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SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK, $.01 PER SHARE PAR VALUE
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(Title of Class of Securities)
859166100
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(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2005
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[X ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class
of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information
which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the
Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 859166100 13G
_____________________________________________________________________________
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. (MERRILL LYNCH)
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [ ]
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
_____________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES Disclaimed (See #9 below)
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY Disclaimed (See #9 below)
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING Disclaimed (See #9 below)
______________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH Disclaimed (See #9 below)
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc disclaims beneficial ownership in all shares
of Sterling Chemicals, Inc. held by Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith,
Incorporated.
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
_____________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
Disclaimed (See #9 above)
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
_____________________________________________________________________________
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 859166100 13G
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC USE ONLY
____________________________________________________________________________
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
____________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 186,787
_________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 0
_________________________________________________________________
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 186,787
______________________________________________________________
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
186,787
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
[_]
_____________________________________________________________________________
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
6.6%
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BD
CUSIP NO. 859166100 13G
____________________________________________________________________________
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Sterling Chemicals,Inc.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
333 Clay Street, Suite 3600
Houston, Texas 77002-4109
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
Merrill Lynch, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED
___________________________________________________________________________
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:
The principal business office for MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.,
and MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED is 4 WORLD FINANCIAL
CENTER, NEW YORK, NY 10080.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
SEE ITEM 4 OF COVER PAGES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
COMMON STOCK
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
859166100
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b)
or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
(a) [X] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
(c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)19) of the Exchange Act.
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act.
(e) [_] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)
(f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)
(h) [_] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act
(i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment
company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act
(j) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
CUSIP No. 859166100 13G
Item 4. Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
186,797 Shares Common Stock
(b) Percent of class:
6.6%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
SEE ITEM 5 OF COVER PAGES
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
SEE ITEM 6 OF COVER PAGES
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
SEE ITEM 7 OF COVER PAGES
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
SEE ITEM 8 OF COVER PAGE
_____________________________________________________________________________
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as
of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner
of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
NOT APPLICABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Although Merrill Lynch & Co.,Inc. and Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner &
Smith,Incorporated are affiliates and have determined to file jointly, the
reporting persons are of the view that their affiliation does not cause them
to be acting as a group within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act").
_______________________________________________________________________________
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
NOT APPLICABLE
CUSIP No. 859166100 13G
Item 10. Certifications.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control
of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that
purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
[February 09, 2006]
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH,
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Cara Londin By: /s/ Jonathan Santelli
-------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Name: Cara Londin Name: Jonthan Santelli
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Assistant Secretary
* Executed pursuant to a Power of Attorney, dated November 17, 1995, a copy
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Schedule 13G
Exhibit A
Power of Attorney
The undersigned, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Corporation"), a
corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, with its principal
place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street,
New York, New York 10281 does hereby make, constitute and appoint Richard B.
Alsop, Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any
individual from time to time elected or appointed as secretary or an
assistant secretary of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose
address is Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower,
250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281, as its true and lawful attorneys-
in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead (i) to execute on behalf of
the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, as required under
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the
regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, of original, copies, or
electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission Schedule 13D or
Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together with any amendments and
joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the Act, as may be required
thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to any equity security (as
defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially owned by the undersigned
and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant to Section 13(d) of
the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on behalf of the
Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number, as
appropriate, of original, copies or electronic filings of any forms
(including without limitation), Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4
and 5) required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the
regulations thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and
perform such other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in a
all respects as if the undersigned could do if personally present.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing,
by the undersigned.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney,
this 17th day of November 1995.
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
By: /s/ David H. Komansky
_____________________________________________
Name: David H. Komansky
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer