MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT II
24F-2NT, 1997-02-26
Previous: MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT II, 24F-2NT, 1997-02-26
Next: STRATUS FUND INC, NSAR-A, 1997-02-26



<PAGE>   1


                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 24F-2

                        Annual Notice of Securities Sold
                             Pursuant to Rule 24f-2

                        Read instructions at end of Form
                          before preparing Form. Please
                                 print or type.

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

1.       Name and address of issuer: Merrill Lynch Life Variable Life Separate
                                                  Account II
                                               800 Scudders Mill Road
                                               Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536


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

2.       Name of each series or class of funds for which this notice is filed:
         NOT APPLICABLE

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

3.       Investment Company Act File Number: 811-6227

         Securities Act File Number(s): 33-43055*, 33-43056, 33-43057, 33-43058,
                                        33-43059 and 33-43060
         *The fee, if any, is being paid on the filing for 33-43055.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.       Last day of fiscal year for which this notice is filed:

                           December 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.       Check box if this notice is being filed more than 180 days after the
         close of the issuer's fiscal year for purposes of reporting securities
         sold after the close of the fiscal year but before termination of the
         issuer's 24f-2 declaration [ ]:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       -1-

<PAGE>   2


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

6.       Date of termination of issuer's declaration under rule 24f-2(a)(1), if
         applicable (see Instruction A.6):

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

7.       Number and amount of securities of the same class or series which had
         been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 other than pursuant to
         rule 24f-2 in a prior fiscal year, but which remained unsold at the
         beginning of the fiscal year: NONE

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

8.       Number and amount of securities registered during the fiscal year other
         than pursuant to rule 24f-2: NONE

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

9.       Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal
         year: $8,662,019


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

10.      Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal
         year in reliance upon registration pursuant to rule 24f-2: $8,662,019


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

11.      Number and aggregate sale price of securities issued during the fiscal
         year in connection with dividend reinvestment plans, if applicable (see
         Instruction B.7): NONE

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

                                       -2-

<PAGE>   3


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

12.      Calculation of registration fee:           
                                                    
                                                    
(1)     Aggregate sale price of securities sold     
        during the fiscal year in reliance on rule  
        24f-2 (from Item 10):                          $ 8,662,019
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(ii)    Aggregate price of shares issued in         
        connection with dividend reinvestment       
        plans (from Item 11, if applicable):           +         $0
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(iii)   Aggregate price of shares redeemed or       
        repurchased during the fiscal year (if      
        applicable):                                   -  $221,214,776
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(iv)    Aggregate price of shares redeemed or       
        repurchased and previously applied as a     
        reduction to filing fees pursuant to rule   
        24e-2 (if applicable):                         +         $0
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(v)     Net aggregate price of securities sold      
        and issued during the fiscal year in        
        reliance on rule 24f-2 (line (i), plus      
        line (ii), less line (iii), plus line       
        (iv) (if applicable):                             ($212,552,757)
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(vi)    Multiplier prescribed by Section 6(b) of    
        the Securities Act of 1933 or other         
        applicable law or regulation (see           
        Instruction C.6):                           
                                                       x     1/3300
                                                       ---------------------
                                                    
(vii)   Fee due [line (i) or line (v) multiplied    
        by line (vi)]:                                 $      00.00*
                                                       =====================
                                                    

Instruction:          Issuers should complete lines (ii), (iii), (iv), and 
                      (v) only if the form is being filed within 60 days 
                      after the close of the issuer's fiscal year.  See 
                      Instruction C.3.

*The fee, if any, is being paid on the filing for 33-43055.

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

                                       -3-

<PAGE>   4


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

13.      Check box if fees are being remitted to the Commission's lockbox
         depository as described in section 3a of the Commission's Rules of
         Informal and Other Procedures (17 CFR 202.3a). [ ]

         Date of mailing or wire transfer of filing fees to the Commission's
         lockbox depository:


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

                                   SIGNATURES

         This report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
         the issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

         By (Signature and Title)*  
                          /s/  Joseph E. Crowne, Jr. Chief Financial Officer
                         -------------------------------------------------------

                 Joseph E. Crowne, Jr. Chief Financial Officer
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

         Date      February 25, 1997
               --------------------------------------

*Please print the name and title of the signing officer below the signature.


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

                                       -4-


<PAGE>   1


[MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY]






                                                              February 25, 1997



Board of Directors
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536

To the Board of Directors:

         This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration of
variable life insurance policies under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act")
pursuant to the provisions of Rule 24f-2 ("Rule") under the Investment Company
Act of 1940. In rendering this opinion, I have reviewed such matters of fact and
issues of law as I have deemed necessary or appropriate.

         During the year ended December 31, 1996, Merrill Lynch Life Insurance
Company ("Company") sold $8,662,019 of variable life insurance policies pursuant
to registration statements of the Merrill Lynch Life Variable Life Separate
Account II under the 1933 Act, File Nos. 33-43055, 33-43056, 33-43057, 33-43058,
33-43059 and 33-43060. The registration of the policies so sold is to be made
definite by the filing of a Rule 24f-2 Notice in accordance with the Rule.

         In my opinion, the policies the registration of which is made definite
by the filing of the Notice were legally issued and are legal and binding
obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms.

                                                     Very truly yours,



                                                     /s/   Edward W. Diffin, Jr.
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Edward W. Diffin, Jr.
                                                     Vice President and
                                                     Senior Counsel





© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission