AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 6, 1995
REGISTRATION NO. 33-02455
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 12
TO
FORM S-6
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FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
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A. EXACT NAME OF TRUST:
THE STRIPPED ('ZERO') U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES FUND
PROVIDENT MUTUAL SERIES A
B. NAMES OF DEPOSITOR:
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
C. COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF DEPOSITORS' PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE:
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
POST OFFICE BOX 9851
PRINCETON, N.J. 08543-9051
D. NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE:
TERESA KONICK, ESQ.
P.O. BOX 9051
PRINCETON, N.J.
08543-9051
COPIES TO:
CATHY B. O'KELLY PIERRE DE SAINT PHALLE,
SUTHERLAND ASBILL & ESQ.
BRENNAN DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
1875 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, 450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
N.W. NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017
WASHINGTON, D.C. 28884
The issuer has registered an indefinite number of Units under the Securities Act
of 1933 pursuant to Rule 24f-2 and filed the Rule 24f-2 Notice for the most
recent fiscal year on February 16, 1995.
[x] Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective on
April 28, 1995 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
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<PAGE>
THE STRIPPED ('ZERO')
U.S. TREASURY
SECURITIES FUND
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PROVIDENT MUTUAL SERIES A
(A PROVIDENT MUTUAL VARIABLE
LIFE ACCOUNT INVESTMENT)
PROSPECTUS DATED APRIL 28, 1995
SPONSOR:
Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
This Fund was formed to provide safety of capital and a high yield to maturity
through investment in fixed portfolios consisting primarily of stripped debt
obligations of the United States of America ('Stripped Treasury Securities').
These objectives may not be realized if Units are sold before the underlying
Securities mature, because market prices of the Securities will vary as interest
rates change and with other factors. Stripped Treasury Securities do not make
any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity; accordingly, each Trust's
portfolio as a whole is priced at a deep discount from face amount, and Unit
prices may be subject to greater price fluctuations in response to changing
interest rates than in a fund comprised of debt obligations of comparable
maturities that pay interest currently. This risk is greater when the period to
maturity is longer. See Risk Factors. The Sponsor may deposit additional
Securities, with maturities identical to those initially deposited, in any or
all of the Trusts in connection with creation and sale of additional Units (see
Fund Structure).
The Fund consists of two separate unit investment trusts, each designated by the
year in which its Stripped Treasury Securities mature: the 1996 Trust and the
2006 Trust. Units of the Fund are currently sold only to separate investment
accounts of Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia ('Provident
Mutual'), including the Variable Zero Coupon Bond Separate Account (the
'Account'), to fund the benefits under Variable Life Insurance Policies (the
'Policies') issued by Provident Mutual. The Account invests in Units of the
Trusts in accordance with allocation instructions received from Policyowners.
The rights of the Account as a Holder of Units should be distinguished from the
rights of a Policyowner as described in the accompanying Prospectus for the
Policies.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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Inquiries should be directed to the Trustee 1-800-323-1508
Read and retain this Prospectus for future reference.
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SIGNATURES
The Stripped ('Zero') U.S. Treasury Securities Fund, Provident Mutual Series A.
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT,
THE STRIPPED ('ZERO') U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES FUND, PROVIDENT MUTUAL SERIES A
CERTIFIES THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 485(B) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY
THE UNDERSIGNED THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE OF
NEW YORK ON THE 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 1995.
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON PAGE R-3.
A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement or
Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to the
Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.
R-2
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MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
DEPOSITOR
By the following persons, who constitute a majority of Powers of Attorney
the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, have been filed
Fenner & Smith Incorporated: under
Form SE and the
following 1933 Act
File
Number: 33-43466
HERBERT M. ALLISON, JR.
BARRY S. FREIDBERG
EDWARD L. GOLDBERG
STEPHEN L. HAMMERMAN
JEROME P. KENNEY
DAVID H. KAMANSKY
DANIEL T. NAPOLI
THOMAS H. PATRICK
JOHN L. STEFFENS
DANIEL P. TULLY
ROGER M. VASEY
ARTHUR H. ZEIKEL
By
ERNEST V. FABIO
(As authorized signatory for Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
R-3
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DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
(212) 450-4000
April 6, 1995
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sirs:
We hereby represent that the Post-Effective Amendments to the registered
unit investment trusts described in Exhibit A attached hereto do not contain
disclosures which would render them ineligible to become effective pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933.
Very truly yours,
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Attachment
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EXHIBIT A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1933 ACT 1940 ACT
FUND NAME CIK FILE NO. FILE NO.
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-TS Provident Mutual Series A 786284 33-02455 811-4541
TOTAL: 1 FUNDS
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