contract Obligations
therefor) may, at the Depositor's discretion, be deposited
or purchased in round lots. If the amount of the deposit is
insufficient to acquire round lots of each Security to be
acquired, the additional Securities shall be deposited or
purchased in the order of the Security in the Trust most
under-represented immediately before the deposit with
respect to the Percentage Ratio.
(3) If at the time of a deposit of additional
Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the Initial
Date of Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement Securities
acquired to replace an issue deposited on the Initial Date
of Deposit) are unavailable, cannot be purchased at
reasonable prices or their purchase is prohibited or
restricted by applicable law, regulation or policies, the
Depositor may (i) deposit, or instruct the Trustee to
purchase, in lieu thereof, another issue of Securities or
Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a letter of
credit in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue of
Securities whose acquisition is not feasible with
instructions to acquire such Securities of such issue when
they become available.
(4) Any contrary authorization in the preceding
subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding, deposits of
additional Securities made after the 90-day period
immediately following the Initial Date of Deposit (except
for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations if
such deposits occur within 20 days from the date of a
failure occurring within such initial 90-day period) shall
maintain exactly the Percentage Ratio existing immediately
prior to such deposit.
(5) In connection with and at the time of any deposit
of additional Securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(b),
the Depositor shall exactly replicate Cash (as defined
below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
such deposit. For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
as to the Capital Account, cash or other property (other
than Securities) on hand in the Capital Account or
receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account as of
the date of the deposit (other than amounts to be
distributed solely to persons other than holders of Units
created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account, cash
or other property (other than Securities) received by the
Trust as of the date of the deposit or receivable by the
Trust in respect of a record date for a payment on a
Security which has occurred or will occur before the Trust
will be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by the
amount of any cash or other property received or receivable
on any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
calculations of distributions from the Income Account
pursuant to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or to be
made in respect of a Record Date occurring prior to the
deposit. Such replication will be made on the basis of a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units
created by the deposit and the denominator of which is the
number of Units which are outstanding immediately prior to
the deposit."
L. The following shall be added immediately following the
first sentence of paragraph (c) of Section 2.01:
"The Trustee may allow the Depositor to substitute for
any Letter(s) of Credit deposited with the Trustee in
connection with the deposits described in Section 2.01(a)
and (b) cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy the
obligations to which the Letter(s) of Credit relates. Any
substituted Letter(s) of Credit shall be released by the
Trustee."
M. Section 2.03(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended by adding the following sentence after the
first sentence of such section:
"The number of Units may be increased through a split
of the Units or decreased through a reverse split thereof,
as directed in writing by the Depositor, at any time when
the Depositor is the only beneficial holder of Units, which
revised number of Units shall be recorded by the Trustee on
its books. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the
Depositor's direction as certification that no person other
than the Depositor has a beneficial interest in the Units
and the Trustee shall have no liability to any person for
action taken pursuant to such direction."
N. Section 3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Section 3.01. Initial Cost. Subject to reimbursement
as hereinafter provided, the cost of organizing the Trust
and the sale of the Trust Units shall be borne by the
Depositor, provided, however, that the liability on the part
of the Depositor under this section shall not include any
fees or other expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of the Trust subsequent to the deposit
referred to in Section 2.01. At the conclusion of the
primary offering period (as certified by the Depositor to
the Trustee), the Trustee shall withdraw from the Account or
Accounts specified in the Prospectus or, if no Account is
therein specified, from the Capital Account, and pay to the
Depositor the Depositor's reimbursable expenses of
organizing the Trust in an amount certified to the Trustee
by the Depositor. In no event shall the amount paid by the
Trustee to the Depositor for the Depositors reimbursable
expenses of organizing the Trust exceed the estimated per
Unit amount of organization costs set forth in the
prospectus for the Trust multiplied by the number of Units
of the Trust outstanding at the conclusion of the primary
offering period; nor shall the Depositor be entitled to or
request reimbursement for expenses of organizing the Trust
incurred after the conclusion of the primary offering
period. If the cash balance of the Capital Account is
insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as
directed by the Depositor, sell Securities identified by the
Depositor, or distribute to the Depositor Securities having
a value, as determined under Section 4.01 as of the date of
distribution, sufficient for such reimbursement. Securities
sold or distributed to the Depositor to reimburse the
Depositor pursuant to this Section shall be sold or
distributed by the Trustee, to the extent practicable, in
the percentage ratio then existing. The reimbursement
provided for in this section shall be for the account of the
Unit holders of record at the conclusion of the primary
offering period. Any assets deposited with the Trustee in
respect of the expenses reimbursable under this Section 3.01
shall be held and administered as assets of the Trust for
all purposes hereunder. The Depositor shall deliver to the
Trustee any cash identified in the Statement of Net Assets
of the Trust included in the Prospectus not later than the
expiration of the Delivery Period and the Depositors
obligation to make such delivery shall be secured by the
letter of credit deposited pursuant to Section 2.01. Any
cash which the Depositor has identified as to be used for
reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Section 3.01
shall be held by the Trustee, without interest, and reserved
for such purpose and, accordingly, prior to the conclusion
of the primary offering period, shall not be subject to
distribution or, unless the Depositor otherwise directs,
used for payment of redemptions in excess of the per Unit
amount payable pursuant to the next sentence. If a Unit
holder redeems Units prior to the conclusion of the primary
offering period, the Trustee shall pay to the Unit holder,
in addition to the Redemption Value of the tendered Units,
unless otherwise directed by the Depositor, an amount equal
to the estimated per Unit cost of organizing the Trust set
forth in the Prospectus, or such lower revision thereof most
recently communicated to the Trustee by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 5.01, multiplied by the number of Units
tendered for redemption; to the extent the cash on hand in
the Trust is insufficient for such payment, the Trustee
shall have the power to sell Securities in accordance with
Section 5.02. As used herein, the Depositor's reimbursable
expenses of organizing the Trust shall include the cost of
the initial preparation and typesetting of the registration
statement, prospectuses (including preliminary
prospectuses), the indenture, and other documents relating
to the Trust, SEC and state blue sky registration fees, the
cost of the initial valuation of the portfolio and audit of
the Trust, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, and
legal and other out-of-pocket expenses related thereto, but
not including the expenses incurred in the printing of
preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses, expenses incurred
in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses.
O. The second paragraph of Section 3.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following sentence:
"Any non-cash distributions (other than a non-taxable
distribution of the shares of the distributing corporation
which shall be retained by a Trust) received by a Trust
shall be dealt with in the manner described at Section 3.11,
herein, and shall be retained or disposed of by such Trust
according to those provisions. The proceeds of any
disposition shall be credited to the Income Account of a
Trust. Neither the Trustee nor the Depositor shall be
liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss
incurred by reason of any such sale."
P. Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee shall
distribute to each Unit holder of record at the close of
business on the Record Date immediately preceding such
Distribution Date an amount per Unit equal to such Unit
holder's Income Distribution (as defined below), plus such
Unit holder's pro rata share of the balance of the Capital
Account (except for monies on deposit therein required to
purchase Contract Obligations) computed as of the close of
business on such Record Date after deduction of any amounts
provided in Subsection I, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall not be required to make a distribution from
the Capital Account unless the amount available for
distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
Each Trust shall provide the following distribution
elections: (1) distributions to be made by check mailed to
the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears on
the registration books of the Trustee, or (2) the following
reinvestment option:
The Trustee will, for any Unit holder who provides
the Trustee written instruction, properly executed and
in form satisfactory to the Trustee, received by the
Trustee no later than its close of business 10 business
days prior to a Record Date (the "Reinvestment Notice
Date"), reinvest such Unit holder's distribution from
the Income and Capital Accounts in Units of the Trust,
purchased from the Depositor, to the extent the
Depositor shall make Units available for such purchase,
at the Depositor's offering price as of the third
business day prior to the following Distribution Date,
and at such reduced sales charge as may be described in
the prospectus for the Trusts. If, for any reason, the
Depositor does not have Units of the Trust available
for purchase, the Trustee shall distribute such Unit
holder's distribution from the Income and Capital
Accounts in the manner provided in clause (1) of the
preceding paragraph. The Trustee shall be entitled to
rely on a written instruction received as of the
Reinvestment Notice Date and shall not be affected by
any subsequent notice to the contrary. The Trustee
shall have no responsibility for any loss or
depreciation resulting from any reinvestment made in
accordance with this paragraph, or for any failure to
make such reinvestment in the event the Depositor does
not make Units available for purchase.
Any Unit holder who does not effectively elect
reinvestment in Units of their respective Trust pursuant to
the preceding paragraph shall receive a cash distribution in
the manner provided in clause (1) of the second preceding
paragraph."
Q. Section 3.05.II(b) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (b) For purposes of this Section 3.05, the Unit
holder's Income Distribution shall be equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata share of the cash balance in the Income
Account computed as of the close of business on the Record
Date immediately preceding such Income Distribution after
deduction of (i) the fees and expenses then deductible
pursuant to Section 3.05.I. and (ii) the Trustee's estimate
of other expenses properly chargeable to the Income Account
pursuant to the Indenture which have accrued, as of such
Record Date, or are otherwise properly attributable to the
period to which such Income Distribution relates."
R. Paragraph (c) of Subsection II of Section 3.05 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"On each Distribution Date the Trustee shall distribute
to each Unit holder of record at the close of business on
the Record Date immediately preceding such Distribution Date
an amount per Unit equal to such Unit holder's pro rata
share of the balance of the Capital Account (except for
monies on deposit therein required to purchase Contract
Obligations) computed as of the close of business on such
Record Date after deduction of any amounts provided in
Subsection I."
S. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I.(e) deduct from the Income Account or,
to the extent funds are not available in such Account, from
the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount that
it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14.
T. Section 3.11 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following language:
"Section 3.11. Notice to Depositor.
In the event that the Trustee shall have been notified
at any time of any action to be taken or proposed to be
taken by at least a legally required number of holders of
any Securities deposited in a Trust, the Trustee shall take
such action or omit from taking any action, as appropriate,
so as to insure that the Securities are voted as closely as
possible in the same manner and the same general proportion
as are the Securities held by owners other than such Trust.
In the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
Securities or any other party shall be made to issue new
securities, or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities,
the Trustee shall reject such offer. However, should any
issuance, exchange or substitution be effected
notwithstanding such rejection or without an initial offer,
any securities, cash and/or property received shall be
deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if
securities or property, by the Trustee pursuant to the
Depositor's direction, unless the Depositor advises the
Trustee to keep such securities or property. The Depositor
may rely on the Portfolio Supervisor in so advising the
Trustee. The cash received in such exchange and cash
proceeds of any such sales shall be distributed to Unit
holders on the next distribution date in the manner set
forth in Section 3.05 regarding distributions from the
Capital Account. The Trustee shall not be liable or
responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by
reason of any such sale.
Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee shall be liable
to any person for any action or failure to take action
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.11.
Whenever new securities or property is received and
retained by a Trust pursuant to this Section 3.11, the
Trustee shall provide to all Unit holders of such Trust
notices of such acquisition in the Trustee's annual report
unless prior notice is directed by the Depositor."
U. The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing supervisory portfolio
services under this Indenture, the Portfolio Supervisor
shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an
aggregate annual fee in the amount of $.0035 per Unit,
calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding
during the calendar year except during the initial offering
period as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in
which case the fee is calculated based on the largest number
of Units outstanding during the period for which the
compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for
any calendar year in which the Portfolio Supervisor provides
services during less than the whole of such year). Such fee
may exceed the actual cost of providing such portfolio
supervision services for the Trust, but at no time will the
total amount received for portfolio supervision services
rendered to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities
L.P. is the sponsor in any calendar year exceed the
aggregate cost to the Portfolio Supervisor of supplying such
services in such year."
V. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraphs
which shall be entitled Section 3.14.:
"Section 3.14. Bookkeeping and Administrative Expenses.
As compensation for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services of a character described in Section
26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to the
extent such services are in addition to, and do not
duplicate, the services to be provided hereunder by the
Trustee or the Portfolio Supervisor, the Depositor shall
receive against a statement or statements therefor submitted
to the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee
in the amount of $.0015 per Unit, calculated based on the
largest number of Units outstanding during the calendar year
except during the initial offering period as determined in
Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the fee is
calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding
during the period for which the compensation is paid (such
annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Depositor provides services during less than the whole
of such year). Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such bookkeeping and administrative services for
the Trust, but at no time will the total amount received for
bookkeeping and administrative services rendered to unit
investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to
the Depositor of supplying such services in such year. Such
compensation may, from time to time, be adjusted provided
that the total adjustment upward does not, at the time of
such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total
increase, after the date hereof, in consumer prices for
services as measured by the United States Department of
Labor Consumer Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent
of Shelter" or similar index, if such index should no longer
be published. The consent or concurrence of any Unit holder
hereunder shall not be required for any such adjustment or
increase. Such compensation shall be paid by the Trustee,
upon receipt of an invoice therefor from the Depositor, upon
which, as to the cost incurred by the Depositor of providing
services hereunder the Trustee may rely, and shall be
charged against the Income and Capital Accounts on or before
the Distribution Date following the Monthly Record Date on
which such period terminates. The Trustee shall have no
liability to any Certificateholder or other person for any
payment made in good faith pursuant to this Section.
If the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts
shall be insufficient to provide for amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 3.14, the Trustee shall have the
power to sell (i) Securities from the current list of
Securities designated to be sold pursuant to Section 5.02
hereof, or (ii) if no such Securities have been so
designated, such Securities as the Trustee may see fit to
sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 3.14.
Any moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this
Section 3.14 shall be secured by a prior lien on the Trust
Fund except that no such lien shall be prior to any lien in
favor of the Trustee under the provisions of Section 6.04
herein.
W. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph
which shall be entitled Section 3.15:
"Section 3.15. Deferred Sales Charge. If the
prospectus related to the Trust specifies a deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, on the dates specified in and as
permitted by such Prospectus (the "Deferred Sales Charge
Payment Dates"), withdraw from the Capital Account, an
amount per Unit specified in such Prospectus and credit such
amount to a special non-Trust account designated by the
Depositor out of which the deferred sales charge will be
distributed to or on the order of the Depositor on such
Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates (the "Deferred Sales
Charge Account"). If the balance in the Capital Account is
insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as
directed by the Depositor, advance funds in an amount
required to fund the proposed withdrawal and be entitled to
reimbursement of such advance upon the deposit of additional
monies in the Capital Account, and/or sell Securities and
credit the proceeds thereof to the Deferred Sales Charge
Account, provided, however, that the aggregate amount
advanced by the Trustee at any time for payment of the
deferred sales charge shall not exceed $15,000. Such
direction shall, if the Trustee is directed to sell a
Security, identify the Security to be sold and include
instructions as to the execution of such sale. In the
absence of such direction by the Depositor, the Trustee
shall sell Securities sufficient to pay the deferred sales
charge (and any unreimbursed advance then outstanding) in
full, and shall select Securities to be sold in such manner
as will maintain (to the extent practicable) the relative
proportion of number of shares of each Security then held.
The proceeds of such sales, less any amounts paid to the
Trustee in reimbursement of its advances, shall be credited
to the Deferred Sales Charge Account. If a Unit holder
redeems Units prior to full payment of the deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, if so provided in the related
Prospectus, on the Redemption Date, withhold from the
Redemption Price payable to such Unit holder an amount equal
to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated for reasons other than that set
forth in Section 6.01(g), the Trustee shall, if so provided
in the related Prospectus, on the termination of the Trust,
withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit holders an amount
equal to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated pursuant to Section 6.01(g), the
Trustee shall not withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit
holders any amounts of unpaid deferred sales charges. If
pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, the Depositor shall
purchase a Unit tendered for redemption prior to the payment
in full of the deferred sales charge due on the tendered
Unit, the Depositor shall pay to the Unit holder the amount
specified under Section 5.02 less the unpaid portion of the
deferred sales charge. All advances made by the Trustee
pursuant to this Section shall be secured by a lien on the
Trust prior to the interest of the Unit holders."
X. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
3.15 and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, so
long as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
Y. The first sentence of Section 4.03. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing evaluation services under
this Indenture, the Evaluator shall receive, in arrears, against
a statement or statements therefor submitted to the Trustee
monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee equal to the amount
specified as compensation for the Evaluator in the Trust
Agreement, calculated based on the largest number of Units
outstanding during the calendar year except during the initial
offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture,
in which case the fee is calculated based on the largest number
of Units outstanding during the period for which the compensation
is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in
which the Evaluator provides services during less than the whole
of such year). Such compensation may, from time to time, be
adjusted provided that the total adjustment upward does not, at
the time of such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total
increase, after the date hereof, in consumer prices for services
as measured by the United States Department of Labor Consumer
Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" or
similar index, if such index should no longer be published. The
consent or concurrence of any Unit holder hereunder shall not be
required for any such adjustment or increase. Such compensation
shall be paid by the Trustee, upon receipt of invoice therefor
from the Evaluator, upon which, as to the cost incurred by the
Evaluator of providing services hereunder the Trustee may rely,
and shall be charged against the Income and/or Capital Accounts,
in accordance with Section 3.05."
Z. Section 5.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The second sentence of the first paragraph of Section
5.01 shall be amended by deleting the phrase "and (iii)" and
adding the following "(iii) amounts representing unpaid accrued
organizational and offering costs, and (iv)" ; and
(ii) The following text shall immediately precede the last
sentence of the first paragraph of Section 5.01:
"Prior to the payment to the Depositor of its
reimbursable organization costs to be made at the
conclusion of the primary offering period in accordance
with Section 3.01, for purposes of determining the
Trust Fund Evaluation under this Section 5.01, the
Trustee shall rely upon the amounts representing unpaid
accrued organization costs in the estimated amount per
Unit set forth in the Prospectus until such time as the
Depositor notifies the Trustee in writing of a revised
estimated amount per Unit representing unpaid accrued
organization costs. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Trustee shall use this revised estimated amount per
Unit representing unpaid accrued organization costs in
determining the Trust Fund Evaluation but such revision
of the estimated expenses shall not effect calculations
made prior thereto and no adjustment shall be made in
respect thereof."
AA. Section 5.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is amended by adding the following after the second
paragraph of such section:
"Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
the event that any tender of Units pursuant to this Section
5.02 would result in the disposition by the Trustee of less
than a whole Security, the Trustee shall distribute cash in
lieu thereof and sell such Securities as directed by the
Sponsors as required to make such cash available.
Subject to the restrictions set forth in the
Prospectus, Unit holders may redeem 1,000 Units or more of a
Trust and request a distribution in kind of (i) such Unit
holder's pro rata portion of each of the Securities in such
Trust, in whole shares, and (ii) cash equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata portion of the Income and Capital Accounts
as follows: (x) a pro rata portion of the net proceeds of
sale of the Securities representing any fractional shares
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
Securities and (y) such other cash as may properly be
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the sum of
the cash balances of the Income and Capital Accounts in an
amount equal to the Unit Value determined on the basis of a
Trust Fund Evaluation made in accordance with Section 5.01
determined by the Trustee on the date of tender less amounts
determined in clauses (i) and (ii)(x) of this Section.
Subject to Section 5.05 with respect to Rollover Unit
holders, if applicable, to the extent possible,
distributions of Securities pursuant to an in kind
redemption of Units shall be made by the Trustee through the
distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form to
the account of the Unit holder's bank or broker-dealer at
the Depository Trust Company. Any distribution in kind will
be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges."
BB. The following Section 5.05 shall be added:
"Section 5.05. Rollover of Units. (a) If the
Depositor shall offer a subsequent series of the Trust (the
"New Series"), the Trustee shall, at the Depositor's sole
cost and expense, include in the notice sent to Unit holders
specified in Section 8.02 a form of election whereby Unit
holders, whose redemption distribution would be in an amount
sufficient to purchase at least one Unit of the New Series,
may elect to have their Unit(s) redeemed in kind in the
manner provided in Section 5.02, the Securities included in
the redemption distribution sold, and the cash proceeds
applied by the Distribution Agent to purchase Units of a New
Series, all as hereinafter provided. The Trustee shall
honor properly completed election forms returned to the
Trustee, accompanied by any Certificate evidencing Units
tendered for redemption or a properly completed redemption
request with respect to uncertificated Units, by its close
of business on the Rollover Notification Date. The notice
and form of election to be sent to Unit holders in respect
of any redemption and purchase of Units of a New Series as
provided in this section shall be in such form and shall be
sent at such time or times as the Depositor shall direct the
Trustee in writing and the Trustee shall have no
responsibility therefor. The Distributions Agent acts
solely as disbursing agent in connection with purchases of
Units pursuant to this Section and nothing herein shall be
deemed to constitute the Distribution Agent a broker in such
transactions
All Units so tendered by a Unit holder (a "Rollover
Unit holder") shall be redeemed and cancelled during the
Special Redemption and Liquidation Period on such date or
dates specified by Depositor. Subject to payment by such
Rollover Unit holder of any tax or other governmental
charges which may be imposed thereon, such redemption is to
be made in kind pursuant to Section 5.02 by distribution of
cash and/or Securities to the Distribution Agent on the
redemption date equal to the net asset value (determined on
the basis of the Trust Fund Evaluation as of the redemption
date in accordance with Section 4.01) multiplied by the
number of Units being redeemed (herein called the "Rollover
Distribution"). Any Securities that are made part of the
Rollover Distribution shall be valued for purposes of the
redemption distribution as of the redemption date.
All Securities included in a Unit holder's Rollover
Distribution shall be sold by the Distribution Agent during
the Special Redemption and Liquidation Period specified in
the Prospectus pursuant to the Depositor's direction, and
the Distribution Agent shall, unless directed otherwise by
the Depositor, employ the Depositor as broker in connection
with such sales. For such brokerage services, the Depositor
shall be entitled to compensation at its customary rates,
provided however, that its compensation shall not exceed the
amount authorized by applicable securities laws and
regulations. The Depositor shall direct that sales be made
in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the
Prospectus under the heading "Special Redemption,
Liquidation and Investment in a New Trust." Should the
Depositor fail to provide direction, the Distribution Agent
shall sell the Securities in the manner provided in the
prospectus. The Distribution Agent shall have no
responsibility for any loss or depreciation incurred by
reason of any sale made pursuant to this Section.
Upon completion of all sales of Securities included in
the Rollover Unit holder's Rollover Distribution, the
Distribution Agent shall, as agent for such Rollover Unit
holder, enter into a contract with the Depositor to purchase
from the Depositor Units of a New Series (if any), at the
Depositor's public offering price for such Units on such
day, and at such reduced sales charge as shall be described
in the prospectus for such Trust. Such contract shall
provide for purchase of the maximum number of Units of a New
Series whose purchase price is equal to or less than the
cash proceeds held by the Distribution Agent for the Unit
holder on such day (including therein the proceeds
anticipated to be received in respect of Securities traded
on such day net of all brokerage fees, governmental charges
and any other expenses incurred in connection with such
sale), to the extent Units are available for purchase from
the Depositor. In the event a sale of Securities included
in the Rollover Unit holder's redemption distribution shall
not be consummated in accordance with its terms, the
Distribution Agent shall apply the cash proceeds held for
such Unit holder as of the settlement date for the purchase
of Units of a New Series to purchase the maximum number of
Units which such cash balance will permit, and the Depositor
agrees that the settlement date for Units whose purchase was
not consummated as a result of insufficient funds will be
extended until cash proceeds from the Rollover Distribution
are available in a sufficient amount to settle such
purchase. If the Unit holder's Rollover Distribution will
produce insufficient cash proceeds to purchase all of the
Units of a New Series contracted for, the Depositor agrees
that the contract shall be rescinded with respect to the
Units as to which there was a cash shortfall without any
liability to the Rollover Unit holder or the Distribution
Agent. Any cash balance remaining after such purchase shall
be distributed within a reasonable time to the Rollover Unit
holder by check mailed to the address of such Unit holder on
the registration books of the Trustee. Units of a New Series
will be uncertificated unless and until the Rollover Unit
holder requests a certificate. Any cash held by the
Distribution Agent shall be held in a non-interest bearing
account which will be of benefit to the Distribution Agent
in accordance with normal banking procedures. Neither the
Trustee nor the Distribution Agent shall have any
responsibility or liability for loss or depreciation
resulting from any reinvestment made in accordance with this
paragraph, or for any failure to make such reinvestment in
the event the Depositor does not make Units available for
purchase.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositor may,
in its discretion at any time, decide not to offer any new
Trust Series in the future, and if so, this Section 5.05
concerning the Rollover of Units shall be inoperative.
(c) The Distribution Agent shall receive no fees for
performing its duties hereunder. The Distribution Agent
shall, however, be entitled to receive indemnification and
reimbursement from the Trust for any and all expenses and
disbursements to the same extent as the Trustee is permitted
reimbursement hereunder."
CC. Paragraph (g) of Section 6.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following
after the first word thereof:
"(i) the value of any Trust as shown by an evaluation
by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof shall be less
than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of
Securities deposited in such Trust during the initial
offering period, or (ii)"
DD. The third sentence of paragraph (a) of Section 6.05 of
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced in
its entirety by the following:
"In case at any time the Trustee shall become incapable of
acting, or if a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall
enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Trustee in
an involuntary case, or the Trustee shall commence a voluntary
case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law now or hereafter in effect, or any receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or
similar official) for the Trustee or for any substantial part of
its property shall be appointed, or the Trustee shall make any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall
generally fail to pay its debts as they become due, or if the
Sponsor shall determine in good faith that there has occurred
either (1) a material deterioration in the creditworthiness of
the Trustee or (2) one or more negligent acts on the part of the
Trustee having a materially adverse effect, either singly or in
the aggregate, on the Trust or on one or more Trusts of one or
more Funds, such that the replacement of the Trustee is in the
best interests of the Unit holders, the Sponsor may remove the
Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in
duplicate, one copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor trustee."
EE. Section 8.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The fourth sentence of the second paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"The Trustee will honor duly executed requests for in-
kind distributions received (accompanied by the electing
Unit holder's Certificate, if issued) by the close of
business ten business days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date."
(ii) The first sentence of the fourth paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"Commencing no earlier than the business day following that
date on which Unit holders must submit to the Trustee notice of
their request to receive an in-kind distribution of Securities at
termination, the Trustee will liquidate the Securities not
segregated for in-kind distributions during such period and in
such daily amounts as the Depositor shall direct."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nike Securities L.P., The Chase Manhattan
Bank and First Trust Advisors L.P. have each caused this Trust
Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate seal to be
hereto affixed and attested (if applicable) by authorized
officers; all as of the day, month and year first above written.
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
Depositor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
By Rosalia Raviele
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
Joan Currie
Assistant Treasurer
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
FT 344
(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof for the
Trust is the "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust as set forth
in the Prospectus.)
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
June 24, 1999
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
Re: FT 344
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., as
Sponsor and Depositor of FT 344 in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of a Trust Agreement dated
June 24, 1999 among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P. as
Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor, pursuant to which the
Depositor has delivered to and deposited the Securities listed in
Schedule A to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee and pursuant
to which the Trustee has issued to or on the order of the
Depositor a certificate or certificates representing units of
fractional undivided interest in and ownership of the Fund
created under said Trust Agreement.
In connection therewith, we have examined such pertinent
records and documents and matters of law as we have deemed
necessary in order to enable us to express the opinions
hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. the execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement and
the execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the Units
in the Fund have been duly authorized; and
2. the certificates evidencing the Units in the Fund when
duly executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee in
accordance with the aforementioned Trust Agreement, will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Fund and the
Depositor in accordance with the terms thereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-76241)
relating to the Units referred to above, to the use of our name
and to the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement
and in the related Prospectus.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF:erg
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
June 24, 1999
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
The Chase Manhattan Bank
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Re: FT 344
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
of FT 344 (the "Fund"), in connection with the issuance of units
of fractional undivided interest in the Trust of said Fund (the
"Trust"), under a Trust Agreement, dated June 24, 1999 (the
"Indenture"), among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P., as
Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor.
In this connection, we have examined the Registration
Statement, the form of Prospectus proposed to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Indenture and such other
instruments and documents we have deemed pertinent. The opinions
expressed herein assume that the Trust will be administered, and
investments by the Trust from proceeds of subsequent deposits, if
any, will be made, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
The Trust holds Equity Securities as such term is defined in the
Prospectus. For purposes of the following discussion and
opinion, it is assumed that each Equity Security is equity for
Federal income tax purposes.
Based upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of such
matters of law as we consider to be applicable, we are of the
opinion that, under existing United States Federal income tax
law:
I. The Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation for Federal income tax purposes; each Unit holder
will be treated as the owner of a pro rata portion of each of the
assets of the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code") in the proportion that the number of Units held by him
bears to the total number of Units outstanding; under Subpart E,
Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Code, income of the Trust will
be treated as income of the Unit holders in the proportion
described above; and an item of Trust income will have the same
character in the hands of a Unit holder as it would have in the
hands of the Trustee. Each Unit holder will be considered to
have received his pro rata share of income derived from each
Trust asset when such income is considered to be received by the
Trust.
II. The price a Unit holder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion
of each Equity Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the
fair market values thereof on the valuation date closest to the
date the Unit holder purchases his Units) in order to determine
his tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity Security
held by the Trust. For Federal income tax purposes, a Unit
holder's pro rata portion of distributions of cash or property by
a corporation with respect to an Equity Security ("dividends" as
defined by Section 316 of the Code) is taxable as ordinary income
to the extent of such corporation's current and accumulated
"earnings and profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends paid on such Equity Security which exceeds such current
and accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a Unit
holder's tax basis in such Equity Security, and to the extent
that such dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such
Equity Security shall be treated as gain from the sale or
exchange of property.
III. Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unit holder
(subject to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code)
upon redemption or sale of his Units, except to the extent an in
kind distribution of stock is received by such Unit holder from
the Trust as discussed below. Such gain or loss is measured by
comparing the proceeds of such redemption or sale with the
adjusted basis of his Units. Before adjustment, such basis would
normally be cost if the Unit holder had acquired his Units by
purchase. Such basis will be reduced, but not below zero, by the
Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect to each
Equity Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.
IV. If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by
sale, taxable exchange, liquidation, redemption, payment on
maturity or otherwise) gain or loss will be recognized to the
Unit holder (subject to various nonrecognition provisions under
the Code) and the amount thereof will be measured by comparing
the Unit holder's aliquot share of the total proceeds from the
transaction with his basis for his fractional interest in the
asset disposed of. Such basis is ascertained by apportioning the
tax basis for his Units (as of the date on which his Units were
acquired) among each of the Trust's assets (as of the date on
which his Units were acquired) ratably according to their values
as of the valuation date nearest the date on which he purchased
such Units. A Unit holder's basis in his Units and of his
fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced, but not
below zero, by the Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends
with respect to each Equity Security which is not taxable as
ordinary income.
V. Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances, a
Unit holder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of Equity Securities upon the redemption of Units or
upon the termination of the Trust. As previously discussed,
prior to the redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust,
a Unit holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each
of the Trust's assets. The receipt of an in kind distribution
will result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided interest in
whole shares of stock and possibly cash. The potential federal
income tax consequences which may occur under an in kind
distribution with respect to each Equity Security owned by the
Trust will depend upon whether or not a Unit holder receives cash
in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity Security" for this
purpose is a particular class of stock issued by a particular
corporation. A Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if a
Unit holder only receives Equity Securities in exchange for his
or her pro rata portion of the Equity Securities held by the
Trust. However, if a Unit holder also receives cash in exchange
for a fractional share of an Equity Security held by the Trust,
such Unit holder will generally recognize gain or loss based upon
the difference between the amount of cash received by the Unit
holder and his tax basis in such fractional share of an Equity
Security held by the Trust. The total amount of taxable gains
(or losses) recognized upon such redemption will generally equal
the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the rules
described above by the redeeming Unit holder with respect to each
Equity Security owned by the Trust.
A domestic corporation owning Units in the Trust may be
eligible for the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant to
Section 243(a) of the Code with respect to such Unit holder's pro
rata portion of dividends received by such Trust (to the extent
such dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed
above, and are attributable to domestic corporations), subject to
the limitations imposed by Sections 246 and 246A of the Code.
To the extent dividends received by the Trust are
attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns
Units will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction
with respect to its pro rata portion of such dividends since the
dividends received deduction is generally available only with
respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
Section 67 of the Code provides that certain miscellaneous
itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax return
preparation fees and employee business expenses will be
deductible by an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of
such individual's adjusted gross income. Unit holders may be
required to treat some or all of the expenses of the Trust as
miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
A Unit holder will recognize taxable gain (or loss)when all
or part of the pro rata interest in an Equity Security is either
sold by the Trust or redeemed or when a Unit holder disposes of
his Units in a taxable transaction, in each case for an amount
greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor; subject to various
nonrecognition provisions of the Code.
It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends
on Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may
be subject to foreign withholding taxes and Unit holders should
consult their tax advisers regarding the potential tax
consequences relating to the payment of any such withholding
taxes by the Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof
will nevertheless be treated as income to the Unit holders.
Because under the grantor trust rules, an investor is deemed to
have paid directly his share of foreign taxes that have been paid
or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign tax
credit or deduction for United States tax purposes with respect
to such taxes. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 imposes a required
holding period for such credits.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or exchange will,
under current law, generally be capital gain or loss.
The scope of this opinion is expressly limited to the
matters set forth herein, and, except as expressly set forth
above, we express no opinion with respect to any other taxes,
including foreign, state or local taxes or collateral tax
consequences with respect to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Units.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-76241)
relating to the Units referred to above and to the use of our
name and to the reference to our firm in said Registration
Statement and in the related Prospectus.
Very truly yours,
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF/erg
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
June 24, 1999
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 344
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 344
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as special counsel with respect to New York
tax matters for the unit investment trust or trusts contained in
FT 344 (each, a "Trust"), which will be established under certain
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust dated November 20, 1991,
and a related Trust Agreement dated as of today (collectively,
the "Indenture") among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor (the
"Depositor"), First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator, First
Trust Advisors L.P., as Portfolio Supervisor, and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). Pursuant to the
terms of the Indenture, units of fractional undivided interest in
the Trust (the "Units") will be issued in the aggregate number
set forth in the Indenture.
We have examined and are familiar with originals or
certified copies, or copies otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such documents as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. In giving this
opinion, we have relied upon the two opinions, each dated today
and addressed to the Trustee, of Chapman and Cutler, counsel for
the Depositor, with respect to the matters of law set forth
therein.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Trust will not constitute an association taxable as a corporation
under New York law, and accordingly will not be subject to the
New York State franchise tax or the New York City general
corporation tax.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement (No. 333-76241) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
registration of the sale of the Units and to the references to
our name in such Registration Statement and the preliminary
prospectus included therein.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
June 24, 1999
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 344
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 344
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as counsel for The Chase Manhattan Bank
("Chase") in connection with the execution and delivery of a
Trust Agreement ("the Trust Agreement") dated today's date (which
Trust Agreement incorporates by reference certain Standard Terms
and Conditions of Trust dated November 20, 1991, and the same are
collectively referred to herein as the "Indenture") among Nike
Securities L.P., as Depositor (the "Depositor"), First Trust
Advisors L.P., as Evaluator, First Trust Advisors L.P., as
Portfolio Supervisor, and Chase, as Trustee (the "Trustee"),
establishing the unit investment trust or trusts included in FT
344 (each, a "Trust"), and the confirmation by Chase, as Trustee
under the Indenture, that it has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership by the Depositor of a number of
units constituting the entire interest in the Trust (such
aggregate units being herein called "Units"), each of which
represents an undivided interest in the respective Trust which
consists of common stocks (including, confirmations of contracts
for the purchase of certain stocks not delivered and cash, cash
equivalents or an irrevocable letter of credit or a combination
thereof, in the amount required for such purchase upon the
receipt of such stocks), such stocks being defined in the
Indenture as Securities and referenced in the Schedule to the
Indenture.
We have examined the Indenture, a specimen of the
certificates to be issued hereunder (the "Certificates"), the
Closing Memorandum dated today's date, and such other documents
as we have deemed necessary in order to render this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. Chase is a duly organized and existing corporation
having the powers of a Trust Company under the laws of the State
of New York.
2. The Trust Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Chase and, assuming due execution and delivery by
the other parties thereto, constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of Chase.
3. The Certificates are in proper form for execution and
delivery by Chase, as Trustee.
4. Chase, as Trustee, has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership of the Units by the Depositor.
Upon receipt of confirmation of the effectiveness of the
registration statement for the sale of the Units filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, the Trustee may deliver Certificates for such Units, in
such names and denominations as the Depositor may request, to or
upon the order of the Depositor as provided in the Closing
Memorandum.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have not considered,
among other things, whether the Securities have been duly
authorized and delivered.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
First Trust Advisors L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
June 24, 1999
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Re: FT 344
Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement File No.
333-76241 for the above captioned fund. We hereby consent to the
use in the Registration Statement of the references to First
Trust Advisors L.P. as evaluator.
You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely,
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Robert W. Bredemeier
Senior Vice President
