POS AM 1 ss113519_posam-retail.htm POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 11 TO FORM S-1
 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2011
Registration No. 333-54662


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
________________
 
 
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 11
FORM S-1
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
________________
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Initial Depositor
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
 
________________
 
Retail HOLDRSSM Trust
[Issuer with respect to the receipts]
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
6211
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
13-5674085
(I.R.S.  Employer Identification Number)
________________
 
 
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
(212) 449-1000
 
 
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
________________
 
Copies to:
 
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)
Abigail Arms, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 508-8000

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  x
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨



 
 
 
 
 
 

 
PROSPECTUS
 
 
1,000,000,000 Depositary Receipts
 
Retail HOLDRSSM Trust
 
The Retail HOLDRSSM Trust issues Depositary Receipts called Retail HOLDRSSM representing your undivided beneficial ownership in the common stock of a group of specified companies that, among other things, sell retail merchandise to consumers through traditional retail stores, the Internet, mail order catalogs and other outlets.  The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee.  You only may acquire, hold or transfer Retail HOLDRSSM in a round-lot amount of 100 Retail HOLDRSSM or round-lot multiples.  Retail HOLDRSSM are separate from the  underlying deposited common stock that are represented by the Retail HOLDRSSM.  For a list of the names and the number of shares of the companies that make up a Retail HOLDRSM, see “Highlights of Retail HOLDRS—The Retail HOLDRS” in this prospectus.  The Retail HOLDRSSM trust will issue Retail HOLDRSSM on a continuous basis.
 
Investing in Retail HOLDRSSM involves significant risks.  See “Risk Factors” starting on page 4.
 
Retail HOLDRSSM are neither interests in nor obligations of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or any of its affiliates.  Retail HOLDRSSM are not interests in The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.  Please see “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement” in this prospectus for a more complete description of the duties and responsibilities of the trustee, including the obligation of the trustee to act without negligence or bad faith.
 
The Retail HOLDRSSM  are listed on the NYSE Arca under the symbol “RTH.”  On March 11, 2011, the last reported sale price of the Retail HOLDRSSM on the NYSE Arca was $105.98.
 
_______________
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The date of this prospectus is March 15, 2011.
 
“HOLDRS” and “HOLding Company Depositary ReceiptS” are service marks of Bank of America Corporation.
 

 
 

 

 
Page
 
 
________________________
 
This prospectus contains information you should consider when making your investment decision.  We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information or to make any representations not contained in this prospectus.  We do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to, the reliability of any information that others may provide you.  We are not making an offer to sell Retail HOLDRS in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.  For information on where you may find more information about the issuers of the underlying securities, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
The Retail HOLDRS are not registered for public sale outside of the United States.  Non-U.S. receipt holders should refer to “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Non-U.S. receipt holders” and we recommend that non-U.S. receipt holders consult their tax advisors regarding U.S. withholding and other taxes which may apply to ownership of the Retail HOLDRS or of the underlying securities through an investment in the Retail HOLDRS.
 
 
 
 
The Retail HOLding Company Depositary ReceiptS or HOLDRS Trust was formed under the depositary trust agreement, dated as of March 12, 2001, among The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, other depositors and the owners of the Retail HOLDRS.  The trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
The number of shares of each company’s common stock currently held by the trust with respect to each round-lot of Retail HOLDRS is specified under “Highlights of Retail HOLDRS—The Retail HOLDRS.”  This group of common stock and the securities of any company that may be added to the Retail HOLDRS are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the common stock, the securities or the underlying securities.  The companies included in the Retail HOLDRS may change as a result of reconstitution events, distributions of securities by the underlying issuers or other events.  See “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement—Reconstitution events” for an explanation of these events.  The Retail HOLDRS are separate from the deposited underlying common stock that are represented by the Retail HOLDRS.  On March 11, 2011, there were 2,557,200 Retail HOLDRS outstanding.
 
 
 
 
An investment in Retail HOLDRS involves risks similar to investing directly in each of the underlying securities outside of the Retail HOLDRS, including the risks associated with concentrated investments in the retailing industry.
 
  General Risk Factors
 
 
·
Loss of investment.  Because the value of Retail HOLDRS directly relates to the value of the underlying securities, you may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment in the Retail HOLDRS if the underlying securities decline in value.
 
 
·
Discount trading price.  Retail HOLDRS may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities.
 
 
·
Ownership of only fractional shares in the underlying securities.  As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Retail HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, a Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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.
 
 
·
Not necessarily representative of the retailing industry.  At the time of the initial offering, on May 1, 2001, the companies included in Retail HOLDRS were generally considered to be involved in various aspects of the retailing industry; however, since the time of the initial offering, the companies included in the Retail HOLDRS may not be involved in the retailing industry.  In this case, the Retail HOLDRS may no longer consist of securities issued only by companies involved in the retailing industry.  In addition, the market price of the underlying securities and the Retail HOLDRS may not necessarily follow the price movements of the entire retailing industry generally.  If the underlying securities decline in value, your investment in the Retail HOLDRS will decline in value, even if the market prices of the securities of companies in the retailing industry generally increase in value.
 
 
·
Not necessarily comprised of solely retail companies.  As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Retail HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, securities of companies that are not currently included in the Retail HOLDRS and that are not involved in the retail industry may be included in the Retail HOLDRS.  The securities of a new company will only be distributed from the Retail HOLDRS if the securities have a different Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“Standard & Poor’s”) sector classification than any of the underlying issuers included in Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS provides no assurance that each new company included in the Retail HOLDRS will be involved in the retail industry.  Currently, the underlying securities included in the Retail HOLDRS are represented in the Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples GICS sectors.  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 Retail HOLDRS and yet not be involved in the retail industry.  In addition, the GICS sector classifications of securities included in the Retail HOLDRS may change over time if the companies that issued these securities change their focus of operations resulting in a change to a GICS sector classification or if Standard & Poor’s alters the criteria it uses to determine GICS sectors, or both.  Therefore, additional GICS
 
 
 
sectors may be represented in the Retail HOLDRS, which may also result in the inclusion in the Retail HOLDRS of the securities of a new company that is not involved in the retail industry.
 
 
·
No investigation of underlying securities.  The underlying securities initially included in the Retail HOLDRS were selected by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated based on the market capitalization of the issuers and the market liquidity of securities in the retailing industry, without regard for the value, price performance, volatility or investment merit of the underlying securities.  Consequently, the Retail 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.
 
 
·
Loss of diversification.  As a result of industry developments, reorganizations, or market fluctuations affecting the issuers of the underlying securities, Retail HOLDRS may not necessarily continue to be a diversified investment in the retailing 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, Retail HOLDRS may reduce diversification.  As a result, Retail 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.
 
 
·
Conflicting investment choices.  In order to sell one or more of the underlying securities individually, participate in a tender offer relating to one or more of the underlying securities, or participate in any form of stock repurchase program by an issuer of an underlying security, you will be required to cancel your Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS will allow you to sell the individual underlying securities or to deliver the individual underlying securities in a tender offer or any form of stock repurchase program.  The cancellation of Retail HOLDRS will involve payment of a cancellation fee to the trustee.
 
 
·
Trading halts.  Trading in Retail HOLDRS on the NYSE Arca may be halted if (i) the Retail HOLDRS has fewer than the required number of record and/or beneficial holders for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) the number of Retail HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; (iii) the market value of all Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS, you will not be able to trade Retail HOLDRS and you will only be able to trade the underlying securities if you cancel your Retail HOLDRS and receive each of the underlying securities.
 
 
·
Delisting from the NYSE Arca.  The NYSE Arca may consider delisting the Retail HOLDRS if (i) the Retail HOLDRS has fewer than the required number of record and/or beneficial holders for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) the number of Retail HOLDRS issued and outstanding falls below levels prescribed by the NYSE Arca; (iii) the market value of all Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS on the NYSE Arca inadvisable.  If the Retail HOLDRS are delisted by the NYSE Arca, a termination event will result unless the Retail HOLDRS are listed for trading on another U.S. national securities exchange within five business days from the date the Retail HOLDRS are delisted.
 
 
 
 
·
Possible conflicts of interest.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as initial depositor, selected the underlying securities that were originally included in the Retail HOLDRS and may face possible conflicts of interest as Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its affiliates may engage in investment banking and other activities, and may provide services to issuers of the underlying securities in connection with its business.
 
 
·
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 Retail HOLDRS.  In addition, you will not be entitled to any interest on any distribution by reason of any delay in distribution by the depositary.
 
  Risk Factors Specific to Companies Involved in the Retailing Industry
 
 
·
Retail companies’ revenues may be adversely affected by general economic factors.  General economic factors in the markets in which retail companies operate, many of which are beyond their control, may nevertheless materially adversely affect company forecasts and actual performance.  These factors include:
 
 
·
interest rates;
 
 
·
difficulty in obtaining additional financing;
 
 
·
recession;
 
 
·
inflation and deflation;
 
 
·
consumer credit availability and debt levels;
 
 
·
tax rates and policy;
 
 
·
unemployment trends; and
 
 
·
other matters that influence consumer confidence and spending.
 
These factors may negatively affect consumer spending and confidence and result in reduced revenues for retail companies.  As many of the companies included in the Retail HOLDRS rely on consumers’ purchases of discretionary items for a significant portion of their sales, during periods where disposable income is lower or during periods of economic uncertainty, consumer purchases of these items may decline.  As a result, retail companies may be more adversely affected by a cyclical downturn in the economy than other companies.  In addition, increased volatility in financial markets may cause these factors to change with a greater degree of frequency and magnitude.
 
 
·
Retail companies must keep pace with changes in the industry to remain competitive.  The companies included in the Retail HOLDRS compete with general merchandise, apparel and household merchandise retailers, Internet retailers, discount retailers, television direct marketers and mail-order catalog retailers.  Some of the principal factors which retail companies must address to remain competitive include:
 
 
·
merchandise selection and quality;
 
 
·
brand recognition;
 
 
·
recognizing and responding to changes in consumer taste and trends;
 
 
·
price;
 
 
 
 
·
convenience;
 
 
·
customer service; and
 
 
·
timely product delivery.
 
Retail companies may also face increased pricing pressure as more retail outlets, especially electronic-commerce retailers and discount retailers, are established that are able to offer similar merchandise at reduced prices.  If any of the companies included in the Retail HOLDRS fail to successfully compete and maintain customer satisfaction and market share, its stock price may decline and will negatively affect the market price of the Retail HOLDRS.
 
 
·
The companies in the Retail HOLDRS may be subject to seasonal and quarterly variations in the retailing industry.  Many segments of the retailing industry have historically been subject to significant seasonal and quarterly variations in operating results.  Many retailers derive a significant portion of their annual revenue during the months of November and December.  In anticipation of increased sales activity during this period many retail companies incur significant additional expenses.  If the demand during November and December is miscalculated, a retail company could have significant excess inventory, which would have an adverse affect on its financial performance.  In addition, a significant shortfall in sales during November and December would have an adverse impact on the results of operations of a retail company.  Any seasonal or quarterly fluctuations that a retail company reports may not match the expectations of market analysts and investors.  This, along with any changes in the expectations of consumer demand, could cause the market price of the Retail HOLDRS to fluctuate significantly.
 
 
·
Companies whose securities are included in the Retail HOLDRS may need additional financing, which may be difficult to obtain.  Failure to obtain necessary financing or doing so on unattractive terms could adversely affect development and marketing efforts and other operations of companies whose securities are included in the Retail HOLDRS.  Companies whose securities are included in the Retail HOLDRS may need to raise additional capital in order to fund the continued development and marketing of their products or to fund strategic acquisitions or investments.  Their ability to obtain additional financing will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions, operating performance and investor interest.  These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of any financing unattractive.  If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, companies whose securities are included in the Retail HOLDRS may have to forego strategic acquisitions or investments, reduce or defer their development activities, delay their introduction of new products and services or terminate their operations generally.  Any of these actions may reduce the market price of stocks in the retailing industry.
 
