s&p Tsx 60 Ppn 1 Final Ps e

Pricing Supplement dated July 8, 2008

This pricing supplement, together with the short form base shelf prospectus to which it relates, as amended or supplemented, and each document deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus, as amended or supplemented constitutes a public offering of these securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities. No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about these securities and it is an offence to claim otherwise. These securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered directly or indirectly within the United States, its territories or possessions, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act). Neither these securities nor any interest therein may be owned by a U.S. person. These securities may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to a U.S. person who would upon the completion of such a sale, be a U.S. holder. These securities may be subject to United States tax law requirements.

Pricing Supplement to Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus dated June 30, 2006

(the "Prospectus")

Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company (the "Company")

Merrill Lynch S&P/TSX 60™ Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1 due July 10, 2015 (the "Notes")

$8,594,800 Unconditionally guaranteed by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"). Both the Company and Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Guarantor. Consequently, the Company is a "related issuer" and a "connected issuer" of Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. within the meaning of the securities legislation of certain provinces of Canada, as more fully described at "Plan of Distribution" herein. The Notes: • The Notes are designed for investors who are willing to forego

interest payments on the Notes for the ability to participate in the possible increase in the level of the Reference Index (as defined below) to the extent described herein.

• Senior unsecured notes of the Company. • No payments before the Maturity Date (as defined below) unless

redeemed on the Early Redemption Date (as defined below). • Minimum payment on the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption

Date will not be less than 100% of the principal amount per Note. • The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. • Settlement date: July 10, 2008. • Early Redemption Date: January 10, 2012. • Maturity Date: July 10, 2015, subject to a postponement if a market

disruption event occurs. Reference Index: • The return on the Notes will be linked to the price performance of

the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ (the "Reference Index"). The Notes are therefore considered to be "specified derivatives" under Canadian securities law.

• An investment in the Notes does not represent a direct investment in the Reference Index nor does it constitute an investment in the securities that comprise the Reference Index. While the value of the Notes is tied to the performance of the Reference Index, ownership of the Notes will not entitle holders of the Notes to any rights with respect to the securities that comprise the Reference Index.

• The return on the Notes will not reflect dividends (or the reinvestment thereof) that you would receive if you owned the securities included in the Reference Index.

Payment on the Maturity Date for the Notes: • On the Maturity Date, if the Notes have not been redeemed, for

each Note you own, we will pay you the maturity redemption amount (as described below) in cash; provided, however, that in no event will you receive less than 100% of the principal amount per Note.

Early Redemption Date: • On January 10, 2012 (the "Early Redemption Date"), being three

and a half years after the issuance of the Notes, we may, but are not obligated to, redeem all of the Notes then outstanding, as more fully described herein. If the Notes have been redeemed by the Company on the Early Redemption Date, then on the Early Redemption Date, for each Note that you own, we will pay you a cash payment of $150, representing an annual compounded rate of return of approximately 12.28%.

Maturity Redemption Amount: • If the Notes have not been redeemed by the Company prior to the

Maturity Date, the maturity redemption amount for a Note will be equal to the greater of (i) $100 and (ii) the product of $100 and the Reference Index Return, as more fully described herein. In no event shall the maturity redemption amount be less than $100.

- ii -

Suitability for Investment: • The return on the Notes, if any, at maturity will be based on the

percentage increase, if any, in the level of the Reference Index. If the Notes are redeemed on the Early Redemption Date, the return on the Notes plus principal will be equal to $150 per Note.

• The Notes differ from conventional debt and fixed income investments because they do not provide holders with a return or income stream prior to maturity. The return on the Notes at maturity is not determinable prior to maturity. The Notes are 100%

principal protected if held to maturity. Any payment in excess of $100 on the Notes at maturity depends on the performance of the Reference Index.

• The Notes are designed for investors with a long-term investment horizon who are prepared to hold the Notes to maturity and are prepared to assume risks with respect to a return tied to the performance of the Reference Index and the risk that the Notes will be redeemed on the Early Redemption Date. The Notes are not suitable for investors who require current income.

Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.

The date of this pricing supplement is July 8, 2008.

- iii -

Suitability for Investment

The return on the Notes, if any, at maturity will be based on the percentage increase, if any, in the level of the Reference Index. If the Notes are redeemed on the Early Redemption Date, the return on the Notes will be equal to $150 per Note.

The Notes differ from conventional debt and fixed income investments because they do not provide holders with a return or income stream prior to maturity. The return on the Notes at maturity is not determinable prior to maturity. The Notes are protected as to 100% of the principal thereof only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity. Any payment in excess of $100 on the Notes at maturity depends on the performance of the Reference Index. There can be no assurance the Notes will show any return. Accordingly, the Notes are suitable for investors who do not require current income. The Notes are designed for investors with a long-term investment horizon who are prepared to hold the Notes to maturity and are prepared to assume risks with respect to a return tied to the performance of the Reference Index and the risk that the Notes will be redeemed on the Early Redemption Date. The Notes are not suitable for investors that require current income.

The Notes are designed for investors who are prepared to hold the Notes to maturity and are willing to forego interest payments on the Notes for the ability to participate in the possible increase in the level of the Reference Index and the risk that the Notes will be redeemed on the Early Redemption Date.

Risk Factors

Investing in the Notes involves risks that are described in the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page S-10 of this pricing supplement and at page 8 of the accompanying Prospectus. Prospective purchasers should take into account additional risk factors associated with this offering of Notes.

Per Note Note Total

Public offering price 100.00 $8,594,800 Agency fee(1) 4.00 $343,792 Proceeds, before expenses, to Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company 96.00 $8,251,008

(1) Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. will also pay Desjardins Securities Inc. a one-time fee equal to 0.20% of the principal amount of Notes issued and sold hereunder for acting as independent underwriter.

This pricing supplement, together with the Prospectus to which it relates, constitutes a public offering of securities offered pursuant hereto only in the jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities.

The Guarantor is incorporated under the laws of Delaware, a foreign jurisdiction, and it resides in, and has substantial assets located in, the United States. Although the Guarantor has appointed the Company as its agent for service of process for certain securities law purposes in each of the provinces of Canada, it may not be possible for investors to collect from the Guarantor, judgments obtained in Canadian courts predicated on the civil liability provisions of securities legislation. Judgments on the Guarantee obtained in Canada may therefore have to be enforced in the United States and may be subject to additional defences as a result. In addition, all of the Guarantor's directors and officers reside outside Canada and most of their assets are located outside Canada. It may not be possible therefore for you to effect service of process within Canada upon the Guarantor's directors and officers or to collect from them judgments obtained in Canadian courts.

Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. and Desjardins Securities Inc., as agents, are conditionally offering the Notes subject to prior sale on a best efforts basis, if, as and when issued by the Company and accepted by the agents in accordance with the conditions contained in the Dealer Agreement between the Company, the Guarantor and the agents described herein and in the accompanying Prospectus.

- iv -

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pricing Supplement

Page

SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING ........................................................................................................................... S-1 EXAMPLES OF MATURITY REDEMPTION AMOUNT CALCULATIONS...................................................... S-5 SUMMARY INFORMATION—Q&A..................................................................................................................... S-7 RISK FACTORS ..................................................................................................................................................... S-10 CREDIT RATINGS ................................................................................................................................................ S-16 DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES........................................................................................................................... S-17 THE REFERENCE INDEX .................................................................................................................................... S-24 INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO CANADIAN RESIDENT INVESTORS .................... S-28 CIRCULAR 230...................................................................................................................................................... S-30 ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT....................................................................................................................... S-30 CALCULATION AGENT ...................................................................................................................................... S-30 APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT CALCULATION EXPERT .............................................................. S-30 USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING ................................................................................................................. S-31 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.................................................................................................................................... S-31 SECONDARY TRADING OF NOTES.................................................................................................................. S-32 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE .......................................................................................... S-34

Prospectus

ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT.............................................................................................................................4 ML FINANCE...............................................................................................................................................................4 ML&CO CANADA ......................................................................................................................................................5 THE GUARANTOR .....................................................................................................................................................6 CREDIT RATINGS ......................................................................................................................................................6 RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS...............................................................................................7 USE OF PROCEEDS ....................................................................................................................................................7 RISK FACTORS ...........................................................................................................................................................8 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ................................................................................................9 DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES...............................................................................................................................13 DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES.................................................................................................................28 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION........................................................................................................................................33 SELLING RESTRICTIONS .......................................................................................................................................34 CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE ..........................................................................................................................................35 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ...........................................................................35 REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AND PAYING AGENT.................................................................................................35 LEGAL MATTERS ....................................................................................................................................................35 PURCHASERS' STATUTORY RIGHTS...................................................................................................................35 CERTIFICATE OF THE ISSUERS AND THE GUARANTOR..............................................................................C-1 CERTIFICATE OF THE DEALERS........................................................................................................................C-3

S-1

SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING

The following summary of the terms of the offering of the Notes is subject to, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information which follows in this pricing supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. References in this pricing supplement to "dollars" or "$" are to Canadian currency unless otherwise specified.

Issuer: Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company (the "Company").

Guarantor: Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Guarantor").

Securities: Merrill Lynch S&P/TSX 60™ Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1 (the "Notes").

Issue Price: $100 per Note.

Denominations: The Notes will be issued in denominations of $100 per Note.

Minimum Subscription: $2,000

Issue Date: July 10, 2008.

Pricing Date: July 8, 2008.

Maturity Date of Notes: July 10, 2015, subject to a postponement if a market disruption event occurs.

Reference Index: The Reference Index will be the S&P/TSX60 Index™.

Payment at Maturity Date: On the Maturity Date, if the Notes have not been redeemed prior to that time, for each Note you own, we will pay you the Maturity Redemption Amount in cash; provided, however, that in no event will you receive less than 100% of the principal amount per Note.

Record Date: The fifteenth day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, whether or not a business day, but in any event shall not be later than June 25, 2015.

Valuation Date: July 3, 2015.

Maturity Redemption Amount: If the Notes have not been redeemed by the Company on the Early Redemption Date, the Maturity Redemption Amount for a Note will be equal to the greater of (i) $100 and (ii) the product of $100 and the Reference Index Return.

Calculation of Maturity Redemption Amount:

The Maturity Redemption Amount for a Note will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the greater of:

a) $100; and

b) $100 x Reference Index Return.

Where:

"Reference Index Return" is equal to {1 + 105% x (P – 1)}.

And where:

"P" is the performance of the Reference Index.

S-2

Performance of the Reference Index:

Ending Value of the Reference Index

Starting Value of the Reference Index

The "Starting Value" will equal the Index Level for the Reference Index as determined on the Pricing Date and is 828.13.

The "Ending Value" will equal the Index Level for the Reference Index on the Valuation Date.

"Index Level" means the closing level of the Reference Index as quoted on the following Bloomberg page: SPTSX60<Index><Go>for SPTSX60.

Note that the closing level of the Reference Index is available from other sources, such as on the Internet from: www.standardandpoors.com. However, the Company makes no representation as to the accuracy of such information and all calculations regarding the closing level of the Reference Index will be made as quoted on the Bloomberg page listed above.

Early Redemption by the Company:

On January 10, 2012 (the "Early Redemption Date"), being three and a half years after the Issue Date, we may, but are not obligated to, redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part. If we redeem the Notes on the Early Redemption Date, for each $100 principal amount of Notes that you own, you will receive a cash payment equal to $150 on the Early Redemption Date. The fact that the performance of the Reference Index on the Early Redemption Date is at or near 150% will not, in and of itself, result in a decision to redeem the Notes. We will base our decision to redeem the Notes, in part, on the then current, and expected ongoing, trading value of the Notes. We will consider several factors that affect the trading value of the Notes, including current and anticipated changes in (i) the levels of interest rates in Canada, (ii) volatility of the Reference Index, (iii) dividend yields of the stocks included in the Reference Index, and (iv) credit rating of the Company or of the Guarantor. The Notes will not be otherwise redeemable prior to the Maturity Date, except in the limited circumstances described under "Description of the Notes – Redemption for Tax Reasons" in the accompanying Prospectus.

Status/Ranking: The Notes are senior securities and will be unsecured and will rank equally with our unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Guarantee: The principal and all other amounts payable or deliverable under the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Guarantee is a direct and unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor.

Income Tax Considerations: Upon the payment of a Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date, as the case may be, a holder of Notes (a "Noteholder") will generally be required to include in computing income the amount by which the Maturity Redemption Amount or the Early Redemption Amount, as the case may be, exceeds the Issue Price. If a Note is held by a Noteholder as capital property and is disposed of (other than upon the payment of the Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date), the Noteholder should realize a capital gain (or capital loss). Prospective purchasers of Notes should read the section entitled "Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Canadian Resident Investors" and consult with their own tax advisors regarding the application of the law to their particular circumstances.

Investment Eligibility: The Notes, when issued, will be qualified investments for registered retirement savings plans, registered retirement income funds, registered education savings

S-3

plans, registered disability savings plans and deferred profit sharing plans (other than a deferred profit sharing plan to which payments are made by the Company or an employer with which the Company does not deal at arm's length).

Risk Factors: You should consider carefully the factors set out under "Risk Factors" beginning at page S-10 of this pricing supplement and at page 8 of the accompanying Prospectus before reaching a decision to buy the Notes. Such risk factors include, without limitation, the following:

• the Notes are subject to early redemption; • your Notes may trade below par prior to maturity; • your return may be affected by factors affecting international

securities markets; and • a trading market for the Notes is not expected to develop.

Calculation Agent: Merrill Lynch International, as Calculation Agent, will be our agent for purposes of calculating, among other things, the Maturity Redemption Amount, unless such calculation involves the application of material discretion, in which case an independent calculation expert would be retained to perform the calculation. See "Appointment of an Independent Calculation Expert" in this pricing supplement. All determinations made by the Calculation Agent will be at the sole discretion of the Calculation Agent and, absent a determination of a manifest error, will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and the holders and beneficial owners of the Notes.

Index Calculation Agent: The "Index Calculation Agent" means Standard & Poor's , a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P®").

No Listing of Notes: The Notes will not be listed on any stock exchange.

Secondary Trading of Notes: Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. ("ML Canada") intends to buy and sell the Notes to create a daily secondary market for holders of the Notes. However, ML Canada will not be obligated to engage in any of these activities or continue them once it has started. Many factors will affect the trading value of the Notes. The performance of the Reference Index is one such factor. The trading value of the Notes is not likely to increase or decrease in direct proportion to the increase or decrease in the performance of the Reference Index. There can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the Notes, nor any assurance as to the price at which ML Canada or any other party would offer to purchase the Notes. For greater certainty, the Notes are protected as to 100% of the principal thereof only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity.

Book-Entry Registration: The Notes will be issued in the form of a global certificate which will be held by CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc., also known as CDS, or its nominee. Except in certain limited circumstances, you will not be entitled to receive certificates evidencing the Notes in certificated form.

Agents for the Notes: Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. and Desjardins Securities Inc.

S-4

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions:

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes Held to Maturity:

Neither the agency fee nor the independent underwriter's fee will be deducted from the Maturity Redemption Amount.

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes Sold on Secondary Market:

ML Canada intends to buy and sell the Notes to create a daily secondary market for the Notes, but is not obligated to do so. See "Secondary Trading of Notes" above. ML Canada intends to publish a bid price for the Notes on its website (http://ca.structuredsolutions.ml.com). The bid price represents the amount ML Canada is prepared to pay for the Notes, after giving effect to the deduction of a spread which is not fixed but will be determined by ML Canada from time to time. An investor who chooses to sell Notes to ML Canada would receive the bid price less any applicable early sales fee (as described below).

Agency Fee: 4.00%

Early Sales Fee: To the extent that you sell any Notes to ML Canada, the purchase price you receive for those Notes will reflect the deduction of a fee as follows:

Sale Period Fee Deduction per Note July 11, 2008 to October 10, 2008 $6.00 per Note October 11, 2008 to January 10, 2009 $5.25 per Note January 11, 2009 to April 10, 2009 $4.50 per Note April 11, 2009 to July 10, 2009 $3.75 per Note July 11, 2009 to October 10, 2009 $3.00 per Note October 11, 2009 to January 10, 2010 $2.25 per Note January 11, 2010 to April 10, 2010 $1.50 per Note April 11, 2010 to July 10, 2010 $0.75 per Note On or after July 11, 2010 Nil

Suitability for Investment: The return on the Notes, if any, at maturity will be based on the percentage

increase, if any, in the level of the Reference Index. If the Notes are redeemed on the Early Redemption Date, the return on the Notes plus principal will be equal to $150 per Note. The Notes differ from conventional debt and fixed income investments because they do not provide holders with a return or income stream prior to maturity. The return on the Notes at maturity is not determinable prior to maturity. The Notes are protected as to 100% of the principal thereof only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity. Any payment in excess of $100 on the Notes at maturity depends on the performance of the Reference Index.

Accordingly, the Notes are suitable for investors who do not require current income. The Notes are designed for investors with a long-term investment horizon who are prepared to hold the Notes to maturity and are prepared to assume risks with respect to a return tied to the performance of the Reference Index and the risk that the Notes will be redeemed on the Early Redemption Date.

The Notes are not suitable for investors who require current income.

Prospective purchasers should take into account additional risk factors associated with this offering of Notes. Investing in the Notes involves risks that are described in the "Risk Factors" section beginning at page S-10 of this pricing supplement and at page 8 of the accompanying Prospectus.

S-5

EXAMPLES OF MATURITY REDEMPTION AMOUNT CALCULATIONS

Below are examples of Maturity Redemption Amount calculations assuming an investment term equal to that of the Notes. Should you choose to sell your Notes prior to the end of the investment term to ML Canada, an early sales fee may be deducted from the purchase price you receive for the Notes. See "Description of the Notes – Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions". These examples, including illustrative values for the Starting Value and the Ending Value of the Reference Index, are included for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as a forecast or projection. No assurance can be given that the results shown in these examples would be realized.

Example #1: "Gain" Scenario




(as % of Starting Value)

884.73 1,602.50 181.13%

Maturity Redemption Amount:

The Maturity Redemption Amount for a Note is equal to the greater of: a) $100; and b) $100 x Reference Index Return

= $185.19 (a 9.20% annual compounded return)

Example #2: "Slight Gain" Scenario





884.73 1,221.60 138.08




S-6

Example #3: "No Gain" Scenario





884.73 862.77 97.52%



= $100 (a 0% annual compounded return)

Example #4: "Early Redemption" Scenario


Value of Reference Index on Early Redemption Date

Early Redemption Date Value (as % of Starting Value)

884.73 1,699.80 192.13%

Early Redemption Amount:

The Early Redemption Amount for a Note is equal to $150 per Note regardless of the performance of the Reference Index.


S-7

SUMMARY INFORMATION—Q&A

This summary includes questions and answers that highlight selected information from this pricing supplement and the accompanying Prospectus to help you understand the Merrill Lynch S&P/TSX 60™ Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1 due July 10, 2015 (the "Notes").

You should carefully read this pricing supplement and the accompanying Prospectus to fully understand the information relating to the Company, the terms of the Notes, the Reference Index and the tax and other considerations that are important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in the Notes. In particular, you should carefully review the "Risk Factors" sections in this pricing supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, which highlight certain risks associated with an investment in the Notes and the response to the question, "Are the Notes a suitable investment for me?" in this Q&A section, to determine whether an investment in the Notes is appropriate for you.

References in this pricing supplement to "the Company", "we", "us" and "our" are to Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company, and references to "dollars" or "$" are to Canadian currency unless otherwise specified.

Who is the Company?

The Company is an unlimited liability company incorporated under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia) whose business is to make loans to or investments in, and to grant financial assistance by way of guarantee or otherwise to, affiliates of the Guarantor. To that effect, the Company may borrow money in whatever form and currency, issue bonds, debentures or other debt instruments in whatever form and in any manner whatsoever. The Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor. See the section "ML Finance" in the accompanying Prospectus.

Who is the Guarantor?

The Guarantor is a holding company with various subsidiary and affiliated companies that provide investment, financing, insurance and related services on a global basis. For information about the Guarantor, see the section "The Guarantor" in the accompanying Prospectus. You should also read the other documents the Guarantor has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the

"SEC") and the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which you can find by referring to the section "Documents Incorporated by Reference" in this pricing supplement.

What are the Notes?

The Notes will be a series of senior Notes issued by the Company and will not be secured by collateral. The Notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The Notes will mature July 10, 2015 (the "Maturity Date"), subject to a postponement if a Market Disruption Event (as defined below) occurs and the Maturity Redemption Amount (as defined below) will be paid on the Maturity Date, subject to early redemption on the Early Redemption Date, at the option of the Company. On January 10, 2012, (the "Early Redemption Date"), being three and a half years after the issuance of the Notes, we may, but are not obligated to, redeem all of the Notes then outstanding and, if the Notes are redeemed you will be paid the Early Redemption Amount of $150 per Note. We cannot otherwise redeem the Notes prior to the Maturity Date except for certain tax reasons described under the section "Description of the Notes – Redemption for Tax Reasons" in the accompanying Prospectus.

Each Note represents $100 principal amount of Notes. You may transfer the Notes only in whole units. You will not have the right to receive physical certificates evidencing your ownership except under limited circumstances. Instead, we will issue the Notes in the form of a global certificate, which will be held by CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc., also known as CDS, or its nominee. Direct and indirect participants in CDS will record your ownership of the Notes. You should refer to the section "Description of the Notes – Depository" in this pricing supplement.

Will I receive interest payments on the Notes?

You will not receive any interest payments on the Notes, but will instead be entitled to receive the Maturity Redemption Amount on the Maturity Date or if the Notes are redeemed, the Early Redemption Amount on the Early Redemption Date. We have designed the Notes for investors who are willing to forego periodic interest payments on the Notes in exchange for the ability to participate in the possible increase in the value of the Reference Index.

S-8

What will I receive on the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date?

On the Maturity Date, if the Notes have not previously been redeemed by the Company, you will receive a cash payment equal to the "Maturity Redemption Amount" for each Note. The Maturity Redemption Amount for each Note you own will be equal to the greater of (i) $100 and (ii) the product of $100 and the Reference Index Return. The Maturity Redemption Amount will not be less than $100 per Note. See "Description of the Notes – Formula for Calculation of the Maturity Redemption Amount."

On the Early Redemption Date, being three and a half years after the issuance of the Notes, we may, but are not obligated to, redeem all of the Notes then outstanding. If the Notes have been redeemed by the Company on the Early Redemption Date, then on the Early Redemption Date, you will receive a cash payment equal to $150 per Note, representing an annual compound rate of return of approximately 12.28%.

Who determines the value of the Reference Index and what does the Reference Index reflect?

Merrill Lynch International (the "Calculation Agent") will determine, among other things, the Maturity Redemption Amount as described in the section entitled "Description of the Notes" in this pricing supplement, unless such calculation involves the application of material discretion, in which case an independent calculation expert would be retained to perform the calculation. See "Appointment of an Independent Calculation Expert" in this pricing supplement. The Reference Index is designed to allow investors to participate in the movement of the value of the Reference Index (as defined below), over the term of the Notes. The Reference Index is denominated in Canadian dollars. General information relating to the Reference Index, its publisher and its composition is included in the section entitled "The Reference Index" in this pricing supplement.

Are there any risks associated with my investment?

Yes, an investment in the Notes is subject to certain risks. Please refer to the section "Risk Factors" in this pricing supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus.

What about income taxes?

Upon the payment of a Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date, as the case may be, a Noteholder will generally be required to include in computing income the amount by which the Maturity Redemption Amount or the Early Redemption Amount, as the case may be, exceeds the Issue Price. If a Note is held by a Noteholder as capital property and is disposed of (other than upon the payment of the Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date), the Noteholder should realize a capital gain (or capital loss). Prospective purchasers of Notes should read the section entitled "Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Canadian Resident Investors" and consult with their own tax advisors regarding the application of the law to their particular circumstances.

Are the Notes RRSP eligible?

Yes, the Notes are eligible for RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs, RDSPs and DPSPs.

How has the Reference Index performed historically?

We have included a table showing the historical values of the Reference Index. We have provided this historical information to help you evaluate the past performance of the Reference Index; however, this past performance is not indicative of how the Reference Index will perform in the future.

Are there any fees, costs, expenses or commissions associated with the Notes?

Neither the agency fee nor the independent underwriter's fee will be deducted from the Maturity Redemption Amount. The price at which ML Canada will purchase the Notes in the secondary market will be reduced by an early sales fee.

Desjardins Securities Inc., as agent, will receive a fee equal to $4.00 for each Note sold by it. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. ("ML Canada" and, together with Desjardins Securities Inc., the "Agents") will not receive a fee in connection with its acting as an agent for the distribution of the Notes. The agent fee payable to Desjardins Securities Inc., and a fee to be determined by the Agents payable to other qualified investment dealers that form a selling group, if applicable, represent the sales commissions which the Company will pay to retail brokers whose clients purchase Notes. The independent underwriter

S-9

fee equal to 0.20% of the gross proceeds of the offering will be paid to Desjardins Securities Inc. by our affiliate, ML Canada. Assuming that the Notes are held to maturity, there will be no additional fees payable by the investor in respect of the Notes. If the Notes are sold prior to maturity, an early sales fee may be applicable (see "Summary of the Offering – Early Sales Fee"). Accordingly, all returns referred to in this pricing supplement are based on the principal amount of the Notes ($100 per Note) and reflect the net proceeds to the investor at the Maturity Date for the Notes.

Are the Notes a suitable investment for me?

A return on the Notes, if any, at maturity will be based on the percentage increase, if any, in the level of the Reference Index. If the Notes are redeemed on the Early Redemption Date, the return on the Notes plus principal will be equal to $150 per Note. The Notes differ from conventional debt and fixed income investments because they do not provide holders with a return or income stream prior to maturity. The return on the Notes at maturity is not determinable prior to maturity. The Notes are protected as to 100% of the principal thereof only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity. Any payment in excess of $100 on the Notes at maturity depends on the performance of the Reference Index. There can be no assurance the Notes will show any return. Accordingly, the Notes would be suitable for you if: • you do not require current income;

• you have a long-term investment horizon;

• you are prepared to hold the Notes to maturity;

• you are prepared to assume risks with respect to a return tied to the performance of the Reference Index; and

• you are prepared to assume the risk that the Notes will be redeemed on the Early Redemption Date.

The Notes would not be suitable for you if you require current income.

Will the Notes be listed on a stock exchange?

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and we do not expect a trading market for the Notes to develop, which may affect the price that you receive for your Notes upon any sale prior to the Maturity Date. You should review the section entitled "Risk Factors – There may be an uncertain trading market for the Notes and the market

price you may receive or be quoted for your Notes on a date prior to the stated Maturity Date will be affected by this and other important factors" in this pricing supplement.

What is the role of Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.?

Our affiliate ML Canada is the lead agent for the offering and sale of the Notes. After the initial offering, ML Canada may buy and sell the Notes to create a secondary market for holders of the Notes. However, ML Canada will not be obligated to engage in any of these market activities or continue them once it has started. Furthermore, there can be no assurance as to the price at which ML Canada or any other party would offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market. The Notes are protected as to 100% of the principal thereof only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity.

What are the roles of the Calculation Agent and the Index Calculation Agent?

For the purposes of calculating the value for the Reference Index, the index calculation agent will be Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P®"). Under certain circumstances, the duties of the Index Calculation Agent and its other business activities could give rise to conflicts of interest.

Merrill Lynch International, as calculation agent (the "Calculation Agent"), will be our agent for purposes of calculating, among other things, the Maturity Redemption Amount. In a scenario where such calculation involves the application of material discretion, an independent calculation expert would be retained to perform the calculation. See "Appointment of an Independent Calculation Expert" in this pricing supplement.

Under certain circumstances, the responsibilities of Merrill Lynch International as our affiliate and as a subsidiary of the Guarantor and its responsibilities as Calculation Agent for the Notes could give rise to a conflict of interest. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act, it will do so in good faith using its reasonable judgment. See the section entitled "Risk Factors – Potential conflicts of interest" in this pricing supplement.

S-10

RISK FACTORS

Your investment in the Notes will involve risks. You should carefully consider the following discussion of risks and the discussion of risks included at page 8 in the accompanying Prospectus before deciding whether an investment in the Notes is appropriate for you.

An investment in the Notes entails significant risks that are not generally associated with similar investments in conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt securities

The return on the Notes is linked to the Reference Index, the value of which may increase or decrease over the term of the Notes. Although the investor has the opportunity to receive a positive return, the investor risks a lower return than conventional interest-bearing debt securities or no return at all. As such, the investment may not be suitable for persons unfamiliar with the Reference Index, or unwilling or unable to bear the risk attendant to a debt security of this type.

The Notes are subject to early redemption

We may redeem all of the Notes on the Early Redemption Date. In such event, you will receive a cash payment equal to $150 for each Note you own. Under these circumstances, your annual compounded return will be capped at 12.28% and you may not be able to participate fully in the increase, if any, in the value of the Reference Index that might have occurred up to the Early Redemption Date and/or the Maturity Date.

The early redemption feature will affect the trading price of the Notes

Due to the early redemption feature, it is unlikely the Notes will trade above $150 per Note before the Early Redemption Date regardless of the actual performance of the Reference Index.

Your yield may be lower than the yield on a standard debt security with a comparable term

The amount you receive on your investment may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money.

Your Notes may trade below par prior to maturity

The payment on the Maturity Date on the Notes will depend on the change in the value of the Reference Index. If the Reference Index falls in value over the next seven years, the Notes may trade below par prior to the Maturity Date and only return the 100% of the principal amount on the Maturity Date.

Your return will not reflect the total return of owning the securities included in the Reference Index.

The return on your Notes will not reflect the total return you would realize if you actually owned the securities included in the Reference Index and received the income, if any, paid on those securities because the value of the Reference Index is calculated, in part, by reference to the prices of the securities included in the Reference Index without taking into consideration the value of dividends or other distributions paid on those securities. By purchasing a Note, you will not be entitled to any rights with respect to any securities which comprise the Reference Index.

Your return will not reflect the total return of an investment in the Reference Index directly.

The return of the Notes is tied to the value of the Reference Index as of the Valuation Date; however, the value of the Notes will not reflect fluctuations in the value of the Reference Index at any time prior to the Valuation Date.

S-11

Historical levels of the Reference Index are not a guarantee of future performance

The return on the Notes depends on the performance of the Reference Index, as described in this pricing supplement. Historical levels of the Reference Index should not be taken as an indication of its future performance. The Index Level will fluctuate and it is impossible to predict whether the Index Level will increase or decrease. The Index Level will be influenced by both the complex and interrelated political, economic, financial, market and other factors that can affect the capital markets generally. It is impossible to predict what effect these factors will have on the Index Level. The composition of the Reference Index can also change over time.

Your return may be affected by factors affecting Canadian securities markets

The Reference Index is computed by reference to the value of the equity securities of certain companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). As a result, the return on the Notes will be affected by factors affecting the value of the securities listed on the TSX.

There may be an uncertain trading market for the Notes and the market price you may receive or be quoted for your Notes on a date prior to the stated Maturity Date will be affected by this and other important factors

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and we do not expect a trading market for the Notes to develop. ML Canada intends to buy and sell the Notes to create a daily secondary market for holders of the Notes. However, ML Canada will not be obligated to engage in any of these market activities or continue them once it has started. ML Canada intends to bid for Notes offered for sale to it by holders of the Notes following the issue date of the Notes, although it is not required to do so and may cease making bids at any time. There can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the Notes nor any assurance as to the price at which ML Canada or any other party would offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market. The limited trading market for your Notes may affect the price that you receive for your Notes if you do not wish to hold your investment until the Maturity Date. In addition, due to the early redemption feature, it is unlikely the Notes will trade above $150 per Note before the Early Redemption Date regardless of the actual performance of the Reference Index. If ML Canada determines to stop facilitating a secondary market for the Notes, Noteholders may not be able to resell their Notes on the FundSERV network or otherwise. There is no guarantee that any secondary market which may develop in respect of the Notes will be liquid or sustainable.

The price at which a Noteholder will be able to sell the Notes to ML Canada prior to the Maturity Date may be at a substantial discount from the Maturity Redemption Amount that would be payable if the Notes were maturing on such day. In addition, if you sell your Notes prior to July 11, 2010 to ML Canada, it will deduct an early sales fee from the price paid to you for the Notes ranging from $6 per Note to $0.75 per Note depending on when you sell your Notes. See "Description of the Notes – Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes sold on Secondary Market".

The Index Calculation Agent has no obligations relating to the Notes

The Index Calculation Agent, as defined below under "Description of the Notes – Formula for Calculation of the Maturity Redemption Amount", has no obligations relating to the Notes or amounts to be paid to you, including any obligation to take the needs of the Company or of beneficial owners of the Notes into consideration for any reason. The Index Calculation Agent will not receive any of the proceeds of the offering of the Notes and is not responsible for, and has not participated in, the offering of the Notes and is not responsible for, and will not participate in, the determination or calculation of the amount receivable by beneficial owners of the Notes.

The Index Calculation Agent is under no obligation to continue the calculation and dissemination of the Reference Index. The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Calculation Agent. No inference should be drawn from the information contained in this pricing supplement or the accompanying Prospectus that the Index Calculation Agent makes any representation or warranty, implied or express, to the Company, the holders of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes in particular or the ability of the Index Calculation Agent or the Reference Index to track general stock market performance.

S-12

Many factors affect the trading value of the Notes; these factors interrelate in complex ways and the effect of any one factor may offset or magnify the effect of another factor

The trading value of the Notes will be affected by factors that interrelate in complex ways. The effect of one factor may offset the increase in the trading value of the Notes caused by another factor and the effect of one factor may exacerbate the decrease in the trading value of the Notes caused by another factor. The following paragraphs describe the expected impact on the trading value of the Notes given a change in a specific factor, assuming all other conditions remain constant.

The value of the Reference Index is expected to affect the trading value of the Notes. We expect that the trading value of the Notes will depend substantially on whether the value of the Reference Index exceeds (or is less than) the Index Starting Value. If you choose to sell your Securities when the value of the Reference Index exceeds the Index Starting Value, you may receive substantially less than the Maturity Redemption Amount that would be payable on the Maturity Date based on that value because of the expectation that the value of the Reference Index will continue to fluctuate until the Index Ending Value is determined. If you choose to sell your Securities when the value of the Reference Index is below the Index Starting Value, you may receive less than $100 per Security.

As the time remaining to the Maturity Date decreases, the "time premium" associated with the Notes will decrease. We anticipate that before the Maturity Date, the Notes may trade at a value above that which would be expected based on the level of interest rates and the value of the Reference Index. This difference will reflect a "time premium" due to expectations concerning the performance of the Reference Index during the period before the Maturity Date. However, as the time remaining to the Maturity Date decreases, we expect that this time premium will decrease, lowering the trading value of the Notes.

Changes in the levels of interest rates may affect the trading value of the Notes. In general, if Canadian interest rates increase, we expect that the trading value of the Notes may decrease because the Notes may be less attractive relative to interest bearing alternative investments; and, conversely, if Canadian interest rates decrease, we expect that the trading value of the Notes may increase. In general, if interest rates in Canada increase, we expect that the Canadian equity market could be adversely affected which could cause the trading value of the Notes to decrease and, conversely, if interest rates in Canada decrease, we expect that the trading value of the Notes could increase.

Changes in the volatility of the Reference Index are expected to affect the trading value of the Notes. Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency of price and/or market fluctuations. If the volatility, or anticipated volatility, of the Reference Index decreases, the trading value of the Notes may be adversely affected.

Changes in dividend yields of the stocks included in the Reference Index are expected to affect the trading value of the Notes. In general, if dividend yields on the stocks included in the Reference Index increase, we expect that the value of the Notes will decrease and, conversely, if dividend yields on the stocks included in the Reference Index decrease, we expect that the value of the Notes will increase.

Changes in our credit ratings may affect the trading value of the Notes. Our credit ratings and the credit ratings of the Guarantor are an assessment of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings may affect the trading value of the Notes. However, because your return on your Notes is dependent upon factors in addition to our ability to pay our obligations under the Notes, such as the performance of the Reference Index, an improvement in our credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the Notes.

In general, assuming all relevant factors are held constant, we expect that the effect on the trading value of the Notes of a given change in most of the factors listed above will be less if it occurs later in the term of the Notes than if it occurs earlier in the term of the Notes. However, we expect that the effect on the trading value of the Notes of a given increase in the value of the Reference Index will be greater if it occurs later in the term of the Notes than if it occurs earlier in the term of the Notes.

S-13

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to equity securities

In the ordinary course of their businesses, affiliates of the Company from time to time express views on expected movements with respect to the price of certain equities. These views are sometimes communicated to clients who participate in equity markets. However, these views, depending upon world-wide economic, political and other developments, may vary over differing time-horizons and are subject to change. Moreover, other professionals who deal in equities may at any time have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. For reasons such as these, we believe that most investors in equities markets derive information concerning those markets from multiple sources. In connection with your purchase of the Notes, you should investigate the equity markets and not rely on views which may be expressed by our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses with respect to future price movements or fluctuations in the prices of certain equities.

You should make investigations as you deem appropriate as to the merits of an investment linked to equity indices. Neither the offering of the Notes nor any views which may from time to time be expressed by our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses with respect to fluctuations in equity prices constitutes a recommendation as to the merits of an investment in the Notes.

Purchases and sales of stocks by us and our affiliates may affect your return

We and our affiliates may from time to time buy or sell the stocks included in the Reference Index for our own accounts for business reasons or in connection with hedging our obligations under the Notes. Also, we may issue or our affiliates may issue or underwrite other financial instruments with returns indexed to the price of the Reference Index. These trading and underwriting activities could affect the level of the Reference Index in a manner that would be adverse to your investment in the Notes.

Your investment will not be used to purchase or sell the securities that make up the Reference Index

The Notes are debt securities that are direct obligations of the Company. The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of the Notes will not be used to purchase or sell the securities that make up any of the Reference Index for the benefit of holders of the Notes. An investment in the Notes does not constitute either an investment in the securities that make up the Reference Index or in a collective vehicle that trades in the index components, i.e., the Notes do not constitute a direct or indirect investment by you in the trading of the underlying securities that comprise the Reference Index.

You are not entitled to any of the securities which comprise the Reference Index

While the performance value of the Notes is tied to the performance of the Reference Index, your purchase of Notes will not entitle you to any rights with respect to the securities that comprise the Reference Index.

Tax consequences are not certain

You should consider the tax consequences of investing in the Notes, some aspects of which are not certain. See the section entitled "Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Canadian Resident Investors" in this pricing supplement.

Potential conflicts of interest

Our affiliate, Merrill Lynch International, is our agent for the purposes of calculating, among other things, the Maturity Redemption Amount. Under certain circumstances, the role of Merrill Lynch International as our affiliate and its responsibilities as Calculation Agent for the Notes could give rise to conflicts of interest. These conflicts could occur, for instance, in connection with judgments that it would be required to make in the event of a discontinuance or unavailability of the Reference Index. See "Description of the Notes – Adjustments to the Reference Index" and "– Discontinuance of the Reference Index" in this pricing supplement. Merrill Lynch International is required to carry out its duties as Calculation Agent and as Index Calculation Agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment. However, because we are affiliated with Merrill Lynch International, potential conflicts of interest could arise.

S-14

We have entered into arrangements with one of our affiliates to hedge the market risks associated with our obligation to pay the amounts due on the Notes. This affiliate expects to make a profit in connection with these arrangements. We do not always seek competitive bids from unaffiliated parties for this type of arrangement.

The Company or its affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with one or more of the companies included in the Reference Index, including extending loans to, making equity investments in or providing advisory services to those companies, including merger and acquisition advisory services. In the course of business, the Company or its affiliates may acquire non-public information relating to the companies included in the Reference Index and, in addition, one or more affiliates of the Company may publish research reports about the companies included in the Reference Index. The Company does not make any representation to any purchasers of the Notes regarding any matters whatsoever relating to the companies included in the Reference Index. Any prospective purchaser of the Notes should undertake an independent investigation of the companies included in the Reference Index as in its judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision regarding an investment in the Notes. The composition of the companies included in the Reference Index does not reflect any investment or sell recommendations of the Company or its affiliates.

You may not be able to effect service of process or enforce judgments obtained against the Guarantor in Canada

The Guarantor is incorporated under the laws of Delaware, a foreign jurisdiction, and resides, and its principal assets are located, in the United States. It may not be possible therefore for you to effect service of process within Canada upon the Guarantor in respect of actions under the Notes. Although the Guarantor has appointed ML Canada as its agent for service of process for certain securities law purposes in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, it may not be possible for you to collect from the Guarantor judgments obtained in Canadian courts. Judgments against the Guarantor may therefore have to be enforced in the United States and may be subject to additional defences as a result. In addition, all of the Guarantor's directors and officers reside outside Canada and most of their assets are located outside Canada. It may not be possible therefore for you to effect service of process within Canada upon the Guarantor's directors and officers or to collect from them judgments obtained in Canadian courts.

The Notes will not be insured under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act or any other product insurance regime

The Notes will not constitute deposits that are insured under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act or any other product insurance regime designed to ensure the payment of all or a portion of an investment upon insolvency of an issuer.

The principal protection on the Notes depends on the creditworthiness of the Company and the Guarantor and does not apply to sales in the secondary market

Payments on the Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the applicable Guarantee. The principal protection on the Notes applies only where the Notes are held to the Maturity Date (in which case the Notes are 100% principal protected) and not if a Noteholder chooses to sell the Notes on the secondary market prior to such date. Therefore, your ability to receive any principal protection on the Notes will depend on the creditworthiness of the Company and the Guarantor. See "The Guarantor", "Credit Ratings" and "Description of the Guarantees" in the Prospectus and "Credit Ratings" and "Secondary Trading of Notes" in this pricing supplement.

Amounts payable on the Notes may be limited by applicable law

Under the Criminal Code (Canada), a lender is prohibited from entering into an agreement or arrangement to receive interest at an effective annual rate of interest, calculated in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles, exceeding 60% of the credit advanced under the agreement or arrangement. We will promise, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, to the extent permitted by law, not to voluntarily claim the benefits of any laws concerning usurious rates of interest.

S-15

Additional risk factors that may be relevant to the Notes

In addition to the risk factors above, you should carefully consider the discussion of the risks described in the accompanying Prospectus at page 8 before deciding whether an investment in the Notes is appropriate for you.

S-16

CREDIT RATINGS

The Canadian medium term note program (the "MTN Program") of the Company, under which the Notes are issued, has been rated AA(low) by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited ("DBRS"), A by Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P®"), A1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and A+ by Fitch Ratings Ltd. ("Fitch") (each a "Rating Agency"). An AA(low) rated note by DBRS is of superior credit quality, and protection of interest and principal is considered high. Notes with an A rating by S&P® have strong financial security characteristics, but are somewhat more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are notes with higher ratings. An A1 rated note by Moody's is judged to be of upper-medium quality by all standards. An A+ rated note by Fitch is considered to be of investment quality and is considered to have a low expectation of credit risk. These ratings do not reflect outlooks that may be expressed by the Rating Agencies from time to time.

Credit ratings are intended to provide investors with an independent measure of the credit quality of an issue of securities. Ratings for debt instruments range from AAA (DBRS, S&P® and Fitch) or Aaa (Moody's), which represent the highest quality of securities, to C (DBRS and Moody's) or D (S&P® and Fitch), which represents the lowest quality of securities rated. The Rating Agencies use a (high or low) or (+ or − ) or (1, 2 or 3) designation after the rating category to indicate the relative strength within such rating category.

The credit ratings accorded the MTN Program by the Rating Agencies are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell the Notes offered hereunder inasmuch as such ratings do not comment as to market price or suitability for particular investors. There is no assurance that any rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that any rating will not be revised or withdrawn entirely by a Rating Agency in the future if in its judgment circumstances so warrant.

S-17

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The Notes

The Company will issue the Notes as a series of senior securities under the indenture dated as of June 30, 2006, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the "Indenture"). The Indenture is more fully described in the accompanying Prospectus under the section entitled "Description of the Notes". The Notes will mature on July 10, 2015 (the "Maturity Date"), subject to a postponement if a Market Disruption Event (as defined below) occurs.

On the Maturity Date, if the Notes have not previously been redeemed by the Company, a beneficial owner of a Note as of the fifteenth day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, but in any event not later than June 25, 2015 (the "Record Date") will receive an amount equal to the Maturity Redemption Amount, but there will be no payments of interest, periodic or otherwise. See "Payment of the Maturity Redemption Amount" below.

On the Early Redemption Date, we may (in our sole discretion), but are not obligated to, redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, as described in this pricing supplement. The Notes will not otherwise be subject to redemption by the Company or at the option of any beneficial owner before the Maturity Date except for certain tax reasons described under the section "Description of the Notes – Redemption for Tax Reasons" in the accompanying Prospectus. If an Event of Default occurs with respect to the Notes, holders of the Notes may accelerate the maturity of the Notes, as described under "— Events of Default and Acceleration" below and "Description of Notes — Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus.

The Company will issue the Notes in denominations of whole units each with a principal amount of $100 per Note and a minimum subscription of $2,000. You may transfer the Notes only in whole units. You will not have the right to receive physical certificates evidencing your ownership except under limited circumstances. Instead, we will issue the Notes in the form of a global certificate, which will be held by CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. ("CDS"), or its nominee. Direct and indirect participants in CDS will record your ownership of the Notes. You should refer to the section "— Depository" below.

The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes Held to Maturity

Neither the agency fee nor the independent underwriter's fee will be deducted from the Maturity Redemption Amount.

Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes Sold on Secondary Market

ML Canada may, from time to time, purchase and sell the Notes in the secondary market commencing on the first anniversary of the Issue Date of the Notes, but is not obligated to do so. See "Secondary Trading of Notes" below. ML Canada intends to publish a bid price for the Notes on its website (http://ca.structuredsolutions.ml.com). The bid price represents the amount ML Canada is prepared to pay for the Notes, after giving effect to the deduction of a spread which is not fixed but will be determined by ML Canada from time to time. An investor who chooses to sell Notes to ML Canada would receive the bid price less an early sales fee of $6.00 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from July 11, 2008 to and including October 10, 2008; $5.25 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from October 11, 2008 to and including January 10, 2009, $4.50 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from January 11, 2009 to and including April 10, 2009, $3.75 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from April 11, 2009 to and including July 10, 2009; $3.00 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from July 11, 2009 to and including October 10, 2009; $2.25 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from October 11, 2009 to and including January 10, 2010; $1.50 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from January 11, 2010 to and including April 10, 2010 ; $0.75 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the

S-18

period from April 11, 2010 to and including July 10, 2010. On or after July 11, 2010, no early sales fee will apply to sales of Notes to ML Canada.

Calculation and Payment of the Maturity Redemption Amount

On the Maturity Date, if the Notes have not been redeemed, you (as a beneficial owner of a Note as of the Record Date) will be entitled to receive the Maturity Redemption Amount for a Note. The Maturity Redemption Amount will be equal to the greater of (i) $100 and (ii) the product of $100 and the Reference Index Return (as more fully described herein). The Maturity Redemption Amount will not be less than $100 per Note.

Formula for Calculation of the Maturity Redemption Amount

The Maturity Redemption Amount for a Note will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be equal to the greater of:

a) $100; and

b) $100 x Reference Index Return.

Where:

"Reference Index Return" is equal to {1 + 105% x (P – 1)}.

And where:

"P" is the performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ as follows:



For the Reference Index the "Starting Value" will equal the Index Level of the Index as determined on July 8, 2008 (the "Pricing Date") and is 828.13.

The "Ending Value" will equal the Index Level on the Valuation Date.

"Index Level" means, on any day, the closing level of the Reference Index as quoted on the following Bloomberg page: SPTSX60<Index><Go>for SPTSX60.

If the Index Level is not published on the relevant Bloomberg page referred to above, the Calculation Agent may in its sole discretion use a successor page/publication or alternative source as it considers appropriate.

Note that the closing level of the Reference Index is available from other sources, such as on the Internet from: www.standardandpoors.com. However, the Company makes no representation as to the accuracy of such information and all calculations regarding the closing level of the Reference Index will be made as quoted on the Bloomberg page listed above.

"Valuation Date" means July 3, 2015, or if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day (as defined below), the next following Scheduled Trading Day.

Index Calculation Agent

The "Index Calculation Agent" means Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P®").

S-19

All determinations made by each of the Calculation Agent and the Index Calculation Agent will be at its sole discretion and, absent manifest error, will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company, the Guarantor and the holders and beneficial owners of the Notes. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act, it will do so in good faith using its reasonable judgment.

Early Redemption Amount

On the Early Redemption Date, we may (in our sole discretion), but shall not be obligated to, redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part. If the Notes are redeemed, for each $100 principal amount of Notes that you own, you will receive a cash payment of $150 (representing, on that day, an annual compounded rate of return of 12.28%). In the event that we redeem the Notes on the Early Redemption Date, we will pay you the Early Redemption Amount on the Early Redemption Date. The fact that the performance of the Reference Index on the Early Redemption Date is at or near 150% will not, in and of itself, result in a decision to redeem the Notes. We will base our decision to redeem the Notes, in part, on the then current, and expected ongoing, trading value of the Notes. We will consider several factors that affect the trading value of the Notes, including current and anticipated changes in (i) the levels of interest rates in Canada, (ii) volatility of the Reference Index, (iii) dividend yields of the stocks included in the Reference Index, and (iv) credit rating of the Company or of the Guarantor. If the Notes are redeemed, a notice of redemption will be given to Noteholders not less than 7 days nor more than 10 days prior to the Early Redemption Date.

Market Disruptions

If the Valuation Date is a Disrupted Day (as defined below), the date on which the Index Level is determined shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Trading Day (as defined below) that is not a Disrupted Day relating to the Reference Index, unless each of the eight Scheduled Trading Days following the Valuation Date to and including the Cut-Off Date is a Disrupted Day. In that case (i) the Cut-Off Date shall be deemed to be the Valuation Date, notwithstanding the fact that such day is a Disrupted Day, and (ii) the Calculation Agent shall determine or the Company will appoint an Independent Calculation Expert to determine, as the case may be, the Index Level as of the Valuation Time (as defined below) on the Cut-Off Date in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Reference Index last in effect prior to the occurrence of the first Disrupted Day using the Exchange (as defined below) traded or quoted price as of the Valuation Time on the Cut-Off Date of each security comprised in the Reference Index (or, if an event giving rise to a Disrupted Day has occurred in respect of the relevant security on the Cut-Off Date, its good faith estimate of the value for the relevant security as of the Valuation Time on the Cut-Off Date).

For the purposes of the foregoing:

"Cut-Off Date" means the eighth Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Valuation Date, whether or not such date is a Disrupted Day.

"Disrupted Day" means any Scheduled Trading Day on which a relevant Exchange or any Related Exchange fails to open for trading during its regular trading session or on which a Market Disruption Event has occurred.

"Early Closure" means the closure on an Exchange Business Day of relevant Exchange(s) relating to securities that comprise 20 per cent or more of the level of the Reference Index or any Related Exchange(s) prior to its Scheduled Closing Time unless such earlier closing time is announced by such Exchange(s) or Related Exchange(s) at least one hour prior to the earlier of (i) the actual closing time for the regular trading session on such Exchange(s) or Related Exchange(s) on such Exchange Business Day and (ii) the submission deadline for orders to be entered into the Exchange or Related Exchange system for execution at the Valuation Time on such Exchange Business Day.

"Exchange" means in respect of each security comprising the Reference Index, the exchange or quotation system on which such security is listed (for the avoidance of doubt, where such security has more than one listing, "Exchange" shall mean the exchange or quotation system used by the Index Calculation Agent when calculating the Reference Index), any successor to such exchange or quotation system or any substitute exchange or quotation

S-20

system to which trading in such security has temporarily relocated (provided that the Calculation Agent has determined that there is comparable liquidity relative to such security on such temporary substitute exchange or quotation system as on the original Exchange).

"Exchange Business Day" means any Scheduled Trading Day on which each Exchange and each Related Exchange are open for trading during their respective regular trading sessions, notwithstanding such Exchange or Related Exchange closing prior to its scheduled weekday closing time.

"Exchange Disruption" means any event (other than Early Closure) that disrupts or impairs (as determined by the Calculation Agent) the ability of market participants in general (i) to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, securities that comprise 20 per cent or more of the level of the Reference Index, or (ii) to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, futures or options contracts relating to the Reference Index on any relevant Related Exchange.

"Independent" means a person that is not the Company or an affiliate of the Company or an "insider", "associate" or "affiliate" thereof (as such terms are defined in the Securities Act (Ontario), as the same may be amended from time to time).

"Independent Calculation Expert" means a person that is both "Independent" of the Company and a market participant or financial institution that is familiar with the Reference Index.

"Market Disruption Event" means in respect of the Reference Index, the occurrence or existence of (i) a Trading Disruption, (ii) an Exchange Disruption, which in either case the Calculation Agent determines is material, at any time during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, or (iii) an Early Closure. For the purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists at any time, if a Market Disruption Event occurs in respect of a security included in the Reference Index at any time, then the relevant percentage contribution of that security to the level of the Reference Index shall be based on a comparison of (x) the portion of the level of the Reference Index attributable to that security and (y) the overall level of the Reference Index, in each case immediately before the occurrence of such Market Disruption Event.

"Related Exchange" means each exchange or quotation system on which options contracts and futures contracts relating to the Reference Index are traded, any successor to such exchange or quotation system or any substitute exchange or quotation system to which trading in futures or options contracts relating to the Reference Index has temporarily relocated (provided that the Calculation Agent has determined that there is comparable liquidity relative to the futures or options contracts relating to the Reference Index on such temporary substitute exchange or quotation system as on the original Related Exchange).

"Scheduled Closing Time" means, in respect of an Exchange or Related Exchange and a Scheduled Trading Day, the scheduled weekday closing time of such Exchange or Related Exchange on such Scheduled Trading Day, without regard to after hours or any other trading outside of the regular trading session hours.

"Scheduled Trading Day" means any day on which each Exchange and Related Exchange are scheduled to be open for trading for their respective regular trading sessions.

"Trading Disruption" means any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading by the relevant Exchange or Related Exchange or otherwise and whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant Exchange or Related Exchange or otherwise (i) relating to securities that comprise 20 per cent or more of the level of the Reference Index, or (ii) in futures or options contracts relating to the Reference Index on any relevant Related Exchange.

"Valuation Time" means in relation to each constituent of the Reference Index, the close of trading on the relevant Exchange on which such constituent is traded or, following a Disrupted Day, the time the Calculation Agent considers (in its sole discretion) to be the regular close of trading on such Exchange.

S-21

Adjustments to the Reference Index

If the Reference Index is (i) not calculated and announced by the Index Calculation Agent but is calculated and announced by a successor sponsor acceptable to the Calculation Agent, or (ii) replaced by a successor index using, in the determination of the Calculation Agent, the same or a substantially similar formula for and method of calculation as used in the calculation of the Reference Index, then in each case, that successor index (the "Successor Index") will be deemed to be the Reference Index and the Calculation Agent shall notify the Trustee (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) and the Company of that determination as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

Discontinuance of the Reference Index

If (i) on or prior to the Valuation Date, the Index Calculation Agent announces that it will make a material change in the formula for or the method of calculating the Reference Index or in any other way materially modifies the Reference Index (other than a modification prescribed in that formula or method to maintain the Reference Index in the event of changes in constituent stock and capitalization and other routine events) (an "Index Modification"), or permanently cancels the Reference Index and no Successor Index exists (an "Index Cancellation"), or (ii) on the Valuation Date, the Index Calculation Agent fails to calculate and announce the Reference Index (an "Index Disruption" and, together with an Index Modification and an Index Cancellation, each an "Index Adjustment Event"), then the Calculation Agent shall determine if such Index Adjustment Event has a material effect on the value of the Notes and, if so, shall calculate the Index Level for the Reference Index, using in lieu of a published level for the Reference Index, the level for the Reference Index as at the Valuation Time on the Valuation Date as determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the Reference Index last in effect prior to the change, failure or cancellation, but using only those securities that comprised the Reference Index immediately prior to that Index Adjustment Event.

Events of Default and Acceleration

In case an Event of Default (as described under "Description of Notes — Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus) with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing, the amount payable to a beneficial owner of a Note upon any acceleration permitted by the Notes, with respect to each Note, will be equal to the Maturity Redemption Amount, calculated as though the date of acceleration were the Maturity Date of the Notes and using such valuation date as the Calculation Agent shall determine in its sole discretion. See "Calculation and Payment of the Maturity Redemption Amount" in this pricing supplement.

Depository

Book-Entry Only Securities

Upon issuance, the Notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by fully registered global notes ("Book-Entry Notes"). Each Book-Entry Note will be held by, or on behalf of, CDS or such other entity designated in writing by the Company to act as depository. The Book-Entry-Notes will be registered in the name of CDS or its nominee. Except as described below under "— Exchange for Notes in Certificated Form", no Book-Entry Note may be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository, or another nominee of the depository, or by the depository or any such nominee to a successor of the depository, or a nominee of the successor.

Ownership of the Notes will be constituted through beneficial interests in the Book-Entry Notes, and will be represented through book-entry accounts of institutions, as direct and indirect participants of the depository, acting on behalf of the beneficial owners of such Notes. Each purchaser of a Note represented by a Book-Entry Note will receive a customer confirmation of purchase from the selling agent from whom the Notes are purchased in accordance with practices and procedures of such selling agent.

CDS Procedures

The following is based on information provided by CDS:

S-22

Upon the issuance by the Company of Book-Entry Notes represented by a certificate in global form (the "Global Note"), the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note to the accounts of its participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the Agents of such Book-Entry Notes, or the Company, if such Book-Entry Notes are offered and sold directly by the Company, as the case may be. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Note or Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository (with respect to interests of participants in the depository), or by participants in the depository or persons that may hold interests through such participants (with respect to persons other than participants in the depository).

So long as the depository for a Global Note, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the Global Note, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note or Global Notes will not be entitled to have Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Book-Entry Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under a Global Note. The Company understands that under existing policies of the depository and industry practices, if the Company requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in such a Global Note desires to give any notice or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under a Global Note, the depository would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give such notice or take such action. Any beneficial owner that is not a participant must rely on the contractual arrangements it has directly, or indirectly through its financial intermediary, with a participant to give such notice or take such action.

Payments of the Maturity Redemption Amount or Early Redemption Amount, as applicable, on the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Note registered in the name of the depository or its nominee will be made by the Company (or a paying agent, if specified by the Company) to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of a Global Note. None of the Company, the paying agent (if any) or any other agent of the Company will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Except in the circumstance described in the following paragraph, the Company expects that the depository or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of the Maturity Redemption Amount or Early Redemption Amount, as applicable, on a Global Note will immediately credit the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in such Global Note as shown on the records of the depository. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name" and will be the responsibility of such participants.

Exchange for Notes in Certificated Form

If an Event of Default has occurred or if the depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the Notes and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 60 days, the Company will issue certificated Notes in exchange for all outstanding Global Notes. In addition, the Company may at any time determine not to have Book-Entry Notes represented by Global Notes and, in such event, will issue certificated Notes in exchange for all Global Notes. In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled to have certificated Notes equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical delivery of such certificated Notes. Such certificated Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the depository shall instruct the Company or its paying agent. It is expected that such instructions may be based upon directions received by the depository from participants with respect to beneficial interests in such Global Notes. Certificated Notes so issued will be issued in such denominations as the Company may determine from time to time and will be issued in registered form only. No service charge will be made for any

S-23

transfer or exchange of such certificated Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

S-24

THE REFERENCE INDEX

The Notes are designed to allow investors to participate in the movement of the value of the Reference Index over the term of the Notes. The Reference Index is described in the sections below.

The Index Calculation Agent has no obligations relating to the Notes or amounts to be paid to you, including any obligation to take the needs of the Company or of beneficial owners of the Notes into consideration for any reason. The Index Calculation Agent will not receive any of the proceeds of the offering of the Notes and is not responsible for, and has not participated in, the offering of the Notes and is not responsible for, and will not participate in, the determination or calculation of the amount receivable by beneficial owners of the Notes.

All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Reference Index, including its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, are derived from publicly available information prepared by the Index Calculation Agent. None of the Company, the Guarantor nor the Agents assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of that information.

The S&P/TSX 60 Index™

General

The S&P/TSX 60 Index™ is a market capitalization-weighted index of 60 large, liquid publicly traded companies in Canada. This index is calculated and sponsored by S&P®. The S&P/TSX 60 Index™ is governed by the S&P®'s Canadian Index Committee (the "Committee"). The Committee, comprised of seven members representing both S&P® and the TSX, is responsible for selecting the securities which comprise the S&P/TSX 60 Index™, setting policy and making adjustments to the index. A guiding principle of S&P®'s index management is the minimization of turnover among index constituents. The Committee chooses companies for inclusion in the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings. Relevant criteria employed by the Committee include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company's common stock is generally responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. The S&P/TSX 60 Index™ may be adjusted by the Committee from time to time because of various events affecting a constituent company, such as the acquisition of such company as a result of a merger, amalgamation or plan of arrangement or bankruptcy, restructuring or other corporate actions. Any index additions will be made according to their market size and liquidity, with a view of preserving sector representation. Nine main groups of companies comprise the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ with the percentage weight of the companies as at July 7, 2008 included in each group indicated in parentheses: Basic Materials (20.83%), Communications (8.05%), Consumer Cyclical (2.62%), Consumer Non-Cyclical (0.75%), Energy (30.85%), Financial (26.70%), Industrial (4.47%), Technology (5.15%) and Utilities (0.59%). The Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion, add companies to, or delete companies from, the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ to achieve the objectives stated above.

Composition of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™

The Reference Index is a subset of the S&P/TSX Composite Index™ (the "Composite Index"). The Reference Index has 60 constituents and represents Canadian large cap securities that are selected with a view to matching the sector balance of the Composite Index. The Committee reviews trading data on the TSX and certain U.S. exchanges to determine any matter relating to the Reference Index, including index composition and calculations. Any additions and deletions to Reference Index are typically announced to the public via press release within ten business days of such addition or deletion.

According to the S&P/TSX Canadian Indices Index Methodology published by S&P® in March 2007, the Committee takes into account the following considerations when determining whether to include any given security in the Reference Index:

S-25

1 Constituents of S&P/TSX Composite Index™. To be eligible for inclusion in the Reference Index, securities must be constituents of the Composite Index. The eligibility criteria for inclusion in the Composite Index are described briefly at "- S&P/TSX Composite Index™".

2 Float Quoted Market Value. When adding securities to the Reference Index, the Committee generally selects amongst the larger securities, in terms of float "Quoted Market Value", in the Composite Index. "Quoted Market Value" means the quoted market value of any given security and is determined by multiplying the number of float shares of a security by the price for one such float share. The requirement that a security achieve a minimum Quoted Market Value may be overridden by the Committee in order to achieve the sector balance objectives that are described at item 4 below.

3 Float Turnover. When adding securities to the Reference Index, the Committee generally selects securities with float turnover of at least 0.35. However, this minimum float turnover is a guideline only and may be changed at the discretion of the Committee or overridden in order to achieve the sector balance objectives described at item 4 below.

4 Sector Balance. The Committee selects securities for the Reference Index with a view to achieving a sector balance that is reflective of the "Global Industry Classification Standard" sector weights in the Composite Index. The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) is a set of global sector and industry definitions that is jointly managed by S&P® and MSCI Barra. Additional information about the GICS® is publicly available at http://www.mscibarra.com/products/gics/.

5 Minimum Index Turnover. The Committee makes changes to the Reference Index on an as-needed basis and with a view to minimizing turnover of the securities included in the Reference Index. The most common cause of deletion is the merger or acquisition of a company. Other common reasons for deletion include bankruptcy, restructuring or other corporate actions. If a company substantially fails to meet one or more of the guidelines for inclusion referred to above or if a company fails to meet the rules for continued inclusion in the Composite Index, it would be removed from the Reference Index. The timing of any such removal is at the discretion of the Committee.

S&P/TSX Composite Index™

The Composite Index is the headline index and the principal broad market measure for the Canadian equity markets. It includes common stock and income trust units. Certain constituents of the Composite Index are also members of the Reference Index.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Composite Index, a security must meet the following criteria:

1 Market Capitalization. A security must meet the following two criteria relating to its market capitalization:

(a) Minimum Weight. Based on the "VWAP" of the security in question (the volume weighted average price over the last three trading days of the month-end prior to the date when the quarterly rebalancing of the Composite Index occurs (the "Quarterly Review")), the security must represent a minimum weight of 0.05% of the Composite Index, after including the Quoted Market Value of that security in the total float capitalization of the Composite Index. In the event that any security comprising the Composite Index has a weight of more than 10% at any month-end, the minimum weights for the purpose of inclusion in the Composite Index would be based on the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index™. The S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index™ is a capped version of the Composite Index in which any constituent whose relative weight exceeds 10% on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the announcement of quarterly additions, deletions and updates for such index would be subject to a maximum weight restriction of 10%.

(b) Minimum Volume Weighted Average Price. The security must have a minimum VWAP of $1.00 over the three months immediately preceding, and the last three trading days of the month-end prior to, the Quarterly Review.

S-26

2 Liquidity. A security must meet all of the following three liquidity criteria:

(a) Volume. The trading volume, dollar value traded and number of transactions for a security for the prior 12 months must be at least 0.025% of the sum of all eligible securities' trading volume, dollar value traded and number of transactions, as determined by trading on the TSX. Volume is adjusted for splits and consolidations and is represented by the class of shares eligible for inclusion in the Composite Index. Trading statistics are capped at a maximum of 15% for value, volume and transactions for the purpose of this test.

(b) Non-trading Days. A candidate must not have more than 25 days over the past 12 calendar months during which the TSX is open for trading and the security does not trade a minimum of at least one board lot.

(c) Float Turnover. The float turnover (measured by comparing the 12-month volume relative to the current float shares) must be at least 0.25. For the purpose of this calculation, the float shares of an issuer with more than one class of listed common shares is combined. The volume is based on the volume of the eligible class.

3 Domicile. Issuers must be incorporated, established or formed under Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial jurisdictions and listed on the TSX

4 Eligible Securities. Securities must be listed on the TSX for at least 12 full calendar months as of the month-end prior to the most recent calendar quarter. Securities issued by mutual fund corporations, preferred shares, exchangeable shares, warrants, instalment receipts and other securities deemed inappropriate by the Committee are not eligible. Securities comprised of combinations of debt and equity are not eligible if the securities can be separated by holders, however securities in which a combination of securities trade as one are eligible if the securities cannot be broken apart by the securityholder.

5 Shares Outstanding. The shares counted for the Composite Index calculation are issued and outstanding shares of a security (rounded to the nearest thousand). This count is float-adjusted to reflect only available shares.

Companies Included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index™

The following table sets out the top ten companies, their index weights and their GICS® Sectors as of July 7, 2008:

Company Index Weight

GICS® Sector

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

5.83% Basic Materials

EnCana Corporation 5.66% Energy

Royal Bank of Canada 5.41% Financial

Research in Motion Limited 5.15% Technology

Manulife Financial Corporation 4.74% Financial

Suncor Energy Inc. 4.66% Energy

Canadian Natural Resources Limited 4.46% Energy

The Toronto-Dominion Bank 4.42% Financial

The Bank of Nova Scotia 4.16% Financial

Barrick Gold Corporation 3.51% Basic Materials

S-27

Source: Bloomberg

Historical Data on the S&P/TSX 60 Index™

The following table sets forth the value of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ at the end of each month, in the period from January 1998 through June 2008. These historical data on the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ are not indicative of the future performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the value of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ during any period set forth below is not any indication that the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the term of the Notes.

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 January......... 381.23 396.87 498.59 554.84 438.92 370.48 476.64 506.75 672.69 747.47 772.56 February....... 406.82 368.25 519.93 472.60 436.48 371.97 490.59 532.08 659.27 743.77 795.23 March........... 435.32 384.98 568.89 443.04 446.74 361.23 475.59 533.87 682.54 752.45 783.44 April............. 440.34 410.85 559.86 459.00 434.04 373.94 455.87 522.02 685.33 765.35 825.91 May.............. 441.02 400.07 556.35 471.09 429.17 388.11 463.61 536.89 657.38 804.47 878.42 June.............. 427.01 411.04 617.91 444.84 401.20 394.63 472.78 555.06 653.46 799.70 863.19 July .............. 400.51 415.10 638.35 445.15 371.06 409.03 469.34 585.02 667.43 799.42 August.......... 318.75 407.32 687.08 430.33 371.80 423.28 465.48 600.40 682.21 793.37 September .... 321.55 408.54 618.28 398.20 345.06 416.58 482.19 620.04 673.16 817.39 October ........ 359.99 433.85 569.28 397.55 351.36 436.20 496.37 585.55 703.41 848.82 November .... 369.21 447.29 525.33 431.78 372.63 438.25 501.18 611.09 732.35 798.50 December..... 375.98 495.86 528.72 442.55 373.15 458.72 511.91 634.72 742.77 808.53

Source: Bloomberg

The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ presented in the preceding table. Past movements of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ are not necessarily indicative of the future S&P/TSX 60 Index™ values. On July 8, 2008, the closing value of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ was 828.13.

0100200300400500600700800900

Jan-

98Ap

r-98

Jul-9

8O

ct-9

8Ja

n-99

Apr-9

9Ju

l-99

Oct

-99

Jan-

00Ap

r-00

Jul-0

0O

ct-0

0Ja

n-01

Apr-0

1Ju

l-01

Oct

-01

Jan-

02Ap

r-02

Jul-0

2O

ct-0

2Ja

n-03

Apr-0

3Ju

l-03

Oct

-03

Jan-

04Ap

r-04

Jul-0

4O

ct-0

4Ja

n-05

Apr-0

5Ju

l-05

Oct

-05

Jan-

06Ap

r-06

Jul-0

6O

ct-0

6Ja

n-07

Apr-0

7Ju

l-07

Oct

-07

Jan-

08Ap

r-08

Source: Bloomberg

The dividend yield for the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ as of July 8, 2008 was 2.24.

License Agreement

S&P® and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S") have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to MLPF&S, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by S&P® in connection with some securities, including the Notes, and the Company is an authorized sublicensee of MLPF&S.

S-28

The license agreement between S&P® and MLPF&S provides that the following language must be stated in this pricing supplement:

"S&P®, S&P/TSX 60™ and Standard & Poor's® are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by MLPF&S and the Company. TSX® is a trademark of the Toronto Stock Exchange and has been licensed for use by Standard & Poor's®. The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's® and neither Standard & Poor's® nor the Toronto Stock Exchange make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Notes."

"The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P®"). Neither S&P® nor the Toronto Stock Exchange make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ to track general stock market performance. S&P®'s and the Toronto Stock Exchange's only relationship to MLPF&S and the Company (other than transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business) is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P® and the Toronto Stock Exchange and of the S&P/TSX 60 Index™ which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P® without regard to the Company or the Notes. S&P® and the Toronto Stock Exchange have no obligation to take the needs of the Company or the holders of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P TSX 60 Index™. S&P® and the Toronto Stock Exchange are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of the sale of the Notes, prices at which the Notes are to initially be sold, or quantities of the Notes to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes are to be converted into cash. S&P® and the Toronto Stock Exchange have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Notes."

"S&P® AND THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P/TSX 60 INDEX™ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P® AND THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P® AND THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY MLPF&S, THE COMPANY, OWNERS OF THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P/TSX 60 INDEX™ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED HEREIN. S&P® MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P/TSX 60 INDEX™ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P® OR THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES."

INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO CANADIAN RESIDENT INVESTORS

In the opinion of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, the following is, as of the date hereof, a summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, holding and disposition of Notes by a Noteholder pursuant to this offering. This summary is applicable to a Noteholder who is an individual (other than a trust) and who, for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"), is a resident of Canada and deals at arm's length with and is not affiliated with the Company. This summary further assumes that the Noteholder does not hold the Notes in the course of carrying on a business and that the Notes are acquired by the Noteholder without the intention or secondary intention of selling them prior to the Maturity Date and that the Notes are therefore capital property to the Noteholder. A Noteholder who is not a trader or dealer in securities may consider making a one-time election to treat the Notes, and all other Canadian securities, as defined in the Tax Act, owned by the Noteholder in that or subsequent taxation years, as capital property.

This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act and the regulations thereunder, the published administrative practices of the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA"), and all specific proposals to amend the Tax Act and regulations thereunder publicly announced by the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (such proposals referred to as the "Tax Proposals"). This summary does not otherwise take into account or

S-29

anticipate any changes in law or CRA's administrative practices, whether by legislative, governmental or judicial action, nor does it take into account provincial, territorial or foreign income tax legislation or considerations.

This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal tax considerations applicable to an investment in Notes. Accordingly, this summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be legal or tax advice to any Noteholder. Noteholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors for advice with respect to the potential income tax consequences to them of an investment in Notes, having regard to their particular circumstances and the uncertainties with respect to the operation of the Tax Act as noted below.

Holding Notes

No interest is stipulated to be payable in respect of the Notes and the amount payable in respect of the Notes will depend on the Maturity Redemption Amount at the Valuation Date or the Early Redemption Amount, if the Notes are redeemed on the Early Redemption Date. Accordingly, the Notes will be prescribed debt obligations ("PDOs") for purposes of the rules in the Tax Act. These rules potentially require a holder thereof to include in the holder's income for each taxation year during which the holder holds the PDO an amount of notional interest which is deemed to accrue on the PDO. However, a Noteholder should generally be able to take the position in applying the prescribed debt obligation rules that the Noteholder's entitlement to interest or any other amount at all times prior to the Valuation Date or such date that the Noteholder receives notice of the Early Redemption Date, as the case may be, is indeterminate and therefore that it is not possible to compute any maximum interest or other amount that could be payable to the Noteholder as required under the rules. Accordingly, a Noteholder should generally be able to take the position that no amount of notional interest is required to be included in computing income under the rules for any taxation year during which the Noteholder holds, and has not disposed of, the Note.

Payment at the Maturity Date

Upon the payment of a Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date, as the case may be, a Noteholder will generally be required to include in computing income for the taxation year of payment, the amount by which the Maturity Redemption Amount or the Early Redemption Amount, as the case may be, exceeds the Issue Price, except to the extent otherwise included in computing income for the taxation year of payment or a preceding taxation year.

Disposition of Notes Prior to Maturity

The CRA has not expressed any opinion on whether amounts received by a Noteholder on a sale or other disposition of a Note prior to the Maturity Date would be considered to be on capital account or income account. However, if a Note is held as capital property as assumed above, on the disposition or deemed disposition of the Note (other than upon payment of the Note at the Maturity Date or the Early Redemption Date), the Noteholder should realize a capital gain (or capital loss) equal to the amount by which the proceeds of disposition determined for tax purposes net of any reasonable costs of disposition exceed (or are exceeded by) the adjusted cost base of the Note to the Noteholder. Noteholders who dispose of a Note prior to the Maturity Date should consult their own tax advisors with respect to such disposition.

One-half of any capital gain (a "taxable capital gain") realized on a disposition of a Note will be included in the Noteholder's income and one-half of any capital loss (an "allowable capital loss") realized on a disposition of a Note may be deducted from taxable capital gains in accordance with the provisions of the Tax Act.

Capital gains realized by an individual may give rise to alternative minimum tax under the Tax Act.

FIE Legislation

A Note will not constitute a "participating interest" as defined for the purposes of the Tax Proposals relating to foreign investment entities (the "FIE Legislation"). As such, the FIE Legislation will not be applicable to a Noteholder in respect of your investment in a Note.

S-30

CIRCULAR 230

Any discussions of United States federal income tax matters contained in this pricing supplement or the accompanying short form base shelf prospectus (a) were not intended or written to be legal or tax advice to any person and were not intended or written to be used, and they cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding any tax-related penalties that may be imposed on such person, and (b) were written to support the promotion or marketing of the Notes by the Company and the Agents. Each person considering an investment in the Notes should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

In addition to the foregoing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a prospective investor (and each employee, representative, or other agent of a prospective investor) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Notes and all materials of any kind that are provided to the prospective investor relating to such tax treatment and tax structure (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4). This authorization of tax disclosure is retroactively effective to the commencement of discussions between either the Company or the Agents or their respective representatives and any prospective investor regarding an investment in the Notes.

ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT

In the opinion of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, the Notes, when issued, will be qualified investments for trusts governed by registered retirement savings plans, registered retirement income funds, registered education savings plans, registered disability savings plans and deferred profit sharing plans within the meaning of the Tax Act (other than a deferred profit sharing plan to which payments are made by the Company or an employer with which the Company does not deal at arm's length).

CALCULATION AGENT

Ordinarily, all calculations and determinations to be made in connection with the Notes will be made in the first instance by the Calculation Agent.

Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act, it will do so in good faith and its determinations will be binding (subject to the next paragraph) in the absence of manifest error. The Calculation Agent does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information made available with respect to the Reference Index or of calculations made by it in connection with the Notes.

In the circumstances described under "Appointment of an Independent Calculation Expert", a calculation or valuation contemplated to be made by the Calculation Agent in respect of the Notes will be subject to confirmation by an Independent Calculation Expert.

APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT CALCULATION EXPERT

If a calculation or valuation contemplated to be made by the Calculation Agent in respect of the Notes involves the application of material discretion, the Company will appoint an Independent Calculation Expert to confirm such calculation or valuation. The Independent Calculation Expert will be a person that is both "Independent" of the Company and a market participant or financial institution that is familiar with the Reference Index. For the purposes of this section, "Independent" means a person that is not the Company or an affiliate of the Company or an "insider", "associate" or "affiliate" thereof (as such terms are defined in the Securities Act (Ontario), as the same may be amended from time to time). The Independent Calculation Expert will act as an Independent expert and will not assume any obligation or duty to, or any relationship of agency or trust for or with, the Noteholders or the Company.

Noteholders will be entitled to rely on the conclusions of such Independent Calculation Expert, which will (except in the case of manifest error and subject to the next paragraph) be final and binding on the Company, the Calculation Agent and the Noteholders. The Independent Calculation Expert will not be responsible for good faith errors or omissions. The Independent Calculation Expert may, with the consent of the Company, delegate any of its obligations and functions to a third party as it deems appropriate, but acting honestly and reasonably at all times.

S-31

Promptly following the appointment of the Independent Calculation Expert, the Company will issue a press release regarding the identity and qualifications of the Independent Calculation Expert and any past, present or anticipated relationships between the Independent Calculation Expert and the Company.

If the Independent Calculation Expert disagrees with the reasonableness of the discretionary aspects of the Calculation Agent's valuation or calculation, the Company will appoint two additional Independent Calculation Experts. The three Independent Calculation Experts appointed by the Company will each repeat the valuation or calculation having regard to the basis, factors and considerations properly applicable to the initial valuation or calculation by the Calculation Agent, and the average of such valuation or calculation by each Independent Calculation Expert will be definitive and binding on the Company, the Calculation Agent and the affected Noteholders.

USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING

The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be used as described under "Use of Proceeds" in the accompanying Prospectus and to hedge market risks of the Company associated with its obligation to pay the amounts due on the Notes.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Notes are being offered by ML Canada and Desjardins Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Agents") under an agreement (the "Dealer Agreement") dated June 30, 2006, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time. See "Plan of Distribution" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Agents have agreed to offer the Notes for sale in Canada, as agents of the Company, on a best efforts basis, if, as and when issued by the Company. Desjardins Securities Inc. will receive a fee equal to $4.00 for each Note sold by it. In addition, upon completion of the issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes, ML Canada will pay Desjardins Securities Inc. a one-time fee equal to 0.20% of the principal amount of Notes issued and sold hereunder for acting as independent underwriter. ML Canada will not receive a fee in connection with its acting as an Agent for the distribution of the Notes. The Agents will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them. The Agents may form a selling group including other qualified investment dealers and will pay them the $4.00 fee based on sales of Notes made by them; members of that group may also receive an additional fee payable by ML Canada. While the Agents have agreed to use their best efforts to sell the Notes offered hereby, the Agents will not be obligated to purchase Notes which are not sold.

From time to time, the Company may issue and sell other securities described in the accompanying Prospectus, and the amount of Notes that the Company may offer and sell under this pricing supplement may be reduced as a result of those sales.

ML Canada intends to buy and sell the Notes to create a daily secondary market for the holders of the Notes. However, ML Canada will not be obligated to engage in any of those market activities or continue them once it has started. Therefore, there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the Notes nor any assurance as to the price at which ML Canada or any other party would offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market. The Notes are principal protected only if an investor holds the Notes to maturity.

Neither the Company nor the Agents make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the secondary market transactions described above may have on the price of the Notes. In addition, neither the Company nor the Agents make any representation that the Agents will engage in any of those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

ML Canada was involved in the decision to distribute Notes hereunder. ML Canada is an affiliate of the Company and both ML Canada and the Company are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Guarantor. Consequently, the Company is a "related issuer" and is also a "connected issuer" of ML Canada within the meaning of the securities legislation of each of the provinces of Canada in connection with the offering of Notes under this pricing supplement and accompanying Prospectus. Desjardins Securities Inc., the independent Agent, has performed due diligence in connection with the offering of the Notes but has not participated in the structuring or pricing of the Notes.

S-32

The Agents propose to offer the Notes initially at the offering price specified on the cover page of this pricing supplement. After the Agents have made a reasonable effort to sell all of the Notes at the price specified on the cover page, the offering price may be decreased and may be further changed from time to time to an amount not greater than that set out on the cover page.

SECONDARY TRADING OF NOTES

ML Canada intends to buy and sell the Notes to create a daily secondary market for the Notes. However, ML Canada will not be obligated to engage in any of those activities or continue them once started. ML Canada intends to publish a bid price for the Notes on its website (http://ca.structuredsolutions.ml.com). The bid price represents the amount ML Canada is prepared to pay for the Notes, after giving effect to the deduction of a spread which is not fixed but will be determined by ML Canada from time to time. The bid price posted on ML Canada's website is expected to be updated on a daily basis (and throughout the day) to reflect the applicable bid price. An investor who chooses to sell Notes to ML Canada would receive the bid price less an early sales fee of $6.00 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from July 11, 2008 to and including October 10, 2008; $5.25 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from October 11, 2008 to and including January 10, 2009; $4.50 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from January 11, 2009 to and including April 10, 2009; $3.75 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from April 11, 2009 to and including July 10, 2009; $3.00 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from July 11, 2009 to and including October 10, 2009; $2.25 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from October 11, 2009, to and including January 10, 2010; $1.50 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from January 11, 2010 to and including April 10, 2010; $0.75 per Note for Notes that are sold to ML Canada during the period from April 11, 2010 to and including July 10, 2010. On or after July 11, 2010, no early sales fee will apply to sales of Notes to ML Canada. See "Description of the Notes - Fees, Costs, Expenses and Commissions if Notes Sold on Secondary Market". The bid price will indirectly reflect the costs to the Company associated with the structuring and offering of the Notes, including the agency fee and independent underwriter fee.

The bid price of a Note at any time may be at a discount, which could be substantial, from the Redemption Amount that would be payable if the Notes were maturing at such time. Therefore a Noteholder choosing to sell his or her Notes prior to the Maturity Date may receive an amount which may be less than the Noteholder would otherwise receive if it held the Notes to maturity. The bid price of a Note at any time may be lower than the principal amount of such Note and the Notes will have no level of principal protection if a Noteholder chooses to sell them in the secondary market. The Noteholder may wish to consult his or her investment advisor on whether it would be more favourable in the circumstances at any time to sell Notes (assuming the availability of a secondary market) or hold the Notes until the Maturity Date. See "Risk Factors".

Noteholders wishing to sell Notes to ML Canada prior to the Maturity Date will be permitted to do so using the procedures established to redeem securities by FundSERV Inc. ("FundSERV") or outside of the FundSERV network through their dealer or financial advisor.

(a) FundSERV – General

The following information about FundSERV, which is based on information provided by FundSERV or other publicly available information, is pertinent for Noteholders that wish to sell their Notes using the procedures established to redeem securities using the FundSERV network. Noteholders should consult with their financial advisors as to whether their Notes have been purchased using the FundSERV network and to obtain further information on FundSERV procedures applicable to those Noteholders.

The FundSERV network is owned and operated by both fund sponsors and distributors and provides distributors of funds and certain other financial products with online order access to such financial products. The FundSERV network was originally designed and is operated as a mutual fund communications network facilitating members in electronically placing, clearing and settling mutual fund orders. In addition, the FundSERV network is currently used in respect of other financial products that may be sold by authorized representatives, such as the Notes. The FundSERV network enables its participants to clear certain financial product transactions between

S-33

participants, to settle the payment obligations arising from such transactions, and to make other payments between themselves.

(b) Sales of Notes on FundSERV

Any sales of the Notes that are made using the FundSERV network will be subject to certain procedures, requirements and limitations relating to the FundSERV network, including selling procedures that require that an irrevocable sale order be initiated at a bid price (as described below) that will not be known at the time of placing such sale order. Noteholders wishing to sell all or a part of their holdings should consult with their dealers or financial advisors in advance in order to understand whether the sale will be made using the FundSERV network and, if so, the timing and other procedures, conditions, requirements and limitations of selling using the FundSERV network.

To give effect to a sale of Notes using the FundSERV network, the dealer or financial advisor for a Noteholder must initiate an irrevocable request to "redeem" the applicable Notes in accordance with the then established procedures of the FundSERV network. The use of the FundSERV network to facilitate redemption is a matter of convenience to give effect to a sale transaction within the FundSERV network's existing systems and procedures. Despite this terminology, Notes will not be "redeemed", but rather Notes will be sold through these procedures to ML Canada as principal. In turn, ML Canada, as principal, will be able in its discretion to resell such Notes to other third parties at negotiated prices or to hold them for its own account.

Generally, in order for a redemption request made using the FundSERV network to be effective on a particular day, that day must be a business day in Toronto, Ontario, and the redemption request will need to be initiated by 4:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on that day (or such other time as may be established by FundSERV). Any request received after such time or on a day which is not a business day in Toronto, Ontario will be deemed to be a request sent and received on the next following day that is a business day in Toronto, Ontario. The price to be paid will not be posted at the time the redemption request is made.

ML Canada will act as the "fund sponsor" for the purpose of calculating and posting daily the bid price in relation to Notes within the FundSERV network. In this regard, ML Canada will act as a principal and its determinations will not be subject to review or confirmation by any other person, including any Independent Calculation Expert. There is no guarantee that the bid price for any day posted by ML Canada in such capacity will be the highest possible price available in any secondary market for the Notes, but it will represent a bid price generally available to Noteholders as at the relevant close of business on that day, including clients of ML Canada.

(c) Sales of Notes Outside of the FundSERV Network

Any sales of Notes that are made outside of the FundSERV network to ML Canada will be subject to ML Canada's internal procedures in effect from time to time for secondary market sales. ML Canada is not obligated to purchase and sell the Notes in the secondary market. In addition, ML Canada may change its procedures relating to purchases of the Notes on the secondary market any time, and from time to time, without notice to Noteholders. The description of ML Canada's procedures regarding the manner in which it may purchase Notes on the secondary market outside of the FundSERV network reflects the procedures of ML Canada in effect as of the date of this pricing supplement. Any Noteholder that wishes to sell his or her Notes to ML Canada on the secondary market should contact his or her dealer or financial advisor to confirm ML Canada's procedures regarding secondary market sales then in effect.

Any sales of the Notes that are made without using the FundSERV network must be made through a Noteholders' dealer or financial advisor. Noteholders wishing to sell all or a part of their holdings should consult with their dealers or financial advisors to ask them to determine whether ML Canada is offering to purchase the Notes on the secondary market and, if so, the bid price at which ML Canada is offering to purchase the Notes. The bid price at which ML Canada will offer to purchase securities in secondary market transactions that are consummated without using the FundSERV network typically reflects the bid price in effect as of the time when a dealer or financial advisor contacts ML Canada to inquire about a possible secondary market transaction. Accordingly, the bid price offered by ML Canada for Notes that are purchased without using the FundSERV network may differ from the bid price offered by ML Canada for Notes that are purchased using the FundSERV

S-34

network. This is so because the bid price offered by ML Canada over the FundSERV network reflects the bid price generally available to Noteholders as at the relevant close of business on that day, whereas the bid price offered by ML Canada without using the FundSERV network reflects the bid price generally available to Noteholders as at the time ML Canada is contacted by a Noteholder's dealer or financial advisor regarding the sale of Notes. A sale of Notes to ML Canada without using the FundSERV network will be completed once (a) the Noteholder's broker has confirmed to ML Canada that the Noteholder wishes to proceed with a sale of the Notes at the bid price quoted by ML Canada to the broker and (b) ML Canada has delivered a confirmation of the trade to the Noteholder's broker.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This pricing supplement is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as of July 8, 2008 and only for the purposes of the Notes issued hereunder. Subject to the MRRS Decisions, under the Mutual Reliance Review System, referred to in the accompanying Prospectus (which exempt the Company from incorporating by reference herein certain documents incorporated by reference into or attached as exhibits to the documents listed below), the following documents (which are not specifically listed in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement delivered therewith) filed by the Guarantor or the Company, as applicable, with the securities commission or similar regulatory authority in each of the provinces of Canada since the date of the Prospectus (other than information in the documents that is deemed under applicable law not to be filed) are specifically incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of, the Prospectus:

(a) the annual report on Form 10-K of the Guarantor for the year ended December 28, 2007;

(b) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Guarantor for the quarter ended March 28, 2008;

(c) the 2008 Proxy Statement of the Guarantor dated March 14, 2008;

(d) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated March 7, 2008 announcing that Thomas J. Sanzone has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Guarantor effective in the second half of 2008;

(e) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated April 17, 2008 announcing its results of operations for the three-month period ended March 28, 2008;

(f) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated April 21, 2008 attaching exhibits containing certain financial information posted on the Guarantor's investor relations website on April 17, 2008 in regard to the release of its first quarter 2008 earnings results that is being used in connection with a public offering of securities;

(g) the material change report of the Company dated February 4, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$4,545,100 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 8, US $6,417,000 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 8, Cdn.$27,990,300 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Callable Yield Securities, Series 3 and Cdn.$5,560,800 aggregate principal amount of Asia Pacific Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 4;

(h) the material change report of the Company dated March 10, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$5,607,500 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Oil Principal Protected Notes, Series 1;

(i) the material change report of the Company dated March 13, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$3,031,500 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Financial Sector Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1, Cdn.$14,881,100 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Agricultural Principal Protected Notes, Series 2, Cdn.$18,040,700 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Callable Yield Securities, Series 4 and Cdn.$7,788,600 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch International Equity Buffer Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series l;

S-35

(j) the material change report of the Company dated May 1, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$5,257,000 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 9, US$1,894,600 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 9, Cdn.$16,986,400 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Callable Yield Securities, Series 5, Cdn.$3,764,900 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Agricultural Principal Protected Notes, Series 3 and Cdn.$10,368,900 aggregate principal amount of Equity-Linked 3.25% Principal Protected Notes, Series 1;

(k) the material change report of the Company dated May 5, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.8% Medium Term Notes Maturing May 5, 2011; and

(l) the material change report of the Company dated June 19, 2008 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$2,556,300 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch World Opportunities Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 3, US$1,143,700 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch World Opportunities Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 3, Cdn.$1,421,300 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Callable Yield Securities, Series 6, and Cdn.$7,451,600 aggregate principal amount of Equity Linked 3.25% Principal Protected Notes, Series 2.

Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company

Merrill Lynch S&P/TSX 60™ Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1 due July 10, 2015

PRICING SUPPLEMENT


July 8, 2008

No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about these securities and it is an offence to claim otherwise.

This short form base shelf prospectus has been filed under legislation in each of the provinces of Canada that permits certain information about these securities to be determined after this prospectus has become final and that permits the omission from this prospectus of that information. The legislation requires the delivery to purchasers of a prospectus supplement containing the omitted information within a specified period of time after agreeing to purchase any of these securities.

This short form base shelf prospectus constitutes a public offering of these securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities. The securities to be offered hereunder have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act). See "Selling Restrictions".

Information has been incorporated by reference in this short form base shelf prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from the Secretary, Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company or from the Secretary, Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd., each at BCE Place, Suite 400, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V8, telephone (416) 369-3907, and are also available electronically at www.sedar.com. For the purpose of the Province of Québec, this simplified prospectus contains information to be completed by consulting the permanent information record. A copy of the permanent information record may be obtained from the Secretary, Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company or from the Secretary, Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd. at the above-mentioned address and telephone number and is also available electronically at www.sedar.com.

New IssueShort Form Base Shelf Prospectus

June 30, 2006

Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company

and

Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd.

Cdn. $5,000,000,000

Medium Term Notes

(Unsecured)

Unconditionally guaranteed as to payment ofall amounts payable thereunder by

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company ("ML Finance") has its registered and head office at Suite 800, 1959 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X2, and its principal place of business is BCE Place, Suite 400, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V8. Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd. ("ML&Co Canada", and together with ML Finance the "Issuers") has its registered office, head office and principal place of business at BCE Place, Suite 400, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V8. The Issuers may offer to the public from time to time, during the 25-month period that this short form base shelf prospectus, including any amendments hereto, (the "Prospectus") remains valid up to Cdn. $5,000,000,000aggregate principal amount, or the equivalent thereof in one or more non-Canadian currencies or currency units, of their medium term notes (the "Notes"). The Notes of an Issuer will be issued in one or more tranches of one or more series of debt securities under an indenture dated as of June 30, 2006, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time (the "Indenture" of such Issuer and, together with the Indenture of the other Issuer, the "Indentures"), between such Issuer, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Guarantor") and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, astrustee (including any successor with respect to one or more series of Notes pursuant to the terms of the relevant Indenture, the "Trustee"). The Indenture of ML Finance is substantially similar to the Indenture of ML&Co Canada. As used in this Prospectus, "Issuer" means ML Finance or ML&Co Canada, as the case may be, as issuer of the relevant Notes offered pursuant to an applicable pricing supplement. Each Note will mature on a day 12 months or more from the date of issue, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Each Note may be subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, prior to its stated maturity date, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The Notes will be issued under the Indenture as either direct, unsecured and unsubordinated senior indebtedness of the Issuer ranking pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer (the "Senior Notes"), or as direct, unsecured and subordinated indebtedness of the Issuer that is subordinated as described below to all existing and future indebtedness of the Issuer for money borrowed, except for such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or ranks pari passu with such notes (the "Subordinate Notes"). Unless otherwise specifically stated to the contrary in a pricing supplement, an Issuer shall have no liability or obligation with respect to any Notes issued by the other Issuer. The Issuer's payment obligations under the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor, a Delaware corporation,

- 2 -

when and as the same become payable (the "Guarantee"). The obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee of the Senior Notes will rank pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor. The obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee of the Subordinate Notes will be subordinated, to the extent provided below, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Guarantor. See "Description of the Guarantees".

The specific variable terms of the Notes to be offered and sold hereunder will be set out in pricing supplements which will be delivered to purchasers together with this Prospectus in conjunction with the sale of the Notes. The Issuers reserve the right to set forth in a pricing supplement specific variable terms that are not within the options and parameters set forth herein. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, there is no market through which these securities may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell securities purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of securities in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the Notes, and the extent of issuer regulation. See "Risk Factors".

In the opinion of Canadian counsel, the Notes offered hereby, if issued on the date of this Prospectus, would qualify as eligible investments and would not be precluded as investments pursuant to certain Canadian statutes set out under "Eligibility for Investment".

Rates on Application

The Notes may be offered by Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. ("ML Canada") and by one or more of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Canaccord Capital Corporation, CIBC World Markets Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., Edward Jones, HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., Laurentian Bank Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., and TD Securities Inc. pursuant to the Dealer Agreement referred to under "Plan of Distribution", or by such other investment dealers as may be selected from time to time by the Issuers (collectively, the "Dealers" or, individually, a "Dealer"). The Dealers shall act as an Issuer's agents or as principals, as the case may be, subject to confirmation by the Issuer pursuant to the Dealer Agreement. The Notes may be offered at par or at a discount or premium. The rate of commission payable in connection with sales of the Notes by an Issuer through the Dealers acting as agents will be determined pursuant to the Dealer Agreement. An Issuer may also sell Notes to any Dealer, as principal, at such prices and with such commissions as may be agreed upon by the Issuers and such Dealer, for resale to the public at prices to be negotiated by the Dealer with each purchaser. Such resale prices may vary during the distribution period and as between purchasers. The Notes may also be offered directly by an Issuer to purchasers pursuant to applicable statutory exemptions at such prices and on such terms as may be negotiated by the Issuer with any purchaser. No commission will be payable on Notes sold directly to purchasers by the Issuer.

Each of the Issuers and ML Canada are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Guarantor. Consequently, each of the Issuers is a "connected issuer" and a "related issuer" of ML Canada within the meaning of the securities legislation of each of the provinces of Canada in connection with the offering of Notes under this Prospectus. See "Plan of Distribution".

JURISDICTION OF THE GUARANTOR

The Guarantor is incorporated under the laws of Delaware, a foreign jurisdiction, and it resides in, and has substantial assets located in, the United States. Although the Guarantor has appointed the Issuers as its agents for service of process for certain securities law purposes in each of the provinces of Canada, it may not be possible for investors to collect from the Guarantor judgments obtained in Canadian courts predicated on the civil liability provisions of securities legislation or on the Guarantee. Judgments against the Guarantor may therefore have to be enforced in the United States and may be subject to additional defences as a result.

The Issuers are not member institutions of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation and are not regulated as financial institutions in Canada. An investment in the Notes is not a deposit.

The offering is subject to approval of certain legal matters on behalf of the Issuers by Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto, on behalf of the Guarantor by Sidley Austin LLP, New York, and on behalf of the Dealers by McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP, Toronto.

- 3 -

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT.......................................................................................................................4

ML FINANCE........................................................................................................................................................4

ML&CO CANADA................................................................................................................................................4

THE GUARANTOR...............................................................................................................................................6

CREDIT RATINGS................................................................................................................................................6

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS ..........................................................................................7

USE OF PROCEEDS .............................................................................................................................................7

RISK FACTORS ....................................................................................................................................................8

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ............................................................................................9

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES.........................................................................................................................13

DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES............................................................................................................27

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..................................................................................................................................32

SELLING RESTRICTIONS .................................................................................................................................33

CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE....................................................................................................................................34

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM........................................................................34

REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AND PAYING AGENT ............................................................................................34

LEGAL MATTERS..............................................................................................................................................34

PURCHASERS' STATUTORY RIGHTS .............................................................................................................34

CERTIFICATE OF THE ISSUERS AND THE GUARANTOR ..........................................................................C-1

CERTIFICATE OF THE DEALERS ..................................................................................................................C-3

- 4 -

ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT

In the opinion of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto, counsel to the Issuers, and McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP, Toronto, counsel to the Dealers, the Notes offered hereby, if issued on the date hereof, would constitute eligible investments, without resort to the so-called "basket" provisions, or their purchase would not be prohibited, in each case subject to general investment provisions, and in certain cases subject to prudent investment requirements and to additional requirements relating to investment or lending policies or goals, under or by the following statutes (and, where applicable, the regulations thereunder):

Insurance Companies Act (Canada)

Trust and Loan Companies Act (Canada)

Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985(Canada)

an Act respecting insurance (Québec)(for an insurer, as defined therein, incorporated underthe laws of the Province of Québec, other than a guarantee fund)

Loan and Trust Corporations Act (Ontario) Supplemental Pension Plans Act (Québec)

Pension Benefits Act (Ontario)

Trustee Act (Ontario)

The Pension Benefits Act (Manitoba)

The Pension Benefits Act, 1992(Saskatchewan)

an Act respecting trust companies and savingscompanies (Québec) (for a trust company, as defined therein, which invests its funds and funds received as deposits, and a savings company, as defined therein, investing its funds)

In the opinion of such counsel, the Notes offered hereby, if issued on the date hereof and if certain minimum investment and distribution requirements were met and unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, would be qualified investments under the Income Tax Act (Canada) for a trust governed by a registered retirement savings plan, a registered retirement income fund, a deferred profit sharing plan or a registered education savings plan under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (other than a trust governed by a deferred profit sharing plan to which contributions are made by the Issuer or an employer that does not deal at arm's length with the Issuer). The Issuer will ensure that the investment and distribution requirements referred to above are met at all relevant times. The Notes will be prohibited investments for a registered pension plan of the Issuer or of an employer connected with the Issuer, or with which the Issuer does not deal at arm's length.

ML FINANCE

ML Finance is an unlimited liability company incorporated under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia). ML Finance was incorporated on August 25, 1999 and has its registered office at Suite 800, 1959 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X2 and its principal place of business at BCE Place, Suite 400, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V8. ML Finance is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor.

The business of ML Finance is to make loans to or investments in, and to grant financial assistance by way of guarantee or otherwise to, affiliates of the Guarantor. To that effect, ML Finance may borrow money in whatever form and currency, issue bonds, debentures, commercial paper or other debt instruments in whatever form and in any manner whatsoever, and it may secure any of its borrowings by pledging or granting a security interest in all or any of its property or income. ML Finance has only minimal operations that are independent of the Guarantor.

ML&CO CANADA

ML&Co Canada was incorporated under the laws of Canada on December 22, 1953 and continued under the laws of the Province of Ontario on December 28, 1983. ML&Co Canada is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor. The registered and head office and principal place of business of ML&Co Canada is located at Suite 400, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V8. The outstanding non-voting exchangeable shares of ML&Co Canada are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MLC".

- 5 -

ML&Co Canada is a holding company which holds directly or indirectly all of the voting securities of Merrill Lynch Capital Canada Inc., a provider of third-party loans and credit, and Merrill Lynch Financial Assets Inc. (formerly known as BULLS Offering Corporation), an issuer of asset backed securities. ML&Co Canada and its parent company Merrill Lynch Canada Holdings Company own directly and indirectly all of the voting securities of ML Canada. ML&Co Canada has only minimal operations that are independent of the Guarantor.

The Issuers raise funds under an unsecured and unsubordinated commercial paper program, guaranteed by the Guarantor. The proceeds of the commercial paper issued by an Issuer are used for the Issuer's working capital requirements (including on-lending of funds to ML Canada) and for general corporate purposes.

The following simplified organizational chart indicates the jurisdiction of the incorporation (or amalgamation) or organization of, and the intercorporate relationships between, the Guarantor, the Issuers, ML Canada and certain other subsidiaries of the Guarantor.

25%(indirect)

100%

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.(Delaware)

Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.(Delaware)

Merrill Lynch Canada Holdings Company(Nova Scotia)

Merrill Lynch & Co.,Canada Ltd.

(Ontario)

Merrill Lynch CanadaFinance Company

(Nova Scotia)

100%

100% 100%


(Canada)

75%(direct andindirect)

- 6 -

THE GUARANTOR

The Guarantor is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides investment, financing, insurance and related services to individuals and institutions on a global basis through its broker dealer, insurance and other financial services subsidiaries. Its principal subsidiaries include Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch Capital Markets Bank Limited, Merrill Lynch Government Securities, Inc., Merrill Lynch Capital Services, Inc., Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P., Merrill Lynch Investment Managers Limited, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co., Merrill Lynch International Bank Limited, Merrill Lynch Mortgage Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd., Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, ML Life Insurance Company of New York, Merrill Lynch Derivative Products AG and ML IBK Positions, Inc. The services the Guarantor and its principal subsidiaries provide include:

• Securities brokerage, trading, and underwriting;

• Investment banking, strategic advisory services (including mergers and acquisitions) and other corporate finance activities;

• Wealth management products and services, including financial, retirement and generational planning;

• Asset management and investment advisory and related record-keeping services;

• Origination, brokerage, dealer and related activities in swaps, options, forwards, exchange-traded futures, other derivatives, commodities and foreign exchange products;

• Securities clearance, settlement financing services and prime brokerage;

• Private equity and other principal investing activities;

• Proprietary trading of securities, derivatives and loans;

• Banking, trust and lending services, including deposit-taking, consumer and commercial lending, including mortgage loans, and related services;

• Insurance and annuities sales; and

• Research across the following disciplines: global equity strategy and economics, global fixed income and equity-linked research, global fundamental equity research and global wealth management strategy.

The Guarantor's principal executive office is located at 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10080.

CREDIT RATINGS

The Senior Notes issued under the Canadian medium term note program (the "MTN Program") of each Issuer have been rated AA(low) by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited ("DBRS"), A+ by Standard & Poor'sRating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), Aa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and AA− by Fitch Ratings Ltd. ("Fitch") (each a "Rating Agency"). An AA(low) rated note by DBRS is of superior credit quality, and protection of interest and principal is considered high. Notes with an A+ rating by S&P have strong financial security characteristics, but are somewhat more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are notes with higher ratings. An Aa3 rated note by Moody's is judged to be of high quality by all standards. An AA− rated note by Fitch is considered to be of investment quality and is considered to have a very low expectation of credit risk. The Subordinate Notes issued under the MTN Program have been rated A(high) by

- 7 -

DBRS, A by S&P, A1 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch. An A(high) rating by DBRS denotes long term debt of satisfactory credit quality. Notes with an A rating by S&P have strong financial security characteristics, but aresomewhat more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are notes with higher ratings. The "A1" rating assigned by Moody's is the third highest rating of Moody's nine rating categories, which range from Aaa to C. An A+ rating by Fitch denotes a low expectation of credit risk. These ratings do not reflect outlooks that may be expressed by the Rating Agencies from time to time.

Credit ratings are intended to provide investors with an independent measure of the credit quality of an issue of securities. Ratings for debt instruments range from AAA (DBRS, S&P and Fitch) or Aaa (Moody's), which represent the highest quality of securities, to C (DBRS and Moody's) or D (S&P and Fitch), which represents the lowest quality of securities rated. The Rating Agencies use a (high or low) or (+ or − ) or (1, 2 or 3) designation after the rating category to indicate the relative strength within such rating category.

The credit ratings accorded the MTN Program by the Rating Agencies are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell the Notes offered hereunder inasmuch as such ratings do not comment as to market price or suitability for particular investors. There is no assurance that any rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that any rating will not be revised or withdrawn entirely by a Rating Agency in the future if in its judgment circumstances so warrant.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGSTO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth the Guarantor's ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated:

Year Ended Last Friday in December

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ..............................99 1.23 1.61 1.51 1.31 1.07

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends ...........................................98 1.22 1.60 1.50 1.30 1.06

For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" consist of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, excluding undistributed earnings (loss) from equity investees, and fixed charges, excluding amortization of capitalized interest and preferred security dividend requirements. "Fixed charges" consist of interest costs, the interest factor in rentals, amortization of debt issuance costs, preferred security dividend requirements of subsidiaries and capitalized interest.

For the 2001 fiscal year, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements by $235 million and $289 million, respectively.

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is included as an exhibit to the annual report of the Guarantor on Form 10-K and an exhibit to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q and is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Upon the filing of a new annual report on Form 10-K by the Guarantor, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends provided herein will be modified and superseded. See "Documents Incorporated by Reference".

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be loaned to or otherwise invested in affiliates of the Issuer of such Notes or used to repay the Issuer's other indebtedness. Such affiliates intend to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including the funding of investments in, and/or extensions of credit to, other affiliates, the

- 8 -

funding of assets of affiliates, the lengthening of the average maturity of borrowings and the financing of acquisitions. The net proceeds cannot be estimated as the amount thereof will depend on the extent to which the Notes are issued hereunder. The Issuers expect that they will, on a recurrent basis, issue debt instruments and incur additional indebtedness otherwise than through the issue of Notes pursuant to this Prospectus as the need arises and to finance the growth of their affiliates' operations or to lengthen the average maturity of the Issuers' borrowings and those of their affiliates. To the extent that Notes being purchased for resale by ML Canada are not resold, the aggregate proceeds available to the Issuer and its affiliates on a consolidated basis would be reduced.

RISK FACTORS

Your investment in the Notes involves certain risks. In consultation with your own financial and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following discussion of risks before deciding whether an investment in the Notes is suitable for you. The Notes are not a suitable investment for you if you do not understand their terms or the risks involved in holding the Notes. Risks relating to the business of the Guarantor are described in the Guarantor's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors That Could Affect our Business". See "Documents Incorporated by Reference".

Uncertain Trading Market for Your Notes; Many Factors Affect the Trading Value of Your Notes

Unless otherwise specified in a pricing supplement relating to the Notes, the Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange, and we cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes will ever develop or be maintained. Many factors independent of our creditworthiness may affect the trading market of your Notes. Thesefactors include:

• the complexity and volatility of the index or formula applicable to the Notes if they are indexed to one or more interest rate, currency or other indices or formulas;

• the method of calculating the amount payable at maturity, premium and interest in respect of the Notes;

• the time remaining to the maturity of the Notes;

• the outstanding amount of the Notes;

• the redemption features of the Notes;

• the amount of other securities linked to the index or formula applicable to the Notes; and

• the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.

In addition, because some Notes are designed for specific investment objectives or strategies, these Notes will have a more limited trading market and may experience more price volatility. There may be a more limited number of buyers for these Notes. This may affect the price you receive for these Notes or your ability to sell these Notes at all. You should not purchase Notes unless you understand and know you can bear the related investment risks.

Guarantor's Credit Ratings May Not Reflect All Risks of an Investment in the Notes

The credit ratings assigned to the Notes are an assessment of the Guarantor's ability to pay its obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in the Guarantor's credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the Notes. The Guarantor's credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to structure, market or other factors discussed herein on the value of your Notes.

Risks Relating to Unsecured Nature of the Notes

The Notes will not be secured by any of the assets of the Issuers or the Guarantor. Therefore, holders of secured indebtedness of an Issuer and the Guarantor would have a claim on the assets securing such indebtedness that ranks prior to your claim on such assets. To the extent that the pledged assets do not satisfy such secured indebtedness, the creditor would have a claim that ranks pari passu with the claims of the holders of unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness (including holders of Senior Notes).

- 9 -

The Notes will be Senior Notes or Subordinate Notes of an Issuer, as described in the applicable pricing supplement. Senior Notes will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of theIssuer, from time to time issued and outstanding. The Subordinate Notes will be subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of the Issuer for money borrowed, except for such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or ranks pari passu with the Subordinate Notes. The obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee of the Subordinate Notes will be subordinated, to the extent provided below, in right of payment to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Guarantor.

Principal Assets of Guarantor in United States

The Guarantor is incorporated under the laws of Delaware and it resides in, and has substantial assets located in, the United States. Although the Guarantor has appointed the Issuers as its agents for service of process for certain securities law purposes in each of the provinces of Canada, it may not be possible for investors to collect from the Guarantor judgments obtained in Canadian courts. Judgments on the Guarantee obtained in Canada may therefore have to be enforced in the United States and may be subject to additional defences as a result. In addition, all of the Guarantor's directors and officers reside outside Canada and most of their assets are located outside Canada. It may not be possible therefore for you to effect service of process within Canada upon the Guarantor's directors and officers or to collect from them judgments obtained in Canadian courts.

Structural Risks of Notes Indexed to Interest Rate, Currency or Other Indices or Formulas

If you invest in Notes indexed to one or more interest rate, currency or other indices or formulas, there will be significant risks not associated with a conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt security. These risks include fluctuation of the indices or formulas and the possibility (depending on the terms of the Notes) that you will receive a lower, or could receive no, amount of principal, premium or interest, or that you may receive such payments at different times than you expected. We have no control over a number of matters, including economic, financial and political events, that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their results. In addition, if an index or formula used to determine any amounts payable in respect of the Notes contains a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any change in that index or formula will be magnified. In recent years, values of certain indices and formulas have been volatile, and volatility in those and other indices and formulas may be expected in the future. However, past experience is not necessarily indicative of what may occur in the future.

Redemption May Adversely Affect Your Return on the Notes

If your Notes are redeemable at our option or are otherwise subject to mandatory redemption, your Notes may be redeemed at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low. In such case, you generally would not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds at a comparable effective interest rate.

Risks Relating to Notes in Foreign Currencies

Notes denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include, without limitation, the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary markets. In addition, a judgment by a U.S. court will not be in Canadian currency and may not be based on the exchange rate in existence on the date of the judgment. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable pricing supplement.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

ML Finance has obtained a decision document, dated June 28, 2004 (as amended on July 12, 2005) andML&Co Canada has obtained decision documents dated February 14, 2006 and June 21, 2006 (collectively, the "MRRS Decisions") under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications as to their satisfaction of continuous disclosure requirements and exempting the Issuers from the requirement to include certain materials in this Prospectus. A copy of the MRRS Decisions can be obtained from the Ontario Securities Commission website at www.osc.gov.on.ca.

- 10 -

The securities commissions and other securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada (the "Canadian securities regulatory authorities") allow the Issuers to incorporate by reference the information they file with them, which means:

• incorporated documents are considered part of the Prospectus;

• the Issuers can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

• information that the Issuers and the Guarantor file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and that is incorporated by reference will automatically update and supersede this incorporated information.

The following documents which were filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (other than information in the documents that is deemed under applicable law not to be filed) are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:

(a) the annual report on Form 10-K of the Guarantor dated February 27, 2006 for the year ended December 30, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including exhibits relating to the consolidated financial information of the Guarantor, the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, the condensed financial information of the Guarantor and all other exhibits that are not Non-Incorporated Exhibits (as defined below);

(b) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Guarantor dated May 5, 2006 for the quarter ended March 31, 2006;

(c) the 2006 Proxy Statement of the Guarantor dated March 10, 2006;

(d) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated January 19, 2006 announcing its results of operations for the three-month period and year ended December 30, 2005;

(e) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated February 15, 2006 announcing the agreement to merge Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and BlackRock Inc.;

(f) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated February 17, 2006 announcing agreements in principle to settle twenty-three class actions related to the Guarantor's research coverage of securities of Internet companies;

(g) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated February 27, 2006 announcing the authorization by the board of directors of the Guarantor for the Guarantor to repurchase up to US$6 billion of its outstanding common shares;

(h) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated April 3, 2006 announcing the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation in the first quarter of 2006;

(i) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated April 18, 2006 announcing its results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006;

(j) the current report on Form 8-K of the Guarantor dated May 1, 2006 announcing the resignation of a director of the Guarantor;

(k) the material change report of ML Finance dated February 22, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$26,661,000 aggregate principal amount of S&P 500 Reverse Participation Notes, Series 2 and

- 11 -

Cdn.$17,500,000 aggregate principal amount of Step-up Extendible Monthly Pay Medium Term Notes, Series C;

(l) the material change report of ML Finance dated February 24, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$10,402,800 aggregate principal amount of Asia Pacific Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 2;

(m) the material change report of ML Finance dated February 27, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$8,691,300 aggregate principal amount of International Equity Principal Protected Notes, Series 1, Cdn.$12,965,800 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 3 and US$8,060,900 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 3;

(n) the material change report of ML Finance dated May 4, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of S&P 500 Reverse Participation Notes, Series 3;

(o) the material change report of ML Finance dated May 5, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn.$13,636,700 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch International Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 1 and issuance of U.S. $6,232,600 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch International Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 1;

(p) the amended material change report of ML Finance dated May 31, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn. $10,417,300 aggregate principal amount of Nikkei 225 Redeemable Principal Protected Notes, Series 1, Cdn. $4,563,300 aggregate principal amount of The International Equity Principal Protected Notes, Series 2 and Cdn. $18,931,800 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Commodity Principal Protected Notes, Series 1;

(q) the material change report of ML Finance dated June 19, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn. $9,023,000 aggregate principal amount of S&P 500 Reverse Participation Notes, Series 4;

(r) the material change report of ML Finance dated June 27, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn. $5,285,100 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (CAD) Securities, Series 4 and U.S. $1,180,100 aggregate principal amount of Merrill Lynch Global Equity Accelerator (USD) Securities, Series 4; and

(s) the material change report of ML Finance dated June 28, 2006 announcing the issuance of Cdn. $12,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Step-Up Extendible Semi-Annual Medium Term Notes, Series C.

Subject to the MRRS Decisions (which exempt us from incorporating by reference certain documents incorporated by reference into or attached as exhibits to the documents listed herein), each of the following documents that the Issuers and the Guarantor will file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities after the date of this Prospectus until this offering is completed (other than information in the documents that is deemed not to be filed) is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:

• annual reports on Form 10-K of the Guarantor, including exhibits relating to the consolidated financial information of the Guarantor, the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the condensed financial information of the Guarantor and all other exhibits that are not Non-Incorporated Exhibits (as defined below);

• quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Guarantor;

• definitive proxy or information statements filed under section 14 of the Exchange Act inconnection with any subsequent stockholders' meeting;

- 12 -

• current reports on Form 8-K of the Guarantor relating to the financial condition of, or disclosing a material change in the affairs of, the Guarantor; and

• any material change reports of the Issuers.

The MRRS Decisions permit the Issuers and the Guarantor to exclude from the documents incorporated by reference the following (the "Non-Incorporated Exhibits"):

• contracts not made in the ordinary course of business that are material to the Guarantor, limited partnership agreements, indemnification and severance agreements, deferred compensation plans, stock unit and stock option plans and other stock option or award plans, and all amendments, supplements and restatements thereto and any underwriting agreements or voting trust agreements of the Guarantor and all amendments, supplements and restatements thereto;

• plans of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession;

• articles of incorporation (or instruments corresponding thereto) and by-laws of the Guarantor and any amendments or restatements thereof;

• instruments defining the rights of security holders, including deposit agreements, rights agreements and any supplements to and amendments or restatements thereof;

• charters of committees of the Guarantor's board of directors, other than the audit committee charter;

• opinions of: (a) legal counsel as to the legality of securities being registered in the U.S. indicating whether such securities will, when sold, be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable and, if debt securities, whether they will be binding obligations of the Guarantor; and (b) legal counsel or an independent or public certified accountant, or revenue rulings from the United States Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), supporting the description of tax matters and consequences to the shareholders in certain filings of the Guarantor;

• published reports regarding matters submitted to security holders which are required to be filed with the SEC;

• manually signed powers of attorney filed with the SEC if any name is signed to a registration statement or report of the Guarantor pursuant to a power of attorney;

• indentures and supplemental indentures relating to the issuance of debt securities and forms of certificates and depositary receipts relating to securities of the Guarantor;

• current reports on Form 8-K of the Guarantor other than current reports on Form 8-K of the Guarantor relating to the financial condition of or disclosing a material change in the affairs of the Guarantor (which would exclude, for greater certainty, any exhibits to such current reports on Form 8-K that would otherwise constitute a Non-Incorporated Exhibit); and

• codes of ethics that the Guarantor voluntarily files as exhibits to its annual report on Form 10-K and also posts on its website.

The full text of the MRRS Decisions, In the Matter of Merrill Lynch & Co., Ltd. et al (2004) 27 OSCB 6271, In the Matter of Merrill Lynch & Co., Ltd. et al (2005) 28 OSCB 6854 and In the Matter of Merrill Lynch & Co., Ltd. et al (2006) 29 OSCB 1455, is available at www.osc.gov.on.ca.

Any statement contained in this Prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a

- 13 -

statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of a modifying or superseding statement is not to be deemed an admission for any purpose that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

Upon a new annual report on Form 10-K of the Guarantor being filed by the Guarantor with and, where required, accepted by, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities during the currency of this Prospectus, the previous annual report on Form 10-K and the annual consolidated financial statements contained therein, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K of the Guarantor and material change reports of the Issuers filed prior to the commencement of the financial year of the Guarantor in which the annual report is filed shall be deemed no longer to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of Notes hereunder.

A copy of each of the filings referred to above (excluding exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference into the filing) may be obtained from the website maintained by Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com.

A pricing supplement containing the specific variable terms for an issue of Notes and any other additional or updated information that the Issuer elects to include therein will be delivered with this Prospectus to purchasers of such Notes and will be deemed to be incorporated into this Prospectus as of the date of such pricing supplement only for the purposes of the offering of the Notes covered by such pricing supplement.

Separate continuous disclosure information relating to the Issuers, other than material change reports, will not be incorporated by reference herein nor will such information be provided to purchasers of Notes.

You should assume that the information appearing in this Prospectus is accurate as of the date of this Prospectus only. The business, financial condition and results of operations of the Issuers and the Guarantor may have changed since that date.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or in a pricing supplement related to an offering prepared by or on behalf of an Issuer. We have not, and the Dealers have not, authorized anyone else to provide you with different or additional information. You should not rely on any other information or representations. The Issuers' and the Guarantor's affairs may change after this Prospectus and any related pricing supplement are conveyed. You should not assume that the information in this Prospectus and any related pricing supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates indicated in those documents. You should read this Prospectus, the applicable pricing supplement and all of the documents incorporated by reference herein or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. We are not, and the Dealers are not, making an offer to sell these Notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of the Notes is not permitted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The Notes will be issued from time to time during the 25-month period that this Prospectus remains valid in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Cdn. $5,000,000,000 or the equivalent thereof if the Notes are issued in currencies or currency units other than Canadian dollars. The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder. The following summary of the material provisions of the Notes and of the Indentures is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indentures. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indentures and the Notes. The Indenture of ML Finance is substantially similar to the Indenture of ML&Co Canada.

- 14 -

The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act).

The following description of Notes will apply unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement.

Terms of the Notes

The applicable pricing supplement will identify the Issuer and will state whether the Notes issued thereunder are Senior Notes or Subordinate Notes. The Senior Notes to be issued under the Indenture will be unsecured and unsubordinated general obligations of the Issuer that will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer from time to time outstanding. The Subordinate Notes to be issued under the Indenture will be unsecured and will be subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of the Issuer for money borrowed, except for such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or ranks pari passu with the Subordinate Notes. Unless otherwise specifically stated to the contrary in a pricing supplement, an Issuer shall have no liability or obligation with respect to any Notes issued by the other Issuer. Because the Guarantor is a holding company, the right of the Guarantor and its creditors, including the holders of Notes, to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that a bankruptcy court may recognize the claims of the Guarantor itself as a creditor of the subsidiary. In addition, dividends, loans and advances from certain subsidiaries to the Guarantor are restricted by net capital requirements under the Exchange Act and under rules of certain exchanges and other regulatory bodies.

The Notes will be offered on a continuous basis and will mature on a day 12 months or more from the date of issue, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the Notes of each series will be issuable in minimum denominations of Cdn. $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The Notes may be interest bearing or non-interest bearing. Interest bearing Notes will bear interest at either fixed or floating rates as specified in the applicable pricing supplement.

Unless otherwise indicated in a Note and in the applicable pricing supplement, the Notes will be denominated in Canadian dollars and the Issuer will pay amounts payable on the Notes in Canadian dollars (including any amounts payable at maturity, and any amounts payable in respect of premium and interest). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Note and pricing supplement, the Issuer will pay money upon payment of the discharge of the Notes of a series when due or upon redemption. If the applicable Note and pricing supplement so specifies, the Issuer will deliver securities or a combination of money, securities and/or other property, in either case payable or deliverable upon payment of the discharge of the Notes of a series, when due or upon redemption. The securities, amount of money, or combination of money, securities and/or other property to be payable or deliverable to holders of the Notes upon payment of the discharge of the Notes is referred to as the "Maturity Consideration" for such Notes.

If the maturity date of a Note or any Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on such Note, will be made on the next succeeding business day as if made on the date the applicable payment was due and no interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date or maturity date, as the case may be, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Note and in the applicable pricing supplement.

The Notes may be issued from time to time at such rates of interest and at par, at a premium or at a discount, the amount of which payable at maturity may be determined by reference to the price, yield or value of an underlying security, commodity or index representing a statistical measure of economic or financial performance or to any other item or index or any combination thereof, the amounts of principal and interest may be payable in instalments over the term of the Notes, and the Notes of any series may be subject to redemption or repayment prior to maturity, in each case as specified in the applicable pricing supplement.

- 15 -

Tranches and Series of Notes

An Issuer may issue Notes in one or more tranches of one or more series upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of a resolution of the board of directors of the Issuer and an officer's certificate or a supplemental indenture establishing the principal terms of the particular Notes being issued, which shall include the following, to the extent applicable:

(a) whether the Notes being issued are Senior Notes or Subordinate Notes;

(b) the title of such Notes and the series in which such Notes will be included;

(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such title or the Notes of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the series pursuant to the Indenture);

(d) whether Notes of the series are to be issuable in fully certificated form or as book-entry Notes and, if in certificated form, whether such Notes are to be issuable initially in global form and, if so, (i) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such Note in global form may exchange such interests for Notes of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in the Indenture and (ii) the name of the clearing agency as the case may be, with respect to any book-entry Note or temporary global form of Note;

(e) the date as of which any book-entry Note or temporary global Note representing outstanding Notes of the series will be dated if other than the original issue date of the first such Note of the series to be issued;

(f) the date or dates on which the Maturity Consideration for such Notes is payable;

(g) whether Notes will: (i) bear interest and, if so, the rate or rates at which such Notes will bear interest and, if applicable, the Interest Rate Basis, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on such Notes on any Interest Payment Date, whether any interest will be paid on Defaulted Interest, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated, if other than that of a 365-day year or 366-day year, as applicable; (ii) be issued for a price less than the amount to be due and payable at maturity; or (iii) be Linked Notes (as defined below);

(h) the place or places, if any, in addition to or other than the places of payment specified in the Indenture, where the Maturity Consideration and/or interest on or Additional Amounts (as defined below), if any, payable in respect of such Notes will be payable, where Notes of such series may be surrendered for registration or transfer, where Notes of such series may be surrendered for exchange and where demand to or upon the Issuer or the Guarantor in respect of such Notes and the Indenture may be served;

(i) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer;

(j) the right or obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem or purchase such Notes and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such Notes will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Notes;

- 16 -

(k) the denominations in which Notes of such series shall be issuable if other than denominations of Cdn. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

(l) the type of Maturity Consideration to be delivered to the holders of the Notes upon payment of the discharge of the Notes of such series when due or upon redemption, if the Maturity Consideration is to be other than money;

(m) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such Notes which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture;

(n) if other than Canadian dollars as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public or private debts, the currency (the "Specified Currency") in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Notes will be payable;

(o) if the principal of or other amount payable at maturity, (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Notes are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a holder thereof, in a coin or currency, including composite currencies, other than the Specified Currency, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

(p) if the amount of payments of principal of or other amount payable at maturity, and interest, if any, in respect of such Notes may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or based on a coin or currency other than the Specified Currency in which the Notes are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts will be determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

(q) if Notes of such series are to be issuable in fully certificated form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Note of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(r) any additional terms and provisions with respect to, and any additional conditions, representations, covenants and Events of Default (as defined below), if any, for such Notes;

(s) any modification or elimination of any of the definitions, representations, covenants, conditions, Events of Default or other terms and provisions of the Indenture to be applicable to such Notes;

(t) any other provisions, requirements, conditions, indemnities, enhancements or other matters of any nature or kind whatsoever relating to such Notes, including any terms which may be required by, or advisable under, the legislation governing the Trustee with respect to the Indenture or any other applicable law or any rules, procedures or requirements of any securities exchange on which any of the Notes are, or are proposed to be, listed or of any over-the-counter market in which any of the Notes are, or are proposed to be, traded or which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of such Notes; and

(u) any other terms of such Notes (which terms will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture).

The provisions of each Indenture permit the relevant Issuer, without the consent of holders of any Notes, to issue additional Notes with terms different from those of Notes previously issued and to reopen a previous series of Notes and issue additional Notes of that series. Prior to the issuance of a new series of Notes, the principal terms of such Notes will be established pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of the Issuer of the series of Notes and set forth in an officer's certificate or in a supplemental indenture in the manner described above. All Notes of any one series will be substantially identical except as to terms such as the date from which interest, if any, will accrue and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such board resolution or supplemental indenture.

- 17 -

Interest

Interest rates, interest rate formulas and other variable terms of the Notes are subject to change by an Issuer from time to time, but no change will affect any Note already issued or as to which the Issuer has accepted an offer to purchase without the holder's consent. Interest rates with respect to Notes offered by an Issuer may differ depending upon, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased in any transaction. An Issuer may offer Notes with similar variable terms but different interest rates concurrently at any time. An Issuer may also concurrently offer Notes having different variable terms to different investors.

Each interest bearing Note will bear interest from the date of issue at the rate per annum or, in the case of a floating rate, exchange rate or other Note in which the interest is determined by reference to a formula, pursuant to the interest rate formula, in each case as stated in the applicable Note and in the applicable pricing supplement, until the Maturity Consideration of the Note is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date specified in the applicable pricing supplement on which an instalment of interest is due and payable and at maturity. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable pricing supplement, ML Canada will be the calculation agent. The first payment of interest on any Note originally issued between a Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date immediately following the next succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered holder on the next succeeding Regular Record Date. The Regular Record Date will be set out in the applicable pricing supplement.

Fixed Rate Notes

Interest on fixed rate Notes will be payable at the rate and in the manner set out in the applicable Note and in the applicable pricing supplement to the holder of such Note on the applicable record date, on such dates as are specified in the applicable Note and in the applicable pricing supplement and at maturity or upon earlier redemption or repayment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on fixed rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as applicable.

Floating Rate Notes

Each applicable pricing supplement will specify the terms of the floating rate Note being delivered. The rate of interest on each floating rate Note will be reset on the dates specified in such Note. If an interest reset date is not a business day, such interest reset date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Note and in the applicable pricing supplement. Interest on floating rate Notes will be determined by reference to the applicable interest rate formula that is specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Upon the request of the holder of any floating rate Note, the Issuer will cause the calculation agent to provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective as a result of a determination made for the next interest reset date with respect to that floating rate Note.

Linked Notes

An Issuer may from time to time offer notes ("Linked Notes") in respect of which the Maturity Consideration or any other payment will be determined by reference to:

(a) one or more equity or debt securities, including, but not limited to, the price or yield of such securities;

(b) any statistical measure of economic or financial performance, including, but not limited to, any currency, consumer price or mortgage index; or

(c) the price or value of any commodity or any other item or index or any combination.

The terms of and any additional considerations, including any material tax consequences and certain risk factors, relating to any Linked Notes will be described in the applicable pricing supplement. The Issuers have filed an undertaking with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities that they will not distribute Linked Notes, that, at the

- 18 -

time of distribution, are novel or that are linked to investment funds without pre-clearing with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities the disclosure to be contained in the applicable pricing supplement pertaining to the distribution of these types of Linked Notes.

Payments

In the case of Notes in certificated form, the Issuer will make payment of Maturity Consideration at the maturity of each Note in immediately available funds, when cash is due, upon presentation and surrender of the Note and, in the case of any repayment on an optional repayment date, upon submission of a duly completed election form if and as required by the provisions described below, at or from the place or places of payment designated in the applicable resolution of the board of directors of the Issuer. Payment of interest due at maturity will be made to the person to whom payment of Maturity Consideration of the Note in certificated form will be made. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, payment of interest, if any, due on Notes in any series in certificated form other than at maturity will be made by the Trustee either by a cheque dated the applicable Interest Payment Date and sent by prepaid regular mail to the holders of such securities as of the Regular Record Date for such interest three Business Days before the Interest Payment Date or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 days prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. Any wire instructions received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by the holder.

The Issuer will make payments of principal or Maturity Consideration of, and premium and interest, if any, on, Notes in book-entry form through the Trustee or, if the Trustee is unable to act in connection with the payment of certain Maturity Consideration other than money, through another designated Paying Agent, to the depository or its nominee. See "– Depository — Book-Entry Only Notes".

If as a result of changes in or amendments to the laws of the United States, ML Finance or the Guarantor is required to deduct or withhold on any payments on the Notes, the Issuer will pay Additional Amounts (as defined below) provided the investor does not fit into one of the exceptions referred to in the sections entitled "– Certain United States Federal Income Tax Matters — Additional Amounts".

Form of the Notes and Transfer

The Notes of each series will be issued in fully registered form only and will be either in fully certificated form or as book-entry Notes transferable only through The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited ("CDS") or any other depository specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, all Notes will be issued in fully registered book-entry form only. See "– Depository — Book-Entry Only Notes".

Registers showing the registered holders of all Notes (including any global certificates for book-entry Notes) will be kept at the principal transfer office of the Trustee in Toronto, or at any other place as the Issuer may designate. Any registered holder of a Note of any series in certificated form may transfer the Note by executing the form of transfer provided on the reverse side of the Note in person or by attorney duly appointed in writing and forwarding the Note to the Trustee at the principal transfer office of the Trustee in Toronto, or at any other place as the Issuer may designate, for issuance of a new Note payable to and registered in the name of the transferee. The Notes issued upon any such transfer will be of the same series and have the same terms and conditions as the Notes submitted for transfer, including the same principal amount, rate or method of calculating interest, if any, and maturity date. Such transfer will be effected upon the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title, subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to transfers and such other reasonable regulations as the Issuer may from time to time agree upon with the Trustee, transfer agent and registrar. During the period from the relevant record date to a date fixed for payment of interest or Maturity Consideration, as applicable, the Trustee shall not be required to register the transfer of a Note. Notes in book-entry form may be transferred or exchanged only through a participating member of CDS, or any other depository as is identified in an applicable pricing supplement. See "– Depository — Book-Entry Only Notes". There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to the Indenture not involving any transfer.

- 19 -

Redemption at the Option of the Issuer

The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. The Issuer may redeem the Notes of any series at its option prior to their stated maturity only if an initial redemption date is specified in the applicable Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. If so indicated in the applicable pricing supplement, the Issuer may redeem the Notes of such series at its option on any date on and after the applicable initial redemption date specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The Issuer may redeem any such Notes of a series at any time in whole or from time to time in part at its option at the applicable redemption price specified in the applicable pricing supplement, together with any accrued interest on the principal of the applicable Note (and any Additional Amounts) payable to the redemption date, on notice given to the holders of the Notes of such series at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date unless a shorter period is specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The Issuer and the Trustee shall not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes of a series during a period of 15 days prior to the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes of that series. If redeemed in part, the Issuer will redeem the Notes in increments equal to the authorized denomination, provided that any remaining principal amount will be an authorized denomination of the applicable Note.

Repayment at the Option of the Holder

If so indicated in an applicable pricing supplement, the Issuer will repay the Notes of any series in whole or in part at the option of the holders of the Notes of such series on any optional repayment date specified in the applicable pricing supplement. If no optional repayment date is indicated with respect to the Notes of such series, such Notes will not be repayable at the option of the holders before their stated maturity. Any repayment in part will be in an amount equal to the authorized denomination or integral multiples thereof, provided that any remaining principal amount will be an authorized denomination of such Notes. The repurchase price for any Notes so repurchased will be 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with interest on the principal of such Notes (if such Notes are interest bearing Notes) payable to the date of repayment, unless such Notes were issued at a discount, in which case the applicable pricing supplement will specify the amount payable upon such repurchase. For any Notes to be repaid, the Trustee must receive, at its principal office in Toronto not more than 60 nor less than 30 days before the optional repayment date:

• in the case of a Note in certificated form, the Note and any duly completed redemption form as may be specified by the Issuer; or

• in the case of a Note in book-entry form, instructions to that effect from the applicable beneficial owner of the Notes to the participant through which such owner owns its interest and forwarded by such participant to the depository and by the depository to the Trustee.

Notices of elections from a holder to exercise the repayment option must be received by the Trustee by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the last day for giving such notice. Exercise of the repayment option by the holder of a Note will be irrevocable.

Only the depository may exercise the repayment option in respect of Notes in book-entry form. Accordingly, beneficial owners of book-entry Notes that desire to have all or any portion of such Notes repaid must instruct the participant through which they own their interest to direct the depository to exercise the repayment option on their behalf by forwarding the repayment instructions to the Trustee as discussed above. In order to ensure that the instructions are received by the Trustee on a particular day, the applicable beneficial owner must so instruct the participant through which it owns its interest before that participant's deadline for accepting instructions for that day. Different firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers. Accordingly, beneficial owners of Notes in book-entry form should consult the participants through which they own their interest for the respective deadlines. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners of Notes in book-entry form relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time instructions are given, each beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to tender its interest in the Notes in book-entry form, on the depository's records, to the Trustee for repayment. See "– Depository — Book-Entry Only Notes".

- 20 -

Unless otherwise stated in the terms of a Note, the Issuer may at any time purchase Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise. Notes so purchased by the Issuer may, at the discretion of the Issuer, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Redemption for Tax Reasons

ML Finance may redeem Notes of any series as a whole but not in part at any time if ML Finance or the Guarantor determines, based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by ML Finance or the Guarantor, that, on the occasion of the next payment of interest or Maturity Consideration, as applicable, due in respect of the Notes, (i) ML Finance would be required to pay an Additional Amount, or (ii) the Guarantor would be unable to procure ML Finance to make payment and, in making such payment itself under the Guarantee, the Guarantor would be required to pay an Additional Amount. The redemption price will be 100% of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement.

Limitation Upon Creation of Liens on Voting Stock of Certain Subsidiaries in Connection with Senior Notes

The Guarantor will not, and it will not permit any Subsidiary (as defined below) at any time directly or indirectly to, create, assume or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a pledge of, lien on or security interest in (any pledge, lien or security interest being referred to herein as a "lien") the Voting Stock (as defined below) of any Significant Subsidiary (as defined below), without making effective provision whereby the outstanding Senior Notes (and, if the Guarantor so elects, any other indebtedness ranking on a parity with the Senior Notes), shall be secured equally and ratably with such secured indebtedness so long as such other indebtedness is so secured; provided, however, that the foregoing covenant shall not be applicable to liens for taxes or assessments or governmental charges or levies not then due and delinquent or the validity of which is being contested in good faith or which are less than U.S. $5,000,000, liens created by or resulting from any litigation or legal proceeding which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or which involve claims of less than U.S. $5,000,000 or deposits to secure (or in lieu of) surety, stay, appeal or customs bonds; provided, further, that the foregoing shall not be applicable to indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien on any shares of the Voting Stock of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Significant Subsidiary, including extensions, renewals and replacements of such indebtedness without increase in the amount thereof.

"Voting Stock" is defined in the Indenture as stock of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of a Person, provided that, for the purposes of the Indenture, stock that carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event is not considered voting stock, whether or not the event has happened. "Subsidiary" is defined in the Indenture to mean any Person of which at the time of determination the Guarantor and/or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the Voting Stock. "Person" is defined in the Indenture to mean any individual, corporation, unlimited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Significant Subsidiary" is defined in the Indenture to mean any Subsidiary the Consolidated Net Worth of which constituted at least 15% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Guarantor as of the most recently completed fiscal year. "Consolidated Net Worth" is defined in the Indenture to mean consolidated assets minus consolidated liabilities as calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Special Terms Relating to the Subordinate Notes and Guarantees Relating to the Subordinate Notes

Upon any distribution of assets of an Issuer or the Guarantor resulting from any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, payments on Subordinate Notes, or guarantees of payments on Subordinate Notes, are subordinated to the extent provided in the Indenture or guarantees of Subordinate Notes, as applicable, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Issuer or Guarantor, as applicable, but the obligation of the Issuer or Guarantor to make payments on the Subordinate Notes will not otherwise be affected. The Issuer or Guarantor may not make any payment on Subordinate Notes at any time when there is a default in the payment or delivery of any amounts due on their respective senior indebtedness, including payment of any sinking fund. Because the Subordinate Notes are subordinated in right of payment to any senior indebtedness, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, some creditors of the Issuer or Guarantor may recover more, ratably, than

- 21 -

holders of Subordinate Notes. Holders of Subordinate Notes will be subrogated to the rights of holders of senior indebtedness of the Issuer or Guarantor, as applicable, to the extent of payments made on senior indebtedness of the Issuer or Guarantor, as applicable, upon any distribution of assets in any proceedings in respect of Subordinate Notes or Guarantees relating to Subordinate Notes.

As of December 30, 2005, ML&Co Canada had no senior indebtedness, a total of approximately Cdn. $2,086,243,700 of ML Finance's indebtedness was senior indebtedness and a total of approximately Cdn. $135,146,459,500 of the Guarantor's indebtedness was senior indebtedness (during 2005, based on the relevant 2005 noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in Canadian dollars, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average exchange rate was US$1.00 = C$1.2115).

Consolidation and Merger

Each of the Issuers and the Guarantor may consolidate or merge with, or into any other Person and each of the Issuers and the Guarantor may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person, provided that:

• in the case of ML Finance, either (i) the consolidation or merger is an amalgamation pursuant to the Companies Act (Nova Scotia) (or other legislation governing ML Finance at the time) or other amalgamation where the amalgamated Person is by operation of law the successor to the obligations of ML Finance under the Notes and the Indenture, (ii) ML Finance is the continuing Person, or (iii) the successor Person is a Person organized and existing under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and such Person expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of all amounts payable with respect to the Notes, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observation of all of the covenants and conditions of the Notes and the Indenture to be performed by ML Finance by a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee executed by such successor Person and delivered to the Trustee;

• in the case of ML&Co Canada, either (i) the consolidation or merger is an amalgamation pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (or other legislation governing ML&Co Canada at the time) or other amalgamation where the amalgamated Person is by operation of law the successor to the obligations of ML&Co Canada under the Notes and the Indenture, (ii) ML&Co Canada is the continuing Person, or (iii)the successor Person is a Person organized and existing under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and such Person expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of all amounts payable with respect to the Notes, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observation of all of the covenants and conditions of the Notes and the Indenture to be performed by ML&Co Canada by a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee executed by such successor Person and delivered to the Trustee;

• in the case of the Guarantor, the resulting Person, if other than the Guarantor, is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any U.S. state and assumes all of the Guarantor's obligations under its Guarantee and the Indenture by way of a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; and

• in the case of the Issuers, the Guarantor or any such successor Person, the Issuers, the Guarantor or such successor Person, as the case may be, is not, immediately after any such consolidation or merger, in default in the performance of any covenant or condition in the Indenture.

Modification and Waiver

An Indenture or the Guarantee in respect of Notes of an Issuer may be modified and amended by the respective Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of holders of at least 66 ⅔% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of each series affected by such amendment or modification. However, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, no amendment or modification to the Indenture or the Guarantee may:

• change the stated maturity of the Maturity Consideration of or any instalment of interest on, any Note, or any premium payable on redemption, or change the redemption price thereof or change the obligation of the Issuer to pay Additional Amounts;

- 22 -

• reduce the Maturity Consideration of, or the interest payable on, any Note or reduce the amount of principal which could be declared due and payable before the stated maturity thereof;

• change the place or currency of any delivery or payment of Maturity Consideration of, or any premium or interest on, any Note;

• impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any Note on or after the stated maturity thereof;

• change the obligation of the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee;

• reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required to modify or amend the Indenture or the Guarantee;

• modify any of the foregoing requirements or the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series necessary to waive any past default, except to increase any such percentages; or

• provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby.

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series of an Issuer may waive past defaults under the Indenture of that Issuer and waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the Indenture, except as described under "— Events of Default".

Under the Indenture, for purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Notes of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture or are present at a meeting of holders of Notes for quorum purposes, Notes owned beneficially by the Issuer or the Guarantor or any affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor, other than Notes purchased in connection with the distribution or trading thereof, will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any senior indebtedness of an Issuer (including the Senior Notes) or the exercise by the holders of such senior indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing such senior indebtedness, including without limitation the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from Holders of the Subordinate Notes or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of the Subordinate Notes or the Subordinate Trustee, as applicable.

No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any senior indebtedness of an Issuer is outstanding or of such senior indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of the Indenture or of the Subordinate Notes dealing with the subordination and subrogation of the Subordinate Notes.

Events of Default

Each of the following will be an "Event of Default" with respect to Notes of any series issued under the Indenture:

• default in the payment of any interest (including Additional Amounts) of any Note of that series when due, and continuing for 30 days;

• default in the payment of any Maturity Consideration of any Note of that series when due;

• default in the performance of any other obligation of the Issuer or the Guarantor contained in the Indenture, other than an obligation which has been expressly included in the Indenture for the benefit of one or more series of Notes other than such series, and the continuance of such default for 60 days after written notice thereof has been given as provided in the Indenture; and

• specified events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or the Guarantor.

- 23 -

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing for Notes of any series, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of that series may declare all amounts, or any lesser amount provided for in the Notes of that series, to be immediately due and payable. At any time after the Trustee or the holders have made such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes of any series but before the Trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of money due, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of that series may rescind any such declaration of acceleration and its consequences, provided that all payments due, other than those due as a result of acceleration, have been made and all Events of Default with respect to the Notes of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes of that series which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been remedied or waived.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series may waive an Event of Default, on behalf of the holders of all the Notes of such series, except a default:

• in the payment of any amounts due and payable under the Notes of such series; or

• in respect of an obligation of the Issuer or the Guarantor contained in, or a provision of, the Indenture which cannot be modified under the terms of the Indenture without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note of the series affected.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes, provided that such direction does not conflict with any applicable law or the Indenture, the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction and such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of other holders of Notes of such series. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the Indenture at the direction of the holders, the Trustee is entitled to receive from those holders reasonable funding and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with any direction.

The Notes issued under the Indenture will not have the benefit of any cross-default provisions of Notes of other series issued under the Indenture or with other indebtedness of the Issuers.

Each Issuer will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to the fulfilment by the Issuer of all of its obligations under the Indenture.

Removal or Resignation of the Trustee

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Notes of any series by an act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuer and the Guarantor. In addition, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series, for such cause as shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Issuer, by the Issuer filing with the Trustee an instrument to such effect signed by an officer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee not less than 60 days prior to the effective date of the removal.

The Trustee is entitled to resign at any time with respect to the Notes of an Issuer by giving written notice thereof to the relevant Issuer. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee or successor Trustees (where different Trustees may be required for Senior Notes and for Subordinate Notes) required by the Indenture shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of one or more successor Trustees with respect to the Notes in respect of which the Trustee has given written notice of its registration to the Issuer(s).

Notwithstanding the provisions relating to the removal or the resignation of the Trustee in the Indenture described in the preceding paragraphs, there must at all times be a Trustee under the Indenture that is a corporation authorized and qualified to carry on the business of a trust company in the Province of Ontario and every other jurisdiction where such authorization or qualification is necessary to enable it to act as trustee under the Indenture in

- 24 -

accordance with applicable laws. No resignation or removal of the Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of a successor Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Governing Law

The Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

Certain United States Federal Income Tax Matters

Residents of Canada That Are Not U.S. Holders

Because of uncertainty in the application of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention to the Notes issued by ML Finance, a purchaser of Notes issued by ML Finance that is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Act") will have to satisfy the requirements set out below in order to avoid the potential application of United States federal income tax rules (including the imposition of United States withholding tax):

(a) The purchaser has provided identification information establishing that it is not a U.S. Holder. Each of the Dealers has represented that it has procedures in place to determine whether its clients are U.S. Holders. However, the purchaser is ultimately responsible for establishing this requirement.

(b) The Notes are held through a non-U.S. office of a bank, securities dealer or similar intermediary that has signed an agreement with the IRS concerning withholding tax procedures (a "qualified intermediary"). Each of the Dealers has represented that it is a qualified intermediary.

(c) In the taxable year of the disposition of the Notes (including on retirement), the purchaser is not present in the United States for 183 days or more and certain other conditions are met.

(d) The Notes are not connected to a trade or business conducted by the purchaser in the United States.

If a purchaser of Notes is not certain whether (i) the institution where the purchaser will hold the Notes has determined that the purchaser is not a U.S. Holder, or (ii) the institution is a qualified intermediary, the purchaser should consult with the institution. Failure to do so may result in the imposition of United States tax.

Upon the death of a purchaser who is not a U.S. Holder, United States estate tax rules will not apply to include the Notes in the estate of such person unless at the time of death payments in respect of the Notes would have been effectively connected with the conduct by such person of a trade or business in the United States.

Definition of U.S. Holder

The term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of Notes that is for United States federal income tax purposes:

(a) a citizen or resident of the United States who is a natural person;

(b) a corporation or partnership (or a limited liability company or other entity treated as a corporation or partnership for federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under applicable Treasury Regulations, the term United States person being used herein with the meaning given to such term in the United States Internal

- 25 -

Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder);

(c) an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

(d) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more persons that would be U.S. Holders have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

Moreover, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons for the purposes of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations prior to such date, that elect to continue to be treated as United States persons under the Code or applicable Treasury Regulations will also be U.S. Holders.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting Consequences to U.S. Holders

A purchaser of Notes issued by ML Finance that is not a U.S. Holder (a "Non-U.S. Holder") and provides identification information pursuant to the procedures referred to above in the section titled "Residents of Canada Who are Not U.S. Holders" which establishes that the purchaser is a Non-U.S. Holder will generally be exempt from "backup withholding". However, if a purchaser (i) fails to provide identifying information, and (ii) the purchaser is not a corporation or other "exempt recipient", backup withholding may apply to payments made in respect of such Notes. In the case of a U.S. Holder, this identifying information will generally be a taxpayer identification number, or an IRS Form W-9. The maximum rate of backup withholding is currently 28%. Backup withholding tax, to the extent imposed, may be claimed by a U.S. Holder that is a beneficial owner as a refund or a credit against such beneficial owner's United States federal income tax, provided certain information is furnished to the IRS.

Interest paid on the Notes issued by ML Finance to U.S. Holders generally will be reported to such purchasers and the IRS annually on IRS Form 1099. Gross proceeds received on the disposition or maturity of the Notes issued by ML Finance also may be subject to reporting on IRS Form 1099.

Additional Amounts

If, as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of the United States or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, or any change in application or official interpretation thereof, ML Finance or the Guarantor is required to deduct or withhold a tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof from any payment on the Notes of any series, ML Finance or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will pay to a holder of the Notes that is a Non-U.S. Holder such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") as may be necessary so that every payment on the Notes after such deduction or withholding will not be less than the amount provided for in such Notes. As described in detail in the Indenture, no such Additional Amounts will be payable by ML Finance or the Guarantor to a holder of the Notes to the extent that the deduction or withholding (i) arises from any present or former connection between the holder of the Notes and the United States, (ii) arises from any present or former status for United States federal income tax purposes of the holder of the Notes as a person other than a resident of Canada or a country other than the United States, such as the holder's status for purposes of the Code as a "controlled foreign corporation", "passive foreign investment company" or "foreign tax exempt organization", (iii) is the result of a late claim for payment by the holder of the Notes, (iv) relates to taxes other than income taxes and taxes payable otherwise than by withholding, (v) is imposed as a result of (A) such holder's past or present status as the actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of ML Finance or the Guarantor, or (B) such holder's status, with respect to such Note, as a bank that is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, or (vi) is a consequence of a failure to comply with documentation requirements.

Other Provisions; Addenda

Any provisions with respect to an issue of Notes of any series, including the determination of one or more interest rate bases, the specification of one or more interest rate bases, the calculation of the interest rate applicable

- 26 -

to a floating rate Note, the applicable Interest Payment Dates, the stated maturity date, any redemption or repayment provisions or any other matter relating to the applicable Notes may be modified by the terms as specified under "Other Provisions" on the face of the applicable Notes or in an addendum relating to the applicable Notes, if so specified on the face of the applicable Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement.

Depository

Book-Entry Only Notes

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, upon issuance, the Notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by fully registered global notes ("Book Entry Notes"). Each Book Entry Note will be held by, or on behalf of, CDS or such other entity designated in writing by the Issuer to act as depository. The Book Entry Notes will be registered in the name of CDS or its nominee. Except as described below under "— Exchange for Notes in Certificated Form", no Book Entry Note may be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository, or another nominee of the depository, or by the depository or any such nominee to a successor of the depository, or a nominee of the successor.

Ownership of the Notes will be constituted through beneficial interests in the Book Entry Notes, and will be represented through book-entry accounts of institutions, as direct and indirect participants of the depository, acting on behalf of the beneficial owners of such Notes. Each purchaser of a Note represented by a Book Entry Note will receive a customer confirmation of purchase from the selling agent from whom the Notes are purchased in accordance with practices and procedures of such selling agent.

