Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
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6211
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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13-5674085
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
(212) 449-1000
Attn: Corporate Secretary
(Name, address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
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Abigail Arms, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 508-8000
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3
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4
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10
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17
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17
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18
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20
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24
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29
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29
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29
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29
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Loss of investment. Because the value of Telecom HOLDRS directly relates to the value of the underlying securities, you may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment in the Telecom HOLDRS if the underlying securities decline in value.
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Discount trading price. Telecom HOLDRS may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities.
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Ownership of only fractional shares in the underlying securities. As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, a Telecom HOLDR may represent an interest in a fractional share of an underlying security. You will only be entitled to voting, distribution and other beneficial ownership rights in the underlying securities in which you own only fractional shares to the extent that the depositary aggregates your fractional shares with the other fractional shares of such underlying securities included in the Telecom HOLDRS and passes on beneficial ownership rights, including distribution and voting rights, to you based on your proportional, fractional shares in the underlying securities. In addition, if you surrender your Telecom HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities you will receive cash in lieu of your fractional shares. You will not be entitled to any securities if your interest in an underlying security is only a fraction of a share.
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Not necessarily representative of the telecommunications industry. At the time of the initial offering, on January 31, 2000, the companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS were generally considered to be involved in various segments of the telecommunications industry; however, since the time of the initial offering, the companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS may not be involved in the telecommunications industry. In this case, the Telecom HOLDRS may not consist of securities issued only by companies involved in the telecommunications industry. In addition, the market price of the underlying securities and the Telecom HOLDRS may not necessarily follow the price movements of the entire telecommunications industry generally. If the underlying securities decline in value, your investment in the Telecom HOLDRS will decline in value, even if securities prices of companies in the telecommunications industry generally increase in value.
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Not necessarily comprised of solely telecommunication companies. As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, securities of companies that are not currently included in the Telecom HOLDRS and that are not involved in the telecommunications industry may be included in the Telecom HOLDRS. The securities of a new company will only be distributed from the Telecom HOLDRS if the securities have a different Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“Standard & Poor’s”) sector classification than any of the underlying issuers included in the Telecom HOLDRS at the time of the distribution or the corporate event or if the securities are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange. As of January 2, 2002, Standard & Poor’s Corporation sector classifications are based upon the Standard & Poor’s Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”) sectors. As there are only 10 broadly defined GICS sector classifications, the use of GICS sectors to determine whether a new company will be included in, or whether the securities of a new company are distributed from, the Telecom HOLDRS provides no assurance that each new company included in the Telecom HOLDRS will be involved in the telecommunications industry. Currently, the underlying securities included in the Telecom HOLDRS are represented in the Telecommunication Services GICS sector. As each Standard & Poor’s GICS sector is defined very broadly, the securities of a new company could have the same GICS sector classification as a company currently included in the Telecom HOLDRS, and yet not be involved in the telecommunications industry. In addition, the GICS sector classifications of securities
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No investigation of underlying securities. The underlying securities initially included in the Telecom HOLDRS were selected by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated based on the market capitalization of the issuers and the market liquidity of common stock in the telecommunications industry, without regard for the value, price performance, volatility or investment merit of the underlying securities. The Telecom HOLDRS Trust, the trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and each of their respective affiliates, have not performed, and will not in the future perform, any investigation or review of the selected companies, including the public filings by the companies. Investors and market participants should not conclude that the inclusion of a company is any form of investment recommendation by the trust, the trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, or their respective affiliates.
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Loss of diversification. As a result of industry developments, reorganizations or market fluctuations affecting issuers of the underlying securities, Telecom HOLDRS may not necessarily be a diversified investment in the telecommunications industry. In addition, reconstitution events, distributions of securities by an underlying issuer or other events, which may result in distributions of securities from, or the inclusion of additional securities in, the Telecom HOLDRS may also reduce diversification. As a result, Telecom HOLDRS may represent a concentrated investment in one or more of the underlying securities, which would reduce investment diversification and increase your exposure to the risks of concentrated investments.
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Conflicting investment choices. In order to sell one or more of the underlying securities individually, participate in any form of stock repurchase program by an issuer of an underlying security, or participate in a tender offer relating to one or more of the underlying securities, you will be required to cancel your Telecom HOLDRS and receive delivery of each of the underlying securities, including those underlying securities that you may not want to sell or are not subject to a tender offer or repurchase offer. The cancellation of your Telecom HOLDRS will allow you to sell individual underlying securities or to deliver the individual underlying securities in a tender offer or any form of stock repurchase program. The cancellation of Telecom HOLDRS will involve payment of a cancellation fee to the trustee.
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Trading halts. Trading in Telecom HOLDRS on the NYSE Arca may be halted if (i) the Telecom HOLDRS has fewer than the required number of record and/or beneficial holders for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) the number of Telecom HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; (iii) the market value of all Telecom HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; or (iv) any other event shall occur or conditions exists which, in the opinion of the NYSE Arca, makes further dealings on the NYSE Arca inadvisable. If trading is halted in Telecom HOLDRS, you will not be able to trade Telecom HOLDRS and you will only be able to trade the underlying securities if you cancel your Telecom HOLDRS and receive each of the underlying securities.
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Delisting from the NYSE Arca. The NYSE Arca may consider delisting the Telecom HOLDRS if (i) the Telecom HOLDRS has fewer than the required number of record and/or beneficial holders for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) the number of Telecom HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; (iii) the market value of all Telecom HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; or (iv) any other event shall occur or conditions exists which, in the opinion of the NYSE Arca, makes further listing of the Telecom HOLDRS on the NYSE Arca inadvisable. If the Telecom HOLDRS are delisted by the NYSE Arca, a termination event will result unless the Telecom HOLDRS are listed for trading on another U.S. national securities exchange within five business days from the date the Telecom HOLDRS are delisted.
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Possible conflicts of interest. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as initial depositor, selected the underlying securities that were originally included in the Telecom HOLDRS and may face possible conflicts of interest as Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its affiliates may provide investment banking or other services for issuers of the underlying securities in connection with its business.
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Delays in distributions. The depositary trust agreement provides that the trustee will use its reasonable efforts to distribute any cash or other distributions paid in respect of the underlying securities to you as soon as practicable after receipt of such distribution. You may, however, receive such cash or other distributions later than you would if you owned the underlying securities outside of the Telecom HOLDRS. In addition, you will not be entitled to any interest on any distribution by reason of any delay in distribution by the depositary.
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Telecommunications companies’ stock prices have been and will likely continue to be volatile which will directly affect the price volatility of the Telecom HOLDRS and you could lose all or a substantial part of your investment. Telecommunications companies’ stock prices could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including:
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failure to integrate or realize projected benefits from acquisitions;
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acquisition-related announcements;
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announcements of new contracts, technological innovations or new products;
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changes in government regulations;
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changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
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additions or departures of key personnel;
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fluctuations in quarterly and annual operating results; and
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general market conditions.
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Some telecommunications companies are highly leveraged and must raise additional capital to implement their business strategies. The business strategies of some telecommunications companies are focused on acquisitions and extensive capital expenditures. Implementing such strategies has resulted in the incurrence of substantial debt obligations and the regular need to incur additional debt. As a result of high levels of debt, these telecommunications companies will need significant cash to service existing debt obligations, which could reduce funds available to implement their business strategies. Telecommunications companies may not be able to obtain additional financing or may not be able to obtain it on a timely basis or on favorable terms. There can be no assurance that telecommunications companies will be able to service their debt, refinance existing debt or raise additional financing necessary to implement key aspects of their business strategies or continue their operations.
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A decline in information technology spending may result in a decrease in revenues or lower the growth rate of the companies whose securities are included in Telecom HOLDRS. A decline in the demand for information technology among current and prospective customers of the companies included in Telecom HOLDRS may result in decreased revenues or a lower growth rate for these companies because their sales depend, in part, on their customers’ level of funding for new or additional information technology systems and services. Moreover, demand for these telecom companies’ products and services may be reduced by a decline in overall demand for computer software and services. In addition, an economic downturn or other negative telecommunications trends may cause customers of the companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS to reduce or eliminate information technology spending and cause price erosion throughout the telecom industry.
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Failure to integrate acquisitions could disrupt operations and prevent the realization of intended benefits. Various telecommunications companies are active acquirers of other companies as part of their business plans. There can be no assurance that telecommunications companies will be able to integrate these acquired companies, which may result in failure to realize expected cost savings, increases in revenue and other projected benefits from such integration. There can be no assurance that telecommunications companies will be able to attract and retain qualified personnel from acquired businesses or be successful in integrating such personnel. Further, telecommunications companies may suffer material adverse short and long-term effects on operating results and financial condition as a result of such acquisitions.
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Inability to manage rapid growth could adversely affect financial reporting, customer service and revenues. Many telecommunications companies may rapidly expand their networks and operations. This expansion may place significant demands on the operating, financial control and billing systems, customer support, sales and marketing and administrative resources and network infrastructure of many telecommunications companies. This growth will require many telecommunications companies to enhance management, financial and information systems and to effectively develop and train their employee base.
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Changes in the regulatory environments in which telecommunications companies operate could affect their ability to offer products and services. Communications services and products are subject to significant regulation at the federal, state, local and international levels. Delays in receiving required regulatory approvals and licenses or the enactment of new and adverse regulatory requirements may have a material adverse effect upon the ability of telecommunications companies to continue to offer existing and new products and services. In addition legislative, judicial, and regulatory agency actions could negatively affect the ability of many telecommunications companies to maintain required licenses or renew licenses upon their expiration.
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If telecommunications companies do not adapt to the rapid changes in the industry, they could lose customers or market share. The telecommunications industry is changing rapidly due to, among other factors, deregulation initiatives in many countries, privatization of monopoly government telecommunications providers, technological improvements, expansion of telecommunications infrastructure and the globalization of the world’s economics and trade. This period of rapid technological evolution is marked by the introduction of new products and services and increased
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The telecommunications industry is competitive which could adversely affect the business, results of operations and financial conditions of many telecommunications companies. Many telecommunications companies face significant competition from other telecommunications companies. Many telecommunications companies compete domestically and internationally with incumbent telecommunications providers, some of which have special regulatory status and exclusive rights to provide certain services, and all which have historically dominated local telecommunications. Many telecommunications companies also compete with long distance carriers for the provision of long distance services. Sometimes the incumbent telecommunications provider offers both local and long distance services. A continuing trend toward business combinations and alliances in the telecommunications industry may create significant new and larger competitors.
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Inability to predict traffic volume could adversely affect the revenues of many telecommunications companies. Some telecommunications companies offering long distance services enter into long-term agreements for leased capacity on the land-based or undersea cable and switches of other telecommunications companies. If capacity is leased in anticipation of traffic volumes that do not reach expected levels, telecommunications companies will have to pay for transmission capacity without corresponding revenues. Also, additional fees are often charged when a telecommunications company under-utilizes the capacity it leases. Conversely, if a telecommunications company underestimates its need for capacity, it often must obtain additional transmission capacity through more expensive sources.
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System failures, interruptions or shutdowns may cause loss of customers. The success of many telecommunications companies depends upon their ability to deliver reliable, high-speed telecommunications service over their networks. The companies’ networks are vulnerable to damage or cessation of operations from fire, earthquakes, severe storms, power loss and similar events, particularly if such events occur within a high traffic location of the network. As many telecommunications companies increase both their capacity and reach, and as traffic volume increases, they will be faced with increasing demands and challenges in managing circuit capacity and traffic management systems. Any prolonged failure of communications networks or other systems or hardware that causes interruptions to operations could seriously damage the reputation of such telecommunications companies and result in customer attrition and financial losses.
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Many telecommunications companies may not be able to implement billing and customer information systems effectively and on schedule which could adversely affect their growth and ability to bill and receive payments from customers. Sophisticated billing and information systems are vital to many telecommunications companies and their ability to bill and receive payments from customers, reduce credit exposure and monitor costs. If telecommunications companies fail to effectively implement these systems, it would adversely affect the business of these telecommunications companies.
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The international operations and investments of many telecommunication companies expose them to risks associated with the instability and changes in economic, legal and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations and other risks inherent to international business. The risks that telecommunications companies’ international operations and investments are exposed to include:
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volatility in general economic, social and political conditions;
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the difficulty of enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems;
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differing tax rates, tariffs, exchange controls or other similar restrictions;
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currency fluctuations; and
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changes in and compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations which impose a range of restrictions on operations, trade practices, foreign trade and international investment decisions.
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Many telecommunications companies are dependent on their ability to continue to retain and attract highly skilled technical and managerial personnel to develop and operate their businesses. The success of many telecommunications companies is highly dependent on the experience, abilities and continued services of key executive officers and key technical personnel. If these companies lose the services of any of these officers or key technical personnel, their future success could be undermined. Competition for such personnel and relationships is intense, especially in emerging markets. There is no certainty that any of these telecommunications companies will be able to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel.
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Issuer
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Telecom HOLDRS Trust.
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The trust
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The Telecom HOLDRS Trust was formed under the depositary trust agreement, dated as of January 24, 2000, among The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, other depositors and the owners of the Telecom HOLDRS. The depositary trust agreement was amended on November 22, 2000. The trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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Initial depositor
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
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Trustee
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The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York state- chartered banking organization, is the trustee and receives compensation as set forth in the depositary trust agreement. The trustee is responsible for receiving deposits of underlying securities and delivering Telecom HOLDRS representing the underlying securities issued by the trust. The trustee holds the underlying securities on behalf of the holders of Telecom HOLDRS.
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Purpose of Telecom HOLDRS
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Telecom HOLDRS were designed to achieve the following:
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Diversification. Telecom HOLDRS were initially designed to allow you to diversify your investments in the telecommunications industry through a single, exchange-listed instrument representing your undivided beneficial ownership of the underlying securities. See “Risk Factors – General Risk Factors.”
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Flexibility. The beneficial owners of Telecom HOLDRS have undivided beneficial ownership interests in each of the underlying securities represented by the Telecom HOLDRS, and can cancel their Telecom HOLDRS to receive each of the underlying securities represented by the Telecom HOLDRS.
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Transaction costs. The expenses associated with buying and selling Telecom HOLDRS in the secondary market are expected to be less than separately buying and selling each of the underlying securities in a traditional brokerage account with transaction-based charges.
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Trust assets
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The trust holds shares of common stock issued by specified companies that, when initially selected, were involved in the telecommunications industry. Except when a reconstitution event, distribution of securities by an underlying issuer or other event occurs, the underlying securities will not change and the securities of a new company will not be added to the securities underlying the Telecom HOLDRS. Reconstitution events are described in this prospectus under the heading “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement—Distributions” and “Reconstitution events.”
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The trust’s assets may increase or decrease as a result of in-kind deposits and withdrawals of the underlying securities during the life of the trust.
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The Telecom HOLDRS
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The trust has issued and may continue to issue, Telecom HOLDRS that represent an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the shares of U.S.-traded common stock that are held by the trust on your behalf. The Telecom HOLDRS themselves are separate from the underlying securities that are represented by the Telecom HOLDRS.
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The following table provides:
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· | the names of the issuers of the underlying securities currently represented by Telecom HOLDRS; | |
· | the stock ticker symbols; | |
· | the share amounts currently represented by a round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS; and | |
· | the primary U.S. market on which the securities of the selected companies are traded. |
Name of Company(2)
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Ticker
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Share
Amounts |
Primary
Trading Market |
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AT&T Inc.
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T | 50.7721 |
NYSE
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BCE Inc.
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BCE
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4.5750 |
NYSE
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CenturyLink Inc.
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CTL
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2.1374 |
NYSE
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Cincinnati Bell Inc.(1)
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CBB
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2.0000 |
NYSE
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Frontier Communications Corporation
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FTR
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5.2232 |
NYSE
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Level 3 Communications, Inc.
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LVLT
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3.0000 |
NASDAQ GS
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Qwest Communications International Inc.
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Q | 12.9173 |
NYSE
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Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Special Common Shares ‘TDS’
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TDS.S
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1.0000 |
NYSE
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Sprint Nextel Corporation
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S | 16.6050 |
NYSE
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Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
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TDS
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1.0000 |
NYSE
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Verizon Communications Inc.
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VZ
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21.7600 |
NYSE
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Windstream Corporation
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WIN
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2.0679 |
NASDAQ GS
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The companies whose securities were initially included in the Telecom HOLDRS at the time Telecom HOLDRS were originally issued on January 31, 2000 were generally considered to be among the largest and most liquid companies with U.S.-traded securities involved in the telecommunications industry, as measured by market capitalization and trading volume on December 15, 1999. The market capitalization of a company is determined by multiplying the market price of its securities by the number of its outstanding securities.
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The trust will only issue and cancel, and you may only obtain, hold, trade or surrender, Telecom HOLDRS in a round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS and round-lot multiples. The trust will only issue Telecom
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HOLDRS upon the deposit of the whole shares represented by a round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS. In the event that a fractional share comes to be represented by a round-lot of Telecom HOLDRS, the trust may require a minimum of more than one round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS for an issuance so that the trust will always receive whole share amounts for issuance of Telecom HOLDRS. | |
The number of outstanding Telecom HOLDRS will increase and decrease as a result of in-kind deposits and withdrawals of the underlying securities. The trust will stand ready to issue additional Telecom HOLDRS on a continuous basis when an investor deposits the required shares of common stock with the trustee.
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Purchases
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You may acquire Telecom HOLDRS in two ways:
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through an in-kind deposit of the required number of shares of common stock of the underlying issuers with the trustee; or
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through a cash purchase in the secondary trading market.
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Issuance and cancellation fees
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If you wish to create Telecom HOLDRS by delivering to the trust the requisite shares of common stock represented by a round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS, The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, will charge you an issuance fee of up to $10.00 for each round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS. If you wish to cancel your Telecom HOLDRS and withdraw your underlying securities, The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, will charge you a cancellation fee of up to $10.00 for each round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS.
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Commissions
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If you choose to deposit underlying securities in order to receive Telecom HOLDRS, you will be responsible for paying any sales commission associated with your purchase of the underlying securities that is charged by your broker, in addition to the issuance fee charged by the trustee that is described above.
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Custody fees
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The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee and as custodian, will charge you a quarterly custody fee of $2.00 for each round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS, to be deducted from any cash dividend or other cash distributions on underlying securities received by the trustee. With respect to the aggregate custody fee payable in any calendar year for each Telecom HOLDR, the trustee will waive that portion of the fee which exceeds the total cash dividends and other cash distributions received, or to be received, and payable with respect to such calendar year.
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Rights relating to Telecom HOLDRS
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You have the right to withdraw the underlying securities upon request by delivering a round-lot or integral multiple of a round-lot of Telecom HOLDRS to the trustee, during the trustee’s business hours, and paying the cancellation fees, taxes and other charges. You should receive the underlying securities no later than the business day after the trustee receives a proper notice of cancellation. The trustee will not deliver fractional shares of underlying securities. To the extent that any cancellation of Telecom HOLDRS would otherwise require the delivery of a fractional share, the trustee will sell the fractional share in the market and the trust, in turn, will deliver cash in lieu of such fractional share. Except with respect to the right to vote for dissolution
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of the trust, the Telecom HOLDRS themselves will not have voting rights. | |
Rights relating to the underlying
securities
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Telecom HOLDRS represents your beneficial ownership of the underlying securities. Owners of Telecom HOLDRS have the same rights and privileges as if they owned beneficially the underlying securities in “street name” outside of Telecom HOLDRS. These include the right to instruct the trustee to vote the underlying securities or attend shareholder meetings yourself, the right to receive any dividends and other distributions on the underlying securities that are declared and paid to the trustee by an issuer of an underlying security, the right to pledge Telecom HOLDRS and the right to surrender Telecom HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities. See “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement”. Telecom HOLDRS does not change your beneficial ownership in the underlying securities under United States federal securities laws, including sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a result, you have the same obligations to file insider trading reports that you would have if you held the underlying securities outside of Telecom HOLDRS. However, due to the nature of Telecom HOLDRS, you will not be able to participate in any dividend reinvestment program of an issuer of underlying securities unless you cancel your Telecom HOLDRS (and pay the applicable fees) and receive all of the underlying securities.
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A holder of Telecom HOLDRS is not a registered owner of the underlying securities. In order to become a registered owner, a holder of Telecom HOLDRS would need to surrender their Telecom HOLDRS, pay the applicable fees and expenses, receive all of the underlying securities and follow the procedures established by the issuers of the underlying securities for registering their securities in the name of such holder.
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You retain the right to receive any reports and communications that the issuers of underlying securities are required to send to beneficial owners of their securities. As such, you will receive such reports and communications from the broker through which you hold your Telecom HOLDRS in the same manner as if you beneficially owned your underlying securities outside of Telecom HOLDRS in “street name” through a brokerage account. The trustee will not attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to, or give a proxy with respect to, the underlying securities other than in accordance with your instructions.
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The depositary trust agreement entitles you to receive, subject to certain limitations and net of any fees and expenses of the trustee, any distributions of cash (including dividends), securities or property made with respect to the underlying securities. However, any distribution of securities by an issuer of underlying securities will be deposited into the trust and will become part of the underlying securities unless the distributed securities are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities or the distributed securities have a Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification that is different from the GICS sector classifications represented by the companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS at the time of the distribution. In addition, if the issuer of underlying securities offers rights to acquire additional underlying
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securities or other securities, the rights may be distributed to you, may be disposed of for your benefit, or may lapse. | |
There may be a delay between the time any cash or other distribution is received by the trustee with respect to the underlying securities and the time such cash or other distributions are distributed to you. In addition, you are not entitled to any interest on any distribution by reason of any delay in distribution by the trustee. If any tax or other governmental charge becomes due with respect to Telecom HOLDRS or any underlying securities, you will be responsible for paying that tax or governmental charge.
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If you wish to participate in a tender offer for any of the underlying securities, or any form of stock repurchase program by an issuer of an underlying security, you must surrender your Telecom HOLDRS (and pay the applicable fees and expenses) and receive all of your underlying securities in exchange for your Telecom HOLDRS, including those underlying securities not subject to a tender offer or repurchase offer. For specific information about obtaining your underlying securities, you should read the discussion under the caption “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement – Withdrawal of underlying securities.”
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Ownership rights in fractional shares in the underlying securities
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As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Telecom HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, a Telecom HOLDR may represent an interest in a fractional share of an underlying security. You are entitled to receive distributions proportionate to your fractional shares. In addition, you are entitled to receive proxy materials and other shareholder communications and you are entitled to exercise voting rights proportionate to your fractional shares. The trustee will aggregate the votes of all of the share fractions represented by Telecom HOLDRS and will vote the largest possible number of whole shares. If, after aggregation, there is a fractional remainder, this fraction will be ignored, because the issuer will only recognize whole share votes. For example, if 100,001 round-lots of 100 Telecom HOLDRS are outstanding and each round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS represents 1.75 shares of an underlying security, there will be 175,001.75 votes of the underlying security represented by Telecom HOLDRS. If holders of 50,000 round-lots of 100 Telecom HOLDRS vote their underlying securities “yes” and holders of 50,001 round-lots of 100 Telecom HOLDRS vote their underlying securities “no,” there will be 87,500 affirmative votes and 87,501.75 negative votes. The trustee will ignore the .75 negative votes and will deliver to the issuer 87,500 affirmative votes and 87,501 negative votes.
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Reconstitution events
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The depositary trust agreement provides for the automatic distribution of underlying securities from the Telecom HOLDRS to you in the following four circumstances:
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A. |
If an issuer of underlying securities no longer has a class of securities registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act, then its securities will no longer be an underlying security and the trustee will distribute the shares of that company to the owners of the Telecom HOLDRS.
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B. |
If the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) finds that an issuer of underlying securities should be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the trustee has actual knowledge of the SEC finding, then its securities will no longer be an underlying security and the trustee will distribute the shares of that company to the owners of the Telecom HOLDRS.
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C. |
If the underlying securities of an issuer cease to be outstanding as a result of a merger, consolidation, corporate combination or other event, the trustee will distribute the consideration paid by and received from the acquiring company to the beneficial owners of Telecom HOLDRS; provided that any securities received as consideration will be distributed only if the distributed securities have a different Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification than any of the underlying securities represented in the Telecom HOLDRS at the time of the distribution or exchange or if the securities received are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange. In any other case, the additional securities received as consideration will be deposited into the trust.
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D. |
If an issuer’s underlying securities are delisted from trading on a U.S. national securities exchange and are not listed for trading on another U.S. national securities exchange within five business days from the date the securities are delisted.
|
To the extent a distribution of underlying securities from the Telecom HOLDRS is required as a result of a reconstitution event, the trustee will deliver the underlying security to you as promptly as practicable after the date that the trustee has knowledge of the occurrence of a reconstitution event.
|
|
In addition, securities of a new company will be added to the Telecom HOLDRS, as a result of a distribution of securities by an underlying issuer, where a corporate event occurs, or where the securities of an underlying issuer are exchanged for the securities of another company, unless the securities have a Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification that is different from the GICS sector classification of any other security then included in the Telecom HOLDRS or if the securities received are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange.
|
|
It is anticipated that, as a result of the broadly defined Standard & Poor’s GICS sectors, most distributions or exchanges of securities will result in the inclusion of new securities in the Telecom HOLDRS. The trustee will review the Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classifications of securities to determine whether securities received as a result of a distribution by an underlying issuer or as consideration for securities will be included in the Telecom HOLDRS or distributed from the Telecom HOLDRS to you.
|
|
Standard & Poor’s sector classifications
|
Standard & Poor’s Corporation is an independent source of market information that, among other things, maintains the Global Industry Classification Standard, which classifies the securities of public companies into various sector classifications based upon GICS sectors, which are derived from its own criteria. The GICS classification
|
standards were effective as of January 2, 2002. There are 10 Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classifications and each class of publicly traded securities of a company is given only one GICS sector classification. The securities included in the Telecom HOLDRS are currently represented in the Telecommunication Services GICS sector. The Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classifications of the securities included in the Telecom HOLDRS may change over time if the companies that issued these securities change their focus of operations or if Standard & Poor’s alters the criteria it uses to determine GICS sectors, or both. | ||
Termination events
|
A.
|
The Telecom HOLDRS are delisted from the NYSE Arca and are not listed for trading on another U.S. national securities exchange within five business days from the date the Telecom HOLDRS are delisted.
|
B.
|
The trustee resigns and no successor trustee is appointed within 60 days from the date the trustee provides notice to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as initial depositor, of its intent to resign.
|
|
C.
|
Beneficial owners of at least 75% of outstanding Telecom HOLDRS, other than Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, vote to dissolve and liquidate the trust.
|
If a termination event occurs, the trustee will distribute the underlying securities as promptly as practicable after the termination event.
|
|
Upon termination of the depositary trust agreement and prior to distributing the underlying securities to you, the trustee will charge you a cancellation fee of up to $10.00 per round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS surrendered, along with any taxes or other governmental charges, if any.
|
|
U.S. federal income tax consequences
|
The U.S. federal income tax laws will treat a U.S. receipt holder of Telecom HOLDRS as directly owning the underlying securities. The Telecom HOLDRS themselves will not result in any U.S. federal income tax consequences separate from the tax consequences associated with ownership of the underlying securities. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
|
Listing
|
The Telecom HOLDRS are listed on the NYSE Arca under the symbol “TTH.”
|
Trading
|
Investors are only able to acquire, hold, transfer and surrender a round-lot of 100 Telecom HOLDRS. Bid and ask prices, however, are quoted per single Telecom HOLDRS.
|
Clearance and settlement
|
Telecom HOLDRS have been issued only in book-entry form. Telecom HOLDRS are evidenced by one or more global certificates that the trustee has deposited with The Depository Trust Company, referred to as DTC. Transfers within DTC will be in accordance with DTC’s usual rules and operating procedures. For further information see “Description of Telecom HOLDRS.”
|
1998
|
Closing
Price
|
1999
|
Closing
Price
|
2000
|
Closing
Price
|
2001
|
Closing
Price
|
||||||||||||
November 30
|
46.33 |
January 29
|
53.36 |
January 31
|
55.93 |
January 31
|
49.25 | ||||||||||||
December 31
|
50.79 |
February 26
|
52.52 |
February 29
|
50.72 |
February 28
|
46.01 | ||||||||||||
March 31
|
50.70 |
March 31
|
56.17 |
March 30
|
43.57 | ||||||||||||||
April 30
|
57.98 |
April 28
|
55.01 |
April 30
|
43.91 | ||||||||||||||
May 28
|
55.49 |
May 31
|
52.51 |
May 31
|
44.02 | ||||||||||||||
June 30
|
59.00 |
June 30
|
52.18 |
June 29
|
41.66 | ||||||||||||||
July 30
|
57.36 |
July 31
|
47.37 |
July 31
|
43.85 | ||||||||||||||
August 31
|
51.06 |
August 31
|
47.17 |
August 31
|
40.08 | ||||||||||||||
September 30
|
55.36 |
September 29
|
50.88 |
September 28
|
43.34 | ||||||||||||||
October 29
|
60.38 |
October 31
|
55.74 |
October 31
|
36.58 | ||||||||||||||
November 30
|
59.45 |
November 30
|
51.37 |
November 30
|
35.91 | ||||||||||||||
December 31
|
58.66 |
December 29
|
46.74 |
December 31
|
36.90 |
2002
|
Closing
Price
|
2003
|
Closing
Price
|
2004
|
Closing
Price
|
2005
|
Closing
Price
|
||||||||||||
January 31
|
34.80 |
January 31
|
24.51 |
January 30
|
25.78 |
January 31
|
25.72 | ||||||||||||
February 28
|
34.25 |
February 28
|
21.79 |
February 27
|
25.43 |
February 28
|
26.22 | ||||||||||||
March 28
|
33.91 |
March 31
|
21.42 |
March 31
|
25.30 |
March 31
|
25.77 | ||||||||||||
April 30
|
29.02 |
April 30
|
23.65 |
April 30
|
25.51 |
April 29
|
25.66 | ||||||||||||
May 31
|
31.36 |
May 30
|
25.44 |
May 28
|
24.26 |
May 31
|
26.00 | ||||||||||||
June 28
|
27.44 |
June 30
|
26.08 |
June 30
|
24.83 |
June 30
|
26.28 | ||||||||||||
July 31
|
24.14 |
July 31
|
23.78 |
July 30
|
26.14 |
July 29
|
26.88 | ||||||||||||
August 30
|
22.90 |
August 29
|
23.56 |
August 31
|
26.52 |
August 31
|
26.36 | ||||||||||||
September 30
|
19.12 |
September 30
|
22.76 |
September 30
|
26.85 |
September 30
|
26.03 | ||||||||||||
October 31
|
24.81 |
October 31
|
24.12 |
October 29
|
26.61 |
October 31
|
25.49 | ||||||||||||
November 29
|
27.80 |
November 28
|
23.44 |
November 30
|
27.44 |
November 30
|
26.44 | ||||||||||||
December 31
|
26.33 |
December 31
|
25.62 |
December 31
|
27.99 |
December 30
|
25.60 |
2006
|
Closing
Price
|
2007
|
Closing
Price
|
2008
|
Closing
Price
|
2009
|
Closing
Price
|
||||||||||||
January 31
|
26.68 |
January 31
|
35.23 |
January 31
|
34.23 |
January 30
|
22.14 | ||||||||||||
February 28
|
28.22 |
February 28
|
34.91 |
February 29
|
31.08 |
February 27
|
21.49 | ||||||||||||
March 31
|
28.49 |
March 30
|
36.49 |
March 31
|
32.41 |
March 31
|
22.65 | ||||||||||||
April 28
|
27.70 |
April 30
|
36.57 |
April 30
|
33.53 |
April 30
|
23.20 | ||||||||||||
May 31
|
27.34 |
May 31
|
40.06 |
May 30
|
34.54 |
May 29
|
22.93 | ||||||||||||
June 30
|
28.66 |
June 29
|
39.22 |
June 30
|
30.57 |
June 30
|
23.05 | ||||||||||||
July 31
|
29.65 |
July 31
|
38.15 |
July 31
|
28.63 |
July 31
|
23.96 | ||||||||||||
August 31
|
30.37 |
August 31
|
38.17 |
August 29
|
29.52 |
August 31
|
23.64 | ||||||||||||
September 29
|
31.65 |
September 28
|
39.99 |
September 30
|
25.97 |
September 30
|
24.19 | ||||||||||||
October 31
|
32.92 |
October 31
|
39.67 |
October 31
|
23.55 |
October 30
|
23.07 | ||||||||||||
November 30
|
32.53 |
November 30
|
36.49 |
November 28
|
24.80 |
November 30
|
24.42 | ||||||||||||
December 29
|
34.14 |
December 31
|
37.95 |
December 31
|
24.98 |
December 31
|
25.55 |
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 29
|
23.15 |
January 31
|
26.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February 26
|
22.91 |
February 28
|
27.59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31
|
24.20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 30
|
23.55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May 28
|
22.43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 30
|
22.26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 30
|
24.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August 31
|
24.55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30
|
26.37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 29
|
26.37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 30
|
25.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31
|
27.88 |
|
A.
|
If an issuer of underlying securities no longer has a class of common stock registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act, then its securities will no longer be an underlying security and the trustee will distribute the shares of that company to the owners of the Telecom HOLDRS.
|
|
B.
|
If the SEC finds that an issuer of underlying securities should be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the trustee has actual knowledge of the SEC finding, then the trustee will distribute the shares of that company to the owners of the Telecom HOLDRS.
|
|
C.
|
If the underlying securities of an issuer cease to be outstanding as a result of a merger, consolidation, corporate combination or other event, the trustee will distribute the consideration paid by and received from the acquiring company to the beneficial owners of Telecom HOLDRS; provided that any securities received as consideration will be distributed only if the distributed securities have a different Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification than any of the underlying securities represented in the Telecom HOLDRS at the time of the distribution or exchange or if the securities received are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange. In any other case, the additional securities received as consideration will be deposited into the trust.
|
|
D.
|
If an issuer’s underlying securities are delisted from trading on a U.S. national securities exchange and are not listed for trading on another U.S. national securities exchange within five business days from the date such securities are delisted.
|
|
·
|
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
|
|
·
|
a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
|
|
·
|
an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
|
|
·
|
a trust if either (i) it is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
|
|
·
|
a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive U.S. income tax treaty, which the Secretary of the Treasury determines to be satisfactory and that includes an exchange of information program;
|
|
·
|
a foreign corporation if the stock to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established market in the United States; and
|
|
·
|
a corporation that is incorporated in a possession of the United States;
|
|
·
|
at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income;” or
|
|
·
|
on average at least 50% of the gross value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce “passive income” or are held for the production of passive income.
|
|
·
|
in the case of any gain realized by an individual non-U.S. receipt holder, the non-U.S. receipt holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and certain other conditions are met;
|
|
·
|
that gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. receipt holder or, where a tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained in the United States by the non-U.S. receipt holder; or
|
|
·
|
the underlying securities issuer is or has been a U.S. real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the
|
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
25.95 |
January
|
37.63 |
January
|
38.49 |
January
|
24.62 |
January
|
25.36 |
January
|
27.52 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
27.59 |
February
|
36.80 |
February
|
34.83 |
February
|
23.77 |
February
|
24.81 |
February
|
28.38 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
27.04 |
March
|
39.43 |
March
|
38.30 |
March
|
25.20 |
March
|
25.84 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
26.21 |
April
|
38.72 |
April
|
38.71 |
April
|
25.62 |
April
|
26.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
26.06 |
May
|
41.34 |
May
|
39.90 |
May
|
24.79 |
May
|
24.30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
27.89 |
June
|
41.50 |
June
|
33.69 |
June
|
24.84 |
June
|
24.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
29.99 |
July
|
39.16 |
July
|
30.81 |
July
|
26.23 |
July
|
25.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
31.13 |
August
|
39.87 |
August
|
31.99 |
August
|
26.05 |
August
|
27.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
32.56 |
September
|
42.31 |
September
|
27.92 |
September
|
27.01 |
September
|
28.60 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
34.25 |
October
|
41.79 |
October
|
26.77 |
October
|
25.67 |
October
|
28.52 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
33.91 |
November
|
38.21 |
November
|
28.56 |
November
|
26.94 |
November
|
27.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
35.75 |
December
|
41.56 |
December
|
28.50 |
December
|
28.03 |
December
|
29.38 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
26.46 |
January
|
26.26 |
January
|
34.84 |
January
|
20.46 |
January
|
25.75 |
January
|
36.33 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
26.51 |
February
|
26.22 |
February
|
36.20 |
February
|
19.57 |
February
|
27.76 |
February
|
37.12 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
26.30 |
March
|
28.28 |
March
|
33.73 |
March
|
19.90 |
March
|
29.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
27.02 |
April
|
33.75 |
April
|
36.48 |
April
|
21.40 |
April
|
30.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
26.49 |
May
|
36.90 |
May
|
35.14 |
May
|
22.90 |
May
|
29.21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
25.85 |
June
|
37.79 |
June
|
34.81 |
June
|
20.66 |
June
|
29.27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
22.84 |
July
|
37.84 |
July
|
37.94 |
July
|
23.04 |
July
|
30.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
24.99 |
August
|
38.20 |
August
|
37.83 |
August
|
24.57 |
August
|
31.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
27.09 |
September
|
40.05 |
September
|
34.71 |
September
|
24.67 |
September
|
32.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
28.28 |
October
|
43.61 |
October
|
29.01 |
October
|
23.98 |
October
|
33.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
24.59 |
November
|
39.20 |
November
|
19.79 |
November
|
26.50 |
November
|
33.88 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
27.00 |
December
|
39.74 |
December
|
20.49 |
December
|
27.61 |
December
|
35.46 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
33.30 |
January
|
44.84 |
January
|
36.82 |
January
|
27.14 |
January
|
34.01 |
January
|
43.24 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
35.98 |
February
|
44.75 |
February
|
36.19 |
February
|
26.33 |
February
|
34.27 |
February
|
41.18 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
39.12 |
March
|
45.19 |
March
|
33.24 |
March
|
28.12 |
March
|
35.46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
37.70 |
April
|
46.05 |
April
|
32.45 |
April
|
27.15 |
April
|
34.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
35.75 |
May
|
49.42 |
May
|
35.41 |
May
|
30.85 |
May
|
34.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
37.15 |
June
|
49.05 |
June
|
35.59 |
June
|
30.70 |
June
|
33.31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
38.57 |
July
|
45.87 |
July
|
37.19 |
July
|
31.39 |
July
|
35.62 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
39.82 |
August
|
47.98 |
August
|
38.63 |
August
|
32.23 |
August
|
36.16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
39.67 |
September
|
46.22 |
September
|
36.65 |
September
|
33.60 |
September
|
39.46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
40.24 |
October
|
44.05 |
October
|
25.11 |
October
|
32.46 |
October
|
41.38 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
42.55 |
November
|
42.63 |
November
|
26.56 |
November
|
35.59 |
November
|
42.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
43.66 |
December
|
41.46 |
December
|
27.33 |
December
|
36.21 |
December
|
46.17 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
3.50 |
January
|
4.86 |
January
|
3.88 |
January
|
1.39 |
January
|
2.91 |
January
|
2.85 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
4.09 |
February
|
4.55 |
February
|
3.88 |
February
|
1.66 |
February
|
2.96 |
February
|
2.64 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
4.52 |
March
|
4.70 |
March
|
4.26 |
March
|
2.30 |
March
|
3.41 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
4.20 |
April
|
5.07 |
April
|
4.64 |
April
|
2.79 |
April
|
3.37 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
3.89 |
May
|
5.83 |
May
|
4.21 |
May
|
2.79 |
May
|
3.18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
4.10 |
June
|
5.78 |
June
|
3.98 |
June
|
2.84 |
June
|
3.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
4.01 |
July
|
5.16 |
July
|
3.90 |
July
|
3.13 |
July
|
2.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
5.05 |
August
|
4.88 |
August
|
3.90 |
August
|
3.33 |
August
|
2.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
4.82 |
September
|
4.94 |
September
|
3.09 |
September
|
3.50 |
September
|
2.67 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
4.69 |
October
|
5.42 |
October
|
2.39 |
October
|
3.08 |
October
|
2.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
4.52 |
November
|
4.76 |
November
|
1.73 |
November
|
2.98 |
November
|
2.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
4.57 |
December
|
4.75 |
December
|
1.93 |
December
|
3.45 |
December
|
2.80 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
12.27 |
January
|
14.66 |
January
|
11.47 |
January
|
8.11 |
January
|
7.61 |
January
|
9.17 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
13.35 |
February
|
15.06 |
February
|
10.74 |
February
|
7.20 |
February
|
7.79 |
February
|
8.49 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
13.27 |
March
|
14.95 |
March
|
10.49 |
March
|
7.18 |
March
|
7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
13.28 |
April
|
15.57 |
April
|
10.72 |
April
|
7.11 |
April
|
7.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
12.68 |
May
|
15.85 |
May
|
11.66 |
May
|
7.28 |
May
|
7.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
13.05 |
June
|
15.27 |
June
|
11.34 |
June
|
7.14 |
June
|
7.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
12.83 |
July
|
14.43 |
July
|
11.56 |
July
|
7.00 |
July
|
7.64 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
13.79 |
August
|
14.51 |
August
|
12.57 |
August
|
7.11 |
August
|
7.73 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
14.04 |
September
|
14.32 |
September
|
11.50 |
September
|
7.54 |
September
|
8.17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
14.66 |
October
|
13.16 |
October
|
7.61 |
October
|
7.17 |
October
|
8.78 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
14.17 |
November
|
12.98 |
November
|
8.72 |
November
|
7.90 |
November
|
9.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
14.37 |
December
|
12.73 |
December
|
8.74 |
December
|
7.81 |
December
|
9.73 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
3.75 |
January
|
6.20 |
January
|
3.44 |
January
|
1.00 |
January
|
1.39 |
January
|
1.23 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
3.40 |
February
|
6.57 |
February
|
2.23 |
February
|
0.80 |
February
|
1.59 |
February
|
1.40 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
5.18 |
March
|
6.10 |
March
|
2.12 |
March
|
0.92 |
March
|
1.62 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
5.40 |
April
|
5.56 |
April
|
2.97 |
April
|
1.12 |
April
|
1.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
4.97 |
May
|
5.81 |
May
|
3.43 |
May
|
1.07 |
May
|
1.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
4.44 |
June
|
5.85 |
June
|
2.95 |
June
|
1.51 |
June
|
1.09 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
3.92 |
July
|
5.23 |
July
|
3.40 |
July
|
1.23 |
July
|
1.13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
4.43 |
August
|
5.23 |
August
|
3.43 |
August
|
1.20 |
August
|
1.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
5.39 |
September
|
4.65 |
September
|
2.70 |
September
|
1.39 |
September
|
0.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
5.29 |
October
|
3.03 |
October
|
1.05 |
October
|
1.18 |
October
|
0.97 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
5.34 |
November
|
3.36 |
November
|
0.94 |
November
|
1.25 |
November
|
1.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
5.60 |
December
|
3.04 |
December
|
0.70 |
December
|
1.53 |
December
|
0.98 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
6.02 |
January
|
8.15 |
January
|
5.89 |
January
|
3.22 |
January
|
4.21 |
January
|
7.13 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
6.32 |
February
|
8.88 |
February
|
5.40 |
February
|
3.39 |
February
|
4.56 |
February
|
6.82 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
6.80 |
March
|
8.99 |
March
|
4.53 |
March
|
3.42 |
March
|
5.22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
6.71 |
April
|
8.88 |
April
|
5.16 |
April
|
3.89 |
April
|
5.23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
7.01 |
May
|
10.29 |
May
|
4.85 |
May
|
4.36 |
May
|
5.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
8.09 |
June
|
9.70 |
June
|
3.93 |
June
|
4.15 |
June
|
5.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
7.79 |
July
|
8.53 |
July
|
3.83 |
July
|
3.86 |
July
|
5.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
8.81 |
August
|
8.95 |
August
|
3.78 |
August
|
3.59 |
August
|
5.65 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
8.72 |
September
|
9.16 |
September
|
3.23 |
September
|
3.81 |
September
|
6.27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
8.63 |
October
|
7.18 |
October
|
2.89 |
October
|
3.59 |
October
|
6.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
7.69 |
November
|
6.63 |
November
|
3.20 |
November
|
3.65 |
November
|
7.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
8.37 |
December
|
7.01 |
December
|
3.64 |
December
|
4.21 |
December
|
7.61 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
20.76 |
January
|
17.83 |
January
|
10.53 |
January
|
2.43 |
January
|
3.28 |
January
|
4.52 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
21.80 |
February
|
19.30 |
February
|
7.11 |
February
|
3.29 |
February
|
3.33 |
February
|
4.37 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
23.44 |
March
|
18.96 |
March
|
6.69 |
March
|
3.57 |
March
|
3.80 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
22.50 |
April
|
20.03 |
April
|
7.99 |
April
|
4.36 |
April
|
4.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
21.21 |
May
|
22.85 |
May
|
9.36 |
May
|
5.15 |
May
|
5.13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
19.99 |
June
|
20.71 |
June
|
9.50 |
June
|
4.81 |
June
|
4.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
19.80 |
July
|
20.53 |
July
|
8.14 |
July
|
4.00 |
July
|
4.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
16.92 |
August
|
18.92 |
August
|
8.72 |
August
|
3.66 |
August
|
4.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
17.15 |
September
|
19.00 |
September
|
6.10 |
September
|
3.95 |
September
|
4.63 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
18.69 |
October
|
17.10 |
October
|
3.13 |
October
|
2.96 |
October
|
4.13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
19.51 |
November
|
15.52 |
November
|
2.79 |
November
|
3.71 |
November
|
3.78 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
18.89 |
December
|
13.13 |
December
|
1.83 |
December
|
3.66 |
December
|
4.23 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
35.83 |
January
|
55.95 |
January
|
52.62 |
January
|
30.51 |
January
|
31.55 |
January
|
35.75 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
37.40 |
February
|
55.78 |
February
|
46.90 |
February
|
29.50 |
February
|
31.21 |
February
|
33.65 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
39.44 |
March
|
59.62 |
March
|
39.27 |
March
|
26.51 |
March
|
33.85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
39.20 |
April
|
56.95 |
April
|
38.30 |
April
|
28.67 |
April
|
34.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
38.98 |
May
|
61.90 |
May
|
47.67 |
May
|
30.31 |
May
|
32.88 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
41.40 |
June
|
62.57 |
June
|
47.27 |
June
|
28.30 |
June
|
30.39 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
40.86 |
July
|
66.40 |
July
|
42.40 |
July
|
25.74 |
July
|
34.13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
42.41 |
August
|
64.75 |
August
|
38.40 |
August
|
26.37 |
August
|
28.89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
42.10 |
September
|
66.75 |
September
|
35.75 |
September
|
31.01 |
September
|
32.80 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
48.85 |
October
|
69.80 |
October
|
26.85 |
October
|
29.62 |
October
|
34.83 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
51.66 |
November
|
62.25 |
November
|
32.45 |
November
|
30.49 |
November
|
35.68 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
54.33 |
December
|
62.60 |
December
|
31.75 |
December
|
33.92 |
December
|
36.55 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
28.38 |
January
|
35.83 |
January
|
36.12 |
January
|
27.91 |
January
|
27.49 |
January
|
35.62 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
30.21 |
February
|
34.79 |
February
|
33.79 |
February
|
26.66 |
February
|
27.03 |
February
|
36.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
30.53 |
March
|
35.27 |
March
|
33.91 |
March
|
28.22 |
March
|
28.98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
29.61 |
April
|
35.52 |
April
|
35.96 |
April
|
28.35 |
April
|
27.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
27.97 |
May
|
40.49 |
May
|
35.95 |
May
|
27.34 |
May
|
25.71 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
30.02 |
June
|
38.30 |
June
|
33.08 |
June
|
28.71 |
June
|
26.18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
30.31 |
July
|
39.65 |
July
|
31.81 |
July
|
29.97 |
July
|
29.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
31.53 |
August
|
38.96 |
August
|
32.82 |
August
|
29.00 |
August
|
29.53 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
33.28 |
September
|
41.19 |
September
|
29.98 |
September
|
28.28 |
September
|
32.59 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
33.16 |
October
|
42.86 |
October
|
27.72 |
October
|
27.65 |
October
|
32.48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
32.50 |
November
|
40.19 |
November
|
30.51 |
November
|
29.40 |
November
|
32.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
34.64 |
December
|
40.64 |
December
|
31.68 |
December
|
30.96 |
December
|
35.78 |
2006
|
Closing Price
|
2007
|
Closing Price
|
2008
|
Closing Price
|
2009
|
Closing Price
|
2010
|
Closing Price
|
2011
|
Closing Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
January
|
11.79 |
January
|
14.88 |
January
|
11.61 |
January
|
8.68 |
January
|
10.31 |
January
|
12.81 | ||||||||||||||||||
February
|
12.35 |
February
|
15.05 |
February
|
11.76 |
February
|
7.46 |
February
|
10.13 |
February
|
12.54 | ||||||||||||||||||
March
|
13.16 |
March
|
14.69 |
March
|
11.95 |
March
|
8.06 |
March
|
10.89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
April
|
13.05 |
April
|
14.62 |
April
|
11.74 |
April
|
8.30 |
April
|
11.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May
|
12.32 |
May
|
15.02 |
May
|
13.34 |
May
|
8.41 |
May
|
10.67 | ||||||||||||||||||||
June
|
11.45 |
June
|
14.76 |
June
|
12.34 |
June
|
8.36 |
June
|
10.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||
July
|
12.53 |
July
|
13.76 |
July
|
11.92 |
July
|
8.77 |
July
|
11.40 | ||||||||||||||||||||
August
|
13.20 |
August
|
14.28 |
August
|
12.42 |
August
|
8.57 |
August
|
11.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
September
|
13.19 |
September
|
14.12 |
September
|
10.94 |
September
|
10.13 |
September
|
12.29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October
|
13.72 |
October
|
13.45 |
October
|
7.51 |
October
|
9.64 |
October
|
12.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||
November
|
13.94 |
November
|
12.95 |
November
|
8.86 |
November
|
9.92 |
November
|
13.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||
December
|
14.22 |
December
|
13.02 |
December
|
9.20 |
December
|
10.99 |
December
|
13.94 |
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | |||
By: |
*
|
||
Name: | Sallie L. Krawcheck | ||
Title: | Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||
Executive Vice President and Director |
Signature
|
Title
|
|||
*
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice
President and Director
|
|||
Sallie L. Krawcheck
|
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|||
*
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice
President and Director
|
|||
Thomas K. Montag
|
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|||
*
|
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
|
|||
Robert Qutub
|
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
|||
*
|
Executive Vice President and Director
|
|||
Bruce R. Thompson
|
||||
*By:
|
/s/ Liam B. O’Neil |
|
Attorney-in-Fact
|
|
Liam B. O’Neil
|
Exhibits
|
|
*4.1
|
Standard Terms for Depositary Trust Agreements between Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as Trustee, dated as of September 2, 1999, and included as exhibits thereto, form of Depositary Trust Agreement and form of HOLDRS, filed on December 22, 1999 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Telecom HOLDRS.
|
*4.2
|
Form of Amendment No. 2 to the Standard Terms for Depositary Trust Agreements, filed on November 28, 2000 as an exhibit to post-effective Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Telecom HOLDRS.
|
*5.1
|
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP regarding the validity of the Telecom HOLDRS Receipts, filed on December 22, 1999 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Telecom HOLDRS.
|
*8.1
|
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as special U.S. tax counsel regarding the material federal income tax consequences, filed on December 22, 1999 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Telecom HOLDRS.
|
*8.2
|
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as special U.S. tax counsel regarding the material federal income tax consequences, filed on July 11, 2003 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 5 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Telecom HOLDRS.
|
*24.1
|
Power of Attorney of Sallie L. Krawcheck, Thomas K. Montag, Robert Qutub and Bruce R. Thompson.
|