 
·
Other broad market and industry factors may decrease the stock price of retail stocks, regardless of their operating results.  The initial offering price of a Retail HOLDR, on May 1, 2001, was $100.15 and during 2010, the price of a Retail HOLDR reached a high of $108.28 and a low of $84.79.  Market fluctuations, as well as general political and economic conditions, such as recession, war or interest rate or currency rate fluctuations, also may decrease the market price of retailing stocks.  Current economic conditions have adversely affected employment and other significant elements of the economy that drive productivity and the financial strength of businesses.  These economic conditions could have a material adverse affect on retail sales and, as a result, the financial condition and results of operations of companies whose common stock are included in Retail HOLDRS.
 
 
·
Some of the companies included in the Retail HOLDRS are dependent on third-party suppliers and distribution systems.  Some of the companies included in the Retail HOLDRS purchase merchandise both directly from brand owners and indirectly from retailers and third-party suppliers.  These companies may also be dependent upon suppliers for the products used for their own brand name merchandise.  Reliance on third-party suppliers subjects retail companies to risks of delivery delays, price increases and receipt of non-conforming or poor quality merchandise.  The purchase of merchandise from parties other than the brand owners also increases the risk that a retail company
 
 
 
could mistakenly purchase and sell non-authentic or damaged goods, which may expose them to liability.  In addition, some of the companies in the Retail HOLDRS use third-party distributors and transportation providers over which they have no control to deliver and transport their merchandise.  If retail companies encounter problems with their suppliers or distributors, their reputation could be harmed and their operations and financial conditions could be adversely affected.
 
 
·
Unexpected changes in consumer trends can affect the business of retail companies.  Consumer trends can change rapidly, and the retail business is sensitive to these changes.  The consumer companies included in the Retail HOLDRS may not accurately anticipate shifts in consumer trends and adjust their merchandise mix to appeal to changing consumer tastes in a timely manner.  If a company misjudges the market for its products or is unsuccessful in responding to changes in consumer trends or in market demand, the retail company could experience insufficient or excess inventory levels or higher markdowns, any of which would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations and could adversely affect the price of the Retail HOLDRS.
 
 
·
Retail companies may be unable to protect their intellectual property rights and may be liable for infringing the intellectual property rights of others.  Third parties may infringe or misappropriate the trademarks or other proprietary rights of the retail companies included in the Retail HOLDRS, which could have a material adverse effect on their business, results of operations or financial condition.  Retail companies could also incur costs in asserting and defending their intellectual property or proprietary rights.  In addition, third parties may assert infringement claims against companies included in the Retail HOLDRS for infringement or misappropriation of their proprietary rights.  These claims and any resulting litigation, if it occurs, could subject companies included in the Retail HOLDRS to significant liability for damages and may also result in limitations on the ability to use the intellectual property subject to the claim.
 
 
 
 
This discussion highlights information regarding Retail HOLDRS.  We present certain information more fully in the rest of this prospectus.  You should read the entire prospectus carefully before you purchase Retail HOLDRS.
 
Issuer
Retail HOLDRS Trust.
   
The trust
The Retail HOLDRS Trust was formed under the depositary trust agreement, dated as of March 12, 2001, among The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, other depositors and the owners of the Retail HOLDRS.  The trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
   
Initial depositor
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
   
Trustee
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 Retail HOLDRS representing the underlying securities issued by the trust.  The trustee holds the underlying securities on behalf of the holders of Retail HOLDRS.
   
Purpose of Retail HOLDRS
Retail HOLDRS were designed to achieve the following:
   
 
Diversification.  Retail HOLDRS were initially designed to allow you to diversify your investments in the retailing industry through a single, exchange-listed instrument representing your undivided beneficial ownership of the underlying securities.  See “Risk Factors—General Risk Factors.”
   
  Flexibility.  The beneficial owners of Retail HOLDRS have undivided beneficial ownership interests in each of the underlying securities represented by the Retail HOLDRS, and can cancel their Retail HOLDRS to receive each of the underlying securities represented by the Retail HOLDRS. 
   
 
Transaction costs.  The expenses associated with buying and selling Retail 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.
   
Trust assets
The trust holds securities issued by specified companies that, when initially selected, were in the retailing 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 Retail HOLDRS.  Reconstitution events are described in this prospectus under the heading “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement—Distributions” and “—Reconstitution events.”
   
  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.
 
 
 
   
The Retail HOLDRS
The trust has issued, and may continue to issue, Retail HOLDRS that represent an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the shares of U.S.-traded securities that are held by the trust on your behalf.  The Retail HOLDRS themselves are separate from the underlying securities that are represented by the Retail HOLDRS.
   
  The following table provides: 
   
 
 
·
the names of the issuers of the underlying securities currently represented by the Retail HOLDRS;
     
 
·
the stock ticker symbols;
     
 
·
the share amounts represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS; and
     
 
·
the primary U.S. market on which the underlying securities of the selected companies are traded.

 

Name of Company
 
Ticker
 
Share Amounts
 
Primary Trading Market
Amazon.com, Inc.
 
AMZN
  7.0000  
NASDAQ NMS
Best Buy Co., Inc.
 
BBY
  9.0000  
NYSE
Costco Wholesale Corporation
 
COST
  8.0000  
NASDAQ NMS
CVS Caremark Corporation
 
CVS
  14.0000  
NYSE
The Gap, Inc.
 
GPS
  16.0000  
NYSE
The Home Depot, Inc.
 
HD
  40.0000  
NYSE
Kohl’s Corporation
 
KSS
  6.0000  
NYSE
The Kroger Co.
 
KR
  15.0000  
NYSE
Limited Brands, Inc.
 
LTD
  8.0000  
NYSE
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
 
LOW
  28.0000  
NYSE
Macy’s, Inc.
  M   11.7380  
NYSE
RadioShack Corporation
 
RSH
  3.0000  
NYSE
Safeway Inc.
 
SWY
  9.0000  
NYSE
SUPERVALU INC.
 
SVU
  1.4560  
NYSE
Target Corporation
 
TGT
  16.0000  
NYSE
The TJX Companies, Inc.
 
TJX
  10.0000  
NYSE
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
 
WMT
  36.0000  
NYSE
Walgreen Co.
 
WAG
  19.0000  
NYSE

 
The companies whose common stock were initially included in the Retail HOLDRS at the time Retail HOLDRS were originally issued on May 1, 2001 were generally considered to be among the largest and most liquid companies with U.S.-traded securities involved in the retailing industry, as measured by market capitalization and trading volume on January 24, 2001.  The market capitalization of a company is determined by multiplying the market price of its common stock by the number of its outstanding shares of common stock.
 
 
 
   
 
The trust will only issue and cancel, and you may only obtain, hold, trade or surrender Retail HOLDRS in a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS and round-lot multiples.  The trust will only issue Retail HOLDRS upon the deposit of the whole shares represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  In the event that a fractional share comes to be represented by a round-lot of Retail HOLDRS, the trust may require a minimum of more than one round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS for an issuance so that the trust will always receive whole share amounts for issuance of Retail HOLDRS.
   
 
The number of outstanding Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS on a continuous basis when an investor deposits the required securities with the trustee.
   
Purchases
You may acquire Retail HOLDRS in two ways:
 
 
·
through an in-kind deposit of the required number of securities of the underlying issuers with the trustee, or
     
 
·
through a cash purchase in the secondary trading market.
 
Issuance and cancellation fees
If you wish to create Retail HOLDRS by delivering to the trust the requisite securities represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS.  If you wish to cancel your Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS.
   
Commissions
If you choose to deposit underlying securities in order to receive Retail 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.
   
Custody fees
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 Retail 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 Retail 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.
 
 
 
   
Rights relating to Retail HOLDRS
You have the right to withdraw the underlying securities upon request by delivering a round-lot or integral multiple of a round-lot of Retail 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 Retail 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 of the trust, the Retail HOLDRS themselves will not have voting rights.
   
Rights relating to the underlying securities
Retail HOLDRS represents your beneficial ownership of the underlying securities.  Owners of Retail HOLDRS have the same rights and privileges as if they beneficially owned the underlying securities in “street name” outside of Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS and the right to surrender Retail HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities.  See “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement.”  Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS.  However, due to the nature of Retail HOLDRS, you will not be able to participate in any dividend reinvestment program of an issuer of underlying securities unless you cancel your Retail HOLDRS (and pay the applicable fees) and receive all of the underlying securities.
   
 
A holder of Retail HOLDRS is not a registered owner of the underlying securities.  In order to become a registered owner, a holder of Retail HOLDRS would need to surrender their Retail 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.
   
 
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 Retail HOLDRS in the same manner as if you beneficially owned your underlying securities outside of Retail 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.
 
 
 
   
 
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 exchange 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 Retail HOLDRS at the time of the distribution.  In addition, if the issuer of underlying securities offers rights to acquire additional underlying 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 Retail HOLDRS or any underlying securities, you will be responsible for paying that tax or governmental charge.
   
 
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 Retail HOLDRS (and pay the applicable fees and expenses) and receive all of your underlying securities in exchange for your Retail 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.”
   
Ownership rights in fractional shares   in the underlying securities
As a result of distributions of securities by companies included in the Retail HOLDRS or other corporate events, such as mergers, a Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS are outstanding and each round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS represents 1.75 shares of an underlying security, there will be 175,001.75 votes of the underlying security represented by Retail HOLDRS.  If holders of 50,000 round-lots of 100 Retail HOLDRS vote their underlying securities “yes” and holders of 50,001 round-lots of 100 Retail 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. 
   
Reconstitution events
The depositary trust agreement provides for the automatic distribution of underlying securities from the Retail HOLDRS to you in the following four circumstances:
   
 
  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 Retail HOLDRS.
     
  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 Retail 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 received from the acquiring company to the beneficial owners of Retail 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 Retail 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 the securities are delisted.
 
   
 
To the extent a distribution of underlying securities from the Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS or distributed from the Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS are currently represented in the Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples GICS sectors.  The Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classifications of the securities included in the Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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 to you 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 Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS as directly owning the underlying securities.  The Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS are listed on the NYSE Arca under the symbol “RTH.”
   
Trading
Investors are only able to acquire, hold, transfer and surrender a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  Bid and ask prices, however, are quoted per single Retail HOLDR.
   
Clearance and settlement
Retail HOLDRS have been issued in book-entry form.  Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS.”
   
 
 

 
 
General.  This discussion highlights information about the Retail HOLDRS Trust.  You should read this information, information about the depositary trust agreement and the depositary trust agreement, in addition to other information included in this prospectus and the publicly available information about the issuers of the underlying securities, before you purchase Retail HOLDRS.  The material terms of the depositary trust agreement are described in this prospectus under the heading “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement.”
 
The Retail HOLDRS Trust.  The trust was formed pursuant to the depositary trust agreement, dated as of March 12, 2001.  The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee.  The Retail HOLDRS Trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
The Retail HOLDRS Trust is intended to hold deposited shares for the benefit of owners of Retail HOLDRS.  The trustee will perform only administrative and ministerial acts.  The property of the trust consists of the underlying securities and all monies or other property, if any, received by the trustee.  The trust will terminate on December 31, 2041, or earlier if a termination event occurs.
 
