FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PRUEHER JOSEPH W
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. [MER]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC., 4 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2009
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10080
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/01/2009   D   4,547 (1) D $ 0 (2) 0 I Trust
Common Stock 01/01/2009   D   14,165 (1) D $ 24.08 (3) 0 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 44.33 01/01/2009   D     2,454 05/01/2002 10/22/2011 Common Stock 2,454 $ 0 (4) 0 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 42.67 01/01/2009   D     5,098 11/01/2002 04/26/2012 Common Stock 5,098 $ 0 (4) 0 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 40.62 01/01/2009   D     5,356 11/01/2003 04/28/2013 Common Stock 5,356 $ 0 (4) 0 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 56.88 01/01/2009   D     3,824 11/01/2004 04/23/2014 Common Stock 3,824 $ 0 (4) 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PRUEHER JOSEPH W
C/O MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
4 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
NEW YORK, NY 10080
  X      

Signatures

 Joseph W. Prueher (By Pia K. Thompson, as agent)   01/05/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This total reflects the acquisition of shares of issuer common stock as a result of contributions, allocations or dividend reinvestments through issuer plans which are exempt from the reporting requirements under the provisions of Rule 16a-3 and/or 16a-11.
(2) Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Bank of America Corporation ("BAC") in exchange for 0.8595 of a share of BAC for each share of issuer common stock, as set forth in the merger agreement. The closing price of BAC common stock on December 31, 2008 was $14.08. This transaction is exempt under Rule 16b-3.
(3) These Deferred Stock Units (the "DSUs"), which were granted to the reporting person pursuant to the terms of the Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Deferred Stock Unit And Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended, and the Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors (together, the "Plans"), were disposed of pursuant to the terms of the Plans which require that, upon a change in control, the DSUs must be liquidated for a cash amount determined pursuant to a formula set forth in the relevant Plan. This transaction is exempt under Rule 16b-3.
(4) These Stock Options, which were granted to the reporting person pursuant to the terms of the Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Deferred Stock Unit And Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended, (the "Plan"), were disposed of pursuant to the terms of the Plan which require that, upon a change in control, the Stock Options must be liquidated for a cash amount determined pursuant to a formula set forth in the Plan. This transaction is exempt under Rule 16b-3.
 
Remarks:
All reported positions have been rounded down to the nearest whole number.

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