UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
811-09897
(Investment Company Act File Number)
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
C/O THE BANK OF NEW YORK
101 BARCLAY STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10286
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
212-815-2909
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
MS. BETTY COCOZZA
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
101 BARCLAY STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10286
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
DECEMBER 31, 2003
(Date of Fiscal Year End)
DECEMBER 31, 2003
(Date of Reporting Period)
1
ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
ANNUAL REPORT
DECEMBER 31, 2003
2
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Annual Report
December 31, 2003
Trustees
Donald J. Puglisi, Managing Trustee
William R. Latham III
James B. O'Neill
Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent
and Paying Agent
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
New York, New York 10286
3
SUMMARY INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity Securities Trust I (the "Trust") is a Delaware business trust. It was
created to issue Equity Trust Securities and to carry out the transactions
described in this summary. The Equity Trust Securities are securities that
represent all of the beneficial interest in the Trust. On October 23, 2001, the
Trust sold 26,918,195 Equity Trust Securities to the public at a price of $36.05
each. With part of the net proceeds received from the sale of the Equity Trust
Securities, the Trust purchased a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities and,
with the remainder of the proceeds, it purchased prepaid forward contracts for
the purchase of Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock ("Class A Stock")
issued by Cablevision Systems Corporation ("Cablevision") from certain
subsidiaries of AT&T Corp. These subsidiaries are referred to in this summary as
the "Sellers."
The terms of the Equity Trust Securities are designed to give the holders a
higher current yield than they would receive by owning the Class A Stock, while
also giving them the chance to share in the increased value of Class A Stock if
its price goes up. Cablevision does not currently pay dividends on its common
stock and has stated that it does not intend to do so, but in the future
Cablevision might pay dividends that are higher than the distributions holders
will receive from the Trust. Holders of the Equity Trust Securities will receive
less than they paid for their securities if the price of Class A Stock is below
that price when the Trust terminates on or shortly after November 15, 2004
(which is referred to below as the "Exchange Date"), but they will receive only
part of the increased value if the price of the Class A Stock goes up, and then
only if the price is above $43.981 per share shortly before the Exchange Date.
Each Equity Trust Security entitles the holder to a cash distribution of $0.5858
on each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, ending on November 15,
2004. Those payments are made from maturing U.S. Treasury securities that the
Trust acquired when it issued the Equity Trust Securities.
On the Exchange Date, holders of the Equity Trust Securities will receive
between 0.8197 and 1.0 shares of Class A Stock for each Equity Trust Security
owned. If, shortly before the Exchange Date, the price of the Class A Stock is
more than $43.981 per share, holders will receive 0.8197 shares of Class A
Stock, or the cash equivalent, for each Equity Trust Security owned. If the
price of the Class A Stock is more than $36.05 per share but less than or equal
to $43.981 per share, holders will receive Class A Stock worth $36.05, or the
cash equivalent, for each Equity Trust Security. Finally, if the price of Class
A Stock is $36.05 per share or less, holders will receive one share of Class A
Stock, or the cash equivalent, for each Equity Trust Security owned. Those
amounts will be adjusted if Cablevision splits its stock, pays a stock dividend,
issues warrants or distributes certain types of assets or if certain other
events occur.
1
4
Under their prepaid forward contracts with the Trust, the Sellers have the
option to deliver cash to the Trust instead of shares of Class A Stock. If the
Sellers decide to deliver cash, holders will receive the cash value of the Class
A Stock they would have received under the Sellers' contracts instead of the
shares themselves. If Cablevision merges into another company or liquidates,
holders may receive shares of the other company or cash instead of Class A Stock
on the exchange date. If a Seller defaults under its prepaid forward contract
with the Trust, the obligations of the Sellers under their contracts will be
accelerated and the Trust will immediately distribute to holders the Class A
Stock or cash received by the Trust under the prepaid forward contracts plus the
proceeds from the sale of the U.S. Treasury securities then held by the Trust.
