Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration no. 333-132911

 

4,500,000 Units    Pricing Date    February 27, 2008
Accelerated Return Bear Market Notes    Settlement Date    March 5, 2008
Linked to the Energy Select Sector Index Due May 5, 2009    Maturity Date    May 5, 2009
$10 principal amount per unit    CUSIP No.    59022Y329
Term Sheet No. 2931      

 

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
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•       5-to-1 return if the Energy Select Sector Index decreases, subject to a cap of 20%

 

•       A maturity of 14 months

 

•       1-to-1 loss with no downside limit price per unit if the Energy Select Sector Index increases above a 10% buffer

 

•       Approved for listing on AMEX under the symbol “IMW”

 

•       No periodic interest payments

 

The Notes will have the terms specified in this term sheet as supplemented by the documents indicated herein under “Additional Note Terms” (together the “Note Prospectus”). Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “ Risk Factors” on page TS-5 of this term sheet and beginning on page PS-4 of product supplement ARNB-4.

In connection with this offering, each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its broker-dealer affiliate, First Republic Securities Company, LLC, is acting in its capacity as a principal.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Per Unit   Total
Public offering price (1)    $10.00     $45.000,000
Underwriting discount (1)    $.20     $900,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.    $9.80     $44,100,000

 

  1) The public offering price and underwriting discount for any purchase of 500,000 units or more will be $9.95 per unit and $.15 per unit, respectively. The foregoing pricing description will apply to any single transaction by an individual investor.

“Standard & Poor’s®”, “Standard & Poor’s 500”, “S&P 500®” and S&P® are trademarks of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. is an authorized sublicensee.

Merrill Lynch & Co.

February 27, 2008


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Summary

The Accelerated Return Bear Market Notes Linked to the Energy Select Sector Index due May 5, 2009 (the “Notes”) are senior, unsecured debt securities of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. designed for, but not limited to, investors (i) who anticipate that the level of the equity-based Energy Select Sector Index (the “Index”) will decrease from the Starting Value of the Index, determined on the February 27, 2008, the date the Notes were priced for initial sale to the public (the “Pricing Date”), to the Ending Value of the Index, determined on valuation dates shortly prior to the maturity date of the Notes, or (ii) who want to invest in such a security for risk diversification purposes. Investors must be willing to forego interest payments on the Notes and willing to accept a repayment that is capped and that may be less, and potentially significantly less, than the original public offering price of the Notes if the Index increases.

 

Terms of the Notes   

Determining Payment at

Maturity for the Notes

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Hypothetical Payout Profile

 

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This graph reflects the hypothetical returns on the Notes, including the Capped Value of 20%. The green line reflects the hypothetical returns on the Notes, while the dotted blue line reflects the hypothetical return of an investment in the Index.

 

This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Your actual return will depend on the actual Ending Value and the term of your investment

 

Hypothetical Payments at Maturity

Examples

Set forth below are four examples of payment at maturity calculations, reflecting the Starting Value of 773.87, the level of the Index on February 27, 2008 and the Capped Value of $12.00.

Example 1—The hypothetical Ending Value is 130% of the Starting Value and more than the Threshold Value:

Starting Value: 773.87

Hypothetical Ending Value: 1,006.03

Threshold Value: 851.26

 

$10 –  

(

 

  $10 ×  

1006.03 - 851.26

 

)

 

  =  $8.00     
     

 

773.87

     

Payment at maturity (per unit) = $8.00

Example 2—The hypothetical Ending Value is 105% of the Starting Value but less than the Threshold Value:

Starting Value: 773.87

Hypothetical Ending Value: 812.56

Threshold Value: 851.26

Payment at maturity (per unit) = $10.00

Example 3—The hypothetical Ending Value is 97% of the Starting Value:

Starting Value: 773.87

Hypothetical Ending Value: 750.65

 

$10 +  

(

 

  $50 ×  

(

 

 

773.87 - 750.65

 

)

 

 

)

 

  =  $11.50     
       

 

773.87

       

Payment at maturity (per unit) = $11.50

Example 4—The hypothetical Ending Value is 70% of the Starting Value:

Starting Value: 773.87

Hypothetical Ending Value: 541.71

 