 
The trust has issued Retail HOLDRS under the depositary trust agreement described in this prospectus under the heading “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement.”  The trust may issue additional Retail HOLDRS on a continuous basis when an investor deposits the requisite underlying securities with the trustee.
 
You may only acquire, hold, trade and surrender Retail HOLDRS in a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS and round-lot multiples.  The trust will only issue Retail HOLDRS upon the deposit of the whole shares of underlying securities that are represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  In the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, or other distribution by the issuer of an underlying security that results in a fractional share becoming represented by a round-lot of Retail HOLDRS, the trust may require a minimum of more than one round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS for an issuance so that the trust will always receive whole share amounts for issuance of Retail HOLDRS.
 
Retail HOLDRS will represent your individual and undivided beneficial ownership interest in the specified underlying securities.  The companies selected as part of this receipt program are listed above in the section entitled “Highlights of Retail HOLDRS—The Retail HOLDRS.”
 
Beneficial owners of Retail HOLDRS will have the same rights and privileges as they would have if they beneficially owned the underlying securities in “street name” outside of the trust.  These include the right of investors to instruct the trustee to vote the underlying securities, attend shareholder’s meetings and to receive dividends and other distributions on the underlying securities, if any are declared and paid to the trustee by an issuer of an underlying security, as well as the right to pledge Retail HOLDRS or cancel Retail HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities.  See “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement.”  Retail HOLDRS are not intended to change your beneficial ownership in the underlying securities under U.S. federal securities laws, including sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
The trust will not publish or otherwise calculate the aggregate value of the underlying securities represented by a receipt.  Retail HOLDRS may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower than the aggregate value of the corresponding underlying securities.  If, in such case, an owner of Retail HOLDRS wishes to realize the dollar value of the underlying securities, that owner will have to cancel the Retail HOLDRS.  Such cancellation will require payment of fees and expenses as described in “Description of the Depositary Trust Agreement—Withdrawal of underlying securities.”
 
Retail HOLDRS are evidenced by one or more global certificates that the trustee has deposited with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC.  Retail HOLDRS are available only in book-entry form.  Owners of Retail HOLDRS may hold their Retail HOLDRS through DTC, if they are participants in DTC, or indirectly through entities that are participants in DTC.
 
 
 
 
Selection criteria.  The underlying securities of the Retail HOLDRS initially included the shares of common stock of a group of specified companies that, at the time of initial selection, among other things, sold merchandise to retail consumers through traditional retail stores, the Internet, mail order catalogs and other outlets and whose securities were registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.  The issuers of the underlying securities were considered to be among the largest, most liquid companies involved in the retailing industry as measured by market capitalization and trading volume.  As a result of a reconstitution event, a distribution of securities by an underlying issuer or other event, the companies whose common stock is included in the Retail HOLDRS may no longer meet the initial selection criteria and may no longer consist exclusively of securities issued by companies involved in the retailing industry.
 
Underlying securities.  For a list of the underlying securities represented by Retail HOLDRS, please refer to “Highlights of Retail HOLDRS—The Retail HOLDRS.”  The underlying securities may change as a result of a reconstitution event, a distribution of securities by an underlying issuer or other event.
 
No investigation.  The trust, the trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and any affiliate of these entities have not performed any investigation or review of the selected companies, including the public filings by the companies.  Accordingly, before you acquire Retail HOLDRS, you should consider publicly available financial and other information about the issuers of the underlying securities.  See “Risk Factors” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”  Investors and market participants should not conclude that the inclusion of a company in the list is any form of investment recommendation of that company by the trust, the trustee, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or any of their respective affiliates.
 
General background and historical information.  For a brief description of the business of each of the issuers of the underlying securities and monthly pricing information showing the historical performance of each underlying issuer’s securities, see “Annex A.”
 
The following table and graph set forth the composite performance of all of the underlying securities currently represented by a single Retail HOLDR, measured at the close of the business day as of the end of each month from January 30, 1998 to February 28, 2011.  The performance table and graph data are adjusted for any splits that may have occurred over the measurement period.  Past performance of the underlying securities are not necessarily indicative of future values.
 
1998
 
Closing
Price
 
1999
 
Closing
Price
 
2000
 
Closing
Price
 
2001
 
Closing
Price
 
January 30
    42.86  
January 29
    84.91  
January 31
    90.37  
January 31
    93.76  
February 27
    47.57  
February 26
    85.13  
February 29
    88.36  
February 28
    87.67  
March 31
    50.94  
March 31
    88.45  
March 31
    100.89  
March 30
    85.34  
April 30
    51.45  
April 30
    86.65  
April 28
    93.43  
April 30
    89.32  
May 29
    54.34  
May 28
    81.04  
May 31
    88.25  
May 31
    90.75  
June 30
    59.33  
June 30
    90.48  
June 30
    86.92  
June 29
    85.92  
July 31
    60.31  
July 30
    86.27  
July 31
    86.62  
July 31
    89.94  
August 31
    53.50  
August 31
    81.10  
August 31
    81.15  
August 31
    82.01  
September 30
    54.55  
September 30
    83.48  
September 29
    85.06  
September 28
    73.77  
October 30
    61.78  
October 29
    89.91  
October 31
    84.02  
October 31
    75.46  
November 30
    69.18  
November 30
    94.94  
November 30
    82.67  
November 30
    86.30  
December 31
    80.16  
December 31
    104.84  
December 29
    87.00  
December 31
    90.08  

2002
 
Closing
Price
 
2003
 
Closing Price
 
2004
 
Closing Price
 
2005
 
Closing Price
 
January 31
    91.93  
January 31
    62.43  
January 30
    84.10  
January 31
    92.64  
February 28
    92.07  
February 28
    63.22  
February 27
    89.37  
February 28
    91.65  
March 28
    92.86  
March 31
    66.70  
March 31
    88.79  
March 31
    90.66  
April 30
    89.73  
April 30
    72.98  
April 30
    86.46  
April 29
    85.30  
May 31
    87.61  
May 30
    75.13  
May 28
    87.69  
May 31
    91.09  
June 28
    82.18  
June 30
    77.24  
June 30
    86.72  
June 30
    93.61  
July 31
    73.00  
July 31
    79.35  
July 30
    83.78  
July 29
    100.61  
August 30
    74.70  
August 29
    85.32  
August 31
    83.88  
August 31
    94.02  
September 30
    66.27  
September 30
    80.36  
September 30
    86.73  
September 30
    91.21  
October 31
    70.82  
October 31
    88.39  
October 29
    90.18  
October 31
    92.77  
November 29
    71.93  
November 28
    87.99  
November 30
    91.22  
November 30
    95.91  
December 31
    65.97  
December 31
    85.33  
December 31
    93.44  
December 30
    94.25  
 
 

 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
January 31
    94.19  
January 31
    103.39  
January 31
    95.43  
January 30
    68.43  
February 28
    96.10  
February 28
    102.13  
February 29
    89.87  
February 27
    66.51  
March 31
    96.80  
March 30
    101.21  
March 31
    91.99  
March 31
    74.22  
April 28
    95.06  
April 30
    103.35  
April 30
    96.71  
April 30
    80.90  
May 31
    93.30  
May 31
    105.97  
May 30
    96.55  
May 29
    77.73  
June 30
    94.45  
June 29
    104.76  
June 30
    88.44  
June 30
    77.64  
July 31
    90.43  
July 31
    100.02  
July 31
    88.64  
July 31
    82.92  
August 31
    92.30  
August 31
    101.98  
August 29
    95.81  
August 31
    85.95  
September 29
    97.07  
September  28
    100.17  
September 30
    89.90  
September 30
    87.86  
October 31
    100.23  
October 31
    98.97  
October  31
    78.01  
October 30
    89.85  
November 30
    97.60  
November 30
    96.84  
November 28
    72.79  
November 30
    93.93  
December 29
    99.47  
December 31
    93.54  
December 31
    75.03  
December 31
    93.80  

2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
   
January 29
    92.06  
January 31
    105.32    
February 26
    95.91  
February 28
    106.48    
March 31
    100.60              
April 30
    103.44              
May 28
    97.08              
June 30
    85.87              
July 30
    89.47              
August 31
    87.01              
September 30
    98.75              
October 29
    99.21              
November 30
    102.87              
December 31
    106.56              
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
General.  The depositary trust agreement, dated as of March 12, 2001, among Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, other depositors and the owners of the Retail HOLDRS, provides that Retail HOLDRS will represent an owner’s undivided beneficial ownership interest in the securities of the underlying companies.
 
The trustee.  The Bank of New York Mellon serves as trustee for Retail HOLDRS.  On July 1, 2007, the Bank of New York Company, Inc. and Mellon Financial Corporation merged into The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or The Bank of New York Mellon.  The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York state-chartered banking organization, is a provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high net-worth individuals, providing asset and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing and execution services and treasury services.
 
Issuance, transfer and surrender of Retail HOLDRS.  You may create and cancel Retail HOLDRS only in round-lots of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  You may create Retail HOLDRS by delivering to the trustee the requisite underlying securities.  The trust will only issue Retail HOLDRS upon the deposit of the whole shares represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  In the event that a fractional share comes to be represented by a round-lot of Retail HOLDRS, the trust may require a minimum of more than one round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS for an issuance so that the trust will always receive whole share amounts for issuance of Retail HOLDRS.  Similarly, you must surrender Retail HOLDRS in integral multiples of 100 Retail HOLDRS to withdraw deposited shares from the trust.  The trustee will not deliver fractional shares of underlying securities, and to the extent that any cancellation of Retail HOLDRS would otherwise require the delivery of fractional shares, the trust will deliver cash in lieu of such shares.  You may request withdrawal of your deposited shares during the trustee’s normal business hours.  The trustee expects that in most cases it will deliver your deposited shares within one business day of your withdrawal request.
 
Voting rights.  You will receive proxy soliciting materials provided by issuers of the deposited shares so as to permit you to give the trustee instructions as to how to vote on matters to be considered at any annual or special meetings held by issuers of the underlying securities.
 
Under the depositary trust agreement, any beneficial owner of Retail HOLDRS, other than Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, owning Retail HOLDRS for its own proprietary account as principal, will have the right to vote to dissolve and liquidate the trust.
 
Distributions.  You will be entitled to receive, net of trustee fees, distributions of cash, including dividends, securities or property, if any, made with respect to the underlying securities.  The trustee will use its reasonable efforts to ensure that it distributes these distributions as promptly as practicable after the date on which it receives the distribution.  Therefore, you may receive your distributions substantially later than you would have had you held the underlying securities directly.  Any distributions of securities by an issuer of underlying securities will be deposited into the trust and will become part of the Retail HOLDRS unless such securities are not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange or such securities have a different Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification than any of the underlying securities in the Retail HOLDRS at the time of the distribution of such securities.  In addition, if the issuer of underlying securities offers rights to acquire additional underlying securities or other securities, the rights will be distributed to you through the trustee, if practicable, and if the rights and the securities that those rights relate to are exempt from registration or are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  Otherwise, if practicable, the rights will be disposed of and the net proceeds distributed to you by the trustee.  In all other cases, the rights will lapse.
 
You will be obligated to pay any tax or other charge that may become due with respect to Retail HOLDRS.  The trustee may deduct the amount of any tax or other governmental charge from a distribution before making payment to you.  In addition, the trustee will deduct its quarterly custody fee of $2.00 for each round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS from quarterly dividends, if any, paid to the trustee by the issuers of the underlying securities.  With respect to the aggregate custody fee payable in any calendar year for each Retail 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.
 
 
 
Record dates.  With respect to dividend payments and voting instructions, the trustee expects to fix the trust’s record dates as close as possible to the record date fixed by the issuer of the underlying securities.
 
Shareholder communications.  The trustee promptly will forward to you all shareholder communications that it receives from issuers of the underlying securities.
 
Withdrawal of underlying securities.  You may surrender your Retail HOLDRS and receive underlying securities during the trustee’s normal business hours and upon the payment of applicable fees, taxes or governmental charges, if any.  You should receive your underlying securities no later than the business day after the trustee receives your request.  If you surrender Retail HOLDRS in order to receive underlying securities, you will pay to the trustee a cancellation fee of up to $10.00 per round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.
 
Further issuances of Retail HOLDRS.  The depositary trust agreement provides for further issuances of Retail HOLDRS on a continuous basis without your consent.
 
Reconstitution events.  The depositary trust agreement provides for the automatic distribution of underlying securities from Retail HOLDRS to you in the following four circumstances:
 
 
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 Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail 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.
 
To the extent a distribution of underlying securities 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.
 
As provided in the depositary trust agreement, securities of a new company will be added to the Retail HOLDRS, as a result of a distribution of securities by an underlying issuer, where a corporate event occurs, such as a merger, or where the securities of an underlying issuer are exchanged for the securities of another company, unless the securities received have a different Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classification than any of the underlying securities represented in the Retail 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 Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS or distributed from the Retail 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.  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 Retail HOLDRS are currently represented in the Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples GICS sectors.  The Standard & Poor’s GICS sector classifications of the securities included in the Retail 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 of the trust.  The trust will terminate if the trustee resigns and no successor trustee is appointed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as initial depositor, within 60 days from the date the trustee provides notice to the initial depositor of its intent to resign.  Upon termination, the beneficial owners of Retail HOLDRS will surrender their Retail HOLDRS as provided in the depositary trust agreement, including payment of any fees of the trustee or applicable taxes or governmental charges due in connection with delivery to the owners of the underlying securities.  The trust also will terminate if Retail 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 Retail HOLDRS are delisted.  Finally, the trust will terminate if 75% of the owners of outstanding Retail 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 to you as promptly as practicable after the termination event occurs.
 
Amendment of the depositary trust agreement.  The trustee and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as initial depositor, may amend any provisions of the depositary trust agreement without the consent of any other depositor or any of the owners of the Retail HOLDRS.  Promptly after the execution of any amendment to the agreement, the trustee must furnish or cause to be furnished written notification of the substance of the amendment to each owner of Retail HOLDRS.  Any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges, subject to exceptions, or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of the owners of Retail HOLDRS will not become effective until 30 days after notice of the amendment is given to the owners of Retail HOLDRS.
 
Issuance and cancellation fees.  If you wish to create Retail HOLDRS by delivering to the trust the requisite underlying securities represented by a round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS, the trustee will charge you an issuance fee of up to $10.00 for each round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS.  If you wish to cancel your Retail HOLDRS and withdraw your underlying securities, the trustee will charge you a cancellation fee of up to $10.00 for each round-lot of 100 Retail HOLDRS issued.  The trustee may negotiate either of these fees depending on the volume, frequency and size of the issuance or cancellation transactions.
 
Commissions.  If you choose to create Retail HOLDRS you will be responsible for paying any sales commissions associated with your purchase of the underlying securities that is charged by your broker, whether it be Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or another broker, in addition to the issuance fee described above.
 
Custody fees.  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 Retail HOLDRS to be deducted from any cash dividend payments 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 Retail 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.  The trustee cannot recapture unpaid custody fees from prior years.
 
Address of the trustee.  The Bank of New York Mellon, ADR Division, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.
 
Governing law.  The depositary trust agreement and the Retail HOLDRS are governed by the laws of the State of New York.  The trustee will provide the depositary trust agreement to any owner of the underlying securities free of charge upon written request.
 
 
 
Duties and immunities of the trustee.  The trustee assumes no responsibility or liability for, and makes no representations as to, the validity or sufficiency, or as to the accuracy of the recitals, if any, set forth in the Retail HOLDRS.
 
The trustee has undertaken to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the depositary trust agreement.  Subject to the preceding sentence, the trustee will be liable for its own negligence or misconduct except for good faith errors in judgment so long as the trustee was not negligent in ascertaining the relevant facts.
 
 
 
 
 General
 
The following discussion represents the opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, our special U.S. federal income tax counsel, as to the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the Retail HOLDRS for receipt holders.  A “U.S. receipt holder” is a receipt holder that is:
 
 
·
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 “non-U.S. receipt holder” is a receipt holder that is an individual, a corporation, an estate or a trust that is neither a U.S. receipt holder nor a partnership (or entity treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
If a partnership (or an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Retail HOLDRS, the tax treatment of the partnership and each partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.  Partnerships acquiring Retail HOLDRS, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their tax advisors.
 
This discussion is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions currently in effect, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.  The discussion does not deal with all U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules, such as (without limitation) tax-exempt entities, banks, U.S. receipt holders that directly or indirectly own 10% or more of the voting stock of an issuer of the underlying securities, dealers in securities, U.S. receipt holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investors who acquire or hold any Retail HOLDRS as part of a conversion transaction, straddle, hedging or other integrated transaction, certain former citizens and residents of the United States and persons subject to U.S. estate, gift or alternative minimum tax.  In addition, this discussion generally is limited to investors who will hold the Retail HOLDRS as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  Moreover, this discussion does not address Retail HOLDRS held by a partnership or other flow through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  We recommend that you consult with your own tax advisor with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction.
 
 Taxation of the trust
 
The trust will provide for flow through tax consequences as it will be treated as a grantor trust or custodial arrangement for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
 Taxation of Retail HOLDRS
 
A U.S. receipt holder purchasing and owning Retail HOLDRS will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as directly owning a proportionate share of the underlying securities represented by Retail HOLDRS.  Consequently, if there is a taxable cash distribution on an underlying security, a U.S. receipt holder will recognize income with respect to the distribution at the time the distribution is received by the trustee, not at the time that the U.S. receipt holder receives the cash distribution from the trustee.
 
 
 
Qualified dividend income received in respect of Retail HOLDRS by U.S. receipt holders who are individuals, trusts and estates will be eligible for U.S. federal income taxation at preferential rates, which are currently scheduled to expire for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.  Qualified dividend income includes dividends received from domestic corporations and “qualified foreign corporations,” as such term is defined below under “Special considerations with respect to underlying securities of foreign issuers.”  In order for such dividends to qualify for the preferential rates, specific minimum holding period requirements must be met, and for this purpose, a U.S. receipt holder’s holding period with respect to an underlying security may be tolled for any period in which such U.S. receipt holder has diminished its risk of loss in respect of such security by, for example, entering into a hedging transaction.  Special rules apply to a U.S. receipt holder who leverages its investment in Retail HOLDRS.  U.S. receipt holders that are corporations may be eligible for a dividends-received deduction in respect of dividends received from domestic corporations.
 
A U.S. receipt holder will determine its initial tax basis in each of the underlying securities by allocating the purchase price for the Retail HOLDRS among the underlying securities based on their relative fair market values at the time of purchase.  Similarly, when a U.S. receipt holder sells Retail HOLDRS, it will determine the amount realized with respect to each security by allocating the sales price among the underlying securities based on their relative fair market values at the time of sale.  A U.S. receipt holder’s gain or loss with respect to each security will be computed by subtracting its adjusted basis in the security from the amount realized on the security.  With respect to purchases of Retail HOLDRS for cash in the secondary market, a U.S. receipt holder’s aggregate tax basis in each of the underlying securities will be equal to the purchase price of the Retail HOLDRS.  Similarly, with respect to sales of Retail HOLDRS for cash in the secondary market, the amount realized with respect to a sale of Retail HOLDRS will be equal to the aggregate amount realized with respect to each of the underlying securities.
 
The distribution of any securities by the trust upon the surrender of Retail HOLDRS, the occurrence of a reconstitution event or a termination event will not be a taxable event, except to the extent that cash is distributed in lieu of fractional shares.  Gain or loss with respect to fractional shares shall be computed by allocating a portion of the aggregate tax basis of the distributed securities to such fractional shares.  The U.S. receipt holder’s aggregate tax basis with respect to the distributed securities will be the same as when held through the trust, less any tax basis allocated to fractional shares.  The U.S. receipt holder’s holding period with respect to the distributed securities will include the period that the U.S. receipt holder held the securities through the trust.
 
 Brokerage fees and custodian fees
 
The brokerage fee incurred in purchasing a receipt will be treated as part of the cost of the underlying securities.  Accordingly, a U.S. receipt holder includes this fee in its tax basis in the underlying securities.  A U.S. receipt holder will allocate the brokerage fee among the underlying securities using either a fair market value allocation or pro rata based on the number of shares of each underlying security.  Similarly, the brokerage fee incurred in selling Retail HOLDRS will reduce the amount realized with respect to the underlying securities.
 
A U.S. receipt holder will be required to include in its income the full amount of dividends paid on the underlying securities, even though the depositary trust agreement provides that the custodian fees will be deducted directly from any dividends paid.  These custodian fees will be treated as an expense incurred in connection with a U.S. receipt holder’s investment in the underlying securities and may be deductible.  If a U.S. receipt holder is an individual, estate or trust, however, the deduction of its share of custodian fees will be a miscellaneous itemized deduction that may be disallowed in whole or in part.
 
 Special considerations with respect to underlying securities of foreign issuers
 
If any of the underlying securities are securities of foreign issuers, the gross amount of any taxable cash distribution generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction provided to corporations.
 
 
 
Dividends received by certain U.S. receipt holders from an issuer of underlying securities that is a “qualified foreign corporation” will be eligible for U.S. federal income taxation at the preferential rates for dividends mentioned above.  A qualified foreign corporation includes:
 
 
·
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;
 
but will not include a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”).
 
If a foreign issuer pays a dividend in a currency other than in U.S. dollars, the amount of the dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be the U.S. dollar value of the dividend (determined at the spot rate on the date of the payment) regardless of whether the payment is later converted into U.S. dollars.  In this case, the U.S. receipt holder may recognize ordinary income or loss as a result of currency fluctuations between the date on which the dividend is paid and the date the dividend amount is converted into U.S. dollars.
 
Subject to certain conditions and limitations, any foreign income tax withheld on dividends may be deducted from taxable income (provided the U.S. receipt holder does not elect to claim a credit for any foreign income taxes paid or accrued during that taxable year) or credited against a U.S. receipt holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.  Dividends distributed by a foreign issuer generally will constitute “passive category income.”  For purposes of the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation, dividends received by a U.S. receipt holder with respect to an underlying security of a foreign issuer generally will be treated as foreign-source income while any gain or loss recognized from the sale of such security generally will be treated as from sources within the United States.  Accordingly, if any foreign income taxes are withheld upon the sale of an underlying security of a foreign issuer, the availability of foreign tax credits with respect to such taxes may be limited unless the U.S. receipt holder has other foreign-source income.  The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex and we recommend that U.S. receipt holders consult their own tax advisors to determine whether and to what extent a credit would be available.
 
Dividends and distributions made by a foreign issuer may be subject to a foreign withholding tax.  Some foreign issuers may make arrangements through which holders of their American depositary shares or global shares can apply for a refund of withheld taxes.  With respect to these issuers, U.S. receipt holders of Retail HOLDRS may be able to use these arrangements to apply for a refund of withheld taxes.  In some cases, however, the U.S. receipt holders of Retail HOLDRS may have to apply independently  to a foreign tax authority for a refund of withheld taxes.
 
Furthermore, special U.S. federal income tax rules apply to U.S. persons owning shares of a PFIC.  The initial depositor and the trustee do not undertake to review, periodically or otherwise, or make inquiries regarding the PFIC status of the underlying issuers or to notify the U.S. receipt holders of such status, and no assurances can be made that the applicable tax law or other relevant circumstances will not change in a manner that affects the PFIC determination.  A foreign corporation generally will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which, after applying relevant look-through rules, either:
 
 
·
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.
 
Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions.
 
 
 
If a corporation were classified as a PFIC, a U.S. receipt holder could be subject to increased tax liability, possibly including an interest charge, upon the sale or other disposition of the Retail HOLDRS or of the underlying securities or upon the receipt of “excess distributions.”  To avoid the interest charge provisions described in the preceding sentence, a U.S. receipt holder may be able to make one of certain elections (to the extent available under specific rules and, if applicable, the underlying issuer provides certain requisite information) including an election to be taxed currently on its pro rata portion of the corporation’s income.  If such an election were made, a U.S. receipt holder would be required to include its pro rata share of the corporation’s income whether or not the income was distributed in the form of dividends or otherwise.
 
U.S. receipt holders also generally would be required to file Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 8621 in any year in which at least one of the underlying issuers is classified as a PFIC.
 
U.S. receipt holders should also be aware that recently enacted legislation may broaden the current IRS Form 8621 filing requirements or impose an additional annual filing requirement for U.S. persons owning shares of a PFIC.  The legislation does not describe what information would be required to be included in either situation, but grants the Secretary of the Treasury Department power to make this determination.  U.S. receipt holders should consult their independent tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to their purchase, ownership and disposition of the Retail HOLDRS, including the availability and advisability of making any elections thereunder and the application of the recently enacted legislation to their particular situations.

 
 Non-U.S. receipt holders
 
A non-U.S. receipt holder generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% or a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty with respect to dividends received on underlying securities of U.S. issuers.  A non-U.S. receipt holder who wishes to claim a reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable tax treaty must comply with certification requirements.  However, if that income 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, then those dividends will be exempt from withholding tax, provided the non-U.S. receipt holder complies with applicable certification requirements.
 
A non-U.S. receipt holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax with respect to dividends received on any underlying securities of a foreign issuer, unless that income 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.
 
With respect to dividends of U.S. and any foreign issuers, a non-U.S. receipt holder’s dividends that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business or, where a tax treaty applies, dividends attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons.  In addition to this graduated tax, effectively connected dividends or, where a tax treaty applies, dividends attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment received by a corporate non-U.S. receipt holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty.  Under some circumstances, a corporate non- U.S. receipt holder whose dividends are effectively connected or attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment may be entitled to a dividends-received deduction equal to 70% or 80% of the amount of the dividend.
 
A non-U.S. receipt holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax pursuant to a tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
 
A non-U.S. receipt holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax with respect to gain recognized upon the sale or other disposition of Retail HOLDRS or of the underlying securities unless:
 
 
·
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 disposition or the period during which the non-U.S. receipt holder held the common stock of such issuer and (a) the common stock is not considered to be “regularly traded on an established securities market” or (b) the non-U.S. receipt holder owned, actually or constructively, at any time during the shorter of the periods described above, more than five percent of the common stock of such issuer.  It is expected that the underlying securities are currently “regularly traded on an established securities market” although no assurances can be made that the securities will continue to be so traded.
 
A non-U.S. receipt holder described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate), which gain may be offset by certain losses.  A non-U.S. receipt holder described in the second or third bullet points above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain on a net income basis at the applicable graduated individual or corporate rates (and, in the case of a corporate non-U.S. receipt holder, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax, subject to reduction by an applicable income tax treaty).
 
 Backup withholding and information reporting
 
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with dividend payments made with respect to the underlying securities, or the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the Retail HOLDRS (or the underlying securities).  If you are a U.S. receipt holder, you will be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax at the applicable rate on these payments unless you are an exempt holder or provide your taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and comply with certain certification procedures.  If you are a non-U.S. receipt holder, you may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that you are not a U.S. person in order to avoid the information reporting and backup withholding tax requirements.  However, payments of dividends to non-U.S. receipt holders will be reported to the IRS even if such payments are not otherwise subject to the information reporting requirements.
 
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis.
 
In addition, U.S. receipt holders should be aware that recently enacted legislation imposes new reporting requirements with respect to the holding of certain foreign financial assets, including stock of foreign issuers which is not held in an account maintained by certain financial institutions, if the aggregate value of all of such assets exceeds U.S. $50,000.  Similarly, non-U.S. receipt holders should be aware of recent legislation that, beginning on January 1, 2013, would impose a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (which could include dividends on and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of stock of a U.S. issuer) made to a non-U.S. entity that fails to disclose the identity of its direct or indirect “substantial United States owners’’ or to certify that it has no such owners.  Various exceptions are provided under the legislation and additional exceptions may be provided by subsequent guidance.  Receipt holders should consult their independent tax advisors regarding the potential application and impact of these new requirements to their purchase, ownership and disposition of the Retail HOLDRS based upon their particular situations.

The preceding discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant in light of a receipt holder’s or an issuer’s particular facts and circumstances.  We recommend that investors consult their own tax advisors.
 
 
 
 
Any plan fiduciary which proposes to have a plan acquire Retail HOLDRS should consult with its counsel with respect to the potential applicability of the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and Section 4975 of the Code to this investment, and whether any exemption would be applicable and determine on its own whether all conditions have been satisfied.  Moreover, each plan fiduciary should determine whether, under the general fiduciary standards of investment prudence and diversification, an acquisition of Retail HOLDRS is appropriate for the plan, taking into account the overall investment policy of the plan and the composition of the plan’s investment portfolio.
 
 
In accordance with the depositary trust agreement, the trust issued Retail HOLDRS to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has deposited the underlying securities to receive Retail HOLDRS.  The trust delivered the initial distribution of Retail HOLDRS against deposit of the underlying securities in New York, New York on approximately January 17, 2001.
 
Investors who purchase Retail HOLDRS through a fee-based brokerage account will pay fees charged by the brokerage account.  We recommend that investors review the terms of their brokerage accounts for details on applicable charges.
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has from time to time provided investment banking and other financial services to some of the issuers of the underlying securities and expects in the future to provide these services, for which they have received and will receive customary fees and commissions.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated also may have served as counterparty in other transactions with some of the issuers of the underlying securities.
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has used and may continue to use this prospectus, as updated from time to time, in connection with offers and sales related to market-making transactions in the Retail HOLDRS.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated may act as principal or agent in these transactions.  Market-making sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has agreed to indemnify the trustee against some civil liabilities related to acts performed or not performed by the trustee in accordance with the depositary trust agreement or periodic reports filed or not filed with the SEC with respect to the Retail HOLDRS.  Should a court determine not to enforce the indemnification provision, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated also has agreed to contribute to payments the trustee may be required to make with respect to these liabilities.
 
 
Legal matters, including the validity of the Retail HOLDRS, were passed upon for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the initial depositor and the underwriter in connection with the initial offering of Retail HOLDRS, by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.  Shearman & Sterling LLP, as special U.S. tax counsel to the trust, also rendered an opinion regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the Retail HOLDRS.
 
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC covering the Retail HOLDRS.  While this prospectus is a part of the registration statement, it does not contain all the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement.  You should review the full text of those exhibits.
 
The registration statement is available over the Internet at the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.  You also may read and copy the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference rooms at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated will not file any reports pursuant to the Exchange Act.  The trust will file modified reports pursuant to the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
Since the securities of the issuers of the underlying securities are registered under the Exchange Act, the issuers of the underlying securities are required to file periodically financial and other information specified by the SEC.
 
For more information about the issuers of the underlying securities, information provided to or filed with the SEC by the issuers of the underlying securities with respect to their registered securities can be inspected at the SEC’s public reference facilities or accessed through the SEC’s Web site referenced above.  However, some of the issuers of the underlying securities may be considered foreign issuers.  The requirements for filing periodic financial and other information for foreign issuers differ from that of domestic issuers.  In particular, foreign issuers are not required to file quarterly reports with the SEC and are not required to file periodic financial and other information on EDGAR.  Therefore, this information may not be accessible through the SEC’s Web site.  Information regarding the issuers of the underlying securities may also be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated information.
 
The trust and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its affiliates are not affiliated with the issuers of the underlying securities, and the issuers of the underlying securities have no obligations with respect to Retail HOLDRS.  This prospectus relates only to Retail HOLDRS and does not relate to the other securities of the issuers of the underlying securities.  The information in this prospectus regarding the issuers of the underlying securities has been derived from the publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph.  We have not participated in the preparation of these documents or made any due diligence inquiries with respect to the issuers of the underlying securities in connection with Retail HOLDRS.  We make no representation that these publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the issuers of the underlying securities are accurate or complete.  Furthermore, we cannot assure you that all events occurring prior to the date of this prospectus, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph, that would affect the trading price of the securities of the issuers of the underlying securities, and therefore the offering and trading prices of the Retail HOLDRS have been publicly disclosed.
 



 
ANNEX A
 
This annex forms an integral part of the prospectus.  The following information regarding the underlying securities was derived from publicly available information released by third-party sources.  None of this information was prepared by us or our affiliates or on our or our affiliates’ behalf and none of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the Bank of New York Mellon or any of their respective affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information.
 
The following tables provide a brief description of the business of each of the issuers of the underlying securities and set forth the split-adjusted closing market prices, as reported on the applicable primary U.S. trading market, of each of the underlying securities in each month during 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 through February 28, 2010.  The historical prices of the underlying securities should not be taken as an indication of future performance.
 
 
AMAZON.COM, INC. (AMZN)
 
Amazon.com, Inc. operates as an online retailer in North America and internationally.  The company operates various retail Web sites.  Its product categories include books; movies, music, and games; digital downloads; electronics and computers; home and garden; toys, kids, and baby; grocery; apparel, shoes, and jewelry; health and beauty; sports and outdoors; and tools, auto, and industrial.  The company serves its consumer customers through its retail Websites and focuses on selection, price, and convenience.  It also offers programs that enable seller customers to sell their products on its Websites and their own branded Websites.  In addition, the company serves developer customers through Amazon Web Services, which provides access to technology infrastructure for developers.  Further, it manufactures and sells the kindle e-reader.  Additionally, the company offers co-branded credit card programs, fulfillment, and other marketing and promotional services, such as online advertising.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing
Price
 
2011
 
Closing
Price
 
January
    44.82  
January
    37.67  
January
    77.70  
January
    58.82  
January
    125.41  
January
    169.64  
February
    37.44  
February
    39.14  
February
    64.47  
February
    64.79  
February
    118.40  
February
    173.29  
March
    36.53  
March
    39.79  
March
    71.30  
March
    73.44  
March
    135.77            
April
    35.21  
April
    61.33  
April
    78.63  
April
    80.52  
April
    137.10            
May
    34.61  
May
    69.14  
May
    81.62  
May
    77.99  
May
    125.46            
June
    38.68  
June
    68.41  
June
    73.33  
June
    83.66  
June
    109.26            
July
    26.89  
July
    78.54  
July
    76.34  
July
    85.76  
July
    117.89            
August
    30.83  
August
    79.91  
August
    80.81  
August
    81.19  
August
    124.83            
September
    32.12  
September
    93.15  
September
    72.76  
September
    93.36  
September
    157.06            
October
    38.09  
October
    89.15  
October
    57.24  
October
    118.81  
October
    165.23            
November
    40.34  
November
    90.56  
November
    42.70  
November
    135.91  
November
    175.40            
December
    39.46  
December
    92.64  
December
    51.28  
December
    134.52  
December
    180.00            

 
 
BEST BUY CO., INC. (BBY)
 
Best Buy Co., Inc. operates as a retailer of consumer electronics, home office products, entertainment software, appliances, and related services.  The company’s stores offer video products, such as televisions, navigation products, digital cameras and accessories, e-readers, and DVD and Blu-ray players; and audio products comprising MP3 players, home theater audio systems and components, musical instruments, and mobile electronics.  Its stores also provide home office products comprising notebook and desktop computers, monitors, mobile phones and related subscription service commissions, hard drives, and networking equipment; entertainment software products, such as video gaming hardware and software, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, digital downloads, and computer software; and small electric appliances, as well as snacks and beverages.  In addition, the company offers service contracts, warranties, repair, delivery, and computer-related services, as well as installation services for home theaters, and mobile audio and appliances.  It operates its retail stores and call centers, as well as online retail operations under various brand names, such as Best Buy, The Carphone Warehouse, Five Star, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales, The Phone House, and Speakeasy.  The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. and changed its name to Best Buy Co., Inc. in 1983.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    50.66  
January
    50.40  
January
    48.73  
January
    28.02  
January
    36.65  
January
    34.00  
February
    53.86  
February
    46.48  
February
    43.01  
February
    28.82  
February
    36.50  
February
    32.24  
March
    55.93  
March
    48.72  
March
    41.46  
March
    37.96  
March
    42.54            
April
    56.66  
April
    46.65  
April
    43.02  
April
    38.38  
April
    45.52            
May
    53.00  
May
    48.29  
May
    46.69  
May
    35.10  
May
    42.25            
June
    54.84  
June
    46.67  
June
    39.60  
June
    33.49  
June
    33.86            
July
    45.34  
July
    44.59  
July
    39.72  
July
    37.37  
July
    34.66            
August
    47.00  
August
    43.95  
August
    44.77  
August
    36.28  
August
    31.39            
September
    53.56  
September
    46.02  
September
    37.50  
September
    37.52  
September
    40.83            
October
    55.25  
October
    48.52  
October
    26.88  
October
    38.18  
October
    42.98            
November
    54.97  
November
    51.05  
November
    20.71  
November
    42.83  
November
    42.72            
December
    49.19  
December
    52.65  
December
    28.11  
December
    39.46  
December
    34.29            

 
 
COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION (COST)
 
Costco Wholesale Corporation operates membership warehouses that offer a selection of branded and private label products in a range of merchandise categories in no-frills, self-service warehouse facilities.  The company’s product categories include candy, snack foods, tobacco, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and cleaning and institutional supplies; appliances, electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, office supplies, garden and patio, sporting goods, furniture, and automotive supplies; dry and institutionally packaged foods; apparel, domestics, jewelry, housewares, media, home furnishings, cameras, and small appliances; meat, bakery, deli, and produce; and gas stations, pharmacy, food court, optical, one-hour photo, hearing aids, and travel.  It offers Business and Gold Star (individual) memberships.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    49.89  
January
    56.16  
January
    67.94  
January
    45.03  
January
    57.43  
January
    71.84  
February
    51.19  
February
    55.89  
February
    61.92  
February
    42.34  
February
    60.97  
February
    74.79  
March
    54.16  
March
    53.84  
March
    64.97  
March
    46.32  
March
    59.71            
April
    54.43  
April
    53.57  
April
    71.25  
April
    48.60  
April
    59.08            
May
    52.93  
May
    56.47  
May
    71.32  
May
    48.52  
May
    58.25            
June
    57.13  
June
    58.52  
June
    70.14  
June
    45.78  
June
    54.83            
July
    52.76  
July
    59.80  
July
    62.68  
July
    49.50  
July
    56.71            
August
    46.79  
August
    61.75  
August
    67.06  
August
    50.98  
August
    56.50            
September
    49.68  
September
    61.37  
September
    64.93  
September
    56.38  
September
    64.49            
October
    53.38  
October
    67.26  
October
    57.01  
October
    56.85  
October
    62.77            
November
    52.30  
November
    67.40  
November
    51.47  
November
    59.91  
November
    67.61            
December
    52.87  
December
    69.76  
December
    52.50  
December
    59.17  
December
    72.21            

 
 
 
CVS CAREMARK CORPORATION (CVS)
 
CVS Caremark Corporation is a pharmacy services company in the United States.  The company operates through two segments, Pharmacy Services and Retail Pharmacy.  The Pharmacy Service segment provides a range of prescription benefit management services, including mail order pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy services, plan design and administration, formulary management, and claims processing.  This segment serves primarily employers, insurance companies, unions, government employee groups, managed care organizations and other sponsors of health benefit plans, and individuals.  The Retail Pharmacy Segment sells prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, beauty products and cosmetics, photo finishing, seasonal merchandise, greeting cards, and convenience foods through its pharmacy retail stores, and online.  This segment also provides health care services.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    27.76  
January
    33.65  
January
    38.91  
January
    26.88  
January
    32.37  
January
    34.20  
February
    28.33  
February
    31.42  
February
    40.38  
February
    25.74  
February
    33.75  
February
    33.06  
March
    29.87  
March
    34.14  
March
    40.51  
March
    27.49  
March
    36.56            
April
    29.72  
April
    36.24  
April
    40.37  
April
    31.78  
April
    36.92            
May
    27.90  
May
    38.54  
May
    42.79  
May
    29.80  
May
    34.63            
June
    30.70  
June
    36.45  
June
    39.57  
June
    31.87  
June
    29.32            
July
    32.72  
July
    35.19  
July
    36.50  
July
    33.48  
July
    30.69            
August
    33.55  
August
    37.82  
August
    36.60  
August
    37.52  
August
    26.98            
September
    32.12  
September
    39.63  
September
    33.66  
September
    35.74  
September
    31.47            
October
    31.38  
October
    41.66  
October
    30.65  
October
    35.30  
October
    30.13            
November
    28.77  
November
    40.09  
November
    28.93  
November
    31.01  
November
    31.00            
December
    30.91  
December
    39.75  
December
    28.74  
December
    32.21  
December
    34.77            

 
 
THE GAP, INC. (GPS)
 
The Gap, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailing company.  The company offers clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta brand names.  Its products include wardrobe basics, such as denim, khakis, and T-shirts; fashion apparel; casual apparel and accessories; maternity apparel; women’s underwear, sleepwear, loungewear, and sports and active apparel; and shoes and accessories.  The company also franchises agreements with unaffiliated franchisees to operate Gap and Banana Republic stores worldwide.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    18.09  
January
    19.17  
January
    19.09  
January
    11.28  
January
    19.08  
January
    19.27  
February
    18.54  
February
    19.19  
February
    20.17  
February
    10.79  
February
    21.50  
February
    22.53  
March
    18.68  
March
    17.21  
March
    19.68  
March
    12.99  
March
    23.11            
April
    18.09  
April
    17.95  
April
    18.62  
April
    15.54  
April
    24.73            
May
    18.20  
May
    18.52  
May
    18.25  
May
    17.85  
May
    21.80            
June
    17.40  
June
    19.10  
June
    16.67  
June
    16.40  
June
    19.46            
July
    17.35  
July
    17.20  
July
    16.12  
July
    16.32  
July
    18.11            
August
    16.81  
August
    18.76  
August
    19.45  
August
    19.65  
August
    16.89            
September
    18.95  
September
    18.44  
September
    17.78  
September
    21.40  
September
    18.64            
October
    21.02  
October
    18.90  
October
    12.94  
October
    21.34  
October
    19.01            
November
    18.72  
November
    20.40  
November
    13.02  
November
    21.42  
November
    21.36            
December
    19.50  
December
    21.28  
December
    13.39  
December
    20.95  
December
    22.14            

 
 
 
THE HOME DEPOT, INC. (HD)
 
The Home Depot, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer company.  The company’s Home Depot stores sell building materials, home improvement supplies, and lawn and garden products to do-it-yourself customers, do-it-for-me customers, home improvement contractors, tradespeople, and building maintenance professionals.  Its stores also offer various installation services for do-it-for-me customers.  These installation programs include products, such as carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and water heaters.  In addition, the company provides professional installation of various products that are sold through its in-home sales programs, such as generators, and furnace and central air systems.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    40.55  
January
    40.74  
January
    30.64  
January
    21.53  
January
    28.01  
January
    36.77  
February
    42.15  
February
    39.59  
February
    26.55  
February
    20.89  
February
    31.20  
February
    37.47  
March
    42.30  
March
    36.74  
March
    27.97  
March
    23.56  
March
    32.35            
April
    39.93  
April
    37.87  
April
    28.80  
April
    26.32  
April
    35.23            
May
    38.12  
May
    38.87  
May
    27.36  
May
    23.16  
May
    33.86            
June
    35.79  
June
    39.35  
June
    23.42  
June
    23.63  
June
    28.07            
July
    34.71  
July
    37.17  
July
    23.83  
July
    25.94  
July
    28.51            
August
    34.29  
August
    38.31  
August
    27.12  
August
    27.29  
August
    27.82            
September
    36.27  
September
    32.44  
September
    25.89  
September
    26.64  
September
    31.68            
October
    37.33  
October
    31.51  
October
    23.59  
October
    25.09  
October
    30.90            
November
    37.97  
November
    28.56  
November
    23.11  
November
    27.36  
November
    30.21            
December
    40.16  
December
    26.94  
December
    23.02  
December
    28.93  
December
    35.06            

 
 
KOHL’S CORPORATION (KSS)
 
Kohl’s Corporation operates department stores in the United States.  Its stores feature private, exclusive, and national brand apparel, footwear, accessories, soft home products, and housewares targeted to middle-income customers.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    44.39  
January
    70.91  
January
    45.53  
January
    36.71  
January
    50.37  
January
    50.78  
February
    48.11  
February
    69.00  
February
    44.44  
February
    35.14  
February
    53.82  
February
    53.89  
March
    53.01  
March
    76.61  
March
    42.89  
March
    42.32  
March
    54.78            
April
    55.84  
April
    74.04  
April
    48.85  
April
    45.35  
April
    54.99            
May
    53.69  
May
    75.32  
May
    44.80  
May
    42.47  
May
    50.75            
June
    59.12  
June
    71.03  
June
    40.04  
June
    42.75  
June
    47.50            
July
    56.63  
July
    60.80  
July
    41.91  
July
    48.55  
July
    47.69            
August
    62.51  
August
    59.30  
August
    49.17  
August
    51.59  
August
    46.94            
September
    64.92  
September
    57.33  
September
    46.08  
September
    57.05  
September
    52.68            
October
    70.60  
October
    54.97  
October
    35.13  
October
    57.22  
October
    51.22            
November
    69.60  
November
    49.28  
November
    32.66  
November
    53.14  
November
    56.42            
December
    68.43  
December
    45.80  
December
    36.20  
December
    53.93  
December
    54.34            

 
 
THE KROGER CO. (KR)
 
The Kroger Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer in the United States.  The company operates supermarkets under four formats:  combination food and drug stores (combo stores), multi-department stores, marketplace stores, or price impact warehouses.  The combo stores operate as food stores that offer specialty departments, including natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, and pet centers, as well as perishables, such as fresh seafood and organic produce.  The multi-department stores sell a selection of general merchandise items, which include apparel, home fashion and furnishings, electronics, automotive products, toys, and fine jewelry.  The marketplace stores offer full-service grocery and pharmacy departments, as well as a general merchandise area that includes outdoor living products, electronics, home goods, and toys.  The combo, multi department, and marketplace stores also have fuel centers.  Its price impact warehouse stores offer grocery, health, and beauty care items.  These stores also offer meat, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce items.  In addition, the company operates fuel centers; and convenience stores that offer limited assortment of staple food items and general merchandise, as well as sell gasoline.  The Kroger Co. also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    18.40  
January
    25.60  
January
    25.45  
January
    22.50  
January
    21.43  
January
    21.40  
February
    20.04  
February
    25.64  
February
    24.25  
February
    20.67  
February
    22.10  
February
    22.90  
March
    20.36  
March
    28.25  
March
    25.40  
March
    21.22  
March
    21.66            
April
    20.26  
April
    29.51  
April
    27.25  
April
    21.62  
April
    22.23            
May
    20.11  
May
    30.32  
May
    27.64  
May
    22.80  
May
    20.13            
June
    21.86  
June
    28.13  
June
    28.87  
June
    22.05  
June
    19.69            
July
    22.93  
July
    25.96  
July
    28.28  
July
    21.38  
July
    21.18            
August
    23.81  
August
    26.58  
August
    27.62  
August
    21.59  
August
    19.73            
September
    23.14  
September
    28.52  
September
    27.48  
September
    20.64  
September
    21.66            
October
    22.49  
October
    29.39  
October
    27.46  
October
    23.13  
October
    22.00            
November
    21.46  
November
    28.75  
November
    27.66  
November
    22.74  
November
    23.55            
December
    23.07  
December
    26.71  
December
    26.41  
December
    20.53  
December
    22.36            

 
 
LIMITED BRANDS, INC. (LTD)
 
Limited Brands, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of women’s intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, and accessories.  It offers lingerie, fragrances, cosmetics, shower gels, lotions, antibacterial soaps, candles, accessories, and spa products under Victoria’s Secret, Pink, La Senza, Bath & Body Works, C. O. Bigelow, The White Barn Candle Company, and Henri Bendel brands.  The company sells its merchandise through specialty retail stores, as well as through its Websites and catalogues.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    23.66  
January
    27.94  
January
    19.07  
January
    7.92  
January
    19.02  
January
    29.24  
February
    23.67  
February
    27.66  
February
    15.25  
February
    7.69  
February
    22.11  
February
    32.02  
March
    24.46  
March
    26.06  
March
    17.10  
March
    8.70  
March
    24.62            
April
    25.64  
April
    27.57  
April
    18.52  
April
    11.42  
April
    26.80            
May
    27.16  
May
    26.25  
May
    19.38  
May
    12.51  
May
    24.86            
June
    25.59  
June
    27.45  
June
    16.85  
June
    11.97  
June
    22.07            
July
    25.16  
July
    24.15  
July
    16.49  
July
    12.94  
July
    25.64            
August
    25.73  
August
    23.16  
August
    20.80  
August
    14.92  
August
    23.60            
September
    26.49  
September
    22.89  
September
    17.32  
September
    16.99  
September
    26.78            
October
    29.47  
October
    22.01  
October
    11.98  
October
    17.60  
October
    29.39            
November
    31.69  
November
    20.08  
November
    9.31  
November
    16.59  
November
    33.67            
December
    28.94  
December
    18.93  
December
    10.04  
December
    19.24  
December
    30.73            

 
 
LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC. (LOW)
 
Lowe’s Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada.  The company provides a range of products and services for home decoration, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and property maintenance.  It offers home improvement products in various categories, such as appliances, lumber, paint, flooring, building materials, millwork, lawn and landscape products, fashion plumbing, hardware, lighting, tools, seasonal living, rough plumbing, outdoor power equipment, cabinets and countertops, nursery, rough electrical, home environment, home organization, and windows and walls.  The company’s products also include boards, panel products, irrigation pipes, vinyl sidings, and ladders.  It serves homeowners and renters, including do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me customers, and others buying for personal and family use; and commercial business customers, such as construction, repair/remodel, commercial and residential property management, and business maintenance professions.  The company also offers its products online.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    31.78  
January
    33.71  
January
    26.43  
January
    18.27  
January
    21.65  
January
    24.80  
February
    34.09  
February
    32.55  
February
    23.97  
February
    15.84  
February
    23.71  
February
    26.17  
March
    32.22  
March
    31.49  
March
    22.94  
March
    18.25  
March
    24.24            
April
    31.53  
April
    30.56  
April
    25.19  
April
    21.50  
April
    27.12            
May
    31.14  
May
    32.82  
May
    24.00  
May
    19.01  
May
    24.75            
June
    30.34  
June
    30.69  
June
    20.75  
June
    19.41  
June
    20.42            
July
    28.35  
July
    28.01  
July
    20.32  
July
    22.46  
July
    20.74            
August
    27.06  
August
    31.06  
August
    24.64  
August
    21.50  
August
    20.28            
September
    28.06  
September
    28.02  
September
    23.69  
September
    20.94  
September
    22.29            
October
    30.14  
October
    26.89  
October
    21.70  
October
    19.57  
October
    21.34            
November
    30.16  
November
    24.41  
November
    20.66  
November
    21.81  
November
    22.70            
December
    31.15  
December
    22.62  
December
    21.52  
December
    23.39  
December
    25.08            

 
 
MACY’S, INC. (M)
 
Macy’s, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates department stores in the United States.  Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sells a range of merchandise, including men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel and accessories; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods.  The company maintains Web sites, such as macys.com and bloomingdales.com.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    33.32  
January
    41.49  
January
    27.62  
January
    8.95  
January
    15.93  
January
    23.15  
February
    35.52  
February
    44.67  
February
    24.68  
February
    7.87  
February
    19.15  
February
    23.90  
March
    36.50  
March
    45.05  
March
    23.06  
March
    8.90  
March
    21.77            
April
    38.93  
April
    43.92  
April
    25.29  
April
    13.68  
April
    23.20            
May
    36.42  
May
    39.93  
May
    23.67  
May
    11.68  
May
    22.21            
June
    36.60  
June
    39.78  
June
    19.42  
June
    11.76  
June
    17.90            
July
    35.11  
July
    36.07  
July
    18.81  
July
    13.91  
July
    18.65            
August
    37.98  
August
    31.72  
August
    20.82  
August
    15.52  
August
    19.41            
September
    43.21  
September
    32.32  
September
    17.98  
September
    18.29  
September
    23.08            
October
    43.91  
October
    32.03  
October
    12.29  
October
    17.57  
October
    23.67            
November
    42.09  
November
    29.65  
November
    7.42  
November
    16.31  
November
    25.68            
December
    38.13  
December
    25.87  
December
    10.35  
December
    16.76  
December
    25.30            

 
 
RADIOSHACK CORPORATION (RSH)
 
RadioShack Corporation engages in the retail sale of consumer electronic goods and services, through its RadioShack store chain and non-RadioShack branded kiosk operations, in the United States and internationally.  Its products include wireless telephones and communication devices, such as scanners and global positioning satellite navigation units; flat panel televisions, residential telephones, DVD players, computers, and direct-to-home satellite systems; home entertainment, wireless, imaging, and computer accessories; general and special purpose batteries; wire, cable, and connectivity products; and digital cameras, radio-controlled cars and other toys, satellite radios, and memory players.  The company also provides consumers access to third-party services, such as wireless telephone and direct-to-home satellite activation, satellite radio service, prepaid wireless airtime, and extended service plans.  In addition, it manufactures various products, including telephony, antennas, wire, and cable products, as well as hard-to-find parts and accessories for consumer electronics products.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    22.20  
January
    22.10  
January
    17.35  
January
    11.46  
January
    19.52  
January
    15.15  
February
    19.55  
February
    24.97  
February
    17.45  
February
    7.33  
February
    19.56  
February
    14.80  
March
    19.23  
March
    27.03  
March
    16.25  
March
    8.57  
March
    22.63            
April
    17.00  
April
    29.07  
April
    13.90  
April
    14.08  
April
    21.55            
May
    16.82  
May
    34.14  
May
    14.65  
May
    13.44  
May
    20.44            
June
    14.00  
June
    33.14  
June
    12.27  
June
    13.96  
June
    19.51            
July
    16.17  
July
    25.13  
July
    16.68  
July
    15.51  
July
    21.54            
August
    18.06  
August
    23.77  
August
    19.01  
August
    15.13  
August
    18.48            
September
    19.30  
September
    20.66  
September
    17.28  
September
    16.57  
September
    21.33            
October
    17.84  
October
    20.62  
October
    12.66  
October
    16.89  
October
    20.12            
November
    17.53  
November
    18.50  
November
    9.85  
November
    18.86  
November
    18.45            
December
    16.78  
December
    16.86  
December
    11.94  
December
    19.50  
December
    18.49            

 
 
SAFEWAY INC. (SWY)
 
Safeway Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a food and drug retailer in North America.  The company operates stores that provide an array of grocery items, food, and general merchandise, as well as features specialty departments, such as bakery, delicatessen, floral, and pharmacy, as well as coffee shops and fuel centers.  It also offers the SELECT line of products that include salsas, bagged salads, whole bean coffees, cookies, frozen pizzas, fresh and frozen pastas, and an array of ice creams and hors d’oeuvres; O ORGANICS line, which comprises milk, chicken, salads, juices, and entrees; Eating Right line of better-for-you products; Bright Green line of home care products; Priority Total Pet Care line of pet foods and pet care products; Value Red value-priced paper goods; and Lucerne line of dairy products.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    23.44  
January
    36.03  
January
    30.99  
January
    21.43  
January
    22.45  
January
    20.69  
February
    24.31  
February
    34.53  
February
    28.74  
February
    18.50  
February
    24.92  
February
    21.82  
March
    25.12  
March
    36.64  
March
    29.35  
March
    20.19  
March
    24.86            
April
    25.13  
April
    36.30  
April
    31.60  
April
    19.75  
April
    23.60            
May
    23.58  
May
    34.48  
May
    31.87  
May
    20.26  
May
    22.14            
June
    26.00  
June
    34.03  
June
    28.55  
June
    20.37  
June
    19.66            
July
    28.08  
July
    31.87  
July
    26.72  
July
    18.93  
July
    20.54            
August
    30.93  
August
    31.73  
August
    26.34  
August
    19.05  
August
    18.79            
September
    30.35  
September
    33.11  
September
    23.72  
September
    19.72  
September
    21.16            
October
    29.36  
October
    34.00  
October
    21.27  
October
    22.33  
October
    22.90            
November
    30.81  
November
    34.80  
November
    21.80  
November
    22.50  
November
    22.99            
December
    34.56  
December
    34.21  
December
    23.77  
December
    21.29  
December
    22.49            

 
 
SUPERVALU INC. (SVU)
 
SUPERVALU INC., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail food stores in the United States.  The company operates combination stores, food stores, and limited assortment food stores under the Acme Markets, Albertsons, Bristol Farms, bigg’s, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher’s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Save-A-Lot, Shaw’s Supermarkets, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and Star Markets banners.  Its stores offer various grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy products, fuel, and other items and services. The company also offers supply chain services, which include wholesale distribution of products to independent retailers, including single and multiple grocery store independent operators, regional and national chains, mass merchants, and military customers.  In addition, it provides a suite of logistics services, including warehouse management, transportation, procurement, contract manufacturing, and logistics engineering and management services.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    31.93  
January
    37.98  
January
    30.03  
January
    17.54  
January
    14.71  
January
    7.29  
February
    31.60  
February
    36.96  
February
    26.25  
February
    15.61  
February
    15.27  
February
    8.63  
March
    30.82  
March
    39.07  
March
    29.98  
March
    14.28  
March
    16.68            
April
    29.01  
April
    45.90  
April
    33.10  
April
    16.35  
April
    14.90            
May
    29.16  
May
    47.64  
May
    35.07  
May
    16.60  
May
    13.47            
June
    30.70  
June
    46.32  
June
    30.89  
June
    12.95  
June
    10.84            
July
    27.11  
July
    41.67  
July
    25.62  
July
    14.83  
July
    11.28            
August
    28.56  
August
    42.15  
August
    23.19  
August
    14.35  
August
    9.72            
September
    29.65  
September
    39.01  
September
    21.70  
September
    15.06  
September
    11.53            
October
    33.40  
October
    38.75  
October
    14.24  
October
    15.87  
October
    10.79            
November
    34.26  
November
    41.87  
November
    11.91  
November
    13.83  
November
    9.04            
December
    35.75  
December
    37.52  
December
    14.60  
December
    12.71  
December
    9.63            

 
 
TARGET CORPORATION (TGT)
 
Target Corporation operates general merchandise and food discount stores in the United States.  The company offers an assortment of general merchandise, including consumables and commodities; electronics, entertainment, sporting goods, and toys; apparel and accessories; and home furnishings and decor, as well as a line of food items primarily under the Target and Super Target brands.  It also sells its merchandise under private-label brands, including Archer Farms, Boots & Barkley, Choxie, Circo, Durabuilt, Embark, Garden Place, Gilligan & O’Malley, itso, Kaori, Market Pantry, Merona, Playwonder, Room Essentials, Sutton and Dodge, Target Brand, Target Home, Trutech, Vroom, Wine Cube, and Xhilaration.  Target Corporation also offers merchandise through programs, such as ClearRx, GO International, and Home Design Event.  In addition, it markets its merchandise under licensed brands comprising C9 by Champion, Chefmate, Cherokee, Converse One Star, Eddie Bauer, Fieldcrest, Genuine Kids by Osh Kosh, Kitchen Essentials by Calphalon, Liz Lange for Target, Michael Graves Design, Mossimo, Nick & Nora, Perfect Pieces by Victoria Hagan, Sean Conway, Simply Shabby Chic, Smith & Hawken, Sonia Kashuk, Smith & Hawken, and Thomas O’Brien.  Target Corporation also operates in-store amenities, such as Food Avenue, Target Clinic, Target Pharmacy, and Target Photo, as well as leased or licensed departments, including Optical, Pizza Hut, Portrait Studio, and Starbucks.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    54.75  
January
    61.36  
January
    55.42  
January
    31.20  
January
    51.27  
January
    54.83  
February
    54.40  
February
    61.53  
February
    52.61  
February
    28.31  
February
    51.52  
February
    52.55  
March
    52.01  
March
    59.26  
March
    50.68  
March
    34.39  
March
    52.60            
April
    53.10  
April
    59.37  
April
    53.13  
April
    41.26  
April
    56.87            
May
    48.92  
May
    62.43  
May
    53.36  
May
    39.30  
May
    54.53            
June
    48.87  
June
    63.60  
June
    46.49  
June
    39.47  
June
    49.17            
July
    45.92  
July
    60.57  
July
    45.23  
July
    43.62  
July
    51.32            
August
    48.39  
August
    65.93  
August
    53.02  
August
    47.00  
August
    51.16            
September
    55.25  
September
    63.57  
September
    49.05  
September
    46.68  
September
    53.44            
October
    59.18  
October
    61.36  
October
    40.12  
October
    48.43  
October
    51.94            
November
    58.09  
November
    59.97  
November
    33.76  
November
    46.56  
November
    56.94            
December
    57.05  
December
    50.00  
December
    34.53  
December
    48.37  
December
    60.13            

 
 
THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. (TJX)
 
The TJX Companies, Inc. operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the United States and internationally.  It sells off-price family apparel and home fashions through T.J. MAXX and MARSHALLS, HOMEGOODS, and A.J. WRIGHT in the United States; WINNERS and HOMESENSE in Canada; and T.K. MAXX and HOMESENSE in Europe.  The company offers footwear and accessories; home fashions, including home basics, accent furniture, lamps, rugs, wall decor, decorative accessories, and giftware; and other merchandise.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    25.53  
January
    29.57  
January
    31.61  
January
    19.42  
January
    38.01  
January
    47.39  
February
    24.49  
February
    27.50  
February
    32.00  
February
    22.27  
February
    41.63  
February
    49.87  
March
    24.82  
March
    26.96  
March
    33.07  
March
    25.64  
March
    42.52            
April
    24.13  
April
    27.89  
April
    32.22  
April
    27.97  
April
    46.34            
May
    23.71  
May
    27.97  
May
    32.06  
May
    29.51  
May
    45.46            
June
    22.86  
June
    27.50  
June
    31.47  
June
    31.46  
June
    41.95            
July
    24.37  
July
    27.75  
July
    33.71  
July
    36.23  
July
    41.52            
August
    26.75  
August
    30.49  
August
    36.24  
August
    35.95  
August
    39.69            
September
    28.03  
September
    29.07  
September
    30.52  
September
    37.15  
September
    44.63            
October
    28.95  
October
    28.93  
October
    26.76  
October
    37.35  
October
    45.89            
November
    27.42  
November
    29.34  
November
    22.82  
November
    38.38  
November
    45.61            
December
    28.52  
December
    28.73  
December
    20.57  
December
    36.55  
December
    44.39            

 
 
WAL-MART STORES, INC. (WMT)
 
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates retail stores in various formats worldwide.  The company’s Walmart U.S. segment offers meat, produce, deli, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, floral, and dry grocery; health and beauty aids, household chemicals, paper goods, and pet supplies; electronics, cameras and supplies, photo processing services, cellular phones, cellular service plan contracts, and prepaid service and toys; fabrics and crafts, stationery and books, automotive accessories, hardware and paint, horticulture and accessories, sporting goods, outdoor entertaining, and seasonal merchandise; apparel, shoes, and jewelry; pharmacy and optical services; and home furnishings, housewares, and small appliances through discount stores, supercenters, and neighborhood markets, as well as through walmart.com.  Its International segment includes various formats of retail stores and restaurants, including combination discount and grocery stores, supercenters, Sam’s Clubs, hypermarkets, cash-n-carry stores, department stores, and general merchandise stores.  The company’s Sam’s Club segment offers merchandise, including hardgoods, softgoods, institutional-size grocery items, and selected private-label items under the MEMBER’S MARK, BAKERS & CHEFS, and SAM’S CLUB brands through warehouse membership clubs in the United States, as well as through samsclub.com.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    46.11  
January
    47.69  
January
    50.74  
January
    47.12  
January
    53.43  
January
    56.07  
February
    45.36  
February
    48.31  
February
    49.59  
February
    49.24  
February
    54.07  
February
    51.98  
March
    47.24  
March
    46.95  
March
    52.68  
March
    52.10  
March
    55.60            
April
    45.03  
April
    47.92  
April
    57.98  
April
    50.40  
April
    53.64            
May
    48.45  
May
    47.60  
May
    57.74  
May
    49.74  
May
    50.56            
June
    48.17  
June
    48.11  
June
    56.20  
June
    48.44  
June
    48.07            
July
    44.50  
July
    45.95  
July
    58.62  
July
    49.88  
July
    51.19            
August
    44.72  
August
    43.63  
August
    59.07  
August
    50.87  
August
    50.14            
September
    49.32  
September
    43.65  
September
    59.89  
September
    49.09  
September
    53.52            
October
    49.28  
October
    45.21  
October
    55.81  
October
    49.68  
October
    54.17            
November
    46.10  
November
    47.90  
November
    55.88  
November
    54.55  
November
    54.09            
December
    46.18  
December
    47.53  
December
    56.06  
December
    53.45  
December
    53.93            

 
 
WALGREEN CO. (WAG)
 
Walgreen Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of drugstores in the United States.  The drugstores sell prescription and non-prescription drugs, and general merchandise.  Its general merchandise comprises household items, personal care, convenience foods, beauty care, photofinishing, candy, and seasonal items.  The company provides its services through drugstore counters, as well as through mail, telephone, and the Internet.
 
2006
 
Closing Price
 
2007
 
Closing Price
 
2008
 
Closing Price
 
2009
 
Closing Price
 
2010
 
Closing Price
 
2011
 
Closing Price
 
January
    43.28  
January
    45.30  
January
    35.04  
January
    27.41  
January
    36.05  
January
    40.44  
February
    44.86  
February
    44.70  
February
    36.51  
February
    23.86  
February
    35.24  
February
    43.34  
March
    43.13  
March
    45.89  
March
    38.09  
March
    25.96  
March
    37.09            
April
    41.93  
April
    43.90  
April
    34.85  
April
    31.43  
April
    35.15            
May
    40.60  
May
    45.13  
May
    36.02  
May
    29.79  
May
    32.04            
June
    44.84  
June
    43.54  
June
    32.51  
June
    29.40  
June
    26.70            
July
    46.78  
July
    44.18  
July
    34.34  
July
    31.05  
July
    28.55            
August
    49.46  
August
    45.07  
August
    36.43  
August
    33.88  
August
    26.88            
September
    44.39  
September
    47.24  
September
    30.96  
September
    37.47  
September
    33.50            
October
    43.68  
October
    39.65  
October
    25.46  
October
    37.83  
October
    33.88            
November
    40.49  
November
    36.59  
November
    24.74  
November
    38.89  
November
    34.85            
December
    45.89  
December
    38.08  
December
    24.67  
December
    36.72  
December
    38.96            



 




 
 
1,000,000,000 Depositary Receipts
 
Retail HOLDRSSM Trust
 

 


PROSPECTUS
 

 
 

March 15, 2011
 

 



 




 
PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
 
Item  14.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended, provides that under certain circumstances a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at its request in such capacity in another corporation or business association, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.
 
Article XIV, Section 2 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated provides in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated shall indemnify its directors and officers to the full extent authorized or permitted by law.
 
The directors and officers of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are insured under policies of insurance maintained by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, subject to the limits of the policies, against certain losses arising from any claim made against them by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.  In addition, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has entered into contracts with all of its directors providing for indemnification of such persons by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated to the full extent authorized or permitted by law, subject to certain limited exceptions.
 
Item  16.
Exhibits.
 
See Index to Exhibits.
 
Item  17. 
Undertakings.
 
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
(i)     To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
 
(ii)    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of the prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
 
(iii)   To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
 
(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 
 
(3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(4)   For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
(5)   For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(6)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to Item 14 of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, on March 15, 2011.
 
 
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated  
       
       
  By:
*
 
  Name:  Sallie L. Krawcheck  
  Title:  Co-Chief Executive Officer  
    Executive Vice President and Director  
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on March 15, 2011.
 
 
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
   

 


 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
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 exhibits thereto, form of Depositary Trust Agreement, form of HOLDRS and form of Amendment No. 2 to the Standard Terms for Depositary Trust Agreements, filed on February 13, 2001 as part of the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Retail HOLDRS.
 
*5.1
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP regarding the validity of the Retail HOLDRS Receipts, filed on February 9, 2001 as part of the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Retail HOLDRS.
 
*8.1
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as special U.S. tax counsel regarding the material federal income tax consequences, filed on February 9, 2001 Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Retail HOLDRS.
 
*8.2
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, as special U.S. tax counsel regarding the material federal income tax consequences, filed on July 9, 2003 Amendment No. 5 to the registration statement filed on Form S-1 for Retail HOLDRS.
 
*24.1
Power of Attorney of Sallie L. Krawcheck, Thomas K. Montag, Robert Qutub and Bruce R. Thompson.
 
 

* Previously filed.
 
 
 
 
 
II-4