American Stock Exchange News Release

Structured Products Release
Media Contact: Lynn Teresky@amex.com
American Stock Exchange
212-306-1654/ lynn.teresky@amex.com

AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE LISTS COMMON STOCK OF EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION

New York, October 1, 2003 -  The American Stock Exchange (Amex) today began trading Merrill Lynch Convertible Securities exchangeable into the common stock of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The $12 million debt issue is listed under the ticker symbol EXO.A and will mature on October 3, 2008.

The notes, which have a face value of $1,000 will not bear any interest. At maturity, the issuer will pay as principal a return based on the performance of the common stock of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

The Notes are issued by Merrill Lynch. The Amex specialist unit is AGS/STR/OTA.

If you would like to receive a copy of the prospectus for EXO.A, please contact the Capital Markets Group at the American Stock Exchange at 212-306-1659.

The American Stock Exchange® (Amex®) is the only primary exchange that offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRSSM. In addition to its role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF, responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 125 ETFs to date. The Amex is also one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks.