SEC Info  
  Home     Search     My Interests     Help     Sign In     Please Sign In  

Bank of America Corp/DE · S-4 · On 12/4/03

Filed On 12/4/03 4:17pm ET   ·   SEC File 333-110924   ·   Accession Number 1193125-3-89416

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

12/04/03  Bank of America Corp/DE           S-4                   10:304                                    RR Donnelley/FA

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

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: S-4         Registration Statement                              HTML  1,997K 
 2: EX-10.(A)   Employment Agreement, Dated As of October 27, 2003  HTML     71K 
 3: EX-10.(B)   Employment Agreement, Dated As of October 27, 2003  HTML     71K 
 4: EX-10.(C)   Employment Agreement, Dated As of October 27, 2003  HTML     70K 
 5: EX-10.(D)   Employment Agreement, Dated As of October 27, 2003  HTML     70K 
 6: EX-23.(B)   Consent of Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp As to Bank    HTML      7K 
                          of America                                             
 7: EX-23.(C)   Consent of Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp As to         HTML      7K 
                          Fleetboston                                            
 8: EX-24.(A)   Power of Attorney and Certified Resolutions         HTML     31K 
 9: EX-99.(A)   Consent of Goldman Sachs & Co                       HTML     12K 
10: EX-99.(B)   Consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated        HTML      9K 


S-4   ·   Registration Statement
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
"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 Bank of America s Financial Advisor
"Opinion of FleetBoston s Financial Advisor
"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
"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
"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 ]


  Registration Statement  
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2003

Registration No. 333-[        ]


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


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.  ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
   Amount to be
Registered
     Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share of
Common Stock
   Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
   Amount of
Registration Fee
 

Common stock, par value $0.01

   650,974,529 (1)    N/A    $ 26,383,997,657    $ 2,134,465 (2)

6.75% Perpetual Preferred Stock

   1,912,250      N/A    $ 109,476,313    $ 8,857 (3)

Depositary shares, each representing a one-fifth interest in a share of Fixed/Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock

   700,000      N/A    $ 175,000,000    $ 14,158 (4)

(1) Represents the maximum number of shares of Bank of America Corporation common stock estimated to be issuable upon the completion of the merger of FleetBoston Financial Corporation with and into Bank of America, based on the number of shares of FleetBoston common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, or reserved for issuance under various plans, immediately prior to the merger and the exchange of each share of FleetBoston common stock for 0.5553 of a share of Bank of America common stock.
(2) Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registration fee is based on the average of the high and low sales prices of FleetBoston common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on December 1, 2003, and computed based on the estimated maximum number of shares that may be exchanged for the Bank of America common stock being registered, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options or other securities to acquire FleetBoston common stock.
(3) Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registration fee is based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the depositary shares, each representing a one-fifth interest in a share of the FleetBoston Series VI 6.75% Perpetual Preferred Stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on December 1, 2003, and computed based on the number of shares that may be exchanged for the Bank of America 6.75% Perpetual Preferred Stock being registered.
(4) Pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registration fee is based on the book value of the FleetBoston Series VII Fixed/Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock computed as of the latest practicable date prior to the date of filing the Registration Statement.

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

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 at [            ] at 10:00 a.m., local time, on [            ], 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 [            ], 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,
 

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 at [            ] at 10:00 a.m., local time, on [            ], 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 [            ], 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,
 

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

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

   $ [     ]    $ [     ]    $ [     ]

 

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.


Table of Contents

This document describes the special meetings, the merger, the documents related to the merger and certain other matters. Please carefully read this entire document. 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

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 [            ], 2004 in order to receive them before the special meetings.

 

See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 103.


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

   11

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF FLEETBOSTON

   12

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   13

COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA

   15

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   16

THE BANK OF AMERICA SPECIAL MEETING

   17

Matters to Be Considered

   17

Proxies

   17

Solicitation of Proxies

   18

Householding

   18

Record Date

   18

Voting Rights and Vote Required

   19

Recommendations of the Bank of America Board of Directors

   19

Attending the Meeting

   20

THE FLEETBOSTON SPECIAL MEETING

   21

Matters to Be Considered

   21

Proxies

   21

Solicitation of Proxies

   22

Record Date

   22

Voting Rights and Vote Required

   22

Recommendation of the FleetBoston Board of Directors

   23

Attending the Meeting

   23

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANIES

   24

THE MERGER

   25

General

   25

Structure

   25

Background of the Merger

   26

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

   28

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

   30

Analyses of Financial Advisors

   31

Opinion of Bank of America’s Financial Advisor

   32

Opinion of FleetBoston’s Financial Advisor

   39

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

   45

 

i


Table of Contents
     Page

Distribution of Bank of America Shares

   46

Fractional Shares

   47

Public Trading Markets

   47

Bank of America Dividends

   48

Appraisal Rights of Dissenting Stockholders

   48

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

   51

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

   53

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

   57

Terms of the Merger

   57

Treatment of FleetBoston Stock Options and Other Equity-Based Awards

   57

Closing and Effective Time of the Merger

   58

Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements

   58

Declaration and Payment of Dividends

   60

Agreement Not to Solicit Other Offers

   60

Expenses and Fees

   61

Conditions to Complete the Merger

   62

Amendment, Waiver and Termination of the Merger Agreement

   62

Resales of Bank of America Stock by Affiliates

   63

Employee Benefit Matters

   63

THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS

   64

The Stock Options

   64

Purpose of the Stock Option Agreements

   64

Exercise; Expiration

   64

Rights Under the Stock Option Agreements

   66

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

   67

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER

   67

DESCRIPTION OF BANK OF AMERICA CAPITAL STOCK

   69

Description of Common Stock

   69

Description of Preferred Stock

   70

COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS

   75

General

   75

Preferred Stock

   83

Selected Provisions in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of FleetBoston

   83

ADOPTION OF BANK OF AMERICA’S AMENDED STOCK PLAN

   85

Number of Shares

   85

Types of Awards

   86

Administration

   86

Eligibility

   87

Awards of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

   87

Awards of Restricted Stock Shares and Restricted Stock Units

   88

Stock Plan Benefits Table

   89

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

   89

Withholding for Payment of Taxes

   90

 

ii


Table of Contents
     Page

Changes in Capitalization and Similar Changes

   90

Changes in Control

   90

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

   90

No Repricings

   91

Federal Income Tax Treatment

   91

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

   93

COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS

   94

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   95

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   99

LEGAL MATTERS

   102

EXPERTS

   102

OTHER MATTERS

   102