Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-38792
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2000
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated June 15, 2000)
[LOGO] Merrill Lynch
Protected Growth(SM) Investing
Pursuit of Growth, Protection of Principal
2,500,000 Units
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Callable Nasdaq-100(R) Market Index Target-Term Securities(R)
due July , 2007
"Callable MITTS(R) Securities"
$10 principal amount per unit
--------------
The Callable MITTS Securities: Payment at maturity:
. 100% principal protection at . On the stated maturity date, if
maturity. the Callable MITTS Securities have
. Callable in July 2006 at the option not previously been called, for
of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. each unit of the Callable MITTS
. No payments before the stated Securities you own, we will pay
maturity date unless called. you the principal amount of each
. Senior unsecured debt securities of unit plus an additional amount
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. based on the percentage increase,
. Linked to the value of the Nasdaq- if any, in the value of the
100 Index(R). Nasdaq-100 Index.
. The Callable MITTS Securities have
been approved for listing on the Payment if called by Merrill Lynch &
American Stock Exchange under the Co., Inc.:
trading symbol "MNM".
. If Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
. Expected initial settlement date: elects in July 2006 to call your
July , 2000. Callable MITTS Securities, you
will receive an amount expected to
be between $20 and $22 per unit.
The actual amount will be
determined on the date we price
the Callable MITTS Securities for
initial sale to the public and
will appear in the final
prospectus supplement.
Investing in the Callable MITTS Securities involves risk.
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement.
--------------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per unit Total
-------- -----
Public offering price...................................... $10.00 $
Underwriting discount...................................... $ $
Proceeds, before expenses, to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc..... $ $
--------------
Merrill Lynch & Co. A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
--------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is July , 2000.
"Callable MITTS" and "Market Index Target-Term Securities" are registered
service marks and "Protected Growth" is a service mark of Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc.
"Nasdaq", "Nasdaq-100" and "Nasdaq-100 Index" are trademarks, trade names or
service marks owned by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Page
----
SUMMARY INFORMATION--Q&A.................................................. S-4
What are the Callable MITTS Securities?................................. S-4
What will I receive on the stated maturity date of the Callable MITTS
Securities?............................................................ S-4
How does the call feature work?......................................... S-5
Will I receive interest payments on the Callable MITTS Securities?...... S-6
Who publishes the Nasdaq-100 Index and what does the Nasdaq-100 Index
measure?............................................................... S-6
How has the Nasdaq-100 Index performed historically?.................... S-6
What about taxes?....................................................... S-6
Will the Callable MITTS Securities be listed on a stock exchange?....... S-7
What is the role of MLPF&S?............................................. S-7
Who is ML&Co.?.......................................................... S-7
Are there any risks associated with my investment?...................... S-7
RISK FACTORS.............................................................. S-8
You may not earn a return on your investment............................ S-8
The Callable MITTS Securities are subject to early call................. S-8
Your yield may be lower than the yield on a standard debt security of
comparable maturity.................................................... S-8
Your return will not reflect the return of owning the stocks included in
the Nasdaq-100 Index................................................... S-8
There may be an uncertain trading market for the Callable MITTS
Securities............................................................. S-8
Many factors affect the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities;
these factors interrelate in complex ways and the effect of any one
factor may offset or magnify the effect of another factor.............. S-9
Amounts payable on the Callable MITTS Securities may be limited by state
law.................................................................... S-10
Purchases and sales by us and our affiliates may affect your return..... S-10
Potential conflicts..................................................... S-10
Uncertain tax consequences.............................................. S-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE CALLABLE MITTS SECURITIES.............................. S-12
Payment at maturity..................................................... S-12
Early call of the Callable MITTS Securities at the option of ML&Co...... S-13
Hypothetical returns.................................................... S-13
Adjustments to the Nasdaq-100 Index; Market Disruption Events........... S-15
Discontinuance of the Nasdaq-100 Index.................................. S-15
Events of Default and Acceleration...................................... S-16
Depositary.............................................................. S-17
Same-Day Settlement and Payment......................................... S-19
THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX...................................................... S-19
Computation of the Nasdaq-100........................................... S-20
Historical Data on the Nasdaq-100 Index................................. S-23
License Agreement....................................................... S-24
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION..................................... S-24
General................................................................. S-25
U.S. Holders............................................................ S-26
Hypothetical Table...................................................... S-27
Non-U.S. Holders........................................................ S-28
Backup withholding...................................................... S-29
New withholding regulations............................................. S-29
S-2
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS....................................................... S-29
USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING................................................ S-30
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION........................................ S-30
UNDERWRITING............................................................... S-31
VALIDITY OF THE CALLABLE MITTS SECURITIES.................................. S-32
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS..................................................... S-33
Prospectus
Page
----
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC ................................................ 2
USE OF PROCEEDS.......................................................... 2
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED
FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS............................. 3
THE SECURITIES........................................................... 3
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES........................................... 4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT WARRANTS............................................. 10
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY WARRANTS......................................... 12
DESCRIPTION OF INDEX WARRANTS............................................ 14
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK........................................... 19
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES......................................... 24
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS.................................. 28
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK.............................................. 30
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS..................................... 33
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..................................................... 36
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION...................................... 37
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC........................ 37
EXPERTS.................................................................. 38
S-3
SUMMARY INFORMATION -- Q&A
This summary includes questions and answers that highlight selected
information from this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to
help you understand the Nasdaq-100 Market Index Target-Term Securities(R) due
July , 2007. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus to fully understand the terms of the Callable MITTS
Securities, the Nasdaq-100 Index and the tax and other considerations that are
important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in the Callable
MITTS Securities. You should carefully review the "Risk Factors" section,
which highlights certain risks associated with an investment in the Callable
MITTS Securities, to determine whether an investment in the Callable MITTS
Securities is appropriate for you.
References in this prospectus supplement to "ML&Co.", "we", "us" and
"our" are to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and references to "MLPF&S" are to
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
What are the Callable MITTS Securities?
The Callable MITTS Securities will be a series of senior debt securities
issued by ML&Co. and will not be secured by collateral. The Callable MITTS
Securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt. The Callable MITTS Securities will mature on July , 2007
unless called by ML&Co. in July 2006.
Each unit of Callable MITTS Securities represents $10 principal amount of
Callable MITTS Securities. You may transfer the Callable MITTS Securities only
in whole units. You will not have the right to receive physical certificates
evidencing your ownership except under limited circumstances. Instead, we will
issue the Callable MITTS Securities in the form of a global certificate, which
will be held by The Depository Trust Company, also known as DTC, or its
nominee. Direct and indirect participants in DTC will record your ownership of
the Callable MITTS Securities. You should refer to the section entitled
"Description of the Callable MITTS Securities--Depositary" in this prospectus
supplement.
What will I receive on the stated maturity date of the Callable MITTS
Securities?
We have designed the Callable MITTS Securities for investors who want to
protect their investment by receiving at least the principal amount of their
investment at maturity and who also want to participate in possible increases
in the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index. On the stated maturity date, if we have
not called the Callable MITTS Securities, you will receive a payment on the
Callable MITTS Securities equal to the sum of two amounts: the "principal
amount" and the "Supplemental Redemption Amount", if any.
Principal amount
The "principal amount" per unit is $10.
Supplemental Redemption Amount
The "Supplemental Redemption Amount" per unit will equal:
(Ending Value - Starting Value)
$10 X (-----------------------------)
( Starting Value )
but will not be less than zero.
The "Starting Value" means the closing value of the Nasdaq-100 Index on
the date the Callable MITTS Securities are priced for initial sale to the
public (the "Pricing Date"). We will disclose the Starting Value to you in the
final prospectus supplement delivered to you in connection with sales of the
Callable MITTS Securities.
The "Ending Value" means the average of the values of the Nasdaq-100
Index at the close of the market on five business days shortly before the
maturity of the Callable MITTS Securities. We may calculate the Ending Value
by reference to fewer than five or even by reference to a single day's closing
value if, during the period prior to the stated maturity date of the Callable
MITTS Securities, there is a disruption in the trading of the component stocks
comprising the Nasdaq-100 Index or certain futures or options contracts
relating to the Nasdaq-100 Index.
S-4
Examples
Here are two examples of Supplemental Redemption Amount calculations.
If we call the Callable MITTS Securities during the Call Period, you
will receive only the Call Price and you will not be entitled to
receive any payment on the stated maturity date.
Example 1--The Nasdaq-100 Index is below the Starting Value at maturity.
Hypothetical Starting Value: 3,665.85
Hypothetical Ending Value: 3,299.27
Supplemental Redemption (3,299.27 - 3,665.85)
Amount (per unit) = $10 X (-------------------) = $0.00 (Supplemental
( 3,665.85 ) Redemption
Amount cannot
be less than
zero)
Total payment at maturity (per unit) = $10 + $0.00 = $10
Example 2--The Nasdaq-100 Index is above the Starting Value at maturity:
Hypothetical Starting Value: 3,665.85
Hypothetical Ending Value: 5,315.48
Supplemental Redemption (5,315.48 - 3,665.85)
Amount (per unit) = $10 X (-------------------) = $4.50
( 3,665.85 )
Total payment at maturity (per unit) = $10 + $4.50 = $14.50
For more specific information about the Supplemental Redemption Amount,
please see the section entitled "Description of the Callable MITTS Securities"
in this prospectus supplement.
We will pay you a Supplemental Redemption Amount only if we do not call
the Callable MITTS Securities in July 2006 and the Ending Value is greater than
the Starting Value. If the Ending Value is less than, or equal to, the Starting
Value, the Supplemental Redemption Amount will be zero. We will pay you the
principal amount of the Callable MITTS Securities regardless of whether any
Supplemental Redemption Amount is payable.
How does the call feature work?
We may elect to call the Callable MITTS Securities at an amount expected
to be between $20 per unit and $22 per unit (the "Call Price") on any Business
Day during the month of July 2006 (the "Call Period") by giving notice to the
trustee of the Callable MITTS Securities as described in this prospectus
supplement and specifying the date on which the Call Price will be paid (the
"Payment Date"). The Payment Date will be no later than the twentieth Business
Day after the call election. We will determine the Call Price on the Pricing
Date and disclose it to you in the final prospectus supplement delivered to you
in connection with sales of the Callable MITTS Securities.
