As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 1996
Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
------------
FORM S-8
Registration Statement
under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 13-2740599
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281-1334
(212) 449-1000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
------------
ROSEMARY T. BERKERY, ESQ.
Associate General Counsel
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281-1334
(212) 449-6990
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
------------
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Deferred Unit and Stock Unit Plan
for Non-Employee Directors
(Full title of the plan)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of securities Amount to Proposed maximum offering Proposed maximum aggregate Amount of
to be registered be registered price per share offering price(2) registration fee
=========================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par value
$1.33-1/3 per share,
(including Preferred Stock
Purchase Rights)(1)........ 200,000 $77.625 $15,525,000 $4,704.55
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Prior to the occurrence of certain events, the Preferred Stock Purchase
Rights will not be evidenced separately from the Common Stock; value
attributable to such Rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of
the Common Stock.
(2) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c), based on the average of the
high and low prices of the Common Stock reported in the consolidated
reporting system on November 22, 1996.
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8
will be sent or given to participating directors as specified by Rule 428(b)(1)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such documents and the documents
incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The Annual Report of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Company") on Form
10-K for the year ended December 29, 1995, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the quarters ended March 29, 1996, June 28, 1996 and September 27, 1996 and
Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 17, 1996, January 22, 1996, February
7, 1996, February 29, 1996, March 1, 1996, March 12, 1996, March 18, 1996, April
1, 1996, April 15, 1996, May 1, 1996, May 13, 1996, May 15, 1996, May 28, 1996
(as amended by Form 8-K/A filed June 7, 1996), July 9, 1996, July 16, 1996, July
31, 1996, August 12, 1996, October 15, 1996, and October 30, 1996 filed pursuant
to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
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 registered pursuant to this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be 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 Registration Statement 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 hereof.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 500,000,000 shares
of Common Stock, par value $1.33-1/3 per share, and 25,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, issuable in series ("Preferred
Stock"). The holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each
share held and each share of Common Stock is entitled to participate equally in
dividends out of funds legally available therefor, as and when declared by the
Board of Directors, and in the distribution of assets in the event of
liquidation. The shares of Common Stock have no preemptive or conversion rights,
redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions. The outstanding shares of
Common Stock are, and the shares offered hereby will be, duly and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Each share is eligible to participate
under the Rights Agreement referenced below and, to the extent specified
therein, to purchase certain securities upon the occurrence of certain events
specified in the Rights Agreement.
The Board of Directors of the Company, without further action by
stockholders, has the authority to issue shares of Preferred Stock from time to
time in one or more series and to fix the powers (including voting power),
designations, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, and relative,
participating, optional, or other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations, or restrictions thereof. As of November 29, 1996, there were
17,000,000 Depositary Shares issued each representing a one-four hundredth
interest in a share of the Company's 9% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
(the "9% Preferred Stock"). The 9% Preferred Stock is a single series consisting
of 42,500 shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $425,000,000. As of
November 29, 1996, there were 42,500 shares of 9% Preferred Stock outstanding.
As of November 29, 1996, there were 3,000 shares of the Company's Remarketed
Preferred StockSM, Series C (the "RP(R) Stock") issued, of which 1,938 were
outstanding. From time to time, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("MLPF&S") may occasionally acquire a temporary position in the
2
<PAGE>
Depositary Shares and shares of RP Stock. At November 29, 1996, the Depositary
Shares and shares of RP Stock held by MLPF&S for the purpose of resale was not
material. The 9% Preferred Stock and RP Stock have dividend and liquidation
preference over the Common Stock and over the Series A Junior Preferred Stock
issuable pursuant to a Rights Agreement dated as of December 16, 1987 between ML
& Co. and The Chase Manhattan Bank (successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover
Trust Company).
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
None.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended, provides that under certain circumstances a corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was
serving at its request in such capacity in another corporation or business
association, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith
and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Article XIII, Section 2 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company provides in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the
Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to the extent authorized or
permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The directors
and officers of the Company are insured under policies of insurance maintained
by the Company, subject to the limits of the policies, against certain losses
arising from any claims made against them by reason of being or having been such
directors or officers. Like indemnification and insurance is also provided to
those employees of the Company who serve as administrators of the Plan. In
addition, the Company has entered into contracts with all of its directors
providing for indemnification of such persons by the Company to the full extent
authorized or permitted by law, subject to certain limited exceptions.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
4(a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended April 24,
1987 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 1992 ("1992
10-K") (File No. 1-7182)).
4(b) Certificate of Amendment, dated April 29, 1993, of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to
the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
26, 1993 ("First Quarter 1993 10-Q") (File No. 1-7182)).
4(c) By-Laws of the Company, effective as of July 22, 1996 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 28, 1996 (File No. 1-7182)).
4(d) Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of December 16, 1987, between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (successor by merger to Manufacturers
Hanover Trust Company) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(iv) to the
1992 10-K).
4(e) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the rights,
preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions and limitations
relating to the Company's 9% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(iii) to the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1994 (File No.
1-7182)).
4(f) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the rights,
preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions and limitations
relating to the Company's Remarketed Preferred Stock, Series C
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the First Quarter 1993
10-Q).
3
<PAGE>
4(g) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the rights,
preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions and limitations
relating to the Company's Series A Junior Preferred Stock (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3(f) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (File No. 33-19975)).
5 Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP.
15 Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.
23(a) Consent of Brown & Wood LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5).
23(b) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24 Power of Attorney (included on page 5).
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering hereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 6 of
this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by a
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in The City of New York and State of New York on the 29th day of
November, 1996.
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
By: /s/ Daniel P. Tully
--------------------------
Daniel P. Tully
(Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer)
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Daniel P. Tully, David H. Komansky, Joseph T.
Willett and Stephen L. Hammerman, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the 29th day of November, 1996.
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ Daniel P. Tully Chairman of the Board, Chief
- -------------------------------- Executive Officer and Director
(Daniel P. Tully)
/s/ David H. Komansky President, Chief Operating
- -------------------------------- Officer and Director
(David H. Komansky)
/s/ Joseph T. Willett Senior Vice President and
- -------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer (Principal
(Joseph T. Willett) Financial Officer)
/s/ Michael J. Castellano Senior Vice President and Controller
- -------------------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer)
(Michael J. Castellano)
5
<PAGE>
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ William O. Bourke Director
- --------------------------------
(William O. Bourke)
/s/ W.H. Clark Director
- --------------------------------
(W.H. Clark)
/s/ Jill K. Conway Director
- --------------------------------
(Jill K. Conway)
/s/ Stephen L. Hammerman Director
- --------------------------------
(Stephen L. Hammerman)
/s/ Earle H. Harbison, Jr. Director
- --------------------------------
(Earle H. Harbison, Jr.)
/s/ George B. Harvey Director
- --------------------------------
(George B. Harvey)
/s/ William R. Hoover Director
- --------------------------------
(William R. Hoover)
/s/ Robert P. Luciano Director
- --------------------------------
(Robert P. Luciano)
/s/ David K. Newbigging Director
- --------------------------------
(David K. Newbigging)
/s/ Aulana L. Peters Director
- --------------------------------
(Aulana L. Peters)
/s/ John J. Phelan, Jr. Director
- --------------------------------
(John J. Phelan, Jr.)
/s/ William L. Weiss Director
- --------------------------------
(William L. Weiss)
6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Page
- ----------- ----------- ----
4(a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
amended April 24, 1987 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3(i) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 25, 1992 ("1992 10-K") (File No.
1-7182)).
4(b) Certificate of Amendment, dated April 29, 1993, of the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 26, 1993 ("First Quarter
1993 10-Q") (File No. 1-7182)).
4(c) By-Laws of the Company, effective as of July 22, 1996
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28,
1996 (File No. 1-7182)).
4(d) Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of December 16, 1987,
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (successor by
merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company) (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3(iv) to the 1992 10-K).
4(e) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the
rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions
and limitations relating to the Company's 9% Cumulative
Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4(iii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 1994 (File No. 1-7182)).
4(f) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the
rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions
and limitations relating to the Company's Remarketed Preferred
Stock, Series C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to
the First Quarter 1993 10-Q).
4(g) Certificate of Designation of the Company establishing the
rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions
and limitations relating to the Company's Series A Junior
Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(f) to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No.
33-19975)).
5 Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP.
15 Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.
23(a) Consent of Brown & Wood LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5).
23(b) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24 Power of Attorney (included on page 5).
7
Exhibit 5
[Letterhead of Brown & Wood LLP]
November 29, 1996
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
Dear Sirs:
We have acted as counsel for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission expected to be made on or about November 29,
1996 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") for the purpose of registering
200,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.33 1/3 per share (including
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)(the "Common Stock") of Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc., which may be issued under the Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Deferred Unit and
Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan"). In such capacity, we
have examined the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Company, the Plan, and such other documents of the Company as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the opinion expressed herein.
Based upon the foregoing, we advise you that, in our opinion, the shares
of Common Stock issued under the Plan will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brown & Wood LLP
Exhibit 15
[Letterhead of Deloitte & Touche LLP]
November 29, 1996
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center
North Tower, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10281
We have made a review, in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of the unaudited interim consolidated
financial information of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries for the
periods ended March 29, 1996 and March 31, 1995, June 28, 1996 and June 30,
1995, and September 27, 1996 and September 29, 1995, as indicated in our reports
dated May 10, 1996, August 9, 1996, and November 8, 1996; because we did not
perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.
We are aware that such reports referred to above, which are included in your
Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 29, 1996, June 28,
1996, and September 27, 1996, are incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement.
We are also aware that the aforementioned report, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, is not considered a part of the Registration
Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or
certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Exhibit 23(b)
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Company") on Form S-8 of our reports dated
February 26, 1996, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 29, 1995 and to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is a
part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Registration Statement of our report dated February 26, 1996,
appearing as Exhibit 99(ii) in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
March 12, 1996, relating to the Selected Financial Data under the captions
"Operating Results", "Financial Position" and "Common Share Data" for each of
the five years in the period ended December 29, 1995 included in the 1995 Annual
Report to Stockholders of the Company.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
November 29, 1996
