<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.9
Brown & Wood LLP
One World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048-0557
Telephone: 212-839-5300
Facsimile: 212-839-5599
October 10, 2000
Mercury Basic Value Fund, Inc.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Mercury Basic Value Fund, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland (the "Fund"), in
connection with the organization of the Fund and its registration as an
open-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the registration
of an indefinite number of shares of common stock designated Class I, Class A,
Class B and Class C, par value $0.10 per share, of the Fund (the "Shares")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which registration is being
effected pursuant to a registration statement on Form N-1A (File No.
333-38060), as amended (the "Registration Statement").
As counsel for the Fund, we are familiar with the proceedings taken
by it in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares.
In addition, we have examined and are familiar with the Articles of
Incorporation of the Fund, the By-Laws of the Fund and such other documents as
we have deemed relevant to the matters referred to in this opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, upon
issuance and sale in the manner referred to in the Registration Statement for
consideration not less than the par value thereof, will be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock of the Fund.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the prospectus and
statement of additional information constituting parts thereof.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brown & Wood LLP
LOS ANGELES * SAN FRANCISCO * WASHINGTON D.C. * BEIJING * TOKYO REPRESENTATIVE
OFFICE AFFILIATED WITH BROWN & WOOD, A MULTINATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH OFFICES
IN LONDON AND HONG KONG
