MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND INC, 485BPOS, 1999-03-01

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND INC
485BPOS, 1999-03-01

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<PAGE> 1

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 1, 1999

SECURITIES ACT FILE NO. 33-22462
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-5576
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 14 [X]

AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]

AMENDMENT NO. 16 [X]

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

------------------------

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

800 SCUDDERS MILL ROAD, PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY 08536
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (609) 282-2800

ARTHUR ZEIKEL
MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
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:

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Counsel for the Fund: Michael J. Hennewinkel, Esq.
BROWN & WOOD LLP MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
One World Trade Center P.O. Box 9011
New York, New York 10048-0557 Princeton, New Jersey
Attention: Thomas R. Smith, Jr., Esq. 08543-9011
</TABLE>

------------------------

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.

------------------------

Title of Securities Being Registered: Common Stock, par value $.10 per share.

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<PAGE> 2
PROSPECTUS

[MERRILL LYNCH LOGO]

Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc.

[MERRILL LYNCH ARTWORK]

March 1, 1999

THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE
INVESTING, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT RISKS. PLEASE READ
IT BEFORE YOU INVEST AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<PAGE> 3
Table of Contents

[KEY FACTS ICON]
KEY FACTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
The Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund at a Glance........ 3
Risk/Return Bar Chart....................................... 5
Fees and Expenses........................................... 6

[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON]
DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests........................................ 8
Investment Risks............................................ 10

[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON]
YOUR ACCOUNT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) System..................... 23
How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares.............. 28
Participation in Merrill Lynch Fee-Based Programs........... 32

[MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ICON]
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Asset Management.............................. 34
Financial Highlights........................................ 35

[FOR MORE INFORMATION ICON]
FOR MORE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Reports....................................Back Cover
Statement of Additional Information....................Back Cover
</TABLE>

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.

<PAGE> 4
[KEY FACTS ICON] Key Facts

In an effort to help you better understand the many concepts involved in making
an investment decision, we have defined the highlighted terms in this prospectus
in the sidebar.

TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN -- the combination of capital appreciation and
investment income.

EQUITY SECURITY -- shares of ownership of a corporation.

THE MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND AT A GLANCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide high TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN
through a fully managed investment policy utilizing United States and foreign
EQUITY, debt and money market securities, the combination of which will be
varied from time to time both with respect to types of securities and markets in
response to changing market and economic trends.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

The Fund invests in a portfolio of equity, debt and money market securities.
Generally, the Fund's portfolio will include both equity and debt securities. At
any given time, however, the Fund may emphasize either debt securities or equity
securities. In selecting equity investments, the Fund mainly seeks securities
that Fund management believes are undervalued. The Fund may buy debt securities
of varying maturities. The Fund may invest in high yield or "junk" bonds and in
certain types of "derivative" securities. When choosing investments, Fund
management considers various factors, including opportunities for equity or debt
investments to increase in value, expected dividends and interest rates.

Generally, the Fund will invest primarily in the securities of corporate and
governmental issuers located in North and South America, Western Europe,
Australia and the Far East. The Fund may emphasize foreign securities when Fund
management expects these investments to outperform U.S. securities. When
choosing investment markets, Fund management considers various factors,
including economic and political conditions, potential for economic growth and
possible changes in currency exchange rates.

The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its objective.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

As with any fund, the value of the Fund's investments -- and therefore the value
of Fund shares -- may go up or down. These changes may occur because the stock
or bond markets are rising or falling, or in response to interest rate changes.
At other times, there are specific factors that may affect the value of a
particular investment. If the value of the Fund's investments goes down, you
will lose money.

The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in non-U.S. securities.
Foreign investing involves special risks -- including foreign currency risk and
the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or
other developments. Foreign securities may also be less liquid and harder to
value than U.S. securities.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 3

<PAGE> 5
[KEY FACTS ICON] Key Facts

Derivatives and high yield or "junk" bonds may be volatile and subject to
liquidity, leverage, credit and other types of risks.

Generally, the Fund seeks diversification across markets, industries and issuers
as one of its strategies to reduce volatility. However, the Fund is legally
classified as a non-diversified fund, which means that it may invest more of its
assets in fewer companies than if it were a diversified fund. By concentrating
in a smaller number of investments, the Fund's risk is increased because each
investment has a greater effect on the Fund's performance.

WHO SHOULD INVEST?

The Fund may be an appropriate investment for you if you:

- Are looking for capital appreciation for long term goals, such
as retirement or funding a child's education, but also seek some
current income.

- Want a professionally managed portfolio.

- Are willing to accept the risk that your investment may
fluctuate over the short term.

- Are looking for exposure to a variety of foreign markets.

- Are willing to accept the risks of foreign investing in order to
seek potentially higher long term returns.

- Are prepared to receive taxable distributions of ordinary income
and capital gains.

4 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 6

RISK/RETURN BAR CHART
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bar chart and table shown below provide an indication of the risks of
investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance for
Class B shares for each complete calendar year since the Fund's inception. Sales
charges are not reflected in the bar chart. If these amounts were reflected,
returns would be less than those shown. The table compares the average annual
total returns for each class of the Fund's shares for the periods shown with
those of the Financial Times/Standard & Poor's--Actuaries World Index. How the
Fund performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will
perform in the future.

[BAR CHART]

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was
12.04% (quarter ended March 31, 1991) and the lowest return for a quarter was
- -13.21% (quarter ended September 30, 1998).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(AS OF THE CALENDAR YEAR PAST PAST SINCE
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998) ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS INCEPTION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Merrill Lynch Global Allocation
Fund* -- Class A -4.65% 8.39% 11.93%+
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Times/Standard & Poor's --
Actuaries World Index** 23.04% 15.27% 10.41%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Global Allocation
Fund* -- Class B -3.98% 8.46% 11.40%++
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Times/Standard & Poor's --
Actuaries World Index** 23.04% 15.27% 10.41%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Global Allocation
Fund* -- Class C -1.31% N/A 10.26%#
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Times/Standard & Poor's --
Actuaries World Index** 23.04% N/A 16.12%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Global Allocation
Fund* -- Class D -4.90% N/A 9.71%#
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Times/Standard & Poor's --
Actuaries World Index** 23.04% N/A 16.12%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* Includes sales charge.

** This unmanaged capitalization-weighted Index is comprised of 2,298 equities
from 29 countries in 13 regions, including the United States. Performance
data is as of February 3, 1989 for Class A and Class B shares and October 21,
1994 for Class C and Class D shares. Past performance is not predictive of
future performance.

+ Inception date is February 3, 1989.

++ Inception date is February 3, 1989. This performance does not reflect the
effect of the conversion of Class B to Class D shares after approximately
eight years.

# Inception date is October 21, 1994.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 5
<PAGE> 7

[KEY FACTS ICON] Key Facts

UNDERSTANDING EXPENSES

Fund investors pay various fees and expenses, either directly or indirectly.
Listed below are some of the main types of expenses, which all mutual funds may
charge:

EXPENSES PAID DIRECTLY BY THE SHAREHOLDER:

SHAREHOLDER FEES -- these include sales charges which you may pay when you buy
or sell shares of the Fund.

EXPENSES PAID INDIRECTLY BY THE SHAREHOLDER:

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES -- expenses that cover the costs of operating the
Fund.

MANAGEMENT FEE -- a fee paid to the Manager for managing the Fund.

DISTRIBUTION FEES -- fees used to support the Fund's marketing and distribution
efforts, such as compensating Financial Consultants, advertising and promotion.

SERVICE (ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE) FEES -- fees used to compensate securities
dealers for account maintenance activities.

FEES AND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund offers four different classes of shares. Although your money will be
invested the same way no matter which class of shares you buy, there are
differences among the fees and expenses associated with each class. Not everyone
is eligible to buy every class. After determining which classes you are eligible
to buy, decide which class best suits your needs. Your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant can help you with this decision.

This table shows the different fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold the different classes of shares of the Fund. Future expenses may be greater
or less than those indicated below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER FEE (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM
YOUR INVESTMENT) CLASS A CLASS B(a) CLASS C CLASS D
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on
purchases (as a percentage of offering
price) 5.25%(b) None None 5.25%(b)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a
percentage of original purchase price or
redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) None(c) 4.0%(b) 1.0%(b) None(c)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on
Dividend Reinvestments None None None None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption Fee None None None None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Fee None None None None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Account Fee None None None None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT
ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fee(d) 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees(e) None 1.00% 1.00% 0.25%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses (including transfer agency
fees)(f) 0.18% 0.20% 0.21% 0.18%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(g) 0.93% 1.95% 1.96% 1.18%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(a) Class B shares automatically convert to Class D shares about eight years
after you buy them and will no longer be subject to distribution fees.

(b) Some investors may qualify for reductions in the sales charge (load).

(d) The Fund has agreed to pay the Manager a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of
the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Manager agreed to voluntarily
waive a portion of the fee so that the Fund pays the Manager a fee at the
annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund for the
first $2.5 billion; 0.70% of the average daily net assets from $2.5 billion
to $5.0 billion; 0.65% of the average daily net assets from $5.0 billion to
$7.5 billion; 0.625% of the average daily net assets from $7.5 billion to
$10 billion; and 0.60% of the average daily net assets above $10 billion.
The Manager may discontinue or reduce this waiver of fees at any time
without notice. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Manager
received a fee equal to 0.66% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

(e) The Fund calls the "Service Fee" an "Account Maintenance Fee." Account
Maintenance Fee is the term used elsewhere in this Prospectus and in all
other Fund materials. If you hold Class B or Class C shares for a long time,
it may cost you more in distribution (12b-1) fees than the maximum sales
charge that you would have paid if you had bought one of the other classes.

(f) The Fund pays the Transfer Agent $11.00 for each Class A and Class D
shareholder account and $14.00 for each Class B and Class C shareholder
account and reimburses the Transfer Agent's out-of-pocket expenses. The Fund
pays a 0.10% fee for certain accounts that participate in the Merrill Lynch
Mutual Fund Advisor program. The Fund also pays a $0.20 monthly closed
account charge, which is assessed upon all accounts that close during the
year. This fee begins the month following the month the account is closed
and ends at the end of the calendar year. For the fiscal year ended October
31, 1998, the Fund paid the Transfer Agent fees totaling $19,228,811. The
Manager provides accounting services to the Fund at its cost. For the fiscal
year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund reimbursed the Manager $1,033,325 for
these services.

(g) In addition, Merrill Lynch may charge clients a processing fee (currently
$5.35) when a client buys or redeems shares.

6 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 8

EXAMPLES:

These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods
indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that you pay the
sales charges, if any, that apply to the particular class and that the Fund's
operating expenses remain the same. This assumption is not meant to indicate you
will receive a 5% annual rate of return. Your annual return may be more or less
than the 5% used in this example. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

EXPENSES IF YOU DID REDEEM YOUR SHARES:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $615 $806 $1,013 $1,608
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B $598 $812 $1,052 $2,081*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C $299 $615 $1,057 $2,285
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class D $639 $880 $1,140 $1,882
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

EXPENSES IF YOU DID NOT REDEEM YOUR SHARES:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $615 $806 $1,013 $1,608
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B $198 $612 $1,052 $2,081*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C $199 $615 $1,057 $2,285
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class D $639 $880 $1,140 $1,882
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* Assumes conversion to Class D shares approximately eight years after purchase.
See note (a) to the Fees and Expenses table above.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 7
<PAGE> 9
Details About the Fund [DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON]

ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Bryan N. Ison is a Senior Vice President and the portfolio manager of the Fund.
Mr. Ison has been a First Vice President of Merrill Lynch Asset Management since
1997 and was a Vice President from 1985 to 1997.

ABOUT THE MANAGER

The Fund is managed by Merrill Lynch Asset Management.

HOW THE FUND INVESTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund's investment objective is to seek a high total return through a fully
managed investment policy utilizing United States and foreign equity, debt and
money market securities, the combination of which will be varied from time to
time both with respect to types of securities and markets in response to
changing market and economic trends. In other words, the Fund seeks to achieve a
combination of capital growth and income. The Fund tries to do this by investing
in both equity and debt securities of issuers located around the world.

There is no limit on the percentage of assets the Fund can invest in a
particular type of security. Generally, the Fund seeks diversification across
markets, industries and issuers as one of its strategies to reduce volatility.
However, the Fund is legally classified as non-diversified, which means that the
Fund may invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities of a single company
or issuer. The Fund has no geographic limits on where its investments may be
located. This flexibility allows Fund management to look for investments in
markets around the world that it believes will provide the best relative asset
allocation to meet the Fund's objective.

Fund management uses the Fund's investment flexibility to create a portfolio of
assets which, over time, tends to be relatively balanced between equity and debt
securities and that is widely diversified among many individual investments.
While the Fund can, and does, look for investments in all the markets of the
world, it will typically invest a majority of its assets in the securities of
companies and governments located in North and South America, Western Europe and
the Far East. In making investment decisions, Fund management tries to identify
the long term trends and changes that could benefit particular markets and/or
industries relative to other markets and industries. Fund management will
consider such factors as the rate of economic growth, natural resources, capital
reinvestment and the social and political environment when selecting the
markets. In deciding between equity and debt investments, the Fund management
looks at a number of factors, including the relative opportunity for capital
appreciation, dividend yields and the level of interest rates paid on debt
securities of different maturities.

Fund management may also, from time to time, identify certain real assets, such
as real estate or precious metals that Fund management believes will increase in
value because of economic trends and cycles or political or other events. The
Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities related to those real
assets such as stock or convertible bonds issued by real estate

8 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 10

investment trusts. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in any
particular industry sector.

The Fund may also invest in securities that provide a return based on
fluctuations in a stock or other financial index. For example, the Fund may
invest in a security that increases in value with the price of a particular
securities index. In some cases, the return of the security may be inversely
related to the price of the index. This means that the value of the security
will rise as the price of the index falls and vice versa. Although these types
of securities can make it easier for the Fund to access certain markets or hedge
risks of other assets held by the Fund, these securities are subject to the
risks related to the underlying index or other assets.

EQUITY SECURITIES -- The Fund can invest in all types of equity securities,
including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights. In
selecting stocks and other securities that are convertible into stocks, Fund
management emphasizes stocks that it believes are undervalued. Fund management
places particular emphasis on companies with below average price/earnings ratios
or that may pay above average dividends. Fund management may also seek to invest
in the stock of smaller or emerging growth companies that it expects will
provide a higher total return than other equity investments. Investing in
smaller or emerging growth companies involves greater risk than investing in
more established companies.

DEBT SECURITIES -- The Fund can invest in all types of debt securities,
including U.S. and foreign government bonds, corporate bonds and convertible
bonds, mortgage and asset backed securities, and securities issued or guaranteed
by certain international organizations such as the World Bank.

The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in "junk" bonds, corporate
loans and "distressed securities." Junk bonds are bonds that are rated below
investment grade by independent rating agencies or are bonds that are not rated
but which Fund management considers to be of comparable quality. Corporate loans
are direct obligations of U.S. or foreign corporations that are purchased by the
Fund in the secondary market. Distressed securities are securities that are in
default on payments of interest or principal at the time the Fund buys the
securities or are issued by a bankrupt entity. These securities offer the
possibility of relatively higher returns but are significantly riskier than
higher rated debt securities. Fund management will invest in these securities
only when it believes that they will

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 9
<PAGE> 11

[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

provide an attractive total return, relative to their risk, as compared to
higher quality debt securities.

MONEY MARKET SECURITIES -- The Fund can invest in high quality short term debt
securities, such as U.S. government securities, commercial paper and money
market instruments issued by commercial banks. Fund management may increase its
investment in these instruments in times of market volatility or when it
believes that it is prudent or timely to be invested in lower yielding but less
risky securities.

OPTIONS, FUTURES AND OTHER DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may use options, futures and
forward contracts both to increase the return of the Fund and to hedge, or
protect, the value of its assets against adverse movements in currency exchange
rates and interest rates and movements in the securities markets. The use of
options, futures and forward contracts can be effective in protecting or
enhancing the value of the Fund's assets. While these instruments involve
certain risks, the Fund will not engage in certain strategies that are
considered highly risky and speculative.

INVESTMENT RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section contains a summary discussion of the general risks of investing in
the Fund. As with any mutual fund, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will
meet its goals or that the Fund's performance will be positive for any period of
time.

MARKET AND SELECTION RISK -- Market risk is the risk that the stock or bond
markets will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will
go down sharply and unpredictably. Selection risk is the risk that the
investments that Fund management selects will underperform the market or other
funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

10 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 12

CREDIT RISK -- Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will be unable to pay the
interest or principal when due. The degree of credit risk depends on both the
financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.

INTEREST RATE RISK -- Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds
generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates
increase. Prices of longer term securities generally change more in response to
interest rate changes than prices of shorter term securities.

CALL AND REDEMPTION RISK -- A bond's issuer may call a bond for redemption
before it matures. If this happens to a bond the Fund holds, the Fund may lose
income and may have to invest the proceeds in bonds with lower yields.

CONCENTRATION RISK -- The Fund is a nondiversified fund. By concentrating in a
smaller number of investments, the Fund's risk is increased because each
investment has a greater effect on the Fund's performance.

FOREIGN MARKET RISK -- Since the Fund invests in foreign securities, it offers
the potential for more diversification than an investment only in the United
States. This is because securities traded on foreign markets have often (though
not always) performed differently than securities in the United States. However,
such investments involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can
increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. In particular, the Fund is
subject to the risk that because there are generally fewer investors on foreign
exchanges and a smaller number of shares traded each day, it may make it
difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities on those exchanges. In
addition, prices of foreign securities may go up and down more than prices of
securities traded in the United States.

FOREIGN ECONOMY RISK -- The economies of certain foreign markets often do not
compare favorably with that of the United States with respect to such issues as
growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance
of payments position. Certain such economies may rely heavily on particular
industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic
developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country
or countries, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers and
other protectionist or retaliatory measures.

Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental
actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 11
<PAGE> 13
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

companies or industries, expropriation of assets or the imposition of punitive
taxes. In addition, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose
substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in
certain industries. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices,
impair the Fund's ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the
Fund's assets or income back into the United States, or otherwise adversely
affect the Fund's operations.

Other foreign market risks include foreign exchange controls, difficulties in
pricing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, difficulties in
enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign courts, and political and social
instability. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries
may be less extensive than those available to investors in the United States or
other foreign countries.

CURRENCY RISK -- Securities in which the Fund invests are usually denominated or
quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in foreign currency
exchange rates affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. Generally, when the
U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in
that currency loses value because the currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars.
Conversely, when the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency,
a security denominated in that currency gains value because the currency is
worth more U.S. dollars. This risk, generally known as "currency risk," means
that a strong U.S. dollar will reduce returns for U.S. investors while a weak
U.S. dollar will increase those returns.

GOVERNMENTAL SUPERVISION AND REGULATION/ACCOUNTING STANDARDS -- Many foreign
governments supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of
securities less than the United States does. Some countries may not have laws to
protect investors the way that the U.S. securities laws do. Accounting standards
in other countries are not necessarily the same as in the United States. If the
accounting standards in another country do not require as much detail as U.S.
accounting standards, it may be harder for the Fund's management to completely
and accurately determine a company's financial condition. Also, brokerage
commissions and other costs of buying or selling securities often are higher in
foreign countries than they are in the United States. This reduces the amount
the Fund can earn on its investments.

12 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 14

CERTAIN RISKS OF HOLDING FUND ASSETS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES -- The Fund
generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities
depositories. Some foreign banks and securities depositories may be recently
organized or new to the foreign custody business. In addition there may be
limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of
certain countries may put limits on the Fund's ability to recover its assets if
a foreign bank, depository or issuer of a security, or any of their agents, goes
bankrupt. In addition, it is often more expensive for the Fund to buy, sell and
hold securities in certain foreign markets than in the U.S. The increased
expense of investing in foreign markets reduces the amount the Fund can earn on
its investments and typically results in a higher operating expense ratio for
the Fund than investment companies invested only in the U.S.

Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may
be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. Shareholders may be able to
take a credit or a deduction for foreign taxes paid by the Fund, if certain
requirements are met.

SETTLEMENT RISK -- Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign
markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Foreign settlement
and clearance procedures and trade regulations also may involve certain risks
(such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities) not typically involved
with the settlement of U.S. investments. Communications between the United
States and emerging market countries may be unreliable, increasing the risk of
delayed settlements or losses of security certificates. Settlements in certain
foreign countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities
transactions; these problems may make it difficult for the Fund to carry out
transactions. If the Fund cannot settle or is delayed in settling a purchase of
securities, it may miss attractive investment opportunities and certain of its
assets may be uninvested with no return thereon for some period. If the Fund
cannot settle or is delayed in settling a sale of securities, it may lose money
if the value of the security then declines or, if it has contracted to sell the
security to another party, the Fund could be liable for any losses incurred.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 13
<PAGE> 15
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION (EMU) -- Certain European countries have
joined EMU in an effort to, among other things, reduce barriers between
countries, increase competition among companies, reduce government subsidies in
certain industries and reduce or eliminate currency fluctuations among these
countries. EMU established a single common European currency (the "euro") that
was introduced on January 1, 1999 and is expected to replace the existing
national currencies of all EMU participants by July 1, 2002. Certain securities
(beginning with government and corporate bonds) were redenominated in the euro,
and are listed, trade and make dividend and other payments only in euros.
Although EMU is generally expected to have a beneficial effect, it could
negatively affect the Fund in a number of situations, including as follows:

- If the transition to the euro, or EMU as a whole, does not
proceed as planned, the Fund's investments could be adversely
affected. For example, sharp currency fluctuations, exchange
rate volatility and other market disruptions could occur.

- Withdrawal from EMU by a participating country could also have a
negative effect on the Fund's investments; for example, if
securities redenominated in euros are transferred back into that
country's national currency.

- Computer, accounting and trading systems must be capable of
recognizing the euro as a distinct currency. If not properly
addressed, this may negatively affect the operations of the
companies the Fund invests in.

BORROWING AND LEVERAGE -- The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency
purposes including to meet redemptions. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the
net asset value of Fund shares and in the yield on the Fund's portfolio.
Borrowing will cost the Fund interest expense and other fees. The costs of
borrowing may reduce the Fund's return. Certain securities that the Fund buys
may create leverage including, for example, when issued securities, forward
commitments, options, warrants and reverse repurchase agreements.

Risks associated with certain types of obligations in which the Fund may invest
include:

SMALL CAP AND EMERGING GROWTH SECURITIES -- Small cap or emerging growth
companies may have limited product lines or markets. They may be

14 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 16

less financially secure than larger, more established companies. They may depend
on a small number of key personnel. If a product fails, or if management
changes, or there are other adverse developments, the Fund's investment in a
small cap or emerging growth company may lose substantial value.

Small cap or emerging growth securities generally trade in lower volumes and are
subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger cap
securities or the stock market as a whole. Investing in small cap and emerging
growth securities requires a long term view.

WARRANTS -- A warrant gives the Fund the right to buy a quantity of stock. The
warrant specifies the amount of underlying stock, the purchase (or "exercise")
price, and the date the warrant expires. The Fund has no obligation to exercise
the warrant and buy the stock.

A warrant has value only if the Fund exercises it before it expires. If the
price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the
warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and the Fund
loses any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may
involve substantially more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may
trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the
warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock.

DERIVATIVES -- The Fund may use derivative instruments, including futures,
forwards, options, indexed securities, inverse securities and swaps. Derivatives
are financial instruments whose value is derived from another security, a
commodity (such as oil or gas) or an index such as the Standard & Poor's
Composite 500 Index. Derivatives allow the Fund to increase or decrease its risk
exposure more quickly and efficiently than other types of instruments.
Derivatives are volatile and involve significant risks, including:

- CREDIT RISK -- the risk that the counterparty (the party on the
other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will
be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.

- CURRENCY RISK -- the risk that changes in the exchange rate
between currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S.
dollar terms) of an investment.

- LEVERAGE RISK -- the risk associated with certain types of
investments or trading strategies (such as borrowing money to
increase the amount of investments) that relatively small market
movements may result in large changes in the value

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 15
<PAGE> 17
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

of an investment. Certain investments or trading strategies that
involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed the
amount originally invested.

- LIQUIDITY RISK -- the risk that certain securities may be
difficult or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would
like or at the price that the seller believes the security is
currently worth.

- INTEREST RATE RISK -- the risk that prices of fixed income
securities will fluctuate as a function of interest rate
movement.

The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes, including anticipatory
hedges. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the
risk that other Fund holdings may decrease in value. While hedging can reduce
losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains if the market moves in a different
manner than anticipated by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs
the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the
value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as
expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may
not be reduced. There can be no assurance that the Fund's hedging strategy will
reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost
effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may not choose to do so.

SWAP AGREEMENTS -- Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom the
Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund
and the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the
other party to the agreement.

CONVERTIBLES -- Convertibles are generally debt securities or preferred stocks
that may be converted into common stock. Convertibles typically pay current
income, as either interest (debt security convertibles) or dividends (preferred
stocks). A convertible's value usually reflects both the stream of current
income payments and the value of the underlying common stock. The market value
of a convertible performs like regular debt securities; that is, if market
interest rates rise, the value of a convertible usually falls. Since it is
convertible into common stock, the convertible also has the same types of market
and issuer risk as the value of the underlying common stock.

ASSET BACKED SECURITIES -- Like traditional fixed income securities, the value
of asset backed securities typically increases when interest rates fall and

16 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 18

decreases when interest rates rise. Certain asset backed securities may also be
subject to the risk of prepayment. In a period of declining interest rates,
borrowers may pay what they owe on the underlying assets more quickly than
anticipated. Prepayment reduces the yield to maturity and the average life of
the asset backed securities. In addition, when the Fund reinvests the proceeds
of a prepayment it may receive a lower interest rate than the rate on the
security that was prepaid. In a period of rising interest rates, prepayments may
occur at a slower rate than expected. As a result, the average maturity of the
Fund's portfolio will increase. The value of longer term securities generally
changes more widely in response to changes in interest rates than shorter term
securities.

MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES -- Mortgage backed securities represent the right to
receive a portion of principal and/or interest payments made on a pool of
residential or commercial mortgage loans. When interest rates fall, borrowers
may refinance or otherwise repay principal on their mortgages earlier than
scheduled. When this happens, certain types of mortgage backed securities will
be paid off more quickly than originally anticipated and the Fund will have to
invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields. This risk is known as
"prepayment risk." When interest rates rise, certain types of mortgage backed
securities will be paid off more slowly than originally anticipated and the
value of these securities will fall. This risk is known as "extension risk."

Because of prepayment risk and extension risk, mortgage backed securities react
differently to changes in interest rates than other fixed income securities.
Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and
significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage backed securities.

CORPORATE LOANS -- Commercial banks and other financial institutions make
corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers
generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates that change in response to
changes in market interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate
(LIBOR) or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of corporate
loan investments is generally less responsive to shifts in market interest
rates. Because the trading market for corporate loans is less developed than the
secondary market for bonds and notes, the Fund may experience difficulties in
selling its corporate loans. Borrowers frequently
provide collateral to secure repayment of these obligations. Leading financial
institutions often act as agent for a broader group of lenders, generally

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 17
<PAGE> 19
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

referred to as a syndicate. The syndicate's agent arranges the corporate loans,
holds collateral and accepts payments of principal and interest. If the agent
develops financial problems, the Fund may not recover its investment or recovery
may be delayed. By investing in a corporate loan, the Fund becomes a member of
the syndicate.

The corporate loans in which the Fund invests can be expected to provide higher
yields than bonds and notes that have investment grade ratings, but may be
subject to greater risk of loss of principal and income. Borrowers do not always
provide collateral for corporate loans, or the value of the collateral may not
completely cover the borrower's obligations at the time of a default. If a
borrower files for protection from its creditors under the U.S. bankruptcy laws,
these laws may limit the Fund's rights to its collateral. In addition, the value
of collateral may erode during a bankruptcy case. In the event of a bankruptcy
the holder of a corporate loan may not recover its principal, may experience a
long delay in recovering its investment and may not receive interest during the
delay.

DISTRESSED SECURITIES -- Distressed securities are securities that are subject
to bankruptcy proceedings or are in default, or at risk of being in default.
Distressed securities are speculative and involve substantial risks. Generally,
the Fund will invest in distressed securities when Fund management believes they
offer significant potential for higher returns or can be exchanged for other
securities that offer this potential. However, there can be no assurance that
the issuer will make an exchange offer or adopt a plan of reorganization. The
Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities
and may incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, the Fund's principal
may not be repaid. Distressed securities and any securities received in an
exchange may be difficult to sell and may be subject to restriction on resale.

INDEXED AND INVERSE FLOATING RATE SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest in
securities whose potential returns are directly related to changes in an
underlying index or interest rate, known as indexed securities. The return on
indexed securities will rise when the underlying index or interest rate rises
and fall when the index or interest rate falls. The Fund may also invest in
securities whose return is inversely related to changes in an interest rate
(inverse floaters). In general, income on inverse floaters will decrease when
interest rates increase and increase when interest rates decrease. Investments
in inverse floaters may subject the Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated
interest payments and losses of principal. In addition, certain indexed

18 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 20

securities and inverse floaters may increase or decrease in value at a greater
rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively leverages the Fund's
investment. Indexed securities and inverse floaters are derivative securities
and can be considered speculative. Indexed and inverse securities involve credit
risk, and certain indexed and inverse securities may involve currency risk,
leverage risk and liquidity risk.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in illiquid
securities that it cannot easily resell within seven days at current value or
that have contractual or legal restrictions on resale. If the Fund buys illiquid
securities it may be unable to quickly resell them or may be able to sell them
only at a price below current value.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES -- Restricted securities have contractual or legal
restrictions on their resale. They include private placement securities that the
Fund buys directly from the issuer. Private placement and other restricted
securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading
market.

Restricted securities may be illiquid. The Fund may be unable to sell them on
short notice or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value.
The Fund may get only limited information about the issuer, so it may be less
able to predict a loss. In addition, if Fund management receives material
adverse nonpublic information about the issuer, the Fund will not be able to
sell the securities.

RULE 144A SECURITIES -- Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that can
be resold to qualified institutional buyers but not to the general public. Rule
144A securities may have an active trading market, but carry the risk that the
active trading market may not continue.

JUNK BONDS -- Junk bonds are debt securities that are rated below investment
grade by the major rating agencies or are unrated securities that Fund
management believes are of comparable quality. Although junk bonds generally pay
higher rates of interest than investment grade bonds, they are high risk
investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. Junk bonds
generally are less liquid and experience more price volatility than higher rated
debt securities. The issuers of junk bonds may have a larger amount of
outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade
bonds. In the event of an issuer's bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may
have priority over the claims of junk bond holders, leaving few or no assets
available to repay junk bond holders. Junk bonds

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 19
<PAGE> 21
[DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND ICON] Details About the Fund

may be subject to greater call and redemption risk than higher rated debt
securities.

STANDBY COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS -- Standby commitment agreements involve the risk
that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery to the
Fund. There is also the risk that if the security goes up in value, the
counterparty will decide not to issue the security. If this occurs, the Fund
will lose the investment opportunity for the assets it has set aside to pay for
the security and any gain in the security's price.

WHEN ISSUED SECURITIES, DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS --
When issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments involve the
risk that the security the Fund buys will lose value prior to its delivery.
There is also the risk that the security will not be issued or that the other
party will not meet its obligation. If this occurs, the Fund will lose both the
investment opportunity for the assets it has set aside to pay for the security
and any gain in the security's price.

PRECIOUS METAL RELATED SECURITIES -- Securities of precious metals historically
have been very volatile. The high volatility of precious metal prices may
adversely affect the financial condition of companies involved with precious
metals. The production and sale of precious metals by governments or central
banks or other larger holders can be affected by various economic, financial,
social and political factors, which may be unpredictable and may have a
significant impact on the prices of precious metals. Other factors that may
affect the prices of precious metals and securities related to them include
changes in inflation, the outlook for inflation and changes in industrial and
commercial demand for precious metals.

REAL ESTATE RELATED SECURITIES -- Real estate related securities are subject to
the risks associated with real estate. The main risk of real estate related
securities is that the value of the real estate may go down. Many factors may
affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local
economies, the laws and regulations (including zoning and tax laws) affecting
real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The
availability of mortgages and changes in interest rates may also affect real
estate values.

If the Fund's real estate related investments are concentrated in one geographic
area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks
associated with that area or property type.

20 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 22

SOVEREIGN DEBT -- The Fund may invest in sovereign debt securities. These
securities are issued or guaranteed by foreign government entities. Investments
in sovereign debt subject the Fund to the risk that a government entity may
delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt.
Reasons may include cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves,
political considerations, the relative size of the entity's debt position to its
economy or its failure to put in place economic reforms required by the
International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a government
entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans.
There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debts that a government does
not pay nor bankruptcy proceeding by which all or part of a sovereign debt that
a government entity has not repaid may be collected.

SECURITIES LENDING -- The Fund may lend securities to financial institutions
which provide government securities as collateral. Securities lending involves
the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner
or at all. As a result, the Fund may lose money and there may be a delay in
recovering the loaned securities. The Fund could also lose money if it does not
recover the securities and the value of the collateral falls. These events could
trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS; PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACTS -- The Fund may enter into
certain types of repurchase agreements or purchase and sale contracts. Under a
repurchase agreement, the seller agrees to repurchase a security (typically a
security issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government) at a mutually agreed upon
time and price. This insulates the Fund from changes in the market value of the
security during the period, except for currency fluctuations. A purchase and
sale contract is similar to a repurchase agreement, but purchase and sale
contracts provide that the purchaser receives any interest on the security paid
during the period. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either
situation and the market value declines, the Fund may lose money.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would like further information about the Fund, including how it invests,
please see the Statement of Additional Information.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 21
<PAGE> 23
Your Account [YOUR ACCOUNT ICON]

MERRILL LYNCH SELECT PRICING(SM) SYSTEM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund offers four share classes, each with its own sales charge and expense
structure, allowing you to invest in the way that best suits your needs. Each
share class represents an ownership interest in the same investment portfolio.
When you choose your class of shares you should consider the size of your
investment and how long you plan to hold your shares. Your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant can help you determine which share class is best suited to
your personal financial goals.

For example, if you select Class A or D shares, you generally pay a sales charge
at the time of purchase. If you buy Class D shares, you also pay an ongoing
account maintenance fee of 0.25%. You may be eligible for a sales charge waiver.

If you select Class B or C shares, you will invest the full amount of your
purchase price, but you will be subject to a distribution fee of 0.75% and an
account maintenance fee of 0.25%. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's
assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees increase the cost of your
investment and may cost you more than paying an initial sales charge. In
addition, you may be subject to a deferred sales charge when you sell Class B or
C shares.

The Fund's shares are distributed by Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, a division
of Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc., an affiliate of Merrill Lynch.

22 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.

<PAGE> 24

The table below summarizes key features of the Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM)
System.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Availability Limited to certain Generally available Generally available Generally available
investors including: through Merrill Lynch. through Merrill Lynch. through Merrill Lynch.
- Current Class A Limited availability Limited availability Limited availability
shareholders through other securities through other securities through other securities
- Certain Retirement dealers. dealers. dealers.
Plans
- Participants in certain
Merrill Lynch sponsored
programs
- Certain affiliates of
Merrill Lynch.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Sales Charge? Yes. Payable at time of No. Entire purchase No. Entire purchase Yes. Payable at time of
purchase. Lower sales price is invested in price is invested in purchase. Lower sales
charges available for shares of the Fund. shares of the Fund. charges available for
larger investments. larger investments.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Sales No. (May be charged for Yes. Payable if you Yes. Payable if you No. (May be charged for
Charge? purchases over $1 redeem within four years redeem within one year purchases over $1
million that are of purchase. of purchase. million that are
redeemed within one redeemed within one
year.) year.)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account Maintenance No. 0.25% Account 0.25% Account 0.25% Account
and Distribution Maintenance Fee 0.75% Maintenance Fee 0.75% Maintenance Fee No
Fees? Distribution Fee. Distribution Fee. Distribution Fee.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversion to Class D No. Yes, automatically after No. No.
shares? approximately eight
years.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 23
<PAGE> 25
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION -- permits you to pay the sales charge that would apply to
the cost or value (whichever is higher) of all shares you own in the Merrill
Lynch mutual funds that offer Select Pricing options.

LETTER OF INTENT -- permits you to pay the sales charge that would be applicable
if you add up all shares of Merrill Lynch Select Pricing System funds that you
agree to buy within a 13 month period. Certain restrictions apply.

CLASS A AND CLASS D SHARES -- INITIAL SALES CHARGE OPTIONS

If you select Class A or Class D shares, you will pay a sales charge at the time
of purchase.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DEALER
COMPENSATION
AS A % OF AS A % OF AS A % OF
YOUR INVESTMENT OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT* OFFERING PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000 5.25% 5.54% 5.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 but less than
$50,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 but less than
$100,000 4.00% 4.17% 3.75%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 but less than
$250,000 3.00% 3.09% 2.75%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 but less than
$1,000,000 2.00% 2.04% 1.80%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,000,000 and over** 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent.

** If you invest $1,000,000 or more in Class A or Class D shares, you may not
pay an initial sales charge. However, if you redeem your shares within one
year after purchase, you may be charged a deferred sales charge. This charge
is 1% of the lesser of the original cost of the shares being redeemed or your
redemption proceeds. A sales charge of 0.75% will be charged on purchases of
$1,000,000 or more of Class A or Class D shares by certain employer sponsored
retirement or savings plans.

No initial sales charge applies to Class A or Class D shares that you buy
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions.
A reduced or waived sales charge on a purchase of Class A or Class D shares may
apply for:

- Purchases under a RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION or LETTER OF INTENT.

- Merrill Lynch Blueprint(SM) Program participants.
- TMA(SM) Managed Trusts.
- Certain Merrill Lynch investment or central asset accounts.
- Certain employer sponsored retirement or savings plans.
- Purchases using proceeds from the sale of certain Merrill Lynch
closed-end funds under certain circumstances.

24 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 26

- Certain investors, including directors of Merrill Lynch mutual
funds and Merrill Lynch employees.
- Certain Merrill Lynch fee-based programs.

Only certain investors are eligible to buy Class A shares. Your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant can help you determine whether you are eligible to buy
Class A shares or to participate in any of these programs.

If you decide to buy shares under the initial sales charge alternative and you
are eligible to buy both Class A and Class D shares, you should buy Class A
since Class D shares are subject to an account maintenance fee, while Class A
shares are not.

If you redeem Class A or Class D shares and within 30 days buy new shares of the
same class, you will not pay a sales charge on the new purchase amount. The
amount eligible for this "Reinstatement Privilege" may not exceed the amount of
your redemption proceeds. To exercise the privilege, contact your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant or the Fund's Transfer Agent at 1-800-MER-FUND.

CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES -- DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OPTIONS

If you select Class B or Class C shares, you do not pay an initial sales charge
at the time of purchase. However, if you redeem your Class B shares within four
years after purchase, or your Class C shares within one year after purchase, you
may be required to pay a deferred sales charge. You will also pay distribution
fees of 0.75% and account maintenance fees of 0.25% each year under distribution
plans that the Fund has adopted under Rule 12b-1. Because these fees are paid
out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees increase the
cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying an initial sales
charge. The Distributor uses the money that it receives from the deferred sales
charges and the distribution fees to cover the costs of marketing, advertising
and compensating the Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant or other securities
dealer who assists you in purchasing Fund shares.

CLASS B SHARES

If you redeem Class B shares within four years after purchase, you may be
charged a deferred sales charge. The amount of the charge gradually

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 25
<PAGE> 27
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

decreases as you hold your shares over time, according to the following
schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS SINCE PURCHASE SALES CHARGE*
- -----------------------------------------
<S> <C>
0 - 1 4.00%
- -----------------------------------------
1 - 2 3.00%
- -----------------------------------------
2 - 3 2.00%
- -----------------------------------------
3 - 4 1.00%
- -----------------------------------------
4 AND THEREAFTER 0.00%
- -----------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* The percentage charge will apply to the lesser of the original cost of the
shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption. Shares acquired
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions are not subject to a
deferred sales charge. Not all Merrill Lynch funds have identical deferred
sales charge schedules. If you exchange your shares for shares of another
fund, the higher charge will apply.

The deferred sales charge relating to Class B shares may be reduced or waived in
certain circumstances, such as:

- Certain post-retirement withdrawals from an IRA or other
retirement plan if you are over 59 1/2 years old.

- Redemption by certain eligible 401(a) and 401(k) plans, certain
related accounts, group plans participating in the Merrill Lynch
Blueprint Program and certain retirement plan rollovers.

- Redemption in connection with participation in certain Merrill
Lynch fee-based programs.
- Withdrawals resulting from shareholder death or disability as
long as the waiver request is made within one year of death or
disability or, if later, reasonably promptly following
completion of probate, or in connection with involuntary
termination of an account in which Fund shares are held.
- Withdrawal through the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plan
of up to 10% per year of your Class B account value at the time
the plan is established.

Your Class B shares convert automatically into Class D shares approximately
eight years after purchase. Any Class B shares received through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions paid on converting shares will also convert at

26 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 28

that time. Class D shares are subject to lower annual expenses than Class B
shares. The conversion of Class B to Class D shares is not a taxable event for
federal income tax purposes.

Different conversion schedules apply to Class B shares of different Merrill
Lynch mutual funds. For example, Class B shares of a fixed income fund convert
approximately ten years after purchase compared to approximately eight years for
equity funds. If you acquire your Class B shares in an exchange from another
fund with a shorter conversion schedule, the Fund's eight year conversion
schedule will apply. If you exchange your Class B shares in the Fund for Class B
shares of a fund with a longer conversion schedule, the other fund's conversion
schedule will apply. The length of time that you hold both the original and
exchanged Class B shares in both funds will count toward the conversion
schedule. The conversion schedule may be modified in certain other cases as
well.

CLASS C SHARES

If you redeem Class C shares within one year after purchase, you may be charged
a deferred sales charge of 1.00%. The charge will apply to the lesser of the
original cost of the shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption.
You will not be charged a deferred sales charge when you redeem shares that you
acquire through reinvestment of Fund dividends or distributions. The deferred
sales charge relating to Class C shares may be reduced or waived in connection
with participation in certain Merrill Lynch fee-based programs, involuntary
termination of an account in which Fund shares are held and withdrawals through
the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plan.

Class C shares do not offer a conversion privilege.

HOW TO BUY, SELL, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The chart below summarizes how to buy, sell, transfer and exchange shares
through Merrill Lynch or other securities dealers. You may also buy shares
through the Transfer Agent. To learn more about buying shares through the
Transfer Agent, call 1-800-MER-FUND. Because the selection of a mutual fund
involves many considerations, your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant may help
you with this decision.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 27
<PAGE> 29
[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

(The minimums for initial investments may be waived under
certain circumstances.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have your Merrill Lynch Financial The price of your shares is based on the next calculation of
Consultant or securities dealer net asset value after your order is placed. Any purchase
submit your purchase order orders placed within fifteen minutes after the close of
business on the New York Stock Exchange will be priced at
the net asset value determined that day.

Purchase orders placed after that time will be priced at the
net asset value determined on the next business day. The
Fund may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the
sale of shares at any time. Merrill Lynch may charge a
processing fee to confirm a purchase. This fee is currently
$5.35.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or contact the Transfer Agent To purchase shares directly, call the Transfer Agent at
1-800-MER-FUND and request a purchase application. Mail the
completed purchase application to the Transfer Agent at the
address on the inside back cover of this Prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add to Your Purchase additional shares The minimum investment for additional purchases is $50 for
Investment all accounts except that retirement plans have a minimum
additional purchase of $1.
(The minimums for additional purchases may be waived under
certain circumstances.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquire additional shares through the All dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatic dividend reinvestment plan automatically reinvested without a sales charge.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participate in the automatic You may invest a specific amount on a periodic basis through
investment plan certain Merrill Lynch investment or central asset accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer Shares to Transfer to a participating You may transfer your Fund shares only to another securities
Another Securities securities dealer dealer that has entered into an agreement with Merrill
Dealer Lynch. All shareholder services will be available for the
transferred shares. You may only purchase additional shares
of funds previously owned before the transfer. All future
trading of these assets must be coordinated by the receiving
firm.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

28 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 30

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU WANT TO YOUR CHOICES INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Transfer Shares to Transfer to a non-participating You must either:
Another Securities securities dealer - Transfer your shares to an account with the Transfer
Dealer (continued) Agent; or
- Sell your shares.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sell Your Shares Have your Merrill Lynch Financial The price of your shares is based on the next calculation of
Consultant or securities dealer net asset value after your order is placed. For your
submit your sales order redemption request to be priced at the net asset value on
the day of your request, you must submit your request to
your dealer within fifteen minutes after that day's close of
business on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time). Any redemption request placed after that time
will be priced at the net asset value at the close of
business on the next business day. Dealers must submit
redemption requests to the Fund not more than thirty minutes
after the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange
on the day the request was received.

Securities dealers, including Merrill Lynch, may charge a
fee to process a redemption of shares. Merrill Lynch
currently charges a fee of $5.35. No processing fee is
charged if you redeem shares directly through the Transfer
Agent.

The Fund may reject an order to sell shares under certain
circumstances.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sell through the Transfer Agent You may sell shares held at the Transfer Agent by writing to
the Transfer Agent at the address on the inside back cover
of this prospectus. All shareholders on the account must
sign the letter and signatures must be guaranteed. If you
hold stock certificates, return the certificates with the
letter. The Transfer Agent will normally mail redemption
proceeds within seven days following receipt of a properly
completed request. If you make a redemption request before
the Fund has collected payment for the purchase of shares,
the Fund or the Transfer Agent may delay mailing your
proceeds. This delay will usually not exceed ten days.

If you hold share certificates, they must be delivered to
the Transfer Agent before they can be converted. Check with
the Transfer Agent or your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant for details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 29
<PAGE> 31

[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU WANT TO YOUR CHOICES INFORMATION IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Sell Shares Participate in the Fund's Systematic You can choose to receive systematic payments from your Fund
Systematically Withdrawal Plan account either by check or through direct deposit to your
bank account on a monthly or quarterly basis. If you have a
Merrill Lynch CMA(R), CBA(R) or Retirement Account you can
arrange for systematic redemptions of a fixed dollar amount
on a monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual
basis, subject to certain conditions. Under either method
you must have dividends and other distributions
automatically reinvested. For Class B and C shares your
total annual withdrawals cannot be more than 10% per year of
the value of your shares at the time your plan is
established. The deferred sales charge is waived for
systematic redemptions. Ask your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant for details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Your Select the fund into which you want You can exchange your shares of the Fund for shares of many
Shares to exchange. Be sure to read that other Merrill Lynch mutual funds. You must have held the
fund's prospectus shares used in the exchange for at least 15 calendar days
before you can exchange to another fund.

Each class of Fund shares is generally exchangeable for
shares of the same class of another fund. If you own Class A
shares and wish to exchange into a fund in which you have no
Class A shares, you will exchange into Class D shares.

Some of the Merrill Lynch mutual funds impose a different
initial or deferred sales charge schedule. If you exchange
Class A or D shares for shares of a fund with a higher
initial sales charge than you originally paid, you will be
charged the difference at the time of exchange. If you
exchange Class B shares for shares of a fund with a
different deferred sales charge schedule, the higher
schedule will apply. The time you hold Class B or C shares
in both funds will count when determining your holding
period for calculating a deferred sales charge at
redemption. If you exchange Class A or D shares for money
market fund shares, you will receive Class A shares of
Summit Cash Reserves Fund. Class B or C shares of the Fund
will be exchanged for Class B shares of Summit.

Although there is currently no limit on the number of
exchanges that you can make, the exchange privilege may be
modified or terminated at any time in the future.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

30 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 32

[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

NET ASSET VALUE -- the market value of the Fund's total assets after
deducting liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding.

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you buy shares, you pay the NET ASSET VALUE, plus any applicable sales
charge. This is the offering price. Shares are also redeemed at their net asset
value, minus any applicable deferred sales charge. The Fund calculates its net
asset value (generally by using market quotations) each day the New York Stock
Exchange is open, fifteen minutes after the close of business on the Exchange
(the Exchange generally closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The net asset value
used in determining your price is the next one calculated after your purchase or
redemption order is placed. Foreign securities owned by the Fund may trade on
weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the
Fund's net asset value may change on days when you will not be able to purchase
or redeem the Fund's shares.

Generally, Class A shares will have the highest net asset value because that
class has the lowest expenses, and Class D shares will have a higher net asset
value than Class B or Class C shares. Also dividends paid on Class A and Class D
shares will generally be higher than dividends paid on Class B and Class C
shares because Class A and Class D shares have lower expenses.

PARTICIPATION IN MERRILL LYNCH FEE-BASED PROGRAMS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you participate in certain fee-based programs offered by Merrill Lynch, you
may be able to buy Class A shares at net asset value, including by exchanges
from other share classes. Sales charges on the shares being exchanged may be
reduced or waived under certain circumstances.

You generally cannot transfer shares held through a fee-based program into
another account. Instead, you will have to redeem your shares held through the
program and purchase shares of another class, which may be subject to
distribution and account maintenance fees. This may be a taxable event and you
will pay any applicable sales charges.

If you leave one of these programs, your shares may be redeemed or automatically
exchanged into another class of Fund shares or into a money market fund. The
class you receive may be the class you originally owned when you entered the
program, or in certain cases, a different class. If the exchange is into Class B
shares, the period before conversion to Class D shares may be modified. Any
redemption or exchange will be at net asset value. However, if you participate
in the program for less than a specified period, you may be charged a fee in
accordance with the terms of the program.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 31

<PAGE> 33

[YOUR ACCOUNT ICON] Your Account

DIVIDENDS -- ordinary income and capital gains paid to shareholders. Dividends
may be reinvested in additional Fund shares as they are paid.

"BUYING A DIVIDEND"

Unless your investment is in a tax deferred account, you may want to avoid
buying shares shortly before the Fund pays a dividend. The reason? If you buy
shares when a fund has realized but not yet distributed income or capital gains,
you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a portion of the
price back in the form of a taxable dividend. Before investing you may want
to consult your tax adviser.

Details about these features and the relevant charges are included in the client
agreement for each fee-based program and are available from your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant.

DIVIDENDS AND TAXES

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund will distribute any net investment income and any net realized long or
short term capital gains at least annually. The Fund may also pay a special
distribution at or about the end of the calendar year to comply with Federal tax
requirements. If your account is with Merrill Lynch and you would like to
receive DIVIDENDS in cash, contact your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant. If
your account is with the Transfer Agent and you would like to receive dividends
in cash, contact the Transfer Agent.

You will pay tax on dividends from the Fund whether you receive them in cash or
additional shares. If you redeem Fund shares or exchange them for shares of
another fund, any gain on the transaction may be subject to tax. The Fund
intends to make distributions that will either be taxed as ordinary income or
capital gains. Capital gain dividends are generally taxed at different rates
than ordinary income dividends.

If you are neither a lawful permanent resident nor a citizen of the U.S. or if
you are a foreign entity, the Fund's ordinary income dividends (which include
distributions of net short term capital gains) will generally be subject to a
30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies.

Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to withholding and
other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. You may be
able to claim a credit or take a deduction for foreign taxes paid by the Fund if
certain requirements are met.

By law, the Fund must withhold 31% of your dividends and proceeds if you have
not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number.

This section summarizes some of the consequences under current Federal tax law
of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice.
Consult your personal tax adviser about the potential tax consequences of an
investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.

32 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 34
Management of the Fund [MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ICON]

MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merrill Lynch Asset Management, the Fund's Manager, manages the Fund's
investments and its business operations under the overall supervision of the
Fund's Board of Directors. The Manager has the responsibility for making all
investment decisions for the Fund. The Manager has a sub-advisory agreement with
Merrill Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited, an affiliate, under which the
Manager may pay a fee for services it receives. The Fund has agreed to pay the
Manager a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the
Fund. The Manager agreed to voluntarily waive a portion of the fee so that the
Fund pays the Manager a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net
assets of the Fund for the first $2.5 billion; 0.70% of the average daily net
assets from $2.5 billion to $5.0 billion; 0.65% of the average daily net assets
from $5.0 billion to $7.5 billion; 0.625% of the average daily net assets from
$7.5 billion to $10 billion; and 0.60% of the average daily net assets above $10
billion. The Manager may discontinue or reduce this waiver of fees at any time
without notice. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Manager received
a fee equal to 0.66% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

Merrill Lynch Asset Management is part of Merrill Lynch Asset Management Group,
which had approximately $507 billion in investment company and other portfolio
assets under management as of January 1999. This amount includes assets managed
for Merrill Lynch affiliates.

A NOTE ABOUT YEAR 2000

Many computer systems were designed using only two digits to designate years.
These systems may not be able to distinguish the Year 2000 from the Year 1900
(commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem"). The Fund could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by the Fund's management or other Fund
service providers do not properly address this problem before January 1, 2000.
The Fund's management expects to have addressed this problem before then, and
does not anticipate that the services it provides will be adversely affected.
The Fund's other service providers have told the Fund management that they also
expect to resolve the Year 2000 Problem, and the Fund management will continue
to monitor the situation as the Year 2000 approaches. However, if the problem
has not been fully addressed, the Fund could be negatively affected. The Year
2000 Problem could also have a negative impact on the companies in which the
Fund invests, and this could hurt the Fund's investment returns.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 33

<PAGE> 35
[MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ICON] Management of the Fund

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects
financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate an investor would have earned on an investment in the Fund
(assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's
financial statements, are included in the Fund's annual report to shareholders,
which is available upon request.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A
-------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN -------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE: 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+ 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of year $15.92 $15.17 $14.21 $13.07 $13.52
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment
income -- net .67 .71 .78 .79 .60
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments and foreign
currency
transactions -- net (1.28) 1.57 1.59 1.04 (.31)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment
operations (.61) 2.28 2.37 1.83 .29
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less dividends and
distributions:
Investment
income -- net (.86) (.88) (.98) (.39) (.51)
Realized gain on
investments -- net (1.20) (.65) (.43) (.30) (.23)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total dividends and
distributions (2.06) (1.53) (1.41) (.69) (.74)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of
year $13.25 $15.92 $15.17 $14.21 $13.07
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN:*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on net asset
value per share (4.43)% 16.08% 17.81% 14.81% 2.14%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses, net of
reimbursement .84% .83% .86% .90% .89%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses .93% .91% .93% .90% .89%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment
income -- net 4.62% 4.64% 5.31% 5.98% 4.60%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of year
(in thousands) $1,513,999 $2,132,254 $1,841,974 $1,487,805 $1,357,906
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover 49.67% 55.42% 51.26% 36.78% 57.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>
CLASS B
-------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN -------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE: 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+ 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of year $15.65 $14.95 $14.01 $12.91 $13.38
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment
income -- net .52 .55 .62 .65 .46
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments and foreign
currency
transactions -- net (1.26) 1.52 1.59 1.01 (.31)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment
operations (.74) 2.07 2.21 1.66 .15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less dividends and
distributions:
Investment
income -- net (.70) (.72) (.84) (.26) (.39)
Realized gain on
investments -- net (1.20) (.65) (.43) (.30) (.23)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total dividends and
distributions (1.90) (1.37) (1.27) (.56) (.62)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of
year $13.01 $15.65 $14.95 $14.01 $12.91
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN:*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on net asset
value per share (5.37)% 14.82% 16.71% 13.54% 1.13%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses, net of
reimbursement 1.86% 1.85% 1.87% 1.93% 1.91%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 1.95% 1.93% 1.95% 1.93% 1.91%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment
income -- net 3.60% 3.62% 4.29% 4.96% 3.58%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of year
(in thousands) $6,743,780 $9,879,603 $8,660,279 $6,668,499 $6,457,130
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover 49.67% 55.42% 51.26% 36.78% 57.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<C> <S>
* Total investment returns exclude the effects of sales loads.
+ Based on average shares outstanding.
</TABLE>

34 MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 36

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (concluded)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, OCT. 21, 1994++
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN ------------------------------------------------- TO OCTOBER 31,
NET ASSET VALUE: 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+ 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $15.50 $14.83 $13.94 $12.91 $12.91
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income -- net .51 .54 .61 .64 .01
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency transactions --
net (1.24) 1.52 1.58 1.02 (.01)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations (.73) 2.06 2.19 1.66 --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less dividends and
distributions:
Investment income -- net (.71) (.74) (.87) (.33) --
Realized gain on
investments -- net (1.20) (.65) (.43) (.30) --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total dividends and
distributions (1.91) (1.39) (1.30) (.63) --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $12.86 $15.50 $14.83 $13.94 $12.91
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN:**
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on net asset value per
share (5.38)% 14.84% 16.68% 13.58% .00%#
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses, net of reimbursement 1.88% 1.86% 1.88% 1.95% 2.44%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 1.96% 1.94% 1.95% 1.95% 2.44%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income -- net 3.61% 3.60% 4.24% 4.80% 3.71%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period (in
thousands) $503,556 $671,467 $385,753 $102,361 $7,347
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover 49.67% 55.42% 51.26% 36.78% 57.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>
CLASS D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, OCT. 21, 1994++
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN ---------------------------------------------------- TO OCTOBER 31,
NET ASSET VALUE: 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+ 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $15.89 $15.15 $14.19 $13.08 $13.07
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income -- net .64 .68 .77 .77 .01
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency transactions --
net (1.28) 1.55 1.57 1.01 --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations (.64) 2.23 2.34 1.78 .01
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less dividends and
distributions:
Investment income -- net (.82) (.84) (.95) (.37) --
Realized gain on
investments -- net (1.20) (.65) (.43) (.30) --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total dividends and
distributions (2.02) (1.49) (1.38) (.67) --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $13.23 $15.89 $15.15 $14.19 $13.08
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN:**
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on net asset value per
share (4.63)% 15.76% 17.59% 14.43% .08%#
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses, net of reimbursement 1.10% 1.08% 1.10% 1.16% 1.69%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 1.18% 1.16% 1.18% 1.16% 1.69%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income -- net 4.40% 4.38% 5.04% 5.63% 4.46%*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period (in
thousands) $1,316,994 $1,479,711 $1,044,136 $256,525 $4,968
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover 49.67% 55.42% 51.26% 36.78% 57.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
* Annualized.
** Total investment returns exclude the effects of sales loads.
+ Based on average shares outstanding.
++ Commencement of operations.
# Aggregate total investment return.
</TABLE>

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC. 35
<PAGE> 37

(This page intentionally left blank)

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 38

[ML POTENTIAL INVESTORS CHART]

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
POTENTIAL
INVESTORS

Open an account (two options).
1 2
MERRILL LYNCH TRANSFER AGENT
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
OR SECURITIES DEALER FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
P.O. Box 45289
Advises shareholders on their Fund investments. Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5289

Performs recordkeeping and reporting services.

DISTRIBUTOR

MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR,
A DIVISION OF PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
P.O. Box 9081
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081

Arranges for the sale of Fund shares.

COUNSEL THE FUND CUSTODIAN

BROWN & WOOD LLP The Board of Directors BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
One World Trade Center oversees the Fund. 40 Water Street
New York, New York 10048-0557 Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Provides legal advice to the Fund.
Holds the Fund's assets for safekeeping.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS MANAGER

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
117 Campus Drive
Princeton, New Jersey 08540-6400 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
800 Scudders Mill Road
Audits the financial Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536
statements of the Fund on behalf of
the shareholders. MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 9011
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

TELEPHONE NUMBER
1-800-MER-FUND

Manages the Fund's day-to-day activities.
</TABLE>

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
<PAGE> 39

For More Information [FOR MORE INFORMATION ICON]

SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund's annual report you
will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. You
may obtain these reports at no cost by calling
1-800-MER-FUND.

The Fund will send you one copy of each shareholder report and certain other
mailings, regardless of the number of Fund accounts you have. To receive
separate shareholder reports for each account, call your Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant or write to the Transfer Agent at its mailing address. Include your
name, address, tax identification number and Merrill Lynch brokerage or mutual
fund account number. If you have any questions, please call your Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant or the Transfer Agent at 1-800-MER-FUND.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Fund's Statement of Additional Information contains further information
about the Fund and is incorporated by reference (legally considered to be part
of this prospectus). You may request a free copy by writing the Fund at
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45289, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5289
or by calling 1-800-MER-FUND.

Contact your Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant or the Fund at the telephone
number or address indicated on the inside back cover of this prospectus if you
have any questions.

Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information)
can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington,
D.C. Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the operation of the public
reference room. This information is also available on the SEC's Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov and copies may be obtained upon payment of a duplicating fee
by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.

YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. NO ONE IS
AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

Investment Company Act file #811-5576

Code #10810-03-99

PROSPECTUS

[MERRILL LYNCH LOGO]

Merrill Lynch
Global Allocation
Fund, Inc.

[MERRILL LYNCH ARTWORK]

March 1, 1999

<PAGE> 40

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND, INC.

P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011 - Phone No. (609) 282-2800

------------------------

Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a
non-diversified, open-end investment company that seeks high total investment
return through a fully-managed investment policy utilizing United States and
foreign equity, debt and money market securities, the combination of which will
be varied from time to time both with respect to types of securities and markets
in response to changing market and economic trends. Total investment return is
the aggregate of capital value changes and income. There can be no assurance
that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved. The Fund may employ a
variety of instruments and techniques to enhance income and to hedge against
market and currency risk. For more information on the Fund's investment
objectives and policies, see "Investment Objective and Policies."

Pursuant to the Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System, the Fund offers four
classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales charges, ongoing
fees and other features. The Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System permits an
investor to choose the method of purchasing shares that the investor believes is
most beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the
investor expects to hold the shares and other relevant circumstances. See
"Purchase of Shares."

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This Statement of Additional Information of the Fund is not a prospectus
and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Fund, dated March
1, 1999 (the "Prospectus"), which has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and can be obtained, without charge, by
calling (800) MER-FUND or by writing the Fund at the above address. The
Prospectus is incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional
Information, and this Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus. The Fund's audited financial statements are
incorporated in this Statement of Additional Information by reference to its
1998 annual report to shareholders. You may request a copy of the annual report
at no charge by calling 1 (800) 456-4587 ext. 789 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00
p.m. on any business day.

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MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT -- MANAGER
MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR -- DISTRIBUTOR

------------------------

The date of this Statement of Additional Information is March 1, 1999.

<PAGE> 41

TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C>
Investment Objective and Policies........................... 2
Equity Securities......................................... 3
Debt Securities........................................... 5
Convertible Securities.................................... 8
Money Market Securities................................... 9
Foreign Investment Risks.................................. 9
European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU").............. 10
Portfolio Strategies Involving Derivatives................ 11
Other Investment Policies, Practices and Risk Factors..... 17
Investment Restrictions................................... 20
Portfolio Turnover........................................ 22
Management of the Fund...................................... 22
Directors and Officers.................................... 22
Compensation of Directors................................. 23
Management and Advisory Arrangements...................... 24
Code of Ethics............................................ 26
Purchase of Shares.......................................... 26
Initial Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class A and Class D
Shares................................................. 27
Deferred Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class B and Class C
Shares................................................. 31
Distribution Plans........................................ 35
Limitations on the Payment of Deferred Sales Charges...... 36
Redemption of Shares........................................ 37
Redemption................................................ 38
Repurchase................................................ 38
Reinstatement Privilege -- Class A and Class D Shares..... 38
Pricing of Shares........................................... 39
Determination of Net Asset Value.......................... 39
Computation of Offering Price Per Share................... 40
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage........................ 40
Shareholder Services........................................ 42
Investment Account........................................ 42
Exchange Privilege........................................ 43
Fee-Based Programs........................................ 45
Retirement Plans.......................................... 45
Automatic Investment Plans................................ 45
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan...................... 46
Systematic Withdrawal Plan................................ 46
Dividends and Taxes......................................... 47
Dividends................................................. 47
Taxes..................................................... 47
Tax Treatment of Options, Futures and Forward Foreign
Exchange Transactions.................................. 49
Special Rules for Certain Foreign Currency Transactions... 50
Performance Data............................................ 51
General Information......................................... 53
Description of Shares..................................... 53
Independent Auditors...................................... 53
Custodian................................................. 53
Transfer Agent............................................ 53
Legal Counsel............................................. 53
Reports to Shareholders................................... 54
Shareholder Inquiries..................................... 54
Additional Information.................................... 54
Financial Statements........................................ 54
Appendix I -- Ratings of Fixed Income Securities............ I-1
</TABLE>

<PAGE> 42

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

Reference is made to "How the Fund Invests" and "Investment Risks" in the
Prospectus.

The Fund will invest in a portfolio of U.S. and foreign equity, debt and
money market securities. The composition of the portfolio among these securities
and markets will be varied from time to time by Merrill Lynch Asset Management,
L.P. ("MLAM" or the "Manager"), the Fund's manager, in response to changing
market and economic trends. This fully managed investment approach provides the
Fund with the opportunity to benefit from anticipated shifts in the relative
performance of different types of securities and different capital markets. For
example, at times the Fund may emphasize investments in equity securities in
anticipation of significant advances in stock markets and at times may emphasize
debt securities in anticipation of significant declines in interest rates.
Similarly, the Fund may emphasize foreign markets in its security selection when
such markets are expected to outperform, in U.S. dollar terms, the U.S. markets.
The Fund will seek to identify longer-term structural or cyclical changes in the
various economies and markets of the world which are expected to benefit certain
capital markets and certain securities in those markets to a greater extent than
other investment opportunities. The Fund may invest in individual securities,
baskets of securities or particular measurements of value or rate (an "index"),
such as an index of the price of treasury securities or an index representative
of short-term interest rates. The Fund may employ a variety of instruments and
techniques to enhance income and to hedge against market and currency risk.

In determining the allocation of assets among capital markets, the Manager
will consider, among other factors, the relative valuation, condition and growth
potential of the various economies, including current and anticipated changes in
the rates of economic growth, rates of inflation, corporate profits, capital
reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency, balance of payments, governmental
deficits or surpluses and other pertinent financial, social and political
factors which may affect such markets. In allocating among equity, debt and
money market securities within each market, the Manager also will consider the
relative opportunity for capital appreciation of equity and debt securities,
dividend yields and the level of interest rates paid on debt securities of
various maturities.

In selecting securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Manager will
consider, among other factors, the effect of movement in currency exchange rates
on the U.S. dollar value of such securities. An increase in the value of a
currency will increase the total return to the Fund of securities denominated in
such currency. Conversely, a decline in the value of the currency will reduce
the total return. The Manager may seek to hedge all or a portion of the Fund's
foreign securities through the use of forward foreign currency contracts,
currency options, futures contracts and options thereon. See "Portfolio
Strategies Involving Derivatives" below.

While there are no prescribed limits on the geographical allocation of the
Fund's assets, the Manager anticipates that it will invest primarily in the
securities of corporate and governmental issuers domiciled or located in North
and South America, Western Europe and the Far East. In addition, the Manager
anticipates that a portion of the Fund's assets normally will be invested in the
U.S. securities markets and the other major capital markets. Under normal
conditions, the Fund's investments will be denominated in at least three
currencies or multinational currency units. However, the Fund reserves the right
to invest substantially all of its assets in U.S. markets or U.S.
dollar-denominated obligations when the Manager believes market conditions
warrant such investment.

The U.S. Government has from time to time in the past imposed restrictions,
through taxation and otherwise, on foreign investments by U.S. investors such as
the Fund. If such restrictions should be reinstituted, it might become necessary
for the Fund to invest all or substantially all of its assets in U.S.
securities. In such event, the Fund would review its investment objective and
investment policies to determine whether changes are appropriate. Any changes in
the investment objective or fundamental policies set forth under "Investment
Restrictions" below would require the approval of the holders of a majority of
the Fund's outstanding voting securities, as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act").

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<PAGE> 43

Similarly, there are no prescribed limits on the allocation of the Fund's
assets among equity, debt and money market securities. Therefore, at any given
time, the Fund's assets may be primarily invested in equity, debt or money
market securities or in any combination thereof. However, the Manager
anticipates that the Fund's portfolio generally will include both equity and
debt securities.

EQUITY SECURITIES

Within the portion of the Fund's portfolio allocated to equity securities,
the Manager will seek to identify the securities of companies and industry
sectors that are expected to provide high total return relative to alternative
equity investments. The Fund generally will seek to invest in securities the
Manager believes to be undervalued. Undervalued issues include securities
selling at a discount from the price-to-book value ratios and price/earnings
ratios computed with respect to the relevant stock market averages. The Fund may
also consider as undervalued securities selling at a discount from their
historic price-to-book value or price/earnings ratios, even though these ratios
may be above the ratios for the stock market averages. Securities offering
dividend yields higher than the yields for the relevant stock market averages or
higher than such securities' historic yield may also be considered to be
undervalued. The Fund may also invest in the securities of small and emerging
growth companies when such companies are expected to provide a higher total
return than other equity investments. Such companies are characterized by rapid
historical growth rates, above-average returns on equity or special investment
value in terms of their products or services, research capabilities or other
unique attributes. The Manager will seek to identify small and emerging growth
companies that possess superior management, marketing ability, research and
product development skills and sound balance sheets.

There may be periods when market and economic conditions exist that favor
certain types of tangible assets as compared to other types of investments. For
example, the value of precious metals can be expected to benefit from such
factors as rising inflationary pressures or other economic, political or
financial uncertainty or instability. Real estate values, which are influenced
by a variety of economic, financial and local factors, tend to be cyclical in
nature. During periods when the Manager believes that conditions favor a
particular real asset as compared to other investment opportunities, the Fund
may emphasize investments related to that asset, such as investments in precious
metal-related securities or real estate-related securities as described below.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in any particular industry
sector.

Securities of Smaller or Emerging Growth Companies. The securities of
smaller or emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic
market movements than larger, more established companies or the market average
in general. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial
resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. While such
issuers may offer greater opportunities for capital appreciation than large cap
issuers, investments in smaller or emerging growth companies may involve greater
risks and thus may be considered speculative. Management believes that properly
selected companies of this type have the potential to increase their earnings or
market valuation at a rate substantially in excess of the general growth of the
economy. However, full development of these companies and trends frequently
takes time.

The securities of smaller or emerging growth companies will often be traded
only in the over-the-counter ("OTC") market or on a regional securities exchange
and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a
national securities exchange. As a result, the disposition by the Fund of
portfolio securities to meet redemptions or otherwise may require the Fund to
sell these securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when in
management's judgment such disposition is not desirable or to make many small
sales over a lengthy period of time.

While the process of selection and continuous supervision by management
does not, of course, guarantee successful investment results, it does provide
access to an asset class not available to the average individual due to the time
and cost involved. Careful initial selection is particularly important in this
area as many new enterprises have promise but lack certain of the fundamental
factors necessary to prosper. Investing in small and emerging growth companies
requires specialized research and analysis. In addition, many investors cannot
invest sufficient assets in such companies to provide wide diversification.

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<PAGE> 44

Small companies are generally little known to most individual investors
although some may be dominant in their respective industries. Management of the
Fund believes that relatively small companies will continue to have the
opportunity to develop into significant business enterprises. The Fund may
invest in securities of small issuers in the relatively early stages of business
development which have a new technology, a unique or proprietary product or
service, or a favorable market position. Such companies may not be counted upon
to develop into major industrial companies, but management believes that
eventual recognition of their special value characteristics by the investment
community can provide above-average long-term growth to the portfolio.

Equity securities of specific small cap issuers may present different
opportunities for long-term capital appreciation during varying portions of
economic or securities markets cycles, as well as during varying stages of their
business development. The market valuation of small cap issuers tends to
fluctuate significantly during economic or market cycles, presenting attractive
investment opportunities at various points during these cycles.

Smaller companies, due to the size and kinds of markets that they serve,
may be less susceptible than large companies to intervention from the federal
government by means of price controls, regulations or litigation.

Precious Metal-Related Securities. The Fund may invest in the equity
securities of companies that explore for, extract, process or deal in precious
metals, i.e., gold, silver and platinum, and in asset-based securities indexed
to the value of such metals. Such securities may be purchased when they are
believed to be attractively priced in relation to the value of a company's
precious metal-related assets or when the values of precious metals are expected
to benefit from inflationary pressure or other economic, political or financial
uncertainty or instability. Based on historical experience, during periods of
economic or financial instability the securities of such companies may be
subject to extreme price fluctuations, reflecting the high volatility of
precious metal prices during such periods. In addition, the instability of
precious metal prices may result in volatile earnings of precious metal-related
companies which, in turn, may affect adversely the financial condition of such
companies.

The major producers of gold include the Republic of South Africa, Russia,
Canada, the United States, Brazil and Australia. Sales of gold by Russia are
largely unpredictable and often relate to political and economic considerations
rather than to market forces. Economic, social and political developments within
South Africa may significantly affect South African gold production.

The Fund may also invest in debt securities, preferred stock or convertible
securities, the principal amount, redemption terms or conversion terms of which
are related to the market price of some precious metals such as gold bullion.
These securities are referred to herein as "asset-based securities." The Fund
will purchase only asset-based securities which are rated, or are issued by
issuers that have outstanding debt obligations rated, BBB or better by Standard
& Poor's ("Standard & Poor's") or Baa or better by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") or commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's or Prime-1
by Moody's or of issuers that the Manager has determined to be of similar
creditworthiness. If the asset-based security is backed by a bank letter of
credit or other similar facility, the Manager may take such backing into account
in determining the creditworthiness of the issuer. While the market prices for
an asset-based security and the related natural resource asset generally are
expected to move in the same direction, there may not be perfect correlation in
the two price movements. Asset-based securities may not be secured by a security
interest in or claim on the underlying natural resource asset. The asset-based
securities in which the Fund may invest may bear interest or pay preferred
dividends at below market (or even at relatively nominal) rates. As an example,
assume gold is selling at a market price of $300 per ounce and an issuer sells a
$1,000 face amount gold-related note with a seven year maturity, payable at
maturity at the greater of either $1,000 in cash or the then market price of
three ounces of gold. If at maturity, the market price of gold is $400 per
ounce, the amount payable on the note would be $1,200. Certain asset-based
securities may be payable at maturity in cash at the stated principal amount or,
at the option of the holder, directly in a stated amount of the asset to which
it is related. In such instance, because the Fund presently does not intend to
invest directly in natural resource assets, the Fund would sell the asset-based
security in the secondary market, to the extent

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<PAGE> 45

one exists, prior to maturity if the value of the stated amount of the asset
exceeds the stated principal amount and thereby realize the appreciation in the
underlying asset.

Real Estate-Related Securities. Although the Fund may invest in companies
that hold real estate assets, the real estate-related securities that will be
emphasized are equity and convertible debt securities of real estate investment
trusts ("REITs"), which own income-producing properties, and mortgage REITs that
make various types of mortgage loans often combined with equity features. The
securities of such trusts generally pay above average dividends and may offer
the potential for capital appreciation. Such securities may be subject to the
risks customarily associated with the real estate industry, including declines
in the value of the real estate investments of the trusts. Real estate values
are affected by numerous factors, including (i) governmental regulation (such as
zoning and environmental laws) and changes in tax laws; (ii) operating costs;
(iii) the location and the attractiveness of the properties; (iv) changes in
economic conditions (such as fluctuations in interest and inflation rates and
business conditions); and (v) supply and demand for improved real estate.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks
associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs
may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the
REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit
extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified
geographically or by property type, and are subject to heavy cash flow
dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs must also meet
certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), in order to avoid entity level tax and be able to pass through certain
favorable tax characteristics of their investments to shareholders. REITs are
consequently subject to the risk of failing to meet these requirements for
favorable tax treatment and failing to maintain their exemptions from
registration under the Investment Company Act. REITs are also subject to changes
in the Code, including changes involving their tax status.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks.
When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT's investment in fixed rate
obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the
value of a REIT's investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to
decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are
reset periodically, yields on a REIT's investments in such loans will gradually
align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value
of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate
fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

Investing in REITs involves risks similar to those associated with
investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial
resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume and may be subject to
more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.
Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more
volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the Standard
& Poor's Composite 500 Index. The management of a REIT may be subject to
conflicts of interest with respect to the operation of the business of the REIT
and may be involved in real estate activities competitive with the REIT. REITs
may own properties through joint ventures or in other circumstances in which the
REIT may not have control over its investments. REITs may incur significant
amounts of leverage.

Warrants. Buying a warrant does not make the Fund a shareholder of the
underlying stock. The warrant holder has no right to dividends or votes on the
underlying stock. A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer,
and for this reason investments in warrants may be more speculative than other
equity-based investments.

DEBT SECURITIES

The net asset value of the Fund's shares, to the extent the Fund invests in
fixed income securities, will be affected by changes in the general level of
interest rates. When interest rates decline, the value of a portfolio of fixed
income securities can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise,
the value of a portfolio of fixed income securities can be expected to decline.

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<PAGE> 46

The debt securities in which the Fund may invest include securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, by
foreign governments (including foreign states, provinces and municipalities) and
agencies or instrumentalities thereof and debt obligations issued by U.S. and
foreign entities. Such securities may include mortgage-backed securities issued
or guaranteed by governmental entities or by private issuers. In addition, the
Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by international
organizations designed or supported by multiple governmental entities (which are
not obligations of the U.S. Government or foreign governments) to promote
economic reconstruction or development ("supranational entities"), such as the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "World Bank").

U.S. Government securities include: (i) U.S. Treasury obligations (bills,
notes and bonds), which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of
issuance, all of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States; and (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or
instrumentalities, including government guaranteed mortgage-related securities,
some of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury
(e.g., direct pass-through certificates of the Government National Mortgage
Association), some of which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow
from the U.S. Government (e.g., obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks) and some
of which are backed only by the credit of the issuer itself (e.g., obligations
of the Student Loan Marketing Association).

The obligations of foreign governmental entities have various kinds of
government support and include obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign
governmental entities with taxing power. These obligations may or may not be
supported by the full faith and credit of a foreign government. The Fund will
invest in foreign government securities of issuers considered stable by the
Manager. The Manager does not believe that the credit risk inherent in the
obligations of stable foreign governments is significantly greater than that of
U.S. Government securities.

The Fund has not established any rating criteria for the fixed income
securities in which it may invest. The Fund is authorized to invest in debt
securities of governmental issuers and of corporate issuers, including
convertible debt securities, rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor's or Baa or
better by Moody's or which, in the Manager's judgment, possess similar credit
characteristics ("investment grade bonds"). Debt securities ranked in the fourth
highest rating category, while considered "investment grade," have more
speculative characteristics and are more likely to be downgraded than securities
rated in the three highest rating categories. The Manager considers the ratings
assigned by Standard & Poor's and Moody's as one of several factors in its
independent credit analysis of issuers.

The average maturity of the Fund's portfolio of debt securities will vary
based on the Manager's assessment of pertinent economic market conditions. As
with all debt securities, changes in market yields will affect the value of such
securities. Prices generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease
when interest rates rise. Prices of longer term securities generally fluctuate
more in response to interest rate changes than do shorter term securities.

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities are "pass-through"
securities, meaning that principal and interest payments made by the borrower on
the underlying mortgages are passed through to the Fund. The value of
mortgage-backed securities, like that of traditional fixed-income securities,
typically increases when interest rates fall and decreases when interest rates
rise. However, mortgage-backed securities differ from traditional fixed-income
securities because of their potential for prepayment without penalty. The price
paid by the Fund for its mortgage-backed securities, the yield the Fund expects
to receive from such securities and the average life of the securities are based
on a number of factors, including the anticipated rate of prepayment of the
underlying mortgages. In a period of declining interest rates, borrowers may
prepay the underlying mortgages more quickly than anticipated, thereby reducing
the yield to maturity and the average life of the mortgage-backed securities.
Moreover, when the Fund reinvests the proceeds of a prepayment in these
circumstances, it will likely receive a rate of interest that is lower than the
rate on the security that was prepaid.

To the extent that the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a
premium, mortgage foreclosures and principal prepayments may result in a loss to
the extent of the premium paid. If the Fund buys such

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<PAGE> 47

securities at a discount, both scheduled payments of principal and unscheduled
prepayments will increase current and total returns and will accelerate the
recognition of income which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable
as ordinary income. In a period of rising interest rates, prepayments of the
underlying mortgages may occur at a slower than expected rate, creating maturity
extension risk. This particular risk may effectively change a security that was
considered short- or intermediate-term at the time of purchase into a long-term
security. Since long-term securities generally fluctuate more widely in response
to changes in interest rates than do short-term securities, maturity extension
risk could increase the inherent volatility of the Fund.

High Yield/High Risk Securities (Junk Bonds). Investments in high
yield/high risk securities will be made only when, in the judgment of the
Manager, such securities provide attractive total return potential, relative to
the risk of such securities, as compared to higher quality debt securities.
Securities rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor's or Ba or lower by Moody's are
considered by those rating agencies to have varying degrees of speculative
characteristics. The Fund's Board of Directors has adopted a policy that the
Fund will not invest more than 35% of its assets in obligations rated below Baa
or BBB by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, respectively. The Fund will not invest
in debt securities in the lowest rating categories (CC or lower for Standard &
Poor's or Ca or lower for Moody's) unless the Manager believes that the
financial condition of the issuer or the protection afforded the particular
securities is stronger than would otherwise be indicated by such low ratings.
Although the Fund may invest in preferred stock rated below investment grade, an
investment in an equity security such as preferred stock is not subject to the
above noted percentage restriction applicable to the Fund's investments in
non-investment grade debt securities.

Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than investment
grade bonds, they are high-risk investments that may cause income and principal
losses for the Fund. The major risks in junk bond investments include:

Junk bonds may be issued by less creditworthy companies. These securities
are vulnerable to adverse changes in the issuer's industry and to general
economic conditions. Issuers of junk bonds may be unable to meet their interest
or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific
issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing.

The issuers of junk bonds may have a larger amount of outstanding debt
relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade bonds. If the issuer
experiences financial stress, it may be unable to meet its debt obligations. The
issuer's ability to pay its debt obligations also may be lessened by specific
issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing.

Junk bonds are frequently ranked junior to claims of other creditors. If
the issuer cannot meet its obligations, the senior obligations are generally
paid off before the junior obligations.

Junk bonds frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to
repurchase the security from the Fund before it matures. If the issuer redeems
the junk bonds the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in bonds with lower
yields and may lose income.

Prices of junk bonds are subject to extreme price fluctuations. Negative
economic developments may have a greater impact on the prices of junk bonds than
on other higher rated fixed income securities.

Junk bonds may be less liquid than higher rated fixed income securities
even under normal economic conditions. There are fewer dealers in the junk bond
market, and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted for junk
bonds by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater
role in valuing certain of the Fund's portfolio securities than would be the
case with securities trading in a more liquid market.

The Fund may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon
default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer.

Within the 35% limitation with respect to investment in high yield/high
risk securities, the Fund may purchase in the secondary market senior
collateralized loans and senior unsecured loans made by banks or other financial
institutions (the "Corporate Loans"). The Corporate Loans in which the Fund
invests

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<PAGE> 48

primarily consist of direct obligations of U.S. or non-U.S. corporations
undertaken to finance the growth of that corporation's business or to finance a
capital restructuring. The Fund may invest in a Corporate Loan by, among other
means, acquiring participations in, assignments of or novations of a Corporate
Loan in the secondary market. Certain of the Corporate Loans in which the Fund
may invest may be the subject of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise in default
as to the repayment of principal and/or payment of interest at the time of
acquisition by the Fund.

Distressed Securities. Within the 35% investment limitation described
above, the Fund may invest in securities, including Corporate Loans purchased in
the secondary market, which are the subject of bankruptcy proceedings or
otherwise in default as to the repayment of principal and/or interest at the
time of acquisition by the Fund or are rated in the lower rating categories (Ca
or lower by Moody's and CC or lower by Standard & Poor's) or which, if unrated,
are in the judgment of the Manager of equivalent quality ("Distressed
Securities"). Investment in Distressed Securities is speculative and involves
significant risks.

The Fund will generally make such investments only when the Manager
believes it is reasonably likely that the issuer of the Distressed Securities
will make an exchange offer or will be the subject of a plan of reorganization
pursuant to which the Fund will receive new securities. However, there can be no
assurance that such an exchange offer will be made or that such a plan of
reorganization will be adopted. In addition, a significant period of time may
pass between the time at which the Fund makes its investment in Distressed
Securities and the time that any such exchange offer or plan of reorganization
is completed. During this period, it is unlikely that the Fund will receive any
interest payments on the Distressed Securities, the Fund will be subject to
significant uncertainty as to whether or not the exchange offer or plan of
reorganization will be completed and the Fund may be required to bear certain
extraordinary expenses to protect and recover its investment. Even if an
exchange offer is made or plan of reorganization is adopted with respect to
Distressed Securities held by the Fund, there can be no assurance that the
securities or other assets received by the Fund in connection with such exchange
offer or plan of reorganization will not have a lower value or income potential
than may have been anticipated when the investment was made. Moreover, any
securities received by the Fund upon completion of an exchange offer or plan of
reorganization may be restricted as to resale. As a result of the Fund's
participation in negotiations with respect to any exchange offer or plan of
reorganization with respect to an issuer of Distressed Securities, the Fund may
be restricted from disposing of such securities. The Fund generally will not
invest more than 5% of its total assets in Distressed Securities.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest paid on
corporate debt securities or the dividend preference on a preferred stock until
such time as the convertible security matures or is redeemed or until the holder
elects to exercise the conversion privilege.

The characteristics of convertible securities make them appropriate
investments for an investment company seeking high total return from capital
appreciation and investment income. These characteristics include the potential
for capital appreciation as the value of the underlying common stock increases,
the relatively high yield received from dividend or interest payments as
compared to common stock dividends and decreased risks of decline in value
relative to the underlying common stock due to their fixed income nature. As a
result of the conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend
preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if
the securities were issued in nonconvertible form.

In analyzing convertible securities, the Manager will consider both the
yield on the convertible security and the potential capital appreciation that is
offered by the underlying common stock.

Convertible securities are issued and traded in a number of securities
markets. For the past several years, the principal markets have been the United
States, the Euromarket and Japan. Issuers during this period have included major
corporations domiciled in the United States, Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada
and the United Kingdom. Even in cases where a substantial portion of the
convertible securities held by the Fund are denominated in United States
dollars, the underlying equity securities may be quoted in the currency of the
country where the issuer is domiciled. With respect to convertible securities
denominated in a currency different from that of the underlying equity
securities, the conversion price may be based on a fixed exchange

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<PAGE> 49

rate established at the time the security is issued. As a result, fluctuations
in the exchange rate between the currency in which the debt security is
denominated and the currency in which the share price is quoted will affect the
value of the convertible security. As described below, the Fund is authorized to
enter into foreign currency hedging transactions in which it may seek to reduce
the effect of such fluctuations.

Apart from currency considerations, the value of convertible securities is
influenced by both the yield of nonconvertible securities of comparable issuers
and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible
security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the
basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its "investment value." To the
extent interest rates change, the investment value of the convertible security
typically will fluctuate. However, at the same time, the value of the
convertible security will be influenced by its "conversion value," which is the
market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained if the
convertible security were converted. Conversion value fluctuates directly with
the price of the underlying common stock. If, because of a low price of the
common stock the conversion value is substantially below the investment value of
the convertible security, the price of the convertible security will be governed
principally by its investment value.

To the extent the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a
point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the price of the
convertible security will be influenced principally by its conversion value. A
convertible security will sell at a premium over the conversion value to the
extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock
while holding a fixed income security. The yield and conversion premium of
convertible securities issued in Japan and the Euromarket are frequently
determined at levels that cause the conversion value to affect their market
value more than the securities' investment value.

Holders of convertible securities generally have a claim on the assets of
the issuer prior to the common stockholders but may be subordinated to other
debt securities of the same issuer. A convertible security may be subject to
redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the charter
provision, indenture or other governing instrument pursuant to which the
convertible security was issued. If a convertible security held by the Fund is
called for redemption, the Fund will be required to redeem the security, convert
it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Certain
convertible debt securities may provide a put option to the holder which
entitles the holder to cause the security to be redeemed by the issuer at a
premium over the stated principal amount of the debt security under certain
circumstances.

MONEY MARKET SECURITIES

Money market securities in which the Fund may invest consist of short-term
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies and
instrumentalities; commercial paper, including variable amount master demand
notes, rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's or "Prime" by Moody's; and
repurchase agreements, purchase and sale contracts, and money market instruments
issued by commercial banks, domestic savings banks, and savings and loan
associations with total assets of at least $1 billion. The obligations of
commercial banks may be issued by U.S. banks, foreign branches of U.S. banks
("Eurodollar" obligations) or U.S. branches of foreign banks ("Yankeedollar"
obligations).

FOREIGN INVESTMENT RISKS

As a global fund, the Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign securities.
Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated in
foreign currencies involve risks not typically involved in domestic investment,
including, but not limited to, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, future
foreign political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of
exchange controls or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions
applicable to such investments. Since the Fund may invest in securities
denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in
foreign currency exchange rates may affect the value of investments in the
portfolio and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments insofar
as U.S. investors are concerned. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates
relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's
assets denominated in those currencies and the Fund's yield on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and demand on
the foreign exchange

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<PAGE> 50

markets. These forces are, in turn, affected by the international balance of
payments and other economic and financial conditions, government intervention,
speculation and other factors. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of
gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources,
self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of
expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability
or diplomatic developments that could affect investment in those countries.
There may be less publicly available information about a foreign financial
instrument than about a U.S. instrument, and foreign entities may not be subject
to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements
comparable to those to which U.S. entities are subject. In addition, certain
foreign investments may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. Investors may
be able to deduct such taxes in computing their taxable income or to use such
amounts as credits against their U.S. income taxes if certain requirements are
met. See "Taxes." Foreign financial markets, while generally growing in volume,
typically have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, and securities of
many foreign companies are less liquid and their prices more volatile than
securities of comparable domestic companies. Foreign markets also have different
clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have been times
when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities
transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays or other
problems in settlement could result in temporary periods when assets of the Fund
are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to
make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund
to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio
securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund
due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio security or, if the Fund
has entered into a contract to sell the security, in possible liability to the
purchaser. Brokerage commissions and costs associated with transactions in
foreign securities are generally higher than with transactions in U.S.
securities. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of
exchanges, financial institutions and issuers in foreign countries than there is
in the United States. For example, there may be no provisions under certain
foreign laws comparable to insider trading and similar investor protection
provisions of the securities laws that apply with respect to securities
transactions consummated in the United States.

The operating expense ratio of the Fund can be expected to be higher than
that of an investment company investing exclusively in U.S. securities because
the expenses of the Fund, such as custodial costs, are higher.

The Fund's ability and decisions to purchase or sell portfolio securities
may be affected by laws or regulations relating to the convertibility and
repatriation of assets. Because the shares of the Fund are redeemable on a daily
basis on each day the Fund determines its net asset value in U.S. dollars, the
Fund intends to manage its portfolio so as to give reasonable assurance that it
will be able to obtain U.S. dollars to the extent necessary to meet anticipated
redemptions. See "Redemption of Shares." Under present conditions, the Manager
does not believe that these considerations will have any significant effect on
its portfolio strategy, although there can be no assurance in this regard.

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION ("EMU")

For a number of years, certain European countries have been seeking
economic unification that would, among other things, reduce barriers between
countries, increase competition among companies, reduce government subsidies in
certain industries and reduce or eliminate currency fluctuations among these
European countries. The Treaty on European Union (the "Maastricht Treaty") sets
out a framework for the European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU") among the
countries that comprise the European Union ("EU"). EMU established a single
common European currency (the "euro") that was introduced on January 1, 1999 and
is expected to replace the existing national currencies of all EMU participants
by July 1, 2002. EMU took effect for the initial EMU participants on January 1,
1999. Certain securities issued in participating EU countries (beginning with
government and corporate bonds) were redenominated in the euro, and are listed,
traded, and make dividend and other payments only in euros.

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<PAGE> 51

No assurance can be given that EMU will take effect, that all the changes
planned for the EU can be successfully implemented or that these changes will
result in the economic and monetary unity and stability intended. There is a
possibility that EMU will not be completed, or will be completed but then
partially or completely unwound. Because any participating country may opt out
of EMU within the first three years, it is also possible that a significant
participant could choose to abandon EMU, which could diminish its credibility
and influence. Any of these occurrences could have adverse effects on the
markets of both participating and non-participating countries, including sharp
appreciation or depreciation of the participants' national currencies and a
significant increase in exchange rate volatility, a resurgence in economic
protectionism, an undermining of confidence in the European markets, an
undermining of European economic stability, the collapse or slowdown of the
drive toward European economic unity and/or reversion of the attempts to lower
government debt and inflation rates that were introduced in anticipation of EMU.
Also, withdrawal from EMU by an initial participant could cause disruption of
the financial markets as securities redenominated in euros are transferred back
into that country's national currency, particularly if the withdrawing country
is a major economic power. Such developments could have an adverse impact on the
Fund's investments in Europe generally or in specific countries participating in
EMU. Gains or losses from euro conversion may be taxable to Fund shareholders
under foreign or, in certain limited circumstances, U.S. tax laws. In addition,
computer, accounting, and trading systems must be capable of recognizing the
euro as a distinct currency. If not properly addressed, this may negatively
affect the operations of the companies in which the Fund invests.

PORTFOLIO STRATEGIES INVOLVING DERIVATIVES

The Fund may engage in various portfolio strategies involving derivatives
to seek to increase its return through the use of options on portfolio
securities and to hedge its portfolio against adverse effects from movements in
interest rates or in the equity, debt and currency markets. Derivatives are
financial instruments the value of which is derived from another security, a
commodity (such as gold or oil) or an index (a measure of value or rates, such
as the Standard & Poor's Composite 500 Index or the prime lending rate).
Derivatives allow the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which
the Fund is exposed more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other
types of instruments.

The Fund has authority to write (i.e., sell) covered put and call options
on its portfolio securities, purchase put and call options on securities and
engage in transactions in stock index options, stock index futures and stock
futures and financial futures, and related options on such futures. The Fund may
also deal in forward foreign exchange transactions and foreign currency options
and futures, and related options on such futures. Each of these portfolio
strategies is described below. Although certain risks are involved in options
and futures transactions (as discussed in the Prospectus and below), the Manager
believes that, because the Fund will (i) write only covered options on portfolio
securities either owned by the Fund or which the Fund will receive upon
immediate conversion or exchange of securities owned by the Fund and (ii) engage
in other options and futures transactions for hedging purposes, the options and
futures portfolio strategies of the Fund will not subject the Fund to the risks
frequently associated with the speculative use of options and futures
transactions.

The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes. Hedging is a strategy in
which a derivative is used to offset the risk that other Fund holdings may
decrease in value. Losses on the other investment may be substantially reduced
by gains on a derivative that reacts in an opposite manner to market movements.
While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains if the
market moves in a different manner than anticipated by the Fund or if the cost
of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the
risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the
holdings being hedged as expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the
holdings being hedged may not be reduced.

There can be no assurance that the Fund's hedging transactions will be
effective. Furthermore, the Fund will only engage in hedging activities from
time to time and may not necessarily be engaging in hedging activities when
movements in interest rates or in the equity, debt and currency markets occur.

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<PAGE> 52

The Fund may use the following types of derivative instruments and trading
strategies:

Indexed and Inverse Securities

The Fund may invest in securities the potential return of which is based on
an index. As an illustration, the Fund may invest in a debt security that pays
interest based on the current value of an interest rate index, such as the prime
rate. The Fund may also invest in a debt security which returns principal at
maturity based on the level of a securities index or a basket of securities, or
based on the relative changes of two indices. In addition, the Fund may invest
in securities the potential return of which is based inversely on the change in
an index (that is, a security the value of which will move in the opposite
direction of changes to an index). For example, the Fund may invest in
securities that pay a higher rate of interest when a particular index decreases
and pay a lower rate of interest (or do not fully return principal) when the
value of the index increases. If the Fund invests in such securities, it may be
subject to reduced or eliminated interest payments or loss of principal in the
event of an adverse movement in the relevant index or indices. Indexed and
inverse securities involve credit risk, and certain indexed and inverse
securities may involve leverage risk, liquidity risk and currency risk. The Fund
believes that indexed and inverse securities represent flexible portfolio
management instruments that may allow the Fund to seek potential investment
rewards, hedge other portfolio positions, or vary the degree of portfolio
leverage relatively efficiently under different market conditions. When used for
hedging purposes, indexed and inverse securities involve correlation risk.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices

Purchasing Put Options. The Fund may purchase put options on securities
held in its portfolio or securities or interest rate indices which are
correlated with securities held in its portfolio. When the Fund purchases a put
option, in consideration for an up front payment (the "option premium") the Fund
acquires a right to sell to another party specified securities owned by the Fund
at a specified price (the "exercise price") on or before a specified date (the
"expiration date"), in the case of an option on securities, or to receive from
another party a payment based on the amount a specified securities index
declines below a specified level on or before the expiration date, in the case
of an option on a securities index. The purchase of a put option limits the
Fund's risk of loss in the event of a decline in the market value of the
portfolio holdings underlying the put option prior to the option's expiration
date. If the market value of the portfolio holdings associated with the put
option increases rather than decreases, however, the Fund will lose the option
premium and will consequently realize a lower return on the portfolio holdings
than would have been realized without the purchase of the put. Purchasing a put
option may involve correlation risk, and may also involve liquidity and credit
risk.

Purchasing Call Options. The Fund may also purchase call options on
securities it intends to purchase or securities or interest rate indices, which
are correlated with the types of securities it intends to purchase. When the
Fund purchases a call option, in consideration for the option premium the Fund
acquires a right to purchase from another party specified securities at the
exercise price on or before the expiration date, in the case of an option on
securities, or to receive from another party a payment based on the amount a
specified securities index increases beyond a specified level on or before the
expiration date, in the case of an option on a securities index. The purchase of
a call option may protect the Fund from having to pay more for a security as a
consequence of increases in the market value for the security during a period
when the Fund is contemplating its purchase, in the case of an option on a
security, or attempting to identify specific securities in which to invest in a
market the Fund believes to be attractive, in the case of an option on an index
(an "anticipatory hedge"). In the event the Fund determines not to purchase a
security underlying a call option, however, the Fund may lose the entire option
premium. Purchasing a call option involves correlation risk, and may also
involve liquidity and credit risk.

The Fund will not purchase options on securities (including stock index
options) if, as a result of such purchase, the aggregate cost (premiums paid) of
all outstanding options on securities held by the Fund would exceed 5% of the
market value of the Fund's total assets.

Writing Call Options. The Fund may write (i.e., sell) call options on
securities held in its portfolio or securities indices the performance of which
correlates with securities held in its portfolio. When the Fund

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<PAGE> 53

writes a call option, in return for an option premium, the Fund gives another
party the right to buy specified securities owned by the Fund at the exercise
price on or before the expiration date, in the case of an option on securities,
or agrees to pay to another party an amount based on any gain in a specified
securities index beyond a specified level on or before the expiration date, in
the case of an option on a securities index. The Fund may write call options to
earn income, through the receipt of option premiums. In the event the party to
which the Fund has written an option fails to exercise its rights under the
option because the value of the underlying securities is less than the exercise
price, the Fund will partially offset any decline in the value of the underlying
securities through the receipt of the option premium. By writing a call option,
however, the Fund limits its ability to sell the underlying securities, and
gives up the opportunity to profit from any increase in the value of the
underlying securities beyond the exercise price, while the option remains
outstanding. Writing a call option may involve correlation risk.