S-5
If we elect to call your Callable MITTS Securities during the Call
Period, you will receive only the Call Price and you will not receive a
Supplemental Redemption Amount. If we do not call the Callable MITTS Securities
during the Call Period, the principal amount plus the Supplemental Redemption
Amount, if any, that you receive at the stated maturity date may be greater
than or less than the Call Price.
Will I receive interest payments on the Callable MITTS Securities?
You will not receive any interest payments on the Callable MITTS
Securities, but will instead receive the principal amount plus the Supplemental
Redemption Amount, if any, at maturity, or the Call Price if the Callable MITTS
Securities are called during the Call Period. We have designed the Callable
MITTS Securities for investors who are willing to forego market interest
payments on the Callable MITTS Securities, such as floating interest rates paid
on standard senior non-callable debt securities, in exchange for the ability to
participate in possible increases in the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Who publishes the Nasdaq-100 Index and what does the Nasdaq-100 Index measure?
The Nasdaq-100 Index is a modified capitalization-weighted index of 100
of the largest and most actively traded stocks of non-financial companies
listed on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market. The
Nasdaq-100 Index is currently calculated and published by The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. (the "Nasdaq").
Please note that an investment in the Callable MITTS Securities does not
entitle you to any ownership interest in the stocks of the companies included
in the Nasdaq-100 Index.
How has the Nasdaq-100 Index performed historically?
You can find a table with the closing values of the Nasdaq-100 Index on
the last business day of each month from January 1994 through May 2000, in the
section entitled "The Nasdaq-100 Index" in this prospectus supplement. We have
provided this historical information to help you evaluate the behavior of the
Nasdaq-100 Index in various economic environments; however, past performance of
the Nasdaq-100 Index is not necessarily indicative of how the Nasdaq-100 Index
will perform in the future.
What about taxes?
Each year, you will be required to pay taxes on ordinary income from the
Callable MITTS Securities over their term based upon an estimated yield for the
Callable MITTS Securities, even though you will not receive any payments from
us until maturity. We have determined this estimated yield, in accordance with
regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, solely in order for you to
figure the amount of taxes that you will owe each year as a result of owning
Callable MITTS Securities. This estimated yield is neither a prediction nor a
guarantee of what the actual Supplemental Redemption Amount will be, or that
the actual Supplemental Redemption Amount will even exceed zero. We have
determined that this estimated yield will equal % per annum, compounded
semiannually.
Based upon this estimated yield, if you pay your taxes on a calendar year
basis and if you buy a Callable MITTS Security for $10 and hold the Callable
MITTS Security until maturity, you will be required to pay taxes on the
following amounts of ordinary income from the Callable MITTS Securities each
year: $ in 2000, $ in 2001, $ in 2002, $ in 2003, $ in 2004, $ in
2005, $ in 2006 and $ in 2007. However, in 2007, if we have not called the
Callable MITTS Securities, the amount of ordinary income that you will be
required to pay taxes on from owning that Callable MITTS Security may be
greater or less than $ , depending upon the Supplemental Redemption Amount,
if any, you receive. Also, if the Supplemental Redemption Amount is less than
$ , you may have a loss which you could deduct against other income you may
have in 2007, but under current tax regulations, you would neither be required
nor allowed to amend your tax returns for prior years. For further information,
see the section entitled United States Federal Income Taxation in this
prospectus supplement.
S-6
Will the Callable MITTS Securities be listed on a stock exchange?
The Callable MITTS Securities have been approved for listing on the AMEX
under the symbol "MNM", subject to official notice of issuance. The listing of
the Callable MITTS Securities on the AMEX will not necessarily ensure that a
liquid trading market will be available for the Callable MITTS Securities. You
should review the section entitled "Risk Factors--There may be an uncertain
trading market for the Callable MITTS Securities".
What is the role of MLPF&S?
Our subsidiary MLPF&S is an underwriter for the offering and sale of the
Callable MITTS Securities. After the initial offering, MLPF&S intends to buy
and sell Callable MITTS Securities to create a secondary market for holders of
the Callable MITTS Securities, and may stabilize or maintain the market price
of the Callable MITTS Securities during the initial distribution of the
Callable MITTS Securities. However, MLPF&S will not be obligated to engage in
any of these market activities or continue them once it has started.
MLPF&S will also be our agent for purposes of calculating, among other
things, the Ending Value and the Supplemental Redemption Amount. Under certain
circumstances, these duties could result in a conflict of interest between
MLPF&S' status as our subsidiary and its responsibilities as calculation agent.
Who is ML&Co.?
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. is a holding company with various subsidiary
and affiliated companies that provide investment, financing, insurance and
related services on a global basis.
For information about ML&Co., see the section entitled "Merrill Lynch &
Co., Inc." in the accompanying prospectus. You should also read other documents
ML&Co. has filed with the SEC, which you can find by referring to the section
entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus supplement.
Are there any risks associated with my investment?
Yes, an investment in the Callable MITTS Securities is subject to risk.
Please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in this prospectus
supplement.
S-7
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the Callable MITTS Securities will involve risks. You
should carefully consider the following discussion of risks before deciding
whether an investment in the Callable MITTS Securities is suitable for you.
You may not earn a return on your investment
You should be aware that if the Ending Value does not exceed the Starting
Value, the Supplemental Redemption Amount will be zero. This will be true even
if the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index was higher than the Starting Value at some
time during the life of the Callable MITTS Securities but later falls to or
below the Starting Value. If the Supplemental Redemption Amount is zero and the
Callable MITTS Securities have not been called prior to the stated maturity
date, we will pay you only the principal amount of your Callable MITTS
Securities.
The Callable MITTS Securities are subject to early call
We may elect to call all of the Callable MITTS Securities by giving
notice on any Business Day during the Call Period. We are likely to call the
Callable MITTS Securities during the Call Period if the secondary market price
of the Callable MITTS Securities is approximately equal to or above the Call
Price during that period. In the event that we elect to call the Callable MITTS
Securities, you will receive only the Call Price and no Supplemental Redemption
Amount.
Your yield may be lower than the yield on a standard debt security of
comparable maturity
The amount we pay you at maturity may be less than the return you could
earn on other investments. Your yield may be less than the yield you would earn
if you bought a standard senior non-callable debt security of Merrill Lynch &
Co., Inc. with the same stated maturity date. Your investment may not reflect
the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect
the time value of money.
Your return will not reflect the return of owning the stocks included in the
Nasdaq-100 Index
Your return will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually
owned the stocks underlying the Nasdaq-100 Index and received the dividends
paid on those stocks because Nasdaq calculates the Nasdaq-100 Index by
reference to the prices of the common stocks comprising the Nasdaq-100 Index
without taking into consideration the value of dividends paid on those stocks.
In addition, if Callable MITTS Securities are called during the Call Period,
you will receive only the Call Price and you will not receive any additional
amount based upon the appreciation, if any, in the level of the Nasdaq-100
Index.
There may be an uncertain trading market for the Callable MITTS Securities
The Callable MITTS Securities have been approved for listing on the AMEX
under the trading symbol "MNM", subject to official notice of issuance. While
there have been a number of issuances of series of Market Index Target-Term
Securities, trading volumes have varied historically from one series to another
and it is therefore impossible to predict how the Callable MITTS Securities
will trade. You cannot assume that a trading market will develop for the
Callable MITTS Securities. If a trading market does develop, there can be no
assurance that there will be liquidity in the trading market. The development
of a trading market for the Callable MITTS Securities will depend on our
financial performance and other factors such as the increase, if any, in the
value of the Nasdaq-100 Index.
If the trading market for the Callable MITTS Securities is limited, there
may be a limited number of buyers for your Callable MITTS Securities if you do
not wish to hold your investment until maturity. This may affect the price you
receive.
S-8
Many factors affect the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities; these
factors interrelate in complex ways and the effect of any one factor may offset
or magnify the effect of another factor
The trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities will be affected by
factors that interrelate in complex ways. It is important for you to understand
that the effect of one factor may offset the increase in the trading value of
the Callable MITTS Securities caused by another factor and that the effect of
one factor may exacerbate the decrease in the trading value of the Callable
MITTS Securities caused by another factor. For example, an increase in U.S.
interest rates may offset some or all of any increase in the trading value of
the Callable MITTS Securities attributable to another factor, such as an
increase in the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index. The following paragraphs
describe the expected impact on the market value of the Callable MITTS
Securities given a change in a specific factor, assuming all other conditions
remain constant.
The value of the Nasdaq-100 Index is expected to affect the trading value
of the Callable MITTS Securities. We expect that the market value of the
Callable MITTS Securities will depend substantially on the amount, if any, by
which the Nasdaq-100 Index exceeds the Starting Value. If you choose to sell
your Callable MITTS Securities when the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index exceeds
the Starting Value, you may receive substantially less than the amount that
would be payable at maturity based on this value because of the expectation
that the Nasdaq-100 Index will continue to fluctuate until the Ending Value is
determined. If you choose to sell your Callable MITTS Securities when the value
of the Nasdaq-100 Index is below, or not sufficiently above, the Starting
Value, you may receive less than the $10 principal amount per unit of your
Callable MITTS Securities. In general, rising U.S. dividend rates, or dividends
per share, may increase the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index while falling U.S.
dividend rates may decrease the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Changes in the levels of interest rates are expected to affect the
trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities. Because we will pay, at a
minimum, the principal amount per unit of Callable MITTS Securities at
maturity, we expect that changes in interest rates will affect the trading
value of the Callable MITTS Securities. In general, if U.S. interest rates
increase, we expect that the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities
will decrease and, conversely, if U.S. interest rates decrease, we expect that
the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities will increase. Rising
interest rates may lower the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index and, thus, the
Callable MITTS Securities. Falling interest rates may increase the value of the
Nasdaq-100 Index and, thus, may increase the value of the Callable MITTS
Securities.
Changes in the volatility of the Nasdaq-100 Index are expected to affect
the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities. Volatility is the term used
to describe the size and frequency of price and/or market fluctuations. If the
volatility of the Nasdaq-100 Index increases or decreases the trading value of
the Callable MITTS Securities may be adversely affected.
As the time remaining to maturity of the Callable MITTS Securities
decreases, the "time premium" associated with the Callable MITTS Securities
will decrease. We anticipate that before their maturity, the Callable MITTS
Securities may trade at a value above that which would be expected based on the
level of interest rates and the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index. This difference
will reflect a "time premium" due to expectations concerning the value of the
Nasdaq-100 Index during the period before the stated maturity of the Callable
MITTS Securities. However, as the time remaining to the stated maturity of the
Callable MITTS Securities decreases, we expect that this time premium will
decrease, lowering the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities.
Changes in dividend yields of the stocks included in the Nasdaq-100 Index
are expected to affect the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities. In
general, if dividend yields on the stocks included in the Nasdaq-100 Index
increase, we expect that the value of the Callable MITTS Securities will
decrease and, conversely, if dividend yields on these stocks decrease, we
expect that the value of the Callable MITTS Securities will increase.
S-9
Changes in our credit ratings may affect the trading value of the
Callable MITTS Securities. Our credit ratings are an assessment of our ability
to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit
ratings may affect the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities. However,
because your return on your Callable MITTS Securities is dependent upon factors
in addition to our ability to pay our obligations under the Callable MITTS
Securities, such as the percentage increase, if any, in the value of the
Nasdaq-100 Index at maturity, an improvement in our credit ratings will not
reduce the other investment risks related to the Callable MITTS Securities.
In general, assuming all relevant factors are held constant, we expect
that the effect on the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities of a
given change in most of the factors listed above will be less if it occurs
later in the term of the Callable MITTS Securities than if it occurs earlier in
the term of the Callable MITTS Securities. However, we expect that the effect
on the trading value of the Callable MITTS Securities of a given increase in
the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index will be greater if it occurs later in the
term of the Callable MITTS Securities than if it occurs earlier in the term of
the Callable MITTS Securities.
Amounts payable on the Callable MITTS Securities may be limited by state law
New York State law governs the 1983 Indenture under which the Callable
MITTS Securities will be issued. New York has usury laws that limit the amount
of interest that can be charged and paid on loans, which includes debt
securities like the Callable MITTS Securities. Under present New York law, the
maximum rate of interest is 25% per annum on a simple interest basis. This
limit may not apply to debt securities in which $2,500,000 or more has been
invested.
While we believe that New York law would be given effect by a state or
Federal court sitting outside of New York, many other states also have laws
that regulate the amount of interest that may be charged to and paid by a
borrower. We promise, for the benefit of the Callable MITTS Securities holders,
to the extent permitted by law, not to voluntarily claim the benefits of any
laws concerning usurious rates of interest.
Purchases and sales by us and our affiliates may affect your return
We and our affiliates may from time to time buy or sell the stocks
underlying the Nasdaq-100 Index or futures or options contracts in the Nasdaq-
100 Index for our own accounts for business reasons or in connection with
hedging our obligations under the Callable MITTS Securities. These transactions
could affect the price of these stocks and, in turn, the value of the Nasdaq-
100 Index in a manner that could be adverse to your investment in the Callable
MITTS Securities.
Potential conflicts
Our subsidiary MLPF&S is our agent for the purposes of calculating the
Ending Value and the Supplemental Redemption Amount payable to you at maturity.
Under certain circumstances, MLPF&S role as our subsidiary and its
responsibilities as calculation agent for the Callable MITTS Securities could
give rise to conflicts of interest. These conflicts could occur, for instance,
in connection with its determination as to whether the value of the Nasdaq-100
Index can be calculated on a particular trading day, or in connection with
judgments that it would be required to make in the event of a discontinuance of
the Nasdaq-100 Index. See the sections entitled "Description of the Callable
MITTS Securities-Adjustments to the Nasdaq-100 Index; Market Disruption Events"
and "--Discontinuance of the Nasdaq-100 Index" in this prospectus supplement.
MLPF&S is required to carry out its duties as calculation agent in good faith
and using its reasonable judgment. However, you should be aware that because we
control MLPF&S, potential conflicts of interest could arise.
We have entered into an arrangement with one of our subsidiaries to hedge
the market risks associated with our obligation to pay amounts due at maturity
on the Callable MITTS Securities. This subsidiary expects
S-10
to make a profit in connection with this arrangement. We did not seek
competitive bids for this arrangement from unaffiliated parties.
Uncertain tax consequences
You should consider the tax consequences of investing in the Callable
MITTS Securities, aspects of which are uncertain. See the section entitled
"United States Federal Income Taxation".
S-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE CALLABLE MITTS SECURITIES
ML&Co. will issue the Callable MITTS Securities as a series of senior
debt securities under the 1983 Indenture, which is more fully described in the
accompanying prospectus. Unless called by ML&Co. during the Call Period, the
Callable MITTS Securities will mature on July , 2007.
Unless the Callable MITTS Securities are called during the Call Period,
at the stated maturity a beneficial owner of a Callable MITTS Security will
receive the sum of the principal amount of each Callable MITTS Security plus
the Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any. There will be no other payment of
interest, periodic or otherwise. See the section entitled "--Payment at
maturity".
The Callable MITTS Securities may be called by ML&Co. as described below,
but the Callable MITTS Securites are not subject to redemption at the option
of any beneficial owner before maturity. If an Event of Default occurs with
respect to the Callable MITTS Securities, beneficial owners of the Callable
MITTS Securities may accelerate the maturity of the Callable MITTS Securities,
as described under "--Events of Default and Acceleration" in this prospectus
supplement and "Description of Debt Securities--Events of Default" in the
accompanying prospectus.
ML&Co. will issue the Callable MITTS Securities in denominations of whole
units of $10.00 per unit.
The Callable MITTS Securities do not have the benefit of any sinking
fund.
Payment at maturity
If we do not call the Callable MITTS during the Call Period, a beneficial
owner of a Callable MITTS Security will be entitled to receive at the stated
maturity, the principal amount of that Callable MITTS Security plus a
Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, all as provided below. If the Ending
Value does not exceed the Starting Value, you will be entitled to receive only
the principal amount of your Callable MITTS Securities.
Determination of the Supplemental Redemption Amount
The "Supplemental Redemption Amount" for a Callable MITTS Security will
be determined by the calculation agent and will equal:
principal amount of each MITTS Security (Ending Value - Starting Value)
($10 per unit) X (-----------------------------)
( Starting Value )
provided, however, that in no event will the Supplemental Redemption Amount be
less than zero.
The "Starting Value" means the closing value of the Nasdaq-100 Index on
the Pricing Date. We will disclose the Starting Value to you in the final
prospectus supplement delivered to you in connection with sales of the
Callable MITTS Securities.
The "Ending Value" will be determined by the calculation agent and will
equal the average or arithmetic mean of the closing values of the Nasdaq-100
Index determined on each of the first five Calculation Days during the
Calculation Period. If there are fewer than five Calculation Days, then the
Ending Value will equal the average or arithmetic mean of the closing values
of the Nasdaq-100 Index on those Calculation Days, and if there is only one
Calculation Day, then the Ending Value will equal the closing value of the
Nasdaq-100 Index on that Calculation Day. If no Calculation Days occur during
the Calculation Period, then the Ending Value will equal the closing value of
the Nasdaq-100 Index determined on the last scheduled Index Business Day in
the Calculation Period, regardless of the occurrence of a Market Disruption
Event on that day.
S-12
The "Calculation Period" means the period from and including the seventh
scheduled Index Business Day prior to the maturity date to and including the
second scheduled Index Business Day prior to the maturity date.
A "Calculation Day" means any Index Business Day during the Calculation
Period on which a Market Disruption Event has not occurred.
An "Index Business Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange
and the AMEX are open for trading and the Nasdaq-100 Index or any successor
index is calculated and published.
All determinations made by the calculation agent shall be at the sole
discretion of the calculation agent and, absent a determination by the
calculation agent of a manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and
binding on ML&Co. and the holders and beneficial owners of the Callable MITTS
Securities.
Early call of the Callable MITTS Securities at the option of ML&Co.
During the Call Period, the month of July 2006, ML&Co., in its sole
discretion, may elect to call the Callable MITTS Securities, in whole but not
in part, at the Call Price, by giving notice to the trustee on any Business
Day. The Call Price is expected to be between $20 per unit and $22 per unit. We
will determine the Call Price on the Pricing Date and it will appear in the
final prospectus supplement delivered to you in connection with sales of the
Callable MITTS Securities.
If we elect to call your Callable MITTS Securities during the Call
Period, you will receive only the Call Price and you will not receive a
Supplemental Redemption Amount based on the Nasdaq-100 Index. If we do not call
the Callable MITTS Securities, the principal amount plus the Supplemental
Redemption Amount, if any, that you receive at the stated maturity may be
greater than or less than the Call Price. ML&Co. may elect to call the Callable
MITTS Securities on any Business Day during the Call Period by giving notice to
the trustee and specifying the date on which the Call Price shall be paid. The
Payment Date shall be no later than the twentieth Business Day after the call
election. The trustee will provide notice of the call election to the
registered holders of the Callable MITTS Securities, specifying the Payment
Date, no less than 15 calendar days prior to the Payment Date. While the
Callable MITTS Securities are held at the depositary, the registered holder
will be the depositary, and the depositary will receive the notice of the call.
As more fully described below under "--Depositary", the depositary will forward
this notice to its participants which will pass it onto the beneficial owners.
You should compare the features of the Callable MITTS Securities to other
available investments before deciding to purchase the Callable MITTS
Securities. Due to the uncertainty as to whether the Callable MITTS Securities
will earn a Supplemental Redemption Amount or be called during the Call Period,
the return on investment with respect to the Callable MITTS Securities may be
higher or lower than the return available on other securities issued by ML&Co.
or issued by others. We suggest that you reach an investment decision only
after carefully considering the suitability of the Callable MITTS Securities in
light of your particular circumstances. See the section entitled "United States
Federal Income Taxation".
Hypothetical returns
The following table illustrates, for a range of hypothetical Ending
Values of the Nasdaq-100 Index during the Calculation Period:
. the percentage change from the hypothetical Starting Value to the
hypothetical Ending Value,
. the total amount payable at maturity for each unit of Callable MITTS
Securities,
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. the total rate of return to beneficial owners of the Callable MITTS
Securities,
. the pretax annualized rate of return to beneficial owners of Callable
MITTS Securities, and
. the pretax annualized rate of return of an investment in the stocks
included in the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes an assumed aggregate
dividend yield of 0.03% per annum, as more fully described below.
The table also assumes we do not call the Callable MITTS Securities prior
to the stated maturity date.
Pretax
Percentage change Total amount annualized
Hypothetical from the payable at Pretax annualized rate of return
Ending Value hypothetical maturity per Total rate of rate of return of stocks
during the Starting Value to unit of the return on the on the Callable underlying the
Calculation the hypothetical Callable MITTS Callable MITTS MITTS Nasdaq-100
Period Ending Value Securities(1) Securities(1) Securities (1)(2) Index(2)
------------ ----------------- -------------- -------------- ----------------- --------------
733.17 -80% 10.00 0.00% 0.00% -21.69%
1,466.34 -60% 10.00 0.00% 0.00% -12.64%
2,199.51 -40% 10.00 0.00% 0.00% -7.14%
2,932.68 -20% 10.00 0.00% 0.00% -3.13%
3,665.85(3) 0% 10.00 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
4,399.02 20% 12.00 20.00% 2.62% 2.65%
5,132.19 40% 14.00 40.00% 4.86% 4.90%
5,865.36 60% 16.00 60.00% 6.83% 6.86%
6,598.53 80% 18.00 80.00% 8.57% 8.61%
7,331.70 100% 20.00 100.00% 10.15% 10.18%
8,064.87 120% 22.00 120.00% 11.58% 11.62%
8,798.04 140% 24.00 140.00% 12.90% 12.94%
9,531.21 160% 26.00 160.00% 14.12% 14.16%
- -------
(1) The annualized rates of return specified in the preceding table are
calculated on a semiannual bond equivalent basis.
(2) This rate of return assumes:
(a) a percentage change in the aggregate price of the underlying stocks
that equals the percentage change in the Nasdaq-100 Index from the
hypothetical Starting Value to the relevant hypothetical Ending
Value;
(b) a constant dividend yield of 0.03% per annum, paid quarterly from
the date of initial delivery of the Callable MITTS Securities,
applied to the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index at the end of each
quarter assuming this value increases or decreases linearly from the
hypothetical Starting Value to the applicable hypothetical Ending
Value;
(c) no transaction fees or expenses; and
(d) an investment term of seven years.
(3) This is the hypothetical Starting Value for purposes of calculating the
table above. The actual Starting Value will be determined on the Pricing
Date.
The above figures are for purposes of illustration only. The actual
Supplemental Redemption Amount received by investors and the resulting total
and pretax annualized rates of return will depend entirely on the actual
Starting Value and Ending Value determined by the calculation agent as
described in this prospectus supplement.
S-14
Adjustments to the Nasdaq-100 Index; Market Disruption Events
If at any time Nasdaq changes its method of calculating the Nasdaq-100
Index, or the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index changes, in any material respect,
or if the Nasdaq-100 Index is in any other way modified so that the Nasdaq-100
Index does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the
value of the Nasdaq-100 Index had those changes or modifications not been made,
then, from and after that time, the calculation agent shall, at the close of
business in New York, New York, on each date that the closing value of the
Nasdaq-100 Index is to be calculated, make any adjustments as, in the good
faith judgment of the calculation agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at
a calculation of a value of a stock index comparable to the Nasdaq-100 Index as
if those changes or modifications had not been made, and calculate the closing
value with reference to the Nasdaq-100 Index, as so adjusted. Accordingly, if
the method of calculating the Nasdaq-100 Index is modified so that the value of
the Nasdaq-100 Index is a fraction or a multiple of what it would have been if
it had not been modified, e.g., due to a split, then the calculation agent
shall adjust the Nasdaq-100 Index in order to arrive at a value of the Nasdaq-
100 Index as if it had not been modified, e.g., as if a split had not occurred.
"Market Disruption Event" means either of the following events, as
determined by the calculation agent:
(a) a suspension, material limitation or absence of trading on the The
Nasdaq Stock Market of 20% or more of the underlying stocks which
then comprise the Nasdaq-100 Index or a successor index during the
one-half hour period preceding the close of trading on the
applicable exchange; or
(b) the suspension or material limitation on the The Nasdaq Stock Market
or any other major futures or securities market from trading in
futures or options contracts related to the Nasdaq-100 Index or a
successor index during the one-half hour period preceding the close
of trading on the applicable exchange.
For the purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has
occurred:
1. a limitation on the hours or number of days of trading will not
constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced
change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange;
2. a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures
or options contract will not constitute a Market Disruption Event;
3. a suspension in trading in a futures or options contract on the
Nasdaq-100 Index by a major securities market for more than two hours
by reason of (a) a price change violating limits set by that
securities market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating to those
contracts, or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to those
contracts will constitute a suspension or material limitation of
trading in futures or options contracts related to the Nasdaq-100
Index; and
4. an absence of trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market will not include any
time when The Nasdaq Stock Market is closed for trading under
ordinary circumstances.
Discontinuance of the Nasdaq-100 Index
If Nasdaq discontinues publication of the Nasdaq-100 Index and Nasdaq or
another entity publishes a successor or substitute index that the calculation
agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the Nasdaq-100
Index (a "successor index"), then, upon the calculation agents notification of
any determination to the trustee and ML&Co., the calculation agent will
substitute the successor index as calculated by Nasdaq or any other entity for
the Nasdaq-100 Index and calculate the closing value as described above under
"--Payment at maturity". Upon any selection by the calculation agent of a
successor index, ML&Co. shall cause notice to be given to holders of the
Callable MITTS Securities.
S-15
In the event that Nasdaq discontinues publication of the Nasdaq-100 Index
and:
. the calculation agent does not select a successor index, or
. the successor index is no longer published on any of the Calculation
Days,
the calculation agent will compute a substitute value for the Nasdaq-100 Index
in accordance with the procedures last used to calculate the Nasdaq-100 Index
before any discontinuance. If a successor index is selected or the calculation
agent calculates a value as a substitute for the Nasdaq-100 Index as described
below, the successor index or value will be used as a substitute for the
Nasdaq-100 Index for all purposes, including for purposes of determining
whether a Market Disruption Event exists, and the Calculation Period and the
Calculation Days shall be determined as if each Business Day were an Index
Business Day.
If the Nasdaq discontinues publication of the Nasdaq-100 Index before the
period during which the Supplemental Redemption Amount is to be determined and
the calculation agent determines that no successor index is available at that
time, then on each Business Day until the earlier to occur of:
. the determination of the Ending Value, or
. a determination by the calculation agent that a successor index is
available,
the calculation agent will determine the value that would be used in computing
the Supplemental Redemption Amount as described in the preceding paragraph as
if that day were a Calculation Day. The calculation agent will cause notice of
each value to be published not less often than once each month in The Wall
Street Journal or another newspaper of general circulation, and arrange for
information with respect to these values to be made available by telephone.
A "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
are authorized or obligated by law to close and that is a day on the NYSE, the
Nasdaq National Market System and the AMEX are open for trading.
Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, discontinuance of the
publication of the Nasdaq-100 Index may adversely affect trading in the
Callable MITTS Securities.
Events of Default and Acceleration
In case an Event of Default with respect to any Callable MITTS Securities
has occurred and is continuing, the amount payable to a beneficial owner of a
Callable MITTS Security upon any acceleration permitted by the Callable MITTS
Securities, with respect to each $10 principal amount, will be equal to the
principal amount and the Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, calculated as
though the date of early repayment were the stated maturity date of the
Callable MITTS Securities, provided however, if the acceleration occurs before
the end of the Call Period, the maximum amount payable with respect to each
Callable MITTS security will be the Call Price. If a bankruptcy proceeding is
commenced in respect of ML&Co., the claim of the beneficial owner of a Callable
MITTS Security may be limited, under Section 502(b)(2) of Title 11 of the
United States Code, to the principal amount of the Callable MITTS Security plus
an additional amount of contingent interest calculated as though the date of
the commencement of the proceeding were the maturity date of the Callable MITTS
Securities.
In case of default in payment of the Callable MITTS Securities, whether
at their stated maturity or upon acceleration, from and after the maturity date
the Callable MITTS Securities will bear interest, payable upon demand of their
beneficial owners, at the rate of % per annum to the extent that payment of
any interest is legally enforceable on the unpaid amount due and payable on
that date in accordance with the terms of the Callable MITTS Securities to the
date payment of that amount has been made or duly provided for.
S-16
Depositary
Description of the Global Securities
Upon issuance, all Callable MITTS Securities will be represented by one
or more fully registered global securities. Each global security will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC (DTC, together with any successor, being a
"depositary"), as depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTCs
partnership nominee. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
Callable MITTS Securities in definitive form, no global security may be
transferred except as a whole by the depositary to a nominee of the depositary
or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the
depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor of the depositary
or a nominee of that successor.
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is a registered owner of a global
security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the Callable MITTS Securities represented by the global
security for all purposes under the 1983 Indenture. Except as provided below,
the beneficial owners of the Callable MITTS Securities will not be entitled to
have the Callable MITTS Securities represented by a global security registered
in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
the Callable MITTS Securities in definitive form and will not be considered the
owners or holders of the Callable MITTS Securities including for purposes of
receiving any reports delivered by ML&Co. or the trustee under the 1983
Indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global
security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a
participant of DTC, on the procedures of the participant through which that
person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the 1983
Indenture. ML&Co. understands that under existing industry practices, in the
event that ML&Co. requests any action of holders or that an owner of a
beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action
which a holder is entitled to give or take under the 1983 Indenture, DTC would
authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or
take that action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners
owning through those participants to give or take that action or would
otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners. Conveyance of notices
and other communications by DTC to participants, by participants to indirect
participants and by participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners
will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
DTC Procedures
The following is based on information furnished by DTC:
DTC will act as securities depositary for the Callable MITTS Securities.
The Callable MITTS Securities will be issued as fully registered securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTCs partnership nominee). One or more
fully registered global securities will be issued for the Callable MITTS
Securities in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and will be
deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York
Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York
Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation"
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing
agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds securities that its participants
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of
securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities
through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants accounts,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Direct participants of DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned
by a number of its direct participants and by the NYSE, the AMEX, and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTCs system is also
available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct
participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its
participants are on file with the SEC.
S-17
Purchases of Callable MITTS Securities under DTCs system must be made by
or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the Callable
MITTS Securities on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each beneficial
owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct and indirect
participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC
of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written
confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through
which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership
interests in the Callable MITTS Securities are to be made by entries on the
books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Callable MITTS Securities
deposited with DTC are registered in the name of DTCs partnership nominee, Cede
& Co. The deposit of Callable MITTS Securities with DTC and their registration
in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no
knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the Callable MITTS Securities;
DTCs records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose
accounts such Callable MITTS Securities are credited, which may or may not be
the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct
participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by
arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the
Callable MITTS Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus
proxy to ML&Co. as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The
omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights to those direct
participants identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy to whose
accounts the Callable MITTS Securities are credited on the record date.
Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payments made in
cash on the Callable MITTS Securities will be made in immediately available
funds to DTC. DTCs practice is to credit direct participants' accounts on the
applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on
the depositarys records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not
receive payment on that date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the
case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or
registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of that participant
and not of DTC, the trustee or ML&Co., subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal,
premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, to DTC is the responsibility of
ML&Co. or the trustee, disbursement of those payments to direct participants
shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of any payments to the
beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct participants and
indirect participants.
Exchange for Certificated Securities
If:
. the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by ML&Co.
within 60 days,
. ML&Co. executes and delivers to the trustee a company order to the
effect that the global securities shall be exchangeable, or
. an Event of Default under the 1983 Indenture has occurred and is
continuing with respect to the Callable MITTS Securities,
S-18
the global securities will be exchangeable for Callable MITTS Securities in
definitive form of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount, in
denominations of $10 and integral multiples of $10. The definitive Callable
MITTS Securities will be registered in the name or names as the depositary
shall instruct the trustee. It is expected that instructions may be based upon
directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to
ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Callable MITTS Securities at any time by giving reasonable
notice to ML&Co. or the trustee. Under these circumstances, in the event that a
successor securities depositary is not obtained, Callable MITTS Security
certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
ML&Co. may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through DTC or a successor securities depositary. In that event,
Callable MITTS Security certificates will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs system has been
obtained from sources that ML&Co. believes to be reliable, but ML&Co. takes no
responsibility for its accuracy.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Settlement for the Callable MITTS Securities will be made by the
underwriter in immediately available funds. ML&Co. will make all payments of
principal and the Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, in immediately
available funds so long as the Callable MITTS Securities are maintained in
book-entry form.
THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX
The Nasdaq-100 is a modified capitalization-weighted index of 100 of the
largest and most actively traded stocks of non-financial companies listed on
the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nasdaq-100 was
first published in January 1985 and includes companies across a variety of
major industry groups. As of December 31, 1999, the major industry groups
covered in the Nasdaq-100 (listed according to their respective capitalization
in the Nasdaq-100) were as follows: computer and office equipment (31.6%),
computer software/services (31.1%), telecommunications (24.3%), biotechnology
(5.0%), services (3.4%), retail/wholesale trade (3.0%), health care (0.8%),
manufacturing (0.7%) and transportation (0.1%). The identity and capitalization
weightings of the five largest companies represented in the Nasdaq-100 as of
March 31, 2000 were as follows: Cisco Systems, Inc. (8.0%), Microsoft
Corporation (8.0%), Intel Corporation (6.54%), QUALCOMM Incorporated (5.41%),
and Oracle Corporation (3.95%). Current information regarding the market value
of the Nasdaq-100 is available from the Nasdaq as well as numerous market
information services. The Nasdaq-100 is determined, comprised and calculated by
the Nasdaq without regard to the Callable MITTS Securities.
The Nasdaq-100 share weights of the component securities, or underlying
stocks, of the Nasdaq-100 at any time are based upon the total shares
outstanding in each of the 100 securities in the Nasdaq-100 and are
additionally subject, in certain cases, to rebalancing to ensure that the
relative weighting of the underlying stocks continues to meet minimum pre-
established requirements for a diversified portfolio. Accordingly, each
underlying stock's influence on the value of the Nasdaq-100 is directly
proportional to the value of its Nasdaq-100 share weight. At any moment in
time, the value of the Index equals the aggregate value of the then current
Nasdaq-100 share weights of each of the component 100 underlying stocks
multiplied by each such security's respective last sale price on The Nasdaq
Stock Market, and divided by a scaling factor (the "divisor") which becomes the
basis for the reported Nasdaq-100 value. The divisor serves the purpose of
scaling such aggregate
S-19
value (otherwise in the trillions) to a lower order of magnitude which is more
desirable for Nasdaq-100 reporting purposes.
After the close of trading on December 18, 1998, the Nasdaq-100 share
weights of the component securities in the Nasdaq-100 were rebalanced in
accordance with the modified capitalization weighted methodology implemented on
such date. Hence, the performance of the Nasdaq-100 after December 18, 1998
will reflect the performance of the securities in the Index as calculated in
accordance with the revised Nasdaq-100 methodology.
Computation of the Nasdaq-100
Underlying Stock Eligibility Criteria and Annual Ranking Review
To be eligible for inclusion in the Nasdaq-100, a security must be traded
on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market and meet the
following criteria:
(1) the security must be of a non-financial company;
(2) only one class of security per issuer is allowed;
(3) the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy
proceedings;
(4) the security must have average daily trading volume of at least
100,000 shares per day;
(5) the security must have "seasoned" on The Nasdaq Stock Market or
another recognized market (generally, a company is considered to be
seasoned by Nasdaq if it has been listed on a market for at least
two years; in the case of spin-offs, the operating history of the
spin-off will be considered);
(6) if a security would otherwise qualify to be in the top 25% of the
issuers included in the Index by market capitalization, then a one
year "seasoning" criteria would apply;
(7) if the security is of a foreign issuer, the company must have a
worldwide market value of at least $10 billion, a U.S. market value
of at least $4 billion, and average trading volume on The Nasdaq
Stock Market of at least 200,000 shares per day; in addition,
foreign securities must be eligible for listed options trading; and
(8) the issuer of the security may not have entered into a definitive
agreement or other arrangement which would result in the security no
longer being listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market within the next six
months.
These Nasdaq-100 eligibility criteria may be revised from time to time by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. without regard to the
Callable MITTS Securities.
The underlying stocks are evaluated annually as follows (such evaluation
is referred to herein as the "Annual Ranking Review"). Securities listed on The
Nasdaq Stock Market which meet the above eligibility criteria are ranked by
market value. Index-eligible securities which are already in the Nasdaq-100 and
which are in the top 150 eligible securities (based on market value) are
retained in the Nasdaq-100 provided that such security was ranked in the top
100 eligible securities as of the previous years annual review. Securities not
meeting such criteria are replaced. The replacement securities chosen are those
Index-eligible securities not currently in the Nasdaq-100 which have the
largest market capitalization. The list of annual additions and deletions is
publicly announced via a press release in the early part of December.
Replacements are made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday
in December. Moreover, if at any time during the year an underlying stock is no
longer traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or is otherwise determined by the
Nasdaq to become ineligible for continued inclusion in the Nasdaq-100, the
security will be replaced with the largest market capitalization security not
currently in the Nasdaq-100 and meeting the Nasdaq-100 eligibility criteria
listed above.
S-20
In addition to the Annual Ranking Review, the securities in the Nasdaq-
100 are monitored every day by the Nasdaq with respect to changes in total
shares outstanding arising from secondary offerings, stock repurchases,
conversions, or other corporate actions. The Nasdaq has adopted the following
quarterly scheduled weight adjustment procedures with respect to such changes.
If the change in total shares outstanding arising from such corporate action is
greater than or equal to 5.0%, such change is ordinarily made to the Nasdaq-100
on the evening prior to the effective date of such corporate action. Otherwise,
if the change in total shares outstanding is less than 5%, then all such
changes are accumulated and made effective at one time on a quarterly basis
after the close of trading on the third Friday in each of March, June,
September, and December. In either case, the Nasdaq-100 share weights for such
underlying stocks are adjusted by the same percentage amount by which the total
shares outstanding have changed in such underlying stocks. Ordinarily, whenever
there is a change in the Nasdaq-100 share weights or a change in a component
security included in the Nasdaq-100, Nasdaq adjusts the divisor to assure that
there is no discontinuity in the value of the Nasdaq-100 which might otherwise
be caused by any such change.
Rebalancing of the Nasdaq-100
Effective after the close of trading on December 18, 1998, the Nasdaq-100
has been calculated under a "modified capitalization-weighted" methodology,
which is a hybrid between equal weighting and conventional capitalization
weighting. This methodology is expected to: (1) retain in general the economic
attributes of capitalization weighting; (2) promote portfolio weight
diversification (thereby limiting domination of the Nasdaq-100 by a few large
stocks); (3) reduce Index performance distortion by preserving the
capitalization ranking of companies; and (4) reduce market impact on the
smallest underlying stocks from necessary weight rebalancings.
Under the methodology employed, on a quarterly basis coinciding with the
Nasdaq's quarterly scheduled weight adjustment procedures, the underlying
stocks are categorized as either "Large Stocks" or "Small Stocks" depending on
whether their current percentage weights (after taking into account such
scheduled weight adjustments due to stock repurchases, secondary offerings, or
other corporate actions) are greater than, or less than or equal to, the
average percentage weight in the Nasdaq-100 (i.e., as a 100-stock index, the
average percentage weight in the Nasdaq-100 is 1.0%).
