ADVISORY/Merrill Lynch Breaks New Ground With Silicon Valley-Asia Pacific Center.

News/Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (Feb. 28)

    BACKGROUND:

      The Merrill Lynch Silicon Valley-Asia Pacific Center in Cupertino
    is a part of Merrill Lynch's US Private Client Group, serving the
    unique cultural and financial needs of Asian Americans in the
    Silicon Valley. The Center, the first-ever of its kind, addresses
    the wealth-management needs of high net-worth Asian clients by
    providing in-language service in several Asian languages and a
    team of highly qualified consultants with specific understanding
    of Asian culture -- all in tandem with Merrill Lynch's established
    roster of sophisticated financial solutions.

      Facts on Asian Americans in the Silicon Valley:

      --  Asian Americans make up 20 percent of the San Francisco Bay
        Area population, nearly 7 times the national average of 3
        percent.

      --  Asian Americans are estimated to be the fastest-growing and
        most affluent ethnic group in the area.

      --  Asian American families have a higher median income than all
        other ethnic groups ($60,870 as opposed to a national average
        of $37,005).

      --  Chinese founders and executives running more than 2,000 Bay
        Area companies worth more than $13.2 billion in sales revenue.

    WHO:

      --  Merrill Lynch executives and financial consultants including
        Maureen Fong, Vice President, and Senior Financial Consultant

      --  Sandra James, Mayor of Cupertino


    WHAT:

      A Grand Opening to celebrate the new Merrill Lynch Silicon
    Valley-Asia Pacific Center

    WHEN:

      Wednesday, February 28, 2001 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

    WHERE:

    Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific Center
    20300 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 465B
    Cupertino, CA 95014

      INTERVIEW/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

      --  Ms. Fong, in addition to other financial consultants, will be
        available for one-on-one interviews before and after the
        event.

      --  5:30 p.m. -- A lion dance troupe is scheduled to perform a
        celebratory dance with two traditional lions.

      --  6:00 p.m. -- The Ribbon-Cutting ceremony with the Honorable
        Mayor Sandra James.

      --  Open House -- an inside look at the new Merrill Lynch office
        that is set-up according to ancient Feng Shui customs.