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Bank of America Corp/DE · S-4/A · On 1/30/04

Filed On 1/30/04 5:22pm ET   ·   SEC File 333-110924   ·   Accession Number 1193125-4-12159

  in   Show  and 
  As Of               Filer                 Filing     As/For/On Docs:Pgs              Issuer               Agent

 1/30/04  Bank of America Corp/DE           S-4/A                 12:304                                    RR Donnelley/FA

Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration of Securities Issued in a Business-Combination Transaction   ·   Form S-4
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: S-4/A       Amendment #2 to Form S-4                            HTML  2,010K 
 2: EX-4.(A)    Certifcate of Designation of 6.75% Perpetual        HTML     47K 
                          Preferred Stock of Bank of America                     
 3: EX-4.(B)    Certification of Designation of Fixed/Adjustable    HTML     64K 
                          Rate Cumlative Perferred Stock                         
 4: EX-5.(A)    Form of Opinion of Paul J. Polking                  HTML     11K 
 5: EX-8.(A)    Form of Opinion of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen &        HTML     19K 
                          Hamilton, Counsel of Bank of Americ                    
 6: EX-8.(B)    Form of Opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz   HTML     17K 
 7: EX-23.(B)   Consent of Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp As to Bank    HTML      8K 
                          of America                                             
 8: EX-23.(C)   Consent of Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp As to         HTML      8K 
                          Fleetboston                                            
 9: EX-99.(A)   Consent of Goldman, Sachs & Co.                     HTML     14K 
10: EX-99.(B)   Consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated        HTML     10K 
11: EX-99.(G)   Form of Proxy for Special Meeting of Stockholders   HTML     35K 
                          of Bank of America                                     
12: EX-99.(H)   Form of Proxy for Special Meeting of Stockholders   HTML     26K 
                          of Fleetboston                                         


S-4/A   ·   Amendment #2 to Form S-4
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page
"Table of Contents
"Questions and Answers About Voting Procedures for the Special Meetings
"Summary
"Selected Consolidated Historical Financial Data of Bank of America
"Selected Consolidated Historical Financial Data of Fleetboston
"Selected Consolidated Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
"Comparative Per Share Data
"Risk Factors Relating to the Merger
"Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
"The Bank of America Special Meeting
"Matters to Be Considered
"Proxies
"Solicitation of Proxies
"Householding
"Record Date
"Voting Rights and Vote Required
"Recommendations of the Bank of America Board of Directors
"Attending the Meeting
"The Fleetboston Special Meeting
"Recommendation of the FleetBoston Board of Directors
"Information About the Companies
"The Merger
"General
"Structure
"Background of the Merger
"Bank of America s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Merger by the Bank of America Board of Directors
"FleetBoston s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Merger by the FleetBoston Board of Directors
"Analyses of Financial Advisors
"Opinion of Goldman Sachs
"Opinion of Morgan Stanley
"FleetBoston
"Bank of America
"Board of Directors and Management of Bank of America following Completion of the Merger
"Distribution of Bank of America Shares
"Fractional Shares
"Public Trading Markets
"Bank of America Dividends
"Appraisal Rights of Dissenting Stockholders
"Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger
"FleetBoston s Directors and Officers Have Financial Interests in the Merger
"The Merger Agreement
"Terms of the Merger
"Treatment of FleetBoston Stock Options and Other Equity-Based Awards
"Closing and Effective Time of the Merger
"Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements
"Declaration and Payment of Dividends
"Agreement Not to Solicit Other Offers
"Expenses and Fees
"Conditions to Complete the Merger
"Amendment, Waiver and Termination of the Merger Agreement
"Resales of Bank of America Stock by Affiliates
"Employee Benefit Matters
"The Stock Option Agreements
"The Stock Options
"Purpose of the Stock Option Agreements
"Exercise; Expiration
"Rights Under the Stock Option Agreements
"Accounting Treatment
"Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
"Description of Bank of America Capital Stock
"Description of Common Stock
"Description of Preferred Stock
"Comparison of Stockholders Rights
"Preferred Stock
"Selected Provisions in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of FleetBoston
"Adoption of Bank of America S Amended Stock Plan
"Number of Shares
"Types of Awards
"Administration
"Eligibility
"Awards of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
"Awards of Restricted Stock Shares and Restricted Stock Units
"Stock Plan Benefits Table
"2002 Associates Stock Option Plan
"Take Ownership!
"Barnett Employee Stock Option Plan
"Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)
"Withholding for Payment of Taxes
"Changes in Capitalization and Similar Changes
"Changes in Control
"Amendment and Termination of the Plan
"No Repricings
"Federal Income Tax Treatment
"Amendment to the Bank of America Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
"Comparative Market Prices and Dividends
"Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
"Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
"Legal Matters
"Experts
"Other Matters
"Bank of America 2004 Annual Meeting Stockholder Proposals
"FleetBoston 2004 Annual Meeting Stockholder Proposals
"Annual Meetings
"Where You Can Find More Information
"Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 27, 2003, by and between FleetBoston Financial Corporation and Bank of America Corporation
"Article I
"Effective Time
"Effects of the Merger
"Conversion of FleetBoston Capital Stock
"Bank of America Capital Stock
"Bank of America Mirror Preferred Stock
"Options and SARs; Other Stock-Based Awards
"Certificate of Incorporation of Bank of America
"Bylaws of Bank of America
"Tax Consequences
"Certain Post-Closing Matters
"Article Ii
"Exchange of Shares
"Bank of America to Make Shares Available
"Article Iii
"Representations and Warranties of Fleetboston
"Corporate Organization
"Capitalization
"Authority; No Violation
"Consents and Approvals
"Reports
"Financial Statements
"Broker s Fees
"Absence of Certain Changes or Events
"Legal Proceedings
"Taxes and Tax Returns
"Employees
"SEC Reports
"Compliance with Applicable Law
"Certain Contracts
"Agreements with Regulatory Agencies
"Interest Rate Risk Management Instruments
"Undisclosed Liabilities
"Environmental Liability
"State Takeover Laws; FleetBoston Rights Agreement
"Reorganization
"Opinions
"FleetBoston Information
"Article Iv
"Representations and Warranties of Bank of America
"State Takeover Laws
"Bank of America Information
"Article V
"Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business
"Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time
"FleetBoston Forbearances
"Bank of America Forbearances
"Article Vi
"Additional Agreements
"Regulatory Matters
"Access to Information
"Shareholder Approvals
"Legal Conditions to Merger
"Affiliates
"NYSE Listing
"Employee Matters
"Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance
"Advice of Changes
"Dividends
"Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b)
"No Solicitation
"Restructuring Efforts
"Article Vii
"Conditions Precedent
"Conditions to Each Party s Obligation To Effect the Merger
"Conditions to Obligations of Bank of America
"Conditions to Obligations of FleetBoston
"Article Viii
"Termination and Amendment
"Termination
"Effect of Termination
"Amendment
"Extension; Waiver
"Article Ix
"General Provisions
"Closing
"Standard
"Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
"Expenses
"Notices
"Interpretation
"Counterparts
"Entire Agreement
"Governing Law
"Publicity
"Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries
"Stock Option Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2003, between FleetBoston Financial Corporation, as issuer, and Bank of America Corporation, as grantee
"Stock Option Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2003, between Bank of America Corporation, as issuer, and FleetBoston Financial Corporation, as grantee
"Opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co
"Opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
"Chapter 7-1.1-74 of the Rhode Island Business Corporation Act
"Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
"Bank of America s 2003 Key Associate Stock Plan, as Amended and Restated

This is an EDGAR HTML document rendered as filed.  [ Alternative Formats ]


  Amendment #2 to Form S-4  
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2004

Registration No. 333-110924


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Amendment No. 2

to

FORM S-4

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Under

 

The Securities Act of 1933

 


 

BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   6021   56-0906609
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

Bank of America Corporate Center

100 N. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

(704) 386-8486

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

Paul J. Polking, Esq.

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Bank of America Corporation

Bank of America Corporate Center

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

(704) 386-5724

(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

With copies to:

 

Gary A. Spiess, Esq.

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary FleetBoston Financial Corporation

100 Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(617) 434-2870

 

Edward D. Herlihy, Esq.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

(212) 403-1000

 

John C. Murphy, Jr., Esq.

Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 974-1500

 

Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the securities to the public:    As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and upon completion of the merger described in the enclosed joint proxy statement/prospectus.

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such dates as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

 



Table of Contents

Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This joint proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

Picture -- LOGO   Picture -- LOGO

 

MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

 

The boards of directors of Bank of America Corporation and FleetBoston Financial Corporation each have unanimously approved a strategic merger that will combine our two franchises to create the first banking institution with a truly national scope, with an unrivaled presence in America’s growth and wealth markets. After completion of the merger, we expect that current Bank of America stockholders will, as a group, own approximately 72% of the combined company and FleetBoston stockholders will, as a group, own approximately 28% of the combined company.

 

If the merger is completed, FleetBoston stockholders will have the right to receive 0.5553 of a share of Bank of America common stock for each share of FleetBoston common stock held immediately prior to the merger. Bank of America stockholders will continue to own their existing Bank of America common stock. Each share of each series of FleetBoston preferred stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the merger will be converted into a share of a series of Bank of America preferred stock with the same terms (to the fullest extent possible) as the corresponding FleetBoston preferred stock. The following table shows the closing sale prices of Bank of America common stock and FleetBoston common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on October 24, 2003, the last trading day before we announced the merger, and on [            ], 2004, the last practicable trading day before the distribution of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This table also shows the implied value of the merger consideration proposed for each share of FleetBoston common stock, which we calculated by multiplying the closing price of Bank of America common stock on those dates by 0.5553, the exchange ratio.

 

     Bank of America
Common Stock


   FleetBoston
Common Stock


   Implied Value per
Share of FleetBoston
Common Stock


At October 24, 2003

   $81.86    $31.80    $45.46

At [            ], 2004

   $ [     ]    $ [     ]    $ [     ]

 

Since announcement of the merger, Bank of America common stock has generally traded below the closing price on the trading day preceding the announcement of the merger, and the market price of Bank of America common stock may fluctuate up or down prior to the merger, which will result in corresponding fluctuations in the implied value per share of FleetBoston common stock. The merger agreement does not include a price-based termination right or provisions that would limit the impact of increases or decreases in the market price of Bank of America common stock. You should obtain current market quotations for the shares of both companies.

 

We expect that the merger will generally be tax free to FleetBoston stockholders, except for taxes on cash received by FleetBoston stockholders instead of receiving fractions of shares of Bank of America common stock.

 

We cannot complete the merger unless the stockholders of both of our companies approve it. Each of us will hold a special meeting of our stockholders to vote on this merger proposal. Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend your special stockholders’ meeting, please take the time to vote your shares in accordance with the instructions contained in this document. Your failure to vote will have the same effect as voting against the merger. The places, dates and times of the special meetings are as follows:

 


For Bank of America stockholders:

 

For FleetBoston stockholders:

the Bank of America board of directors unanimously recommends that

Bank of America stockholders vote

FOR

adoption of the merger agreement.

 

the FleetBoston board of directors

unanimously recommends that

FleetBoston stockholders vote

FOR

approval of the merger agreement.

 

This document describes the special meetings, the merger, the documents related to the merger and certain other matters. Please carefully read this entire document, including “Risk Factors Relating to the Merger” beginning on page 19 for a discussion of the risks relating to the merger. You also can obtain information about our companies from documents that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


KENNETH D. LEWIS

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Bank of America Corporation

 

CHARLES K. GIFFORD

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

FleetBoston Financial Corporation

 

Bank of America common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “BAC.” FleetBoston common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “FBF.”

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the Bank of America common stock to be issued under this joint proxy statement/prospectus or determined if this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or adequate.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus is [            ], 2004, and it is first being mailed or otherwise delivered to Bank of America stockholders and FleetBoston stockholders on or about [            ], 2004.


Table of Contents

BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION

Bank of America Corporate Center

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Bank of America Corporation will hold a special meeting of stockholders in the Palmetto Ballroom of the International Trade Center, 200 North College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on March 17, 2004 to consider and vote upon the following matters:

 

  a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 27, 2003, by and between Bank of America Corporation and FleetBoston Financial Corporation, pursuant to which FleetBoston will merge with and into Bank of America;

 

  a proposal to adopt the Amended and Restated Bank of America 2003 Key Associate Stock Plan;

 

  a proposal to adopt an amendment to the Bank of America amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to increase the number of authorized shares of Bank of America common stock from 5 billion to 7.5 billion; and

 

  a proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposals.

 

The Bank of America board of directors has fixed the close of business on January 26, 2004 as the record date for the Bank of America special meeting. Only Bank of America stockholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Bank of America special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the Bank of America special meeting. Holders of the Bank of America common stock, 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B, which we refer to as the Series B Preferred Stock, and ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C, which we refer to as the ESOP Preferred Stock, vote together without regard to class and will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. A complete list of the Bank of America stockholders entitled to vote at the Bank of America special meeting will be made available for inspection by any Bank of America stockholder for ten days prior to the Bank of America special meeting at the principal executive offices of Bank of America, and at the time and place of the Bank of America special meeting. Each share of Bank of America common stock and Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote, and each share of ESOP Preferred Stock is entitled to two votes. Adoption of the merger agreement and the approval of the proposal to increase the number of authorized shares of Bank of America common stock each requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes represented by the outstanding shares of Bank of America common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and ESOP Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, voting together without regard to class. Adoption of the Amended Stock Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the special meeting by the holders of the Bank of America common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and ESOP Preferred Stock, voting together without regard to class.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote as soon as possible by accessing the Internet site listed on the Bank of America proxy card, by calling the toll-free number listed on the Bank of America proxy card, or by submitting your proxy card by mail. To submit your proxy by mail, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of Bank of America common stock, Series B Preferred Stock or ESOP Preferred Stock who is present at the Bank of America special meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing at any time before the Bank of America special meeting in the manner described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus.


Table of Contents

The Bank of America board of directors approved, by the unanimous vote of the directors present, the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that Bank of America stockholders vote “FOR” adoption of the merger agreement and the other proposals. Each of the proposals is independent, and is not contingent on approval by stockholders, of the other proposals.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

/s/    Rachel R. Cummings


Rachel R. Cummings

Corporate Secretary

 

[                        ], 2004

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING.


Table of Contents

FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

100 Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

FleetBoston Financial Corporation will hold a special meeting of stockholders in the Auditorium on the ground floor of The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on March 17, 2004 to consider and vote upon the following matters:

 

  a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 27, 2003, by and between Bank of America Corporation and FleetBoston Financial Corporation, pursuant to which FleetBoston will merge with and into Bank of America; and

 

  a proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposal.

 

The FleetBoston board of directors has fixed the close of business on January 26, 2004 as the record date for the FleetBoston special meeting. Only FleetBoston stockholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the FleetBoston special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting. A complete list of FleetBoston stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting will be made available for inspection by any FleetBoston stockholder at the time and place of the FleetBoston special meeting. In order for the merger agreement to be approved, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of FleetBoston common stock entitled to vote thereon must vote in favor of approval of the merger agreement.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote as soon as possible by accessing the Internet site listed on the FleetBoston proxy card, by calling the toll-free number listed on the FleetBoston proxy card, or by submitting your proxy card by mail. To submit your proxy by mail, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of FleetBoston common stock who is present at the FleetBoston special meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing at any time before the FleetBoston special meeting in the manner described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus.

 

The FleetBoston board of directors has unanimously approved the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that FleetBoston stockholders vote “FOR” approval of the merger agreement.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
/s/    Gary A. Spiess

Gary A. Spiess

Secretary

 

[                        ], 2004

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING.

 


Table of Contents

REFERENCES TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

This document incorporates important business and financial information about Bank of America and FleetBoston from documents that are not included in or delivered with this document. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this document, other than certain exhibits to those documents, by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company at the following addresses:

 

Bank of America Corporation   FleetBoston Financial Corporation
Bank of America Corporate Center   100 Federal Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255   Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: Investor Relations   Mail Stop MA DE 10032F
Telephone: (704) 386-5681   Attention: Investor Relations
    Telephone: (617) 434-7858

 

You will not be charged for any of these documents that you request. Bank of America stockholders and FleetBoston stockholders requesting documents should do so by March 10, 2004 in order to receive them before the special meetings.

 

See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 111.


Table of Contents

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETINGS

   1

SUMMARY

   3

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF BANK OF AMERICA

   13

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF FLEETBOSTON

   14

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   15

COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA

   17

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE MERGER

   19

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   21

THE BANK OF AMERICA SPECIAL MEETING

   22

Matters to Be Considered

   22

Proxies

   22

Solicitation of Proxies

   23

Householding

   23

Record Date

   23

Voting Rights and Vote Required

   24

Recommendations of the Bank of America Board of Directors

   24

Attending the Meeting

   25

THE FLEETBOSTON SPECIAL MEETING

   26

Matters to Be Considered

   26

Proxies

   26

Solicitation of Proxies

   27

Record Date

   27

Voting Rights and Vote Required

   27

Recommendation of the FleetBoston Board of Directors

   28

Attending the Meeting

   28

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANIES

   29

THE MERGER

   30

General

   30

Structure

   30

Background of the Merger

   31

Bank of America’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Merger by the Bank of America Board of Directors

   33

FleetBoston’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Merger by the FleetBoston Board of Directors

   35

Analyses of Financial Advisors

   38

Opinion of Goldman Sachs

   38

Opinion of Morgan Stanley

   47

FleetBoston

   48

Bank of America

   50

Board of Directors and Management of Bank of America following Completion of the Merger

   53

 

i


Table of Contents
     Page

Distribution of Bank of America Shares

   54

Fractional Shares

   55

Public Trading Markets

   55

Bank of America Dividends

   55

Appraisal Rights of Dissenting Stockholders

   56

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

   59

FleetBoston’s Directors and Officers Have Financial Interests in the Merger

   61

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

   66

Terms of the Merger

   66

Treatment of FleetBoston Stock Options and Other Equity-Based Awards

   66

Closing and Effective Time of the Merger

   67

Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements

   67

Declaration and Payment of Dividends

   69

Agreement Not to Solicit Other Offers

   69

Expenses and Fees

   70

Conditions to Complete the Merger

   71

Amendment, Waiver and Termination of the Merger Agreement

   71

Resales of Bank of America Stock by Affiliates

   72

Employee Benefit Matters

   72

THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS

   73

The Stock Options

   73

Purpose of the Stock Option Agreements

   73

Exercise; Expiration

   73

Rights Under the Stock Option Agreements

   75

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

   76

MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER

   76

DESCRIPTION OF BANK OF AMERICA CAPITAL STOCK

   78

Description of Common Stock

   78

Description of Preferred Stock

   79

COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS

   84

General

   84

Preferred Stock

   91

Selected Provisions in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of FleetBoston

   91

ADOPTION OF BANK OF AMERICA’S AMENDED STOCK PLAN

   93

Number of Shares

   93

Types of Awards

   94

Administration

   94

Eligibility

   95

Awards of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

   95

Awards of Restricted Stock Shares and Restricted Stock Units

   96

Stock Plan Benefits Table

   97

2002 Associates Stock Option Plan

   98

Take Ownership!

   98

Barnett Employee Stock Option Plan

   98

 

ii


Table of Contents
     Page

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

   98

Withholding for Payment of Taxes

   99

Changes in Capitalization and Similar Changes

   100

Changes in Control

   100

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

   100

No Repricings

   100

Federal Income Tax Treatment

   100

AMENDMENT TO THE BANK OF AMERICA AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

   102

COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS

   103

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   104

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   108

LEGAL MATTERS

   113

EXPERTS

   113

OTHER MATTERS

   113

Bank of America 2004 Annual Meeting Stockholder Proposals

   113

FleetBoston 2004 Annual Meeting Stockholder Proposals

   114

ANNUAL MEETINGS

   114

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   114

 

iii


Table of Contents

APPENDICES:

 

     Page

APPENDIX A

    

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 27, 2003, by and between FleetBoston Financial Corporation and Bank of America Corporation

   A-1

APPENDIX B

    

Stock Option Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2003, between FleetBoston Financial Corporation, as issuer, and Bank of America Corporation, as grantee

   B-1

APPENDIX C

    

Stock Option Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2003, between Bank of America Corporation, as issuer, and FleetBoston Financial Corporation, as grantee