485BPOS 1 file002.txt AMENDMENT TO 485 File No. 333-129471 CIK #1291170 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM S-6 For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2 Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548 (Exact Name of Trust) VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC. (Exact Name of Depositor) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10036 (Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices) VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC. CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LLP Attention: Amy R. Doberman Attention: Mark J. Kneedy 522 Fifth Avenue 111 West Monroe Street New York, New York 10036 Chicago, Illinois 60603 (Name and complete address of agents for service) ( X ) Check if it is proposed that this filing will become effective on April 23, 2008 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485. Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series (Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548) Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series (the "Portfolio") is a unit investment trust that seeks capital appreciation and dividend income by investing in a portfolio of stocks from the Edward Jones Model Stock Portfolio prior to the formation of the Portfolio. Of course, we cannot guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its objective. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE UNITS OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is April 23, 2008 Part I of this Prospectus may not be distributed unless accompanied by Part II. Please retain both parts of this Prospectus for future reference. VAN KAMPEN INVESTMENTS SELECT GROWTH TRUST, JANUARY 2006 SERIES Summary of Essential Financial Information As of February 27, 2008
Public Offering Price per Unit $ 10.55360 Less maximum sales charge per Unit (2.80% of Public Offering Price per Unit) (1) 0.29500 ----------------- Redemption price per Unit and Net Asset Value per Unit (2)(3) $ 10.25810 ================= Number of Units 625,934.000 Aggregate Value of Securities (2) $ 6,420,905.47 Initial Date of Deposit January 17, 2006 Mandatory Termination Date April 18, 2011 Record Dates Tenth day of March, June, September and December. Distribution Dates Twenty-fifth day of March, June, September and December. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The sales charge is described in the "Fee Table". (2) Each Security is valued on the bases set forth under "Public Offering--Unit Price" in Prospectus Part II. (3) The Public Offering Price will include any accumulated dividends or cash in the Income or Capital Accounts.
SELECT GROWTH TRUST, JANUARY 2006 SERIES Fee Table As of February 27, 2008 As a % of Public Amount Offering per 100 Price Units ------------ ------------ Transaction Fees Maximum sales charge (1) 2.800% $ 29.500 ============ ============ Maximum sales charge on reinvested dividends 0.000% $ 0.000 ============ ============ As a % Amount of Net per 100 Assets Units ------------ ------------ Estimated Annual Expenses Trustee's fee and other operating expenses 0.157% $ 1.616 Supervisory fee 0.024% $ 0.250 Bookkeeping and administrative fees 0.015% $ 0.150 ------------ ------------ Estimated annual expenses 0.196% $ 2.016 ============ ============ Amount per $10,000 Invested ------------ Estimated Costs Over Time 1 year $ 299 3 years $ 338 3 1/4 years (Approximate Life of Portfolio) $ 343 This fee table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs that you will bear and to present a comparison of fees. The "Estimated Costs Over Time" example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment assuming a 5% annual return and redemption at the end of each period. Of course, you should not consider this example a representation of actual past or future expenses or annual rate of return which may differ from those assumed for this example. The sales charge and expenses are described under "Public Offering" and "Portfolio Operating Expenses" in Prospectus Part II. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The maximum sales charge is currently 2.80% of the Public Offering Price per Unit. The sales charge will decrease by 0.50% on each January 17 to a minimum of 2.30%. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Unitholders of Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548 (Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series): We have audited the accompanying statement of condition (including the analysis of net assets and the related portfolio schedule) of Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series (the "Portfolio," included in Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548) as of December 31, 2007, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the financial highlights for the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Portfolio is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Portfolio's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned at December 31, 2007 by correspondence with The Bank of New York, Trustee. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series (included in Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548) as of December 31, 2007, and the results of its operations and changes in net assets for the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the financial highlights for the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. GRANT THORNTON LLP New York, New York April 22, 2008 VAN KAMPEN UNIT TRUSTS, SERIES 548 Statement of Condition December 31, 2007
Select Growth Trust --------------- Trust property Cash $ -- Securities at market value, (cost $6,183,159) (note 1) 7,013,357 Accumulated dividends 12,035 Receivable for securities sold 9,306 --------------- $ 7,034,698 =============== Liabilities and interest to Unitholders Cash overdraft $ 7,792 Redemptions payable 2,294 Interest to Unitholders 7,024,612 --------------- $ 7,034,698 =============== Analysis of Net Assets Interest of Unitholders (644,311 Units of fractional undivided interest outstanding) Cost to original investors of 710,985 Units (note 1) $ 7,143,017 Less initial underwriting commission (note 3) 290,678 --------------- 6,852,339 Less redemption of 66,674 Units 686,838 --------------- 6,165,501 Overdistributed net investment income Net investment income 215,451 Less distributions to Unitholders 237,424 --------------- (21,973) Realized gain (loss) on Security sale 70,937 Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of Securities (note 2) 830,198 Distributions to Unitholders of Security sale proceeds (20,051) --------------- Net asset value to Unitholders $ 7,024,612 =============== Net asset value per Unit (644,311 Units outstanding) $ 10.90 =============== The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SELECT GROWTH TRUST, JANUARY 2006 SERIES Statements of Operations Period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007 2006 2007 ------------- ------------- Investment income Dividend income.................................................................. $ 124,389 $ 150,225 Expenses Trustee fees and other expenses............................................... 9,259 11,436 Organizational fees........................................................... 36,226 660 Supervisory fees.............................................................. -- 1,582 ------------- ------------- Total expenses............................................................. 45,485 13,678 ------------- ------------- Net investment income......................................................... 78,904 136,547 Realized gain (loss) from Security sale Proceeds......................................................................... 442,754 300,045 Cost............................................................................. 406,582 265,280 ------------- ------------- Realized gain (loss).......................................................... 36,172 34,765 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of Securities.................. 601,540 228,658 ------------- ------------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS............... $ 716,616 $ 399,970 ============= ============= Statements of Changes in Net Assets Period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007 2006 2007 ------------- ------------- Operations: Net investment income............................................................ $ 78,904 $ 136,547 Realized gain (loss) on Securities............................................... 36,172 34,765 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of Securities............... 601,540 228,658 ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations............... 716,616 399,970 Distributions to Unitholders from: Net investment income............................................................ (103,366) (134,058) Security sale proceeds........................................................... (20,051) -- Redemption of Units.............................................................. (387,114) (299,724) ------------- ------------- Total increase (decrease)..................................................... 206,085 (33,812) Net asset value to Unitholders Beginning of period.............................................................. 143,752 6,960,589 Additional Securities purchased from the proceeds of Unit Sales.................. 6,610,752 97,835 ------------- ------------- End of period (including overdistributed net investment income of $(24,462) and $(21,973), respectively)........................................ $ 6,960,589 $ 7,024,612 ============= ============= The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SELECT GROWTH TRUST, JANUARY 2006 SERIES PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VALUATION OF NUMBER MARKET VALUE SECURITIES OF SHARES NAME OF ISSUER PER SHARE (NOTE 1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,940 3M Company $ 84.32 $ 163,581 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,652 Abbott Laboratories 56.15 205,060 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,846 American Express Company 52.02 148,049 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,562 Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. 52.34 186,435 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7,446 Applied Materials, Inc. 17.76 132,241 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,300 Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 44.53 146,949 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,300 Bank of America Corporation 41.26 136,158 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 2,197 BP Plc - ADR 73.17 160,754 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 830 Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. 22.43 18,617 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7,831 Cisco Systems, Inc. 27.07 211,985 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,093 Citigroup, Inc. 29.44 91,058 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,575 Clorox Company 65.17 167,813 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,493 ConocoPhillips 88.3 220,132 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,880 Dell, Inc. 24.51 119,609 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,616 Eli Lilly and Company 53.39 139,668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,752 Emerson Electric Company 56.66 212,588 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,493 Exxon Mobil Corporation 93.69 233,569 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,587 General Dynamics Corporation 88.99 230,217 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,846 Harley-Davidson, Inc. 46.71 132,937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,598 Home Depot, Inc. 26.94 96,930 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,368 Illinois Tool Works, Inc. 53.54 180,323 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,782 Intel Corporation 26.66 154,148 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,457 Johnson & Johnson 66.7 163,882 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,292 Leggett & Platt, Inc. 17.44 109,732 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,568 MDU Resources Group, Inc. 27.61 181,342 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,616 Medtronic, Inc. 50.27 131,506 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,579 Microsoft Corporation 35.6 198,612 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,100 Oracle Corporation 22.58 273,218 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,575 PepsiCo, Inc. 75.9 195,443 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,123 Pfizer, Inc. 22.73 139,176 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,575 Procter & Gamble Company 73.42 189,057 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 2,313 Royal Dutch Shell PLC - ADR 84.2 194,755 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,616 State Street Corporation 81.2 212,419 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,261 Stryker Corporation 74.72 243,662 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,971 Sysco Corporation 31.21 155,145 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,027 United Parcel Service, Inc. - CL B 70.72 143,349 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,716 United Technologies Corporation 76.54 207,883 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,598 Viacom, Inc. - CL B 43.92 158,024 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 5,848 Vodafone Group Plc - ADR 37.32 218,247 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,803 Wachovia Corporation 38.03 106,598 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,300 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 47.53 156,849 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,824 Wells Fargo & Company 30.19 145,637 --------------- -------------- 162,149 $ 7,013,357 =============== ============== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
VAN KAMPEN UNIT TRUSTS, SERIES 548 Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2006 and 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Security Valuation - Securities are valued as described in Prospectus Part II. Security Cost - The cost of the Securities is determined based on the actual price paid by the Portfolio on the various dates of deposit. Unit Valuation - The redemption price per Unit is the pro rata share of each Unit based upon (1) the cash on hand in the Portfolio or monies in the process of being collected, (2) the Securities in the Portfolio based on the value as described in Note 1 and (3) accumulated dividends thereon, less accrued expenses of the Portfolio, if any. Federal Income Taxes - Each Unitholder is considered to be the owner of a pro rata portion of the Portfolio and, accordingly, no provision has been made for Federal income taxes. Other - The financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Any realized gains or losses from securities transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. NOTE 2 - PORTFOLIO Unrealized appreciation and depreciation - An analysis of net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) at December 31, 2007 is as follows: Unrealized Appreciation $ 1,149,246 Unrealized Depreciation (319,048) -------------- $ 830,198 ============== "+" indicates that the security was issued by a foreign company. NOTE 3- OTHER Marketability - Although it is not obligated to do so, the Sponsor intends to maintain a market for Units and to continuously offer to purchase Units at prices, subject to change at any time, based upon the value of the Securities in the Portfolio valued as described in Note 1. If the supply of Units exceeds demand, or for other business reasons, the Sponsor may discontinue purchases of Units at such prices. In the event that a market is not maintained for the Units, a Unitholder desiring to dispose of his Units may be able to do so only by tendering such units to the Trustee for redemption at the redemption price. Cost to investors - investor's purchase, plus an amount equal to the maximum sales charge of 3.80% of the public offering price which is equivalent to 3.9501% of the aggregate underlying value of the Securities. On each January 17th commencing January 17, 2007, the secondary market sales charge will decrease by .5 of 1% to a minimum sales charge of 2.30%. Compensation of Sponsor and Supervisor - The Supervisor receives a fee for providing portfolio supervisory services for the Portfolio. The Sponsor receives an annual fee for performing bookkeeping and administrative services for the Portfolio. Both fees may be adjusted for increases under the category "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index. NOTE 4 - REDEMPTION OF UNITS During the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2007, 38,857 Units and 27,817 Units, respectively, were presented for redemption. NOTE 5 - FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Select Growth Trust, January 2006 Series 2006 (c) 2007 ------------ ------------ Per Share Operating Performance: Net asset value, beginning of period................................................. $ 9.59 $ 10.50 ------------ ------------ Income from investment operations: Net investment income............................................................. 0.14 0.21 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions (a)............ 0.99 0.40 ------------ ------------ Total from investment operations..................................................... 1.13 0.61 ------------ ------------ Distributions to Unitholders from: Net investment income................................................................ (0.18) (0.21) Security sale and redemption proceeds................................................ (0.04) -- ------------ ------------ Total distributions to Unitholders................................................... (0.22) (0.21) ------------ ------------ Net asset value, end of period....................................................... $ 10.50 $ 10.90 ============ ============ Total Return (b): 11.49% 5.85% Ratios as a Percentage of Average Net Assets (b): Expenses 0.81% 0.19% Net investment income 1.40% 1.94% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Realized and unrealized gains and losses per unit include the balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per unit. The per unit amount may be significantly affected based on the changes in units outstanding during the period. (b) Not annualized for periods less than one year. (c) For the period from January 17, 2006 (Initial Date of Deposit) through December 31, 2006.
Select Growth Trust Prospectus Part Two This prospectus contains two parts. No one may use this Prospectus Part Two unless accompanied by Prospectus Part One. You should read this prospectus and retain it for future reference. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of the Trust units or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any contrary representation is a criminal offense. Van Kampen Investments THE TRUST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust was created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to a Trust Indenture and Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement") among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as Sponsor, Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., as Supervisor, The Bank of New York, as Trustee and, for certain Trusts, as Evaluator, or their predecessors. Effective April 23, 2001, American Portfolio Evaluation Services resigned as Evaluator and The Bank of New York was appointed successor Evaluator. The Trust offers the opportunity to purchase Units representing proportionate interests in a portfolio of equity securities. The Trust may be an appropriate medium for investors who desire to participate in a portfolio of common stocks with greater diversification than they might be able to acquire individually. On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited delivery statements relating to contracts for the purchase of the Securities and an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount required for these purchases with the Trustee. In exchange for these contracts the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor documentation evidencing the ownership of Units of the Trust. Unless otherwise terminated as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date and any remaining Securities will be liquidated or distributed by the Trustee within a reasonable time. As used in this Prospectus the term "Securities" means the securities (including contracts to purchase these securities) listed in "Portfolio" in Part One and any additional securities deposited into the Trust. Additional Units may be issued at any time by depositing in the Trust (i) additional Securities, (ii) contracts to purchase Securities together with cash or irrevocable letters of credit or (iii) cash (or a letter of credit or the equivalent) with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As additional Units are issued by the Trust, the aggregate value of the Securities will be increased and the fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit will be decreased. The Sponsor may continue to make additional deposits into the Trust following the Initial Date of Deposit provided that the additional deposits will be in amounts which will maintain, as nearly as practicable, the same percentage relationship among the number of shares of each Security in the Trust's portfolio that existed immediately prior to the subsequent deposit. Investors may experience a dilution of their investments and a reduction in their anticipated income because of fluctuations in the prices of the Securities between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the Securities and because the Trust will pay the associated brokerage or acquisition fees. Purchases and sales of Securities by your Trust may impact the value of the Securities. This may especially be the case during the initial offering of Units, upon Trust termination and in the course of satisfying large Unit redemptions. Each Unit initially offered represents an undivided interest in the Trust. To the extent that any Units are redeemed by the Trustee or additional Units are issued as a result of additional Securities being deposited by the Sponsor, the fractional undivided interest in the Trust represented by each unredeemed Unit will increase or decrease accordingly, although the actual interest in the Trust will remain unchanged. Units will remain outstanding until redeemed upon tender to the Trustee by Unitholders, which may include the Sponsor, or until the termination of the Trust Agreement. The Trust consists of (a) the Securities (including contracts for the purchase thereof) listed under the "Portfolio" in Part One as may continue to be held from time to time in the Trust, (b) any additional Securities acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement and (c) any cash held in the related Income and Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of the Securities. OBJECTIVE AND SECURITIES SELECTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust seeks capital appreciation and dividend income. The Trust seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a portfolio of stocks from the Edward Jones Model Stock Portfolio prior to the formation of the Trust. We cannot guarantee that the Trust will achieve its objective. In selecting the Securities, Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. ("Edward Jones") considered companies recognized as leaders in their respective industries, diversification across a broad range of economic sectors seeking to manage the inherent risk associated with stocks, and companies in a position to benefit from worldwide growth. Investing in blue chip stocks may provide the potential for capital appreciation and dividend income. Many of the companies in the Trust are considered blue-chip by Edward Jones and are industry leaders in their respective markets. These companies are typically well-managed, financially strong and proven performers. As large corporations, they also share several characteristics: leading market share in their industry; diversified line of products and/or services; well-capitalized; research and development prowess providing new high-quality products; and large advertising budgets capable of producing consistent sales. Companies that demonstrate both worldwide business prospects and a dominant position in a particular industry may have a distinct competitive advantage. Such companies are targeted by the Model Stock Portfolio. Although the world economy may be more interconnected than ever before, not all regions of the world have the same economic environment. Consequently, a company that provides products and services in several countries can often weather difficult periods in one geographic region while gaining business in another. The Model Stock Portfolio offers a broad base of companies whose goods and services are used worldwide, which may help reduce overall investment risk. Of course, we cannot guarantee that the Trust will achieve its objective. The value of your Units may fall below the price you paid for the Units. You should read the "Risk Factors" section before you invest. In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities but rather the entire pool of Securities, taken as a whole, which are represented by the Units. Edward Jones uses the list of Securities in its independent capacity as an investment adviser and distributes this information to various individuals and entities. Edward Jones may recommend or effect transactions in the Securities. This may have an adverse effect on the prices of the Securities. This also may have an impact on the price the Trust pays for the Securities and the price received upon Unit redemptions or Trust termination. Edward Jones has acquired or may acquire the Securities for the Sponsor and may benefit from doing so. Edward Jones acts as agent or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of equity securities, including the Securities, and may act as a market maker in the Securities. Edward Jones also issues reports and makes recommendations on the Securities. The Edward Jones research department may receive compensation based on commissions generated by research and/or sales of Units. RISK FACTORS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All investments involve risk. This section describes the main risks that can impact the value of the securities in your Trust. You should understand these risks before you invest. If the value of the securities falls, the value of your Units will also fall. We cannot guarantee that your Trust will achieve its objective or that your investment return will be positive over any period. Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in your Trust will fluctuate. This could cause the value of your Units to fall below your original purchase price. Market value fluctuates in response to various factors. These can include changes in interest rates, inflation, the financial condition of a security's issuer, perceptions of the issuer, or ratings on a security of the issuer. Even though your Trust is supervised, you should remember that we do not manage your Trust. Your Trust will not sell a security solely because the market value falls as is possible in a managed fund. Dividend Payment Risk. Dividend payment risk is the risk that an issuer of a security is unwilling or unable to pay income on a security. Stocks represent ownership interests in the issuers and are not obligations of the issuers. Common stockholders have a right to receive dividends only after the company has provided for payment of its creditors, bondholders and preferred stockholders. Common stocks do not assure dividend payments. Dividends are paid only when declared by an issuer's board of directors and the amount of any dividend may vary over time. Model Stock Portfolio Correlation. The Trust invests in stocks from the Edward Jones Model Stock Portfolio selected prior to the date of the Trust's formation. The Trust may not include all of the Model Stock Portfolio stocks and the stocks in the Trust will not change if the Model Stock Portfolio components change. The performance of the Trust may not correspond with the Model Stock Portfolio for this reason and because the Trust incurs a sales charge and expenses. No FDIC Guarantee. An investment in your Trust is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Consumer Product and Retail Issuers. The Trust invests significantly in companies that manufacture or sell various consumer products. Any negative impact on this industry will have a greater impact on the value of Units than on a portfolio diversified over several industries. You should understand the risks of this industry before you invest. General risks of these companies include the general state of the economy, intense competition and consumer spending trends. A decline in the economy which results in a reduction of consumers' disposable income can negatively impact spending habits. Competitiveness in the retail industry will require large capital outlays for the installation of automated checkout equipment to control inventory, track the sale of items and gauge the success of sales campaigns. Retailers who sell their products over the Internet have the potential to access more consumers, but will require sophisticated technology to remain competitive. No FDIC Guarantee. An investment in your Trust is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. PUBLIC OFFERING -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price which includes the underlying value of the Securities, the sales charge, and cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts. The "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One describes the sales charge in detail. The actual sales charge that may be paid by an investor may differ slightly from the sales charges shown herein due to rounding that occurs in the calculation of the Public Offering Price and in the number of Units purchased. Reducing Your Sales Charge. The Sponsor offers a variety of ways for you to reduce the sales charge that you pay. It is your financial professional's responsibility to alert the Sponsor of any discount when you purchase Units. Before you purchase Units you must also inform your financial professional of your qualification for any discount or of any combined purchases to be eligible for a reduced sales charge. You may not combine discounts. Employees. Employees, officers and directors (including their spouses and children under 21 living in the same household, and trustees, custodians or fiduciaries for the benefit of such persons) of Van Kampen Funds Inc. and its affiliates, and dealers and their affiliates may purchase Units at the Public Offering Price less the applicable dealer concession. All employee discounts are subject to the policies of the related selling firm. Only employees, officers and directors of companies that allow their employees to participate in this employee discount program are eligible for the discounts. The minimum purchase is generally 200 Units but may vary by selling firm. Certain broker-dealers or selling firms may charge an order handling fee for processing Unit purchases. Unit Price. The Public Offering Price of Units will vary from the amounts stated under "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One in accordance with fluctuations in the prices of the underlying Securities in the Trust. The initial price of the Securities was determined by the Trustee. The Trustee will generally determine the value of the Securities as of the Evaluation Time on each business day and will adjust the Public Offering Price of Units accordingly. The Evaluation Time is the close of the New York Stock Exchange on each business day. The term "business day", as used herein and under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units", excludes Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by the New York Stock Exchange. The Public Offering Price per Unit will be effective for all orders received prior to the Evaluation Time on each business day. Orders received by the Sponsor prior to the Evaluation Time and orders received by authorized financial professionals prior to the Evaluation Time that are properly transmitted to the Sponsor by the time designated by the Sponsor, are priced based on the date of receipt. Orders received by the Sponsor after the Evaluation Time, and orders received by authorized financial professionals after the Evaluation Time or orders received by such persons that are not transmitted to the Sponsor until after the time designated by the Sponsor, are priced based on the date of the next determined Public Offering Price per Unit provided they are received timely by the Sponsor on such date. It is the responsibility of authorized financial professionals to transmit orders received by them to the Sponsor so they will be received in a timely manner. The value of portfolio securities is based on the securities' market price when available. When a market price is not readily available, including circumstances under which the Trustee determines that a security's market price is not accurate, a portfolio security is valued at its fair value, as determined under procedures established by the Trustee or an independent pricing service used by the Trustee. In these cases, the Trust's net asset value will reflect certain portfolio securities' fair value rather than their market price. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell Units. The value of any foreign securities is based on the applicable currency exchange rate as of the Evaluation Time. The Sponsor will provide price dissemination and oversight services to the Trust. Unit Distribution. Units will be distributed to the public by the Sponsor, broker-dealers and others at the Public Offering Price. Units repurchased in the secondary market, if any, may be offered by this Prospectus at the secondary market Public Offering Price in the manner described above. The Sponsor intends to qualify Units for sale in a number of states. Brokers, dealers and others will be allowed a concession or agency commission in connection with the distribution of Units of 65% of the applicable sales charge. Except as provided in this section. Any discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling dealer or agent as indicated under "General" above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no case shall the total of any concessions, agency commissions and any additional compensation allowed or paid to any broker, dealer or other distributor of Units with respect to any individual transaction exceed the total sales charge applicable to such transaction. The Sponsor reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any order for the purchase of Units and to change the amount of the concession or agency commission to dealers and others from time to time. We may provide, at our own expense and out of our own profits, additional compensation and benefits to broker-dealers who sell Units of this Trust and our other products. This compensation is intended to result in additional sales of our products and/or compensate broker-dealers and financial advisors for past sales. We may make these payments for marketing, promotional or related expenses, including, but not limited to, expenses of entertaining retail customers and financial advisors, advertising, sponsorship of events or seminars, obtaining shelf space in broker-dealer firms and similar activities designed to promote the sale of the Trust and our other products. Fees may include payment for travel expenses, including lodging, incurred in connection with trips taken by invited registered representatives for meetings or seminars of a business nature. These arrangements will not change the price you pay for your Units. Sponsor Compensation. The Sponsor will receive the total sales charge applicable to each transaction. Except as provided under "Unit Distribution" above, any sales charge discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling broker-dealer or agent. In addition, the Sponsor will realize a profit or loss as a result of the difference between the price paid for the Securities by the Sponsor and the cost of the Securities to the Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit as well as on subsequent deposits. See "Notes to Trust". The Sponsor has not participated as sole underwriter or as manager or as a member of the underwriting syndicates or as an agent in a private placement for any of the Securities. The Sponsor may realize profit or loss as a result of the possible fluctuations in the market value of Units held by the Sponsor for sale to the public. In maintaining a secondary market, the Sponsor will realize profits or losses in the amount of any difference between the price at which Units are purchased and the price at which Units are resold (which price includes the applicable sales charge) or from a redemption of repurchased Units at a price above or below the purchase price. Cash, if any, made available to the Sponsor prior to the date of settlement for the purchase of Units may be used in the Sponsor's business and may be deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor, subject to the limitations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Sponsor or an affiliate may have participated in a public offering of one or more of the Securities. The Sponsor, an affiliate or their employees may have a long or short position in these Securities or related securities. An affiliate may act as a specialist or market maker for these Securities. An officer, director or employee of the Sponsor or an affiliate may be an officer or director for issuers of the Securities. Market for Units. Although it is not obligated to do so, the Sponsor currently intends to maintain a market for Units and to purchase Units at the secondary market repurchase price. The Sponsor may discontinue purchases of Units or discontinue purchases at this price at any time. In the event that a secondary market is not maintained, a Unitholder will be able to dispose of Units by tendering them to the Trustee for redemption at the Redemption Price. See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units". Unitholders should contact their broker to determine the best price for Units in the secondary market. The Trustee will notify the Sponsor of any Units tendered for redemption. If the Sponsor's bid in the secondary market equals or exceeds the Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase the Units not later than the day on which Units would have been redeemed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may sell repurchased Units at the secondary market Public Offering Price per Unit. RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Units are available for purchase in connection with certain types of tax-sheltered retirement plans, including Individual Retirement Accounts for individuals, Simplified Employee Pension Plans for employees, qualified plans for self-employed individuals, and qualified corporate pension and profit sharing plans for employees. The purchase of Units may be limited by the plans' provisions and does not itself establish such plans. RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distributions. With respect to a Trust structured as a regulated investment company for federal tax purposes, dividends, net of expenses, and any net proceeds from the sale of Securities received by the Trust will generally be distributed to Unitholders on each Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on the preceding Record Date. With respect to a Trust structured as a grantor trust for federal tax purposes, the Trustee will generally distribute the cash held in the Income and Capital Accounts of your Trust, net of expenses, on each Distribution Date to Unitholders of record on the preceding Record Date, provided that the total cash held for distribution equals at least 0.1% of your Trust's net asset value. These dates appear under "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One. In addition, each Trust structured as a regulated investment company will generally make required distributions at the end of each year because each is structured as a "regulated investment company" for federal tax purposes. Unitholders will also receive a final distribution of dividends when the Trust terminates. A person becomes a Unitholder of record on the date of settlement (generally three business days after Units are ordered). Dividends received by a Trust are credited to the Income Account of the Trust. Other receipts (e.g., capital gains, proceeds from the sale of Securities, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account. Proceeds received on the sale of any Securities, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of Units or pay fees or expenses, will be distributed to Unitholders. Proceeds received from the disposition of any Securities after a record date and prior to the following distribution date will be held in the Capital Account and not distributed until the next distribution date. Any distribution to Unitholders consists of each Unitholder's pro rata share of the available cash in the Income and Capital Accounts as of the related Record Date. Reinvestment Option. Unitholders may have distributions automatically reinvested in additional Units without a sales charge (to the extent Units may be lawfully offered for sale in the state in which the Unitholder resides). Brokers and dealers can use the Dividend Reinvestment Service through Depository Trust Company or purchase a Reinvest CUSIP, if available. To participate in this reinvestment option, a Unitholder must file with the Trustee a written notice of election, together with any certificate representing Units and other documentation that the Trustee may then require, at least five days prior to the related Record Date. A Unitholder's election will apply to all Units owned by the Unitholder and will remain in effect until changed by the Unitholder. The reinvestment option is not offered during the 30 days prior to termination. If Units are unavailable for reinvestment or this reinvestment option is no longer available, distributions will be paid in cash. A participant may elect to terminate his or her reinvestment plan and receive future distributions in cash by notifying the Trustee in writing no later than five days before a distribution date. The Sponsor shall have the right to suspend or terminate the reinvestment plan at any time. The reinvestment plan is subject to availability or limitation by each broker-dealer or selling firm. Broker-dealers may suspend or terminate the offering of a reinvestment plan at any time. Please contact your financial professional for additional information. Redemption of Units. A Unitholder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by tender to the Trustee at Unit Investment Trust Division, 111 Sanders Creek Parkway, East Syracuse, New York 13057. Certificates must be tendered to the Trustee, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with signature guaranteed (or by providing satisfactory indemnity in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed certificates) and by payment of applicable governmental charges, if any. No later than the seventh day following the tender, the Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next computed on the date of tender. The "date of tender" is deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee, except that with respect to Units received by the Trustee after the Evaluation Time or on a day which is not a Trust business day, the date of tender is deemed to be the next business day. Redemption requests received by the Trustee after the Evaluation Time, and redemption requests received by authorized financial professionals after the Evaluation Time or redemption requests received by such persons that are not transmitted to the Trustee until after the designated by the Trustee, are priced based on the date of the next determined redemption price provided they are received timely by the Trustee on such date. It is the responsibility of authorized financial professionals to transmit redemption requests received by them to the Trustee so they will be received in a timely manner. Unitholders tendering 2,500 or more Units of the Trust (or such higher amount as may be required by your broker-dealer or selling agent) for redemption may request an in kind distribution of Securities equal to the Redemption Price per Unit on the date of tender. Unitholders may not request an in kind distribution of Securities within thirty days of a Trust's termination. The Trust generally does not offer in kind distributions of portfolio securities that are held in foreign markets. An in kind distribution will be made by the Trustee through the distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form to the account of the Unitholder's broker-dealer at Depository Trust Company. Amounts representing fractional shares will be distributed in cash. The Trustee may adjust the number of shares of any Security included in a Unitholder's in kind distribution to facilitate the distribution of whole shares. The in kind distribution option may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. The Trustee may sell Securities to satisfy Unit redemptions. To the extent that Securities are redeemed in kind or sold, the size of the Trust will be, and the diversity of the Trust may be, reduced. Sales may be required at a time when Securities would not otherwise be sold and may result in lower prices than might otherwise be realized. The price received upon redemption may be more or less than the amount paid by the Unitholder depending on the value of the Securities at the time of redemption. Special federal income tax consequences will result if a Unitholder requests an in kind distribution. See "Taxation". The Redemption Price per Unit and the secondary market repurchase price per Unit are equal to the pro rata share of each Unit in your Trust determined on the basis of (i) the cash on hand in the Trust, (ii) the value of the Securities in the Trust and (iii) dividends receivable on the Securities in the Trust trading ex-dividend as of the date of computation, less (a) amounts representing taxes or other governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (b) the accrued expenses and sales charges of the Trust. For these purposes, the Evaluator will determine the value of the Securities in the manner set forth under "Public Offering--Unit Price". The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than for customary weekend and holiday closings, or any period during which the SEC determines that trading on that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as a result of which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably practicable, or for other periods as the SEC may permit. Exchange Option. When you redeem Units of your Trust or when your Trust terminates, you may be able to exchange your Units for units of other Van Kampen unit trusts at a reduced sales charge. You should contact your financial professional for more information about trusts currently available for exchanges. Before you exchange Units, you should read the prospectus of the new trust carefully and understand the risks and fees. You should then discuss this option with your financial professional to determine whether your investment goals have changed, whether current trusts suit you and to discuss tax consequences. We may discontinue this option at any time. Units. Ownership of Units is evidenced in book-entry form unless a Unitholder makes a written request to the Trustee that ownership be in certificate form. Units are transferable by making a written request to the Trustee and, in the case of Units in certificate form, by presentation of the certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unitholder must sign the written request, and certificate or transfer instrument, exactly as his name appears on the records of the Trustee and on the face of any certificate with the signature guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or a signature guarantee program accepted by the Trustee. In certain instances the Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not limited to, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or administrator or certificates of corporate authority. Fractional certificates will not be issued. The Trustee may require a Unitholder to pay a reasonable fee for each certificate reissued or transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with each transfer or interchange. Destroyed, stolen, mutilated or lost certificates will be replaced upon delivery to the Trustee of satisfactory indemnity, evidence of ownership and payment of expenses incurred. Mutilated certificates must be surrendered to the Trustee for replacement. Reports Provided. Unitholders will receive a statement of dividends and other amounts received by the Trust for each distribution. Within a reasonable time after the end of each year, each person who was a Unitholder during that year will receive a statement describing dividends and capital received, actual Trust distributions, Trust expenses, a list of the Securities and other Trust information. Unitholders may obtain evaluations of the Securities upon request of the Trustee. If you have any questions regarding your account or your Trust, please contact your financial advisor or the Trustee. The Sponsor does not have access to individual account information. TRUST ADMINISTRATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trust Administration. The Trust is not a managed fund and, except as provided in the Trust Agreement, Securities generally will not be sold or replaced. The Sponsor may, however, direct that Securities be sold in certain limited circumstances to protect the Trust based on advice from the Supervisor. These situations may include events such as the issuer having defaulted on payment of any of its outstanding obligations or the price of a Security has declined to such an extent or other credit factors exist so that in the opinion of the Sponsor retention of the Security would be detrimental to the Trust. If a public tender offer has been made for a Security or a merger or acquisition has been announced affecting a Security, the Trustee may either sell the Security or accept an offer if the Supervisor determines that the sale or exchange is in the best interest of Unitholders (only offers for cash if a Trust has not elected to be traded as a regulated investment company for tax purposes). The Trustee will distribute any cash proceeds to Unitholders. In addition, the Trustee may sell Securities to redeem Units or pay Trust expenses. The Trustee must reject any offer for securities or property other than cash in exchange for the Securities. If securities or property are nonetheless acquired by the Trust, the Sponsor may direct the Trustee to sell the securities or property and distribute the proceeds to Unitholders or to accept the securities or property for deposit in the Trust. Should any contract for the purchase of any of the Securities fail, the Sponsor will (unless substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover the purchase are reinvested in substitute Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement) refund the cash and sales charge attributable to the failed contract to all Unitholders on or before the next distribution date. The Sponsor may direct the reinvestment of proceeds of the sale of Securities if the sale is the direct result of serious adverse credit factors which, in the opinion of the Sponsor, would make retention of the Securities detrimental to your Trust. In such a case, the Sponsor may, but is not obligated to, direct the reinvestment of sale proceeds in any other securities that meet the criteria for inclusion in your Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit. The Sponsor may also instruct the Trustee to take action necessary to ensure that the certain Trusts continue to satisfy the qualifications of a regulated investment company and to avoid imposition of tax on undistributed income of the Trust. When the Trust sells Securities, the composition and diversity of the Securities in the Trust may be altered. In order to obtain the best price for the Trust, it may be necessary for the Supervisor to specify minimum amounts (generally 100 shares) in which blocks of Securities are to be sold. In effecting purchases and sales of the Trust's portfolio securities, the Sponsor may direct that orders be placed with and brokerage commissions be paid to brokers, including brokers which may be affiliated with the Trust, the Sponsor or dealers participating in the offering of Units. Pursuant to an exemptive order, the Trust may be permitted to sell Securities to a new trust when it terminates if those Securities are included in the new trust. The exemption may enable the Trust to eliminate commission costs on these transactions. The price for those securities will be the closing sale price on the sale date on the exchange where the Securities are principally traded, as certified by the Sponsor. Amendment of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee and the Sponsor may amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of Unitholders to correct any provision which may be defective or to make other provisions that will not materially adversely affect Unitholders (as determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee). The Trust Agreement may not be amended to increase the number of Units or permit acquisition of securities in addition to or substitution for the Securities (except as provided in the Trust Agreement). The Trustee will notify Unitholders of any amendment. Termination. The Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date or upon the sale or other disposition of the last Security held in the Trust. The Trust may be terminated at any time with consent of Unitholders representing two-thirds of the outstanding Units or by the Trustee when the value of the Trust is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has exceeded $15,000,000) (the "Minimum Termination Value"). The Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event that a sufficient number of Units of the Trust not yet sold are tendered for redemption by the Sponsor, so that the net worth of the Trust would be reduced to less than 40% of the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited in the Trust. If the Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold Units by the Sponsor, the Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units the entire sales charge paid by such purchaser. Unitholders will be notified of any termination. The Trustee may begin to sell Securities in connection with a Trust termination nine business days before, and no later than, the Mandatory Termination Date. Approximately forty-five days before this date, the Trustee will notify Unitholders of the termination and provide a form enabling qualified Unitholders to elect an in kind distribution of Securities, provided that Unitholders may not request an in-kind distribution of Securities within thirty days of the Trust's termination. Any in kind distribution of Securities will be made in the manner and subject to the restrictions described under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units". Unitholders will receive a final cash distribution within a reasonable time after the Mandatory Termination Date. All distributions will be net of Trust expenses and costs. Unitholders will receive a final distribution statement following termination. The Information Supplement contains further information regarding termination of the Trust. See "Additional Information". Limitations on Liabilities. The Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor and Trustee are under no liability for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action in good faith pursuant to the Trust Agreement, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence (negligence in the case of the Trustee) in the performance of their duties or by reason of their reckless disregard of their obligations and duties hereunder. The Trustee is not liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of any of the Securities. In the event of the failure of the Sponsor to act under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee may act thereunder and is not liable for any action taken by it in good faith under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee is not liable for any taxes or other governmental charges imposed on the Securities, on it as Trustee under the Trust Agreement or on the Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay under any present or future law of the United States of America or of any other taxing authority having jurisdiction. In addition, the Trust Agreement contains other customary provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee. The Trustee, Sponsor and Supervisor may rely on any evaluation furnished by the Evaluator and have no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator shall be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information available to it. Sponsor. Van Kampen Funds Inc. is the Sponsor of the Trust. The Sponsor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Kampen Investments Inc. ("Van Kampen Investments"). Van Kampen Investments is a diversified asset management company that administers more than three million retail investor accounts, has extensive capabilities for managing institutional portfolios and has more than $111 billion under management or supervision as of January 31, 2008. Van Kampen Investments has more than 50 open-end funds, more than 30 closed-end funds and more than 2,700 unit investment trusts that are distributed by authorized dealers nationwide. Van Kampen Investments is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses: securities, asset management and credit services. Morgan Stanley is a full service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. The Sponsor's principal office is located at 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036. As of January 31, 2008, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen Funds Inc. was $144,724,857 (unaudited). Van Kampen Funds Inc. and your Trust have adopted a code of ethics requiring Van Kampen's employees who have access to information on Trust transactions to report personal securities transactions. The purpose of the code is to avoid potential conflicts of interest and to prevent fraud, deception or misconduct with respect to your Trust. The Information Supplement contains additional information about the Sponsor. If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the Trust Agreement. Trustee. The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its principal unit investment trust division offices at 2 Hanson Place, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217, (800) 221-7668. If you have questions regarding your account or your Trust, please contact the Trustee at its principal unit investment trust division offices or your financial adviser. The Sponsor does not have access to individual account information. The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law. Additional information regarding the Trustee is set forth in the Information Supplement, including the Trustee's qualifications and duties, its ability to resign, the effect of a merger involving the Trustee and the Sponsor's ability to remove and replace the Trustee. See "Additional Information". TAXATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grantor Trusts This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning Units of a Trust structured a grantor trust for federal tax purposes. This section is current as of the date of this prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker/dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or foreign tax consequences. This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice and opinion of counsel to the Sponsor. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in the Trust. This may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law. As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax advisor. Assets Of The Trust. The Trust is expected to hold shares of stock in corporations (the "Stocks") that are treated as equity for federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Trust will also hold other assets, including assets that are treated differently for federal income tax purposes from those described above, in which case you will have federal income tax consequences different from or in addition to those described in this section. All of the assets held by the Trust constitute the "Trust Assets." Neither our counsel nor we have analyzed the proper federal income tax treatment of the Trust Assets and thus neither our counsel nor we have reached a conclusion regarding the federal income tax treatment of the Trust Assets. Trust Status. If the Trust is at all times operated in accordance with the documents establishing the Trust and certain requirements of federal income tax law are met, the Trust will not be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As a Unit owner, you will be treated as the owner of a pro rata portion of each of the Trust Assets, and as such you will be considered to have received a pro rata share of income (e.g., dividends and capital gains, if any) from each Trust Asset when such income would be considered to be received by you if you directly owned the Trust Assets. This is true even if you elect to have your distributions reinvested into additional Units. In addition, the income from Trust Assets that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay sales charges or Trust expenses. Your Tax Basis and Income or Loss Upon Disposition. If your Trust disposes of Trust Assets, you will generally recognize gain or loss. If you dispose of your Units or redeem your Units for cash, you will also generally recognize gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in the related Trust Assets from your share of the total amount received in the transaction. You can generally determine your initial tax basis in each Trust Asset by apportioning the cost of your Units, including sales charges, among the Trust Assets ratably according to their values on the date you acquire your Units. In certain circumstances, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you acquire your Units (for example, in the case of certain dividends that exceed a corporation's accumulated earnings and profits, as discussed below). If you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 15% (generally 5% for certain taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets). These capital gains rates are generally effective for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. For later periods, if you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% (10% for certain taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets). The 20% rate is reduced to 18% and the 10% rate is reduced to 8% for long-term capital gains from most property acquired after December 31, 2000 with a holding period of more than five years. Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your Units to determine your holding period. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Internal Revenue Code, however, treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations. Dividends from Stocks. Certain dividends received with respect to the Stocks may qualify to be taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. These special rules relating to the taxation of dividends at capital gains rates generally apply to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns Units generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received by the Trust, because the dividends received deduction is not available for dividends from most foreign corporations. In-Kind Distributions. Under certain circumstances, as described in this prospectus, you may receive an in-kind distribution of Trust securities when you redeem Units. This distribution will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes and you will generally recognize gain or loss, generally based on the value at that time of the securities and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service could however assert that a loss could not be currently deducted. Exchanges. If you elect to have your proceeds from your Trust rolled over into a future trust, it is considered a sale for federal income tax purposes and any gain on the sale will be treated as a capital gain, and any loss will be treated as a capital loss. However, any loss you incur in connection with the exchange of your Units of your Trust for units of the next series will generally be disallowed with respect to this deemed sale and subsequent deemed repurchase, to the extent the two trusts have substantially identical Trust Assets under the wash sale provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Limitations on the Deductibility of Trust Expenses. Generally, for federal income tax purposes, you must take into account your full pro rata share of your Trust's income, even if some of that income is used to pay Trust expenses. You may deduct your pro rata share of each expense paid by your Trust to the same extent as if you directly paid the expense. You may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of your Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions. Individuals may only deduct certain miscellaneous itemized deductions to the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income. Foreign Taxes. Distributions by your Trust that are treated as U.S. source income (e.g., dividends received on Stocks of domestic corporations) will generally be subject to U.S. income taxation and withholding in the case of Units held by nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations or other non-U.S. persons, subject to any applicable treaty. If you are a foreign investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S. citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or trust), you may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, on some of the income from your Trust or on any gain from the sale or redemption of your Units, provided that certain conditions are met. You should consult your tax advisor with respect to the conditions you must meet in order to be exempt for U.S. tax purposes. You should also consult your tax advisor with respect to other U.S. tax withholding and reporting requirements. Some distributions by your Trust may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. Any income withheld will still be treated as income to you. Under the grantor trust rules, you are considered to have paid directly your share of any foreign taxes that are paid. Therefore, for U.S. tax purposes, you may be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for those foreign taxes. New York Tax Status. Under the existing income tax laws of the State and City of New York, your Trust will not be taxed as a corporation subject to the New York State franchise tax and New York City general corporation tax. You should consult your tax advisor regarding potential foreign, state or local taxation with respect to your Units. Regulated Investment Companies This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning Units of a Trust stuctured as a regulated investment company for federal tax purposes. This section is current as of the date of this prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker/dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or foreign tax consequences. This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Sponsor. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in your Trust. This may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law. As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax advisor. Trust Status. Your Trust intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the federal tax laws. If your Trust qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes its income as required by the tax law, the Trust generally will not pay federal income taxes. Distributions. Trust distributions are generally taxable. After the end of each year, you will receive a tax statement that separates your Trust's distributions into two categories, ordinary income distributions and capital gains dividends. Ordinary income distributions are generally taxed at your ordinary tax rate, however, as further discussed below, certain ordinary income distributions received from your Trust may be taxed at the capital gains tax rates. Generally, you will treat all capital gains dividends as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your Units. To determine your actual tax liability for your capital gains dividends, you must calculate your total net capital gain or loss for the tax year after considering all of your other taxable transactions, as described below. In addition, your Trust may make distributions that represent a return of capital for tax purposes and thus will generally not be taxable to you. The tax status of your distributions from your Trust is not affected by whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Units or receive them in cash. The income from your Trust that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales charge, if any. The tax laws may require you to treat distributions made to you in January as if you had received them on December 31 of the previous year. Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns Units generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received from your Trust because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on Units that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by your Trust from certain corporations may be designated by the Trust as being eligible for the dividends received deduction. Sale or Redemption of Units. If you sell or redeem your Units, you will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in your Units from the amount you receive in the transaction. Your tax basis in your Units is generally equal to the cost of your Units, generally including sales charges. In some cases, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you purchase your Units. Capital Gains and Losses and Certain Ordinary Income Dividends. If you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 15% (generally 5% for certain taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets). These new capital gains rates are generally effective for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. For later periods, if you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% (10% for certain taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets). The 20% rate is reduced to 18% and the 10% rate is reduced to 8% for long-term capital gains from most property acquired after December 31, 2000 with a holding period of more than five years. Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your Units to determine your holding period. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend from your Trust and sell your Units at a loss after holding it for six months or less, the loss will be recharacterized as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend received. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Internal Revenue Code treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations. Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as your Trust are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Trust itself. These special rules relating to the taxation of ordinary income dividends from regulated investment companies generally apply to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. The Trusts will provide notice to its Unitholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for these capital gains tax rates. In-Kind Distributions. Under certain circumstances, as described in this prospectus, you may receive an in-kind distribution of Trust securities when you redeem Units. This distribution will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes and you will generally recognize gain or loss, generally based on the value at that time of the securities and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service could however assert that a loss could not be currently deducted. Rollovers and Exchanges. If you elect to have your proceeds from your Trust rolled over into a future trust, it is considered a sale for federal income tax purposes and any gain on the sale will be treated as a capital gain, and any loss will be treated as a capital loss. However, any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent that Units disposed of are replaced (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after disposition of Units or to the extent that the Unitholder, during such period, acquires or enters into an option or contract to acquire, substantially identical stock or securities. In such a case, the basis of the Units acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Deductibility of Trust Expenses. Generally, expenses incurred by your Trust will be deducted from the gross income received by your Trust and only your share of the Trust's net income will be paid to you and reported as taxable income to you. However, if the Units of your Trust are held by fewer than 500 Unitholders at any time during a taxable year, your Trust will generally not be able to deduct certain expenses from income, thus resulting in your reported share of your Trust's taxable income being increased by your share of those expenses, even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution. In this case you may be able to take a deduction for these expenses; however, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, may be deducted by individuals only to the extent that all of these deductions exceed 2% of the individual's adjusted gross income. Foreign Tax Credit. If your Trust invests in any foreign securities, the tax statement that you receive may include an item showing foreign taxes your Trust paid to other countries. In this case, dividends taxed to you will include your share of the taxes your Trust paid to other countries. You may be able to deduct or receive a tax credit for your share of these taxes. Foreign Investors. If you are a foreign investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S. citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or trust), you should be aware that, generally, subject to applicable tax treaties, distributions from the Trust will be characterized as dividends for federal income tax purposes (other than dividends which the Trust designates as capital gain dividends) and will be subject to U.S. income taxes, including withholding taxes, subject to certain exceptions described below. However distributions received by a foreign investor from the Trust that are properly designated by the trust as capital gain dividends may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, provided that the Trust makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General. The fees and expenses of your Trust will generally accrue on a daily basis. Trust operating fees and expenses are generally paid out of the Income Account to the extent funds are available, and then from the Capital Account. Organization costs are generally paid out of the Capital Account of your Trust. It is expected that Securities will be sold to pay these amounts which will result in capital gains or losses to Unitholders. See "Taxation". These sales will reduce future income distributions. The Sponsor's, Supervisor's and Trustee's fees may be increased without approval of the Unitholders by amounts not exceeding proportionate increases under the category "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index or, if this category is not published, in a comparable category. Trustee's Fee. For its services the Trustee will receive the fee from the Trust set forth in the "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One. The Trustee benefits to the extent there are funds in the Capital and Income Accounts since these Accounts are non-interest bearing to Unitholders and the amounts earned by the Trustee are retained by the Trustee. Part of the Trustee's compensation for its services to the Trust is expected to result from the use of these funds. Compensation of Sponsor, Supervisor and Evaluator. The Evaluator will receive the annual fee for portfolio evaluation services set forth in the "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One. The Supervisor will receive the annual fee for portfolio supervisory services set forth in the "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in Part One. The Sponsor's and Supervisor's fees may exceed the actual costs of providing these services to the Trust but at no time will the total amount received for supervisory and evaluation services rendered to all Van Kampen unit investment trusts in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost of providing these services in that year. Miscellaneous Expenses. The following additional charges are or may be incurred by your Trust: (a) normal expenses (including the cost of mailing reports to Unitholders) incurred in connection with the operation of the Trust, (b) fees of the Trustee for extraordinary services, (c) expenses of the Trustee (including legal and auditing expenses) and of counsel designated by the Sponsor, (d) various governmental charges, (e) expenses and costs of any action taken by the Trustee to protect the Trust and the rights and interests of Unitholders, (f) indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expenses incurred in the administration of the Trust without negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on its part, (g) foreign custodial and transaction fees, (h) costs associated with liquidating the securities held in the Trust, (i) any offering costs incurred after the end of the initial offering period and (j) expenditures incurred in contacting Unitholders upon termination of the Trust. The Trust may pay the expenses of updating its registration statement each year. OTHER MATTERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal Opinions. The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Chapman and Cutler LLP. Dorsey & Whitney LLP has acted as counsel to the Trustee. Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The statement of condition and the related portfolio included in this Prospectus have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report in this Prospectus, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement filed by the Trust with the SEC. The Information Supplement, which has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference, includes more detailed information concerning the Securities, investment risks and general information about the Trust. Information about your Trust (including the Information Supplement) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may obtain information about the Public Reference Room by calling 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about your Trust are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549. TABLE OF CONTENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title Page ----- ---- The Trust................................... 2 Objectives and Securities Selection......... 2 Risk Factors................................ 3 Public Offering............................. 4 Retirement Accounts......................... 5 Rights of Unitholders....................... 6 Trust Administration........................ 8 Taxation.................................... 10 Trust Operating Expenses.................... 13 Other Matters............................... 14 Additional Information...................... 14 PROSPECTUS PART TWO Select Growth Trust Van Kampen Investments Information Supplement Select Growth Trust -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Information Supplement provides additional information concerning the risks and operations of the Trust which is not described in the Prospectus. This Information Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. This Information Supplement is not a prospectus but is incorporated into the Prospectus by reference. This information supplement does not include all of the information that an investor should consider before investing in the Trust and may not be used to offer or sell Units without the Prospectus. Copies of the Prospectus can be obtained by contacting the Sponsor's unit investment trust division located at 1 Parkview Plaza P.O. Box 5555, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555 or by contacting your broker. This Information Supplement is dated as of the date of the Prospectus and all capitalized terms have been defined in the Prospectus. Table of Contents Page Risk Factors 2 Sponsor Information 3 Trustee Information 3 Taxation 4 Trust Termination 6 Van Kampen Investments RISK FACTORS Price Volatility. Because the Trust invests in stocks, you should understand the risks of investing in common stocks before purchasing Units. These risks include the risk that the financial condition of the company or the general condition of the stock market may worsen and the value of the stocks (and therefore Units) will fall. Stocks are especially susceptible to general stock market movements. The value of stocks often rises or falls rapidly and unpredictably as market confidence and perceptions of companies change. These perceptions are based on factors including expectations regarding government economic policies, inflation, interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, political climates and economic or banking crises. The value of Units will fluctuate with the value of the stocks in the Trust and may be more or less than the price you originally paid for your Units. As with any investment, we cannot guarantee that the performance of the Trust will be positive over any period of time. Because the Trust is unmanaged, the Trustee will not sell stocks in response to market fluctuations as is common in managed investments. Dividends. Stocks represent ownership interests in a company and are not obligations of the company. Common stockholders have a right to receive payments from the company that is subordinate to the rights of creditors, bondholders or preferred stockholders of the company. This means that common stockholders have a right to receive dividends only if a company's board of directors declares a dividend and the company has provided for payment of all of its creditors, bondholders and preferred stockholders. If a company issues additional debt securities or preferred stock, the owners of these securities will have a claim against the company's assets before common stockholders if the company declares bankruptcy or liquidates its assets even though the common stock was issued first. As a result, the company may be less willing or able to declare or pay dividends on its common stock. Consumer Product and Retail Issuers. The Trust invests significantly in issuers that manufacture or sell consumer products. The profitability of these companies will be affected by various factors including the general state of the economy and consumer spending trends. In the past, there have been major changes in the retail environment due to the declaration of bankruptcy by some of the major corporations involved in the retail industry, particularly the department store segment. The continued viability of the retail industry will depend on the industry's ability to adapt and to compete in changing economic and social conditions, to attract and retain capable management, and to finance expansion. Weakness in the banking or real estate industry, a recessionary economic climate with the consequent slowdown in employment growth, less favorable trends in unemployment or a marked deceleration in real disposable personal income growth could result in significant pressure on both consumer wealth and consumer confidence, adversely affecting consumer spending habits. In addition, competitiveness of the retail industry will require large capital outlays for investment in the installation of automated checkout equipment to control inventory, to track the sale of individual items and to gauge the success of sales campaigns. Increasing employee and retiree benefit costs may also have an adverse effect on the industry. In many sectors of the retail industry, competition may be fierce due to market saturation, converging consumer tastes and other factors. Because of these factors and the recent increase in trade opportunities with other countries, American retailers are now entering global markets which entail added risks such as sudden weakening of foreign economies, difficulty in adapting to local conditions and constraints and added research costs. Liquidity. Whether or not the stocks in the Trust are listed on a stock exchange, the stocks may delist from the exchange or principally trade in an over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market could depend on whether dealers will make a market in the stocks. We cannot guarantee that dealers will maintain a market or that any market will be liquid. The value of the stocks could fall if trading markets are limited or absent. Additional Units. The Sponsor may create additional Units of the Trust by depositing into the Trust additional stocks or cash with instructions to purchase additional stocks. A deposit could result in a dilution of your investment and anticipated income because of fluctuations in the price of the stocks between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the stocks and because the Trust will pay brokerage fees. Voting. Only the Trustee may sell or vote the stocks in the Trust. While you may sell or redeem your Units, you may not sell or vote the stocks in the Trust. The Sponsor will instruct the Trustee how to vote the stocks. The Trustee will vote the stocks in the same general proportion as shares held by other shareholders if the Sponsor fails to provide instructions. SPONSOR INFORMATION Sponsor. Van Kampen Funds Inc. is the Sponsor of the Trust. The Sponsor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Kampen Investments Inc. ("Van Kampen Investments"). Van Kampen Investments is a diversified asset management company that administers more than three million retail investor accounts, has extensive capabilities for managing institutional portfolios and has more than $111 billion under management or supervision as of January 31, 2008. Van Kampen Investments has more than 50 open-end funds, more than 30 closed-end funds and more than 2,700 unit investment trusts that are distributed by authorized dealers nationwide. Van Kampen Investments is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses: securities, asset management and credit services. Morgan Stanley is a full service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. The Sponsor's principal office is located at 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036. As of January 31, 2008, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen Funds Inc. was $144,724,857 (unaudited). Van Kampen Funds Inc. and your Trust have adopted a code of ethics requiring Van Kampen's employees who have access to information on Trust transactions to report personal securities transactions. The purpose of the code is to avoid potential conflicts of interest and to prevent fraud, deception or misconduct with respect to your Trust. If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the Trust Agreement. TRUSTEE INFORMATION The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its principal unit investment trust division offices at 2 Hanson Place, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217, (800) 221-7668. The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law. The duties of the Trustee are primarily ministerial in nature. It did not participate in the selection of Securities for the Trust. In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall keep proper books of record and account of all transactions at its office for the Trust. Such records shall include the name and address of, and the number of Units of the Trust held by, every Unitholder. Such books and records shall be open to inspection by any Unitholder at all reasonable times during the usual business hours. The Trustee shall make such annual or other reports as may from time to time be required under any applicable state or federal statute, rule or regulation. The Trustee is required to keep a certified copy or duplicate original of the Trust Agreement on file in its office available for inspection at all reasonable times during the usual business hours by any Unitholder, together with a current list of the Securities held in the Trust. Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee or any successor trustee may resign and be discharged of its responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement by executing an instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor. The Trustee or successor trustee must mail a copy of the notice of resignation to all Unitholders then of record, not less than 60 days before the date specified in such notice when such resignation is to take effect. The Sponsor upon receiving notice of such resignation is obligated to appoint a successor trustee promptly. If, upon such resignation, no successor trustee has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor. The Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee as provided in the Trust Agreement at any time with or without cause. Notice of such removal and appointment shall be mailed to each Unitholder by the Sponsor. Upon execution of a written acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee, all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the original trustee shall vest in the successor. The resignation or removal of a Trustee becomes effective only when the successor trustee accepts its appointment as such or when a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee. Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor trustee. The Trustee must be a banking corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any state and having at all times an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $5,000,000. In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities but rather the entire pool of Securities, taken as a whole, which are represented by the Units. TAXATION The prospectus contains a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax issues concerning the Trusts and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Trust Units. The discussion below supplements the prospectus discussion and is qualified in its entirety by the prospectus discussion. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of Trust Units, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, locality, non-U.S. country, or other taxing jurisdiction. The federal income tax summary below and in the prospectus is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Trusts. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in these discussions. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be held by the Trusts. This may not be sufficient for prospective investors to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law. Certain Trusts intend (i) to elect and (ii) to qualify annually as a regulated investment company under the Code and to comply with applicable distribution requirements so that it will not pay federal income tax on income and capital gains distributed to its Unitholders. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Trust must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income from certain publicly traded partnerships; (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Trust's assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer generally limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Trust's total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or two or more issuers which the Trust controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses but excludes net capital gain, if any) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income each taxable year. As a regulated investment company, the Trust generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to Unitholders. The Trust intends to distribute to its Unitholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain. If the Trust retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will generally be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. In addition, amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax unless, generally, the Trust distributes during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Trust intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement. Further, if the Trust retains any net capital gain, the Trust may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to Unitholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate share of the tax paid by the Trust against their federal income tax liabilities if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the current calendar year if it is declared by the Trust in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Trust during January of the following calendar year. These distributions will be taxable to Unitholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. If the Trust failed to qualify as a regulated investment company or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Trust would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on its taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its Unitholders) and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to Unitholders as ordinary dividend income. If a Trust is treated as holding directly or indirectly 10 percent or more of the combined voting power of the stock of a foreign corporation, and all U.S. shareholders collectively own more than 50 percent of the vote or value of the stock of such corporation, the foreign corporation may be treated as a "controlled foreign corporation" (a "CFC") from a U.S. tax perspective. In such circumstances, a Trust will be required to include certain types of passive income and certain other types of income relating to insurance, sales and services with related parties and oil related income in the Trust's taxable income whether or not such income is distributed. If a Trust holds an equity interest in any "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"), which are generally certain foreign corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Trust could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its Unitholders. A Trust will not be able to pass through to its Unitholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. A Trust may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, a Trust would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, a Trust might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above). Dividends paid by PFICs will not be treated as qualified dividend income. Grantor Trusts If any U.S. investor is treated as owning directly or indirectly 10 percent or more of the combined voting power of the stock of a foreign corporation, and all U.S. shareholders of that corporation collectively own more than 50 percent of the vote or value of the stock of that corporation, the foreign corporation may be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (a "CFC"). If you own 10 percent or more of a CFC (through a Trust and in combination with your other investments) you will be required to include certain types of the CFC's income in your taxable income for federal income tax purposes whether or not such income is distributed to your Trust or to you. A foreign corporation will generally be treated as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") if 75 percent or more of its income is passive income or if 50 percent or more of its assets are held to produce passive income. If a Trust purchases shares in a PFIC, you may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of certain distributions or on gains from the disposition of such shares at rates that were applicable in prior years and any gain may be recharacterized as ordinary income that is not eligible for the lower net capital gains tax rate. Additional charges in the nature of interest may also be imposed on you. Certain elections may be available with respect to PFICs that would limit these consequences. However, these elections would require you to include certain income of the PFIC in your taxable income even if not distributed to your Trust or to you, or require you to annually recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of the shares of the PFIC, thus requiring you to recognize income for federal income tax purposes in excess of your actual distributions from PFICs and proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during a particular year. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be taxed at the net capital gains tax rate. TRUST TERMINATION The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of Unitholders representing 66 2/3% of the Units of such Trust then outstanding or by the Trustee when the value of the Securities owned by the Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has exceeded $15,000,000). The Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event that a sufficient number of Units of the Trust not yet sold are tendered for redemption by the Sponsor, so that the net worth of such Trust would be reduced to less than 40% of the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited in the Trust. If the Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold Units by the Sponsor, the Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units the entire sales charge paid by such purchaser. The Trust Agreement will terminate upon the sale or other disposition of the last Security held thereunder, but in no event will it continue beyond the Mandatory Termination Date. Commencing during the period beginning nine business days prior to, and no later than, the Mandatory Termination Date, Securities may begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sales of the Securities. The Sponsor shall direct the liquidation of the Securities in such manner as to effectuate orderly sales and a minimal market impact. In the event the Sponsor does not so direct, the Securities shall be sold within a reasonable period and in such manner as the Trustee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. At least 45 days before the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide written notice of any termination to all Unitholders of the appropriate Trust. Unitholders will receive a cash distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities within a reasonable time following the Mandatory Termination Date. The Trustee will deduct from the funds of the Trust any accrued costs, expenses, advances or indemnities provided by the Trust Agreement, including estimated compensation of the Trustee, costs of liquidation and any amounts required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes or other governmental charges. Any sale of Securities in the Trust upon termination may result in a lower amount than might otherwise be realized if such sale were not required at such time. The Trustee will then distribute to each Unitholder of each Trust his pro rata share of the balance of the Income and Capital Accounts. Within 60 days of the final distribution Unitholders will be furnished a final distribution statement of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee in its sole discretion will determine that any amounts held in reserve are no longer necessary, it will make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the same manner. EMSPRO548 Contents of Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents: The facing sheet The prospectus The signatures The Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant, Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 548, certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on the 23rd day of April, 2008. VAN KAMPEN UNIT TRUSTS, SERIES 548 (Registrant) By Van Kampen Funds Inc. (Depositor) By: John F. Tierney Executive Director (Seal) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below on April 23, 2008 by the following persons who constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Van Kampen Funds Inc.: SIGNATURE TITLE Jerry Miller Managing Director ) Edward C. Wood, III Managing Director ) /s/ JOHN F. TIERNEY --------------- (Attorney-in-fact*) -------------------- * An executed copy of each of the related powers of attorney is filed herewith or was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Van Kampen Unit Trusts, Series 482 (File No. 333-120865) dated January 27, 2005 and the same hereby is incorporated herein by reference.