$10 +  

(

 

  $50 ×  

(

 

 

773.87 - 541.71

 

)

 

 

)

 

  =  $19.00     
       

 

773.87

       

Payment at maturity (per unit) = $12.00        (Payment at maturity cannot be greater than the Capped Value)

 

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The following table illustrates, for the Starting Value of 773.87 (the closing level of the Index on February 27, 2008) and a range of hypothetical Ending Values of the Index:

 

  Ÿ  

the percentage change from the Starting Value to the hypothetical Ending Value;

  Ÿ  

the total amount payable on the maturity date per unit;

  Ÿ  

the total rate of return to holders of the Notes;

  Ÿ  

the pretax annualized rate of return to holders of the Notes; and

  Ÿ  

the pretax annualized rate of return of an investment in the stocks included in the Index, which includes an assumed aggregate dividend yield of 2.011% per annum, as more fully described below.

The table below reflects the Capped Value of $12.00.

 

Hypothetical

Ending Value

  

Percentage change
from the

Starting Value

to the hypothetical

Ending Value

  

Total amount

payable on the

maturity date

per unit

  

Total

rate of

return on

the Notes

  

Pretax

annualized

rate of

return on

the Notes (1)

  

Pretax

annualized rate

of return of the
stocks

included in the Index
(1)(2)

   464.32    -40.00%    $12.00     20.00%     16.25%   

-37.06%

   541.71    -30.00%    $12.00     20.00%     16.25%   

-26.17%

   619.10    -20.00%    $12.00     20.00%     16.25%   

-16.13%

   696.48    -10.00%    $12.00     20.00%     16.25%   

  -6.77%

   727.44      -6.00%    $12.00     20.00%     16.25%   

  -3.19%

   739.05      -4.50%         $12.00 (4)     20.00%     16.25%   

  -1.87%

   750.60      -3.00%    $11.50     15.00%     12.35%   

  -0.57%

   762.26      -1.50%    $10.75      7.50%       6.30%   

   0.73%

        773.87 (3)       0.00%    $10.00      0.00%       0.00%   

   2.02%

   812.56       5.00%    $10.00      0.00%       0.00%   

   6.23%

         851.26 (5)     10.00%    $10.00      0.00%       0.00%   

 10.33%

   928.64     20.00%      $9.00    -10.00%      -8.83%   

  18.22%

1,006.03     30.00%      $8.00    -20.00%    -18.24%   

  25.75%

1,083.42     40.00%      $7.00    -30.00%    -28.35%   

  32.95%

1,160.81     50.00%      $6.00    -40.00%    -39.32%   

  39.88%

1,238.19     60.00%      $5.00    -50.00%    -51.40%   

  46.54%

1,315.58     70.00%      $4.00    -60.00%    -64.95%   

  52.98%

 

(1) The annualized rates of return specified in this column are calculated on a semiannual bond equivalent basis and assume an investment term from March 5, 2008 to May 5, 2009, the term of the Notes.

 

(2) This rate of return assumes:

 

  (a) a percentage change in the aggregate price of the stocks included in the Index that equals the percentage change in the level of the Index from the Starting Value to the relevant hypothetical Ending Value;

 

  (b) a constant dividend yield of 2.011% per annum, paid quarterly from the date of initial delivery of the Notes, applied to the level of the Index at the end of each quarter assuming this value increases or decreases linearly from the Starting Value to the applicable hypothetical Ending Value; and

 

  (c) no transaction fees or expenses.

 

(3) This is the Starting Value, the closing level of the Index on February 27, 2008.

 

(4) The total amount payable on the maturity date per unit of the Notes cannot exceed the Capped Value of $12.00.

 

(5) This is the Threshold Value. Investors will receive $10 per unit if the Ending Value is greater than or equal to the Starting Value but less than or equal to the Threshold Value

The above figures are for purposes of illustration only. The actual amount received by you and the resulting total and pretax annualized rates of return will depend on the actual Ending Value and term of your investment.

 

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Risk Factors

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. The following is a list of certain of the risks involved in investing in the Notes. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the Notes in the “Risk Factors” sections included in the product supplement and MTN prospectus supplement identified below under “Additional Note Terms”. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the Notes.

 

  Ÿ  

Your investment may result in a loss.

 

  Ÿ  

Your yield may be lower than the yield on other debt securities of comparable maturity.

 

  Ÿ  

You must rely on your own evaluations regarding the merits of an investment linked to the Index.

 

  Ÿ  

Any positive return is limited by the Capped Value.

 

  Ÿ  

You will not have the right to receive cash dividends or exercise ownership rights with respect to the stocks included in the Index.

 

  Ÿ  

In seeking to provide investors with what we believe to be commercially reasonable terms for the Notes while providing MLPF&S with compensation for its services, we have considered the costs of developing, hedging and distributing the Notes. If a trading market develops for the Notes (and such a market may not develop), these costs are expected to affect the market price you may receive or be quoted for your Notes on a date prior to the stated maturity date.

 

  Ÿ  

The publisher of the Index may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and the publisher has no obligation to consider your interests.

 

  Ÿ  

Many factors affect the trading value of the Notes; these factors interrelate in complex ways and the effect of any one factor may offset or magnify the effect of another factor.

 

  Ÿ  

Purchases and sales of securities underlying the Index by us and our affiliates may affect your return.

 

  Ÿ  

Potential conflicts of interest could arise.

 

  Ÿ  

Tax consequences are uncertain.

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the Notes if:

 

Ÿ  

You anticipate that the Index will depreciate moderately from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

Ÿ  

You accept that your investment may result in a loss, which could be significant, if the level of the Index increases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

Ÿ  

You accept that the return on the Notes will not exceed the Capped Value.

 

Ÿ  

You are willing to forego interest payments on the Notes, such as fixed or floating rate interest paid on traditional interest bearing debt securities.

 

Ÿ  

You want exposure to the Index with no expectation of dividends or other benefits of owning the underlying securities.

 

Ÿ  

You are willing to accept that there is no assurance that the Notes will remain listed on AMEX and that the listing will not ensure that a trading market will develop for the Notes or that there will be liquidity in the trading market.

 

The Notes may not be appropriate investments for you if:

 

Ÿ  

You anticipate that the Index will appreciate from the Starting Value to the Ending Value or that the Index will not depreciate sufficiently over the term of the Notes to provide you with your desired return.

 

Ÿ  

You are seeking principal protection or preservation of capital.

 

Ÿ  

You seek a return on your investment that will not be capped at 12%.

 

Ÿ  

You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.

 

Ÿ  

You want to receive dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index.

 

Ÿ  

You want assurances that there will be a liquid market if and when you want to sell the Notes prior to maturity.


 

Accelerated Return Bear Market Notes   TS-5


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Other Provisions

We may deliver the Notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is in excess of three business days following the Pricing Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement on the Notes occurs more than three business days from the Pricing Date, purchasers who wish to trade Notes more than three business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

If you place an order to purchase these offered securities, you are consenting to each of MLPF&S and its broker-dealer affiliate, First Republic Securities Company, LLC, acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account. MLPF&S is acting as an underwriter and/or selling agent for this offering and will receive underwriting compensation from the issuer of the securities.

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

MLPF&S and First Republic Securities Company, LLC, each a broker-dealer subsidiary of ML&Co., are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)) and will participate in distribution of the Notes. Accordingly, offerings of the Notes will conform to the requirements of NASD Rule 2720.

MLPF&S and First Republic Securities Company, LLC may use this Note Prospectus for offers and sales in secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the Notes. MLPF&S and First Republic Securities Company, LLC may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and as such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of the sale.

 

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The Index

All disclosure contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components has been derived from publicly available information prepared by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”). ML&Co. and MLPF&S have not independently verified and make no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. None of ML&Co., the calculation agent and MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Index or any successor index.

The Energy Select Sector Index

The Index (IVE) is a modified market capitalization-based index intended to track the movements of companies that are components of the S&P 500 Index and are involved in the development or production of energy products. Energy companies in the Index develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy related services. The Index, which serves as the benchmark for the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE), was established with a value of 250.00 on June 30, 1998. Each stock in the S&P 500 Index is allocated to only one Select Sector Index, and the combined companies of the nine Select Sector Indexes represent all of the companies in the S&P 500 Index. The nine Select Sector Indices, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the S&P 500 Index included in each sector as of December 31, 2007 indicated in parentheses, are: Consumer Discretionary (8.0%); Consumer Staples (10.0%); Energy (13.0%); Financials (18.0%); Health Care (12.0%); Industrials (12.0%); Technology (20.0%); Materials (3.0%); and Utilities (4.0%).

Of the companies included in the S&P 500 Index, 36 are included in the Energy Select Sector Index. These companies and their respective weights as of February 27, 2008 are as follows:

 

Company Holdings

   Weights

Exxon Mobil

   19.09%

Chevron

   11.71%

ConocoPhillips

   8.59%

Schlumberger

   4.59%

Occidental Petroleum

   4.54%

Transocean

   3.46%

Devon Energy

   3.32%

Apache

   2.95%

Marathon Oil

   2.86%

Hess

   2.58%

XTO Energy

   2.48%

Valero Energy

   2.42%

Halliburton

   2.42%

Anadarko Petroleum

   2.36%

National Oilwell Varco

   2.24%

EOG Resources

   2.18%

Weatherford International

   2.03%

Chesapeake Energy

   1.95%

Williams

   1.87%

Consol energy

   1.79%

Baker Hughes

   1.72%

Murphy Oil

   1.57%

Noble Corp

   1.37%

El Paso Corp

   1.16%

Peabody Energy

   0.92%

7-Eleven Inc.

   0.92%

Nabors Industries

   0.90%

Noble Energy l

   0.84%

Sunoco

   0.81%

BJ Services

   0.80%

Smith International

   0.79%

Rowan

   0.76%

Cameron International Corp

   0.58%

Range Resources

   0.56%

ENSCO International

   0.53%

Tesoro

   0.34%

The S&P 500 Index

The Index is published by Standard & Poor’s and is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement in the United States. The calculation of the level of the Index, discussed below in further detail, is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. As of December 31, 2007, 424 companies or 84.1% of the market capitalization of the Index traded on the NYSE; 76 companies or 15.9% of the market capitalization of the Index traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market; and no companies traded on the AMEX. As of December 31, 2007 the aggregate market value of the 500 companies included in

 

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the Index represented approximately 75% of the aggregate market value of stocks included in the Standard & Poor’s Stock Guide Database of domestic common stocks traded in the U.S., excluding American depositary receipts, limited partnerships and mutual funds. Standard & Poor’s chooses companies for inclusion in the Index with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of the Standard & Poor’s Stock Guide Database, which Standard & Poor’s uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. Relevant criteria employed by Standard & Poor’s include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock is generally responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. Ten main groups of companies comprise the Index, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the Index included in each group as of December 31, 2007 indicated in parentheses: Consumer Discretionary (8.5%); Consumer Staples (10.2%); Energy (12.9%); Financials (17.6%); Health Care (12.0%); Industrials (11.5%); Information Technology (16.7%); Materials (3.3%); Telecommunication Services (3.6%); and Utilities (3.6%). Standard & Poor’s may from time to time, in its sole discretion, add companies to, or delete companies from, the Index to achieve the objectives stated above.

The S&P 500 Index does not reflect the payment of dividends on the stocks included in the S&P 500 Index. Because of this, the calculation of the Ending Value will not reflect the payment of dividends on these stocks that investors would receive if they were to purchase these stocks and hold them for a period equal to the term of the Notes.

Computation of the S&P 500 Index

While S&P currently employs the following methodology to calculate the S&P 500 Index, no assurance can be given that S&P will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the Supplemental Redemption Amount.

Historically, the market value of any underlying stocks included in the S&P 500 Index was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of the then outstanding shares of that underlying stock. In March 2005, S&P began shifting the S&P 500 Index half way from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the S&P 500 Index to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stocks for the S&P 500 Index did not change by the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the S&P 500 Index (i.e., its market value).

Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the S&P 500 Index reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Standard & Poor’s defines three groups of shareholders whose holdings are subject to float adjustment:

 

  Ÿ  

holdings by other publicly traded corporations, venture capital firms, private equity firms, strategic partners, or leveraged buyout groups;

 

  Ÿ  

holdings by government entities, including all levels of government in the United States or foreign countries; and

 

  Ÿ  

holdings by current or former officers and directors of the company, founders of the company, or family trusts of officers, directors, or founders, as well as holdings of trusts, foundations, pension funds, employee stock ownership plans, or other investment vehicles associated with and controlled by the company.

However, treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. In cases where holdings in a group exceed 10% of the outstanding shares of a company, the holdings of that group are excluded from the float-adjusted count of shares to be used in the index calculation. Shares held by mutual funds, investment advisory firms, pension funds, or foundations not associated with the company and investment funds in insurance companies, shares of a United States company traded in Canada as “exchangeable shares,” shares that trust beneficiaries may buy or sell without difficulty or significant additional expense beyond typical brokerage fees, and, if a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class if such shares are convertible by shareholders without undue delay and cost, are also part of the float.

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares, defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held in one or more of the three groups listed above where the group holdings exceed 10% of the outstanding shares, by the total shares outstanding. The float-adjusted index is then calculated by dividing the sum of the IWF multiplied by both the price and the total shares outstanding for each stock by the index divisor. For companies with multiple classes of stock, Standard & Poor’s calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.

The S&P 500 Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology: the level of the S&P 500 Index reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 (the “base period”). An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the value easier to work with and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed value of 10. This is often indicated by the notation 1941-43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the S&P 500 Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the S&P 500 Index, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the S&P 500 Index. The index divisor keeps the S&P 500 Index comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the S&P 500 Index.

Maintenance of the S&P 500 Index

Maintenance of the S&P 500 Index includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring or spinoffs.

To prevent the level of the S&P 500 Index from changing due to these corporate actions, all corporate actions which affect the level of the S&P 500 Index require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in total market value of an individual company, the level of the S&P 500 Index remains constant. This helps maintain the level of the S&P 500 Index as an accurate barometer of stock market performance and ensures that the movement of the S&P 500 Index is not caused by the corporate action an individual company. All index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the S&P 500 Index closing level.

Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require simple changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the S&P 500 Index and do not require index divisor adjustments.

 

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Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, private placements, tender offers, Dutch auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, subscription rights, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Tuesday for implementation after the close of trading on Wednesday. Changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are usually announced two days prior.

Also, changes in IWFs of more than ten percentage points caused by corporate actions (such as merger and acquisition activity, restructurings, or spinoffs) will be made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes in IWFs will be made annually, in September when IWFs are reviewed.

Historical data on the Energy Select Sector Index

The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Index in the period from January 2003 through January 2008. This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth below is not an indication that the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the Notes. On the Pricing Date, the closing level of the Index was 773.87.

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License Agreement

Standard & Poor’s does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Index or any data included in the Index. Standard & Poor’s makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Calculation Agent, the holders of the Notes or any other person or entity from the use of the Index or any data included in the Index in connection with the rights licensed under the license agreement described in this pricing supplement or for any other use. Standard & Poor’s makes no express or implied warranties, and hereby expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Index or any data included in the Index. Without limiting any of the above information, in no event shall Standard & Poor’s have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damage; including lost profits, even if notified of the possibility of these damages.

Standard & Poor’s and MLPF&S have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to MLPF&S, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by Standard & Poor’s in connection with some securities, including the Notes, and ML&Co. is an authorized sublicensee of MLPF&S.

The license agreement between Standard & Poor’s and MLPF&S provides that the following language must be stated in this pricing supplement:

“The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general stock market performance. S&P’s only relationship to MLPF&S (other than transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business) is the licensing of certain service marks and trade names of S&P and of the Index which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to ML&Co. or the Notes. S&P has no obligation to take the needs of ML&Co. or the holders of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of the sale of the Notes, prices at which the Notes are to initially be sold, or quantities of the Notes to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes are to be converted into cash. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Notes.”

 

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Certain U.S. Federal Income Taxation Considerations

Set forth below is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to an investment in the Notes. The following summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the discussion under the section entitled “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement ARNB-4 and MTN prospectus supplement, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the Notes.

General. There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing or involving the characterization and treatment, for United States federal income tax purposes, of the Notes or securities with terms substantially the same as the Notes. Accordingly, the proper United States federal income tax characterization and treatment of the Notes is uncertain. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, ML&Co. and every holder of a Note agree (in the absence of an administrative determination, judicial ruling or other authoritative guidance to the contrary) to characterize and treat a Note for all tax purposes as a cash-settled financial contract linked to the level of the Index. Due to the absence of authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the Notes, significant aspects of the United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or the courts will agree with the characterization and tax treatment described above. Accordingly, prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes (including alternative characterizations and tax treatments of the Notes) and with respect to any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.

Payment on the Maturity Date. Assuming that the Notes are properly characterized and treated as cash-settled financial contracts linked to the level of the Index, upon the receipt of cash on the maturity date of the Notes, a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement ARNB-4) will recognize gain or loss. The amount of such gain or loss will be the extent to which the amount of the cash received differs from the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Note. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Note generally will equal the amount paid by the U.S. Holder to purchase the Note. It is uncertain whether any such gain or loss would be treated as ordinary income or loss or capital gain or loss. Absent a future clarification in current law (by an administrative determination, judicial ruling or otherwise), where required, ML&Co. intends to report any such gain or loss to the IRS in a manner consistent with the treatment of such gain or loss as capital gain or loss. If such gain or loss is treated as capital gain or loss, then any such gain or loss will be short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Note as of the maturity date.

Sale or Exchange of the Notes. Assuming that the Notes are properly characterized and treated as cash-settled financial contracts linked to the level of the Index, upon a sale or exchange of a Note prior to the maturity date of the Notes, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale or exchange and such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Note so sold or exchanged. Any such capital gain or loss will be short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Note as of the date of such sale or exchange.

Possible Future Tax Law Changes. On December 7, 2007, the IRS released a notice that could possibly affect the taxation of holders of the Notes. According to the notice, the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) are actively considering, among other things, whether the holder of an instrument having terms similar (but not identical) to the Notes should be required to accrue either ordinary income or capital gain on a current basis, and they are seeking comments on the subject. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of instruments having terms similar to the Notes will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis. The IRS and the Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, whether the tax treatment of such instruments should vary depending upon whether or not such instruments are traded on a securities exchange, whether such instruments should be treated as indebtedness, and whether the tax treatment of such instruments should vary depending upon the nature of the underlying asset. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, if any, of the above considerations to their investment in the Notes. ML&Co. intends to continue to treat the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described herein unless and until such time as the Treasury Department and IRS determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences, in light of their particular circumstances, under the laws of the United States and any other taxing jurisdiction, of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes. See the discussion under the section entitled “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement ARNB-4.

Experts

The consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this term sheet from Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2007 and the effectiveness of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, incorporated by reference in this term sheet (which reports (1) expressed an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the changes in accounting methods in 2007 relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurement,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115,” and FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” and in 2006 for share-based payments to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” and included an explanatory paragraph relating to the restatement discussed in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements and (2) expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

Accelerated Return Bear Market Notes   TS-10


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Additional Note Terms

You should read this term sheet, together with the documents listed below (collectively, the “Note Prospectus”), which together contain the terms of the Notes and supersede all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth under “Risk Factors” in the sections indicated on the cover of this term sheet. The Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the Notes.

You may access the following documents on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC Website):

 

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Product supplement ARNB-4 dated January 31, 2008:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65100/000119312508016995/d424b2.htm

 

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Index supplement I-1 dated June 6, 2007:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65100/000119312507130785/d424b2.htm

 

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MTN prospectus supplement, dated March 31, 2006:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65100/000119312506070946/d424b5.htm

 

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General prospectus supplement dated March 31, 2006:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65100/000119312506070973/d424b5.htm

 

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Prospectus dated March 31, 2006:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65100/000119312506070817/ds3asr.htm

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC Website is 65100. References in this term sheet 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.

ML&Co. has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, and the other documents relating to this offering that ML&Co. has filed with the SEC for more complete information about ML&Co. and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, ML&Co., any agent or any dealer participating in this offering, will arrange to send you the Note Prospectus if you so request by calling toll-free 1-866-500-5408.

 

Accelerated Return Bear Market Notes   TS-11