<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
-----------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-2740599
-------------- --------------
(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
World Financial Center
North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
----------------------------- ---------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
- ------------------- ------------------------------
Constant Maturity U.S. American Stock Exchange
Treasury Yield
Increase Warrants,
Expiring January 25, 1996
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of class)
<PAGE>
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Notes to be Registered.
--------------------------------------------------
The description of the general terms and provisions of the Constant
Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield Increase Warrants, Expiring January 25, 1996 to be
issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Warrants") set forth in the
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated October 21, 1994, and the Prospectus
dated March 24, 1994, attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a) is hereby incorporated by
reference and contains certain proposed terms and provisions. The description
of the Warrants contained in the Prospectus Supplement to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under Registration
Statement Number 33-52647, which will contain the final terms and provisions of
the Warrants, is hereby deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof.
Item 2. Exhibits.
--------
99(a) Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated October 21, 1994, and
Prospectus dated March 24, 1994.
99(b) Form of Global Warrant.
99(c) Form of Warrant Agreement between Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and
Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent.
Other securities issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. are listed on the
American Stock Exchange.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
By: /s/ Gregory T. Russo
________________________
Gregory T. Russo
Secretary
Date: October 24, 1994
2
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
EXHIBITS
TO
FORM 8-A DATED OCTOBER 24, 1994
Commission File No. 1-7182
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
-----------------
Exhibit No. Page No.
- ---------- -------
99(a) Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated October 21,
1994, and Prospectus dated March 24, 1994.
99(b) Form of Global Warrant.
99(c) Form of Warrant Agreement between Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99(a)
PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO COMPLETION AND AMENDMENT
ISSUE DATE: OCTOBER 21, 1994
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
- ---------------------
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED MARCH 24, 1994)
LOGO
MERRILL LYNCH & CO, INC.
2,000,000 CONSTANT MATURITY U.S. TREASURY YIELD INCREASE WARRANTS, EXPIRING
JANUARY 25, 1996
Each Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield Increase Warrant ("Warrant") will
entitle the Holder thereof to receive from Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the
"Company") a payment, if any, (the "Cash Settlement Value") on January 25, 1996
(the "Expiration Date"), or on such earlier date as described herein, based
upon the increase in the CMT Yield. The CMT Yield is the yield to maturity on
U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity of two years as more fully
described herein. The Cash Settlement Value will equal the greater of (i) U.S.
$100 x 4 x (Spot Yield - Strike Yield) and (ii) zero. The "Strike Yield" will
equal the CMT Yield on the date the Warrants are priced by the Company for
initial offering to the public. The "Spot Yield" will equal the CMT Yield on
the Exercise Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent. The Warrants will be
automatically exercised on the earlier of the fifth New York Business Day
immediately preceding January 25, 1996 or the New York Business Day immediately
preceding the date of occurrence of certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization involving the Company or the date of their earlier expiration
upon delisting from, or permanent suspension from trading on, the American
Stock Exchange unless the Warrants are simultaneously accepted for trading
pursuant to the rules of another Self-Regulatory Organization (as defined
herein). The Warrants are not exercisable at the option of the Holder. See
"Description of the Warrants".
THE WARRANTS INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, INCLUDING THE RISK OF EXPIRING
WORTHLESS UNLESS THE CMT YIELD INCREASES. INVESTORS THEREFORE SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THEIR WARRANTS, AND
ARE ADVISED TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE INFORMATION UNDER "RISK FACTORS RELATING
TO THE WARRANTS", "DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS", "DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS--
AUTOMATIC EXERCISE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE" AND "CERTAIN UNITED STATES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE WARRANTS".
Prior to issuance, the Warrants will have been approved for listing by the
American Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC DISCOUNTS THE COMPANY(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Warrant............................. $ $ $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... $ $ $
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company.
----------------
The Warrants are offered by the Underwriter, subject to prior sale, when, as
and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriter, subject to certain other
conditions. The Underwriter reserves the right to reject orders in whole or in
part. It is expected that delivery of the Warrants will be made on or about
, 1994.
This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus may be used by the
Underwriter in connection with offers and sales related to market-making
transactions in the Securities. The Underwriter may act as principal or agent
in such transactions. Such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing
market prices at the time of sale.
----------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
----------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is , 1994.
<PAGE>
IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING OF THE WARRANTS, THE UNDERWRITER MAY OVER-
ALLOT OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF
THE WARRANTS AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE, IN
THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY
BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
----------------
THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS NOT APPROVED
OR DISAPPROVED THIS OFFERING NOR HAS THE COMMISSIONER PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR PROSPECTUS.
S-2
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
The information below is qualified in its entirety by the detailed
information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in the
Prospectus.
THE OFFERING
Securities Offered.......... 2,000,000 Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield
Increase Warrants, Expiring January 25, 1996
(the "Warrants").
Cash Settlement Value.......
Each Warrant will entitle the Holder thereof to
receive from the Company upon expiration a cash
payment (the "Cash Settlement Value") based upon
the increase in the CMT Yield. The Cash
Settlement Value of a Warrant will be determined
on the Exercise Date as the amount which is the
greater of:
(i) $100 x 4 x (Spot Yield - Strike Yield),
and
(ii) $0.
See "Description of the Warrants--Cash Settlement
Value."
Spot Yield.................. The CMT Yield on the Exercise Date as determined
by the Calculation Agent.
Strike Yield................ The CMT Yield on the date the Warrants are priced
by the Company for initial offering to the
public.
CMT Yield................... The CMT Yield is based on the yield of certain
U.S. Treasury securities. U.S. Treasury
securities, including those used to calculate
the CMT Yield, are direct obligations of the
United States government and carry the full
faith and credit of the United States of
America. The Warrants, however, are solely the
obligation of the Company and are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States.
If the CMT Yield is determined using yields
reported on Telerate Page 7052, in H.15(519) or
as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York as described in "Description of the
Warrants--Cash Settlement Value", the CMT Yield
will be a one-week average yield on 2-year
United States Treasury securities at "constant
maturity" (the "Weekly CMT Yield"). Yields on
Treasury securities at "constant maturity" used
to calculate the Weekly CMT Yield are
interpolated from the daily yield curve. This
curve, which relates the yield on a security to
its time to maturity, is based upon the market
yields on actively traded Treasury securities in
the over-the-counter market. The constant
maturity yield values are derived from the yield
curve at fixed maturities. This method permits
estimation of the yield for a two year maturity,
even if no outstanding security has exactly two
years remaining to maturity. If the Weekly CMT
Yield cannot be calculated, the CMT Yield will
be determined based on the yield to maturity of
certain Treasury securities on the Exercise Date
based on secondary market offer prices of
certain dealers as more fully described in
"Description of the Warrants--Cash Settlement
Value".
S-3
<PAGE>
Automatic Exercise of The Warrants will be automatically exercised on
Warrants.................... the fifth New York Business Day, as hereinafter
defined, immediately preceding January 25, 1996
or, if the Warrants are subject to automatic
exercise in the event they cease to be traded
pursuant to the rules of a Self-Regulatory
Organization or if certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization involving the
Company occur, the New York Business Day
immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date.
The Warrants will be automatically exercised on
the Exercise Date and are not exercisable at the
option of the Holder. See "Description of the
Warrants--Exercise of Warrants" and "Description
of the Warrants--Automatic Exercise Prior to the
Expiration Date".
Form........................ The Warrants will be in book-entry form and,
accordingly, no owner of a Warrant will be
entitled to receive a certificate representing
such Warrants. See "Description of the
Warrants--Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement".
Listing..................... Prior to issuance, the Warrants will have been
approved for listing by the American Stock
Exchange, subject to official notice of
issuance.
AMEX Symbol................. YIX.WS
Certain Risk Factors........ The Warrants involve a high degree of risk,
including the risk of expiring worthless. If the
Spot Yield is equal to or less than the Strike
Yield, the Warrant will expire worthless.
INVESTORS THEREFORE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF
THEIR WARRANTS.
The Warrants are not exercisable at the option of
the Holder.
It is not possible to predict the price at which
the Warrants will trade in the secondary market
or whether such market will be liquid or
illiquid. The trading value of a Warrant is
expected to be dependent upon a number of
complex interrelated factors, including the CMT
Yield, the volatility of the CMT Yield and the
time remaining to the expiration of the
Warrants.
In the event that the Warrants are delisted from,
or permanently suspended from trading on, the
American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not
simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant to
the rules of another self-regulatory
organization whose rules are filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (a "Self-
Regulatory Organization") under the Securities
Act of 1934, as amended, the Warrants will be
automatically exercised on the New York Business
Day immediately preceding the date such
delisting or trading suspension becomes
effective. At the time of such automatic
exercise, the Warrants may be out-of-the-money
such that the Cash Settlement Value will equal
zero.
The initial public offering price of the Warrants
is expected to be in excess of the price a
commercial purchaser might pay in the market for
a comparable option involving significantly
larger amounts.
S-4
<PAGE>
The CMT Yield is based upon the value of United
States Treasury securities. The value of any
debt, including U.S. government debt, may be
affected by complex political and economic
factors, including the rate of inflation, growth
of gross national product and balance of
payments for the United States.
Prospective investors in the Warrants should be
aware that the proper characterization of the
Warrants for United States Federal income tax
purposes is uncertain and that the ultimate
United States Federal income tax treatment of
the Warrants could differ significantly
depending upon how the Warrants are
characterized for United States Federal income
tax purposes. Accordingly, prospective investors
in the Warrants are urged to consult their own
tax advisors as to the proper characterization
of the Warrants for United States Federal income
tax purposes.
Investors are advised to carefully consider the
foregoing risk factors, and the risks and other
matters discussed under "Risk Factors Relating
to the Warrants", "Description of the Warrants"
and "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations Concerning the Warrants", prior
to purchasing the Warrants.
Investors in Warrants....... The AMEX requires that Warrants be sold only to
investors with options approved accounts and
requires that its members and member
organizations and registered employees thereof
make certain suitability determinations before
recommending transactions in Warrants. It is
suggested that investors considering purchasing
the Warrants be experienced with respect to
options on securities and option transactions
and reach an investment decision only after
carefully considering the suitability of the
Warrants in light of their particular
circumstances. The Warrants are not suitable for
persons solely dependent upon a fixed income,
for retirement plan accounts or for accounts
under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act. INVESTORS
SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF
THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THEIR WARRANTS.
S-5
<PAGE>
CERTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WARRANTS
A Holder will receive a cash payment on the Expiration Date only if the
Warrants have a Cash Settlement Value in excess of zero on the Exercise Date.
The Spot Yield determined on the Exercise Date will establish whether the
Warrants have a positive Cash Settlement Value on the Expiration Date. The
Warrants may be "out-of-the-money" (i.e., their Cash Settlement Value will be
zero) when initially sold and the Warrants will be "in-the-money" (i.e., their
Cash Settlement Value will exceed zero) on the Exercise Date only if the Spot
Yield is greater than the Strike Yield. If the Spot Yield is equal to or less
than the Strike Yield on the Exercise Date, the Warrant will expire worthless
and the Holder will have sustained a total loss of the purchase price of such
Warrant. Investors therefore should be prepared to sustain a total loss of the
purchase price of their Warrants.
On October 18, 1994 the CMT Yield quoted by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System for the week ended October 14, 1994 was 6.63%.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE WARRANTS
THE WARRANTS INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, INCLUDING THE RISK OF EXPIRING
WORTHLESS. INVESTORS THEREFORE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF
THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THEIR WARRANTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT INVESTORS
CONSIDERING PURCHASING THE WARRANTS BE EXPERIENCED WITH RESPECT TO OPTIONS ON
SECURITIES AND OPTION TRANSACTIONS AND REACH AN INVESTMENT DECISION ONLY AFTER
CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ALL THE RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE SUITABILITY OF THE WARRANTS IN LIGHT OF THEIR
PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND ALL THE OTHER INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS.
Exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants will be automatically exercised on the
Exercise Date and are not exercisable at the option of the Holder.
Automatic Exercise of the Warrants upon Delisting. In the event that the
Warrants are delisted from, or permanently suspended from trading on, the
American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not simultaneously accepted for
trading pursuant to the rules of another self-regulatory organization (a "Self-
Regulatory Organization") that are filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, the Warrants will
expire on the date such delisting or trading suspension becomes effective and
will be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day immediately
preceding the date of such early expiration. At the time of such automatic
exercise, the Warrants may be out-of-the-money such that the Cash Settlement
Value will equal zero.
Offering Price of the Warrants. The initial public offering price of the
Warrants is expected to be in excess of the price a commercial purchaser of or
dealer in options on the CMT Yield might pay for a comparable option involving
significantly larger amounts.
Certain Factors Affecting the Value of the Warrants. Each Warrant may have a
Cash Settlement Value of zero at issuance. The Cash Settlement Value of the
Warrants at any time prior to expiration is typically expected to be less than
the Warrants' trading value at that time. The difference between the trading
value and the Cash Settlement Value will reflect a number of factors, including
a "time value" for the Warrants. The "time value" of the Warrants will depend
upon the length of the period remaining to expiration, among other factors. The
expiration date of the Warrants will be accelerated should the Warrants be
delisted or should their trading on the American Stock Exchange be suspended
permanently unless the Warrants simultaneously are accepted for trading
pursuant to the rules of another Self-Regulatory Organization. Any such
acceleration would result in the total loss of any otherwise remaining "time
value" and could occur when the Warrants are out-of-the-money, thus resulting
in total loss of the purchase price of the Warrants. See "Description of the
Warrants--Automatic Exercise Prior to the Expiration Date". Before selling
Warrants, owners of Warrants should carefully consider the trading value of the
Warrants, the value of the CMT Yield and probable range of Cash Settlement
Values and any related transaction costs.
S-6
<PAGE>
There can be no assurance as to how the Warrants will trade in the secondary
market or whether such market will be liquid. The trading value of a Warrant is
expected to be dependent upon a number of complex interrelated factors,
including those listed below. The expected theoretical effect on the trading
value of a Warrant of each of the factors listed below, assuming in each case
that all other factors are held constant, is as follows:
(1) The CMT Yield. If the CMT Yield increases relative to the Strike
Yield, the trading value of a Warrant is expected to increase. If the CMT
Yield decreases relative to the Strike Yield, the trading value of a
Warrant is expected to decrease.
(2) The volatility of the CMT Yield. If the volatility of the CMT Yield
increases, the trading value of a Warrant is expected to increase. If such
volatility decreases, the trading value of a Warrant is expected to
decrease.
(3) The general level of interest rates in the United States. If the
general level of interest rates in the United States increases, the trading
value of a Warrant is expected to increase. If the general level of
interest rates in the United States decreases, the trading value of a
Warrant is expected to decrease.
(4) The time remaining to the expiration date of the Warrants. As the
time remaining to the expiration date of the Warrants decreases, the
trading value of a Warrant is expected to decrease.
As noted above, these hypothetical scenarios are based on the assumption that
all other factors are held constant. In reality, it is unlikely that only one
factor would change in isolation, since changes in one factor usually cause, or
result from, changes in others. Some of the factors referred to above are, in
turn, influenced by the political and economic factors discussed below.
Warrants Not Standardized Options Issued by the Options Clearing
Corporation. Each Warrant constitutes an option having a value based upon one
or more United States Treasury securities, as calculated in the CMT Yield.
However, the Warrants are not standardized options of the type issued by the
Options Clearing Corporation (the "OCC"), a clearing agency regulated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. For example, unlike purchasers of OCC
standardized options who have the credit benefits of guarantees and margin and
collateral deposits by OCC clearing members to protect the OCC from a clearing
member's failure, purchasers of Warrants must look solely to the Company for
performance of its obligations to pay the Cash Settlement Value on the exercise
of Warrants. Further, the market for the Warrants is not expected to be
generally as liquid as the market for some OCC standardized options.
The Warrants are unsecured contractual obligations of the Company and will
rank on a parity with the Company's other unsecured contractual obligations and
with the Company's unsecured and unsubordinated debt. However, since the
Company is a holding company, the right of the Company, and hence the right of
creditors of the Company (including Holders of the Warrants), to participate in
any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of
creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the Company
itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. In addition,
dividends, loans and advances from certain subsidiaries, including Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, to the Company are restricted by
net capital requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and under rules of certain exchanges and other regulatory bodies.
General Risk Considerations. Options and warrants provide opportunities for
investment and pose risks to investors as a result of fluctuations in the value
of the underlying investment. In general, certain of the risks associated with
the Warrants are similar to those generally applicable to other options or
warrants of private corporate issuers.
The purchaser of a Warrant may lose his entire investment. This risk reflects
the nature of a Warrant as an asset which tends to decline in value over time
and which may, depending on the CMT Yield as compared to the Strike Yield,
become worthless when it expires. Assuming all other factors are held constant,
the more a Warrant is out-of-the-money and the shorter its remaining term to
expiration, the greater the risk that a
S-7
<PAGE>
purchaser of the Warrant will lose all of his investment. This means that the
purchaser of a Warrant who does not sell it in the secondary market will
necessarily lose his entire investment in the Warrant if it expires when the
Spot Yield is less than or equal to the Strike Yield.
If the CMT Yield does not increase relative to the Strike Yield to an extent
sufficient to cover an investor's cost of the Warrant (i.e., the purchase price
plus transaction costs, if any) before the Warrant expires, the investor will
lose all or a part of his investment in the Warrant upon expiration.
The CMT Yield is derived from United States Treasury securities. The value of
any debt security, including Treasury securities, may be affected by complex
political and economic factors, including the rate of inflation, growth of
gross national product and balance of payments for the United States.
Prospective investors in the Warrants should be aware that the proper
characterization of the Warrants for United Stated Federal income tax purposes
is uncertain and that the ultimate United States Federal income tax treatment
of the Warrants could differ significantly depending upon how the Warrants are
characterized for United States Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly,
prospective investors in the Warrants are urged to consult their own tax
advisors as to the proper characterization of the Warrants for United States
Federal income tax purposes.
The AMEX requires that Warrants be sold only to investors with options
approved accounts and requires that its members and member organizations and
registered employees thereof make certain suitability determinations before
recommending transactions in Warrants. It is suggested that investors
considering purchasing the Warrants be experienced with respect to options on
securities and option transactions and understand the risks of transactions
such as the Warrants and reach an investment decision only after carefully
considering the suitability of the Warrants in light of their particular
circumstances. The Warrants are not suitable for persons solely dependant upon
a fixed income, for retirement plan accounts or for accounts under the Uniform
Gift to Minors Act. INVESTORS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE
PURCHASE PRICE OF THEIR WARRANTS.
S-8
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The following summary of certain consolidated financial information
concerning the Company was derived from, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the financial information and data contained in the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 18, 1994, Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 1994, and Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1993. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Current Report on Form 8-K,
dated October 18, 1994, which includes preliminary unaudited financial
information for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, will be superseded by
the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1994. The condensed consolidated financial statements contained in the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 1994 and
the results of operations contained in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated October 18, 1994 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management
of the Company, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals
and, in 1993, a non-recurring charge related to the Company's decision not to
occupy certain office space) necessary for a fair statement of the results of
operations have been included.
