Kaplan Fox Seeks To Recover Losses For Investors Who Purchased Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Common Stock

Kaplan Fox (kaplanfox.com) has filed a class action against Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., ("Merrill Lynch" or the "Company") (NYSE: MER) and Henry Blodget, the First Vice President of Merrill Lynch, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Merrill Lynch between July 3, 1999 and July 30, 2002, inclusive (the "Class Period").

The complaint alleges that defendants violated the federal securities laws by misrepresenting Merrill Lynch's research analyst business. Merrill Lynch touted its research analysts business as being, among other things, "insightful, objective and decisive." However, instead of issuing analyst reports based on legitimate research and analysis of public companies, the Company issued false analyst reports regarding various companies and failed to disclose significant, material information. The complaint alleges, among other things, that Merrill Lynch's Internet group issued false analyst reports to obtain investment banking business for the Company.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges that during the class period Merrill Lynch made statements regarding Enron and recommended the purchase of Enron shares while failing to disclose that Merrill Lynch engaged in bogus transactions with Enron. Merrill issued positive reports about Enron and entered into these bogus transactions to secure investment banking business. Although these transactions may have resulted in huge profits for Merrill Lynch, the Company was also exposed to substantial risks for legal liability and faced governmental scrutiny because such transactions were specifically designed to permit Enron to defraud its investors by artificially inflating its profits.

As a result of defendants' improper conduct with respect to its analyst business, Merrill Lynch's common stock traded at artificially inflated prices throughout the Class Period. The truth began to be revealed on April 8, 2002, Merrill Lynch's stock declined materially in value.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of the Class and is represented by Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP. Our firm, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and New Jersey, has many years of experience prosecuting investor class actions and actions involving financial fraud. For more information about Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, you may visit our website at www.kaplanfox.com

If you are a member of the Class, you may move the court no later than August 30, 2002 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the Class. In order to serve as a lead plaintiff, you must meet certain legal requirements. If you have any questions about this Notice, the action, your rights, or your interests, please e-mail us at mail@kaplanfox.com or contact:

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP 805 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10022 Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP 601 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94111