MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC
8-K, 1996-02-29
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT



                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 29, 1996
                                                  -----------------


                           Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
                     ------------------------------------
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

     Delaware                    1-7182                   13-2740599
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other              (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of              File Number)              Identification No.)
incorporation)


World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York   10281-1220
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)



 Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 449-1000
                                                     --------------



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE>
 
Item 5.   Other Events
- -------   -------------

          Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the Registration
Statements on Form S-3 (File Nos. 33-61559 and 33-65135) filed by Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc. ("ML & Co.") with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering
Senior Debt Securities issuable under an indenture dated as of April 1, 1983, as
amended and restated, between ML & Co. and Chemical Bank (successor by merger to
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company) (the "Indenture").  ML & Co. will issue
$250,000,000 principal amount of 6% Notes due March 1, 2001 under the Indenture.
The exhibits consist of the form of Notes and an opinion of counsel relating
thereto.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information 
- -------  ----------------------------------------------------- 
         and Exhibits 
         ------------- 


                           EXHIBITS
            
         (4)          Instruments defining the rights of security holders,
                      including indentures.

                         Form of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s 6% Notes due 
                         March 1, 2001.

          (5) & (23)  Opinion re: legality; consent of counsel.

                         Opinion of Brown & Wood relating to the 6% Notes due
                         March 1, 2001 (including consent for inclusion of such
                         opinion in this report and in Merrill Lynch & Co.,
                         Inc.'s Registration Statement relating to such Notes).
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE


          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                             MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
                                           -----------------------------

                                                   (Registrant)



                                           By: /s/ Joseph T. Willett
                                              -------------------------
                                                  Joseph T. Willett
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer
 



Date:  February 29, 1996


                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.  Description                                   Page
- -----------  -----------                                   ----

(4)          Instruments defining the rights of 
             security holders, including indentures.

                Form of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s 
                6% Notes due March 1, 2001.

(5) & (23)   Opinion re: legality; consent of counsel.

                   Opinion of Brown & Wood relating to 
                   the 6% Notes due March 1, 2001 
                   (including consent for inclusion of 
                   such opinion in this report and in 
                   Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s 
                   Registration Statement relating to 
                   such Notes).

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit (4)

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE 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 NOTES IN CERTIFICATED
FORM, THIS NOTE 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 NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
DTC TO MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE 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. R-
CUSIP 590188                                                    $

                           MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

                           6% NOTE DUE MARCH 1, 2001

          Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called
the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture
herein referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO.,
or registered assigns, the principal sum of      MILLION DOLLARS ($       ) on 
March 1, 2001 and to pay interest thereon from February 29, 1996, or from the
most recent date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided
for, semiannually on March 1 and September 1 in each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date"), commencing September 1, 1996, at the rate of 6% per annum, until
the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment. The interest so
payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date
will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this
Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the
February 15 or August 15 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest which is payable, but is not punctually
paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date, shall forthwith cease to
be payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid
to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to the Holder of this Note not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, as more
fully provided in such Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of and the interest on this Note will be made
at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be
made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the Person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

          This Note is one of the series of 6% Notes due March 1, 2001 (the
"Notes").  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
Chemical Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture, or its successor thereunder, by
the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be
entitled to any benefits under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  February 29, 1996

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION                   MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
This is one of the Securities of the
series designated therein referred to 
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

CHEMICAL BANK, as Trustee                       By:
                                                         Treasurer


By:                                             Attest:
    Authorized Officer                                   Secretary
<PAGE>
 
                           MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

                           6% NOTE DUE MARCH 1, 2001

          This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the
Company, issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1983,
as amended and restated (herein called the "Indenture"), between the Company and
Chemical Bank (successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company),
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of
the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

          The Notes are not subject to redemption by the Company prior to
maturity.

          If an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to
the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities at the time Outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, of each
series affected thereby.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the
Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all
Securities of each series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall
be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this
Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in
exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or
waiver is made upon this Note.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note,
at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set
forth therein and on the face hereof, the transfer of this Note may be
registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note
for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by
a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly
executed by, the Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing,
and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the
same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

          The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.  As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein and on the face
hereof, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of
Notes in authorized denominations as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.  If (x) any Depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
Depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 60
days, (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to
the effect that this Note shall be exchangeable or (z) an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes, this Note shall be
exchangeable for Notes in definitive form of like tenor and of an equal
aggregate principal amount, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof.  Such definitive Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the
Depository shall instruct the Trustee.  If definitive Notes are so delivered,
the Company may make such changes to the form of this Note as are necessary or
appropriate to allow for the issuance of such definitive Notes.

          No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

<PAGE>
 
                                                            EXHIBIT (5) & (23)

                                                            February 29, 1996



Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281-1220

Gentlemen:

          As your counsel, we have examined a copy of the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (hereinafter called
the "Company"), certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
We are familiar with the corporate proceedings had in connection with the
proposed issuance and sale by the Company to the Underwriter named in the Terms
Agreement referred to below, pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated March
22, 1994 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Company, Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S") and the other
firms named therein, as supplemented by the Terms Agreement dated February 26,
1996 (the "Terms Agreement") between the Company and MLPF&S, of $250,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6% Notes due March 1, 2001 (the
"Notes"). We have also examined a copy of the Indenture between the Company and
Chemical Bank (successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust
<PAGE>
 
Company), as Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1983, as amended and restated (the
"Indenture"), and the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-3 (File Nos.
33-61559 and 33-65135) relating to the Notes (the "Registration Statements").

          Based upon the foregoing and upon such further investigation as we
deemed relevant in the premises, we are of the opinion that:

          1. The Company has been duly incorporated under the laws of the State
of Delaware.

          2.  The Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and
when the Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as set forth in
the Underwriting Agreement, as supplemented by the Terms Agreement, the Notes
will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws relating to
or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights or by general equity principles.

          We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statements and as an exhibit to the Current Report of the Company
on Form 8-K dated February 29, 1996.



                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Brown & Wood


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