The Sellers may elect to deliver cash instead of the Class A Stock subject to
their contracts by completing an offering of securities to refinance the Equity
Trust Securities (a "rollover offering"). The Sellers may extend the Exchange
Date under their prepaid forward contracts to February 15, 2005, but only in
connection with a rollover offering. If the Sellers extend the Exchange Date,
they must deliver cash to be distributed as an additional partial distribution
at the rate of $0.5858 per quarter for the period beginning on November 15, 2004
and ending on the extended Exchange Date. If the Sellers complete a rollover
offering and have extended the Exchange Date, the Sellers will deliver the cash
due under their prepaid forward contracts by the fifth business day after the
extended Exchange Date. If the Sellers have elected to extend the Exchange Date
to February 15, 2005, the Sellers will also have the option, in connection with
the consummation of the rollover offering, of later accelerating the Exchange
Date to between November 15, 2004 and February 15, 2005, in which case the
Sellers will deliver the cash due under their prepaid forward contracts by the
fifth business day after the accelerated Exchange Date.
This is only a summary of certain provisions and features of the Equity Trust
Securities and is not a complete statement of their terms. For a more complete
description of the terms of these securities, you should refer to the Trust's
prospectus dated October 17, 2001. A copy of this prospectus may be found in the
Securities and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval (EDGAR) system at http://www.sec.gov.
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PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS [LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
| 1177 Avenue of the Americas
| New York NY 10036
| Telephone (646) 471 4000
| Facsimile (813) 286 6000
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Trustees and Shareholders of
Equity Securities Trust I
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations, changes
in net assets and of cash flows and the financial highlights present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Equity Securities Trust I (the
"Trust") at December 31, 2003, the results of its operations and its cash flows
for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years
in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the two years
in the period then ended and for the period October 23, 2001 (commencement of
operations) through December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements
and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are
the responsibility of the Trust's management; our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these financial statements in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at
December 31, 2003 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Note 1, the Trust is expected to terminate on November 15, 2004;
however, the termination date can be extended to any date through February 15,
2005.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 6, 2004
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6
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Investments, at value (cost $818,514,476) $ 675,390,846
Cash 9,245
Prepaid expense 62,714
--------------
Total assets 675,462,805
--------------
LIABILITIES
Unearned expense reimbursement 62,714
--------------
Total liabilities 62,714
--------------
Net assets $ 675,400,091
==============
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS
Equity Trust Securities
26,918,196 shares issued and outstanding (Note 9) $ 818,523,721
Unrealized depreciation on investments (143,123,630)
--------------
Net assets $ 675,400,091
==============
Net asset value per share
($675,400,091/26,918,196 shares outstanding) $ 25.09
==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2003
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maturity
Par Value Date Cost Value
--------- ---- ---- -----
United States Treasury STRIPS $ 15,770,000 02/15/04 $ 15,712,351 $ 15,751,865
United States Treasury STRIPS 15,770,000 05/15/04 15,591,828 15,712,124
United States Treasury STRIPS 15,770,000 08/15/04 15,462,331 15,666,509
United States Treasury STRIPS 15,770,000 11/15/04 15,303,706 15,602,207
------------- ------------- -------------
$ 63,080,000 62,070,216 62,732,705
=============
FORWARD PURCHASE CONTRACTS
Cablevision NY Group Class A
Common Stock (See Note 8) 756,444,260 612,658,141
------------- -------------
Total $ 818,514,476 $ 675,390,846
============= =============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
8
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Statement of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2003
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest income $ 2,733,617
EXPENSES
Administrative fees and expenses $ 37,478
Legal fees 9,777
Audit fees 25,000
Trustees' fees 11,732
Other expenses 12,547
---------
Total fees and expenses 96,534
Expense reimbursement (96,534)
---------
Total expense - net -
--------------
Net investment income 2,733,617
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments 218,776,162
--------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 221,509,779
==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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9
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2002
---- ----
OPERATIONS
Net investment income $ 2,733,617 $ 4,124,055
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
of investments 218,776,162 (637,665,480)
--------------- ---------------
Net increase/(decrease) in net
assets from operations 221,509,779 (633,541,425)
--------------- ---------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM
Net investment income (2,733,617) (5,001,967)
Return of capital (60,341,100) (61,883,171)
--------------- ----------------
Total distributions (63,074,717) (66,885,138)
--------------- ----------------
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets for the period 158,435,062 (700,426,563)
NET ASSETS
Beginning of period 516,965,029 1,217,391,592
--------------- ----------------
End of period $ 675,400,091 $ 516,965,029
=============== ================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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10
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net increase in net assets from operations $ 221,509,779
Adjustment to reconcile net increase in net assets from operations to
net cash provided by operating activities
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments (218,776,162)
Proceeds from maturities of investments 63,080,000
Amortization of discount on investments (2,733,617)
--------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 63,080,000
--------------
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Distribution to shareholders (63,074,717)
--------------
Net cash used in financing activities (63,074,717)
--------------
Net increase in cash 5,283
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Beginning of year 3,962
--------------
End of year $ 9,245
==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
8
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EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2003
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. ORGANIZATION
Equity Securities Trust I (the "Trust") was established on April 11, 2000
and is registered as a nondiversified, closed-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"). In October
2001, the Trust sold Equity Trust Securities to the public pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Act. The Trust used the proceeds to purchase a portfolio comprised of U.S.
Treasury STRIPS and to pay the purchase price for prepaid forward purchase
contracts for shares of Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock (the
"Class A Stock") from certain stockholders of the Class A Stock (the
"Sellers"). Each Equity Trust Security represents between 0.8197 and 1.00
shares of the Class A Stock or cash equal to the value of those shares. The
number of shares, or amount of cash, will vary, depending on the average
market price of the Class A Stock over the twenty business days before the
Exchange Date. The the Class A Stock, or its cash equivalent, is
deliverable pursuant to the forward purchase contracts on November 15, 2004
(the "Exchange Date") but the Exchange Date may be extended by the Sellers
to any date through February 15, 2005. The Trust will thereafter terminate
upon the distribution of the Class A Stock or cash to the holders of the
Equity Trust Securities.
Pursuant to an Administration Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of
New York (the "Administrator"), the Trustees have delegated to the
Administrator the administrative duties with respect to the Trust.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed
by the Trust, which are in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS
The U.S. Treasury STRIPS are valued at the mean of the bid and ask price at
the close of the period. Amortized cost is calculated using the effective
interest method. The forward purchase contracts are fair valued, in
accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees of the Trust, at the
mean of the bid prices received by the Trust at the end of each period from
two independent broker-dealer firms unaffiliated with the Trust who are in
the business of making bids on financial instruments similar to the
contracts and with terms comparable thereto. The estimated value may differ
significantly from the value that would have been used had a ready market
for the contract existed, and the difference could be material.
INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Securities transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest
income is recorded as earned and consists of amortization of discount.
Realized gains and losses are accounted for on the specific identification
method.
9
12
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2003
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
3. DISTRIBUTIONS
The face amounts and maturities of U.S. Treasury STRIPS held by the Trust
correspond to the amounts and payment dates of scheduled distributions to
shareholders. Equity Trust Security holders are entitled to receive
distributions from the maturity of U.S. Treasury STRIPS of $2.3433 per
annum or $0.5858 per quarter (except for the first distribution on February
15, 2002 which was $0.727352). The U.S. Treasury STRIPS must be held to
maturity unless termination of the Trust is accelerated in which case the
U.S. Treasury STRIPS would be sold and the proceeds distributed pro rata to
the shareholders. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the total
distribution to shareholders was $63,074,717. The distribution included
return of capital and net investment income of $60,341,100 and $2,733,617,
respectively.
4. PURCHASES, SALES AND MATURITIES OF INVESTMENTS
U.S. Treasury STRIPS totaling $63,080,000 matured during the year ended
December 31, 2003. There were no purchases or sales of securities during
the year.
5. TRUSTEES FEES
Each of the three Trustees has been paid a one-time, up-front fee of
$10,800 for their services during the life of the Trust. The Managing
Trustee has been paid an additional one-time, up-front fee of $3,600 for
serving in such capacity. The total prepaid fees of $36,000 were paid by
the Trust's sponsor.
6. INCOME TAXES
The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for Federal income tax purposes;
accordingly, no provision is required for such taxes.
As of December 31, 2003, net unrealized depreciation of investments, based
on cost for Federal income tax purposes, of $818,514,476, aggregated
$143,123,630, consisting of gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation
of investments of $662,489, and $143,786,119, respectively.
7. EXPENSES
At the closing of the offering of the Equity Trust Securities, the Trust's
sponsor paid the Trust's Administrator, its custodian and its paying agent,
and each Trustee, a one-time, up-front fee, and, in the case of the
Administrator, anticipated expenses of the Trust over the term of the
Trust. The Trust's sponsor has agreed to pay any on-going expenses of the
Trust in excess of these estimated amounts and to reimburse the Trust for
any amounts it may be required to pay as indemnification to any Trustee,
the Administrator, the custodian or the paying agent.
10
13
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2003
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. FORWARD PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The Trust holds forward purchase contracts with the Sellers, for which it
paid them a total of $756,444,260. Pursuant to such contracts, the Sellers
are obligated to deliver to the Trust on the Exchange Date, a number of
shares of Class A Stock or, at the Sellers' option, its cash equivalent
equal to the product of the Exchange Rate times the initial number of
shares subject to the Sellers' contracts. The Exchange Rate will vary
depending on the average market price of the Class A 8 Equity Securities
Trust I Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2003 Stock over the
twenty business days before the Exchange Date (the "Average Market Price").
The Exchange Rate will be I if the Average Market Price is $36.05 or less,
will be .8197 if the Average Market Price is more than $43.981, and will be
the rate that would result in the number of shares of the Class A Stock
that would be equal to $36.05 if the Average Market Price is equal to or
less than $43.981 but greater than $36.05. The forward purchase contracts
are illiquid and cannot be sold by the Trust.
Offering expenses of $541,010 were paid by the Sellers. This amount has
been recorded as a reduction in the cost of the forward purchase contracts.
The Sellers' obligations under the forward purchase contracts are
collateralized by shares of Class A Stock which are being held in the
custody of The Bank of New York, the Trust's custodian. At December 31,
2003, the custodian held 26,918,195 shares with an aggregate value of
$629,616,581.
9. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
During the offering period, the Trust sold 26,918,195 Equity Trust
Securities to the public and received net proceeds of $940,747,892
($970,400,930 less sales commissions and offering expenses of $29,653,038).
As of December 31, 2003, there were 26,918,196 Equity Trust Securities
issued and outstanding.
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14
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trust's financial highlights are presented below. The per share operating
performance data is designed to allow investors to track the operating
performance, on a per share basis, from the Trust's beginning net asset value to
the ending net asset value so that they can understand what effect the
individual items have on their investment assuming it was held throughout the
period. Generally, the per share amounts are derived by converting the actual
dollar amounts incurred for each item as disclosed in the financial statements
to their equivalent per share amounts.
For the
Period from
Year Ended October 23, 2001
December 31, (Commencement
------------------- of Operations) to
2003 2002 December 31, 2001
---- ---- -----------------
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 19.21 $ 45.23 $ 34.97 *
---------- ---------- -----------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
Net investment income 0.10 0.15 0.04
Unrealized (loss)/gain on investments 8.12 (23.69) 10.24
---------- ---------- -----------
Net (decrease)/increase in net asset value 8.22 (23.54) 10.28
---------- ---------- -----------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM
Net investment income (0.10) (0.19) -
Return of capital (2.24) (2.29) -
---------- --------- -----------
Total distributions (2.34) (2.48) -
---------- --------- -----------
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Offering costs - - (0.02)
---------- --------- -----------
Ending net asset value $ 25.09 $ 19.21 $ 45.23
========== ========= ===========
Ending market value** $ 24.97 $ 20.05 $ 44.50
========== ========= ===========
Total investment return (2) 38.49 % (48.77)% 23.44 %
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
Before reimbursement 0.02 % 0.01 % 0.02 %(1)
After reimbursement 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %(1)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets
Before reimbursement 0.43 % 0.58 % 0.40 %(1)
After reimbursement 0.45 % 0.59 % 0.42 %(1)
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $ 675,400 $ 516,965 $ 1,217,392
- ----------
(1) Annualized
(2) The total return based on market value measures the Trust's performance
assuming investors purchased shares at market value as of the beginning of
the period, reinvested dividends and other distributions at market value,
and then sold their share at the market value per shares on the last day of
the period. The total return for a period of less than one year is not
annualized.
* Net proceeds less selling commissions ($1.18 per share).
** Closing price on NYSE at end of year.
12
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EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
Trustee Information
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are the Trustees of Equity Securities Trust I together with a
brief description of their principal occupations during the past five years.
Each Trustee was appointed by the Trust's Sponsor and will serve until the
termination of the Trust.
Name, Position Held with
Address, Registrant and Principal Occupations
Age Length of Service During Past Five Years Other Trustee Positions
- --- ----------------- ---------------------- -----------------------
Donald J. Puglisi Managing Trustee since Managing Director, Equity Securities Trust II,
850 Library Avenue, 2000 Puglisi & Associates; DECS Trust IX.
Suite 204 MBNA America Professor
Newark, DE 19711 of Business Emeritus,
Age: 58 University of Delaware
William R. Latham, III Trustee since 2000 Associate Professor of Equity Securities Trust II,
Department of Economics, University of DECS Trust IX.
Economics Delaware
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
Age: 59
James B. O'Neill Trustee since 2000 Professor of Economics and Equity Securities Trust II,
Center for Economic Director, Center for DECS Trust IX.
Education and Economic Education and
Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship,
University of Delaware University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
Age: 64
- ----------
None of these Trustees is an interested party of the Trust as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940. 11
13
16
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS
The registrant has not adopted a code of ethics that applies to the
registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions,
because the registrant is exempt from section 17(a) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") pursuant to an exemptive order of the Commission.
In the Matter of Salomon Brothers Inc, 1997 WL 644127 (S.E.C. Release No.
IC-22862), October 21, 1997.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The trustees of the registrant have determined that the registrant has at
least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The
audit committee financial expert is Donald J. Puglisi, the managing trustee of
the registrant. Mr. Puglisi is "independent" for purposes of Item 3 of Form
N-CSR and qualifies as an audit committee financial expert by virtue of his
undergraduate and graduate education in accounting and business administration
and experience as a professor of finance at the University of Delaware, a
position he held for more than 30 years.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for
professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the principal
accountant for the audit of the registrant's financial statements, were as
follows: $25,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003; and $25,000
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.
(b) Audit-Related Fees
None.
(c) Tax Fees
None.
(d) All Other Fees
None.
The engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to audit the financial
statements of the registrant and the annual audit fees payable to the firm
for such services were pre-approved by the trustees of the registrant at
the inception of the Trust. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP performs no other
services for the registrant.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS
The three trustees of the registrant, consisting of Messrs. Donald J.
Puglisi, William R. Latham III and James B. O'Neill, act as the registrant's
audit committee.
17
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Not applicable. The registrant invests exclusively in non-voting
securities.
ITEM 8. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Not applicable. Neither the registrant nor any "affiliated purchaser" has
purchased any equity security of the registrant registered pursuant to section
12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 9. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable to this report.
ITEM 10. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) The registrant's managing trustee has concluded that the registrant's
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the 1940
Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the
filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this
paragraph, based on his evaluation of these controls and procedures required by
Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)).
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal controls or in other
factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of
their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses.
ITEM 11. EXHIBITS
(a) Code of Ethics. Not required. See Item 2.
(b) Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
(c) Statement pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: February 27, 2004
EQUITY SECURITIES TRUST I
By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
-----------------------------
Name: Donald J. Puglisi
Title: Managing Trustee
Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Dated: February 27, 2004
By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
-----------------------------
Name: Donald J. Puglisi
Title: Managing Trustee