MERRILL LYNCH PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
485BPOS, 1995-12-08
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<PAGE>
 
    
 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 8, 1995     
                                                SECURITIES ACT FILE NO. 33-35442
                                        INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-4375
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               ----------------
                                   FORM N-1A
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933         [X]
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                       [_]
                                                                           
                      POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 7                        [X]
                                    AND/OR
        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940     [X]
                                                                           
                            AMENDMENT NO. 120                               [X]
                       (Check appropriate box or boxes)
 
                               ----------------

                MERRILL LYNCH PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
              OF MERRILL LYNCH MULTI-STATE MUNICIPAL SERIES TRUST
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
                 800 SCUDDERS MILL ROAD
                 PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY                               08536
         (Address of Principal Executive Office)                    (Zip Code)
 
       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (609) 282-2800
 
                                 ARTHUR ZEIKEL
               MERRILL LYNCH MULTI-STATE MUNICIPAL SERIES TRUST 
                800 SCUDDERS MILL ROAD, PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY 
       MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 9011, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
                               ----------------
 
                                  COPIES TO:
 
        COUNSEL FOR THE TRUST:               PHILIP L. KIRSTEIN, ESQ.
             BROWN & WOOD                     FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT
        ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER                    P.O. BOX 9011
    NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048-0557        PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
 ATTENTION: THOMAS R. SMITH JR., ESQ.
 
                               ----------------

 IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
                    [X] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
                    [_] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
                    [_] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
                    [_] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
                    [_] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
                    [_] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
 
            IF APPROPRIATE, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX:
                    [_] this post-effective amendment designates a new
                        effective date for a previously filed post-effective
                        amendment.
 
                               ----------------

  THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO RULE 24f-2 UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
OF 1940. THE NOTICE REQUIRED BY SUCH RULE FOR THE REGISTRANT'S MOST RECENT
FISCAL YEAR WAS FILED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1995.
 
       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                           AMOUNT OF     PROPOSED       PROPOSED
                             SHARES      MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM      AMOUNT OF
   TITLE OF SECURITIES       BEING    OFFERING PRICE   AGGREGATE    REGISTRATION
    BEING REGISTERED       REGISTERED    PER UNIT    OFFERING PRICE     FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Shares of Beneficial
 Interest (par value $.10
 per share).............   1,196,271      $11.93        $289,994        $100
</TABLE>    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*(1) The calculation of the maximum aggregate offering price is made pursuant
     to Rule 24e-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
   
 (2) The total amount of securities redeemed or repurchased during the
     Registrant's previous fiscal year was 3,629,317 shares of beneficial
     interest.     
   
 (3) 2,457,354 of the shares described in (2) above have been used for
     reduction pursuant to Rule 24e-2(a) or Rule 24f-2(c) under the Investment
     Company Act of 1940 in previous filings during the Registrant's current
     fiscal year.     
   
 (4) 1,171,963 of the shares redeemed during the Registrant's previous fiscal
     year are being used for the reduction of the registration fee in this
     amendment to the Registration Statement.     
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
   
  This Amendment consists of the following:     
 
<TABLE>     
   <C> <S>
   (1) Cover page to the Registration Statement.
   (2) Part C to the Registration Statement.
   (3) Exhibit Index.
   (4) Exhibit 10 to the Registration Statement--Opinion of Brown & Wood, coun-
       sel for the Registrant.
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
                           PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
 
  (a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    Contained in Part A:
 
     Financial Highlights for each of the years in the four-year period
      ended July 31, 1995, and for the period August 31, 1990 (commencement
      of operations) to July 31, 1991.
 
    Contained in Part B:
     Schedule of Investments as of July 31, 1995.
 
     Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of July 31, 1995.
 
     Statement of Operations for the year ended July 31, 1995.
 
     Statements of Changes in Net Assets for each of the years in the two-
      year period ended July 31, 1995.
 
     Financial Highlights for each of the years in the four-year period
      ended July 31, 1995, and for the period August 31, 1990 (commencement
      of operations) to July 31, 1991.
 
  (b) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER
 -------
 <C>     <S>
   1(a)  --Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated August 2, 1985.(f)
    (b)  --Amendment to Declaration of Trust, dated September 18, 1987.(f)
    (c)  --Amendment to Declaration of Trust, dated December 21, 1987.(f)
    (d)  --Amendment to Declaration of Trust, dated October 3, 1988.(f)
    (e)  --Amendment to Declaration of Trust, dated October 17, 1994 and
          instrument establishing Class C and Class D shares of beneficial
          interest.(f)
    (f)  --Instrument establishing Merrill Lynch Pennsylvania Municipal Bond
          Fund (the "Fund") as a series of Registrant.(f)
    (g)  --Instrument establishing Class A and Class B shares of beneficial
          interest of the Fund.(f)
   2     --By-Laws of Registrant.(f)
   3     --None.
   4     --Portions of the Declaration of Trust, Establishment and Designation
          and By-Laws of the Registrant defining the rights of holders of the
          Fund as a series of the Registrant.(a)
   5(a)  --Management Agreement between Registrant and Fund Asset Management,
          L.P.(f)
    (b)  --Supplement to Management Agreement between Registrant and Fund Asset
          Management, L.P.(d)
   6(a)  --Form of Revised Class A Shares Distribution Agreement between
          Registrant and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. (including Form
          of Selected Dealers Agreement).(d)
    (b)  --Form of Class B Shares Distribution Agreement between Registrant and
          Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc.(f)
    (c)  --Form of Class C Shares Distribution Agreement between Registrant and
          Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. (including Form of Selected
          Dealers Agreement).(d)
    (d)  --Form of Class D Shares Distribution Agreement between Registrant and
          Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. (including Form of Selected
          Dealers Agreement).(d)
    (e)  --Letter Agreement between the Fund and Merrill Lynch Funds
          Distributor, Inc., dated September 15, 1993, in connection with the
          Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund Adviser program.(b)
   7     --None.
   8     --Form of Custody Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank &
          Trust Company.(c)
</TABLE>    
 
                                      C-1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER
 -------
 <C>     <S>
   9     --Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder
          Servicing Agency Agreement between Registrant and Financial Data
          Services, Inc.(e)
   10    --Opinion of Brown & Wood, Counsel for the Registrant.
   11    --Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors for the
          Registrant.(f)
   12    --None.
   13    --Certificate of Fund Asset Management, L.P.(f)
   14    --None.
  15(a)  --Amended and Restated Class B Shares Distribution Plan and Class B
          Shares Distribution Plan Sub-Agreement.(b)
    (b)  --Form of Class C Shares Distribution Plan and Class C Shares
          Distribution Plan Sub-Agreement of the Registrant.(d)
    (c)  --Form of Class D Shares Distribution Plan and Class D Shares
          Distribution Plan Sub-Agreement of the Registrant.(d)
  16(a)  --Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
          the Registration Statement in response to Item 22 relating to Class A
          Shares.(f)
    (b)  --Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
          the Registration Statement in response to Item 22 relating to Class B
          Shares.(f)
    (c)  --Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
          the Registration Statement in response to Item 22 relating to Class C
          Shares.(f)
    (d)  --Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
          the Registration Statement in response to Item 22 relating to Class D
          Shares.(f)
  17(a)  --Financial Data Schedule for Class A Shares.(f)
    (b)  --Financial Data Schedule for Class B Shares.(f)
    (c)  --Financial Data Schedule for Class C Shares.(f)
    (d)  --Financial Data Schedule for Class D Shares.(f)
</TABLE>    
- --------
          
(a) Reference is made to Article II, Section 2.3 and Articles V, VI, VIII, IX,
    X and XI of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust, as amended, filed as
    Exhibits 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d) and 1(e) with Post-Effective Amendment No.
    6 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"); to the
    Certificates of Establishment and Designation establishing the Fund as a
    series of the Registrant and establishing Class A and Class B shares of
    beneficial interest of the Fund, which filed as Exhibits 1(f) and 1(g),
    respectively, with Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registration
    Statement; and to Articles I, V and VI of the Registrant's By-Laws, filed
    as Exhibit 2 with Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registration
    Statement.     
   
(b) Filed on November 8, 1993 as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4
    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the
    Securities Act of 1933.     
   
(c) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
    the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities
    Act of 1933 filed on October 14, 1994, relating to shares of Merrill Lynch
    Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund series of the Registrant (File No. 33-44734).
           
(d) Filed on October 19, 1994 as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5
    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the
    Securities Act of 1933.     
   
(e) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to
    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act
    of 1933 filed on October 20, 1995, relating to shares of Merrill Lynch
    Arizona Municipal Bond Fund series of the Registrant (File No. 33-41311).
           
(f) Filed on November 14, 1995 as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6
    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the
    Securities Act of 1933.     
 
                                      C-2
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
 
  Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any person.
 
ITEM 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                NUMBER OF
                                                            RECORD HOLDERS AT
                         TITLE OF CLASS                    SEPTEMBER 30, 1995*
                         --------------                    -------------------
      <S>                                                  <C>
      Class A shares of beneficial interest, par value
       $0.10 per share....................................          645
      Class B shares of beneficial interest, par value
       $0.10 per share....................................        4,075
      Class C shares of beneficial interest, par value
       $0.10 per share....................................          113
      Class D shares of beneficial interest, par value
       $0.10 per share....................................           55
</TABLE>
- --------
* The number of holders includes holders of record plus beneficial owners,
  whose shares are held of record by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
  Incorporated.
 
ITEM 27. INDEMNIFICATION.
 
  Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides as follows:
 
  "The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers, employees and
agents (including persons who serve at its request as directors, officers or
trustees of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder,
creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts
paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties and as
counsel fees) reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal,
in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while in office
or thereafter, by reason of his being or having been such a trustee, officer,
employee or agent, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall have
been adjudicated to have acted in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of his duties; provided, however, that as to
any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such person, pursuant to a
consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for
any other expenses shall be provided unless the Trust shall have received a
written opinion from independent legal counsel approved by the Trustees to the
effect that if either the matter of willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of duty, or the matter of good faith and reasonable belief
as to the best interests of the Trust, had been adjudicated, it would have been
adjudicated in favor of such person. The rights accruing to any Person under
these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully
entitled; provided that no person may satisfy any right in indemnity or
reimbursement granted herein or in Section 5.1 or to which he may be otherwise
entitled except out of the property of the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be
personally liable to any Person with respect to any claim for indemnity or
reimbursement or otherwise. The Trustees may make advance payments in
connection with indemnification under this Section 5.3, provided that the
indemnified person shall have given a written undertaking to reimburse the
Trust in the event it is subsequently determined that he is not entitled to
such indemnification."
 
  Insofar as the conditional advancing of indemnification monies for actions
based upon the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, may be concerned,
such payments will be made only on the following conditions: (i) the advances
must be limited to amounts used, or to be used, for the preparation or
presentation of a defense to the action, including costs connected with the
preparation of a settlement; (ii) advances may be made only upon receipt of a
written promise by, or on behalf of, the recipient to repay that amount of the
advance which exceeds the amount to which it is ultimately determined that he
is entitled to receive from the Registrant by reason of indemnification; and
(iii)(a) such promise must be secured by a surety bond, other suitable
insurance or an equivalent form of security which assures that any repayments
may be obtained by the Registrant without delay or litigation, which bond,
insurance or other form of security must be provided by the recipient of the
advance, or (b) a majority of a quorum of the Registrant's disinterested, non-
party
 
                                      C-3
<PAGE>
 
Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall
determine, based upon a review of readily available facts that the recipient of
the advance ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
 
  In Section 9 of the Distribution Agreements relating to the securities being
offered hereby, the Registrant agrees to indemnify the Distributor and each
person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), against certain types of
civil liabilities arising in connection with the Registration Statement or
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be
permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant and
the principal underwriter pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee officer, or controlling
person of the Registrant and the principal underwriter in connection with the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
Director, officer or controlling person or the principal underwriter in
connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
ITEM 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
 
