MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC
8-A12B, 1999-03-22
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                _______________
                                    FORM 8-A

               FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

                   PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE

                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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

                Delaware                            13-2740599
- -------------------------------------------      ------------------
 (State of incorporation or organization)       (I.R.S. Employer
                                                Identification No.)
World Financial Center
North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York                                    10281
- -------------------------------------------        ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

<TABLE> 
<S>                                                  <C> 
If this form relates to the                          If this form relates to the registration
 registration of a class of securities               of a class of securities pursuant to
 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the                    Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is
 Exchange Act and is effective pursuant              effective pursuant to General
 to General Instruction A.(c), please                Instruction A.(d), please check the
 check the following box.[X]                         following box.[ ]
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                              <C>
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:    333-59997
                                                                                 ---------
</TABLE>
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Title of each class        Name of each exchange on which
     to be so registered        each class is to be registered
     -------------------        ------------------------------

   S&P 500 Market Index         American Stock Exchange
   Target-Term Securities(R)
   due March    , 2006

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                   None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Title of class)

(R)  "Market Index Target-Term Securities" is a registered service mark owned by
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
<PAGE>
 
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Notes to be Registered.
        -------------------------------------------------- 

          The description of the general terms and provisions of the S&P 500
Market Index Target-Term Securities(R) ("MITTS(R)") due March      , 2006 to be
issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Notes") set forth in the Preliminary
Prospectus Supplement dated February 18, 1999, and the Prospectus dated July 30,
1998, attached hereto as Exhibit 99 (A) are hereby incorporated by reference and
contain certain proposed terms and provisions.  The description of the Notes
contained in the Prospectus Supplement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under Registration Statement Number 333-
59997 which will contain the final terms and provisions of the Notes, including
the maturity date of the Notes, is hereby deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof.

Item 2.  Exhibits.
         -------- 

       99 (A)  Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated February 18, 1999, and
               Prospectus dated July 30, 1998, (incorporated by reference to
               registrant's filing pursuant to Rule 424 (b)).

       99 (B)  Form of Note.

       99 (C)  Copy of Indenture between Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and The Chase
               Manhattan Bank, formerly Chemical Bank (successor by merger to
               Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), dated as of April 1, 1983,
               as amended and restated.*

          Other securities issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. are listed on the
American Stock Exchange.


- -------------
"MITTS" and "Market Index Target-Term Securities" are registered service marks
owned by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
 
*    Exhibit 99 (C) is incorporated by reference from Exhibit (3)
     to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 20, 1992.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

                              By: /s/ Lawrence M. Egan, Jr.
                                 -----------------------------
                                  Lawrence M. Egan, Jr.
                                   Assistant Secretary

Date:  March 22, 1999

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549





                           MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.





                                    EXHIBITS
                                       TO
                         FORM 8-A DATED MARCH 22, 1999
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                               -----------------

Exhibit No.
- ---------- 

99 (A)          Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated
                February 18, 1999, and Prospectus dated
                July 30, 1998 (incorporated by reference to
                registrant's filing pursuant to Rule 424 (b)).

99 (B)          Form of Note.

99 (C)          Copy of Indenture between Merrill Lynch & Co.,
                Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, formerly
                Chemical Bank (successor by merger to
                Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company),
                dated as of April 1, 1983, as amended and restated.*



*    Exhibit 99 (C) is incorporated by reference from Exhibit (3) to
     Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 20, 1992.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 99 (B)

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-                                                          _____,000 Units
CUSIP590188 520                                     (Each Unit representing $10
                                           principal amount of MITTS Securities)


                           MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
                  S&P 500(R) Market Index Target-Term Securities(R)
                               due March __, 2006
                              ("MITTS(R) Securities")

          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 ___________
MILLION DOLLARS ($__,000,000) (the "Principal Amount") plus the Supplemental
Redemption Amount, as defined below, on March __, 2006 (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 MITTS
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 MITTS Security is one of the series of S&P 500 Market Index
Target-Term Securities(R) due March __, 2006.
<PAGE>
 
Supplemental Redemption Amount

          The "Supplemental Redemption Amount" with respect to this MITTS
Security equals:

              Principal Amount    x   (Adjusted Ending Value - Starting Value)
                                      (--------------------------------------)
                                      (            Starting Value            )

provided, however, that in no event will the Supplemental Redemption Amount be
less than zero.

          The Starting Value equals ________.

          The Adjusted Ending Value will be determined by Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith, Incorporated (the "Calculation Agent") and will equal the
average (arithmetic mean) of the closing values of the S&P 500 Index (the
"Index") as adjusted by the Adjustment Factor (as defined below) (the "Adjusted
Index Value") determined on each of the first five Calculation Days (as defined
below) during the Calculation Period (as defined below).  If there are fewer
than five Calculation Days, then the Adjusted Ending Value will equal the
average (arithmetic mean) of the closing values of the Adjusted Index Value on
such Calculation Days, and if there is only one Calculation Day, then the
Adjusted Ending Value will equal the closing value of the Adjusted Index Value
on such Calculation Day.  If no Calculation Days occur during the Calculation
Period, then the Adjusted Ending Value will equal the closing value of the
Adjusted Index Value determined on the last scheduled Index Business Day (as
defined below) in the Calculation Period, regardless of the occurrence of a
Market Disruption Event (as defined below) on such day.

