Exhibit 11 |
SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP |
BEIJING | 787 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 TELEPHONE 212 839 5300 FACSIMILE 212 839 5599 www.sidley.com FOUNDED 1866 | LOS ANGELES | ||
BRUSSELS | NEW YORK | |||
CHICAGO | SAN FRANCISCO | |||
DALLAS | SHANGHAI | |||
GENEVA | SINGAPORE | |||
HONG KONG | TOKYO | |||
LONDON | WASHINGTON, D.C. |
October 31, 2003 |
Merrill Lynch Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc. 800 Scudders Mill Road Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 |
Ladies and Gentlemen: |
We have acted as counsel for Merrill Lynch Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) in connection with the proposed acquisition by the Fund of substantially all of the assets, and the proposed assumption by the Fund of substantially all of the liabilities, of Mercury Growth Opportunity Fund (“Growth Opportunity”), a series of The Asset Program, Inc., and the simultaneous distribution to Growth Opportunity of newly-issued shares of common stock of the Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the net assets of Growth Opportunity acquired by the Fund reduced by the amount of liabilities of Growth Opportunity assumed by the Fund (collectively, the “Reorganization”). This opinion is furnished in connection with the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), relating to shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Fund (the “Shares”), to be issued in the Reorganization. |
As counsel for the Fund, we are familiar with the proceedings taken by the Fund and to be taken by the Fund in connection with the authorization and issuance of the Shares. In addition, we have examined and are familiar with the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as amended and supplemented, the By-laws of the Fund, as amended, and such other documents as we have deemed relevant to the matters referred to in this opinion. |
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that subsequent to the approval of the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the Fund and Growth Opportunity, as set forth in the proxy statement and prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement (the “Proxy Statement and Prospectus”), the Shares, upon issuance in the manner referred to in the Registration Statement, for consideration as described in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock of the Fund. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus constituting a part thereof. |
Very truly yours, | |
/S/ SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP |