<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): June 24, 1998
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Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 1-7182 13-2740599
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(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
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 449-1000
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events
- ------ -------------
Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (File No. 333-44173) 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 (the "Indenture"). ML & Co. will
issue $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due June
24, 2003 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 Floating Rate Notes
due June 24, 2003.
(5) & (23) Opinion re: legality; consent of counsel.
Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP relating to the Floating
Rate Notes due June 24, 2003 (including consent for
inclusion of such opinion in this report and in Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc.'s Registration Statement relating to
such Notes).
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<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: June 24, 1998
3
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
EXHIBITS TO CURRENT REPORT ON
FORM 8-K DATED JUNE 24, 1998
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
Floating Rate Notes due June 24, 2003.
(5) & (23) Opinion re: legality; consent of counsel.
Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP relating
to the Floating Rate Notes due June 24, 2003
(including consent for inclusion of such opinion
in this report and in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.'s
Registration Statements 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 JC3 $750,000,000
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
Floating Rate Note due June 24, 2003
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 SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION
DOLLARS ($750,000,000) on June 24, 2003 and to pay interest thereon, at a
floating rate as hereinafter provided, from June 24, 1998, or from the most
recent date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on
March 24, June 24, September 24 and December 24 in each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date"), commencing September 24, 1998, until the principal hereof is
paid or duly made available for payment, and at Maturity. 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 March
9, June 9, September 9 and December 9 (whether or not a Business Day) next
preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable
at Maturity shall be paid to the person to whom principal shall be payable. 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.
Except as otherwise set forth below, 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 Floating Rate Notes due June 24, 2003
(the "Notes"). If any Interest Payment Date would otherwise be a day that is not
a Business Day (as defined below), such Interest Payment Date will be postponed
to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day except that if such Business
Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will
be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity of principal of a
Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and
interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on
such payment shall accrue from and after such Maturity. Interest payable on
each Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued from and including the
first day of the Interest Period relating to such Interest Payment Date to and
including the last day of such Interest Period. "Interest Period" shall mean
the period beginning on and including June 24, 1998 and ending on and including
the day preceding the first Interest Payment Date, and thereafter, each
successive period beginning on and including each Interest Payment Date and
ending on and including the day preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date. As used herein, "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or
Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions
are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in
such place of payment and such day is also a London Business Day. "London
Business
<PAGE>
Day" means any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks
and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London, England.
The per annum rate of interest with respect to the Notes will be reset on
each Interest Reset Date and will be LIBOR, as defined below, plus 0.15%. Each
Interest Payment Date will be an Interest Reset Date.
The interest rate applicable to each Interest Period will be the rate
determined on the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) on which such
Interest Period commences. The interest rate in effect during the first
Interest Period will equal a rate of interest determined as if the original
issue date, June 24, 1998, were an Interest Reset Date. The "Interest
Determination Date" applicable to an Interest Reset Date will be the second
London Business Day preceding such Interest Reset Date.
With respect to each Interest Reset Date, LIBOR will be determined by
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Calculation Agent") on
the applicable Interest Determination Date and will be the rate for deposits in
United States dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the second
London Business Day immediately following that Interest Determination Date that
appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on that Interest
Determination Date.
If fewer than two offered rates appear, or no such rate appears, as
applicable, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of
each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected
by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered
quotation for deposits in United States dollars having a maturity of three
months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such
Interest Determination Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at
approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such Interest Determination Date and
in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in United
States dollars in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are
provided, LIBOR determined on such Interest Determination Date will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided,
LIBOR determined on such Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean
of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in The City of New York, on
such Interest Determination Date by three major banks in The City of New York
selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in United States dollars to leading
European banks, having a maturity of three months and in a principal amount that
is representative for a single transaction United States dollars in such market
at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the
Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR
determined on such Interest Determination Date will be LIBOR in effect on such
Interest Determination Date.
"Telerate Page 3750" means page 3750 on the Dow Jones Markets (or such
other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers'
Association for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for
United States dollars) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates
("LIBOR") of major banks for United States dollars.
Interest on the Notes will be computed and paid on the basis of the actual
number of days for which interest accrues in each Interest Period divided by
360.
All percentages resulting from any calculation on the Notes will be rounded
to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one
millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545)
would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or
resulting from such calculation on the Notes will be rounded to the nearest cent
(with one-half cent being rounded upward).