The Company conducts its business in highly volatile markets. Consequently,
the Company's results can be affected by many factors, including general
market conditions, the liquidity of secondary markets, the level and
volatility of interest rates and currency values, the valuation of securities
positions, competitive conditions, and the size, number, and timing of
transactions. In periods of unfavorable market activity, profitability can be
adversely affected because certain expenses remain relatively fixed. As a
result, net earnings and revenues can vary significantly from period to
period. Thus, interim results may not necessarily be representative of the
full year results of operations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Income Statement Information NINE MONTHS ENDED
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------
SEPTEMBER 24, SEPTEMBER 30,
1993 1994
-------------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
-------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues........................................ $ 12,062,041 $ 13,749,334
Net revenues(/1/)............................... $ 7,800,233 $ 7,531,792
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle....... $ 1,827,528 $ 1,474,392
Cumulative effect of change in accounting prin-
ciple(/2/)..................................... $ (35,420) $ --
Net earnings.................................... $ 1,011,700 $ 855,147
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(/3/)......... 1.4 --
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, JULY 1,
Balance Sheet Information 1993 1994
- ------------------------- -------------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
-------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Total assets(/4/)(/5/).......................... $ 152,910,362 $ 174,006,536
Long-term borrowings(/4/)(/6/).................. $ 13,468,900 $ 15,289,293
Stockholders' equity(/4/)....................... $ 5,485,913 $ 5,628,394
</TABLE>
- --------
Notes--
(1) Net revenues are revenues net of interest expense.
(2) Net earnings for 1993 have been reduced by $35,420,000 for the adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers'
Accounting for Postemployment Benefits".
(3) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September
30, 1994 is not available as of the date of this Prospectus Supplement.
For the six months ended July 1, 1994, the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges was 1.3. For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to
fixed charges, "earnings" consists of earnings from continuing operations
before income taxes and fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consists of
interest costs, that portion of rentals estimated to be representative of
the interest factor, and amortization of debt expense.
(4) Certain information as of September 30, 1994 is not available as of the
date of this Prospectus Supplement.
(5) On January 1, 1994, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards
Board Interpretation No. 39, "Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain
Contracts," which increased assets and liabilities at July 1, 1994 by
approximately $13,500,000,000.
(6) To finance its diverse activities, the Company and certain subsidiaries
borrow substantial amounts of short-term funds on a regular basis.
Although the amount of short-term borrowings significantly varies with the
level of general business activity, on July 1, 1994, $623,101,000 of bank
loans and $13,932,942,000 of commercial paper were outstanding. In
addition, certain of the Company's subsidiaries lend securities and enter
into repurchase agreements to obtain financing. At July 1, 1994, cash
deposits for securities loaned and securities sold under agreements to
repurchase amounted to $1,525,237,000 and $60,081,702,000, respectively.
From July 2, 1994 to October 17, 1994, long-term borrowings, net of
repayments and repurchases, increased in the amount of approximately
$597,012,000.
S-9
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Financial markets, strong throughout 1993 and the first six weeks of 1994,
weakened as a result of rising interest rates, unsettled currency markets,
volatile stock and bond markets, and investor caution. The broad market
decline, initially triggered by an increase in short-term interest rates in
February 1994 by the Federal Reserve, continued during the remainder of the
period ended September 30, 1994. As a result, volumes in institutional and
retail investor business activities decreased industrywide. These conditions
affected the Company's 1994 third quarter results. Net earnings were $231.6
million in the 1994 third quarter, down 8% from the 1994 second quarter and 36%
from the 1993 third quarter. Net revenues in the 1994 third quarter were $2,302
million, down 4% from the 1994 second quarter and 13% from the 1993 third
quarter, while non-interest expenses were $1,913 million, down 3% from the 1994
second quarter and 4% from the 1993 third quarter.
For the first nine months of 1994, net earnings were $855.1 million, down
$156.6 million (15%) from $1,011.7 million reported in last year's record nine-
month period. Net earnings for the 1993 nine-month period included a $35.4
million cumulative effect charge (net of $25.1 million of applicable income tax
benefits) related to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits". Earnings
before the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle decreased
18% from $1,047.1 million reported in the comparable 1993 period. Earnings per
common share for the first nine months of 1994 were $3.98 primary and $3.97
fully diluted versus $4.45 primary and $4.42 fully diluted ($4.61 primary and
$4.58 fully diluted, before the 1993 cumulative effect charge) in the prior
year's period. As previously reported, 1993 nine-month results included a non-
recurring pretax lease charge totaling $103.0 million ($59.7 million after
income taxes) related to the Company's decision not to occupy certain office
space at its World Financial Center Headquarters ("Headquarters") facility. An
agreement to sublet this space was entered into in the 1993 fourth quarter.
Total revenues increased 14% from the 1993 nine-month period to $13,749
million. Net revenues (revenues after interest expense) decreased 3% to $7,532
million for the first nine months of 1994.
Commissions revenues increased 7% from the 1993 nine-month period to $2,232
million on the strength of higher mutual fund, commodity, and listed securities
transactions commissions. Mutual fund commissions benefited from increased
distribution fees and redemption fees earned on mutual funds sold in prior
periods. Sales of third-party mutual funds were up from a year ago; however,
transactions in such funds declined during the 1994 second and third quarters
relative to the 1994 first quarter. Sales of mutual funds managed by the
Company have increased from the 1993 nine-month period. Commissions on listed
securities benefited from higher trading volume. Other commissions revenues
advanced principally as a result of higher revenues from commodity transactions
partially offset by lower commissions from money market instruments.
Interest and dividend revenues for the first nine months of 1994 rose 38% to
$6,956 million. Interest expense, which includes dividend expense, increased
46% to $6,218 million. Net interest profit decreased 7% to $738 million due
primarily to an increase in short-term interest rates and a general flattening
of the yield curve, which is the difference between short-term and long-term
interest rates. As a result, interest spreads declined, while financing and
hedging costs increased from the comparable 1993 period.
Principal transactions revenues decreased 16% from the 1993 nine-month period
to $1,881 million as a result of rising interest rates and lower volumes. For
the first nine months of 1994, fixed-income and foreign exchange trading
revenues, in the aggregate, decreased 16% to $1,432 million. Lower revenues
from corporate bonds and preferred stock, non-U.S. governments and agencies
securities, foreign exchange trading, and money market instruments, were
partially offset by higher revenues from swaps and derivatives, municipal
securities, mortgage-backed securities, and U.S. Government and agency
securities. Equity and commodity trading revenues, in the aggregate, declined
16% to $449 million as lower trading revenues and a loss in convertible
securities were partially offset by higher revenues from trading in commodities
and foreign equities.
S-10
<PAGE>
Investment banking revenues totaled $1,012 million, down 23% in the 1994
nine-month period. Underwriting activity was slow as domestic volume
industrywide declined 29% from the comparable 1993 period. Lower underwriting
revenues were reported in most categories, including equities, corporate bonds
and preferred stock, convertible securities, and municipal bonds. Strategic
services revenues, which include merger and acquisition fees and advisory fees,
benefited from increased merger and acquisition advisory assignments in various
industries.
Asset management and portfolio service fees increased 15% to $1,308 million
principally as a result of growth in stock and bond fund assets under
management. Other revenues rose 63% from the 1993 nine-month period to $360
million due to net realized investment gains in the 1994 period, compared with
net investment losses in the comparable 1993 period.
Non-interest expenses increased 1% over the corresponding 1993 period to
$6,057 million (3% excluding the non-recurring pretax lease charge of $103.0
million). Compensation and benefits expense, which represented approximately
63% of non-interest expenses, was virtually unchanged from the 1993 nine-month
period. Higher salary and benefit expenses related to an increase in the number
of full-time employees were offset by lower levels of variable compensation.
Compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of net revenues, was 50.8%
in the first nine months of 1994, compared with 49.2% in the corresponding 1993
period.
Occupancy costs decreased 28% from the corresponding 1993 period (7%
excluding the non-recurring pretax lease charge of $103.0 million), benefiting
from continued relocation of support staff to lower cost facilities and reduced
space requirements at the Headquarters facility. Other facilities-related
costs, which include communications and equipment rental expense and
depreciation and amortization expense, rose 11% primarily due to the increased
use of market data and news services, and higher depreciation expense from the
acquisition of technology-related equipment.
Advertising and market development expenses rose 8% from the 1993 nine-month
period as a result of increased travel costs related to international business
activity and higher recognition program costs. These expenses were partially
offset by reductions in advertising costs. Professional fees were up 37% from
the year-ago period due primarily to increased system consulting fees related
to technology improvements. Brokerage, clearing, and exchange fees were up 22%
from last year's nine-month period reflecting increased clearinghouse fees
related to risk management activities in volatile markets and higher commodity
trading volume. Other expenses advanced 6% due, in part, to increased
provisions related to various business activities.
Income tax expense totaled $619 million for the first nine months of 1994,
down 21% from the year earlier period due primarily to lower profitability. The
effective tax rate for the 1994 nine-month period was 42.0% versus 42.7% in the
comparable 1993 period.
CERTAIN BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION AS OF JULY 1, 1994
Balance sheet information as of September 30, 1994 is not available as of the
date of this Prospectus Supplement. On January 1, 1994, the Company adopted
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 39 ("Interpretation No.
39"), "Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts". Interpretation No.
39 affects the financial statement presentation of balances related to swap,
forward, and other similar exchange or conditional type contracts, and certain
unconditional type contracts. Prior to the adoption of Interpretation No. 39,
the Company followed industry practice in reporting balances related to certain
types of contracts on a net basis. Unrealized gains and losses for swap,
forward, and other similar contracts were reported net on the balance sheet by
contract type, while certain receivables and payables related to resale and
repurchase agreements were reported net by counterparty. The effect of
Interpretation No. 39 increased assets and liabilities at July 1, 1994 by
approximately $13.5 billion.
S-11
<PAGE>
The Company believes that its equity base is adequate relative to the level
and composition of its assets and the mix of its businesses.
In the normal course of business, the Company underwrites, trades, and holds
non-investment grade securities in connection with its market-making,
investment banking, and derivative structuring activities. These activities are
subject to risks related to the creditworthiness of the issuers and the
liquidity of the market for such securities, in addition to the usual risks
associated with investing in, extending credit, underwriting, and trading in
investment grade instruments.
At July 1, 1994, the fair value of long and short non-investment grade
trading inventories amounted to $3,507 million and $474 million, respectively,
and in the aggregate (i.e., the sum of long and short trading inventories),
represented 4.2% of aggregate consolidated trading inventories.
At July 1, 1994, the carrying value of the extensions of credit provided to
corporations entering into leveraged transactions aggregated $249 million
(excluding unutilized revolving lines of credit and other lending commitments
of $54 million), consisting primarily of senior term and subordinated
financings to 36 medium-sized corporations. At July 1, 1994, the Company had no
bridge loans outstanding. Loans to highly leveraged corporations are carried at
unpaid principal balances less a reserve for estimated losses. The allowance
for loan losses is estimated based on a review of each loan, and consideration
of economic, market, and credit conditions. Subsequent to July 1, 1994, the
Company committed to loan up to $126 million to a non-investment grade
counterparty. The Company has participated $111 million of this commitment to
third parties, and has funded approximately $8 million of its remaining $15
million commitment. Direct equity investments made in conjunction with the
Company's investment and merchant banking activities aggregated $288 million at
July 1, 1994, representing investments in 80 enterprises. Equity investments in
privately-held corporations for which sale is restricted by government or
contractual requirements are carried at the lower of cost or estimated net
realizable value. At July 1, 1994, the Company held interests in partnerships,
totaling $96 million (recorded on the cost basis), that invest in highly
leveraged transactions and non-investment grade securities. Prior to July 1,
1994, the Company had a co-investment arrangement to enter into direct equity
investments. At July 1, 1994, the additional co-investment commitments were $12
million. At July 1, 1994, the Company also committed to invest an additional
$29 million in partnerships that invest in leveraged transactions. Subsequent
to July 1, 1994, the Company committed to invest up to $50 million over a five-
year period in another partnership that invests in leveraged transactions.
The Company's insurance subsidiaries hold non-investment grade securities. At
July 1, 1994, non-investment grade insurance investments were $431 million,
representing 6.8% of total insurance investments. At July 1, 1994, non-
investment grade securities of insurance subsidiaries were classified as
trading or available-for-sale and were carried at fair value.
At July 1, 1994, the largest non-investment grade concentration consisted of
various issues of a Latin American sovereign totaling $375 million, of which
$95 million represented on-balance-sheet hedges for off-balance-sheet
instruments. No single industry sector accounted for more than 19% of total
non-investment grade positions. At July 1, 1994, the Company held an aggregate
carrying value of $257 million in debt and equity securities of issuers in
various stages of bankruptcy proceedings. Approximately 63% of this amount
resulted from the Company's market-making activities.
S-12
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS
GENERAL
An aggregate of 2,000,000 Warrants will be issued. The Warrants will be
issued under a Warrant Agreement (the "Warrant Agreement"), to be dated as of
, 1994, between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent (the
"Warrant Agent"). The following statements with respect to the Warrants are
summaries of the detailed provisions of the Warrant Agreement, the form of
which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Wherever particular
provisions of the Warrant Agreement or terms defined therein are referred to,
such provisions or definitions are incorporated by reference herein as a part
of the statements made, and the statements are qualified in their entirety by
such reference.
A Warrant will not require, or entitle, a Holder to sell or purchase a U.S.
Treasury security to or from the Company. The Company will make only a cash
settlement, if any, with respect to the Warrants.
The Warrants will expire on January 25, 1996 (the "Expiration Date") or on
such earlier date as described under "Exercise of Warrants" and "Automatic
Exercise Prior to the Expiration Date". The Warrants will be automatically
exercised on the Exercise Date, as set forth under "Exercise of Warrants", and
are not exercisable at the option of the Holder. The term "New York Business
Day", as used herein, means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day
on which commercial banks in The City of New York are required or authorized by
law or executive order to be closed.
The Warrants will be unsecured contractual obligations of the Company and
will rank on a parity with the Company's other unsecured contractual
obligations and with the Company's unsecured and unsubordinated debt. However,
since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company, and hence the
right of creditors of the Company (including Holders of the Warrants), to
participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its
liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior
claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the
Company itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. In addition,
dividends, loans and advances from certain subsidiaries, including Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, to the Company are restricted by
net capital requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and under rules of certain exchanges and other regulatory bodies.
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
The Warrants are not exercisable at the option of the Holder. The Warrants
will be automatically exercised on the fifth New York Business Day immediately
preceding the Expiration Date or, if an Early Expiration Date occurs, the New
York Business Day immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date (the
"Exercise Date").
The Warrant Agent will obtain the Spot Yield on the Exercise Date from
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Calculation Agent"),
an affiliate of the Company, and determine the Cash Settlement Value of the
Warrants. The Warrant Agent will pay the Cash Settlement Value of a Warrant to
the Securities Depository by check on the Expiration Date and, if January 25,
1996 is not a New York Business Day, on the next succeeding New York Business
Day. If an Early Expiration Date occurs, as described below under "Automatic
Exercise Prior to the Expiration Date", the Warrant Agent will pay the Cash
Settlement Value of a Warrant to the Securities Depository by check on the
fifth New York Business Day following the Early Expiration Date. See
"Description of the Warrants--Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement".
CASH SETTLEMENT VALUE
The Cash Settlement Value of a Warrant will be determined on the Exercise
Date as the amount which is the greater of:
(i) $100 x 4 x (Spot Yield - Strike Yield), and
(ii) $0.
S-13
<PAGE>
The "Strike Yield" will equal the CMT Yield on the date the Warrants are
priced by the Company for initial offering to the public. The "Spot Yield" will
be determined on the Exercise Date by the Calculation Agent as follows:
(i) The Spot Yield will equal the rate which appears on Telerate Page
7052, "WEEKLY AVG YIELDS ON TREASURY CONSTANT MATURITIES ", under the
column entitled "2 YR", which appears as of 2:30 P.M., New York time, on
the Exercise Date. "Telerate Page 7052" means the display designated as
page 7052 on the Dow Jones Telerate Service (or such page as may replace
page 7052 on that service). The rate which appears on Telerate Page 7052
under the column entitled "2 YR" is the rate described in paragraph (ii)
below published in the most recent H.15(519) (as defined below).
(ii) If the Spot Yield as described in clause (i) is not available by
2:30 P.M., New York City time, on the Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will
equal the one-week average yield on 2-year United States Treasury
securities at "constant maturity", as published in the most recent
H.15(519) available on the Exercise Date, in the column "Week Ending" for
the most recent date opposite the heading "Treasury constant maturities, 2-
Year." "H.15(519)" means the weekly statistical release designated as such,
published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(iii) If the most recent H.15(519) available on the Exercise Date as
described in clause (ii) above was published more than fourteen calendar
days prior to the Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will equal the one-week
average yield on 2-year United States Treasury securities at "constant
maturity" as otherwise announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on
the Exercise Date for the preceding week.
(iv) If the Spot Yield as described in clause (iii) is not announced by
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will be
calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity
(expressed as a bond equivalent and as a decimal rounded, if necessary, to
the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point with five one-
millionths of a percentage point rounded up, on the basis of a year of 365
days, applied on a daily basis) based on the arithmetic mean of the
secondary market offer prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City
time, on the Exercise Date of three leading primary United States
government securities dealers in The City of New York selected by the
Calculation Agent (from five such dealers and eliminating the highest
quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest
quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)) for Treasury
Notes with an original maturity of approximately two years, a remaining
term to maturity of not less than one year and in an amount of
$100,000,000. If three or four (and not five) of such dealers are quoting
as described in this clause (iv), then the Spot Yield will be based on the
arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor
lowest of such quotations will be eliminated.
(v) If fewer than three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are
quoting as described in clause (iv), the Spot Yield will be calculated by
the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond
equivalent and as a decimal rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a percentage point with five one-millionths of a
percentage point rounded up, on the basis of a year of 365 days, and
applied on a daily basis) based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary
market offer prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on
the Exercise Date of three leading primary United States government
securities dealers in The City of New York selected by the Calculation
Agent (from five such dealers and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in
the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in
the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for Treasury Notes with an
original maturity of approximately ten years, a remaining term to maturity
closest to two years and in an amount of $100,000,000. If three or four
(and not five) of such dealers are quoting as described in this clause,
then the Spot Yield will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices
obtained and neither the highest nor lowest of such quotes will be
eliminated. If two Treasury Notes with an original maturity of
approximately ten years have remaining terms to maturity equally close to
two years, the quotes for the Treasury Note with the shorter remaining term
to maturity will be used.
S-14
<PAGE>
The Cash Settlement Value will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest cent
(with one-half cent being rounded upwards).
Set forth below is an illustration of the Cash Settlement Values of Warrants
on the Exercise Date based on the Strike Yield equal to 6.70% and various
hypothetical Spot Yields. The actual Cash Settlement Value of a Warrant will
depend entirely on the actual Strike Yield and actual Spot Yield on the
Exercise Date. The illustrative Cash Settlement Values in the table do not
reflect any "time value" for a Warrant, which may be reflected in trading
value, and are not necessarily indicative of potential profit or loss, which
are also affected by purchase price and transaction costs.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL CASH SETTLEMENT
CMT SPOT YIELD VALUE OF A WARRANT
-------------- ------------------
<S> <C>
5.70%................................................. $0.00
6.20%................................................. $0.00
6.70%................................................. $0.00
7.20%................................................. $2.00
7.70%................................................. $4.00
8.20%................................................. $6.00
8.70%................................................. $8.00
</TABLE>
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Upon issuance, all Warrants will be represented by one registered global
currency Warrant (the "Global Warrant"). The Global Warrant will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, as Securities Depository,
and registered in the name of the Securities Depository or a nominee thereof.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Warrants in definitive
form in the limited circumstances described below, the Global Warrant may not
be transferred except as a whole by the Securities Depository to a nominee of
such Securities Depository or by a nominee of such Securities Depository to
such Securities Depository or another nominee of such Securities Depository or
by such Securities Depository or any such nominee to a successor of such
Securities Depository or a nominee of such successor.
The Securities Depository has advised the Company as follows: The Securities
Depository is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the Banking Law
of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a
"clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provision of Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Securities Depository was
created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance
and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such
securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. The Securities Depository's participants include securities
brokers and dealers (including the Underwriter), banks, trust companies,
clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or
their representatives) own the Securities Depository. Access to the Securities
Depository book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks,
brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are
not participants may beneficially own securities held by the Securities
Depository only through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the Warrants will be limited to persons
that have accounts with the Securities Depository ("Agent Members") or persons
that may hold interests through Agent Members. The Securities Depository has
advised the Company that upon the issuance of the Global Warrant representing
the Warrants, the Securities Depository will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the Agent Members' accounts with the
respective principal amounts of the Warrants represented by the Global Warrant.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Warrant will be shown on, and
the transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records
maintained by the Securities Depository (with
S-15
<PAGE>
respect to interests of Agent Members) and on the records of Agent Members
(with respect to interests of persons held through Agent Members). The laws of
some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may
impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the
Global Warrant.
So long as the Securities Depository, or its nominee, is the registered owner
of the Global Warrant, the Securities Depository or its nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Warrants represented
by the Global Warrant for all purposes under the Warrant Agreement. Except as
provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Warrant will not
be entitled to have the Warrants represented by the Global Warrant registered
in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
the Warrants in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or
Holders thereof under the Warrant Agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a
beneficial interest in the Global Warrant must rely on the procedures of the
Securities Depository and, if such person is not an Agent Member, on the
procedures of the Agent Member through which such person owns its interest, to
exercise any rights of a Holder under the Warrant Agreement. The Company
understands that under existing industry practices, in the event that the
Company requests any action of Holders or that an owner of a beneficial
interest in such a Global Warrant desires to give or take any action which a
Holder is entitled to give or take under the Warrant Agreement, the Securities
Depository would authorize the Agent Members holding the relevant beneficial
interests to give or take such action, and such Agent Members would authorize
beneficial owners owning through such Agent Members to give or take such action
or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners through them.
The Cash Settlement Value in exercise of Warrants registered in the name of
the Securities Depository or its nominee will be paid by the Warrant Agent to
the Securities Depository. None of the Company, the Warrant Agent or any other
agent of the Company or agent of the Warrant Agent will have any responsibility
or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on
account of beneficial ownership interests or for supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Company expects
that the Securities Depository upon receipt of payment of the Cash Settlement
Value in respect of the Global Warrant, will credit the accounts of the Agent
Members with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial
interests in the Global Warrant, as shown on the records of the Securities
Depository. The Company also expects that payments by Agent Members to owners
of beneficial interests in the Global Warrant will be governed by standing
customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in
"street name", and will be the responsibility of such Agent Members. It is
suggested that purchasers of Warrants with accounts at more than one brokerage
firm effect transactions in the Warrants, only through the brokerage firm or
firms which hold that purchaser's Warrants.
If the Securities Depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue
as depository and a successor Securities Depository is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days or if the Company is subject to certain events in
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the Company will issue Warrants in
definitive form in exchange for the Global Warrant. In addition, the Company
may at any time determine not to have the Warrants represented by the Global
Warrant and, in such event, will issue Warrants in definitive form in exchange
for the Global Warrant. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest
in the Global Warrant will be entitled to have a number of Warrants equivalent
to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to
physical delivery of such Warrants in definitive form.
LISTING OF THE WARRANTS
Prior to issuance, the Warrants will have been approved for listing by the
American Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. The American
Stock Exchange will expect to cease trading the Warrants on such Exchange as of
the close of business on the Expiration Date.
S-16
<PAGE>
AUTOMATIC EXERCISE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE
In the event that the Warrants are delisted from, or permanently suspended
from trading on, the American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not
simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant to the rules of another self-
regulatory organization whose rules are filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (a "Self-Regulatory Organization") under the Securities Act of 1934,
as amended, the Warrants will expire on the date such delisting or trading
suspension becomes effective (an "Early Expiration Date") and the Warrants will
be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day immediately preceding
such Early Expiration Date, and the Cash Settlement Value, if any (determined
as provided under "Exercise of Warrants"), of such automatically exercised
Warrants will be paid on the fifth New York Business Day following such Early
Expiration Date. Settlement shall otherwise occur as described under "Book-
Entry Procedures and Settlement". The Company will notify Holders as soon as
practicable of such delisting or trading suspension. The Company has agreed in
the Warrant Agreement that it will not seek delisting of the Warrants or
suspension of their trading on the American Stock Exchange.
The Warrants may also expire on the date of occurrence of certain events in
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving the Company (any such date
also being an "Early Expiration Date") and the Warrants will be automatically
exercised as of the New York Business Day immediately preceding such Early
Expiration Date. The Cash Settlement Value, if any (determined as provided
under "Exercise of Warrants"), of such automatically exercised Warrants will be
due and payable on the fifth New York Business Day following such Early
Expiration Date. Settlement will otherwise occur as described under "Book-Entry
Procedures and Settlement".
MODIFICATION
The Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Warrants may be amended by the
Company and the Warrant Agent, without the consent of the Holders of any
Warrants, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or
supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained therein, or in
any other manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which
will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the
Warrants.
The Company and the Warrant Agent also may modify or amend the Warrant
Agreement and the terms of the Warrants, with the consent of the Holders of not
less than a majority in number of the then outstanding Warrants affected,
provided that no such modification or amendment that changes the Spot Yield so
as to adversely affect the Holder, shortens the period of time remaining to the
Expiration Date or otherwise materially and adversely affects the exercise
rights of the Holders of the Warrants or reduces the percentage of the number
of outstanding Warrants, the consent of whose Holders is required for
modification or amendment of a Warrant Agreement or the terms of Warrants may
be made without the consent of the Holders of Warrants affected thereby.
MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION
The Company may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and
the Company may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to
any corporation, provided that the corporation (if other than the Company)
formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or which shall
have received such assets shall be a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof and shall assume
payment of the Cash Settlement Value with respect to all unexercised Warrants,
according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance
of all of the covenants and conditions of the Warrant Agreement and of the
Global Warrant to be performed by the Company.
S-17
<PAGE>
CMT YIELD
GENERAL
U.S. Treasury securities, including those used to calculate the CMT Yield,
are direct obligations of the United States government and carry the full faith
and credit of the United States of America. The Warrants, however, are solely
the obligation of the Company and are not backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States. If the CMT Yield is determined using yields reported on
Telerate Page 7052, in H.15(519) or as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York as described in "Description of the Warrants--Cash Settlement Value",
the CMT Yield will be a one-week average yield on 2-year United States Treasury
securities at "constant maturity" (the "Weekly CMT Yield"). Yields on Treasury
securities at "constant maturity" used to calculate the Weekly CMT Yield are
interpolated from the daily yield curve. This curve, which relates the yield on
a security to its time to maturity, is based upon the market yields on actively
traded Treasury securities in the over-the-counter market. The constant
maturity yield values are derived from the yield curve at fixed maturities.
This method permits estimation of the yield for a two year maturity, even if no
outstanding security has exactly two years remaining to maturity. If the Weekly
CMT Yield cannot be calculated, the CMT Yield will be determined based on the
yield to maturity of certain Treasury securities on the Exercise Date based on
secondary market offer prices of certain dealers as more fully described in
"Description of the Warrants--Cash Settlement Value". The value of the CMT
Yield during the term of the Warrants will likely not be calculated based on
one specific Treasury security.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE CMT YIELD
The following table sets forth the monthly averages of the daily yield on 2-
year United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" from 1989 to the
present. The CMT Yield used to calculate the Cash Settlement Value will be the
one-week average yield on 2-year United States Treasury securities at "constant
maturity" available during the calendar week preceding the Exercise Date, or if
such yield is not available as described under "Description of the Warrants--
Cash Settlement Value", the yield to maturity on specified United States
Treasury securities on the Exercise Date. The historical experience of the CMT
Yield should not be taken as an indication of future performance and no
assurance can be given that the value of the CMT Yield will not decline and
thereby cause the Cash Settlement Value with respect to the Warrants to equal
zero.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CMT YIELD
---------
<S> <C>
January......................................................... 9.18%
1989:
February........................................................ 9.37%
March........................................................... 9.68%
April........................................................... 9.45%
May............................................................. 9.02%
June............................................................ 8.41%
July............................................................ 7.82%
August.......................................................... 8.14%
September....................................................... 8.28%
October......................................................... 7.98%
November........................................................ 7.80%
December........................................................ 7.78%
January......................................................... 8.09%
1990:
February........................................................ 8.37%
March........................................................... 8.63%
April........................................................... 8.72%
May............................................................. 8.64%
June............................................................ 8.35%
July............................................................ 8.16%
August.......................................................... 8.06%
</TABLE>
S-18
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CMT YIELD
---------
<S> <C>
September....................................................... 8.08%
October......................................................... 7.88%
November........................................................ 7.60%
December........................................................ 7.31%
January......................................................... 7.13%
1991:
February........................................................ 6.87%
March........................................................... 7.10%
April........................................................... 6.95%
May............................................................. 6.78%
June............................................................ 6.96%
July............................................................ 6.92%
August.......................................................... 6.43%
September....................................................... 6.18%
October......................................................... 5.91%
November........................................................ 5.56%
December........................................................ 5.03%
January......................................................... 4.96%
1992:
February........................................................ 5.21%
March........................................................... 5.69%
April........................................................... 5.34%
May............................................................. 5.23%
June............................................................ 5.05%
July............................................................ 4.36%
August.......................................................... 4.19%
September....................................................... 3.89%
October......................................................... 4.08%
November........................................................ 4.58%
December........................................................ 4.67%
January......................................................... 4.39%
1993:
February........................................................ 4.10%
March........................................................... 3.95%
April........................................................... 3.84%
May............................................................. 3.98%
June............................................................ 4.16%
July............................................................ 4.07%
August.......................................................... 4.00%
September....................................................... 3.85%
October......................................................... 3.87%
November........................................................ 4.16%
December........................................................ 4.21%
January......................................................... 4.14%
1994:
February........................................................ 4.47%
March........................................................... 5.00%
April........................................................... 5.55%
May............................................................. 5.97%
June............................................................ 5.93%
July............................................................ 6.13%
August.......................................................... 6.18%
September....................................................... 6.39%
October (week ending October 14, 1994).......................... 6.63%
</TABLE>
- --------
Source: Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15(519) under "Selected
Interest Rates".
S-19
<PAGE>
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the monthly
averages of the daily yield on 2-year United States Treasury securities at
"constant maturity" from January 1989 through October 1994. PAST MOVEMENTS OF
THE CMT YIELD ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF THE FUTURE CMT YIELD. The
actual CMT Yield could materially differ from those set forth below. The CMT
Yield for the week ending October 14, 1994 was 6.63%.
CMT Yield -- Historical Performance
Monthly Averages from January 1989 through October 1994
[GRAPHIC NO. 1]
Source: Federal Reserve statistical release
The information presented in this Prospectus Supplement relating to the CMT
Yield is furnished as a matter of information only. The fluctuations in the CMT
Yield that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative of
fluctuations in that rate which may occur over the term of the Warrants.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
CONCERNING THE WARRANTS
Set forth in full below is the opinion of Brown & Wood, counsel to the
Company, as to certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of a Warrant. Such opinion is based upon
laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are
subject to change (possibly with retroactive effect) or possible differing
interpretations. The following discussion of certain United States Federal
income tax consequences to Holders of the Warrants applies only to a person who
holds a Warrant as a capital asset and does not purport to address the United
States Federal income tax consequences to special classes of investors
including persons who are securities or options dealers, or persons who may
hold the Warrants as part of an integrated transaction (e.g., as part of a
hedge or straddle for tax purposes). Prospective purchasers of Warrants are
urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the application of the United
States Federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Warrants arising
under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
S-20
<PAGE>
As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Warrant
that is for United States Federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or resident
of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political
subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) any
other person whose income or gain in respect of a Warrant is effectively
connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. As used
herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder" means a Holder of a Warrant that is not a
U.S. Holder.
GENERAL
The United States Federal income tax treatment of the Warrants will depend
upon how the Warrants are characterized for United States Federal income tax
purposes and the United States Federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of the Warrants could differ significantly depending
upon whether the Warrants are characterized as "options" or as some financial
instrument other than an option. Prospective investors in the Warrants should
be aware that there are no statutes, regulations, published rulings or judicial
decisions involving the characterization, for United States Federal income tax
purposes, of securities with terms substantially the same as the Warrants.
Accordingly, it is unclear how the Warrants will be characterized for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
U.S. HOLDERS
If the Warrants are characterized as "options" for United States Federal
income tax purposes, then each Warrant should be treated as a "nonequity"
option for purposes of Section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), which must be "marked-to-market". Accordingly, under such
circumstances, a U.S. Holder of a Warrant would be required to treat such
Warrant as if sold for its fair market value on the last business day of the
U.S. Holder's taxable year and would be required to recognize taxable gain or
loss for that taxable year in an amount equal to the difference between the
fair market value of the Warrant on the last business day of such taxable year
and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Warrant. A U.S. Holder's
adjusted tax basis in a Warrant would equal such U.S. Holder's initial
investment in the Warrant, increased or decreased by any net gain or loss
recognized by the U.S. Holder in respect of the Warrant in prior taxable years.
In addition, upon the sale, exchange, exercise or expiration of a Warrant, a
U.S. Holder would be required to recognize taxable gain or loss in an amount
equal to the difference between the amount realized upon such sale, exchange,
exercise or expiration and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Warrant.
Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder of a Warrant in accordance with
the preceding rules would generally be treated as 60 percent long-term capital
gain or loss and 40 percent short-term capital gain or loss.
If the Warrants are not characterized as "options" for United States Federal
income tax purposes, then the United States Federal income tax treatment of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Warrants could differ from the
treatment discussed above with the result that the timing and character of
income, gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder with respect to a Warrant
could differ from the timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized
with respect to a Warrant had the Warrants been treated as "options" for United
States Federal income tax purposes. For instance, the Warrants could possibly
be characterized as notional principal contracts for United States Federal
income tax purposes. If the Warrants were characterized as notional principal
contracts for United States Federal income tax purposes, then it is possible
that a U.S. Holder of a Warrant would be required to recognize taxable gain or
loss with respect to a Warrant only upon the sale, exchange, exercise or
expiration of the Warrant. The amount of gain or loss required to be recognized
by a U.S. Holder with respect to a Warrant under such circumstances would be
equal to the difference between the amount realized upon such sale, exchange,
exercise or expiration and the amount of the U.S. Holder's initial investment
in the Warrant. Such gain or loss would generally be treated as long-term
capital gain or loss if the Warrant was held by the U.S. Holder for more than
one year (although it is possible that such gain or loss upon exercise or
expiration could be treated as ordinary income or loss). However, it is
S-21
<PAGE>
also possible that if the Warrants were characterized as notional principal
contracts for United States Federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder would be
required to deduct such U.S. Holder's initial investment in a Warrant over the
entire term of the Warrant. Such deduction could possibly be part capital loss
and part ordinary interest deduction (although it is also possible that such
deduction could be part ordinary loss and part ordinary interest deduction). In
addition, under this approach, assuming that the Warrant had been held for more
than one year, a U.S. Holder should be required to recognize a long-term
capital gain with respect to a Warrant upon the sale, exchange or exercise of
the Warrant in an amount equal to the amount realized upon such sale, exchange
or exercise (although it is possible that any gain upon exercise could be
treated as ordinary income). Alternatively, it is also possible that the
Warrants could be characterized, for United States Federal income tax purposes,
as either contingent payment debt instruments or some other type of commercial
or financial contract. In light of the uncertainty concerning the proper United
States Federal income tax characterization of the Warrants, prospective
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the proper
characterization and treatment of the Warrants for United States Federal income
tax purposes.
The Company, where required, currently intends to report any gross proceeds
received upon the sale, exchange or exercise of a Warrant on an IRS Form 1099B.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Gains realized on the sale, exchange or exercise of a Warrant by a non-U.S.
Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income or withholding tax
in respect of such amounts, assuming the income is not effectively connected
with a United States trade or business of the non-U.S. Holder. Certain other
exceptions may be applicable, and a non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax
advisor in this regard.
Under current law, the fair market value of a Warrant may be includible in
the estate of an individual non-U.S. Holder for United States Federal estate
tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
Individual non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning
the United States Federal estate tax consequences, if any, of investing in the
Warrants.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
A Holder of a Warrant may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31
percent with respect to the gross proceeds upon a sale or exercise of a Warrant
if such Holder fails to supply an accurate taxpayer identification number and
does not establish, when required, that it is an exempt recipient or a non-U.S.
Holder. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules would be allowed
as a refund or a credit against the Holder's United States Federal income tax
provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
USE OF PROCEEDS
A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Warrants may be
used to hedge market risks with respect to the payment at expiration of the
Warrants. The Company does not intend to confine its hedging activities to any
particular domestic or foreign exchanges.
S-22
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Underwriter") has
agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and a
Terms Agreement, to purchase from the Company all of the Warrants offered
hereby. The Underwriting Agreement and Terms Agreement provide that the
Underwriter will purchase all the Warrants if any are purchased.
The Underwriter has advised the Company that it proposes initially to offer
all or part of the Warrants directly to the public at the offering price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at
such price less a concession not in excess of $ . After the initial public
offering, the public offering price and concession may be changed.
An affiliate of the Underwriter will receive a fee from the Company for
assisting the Company in arranging hedging of the Company's risks with respect
to the Warrants.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the Securities will be passed upon for the Company and for
the Underwriter by Brown & Wood, New York, New York.
S-23
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
LOGO
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Company") intends to sell from time to time
up to $8,043,015,546 aggregate principal amount (or net proceeds in the case of
warrants and in the case of securities issued at an original issue discount),
or its equivalent in such foreign currencies or units of two or more
currencies, based on the applicable exchange rate at the time of offering, as
shall be designated by the Company at the time of offering, of its senior debt
securities ("Senior Debt Securities"), subordinated debt securities
("Subordinated Debt Securities" and, together with the Senior Debt Securities,
the "Debt Securities"), warrants to purchase Debt Securities ("Debt Warrants"),
warrants entitling the holders thereof to receive from the Company a payment or
delivery determined by reference to decreases or increases in the level of an
index or portfolio based on one or more equity or debt securities (including
the price or yield of such securities), any statistical measure of economic or
financial performance (including any consumer price, currency or mortgage
index) or the price or value of any commodity or a combination thereof (the
"Index Warrants") and warrants to receive from the Company the cash value in
U.S. dollars of the right to purchase ("Currency Call Warrants") or to sell
("Currency Put Warrants" and, together with the Currency Call Warrants, the
"Currency Warrants") such foreign currencies or units of two or more currencies
as shall be designated by the Company at the time of offering. The Debt
Securities, Debt Warrants, Index Warrants and Currency Warrants, which are
collectively called the "Securities", may be offered either jointly or
separately and will be offered to the public on terms determined by market
conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a prospectus supplement.
The Securities will be unsecured and, except in the case of Subordinated Debt
Securities, will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness of the Company. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be
subordinated to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
Each issue of Securities may vary, where applicable, as to aggregate
principal amount, maturity date, public offering or purchase price, interest
rate or rates, if any, and timing of payments thereof, provision for
redemption, sinking fund requirements, if any, exercise provisions, currencies
of denomination or currencies otherwise applicable thereto and any other
variable terms and method of distribution. The accompanying Prospectus
Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") sets forth the specific terms with
regard to the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered.
----------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
----------------
The Securities may be sold directly or through Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S") as agent or may be
offered and reoffered through, or through underwriting syndicates managed or
co-managed by, one or more of the following: MLPF&S; Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.;
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation; The First Boston
Corporation; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated; Lehman
Brothers Inc.; Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated; Nomura Securities
International, Inc.; PaineWebber Incorporated; and Salomon Brothers Inc, or
directly to purchasers by the Company. The Company has entered into agreements
with such firms with respect to the Securities providing for agency sales of
the Securities through MLPF&S or the purchase and offering from time to time by
one or more of such firms, either alone or with the several members of any
syndicate formed by them. Additional agreements respecting the distribution of
the Securities may be entered into from time to time by the Company. Securities
may not be sold without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing such
issue of Securities and the method and terms of offering thereof.
----------------
The date of this Prospectus is March 24, 1994.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith files
reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"). Reports, proxy and information statements and other information
filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices of the
Commission: Chicago Regional Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and New York Regional Office, Seven World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from
the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Reports, proxy and information
statements and other information concerning the Company may also be inspected
at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
Chicago Stock Exchange and the Pacific Stock Exchange.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25,
1992, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ending March 26, 1993,
June 25, 1993 and September 24, 1993, and Current Reports on Form 8-K dated
January 25, 1993, January 26, 1993, January 28, 1993, February 1, 1993,
February 22, 1993, March 1, 1993, March 19, 1993, April 13, 1993, April 15,
1993, April 22, 1993, April 27, 1993, April 29, 1993, June 24, 1993, June 28,
1993, July 7, 1993, July 13, 1993, July 27, 1993, September 8, 1993, September
13, 1993, September 23, 1993, October 7, 1993, October 11, 1993, October 15,
1993, October 27, 1993, December 17, 1993, December 22, 1993, December 27,
1993, December 30, 1993, January 20, 1994, January 24, 1994, January 27, 1994,
February 3, 1994, March 9, 1994 and March 24, 1994 filed pursuant to Section 13
of the Exchange Act, are hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this Prospectus.
THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, ON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON, A COPY
(WITHOUT EXHIBITS OTHER THAN EXHIBITS SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE)
OF ANY OR ALL DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.
REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MR. GREGORY T. RUSSO, SECRETARY,
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC., 100 CHURCH STREET, 12TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
10080-6512; TELEPHONE NUMBER (212) 602-8435.
2
<PAGE>
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries
and affiliates, provides investment, financing, insurance and related services
worldwide. Its principal subsidiary, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("MLPF&S"), is one of the largest securities firms in the world.
MLPF&S is a broker in securities, options contracts, commodity and financial
futures contracts, a distributor of selected insurance products, a dealer in
options and in corporate and municipal securities and an investment banking
firm. Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. is a primary dealer in
obligations issued by the U.S. Government or agencies thereof or guaranteed or
insured by Federal agencies or instrumentalities. Merrill Lynch Capital
Services, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Derivative Products, Inc. are the Company's
primary derivative subsidiaries which enter into interest rate and currency
swaps and other derivative transactions. Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
manages mutual funds and provides investment advisory services. Other
subsidiaries provide financial services outside the United States similar to
those of MLPF&S and are engaged in such other activities as international
banking, lending and providing other investment and financing services. The
Company's insurance underwriting and marketing operations consist of the
underwriting of life insurance and annuity products through subsidiaries of
Merrill Lynch Insurance Group, Inc., and the sale of life insurance and
annuities through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. and other life insurance
agencies associated with MLPF&S.
The principal executive office of the Company is located at World Financial
Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281; its telephone
number is (212) 449-1000.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities
for general corporate purposes. Such uses may include the funding of
investments in, or extensions of credit to, its subsidiaries, the funding of
assets held by the Company or its subsidiaries, including securities
inventories, customer receivables and loans (including business loans, home
equity loans and loans in connection with investment banking-related merger and
acquisition activities) and the lengthening of the average maturity of the
Company's borrowings (including the refunding of maturing indebtedness). The
precise amount and timing of investments in, and extensions of credit to, its
subsidiaries will depend upon their funding requirements and the availability
of other funds to the Company and its subsidiaries. Pending such applications,
the net proceeds will be temporarily invested or applied to the reduction of
short-term indebtedness. A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of
any Currency Warrants or Index Warrants may be used to hedge market risks with
respect to such Warrants. Management of the Company expects that it will, on a
recurrent basis, engage in additional financings as the need arises to finance
the growth of the Company or to lengthen the average maturity of its
borrowings. To the extent that Securities being purchased for resale by MLPF&S
are not resold, the aggregate proceeds to the Company and its subsidiaries
would be reduced.
3
<PAGE>
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following summary consolidated financial information was derived from,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the financial statements and
other information and data contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 25, 1992 and Current Report on Form 8-K dated
March 9, 1994. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference." The
Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 9, 1994 (which includes the audited
financial statements for the Company for its 1993 fiscal year and other
supplementary information) and the other documents incorporated herein by
reference will be superseded by the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1993. The year-end results include 52 weeks for
1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 and 53 weeks for 1993.
The Company conducts its business in highly volatile markets. Consequently,
the Company's results can be affected by many factors, including general
market conditions, the liquidity of secondary markets, the level and
volatility of interest rates and currency values, the valuation of securities
positions, competitive conditions, and the size, number and timing of
transactions. In periods of unfavorable market activity, profitability can be
adversely affected because certain expenses remain relatively fixed. As a
result, net earnings and revenues can vary significantly from period to
period.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED LAST FRIDAY IN DECEMBER
---------------------------------------------------------------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues................ $11,273,223 $11,147,229 $12,352,812 $ 13,412,668 $ 16,588,177
Net Revenues............ $ 5,902,195 $ 5,783,329 $ 7,246,468 $ 8,577,401 $ 10,558,230
Earnings (loss) before
income taxes,
discontinued operations
and cumulative effect
of changes in
accounting principles(1) $ (158,386) $ 282,328 $ 1,017,418 $ 1,621,389 $ 2,424,808
Discontinued operations
(net of income taxes)(1) $ 3,981 -- -- -- --
Cumulative effect of
changes in accounting
principles (net of
applicable income
taxes)(1).............. -- -- -- $ (58,580) $ (35,420)
Net earnings (loss)(1).. $ (213,385) $ 191,856 $ 696,117 $ 893,825 $ 1,358,939
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges(2)....... -- 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Total assets............ $63,942,263 $68,129,527 $86,259,343 $107,024,173 $152,910,362
Long-term borrowings(3). $ 6,897,109 $ 6,341,559 $ 7,964,424 $ 10,871,100 $ 13,468,900
Stockholders' equity(4). $ 3,151,343 $ 3,225,430 $ 3,818,088 $ 4,569,104 $ 5,485,913
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Net loss for 1989 includes an after-tax reduction of $395,000,000
($470,000,000 before income taxes) resulting from a provision for the
costs of divesting certain nonstrategic product lines and business
activities, consolidating and relocating selected retail and support
facilities and downsizing certain other operations. Results for 1989 have
been restated to reflect the effects of discontinued operations related to
the sale of the Company's real estate brokerage, relocation and related
services subsidiary, Fine Homes International, L.P. ("FHI"), in the third
quarter of 1989. Discontinued operations include the results of FHI's
operations through September 15, 1989 (the date of final disposition) and
the loss on disposal in 1989. Net earnings for 1992 have been reduced by
$58,580,000 to reflect the effects of the adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 106, "Employers' Accounting
for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" and SFAS No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes." Net earnings for 1993 have been reduced by
$35,420,000 to reflect the effects of the adoption of SFAS No. 112,
"Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits."
(2) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
"earnings" consists of earnings from continuing operations before income
taxes and fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consists of interest costs and
that portion of rentals estimated to be representative of the interest
factor. In 1989, fixed charges exceeded pretax earnings before fixed
charges by $187,564,000.
(3) To finance its diverse activities, the Company and certain of its
subsidiaries borrow substantial amounts of short-term funds on a regular
basis. Although the amount of short-term borrowings significantly varies
with the level of general business activity, on December 31, 1993,
$972,159,000 of bank loans and $14,895,540,000 of commercial paper were
outstanding. In addition, certain of the Company's subsidiaries lend
securities and enter into repurchase agreements to obtain financing. At
December 31, 1993, cash deposits for securities loaned and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase amounted to $1,047,059,000 and
$56,418,148,000, respectively. From December 31, 1993 to March 17, 1994,
long-term borrowings, net of repayments and repurchases, increased in the
amount of approximately $1,341,543,000.
(4) Stockholders' equity for 1993 has been increased by $21,355,000 to reflect
the effects of the adoption of SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities."
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FISCAL YEAR 1993
Net earnings for 1993 were a record $1,358.9 million, an increase of $465.1
million (52%) above the $893.8 million reported for 1992. Results for 1993
include a non-recurring pretax lease charge in the first quarter totaling
$103.0 million ($59.7 million after income taxes) related to the Company's
decision not to occupy certain space at its World Financial Center Headquarters
facility. The 1993 results also reflect the early adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for
Postemployment Benefits." The cumulative effect of this change in accounting
principle reduced 1993 net earnings by $35.4 million. Revenues after interest
expense ("net revenues") reached a record $10,558 million, up 23% over the
$8,577 million reported in 1992. Total 1993 revenues advanced 24% to $16,588
million versus $13,413 million for the prior year.
Commission revenues increased 19% in 1993 to $2,894 million due primarily to
the continued growth of listed securities transactions, increases in sales of
mutual funds and higher revenues from other commission categories. Commissions
on listed securities benefited from higher trading volume and increases in
average market prices. Mutual fund commissions benefited from increased sales
of front-end funds. Strong 1992 sales led to an increase in 1993 distribution
fees for deferred-charge funds, however, redemption fees declined from 1992 due
to lower levels of redemptions. Interest and dividend revenues in 1993 were
$7,099 million, up 22% from 1992. Interest expense (including dividend expense)
rose 25% in 1993 to $6,030 million. As a result, in 1993 net interest and
dividend profit advanced 10% to $1,069 million, compared to the $971 million
reported in 1992. This increase in net interest and dividend profit resulted
from the expansion of collateralized borrowing and lending activities, the
increased use of interest-free funds due to a larger equity base, and reduced
funding costs due to lower interest rates and improved credit ratings.
Principal transactions revenues rose to record levels in 1993, up 35% to
$2,920 million from the $2,166 million reported in 1992. Fixed-income and
foreign exchange revenues, in the aggregate, increased on higher revenues from
swaps and derivatives, corporate bonds and preferred stocks, and non-U.S.
governments and agencies. These advances were somewhat offset by lower revenues
from foreign exchange. In addition, 1993 mortgage-backed securities principal
transactions revenues were essentially break-even; however, net revenues,
including related hedges and net interest, were positive, although below 1992
levels. Equity trading revenues increased primarily due to higher volume and
prices in over-the-counter and foreign equity markets. Investment banking
revenues increased 23% to a record $1,831 million from the $1,484 million
reported a year ago. Underwriting revenues benefited from the low interest rate
environment, as corporations refinanced higher interest-bearing debt with lower
rate issuances, or raised capital through equity offerings. Investor demand
remained strong for equity and high-yield bond underwritings which offer the
potential for increased returns compared with other investment alternatives.
Asset management and portfolio service fees were also a record, advancing 24% to
$1,558 million from the $1,253 million reported last year. Increased fees earned
from asset management activities, the Merrill Lynch Consults(Registered
Trademark) portfolio management service and other fee-based portfolio services
businesses contributed to these favorable results. Asset management fees
increased from 1992 due primarily to asset growth in stock and bond funds.
Merrill Lynch Consults revenue increased due to the growth in the number of
accounts and higher asset levels. Other revenues rose 1% to $285 million due to
higher fees generated from increased home equity loan activity, partially offset
by net investment losses related primarily to provisions for merchant banking
activities.
Non-interest expenses totaled $8,133 million, up 17% from the $6,956 million
in 1992. Excluding the 1993 first quarter non-recurring lease charge totaling
$103.0 million, non-interest expenses were up 15%. Compensation and benefits
expense, which represented approximately 65% of total non-interest expenses,
increased 20% from 1992 due to higher production-related compensation and
increases in incentive compensation linked to the Company's improved
profitability and return on common equity. Nevertheless, compensation and
benefits expense, as a percentage of net revenues, declined to 49.8% from 50.9%
in 1992. Facilities-related costs, including occupancy, communications and
equipment rental, and depreciation and amortization, increased 13% from 1992
(3% excluding the non-recurring lease charge). Advertising and market
development expenses increased 25% reflecting higher sales promotion and
recognition program costs for Financial Consultants that are tied to increased
business activity. In addition, travel costs were up as the increase in
business volume required additional domestic and international travel, while
favorable markets
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contributed to the expansion of certain discretionary national and local
advertising campaigns. Professional fees increased 13% due to technology
upgrades which required the use of system and management consultants, as well
as higher employment agency fees. Brokerage, clearing and exchange fees were up
1% as a result of increased trading volume, while other expenses increased 5%
principally as a result of additions to loss provisions related to litigation
and claims.
Income tax expense was $1,030 million versus $669 million in the prior year
as the effective rate in 1993 rose to 42.5%, compared with 41.3% a year ago.
The higher effective tax rate in 1993 related to the increase in the Federal
statutory rate from 34% in 1992 to 35% in 1993 due to legislation raising
corporate income tax rates retroactive to January 1, 1993.
The Company's Board of Directors declared a two-for-one common stock split
effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend paid November 24, 1993 to
stockholders of record on October 22, 1993. All share and per share data
presented herein have been restated to reflect the common stock split.
The Company believes that its equity base is adequate relative to the level
and composition of its assets and the mix of its businesses.
In the normal course of business, the Company underwrites, trades, and holds
non-investment grade securities in connection with its market-making,
investment banking and derivative structuring activities. These activities are
subject to risks related to the creditworthiness of the issuers and the
liquidity of the market for such securities, in addition to the usual risks
associated with investing, extending credit, underwriting and trading in
investment grade instruments. At December 31, 1993, the fair value of long and
short non-investment grade trading inventories amounted to $3,129 million and
$214 million, respectively, and in the aggregate (i.e., the sum of long and
short trading inventories), represented 4.6% of aggregate consolidated trading
inventories.
At December 31, 1993, the carrying value of extensions of credit provided to
corporations entering into leveraged transactions aggregated $435 million
(excluding unutilized revolving lines of credit and other lending commitments
of $49 million), consisting primarily of senior term and subordinated
financings to 42 medium-sized corporations. At December 31, 1993, the Company
had no bridge loans outstanding. Loans to highly leveraged corporations are
carried at unpaid principal balance less a reserve for estimated losses. The
allowance for loan losses is estimated based on a review of each loan, and
considerations of economic, market and credit conditions. Direct equity
investments made in conjunction with the Company's investment and merchant
banking activities aggregated $276 million at December 31, 1993, representing
investments in 82 enterprises. Equity investments in privately held
corporations for which sale is restricted by government or contractual
requirements are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. At
December 31, 1993, the Company held interests in partnerships, totaling $92
million that invest in highly leveraged transactions and non-investment grade
securities. Subsequent to December 31, 1993, the Company increased its
partnership interests by $15 million. The Company has a co-investment
arrangement to enter into direct equity investments. At December 31, 1993, the
additional co-investment commitments were $49 million. The Company also has
committed to invest an additional $19 million in partnerships that invest in
leveraged transactions. Subsequent to year-end, the Company increased its
partnership commitments by up to $50 million.
The Company's insurance subsidiaries hold non-investment grade securities. At
December 31, 1993, non-investment grade insurance investments were $458
million, representing 5.8% of the total insurance investments. At December 31,
1993, non-investment grade securities of insurance subsidiaries were classified
as trading or available-for-sale in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 115 "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and
Equity Securities." At December 31, 1993, these investment securities were
carried at fair value.
At December 31, 1993, the largest non-investment grade concentration
consisted of various issues of a Latin American sovereign totaling $341
million, of which $146 million represented on-balance sheet hedges. No one
industry sector accounted for more than 15% of total non-investment grade
positions. At December 31, 1993, the Company held an aggregate carrying value
of $393 million in debt and equity securities of issuers who were in various
stages of bankruptcy proceedings. Approximately 59% of this amount resulted
from the Company's market-making activities.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt
Securities are to be issued under an indenture (the "Chemical Indenture"),
dated as of April 1, 1983, as amended and restated, between the Company and
Chemical Bank (successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as
trustee or issued under an indenture (the "Chase Indenture"), dated as of
October 1, 1993 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as
trustee (each, a "Senior Debt Trustee"). The Chemical Indenture and the Chase
Indenture are referred to herein as the "Senior Indentures". The Subordinated
Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture (the "Subordinated
Indenture"), dated as of August 1, 1991, between the Company and Chemical Bank
(successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as trustee (the
"Subordinated Debt Trustee"). The Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt
Securities may also be issued under one or more other indentures (each, a
"Subsequent Indenture") and have one or more other trustees (each, a
"Subsequent Trustee"). Any Subsequent Indenture relating to Senior Debt
Securities will have terms and conditions identical in all material respects
to the above-referenced Senior Indentures and any Subsequent Indenture
relating to Subordinated Debt Securities will have terms and conditions
identical in all material respects to the above-referenced Subordinated
Indenture, including, but not limited to, the applicable terms and conditions
described below. Any Subsequent Indenture relating to a series of Debt
Securities, and the trustee with respect thereto, will be identified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Senior Indentures, the Subordinated
Indenture and any Subsequent Indentures (whether senior or subordinated) are
referred to herein as the "Indentures"; and the Senior Debt Trustees, the
Subordinated Debt Trustee and any Subsequent Trustees are referred to herein
as the "Trustees". A copy of each Indenture is filed (or, in the case of a
Subsequent Indenture, will be filed) as an exhibit to the registration
statements relating to the Securities (collectively, the "Registration
Statement"). The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indentures
do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all provisions of the respective Indentures,
including the definitions therein of certain terms.
GENERAL
Each Indenture provides that Debt Securities (Senior Debt Securities in the
case of the Senior Indentures or a Subsequent Indenture for Senior Debt
Securities, and Subordinated Debt Securities in the case of the Subordinated
Indenture or a Subsequent Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities) may be
issued thereunder, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount, in one
or more series, by the Company from time to time upon satisfaction of certain
conditions precedent, including the delivery by the Company to the applicable
Trustee of a resolution of the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee
thereof, of the Company which fixes or provides for the establishment of terms
of such Debt Securities, including: (1) the aggregate principal amount of such
Debt Securities and whether there is any limit upon the aggregate principal
amount of such Debt Securities that may be subsequently issued; (2) the date
on which such Debt Securities will mature; (3) the principal amount payable
with respect to such Debt Securities whether at maturity or upon earlier
acceleration, and whether such principal amount will be determined with
reference to an index, formula or other method; (4) the rate or rates per
annum (which may be fixed or variable) at which such Debt Securities will bear
interest, if any; (5) the dates on which such interest, if any, will be
payable; (6) the provisions for redemption of such Debt Securities, if any,
the redemption price and any remarketing arrangements relating thereto; (7)
the sinking fund requirements, if any, with respect to such Debt Securities;
(8) whether such Debt Securities are denominated or provide for payment in
United States dollars or a foreign currency or units of two or more of such
foreign currencies; (9) the form (registered or bearer or both) in which such
Debt Securities may be issued and any restrictions applicable to the exchange
of one form for another and to the offer, sale and delivery of such Debt
Securities in either form; (10) whether and under what circumstances the
Company will pay additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") in respect of such
Debt Securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person (as defined in the
Prospectus Supplement, as applicable) in respect of specified taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges and whether the Company has the
option to redeem the affected Debt Securities rather than pay such Additional
Amounts; (11) whether such Debt Securities are to be issued in global form;
(12) the title of the Debt Securities and the series of which such Debt
Securities shall be a part; and (13) the denominations of such Debt
Securities. Reference is made to
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the Prospectus Supplement for the terms of the Debt Securities being offered
thereby, including whether such Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities. Debt Securities may also be issued under the
Indentures upon the exercise of Debt Warrants. See "Description of Debt
Warrants". Nothing in the Indentures or in the terms of the Debt Securities
will prohibit the issuance of securities representing subordinated
indebtedness that is senior or junior to the Subordinated Debt Securities.
