From David Komansky and Stanley O'Neal: "Sadly, three of our colleagues remain unaccounted for, and one has tentatively been identified as deceased.
"As we receive definite information, we will share it with you. Please remember that we have established an HR information hotline at 877.637.9040. We encourage our employees to use the hotline to obtain status reports about work schedules, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other important information.
"An update on our World Financial Centre facilities: Thursday brought indications of potential structural problems with the American Express tower adjacent to our Merrill Lynch North and South Towers. This situation is being actively investigated and we will provide more information as it becomes available. We continue to plan for alternative work sites that we will be able to use for an extended period of time. It may be a matter of several months before we can contemplate reoccupying the North Tower and even longer for the South Tower.
"Fortunately, we have significant capacity at other locations in New York and New Jersey and are actively planning for their utilization. As specific information is finalized about alternative work sites, your manager will inform you. Please be patient, as it will take some time to finalize plans for all of our people.
"After an SEC-convened meeting of industry executives, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and the American Stock Exchange announced plans to reopen on Monday. This will be subject to resolution of key infrastructure issues that affect all of lower Manhattan. As the markets reopen, Merrill Lynch expects to resume all business activities through the alternative arrangements that we have put in place."