MERRILL LYNCH READY ASSETS TRUST

/S/ DONALD C. BURKE

April 13, 2006

(Donald C. Burke, Attorney-In-Fact)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

This Prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

In an effort to help you better understand the many concepts involved in making an investment decision, we have defined highlighted terms in this prospectus in the sidebar.

U.S. Government Securities — debt securities issued and/or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.

U.S. Government Agency Securities — debt securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Government sponsored enterprises and U.S. Government instrumentalities that are not direct obligations of the United States. Such securities may not be supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.

The investment objective of the Trust is to seek preservation of capital, liquidity and the highest possible current income consistent with this objective available from investing in a diversified portfolio of short-term money market securities.

The Trust tries to achieve its objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of short-term money market securities. These securities are generally debt securities and other instruments that mature within 13 months (25 months if the U.S. Government or a government agency has issued or guaranteed the debt). Other than U.S. Government securities and certain U.S. Government agency securities, the Trust only invests in money market instruments of issuers with one of the two highest short-term ratings from a nationally recognized credit rating organization or in unrated instruments that, in the opinion of Trust management, are of similar credit quality.

In seeking to achieve the Trust’s objective, Trust management varies the kinds of money market securities in the portfolio and the average maturity of the portfolio. Trust management decides which securities to buy and sell based on its assessment of the relative values of different securities and future interest rates. The Trust’s dollar-weighted average maturity will not exceed 90 days.

An investment in the Trust is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Trust could lose money if the issuer of an instrument held by the Trust defaults or if short-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Trust management. Although the Trust seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Trust.

In addition, in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, the Trust may reduce the number of shares held by its shareholders.

The Trust may invest in securities issued by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, and U.S. Government sponsored enterprises, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”).

These securities, including but not limited to those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, may not be guaranteed by the U.S. government or backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Investors should consider their own investment goals, time horizon and risk tolerance before investing in the Trust.

The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Trust. The bar chart shows changes in the Trust’s performance for the past ten calendar years. The table shows the average annual total returns of the Trust for the periods shown. How the Trust performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how the Trust will perform in the future.

During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 1.58% (quarter ended December 31, 2000) and the lowest return for a quarter was 0.13% (quarter ended March 31, 2004). The year-to-date return as of March 31, 2006 was 0.94%.

The yield on Trust shares normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. Therefore, yields for any given past periods are not an indication or representation of future yields. The Trust’s yield is affected by changes in interest rates, average portfolio maturity, the types and quality of portfolio securities held and operating expenses. Current yield information may not provide the basis for a comparison with bank deposits or other investments, which pay a fixed yield over a stated period of time and may not be comparable to the yield on shares of other money market funds. To obtain the Trust’s current 7-day yield, call 1-800-221-7210.

Trust investors pay various fees and expenses, either directly or indirectly. Listed below are some of the main types of expenses that the Trust may charge.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses — expenses that cover the costs of operating the Trust.

Distribution Fees — fees used to support the Trust’s marketing and distribution efforts, such as compensating financial advisers and other financial intermediaries, advertising and promotion.

This table shows the different fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Trust. Future expenses may be greater or less than those indicated below.

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Trust with the cost of investing in other money market funds.

This example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Trust for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Trust’s operating expenses remain the same. These assumptions are not meant to indicate that you will receive a 5% annual rate of return. Your annual return may be more or less than the 5% used in this example. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Donaldo S. Benito is a Vice President and the portfolio manager of the Trust. Mr. Benito has been a Vice President of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers since 1985 and the Trust’s portfolio manager since 1998.

The Trust’s objective is to seek preservation of capital, liquidity and the highest possible current income consistent with this objective available from investing in a diversified portfolio of short-term money market securities.

Outlined below are the main strategies the Trust uses in seeking to achieve its investment objective:

The Trust invests primarily in short term money market securities. These instruments are generally debt securities that mature or reset to a new interest rate within 13 months (25 months if the U.S. Government or a U.S. Government agency has issued or guaranteed the debt). Other than U.S. Government and U.S. Government agency securities, the Trust only invests in money market instruments of issuers with one of the two highest short-term ratings from a nationally recognized credit rating organization or unrated instruments that, in the opinion of Trust management, are of similar credit quality.

These securities principally consist of short-term U.S. Government and U.S. Government agency securities, bank money instruments, corporate debt instruments, including commercial paper and variable amount master demand notes and repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements.

In seeking to achieve the Trust’s objective, Trust management varies the kinds of money market securities in the portfolio and the average maturity of the portfolio. Trust management makes decisions on which securities to buy and sell based on its assessment of the relative values of different securities and future interest rates. The Trust’s dollar weighted average maturity will not exceed 90 days.

U.S. Government Securities — Debt securities issued by or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government and supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.

U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises — private corporations sponsored by the federal government that have the legal status of government agencies, such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Student Loan Marketing Association or the Federal National Mortgage Association. Securities issued by these entities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

U.S. Government Instrumentalities — supranational entities sponsored by the U.S. and other governments, such as the World Bank or the Inter-American Development Bank.

U.S. Government Agency Securities — Debt securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Government sponsored enterprises and U.S. Government instrumentalities that are not direct obligations of the United States. These securities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Bank Money Instruments — Obligations of commercial banks or other depository institutions, such as (but not limited to) certificates of deposit, time deposits, bank notes and bankers’ acceptances. The Trust will not invest more than 25% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries or in obligations of foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. depository institutions that are not backed by the U.S. parent. The Trust treats bank money instruments issued by U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks as obligations issued by domestic banks (and not subject to the 25% limitation) if the branch or subsidiary is subject to the same bank regulation as U.S. banks.

Commercial Paper — Obligations, usually of nine months or less, issued by corporations, securities firms and other businesses for short-term funding.

Other Short-Term Obligations — Obligations issued by trusts, corporations, partnerships or other entities, including mortgage or asset backed instruments.

Foreign Short-Term Debt Instruments — U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper and other short-term obligations issued by foreign entities.

Floating Rate Obligations — Obligations of government agencies, corporations, depository institutions or other issuers which periodically or automatically reset their interest rate to reflect a current market rate, such as the Federal Funds rate or a bank’s prime rate, or the level of an interest rate index, such as LIBOR (a well-known short-term interest rate index).

Insurance Company Obligations — Short-term funding agreements and guaranteed insurance contracts with fixed or floating interest rates.

Master Notes — Variable principal amount demand instruments issued by securities firms and other corporate issuers.

Other Eligible Investments — Other money market instruments permitted by Securities and Exchange Commission rules governing money market funds.

Eurodollar — obligations issued by foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. banks.

Yankeedollar — obligations issued by U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks.

Other Strategies. In addition to the main strategies discussed above, the Trust may use certain other investment strategies.

Repurchase Agreements — In a repurchase agreement the Trust buys a security from another party, which agrees to buy it back at an agreed upon time and price. The Trust may invest in repurchase agreements involving the money market securities described above.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements — In a reverse repurchase agreement the Trust sells a security to another party and agrees to buy it back at a specific time and price. The Trust may invest in reverse repurchase agreements involving the money market securities described above.

Forward Commitments — The Trust may buy or sell money market securities on a forward commitment basis. In these transactions, the Trust buys the securities at an established price with payment and delivery taking place in the future. The value of the security on the delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price.

The Trust may invest in obligations of foreign issuers, including both Eurodollar and Yankeedollar obligations.

This section contains a summary discussion of the general risks of investing in the Trust. As with any fund, there can be no guarantee that the Trust will meet its objective or that the Trust’s performance will be positive for any period of time.

Selection Risk — Selection risk is the risk that the securities that Trust management selects will underperform securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.

Interest Rate Risk — Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when

interest rates increase. Prices of longer term securities generally change more in response to interest rate changes than prices of shorter term securities. The Trust may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by Trust management.

Credit Risk — Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security will be unable to pay interest or repay the principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Trust’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.

Share Reduction Risk — In order to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, the Trust may reduce the number of shares held by its shareholders.

The Trust may also be subject to certain other risks associated with its investments and investment strategies, including:

Borrowing Risk — The Trust may borrow only to meet redemptions. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of Trust shares and in the yield on the Trust’s portfolio. Borrowing will cost the Trust interest expense and other fees. The cost of borrowing money may reduce the Trust’s return.

Illiquid Securities — The Trust may invest up to 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities that it cannot sell within seven days at approximately current value. If the Trust buys illiquid securities it may be unable to quickly sell them or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value.

Restricted Securities — Restricted securities are securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale. They may include private placement securities that have not been registered under the applicable securities laws. Restricted securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market.

Restricted securities may be illiquid. The Trust may be unable to sell them on short notice or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value. Also, the Trust may get only limited information about the issuer of a restricted security, so it may be less able to predict a loss. In addition, if Trust

management receives material nonpublic information about the issuer, the Trust may as a result be unable to sell the securities.

Securities Lending — The Trust may lend securities with a value up to 33¹/3% of its total assets to financial institutions that provide cash or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government as collateral. Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Trust may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Trust could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. These events could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Trust.

Repurchase Agreements, Purchase and Sale Contracts — The Trust may enter into certain types of repurchase agreements or purchase and sale contracts. Under a repurchase agreement, the seller agrees to repurchase a security at a mutually agreed-upon time and price. A purchase and sale contract is similar to a repurchase agreement, but purchase and sale contracts also provide that the purchaser receives any interest on the security paid during the period. If the other party to a repurchase agreement or purchase and sale contract defaults on its obligation under the agreement, the Trust may suffer delays and incur costs or lose money in exercising its rights under the agreement. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value of the security declines, the Trust may lose money.

Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk — Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Trust with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party to the agreement may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Trust could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Trust, including the value of investments made with cash collateral, is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Trust.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Trust may invest in U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments and other U.S. dollar denominated short term debt obligations issued by foreign banks and similar institutions. Although the Trust will invest in these securities only if Trust management determines they are of comparable quality to the Trust’s U.S. investments, investing in securities of foreign issuers involves some additional risks that can increase the

chances that the Trust will lose money. These risks include the possibly higher costs of foreign investing, the possibility of adverse political, economic or other developments, and the often smaller size of foreign markets, which may make it difficult for the Trust to buy and sell securities in those markets. In addition, prices of foreign securities may go up or down more than prices of securities traded in the United States.

If you would like further information about the Trust, including how it invests, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

For a discussion of the Trust’s policies and procedures regarding the selective disclosure of its portfolio holdings, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

The chart on the following pages summarizes how to buy, sell and transfer shares through Merrill Lynch or other securities dealers. You may also buy, sell and transfer shares through the Transfer Agent. To learn more about buying, selling and transferring shares through the Transfer Agent, call 1-800-221-7210. Because the selection of a mutual fund involves many considerations, your Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor may help you with this decision.

Because of the high cost of maintaining smaller accounts, the Trust may redeem shares in your account if the net asset value of your account falls below $500 due to redemptions you have made. You will be notified that the value of your account is less than $500 before the Trust makes an involuntary redemption. You will then have 60 days to make an additional investment to bring the value of your account to at least $500 before the Trust takes any action. This involuntary redemption does not apply to retirement plans or Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act accounts.

Net Asset Value — the market value of the Trust’s total assets after deducting liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding.

Market timing is an investment technique involving frequent short-term trading of mutual fund shares designed to exploit market movements or inefficiencies in the way a mutual fund prices its shares. The Board of Trustees has evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Trust’s shareholders and has determined that due to (i) the Trust’s policy of seeking to maintain the Trust’s NAV at $1.00 each day, (ii) the nature of the Trust’s portfolio holdings, and (iii) the nature of the Trust’s shareholders, it is unlikely that (a) market timing would be attempted by the Trust’s shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Trust by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Trust or its shareholders. As result, the Board of Trustees has not adopted policies and procedures to deter short-term trading in the Trust.

The Trust is subject to the USA Patriot Act (the “Patriot Act”). The Patriot Act is intended to prevent the use of the U.S. financial system in furtherance of money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities. Pursuant to requirements under the Patriot Act, the Trust may request information from shareholders to enable it to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of its shareholders. This information will be used to verify the identity of investors or, in some cases, the status of financial advisers; it will be used only for compliance with the requirements of the Patriot Act. The Trust reserves the right to reject purchase orders from persons who have not submitted information sufficient to allow the Trust to verify their identity. The Trust also reserves the right to redeem any amounts in the Trust from persons whose identity it is unable to verify on a timely basis. It is the Trust’s policy to cooperate fully with appropriate regulators in any investigations conducted with respect to potential money laundering, terrorism or other illicit activities.

When you buy shares, you pay the net asset value (normally $1.00 per share) without a sales charge. The penny rounding method is used in calculating net asset value, meaning that the calculation is rounded to the nearest whole cent. This is the offering price. Shares are also redeemed at their net asset value. The Trust calculates its net asset value each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) or New York banks are open, as of the close of business on the

Dividends — ordinary income and capital gains paid to shareholders. Dividends may be reinvested in additional Trust shares as they are paid.

Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or, on days when the Exchange is closed but New York banks are open, as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The net asset value used in determining your share price is the next one calculated after your purchase or redemption order becomes effective. Share purchase orders are effective on the date Federal Funds become available to the Trust.

Dividends of ordinary income, if any, are declared daily and reinvested monthly in the form of additional shares at net asset value. You will begin accruing dividends on the day following the date your purchase becomes effective. Dividends that are declared but unpaid will remain in the gross assets of the Trust and will, therefore, continue to earn income for the Trust’s shareholders. In most cases, shareholders will receive statements monthly or quarterly as to such reinvestments. Shareholders redeeming their holdings will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date of redemption, except where they request a transaction that settles on a same-day basis. In that case, unless otherwise requested, shareholders will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date immediately preceding the date of redemption. Dividends of capital gains, if any, will be paid at least annually. The Trust intends to make distributions, most of which will be taxed as ordinary income. Capital gains paid by the Trust may be taxable to you at different rates depending on how long the Trust has held the assets sold.

You will pay tax on dividends from the Trust whether you receive them in cash or additional shares. If you redeem shares of the Trust, you generally will be treated as having sold your shares, and any gain on the transaction may be subject to tax. Certain dividend income and capital gains are eligible for taxation at a reduced rate that applies to individual shareholders. However, to the extent that the Trust’s distributions are derived from income on short-term securities and short-term capital gain, such distributions will generally not be eligible for taxation at the reduced rate.

If the value of assets held by the Trust declines, the Trustees may authorize a reduction in the number of outstanding shares in shareholders’ accounts so as to preserve a net asset value of $1.00 per share. After such a reduction, the basis of your eliminated shares would be added to the basis of your remaining Trust shares, and you could recognize a capital loss if you disposed of your

shares at that time. Dividends from the Trust, including dividends reinvested in additional shares of the Trust, will nonetheless be fully taxable, even if the number of shares in your account has been reduced as described above.

If you are neither a lawful permanent resident nor a citizen of the United States or if you are a foreign entity, the Trust’s ordinary income dividends will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies. However, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2008, certain distributions designated by the Fund as either interest related dividends or short term gain dividends and paid to a foreign shareholder would be eligible for an exemption from U.S. withholding tax.

Dividends and interest received by the Trust may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

By law, your dividends and redemption proceeds will be subject to a withholding tax if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number or the number you have provided is incorrect.

This section summarizes some of the consequences under current Federal tax law of an investment in the Trust. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax adviser about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Trust under all applicable tax laws.

The Trust offers electronic delivery of communications to its shareholders. In order to receive this service, you must register your account and provide us with e-mail information. To sign up for this service, simply access this website at http://www.icsdelivery.com/live/ and follow the instructions. When you visit this site, you will obtain a personal identification number (PIN). You will need this PIN should you wish to update your e-mail address, choose to discontinue this service and/or make other changes to the service. This service is not available for certain retirement accounts at this time.

Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P., the Trust’s Manager, manages the Trust’s investments and its business operations subject to the oversight of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Manager has the responsibility for making all investment decisions for the Trust.

The Manager receives a fee at the annual rate of 0.500% of the Trust’s average daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.400% of the average daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.350% of the average daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $5 billion; 0.325% of the average daily net assets exceeding $5 billion but not exceeding $10 billion; 0.300% of the average daily net assets exceeding $10 billion but not exceeding $15 billion; 0.275% of the average daily net assets exceeding $15 billion but not exceeding $20 billion; and 0.250% of the average daily net assets exceeding $20 billion.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the Manager received a fee at the annual rate of 0.374 of the Trust’s average daily net assets.

For a discussion of the basis for the Board of Trustees’ most recent approval of the Trust’s management agreement, please see the Trust’s semi-annual shareholder report for the most recent fiscal period ended June 30.

Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. was organized as an investment adviser in 1976 and offers investment advisory services to more than 50 registered investment companies. Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. and its affiliates had approximately $567 billion in investment company and other portfolio assets under management as of February 2006.

On February 15, 2006, BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”) entered into an agreement to contribute Merrill Lynch’s investment management business, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. and certain affiliates (including Fund Asset Management, L.P. and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers International Limited), to BlackRock to create a new independent company that will be one of the world’s largest asset management firms with nearly $1 trillion in assets under management. Merrill Lynch will have no more than a 49.8% stake and a 45% voting interest in the combined company. The new company will operate under the BlackRock name. The combined company will offer a full range of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products with strong representation in both retail and institutional channels, in the U.S. and in non-U.S. markets. It will have over 4,500 employees in 18 countries and a

major presence in most key markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both Merrill Lynch and BlackRock and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006. If approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Trust’s shareholders, the combined company that results from the transaction is expected to become the manager of the Trust.

From time to time, a manager, analyst, or other employee of the Manager or its affiliates may express views regarding a particular asset class, company, security, industry, or market sector. The views expressed by any such person are the views of only that individual as of the time expressed and do not necessarily represent the views of the Manager or any other person within the Merrill Lynch organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and the Manager disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for the Trust are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of the Trust.

The investment activities of the Manager and its affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, their own accounts and other accounts they manage, may present conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Trust and its shareholders. The Manager provides investment management services to other funds and discretionary managed accounts that follow an investment program similar to that of the Trust. Merrill Lynch (including, for these purposes, the Manager, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and their affiliates, directors, partners, trustees, managing members, officers and employees), is a diversified global financial services firm involved with a broad spectrum of financial services and asset management activities that may, for example, engage in the ordinary course of business in activities in which its interests or the interests of its clients may conflict with those of the Trust. Merrill Lynch’s trading activities are carried out without reference to positions held directly or indirectly by the Trust and may result in Merrill Lynch having positions that are adverse to those of the Trust. Merrill Lynch is not under any obligation to share any investment opportunity, idea or strategy with the Trust. As a result, Merrill Lynch may compete with the Trust for appropriate investment opportunities. In addition, the Trust may invest in securities of companies with which Merrill Lynch has or is trying to develop investment banking relationships or in which

Merrill Lynch has significant debt or equity investments. The Trust also may invest in securities of companies for which Merrill Lynch provides or may some day provide research coverage. The Trust may also make brokerage and other payments to Merrill Lynch in connection with the Trust’s portfolio investment transactions.

Under a securities lending program approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust has retained an affiliate of the Manager to serve as the securities lending agent for the Trust to the extent that the Trust participates in the securities lending program. For these services, the lending agent may receive a fee from the Trust, including a fee based on the returns earned on the Trust’s investment of the cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In addition, Merrill Lynch is among the entities to which the Trust may lend its portfolio securities under the securities lending program.

The activities of the Manager or its affiliates may give rise to other conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Trust and its shareholders. The Manager has adopted policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts of interest. See the Statement of Additional Information for further information.

The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Trust’s financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects the financial results for a single Trust share. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Trust (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Trust’s financial statements, is included in the Trust’s Annual Report, which is available upon request.

Additional information about the Trust’s investments is available in the Trust’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. In the Trust’s Annual Report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Trust’s performance during its last fiscal year. You may obtain these reports at no cost at www.mutualfunds.ml.com or by calling 1-800-221-7210.

The Trust will send you one copy of each shareholder report and certain other mailings, regardless of the number of Trust accounts you have. To receive separate shareholder reports for each account, call your financial adviser or other financial intermediary or write to the Transfer Agent at its mailing address. Include your name, address, tax identification number and brokerage or mutual fund account number. If you have any questions, please call your financial adviser or other financial intermediary or call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-221-7210.

The Statement of Additional Information contains further information about the Trust. The portions of the Statement of Additional Information relating to the Trust are incorporated by reference into (legally considered part of) this Prospectus. The portions of the Statement of Additional Information that do not relate to the Trust are not incorporated by reference, are not part of this Prospectus, and should not be relied on by investors in the Trust. You may obtain a free copy at www.mutualfunds.ml.com or by writing to the Trust at Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45289, Jacksonville, Florida 32231-5289 or by calling 1-800-221-7210.

Information about the Trust (including the Statement of Additional Information) can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the public reference room. This information is also available on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and copies may be obtained upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. No one is authorized to provide you with information that is different from information contained in this Prospectus.

This Prospectus contains information you should know before investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011 • Phone No. (609) 282-2800

This Statement of Additional Information of Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust (the “Trust”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Trust, dated April 13, 2006, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and can be obtained, without charge, by calling 1-800-221-7210 or by writing to the Trust at the above address. The Trust’s Prospectus is incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information, and Part I of this Statement of Additional Information and the portions of Part II of this Statement of Additional Information that relate to the Trust have been incorporated by reference into the Trust’s Prospectus. The portions of Part II of this Statement of Additional Information that do not relate to the Trust do not form a part of the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information, have not been incorporated by reference into the Trust’s Prospectus and should not be relied upon by investors in the Trust. The Trust’s audited financial statements are incorporated into this Statement of Additional Information by reference to the Trust’s 2005 Annual Report. You may request a copy of the Annual Report at no charge by calling 1-800-221-7210 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on any business day.

Part I of this Statement of Additional Information sets forth information about Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust. It includes information about the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the advisory services provided to and the management fees paid by the Trust, performance data for the Trust, and information about other fees paid by and services provided to the Trust. This Part I should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s Prospectus and those portions of Part II of this Statement of Additional Information that pertain to the Trust.

The investment objective of the Trust is to seek current income, preservation of capital and liquidity available from investing in a diversified portfolio of short-term money market securities. The investment objective is a fundamental policy of the Trust that may not be changed without a vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Investment Company Act”). The Trust is classified as a diversified fund under the Investment Company Act.

The Trust’s investments in short-term “Government Securities” (as defined in Commission regulations) will be in instruments with a remaining maturity of 762 days (25 months) or less. The Trust’s other investments will be in instruments with a remaining maturity of 397 days (13 months) or less that have received a short-term rating, or that have been issued by issuers that have received a short-term rating with respect to a class of debt obligations that are comparable in priority and security with the instruments, from the requisite nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) in one of the two highest short-term rating categories or, if neither the instrument nor its issuer is so rated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Trustees of the Trust or by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (the “Manager” or “MLIM”) pursuant to delegated authority. The Trust will determine the remaining maturity of its investments in accordance with Commission regulations. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the Trust’s portfolio will not exceed 90 days.

Investment in Trust shares offers several potential benefits. The Trust seeks to provide as high a yield potential as is available through investment in short-term money market securities using professional money market management, block purchases of securities and yield improvement techniques. It provides high liquidity because of its redemption features and seeks the reduced risk that generally results from diversification of assets. There can be no assurance that the Trust’s investment objective will be realized.

In managing the Trust, the Manager will employ a number of professional money management techniques, including varying the composition of investments and the average maturity of the portfolio based on its assessment of the relative values of the various securities and future interest rate patterns. These assessments will respond to changing economic and money market conditions and to shifts in fiscal and monetary policy.

The Trust has adopted restrictions and policies relating to the investment of its assets and its activities. Certain of the restrictions are fundamental policies of the Trust and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Trust’s outstanding voting securities (which for this purpose and under the Investment Company Act means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares). The Trust has also adopted certain non-fundamental investment restrictions, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

Set forth below are the Trust’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions. Unless otherwise provided, all references below to the assets of the Trust are in terms of current market value.

(1) Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law.

(2) Borrow money, except that (i) the Trust may borrow in amounts up to 33¹/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (ii) the Trust may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (iii) the Trust may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, and (iv) the Trust may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law. These restrictions on borrowing shall not apply to reverse repurchase agreements as described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The Trust may not pledge its assets other than to secure such borrowings or to the extent permitted by the Trust’s investment policies as set forth in its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as they may be amended from time to time, in connection with hedging transactions, short sales, when-issued, reverse repurchase and forward commitment transactions and similar investment strategies.

(3) Underwrite securities of other issuers except insofar as the Trust may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) in selling portfolio securities.

(4) Invest more than 25% of its total assets, taken at market value, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry (excluding securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, and instruments issued by domestic banks).

(5) Purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trust may invest in securities directly or indirectly secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein.

(6) Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities, except to the extent that the Trust may do so in accordance with applicable law and the Trust’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as they may be amended from time to time, and without registering as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

(7) Make loans to other persons, except (i) that the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt securities and investment in government obligations, commercial paper, pass-through instruments, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements or any similar instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan, (ii) that the Trust may lend its portfolio securities, provided that the lending of portfolio securities may be made only in accordance with applicable law and the guidelines set forth in the Trust’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as they may be amended from time to time and (iii) as may otherwise be permitted by an exemptive order issued to the Trust by the Commission.

(8) Make any investment inconsistent with the Trust’s classification as a diversified company under the Investment Company Act.

(a) Purchase any securities on margin, except for the use of short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities.

Except with respect to restriction (2), if a percentage restriction on the investment or use of assets set forth above is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation.

For purposes of investment restriction (4) above, the Trust uses the classifications and sub-classifications of Morgan Stanley Capital International as a guide to identify industries.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust consists of six individuals, five of whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act (the “non-interested Trustees”). The Trustees are responsible for the oversight of the operations of the Trust and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the Investment Company Act.

Each non-interested Trustee is a member of the Trust’s Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”).

The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Trust’s independent accountants, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Trust management and such independent accountants. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, without limitation, to (i) review with the independent accountants the arrangements for and scope of annual and special audits and any other services provided by the independent accountants to the Trust; (ii) discuss with the independent accountants certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent accountants or any other results of any audit; (iii) ensure that the independent accountants submit on a periodic basis a formal written statement with respect to their independence, discuss with the independent accountants any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent accountants and recommend that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the independent accountants’ independence; and (iv) consider the comments of the independent accountants with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls and Trust management’s responses thereto. The Board of the Trust has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has retained independent legal counsel to assist it in connection with these duties. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Each non-interested Trustee is also a member of the Trust’s Nominating Committee. The principal responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are to identify individuals qualified to serve as non-interested Trustees of the Trust and to recommend its nominees for consideration by the full Board. While the Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Trust’s non-interested Trustees, the Nominating Committee may consider nominations for the office of Trustee made by Trust shareholders as it deems appropriate. Trust shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Trust that include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The Nominating Committee did not meet during the Trust’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Certain biographical and other information relating to the non-interested Trustees is set forth below, including their ages, their principal occupations for at least the last five years, the length of time served, the total number of investment companies overseen in the complex of funds advised by the Manager, Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), or their affiliates (“MLIM/FAM-advised funds”) and any public directorships.

Certain biographical and other information relating to the Trustee who is an officer and “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act and to the other officers of the Trust is set forth below, including their ages, their principal occupations for at least the last five years, the length of time served, the total number of MLIM/FAM-advised funds overseen and any public directorships:

Information relating to each Trustee’s share ownership in the Trust and in all registered funds in the MLIM/FAM-advised funds that are overseen by the respective Trustee (“Supervised Funds”) as of December 31, 2005 is set forth in the chart below.

As of March 31, 2006, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. As of December 31, 2005, none of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML & Co.”).

The Trust pays each non-interested Trustee a combined fee for service on the Board and the Audit Committee of $9,000 per year plus $1,000 per in-person Board meeting attended and $1,000 per in-person Audit Committee meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional fee of $2,000 per year. Each non-interested Trustee also receives an aggregate fee of $3,000 for each special in-person meeting attended, which is allocated equally among all the applicable MLIM/FAM-advised funds overseen by the Trustee. The Trust reimburses each non-interested Trustee for his or her out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at Board, Audit Committee and any Nominating Committee meetings.

The following table sets forth the compensation earned by the non-interested Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and the aggregate compensation paid to them by all MLIM/FAM-advised funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005.

The Trust has entered into a management agreement with the Manager (the “Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager receives for its services to the Trust monthly compensation at the following annual rates: The Trust pays the Manager a fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the Trust’s average daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.40% of the average daily net assets exceeding

$500 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.35% of the average daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $5 billion; 0.325% of the average daily net assets exceeding $5 billion but not exceeding $10 billion; 0.30% of the average daily net assets exceeding $10 billion but not exceeding $15 billion; 0.275% of the average daily net assets exceeding $15 billion but not exceeding $20 billion; and 0.25% of the average daily net assets exceeding $20 billion. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the Manager received a fee at the annual rate of 0.374% of the Trust’s average daily net assets.

Set forth below are the management fees paid by the Trust to the Manager for the periods shown.

The following table sets forth the fees paid to the transfer agent by the Trust for the periods indicated:

The table below shows the amount paid by the Trust to State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) and to the Manager for accounting services for the periods indicated:

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (the “Plan”) under which the Trust is authorized to pay Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) at an annual rate of 0.125% of the average daily net asset value of Trust accounts maintained through Merrill Lynch. The Trustees believe that the Trust’s expenditures under the Plan benefit the Trust and its shareholders by providing better shareholder services and by facilitating the sale and distribution of Trust shares. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, $4,451,278 was paid to Merrill Lynch pursuant to the Plan (based on average daily net assets of approximately $4.2 billion). All of such amounts were allocated to Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors, other Merrill Lynch personnel and related administrative costs.

The yield on the Trust’s shares normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. Therefore, the yield for any given past period is not an indication or representation by the Trust of future yields or rates of return on its shares. The yield is affected by such factors as changes in interest rates on the Trust’s portfolio securities, average portfolio maturity, the types and quality of portfolio securities held and operating expenses. The yield on Trust shares for various reasons may not be comparable to the yield on bank deposits, shares of other money market funds or other investments.

An illustration of the computation of the offering price for shares of the Trust based on the value of the Trust’s net assets and number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2005 is set forth below.

See Part II “Portfolio Transactions” of this Statement of Additional Information for more information.

The Commission has issued exemptive orders permitting the Trust to conduct principal transactions with Merrill Lynch Government Securities, Inc. (“GSI”) in U.S. Government securities, and with Merrill Lynch Money Markets Inc. (“MMI”) and, together with Merrill Lynch and GSI, (the “Affiliated Dealers”) in short-term bank money instruments. These orders contain a number of conditions, including conditions designed to ensure that the price to the Trust from an Affiliated Dealer is equal to or better than that available from other sources. Each Affiliated Dealer has informed the Trust that it will in no way, at any time, attempt to influence or control the activities of the Trust or the Manager in placing such principal transactions. The exemptive orders allow an Affiliated Dealer to receive a dealer spread on any transaction with the Trust no greater than its customary dealer spread from transactions of the type involved. Generally, such spreads do not exceed 0.25% of the principal amount of the securities involved.

The number and dollar volume of transactions engaged in by the Trust pursuant to the exemptive orders are set forth in the following table:

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the lending agent received $0, $57,183 and $26,717, respectively, in securities lending agent fees from the Trust.

The value of the Trust’s aggregate holdings of the securities of its regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the Investment Company Act) if any portion of such holdings were purchased during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 are as follows:

The Trust was organized on May 14, 1987 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Trust is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust of the same name organized on January 21, 1975. It is a diversified open-end investment company. The Declaration of Trust of the Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, par value $.10 per share, of a single class and to divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Each share represents an

equal proportionate interest in the Trust with each other share. Upon liquidation of the Trust, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the Trust available for distribution to shareholders. Shares are fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.

To the knowledge of the Trust, as of March 31, 2006, no person or entity owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of the Trust’s shares.

The Trust’s audited financial statements, including the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are incorporated in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information by reference to its 2005 Annual Report. You may request a copy of the Annual Report at no charge by calling 1-800-221-7210 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on any business day.

Part II of this statement of additional information contains information about the following funds: CMA Arizona Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Arizona”), CMA California Municipal Money Fund (“CMA California”), CMA Connecticut Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Connecticut”), CMA Florida Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Florida”), CMA Massachusetts Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Massachusetts”), CMA Michigan Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Michigan”), CMA New Jersey Municipal Money Fund (“CMA New Jersey”), CMA New York Municipal Money Fund (“CMA New York”), CMA North Carolina Municipal Money Fund (“CMA North Carolina”), CMA Ohio Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Ohio”), and CMA Pennsylvania Municipal Money Fund (“CMA Pennsylvania”), each a series of the CMA Multi-State Municipal Series Trust (collectively, the “CMA State Funds”); CMA Government Securities Fund (“CMA Government Securities”); CMA Money Fund (“CMA Money”); CMA Tax-Exempt Fund (“CMA Tax-Exempt”); CMA Treasury Fund (“CMA Treasury”); WCMA Government Securities Fund (“WCMA Government Securities”); WCMA Money Fund (“WCMA Money”); WCMA Tax-Exempt Fund (“WCMA Tax-Exempt”); WCMA Treasury Fund (“WCMA Treasury”); Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust (“Ready Assets Trust”); Merrill Lynch Retirement Reserves Money Fund of Merrill Lynch Retirement Series Trust (“Retirement Reserves”); Merrill Lynch U.S.A. Government Reserves (“U.S.A. Government Reserves”); and Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund (“U.S. Treasury Money”).

Throughout this Statement of Additional Information, each of the above listed funds may be referred to as a “Fund” or collectively as the “Funds.”

Throughout this Statement of Additional Information, each of the above listed funds may be referred to as a “Fund” or collectively as the “Funds.” The CMA State Funds, CMA Money, CMA Government Securities, CMA Tax-Exempt and CMA Treasury may be collectively referred to herein as the “CMA Funds.” The CMA State Funds and CMA Tax-Exempt may be collectively referred to herein as the “CMA Tax-Exempt Funds.” WCMA Government Securities, WCMA Money, WCMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Treasury may be collectively referred to herein as the “WCMA Funds.”

Each Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. For ease and clarity of presentation, common shares of beneficial interest are referred to herein as “shares” and the trustees of each Fund are referred to as “Trustees.” Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”) or Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), as applicable, is the manager of each Fund and is referred to as the “Manager,” and the management agreement applicable to each Fund is referred to as the “Management Agreement.” The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, is referred to herein as the “Investment Company Act.” The Securities and Exchange Commission is referred to herein as the “Commission.”

CMA Money, CMA Government Securities, CMA Tax-Exempt and CMA Treasury as well as each of the WCMA Funds are “feeder” funds (each, a “Feeder Fund”) that invest all of their assets in a corresponding “master” portfolio (each, a “Master Portfolio”) of a master trust (each, a “Master Trust”), a mutual fund that has the same objective and strategies as the applicable Feeder Fund. All investments will be made at the level of the Master Trust. This structure is sometimes called a “master/feeder” structure. A Feeder Fund’s investment results will correspond directly to the investment results of the underlying Master Trust in which it invests. For simplicity, unless the context otherwise requires, this Statement of Additional Information uses the terms “Fund” or “Feeder Fund” to include both a Feeder Fund and its Master Trust.

Set forth below are descriptions of some of the types of investments and investment strategies that one or more of the Funds may use, and the risks and considerations associated with those investments and investment strategies. Please see each Fund’s Prospectus and the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section of this Statement of Additional Information for further information on each Fund’s investment policies and risks. Information contained in this section about the risks and considerations associated with a Fund’s investments and/or investment strategies applies only to those Funds specifically identified as making each type of investment or using each investment strategy (each, a “Covered Fund”). Information that does not apply to a Covered Fund does not form a part of that

Covered Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and should not be relied on by investors in that Covered Fund. Only information that is clearly identified as applicable to a Covered Fund is considered to form a part of that Covered Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Rule 2a-7 Requirements. Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act sets forth portfolio diversification requirements applicable to all money market funds. Rule 2a-7 currently requires that each Fund (other than the CMA State Funds) limit its investments in securities issued by any one issuer ordinarily to not more than 5% of its total assets, or, in the event that such securities are not First Tier Securities (as defined in the Rule), not more than 1% of its total assets (in the case of each of CMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Tax-Exempt only, this 1% limit applies only to Conduit Securities - as defined in the Rule - that are not First Tier Securities). In addition, Rule 2a-7 requires that not more than 5% of each such Fund’s (other than CMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Tax-Exempt) total assets be invested in Second Tier Securities (as defined in the Rule) or, in the case of CMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Tax-Exempt, Second Tier Conduit Securities (as defined in the Rule). Rule 2a-7 requires each CMA State Fund with respect to 75% of its total assets to limit its investments in securities issued by any one issuer ordinarily to not more than 5% of its total assets, or, in the event that such securities are Conduit Securities that are not First Tier Securities, not more than 1% of its total assets. With respect to 25% of its total assets, each CMA State Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities issued by a single issuer provided those securities are First Tier Securities. In addition, Rule 2a-7 requires that not more than 5% of each CMA State Fund’s total assets be invested in Second Tier Conduit Securities. The Rule requires each Fund to be diversified (as defined in the Rule) other than with respect to Government Securities and securities subject to a Guarantee Issued by a Non-Controlled Person (as defined in the Rule), although the Rule contains separate diversification requirements for guarantees and demand features.

Bank Money Instruments. Certain Funds may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. and foreign depository institutions, including commercial and savings banks, savings and loan associations, and other institutions. Such obligations include but are not limited to certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits, bank notes and deposit notes. For example, the obligations may be issued by (i) U.S. or foreign depository institutions, (ii) foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. depository institutions (“Eurodollar” obligations), (iii) U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign depository institutions (“Yankeedollar” obligations) or (iv) foreign branches or subsidiaries of foreign depository institutions. Eurodollar and Yankeedollar obligations and obligations of branches or subsidiaries of foreign depository institutions may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch or subsidiary by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation. Investments in obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries will only be made if determined to be of comparable quality to other investments permissible for each Fund. CMA Money, WCMA Money and Retirement Reserves may invest only in Eurodollar obligations that, by their terms, are general obligations of the U.S. parent bank. CMA Money and WCMA Money may only invest in Yankeedollar obligations issued by U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks that are subject to state or Federal banking regulations in the U.S. and by their terms are general obligations of the foreign parent. Each Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries or in obligations of foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. depository institutions that are not backed by the U.S. parent. The Funds treat bank money instruments issued by U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks as obligations issued by domestic banks (not subject to the 25% limitation) if the branch or subsidiary is subject to the same bank regulation as U.S. banks.

Eurodollar and Yankeedollar obligations, as well as other obligations of foreign depository institutions and short-term obligations issued by other foreign entities, may involve additional investment risks, including adverse political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income payable on such obligations, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits and the possible establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions that might adversely affect the repayment of principal and the payment of interest. The issuers of such obligations may not be subject to U.S. regulatory requirements. Foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than U.S. banks. U.S. branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks are subject to the reserve requirements of the states in which they are located. There may be less publicly available information about a U.S. branch or subsidiary of a foreign bank or other issuer than about a U.S. bank or other issuer, and such entities may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial record keeping standards and requirements as U.S. issuers. Evidence of ownership of Eurodollar and foreign obligations may be held outside the United States, and the Funds may be subject to the risks associated with the holding of such property overseas. Eurodollar and foreign obligations of the Funds held overseas will be held by foreign branches of each Fund’s custodian or by other U.S. or foreign banks under subcustodian arrangements complying with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

The Manager will carefully consider the above factors in making investments in Eurodollar obligations, Yankeedollar obligations of foreign depository institutions and other foreign short-term obligations, and will not knowingly purchase obligations that, at the time of purchase, are subject to exchange controls or withholding taxes. Generally, a Fund will limit its Yankeedollar investments to obligations of banks organized in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or other industrialized nations.

Bank money instruments in which a Fund invests must be issued by depository institutions with total assets of at least $1 billion, except that a Fund may invest in certificates of deposit of smaller institutions if such certificates of deposit are Federally insured and if, as a result of such purchase, no more than 10% of total assets (taken at market value), are invested in such certificates of deposit.

Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Obligations. Commercial paper (including variable amount master demand notes and other variable rate securities, with or without forward features) refers to short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations, partnerships, trusts or other entities to finance short-term credit needs and non-convertible debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with no more than 397 days (13 months) remaining to maturity at the date of purchase. Short-term obligations issued by trusts, corporations, partnerships or other entities include mortgage-related or asset-backed instruments, including pass-through certificates such as participations in, or bonds and notes backed by, pools of mortgage, automobile, manufactured housing or other types of consumer loans; credit card or trade receivables; or pools of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. These structured financings will be supported by sufficient collateral and other credit enhancements, including letters of credit, insurance, reserve funds and guarantees by third parties, to enable such instruments to obtain the requisite quality rating by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”). Some structured financings also use various types of swaps, among other things to issue instruments that have interest rate, quality or maturity characteristics necessary or desirable for a Fund. These swaps may include so-called credit default swaps that might depend for payment not only on the credit of a counterparty, but also on the obligations of another entity, the “reference entity.”

Foreign Bank Money Instruments. Foreign bank money instruments refer to U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries, such as, but not limited to, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits, bank notes and deposit notes. The obligations of such foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries may be the general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch or subsidiary by the terms of the specific obligation or by government regulation. Such investments will only be made if determined to be of comparable quality to other investments permissible for a Fund. A Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in these obligations. Investments in foreign entities generally involve the same risks as those described above in connection with investments in Eurodollar and Yankeedollar obligations and obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries.

Foreign Short-term Debt Instruments. Foreign short-term debt instruments refers to U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper and other short-term obligations issued by foreign entities. Such investments are subject to quality standards similar to those applicable to investments in comparable obligations of domestic issuers. These investments generally involve the same risks as those described above in connection with investments in Eurodollar and Yankeedollar obligations and obligations of foreign depository institutions and their foreign branches and subsidiaries.

Forward Commitments. Certain Funds may purchase or sell money market securities on a forward commitment basis at fixed purchase terms. The purchase or sale will be recorded on the date a Fund enters into the commitment, and the value of the security will thereafter be reflected in the calculation of the Fund’s net asset value. The value of the security on the delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price. A Fund will segregate assets consisting of cash or liquid money market securities having a market value at all times at least equal to the amount of the forward purchase commitment. Although a Fund generally will enter into forward commitments with the intention of acquiring securities for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if the Manager deems it appropriate to do so.

There can be no assurance that a security purchased or sold through a forward commitment will be delivered. The value of securities in these transactions on the delivery date may be more or less than a Fund’s purchase price. The

Fund may bear the risk of a decline in the value of the security in these transactions and may not benefit from an appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period.

Municipal Securities. Certain Funds invest primarily in a portfolio of short-term municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the states, their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities and obligations of other qualifying issuers, such as issuers located in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, the interest on which (and/or, in the case of property taxes, the value of which) is excludable, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, from gross income for purposes of Federal income taxes and the applicable state’s taxes (“State Taxes”). Obligations that pay interest that is excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes are referred to herein as “Municipal Securities,” and obligations that pay interest that is excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes and are exempt from the applicable State Taxes are referred to as “State Municipal Securities.” Unless otherwise indicated, references to Municipal Securities shall be deemed to include State Municipal Securities.

Municipal Securities include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including construction of a wide range of public facilities, refunding of outstanding obligations and obtaining of funds for general operating expenses and loans to other public institutions and facilities. In addition, certain types of bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various facilities operated for private profit. Such obligations are included within the term Municipal Securities if the interest paid thereon is excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes.

The two principal classifications of Municipal Securities are “general obligation” bonds and “revenue” or “special obligation” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the repayment of principal and the payment of interest. Revenue or special obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source such as from the user of the facility being financed. Private activity bonds (or “industrial development bonds” under pre-1986 law) are in most cases revenue bonds and do not generally constitute the pledge of the credit or taxing power of the issuer of such bonds. The repayment of the principal and the payment of interest on such private activity bonds depends solely on the ability of the user of the facilities financed by the bonds to meet its financial obligation and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property so financed as security for such payment. In addition, private activity bonds may pay interest that is subject to the Federal alternative minimum tax. A Fund’s portfolio may include “moral obligation” bonds, which are normally issued by special purpose public authorities. If an issuer of moral obligation bonds is unable to meet its debt service obligations from current revenues, it may draw on a reserve fund, the restoration of which is a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of a state or municipality.

Yields on Municipal Securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general condition of the money market and of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. The ability of each Fund to achieve its investment objective is also dependent on the continuing ability of the issuers of the Municipal Securities in which the Fund invests to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and the repayment of principal when due. There are variations in the risks involved in holding Municipal Securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, depending on numerous factors. Furthermore, the rights of holders of Municipal Securities and the obligations of the issuers of such Municipal Securities may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws and court decisions affecting the rights of creditors generally, and such laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures affecting specifically the rights of holders of Municipal Securities.

A Fund’s ability to distribute dividends exempt from Federal income tax will depend on the exclusion from gross income of the interest income that it receives on the Municipal Securities in which it invests. A Fund will only purchase Municipal Securities if they are accompanied by an opinion of counsel to the issuer, which is delivered on the date of issuance of that security, that interest on such securities is excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes (the “tax exemption opinion”).

Events occurring after the date of issuance of the Municipal Securities, however, may cause the interest on such securities to be includable in gross income for Federal income tax purposes. For example, the Internal Revenue Code establishes certain requirements, such as restrictions as to the investment of the proceeds of the issue, limitations as to the use of proceeds of such issue and the property financed by such proceeds, and the payment of certain excess earnings to the Federal government, that must be met after the issuance of the Municipal Securities for interest on such securities to remain excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes. The issuers and the conduit borrowers of the Municipal Securities generally covenant to comply with such requirements and the tax exemption opinion generally assumes continuing compliance with such requirements. Failure to comply with these continuing requirements, however, may cause the interest on such Municipal Securities to be includable in gross income for Federal income tax purposes retroactive to their date of issue.

In addition, the Internal Revenue Service has an ongoing enforcement program that involves the audit of tax exempt bonds to determine whether an issue of bonds satisfies all of the requirements that must be met for interest on such bonds to be excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes. From time to time, some of the Municipal Securities held by a Fund may be the subject of such an audit by the IRS, and the IRS may determine that the interest on such securities is includable in gross income for Federal income tax purposes either because the IRS has taken a legal position adverse to the conclusion reached by the counsel to the issuer in the tax exemption opinion or as a result of an action taken or not taken after the date of issue of such obligation.

If interest paid on a Municipal Security in which a Fund invests is determined to be taxable subsequent to the Fund’s acquisition of such security, the IRS may demand that such Fund pay taxes on the affected interest income and, if the Fund agrees to do so, its yield could be adversely affected. If the interest paid on any Municipal Security held by a Fund is determined to be taxable, such Fund will dispose of the security as soon as practicable. A determination that interest on a security held by a Fund is includable in gross income for Federal or state income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issue may, likewise, cause a portion of prior distributions received by shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt.

From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the Federal income tax exclusion for interest on Municipal Securities. Similar proposals may be introduced in the future. If such a proposal were enacted, the ability of each Fund to pay “exempt-interest dividends” would be affected adversely and the Fund would re-evaluate its investment objectives and policies and consider changes in structure. See “Dividends and Taxes - Taxes.”

Municipal Securities - Derivative Products. Certain Funds may invest in a variety of Derivative Products. Derivative Products are typically structured by a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution. A Derivative Product generally consists of a trust or partnership through which a Fund holds an interest in one or more Underlying Bonds coupled with a right to sell (“put”) that Fund’s interest in the Underlying Bonds at par plus accrued interest to a financial institution (a “Liquidity Provider”). Typically, a Derivative Product is structured as a trust or partnership that provides for pass-through tax-exempt income. There are currently three principal types of derivative structures: (1) “Tender Option Bonds,” which are instruments that grant the holder thereof the right to put an Underlying Bond at par plus accrued interest at specified intervals to a Liquidity Provider; (2) “Swap Products,” in which the trust or partnership swaps the payments due on an Underlying Bond with a swap counterparty who agrees to pay a floating municipal money market interest rate; and (3) “Partnerships,” which allocate to the partners portions of income, expenses, capital gains and losses associated with holding an Underlying Bond in accordance with a governing agreement. A Fund may also invest in other forms of short-term Derivative Products eligible for investment by money market funds.

Investments in Derivative Products raise certain tax, legal, regulatory and accounting issues that may not be presented by investments in other municipal bonds. There is some risk that certain issues could be resolved in a manner that could adversely impact the performance of a Fund. For example, the tax-exempt treatment of the interest paid to holders of Derivative Products is premised on the legal conclusion that the holders of such Derivative Products have an ownership interest in the Underlying Bonds. Were the IRS or any state taxing authority to issue an adverse ruling or take an adverse position with respect to the taxation of Derivative Products, there is a risk that the interest paid on such Derivative Products or, in the case of property taxes, the value of such Fund to the extent represented by such Derivative Products, would be deemed taxable at the Federal and/or state level.

Municipal Notes. Municipal notes are shorter-term municipal debt obligations. They may provide interim financing in anticipation of tax collection, bond sales or revenue receipts. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the note may not be fully repaid and a Fund may lose money.

Municipal Commercial Paper. Municipal commercial paper is generally unsecured and issued to meet short-term financing needs. The lack of security presents some risk of loss to a Fund since, in the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, unsecured creditors are repaid only after the secured creditors out of the assets, if any, that remain.

Municipal Lease Obligations. Also included within the general category of the State Municipal Securities are Certificates of Participation (“COPs”) issued by governmental authorities as entities to finance the acquisition or construction of equipment, land and/or facilities. The COPs represent participations in a lease, an installment purchase contract or a conditional sales contract (hereinafter collectively called “lease obligations”) relating to such equipment, land or facilities. Although lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the issuer for which the issuer’s unlimited taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation is frequently backed by the issuer’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the issuer has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although “non-appropriation” lease obligations are secured by the leased property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. The securities represent a type of financing that has not yet developed the depth of marketability associated with more conventional securities. Certain investments in lease obligations may be illiquid. A Fund may not invest in illiquid lease obligations if such investments, together with all other illiquid investments, would exceed 10% of such Fund’s net assets. A Fund may, however, invest without regard to such limitation in lease obligations that the Manager, pursuant to guidelines, which have been adopted by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the supervision of the Board, determines to be liquid. The Manager will deem lease obligations to be liquid if they are publicly offered and have received an investment grade rating of Baa or better by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or BBB or better by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). Unrated lease obligations, or those rated below investment grade, will be considered liquid if the obligations come to the market through an underwritten public offering and at least two dealers are willing to give competitive bids. In reference to the latter, the Manager must, among other things, also review the creditworthiness of the entity obligated to make payment under the lease obligation and make certain specified determinations based on such factors as the existence of a rating or credit enhancement, such as insurance, the frequency of trades or quotes for the obligation and the willingness of dealers to make a market in the obligation.

Municipal Securities - Short-Term Maturity Standards. All of the investments of a Fund’s will be in securities with remaining maturities of 397 days (13 months) or less. The dollar-weighted average maturity of each Fund’s portfolio will be 90 days or less. For purposes of this investment policy, an obligation will be treated as having a maturity earlier than its stated maturity date if such obligation has technical features that, in the judgment of the Manager, will result in the obligation being valued in the market as though it has such earlier maturity.

The maturities of VRDOs (including Participating VRDOs) are deemed to be the longer of (i) the notice period required before a Fund is entitled to receive payment of the principal amount of the VRDOs on demand or (ii) the period remaining until the VRDO’s next interest rate adjustment. If not redeemed by a Fund through the demand feature, VRDOs mature on a specified date, which may range up to 30 years from the date of issuance.

Municipal Securities - Quality Standards. A Fund’s portfolio investments in municipal notes and short-term tax-exempt commercial paper will be limited to those obligations that are (i) secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the United States or (ii) rated, or issued by issuers that have been rated, in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term municipal debt obligations by an NRSRO or, if not rated, will be of comparable quality as determined under procedures approved by the Trustees. A Fund’s investments in municipal bonds will be in issuers that have received from the requisite NRSROs a rating, with respect to a class of short-term debt obligations that is comparable in priority and security with the investment, in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term obligations or, if not rated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Trustees. Certain tax-exempt obligations (primarily Variable Rate Demand Obligations and Participating Variable Rate Demand Obligations) may be entitled to the benefit of letters of credit or similar credit enhancements issued by financial institutions. In such instances, in assessing the quality of such instruments, the Trustees and the Manager will take into account not only

the creditworthiness of the issuers, but also the creditworthiness and type of obligation of the financial institution. The type of obligation of the financial institution concerns, for example, whether the letter of credit or similar credit enhancement being issued is conditional or unconditional. Certain Funds also may purchase other types of municipal instruments if, in the opinion of the Trustees or the Manager (as determined in accordance with the procedures established by the Trustees), such obligations are equivalent to securities that have the ratings described above. For a description of debt ratings, see Appendix A —“Description of Debt Ratings.”

Taxable Securities in which certain Funds may invest will be rated, or will be issued by issuers that have been rated, in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term debt obligations by an NRSRO or, if not rated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Trustees. Certain Funds will not invest in taxable short-term money market securities.

A Fund may not invest in any security issued by a depository institution unless such institution is organized and operating in the United States, has total assets of at least $1 billion and is Federally insured. Preservation of capital is a prime investment objective of the Funds, and while the types of money market securities in which the Funds invest generally are considered to have low principal risk, such securities are not completely risk free. There is a risk of the failure of issuers or credit enhancers to meet their principal and interest obligations. With respect to repurchase agreements and purchase and sale contracts, there is also the risk of the failure of the parties involved to repurchase at the agreed-upon price, in which event each Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection with such transactions.

Municipal Securities - Other Factors. Management of the Funds will endeavor to be as fully invested as reasonably practicable in order to maximize the yield on each Fund’s portfolio. Not all short-term municipal securities trade on the basis of same day settlements and, accordingly, a portfolio of such securities cannot be managed on a daily basis with the same flexibility as a portfolio of money market securities, which can be bought and sold on a same day basis. There may be times when a Fund has uninvested cash resulting from an influx of cash due to large purchases of shares or the maturing of portfolio securities. A Fund also may be required to maintain cash reserves or incur temporary bank borrowings to make redemption payments, which are made on the same day the redemption request is received. Such inability to be invested fully would lower the yield on such Fund’s portfolio.

Because certain Funds may at times invest a substantial portion of their assets in Municipal Securities secured by bank letters of credit or guarantees, an investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding of the characteristics of the banking industry and the risks that such an investment in such credit enhanced securities may entail. Banks are subject to extensive governmental regulations that may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments that may be made and interest rates and fees that may be charged. The profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. Furthermore, general economic conditions play an important part in the operations of this industry and exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers might affect a bank’s ability to meet its obligations under a letter of credit.

Changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), limit the types and volume of securities qualifying for the Federal income tax exemption of interest, which may affect the availability of Municipal Securities for investment by the Funds, which could, in turn, have a negative impact on the yield of the portfolios. A Fund reserves the right to suspend or otherwise limit sales of its shares if, as a result of difficulties in acquiring portfolio securities or otherwise, it is determined that it is not in the interests of the Fund’s shareholders to issue additional shares.

Single State Risk. Because certain Funds invest primarily in the Municipal Securities of a single state, each such Fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of Municipal Securities in such state than is a fund that is not concentrated in issuers of a single state’s State Municipal Securities to this degree. Because each Fund’s portfolio will be comprised primarily of short-term, high quality securities, each Fund is expected to be less subject to market and credit risks than a fund that invests in longer term or lower quality State Municipal Securities.

A Fund may invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in Municipal Securities that are related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one such security also would affect the other securities; for example, securities the interest upon which is paid from revenues of similar types of projects. As a result, each Fund may be subject to greater risk as compared to funds that do not follow this practice.

Taxable Money Market Securities. Certain Funds may invest in a variety of taxable money market securities (“Taxable Securities”). The Taxable Securities in which certain Funds may invest consist of U.S. Government securities, U.S. Government agency securities, domestic bank certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, short-term corporate debt securities such as commercial paper and repurchase agreements. These investments must have a stated maturity not in excess of 397 days (13 months) from the date of purchase.

The standards applicable to Taxable Securities in which certain Funds invest are essentially the same as those described above with respect to Municipal Securities. Certain Funds may not invest in any security issued by a depository institution unless such institution is organized and operating in the United States, has total assets of at least $1 billion and is Federally insured.

Variable Rate Demand Obligations (“VRDOs”) and Participating VRDOs. VRDOs are tax-exempt obligations that contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and right of demand on the part of the holder thereof to receive payment of the unpaid balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period not to exceed seven days. There is, however, the possibility that because of default or insolvency the demand feature of VRDOs and Participating VRDOs may not be honored. The interest rates are adjustable at intervals (ranging from daily to one year) to some prevailing market rate of the VRDOs at approximately the par value of the VRDOs on the adjustment date. The adjustment may be based upon the Public Securities Index or some other appropriate interest rate adjustment index. Each Fund may invest in all types of tax-exempt instruments currently outstanding or to be issued in the future that satisfy its short-term maturity and quality standards.

Participating VRDOs provide a Fund with a specified undivided interest (up to 100%) of the underlying obligation and the right to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest on the Participating VRDOs from the financial institution upon a specified number of days notice, not to exceed seven days. In addition, a Participating VRDO is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guaranty of the financial institution. A Fund would have an undivided interest in an underlying obligation and thus participate on the same basis as the financial institution in such obligation except that the financial institution typically retains fees out of the interest paid on the obligation for servicing the obligation, providing the letter of credit or issuing the repurchase commitment. Certain Funds, have been advised by counsel that they should be entitled to treat the income received on Participating VRDOs as interest from tax-exempt obligations. It is contemplated that no Fund will invest more than a limited amount of its total assets in Participating VRDOs. Neither CMA Tax-Exempt nor WCMA Tax-Exempt currently intends to invest more than 20% of its total assets in Participating VRDOs.

VRDOs that contain a right of demand to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest on a notice period exceeding seven days may be deemed to be illiquid securities. A VRDO with a demand notice period exceeding seven days will, therefore, be subject to each Fund’s restrictions on illiquid investments unless, in the judgment of the Trustees, such VRDO is liquid. The Trustees may adopt guidelines and delegate to the Manager the daily function of determining and monitoring liquidity of such VRDOs. The Trustees, however, will retain sufficient oversight and be ultimately responsible for such determinations.

Because of the interest rate adjustment formula on VRDOs (including Participating VRDOs), the VRDOs are not comparable to fixed rate securities. A Fund’s yield on VRDOs will decline and its shareholders will forego the opportunity for capital appreciation during periods when prevailing interest rates have declined. On the other hand, during periods where prevailing interest rates have increased, a Fund’s yield on VRDOs will increase and its shareholders will have a reduced risk of capital depreciation.

Purchase of Securities with Fixed Price “Puts.” Certain Funds have authority to purchase fixed rate Municipal Securities and, for a price, simultaneously acquire the right to sell such securities back to the seller at an agreed-upon rate at any time during a stated period or on a certain date. Such a right is generally denoted as a fixed price

put. Puts with respect to fixed rate instruments are to distinguished from the demand or repurchase features of VRDOs and Participating VRDOs that enable certain Funds to dispose of the security at a time when the market value of the security approximates its par value.

Repurchase Agreements and Purchase and Sale Contracts. Funds may invest in taxable securities pursuant to repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements may be entered into only with a member bank of the Federal Reserve System or primary dealer in U.S. Government securities or an affiliate thereof that meets the creditworthiness standards adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under such agreements, the bank or primary dealer or an affiliate thereof agrees, upon entering into the contract, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such period. Repurchase agreements may be construed to be collateralized loans by the purchaser to the seller secured by the securities transferred to the purchaser. In the case of a repurchase agreement, a Fund will require the seller to provide additional collateral if the market value of the securities falls below the repurchase price at any time during the term of the repurchase agreement. In the event of default by the seller under a repurchase agreement construed to be a collateralized loan, the underlying securities are not owned by the Fund but only constitute collateral for the seller’s obligation to pay the repurchase price. Therefore, a Fund may suffer time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection with the disposition of the collateral. In the event of a default under a repurchase agreement that is construed to be a collateralized loan, instead of the contractual fixed rate of return, the rate of return to a Fund will depend upon intervening fluctuations of the market value of such security and the accrued interest on the security. In such event, a Fund would have rights against the seller for breach of contract with respect to any losses arising from market fluctuations following the failure of the seller to perform.

In general, for Federal income tax purposes, repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized loans secured by the securities “sold.” Therefore, amounts earned under such agreements, even if the underlying securities are tax-exempt securities, will not be considered tax-exempt interest.

From time to time, a Fund also may invest in money market securities pursuant to purchase and sale contracts. While purchase and sale contracts are similar to repurchase agreements, purchase and sale contracts are structured so as to be in substance more like a purchase and sale of the underlying security than is the case with repurchase agreements and, with purchase and sale contracts, the purchaser receives any interest on the security paid during the period of the contract.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with the same parties with whom it may enter into repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells securities to another party and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. At the time a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will segregate liquid assets with a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that (i) the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by a Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase and (ii) the price of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is required to repurchase them. In addition, if the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce a Fund’s obligations to repurchase the securities and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision.

Securities Lending. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value not exceeding 33¹/3% of its total assets or the limit prescribed by applicable law to banks, brokers and other financial institutions. In return, the Fund receives collateral in cash or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Each Fund maintains the ability to obtain the right to vote or consent on proxy proposals involving material events affecting securities loaned. A Fund receives the income on the loaned securities. Where a Fund receives securities as collateral, the Fund receives a fee for its loans from the borrower and does not receive the income on the collateral. Where a Fund receives cash collateral, it may invest such collateral and retain the amount earned, net of any amount rebated to the borrower. As a result, the Fund’s yield may increase. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of

securities transactions. The Fund is obligated to return the collateral to the borrower at the termination of the loan. A Fund could suffer a loss in the event the Fund must return the cash collateral and there are losses on investments made with the cash collateral. In the event the borrower defaults on any of its obligations with respect to a securities loan, a Fund could suffer a loss where there are losses on investments made with the cash collateral or, where the value of the securities collateral falls below the market value of the borrowed securities. A Fund could also experience delays and costs in gaining access to the collateral. Each Fund may pay reasonable finder’s, lending agent, administrative and custodial fees in connection with its loans. Each Fund has received an exemptive order from the Commission permitting it to lend portfolio securities to affiliates of the Fund and to retain an affiliate of the Fund as lending agent.

When Issued Securities, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. A Fund may purchase or sell securities that it is entitled to receive on a when issued basis. A Fund may also purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis or through a forward commitment. These transactions involve the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund at an established price with payment and delivery taking place in the future. The Fund enters into these transactions to obtain what is considered an advantageous price to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction. When a Fund purchases securities in these transactions, the Fund segregates liquid securities in an amount equal to the amount of its purchase commitments.

There can be no assurance that a security purchased on a when issued basis will be issued or that a security purchased or sold on a delayed delivery basis or through a forward commitment will be delivered. Also, the value of securities in these transactions on the delivery date may be more or less than the price paid by the Fund to purchase the securities. The Fund will lose money if the value of the security in such a transaction declines below the purchase price and will not benefit if the value of the security appreciates above the sale price during the commitment period.

Each Fund’s investments will be limited in order to allow the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. Each Fund must comply with certain requirements. Under these requirements, a Fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each quarter of the taxable year generally (i) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer and (ii) with respect to 50% of the market value of its total assets, not more than 5% of the market value of its total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer and it will not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer. For purposes of this restriction, the CMA State Funds (and CMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Tax-Exempt) generally will regard each state and each of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, and each multi-state agency of which the state is a member as a separate issuer. Each public authority that issues securities on behalf of a private entity generally will also be regarded as a separate issuer, except that if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of a non-government entity, then the entity with the ultimate responsibility for the payment of interest and principal may be regarded as the sole issuer. These limitations may be changed by the Board of Trustees of CMA State Funds (and CMA Tax-Exempt and WCMA Tax-Exempt) to the extent necessary to comply with changes to the Federal tax requirements. See “Dividends and Taxes — Taxes.”

Each Fund other than the CMA State Funds elects to be classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act and must satisfy the foregoing 5% and 10% requirements with respect to 75% of its total assets.

See Part I, Section III “Information on Trustees and Officers — Biographical Information,” “—Share Ownership and “—Compensation of Trustees” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for biographical and certain other information relating to the Trustees and officers of your Fund, including Trustees’ compensation.

Management Services. The Manager provides each Fund with investment advisory and management services. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors, the Manager is responsible for the actual management of a Fund’s portfolio and reviews the Fund’s holdings in light of its own research analysis and that from other relevant sources. The responsibility for making decisions to buy, sell or hold a particular security rests with the Manager. The Manager performs certain of the other administrative services and provides all the office space, facilities, equipment and necessary personnel for management of each Fund.

Each Feeder Fund invests all or a portion of its assets in shares of a Master Portfolio. To the extent a Feeder Fund invests all of its assets in a Master Portfolio, it does not invest directly in portfolio securities and does not require management services. For such Feeder Funds, portfolio management occurs at the Master Portfolio level.

Management Fee. Each Fund has entered into a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which the Manager receives for its services to the Fund monthly compensation at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. For information regarding specific fee rates for your Fund and the fees paid by your Fund to the Manager for the Fund’s last three fiscal years or other applicable periods, see Part I, Section IV “Management and Advisory Arrangements” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Each Management Agreement obligates the Manager to provide investment advisory services and to pay, or cause an affiliate to pay, for maintaining its staff and personnel and to provide office space, facilities and necessary personnel for the Fund. Each Manager is also obligated to pay, or cause an affiliate to pay, the fees of all officers and Trustees of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Manager or any affiliate.

For Funds that do not have an Administrator, each Management Agreement obligates the Manager to provide management services and to pay all compensation of and furnish office space for officers and employees of a Fund connected with investment and economic research, trading and investment management of the Fund, as well as the fees of all Directors of the Fund who are interested persons of the Fund. Each Fund pays all other expenses incurred in the operation of that Fund, including among other things: taxes; expenses for legal and auditing services; costs of preparing, printing and mailing proxies, shareholder reports, prospectuses and statements of additional information, except to the extent paid by FAM Distributors, Inc.(the “Distributor”); charges of the custodian and sub-custodian, and the transfer agent; expenses of redemption of shares; Commission fees; expenses of registering the shares under Federal, state or foreign laws; fees and expenses of Directors who are not interested persons of a Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act; accounting and pricing costs (including the daily calculations of net asset value); insurance; interest; brokerage costs; litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses; and other expenses properly payable by the Fund. Certain accounting services are provided to each Fund by State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) pursuant to an agreement between State Street and each Fund. Each Fund pays a fee for these services. In addition, the Manager provides certain accounting services to each Fund and the Fund pays the Manager a fee for such services. The Distributor pays certain promotional expenses of the Funds incurred in connection with the offering of shares of the Funds. Certain expenses are financed by each Fund pursuant to distribution plans in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. See “Purchase of Shares — Distribution Plans.”

Organization of the Manager. Fund Asset Management, L.P. and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. each is a limited partnership. The partners of FAM and MLIM are Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML & Co.”), a financial services holding company and the parent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), and Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”). ML & Co. and Princeton Services are “controlling persons” of FAM and MLIM (as defined under the Investment Company Act) because of their ownership of FAM’s and MLIM’s voting securities or their power to exercise a controlling influence over FAM’s and MLIM’s management or policies.

Administrative Services and Administrative Fee. Certain Funds have entered into an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) with an administrator identified in the Fund’s Prospectus and Part I of the Fund’s

Statement of Additional Information (each, an “Administrator”). For its services to a Fund, the Administrator receives monthly compensation at the annual rate set forth in each applicable Fund’s prospectus. For information regarding any administrative fees paid by your Fund to the Administrator for the periods indicated, see Part I, Section IV “Management and Advisory Arrangements” of that Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

For Funds that have an Administrator, the Administration Agreement obligates the Administrator to provide certain administrative services to the Fund and to pay, or cause its affiliates to pay, for maintaining its staff and personnel and to provide office space, facilities and necessary personnel for the Fund. Each Administrator is also obligated to pay, or cause its affiliates to pay, the fees of those officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Administrator or any of its affiliates.

Duration and Termination of Administration Agreement. Unless earlier terminated as described below, each Administration Agreement will continue from year to year if approved annually (a) by the Board of Trustees of each applicable Fund or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund and (b) by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to such contract or interested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party. Such contract is not assignable and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice at the option of either party thereto or by the vote of the shareholders of the Fund.

Duration and Termination. Unless earlier terminated as described below, each Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year if approved annually (a) by the Directors or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (b) by a majority of the Directors who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party. Each Agreement is not assignable and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice at the option of either party thereto or by the vote of the shareholders of the Fund.

Transfer Agency Services. Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), a subsidiary of ML & Co., acts as each Fund’s Transfer Agent pursuant to a Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder Servicing Agency Agreement (each, a “Transfer Agency Agreement”). Pursuant to each Transfer Agency Agreement, the Transfer Agent is responsible for the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares and the opening and maintenance of shareholder accounts. Ready Assets Trust, U.S.A. Government Reserves and U.S. Treasury Money each pay a fee of $15.00 per account. The CMA Funds and WCMA Funds each pay a fee of $10.00 per account. Retirement Reserves pays a fee of $6.50 per account for the first one million accounts and $6.00 per account for each account thereafter. Each Fund reimburses the Transfer Agent’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, with respect to each Fund, a $0.20 monthly closed account charge will be assessed on all accounts that close during the calendar year. Application of this fee will commence the month following the month the account is closed. At the end of the calendar year, no further fees will be due. For purposes of each Transfer Agency Agreement, the term “account” includes a shareholder account maintained directly by the Transfer Agent and any other account representing the beneficial interest of a person in the relevant share class on a recordkeeping system, provided the recordkeeping system is maintained by a subsidiary of ML & Co. See Part I, Section IV “Management and Advisory Arrangements — Transfer Agency Fees” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for information on the transfer agency fees paid by your Fund for the periods indicated. With regard to the WCMA Funds, see “Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement” in Part I of the WCMA Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Audit Committee of each Fund, which is comprised of all of the Fund’s non-interested Directors, has selected an independent registered public accounting firm for that Fund that audits the Fund’s financial statements. Please see the inside back cover page of your Fund’s Prospectus for information on your Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Custodian Services. The name and address of the custodian (the “Custodian”) of each Fund are identified on the inside back cover page of the Fund’s Prospectus. The Custodian is responsible for safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. The Custodian is authorized to establish separate accounts in foreign currencies and to cause foreign securities owned by the Fund to be held in its offices outside the United States and with certain foreign banks and securities depositories.

Accounting Services. Each Fund has entered into an agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), pursuant to which State Street provides certain accounting services to the Fund. Each Fund pays a fee for these services. State Street provides similar accounting services to the Master Trusts. The Manager or the Administrator also provides certain accounting services to each Fund and each Fund reimburses the Manager or the Administrator for these services. With regard to the WCMA Funds, see “Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement” in Part I of the WCMA Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

See Part I, Section IV “Management and Advisory Arrangements — Accounting Services” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for information on the amounts paid by your Fund and, if applicable, Master Trust to State Street and the Manager the Administrator for the periods indicated.

Distribution Expenses. Each Fund has entered into a distribution agreement with the Distributor in connection with the continuous offering of each class of shares of the Fund (the “Distribution Agreement”). See the cover page to Part I of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for the identity of your Fund’s Distributor. The Distribution Agreement obligates the Distributor to pay certain expenses in connection with the offering of each class of shares of the Select Pricing Funds. After the prospectuses, statements of additional information and periodic reports have been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders, the Distributor pays for the printing and distribution of these documents used in connection with the offering to dealers and investors. The Distributor also pays for other supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. Each Distribution Agreement is subject to the same renewal requirements and termination provisions as the Management Agreement described above. With regard to the WCMA Funds, see “Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement” in Part I of the WCMA Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

The Board of each Fund has approved a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act, which covers the Fund, the Manager, the Administrator, if any, and FAM Distributors, Inc. The Code of Ethics establishes procedures for personal investing and restricts certain transactions. Employees subject to the Code of Ethics may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Fund and the Manager, the Fund and the Manager may, under certain circumstances as set forth below, make selective disclosure with respect to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Fund’s Board of Directors has approved the adoption by the Fund of the policies and procedures set forth below, and has delegated to the Manager the responsibility for ongoing monitoring and supervision to ensure compliance with these policies and procedures. The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Fund’s and Manager’s compliance with the policies and procedures. As part of this oversight function, the Directors receive from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer at least quarterly and more often, as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures, including reports on any violations of these policies and procedures that may occur. In addition, the Directors receive an annual assessment of the adequacy and effect of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures.

Examples of the information that may be disclosed pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures would include (but is not limited to) specific portfolio holdings – including the number of shares held, weightings of particular holdings, specific sector and industry weightings, trading details, and the Fund manager’s discussion of Fund performance and reasoning for significant changes in portfolio composition. This information may be both material non-public information (“Confidential Information”) and proprietary information of the firm. The Fund may disclose such information to individual investors, institutional investors, financial advisers and other financial intermediaries that sell the Fund’s shares, affiliates of the Fund, third party service providers to the Fund, lenders to the Fund, and independent rating agencies and ranking organizations. The Fund, the Manager and it affiliates receive no compensation or other consideration with respect to such disclosures.

Subject to the exceptions set forth below, Confidential Information relating to the Fund may not be disclosed to persons not employed by the Manager or its affiliates unless such information has been publicly disclosed via a filing with the Commission (e.g., fund annual report), through a press release or placement on a publicly-available internet web site, including our web site at www.mutualfunds.ml.com. If the Confidential Information has not been publicly disclosed, an employee of the Manager who wishes to distribute Confidential Information relating to the Fund must first do the following: (i) require the person or company receiving the Confidential Information to sign, before the Manager will provide disclosure of any such information, a confidentiality agreement approved by an attorney in the Manager’s Legal department in which he/she (a) agrees to use the Confidential Information solely in connection with a legitimate business use (i.e., due diligence, etc.) and (b) agrees not to trade on the basis of the information so provided; (ii) obtain the authorization of the an attorney in the Manager’s Legal department prior to disclosure; and (iii) only distribute Confidential Information that is at least thirty (30) calendar days old unless a shorter period has specifically been approved by an attorney in the Manager’s Legal department. Prior to providing any authorization for such disclosure of Confidential Information, an attorney in the Manager’s Legal Department must review the proposed arrangement and make a determination that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. In connection with day-to-day portfolio management, the Fund may disclose Confidential Information to executing brokers-dealers that is less than thirty days old in order to facilitate the purchase and sale of portfolio holdings. The Fund has adopted policies and procedures, including a Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, and various policies regarding securities trading and trade allocations, to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise in connection with disclosure of Confidential Information. These procedures are designed, among other things, to prohibit personal trading based on Confidential Information, to ensure that portfolio transactions are conducted in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders and to prevent portfolio management from using Confidential Information for the benefit of one fund or account at the expense of another. In addition, as noted, an attorney in the Manager’s Legal Department must determine that disclosure of Confidential Information is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and that any conflicts of interest created by release of the Confidential Information have been addressed by the Manager’s existing policies and procedures. For more information with respect to potential conflicts of interest, see the section entitled “Management and Other Services Arrangements – Potential Conflicts of Interest” in this Statement of Additional Information.

Confidential Information – whether or not publicly disclosed – may be disclosed to Fund Directors, the independent Directors’ counsel, outside Fund counsel, the Fund’s accounting services provider and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm without meeting the conditions outlined above. Confidential Information may, with the prior approval of the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer or the Manager’s General Counsel, also be disclosed to any auditor of the parties to a service agreement involving the Fund, or as required by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation. If Confidential Information is disclosed to such persons, each such person will be subject to restrictions on trading in the subject securities under either the Fund’s and Manager’s Code of Ethics or an applicable confidentiality agreement, or under applicable laws or regulations or court order.

The Manager has entered into ongoing arrangements to provide selective disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings to the following persons or entities:

Sponsors of 401(k) plans that include MLIM/FAM-advised funds — E.I. Dupont de Nemours and Company, Inc.

Consultants for pension plans that invest in MLIM/FAM-advised funds — Rocaton Investment Advisors, LLC;

Mercer Investment Consulting; Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting; Towers Perrin HR Services

Other than with respect to the Board of Directors, each of the persons or entities set forth above is subject to an agreement to keep the information disclosed confidential and to use it only for legitimate business purposes. The Board of Directors has a fiduciary duty as directors to act in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Selective disclosure is made to the Fund’s Board of Directors and independent registered public accounting firm at

least quarterly and otherwise as frequently as necessary to enable such persons or entities to provide services to the Fund. Selective disclosure is made to the Fund’s Transfer Agent, accounting services provider, and Custodian as frequently as necessary to enable such persons or entities to provide services to the Fund, typically on a daily basis. Disclosure is made to Lipper Inc. and Wall Street on Demand on a monthly basis and to Morningstar and Thomson Financial on a quarterly basis, and to each such firm upon specific request with the approval of the Manager’s Legal department. Disclosure is made to 401(k) plan sponsors on a yearly basis and pension plan consultants on a quarterly basis.

The Fund and the Manager monitor, to the extent possible, the use of Confidential Information by the individuals or firms to which it has been disclosed. To do so, in addition to the requirements of any applicable confidentiality agreement and/or the terms and conditions of the Fund’s and Manager’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct – all of which require persons or entities in possession of Confidential Information to keep such information confidential and not to trade on such information for their own benefit – the Manager’s compliance personnel under the supervision of the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, monitor the Manager’s securities trading desks to determine whether individuals or firms who have received Confidential Information have made any trades on the basis of that information. In addition, the Manager maintains an internal restricted list to prevent trading by the personnel of the Manager or its affiliates in securities – including securities held by the Fund – about which the Manager has Confidential Information. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the selective disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings will prevent the misuse of such information by individuals or firms that receive such information.

Activities of the Manager, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and their Affiliates (collectively, “Merrill Lynch”) and Other Accounts Managed by Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch is a worldwide, full service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization. As a result, Merrill Lynch (including, for these purposes, its directors, partners, trustees, managing members, officers and employees), including the entities and personnel who may be involved in the investment activities and business operations of a Fund, is engaged in businesses and has interests other than that of managing the Fund. These are considerations of which investors in a Fund should be aware, and which may cause conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Fund. These activities and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial and other interests in securities and other instruments, and companies that may be purchased or sold by a Fund.

Merrill Lynch and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Manager and its advisory affiliates, have proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate accounts and other funds and collective investment vehicles) that have investment objectives similar to those of a Fund and/or that engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Merrill Lynch and its affiliates are also major participants in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed-income markets, in each case both on a proprietary basis and for the accounts of customers. As such, Merrill Lynch and its affiliates are actively engaged in transactions in the same securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which a Fund invests, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of most proprietary accounts or customer accounts, will be executed independently of a Fund’s transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or less favorable than those obtained by the Fund. When the Manager and its advisory affiliates seek to purchase or sell the same assets for their managed accounts, including a Fund, the assets actually purchased or sold may be allocated among the accounts on a basis determined in their good faith discretion to be equitable. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the size or the price of the assets purchased or sold for a Fund.

The results of a Fund’s investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by the Manager and its affiliates for their proprietary accounts or other accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) managed or advised by them. It is possible that Merrill Lynch and its affiliates and such other accounts will achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than the results achieved by a

Fund. Moreover, it is possible that a Fund will sustain losses during periods in which Merrill Lynch and its affiliates achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible.

The investment activities of Merrill Lynch and its affiliates for their proprietary accounts and accounts under their management may also limit the investment opportunities for a Fund in certain emerging and other markets in which limitations are imposed upon the amount of investment, in the aggregate or in individual issuers, by affiliated foreign investors.

From time to time, a Fund’s activities may also be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to Merrill Lynch and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when the Manager, and/or its affiliates, will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which the Manager and/or its affiliates are performing services or when position limits have been reached.

In connection with its management of a Fund, the Manager may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by Merrill Lynch. The Manager will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of a Fund in accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of a Fund and it is not anticipated that the Manager will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Fund. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of Merrill Lynch and its affiliates or the activities or strategies used for accounts managed by them or other customer accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by the Manager in managing a Fund.

In addition, certain principals and certain employees of the Manager are also principals or employees of Merrill Lynch or its affiliated entities. As a result, the performance by these principals and employees of their obligations to such other entities may be a consideration of which investors in a Fund should be aware.

The Manager may enter into transactions and invest in securities, instruments and currencies on behalf of a Fund in which customers of Merrill Lynch (or, to the extent permitted by the Commission, Merrill Lynch) serve as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such party’s interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Fund, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Fund obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transactions. In addition, the purchase, holding and sale of such investments by a Fund may enhance the profitability of Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch and its affiliates may also create, write or issue derivative instruments for customers of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates, the underlying securities, currencies or instruments of which may be those in which a Fund invests or which may be based on the performance of the Fund. A Fund may, subject to applicable law, purchase investments that are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and may also enter into transactions with other clients of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Fund. At times, these activities may cause departments of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of the Fund. To the extent affiliated transactions are permitted, a Fund will deal with Merrill Lynch and its affiliates on an arms-length basis. Merrill Lynch may also have an ownership interest in certain trading or information systems used by a Fund. A Fund’s use of such trading or information systems may enhance the profitability of Merrill Lynch.

A Fund will be required to establish business relationships with its counterparties based on the Fund’s own credit standing. Neither Merrill Lynch nor its affiliates will have any obligation to allow their credit to be used in connection with a Fund’s establishment of its business relationships, nor is it expected that the Fund’s counterparties will rely on the credit of Merrill Lynch or any of its affiliates in evaluating the Fund’s creditworthiness.

It is also possible that, from time to time, Merrill Lynch or any of its affiliates may, although they are not required to, purchase and hold shares of a Fund in order to increase the assets of the Fund. Increasing a Fund’s assets may enhance investment flexibility and diversification and may contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Fund’s expense ratio. Merrill Lynch reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares of a Fund

acquired for its own account. A large redemption of shares of a Fund by Merrill Lynch could significantly reduce the asset size of the Fund, which might have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment flexibility, portfolio diversification and expense ratio. Merrill Lynch will consider the effect of redemptions on a Fund and other shareholders in deciding whether to redeem its shares.

It is possible that a Fund may invest in securities of companies with which Merrill Lynch has or is trying to develop investment banking relationships as well as securities of entities in which Merrill Lynch has significant debt or equity investments or in which Merrill Lynch makes a market. A Fund also may invest in securities of companies that Merrill Lynch provides or may someday provide research coverage. Such investments could cause conflicts between the interests of a Fund and the interests of other Merrill Lynch clients. In making investment decisions for a Fund, the Manager is not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information acquired by any division, department or affiliate of Merrill Lynch in the course of these activities. In addition, from time to time, Merrill Lynch’s activities may limit a Fund’s flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. When Merrill Lynch is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of an entity, the Manager may be prohibited from purchasing or recommending the purchase of certain securities of that entity for a Fund.

The Manager, its affiliates and their Directors, officers and employees, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts, and may have conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on behalf of a Fund. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by Directors, officers and employees and affiliates of the Manager that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the Fund. To lessen the possibility that a Fund will be adversely affected by this personal trading, the Fund and the Manager each has adopted a Code of Ethics in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Code of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. The Code of Ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

The Manager and its affiliates will not purchase securities or other property from, or sell securities or other property to, a Fund, except that the Fund may in accordance with rules adopted under the Investment Company Act engage in transactions with accounts that are affiliated with the Fund as a result of common officers, Directors, or investment advisers. These transactions would be effected in circumstances in which the Manager determined that it would be appropriate for the Fund to purchase and another client to sell, or the Fund to sell and another client to purchase, the same security or instrument on the same day.

Present and future activities of Merrill Lynch, including the Manager, in addition to those described in this section, may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

Each Fund offers its shares without a sales charge at a price equal to the net asset value next determined after a purchase order becomes effective. Each Fund attempts to maintain a net asset value per share of $1.00. Share purchase orders are effective on the date Federal Funds become available to a Fund. If Federal Funds are available to a Fund prior to the determination of net asset value on any business day, the order will be effective on that day. Shares purchased will begin accruing dividends on the day following the date of purchase. Federal Funds are a commercial bank’s deposits in a Federal Reserve Bank and can be transferred from one member bank’s account to that of another member bank on the same day and thus are considered to be immediately available funds. Any order may be rejected by a Fund or the Distributor.

Each Fund offers a number of shareholder services described below that are designed to facilitate investment in shares of the Fund. Full details as to each of such services and copies of the various plans and instructions as to how to participate in the various services or plans, or how to change options with respect thereto, can be obtained from each Fund, by calling the telephone number on the cover page to Part I of your Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, or from the Distributor or Merrill Lynch. Certain of these services are not available to investors who own shares of Ready Assets Trust through the Merrill Lynch Blueprint^SM Program.

The types of shareholder service programs offered to Ready Assets Trust shareholders include: Investment Account; Fee-Based Programs; Automatic Investment Plan; Accrued Monthly Payout Plan; Systematic Withdrawal Plan; and Retirement and Education Savings Plans.

Purchase of Shares by all Investors other than CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) Subscribers, WCMA service (or other Merrill Lynch business account program) Subscribers and Shareholders of Retirement Reserves

The minimum initial purchase is $5,000 and the minimum subsequent purchase is $1,000, except that lower minimums apply in the case of purchases made under certain retirement plans. Each Fund may, at its discretion, establish reduced minimum initial and subsequent purchase requirements with respect to various types of accounts. For pension, profit sharing, individual retirement and certain other retirement plans, including self-directed retirement plans for which Merrill Lynch acts as passive custodian and the various retirement plans available from the Distributor, the minimum initial purchase is $100 and the minimum subsequent purchase is $1. The minimum initial or subsequent purchase requirements may be waived for certain employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans, such as tax-qualified retirement plans within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code, deferred compensation plans within the meaning of Section 403(b) and Section 457 of the Code, other deferred compensation arrangements, Voluntary Employee Benefits Association plans, and non-qualified After Tax Savings and Investment programs, maintained on the Merrill Lynch Group Employee Services system. For accounts advised by banks and registered investment advisers, the minimum initial purchase is $300 and the minimum subsequent purchase is $100. The minimum initial purchase under Blueprint is $500 (or $50 if the shareholder elects to participate in the automatic investment of sale proceeds option on the Blueprint application form) and the minimum subsequent purchase is $50.

If you are not a CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) subscriber, you may purchase shares of a CMA Fund directly through the Transfer Agent in the manner described above under “Methods of Payment—Payment to the Transfer Agent.” Shareholders of the CMA Funds who do not subscribe to the CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) will not pay the applicable program fee, and will not receive any of the services available to program subscribers such as the Visa^® card/check account or automatic investment of free cash balances.

Payment Through Securities Dealers. You may purchase shares of a Fund through securities dealers, including Merrill Lynch, who have entered into selected dealer agreements with the Distributor. In such a case, the dealer will transmit payment to the Fund on your behalf and will supply the Fund with the required account information. Generally, purchase orders placed through Merrill Lynch will be made effective on the day the order is placed. Merrill Lynch has an order procedure pursuant to which you can have the proceeds from the sale of listed securities invested in shares of a Fund on the day you receive the proceeds in your Merrill Lynch securities accounts. If you have a free cash balance (i.e., immediately available funds) in securities accounts of Merrill Lynch, your funds will not be invested in a Fund until the day after the order is placed with Merrill Lynch. Shareholders of the CMA Funds not subscribing to the CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) can purchase shares of a CMA fund only through the Transfer Agent.

Payment by Wire. If you maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you may invest in a Fund through wire transmittal of Federal Funds to the Transfer Agent. A Fund will not be responsible for delays in the wiring system. Payment should be wired to First Union National Bank of Florida. You should give your financial institution the following wiring instructions: ABA #063000021, DDA #2112600061186, Financial Data Services, Inc. The wire should identify the name of the Fund, and should include your name and account number. Failure to submit the required information may delay investment. We urge you to make payment by wire in Federal Funds. If you do not maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

Payment to the Transfer Agent. Payment made by check may be submitted directly by mail or otherwise to the Transfer Agent. Purchase orders by mail should be sent to Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45290, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5290. Purchase orders sent by hand should be delivered to Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484. If you are opening a new account, you must enclose a completed Purchase Application. If you are an existing shareholder, you should enclose the detachable stub from a monthly account statement. Checks should be made payable to the Distributor. Certified checks are not necessary, but checks are accepted subject to collection at full face value in U.S. funds and must be drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. bank. Payments for the accounts of corporations, foundations and other organizations may not be made by third party checks. Since there is a three day settlement period applicable to the sale of most securities, delays may occur when an investor is liquidating other investments for investment in one of the Funds.

Merrill Lynch Blueprint^SM Program. Shares of Ready Assets Trust are offered to participants in the Merrill Lynch Blueprint^SM Program (“Blueprint”). The Blueprint program is directed to small investors, group IRAs and participants in certain affinity groups such as credit unions, trade associations and benefit plans. Investors placing orders to purchase shares of Ready Assets Trust through Blueprint will acquire Ready Assets Trust shares at net asset value plus a sales charge calculated in accordance with the Blueprint sales charge schedule (i.e., up to $300 at 4.25%, from $300.01 to $5,000 at 3.25% plus $3.00, and $5,000.01 or more at the standard sales charge rates disclosed in the Prospectus). In addition, shares of Ready Assets Trust are being offered at net asset value plus a sales charge of 0.50% for corporate or group IRA programs placing orders to purchase their shares through Blueprint. Services, including the exchange privilege, available to investors through Blueprint, however, may differ from those available to other investors in Ready Assets Trust shares.

Shares of Ready Assets Trust are offered at net asset value to Blueprint participants through the Merrill Lynch Directed IRA Rollover Program (the “IRA Rollover Program”) available from Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, a business unit of Merrill Lynch. The IRA Rollover Program is available to custodian rollover assets from employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans (as defined below) whose trustee and/or plan sponsor has entered into the IRA Rollover Program.

Orders for purchases and redemptions of shares of Ready Assets Trust may be grouped for execution purposes which, in some circumstances, may involve the execution of such orders two business days following the day such orders are placed. The minimum initial purchase price is $100, with a $50 minimum for subsequent purchases through Blueprint. There are no minimum initial or subsequent purchase requirements for participants who are part of an automatic investment plan. Additional information concerning purchases through Blueprint, including any annual fees and transaction charges, is available from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, The Blueprint^SM Program, P.O. Box 30441, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08989-0441.

Purchases of Shares of U.S.A. Government Reserves Through Merrill Lynch Plans

Shares of U.S.A. Government Reserves are also offered to participants in certain retirement plans for which Merrill Lynch acts as custodian (“Custodial Plans”). Shares of the Fund are no longer available for purchase in an individual retirement account (“IRA”), individual retirement rollover account (“IRRA^®”), Roth individual retirement account (“Roth IRA”), simplified employee pension plan (“SEP”), simple retirement account (“SRA”) and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (“ESAs”) (formerly known as “Education IRAs”) established after December 6, 1999. Accounts opened prior to December 6, 1999 may continue to purchase shares as set forth below. Accounts for the Retirement Selector Account (“RSA”) or the Basic^SM Plans may continue to purchase shares of the Fund, regardless of the date the account was established. Information concerning the establishment and maintenance of Custodial

Plans and investments by Custodial Plan accounts is contained in the Custodial Plan documents available from Merrill Lynch.

Special purchase procedures apply in the case of the Custodial Plans. The minimum initial purchase for participants in Custodial Plans is $100, and the minimum subsequent purchase is $1. In addition, participants in certain of the Custodial Plans may elect to have cash balances in their Custodial Plan account automatically invested in the Fund.

Cash balances of participants who elect to have funds automatically invested in U.S.A. Government Reserves will be invested as follows: Cash balances arising from the sale of securities held in the Custodial Plan account that do not settle on the day of the transaction (such as most common and preferred stock transactions) become available to the Fund and will be invested in shares of the Fund on the business day following the day that proceeds with respect thereto are received in the Custodial Plan account. Proceeds giving rise to cash balances from the sale of securities held in the Custodial Plan account settling on a same day basis and from principal repayments on debt securities held in the account become available to the Fund and will be invested in shares of the Fund on the next business day following receipt. Cash balances arising from dividends or interest payments on securities held in the Custodial Plan account or from a contribution to the Custodial Plan are invested in shares of the Fund on the business day following the date the payment is received in the Custodial Plan account.

If you do not elect to have cash balances automatically invested in shares of U.S.A. Government Reserves you may enter a purchase order through your Financial Advisor or service representative.

Merrill Lynch Programs. Shares of the CMA Funds are offered to participants in the CMA service, to participants in certain other Merrill Lynch central asset account programs and to individual investors maintaining accounts directly with the Funds’ Transfer Agent. If you participate in the CMA service, you generally will have free cash balances invested in shares of the Fund you designated as the primary investment account (“Money Account”) as described below.

The CMA service has different sweep features and annual participation fees than a WCMA account.

You may also elect to have free cash balances invested in individual money market deposit accounts pursuant to the Insured Savings Account or in one or more bank deposit accounts at Merrill Lynch Bank USA and/or Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co. (the “Merrill Lynch Banking Advantage Program”), Merrill Lynch’s affiliated FDIC insured depository institution. For more information about these alternatives, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

If you subscribe to the CMA service, you have the option to change the designation of your Money Account at any time by notifying your Financial Advisor. At that time, you may instruct your Financial Advisor to redeem shares of a Fund designated as the Money Account and to transfer the proceeds to the newly designated Money Account. Each CMA Fund has reserved the right to suspend or otherwise limit sales of its shares if, as a result of difficulties in obtaining portfolio securities, it is determined that it is not in the interests of the CMA Fund’s shareholders to issue additional shares. If sales of shares of the CMA Tax-Exempt are suspended and you have designated this Fund as your Money Account, you may designate one of CMA State Funds (if available) as the Money Account and vice versa. Alternatively, you may designate the Insured Savings Account or an account at the Merrill Lynch Banking Advantage Program as your Money Account. Pending such an election, Merrill Lynch will consider various alternatives with respect to automatic investments for such accounts, including the investment of free cash balances in such accounts in an account at the Merrill Lynch Banking Advantage Program.

Automatic Purchases (CMA Tax-Exempt and CMA State Funds): Free cash balances in a program account are automatically invested in shares of the Fund designated as your Money Account not later than the first business day of each week on which the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or New York banks are open, which normally will be Monday. Free cash balances from the following transactions will be invested automatically prior to the automatic weekly sweeps on the next business day following receipt of the proceeds: (i) proceeds from the sale of securities that do not settle on the day of the transaction (such as most common and preferred stock transactions) and

from principal repayments on debt securities, (ii) from the sale of securities settling on a same day basis; and (iii) free cash balances of $1,000 or more arising from cash deposits into a subscriber’s account, dividend and interest payments or any other source unless such balance results from a cash deposit made after the cashiering deadline of the Merrill Lynch office in which the deposit is made. In that case, the resulting free cash balances are invested on the second following business day. If you wish to make a cash deposit, you should contact your Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor for information concerning the local office’s cashiering deadline. Free cash balances of less than $1,000 are invested in shares in the automatic weekly sweep.

(All CMA Funds except for CMA Tax-Exempt Funds): In limited circumstances, free cash balances in certain Merrill Lynch central asset account programs may be swept into CMA Money; however, generally new cash balances in program accounts will be swept automatically into one or more bank deposit accounts established through the Merrill Lynch Banking Advantage Program chosen by the participant as his or her Money Account. Debits in CMA accounts will be paid from balances in CMA Money, CMA Government Securities and CMA Treasury until those balances are depleted. Free cash balances in CMA accounts electing the tax-exempt sweep options will continue to be swept into one of CMA Tax-Exempt Funds.

Manual Purchases (All CMA Funds): If you subscribe to the CMA service, you may make manual investments of $1,000 or more at any time in shares of a CMA Fund not selected as your Money Account. Manual purchases take effect on the day following the day the order is placed by Merrill Lynch with the Fund, except that orders involving cash deposits made on the date of a manual purchase take effect on the second business day thereafter, if they are placed with the Fund after the cashiering deadline of the Merrill Lynch office in which the deposit is made. As a result, if you enter manual purchase orders that include cash deposits made on that day after the cashiering deadline, you will not receive the daily dividend which you would have received had your order been entered prior to the deadline. In addition, manual purchases of $500,000 or more can be made effective on the same day the order is placed with Merrill Lynch provided that requirements as to timely notification and transfer of a Federal Funds wire in the proper amount are met. If you desire further information on this method of purchasing shares, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

Merrill Lynch reserves the right to terminate a subscriber’s participation in the CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) for any reason.

All purchases of Fund shares and dividend reinvestments will be confirmed to CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program) subscribers (rounded to the nearest share) in the monthly transaction statement.

Working Capital Management^SM Account. Merrill Lynch, in conjunction with another subsidiary of ML & Co., offers a modified version of the CMA service designed for corporations and other businesses. This account, the Working Capital Management^SM Account (“WCMA”) financial service (“WCMA service”), provides participants with the features of a regular CMA account plus optional lines of credit. The WCMA service has sweep features and annual participation fees different from those of a CMA account. A brochure describing the WCMA service as well as information concerning charges for participation in the program is available from Merrill Lynch.

Certain participants in the WCMA service are able to invest funds in one or more designated CMA Funds. Checks and other funds transmitted to a WCMA service account generally will be applied in the following order: (i) to the payment of pending securities transactions or other charges in the participant’s securities account, (ii) to reduce outstanding balances in the lines of credit available through such program and (iii) to purchase shares of the designated CMA Fund. To the extent not otherwise applied, funds transmitted by Federal Funds wire or an automated clearinghouse service will be invested in shares of the designated CMA Fund on the business day following receipt of such funds by Merrill Lynch. Funds received in a WCMA service account from the sale of securities will be invested in the designated CMA Fund as described above. The amount received in a WCMA service account prior to the cashiering deadline of the Merrill Lynch office in which the deposit is made will be invested on the second business day following Merrill Lynch’s receipt of the check. Redemptions of CMA Fund shares will be effected as described below under “Redemption of Shares — Redemption of Shares by CMA Service Subscribers — Automatic Redemptions” to satisfy debit balances, such as those created by purchases of securities or by checks written against a bank providing checking services to WCMA service subscribers. WCMA service

subscribers that have a line of credit will, however, be permitted to maintain a minimum CMA Fund balance. For subscribers who elect to maintain such a balance, debits from check use will be satisfied through the line of credit so that such balance is maintained. However, if the full amount of available credit is not sufficient to satisfy the debit, it will be satisfied from the minimum balance.

From time to time, Merrill Lynch also may offer certain CMA Funds to participants in other Merrill Lynch-sponsored programs. Some or all of the features of the CMA service may not be available in such programs and program participation and other fees may be higher. You can obtain more information on the services and fees associated with such programs by contacting your Financial Advisor.

Eligibility. Shares of the WCMA Funds are offered to certain subscribers in the WCMA service and in certain other Merrill Lynch business account programs. WCMA service or other business account program subscribers generally will have available cash balances invested in the Fund designated by the subscriber as the primary investment account (the “Primary Money Account”). A subscriber also may elect to have available cash balances deposited in certain other money market funds or individual money market accounts pursuant to the Insured Savings^SM Account.

The WCMA service and certain other Merrill Lynch business account programs have sweep features and annual participation fees different from those of a CMA account.

Purchases of shares of a WCMA Fund designated as the Primary Money Account will be made pursuant to the automatic or manual purchase procedures described below.

WCMA Tax-Exempt has reserved the right to suspend or otherwise limit sales of its shares if, as a result of difficulties in obtaining portfolio securities, it is determined that it is not in the interests of the Fund’s shareholders to issue additional shares. If sales of shares of WCMA Tax-Exempt are suspended, a shareholder who has designated such Fund as its Primary Money Account will be permitted to designate another eligible money fund (if available) as the primary account. A WCMA Tax-Exempt Fund shareholder may alternatively designate the Insured Savings Account as its Primary Money Account. Pending such an election, Merrill Lynch will consider various alternatives with respect to automatic investments for such accounts.

Subscribers in the WCMA service or other business account program have the option to change the designation of their Primary Money Account at any time by notifying their Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor. At that time, a subscriber may instruct its Financial Advisor to redeem shares of a WCMA Fund designated as the Primary Money Account and to transfer the proceeds to the share class that the subscriber is eligible to own in the newly-designated Primary Money Account.

Automatic Purchases. The delay with respect to the automatic investment of cash balances in a subscriber’s account in shares of the Fund designated as the subscriber’s Primary Money Account is determined by the subscriber’s WCMA service or other business account program tier assignment. For further information regarding the timing of sweeps for each tier, a subscriber should consult with its Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor or the relevant service account agreement and program description.

Manual Purchases. Subscribers in the WCMA service or other business account program may make manual investments of $1,000 or more at any time in shares of a WCMA Fund not selected as that investor’s Primary Money Account. Manual purchases shall be effective on the day following the day the order is placed with Merrill Lynch, except that orders involving cash deposits made on the date of a manual purchase shall become effective on the second business day thereafter if they are placed after the cashiering deadline referred to in the preceding paragraph. As a result, WCMA service or other business account program subscribers who enter manual purchase orders that include cash deposits made on that day after such cashiering deadline will not receive the daily dividend which would have been received had their orders been entered prior to the deadline. In addition, manual purchases of $1,000,000 or more can be made effective on the same day the order is placed with Merrill Lynch provided that

requirements as to timely notification and transfer of a Federal Funds wire in the proper amount are met. A WCMA service or other business account program subscriber desiring further information on this method of purchasing shares should contact its Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor.

Merrill Lynch reserves the right to terminate a subscriber’s participation in the relevant service for any reason.

All purchases of the WCMA Funds’ shares and dividend reinvestments will be confirmed to WCMA service or other business account program subscribers (rounded to the nearest share) in the monthly transaction statement.

WCMA Multiple Class Structure. Each WCMA Fund offers four share classes, each with its own ongoing fees, expenses and other features. A subscriber must be eligible to own a particular class of shares. Reference is made to “Your Account — WCMA Multiple Class Structure” in the Prospectus for certain information with respect to the eligibility requirements to own Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 shares of each WCMA Fund.

Each Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 or Class 4 share of a WCMA Fund represents an identical interest in that Fund and has the same rights, except that each class of shares bears to a different degree the expenses of the account maintenance fees (also known as service fees) and distribution fees and the additional incremental transfer agency costs resulting from the conversion of shares. See “Your Account — WCMA Multiple Class Structure” in the Prospectus. The distribution fees and account maintenance fees that are imposed on each class of shares, are imposed directly against that class and not against all assets of the WCMA Fund and, accordingly, the differing fee rate for each class does not affect the net asset value or have any impact on any other class of shares. Dividends paid by a WCMA Fund for each class of shares are calculated in the same manner at the same time and differ only to the extent that account maintenance and distribution fees and any incremental transfer agency costs relating to a particular class are borne exclusively by that class. Each class may be subject to monthly automatic conversions. See “Your Account — WCMA Multiple Class Structure” in the Prospectus.

WCMA subscribers should understand the purpose and function of different fee rates with respect to each class, which is to provide for the financing of the distribution of each class of shares of the WCMA Funds. Class 4 shares bear the lowest account maintenance and distribution fees because larger accounts cost less to service and distribute and those economies are passed on to the subscriber. Class 1 shares bear the highest account maintenance and distribution fees because smaller accounts cost more to service and distribute and there are fewer economies to pass on to the subscriber. The distribution-related revenues paid with respect to a class will not be used to finance the distribution expenditures of another class. Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling different classes of shares.

Purchases of Retirement Reserves shares by pension, profit-sharing and annuity plans are made by payments by the trustee or sponsor of such plan directly to Merrill Lynch.

Retirement Reserves offers two classes of shares, Class I and Class II shares. Each Class I and Class II share of the Fund represents an identical interest in the investment portfolio of the Fund and has the same rights, except that Class II shares bear the expenses of the ongoing distribution fees.

Class I shares of Retirement Reserves are offered to certain Custodial Plans with an active custodial retirement account as of September 30, 1998, any Custodial Plan purchasing shares of the Fund through a Merrill Lynch fee-based program, certain independent pension, profit-sharing, annuity and other qualified plans, and qualified tuition programs established under Section 529 of the Code (collectively, the “Plans”).

Class II shares are offered to any Plan that did not have an active custodial retirement account as of September 30, 1998 and does not otherwise qualify to purchase Class I shares.

There are nine types of Custodial Plans: (1) a traditional IRA, (2) a Roth IRA, (3) an IRRA^®, (4) a SEP, (5) an SRA, (6) a Basic^SM (Keogh Plus) profit sharing plan and (7) a Basic^SM (Keogh Plus) money purchase pension plan (together with the profit sharing plan, the “Basic^SM Plans”), (8) a 403(b)(7) RSA, and (9) the education account. Although the amount that may be contributed to a Plan account in any one year is subject to certain limitations, assets already in a Plan account may be invested in the Fund without regard to such limitations.

If you are considering transferring a tax-deferred retirement account such as an IRA from Merrill Lynch to another securities dealer or other financial intermediary, you should be aware that if the firm will not take delivery of shares of Retirement Reserves, you must either redeem the shares so that the cash proceeds can be transferred to the account at the new firm, or you must continue to maintain a retirement account at Merrill Lynch for those shares.

Plan Investments. If you are a Plan participant, an investment in shares of Retirement Reserves can be made as follows:

If participants elect to have their contributions invested in the Fund, the contributions will be invested automatically on the business day following the date they are received in the account. There will be no minimum initial or subsequent purchase requirement pursuant to these types of plans. The amount that may be contributed to a Plan in any one year is subject to certain limitations under the Code; however, assets already in a Plan account may be invested without regard to such limitations on contributions. Cash balances of less than $1.00 will not be invested.

Participants in Custodial Plans who opened their accounts prior to December 6, 1999 had two options concerning cash balances that may arise in their accounts. First, participants could have elected to have such balances automatically invested on a daily basis in shares of the Fund or, in some cases, in another money market mutual fund advised by the Manager. Second, participants (except for RSA) could have elected to have such balances deposited in an FDIC-insured money market account with one or more commercial banks. After December 6, 1999 certain Custodial Plan accounts no longer have the first option for cash balances.

Participants who have elected to have cash balances automatically invested in the Fund will have such funds invested as follows: Cash balances arising from the sale of securities held in the Plan account that do not settle on the day of the transaction (such as most common and preferred stock transactions) will be invested in shares of the Fund on the business day following the day that the proceeds are received in the Plan account. Proceeds giving rise to cash balances from the sale of securities held in the Plan account settling on a same day basis and from principal repayments on debt securities held in the account will be invested in shares of the Fund on the next business day following receipt. Cash balances arising from dividends or interest payments on securities held in the Plan account or from a contribution to the Plan are invested in shares of the Fund on the business day following the date the payment is received in the Plan account.

All purchases and redemptions of Fund shares and dividend reinvestments are confirmed (rounded to the nearest share) to participants in Plans in the monthly or quarterly statement sent to all participants in these Plans. The Fund and the Distributor have received an exemptive order from the Commission that permits the Fund to omit sending out more frequent confirmations with respect to certain transactions. These transactions include purchases resulting from automatic investments in shares of the Fund and redemptions that are effected automatically to purchase other securities that the participant has selected for investment in his account.

Participants in Plans in association with Blueprint receive quarterly statements reflecting all purchases, redemptions and dividend reinvestments of Fund shares. In addition, these participants receive an individual confirmation with respect to each purchase and redemption of Fund shares other than purchases that are made automatically through payroll deductions. Shareholders who are not participants in the Plans receive quarterly statements reflecting all purchases, redemptions and dividend reinvestments of Fund shares.

You should read materials concerning the Plans, including copies of the Plans and the forms necessary to establish a Plan account, which are available from Merrill Lynch. You should read such materials carefully before establishing a Plan account and should consult with your attorney or tax adviser to determine if any of the Plans are suited to your needs and circumstances. The laws applicable to the Plans, including the Employee Retirement Income

Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the Code, are complex and include a variety of transitional rules, which may be applicable to some investors. These laws should be reviewed by your attorney to determine their applicability. You are further advised that the tax treatment of the Plans under applicable state law may vary.

Each Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan and/or a distribution plan (with respect to Class II shares, in the case of Retirement Reserves) each, a “Distribution Plan”) in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Each Fund other than Retirement Reserves and the WCMA Funds is authorized to pay the Distributor a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net asset value of Fund accounts maintained through the Distributor. Retirement Reserves pays the Distributor a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets attributable to Class II shares. The Distribution Plan for each class of shares of the WCMA Funds provides that the Funds pay the Distributor an account maintenance fee relating to the shares of the relevant class, accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of a WCMA Fund attributable to Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 shares. The account maintenance fee is not compensation for the administrative and operational services rendered to shareholders by Merrill Lynch that are covered by the Administration Agreement between each Fund and the Manager. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to the Distribution Plan adopted with respect to such class pursuant to which account maintenance and/or distribution fees are paid. The fee paid by each Fund other than Retirement Reserves and the WCMA Funds compensates the Distributor for providing, or arranging for the provision of, account maintenance and sales and promotional activities and services with respect to shares of each Fund. The Distributor then determines, based on a number of criteria, how to allocate such fee among Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors and other Merrill Lynch affiliates. The fee paid by Retirement Reserves compensates the Distributor for the expenses associated with marketing activities and services related to Class II shares. The WCMA Distribution Plans for each of the Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 shares each provide that a Fund also pays the Distributor a distribution fee based on the average daily net assets of a Fund attributable to the shares of the relevant class. These fees are set forth in the WCMA Funds Prospectus.

Each Fund’s Distribution Plans are subject to the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. In their consideration of a Distribution Plan, the Trustees must consider all factors they deem relevant, including information as to the benefits of the Distribution Plan to the Fund and the related class of shareholders. In approving a Distribution Plan in accordance with Rule 12b 1, the non-interested Trustees concluded that there is reasonable likelihood that the Distribution Plan will benefit the Fund and its related class of shareholders.

Each Distribution Plan provides that, so long as the Distribution Plan remains in effect, the non-interested Trustees then in office will select and nominate other non-interested Trustees. Each Distribution Plan can be terminated at any time, without penalty, by the vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding related class of voting securities of a Fund. A Distribution Plan cannot be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent by the Fund without the approval of the related class of shareholders. All material amendments are required to be approved by the vote of Trustees, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. Rule 12b-1 further requires that each Fund preserve copies of each Distribution Plan and any report made pursuant to such plan for a period of not less than six years from the date of the Distribution Plan or such report, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

Among other things, each Distribution Plan provides that the Trustees will review quarterly reports of the account maintenance and/or distribution expenditures paid to the Distributor. With respect to each Fund other than Retirement Reserves, in the event that the aggregate payments received by the Distributor under the Distribution Plan in any year exceeds the amount of the distribution and shareholder servicing expenditures incurred by the Distributor, the Distributor is required to reimburse the Fund the amount of such excess. With respect to Retirement Reserves, payments under the Class II Distribution Plan are based on a percentage of average daily net assets attributable to Class II shares, regardless of the amount of expenses incurred. As a result, the distribution related revenues from the Distribution Plan with respect to Retirement Reserves may be more or less than distribution related expenses of the Class II shares. Information with respect to the distribution-related revenues and expenses is presented to the Trustees for their consideration quarterly. Distribution-related expenses consist of Financial Advisor compensation, branch office and regional operation center selling and transaction processing expenses, advertising,

sales promotion and marketing expenses and interest expense. With respect to Retirement Reserves, the distribution-related revenues paid with respect to one class will not be used to finance the distribution expenditures of another class. Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling different classes of shares.

See Part 1, Section V “Distribution Related Expenses” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for information relating to the fees paid by your Fund to the Distributor under each Distribution Plan during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year.

Limitations on the Payment of Asset Based Sales Charges. The maximum sales charge rule in the Conduct Rules of the NASD imposes a limitation on certain asset-based sales charges such as the distribution fee borne by each class of Shares in the case of the WCMA Funds, and Class II shares in the case of Retirement Reserves. The maximum sales charge rule limits the aggregate of distribution fee payments payable by a Fund to (1) 7.25% of eligible gross sales of the applicable shares (excluding shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestments and exchanges), plus (2) interest on the unpaid balance for the applicable shares at the prime rate plus 1% (the unpaid balance being the maximum amount payable minus amounts received from the payment of the distribution fee).

In the case of the WCMA Funds, the Distributor has voluntarily agreed to waive interest charges on the unpaid balance in excess of 0.50% of eligible gross sales. Consequently, the maximum amount payable to the Distributor (referred to as the “voluntary maximum”) is 7.75% of eligible gross sales. The Distributor retains the right to stop waiving the interest charges at any time. To the extent payments would exceed the voluntary maximum, a WCMA Fund will not make further payments of the distribution fee with respect to its shares; however, a WCMA Fund will continue to make payments of the account maintenance fee. In certain circumstances the amount payable pursuant to the voluntary maximum may exceed the amount payable under the NASD formula. In such circumstances, payment in excess of the amount payable under the NASD formula will not be made.

Each Fund is required to redeem for cash all shares of the Fund as described in accordance with one of the procedures set forth below.

If notice is received by the Transfer Agent or Merrill Lynch, as applicable, prior to the determination of net asset value on that day, the redemption will be effective on such day. If the notice is received after the determination of net asset value has been made, the redemption will be effective on the next business day and payment will be made on the second business day after receipt of the notice.

At various times, a Fund may be requested to redeem shares, in manual or automatic redemptions, with respect to which good payment has not yet been received by Merrill Lynch. A Fund may delay for up to 10 days the payment of redemption proceeds until good payment (that is, cash, Federal Funds or certified check drawn on a U.S. bank) has been collected for the purchase of Fund shares. In addition, each Fund reserves the right not to honor redemption checks or requests for Federal Funds redemptions where the shares to be redeemed have been purchased by check within 10 days prior to the date the redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent.

The right to redeem shares may be suspended for seven days only (i) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the Commission or during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists, as defined by the Commission, as a result of which disposal of portfolio securities or determination of the net asset value of the Fund is not reasonably practicable, or (iii) for such other periods as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.

Set forth below is information as to the methods of redemption of shares of all Funds except the CMA Funds. All five methods apply to each Fund other than Retirement Reserves. The methods described under “Redemption by Check,” “Regular Redemption” and “Automatic Redemption” also apply to Retirement Reserves. In certain instances, the Transfer Agent may require additional documents in connection with redemptions.

Redemption by Check. You may redeem shares by check in an amount not less than $500. At your request, the Transfer Agent will provide you with checks drawn on the custody account. These checks can be made payable to the order of any person; however, these checks may not be used to purchase securities in transactions with Merrill Lynch. The payee of the check may cash or deposit it like any check drawn on a bank. When such a check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent will present the check to the Fund as authority to redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional shares in your account to cover the amount of the check. This enables you to continue earning daily dividends until the day prior to the day the check is cleared. Canceled checks will be returned to you by the Transfer Agent upon request.

You will be subject to the Transfer Agent’s rules and regulations governing such checking accounts, including the right of the Transfer Agent not to honor checks in amounts exceeding the value of your account at the time the check is presented for payment. A Fund or the Transfer Agent may modify or terminate the check redemption privilege at any time on 30 days’ notice. In order to be eligible for the privilege, you should check the box under the caption “Check Redemption Privilege” in the Purchase Application. The Transfer Agent will then send you checks. Retirement Reserves does not accept new applications for check writing privileges.

Federal Funds Redemption. If you maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you may also arrange to have redemption proceeds of $5,000 or more wired in Federal Funds to a pre-designated bank account. In order to be eligible for Federal Funds redemption, you must designate on your Purchase Application the domestic commercial bank and account number to receive the proceeds of your redemption and must have your signature on the Purchase Application guaranteed. The request for Federal Funds redemption may be made by telephone, wire or letter (no signature guarantee required) to the Transfer Agent. If your request is received before the determination of net asset value of a Fund on any business day, the redemption proceeds will be wired to your pre-designated bank account on the next business day. You may request Federal Funds redemptions by calling the Transfer Agent toll-free at (800) 221-7210. Each Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine to prevent any losses from fraudulent or unauthorized instructions. Among other things, redemption proceeds may only be wired into the bank account designated on the Purchase Application. You must independently verify this information at the time the redemption request is made. If you do not maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

Repurchase Through Securities Dealers. Each Fund will repurchase shares through securities dealers. A Fund normally will accept orders to repurchase shares by wire or telephone from dealers for customers at the net asset value next computed after receipt of the order from the dealer, provided that the request is received from the dealer prior to the determination of net asset value of the Fund, on any business day. These repurchase arrangements are for your convenience and do not involve a charge by the Fund; however, dealers may impose a charge for transmitting the notice of repurchase to a Fund. Redemption of Ready Assets Trust shares held in connection with Blueprint may be made only through Merrill Lynch. Such redemption may be made by writing directly to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Attention: The Merrill Lynch Blueprint^SM Program, P.O. Box 30441, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08989-0441. If your shares are held through Blueprint, you may also redeem shares by calling Merrill Lynch toll-free at (800) 637-3766. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any order for repurchase through a securities dealer, but it may not reject properly submitted requests for redemption as described below. A Fund will promptly notify you of any rejection of a repurchase with respect to your shares. If you effect a repurchase through your securities dealer, payment will be made by the Transfer Agent to the dealer.

Regular Redemption. If you hold shares with the Transfer Agent you may redeem by writing to the Transfer Agent, Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45290, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5290. Redemption requests that are sent by mail should be delivered to Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484. Redemption requests should not be sent to the Fund. A redemption request requires the signatures of all

persons in whose name(s) the shares are registered, signed exactly as such name(s) appear on the Transfer Agent’s register. The signature(s) on the redemption request may require a guarantee by an “eligible guarantor institution” as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) whose existence and validity may be verified by the Transfer Agent through the use of industry publications. In the event a signature guarantee is required, notarized signatures are not sufficient. In general, signature guarantees are waived on redemptions of less than $50,000 as long as the following requirements are met: (i) the request contains the signature(s) of all persons whose name(s) shares are recorded on the Transfer Agent’s register; (ii) the check is mailed to the stencil address of record on the Transfer Agent’s register and (iii) the stencil address has not changed within 30 days. Certain rules may apply regarding certain types of accounts, including, but not limited to, UGMA/UTMA accounts, Joint Tenancies with Rights of Survivorship, contra broker transactions, and institutional accounts. In certain instances, the Transfer Agent may require additional documents such as, but not limited to, trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as executor or administrator, or certificates of corporate authority. Payments will be mailed within seven days of receipt by the Transfer Agent of a proper redemption request.

You may also redeem shares held with the Transfer Agent by calling 800-221-7210. You must be the shareholder of record and the request must be for an amount less than $50,000. Before telephone requests will be honored, signature approval from all shareholders of record on the account must be obtained. The shares being redeemed must have been held for at least 15 days. Telephone redemption requests will not be honored if: (i) the account holder is deceased, (ii) the proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the shareholder of record, (iii) funds are to be wired to the client’s bank account, (iv) a systematic withdrawal plan is in effect, (v) the request is by an individual other than the account holder of record, (vi) the account is held by joint tenants who are divorced, (vii) the address on the accounts has changed within the last 30 days or share certificates have been issued on the account or (viii) to protect against fraud, if the caller is unable to provide the account number, the name and address registered on the account and the social security number registered on the account. The Funds or the Transfer Agent may temporarily suspend telephone transactions at any time.

Shareholders of Retirement Reserves and participants in Custodial Plans that invest in U.S.A. Government Reserves may redeem shares by writing directly to Merrill Lynch. Participants in plans associated with Blueprint should contact Merrill Lynch at the toll-free number furnished to them. Shareholders of Retirement Reserves and participants in Custodial Plans that invest in U.S.A. Government Reserves should not send redemption requests to the Fund or to its Transfer Agent. If you inadvertently send the redemption request to the Fund or the Transfer Agent, the request will be forwarded to Merrill Lynch. The notice must bear the signature of the person in whose name the Plan is maintained, signed exactly as his or her name appears on the Plan adoption agreement.

Automatic Redemption. Merrill Lynch has instituted an automatic redemption procedure, which applies to you if you maintain a securities account with Merrill Lynch. This procedure, which does not apply to margin accounts, may be used by Merrill Lynch to satisfy amounts you owe to Merrill Lynch or one of its affiliates as a result of account fees and expenses or as a result of purchases of securities or other transactions in your securities account. Under this procedure, unless you notify Merrill Lynch to the contrary, your Merrill Lynch securities account will be scanned each business day prior to the determination of net asset value of the Fund. After application of any cash balances in the account, a sufficient number of Fund shares may be redeemed at net asset value, as determined that day, to satisfy any amounts you owe to Merrill Lynch or one of its affiliates. Redemptions will be effected on the business day preceding the date you are obligated to make such payment, and Merrill Lynch or its affiliate will receive the redemption proceeds on the day following the redemption date. You will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date of redemption.

Unless otherwise requested, if you request transactions that settle on a “same-day” basis (such as Federal Funds wire redemptions, branch office checks, transfers to other Merrill Lynch accounts and certain securities transactions) the Fund shares necessary to effect such transactions will be deemed to have been transferred to Merrill Lynch prior to the Fund’s declaration of dividends on that day. In such instances, you will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date immediately preceding the date of redemption.

If your account held directly with the Transfer Agent contains a fractional share balance, such fractional share balance will be automatically redeemed by a Fund.

Because of the high cost of maintaining smaller accounts, a Fund may redeem shares in your account if the net asset value of your account falls below $500 due to redemptions you have made. You will be notified that the value of your account is less than $500 before the Fund makes an involuntary redemption. You will then have 60 days to make an additional investment to bring the value of your account to at least $500 before the Fund takes any action. This involuntary redemption does not apply to retirement plans or Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act accounts.

U.S.A. Government Reserves has instituted an automatic redemption procedure for participants in the Custodial Plans who have elected to have cash balances in their accounts automatically invested in shares of the Fund. In the case of such participants, unless directed otherwise, Merrill Lynch will redeem a sufficient number of shares of the Fund to purchase other securities (such as common stocks) that the participant has selected for investment in his or her Custodial Plan account.

CMA Funds - Automatic Redemptions. Redemptions will be effected automatically by Merrill Lynch to satisfy debit balances in the CMA service or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program, or the WCMA service created by securities transaction activity within the account or to satisfy debit balances created by Visa^® card purchases, cash advances or checks. Each account will be scanned automatically for debits each business day prior to 12:00 noon, Eastern time. After applying any free cash balances in the account to such debits, shares of the designated Fund will be redeemed at net asset value at the 12:00 noon pricing, and funds deposited pursuant to a bank deposit program will be withdrawn, to the extent necessary to satisfy any remaining debits in the account. Automatic redemptions or withdrawals will be made first from your Money Account. Unless otherwise requested, when you request a transaction that settles on a “same-day” basis (such as Federal funds wire redemptions, branch office checks, transfers to other Merrill Lynch accounts and certain securities transactions) the Fund shares necessary to effect such a transaction will be deemed to have been transferred to Merrill Lynch prior to the Fund’s declaration of dividends on that day. In such instances, you will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date immediately preceding the date of redemption. Margin loans through the Investor CreditLine^SM service will be used to satisfy debits remaining after the liquidation of all funds invested in or deposited through the Money Account CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account). Shares of the CMA Funds may not be purchased, nor may deposits be made pursuant to a bank deposit program until all debits and margin loans in the account are satisfied.

Shares of each CMA Fund also may be automatically redeemed to satisfy debits or make investments in connection with special features offered to CMA service or other Merrill Lynch central asset account program subscribers. For more information regarding these features, you should consult the relevant program disclosure.

CMA Funds - Manual Redemptions. If you are a CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account) subscriber or if you hold shares of a CMA Fund in a Merrill Lynch securities account, you may redeem shares of a CMA Fund directly by writing to Merrill Lynch, which will submit your request to the Transfer Agent. Cash proceeds from the manual redemption of Fund shares ordinarily will be mailed to you at your address of record or, on request, mailed or wired (if $10,000 or more) to your bank account. Redemption requests should not be sent to a Fund or the Transfer Agent. If you inadvertently send the request to a Fund or the Transfer Agent, the request will be forwarded to Merrill Lynch. The signature requirements of the redemption request are described above under “Redemption of Shares — Redemptions of Shares by Investors other than CMA service Subscribers — Regular Redemption.” CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account) subscribers desiring to effect manual redemptions should contact their Financial Advisors. All redemptions of Fund shares will be confirmed to service subscribers in the monthly transaction statement.

WCMA Funds-Automatic Redemptions. Redemptions will be effected automatically by Merrill Lynch to satisfy debit balances in a WCMA service or other business account program account created by securities transactions therein or to satisfy debit balances created by credit card purchases, cash advances (which may be obtained through participating banks and automated teller machines) or checks written against the credit card account or electronic

fund transfers or other debits. Each WCMA service or other business account program account will be scanned automatically for debits each business day prior to 12 noon, Eastern time. After application of any free cash balances in the account to such debits, shares of the designated WCMA Fund will be redeemed at net asset value at the 12 noon pricing, and funds deposited pursuant to the Insured Savings Account will be withdrawn, to the extent necessary to satisfy any remaining debits in the account. Automatic redemptions or withdrawals will be made first from the subscriber’s Primary Money Account and then, to the extent necessary, from accounts not designated as the Primary Money Account. Unless otherwise requested, in those instances where shareholders request transactions that settle on a “same-day” basis (such as Federal funds wire redemptions, branch office checks, transfers to other Merrill Lynch accounts and certain securities transactions) the Fund shares necessary to effect such transactions will be deemed to have been transferred to Merrill Lynch prior to the Fund’s declaration of dividends on that day. In such instances, shareholders will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date immediately preceding the date of redemption. Unless otherwise requested by the subscriber, redemptions or withdrawals from non-Primary Money Accounts will be made in the order the non-Primary Money Accounts were established; thus, redemptions or withdrawals will first be made from the non-Primary Money Account that the subscriber first established. Margin loans through the Investor CreditLine^SM service will be used to satisfy debits remaining after the liquidation of all funds invested in or deposited through non-Primary Money Accounts, and shares of the WCMA Funds may not be purchased, nor may deposits be made pursuant to the Insured Savings Account, until all debits and margin loans in the account are satisfied.

Shares of the WCMA Funds also may be automatically redeemed to satisfy debits or make investments in connection with special features offered to service subscribers. The redemption of shares of the WCMA Funds also may be modified for investors that participate in certain fee-based programs. For more information regarding these features, a WCMA service subscriber should consult the relevant service account agreement and program description.

From time to time, Merrill Lynch also may offer the WCMA Funds to subscribers in certain other programs sponsored by Merrill Lynch. Some or all of the features of the WCMA service may not be available in such programs and program participation and other fees may be higher. More information on the services and fees associated with such other programs is set forth in the program description that is furnished in connection with such other programs, which may be obtained by contacting a Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor.

WCMA Funds-Manual Redemptions. Merrill Lynch will satisfy requests for cash by wiring cash to the shareholder’s bank account or arranging for the shareholder’s Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor to provide the shareholder with a check. Redemption requests should not be sent to the WCMA Fund or its Transfer Agent. If inadvertently sent to the WCMA Fund or the Transfer Agent, redemption requests will be forwarded to Merrill Lynch. Any required shareholder signature(s) must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” as such is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the 1934 Act, the existence and validity of which may be verified by the Transfer Agent through the use of industry publications. Notarized signatures are not sufficient. In certain instances, additional documents such as, but not limited to, trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as executor or administrator, or certificates of corporate authority may be required. Subscribers in the WCMA service or other business account program desiring to effect manual redemptions should contact their Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor.

All redemptions of WCMA Fund shares will be confirmed to WCMA service subscribers (rounded to the nearest share) in the monthly transaction statement.

Shareholders who are not CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account) subscribers may redeem shares of a CMA Fund held in a Merrill Lynch securities account directly as described above under “Redemption of Shares — Redemption of Shares by Service Subscribers — Manual Redemptions.”

Shareholders maintaining an account directly with the Transfer Agent, who are not CMA service (or other Merrill Lynch central asset account) subscribers, may redeem shares of a CMA Fund by submitting a written notice by mail directly to the Transfer Agent, Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 45290, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-5290.

Redemption requests that are sent by hand should be delivered to Financial Data Services, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484. Cash proceeds from the manual redemption of Fund shares will be mailed to the shareholder at his or her address of record. Redemption requests should not be sent to a Fund or Merrill Lynch. If inadvertently sent to a Fund or Merrill Lynch such redemption requests will be forwarded to the Transfer Agent. The notice requires the signatures of all persons in whose names the shares are registered, signed exactly as their names appear on their monthly statement. The signature(s) on the redemption request must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” as such is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the 1934 Act, the existence and validity of which may be verified by the Transfer Agent through the use of industry publications. Notarized signatures are not sufficient. In certain instances, additional documents such as, but not limited to, trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as executor or administrator, or certificates of corporate authority may be required.

The right to receive payment with respect to any redemption of Fund shares may be suspended by each Fund for a period of up to seven days. Suspensions of more than seven days may not be made except (1) for any period (A) during which the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or (B) during which trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which (A) disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or (B) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (3) for such other periods as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund. The Commission shall by rules and regulations determine the conditions under which (i) trading shall be deemed to be restricted and (ii) an emergency shall be deemed to exist within the meaning of clause (2) above.

The value of a Fund’s shares at the time of redemption may be more or less than the shareholder’s cost, depending on the market value of the securities held by the Fund at such time.

Participants in the WCMA service or certain other business account program are able to invest funds in one or more of the CMA Funds. Checks and other funds transmitted to a WCMA service or other business account program account generally will be applied first to the payment of pending securities transactions or other charges in the participant’s securities account, second to reduce outstanding balances in the lines of credit available through such program and, third, to purchase shares of the designated Fund. To the extent not otherwise applied, funds transmitted by Federal Funds wire or an automated clearinghouse service will be invested in shares of the designated Fund on the business day following receipt of such funds by Merrill Lynch. Funds received in a WCMA service or other business account program account from the sale of securities will be invested in the designated Fund as described above. The amount payable on a check received in a WCMA service or other business account program account prior to the cashiering deadline referred to above will be invested on the second business day following receipt of the check by Merrill Lynch. Redemptions of Fund shares will be effected as described above to satisfy debit balances, such as those created by purchases of securities or by checks written against a bank providing checking services to WCMA service or other business account program subscribers. Service subscribers that have a line of credit will, however, be permitted to maintain a minimum Fund balance; for subscribers who elect to maintain such a balance, debits from check usage will be satisfied through the line of credit so that such balance is maintained. However, if the full amount of available credit is not sufficient to satisfy the debit, it will be satisfied from the minimum balance.

From time to time, Merrill Lynch also may offer the Funds to participants in certain other programs sponsored by Merrill Lynch. Some or all of the features of the CMA service may not be available in such programs and program participation and other fees may be higher. More information on the services and fees associated with such programs, is set forth in the relevant program disclosures, which may be obtained by contacting a Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor.

Shareholder Services for All Funds other than CMA Funds, WCMA Funds and Retirement Reserves

Each Fund offers one or more of the shareholder services described below that are designed to facilitate investment in its shares. Certain of these services are available only to U.S. investors and certain services are not available if you place orders for Fund shares through Blueprint. You can obtain more information about these services from each Fund by calling the telephone number on the cover page, or from the Distributor or Merrill Lynch.

If your account is maintained at the Transfer Agent (an “Investment Account”) you will receive a monthly report showing the activity in your account for the month. You may make additions to your Investment Account at any time by purchasing shares at the applicable public offering price either through your securities dealer, by wire or by mail directly to the Transfer Agent. You may ascertain the number of shares in your Investment Account by calling the Transfer Agent toll-free at 800-221-7210. The Transfer Agent will furnish this information only after you have specified the name, address, account number and social security number of the registered owner or owners. You may also maintain an account through Merrill Lynch. If you transfer shares out of a Merrill Lynch brokerage account, an Investment Account in your name may be opened at the Transfer Agent. If you are considering transferring a tax-deferred retirement account such as an IRA from Merrill Lynch to another brokerage firm or financial institution you should be aware that if the firm to which the retirement account is to be transferred will not take delivery of shares of a Fund, you must either redeem the shares so that the cash proceeds can be transferred to the account at the new firm, or you must continue to maintain a retirement account at Merrill Lynch for those shares.

In the interest of economy and convenience and because of the operating procedures of each Fund, share certificates will not be issued physically. Shares are maintained by each Fund on its register maintained by the Transfer Agent and the holders thereof will have the same rights and ownership with respect to such shares as if certificates had been issued.

Fund shares may be held in certain Merrill Lynch fee-based programs, including pricing alternatives for securities transactions (each referred to in this paragraph as a “Program”). These Programs generally prohibit such shares from being transferred to another account at Merrill Lynch, to another broker-dealer or to the Transfer Agent. Except in limited circumstances, such shares must be redeemed and new shares purchased in order for the investment not to be subject to Program fees. Additional information regarding a specific Program (including charges and limitations on transferability applicable to shares that may be held in such Program) is available in such Program’s client agreement and from the Transfer Agent at 1-800-MER-FUND.

If you maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, each Fund offers an Automatic Investment Plan whereby the Transfer Agent is authorized through preauthorized checks of $50 or more to charge your regular bank account on a regular basis to provide systematic additions to the Investment Account. Your Automatic Investment Plan may be terminated at any time without charge or penalty by you, the Fund, the Transfer Agent or the Distributor. If you do not maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

The dividends paid by each Fund are generally reinvested automatically in additional shares. If you maintain an account at the Transfer Agent and desire cash payments, you may enroll in the Accrued Monthly Payout Plan. Under this plan, shares equal in number to shares credited through the automatic reinvestment of dividends during each

month are redeemed at net asset value on the last Friday of such month in order to meet the monthly distribution (provided that, in the event that a payment on an account maintained with the Transfer Agent would be $10.00 or less, the payment will be automatically reinvested in additional shares). You may open an Accrued Monthly Payout Plan by completing the appropriate portion of the Purchase Application. Your Accrued Monthly Payout Plan may be terminated at any time without charge or penalty by you, a Fund, the Transfer Agent or the Distributor. If you do not maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

If you maintain an account with the Transfer Agent, may elect to receive systematic withdrawals from your Investment Account by check or through automatic payment by direct deposit to your bank account on either a monthly or quarterly basis as provided below. Quarterly withdrawals are available if you have acquired shares of a Fund that have a value, based on cost or the current offering price, of $5,000 or more, and monthly withdrawals are available if your shares have a value of $10,000 or more.

At the time of each withdrawal payment, sufficient shares are redeemed from your Investment Account to provide the withdrawal payment specified by you. You may specify the dollar amount or a percentage of the value of your shares. Redemptions will be made at net asset value as determined as of the close of business on the NYSE on the 24th day of each month or the 24th day of the last month of each quarter, whichever is applicable. If the NYSE is not open for business on such date, the shares will be redeemed at the net asset value determined as of the close of business on the NYSE on the following business day. The check for the withdrawal payment will be mailed or the direct deposit will be made, on the next business day following redemption. When you make systematic withdrawals, dividends and distributions on all shares in the Investment Account are reinvested automatically in Fund shares. Your systematic withdrawal plan may be terminated at any time, without charge or penalty, by you, a Fund, the Transfer Agent or the Distributor. You may not elect to make systematic withdrawals while you are enrolled in the Accrued Monthly Payout Plan. A Fund is not responsible for any failure of delivery to the shareholder’s address of record and no interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.

Withdrawal payments should not be considered as dividends. Withdrawals generally are treated as sales of shares and may result in taxable gain or loss. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested dividends, the original investment will be reduced correspondingly. You are cautioned not to designate withdrawal programs that result in an undue reduction of principal. There are no minimums on amounts that may be systematically withdrawn. Periodic investments may not be made into an Investment Account in which a shareholder has elected to make systematic withdrawals.

If your account is not maintained directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor. If your account is currently maintained at a branch office, redemptions via the Systematic Withdrawal Plan will be credited directly to your Investment Account. If you wish to receive a redemption by check, you should contact your Financial Advisor.

Individual retirement accounts, Roth IRAs and other retirement plan accounts (together, “retirement accounts”) are available from your financial intermediary. Under these plans, investments may be made in a Fund and certain other mutual funds sponsored by MLIM or its affiliates as well as in other securities. There may be fees associated with investing through these accounts. Information with respect to these accounts is available on request from your financial intermediary.

Dividends received in each of the accounts referred to above are exempt from Federal taxation until distributed from the accounts and, in the case of Roth IRAs and education accounts, may be exempt from taxation when distributed as well. Investors considering participation in any retirement or education account should review specific tax laws relating to the account and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such account.

The net asset value of each Fund is determined once daily, immediately after the daily declaration of dividends on each business day during which the NYSE or New York banks are open for business. For all Funds other than the CMA Funds and WCMA Funds, the determination is made as of the close of business on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) or, on days when the NYSE is closed but New York banks are open, at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, based on prices available at such time. In the case of the CMA Funds and WCMA Funds, the determination is made at 12:00 noon, Eastern time. The net asset value is determined each day except for days on which both the NYSE and New York banks are closed. Both the NYSE and New York banks are closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

The net asset value of each Fund (other than the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt) is determined under the “penny rounding” method by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund’s portfolio, deducting the Fund’s liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and rounding the result to the nearest whole cent. Each Fund (other than the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt) values its portfolio securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less on an amortized cost basis and values its securities with remaining maturities of greater than 60 days for which market quotations are readily available at market value. Other securities held by a Fund are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

Each CMA Tax-Exempt Fund and WCMA Tax-Exempt values its securities based upon their amortized cost in accordance with the terms of a rule adopted by the Commission. This involves valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument.

In accordance with the Commission rule applicable to the valuation of its portfolio securities, each Fund will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less and will purchase instruments that have remaining maturities of not more than 397 days (13 months), with the exception of U.S. Government securities and U.S. Government agency securities, which may have remaining maturities of up to 762 days (25 months). Each Fund will invest only in securities determined to be high quality with minimal credit risks.

The Trustees have established procedures designed to stabilize, to the extent reasonably possible, a Fund’s net asset value as computed for the purpose of sales and redemptions at $1.00 per share. Deviations of more than an insignificant amount between the net asset value calculated using market quotations and that calculated on an amortized cost basis will be reported to the Trustees by the Manager. In the event the Trustees of a Fund determine that a deviation exists that may result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders, the Fund will take such corrective action as it regards as necessary and appropriate, including (i) reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Fund by having each shareholder proportionately contribute shares to the Fund’s capital; (ii) the sale of portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity; (iii) withholding dividends; or (iv) establishing a net asset value per share solely by using available market quotations. If the number of outstanding shares is reduced in order to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, the shareholders will contribute proportionately to the Fund’s capital. Each shareholder will be deemed to have agreed to such contribution by his or her investment in a Fund.

Since the net income of a Fund (including realized gains and losses on portfolio securities) is determined and declared as a dividend immediately prior to each time the net asset value of a Fund is determined, the net asset value per share of a Fund normally remains at $1.00 per share immediately after each such dividend declaration. Any increase in the value of a shareholder’s investment in a Fund, representing the reinvestment of dividend income, is reflected by an increase in the number of shares of the Fund in his or her account and any decrease in the value of a shareholder’s investment may be reflected by a decrease in the number of shares in his or her account. See “Dividends and Taxes.”

Each Fund computes its annualized yield in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission by determining the net changes in value, exclusive of capital changes and income other than investment income, for a seven-day base period for a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the base period, subtracting a hypothetical shareholder account charge, and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then multiplying the result by 365 and then dividing by seven. This yield calculation does not take into consideration any realized or unrealized gains or losses on portfolio securities. The Commission also permits the calculation of a standardized effective or compounded yield. This is computed by compounding the unannualized base period return, which is done by adding one to the base period return, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by seven, and subtracting one from the result. This compounded yield calculation also excludes realized and unrealized gains or losses on portfolio securities.

The tax equivalent yield of the shares of each of CMA Tax-Exempt, WCMA Tax-Exempt and the CMA State Funds is computed by dividing that portion of the yield of the Fund (computed as described above) that is tax-exempt by an amount equal to one minus the stated tax rate (normally assumed to be the maximum applicable marginal tax rate) and adding the result to that portion, if any, of the yield of the Fund that is not tax-exempt. The tax equivalent effective yield of the shares of each of CMA Tax-Exempt, WCMA Tax-Exempt and the CMA State Funds is computed in the same manner as the tax equivalent yield, except that the effective yield is substituted for yield in the calculation.

The yield on each Fund’s shares normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. Therefore, the yield for any given past period is not an indication or representation by a Fund of future yields or rates of return on its shares. The yield is affected by such factors as changes in interest rates on a Fund’s portfolio securities, average portfolio maturity, the types and quality of portfolio securities held and operating expenses. The yield on Fund shares for various reasons may not be comparable to the yield on bank deposits, shares of other money market funds or other investments.

See Part I, Section VI “Yield Information” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for recent seven-day yield information relating to your Fund.

On occasion, each Fund may compare its yield to (1) an industry average compiled by Donoghue’s Money Fund Report, a widely recognized independent publication that monitors the performance of money market mutual funds, (2) the average yield reported by the Bank Rate Monitor National Index^TM for money market deposit accounts offered by the 100 leading banks and thrift institutions in the ten largest standard metropolitan statistical areas, (3) yield data published by industry publications, including Lipper Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, BusinessWeek, CDA Investment Technology, Inc., Forbes Magazine and Fortune Magazine, (4) the yield on an investment in 90-day Treasury bills on a rolling basis, assuming quarterly compounding, or (5) historical yield data relating to other central asset accounts similar to the CMA service, in the case of the CMA Funds. As with yield quotations, yield comparisons should not be considered indicative of a Fund’s yield or relative performance for any future.

A Fund may provide information designed to help investors understand how the Fund is seeking to achieve its investment objective. This may include information about past, current or possible economic, market, political, or other conditions, descriptive information on general principles of investing such as asset allocation, diversification and risk tolerance; a discussion of a Fund’s portfolio composition, investment philosophy, strategy or investment techniques; comparisons of a Fund’s performance or portfolio composition to that of other funds or types of investments, to indices relevant to the comparison being made, or to a hypothetical or model portfolio. Each Fund may also quote various measures of volatility and benchmark correlation in advertising and other materials, and may compare these measures to those of other funds or types of investments.

Subject to policies established by the Board of each Fund, the Manager is primarily responsible for the execution of a Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Manager does not execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer,

but seeks to obtain the best net results for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While the Manager generally seeks reasonable trade execution costs, a Fund does not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available. Each Fund’s policy of investing in securities with short maturities will result in high portfolio turnover.

Subject to obtaining the best net results, dealers who provide supplemental investment research (such as economic data and market forecasts) to the Manager may receive orders for transactions of the Fund. Information received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Manager under each Management Agreement and the expenses of the Manager will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental information.

The portfolio securities in which each Fund invests are traded primarily in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. Bonds and debentures usually are traded OTC, but may be traded on an exchange. Where possible, a Fund will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved except in those circumstances where better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Such dealers usually are acting as principals for their own accounts. On occasion, securities may be purchased directly from the issuer. Money market securities are generally traded on a net basis and do not normally involve either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes. The cost of executing portfolio securities transactions of a Fund primarily will consist of dealer spreads. Under the Investment Company Act, persons affiliated with a Fund and persons who are affiliated with such affiliated persons are prohibited from dealing with the Fund as principals in the purchase and sale of securities unless a exemptive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the Commission. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with the dealers acting as principals for their own accounts, the Funds will not deal with affiliated persons, including Merrill Lynch and its affiliates, in connection with such transactions, except pursuant to the exemptive order described below. However, an affiliated person of a Fund may serve as its broker in OTC transactions conducted on an agency basis.

The Manager does not consider sales of shares of the mutual funds it advises as a factor in the selection of brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund; however, whether or not a particular broker or dealer sells shares of the mutual funds advised by the Manager neither qualifies nor disqualifies such broker or dealer to execute transactions for those mutual funds.

The Commission has issued an exemptive order permitting each Fund to conduct principal transactions with Merrill Lynch Government Securities, Inc. (“GSI”) in U.S. Government and U.S. Government agency securities, with Merrill Lynch Money Markets, Inc., a subsidiary of GSI (“MMI”) in certificates of deposit and other short-term money market instruments and commercial paper, and with Merrill Lynch in fixed income securities, including medium-term notes, and municipal securities with remaining maturities of one year or less. This order contains a number of conditions, including conditions designed to ensure that the price to each Fund from GSI, MMI or Merrill Lynch is equal to or better than that available from other sources. GSI, MMI and Merrill Lynch have informed each Fund that they will in no way, at any time, attempt to influence or control the activities of the Fund or the Manager in placing such principal transactions. The exemptive order allows GSI, MMI or Merrill Lynch to receive a dealer spread on any transaction with a Fund no greater than its customary dealer spread from transactions of the type involved. Generally, such spreads do not exceed 0.25% of the principal amount of the securities involved.

See Part I, Section VIII “Portfolio Transactions” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for information relating to portfolio transactions engaged in by your Fund for its three most recently completed fiscal years or other relevant periods.

The Board of each Fund has considered the possibility of seeking to recapture for the benefit of the Fund expenses of possible portfolio transactions, such as dealer spreads and underwriting commissions, by conducting portfolio transactions through affiliated entities, including GSI, MMI and Merrill Lynch. For example, dealer spreads received by GSI, MMI or Merrill Lynch on transactions conducted pursuant to the exemptive order described above could be offset against the management fee payable by each Fund to the Manager. After considering all factors deemed relevant, the Board of each Fund made a determination not to seek such recapture. The Board of each Fund will reconsider this matter from time to time.

Each Fund has received an exemptive order from the Commission permitting it to lend portfolio securities to Merrill Lynch or its affiliates. Pursuant to that order, each Fund may retain an affiliated entity of the Manager (the “lending agent”) as the securities lending agent for a fee, including a fee based on a share of the returns on investment of cash collateral. The lending agent may, on behalf of a Fund, invest cash collateral received by the Fund for such loans, among other things, in a private investment company managed by the lending agent or in registered money market funds advised by the Manager or its affiliates. See Part I, Section VII “Portfolio Transactions” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for the securities lending agent fees, if any, paid by your Fund to the lending agent for the periods indicated.

Because of different objectives or other factors, a particular security may be bought for one or more funds or clients advised by the Manager or its affiliates (collectively, “clients”) when one or more clients of the Manager or its affiliates are selling the same security. If purchases or sales of securities arise for consideration at or about the same time that would involve a Fund or other clients or funds for which the Manager or an affiliate acts as investment manager, transactions in such securities will be made, insofar as feasible, for the respective funds and clients in a manner deemed equitable to all. To the extent that transactions on behalf of more than one client of the Manager or its affiliates during the same period may increase the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price.

Each Fund declares dividends daily. Dividends are reinvested monthly, in the case of each Fund other than CMA Funds and WCMA Funds, and reinvested daily, in the case of the CMA Funds and WCMA Funds, in additional Fund shares at net asset value. Shares purchased will begin accruing dividends on the day following the date of purchase on the payable date. Dividends that are declared but unpaid will remain in the gross assets of each Fund and will therefore continue to earn income for the Fund’s shareholders. Shareholders will receive monthly statements as to such reinvestments. Shareholders of all the Funds other than CMA Funds and WCMA Funds who liquidate their holdings will receive on redemption all dividends declared and reinvested through the date of redemption. For shareholders of CMA Funds and WCMA Funds who request transactions that settle on a “same day” basis (such as Federal Funds wire redemptions, branch office checks, transfers to other Merrill Lynch accounts and certain securities transactions), the Fund shares necessary to effect such transactions will be deemed to have been transferred to Merrill Lynch prior to the Funds’ declaration of dividends on that day.

Net income (from the time of the immediately preceding determination thereof) consists of (i) interest accrued and/or discount earned (including both original issue and market discount), (ii) plus or minus all realized gains and losses on portfolio securities, (iii) less amortization of premiums and the estimated expenses of a Fund applicable to that dividend period.

The CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt intend to qualify to pay “exempt-interest dividends” as defined in Section 852(b)(5) of the Code. Under such section if, at the close of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of obligations exempt from Federal income tax (“tax-exempt obligations”) under Section 103(a) of the Code (relating generally to obligations of a state or local governmental unit), the Fund will be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders. Exempt-interest dividends are dividends or any part thereof paid by a Fund that are attributable to interest on tax-exempt obligations and designated as exempt-interest dividends in a written notice mailed to the Fund’s shareholders within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year.

To the extent that the dividends distributed to any of the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds’ or WCMA Tax Exempt’s shareholders are derived from interest income excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes under Code Section 103(a) and are properly designated as exempt-interest dividends, they will be excludable from a shareholder’s gross income for Federal income tax purposes. Exempt-interest dividends are included, however, in

determining the portion, if any, of a shareholder’s social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits subject to Federal income taxes. Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares of RICs paying exempt-interest dividends, such as the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt, will not be deductible by a shareholder for Federal income tax purposes to the extent attributable to exempt-interest dividends. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers with respect to whether exempt-interest dividends retain the exclusion under Code Section 103(a) if a shareholder would be treated as a “substantial user” or “related person” under Code Section 147(a) with respect to property financed with the proceeds of an issue of private activity bonds, if any, held by one of the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds or WCMA Tax-Exempt.

All or a portion of the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds’ and WCMA Tax-Exempt’s gain from the sale or redemption of tax-exempt obligations purchased at a market discount will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain. This rule may increase the amount of ordinary income dividends received by shareholders. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends received on such shares by a shareholder. In addition, any such loss that is not disallowed under the rule stated above will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received on such shares by a shareholder.

The Code subjects interest received on certain otherwise tax-exempt securities to a Federal alternative minimum tax. The Federal alternative minimum tax applies to interest received on certain private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986. Private activity bonds are bonds which, although tax-exempt, are used for purposes other than those generally performed by governmental units and which benefit non-governmental entities (e.g., bonds used for industrial development or housing purposes). Income received on such bonds is classified as an item of “tax preference,” which could subject certain investors in such bonds, including shareholders of a Fund, to a Federal alternative minimum tax. WCMA Tax-Exempt and the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds may purchase such private activity bonds and will report to shareholders within 60 days after calendar year-end the portion of its dividends declared during the year that constitutes an item of tax preference for alternative minimum tax purposes. The Code further provides that corporations are subject to a Federal alternative minimum tax based, in part, on certain differences between taxable income as adjusted for other tax preferences and the corporation’s “adjusted current earnings,” which more closely reflect a corporation’s economic income. Because an exempt-interest dividend paid by WCMA Tax-Exempt and the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds will be included in adjusted current earnings, a corporate shareholder may be required to pay alternative minimum tax on exempt-interest dividends paid by such Fund.

Dividends paid by each CMA State Fund are subject to the tax laws of the specific state in which a Fund invests. For a summary discussion of these state tax laws please see “State Fund Tax Summaries” in Part I of each CMA State Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Appendices to each CMA State Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contain a general and abbreviated summary of the state tax laws for each CMA State Fund as presently in effect. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the applicable state tax laws. The state tax laws described above are subject to change by legislative, judicial, or administrative action either prospectively or retroactively. Shareholders of each CMA State Fund should consult their tax advisers about other state and local tax consequences of their investment in such CMA State Fund.

The Code provides that every person required to file a tax return must include for information purposes on such return the amount of exempt-interest dividends received from all sources (including WCMA Tax-Exempt or any of the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds) during the taxable year.

Investment in certain Funds is offered to participants in retirement accounts for which Merrill Lynch acts as custodian, participants in Merrill Lynch Basic Plans and RSAs and certain independent qualified plans. Accordingly, the general description of the tax treatment of RICs and their shareholders as set forth above is qualified for

retirement accountholders with respect to the special tax treatment afforded such accounts under the Code. Under the Code, neither ordinary income dividends nor capital gain dividends represent current income to retirement accountholders.

Generally, distributions from a retirement account (other than certain distributions from a Roth IRA) will be taxable as ordinary income at the rate applicable to the participant at the time of the distribution. For most retirement accounts, such distributions would include (i) any pre-tax contributions to the retirement account (including pre-tax contributions that have been rolled over from another IRA or qualified retirement plan), and (ii) earnings (whether or not such earnings are classified as ordinary income or capital gain dividends). In addition to Federal income tax, participants may be subject to the imposition of a 10% (or, in the case of certain SRA-IRA distributions, 25%) excise tax on any amount withdrawn from a retirement account prior to the participant’s attainment of age 59¹/2 unless one of the exceptions discussed below applies.

Depending on the type of retirement plan, the exceptions to the early withdrawal penalty may include: 1) distributions after the death of the shareholder; 2) distributions attributable to disability; 3) distributions used to pay certain medical expenses; 4) distributions that are part of a scheduled series of substantially equal periodic payments for the life (or life expectancy) of the shareholder or the joint lives (or joint life and last survivor expectancy) of the shareholder and the shareholder’s beneficiary; 5) withdrawals for medical insurance if the shareholder has received unemployment compensation for 12 weeks and the distribution is made in the year such unemployment compensation is received or the following year; 6) distributions to pay qualified higher education expenses of the shareholder or certain family members of the shareholder; and 7) distributions used to buy a first home (subject to a $10,000 lifetime limit).

For Roth IRA participants, distributions, including accumulated earnings on contributions, will not be includable in income if such distribution is made more than five years after the first tax year of contribution and the account holder is either age 59¹/2 or older, has become disabled, is purchasing a first home (subject to the $10,000 lifetime limit) or has died. As with other retirement accounts, a 10% excise tax applies to amounts withdrawn from the Roth IRA prior to reaching age 59¹/2 unless one of the exceptions applies. Such a withdrawal would also be included in income to the extent of earnings on contributions, with distributions treated as made first from contributions and then from earnings.

Under certain limited circumstances (for example, if an individual for whose benefit a retirement account is established engages in any transaction prohibited under Section 4975 of the Code with respect to such account), a retirement account could cease to qualify for the special treatment afforded certain retirement accounts under the Code as of the first day of the taxable year in which the transaction that caused the disqualification occurred. If a retirement account through which a shareholder holds Fund shares becomes ineligible for special tax treatment, the shareholder will be treated as having received a distribution on such first day of the taxable year from the retirement account in an amount equal to the fair market value of all assets in the account. Thus, a shareholder would be taxed currently on the amount of any pre-tax contributions and previously untaxed dividends held within the account. All shareholders would be taxed on the ordinary income and capital gain dividends paid by a Fund subsequent to the disqualification event, whether such dividends were received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. These ordinary income and capital gain dividends also might be subject to state and local taxes. In the event of retirement account disqualification, shareholders also could be subject to the early withdrawal excise tax described above. Additionally, retirement account disqualification may subject a nonresident alien shareholder to a 30% United States withholding tax on ordinary income dividends paid by a Fund unless a reduced rate of withholding is provided under applicable treaty law.

In certain circumstances, account holders also may be able to make nondeductible contributions to their retirement accounts. As described above, ordinary income dividends and capital gain dividends received with respect to such contributions will not be taxed currently. Unlike the Roth IRA, described above, earnings with respect to these amounts will be taxed when distributed.

Investment in Retirement Reserves is also offered to participants in Qualified Tuition Program accounts and ESAs (together, “education accounts”). The general description of the tax treatment of RICs and their shareholders as previously set forth is qualified for education accountholders with respect to the special tax treatment afforded education accounts. Under the Code, neither ordinary income dividends nor capital gain dividends represent current income to shareholders holding shares through an education account.

Distributions from a Qualified Tuition Program account (prior to December 31, 2010) or ESA, including amounts representing earnings on amounts contributed, will not be included in income to the extent they do not exceed the beneficiary’s qualified education expenses, as defined in the Code for purposes of the particular type of account. Education account holders may be subject to a Federal penalty as well as ordinary income tax and any applicable state income tax on the portion of a distribution representing earnings on contributed amounts, if the distribution is not used for qualified education expenses, as defined in the Code for purposes of the particular type of account. Exceptions to the Federal penalty include distributions made on account of the death or disability of the beneficiary of the account and distributions made on account of a scholarship received by the beneficiary, provided the distributions do not exceed the amount of the scholarship. Numerous provisions affecting education accounts are scheduled to expire after December 31, 2010. Unless such provisions are extended, the tax treatment of education accounts and their investors will be significantly altered.

If an education account becomes ineligible for the special tax treatment described above, the shareholder will be currently taxed on amounts representing accumulated earnings on contributions made to the account. Likewise, dividends paid by the Fund subsequently will be currently taxable, whether received in cash or reinvested, and could be subject to state and local taxes. It is possible that the Federal penalty applicable to withdrawals not used for qualified education expenses might also apply. Disqualification of an education account may subject a nonresident alien shareholder to a 30% United States withholding tax on ordinary income dividends paid by a Fund, unless a reduced rate of withholding is provided under applicable treaty law.

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations presently in effect, as applied to the particular types of Funds and accounts being described. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and the Treasury regulations are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative action either prospectively or retroactively.

Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to Federal, foreign, state or local taxes. Foreign investors should consider applicable foreign taxes in their evaluation of investment in each Fund. Shareholders investing through a retirement account or education account, likewise, should consult a tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of investing through such an account.

Each Fund intends to continue to qualify for the special tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under the Code. As long as a Fund so qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will not be subject to Federal income tax on the part of its net ordinary income and net realized capital gains that is distributed to shareholders. Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such income and gains. If, in any taxable year, a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC under the Code, such Fund would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and all distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. Federal income tax principles) to its shareholders would be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the maximum 15% tax rate for non-corporate shareholders and the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. However, distributions from a CMA Tax-Exempt Fund or from WCMA Tax-Exempt that are derived from income on tax-exempt obligations, as defined herein, would no longer qualify for treatment as exempt interest.

Each series of a Fund that consists of multiple series is treated as a separate corporation for Federal income tax purposes, and, therefore, is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs.

Losses in one series of a Fund do not offset gains in another, and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying for RIC status will be determined at the level of the individual series. In the following discussion, the term “Fund” means each individual series, if applicable.

The Code requires a RIC to pay a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent the RIC does not distribute, during each calendar year, 98% of its ordinary income, determined on a calendar year basis, and 98% of its capital gains, determined, in general as if the RIC’s taxable year ended on October 31, plus certain undistributed amounts from the preceding year. While each Fund, intends to distribute its income and capital gains in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of a Fund’s taxable income and capital gains will be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the tax. In such event, a Fund will be liable for the tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirements. The required distributions are based only on the taxable income of a RIC. The excise tax, therefore, generally will not apply to the tax-exempt income of RICs, such as the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt, that pay exempt-interest dividends.

Dividends paid by a Fund from its ordinary income or from an excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses (together referred to hereafter as “ordinary income dividends”) are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions made from an excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses (“capital gain dividends”) are taxable to shareholders as long-term gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned Fund shares. The tax rate on certain dividend income and long term capital gain applicable to non-corporate shareholders has been reduced for taxable years ending in or prior to 2008. Under these rules, a certain portion of ordinary income dividends constituting “qualified dividend income” when paid by a RIC to non-corporate shareholders may be taxable to such shareholders at long-term capital gain rates. However, to the extent a Fund’s distributions are derived from income on debt securities and short-term capital gain, such distributions will not constitute “qualified dividend income.” Thus, ordinary income dividends paid by the Funds generally will not be eligible for taxation at the reduced rate.

Any loss upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the shareholder. Distributions in excess of a Fund’s earnings and profits will first reduce the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in his shares and any amount in excess of such basis will constitute capital gain to such shareholder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). Long-term capital gains (i.e., gains from a sale or exchange of capital assets held for more than one year) are generally taxed at preferential rates to non-corporate taxpayers. Generally not later than 60 days after the close of its taxable year, each Fund will provide its shareholders with a written notice designating the amounts of its dividends paid during the year that qualify as capital gain dividends or exempt-interest dividends, as applicable, as well as the portion of an exempt-interest dividend that constitutes an item of tax preference, as discussed below.

Ordinary income and capital gain dividends are taxable to shareholders even if they are reinvested in additional shares of a Fund. Distributions by a Fund, whether from ordinary income or capital gains, generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under the Code. If a Fund pays a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received by its shareholders on December 31 of the year in which such dividend was declared.

If the value of assets held by a Fund declines, the Trustees of a Fund may authorize a reduction in the number of outstanding shares in shareholders’ accounts so as to preserve a net asset value of $1.00 per share. After such a reduction, the basis of eliminated shares would be added to the basis of shareholders’ remaining Fund shares, and any shareholders disposing of shares at that time may recognize a capital loss. Except for the CMA Tax-Exempt Funds and WCMA Tax-Exempt, dividends, including dividends reinvested in additional shares of a Fund, will nonetheless be fully taxable, even if the number of shares in shareholders’ accounts has been reduced as described above.

A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of a Fund will be disallowed if other shares of the Fund are acquired (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date on which the shares are sold or exchanged. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Under certain provisions of the Code, some shareholders may be subject to a withholding tax on ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and redemption payments (“backup withholding”). Backup withholding may also be required on distributions paid by WCMA Tax-Exempt or a CMA Tax-Exempt Fund, unless such Fund reasonably estimates that at least 95% of its distributions during the taxable year are comprised of exempt-interest dividends. Generally, shareholders subject to backup withholding will be those for whom no certified taxpayer identification number is on file with a Fund or who, to a Fund’s knowledge, have furnished an incorrect number. When establishing an account, an investor must certify under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that the investor is not otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld generally may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a shareholder’s Federal income tax liability provided that the required information is timely provided to the IRS.

Interest received by a Fund may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

Ordinary income dividends paid to shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities will be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax under existing provisions of the Code applicable to foreign individuals and entities unless a reduced rate of withholding is provided under applicable treaty law. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning applicability of the United States withholding tax.

Ordinary income and capital gain dividends paid by the Funds may also be subject to state and local taxes. However, certain states exempt from state income taxation dividends paid by RICs that are derived from interest on United States Treasury obligations. State law varies as to whether dividend income attributable to United States Treasury obligations is exempt from state income tax.

Each Fund’s Board of Trustees has delegated to the Manager authority to vote all proxies relating to the Fund’s portfolio securities. The Manager has adopted policies and procedures (the “Proxy Voting Procedures”) with respect to the voting of proxies related to the portfolio securities held in the account of one or more of its clients, including a Fund. Pursuant to these Proxy Voting Procedures, the Manager’s primary objective when voting proxies is to make proxy voting decisions solely in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, and to act in a manner that the Manager believes is most likely to enhance the economic value of the securities held by the Fund. The Proxy Voting Procedures are designed to ensure that the Manager considers the interests of its clients, including each Fund, and not the interests of the Manager, when voting proxies and that real (or perceived) material conflicts that may arise between the Manager’s interest and those of the Manager’s clients are properly addressed and resolved.

In order to implement the Proxy Voting Procedures, the Manager has formed a Proxy Voting Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee is comprised of the Manager’s Chief Investment Officer (the “CIO”), one or more other senior investment professionals appointed by the CIO, portfolio managers and investment analysts appointed by the CIO and any other personnel the CIO deems appropriate. The Committee will also include two non-voting representatives from the Manager’s legal department appointed by the Manager’s General Counsel. The Committee’s membership shall be limited to full-time employees of the Manager. No person with any investment banking, trading, retail brokerage or research responsibilities for the Manager’s affiliates may serve as a member of the Committee or participate in its decision making (except to the extent such person is asked by the Committee to present information to the Committee on the same basis as other interested knowledgeable parties not affiliated with the Manager might be asked to do so). The Committee determines how to vote the proxies of all clients, including a Fund, that have delegated proxy voting authority to the Manager and seeks to ensure that all votes are consistent with the best interests of those clients and are free from unwarranted and inappropriate influences. The Committee establishes general proxy voting policies for the Manager and is responsible for determining how those policies are

applied to specific proxy votes, in light of each issuer’s unique structure, management, strategic options and, in certain circumstances, probable economic and other anticipated consequences of alternate actions. In so doing, the Committee may determine to vote a particular proxy in a manner contrary to its generally stated policies. In addition, the Committee will be responsible for ensuring that all reporting and recordkeeping requirements related to proxy voting are fulfilled.

The Committee may determine that the subject matter of a recurring proxy issue is not suitable for general voting policies and requires a case-by-case determination. In such cases, the Committee may elect not to adopt a specific voting policy applicable to that issue. The Manager believes that certain proxy voting issues require investment analysis – such as approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions – akin to investment decisions, and are, therefore, not suitable for general guidelines. The Committee may elect to adopt a common position for the Manager on certain proxy votes that are akin to investment decisions, or determine to permit the portfolio manager to make individual decisions on how best to maximize economic value for a Fund (similar to normal buy/sell investment decisions made by such portfolio managers). While it is expected that the Manager will generally seek to vote proxies over which the Manager exercises voting authority in a uniform manner for all the Manager’s clients, the Committee, in conjunction with a Fund’s portfolio manager, may determine that the Fund’s specific circumstances require that its proxies be voted differently.

To assist the Manager in voting proxies, the Committee has retained Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). ISS is an independent adviser that specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided to the Manager by ISS include in-depth research, voting recommendations (although the Manager is not obligated to follow such recommendations), vote execution, and recordkeeping. ISS will also assist the Fund in fulfilling its reporting and recordkeeping obligations under the Investment Company Act.

The Manager’s Proxy Voting Procedures also address special circumstances that can arise in connection with proxy voting. For instance, under the Proxy Voting Procedures, the Manager generally will not seek to vote proxies related to portfolio securities that are on loan, although it may do so under certain circumstances. In addition, the Manager will vote proxies related to securities of foreign issuers only on a best efforts basis and may elect not to vote at all in certain countries where the Committee determines that the costs associated with voting generally outweigh the benefits. The Committee may at any time override these general policies if it determines that such action is in the best interests of a Fund.

From time to time, the Manager may be required to vote proxies in respect of an issuer where an affiliate of the Manager (each, an “Affiliate”), or a money management or other client of the Manager, including investment companies for which the Manager provides investment advisory, administrative and/or other services (each, a “Client”) is involved. The Proxy Voting Procedures and the Manager’s adherence to those procedures are designed to address such conflicts of interest. The Committee intends to strictly adhere to the Proxy Voting Procedures in all proxy matters, including matters involving Affiliates and Clients. If, however, an issue representing a non-routine matter that is material to an Affiliate or a widely known Client is involved such that the Committee does not reasonably believe it is able to follow its guidelines (or if the particular proxy matter is not addressed by the guidelines) and vote impartially, the Committee may, in its discretion for the purposes of ensuring that an independent determination is reached, retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Committee on how to vote or to cast votes on behalf of the Manager’s clients.

In the event that the Committee determines not to retain an independent fiduciary, or it does not follow the advice of such an independent fiduciary, the Committee may pass the voting power to a subcommittee, appointed by the CIO (with advice from the Secretary of the Committee), consisting solely of Committee members selected by the CIO. The CIO shall appoint to the subcommittee, where appropriate, only persons whose job responsibilities do not include contact with the Client and whose job evaluations would not be affected by the Manager’s relationship with the Client (or failure to retain such relationship). The subcommittee shall determine whether and how to vote all proxies on behalf of the Manager’s clients or, if the proxy matter is, in their judgment, akin to an investment decision, to defer to the applicable portfolio managers, provided that, if the subcommittee determines to alter the Manager’s normal voting guidelines or, on matters where the Manager’s policy is case-by-case, does not follow the voting recommendation of any proxy voting service or other independent fiduciary that may be retained to provide

research or advice to the Manager on that matter, no proxies relating to the Client may be voted unless the Secretary, or in the Secretary’s absence, the Assistant Secretary of the Committee concurs that the subcommittee’s determination is consistent with the Manager’s fiduciary duties.

In addition to the general principles outlined above, the Manager has adopted voting guidelines with respect to certain recurring proxy issues that are not expected to involve unusual circumstances. These policies are guidelines only, and the Manager may elect to vote differently from the recommendation set forth in a voting guideline if the Committee determines that it is in a Fund’s best interest to do so. In addition, the guidelines may be reviewed at any time upon the request of a Committee member and may be amended or deleted upon the vote of a majority of Committee members present at a Committee meeting at which there is a quorum.

The Manager has adopted specific voting guidelines with respect to the following proxy issues:

Information about how a Fund voted proxies relating to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30 is available without charge (1) at www.mutualfunds.ml.com and (2) on the Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held and vote in the election of Trustees and generally on other matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. In the case of Retirement Reserves and the WCMA Funds, each class represents an interest in the same assets of the respective Fund and are identical in all respects, except that each class of shares bears certain expenses related to the distribution of such shares and have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to such distribution expenditures. Voting rights are not cumulative, so that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting in the election of Trustees can, if they choose to do so, elect all Trustees of the Fund. No amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund except under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Fund’s Declaration of Trust.

There normally will be no meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by the shareholders, at which time the Trustees then in office will call a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees. Shareholders may cause a meeting of shareholders to be held in accordance with the terms of the Fund’s Declaration or by-laws, as the case may be. Also, each Fund will be required to call a special meeting of shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act to seek approval of new advisory arrangements, of a material increase in distribution fees or of a change in fundamental policies, objectives or restrictions. Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue to hold office from year to year and appoint successor Trustees. Each issued and outstanding share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared and in net assets upon liquidation or dissolution remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities except for any expenses which may be attributable to only one class, in the case of Retirement Reserves or the CMA Funds. Shares issued are fully-paid and non-assessable by each Fund.

The Declaration of Trust establishing each Fund, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto (the “Declaration”), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name of each Fund refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim of the Fund but the “Trust Property” (as defined in the Declaration) only shall be liable.

See Part I, Section VIII “General Information” of each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information for other general information about your Fund.

Commercial paper with the greatest capacity for timely payment is rated A by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”). Issues within this category are further redefined with designations 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety; A-1, the highest of the three, indicates the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong; A-2 indicates that the capacity for timely repayment is satisfactory; A-3 indicates that capacity for timely payment is adequate, however, they are more vulnerable to the adverse changes of circumstances than obligations rated A-1 or A-2.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) employs the designations of Prime-1, Prime-2 and Prime-3 to indicate the relative capacity of the rated issuers to repay punctually. Prime-1 issues have a superior capacity for repayment. Prime-2 issues have a strong capacity for timely repayment, but to a lesser degree than Prime-1, Prime-3 issues have an acceptable capacity for repayment.

Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) employs the rating F 1 to indicate issues regarded as having the strongest capacity for timely payment. The rating F 2 indicates a satisfaction capacity for timely payment. The rating F 3 indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment.

Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in a small degree.

Bonds rated Aaa by Moody’s are judged to be of the best quality. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Moody’s applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events. Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA.

Commercial paper with the greatest capacity for timely payment is rated A by Standard & Poor’s. Issues within this category are further redefined with designations 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety; A-1 indicates the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial obligation is strong; issues that possess extremely strong safety characteristics will be given an A-1+ designation; A-2 indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial obligation is satisfactory. A Standard & Poor’s rating with respect to certain municipal note issues with a maturity of less than three years reflects the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. SP-1, the highest note rating, indicates a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Issues that possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service will be given an “SP-1+” designation. SP-2, the second highest note rating, indicates a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

Moody’s employs the designations of Prime-1, Prime-2 and Prime-3 with respect to commercial paper to indicate the relative capacity of the rated issuers (or related supporting institutions) to repay punctually. Prime-l issues have a superior capacity for repayment. Prime-2 issues have a strong capacity for repayment, but to a lesser degree than Prime-1. Moody’s highest rating for short-term notes and VRDOs is MIG1/VMIG1; MIG-1/VMIG-1 denotes “superior credit quality”, enjoying “highly reliable liquidity support” or “demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing”; MIG2/VMIG2 denotes “strong credit quality” with margins of protection that are ample although not so large as MIG1/VMIG1.

Fitch employs the rating F-1+ to indicate short-term debt issues regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment. The rating F-1 reflects an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+. The rating F-2 indicates a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment, although the margin of safety is not as indicated by the F-1+ and F-1 categories.

Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s to a debt obligation. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial obligation is extremely strong. Bonds rated AA differ from the highest rated obligations only in a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. A Standard & Poor’s municipal debt rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors and insurers of lessees.

Bonds rated Aaa by Moody’s are judged to be of the best quality. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. They are rated lower than the best bonds because the margins of protection may not be as large or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Moody’s applies the numerical modifier 1 to the classifications Aa through Caa to indicate that Moody’s believes the issue possesses the strongest investment attributes in its rating category. Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operating experience, (c) rentals that begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of basis of condition.

Bonds rated AAA by Fitch denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. Bonds rated AA denote a very low expectation of credit risk. Both ratings indicate a strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to reasonably foreseeable events. The ratings take into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective financial condition and operative performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the issuer’s future financial strength and credit quality. Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small differences in the degrees of credit risk.

Item 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

The Registrant does not control and is not under common control with any other person.

Reference is made to Section 5.3 of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust and Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement.

“The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers, employees, and agents (including persons who serve at its request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and as counsel fees) reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of his being or having been such a trustee, officer, employee or agent, except with respect to any matters as to

which he shall have been adjudicated to have acted in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties; provided, however, that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such person, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion from independent legal counsel approved by the Trustee to the effect that if either the matter of willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty, or the matter of good faith and reasonable belief as to the best interests of the Trust, had been adjudicated, it would have been adjudicated in favor of such person. The rights accruing to any person under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled; provided that no Person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted herein or in Section 5.1 or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable to any person with respect to any claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise. The Trustees may make advance payments in connection with indemnification under this Section 5.3, provided that the indemnified person shall have given a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust in the event it is subsequently determined that he is not entitled to such indemnification.”

The Registrant’s by-laws provide that insofar as the conditional advancing of indemnification moneys pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Declaration of Trust for actions based upon the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) may be concerned, such payments will be made only on the following conditions: (i) the advances must be limited to amounts used, or to be used, for the preparation or presentation of a defense to the action, including costs connected with the preparation of a settlement; (ii) advances may be made only upon receipt of a written promise by, or on behalf of, the recipient to repay that amount of the advance which exceeds the amount which it is ultimately determined that he is entitled to receive from the Registrant by reason of indemnification; and (iii) (a) such promise must be secured by a surety bond, other suitable insurance or an equivalent form of security which assures that any repayments may be obtained by the Registrant without delay or litigation, which bond, insurance or other form of security must be provided by the recipient of the advance, or (b) a majority of a quorum of the Registrant’s disinterested, non-party Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based upon a review of readily available facts, that the recipient of the advance ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

In Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement relating to the securities being offered hereby, the Registrant agrees to indemnify the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), against certain types of civil liabilities arising in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant and the principal underwriter pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant and the principal underwriter in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee, officer or controlling person or the principal underwriter in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM” or the “Manager”) acts as investment adviser for a number of affiliated open-end and closed-end registered investment companies, and also acts as sub-adviser to certain other portfolios.

Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), an affiliate of the Manager, acts as investment adviser for a number of affiliated open-end and closed-end registered investment companies.

The address of each of these registered investment companies is P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, except that the address of Merrill Lynch Funds for Institutions Series is One Financial Center, 23rd Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2665. The address of FAM, MLIM, Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”) and Princeton Administrators, L.P. (“Princeton Administrators”) is also P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011. The address of FAM Distributors, Inc. (“FAMD”) is P.O. Box 9081, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081. The address of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML & Co.”) is World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10080. The address of the Registrant’s transfer agent, Financial Data Services, Inc. (“FDS”), is 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484.

Set forth below is a list of each executive officer and partner of the Manager indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person or entity has been engaged for at least the last two fiscal years for his, her or its own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee. Additionally, Mr. Burke is Vice President and Treasurer of all or substantially all of the investment companies advised by FAM, MLIM or their affiliates, and Mr. Doll is President and/or Board member of all or substantially all of such companies.

(a) FAMD acts as the principal underwriter for each of the following open-end registered investment companies including the Registrant: FDP Series, Inc., Financial Institutions Series Trust, Managed Account Series, Mercury Basic Value Fund, Inc., Mercury Funds II, Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Bond Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch California Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Disciplined Equity Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Equity Dividend Fund, Merrill Lynch EuroFund, Merrill Lynch Focus Twenty Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Focus Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Funds for Institutions Series, Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Equity Opportunities Fund, Merrill

Lynch Global Financial Services Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Growth Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global SmallCap Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Technology Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Global Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Healthcare Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Index Funds, Inc., Merrill Lynch Inflation Protected Fund, Merrill Lynch International Fund of Mercury Funds, Inc., Merrill Lynch Latin America Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Large Cap Series Funds, Inc., Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Municipal Series Trust, Merrill Lynch Natural Resources Trust, Merrill Lynch Pacific Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Principal Protected Trust, Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust, Merrill Lynch Real Investment Fund, Merrill Lynch Retirement Series Trust, FAM Series Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Short Term U.S. Government Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Value Opportunities Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch U.S. Government Fund, Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund, Merrill Lynch U.S.A. Government Reserves, Merrill Lynch Utilities and Telecommunications Fund, Inc., FAM Variable Series Funds, Inc., Merrill Lynch World Income Fund, Inc. and The Asset Program, Inc. FAMD also acts as the principal underwriter for the following closed-end registered investment companies: Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund II, Inc.

(b) Set forth below is information concerning each director and officer of FAMD. The principal business address of each such person is P.O. Box 9081, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9081.

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of the Registrant (800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536-9011), and its transfer agent, Financial Data Services, Inc. (4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484).

Other than as set forth under the caption “Management of the Trust — Merrill Lynch Investment Managers” in the Prospectus constituting Part A of the Registration Statement and under Part I “Management and Advisory Arrangements” and Part II “Management and Other Service Arrangements” in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of the Registration Statement for the Registrant, the Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for the effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Township of Plainsboro, and the State of New Jersey, on April 13, 2006.


MERRILL LYNCH READY ASSETS TRUST (Registrant)

By:		/S/ DONALD C. BURKE
		(Donald C. Burke, Vice President and Treasurer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933		x
Pre-Effective Amendment No.		¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. 41		x
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940		x
Amendment No. 30		x
(Check appropriate box or boxes)




KEY FACTS
Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust at a Glance		3

Risk/Return Bar Chart		5

Fees and Expenses		6

DETAILS ABOUT THE FUND
How the Fund Invests		7

Investment Risks		9

YOUR ACCOUNT
How to Buy, Sell, and Transfer Shares		13

How Shares are Priced		17

Dividends and Taxes		18

Electronic Delivery		19

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P.		20

Financial Highlights		23

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Shareholder Reports	Back Cover

Statement of Additional Information	Back Cover


*Annual Fund Operating Expenses* *(expenses that are deducted from fund assets):*
Management Fee		0.374%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees(a)		0.125%
Other Expenses (including transfer agency fees)(b)		0.181%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)		0.680%


	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust	$69	$218	$379	$847


If You Want to	Your Choices	Information Important for You to Know
Buy Shares	Determine the amount of your investment	The minimum initial investment for the Trust is $5,000 for all accounts except: Ÿ$300 for accounts advised by banks and registered investment advisers Ÿ$100 for retirement plans (The minimums for initial investments may be waived under certain circumstances)
	Have your Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor or securities dealer submit your purchase order	Share purchase orders are effective on the date Federal Funds become available to the Trust. Generally, purchase orders placed through Merrill Lynch will be effective on the day the order is placed. The Trust may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.
	Purchase by Wire	If you maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you may purchase shares of the Trust by wiring Federal Funds to First Union National Bank of Florida. You should give your financial institution the following wire instructions: ABA#063000021, DDA#2112600061186, Financial Data Services, Inc. The wire should be identified as a payment to Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust and should include the shareholder’s name and account number. If your account is not held directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.
	Or contact the Transfer Agent	To purchase shares directly, call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-221-7210 and request a purchase application. Mail the completed purchase application to the Transfer Agent at the address on the inside back cover of this Prospectus.
Add to Your Investment	Purchase additional shares	The minimum investment for additional purchases is $1,000 for all accounts except: Ÿ$100 for accounts advised by banks and registered investment advisers Ÿ$1 for retirement plans (The minimums for additional investments may be waived under certain circumstances)
	Acquire additional shares through the automatic dividend reinvestment plan	All dividends are automatically reinvested. If you want to receive your dividends in cash you may enroll in the Accrued Monthly Payout Plan.
	Participate in the automatic investment plan	If you maintain an account directly with the Transfer Agent, you may invest a specific amount ($50 minimum) on a periodic basis through certain Merrill Lynch investment or central asset accounts. If your account is not held directly with the Transfer Agent, you should contact your Financial Advisor.


	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2005			2004			2003			2002			2001
Per Share Operating Performance:
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00
Investment income — net		.0258			.0082			.0068			.0139			.0381
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) — net		—	(a)		(.0008	)		(.0006	)		(.0005	)		.0015
Total from investment operations		.0258			.0074			.0062			.0134			.0396
Less dividends and distributions:
Investment income — net		(.0258	)		(.0082	)		(.0068	)		(.0139	)		(.0381	)
Realized gain — net		—	(a)		—	(a)		(.0001	)		(.0001	)		(.0002	)
Total dividends and distributions		(.0258	)		(.0082	)		(.0069	)		(.0140	)		(.0383	)
Net asset value, end of year	$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00		$	1.00
Total investment return		2.61	%		.83	%		.67	%		1.40	%		3.81	%
Ratios to Average Net Assets:
Expenses		.66	%		.64	%		.63	%		.62	%		.63	%
Investment income and realized gain — net		2.57	%		.81	%		.69	%		1.40	%		3.82	%
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of year (in thousands)	$	3,983,769		$	4,285,584		$	4,710,703		$	5,336,209		$	6,003,955



PART I

Investment Objectives and Policies		I-2

Investment Restrictions		I-2

Information on Trustees and Officers		I-4

Management and Advisory Arrangements		I-7

Distribution Related Expenses		I-8

Yield Information		I-8

Computation of Offering Price Per Share		I-9

Portfolio Transactions		I-9

Additional Information		I-9

Financial Statements		I-10

PART II

Investment Risks and Considerations		II-1

Management and Other Service Arrangements		II-11

Purchase of Shares		II-18

Redemption of Shares		II-27

Shareholder Services		II-33

Determination of Net Asset Value		II-35

Yield Information		II-36

Portfolio Transactions		II-36

Dividends and Taxes		II-38

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures		II-43

General Information		II-46

Appendix A — Description of Debt Ratings		A-1


Name, Address(a) and Age of Trustee	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office(b) and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years	Number of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen	Public Directorships

Donald W. Burton (62)	Trustee	Trustee since 2002	General Partner of The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership (an investment partnership) since 1979; Managing General Partner of The South Atlantic Venture Funds since 1983; Member of the Investment Advisory Council of the Florida State Board of Administration since 2001.	23 registered investment companies consisting of 42 portfolios	Knology, Inc. (telecommun-ications); and Symbion, Inc. (healthcare).


Name, Address(a) and Age	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office(b) and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years	Number of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen	Public Directorships

Robert C. Doll, Jr. (51)(c)	President and Trustee	Trustee(d) and President since 2005	President of the MLIM/FAM-advised funds since 2005; President of MLIM and FAM since 2001; Co-Head (Americas Region) thereof from 2000 to 2001 and Senior Vice President from 1999 to 2001; President and Director of Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”) since 2001; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. (“Princeton Administrators”) since 2001; Chief Investment Officer of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. in 1999 and Executive Vice President thereof from 1991 to 1999.	131 registered investment companies consisting of 177 portfolios	None

Donald C. Burke (45)	Vice President and Treasurer	Vice President since 1993 and Treasurer since 1999	First Vice President of MLIM and FAM since 1997 and Treasurer thereof since 1999; Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1999 and Director since 2004; Vice President of FAM Distributors, Inc. (“FAMD”) since 1999 and Director since 2004; Vice President of MLIM and FAM from 1990 to 1997; Director of Taxation of MLIM from 1990 to 2001; Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the IQ Funds since 2004.	139 registered investment companies consisting of 185 portfolios	None

Donaldo S. Benito (60)	Vice President and Portfolio Manager	Vice President since 1998	Vice President of MLIM since 1985.	1 registered investment company consisting of 1 portfolio	None

Jeffrey Hiller (54)	Chief Compliance Officer	Chief Compliance Officer since 2004	Chief Compliance Officer of the MLIM/FAM-advised funds and First Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of MLIM (Americas Region) since 2004; Chief Compliance Officer of the IQ Funds since 2004; Global Director of Compliance at Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 2002 to 2004; Managing Director and Global Director of Compliance at Citigroup Asset Management from 2000 to 2002; Chief Compliance Officer at Soros Fund Management in 2000; Chief Compliance Officer at Prudential Financial from 1995 to 2000; Senior Counsel in the Commission’s Securities and Exchange Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C. from 1990 to 1995.	140 registered investment companies consisting of 186 portfolios	None

Alice A. Pellegrino (46)	Secretary	Secretary since 2004	Director (Legal Advisory) of MLIM since 2002; Vice President of MLIM from 1999 to 2002; Attorney associated with MLIM since 1997; Secretary of MLIM, FAM, FAMD and Princeton Services since 2004.	132 registered companies consisting of 178 portfolios	None


Name	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Trust	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Supervised Funds

Interested Trustee:

Robert C. Doll, Jr.	None	Over $100,000

Non-Interested Trustees:

Donald W. Burton	None	None

Laurie Simon Hodrick	None	Over $100,000

John Francis O’Brien	None	None

David H. Walsh	Over $100,000	Over $100,000

Fred G. Weiss	None	Over $100,000


Name	Compensation from the Trust	Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Trust Expenses	Aggregate Compensation from the Trust and Other MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds(a)

Donald W. Burton	$17,000	None	$200,500

Laurie Simon Hodrick	$17,000	None	$200,500

John Francis O’Brien(b)	$16,250	None	$206,083

David H. Walsh	$17,000	None	$200,500

Fred G. Weiss(c)	$19,000	None	$230,000


Fiscal Year Ended December 31,		Management Fee

2005		$15,609,428

2004		$17,181,384

2003		$19,114,883


Fiscal Year Ended December 31,		Transfer Agent Fees

2005		$6,325,279

2004		$5,620,087

2003		$6,005,588


Fiscal Year Ended December 31,	Paid to State Street	Paid to the Manager

2005	$480,278	$94,501

2004	$516,934	$86,902

2003	$568,639	$110,709


Seven Day Period Ended December 31, 2005

(Excluding gains and losses) 3.57%


		www.mlim.ml.com


		As of December 31, 2005

Net Assets		$3,983,768,962

Number of Shares Outstanding		3,986,404,758

Net Asset Value Per Share (net assets divided by number of shares outstanding)		$1.00

Offering Price		$1.00


Fiscal Year Ended December 31,	Number	Dollar Volume

2005	17	$447.5 million

2004	4	$150.3 million

2003	35	$754.7 million


Regular Broker-Dealer	Debt (D)/Equity (E)	Aggregate Holdings (000’s)

JPMorgan Chase & Co.	D	$101

Morgan Stanley	D	$51

Citigroup, Inc.	D	$39


Exhibit Number		Description

1	(a)	—Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated May 14, 1987.(a)

	(b)	—Amendment to Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated April 29, 1988.(a)

	(c)	—Certification of Amendment to Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated June 26, 2003.(l)

	(d)	—Certification of Amendment to Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated March 3, 2006.

2		—Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant, dated November 23, 2004.(m)

3		—None.

4	(a)	—Management Agreement between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P.(a)

	(b)	—Supplement to Management Agreement between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P.(b)

5	(a)	—Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. (now known as FAM Distributors, Inc.).(a)

	(b)	—Selected Dealer Agreement.(a)

6		—None.

7		—Form of Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York.(h)

8	(a)	—Form of Unified Transfer Agency, Dividend Disbursing Agency and Shareholder Servicing Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Financial Data Services, Inc.(j)

	(b)	—Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust, Merrill Lynch New Assets Trust and Merrill Lynch New Corporation, Inc.(a)

	(c)	—Form of Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company.(e)

	(d)	—Form of Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Registrant and QA Advisers LLC (now MLIM LLC), dated August 10, 2001.(i)

9		—Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel to the Registrant.(c)

10		—Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Registrant.

11		—None.

12		—Certificate of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P.(a)

13		—Form of Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Plan and Agreement pursuant to Rule 12b-1 between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.(g)

14		—None.

15		—Code of Ethics.(d)

16		—Power of Attorney.(k)

	(a)	—Filed on April 27, 1995 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (File No. 2-52711) (the “Registration Statement”).

	(b)	—Filed on April 1, 1998 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement.


Number

	(c)	—Filed on April 26, 1999 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement.

	(d)	—Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 15 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Merrill Lynch Inflation Protected Fund (File No. 333-110936), filed on January 22, 2004.

	(e)	—Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(d) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Merrill Lynch Focus Twenty Fund, Inc. (File No. 333-89775) filed on March 20, 2001.

	(f)	—Filed on April 20, 2001 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to the Registration Statement.

	(g)	—Filed on April 24, 2002 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registration Statement.

	(h)	—Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 7 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of The Asset Program, Inc. (File No. 33-53887), filed on March 21, 2002.

	(i)	—Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(f) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Merrill Lynch Global Technology Fund, Inc. (File No. 333-48929), filed on July 24, 2002.

	(j)	—Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(a)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Merrill Lynch Bond Fund, Inc. (File No. 2-62329) filed on January 14, 2005.

	(k)	—Incorporated by reference to the identically numbered exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form N-1A of Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund (File No. 33-37537), filed on March 13, 2006.

	(l)	—Filed as Exhibit 1(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on April 2, 2004.

	(m)	—Filed on April 22, 2005 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.


Name	Position(s) with the Manager	Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment
ML & Co.	Limited Partner	Financial Services Holding Company; Limited Partner of FAM

Princeton Services	General Partner	General Partner of FAM

Robert C. Doll, Jr.	President	President of MLIM/FAM-advised funds; President of FAM; Co-Head (Americas Region) of MLIM from 1999 to 2001; President and Director of Princeton Services; President of Princeton Administrators; Chief Investment Officer of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., in 1999 and Executive Vice President thereof from 1991 to 1999

Donald C. Burke	First Vice President and Treasurer	First Vice President and Treasurer of FAM; Senior Vice President, Director and Treasurer of Princeton Services; Vice President of FAMD

Andrew J. Donohue	Senior Vice President and General Counsel	Senior Vice President and General Counsel of FAM; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Princeton Services; Director and General Counsel of FAMD

Alice A. Pellegrino	Secretary	Secretary of FAM, Princeton Services and FAMD


Name	Position(s) and Office(s) with FAMD	Position(s) and Office(s) with Registrant

Frank Porcelli	President and Director	None

Andrew J. Donohue	Director	None

Michael G. Clark	Director	None

Thomas J. Verage	Director	None

Donald C. Burke	Vice President	Vice President and Treasurer

Stephen W. Mandella	Treasurer	None

Daniel Dart	Director	None

Alice A. Pellegrino	Secretary	Secretary


Signature	Title	Date

ROBERT C. DOLL, JR.* (Robert C. Doll, Jr.)	President (Principal Executive Officer) and Trustee

DONALD C. BURKE* (Donald C. Burke)	Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

DONALD W. BURTON* (Donald W. Burton)	Trustee

LAURIE SIMON HODRICK* (Laurie Simon Hodrick)	Trustee

JOHN FRANCIS O’BRIEN* (John Francis O’Brien)	Trustee

DAVID H. WALSH* (David H. Walsh)	Trustee

FRED G. WEISS* (Fred G. Weiss)	Trustee


Exhibit Number		Description

1(d)		—Certification of Amendment to Declaration of the Trust of the Registrant dated March 3, 2006.

10		—Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Registrant.