For the fiscal year ended: | Commission file number: | |
December 31, 2013 | 001-32247 |
DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
13-3891329 (I. R. S. Employer Identification No.) |
ONE BRYANT PARK, 4th FL STRUCTURED CREDIT TRADING NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Address of principal executive offices) |
10036 (Zip Code) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
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| whether an early termination payment is payable by the trust to the swap counterparty, | ||
| the purchase price of trust certificates, | ||
| when you acquire your trust certificates, | ||
| whether the underlying securities issuer exercises its option to redeem the underlying securities, and | ||
| whether the call warrant holders exercise their optional rights to purchase outstanding trust certificates. |
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| if a default occurs, the market value of the underlying securities may be adversely affected and the proceeds of their disposition may be lower than the aggregate present value or stated amount (if applicable) of the trust certificates; | ||
| in either event, any distribution of funds or underlying securities by the trust to the trust certificateholders will be done in accordance with the allocation ratio as described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the trust certificates. The funds or aggregate principal amount of underlying securities you receive on that distribution may be less than the present value or stated amount (if applicable) of your trust certificates; and | ||
| any such distribution of funds will be subject to the payment by the trust to the swap counterparty of any early termination payment. |
| there is a payment default on any underlying securities, | ||
| there is another type of default that accelerates the maturity of the underlying securities, or | ||
| the underlying securities guarantor ceases to file Exchange Act reports. |
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| the purchase price you pay for your trust certificates; | ||
| the interest rate on the trust certificates, which will be greater than or equal to 3.00% and will not exceed 8.00%; | ||
| the performance of the underlying securities; | ||
| whether the underlying securities issuer redeems, repurchases or repays the underlying securities before their maturity; | ||
| whether the underlying security guarantor elects to defer interest payments on the underlying securities; | ||
| whether the underlying securities issuer defaults under the underlying securities; | ||
| the possibility that if there is a swap termination event that is not a trust termination event a fixed rate of 6.345% per annum will be payable on the trust certificates, instead of the floating rate distribution amount payable under the swap agreement; | ||
| the possibility that the swap agreement may be terminated early in certain circumstances, resulting in the termination of the trust prior to its scheduled termination date; and | ||
| whether the holder of the call options exercises its call options on your trust certificates. |
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(a) | Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans: None. | ||
(b) | Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners: None. | ||
(c) | Security Ownership Of Management: Not Applicable. | ||
(d) | Changes In Control: None. |
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31.1. | Certification of the Vice President of Registrant dated March 24, 2014, pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, with respect to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. | ||
99.1. | Trustees Annual Compliance Certificate dated February 20, 2014. | ||
99.2. | Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated March 21, 2014, Registrants Assertion on Compliance with PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards dated March 21, 2014 and PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards. | ||
99.3. | Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated January 28, 2014, The Bank of New York Mellons Assertion on Compliance with PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards dated January 28, 2014 and PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards. |
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MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC. |
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Date: March 27, 2014 | By: | /s/ John Marciano | ||
Name: | John Marciano | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Date: March 24, 2014 | /s/ John Marciano | |||
John Marciano Vice President |
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EXHIBIT 99.1
The undersigned, James W. P. Hall, Vice President of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), a New York corporation (the Trustee), hereby certifies in such capacity that, based on his knowledge, the Trustee has complied, in all material respects, with all conditions and covenants applicable to the Trustee under the Standard Terms for Trust Agreements dated February 20, 1998 between Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc. as depositor (the Depositor) and the Trustee, as successor to United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee and securities intermediary (the Securities Intermediary), in each case as amended by a series supplement between the Depositor, the Trustee and the Securities Intermediary for each trust series listed in the attached schedule.
Very truly yours, The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as Trustee |
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By: | /s/ | James W. P. Hall | ||
Name: | James W. P. Hall | |||
Title: | Vice President |
EXHIBIT 99.2
[PricewaterhouseCoopers Letterhead]
Report of Independent Accountants
Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc.
We have examined managements assertion that Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc. (the Company) has complied as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, with its established minimum servicing standards described in the accompanying Managements Assertion on Compliance with PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards with respect to PPLUS Trust Series GSC-2, dated March 21, 2014. The Company’s management is responsible for the assertion related to their compliance with the minimum servicing standards excluding those with respect to the Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee, Custodian, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on managements assertion based on our examination.
Our examination was conducted in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and, accordingly, included examining, on a test basis, evidence about the Companys compliance with its minimum servicing standards and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our examination provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our examination does not provide a legal determination on the Companys compliance with its minimum servicing standards.
In our opinion, managements assertion referred to above presents in all material respects, the Company’s compliance with its minimum servicing standards as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, based on the criteria set forth in Appendix I.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, NY
March 21, 2014
By: | /s/ John Marciano | |||
John Marciano | ||||
Vice President Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc. |
Appendix I
PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards intended for use
in connection with the Annual Accountants Report ("AAR")
Below is Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc.'s ("the Depositor"), Merrill Lynch Structured Credit Derivatives ("SCD") and the Merrill Lynch Credit Derivatives Operations Group ("OG") (collectively Merrill Lynch) minimum servicing standards for the PreferredPlus Program ("PPlus").
The Bank of New York Mellon ("the Bank" or “the Trustee”) acting as Trustee, Custodian, Paying Agent, and Transfer Agent on behalf of the PPlus Program has agreed to comply with all of the following minimum servicing standards. Merrill Lynch has obtained a certification from the Bank that it has complied with these criteria for the period January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
CUSTODIAL BANK ACCOUNT RECONCILIATIONS | |||
1 | The Bank must reconcile all related custodial bank accounts. |
X | |
The Bank will include the Distribution report as Exhibit 99.1 in the Form 8-Ks filed with the SEC. | X | ||
VERIFICATION OF INCOMING TRUST COLLATERAL INTEREST PAYMENTS | |||
2 | The Bank must have a tickler system in place so that they will be expecting and monitoring the custodial bank account for receipt of the collateral coupon interest. Each of the tickler systems shall be updated on an on-going basis as each new trust series is created. | X | |
The Bank will ensure all interest payments are deposited into the custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts on the day the Bank is in receipt of the funds. | X | ||
The Bank must prove the arithmetic accuracy of the amount of interest received by the Trust from the underlying securities and ensure that the face amount, description, coupon rate, and maturity date of the securities held in the Trust agree to the PPM Supplement dated Date XX, 20XX | X |
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MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
TRUST DISBURSEMENTS | |||
3 | The Bank must prove the arithmetic accuracy of the amount of interest to be paid by the Trust to the Debt Unit holders by referring to the PPM Supplement dated Date XX, 20XX. | X | |
The Bank will make all disbursements via wire transfer to The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") on the scheduled trust distribution date as soon as the amount of interest received from the underlying collateral into the custodial bank account has been received and verified for accuracy. | X | ||
PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS | |||
4 | If there is a partial redemption of the trust certificates the Bank and the Depositor must ensure that the redemption proceeds received by the Trust and distributed by the Bank are in accordance with the series supplement. | X | X |
DEFAULTS | |||
5 | If the Bank has actual knowledge of an event of default on the underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the Bank must distribute a formal notice of default to the Depositor, the certificateholders, the rating agencies and SCD/OG. | X | |
If the Bank has actual knowledge of an event of default on the underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the procedures for a vote or consent of the certificateholders as set forth in the Standard Terms and series Supplement must be complied with. | X | ||
CALL WARRANT EXERCISES AND OPTIONAL EXCHANGES | |||
6 | If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the Bank must give the Depositor and the affected certificateholders notice of any exercise of call warrants or optional exchange. Such notice must contain the amount of certificates to be purchased, the call price, and any other relevant information. | X |
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MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the trust to liquidate, the Bank must notify the rating agencies of the call exercise or optional exchange. | X | ||
If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the trust to liquidate, the Bank must give notice of exercise or optional exchange to the Depositor and certificate registrar of any certificates that were called. | X | ||
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CERTIFICATEHOLDERS | |||
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If there was any occasion for the exercise of voting rights or giving consents by the certificateholders, the Bank must provide notice to the certificateholders within 5 business days of the Trust's receipt of notice of the occasion and the Bank must vote or give consents as directed by certificateholders. |
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/s/ Richard P. Stanley The Bank of New York Mellon Richard P. Stanley Executive Vice President January 28, 2014 |
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Appendix I
PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards intended for use
in connection with the Annual Accountants Report ("AAR")
Below is Merrill Lynch Depositor, Inc.'s ("the Depositor"), Merrill Lynch Structured Credit Derivatives ("SCD") and the Merrill Lynch Credit Derivatives Operations Group ("OG") (collectively Merrill Lynch) minimum servicing standards for the PreferredPlus Program ("PPlus").
