Registration No. 333-94407
1940 Act No. 811-05903
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2 to Form S-6
FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF SECURITIES
OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
A. Exact name of trust:
FT 398
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 February 22, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule 487.
________________________________
Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
FT 398
FT 398 is a series of a unit investment trust, the FT Series. FT 398 consists
of a single portfolio known as Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
(the "Trust"). The Trust consists of a diversified portfolio of common stocks
("Securities") of companies involved in the technology industry. The
Trust seeks to provide above-average total return through capital
appreciation.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
GRUNTAL & CO.
The date of this prospectus is February 22, 2000
Page 1
Table of Contents
Summary of Essential Information 3
Fee Table 4
Report of Independent Auditors 5
Statement of Net Assets 6
Schedule of Investments 7
The FT Series 9
Portfolio 10
Risk Factors 11
Portfolio Securities Descriptions 12
Public Offering 14
Distribution of Units 16
The Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits 17
The Secondary Market 18
How We Purchase Units 18
Expenses and Charges 18
Tax Status 19
Retirement Plans 20
Rights of Unit Holders 20
Income and Capital Distributions 21
Redeeming Your Units 21
Removing Securities from the Trust 22
Amending or Terminating the Indenture 23
Information on the Underwriter, Sponsor, Trustee and Evaluator 24
Other Information 25
Page 2
Summary of Essential Information
Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
FT 398
At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
of the Securities-February 22, 2000
Underwriter: Gruntal & Co., L.L.C.
Sponsor: Nike Securities L.P.
Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Evaluator: First Trust Advisors L.P.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Initial Number of Units (1) 14,928
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1) 1/14,928
Public Offering Price:
Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Securities per Unit (2) $ 9.900
Maximum Sales Charge of 4.50% of the Public Offering Price per Unit
(4.545% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge) (3) $ .450
Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit $ (.350)
Public Offering Price per Unit (4) $ 10.000
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (5) $ 9.550
Redemption Price per Unit (based on aggregate underlying
value of Securities less the deferred sales charge) (5) $ 9.550
Cash CUSIP Number 30265L 100
Reinvestment CUSIP Number 30265L 118
Security Code 58221
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
First Settlement Date February 25, 2000
Mandatory Termination Date (6) February 18, 2004
Income Distribution Record Date Fifteenth day of each June and December, commencing June 15, 2000.
Income Distribution Date (7) Last day of each June and December, commencing June 30, 2000.
______________
<FN>
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, we may
adjust the number of Units of the Trust so that the Public Offering
Price per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. If we make such an
adjustment, the fractional undivided interest per Unit will vary from
the amount indicated above.
(2) Each listed Security 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 ("NYSE") (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 dividends on
the Securities. After this date, a pro rata share of any accumulated
dividends on the Securities 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) See "Amending or Terminating the Indenture."
(7) We will distribute money from the Capital Account monthly on the
last day of each month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth day of
such month if the amount available for distribution equals at least
$1.00 per 100 Units. In any case, we will distribute any funds in the
Capital Account in December of each year.
</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 the Trust. See "Public
Offering" and "Expenses and Charges." Although the Trust has a term of
approximately four years and is a unit investment trust rather than a
mutual fund, this information allows you to compare fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount
per Unit
Unit Holder Transaction Expenses ________
(as a percentage of public offering price)
<S> <C> <C>
Maximum sales charge 4.50% $.450
====== ======
Initial sales charge (paid at time of purchase) 1.00%(a) $.100
Deferred sales charge (paid in installments or at redemption) 3.50%(b) .350
Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends 3.50% $.350
Organization Costs
(as a percentage of public offering price)
Estimated Organization Costs .170%(c) $.0170
===== ======
Estimated Annual Trust Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative and evaluation fees .100% $.0098
Trustee's fee and other operating expenses .153%(d) .0150
______ ______
Total .253% $.0248
====== ======
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Trust with the cost of investing in other investment products. The
example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trust for the periods
shown and then sell all your Units at the end of those periods. The
example also assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that
the Trust's operating expenses stay the same. Although your actual costs
may vary, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year 3 Years 4 Years
______ _______ _______
$492 $544 $572
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 initial sales charge is the difference between the maximum sales
charge of 4.50% and any remaining deferred sales charge.
(b) The deferred sales charge is a fixed dollar amount equal to $.35 per
Unit which, as a percentage of the Public Offering Price, will vary over
time. The deferred sales charge will be deducted in five monthly
installments commencing September 20, 2000.
(c) Estimated organization costs will be deducted from the assets of the
Trust at the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or
the end of the initial offering period.
(d) Other operating expenses include the costs incurred by the Trust for
annually updating the 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, the Trust may incur additional expenses not set forth
above. See "Expenses and Charges."
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 4
Report of Independent Auditors
The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
FT 398
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of FT 398, comprised of Select Technology
Growth Trust, 2000 Series, as of the opening of business on February 22,
2000. This statement of net assets is the responsibility of the Trust's
Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this statement
of net assets based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with 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
statement of net assets is free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the statement of net assets. Our procedures included
confirmation of the letter of credit held by the Trustee and deposited
in the Trust on February 22, 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 statement
of net assets. We believe that our audit of the statement of net assets
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of net assets referred to above presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FT 398,
comprised of the Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series, at the
opening of business on February 22, 2000 in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 22, 2000
Page 5
Statement of Net Assets
Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
FT 398
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-February 22, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
NET ASSETS
Investment in Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2) $147,786
Less liability for reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (254)
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4) (5,225)
________
Net assets $142,307
========
Units outstanding 14,928
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Cost to investors (5) $149,279
Less maximum sales charge (5) (6,718)
Less estimated reimbursement to Sponsor for organization costs (3) (254)
________
Net assets $142,307
========
_____________
<FN>
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
(1) Aggregate cost of the Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" is based on their aggregate underlying value.
(2) An irrevocable letter of credit issued by The Chase Manhattan Bank,
of which $200,000 will be allocated to the Trust, has been deposited
with the Trustee as collateral, covering the monies necessary for the
purchase of the Securities according to their purchase contracts.
(3) A portion of the Public Offering Price consists of an amount
sufficient to reimburse the Sponsor for all or a portion of the costs of
establishing the Trust. These costs have been estimated at $.0170 per
Unit for the Trust. A payment will be made as of the earlier of six
months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial
offering period to an account maintained by the Trustee from which the
obligation of the investors to the Sponsor will be satisfied. To the
extent that actual organization costs are greater than the estimated
amount, only the estimated organization costs added to the Public
Offering Price will be reimbursed to the Sponsor and deducted from the
assets of the Trust.
(4) Represents the amount of mandatory deferred sales charge
distributions from the Trust ($.35 per Unit), payable to us in five
equal monthly installments beginning on September 20, 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 January 19, 2001.
If you redeem Units before January 19, 2001 you will have to pay the
remaining amount of the deferred sales charge applicable to such Units
when you redeem them.
(5) The aggregate cost to investors in the Trust includes a maximum
sales charge (comprised of an initial and a deferred sales charge)
computed at the rate of 4.50% 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
Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
FT 398
At the Opening of Business on the
Initial Date of Deposit-February 22, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Market Cost of
Number Ticker Symbol and of Aggregate Value per Securities to
of Shares Name of Issuer of Securities (1) Offering Price Share the Trust (2)
_________ ________________________________ ____________ ______ _____________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
116 AOL America Online, Inc. 4.00% $ 50.938 $ 5,909
55 ANCR Ancor Communications, Incorporated 1.94% 52.188 2,870
13 ARBA Ariba, Inc. 2.01% 229.000 2,977
42 ASDV Aspect Development, Inc. 2.98% 105.000 4,410
8 BVSN BroadVision, Inc. 0.97% 179.500 1,436
58 CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc. 4.94% 125.813 7,297
26 CNXT Conexant Systems, Inc. 1.97% 111.875 2,909
208 DIS The Walt Disney Company 5.01% 35.625 7,410
57 GBLX Global Crossing Ltd. (3) 2.05% 53.188 3,032
57 HWP Hewlett-Packard Company 4.99% 129.250 7,367
21 ITWO i2 Technologies, Inc. 2.07% 145.500 3,056
82 INTC Intel Corporation 5.85% 105.375 8,641
22 JDSU JDS Uniphase Corporation 3.07% 206.125 4,535
25 JNPR Juniper Networks, Inc. 4.03% 238.313 5,958
28 KYO Kyocera Corporation (ADR) 2.99% 158.000 4,424
115 LSI LSI Logic Corporation 3.96% 50.875 5,851
28 LVLT Level 3 Communications, Inc. 2.02% 106.813 2,991
77 MSFT Microsoft Corporation 4.95% 95.063 7,320
41 MOT Motorola, Inc. 4.02% 144.938 5,942
99 ORCL Oracle Corporation 3.95% 59.000 5,841
44 PHCM Phone.com, Inc. 4.10% 137.625 6,055
60 Q Qwest Communications International Inc. 2.01% 49.438 2,966
9 SDLI SDL, Inc. 2.01% 329.813 2,968
16 STM STMicroelectronics N.V. (ADR) 2.02% 186.125 2,978
34 SIFY Satyam Infoway Limited (ADR) 2.03% 88.250 3,001
26 SEBL Siebel Systems, Inc. 2.02% 114.563 2,979
17 SNE Sony Corporation (ADR) 3.09% 268.375 4,562
80 SUNW Sun Microsystems, Inc. 5.02% 92.813 7,425
25 SCMR Sycamore Networks, Inc. 1.97% 116.500 2,912
33 TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated 3.00% 134.500 4,438
12 TIBX TIBCO Software Inc. 1.92% 236.000 2,832
107 WCG Williams Communications Group, Inc. 3.04% 42.000 4,494
______ _________
Total Investments 100% $147,786
====== =========
Page 7
__________
<FN>
(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 February 18, 2000.
(2) The cost of the Securities to the Trust represents the aggregate
underlying value with respect to the Securities acquired (generally
determined by the closing sale prices of the listed Securities and the
ask prices of the over-the-counter traded Securities at the Evaluation
Time on the business day preceding the Initial Date of Deposit). The
valuation of the Securities has been determined by the Evaluator, an
affiliate of ours. The cost of the Securities to us and our loss (which
is the difference between the cost of the Securities to us and the cost
of the Securities to the Trust) are $147,801 and $15, respectively.
(3) This Security represents the common stock of a foreign company which
trades directly on a U.S. national securities exchange.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Page 8
The FT Series
The FT Series Defined.
We, Nike Securities L.P. (the "Sponsor"), have created hundreds of similar
yet separate series of a unit investment trust which we have named the
FT Series. The series to which this prospectus relates, FT 398, consists
of a single portfolio known as Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series.
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 Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date set forth in
"Summary of Essential Information." The Trust was created under the laws
of the State of New York by a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture") dated
the Initial Date of Deposit. This agreement, entered into 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 Trust.
How We Created the Trust.
On the Initial Date of Deposit, we deposited a portfolio of common
stocks with the Trustee, and in turn, the Trustee delivered documents to
us representing our ownership of the Trust in the form of units ("Units").
With our deposit of Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit we
established a percentage relationship among the Securities in the
Trust's portfolio, as stated under "Schedule of Investments." After the
Initial Date of Deposit, we may deposit additional Securities in the
Trust, or cash (including a letter of credit) with instructions to buy
more Securities, 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 the Trust, on a market value basis, will also change
daily. The portion of Securities represented by each Unit will not
change as a result of the deposit of additional Securities or cash in
the Trust. If we deposit cash, you and new investors may experience a
dilution of your investment. This is because prices of Securities will
fluctuate between the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the
Securities, and because the Trust pays the associated brokerage fees. To
reduce this dilution, the Trust will try to buy the Securities as close
to the Evaluation Time and as close to the evaluation price as possible.
An affiliate of the Trustee may receive these brokerage fees or the
Trustee may retain and pay us (or our affiliate) to act as agent for the
Trust to buy Securities. If we or an affiliate of ours act as agent to
the Trust, we will be subject to the restrictions under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
We cannot guarantee that the Trust will keep its present size and
composition for any length of time. Securities may periodically be sold
under certain circumstances, and the proceeds from these sales will be
used to meet Trust obligations or distributed to Unit holders, but will
not be 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 Trust. As the holder of the Securities, the
Trustee will vote all of the Securities and will do so based on our
instructions.
Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for a failure in any of the
Securities. However, if a contract for the purchase of any of the
Securities initially deposited in the Trust fails, unless we can
purchase substitute Securities ("Replacement Securities") we will refund
to you that portion of the purchase price and sales charge resulting
from the failed contract on the next Income Distribution Date. Any
Replacement Security the Trust acquires will be identical to those from
the failed contract.
Page 9
Portfolio
Objectives.
The Trust's objective is to provide investors with the potential for
above-average capital appreciation by investing the Trust's portfolio in
common stocks issued by 32 companies in the technology industry. A
diversified portfolio helps to offset the risks normally associated with
investing in individual equities, although it does not eliminate them
entirely.
The stocks selected for the Trust are carefully evaluated by Mona Eraiba-
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C.'s (the "Underwriter") high-technology analyst-to
ensure that each stock meets the standards of the Trust's investment
objective.
The new millennium is being ushered in by the wave of technological
innovations of the final decade of the 20th century. The Underwriter
believes the huge benefits of these innovations are yet to come,
including the wealth to be created through this tremendous worldwide
technological revolution. The Underwriter believes the task at hand in
technology investments will remain in selecting the winners from the
losers, and in creating a portfolio which will seek to give investors
above-average capital appreciation potential.
Convergence & Integration. Convergence, in the Underwriter's opinion, is
the most important trend for the next few years, especially the
convergence of data and voice, and the wireless and wired world. The
ultimate goal of convergence and integration will be to create a meshed
world where end users can connect to anyone-anywhere-using any device.
End users will access information in their office or home from anyplace
in the world using a broad range of portable devices. At the same time,
users will not only access information, but integrate information and
modify it to create new unique platforms of communication that can be
shared by others.
Infrastructure Growth. Deployment of applications over the emerging
infrastructure is a major trend in technology, with communication
companies scrambling to build a broadband infrastructure that will span
the globe. The Underwriter believes the next step will be to build
applications that utilize the infrastructure. Many new companies are
moving aggressively to develop applications and products that are
enabled by the bandwidth created. New digital content is created every
day for deployment on the Internet, and the pace of this development is
accelerating. The Underwriter believes new investment opportunities will
be available from companies that are developing the new content, as well
as companies that provide the tools to develop and deploy these new
applications.
The Internet, Wave II. A flood of Web site companies characterized the
first Internet tidal wave. These Web sites targeted specific groups of
consumers, or a common interest group, with a focus on increased
awareness and demand creation. In 1999, a major shift occurred with
business-to-business (B2B) companies. The Underwriter expects strong
expansion in B2B activities, with a continuing evolution in the business-
to-consumer market, in addition to the advancement of consumer-to-
consumer marketplace sites. In the Underwriter's opinion, these trends
should result in explosive demand in e-commerce and a shift from demand
creation to demand fulfillment in products and services that are
required to support such developments. The Underwriter expects companies
to race to build products that will make transactions secure, and will
verify and insure credit collection, packaging, tracking and delivery,
all of which will drive the next Internet wave. E-support and e-service
are all essential elements of supporting the pace of transactions on the
Internet.
The Future. The Internet is in the process of changing the business
model for the entire global economy. Over the last three years we have
witnessed just the tip of the iceberg of the technology revolution, in
the Underwriter's opinion. Moreover, the Underwriter expects a wave of
alliances and mergers between "real world" companies and Internet
companies.
The Underwriter remains optimistic on the outlook for select technology
companies and the industry as a whole, and believes that during times of
dramatic change the potential for investment opportunities can be
significant.
You should be aware that predictions stated herein for the technology
industry may not be realized. In addition, the Securities contained in
the Trust are not intended to be representative of the technology
industry as a whole and the performance of the 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
Trust will be achieved. See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of the risks
of investing in the Trust.
Page 10
Risk Factors
Price Volatility. The Trust invests in common stocks of U.S. and foreign
companies. The value of the Trust's Units will fluctuate with changes in
the value of these common stocks. Common stock prices fluctuate for
several reasons including changes in investors perceptions of the
financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the
relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting
the issuers occur.
Because the Trust is not managed, the Trustee will not sell stocks in
response to or in anticipation of market fluctuations, as is common in
managed investments. As with any investment, we cannot guarantee that
the performance of the Trust will be positive over any period of time or
that you won't lose money. Units of the Trust are not deposits of any
bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency.
Dividends. There is no guarantee that the issuers of the Securities will
declare dividends in the future or that if declared they will either
remain at current levels or increase over time.
Technology Industry. Because more than 25% of the Trust is invested in
technology companies, the Trust is considered to be concentrated in the
technology industry. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry may
present more risk than a portfolio broadly diversified over several
industries. Technology companies are generally subject to the risks of
rapidly changing technologies; short product life cycles; fierce
competition; aggressive pricing; frequent introduction of new or
enhanced products; the loss of patent, copyright and trademark
protections; cyclical market patterns; evolving industry standards;
and frequent new product introductions. Technology companies may be
smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines,
markets or financial resources. Technology company stocks, especially
those which are Internet-related, have experienced extreme price and
volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating
performance.
Legislation/Litigation. From time to time, various legislative
initiatives are proposed in the United States and abroad which may have
a negative impact on certain companies represented in the Trust. In
addition, litigation regarding any of the issuers of the Securities, such
as that concerning Microsoft Corporation, or the technology industry may
negatively impact the share prices of these Securities. We cannot predict
what impact any pending or proposed legislation or pending or threatened
litigation will have on the share prices of the Securities.
Year 2000 Problem. Many computer systems were not designed to properly
process information and data involving dates of January 1, 2000 and
thereafter. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." The Trust
and its service providers do not appear to have been adversely affected
by computer problems related to the transition to the year 2000.
However, these problems could arise or be discovered in the future.
However, we are unable to determine what impact, if any, the Year 2000
Problem has or will have on any of the issuers of the Securities, but
you should note that foreign issuers may have greater complications than
other issuers.
Foreign Stocks. Certain of the Securities are issued by foreign
companies which makes the Trust riskier than if it invested solely in
domestic common stocks. These Securities are either directly listed on a
U.S. securities exchange or are in the form of American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs") which are listed on a U.S. securities exchange. Risks
of foreign common stocks include higher brokerage costs; different
accounting standards; expropriation, nationalization or other adverse
political or economic developments; currency devaluations, blockages or
transfer restrictions; restrictions on foreign investments and exchange
of securities; inadequate financial information; and lack of liquidity
of certain foreign markets.
Underwriter Recommendations. While the Underwriter has carefully
evaluated and approved the Securities in the Trust for this purpose,
they may choose for any reason not to recommend any or all of the
Securities for another purpose or at a later date. This may affect the
value of your Units. Members of the Underwriter's research department,
including Ms. Eraiba, are compensated based on brokerage commissions
generated from their research. In addition, the Underwriter's research
department will receive a fee as described under "Expenses and Charges"
for providing research services to the Trust and Ms. Eraiba may trade
Page 11
certain or all of the Securities in her personal account.
You should note that the Underwriter, acting in its independent capacity
as an investment advisor to individuals, mutual funds, employee benefit
plans, and other institutions and persons, may from time to time
distribute information concerning the Securities included in the Trust
to various individuals and entities in which they recommend or affect
the purchase or sale of one or more of the Securities. This may have an
effect on the prices of the Securities which is adverse to the interests
of Unit holders and may have an impact on the price paid by the Trust
for Securities as well as the price received upon redemption or
termination. You should also be aware that Securities will generally not
be removed from the Trust and additional Units of the Trust may be
created even if the Underwriter no longer believes certain or all of the
Securities have the potential to achieve the Trust's objective over the
life of the Trust or issues a sell recommendation regarding any of the
Securities. In addition, the Underwriter in its general securities
business acts as agent or principal in connection with buying and
selling stocks, including the Securities, and may have bought the
Securities for the Trust, thereby benefiting. The Underwriter also acts
as market maker, underwrites certain issues, and provides investment
banking services to companies in the technology industry, which may
include the issuers of certain of the Securities.
Portfolio Securities Descriptions
America Online, Inc., headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, provides online
services to consumers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan
offering subscribers a wide variety of services, including electronic
mail, conferencing, news, sports, Internet access, entertainment,
weather, stock quotes, software, computing support and online classes.
Ancor Communications, Incorporated, headquartered in Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, develops, makes and sells fibre channel communications
network products, including switches, interface adapters and application
specific integrated circuits. The company's products are sold as
integrated data communication systems or as separate components.
Ariba, Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, provides Internet-
and intranet-based business-to-business e-commerce solutions for
operating resources that include information technology and
telecommunications equipment, professional services, facilities and
office equipment, and expense items.
Aspect Development, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California,
develops, markets and supports enterprise client/server software and
reference data products that enable manufacturers to improve product
development and business processes through component and supplier
management.
BroadVision, Inc., headquartered in Redwood City, California, develops,
markets and supports application software solutions. The company
provides an integrated software application system, "BroadVision One-To-
One," that enables businesses to create applications for interactive
marketing and selling services on the World Wide Web.
Cisco Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, provides
networking solutions that connect computing devices and computer
networks. The company offers various products to utilities,
corporations, universities, governments and small to medium businesses
worldwide.
Conexant Systems, Inc., headquartered in Newport Beach, California,
makes semiconductor products for communications applications. The
company's applications include personal computing, digital information
and entertainment, wireless communications and network access.
The Walt Disney Company, headquartered in Burbank, California, operates
as a diversified international entertainment company with operations
consisting of filmed entertainment, theme parks and resorts and consumer
products. Disney also has broadcasting (including Capital Cities/ABC,
Inc.) and publishing operations. The company also provides content for
various Internet web sites and owns an interest in an Internet search
engine.
Global Crossing Ltd., headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, provides
global internet and long distance telecommunications facilities and
services utilizing a network of undersea digital fiber optic cable
systems and associated terrestrial backhaul capacity. The company
operates as a carrier's carrier, providing tiered pricing and segmented
products to licensed providers of international telecommunications
services.
Page 12
Hewlett-Packard Company, headquartered in Palo Alto, California,
designs, makes and services equipment and systems for measurement,
computation and communications including computer systems, personal
computers, printers, calculators, electronic test equipment, medical
electronic equipment, electronic components and instrumentation for
chemical analysis.
i2 Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Irving, Texas, provides supply
chain management software, which encompasses the planning and scheduling
of manufacturing and related logistics from raw materials procurement
through work-in-process to customer delivery.
Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, designs,
develops, makes and markets advanced microcomputer components and
related products at various levels of integration. Principal components
consist of silicon-based semiconductors etched with complex patterns of
transistors.
JDS Uniphase Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, California,
designs, develops, makes and markets laser subsystems, laser-based
semiconductor wafer defect examination and analysis equipment and fiber
optic telecommunications equipment products.
Juniper Networks, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California,
provides Internet infrastructure solutions for Internet service
providers and other telecommunications service providers. The company
delivers next generation Internet backbone routers that are designed for
service provider networks.
Kyocera Corporation (ADR), headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, makes and
sells ceramic and related products for the electronics and other
industries; electronic equipment, consisting of office automation
equipment and telecommunication equipment; and optical instruments,
consisting of cameras, camera lenses and camcorders.
LSI Logic Corporation, headquartered in Milpitas, California, designs,
develops, makes and sells application-specific integrated circuits.
Level 3 Communications, Inc., headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado,
provides telecommunications and information services, including local,
long distance and data transmission. The company is building the first
international network optimized for Internet Protocol technology. The
network will combine both local and long distance networks, connecting
customers end-to-end across the United States and in Europe and Asia.
Microsoft Corporation, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, develops,
manufactures, licenses and supports a wide range of software products.
The company offers operating system software, server application
software, business and consumer applications software, software
development tools and Internet and intranet software. "Windows" is the
company's flagship PC operating system. The company also develops the
MSN network of Internet products and services.
Motorola, Inc., headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, designs, makes
and sells, mainly under the "Motorola" brand name, two-way land mobile
communication systems, paging and wireless data systems, personal
communications equipment and systems; semiconductors; and electronic
equipment for military and aerospace use.
Oracle Corporation, headquartered in Redwood City, California, designs,
develops, markets and supports computer software products with a wide
variety of uses, including database management, application development
and business intelligence, and business applications.
Phone.com, Inc., headquartered in Redwood City, California, provides
software to deliver Internet-based services to mass-market wireless
telephones. The company's product provides access to Internet services
and intranet-based services, including news, stocks, e-mail, travel,
weather, and sports to wireless subscribers.
Qwest Communications International Inc., headquartered in Denver,
Colorado, provides broadband Internet-based data, voice and image
communications for businesses and consumers. The company also constructs
and installs fiber optic systems for other communications providers and
its own use.
SDL, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, designs, makes and
markets semiconductor optoelectronic integrated circuits, semiconductor
lasers, fiber optic products, and optoelectronic systems.
STMicroelectronics N.V. (ADR), headquartered in St. Genis Pouilly,
France, designs, develops, makes and markets a broad range of
semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices used in a variety
Page 13
of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications and
computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial
automation and control systems.
Satyam Infoway Limited (ADR), headquartered in Chennai, India, provides
Internet access and services to Indian consumers and businesses. The
company's services include consumer Internet access, corporate network
and technology services, and on-line portal and content offerings.
Siebel Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Mateo, California, designs,
sells and supports enterprise-class sales and marketing information
software systems. The company also designs, develops and markets a Web-
based application software product.
Sony Corporation (ADR), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, develops and
manufactures consumer and industrial electronic equipment including
audio and video equipment, televisions, semiconductors, electronic
components, computers and computer peripherals, and telecommunication
equipment.
Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, supplies
network computing products, including desktop systems, storage
subsystems, network switches, servers, software, microprocessors and a
full range of services and support, using the UNIX operating system.
Sycamore Networks, Inc., headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts,
develops and markets the transport, switching and management products
required to create a flexible, intelligent optical network. The company
supplies local exchange carriers, incumbent local exchange carriers,
long distance carriers, Internet service providers, cable operators,
international telephone companies, and wholesale carriers.
Texas Instruments Incorporated, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides
semiconductor products and designs and supplies digital signal
processing and analog technologies. The company has worldwide
manufacturing and sales operations.
TIBCO Software Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, provides
software solutions to businesses for integrating real-time internal
operations, business partners, and custom channels. The company's
products enable communication between computer applications and
platforms across local and wide area networks and the Internet.
Williams Communications Group, Inc., headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
owns and operates a nationwide fiber optic network which provides voice,
data, Internet, and video services to communications service providers.
In addition, the company provides communications equipment and network
services.
We have obtained the foregoing descriptions from sources we deem
reliable. We have not independently verified the provided information
either in terms of accuracy or completeness.
Public Offering
The Public Offering Price.
You may buy Units at the Public Offering Price. The Public Offering
Price per Unit is comprised of the following:
- - The aggregate underlying value of the Securities;
- - The amount of any cash in the Income and Capital Accounts;
- - Dividends receivable on Securities; and
- - The total sales charge (which combines an initial up-front sales
charge and a deferred sales charge).
The price you pay for your Units will differ from the amount stated
under "Summary of Essential Information" due to various factors,
including fluctuations in the prices of the Securities and changes in
the value of the Income and/or Capital Accounts.
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.
Organization Costs.
Securities purchased with the portion of the Public Offering Price
intended to be used to reimburse the Sponsor for the Trust's
organization costs (including costs of preparing the registration
statement, the Indenture and other closing documents, registering Units
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and states, the
Page 14
initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the initial fees
and expenses of the Trustee) will be purchased in the same proportionate
relationship as all the Securities contained in the Trust. Securities
will be sold to reimburse the Sponsor for the Trust's organization costs
at the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the
end of the initial offering period (a significantly shorter time period
than the life of the Trust). During the period ending with the earlier
of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the
initial offering period, there may be a decrease in the value of the
Securities. To the extent the proceeds from the sale of these Securities
are insufficient to repay the Sponsor for the Trust organization costs,
the Trustee will sell additional Securities to allow the Trust to fully
reimburse the Sponsor. In that event, the net asset value per Unit will
be reduced by the amount of additional Securities sold. Although the
dollar amount of the reimbursement due to the Sponsor will remain fixed
and will never exceed the per Unit amount set forth for the Trust in
"Statement of Net Assets," this will result in a greater effective cost
per Unit to Unit holders for the reimbursement to the Sponsor. To the
extent actual organization costs are less than the estimated amount,
only the actual organization costs will be deducted from the assets of
the Trust. When Securities are sold to reimburse the Sponsor for
organization costs, the Trustee will sell such Securities, to the extent
practicable, which will maintain the same proportionate relationship
among the Securities contained in the Trust as existed prior to such sale.
Minimum Purchase.
The minimum amount you can purchase of the Trust is $1,000 worth of
Units ($250 if you are purchasing Units for your Individual Retirement
Account or any other qualified retirement plan).
Sales Charges.
The sales charge you will pay has both an initial and a deferred
component. The initial sales charge, which you will pay at the time of
purchase, is initially equal to approximately 1.00% of the Public
Offering Price of a Unit but will vary with the purchase price of your
Units. When the Public Offering Price exceeds $10.00 per Unit, the initial
sales charge will exceed 1.00% of the Public Offering Price. 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 (initially $.35 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.
Monthly Deferred Sales Charge. In addition, five monthly deferred sales charge
payments of $.07 per Unit will be deducted from the Trust's assets on approx-
imately the twentieth day of each month from September 20, 2000 through
January 19, 2001. 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 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 February 28,
commencing February 28, 2001, to a minimum sales charge of 3.00%.
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:
Reduction to
If you invest maximum sales
(in thousands):* charge will be:
_______________ _______________
$50 but less than $100 .25%
$100 but less than $250 .50%
$250 but less than $500 1.00%
$500 or more 2.00%
* 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 the Underwriter or
any one dealer. We will consider Units you purchase in the name of your
Page 15
spouse or your child under 21 years of age to be purchases by you for
determining the reduced sales charge. The reduced sales charges will
also apply to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing Units for a single
trust estate or single fiduciary account. You must inform the
Underwriter or 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.
During the initial offering period, if you own units of any other unit
investment trusts sponsored by us you may use your redemption or
termination proceeds from these trusts to purchase Units of the Trust at
the Public Offering Price per Unit less 1%. Please note that you will be
charged the amount of any remaining deferred sales charge on units you
redeem when you redeem them.
For the following persons, the sales charge is reduced by 3.00% of the
Public Offering Price:
- - Employees, officers and directors of the Sponsor, our related
companies, the Underwriter, 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 for financial planning, investment advisory or asset
management services or provide these services as part of an investment
account where a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed, the sales
charge on such Units is reduced by 2.5% of the Public Offering Price.
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 the Trust as of the Evaluation Time on each business day
and will adjust the Public Offering Price of the Units according to this
valuation. This Public Offering Price will be effective for all orders
received before the Evaluation Time on each such day. If we or the
Trustee receive orders for purchases, sales or redemptions after that
time, or on a day which 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 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 Trust for sale in a number of states.
Units are not registered in any foreign country and neither we nor the
Underwriter take responsibility with respect to sales or offers made to
sell Units where sales are not legal. Sales or offers to sell in such
countries may only be made in accordance with applicable laws. The Trust
is not registered with the Swiss Federal Banking Commission, which acts
Page 16
as supervisoryauthority in mutual fund matters. Accordingly, investors
should note that the Units may not be offered or distributed in or from
Switzerland unless this offer or distribution is exclusively addressed
to Swiss institutional investors without any public offering. 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 3.00% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit (or 65% of the maximum sales charge after
February 28, 2001). Eligible foreign dealers and selling agents can
purchase Units at prices which represent a concession or agency
commission of 2.00% of the Public Offering Price per Unit (or 45% of the
maximum sales charge after February 28, 2001). However, for Units
purchased with redemption or termination proceeds from other unit
investment trusts sponsored by us, this amount will be reduced to 65% of
the applicable sales charge (45% in the case of foreign dealers and
agents).
We reserve the right to change the amount of concessions or agency
commissions from time to time. Certain commercial banks may be making
Units of the Trust available to their customers on an agency basis. A
portion of the sales charge paid by these customers is kept by or given
to the banks in the amounts shown above.
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
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 the
Underwriter's or a dealer's registered representatives who have sold a
minimum number of Units during a specified time period. We may also pay
fees to the Underwriter or qualifying dealers for services or activities
which are meant to result in sales of Units of the Trust. In addition,
we will pay to the Underwriter or 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
charge 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 Trust
(which may show performance net of the expenses and charges the Trust
would have incurred) and returns over specified periods of other similar
trusts we sponsor in our advertising and sales materials, with (1)
returns on other taxable investments such as the common stocks
comprising various market indexes, corporate or U.S. Government bonds,
bank CDs and money market accounts or funds, (2) performance data from
Morningstar Publications, Inc. or (3) information from publications such
as Money, The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, BusinessWeek,
Forbes or Fortune. The investment characteristics of the Trust differ
from other comparative investments. You should not assume that these
performance comparisons will be representative of the Trust's future
performance.
The Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits
The Underwriter will receive a gross sales commission equal to the
maximum sales charge per Unit of the Trust less any reduced sales charge
as stated in "Public Offering." We will receive from the Underwriter the
difference between the gross sales commission and 3.30% of the Public
Offering Price per Unit (or 3.35% if the Underwriter sells at least $20
million). Also, any difference between our cost to purchase the
Securities and the price at which we sell them to the Trust is
considered a profit or loss. (See Note 2 of "Schedule of Investments.")
During the initial offering period, the Underwriter may also realize
profits or sustain losses as a result of fluctuations after the Date of
Deposit in the Public Offering Price they receive when they sell the
Units.
In maintaining a market for Units, any difference between the price at
which Units are purchased and the price at which they are sold (which
Page 17
includes a maximum sales charge for the Trust) or redeemed 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 Trust's registration
statement. 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 Trust are listed under "Fee Table."
If actual expenses exceed the estimate, the Trust will bear the excess.
The Trustee will pay operating expenses of the Trust from the Income
Account of the Trust if funds are available, and then from the Capital
Account. The Income and Capital Accounts are noninterest-bearing to Unit
holders, so the Trustee may earn interest on these funds, thus
benefiting from their use.
As Sponsor, we will be compensated for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services to the Trust, and will receive brokerage fees
when the Trust uses us (or an affiliate of ours) as agent in buying or
selling Securities. Legal, typesetting, electronic filing and regulatory
filing fees and expenses associated with updating the Trust's
registration statement are also now chargeable to the Trust.
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 Trust and will receive the fees set forth under "Fee
Table" for providing portfolio supervisory and evaluation services to
the Trust. In providing portfolio supervisory services, the Portfolio
Supervisor will purchase research services from the Underwriter's
research department for a fee not to exceed .30% of the Public Offering
Price per Unit sold.
The fees payable to us, First Trust Advisors L.P. and the Trustee are
based on the largest aggregate number of Units of the Trust outstanding
at any time during the calendar year, except during the initial offering
period, in which case these fees are calculated based on the largest
number of Units outstanding during the period for which compensation is
paid. These fees may be adjusted for inflation without Unit holders'
approval, but in no case will the annual fees paid to us or our
affiliates for providing a given service to all unit investment trusts
for which we provide such services be more than the actual cost of
providing such service in such year.
The Trust may also incur the following charges:
- - All legal expenses of the Trustee according to its responsibilities
under the Indenture;
- - The expenses and costs incurred by the Trustee to protect the 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 the Trust;
- - Payment for any loss, liability or expenses we incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in acting as Depositor of
the Trust; and/or
- - All taxes and other government charges imposed upon the Securities or
Page 18
any part of the Trust.
The above expenses and the Trustee's annual fee are secured by a lien on
the Trust. Since the Securities are all common stocks and dividend
income is unpredictable, we cannot guarantee that dividends will be
sufficient to meet any or all expenses of the Trust. If there is not
enough cash in the Income or Capital Account, the Trustee has the power
to sell Securities to make cash available to pay these charges which may
result in capital gains or losses to you. See "Tax Status."
The Trust will be audited on an annual basis. So long as we are making a
secondary market for Units, we will bear the cost of these annual audits
to the extent the cost exceeds $0.0050 per Unit. Otherwise, the Trust
will pay for the audit. You can receive a copy of the audited financial
statements by notifying the Trustee.
Tax Status
This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax
consequences of owning Units of the Trust. This section is current as of
the date of this prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change
frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax
consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do
not describe your situation if you are a non-U.S. person, a
broker/dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In
addition, this section does not describe your state or foreign taxes. As
with any investment, you should consult your own tax professional about
your particular consequences.
Trust Status.
The Trust will not be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes. As a Unit owner, you will be treated as the owner of a pro
rata portion of the Securities and other assets held by the Trust, and
as such you will be considered to have received a pro rata share of
income (i.e., dividends and capital gains, if any) from each Security
when such income is considered to be received by the Trust. This is true
even if you elect to have your distributions automatically reinvested
into additional Units. In addition, the income from the Trust which you
must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by
amounts used to pay the deferred sales charge.
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 that exceed a corporation's accumulated earnings and
profits).
If you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net
capital gain is generally 20% (10% for certain taxpayers in the lowest
tax bracket). Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus
net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss
is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year
and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or
less. You must exclude the date you purchase your Units to determine the
holding period of your Units. The tax rates for capital gains realized
from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for
ordinary income. The tax code may, however, treat certain capital gains
as ordinary income in special situations.
In-Kind Distributions.
Under certain circumstances, you may request a distribution of
Securities (an "In-Kind Distribution") when you redeem your Units or at
the Trust's termination. If you request an In-Kind Distribution you will
be responsible for any expenses related to this distribution. By
electing to receive an In-Kind Distribution, you will receive whole shares
of stock plus, possibly, cash.
You will not recognize gain or loss if you only receive Securities in
exchange for your pro rata portion of the Securities held by the Trust.
However, if you also receive cash in exchange for a fractional share of
a Security held by the Trust, you will generally recognize gain or loss
based on the difference between the amount of cash you receive and your
tax basis in such fractional share of the Security.
Page 19
Limitations on the Deductibility of Trust Expenses.
Generally, for federal income tax purposes, you must take into account
your full pro rata share of the Trust's income, even if some of that
income is used to pay Trust expenses. You may deduct your pro rata share
of each expense paid by the Trust to the same extent as if you directly
paid the expense. You may, however, be required to treat some or all of
the expenses of the Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions.
Individuals may only deduct certain miscellaneous itemized deductions to
the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income.
Foreign, State and Local Taxes.
Some distributions by the Trust may be subject to foreign withholding
taxes. Any income withheld will nevertheless be treated as income to
you. However, because you are deemed to have paid directly your share
of foreign taxes that have been paid or accrued by the Trust, you may be
entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for U.S. tax purposes with
respect to such taxes.
Under the existing income tax laws of the State and City of New York,
the Trust will not be taxed as a corporation, and the income of the
Trust will be treated as the income of the Unit holders in the same
manner as for federal income tax purposes.
Retirement Plans
You may purchase Units of the Trust for:
- - Individual Retirement Accounts
- - Keogh Plans
- - pension funds, and
- - other tax-deferred retirement plans.
Generally, the federal income tax on capital gains and income received
in each of the above plans is deferred until you receive distributions.
These distributions are generally treated as ordinary income but may, in
some cases, be eligible for special averaging or tax-deferred rollover
treatment. Before participating in a plan like this, you should review
the tax laws regarding these plans and consult your attorney or tax
advisor. Brokerage firms and other financial institutions offer these
plans with varying fees and charges.
Rights of Unit Holders
Unit Ownership.
The Trustee will treat as Record Owner of Units persons registered as
such on its books. 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
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
your Trust;
- - The number of Units issued or transferred;
- - Your name, address and Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN");
- - A notation of any liens or restrictions of the issuer and any adverse
claims; and
- - The date the transfer was registered.
Page 20
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 the Trust for the year;
- - A list of any Securities sold during the year and the Securities held
at the end of that year by the Trust;
- - The Redemption Price per Unit, computed on the 31st day of December of
such year (or the last business day before); and
- - Amounts of income and capital distributed during the year.
You may request from the Trustee copies of the evaluations of the
Securities as prepared by the Evaluator to enable you to comply with
federal and state tax reporting requirements.
Income and Capital Distributions
You will begin receiving distributions on your Units only after you
become a Record Owner. The Trustee will credit any dividends received on
the Trust's Securities to the Income Account. 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
the Trust exceed amounts in the Income Account on the Income
Distribution Dates. Distribution amounts will vary with changes in the
Trust's fees and expenses, in dividends received and with the sale of
Securities. The Trustee will distribute amounts in the Capital Account,
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 to
pay the deferred sales charge. If not, the Trustee may sell Securities
to meet the shortfall.
Within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated you will receive
a 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 the Trust,
after deducting any unpaid expenses.
The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within the
Trust to cover anticipated state and local taxes and any governmental
charges to be paid out of the Trust.
Distribution Reinvestment Option. You may elect to have each
distribution of income and/or capital reinvested into additional Units
of the Trust by notifying the Trustee at least 10 days before any Record
Date. Each later distribution of income and/or capital on your Units
will be reinvested by the Trustee into additional Units of the Trust.
You will have to pay any remaining deferred sales charge on any Units
acquired pursuant to this distribution reinvestment option. This option
may not be available in all states. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU
REINVEST DISTRIBUTIONS, THEY ARE STILL CONSIDERED DISTRIBUTIONS FOR
INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
Redeeming Your Units
You may redeem all or a portion of your Units at any time by sending the
certificates representing the Units you want to redeem to the Trustee at
its unit investment trust office. If your Units are 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
Page 21
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 2,500 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 the Trust's
Mandatory Termination Date will be honored. Where possible, the Trustee
will make an In-Kind Distribution by distributing each of the Securities
in book-entry form to your bank or broker/dealer account at the
Depository Trust Company. The Trustee will subtract any customary
transfer and registration charges from your In-Kind Distribution. As a
tendering Unit holder, you will receive your pro rata number of whole
shares of the Securities that make up the portfolio, and cash from the
Capital Account equal to the fractional shares to which you are entitled.
The Trustee may sell Securities to make funds available for redemption.
If Securities are sold, the size and diversification of the Trust will
be reduced. These sales may result in lower prices than if the
Securities were sold at a different time.
Your right to redeem Units (and therefore, your right to receive
payment) may be delayed:
- - If the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday
closings);
- - If the SEC determines that trading on the NYSE is restricted or that
an emergency exists making sale or evaluation of the Securities not
reasonably practical; or
- - For any other period permitted by SEC order.
The Trustee is not liable to any person for any loss or damage which may
result from such a suspension or postponement.
The Redemption Price.
The Redemption Price per Unit is determined by the Trustee by:
adding
1. cash in the Income and Capital Accounts not designated to purchase
Securities;
2. the aggregate underlying value of the Securities held in the Trust; and
3. dividends receivable on the Securities trading ex-dividend as of the
date of computation; and
deducting
1. any applicable taxes or governmental charges that need to be paid out
of the Trust;
2. any amounts owed to the Trustee for its advances;
3. estimated accrued expenses of the Trust, if any;
4. cash held for distribution to Unit holders of record of the Trust as
of the business day before the evaluation being made; and
5. other liabilities incurred by the Trust; and
dividing
1. the result by the number of outstanding Units of the Trust.
Any remaining deferred sales charge on the Units when you redeem them
will be deducted from your redemption proceeds. In addition, until the
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 the Trust
The portfolio of the Trust is not managed. However, we may, but are not
required to, direct the Trustee to dispose of a Security in certain
Page 22
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 on any other of its
outstanding obligations;
- - There has been a public tender offer made for a Security or a merger
or acquisition is announced affecting a Security, and that in our
opinion the sale or tender of the Security is in the best interest of
Unit holders; or
- - The price of the Security has declined to such an extent, or such
other credit factors exist, that in our opinion keeping the Security
would be harmful to the Trust.
Except in the limited instance in which the Trust acquires Replacement
Securities, as described in "The FT Series," the Trust may not acquire
any securities or other property other than the Securities. The Trustee,
on behalf of the Trust, will reject any offer for new or exchanged
securities or property in exchange for a Security, such as those
acquired in a merger or other transaction. If such exchanged securities
or property are nevertheless acquired by the Trust, at our instruction,
they will either be sold or held in the Trust. In making the
determination as to whether to sell or hold the exchanged securities or
property we may get advice from the Portfolio Supervisor. Any proceeds
received from the sale of Securities, exchanged securities or property
will be credited to the Capital Account 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 the Trust to facilitate selling
Securities, exchanged securities or property from the Trust. If we or
our affiliate act in this capacity, we will be held subject to the
restrictions under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The Trustee may sell Securities 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 the Trust may be
changed. To get the best price for the Trust we may 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 we
sponsor when we make recommendations to the Trustee as to which
broker/dealers they select to execute the Trust's portfolio
transactions, or when acting as agent for the Trust in acquiring or
selling Securities on behalf of the Trust.
Amending or Terminating the Indenture
Amendments. The Indenture may be amended by us and the Trustee without
your consent:
- - To cure ambiguities;
- - To correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;
- - To make any amendment required by any governmental agency; or
- - To make other changes determined not to be materially adverse to your
best interests (as determined by us and the Trustee).
Termination. As provided by the Indenture, the Trust will terminate on
the Mandatory Termination Date. The Trust may be terminated prior to the
Mandatory Termination Date:
- - Upon the consent of 100% of the Unit holders;
- - If the value of the Securities owned by the Trust as shown by any
evaluation is less than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total
value of Securities deposited in the Trust during the initial offering
period ("Discretionary Liquidation Amount"); or
- - In the event that Units of the Trust not yet sold aggregating more
than 60% of the Units of such Trust are tendered for redemption by
underwriters, including the Sponsor.
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 the Trust is terminated due to this last reason,
we will refund your entire sales charge; however, termination of the
Trust before the Mandatory Termination Date for any other stated reason
Page 23
will result in all remaining unpaid deferred sales charges on your Units
being deducted from your termination proceeds. For various reasons, the
Trust may be reduced below the Discretionary 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 the 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 2,500 Units of the Trust the Trustee will send you a
form at least 30 days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date which will
enable you to receive an In-Kind Distribution (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 the Trust is terminated. Regardless of the distribution involved,
the Trustee will deduct from the 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 Underwriter, Sponsor, Trustee and
Evaluator
The Underwriter.
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C. is a full-service investment bank headquartered at
One Liberty Plaza in New York, New York. Established in 1880, Gruntal
has a proud history of client service, financial stability and growth.
Today, Gruntal has over 2,100 employees in 29 offices across the United
States. The scope of Gruntal's business spans a broad range of financial
services including investment banking, research, trading, asset
management and brokerage services to individuals, institutions and
corporations worldwide. The Trust's portfolio was carefully evaluated by
Mona Eraiba, Gruntal's experienced high-technology analyst. Ms. Eraiba
concentrates her research on technology, semiconductor and electronic
stocks. She has been tracking these industries on Wall Street for more
than a decade and possesses significant analytic and hands-on experience.
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 us and not to the Trust or to
any series of the Trust or to any other dealer. We are including this
information only to inform you of our financial responsibility and our
ability to carry out our contractual obligations. We will provide more
detailed financial information on request.
The Trustee.
The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, with its principal executive
office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and its unit
investment trust office at 4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, New
York, 10004-2413. 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
Page 24
any action it takes in good faith under the Indenture.
The Trustee will not be liable for any taxes or other governmental
charges or interest on the Securities which the Trustee may be required
to pay under any present or future law of the United States or of any
other taxing authority with jurisdiction. Also, the Indenture states
other provisions regarding the liability of the Trustee.
If we do not perform any of our duties under the Indenture or are not
able to act or become bankrupt, or if our affairs are taken over by
public authorities, then the Trustee may:
- - Appoint a successor sponsor, paying them a reasonable rate not more
than that stated by the SEC,
- - Terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trust, or
- - Continue to act as Trustee without terminating the Indenture.
The Evaluator.
The Evaluator is First Trust Advisors L.P., an Illinois limited
partnership formed in 1991 and an affiliate of the Sponsor. The
Evaluator's address is 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532.
The Trustee, Sponsor and Unit holders may rely on the accuracy of any
evaluation prepared by the Evaluator. The Evaluator will make
determinations in good faith based upon the best available information,
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 Trust.
Experts.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the Trust's
statement of net assets, including the schedule of investments, at the
opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, as set forth in
their report. We've included the Trust's statement of net assets,
including the schedule of investments, in the prospectus and elsewhere
in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report,
given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Supplemental Information.
If you write or call the Trustee, you will receive free of charge
supplemental information about this Series, which has been filed with
the SEC and to which we have referred throughout. This information
states more specific details concerning the nature, structure and risks
of this product.
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Page 27
FIRST TRUST (registered trademark)
Select Technology Growth Trust, 2000 Series
FT 398
Underwriter:
GRUNTAL & CO., L.L.C.
One Liberty Plaza, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10006-1487
(212) 820-8200
1-800-223-7634
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 Select Technology
Growth Trust, 2000 Series, but does not contain all of the information
about this investment company as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in Washington, D.C. under the:
- - Securities Act of 1933 (file no. 333-94407) and
- - Investment Company Act of 1940 (file no. 811-05903)
Information about the Trust 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 Trust 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]
February 22, 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 the unit investment trust
contained in FT 398 not found in the prospectus for the Trust. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus and does not include all of
the information you should consider before investing in the Trust. This
Information Supplement should be read in conjunction with the prospectus
for the Trust in which you are considering investing.
This Information Supplement is dated February 22, 2000. Capitalized
terms have been defined in the prospectus.
Table of Contents
Risk Factors
Securities 1
Dividends 1
Litigation
Microsoft Corporation 1
Concentration 1
Technology Companies 1
Risk Factors
Securities. An investment in Units should be made with an understanding
of the risks which an investment in common stocks entails, including the
risk that the financial condition of the issuers of the Securities or
the general condition of the relevant stock market may worsen, and the
value of the Securities and therefore the value of the Units may
decline. Common stocks are especially susceptible to general stock
market movements and to volatile increases and decreases of value, as
market confidence in and perceptions of the issuers change. These
perceptions are based on unpredictable factors, including expectations
regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation
and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or
regional political, economic or banking crises. Both U.S. and foreign
markets have experienced substantial volatility and significant declines
recently as a result of certain or all of these factors.
Dividends. Shareholders of common stocks have rights to receive payments
from the issuers of those common stocks that are generally subordinate
to those of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred
stocks of, such issuers. Common stocks do not represent an obligation of
the issuer and, therefore, do not offer any assurance of income or
provide the same degree of protection of capital as do debt securities.
The issuance of additional debt securities or preferred stock will
create prior claims for payment of principal, interest and dividends
which could adversely affect the ability and inclination of the issuer
to declare or pay dividends on its common stock or the rights of holders
of common stock with respect to assets of the issuer upon liquidation or
bankruptcy.
Litigation
Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation is currently engaged in
litigation with Sun Microsystems, Inc., the U.S. Department of Justice
and several state Attorneys General. The complaints against Microsoft
include copyright infringement, unfair competition and anti-trust
violations. The claims seek injunctive relief and monetary damages. As
of the quarter ended December 31, 1999, Microsoft's management asserted
that resolving these matters will not have a material adverse impact on
its financial position or its results of operation.
Concentration
Technology Companies. Technology companies generally include companies
involved in the development, design, manufacture and sale of computers
and peripherals, software and services, data networking/communications
equipment, internet access/information providers, semiconductors and
semiconductor equipment and other related products, systems and
services. The market for these products, especially those specifically
related to the Internet, is characterized by rapidly changing
technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns,
evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The
success of the issuers of the Securities depends in substantial part on
the timely and successful introduction of new products. An unexpected
change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products
or in the market for products based on a particular technology could
have a material adverse affect on an issuer's operating results.
Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the issuers of the
Securities will be able to respond in a timely manner to compete in the
rapidly developing marketplace.
Based on trading history of common stock, factors such as announcements
of new products or development of new technologies and general
conditions of the industry have caused and are likely to cause the
market price of high-technology common stocks to fluctuate
substantially. In addition, technology company stocks have experienced
extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated to
the operating performance of such companies. This market volatility may
adversely affect the market price of the Securities and therefore the
ability of a Unit holder to redeem Units at a price equal to or greater
than the original price paid for such Units.
Some key components of certain products of technology issuers are
currently available only from single sources. There can be no assurance
Page 1
that in the future suppliers will be able to meet the demand for
components in a timely and cost effective manner. Accordingly, an
issuer's operating results and customer relationships could be adversely
affected by either an increase in price for, or an interruption or
reduction in supply of, any key components. Additionally, many
technology issuers are characterized by a highly concentrated customer
base consisting of a limited number of large customers who may require
product vendors to comply with rigorous industry standards. Any failure
to comply with such standards may result in a significant loss or
reduction of sales. Because many products and technologies of technology
companies are incorporated into other related products, such companies
are often highly dependent on the performance of the personal computer,
electronics and telecommunications industries. There can be no assurance
that these customers will place additional orders, or that an issuer of
Securities will obtain orders of similar magnitude as past orders from
other customers. Similarly, the success of certain technology companies
is tied to a relatively small concentration of products or technologies.
Accordingly, a decline in demand of such products, technologies or from
such customers could have a material adverse impact on issuers of the
Securities.
Many technology companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights,
trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their
proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no
assurance that the steps taken by the issuers of the Securities to
protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent
misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not
independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or
superior to such issuers' technology. In addition, due to the increasing
public use of the Internet, it is possible that other laws and
regulations may be adopted to address issues such as privacy, pricing,
characteristics, and quality of Internet products and services. For
example, recent proposals would prohibit the distribution of obscene,
lascivious or indecent communications on the Internet. The adoption of
any such laws could have a material adverse impact on the Securities in
the Trust.
Like many areas of technology, the semiconductor business environment is
highly competitive, notoriously cyclical and subject to rapid and often
unanticipated change. Recent industry downturns have resulted, in part,
from weak pricing, persistent overcapacity, slowdown in Asian demand and
a shift in retail personal computer sales toward the low end, or "sub-
$1,000" segment. Industry growth is dependent upon several factors,
including: the rate of global economic expansion; demand for products
such as personal computers and networking and communications equipment;
excess productive capacity and the resultant effect on pricing; and the
rate of growth in the market for low-priced personal computers.
Page 2
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
A. Bonding Arrangements of Depositor:
Nike Securities L.P. is covered by a Brokers' Fidelity Bond,
in the total amount of $1,000,000, the insurer being
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh.
B. This Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the
following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The Prospectus
The signatures
Exhibits
S-1
SIGNATURES
The Registrant, FT 398, 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 398, 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 February 22, 2000.
FT 398
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 ) February 22, 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 February 22, 2000 in
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (Form S-6) (File
No. 333-94407) and related Prospectus of FT 398.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 22, 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 398 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 398
File No. 333-94407
The Prospectus and the Indenture filed with Amendment No. 2
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 February 22, 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 Trust has been added.
Page 3 The following information for the Trust appears:
The Aggregate Value of Securities initially
deposited has been added.
The initial number of units of the Trust
Sales charge
The Public Offering Price per Unit as of the
business day before the Initial Date of Deposit
The Mandatory Termination Date has been added.
Page 5 The Report of Independent Auditors has been
completed.
Page 6 The Statement of Net Assets has been completed.
Pages 7-8 The Schedule of Investments has been completed.
THE TRUST AGREEMENT AND STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
The Trust Agreement has been conformed to reflect
the execution thereof.
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
February 22, 2000
FT 398
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: February 22, 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 SELECT TECHNOLOGY GROWTH TRUST, 2000 SERIES (SELECT
PORTFOLIO)
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 February
22, 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.
K. The Depositors compensation for providing bookkeeping
and other administrative services as described in Section 3.14 of
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be an annual fee
in the amount of $.0033 per Unit.
L. The Depositors compensation for providing portfolio
supervisory services as described in Section 3.13 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be an annual fee in the
amount of $.0035 per Unit.
PART III
A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, references to subsequent
Series established after the date of effectiveness of the First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 24 shall include FT 398.
B. The term "Principal Account" as set forth in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced with the
term "Capital Account."
C. Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
D. Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(3) "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P.
and its successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
appointed as hereinafter provided."
E. Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(4) "Portfolio Supervisor" shall mean First Trust
Advisors L.P. and its successors in interest, or any
successor portfolio supervisor appointed as hereinafter
provided."
F. Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows:
(b)(1)From time to time following the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its
discretion, to assign, convey to and deposit with the
Trustee (i) additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and
transfer in proper form, (ii) Contract Obligations relating
to such additional Securities, accompanied by cash and/or
Letter(s) of Credit as specified in paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.01, or (iii) cash (or a Letter of Credit in lieu
of cash) with instructions to purchase additional
Securities, in an amount equal to the portion of the Unit
Value of the Units created by such deposit attributable to
the Securities to be purchased pursuant to such
instructions. Except as provided in the following
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in each case,
shall ensure that each deposit of additional Securities
pursuant to this Section shall maintain, as nearly as
practicable, the Percentage Ratio. Each such deposit of
additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a Notice of
Deposit of Additional Securities delivered by the Depositor
to the Trustee. Instructions to purchase additional
Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify the name
of the Security, CUSIP number, if any, aggregate amount,
price or price range and date to be purchased. When
requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as broker
to execute purchases in accordance with such instructions;
the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
(2) Additional Securities (or Contract Obligations
therefor) may, at the Depositor's discretion, be deposited
or purchased in round lots. If the amount of the deposit is
insufficient to acquire round lots of each Security to be
acquired, the additional Securities shall be deposited or
purchased in the order of the Security in the Trust most
under-represented immediately before the deposit with
respect to the Percentage Ratio.
(3) If at the time of a deposit of additional
Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the Initial
Date of Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement Securities
acquired to replace an issue deposited on the Initial Date
of Deposit) are unavailable, cannot be purchased at
reasonable prices or their purchase is prohibited or
restricted by applicable law, regulation or policies, the
Depositor may (i) deposit, or instruct the Trustee to
purchase, in lieu thereof, another issue of Securities or
Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a letter of
credit in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue of
Securities whose acquisition is not feasible with
instructions to acquire such Securities of such issue when
they become available.
(4) Any contrary authorization in the preceding
subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding, deposits of
additional Securities made after the 90-day period
immediately following the Initial Date of Deposit (except
for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations if
such deposits occur within 20 days from the date of a
failure occurring within such initial 90-day period) shall
maintain exactly the Percentage Ratio existing immediately
prior to such deposit.
(5) In connection with and at the time of any deposit
of additional Securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(b),
the Depositor shall exactly replicate Cash (as defined
below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
such deposit. For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
as to the Capital Account, cash or other property (other
than Securities) on hand in the Capital Account or
receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account as of
the date of the deposit (other than amounts to be
distributed solely to persons other than holders of Units
created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account, cash
or other property (other than Securities) received by the
Trust as of the date of the deposit or receivable by the
Trust in respect of a record date for a payment on a
Security which has occurred or will occur before the Trust
will be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by the
amount of any cash or other property received or receivable
on any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
calculations of distributions from the Income Account
pursuant to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or to be
made in respect of a Record Date occurring prior to the
deposit. Such replication will be made on the basis of a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units
created by the deposit and the denominator of which is the
number of Units which are outstanding immediately prior to
the deposit."
G. 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."
H. 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."
I. 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 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
the 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."
J. 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."
K. Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee shall
distribute to each Unit holder of record at the close of
business on the Record Date immediately preceding such
Distribution Date an amount per Unit equal to such Unit
holder's Income Distribution (as defined below), plus such
Unit holder's pro rata share of the balance of the Capital
Account (except for monies on deposit therein required to
purchase Contract Obligations) computed as of the close of
business on such Record Date after deduction of any amounts
provided in Subsection I, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall not be required to make a distribution from
the Capital Account unless the amount available for
distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
Each Trust shall provide the following distribution
elections: (1) distributions to be made by check mailed to
the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears on
the registration books of the Trustee, or (2) the following
reinvestment option:
The Trustee will, for any Unit holder who provides
the Trustee written instruction, properly executed and
in form satisfactory to the Trustee, received by the
Trustee no later than its close of business 10 business
days prior to a Record Date (the "Reinvestment Notice
Date"), reinvest such Unit holder's distribution from
the Income and Capital Accounts in Units of the Trust,
purchased from the Depositor, to the extent the
Depositor shall make Units available for such purchase,
at the Depositor's offering price as of the third
business day prior to the following Distribution Date,
and at such reduced sales charge as may be described in
the prospectus for the Trusts. If, for any reason, the
Depositor does not have Units of the Trust available
for purchase, the Trustee shall distribute such Unit
holder's distribution from the Income and Capital
Accounts in the manner provided in clause (1) of the
preceding paragraph. The Trustee shall be entitled to
rely on a written instruction received as of the
Reinvestment Notice Date and shall not be affected by
any subsequent notice to the contrary. The Trustee
shall have no responsibility for any loss or
depreciation resulting from any reinvestment made in
accordance with this paragraph, or for any failure to
make such reinvestment in the event the Depositor does
not make Units available for purchase.
Any Unit holder who does not effectively elect
reinvestment in Units of their respective Trust pursuant to
the preceding paragraph shall receive a cash distribution in
the manner provided in clause (1) of the second preceding
paragraph."
L. 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."
M. 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."
N. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I.(e) deduct from the Income Account or,
to the extent funds are not available in such Account, from
the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount that
it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14."
O. Section 3.07 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is amended to delete the word and at the end of Section
3.07(h) and replace Section 3.01(g) with the following:
"(g) that such sale is required due to Units tendered for
redemption;
(h) that the sale of Securities is necessary or advisable
in order to maintain the qualification of the Trust as a
"regulated investment company" in the case of a Trust which has
elected to qualify as such; and
(i) that there has been a public tender offer made for a
Security or a merger or acquisition is announced affecting a
Security, and that in the opinion of the Sponsor the sale or
tender of the Security is in the best interest of the Unit
holders."
P. 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."
Q. 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 per Unit set forth in
Part II of 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 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."
R. 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
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 per Unit amount set forth in Part II of 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 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 not 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."
S. 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."
T. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
3.15 and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, so
long as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
U. 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."
V. 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."
W. 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
such 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 Principal
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, 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."
X. 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)"
Y. 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."
Z. 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."
AA. Section 8.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The fourth sentence of the second paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"The Trustee will honor duly executed requests for in-
kind distributions received (accompanied by the electing
Unit holder's Certificate, if issued) by the close of
business ten business days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date."
(ii) The first sentence of the fourth paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"Commencing no earlier than the business day following
that date on which Unit holders must submit to the Trustee
notice of their request to receive an in-kind distribution
of Securities at termination, the Trustee will liquidate the
Securities not segregated for in-kind distributions during
such period and in such daily amounts as the Depositor shall
direct."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nike Securities L.P., The Chase
Manhattan Bank and First Trust Advisors L.P. have each caused
this Trust Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate
seal to be hereto affixed and attested (if applicable) by
authorized officers; all as of the day, month and year first
above written.
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
Depositor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
By Rosalia Raviele
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
Joan Currie
Assistant Treasurer
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
By Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
FT 398
(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
February 22, 2000
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
Re: FT 398
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., as
Sponsor and Depositor of FT 398 in connection with the February
22, 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. 333-94407)
relating to the Units referred to above, to the use of our name
and to the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement
and in the related Prospectus.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF:erg
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
February 22, 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 398
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
of FT 398 (the "Fund"), in connection with the issuance of units
of fractional undivided interest in the Trust of said Fund (the
"Trust"), under a Trust Agreement, dated February 22, 2000 (the
"Indenture"), among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P., as
Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor.
In this connection, we have examined the Registration
Statement, the form of Prospectus proposed to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Indenture and such other
instruments and documents we have deemed pertinent. The opinions
expressed herein assume that the Trust will be administered, and
investments by the Trust from proceeds of subsequent deposits, if
any, will be made, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
The Trust holds Equity Securities as such term is defined in the
Prospectus. For purposes of the following discussion and
opinion, it is assumed that each Equity Security is equity for
Federal income tax purposes.
Based upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of such
matters of law as we consider to be applicable, we are of the
opinion that, under existing United States Federal income tax
law:
I. The Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation for Federal income tax purposes; each Unit holder
will be treated as the owner of a pro rata portion of each of the
assets of the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code") in the proportion that the number of Units held by him
bears to the total number of Units outstanding; under Subpart E,
Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Code, income of the Trust will
be treated as income of the Unit holders in the proportion
described above; and an item of Trust income will have the same
character in the hands of a Unit holder as it would have in the
hands of the Trustee. Each Unit holder will be considered to
have received his pro rata share of income derived from each
Trust asset when such income is considered to be received by the
Trust.
II. The price a Unit holder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion
of each Equity Security held by the Trust (in proportion to the
fair market values thereof on the valuation date closest to the
date the Unit holder purchases his Units) in order to determine
his tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity Security
held by the Trust. For Federal income tax purposes, a Unit
holder's pro rata portion of distributions of cash or property by
a corporation with respect to an Equity Security ("dividends" as
defined by Section 316 of the Code) is taxable as ordinary income
to the extent of such corporation's current and accumulated
"earnings and profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion of
dividends paid on such Equity Security which exceeds such current
and accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a Unit
holder's tax basis in such Equity Security, and to the extent
that such dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such
Equity Security shall be treated as gain from the sale or
exchange of property.
III. Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unit holder
(subject to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code)
upon redemption or sale of his Units, except to the extent an in
kind distribution of stock is received by such Unit holder from
the Trust as discussed below. Such gain or loss is measured by
comparing the proceeds of such redemption or sale with the
adjusted basis of his Units. Before adjustment, such basis would
normally be cost if the Unit holder had acquired his Units by
purchase. Such basis will be reduced, but not below zero, by the
Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect to each
Equity Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.
IV. If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by
sale, taxable exchange, liquidation, redemption, payment on
maturity or otherwise) gain or loss will be recognized to the
Unit holder (subject to various nonrecognition provisions under
the Code) and the amount thereof will be measured by comparing
the Unit holder's aliquot share of the total proceeds from the
transaction with his basis for his fractional interest in the
asset disposed of. Such basis is ascertained by apportioning the
tax basis for his Units (as of the date on which his Units were
acquired) among each of the Trust's assets (as of the date on
which his Units were acquired) ratably according to their values
as of the valuation date nearest the date on which he purchased
such Units. A Unit holder's basis in his Units and of his
fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced, but not
below zero, by the Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends
with respect to each Equity Security which is not taxable as
ordinary income.
V. Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances, a
Unit holder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of 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 such Trust, a Unit
holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of the
particular Trust's assets. The receipt of an in kind
distribution will result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided
interest in whole shares of stock and possibly cash. The
potential federal income tax consequences which may occur under
an in kind distribution with respect to each Security owned by
the Trust will depend upon whether or not a Unit holder receives
cash in addition to Securities. A "Security" for this purpose is
a particular class of stock issued by a particular corporation.
A Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unit holder
only receives Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata
portion of 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 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.
A domestic corporation owning Units in the Trust may be
eligible for the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant to
Section 243(a) of the Code with respect to such Unit holder's pro
rata portion of dividends received by such Trust (to the extent
such dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed
above, and are attributable to domestic corporations), subject to
the limitations imposed by Sections 246 and 246A of the Code.
To the extent dividends received by the Trust are
attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns
Units will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction
with respect to its pro rata portion of such dividends since the
dividends received deduction is generally available only with
respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
Section 67 of the Code provides that certain miscellaneous
itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax return
preparation fees and employee business expenses will be
deductible by an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of
such individual's adjusted gross income. Unit holders may be
required to treat some or all of the expenses of the Trust as
miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
A Unit holder will recognize taxable gain (or loss)when all
or part of the pro rata interest in an Equity Security is either
sold by the Trust or redeemed or when a Unit holder disposes of
his Units in a taxable transaction, in each case for an amount
greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor; subject to various
nonrecognition provisions of the Code.
It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends
on Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may
be subject to foreign withholding taxes and Unit holders should
consult their tax advisers regarding the potential tax
consequences relating to the payment of any such withholding
taxes by the Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof
will nevertheless be treated as income to the Unit holders.
Because under the grantor trust rules, an investor is deemed to
have paid directly his share of foreign taxes that have been paid
or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign tax
credit or deduction for United States tax purposes with respect
to such taxes. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 imposes a required
holding period for such credits.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or exchange will,
under current law, generally be capital gain or loss.
The scope of this opinion is expressly limited to the
matters set forth herein, and, except as expressly set forth
above, we express no opinion with respect to any other taxes,
including foreign, state or local taxes or collateral tax
consequences with respect to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Units.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-94407)
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
February 22, 2000
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 398
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-3113
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 398
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as special counsel with respect to New York
tax matters for the unit investment trust or trusts included in
FT 398 (each, a "Trust"), which will be established under a
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. 333-94407) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
registration of the sale of the Units and to the references to
our name in such Registration Statement and the preliminary
prospectus included therein.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
February 22, 2000
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 398
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-3113
Attention: Mr. Thomas Porazzo
Vice President
Re: FT 398
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
398 (each, a "Trust"), and the confirmation by Chase, as Trustee
under the Indenture, that it has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership by the Depositor of a number of
units constituting the entire interest in the Trust (such
aggregate units being herein called "Units"), each of which
represents an undivided interest in the respective Trust which
consists of common stocks (including, confirmations of contracts
for the purchase of certain stocks not delivered and cash, cash
equivalents or an irrevocable letter of credit or a combination
thereof, in the amount required for such purchase upon the
receipt of such stocks), such stocks being defined in the
Indenture as Securities and referenced in the Schedule to the
Indenture.
We have examined the Indenture, a specimen of the
certificates to be issued thereunder (the "Certificates"), the
Closing Memorandum dated today's date, and such other documents
as we have deemed necessary in order to render this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. Chase is a duly organized and existing corporation
having the powers of a Trust Company under the laws of the State
of New York.
2. The Trust Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Chase and, assuming due execution and delivery by
the other parties thereto, constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of Chase.
3. The Certificates are in proper form for execution and
delivery by Chase, as Trustee.
4. Chase, as Trustee, has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership of the Units by the Depositor.
Upon receipt of confirmation of the effectiveness of the
registration statement for the sale of the Units filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, the Trustee may deliver Certificates for such Units, in
such names and denominations as the Depositor may request, to or
upon the order of the Depositor as provided in the Closing
Memorandum.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have not considered,
among other things, whether the Securities have been duly
authorized and delivered.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
First Trust Advisors L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
February 22, 2000
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Re: FT 398
Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement File No. 333-
94407 for the above captioned fund. We hereby consent to the use
in the Registration Statement of the references to First Trust
Advisors L.P. as evaluator.
You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely,
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Robert W. Bredemeier
Senior Vice President
