Registration No. 333-93877
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 397
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 January 14, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule 487.
________________________________
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
FT 397
FT 397 is a series of a unit investment trust, the FT Series. Each of
the two portfolios listed above (each, a "Trust," and collectively, the
"Trusts") is a separate portfolio, or series, of FT 397 consisting of a
diversified portfolio of publicly traded common stocks ("Securities")
issued by closed-end investment companies.
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in a
diversified portfolio of common stocks of closed-end investment
companies, the portfolios of which are concentrated in high-yield
corporate bonds ("Corporate Bonds"). High-Yield Corporate Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 seeks to provide investors with high current income,
with capital appreciation being a secondary objective of the Trust.
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in a diversified
portfolio of common stocks of closed-end investment companies, the
portfolios of which are concentrated in tax-exempt municipal bonds
("Municipal Bonds"). Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 seeks to
provide investors with federally tax-exempt income and to preserve
capital.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
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 January 14, 2000
Page 1
Table of Contents
Summary of Essential Information 3
Fee Table 4
Report of Independent Auditors 5
Statements of Net Assets 6
Schedules of Investments 7
The FT Series 9
Portfolios 10
Risk Factors 11
Public Offering 13
Distribution of Units 15
The Sponsor's Profits 16
The Secondary Market 16
How We Purchase Units 16
Expenses and Charges 16
Tax Status 17
Retirement Plans 19
Rights of Unit Holders 19
Income and Capital Distributions 20
Redeeming Your Units 21
Removing Securities from a Trust 22
Amending or Terminating the Indenture 22
Information on the Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator 23
Other Information 24
Page 2
Summary of Essential Information
FT 397
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit-January 14, 2000
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
High-Yield Corporate
Closed-End Municipal
Portfolio, Closed-End
Series 2 Portfolio, Series 2
_______________ ___________________
<S> <C> <C>
Initial Number of Units (1) 15,044 15,071
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1) 1/15,044 1/15,071
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Securities per Unit (2) $ 9.900 $ 9.900
Maximum Sales Charge of 4.50% of the Public Offering Price
per Unit(4.545% of the net amount invested,
exclusive of the deferred sales charge) (3) $ .450 $ .450
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $ (.350) $ (.350)
Public Offering Price per Unit (4) $ 10.000 $ 10.000
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (5) $ 9.550 $ 9.550
Redemption Price per Unit (based on aggregate underlying
value of Securities less the deferred sales charge) (5) $ 9.550 $ 9.550
Estimated Net Annual Distribution per Unit for the first year (6) $ 1.3375 $ .7304
Cash CUSIP Number 30265H 372 30265H 398
Reinvestment CUSIP Number 30265H 380 30265H 406
Wrap CUSIP Number 30265H 414 30265H 422
Security Code 58026 58028
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
First Settlement Date January 20, 2000
Mandatory Termination Date (7) January 14, 2005
Income Distribution Record Date Fifteenth day of each month, commencing February 15, 2000.
Income Distribution Date (6) Last day of each month, commencing February 29, 2000.
______________
<FN>
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, we may
adjust the number of Units of a Trust so that the Public Offering Price
per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. If we make such an adjustment,
the fractional undivided interest per Unit will vary from the amount
indicated above.
(2) Each Security, if listed on a securities exchange, is valued at its
last closing sale price. If a Security is not listed, or if no closing
sale price exists, it is valued at its closing ask price. Evaluations
for purposes of determining the purchase, sale or redemption price of
Units are made as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day on which it is open (the
"Evaluation Time").
(3) The maximum sales charge consists of an initial sales charge and a
deferred sales charge. See "Fee Table" and "Public Offering."
(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. The price you pay for your
Units will be based on their valuation at the Evaluation Time on the
date you purchase your Units. On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public
Offering Price per Unit will not include any accumulated cash in the
Income Account. After this date, a pro rata share of any cash in the
Income Account will be included.
(5) Until the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or
the end of the initial offering period the Sponsor's Initial Repurchase
Price per Unit and the Redemption Price per Unit will include the
estimated organization costs per Unit set forth under "Fee Table." After
such date, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price and Redemption Price per Unit
will not include such estimated organization costs. See "Redeeming Your
Units."
(6)The estimated net annual distributions for subsequent years, $1.2978
per Unit for High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2, and
$.7078 per Unit for Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2, are
expected to be less than that set forth above for the first year because
a portion of the Securities included in the Trusts will be sold during
the first year to pay for organization costs and the deferred sales
charge. The actual net annual distribution you will receive will vary
from that set forth above with changes in a Trust's fees and expenses,
in dividends received and with the sale of Securities. See "Fee Table"
and "Expenses and Charges." Distributions from the Capital Account will
be made monthly on the last day of the month to Unit holders of record
on the fifteenth day of such month if the amount available for
distribution equals at least $1.00 per 100 Units. In any case, we will
distribute any funds in the Capital Account in December of each year and
as part of the final liquidation distribution.
(7) See "Amending or Terminating the Indenture."
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 3
Fee Table
This Fee Table describes the fees and expenses that you may, directly or
indirectly, pay if you buy and hold Units of a Trust. See "Public
Offering" and "Expenses and Charges." Although the Trusts have a term of
approximately five years and are unit investment trusts rather than
mutual funds, this information allows you to compare fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
High-Yield Corporate
Closed-End Municipal Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 Portfolio, Series 2
___________________ ___________________
Amount Amount
per Unit per Unit
________ ________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Unit Holder Transaction Expenses
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Initial sales charge imposed on purchase 1.00%(a) $.100 1.00%(a) $.100
Deferred sales charge 3.50%(b) .350 3.50%(b) .350
________ ________ ________ ________
Maximum Sales Charge 4.50% $.450 4.50% $.450
======== ======== ======== ========
Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends 3.50%(c) $.350 3.50%(c) $.350
Organization Costs
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Estimated organization costs .170%(d) $.0170 .170%(d) $.0170
Estimated Annual Trust Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative and evaluation fees .100% $.0098 .100% $.0098
Trustee's fee and other operating expenses(e) .148% .0145 .148% .0145
Underlying Closed-End Fund Expenses(f) 1.263% .1236 .989% .0968
________ ________ ________ ________
Total 1.511% $.1479 1.237% $.1211
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Trusts with the cost of investing in other investment products. The
example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trusts 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
Trusts' operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs may
vary, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
______ _______ _______
<S> <C> <C> <C>
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 $618 $922 $1,247
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 591 840 1,109
The 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 amount of the initial sales charge will vary depending on the
purchase price of your Units. The amount of the initial sales charge is
actually the difference between the maximum sales charge (4.50% of the
Public Offering Price) and the maximum remaining deferred sales charge
(initially $.350 per Unit). When the Public Offering Price exceeds
$10.00 per Unit, the initial sales charge will exceed 1.00% of the
Public Offering Price per Unit.
(b) The deferred sales charge is a fixed dollar amount equal to $.350
per Unit which will be deducted in five monthly installments of $.07 per
Unit beginning August 18, 2000 and on the 20th day of each month
thereafter (or if such day is not a business day, on the previous
business day) through December 20, 2000. If you buy Units at a price of
less than $10.00 per Unit, the dollar amount of the deferred sales
charge will not change but the deferred sales charge on a percentage
basis will be more than 3.50% of the Public Offering Price. If you
purchase Units after the first deferred sales charge payment has been
deducted, your purchase price will include both the initial sales charge
and any remaining deferred sales charge payments.
(c) Reinvested dividends will be subject only to the deferred sales
charge remaining at the time of reinvestment. See "Income and Capital
Distribution."
(d) You will bear all or a portion of the costs incurred in organizing
your respective Trust. These estimated organization costs are included
in the Public Offering Price per Unit and will be deducted from the
assets of a Trust at the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of
Deposit or the end of the initial offering period.
(e) Other operating expenses include the costs incurred by a Trust for
annually updating such Trust's registration statement. Historically, we
paid these costs. Other operating expenses do not, however, include
brokerage costs and other portfolio transaction fees. In certain
circumstances each Trust may incur additional expenses not set forth
above. See "Expenses and Charges."
(f) Although not an actual Trust operating expense, each Trust, and
therefore Unit holders, will indirectly bear similar operating expenses
of the closed-end funds in which the Trusts invest in the estimated
amounts set forth in the table. These expenses are estimated based on
the actual closed-end fund expenses charged in a fund's most recent
fiscal year but are subject to change in the future. An investor in a
Trust will therefore indirectly pay higher expenses than if the
underlying closed-end fund shares were held directly.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 4
Report of Independent Auditors
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
FT 397
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets, including the
schedules of investments, of FT 397, comprised of the High-Yield
Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 and Municipal Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2, as of the opening of business on January 14, 2000.
These statements of net assets are the responsibility of the Trusts'
Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these statements
of net assets based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
statements of net assets are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the statements of net assets. Our procedures included
confirmation of the letter of credit held by the Trustee and allocated
among the Trusts on January 14, 2000. 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
statements of net assets. We believe that our audit of the statements of
net assets provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the statements of net assets referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FT 397,
comprised of the High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 and
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2, at the opening of business on
January 14, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
January 14, 2000
Page 5
Statements of Net Assets
FT 397
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit-January 14, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Municipal
High-Yield Corporate Closed-
Closed-End End Portfolio,
Portfolio, Series 2 Series 2
_______________ ____________
<S> <C> <C>
NET ASSETS
Investment in Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $148,941 $149,198
Less liability for reimbursement to Sponsor
for organization costs (3) (256) (256)
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4) (5,265) (5,275)
_________ ________
Net assets $ 143,420 $143,667
========= ========
Units outstanding 15,044 15,071
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Cost to investors (5) $150,446 $150,705
Less sales charge (5) (6,770) (6,782)
Less estimated reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (256) (256)
________ ________
Net assets $143,420 $143,667
======== ========
_____________
<FN>
NOTES TO STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS
(1) Aggregate cost of the Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" for each Trust is based on their aggregate underlying value.
(2) An irrevocable letter of credit issued by The Chase Manhattan Bank,
of which $400,000 will be allocated between the two Trusts in FT 397,
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 Trusts. These costs have been estimated at $.0170 per
Unit for each Trust. A payment will be made as of the earlier of six
months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial
offering period to an account maintained by the Trustee from which the
obligation of the investors to the Sponsor will be satisfied. To the
extent that actual organization costs are greater than the estimated
amount, only the estimated organization costs added to the Public
Offering Price will be reimbursed to the Sponsor and deducted from the
assets of a Trust.
(4) Represents the amount of mandatory deferred sales charge
distributions from a Trust ($.350 per Unit), payable to us in five equal
monthly installments beginning on August 18, 2000 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, 2000. If you redeem
Units before December 20, 2000 you will have to pay the remaining amount
of the deferred sales charge applicable to such Units when you redeem
them.
(5) The aggregate cost to investors in the Trusts includes a maximum
sales charge (comprised of an initial and a deferred sales charge)
computed at the rate of 4.50% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(equivalent to 4.545% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the
deferred sales charge), assuming no reduction of sales charge as set
forth under "Public Offering."
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 6
Schedule of Investments
HIGH-YIELD CORPORATE CLOSED-END PORTFOLIO, SERIES 2
FT 397
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-January 14, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Market Cost of
Number Ticker Symbol and of Aggregate Value Securities to
of Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Offering Price per Share the Trust (2)
_____ ________________________________ ____________ ______ ________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1,358 GSF ACM Government Securities Fund 5.98% $ 6.563 $ 8,913
1,026 AWF Alliance World Dollar Government Fund II 5.98% 8.688 8,914
168 CIM CIM High Yield Securities 0.61% 5.375 903
205 CNN CNA Income Shares 1.02% 7.438 1,525
970 HIS Cigna High Income Share 3.95% 6.063 5,881
383 CIF Colonial Intermediate High Income Fund 1.35% 5.250 2,011
547 COY Corporate High Yield Fund 3.56% 9.688 5,299
156 KYT Corporate High Yield Fund II 1.00% 9.563 1,492
875 CIK Credit Suisse Income Fund 3.49% 5.938 5,196
720 DBS Debt Strategies Fund 3.02% 6.250 4,500
1,251 DSU Debt Strategies Fund II, Inc. 6.04% 7.188 8,992
258 DBU Debt Strategies Fund III, Inc. 1.50% 8.688 2,242
446 DHF Dreyfus High Yield Strategies Fund 3.01% 10.063 4,488
345 EDF Emerging Markets Income Fund II 2.52% 10.875 3,752
290 GDF Global Partners Income Fund 2.01% 10.313 2,991
983 HIO High Income Opportunity Fund 5.98% 9.063 8,909
276 HYI High Yield Income Fund, Inc. 1.01% 5.438 1,501
231 HYP The High Yield Plus Fund, Inc. 0.99% 6.375 1,473
544 KHI Kemper High Income Trust 3.01% 8.250 4,488
911 MHY Managed High Income Portfolio, Inc. 5.20% 8.500 7,743
119 PHT The Managed High Yield Fund 0.80% 10.063 1,197
528 YLD Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust 1.20% 3.375 1,782
743 YLT Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust II 1.78% 3.563 2,647
256 YLH Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust III 0.70% 4.063 1,040
128 MSY Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Fund 1.00% 11.625 1,488
2,970 HYB The New America High Income Fund 5.98% 3.000 8,910
274 PHF Pacholder High Yield Fund 2.24% 12.188 3,340
545 PHY Prospect Street High Income Portfolio Fund 2.49% 6.813 3,713
141 PTM Putnam Managed High Yield Fund 1.01% 10.625 1,498
90 HIF Salomon Brothers High Income Fund 0.69% 11.438 1,029
839 HIX Salomon Brothers High Income Fund II 6.02% 10.688 8,967
1,165 ARK Senior High Income Portfolio 5.04% 6.438 7,500
860 TEI Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund 5.52% 9.563 8,224
524 VIT Van Kampen High Income Trust 1.52% 4.313 2,260
250 VLT Van Kampen High Income Trust II 1.01% 6.000 1,500
540 ZIF Zenix Income Fund 1.77% 4.875 2,633
______ _________
Total Investments 100% $148,941
====== =========
__________
<FN>
See "Notes to Schedules of Investments" on page 8.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 7
Schedule of Investments
MUNICIPAL CLOSED-END PORTFOLIO, SERIES 2
FT 397
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-January 14, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Market Cost of
Number Ticker Symbol and of Aggregate Value Securities to
of Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Offering Price per Share the Trust (2)
______ ________________________________ _________ ______ ________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
311 AMU ACM Municipal Securities Income Fund 2.24% $10.750 $ 3,343
335 APX Apex Municipal Fund, Inc. 2.01% 8.938 2,994
466 CXE Colonial High Income Municipal Trust 2.01% 6.438 3,000
660 CMU Colonial Municipal Income Trust 2.52% 5.688 3,754
469 DMF Dreyfus Municipal Income Fund, Inc. 2.24% 7.125 3,342
856 DSM Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund 4.27% 7.438 6,367
724 KTF Kemper Municipal Income Trust 5.06% 10.438 7,557
194 KSM Kemper Strategic Municipal Income Trust 1.24% 9.563 1,855
685 MFM MFS Municipal Income Trust 3.01% 6.563 4,496
122 IMB Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Bond 1.00% 12.188 1,487
374 OIA Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust 1.99% 7.938 2,969
591 IQI Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Income Trust 5.00% 12.625 7,461
480 IQT Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Investment Trust 4.00% 12.438 5,970
390 MHF Municipal High Income Fund 1.99% 7.625 2,974
135 MNP Municipal Partners Fund, Inc. 1.00% 11.063 1,494
414 MHD MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. 3.48% 12.563 5,201
653 MYD MuniYield Fund, Inc. 5.01% 11.438 7,469
390 NQF Nuveen Florida Investment Quality Municipal Fund 3.48% 13.313 5,192
600 NMA Nuveen Municipal Advantage Fund 4.98% 12.375 7,425
597 NMO Nuveen Municipal Market Opportunity Fund 5.00% 12.500 7,462
585 NQU Nuveen Quality Income Municipal Fund 5.00% 12.750 7,459
591 NQS Nuveen Select Quality Municipal Fund 4.98% 12.563 7,425
461 PYM Putnam High Yield Municipal Trust 2.24% 7.250 3,342
383 PGM Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust 2.97% 11.563 4,429
792 PMM Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust 5.08% 9.563 7,574
459 PMO Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust 3.48% 11.313 5,193
261 PMH Putnam Tax-Free Health Care Fund 1.99% 11.375 2,969
724 VMT Van Kampen Municipal Income Fund 3.76% 7.750 5,611
582 VKQ Van Kampen Municipal Trust 4.97% 12.750 7,420
461 VGM Van Kampen Trust For Investment Grade Municipals 4.00% 12.938 5,964
______ ________
Total Investments 100% $149,198
====== ========
_____________
<FN>
NOTES TO SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(1) All Securities are represented by regular way contracts to purchase
such Securities which are backed by an irrevocable letter of credit
deposited with the Trustee. We entered into purchase contracts for the
Securities on January 13, 2000.
(2) The cost of the Securities to a Trust represents the aggregate
underlying value with respect to the Securities acquired (generally
determined by the last sale prices of the listed Securities and the ask
prices of the over-the-counter traded Securities on the business day
preceding the Initial Date of Deposit). The valuation of the Securities
has been determined by the Evaluator, an affiliate of 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 a Trust)
are set forth below:
Cost of
Securities Profit
to Sponsor (Loss)
___________ _______
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 $149,591 $(650)
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 149,636 (438)
</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 a unit investment trust which we have named the
FT Series. We designate each of these series of the FT Series with a
different series number. Each of the following is a separate portfolio,
or series, of FT 397:
- - High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
- - Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
YOU MAY GET MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS CONCERNING THE NATURE, STRUCTURE AND
RISKS OF THIS PRODUCT IN AN "INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT" BY CALLING THE
TRUSTEE AT 1-800-682-7520.
Mandatory Termination Date.
The Trusts will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date shown in
"Summary of Essential Information." Each 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 among
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 Trusts.
How We Created the Trusts.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, we deposited portfolios of common stocks
of Closed-End Funds with the Trustee and in turn, the Trustee delivered
documents to us representing our ownership of the Trusts, in the form of
units ("Units").
With the deposit of Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit we
established a percentage relationship among the Securities in each
Trust's portfolio, as stated under "Schedule of Investments." After the
Initial Date of Deposit, we may deposit additional Securities in the
Trusts, 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 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 new 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 Securities will fluctuate daily, the ratio of
Securities in a 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 a 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 Trusts pay the associated brokerage fees. To reduce this
dilution, the Trusts 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 retain and pay us (or our affiliate) to act as agent for the
Trusts to buy Securities. If we or an affiliate of ours act as agent to
the Trusts we will be subject to the restrictions under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
We cannot guarantee that a Trust will keep its present size and
composition for any length of time. Securities may periodically be sold
under certain circumstances, and the proceeds from these sales will be
used to meet Trust obligations or distributed to Unit holders, but will
not be reinvested. However, Securities will not be sold to take
advantage of market fluctuations or changes in anticipated rates of
appreciation or depreciation, or if they 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 Trusts. 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 a 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 from the
failed contract on the next Income Distribution Date. Any Replacement
Security a Trust acquires will be identical to those from the failed
contract.
Page 9
Portfolios
Objectives.
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2. The objective of
the High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 is to provide
investors with high current income, with capital appreciation being a
secondary objective of the Trust. The High-Yield Corporate Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a
diversified portfolio of common stocks of closed-end investment
companies ("Closed-End Funds"), the portfolios of which are concentrated
in high-yield corporate bonds. In selecting Securities for the High-
Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2, we selected those Closed-
End Funds which satisfied most, but not necessarily all, of the
following factors:
1. Consistent dividend distributions;
2. Manager's average tenure of more than three years;
3. Average Morningstar rating of 2 stars or better; and
4. A share price which is at a discount to net asset value.
Halfway through the decade of the eighties, the yield on bank
certificates of deposit dropped below 10%. Today, interest rates are at
such historically low levels that yields on a number of new high yield
corporate debt issues are below 10%. As bond yields have fallen over the
past 15 years, one thing that has not changed is the need for some
investors to earn high current income. Investors willing to assume
certain credit and market risks have the potential to earn a high level
of current monthly income by investing in high-yield corporate bonds.
The High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in a
diversified portfolio of high-yield Closed-End Funds that are further
diversified across many industries and hundreds of companies. The
average quality rating of the bonds in these Closed-End Funds is "B+".
The following factors support our positive outlook for high-yield
corporate bonds:
- - Currently, a healthy U.S. economy is generally helping corporations
achieve strong earnings, thereby reducing the likelihood of issuers
defaulting on scheduled interest and principal payments.
- - As a result of lower interest rates, the cost of capital is
significantly lower today than it was in the 1980s.
- - The yield spread between high-yield bonds and other investment grade
bonds, such as treasuries, continues to reflect value in the high-yield
market.
- - The combination of economic prosperity and low inflation makes the
inflation adjusted return on high-yield bonds attractive.
- - Although subject to greater risks, high-yield bond investors have
historically received greater returns from their high-yield investments
than investment grade corporate bond investors.
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2. The objective of the Municipal
Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 is to provide investors with federally
tax-exempt income and to preserve capital. The Municipal Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a
diversified portfolio of common stocks of Closed-End Funds, the
portfolios of which are concentrated in tax-exempt municipal bonds. In
selecting Securities for the Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2,
we began by eliminating all tax-exempt municipal Closed-End Funds with
either net assets under $120 million or an indicated yield of less than
6%, or both. We then selected those Closed-End Funds which satisfied
most, but not necessarily all, of the following factors:
1. Consistent dividend distributions;
2. Manager's average tenure of more than three years;
3. Average credit quality of the underlying assets of at least
investment grade;
4. Average Morningstar rating of 3 stars or better;
5. Five-year annualized total market return that is greater than the
total average annual indicated yield; and
6. A share price which is at a discount to net asset value.
Now that the U.S. economy has completed its ninth year of expansion and
many investors having profited from a strong stock market, it might be
prudent for some investors to preserve profits by reallocating gains
into the municipal bond market. For others, tax-free income may be
reason enough to invest. Owning municipal bonds in the current low
Page 10
inflation environment has the potential to add value to an investment
portfolio. The Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in a
diversified portfolio of municipal Closed-End Funds that are further
diversified across hundreds of tax-free municipal issues. The average
quality rating of the bonds in these Closed-End Funds is "A+". The
following factors support our positive outlook for municipal bonds:
- - On a taxable equivalent yield basis, the yields available in the
municipal market are currently attractive relative to taxable bonds for
individuals who are in the 28% tax bracket and higher, which is a large
universe of potential investors.
