<PAGE> 1
Prospectus
[MERRILL LYNCH LOGO]
Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
[MERRILL LYNCH ARTWORK]
December 21, 1999
(as supplemented March 3, 2000)
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE
INVESTING, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT RISKS. PLEASE READ
IT BEFORE YOU INVEST AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE> 2
Table of Contents
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
[KEY FACTS ICON]
KEY FACTS
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Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc. at a Glance......... 3
Risk/Return Bar Chart....................................... 4
Fees and Expenses........................................... 5
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON]
DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND
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How the Fund Invests........................................ 7
Investment Risks............................................ 8
About the Portfolio Manager................................. 12
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON]
YOUR ACCOUNT
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Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) System..................... 15
How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares.............. 20
How Shares are Priced....................................... 24
Dividends and Taxes......................................... 24
[MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ICON]
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
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Fund Asset Management....................................... 26
Master/Feeder Structure..................................... 27
[FOR MORE INFORMATION ICON]
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Shareholder Reports....................................Back Cover
Statement of Additional Information....................Back Cover
</TABLE>
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 3
Key Facts [KEY FACTS ICON]
IN AN EFFORT TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE MANY CONCEPTS INVOLVED IN MAKING
AN INVESTMENT DECISION, WE HAVE DEFINED THE HIGHLIGHTED TERMS IN THIS PROSPECTUS
IN THE SIDEBAR.
COMMON STOCK -- units of ownership of a corporation.
PREFERRED STOCK -- class of capital stock that often pays dividends at a
specified rate and has preference over common stock in dividend payments and
liquidation of assets.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES -- corporate securities (usually preferred stock or
bonds) that are exchangeable for a fixed number of other securities (usually
common stock) at a set price or formula.
WARRANTS -- a security that gives the right to buy a quantity of stock.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. AT A GLANCE
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WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?
The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The Fund invests primarily in COMMON STOCKS of companies that Fund management
believes have strong earnings growth and capital appreciation potential. To a
lesser extent, the Fund also may invest in PREFERRED STOCK, CONVERTIBLE
SECURITIES, WARRANTS and rights to subscribe to common stock of these companies.
We cannot guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Fund management focuses primarily on earnings growth in determining which
securities to buy and when to sell them for the Fund. The Fund may invest in
companies having medium ($1 billion to $5 billion) or large (greater than $5
billion) stock market capitalizations. Normally, Fund management will emphasize
common stocks of companies with large stock market capitalizations.
The Fund is a "feeder" fund that invests all of its assets in a "master"
portfolio, the Master Premier Growth Trust (the "Trust"), that has the same
investment objective as the Fund. All investments will be made at the Trust
level. This structure is sometimes called a "master/feeder" structure. The
Fund's investment results will correspond directly to the investment results of
the Trust. For simplicity, this Prospectus uses the term "Fund" to include the
Trust.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund's investments -- and therefore
the value of your Fund shares -- may fluctuate. These changes may occur because
a particular stock market is rising or falling. At other times, there are
specific factors that may affect the value of a particular investment. The Fund
is also subject to the risk that the stocks that Fund management selects will
underperform the stock markets, the relevant indices or other funds with similar
investment objectives and investment strategies. If the value of the Fund's
investments goes down, you may lose money.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 3
<PAGE> 4
[KEY FACTS ICON]
WHO SHOULD INVEST?
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for you if you:
- Are investing with long-term goals in mind, such as retirement
or funding a child's education.
- Want a professionally managed and diversified portfolio.
- Are willing to accept the risk that the value of your investment
may decline in order to seek long-term capital appreciation.
- Are not looking for a significant amount of current income.
- Are prepared to receive taxable distributions.
RISK/RETURN BAR CHART
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This Prospectus does not include a Risk/Return Bar Chart because as of the date
of this Prospectus the Fund had just commenced operations.
4
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 5
UNDERSTANDING EXPENSES
Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. Listed below
are some of the main types of expenses, which all mutual funds may charge:
EXPENSES PAID DIRECTLY BY THE SHAREHOLDER:
SHAREHOLDER FEES -- these include sales charges which you may pay when you buy
or sell shares of the Fund.
EXPENSES PAID INDIRECTLY BY THE SHAREHOLDER:
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES -- expenses that cover the costs of operating the
Fund.
MANAGEMENT FEE -- a fee paid to the Manager for managing the Fund.
DISTRIBUTION FEES -- fees used to support the Fund's marketing and distribution
efforts, such as compensating Financial Consultants, advertising and promotion.
SERVICE (ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE) FEES -- fees used to compensate securities dealers
for account maintenance activities.
FEES AND EXPENSES
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The Fund offers four different classes of shares. Although your money will be
invested the same way no matter which class of shares you buy, there are
differences among the fees and expenses associated with each class. Not everyone
is eligible to buy every class. After determining which classes you are eligible
to buy, decide which class best suits your needs. Your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant can help you with this decision.
This table shows the different fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold the different classes of shares of the Fund. Future expenses may be greater
or less than those indicated below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM
YOUR INVESTMENT)(a): CLASS A CLASS B(b) CLASS C CLASS D
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on
purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 5.25%(c) None None 5.25%(c)
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a
percentage of original purchase price or
redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) None(d) 4.00%(c) 1.00%(c) None(d)
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Dividend
Reinvestments
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Redemption Fee None None None None
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Exchange Fee None None None None
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT
ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS)(e):
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MANAGEMENT FEE(f) 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
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DISTRIBUTION AND/OR SERVICE (12b-1) FEES(g) None 1.00% 1.00% 0.25%
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Other Expenses (including transfer agency
fees)(h) 0.53% 0.53% 0.53% 0.53%
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TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1.28% 2.28% 2.28% 1.53%
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</TABLE>
(a) In addition, Merrill Lynch may charge clients a processing fee (currently
$5.35) when a client buys or redeems shares.
(b) Class B shares automatically convert to Class D shares about 8 years after
you buy them and will no longer be subject to distribution fees.
(c) Some investors may qualify for reductions in the sales charge (load).
(d) You may pay a deferred sales charge if you purchase $1 million or more and
you redeem within one year.
(e) The fees and expenses include the expenses of the Fund and the Trust.
(f) Paid by the Trust. The Manager or its affiliates provides accounting
services to the Trust at its cost.
(g) The Fund calls the Service Fee an "Account Maintenance Fee." Account
Maintenance Fee is the term used elsewhere in this Prospectus and in all
other Fund materials. If you hold Class B or Class C shares for a long time,
it may cost you more in distribution (12b-1) fees than the maximum sales
charge that you would have paid if you had bought one of the other classes.
(h) Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. The Fund pays the
Transfer Agent $11.00 for each Class A and Class D shareholder account and
$14.00 for each Class B and Class C shareholder account and reimburses the
Transfer Agent's out-of- pocket expenses. The Fund also pays a $0.20 monthly
closed account charge, which is assessed upon all accounts that close during
the year. This fee begins the month following the month the account is
closed and ends at the end of the calendar year.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 5
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[KEY FACTS ICON] Key Facts
EXAMPLES:
These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods
indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that you pay the
sales charges, if any, that apply to the particular class and that the Fund's
operating expenses remain the same. This assumption is not meant to indicate you
will receive a 5% annual rate of return. Your annual return may be more or less
than the 5% used in these examples. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
EXPENSES IF YOU DID REDEEM YOUR SHARES:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Class A $648 $910
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Class B $631 $912
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Class C $331 $712
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Class D $672 $983
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</TABLE>
EXPENSES IF YOU DID NOT REDEEM YOUR SHARES:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Class A $648 $910
- ----------------------------------------
Class B $231 $712
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Class C $231 $712
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Class D $672 $983
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</TABLE>
6 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 7
Details About the Fund [DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON]
ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER
James D. McCall is a Senior Vice President and the Portfolio Manager of the
Fund. Mr. McCall has been a First Vice President of Merrill Lynch Asset
Management since November 1999. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Asset Management,
Mr. McCall was a portfolio manager for the PBHG family of mutual funds from 1994
to 1999.
ABOUT THE MANAGER
The Fund is managed by Fund Asset Management.
HOW THE FUND INVESTS
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The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The
Fund tries to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in common
stocks of companies that Fund management believes have strong earnings growth
and capital appreciation potential. Fund management begins its investment
process by creating a universe of rapidly growing companies that possess certain
growth characteristics. That universe is continually updated. Fund management
then ranks each company within its universe by using research models that focus
on growth characteristics such as positive earnings surprises, upward earnings
estimate revisions, and accelerating sales and earnings growth. Finally, using
its own fundamental research and a bottom-up approach to investing, Fund
management evaluates the quality of each company's earnings and tries to
determine whether the company can sustain or increase its current growth trend.
Fund management believes that this disciplined investment process enables it to
construct a portfolio of investments with strong growth characteristics.
Although the Fund emphasizes investment in common stocks, it may also invest in
other equity securities including, but not limited to, the following:
- Securities convertible into common stock
- Preferred stock
- Rights and warrants to subscribe to common stock
The Fund generally will invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity
securities. The Fund may invest in companies having medium ($1 billion to $5
billion) or large (greater than $5 billion) stock market capitalizations.
Normally, Fund management will emphasize companies with large stock market
capitalizations.
The Fund may invest without limitation in the securities of foreign companies in
the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). In addition, the Fund may
invest up to 10% of its total assets in other forms of securities of foreign
companies, including European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or other securities
convertible into securities of foreign companies.
The Fund may also lend its portfolio securities.
The Fund may invest in investment grade, non-convertible debt securities and
U.S. Government securities of any maturity although it typically will not do so
to a significant extent. The Fund may invest in excess of 35% of its total
assets in cash or U.S. dollar-denominated high quality short-term debt
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 7
<PAGE> 8
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund
instruments for temporary defensive purposes, to maintain liquidity or when
economic or market conditions are unfavorable for profitable investing.
Normally, a portion of the Fund's assets will be held in these short-term
instruments in anticipation of investment in equities or to meet redemptions.
These types of investments typically have a lower yield than other longer-term
investments and lack the capital appreciation potential of equity securities. In
addition, while these investments are generally designed to limit the Fund's
losses, they can prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.
INVESTMENT RISKS
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This section contains a summary discussion of the general risks of investing in
the Fund. As with any mutual fund, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will
meet its objectives, or that the Fund's performance will be positive over any
period of time.
MARKET RISK AND SELECTION RISK -- As an equity fund, the Fund's principal risks
are market risk and selection risk. Market risk is the risk that the U.S. or
foreign equity markets will go down in value, including the possibility that the
U.S. or foreign equity markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. In
particular, the equity securities purchased by the Fund may be particularly
sensitive to changes in earnings or interest rate increases because they
typically have higher price-earnings ratios. Selection risk is the risk that the
stocks that Fund management selects will underperform the markets or other funds
with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.
The Fund also may be subject to risks associated with the following investment
strategies.
CONVERTIBLES -- Convertibles are generally debt securities or preferred stocks
that may be converted into common stock. Convertibles typically pay current
income as either interest (debt security convertibles) or dividends (preferred
stocks). A convertible's value usually reflects both the stream of current
income payments and the value of the underlying common stock. The market value
of a convertible performs like a regular debt security, that is, if market
interest rates rise, the value of a convertible usually falls. Since it is
convertible into common stock, the convertible also has the same types of market
and issuer risk as the underlying common stock.
8 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 9
WARRANTS -- A warrant gives the Fund the right to buy a quantity of stock. The
warrant specifies the amount of underlying stock, the purchase (or "exercise")
price, and the date the warrant expires. The Fund has no obligation to exercise
the warrant and buy the stock.
A warrant has value only if the Fund exercises it before it expires. If the
price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the
warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and the Fund
loses any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may
involve substantially more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may
trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the
warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.
FOREIGN MARKET RISK -- Since the Fund may invest in foreign securities, they
offer the potential for more diversification than an investment only in the
United States. This is because stocks traded on foreign markets have often
(though not always) performed differently than stocks in the United States. Such
investments, however, involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that
can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. For example, investments
in foreign markets may be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the
imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries,
expropriation of assets, diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic
sanctions, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other
protectionist or retaliatory measures. The governments of certain countries may
prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their
capital markets or in certain industries. Other foreign market risks include
foreign exchange controls, difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on
foreign government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal
judgments in foreign courts and political and social instability. Legal remedies
available to investors in some foreign countries may be less extensive than
those available to investors in the United States. Foreign markets may have
different clearance and settlement procedures, which may delay settlement of
transactions involving foreign securities. The Fund may miss investment
opportunities or be unable to sell an investment because of these delays. The
risks of investing in foreign securities are generally greater for investments
in emerging markets.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS -- The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers in
the form of Depositary Receipts. American Depositary Receipts are receipts
typically issued by an American bank or trust company that show evidence
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 9
<PAGE> 10
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund
of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. European Depositary
Receipts evidence a similar ownership arrangement. The Fund may also invest in
unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of such unsponsored Depositary
Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United
States, and therefore, there may be less information available regarding such
issuers.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
illiquid securities that it cannot easily resell within seven days at current
value or that have contractual or legal restrictions on resale. If the Fund buys
illiquid securities it may be unable to quickly resell them or may be able to
sell them only at a price below current value.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES -- Restricted securities have contractual or legal
restrictions on their resale. They may include private placement securities that
the Fund buys directly from the issuer. Private placement and other restricted
securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading
market.
Restricted securities may be illiquid. The Fund may be unable to sell them on
short notice or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value.
The Fund may get only limited information about the issuer, so they may be less
able to predict a loss. In addition, if Fund management receives material
adverse nonpublic information about the issuer, the Fund will not be able to
sell the security.
RULE 144A SECURITIES -- Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that can
be resold to qualified institutional buyers but not to the general public. Rule
144A securities may have an active trading market, but carry the risk that the
active trading market may not continue.
DEBT SECURITIES -- Debt securities, such as bonds, involve credit risk. This is
the risk that the borrower will not make timely payments of principal and
interest. The degree of credit risk depends on the issuer's financial condition
and on the terms of the bonds. These securities are also subject to interest
rate risk. This is the risk that the value of the security may fall when
interest rates rise. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer
maturities will go up or down more in response to changes in interest rates than
the market price of shorter term securities.
SECURITIES LENDING -- Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower to
which the Fund has loaned its securities may not return the securities in a
10 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 11
timely manner or at all. As a result, the Fund might suffer costs and delay in
recovering the securities it loaned. In addition, if the Fund does not get the
securities it loaned back and the value of the collateral the Fund received in
return for the loaned securities falls, the Fund could lose money.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS; PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACTS -- The Fund may enter into
certain types of repurchase agreements or purchase and sale contracts. Under a
repurchase agreement, the seller agrees to repurchase a security (typically a
security issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government) at a mutually agreed upon
time and price. This insulates the Fund from changes in the market value of the
security during the period, except for currency fluctuations. A purchase and
sale contract is similar to a repurchase agreement, but purchase and sale
contracts provide that the purchaser receives any interest on the security paid
during the period. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either
situation and the market value declines, the Fund may lose money.
DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may use derivative instruments including futures,
options, indexed securities, inverse securities and swaps. Derivatives are
financial instruments whose value is derived from another security, a commodity
(such as gold or oil), or an index such as Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
Derivatives allow the Fund to increase or decrease their risk exposure more
quickly and efficiently than other types of instruments. Derivatives are
volatile and involve significant risks, including:
Credit risk -- the risk that the counterparty (the party on the
other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be
unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.
Currency risk -- the risk that changes in the exchange rate between
currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of
an investment.
Leverage risk -- the risk associated with certain types of
investments or trading strategies (such as borrowing money to
increase the amount of investment) that relatively small market
movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment.
Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can
result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 11
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[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund
Liquidity risk -- the risk that certain securities may be difficult
or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at
the price that the seller believes the security is currently worth.
The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes, including anticipatory
hedges. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the
risk that other Fund holdings may decrease in value. While hedging can reduce
losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains if the market moves in a different
manner than anticipated by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs
the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the
value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as
expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may
not be reduced. There can be no assurance that the Fund's hedging strategy will
reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost
effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.
ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER
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James D. McCall, a First Vice President of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
since 1999 and a Senior Vice President and the Portfolio Manager of the Fund, is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust's portfolio.
Mr. McCall, a Chartered Financial Analyst, has had 10 years experience as a
portfolio manager. He was a portfolio manager at the PBHG family of mutual funds
from 1994 to 1999. He managed a number of registered mutual funds, including the
PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund series of The PBHG Funds, Inc. from its inception on
April 5, 1995 to May 14, 1999. Mr. McCall also managed the PBHG Large Cap Growth
Portfolio of PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc., a variable annuity contract
portfolio, from its inception on May 1, 1997 to May 14, 1999. The investment
objective, policies and strategies of the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund and the
PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio are substantially similar in all material
respects to those of the Fund.
The cumulative total return for the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund from its
inception on April 5, 1995 through March 31, 1999 was 174.47%. At March 31,
1999, the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund had approximately $144.2 million in net
assets. The cumulative total return for the PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio from
its inception on May 1, 1997 through March 31, 1999 was 61.60%. At March 31,
1999, the PBHG Large Cap
12 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 13
Growth Portfolio had approximately $13.8 million in net assets. As portfolio
manager of the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund and the PBHG Large Cap Growth
Portfolio for the periods indicated above, Mr. McCall had full discretionary
authority over the selection of investments for each fund and was primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of each fund. No other person played a
significant role in managing each fund from their respective inception dates
through May 14, 1999. Average annual returns for the one-year and three-year
periods ended March 31, 1999 to the extent applicable and for the entire period
during which Mr. McCall managed the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund and the PBHG
Large Cap Growth Portfolio compared with the performance of the Standard &
Poor's 500 Index are set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PBHG LARGE
PRIOR PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR FUNDS CAP PBHG LARGE LIPPER
PREVIOUSLY MANAGED BY THE GROWTH(1) CAP GROWTH S&P 500 MULTI-CAP
PORTFOLIO MANAGER: FUND PORTFOLIO(2) INDEX(3) GROWTH FUNDS(6)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
One Year Ended March 31, 1999 15.90% 19.62% 18.46% 21.07%
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Three Years Ended March 31, 1999 22.33% N/A 28.08% 21.47%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund
Inception(4) through May 14, 1999 27.25% N/A 29.17% 23.73%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Inception(5) through May 14, 1999 N/A 25.75% 30.88% 29.82%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Average annual total return reflects changes in share prices and
reinvestment of dividends and is net of fund expenses. From the commencement
of operations through March 31, 1996, Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd.
("Pilgrim Baxter") voluntarily waived a portion of the annual management fee
payable by the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund. Without such a waiver, returns
would have been lower. During the periods indicated, PBHG Large Cap Growth
Fund was sold without a front-end sales charge that would reduce returns.
Although a co-manager for the PBIIG Large Cap Growth Fund was named for a
portion of the periods indicated, Mr. McCall was primarily responsible for
the day-to-day management of that fund.
(2) Average annual total return reflects changes in share prices and
reinvestment of dividends and is net of fund expenses. From the commencement
of operations through December 31, 1998, Pilgrim Baxter voluntarily waived a
portion of the annual management fee payable by the PBHG Large Cap Growth
Portfolio and agreed to pay certain expenses of the PBHG Large Cap Growth
Portfolio to the extent necessary to ensure that the total annual operating
expenses of the PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio did not exceed 1.10% of its
average daily net assets. Without such waivers, returns would have been
lower. Moreover, average annual total return does not reflect a deduction
for insurance account fees, which if reflected, would also reduce the
returns shown. During the periods indicated, PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio
was sold without a front-end sales charge that would reduce returns.
(3) The Standard & Poor's 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks that
is considered to be generally representative of the United States stock
market. The index is adjusted to reflect reinvestment of dividends.
(4) The inception date for the PBHG Large Cap Growth Fund was April 5, 1995.
(5) The inception date for the PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio was May 1, 1997.
(6) Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds, as classified by Lipper Inc., are funds that,
by portfolio practice, invest in a variety of market capitalization ranges,
without concentrating 75% of their equity assets in any one market
capitalization range over an extended period of time. Multi-Cap funds will
generally have between 25% to 75% of their assets invested in companies with
market capitalization (on a three-year weighted basis) above 300% of the
dollar-weighted median market capitalization of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index.
Multi-Cap Growth funds normally invest in companies with long-term earnings
expected to grow significantly faster than the earnings of the stocks
represented in a major unmanaged stock index. These funds will normally have
an above-average price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book ratio, and
three-year earnings growth figure, compared to the U.S. diversified
multi-cap equity funds universe average.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 13
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[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE. THE PBHG LARGE
CAP GROWTH FUND AND THE PBHG LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO ARE SEPARATE FUNDS AND
THEIR HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF
THE FUND. Share prices and investment returns will fluctuate reflecting market
conditions as well as changes in company-specific fundamentals of portfolio
securities.
14 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 15
Your Account [YOUR ACCOUNT ICON]
MERRILL LYNCH SELECT PRICING(SM) SYSTEM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers four classes of shares, each with its own sales charge and
expense structure, allowing you to invest in the way that best suits your needs.
Each share class represents an ownership interest in the same investment
portfolio. When you choose your class of shares you should consider the size of
your investment and how long you plan to hold your shares. Your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant can help you determine which share class is best suited to
your personal financial goals.
For example, if you select Class A or D shares, you generally pay a sales charge
at the time of purchase. If you buy Class D shares, you also pay an ongoing
account maintenance fee of 0.25%. You may be eligible for a sales charge
reduction or waiver.
If you select Class B or C shares, you will invest the full amount of your
purchase price, but you will be subject to a distribution fee of 0.75% and an
account maintenance fee of 0.25%. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's
assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees increase the cost of your
investment and may cost you more than paying an initial sales charge. In
addition, you may be subject to a deferred sales charge when you sell Class B or
C shares.
The Fund's shares are distributed by Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, a division
of Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc., an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch").
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 15
<PAGE> 16
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account
The table below summarizes key features of the Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM)
System.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Availability Limited to certain Generally available Generally available
investors including: through Merrill Lynch. through Merrill Lynch.
- Current Class A Limited availability Limited availability
shareholders through other securities through other securities
- Certain Retirement dealers. dealers.
Plans
- Certain affiliates of
Merrill Lynch.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Sales Yes. Payable at time of No. Entire purchase No. Entire purchase
Charge? purchase. Lower sales price is invested in price is invested in
charges available for shares of the Fund. shares of the Fund.
certain larger
investments.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Sales No. (May be charged for Yes. Payable if you Yes. Payable if you
Charge? purchases over $1 redeem within four years redeem within one year
million that are of purchase. of purchase.
redeemed within one
year.)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account No. 0.25% Account 0.25% Account
Maintenance and Maintenance Fee Maintenance Fee
Distribution 0.75% Distribution Fee. 0.75% Distribution Fee.
Fees?
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversion to No. Yes, automatically after No.
Class D shares? approximately eight
years.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
CLASS D
- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Availability Generally available
through Merrill Lynch.
Limited availability
through other securities
dealers.
- -----------------------------------------------
Initial Sales Yes. Payable at time of
Charge? purchase. Lower sales
charges available for
larger investments.
- -----------------------------------------------
Deferred Sales No. (May be charged for
Charge? purchases over $1
million that are
redeemed within one
year.)
- -----------------------------------------------
Account 0.25% Account
Maintenance and Maintenance Fee
Distribution No Distribution Fee.
Fees?
- -----------------------------------------------
Conversion to No.
Class D shares?
- -----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
16 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 17
CLASS A AND D SHARES -- INITIAL SALES CHARGE OPTIONS
If you select Class A or D shares, you will pay a sales charge at the time of
purchase as shown in the following table. Securities dealers' compensation will
be as shown in the last column.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DEALER
COMPENSATION
AS A % OF AS A % OF AS A % OF
YOUR INVESTMENT OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT* OFFERING PRICE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000 5.25% 5.54% 5.00%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 but less than
$50,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.50%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 but less than
$100,000 4.00% 4.17% 3.75%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 but less than
$250,000 3.00% 3.09% 2.75%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 but less than
$1,000,000 2.00% 2.04% 1.80%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,000,000 and over** 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent.
** If you invest $1,000,000 or more in Class A or D shares, you may not pay an
initial sales charge. In that case, the Manager compensates the selling
dealer from its own funds. If you redeem your shares within one year after
purchase, you may be charged a deferred sales charge. This charge is 1% of
the lesser of the original cost of the shares being redeemed or your
redemption proceeds. A sales charge of 0.75% will be charged on purchases of
$1,000,000 or more of Class A and Class D shares by certain employer
sponsored retirement or savings plans.
No initial sales charge applies to Class A or Class D shares that you buy
through reinvestment of dividends.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 17
<PAGE> 18
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION -- permits you to pay the sales charge that would apply to
the cost or value (whichever is higher) of all shares you own in the Merrill
Lynch mutual funds that offer Select Pricing options.
LETTER OF INTENT -- permits you to pay the sales charge that would be applicable
if you add up all shares of Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) funds that you
agree to buy within a 13 month period. Certain restrictions apply.
A reduced or waived sales charge on a purchase of Class A or D shares may apply
for:
- Purchases under a RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION or LETTER OF INTENT
- Purchases using proceeds from the sale of certain Merrill Lynch
closed-end funds under certain circumstances
- Certain employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans
- Certain investors, including directors or trustees of Merrill Lynch
mutual funds and Merrill Lynch employees
Only certain investors are eligible to buy Class A shares. Your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant can help you determine whether you are eligible to buy
Class A shares or to participate in any of these programs.
If you decide to buy shares under the initial sales charge alternative and you
are eligible to buy both Class A and Class D shares, you should buy Class A
shares since Class D shares are subject to a 0.25% account maintenance fee,
while Class A shares are not.
If you redeem Class A or Class D shares and within 30 days buy new shares of the
same class, you will not pay a sales charge on the new purchase amount. The
amount eligible for this "Reinstatement Privilege" may not exceed the amount of
your redemption proceeds. To exercise the privilege, contact your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant or the Fund's Transfer Agent at 1-800-MER-FUND.
CLASS B AND C SHARES -- DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OPTIONS
If you select Class B or Class C shares, you do not pay an initial sales charge
at the time of purchase. However, if you redeem your Class B shares within four
years after purchase or Class C shares within one year after purchase, you may
be required to pay a deferred sales charge. You will also pay distribution fees
of 0.75% and account maintenance fees of 0.25% each year under a distribution
plan that the Fund has adopted under Rule 12b-1. Because these fees are paid out
of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees increase the cost
of your investment and may cost you more than paying an initial sales charge.
The Distributor uses the money that it receives from the deferred sales charge
and the distribution fees to cover the costs of marketing, advertising and
compensating the Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant or other securities dealer
who assists you in purchasing Fund shares.
18 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 19
CLASS B SHARES
If you redeem Class B shares within four years after purchase, you may be
charged a deferred sales charge. The amount of the charge gradually decreases as
you hold your shares over time, according to the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS SINCE PURCHASE SALES CHARGE*
- ------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
0 - 1 4.00%
- ------------------------------------------
1 - 2 3.00%
- ------------------------------------------
2 - 3 2.00%
- ------------------------------------------
3 - 4 1.00%
- ------------------------------------------
4 AND THEREAFTER 0.00%
- ------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The percentage charge will apply to the lesser of the original cost of the
shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption. Shares acquired
through reinvestment of dividends are not subject to a deferred sales charge.
Not all Merrill Lynch funds have identical deferred sales charge schedules. If
you exchange your shares for shares of another fund, the higher charge will
apply.
The deferred sales charge relating to Class B shares may be reduced or waived in
certain circumstances, such as:
- Certain post-retirement withdrawals from an IRA or other
retirement plan if you are over 59 1/2 years old
- Redemption by certain eligible 401(a) and 401(k) plans, certain
related accounts and certain retirement plan rollovers
- Withdrawals resulting from shareholder death or disability as
long as the waiver request is made within one year after death
or disability or, if later, reasonably promptly following
completion of probate, or in connection with involuntary
termination of an account in which Fund shares are held
- Withdrawal through the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plan
of up to 10% per year of your Class B or Class C account value
at the time the plan is established
Your Class B shares convert automatically into Class D shares approximately
eight years after purchase. Any Class B shares received through reinvestment of
dividends paid on converting shares will also convert at that time. Class D
shares are subject to lower annual expenses than Class B shares. The
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 19
<PAGE> 20
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account
conversion of Class B shares to Class D shares is not a taxable event for
Federal income tax purposes.
Different conversion schedules apply to Class B shares of different Merrill
Lynch mutual funds. For example, Class B shares of a fixed-income fund typically
convert approximately ten years after purchase compared to approximately eight
years for equity funds. If you acquire your Class B shares in an exchange from
another fund with a shorter conversion schedule, the Fund's eight year
conversion schedule will apply. If you exchange your Class B shares in the Fund
for Class B shares of a fund with a longer conversion schedule, the other fund's
conversion schedule will apply. The length of time that you hold both the
original and exchanged Class B shares in both funds will count toward the
conversion schedule. The conversion schedule may be modified in certain other
cases as well.
CLASS C SHARES
If you redeem Class C shares within one year after purchase, you may be charged
a deferred sales charge of 1.00%. The charge will apply to the lesser of the
original cost of the shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption.
You will not be charged a deferred sales charge when you redeem shares that you
acquire through reinvestment of Fund dividends. The deferred sales charge
relating to Class C shares may be reduced or waived in connection with
involuntary termination of an account in which Fund shares are held and
withdrawals through the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Class C shares do not offer a conversion privilege.
HOW TO BUY, SELL, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chart below summarizes how to buy, sell, transfer and exchange shares
through Merrill Lynch or other securities dealers. You may also buy shares
through the Transfer Agent. To learn more about buying shares through the
Transfer Agent, call 1-800-MER-FUND. Because the selection of a mutual fund
involves many considerations, your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant may help
you with this decision. The Fund does not issue share certificates.
20 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 21
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU WANT TO YOUR CHOICES INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Buy Shares First, select the share class Refer to the Merrill Lynch Select Pricing table on page 16.
appropriate for you Be sure to read this prospectus carefully.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, determine the amount of your The minimum initial investment for the Fund is $1,000 for
investment all accounts except that it is $100 for retirement plans.
(The minimums for initial investments may be waived or
reduced under certain circumstances.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have your Merrill Lynch Financial The price of your shares is based on the next calculation
Consultant or securities dealer of net asset value after your order is placed. Any purchase
submit your purchase order orders placed prior to the close of business on the New
York Stock Exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time)
will be priced at the net asset value determined that day.
Purchase orders placed after that time will be priced at
the net asset value determined on the next business day.
The Fund may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend
the sale of shares at any time. Merrill Lynch may charge a
processing fee to confirm a purchase. This fee is currently
$5.35.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or contact the Transfer Agent To purchase shares directly, call the Transfer Agent at
1-800-MER-FUND and request a purchase application. Mail the
completed purchase application to the Transfer Agent at the
address on the inside back cover of this Prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add to Your Purchase additional shares The minimum investment for additional purchases is
Investment generally $50 except that retirement plans have a minimum
additional purchase of $1 and certain programs, such as
automatic reinvestment plans, may have higher minimums.
(The minimums for additional purchases may be waived under
certain circumstances.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquire additional shares through All dividends are automatically reinvested without a sales
the automatic dividend reinvestment charge.
plan
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participate in the automatic You may invest a specific amount on a periodic basis
investment plan through certain Merrill Lynch investment or central asset
accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer Shares to Transfer to a participating You may transfer your Fund shares only to another
Another Securities securities dealer securities dealer that has entered into an agreement with
Dealer Merrill Lynch. Certain shareholder services may not be
available for the transferred shares. You may only purchase
additional shares of funds previously owned before the
transfer. All future trading of these shares must be
coordinated by the receiving firm.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 21
<PAGE> 22
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU WANT TO YOUR CHOICES INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Transfer Shares to Transfer to a non-participating You must either:
Another Securities securities dealer - Transfer your shares to an account with the Transfer
Dealer (continued) Agent; or
- Sell your shares, paying any applicable deferred
sales charge.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sell Your Shares Have your Merrill Lynch Financial The price of your shares is based on the next calculation
Consultant or securities dealer of net asset value after your order is placed. For your
submit your sales order redemption request to be priced at the net asset value on
the day of your request, you must submit your request to
your dealer prior to the close of business on the New York
Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). Any
redemption request placed after that time will be priced at
the net asset value at the close of business on the next
business day.
Securities dealers, including Merrill Lynch, may charge a
fee to process a redemption of shares. Merrill Lynch
currently charges a fee of $5.35. No processing fee is
charged if you redeem shares directly through the Transfer
Agent.
The Fund may reject an order to sell shares under certain
circumstances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sell through the Transfer Agent You may sell shares held at the Transfer Agent by writing
to the Transfer Agent at the address on the inside back
cover of this prospectus. All shareholders on the account
must sign the letter. A signature guarantee will generally
be required but may be waived in certain limited
circumstances. You can obtain a signature guarantee from a
bank, securities dealer, securities broker, credit union,
savings association, national securities exchange and
registered securities association. A notary public seal
will not be acceptable. If you hold stock certificates,
return the certificates with the letter. The Transfer Agent
will normally mail redemption proceeds within seven days
following receipt of a properly completed request. If you
make a redemption request before the Fund has collected
payment for the purchase of shares, the Fund or the
Transfer Agent may delay mailing your proceeds. This delay
will usually not exceed ten days.
Check with the Transfer Agent or your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant for details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
22 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 23
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU WANT TO YOUR CHOICES INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Sell Shares Participate in the Fund's Systematic You can choose to receive systematic payments from your
Systematically Withdrawal Plan Fund account either by check or through direct deposit to
your bank account on a monthly or quarterly basis. If you
have a Merrill Lynch CMA(R), CBA(R) or Retirement Account
you can arrange for systematic redemptions of a fixed
dollar amount on a monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis, subject to certain conditions.
Under either method you must have dividends automatically
reinvested. For Class B and C shares your total annual
withdrawals cannot be more than 10% per year of the value
of your shares at the time your plan is established. The
deferred sales charge is waived for systematic redemptions.
Ask your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant for details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Your Select the fund into which you want You can exchange your shares of the Fund for shares of many
Shares to exchange. Be sure to read that other Merrill Lynch mutual funds. You must have held the
fund's prospectus shares used in the exchange for at least 15 calendar days
before you can exchange to another fund.
Each class of Fund shares is generally exchangeable for
shares of the same class of another Merrill Lynch fund. If
you own Class A shares and wish to exchange into a fund in
which you have no Class A shares (and are not eligible to
purchase Class A shares), you will exchange into Class D
shares.
Some of the Merrill Lynch mutual funds impose a different
initial or deferred sales charge schedule. If you exchange
Class A or Class D shares for shares of a fund with a
higher initial sales charge than you originally paid, you
will be charged the difference at the time of exchange. If
you exchange Class B shares for shares of a fund with a
different deferred sales charge schedule, the higher
schedule will apply. The time you hold Class B or C shares
in both funds will count when determining your holding
period for calculating a deferred sales charge at
redemption. If you exchange Class A or Class D shares for
money market fund shares, you will receive Class A shares
of Summit Cash Reserves Fund. Class B or C shares of the
Fund will be exchanged for Class B shares of Summit.
Although there is currently no limit on the number of
exchanges that you can make, the exchange privilege may be
modified or terminated at any time in the future.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 23
<PAGE> 24
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account
NET ASSET VALUE -- the market value in U.S. dollars of the Fund's total assets
after deducting liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding.
DIVIDENDS -- ordinary income and capital gains paid to shareholders. Dividends
may be reinvested in additional Fund shares as they are paid.
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you buy shares, you pay the NET ASSET VALUE, plus any applicable sales
charge. This is the offering price. Shares are also redeemed at their net asset
value, minus any applicable deferred sales charge. The Fund calculates its net
asset value (generally by using market quotations) each day the New York Stock
Exchange is open as of the close of business on the Exchange based on prices at
the time of closing. The Exchange generally closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
The net asset value used in determining your price is the next one calculated
after your purchase or redemption order is placed. Foreign securities owned by
the Fund may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its
shares. As a result, the Fund's net asset value may change on days when you will
not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares.
Generally, Class A shares will have the highest net asset value because that
class has the lowest expenses, and Class D shares will have a higher net asset
value than Class B or Class C shares. Also dividends paid on Class A and Class D
shares will generally be higher than dividends paid on Class B and Class C
shares because Class A and Class D shares have lower expenses.
DIVIDENDS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will distribute at least annually any net investment income and any net
realized long- or short-term capital gains. The Fund may also pay a special
distribution at the end of the calendar year to comply with Federal tax
requirements. DIVIDENDS may be reinvested automatically in shares of the Fund at
net asset value without a sales charge or may be taken in cash. If your account
is with Merrill Lynch and you would like to receive dividends in cash, contact
your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant. If your account is with the Transfer
Agent and you would like to receive dividends in cash, contact the Transfer
Agent. Although this cannot be predicted with any certainty, the Fund
anticipates that the majority of its dividends, if any, will consist of capital
gains.
You will pay tax on dividends from the Fund whether you receive them in cash or
additional shares. If you redeem Fund shares or exchange them for shares of
another fund, any gain on the transaction may be subject to tax. Capital gain
dividends are generally taxed at different rates than ordinary income dividends.
Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to withholding and
other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
24 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 25
"BUYING A DIVIDEND"
Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid
buying shares shortly before the Fund pays a dividend. The reason? If you buy
shares when a fund has realized but not yet distributed ordinary income or
capital gains, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a
portion of the price back in the form of a taxable dividend. Before investing
you may want to consult your tax advisor.
If you are neither a lawful permanent resident nor a citizen of the U.S. or if
you are a foreign entity, the Fund's ordinary income dividends (which include
distributions of net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to a
30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies.
By law, the Fund must withhold 31% of your dividends and redemption proceeds if
you have not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number
or if the number you have provided is incorrect.
This section summarizes some of the consequences under current Federal tax law
of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice.
Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an
investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 25
<PAGE> 26
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Asset Management, L.P., the Fund's Manager, manages the Trust's investments
under the overall supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The
advisory agreements between the Trust and the Manager give the Manager the
responsibility for making all investment decisions for the Fund. The Manager has
a sub-advisory agreement with Merrill Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited, an
affiliate, under which the Manager may pay a fee for services it receives. The
Trust pays the Manager a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily
net assets of the Trust.
Fund Asset Management, L.P. was organized as an investment adviser in 1977 and
offers investment advisory services to more than 50 registered investment
companies. Merrill Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited was organized as an
investment adviser in 1986 and acts as sub-adviser to more than 50 registered
investment companies. Fund Asset Management, L.P. is part of the Asset
Management Group of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., which had approximately $550
billion in investment company and other portfolio assets under management as of
January 2000. This amount includes assets managed for affiliates of the Manager.
[MANAGEMENT ICON]
26
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 27
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is a "feeder" fund that invests all of its assets in the Trust. (Except
where indicated, this prospectus uses the term "Fund" to mean this feeder fund
and the Trust taken together.) Investors in the Fund will acquire an indirect
interest in the Trust.
The Trust may accept investments from other feeder funds, and all the feeders of
the Trust bear the portfolio's expenses in proportion to their assets. This
structure may enable the Fund to reduce costs through economies of scale. A
larger investment portfolio may also reduce certain transaction costs to the
extent that contributions to and redemptions from the master portfolio from
different feeders may offset each other and produce a lower net cash flow.
However, each feeder can set its own transaction minimums, fund-specific
expenses, and other conditions. This means that one feeder could offer access to
the Trust on more attractive terms, or could experience better performance, than
another feeder. Information about other feeders is available by calling
1-800-MER-FUND.
Whenever the Trust holds a vote of its feeder funds, the Fund will pass the vote
through to its own shareholders. Smaller feeder funds may be harmed by the
actions of larger feeder funds. For example, a larger feeder fund could have
more voting power than the Fund over the operations of the master portfolio.
The Fund may withdraw from the Trust at any time and may invest all of its
assets in another pooled investment vehicle or retain an investment adviser to
manage the Fund's assets directly.
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC. 27
<PAGE> 28
[MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ICON] Management of the Fund
A NOTE ABOUT YEAR 2000
As the year 2000 began, there were few problems caused by the inability of
certain computer systems to tell the difference between the year 2000 and the
year 1900 (commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem"). It is still possible that
some computer systems could malfunction in the future because of the Year 2000
Problem or as a result of actions taken to address the Year 2000 Problem. Fund
management does not anticipate that its services or those of the Fund's other
service providers will be adversely affected, but Fund management will continue
to monitor the situation. If malfunctions related to the Year 2000 Problem do
arise, the Fund and its investments could be negatively affected.
28 MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 29
[ML POTENTIAL INVESTORS CHART]
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
POTENTIAL
INVESTORS
Open an account (two options).
1 2
MERRILL LYNCH TRANSFER AGENT
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
OR SECURITIES DEALER FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Advises shareholders on their Trust investments. 4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 45289
Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5289
Performs shareholder
recordkeeping and reporting services.
DISTRIBUTOR
MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR,
A DIVISION OF PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
P.O. Box 9081
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081
Arranges for the sale of Trust shares.
COUNSEL CUSTODIAN
BROWN & WOOD LLP THE TRUST THE BANK OF NEW YORK
One World Trade Center 90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10048-0557 The Board of Directors 12th Floor
oversees the Trust. New York, New York 10286
Provides legal advice to the Trust.
Holds the Trust's assets for safekeeping.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS MANAGER
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
Princeton Forrestal Village ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
116-300 Village Boulevard 800 Scudders Mill Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08540-6400 Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536
Audits the financial MAILING ADDRESS
statements of the Trust on behalf of P.O. Box 9011
the shareholders. Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011
TELEPHONE NUMBER
1-800-MER-FUND
Manages the Fund's day-to-day activities.
MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K. LIMITED
33 King William Street
London, EC4R9AS
England
Sub-Adviser to the Trust.
</TABLE>
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 30
For More Information [FOR MORE INFORMATION ICON]
SHAREHOLDER REPORTS
Additional information about the Fund's investments will be available in the
Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund's annual
report you will find a discussion of the relevant market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during
its last fiscal year. You may obtain these reports at no cost by calling
1-800-MER-FUND.
If you hold your Fund shares through a brokerage account or directly at the
Transfer Agent, you may receive only one copy of each shareholder report and
certain other mailings regardless of the number of Fund accounts you have. If
you prefer to receive separate shareholder reports for each account (or if you
are receiving multiple copies and prefer to receive only one), call your Merrill
Lynch Financial Consultant or write to the Transfer Agent at its mailing
address. Include your name, address, tax identification number and Merrill Lynch
brokerage or mutual fund account number. If you have any questions, please call
your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant or the Transfer Agent at 1-800-MER-FUND.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Fund's Statement of Additional Information contains further information
about the Fund and is incorporated by reference (legally considered to be part
of this Prospectus). You may request a free copy by writing or calling the Fund
at Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45289, Jacksonville, Florida
32232-5289 or by calling 1-800-MER-FUND.
Contact your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant or the Fund at the telephone
number or address indicated on the inside back cover of this Prospectus if you
have any questions.
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information)
can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington,
D.C. Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the operation of the public
reference room. This information is also available on the SEC's Internet Site at
http://www.sec.gov and copies may be obtained upon payment of a duplicating fee
by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. NO ONE IS
AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
Investment Company Act File #811-09653.
Code #19082-
(C) Fund Asset Management, L.P.
Prospectus
[MERRILL LYNCH LOGO]
Merrill Lynch
Premier Growth
Fund, Inc.
[MERRILL LYNCH ARTWORK]
December 21, 1999
(as supplemented
March 3, 2000)
<PAGE> 31
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011 - Phone No. (609) 282-2800
------------------------
Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a diversified,
open-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with
long-term capital appreciation. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment
objective by investing primarily in common stocks of companies that Fund
management believes have strong earnings growth and capital appreciation
potential. No assurance can be given that the investment objective of the Fund
will be realized. For more information on the Fund's investment objective and
policies, see "Investment Objective and Policies."
The Fund is a "feeder" fund that invests all of its assets in the Master
Premier Growth Trust (the "Trust") that has the same investment objective as the
Fund. All investments will be made at the Trust level. The Fund's investment
results will correspond directly to the investment results of the Trust. There
can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Pursuant to the Merrill Lynch Select Pricing "SM" System, the Fund offers
four classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales charges,
ongoing fees and other features. The Merrill Lynch Select Pricing "SM" System
permits an investor to choose the method of purchasing shares that the investor
believes is most beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time
the investor expects to hold the shares and other relevant circumstances. See
"Purchase of Shares."
------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Fund, dated December 21, 1999, as
supplemented on March 3, 2000 (the "Prospectus"), which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and can be obtained,
without charge, by calling 1-800-MER-FUND or your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant, or by writing to the address listed above. The Prospectus is
incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information, and
this Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus.
------------------------
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT -- MANAGER
MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR -- DISTRIBUTOR
------------------------
The date of this Statement of Additional Information is December 21, 1999
(as supplemented on March 3, 2000)
<PAGE> 32
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Investment Objective and Policies........................... 2
European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU").............. 3
Growth Securities......................................... 4
Derivatives............................................... 4
Convertible Securities.................................... 8
Debt Securities........................................... 10
Warrants.................................................. 10
Other Investment Policies and Practices................... 11
Investment Restrictions................................... 13
Portfolio Turnover........................................ 15
Management of The Fund...................................... 16
Directors and Officers.................................... 16
Compensation of Directors/Trustees........................ 17
Management and Advisory Arrangements...................... 17
Code of Ethics............................................ 19
Purchase of Shares.......................................... 19
Initial Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class A and Class D 20
Shares.................................................
Reduced Initial Sales Charges............................. 21
Deferred Sales Charges -- Class B and Class C Shares...... 23
Distribution Plans........................................ 26
Limitations on the Payment of Deferred Sales Charges...... 27
Redemption of Shares........................................ 27
Redemption................................................ 28
Repurchase................................................ 28
Reinstatement Privilege -- Class A and Class D Shares..... 29
Pricing of Shares........................................... 29
Determination of Net Asset Value.......................... 29
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage........................ 30
Transactions in Portfolio Securities...................... 30
Shareholder Services........................................ 32
Investment Account........................................ 32
Exchange Privilege........................................ 33
Retirement Savings Plans.................................. 34
Automatic Investment Plans................................ 35
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan...................... 35
Systematic Withdrawal Plans............................... 35
Dividends and Taxes......................................... 36
Dividends................................................. 36
Taxes..................................................... 37
Tax Treatment of Options, Futures and Forward Foreign 38
Exchange Transactions..................................
Special Rules for Certain Foreign Currency Transactions... 38
Performance Data............................................ 40
General Information......................................... 42
Description of Shares..................................... 42
Computation of Offering Price Per Share................... 43
Independent Auditors...................................... 43
Custodian................................................. 43
Transfer Agent............................................ 43
Legal Counsel............................................. 43
Reports to Shareholders................................... 43
Shareholder Inquiries..................................... 44
Additional Information.................................... 44
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 33
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital
appreciation. The Fund tries to achieve its investment objective by investing
primarily in common stocks of companies that Fund management believes have
strong earnings growth and capital appreciation potential. Fund management
begins its investment process by creating a universe of rapidly growing
companies that possess certain growth characteristics. That universe is
continually updated. Fund management then ranks each company within its universe
by using research models that focus on growth characteristics such as positive
earnings surprises, upward earnings estimate revisions, and accelerating sales
and earnings growth. Finally, using its own fundamental research and a bottom-up
approach to investing, Fund management evaluates the quality of each company's
earnings and tries to determine whether the company can sustain or increase its
current growth trend. Fund management believes that this disciplined investment
process enables it to construct a portfolio of investments with strong growth
characteristics. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act").
The Fund is a "feeder" fund that invests all of its assets in the Trust
which has the same investment objective as the Fund. All investments will be
made at the Trust level. This structure is sometimes called a "master/feeder"
structure. The Fund's investment results will correspond directly to the
investment results of the Trust. For simplicity, however, this Statement of
Additional Information, like the Prospectus, uses the term "Fund" to include the
Trust. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund or
the investment objective of the Trust will be realized. The investment objective
of the Fund is a fundamental policy of the Fund and may not be changed without
the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities as
defined in the Investment Company Act. The investment objective of the Trust is
a fundamental policy of the Trust and may not be changed without the approval of
a majority of the Trust's outstanding voting securities as defined in the
Investment Company Act. Reference is made to the discussion under "How the Fund
Invests" and "Investment Risks" in the Prospectus for information with respect
to the Fund and the Trust's investment objective and policies.
Investment emphasis is placed on equities, primarily common stock and, to a
lesser extent, securities convertible into common stock, preferred stock,
warrants and rights to subscribe for common stock. The Fund generally will
invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities. The Fund may
invest in companies of any size but emphasizes equity securities of companies
having a medium stock market capitalization ($1 billion to $5 billion) or a
large stock market capitalization (greater than $5 billion). The Fund may invest
in non-convertible debt securities rated investment grade by a nationally
recognized statistical ratings organization and U.S. Government securities,
although it typically will not do so to a significant extent.
The Fund may hold assets in cash or cash equivalents and investment grade,
short-term securities, including money market securities, in such proportions
as, in the opinion of Fund management, prevailing market or economic conditions
warrant or for temporary defensive purposes.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in equity securities of
foreign issuers with the foregoing characteristics. (Purchases of American
Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), however, are not subject to this restriction.)
Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated in
foreign currencies involve risks not typically involved in domestic investment,
including fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, future foreign political and
economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other
foreign or United States governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such
investments. Because the Fund may invest in securities denominated or quoted in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in foreign currency exchange
rates may affect the value of securities held by the Trust and the unrealized
appreciation or depreciation of investments insofar as the U.S. investors are
concerned. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S.
dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in
that currency and the Fund's yield on such assets. Foreign currency exchange
rates are determined by forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange
markets. These forces are, in turn, affected by international balance of
payments and other economic and financial conditions, government intervention,
speculation and other factors.
2
<PAGE> 34
With respect to certain foreign countries, there may be the possibility of
expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation,
political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect
investment in those countries. There may be less publicly available information
about a foreign financial instrument than about a United States instrument, and
foreign entities may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and requirements comparable to those of United States
entities. In addition, certain foreign investments may be subject to foreign
withholding taxes. Foreign financial markets, while growing in volume, have, for
the most part, substantially less volume than United States markets, and
securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and their prices more
volatile than securities of comparable domestic companies. The foreign markets
also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets
there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the
volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such
transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when assets
of the Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The ability of the
Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause
the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of
portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to
the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio security or, if
the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in
possible liability to the purchaser. Costs associated with transactions in
foreign securities are generally higher than with transactions in United States
securities. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of
exchanges, financial institutions and issuers in foreign countries than there is
in the United States.
The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers in the form of
ADRs, European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or other securities convertible into
securities of foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust
company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign
corporation. EDRs are receipts issued in Europe which evidence a similar
ownership arrangement. Generally, ADRs, which are issued in registered form, are
designed for use in the United States securities markets, and EDRs, which are
issued in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. The
Fund may invest in unsponsored ADRs. The issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not
obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore,
there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of
such ADRs.
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION
For a number of years, certain European countries have been seeking
economic unification that would, among other things, reduce barriers between
countries, increase competition among companies, reduce government subsidies in
certain industries, and reduce or eliminate currency fluctuations among these
European countries. The Treaty on European Union (the "Maastricht Treaty") set
out a framework for the European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU") among the
countries that comprise the European Union ("EU"). EMU established a single
common European currency (the "euro") that was introduced on January 1, 1999 and
is expected to replace the existing national currencies of all EMU participants
by July 1, 2002. EMU took effect for the initial EMU participants on January 1,
1999. Certain securities issued in participating EU countries (beginning with
government and corporate bonds) were redenominated in the euro, and are listed,
traded, and make dividend and other payments only in euros.
No assurance can be given that EMU will take effect, that the changes
planned for the EU can be successfully implemented, or that these changes will
result in the economic and monetary unity and stability intended. There is a
possibility that EMU will not be completed, or will be completed but then
partially or completely unwound. Because any participating country may opt out
of EMU within the first three years, it is also possible that a significant
participant could choose to abandon EMU, which could diminish its credibility
and influence. Any of these occurrences could have adverse effects on the
markets of both participating and non-participating countries, including sharp
appreciation or depreciation of participants' national currencies and a
significant increase in exchange rate volatility, a resurgence in economic
protectionism, an undermining of confidence in the European markets, an
undermining of European economic stability, the collapse or slowdown of the
drive toward European economic unity, and/or reversion of the attempts to lower
government
3
<PAGE> 35
debt and inflation rates that were introduced in anticipation of EMU. Also,
withdrawal from EMU by an initial participant could cause disruption of the
financial markets as securities redenominated in euros are transferred back into
that country's national currency, particularly if the withdrawing country is a
major economic power. Such developments could have an adverse impact on the
Fund's investments in Europe generally or in specific countries participating in
EMU. Gains or losses from euro conversion may be taxable to Fund shareholders
under foreign or, in certain limited circumstances, U.S. tax laws.
GROWTH SECURITIES
As set forth in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information, the investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital
appreciation. The Fund tries to achieve its investment objective by investing
primarily in common stocks of companies that Fund management believes have
strong earnings growth and capital appreciation potential. These "growth
securities" may be particularly sensitive to changes in earnings or interest
rate increases because they typically have higher price-earnings ratios.
Moreover, the growth securities held by the Trust may never reach what Fund
management believes their full value to be and may even go down in price.
DERIVATIVES
The Fund may use instruments referred to as "Derivatives." Derivatives are
financial instruments the value of which is derived from another security, a
commodity (such as gold or oil) or an index (a measure of value or rates, such
as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index or the prime lending rate). Derivatives allow
the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which the Fund is exposed
more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other types of instruments.
Hedging. The Fund may use Derivatives for hedging purposes. Hedging is a
strategy in which a Derivative is used to offset the risk that other Fund
holdings may decrease in value. Losses on the other investment may be
substantially reduced by gains on a Derivative that reacts in an opposite manner
to market movements. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or
eliminate gains if the market moves in a different manner than anticipated by
the Fund investing in the Derivative or if the cost of the Derivative outweighs
the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the
value of the Derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as
expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may
not be reduced. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not do
so.
The Fund may use the following types of derivative instruments and trading
strategies:
Indexed Securities
The Fund may invest in securities the potential return of which is based on
an index. As an illustration, the Fund may invest in a debt security that pays
interest based on the current value of an interest rate index, such as the prime
rate. The Fund may also invest in a debt security which returns principal at
maturity based on the level of a securities index or a basket of securities, or
based on the relative changes of two indices. Indexed securities involve credit
risk, and certain indexed securities may involve leverage risk, liquidity risk,
and currency risk. The Fund may invest in indexed securities for hedging
purposes only. When used for hedging purposes, indexed securities involve
correlation risk.
Options on Securities and Securities Indices
Purchasing Put Options. The Fund may purchase put options on securities
held in its portfolio or on securities or interest rate indices which are
correlated with securities held in its portfolio. When the Fund purchases a put
option in consideration for an up front payment (the "option premium"), the Fund
acquires a right to sell to another party specified securities owned by the Fund
at a specified price (the "exercise price") on or before a specified date (the
"expiration date"), in the case of an option on securities, or to receive from
another party a payment based on the amount a specified securities index
declines below a specified level on or before the expiration date, in the case
of an option on a securities index. The purchase of a put option limits the
Fund's risk of loss in the event of a decline in the market value of the
portfolio holdings underlying the put
4
<PAGE> 36
option prior to the option's expiration date. If the market value of the
portfolio holdings associated with the put option increases rather than
decreases, however, the Fund will lose the option premium and will consequently
realize a lower return on the portfolio holdings than would have been realized
without the purchase of the put. Purchasing a put option may involve correlation
risk, and may also involve liquidity and credit risk.
Purchasing Call Options. The Fund also may purchase call options on
securities it intends to purchase or securities or interest rate indices, which
are correlated with the types of securities it intends to purchase. When the
Fund purchases a call option in consideration for the option premium, the Fund
acquires a right to purchase from another party specified securities at the
exercise price on or before the expiration date, in the case of an option on
securities, or to receive from another party a payment based on the amount a
specified securities index increases beyond a specified level on or before the
expiration date, in the case of an option on a securities index. The purchase of
a call option may protect the Fund from having to pay more for a security as a
consequence of increases in the market value for the security during a period
when the Fund is contemplating its purchase, in the case of an option on a
security, or attempting to identify specific securities in which to invest in a
market the Fund believes to be attractive, in the case of an option on an index
(an "anticipatory hedge"). In the event the Fund determines not to purchase a
security underlying a call option, however, the Fund may lose the entire option
premium. Purchasing a call option involves correlation risk, and may also
involve liquidity and credit risk.
The Fund also is authorized to purchase put or call options in connection
with closing out put or call options it has previously sold.
Writing Call Options. The Fund may write (i.e., sell) call options on
securities held in its portfolio or securities indices the performance of which
correlates with securities held in its portfolio. When the Fund writes a call
option, in return for an option premium, the Fund gives another party the right
to buy specified securities owned by the Fund at the exercise price on or before
the expiration date, in the case of an option on securities, or agrees to pay to
another party an amount based on any gain in a specified securities index beyond
a specified level on or before the expiration date, in the case of an option on
a securities index. The Fund may write call options to earn income, through the
receipt of option premiums. In the event the party to which the Fund has written
an option fails to exercise its rights under the option because the value of the
underlying securities is less than the exercise price, the Fund will partially
offset any decline in the value of the underlying securities through the receipt
of the option premium. By writing a call option, however, the Fund limits its
ability to sell the underlying securities and gives up the opportunity to profit
from any increase in the value of the underlying securities beyond the exercise
price, while the option remains outstanding. Writing a call option may involve
correlation risk.
The Fund also is authorized to sell call or put options in connection with
closing out call or put options it has previously purchased.
Other than with respect to closing transactions, the Fund will only write
call or put options that are "covered." A call or put option will be considered
covered if the Fund has segregated assets with respect to such option in the
manner described in "Risk Factors in Derivatives" below. A call option will also
be considered covered if the Fund owns the securities it would be required to
deliver upon exercise of the option (or, in the case of an option on a
securities index, securities which substantially correlate with the performance
of such index) or owns a call option, warrant or convertible instrument which is
immediately exercisable for, or convertible into, such security.
Types of Options. The Fund may engage in transactions in options on
securities or securities indices on exchanges and in the over-the-counter
("OTC") markets. In general, exchange-traded options have standardized exercise
prices and expiration dates and require the parties to post margin against their
obligations, and the performance of the parties' obligations in connection with
such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation.
OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the
seller, but generally do not require the parties to post margin and are subject
to greater credit risk. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. See
"Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives" below.
5
<PAGE> 37
Futures
The Fund may engage in transactions in futures and options thereon. Futures
are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that obligate a purchaser to take
delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a
specified future date at a specified price. No price is paid upon entering into
a futures contract. Rather, upon purchasing or selling a futures contract, the
Fund is required to deposit collateral ("margin") equal to a percentage
(generally less than 10%) of the contract value. Each day thereafter until the
futures position is closed, the Fund will pay additional margin representing any
loss experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day or be
entitled to a payment representing any profit experienced as a result of the
futures position the prior day. Futures involve substantial leverage risk.
The sale of a futures contract limits the Fund's risk of loss through a
decline in the market value of portfolio holdings correlated with the futures
contract prior to the futures contract's expiration date. In the event the
market value of the portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract
increases rather than decreases, however, the Fund will realize a loss on the
futures position and a lower return on the portfolio holdings than would have
been realized without the purchase of the futures contract.
The purchase of a futures contract may protect the Fund from having to pay
more for securities as a consequence of increases in the market value for such
securities during a period when the Fund was attempting to identify specific
securities in which to invest in a market the Fund believes to be attractive. In
the event that such securities decline in value or the Fund determines not to
complete an anticipatory hedge transaction relating to a futures contract,
however, the Fund may realize a loss relating to the futures position.
The Fund will limit transactions in futures and options on futures to
financial futures contracts (i.e., contracts for which the underlying asset is a
currency or securities or interest rate index) purchased or sold for hedging
purposes (including anticipatory hedges). The Fund will further limit
transactions in futures and options on futures to the extent necessary to
prevent the Fund from being deemed a "commodity pool" under regulations of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Foreign Exchange Transactions
The Fund may engage in spot and forward foreign exchange transactions and
currency swaps, purchase and sell options on currencies and purchase and sell
currency futures and related options thereon (collectively, "Currency
Instruments") for purposes of hedging against the decline in the value of
currencies in which its portfolio holdings are denominated against the U.S.
dollar.
Forward Foreign Exchange Transactions. Forward foreign exchange
transactions are OTC contracts to purchase or sell a specified amount of a
specified currency or multinational currency unit at a price and future date set
at the time of the contract. Spot foreign exchange transactions are similar but
require current, rather than future, settlement. The Fund will enter into
foreign exchange transactions only for purposes of hedging either a specific
transaction or a position held by the Trust. The Fund may enter into a foreign
exchange transaction for purposes of hedging a specific transaction by, for
example, purchasing a currency needed to settle a security transaction or
selling a currency in which the Fund has received or anticipates receiving a
dividend or distribution. The Fund may enter into a foreign exchange transaction
for purposes of hedging a position held by the Trust by selling forward a
currency in which a position held by the Trust is denominated or by purchasing a
currency in which the Fund anticipates acquiring a position held by the Trust in
the near future. The Fund may also hedge positions held by the Trust through
currency swaps, which are transactions in which one currency is simultaneously
bought for a second currency on a spot basis and sold for the second currency on
a forward basis. Forward foreign exchange transactions involve substantial
currency risk, and also involve credit and liquidity risk.
Currency Futures. The Fund may also hedge against the decline in the value
of a currency against the U.S. dollar through use of currency futures or options
thereon. Currency futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions
except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts. See "Futures."
Currency futures involve substantial currency risk, and also involve leverage
risk.
6
<PAGE> 38
Currency Options. The Fund may also hedge against the decline in the value
of a currency against the U.S. dollar through the use of currency options.
Currency options are similar to options on securities, but in consideration for
an option premium the writer of a currency option is obligated to sell (in the
case of a call option) or purchase (in the case of a put option) a specified
amount of a specified currency on or before the expiration date for a specified
amount of another currency. The Fund may engage in transactions in options on
currencies either on exchanges or OTC markets. See "Types of Options" above and
"Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives" below. Currency options involve substantial currency risk, and may
also involve credit, leverage or liquidity risk.
Limitations on Currency Hedging. The Fund will not speculate in Currency
Instruments. Accordingly, the Fund will not hedge a currency in excess of the
aggregate market value of the securities which it owns (including receivables
for unsettled securities sales), or has committed to or anticipates purchasing,
which are denominated in such currency. The Fund may, however, hedge a currency
by entering into a transaction in a Currency Instrument denominated in a
currency other than the currency being hedged (a "cross-hedge"). The Fund will
only enter into a cross-hedge if Fund Asset Management, L.P. (the "Manager")
believes that (i) there is a demonstrable high correlation between the currency
in which the cross-hedge is denominated and the currency being hedged, and (ii)
executing a cross-hedge through the currency in which the cross-hedge is
denominated will be significantly more cost-effective or provide substantially
greater liquidity than executing a similar hedging transaction by means of the
currency being hedged.
Risk Factors in Hedging Foreign Currency Risks. Hedging transactions
involving Currency Instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation
risk. While the Fund's use of Currency Instruments to effect hedging strategies
is intended to reduce the volatility of the net asset value of the Fund's
shares, the net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate. Moreover,
although Currency Instruments will be used with the intention of hedging against
adverse currency movements, transactions in Currency Instruments involve the
risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted and
that the Fund's hedging strategies will be ineffective. To the extent that the
Fund hedges against anticipated currency movements which do not occur, the Fund
may realize losses, and decreases its total return, as the result of its hedging
transactions. Furthermore, the Fund will only engage in hedging activities from
time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in
currency exchange rates occur.
It may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against currency exchange rate
movements, even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i) the currency
exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to
enter into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii) the currency
exchange rate movement relates to a market with respect to which Currency
Instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in effective
foreign currency hedging.
Risk Factors in Derivatives
Derivatives are volatile and involve significant risks, including:
Credit risk -- the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other
side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable to
honor its financial obligation to the Fund.
Currency risk -- the risk that changes in the exchange rate between
two currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an
investment.
Leverage risk -- the risk associated with certain types of investments
or trading strategies (such as borrowing money to increase the amount of
investment) that relatively small market movements may result in large
changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading
strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed
the amount originally invested.
Liquidity risk -- the risk that certain securities may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price
that the seller believes the security is currently worth.
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<PAGE> 39
Use of Derivatives for hedging purposes involves correlation risk. If the
value of the Derivative moves more or less than the value of the hedged
instruments the Fund will experience a gain or loss that will not be completely
offset by movements in the value of the hedged instruments.
The Fund intends to enter into transactions involving Derivatives only if
there appears to be a liquid secondary market for such instruments or, in the
case of illiquid instruments traded in OTC transactions, such instruments
satisfy the criteria set forth below under "Additional Risk Factors of OTC
Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives." However, there can be
no assurance that, at any specific time, either a liquid secondary market will
exist for a Derivative or the Fund will otherwise be able to sell such
instrument at an acceptable price. It may therefore not be possible to close a
position in a Derivative without incurring substantial losses, if at all.
Certain transactions in Derivatives (such as futures transactions or sales
of put options) involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to
potential losses, which exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund. When
the Fund engages in such a transaction, the Fund will deposit in a segregated
account at its custodian liquid securities with a value at least equal to the
Fund's exposure, on a mark-to-market basis, to the transaction (as calculated
pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission). Such
segregation will ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its
obligations with respect to the transaction, but will not limit the Fund's
exposure to loss.
Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives
Certain Derivatives traded in OTC markets, including indexed securities,
swaps and OTC options, involve substantial liquidity risk. The absence of
liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell such
instruments promptly at an acceptable price. The absence of liquidity may also
make it more difficult for the Fund to ascertain a market value for such
instruments. The Fund will therefore acquire illiquid OTC instruments (i) if the
agreement pursuant to which the instrument is purchased contains a formula price
at which the instrument may be terminated or sold, or (ii) for which the Manager
anticipates the Fund can receive on each business day at least two independent
bids or offers, unless a quotation from only one dealer is available, in which
case that dealer's quotation may be used.
Because Derivatives traded in OTC markets are not guaranteed by an exchange
or clearing corporation and generally do not require payment of margin, to the
extent that the Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited
collateral with its counterparty, the Fund is at risk that its counterparty will
become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. The Fund will
attempt to minimize the risk that a counterparty will become bankrupt or
otherwise fail to honor its obligations by engaging in transactions in
Derivatives traded in OTC markets only with financial institutions which have
substantial capital or which have provided the Fund with a third-party guaranty
or other credit enhancement.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest payments paid
on corporate debt securities or the dividend preference on a preferred stock
until such time as the convertible security matures or is redeemed or until the
holder elects to exercise the conversion privilege. Synthetic convertible
securities may be either (i) a debt security or preferred stock that may be
convertible only under certain contingent circumstances or that may pay the
holder a cash amount based on the value of shares of underlying common stock
partly or wholly in lieu of a conversion right (a "Cash-Settled Convertible") or
(ii) a combination of separate securities chosen by the Manager in order to
create the economic characteristics of a convertible security, i.e., a fixed
income security paired with a security with equity conversion features, such as
an option or warrant (a "Manufactured Convertible").
The characteristics of convertible securities make them appropriate
investments for an investment company seeking a high total return from capital
appreciation and investment income. These characteristics include the potential
for capital appreciation as the value of the underlying common stock increases,
the relatively high yield received from dividend or interest payments as
compared to common stock dividends and decreased risks of decline in value
relative to the underlying common stock due to their fixed-income nature.
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As a result of the conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend
preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if
the securities were issued in nonconvertible form.
In analyzing convertible securities, the Manager will consider both the
yield on the convertible security and the potential capital appreciation that is
offered by the underlying common stock.
Convertible securities are issued and traded in a number of securities
markets. For the past several years, the principal markets have been the United
States, the Euromarket and Japan. Issuers during this period have included major
corporations domiciled in the United States, Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada
and the United Kingdom. Even in cases where a substantial portion of the
convertible securities held by the Fund are denominated in United States
dollars, the underlying equity securities may be quoted in the currency of the
country where the issuer is domiciled. With respect to convertible securities
denominated in a currency different from that of the underlying equity
securities, the conversion price may be based on a fixed exchange rate
established at the time the security is issued. As a result, fluctuations in the
exchange rate between the currency in which the debt security is denominated and
the currency in which the share price is quoted will affect the value of the
convertible security. As described below, the Fund is authorized to enter into
foreign currency hedging transactions in which it may seek to reduce the effect
of such fluctuations.
Apart from currency considerations, the value of convertible securities is
influenced by both the yield of nonconvertible securities of comparable issuers
and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible
security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the
basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its "investment value." To the
extent interest rates change, the investment value of the convertible security
typically will fluctuate. However, at the same time, the value of the
convertible security will be influenced by its "conversion value," which is the
market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained if the
convertible security were converted. Conversion value fluctuates directly with
the price of the underlying common stock. If, because of a low price of the
common stock the conversion value is substantially below the investment value of
the convertible security, the price of the convertible security is governed
principally by its investment value.
To the extent the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a
point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the price of the
convertible security will be influenced principally by its conversion value. A
convertible security will sell at a premium over the conversion value to the
extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock
while holding a fixed-income security. The yield and conversion premium of
convertible securities issued in Japan and the Euromarket are frequently
determined at levels that cause the conversion value to affect their market
value more than the securities' investment value.
Holders of convertible securities generally have a claim on the assets of
the issuer prior to the common stockholders but may be subordinated to other
debt securities of the same issuer. A convertible security may be subject to
redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the charter
provision, indenture or other governing instrument pursuant to which the
convertible security was issued. If a convertible security held by the Fund is
called for redemption, the Fund will be required to redeem the security, convert
it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Certain
convertible debt securities may provide a put option to the holder which
entitles the holder to cause the security to be redeemed by the issuer at a
premium over the stated principal amount of the debt security under certain
circumstances.
As indicated above, synthetic convertible securities may include either
Cash-Settled Convertibles or Manufactured Convertibles. Cash-Settled
Convertibles are instruments that are created by the issuer and have the
economic characteristics of traditional convertible securities but may not
actually permit conversion into the underlying equity securities in all
circumstances. As an example, a private company may issue a Cash-Settled
Convertible that is convertible into common stock only if the company
successfully completes a public offering of its common stock prior to maturity
and otherwise pays a cash amount to reflect any equity appreciation.
Manufactured Convertibles are created by the Manager by combining separate
securities that possess one of the two principal characteristics of a
convertible security, i.e., fixed income ("fixed income component") or a right
to acquire equity securities ("convertible component"). The fixed income
component is achieved by investing in nonconvertible fixed income securities,
such as nonconvertible bonds, preferred
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<PAGE> 41
stocks and money market instruments. The convertibility component is achieved by
investing in call options, warrants, LEAPS, or other securities with equity
conversion features ("equity features") granting the holder the right to
purchase a specified quantity of the underlying stocks within a specified period
of time at a specified price or, in the case of a stock index option, the right
to receive a cash payment based on the value of the underlying stock index.
A Manufactured Convertible differs from traditional convertible securities
in several respects. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a
single security having a unitary market value, a Manufactured Convertible is
comprised of two or more separate securities, each with its own market value.
Therefore, the total "market value" of such a Manufactured Convertible is the
sum of the values of its fixed-income component and its convertibility
component.
More flexibility is possible in the creation of a Manufactured Convertible
than in the purchase of a traditional convertible security. Because many
corporations have not issued convertible securities, the Manager may combine a
fixed income instrument and an equity feature with respect to the stock of the
issuer of the fixed income instrument to create a synthetic convertible security
otherwise unavailable in the market. The Manager may also combine a fixed income
instrument of an issuer with an equity feature with respect to the stock of a
different issuer when the Manager believes such a Manufactured Convertible would
better promote the Fund's objective than alternative investments. For example,
the Manager may combine an equity feature with respect to an issuer's stock with
a fixed income security of a different issuer in the same industry to diversify
the Fund's credit exposure, or with a U.S. Treasury instrument to create a
Manufactured Convertible with a higher credit profile than a traditional
convertible security issued by that issuer. A Manufactured Convertible also is a
more flexible investment in that its two components may be purchased separately
and, upon purchasing the separate securities, "combined" to create a
Manufactured Convertible. For example, the Fund may purchase a warrant for
eventual inclusion in a Manufactured Convertible while postponing the purchase
of a suitable bond to pair with the warrant pending development of more
favorable market conditions.
The value of a Manufactured Convertible may respond differently to certain
market fluctuations than would a traditional convertible security with similar
characteristics. For example, in the event the Fund created a Manufactured
Convertible by combining a short-term U.S. Treasury instrument and a call option
on a stock, the Manufactured Convertible would likely outperform a traditional
convertible of similar maturity and which is convertible into that stock during
periods when Treasury instruments outperform corporate fixed income securities
and underperform during periods when corporate fixed-income securities
outperform Treasury instruments.
DEBT SECURITIES
Debt securities, such as bonds, involve credit risk. This is the risk that
the issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. The degree
of credit risk depends on the issuer's financial condition and on the terms of
the bonds. This risk is reduced to the extent the Fund limits its debt
investments to U.S. Government securities. All debt securities, however, are
subject to interest rate risk. This is the risk that the value of the security
may fall when interest rates rise. In general, the market price of debt
securities with longer maturities will go up or down more in response to changes
in interest rates than the market price of shorter term securities.
WARRANTS
The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are securities that permit but do
not require the warrant holder to subscribe for other securities. Buying a
warrant does not make the Fund a shareholder of the underlying stock. The
warrant holder has no right to dividends or votes on the underlying stock. A
warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason
investment in warrants may be more speculative than other equity-based
investments.
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OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES
Temporary Investments. The Fund reserves the right, as a temporary
defensive measure, and without limitation, to hold in excess of 35% of its total
assets in cash or cash equivalents and investment grade, short-term securities
including money market securities ("Temporary Investments"). Under certain
adverse investment conditions, the Fund may restrict the markets in which its
assets will be invested and may increase the proportion of assets invested in
Temporary Investments. Investments made for defensive purposes will be
maintained only during periods in which the Manager determines that economic or
financial conditions are adverse for holding or being fully invested in equity
securities. A portion of the Fund normally will be held in Temporary Investments
in anticipation of investment in equity securities or to provide for possible
redemptions.
Illiquid or Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its
net assets in securities that lack an established secondary trading market or
otherwise are considered illiquid. Liquidity of a security relates to the
ability to dispose easily of the security and the price to be obtained upon
disposition of the security, which may be less than would be obtained for a
comparable more liquid security. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount
from comparable, more liquid investments. Investment of the Fund's assets in
illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of such
investments in a timely fashion and for a fair price as well as its ability to
take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity
will be particularly acute where the Fund's operations require cash, such as
when the Fund redeems shares or pays dividends, and could result in the Fund
borrowing to meet short-term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on
the sale of illiquid investments.
The Fund may invest in securities that are "restricted securities."
Restricted securities have contractual or legal restrictions on their resale and
include "private placement" securities that the Fund may buy directly from the
issuer. Restricted securities may be sold in private placement transactions
between issuers and their purchasers and may be neither listed on an exchange
nor traded in other established markets. Privately placed securities may or may
not be freely transferable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or due
to contractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public
trading market, privately placed securities may be less liquid and more
difficult to value than publicly traded securities. To the extent that privately
placed securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices
realized from the sales, due to illiquidity, could be less than those originally
paid by the Fund or less than their fair market value. In addition, issuers
whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure
and other investor protection requirements that may be applicable if their
securities were publicly traded. In addition, issuers whose securities are not
publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor
protection requirements that may be applicable if their securities were publicly
traded. If any privately placed securities held by the Fund are required to be
registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being
resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Certain
of the Fund's investments in private placements may consist of direct
investments and may include investments in smaller, less seasoned issuers, which
may involve greater risks. These issuers may have limited product lines, markets
or financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group.
In making investments in such securities, the Fund may obtain access to material
nonpublic information which may restrict the Fund's ability to conduct portfolio
transactions in such securities.
144A Securities. The Fund may purchase restricted securities that can be
offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. The Board of Directors has determined to treat as liquid Rule
144A securities that are either freely tradable in their primary markets
offshore or have been determined to be liquid in accordance with the policies
and procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
has adopted guidelines and delegated to the Manager the daily function of
determining and monitoring liquidity of restricted securities. The Board of
Directors, however, will retain sufficient oversight and be ultimately
responsible for the determinations. Since it is not possible to predict with
assurance exactly how this market for restricted securities sold and offered
under Rule 144A will continue to develop, the Board will carefully monitor the
Fund's investments in these securities. This investment practice could have the
effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing
these securities.
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When-Issued Securities and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may
purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis or a when-issued basis
at fixed purchase terms. These transactions arise when securities are purchased
or sold by the Fund with payment and delivery taking place in the future. The
purchase will be recorded on the date the Fund enters into the commitment and
the value of the obligation will thereafter be reflected in the calculation of
the Fund's net asset value. The value of the obligation on the delivery date may
be more or less than its purchase price. A separate account of the Fund will be
established with its custodian consisting of liquid securities having a market
value at all times at least equal to the amount of the forward commitment.
Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts. The Fund may invest
in securities pursuant to repurchase agreements or purchase and sale contracts.
Repurchase agreements and purchase and sale contracts may be entered into only
with financial institutions which (i) have, in the opinion of Fund management,
substantial capital relative to the Fund's exposure, or (ii) have provided the
Fund with a third-party guaranty or other credit enhancement. Under a repurchase
agreement or a purchase and sale contract, the seller agrees, upon entering into
the contract with the Fund, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed upon
time and price in a specified currency, thereby determining the yield during the
term of the agreement. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from
market fluctuations during such period although it may be affected by currency
fluctuations. In the case of repurchase agreements, the price at which the
trades are conducted do not reflect accrued interest on the underlying
obligation; whereas, in the case of purchase and sale contracts, the prices take
into account accrued interest. Such agreements usually cover short periods, such
as under one week. Repurchase agreements may be construed to be collateralized
loans by the purchaser to the seller secured by the securities transferred to
the purchaser. In the case of a repurchase agreement, as a purchaser, the Fund
will require the seller to provide additional collateral if the market value of
the securities falls below the repurchase price at any time during the term of
the repurchase agreement; the Fund does not have the right to seek additional
collateral in the case of purchase and sale contracts. In the event of default
by the seller under a repurchase agreement construed to be a collateralized
loan, the underlying securities are not owned by the Fund but only constitute
collateral for the seller's obligation to pay the repurchase price. Therefore,
the Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection
with the disposition of the collateral. A purchase and sale contract differs
from a repurchase agreement in that the contract arrangements stipulate that the
securities are owned by the Fund. In the event of a default under such a
repurchase agreement or under a purchase and sale contract, instead of the
contractual fixed rate, the rate of return to the Fund shall be dependent upon
intervening fluctuations of the market value of such securities and the accrued
interest on the securities. In such event, the Fund would have rights against
the seller for breach of contract with respect to any losses arising from market
fluctuations following the failure of the seller to perform. While the substance
of purchase and sale contracts is similar to repurchase agreements, because of
the different treatment with respect to accrued interest and additional
collateral, Fund management believes that purchase and sale contracts are not
repurchase agreements as such term is understood in the banking and brokerage
community. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in repurchase
agreements or purchase and sale contracts maturing in more than seven days
together with all other illiquid investments.
Securities Lending. Subject to the investment restrictions set forth in
the Prospectus and herein, the Fund may, from time to time, lend securities from
its portfolio to approved borrowers and receive therefor collateral in cash or
securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government. Such collateral
will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the
current market value of the loaned securities. The purpose of such loans is to
permit the borrower to use such securities for delivery to purchasers when such
borrower has sold short. If cash collateral is received by the Fund, it is
invested in short-term money market securities, and a portion of the yield
received in respect of such investment is retained by the Fund. Alternatively,
if securities are delivered to the Fund as collateral, the Fund and the borrower
negotiate a rate for the loaned premium to be received by the Fund for lending
its portfolio securities. In either event, the total yield on the Fund's
portfolio is increased by loans of its portfolio securities. The Fund will have
the right to regain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights such as voting rights and rights to dividends, interest or other
distributions. Such loans are terminable at any time, and the borrower, after
notice, will be required to return borrowed securities within five business
days. The Fund may
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pay reasonable finder's, administrative and custodial fees in connection with
such loans. With respect to the lending of portfolio securities, there is the
risk of failure by the borrower to return the securities involved in such
transactions.
Suitability. The economic benefit of an investment in the Fund depends
upon many factors beyond the control of the Trust, the Fund, the Manager and its
affiliates. The Fund should be considered a vehicle for diversification and not
as a balanced investment program. The suitability for any particular investor of
a purchase of shares in the Fund will depend on, among other things, such
investor's investment objectives and such investor's ability to accept the risks
associated with investing in securities, including the risk of loss of
principal.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted the following restrictions and policies relating to
the investment of the Fund's assets and its activities. The fundamental
restrictions set forth below may not be changed without the approval of the
holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (which for
this purpose and under the Investment Company Act means the lesser of (i) 67% of
the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding
shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares). Unless
otherwise provided, all references to the Fund's assets below are in terms of
current market value. Provided that none of the following restrictions shall
prevent the Fund from investing all of its assets in shares of another
registered investment company with the same investment objective (in a
master/feeder structure), the Fund may not:
1. Make any investment inconsistent with the Fund's classification as
a diversified company under the Investment Company Act.
2. Invest more than 25% of its total assets, taken at market value at
the time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular
industry (excluding the U.S. Government and its agencies and
instrumentalities).
3. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management. Investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities
created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making
of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management.
4. Purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, the Fund may invest in securities directly or indirectly
secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that
invest in real estate or interests therein.
5. Make loans to other persons, except that the acquisition of bonds,
debentures or other corporate debt securities and investment in
governmental obligations, commercial paper, pass-through instruments,
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements,
purchase and sale contracts or any similar instruments shall not be deemed
to be the making of a loan, and except further that the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities, provided that the lending of portfolio securities may
be made only in accordance with applicable law and the guidelines set forth
in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as they
may be amended from time to time.
6. Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate
applicable law.
7. Borrow money, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its
total assets (including the amount borrowed), (ii) the Fund may borrow up
to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (iii) the
Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the
clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities and (iv) the Fund
may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable
law. The Fund may not pledge its assets other than to secure such
borrowings or, to the extent permitted by the Fund's investment policies as
set forth in its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as
they may be amended from time to time, in connection with hedging
transactions, short sales, when-issued and forward commitment transactions
and similar investment strategies.
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8. Underwrite securities of other issuers except insofar as the Fund
technically may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act") in selling portfolio securities.
9. Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities, except to
the extent that the Fund may do so in accordance with applicable law and
the Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information, as they
may be amended from time to time, and without registering as a commodity
pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.
The Trust has adopted investment restrictions substantially identical to
the foregoing, which are fundamental policies of the Trust and may not be
changed with respect to the Trust without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the interests of the Trust.
In addition, the Fund has adopted non-fundamental restrictions that may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Fund without shareholder approval. Like
the fundamental restrictions, none of the non-fundamental restrictions,
including but not limited to restriction (a) below, shall prevent the Fund from
investing all of its assets in shares of another registered investment company
with the same investment objective (in a master/feeder structure). Under the
non-fundamental investment restrictions, the Fund may not:
a. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent such purchases are permitted by applicable law. As a matter of
policy, however, the Fund will not purchase shares of any registered
open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust, in
reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or (G) (the "fund of funds" provisions) of
the Investment Company Act, at any time its shares are owned by another
investment company that is part of the same group of investment companies
as the Fund.
b. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except
to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund currently does not
intend to engage in short sales, except short sales "against the box."
c. Invest in securities that cannot be readily resold because of legal
or contractual restrictions or that cannot otherwise be marketed, redeemed
or put to the issuer or a third party, if at the time of acquisition more
than 15% of its net assets would be invested in such securities. This
restriction shall not apply to securities that mature within seven days or
securities that the Directors of the Fund have otherwise determined to be
liquid pursuant to applicable law. Securities purchased in accordance with
Rule 144A under the Securities Act (which are restricted securities that
can be resold to qualified institutional buyers, but not to the general
public) and determined to be liquid by the Board of Directors of the Fund
are not subject to the limitations set forth in this investment
restriction.
d. Notwithstanding fundamental investment restriction (7) above,
borrow money or pledge its assets, except that the Fund (a) may borrow from
a bank as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes or to
meet redemption in amounts not exceeding 33 1/3% (taken at market value) of
its total assets and pledge its assets to secure such borrowing, (b) may
obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of
purchases and sales of portfolio securities and (c) may purchase securities
on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law. However, at the
present time, applicable law prohibits the Fund from purchasing securities
on margin. The deposit or payment by the Fund of initial or variation
margin in connection with financial futures contracts or options
transactions is not considered to be the purchase of a security on margin.
The purchase of securities while a borrowing is outstanding will have the
effect of leveraging the Fund. Such leveraging or borrowing increases the
Fund's exposure to capital risk and borrowed funds are subject to interest
costs which will reduce net income. The Fund will not purchase securities
while borrowing exceeds 5% of its total assets.
The staff of the Commission has taken the position that purchased OTC
options and the assets used as cover for written OTC options are illiquid
securities. Therefore, the Fund and the Trust have adopted an investment policy
pursuant to which neither the Fund nor the Trust will purchase or sell OTC
options (including OTC options on futures contracts) if, as a result of such
transaction, the sum of the market value of
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<PAGE> 46
OTC options currently outstanding that are held by the Fund or the Trust, the
market value of the underlying securities covered by OTC call options currently
outstanding that were sold by the Fund or the Trust and margin deposits on the
Fund's or the Trust's existing OTC options on financial futures contracts
exceeds 15% of the net assets of the Fund or the Trust, taken at market value,
together with all other assets of the Fund or the Trust that are illiquid or are
not otherwise readily marketable. However, if the OTC option is sold by the Fund
or the Trust to a primary U.S. Government securities dealer recognized by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and if the Fund or the Trust has the
unconditional contractual right to repurchase such OTC option from the dealer at
a predetermined price, then the Fund or the Trust will treat as illiquid such
amount of the underlying securities as is equal to the repurchase price less the
amount by which the option is "in-the-money" (i.e., current market value of the
underlying securities minus the option's strike price). The repurchase price
with the primary dealers is typically a formula price that is generally based on
a multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which the
option is "in-the-money." This policy as to OTC options is not a fundamental
policy of the Fund or the Trust and may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Fund or the Board of Trustees of the Trust without the approval of the
Fund's shareholders. However, the Directors or the Trustees will not change or
modify this policy prior to the change or modification by the Commission staff
of its position.
In addition, as a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Board
of Directors and to the extent required by the Commission or its staff, the Fund
will, for purposes of fundamental investment restrictions (1) and (2), treat
securities issued or guaranteed by the government of any one foreign country as
the obligations of a single issuer.
As another non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not invest in securities
that are (a) subject to material legal restrictions on repatriation of assets or
(b) cannot be readily resold because of legal or contractual restrictions or
which are not otherwise readily marketable, including repurchase agreements and
purchase and sales contracts maturing in more than seven days, if, regarding all
such securities, more than 15% of its net assets, taken at market value would be
invested in such securities.
Because of the affiliation of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") with the Manager, the Fund and the Trust are
prohibited from engaging in certain transactions involving Merrill Lynch or its
affiliates except for brokerage transactions permitted under the Investment
Company Act involving only usual and customary commissions or transactions
pursuant to an exemptive order under the Investment Company Act. See "Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage." Without such an exemptive order the Fund and the
Trust would be prohibited from engaging in portfolio transactions with Merrill
Lynch or any of its affiliates acting as principal.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Generally, the Fund will not purchase securities for short-term trading
profits. However, the Fund may dispose of securities without regard to the time
they have been held when such actions, for defensive or other reasons, appear
advisable to the Manager in light of a change in circumstances in general
market, economic or financial conditions. As a result of its investment
policies, the Fund may engage in a substantial number of portfolio transactions.
Accordingly, while the Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate
should not exceed 100% under normal conditions, it is impossible to predict
portfolio turnover rates. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing
the lesser of the Fund's annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities
(exclusive of purchases or sales of securities whose maturities at the time of
acquisition were one year or less) by the monthly average value of the
securities in the portfolio during the year. A high portfolio turnover rate
involves certain tax consequences and correspondingly greater transaction costs
in the form of dealer spreads and brokerage commissions, which are borne by the
Fund.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Directors of the Fund consist of seven individuals, five of whom are
not "interested persons" of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act.
The same individuals serve as Trustees of the Trust and are sometimes referred
to herein as the "non-interested Directors/Trustees." The Directors of the Fund
are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and
perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by
the Investment Company Act. Information about the Directors and executive
officers of the Fund, their ages and their principal occupations for at least
the last five years are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, the address of
each executive officer and Director is P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey
08543-9011.
TERRY K. GLENN(59) -- President and Director (1)(2) -- Executive Vice
President of the Manager and Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM")
(which terms as used herein include their corporate predecessors) since 1983;
Executive Vice President and Director of Princeton Services, Inc. ("Princeton
Services") since 1993; President of Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc. ("PFD")
since 1986 and Director thereof since 1991; President of Princeton
Administrators, L.P. since 1988.
JAMES H. BODURTHA(55) -- Director (2)(3) -- Popponesset Road, Cotuit,
Massachusetts 02635. Director and Executive Vice President, The China Business
Group, Inc. since 1996; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, China Enterprise
Management Corporation from 1993 to 1996; Chairman, Berkshire Corporation since
1980; Partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey from 1980 to 1993.
HERBERT I. LONDON(60) -- Director (2)(3) -- 2 Washington Square Village,
New York, New York 10012. John M. Olin Professor of Humanities, New York
University since 1993 and Professor thereof since 1980; President, Hudson
Institute since 1997 and Trustee thereof since 1980; Dean, Gallatin Division of
New York University from 1976 to 1993; Distinguished Fellow, Herman Kahn Chair,
Hudson Institute from 1984 to 1985; Director, Damon Corporation from 1991 to
1995; Overseer, Center for Naval Analyses from 1983 to 1993; Limited Partner,
Hypertech LP since 1996.
JOSEPH L. MAY(70) -- Director (2)(3) -- 424 Church Street, Suite 2000,
Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Attorney in private practice since 1984; President,
May and Athens Hosiery Mills Division, Wayne-Gossard Corporation from 1954 to
1983; Vice President, Wayne-Gossard Corporation from 1972 to 1983; Chairman, The
May Corporation (personal holding company) from 1972 to 1983; Director, Signal
Apparel Co. from 1972 to 1989.
ANDRE F. PEROLD(47) -- Director (2)(3) -- Morgan Hall, Soldiers Field,
Boston, Massachusetts 02163. Professor, Harvard Business School since 1989 and
Associate Professor from 1983 to 1989; Trustee, The Common Fund since 1989;
Director, Quantec Limited from 1991 to 1999; Director, TIBCO from 1994 to 1996;
Director, Genbel Securities Limited and Gensec Bank since 1999.
ROBERTA COOPER RAMO(57) -- Director (2)(3) -- P.O. Box 2168, 500 Fourth
Street, N.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Shareholder, Modrall, Sperling,
Roehl, Harris & Sisk, P.A. since 1993; President, American Bar Association from
1995 to 1996 and Member of the Board of Governors thereof from 1994 to 1997;
Partner, Poole, Kelly & Ramo, Attorneys at Law, P.C. from 1977 to 1993;
Director, Coopers, Inc. since 1999; Director, United New Mexico Bank (now Wells
Fargo) from 1983 to 1988; Director, First National Bank of New Mexico (now First
Security) from 1975 to 1976.
ARTHUR ZEIKEL(67) -- Director (1)(2) -- 300 Woodland Avenue, Westfield, New
Jersey 07090. Chairman of the Manager and MLAM from 1997 to 1999 and President
thereof from 1977 to 1997; Chairman of Princeton Services from 1997 to 1999,
Director thereof from 1993 to 1999 and President thereof from 1993 to 1997;
Executive Vice President of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co.") from 1990 to
1999.
JAMES D. MCCALL(46) -- Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
(1)(2) -- First Vice President of MLAM since 1999; portfolio manager for the
PBHG family of mutual funds from 1994 to 1999.
ROBERT C. DOLL, JR.(45) -- Senior Vice President (1)(2) -- Senior Vice
President of the Manager and MLAM since 1999; Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services since 1999; Chief Investment Officer of Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. in 1999
and Executive Vice President thereof from 1991 to 1999.
16
<PAGE> 48
DONALD C. BURKE(39) -- Vice President and Treasurer (1)(2) -- Senior Vice
President and Treasurer of the Manager and MLAM since 1999; Senior Vice
President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1999; Vice President of PFD
since 1999; First Vice President of MLAM from 1997 to 1999; Vice President of
MLAM from 1990 to 1997; Director of Taxation of MLAM since 1990.
SUSAN B. BAKER(42) -- Secretary (1)(2) -- Director (Legal Advisory) of MLAM
since 1999; Vice President of MLAM from 1993 to 1999; Attorney associated with
MLAM since 1987.
- ---------------
(1) Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Trust
and the Fund.
(2) Such Director or officer is a trustee, director or officer of other
investment companies for which the Manager, or one of its affiliates, acts
as investment adviser or manager.
(3) Member of the Fund's Audit and Nominating Committee, which is responsible
for the selection of the independent auditors and the selection and
nomination of non-interested Directors.
As of March 1, 2000, the officers and Directors of the Fund as a group (11
persons) owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common
stock of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML & Co.") and owned an aggregate of less
than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES
The Trust pays fees to each non-interested Director/Trustee for service to
the Fund and the Trust. Each non-interested Director/Trustee receives an
aggregate annual retainer of $100,000 for his or her services to multiple
investment companies advised by the Manager or its affiliate MLAM
("MLAM/FAM-advised funds"). The portion of the annual retainer allocated to each
MLAM/FAM-advised fund is determined quarterly based on the relative net assets
of each fund. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, this
annual retainer applies to 52 MLAM/FAM-advised funds. In addition, each
non-interested Director/Trustee receives a fee per in-person board meeting
attended and per in-person Audit and Nominating Committee meeting attended. The
annual per meeting fees paid to non-interested Directors/Trustees aggregate
$60,000 for all MLAM/FAM-advised funds for which the Directors/Trustees serve
and are allocated equally among those funds. The Trust also reimburses the
non-interested Trustees for actual out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance
at meetings. The Audit and Nominating Committee consists of all of the
non-interested Directors/Trustees of the Trust.
The following table sets forth the estimated compensation to be earned by
the non-interested Directors/ Trustees for the fiscal year ending November 30,
2000 and the aggregate compensation paid to them from all investment companies
advised by the Manager or its affiliate MLAM FAM-advised funds to the
non-affiliated Directors/Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
PENSION OR ESTIMATED COMPENSATION FROM
ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS ANNUAL FUND/TRUST AND OTHER
COMPENSATION FROM ACCRUED AS PART OF BENEFITS UPON MLAM/FAM-
NAME FUND/TRUST FUND/TRUST EXPENSE RETIREMENT ADVISED FUNDS(1)
- ---- ----------------- ------------------- ------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James H. Bodurtha.............. $ 3,000 None None $133,500
Herbert I. London.............. $ 3,000 None None $133,500
Joseph L. May.................. $ 3,000 None None $133,500
Andre F. Perold................ $ 3,000 None None $133,250
Roberta Cooper Ramo............ $ 3,000 None None $ 0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The Directors serve on the boards of MLAM/FAM-advised funds as follows: Mr.
Bodurtha (36 registered investment companies consisting of 52 portfolios);
Mr. London (36 registered investment companies consisting of 52 portfolios);
Mr. May (36 registered investment companies consisting of 52 portfolios);
Mr. Perold (36 registered investment companies consisting of 52 portfolios)
and Ms. Ramo (29 registered investment companies consisting of 27
portfolios).
The Directors of the Fund and the Trustees of the Trust may be eligible for
reduced sales charges on purchases of Class A shares. See "Reduced Initial Sales
Charges -- Purchase Privileges of Certain Persons."
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS
Management Services and Management Fee. The Fund invests all of its assets
in shares of the Trust. Accordingly, the Fund does not invest directly in
portfolio securities and does not require investment advisory
17
<PAGE> 49
services. All portfolio management occurs at the level of the Trust. The Trust,
has entered into an investment management agreement with Fund Asset Management,
L.P., as Manager (the "Management Agreement"). As discussed in "Management of
the Fund -- Fund Asset Management" in the Prospectus, the Manager receives
monthly compensation at the annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets
of the Trust for its services to the Trust.
The Manager has also entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Merrill
Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited ("MLAM U.K.") pursuant to which MLAM U.K.
provides investment advisory services to the Manager with respect to the Fund.
The following entities may be considered "controlling persons" of MLAM U.K.:
Merrill Lynch Europe PLC (MLAM U.K.'s parent), a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch
International Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch International, Inc.,
a subsidiary of ML & Co.
Payment of Trust Expenses. The Management Agreement obligates the Manager
to provide investment advisory services and to pay, or cause an affiliate to
pay, for maintaining its staff and personnel and to provide office space,
facilities and necessary personnel for the Trust and the Funds. The Manager is
also obligated to pay, or cause an affiliate to pay, the fees of all officers,
Trustees and Directors who are affiliated persons of the Manager or any
affiliate. The Trust pays, or causes to be paid, all other expenses incurred in
the operation of the Trust, including, among other things, taxes, expenses for
legal and auditing services, costs of printing proxies, shareholder reports,
copies of the Registration Statement, charges of the custodian, any
sub-custodian and the transfer agent expenses of portfolio transactions,
expenses of redemption of shares, Commission fees, expenses of registering the
shares under federal, state or non-U.S. laws, fees and actual out-of-pocket
expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Manager or an
affiliate of the Manager, accounting and pricing costs (including the daily
calculation of net asset value), insurance, interest, brokerage costs,
litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses, and other expenses
properly payable by the Trust. The Distributor will pay certain of the expenses
of the Fund incurred in connection with the continuous offering of the Fund's
shares. Accounting services are provided to the Trust by the Manager or an
affiliate of the Manager, and the Trust reimburses the Manager or an affiliate
of the Manager for its costs in connection with such services.
Payment of Fund Expenses. The Fund pays, or causes an affiliate to pay,
all other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund (except to the extent
paid by Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, a division of PFD (the "Distributor"),
including, among other things, taxes, expenses for legal and auditing services,
costs of printing proxies, shareholder reports and prospectuses and statements
of additional information, charges of the custodian, any sub-custodian and the
transfer agent, expenses of redemption of shares, Commission fees, expenses of
registering the shares under federal, state or non-U.S. laws, fees and actual
out-of-pocket expenses of Directors who are not affiliated persons of the
Manager, or of an affiliate of the Manager, accounting and pricing costs
(including the daily calculation of net asset value), insurance, interest,
brokerage costs, litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses,
and other expenses properly payable by the Fund. The Distributor will pay
certain of the expenses of the Fund incurred in connection with the offering of
Fund shares. Accounting services are provided to the Fund by the Manager, and
the Fund reimburses the Manager for its costs in connection with such services.
Organization of the Manager. Fund Asset Management, L.P. is a limited
partnership, the partners of which are ML & Co., a financial services holding
company and the parent of Merrill Lynch, and Princeton Services. ML & Co. and
Princeton Services are "controlling persons" of the Manager as defined under the
Investment Company Act because of their ownership of its voting securities and
their power to exercise a controlling influence over its management or policies.
Duration and Termination. Unless earlier terminated as described below,
the Management Agreement will remain in effect for two years from its effective
date. Thereafter, it will remain in effect from year to year if approved
annually (a) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Trust and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are
not parties to such contract or interested persons (as defined in the Investment
Company Act) of any such party. Such contract is not assignable and may be
terminated without penalty on 60 days' written notice at the option of either
party thereto or by the vote of the shareholders of the Trust.
18
<PAGE> 50
Transfer Agency Services. Financial Data Services, Inc. (the "Transfer
Agent"), a subsidiary of ML & Co., acts as the Fund's Transfer Agent pursuant to
a Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder Servicing Agency
Agreement (the "Transfer Agency Agreement"). Pursuant to the Transfer Agency
Agreement, the Transfer Agent is responsible for the issuance, transfer and
redemption of shares and the opening and maintenance of shareholder accounts.
Pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement, the Transfer Agent receives a fee of
$11.00 per Class A or Class D account and $14.00 per Class B or Class C account
and is entitled to reimbursement for certain transaction charges and
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent under the Transfer Agency
Agreement. Additionally, a $.20 monthly closed account charge will be assessed
on all accounts that close during the calendar year. Application of this fee
will commence the month following the month the account is closed. At the end of
the calendar year, no further fee will be due. For purposes of the Transfer
Agency Agreement, the term "account" includes a shareholder account maintained
directly by the Transfer Agent and any other account representing the beneficial
interest of a person in the relevant share class on a recordkeeping system,
provided the recordkeeping system is maintained by a subsidiary of ML & Co.
Distribution Expenses. The Fund has entered into separate distribution
agreements with the Distributor in connection with the continuous offering of
each class of shares of the Fund (the "Distribution Agreements"). The
Distribution Agreements obligate the Distributor to pay certain expenses in
connection with the offering of each class of shares of the Fund. After the
prospectuses, statements of additional information and periodic reports have
been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders, the Distributor pays for
the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the
offering to dealers and investors. The Distributor also pays for other
supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. The Distribution
Agreements are subject to the same renewal requirements and termination
provisions as the Management Agreement described above.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Board of Directors of the Fund
each have adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company
Act that incorporates the Code of Ethics of the Manager (together, the "Codes").
The Codes significantly restrict the personal investing activities of all
employees of the Manager and, as described below, impose additional, more
onerous, restrictions on fund investment personnel.
The Codes require that all employees of the Manager pre-clear any personal
securities investment (with limited exceptions, such as government securities).
The pre-clearance requirement and associated procedures are designed to identify
any substantive prohibition or limitation applicable to the proposed investment.
The substantive restrictions applicable to all employees of the Manager include
a ban on acquiring any securities in a "hot" initial public offering and a
prohibition from profiting on short-term trading in securities. In addition, no
employee may purchase or sell any security that at the time is being purchased
or sold (as the case may be), or to the knowledge of the employee is being
considered for purchase or sale, by any fund advised by the Manager.
Furthermore, the Codes provide for trading "blackout periods" that prohibit
trading by investment personnel of the Fund within periods of trading by the
Fund in the same (or equivalent) security (15 or 30 days depending upon the
transaction).
PURCHASE OF SHARES
Reference is made to "How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares" in
the Prospectus for certain information as to the purchase of Fund shares.
The Fund issues four classes of shares under the Merrill Lynch Select
PricingSM System: shares of Class A and Class D are sold to investors choosing
the initial sales charge alternatives and shares of Class B and Class C are sold
to investors choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives. Each Class A,
Class B, Class C and Class D share of the Fund represents an identical interest
in the investment portfolio of the Fund and has the same rights, except that
Class B, Class C and Class D shares bear the expenses of the ongoing account
maintenance fees (also known as service fees) and Class B and Class C shares
bear the expenses of the ongoing distribution fees and the additional
incremental transfer agency costs resulting from the deferred sales
19
<PAGE> 51
charge arrangements. The contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCs"),
distribution fees and account maintenance fees that are imposed on Class B and
Class C shares, as well as the account maintenance fees that are imposed on
Class D shares, are imposed directly against those classes and not against all
assets of the Fund and, accordingly, such charges do not affect the net asset
value of any other class or have any impact on investors choosing another sales
charge option. Dividends paid by the Fund for each class of shares are
calculated in the same manner at the same time and differ only to the extent
that account maintenance and distribution fees and any incremental transfer
agency costs relating to a particular class are borne exclusively by that class.
Each class has different exchange privileges. See "Shareholder
Services -- Exchange Privilege."
Investors should understand that the purpose and function of the initial
sales charges with respect to the Class A and Class D shares are the same as
those of the CDSCs and distribution fees with respect to the Class B and Class C
shares in that the sales charges and distribution fees applicable to each class
provide for the financing of the distribution of the shares of the Fund. The
distribution-related revenues paid with respect to a class will not be used to
finance the distribution expenditures of another class. Sales personnel may
receive different compensation for selling different classes of shares.
The Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System is used by more than 50
registered investment companies advised by MLAM or FAM. Funds advised by MLAM or
FAM that utilize the Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System are referred to
herein as "Select Pricing Funds."
The Fund offers its shares at a public offering price equal to the next
determined net asset value per share plus any sales charge applicable to the
class of shares selected by the investor. The applicable offering price for
purchase orders is based upon the net asset value of the Fund next determined
after receipt of the purchase order by the Distributor. As to purchase orders
received by securities dealers prior to the close of business on the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) which includes
orders received after the determination of net asset value on the previous day,
the applicable offering price will be based on the net asset value on the day
the order is placed with the Distributor, provided that the orders are received
by the Distributor prior to 30 minutes after the close of business on the NYSE
on that day. If the purchase orders are not received prior to 30 minutes after
the close of business on the NYSE on that day, such orders shall be deemed
received on the next business day. Dealers have the responsibility of submitting
purchase orders to the Fund not later than 30 minutes after the close of
business on the NYSE in order to purchase shares at that day's offering price.
The Fund or the Distributor may suspend the continuous offering of the
Fund's shares of any class at any time in response to conditions in the
securities markets or otherwise and may thereafter resume such offering from
time to time. Any order may be rejected by the Fund or the Distributor. Neither
the Distributor nor the dealers are permitted to withhold placing orders to
benefit themselves by a price change. Certain securities dealers may charge a
processing fee to confirm a sale of shares to such customers. For example, the
fee currently charged by Merrill Lynch is $5.35. Purchases made directly through
the Transfer Agent are not subject to the processing fee.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVES -- CLASS A AND CLASS D SHARES
Investors choosing the initial sales charge alternatives who are eligible
to purchase Class A shares should purchase Class A shares rather than Class D
shares because there is an account maintenance fee imposed on Class D shares.
Class A shares are offered to a limited group of investors and also will be
issued upon reinvestment of dividends on outstanding Class A shares. Investors
who currently own Class A shares in a shareholder account are entitled to
purchase additional Class A shares of the Fund in that account. Certain
employer-sponsored retirement plans, including eligible 401(k) plans, may
purchase Class A shares at net asset value provided such purchases are made
through eligible Merrill Lynch Group Employee Services ("GES") accounts. In
addition, Class A shares are offered at net asset value to ML & Co. and its
subsidiaries and their directors and employees, to members of the Boards of
Merrill Lynch and MLAM/FAM-advised investment companies including the Fund, and
to employees of certain selected dealers. Certain persons who acquired shares of
certain MLAM/FAM-advised closed-end funds in their initial offerings who wish to
reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of their closed-end fund shares of common
stock in shares of the Fund also may purchase Class A
20
<PAGE> 52
shares of the Fund if certain conditions are met. In addition, Class A shares of
the Fund and certain other Select Pricing Funds are offered at net asset value
to shareholders of Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. and, if certain
conditions are met, to shareholders of Merrill Lynch Municipal Strategy Fund,
Inc. and Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. who wish to
reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of certain of their shares of common stock
pursuant to a tender offer conducted by such funds in shares of the Fund and
certain other Select Pricing Funds.
The term "purchase," as used in the Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information in connection with an investment in Class A and Class D
shares of the Fund, refers to a single purchase by an individual or to
concurrent purchases, which in the aggregate are at least equal to the
prescribed amounts, by an individual, his or her spouse and their children under
the age of 21 years purchasing shares for his or her or their own account and to
single purchases by a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single
trust estate or single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is
involved. The term "purchase" also includes purchases by any "company," as that
term is defined in the Investment Company Act, but does not include purchases by
any such company that has not been in existence for at least six months or which
has no purpose other than the purchase of shares of the Fund or shares of other
registered investment companies at a discount; provided, however, that it shall
not include purchases by any group of individuals whose sole organizational
nexus is that the participants therein are credit cardholders of a company,
policyholders of an insurance company, customers of either a bank or
broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.
The Distributor may reallow discounts to selected dealers and retain the
balance over such discounts. At times the Distributor may reallow the entire
sales charge to such dealers. Since securities dealers selling Class A and Class
D shares of the Fund will receive a concession equal to most of the sales
charge, they may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act.
REDUCED INITIAL SALES CHARGES
Reductions in or exemptions from the imposition of a sales load are due to
the nature of the investors and/or the reduced sales efforts that will be needed
to obtain such investments.
Reinvested Dividends. No initial sales charges are imposed upon Class A
and Class D shares issued as a result of the automatic reinvestment of
dividends.
Rights of Accumulation. Reduced sales charges are applicable through a
right of accumulation under which eligible investors are permitted to purchase
shares of the Fund subject to an initial sales charge at the offering price
applicable to the total of (a) the public offering price of the shares then
being purchased plus (b) an amount equal to the then current net asset value or
cost, whichever is higher, of the purchaser's combined holdings of all classes
of shares of the Fund and of any other Select Pricing Funds. For any such right
of accumulation to be made available, the Distributor must be provided at the
time of purchase, by the purchaser or the purchaser's securities dealer, with
sufficient information to permit confirmation of qualification. Acceptance of
the purchase order is subject to such confirmation. The right of accumulation
may be amended or terminated at any time. Shares held in the name of a nominee
or custodian under pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plans may
not be combined with other shares to qualify for the right of accumulation.
Letter of Intent. Reduced sales charges are applicable to purchases
aggregating $25,000 or more of Class A or Class D shares of the Fund or any
other Merrill Lynch mutual funds made within a 13-month period starting with the
first purchase pursuant to the Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is
available only to investors whose accounts are established and maintained at the
Fund's Transfer Agent. The Letter of Intent is not available to employee benefit
plans for which affiliates of the Manager provide plan participant record-
keeping services. The Letter of Intent is not a binding obligation to purchase
any amount of Class A or Class D shares; however, its execution will result in
the purchaser paying a lower sales charge at the appropriate quantity purchase
level. A purchase not originally made pursuant to a Letter of Intent may be
included under a subsequent Letter of Intent executed within 90 days of such
purchase if the Distributor is informed in writing of this intent within such
90-day period. The value of Class A and Class D shares of the Fund and other
Select Pricing Funds presently held, at cost or maximum offering price
(whichever is higher), on the date of the first purchase under the Letter of
Intent, may be included as a credit toward the completion
21
<PAGE> 53
of such Letter, but the reduced sales charge applicable to the amount covered by
such Letter will be applied only to new purchases. If the total amount of shares
does not equal the amount stated in the Letter of Intent (minimum of $25,000),
the investor will be notified and must pay, within 20 days of the execution of
such Letter, the difference between the sales charge on the Class A or Class D
shares purchased at the reduced rate and the sales charge applicable to the
shares actually purchased through the Letter. Class A or Class B shares equal to
at least 5.0% of the intended amount will be held in escrow during the 13-month
period (while remaining registered in the name of the purchaser) for this
purpose. The first purchase under the Letter of Intent must be at least 5.0% of
the dollar amount of such Letter. If a purchase during the term of such Letter
would otherwise be subject to a further reduced sales charge based on the right
of accumulation, the purchaser will be entitled on that purchase and subsequent
purchases to that further reduced percentage sales charge but there will be no
retroactive reduction of the sales charge on any previous purchase.
The value of any shares redeemed or otherwise disposed of by the purchaser
prior to termination or completion of the Letter of Intent will be deducted from
the total purchases made under such Letter. An exchange from the Summit Cash
Reserves Fund into the Fund that creates a sales charge will count toward
completing a new or existing Letter of Intent from the Fund.
Employer-Sponsored Retirement or Savings Plans and Certain Other
Arrangements Through GES. Through GES, certain employer-sponsored retirement or
savings plans and certain other arrangements may purchase Class A or Class D
shares at net asset value, based on the number of employees or number of
employees eligible to participate in the plan, the aggregate amount invested by
the plan in specified investments and/or the services provided by Merrill Lynch
to the plan.
Purchase Privileges of Certain Persons. Directors of the Fund, Trustees of
the Trust, members of the Boards of other MLAM/FAM-advised investment companies,
ML & Co. and its subsidiaries (the term "subsidiaries," when used herein with
respect to ML & Co., includes the Manager, MLAM and certain other entities
directly or indirectly wholly owned and controlled by ML & Co.) and their
directors and employees and any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit
plan for such persons, may purchase Class A shares of the Fund at net asset
value. The Fund realizes economies of scale and reduction of sales-related
expenses by virtue of the familiarity of these persons with the Fund. Employees
and directors or trustees wishing to purchase shares of the Fund must satisfy
the Fund's suitability standards.
Class D shares of the Fund are offered at net asset value, without a sales
charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Financial
Consultant who joined Merrill Lynch from another investment firm within six
months prior to the date of purchase by such investor, if the following
conditions are satisfied: first, the investor must advise Merrill Lynch that it
will purchase Class D shares of the Fund with proceeds from a redemption of
shares of a mutual fund that was sponsored by the Financial Consultant's
previous firm and was subject to a sales charge either at the time of purchase
or on a deferred basis; and second, the investor must establish that such
redemption had been made within 60 days prior to the investment in the Fund and
the proceeds from the redemption had been maintained in the interim in cash or a
money market fund.
Class D shares of the Fund are also offered at net asset value, without a
sales charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Merrill
Lynch Financial Consultant and that has invested in a mutual fund sponsored by a
non-Merrill Lynch company for which Merrill Lynch has served as a selected
dealer and where Merrill Lynch has either received or given notice that such
arrangement will be terminated ("notice") if the following conditions are
satisfied: first, the investor must purchase Class D shares of the Fund with
proceeds from a redemption of shares of such other mutual fund and the shares of
such other fund were subject to a sales charge either at the time of purchase or
on a deferred basis; and, second, such purchase of Class D shares must be made
within 90 days after such notice.
Class D shares of the Fund are offered at net asset value, without a sales
charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant and that has invested in a mutual fund for which Merrill
Lynch has not served as a selected dealer if the following conditions are
satisfied: first, the investor must advise Merrill Lynch that it will purchase
Class D shares of the Fund with proceeds from the redemption of shares of such
other mutual fund and that such shares have been outstanding for a period of no
less than six months; and, second, such purchase of Class D shares must be made
within 60 days after the
22
<PAGE> 54
redemption and the proceeds from the redemption must be maintained in the
interim in cash or a money market fund.
Closed-End Fund Investment Option. Class A shares of the Fund and certain
other Select Pricing Funds ("Eligible Class A Shares") are offered at net asset
value to shareholders of certain closed-end funds advised by FAM or MLAM who
purchased such closed-end fund shares prior to October 21, 1994 (the date the
Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System commenced operations) and wish to reinvest
the net proceeds from a sale of their closed-end fund shares are offered Class A
shares, if the conditions set forth below are satisfied. Alternatively,
closed-end fund shareholders who purchased such shares on or after October 21,
1994 and wish to reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of their closed-end fund
shares are offered Class A shares (if eligible to buy Class A shares) or Class D
shares of the Fund and other Select Pricing Funds ("Eligible Class D Shares"),
if the following conditions are met. First, the sale of closed-end fund shares
must be made through Merrill Lynch, and the net proceeds therefrom must be
immediately reinvested in Eligible Class A or Eligible Class D Shares. Second,
the closed-end fund shares must either have been acquired in the initial public
offering or be shares representing dividends from shares of common stock
acquired in such offering. Third, the closed-end fund shares must have been
continuously maintained in a Merrill Lynch securities account. Fourth, there
must be a minimum purchase of $250 to be eligible for the investment option.
Shareholders of certain MLAM-advised continuously offered closed-end funds
may reinvest at net asset value the net proceeds from a sale of certain shares
of common stock of such funds in shares of the Fund. Upon exercise of this
investment option, shareholders of Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.
will receive Class A shares of the Fund and shareholders of Merrill Lynch
Municipal Strategy Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc. will receive Class D shares of the Fund, except that shareholders already
owning Class A shares of the Fund will be eligible to purchase additional Class
A shares pursuant to this option, if such additional Class A shares will be held
in the same account as the existing Class A shares and the other requirements
pertaining to the reinvestment privilege are met. In order to exercise this
investment option, a shareholder of one of the above-referenced continuously
offered closed-end funds (an "eligible fund") must sell his or her shares of
common stock of the eligible fund (the "eligible shares") back to the eligible
fund in connection with a tender offer conducted by the eligible fund and
reinvest the proceeds immediately in the designated class of shares of the Fund.
This investment option is available only with respect to eligible shares as to
which no Early Withdrawal charge or CDSC (each as defined in the eligible fund's
prospectus) is applicable. Purchase orders from eligible fund shareholders
wishing to exercise this investment option will be accepted only on the day that
the related tender offer terminates and will be effected at the net asset value
of the designated class of the Fund on such day.
Acquisition of Certain Investment Companies. Class D shares may be offered
at net asset value in connection with the acquisition of the assets of or merger
or consolidation with a personal holding company or a public or private
investment company.
Reductions in or exemptions from the imposition of a sales load are due to
the nature of the investors and/or the reduced sales efforts that will be needed
in obtaining such investments.
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE -- CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES
Investors choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives should consider
Class B shares if they intend to hold their shares for an extended period of
time and Class C shares if they are uncertain as to the length of time they
intend to hold their assets in Select Pricing Funds.
Because no initial sales charges are deducted at the time of the purchase,
Class B and Class C shares provide the benefit of putting all of the investor's
dollars to work from the time the investment is made. The deferred sales charge
alternatives may be particularly appealing to investors that do not qualify for
the reduction in initial sales charges. Both Class B and Class C shares are
subject to ongoing account maintenance fees and distribution fees; however, the
ongoing account maintenance and distribution fees potentially may be offset to
the extent any return is realized on the additional funds initially invested in
Class B or Class C shares. In addition, Class B shares will be converted into
Class D shares of the Fund after a conversion period of approximately eight
years, and thereafter investors will be subject to lower ongoing fees.
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<PAGE> 55
The public offering price of Class B and Class C shares for investors
choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives is the next determined net asset
value per share without the imposition of a sales charge at the time of
purchase. See "Pricing of Shares -- Determination of Net Asset Value" below.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class B Shares. Class B shares that
are redeemed within four years of purchase may be subject to a CDSC at the rates
set forth below charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject thereto. In
determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the calculation will
be determined in the manner that results in the lowest applicable rate being
charged. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the
proceeds of redemption or the cost of the shares being redeemed. Accordingly, no
CDSC will be imposed on increases in net asset value above the initial purchase
price. In addition, no CDSC will be assessed on shares derived from reinvestment
of dividends. It will be assumed that the redemption is first of shares held for
over four years or shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends and
then of shares held longest during the four-year period. A transfer of shares
from a shareholder's account to another account will be assumed to be made in
the same order as a redemption.
The following table sets forth the Class B CDSC:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE
OF DOLLAR AMOUNT
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE SUBJECT TO CHARGE
- -------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
0-1............................................... 4.0%
1-2............................................... 3.0%
2-3............................................... 2.0%
3-4............................................... 1.0%
4 and thereafter.................................. None
</TABLE>
To provide an example, assume an investor purchased 100 shares at $10 per
share (at a cost of $1,000) and in the third year after purchase, the net asset
value per share is $12 and, during such time, the investor has acquired 10
additional shares upon dividend reinvestment. If at such time the investor makes
his or her first redemption of 50 shares (proceeds of $600), 10 shares will not
be subject to a CDSC because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the
remaining 40 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per
share and not to the increase in net asset value of $2 per share. Therefore,
$400 of the $600 redemption proceeds will be charged at a rate of 2.0% (the
applicable rate in the third year after purchase).
The Class B CDSC may be waived on redemptions of shares in connection with
certain post-retirement withdrawals from an Individual Retirement Account
("IRA") or other retirement plan or following the death or disability (as
defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of a shareholder
(including one who owns the Class B shares as joint tenant with his or her
spouse), provided the redemption is requested within one year of the death or
initial determination of disability, or if later, reasonably promptly following
completion of probate. The Class B CDSC also may be waived on redemption of
shares by certain eligible 401(a) and 401(k) plans through eligible GES
accounts. The CDSC may also be waived for any Class B shares that are purchased
by eligible 401(k) or eligible 401(a) plans that are rolled over into a Merrill
Lynch or Merrill Lynch Trust Company custodied IRA and held in such account at
the time of redemption. The Class B CDSC also may be waived for any Class B
shares that are purchased by a Merrill Lynch rollover IRA that was funded by a
rollover from a terminated 401(k) plan managed by the MLAM Private Portfolio
Group and held in such account at the time of redemption. The Class B CDSC also
may be waived in connection with involuntary termination of an account in which
Fund shares are held or for withdrawals through the Merrill Lynch Systematic
Withdrawal Plan. See "Shareholder Services -- Fee-Based Programs" and
"-- Systematic Withdrawal Plan."
Employer-Sponsored Retirement or Savings Plans and Certain Other
Arrangements Through GES. Through GES, certain employer-sponsored retirement or
savings plans and certain other arrangements may purchase Class B shares with a
waiver of the CDSC upon redemption, based on the number of employees or number
of employees eligible to participate in the plan, the aggregate amount invested
by the plan in specified
24
<PAGE> 56
investments and/or the services provided by Merrill Lynch to the plan. Such
Class B shares will convert into Class D shares approximately ten years after
the plan purchases the first share of any Select Pricing fund. Minimum purchase
requirements may be waived or varied for such plans.
Conversion of Class B Shares to Class D Shares. After approximately eight
years (the "Conversion Period"), Class B shares will be converted automatically
into Class D shares of the Fund. Class D shares are subject to an ongoing
account maintenance fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets but are not
subject to the distribution fee that is borne by Class B shares. Automatic
conversion of Class B shares into Class D shares will occur at least once each
month (on the "Conversion Date") on the basis of the relative net asset value of
the shares of the two classes on the Conversion Date, without the imposition of
any sales load, fee or other charge. Conversion of Class B shares to Class D
shares will not be deemed a purchase or sale of the shares for Federal income
tax purposes.
In addition, shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends on Class B
shares also will convert automatically to Class D shares. The Conversion Date
for dividend reinvestment shares will be calculated taking into account the
length of time the shares underlying such dividend reinvestment shares were
outstanding. If at the Conversion Date the conversion of Class B shares to Class
D shares of the Fund in a single account will result in less than $50 worth of
Class B shares being left in the account, all of the Class B shares of the Fund
held in the account on the Conversion Date will be converted to Class D shares
of the Fund.
In general, Class B shares of equity Select Pricing Funds will convert
approximately eight years after initial purchase and Class B shares of taxable
and tax-exempt fixed income Select Pricing Funds will convert approximately ten
years after initial purchase. If, during the Conversion Period, a shareholder
exchanges Class B shares with an eight-year Conversion Period for Class B shares
with a ten-year Conversion Period, or vice versa, the Conversion Period
applicable to the Class B shares acquired in the exchange will apply and the
holding period for the shares exchanged will be tacked on to the holding period
for the shares acquired. The Conversion Period also may be modified for
investors that participate in certain fee-based programs. See "Shareholder
Services -- Fee-Based Programs."
Class B shareholders of the Fund exercising the exchange privilege
described under "Shareholder Services -- Exchange Privilege" will continue to be
subject to the Fund's CDSC schedule if such schedule is higher than the CDSC
schedule relating to the Class B shares acquired as a result of the exchange.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class C Shares. Class C shares that
are redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject to a 1.0% CDSC charged
as a percentage of the dollar amount subject thereto. In determining whether a
Class C CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the calculation will be determined
in the manner that results in the lowest possible rate being charged. The charge
will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the proceeds of redemption
or the cost of the shares being redeemed. Accordingly, no Class C CDSC will be
imposed on increases in net asset value above the initial purchase price. In
addition, no Class C CDSC will be assessed on shares derived from reinvestment
of dividends. It will be assumed that the redemption is first of shares held for
over one year or shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends and then
of shares held longest during the one-year period. A transfer of shares from a
shareholder's account to another account will be assumed to be made in the same
order as a redemption. The Class C CDSC may be reduced or waived in connection
with involuntary termination of an account in which Fund shares are held and
withdrawals through the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plans. See
"Shareholder Services -- Systematic Withdrawal Plan." The Class C CDSC of the
Fund and certain other MLAM-advised mutual funds may be waived with respect to
Class C shares purchased by an investor with the net proceeds of a tender offer
made by certain MLAM-advised closed end funds, including Merrill Lynch Senior
Floating Rate Fund II, Inc. Such waiver is subject to the requirement that the
tendered shares shall have been held by the investor for a minimum of one year
and to such other conditions as are set forth in the prospectus for the related
closed end fund.
25
<PAGE> 57
Class B and Class C Sales Charge Information. Merrill Lynch compensates
its Financial Consultants for selling Class B and Class C shares at the time of
purchase from its own funds. Proceeds from the CDSC and the distribution fee are
paid to the Distributor and are used in whole or in part by the Distributor to
defray the expenses of dealers (including Merrill Lynch) related to providing
distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of the
Class B and Class C shares, such as the payment of compensation to financial
consultants for selling Class B and Class C shares from the dealer's own funds.
The combination of the CDSC and the ongoing distribution fee facilitates the
ability of the Fund to sell the Class B and Class C shares without a sales
charge being deducted at the time of purchase. See "Distribution Plans" below.
Imposition of the CDSC and the distribution fee on Class B and Class C shares is
limited by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")
asset-based sales charge rule. See "Limitations on the Payment of Deferred Sales
Charges" below.
DISTRIBUTION PLANS
Reference is made to "Fees and Expenses" in the Prospectus for certain
information with respect to the separate distribution plans for Class B, Class C
and Class D shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act (each a "Distribution Plan") with respect to the account maintenance
and/or distribution fees paid by the Fund to the Distributor with respect to
such classes.
The Distribution Plan for each of the Class B, Class C and Class D shares
provides that the Fund pays the Distributor an account maintenance fee relating
to the shares of the relevant class, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the
annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to
shares of the relevant class in order to compensate the Distributor and Merrill
Lynch (pursuant to a sub-agreement) in connection with account maintenance
activities with respect to Class B, Class C and Class D shares. Each of those
classes has exclusive voting rights with respect to the Distribution Plan
adopted with respect to such class pursuant to which account maintenance and/or
distribution fees are paid (except that Class B shareholders may vote upon any
material changes to expenses charged under the Class D Distribution Plan).
The Distribution Plan for each of the Class B and Class C shares provides
that the Fund also pays the Distributor a distribution fee relating to the
shares of the relevant class, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate
of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the shares
of the relevant class in order to compensate the Distributor and Merrill Lynch
(pursuant to a sub-agreement) for providing shareholder and distribution
services and bearing certain distribution-related expenses of the Fund,
including payments to financial consultants for selling Class B and Class C
shares of the Fund. The Distribution Plans relating to Class B and Class C
shares are designed to permit an investor to purchase Class B and Class C shares
through dealers without the assessment of an initial sales charge and at the
same time permit the dealer to compensate its financial consultants in
connection with the sale of the Class B and Class C shares. In this regard, the
purpose and function of the ongoing distribution fees and the CDSC are the same
as those of the initial sales charge with respect to the Class A and Class D
shares of the Fund in that the ongoing distribution fees and deferred sales
charges provide for the financing of the distribution of the Fund's Class B and
Class C shares.
The Fund's Distribution Plans are subject to the provisions of Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act. In their consideration of each Distribution
Plan, the Directors must consider all factors they deem relevant, including
information as to the benefits of the Distribution Plan to the Fund and the
related class of shareholders. Each Distribution Plan further provides that, so
long as the Distribution Plan remains in effect, the selection and nomination of
non-interested Directors shall be committed to the discretion of the non-
interested Directors then in office. In approving each Distribution Plan in
accordance with Rule 12b-1, the non-interested Directors concluded that there is
reasonable likelihood that each Distribution Plan will benefit the Fund and its
related class of shareholders. Each Distribution Plan can be terminated at any
time, without penalty, by the vote of a majority of the non-interested Directors
or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding related class of
voting securities of the Fund. A Distribution Plan cannot be amended to increase
materially the amount to be spent by the Fund without the approval of the
related class of shareholders and all material amendments are required to be
approved by the vote of Directors, including a
26
<PAGE> 58
majority of the non-interested Directors who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the Distribution Plan, cast in person at a meeting called
for that purpose. Rule 12b-1 further requires that the Fund preserve copies of
the Distribution Plan and any report made pursuant to such plan for a period of
not less than six years from the date of the Distribution Plan or such report,
the first two years in an easily accessible place.
Among other things, each Distribution Plan provides that the Distributor
shall provide and the Directors shall review quarterly reports of the
disbursement of the account maintenance and/or distribution fees paid to the
Distributor. Payments under the Distribution Plans are based on a percentage of
average daily net assets attributable to the shares regardless of the amount of
expenses incurred and, accordingly, distribution-related revenues from the
Distribution Plans may be more or less than distribution-related expenses of the
related class. Information with respect to the distribution-related revenues and
expenses is presented to the Directors for their consideration in connection
with their deliberations as to the continuance of the Class B and Class C
Distribution Plans. This information is presented annually as of December 31 of
each year, on a "fully allocated accrual" basis and quarterly on a "direct
expense and revenue/cash" basis. On the fully allocated accrual basis, revenues
consist of the account maintenance fees, the distribution fees, the CDSCs and
certain other related revenues, and expenses consist of financial consultant
compensation, branch office and regional operation center selling and
transaction processing expenses, advertising, sales promotion and marketing
expenses, corporate overhead and interest expense. On the direct expense and
revenue/cash basis, revenues consist of the account maintenance fees, the
distribution fees and CDSCs and the expenses consist of financial consultant
compensation.
LIMITATIONS ON THE PAYMENT OF DEFERRED SALES CHARGES
The maximum sales charge rule in the Conduct Rules of the NASD imposes a
limitation on certain asset-based sales charges such as the distribution fee and
the CDSC borne by the Class B and Class C shares but not the account maintenance
fee. The maximum sales charge rule is applied separately to each class. As
applicable to the Fund, the maximum sales charge rule limits the aggregate of
distribution fee payments and CDSCs payable by the Fund to (1) 6.25% of eligible
gross sales of Class B shares and Class C shares, computed separately (defined
to exclude shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestments and exchanges), plus
(2) interest on the unpaid balance for the respective class, computed
separately, at the prime rate plus 1% (the unpaid balance being the maximum
amount payable minus amounts received from the payment of the distribution fee
and the CDSC). In connection with the Class B shares, the Distributor has
voluntarily agreed to waive interest charges on the unpaid balance in excess of
0.50% of eligible gross sales. Consequently, the maximum amount payable to the
Distributor (referred to as the "voluntary maximum") in connection with the
Class B shares is 6.75% of eligible gross sales. The Distributor retains the
right to stop waiving the interest charges at any time. To the extent payments
would exceed the voluntary maximum, the Fund will not make further payments of
the distribution fee with respect to Class B shares and any CDSCs will be paid
to the Fund rather than to the Distributor; however, the Fund will continue to
make payments of the account maintenance fee. In certain circumstances the
amount payable pursuant to the voluntary maximum may exceed the amount payable
under the NASD formula. In such circumstance payment in excess of the amount
payable under the NASD formula will not be made.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
Reference is made to "How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares" in
the Prospectus for certain information as to the redemption and purchase of Fund
shares.
The Fund is required to redeem for cash all shares of the Fund upon receipt
of a written request in proper form. The redemption price is the net asset value
per share next determined after the initial receipt of proper notice of
redemption. Except for any CDSC that may be applicable, there will be no charge
for redemption if the redemption request is sent directly to the Transfer Agent.
Shareholders liquidating their holdings will receive upon redemption all
dividends reinvested through the date of redemption.
The right to redeem shares or to receive payment with respect to any such
redemption may be suspended for more than seven days only for any period during
which trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by
27
<PAGE> 59
the Commission or during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend
and holiday closings), for any period during which an emergency exists, as
defined by the Commission, as a result of which disposal of portfolio securities
or determination of the net asset value of the Fund is not reasonably
practicable, and for such other periods as the Commission may by order permit
for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.
The value of shares of the Fund at the time of redemption may be more or
less than the shareholder's cost, depending in part on the market value of the
securities held by the Trust at such time.
REDEMPTION
A shareholder wishing to redeem shares held with the Transfer Agent may do
so without charge by tendering the shares directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent,
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45289, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5289.
Redemption requests delivered other than by mail should be delivered to
Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida
32246-6484. Proper notice of redemption in the case of shares deposited with the
Transfer Agent may be accomplished by a written letter requesting redemption.
Redemption requests should not be sent to the Trust or the Fund. A redemption
request in either event requires the signature(s) of all persons in whose
name(s) the shares are registered, signed exactly as such name(s) appear(s) on
the Transfer Agent's register. The signature(s) on the redemption request may
require a guarantee by an "eligible guarantor institution" as defined in Rule
17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the
existence and validity of which may be verified by the Transfer Agent through
the use of industry publications. In the event a signature guarantee is
required, notarized signatures are not sufficient. In general, signature
guarantees are waived on redemptions of less than $50,000 as long as the
following requirements are met: (i) all requests require the signature(s) of all
persons in whose name(s) shares are recorded on the Transfer Agent's register;
(ii) all checks must be mailed to the stencil address of record on the Transfer
Agent's register and (iii) the stencil address must not have changed within 30
days. Certain rules may apply regarding certain account types such as but not
limited to UGMA/UTMA accounts, Joint Tenancies With Rights of Survivorship,
contra broker transactions and institutional accounts. In certain instances, the
Transfer Agent may require additional documents such as, but not limited to,
trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as executor or
administrator, or certificates of corporate authority. For shareholders
redeeming directly with the Transfer Agent, payments will be mailed within seven
days of receipt of a proper notice of redemption.
At various times the Fund may be requested to redeem shares for which it
has not yet received good payment (e.g., cash, Federal funds or certified check
drawn on a U.S. bank). The Fund may delay or cause to be delayed the mailing of
a redemption check until such time as good payment (e.g., cash, Federal funds or
certified check drawn on a U.S. bank) has been collected for the purchase of
such Fund shares, which will usually not exceed 10 days.
REPURCHASE
The Fund also will repurchase its shares through a shareholder's listed
securities dealer. The Fund normally will accept orders to repurchase shares by
wire or telephone from dealers for their customers at the net asset value next
computed after the order is placed. Shares will be priced at the net asset value
calculated on the day the request is received, provided that the request for
repurchase is submitted to the dealer prior to the regular close of business on
the NYSE (generally, the NYSE closes at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) and such
request is received by the Fund from such dealer not later than 30 minutes after
the close of business on the NYSE on the same day. Dealers have the
responsibility of submitting such repurchase requests to the Funds not later
than 30 minutes after the close of business on the NYSE in order to obtain that
day's closing price.
The foregoing repurchase arrangements are for the convenience of
shareholders and do not involve a charge by the Fund (other than any applicable
CDSC). Securities firms that do not have selected dealer agreements with the
Distributor, however, may impose a transaction charge on the shareholder for
transmitting the notice of repurchase to the Fund. Merrill Lynch may charge its
customers a processing fee (presently, $5.35) to confirm a repurchase of shares
to such customers. Repurchases made directly through the Transfer Agent, on
accounts held at the Transfer Agent, are not subject to the processing fee. The
Fund
28
<PAGE> 60
reserves the right to reject any order for repurchase, which right of rejection
might adversely affect shareholders seeking redemption through the repurchase
procedure. A shareholder whose order for repurchase is rejected by the Fund,
however, may redeem shares as set forth above.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE -- CLASS A AND CLASS D SHARES
Shareholders of the Fund who have redeemed their Class A or Class D shares
have a privilege to reinstate their accounts by purchasing Class A or Class D
shares, as the case may be, of the Fund at net asset value without a sales
charge up to the dollar amount redeemed. The reinstatement privilege may be
exercised by sending a notice of exercise along with a check for the amount to
be reinstated to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the date the request
for redemption was accepted by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor.
Alternatively, the reinstatement privilege may be exercised through the
investor's Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant within 30 days after the date the
request for redemption was accepted by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor.
The reinstatement will be made at the net asset value per share next determined
after the notice of reinstatement is received and cannot exceed the amount of
the redemption proceeds.
PRICING OF SHARES
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Reference is made to "How Shares are Priced" in the Prospectus.
The net asset value of the shares of all classes of the Fund is determined
once daily Monday through Friday as of the close of business on the NYSE on each
day the NYSE is open for trading based on prices at the time of closing. The
NYSE generally closes at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. Any assets or liabilities
initially expressed in terms of non-U.S. dollar currencies are translated into
U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more banks or
dealers on the day of valuation. The NYSE is not open for trading on New Year's
Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by
the Trust on behalf of the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including
interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities
(including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares of the Fund
outstanding at such time, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses, including the
fees payable to the Manager and the Distributor, are accrued daily.
The per share net asset value of Class B, Class C and Class D shares
generally will be lower than the per share net asset value of Class A shares,
reflecting the daily expense accruals of the account maintenance, distribution
and higher transfer agency fees applicable with respect to Class B and Class C
shares, and the daily expense accruals of the account maintenance fees
applicable with respect to Class D shares. Moreover, the per share net asset
value of the Class B and Class C shares generally will be lower than the per
share net asset value of Class D shares reflecting the daily expense accruals of
the distribution fees and higher transfer agency fees applicable with respect to
Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. It is expected, however, that the per
share net asset value of the four classes of the Fund will tend to converge
(although not necessarily meet) immediately after the payment of dividends of
distributions, which will differ by approximately the amount of the expense
accrual differentials between the classes.
Securities that are held in the Trust, including ADRs, EDRs or GDRs, that
are traded on stock exchanges are valued at the last sale price (regular way) on
the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on
the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last
available bid price for long positions, and at the last available ask price for
short positions. In cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange,
the securities are valued on the exchange designated by or under the authority
of the Board of Trustees of the Trust as the primary market. Long positions in
securities traded in the OTC market are valued at the last available bid price
in the OTC market prior to the time of valuation. Portfolio securities that are
traded both in the OTC market and on a stock exchange are valued according to
29
<PAGE> 61
the broadest and most representative market. Short positions in securities
traded in the OTC market are valued at the last available ask price in the OTC
market prior to the time of valuation. Portfolio securities that are traded both
in the OTC market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest
and most representative market. When the Trust writes an option, the amount of
the premium received is recorded on the books of the Trust as an asset and an
equivalent liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently valued to
reflect the current market value of the option written, based on the last sale
price in the case of exchange-traded options or, in the case of options traded
in the OTC market, the last ask price. Options purchased by the Trust are valued
at their last sale price in the case of exchange-traded options or, in the case
of options traded in the OTC market, the last bid price. Other investments,
including financial futures contracts and related options, are stated at market
value. Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily
available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Such valuations and procedures
will be reviewed periodically by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Generally, trading in non-U.S. securities, as well as U.S. Government
securities and money market instruments, is substantially completed each day at
various times prior to the close of business on the NYSE. The values of such
securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund's shares are
determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange rates also are generally
determined prior to the close of business on the NYSE. Occasionally, events
affecting the values of such securities and such exchange rates may occur
between the times at which they are determined and the close of business on the
NYSE that may not be reflected in the computation of the Fund's net asset value.
Each investor in the Trust may add to or reduce its investment in the Trust
on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The value of each investor's
(including the Fund's) interest in the Trust will be determined after the close
of business on the NYSE by multiplying the net asset value of the Trust by the
percentage, effective for that day, that represents that investor's share of the
aggregate interests in the Trust. The close of business on the NYSE is generally
4:00 p.m., Eastern time. Any additions or withdrawals to be effected on that day
will then be effected. The investor's percentage of the aggregate beneficial
interests in the Trust will then be recomputed as the percentage equal to the
fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such investor's investment
in the Portfolio as of the time of determination on such day plus or minus, as
the case may be, the amount of any additions to or withdrawals from the
investor's investment in the Trust effected on such day, and (ii) the
denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Trust as of such
time on such day plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of the net
additions to or withdrawals from the aggregate investments in the Trust by all
investors in the Trust. The percentage so determined will then be applied to
determine the value of the investor's interest in the Trust after the close of
business of the NYSE on the next determination of net asset value of the Trust.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
TRANSACTIONS IN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Because the Fund will invest exclusively in beneficial interests in the
Trust, it is expected that all transactions in portfolio securities will be
entered into by the Trust. Subject to policies established by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Manager is primarily responsible for the execution of
the Trust's portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage. The Trust
has no obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution
of transactions in portfolio securities and does not use any particular broker
or dealer. In executing transactions with brokers and dealers, the Manager seeks
to obtain the best net results for the Trust, taking into account such factors
as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size
of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm and the
firm's risk in positioning a block of securities. While the Manager generally
seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, the Trust does not necessarily
pay the lowest spread or commission available. In addition, consistent with the
Conduct Rules of the NASD and policies established by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust, the Manager may consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in
the selection of brokers or dealers to execute portfolio
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transactions for the Trust; however, whether or not a particular broker or
dealer sells shares of the Fund neither qualifies nor disqualifies such broker
or dealer to execute transactions for the Trust.
Subject to obtaining the best net results, brokers who provide supplemental
investment research to the Manager may receive orders for transactions by the
Trust. Such supplemental research services ordinarily consist of assessments and
analyses of the business or prospects of a company, industry or economic sector.
Information so received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services
required to be performed by the Manager under the Management Agreement, and the
expenses of the Manager will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the
receipt of such supplemental information. If in the judgment of the Manager the
Trust will benefit from supplemental research services, the Manager is
authorized to pay brokerage commissions to a broker furnishing such services
that are in excess of commission that another broker may have charged for
effecting the same transactions. Certain supplemental research services may
primarily benefit one or more other investment companies or other accounts for
which the Manager exercises investment discretion. Conversely, the Trust may be
the primary beneficiary of the supplemental research services received as a
result of portfolio transactions effected for such other accounts or investment
companies.
The Trust anticipates that its brokerage transactions involving securities
of issuers domiciled in countries other than the United States generally will be
conducted primarily on the principal stock exchanges of such countries.
Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign stock exchange
transactions generally are higher than in the United States, although the Trust
will endeavor to achieve the best net results in effecting its portfolio
transactions. There generally is less governmental supervision and regulation of
foreign stock exchanges and brokers than in the United States.
Foreign equity securities may be held by the Trust in the form of ADRs,
EDRs, GDRs or other securities convertible into foreign equity securities. ADRs,
EDRs and GDRs may be listed on stock exchanges, or traded in over-the-counter
markets in the United States or Europe, as the case may be. ADRs, like other
securities traded in the United States, will be subject to negotiated commission
rates. The Trust's ability and decisions to purchase or sell portfolio
securities of foreign issuers may be affected by laws or regulations relating to
the convertibility and repatriation of assets. Because the shares of the Fund
are redeemable on a daily basis in U.S. dollars, the Trust intends to manage its
portfolio so as to give reasonable assurance that it will be able to obtain U.S.
dollars to the extent necessary to meet anticipated redemptions. Under present
conditions, it is not believed that these considerations will have significant
effect on the Trust's portfolio strategies.
The Fund may invest in certain securities traded in the OTC market and
intends to deal directly with the dealers who make a market in securities
involved, except in those circumstances in which better prices and execution are
available elsewhere. Under the Investment Company Act, persons affiliated with
the Trust and persons who are affiliated with such affiliated persons are
prohibited from dealing with the Trust as principal in the purchase and sale of
securities unless a permissive order allowing such transactions is obtained from
the Commission. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve
transactions with the dealers acting as principal for their own accounts, the
Trust will not deal with affiliated persons, including Merrill Lynch and its
affiliates, in connection with such transactions. However, an affiliated person
of the Trust may serve as its broker in OTC transactions conducted on an agency
basis provided that, among other things, the fee or commission received by such
affiliated broker is reasonable and fair compared to the fee or commission
received by non-affiliated brokers in connection with comparable transactions.
In addition, the Trust may not purchase securities during the existence of any
underwriting syndicate for such securities of which Merrill Lynch is a member or
in a private placement in which Merrill Lynch serves as placement agent except
pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust that
either comply with rules adopted by the Commission or with interpretations of
the Commission staff. See "Investment Objective and Policies -- Investment
Restrictions."
Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act generally prohibits members of the U.S.
national securities exchanges from executing exchange transactions for their
affiliates and institutional accounts that they manage unless the member (i) has
obtained prior express authorization from the account to effect such
transactions, (ii) at least annually furnishes the account with a statement
setting forth the aggregate compensation received by the member in effecting
such transactions, and (iii) complies with any rules the Commission has
prescribed with
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respect to the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii). To the extent Section 11(a)
would apply to Merrill Lynch acting as a broker for the Trust in any of its
portfolio transactions executed on any such securities exchange of which it is a
member, appropriate consents have been obtained from the Trust and annual
statements as to aggregate compensation will be provided to the Trust.
Securities may be held by, or be appropriate investments for, the Trust as well
as other funds or investment advisory clients of the Manager or its affiliates.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has considered the possibility of
seeking to recapture for the benefit of the Fund brokerage commissions and other
expenses of possible portfolio transactions by conducting portfolio transactions
through affiliated entities. For example, brokerage commissions received by
affiliated brokers could be offset against the advisory fee paid by the Trust on
behalf of the Portfolio to the Manager. After considering all factors deemed
relevant, the Board of Trustees of the Trust made a determination not to seek
such recapture. The Board of Trustees of the Trust will reconsider this matter
from time to time.
Because of different objectives or other factors, a particular security may
be bought for one or more clients of the Manager or its affiliates when one or
more clients of the Manager or its affiliates are selling the same security. If
purchases or sales of securities arise for consideration at or about the same
time that would involve the Trust or other clients or funds for which the
Manager or an affiliate act as investment adviser, transactions in such
securities will be made, insofar as feasible, for the respective funds and
clients in a manner deemed equitable to all. To the extent that transactions on
behalf of more than one client of the Manager or its affiliates during the same
period may increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of
securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The Fund offers a number of shareholder services described below that are
designed to facilitate investment in its shares. Full details as to each such
service and copies of the various plans or how to change options with respect
thereto, can be obtained from the Fund, by calling the telephone number on the
cover page hereof, or from the Distributor or Merrill Lynch. Certain of these
services are available only to U.S. investors.
INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
Each shareholder whose account is maintained at the Transfer Agent has an
Investment Account and will receive statements, at least quarterly, from the
Transfer Agent. These statements will serve as transaction confirmations for
automatic investment purchases and the reinvestment of dividends. The statements
also will show any other activity in the account since the preceding statement.
Shareholders also will receive separate confirmations for each purchase or sale
transaction other than automatic investment purchases and the reinvestment of
dividends. A shareholder with an account held at the Transfer Agent may make
additions to his or her Investment Account at any time by mailing a check
directly to the Transfer Agent. Upon the transfer of shares out of a Merrill
Lynch brokerage account, an Investment Account in the transferring shareholder's
name may be opened automatically at the Transfer Agent. The Fund does not issue
share certificates.
Shareholders may transfer their Fund shares from Merrill Lynch to another
securities dealer that has entered into a selected dealer agreement with Merrill
Lynch. Certain shareholder services may not be available for the transferred
shares. After the transfer, the shareholder may purchase additional shares of
funds owned before the transfer and all future trading of these assets must be
coordinated by the new firm. If a shareholder wishes to transfer his or her
shares to a securities dealer that has not entered into a selected dealer
agreement with Merrill Lynch, the shareholder must either (i) redeem his or her
shares, paying any applicable CDSC or (ii) continue to maintain an Investment
Account at the Transfer Agent for those shares. The shareholder also may request
the new securities dealer to maintain the shares in an account at the Transfer
Agent registered in the name of the securities dealer for the benefit of the
shareholder whether the securities dealer has entered into a selected dealer
agreement or not.
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Shareholders considering transferring a tax-deferred retirement account
such as an individual retirement account, from Merrill Lynch to another
securities dealer should be aware that, if the firm to which the retirement
account is to be transferred will not take delivery of shares of the Fund, a
shareholder must either redeem the shares (paying any applicable CDSC) so that
the cash proceeds can be transferred to the account at the new firm, or such
shareholder must continue to maintain a retirement account at a selected dealer
for those shares.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
U.S. shareholders of each class of shares of the Fund have an exchange
privilege with certain other Select Pricing Funds and Summit Cash Reserves Fund
("Summit"), a series of Financial Institutions Series Trust, which is a Merrill
Lynch-sponsored money market fund specifically designated as available for
exchange by holders of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shares Select
Pricing Funds. Shares with a net asset value of at least $100 are required to
qualify for the exchange privilege, and any shares used in an exchange must have
been held by the shareholder for at least 15 days. Before effecting an exchange,
shareholders should obtain a currently effective prospectus of the fund into
which the exchange is to be made. Exercise of the exchange privilege is treated
as a sale of the exchanged shares and a purchase of the acquired shares for
Federal income tax purposes.
Exchanges of Class A and Class D Shares. Class A shareholders may exchange
Class A shares of the Fund for Class A shares of a second Select Pricing Fund if
the shareholder holds any Class A shares of the second fund in the account in
which the exchange is made at the time of the exchange or is otherwise eligible
to purchase Class A shares of the second fund. If the Class A shareholder wants
to exchange Class A shares for shares of a second Select Pricing Fund, but does
not hold Class A shares of the second fund in his or her account at the time of
exchange and is not otherwise eligible to acquire Class A shares of the second
fund, the shareholder will receive Class D shares of the second fund as a result
of the exchange. Class D shares also may be exchanged for Class A shares of a
second Select Pricing Fund at any time as long as, at the time of the exchange,
the shareholder holds Class A shares of the second fund in the account in which
the exchange is made or is otherwise eligible to purchase Class A shares of the
second fund. Class D shares are exchangeable with shares of the same class of
other Select Pricing Funds.
Exchanges of Class A or Class D shares outstanding ("outstanding Class A or
Class D shares") for Class A or Class D shares of another Select Pricing Fund,
or for Class A shares of Summit ("new Class A or Class D shares") are transacted
on the basis of relative net asset value per Class A or Class D share,
respectively, plus an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the sales
charge previously paid on the outstanding Class A or Class D shares and the
sales charge payable at the time of the exchange on the new Class A or Class D
shares. With respect to outstanding Class A or Class D shares as to which
previous exchanges have taken place, the "sales charge previously paid" shall
include the aggregate of the sales charges paid with respect to such Class A or
Class D shares in the initial purchase and any subsequent exchange. Class A or
Class D shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestment are sold on a no-load
basis in each of the funds offering Class A or Class D shares. For purposes of
the exchange privilege, Class A and Class D shares acquired through dividend
reinvestment shall be deemed to have been sold with a sales charge equal to the
sales charge previously paid on the Class A or Class D shares on which the
dividend was paid. Based on this formula, Class A and Class D shares of the Fund
generally may be exchanged into the Class A or Class D shares, respectively, of
the other funds with a reduced sales charge or without a sales charge.
Exchanges of Class B and Class C Shares. Certain Select Pricing Funds with
Class B and Class C shares outstanding ("outstanding Class B or Class C shares")
offer to exchange their Class B or Class C shares for Class B or Class C shares,
respectively, of certain other Select Pricing Funds or for Class B shares of
Summit ("new Class B or Class C shares") on the basis of relative net asset
value per Class B or Class C share, without the payment of any CDSC that might
otherwise be due on redemption of the outstanding shares. Class B shareholders
of the Fund exercising the exchange privilege will continue to be subject to the
Fund's CDSC schedule if such schedule is higher than the CDSC schedule relating
to the new Class B shares acquired through use of the exchange privilege. In
addition, Class B shares of the Fund acquired through use of the exchange
privilege will be subject to the Fund's CDSC schedule if such schedule is higher
than the
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CDSC schedule relating to the Class B shares of the fund from which the exchange
was made. For purposes of computing the CDSC that may be payable on a
disposition of the new Class B or Class C shares, the holding period for the
outstanding Class B shares is "tacked" to the holding period of the new Class B
shares or Class C shares. For example, an investor may exchange Class B shares
of the Fund for those of Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc. ("Special Value
Fund") after having held the Fund's Class B shares for two-and-a-half years. The
2% CDSC that generally would apply to a redemption would not apply to the
exchange. Three years later the investor may decide to redeem the Class B shares
of Special Value Fund and receive cash. There will be no CDSC due on this
redemption since by "tacking" the two-and-a-half year holding period of the Fund
Class B shares to the three year holding period for the Special Value Fund Class
B shares, the investor will be deemed to have held Special Value Fund Class B
shares for more than five years.
Exchanges for Shares of a Money Market Fund. Class A and Class D shares
are exchangeable for Class A shares of Summit and Class B and Class C shares are
exchangeable for Class B shares of Summit. Class A shares of Summit have an
exchange privilege back into Class A or Class D shares of Select Pricing Funds;
Class B shares of Summit have an exchange privilege back into Class B or Class C
shares of Select Pricing Funds and, in the event of such an exchange, the period
of time that Class B shares of Summit are held will count toward satisfaction of
the holding period requirement for purposes of reducing any CDSC and toward
satisfaction of any Conversion Period with respect to Class B shares. Class B
shares of Summit will be subject to a distribution fee at an annual rate of
0.75% of average daily net assets of such Class B shares. Please see your
Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant for further information.
Prior to October 12, 1998, exchanges from the Fund and other Select Pricing
Funds into a money market fund were directed to certain Merrill Lynch-sponsored
money market funds other than Summit. Shareholders who exchanged Select Pricing
Funds shares for such other money market funds and subsequently wish to exchange
those money market fund shares for shares of the Fund will be subject to the
CDSC schedule applicable to such Fund shares, if any. The holding period for
those money market fund shares will not count toward satisfaction of the holding
period requirement for reduction of the CDSC imposed on such shares, if any,
and, with respect to Class B shares, toward satisfaction of the Conversion
Period. However, the holding period for Class B or Class C shares of the Fund
received in exchange for such money market fund shares will be aggregated with
the holding period for the fund shares originally exchanged for such money
market fund shares for purposes of reducing the CDSC or satisfying the
Conversion Period.
Exercise of the Exchange Privilege. To exercise the exchange privilege, a
shareholder should contact his or her Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant, who
will advise the Fund of the exchange. Shareholders of the Fund, and shareholders
of the other Select Pricing Funds described above with shares for which
certificates have not been issued, may exercise the exchange privilege by wire
through their securities dealers. The Fund reserves the right to require a
properly completed Exchange Application. This exchange privilege may be modified
or terminated in accordance with the rules of the Commission. The Fund reserves
the right to limit the number of times an investor may exercise the exchange
privilege. Certain funds may suspend the continuous offering of their shares to
the general public at any time and may thereafter resume such offering from time
to time. The exchange privilege is available only to U.S. shareholders in states
where the exchange legally may be made. It is contemplated that the exchange
privilege may be applicable to other new mutual funds whose shares may be
distributed by the Distributor.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS
Individual retirement accounts and other retirement savings plans are
available from Merrill Lynch. Under these plans, investments may be made in a
Fund and certain of the other mutual funds sponsored by Merrill Lynch as well as
in other securities. There may be fees associated with investing through these
plans, which are described in plan materials. Information with respect to these
plans is available on request from Merrill Lynch.
Dividends received in each of the plans referred to above are exempt from
Federal taxation until distributed from the plans. Different tax rules apply to
Roth IRA plans and education savings plans. Investors consider participation in
any retirement or education savings plan should review specific tax laws
relating
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thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers with respect to the
establishment and maintenance of any such plan.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLANS
A shareholder may make additions to an Investment Account at any time by
purchasing Class A shares (if he or she is an eligible Class A investor) or
Class B, Class C or Class D shares at the applicable public offering price.
These purchases may be made either through the shareholder's securities dealer
or by mail directly to the Transfer Agent, acting as agent for such securities
dealer. Voluntary accumulation also can be made through a service known as the
Fund's Automatic Investment Plan. The Fund would be authorized, on a regular
basis, to provide systematic additions to the Investment Account of such
shareholder through charges of $50 or more to the regular bank account of the
shareholder by either pre-authorized checks or automated clearing house debits.
Alternatively, an investor that maintains a CMA(R) or CBA(R) account may arrange
to have periodic investments made in the Fund in amounts of $100 ($1 for
retirement accounts) or more through the CMA(R) or CBA(R) Automated Investment
Program.
AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Unless specific instructions are given as to the method of payment,
dividends will be automatically reinvested, without sales charge, in additional
full and fractional shares of the Fund. Such reinvestment will be at the net
asset value of shares of the Fund as determined after the close of business on
the NYSE on the monthly payment date for such dividends. No CDSC will be imposed
upon redemption of shares issued as a result of the automatic reinvestment of
dividends.
Shareholders may, at any time, by written notification to Merrill Lynch if
their account is maintained with Merrill Lynch, or by written notification or by
telephone (1-800-MER-FUND) to the Transfer Agent, if their account is maintained
with the Transfer Agent, elect to have subsequent dividends of ordinary income
and/or capital gains paid in cash, rather than reinvested in shares of the Fund
(provided that, in the event that a payment on an account maintained at the
Transfer Agent would amount to $10.00 or less, a shareholder will not receive
such payment in cash and such payment will automatically be reinvested in
additional shares). Commencing ten days after the receipt by the Transfer Agent
of such notice, those instructions will be effected. The Fund is not responsible
for any failure of delivery to the shareholder's address of record and no
interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed dividend checks. Cash
payments can also be directly deposited to the shareholder's bank account.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLANS
A shareholder may elect to receive systematic withdrawals from his or her
Investment Account by check or through automatic payment by direct deposit to
his or her bank account on either a monthly or quarterly basis as provided
below. Quarterly withdrawals are available for shareholders who have acquired
shares of the Fund having a value, based on cost or the current offering price,
of $5,000 or more, and monthly withdrawals are available for shareholders with
shares having a value of $10,000 or more.
At the time of each withdrawal payment, sufficient shares are redeemed from
those on deposit in the shareholder's account to provide the withdrawal payment
specified by the shareholder. The shareholder may specify the dollar amount and
class of shares to be redeemed. Redemptions will be made at net asset value as
determined after the close of business on the NYSE (generally, the NYSE closes
at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on the 24th day of each month or the 24th day of the
last month of each quarter, whichever is applicable. If the NYSE is not open for
business on such date, the shares will be redeemed at the net asset value
determined at the close of business on the following business day. The check for
the withdrawal payment will be mailed, or the direct deposit for withdrawal
payment will be made on the next business day following redemption. When a
shareholder is making systematic withdrawals, dividends and distributions on all
shares in the Investment Account are reinvested automatically in Fund shares. A
shareholder's Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time, without
a charge or penalty, by the shareholder, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or the
Distributor.
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With respect to redemptions of Class B and Class C shares pursuant to a
systematic withdrawal plan, the maximum number of Class B or Class C shares that
can be redeemed from an account annually shall not exceed 10% of the value of
shares of such class in that account at the time the election to join the
systematic withdrawal plan was made. Any CDSC that otherwise might be due on
such redemption of Class B or Class C shares will be waived. Shares redeemed
pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan will be redeemed in the same order as
Class B or Class C shares are otherwise redeemed. See "Purchase of
Shares -- Deferred Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class B and Class C Shares."
Where the systematic withdrawal plan is applied to Class B shares, upon
conversion of the last Class B shares in an account to Class D shares, a
shareholder must make a new election to join the systematic withdrawal program
with respect to the Class D shares. See "Purchase of Shares -- Deferred Sales
Charge Alternatives -- Conversion of Class B Shares to Class D Shares." If an
investor wishes to change the amount being withdrawn in a systematic withdrawal
plan, the investor should contact his or her Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant.
Withdrawal payments should not be considered as dividends. Each withdrawal
is a taxable event. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested
dividends, the shareholder's original investment may be reduced correspondingly.
Purchases of additional shares concurrent with withdrawals are ordinarily
disadvantageous to the shareholder because of sales charges and tax liabilities.
The Fund will not knowingly accept purchase orders for shares of the Fund from
investors who maintain a systematic withdrawal plan unless such purchase is
equal to at least one year's scheduled withdrawals or $1,200, whichever is
greater. Periodic investments may not be made into an Investment Account in
which the shareholder has elected to make systematic withdrawals.
Alternatively, a shareholder whose shares are held within a CMA(R) or
CBA(R) Account may elect to have shares redeemed on a monthly, bimonthly,
quarterly, semiannual or annual basis through the CMA(R) or CBA(R) Systematic
Redemption Program. The minimum fixed dollar amount redeemable is $50. The
proceeds of systematic redemptions will be posted to the shareholder's account
three business days after the date the shares are redeemed. All redemptions are
made at net asset value. A shareholder may elect to have his or her shares
redeemed on the first, second, third or fourth Monday of each month, in the case
of monthly redemptions, or of every other month, in the case of bimonthly
redemptions. For quarterly, semiannual or annual redemptions, the shareholder
may select the month in which the shares are to be redeemed and may designate
whether the redemption is to be made on the first, second, third or fourth
Monday of the month. If the Monday selected is not a business day, the
redemption will be processed at net asset value on the next business day. The
CMA(R) or CBA(R) Systematic Redemption Program is not available if Fund shares
are being purchased within the account pursuant to the Automated Investment
Program. For more information on the CMA(R) or CBA(R) Systematic Redemption
Program, eligible shareholders should contact their Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant.
DIVIDENDS AND TAXES
DIVIDENDS
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment
income, if any. Dividends from such net investment income will be paid at least
annually. All net realized capital gains, if any, will be distributed to the
Fund's shareholders at least annually. From time to time, the Fund may declare a
special distribution at or about the end of the calendar year in order to comply
with Federal tax requirements that certain percentages of its ordinary income
and capital gains be distributed during the year. If in any fiscal year, the
Fund have net income from certain foreign currency transactions, such income
will be distributed at least annually. See "Shareholder Services -- Automatic
Dividend Reinvestment Plan" for information concerning the manner in which
dividends may be reinvested automatically in shares of the Fund. A shareholder
whose account is maintained at the Transfer Agent or whose account is maintained
through his or her selected dealer may elect in writing to receive any such
dividends in cash. Dividends are taxable to shareholders, as discussed below,
whether they are reinvested in shares of the Fund or received in cash. The per
share dividends on Class B and Class C shares will be lower than the per share
dividends on Class A and Class D shares as a result of the account maintenance,
distribution and higher transfer agency fees applicable with respect to the
Class B and
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Class C shares; similarly, the per share dividends on Class D shares will be
lower than the per share dividends on Class A shares as a result of the account
maintenance fees applicable with respect to the Class D shares. See "Pricing of
Shares -- Determination of Net Asset Value."
TAXES
The Fund intends to elect and to qualify for the special tax treatment
afforded regulated investment companies ("RICs") under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). As long as the Fund so qualifies, the Fund
(but not its shareholders) will not be subject to Federal income tax on the part
of its net ordinary income and net realized capital gains that it distributes to
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shareholders (together, the
"shareholders"). The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such
income.
The Code requires a RIC to pay a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent
the RIC does not distribute, during each calendar year, 98% of its ordinary
income, determined on a calendar year basis, and 98% of its capital gains,
determined, in general on a October 31 year end, plus certain undistributed
amounts from previous years. While the Fund intends to distribute its income and
capital gains in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% excise
tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund's taxable
income and capital gains will be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of
the tax. In such event, the Fund will be liable for the tax only on the amount
by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirements.
Dividends paid by the Fund from its ordinary income or from an excess of
net short term capital gains over net long term capital losses (together
referred to hereafter as "ordinary income dividends") are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions made from an excess of net long
term capital gains over net short term capital losses (including gains or losses
from certain transactions in warrants, futures and options) ("capital gain
dividends") are taxable to shareholders as long term capital gains, regardless
of the length of time the shareholder has owned Fund shares. Any loss upon the
sale or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as
long term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by
the shareholder. Distributions in excess of the Fund's earnings and profits will
first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a holder's shares and, after such
adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such
holder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). Certain categories of
capital gains are taxable at different rates. Generally not later than 60 days
after the close of its taxable year, the Fund will provide its shareholders with
a written notice designating the amount of any capital gain dividends as well as
any amount of capital gain dividends in the different categories of capital gain
referred to above.
Dividends are taxable to shareholders even though they are reinvested in
additional shares of the Fund. A portion of the Fund's ordinary income dividends
may be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations
under the Code, if certain requirements are met. For this purpose, the Fund will
allocate dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction among the Class
A, Class B, Class C and Class D shareholders according to a method (which it
believes is consistent with the Commission rule permitting the issuance and sale
of multiple classes of stock) that is based on the gross income allocable to
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shareholders during the taxable year, or
such other method as the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe. If the Fund
pays a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November
or December to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months,
then such dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund
and received by its shareholders on December 31 of the year in which such
dividend was declared.
No gain or loss will be recognized by Class B shareholders on the
conversion of their Class B shares into Class D shares. A shareholder's basis in
the Class D shares acquired will be the same as such shareholder's basis in the
Class B shares converted, and the holding period of the acquired Class D shares
will include the holding period for the converted Class B shares.
If a shareholder exercises an exchange privilege within 90 days of
acquiring the shares, then the loss the shareholder can recognize on the
exchange will be reduced (or the gain increased) to the extent any sales charge
paid on the exchanged shares reduces any sales charge the shareholder would have
owed upon the
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purchase of the new shares in the absence of the exchange privilege. Instead,
such sales charge will be treated as an amount paid for the new shares.
A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be
disallowed if such shares are acquired (whether through the automatic
reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days
before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed of. In
such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss.
Ordinary income dividends paid to shareholders who are non-resident aliens
or foreign entities will be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax under existing
provisions of the Code applicable to foreign individuals and entities unless a
reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under
applicable treaty law. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own
tax advisers concerning the applicability of the United States withholding tax.
Under certain provisions of the Code, some shareholders may be subject to a
31% withholding tax on ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and
redemption payments ("backup withholding"). Generally, shareholders subject to
backup withholding will be those for whom no certified taxpayer identification
number is on file with the Fund or who, to the Fund's knowledge, have furnished
an incorrect number. When establishing an account, an investor must certify
under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that such investor is
not otherwise subject to backup withholding.
Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to withholding
and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
TAX TREATMENT OF OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may write, purchase or sell options, futures and forward foreign
exchange contracts. Options and futures contracts that are "Section 1256
contracts" will be "marked to market" for Federal income tax purposes at the end
of each taxable year, i.e., each such option or futures contract will be treated
as sold for its fair market value on the last day of the taxable year. Unless
such contract is a forward foreign exchange contract, or is a non-equity option
or a regulated futures contract for a non-U.S. currency for which the Fund
elects to have gain or loss treated as ordinary gain or loss under Code Section
988 (as described below), gain or loss from Section 1256 contracts will be 60%
long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of these rules to
Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund may alter the timing and character of
distributions to shareholders. The mark-to-market rules outlined above, however,
will not apply to certain transactions entered into by the Fund solely to reduce
the risk of changes in price or interest or currency exchange rates with respect
to its investments.
A forward foreign exchange contract that is a Section 1256 contract will be
marked to market, as described above. However, the character of gain or loss
from such a contract will generally be ordinary under Code Section 988. In
certain instances, the Fund may, nonetheless, elect to treat the gain or loss
from certain forward foreign exchange contracts as capital. In this case, gain
or loss realized in connection with a forward foreign exchange contract that is
a Section 1256 contract will be characterized as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term capital gain or loss.
Code Section 1092, which applies to certain "straddles," may affect the
taxation of the Fund's sales of securities and transactions in options, futures
and forward foreign exchange contracts. Under Section 1092, the Fund may be
required to postpone recognition for tax purposes of losses incurred in certain
sales of securities and certain closing transactions in options, futures and
forward foreign exchange contracts.
SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
In general, gains from "foreign currencies" and from foreign currency
options, foreign currency futures and forward foreign exchange contracts
relating to investments in stocks, securities or foreign currencies will be
qualifying income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a
RIC. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of a
foreign currency instrument or how foreign currency options,
38
<PAGE> 70
futures or forward foreign exchange contracts will be valued for purposes of the
RIC diversification requirements applicable to the Fund.
Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (i.e.,
unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In
general, foreign currency gains or losses from certain debt instruments, from
certain forward contracts, from futures contracts that are not "regulated
futures contracts" and from unlisted options will be treated as ordinary income
or loss under Code Section 988. In certain circumstances, the Fund may elect
capital gain or loss treatment for such transactions. Regulated futures
contracts, as described above, will be taxed under Code Section 1256 unless
application of Section 988 is elected by the Fund. In general, however, Code
Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the
investment company taxable income of the Fund available to be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income. Additionally, if Code Section 988 losses exceed
other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would
not be able to make any ordinary income dividend distributions, and all or a
portion of distributions made before the losses were realized but in the same
taxable year would be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders,
thereby reducing the basis of each shareholder's Fund shares and resulting in a
capital gain for any shareholder who received a distribution greater than such
shareholder's basis in Fund shares (assuming the shares were held as a capital
asset). These rules and the mark-to-market rules described above, however, will
not apply to certain transactions entered into by the Fund solely to reduce the
risk of currency fluctuations with respect to its investments.
The Trust and the Fund will apply for a private letter ruling from the IRS
to the effect that, because the Trust is classified as a partnership for tax
purposes, the Fund will be entitled to look to the underlying assets of the
Trust in which it has invested for purposes of satisfying various requirements
of the Code applicable to RICs. If any of the facts upon which such ruling is
premised change in any material respect (e.g., if the Trust were required to
register its interests under the Securities Act) and the Trust is unable to
obtain a private letter ruling from the IRS indicating that it will continue to
be classified as a partnership, then the Board of Directors of the Fund will
determine, in its discretion, the appropriate course of action for the Fund. One
possible course of action would be to withdraw the Fund's investments from the
Trust and to retain an investment adviser to manage the Fund's assets in
accordance with the investment policies applicable to the Fund. See "Investment
Objective and Policies."
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable
provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations presently in effect. For the
complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and
the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and the Treasury
regulations are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative
action either prospectively or retroactively.
Ordinary income and capital gain dividends may also be subject to state and
local taxes.
Certain states exempt from state income taxation dividends paid by RICs
that are derived from interest on U.S. Government obligations. State law varies
as to whether dividend income attributable to U.S. Government obligations is
exempt from state income tax.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to Federal, foreign, state or local taxes. Foreign investors should
consider applicable foreign taxes in their evaluation of an investment in the
Fund.
39
<PAGE> 71
PERFORMANCE DATA
From time to time the Fund may include its average annual total return and
other total return data in advertisements or information furnished to present or
prospective shareholders. Total return is based on the Fund's historical
performance and is not intended to indicate future performance. Average annual
total return is determined separately for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D
shares in accordance with a formula specified by the Commission.
Average annual total return quotations for the specified periods are
computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return (based on net
investment income and any realized and unrealized capital gains or losses on
portfolio investments over such periods) that would equate the initial amount
invested to the redeemable value of such investment at the end of each period.
Average annual total return is computed assuming all dividends and distributions
are reinvested and taking into account all applicable recurring and nonrecurring
expenses, including the maximum sales charge in the case of Class A and Class D
shares and the CDSC that would be applicable to a complete redemption of the
investment at the end of the specified period in the case of Class B and Class C
shares.
Yield quotations will be computed based on a 30-day period by dividing (a)
the net income based on the yield of each security earned during the period by
(b) the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that were
entitled to receive dividends multiplied by the maximum offering price per share
on the last day of the period. Tax equivalent yield quotations will be computed
by dividing (a) the part of the Fund's yield that is tax-exempt by (b) one minus
a stated tax rate and (c) adding the result to that part, if any, of the Fund's
yield that is not tax-exempt.
The Fund also may quote annual, average annual and annualized total return
and aggregate total return performance data, both as a percentage and a dollar
amount based on a hypothetical $1,000 investment, for various periods other than
those noted below. Such data will be computed as described above, except that
(1) as required by the periods of the quotations, actual annual, annualized or
aggregate data, rather than average annual data, may be quoted and (2) the
maximum applicable sales charges will not be included with respect to annual or
annualized rates of return calculations. Aside from the impact on the
performance data calculations of including or excluding the maximum applicable
sales charges, actual annual or annualized total return data generally will be
lower than average annual total return data since the average rates of return
reflect compounding of return; aggregate total return data generally will be
higher than average annual total return data since the aggregate rates of return
reflect compounding over a longer period of time. In advertisements distributed
to investors whose purchases are subject to waiver of the CDSC in the case of
Class B and Class C shares (such as investors in certain retirement plans) or to
reduced sales loads in the case of Class A and Class D shares, the performance
data may take into account the reduced, and not the maximum, sales charge or may
not take into account the CDSC and therefore may reflect greater total return
since, due to the reduced sales charges or waiver of the CDSC, a lower amount of
expenses is deducted. See "Purchase of Shares." The Fund's total return may be
expressed either as a percentage or as a dollar amount in order to illustrate
such total return on a hypothetical $1,000 investment in the Fund at the
beginning of each specified period.
In order to reflect the reduced sales charges in the case of Class A or
Class D shares or the waiver of the CDSC in the case of Class B or Class C
shares applicable to certain investors, as described under "Purchase of Shares"
and "Redemption of Shares," respectively, the total return data quoted by the
Fund in advertisements directed to such investors may take into account the
reduced, and not the maximum, sales charge or may take into account the CDSC and
therefore may reflect greater total return since, due to the reduced sales
charges or the waiver of sales charges, a lower amount of expenses is deducted.
On occasion, the Fund may compare its performance to, among other things,
the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, the Value Line Composite Index, the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, or to other published indices, or to data contained in
publications published by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar
Publications, Inc. ("Morningstar"), or to data contained in publications such as
Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Business Week, Forbes Magazine,
Fortune Magazine and CDA Investment Technology, Inc. When comparing its
performance to a market index, the Fund may refer to various statistical
measures derived from the
40
<PAGE> 72
historic performance of the Fund and the index, such as standard deviation and
beta. As with other performance data, performance comparisons should not be
considered indicative of the Fund's relative performance for any future period.
From time to time the Fund may include the Fund's Morningstar risk-adjusted
performance ratings assigned by Morningstar in advertising or supplemental sales
literature. From time to time the Fund may quote in advertisements or other
materials other applicable measures of performance and may also make reference
to awards that may be given to the Manager.
The Fund's total return will vary depending on market conditions, the
securities held by the Trust, the Trust's operating expenses, the Fund's
operating expenses and the amount of realized and unrealized net capital gains
or losses during the period. The value of an investment in the Fund will
fluctuate and an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less
than their original cost.
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<PAGE> 73
GENERAL INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Fund is a "feeder" fund that invests in the Trust. Investors in the
Fund will acquire an indirect interest in the Trust. The Trust may accept
investments from other feeder funds, and all of the feeders of the Trust bear
the Trust's expenses in proportion to their assets. This structure may enable
the Fund to reduce costs through economies of scale. A larger investment
portfolio also may reduce certain transaction costs to the extent that
contributions to and redemptions from the Trust from different feeders may
offset each other and produce a lower net cash flow. However, each feeder can
set its own transaction minimums, fund-specific expenses, and other conditions.
This means that one feeder could offer access to the Trust on more attractive
terms, or could experience better performance, than another feeder.
The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on October 25, 1999. It has an
authorized capital of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10 per
share, divided into four classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C and Class
D Common Stock, each of which consists of 100,000,000 shares.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and
fractional votes for fractional shares held in the election of Directors (to the
extent hereinafter provided) and on other matters submitted to the vote of
shareholders, except that shareholders of the class bearing distribution
expenses as provided above shall have exclusive voting rights with respect to
matters relating to such distribution expenditures (except that Class B
shareholders may vote upon any material changes to expenses charged under the
Class D Distribution Plan). Voting rights are not cumulative, so that the
holders of more than 50% of the shares voting in the election of Directors can,
if they choose to do so, elect all the Directors of the Fund, in which event the
holders of the remaining shares would be unable to elect any person as a
Director.
Whenever the Trust holds a vote of its feeder funds, the Fund will pass the
vote through to its own shareholders. Smaller feeder funds may be harmed by the
actions of larger feeder funds. For example, a larger feeder fund could have
more voting power than the Fund over the operations of the Trust. The Fund may
withdraw from the Trust at any time and may invest all of its assets in another
pooled investment vehicle or retain an investment adviser to manage the Fund's
assets directly.
There normally will be no meeting of shareholders for the purpose of
electing Directors unless and until such time as less than a majority of the
Directors holding office have been elected by the shareholders, at which time
the Directors then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for the election
of Directors. Shareholders may, in accordance with the terms of the Articles of
Incorporation, cause a meeting of shareholders to be held for the purpose of
voting on the removal of Directors. Also, the Fund will be required to call a
special meeting of shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the
Investment Company Act to seek approval of new management and advisory
arrangements, of a material increase in account maintenance fees or of a change
in fundamental policies, objectives or restrictions. Except as set forth above,
the Directors shall continue to hold office and appoint successor Directors.
Each issued and outstanding share is entitled to participate equally in
dividends and distributions declared and in net assets upon liquidation or
dissolution remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities, except for
any expenses which may be attributable to only one Class. Shares issued are
fully-paid and non-assessable by the Fund. Voting rights for Directors are not
cumulative.
The Trust is organized as a Delaware Business Trust. Whenever the Fund is
requested to vote on any matter relating to the Trust, the Fund will hold a
meeting of its shareholders and will cast its vote as instructed by the Fund's
shareholders.
The Manager provided the initial capital for the Fund by purchasing 10,000
shares of common stock of the Fund for $100,000. Such shares were acquired for
investment and can only be disposed of by redemption. As of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, the Manager owned 100% of the outstanding
common stock of the Fund. The Manager may be deemed to control the Fund until
such time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
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<PAGE> 74
COMPUTATION OF OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE
An illustration of the computation of the offering price for Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class D shares of the Fund based on the value of the Fund's net
assets and number of shares outstanding on the date of this Statement of
Additional Information is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Assets.......................................... $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000
------- ------- ------- -------
Number of Shares Outstanding........................ 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500
------- ------- ------- -------
Net Asset Value Per Share (net assets divided by
number of shares outstanding)..................... $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00
Sales Charge (for Class A and Class D Shares: 5.25%
of Offering Price (5.54% of net amount
invested))*....................................... .55 ** ** .55
------- ------- ------- -------
Offering Price...................................... $ 10.55 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.55
======= ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; assumes maximum sales charge is
applicable.
** Class B and Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge but may
be subject to a CDSC on redemption. See "Account Choices -- Class B and Class
C shares -- Deferred Sales Charge Options" in the Prospectus and "Redemption
of Shares -- Deferred Sales Charges -- Class B and Class C Shares" herein.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Princeton Forrestal Village, 116-300 Village
Boulevard, Princeton, New Jersey 08540-6400, has been selected as the
independent auditors of the Trust and the Fund. The independent auditors are
responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Fund.
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, 12(th) Floor, New York, New
York 10286 (the "Custodian") acts as the custodian of the Trust's and the Fund's
assets. Under its contracts with the Trust and the Fund, the Custodian is
authorized to establish separate accounts in foreign currencies and to cause
foreign securities owned by the Trust and the Fund to be held in its offices
outside the United States and with certain foreign banks and securities
depositories. The Custodian is responsible for safeguarding and controlling the
Trust's and the Fund's cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of
securities and collecting interest and dividends on the Trust's and the Fund's
investments.
TRANSFER AGENT
Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville,
Florida 32246-6484, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ML & Co., acts as the
Fund's Transfer Agent pursuant to a transfer agency, dividend disbursing agency
and shareholder servicing agency agreement (the "Transfer Agency Agreement").
The Transfer Agent is responsible for the issuance, transfer and redemption of
shares and the opening, maintenance and servicing of shareholder accounts.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Brown & Wood LLP, One World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0557, is
counsel for the Trust and the Fund.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The fiscal year of the Fund ends on November 30 of each year. The Fund
sends to its shareholders at least semi-annually reports showing information
related to the Trust and other information. An annual report, containing
financial statements audited by independent auditors, is sent to shareholders
each year. After the end of each year, shareholders will receive Federal income
tax information regarding dividends and capital gains distributions.
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<PAGE> 75
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES
Shareholder inquiries may be addressed to the Fund at the address or
telephone number set forth on the cover page of this Statement of Additional
Information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits
relating thereto, which the Fund has filed with the Commission, Washington,
D.C., under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, to which
reference is hereby made.
Under a separate agreement, ML & Co. has granted the Fund the right to use
the "Merrill Lynch" name and has reserved the right to withdraw its consent to
the use of such name by the Fund at any time or to grant the use of such name to
any other company, and the Fund has granted ML & Co. under certain conditions,
the use of any other name it might assume in the future, with respect to any
corporation organized by ML & Co.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Manager
owned 100% of the outstanding common stock of the Fund. The Manager may be
deemed to control the Fund until such time as it owns less than 25% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund.
44
<PAGE> 76
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Shareholder,
Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Merrill
Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc. as of December 20, 1999. This financial
statement is the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such statement of assets and liabilities presents fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund,
Inc. as of December 20, 1999, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Princeton, New Jersey
December 20, 1999
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<PAGE> 77
MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 20, 1999
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investment in Master Premier Growth Trust................. $100,000
Prepaid registration fees (Note 3)........................ 181,195
Prepaid offering costs (Note 3)........................... 130,000
--------
Total assets........................................... 411,195
LIABILITIES:
Liabilities and accrued expenses.......................... 311,195
--------
NET ASSETS.................................................. $100,000
--------
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:
Class A Shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value,
100,000,000 shares authorized.......................... $ 250
Class B Shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value,
100,000,000 shares authorized.......................... 250
Class C Shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value,
100,000,000 shares authorized.......................... 250
Class D Shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value,
100,000,000 shares authorized.......................... 250
Paid-in Capital in excess of par.......................... 99,000
--------
NET ASSETS $100,000
========
NET ASSET VALUE:
Class A -- Based on net assets of $25,000 and 2,500 shares
outstanding $ 10.00
Class B -- Based on net assets of $25,000 and 2,500 shares
outstanding $ 10.00
Class C -- Based on net assets of $25,000 and 2,500 shares
outstanding $ 10.00
Class D -- Based on net assets of $25,000 and 2,500 shares
outstanding $ 10.00
========
</TABLE>
- ---------------
Notes to Financial Statement.
(1) Merrill Lynch Premier Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") was organized as a
Maryland corporation on October 25, 1999 and is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified open-end
management investment company. To date, the Fund has not had any
transactions other than those relating to organizational matters and the
sale of 2,500 Class A shares, 2,500 Class B shares, 2,500 Class C shares and
2,500 Class D shares of Common Stock to Fund Asset Management, L.P. (the
"Manager"). The Fund invests all of its assets in Master Premier Growth
Trust (the "Trust").
(2) The Trust will enter into an investment management agreement with the
Manager. The Fund will enter into distribution agreements with Merrill Lynch
Funds Distributor, a division of Princeton Funds, Distributor, Inc. (the
"Distributor"). (See "Management of the Fund -- Management and Advisory
Arrangements" in the Statement of Additional Information.) Certain officers
and/or trustees of the Trust and certain officers and/or directors of the
Fund are officers and/or directors of the Manager and the Distributor.
(3) Prepaid registration fees are charged to income as the related shares are
issued. Prepaid offering costs consist of legal and printing fees related to
preparing the initial registration statement, and will be amortized over a
12 month period beginning with the commencement of operations of the Fund.
The Manager, on behalf of the Fund, will incur organization costs estimated
at $20,375.
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<PAGE> 78
CODE #: 19083-1299
