Exhibit 99(a) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT - ---------------------------- We have audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the consolidated financial statements of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 1993 and December 25, 1992 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1993 and have issued our report thereon dated February 28, 1994. Such financial statements and our report, included herein as Exhibit 28 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 9, 1994, are included in the Company's 1993 Annual Report to Stockholders. We have also previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the consolidated balance sheets of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 27, 1991, December 28, 1990 and December 29, 1989 and the related statements of consolidated earnings, changes in consolidated stockholders' equity and consolidated cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 28, 1990 (none of which are presented or incorporated by reference herein); and we expressed unqualified opinions on those financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the Selected Financial Data under the captions Operating Results, Financial Position and Common Share Data, included herein as Exhibit 28, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated financial statements from which it has been derived. /s/ Deloitte & Touche New York, New York February 28, 1994