(November 24 – 16:45 ET) – At meetings held November 23 unitholders approved the mergers of several Atlas and Merrill Lynch mutual funds. They also gave their approval for the introduction of a multiple class unit structure, as well as changes to the auditors for certain funds.

The Atlas American Advantage Value Fund will merge into the Merrill Lynch U.S. Basic Value Fund

The Atlas Canadian Emerging Growth Fund and Atlas Canadian Small Cap Value Fund will merge into the Merrill Lynch Canadian Small Cap Fund, formerly the Atlas Canadian Small Cap Growth Fund.

The Atlas Canadian Income and Growth Fund will merge into the Merrill Lynch Canadian Balanced Value Fund, formerly the Merrill Lynch Canadian Balanced Fund.

The Atlas Latin American Value Fund and the Atlas Pacific Basin Value Fund will merge into the Merrill Lynch Developing Capital Markets Fund, formerly the Atlas International Emerging Markets Growth Fund)

The Atlas World Bond Fund will merge into the Merrill Lynch Canadian Bond Fund, formerly the Atlas Canadian Bond Fund.

At the end of business, November 24, the name of the Merrill Lynch Canadian Core Value Fund will change to Merrill Lynch Canadian Core Value (1999) Fund. Simultaneously, the name of the Merrill Lynch Canadian Large Cap Value Fund will change to Merrill Lynch Canadian Core Value Fund.