  Fund Asset Management, L.P. (the "Manager" or "FAM") acts as the investment
adviser for the following open-end investment companies: CBA Money Fund, CMA
Government Securities Fund, CMA Money Fund, CMA Multi-State Municipal Series
Trust, CMA Tax-Exempt Fund, CMA Treasury Fund, The Corporate Fund Accumulation
Program, Inc., Financial Institutions Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Basic Value
Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch California Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch
Corporate Bond Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Federal Securities Trust, Merrill
Lynch Funds for Institutions Series, Merrill Lynch Multi-State Limited Maturity
Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust,
Merrill Lynch Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Phoenix Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch World Income Fund, Inc.,
and The Municipal Fund Accumulation Program, Inc.; and the following closed-end
investment companies: Apex Municipal Fund, Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund,
Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund II, Inc., Emerging Tigers Fund, Inc., Income
Opportunities Fund 1999, Inc., Income Opportunities Fund 2000, Inc., MuniAssets
Fund Inc., MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc., MuniInsured Fund, Inc., MuniVest Fund,
Inc., MuniVest Fund II, Inc., MuniVest California Insured Fund, Inc., MuniVest
Florida Fund, MuniVest Michigan Insured Fund, Inc., MuniVest New Jersey Fund,
Inc., MuniVest New York Insured Fund, Inc., MuniVest Pennsylvania Insured Fund,
MuniYield Arizona Fund, Inc., MuniYield California Fund, Inc., MuniYield
California Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield California Insured Fund II, Inc.,
MuniYeild Florida Fund, MuniYield Florida Insured Fund, MuniYield Fund, Inc.,
MuniYield Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield Insured Fund II, Inc., MuniYield
Michigan Fund, Inc., MuniYield Michigan Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield New
Jersey Fund, Inc., MuniYield New Jersey Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield New York
Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield New York Insured Fund II, Inc., MuniYield New
York Insured Fund III, Inc., MuniYield Pennsylvania Fund, MuniYield Quality
Fund, Inc., MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc., Senior High Income Portfolio,
Inc., Senior High Income Portfolio II, Inc., Senior Strategic Income Fund,
Inc., Taurus MuniCalifornia Holdings, Inc., Taurus MuniNew York Holdings, Inc.
and Worldwide DollarVest Fund, Inc.
 
  Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), an affiliate of the Manager,
acts as the investment adviser for the following open-end companies: Merrill
Lynch Adjustable Rate Securities Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Americas Income
Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Builders Program, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset
 
                                      C-4
<PAGE>
 
Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Balanced Fund for Investment and Retirement, Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Dragon Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch EuroFund, Merrill Lynch Fund for Tomorrow, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Bond Fund for
Investment and Retirement, Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Global Convertible Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Holdings, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Global Resources Trust, Merrill Lynch Global SmallCap Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Global Utility Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Growth Fund for
Investment and Retirement, Merrill Lynch Healthcare Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Institutional Intermediate Fund, Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund,
Merrill Lynch Latin America Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Middle East/Africa Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Pacific Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust, Merrill Lynch Retirement Series Trust,
Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Short-Term Global Income Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Strategic Dividend Fund, Merrill Lynch Technology Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund, Merrill Lynch U.S.A. Government
Reserves, Merrill Lynch Utility Income Fund, Inc., and Merrill Lynch Variable
Series Funds, Inc. and the following closed-end investment companies:
Convertible Holdings, Inc. Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
and Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.
 
  The address of each of these investment companies is P.O. Box 9011,
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, except that the address of Merrill Lynch
Funds for Institutions Series and Merrill Lynch Institutional Intermediate Fund
is One Financial Center, 15th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2646. The
address of the Manager, MLAM, Princeton Services, Inc. ("Princeton Services")
and Princeton Administrators, L.P. is also P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey
08543-9011. The address of Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. ("MLFD") is
P.O. Box 9081, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081. The address of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc. ("ML & Co.") is World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New
York, New York 10281. The address of the Fund's transfer agent, Merrill Lynch
Financial Data Services, Inc. is 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville,
Florida 32246-6484.
 
  Set forth below is a list of each executive officer and partner of the
Manager indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a
substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged since August 1,
1993 for his or its own account or in the capacity of director, officer,
partner or trustee. In addition, Mr. Zeikel is President, Mr. Richard is
Treasurer and Mr. Glenn is Executive Vice President of substantially all of the
investment companies described in the preceding paragraph and Messrs. Giordano,
Harvey, Hewitt, Kirstein and Monagle and Ms. Griffin are directors, trustees or
officers of one or more of such companies.
 
OFFICERS AND PARTNERS OF FAM ARE SET FORTH AS FOLLOWS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS,
           NAME           POSITION(S) WITH MANAGER PROFESSION, VOCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
           ----           ------------------------ ----------------------------------
 <C>                      <C>                      <S>
 ML & Co. ...............  Limited Partner          Financial Services Holding
                                                     Company; Limited Partner of MLAM
 Princeton Services,
  Inc. ..................  General Partner          General Partner of MLAM
 Arthur Zeikel...........  President                President and Director of MLAM;
                                                     President and Director of
                                                     Princeton Services; Director of
                                                     MLFD; Executive Vice President
                                                     of ML & Co.; Executive Vice
                                                     President of Merrill Lynch
 Terry K. Glenn..........  Executive Vice           Executive Vice President of MLAM;
                            President                Executive Vice President and
                                                     Director of Princeton Services;
                                                     President and Director of MLFD;
                                                     President of Princeton
                                                     Administrators, L.P.; Director
                                                     of Financial Data Services, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      C-5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS,
           NAME           POSITION(S) WITH MANAGER    PROFESSION, VOCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
           ----           ------------------------    ----------------------------------
 <C>                      <C>                      <S>
 Vincent R. Giordano.....  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 Elizabeth Griffin.......  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM
 Norman R. Harvey........  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 N. John Hewitt..........  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 Philip L. Kirstein......  Senior Vice             Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                            President, General      and Secretary of MLAM; Senior Vice
                            Counsel and             President, General Counsel, Director
                            Secretary               and Secretary of Princeton Services;
                                                    Director of MLFD
 Ronald M. Kloss.........  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President and Controller of
                            and Controller          MLAM; Senior Vice President and
                                                    Controller of Princeton Services
 Joseph T. Monagle, Jr. .  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 Richard L. Reller.......  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 Gerald M. Richard.......  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President and Treasurer of
                            and Treasurer           MLAM; Vice President and Treasurer of
                                                    MLFD
 Ronald L. Welburn.......  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
 Anthony Wiseman.........  Senior Vice President   Senior Vice President of MLAM; Senior
                                                    Vice President of Princeton Services
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.
 
  (a) MLFD acts as the principal underwriter for the Registrant and for each of
the open-end investment companies referred to in the first two paragraphs of
Item 28 except CBA Money Fund, CMA Government Securities Fund, CMA Money Fund,
CMA Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, CMA Tax-Exempt Fund, CMA Treasury Fund,
Convertible Holdings, Inc., The Corporate Fund Accumulation Program, Inc.,
MuniAssets Fund, Inc., and The Municipal Fund Accumulation Program, Inc. and
MLFD also acts as the principal underwriter for the following closed-end
investment companies: Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Municipal Strategy Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Senior Floating
Rate Fund, Inc.
 
  (b) Set forth below is information concerning each director and officer of
MLFD. The principal business address of each such person is P.O. Box 9011,
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, except that the address of Messrs. Aldrich,
Brady, Breen, Crook, Fatseas, Graczyk and Wasel is One Financial Center, 15th
Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2646.
 
                                      C-6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      (2)                        (3)
          (1)                POSITIONS AND OFFICES      POSITIONS AND OFFICES
         NAME                      WITH MLFD               WITH REGISTRANT
         ----                ---------------------      ---------------------
<S>                       <C>                          <C>
Terry K. Glenn........... President and Director       Executive Vice President
Arthur Zeikel............ Director                     President and Trustee
Philip L. Kirstein....... Director                     None
William E. Aldrich....... Senior Vice President        None
Robert W. Crook.......... Senior Vice President        None
Kevin P. Boman........... Vice President               None
Michael J. Brady......... Vice President               None
William M. Breen......... Vice President               None
Sharon Creveling......... Vice President and Assistant None
                           Treasurer
Mark A. DeSario.......... Vice President               None
James T. Fatseas......... Vice President               None
Stanley Graczyk.......... Vice President               None
Debra W. Landsman-Yaros.. Vice President               None
Michelle T. Lau.......... Vice President               None
Gerald M. Richard........ Vice President and Treasurer Treasurer
Salvatore Venezia........ Vice President               None
William Wasel............ Vice President               None
Robert Harris............ Secretary                    None
</TABLE>
 
  (c) Not applicable.
 
ITEM 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
 
  All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section
31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Rules
thereunder are maintained at the offices of the Registrant, 800 Scudders Mill
Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536, and Merrill Lynch Financial Data Services,
Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484.
 
ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
 
  Other than as set forth under the caption "Management of the Trust--
Management and Advisory Arrangements" in the Prospectus constituting Part A of
the Registration Statement and under "Management of the Trust--Management and
Advisory Arrangements" in the Statement of Additional Information constituting
Part B of the Registration Statement, Registrant is not a party to any
management-related service contract.
 
ITEM 32. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  (a) Not applicable.
 
  (b) Not applicable.
 
  (c) Registrant undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders,
upon request and without charge.
 
                                      C-7
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
   
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the
requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to its
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 Township of Plainsboro, and
the State of New Jersey, on the 7th day of December, 1995.     
 
                                          Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal
                                           Series Trust
                                                      (Registrant)
 
                                                    /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                          By: _________________________________
                                              (TERRY K. GLENN, EXECUTIVE VICE
                                                        PRESIDENT)
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
 
              SIGNATURE                         TITLE                DATE
 
           Arthur Zeikel*               President and Trustee
- -------------------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer)
           (ARTHUR ZEIKEL)               
 
         Gerald M. Richard*             Treasurer (Principal Financial
- -------------------------------------    and Accounting
         (GERALD M. RICHARD)             Officer)
 
         James H. Bodurtha*             Trustee
- -------------------------------------
         (JAMES H. BODURTHA)
 
         Herbert I. London*             Trustee
- -------------------------------------
         (HERBERT I. LONDON)
 
          Robert R. Martin*             Trustee
- -------------------------------------
         (ROBERT R. MARTIN)
 
           Joseph L. May*               Trustee
- -------------------------------------
           (JOSEPH L. MAY)
 
          Andre F. Perold*              Trustee
- -------------------------------------
          (ANDRE F. PEROLD)
 
 
         /s/ Terry K. Glenn                                         
*By: ________________________________                            December 7,
 (TERRY K. GLENN, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)                               1995     
 
                                      C-8
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                                   PAGE
 NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION                            NUMBER
 -------                           -----------                            ------
 <C>     <S>                                                              <C>
  10     --Opinion of Brown & Wood, counsel for the Registrant..........
</TABLE>     
       

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.10

                                 BROWN & WOOD
                            ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
                          NEW YORK, NEW YORK   10048
                            TELEPHONE: 212-839-5300
                            FACSIMILE: 212-839-8512


                                              December 7, 1995


Merrill Lynch Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund of
  Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
P.O. Box 9011
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

Dear Sirs:

     This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration by Merrill 
Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"), of 1,196,271 shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.10 per share
(the "Shares"), of the Merrill Lynch Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund, a series
of the Trust, under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to a registration
statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-35442), as amended (the "Registration
Statement").

     As counsel for the Trust, we are familiar with the proceedings taken by it
in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares. In 
addition, we have examined and are familiar with the Declaration of Trust of the
Trust, as amended, the By-Laws of the Trust and such other documents as we have 
deemed relevant to the matters referred to in this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, upon 
issuance and sale in the manner referred to in the Registration Statement for 
consideration not less than the par value thereof, will be legally issued, fully
paid and nonassessable shares of beneficial interest, except that shareholders 
of the Trust may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for the 
Trust's obligations.

     In rendering this opinion, we have relied as to matters of Massachusetts 
law upon an opinion of Bingham, Dana & Gould rendered to the Trust.

<PAGE>
 
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus and 
Statement of Additional Information constituting parts thereof.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    /S/ Brown & Wood

                                       2



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