          The "Adjustment Factor" equals ____% per annum and will be prorated
based on a 365-day year and applied each calendar day during the term of the
MITTS Securities to reduce the Index.

          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.

          An "Index Business Day" is a day on which the New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE") and the American Stock Exchange are open for trading and the Index or
any Successor Index (as defined below) 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 MITTS Securities.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
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 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 Adjusted Ending 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 either of the following events; as
determined by the Calculation Agent:

(a)  the suspension or material limitation on trading (limitations pursuant to
     New York Stock Exchange Rule 80A (or any applicable rule or regulation
     enacted or promulgated by the NYSE or any other self regulatory
     organization or the Securities and Exchange Commission of similar scope as
     determined by the Calculation Agent) on trading during significant market
     fluctuations shall be considered "material" for purposes of this
     definition), in each case, for more than two hours of trading, or during
     the one-half hour period preceding the close of trading on the applicable
     exchange, in 20% or more of the stocks which then comprise the Index; or

(b)  the suspension or material limitation, in each case, for more than two
     hours of trading (whether by reason of movements in price otherwise
     exceeding levels permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise) in (A)
     futures contracts related to the Index, or options on such futures
     contracts, which are traded on any major U.S. exchange or (B) option
     contracts related to the Index which are traded on any major U.S. exchange.

          For the purposes of this definition, a limitation on the hours in a
trading day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market
Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular business
hours of the relevant exchange.

Discontinuance of the Index

          If Standard & Poor's ("S&P") discontinues publication of the Index and
S&P or another entity publishes a successor or substitute index that the
Calculation Agent determines, in 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
its sole discretion, to be comparable to such Index (any such index being
referred to herein 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 S&P or
such other entity for the Index. 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 S&P 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 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  Calculation Agent calculates a value as a substitute for the Index,
"Index Calculation Day" shall mean any day on which the Calculation Agent is
able to calculate such value.

          If S&P 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 (a) the determination of
the Adjusted Ending Value and (b) 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
in the preceding paragraph 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.

General

          This MITTS 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, formerly Chemical Bank (successor by
merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), 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 MITTS Securities, and the terms upon
which the MITTS Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
          The Company hereby covenants for the benefit of the Holders of the
MITTS 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 MITTS Securities.

          The MITTS Securities are not subject to redemption by the Company or
at the option of the Holder prior to the Stated Maturity.

          In case an Event of Default with respect to any MITTS Securities shall
have occurred and be continuing, the amount payable to a beneficial owner of a
MITTS Security upon any acceleration permitted by the MITTS Securities, with
respect to each $10 principal amount thereof, will be equal to the Principal
Amount and the Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, calculated as though the
date of early repayment were the Stated Maturity of the MITTS Securities.

          In case of default in payment of the MITTS Securities (whether at the
Stated Maturity or upon acceleration), from and after the maturity date the
MITTS Securities shall bear interest, payable upon demand of the beneficial
owners thereof, at the rate of ______% 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 MITTS Securities to the date
payment of such amount has been made or duly provided for.

          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 MITTS 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 MITTS 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 MITTS Securities of each series at the time Outstanding,
on behalf of the Holders of all MITTS 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 MITTS Security shall be conclusive and binding upon
such Holder and upon all future Holders of this MITTS Security and of any MITTS
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 MITTS Security.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this MITTS
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 MITTS 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 MITTS Security
may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of
this MITTS Security for registration of 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
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
MITTS Securities, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

          The MITTS 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 MITTS Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate
principal amount of MITTS 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 MITTS Security shall be
exchangeable or (z) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with
respect to the MITTS Securities, this MITTS Security shall be exchangeable for
MITTS Securities in definitive form of like tenor and of an equal aggregate
principal amount, in denominations of $10 and integral multiples thereof.  Such
definitive MITTS Securities shall be registered in such name or names as the
Depository shall instruct the Trustee.  If definitive MITTS Securities are so
delivered, the Company may make such changes to the form of this MITTS Security
as are necessary or appropriate to allow for the issuance of such definitive
MITTS 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 MITTS 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 MITTS Security is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this MITTS Security 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 MITTS Security which are defined in the
Indenture but not in this MITTS 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
MITTS Security shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:   March 26, 1999

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION                         Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
This is one of the Securities of the  [Copy of Seal] 
series  
designated therein referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee                  By:
                                                      Executive Vice President 
                                                      and
                                                      Chief Financial Officer
By:                                                   Attest:
Authorized Officer                                    Secretary

                                       7


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