Such quarterly examination will result in a Nasdaq-100 rebalancing if
either one or both of the following two weight distribution requirements are
not met: (1) the current weight of the single largest market capitalization
underlying stock must be less than or equal to 24.0% and (2) the "collective
weight" of those underlying stocks whose individual current weights are in
excess of 4.5%, when added together, must be less than or equal to 48.0%. In
addition, Nasdaq may conduct a special rebalancing if it is determined
necessary to maintain the integrity of the Nasdaq-100.
If either one or both of these weight distribution requirements are not
met upon quarterly review, or Nasdaq determines that a special rebalancing is
required, a weight rebalancing will be performed in accordance with the
following plan. First, relating to weight distribution requirement (1) above,
if the current weight of the single largest underlying stock exceeds 24.0%,
then the weights of all Large Stocks will be scaled down proportionately
towards 1.0% by enough for the adjusted weight of the single largest underlying
stock to be set to 20.0%. Second, relating to weight distribution requirement
(2) above, for those underlying stocks whose individual current weights or
adjusted weights in accordance with the preceding step are in excess of 4.5%,
if their "collective weight" exceeds 48.0%, then the weights of all Large
Stocks will be scaled down proportionately towards 1.0% by just enough for the
"collective weight," so adjusted, to be set to 40.0%.
The aggregate weight reduction among the Large Stocks resulting from
either or both of the above rescalings will then be redistributed to the Small
Stocks in the following iterative manner. In the first iteration, the weight of
the largest Small Stock will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal
to the average Nasdaq-100 weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller
remaining Small Stocks will be scaled up by
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the same factor reduced in relation to each stock's relative ranking among the
Small Stocks such that the smaller the underlying stock in the ranking, the
less the scale-up of its weight. This is intended to reduce the market impact
of the weight rebalancing on the smallest component securities in the Nasdaq-
100.
In the second iteration, the weight of the second largest Small Stock,
already adjusted in the first iteration, will be scaled upwards by a factor
which sets it equal to the average index weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of
the smaller remaining Small Stocks will be scaled up by this same factor
reduced in relation to each stock's relative ranking among the Small Stocks
such that, once again, the smaller the stock in the ranking, the less the
scale-up of its weight.
Additional iterations will be performed until the accumulated increase in
weight among the Small Stocks exactly equals the aggregate weight reduction
among the Large Stocks from rebalancing in accordance with weight distribution
requirement (1) and/or weight distribution requirement (2).
Then, to complete the rebalancing procedure, once the final percent
weights of each of the Nasdaq-100 security are set, the Nasdaq-100 share
weights will be determined anew based upon the last sale prices and aggregate
capitalization of the Nasdaq-100 at the close of trading on the Thursday in the
week immediately preceding the week of the third Friday in March, June,
September, and December. Changes to the Nasdaq-100 share weights will be made
effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in March, June,
September, and December and an adjustment to the Index divisor will be made to
ensure continuity of the Nasdaq-100.
Ordinarily, new rebalanced weights will be determined by applying the
above procedures to the current Nasdaq-100 share weights. However, Nasdaq may
from time to time determine rebalanced weights, if necessary, by instead
applying the above procedure to the actual current market capitalization of the
Nasdaq-100 components. In such instances, Nasdaq would announce the different
basis for rebalancing prior to its implementation.
Effective after the close of trading on December 18, 1998, the Nasdaq-100
was rebalanced in accordance with the above methodology. As a result of the
rebalancing, the Nasdaq-100 share weights of the five (5) stocks whose
unadjusted weights were in excess of 4.5% were adjusted downwards on such date.
As of the close of trading on December 31, 1998, the weights of these five
stocks in the Index as rebalanced, in relation to what they would have been if
the Index were not rebalanced, were as follows: Microsoft Corporation (14.5%
vs. 22.5%), Intel Corporation (8.4% vs. 12.8%), Cisco Systems, Inc. (6.4% vs.
9.5%), MCI WORLDCOM, Inc. (5.8% vs. 8.5%), and Dell Computer Corporation (4.2%
vs. 6.1%).
S-22
Historical Data on the Nasdaq-100 Index
The following table sets forth the level of the Nasdaq-100 at the end of
each month, in the period from January 1994 through May, 2000. These historical
data on the Nasdaq-100 are not necessarily indicative of the future performance
of the Nasdaq-100 or what the value of the Callable MITTS Securities may be.
Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Nasdaq-100 during
any period set forth below is not an indication that the Nasdaq-100 is more or
less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the term of the Callable
MITTS Securities.
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
------ ------ ------ -------- -------- -------- --------
January............... 413.99 405.33 591.82 921.55 1,071.13 2,127.19 3,570.05
February.............. 412.17 432.50 622.83 850.46 1,194.13 1,925.28 4,266.94
March................. 382.96 447.15 609.69 797.06 1,220.66 2,106.39 4,397.84
April................. 373.25 469.56 666.73 874.74 1,248.12 2,136.39 3,773.18
May................... 378.85 488.10 692.39 958.85 1,192.07 2,089.70 3,324.08
June.................. 360.30 538.03 677.30 957.30 1,337.34 2,296.77 --
July.................. 370.16 568.88 636.01 1,107.03 1,377.26 2,270.93 --
August................ 397.90 576.77 663.57 1,074.17 1,140.34 2,396.87 --
September............. 393.85 585.08 737.58 1,097.17 1,345.48 2,407.90 --
October............... 413.05 598.78 751.99 1,019.62 1,400.52 2,637.44 --
November.............. 404.82 593.72 834.01 1,050.51 1,557.96 2,966.71 --
December.............. 404.27 576.23 821.36 990.80 1,836.01 3,707.83 --
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Nasdaq-
100 at the end of each month, in the period from January 1994 through May 2000.
Past movements of the Nasdaq-100 are not necessarily indicative of the future
Nasdaq-100 values. On June 29, 2000, the closing value of the Nasdaq-100 was
3,665.85.
[THE GRAPH APPEARING HERE SETS FORTH THE MONTH-END CLOSING VALUES OF THE
NASDAQ-100 INDEX FROM JANUARY 1994 THROUGH MAY 2000, AS SET FORTH IN THE TABLE
ABOVE. THE VERTICAL AXIS HAS A RANGE OF NUMBERS FROM 0 TO 4,500 IN INCREMENTS OF
500. THE HORIZONTAL AXIS HAS A RANGE OF MONTHS FROM JANUARY 94 THROUGH MAY 2000
IN INCREMENTS OF 1 MONTH.]
This graph is for historical information only and should not be used or
interpreted as a forecast or indication of future stock market performance,
interest rate levels or variable returns applicable to the MITTS Securities.
S-23
License Agreement
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. have entered
into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to ML&Co., in
exchange for a fee, of the right to use theNasdaq-100 in connection with
certain securities, including the Callable MITTS Securities.
The license agreement between the Nasdaq and ML&Co. provides that the
following language must be stated in this prospectus supplement:
"The MITTS Securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted
by, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (including its affiliates) (Nasdaq,
with its affiliates, are referred to as the "Corporations"). The
Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or
the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to,
the MITTS Securities. The Corporations make no representation or
warranty, express or implied to the owners of the MITTS Securities or
any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in
securities generally or in the MITTS Securities particularly, or the
ability of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) to track general stock market
performance. The Corporation's only relationship to ML&Co. is in the
licensing of the Nasdaq-100(R), Nasdaq-100 Index(R), and Nasdaq
trademarks or service marks, and certain trade names of the
Corporations and the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) which is
determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to
ML&Co. or the MITTS Securities. Nasdaq has no obligation to take the
needs of ML&Co. or the owners of the MITTS Securities into
consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Nasdaq-100
Index(R). The Corporations are not responsible for and have not
participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or
quantities of the MITTS Securities to be issued or in the
determination or calculation of the equation by which the MITTS
Securities is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no
liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading
of the MITTS Securities.
The Corporations do not guarantee the accuracy and/or uninterrupted
calculation of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) or any data included therein. The
Corporations make no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be
obtained by ML&Co., owners of the MITTS Securities, or any other person
or entity from the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) or any data included
therein. The Corporations make no express or implied warranties, and
expressly disclaim all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose or use with respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) or any
data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no
event shall the Corporations have any liability for any lost profits or
special, incidental, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages, even
if notified of the possibility of such damages."
All disclosures contained in this prospectus supplement regarding the
Nasdaq-100, including its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its
components, are derived from publicly available information prepared by
Nasdaq. ML&Co. and MLPF&S do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of such information.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
Set forth in full below is the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel to
ML&Co., as to certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Callable MITTS Securities. This
opinion is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect,
all of which are subject to change (including retroactive changes in effective
dates) or possible differing interpretations. The discussion below deals only
with Callable MITTS Securities held as capital assets and does not purport to
deal with persons in special tax situations, such as financial institutions,
insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities or
currencies, traders in securities that elect to mark to
S-24
market, tax-exempt entities, persons holding Callable MITTS Securities in a
tax-deferred or tax-advantaged account, or persons holding Callable MITTS
Securities as a hedge against currency risks, as a position in a "straddle" or
as part of a "hedging" or "conversion" transaction for tax purposes. It also
does not deal with holders other than original purchasers (except where
otherwise specifically noted in this prospectus supplement). The following
discussion also assumes that the issue price of the Callable MITTS Securities,
as determined for United States Federal income tax purposes, equals the
principal amount thereof. Persons considering the purchase of the Callable
MITTS Securities should consult their own tax advisors concerning the
application of the United States Federal income tax laws to their particular
situations as well as any consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the Callable MITTS Securities arising under the laws of any
other taxing jurisdiction.
As used in this prospectus supplement, the term "U.S. Holder" means a
beneficial owner of a Callable MITTS Security that is for United States Federal
income tax purposes (a) a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a
corporation, partnership or other entity treated as a corporation or a
partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not
treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury regulations),
(c) an estate the income of which is subject to United States Federal income
taxation regardless of its source, (d) a trust if a court within the United
States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the
trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust, or (e) any other person whose income or
gain in respect of a Callable MITTS Security is effectively connected with the
conduct of a United States trade or business. Notwithstanding clause (d) of the
preceding sentence, to the extent provided in Treasury regulations, certain
trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons
prior to that date that elect to continue to be treated as United States
persons also will be U.S. Holders. As used herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder"
means a beneficial owner of a Callable MITTS Security that is not a U.S.