The Company hereby covenants for the benefit of the Holders of Notes, to
the extent permitted applicable by law, not to claim voluntarily the benefits of
any laws concerning usurious rates of interest against holders of the Notes.
The Company will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth
below, pay as additional interest on the Notes, such Additional Amounts as are
necessary in order that the net payment by the Company or a paying agent of the
principal of and interest on the Notes to a holder who is a non-United States
person (as defined below), after deduction for any present or future tax,
assessment or other governmental charge of the United States or a political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, imposed by withholding with
respect to the payment, will not be less than the amount provided in the Notes
to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to
pay Additional Amounts shall not apply:
(1) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is
imposed or withheld solely by reason of the holder, or a fiduciary,
settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the holder if the holder is
an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power
over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being
considered as:
(a) being or having been present or engaged in a trade or
business in the United States or having had a permanent establishment
in the United States;
(b) having a current or former relationship with the United
States, including a relationship as a citizen or resident thereof;
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<PAGE>
(c) being or having been a foreign or domestic personal holding
company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign
corporation with respect to the United States or a corporation that
has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;
(d) being or having been a "10-percent shareholder" of the
Company as defined in section 871 (h) (3) of the United States
Internal Revenue Code or any successor provision; or
(e) being a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit
made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course
of its trade or business;
(2) to any holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the Note,
or a portion thereof, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to
the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a
beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled
to the payment of an Additional Amount had the beneficiary, settlor,
beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive
share of the payment;
(3) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is
imposed or withheld solely by reason of the failure of the holder or any
other person to comply with certification, identification or information
reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or
connection with the United States of the holder or beneficial owner of such
Note, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the United
States Treasury Department or by an applicable income tax treaty to which
the United States is a party as a precondition to exemption from such tax,
assessment or other governmental charge;
(4) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is
imposed otherwise than by withholding by the Company or a paying agent from
the payment;
(5) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is
imposed or withheld solely by reason of a change in law, regulation, or
administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than
15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever
occurs later;
(6) to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth
or personal property tax or similar tax, assessment or other governmental
charge;
(7) to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be
withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest
on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by any
other paying agent; or
(8) in the case of any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6) and (7).
Except as specifically provided herein, the Company shall not be required
to make any payment with respect to any tax, assessment or other governmental
charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein.
The term "United States" means the United States of America (including the
States and the District of Columbia) and its territories, its possessions and
other areas subject to its jurisdiction, "United States person" means any
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation,
partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States or of any political subdivision thereof (other than a partnership
that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury
regulations), any estate the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source, or any trust if a court within the
United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of
the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control
all substantial decisions of the trust. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
to the extent provided in the Treasury regulations, certain trusts in existence
on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons prior to such date that
elect to continue to be treated as United States persons will also be a United
States person. "Non-United States person" means a person who is not a United
States person.
The Company may vary or terminate the appointment of any of its paying
agencies, and may appoint additional paying agencies, but the Company will, as
long as any of the Notes remain listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange so requires, maintain a paying agent having offices in
Luxembourg. So long as any of the Notes
5
<PAGE>
remain listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, notices will be given to holders
of Notes by publication at least once in a daily newspaper of general
circulation in Luxembourg.
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
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as 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
Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered.
The Notes are not subject to redemption by the Company prior to maturity,
provided, however, if, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws
(or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of the United States (or
any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or any change
in, or amendments to, an official position regarding the application or
interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment
is announced or becomes effective on or after June 19, 1998, the Company becomes
or, based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by the Company,
will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as described herein, then the
Company may, at its option, redeem, as a whole, but not in part, the Notes on
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price equal
to 100% of their principal amount, together with interest accrued but unpaid
thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
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.
6
<PAGE>
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 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 Note which are defined in the Indenture, but not in
this Note, 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 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: June 24, 1998
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.
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee By:
Treasurer
By: Attest:
Authorized Officer Secretary
7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (5) & (23)
June 24, 1998
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
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 Underwriters named in the Terms
Agreement referred to below, pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated
September 8, 1997 (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 June 19, 1998 (the
"Terms Agreement") among the Company, MLPF&S and the other underwriters named
therein (the "Underwriters"), of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's Floating Rate Notes due June 24, 2003 (the "Notes"). 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
<PAGE>
"Indenture"), and the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-44173) relating to the Notes (the "Registration Statement").
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,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization 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).
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and as an exhibit to the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K
dated June 24, 1998.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brown & Wood LLP
2