Writing Put Options. The Fund may also write put options on securities or
securities indices. When the Fund writes a put option, in return for an option
premium the Fund gives another party the right to sell to the Fund a specified
security at the exercise price on or before the expiration date, in the case of
an option on a security, or agrees to pay to another party an amount based on
any decline in a specified securities index below a specified level on or before
the expiration date, in the case of an option on a securities index. The Fund
may write put options to earn income, through the receipt of option premiums. In
the event the party to which the Fund has written an option fails to exercise
its rights under the option because the value of the underlying securities is
greater than the exercise price, the Fund will profit by the amount of the
option premium. By writing a put option, however, the Fund will be obligated to
purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than the market
value of the security at the time of exercise as long as the put option is
outstanding, in the case of an option on a security, or make a cash payment
reflecting any decline in the index, in the case of an option on an index.
Accordingly, when the Fund writes a put option it is exposed to a risk of loss
in the event the value of the underlying securities falls below the exercise
price, which loss potentially may substantially exceed the amount of option
premium received by the Fund for writing the put option. The Fund will write a
put option on a security or a securities index only if the Fund would be willing
to purchase the security at the exercise price for investment purposes (in the
case of an option on a security) or is writing the put in connection with
trading strategies involving combinations of options -- for example, the sale
and purchase of options with identical expiration dates on the same security or
index but different exercise prices (a technique called a "spread"). Writing a
put option may involve substantial leverage risk.

The Fund is also authorized to sell call or put options in connection with
closing out call or put options it has previously purchased.

Other than with respect to closing transactions, the Fund will only write
call or put options that are "covered." A call or put option will be considered
covered if the Fund has segregated assets with respect to such option in the
manner described in "Risk Factors in Derivatives." A call option will also be
considered covered if the Fund owns the securities it would be required to
deliver upon exercise of the option (or, in the case of an option on a
securities index, securities which substantially correlate with the performance
of such index) or owns a call option, warrant or convertible instrument which is
immediately exercisable for, or convertible into, such security.

Types of Options. The Fund may engage in transactions in options on
securities or securities indices on exchanges and in the OTC markets. In
general, exchange-traded options have standardized exercise prices and
expiration dates and require the parties to post margin against their
obligations, and the performance of the parties' obligations in connection with
such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation.
OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the
seller, but generally do not require the parties to post margin and are subject
to greater credit risk. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. See
"Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives" below.

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<PAGE> 54

Futures

The Fund may engage in transactions in futures and options thereon. Futures
are standardized, exchange-traded contracts which obligate a purchaser to take
delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a
specified future date at a specified price. No price is paid upon entering into
a futures contract. Rather, upon purchasing or selling a futures contract the
Fund is required to deposit collateral ("margin") equal to a percentage
(generally less than 10%) of the contract value. Each day thereafter until the
futures position is closed, the Fund will pay additional margin representing any
loss experienced as a result of the futures position the prior day or be
entitled to a payment representing any profit experienced as a result of the
futures position the prior day. Futures involve substantial leverage risk.

The sale of a futures contract limits the Fund's risk of loss through a
decline in the market value of portfolio holdings correlated with the futures
contract prior to the futures contract's expiration date. In the event the
market value of the portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract
increases rather than decreases, however, the Fund will realize a loss on the
futures position and a lower return on the portfolio holdings than would have
been realized without the purchase of the futures contract.

The purchase of a futures contract may protect the Fund from having to pay
more for securities as a consequence of increases in the market value for such
securities during a period when the Fund was attempting to identify specific
securities in which to invest in a market the Fund believes to be attractive. In
the event that such securities decline in value or the Fund determines not to
complete an anticipatory hedge transaction relating to a futures contract,
however, the Fund may realize a loss relating to the futures position.

The Fund will limit transactions in futures and options on futures to
financial futures contracts (i.e., contracts for which the underlying asset is a
currency or securities or interest rate index) purchased or sold for hedging
purposes (including anticipatory hedges). The Fund will further limit
transactions in futures and options on futures to the extent necessary to
prevent the Fund from being deemed a "commodity pool" under regulations of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Swap Agreements

The Fund is authorized to enter into equity swap agreements, which are OTC
contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the
change in market value of a specified equity security, basket of equity
securities or equity index in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or
variable interest rate or the change in market value of a different equity
security, basket of equity securities or equity index. Swap agreements may be
used to obtain exposure to an equity or market without owning or taking physical
custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted
by local law or is otherwise impractical.

Swap agreements entail the risk that a party will default on its payment
obligations to the Fund thereunder. The Fund will seek to lessen the risk to
some extent by entering into a transaction only if the counterparty meets the
current credit requirement for OTC option counterparties. Swap agreements also
bear the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligation to the
counterparty. The Fund, however, will deposit in a segregated account with its
custodian high quality liquid fixed income instruments or cash or cash
equivalents or other assets permitted to be so segregated by the Commission in
an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the
swap agreement or the amount it would have cost the Fund initially to make an
equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount the Fund is obligated to
pay or is to receive under the swap agreement.

The Fund will enter into an equity swap transaction only if, immediately
following the time the Fund enters into the transaction, the aggregate notional
principal amount of equity swap transactions to which the Fund is a party would
not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.

Foreign Exchange Transactions

The Fund may engage in spot and forward foreign exchange transactions and
currency swaps, purchase and sell options on currencies and purchase and sell
currency futures and related options thereon (collectively,

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<PAGE> 55

"Currency Instruments") for purposes of hedging against the decline in the value
of currencies in which its portfolio holdings are denominated against the U.S.
dollar.

Forward Foreign Exchange Transactions. Forward foreign exchange
transactions are OTC contracts to purchase or sell a specified amount of a
specified currency or multinational currency unit at a price and future date set
at the time of the contract. Spot foreign exchange transactions are similar but
require current, rather than future, settlement. The Fund will enter into
foreign exchange transactions only for purposes of hedging either a specific
transaction or a portfolio position. The Fund may enter into a foreign exchange
transaction for purposes of hedging a specific transaction by, for example,
purchasing a currency needed to settle a security transaction or selling a
currency in which the Fund has received or anticipates receiving a dividend or
distribution. The Fund may enter into a foreign exchange transaction for
purposes of hedging a portfolio position by selling forward a currency in which
a portfolio position of the Fund is denominated or by purchasing a currency in
which the Fund anticipates acquiring a portfolio position in the near future.
The Fund may also hedge portfolio positions through currency swaps, which are
transactions in which one currency is simultaneously bought for a second
currency on a spot basis and sold for the second currency on a forward basis.
Forward foreign exchange transactions involve substantial currency risk, and
also involve credit and liquidity risk.

Currency Futures. The Fund may also hedge against the decline in the value
of a currency against the U.S. dollar through use of currency futures or options
thereon. Currency futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions
except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts. See "Futures"
above. Currency futures involve substantial currency risk, and also involve
leverage risk.

Currency Options. The Fund may also hedge against the decline in the value
of a currency against the U.S. dollar through the use of currency options.
Currency options are similar to options on securities, but in consideration for
an option premium the writer of a currency option is obligated to sell (in the
case of a call option) or purchase (in the case of a put option) a specified
amount of a specified currency on or before the expiration date for a specified
amount of another currency. The Fund may engage in transactions in options on
currencies either on exchanges or OTC markets. See "Types of Options" above and
"Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives" below. Currency options involve substantial currency risk, and may
also involve credit, leverage or liquidity risk.

The Fund may not incur potential net liabilities of more than 20% of its
total assets from foreign currency options, futures or related options.

Limitations on Currency Hedging. The Fund will not speculate in Currency
Instruments. Accordingly, the Fund will not hedge a currency in excess of the
aggregate market value of the securities which it owns (including receivables
for unsettled securities sales), or has committed to or anticipates purchasing,
which are denominated in such currency. The Fund may, however, hedge a currency
by entering into a transaction in a Currency Instrument denominated in a
currency other than the currency being hedged (a "cross-hedge"). The Fund will
only enter into a cross-hedge if the Manager believes that (i) there is a
demonstrable high correlation between the currency in which the cross-hedge is
denominated and the currency being hedged, and (ii) executing a cross-hedge
through the currency in which the cross-hedge is denominated will be
significantly more cost-effective or provide substantially greater liquidity
than executing a similar hedging transaction by means of the currency being
hedged.

Risk Factors in Hedging Foreign Currency Risks. Hedging transactions
involving Currency Instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation
risk. While the Fund's use of Currency Instruments to effect hedging strategies
is intended to reduce the volatility of the net asset value of the Fund's
shares, the net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate. Moreover,
although Currency Instruments will be used with the intention of hedging against
adverse currency movements, transactions in Currency Instruments involve the
risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted and
that the Fund's hedging strategies will be ineffective. To the extent that the
Fund hedges against anticipated currency movements which do not occur, the Fund
may realize losses, and decrease its total return, as the result of its hedging
transactions. Furthermore, the Fund will only engage in hedging activities from
time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in
currency exchange rates occur.

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It may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against currency exchange rate
movements, even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i) the currency
exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to
enter into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii) the currency
exchange rate movement relates to a market with respect to which Currency
Instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in effective
foreign currency hedging.

Risk Factors in Derivatives

Derivatives are volatile and involve significant risks, including:

Credit risk -- the risk that the counterparty on a derivative
transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.

Currency risk -- the risk that changes in the exchange rate between
two currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an
investment.

Leverage risk -- the risk associated with certain types of investments
or trading strategies (such as borrowing money to increase the amount of
investments) that relatively small market movements may result in large
changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading
strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed
the amount originally invested.

Liquidity risk -- the risk that certain securities may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price
that the seller believes the security is currently worth.

Interest rate risk -- the risk that prices of fixed income securities
will fluctuate as a function of interest rate movement.

Use of derivatives for hedging purposes involves correlation risk. If the
value of the derivative moves more or less than the value of the hedged
instruments the Fund will experience a gain or loss which will not be completely
offset by movements in the value of the hedged instruments.

The Fund intends to enter into transactions involving derivatives only if
there appears to be a liquid secondary market for such instruments or, in the
case of illiquid instruments traded in OTC transactions, such instruments
satisfy the criteria set forth below under "Additional Risk Factors of OTC
Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives." However, there can be
no assurance that, at any specific time, either a liquid secondary market will
exist for a derivative or the Fund will otherwise be able to sell such
instrument at an acceptable price. It may therefore not be possible to close a
position in a derivative without incurring substantial losses, if at all.

Certain transactions in derivatives (such as futures transactions or sales
of put options) involve substantial leverage risk and may expose the Fund to
potential losses, which exceed the amount originally invested by the Fund. When
the Fund engages in such a transaction, the Fund will deposit in a segregated
account at its custodian liquid securities with a value at least equal to the
Fund's exposure, on a mark-to-market basis, to the transaction (as calculated
pursuant to requirements of the Commission). Such segregation will ensure that
the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the
transaction, but will not limit the Fund's exposure to loss.

Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC
Derivatives

Certain derivatives traded in OTC markets, including indexed securities,
swaps and OTC options, involve substantial liquidity risk. The absence of
liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell such
instruments promptly at an acceptable price. The absence of liquidity may also
make it more difficult for the Fund to ascertain a market value for such
instruments. The Fund will therefore acquire illiquid OTC instruments (i) if the
agreement pursuant to which the instrument is purchased contains a formula price
at which the instrument may be terminated or sold, or (ii) for which the Manager
anticipates the Fund can receive on each business day at least two independent
bids or offers, unless a quotation from only one dealer is available, in which
case that dealer's quotation may be used.

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<PAGE> 57

Because derivatives traded in OTC markets are not guaranteed by an exchange
or clearing corporation and generally do not require payment of margin, to the
extent that the Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited
collateral with its counterparty the Fund is at risk that its counterparty will
become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. The Fund will
attempt to minimize the risk that a counterparty will become bankrupt or
otherwise fail to honor its obligations by engaging in transactions in
derivatives traded in OTC markets only with financial institutions which have
substantial capital or which have provided the Fund with a third-party guaranty
or other credit enhancement.

OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES, PRACTICES AND RISK FACTORS

Non-Diversified Status. The Fund is classified as non-diversified within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act, which means that the Fund is not
limited by such Act in the proportion of its assets that it may invest in
securities of a single issuer. The Fund's investments will be limited, however,
in order to qualify as a "regulated investment company" for purposes of the
Code. To qualify, the Fund will comply with certain requirements, including
limiting its investments so that at the close of each quarter of the taxable
year, (i) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund's total assets will
be invested in the securities of a single issuer and (ii) with respect to 50% of
the market value of its total assets, not more than 5% of the market value of
its total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and the
Fund will not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single
issuer. A fund that elects to be classified as "diversified" under the
Investment Company Act must satisfy the foregoing 5% and 10% requirements with
respect to 75% of its total assets. To the extent that the Fund assumes large
positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, the Fund's net asset
value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified company as a
result of changes in the financial condition or in the market's assessment of
the issuers, and the Fund may be more susceptible to any single economic,
political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified company.

For purposes of the diversification requirements set forth above with
respect to regulated investment companies, and to the extent required by the
Commission, the Fund, as a non-fundamental policy, will consider securities
issued or guaranteed by the government of any one foreign country as the
obligations of a single issuer.

Securities Lending. The Fund may lend securities with a value not
exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets (subject to investment restriction (4)
below). In return, the Fund receives collateral in an amount equal to at least
100% of the current market value of the loaned securities in cash or securities
issued or guaranteed by the United States Government. The Fund receives
securities as collateral for the loaned securities and the Fund and the borrower
negotiate a rate for the loan premium to be received by the Fund for the loaned
securities, which increases the Fund's yield. The Fund may receive a flat fee
for its loans. The loans are terminable at any time and the borrower, after
notice, is required to return borrowed securities within five business days. The
Fund may pay reasonable finder's, administrative and custodial fees in
connection with its loans. In the event that the borrower defaults on its
obligation to return borrowed securities because of insolvency or for any other
reason, the Fund could experience delays and costs in gaining access to the
collateral and could suffer a loss to the extent the value of the collateral
falls below the market value of the borrowed securities.

Illiquid or Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its
net assets in securities that lack an established secondary trading market or
otherwise are considered illiquid. Liquidity of a security relates to the
ability to dispose easily of the security and the price to be obtained upon
disposition of the security, which may be less than would be obtained for a
comparable more liquid security. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount
from comparable, more liquid investments. Investment of the Fund's assets in
illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of its
investments in a timely fashion and for a fair price as well as its ability to
take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity
will be particularly acute where the Fund's operations require cash, such as
when the Fund redeems shares or pays dividends, and could result in the Fund
borrowing to meet short-term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on
the sale of illiquid investments.

The Fund may invest in securities that are not registered ("restricted
securities") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"). Restricted securities may be sold in private placement

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<PAGE> 58

transactions between issuers and purchasers, and may be neither listed on an
exchange nor traded in other established markets. In many cases, privately
placed securities may not be freely transferable under the laws of the
applicable jurisdiction or due to contractual restrictions on resale. As a
result of the absence of a public trading market, privately placed securities
may be less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities.
To the extent that privately placed securities may be resold in privately
negotiated transactions, the prices realized from the sales, due to illiquidity,
could be less than those originally paid by the Fund or less than their fair
market value. In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may
not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that
may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If any privately
placed securities held by the Fund are required to be registered under the
securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may
be required to bear the expenses of registration. Certain of the Fund's
investments in private placements may consist of direct investments and may
include investments in smaller, less-seasoned issuers, which may involve greater
risks. These issuers may have limited product lines, markets or financial
resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. In making
investments in such securities, the Fund may obtain access to material nonpublic
information which may restrict the Fund's ability to conduct portfolio
transactions in such securities.

144A Securities. The Fund may purchase restricted securities that can be
offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. The Board of Directors has determined to treat as liquid Rule
144A securities that are either freely tradable in their primary markets
offshore or have been determined to be liquid in accordance with the policies
and procedures adopted by the Fund's Board. The Board has adopted guidelines and
delegated to the Manager the daily function of determining and monitoring
liquidity of restricted securities. The Board, however, will retain sufficient
oversight and be ultimately responsible for the determinations. Since it is not
possible to predict with assurance exactly how this market for restricted
securities sold and offered under Rule 144A will continue to develop, the Board
of Directors will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in these securities.
This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of
illiquidity in the Fund to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become
for a time uninterested in purchasing these securities.

When-Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward
Commitments. The Fund may purchase or sell securities that it is entitled to
receive on a when-issued basis. The Fund may also purchase or sell securities on
a delayed delivery basis or through a forward commitment. These transactions
involve the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund at an established price
with payment and delivery taking place in the future. The Fund enters into these
transactions to obtain what is considered an advantageous price to the Fund at
the time of entering into the transaction. The Fund has not established any
limit on the percentage of its assets that may be committed in connection with
these transactions. When the Fund purchases securities in these transactions,
the Fund segregates liquid securities in an amount equal to the amount of its
purchase commitments.

There can be no assurance that a security purchased on a when-issued basis
will be issued or that a security purchased or sold through a forward commitment
will be delivered. The value of securities in these transactions on the delivery
date may be more or less than the Fund's purchase price. The Fund may bear the
risk of a decline in the value of the security in these transactions and may not
benefit from an appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment
period.

Standby Commitment Agreements. The Fund may enter into standby commitment
agreements. These agreements commit the Fund, for a stated period of time, to
purchase a stated amount of securities which may be issued and sold to the Fund
at the option of the issuer. The price of the security is fixed at the time of
the commitment. At the time of entering into the agreement the Fund is paid a
commitment fee, regardless of whether or not the security is ultimately issued.
The Fund will enter into such agreements for the purpose of investing in the
security underlying the commitment at a price that is considered advantageous to
the Fund. The Fund will not enter into a standby commitment with a remaining
term in excess of 90 days and will limit its investment in such commitments so
that the aggregate purchase price of securities subject to such commitments,
together with the value of portfolio securities subject to legal restrictions on
resale that affect their marketability, will not exceed 15% of its net assets
taken at the time of the commitment. The Fund

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<PAGE> 59

segregates liquid assets in an aggregate amount equal to the purchase price of
the securities underlying the commitment.

There can be no assurance that the securities subject to a standby
commitment will be issued, and the value of the security, if issued, on the
delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price. Since the issuance of
the security underlying the commitment is at the option of the issuer, the Fund
may bear the risk of a decline in the value of such security and may not benefit
from an appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period.

The purchase of a security subject to a standby commitment agreement and
the related commitment fee will be recorded on the date on which the security
can reasonably be expected to be issued, and the value of the security
thereafter will be reflected in the calculation of the Fund's net asset value.
The cost basis of the security will be adjusted by the amount of the commitment
fee. In the event the security is not issued, the commitment fee will be
recorded as income on the expiration date of the standby commitment.

Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts. The Fund may invest
in securities pursuant to repurchase agreements and purchase and sale contracts.
Repurchase agreements may be entered into only with financial institutions which
(i) have, in the opinion of the Manager, substantial capital relative to the
Fund's exposure, or (ii) have provided the Fund with a third-party guaranty or
other credit enhancement. Under a repurchase agreement or a purchase and sale
contract, the counterparty agrees, upon entering into the contract, to
repurchase the security at a mutually agreed upon time and price in a specified
currency, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. This
results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such
period although it may be affected by currency fluctuations. Such agreements
usually cover short periods, such as under one week. Repurchase agreements may
be construed to be collateralized loans by the purchaser to the seller secured
by the securities transferred to the purchaser. In the case of a repurchase
agreement, as a purchaser, the Fund will require the seller to provide
additional collateral if the market value of the securities falls below the
repurchase price at any time during the term of the repurchase agreement; the
Fund does not have the right to seek additional collateral in the case of
purchase and sale contracts. In the event of default by the seller under a
repurchase agreement construed to be a collateralized loan, the underlying
securities are not owned by the Fund but constitute only collateral for the
seller's obligation to pay the repurchase price. Therefore, the Fund may suffer
time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection with the
disposition of the collateral. In the event of a default under such a repurchase
agreement or under a purchase and sale contract, instead of the contractual
fixed rate of return, the rate of return to the Fund shall be dependent upon
intervening fluctuations of the market value of such securities and the accrued
interest on the securities. In such event, the Fund would have rights against
the seller for breach of contract with respect to any losses arising from market
fluctuations following the failure of the seller to perform. The Fund may not
invest more than 15% of its net assets in repurchase agreements or purchase and
sale contracts maturing in more than seven days, together with all other
illiquid investments.

Borrowing and Leverage. The use of leverage by the Fund creates an
opportunity for greater total return, but, at the same time, creates special
risks. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of
Fund shares and in the yield on the Fund's portfolio. Although the principal of
such borrowings will be fixed, the Fund's assets may change in value during the
time the borrowings are outstanding. Borrowings will create interest expenses
for the Fund which can exceed the income from the assets purchased with the
borrowings. To the extent the income or capital appreciation derived from
securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Fund will have
to pay on the borrowings, the Fund's return will be greater than if leverage had
not been used. Conversely, if the income or capital appreciation from the
securities purchased with such borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the
cost of borrowings, the return to the Fund will be less than if leverage had not
been used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders
as dividends and other distributions will be reduced. In the latter case, the
Manager in its best judgment nevertheless may determine to maintain the Fund's
leveraged position if it expects that the benefits to the Fund's shareholders of
maintaining the leveraged position will outweigh the current reduced return.

Certain types of borrowings by the Fund may result in the Fund being
subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverage, portfolio
composition requirements and other matters. It is not

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<PAGE> 60

anticipated that observance of such covenants would impede the Manager from
managing the Fund's portfolio in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives and policies. However, a breach of any such covenants not cured
within the specified cure period may result in acceleration of outstanding
indebtedness and require the Fund to dispose of portfolio investments at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

The Fund at times may borrow from affiliates of the Manager, provided that
the terms of such borrowings are no less favorable than those available from
comparable sources of funds in the marketplace. The fee paid to the Manager will
be calculated on the basis of the Fund's average daily net assets including
proceeds from any borrowings.

Suitability. The economic benefit of an investment in the Fund depends
upon many factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Manager and its
affiliates. Because the Fund invests worldwide, the Fund should be considered a
vehicle for diversification and not as a balanced investment program. The
suitability for any particular investor of a purchase of shares in the Fund will
depend upon, among other things, such investor's investment objectives and such
investor's ability to accept the risks associated with investing in foreign
securities, including the risk of loss of principal.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has adopted a number of fundamental and non-fundamental
restrictions and policies relating to the investment of its assets and its
activities. The fundamental policies set forth below may not be changed without
the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (which for this purpose and under the Investment Company Act means
the lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund's shares present at a meeting at which more
than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are represented or (ii) more than
50% of the Fund's outstanding shares).

Under the fundamental investment restrictions, the Fund may not:

(1) Invest more than 25% of its assets, taken at market value at the
time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular
industry (excluding the U.S. Government and its agencies and
instrumentalities).

(2) Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management.

(3) Purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, the Fund may invest in securities directly or indirectly
secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that
invest in real estate or interests therein.

(4) Make loans to other persons, except that the acquisition of bonds,
debentures or other corporate debt securities and investment in government
obligations, commercial paper, pass-through instruments, certificates of
deposit, bankers acceptances, repurchase agreements or any similar
instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan, and except
further that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided that the
lending of portfolio securities may be made only in accordance with
applicable law and the guidelines set forth in its Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information, as they may be amended from time to time.

(5) Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate
applicable law.

(6) Borrow money, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its
total assets (including the amount borrowed), (ii) the Fund may, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its
total assets for temporary purposes, (iii) the Fund may obtain such
short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and
sales of portfolio securities and (iv) the Fund may purchase securities on
margin to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund may not pledge
its assets other than to secure such borrowings or, to the extent permitted
by the Fund's investment policies as set forth in its Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, as they may be amended from time to
time, in connection with hedging transactions, short sales, when-issued and
forward commitment transactions and similar investment strategies.

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<PAGE> 61

(7) Underwrite securities of other issuers except insofar as the Fund
technically may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act in
selling portfolio securities.

(8) Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities, except
to the extent that the Fund may do so in accordance with applicable law and
the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as they may
be amended from time to time, and without registering as a commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

In addition, the Fund has adopted non-fundamental investment restrictions
that may be changed by the Board of Directors without a vote of the Fund's
shareholders. Under the non-fundamental investment restrictions, the Fund may
not:

(a) Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted by applicable law. As a matter of policy, however, the
Fund will not purchase shares of any registered open-end investment company
or registered unit investment trust, in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or
(G) (the "fund of funds" provisions) of the Investment Company Act, at any
time the Fund's shares are owned by another investment company that is part
of the same group of investment companies as the Fund.

(b) Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position,
except to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund does intend to
engage, from time to time, in short sales "against the box" and in short
sales that are covered by securities immediately convertible or
exchangeable into the security which is being sold short.

(c) Invest in securities that cannot be readily resold because of
legal or contractual restrictions or that cannot otherwise be marketed,
redeemed or put to the issuer or a third party, if at the time of
acquisition more than 15% of its total assets would be invested in such
securities. This restriction shall not apply to securities that mature
within seven days or securities that the Board of Directors of the Fund has
otherwise determined to be liquid pursuant to applicable law. Securities
purchased in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and
determined to be liquid by the Fund's Board of Directors are not subject to
the limitations set forth in this investment restriction.

(d) Notwithstanding fundamental investment restriction (6) above,
borrow amounts in excess of 10% of its total assets, taken at market value,
and then only from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or
emergency purposes, such as the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund will
not purchase securities while borrowings exceed 5% (taken at market value)
of its total assets.

The staff of the Commission has taken the position that purchased OTC
options and the assets used as cover for written OTC options are illiquid
securities. Therefore, the Fund has adopted an investment policy pursuant to
which it will not purchase or sell OTC options (including OTC options on futures
contracts) if, as a result of such transaction, the sum of the market value of
OTC options currently outstanding which are held by the Fund, the market value
of the underlying securities covered by OTC call options currently outstanding
which were sold by the Fund and margin deposits on the Fund's existing OTC
options on futures contracts exceeds 15% of the net assets of the Fund, taken at
market value, together with all other assets of the Fund which are illiquid or
are not otherwise readily marketable. However, if the OTC option is sold by the
Fund to a primary U.S. Government securities dealer recognized by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and if the Fund has the unconditional contractual right
to repurchase such OTC option from the dealer at a predetermined price, then the
Fund will treat as illiquid such amount of the underlying securities as is equal
to the repurchase price less the amount by which the option is "in-the-money"
(i.e., current market value of the underlying security minus the option's strike
price). The repurchase price with the primary dealers is typically a formula
price which is generally based on a multiple of the premium received for the
option, plus the amount by which the option is "in-the-money." This policy as to
OTC options is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be amended by the
Directors of the Fund without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However,
the Fund will not change or modify this policy prior to the change or
modification by the Commission staff of its position.

Because of the affiliation of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") with the Manager, the Fund is prohibited from
engaging in certain transactions involving Merrill Lynch or its

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<PAGE> 62

affiliates except for brokerage transactions permitted under the Investment
Company Act involving only usual and customary commissions or transactions
pursuant to an exemptive order under the Investment Company Act. See "Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage." Without such an exemptive order the Fund would be
prohibited from engaging in portfolio transactions with Merrill Lynch or any of
its affiliates acting as principal.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

While it is the policy of the Fund generally not to engage in trading for
short-term gains, the Manager will effect portfolio transactions without regard
to the time they have been held if, in its judgment, such transactions are
advisable in light of a change in circumstances of a particular company or
within a particular industry or in general market, economic or financial
conditions. As a result of its investment policies, the Fund's portfolio
turnover rate may be higher than that of other investment companies. The
portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund's
annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or
sales of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or
less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the
year. A high portfolio turnover involves certain tax consequences and
correspondingly greater transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads and
brokerage commissions, which are borne directly by the Fund.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Board of Directors of the Fund consists of seven individuals, six of
whom are not "interested persons" of the Fund as defined in the Investment
Company Act (the "non-interested Directors"). The Directors are responsible for
the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various
duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the Investment
Company Act.

Information about the Directors, executive officers and the portfolio
manager of the Fund, including their ages and their principal occupations for at
least the last five years, is set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, the
address of each Director, executive officer and the portfolio manager is P.O.
Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011.

ARTHUR ZEIKEL (66) -- President and Director(1)(2) -- Chairman of the
Manager and Fund Asset Management, L.P. ("FAM") (which terms as used herein
include their corporate predecessors) from 1997 to 1999; President of the
Manager and FAM from 1977 to 1997; Chairman of Princeton Services, Inc.
("Princeton Services") since 1997 and Director thereof since 1993; President of
Princeton Services from 1993 to 1997; Executive Vice President of Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc. ("ML & Co.") since 1990.

DONALD CECIL (72) -- Director(2)(3) -- 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, New York 10036. Special Limited Partner of Cumberland Associates (an
investment partnership) since 1982; Member of Institute of Chartered Financial
Analysts; Member and Chairman of Westchester County (N.Y.) Board of
Transportation.

ROLAND M. MACHOLD (62) -- Director(2)(3) -- 1091 Princeton-Kingston Road,
Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Director of the State of New Jersey Division of
Investment from 1977 to 1998; Trustee of Bryn Mawr College since 1990 and of
Teacher's College, Columbia University since 1985; Co-Chair Emeritus and
Founding Director of the Council of Institutional Investors; Member of the
Capital Formation and Regulatory Processes Advisory Committee of the Securities
and Exchange Commission from 1995 to 1996; Member of the Institutional Investor
Advisory Committee of the New York Stock Exchange from 1992 to 1995.

EDWARD H. MEYER (72) -- Director (2)(3) -- 777 Third Avenue, New York, New
York 10017. President of Grey Advertising Inc. since 1968, Chief Executive
Officer since 1970 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1972; Director
of The May Department Stores Company, Bowne & Co., Inc. (financial printers),
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. and Harman International Industries, Inc.

CHARLES C. REILLY (67) -- Director(2)(3) -- 9 Hampton Harbor Road, Hampton
Bays, New York 11946. Self-employed financial consultant since 1990; President
and Chief Investment Officer of Verus

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<PAGE> 63

Capital, Inc. from 1979 to 1990; Senior Vice President of Arnhold and S.
Bleichroeder, Inc. from 1973 to 1990; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University
Graduate School of Business from 1990 to 1991; Adjunct Professor, Wharton
School, University of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1990; Partner, Small Cities
Cable Television from 1986 to 1997.

RICHARD R. WEST (61) -- Director(2)(3) -- Box 604, Genoa, Nevada 89411.
Professor of Finance since 1984, Dean from 1984 to 1993, and currently Dean
Emeritus of New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business
Administration; Director of Bowne & Co., Inc. (financial printers), Vornado
Realty Trust, Inc. (real estate holding company) and Alexander's, Inc. (real
estate company).

EDWARD D. ZINBARG (64) -- Director(2)(3) -- 5 Hardwell Road, Short Hills,
New Jersey 07078-2117. Executive Vice President of The Prudential Insurance
Company of America from 1988 to 1994; former Director of Prudential Reinsurance
Company and former Trustee of The Prudential Foundation.

TERRY K. GLENN (58) -- Executive Vice President(1)(2) -- Executive Vice
President of the Manager and FAM since 1983; Executive Vice President and
Director of Princeton Services since 1993; President of Princeton Funds
Distributor, Inc. ("PFD") since 1986 and Director thereof since 1991; President
of Princeton Administrators, L.P. since 1988.

BRYAN N. ISON (43) -- Senior Vice President and Portfolio
Manager(1) -- First Vice President of the Manager since 1997; Vice President of
the Manager from 1985 to 1997; and Portfolio Manager of the Manager since 1984.

DONALD C. BURKE (38) -- Vice President and Treasurer(1)(2) -- Senior Vice
President and Treasurer of the Manager and FAM since 1999; Senior Vice President
and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1999; First Vice President of the
Manager from 1997 to 1999; Vice President of the Manager from 1990 to 1997;
Director of Taxation of the Manager since 1990; Vice President of PFD since
1999.

PHILLIP S. GILLESPIE (35) -- Secretary(1)(2) -- Attorney associated with
the Manager and FAM since 1998; Assistant General Counsel of Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc. from 1997 to 1998; Senior Counsel and Attorney in the
Division of Investment Management and the Office of General Counsel at the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission from 1993 to 1997.

- ---------------
(1) Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund.
(2) Such Director or officer is a director, trustee or officer of certain other
investment companies for which the Manager or FAM acts as the investment
adviser or manager.
(3) Member of the Fund's Audit and Nominating Committee, which is responsible
for the selection of the independent auditors and the selection and
nomination of non-interested Directors.

As of February 1, 1999, the Directors and officers of the Fund as a group
(11 persons) owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund. At such date, Mr. Zeikel, a Director and officer of the Fund, and the
other officers of the Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of common stock of ML & Co.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

The Fund pays each non-interested Director a fee of $3,500 per year plus
$500 per Board meeting attended. The Fund also compensates members of its Audit
and Nominating Committee (the "Committee"), which consists of all the
non-interested Directors, at a rate of $500 per Committee meeting attended. The
Chairman of the Committee receives an additional fee of $250 per Committee
meeting attended.