The Debt Securities will be issued, to the extent provided in the Prospectus
Supplement, in fully registered form without coupons, and/or in bearer form
with or without coupons, and in denominations set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer of
registered Debt Securities or exchange of Debt Securities, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charges that may be imposed in connection therewith. Each Indenture provides
that Debt Securities issued thereunder may be issued in global form. If any
series of Debt Securities is issuable in global form, the applicable
Prospectus Supplement will describe the circumstances, if any, under which
beneficial owners of interest in any such global Debt Securities may exchange
such interests for Debt Securities of such series and of like tenor and
principal amount in any authorized form and denomination. Principal of, and
any premium, Additional Amounts and interest on, a global Debt Security will
be payable in the manner described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
The provisions of the Indentures described above provide the Company with
the ability, in addition to the ability to issue Debt Securities with terms
different from those of Debt Securities previously issued, to "reopen" a
previous issue of a series of Debt Securities and issue additional Debt
Securities of such series.
The Senior Debt Securities will be unsecured and will rank pari passu with
all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The
Subordinated Debt Securities will be unsecured and will be subordinated to all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company.
Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company, and hence
the right of creditors of the Company (including the Holders of the Debt
Securities), to participate in any distribution of the assets of any
subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily
subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the
extent that claims of the Company itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may
be recognized. In addition, dividends, loans and advances from certain
subsidiaries, including MLPF&S, to the Company are restricted by net capital
requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and under rules of
certain exchanges and other regulatory bodies.
Principal and interest, premium and Additional Amounts, if any, will be
payable in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth
in the applicable Indenture, the Debt Securities and the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto, provided that payment of any interest and any Additional
Amounts may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the
holders of registered Debt Securities at their registered addresses.
Debt Securities may be presented for exchange, and registered Debt
Securities may be presented for transfer, in the manner, at the places and
subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Indenture, the Debt
Securities and the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Debt Securities in
bearer form and the coupons, if any, pertaining thereto will be transferable
by delivery. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of
Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION
The Company may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and
the Company may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets
to any corporation, provided that (i) the corporation (if other than the
Company) formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or which
shall have received such assets shall be a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof and shall
assume payment of the principal of, and any premium, Additional Amounts or
interest on, the Debt Securities and the performance and observance of all of
the covenants and conditions of the Indentures to be performed or observed by
the Company, and (ii) the Company or such successor corporation, as the case
may be, shall not immediately thereafter be in default under the Indentures.
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MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modification and amendment of each Indenture may be effected by the Company
and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of 66 2/3% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series issued
pursuant to such Indenture and affected thereby, provided that no such
modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of,
or any installment of interest or Additional Amounts on, any Debt Security or
any premium payable on the redemption thereof, or change the Redemption Price;
(b) reduce the principal amount of, or the interest or Additional Amounts
payable on, any Debt Security or reduce the amount of principal which could be
declared due and payable prior to the Stated Maturity; (c) change the place or
currency of any payment of principal of, or any premium, interest or Additional
Amounts on, any Debt Security; (d) impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt Security; (e) reduce
the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any
series, the consent of whose Holders is required to modify or amend such
Indenture; or (f) modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of
Outstanding Debt Securities necessary to waive any past default to less than a
majority. No modification or amendment of the Subordinated Indenture or any
Subsequent Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities may adversely affect the
rights of any Holder of Senior Indebtedness without the consent of such Holder.
Except with respect to certain fundamental provisions, the Holders of at least
a majority in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series
may, with respect to such series, waive past defaults under the applicable
Indenture and waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of such
Indenture.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Under each Indenture, the following will be Events of Default with respect to
Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder: (a) default in the payment of
any interest or Additional Amounts upon any Debt Security of that series when
due, continued for 30 days; (b) default in the payment of any principal of or
premium, if any, on any Debt Security of that series when due; (c) default in
the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt
Security of that series; (d) default in the performance of any other covenant
of the Company contained in such Indenture for the benefit of such series or in
the Debt Securities of such series, continued for 60 days after written notice
as provided in such Indenture; (e) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to
Debt Securities of that series. The applicable Trustee or the Holders of 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may declare
the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Debt
Securities of that series) of all Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
and the interest accrued thereon and Additional Amounts payable in respect
thereof, if any, to be due and payable immediately if an Event of Default with
respect to Debt Securities of such series shall occur and be continuing at the
time of declaration. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been
made with respect to Debt Securities of any series but before a judgment or
decree for payment of money due has been obtained by the applicable Trustee,
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of that series may rescind any declaration of acceleration and its
consequences, if all payments due (other than those due as a result of
acceleration) have been made and all Events of Default have been remedied or
waived. Any Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series may
be waived by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding
Debt Securities of that series, except in a case of failure to pay principal of
or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Debt
Security of that series for which payment had not been subsequently made or in
respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without
the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series
affected.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of a series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable Trustee or exercising any
trust or power conferred on such Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of
such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any
rule of law or the applicable Indenture. Before
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proceeding to exercise any right or power under an Indenture at the direction
of such Holders, the applicable Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such
Holders reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with any such direction.
The Company will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement
as to the fulfillment by the Company of all of its obligations under the
applicable Indenture.
SPECIAL TERMS RELATING TO THE SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
LIMITATIONS UPON LIENS
The Senior Indentures provide that the Company may not, and may not permit
any Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or permit to exist any indebtedness
for borrowed money secured by a pledge, lien or other encumbrance (except for
certain liens specifically permitted by the Senior Indentures) on the Voting
Stock owned directly or indirectly by the Company of any Subsidiary (other than
a Subsidiary which, at the time of incurrence of such secured indebtedness, has
a net worth of less than $3,000,000) without making effective provision whereby
the Outstanding Senior Debt Securities will be secured equally and ratably with
such secured indebtedness.
LIMITATION ON DISPOSITION OF VOTING STOCK OF, AND MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS BY,
MLPF&S
The Senior Indentures provide that the Company may not sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Voting Stock of MLPF&S or permit MLPF&S to issue, sell
or otherwise dispose of any of its Voting Stock, unless, after giving effect to
any such transaction, MLPF&S remains a Controlled Subsidiary (defined in the
Senior Indentures to mean a corporation more than 80% of the outstanding shares
of Voting Stock of which are owned directly or indirectly by the Company). In
addition, the Senior Indentures provide that the Company may not permit MLPF&S
to (i) merge or consolidate, unless the surviving company is a Controlled
Subsidiary, or (ii) convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety, except to one or more Controlled Subsidiaries.
SPECIAL TERMS RELATING TO THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company resulting from any
dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, payments on
Subordinated Debt Securities are to be subordinated to the extent provided in
the Subordinated Indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Indebtedness, but the obligation of the Company to make payments on
the Subordinated Debt Securities will not otherwise be affected. No payment on
Subordinated Debt Securities may be made at any time when there is a default in
the payment of any principal, premium, interest, Additional Amounts or sinking
fund of or on any Senior Indebtedness. Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities
will be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to the
extent of payments made on Senior Indebtedness upon any distribution of assets
in any such proceedings out of the distributive shares of Subordinated Debt
Securities. By reason of such subordination, in the event of a distribution of
assets upon insolvency, certain creditors of the Company may recover more,
ratably, than Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities.
Senior Indebtedness is defined in the Subordinated Indenture as the principal
of, premium, if any, and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company
(including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), other than the
Subordinated Debt Securities, whether outstanding on the date of execution of
the Subordinated Indentures or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or
guaranteed, (i) for money owing to banks, (ii) for money borrowed from sources
other than banks or (iii) in connection with the acquisition by the Company or
a subsidiary of assets of any kind except in the ordinary course of business,
unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which
the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is not superior
in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities, and (b) renewals,
extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. As of
December 31, 1993, a total of approximately $30.2 billion of the Company's
indebtedness would have been Senior Indebtedness as so defined.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT WARRANTS
The Company may issue, together with Debt Securities, Currency Warrants or
Index Warrants or separately, Debt Warrants for the purchase of Debt
Securities. The Debt Warrants are to be issued under Debt Warrant Agreements
(each a "Debt Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a
bank or trust company, as Debt Warrant Agent (the "Debt Warrant Agent"), all as
shall be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to Debt Warrants being
offered thereby. A copy of the form of Debt Warrant Agreement, including the
form of Warrant Certificates representing the Debt Warrants (the "Debt Warrant
Certificates"), reflecting the alternative provisions to be included in the
Debt Warrant Agreements that will be entered into with respect to particular
offerings of Debt Warrants, is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Debt Warrant
Agreement and the Debt Warrant Certificates do not purport to be complete and
are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Debt Warrant Agreement and the Debt Warrant Certificates,
respectively, including the definitions therein of certain terms.
GENERAL
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Debt Warrants
offered thereby, the Debt Warrant Agreement relating to such Debt Warrants and
the Debt Warrant Certificates representing such Debt Warrants, including the
following: (1) the designation, aggregate principal amount, price at which such
principal amount may be purchased upon exercise and terms of the Debt
Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt Warrants, including whether
such Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt
Securities, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such
Debt Warrants; (2) the designation and terms of any related Debt Securities
with which such Debt Warrants are issued, including whether such Debt
Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities, the
number of such Debt Warrants issued with each such Debt Security, and the
Indenture under which the Debt Securities will be issued; (3) the date, if any,
on and after which such Debt Warrants and the related Debt Securities will be
separately transferable; (4) the date on which the right to exercise such Debt
Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the
"Expiration Date"); (5) if the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of
such Debt Warrants are original issue discount Debt Securities, a discussion of
Federal income tax considerations applicable thereto; and (6) whether the Debt
Warrants represented by the Debt Warrant Certificates will be issued in
registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred
and registered.
Debt Warrant Certificates will be exchangeable for new Debt Warrant
Certificates of different denominations and Debt Warrants may be exercised at
the corporate trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office
indicated in the Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Debt
Warrants, holders of Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights of Holders
of the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled
to payments of principal of, and any premium, Additional Amounts or interest
on, the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise.
EXERCISE OF DEBT WARRANTS
Each Debt Warrant will entitle the Holder to purchase for cash such principal
amount of Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set
forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. Debt Warrants may be exercised
at any time up to the close of business on the Expiration Date set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. After the
close of business on the Expiration Date, unexercised Debt Warrants will become
void.
Debt Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the
Debt Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate
trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, the Company will, as soon as practicable, forward the
Debt Securities purchasable
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upon such exercise. If less than all of the Debt Warrants represented by such
Debt Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Debt Warrant Certificate will be
issued for the remaining amount of Debt Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
The Company may issue, together with Debt Securities, Debt Warrants or Index
Warrants or separately, Currency Warrants either in the form of Currency Put
Warrants entitling the Holders thereof to receive from the Company the cash
settlement value in U.S. dollars of the right to sell a specified amount of a
specified foreign currency or currency units for a specified amount of U.S.
dollars, or in the form of Currency Call Warrants entitling the Holders thereof
to receive from the Company the cash settlement value in U.S. dollars of the
right to purchase a specified amount of a specified foreign currency or units
of two or more currencies for a specified amount of U.S. dollars. The Currency
Warrants are to be issued under a Currency Put Warrant Agreement or a Currency
Call Warrant Agreement, as applicable (each a "Currency Warrant Agreement"), to
be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company, as Currency
Warrant Agent (the "Currency Warrant Agent"), all as shall be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Copies of the forms of Currency Put Warrant
Agreement and Currency Call Warrant Agreement, including the forms of global
Warrant Certificates representing the Currency Put Warrants and Currency Call
Warrants (the "Currency Warrant Certificates"), reflecting the provisions to be
included in the Currency Warrant Agreements that will be entered into with
respect to particular offerings of Currency Warrants, are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement. The following summaries of certain provisions of
the Currency Warrant Agreements and the Currency Warrant Certificates do not
purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety
by reference to, all the provisions of the Currency Warrant Agreements and the
Currency Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein
of certain terms.
GENERAL
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Currency
Warrants offered thereby, the Currency Warrant Agreement relating to such
Currency Warrants and the Currency Warrant Certificates representing such
Currency Warrants, including the following: (1) whether such Currency Warrants
shall be Currency Put Warrants, Currency Call Warrants, or both; (2) the
formula for determining the cash settlement value of each Currency Warrant; (3)
the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such Currency
Warrants; (4) the circumstances which will cause the Currency Warrants to be
deemed to be automatically exercised; (5) any minimum number of Currency
Warrants which must be exercised at any one time, other than upon automatic
exercise; and (6) the date on which the right to exercise such Currency
Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the
"Expiration Date"), provided that the commencement date and the Expiration Date
may be the same date.
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Except as may otherwise be provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the Currency Warrants will be issued in the form of global Currency Warrant
Certificates, registered in the name of a depository or its nominee. Beneficial
owners will not be entitled to receive definitive certificates representing
Currency Warrants. Ownership of a Currency Warrant will be recorded on or
through the records of the brokerage firm or other entity that maintains a
beneficial owner's account. In turn, the total number of Currency Warrants held
by an individual brokerage firm for its clients will be maintained on the
records of the depository in the name of such brokerage firm or its agent.
Transfer of ownership of any Currency Warrant will be effected only through the
selling beneficial owner's brokerage firm.
EXERCISE OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
Each Currency Warrant will entitle the Holder to the cash settlement value of
such Currency Warrant on the applicable Exercise Date, in each case as such
terms will be defined in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If a Currency
Warrant has more than one exercise date and is not exercised prior to 1:30
P.M., New York City time, on the fifth New York Business Day preceding the
Expiration Date, Currency Warrants will be deemed automatically exercised.
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<PAGE>
LISTING
Each issue of Currency Warrants will be listed on a national securities
exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance, as a condition of sale
of any such Currency Warrants. In the event that the Currency Warrants are
delisted from, or permanently suspended from trading on, such exchange, the
Expiration Date for such Currency Warrants will be the date such delisting or
trading suspension becomes effective and Currency Warrants not previously
exercised will be deemed automatically exercised on such Expiration Date. The
applicable Currency Warrant Agreement will contain a covenant of the Company
not to seek delisting of the Currency Warrants, or suspension of their trading,
on such exchange.
DESCRIPTION OF INDEX WARRANTS
The Company may issue from time to time Index Warrants consisting of put
warrants (the "Index Put Warrants") or call warrants (the "Index Call
Warrants"). The Index Warrants will entitle the holders to receive from the
Company a payment or delivery, subject to applicable law, determined by
reference to decreases (in the case of Index Put Warrants) or to increases (in
the case of Index Call Warrants) in the level of an index or portfolio based on
one or more equity or debt securities (including the price or yield of such
securities), any statistical measure of economic or financial performance
(including any consumer price, currency or mortgage index) or the price or
value of any commodity or any combination thereof (the "Index"). Unless
otherwise specified in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, payments, if
any, upon exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Index Warrants will be made in
U.S. dollars. The Index Warrants will be offered on terms to be determined at
the time of sale. The amount of Index Warrants offered by this Prospectus,
other than those Index Warrants which will entitle the holders to receive a
payment from the Company determined by reference to increases or decreases in
the level of a specified stock or security index or the value of a portfolio of
specified stocks or other securities, is currently limited to $8,300,000,000.
This amount may be increased by the Company without the consent of
Warrantholders.
GENERAL
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the Index Warrant
Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture (each as defined below), as the case
may be, relating to the Index Warrants being offered thereby and the terms of
such Index Warrants, including, without limitation: (i) whether the Index
Warrants to be issued will be Index Put Warrants, Index Call Warrants or both;
(ii) the aggregate number and initial public offering price or purchase price;
(iii) the Index for such Index Warrants; (iv) whether the Index Warrants will
be deemed exercised as of a specified date or whether the Index Warrants may be
exercised during a period and the date on which the right to exercise such
Index Warrants commences and the date on which such right expires; (v) the
manner in which such Index Warrants may be exercised and any restrictions on,
or other special provisions relating to, the exercise of such Index Warrants;
(vi) the minimum number, if any, of such Index Warrants exercisable at any one
time; (vii) the maximum number, if any, of such Index Warrants that may,
subject to the Company's election, be exercised by all Index Warrantholders (or
by any person or entity) on any day; (viii) any provisions permitting an Index
Warrantholder to condition an exercise notice on the absence of certain
specified changes in the level of the applicable Index after the exercise date,
any provisions permitting the Company to suspend exercise of such Index
Warrants based on market conditions or other circumstances and any other
special provision relating to the exercise of such Index Warrants; (ix) any
provisions for the automatic exercise of such Index Warrants other than at
expiration; (x) any provisions permitting the Company to cancel such Index
Warrants upon the occurrence of certain events; (xi) any additional
circumstances which would constitute an Event of Default with respect to such
Index Warrants; (xii) the method of determining (a) the payment or delivery, if
any, to be made in connection with the exercise or deemed exercise of such
Index Warrants (the "Settlement Value"), (b) the minimum payment or delivery,
if any, to be made upon expiration of such Index Warrants (the "Minimum
Expiration Value"), (c) the payment or delivery to be made upon the exercise of
any right which the Company may have to cancel such Index Warrants and (d) the
value of the Index; (xiii) in the case of Index Warrants relating to an Index
for which the trading prices of underlying securities, commodities or rates are
expressed in a foreign currency, the method of converting amounts in the
relevant foreign currency or currencies into U.S. dollars (or such
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<PAGE>
other currency or composite currency in which the Index Warrants are payable);
(xiv) the method of providing for a substitute index or otherwise determining
the payment or delivery, if any, to be made in connection with the exercise of
such Index Warrants if the Index changes or ceases to be made available by its
publisher; (xv) the time or times at which payment or delivery, if any, will be
made in respect of such Index Warrants following exercise or deemed exercise;
(xvi) the national securities exchange on which such Index Warrants will be
listed, if any; (xvii) any provisions for issuing such Index Warrants in other
than book-entry form; (xviii) if such Index Warrants are not issued in book-
entry form, the place or places at which payment or delivery on cancellation,
if any, and the Minimum Expiration Value, if any, of such Index Warrants is to
be made by the Company; (xix) certain U.S. federal income tax consequences
relating to such Index Warrants; and (xx) other specific provisions.
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
issue of Index Warrants will contain the terms set forth below.
The Index Warrants which are issued without a Minimum Expiration Value will
be issued under one or more index warrant agreements (each, an "Index Warrant
Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company,
as warrant agent (the "Index Warrant Agent"), all as described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Index Warrants. The Index Warrant Agent
will act solely as the agent of the Company under the applicable Index Warrant
Agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust
for or with any Index Warrantholders. A single bank or trust company may act as
Index Warrant Agent for more than one issue of Index Warrants.
The Index Warrants which are issued with a Minimum Expiration Value will be
issued under one or more index warrant trust indentures (each an "Index Warrant
Trust Indenture") to be entered into between the Company and a corporation (or
other person permitted to so act by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time (the "Trust Indenture Act")), to act as trustee (the "Index
Warrant Trustee"), all as described in the Prospectus Supplement relative to
such Index Warrants. Any Index Warrant Trust Indenture will be qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act. To the extent allowed by the Trust Indenture Act, a
single qualified corporation may act as Index Warrant Trustee for more than one
issue of Index Warrants.
Forms of Index Warrant Agreement and Index Warrant Trust Indenture and the
respective global Index Warrant Certificates related thereto are filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement. The summaries herein of certain
provisions of the Index Warrant Agreement, the Index Warrant Trust Indenture
and global Index Warrant Certificates do not purport to be complete and are
subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Index Warrant Agreement, the Index Warrant Trust Indenture
and global Index Warrant Certificates, respectively.
The Company will have the right to "reopen" a previous issue of Index
Warrants and to issue additional Index Warrants of such issue without the
consent of any Index Warrantholder.
The Index Warrants involve a high degree of risk, including the risk that the
Index Warrants will expire worthless except for the Minimum Expiration Value,
if any, of such Index Warrants. Investors should therefore be prepared to
sustain a total loss of the purchase price of the Index Warrants (except for
the Minimum Expiration Value, if applicable). Investors who consider purchasing
Index Warrants should be experienced with respect to options and option
transactions and reach an investment decision only after carefully considering
the suitability of the Index Warrants in light of their particular
circumstances and the information set forth below and under "Description of
Index Warrants" as well as additional information contained in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Index Warrants.
Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, each Index Warrant
will entitle Index Warrantholders to receive from the Company upon exercise the
Settlement Value of such Index Warrant. Certain Index Warrants issued pursuant
to an Index Warrant Trust Indenture will, if specified in the Prospectus
Supplement, entitle the Index Warrantholder to receive from the Company, under
certain circumstances specified in the Prospectus Supplement, a payment or
delivery equal to the greater of the applicable Settlement Value and a Minimum
Expiration Value of such Index Warrants. In addition, certain Index Warrants
will, if specified in the Prospectus Supplement, entitle Index Warrantholders
to receive from the Company a certain payment or delivery upon cancellation of
the Index Warrants by the Company, upon
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<PAGE>
the occurrence of specified events. In addition, if so specified in the
Prospectus Supplement, following the occurrence of an extraordinary event, the
Settlement Value of an Index Warrant may, at the option of the Company, be
determined on a different basis, including in connection with automatic
exercise at expiration.
Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Index
Warrants will be deemed to be automatically exercised upon expiration or such
earlier date that may be specified. Upon such automatic exercise, Index
Warrantholders will be entitled to receive a payment or delivery equal to the
Settlement Value of the Index Warrants, except that holders of Index Warrants
having a Minimum Expiration Value will be entitled to receive a payment or
delivery equal to the greater of such Settlement Value and the applicable
Minimum Expiration Value. The Minimum Expiration Value may be either a
predetermined payment or delivery or a payment or delivery that varies during
the term of the Index Warrants in accordance with a schedule or formula. Any
Minimum Expiration Value applicable to an issue of Index Warrants, as well as
any additional circumstances resulting in the automatic exercise of such Index
Warrants, will be specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
If so specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Index Warrants may be
canceled by the Company, or the exercise or valuation of, or payment or
delivery for, such Index Warrants may be delayed or postponed upon the
occurrence of an extraordinary event. Any extraordinary events relating to an
issue of Index Warrants will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Upon cancellation, the related Index Warrantholders will be entitled to receive
only the applicable payment or delivery on cancellation specified in such
Prospectus Supplement. The payment or delivery on cancellation may be either a
predetermined payment or delivery or a payment or delivery that varies during
the term of the Index Warrants in accordance with a schedule or formula.
If the Company defaults with respect to any of its obligations under Index
Warrants which are issued with a Minimum Expiration Value pursuant to an Index
Warrant Trust Indenture, such default may be waived by the Index Warrantholders
of a majority in interest of all outstanding Index Warrants, except a default
in the payment or delivery of the Settlement Value, Minimum Expiration Value or
cancellation payment or delivery (if applicable) on such Index Warrants or in
respect of a covenant or provision of the applicable Index Warrant Trust
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Index
Warrantholder of each outstanding Index Warrant affected.
The Index Warrants are unsecured contractual obligations of the Company and
will rank pari passu with the Company's other unsecured contractual obligations
and with the Company's unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Since the Company is
a holding company, the right of the Company, and hence the right of creditors
of the Company (including the Holders of the Debt Securities), to participate
in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of
creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the Company
itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. In addition,
dividends, loans and advances from certain subsidiaries, including MLPF&S, to
the Company are restricted by net capital requirements under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and under rules of certain exchanges and other regulatory
bodies.
Certain special United States federal income tax considerations may be
applicable to instruments such as the Index Warrants. The related Prospectus
Supplement will describe such tax considerations. The summary of United Stated
federal income tax considerations contained in the Prospectus Supplement will
be presented for informational purposes only, however, and will not be intended
as legal or tax advice to prospective purchasers. Prospective purchasers of
Index Warrants are urged to consult their own tax advisors prior to any
acquisition of Index Warrants.
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Except as may otherwise be provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Index Warrants will be issued in book-entry form and represented by global
Index Warrants, registered in the name of a depository or its nominee. Except
as may otherwise be provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, Index
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Warrantholders will not be entitled to receive definitive certificates
representing Index Warrants, unless the depository is unwilling or unable to
continue as depository or the Company decides to have the Index Warrants
represented by definitive certificates. A beneficial owner's interest in an
Index Warrant represented by a global Index Warrant will be recorded on or
through the records of the brokerage firm or other entity that maintains such
beneficial owner's account. In turn, the total number of Index Warrants held by
an individual brokerage firm or other entity for its clients will be maintained
on the records of the depository in the name of such brokerage firm or other
entity or its agent.
LISTING
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Index Warrants
will be listed on a national securities exchange as specified in the Prospectus
Supplement. It is expected that such exchange will cease trading an issue of
Index Warrants at the close of business on the related expiration date of such
Index Warrants.
MODIFICATION
Any Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture and the terms of
the related Index Warrants may be amended by the Company and the Index Warrant
Agent or Index Warrant Trustee, as the case may be (which amendment shall take
the form of a supplemental index warrant agreement or supplemental index
warrant trust indenture (collectively referred to as "Supplemental
Agreements")), without the consent of the holders of any Index Warrants, for
the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or
supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained therein, or of
making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture, as the case may
be, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions thereof or of the Index
Warrants, (ii) evidencing the succession of another corporation to the Company
and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company
contained in the Index Warrant Agreement or the Index Warrant Trust Indenture,
as the case may be, and the Index Warrants, (iii) appointing a successor
depository, (iv) evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment by
a successor Index Warrant Agent or Index Warrant Trustee with respect to the
Index Warrants, as the case may be, (v) adding to the covenants of the Company,
for the benefit of the Index Warrantholders or surrendering any right or power
conferred upon the Company under the Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant
Trust Indenture, as the case may be, (vi) issuing Index Warrants in definitive
form, or (vii) amending the Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust
Indenture, as the case may be, in any manner which the Company may deem to be
necessary or desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the Index Warrantholders.
The Company and the Index Warrant Agent may also amend any Index Warrant
Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture, as the case may be, and the terms
of the related Index Warrants (which amendment shall take the form of a
Supplemental Agreement) with the consent of the Index Warrantholders holding
not less than 66 2/3 in number of the then outstanding unexercised Index
Warrants affected by such amendment, for the purpose of adding any provisions
to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Index
Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture, as the case may be, or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Index Warrantholders; provided that
no such amendment that (i) changes the determination of the Settlement Value or
the payment or delivery to be made on cancellation, if any, or Minimum
Expiration Value, if any, of the Index Warrants (or any aspects of such
determination) so as to reduce the payment or delivery to be made upon exercise
or deemed exercise, (ii) shortens the period of time during which the Index
Warrants may be exercised, or otherwise materially and adversely affects the
exercise rights of the Index Warrantholders or (iii) reduces the number of
outstanding Index Warrants, the consent of whose holders is required for
amendment of the Index Warrant Agreement, the Index Warrant Trust Indenture or
the terms of the related Index Warrants, may be made without the consent of
each Index Warrantholder affected thereby.
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EVENT OF DEFAULT
Certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company
will constitute an Event of Default with respect to Index Warrants having a
Minimum Expiration Value which are issued under an Index Warrant Trust
Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the holders of 25% of
unexercised Index Warrants may elect to receive a settlement payment or
delivery for such unexercised Index Warrants, which will immediately become due
to the Index Warrantholders upon such election in an amount equal to the market
value of such Index Warrants (assuming the Company's ability to satisfy its
obligations under such Index Warrants as they would become due) as of the date
the Company is notified of the intended liquidation, as determined by a
nationally recognized securities broker-dealer unaffiliated with the Company
and mutually selected by the Company and the Index Warrant Trustee.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE, LEASE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
The Company may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation and
the Company may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to
any corporation, provided that (i) the corporation (if other than the Company)
formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or which shall
have received such assets shall be a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof and shall assume
the Company's obligations in respect of the payment or delivery of the
Settlement Value (or any Minimum Expiration Value or cancellation payment or
delivery, if applicable) with respect to all the unexercised Index Warrants and
the performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the
Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture, as the case may be,
to be performed or observed by the Company, and (ii) the Company or such
successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not immediately be in default
under the Index Warrant Agreement or Index Warrant Trust Indenture, as the case
may be.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY INDEX WARRANTHOLDERS
Any Index Warrantholder may, without the consent of the related Index Warrant
Agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, in and for its own behalf, its
right to exercise, and receive payment or delivery for, its Index Warrants.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell Securities (i) through MLPF&S as agent, (ii) to the
public through, or through underwriting syndicates managed by, one or more of
the firms named on the cover page of this Prospectus or (iii) directly to
purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Securities of a
particular series describes the terms of the offering of such Securities,
including the name of the agent or the name or names of any underwriters, the
public offering or purchase price, any discounts and commissions to be allowed
or paid to the agent or underwriters, all other items constituting underwriting
compensation, the discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers,
if any, and the exchanges, if any, on which the Securities will be listed. Only
the agents or underwriters so named in the Prospectus Supplement are agents or
underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby. Under certain
circumstances, the Company may repurchase Securities and reoffer them to the
public as set forth above. The Company may also arrange for repurchases and
resales of such Securities by dealers.
If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Debt
Securities from the Company pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts providing
for payment and delivery on the date stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Each
such contract will be for an amount not less than, and, unless the Company
otherwise agrees, the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities sold
pursuant to such contracts shall not be more than, the respective amounts
stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom such contracts,
when authorized, may
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be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other
institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to the approval of the Company.
Delayed Delivery Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that
the purchase by an institution of the Debt Securities covered thereby shall not
at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the
United States to which such institution is subject.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the agent and the several underwriters
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Act"), or contribute to payments the agent or the
underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
The distribution of Securities will conform to the requirements set forth in
the applicable sections of Schedule E to the By-Laws of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement
schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by
reference in the Company's 1992 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Current Report
on Form 8-K dated March 9, 1994, and incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche, independent auditors, as
stated in their reports incorporated by reference herein. The information under
the caption "Summary Financial Information" for each of the five years in the
period ended December 31, 1993 included in this Prospectus and the Selected
Financial Data under the captions "Operating Results", "Financial Position" and
"Common Share Data" for (i) each of the five years in the period ended December
25, 1992 included in the 1992 Annual Report to Stockholders of the Company and
(ii) each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 1993 included in
the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 9, 1994 of the Company, and
incorporated by reference herein, has been derived from consolidated financial
statements audited by Deloitte & Touche, as set forth in their reports
incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated financial statements and
related financial statement schedules, such Summary Financial Information and
such Selected Financial Data appearing or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part,
have been included or incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
reports of Deloitte & Touche given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
With respect to unaudited interim financial information for the periods
included in any of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q which may be incorporated
herein by reference, Deloitte & Touche have applied limited procedures in
accordance with professional standards for a review of such information.
However, as stated in their report included in any such Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein, they did not audit and they do
not express an opinion on such interim financial information. Accordingly, the
degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in
light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Deloitte & Touche
are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Act for any
such report on unaudited interim financial information because any such report
is not a "report" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or
certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND
THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
Prospectus Supplement Summary............................................. S-3
<S> <C>
Certain Important Information Concerning the Warrants..................... S-6
Risk Factors Relating to the Warrants..................................... S-6
Recent Developments....................................................... S-9
Description of the Warrants............................................... S-13
CMT Yield................................................................. S-18
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations Concerning the
Warrants................................................................. S-20
Use of Proceeds........................................................... S-22
Underwriting.............................................................. S-23
Validity of Securities.................................................... S-23
PROSPECTUS
Available Information..................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................... 2
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ................................................ 3
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 3
Summary Financial Information............................................. 4
Description of Debt Securities............................................ 7
Description of Debt Warrants.............................................. 11
Description of Currency Warrants.......................................... 12
Description of Index Warrants............................................. 13
Plan of Distribution...................................................... 17
Experts................................................................... 18
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOGO
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
2,000,000
CONSTANT MATURITY U.S. TREASURY YIELD
INCREASE WARRANTS,
EXPIRING JANUARY 25, 1996
---------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
---------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
, 1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
GRAPHICS APPENDIX LIST
PAGE WHERE
GRAPHIC
APPEARS DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC OR CROSS REFERENCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S-2O GRAPHIC NO. 1
Graph entitled "CMT Yield -- Historical Performance"
"Monthly Averages from January 1989 through October 1994".
The graph sets forth the monthly averages of the daily
yield on 2-year United States Treasury securities at
"constant maturity", with the vertical axis specifying the
monthly averages of the daily yield on 2-year United
States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" in a
range from 10 to 3, in increments of 1, and the horizontal
axis specifying the times period in increments of
approximately four months, beginning with January 1989 and
ending with October 1994.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99(b)
THIS WARRANT IS A GLOBAL WARRANT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR
WARRANTS IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO A
NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS WARRANT IS PRESENTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY WARRANT ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS
THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
No. CUSIP No. 590188
GLOBAL WARRANT CERTIFICATE
representing
up to 2,000,000 Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield
Increase Warrants, Expiring January 25, 1996
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
This certifies that CEDE & Co. or registered assigns is the registered
Holder of 2,000,000 Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield Increase Warrants,
Expiring January 25, 1996 (the "Warrants") or such lesser amount as is indicated
in the records of Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent. Each Warrant entitles the
beneficial owner thereof, subject to the provisions contained herein and in the
Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(the "Company") the cash settlement value, if any, (the "Cash Settlement Value")
specified in Section 2.02(d) of the Warrant Agreement. The Holder hereof will
not be entitled to any interest on any Cash Settlement Value to which it is
otherwise entitled (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Cash
Settlement Value). The Warrants shall be automatically exercised on the fifth
New York Business Day immediately preceding January 25, 1996 (the "Expiration
Date") or, if an Early Expiration Date occurs, the New York Business Day
immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date (the "Exercise Date") as
<PAGE>
further described below and as provided in the Warrant Agreement. The term "New
York Business Day", as used herein, means any day other than a Saturday or
Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are required
or authorized by law or executive order to be closed.
This Global Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with
the Warrant Agreement, dated as of , 1994 (the "Warrant
Agreement"), between the Company and the Warrant Agent, and is subject to the
terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms
and provisions all beneficial owners of the Warrants evidenced by this Global
Warrant Certificate and the Holder of this Global Warrant Certificate consent by
acceptance hereof by the Depository (as defined below). Copies of the Warrant
Agreement are on file at the Warrant Agent Office of the Warrant Agent in The
City of New York. Except as provided in the Warrant Agreement, beneficial
owners of the Warrants evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate will not be
entitled to receive definitive Warrants evidencing their Warrants. Warrants
will be held through a depository selected by the Company which initially is The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository", which term, as used herein, includes
any successor depository selected by the Company as further provided in the
Warrant Agreement).
Capitalized terms included herein but not defined herein have the same
meaning assigned thereto in the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrants are delisted from, or permanently
suspended from trading on, the American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not
simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant to the rules of another Self-
Regulatory Organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), or if certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization involving the Company specified in the Warrant
Agreement occur, the Warrants shall expire on the date such delisting or trading
suspension becomes effective or such event in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization occurs (in either case, an "Early Expiration Date") and the
Warrants shall be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day
immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date. The Cash Settlement Value, if
any, of such Warrants will be paid on the fifth New York Business Day following
the Early Expiration Date. The Company will advise the Warrant Agent of the
date of any expected delisting or permanent suspension of trading of the
Warrants as soon as is practicable and will immediately inform the Warrant Agent
after the Company has received notice that such
2
<PAGE>
delisting or suspension has occurred and that the Warrants are not accepted for
listing on another Self-Regulatory Organization, but in no event will such
notice be given to the Warrant Agent later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the second New York Business Day preceding the Early Expiration Date.
The Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered owner hereof as the absolute
owner of the Warrants evidenced hereby (notwithstanding any notation of
ownership or other writing hereon) for any purpose and as the person entitled to
exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced hereby, and neither
the Company nor the Warrant Agent nor any agent of the Company or the Warrant
Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary, subject to certain
provisions of the Warrant Agreement, except that the Company and the Warrant
Agent shall be entitled to rely on and act pursuant to instructions of
Depository Participants as contemplated herein and in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement and certain restrictions
set forth above, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Global Warrant Certificate at the Warrant Agent Office of the Warrant Agent in
New York City, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee a new Global
Warrant Certificate of like tenor and evidencing a like number of Warrants as
evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate at the time of such registration of
transfer, which shall be issued to the designated transferee in exchange for
this Global Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the
Warrant Agreement, without charge.
This Global Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement are subject
to amendment as provided in the Warrant Agreement.
3
<PAGE>
This Global Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until authenticated by the Warrant Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Date:
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
By _________________________
Treasurer
[SEAL] Attest _____________________
Secretary
This is one of the Warrants
referred to in the within-mentioned
Warrant Agreement:
CITIBANK, N.A. as Warrant Agent
By __________________________
Authorized Officer
4
<PAGE>
Form of Transfer of Global Warrant Certificate
Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent
Corporate Trust Services
111 Wall Street
New York, New York 10043
, the registered Holder of the Global Warrant Certificate
representing all unexercised Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Constant Maturity U.S.
Treasury Yield Increase Warrants, Expiring January 25, 1996, hereby requests the
transfer of such Global Warrant Certificate to
Dated: [NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]
By
5
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99(c)
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
and
CITIBANK, N.A., as Warrant Agent
____________________
WARRANT AGREEMENT
dated as of , 1994
____________________
2,000,000 CONSTANT MATURITY U.S. TREASURY YIELD INCREASE
WARRANTS, EXPIRING JANUARY 25, 1996
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Page
----
PARTIES..................................................1
RECITALS.................................................1
ARTICLE I
ISSUANCE, FORM, EXECUTION,
DELIVERY AND REGISTRATION OF WARRANTS
SECTION 1.01. Issuance of Warrants; Book-Entry
Procedures; Successor Depository.....1
SECTION 1.02. Form, Execution and Delivery of
Global Warrant Certificate...........3
SECTION 1.03. Global Warrant Certificate............4
SECTION 1.04. Registration of Transfers and
Exchanges............................4
SECTION 1.05. Warrant Certificates..................5
ARTICLE II
DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
SECTION 2.01. Duration of Warrants..................8
SECTION 2.02. Exercise and Delivery of Warrants.....8
SECTION 2.03. Early Exercise of the Warrants.......11
SECTION 2.04. Covenant of the Company..............13
SECTION 2.05. Return of Global Warrant Certificate.13
SECTION 2.06. Return of Money Held Unclaimed
for Two Years.......................13
SECTION 2.07. Designation of Agent for Receipt of
Notice..............................14
ARTICLE III
OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO
RIGHTS OF HOLDERS
SECTION 3.01. Holder of Warrant May Enforce Rights.15
SECTION 3.02. Merger, Consolidation, Sale, Transfer
or Conveyance.......................15
ARTICLE IV
CANCELLATION OF WARRANTS
SECTION 4.01. Cancellation of Warrants.............16
SECTION 4.02. Treatment of Holders.................16
i
<PAGE>
ARTICLE V
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
SECTION 5.01. Warrant Agent........................17
SECTION 5.02. Conditions of Warrant Agent's
Obligations.........................17
SECTION 5.03. Resignation and Appointment of
Successor...........................19
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Amendment............................21
SECTION 6.02. Notices and Demands to the Company
and Warrant Agent...................22
SECTION 6.03. Addresses for Notices................22
SECTION 6.04. Notices to Holders...................22
SECTION 6.05. Applicable Law.......................23
SECTION 6.06. Obtaining of Governmental Approvals..23
SECTION 6.07. Persons Having Rights Under Warrant
Agreement...........................23
SECTION 6.08. Headings.............................23
SECTION 6.09. Counterparts.........................23
SECTION 6.10. Inspection of Agreement..............23
SIGNATURES...............................................24
EXHIBIT A - Form of Global Warrant Certificate
ii
<PAGE>
WARRANT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of , 1994, between MERRILL
LYNCH & CO., INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Company"), and CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking
association duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the United States,
as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agent"),
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T :
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell warrants (the "Warrants" or,
individually, a "Warrant") representing the right to receive from the Company
the Cash Settlement Value (as defined herein) in U.S. dollars computed by
reference to increases in the CMT Yield (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company in connection with the issuance, transfer and exercise of the Warrants,
and wishes to set forth herein, among other things, the provisions of the
Warrants and the terms and conditions on which they may be issued, transferred,
exercised and cancelled;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
ISSUANCE, FORM, EXECUTION,
DELIVERY AND REGISTRATION OF WARRANTS
SECTION 1.01. Issuance of Warrants; Book-Entry Procedures; Successor
------------------------------------------------------
Depository.
- -----------
(a) The Warrants shall initially be represented by a single
certificate (the "Global Warrant Certificate"). Each Warrant shall represent
the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and in the Global Warrant
Certificate, to receive the Cash Settlement Value, if any, (as defined in
paragraph (d) of Section 2.02) of such Warrant. In no event shall Holders (as
defined in Section 4.02) be entitled to receive any interest on any Cash
Settlement Value. Beneficial owners of interests in the Global Warrant
Certificate shall not be entitled to receive definitive Warrants evidencing the
Warrants; provided, however, that if (i) the Depository (as defined in Section
1.01(b)) is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for the
Warrants and a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company
1
<PAGE>
within 90 days, or (ii) the Company shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or
make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or institute proceedings to
be adjudicated bankrupt or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy
proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking
reorganization under applicable law, or shall consent to the filing of any such
petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver or custodian of all
or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in writing its inability
to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver or custodian of it or
all or any substantial part of its property shall be appointed, or if any public
officer shall have taken charge or control of the Company or of its property or
affairs, for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, the
Company will issue Warrants in definitive form in exchange for the Global
Warrant Certificate. In addition, the Company may at any time determine not to
have the Warrants represented by a Global Warrant Certificate and, in such
event, will issue Warrants in definitive form in exchange for the Global Warrant
Certificate. In either instance, and in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, each beneficial owner of an interest in the Global Warrant
Certificate will be entitled to have a number of Warrants equivalent to such
owner's beneficial interest in the Global Warrant Certificate registered in its
name and will be entitled to physical delivery of such Warrants in definitive
form by the Depository Participant (as defined in Section 1.01(c)) through which
such owner's beneficial interest is reflected. The provisions of Section 1.05
shall apply only if, and when, Warrants in definitive form ("Warrant
Certificates") are issued hereunder. Unless the context shall otherwise
require, all references in this Agreement to the Global Warrant Certificate
shall include the Warrant Certificates in the event that Warrant Certificates
are issued.
(b) The Global Warrant Certificate shall be deposited with the
Depository or its agent (the term "Depository", as used herein, initially refers
to The Depository Trust Company and includes any successor depository selected
by the Company as provided in Section 1.01(d)) for credit to the accounts of the
Depository Participants as shown on the records of the Depository from time to
time.
(c) The Global Warrant Certificate will initially be registered in the
name of a nominee of the Depository selected by the Company for the Warrants.
The
2
<PAGE>
Warrant holdings of Depository Participants will be recorded on the books of the
Depository. The holdings of customers of Depository Participants will be
reflected on the books and records of such Depository Participants and will not
be known to the Warrant Agent, the Company or to the Depository. "Depository
Participants" include securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies,
clearing organizations and certain other organizations which are participants in
the Depository's system. The Global Warrant Certificate will be held by the
Depository or its agent.
(d) The Company may from time to time select a new entity to act as
Depository and, if such selection is made, the Company shall promptly give the
Warrant Agent notice to such effect identifying the new Depository, and the
Global Warrant Certificate shall be delivered to the Warrant Agent and shall be
transferred to the new Depository as provided in Section 1.04 as promptly as
possible. Appropriate changes may be made in the Global Warrant Certificate and
the related notices delivered in connection with an exercise of Warrants to
reflect the selection of the new Depository.
SECTION 1.02. Form, Execution and Delivery of Global Warrant
----------------------------------------------
Certificate. The Global Warrant Certificate shall be in registered form and
- -----------
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with such appropriate
insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or
permitted by this Agreement. The Global Warrant Certificate may have imprinted
or otherwise reproduced thereon such letters, numbers or other marks of
identification or designation and such legends or endorsements as the officers
of the Company executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be
conclusive evidence of such approval) and are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
of any stock exchange on which the Warrants may be listed or of the Depository,
or to conform to usage. The Global Warrant Certificate shall be signed on
behalf of the Company by its President, Chairman of the Board, officer serving
as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, any Executive Vice President or any Vice
President, manually or by facsimile signature, and a facsimile of its corporate
seal shall be impressed, imprinted or engraved thereon, which shall be attested
by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, either manually or by facsimile
signature. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such
reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the Global Warrant Certificate that has
3
<PAGE>
been duly authenticated and delivered by the Warrant Agent.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed the Global
Warrant Certificate either manually or by facsimile signature shall cease to be
such officer before the Global Warrant Certificate so signed shall have been
authenticated and delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company or delivered by
the Company, such Global Warrant Certificate nevertheless may be authenticated
and delivered as though the person who signed such Global Warrant Certificate
had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and the Global Warrant
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the
actual date of the execution of such Global Warrant Certificate, shall be the
proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this
Agreement any such person was not such officer.
SECTION 1.03. Global Warrant Certificate . A Global Warrant
--------------------------
Certificate relating to 2,000,000 Warrants originally issued may be executed by
the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent on or after the date of execution
of this Agreement. The Warrant Agent is authorized, upon receipt of the Global
Warrant Certificate from the Company, duly executed on behalf of the Company, to
authenticate such Global Warrant Certificate. The Global Warrant Certificate
shall be manually authenticated and dated the date of its authentication by the
Warrant Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so authenticated.
The Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver the Global Warrant Certificate
to or upon the written order of the Company.
SECTION 1.04. Registration of Transfers and Exchanges. Except as
---------------------------------------
otherwise provided herein or in the Global Warrant Certificate, the Warrant
Agent shall from time to time register the transfer of the Global Warrant
Certificate in the records of the Warrant Agent only to the Depository, to a
nominee of the Depository, to a successor Depository, or to a nominee of a
successor Depository, upon surrender of such Global Warrant Certificate, duly
endorsed and accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and the Company, duly signed by the
registered Holder thereof or by the duly appointed legal representative thereof
or by a duly authorized attorney. Upon any such registration of transfer, the
Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver in
the name of the designated transferee a new Global Warrant Certificate of like
tenor and evidencing a like number of Warrants as
4
<PAGE>
evidenced by the Global Warrant Certificate at the time of such registration of
transfer.
The Global Warrant Certificate may be transferred as provided above at
the option of the Holder thereof when surrendered to the Warrant Agent at its
office or agency maintained for the purpose of transferring any of the Warrants,
which shall be south of Chambers Street in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York (the "Warrant Agent Office"), and which is, on the date of this
Agreement, 111 Wall Street, New York, New York 10043 Attention: Corporate Trust
Services, or at the office of any successor Warrant Agent as provided in Section
5.03, in exchange for another Global Warrant Certificate of like tenor and
representing a like number of Warrants.
SECTION 1.05. Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant Certificates issued
--------------------
in accordance with Section 1.01(a) shall be in registered form substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as are necessary or desirable for
individual Warrant Certificates, and may represent any integral multiple of
Warrants. The Warrant Certificates may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced
thereon such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends or endorsements as the officers of the Company executing the
same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval)
and are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be
required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the
Warrants may be listed or of the Depository, or to conform to usage. Warrant
Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Company upon the same conditions,
in substantially the same manner and with the same effect as the Global Warrant
Certificate.
Each Warrant Certificate, when so signed on behalf of the Company,
shall be delivered to the Warrant Agent, which shall manually authenticate and
deliver the same to or upon the written order of the Company. Each Warrant
Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Warrant Certificate shall be valid for any purpose, and no Warrant
evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been
authenticated by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by
the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Company shall be
5
<PAGE>
conclusive evidence that the Warrant Certificate so authenticated has been duly
issued hereunder.
Warrant Certificates delivered in exchange for the Global Warrant
Certificate shall be registered in such names and addresses (including tax
identification numbers) and in such denominations as shall be requested in
writing by the Depository or its nominee in whose name the Global Warrant
Certificate is registered, upon written certification to the Company and the
Warrant Agent in form satisfactory to each of them of a beneficial ownership
interest in the Global Warrant Certificate.
The Company shall cause to be kept at an office of the Warrant Agent
in The City of New York a register (the register maintained in such office and
in any other office or agency maintained by or on behalf of the Company for such
purpose being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Warrant
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrant Certificates and the
transfer of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent is hereby appointed
"Warrant Registrar" for the purpose of registering Warrant Certificates and the
transfer of Warrant Certificates as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of a transfer of a Warrant Certificate
at an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, the Company
shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the name
of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Warrant
Certificates of any authorized denominations and representing Warrants of a like
aggregate number.
At the option of the Holder, Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for
other Warrant Certificates of any authorized denominations and representing
Warrants of a like aggregate number, upon surrender of the Warrant Certificates
to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Warrant Certificates are
so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent
shall authenticate and deliver, the Warrant Certificates which the Holder making
the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Warrant Certificates issued upon any registration of a transfer or
an exchange of Warrant Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the
Company, evidencing the same obligations of the Company, and entitled to the
same benefits under this Warrant Agreement, as the Warrant Certificates
surrendered upon such registration of a transfer or an exchange.
6
<PAGE>
Every Warrant Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of
a transfer or for an exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the
Warrant Agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Registrar duly
executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of a transfer or
an exchange of Warrant Certificates, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection with any registration of a transfer or an exchange of Warrant
Certificates.
If any mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant
Agent, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and
deliver in exchange therefor a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor
representing Warrants of a like number and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered by a Holder to the Company and the Warrant
Agent (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any Warrant Certificate, (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by
them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless and (iii)
funds sufficient to cover any cost or expense to the Company (including any fees
charged by the Warrant Agent) relating to the issuance of a new Warrant
Certificate, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Warrant Agent
that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Company shall execute and upon its request the Warrant Agent shall authenticate
and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate,
a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor representing Warrants of a like number
and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
Every new Warrant Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 1.05 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall constitute an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable
by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Warrant Agreement
equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly
issued hereunder.
7
<PAGE>
The provisions of this Section 1.05 are exclusive and shall preclude
(to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant
Certificates.
Prior to due presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Warrant Agent may treat the person in whose name such Warrant Certificate is
registered as the owner of such Warrant Certificate for all purposes hereunder
whatsoever, whether or not such Warrant Certificate has been transferred and
neither the Company, the Warrant Agent nor any agent of the Company or the
Warrant Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All Warrant Certificates surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the Warrant Agent, be
delivered to the Warrant Agent and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The
Company may at any time deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation any
Warrant Certificates previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Warrant Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent. No Warrant
Certificates shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Warrant
Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 1.05, except as expressly
permitted by this Warrant Agreement. All cancelled Warrant Certificates held by
the Warrant Agent shall be disposed of as directed by the Company.
ARTICLE II
DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
SECTION 2.01. Duration of Warrants. Subject to the limitations
--------------------
described herein, each Warrant evidenced by the Global Warrant Certificate will
expire on January 25, 1996 (the "Expiration Date").
SECTION 2.02. Exercise and Delivery of Warrants.
---------------------------------
(a) The Warrants will be automatically exercised on the fifth New York
Business Day immediately preceding the Expiration Date or, if an Early
Expiration Date occurs, the New York Business Day immediately preceding the
Early Expiration Date (the "Exercise Date").
8
<PAGE>
(b) On the Exercise Date, the Warrant Agent shall: (i) obtain the Spot
Yield from the Calculation Agent; (ii) determine the Cash Settlement Value of
the Warrants; (iii) advise the Company of the aggregate Cash Settlement Value of
the Warrants and advise the Company of such other matters relating to the
exercised Warrants as the Company shall reasonably request. Any notice to be
given to the Company by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section 2.02 or
pursuant to Section 2.03 shall be by telephone and shall be promptly confirmed
in writing. Any notice to be given by the Calculation Agent to the Warrant
Agent pursuant to this Section 2.02 or pursuant to Section 2.03 shall be by
facsimile transmission to the address of the Warrant Agent set forth in Section
6.03.
(c) If no Early Expiration Date occurs, the Company will make
available to the Warrant Agent, no later than 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the Expiration Date, or, if the Expiration Date is not a New York Business Day,
on the next succeeding New York Business Day (the "Settlement Date"), funds in
an amount sufficient to pay such Cash Settlement Value. Provided that the
Company has made adequate funds available to the Warrant Agent in such manner,
the Warrant Agent will make payment by check to the Depository, after 3:00 P.M.,
New York City time, but prior to the close of business, on such Settlement Date.
Any such payment will be in the amount of the aggregate Cash Settlement Value in
respect of the Warrants.
(d) "Cash Settlement Value" of a Warrant is an amount which is the
greater of:
(i) $100 x 4 x (Spot Yield - Strike Yield) and
(ii) $0.
The "Strike Yield" equals %. The "Spot Yield" will be
determined on the Exercise Date by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated (the "Calculation Agent"). The "Spot Yield" will be determined as
follows:
(i) The Spot Yield will equal the rate which appears on Telerate Page
7052, "WEEKLY AVG YIELDS ON TREASURY CONSTANT MATURITIES", under the column
entitled "2 YR", which appears as of 2:30 P.M., New York City time, on the
Exercise Date. "Telerate Page 7052" means the display designated as page 7052
on the Dow Jones Telerate Service (or such page as may replace page 7052 on that
service for the purpose of displaying the yield described in clause (ii)).
(ii) If the Spot Yield as described in clause (i) is not available by
2:30 P.M., New York City time, on the
9
<PAGE>
Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will equal the one-week average yield on 2-year
United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity", as published in the
most recent H.15(519) (as defined below) available on the Exercise Date, in the
column "Week Ending" for the most recent date opposite the heading "Treasury
constant maturities, 2-Year." "H.15(519)" means the weekly statistical release
designated as such, published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
(iii) If the most recent H.15(519) available on the Exercise Date as
described in clause (ii) above was published more than fourteen calendar days
prior to the Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will equal the one-week average yield
on 2-year United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" as otherwise
announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Exercise Date for the
preceding week.
(iv) If the Spot Yield as described in clause (iii) is not announced
by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Exercise Date, the Spot Yield will be
calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed
as a bond equivalent and as a decimal rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a percentage point with five one-millionths of a
percentage point rounded up, on the basis of a year of 365 days, applied on a
daily basis) based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offer prices
as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the Exercise Date of three
leading primary United States government securities dealers in The City of New
York selected by the Calculation Agent (from five such dealers and eliminating
the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the
lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)) for Treasury
Notes with an original maturity of approximately two years, a remaining term to
maturity of not less than one year and in an amount of $100,000,000. If three
or four (and not five) of such dealers are quoting as described in this clause
(iv), then the Spot Yield will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices
obtained and neither the highest nor lowest of such quotations will be
eliminated.
(v) If fewer than three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are
quoting as described in clause (iv), the Spot Yield will be calculated by the
Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond
equivalent and as a decimal rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-
thousandth of a percentage point with five one-millionths of a percentage point
rounded up, on the basis of a year of 365 days, and applied on a daily basis)
based on the arithmetic mean of
10
<PAGE>
the secondary market offer prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City
time, on the Exercise Date of three leading primary United States government
securities dealers in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent
(from five such dealers and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event
of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of
equality, one of the lowest)), for Treasury Notes with an original maturity of
approximately ten years, a remaining term to maturity closest to two years and
in an amount of $100,000,000. If three or four (and not five) of such dealers
are quoting as described in this clause, then the Spot Yield will be based on
the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor
lowest of such quotes will be eliminated. If two Treasury Notes with an
original maturity of approximately ten years have remaining terms to maturity
equally close to two years, the quotes for the Treasury Note with the shorter
remaining term to maturity will be used.
The Cash Settlement Value will be rounded, if necessary, to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards).
SECTION 2.03. Early Exercise of the Warrants.
------------------------------
(a) In the event that the Warrants are delisted from, or permanently
suspended from trading on, the American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not
simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant to the rules of another Self-
Regulatory Organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), the Warrants will expire on the date such
delisting or trading suspension becomes effective (an "Early Expiration Date")
and the Warrants will be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day
immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date. The Company will advise the
Warrant Agent of the date of any expected delisting or permanent suspension of
trading of the Warrants as soon as is practicable and will immediately inform
the Warrant Agent after the Company has received notice that such delisting or
suspension has occurred and that the Warrants are not accepted for listing on
another Self-Regulatory Organization, but in no event will such notice be given
to the Warrant Agent later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the second New
York Business Day preceding the Early Expiration Date.
(b) The Warrants will expire on the date that any of the following
events occur (any such date also being an "Early Expiration Date") and the
Warrants will
11
<PAGE>
be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day immediately preceding
the Early Expiration Date:
(i) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an
involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part
of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its
affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in
effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(ii) the Company commences a voluntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in
an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the
appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official)
of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or
shall take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the
foregoing.
(c) The Warrant Agent shall, on the New York Business Day following
the Exercise Date as determined pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) above, (i)
obtain the Spot Yield from the Calculation Agent and determine the Cash
Settlement Value, if any, in the manner provided in paragraph (d) of Section
2.02, (ii) advise the Company of the Spot Yield and the Cash Settlement Value,
if any, of the Warrants evidenced by the Global Warrant Certificate, and (iii)
advise the Company of such other matters relating to the Warrants as the Company
shall reasonably request. Provided that the Company has made adequate funds
available to the Warrant Agent in a timely manner which shall, in no event, be
later than 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the fifth New York Business Day
following the Early Expiration Date, the Warrant Agent will make its check (or
another form of payment in accordance with existing arrangements between the
Warrant Agent and the Depository) available to the
12
<PAGE>
Depository against receipt by the Warrant Agent from the Depository of the
Global Warrant Certificate on the fifth New York Business Day following the
Early Expiration Date, such check to be in the amount of the aggregate Cash
Settlement Value in respect of the number of Warrants evidenced by the Global
Warrant Certificate at the close of business on the Early Expiration Date. The
Warrant Agent shall promptly cancel the Global Warrant Certificate following its
receipt thereof from the Depository.
(d) The Company will notify the beneficial owners of interests in the
Global Warrant Certificate, or will cause such owners to be notified, as
promptly as is practicable, of any expected delisting or suspension of trading
of the Warrants.
(e) If the Warrants are simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant
to the rules of another Self-Regulatory Organization (as defined in Section
3(a)(26) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended), from and after such
date all references in this Section 2.03 shall continue to apply, but each
reference to the "American Stock Exchange" herein shall be deemed to refer to
such other Self-Regulatory Organization.
SECTION 2.04. Covenant of the Company. The Company covenants, for
-----------------------
the benefit of the Holders, that it will not seek the delisting of the Warrants
from, or suspension of their trading on, the American Stock Exchange.
SECTION 2.05. Return of Global Warrant Certificate. At such time as
------------------------------------
all of the Warrants have been automatically exercised or otherwise cancelled,
the Warrant Agent shall destroy the cancelled Global Warrant Certificate unless
the Company directs it to return it.
SECTION 2.06. Return of Money Held Unclaimed for Two Years. Any
--------------------------------------------
money deposited with or paid to the Warrant Agent for the payment of the Cash
Settlement Value of any Warrants and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two
years after the date upon which such Cash Settlement Value shall have become due
and payable, shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, be repaid by
the Warrant Agent to the Company and the Holder of such Warrants shall
thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Holder may be
entitled to collect and all liability of the Warrant Agent with respect to such
money shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Warrant Agent, before
making any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company notify the Holders
concerned that said money has not been so applied and remains unclaimed and that
after a date named therein
13
<PAGE>
any unclaimed balance of said money then remaining will be returned to the
Company.
SECTION 2.07. Designation of Agent for Receipt of Notice. The
------------------------------------------
Company may from time to time designate in writing to the Warrant Agent a
designee for receipt of all notices required to be given by the Warrant Agent
pursuant to this Article II and all such notices thereafter shall be given in
the manner herein provided by the Warrant Agent to such designee.
14
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS
SECTION 3.01. Holder of Warrant May Enforce Rights. Notwithstanding
------------------------------------
any of the provisions of this Agreement, any Holder, without the consent of the
Warrant Agent, may, in and for his own behalf, enforce, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company suitable to enforce,
or otherwise in respect of, his right to receive payment for his Warrants as
provided in the Global Warrant Certificate and in this Agreement.
SECTION 3.02. Merger, Consolidation, Sale, Transfer or Conveyance.
---------------------------------------------------
The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially
all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other corporation, provided that
in any such case, either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the
successor corporation shall be a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the United States of America or a State thereof and such successor
corporation shall expressly assume the payment of the Cash Settlement Value with
respect to all unexercised Warrants, according to their tenor, and the due and
punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of
this Agreement and the Global Warrant Certificate to be performed by the
Company. Such successor or assuming corporation thereupon may cause to be
signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, a
new Global Warrant Certificate representing the Warrants not theretofore
exercised, in exchange and substitution for the Global Warrant Certificate
theretofore issued. Such Global Warrant Certificate shall in all respects have
the same legal rank and benefit under this Agreement as the Global Warrant
Certificate theretofore issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as
though such new Global Warrant Certificate had been issued at the date of the
execution hereof. In any case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or
conveyance of substantially all of the assets of the Company, such changes in
phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the new Global
Warrant Certificate as may be appropriate.
The Warrant Agent may receive a written opinion of legal counsel as
conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or
conveyance of substantially all of the assets of the Company complies with the
provisions of this Section 3.02 and that the assumption of this Agreement by the
successor or assuming corporation is effective.
15
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
CANCELLATION OF WARRANTS
SECTION 4.01. Cancellation of Warrants. In the event the Company
------------------------
shall purchase or otherwise acquire Warrants, such Warrants may, at the option
of the Company and upon notification to the Warrant Agent, be surrendered free
through a Depository Participant for credit to the Warrant Account and if so
credited the Warrant Agent shall promptly note the cancellation of such Warrants
by notation on the records of the Warrant Agent. No Warrant shall be issued in
lieu of or in exchange for any Warrant which is cancelled as provided herein,
except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.02. Treatment of Holders. The Company, the Warrant Agent
--------------------
and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person
in whose name the Global Warrant Certificate shall be registered in the records
of the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of such Global Warrant Certificate
(notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) (the
"Holder") for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights
represented by the Warrants evidenced hereby, and neither the Company nor the
Warrant Agent, nor any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary. This Section 4.02 shall be without
prejudice to the rights of Holders as described elsewhere herein.
16
<PAGE>
ARTICLE V
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
SECTION 5.01. Warrant Agent. (a) The Company hereby appoints
-------------
Citibank, N.A. as Warrant Agent of the Company in respect of the Warrants and
Global Warrant Certificate upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein and in the Global Warrant Certificate; and Citibank, N.A. hereby
accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the powers and authority
granted to and conferred upon it in the Global Warrant Certificate and hereby
and such further powers and authority acceptable to it to act on behalf of the
Company as the Company may hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of the
terms and provisions with respect to such powers and authority contained in the
Global Warrant Certificate are subject to and governed by the terms and
provisions hereof.
(b) The Warrant Agent covenants and agrees to maintain offices,
staffed by qualified personnel, with adequate facilities for the discharge of
its responsibilities under this Warrant Agreement, including without limitation
the computation of the Cash Settlement Value and the timely settlement of the
Warrants upon exercise thereof.
SECTION 5.02. Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations. The Warrant
-----------------------------------------
Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions
hereof and of the Global Warrant Certificates including the following, to all of
which the Company agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders
from time to time of the Warrants shall be subject:
(a) The Company agrees promptly to pay the Warrant Agent the
compensation to be agreed upon with the Company for all services rendered
by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees and expenses) incurred by
the Warrant Agent without negligence, bad faith or breach of this Agreement
on its part in connection with the services rendered by it hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred without negligence, bad faith or
breach of this Agreement on the part of the Warrant Agent, arising out of
or in connection with it acting as such Warrant Agent hereunder or with
respect to the Warrants or the Global Warrant Certificate, as well as the
reasonable costs and
17
<PAGE>
expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the Global
Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the
Company and does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or
trust for or with any of the owners or Holders of the Warrants.
(c) The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it, and
the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such counsel.
(d) The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken or omitted or thing suffered by it in
reliance upon any Global Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the
proper parties.
(e) The Warrant Agent, and its officers, directors and employees, may
become the owner of, or acquire an interest in, any Warrants or other
obligations of the Company, with the same rights that it or they would have
if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or
other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary,
trustee or agent for, any committee or body of Holders of Warrants or other
obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent
hereunder.
(f) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on
any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of
this Agreement or of the Global Warrant Certificate nor shall it be
obligated to segregate such monies from other monies held by it, except as
required by law. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for advancing
funds on behalf of the Company.
(g) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility with
respect to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the execution
and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the
Warrant Agent) or with
18
<PAGE>
respect to the validity or execution of the Global Warrant Certificate
(except its authentication thereof).
(h) The recitals contained herein and in the Global Warrant
Certificate (except as to the Warrant Agent's authentication thereon) shall
be taken as the statements of the Company and the Warrant Agent assumes no
responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(i) The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties
as are herein and in the Global Warrant Certificate specifically set forth
and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or
the Global Warrant Certificate against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant
Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder likely
to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which is not, in
its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be
accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company
of the Global Warrant Certificate authenticated by the Warrant Agent and
delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the
application by the Company of any proceeds. The Warrant Agent shall have
no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the
performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the
Global Warrant Certificate or in the case of the receipt of any written
demand from a Holder of a Warrant with respect to such default, except as
provided in Section 6.02 hereof, including, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to
initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the
Company.
(j) Unless herein or in the Global Warrant Certificate otherwise
specifically provided, any order, certificate, notice, request, direction
or other communication from the Company made or given by the Company under
any provision of this Agreement shall be sufficient if signed by its
President, Chairman of the Board, officer serving as Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer, any Executive Vice President or any Vice President.
SECTION 5.03. Resignation and Appointment of Successor.
----------------------------------------
(a) The Company agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to
time of the Warrants, that there
19
<PAGE>
shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all the Warrants have
expired.
(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such agent by giving
written notice to the Company of such intention on its part, specifying the date
on which its desired resignation shall become effective, subject to the
appointment of a successor Warrant Agent, and acceptance of such appointment by
such successor Warrant Agent, as hereinafter provided. The Warrant Agent
hereunder may be removed at any time by the filing with it of an instrument in
writing signed by or on behalf of the Company and specifying such removal and
the date when it shall become effective. Such resignation or removal shall take
effect upon the appointment by the Company, as hereinafter provided, of a
successor Warrant Agent (which shall be a banking institution organized under
the laws of the United States of America, or one of the states thereof and
having an office or an agent's office south of Chambers Street in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York) and the acceptance of such appointment by such
successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent has not been
appointed and accepted its duties within 90 days of the Warrant Agent's notice
of resignation, the Warrant Agent may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the designation of a successor Warrant Agent. The obligation
of the Company under Section 5.02(a) shall continue to the extent set forth
therein notwithstanding the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent and
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or shall be
removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or
insolvent, or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or consent to
the appointment of a receiver or custodian of all or any substantial part of its
property, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay or meet its debts as
they mature, or if a receiver or custodian of it or all or any substantial part
of its property shall be appointed, or if any public officer shall have taken
charge or control of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, a successor Warrant
Agent, qualified as aforesaid, shall be appointed by the Company by an
instrument in writing, filed with the successor Warrant Agent. Upon the
appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent and acceptance by the
latter of such appointment, the Warrant Agent so superseded shall cease to be
Warrant Agent hereunder.
(d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to its
20
<PAGE>
predecessor and to the Company an instrument accepting such appointment
hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant Agent, without any further act,
deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers,
trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect
as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such predecessor, upon
payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become
obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over, and such successor Warrant Agent
shall be entitled to receive, all monies, securities and other property on
deposit with or held by such predecessor, as Warrant Agent hereunder.
(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be
merged or converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation to
which the Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially
all of the corporate trust business of the Warrant Agent, provided that it shall
be qualified as aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Amendment. (a) This Agreement and the Global Warrant
---------
Certificate may be amended by the Company and the Warrant Agent, without the
consent of the Holder of the Global Warrant Certificate or the Holders, for the
purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective or inconsistent provision contained herein or therein, for the purpose
of appointing a successor Depository in accordance with paragraph (d) of Section
1.01, for the purpose of issuing Warrants in definitive form in accordance with
paragraph (a) of Section 1.01, or in any other manner which the Company may deem
to be necessary or desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect
the interests of the Holders of the Warrants. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 6.01 to the contrary, this Agreement may not be amended to provide for
the authentication by the Warrant Agent of one or more Global Warrant
Certificates evidencing in excess of 2,000,000 Warrants originally issued unless
and until the Warrant Agent has received notice from the American Stock Exchange
or any successor Self-Regulatory Organization that additional Warrants in
21
<PAGE>
excess of 2,000,000 Warrants originally issued have been approved for listing on
such exchange.
(b) The Company and the Warrant Agent may modify or amend this
Agreement and the Global Warrant Certificate, with the consent of the Holders
holding not fewer than a majority in number of the then outstanding Unexercised
Warrants affected by such modification or amendment, for any purpose; provided,
however, that no such modification or amendment that changes the Spot Yield so
as to adversely affect the Holders, shortens the period of time remaining to the
Expiration Date or otherwise materially and adversely affects the exercise
rights of the Holders or reduces the percentage of the number of outstanding
Warrants the consent of the Holders of which is required for modification or
amendment of this Agreement or the Global Warrant Certificate may be made
without the consent of each Holder affected thereby.
SECTION 6.02. Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent.
----------------------------------------------------
If the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Company
by any Holder pursuant to the provisions of the Global Warrant Certificate, the
Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to the Company.
SECTION 6.03. Addresses for Notices. Any communications from the
---------------------
Company to the Warrant Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed
to Citibank, N.A., 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10043, (facsimile: (212) 480-
1613) (telephone: (212) 412-6209), Attention: Corporate Trust Services; any
communications from the Warrant Agent to the Company with respect to this
Agreement shall be addressed to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., South Tower, World
Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10080-6107 (facsimile:
(212) 236-6004) (telephone: (212) 236-6113), Attention: Treasurer (first copy)
and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 100 Church Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10007
(facsimile: (212) 602-8436) (telephone: (212) 602-8444), Attention: Corporate
Secretary (second copy); and any communications from the Warrant Agent to the
Calculation Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey
Street, New York, NY, 10281 Attention: Richard George (facsimile: (212) 449-
8920) (telephone: (212) 449-6177) (or such other address as shall be specified
in writing by the Warrant Agent, the Company or the Calculation Agent,
respectively).
SECTION 6.04. Notices to Holders. The Company or the Warrant Agent
------------------
may cause to have notice given to the beneficial owners of interests in the
Global Warrant
22
<PAGE>
Certificate by providing the Depository with a form of notice to be distributed
by the Depository to Depository Participants in accordance with the customs and
practices of the Depository.
SECTION 6.05. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation and
--------------
performance of this Agreement and each Warrant issued hereunder and of the
respective terms and provisions thereof shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such
State.
SECTION 6.06. Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. The Company will
-----------------------------------
from time to time take all actions which may be necessary to obtain and keep
effective any and all permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies
and authorities and the American Stock Exchange and securities acts filings
under United States Federal and State laws, which may be or become requisite in
connection with the issuance, sale, trading, transfer or delivery of the
Warrants, the Global Warrant Certificate and the exercise of the Warrants.
SECTION 6.07. Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement. Nothing
---------------------------------------------
in this Agreement expressed or implied and nothing that may be inferred from any
of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or
give to, any person or corporation other than the Company, the Warrant Agent,
and the Holders any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement
or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof; and all
covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Agreement
contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the
Warrant Agent and their successors and of the registered Holders of the Warrant
Certificate.
SECTION 6.08. Headings. The descriptive headings of the several
--------
Articles and Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
SECTION 6.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
------------
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
SECTION 6.10. Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Agreement
-----------------------
shall be available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust
office of the
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Warrant Agent, for inspection by the Depository Participants and the Holders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the
parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
By _________________________
Theresa Lang
Treasurer
CITIBANK, N.A.
By _________________________
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
THIS WARRANT IS A GLOBAL WARRANT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR
WARRANTS IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO A
NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS WARRANT IS PRESENTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY WARRANT ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS
THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
No. CUSIP No. 590188
GLOBAL WARRANT CERTIFICATE
representing
up to 2,000,000 Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield Increase Warrants,
Expiring January 25, 1996
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
This certifies that CEDE & Co. or registered assigns is the registered
Holder of 2,000,000 Constant Maturity U.S. Treasury Yield Increase Warrants,
Expiring January 25, 1996 (the "Warrants") or such lesser amount as is indicated
in the records of Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent. Each Warrant entitles the
beneficial owner thereof, subject to the provisions contained herein and in the
Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(the "Company") the cash settlement value, if any, (the "Cash Settlement Value")
specified in Section 2.02(d) of the Warrant Agreement. The Holder hereof will
not be entitled to any interest on any Cash Settlement Value to which it is
otherwise entitled (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Cash
Settlement Value). The Warrants shall be automatically exercised on the fifth
New York Business Day immediately preceding January 25, 1996 (the "Expiration
Date") or, if an Early Expiration Date
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
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Page 2
occurs, the New York Business Day immediately preceding the Early Expiration
Date (the "Exercise Date") as further described below and as provided in the
Warrant Agreement. The term "New York Business Day", as used herein, means any
day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in The
City of New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to be
closed.
This Global Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with
the Warrant Agreement, dated as of , 1994 (the "Warrant
Agreement"), between the Company and the Warrant Agent, and is subject to the
terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms
and provisions all beneficial owners of the Warrants evidenced by this Global
Warrant Certificate and the Holder of this Global Warrant Certificate consent by
acceptance hereof by the Depository (as defined below). Copies of the Warrant
Agreement are on file at the Warrant Agent Office of the Warrant Agent in The
City of New York. Except as provided in the Warrant Agreement, beneficial
owners of the Warrants evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate will not be
entitled to receive definitive Warrants evidencing their Warrants. Warrants
will be held through a depository selected by the Company which initially is The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository", which term, as used herein, includes
any successor depository selected by the Company as further provided in the
Warrant Agreement).
Capitalized terms included herein but not defined herein have the same
meaning assigned thereto in the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrants are delisted from, or permanently
suspended from trading on, the American Stock Exchange and the Warrants are not
simultaneously accepted for trading pursuant to the rules of another Self-
Regulatory Organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), or if certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization involving the Company specified in the Warrant
Agreement occur, the Warrants shall expire on the date such delisting or trading
suspension becomes effective or such event in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization occurs (in either case, an "Early Expiration Date") and the
Warrants shall be automatically exercised on the New York Business Day
immediately preceding the Early Expiration Date. The Cash Settlement Value, if
any, of such Warrants will be
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EXHIBIT A
---------
Page 3
paid on the fifth New York Business Day following the Early Expiration Date.
The Company will advise the Warrant Agent of the date of any expected delisting
or permanent suspension of trading of the Warrants as soon as is practicable and
will immediately inform the Warrant Agent after the Company has received notice
that such delisting or suspension has occurred and that the Warrants are not
accepted for listing on another Self-Regulatory Organization, but in no event
will such notice be given to the Warrant Agent later than 5:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the second New York Business Day preceding the Early Expiration
Date.
The Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered owner hereof as the absolute
owner of the Warrants evidenced hereby (notwithstanding any notation of
ownership or other writing hereon) for any purpose and as the person entitled to
exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced hereby, and neither
the Company nor the Warrant Agent nor any agent of the Company or the Warrant
Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary, subject to certain
provisions of the Warrant Agreement, except that the Company and the Warrant
Agent shall be entitled to rely on and act pursuant to instructions of
Depository Participants as contemplated herein and in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement and certain restrictions
set forth above, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Global Warrant Certificate at the Warrant Agent Office of the Warrant Agent in
New York City, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee a new Global
Warrant Certificate of like tenor and evidencing a like number of Warrants as
evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate at the time of such registration of
transfer, which shall be issued to the designated transferee in exchange for
this Global Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the
Warrant Agreement, without charge.
This Global Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement are subject
to amendment as provided in the Warrant Agreement.
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EXHIBIT A
---------
Page 4
This Global Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until authenticated by the Warrant Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Date:
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
By _________________________
Treasurer
[SEAL] Attest _____________________
Secretary
This is one of the Warrants
referred to in the within-mentioned
Warrant Agreement:
CITIBANK, N.A. as Warrant Agent
By __________________________
Authorized Officer
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EXHIBIT A
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Page 5
Form of Transfer of Global Warrant Certificate
Citibank, N.A., as Warrant Agent
Corporate Trust Services
111 Wall Street
New York, New York 10043
, the registered Holder of the Global Warrant Certificate
representing all unexercised Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Constant Maturity U.S.
Treasury Yield Increase Warrants, Expiring January 25, 1996, hereby requests the
transfer of such Global Warrant Certificate to
Dated: [NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]
By
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