- - The strong U.S. economy has made a positive impact on municipal
revenues generated from taxes and services. Increased revenues can
enhance the creditworthiness of the issuers as well as boost the
confidence of investors.
- - As a result of lower interest rates, the cost of capital is
significantly lower today than it was in the 1980s.
Advantages of the Closed-End Fund structure include portfolio control,
diversification and consistent income. Since Closed-End Funds maintain a
relatively fixed pool of investment capital, portfolio managers are
better able to adhere to their investment philosophies through greater
flexibility and control. In addition, Closed-End Funds don't have to
manage fund liquidity to meet potentially large redemptions. Closed-End
Funds are also structured to generally provide a more stable income
stream than other managed fixed-income investment products because they
are not subjected to cash inflows and outflows, which can dilute
dividends over time. However, as a result of bond calls, redemptions and
advanced refundings, which can dilute a fund's income, stable income
cannot be assured.
You should be aware that predictions stated herein for a particular type
of security may not be realized. In addition, the Securities in each
Trust are not intended to be representative of the particular type of
security as a whole and the performance of a Trust is expected to differ
from that of its comparative industry. Of course, as with any similar
investments, there can be no guarantee that the objective of the Trusts
will be achieved. See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of the risks of
investing in the Trusts.
Risk Factors
Price Volatility. The Trusts invest in common stocks of Closed-End
Funds. The value of a 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 Trusts are 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 a Trust will be positive over any period of time or
that you won't lose money. Units of the Trusts are not deposits of any
bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency.
Alternative Minimum Tax. While distributions of interest from the
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 are generally exempt from
federal income taxes, a portion of such interest may be taken into
account in computing the alternative minimum tax.
Closed-End Funds. Closed-End Funds are actively managed investment
companies which invest in various types of securities. Closed-End Funds
issue shares of common stock that are traded on a securities exchange.
Closed-End Funds are subject to various risks, including management's
ability to meet the Closed-End Fund's investment objective, and to
manage the Closed-End Fund portfolio when the underlying securities are
redeemed or sold, during periods of market turmoil and as investors'
perceptions regarding Closed-End Funds or their underlying investments
change.
Shares of Closed-End Funds frequently trade at a discount from their net
asset value in the secondary market. This risk is separate and distinct
from the risk that the net asset value of Closed-End Fund shares may
decrease. The amount of such discount from net asset value is subject to
change from time to time in response to various factors.
High-Yield Corporate Bonds. Each of the Closed-End Funds held by the
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in high-
yield corporate bonds. High-yield, high risk corporate bonds are subject
to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss than corporate bonds
with higher investment ratings. The value of these bonds will decline
significantly with increases in interest rates, not only because
increases in rates generally decrease values, but also because increased
rates may indicate an economic slowdown. An economic slowdown, or a
reduction in an issuer's creditworthiness, may result in the issuer
being unable to maintain earnings at a level sufficient to maintain
interest and principal payments.
Page 11
High-yield or "junk" bonds, the generic names for corporate bonds rated
below "Triple B" by Standard & Poor's or Moody's, are frequently issued
by corporations in the growth stage of their development or by
established companies who are highly leveraged or whose operations or
industries are depressed. Obligations rated below "Triple B" should be
considered speculative as these ratings indicate a quality of less than
investment grade. Because high-yield bonds are generally subordinated
obligations and are perceived by investors to be riskier than higher
rated bonds, their prices tend to fluctuate more than higher rated bonds
and are affected by short-term credit developments to a greater degree.
The market for high-yield bonds is smaller and less liquid than that for
investment grade bonds. High-yield bonds are generally not listed on a
national securities exchange but trade in the over-the-counter markets.
Due to the smaller, less liquid market for high-yield bonds, the bid-
offer spread on such bonds is generally greater than it is for
investment grade bonds and the purchase or sale of such bonds may take
longer to complete.
Municipal Bonds. Each of the Closed-End Funds held by the Municipal
Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 invests in tax-exempt municipal bonds.
Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued by states or political
subdivisions or authorities of states. Municipal bonds are typically
designated as general obligation bonds, which are general obligations of
a governmental entity that are backed by the taxing power of such
entity, or revenue bonds, which are payable from the income of a
specific project or authority and are not supported by the issuer's
power to levy taxes. Municipal bonds are long-term fixed rate debt
obligations that generally decline in value with increases in interest
rates, when an issuer's financial condition worsens or when the rating
on a bond is decreased. Many municipal bonds may be called or redeemed
prior to their stated maturity, an event which is more likely to occur
when interest rates fall. In such an occurrence, a Closed-End Fund may
not be able to reinvest the money it receives in other bonds that have
as high a yield or as long a maturity.
Many municipal bonds are subject to continuing requirements as to the
actual use of the bond proceeds or manner of operation of the project
financed from bond proceeds that may affect the exemption of interest on
such bonds from federal income taxation. The market for municipal bonds
is generally less liquid than for other securities and therefore the
price of municipal bonds may be more volatile and subject to greater
price fluctuations than securities with greater liquidity. In addition,
an issuer's ability to make income distributions generally depends on
several factors including the financial condition of the issuer and
general economic conditions. Any of these factors may negatively impact
the price of municipal bonds held by a Closed-End Fund and would
therefore impact the price of both the Securities and the Units.
Foreign Securities. Certain or all of the underlying bonds held by
certain of the Closed-End Funds in the High-Yield Corporate Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 are issued by foreign companies, which makes this
Trust subject to more risks than if it only invested in Closed-End Funds
which invest solely in domestic bonds. Risks of foreign bonds 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. In addition, brokerage and other transaction
costs on foreign securities exchanges are often higher than in the
United States and there is generally less government supervision and
regulation of exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries.
Legislation/Litigation. From time to time, various legislative
initiatives are proposed which may have a negative impact on the prices
of certain of the corporate or municipal bonds owned by the Closed-End
Funds represented in the Trusts. In addition, litigation regarding any
of the issuers of the corporate or municipal bonds owned by such Closed-
End Funds, or of the industries represented by such issuers, such as
litigation affecting the validity of certain municipal bonds or the tax-
free nature of the interest thereon, 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
Page 12
the share prices of the Securities or of the issuers of the underlying
bonds in which they invest.
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
the Year 2000 Problem will cause any major operational difficulties for
the Trusts. However, we are unable to predict what impact the Year 2000
Problem will have on any of the issuers of the Securities or on any of
the issuers of the underlying bonds in which they invest. You should
note that issuers of municipal bonds and foreign issuers of corporate
bonds may have greater Year 2000 complications than other issuers.
Public Offering
The Public Offering Price.
You may buy Units at the Public Offering Price, the price per Unit of
which is comprised of the following:
- - The aggregate underlying value of the Securities;
- - The amount of any cash in the Income and Capital Accounts
- - Dividends receivable on Securities; and
- - The total sales charge (which combines an initial up-front sales
charge and a deferred sales charge).
The price you pay for your Units will differ from the amount stated
under "Summary of Essential Information" due to various factors,
including fluctuations in the prices of the Securities and changes in
the value of the Income and/or Capital Accounts.
Securities purchased with the portion of the Public Offering Price
intended to be used to reimburse the Sponsor for a 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 a Trust. Securities will be sold to
reimburse the Sponsor for a Trust's organization costs at the earlier of
six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial
offering period (a significantly shorter time period than the life of a
Trust). During the period ending with the earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period,
there may be a decrease in the value of the Securities. To the extent
the proceeds from the sale of these Securities are insufficient to repay
the Sponsor for the Trust organization costs, the Trustee will sell
additional Securities to allow a 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 a Trust in "Notes to Statements 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 a 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 a 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 a Trust is $1,000 worth of Units
($500 if you are purchasing Units for your Individual Retirement Account
or any other qualified retirement plan).
Sales Charges.
The sales charge you will pay has both an initial and deferred
component. The initial sales charge, which you will pay at the time of
purchase, is initially equal to approximately 1.00% of the Public
Offering Price of a Unit. This initial sales charge is actually equal to
the difference between the maximum sales charge of 4.50% of the Public
Offering Price and the maximum remaining deferred sales charge
Page 13
(initially $.350 per Unit). The initial sales charge will vary from
1.00% with changes in the aggregate underlying value of the Securities,
changes in the Income and Capital Accounts and as deferred sales charge
payments are made. In addition, five monthly deferred sales charges of
$.07 per Unit will be deducted from a Trust's assets on approximately
the twentieth day of each month from August 18, 2000 through December
20, 2000. The maximum sales charge assessed during the initial offering
period will be 4.50% of the Public Offering Price per Unit (equivalent
to 4.545% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales
charge).
After the initial offering period, if you purchase Units after the last
deferred sales charge payment has been assessed, your sales charge will
consist of a one-time initial sales charge of 4.50% of the Public
Offering Price (equivalent to 4.712% of the net amount invested), which
will be reduced by 1/2 of 1% on each subsequent January 31, commencing
January 31, 2001 to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%.
Discounts for Certain Persons.
If you invest at least $50,000 (except if you are purchasing for a "wrap
fee account" as described below), the maximum sales charge is reduced,
as follows:
Your maximum
If you invest sales charge
(in thousands):* will be:
______________ ____________
$50 but less than $100 4.25%
$100 but less than $250 4.00%
$250 but less than $500 3.50%
$500 or more 2.50%
* The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a Unit basis
utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and
will be applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
The breakpoints will be adjusted to take into consideration purchase
orders stated in dollars which cannot be completely fulfilled due to the
requirement that only whole Units be issued.
The reduced sales charge for quantity purchases will apply only to
purchases made by the same person on any one day from any one dealer. To
help you reach the above levels, you can combine the Units you purchase
of the Trusts in this prospectus with any other same day purchases of
other trusts for which we are Principal Underwriter and are currently in
the initial offering period. In addition, we will also consider Units
you purchase in the name of your spouse or child under 21 years of age
to be purchases by you. 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 party
making the sale.
If you own units of any other unit investment trusts sponsored by us you
may use your redemption or termination proceeds from these trusts to
purchase Units of the Trusts subject only to any remaining deferred
sales charge to be collected on Units of the Trusts. Please note that
you will be charged the amount of any remaining deferred sales charge on
units you redeem when you redeem them.
The following persons may purchase Units at the Public Offering Price
less the applicable dealer concession:
- - Employees, officers and directors of the Sponsor, our related
companies, dealers and their affiliates, and vendors providing services
to us.
- - Immediate family members of the above (spouses, children,
grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-
in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-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 in lieu of commissions or who charge for financial
planning, investment or advisory or asset management services, or
provide these services as part of an investment account where a
comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed, your Units will only be
assessed that portion of the sales charge retained by the Sponsor, 1.30%
of the Public Offering Price (1.00% in certain circumstances). This
discount for "wrap fee" purchases is available whether or not you
purchase Units with the Wrap CUSIP. However, if you purchase Units with
the Wrap CUSIP, you should be aware that all distributions of income
and/or capital will be automatically reinvested into additional Units of
your Trust subject only to that portion of the sales charge retained by
the Sponsor. See "Distributions of Units-Dealer Concessions."
Page 14
You 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 Evaluator will appraise the aggregate underlying value of the
Securities in a 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 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 certain national holidays
on which the NYSE is closed.
The aggregate underlying value of the Securities in a 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, their value 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 valuation). If current ask prices are unavailable, the
valuation 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.
After the initial offering period is over, the aggregate underlying
value of the Securities will be determined as set forth above, except
that bid prices are used instead of ask prices when necessary.
Distribution of Units
We intend to qualify Units of the Trusts for sale in a number of states.
All Units will be sold at the then current Public Offering Price.
Dealer Concessions.
Dealers and other selling agents can purchase Units at prices which
represent a concession or agency commission of 3.2% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit (or 65% of the maximum sales charge after
January 31, 2001). However, dealers and other selling agents will
receive a concession on the sale of Units, subject only to any remaining
deferred sales charge, equal to $.22 per Unit on Units sold subject to
the maximum deferred sales charge or 63% of the then current maximum
remaining deferred sales charge on Units sold subject to less than the
maximum deferred sales charge. Dealers and selling agents will receive
an additional volume concession or agency commission of 0.30% of the
Public Offering Price if they purchase at least $100,000 worth of Units
of a Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit or $250,000 on any day
thereafter or if they were eligible to receive a similar concession in
connection with sales of similarly structured trusts sponsored by us
which are currently in the initial offering period.
Dealers and other selling agents who sell Units of a Trust during the
initial offering period in the dollar amounts shown below will be
entitled to the following additional sales concessions as a percentage
of the Public Offering Price:
Total sales
per Trust Additional
(in millions) Concession
_____________________ __________
$1 but less than $10 .20%
$10 or more .30%
Dealers and other selling agents who, during any consecutive 12-month
period, sell at least $2 billion worth of primary market units of unit
investment trusts sponsored by us will receive a concession of $30,000
in the month following the achievement of this level. We reserve the
right to change the amount of concessions or agency commissions from
Page 15
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.
Award Programs.
From time to time we may sponsor programs which provide awards to a
dealer's or selling agent'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 Trusts. 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 Trust assets. These programs will not change the
price you pay for your Units
Investment Comparisons.
From time to time we may compare the estimated returns of the Trusts
(which may show performance net of the expenses and charges such 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, BusinessWeek,
Forbes or Fortune. The investment characteristics of each Trust differ
from other comparative investments. You should not assume that these
performance comparisons will be representative of a Trust's future
performance.
The Sponsor's Profits
We will receive a gross sales commission equal to the maximum sales
charge per Unit of a 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 a Trust is considered
a profit or loss (see Note 2 of "Notes to Schedules 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 the Units, any difference between the price
at which we purchase Units and the price at which we sell or redeem them
will be a profit or loss to us.
The Secondary Market
Although not obligated, 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, Trustee costs to transfer and record the ownership of
Units and costs incurred in annually updating the Trusts' registration
statements. 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
or redeem your Units 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 is equal to or greater than the Redemption Price per Unit, we may
purchase the Units. You will receive your proceeds from the sale 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.
Expenses and Charges
The estimated annual expenses of the Trusts are listed under "Fee
Table." If actual expenses exceed the estimate, the appropriate Trust
will bear the excess. The Trustee will pay operating expenses of a Trust
from the Income Account of such Trust if funds are available, and then
Page 16
from the Capital Account. The Income and Capital Accounts are
noninterest-bearing to Unit holders, so the Trustee may earn interest on
these funds, thus benefiting from their use. In addition, investors will
also indirectly pay a portion of the expenses of the underlying Closed-
End Funds.
As Sponsor, we will be compensated for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services to the Trusts, and will receive brokerage fees
when the Trusts use us (or an affiliate of ours) as agent in buying or
selling Securities. Legal, typesetting, electronic filing and regulatory
filing fees and expenses associated with updating the Trusts'
registration statements yearly are also now chargeable to the Trusts.
Historically, we paid these fees and expenses. First Trust Advisors
L.P., an affiliate of ours, acts as both Portfolio Supervisor and
Evaluator to the Trusts and will receive the fees set forth under "Fee
Table" for providing portfolio supervisory and evaluation services to
the Trusts. 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 Trusts.
The fees payable to us, First Trust Advisors L.P. and the Trustee are
based on the largest aggregate number of Units of a 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
affiliate 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.
In addition to a Trust's operating expenses, and the fees described
above, each Trust may also incur the following charges:
- - All legal expenses of the Trustee according to its responsibilities
under the Indenture;
- - The expenses and costs incurred by the Trustee to protect a Trust and
your rights and interests;
- - 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 a Trust;
- - Payment for any loss, liability or expenses we incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in acting as Depositor of a
Trust; and/or
- - All taxes and other government charges imposed upon the Securities or
any part of a Trust.
The above expenses and the Trustee's annual fee are secured by a lien on
the respective Trust. In addition, if there is not enough cash in the
Income or Capital Accounts of a Trust, the Trustee has the power to sell
Securities to make cash available to pay these charges. We cannot
guarantee that distributions from the Securities will be sufficient to
meet any or all expenses of a Trust. These sales may result in capital
gains or losses to the Unit holders. See "Tax Status."
The Trusts will be audited on an annual basis. So long as we are making
a secondary market for Units, we will bear the cost of these annual
audits to the extent the cost exceeds $0.0050 per Unit. Otherwise, a
Trust will pay for the audit. You can receive a copy of the audited
financial statements by notifying the Trustee.
Tax Status
This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax
consequences of owning Units of the Trusts. 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.
Assets of the Trusts.
Each Trust will hold shares of Closed-End Funds (the "Securities")
qualifying as regulated investment companies ("RICs"). The High Yield
Corporate Closed-End Portfolio Series is invested in high-yield
corporate bonds and the Municipal Closed-End Portfolio Series is
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invested in municipal bonds. For purposes of this federal tax
discussion, it is assumed that the Securities constitute qualifying
shares in regulated investment companies for federal income tax purposes.
Trust Status and Distributions.
The Trusts will not be taxed as corporations 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 your Trust, and
as such you will be considered to have received a pro rata share of
income (i.e., dividends, interest and capital gains, if any) from each
Security when such income is considered to be received by your Trust.
This is true even if you elect to have your distributions automatically
reinvested into additional Units. In addition, the income from a Trust
which you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not
reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales charge.
Distributions received by the Trusts from the Securities, other than
distributions which are designated as capital gain dividends or exempt-
interest dividends, will be taxable to you as ordinary income.
Distributions from the Trusts attributable to dividends received from
the Securities will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction
for corporations.
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 amount 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 paid to the Trusts on the Securities that exceed the
RIC'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.
Dividends from Securities.
Some dividends on the Securities may qualify as "capital gain
dividends," taxable to you as long-term capital gains. In addition, some
dividends on the Securities may qualify as "exempt interest dividends,"
which generally are excluded from your gross income for federal income
tax purposes. Some or all of the exempt-interest dividends, however, may
be taken into account in determining your alternative minimum tax, and
may have other tax consequences (e.g., they may affect the amount of
your social security benefits that are taxed).
If you hold a Unit for six months or less or if a Trust holds a Security
for six months or less, any loss incurred by you related to the
disposition of such Security will be disallowed to the extent of the
exempt-interest dividends you received. If such loss is not entirely
disallowed, it will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent
of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed to have
been received) with respect to such Security. Distributions of income or
capital gains declared on the Securities in October, November, or
December will be deemed to have been paid to you on December 31 of the
year they are declared, even when paid by the RIC during the following
January.
In-Kind Distributions.
Under certain circumstances, you may request a distribution of
Securities (an "In-Kind Distribution") when you redeem your Units or at
a 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 the Securities 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 a Trust.
However, if you also receive cash in exchange for a fractional share of
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a Security held by a 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 and Your Interest
Expenses.
Generally, for federal income tax purposes, you must take into account
your full pro rata share of a 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 a 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 Trusts as miscellaneous itemized deductions.
Individuals may only deduct certain miscellaneous itemized deductions to
the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income.
Because some of the Securities pay exempt interest dividends, which are
treated as tax-exempt interest for federal income tax purposes, you will
not be able to deduct some of your share of the Trust expenses. In
addition, you will not be able to deduct some of your interest expense
for debt that you incur or continue to purchase or carry your Units.
Foreign, State and Local Taxes.
Some distributions by a 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 a Trust, you may be
entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for U.S. tax purposes with
respect to such taxes.
If you are a foreign investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S.
citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or
trust), you will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including
withholding taxes, on some of the income from a Trust or on any gain
from the sale or redemption of your Units, provided that certain
conditions are met. You should consult your tax advisor with respect to
the conditions you must meet in order to be exempt for U.S. tax
purposes. Under the existing income tax laws of the State and City of
New York, the Trusts will not be taxed as corporations, and the income
of the Trusts will be treated as the income of the Unit holders in the
same manner as for federal income tax purposes.
Retirement Plans
You may purchase Units of the Trusts 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
adviser. 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. It is your responsibility to notify the Trustee when
you become Record Owner, but normally your broker/dealer provides this
notice. You may elect to hold your Units in either certificated or
uncertificated form.
Certificated Units. When you purchase your Units you can request that
they be evidenced by certificates, which will be delivered shortly after
your order. 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. You can transfer or redeem your
certificated Units by endorsing and surrendering the certificate to the
Trustee, along with a written instrument 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.
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. If a certificate gets
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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.
Uncertificated Units. 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 you:
- - A written initial transaction statement containing a description of
the 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.
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:
- - A summary of transactions in your Trust for the year;
- - A list of any Securities sold during the year and the Securities held
at the end of that year by your 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. The Trustee will credit any dividends received on
a Trust's Securities to the Income Account of such Trust. All other
receipts, such as return of capital, are credited to the Capital Account.
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." No income distribution will be paid if accrued expenses of
a Trust exceed amounts in the Income Account on the Income Distribution
Dates. Distribution amounts will vary with changes in a Trust's fees and
expenses, in dividends received and with the sale of Securities. The
Trustee will distribute amounts in the Capital Account, net of amounts
designated to meet redemptions, pay the deferred sales charge or pay
expenses 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. If the Trustee does not have your TIN, it is required to
withhold a certain percentage of your distribution and deliver such
amount to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). You may recover this
amount by giving your TIN to the Trustee, or when you file a tax return.
However, you should check your statements to make sure the Trustee has
your TIN to avoid this "back-up withholding."
We anticipate that there will be enough money in the Capital Account of
a Trust to pay the deferred sales charge. If not, the Trustee may sell
Securities to meet the shortfall.
Within a reasonable time after a Trust is terminated, you will receive
the pro rata share of the money from the sale 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."
You will receive a pro rata share of any other assets remaining in your
Trust after deducting any unpaid expenses.
The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within a
Trust to cover anticipated state and local taxes or any governmental
charges to be paid out of such Trust.
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Distribution Reinvestment Option. You may elect to have each
distribution of income and/or capital reinvested into additional Units
of a Trust by notifying the Trustee at least 10 days before any Record
Date. Distributions on Units identified by the Wrap CUSIP will be
automatically reinvested into additional Units of your Trust. Each later
distribution of income and/or capital on your Units will be reinvested
by the Trustee into additional Units of a 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 uncertificated, you
need only deliver a request for redemption to the Trustee. In either
case, the certificates or the redemption request 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 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. The IRS will require the Trustee to withhold a
portion of your redemption proceeds if the Trustee does not have your
TIN, as generally discussed under "Income and Capital Distributions."
If you tender 1,000 Units or more for redemption, rather than receiving
cash you may elect to receive an In-Kind Distribution in an amount 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 a 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.
The Trustee may sell Securities to make funds available for redemption.
If Securities are sold, the size and diversification of such 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 of a Trust not designated to
purchase Securities;
2. the aggregate underlying value of the Securities held in a Trust; and
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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 a Trust;
2. any amounts owed to the Trustee for its advances;
3. estimated accrued expenses of a Trust, if any;
4. cash held for distribution to Unit holders of record of a Trust as of
the business day before the evaluation being made; and
5. other liabilities incurred by a Trust; and
dividing
1. the result by the number of outstanding Units of a Trust.
Any remaining deferred sales charge on the Units when you redeem them
will be deducted from your redemption proceeds. In addition, until the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period, the Redemption Price per Unit will include
estimated organization costs as set forth under "Fee Table."
Removing Securities from a Trust
The portfolios of the Trusts are 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 a Trust.
Except in the limited instance in which a Trust acquires Replacement
Securities, as described in "The FT Series," a Trust may not acquire any
securities or other property other than the Securities. The Trustee, on
behalf of a 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 a Trust, at our instruction, they will
either be sold or held in such 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 a Trust for distribution 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 a Trust to facilitate selling
Securities, exchanged securities or property from a 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 designated by us; or, absent our
direction, at its own discretion, in order to meet redemption requests
or pay expenses. In designating Securities to be sold, we will try to
maintain the proportionate relationship among the Securities. If this is
not possible, the composition and diversification of a Trust may be
changed. To get the best price for a 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 when we make recommendations to the Trustee as to which
broker/dealers they select to execute a Trust's portfolio transactions,
or when acting as agent for a Trust in acquiring or selling Securities
on behalf of such 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).
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Termination. As provided by the Indenture, a Trust will terminate on the
Mandatory Termination Date. The Trust may be terminated earlier:
- - Upon the consent of 100% of the Unit holders;
- - If the value of the Securities owned by a 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 such Trust during the initial offering
period ("Discretionary Liquidation Amount"); or
- - In the event that Units of a Trust not yet sold aggregating more than
60% of the Units of such Trust are tendered for redemption by
underwriters, including the Sponsor.
Prior to termination, the Trustee will send written notice to all Unit
holders which will specify how you should tender your certificates, if
any, to the Trustee. If a Trust is terminated due to this last reason,
we will refund your entire sales charge; however, termination of a Trust
before 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, a
Trust may be reduced below the Discretionary Liquidation Amount and
could therefore be terminated before the Mandatory Termination Date.
Unless terminated earlier, the Trustee will begin to sell Securities in
connection with the termination of a Trust during the period beginning
nine business days prior to, and no later than, the Mandatory
Termination Date. We will determine the manner and timing of the sale of
Securities. 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 sales price than might
otherwise be realized if such sale were not required at this time.
If you own at least 1,000 Units of a 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 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, within a reasonable time
after such Trust is terminated. Regardless of the distribution involved,
the Trustee will deduct from a Trust any accrued costs, expenses,
advances or indemnities provided for 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 Trusts or to
any series of the Trusts or to any other dealer. We are including this
information only to inform you of our financial responsibility and our
ability to carry out our contractual obligations. We will provide more
detailed financial information on request.
The Trustee.
The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, with its principal executive
office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and its unit
Page 23
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 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 Trusts, 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,
but 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 Trusts.
Experts.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the Trusts'
statements of net assets, including the schedules of investments, at the
opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, as set forth in
their report. We've included the Trusts' statements of net assets,
including the schedules 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 details concerning the nature, structure and risks
of this product.
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Page 27
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2
FT 397
Sponsor:
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road, Suite 300
Lisle, Illinois 60532
1-630-241-4141
Trustee:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
4 New York Plaza, 6th floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
1-800-682-7520
24-Hour Pricing Line:
1-800-446-0132
This prospectus contains information relating to the above-mentioned
unit investment trusts, 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. 333-93877) and
- - Investment Company Act of 1940 (file no. 811-05903)
Information about the Trusts can be reviewed and copied at the
Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington
D.C. Information regarding the operation of the Commission's Public
Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-202-942-
8090.
Information about the Trusts is available on the EDGAR Database on the
Commission's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
To obtain copies at prescribed rates -
Write: Public Reference Section of the Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549-0102
e-mail address: [email protected]
January 14, 2000
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 unit investment trusts ("Trusts")
contained in FT 397 not found in the prospectus for the Trusts. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus and does not include all of
the information that a prospective investor should consider before
investing in a Trust. This Information Supplement should be read in
conjunction with the prospectus for the Trust in which an investor is
considering investing.
This Information Supplement is dated January 14, 2000. Capitalized terms
have been defined in the prospectus.
Table of Contents
Risk Factors 1
Securities 1
High-Yield Corporate Bonds 2
High-Yield Obligations 2
Municipal Bonds 3
Healthcare Revenue Bonds 3
Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds 3
Multi-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds 4
Water and Sewerage Revenue Bonds 4
Electric Utility Revenue Bonds 4
Lease Obligation Revenue Bonds 4
Industrial Revenue Bonds 5
Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds 5
Educational Obligation Revenue Bonds 5
Resource Recovery Facility Revenue Bonds 6
Discount Bonds 6
Original Issue Discount Bonds 6
Zero Coupon Bonds 6
Premium Bonds 6
Risk Factors.
Securities. The Securities in the Trusts represent shares of closed-end
mutual funds which invest in either tax-exempt municipal bonds or high-
yield corporate debt obligations. As such, an investment in Units of the
Trusts should be made with an understanding of the risks of investing in
both closed-end fund shares and municipal bonds or high-yield corporate
debt obligations.
Closed-end mutual funds' portfolios are managed and their shares are
generally listed on a securities exchange. The net asset value of closed-
end fund shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the
underlying securities which the closed-end fund owns. In addition, for
various reasons closed-end fund shares frequently trade at a discount
from their net asset value in the secondary market. The amount of such
discount from net asset value is subject to change from time to time in
response to various factors. Closed-end funds' articles of incorporation
may contain certain anti-takeover provisions that may have the effect of
inhibiting a fund's possible conversion to open-end status and limiting
the ability of other persons to acquire control of a fund. In certain
circumstances, these provisions might also inhibit the ability of
Page 1
stockholders (including the Trusts) to sell their shares at a premium
over prevailing market prices. This characteristic is a risk separate
and distinct from the risk that a fund's net asset value will decrease.
In particular, this characteristic would increase the loss or reduce the
return on the sale of those closed-end fund shares which were purchased
by a Trust at a premium. In the unlikely event that a closed-end fund
converts to open-end status at a time when its shares are trading at a
premium there would be an immediate loss in value to the Trust since
shares of open-end funds trade at net asset value. Certain closed-end
funds may have in place or may put in place in the future plans pursuant
to which the fund may repurchase its own shares in the marketplace.
Typically, these plans are put in place in an attempt by a fund's board
of directors to reduce a discount on its share price. To the extent such
a plan was implemented and shares owned by a Trust are repurchased by a
fund, the Trust's position in that fund would be reduced and the cash
would be distributed.
The Trusts are prohibited from subscribing to a rights offering for
shares of any of the closed-end funds in which they invest. In the event
of a rights offering for additional shares of a fund, Unit holders
should expect that their Trust will, at the completion of the offer, own
a smaller proportional interest in such fund that would otherwise be the
case. It is not possible to determine the extent of this dilution in
share ownership without knowing what proportion of the shares in a
rights offering will be subscribed. This may be particularly serious
when the subscription price per share for the offer is less than the
fund's net asset value per share. Assuming that all rights are exercised
and there is no change in the net asset value per share, the aggregate
net asset value of each shareholder's shares of common stock should
decrease as a result of the offer. If a fund's subscription price per
share is below that fund's net asset value per share at the expiration
of the offer, shareholders would experience an immediate dilution of the
aggregate net asset value of their shares of common stock as a result of
the offer, which could be substantial.
Closed-end funds may utilize leveraging in their portfolios. Leveraging
can be expected to cause increased price volatility for those fund's
shares, and as a result, increased volatility for the price of the Units
of a Trust. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be
successful during any period in which it is employed.
The following is a discussion of certain of the risks associated with
specific types of bonds.
High-Yield Corporate Bonds.
High-Yield Obligations. An investment in Units of the High-Yield
Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 should be made with an
understanding of the risks that an investment in "high-yield, high-
risk," fixed-rate, domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations or
"junk bonds" may entail, including increased credit risks and the risk
that the value of the Units will decline, and may decline precipitously,
with increases in interest rates. In recent years there have been wide
fluctuations in interest rates and thus in the value of fixed-rate, debt
obligations generally. Bonds such as those included in the funds in the
Trust are, under most circumstances, subject to greater market
fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than are
investments in lower-yielding, higher-rated bonds, and their value may
decline precipitously because of increases in interest rates, not only
because the increases in rates generally decrease values, but also
because increased rates may indicate a slowdown in the economy and a
decrease in the value of assets generally that may adversely affect the
credit of issuers of high-yield, high-risk bonds resulting in a higher
incidence of defaults among high-yield, high-risk bonds. A slowdown in
the economy, or a development adversely affecting an issuer's
creditworthiness, may result in the issuer being unable to maintain
earnings or sell assets at the rate and at the prices, respectively,
that are required to produce sufficient cash flow to meet its interest
and principal requirements. For an issuer that has outstanding both
senior commercial bank debt and subordinated high-yield, high-risk
bonds, an increase in interest rates will increase that issuer's
interest expense insofar as the interest rate on the bank debt is
fluctuating. However, many leveraged issuers enter into interest rate
protection agreements to fix or cap the interest rate on a large portion
of their bank debt. This reduces exposure to increasing rates, but
reduces the benefit to the issuer of declining rates. The Sponsor cannot
predict future economic policies or their consequences or, therefore,
the course or extent of any similar market fluctuations in the future.
"High-yield" or "junk" bonds, the generic names for corporate bonds
rated below BBB by Standard & Poor's, or below Baa by Moody's, are
frequently issued by corporations in the growth stage of their
development, by established companies whose operations or industries are
depressed or by highly leveraged companies purchased in leveraged buyout
transactions. The market for high-yield bonds is very specialized and
investors in it have been predominantly financial institutions. High-
yield bonds are generally not listed on a national securities exchange.