The following table shows the compensation earned by the non-interested
Directors for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 and the aggregate
compensation paid to them from all registered investment

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companies advised by the Manager and its affiliate, FAM ("MLAM/FAM-advised
funds"), for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
PENSION OR ESTIMATED COMPENSATION FROM
RETIREMENT BENEFITS ANNUAL FUND AND OTHER
POSITION WITH COMPENSATION ACCRUED AS PART OF BENEFITS UPON MLAM/FAM-
NAME FUND FROM FUND FUND EXPENSE RETIREMENT ADVISED FUNDS(1)
- ---- ------------- ------------ ------------------- ------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Donald Cecil.................... Director $8,500 None None $277,808
Roland M. Machold(2)............ Director $ 500 None None $ 39,208(2)
Edward H. Meyer................. Director $5,500 None None $214,558
Charles C. Reilly............... Director $7,500 None None $362,858
Richard R. West................. Director $7,500 None None $334,125
Edward D. Zinbarg............... Director $7,500 None None $133,955
</TABLE>

- ---------------

(1) The Directors serve on the boards of MLAM/FAM-advised funds as follows: Mr.
Cecil (34 registered investment companies consisting of 34 portfolios); Mr.
Machold (19 registered investment companies consisting of 19 portfolios);
Mr. Meyer (34 registered investment companies consisting of 34 portfolios);
Mr. Reilly (57 registered investment companies consisting of 70 portfolios);
Mr. West (58 registered investment companies consisting of 79 portfolios);
and Mr. Zinbarg (19 registered investment companies consisting of 19
portfolios).

(2) Mr. Machold was elected a Director of the Fund and director or trustee of
certain other MLAM/FAM-advised funds on October 20, 1998.

Directors of the Fund may purchase Class A shares of the Fund at net asset
value. See "Purchase of Shares -- Initial Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class A
and Class D Shares -- Reduced Initial Sales Charges -- Purchase Privilege of
Certain Persons."

MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS

Management Services. The Manager provides the Fund with investment
advisory and management services. Subject to the supervision of the Board of
Directors, the Manager is responsible for the actual management of the Fund's
portfolio and constantly reviews the Fund's holdings in light of its own
research analysis and that from other relevant sources. The responsibility for
making decisions to buy, sell or hold a particular security rests with the
Manager. The Manager performs certain of the other administrative services and
provides all the office space, facilities, equipment and necessary personnel for
management of the Fund.

Management Fee. The Fund has entered into a management agreement with the
Manager (the "Management Agreement"), pursuant to which the Manager receives for
its services to the Fund monthly compensation at the annual rate of 0.75% of the
average daily net assets of the Fund. Effective July 25, 1995, the Manager has
voluntarily agreed to waive the amount of compensation set forth in the
Management Agreement and instead has agreed to receive from the Fund a monthly
fee based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund at the following annual
rates: 0.75% of the average daily net assets not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.70%
of the average daily net assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $5.0
billion; 0.65% of the average daily net assets exceeding $5.0 billion but not
exceeding $7.5 billion; 0.625% of the average daily net assets exceeding $7.5
billion but not exceeding $10 billion; and 0.60% of the average daily net assets
exceeding $10 billion. The table below sets forth information about the total
management fees paid by the Fund to the Manager for the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, MANAGEMENT FEE
----------------------------- --------------
<S> <C>
1998.................................. $86,120,026
1997.................................. $88,207,229
1996.................................. $70,943,078
</TABLE>

The Manager has also entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Merrill
Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited ("MLAM U.K.") pursuant to which MLAM U.K.
provides investment advisory services to the

24
<PAGE> 65

Manager with respect to the Fund. The table below sets forth information about
the total investment advisory fees paid by the Manager to MLAM U.K. for the
periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE
----------------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
1998............................. $11,436,228
1997............................. $10,062,279
1996............................. $ 9,422,273
</TABLE>

Payment of Fund Expenses. The Management Agreement obligates the Manager
to provide investment advisory services and to pay all compensation of and
furnish office space for officers and employees of the Fund connected with
investment and economic research, trading and investment management of the Fund,
as well as the fees of all Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of
ML & Co. or any of its affiliates. The Fund pays all other expenses incurred in
the operation of the Fund, including among other things: taxes, expenses for
legal and auditing services, costs of printing proxies, stock certificates,
shareholder reports, prospectuses and statements of additional information,
except to the extent paid by Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, a division of PFD
(the "Distributor"); charges of the custodian and the transfer agent; expenses
of redemption of shares; Commission fees; expenses of registering the shares
under Federal and state securities laws; fees and expenses of non-interested
Directors; accounting and pricing costs (including the daily calculations of net
asset value); insurance; interest; brokerage costs; litigation and other
extraordinary or non-recurring expenses; and other expenses properly payable by
the Fund. Accounting services are provided for the Fund by the Manager and the
Fund reimburses the Manager for its costs in connection with such services. See
"Purchase of Shares -- Distribution Plans."

Organization of the Manager. The Manager is a limited partnership, the
partners of which are ML & Co., a financial services holding company and the
parent of Merrill Lynch, and Princeton Services. ML & Co. and Princeton Services
are "controlling persons" of the Manager as defined under the Investment Company
Act because of their ownership of its voting securities or their power to
exercise a controlling influence over its management or policies.

The following entities may be considered "controlling persons" of MLAM
U.K.: Merrill Lynch Europe PLC (MLAM U.K.'s parent), a subsidiary of Merrill
Lynch International Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch International,
Inc., a subsidiary of ML & Co.

Duration and Termination. Unless earlier terminated as described herein,
the Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year if approved
annually (a) by the Board of Directors of the Fund or by a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund and (b) by a majority of the Directors who are
not parties to such contract or interested persons (as defined in the Investment
Company Act) of any such party. Such contracts are not assignable and may be
terminated without penalty on 60 days' written notice at the option of either
party or by vote of the shareholders of the Fund.

Transfer Agency Services. Financial Data Services, Inc. (the "Transfer
Agent"), a subsidiary of ML & Co., acts as the Fund's Transfer Agent pursuant to
a Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder Servicing Agency
Agreement (the "Transfer Agency Agreement"). Pursuant to the Transfer Agency
Agreement, the Transfer Agent is responsible for the issuance, transfer and
redemption of shares and the opening and maintenance of shareholder accounts.
Pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement, the Transfer Agent receives a fee of
$11.00 per Class A or Class D account and $14.00 per Class B or Class C account
and is entitled to reimbursement for certain transaction charges and
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent under the Transfer Agency
Agreement. Additionally, a $.20 monthly closed account charge will be assessed
on all accounts which close during the calendar year. Application of this fee
will commence the month following the month the account is closed. At the end of
the calendar year, no further fees will be due. For purposes of the Transfer
Agency Agreement, the term "account" includes a shareholder account maintained
directly by the Transfer Agent and any other account representing the beneficial
interest of a person in the relevant share class on a recordkeeping system,
provided the recordkeeping system is maintained by a subsidiary of ML & Co.

25
<PAGE> 66

Distribution Expenses. The Fund has entered into four separate
distribution agreements with the Distributor in connection with the continuous
offering of each class of shares of the Fund (the "Distribution Agreements").
The Distribution Agreements obligate the Distributor to pay certain expenses in
connection with the offering of each class of shares of the Fund. After the
prospectuses, statements of additional information and periodic reports have
been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders, the Distributor pays for
the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the
offering to dealers and investors. The Distributor also pays for other
supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. The Distribution
Agreements are subject to the same renewal requirements and termination
provisions as the Investment Advisory Agreement described above.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule
17j-1 of the Investment Company Act which incorporates the Code of Ethics of the
Manager (together, the "Codes"). The Codes significantly restrict the personal
investing activities of all employees of the Manager and, as described below,
impose additional, more onerous, restrictions on fund investment personnel.

The Codes require that all employees of the Manager pre-clear any personal
securities investment (with limited exceptions, such as government securities).
The pre-clearance requirement and associated procedures are designed to identify
any substantive prohibition or limitation applicable to the proposed investment.
The substantive restrictions applicable to all employees of the Manager include
a ban on acquiring any securities in a "hot" initial public offering and a
prohibition from profiting on short-term trading in securities. In addition, no
employee may purchase or sell any security that at the time is being purchased
or sold (as the case may be), or to the knowledge of the employee is being
considered for purchase or sale, by any fund advised by the Manager.
Furthermore, the Codes provide for trading "blackout periods" which prohibit
trading by investment personnel of the Fund within periods of trading by the
Fund in the same (or equivalent) security (15 or 30 days depending upon the
transaction).

PURCHASE OF SHARES

Reference is made to "How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares" in
the Prospectus.

The Fund offers four classes of shares under the Merrill Lynch Select
PricingSM System: shares of Class A and Class D are sold to investors choosing
the initial sales charge alternatives and shares of Class B and Class C are sold
to investors choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives. Each Class A,
Class B, Class C or Class D share of the Fund represents an identical interest
in the investment portfolio of the Fund and has the same rights, except that
Class B, Class C and Class D shares bear the expenses of the ongoing account
maintenance fees (also known as service fees) and Class B and Class C shares
bear the expenses of the ongoing distribution fees and the additional
incremental transfer agency costs resulting from the deferred sales charge
arrangements. The contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCs"), distribution fees
and account maintenance fees that are imposed on Class B and Class C shares, as
well as the account maintenance fees that are imposed on Class D shares, are
imposed directly against those classes and not against all assets of the Fund
and, accordingly, such charges do not affect the net asset value of any other
class or have any impact on investors choosing another sales charge option.
Dividends paid by the Fund for each class of shares are calculated in the same
manner at the same time and differ only to the extent that account maintenance
and distribution fees and any incremental transfer agency costs relating to a
particular class are borne exclusively by that class. Each class has different
exchange privileges. See "Shareholder Services -- Exchange Privilege."

Investors should understand that the purpose and function of the initial
sales charges with respect to the Class A and Class D shares are the same as
those of the CDSCs and distribution fees with respect to the Class B and Class C
shares in that the sales charges and distribution fees applicable to each class
provide for the financing of the distribution of the shares of the Fund. The
distribution-related revenues paid with respect to a class will not be used to
finance the distribution expenditures of another class. Sales personnel may
receive different compensation for selling different classes of shares.

26
<PAGE> 67
The Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) System is used by more than 50
registered investment companies advised by MLAM or FAM. Funds advised by MLAM or
FAM that utilize the Merrill Lynch Select PricingSM System are referred to
herein as "Select Pricing Funds."

The Fund or the Distributor may suspend the continuous offering of the
Fund's shares of any class at any time in response to conditions in the
securities markets or otherwise and may thereafter resume such offering from
time to time. Neither the Distributor nor the dealers are permitted to withhold
placing orders to benefit themselves by a price change. Merrill Lynch may charge
its customers a processing fee (presently $5.35) to confirm a sale of shares to
such customers. Purchases made directly through the Transfer Agent are not
subject to the processing fee.

INITIAL SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVES -- CLASS A AND CLASS D SHARES

Investors who prefer an initial sales charge alternative may elect to
purchase Class D shares or, if an eligible investor, Class A shares. Investors
choosing the initial sales charge alternative who are eligible to purchase Class
A shares should purchase Class A shares rather than Class D shares because there
is an account maintenance fee imposed on Class D shares. Investors qualifying
for significantly reduced initial sales charges may find the initial sales
charge alternative particularly attractive because similar sales charge
reductions are not available with respect to the deferred sales charges imposed
in connection with purchases of Class B or Class C shares. Investors not
qualifying for reduced initial sales charges who expect to maintain their
investment for an extended period of time also may elect to purchase Class A or
Class D shares, because over time the accumulated ongoing account maintenance
and distribution fees on Class B or Class C shares may exceed the initial sales
charge and, in the case of Class D shares, the account maintenance fee. Although
some investors who previously purchased Class A shares may no longer be eligible
to purchase Class A shares of other Select Pricing Funds, those previously
purchased Class A shares, together with Class B, Class C and Class D share
holdings, will count toward a right of accumulation which may qualify the
investor for a reduced initial sales charge on new initial sales charge
purchases. In addition, the ongoing Class B and Class C account maintenance and
distribution fees will cause Class B and Class C shares to have higher expense
ratios, pay lower dividends and have lower total returns than the initial sales
charge shares. The ongoing Class D account maintenance fees will cause Class D
shares to have a higher expense ratio, pay lower dividends and have a lower
total return than Class A shares.

The term "purchase," as used in the Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information in connection with an investment in Class A and Class D
shares of the Fund, refers to a single purchase by an individual or to
concurrent purchases, which in the aggregate are at least equal to the
prescribed amounts, by an individual, his or her spouse and their children under
the age of 21 years purchasing shares for his, her or their own account and to
single purchases by a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single
trust estate or single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is
involved. The term "purchase" also includes purchases by any "company," as that
term is defined in the Investment Company Act, but does not include purchases by
any such company that has not been in existence for at least six months or which
has no purpose other than the purchase of shares of the Fund or shares of other
registered investment companies at a discount; provided, however, that it shall
not include purchases by any group of individuals whose sole organizational
nexus is that the participants therein are credit cardholders of a company,
policyholders of an insurance company, customers of either a bank or
broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.

Eligible Class A Investors

Class A shares are offered to a limited group of investors and also will be
issued upon reinvestment of dividends on outstanding Class A shares. Investors
who currently own Class A shares, including participants in the Merrill Lynch
Blueprint(SM) Program, are entitled to purchase additional Class A shares of the
Fund in that account. Certain Employer Sponsored Retirement or Savings Plans,
including eligible 401(k) plans, may purchase Class A shares at net asset value
provided such plans meet the required minimum number of eligible employees or
required amount of assets advised by MLAM or any of its affiliates. Class A
shares are available at net asset value to corporate warranty insurance reserve
fund programs provided that the program has $3 million or more initially
invested in Select Pricing Funds. Also eligible to purchase Class A shares at
net

27
<PAGE> 68
asset value are participants in certain investment programs including TMA(SM)
Managed Trusts to which Merrill Lynch Trust Company provides discretionary
trustee services, collective investment trusts for which Merrill Lynch Trust
Company serves as trustee and certain purchases made in connection with certain
fee-based programs. In addition, Class A shares are offered at net asset value
to ML & Co. and its subsidiaries and their directors and employees and to
members of the Boards of MLAM-advised investment companies. Certain persons who
acquired shares of certain MLAM-advised closed-end funds in their initial
offerings who wish to reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of their closed-end
fund shares of common stock in shares of the Fund also may purchase Class A
shares of the Fund if certain conditions are met. In addition, Class A shares of
the Fund and certain other Select Pricing Funds are offered at net asset value
to shareholders of Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. and, if certain
conditions are met, to shareholders of Merrill Lynch Municipal Strategy Fund,
Inc. and Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. who wish to
reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of certain of their shares of common stock
pursuant to a tender offer conducted by such funds in shares of the Fund and
certain other Select Pricing Funds.

Class A and Class D Sales Charge Information

CLASS A SHARES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Fiscal Year Gross Sales Sales Charges Sales Charges CDSCs Received on
Ended Charges Retained by Paid to Redemption of
October 31, Collected Distributor Merrill Lynch Load-Waived Shares
- ---------------------- ------------- --------------- --------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 $ 285,971 $20,456 $ 265,515 $70,285
1997 $ 705,874 $47,810 $ 658,064 0
1996 $1,093,106 $76,760 $1,016,346 0
</TABLE>

CLASS D SHARES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Fiscal Year Gross Sales Sales Charges Sales Charges CDSCs Received on
Ended Charges Retained by Paid to Redemption of
October 31, Collected Distributor Merrill Lynch Load-Waived Shares
- ---------------------- ------------- --------------- --------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 $ 963,279 $ 66,131 $ 897,148 0
1997 $3,242,398 $237,188 $3,005,210 0
1996 $3,654,846 $241,734 $3,413,112 0
</TABLE>

The Distributor may reallow discounts to selected dealers and retain the
balance over such discounts. At times the Distributor may reallow the entire
sales charge to such dealers. Since securities dealers selling Class A and
Class D shares of the Fund will receive a concession equal to most of the sales
charge, they may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act.

Reduced Initial Sales Charges

Reinvested Dividends and Capital Gains. No initial sales charges are
imposed upon Class A and Class D shares issued as a result of the automatic
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.

Right of Accumulation. Reduced sales charges are applicable through a
right of accumulation under which eligible investors are permitted to purchase
shares of the Fund subject to an initial sales charge at the offering price
applicable to the total of (a) the public offering price of the shares then
being purchased plus (b) an amount equal to the then current net asset value or
cost, whichever is higher, of the purchaser's combined holdings of all classes
of shares of the Fund and of any other Select Pricing Funds. For any such right
of accumulation to be made available, the Distributor must be provided at the
time of purchase, by the purchaser or the purchaser's securities dealer, with
sufficient information to permit confirmation of qualification. Acceptance of
the purchase order is subject to such confirmation. The right of accumulation
may be amended or terminated at any time. Shares held in the name of a nominee
or custodian under pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plans may
not be combined with other shares to qualify for the right of accumulation.

28
<PAGE> 69

Letter of Intent. Reduced sales charges are applicable to purchases
aggregating $25,000 or more of the Class A or Class D shares of the Fund or any
Select Pricing Funds made within a 13-month period starting with the first
purchase pursuant to a Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is available only
to investors whose accounts are established and maintained at the Fund's
Transfer Agent. The Letter of Intent is not available to employee benefit plans
for which Merrill Lynch provides plan participant recordkeeping services. The
Letter of Intent is not a binding obligation to purchase any amount of Class A
or Class D shares; however, its execution will result in the purchaser paying a
lower sales charge at the appropriate quantity purchase level. A purchase not
originally made pursuant to a Letter of Intent may be included under a
subsequent Letter of Intent executed within 90 days of such purchase if the
Distributor is informed in writing of this intent within such 90-day period. The
value of Class A and Class D shares of the Fund and of other Select Pricing
Funds presently held, at cost or maximum offering price (whichever is higher),
on the date of the first purchase under the Letter of Intent, may be included as
a credit toward the completion of such Letter, but the reduced sales charge
applicable to the amount covered by such Letter will be applied only to new
purchases. If the total amount of shares does not equal the amount stated in the
Letter of Intent (minimum of $25,000), the investor will be notified and must
pay, within 20 days of the expiration of such Letter, the difference between the
sales charge on the Class A or Class D shares purchased at the reduced rate and
the sales charge applicable to the shares actually purchased through the Letter.
Class A or Class D shares equal to at least 5.0% of the intended amount will be
held in escrow during the 13-month period (while remaining registered in the
name of the purchaser) for this purpose. The first purchase under the Letter of
Intent must be at least 5.0% of the dollar amount of such Letter. If a purchase
during the term of such Letter would otherwise be subject to a further reduced
sales charge based on the right of accumulation, the purchaser will be entitled
on that purchase and subsequent purchases to the further reduced percentage
sales charge that would be applicable to a single purchase equal to the total
dollar value of the Class A or Class D shares then being purchased under such
Letter, but there will be no retroactive reduction of the sales charge on any
previous purchase.

The value of any shares redeemed or otherwise disposed of by the purchaser
prior to termination or completion of the Letter of Intent will be deducted from
the total purchases made under such Letter. An exchange from the Summit Cash
Reserves Fund into the Fund that creates a sales charge will count toward
completing a new or existing Letter of Intent from the Fund.

Merrill Lynch Blueprint(SM) Program. Class D shares of the Fund are
offered to participants in the Merrill Lynch BlueprintSM Program ("Blueprint").
In addition, participants in Blueprint who own Class A shares of the Fund may
purchase additional Class A shares of the Fund through Blueprint. The Blueprint
program is directed to small investors, group IRAs and participants in certain
affinity groups such as credit unions, trade associations and benefit plans.
Investors placing orders to purchase Class A or Class D shares of the Fund
through Blueprint will acquire the Class A or Class D shares at net asset value
plus a sales charge calculated in accordance with the Blueprint sales charge
schedule (i.e., up to $300 at 4.25%, from $300.01 to $5,000 at 3.25% plus $3.00,
and $5,000.01 or more at the standard sales charge rates disclosed in the
Prospectus). In addition, Class A or Class D shares of the Fund are being
offered at net asset value plus a sales charge of 0.50% for corporate or group
IRA programs placing orders to purchase their Class A or Class D shares through
Blueprint. Services, including the exchange privilege, available to Class A and
Class D investors through Blueprint, however, may differ from those available to
other investors in Class A or Class D shares.

Class A and Class D shares are offered at net asset value to Blueprint
participants through the Merrill Lynch Directed IRA Rollover Program (the "IRA
Rollover Program") available from Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, a
business unit of Merrill Lynch. The IRA Rollover Program is available to
custodian rollover assets from employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans
(as defined below) whose trustee and/or plan sponsor has entered into the IRA
Rollover Program.

Orders for purchases and redemptions of Class A or Class D shares of the
Fund may be grouped for execution purposes which, in some circumstances, may
involve the execution of such orders two business days following the day such
orders are placed. The minimum initial purchase price is $100, with a $50
minimum for subsequent purchases through Blueprint. There are no minimum initial
or subsequent purchase requirements for participants who are part of an
automatic investment plan. Additional information concerning purchases through
Blueprint, including any annual fees and transaction charges, is available from
Merrill Lynch, Pierce,

29
<PAGE> 70

Fenner & Smith Incorporated, The BlueprintSM Program, P.O. Box 30441, New
Brunswick, New Jersey 08989-0441.

TMA(SM) Managed Trusts. Class A shares are offered at net asset value to
TMASM Managed Trusts to which Merrill Lynch Trust Company provides discretionary
trustee services.

Employee AccessSM Accounts. Provided applicable threshold requirements are
met, either Class A or Class D shares are offered at net asset value to Employee
AccessSM Accounts available through authorized employers. The initial minimum
investment for such accounts is $500, except that the initial minimum investment
for shares purchased for such accounts pursuant to the Automatic Investment
Program is $50.

Employer-Sponsored Retirement or Savings Plans and Certain Other
Arrangements. Certain employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans and
certain other arrangements may purchase Class A or Class D shares at net asset
value, based on the number of employees or number of employees eligible to
participate in the plan, the aggregate amount invested by the plan in specified
investments and/or the services provided by Merrill Lynch to the plan.
Additional information regarding purchases by employer-sponsored retirement or
savings plans and certain other arrangements is available toll-free from Merrill
Lynch Business Financial Services at (800) 237-7777.

Purchase Privilege of Certain Persons. Directors of the Fund, members of
the Boards of other MLAM/FAM-advised investment companies, ML & Co. and its
subsidiaries (the term "subsidiaries," when used herein with respect to ML &
Co., includes MLAM, FAM and certain other entities directly or indirectly wholly
owned and controlled by ML & Co.) and their directors and employees, and any
trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for such persons, may
purchase Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value. The Fund realizes
economies of scale and reduction of sales-related expenses by virtue of the
familiarity of these persons with the Fund. Employees and directors or trustees
wishing to purchase shares of the Fund must satisfy the Fund's suitability
standards.

Class D shares of the Fund are offered at net asset value, without a sales
charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Financial
Consultant who joined Merrill Lynch from another investment firm within six
months prior to the date of purchase by such investor, if the following
conditions are satisfied: first, the investor must advise Merrill Lynch that it
will purchase Class D shares of the Fund with proceeds from a redemption of
shares of a mutual fund that was sponsored by the Financial Consultant's
previous firm and was subject to a sales charge either at the time of purchase
or on a deferred basis; and, second, the investor must establish that such
redemption had been made within 60 days prior to the investment in the Fund and
the proceeds from the redemption had been maintained in the interim in cash or a
money market fund.

Class D shares of the Fund are also offered at net asset value, without a
sales charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Merrill
Lynch Financial Consultant and that has invested in a mutual fund sponsored by a
non-Merrill Lynch company for which Merrill Lynch has served as a selected
dealer and where Merrill Lynch has either received or given notice that such
arrangement will be terminated ("notice") if the following conditions are
satisfied: first, the investor must purchase Class D shares of the Fund with
proceeds from a redemption of shares of such other mutual fund and the shares of
such other fund were subject to a sales charge either at the time of purchase or
on a deferred basis; and, second, such purchase of Class D shares must be made
within 90 days after such notice.

Class D shares of the Fund are offered at net asset value, without a sales
charge, to an investor that has a business relationship with a Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant and that has invested in a mutual fund for which Merrill
Lynch has not served as a selected dealer if the following conditions are
satisfied: first, the investor must advise Merrill Lynch that it will purchase
Class D shares of the Fund with proceeds from the redemption of shares of such
other mutual fund and that such shares have been outstanding for a period of no
less than six months; and, second, such purchase of Class D shares must be made
within 60 days after the redemption and the proceeds from the redemption must be
maintained in the interim in cash or a money market fund.

Closed-End Fund Investment Option. Class A shares of the Fund and certain
other Select Pricing Funds ("Eligible Class A Shares") are offered at net asset
value to shareholders of certain closed-end funds

30
<PAGE> 71
advised by FAM or MLAM who purchased such closed-end fund shares prior to
October 21, 1994 (the date the Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) System commenced
operations) and wish to reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of their
closed-end fund shares of common stock in Eligible Class A Shares, if the
conditions set forth below are satisfied. Alternatively, closed-end fund
shareholders who purchased such shares on or after October 21, 1994 and wish to
reinvest the net proceeds from a sale of their closed-end fund shares are
offered Class A shares (if eligible to buy Class A shares) or Class D shares of
the Fund and other Select Pricing Funds ("Eligible Class D Shares"), if the
following conditions are met. First, the sale of closed-end fund shares must be
made through Merrill Lynch, and the net proceeds therefrom must be immediately
reinvested in Eligible Class A or Eligible Class D Shares. Second, the
closed-end fund shares must either have been acquired in the initial public
offering or be shares representing dividends from shares of common stock
acquired in such offering. Third, the closed-end fund shares must have been
continuously maintained in a Merrill Lynch securities account. Fourth, there
must be a minimum purchase of $250 to be eligible for the investment option.

Shareholders of certain MLAM-advised continuously offered closed-end funds
may reinvest at net asset value the net proceeds from a sale of certain shares
of common stock of such funds in shares of the Fund. Upon exercise of this
investment option, shareholders of Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.
will receive Class A shares of the Fund and shareholders of Merrill Lynch
Municipal Strategy Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc. will receive Class D shares of the Fund, except that shareholders already
owning Class A shares of the Fund will be eligible to purchase additional Class
A shares pursuant to this option, if such additional Class A shares will be held
in the same account as the existing Class A shares and the other requirements
pertaining to the reinvestment privilege are met. In order to exercise this
investment option, a shareholder of one of the above-referenced continuously
offered closed-end funds (an "eligible fund") must sell his or her shares of
common stock of the eligible fund (the "eligible shares") back to the eligible
fund in connection with a tender offer conducted by the eligible fund and
reinvest the proceeds immediately in the designated class of shares of the Fund.
This investment option is available only with respect to eligible shares as to
which no Early Withdrawal Charge or CDSC (each as defined in the eligible fund's
prospectus) is applicable. Purchase orders from eligible fund shareholders
wishing to exercise this investment option will be accepted only on the day that
the related tender offer terminates and will be effected at the net asset value
of the designated class of the Fund on such day.

Acquisition of Certain Investment Companies. The public offering price of
Class D shares may be reduced to the net asset value per Class D share in
connection with the acquisition of the assets of or merger or consolidation with
a personal holding company or a public or private investment company. The value
of the assets or company acquired in a tax-free transaction may be adjusted in
appropriate cases to reduce possible adverse tax consequences to the Fund that
might result from an acquisition of assets having net unrealized appreciation
that is disproportionately higher at the time of acquisition than the realized
or unrealized appreciation of the Fund. The issuance of Class D shares for
consideration other than cash is limited to bona fide reorganizations, statutory
mergers or other acquisitions of portfolio securities that (i) meet the
investment objectives and policies of the Fund; (ii) are acquired for investment
and not for resale (subject to the understanding that the disposition of the
Fund's portfolio securities shall at all times remain within its control); and
(iii) are liquid securities, the value of which is readily ascertainable, which
are not restricted as to transfer either by law or liquidity of market (except
that the Fund may acquire through such transactions restricted or illiquid
securities to the extent the Fund does not exceed the applicable limits on
acquisition of such securities set forth under "Investment Objective and
Policies" herein).

Reductions in or exemptions from the imposition of a sales load are due to
the nature of the investors and/or the reduced sales efforts that will be needed
in obtaining such investments.

DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVES -- CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES

Investors choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives should consider
Class B shares if they intend to hold their shares for an extended period of
time and Class C shares if they are uncertain as to the length of time they
intend to hold their assets in Select Pricing Funds.

31
<PAGE> 72

The public offering price of Class B and Class C shares for investors
choosing the deferred sales charge alternatives is the next determined net asset
value per share without the imposition of a sales charge at the time of
purchase. See "Pricing of Shares -- Determination of Net Asset Value" below.

Because no initial sales charges are deducted at the time of the purchase,
Class B and Class C shares provide the benefit of putting all of the investor's
dollars to work from the time the investment is made. The deferred sales charge
alternatives may be particularly appealing to investors that do not qualify for
the reduction in initial sales charges. Both Class B and Class C shares are
subject to ongoing account maintenance fees and distribution fees; however, the
ongoing account maintenance and distribution fees potentially may be offset to
the extent any return is realized on the additional funds initially invested in
Class B or Class C shares. In addition, Class B shares will be converted into
Class D shares of the Fund after a conversion period of approximately eight
years, and thereafter investors will be subject to lower ongoing fees.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class B Shares

Class B shares that are redeemed within four years of purchase may be
subject to a CDSC at the rates set forth below charged as a percentage of the
dollar amount subject thereto. In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a
redemption, the calculation will be determined in the manner that results in the
lowest applicable rate being charged. The charge will be assessed on an amount
equal to the lesser of the proceeds of redemption or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. Accordingly, no CDSC will be imposed on increases in net asset
value above the initial purchase price. In addition, no CDSC will be assessed on
shares derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. It
will be assumed that the redemption is first of shares held for over four years
or shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or distributions and
then of shares held longest during the four-year period. A transfer of shares
from a shareholder's account to another account will be assumed to be made in
the same order as a redemption.

The following table sets forth the Class B CDSC:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE
OF DOLLAR AMOUNT
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE SUBJECT TO CHARGE
-------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
0-1............................................... 4.0%
1-2............................................... 3.0%
2-3............................................... 2.0%
3-4............................................... 1.0%
4 and thereafter.................................. None
</TABLE>

To provide an example, assume an investor purchased 100 shares at $10 per
share (at a cost of $1,000) and in the third year after purchase, the net asset
value per share is $12 and, during such time, the investor has acquired 10
additional shares upon dividend reinvestment. If at such time the investor makes
his or her first redemption of 50 shares (proceeds of $600), 10 shares will not
be subject to a CDSC because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the
remaining 40 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per
share and not to the increase in net asset value of $2 per share. Therefore,
$400 of the $600 redemption proceeds will be charged at a rate of 2.0% (the
applicable rate in the third year after purchase).

The Class B CDSC may be waived on redemptions of shares in connection with
certain post-retirement withdrawals from an Individual Retirement Account
("IRA") or other retirement plan or following the death or disability (as
defined in the Code) of a shareholder (including one who owns the Class B shares
as joint tenant with his or her spouse), provided the redemption is requested
within one year of the death or initial determination of disability, or, if
later, reasonably promptly following completion of probate. The Class B CDSC
also may be waived on redemptions of shares by certain eligible 401(a) and
eligible 401(k) plans. The CDSC may also be waived for any Class B shares that
are purchased by eligible 401(k) or eligible 401(a) plans that are rolled over
into a Merrill Lynch or Merrill Lynch Trust Company custodied IRA and held in
such account at the time of redemption. The Class B CDSC may also be waived for
any Class B shares that were acquired and held at the time of the redemption in
an Employee AccessSM Account available through employers providing eligible
401(k) plans. The Class B CDSC may also be waived for any Class B shares that

32
<PAGE> 73

are purchased by a Merrill Lynch rollover IRA that was funded by a rollover from
a terminated 401(k) plan managed by the MLAM Private Portfolio Group and held in
such account at the time of redemption. The Class B CDSC may be waived or its
terms may be modified in connection with certain fee-based programs. The Class B
CDSC may also be waived in connection with involuntary termination of an account
in which Fund shares are held or for withdrawal through the Merrill Lynch
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. See "Shareholder Services -- Fee-Based Programs" and
"-- Systematic Withdrawal Plan."

Employer-Sponsored Retirement or Savings Plans and Certain Other
Arrangements. Certain employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans and
certain other arrangements may purchase Class B shares with a waiver of the CDSC
upon redemption, based on the number of employees or number of employees
eligible to participate in the plan, the aggregate amount invested by the plan
in specified investments and/or the services provided by Merrill Lynch to the
plan. Such Class B shares will convert into Class D shares approximately ten
years after the plan purchases the first share of any Select Pricing Fund.
Minimum purchase requirements may be waived or varied for such plans. Additional
information regarding purchases by employer-sponsored retirement or savings
plans and certain other arrangements is available toll-free from Merrill Lynch
Business Financial Services at (800) 237-7777.

Merrill Lynch Blueprint(SM) Program. Class B shares are offered to certain
participants in Blueprint. Blueprint is directed to small investors, group IRAs
and participants in certain affinity groups such as trade associations, credit
unions and benefit plans. Class B shares of the Fund are offered through
Blueprint only to members of certain affinity groups. The CDSC is waived in
connection with purchase orders placed through Blueprint. Services, including
the exchange privilege, available to Class B investors through Blueprint,
however, may differ from those available to other Class B investors. Orders for
purchases and redemptions of Class B shares of the Fund may be grouped for
execution purposes which, in some circumstances, may involve the execution of
such orders two business days following the day such orders are placed. The
minimum initial purchase price is $100, with a $50 minimum for subsequent
purchases through Blueprint. There is no minimum initial or subsequent purchase
requirement for investors who are part of a Blueprint automatic investment plan.
Additional information concerning these Blueprint programs, including any annual
fees or transaction charges, is available from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated, The Blueprint(SM) Program, P.O. Box 30441, New Brunswick,
New Jersey 08989-0441.

Conversion of Class B Shares to Class D Shares. After approximately eight
years (the "Conversion Period"), Class B shares will be converted automatically
into Class D shares of the Fund. Class D shares are subject to an ongoing
account maintenance fee of 0.25% of net assets but are not subject to the
distribution fee that is borne by Class B shares. Automatic conversion of Class
B shares into Class D shares will occur at least once each month (on the
"Conversion Date") on the basis of the relative net asset value of the shares of
the two classes on the Conversion Date, without the imposition of any sales
load, fee or other charge. Conversion of Class B shares to Class D shares will
not be deemed a purchase or sale of the shares for Federal income tax purposes.

In addition, shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends on Class B
shares also will convert automatically to Class D shares. The Conversion Date
for dividend reinvestment shares will be calculated taking into account the
length of time the shares underlying such dividend reinvestment shares were
outstanding. If at the Conversion Date the conversion of Class B shares to Class
D shares of the Fund in a single account will result in less than $50 worth of
Class B shares being left in the account, all of the Class B shares of the Fund
held in the account on the Conversion Date will be converted to Class D shares
of the Fund.

In general, Class B shares of equity Select Pricing Funds will convert
approximately eight years after initial purchase and Class B shares of taxable
and tax-exempt fixed income Select Pricing Funds will convert approximately ten
years after initial purchase. If, during the Conversion Period, a shareholder
exchanges Class B shares with an eight-year Conversion Period for Class B shares
with a ten-year Conversion Period, or vice versa, the Conversion Period
applicable to the Class B shares acquired in the exchange will apply and the
holding period for the shares exchanged will be tacked on to the holding period
for the shares acquired. The

33
<PAGE> 74

Conversion Period also may be modified for investors that participate in certain
fee-based programs. See "Shareholder Services -- Fee-Based Programs."

Class B shareholders of the Fund exercising the exchange privilege
described under "Shareholder Services -- Exchange Privilege" will continue to be
subject to the Fund's CDSC schedule if such schedule is higher than the CDSC
schedule relating to the Class B shares acquired as a result of the exchange.

Share certificates for Class B shares of the Fund to be converted must be
delivered to the Transfer Agent at least one week prior to the Conversion Date
applicable to those shares. In the event such certificates are not received by
the Transfer Agent at least one week prior to the Conversion Date, the related
Class B shares will convert to Class D shares on the next scheduled Conversion
Date after such certificates are delivered.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class C Shares

Class C shares that are redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject
to a 1.0% CDSC charged as a percentage of the dollar amount subject thereto. In
determining whether a Class C CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the
calculation will be determined in the manner that results in the lowest possible
rate being charged. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser
of the proceeds of redemption or the cost of the shares being redeemed.
Accordingly, no Class C CDSC will be imposed on increases in net asset value
above the initial purchase price. In addition, no Class C CDSC will be assessed
on shares derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
It will be assumed that the redemption is first of shares held for over one year
or shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or distributions and
then of shares held longest during the one-year period. The charge will not be
applied to dollar amounts representing an increase in the net asset value since
the time of purchase. A transfer of shares from a shareholder's account to
another account will be assumed to be made in the same order as a redemption.
The Class C CDSC may be waived in connection with certain fee-based programs,
involuntary termination of an account in which Fund shares are held and
withdrawals through the Merrill Lynch Systematic Withdrawal Plan. See
"Shareholder Services -- Fee-Based Programs" and "-- Systematic Withdrawal
Plan."

Class B and Class C Sales Charge Information

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B SHARES*
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Fiscal Year CDSCs Received CDSCs Paid to
Ended October 31, by Distributor Merrill Lynch
- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
1998 $10,325,527 $10,325,527
1997 $10,035,794 $10,035,794
1996 $ 8,468,220 $ 8,468,220
</TABLE>

* Additional Class B CDSCs payable to the Distributor
with respect to the fiscal years ended October 31,
1997 and 1998 may have been waived or converted to a
contingent obligation in connection with a
shareholder's participation in certain fee-based
programs.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Fiscal Year CDSCs Received CDSCs Paid to
Ended October 31, by Distributor Merrill Lynch
- ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
1998 $242,453 $242,453
1997 $215,161 $215,161
1996 $117,278 $117,278
</TABLE>

Merrill Lynch compensates its Financial Consultants for selling Class B and
Class C shares at the time of purchase from its own funds. Proceeds from the
CDSC and the distribution fee are paid to the Distributor and are used in whole
or in part by the Distributor to defray the expenses of dealers (including
Merrill Lynch) related to providing distribution-related services to the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Class B and Class C shares, such as the payment
of compensation to financial consultants for selling Class B and Class C shares
from the dealer's own funds. The combination of the CDSC and the ongoing
distribution fee facilitates the ability of the Fund to sell the Class B and
Class C shares without a sales charge being deducted at the time

34
<PAGE> 75

of purchase. See "Distribution Plans" below. Imposition of the CDSC and the
distribution fee on Class B and Class C shares is limited by the NASD
asset-based sales charge rule. See "Limitations on the Payment of Deferred Sales
Charges" below.

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

Reference is made to "Fees and Expenses" in the Prospectus for certain
information with respect to the separate distribution plans for Class B, Class C
and Class D shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (each
a "Distribution Plan") with respect to the account maintenance and/or
distribution fees paid by the Fund to the Distributor with respect to such
classes.

The Distribution Plans for Class B, Class C and Class D shares each
provides that the Fund pays the Distributor an account maintenance fee relating
to the shares of the relevant class, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the
annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to
shares of the relevant class in order to compensate the Distributor and Merrill
Lynch (pursuant to a sub-agreement) in connection with account maintenance
activities with respect to Class B, Class C and Class D shares. Each of those
classes has exclusive voting rights with respect to the Distribution Plan
adopted with respect to such class pursuant to which account maintenance and/or
distribution fees are paid (except that Class B shareholders may vote upon any
material changes to expenses charged under the Class D Distribution Plan).

The Distribution Plans for Class B and Class C shares each provides that
the Fund also pays the Distributor a distribution fee relating to the shares of
the relevant class, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75%
of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the shares of the
relevant class in order to compensate the Distributor and Merrill Lynch
(pursuant to a sub-agreement) for providing shareholder and distribution
services and bearing certain distribution-related expenses of the Fund,
including payments to financial consultants for selling Class B and Class C
shares of the Fund. The Distribution Plans relating to Class B and Class C
shares are designed to permit an investor to purchase Class B and Class C shares
through dealers without the assessment of an initial sales charge and at the
same time permit the dealer to compensate its financial consultants in
connection with the sale of the Class B and Class C shares.

The Fund's Distribution Plans are subject to the provisions of Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act. In their consideration of each Distribution
Plan, the Directors must consider all factors they deem relevant, including
information as to the benefits of the Distribution Plan to the Fund and each
related class of shareholders. Each Distribution Plan further provides that, so
long as the Distribution Plan remains in effect, the selection and nomination of
Independent Directors shall be committed to the discretion of the Independent
Directors then in office. In approving each Distribution Plan in accordance with
Rule 12b-1, the Independent Directors concluded that there is reasonable
likelihood that each Distribution Plan will benefit the Fund and its related
class of shareholders. Each Distribution Plan can be terminated at any time,
without penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Directors or by
the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding related class of voting
securities of the Fund. A Distribution Plan cannot be amended to increase
materially the amount to be spent by the Fund without the approval of the
related class of shareholders and all material amendments are required to be
approved by the vote of Directors, including a majority of the Independent
Directors who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution
Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. Rule 12b-1 further
requires that the Fund preserve copies of the Distribution Plan and any report
made pursuant to such plan for a period of not less than six years from the date
of the Distribution Plan or such report, the first two years in an easily
accessible place.

Among other things, each Distribution Plan provides that the Distributor
shall provide and the Directors shall review quarterly reports of the
disbursement of the account maintenance and/or distribution fees paid to the
Distributor. Payments under the Distribution Plans are based on a percentage of
average daily net assets attributable to the shares regardless of the amount of
expenses incurred and, accordingly, distribution-related revenues from the
Distribution Plans may be more or less than distribution-related expenses.
Information with respect to the distribution-related revenues and expenses is
presented to the Directors for their consideration in connection with their
deliberations as to the continuance of the Class B and Class C Distribution
Plans annually, as of December 31 of each year, on a "fully allocated accrual"
basis and quarterly on a "direct

35
<PAGE> 76

expense and revenue/cash" basis. On the fully allocated accrual basis, revenues
consist of the account maintenance fees, distribution fees, the CDSCs and
certain other related revenues, and expenses consist of financial consultant
compensation, branch office and regional operation center selling and
transaction processing expenses, advertising, sales promotion and marketing
expenses, corporate overhead and interest expense. On the direct expense and
revenue/cash basis, revenues consist of the account maintenance fees,
distribution fees and CDSCs and the expenses consist of financial consultant
compensation.

As of December 31, 1997, the last date for which fully allocated accrual
data is available, the fully allocated accrual revenues of the Distributor and
Merrill Lynch for the period since the commencement of operations of Class B
shares exceeded the fully allocated accrual expenses by approximately
$17,476,000 (0.183% of Class B net assets at that date). As of October 31, 1998,
direct cash revenues for the period since the commencement of operations of
Class B shares exceeded direct cash expenses by $412,915 (0.491% of Class B net
assets at that date). As of December 31, 1997, the fully allocated accrual
expenses incurred by the Distributor and Merrill Lynch for the period since the
commencement of operations of Class C shares exceeded the fully allocated
accrual revenues by approximately $1,359,000 (0.203% of Class C net assets at
that date). As of October 31, 1998, direct cash revenues for the period since
the commencement of operations of Class C shares exceeded direct cash expenses
by $10,714,236 (2.128% of Class C net assets at that date).

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund paid the Distributor
$89,390,716 pursuant to the Class B Distribution Plan (based on average daily
net assets subject to such Class B Distribution Plan of approximately $9.0
billion), all of which was paid to Merrill Lynch for providing account
maintenance and distribution-related activities and services in connection with
Class B shares. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Fund paid the
Distributor $6,499,610 pursuant to the Class C Distribution Plan (based on
average daily net assets subject to such Class C Distribution Plan of
approximately $650.0 million), all of which was paid to Merrill Lynch for
providing account maintenance and distribution-related activities and services
in connection with Class C shares. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998,
the Fund paid the Distributor $3,693,889 pursuant to the Class D Distribution
Plan (based on average daily net assets subject to such Class D Distribution
Plan of approximately $1.5 billion), all of which was paid to Merrill Lynch for
providing account maintenance activities in connection with Class D shares.

LIMITATIONS ON THE PAYMENT OF DEFERRED SALES CHARGES

The maximum sales charge rule in the Conduct Rules of the NASD imposes a
limitation on certain asset-based sales charges such as the distribution fee and
the CDSC borne by the Class B and Class C shares but not the account maintenance
fee. The maximum sales charge rule is applied separately to each class. As
applicable to the Fund, the maximum sales charge rule limits the aggregate of
distribution fee payments and CDSCs payable by the Fund to (1) 6.25% of eligible
gross sales of Class B shares and Class C shares, computed separately (defined
to exclude shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestments and exchanges), plus
(2) interest on the unpaid balance for the respective class, computed
separately, at the prime rate plus 1% (the unpaid balance being the maximum
amount payable minus amounts received from the payment of the distribution fee
and the CDSC). In connection with the Class B shares, the Distributor has
voluntarily agreed to waive interest charges on the unpaid balance in excess of
0.50% of eligible gross sales. Consequently, the maximum amount payable to the
Distributor (referred to as the "voluntary maximum") in connection with the
Class B shares is 6.75% of eligible gross sales. The Distributor retains the
right to stop waiving the interest charges at any time. To the extent payments
would exceed the voluntary maximum, the Fund will not make further payments of
the distribution fee with respect to Class B shares and any CDSCs will be paid
to the Fund rather than to the Distributor; however, the Fund will continue to
make payments of the account maintenance fee. In certain circumstances the
amount payable pursuant to the voluntary maximum may exceed the amount payable
under the NASD formula. In such circumstances payment in excess of the amount
payable under the NASD formula will not be made.

The following table sets forth comparative information as of October 31,
1998 with respect to the Class B and Class C shares of the Fund indicating the
maximum allowable payments that can be made under the

36
<PAGE> 77

NASD maximum sales charge rule and, with respect to the Class B shares, the
Distributor's voluntary maximum.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DATA CALCULATED AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1998(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
ANNUAL
DISTRIBUTION
ALLOWABLE AMOUNTS FEE AT
ELIGIBLE ALLOWABLE INTEREST ON MAXIMUM PREVIOUSLY AGGREGATE CURRENT NET
GROSS AGGREGATE UNPAID AMOUNT PAID TO UNPAID ASSET
SALES(2) SALES CHARGE(3) BALANCE(4) PAYABLE DISTRIBUTOR(5) BALANCE LEVEL(6)
----------- --------------- ----------- ---------- -------------- --------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS B SHARES FOR THE
PERIOD FEBRUARY 3, 1989
(COMMENCEMENT OF
OPERATIONS) TO OCTOBER
31, 1998
Under NASD Rule as
Adopted.................. $13,779,879 $861,242 $417,514 $1,278,756 $518,107 $760,649 $50,578
Under Distributor's
Voluntary Waiver......... $13,779,879 $861,242 $ 68,900 $ 930,142 $518,107 $412,035 $50,578

CLASS C SHARES, FOR THE
PERIOD OCTOBER 21, 1994
(COMMENCEMENT OF
OPERATIONS) TO OCTOBER
31, 1998
Under NASD Rule as
Adopted.................. $ 807,599 $ 50,475 $ 8,795 $ 59,270 $ 11,795 $ 47,475 $ 3,777
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) Includes information for Merrill Lynch Balanced Fund for Investment and
Retirement, Inc. ("Balanced Fund") for the periods indicated. Effective
March 4, 1996, the Fund acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed
substantially all of the liabilities of Balanced Fund.
(2) Purchase price of all eligible Class B or Class C shares sold during the
periods indicated other than shares acquired through dividend reinvestment
and the exchange privilege.

(3) Includes amounts attributable to exchanges from Summit Cash Reserves Fund
("Summit") which are not reflected in Eligible Gross Sales. Shares of Summit
can only be purchased by exchange from another fund (the "redeemed fund").
Upon such an exchange, the maximum allowable sales charge payment to the
redeemed fund is reduced in accordance with the amount of the redemption.
This amount is then added to the maximum allowable sales charge payment with
respect to Summit. Upon an exchange out of Summit, the remaining balance of
this amount is deducted from the maximum allowable sales charge payment to
Summit and added to the maximum allowable sales charge payment to the fund
into which the exchange is made.

(4) Interest is computed on a monthly basis based upon the prime rate, as
reported in The Wall Street Journal, plus 1.0%, as permitted under the NASD
Rule.

(5) Consists of CDSC payments, distribution fee payments and accruals. Of the
distribution fee payments made with respect to Class B shares prior to July
7, 1993 under the distribution plan in effect at that time, at a 1.0% rate,
0.75% of average daily net assets has been treated as a distribution fee and
0.25% of average daily net assets has been deemed to have been a service fee
and not subject to the NASD maximum sales charge rule. See "What are the
Fund's fees and expenses?" in the Prospectus. This figure may include CDSCs
that were deferred when a shareholder redeemed shares prior to the
expiration of the applicable CDSC period and invested the proceeds, without
the imposition of a sales charge, in Class A shares in conjunction with the
shareholder's participation in the Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund Advisor
(Merrill Lynch MFASM) Program (the "MFA Program"). The CDSC is booked as a
contingent obligation that may be payable if the shareholder terminates
participation in the MFA Program.

(6) Provided to illustrate the extent to which the current level of distribution
fee payments (not including any CDSC payments) is amortizing the unpaid
balance. No assurance can be given that payments of the distribution fee
will reach either the voluntary maximum (with respect to Class B shares) or
the NASD maximum (with respect to Class B and Class C shares).

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Reference is made to "How to Buy, Sell, Transfer and Exchange Shares" in
the Prospectus.

The Fund is required to redeem for cash all shares of the Fund upon receipt
of a written request in proper form. The redemption price is the net asset value
per share next determined after the initial receipt of proper notice of
redemption. Except for any CDSC that may be applicable, there will be no charge
for redemption if the redemption request is sent directly to the Transfer Agent.
Shareholders liquidating their holdings will receive upon redemption all
dividends reinvested through the date of redemption.

The right to redeem shares or to receive payment with respect to any such
redemption may be suspended for more than seven days only for any period during
which trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the Commission or the
NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), for any
period during which an emergency exists as defined by the Commission as a result
of which disposal of portfolio securities or determination of the net asset
value of the Fund is not reasonably practicable, and for such other periods as
the Commission may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the
Fund.

37
<PAGE> 78

The value of shares at the time of redemption may be more or less than the
shareholder's cost, depending in part on the market value of the securities held
by the Fund at such time.

REDEMPTION

A shareholder wishing to redeem shares held with the Transfer Agent may do
so without charge by tendering the shares directly to the Transfer Agent at
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45289, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5289.
Redemption requests delivered other than by mail should be delivered to
Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida
32246-6484. Proper notice of redemption in the case of shares deposited with the
Transfer Agent may be accomplished by a written letter requesting redemption.
Proper notice of redemption in the case of shares for which certificates have
been issued may be accomplished by a written letter as noted above accompanied
by certificates for the shares to be redeemed. Redemption requests should not be
sent to the Fund. The redemption request in either event requires the
signature(s) of all persons in whose name(s) the shares are registered, signed
exactly as such name(s) appear(s) on the Transfer Agent's register. The
signature(s) on the redemption requests must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" as such is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the existence and
validity of which may be verified by the Transfer Agent through the use of
industry publications. Notarized signatures are not sufficient. In certain
instances, the Transfer Agent may require additional documents such as, but not
limited to, trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as executor or
administrator, or certificates of corporate authority. For shareholders
redeeming directly with the Transfer Agent, payments will be mailed within seven
days of receipt of a proper notice of redemption.

At various times the Fund may be requested to redeem shares for which it
has not yet received good payment (e.g., cash, Federal funds or certified check
drawn on a United States bank). The Fund may delay or cause to be delayed the
mailing of a redemption check until such time as it has assured itself that good
payment (e.g., cash, Federal funds or certified check drawn on a United States
bank) has been collected for the purchase of such Fund shares, which will not
exceed 10 days.

REPURCHASE

The Fund also will repurchase Fund shares through a shareholder's listed
securities dealer. The Fund normally will accept orders to repurchase Fund
shares by wire or telephone from dealers for their customers at the net asset
value next computed after the order is placed. Shares will be priced at the net
asset value calculated on the day the request is received, provided that the
request for repurchase is submitted to the dealer prior to fifteen minutes after
the regular close of business on the NYSE (generally, the NYSE closes at 4:00
p.m., Eastern time) and such request is received by the Fund from such dealer
not later than 30 minutes after the close of business on the NYSE on the same
day. Dealers have the responsibility of submitting such repurchase requests to
the Fund not later than 30 minutes after the close of business on the NYSE, in
order to obtain that day's closing price.

The foregoing repurchase arrangements are for the convenience of
shareholders and do not involve a charge by the Fund (other than any applicable
CDSC). Securities firms that do not have selected dealer agreements with the
Distributor, however, may impose a transaction charge on the shareholder for
transmitting the notice of repurchase to the Fund. Merrill Lynch may charge its
customers a processing fee (presently $5.35) to confirm a repurchase of shares
to such customers. Repurchases made directly through the Transfer Agent on
accounts held at the Transfer Agent are not subject to the processing fee. The
Fund reserves the right to reject any order for repurchase, which right of
rejection might adversely affect shareholders seeking redemption through the
repurchase procedure. However, a shareholder whose order for repurchase is
rejected by the Fund may redeem Fund shares as set forth above.

REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE -- CLASS A AND CLASS D SHARES

Shareholders who have redeemed their Class A or Class D shares of the Fund
have a privilege to reinstate their accounts by purchasing Class A or Class D
shares, as the case may be, of the Fund at net asset value without a sales
charge up to the dollar amount redeemed. The reinstatement privilege may be
exercised by

38
<PAGE> 79

sending a notice of exercise along with a check for the amount to be reinstated
to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the date the request for redemption
was accepted by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor. Alternatively, the
reinstatement privilege may be exercised through the investor's Merrill Lynch
Financial Consultant within 30 days after the date the request for redemption
was accepted by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor. The reinstatement will be
made at the net asset value per share next determined after the notice of
reinstatement is received and cannot exceed the amount of the redemption
proceeds.

PRICING OF SHARES

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

Reference is made to "How Shares are Priced" in the Prospectus.

The net asset value of the shares of all classes of the Fund is determined
once daily Monday through Friday as of 15 minutes after the close of business on
the NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The NYSE generally closes at
4:00 p.m., Eastern time. Any assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms
of non-U.S. dollar currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing
market rates as quoted by one or more banks or dealers on the day of valuation.
The NYSE is not open for trading on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by
the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including interest and dividends accrued
but not yet received) minus all liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the
total number of shares outstanding at such time, rounded to the nearest cent.
Expenses, including the fees payable to the Manager and Distributor, are accrued
daily.

The per share net asset value of Class B, Class C and Class D shares
generally will be lower than the per share net asset value of Class A shares,
reflecting the daily expense accruals of the account maintenance, distribution
and higher transfer agency fees applicable with respect to Class B and Class C
shares, and the daily expense accruals of the account maintenance fees
applicable with respect to the Class D shares; moreover, the per share net asset
value of the Class B and Class C shares generally will be lower than the per
share net asset value of Class D shares reflecting the daily expense accruals of
the distribution fees and higher transfer agency fees applicable with respect to
Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. It is expected, however, that the per
share net asset value of the four classes will tend to converge (although not
necessarily meet) immediately after the payment of dividends or distributions,
which will differ by approximately the amount of the expense accrual
differentials between the classes.

Portfolio securities that are traded on stock exchanges are valued at the
last sale price (regular way) on the exchange on which such securities are
traded as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued
or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price for long positions, and
at the last available ask price for short positions. In cases where securities
are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are valued on the exchange
designated by or under the authority of the Directors as the primary market.
Long positions in securities traded in the OTC market are valued at the last
available bid price in the OTC market prior to the time of valuation. Portfolio
securities that are traded both in the OTC market and on a stock exchange are
valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Short positions
in securities traded in the OTC market are valued at the last available ask
price in the OTC market prior to the time of valuation. When the Fund writes an
option, the amount of the premium received is recorded on the books of the Fund
as an asset and an equivalent liability. The amount of the liability is
subsequently valued to reflect the current market value of the option written,
based upon the last sale price in the case of exchange-traded options or, in the
case of options traded in the OTC market, the last asked price. Options
purchased by the Fund are valued at their last sale price in the case of
exchange-traded options or, in the case of options traded in the OTC market, the
last bid price. Other investments, including financial futures contracts and
related options, are stated at market value.

Corporate Loans will be valued in accordance with guidelines established by
the Board of Directors. Under the Fund's current guidelines, Corporate Loans for
which an active secondary market exists to a reliable degree in the opinion of
the Manager and for which the Manager can obtain at least two quotations
39
<PAGE> 80

from banks or dealers in Corporate Loans will be valued by the Manager by
calculating the mean of the last available bid and asked prices for such
Corporate Loans provided by each of two dealers, and then using the mean of
those two means. If only one quote for a particular Corporate Loan is available,
such Corporate Loan will be valued on the basis of the mean of the bid and asked
prices provided by the dealer. In the event no quotes are available, such
Corporate Loan will be valued by a Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors.

Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available
are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction
of the Directors of the Fund. Such valuations and procedures will be reviewed
periodically by the Directors.

Generally, trading in non-U.S. securities, as well as U.S. Government
securities and money market instruments, is substantially completed each day at
various times prior to the close of business on the NYSE. The values of such
securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund's shares are
determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange rates are also generally
determined prior to the close of business on the NYSE. Occasionally, events
affecting the values of such securities and such exchange rates may occur
between the times at which they are determined and the close of business on the
NYSE that may not be reflected in the computation of the Fund's net asset value.

COMPUTATION OF OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

An illustration of the computation of the offering price for Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class D shares of the Fund based on the value of the Fund's net
assets and number of shares outstanding on October 31, 1998 is set forth below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
-------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Assets..................... $1,513,999,059 $6,743,779,776 $503,555,680 $1,316,994,281
============== ============== ============ ==============
Number of Shares Outstanding... 114,233,454 518,159,044 39,159,690 99,542,276
============== ============== ============ ==============
Net Asset Value Per Share (net
assets divided by number of
shares outstanding).......... $ 13.25 $ 13.01 $ 12.86 $ 13.23
Sales Charge (for Class A and
Class D shares: 5.25% of
offering price; 5.54% of net
asset value per share)*...... .73 ** ** .73
-------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Offering Price................. $ 13.98 $ 13.01 $ 12.86 $ 13.96
============== ============== ============ ==============
</TABLE>

- ---------------
* Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; assumes maximum sales charge is
applicable.
** Class B and Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge but may
be subject to a CDSC on redemption of shares. See "Purchase of
Shares -- Deferred Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class B and Class C
Shares -- Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class B Shares" and
"-- Contingent Deferred Sales Charges -- Class C Shares" herein.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors, the Manager is
primarily responsible for the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions and
the allocation of brokerage. The Fund has no obligation to deal with any dealer
or group of dealers in the execution of transactions in portfolio securities of
the Fund. Where possible, the Fund deals directly with the dealers who make a
market in the securities involved except in those circumstances where better
prices and execution are available elsewhere. It is the policy of the Fund to
obtain the best results in conducting portfolio transactions for the Fund,
taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable dealer
spread or commission), the size, type and difficulty of the transaction
involved, the firm's general execution and operations facilities and the firm's
risk in positioning the securities involved. The portfolio securities of the
Fund generally are traded on a principal basis and normally do not involve
either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes. The cost of portfolio securities
transactions of the Fund primarily consists of dealer or underwriter spreads.
While reasonable competitive spreads or commissions are sought, the Fund will
not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or commission available.
Transactions with

40
<PAGE> 81

respect to the securities of small and emerging growth companies in which the
Fund may invest may involve specialized services on the part of the broker or
dealer and thereby entail higher commissions or spreads than would be the case
with transactions involving more widely traded securities.

Subject to obtaining the best net results, dealers who provide supplemental
investment research (such as information concerning tax-exempt securities,
economic data and market forecasts) to the Investment Adviser may receive orders
for transactions by the Fund. Information so received will be in addition to and
not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Manager under its
Management Agreement and the expense of the Manager will not necessarily be
reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental information.
Supplemental investment research obtained from such dealers might be used by the
Manager in servicing all of its accounts and all such research might not be used
by the Manager in connection with the Fund. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of
the NASD and policies established by the Directors of the Fund, the Manager may
consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of brokers or
dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.

Information about the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund including
commissions paid to Merrill Lynch, is set forth in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE PAID TO
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, COMMISSIONS PAID MERRILL LYNCH
----------------------------- ---------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
1998......................................... $10,092,521 $655,667
1997......................................... $ 8,287,221 $238,952
1996......................................... $ 4,122,526 $197,361
</TABLE>

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the brokerage commissions paid
to Merrill Lynch represented 6.50% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid
and involved 5.19% of the Fund's dollar amount of transactions involving payment
of commissions during the year.

The Fund anticipates that its brokerage transactions involving securities
of companies domiciled in countries other than the United States will be
conducted primarily on the principal stock exchanges of such countries.
Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign stock exchange
transactions are generally higher than in the United States, although the Fund
will endeavor to achieve the best net results in effecting its portfolio
transactions. There is generally less governmental supervision and regulation of
foreign stock exchanges and brokers than in the United States.

The Fund's ability and decisions to purchase or sell portfolio securities
may be affected by laws or regulations relating to the convertibility and
repatriation of assets. Because the shares of the Fund are redeemable on a daily
basis in U.S. dollars, the Fund intends to manage its portfolio so as to give
reasonable assurance that it will be able to obtain U.S. dollars to the extent
necessary to meet anticipated redemptions. Under present conditions, it is not
believed that these considerations will have any significant effect on its
portfolio strategy.

Under the Investment Company Act, persons affiliated with the Fund and
persons who are affiliated with such persons are prohibited from dealing with
the Fund as principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless a permissive
order allowing such transactions is obtained from the Commission. Since
transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with dealers acting
as principal for their own accounts, affiliated persons of the Fund, including
Merrill Lynch and any of its affiliates, will not serve as the Fund's dealer in
such transactions. However, affiliated persons of the Fund may serve as its
broker in listed or OTC transactions conducted on an agency basis provided that,
among other things, the fee or commission received by such affiliated broker is
reasonable and fair compared to the fee or commission received by non-affiliated
brokers in connection with comparable transactions. In addition, the Fund may
not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting syndicate for
such securities of which Merrill Lynch is a member or in a private placement in
which Merrill Lynch serves as placement agent except pursuant to procedures
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund that either comply with rules
adopted by the Commission or with interpretations of the Commission staff.

Certain court decisions have raised questions as to the extent to which
investment companies should seek exemptions under the Investment Company Act in
order to seek to recapture underwriting and dealer spreads

41
<PAGE> 82

from affiliated entities. The Directors have considered all factors deemed
relevant and have made a determination not to seek such recapture at this time.
The Directors will reconsider this matter from time to time.

Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act generally prohibits members of the U.S.
national securities exchanges from executing exchange transactions for their
affiliates and institutional accounts that they manage unless the member (i) has
obtained prior express authorization from the account to effect such
transactions, (ii) at least annually furnishes the account with a statement
setting forth the aggregate compensation received by the member in effecting
such transactions, and (iii) complies with any rules the Commission has
prescribed with respect to the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii). To the
extent Section 11(a) would apply to Merrill Lynch acting as a broker for the
Fund in any of its portfolio transactions executed on any such securities
exchange of which it is a member, appropriate consents have been obtained from
the Fund and annual statements as to aggregate compensation will be provided to
the Fund. Securities may be held by, or be appropriate investments for, the Fund
as well as other funds or investment advisory clients of the Manager or FAM.

Because of different objectives or other factors, a particular security may
be bought for one or more clients of the Manager or an affiliate when one or
more clients of the Manager or an affiliate are selling the same security. If
purchases or sales of securities arise for consideration at or about the same
time that would involve the Fund or other clients or funds for which the Manager
or an affiliate act as manager, transactions in such securities will be made,
insofar as feasible, for the respective funds and clients in a manner deemed
equitable to all. To the extent that transactions on behalf of more than one
client of the Manager or an affiliate during the same period may increase the
demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold,
there may be an adverse effect on price.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

The Fund offers a number of shareholder services and investment plans
described below that are designed to facilitate investment in shares of the
Fund. Certain of such services are not available to investors who place purchase
orders for the Fund's shares through the Merrill Lynch BlueprintSM Program. Full
details as to each of such services, copies of the various plans and
instructions as to how to participate in the various services or plans, or how
to change options with respect thereto, can be obtained from the Fund, by
calling the telephone number on the cover page hereof, or from the Distributor
or Merrill Lynch. Certain of these services are available only to U.S.
investors.

INVESTMENT ACCOUNT

Each shareholder whose account is maintained at the Transfer Agent has an
Investment Account and will receive statements, at least quarterly, from the
Transfer Agent. These statements will serve as transaction confirmations for
automatic investment purchases and the reinvestment of ordinary income dividends
and capital gain distributions. The statements will also show any other activity
in the account since the preceding statement. Shareholders will also receive
separate confirmations for each purchase or sale transaction other than
automatic investment purchases and the reinvestment of ordinary income dividends
and capital gains distributions. A shareholder with an account held at the
Transfer Agent may make additions to his or her Investment Account at any time
by mailing a check directly to the Transfer Agent. A shareholder may also
maintain an account through Merrill Lynch. Upon the transfer of shares out of a
Merrill Lynch brokerage account, an Investment Account in the transferring
shareholder's name may be opened automatically at the Transfer Agent.

Share certificates are issued only for full shares and only upon the
specific request of a shareholder who has an Investment Account. Issuance of
certificates representing all or only part of the full shares in an Investment
Account may be requested by a shareholder directly from the Transfer Agent.

Shareholders considering transferring their Class A or Class D shares from
Merrill Lynch to another brokerage firm or financial institution should be aware
that, if the firm to which the Class A or Class D shares are to be transferred
will not take delivery of shares of the Fund, a shareholder either must redeem
the Class A

42
<PAGE> 83

or Class D shares (paying any applicable CDSC) so that the cash proceeds can be
transferred to the account at the new firm or continue to maintain an Investment
Account at the Transfer Agent for those Class A or Class D shares. Shareholders
interested in transferring their Class B or Class C shares from Merrill Lynch
who do not wish to have an Investment Account maintained for such shares at the
Transfer Agent may request their new brokerage firm to maintain such shares in
an account registered in the name of the brokerage firm for the benefit of the
shareholder at the Transfer Agent. If the new brokerage firm is willing to
accommodate the shareholder in this manner, the shareholder must request that he
or she be issued certificates for his or her shares and then must turn the
certificates over to the new firm for re-registration in the new brokerage
firm's name.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

U.S. shareholders of each class of shares of the Fund have an exchange
privilege with certain other Select Pricing Funds and Summit Cash Reserves Fund
("Summit"), a series of Financial Institutions Series Trust, which is a Merrill
Lynch-sponsored money market fund specifically designated for exchange by
holders of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shares of Select Pricing Funds.
Shares with a net asset value of at least $100 are required to qualify for the
exchange privilege and any shares utilized in an exchange must have been held by
the shareholder for at least 15 days. Before effecting an exchange, shareholders
should obtain a currently effective prospectus of the fund into which the
exchange is to be made. Exercise of the exchange privilege is treated as a sale
of the exchanged shares and a purchase of the acquired shares for Federal income
tax purposes.

Exchanges of Class A and Class D Shares. Class A shareholders may exchange
Class A shares of the Fund for Class A shares of a second Select Pricing Fund if
the shareholder holds any Class A shares of the second fund in his or her
account in which the exchange is made at the time of the exchange or is
otherwise eligible to purchase Class A shares of the second fund. If the Class A
shareholder wants to exchange Class A shares for shares of a second Select
Pricing Fund, but does not hold Class A shares of the second fund in his or her
account at the time of the exchange and is not otherwise eligible to acquire
Class A shares of the second fund, the shareholder will receive Class D shares
of the second fund as a result of the exchange. Class D shares also may be
exchanged for Class A shares of a second Select Pricing Fund at any time as long
as, at the time of the exchange, the shareholder holds Class A shares of the
second fund in the account in which the exchange is made or is otherwise
eligible to purchase Class A shares of the second fund. Class D shares are
exchangeable with shares of the same class of other Select Pricing Funds.

Exchanges of Class A or Class D shares outstanding ("outstanding Class A or
Class D shares") for Class A or Class D shares of other Select Pricing Funds or
Class A shares of Summit ("new Class A or Class D shares"), are transacted on
the basis of relative net asset value per Class A or Class D share,
respectively, plus an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the sales
charge previously paid on the outstanding Class A or Class D shares and the
sales charge payable at the time of the exchange on the new Class A or Class D
shares. With respect to outstanding Class A or Class D shares as to which
previous exchanges have taken place, the "sales charge previously paid" shall
include the aggregate of the sales charges paid with respect to such Class A or
Class D shares in the initial purchase and any subsequent exchange. Class A or
Class D shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestment are sold on a no-load
basis in each of the funds offering Class A or Class D shares. For purposes of
the exchange privilege, Class A or Class D shares acquired through dividend
reinvestment shall be deemed to have been sold with a sales charge equal to the
sales charge previously paid on the Class A or Class D shares on which the
dividend was paid. Based on this formula, Class A and Class D shares generally
may be exchanged into the Class A or Class D shares, respectively, of the other
funds with a reduced sales charge or without a sales charge.

Exchanges of Class B and Class C Shares. Each Select Pricing Fund with
Class B or Class C shares outstanding ("outstanding Class B or Class C shares")
offers to exchange its Class B or Class C shares for Class B or Class C shares,
respectively, of another Select Pricing Fund or for Class B shares of Summit
("new Class B or Class C shares") on the basis of relative net asset value per
Class B or Class C share, without the payment of any CDSC that might otherwise
be due on redemption of the outstanding shares. Class B shareholders of the Fund
exercising the exchange privilege will continue to be subject to the Fund's CDSC

43
<PAGE> 84

schedule if such schedule is higher than the CDSC schedule relating to the new
Class B shares acquired through use of the exchange privilege. In addition,
Class B shares of the fund acquired through use of the exchange privilege will
be subject to the Fund's CDSC schedule if such schedule is higher than the CDSC
schedule relating to the Class B or Class C shares of the fund from which the
exchange has been made. For purposes of computing the CDSC that may be payable
on a disposition of the new Class B or Class C shares, the holding period for
the outstanding Class B or Class C shares is "tacked" to the holding period of
the new Class B shares. For example, an investor may exchange Class B or Class C
shares of the Fund for those of Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc. ("Special
Value Fund") after having held the Fund's Class B shares for two and a half
years. The 2% CDSC that generally would apply to a redemption would not apply to
the exchange. Three years later the investor may decide to redeem the Class B
shares of Special Value Fund and receive cash. There will be no CDSC due on this
redemption, since by "tacking" the two and a half year holding period of Fund
Class B shares to the three-year holding period for the Special Value Fund Class
B shares, the investor will be deemed to have held the Special Value Fund Class
B shares for more than five years.

Exchanges for Shares of a Money Market Fund. Class A and Class D shares
are exchangeable for Class A shares of Summit and Class B and Class C shares are
exchangeable for Class B shares of Summit. Class A shares of Summit have an
exchange privilege back into Class A or Class D shares of Select Pricing Funds;
Class B shares of Summit have an exchange privilege back into Class B or Class C
shares of Select Pricing Funds and, in the event of such an exchange, the period
of time that Class B shares of Summit are held will count toward satisfaction of
the holding period requirement for purposes of reducing any CDSC and toward
satisfaction of any Conversion Period with respect to Class B shares. Class B
shares of Summit will be subject to a distribution fee at an annual rate of
0.75% of average daily net assets of such Class B shares. This exchange
privilege does not apply with respect to certain Merrill Lynch fee-based
programs for which alternative exchange arrangements may exist. Please see your
Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant for further information.

Prior to October 12, 1998, exchanges from the Fund and other Select Pricing
Funds into a money market fund were directed to certain Merrill Lynch-sponsored
money market funds other than Summit. Shareholders who have exchanged Select
Pricing Fund shares for shares of such other money market funds and subsequently
wish to exchange those money market fund shares for shares of the Fund will be
subject to the CDSC schedule applicable to such Fund shares, if any. The holding
period for the money market fund shares will not count toward satisfaction of
the holding period requirement for reduction of the CDSC imposed on such shares,
if any, and, with respect to Class B shares, toward satisfaction of the
Conversion Period. However, the holding period for Class B or Class C shares
received in exchange for such money market fund shares will be aggregated with
the holding period for the original shares for purposes of reducing the CDSC or
satisfying the Conversion Period.

Exchanges by Participants in the MFA Program. The exchange privilege is
modified with respect to certain retirement plans which participate in the MFA
Program. Such retirement plans may exchange Class B, Class C or Class D shares
that have been held for at least one year for Class A shares of the same fund on
the basis of relative net asset values in connection with the commencement of
participation in the MFA Program, i.e., no CDSC will apply. The one year holding
period does not apply to shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends. Upon
termination of participation in the MFA Program, Class A shares will be
re-exchanged for the class of shares originally held. For purposes of computing
any CDSC that may be payable upon redemption of Class B or Class C shares so
reacquired, or the Conversion Period for Class B shares so reacquired, the
holding period for the Class A shares will be "tacked" to the holding period for
the Class B or Class C shares originally held. The Fund's exchange privilege is
also modified with respect to purchases of Class A and Class D shares by
non-retirement plan investors under the MFA Program. First, the initial
allocation of assets is made under the MFA Program. Then, any subsequent
exchange under the MFA Program of Class A or Class D shares of a Select Pricing
Fund for Class A or Class D shares of the Fund will be made solely on the basis
of the relative net asset values of the shares being exchanged. Therefore, there
will not be a charge for any difference between the sales charge previously paid
on the shares of the other Select

44
<PAGE> 85

Pricing Fund and the sales charge payable on the shares of the Fund being
acquired in the exchange under the MFA program.

Exercise of the Exchange Privilege. To exercise the exchange privilege, a
shareholder should contact his or her Merrill Lynch Financial Consultant, who
will advise the Fund of the exchange. Shareholders of the Fund, and shareholders
of the other Select Pricing Funds with shares for which certificates have not
been issued, may exercise the exchange privilege by wire through their
securities dealers. The Fund reserves the right to require a properly completed
Exchange Application. This exchange privilege may be modified or terminated in
accordance with the rules of the Commission. The Fund reserves the right to
limit the number of times an investor may exercise the exchange privilege.
Certain funds may suspend the continuous offering of their shares to the general
public at any time and may thereafter resume such offering from time to time.
The exchange privilege is available only to U.S. shareholders in states where
the exchange legally may be made. It is contemplated that the exchange privilege
may be applicable to other new mutual funds whose shares may be distributed by
the Distributor.

FEE-BASED PROGRAMS

Certain Merrill Lynch fee-based programs, including pricing alternatives
for securities transactions (each referred to in this paragraph as a "Program"),
may permit the purchase of Class A shares at net asset value. Under specified
circumstances, participants in certain Programs may deposit other classes of
shares which will be exchanged for Class A shares. Initial or deferred sales
charges otherwise due in connection with such exchanges may be waived or
modified, as may the Conversion Period applicable to the deposited shares.
Termination of participation in a Program may result in the redemption of shares
held therein or the automatic exchange thereof to another class at net asset
value, which may be shares of a money market fund. In addition, upon termination
of participation in a Program, shares that have been held for less than
specified periods within such Program may be subject to a fee based upon the
current value of such shares. These Programs also generally prohibit such shares
from being transferred to another account at Merrill Lynch, to another
broker-dealer or to the Transfer Agent. Except in limited circumstances (which
may also involve an exchange as described above), such shares must be redeemed
and another class of shares purchased (which may involve the imposition of
initial or deferred sales charges and distribution and account maintenance fees)
in order for the investment not to be subject to Program fees. Additional
information regarding a specific Program (including charges and limitations on
transferability applicable to shares that may be held in such Program) is
available in such Program's client agreement and from the Transfer Agent at
1-800-MER-FUND (1-800-637-3863).

RETIREMENT PLANS

Individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans are available
from Merrill Lynch. Under these plans, investments may be made in the Fund and
certain of the other mutual funds sponsored by Merrill Lynch as well as in other
securities. Merrill Lynch charges an initial establishment fee and an annual
custodial fee for each account. Information with respect to these plans is
available on request from Merrill Lynch. The minimum initial purchase to
establish any such plan is $100, and the minimum subsequent purchase is $1.

AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLANS

A shareholder may make additions to an Investment Account at any time by
purchasing Class A shares (if he or she is an eligible Class A investor) or
Class B, Class C or Class D shares at the applicable public offering price.
These purchases may be made either through the shareholder's securities dealer,
or by mail directly to the Transfer Agent, acting as agent for such securities
dealer. Voluntary accumulation also can be made through a service known as the
Fund's Automatic Investment Plan. The Fund would be authorized, on a regular
basis, to provide systematic additions to the Investment Account of such
shareholder through charges of $50 or more to the regular bank account of the
shareholder by either pre-authorized checks or automated clearing house debits.
For investors that buy shares of the Fund through Blueprint, no minimum charge
to the investor's bank account is required. Alternatively, an investor that
maintains a CMA(R) or CBA(R) account may

45
<PAGE> 86

arrange to have periodic investments made in the Fund in amounts of $100 or more
($1 for retirement accounts) through the CMA(R) or CBA(R) Automated Investment
Program.

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

Unless specific instructions are given as to the method of payment,
dividends will be automatically reinvested, without sales charge, in additional
full and fractional shares of the Fund. Such reinvestment will be at the net
asset value of shares of the Fund as of the close of business on the NYSE on the
monthly payment date for such dividends. No CDSC will be imposed upon redemption
of shares issued as a result of the automatic reinvestment of dividends.

Shareholders may, at any time, by written notification to Merrill Lynch if
their account is maintained with Merrill Lynch, or by written notification or by
telephone (1-800-MER-FUND) to the Transfer Agent, if their account is maintained
with the Transfer Agent elect to have subsequent dividends paid in cash, rather
than reinvested in shares of the Fund or vice versa (provided that, in the event
that a payment on an account maintained at the Transfer Agent would amount to
$10.00 or less, a shareholder will not receive such payment in cash and such
payment will automatically be reinvested in additional shares). Commencing ten
days after the receipt by the Transfer Agent of such notice, those instructions
will be effected. The Fund is not responsible for any failure of delivery to the
shareholder's address of record and no interest will accrue on amounts
represented by uncashed dividend checks. Cash payments can also be directly
deposited to the shareholder's bank account.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN

A shareholder may elect to receive systematic withdrawals from his or her
Investment Account by check or through automatic payment by direct deposit to
his or her bank account on either a monthly or quarterly basis as provided
below. Quarterly withdrawals are available for shareholders that have acquired
shares of the Fund having a value, based on cost or the current offering price,
of $5,000 or more, and monthly withdrawals are available for shareholders with
shares having a value of $10,000 or more.

At the time of each withdrawal payment, sufficient Class A, Class B, Class
C or Class D shares are redeemed from those on deposit in the shareholder's
account to provide the withdrawal payment specified by the shareholder. The
shareholder may specify the dollar amount and the class of shares to be
redeemed. Redemptions will be made at net asset value as determined 15 minutes
after the close of business on the NYSE (generally, the NYSE closes at 4:00
p.m., Eastern time) on the 24th day of each month or the 24th day of the last
month of each quarter, whichever is applicable. If the NYSE is not open for
business on such date, the shares will be redeemed at the net asset value
determined 15 minutes after the close of business on the NYSE on the following
business day. The check for the withdrawal payment will be mailed, or the direct
deposit of the withdrawal payment will be made, on the next business day
following redemption. When a shareholder is making systematic withdrawals,
dividends and distributions on all shares in the Investment Account are
reinvested automatically in Fund shares. A shareholder's Systematic Withdrawal
Plan may be terminated at any time, without charge or penalty, by the
shareholder, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or the Distributor.

With respect to redemptions of Class B or Class C shares pursuant to a
systematic withdrawal plan, the maximum number of Class B or Class C shares that
can be redeemed from an account annually shall not exceed 10% of the value of
shares of such class in that account at the time the election to join the
systematic withdrawal plan was made. Any CDSC that otherwise might be due on
such redemption of Class B or Class C shares will be waived. Shares redeemed
pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan will be redeemed in the same order as
Class B or Class C shares are otherwise redeemed. See "Purchase of
Shares -- Deferred Sales Charge Alternatives -- Class B and Class C Shares."
Where the systematic withdrawal plan is applied to Class B shares, upon
conversion of the last Class B shares in an account to Class D shares, the
systematic withdrawal plan will be applied thereafter to Class D shares if the
shareholder so elects. If an investor wishes to change the amount being
withdrawn in a systematic withdrawal plan the investor should contact his or her
Financial Consultant.

46
<PAGE> 87

Withdrawal payments should not be considered as dividends. Each withdrawal
is a taxable event. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested
dividends, the shareholder's original investment may be reduced correspondingly.
Purchases of additional shares concurrent with withdrawals are ordinarily
disadvantageous to the shareholder because of sales charges and tax liabilities.
The Fund will not knowingly accept purchase orders for shares of the Fund from
investors that maintain a Systematic Withdrawal Plan unless such purchase is
equal to at least one year's scheduled withdrawals or $1,200, whichever is
greater. Automatic investments may not be made into an Investment Account in
which the shareholder has elected to make systematic withdrawals.

Alternatively, a shareholder whose shares are held within a CMA(R), CBA(R)
Account or Retirement Account may elect to have shares redeemed on a monthly,
bimonthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis through the CMA(R) or CBA(R)
Systematic Redemption Program. The minimum fixed dollar amount redeemable is
$50. The proceeds of systematic redemptions will be posted to the shareholder's
account three business days after the date the shares are redeemed. All
redemptions are made at net asset value. A shareholder may elect to have his or
her shares redeemed on the first, second, third or fourth Monday of each month,
in the case of monthly redemptions, or of every other month, in the case of
bimonthly redemptions. For quarterly, semiannual or annual redemptions, the
shareholder may select the month in which the shares are to be redeemed and may
designate whether the redemption is to be made on the first, second, third or
fourth Monday of the month. If the Monday selected is not a business day, the
redemption will be processed at net asset value on the next business day. The
CMA(R) or CBA(R) Systematic Redemption Program is not available if Fund shares
are being purchased within the account pursuant to the Automated Investment
Program. For more information on the CMA(R) or CBA(R) Systematic Redemption
Program, eligible shareholders should contact their Merrill Lynch Financial
Consultant.

DIVIDENDS AND TAXES

DIVIDENDS

It is the Fund's intention to distribute all of its net investment income,
if any. Dividends from such investment income are paid annually. All net
realized capital gains, if any, are distributed to the Fund's shareholders at
least annually. Premiums from expired call options written by the Fund and net
gains from closing purchase transactions are treated as short-term capital gains
for Federal income tax purposes. Shareholders may elect in writing to receive
any such dividends in cash. See "Shareholder Services -- Automatic Dividend
Reinvestment Plan" for information concerning the manner in which dividends may
be reinvested automatically in shares of the Fund. Dividends are taxable to
shareholders, as described below, whether they are invested in shares of the
Fund or received in cash. The per share dividends on Class B and Class C shares
will be lower than the per share dividends and distributions on Class A and
Class D shares as a result of the account maintenance, distribution and higher
transfer agency fees applicable with respect to the Class B and Class C shares;
similarly, the per share dividends on Class D shares will be lower than the per
share dividends on Class A shares as a result of the account maintenance fees
applicable with respect to the Class D shares. See "Pricing of
Shares -- Determination of Net Asset Value."

TAXES

The Fund intends to continue to qualify for the special tax treatment
afforded regulated investment companies ("RICs") under the Code. As long as the
Fund so qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will not be subject to
Federal income tax on the part of its net ordinary income and net realized
capital gains that it distributes to Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D
shareholders (together, the "shareholders"). The Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of such income.

The Code requires a RIC to pay a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent
the RIC does not distribute, during each calendar year, 98% of its ordinary
income, determined on a calendar year basis, and 98% of its capital gains,
determined, in general, on an October 31 year end, plus certain undistributed
amounts from previous years. While the Fund intends to distribute its income and
capital gains in the manner necessary to

47
<PAGE> 88

minimize imposition of the 4% excise tax, there can be no assurance that
sufficient amounts of the Fund's taxable income and capital gains will be
distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the tax. In such event, the Fund
will be liable for the tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the
foregoing distribution requirements.

Dividends paid by the Fund from its ordinary income or from an excess of
net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses (together
referred to hereafter as "ordinary income dividends") are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions made from an excess of net
long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses (including gains or
losses from certain transactions in warrants, futures and options) ("capital
gain dividends") are taxable to shareholders as long-term gains, regardless of
the length of time the shareholder has owned Fund shares. Any loss upon the sale
or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as
long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by
the shareholder. Distributions in excess of the Fund's earnings and profits will
first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a holder's shares and, after such
adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such
holder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). Certain categories of
capital gains are taxable at different rates. Generally not later than 60 days
after the close of its taxable year, the Fund will provide its shareholders with
a written notice designating the amount of any capital gain dividends, as well
as any amount of capital gain dividends in the different categories of capital
gain referred to above.

Dividends are taxable to shareholders even though they are reinvested in
additional shares of the Fund. Distributions by the Fund, whether from ordinary
income or capital gains, generally will not be eligible for the dividends
received deduction allowed to corporations under the Code. If the Fund pays a
dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or
December to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months,
then such dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund
and received by its shareholders on December 31 of the year in which such
dividend was declared.

No gain or loss will be recognized by Class B shareholders on the
conversion of their Class B shares into Class D shares. A shareholder's basis in
the Class D shares acquired will be the same as such shareholder's basis in the
Class B shares converted, and the holding period of the acquired Class D shares
will include the holding period of the converted Class B shares.

If a shareholder exercises an exchange privilege within 90 days of
acquiring the shares, then the loss the shareholder can recognize on the
exchange will be reduced (or the gain increased) to the extent any sales charge
paid to the Fund reduces any sales charge the shareholder would have owed upon
the purchase of the new shares in the absence of the exchange privilege.
Instead, such sales charge will be treated as an amount paid for the new shares.

A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be
disallowed if other Fund shares are acquired (whether through the automatic
reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days
before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed of. In
such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss.

Ordinary income dividends paid to shareholders who are nonresident aliens
or foreign entities will be subject to a 30% United States withholding tax under
existing provisions of the Code applicable to foreign individuals and entities
unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided
under applicable treaty law. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their
own tax advisers concerning applicability of the United States withholding tax.

Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to withholding
and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Shareholders
may be able to claim U.S. foreign tax credits with respect to such taxes,
subject to certain conditions and limitations contained in the Code. For
example, certain retirement accounts cannot claim foreign tax credits on
investments in foreign securities held in the Fund. In addition, recent
legislation permits a foreign tax credit to be claimed with respect to
withholding tax on a dividend only if the shareholder meets certain holding
period requirements. The Fund also must meet these holding requirements, and if
the Fund fails to do so, it will not be able to "pass through" to shareholders
the ability to claim a credit or a

48
<PAGE> 89

deduction for the related foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If the Fund satisfies
the holding period requirements and if more than 50% in value of its total
assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign
corporations, the Fund will be eligible, and intends, to file an election with
the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund will be
required to include their proportionate shares of such withholding taxes in
their U.S. income tax returns as gross income, treat such proportionate shares
as taxes paid by them, and deduct such proportionate shares in computing their
taxable incomes or, alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits against their
U.S. income taxes. No deductions for foreign taxes, moreover, may be claimed by
noncorporate shareholders who do not itemize deductions. A shareholder that is a
nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation may be subject to U.S.
withholding tax on the income resulting from the Fund's election described in
this paragraph but may not be able to claim a credit or deduction against such
U.S. tax for the foreign taxes treated as having been paid by such shareholder.
The Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount per share of such
withholding taxes and other information needed to claim the foreign tax credit.
For this purpose, the Fund will allocate foreign taxes and foreign source income
among the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shareholders according to a
method (which it believes is consistent with the Commission rule permitting the
issuance and sale of multiple classes of stock) that is based on the gross
income allocable to the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shareholders
during the taxable year or such other method as the Internal Revenue Service may
prescribe.

Under certain provisions of the Code, some shareholders may be subject to a
31% withholding tax on ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and
redemption payments ("backup withholding"). Generally, shareholders subject to
backup withholding will be those for whom no certified taxpayer identification
number is on file with the Fund or who, to the Fund's knowledge, have furnished
an incorrect number. When establishing an account, an investor must certify
under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that such investor is
not otherwise subject to backup withholding.

The Fund may invest in securities rated in the medium to lower rating
categories of nationally recognized rating organizations, and in unrated
securities ("high yield/high risk securities"), as previously described. Some of
these high yield/high risk securities may be purchased at a discount and may
therefore cause the Fund to accrue and distribute income before amounts due
under the obligations are paid. In addition, a portion of the interest payments
on such high yield/high risk securities may be treated as dividends for Federal
income tax purposes; in such case, if the issuer of such high yield/high risk
securities is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund will be
eligible for the dividends received deduction to the extent of the deemed
dividend portion of such interest payments.

The Fund may make investments that produce taxable income that is not
matched by a corresponding receipt of cash or an offsetting loss deduction. Such
investments would include obligations that have original issue discount,
obligations that accrue discount and obligations that are subordinated in the
mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities structure. Such taxable income would
be treated as income earned by the Fund and would be subject to the distribution
requirements of the Code. Because such income may not be matched by a
corresponding receipt of cash by the Fund or an offsetting deduction, the Fund
may be required to borrow money or dispose of other securities to be able to
make distributions to shareholders. The Fund intends to make sufficient and
timely distributions to shareholders so as to qualify for treatment as a RIC at
all times.

TAX TREATMENT OF OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS

The Fund may write, purchase or sell options, futures and forward foreign
exchange contracts. Options and futures contracts that are "Section 1256
contracts" will be "marked to market" for Federal income tax purposes at the end
of each taxable year, i.e., each such option or futures contract will be treated
as sold for its fair market value on the last day of the taxable year. Unless
such contract is a forward foreign exchange contract, or is a non-equity option
or a regulated futures contract for a non-U.S. currency for which the Fund
elects to have gain or loss treated as ordinary gain or loss under Code Section
988 (as described below), gain or loss from Section 1256 contracts will be 60%
long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of these rules to
Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund may alter the timing and character of
distributions to shareholders. The mark-to-market rules outlined above, however,
will not apply to certain transactions entered into by the Fund solely to reduce
the risk of changes in price or interest rates with respect to its investments.

49
<PAGE> 90

A forward foreign exchange contract that is a Section 1256 contract will be
marked to market, as described above. However, the character of gain or loss
from such a contract will generally be ordinary under Code Section 988. The Fund
may, nonetheless, elect to treat the gain or loss from certain forward foreign
exchange contracts as capital. In this case, gain or loss realized in connection
with a forward foreign exchange contract that is a Section 1256 contract will be
characterized as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss.

Code Section 1092, which applies to certain "straddles," may affect the
taxation of the Fund's sales of securities and transactions in options, futures
and forward foreign exchange contracts. Under Section 1092, the Fund may be
required to postpone recognition for tax purposes of losses incurred in certain
sales of securities and certain closing transactions in options, futures and
forward foreign exchange contracts.

SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

In general, gains from "foreign currencies" and from foreign currency
options, foreign currency futures and forward foreign exchange contracts
relating to investments in stock, securities or foreign currencies will be
qualifying income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a
RIC. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of a
foreign currency instrument or how foreign currency options, foreign currency
futures and forward foreign exchange contracts will be valued for purposes of
the RIC diversification requirements applicable to the Fund.

Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (i.e., unless
certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In general,
foreign currency gains or losses from certain debt instruments, from certain
forward contracts, from future contracts that are not "regulated futures
contracts" and from unlisted options will be treated as ordinary income or loss
under Code Section 988. In certain circumstances, the Fund may elect capital
gain or loss treatment for such transactions. Regulated futures contracts, as
described above, will be taxed under Code Section 1256 unless application of
Section 988 is elected by the Fund. In general, however, Code Section 988 gains
or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company
taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as ordinary income.
Additionally, if Code Section 988 losses exceed other investment company taxable
income during a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to make any ordinary
income dividend distributions, and all or a portion of distributions made before
the losses were realized but in the same taxable year would be recharacterized
as a return of capital to shareholders, thereby reducing the basis of each
shareholder's Fund shares and resulting in a capital gain for any shareholder
who received a distribution greater than such shareholder's basis in Fund shares
(assuming the shares were held as a capital asset). These rules and the
mark-to-market rules described above, however, will not apply to certain
transactions entered into by the Fund solely to reduce the risk of currency
fluctuations with respect to its investments.

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable
provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations presently in effect. For the
complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and
the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and the Treasury
regulations are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative
action either prospectively or retroactively.

Ordinary income and capital gain dividends may also be subject to state and
local taxes.

Certain states exempt from state income taxation dividends paid by RICs
which are derived from interest on United States Government obligations. State
law varies as to whether dividend income attributable to United States
Government obligations is exempt from state income tax.

Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to Federal, foreign, state or local taxes. Foreign investors should
consider applicable foreign taxes in their evaluation of investment in the Fund.

50
<PAGE> 91

PERFORMANCE DATA

From time to time the Fund may include its average annual total return and
other total return data in advertisements or information furnished to present or
prospective shareholders. Total return figures are based on the Fund's
historical performance and are not intended to indicate future performance.
Average annual total return is determined separately for Class A, Class B, Class
C and Class D shares in accordance with formulas specified by the Commission.

Average annual total return quotations for the specified periods are
computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return (based on net
investment income and any realized and unrealized capital gains or losses on
portfolio investments over such periods) that would equate the initial amount
invested to the redeemable value of such investment at the end of each period.
Average annual total return is computed assuming all dividends and distributions
are reinvested and taking into account all applicable recurring and nonrecurring
expenses, including the maximum sales charge in the case of Class A and Class D
shares and the CDSC that would be applicable to a complete redemption of the
investment at the end of the specified period in the case of Class B and Class C
shares.

The Fund also may quote annual, average annual and annualized total return
and aggregate total return performance data for various periods other than those
noted below. Such data will be computed as described above, except that (1) as
required by the periods of the quotations, actual annual, annualized or
aggregate data, rather than average annual data, may be quoted and (2) the
maximum applicable sales charges will not be included with respect to annual or
annualized rates of return calculations. Aside from the impact on the
performance data calculations of including or excluding the maximum applicable
sales charges, actual annual or annualized total return data generally will be
lower than average annual total return data since the average rates of return
reflect compounding of return; aggregate total return data generally will be
higher than average annual total return data since the aggregate rates of return
reflect compounding over a longer period of time. In order to reflect the
reduced sales charges in the case of Class A or Class D shares or the waiver of
the CDSC in the case of Class B or Class C shares applicable to certain
investors, as described under "Purchase of Shares" the total return data quoted
by the Fund in advertisements directed to such investors may take into account
the reduced, and not the maximum, sales charge or may take into account the
waiver of the CDSC and therefore may reflect greater total return since, due to
the reduced sales charges or the waiver of sales charges, a lower amount of
expenses is deducted. The Fund's total return may be expressed either as a
percentage or as a dollar amount in order to illustrate such total return on a
hypothetical $1,000 investment in the Fund at the beginning of each specified
period.

Set forth in the tables below is total return information for the Class A,
Class B, Class C and Class D shares of the Fund for the periods indicated.

51
<PAGE> 92

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A SHARES CLASS B SHARES
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
EXPRESSED AS REDEEMABLE VALUE EXPRESSED AS REDEEMABLE VALUE
A PERCENTAGE OF A HYPOTHETICAL A PERCENTAGE OF A HYPOTHETICAL
BASED ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT BASED ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT
HYPOTHETICAL AT THE END OF HYPOTHETICAL AT THE END OF
PERIOD $1,000 INVESTMENT THE PERIOD $1,000 INVESTMENT THE PERIOD
------ ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
(EXCLUDING MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended October 31,
1998................................... (4.43)% $ 955.70 (5.37)% $ 947.10
1997................................... 16.08% $1,160.80 14.82% $1,148.20
1996................................... 17.81% $1,178.10 16.71% $1,167.10
1995................................... 14.81% $1,148.10 13.54% $1,135.40
1994................................... 2.14% $1,021.40 1.13% $1,011.30
1993................................... 22.61% $1,226.10 21.42% $1,214.20
1992................................... 11.78% $1,117.80 10.64% $1,106.40
1991................................... 28.89% $1,288.90 27.48% $1,274.80
1990................................... 3.91% $1,039.10 2.93% $1,029.30
Inception (February 3, 1989) to October
31, 1989............................. 9.34% $1,093.40 8.50% $1,085.00
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE TOTAL RETURN
(INCLUDING MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Inception (February 3, 1989) to October
31, 1998............................. 191.46% $2,914.60 178.47% $2,784.70
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C SHARES CLASS D SHARES
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
EXPRESSED AS REDEEMABLE VALUE EXPRESSED AS REDEEMABLE VALUE
A PERCENTAGE OF A HYPOTHETICAL A PERCENTAGE OF A HYPOTHETICAL
BASED ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT BASED ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT
HYPOTHETICAL AT THE END OF HYPOTHETICAL AT THE END OF
PERIOD $1,000 INVESTMENT THE PERIOD $1,000 INVESTMENT THE PERIOD
------ ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
(INCLUDING MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
One Year Ended October 31, 1998........ (6.20)% $ 938.00 (9.63)% $ 903.70
Inception (October 21, 1994) to October
31, 1998............................. 9.48% $1,440.10 8.88% $1,408.70
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
(EXCLUDING MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended October 31,
1998................................... (5.38)% $ 946.20 (4.63)% $ 953.70
1997................................... 14.84% $1,148.40 15.76% $1,157.60
1996................................... 16.68% $1,166.80 17.59% $1,175.90
1995................................... 13.58% $1,135.80 14.43% $1,144.30
Inception (October 21, 1994) to October
31, 1994............................. 0.00% $1,000.00 0.08% $1,000.80
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE TOTAL RETURN
(INCLUDING MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Inception (October 21, 1994) to October
31, 1998............................. 44.01% $1,440.10 40.87% $1,408.70
</TABLE>

On occasion, the Fund may compare its performance to various indices,
including the Financial Times/Standard & Poor's -- Actuaries World Index, the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Standard & Poor's Composite 500 Index, other
market indices, or to performance data published by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc., Morningstar Publications, Inc. ("Morningstar"), CDA Investment Technology,
Inc., Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Business Week, Forbes Magazine,
Fortune Magazine or other industry publications. When comparing its performance
to a market index, the Fund may refer to various statistical measures derived
from the historic performance of the Fund and the index, such as standard
deviation and beta. In addition, from time to time the Fund may include its
Morningstar risk-adjusted performance ratings in advertisements or supplemental
sales literature. As with other performance data, performance comparisons should
not be considered indicative of the Fund's relative performance for any future
period.

52
<PAGE> 93

The Fund's total return will vary depending on market conditions, the
securities comprising the Fund's portfolio, the Fund's operating expenses and
the amount of realized and unrealized net capital gains or losses during the
period. The value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate and an investor's
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June 9, 1988. It has an
authorized capital of 3,550,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10 per
share, divided into four classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C and Class
D Common Stock. Class A consists of 450,000,000 shares, Class B consists of
2,000,000,000 shares, Class C consists of 200,000,000 shares and Class D
consists of 900,000,000 shares. Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D Common
Stock represent an interest in the same assets of the Fund and are identical in
all respects except that the Class B, Class C and Class D shares bear certain
expenses related to the account maintenance and/or distribution of such shares
and have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to such
account maintenance and/or distribution expenditures. The Board of Directors of
the Fund may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional
classes of Common Stock at a future date.

Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held and fractional
votes for fractional shares held and will vote on the election of Directors and
any other matter submitted to a shareholder vote. The Fund does not intend to
hold meetings of shareholders in any year in which the Investment Company Act
does not require shareholders to act on any of the following matters: (i)
election of Directors; (ii) approval of an investment advisory agreement; (iii)
approval of a distribution agreement; and (iv) ratification of selection of
independent auditors. In addition, the by-laws of the Fund require that a
special meeting of shareholders be held on the written request of at least 10%
of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the meeting, if such
request is in compliance with applicable Maryland law. Voting rights for
Directors are not cumulative. Shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable
and have no preemptive rights. Redemption and conversion rights are discussed
elsewhere herein and in the Prospectus. Each share is entitled to participate
equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and in the net
assets of the Fund on liquidation or dissolution after satisfaction of
outstanding liabilities. Stock certificates are issued by the transfer agent
only on specific request. Certificates for fractional shares are not issued in
any case.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Deloitte & Touche LLP, 117 Campus Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540-6400,
has been selected as the independent auditors of the Fund. The selection of
independent auditors is subject to approval by the non-interested Directors of
the Fund. The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the annual
financial statements of the Fund.

CUSTODIAN

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(the "Custodian"), acts as custodian of the Fund's assets. Under its contract
with the Fund, the Custodian is authorized to establish separate accounts in
foreign currencies and to cause foreign securities owned by the Fund to be held
in its offices outside the United States and with certain foreign banks and
securities depositories. The Custodian is responsible for safeguarding and
controlling the Fund's cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of
securities and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund's investments.

TRANSFER AGENT

Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville,
Florida 32246-6484, acts as the Fund's Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent is
responsible for the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares and the opening,
maintenance and servicing of shareholder accounts. See "How to Buy, Sell,
Transfer and Exchange Shares -- Through the Transfer Agent" in the Prospectus.

53
<PAGE> 94

LEGAL COUNSEL

Brown & Wood LLP, One World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0557, is
counsel for the Fund.

REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The fiscal year of the Fund ends on October 31 of each year. The Fund sends
to its shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports showing the Fund's
portfolio and other information. An annual report, containing financial
statements audited by independent auditors, is sent to shareholders each year.
After the end of each year, shareholders will receive Federal income tax
information regarding dividends and capital gains distributions.

SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES

Shareholder inquiries may be addressed to the Fund at the address or
telephone number set forth on the cover page of this Statement of Additional
Information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits
relating thereto, which the Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C., under the Securities Act and the Investment
Company Act, to which reference is hereby made.

To the knowledge of the Fund, no person or entity owned beneficially 5% or
more of any class of the Fund's shares as of February 1, 1999.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Fund's audited financial statements are incorporated in this Statement
of Additional Information by reference to its 1998 annual report to
shareholders. You may request a copy of the annual report at no charge by
calling (800) 456-4587 ext. 789 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any business
day.

54
<PAGE> 95

APPENDIX I

RATINGS OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES

DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.'S ("MOODY'S") CORPORATE RATINGS

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Aaa Bonds which are rated "Aaa" are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk
and are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest
payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as
can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa Bonds which are rated "Aa" are judged to be of high quality
by all standards. Together with the "Aaa" group they
comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They
are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in "Aaa" securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater
amplitude or there may be other elements present which make
the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in "Aaa"
securities.
A Bonds which are rated "A" possess many favorable investment
attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade
obligations. Factors giving security to principal and
interest are considered adequate, but elements may be
present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa Bonds which are rated "Baa" are considered as medium-grade
obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor
poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security
appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack
outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
Ba Bonds which are rated "Ba" are judged to have speculative
elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured.
Often the protection of interest and principal payments may
be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of
position characterizes bonds in this class.
B Bonds which are rated "B" generally lack characteristics of
the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and
principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the
contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa Bonds which are rated "Caa" are of poor standing. Such
issues may be in default or there may be present elements of
danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca bonds which are rated "Ca" represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in
default or have other marked shortcomings.
C Bonds which are rated "C" are the lowest rated class of
bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having
extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real
investment standing.
</TABLE>

Note. Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic
rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the
obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier
2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the
lower end of that generic rating category.

DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

Moody's short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to
repay punctually senior debt obligations. These obligations have an original
maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted. Moody's makes no
representation that rated bank or insurance company obligations are exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or issued in conformity with any
other applicable law or regulation. Nor does Moody's represent that any specific
bank or insurance company obligation is legally

I-1
<PAGE> 96

enforceable or a valid senior obligation of a rated issuer. Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the
relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

PRIME-1. Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a
superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following
characteristics:

- Leading market positions in well-established industries.

- High rates of return on funds employed.

- Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt
and ample asset protection.

- Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.

- Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

PRIME-2. Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a
strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but
to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may
be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.

PRIME-3. Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an
acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The
effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more
pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes
in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively
high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

NOT PRIME. Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the
Prime rating categories.

If an issuer represents to Moody's that its short-term debt obligations are
supported by the credit of another entity or entities, then the name or names of
such supporting entity or entities are listed within the parenthesis beneath the
name of the issuer, or there is a footnote referring the reader to another page
for the name or names of the supporting entity or entities. In assigning ratings
to such issuers, Moody's evaluates the financial strength of the affiliated
corporations, commercial banks, insurance companies, foreign governments or
other entities, but only as one factor in the total rating assessment. Moody's
makes no representation and gives no opinion on the legal validity or
enforceability of any support arrangement.

Moody's ratings are opinions, not recommendations to buy or sell, and their
accuracy is not guaranteed. A rating should be weighed solely as one factor in
an investment decision and you should make your own study and evaluation of any
issuer whose securities or debt obligations you consider buying or selling.

DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S PREFERRED STOCK RATINGS

Because of the fundamental differences between preferred stocks and bonds,
a variation of our familiar bond rating symbols is used in the quality ranking
of preferred stock. The symbols, presented below, are designed to avoid
comparison with bond quality in absolute terms. It should always be borne in
mind that preferred stock occupies a junior position to bonds within a
particular capital structure and that these securities are rated within the
universe of preferred stocks.

Preferred stock rating symbols and their definitions are as follows:

aaa An issue which is rated "aaa" is considered to be a top-quality preferred
stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of
dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.

aa An issue which is rated "aa" is considered to be a high-grade preferred
stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the
earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the
foreseeable future.

I-2
<PAGE> 97

a An issue which is rated "a" is considered to be an upper-medium grade
preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the
"aaa" and "aa" classification, earnings and asset protection are,
nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

baa An issue which is rated "baa" is considered to be a medium-grade preferred
stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset
protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any
great length of time.

ba An issue which is rated "ba" is considered to have speculative elements and
its future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection
may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods.
Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.

b An issue which is rated "b" generally lacks the characteristics of a
desirable investment. Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of
other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

caa An issue which is rated "caa" is likely to be in arrears on dividends
payments. This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future
status of payments.

ca An issue which is rated "ca" is speculative in a high degree and is likely
to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

c This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock. Issues so
rated can thus be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.

Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each rating
classification; the modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher
end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking
and the modifier 3 indicates that the issuer ranks in the lower end of its
generic rating category.

DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S ("STANDARD & POOR'S") CORPORATE DEBT RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current opinion
of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial
obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial
program. It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors,
insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation.

The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a
financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or
suitability for a particular investor.

The ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard
& Poor's does not perform any audit in connection with any rating and may, on
occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed,
suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such
information, or based on other circumstances.

The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

I. Likelihood of payment -- capacity and willingness of the obligor to
meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the
terms of the obligation;

II. Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and

III. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in
the event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the
laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.

AAA Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation
is extremely strong.

AA Debt rated "AA" differs from the highest rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.

I-3
<PAGE> 98

A Debt rated "A" is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher
rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB Debt rated "BBB" exhibits adequate protection parameters. However,
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to
lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.

Debt rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" are regarded as having
significant speculative characteristics. "BB" indicates the least degree
of speculation and "C" the highest. While such debt will likely have
some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by
large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB Debt rated "BB" is less vulnerable to non-payment than other speculative
issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on
the obligation.

B Debt rated "B" is more vulnerable to non-payment than obligations rated
"BB", but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to
meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

CCC Debt rated "CCC" is currently vulnerable to non-payment, and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the
obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event
of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligator is
not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.

CC The rating "CC" is currently highly vulnerable to non-payment.

C The "C" rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy
petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments
on this obligation are being continued.

D The "D" rating, unlike other ratings, is not prospective; rather, it is
used only where a default has actually occurred -- and not where a
default is only expected. Standard & Poor's changes ratings to "D"
either:

- On the day an interest and/or principal payment is due and is not
paid. An exception is made if there is a grace period and Standard &
Poor's believes that a payment will be made, in which case the rating
can be maintained; or

- Upon voluntary bankruptcy filing or similar action. An exception is
made if Standard & Poor's expects that debt service payments will
continue to be made on a specific issue. In the absence of a payment
default or bankruptcy filing, a technical default (i.e., covenant
violation) is not sufficient for assigning a "D" rating.

An issuer credit rating (also known as a corporate credit rating,
counterparty credit rating, natural rating, senior implied rating, or
default risk rating) is changed to "N.M." (for "not meaningful") upon:

- The first occurrence of a payment default on any financial obligation,
rated or unrated, other than a financial obligation subject to a bona
fide commercial dispute. (In this context, preferred stock is not
considered to be a financial obligation. Thus, a missed preferred
stock dividend does not necessarily mean that the issuer credit rating
is changed to "N.M.");

- A voluntary bankruptcy filing by the issuer, or similar action -- even
if the issuer continues debt service payments on some financial
obligations; or

- Seizure of a rated bank by a regulator or placement of an insurer
under regulatory supervision owing to its financial condition. Such
regulatory actions imply substantial uncertainty about the issuer's
ability to continue meeting financial obligations. (An insurer's
claims-paying ability rating
I-4
<PAGE> 99

would go to "R" if the insurer were placed under regulatory supervision
because of its financial condition.)

Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.

N.R. indicates not rated.

Debt obligations of issuers outside the United States and its territories
are rated on the same basis as domestic corporate and municipal issues. The
ratings measure the creditworthiness of the obligor but do not take into account
currency exchange and related uncertainties.

BOND INVESTMENT QUALITY STANDARDS: Under present commercial bank
regulations issued by the Comptroller of the Currency, bonds rated in the top
four categories ("AAA", "AA", "A", "BBB", commonly known as "investment grade"
ratings) are generally regarded as eligible for bank investment. Also, the laws
of various states governing legal investments impose certain rating or other
standards for obligations eligible for investment by savings banks, trust
companies, insurance companies and fiduciaries in general.

DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than
365 days. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from "A" for the
highest-quality obligations to "D" for the lowest. These categories are as
follows:

A-1 A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by
Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain
obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations
is extremely strong.

A-2 A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than
obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity
to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3 A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection
parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the
obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces
major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment
and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.

D Debt rated "D" is in payment default. The "D" rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date
due, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless
Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made during such
grace period.

A commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold
a security inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to
Standard & Poor's by the issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor's from other
sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in
connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial
information. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or unavailability of, such information or based on other
circumstances.

I-5
<PAGE> 100

DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S PREFERRED STOCK RATINGS

A Standard & Poor's preferred stock rating is an assessment of the capacity
and willingness of an issuer to pay preferred stock dividends and any applicable
sinking fund obligations. A preferred stock rating differs from a bond rating
inasmuch as it is assigned to an equity issue, which is intrinsically different
from, and subordinated to, a debt issue. Therefore, to reflect this difference,
the preferred stock rating symbol will normally not be higher than the debt
rating symbol assigned to, or that would be assigned to, the senior debt of the
same issuer.

A preferred stock rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold
a security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability
for a particular investor.

The ratings are based on current information furnished to Standard & Poor's
by the issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers
reliable. Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any
rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The
ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or
unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.

The ratings are based on the following considerations:

I. Likelihood of payment-capacity and willingness of the issuer to meet
the timely payment of preferred stock dividends and any applicable
sinking fund requirements in accordance with the terms of the
obligation;

II. Nature of, and provisions of, the issue;

III. Relative position of the issue in the event of bankruptcy,
reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and
other laws affecting creditors' rights.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
AAA This is the highest rating that may be assigned by Standard
& Poor's to a preferred stock issue and indicates an
extremely strong capacity to pay the preferred stock
obligations.
AA A preferred stock issue rated AA also qualifies as a
high-quality, fixed-income security. The capacity to pay
preferred stock obligations is very strong, although not as
overwhelming as for issues rated AAA.
A An issue rated A is backed by a sound capacity to pay the
preferred stock obligations, although it is somewhat more
susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB An issue rated BBB is regarded as backed by an adequate
capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations. Whereas it
normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make payments for a
preferred stock in this category than for issues in the A
category.
BB Preferred stock rated BB, B, and CCC are regarded, on
B balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the
CCC issuer's capacity to pay preferred stock obligations. BB
indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CCC the
highest. While such issues will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large
uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
CC The rating CC is reserved for a preferred stock issue that
is in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but
that is currently paying.
C A preferred stock rated C is a nonpaying issue.
D A preferred stock rated D is a nonpaying issue with the
issuer in default on debt instruments.
N.R. This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there
is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or
that Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular type of
obligation as a matter of policy.
</TABLE>

Plus (+) or minus (-): To provide more detailed indications of preferred
stock quality, ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus
or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

I-6
<PAGE> 101

CODE #10811-03-99

<PAGE> 102

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
<C> <S> <C>
1(a) -- Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated June 7,
1988.(a)
(b) -- Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated November 28, 1988.(a)
(c) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated December 7, 1992.(a)
(d) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated July 13, 1993.(d)
(e) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated December 16, 1993.(d)
(f) -- Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated October 17, 1994.(b)
(g) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated October 17, 1994.(b)
(h) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated September 9, 1996.(d)
(i) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated November 6, 1996 (including
Certificate of Correction dated February 19, 1997 filed with
respect thereto).(d)
(j) -- Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Incorporation of
the Registrant, dated November 12, 1997.(h)
2 -- By-Laws of the Registrant.(c)
3 -- Portions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended and
supplemented, and the By-Laws of the Registrant defining
rights of Shareholders.(e)
4(a) -- Management Agreement between the Registrant and Merrill
Lynch Asset Management, Inc., dated December 13, 1988.(c)
(b) -- Sub-Advisory Agreement between Merrill Lynch Asset
Management, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Asset Management U.K.
Limited, dated January 18, 1989.(c)
(c) -- Supplement to Management Agreement between the Registrant
and Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P., dated January 3,
1994.(f)
5(a) -- Class A Shares Distribution Agreement between the Registrant
and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc.(f)
(b) -- Class B Shares Distribution Agreement between the Registrant
and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc.(e)
(c) -- Letter Agreement between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch
Funds Distributor, Inc. with respect to the Merrill Lynch
Mutual Fund Adviser Program.(a)
(d) -- Class C Shares Distribution Agreement between the Registrant
and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc.(f)
(e) -- Class D Shares Distribution Agreement between the Registrant
and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc.(f)
6 -- None.
7 -- Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co.(c)
8(a) -- Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder
Servicing Agency Agreement between the Registrant and
Merrill Lynch Financial Data Services, Inc. (now known as
Financial Data Services, Inc.)(c)
(b) -- Form of License Agreement relating to the use of name
between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated.(c)
9 -- Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel to the Registrant.(i)
</TABLE>

C-1
<PAGE> 103

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
<C> <S> <C>
10 -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors for
the Registrant.
11 -- None.
12 -- Certificate of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, Inc.(c)
13(a) -- Amended and Restated Class B Distribution Plan and Class B
Distribution Plan Sub-Agreement of the Registrant.(a)
(b) -- Class C Distribution Plan and Class C Distribution Plan
Sub-Agreement of the Registrant.(f)
(c) -- Class D Distribution Plan and Class D Distribution Plan
Sub-Agreement of the Registrant.(f)
14(a) -- Financial Data Schedule for Class A shares.(j)
(b) -- Financial Data Schedule for Class B shares.(j)
(c) -- Financial Data Schedule for Class C shares.(j)
(d) -- Financial Data Schedule for Class D shares.(j)
15 -- Merrill Lynch Select Pricing(SM) System Plan pursuant to
Rule 18f-3.(g)
</TABLE>

- ---------------

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(a) Filed on February 24, 1994, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 7 to Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (File
No. 33-22462) (the "Registration Statement").
(b) Filed on February 27, 1995, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement.
(c) Filed on February 27, 1996, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 10 to the Registration Statement.
(d) Filed on February 25, 1997, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement.
(e) Reference is made to Article III (Sections 3 and 4), Article
V, Article VI (Sections 2, 3, 5 and 6), Article VII, Article
VIII and Article X of the Registrant's Articles of
Incorporation as amended and supplemented, filed as Exhibits
1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 1(g), 1(h), 1(i) and
1(j) to this Registration Statement, and Article II, Article
III (Sections 1, 3, 5, 6 and 17), Article IV (Section I),
Article V (Section 7), Article VI, Article VII, Article XII,
Article XIII, and Article XIV of the Registrant's By-Laws
filed as Exhibit 2 to the Registration Statement.
(f) Filed on October 18, 1994, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement.
(g) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 18 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 13 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, filed on
January 25, 1996, relating to shares of Merrill Lynch New
York Municipal Bond Fund series of Merrill Lynch Multi-State
Municipal Series Trust (File No. 2-99473).
(h) Filed on February 12, 1998, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 12 to the Registration Statement.
(i) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
(j) Filed on December 31, 1998, as an Exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 13 to the Registration Statement.
</TABLE>

ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.

The Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any other
person.

ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.

Reference is made to Article VI of the Registrant's Articles of
Incorporation, Article VI of the Registrant's By-Laws, Section 2-418 of the
Maryland General Corporation Law and Section 9 of the Distribution Agreements.

C-2
<PAGE> 104

Article VI of the By-Laws provides that each officer and director of the
Registrant shall be indemnified by the Registrant to the full extent permitted
under the General Laws of the State of Maryland, except that such indemnity
shall not protect any such person against any liability to the Registrant or any
stockholder thereof to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his office. Absent a court determination that
an officer or director seeking indemnification was not liable on the merits or
guilty of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, the decision by the
Registrant to indemnify such person must be based upon the reasonable
determination of independent counsel or non-party independent directors, after
review of the facts, that such officer or director is not guilty of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.

The Registrant may purchase insurance on behalf of an officer or director
protecting such person to the full extent permitted under the General Laws of
the State of Maryland from liability arising from his activities as officer or
director of the Registrant. The Registrant, however, may not purchase insurance
on behalf of any officer or director of the Registrant that protects or purports
to protect such person from liability to the Registrant or to its stockholders
to which such officer or director would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Insofar as the conditional advancing of indemnification moneys for actions
based upon the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), 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 which it is ultimately determined he or she 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 Directors,
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, the
Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may
be permitted to Directors, 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 Director, 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 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.

Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. (the "Manager" or "MLAM"), acts as the
investment adviser for the following open-end registered investment companies:
Merrill Lynch Adjustable Rate Securities Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Americas
Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Builder Program, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Asset Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Capital Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Convertible Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Dragon

C-3
<PAGE> 105

Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch EuroFund, Merrill Lynch Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Global Bond Fund for Investment and Retirement, Merrill Lynch
Global Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Holdings, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Global Resources Trust, Merrill Lynch Global SmallCap Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Global Technology Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Utility Fund, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Global Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Growth Fund, Merrill Lynch
Healthcare Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Intermediate Government Bond 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 Real Estate Fund, Inc., 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., Merrill Lynch Variable Series
Funds, Inc. and Hotchkis and Wiley Funds (advised by Hotchkis and Wiley, a
division of MLAM); and for the following closed-end registered investment
companies: Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch
Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. MLAM also acts as sub-adviser to Merrill Lynch
World Strategy Portfolio and Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity Portfolio, two
investment portfolios of EQ Advisors Trust.

Fund Asset Management, L.P. ("FAM"), an affiliate of the Manager, acts as
the investment adviser for the following open-end registered 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 Corporate High
Yield Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Emerging Tigers 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 for the following closed-end registered investment companies:
Apex Municipal Fund, Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc., Corporate High Yield
Fund II, Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund III, Inc., Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.,
Debt Strategies Fund II, Inc., Debt Strategies Fund III, Inc., Income
Opportunities Fund 1999, Inc., Income Opportunities Fund 2000, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Municipal Strategy Fund, Inc., MuniAssets Fund, Inc., MuniEnhanced Fund,
Inc., MuniHoldings Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc., MuniHoldings
California Insured Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings California Insured Fund II, Inc.,
MuniHoldings California Insured Fund III, Inc., MuniHoldings California Insured
Fund IV, Inc., MuniHoldings Florida Insured Fund, MuniHoldings Florida Insured
Fund II, MuniHoldings Florida Insured Fund III, MuniHoldings Florida Insured
Fund IV, MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings Michigan Insured Fund,
Inc., MuniHoldings New Jersey Insured Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings New Jersey
Insured Fund II, Inc., MuniHoldings New Jersey Insured Fund III, Inc.,
MuniHoldings New York Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings New York Insured Fund, Inc.,
MuniHoldings New York Insured Fund II, Inc., MuniHoldings New York Insured Fund
III, Inc., MuniInsured Fund, Inc., MuniVest Fund, Inc., MuniVest Fund II, Inc.,
MuniVest Florida Fund, MuniVest Michigan Insured Fund, Inc., MuniVest New Jersey
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., MuniYield Florida Fund, MuniYield
Florida Insured Fund, MuniYield Fund, Inc., MuniYield Insured Fund, 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
Pennsylvania Fund, MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc., MuniYield Quality Fund II,
Inc., Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc. and Worldwide DollarVest Fund, Inc.

The address of each of these registered 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 Intermediate Government Bond
Fund is One Financial Center, 23rd Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2665. The
address of the Manager, FAM, Princeton Services, Inc. ("Princeton Services") and
Princeton Administrators, L.P. ("Princeton Administrators") is also P.O. Box
9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011.

C-4
<PAGE> 106

The address of Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc. ("PFD") and of Merrill Lynch
Funds Distributor ("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 10281-1201. The address of the
Fund's transfer agent, Financial Data Services, Inc. ("FDS"), 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 or entity has been engaged since
November 1, 1996 for his, her or its own account or in the capacity of director,
officer, partner or trustee. In addition, Mr. Glenn is Executive Vice President
and Mr. Burke is Vice President and Treasurer of all or substantially all of the
investment companies described in the first two paragraphs of this Item 26, and
Messrs. Giordano and Monagle are officers of one or more of such companies.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION(S) WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS,
NAME MANAGER PROFESSION, VOCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
---- ------------------------ ----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ML & Co.......................... Limited Partner Financial Services Holding
Company; Limited Partner of FAM
Princeton Services............... General Partner General Partner of FAM
Jeffrey M. Peek.................. President President of FAM; President and
Director of Princeton Services;
Executive Vice President of ML &
Co.; Managing Director and Co-Head
of the Investment Banking Division
of Merrill Lynch in 1997; Senior
Vice President and Director of the
Global Securities and Economics
Division of Merrill Lynch from
1995 to 1997
Terry K. Glenn................... Executive Vice President Executive Vice President of FAM;
Executive Vice President and
Director of Princeton Services;
President and Director of PFD;
Director of FDS; President of
Princeton Administrators
Donald C. Burke.................. Senior Vice President, Senior Vice President and
Treasurer and Director Treasurer of FAM; Senior Vice
of Taxation President and Treasurer of
Princeton Services; Vice President
of PFD; First Vice President of
the Manager from 1997 to 1999;
Vice President of the Manager from
1990 to 1997
</TABLE>

C-5
<PAGE> 107

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION(S) WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS,
NAME MANAGER PROFESSION, VOCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
---- ------------------------ ----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Michael G. Clark................. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services; Treasurer and Director
of PFD; First Vice President of
the Manager from 1997 to 1999;
Vice President of the Manager from
1996 to 1997
Mark A. DeSario.................. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Linda L. Federici................ Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Vincent R. Giordano.............. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Michael J. Hennewinkel........... Senior Vice President, Senior Vice President, Secretary
Secretary and General and General Counsel of FAM; Senior
Counsel Vice President of Princeton
Services
Philip L. Kirstein............... Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President, Director
and Secretary of Princeton
Services
Ronald M. Kloss.................. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Debra W. Landsman-Yaros.......... Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services; Vice President of PFD
Stephen M. M. Miller............. Senior Vice President Executive Vice President of
Princeton Administrators; Senior
Vice President of Princeton
Services
Joseph T. Monagle, Jr. .......... Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Brian A. Murdock................. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
Gregory D. Upah.................. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of FAM;
Senior Vice President of Princeton
Services
</TABLE>

Merrill Lynch Asset Management U.K. Limited ("MLAM U.K.") acts as
sub-adviser for the following registered investment companies: The Corporate
Fund Accumulation Program, Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc., Corporate High
Yield Fund II, Inc., Corporate High Yield Fund III, Inc., Debt Strategies Fund,
Inc., Debt Strategies Fund II, Inc., Debt Strategies Fund III, Inc., Income
Opportunities Fund 1999, Inc.,

C-6
<PAGE> 108

Income Opportunities Fund 2000, Inc., Merrill Lynch Americas Income Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Asset Builder Program, Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Growth Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Asset Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Consults International
Portfolio, Merrill Lynch Convertible Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond
Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Dragon Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Emerging Tigers Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
EuroFund, Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Bond
Fund for Investment and Retirement, Merrill Lynch Global Growth Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Global Holdings, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Resources Trust,
Merrill Lynch Global SmallCap Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Technology Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Utility Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Value Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Growth Fund, Merrill Lynch Healthcare Fund, Inc., Merrill
Lynch International Equity Fund, Merrill Lynch Latin America Fund, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Middle East/Africa Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Pacific Fund, Inc., Merrill
Lynch Phoenix Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Real Estate Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Series Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Short-Term Global Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Strategic Dividend Fund, Merrill Lynch Technology Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch Utility Income Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Variable Series Funds,
Inc., Merrill Lynch World Income Fund, Inc., The Municipal Fund Accumulation
Program, Inc. and Worldwide DollarVest Fund, Inc. The address of each of these
registered investment companies is P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-
9011. The address of MLAM U.K. is Milton Gate, 1 Moor Lane, London EC2Y 9HA,
England.

Set forth below is a list of each executive officer and director of MLAM
U.K. indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a
substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged since November 1,
1996, for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer,
partner or trustee. In addition, Mr. Albert is an officer of one or more of the
registered investment companies listed in the first two paragraphs of this Item
26:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS,
NAME POSITIONS WITH MLAM U.K. PROFESSION, VOCATION OR EMPLOYMENT
---- --------------------------- ----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Alan J. Albert................. Senior Managing Director Vice President of MLAM
Nicholas C.D. Hall............. Director Director of Merrill Lynch Europe
PLC; General Counsel of Merrill
Lynch International Private
Banking Group
Carol Ann Langham.............. Company Secretary None
Debra Anne Searle.............. Assistant Company Secretary None
</TABLE>

ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.

(a) MLFD, a division of PFD, acts as the principal underwriter for the
Registrant and for each of the open-end registered investment companies referred
to in the first two paragraphs of Item 26 except 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. and The Municipal Fund Accumulation Program, Inc. MLFD also acts as the
principal underwriter for the following closed-end registered investment
companies: Merrill Lynch High Income Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch
Municipal Strategy Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.
A separate division of PFD acts as the principal underwriter of a number of
other investment companies.

(b) Set forth below is information concerning each director and officer of
PFD. The principal business address of each such person is P.O. Box 9081,
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081, except that the address of Messrs. Breen,
Crook, Fatseas and Wasel is One Financial Center, 23rd Floor, Boston,
Massachusetts 02111-2665.

C-7
<PAGE> 109

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION(S) AND OFFICE(S) POSITION(S) AND OFFICE(S)
NAME WITH PFD WITH REGISTRANT
---- ---------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Terry K. Glenn........................... President and Director Executive Vice President
Michael G. Clark......................... Treasurer and Director None
Thomas J. Verage......................... Director None
Robert W. Crook.......................... Senior Vice President None
Michael J. Brady......................... Vice President None
William M. Breen......................... Vice President None
Donald C. Burke.......................... Vice President Vice President and
Treasurer
James T. Fatseas......................... Vice President None
Debra W. Landsman-Yaros.................. Vice President None
Michelle T. Lau.......................... Vice President None
Salvatore Venezia........................ Vice President None
William Wasel............................ Vice President None
Robert Harris............................ Secretary None
</TABLE>

ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder are maintained at the
offices of the Registrant (800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey
08536), and its transfer agent, Financial Data Services, Inc. (4800 Deer Lake
Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484).

ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

Other than as set forth under the caption "Management of the
Fund -- Merrill Lynch Asset Management" in the Prospectus constituting Part A of
the Registration Statement and under "Management of the Fund -- Management and
Advisory Arrangements" in the Statement of Additional Information constituting
Part B of the Registration Statement, the Registrant is not a party to any
management-related service contract.

ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.

Not applicable.

C-8
<PAGE> 110

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment
Company Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for
effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-
Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, duly authorized, in the Township of Plainsboro, and the State
of New Jersey, on the 1st day of March, 1999.

MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND,
INC.
(Registrant)

By: /s/ DONALD C. BURKE

------------------------------------

(Donald C. Burke, Vice President and
Treasurer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following person in the capacities and on
the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<C> <S> <C>

ARTHUR ZEIKEL* President and Director
- --------------------------------------------- (Principal Executive Officer)
(Arthur Zeikel)

DONALD C. BURKE* Vice President and Treasurer
- --------------------------------------------- (Principal Financial and
(Donald C. Burke) Accounting Officer)

DONALD CECIL* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Donald Cecil)

ROLAND M. MACHOLD* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Roland M. Machold)

EDWARD H. MEYER* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Edward H. Meyer)

CHARLES C. REILLY* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Charles C. Reilly)

RICHARD R. WEST* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Richard R. West)

EDWARD D. ZINBARG* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Edward D. Zinbarg)

*By: /s/ DONALD C. BURKE March 1, 1999
- ---------------------------------------------
(Donald C. Burke, Attorney-in-Fact)
</TABLE>

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<PAGE> 111

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned, a director of each of the Maryland corporations listed
below and a trustee of each of the Massachusetts business trusts listed below,
hereby authorizes Arthur Zeikel, Terry K. Glenn, Donald C. Burke, Barbara G.
Fraser, Phillip S. Gillespie, Robert Harris, Philip M. Mandel, Ira P. Shapiro or
Michael J. Hennewinkel, or any of them, as attorney-in-fact, to sign on his
behalf any amendments to the Registration Statement for each of the following
registered investment companies and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission; Merrill Lynch Americas Income Fund,
Inc.; Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Dragon
Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Emerging Tigers Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch EuroFund;
Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Global Bond Fund for
Investment and Retirement; Merrill Lynch Global Holdings, Inc.; Merrill Lynch
Global SmallCap Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Global Technology Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch Global Value Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Healthcare Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch International Equity Fund; Merrill Lynch Latin America Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch Middle East/Africa Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Pacific Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch Short-Term Global Income Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Technology Fund, Inc.;
and Worldwide DollarVest Fund, Inc.

Dated: January 21, 1999

/s/ DONALD CECIL

--------------------------------------

(Donald Cecil)

/s/ ROLAND M. MACHOLD

--------------------------------------

(Roland M. Machold)

/s/ EDWARD H. MEYER

--------------------------------------

(Edward H. Meyer)

/s/ CHARLES C. REILLY

--------------------------------------

(Charles C. Reilly)

/s/ RICHARD B. WEST

--------------------------------------

(Richard B. West)

/s/ ARTHUR ZEIKEL

--------------------------------------

(Arthur Zeikel)

/s/ EDWARD D. ZINBARG

--------------------------------------

(Edward D. Zinbarg)

C-10
<PAGE> 112

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned, the Vice President and Treasurer of each of the registered
investment companies listed below, hereby authorizes Arthur Zeikel, Terry K.
Glenn, Barbara G. Fraser, Phillip S. Gillespie, Robert Harris, Philip M. Mandel,
Ira P. Shapiro or Michael J. Hennewinkel, or any of them, as attorney-in-fact,
to sign on his behalf any amendments to the Registration Statement for each of
the following registered investment companies and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission: Merrill Lynch
Americas Income Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc.;
Merrill Lynch Dragon Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Emerging Tigers Fund, Inc.;
Merrill Lynch EuroFund; Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch Global Bond Fund for Investment and Retirement; Merrill Lynch Global
Holdings, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Global SmallCap Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Global
Technology Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Global Value Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch
Healthcare Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund; Merrill Lynch
Latin America Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Middle East/Africa Fund, Inc.; Merrill
Lynch Pacific Fund, Inc.; Merrill Lynch Short-Term Global Income Fund, Inc.;
Merrill Lynch Technology Fund, Inc.; and Worldwide DollarVest Fund, Inc.

Dated: January 22, 1999

/s/ DONALD C. BURKE

--------------------------------------

(Donald C. Burke)

C-11
<PAGE> 113

EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
<C> <S> <C>
10 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors for
the Registrant.
</TABLE>

<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 99.10

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment
No. 14 to Registration Statement No. 33-22462 of our report dated December 17,
1998 appearing in the annual report to shareholders of Merrill Lynch Global
Allocation Fund, Inc. for the year ended October 31, 1998, and to the reference
to us under the caption "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus, which is a
part of such Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Princeton, New Jersey
February 25, 1999