The Bank of New York Mellon ("the Bank" or “the Trustee”) acting as Trustee, Custodian, Paying Agent, and Transfer Agent on behalf of the PPlus Program has agreed to comply with all of the following minimum servicing standards. Merrill Lynch has obtained a certification from the Bank that it has complied with these criteria for the period January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
CUSTODIAL BANK ACCOUNT RECONCILIATIONS | |||
1 | The Bank must reconcile all related custodial bank accounts. |
X | |
The Bank will include the Distribution report as Exhibit 99.1 in the Form 8-Ks filed with the SEC. | X | ||
VERIFICATION OF INCOMING TRUST COLLATERAL INTEREST PAYMENTS | |||
2 | The Bank must have a tickler system in place so that they will be expecting and monitoring the custodial bank account for receipt of the collateral coupon interest. Each of the tickler systems shall be updated on an on-going basis as each new trust series is created. | X | |
The Bank will ensure all interest payments are deposited into the custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts on the day the Bank is in receipt of the funds. | X | ||
The Bank must prove the arithmetic accuracy of the amount of interest received by the Trust from the underlying securities and ensure that the face amount, description, coupon rate, and maturity date of the securities held in the Trust agree to the PPM Supplement dated Date XX, 20XX | X |
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MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
TRUST DISBURSEMENTS | |||
3 | The Bank must prove the arithmetic accuracy of the amount of interest to be paid by the Trust to the Debt Unit holders by referring to the PPM Supplement dated Date XX, 20XX. | X | |
The Bank will make all disbursements via wire transfer to The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") on the scheduled trust distribution date as soon as the amount of interest received from the underlying collateral into the custodial bank account has been received and verified for accuracy. | X | ||
PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS | |||
4 | If there is a partial redemption of the trust certificates the Bank and the Depositor must ensure that the redemption proceeds received by the Trust and distributed by the Bank are in accordance with the series supplement. | X | X |
DEFAULTS | |||
5 | If the Bank has actual knowledge of an event of default on the underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the Bank must distribute a formal notice of default to the Depositor, the certificateholders, the rating agencies and SCD/OG. | X | |
If the Bank has actual knowledge of an event of default on the underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the procedures for a vote or consent of the certificateholders as set forth in the Standard Terms and series Supplement must be complied with. | X | ||
CALL WARRANT EXERCISES AND OPTIONAL EXCHANGES | |||
6 | If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the Trust to liquidate, the Bank must give the Depositor and the affected certificateholders notice of any exercise of call warrants or optional exchange. Such notice must contain the amount of certificates to be purchased, the call price, and any other relevant information. | X |
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MINIMUM Servicing STANDARD | Applicable Servicing STANDARD | ||
Reference | Criteria | Performed by the Depositor | Performed by Bank/Trustee |
If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the trust to liquidate, the Bank must notify the rating agencies of the call exercise or optional exchange. | X | ||
If there is an exercise of call warrants or an optional exchange of trust certificates for underlying securities that did not cause the trust to liquidate, the Bank must give notice of exercise or optional exchange to the Depositor and certificate registrar of any certificates that were called. | X | ||
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CERTIFICATEHOLDERS | |||
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If there was any occasion for the exercise of voting rights or giving consents by the certificateholders, the Bank must provide notice to the certificateholders within 5 business days of the Trust's receipt of notice of the occasion and the Bank must vote or give consents as directed by certificateholders. |
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