Holder.
General
There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or
judicial decisions addressing or involving the characterization, for United
States Federal income tax purposes, of the Callable MITTS Securities or
securities with terms substantially the same as the Callable MITTS Securities.
However, although the matter is not free from doubt, under current law, each
Callable MITTS Security should be treated as a debt instrument of ML&Co. for
United States Federal income tax purposes. ML&Co. currently intends to treat
each Callable MITTS Security as a debt instrument of ML&Co. for United States
Federal income tax purposes and, where required, intends to file information
returns with the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with this treatment, in
the absence of any change or clarification in the law, by regulation or
otherwise, requiring a different characterization of the Callable MITTS
Securities. Prospective investors in the Callable MITTS Securities should be
aware, however, that the IRS is not bound by ML&Co.'s characterization of the
Callable MITTS Securities as indebtedness, and the IRS could possibly take a
different position as to the proper characterization of the Callable MITTS
Securities for United States Federal income tax purposes. The following
discussion of the principal United States Federal income tax consequences of
the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Callable MITTS Securities is
based upon the assumption that each Callable MITTS Security will be treated as
a debt instrument of ML&Co. for United States Federal income tax purposes. If
the Callable MITTS Securities are not in fact treated as debt instruments of
ML&Co. for United States Federal income tax purposes, then the United States
Federal income tax treatment of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Callable MITTS Securities could differ from the treatment discussed below with
the result that the timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized in
respect of a Callable MITTS Security could differ from the timing and character
of income, gain or loss recognized in respect of a Callable MITTS Security had
the Callable MITTS Securities in fact been treated as debt instruments of
ML&Co. for United States Federal income tax purposes.
S-25
U.S. Holders
On June 11, 1996, the Treasury Department issued final regulations (the
"Final Regulations") concerning the proper United States Federal income tax
treatment of contingent payment debt instruments such as the Callable MITTS
Securities, which apply to debt instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996
and, accordingly, will apply to the Callable MITTS Securities. In general, the
Final Regulations cause the timing and character of income, gain or loss
reported on a contingent payment debt instrument to substantially differ from
the timing and character of income, gain or loss reported on a contingent
payment debt instrument under general principles of prior United States Federal
income tax law. Specifically, the Final Regulations generally require a U.S.
Holder of such an instrument to include future contingent and noncontingent
interest payments in income as that interest accrues based upon a projected
payment schedule. Moreover, in general, under the Final Regulations, any gain
recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, or retirement of a
contingent payment debt instrument is treated as ordinary income, and all or a
portion of any loss realized could be treated as ordinary loss as opposed to
capital loss (depending upon the circumstances). The Final Regulations provide
no definitive guidance as to whether or not an instrument is properly
characterized as a debt instrument for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
In particular, solely for purposes of applying the Final Regulations to
the Callable MITTS Securities, ML&Co. has determined that the projected payment
schedule for the Callable MITTS Securities will consist of payment on the
maturity date of the principal amount thereof and a projected Supplemental
Redemption Amount equal to $ per unit (the "Projected Supplemental Redemption
Amount"). This represents an estimated yield on the Callable MITTS Securities
equal to % per annum, compounded semiannually. Accordingly, during the term
of the Callable MITTS Securities, a U.S. Holder of a Callable MITTS Security
will be required to include in income the sum of the daily portions of interest
on the Callable MITTS Security that are deemed to accrue at this estimated
yield for each day during the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) on
which the U.S. Holder holds the Callable MITTS Security. The amount of interest
that will be deemed to accrue in any accrual period (i.e., generally each six-
month period during which the Callable MITTS Securities are outstanding) will
equal the product of this estimated yield (properly adjusted for the length of
the accrual period) and the Callable MITTS Security's adjusted issue price (as
defined below) at the beginning of the accrual period. The daily portions of
interest will be determined by allocating to each day in the accrual period the
ratable portion of the interest that is deemed to accrue during the accrual
period. In general, for these purposes a Callable MITTS Security's adjusted
issue price will equal the Callable MITTS Security's issue price (i.e., $10),
increased by the interest previously accrued on the Callable MITTS Security. At
maturity of a Callable MITTS Security, in the event that the actual
Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, exceeds $ per unit (i.e., the
Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount), a U.S. Holder will be required to
include the excess of the actual Supplemental Redemption Amount over $ per
unit (i.e., the Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount) in income as ordinary
interest on the maturity date. Alternatively, in the event that the actual
Supplemental Redemption Amount, if any, is less than $ per unit (i.e., the
Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount), the excess of $ per unit (i.e.,
the Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount) over the actual Supplemental
Redemption Amount will be treated first as an offset to any interest otherwise
includible in income by the U.S. Holder with respect to the Callable MITTS
Security for the taxable year in which the maturity date occurs to the extent
of the amount of such includible interest. Further, a U.S. Holder will be
permitted to recognize and deduct, as an ordinary loss that is not subject to
the limitations applicable to miscellaneous itemized deductions, any remaining
portion of the Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount (i.e., $ per unit) in
excess of the actual Supplemental Redemption Amount that is not treated as an
interest offset pursuant to the foregoing rules.
Upon the sale, redemption, or exchange of a Callable MITTS Security prior
to the maturity date, a U.S. Holder will be required to recognize taxable gain
or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount
realized by the U.S. Holder upon such sale or exchange and the U.S. Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the Callable MITTS Security as of the date of
disposition. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a Callable MITTS Security
generally will equal such U.S. Holder's initial investment in the Callable
MITTS
S-26
Security increased by any interest previously included in income with respect
to the Callable MITTS Security by the U.S. Holder. Any such taxable gain will
be treated as ordinary income. Any such taxable loss will be treated as
ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder's total interest inclusions on
the Callable MITTS Security. Any remaining loss generally will be treated as
long-term or short-term capital loss (depending upon the U.S. Holder's holding
period for the Callable MITTS Security). All amounts includible in income by a
U.S. Holder as ordinary interest pursuant to the Final Regulations will be
treated as original issue discount.
Prospective investors in the Callable MITTS Securities should be aware
that if a significant percentage of the total aggregate amount of the Callable
MITTS Securities originally issued are sold at a discount from the principal
amount thereof, which is not expected to be the case, then the issue price of
the Callable MITTS Securities, as determined for United States Federal income
tax purposes, may be less than the principal amount of the Callable MITTS
Securities. In such event, if a U.S. Holder purchases a Callable MITTS Security
in connection with the original issuance thereof for an amount equal to the
principal amount thereof, the amount of the difference between the principal
amount of the Callable MITTS Securities and the issue price thereof generally
should be allocated by the U.S. Holder to daily portions of interest that are
deemed to accrue on each such date as an offset to such interest on each such
date. In addition, on each such date, the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in
the Callable MITTS Security will be reduced by the amount treated as an
interest offset pursuant to the foregoing rule. Alternatively, in the event
that the issue price of the Callable MITTS Securities, as determined for United
States Federal income tax purposes, equals the principal amount thereof and a
U.S. Holder purchases a Callable MITTS Security in connection with the original
issuance thereof for an amount that is less than the principal amount thereof,
the amount of the difference between the principal amount of the Callable MITTS
Security and the amount paid by the U.S. Holder to purchase the Callable MITTS
Security generally would be allocated by the U.S. Holder to daily portions of
interest that are deemed to accrue on each such date as additional ordinary
interest includible in income by the U.S. Holder on each such date. In such
event, on each such date, the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Callable
MITTS Security will be increased by the amount treated as additional ordinary
interest income. In addition, U.S. Holders purchasing a Callable MITTS Security
at a price that differs from the adjusted issue price of the Callable MITTS
Security as of the purchase date (e.g., subsequent purchases) will be subject
to rules providing for certain adjustments to the foregoing rules and such U.S.
Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning these rules.
All prospective investors in the Callable MITTS Securities should consult
their own tax advisors concerning the application of the Final Regulations to
their investment in the Callable MITTS Securities. Investors in the Callable
MITTS Securities may also obtain the projected payment schedule, as determined
by ML&Co. for purposes of the application of the Final Regulations to the
Callable MITTS Securities, by submitting a written request for such information
to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., Corporate Secretarys Office, 222 Broadway, 17th
Floor, New York, New York 10038, (212) 670-0432,
corporatesecretary@exchange.ml.com.
The projected payment schedule (including both the Projected Supplemental
Redemption Amount and the estimated yield on the Callable MITTS Securities) has
been determined solely for United States Federal income tax purposes (i.e., for
purposes of applying the Final Regulations to the Callable MITTS Securities),
and is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of what the actual Supplemental
Redemption Amount will be, or that the actual Supplemental Redemption Amount
will even exceed zero.
Hypothetical Table
The following table sets forth the amount of interest that will be deemed
to have accrued with respect to each unit of the Callable MITTS Securities
during each accrual period over an assumed term of approximately seven years
for the Callable MITTS Securities based upon a hypothetical projected payment
schedule for the Callable MITTS Securities (including both a hypothetical
Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount and a hypothetical estimated yield
equal to 6.68% per annum (compounded semiannually)) as determined by ML&Co. for
purposes of illustrating the application of the Final Regulations to the
Callable
S-27
MITTS Securities as if the Callable MITTS Securities had been issued on June
30, 2000. The following table is for illustrative purposes only. The actual
projected payment schedule for the Callable MITTS Securities (including both
the actual Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount and the actual estimated
yield) will be determined by ML&Co. on the Pricing Date and will depend upon
actual market interest rates (and thus ML&Co.'s borrowing costs for debt
instruments with comparable maturities) as of the Pricing Date. The actual
projected payment schedule for the Callable MITTS Securities (including both
the actual Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount and the actual estimated
yield) and the actual tax accrual table will be set forth in the final
prospectus supplement delivered to investors in connection with sales of the
Callable MITTS Securities:
Total interest
deemed to have
accrued on the
Interest deemed MITTS Securities
to accrue during as of the end of
accrual period accrual period
Accrual Period (per unit) (per unit)
-------------- ---------------- ----------------
June 30, 2000 through December 30, 2000...... $0.3349 $0.3349
December 31, 2000 through June 30, 2001...... $0.3452 $0.6801
July 1, 2001 through December 30, 2001....... $0.3567 $1.0368
December 31, 2001 through June 30, 2002...... $0.3687 $1.4055
July 1, 2002 through December 30, 2002....... $0.3809 $1.7864
December 31, 2002 through June 30, 2003...... $0.3937 $2.1801
July 1, 2003 through December 30, 2003....... $0.4068 $2.5869
December 31, 2003 through June 30, 2004...... $0.4204 $3.0073
July 1, 2004 through December 30, 2004....... $0.4344 $3.4417
December 31, 2004 through June 30, 2005...... $0.4490 $3.8907
July 1, 2005 through December 30, 2005....... $0.4639 $4.3546
December 31, 2005 through June 30, 2006...... $0.4795 $4.8341
July 1, 2006 through December 30, 2006....... $0.4954 $5.3295
December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2007...... $0.5120 $5.8415
- --------
Hypothetical Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount = $5.8415 per unit.
