Self-Regulatory Organizations; the American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of Notes Linked to the Performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (“DJIA”)

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (“Act”) and rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on November 1, 2002, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in items I and II below, which items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons and is approving the proposal on an accelerated basis.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to list and trade under section 107A of the Amex Company Guide (“Company Guide”), notes linked to the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (the “DJIA” or the “Market Recovery Notes” or “Notes”).

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in item III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

Under section 107A of the Amex Company Guide (“Company Guide”), the Exchange may approve for listing and trading securities which cannot be readily categorized under the listing criteria for common and preferred stocks, bonds, debentures, or warrants. The Exchange proposes to list for trading under section 107A of the Company Guide notes, the performance which is linked to the DJIA (the “Market Recovery Notes” or “Notes”). The DJIA is determined, calculated and maintained solely by Dow Jones. The Notes will provide for a multiplier of any positive performance of the DJIA during such term subject to a maximum payment amount or ceiling.

The Notes will initially conform to the listing guidelines under section 107A and continued listing guidelines under sections 1001-1003 of the Company Guide. The Notes are senior non-convertible debt securities of Merrill Lynch. The Notes will have a term of not less than one, nor more, than 10 years. Merrill Lynch will issue the Notes in denominations of whole units (a “Unit”), with each Unit representing a single Note. The original public offering price will be $10 per Unit. The Notes will entitle the owner at maturity to receive an amount based upon the percentage change of the DJIA. At maturity, if the value of the DJIA has increased over the term of the Notes, a beneficial owner will be entitled to receive a payment on the Notes equal to three times the amount of that percentage increase, not to exceed a maximum payment (the “Capped Value”) to be determined at the time of issuance of the Notes. The Notes will not have a minimum principal amount that will be repaid, and accordingly, payment on the Notes prior to or at maturity may be less than the original issue price of the Notes. The Notes are also not callable by the Issuer.

The payment that a holder or investor of a Note will be entitled to receive (the “Redemption Amount”) depends entirely on the relation of the average of the values of the DJIA at the close of the market on five business days shortly before the maturity of the Notes (the “Ending Value”) and the closing value of the DJIA on the date the Notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the “Starting Value”).

If the Ending Value is greater than the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount per Unit will equal:

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If the Ending Value is less than or equal to the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount per Unit will equal:

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The Notes are cash-settled in U.S. dollars and do not give the holder any right to receive a portfolio security, dividend payments or any other ownership right or interest in the portfolio or index of securities comprising the DJIA. The Notes are designed for investors who want to participate or gain exposure to the DJIA, subject to a cap, and who are willing to forego market interest payments on the Notes during such term. The SEC has previously approved the listing of options on, and securities the performance of which have been linked to or based on, the DJIA.

As of October 29, 2002, the market capitalization of the securities included in the DJIA ranged from a high of $279.3 billion to a low of $10 billion. The average daily trading volume for these same securities for the last six months, as of the same date, ranged from a high of 57.3 million shares to a low of 2 million shares.

Because the Notes are linked to a portfolio of equity securities, the Amex's existing equity floor trading rules will apply to the trading of the Notes. First, pursuant to Amex rule 411, the Exchange will impose a duty of due diligence on its members and member firms to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the Notes. Second, the Notes will be subject to the equity margin rules of the Exchange. Third, the Exchange will, prior to trading the Notes, distribute a circular to the membership providing guidance with regard to member firm compliance responsibilities (including suitability recommendations) when handling transactions in the Notes and highlighting the special risks and characteristics of the Notes. With respect to suitability recommendations and risks, the Exchange will require members, member organizations and employees thereof recommending a transaction in the Notes: (1) To determine that such transaction is suitable for the customer, and (2) to have a reasonable basis for believing that the customer can evaluate the special characteristics of, and is able to bear the financial risks of such transaction. In addition, Merrill Lynch will deliver a prospectus in connection with the initial sales of the Notes.

The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Notes. Specifically, the Exchange will rely on its existing surveillance procedures governing equities, which have been deemed adequate under the Act. In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy, which prohibits the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5), in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received from Members, Participants or Others

The Exchange did not receive any written comments on the proposed rule change.

III. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All submissions should refer to the File No. SR-Amex-2002 88 and should be submitted by December 20, 2002.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change

After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of section 6(b)(5) of the Act. The Commission finds that this proposal is similar to several approved instruments currently listed and traded on the Amex. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the listing and trading of the Notes based on the DJIA is consistent with the Act and will promote just and equity principles of trade, foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act.

As described more fully above, at maturity, the holder of a Note will receive an amount based upon the percentage change of the DJIA. Specifically, at maturity, the holder of a Note will be entitled to receive a payment equal to three times the amount of that percentage increase, not to exceed a certain maximum payment, if the value of the DJIA has increased over the term of such Note. The Notes will provide investors who are willing to forego market interest payments during the term of the Notes with a means to participate or gain exposure to the DJIA, subject to a cap.

The Commission notes that the Exchange's rules and procedures that address the special concerns attendant to the trading of hybrid securities will be applicable to the Notes. In particular, by imposing the hybrid listing standards, suitability, disclosure, and compliance requirements noted above, the Commission believes that the Exchange has addressed adequately the potential problems that could arise from the hybrid nature of the Notes. Moreover, the Commission notes that the Exchange will distribute a circular to its membership calling attention to the specific risks associated with the Notes. The Commission also notes that Merrill Lynch will deliver a prospectus in connection with the initial sales of the Notes. In addition, the Commission notes that Amex will incorporate and rely upon its existing surveillance procedures governing equities, which have been deemed adequate under the Act. Moreover, the Commission also notes that the Exchange has a general policy that prohibits the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.

In approving the product, the Commission recognizes that the DJIA is a price-weighted index comprised of 30 component common stocks, representing a broad market of the U.S. industry, with each stock affecting the DJIA in proportion to its market price. The Commission notes that the changes in the composition of the DJIA are made solely by the editors of the WSJ. The changes to these common stocks tend to be made infrequently with most substitutions the result of mergers and other extraordinary corporate actions. Further, the Commission notes that the DJIA has remained at 30 since 1928. As of October 29, 2002, the 30 stocks in the DJIA ranged in capitalization from a high of $279.3 billion to a low of $10 billion. In addition, the average daily trading volume for the component stocks over the six-month period from May 2002 to October 2002 ranged from a high of 57.3 million shares to a low of 2 million shares. Given the compositions of the stocks underlying the DJIA, the Commission believes that the listing and trading of the Notes that are linked to the DJIA, should not unduly impact the market for the underlying securities comprising the DJIA or raise manipulative concerns. As discussed more fully above, the underlying stocks comprising the DJIA are well-capitalized, highly liquid stocks. Moreover, the issuers of the underlying securities comprising the DJIA, are subject to reporting requirements under the Act, and all of the component stocks are either listed or traded on, or traded through the facilities of, U.S. securities markets. Additionally, the Amex's surveillance procedures will serve to deter as well as detect any potential manipulation.

Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Notes are depending upon the individual credit of the issuer, Merrill Lynch. To some extent this credit risk is minimized by the Exchange's listing standards in section 107A of the Company Guide which provide the only issuers satisfying substantial asset and equity requirements may issue securities such as the Notes. In addition, the Exchange's “Other Securities” listing standards further require that the Notes have a market value of at least $4 million. In any event, financial information regarding Merrill Lynch, in addition to the information on the 30 common stocks comprising the DJIA, will be publicly available.

The Commission also has a systemic concern, however, that a broker-dealer such as Merrill Lynch, or a subsidiary providing a hedge for the issuer will incur position exposure. However, as the Commission has concluded in previous approval orders for other hybrid instruments issued by broker-dealers, the Commission believes that this concern is minimal given the size of the Notes issuance in relation to the net worth of Merrill Lynch.

Finally, the Commission notes that the value of the DJIA will be disseminated at least once every 15 seconds throughout the trading day. The Commission believes that providing access to the value of the DJIA at least once every 15 seconds throughout the trading day is extremely important and will provide benefits to investors in the product.

The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. The Amex has requested accelerated approval because this product is similar to several other instruments currently listed and traded on the Amex. The Commission believes that the Notes will provide investors with an additional investment choice and that accelerated approval of the proposal will allow investors to begin trading the Notes promptly. Additionally, the Notes will be listed pursuant to Amex's existing hybrid security listing standards as described above. Based on the above, the Commission believes that there is good cause, consistent with sections 6(b)(5) and 19(b)(2) of the Act to approve the proposal on an accelerated basis.

V. Conclusion

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-Amex-2002-88), is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.