Trading of high-yield bonds, therefore, takes place primarily in over-
the-counter markets which consist of groups of dealer firms that are
typically major securities firms. Because the high-yield bond market is
a dealer market, rather than an auction market, no single obtainable
price for a given bond prevails at any given time. Prices are determined
by negotiation between traders. The existence of a liquid trading market
for the bonds may depend on whether dealers will make a market in the
bonds. There can be no assurance that a market will be made for any of
the bonds, that any market for the bonds will be maintained or of the
liquidity of the bonds in any markets made. Not all dealers maintain
markets in all high-yield bonds. Therefore, since there are fewer
traders in these bonds than there are in "investment grade" bonds, the
bid-offer spread is usually greater for high-yield bonds than it is for
investment grade bonds. The price at which the bonds may be sold to meet
redemptions and the value of the Trust will be adversely affected if
trading markets for the bonds are limited or absent. If the rate of
redemptions is great, the value of the Trust may decline to a level that
requires liquidation.
Lower-rated bonds tend to offer higher yields than higher-rated bonds
with the same maturities because the creditworthiness of the issuers of
lower-rated bonds may not be as strong as that of other issuers.
Moreover, if a bond is recharacterized as equity by the Internal Revenue
Service for federal income tax purposes, the issuer's interest deduction
Page 2
with respect to the bond will be disallowed and this disallowance may
adversely affect the issuer's credit rating. Because investors generally
perceive that there are greater risks associated with the lower-rated
bonds in the High-Yield Corporate Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2, the
yields and prices of these bonds tend to fluctuate more than higher-
rated bonds with changes in the perceived quality of the credit of their
issuers. In addition, the market value of high-yield, high-risk, fixed-
income bonds may fluctuate more than the market value of higher-rated
bonds since high-yield, high-risk, fixed-income bonds tend to reflect
short-term credit development to a greater extent than higher-rated
bonds. Lower-rated bonds generally involve greater risks of loss of
income and principal than higher-rated bonds. Issuers of lower-rated
bonds may possess fewer creditworthiness characteristics than issuers of
higher-rated bonds and, especially in the case of issuers whose
obligations or credit standing have recently been downgraded, may be
subject to claims by debtholders, owners of property leased to the
issuer or others which, if sustained, would make it more difficult for
the issuers to meet their payment obligations. High-yield, high-risk
bonds are also affected by variables such as interest rates, inflation
rates and real growth in the economy. Therefore, investors should
consider carefully the relative risks associated with investment in
bonds which carry lower ratings.
The value of the Units reflects the value of the portfolio bonds,
including the value (if any) of bonds in default. Should the issuer of
any bond default in the payment of principal or interest, the funds in
the Trust may incur additional expenses seeking payment on the defaulted
bond. Because amounts (if any) recovered by the funds in payment under
the defaulted bond may not be reflected in the value of the fund shares
until actually received by the funds, and depending upon when a Unit
holder purchases or sells his or her Units, it is possible that a Unit
holder would bear a portion of the cost of recovery without receiving
any portion of the payment recovered.
High-yield, high-risk bonds are generally subordinated obligations. The
payment of principal (and premium, if any), interest and sinking fund
requirements with respect to subordinated obligations of an issuer is
subordinated in right of payment to the payment of senior obligations of
the issuer. Senior obligations generally include most, if not all,
significant debt obligations of an issuer, whether existing at the time
of issuance of subordinated debt or created thereafter. Upon any
distribution of the assets of an issuer with subordinated obligations
upon dissolution, total or partial liquidation or reorganization of or
similar proceeding relating to the issuer, the holders of senior
indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full before holders
of subordinated indebtedness will be entitled to receive any payment.
Moreover, generally no payment with respect to subordinated indebtedness
may be made while there exists a default with respect to any senior
indebtedness. Thus, in the event of insolvency, holders of senior
indebtedness of an issuer generally will recover more, ratably, than
holders of subordinated indebtedness of that issuer.
Obligations that are rated lower than "BBB" by Standard & Poor's, or Baa
by Moody's, respectively, should be considered speculative as such
ratings indicate a quality of less than investment grade. Investors
should carefully review the objective of the High-Yield Corporate Closed-
End Portfolio, Series 2 and consider their ability to assume the risks
involved before making an investment in such Trust.
Municipal Bonds.
Certain of the bonds held by the Securities in the Municipal Closed-End
Portfolio, Series 2 may be general obligations of a governmental entity
that are backed by the taxing power of such entity. Other bonds in the
funds may be revenue bonds payable from the income of a specific project
or authority and are not supported by the issuer's power to levy taxes.
General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its
faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and
interest. Revenue bonds, on the other hand, are payable only from the
revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or,
in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other
specific revenue source. There are, of course, variations in the
security of the different bonds in the funds, both within a particular
classification and between classifications, depending on numerous
factors. A description of certain types of revenue bonds follows.
Healthcare Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be healthcare revenue
bonds. Ratings of bonds issued for healthcare facilities are sometimes
based on feasibility studies that contain projections of occupancy
levels, revenues and expenses. A facility's gross receipts and net
income available for debt service may be affected by future events and
conditions including among other things, demand for services, the
ability of the facility to provide the services required, physicians'
confidence in the facility, management capabilities, competition with
other hospitals, efforts by insurers and governmental agencies to limit
rates, legislation establishing state rate-setting agencies, expenses,
government regulation, the cost and possible unavailability of
malpractice insurance and the termination or restriction of governmental
financial assistance, including that associated with Medicare, Medicaid
and other similar third party payor programs. Pursuant to recent Federal
legislation, Medicare reimbursements are currently calculated on a
prospective basis utilizing a single nationwide schedule of rates. Prior
to such legislation Medicare reimbursements were based on the actual
costs incurred by the health facility. The current legislation may
adversely affect reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities for
services provided under the Medicare program.
Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be single
family mortgage revenue bonds, which are issued for the purpose of
acquiring from originating financial institutions notes secured by
Page 3
mortgages on residences located within the issuer's boundaries and owned
by persons of low or moderate income. Mortgage loans are generally
partially or completely prepaid prior to their final maturities as a
result of events such as sale of the mortgaged premises, default,
condemnation or casualty loss. Because these bonds are subject to
extraordinary mandatory redemption in whole or in part from such
prepayments of mortgage loans, a substantial portion of such bonds will
probably be redeemed prior to their scheduled maturities or even prior
to their ordinary call dates. The redemption price of such issues may be
more or less than the offering price of such bonds. Extraordinary
mandatory redemption without premium could also result from the failure
of the originating financial institutions to make mortgage loans in
sufficient amounts within a specified time period or, in some cases,
from the sale by the bond issuer of the mortgage loans. Failure of the
originating financial institutions to make mortgage loans would be due
principally to the interest rates on mortgage loans funded from other
sources becoming competitive with the interest rates on the mortgage
loans funded with the proceeds of the single family mortgage revenue
bonds. Additionally, unusually high rates of default on the underlying
mortgage loans may reduce revenues available for the payment of
principal of or interest on such mortgage revenue bonds. Single family
mortgage revenue bonds issued after December 31, 1980 were issued under
Section 103A of the Internal Revenue Code, which Section contains
certain ongoing requirements relating to the use of the proceeds of such
bonds in order for the interest on such bonds to retain its tax-exempt
status. In each case, the issuer of the bonds has covenanted to comply
with applicable ongoing requirements and bond counsel to such issuer has
issued an opinion that the interest on the bonds is exempt from Federal
income tax under existing laws and regulations. There can be no
assurances that the ongoing requirements will be met. The failure to
meet these requirements could cause the interest on the bonds to become
taxable, possibly retroactively from the date of issuance.
Multi-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be
obligations of issuers whose revenues are primarily derived from
mortgage loans to housing projects for low to moderate income families.
The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments will be
affected by events and conditions affecting financed projects,
including, among other things, the achievement and maintenance of
sufficient occupancy levels and adequate rental income, increases in
taxes, employment and income conditions prevailing in local labor
markets, utility costs and other operating expenses, the managerial
ability of project managers, changes in laws and governmental
regulations, the appropriation of subsidies and social and economic
trends affecting the localities in which the projects are located. The
occupancy of housing projects may be adversely affected by high rent
levels and income limitations imposed under Federal and state programs.
Like single family mortgage revenue bonds, multi-family mortgage revenue
bonds are subject to redemption and call features, including
extraordinary mandatory redemption features, upon prepayment, sale or
non-origination of mortgage loans as well as upon the occurrence of
other events. Certain issuers of single or multi-family housing bonds
have considered various ways to redeem bonds they have issued prior to
the stated first redemption dates for such bonds. In one situation the
New York City Housing Development Corporation, in reliance on its
interpretation of certain language in the indenture under which one of
its bond issues was created, redeemed all of such issue at par in spite
of the fact that such indenture provided that the first optional
redemption was to include a premium over par and could not occur prior
to 1992.
Water and Sewerage Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be
obligations of issuers whose revenues are derived from the sale of water
and/or sewerage services. Water and sewerage bonds are generally payable
from user fees. Problems faced by such issuers include the ability to
obtain timely and adequate rate increases, population decline resulting
in decreased user fees, the difficulty of financing large construction
programs, the limitations on operations and increased costs and delays
attributable to environmental considerations, the increasing difficulty
of obtaining or discovering new supplies of fresh water, the effect of
conservation programs and the impact of "no-growth" zoning ordinances.
All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems in
varying degrees.
Electric Utility Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be obligations
of issuers whose revenues are primarily derived from the sale of
electric energy. Utilities are generally subject to extensive regulation
by state utility commissions which, among other things, establish the
rates which may be charged and the appropriate rate of return on an
approved asset base. The problems faced by such issuers include the
difficulty in obtaining approval for timely and adequate rate increases
from the governing public utility commission, the difficulty in
financing large construction programs, the limitations on operations and
increased costs and delays attributable to environmental considerations,
increased competition, recent reductions in estimates of future demand
for electricity in certain areas of the country, the difficulty of the
capital market in absorbing utility debt, the difficulty in obtaining
fuel at reasonable prices and the effect of energy conservation. All of
such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems in varying
degrees. In addition, Federal, state and municipal governmental
authorities may from time to time review existing and impose additional
regulations governing the licensing, construction and operation of
nuclear power plants, which may adversely affect the ability of the
issuers of such bonds to make payments of principal and/or interest on
such bonds.
Lease Obligation Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be lease
obligations issued for the most part by governmental authorities that
Page 4
have no taxing power or other means of directly raising revenues.
Rather, the governmental authorities are financing vehicles created
solely for the construction of buildings (schools, administrative
offices, convention centers and prisons, for example) or the purchase of
equipment (police cars and computer systems, for example) that will be
used by a state or local government (the "lessee"). Thus, these
obligations are subject to the ability and willingness of the lessee
government to meet its lease rental payments which include debt service
on the obligations. Lease obligations are subject, in almost all cases,
to the annual appropriation risk, i.e., the lessee government is not
legally obligated to budget and appropriate for the rental payments
beyond the current fiscal year. These obligations are also subject to
construction and abatement risk in many states-rental obligations cease
in the event that delays in building, damage, destruction or
condemnation of the project prevents its use by the lessee. In these
cases, insurance provisions designed to alleviate this risk become
important credit factors. In the event of default by the lessee
government, there may be significant legal and/or practical difficulties
involved in the re-letting or sale of the project. Some of these issues,
particularly those for equipment purchase, contain the so-called
"substitution safeguard," which bars the lessee government, in the event
it defaults on its rental payments, from the purchase or use of similar
equipment for a certain period of time. This safeguard is designed to
insure that the lessee government will appropriate, even though it is
not legally obligated to do so, but its legality remains untested in
most, if not all, states.
Industrial Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be industrial revenue
bonds ("IRBs"), including pollution control revenue bonds, which are tax-
exempt securities issued by states, municipalities, public authorities
or similar entities to finance the cost of acquiring, constructing or
improving various industrial projects. These projects are usually
operated by corporate entities. Issuers are obligated only to pay
amounts due on the IRBs to the extent that funds are available from the
unexpended proceeds of the IRBs or receipts or revenues of the issuer
under an arrangement between the issuer and the corporate operator of a
project. The arrangement may be in the form of a lease, installment sale
agreement, conditional sale agreement or loan agreement, but in each
case the payments to the issuer are designed to be sufficient to meet
the payments of amounts due on the IRBs. Regardless of the structure,
payment of IRBs is solely dependent upon the creditworthiness of the
corporate operator of the project or corporate guarantor. Corporate
operators or guarantors may be affected by many factors which may have
an adverse impact on the credit quality of the particular company or
industry. These include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, regulatory
and environmental restrictions, litigation resulting from accidents or
environmentally-caused illnesses, extensive competition and financial
deterioration resulting from a complete restructuring pursuant to a
leveraged buy-out, takeover or otherwise. Such a restructuring may
result in the operator of a project becoming highly leveraged which may
impact on such operator's creditworthiness, which in turn would have an
adverse impact on the rating and/or market value of such bonds. Further,
the possibility of such a restructuring may have an adverse impact on
the market for and consequently the value of such bonds, even though no
actual takeover or other action is ever contemplated or affected. The
IRBs in a fund may be subject to special or extraordinary redemption
provisions which may provide for redemption at par or, with respect to
original issue discount bonds, at issue price plus the amount of
original issue discount accreted to the redemption date plus, if
applicable, a premium. The Sponsor cannot predict the causes or
likelihood of the redemption of IRBs or other bonds in the funds prior
to the stated maturity of such bonds.
Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be
obligations which are payable from and secured by revenues derived from
the ownership and operation of facilities such as airports, bridges,
turnpikes, port authorities, convention centers and arenas. The major
portion of an airport's gross operating income is generally derived from
fees received from signatory airlines pursuant to use agreements which
consist of annual payments for leases, occupancy of certain terminal
space and service fees. Airport operating income may therefore be
affected by the ability of the airlines to meet their obligations under
the use agreements. The air transport industry is experiencing
significant variations in earnings and traffic, due to increased
competition, excess capacity, increased costs, deregulation, traffic
constraints and other factors, and several airlines are experiencing
severe financial difficulties. The Sponsor cannot predict what effect
these industry conditions may have on airport revenues which are
dependent for payment on the financial condition of the airlines and
their usage of the particular airport facility. Similarly, payment on
bonds related to other facilities is dependent on revenues from the
projects, such as user fees from ports, tolls on turnpikes and bridges
and rents from buildings. Therefore, payment may be adversely affected
by reduction in revenues due to such factors as increased cost of
maintenance, decreased use of a facility, lower cost of alternative
modes of transportation, scarcity of fuel and reduction or loss of rents.
Educational Obligation Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be
obligations of issuers which are, or which govern the operation of,
schools, colleges and universities and whose revenues are derived mainly
from ad valorem taxes, or for higher education systems, from tuition,
dormitory revenues, grants and endowments. General problems relating to
school bonds include litigation contesting the state constitutionality
of financing public education in part from ad valorem taxes, thereby
creating a disparity in educational funds available to schools in
wealthy areas and schools in poor areas. Litigation or legislation on
this issue may affect the sources of funds available for the payment of
school bonds in the funds. General problems relating to college and
Page 5
university obligations would include the prospect of a declining
percentage of the population consisting of "college" age individuals,
possible inability to raise tuitions and fees sufficiently to cover
increased operating costs, the uncertainty of continued receipt of
Federal grants and state funding and new government legislation or
regulations which may adversely affect the revenues or costs of such
issuers. All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these
problems in varying degrees.
Resource Recovery Facility Revenue Bonds. Certain of the bonds may be
obligations which are payable from and secured by revenues derived from
the operation of resource recovery facilities. Resource recovery
facilities are designed to process solid waste, generate steam and
convert steam to electricity. Resource recovery bonds may be subject to
extraordinary optional redemption at par upon the occurrence of certain
circumstances, including but not limited to: destruction or condemnation
of a project; contracts relating to a project becoming void,
unenforceable or impossible to perform; changes in the economic
availability of raw materials, operating supplies or facilities
necessary for the operation of a project or technological or other
unavoidable changes adversely affecting the operation of a project;
administrative or judicial actions which render contracts relating to
the projects void, unenforceable or impossible to perform; or impose
unreasonable burdens or excessive liabilities. The Sponsor cannot
predict the causes or likelihood of the redemption of resource recovery
bonds in the funds prior to the stated maturity of the Bonds.
Discount Bonds. Certain of the bonds held by the Securities in the
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 may have been acquired at a
market discount from par value at maturity. The coupon interest rates on
the discount bonds at the time they were purchased and deposited in the
funds were lower than the current market interest rates for newly issued
bonds of comparable rating and type. If such interest rates for newly
issued comparable bonds increase, the market discount of previously
issued bonds will become greater, and if such interest rates for newly
issued comparable bonds decline, the market discount of previously
issued bonds will be reduced, other things being equal. Investors should
also note that the value of bonds purchased at a market discount will
increase in value faster than bonds purchased at a market premium if
interest rates decrease. Conversely, if interest rates increase, the
value of bonds purchased at a market discount will decrease faster than
bonds purchased at a market premium. In addition, if interest rates
rise, the prepayment risk of higher yielding, premium bonds and the
prepayment benefit for lower yielding, discount bonds will be reduced. A
discount bond held to maturity will have a larger portion of its total
return in the form of taxable income and capital gain and less in the
form of tax-exempt interest income than a comparable bond newly issued
at current market rates. Market discount attributable to interest
changes does not indicate a lack of market confidence in the issue.
Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any of the bonds.
Original Issue Discount Bonds. Certain of the bonds held by the
Securities in the Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 may be
original issue discount bonds. Under current law, the original issue
discount, which is the difference between the stated redemption price at
maturity and the issue price of the bonds, is deemed to accrue on a
daily basis and the accrued portion is treated as tax-exempt interest
income for Federal income tax purposes. On sale or redemption, any gain
realized that is in excess of the earned portion of original issue
discount will be taxable as capital gain unless the gain is attributable
to market discount in which case the accretion of market discount is
taxable as ordinary income. The current value of an original issue
discount bond reflects the present value of its stated redemption price
at maturity. The market value tends to increase in greater increments as
the bonds approach maturity.
Zero Coupon Bonds. Certain of the original issue discount bonds may be
zero coupon bonds (including bonds known as multiplier bonds, money
multiplier bonds, capital appreciation bonds, capital accumulator bonds,
compound interest bonds and money discount maturity payment bonds). Zero
coupon bonds do not provide for the payment of any current interest and
generally provide for payment at maturity at face value unless sooner
sold or redeemed. Zero coupon bonds may be subject to more price
volatility than conventional bonds. While some types of zero coupon
bonds, such as multipliers and capital appreciation bonds, define par as
the initial offering price rather than the maturity value, they share
the basic zero coupon bond features of (1) not paying interest on a semi-
annual basis and (2) providing for the reinvestment of the bond's semi-
annual earnings at the bond's stated yield to maturity. While zero
coupon bonds are frequently marketed on the basis that their fixed rate
of return minimizes reinvestment risk, this benefit can be negated in
large part by weak call protection, i.e., a bond's provision for
redemption at only a modest premium over the accreted value of the bond.
Premium Bonds. Certain of the bonds held by the Securities in the
Municipal Closed-End Portfolio, Series 2 may have been acquired at a
market premium from par value at maturity. The coupon interest rates on
the premium bonds at the time they were purchased by the fund were
higher than the current market interest rates for newly issued bonds of
comparable rating and type. If such interest rates for newly issued and
otherwise comparable bonds decrease, the market premium of previously
Page 6
issued bonds will be increased, and if such interest rates for newly
issued comparable bonds increase, the market premium of previously
issued bonds will be reduced, other things being equal. The current
returns of bonds trading at a market premium are initially higher than
the current returns of comparable bonds of a similar type issued at
currently prevailing interest rates because premium bonds tend to
decrease in market value as they approach maturity when the face amount
becomes payable. Because part of the purchase price is thus returned not
at maturity but through current income payments, early redemption of a
premium bond at par or early prepayments of principal will result in a
reduction in yield. Redemption pursuant to call provisions generally
will, and redemption pursuant to sinking fund provisions may, occur at
times when the redeemed bonds have an offering side valuation which
represents a premium over par or for original issue discount bonds a
premium over the accreted value.
Page 7
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 397, 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; FT 286; and
The First Trust Combined Series 272 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 397, 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 January 14, 2000.
FT 397
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
David J. Allen Sole Director of )
Nike Securities )
Corporation, the ) January 14, 2000
General Partner of )
Nike Securities L.P. )
)
)
) Robert M. Porcellino
) Attorney-in-Fact**
)
)
* The title of the person named herein represents his
capacity in and relationship to Nike Securities L.P.,
Depositor.
** An executed copy of the related power of attorney
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with the Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 of The
First Trust Combined Series 258 (File No. 33-63483) and
the same is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
S-3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" and to the use of our report dated January 14, 2000 in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-6) (File
No. 333-93877) and related Prospectus of FT 397.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
January 14, 2000
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 FT 397 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 397
File No. 333-93877
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 January 14, 2000 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 Trusts has been added.
Page 3 The following information for the Trusts appears:
The Aggregate Value of Securities initially
deposited have been added.
The initial number of units of the Trusts
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 Statements of Net Assets have been completed.
Pages 7-8 The Schedules of Investments have 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
January 14, 2000
FT 397
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: January 14, 2000
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 HIGH-YIELD CORPORATE CLOSED-END 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
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 $.0096 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 January
14, 2000.
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 II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR MUNICIPAL CLOSED-END 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
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 $.0096 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 January
14, 2000.
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 22 shall include FT 397.
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(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."
D. 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."
E. 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, and/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."
F. 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."
G. 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."
H. 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 earlier of six months
after the Initial Date of Deposit or 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 earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or 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 earlier of six months after the Initial
Date of Deposit or 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 earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or 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 earlier of
six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or 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 earlier of six months
after the Initial Date of Deposit or 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.
I. 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."
J. 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) if provided
for in the Prospectus, 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."
K. 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."
L. 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."
M. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I(e) deduct from the Interest Account
or, to the extent funds are not available in such Account,
from the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount
that it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14."