CDS Procedures

The following is based on information provided by CDS:

Upon the issuance by the Issuer of Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Note, the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note to the accounts of its participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the Dealers of such Book-Entry Notes, or the Issuer, if such Book-Entry Notes are offered and sold directly by the Issuer, as the case may be. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Note or Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository (with respect to interests of participants in the depository), or by participants in the depository or persons that may hold interests through such participants (with respect to persons other than participants in the depository).

So long as the depository for a Global Note, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the Global Note, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note or Global Notes will not be entitled to have Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Book-Entry Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under a Global Note. The Issuer understands that under existing policies of the depository and industry practices, if the Issuer requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in such a Global Note desires to give any notice or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under a Global Note, the depository would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give such notice or take such action. Any beneficial owner that is not a participant must rely on the contractual arrangements it has directly, or indirectly through its financial intermediary, with a participant to give such notice or take such action.

- 27 -

Payments of principal or Maturity Consideration of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Note registered in the name of the depository or its nominee will be made by the Issuer (or a paying agent, if specified by the Issuer) to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of a Global Note. None of the Issuer, the paying agent (if any) or any other agent of the Issuer will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Except in the circumstance described in the following paragraph, the Issuer expects that the depository or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal or Maturity Consideration of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, a Global Note, will immediately credit the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in such Global Note as shown on the records of the depository. The Issuer also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name" and will be the responsibility of such participants.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a beneficial owner of Book-Entry Notes that are denominated in a Specified Currency, other than Canadian or U.S. dollars, electing to receive payments of principal or any premium or interest in that Specified Currency must, on or before the date specified in the applicable pricing supplement, notify the participant of the depository through which its interest is held of the beneficial owner's election to receive all or a portion of any payment in a Specified Currency. The participant must notify the depository of any election on or before the third Business Day after the Regular Record Date. The depository will notify the paying agent of the election on or before the fifth Business Day after the Regular Record Date. If complete instructions as specified in the applicable pricing supplement are received by the participant and forwarded to the depository, and forwarded by the depository to the paying agent, on or before the relevant dates, the beneficial owner of the Book-Entry Notes will receive payments in that Specified Currency.

Exchange for Notes in Certificated Form

If the depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the Notes of any series and a successor depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 60 days, the Issuer will issue certificated Notes in exchange for all outstanding Global Notes. In addition, the Issuer may at any time determine not to have Book-Entry Notes represented by Global Notes and, in such event, will issue certificated Notes in exchange for all Global Notes. In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled to have certificated Notes equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical delivery of such certificated Notes. Such certificated Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the depository shall instruct the Issuer or its registrar and transfer agent. It is expected that such instructions may be based upon directions received by the depository from participants with respect to beneficial interests in such Global Notes. Certificated Notes so issued will be issued in such denominations as the Issuer may determine from time to time and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of such certificated Notes, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES

All amounts payable under the Notes and the Indenture will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The applicable Guarantee endorsed by the Guarantor in relation to the Senior Notes will be a direct and unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Guarantor. The applicable Guarantee endorsed by the Guarantor in relation to the Subordinate Notes will be a direct and unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will be subordinated, to the extent provided below, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Guarantor. However, since the Guarantor is a holding company, the right of the Guarantor, and hence the right of creditors of the Guarantor (including the holders of Notes), to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the Guarantor itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. In addition, dividends, loans and advances from certain subsidiaries to the Guarantor are restricted by net capital requirements under the Exchange Act and under the rules of certain exchanges and other regulatory bodies.

- 28 -

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any obligations of the Guarantor or under the applicable Guarantee that are payable in securities, property or any form other than cash may, in the sole discretion of the Guarantor, be discharged in respect of the Guarantee by payment of a cash settlement based on a valuation of the non-cash obligation. The Guarantor will have sole discretion in determining what would constitute a commercially reasonable valuation of the non-cash obligation.

The Guarantee will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. The Guarantor has submitted in the Indentures to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario for all purposes of or in connection with the Notes and the Indentures. The Guarantor has appointed the Issuers as its agents for service of process for certain securities law purposes. Holders of Notes should be aware, however, that the principal assets of the Guarantor are located in the United States and judgments on the Guarantee obtained in the Province of Ontario may have to be enforced in the United States and may be subject to additional defences as a result.

In connection with the issue of Senior Notes under an Indenture, the Guarantor will issue a guarantee for the obligations of the applicable Issuer under such Senior Notes. The guarantee with respect to the Senior Notes will be issued substantially in the following form:

"FOR VALUE RECEIVED, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Guarantor"), hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees (the "Guarantee") to CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as trustee (including any successor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (as defined below), the "Trustee") for itself and on behalf of the holders (the "Holders") of the senior medium term notes (the "Senior Notes") issued by n [Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company or Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd., an Ontario corporation, as applicable] (the "Issuer"), under the terms of the indenture dated as of June 30, 2006 (as the same may be amended and supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, the "Indenture"), among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of all amounts payable by the Issuer under the Senior Notes and the Indenture, when and as the same shall become due and payable, pursuant to the provisions set out in the Senior Notes and the Indenture. In case of the failure of the Issuer punctually to make any such payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to make such payment, or cause such payment to be made, promptly and, in any event, within 15 days of receiving notice of any such failure and demand for payment; such notice and demand must be made by the Trustee or by Holders by the giving of written notice of such demand to the Guarantor at 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10080, U.S.A. (Attention: Treasury Department). Delay in making such demand shall in no event affect the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect or shall be reinstated (as the case may be) if at any time any payment guaranteed hereunder, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the invalidity, regularity or enforceability of the Senior Notes; the absence of any action to enforce the same; any waiver or consent by the Holders concerning any provisions thereof; the rendering of any judgment against the Issuer or any action to enforce the same; or any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or a defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete payment of the amounts payable under the Senior Notes and the Indenture. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective if the Issuer merges or consolidates with or into another entity, loses its separate legal identity or ceases to exist.

Anything to the contrary in this Guarantee notwithstanding, any obligations of the Guarantor to make payments with respect to the Senior Notes in a form other than cash may, in the sole discretion of the Guarantor, be discharged in respect of the Guarantee by payment of a cash amount based on a valuation of the non-cash obligation. The Guarantor shall have sole discretion in determining what would constitute a commercially reasonable valuation of the non-cash obligation.

The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest, notice of protest, acceleration and dishonor, filing of claims with any court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, all demands

- 29 -

whatsoever, except as noted in the first paragraph hereof, and any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer.

The Guarantor hereby certifies and warrants that this Guarantee constitutes the valid obligation of the Guarantor and complies with all applicable laws.

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amount paid by the Guarantor pursuant to this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon such rights of subrogation until all amounts payable on the Senior Notes issued under the Indenture shall have been paid in full.

The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee are unconditional and irrevocable obligations of the Guarantor ranking pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor.

This Guarantee shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose with respect to any Senior Note until such Senior Note shall have been authenticated on behalf of the Trustee as provided in the Indenture.

This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such State.

Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized representative.

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC."

In connection with the issue of Subordinate Notes under an Indenture, the Guarantor will issue a guarantee for the obligations of the applicable Issuer under such Subordinate Notes. The guarantee with respect to the Subordinate Notes will be issued substantially in the following form:

"FOR VALUE RECEIVED, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (the "Guarantor") hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees (the "Guarantee") to CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as trustee (including any successor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (as defined below), the "Trustee") for itself and on behalf of the holders (the "Holders") of the subordinate medium term notes (the "Subordinate Notes") issued by n [Merrill Lynch Canada Finance Company, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability companyor Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd., an Ontario corporation, as applicable] (the "Issuer"), under the terms of the indenture dated as of June 30, 2006 (as the same may be amended and supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, the "Indenture"), among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the due and punctual payment by the Issuer of all amounts payable by the Issuer under the Subordinate Notes and the Indenture, when and as the same shall become due and payable, pursuant to the provisions set out in the Subordinate Notes and the Indenture, subject to the subordination provision set forth below and pursuant to the provisions set out in the Subordinate Notes and the Indenture. In case of the failure of the Issuer punctually to make any such payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to make such payment, or cause such payment to be made, promptly and, in any event, within 15 days of receiving notice of any such failure and demand for payment; such notice and demand must be made by the Trustee or by Holders by the giving of written notice of such demand to the Guarantor at 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10080, U.S.A. (Attention: Treasury Department). Delay in making such demand shall in no event affect the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect or shall be reinstated (as the case may be) if at any time any payment guaranteed hereunder, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

- 30 -

The Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee to make any payment with respect to the Subordinate Notes are expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (as defined below). Anything in this Guarantee to the contrary notwithstanding, upon any distribution of assets of the Guarantor upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Guarantor, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Guarantor or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Guarantee upon the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to payments in respect of this Guarantee and the Holders by a lawful plan or reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law),

(a) the holders of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of any principal thereof, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable, and any interest thereon, due thereon before the Holders of the Subordinate Notes are entitled to receive any payment pursuant to this Guarantee in respect of the principal, premium, interest or any other amount payable of or on the Subordinate Notes or interest on overdue amounts thereof; and

(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Subordinate Notes or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this paragraph shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable, and any interest thereon, on the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; and

(c) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of the Subordinate Notes or the Subordinate Trustee (as defined in the Indenture) or the Holders of the Subordinate Notes before all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

Subject to the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Subordinate Notesshall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Guarantor applicable to Guarantor Senior Indebtednessuntil the principal, premium, interest or any other amount payable, and any interest thereon, of or on the Subordinate Notes shall be paid in full and no payments or distributions to the Holders of Subordinate Notes of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Guarantor, its creditors other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinate Notes, be deemed to be a payment by the Guarantor to or on account of the Subordinate Notes. It is understood that the provisions of this and the immediately preceding paragraph are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Subordinate Notes, on the one hand, and the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this or the immediately preceding paragraph or elsewhere in this Guarantee is intended to or shall impair, as between the Guarantor, its creditors other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinate Notes, the obligation of the Guarantor, which is

- 31 -

unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Subordinate Notes the principal, premium, interestor any other amount payable, and any interest thereon, of or on the Subordinate Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of such Subordinate Notes and creditors of the Guarantor other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Subordinate Notes prevent the Trustee or Subordinate Trustee or the Holder of any Subordinate Note from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under the Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this or the immediately preceding paragraph of the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Guarantor received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

No payment by the Guarantor on account of principal, premium, interest or any other amount payable, and any interest thereon, of or on the Subordinate Notes shall be made unless full payment of amounts then due for principal, premium, if any, sinking funds and interest or any other amount payable on Guarantor Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money's worth.

"Guarantor Senior Indebtedness" means any payment with respect to indebtedness of the Guarantor for money borrowed other than such indebtedness that by its terms subordinates its right of payment to other indebtedness of the Guarantor for money borrowed.

Subject to the foregoing subordination provisions, the Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the invalidity, regularity or enforceability of the Subordinate Notes; the absence of any action to enforce the same; any waiver or consent by the Holders concerning any provisions thereof; the rendering of any judgment against the Issuer or any action to enforce the same; or any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or a defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete payment of the amounts payable under the Subordinate Notes and theIndenture. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective if the Issuer merges or consolidates with or into another entity, loses its separate legal identity or ceases to exist.

Anything to the contrary in this Guarantee notwithstanding, any obligations of the Guarantor to make any payments with respect to the Subordinate Notes in a form other than cash may, in the sole discretion of the Guarantor, be discharged in respect of the Guarantee by payment of a cash settlement based on a valuation of the non-cash obligation. The Guarantor shall have sole discretion in determining what would constitute a commercially reasonable valuation of the non-cash obligation.

The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest, notice of protest, acceleration and dishonor, filing of claims with any court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, all demands whatsoever, except as noted in the first paragraph hereof, and any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer.

The Guarantor hereby certifies and warrants that this Guarantee constitutes the valid obligation of the Guarantor and complies with all applicable laws.

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amount paid by the Guarantor pursuant to this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon such rights of subrogation until all amounts payable on all Subordinate Notes issued under the Indenture shall have been paid in full.

This Guarantee shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose with respect to any Subordinate Note until such Subordinate Note shall have been authenticated on behalf of the Trustee as provided in the Indenture.

This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such State.

- 32 -

Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized representative.

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC."

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Notes may be offered by ML Canada and by one or more of the other Dealers under an agreement (the "Dealer Agreement") dated June 30, 2006, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, between the Issuers, the Guarantor and the Dealers. The Dealers shall act as an Issuer's agents or as principals, as the case may be, subject to confirmation by the relevant Issuer pursuant to the Dealer Agreement. The Notes may be offered at par or at a discount or a premium. The rate of commission payable in connection with sales of the Notes by the Issuer through the Dealers acting as agents will be determined pursuant to the Dealer Agreement. An Issuer may also sell Notes to any Dealer, as principal, at such prices and with such commissions as may be agreed upon by the Issuer and such Dealer, for resale to the public at prices to be negotiated by the Dealer with each purchaser. Such resale prices may vary during the distribution period and as between purchasers. A Dealer's compensation for such transactions will vary by the amount by which the aggregate price paid for the Notes by purchasers exceeds or is less than the gross proceeds paid to the Issuer by the Dealer, acting as principal, for such Notes. The Notes may also be offered directly by the Issuer to purchasers pursuant to applicable statutory exemptions at such prices and on such terms as may be negotiated with any purchaser. No commission will be payable on Notes sold directly to purchasers by the Issuer.

The obligation of the Dealers, when purchasing as principal, under the Dealer Agreement may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain stated events. In connection with any offering of Notes, the Dealers may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Notes offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in an open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

There is no established trading market for the Notes. Unless otherwise specified in a pricing supplement relating to the Notes, the Notes will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange. Any Dealers to or through whom Notes are sold by the Issuer for public offering and sale may make a market in the Notes, but such Dealers will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given that a trading market in the Notes will develop or as to the liquidity of any trading market for the Notes.

The Issuer and, if applicable, each of the Dealers reserve the right to reject any offer to purchase Notes in whole or in part. The Issuer also reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering of Notes under this Prospectus without notice.

Under Canadian securities legislation, ML Canada may act as underwriter in respect of up to 80% of an offering of Notes, provided that one independent Dealer underwrites at least 20% of the offering. Alternatively, pursuant to an exemption order issued by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, an offering of Notes may be made without the involvement of an independent Dealer so long as the offering is made under one of two arrangements. Under the first arrangement, independent Dealers will underwrite, in aggregate, at least 51% of the offering and the minimum subscription for each subscriber under such offering will be Cdn. $150,000. Under the second arrangement, ML Canada will underwrite up to 100% of the offering and the minimum subscription for each subscriber under such offering will be Cdn. $150,000. Under the second arrangement, 66 ⅔% of the subscriptions for the offering must also be made by Canadian institutions, pension funds, endowment funds or mutual funds.

ML Canada was involved in the decision to distribute Notes hereunder and will be involved throughout the currency of this Prospectus in the determination of the terms of each particular offering of Notes. Each of the Issuers and ML Canada are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Guarantor. Consequently, the Issuers are "related

- 33 -

issuers" and are also "connected issuers" of ML Canada within the meaning of the securities legislation of each of the provinces of Canada in connection with the offering of Notes under this Prospectus. The Dealers who signed the Dealer Agreement have performed due diligence in connection with the offering of Notes under this Prospectus. ML Canada may receive a commission in connection with its acting as a Dealer for the distribution of the Notes under this Prospectus. In addition, ML Canada will benefit from the offering to the extent the proceeds of the offering are used to fund the operations of ML Canada.

SELLING RESTRICTIONS

The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes may not at any time be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, and for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person or to others for offer, sale, resale or delivery, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person. Offers, sales, resales or deliveries of the Notes, or interests therein, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons would constitute a violation of United States securities laws unless made in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. As used herein, "United States" and "U.S. Person" shall have the meanings given to them by Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Dealers have agreed that they will not offer, sell, resell or redeliver, directly or indirectly, any Notes in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person or to others for offer, sale, resale or delivery, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any such U.S. Person. Any person purchasing Notes will be deemed to have agreed that (i) it will not at any time offer, sell, resell or deliver, directly or indirectly, any Notes so purchased in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person or to others for offer, sale, resale or delivery, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person, (ii) it is not purchasing any Notes for the account or benefit of any U.S. Person, (iii) it will not make offers, sales, resales or deliveries of any Notes (otherwise acquired), directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person, and (iv) it will deliver, to each person to whom it transfers any Notes or interests therein, notice of any restrictions on transfer of the Notes.

Each holder of the Notes issued by ML Finance will be deemed to have represented that such holder understands that the Notes will bear a legend substantially in the following form:

"THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD OR DELIVERED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES OR POSSESSIONS OR TO U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT). NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OWNED BY A U.S. PERSON. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON WHO WOULD, UPON THE COMPLETION OF SUCH SALE, BE A U.S. HOLDER. THIS NOTE MAY BE SUBJECT TO UNITED STATES TAX LAW REQUIREMENTS."

Each holder of the Notes issued by ML&Co Canada will be deemed to have represented that such holder understands that the Notes will bear a legend substantially in the following form:

"THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD OR DELIVERED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES OR POSSESSIONS OR TO U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT). NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OWNED BY A U.S. PERSON. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON WHO WOULD, UPON THE COMPLETION OF SUCH SALE, BE A U.S. HOLDER."

- 34 -

CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE

Prospective investors are hereby notified that: (a) any discussion of United States federal tax issues contained or referred to in this Prospectus or any document referred to herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by prospective investors for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on them under the Code; (b) such discussion is written for use in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transactions or matters addressed herein; and (c) prospective investors should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a prospective investor (and each employee, representative, or other agent of a prospective investor) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions described in this prospectus or the related pricing supplement and all materials of any kind that are provided to the prospective investor relating to such tax treatment and tax structure (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4). This authorization of tax disclosure is retroactively effective to the commencement of discussions with prospective investors regarding the transactions contemplated herein.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries as of December 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2005, the related financial statement schedule, and management's report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included or incorporated herein by reference in the Guarantor's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2005 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference.

REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AND PAYING AGENT

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the register and transfer books for the Notes will be kept at the principal transfer office of CIBC Mellon Trust Company in Toronto, or at any other place as the Issuer may designate. A person appointed from time to time by CIBC Mellon Trust Company or the Issuer on behalf of the Issuer will act as paying agent for the Notes.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon on behalf of the Issuers by Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto, on behalf of the Guarantor by Sidley Austin LLP, New York and on behalf of the Dealers by McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP, Toronto.

Partners and associates of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, as a group, and McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP, as a group, respectively own beneficially, directly and indirectly, less than 1% of securities of the Issuers and their affiliates and associates.

PURCHASERS' STATUTORY RIGHTS

Securities legislation in certain of the provinces of Canada provides purchasers with the right to withdraw from an agreement to purchase securities. This right may be exercised within two business days after receipt or deemed receipt of a prospectus, the accompanying pricing supplement relating to the securities purchased by a purchaser and any amendment. In several of the provinces, the securities legislation further provides a purchaser with remedies for rescission or, in some jurisdictions, damages, if the prospectus, the accompanying pricing supplement relating to the securities purchased by a purchaser and any amendment contains a misrepresentation or is not delivered to the purchaser, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province for the particulars of these rights or consult with a legal adviser.

- C-1 -

C

CERTIFICATE OF THE ISSUERS AND THE GUARANTOR

Dated: June 30, 2006

This short form prospectus, together with the documents incorporated in the prospectus by reference, will, as of the date of the last supplement to this prospectus relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s), constitute full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s) as required by the securities legislation of each of the provinces of Canada. For the purpose of the Province of Québec, this simplified prospectus, together with documents incorporated by reference herein and as supplemented by the permanent information record, will contain no misrepresentation that is likely to affect the value or the market price of the securities to be distributed.

MERRILL LYNCH CANADA FINANCE COMPANY

By: (Signed) LYNN K. PATTERSONPresident (acting in the capacity of Chief

Executive Officer)

By: (Signed) ROBERT J. MONTESIONEChief Financial Officer

On behalf of the Board of Directors

By: (Signed) DANIEL M. MIDADirector

By: (Signed) PAUL D. ALLISONDirector

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., CANADA LTD.

By: (Signed) LYNN K. PATTERSONDirector (acting in the capacity of Chief

Executive Officer)

By: (Signed) ROBERT J. MONTESIONEChief Financial Officer


By: (Signed) DANIEL M. MIDADirector

By: (Signed) PAUL D. ALLISONDirector

- C-2 -

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

By: (Signed) E. STANLEY O'NEALChief Executive Officer

By: (Signed) JEFFREY N. EDWARDSChief Financial Officer


By: (Signed) JOHN D. FINNEGANDirector

By: (Signed) ALBERTO CRIBIOREDirector

- C-3 -

CERTIFICATE OF THE DEALERS

Dated: June 30, 2006

To the best of our knowledge, information and belief, this short form prospectus, together with the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference, will, as of the date of the last supplement to this prospectus relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s), constitute full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s) as required by the securities legislation of each of the provinces of Canada. For the purpose of the Province of Québec, this simplified prospectus, together with documents incorporated by reference herein and as supplemented by the permanent information record, will contain no misrepresentation that is likely to affect the value or the market price of the securities to be distributed.

MERRILL LYNCH CANADA INC. BMO NESBITT BURNS INC. CANACCORD CAPITAL CORPORATION

By: (Signed) SCOTT MCBURNEY By: (Signed) PETER K. MARCHANT By: (Signed) ISAAC MUSKAT

CIBC WORLD MARKETS INC. DESJARDINS SECURITIES INC. EDWARD JONES

By: (Signed) DARRELL BURT By: (Signed) JAMES DARLING By (Signed) GARY REAMEY

HSBC SECURITIES (CANADA) INC LAURENTIAN BANK SECURITIES INC.

NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL INC.

By: (Signed) CATHERINE CODE By: (Signed) MICHEL RICHARD By: (Signed) DARIN E. DESCHAMPS

RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC. SCOTIA CAPITAL INC. TD SECURITIES INC.

By: (Signed) CHRIS SEIP By: (Signed) D. GREGORY LAWRENCE By: (Signed) PATRICK SCACE