<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): August 1, 1997
--------------
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. 333-25255 and 333-28537) 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 The Chase Manhattan Bank (successor
by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company) (the "Indenture"). ML & Co.
will issue $72,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Major 8 European Index
Market Index Target-Term Securities due August 30, 2002 under the Indenture. The
exhibits consist of the form of Securities 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 Major 8
European Index Market Index Target-Term
Securities due August 30, 2002.
(5) & (23) Opinion re: legality; consent of
counsel.
Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP relating to the Major
8 European Index Market Index Target-Term
Securities due August 30, 2002 (including consent
for inclusion of such opinion in this report and
in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s Registration
Statements relating to such Securities).
2
<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/ Theresa Lang
--------------------------
Theresa Lang
Treasurer
Date: August 1, 1997
3
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
EXHIBITS TO CURRENT REPORT ON
FORM 8-K DATED AUGUST 1, 1997
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7182
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Page
- ----------- ----------- ----
(4) Instruments defining the rights
of security holders, including
indentures.
Form of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s
Major 8 European Index Market
Index Target-Term Securities due August 30, 2002.
(5) & (23) Opinion re: legality; consent of counsel.
Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP relating to the Major
8 European Index Market Index Target-Term Securities
due August 30, 2002 (including consent for inclusion
of such opinion in this report
and in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s Registration
Statements relating to such Securities).
<PAGE>
Exhibit (4)
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY 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
SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY 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 SECURITY 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 SECURITY 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 694 $72,000,000
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
Major 8 European Index Market Index Target-Term Securities(SM)
due August 30, 2002
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to
as 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 SEVENTY-TWO MILLION
DOLLARS ($72,000,000)(the "Principal Amount") plus the Supplemental Redemption
Amount, as defined below, on August 30, 2002 (the "Stated Maturity").
Payment of the Principal Amount and the Supplemental Redemption Amount and
any interest on any overdue amount thereof with respect to this Security shall
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.
This Security is one of the series of Major 8 European Index Market Index
Target-Term Securities(SM) due August 30, 2002 (the "Securities").
- -----------------
(SM) "Market Index Target-Term Securities" is a service mark owned by
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
<PAGE>
SUPPLEMENTAL REDEMPTION AMOUNT
The "Supplemental Redemption Amount" with respect to this Security equals:
Principal Amount X Ending Index Value - Starting Index Value X Participation
----------------------------------------- Rate
Starting Index Value
provided, however, that in no event will the Supplemental Redemption Amount be
less than zero. The "Starting Index Value" equals 100. The Participation Rate
equals 110%. The "Ending Index Value" will be determined by Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Calculation Agent", which term
includes any successor thereto) and will equal the average (arithmetic mean) of
the closing values of the Major 8 European Index, which is calculated and
disseminated by the AMEX (the "Index"), determined on each of the first five
Calculation Days during the Calculation Period. If there are fewer than five
Calculation Days, then the Ending Index Value will equal the average (arithmetic
mean) of the closing values of the Index on such Calculation Days, and if there
is only one Calculation Day, then the Ending Index Value will equal the closing
value of the Index on such Calculation Day. If no Calculation Days occur during
the Calculation Period because of Market Disruption Events as defined below,
then the Ending Index Value will equal the closing value of the Index determined
on the last scheduled Index Business Day in the Calculation Period, regardless
of the occurrences of a Market Disruption Event on such day. The "Calculation
Period" means the period from and including the seventh scheduled Index Business
Day prior to the Stated Maturity to and including the second scheduled Index
Business Day prior to the Stated Maturity. "Calculation Day" means any Index
Business Day during the Calculation Period on which a Market Disruption Event
has not occurred. For purposes of determining the Ending Index Value, an "Index
Business Day" is a day on which The New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the
American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") are open for trading and the Index or any
successor index is calculated and published. All determinations made by the
Calculation Agent shall be at the sole discretion of the Calculation Agent and,
absent a determination by the Calculation Agent of a manifest error, shall be
conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and beneficial owners of
the Securities.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE INDEX; MARKET DISRUPTION EVENTS
If at any time the method of calculating the Index, or the value
thereof, is changed in any material respect, or if the
2
<PAGE>
Index is in any other way modified so that such Index does not, in the opinion
of the Calculation Agent, fairly represent the value of the Index had such
changes or modifications not been made, then, from and after such time, the
Calculation Agent shall, at the close of business in New York, New York, on each
date that the closing value with respect to the Ending Index Value is to be
calculated, make such adjustments as, in the good faith judgment of the
Calculation Agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a calculation of a
value of a stock index comparable to the Index as if such changes or
modifications had not been made, and calculate such closing value with reference
to the Index, as adjusted. Accordingly, if the method of calculating the Index
is modified so that the value of such Index is a fraction or a multiple of what
it would have been if it had not been modified (e.g., due to a split in the
Index), then the Calculation Agent shall adjust such Index in order to arrive at
a value of the Index as if it had not been modified (e.g., as if such split had
not occurred).
"Market Disruption Event" means the occurrence or existence on any
Overseas Index Business Day with respect to each European stock index underlying
the Index (each, a "Sub-Index") during the one-half hour period that ends at the
regular official weekday time at which trading on the Index Exchange related to
such Sub-Index occurs of any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading
(by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant
exchange or otherwise) on (i) the Index Exchange in securities that comprise 20%
or more of the value of such Sub-Index or (ii) any exchanges on which futures or
options on such Sub-Index are traded in such options or futures if, in the
determination of the Calculation Agent, such suspension or limitation is
material. For the purpose of the foregoing definition, (i) a limitation on the
hours and number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption
Event if it results from an announced change in the regular hours of the
relevant exchange and (ii) a limitation on trading imposed during the course of
a day by reason of movements in price otherwise exceeding levels permitted by
the relevant exchange will constitute a Market Disruption Event.
"Overseas Index Business Day" means, with respect to any Sub-Index,
any day that is (or, but for the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event, would
have been) a trading day on the relevant Index Exchange or on any exchanges on
which futures or options on such Sub-Index are traded, other than a day on which
trading on any such exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday
closing time.
3
<PAGE>
"Index Exchange" means, with respect to any Sub-Index, the principal
exchange on which the shares comprising such Sub-Index are traded.
DISCONTINUANCE OF THE INDEX
If the AMEX discontinues publication of the Index and the AMEX or
another entity publishes a successor or substitute index that the Calculation
Agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to such Index (any
such index being referred to hereinafter as a "Successor Index"), then, upon the
Calculation Agent's notification of such determination to the Trustee and the
Company, the Calculation Agent will substitute the Successor Index as calculated
by the AMEX or such other entity for the Index and calculate the Ending Index
Value as described above in the section entitled "Supplemental Redemption
Amount." Upon any selection by the Calculation Agent of a Successor Index, the
Company shall cause notice thereof to be given to Holders of the Securities.
If the AMEX discontinues publication of the Index and a Successor
Index is not selected by the Calculation Agent or is no longer published on any
of the Calculation Days, the value to be substituted for the Index for any such
Calculation Day used to calculate the Supplemental Redemption Amount at maturity
will be a value computed by the Calculation Agent for each Calculation Day in
accordance with the procedures last used to calculate the Index prior to any
such discontinuance. If a Successor Index is selected or the Calculation Agent
calculates a value as a substitute for the Index as described below, such
Successor Index or value shall be substituted for the Index for all purposes,
including for purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists.
If the AMEX discontinues publication of the Index prior to the period
during which the Supplemental Redemption Amount is to be determined and the
Calculation Agent determines that no Successor Index is available at such time,
then on each Business Day until the earlier to occur of (i) the determination of
the Ending Index Value and (ii) a determination by the Calculation Agent that a
Successor Index is available, the Calculation Agent shall determine the value
that would be used in computing the Supplemental Redemption Amount as described
above as if such day were a Calculation Day. The Calculation Agent will cause
notice of each such value to be published not less often than once each month in
The Wall Street Journal (or another newspaper of general circulation), and
arrange for information with respect to such values to be made available by
telephone.
4
<PAGE>
GENERAL
This Security 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 referred to as the "Indenture"), between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (herein referred to as 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 Company hereby covenants for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities, to the extent permitted by applicable law, not to claim voluntarily
the benefits of any laws concerning usurious rates of interest against a Holder
of the Securities.
The Securities are not subject to redemption by the Company or at the
option of the Holder prior to the Stated Maturity.
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the
Securities, the Trustees or the Holders of the Securities may accelerate the
maturity of the Securities in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. The amount payable to a Holder of this Security upon any acceleration
permitted by the Securities, with respect to each $10 principal amount thereof,
will be equal to: (i) $10, plus (ii) an additional amount of contingent interest
calculated as though the date of early repayment were the Stated Maturity of the
Securities.
In case of default in payment at the maturity date of the Securities
(whether at their Stated Maturity or upon acceleration), from and after the
maturity date the Securities shall bear interest, payable upon demand of the
beneficial owners thereof, at the rate of 6.32% per annum (to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on the unpaid amount due
and payable on such date in accordance with the terms of the Securities to the
date payment of such amount has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any
overdue Principal Amount or Supplemental Redemption Amount, as the case may be,
shall be payable on demand.
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
5
<PAGE>
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 Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security 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 Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the Principal Amount plus the Supplemental
Redemption Amount with respect to this Security and any interest on any overdue
amount thereof 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 first page hereof, the transfer of this Security may be
registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this
Security 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 Securities, of authorized denominations and for
the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee
or transferees.
The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $10 and integral multiples thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein and on the first
page hereof, the Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities 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 Security shall be exchangeable or (z) an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities,
this Security shall be exchangeable for Securities in definitive form of like
tenor and
6
<PAGE>
of an equal aggregate principal amount, in denominations of $10 and integral
multiples thereof. Such definitive Securities shall be registered in such name
or names as the Depository shall instruct the Trustee. If definitive Securities
are so delivered, the Company may make such changes to the form of this Security
as are necessary or appropriate to allow for the issuance of such definitive
Securities.
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 governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security 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 Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture but
not in this Security shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture, or its successor
thereunder, by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this
Security 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: August 1, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
This is one of the Securities of the series [Copy of Seal]
designated therein referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee By:
Treasurer
By: Attest:
Authorized Officer Secretary
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (5) & (23)
August 1, 1997
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 November 26, 1996
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), between the Company and Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S"), as supplemented
by the Terms Agreement dated July 28, 1997 (the "Terms Agreement") between the
Company and MLPF&S (the "Underwriter"), of $72,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's Major 8 European Index Market Index Target-Term
<PAGE>
Securities due August 30, 2002 (the "Securities"). We have also examined a copy
of the Indenture between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, 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. 333-25255 and
333-28537) relating to the Securities (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 Securities have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and
when the Securities 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
Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
<PAGE>
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 August 1, 1997.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brown & Wood LLP
3