N. 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."
O. The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing supervisory portfolio
services under this Indenture, the Portfolio Supervisor
shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an
aggregate annual fee in 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."
P. 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 $.0033 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."
Q. 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. If the
related Prospectus provides that the deferred sales charge
shall accrue on a daily basis, the "unpaid portion of the
deferred sales charge" as used in this paragraph shall mean
the accrued and unpaid deferred sales charge as of the date
of redemption or termination, as appropriate."
R. 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.
S. 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."
T. 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
organization 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
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit
or 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. "
U. 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."
V. 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)"
W. The third paragraph of Section 6.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be deleted in its entirety
and replaced with the following:
"The Trustee shall pay, or reimburse to the Depositor, the
expenses related to the updating of the Trusts registration
statement, to the extent of legal fees, typesetting fees,
electronic filing expenses and regulatory filing fees. Such
expenses shall be paid from the Income Account, or to the extent
funds are not available in such Account, from the Capital
Account, against an invoice or invoices therefor presented to the
Trustee by the Depositor. By presenting such invoice or
invoices, the Depositor shall be deemed to certify, upon which
certification the Trustee is authorized conclusively to rely,
that the amounts claimed therein are properly payable pursuant to
this paragraph. The Depositor shall provide the Trustee, from
time to time as requested, an estimate of the amount of such
expenses, which the Trustee shall use for the purpose of
estimating the accrual of Trust expenses. The amount paid by the
Trust pursuant to this paragraph in each year shall be separately
identified in the annual statement provided to Unitholders. The
Depositor shall assure that the Prospectus for the Trust contains
such disclosure as shall be necessary to permit payment by the
Trust of the expenses contemplated by this paragraph under
applicable laws and regulations.
The provisions of this paragraph shall not limit the
authority of the Trustee to pay, or reimburse to the Depositor or
others, such other or additional expenses as may be determined to
be payable from the Trust as provided in Section 6.02 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust."
X. 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:
"The Depositor may remove the Trustee at any time with or
without cause and appoint a successor Trustee by written
instrument or instruments delivered not less than sixty days
prior to the effective date of such removal and appointment to
the Trustee so removed and to the successor Trustee."
Y. 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."
Z. 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.
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
ByRobert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
ByRosalia A. Raviele
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
Joan Currie
Assistant Treasurer
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
ByRobert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
ByRobert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
FT 397
(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
January 14, 2000
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
Re: FT 397
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., as
Sponsor and Depositor of FT 397 in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of a Trust Agreement dated
January 14, 2000 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. 333-93877)
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
-6-
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
January 14, 2000
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 397
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
of FT 397 (the "Fund"), in connection with the issuance of units
of fractional undivided interest in the Trusts of said Fund (the
"Trusts"), under a Trust Agreement, dated January 14, 2000 (the
"Indenture") between 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 as we have deemed pertinent. The
opinions expressed herein assume that the Trusts will be
administered, and investments by the Trusts from proceeds of
subsequent deposits, if any, will be made in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture. The Trusts hold interests in qualified
regulated investment companies ("RICs") under the Code (the
"Securities"). It is assumed that the Securities constitute
shares in funds qualifying as regulated investment companies for
federal income tax purposes.
Neither the Sponsor nor its counsel has independently
examined the assets to be deposited in and held by the Trusts.
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) Each Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation for Federal income tax purposes, but will be governed
by the provisions of subchapter J (relating to trusts) of chapter
1, of the Code.
(ii) Each Unit holder will be considered the owner of a pro
rata share of each Security of a Trust in the proportion that the
number of Units held by a Unit holder bears to the total number
of Units outstanding. Under subpart E, subchapter J of Chapter 1
of the Code, income of the Trusts will be treated as income of
each Unit holder 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 or her pro
rata share of income derived from each Trust asset when such
income is considered to be received by a Trust.
(iii) The price a Unit holder pays for his or her Units,
generally including sales charges, is allocated among his or her
pro rata portion of each Security held by a Trust (in proportion
to the fair market values thereof on the valuation date closest
to the date the Unit holder purchases his or her Units) in order
to determine his or her tax basis for his or her pro rata portion
of each Security held by a Trust. For Federal income tax
purposes, a Unit holder's pro rata portion such of distributions
received by the Trusts from the Securities, other than
distributions which are designated as capital gains dividends or
exempt-interest dividends, are taxable as ordinary income to the
extent of the RIC's current and accumulated "earnings and
profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends which
exceeds such current and accumulated earnings and profits will
first reduce a Unit holder's tax basis in such Security, and to
the extent that such dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax basis
in such Security, shall be treated as gain from the sale or
exchange of property. Certain distributions on the Securities
may qualify as "capital gain dividends," taxable to shareholders
(and, accordingly, to the Unit holders as owners of a pro rata
portion of the Securities) as long-term capital gain, regardless
of how long a shareholder has owned such shares. Certain
distributions on the Securities may qualify as "exempt interest
dividends," which generally are excluded from a Unitholder's
gross income for federal income tax purposes. Some or all of the
exempt interest dividends, however, may be taken into account in
determining a Unit holder's alternative minimum tax, and may have
other tax consequences (e.g., they may affect the amount of your
social security benefits that are taxed.) In addition,
distributions of income and capital gains declared on Securities
in October, November, or December will be deemed to have been
paid to the shareholders (and, accordingly, to the Unit holders
as owners of a pro rata portion of the Securities) on December 31
of the year they are declared, even when paid by the RIC during
the following January and received by shareholders or Unit
holders in such following year.
(iv) Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unit holder
(subject to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code)
upon redemption or sale of his or her Units, except to the extent
an in kind distribution of Securities is received by such Unit
holder from a 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 or her Units. Before adjustment,
such basis would normally be cost if the Unit holder had acquired
his or her Units by purchase. Such basis will be reduced, but
not below zero, by the Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends except for designated capital gain dividends and exempt
interest dividends paid by the RIC with respect to each Security
which is not taxable as ordinary income. However, any loss
realized by a Unit holder with respect to the disposition of his
or her pro rata portion of Securities, to the extent such Unit
holder has owned his or her Units for less than six months or a
Trust has held the Securities for less than six months, will be
disallowed to the extent of the exempt interest dividends the
Unit holder received. If such loss is not entirely disallowed,
it will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the
Unit holder's pro rata portion of any capital gain dividends
received (or deemed to have been received) with respect to each
Security.
(v) Each Unit holder will have a taxable event when a
Security is disposed of (whether by sale, exchange, liquidation,
redemption, payment on maturity or otherwise), or when a Unit
holder redeems or sells his units. A Unit holder's tax basis in
his Units will equal his tax basis in his pro rata portion of all
the assets of a Trust. Such basis is ascertained by apportioning
the tax basis for his or her Units (as of the date on which the
Units were acquired) ratably, according to their values as of the
valuation date nearest the date on which he or she 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, except for
designate capital gains and exempt interest dividends paid by a
RIC, with respect to each Security which is not taxable as
ordinary income.
If more than 50% of the value of the total assets of the RIC
consist of stock or securities in foreign corporations, the RIC
may elect to pass through to its shareholders the foreign income
and similar taxes paid by the RIC in order to enable its share-
holders to take a credit (or deduction) for foreign income taxes
paid by the RIC. If this election is made, Unit holders of a
Trust, because they are deemed to own a pro rata portion of the
Securities held by such Trust, as described above, must include
in their gross income, for federal income tax purposes, both
their portion of dividends received by such Trust from the RIC
and also their portion of the amount which the RIC deems to be
their portion of foreign income taxes paid with respect to, or
withheld from, dividends, interest, or other income of the RIC
from its foreign investments. Unit holders may then subtract
from their federal income tax the amount of such taxes withheld,
or else treat such foreign taxes as deductions from gross income;
however as in the case of investors receiving income directly
from foreign sources, the above described tax credit or deduction
is subject to certain limitations.
(vi) Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances, a
Unit holder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of Securities upon the redemption of Units or upon
the termination of a Trust. As previously discussed, prior to
the redemption of Units or the termination of a Trust, a Unit
holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of a
Trust's assets. The receipt of an in kind distribution will
result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided interest in whole
Securities and possibly cash. The potential Federal income tax
consequences which may occur under an in kind distribution will
depend upon whether or not a Unit holder receives cash in
addition to Securities. A Unit holder will not recognize gain or
loss if a Unit holder only receives Securities in exchange for
his or her pro rata portion in the Securities held by a Trust.
However, if a Unit holder also receives cash in exchange for a
fractional share of a Security held by a 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 or
her tax basis in such fractional share of a Security held by a
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 Security owned by a Trust.
Distributions from a Trust attributable to dividends
received by a Trust from the Securities will not be eligible for
the dividends received deduction for 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 a Trust as
miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
However, because some of the Securities pay exempt interest
dividends, which are treated as tax-exempt interest for federal
income tax purposes, Unit holders will not be able to deduct some
of their share of Trust expenses. In addition, Unit holders will
not be able to deduct some of their interest expense for debt
they incurred or continued to purchase or carry Trust Units.
A Unit holder will recognize taxable gain (or loss) when all
or part of his or her pro rata interest in a Trust asset is
disposed of for an amount greater (or less) than his or her tax
basis therefor in a taxable transaction, subject to various non
recognition provisions of the Code.
If a Unit holder disposes of a Unit, he or she is deemed
thereby to have disposed of his or her entire pro rata interest
in all Trust assets including his or her pro rata portion of all
of a Trust's assets represented by the Unit.
In addition it should be noted that capital gains can be
recharacterized as ordinary income in the case of certain
financial transactions that are "conversion transactions"
effective for transactions entered into after April 30, 1993.
It should be noted that payments to a Trust of dividends on
Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may be
subject to foreign withholding taxes and Unit holders should
consult their tax advisers regarding the potential tax
consequences relating to the payment of any such withholding
taxes by a Trust. Any 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. A required holding period is imposed for such
credits.
A Unit holder who is a foreign investor (i.e., an investor
other than a United States citizen or resident or United States
corporation, partnership, estate or trust) may be subject to
United States Federal income taxes, including withholding taxes
on distributions from the Trust relating to such investor's share
of dividend income paid on Securities. A Unit holder who is a
foreign investor will not be subject to United States Federal
income taxes, including withholding taxes on any gain from the
sale or other disposition of, his or her pro rata interest in any
Security held by a Trust or the sale of his or her Units provides
that all of the following conditions are met:
(i) the gain is not effectively connected with the
conduct by the foreign investor of a trade or business
within the United States;
(ii) the foreign investor (if an individual) is not
present in the United States for 183 days or more during his
or her taxable year; and
(iii) the foreign investor provides all certification
which may be required of his status.
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 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. 333-93877)
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
January 14, 2000
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 397
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 397
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 397 (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. 333-93877) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
registration of the sale of the Units and to the reference 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
January 14, 2000
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 397
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 397
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
397 (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 of closed-end funds (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 todays 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
January 14, 2000
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Re: FT 397
Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement File No.
333-93877 for the above captioned fund. We hereby consent to the
use in the Registration Statement of the references to First
Trust Advisors L.P. as evaluator.
You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely,
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