Non-U.S. Holders
A non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income
taxes on payments of principal, premium (if any) or interest (including
original issue discount, if any) on a Callable MITTS Security, unless such non-
U.S. Holder is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of ML&Co., a
controlled foreign corporation related to ML&Co. or a bank receiving interest
described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. However, income allocable to non-U.S. Holders will generally be
subject to annual tax reporting on IRS Form 1042-S. For a non-U.S. Holder to
qualify for the exemption from taxation, the last United States payor in the
chain of payment prior to payment to a non-U.S. Holder (the "Withholding
Agent") must have received in the year in which a payment of interest or
principal occurs, or in either of the two preceding calendar years, a statement
that (a) is signed by the beneficial owner of the Callable MITTS Security under
penalties of perjury, (b) certifies that such owner is a non- U.S. Holder and
(c) provides the name and address of the beneficial owner. The statement may be
made on the applicable IRS Form W-8, IRS Form W-8BEN or a substantially similar
form, and the beneficial owner must inform the Withholding Agent of any change
in the information on the statement within 30 days of such change. After
December 31, 2000, a beneficial owner may no longer use IRS Form W-8 to certify
its non-U.S. status. If a Callable MITTS Security is held through a securities
clearing organization or certain other financial institutions, the organization
or institution may provide a signed statement to the Withholding Agent.
However, in such case, the signed statement must be accompanied by a copy of
the applicable IRS Form W-8 or the substitute form provided by the beneficial
owner to the organization or institution.
S-28
Under current law, a Callable MITTS Security will not be includible in
the estate of a non-U.S. Holder unless the individual is a direct or indirect
10% or greater shareholder of ML&Co. or, at the time of such individual's
death, payments in respect of such Callable MITTS Security would have been
effectively connected with the conduct by such individual of a trade or
business in the United States.
Backup withholding
Backup withholding of United States Federal income tax at a rate of 31%
may apply to payments made in respect of the Callable MITTS Securities to
registered owners who are not "exempt recipients" and who fail to provide
certain identifying information (such as the registered owner's taxpayer
identification number) in the required manner. Generally, individuals are not
exempt recipients, whereas corporations and certain other entities generally
are exempt recipients. Payments made in respect of the Callable MITTS
Securities to a U.S. Holder must be reported to the IRS, unless the U.S. Holder
is an exempt recipient or establishes an exemption. Compliance with the
identification procedures described in the preceding section would establish an
exemption from backup withholding for those non-U.S. Holders who are not exempt
recipients.
In addition, upon the sale of a Callable MITTS Security to (or through) a
broker, the broker must withhold 31% of the entire purchase price, unless
either (a) the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other
exempt recipient or (b) the seller provides, in the required manner, certain
identifying information and, in the case of a non-U.S. Holder, certifies that
such seller is a non-U.S. Holder (and certain other conditions are met). Such a
sale must also be reported by the broker to the IRS, unless either (a) the
broker determines that the seller is an exempt recipient or (b) the seller
certifies its non-U.S. status (and certain other conditions are met).
Certification of the registered owner's non-U.S. status would be made normally
on an IRS Form W-8 or IRS Form W-8BEN under penalties of perjury, although in
certain cases it may be possible to submit other documentary evidence. After
December 31, 2000, a registered owner may no longer use IRS Form W-8 to certify
its non-U.S. status.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to
a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a credit against such
beneficial owner's United States Federal income tax provided the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
New withholding regulations
On October 6, 1997, the Treasury Department issued new regulations (the
"New Regulations") which make certain modifications to the backup withholding
and information reporting rules described above. The New Regulations will
provide alternative methods for satisfying the certification requirement
described under "Non-U.S. Holders" above. The New Regulations also will
require, in the case of Callable MITTS Securities held by a foreign
partnership, that (x) the certification described under "Non-U.S. Holders"
above be provided by the partners rather than by the foreign partnership and
(y) the partnership provide certain information, including a United States
taxpayer identification number. A look-through rule would apply in the case of
tiered partnerships. The New Regulations will generally be effective for
payments made after December 31, 2000, subject to certain transition rules.
Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the
New Regulations. After December 31, 2000, interest accrued under the Final
Regulations will not be subject to withholding upon sale or exchange (other
than a redemption) of a Callable MITTS Security unless the Withholding Agent
knows or has reason to know that such sale is with the principal purpose of
avoiding tax.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") prohibit
various transactions between certain parties and the assets of employee benefit
plans, unless an exemption is available; governmental plans may be subject to
similar prohibitions. Because transactions between a plan and ML&Co. may be
prohibited absent an exemption, each fiduciary, by its purchase of any Callable
MITTS Security on behalf of any plan, represents on behalf of itself
S-29
and the plan, that the acquisition, holding and any subsequent disposition of
the Callable MITTS Security will not result in a violation of ERISA, the Code
or any other applicable law or regulation.
USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING
The net proceeds from the sale of the Callable MITTS Securities will be
used as described under "Use of Proceeds" in the accompanying prospectus and to
hedge market risks of ML&Co. associated with its obligation to pay the
principal amount and any Supplemental Redemption Amount.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our
SEC filings are also available over the Internet at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC's Internet site is provided solely
for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an
active link. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's
public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago,
Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the
public reference rooms and their copy charges. You may also inspect our SEC
reports and other information at the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC covering
the Callable MITTS Securities and other securities. For further information on
ML&Co. and the Callable MITTS Securities, you should refer to our registration
statement and its exhibits. The prospectus accompanying this prospectus
supplement summarizes material provisions of contracts and other documents that
we refer you to. Because the prospectus may not contain all the information
that you may find important, you should review the full text of these
documents. We have included copies of these documents as exhibits to our
registration statement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We
have not, and the underwriter has not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the
underwriter is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of the date on the
front cover of this prospectus supplement only. Our business, financial
condition and results of operations may have changed since that date.
S-30
UNDERWRITING
The underwriters named below have each severally agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement and a terms agreement, to
purchase from ML&Co. the principal amount of Callable MITTS Securities set
forth opposite their respective names. The underwriting agreement provides that
the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions and that
the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Callable MITTS
Securities if any are purchased.
Principal
Underwriters Amount
------------ ---------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated................................................. $
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc..............................................
--------
Total............................................................ $
========
The underwriters have advised ML&Co. that they propose initially to offer
all or part of the Callable MITTS Securities directly to the public at the
offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and
to certain dealers at such prices less a concession not in excess of % of
the principal amount of the Callable MITTS Securities. The underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of % of the
principal amount of the Callable MITTS Securities to certain dealers. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may
be changed. The underwriters are offering the Callable MITTS Securities subject
to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters' right to reject any
order in whole or in part. Proceeds to be received by ML&Co. will be net of the
underwriting discount and expenses payable by ML&Co.
The underwriting of the Callable MITTS Securities will conform to the
requirements set forth in the applicable sections of Rule 2720 of the Conduct
Rules of the NASD.
The underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that
stabilize the price of the Callable MITTS Securities. These transactions
consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining
the price of the Callable MITTS Securities.
If the underwriters create a short position in the Callable MITTS
Securities in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more units of
the Callable MITTS Securities than are set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by
purchasing units of the Callable MITTS Securities in the open market. In
general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce
a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it
might be in the absence of these purchases. Neither ML&Co. nor any of the
underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or
magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the
price of the Callable MITTS Securities. In addition, neither ML&Co. nor any of
the underwriters makes any representation that the underwriters will engage in
these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice.
MLPF&S may use this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
for offers and sales related to market-making transactions in the Callable
MITTS Securities. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these transactions,
and the sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the
time of sale.
S-31
VALIDITY OF THE CALLABLE MITTS SECURITIES
The validity of the Callable MITTS Securities will be passed upon for
ML&Co. by Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York and for the underwriters by
Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York.
S-32
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
Page
----
Annual Ranking Review...................................................... S-20
Business Day............................................................... S-16
Calculation Day............................................................ S-13
Calculation Period......................................................... S-13
Callable MITTS Securities.................................................. S-1
Call Period................................................................ S-5
Call Price................................................................. S-5
Code....................................................................... S-29
Corporations............................................................... S-24
depositary................................................................. S-17
DTC........................................................................ S-4
Ending Value............................................................... S-4
ERISA...................................................................... S-29
Final Regulations.......................................................... S-26
Index Business Day......................................................... S-13
Market Disruption Event.................................................... S-15
ML&Co...................................................................... S-4
MLPF&S..................................................................... S-4
New Regulations............................................................ S-29
Nasdaq..................................................................... S-6
non-U.S. Holder............................................................ S-25
Payment Date............................................................... S-5
Pricing Date............................................................... S-4
principal amount........................................................... S-4
Projected Supplemental Redemption Amount................................... S-26
Starting Value............................................................. S-4
successor index............................................................ S-15
Supplemental Redemption Amount............................................. S-4
U.S. Holder................................................................ S-25
Withholding Agent.......................................................... S-28
S-33
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[LOGO OF MERRILL LYNCH]
2,500,000 Units
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Nasdaq-100 Market Index Target-Term Securities(R)
due July , 2007
"Callable MITTS(R) Securities"
------------------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
------------------------------
Merrill Lynch & Co.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
July , 2000
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