This pricing supplement, which is not complete, relates to an effective
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933. We may not sell the
notes until a final pricing supplement is delivered. This pricing supplement is
not an offer to sell these notes in any country or jurisdiction where the offer
or sale of the notes is not permitted.
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Pricing Supplement
(To Prospectus dated August 5, 1999
and Prospectus Supplement dated June 5, 2001)
February 22, 2002
[LOGO] Bank of America
$-----------
DJIA/SM/ RETURN LINKED NOTES, DUE 2005
Bank of America Corporation DJIA/SM/ Return Linked Notes, due 2005 are our
unsecured senior debt securities.
. We will not pay interest on the notes.
. At maturity, you will receive the principal amount plus a supplemental
redemption amount, which together will be at least 103.04% of the principal
amount of the notes, or $1,030.40 per $1,000 principal amount.
. The supplemental redemption amount will be based primarily upon the
performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average/SM/, or DJIA/SM/, over the
term of the notes. We describe the method for determining this amount
beginning on page PS-2.
. The notes mature on March __, 2005.
. The notes have a minimum denomination of $100,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof. However, investors purchasing notes in the
original distribution are required to purchase at least $250,000 of notes.
. The notes are approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange under the
symbol "BOA.B," subject to official notice of issuance.
Per Note Total
---------------------------- -----------
Public offering price ............ % $
Agent's commissions .............. %
---------------------------- ------------
Proceeds (before expenses) ....... % $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our notes are unsecured and are not savings accounts, deposits, or other
obligations of a bank. Our notes are not guaranteed by Bank of America, N.A. or
any other bank, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
any other governmental agency and involve investment risks. Potential purchasers
of the notes should consider the information set forth in "Risk Factors"
beginning on page PS-6.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission,
or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these notes or
passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this pricing supplement, the attached
prospectus supplement, or the attached prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We will deliver the notes in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust
Company on or about March __, 2002 against payment in immediately available
funds.
Bank of America, N.A. Banc of America Securities LLC
Agents
-------------------------------------------------
"Dow Jones," "Dow Jones Industrial Average/SM/," and "DJIA/SM/" are service
marks of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and have been licensed by us for use for
certain purposes. Our notes based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average/SM/ are
not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Dow Jones, and Dow Jones makes no
representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s).
SUMMARY
This summary includes questions and answers intended to help you
understand the notes. You should read carefully this pricing supplement and the
entire attached prospectus supplement and attached prospectus to understand
fully the terms of the notes.
In particular, you should review carefully the sections entitled "Risk
Factors" in this pricing supplement and in the attached prospectus supplement to
determine whether an investment in the notes is appropriate for you. All of the
information set forth below is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
explanation contained in this pricing supplement, prospectus supplement, and
prospectus.
Are the notes equity or debt securities?
The notes are our senior debt securities. However, these notes differ
from traditional debt securities in that you will not receive interest payments.
Instead, you will receive an additional amount, called the "Supplemental
Redemption Amount," in excess of the principal amount of the notes at maturity.
Do the notes guarantee the return of your principal?
Yes. If you hold the notes to maturity, you will receive at a minimum
103.04% of the principal amount of the notes. However, if you attempt to sell
the notes prior to maturity, you may find that the market value of the notes is
less than the principal amount of the notes.
How much will you receive at maturity?
At maturity, you will receive the principal amount of the notes. You
also will receive the Supplemental Redemption Amount, which will not be less
than 3.04% of the principal amount of the notes.
The Supplemental Redemption Amount will be determined using a formula,
as shown below. For purposes of this formula, "Pricing Date" will mean the day
we agree to sell the notes, and "Valuation Date" will mean each __ of the month,
beginning with April __, 2002 and ending with March __, 2005. The components of
this formula are:
. The principal amount of the notes,
. A rate of __%, which we will set on the Pricing Date. We call this
rate the "Participation Rate," and
. The performance of the DJIA/SM/, measured as a percentage change
rounded to two decimals, over the term of the notes. We call this
percentage change the "Index Performance." The Index Performance
will be calculated by comparing the closing level of the DJIA/SM/
on the Pricing Date, or the "Initial Level," with the arithmetic
average of the closing levels of the DJIA/SM/ on each Valuation
Date, or the "Average Level." This figure is described by the
following formula:
Index Performance = (Average Level - Initial Level)
---------------------------------
Initial Level
The formula used to determine the Supplemental Redemption Amount is:
PS-2
Principal Amount x Index Performance x Participation Rate
However, if the result of applying the formula is an amount less than 3.04%
of the principal amount of the notes, we will pay you a Supplemental Redemption
Amount equal to 3.04% of the principal amount of the notes. We call this amount
the "Minimum Supplemental Redemption Amount."
For example, using a hypothetical Initial Level of 9900, a hypothetical
Average Level of 12,000, and a hypothetical Participation Rate of 60%, the Index
Performance would be 21.21%, the Supplemental Redemption Amount per $1,000
principal amount of notes would be $127.26, and the total payment at maturity
per $1,000 principal amount of notes would be $1,127.26. For additional
hypothetical examples please see the section entitled "Description of the Notes
- - Payment at Maturity; Supplemental Redemption Amounts."
A calculation agent will make all the calculations associated with
determining the Supplemental Redemption Amount to be paid to you. We have
appointed our affiliate, Banc of America Securities LLC, or "BAS," to act as
calculation agent. See the section entitled "Description of the Notes - Role of
the Calculation Agent."
We describe the specific terms of the notes in the section entitled
"Description of the Notes."
How does the Participation Rate impact the redemption value of the notes?
The Participation Rate has the effect of reducing the benefit to you of a
positive Index Performance. Generally, if the Index Performance is positive,
then the Supplemental Redemption Amount will be a certain percentage of the
Index Performance. This percentage is the Participation Rate. However, if the
Index Performance is negative or otherwise insufficient to yield a Supplemental
Redemption Amount above the Minimum Supplemental Redemption Amount, then at
maturity, the redemption value will be 103.04% of principal amount, regardless
of the specific Index Performance or the Participation Rate.
When will the Participation Rate be set and the Initial Level determined? When
will the notes be issued?
On the Pricing Date, we will set the Participation Rate, and the
calculation agent will determine the Initial Level. We expect to issue the notes
on March __, 2002.
Who publishes the DJIA/SM/ and what does the DJIA/SM/ measure?
DJIA/SM/ is a widely followed indicator of the pattern of price movements
in U.S. equities. The value of the DJIA/SM/ is based on the stock prices of 30
blue-chip companies. The DJIA/SM/ is published by Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and
is maintained and reviewed by the editors of The Wall Street Journal.
How has the DJIA/SM/ performed historically?
We provide a table, on page PS-10, showing the quarterly performance of the
DJIA/SM/ for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and for the first quarter of 2002
through February 11, 2002. We provide this historical information to help you
evaluate the behavior of the DJIA/SM/ so that you can make an informed decision
with respect to an investment in the notes. However, past performance is not
necessarily indicative of how the DJIA/SM/ or the notes will perform in the
future.
PS-3
How will I be able to find the DJIA/SM/ level at any point in time?
You can obtain the DJIA/SM/ level from the Bloomberg(R) service under the
symbol "INDU," the Dow Jones website, at www.djindexes.com, as well as from The
New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.
What is the role of the selling agents?
Our affiliates, Bank of America, N.A. and BAS, are acting as our selling
agents in connection with this offering and will receive a commission based on
the total principal amount of notes sold. In this capacity, neither Bank of
America, N.A. nor BAS is your fiduciary or advisor, and you should not rely upon
any communication from Bank of America, N.A. or BAS in connection with the notes
as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase notes. You should make your
own investment decision regarding the notes after consulting with your legal,
tax, and other advisers.
How are the notes being offered?
The selling agents are offering the notes to selected investors on a best
efforts basis. However, we have registered the notes with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in the United States. We are not registering the notes for
public distribution in any other jurisdiction. Bank of America, N.A. may solicit
offers to purchase the notes from non-United States investors in reliance on
available private placement exemptions. See the section entitled "Notices for
Certain Non-United States Investors."
Are the notes exchange-traded funds?
No, the notes are not part of an exchange-traded fund. The value of the
notes will not rise or fall one-for-one with the DJIA/SM/. We do not expect the
notes to trade with the same volume or liquidity as certain exchange-traded
funds.
How are the notes treated for United States income tax purposes?
For United States federal income tax purposes, the notes are classified as
debt instruments that provide for contingent interest. As a result, the notes
are considered to be issued with original issue discount, or "OID."
If you are a Non-United States Holder, payments on the notes generally will
not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax, as long as
you provide us with the requisite forms.
If you are a United States Holder, you will be required to include a
portion of such OID in income for each taxable year that you own the notes, even
though you will not receive any cash payments during the term of the notes.
Additionally, you generally will be required to recognize ordinary income on the
gain, if any, realized on a sale, upon maturity, or other disposition of the
notes. See the section entitled "United States Federal Income Tax Summary."
Will the notes be listed on an exchange?
The notes have been approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange
under the symbol "BOA.B," subject to official notice of issuance. However,
listing the notes on the American Stock Exchange does not necessarily ensure
that a liquid trading market will be available for the notes.
PS-4
Can the stated maturity date be postponed if a Market Disruption Event occurs?
If the calculation agent determines that, on any Valuation Date, a Market
Disruption Event (as defined below) has occurred or is continuing, that
Valuation Date will be postponed until the first Business Day (as defined below)
on which no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing. If such a delay
occurs, then the calculation agent will instead use the closing level of the
DJIA/SM/ on the first Business Day after that day on which no Market Disruption
Event occurs or is continuing, but the delay will never be more than five
Business Days. As a result, if a Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing
on the last scheduled Valuation Date, the stated maturity date for the notes
will also be postponed, although not by more than five Business Days. If any
scheduled Valuation Date is postponed to the last possible day, but a Market
Disruption Event occurs or is continuing on that day, that day will nevertheless
be the Valuation Date. If the closing level of the DJIA/SM/ is not available on
such last possible day, either because of a Market Disruption Event or for any
other reason, the calculation agent will make a good faith estimate of the
closing level of the DJIA/SM/ based on its assessment, made in its sole
discretion, of the value of the DJIA/SM/ at that time. See the section entitled
"Description of the Notes - Market Disruption."
PS-5
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the notes involves risks. Your decision to purchase the
notes should be made only after carefully considering the risks of an investment
in the notes, including those discussed below, with your advisors in light of
your particular circumstances. The notes are not an appropriate investment for
you if you are not knowledgeable about the significant elements of the notes or
financial matters in general.
The Supplemental Redemption Amount you will receive is uncertain, and
depends primarily on the average of the closing levels of the DJIA/SM/ on each
Valuation Date. The notes differ from ordinary debt securities in that the rate
of return is not a pre-determined number, such as a fixed rate of interest or
the prime rate. Instead, any return is based primarily on the future performance
of the group of stocks making up the DJIA/SM/. We cannot assure you that the
Index Performance will be positive. Therefore, your yield may be less than the
yield you would earn if you bought a more conventional senior debt security with
the same maturity date or if you invested in the DJIA/SM/ stocks directly.
Because the Average Level represents the average of the closing level of the
DJIA/SM/ on each of the Valuation Dates, it is possible that, even if the
closing level of the DJIA/SM/ on a majority of the Valuation Dates is higher
than the Initial Level, the Average Level may still be lower than the Initial
Level. In such a case, at maturity, you would receive only the principal amount
of the notes and the Minimum Supplemental Redemption Amount. See the section
entitled "Description of the Notes--Payment at Maturity; Supplemental Redemption
Amounts."
If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity you may find that the
market value of the notes, if any, is less than the principal amount of the
notes. Unlike savings accounts, certificates of deposits, and other similar
investment products, you have no right to redeem the notes prior to maturity. If
you wish to liquidate your investment in the notes prior to maturity, your only
option would be to sell the notes. As we discuss below, there may be a very
illiquid market for the notes or no market at all. Even if you were able to sell
your notes, there are many factors outside of our control that may affect the
market value of the notes, some of which, but not all, are stated below. Some of
these factors are interrelated in complex ways. As a result, the effect of any
one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor.
. DJIA/SM/. Because the total amount payable at maturity is tied to the
closing level of the DJIA/SM/ on the Pricing Date and on each of the
Valuation Dates, the market value of the notes will depend primarily
on the level of the DJIA/SM/. The DJIA/SM/ is influenced by the
operational results, creditworthiness, and dividend rates, if any, of
the companies represented by the component stocks of that index, and
by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial, and other
factors that affect the capital markets generally, the markets on
which the component stocks of that index are traded, and the market
segments of which the companies represented by the component stocks of
that index are a part. See the section entitled "The DJIA/SM/." It is
impossible to predict the level of the DJIA/SM/.
. Volatility of the DJIA/SM/. Volatility is the term used to describe
the size and frequency of market fluctuations. Volatility of the
DJIA/SM/ level may affect the market value of the notes. During recent
periods, the DJIA/SM/ has been highly volatile. The September 11th
disasters and related uncertainties have resulted in greater market
volatility, which may continue over the term of the notes. This
volatility may increase the risk that the Average Level will be less
than the Initial Level, thus negatively affecting the market value of
the notes.
. Interest Rates. We expect that the market value of the notes will be
affected by changes in interest rates. Generally, if United States
interest rates increase, we expect
PS-6
that the market value of the notes will decrease. If United States
interest rates decrease, we expect the market value of the notes will
increase. Interest rates also may affect the economy which, in turn,
may affect the level of the DJIA/SM/.
We cannot assure you that a trading market for your notes will ever develop
or be maintained. Although we will apply to list the notes on the American Stock
Exchange, we cannot predict how the notes will trade in the secondary market or
whether such market will be liquid or illiquid. Because the notes have a
relatively high minimum denomination, the number of potential buyers of the
notes in any secondary market may be limited. If you sell your notes prior to
maturity, you may find that the market value of the notes is less than the
principal amount of the notes. Although under ordinary market conditions BAS
intends to indicate prices on the notes on request, there can be no assurance at
which price such a bid would be made. BAS may discontinue buying and selling the
notes on the secondary market at any time.
Hedging activities may affect the Supplemental Redemption Amount and the
market value of the notes. Hedging activities we or one or more of our
affiliates, including Bank of America, N.A. or BAS, may engage in may affect the
level of the DJIA/SM/ and, accordingly, increase or decrease the market value of
the notes prior to maturity and the Supplemental Redemption Amount you would
receive at maturity. In addition, we or one or more of our affiliates, including
Bank of America, N.A. or BAS, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short
position in the notes. We or one of our affiliates, including Bank of America,
N.A. or BAS, may hold or resell the notes. Although we have no reason to believe
that any of those activities will have a material impact on the level of the
DJIA/SM/, we cannot assure you that these activities will not affect such level
and the market value of the notes prior to maturity or the Supplemental
Redemption Amount payable at maturity.
You have no shareholder rights, no rights to receive any stock of the
DJIA/SM/ stocks, and are not entitled to dividends or other distributions on the
DJIA/SM/ stocks. The notes are our debt securities. They are not equity
instruments or shares of stock. Investing in the notes will not make you a
holder of any of the DJIA/SM/ stocks. You will not have any voting rights, any
rights to receive dividends or other distributions, or any other rights with
respect to the DJIA/SM/ stocks. As a result, the return on your notes will not
reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the stocks included
in the DJIA/SM/ and received the dividends paid or other distributions made in
connection with such stocks. Your notes will be paid in cash, and you will have
no right to receive delivery of any DJIA/SM/ stocks.
We are not affiliated with any DJIA/SM/ company and are not responsible for
any disclosure by any DJIA/SM/ company. However, we may currently, or in the
future, engage in business with such companies. Neither we nor any of our
affiliates, including Bank of America, N.A. and BAS, assumes any responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of any publicly available information about the
DJIA/SM/ or any DJIA/SM/ company. You should make your own investigation into
the DJIA/SM/ and the DJIA/SM/ companies. See the section entitled "The DJIA/SM/"
below for additional information about the DJIA/SM/.
Neither Dow Jones nor any DJIA/SM/ company is involved in this offering of
the notes or has any obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus,
neither Dow Jones nor the DJIA/SM/ companies have any obligation to take your
interests into consideration for any reason, including taking any corporate
actions that might affect the value of your notes.
Our business activities may create conflicts of interest with you. We or
one or more of our affiliates, including Bank of America, N.A. or BAS, may
engage in trading activities related to the DJIA/SM/ and the DJIA/SM/ stocks
that are not for your account or on your behalf. These trading activities may
present a conflict of interest between your interest in your notes and the
interests we
PS-7
and our affiliates may have in our proprietary accounts, in facilitating
transactions, including block trades, for our other customers and in accounts
under our management. These trading activities, if they influence the level of
the DJIA/SM/, could be adverse to your interests as a beneficial owner of the
notes.
We and our other affiliates, including Bank of America, N.A. and BAS, at
present or in the future, may engage in business with DJIA/SM/ companies,
including making loans to, equity investments in, or providing investment
banking, asset management, or other advisory services to those companies and
their competitors. In connection with these activities, we may receive
information about those companies that we will not divulge to you or other third
parties. One or more of our affiliates have published, and may in the future
publish, research reports on one or more of the DJIA/SM/ companies. This
research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions
or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the
notes. Any of these activities may affect the market value of the notes.
There may be potential conflicts of interest between you and the
calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove a calculation agent.
Our subsidiary, BAS, is the calculation agent for the notes and, as such, will
calculate the Supplemental Redemption Amount. Under certain circumstances, BAS'
status as our subsidiary and its responsibilities as calculation agent for the
notes could give rise to conflicts of interests.
PS-8
THE DJIA/SM/
We have obtained all information regarding the DJIA/SM/ contained in this
pricing supplement, including its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in
its components, from publicly available information. That information reflects
the policies of, and is subject to change by, Dow Jones. Dow Jones has no
obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the
DJIA/SM/. The consequences of Dow Jones' discontinuing publication of the
DJIA/SM/ are described in the section entitled "Description of the Notes -
Discontinuance of DJIA/SM/; Alteration of Method of Calculation." We do not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information
relating to the DJIA/SM/.
The DJIA/SM/ is widely used as an indicator of the pattern of the price
movement of U.S. equities. The calculation of the value of the DJIA/SM/,
discussed below in further detail, is a price-weighted average of the stocks of
30 blue-chip companies that are generally the leaders in their industry. As of
January 31, 2002, the component companies of the DJIA/SM/ were as follows:
Alcoa Inc. Intel Corp.
American Express Co. International Business Machines Corp.
AT&T Corp. International Paper Co.
Boeing Co. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Caterpillar Inc. Johnson & Johnson
Citigroup Inc. McDonald's Corp.
Coca-Cola Co. Merck & Co. Inc.
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. Microsoft Corp.
Eastman Kodak Co. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.
Exxon Mobil Corp. Philip Morris Cos.
General Electric Co. Procter & Gamble Co.
General Motors Corp. SBC Communications Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Co. United Technologies Corp.
Home Depot Inc. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Honeywell International Inc. Walt Disney Co.
Twenty-eight of the DJIA/SM/ component companies are traded on the New York
Stock Exchange, and the other 2 companies are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
The composition of the DJIA/SM/ is not limited to traditionally defined
industrial stocks. Instead, the companies are chosen from sectors of the economy
most representative of the country's economic health. The index serves as a
measure of the entire United States market, covering such diverse industries as
financial services, technology, retail, entertainment, and consumer goods. The
editors of The Wall Street Journal maintain and review the index and may from
time to time, in their sole discretion, add companies to, or delete companies
from, the DJIA/SM/ to achieve the objectives stated above. Composition changes
are rare, however, and generally occur only after events such as corporate
acquisitions or other dramatic shifts in a component's core business. When such
an event causes one component to be replaced, the entire index is reviewed, and
therefore, multiple component changes are often implemented simultaneously. A
stock typically is added only if it has an excellent reputation, demonstrates
sustained growth, is of interest to a large number of investors, and accurately
represents the sector(s) covered by the index.
The DJIA/SM/ is price-weighted rather than market capitalization-weighted,
which means that weightings are based only on changes in the stocks' prices,
rather than by both price changes and changes in the number of shares
outstanding. The divisor used to calculate the price-weighted average of the
DJIA/SM/ is not simply the number of component stocks; rather, the divisor is
adjusted to smooth out the effects of stock splits and other corporate actions.
While this methodology reflects
PS-9
current practice in calculating the DJIA/SM/, no assurance can be given that Dow
Jones will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the
amounts payable on the notes at maturity.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates, including Bank of America, N.A. and
BAS, accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication
of, or for any error, omission, or disruption in, the DJIA/SM/ or any successor
DJIA/SM/. Dow Jones does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the
DJIA/SM/ or any data included in the DJIA/SM/. Dow Jones assumes no liability
for any errors, omissions, or disruption in the calculation and dissemination of
the DJIA/SM/. Dow Jones disclaims all responsibility for any errors or omissions
in the calculation and dissemination of the DJIA/SM/ or the manner in which the
DJIA/SM/ is applied in determining the amount payable at maturity.
Historical closing levels
- -------------------------
Since its inception, the DJIA/SM/ has experienced significant fluctuations.
Any historical upward or downward trend in the value of the DJIA/SM/ during any
period shown below is not an indication that the value of the DJIA/SM/ is more
or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the term of the notes.
The historical DJIA/SM/ levels do not give an indication of future performance
of the DJIA/SM/.
The table below sets forth the high, the low, and the last closing levels
of the DJIA/SM/ for each of the four calendar quarters in 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, and partial data for the first quarter of 2002 through February 11, 2002.
The closing levels listed in the table below were obtained from Bloomberg
Financial Services, without independent verification.
DJIA/SM/ QUARTERLY LEVELS
QUARTER
ENDED HIGH LOW CLOSE
3/31/98 8,906.43 7,580.42 8,799.81
6/30/98 9,211.84 8,627.93 8,952.02
9/30/98 9,337.97 7,539.07 7,842.62
12/31/98 9,374.27 7,632.53 9,181.43
3/31/99 10,006.78 9,120.67 9,786.16
6/30/99 11,107.19 9,832.51 10,970.80
9/30/99 11,326.04 10,213.48 10,336.95
12/31/99 11,497.12 10,019.71 11,497.12
3/31/00 11,722.98 9,796.03 10,921.92
6/30/00 11,287.08 10,299.24 10,447.89
9/30/00 11,310.64 10,481.47 10,650.92
12/31/00 10,977.21 9,975.02 10,786.85
3/31/01 10,983.63 9,389.48 9,878.78
6/30/01 11,337.92 9,485.71 10,502.40
9/30/01 10,610.00 8,235.81 8,847.56
12/31/01 10,136.99 8,836.83 10,021.50
As of 2/11/02 10,259.74 9,618.24 9,884.78
PS-10
Following the September 11th disasters, trading on United States stock
markets was suspended from the morning of September 11, 2001 through the
re-opening on September 17, 2001. Since reopening, those markets, and the
DJIA/SM/, have been highly volatile. The September 11th disasters and related
uncertainties may result in stock markets generally and the DJIA/SM/ exhibiting
greater volatility than in earlier periods. Before investing in the notes, you
should consult publicly available sources for the levels and trading pattern of
the DJIA/SM/.
License Agreement
- -----------------
We have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with Dow Jones
providing for the license to us and certain of our affiliated or subsidiary
companies, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and
published by Dow Jones (including the DJIA/SM/) in connection with certain
securities, including the notes.
The license agreement between us and Dow Jones requires that the following
language be stated in this pricing supplement:
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Dow Jones. Dow
Jones makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of
the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in
securities generally or in the notes particularly. Dow Jones' only relationship
to us is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names, and service marks of
Dow Jones and of the DJIA/SM/, which is determined, composed, and calculated by
Dow Jones without regard to us or the notes. Dow Jones has no obligation to take
our needs or the needs of holders of the notes into consideration in
determining, composing, or calculating the DJIA/SM/. Dow Jones is not
responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of,
prices at, or quantities of the notes to be issued or in the determination or
calculation of the Supplemental Redemption Amount. Dow Jones has no obligation
or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the
notes.
DOW JONES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE
DJIA/SM/ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND DOW JONES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR
ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. DOW JONES MAKES NO WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR
ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DJIA/SM/ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED
THEREIN. DOW JONES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DJIA/SM/ OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT
LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DOW JONES HAVE ANY LIABILITY
FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR
LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY
BENEFICIARIES OR ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DOW JONES AND US.
PS-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
General
The notes are medium-term notes issued under the Senior Indenture, which is
more fully described in the attached prospectus supplement and attached
prospectus. The following description of the notes supplements the description
of the general terms and provisions of the notes and Debt Securities set forth
under the headings "Description of Notes" in the prospectus supplement and
"Description of Debt Securities" in the prospectus. If information in this
pricing supplement is inconsistent with the prospectus supplement or prospectus,
this pricing supplement will supersede those documents.
Certain capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in
the prospectus supplement and prospectus.
The aggregate principal amount of the notes will be $______. However, we
may "reopen" this series of notes and issue additional notes at a later time or
issue additional debt securities or other securities with terms similar to those
of the notes, and such issuances may affect the market value of the notes. The
notes are issued in minimum denominations of $100,000 or integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof. However, investors purchasing notes in the original
distribution are required to purchase at least $250,000 of notes. The notes
mature on March __, 2005, but under limited circumstances, which we describe
below, the stated maturity date may be postponed. See the section entitled
"Description of the Notes-Market Disruption."
Prior to maturity, the notes are not redeemable by us or repayable at the
option of any holder. The notes are not subject to any sinking fund. Upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Senior Indenture) with
respect to the notes, holders may accelerate the maturity of the notes, as
described under "Description of Debt Securities-Events of Default" in the
prospectus.
The notes will be issued in book-entry form only. The CUSIP number for the
notes is 06050 MBU0.
Payment at Maturity; Supplemental Redemption Amounts
On the Pricing Date, we will set the Participation Rate, and the
calculation agent will determine the Initial Level. For each Valuation Date, the
calculation agent will determine the closing level of the DJIA/SM/. If any
scheduled Valuation Date is not a Business Day, such Valuation Date shall be the
immediately succeeding Business Day.
After the United States stock markets close on the last Valuation Date, the
calculation agent will determine the Average Level, the Index Performance, and
the Supplemental Redemption Amount.
At maturity, you will be paid the principal amount of the notes and the
Supplemental Redemption Amount.
PS-12
Using a hypothetical Initial Level of 9,900, the following table sets forth
hypothetical closing levels of the DJIA/SM/ for each Valuation Date over the
term of the notes and the hypothetical Average Level associated with each
example.
EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Level 9,900 9,900 9,900 9,900
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March __, 2002 9,976 9,952 9,982 10,003
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April __, 2002 9,843 10,208 10,208 10,208
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May __, 2002 9,786 10,516 10,416 10,516
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June __, 2002 9,729 10,773 10,623 10,773
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July __, 2002 9,672 11,091 10,931 11,733
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August __, 2002 9,615 11,439 11,239 11,655
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September __, 2002 9,558 11,747 11,547 11,747
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October __, 2002 9,501 11,755 11,855 12,155
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November __, 2002 9,444 12,062 12,162 12,362
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December __, 2002 9,387 12,970 12,370 12,670
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January __, 2003 9,330 12,678 12,578 12,978
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February __, 2003 9,273 12,986 12,386 13,286
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March __, 2003 9,216 13,291 12,294 13,591
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April __, 2003 9,159 13,901 12,001 13,901
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May __, 2003 9,102 13,505 11,709 13,805
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June __, 2003 9,045 13,412 11,417 14,012
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July __, 2003 8,988 13,109 11,125 14,209
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August __, 2003 8,931 12,806 11,433 14,406
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September __, 2003 8,874 12,503 11,640 14,203
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October __, 2003 8,817 12,200 11,784 14,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November __, 2003 8,760 11,897 11,756 13,997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December __, 2003 8,703 11,594 11,764 13,904
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January __, 2004 8,646 11,291 11,772 13,991
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February __, 2004 8,589 10,988 12,079 13,988
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March __, 2004 8,532 10,685 12,087 13,985
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April __, 2004 8,475 10,382 12,295 13,982
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May __, 2004 8,418 10,079 12,403 13,879
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June __, 2004 8,361 9,776 12,511 13,776
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July __, 2004 8,304 9,473 12,718 13,673
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August __, 2004 8,247 9,170 12,926 13,370
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September __, 2004 8,190 8,867 13,234 13,067
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October __, 2004 8,133 8,564 13,242 12,764
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November __, 2004 8,076 8,261 13,350 12,161
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December __, 2004 8,019 7,906 13,357 11,858
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January __, 2005 7,962 7,655 13,365 11,452
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February __, 2005 8,091 7,352 13,442 11,252
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Level 8,910 11,007 12,000 12,870
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using a hypothetical Participation Rate of 60%, a hypothetical Initial
Level of 9900, and hypothetical Average Levels as set forth above, the following
table illustrates four examples of Supplemental Redemption Amounts and the
associated total repayment at maturity per $1,000.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Average Index Index Performance Supplemental Total Principal and
Level Level Performance multiplied by Redemption Amount Supplemental Redemption
Participation Rate Amount Paid at Maturity
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 1 9,900 8,910 -10.00% -6.00% $30.40 $1,030.40
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 2 9,900 11,007 11.18% 6.709% $67.09 $1,067.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 3 9,900 12,000 21.21% 12.726% $127.26 $1,127.26
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 4 9,900 12,870 30.00% 18.00% $180.00 $1,180.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS-13
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market Disruption
Each of the following will be a "Market Disruption Event" if, in the sole
opinion of the calculation agent, that event materially affects the DJIA/SM/:
. the suspension or material limitation of the trading of a material number
of stocks included in the DJIA/SM/;
. the suspension or material limitation of the trading of stocks on one or
more stock exchanges on which stocks included in the DJIA/SM/ are quoted;
. the suspension or material limitation of the trading of (a) options or
futures relating to the DJIA/SM/ on any options or futures exchanges or (b)
options or futures generally; or
. the imposition of any exchange controls in respect of any currencies
involved in determining the total amount payable on the notes at maturity.
For the purpose of this definition of Market Disruption Event:
. a limitation on the number of hours or days of trading will not be a Market
Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular
business hours of any exchange; and
. a limitation on trading imposed by reason of the movements in price
exceeding the levels permitted by any relevant exchange will be a Market
Disruption Event.
If a Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing on a day that would
otherwise be a Valuation Date, then the calculation agent will instead use the
closing level of the DJIA/SM/ on the first Business Day after that day on which
no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing. In no event, however, will
any Valuation Date be postponed by more than five Business Days. If any
Valuation Date is postponed to the last possible day, but a Market Disruption
Event occurs or is continuing on that day, that day will nevertheless be the
Valuation Date, and the calculation agent will make a good faith estimate of the
closing level of the DJIA/SM/ based upon its assessment of the value of the
DJIA/SM/ at that time. As a result, if a Market Disruption Event occurs or is
continuing on the last scheduled Valuation Date, the stated maturity date for
the notes will also be postponed, although not by more than five Business Days.
When we refer to a "Business Day" with respect to the notes, we mean a day
that is a Business Day of the kind described in the attached prospectus
supplement but that is not a day on which the principal securities market (or
markets) on which the constituent stocks of the DJIA/SM/ is closed.
Discontinuance of the DJIA/SM/; Alteration of Method of Calculation
If Dow Jones discontinues publication of the DJIA/SM/ and Dow Jones or
another entity publishes a successor or substitute index that the calculation
agent determines, in its sole discretion, is comparable to the discontinued
DJIA/SM/ (such new index being referred to as a "Successor Index"), then the
relevant closing levels shall be determined by reference to the Successor Index
at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, The Nasdaq National Market, or the relevant exchange or market for the
Successor Index.
If the calculation agent selects a Successor Index, the calculation agent
immediately shall notify us and the Senior Trustee, and the Senior Trustee will
provide written notice of a change to the holders of the notes within three
Business Days of such selection.
PS-14
If Dow Jones discontinues publication of the DJIA/SM/, and the calculation
agent determines that no Successor Index is available, then the calculation
agent will notify us and the Senior Trustee and shall calculate the appropriate
closing levels. These calculations by the calculation agent will be in
accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the DJIA/SM/ last in
effect prior to such discontinuance. If a Successor Index is selected or the
calculation agent calculates a value as a substitute for the DJIA/SM/, such
Successor Index or value will be substituted for the DJIA/SM/ for all purposes.
If at any time the method of calculating the DJIA/SM/ or a Successor Index,
or the value thereof, is changed in a material respect, or if the DJIA/SM/ or a
Successor Index in any other way is modified so that such index does not, in the
opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the value of the DJIA/SM/ or
such Successor Index had such changes or modifications not been made, then, from
and after such time, the calculation agent will notify us and the Senior Trustee
and shall make such calculations and adjustments as, in the good faith judgment
of the calculation agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a value of a
stock index comparable to the DJIA/SM/ or such Successor Index, as the case may
be, as if such changes or modifications had not been made, and calculate the
closing levels with reference to the DJIA/SM/ or such Successor Index, as
adjusted. Accordingly, if the method of calculating the DJIA/SM/ or a Successor
Index is modified so that the value of such index is a fraction of what it would
have been if it had not been modified (e.g., due to a split in the index), then
the calculation agent shall adjust such index in order to arrive at a value of
the DJIA/SM/ or such Successor Index as if it had not been modified (e.g., as if
such split had not occurred).
Role of the Calculation Agent
The calculation agent in its sole discretion will make all determinations
regarding the notes, including determinations regarding the Average Level, the
Index Performance, the Supplemental Redemption Amount, Market Disruption Events,
Successor Indices, and Business Days. Absent manifest error, all determinations
of the calculation agent will be final and binding on you and us, without any
liability on the part of the calculation agent.
We have initially appointed our affiliate, BAS, as the calculation agent,
but we may change the calculation agent at any time without notifying you.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
The notes will be delivered in book-entry form only through The Depository
Trust Company against payment by purchasers of the notes in immediately
available funds. We will make principal payments and Supplemental Redemption
Amount payments in immediately available funds so long as the notes are
maintained in book-entry form.
Listing
The notes are approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange, subject
to official notice of issuance.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution
Our affiliates, Bank of America, N.A. and BAS, have been appointed as our
agents to solicit offers on a best efforts basis to purchase the notes. BAS and
Bank of America, N.A. are parties to the Distribution Agreement described in the
"Plan of Distribution" on page S-23 of the attached
PS-15
prospectus supplement. We will pay the agents a commission of 2.00% of the
principal amount of each note sold. Each initial purchaser of notes must have an
account with one of the agents.
Neither Bank of America, N.A. nor BAS is acting as your fiduciary or
advisor, and you should not rely upon any communication from Bank of America,
N.A. or BAS in connection with the notes as investment advice or a
recommendation to purchase notes. You should make your own investment decision
regarding the notes after consulting with your legal, tax, and other advisors.
Bank of America, N.A., BAS, or any of our other affiliates may use this
pricing supplement, the attached prospectus supplement, and the attached
prospectus in a market-making transaction for any notes after their initial
sale.
NOTICES FOR CERTAIN NON-UNITED STATES INVESTORS
Argentina: The notes have not been registered in Argentina. The Comision
Nacional de Valores of Argentina has not approved the notes, the offering, nor
any document relating to the offering of the notes, including this pricing
supplement. Neither this pricing supplement nor the attached prospectus
supplement or prospectus nor the delivery of such documents constitutes an offer
to sell the notes or an invitation to receive offers to purchase the notes. No
person wishing to offer or acquire the notes shall take any action that would
result in the offering of the notes being deemed a public offering within the
meaning of Argentine Law Nbr. 17.811. In addition, any resale of the notes must
be made in a manner which will not constitute a public offering in Argentina.
Argentine pension funds and insurance companies may not purchase the notes.
Brazil: The notes have not been registered in Brazil. The Comissao de Valores
Mobiliarios of Brazil has not approved the notes, the offering, nor any document
relating to the offering of the notes, including this pricing supplement.
Neither the notes nor the offering have been registered with the Comissao de
Valores Mobiliarios in Brazil. Persons wishing to offer or acquire the notes
within Brazil should consult with their own counsel as to the applicability of
registration requirements or any exemption therefrom. No action should be taken
by such persons that would result in the offering of the notes being deemed a
public offering under Brazilian law. In addition, any resale of the notes must
be made in a manner which will not constitute a public offering in Brazil. This
offering is not being made to any Brazilian financial institution, pension fund,
insurance company, or capitalization company.
Chile: The notes have not been registered with the Superintendency of Securities
and Insurance of Chile, and the notes may not be lawfully offered or sold to
persons in Chile except in circumstances which do not result in an offer to the
public in Chile, within the meaning of Chilean Law.
Colombia: This pricing supplement, the attached prospectus supplement, the
attached prospectus or any other document relating to the offering of the notes
are for the sole use of the prospective investor to whom such documents are
delivered and cannot be used by, or passed on to, any other person or third
party. Investors wishing to acquire the notes will be required to make payment
for the notes outside of Colombia. A Colombian investor purchasing the notes
will be deemed to know, understand, and acknowledge that such investor is solely
responsible for full compliance of the Colombian regulations applicable to such
investor.
Hong Kong: The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any
document other than in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the
public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32).
PS-16
Unless a person is permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong,
such person may not issue or have in his or her possession for the purposes of
issue, and will not issue, or have in his or her possession for the purposes of
issue, any advertisement, invitation, or document relating to the notes other
than with respect to notes intended to be disposed of to persons outside Hong
Kong or to be disposed of in Hong Kong only to persons whose business involves
the acquisition, disposal, or holding of securities, whether as principal or
agent.
Mexico: The notes have not been registered under the Mexican Securities Market
Law or recorded in the Mexican National Securities Registry. No action may be
taken in Mexico that would render the offering of the notes a public offering in
Mexico. No Mexican regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the notes
or passed on our solvency.
Taiwan: The notes may not be sold or publicly offered in Taiwan.
Venezuela: The notes have not been registered with the Comision Nacional de
Valores of Venezuela and are not being publicly offered in Venezuela. No
document relating to the offering of the notes, including this pricing
supplement, shall be deemed to constitute an offer of securities or an offer or
the rendering of any investment advice or securities brokerage services in
Venezuela. Investors wishing to acquire the notes may use only funds located
outside of Venezuela.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY
The following summary of certain United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the notes is based
upon laws, regulations, rulings, and decisions now in effect, all of which are
subject to change (including changes in effective dates) or possible differing
interpretations. It deals only with initial purchasers of the notes who hold
notes as capital assets and does not deal with persons in special tax
situations, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated
investment companies, dealers in securities or currencies, tax-exempt entities,
persons holding notes in a tax-deferred or tax-advantaged account, persons
holding notes as a hedge, a position in a "straddle" or as part of a
"conversion" transaction for tax purposes, or persons who are required to
mark-to-market for tax purposes. The discussion assumes that the notes
constitute true indebtedness of the issuer for United States federal income tax
purposes. If the notes did not constitute true indebtedness of the issuer, the
tax consequences described below would be materially different. You must consult
your own tax advisors concerning the application of United States federal income
tax laws to your particular situation as well as any consequences of the
purchase, ownership, and disposition of the notes arising under the laws of any
other jurisdiction.
As used herein, the term "United States Holder" means a beneficial owner of
a note that is for United States federal income tax purposes (1) an individual
who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) an entity which is a
corporation or a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state
thereof (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person
under any applicable Treasury regulations), (3) an estate whose income is
subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source, (4) a
trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or
(5) any other person whose income or gain in respect of the notes is effectively
connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, to the extent provided in Treasury regulations, certain
trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons
prior to such date, that elect to continue to be treated as United States
persons also will be United States Holders. A "Non-United States Holder" is a
holder that is not a United States Holder.
PS-17
United States Holders - Income Tax Considerations
- -------------------------------------------------
Interest and Original Issue Discount
The amount payable on the notes at maturity will depend on the Average
Level. Accordingly, the notes will be treated as "contingent payment debt
instruments" for United States federal income tax purposes subject to taxation
under the "noncontingent bond method." As a result, the notes will generally be
subject to the OID provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued
thereunder. Pursuant to such Treasury regulations, a United States Holder will
be required to report OID or interest income based on a "comparable yield" and a
"projected payment schedule," as described below, established by us for
determining interest accruals and adjustments in respect of a note. A United
States Holder which does not use the "comparable yield" and/or follow the
"projected payment schedule" to calculate its OID and interest income on a note
must timely disclose and justify the use of other estimates to the Internal
Revenue Service, or "IRS."
A "comparable yield" with respect to a contingent payment debt instrument
generally is the yield at which we could issue a fixed rate debt instrument with
terms similar to those of the contingent payment debt instrument (taking into
account for this purpose the level of subordination, term, timing of payments,
and general market conditions, but ignoring any adjustments for liquidity or the
riskiness of the contingencies with respect to the debt instrument and also
ignoring any premium paid by an initial purchaser of the debt instrument). For
example, if a hedge is available, the comparable yield is the yield on the
synthetic fixed rate debt instrument that would result if the hedge is
integrated with the contingent payment debt instrument. If a hedge is not
available, but our similar fixed rate debt instruments trade at a price that
reflects a spread above a benchmark rate, the comparable yield is the sum of the
value of the benchmark rate on the issue date and the spread.
A "projected payment schedule" with respect to a contingent payment debt
instrument is generally a series of expected payments the amount and timing of
which would produce a yield to maturity on such debt instrument equal to the
comparable yield. The "comparable yield" and "the projected payment schedule"
may be obtained by contacting Bank of America Corporation, Corporate Treasury
Division, NC1-007-23-01, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
28255, Telephone (704) 386-5972. Investors should be aware that this information
is not calculated or provided for any purposes other than the determination of a
United States Holder's interest accruals and adjustments in respect of the
notes. We make no representations regarding the actual amounts of payments on
the notes.
Based on the comparable yield and the issue price of the notes, a United
States Holder of a note (regardless of accounting method) generally will be
required to accrue as OID the sum of the daily portions of interest on the note
for each day in the taxable year on which the holder held the note, adjusted
upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and
projected amount of any contingent payments on the note, as set forth below. The
daily portions of interest in respect of a note are determined by allocating to
each day in an accrual period the ratable portion of interest on the note that
accrues in the accrual period. The amount of interest on a note that accrues in
an accrual period is the product of the comparable yield on the note (adjusted
to reflect the length of the accrual period) and the adjusted issue price of the
note at the beginning of the accrual period. The adjusted issue price of a note
at the beginning of the first accrual period will equal its issue price and for
any accrual period thereafter will be (1) the sum of the issue price of such
note and any interest previously accrued thereon by a holder (disregarding any
positive or negative adjustments) minus (2) the amount of any projected payments
on the note for previous accrual periods. The issue price of each note in an
issue of notes is the first price at which a substantial amount of such notes
has been sold (including any premium paid for such notes and ignoring sales to
bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity
of underwriters, placement agents,
PS-18
or wholesalers). Because of the application of the OID rules, it is possible
that a United States Holder of a note would be required to include interest
income or OID in excess of actual cash payments received for certain taxable
years.
A United States Holder will be required to recognize interest income equal
to the amount of any positive adjustment (i.e., the excess of actual payments
over projected payments) in respect of a note for a taxable year. A negative
adjustment (i.e., the excess of projected payments over actual payments) in
respect of a note for a taxable year (i) will first reduce the amount of
interest in respect of the note that a United States Holder would otherwise be
required to include in income in the taxable year and (ii) to the extent of any
excess, will give rise to an ordinary loss equal to that portion of such excess
as does not exceed the excess of (A) the amount of all previous interest
inclusions under the note over (B) the total amount of the United States
Holder's net negative adjustments treated as ordinary loss on the note in prior
taxable years. A net negative adjustment is not subject to the two percent floor
limitation imposed on miscellaneous deductions under Section 67 of the Code. Any
negative adjustment in excess of the amounts described above in (i) and (ii)
will be carried forward to offset future interest income in respect of the note
or to reduce the amount realized on a sale, exchange, or retirement of the note.
Where a United States Holder purchases a note at a price other than the issue
price thereof, the difference between the purchase price and the issue price
generally will be treated as a positive or negative adjustment, as the case may
be, and allocated to the daily portions of interest or projected payments with
respect to the note.
If a contingent payment becomes fixed more than six months prior to
maturity, a positive or negative adjustment, as appropriate, is made to reflect
the difference between the present value of the amount that is fixed and the
present value of the projected amount. A similar adjustment may be appropriate
in certain circumstances in respect of the notes. For example, on any Valuation
Date it may be possible to determine that the amount payable at maturity will be
greater than the projected payment amount, even though the amount payable on the
notes will not become fixed prior to the last Valuation Date. In that
circumstance, the IRS may deem it appropriate to adjust (using the methodology
described above or another methodology) the amount of interest income a United
States Holder would be required to recognize in a particular taxable year in
respect of a note. However, until such time as the IRS sets forth rules dealing
with that situation, we do not intend to make any such adjustments.
Sale, Exchange, or Retirement
Upon a sale, exchange, or retirement of a note, a United States Holder
generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized on the sale, exchange, or retirement and such holder's tax
basis in the note. A United States Holder's tax basis in a note generally will
equal the cost thereof, increased by the amount of interest income previously
accrued by the holder in respect of the note (disregarding any positive or
negative adjustments) and decreased by the amount of all prior projected
payments in respect of the note. A United States Holder generally will treat any
gain as interest income, and any loss as ordinary loss to the extent of the
excess of previous interest inclusions over the total negative adjustments
previously taken into account as ordinary losses, and the balance as long-term
or short-term capital loss (depending upon the United States Holder's holding
period for the note).
United States Holders - Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Generally, payments of principal and interest, and the accrual of OID, with
respect to the notes will be subject to information reporting and possibly to
backup withholding. Information reporting means that the payment is required to
be reported to the holder of the notes and the IRS. Backup withholding means
that we are required to collect and deposit a portion of the payment with the
IRS as a tax payment on your behalf. Backup withholding will be imposed at a
rate of 30% for
PS-19
the calendar years ending on December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003, and will
be reduced to 29% for the 2004 and 2005 calendar years.
Payments of principal and interest, and the accrual of OID, with respect to
notes held by a United States Holder, other than certain exempt recipients such
as corporations, and proceeds from the sale of notes through the United States
office of a broker will be subject to backup withholding unless such United
States Holder supplies us with a taxpayer identification number and certifies
that its taxpayer identification number is correct or otherwise establish an
exemption. In addition, backup withholding will be imposed on any payment of
principal and interest, and the accrual of OID, with respect to a note held by a
United States Holder that is informed by the United States Secretary of the
Treasury that it has not reported all dividend and interest income required to
be shown on its federal income tax return or that fails to certify that it has
not underreported its interest and dividend income.
Payments of the proceeds from the sale of the notes to or through a foreign
office of a broker, custodian, nominee, or other foreign agent acting on your
behalf will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. If,
however, such nominee, custodian, agent, or broker is, for United States federal
income tax purposes, (1) a United States person, (2) the government of the
United States or the government of any State or political subdivision of any
State (or any agency or instrumentality of any of these governmental units), (3)
a controlled foreign corporation, (4) a foreign partnership that is either
engaged in a United States trade or business or whose United States partners in
the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interests in the
partnership, (5) a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income
for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States, or (6) a United States branch of a foreign bank insurance company such
payments will be subject to information reporting, unless (a) such custodian,
nominee, agent, or broker has documentary evidence in its records that the
holder is not a United States person and certain other conditions are met or (b)
the holder otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting.
A United States Holder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer
identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. In
addition, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder's United States federal
income tax liability provided certain required information is furnished to the
IRS.
Non-United States Holders - Income Tax Considerations
Under present United States federal income tax law and subject to the
discussion below concerning backup withholding, the payment by us, or any paying
agent, of principal or interest, including OID, on a note owned by a Non-United
States Holder is not subject to United States federal income or withholding tax
provided that:
1. such holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of our stock that are
entitled to vote;
2. such holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
us through stock ownership;
3. such holder is not a bank receiving interest on an extension of credit
made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course
of your trade or business;
4. the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business in the United States; and
PS-20
5. either (A) such holder provides us (or any paying agent) with a
statement which sets forth its address, and certifies, under penalties
of perjury, that it is not a United States person, citizen, or
resident (which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or
successor form)) or (B) a financial institution holding the note on
behalf of such holder certifies, under penalties of perjury, that such
statement has been received by it and furnishes a copy thereof to us
(or any paying agent).
Payments to Non-United States Holders not meeting the requirements set
forth above and thus subject to withholding of United States federal income tax
may nevertheless be exempt from such withholding if such holder provides us with
a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) claiming an exemption
from withholding under the benefit of a tax treaty. To claim benefits under an
income tax treaty, a Non-United States Holder must obtain a taxpayer
identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate
treaty's limitations on benefits article.
Non-United States Holders will not be subject to United States federal
income tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, or retirement of a note,
provided that (a) such gain is not effectively connected with a United States
trade or business and (b) in the case of an individual, such holder is not
present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the
sale or other disposition.
Non-United States Holders - Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payments of principal and interest, and the accrual of OID, with respect to
the notes and proceeds from the sale of notes held by a Non-United States Holder
will not be subject to information reporting and backup withholding so long as
such holder has certified that it is not a United States person and we do not
have actual knowledge that such certification is false (or you otherwise
establish an exemption). However, if a Non-United States Holder has not
certified that it is not United States person or we have actual knowledge that
such certification is false (and it has not otherwise established an exemption)
such holder will be subject to backup withholding and information reporting in
the manner described above in "United States Holders - Backup Withholding and
Information Reporting."
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
A fiduciary of a pension plan or other employee benefit plan (including a
governmental plan, an individual retirement account, or a Keogh plan) proposing
to invest in the notes should consider this section carefully.
A fiduciary of an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (commonly referred to as "ERISA") should
consider fiduciary standards under ERISA in the context of the particular
circumstances of such plan before authorizing an investment in the notes. Such
fiduciary should consider whether the investment is in accordance with the
documents and instruments governing the plan.
In addition, ERISA and the Code prohibit certain transactions (referred to
as "prohibited transactions") involving the assets of a plan subject to ERISA or
the assets of an individual retirement account or plan subject to Section 4975
of the Code (referred to as an "ERISA plan"), on the one hand, and persons who
have certain specified relationships of the plan ("parties in interest" within
the meaning of ERISA or "disqualified persons" within the meaning of the Code),
on the other. If we (or an affiliate) are considered a party in interest or
disqualified person with respect to an ERISA plan, then the investment in notes
by the ERISA plan may give rise to a prohibited transaction. There are several
ways by which we or our affiliates may be considered a party in
PS-21
interest or a disqualified person with respect to an ERISA plan. For example, if
we provide banking or financial advisory services to an ERISA plan, or act as a
trustee or in a similar fiduciary role for ERISA plan assets, we may be
considered a party in interest or a disqualified person with respect to that
ERISA plan.
If an ERISA plan engages in a prohibited transaction, the transaction may
require "correction" and may cause the ERISA plan fiduciary to incur certain
liabilities and the parties in interest or disqualified persons to be subject to
excise taxes. Therefore, an ERISA plan should not invest in the notes unless the
plan fiduciary or other person acquiring notes on behalf of the ERISA plan
determines that neither we nor an affiliate is a party in interest or a
disqualified person or, alternatively, that an exemption from the prohibited
transaction rules is available. By purchasing and holding the notes, the person
making the decision to invest on behalf of an ERISA plan is representing that
the purchase and holding of the notes will not result in a prohibited
transaction under ERISA or the Code.
If you are the fiduciary of a pension plan or other ERISA plan, or an
insurance company that is providing investment advice or other features to a
pension plan or other ERISA plan, and you propose to invest in the notes with
the assets of the ERISA plan, you should consult your own legal counsel for
further guidance.
PS-22
[LOGO] Bank of America
$3,000,000,000
Medium-Term Notes, Series I
We may offer to sell our Bank of America Corporation Medium-Term Notes, Series
I from time to time. Specific terms of the notes are set before each sale and
described in a separate pricing supplement. Terms include:
. Priority: senior or subordinated
. Interest Rate: fixed, floating, original issue discount or amortizing
. Floating rates based on one or more of the following indices:
. CD rate
. CMT rate
. Commercial paper rate
. Federal Funds rate
. LIBOR
. Prime rate
. Treasury rate
. Maturity: nine months or more
. Indexed notes: principal or interest payments linked to the price or
performance of one or more securities, currencies, goods or other indices
. Redemption and repayment: subject to redemption by us or repaid at the
holder's option
. Minimum denominations of $1,000 or other specified denominations for foreign
currencies
. Payments in U.S. dollars or one or more foreign currencies
Per Note Total
-------- -----
Public Offering Price............ 100% $ 3,000,000,000
Agent's Discounts and Commissions .125% - .750% $ 3,750,000 - $22,500,000
----------------- -----------------------------------
Proceeds (Before Expenses)....... 99.875% - 99.250% $2,996,250,000 - $2,977,500,000
We also may sell notes to agents as principal for resale at varying or fixed
offering prices or through the agents as agents using their best efforts on our
behalf. We also may sell the notes directly to investors.
We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our notes are unsecured and are not savings accounts, deposits or other
obligations of a bank. Our notes are not guaranteed by Bank of America, N.A. or
any other bank and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
or any other governmental agency. Before you purchase notes, you should
carefully read information in the "Risk Factors" section which begins on page
S-3.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission
or the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of North Carolina has approved or
disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this
prospectus supplement or the attached prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banc of America Securities LLC
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Lehman Brothers
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Salomon
Smith Barney
-----------------
Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated August 5, 1999
June 5, 2001.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Prospectus Supplement ----
Registration of Notes........................................ S-3
About this Prospectus Supplement and the Pricing
Supplements................................................ S-3
Risk Factors................................................. S-3
Risks of Indexed Notes...................................... S-3
Factors Affecting the Trading Value of the Notes............ S-4
Risks on Redemption......................................... S-5
Currency Risks.............................................. S-5
Credit Ratings.............................................. S-5
Bank of America Corporation.................................. S-6
General..................................................... S-6
Business Segment Operations................................. S-6
Acquisitions and Sales...................................... S-8
Outstanding Debt............................................ S-8
Description of Notes......................................... S-8
General..................................................... S-8
Book-Entry System........................................... S-9
Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Transfer Agent and
Calculation Agent......................................... S-9
Payment of Principal and Interest........................... S-9
Fixed Rate Notes.......................................... S-10
Floating Rate Notes....................................... S-10
Interest Reset Dates..................................... S-10
Interest Determination Dates............................. S-11
Interest Payments........................................ S-11
CD Rate Notes............................................ S-12
CMT Rate Notes........................................... S-13
Commercial Paper Rate Notes.............................. S-14
Federal Funds Rate Notes................................. S-14
LIBOR Notes.............................................. S-15
Prime Rate Notes......................................... S-15
Treasury Rate Notes...................................... S-16
Original Issue Discount Notes............................. S-16
Amortizing Notes.......................................... S-17
Indexed Notes............................................. S-17
Renewable Notes............................................. S-17
Extendible Notes............................................ S-18
Warrants and Units.......................................... S-19
Redemption.................................................. S-19
Repayment................................................... S-19
Repurchase.................................................. S-19
United States Taxation....................................... S-19
United States Holders....................................... S-20
Non-United States Holders................................... S-22
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting................ S-22
State and Local Taxation.................................... S-23
Plan of Distribution......................................... S-23
Distribution Through Agents................................. S-23
Distribution Through Underwriters........................... S-23
Direct Sales................................................ S-23
General Information......................................... S-23
Prospectus
About this Prospectus........................................ 2
Bank of America Corporation.................................. 3
General..................................................... 3
Business Segment Operations................................. 3
Acquisitions and Sales...................................... 4
Use of Proceeds.............................................. 4
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends................. 5
Regulatory Matters.................................. 6
General............................................ 6
Interstate Banking................................. 6
Capital and Operational Requirements............... 6
Dividends.......................................... 8
Source of Strength................................. 8
Changes in Regulations............................. 8
Plan of Distribution................................ 8
Description of Debt Securities...................... 10
General............................................ 10
Reopenings......................................... 11
Conversion......................................... 12
Exchange, Registration and Transfer................ 12
Payment and Paying Agents.......................... 12
Subordination...................................... 13
Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Banks......... 13
Waiver of Covenants................................ 14
Modification of the Indentures..................... 14
Meetings and Action by Securityholders-............ 14
Defaults and Rights of Acceleration-............... 14
Collection of Indebtedness......................... 15
Notices............................................ 15
Concerning the Trustees............................ 15
Warrants............................................ 16
Description of Debt Warrants....................... 16
Description of Universal Warrants.................. 16
Modification....................................... 17
Enforceability of Rights of Warrantholders;
Governing Law.................................... 17
Unsecured Obligations.............................. 17
Description of Units................................ 18
Description of Preferred Stock...................... 18
General............................................ 18
The Preferred Stock................................ 18
ESOP Preferred Stock............................... 19
Series B Preferred Stock........................... 21
Series BB Preferred Stock.......................... 21
Description of Depositary Shares.................... 22
General............................................ 22
Dividends and Other Distributions.................. 23
Redemption of Depositary Shares.................... 23
Voting the Preferred Stock......................... 23
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement. 24
Changes of Depositary.............................. 24
Miscellaneous...................................... 24
Resignation and Removal of Depositary.............. 24
Description of Common Stock......................... 24
General............................................ 24
Voting and Other Rights............................ 25
Dividends.......................................... 25
Registration and Settlement......................... 25
The Depository Trust Company....................... 25
Cedelbank and Euroclear............................ 27
Where- You Can Find More Information................ 30
Forward-looking Statements.......................... 31
Legal Opinions...................................... 31
Experts............................................. 31
S-2
REGISTRATION OF NOTES
The notes have been registered on registration statements on Form S-3 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission as follows: (a) $616,946,091 under
Registration No. 333-51367, which represents all remaining unissued securities
covered by that registration statement and (b) $2,383,053,909 under
Registration No. 333-83503, which leaves $8,266,946,091 in unissued or
unallocated securities covered by that registration statement at the date of
this prospectus supplement. With respect to notes covered by Registration No.
333-51367, the accompanying prospectus dated August 5, 1999 is being delivered
in lieu of the prospectus dated May 21, 1998, pursuant to Rule 429 under the
Securities Act of 1933.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PRICING SUPPLEMENTS
We intend to use this prospectus supplement, the attached prospectus and a
related pricing supplement to offer our notes from time to time. You should
read each of these documents before investing in the notes.
This prospectus supplement provides you with certain terms of the notes and
supplements the description of the Debt Securities contained in the attached
prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with
the prospectus, this prospectus supplement will supersede the information in
the prospectus.
Each time we issue notes, we will prepare a pricing supplement which will
contain additional terms of the offering and the specific description of the
notes being offered. The pricing supplement also may add, update or change
information in this prospectus supplement or the attached prospectus, including
provisions describing the calculation of interest and the method of making
payments under the terms of a note. A pricing supplement can be quite detailed
and always should be read carefully. The flexibility available to us to set or
negotiate individualized terms for notes means that there will be transactions,
particularly with Indexed Notes, that are quite complex. Often the terms of the
notes differ from the terms described in this prospectus supplement. Any
information in the pricing supplement that is inconsistent with this prospectus
supplement will supersede the information in this prospectus supplement.
-----------------
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the notes involves certain risks. In consultation with
your own financial and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among
other matters, the following discussion of risks before deciding whether an
investment in the notes is suitable for you. Notes are not an appropriate
investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about the significant elements
of the notes or financial matters in general.
Risks of Indexed Notes
If you invest in notes indexed to one or more interest rate, currency or
other indices or formulas, known as Indexed Notes, you will be subject to
significant risks not associated with a conventional fixed rate or floating
rate debt security. These risks include fluctuation of the particular indices
or formulas and the possibility that you will receive a lower, or no, amount of
principal, premium or interest and at different times than you expected. We
have no control over a number of matters, including economic, financial and
political events, that are important in determining the existence, magnitude
and longevity of these risks and their results. In addition, if an index or
formula used to determine any amounts payable in respect of the notes contains
a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any change in the particular
index or formula will be magnified. In recent years, values of certain indices
and formulas have been volatile and volatility in those and other indices and
formulas may be expected in the future. However, past experience is not
necessarily indicative of what may occur in the future.
. Principal Amount. The principal amount of an Indexed Note may or may not
be "principal protected", so the principal amount you will receive at maturity
may be greater than, equal to or less than the original purchase price of the
Indexed Note, and it is possible that no principal will be paid at all.
. Interest Payments. If the interest rate of an Indexed Note is indexed
(whether or not the principal amount is indexed), then you may receive interest
payments that are less than what you would have re-
S-3
ceived had you purchased a conventional debt security at the same time with the
same maturity date, and it is possible that no interest will be paid at all.
. Leverage. Certain Indexed Notes that we will offer may have interest and
principal payments that increase or decrease at a rate that is greater than the
rate of a favorable or unfavorable movement in the indexed item. For example,
the formula set forth in the relevant pricing supplement could provide that a
10% decline in the level of a stock index may result in a 20% reduction in the
principal amount that you will receive at maturity.
. Early Payment. The terms of an Indexed Note may require that the note be
paid prior to its scheduled maturity date. That early payment could result in a
reduction in your anticipated return on your investment.
. Tax Consequences. You should consider the tax consequences of investing in
Indexed Notes. Unless otherwise stated in the pricing supplement, you should
assume that there is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority that
directly addresses the characterization of the Indexed Notes or similar
instruments for United States federal or other income tax purposes. As a
result, the income tax consequences of an investment in Indexed Notes are not
certain. We will not request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS") for any of the notes and we cannot assure you that the IRS will agree
with our conclusions in this prospectus supplement or in the pricing supplement.
Factors Affecting the Trading Value of the Notes
The trading market for, and trading value of, your notes may be affected by
a number of factors. Often, the more specific the investment objective or
strategy of the note, the more limited the trading market and the more volatile
the price of that note. These factors include:
. the complexity and volatility of the index or formula applicable to your
notes, including any dividend rates or yields of other securities or
financial instruments applicable to your notes;
. the method of calculating the principal, premium, if any, and interest of
your notes;
. the time remaining to maturity of your notes;
. the aggregate amount of notes outstanding related to your notes;
. any redemption features of your notes;
. the amount of other debt securities linked to the index or formula
applicable to your notes; and
. the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.
In addition, the following factors may also affect trading in your notes:
. Our Hedging Activities. At any time, we or our affiliates may engage in
hedging activity related to the notes or an indexed item in connection with an
Indexed Note which may, in turn, increase or decrease the value of the notes.
In addition, we or our affiliates may acquire a long or short position in the
notes from time to time. All or a portion of these positions may be liquidated
at or about the time of the maturity date of the notes. The aggregate amount
and the composition of such positions are likely to vary over time. We have no
reason to believe that any such activity will have a material impact on the
level of the impacted item, however, there can be no assurance that our
activities or our affiliates' activities will not affect such price.
. Possible Illiquidity of the Secondary Market. We do not intend to list the
notes on any securities exchange and even if the notes are listed at a later
date, we cannot assure that a trading market for your notes ever will develop
or be maintained if developed. Although the agents intend under ordinary market
conditions to indicate prices for the notes on request, we cannot assure you
that bids will be made in the future or predict the price at which such bids
will be made.
. State Law Limits on Interest Paid. New York State laws govern the
Indentures and the notes. New York usury laws limit the amount of interest that
can be charged and paid on loans, including debt securities like the notes.
Under present New York law, the maximum permissible rate of interest is 25% per
annum on a simple interest basis. This limit may not apply to debt securities
in which $2,500,000 or more
S-4
has been invested. While we believe that a state or federal court sitting
outside of New York may give effect to New York law, many other states also
have laws that regulate the amount of interest that may be charged to and paid
by a borrower. We do not intend to voluntarily claim the benefits of any laws
concerning usurious rates of interest.
Risks on Redemption
If the terms of your notes permit or require redemption prior to maturity,
that redemption may occur at times when prevailing interest rates are
relatively low. As a result, you generally will not be able to reinvest the
redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as
high as your notes being redeemed.
Currency Risks
If you invest in notes that are denominated or payable in a specified
currency other than the currency in which you normally conduct your business,
or your home country currency, you will be subject to significant risks not
associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable in
your home country currency. These risks include the possibility of material
changes in the exchange rate between your home country currency and the
specified currency and the imposition or modification of exchange controls by
the applicable governments. We have no control over the factors that generally
affect these risks, including economic, financial and political events, and the
supply and demand for the applicable currencies. Moreover, if payments on these
type of notes are determined by reference to a formula containing a multiplier
or leverage factor, the effect of any change in the exchange rates between the
applicable currencies will be magnified. This prospectus supplement does not
describe all the risks of an investment in notes denominated in, or paid based
upon, a currency (including a composite currency) other than your home country
currency. If you are considering purchasing these types of notes, you and your
advisors should consider the suitability of an investment in the notes prior to
making an investment decision.
. Exchange Rates. In recent years, exchange rates between certain currencies
have been highly volatile and volatility between these currencies or with other
currencies may be expected in the future. Fluctuations between currencies in
the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may
occur in the future. Depreciation of your payment currency would result in a
decrease in the home country currency equivalent yield of your notes, in the
home country currency equivalent value of the principal and any premium payable
at maturity or any earlier redemption of your notes and, generally, in the home
country currency equivalent market value of your notes.
. Government Exchange Controls. From time to time, governments impose
exchange controls that influence exchange rates and could limit the
availability of the specified currency on an interest payment or the maturity
date of a note. It is possible that government exchange controls could restrict
or prohibit our payment of principal or interest in the specified currency.
Even if there are no exchange controls, it is possible that the specified
currency will not be available to us to make payment of interest and principal
when required.
Credit Ratings
The credit ratings of our medium-term note program may not reflect the
potential impact of all risks related to structure and other factors on any
trading market for, or trading value of, your notes. In addition, real or
anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect any trading
market for, or trading value of, your notes.
S-5
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
General
Bank of America Corporation is a Delaware corporation, a bank holding
company and a financial holding company. Our principal assets are our shares of
stock of Bank of America, N.A. and our other banking and nonbanking
subsidiaries. Through those subsidiaries, we provide a diversified range of
banking and nonbanking financial services and products, primarily throughout
the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia), the Midwest
(Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri), the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee), the Southwest (Arizona, Arkansas, New
Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas), the Northwest (Oregon and Washington) and the West
(California, Idaho and Nevada) regions of the United States and in selected
international markets.
We, and our subsidiaries, are subject to supervision by various United
States federal and state banking and other regulatory authorities. The
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act amended a number of federal banking laws. In particular,
the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act permits a financial holding company, and the
companies under its control, to engage directly or indirectly in activities
considered "financial in nature" (including, without limitation, banking,
insurance and securities activities), either de novo or by acquisition,
provided the Federal Reserve Board is given after-the-fact notice of the new
activities. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also permits national banks to engage in
activities considered financial in nature through a financial subsidiary,
subject to certain conditions and limitations and with the prior approval of
the Comptroller.
Business Segment Operations
We provide a diversified range of banking and nonbanking financial services
and products through our various subsidiaries. In 2000, we realigned our
business segments to report the results of our operations through four business
segments: (1) Consumer and Commercial Banking, (2) Asset Management, (3) Global
Corporate and Investment Banking and (4) Equity Investments.
. Consumer and Commercial Banking
Consumer and Commercial Banking provides a wide array of products and
services to individuals, small businesses and middle market companies through
multiple delivery channels. The major components of Consumer and Commercial
Banking are Banking Regions, Consumer Products and Commercial Banking.
. Banking Regions
Banking Regions serves consumer households in 21 states and the District
of Columbia and overseas through our extensive network of approximately
4,400 banking centers, 13,000 ATMs, telephone and Internet channels on
www.bankofamerica.com. Banking Regions provides a wide array of products and
services, including deposit products such as checking, money market savings
accounts, time deposits and IRAs, and credit products such as home equity,
mortgage, personal auto loans and auto leasing. Banking Regions also
includes small business banking providing treasury management, credit
services, community investment, debit card, e-commerce and brokerage
services to over two million small business relationships across the
franchise.
. Consumer Products
Consumer Products provides specialized services such as the origination
and servicing of residential mortgage loans, issuance and servicing of
credit cards, direct banking via the telephone and the Internet, student
lending and certain insurance services. Consumer Products also provides auto
loans, retail finance programs to dealerships and lease financing of new and
used cars.
. Commercial Banking
Commercial Banking provides commercial lending and treasury management
services to middle market companies with annual revenue between $10 million
and $500 million. These services are available through relationship manager
teams as well as through alternative channels such as the telephone via the
commercial service center and the Internet by accessing Bank of America
Direct.
S-6
. Asset Management
Asset Management includes the Private Bank, Banc of America Capital
Management and Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. The Private Bank
offers financial solutions to high-net-worth clients and foundations in the
United States and internationally by providing customized asset management and
credit, financial advisory, fiduciary, trust and banking services. Banc of
America Capital Management offers management of equity, fixed income, cash and
alternative investments; manages the assets of individuals, corporations,
municipalities, foundations and universities, and public and private
institutions; and provides advisory services to our affiliated family of mutual
funds. Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. provides both full-service and
discount brokerage services through investment professionals located throughout
the franchise and a brokerage web site that provides customers a wide array of
market analyses, investment research and self-help tools, account information
and transaction capabilities.
. Global Corporate and Investment Banking
Global Corporate and Investment Banking provides a broad array of financial
services such as investment banking, trade finance, treasury management,
lending, capital markets, leasing and financial advisory services to domestic
and international corporations, financial institutions and government entities.
Clients are supported through offices in 38 countries in four distinct
geographic regions: United States and Canada; Asia; Europe, Middle East and
Africa; and Latin America. Products and services provided include loan
origination, merger and acquisition advisory services, debt and equity
underwriting and trading, cash management, derivatives, foreign exchange,
leasing, leveraged finance, project finance, real estate finance, senior bank
debt, structured finance and trade services.
Global Corporate and Investment Banking offers clients a comprehensive range
of global capabilities through three components: Global Investment Banking,
Global Credit Products and Global Treasury Services.
. Global Investment Banking
Global Investment Banking includes our investment banking activities and
risk management products. Through a separate subsidiary, Banc of America
Securities LLC, Global Investment Banking underwrites and makes markets in
equity securities, high-grade and high-yield corporate debt securities,
commercial paper, and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Banc of
America Securities LLC also provides correspondent clearing services for
other securities broker/dealers, traditional brokerage services to
high-net-worth individuals and prime-brokerage services. Debt and equity
securities research, loan syndications, merger and acquisition advisory
services, private placements and equity derivatives are also provided
through Banc of America Securities LLC.
In addition, Global Investment Banking provides risk management solutions
for our global customer base using interest rate and credit derivatives,
foreign exchange products, commodity derivatives and mortgage-related
products. In support of these activities, the businesses will take positions
in these products and capitalize on market-making activities. The Global
Investment Banking business also takes an active role in the trading of
fixed income securities in all of the regions in which Global Corporate and
Investment Banking transacts business and is a primary dealer in the United
States, as well as in several international locations.
. Global Credit Products
Global Credit Products provides credit and lending services and includes
the corporate industry-focused portfolio, real estate, leasing and project
finance.
. Global Treasury Services
Global Treasury Services provides the technology, strategies and
integrated solutions to help financial institutions, government agencies and
public and private companies of all sizes manage their operations and cash
flows on a local, regional, national and global level.
S-7
. Equity Investments
Equity Investments includes Principal Investing, which is comprised of a
diversified portfolio of companies at all stages of the business cycle, from
start up to buyout. Investments are made on both a direct and indirect basis in
the United States and overseas. Direct investing activity focuses on playing an
active role in the strategic and financial direction of the portfolio company
as well as providing broad business experience and access to our global
resources. Indirect investments represent passive limited partnership stakes in
funds managed by experienced third party private equity investors who act as
general partners. Equity Investments also includes our strategic technology and
alliances investment portfolio in addition to other parent company investments.
Acquisitions and Sales
As part of our operations, we regularly evaluate the potential acquisition
of, and hold discussions with, various financial institutions and other
businesses that are eligible for financial holding company ownership or
control. In addition, we regularly analyze the values of, and submit bids for,
the acquisition of customer-based funds and other liabilities and assets of
suitable financial institutions and other businesses. We also regularly
consider the potential disposition of certain of our assets, branches,
subsidiaries or lines of businesses. As a general rule, we publicly announce
any material acquisitions or dispositions when a definitive agreement has been
reached.
Outstanding Debt
At March 31, 2001, we had the following long-term debt outstanding (in
millions):
Senior debt
Bank of America Corporation................ $21,146
Subsidiaries............................... 25,076
-------
Total senior debt........................ 46,222
-------
Subordinated debt
Bank of America Corporation................ 20,214
Subsidiaries............................... 608
-------
Total subordinated debt.................. 20,822
-------
Total long-term debt..................... $67,044
=======
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in
Junior Subordinated Notes................. $ 4,955
-------
Also, at March 31, 2001, we had $5.1 billion of commercial paper and other
short-term notes payable outstanding.
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
The notes are a series of Debt Securities under the Indentures, which are
exhibits to our registration statements. The Indentures are subject to, and
governed by, the Trust Indenture Act.
The following summary of the notes and the Indentures does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual notes and
the Indentures. The following description of notes will apply to each note we
offer unless we otherwise specify in the applicable pricing supplement.
General
The notes are our direct, unsecured obligations. The total initial public
offering price of the Senior and Subordinated Medium-Term Notes, Series I, that
may be offered using this prospectus supplement is $3,000,000,000.
S-8
Our senior notes are senior debt securities that rank equally with all of
our other unsecured senior indebtedness. Our subordinated notes are
subordinated debt securities that are subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness.
Payment of principal of the subordinated notes or of our other subordinated
indebtedness may not be accelerated in the case of a default in the payment of
amounts due under those notes or a default in the terms of our other
obligations under the applicable Indenture.
The Indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of Debt Securities that we
may issue thereunder. Accordingly, we may issue Debt Securities from time to
time in one or more series up to the aggregate initial offering price
authorized for the particular series. We also may issue, without the consent of
the registered holders of the notes, medium-term notes that are part of the
same series as the notes or other Debt Securities under the Indentures. The
Indentures also allow us to "reopen" or later increase the principal amount of
a series of notes without notice to the holders of the notes by selling
additional notes or other Debt Securities having the same terms as previously
issued notes (other than the date of issuance, the date interest, if any,
begins to accrue and the offering price, which may vary) that will form a
single series with the previously issued notes. The IRS recently issued final
regulations addressing whether additional debt instruments issued in a
reopening will be considered part of the same series as the previously issued
debt instrument for United States federal income tax purposes. See "United
States Taxation."
Each note will be offered on a continuous basis and will mature on a
Business Day nine months or more from the date of issue. A "Business Day" means
any weekday that is (1) not a legal holiday in New York, New York or Charlotte,
North Carolina, (2) not a day on which banking institutions in those cities are
authorized or required by law or regulation to be closed and (3) a London
Banking Day if that note is a LIBOR Note. A "London Banking Day" is any day on
which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in LIBOR
currency) in London, England.
The notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
Book-Entry System
We will issue each note in book-entry form only. This means that we will not
issue actual notes or certificates to each holder. Instead, the notes will be
in the form of a Global Note held in the name of The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"). In order to own a beneficial interest in a note, you must be an
institution that has an account with DTC or have a direct or individual account
with such an institution.
Notes will not be issued in certificated form unless:
. DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository
or it otherwise ceases to be a qualified clearing agency and we do not
appoint a successor depository; or
. we make a decision to permit notes to be issued in certificated form and
notify the Trustee of that decision.
No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange
of notes issued in certificated form, but we may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any related tax or other governmental charges.
Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Transfer Agent and Calculation Agent
Until the notes are paid, we will maintain a paying agent, security
registrar, transfer agent and calculation agent for the notes. Initially, the
Trustee serves in each of these capacities.
Payment of Principal and Interest
We will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on notes in book-entry
form in accordance with the arrangements then in place between the paying agent
and DTC and its nominee, as holder. We will pay interest on notes in
certificated form on each interest date other than the maturity date, if any,
by check mailed to the holders of the notes on the applicable record date at
the address appearing on our records. We will pay principal, premium, if any,
and interest payable at the maturity date of a note in certificated form
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by wire transfer of immediately available funds upon surrender of the note at
the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee or paying agent.
The pricing supplement will specify certain terms of the notes being
offered, including:
. whether the note is a Fixed Rate Note, a Floating Rate Note, an Original
Issue Discount Note, an Amortizing Note or an Indexed Note;
. the method of determining and paying interest, including the interest rate
basis or bases, the initial interest rate (if any), interest reset dates,
payment dates, the Index Maturity and any maximum or minimum rate of
interest;
. any Spread or Spread Multiplier; and
. the method for the calculation and payment of principal and premium (if
any).
The "Index Maturity" is the period to maturity of the instrument with
respect to which the interest rate basis is calculated. The "Spread" is the
number of basis points to be added to or subtracted from the related interest
rate index applicable to a note. The "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage of
the related interest rate basis or bases applicable to a floating rate note by
which the interest rate basis or bases will be multiplied to determine the
applicable interest rate.
Fixed Rate Notes
The pricing supplement for Fixed Rate Notes will describe a fixed interest
rate payable semi-annually in arrears. Interest on Fixed Rate Notes is computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If the maturity date of
any note or an Interest Payment Date for any Fixed Rate Note is not a Business
Day, principal, premium, if any, and interest for that note is paid on the next
Business Day, and no interest will accrue from and after the maturity date or
Interest Payment Date.
Floating Rate Notes
Each Floating Rate Note will have an interest rate basis or formula, which
may be based on:
. the CD rate;
. the CMT rate;
. the Commercial paper rate;
. the Federal Funds rate;
. LIBOR;
. the Prime rate;
. the Treasury rate; or
. another negotiated interest rate basis or formula.
A description of each of these interest rate bases is included in this
prospectus supplement beginning on page S-12.
Upon the request of the beneficial holder of any Floating Rate Note, the
calculation agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if
different, the interest rate that will become effective on the next Interest
Reset Date for that Floating Rate Note.
Interest Reset Dates. The interest rates on each Floating Rate Note may be
reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (each, an
"Interest Reset Date"), and the period between Interest Reset Dates will be the
"Interest Reset Period." The Interest Reset Dates will be, in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset:
. daily -- each Business Day;
. weekly (for notes other than Treasury Rate Notes) -- the Wednesday of each
week;
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. weekly (Treasury Rate Notes) -- the Tuesday of each week;
. monthly -- the third Wednesday of each month;
. quarterly -- the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of
each year;
. semi-annually -- the third Wednesday of each of the two months specified
in the applicable pricing supplement; and
. annually -- the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the
applicable pricing supplement;
provided, however, that, the rate of interest on Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes
will not reset after the particular Fixed Rate commencement date.
The pricing supplement describes the initial interest rate or interest rate
formula for each note. That rate is effective until the first Interest Reset
Date. After that time, the interest rate will be the rate determined on each
Interest Determination Date. Each time a new interest rate is determined, it
becomes effective on the next Interest Reset Date. However, no change will be
made in the interest rate during the 10 days before the maturity date.
If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note does not fall on a
Business Day, that particular Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next
succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note for
which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and for which that Business
Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the particular Interest Reset
Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. In addition, in the case
of a Floating Rate Note for which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest
Rate Basis, if the Interest Determination Date falls on an Interest Reset Date,
the particular Interest Reset Date will be postponed until the next succeeding
Business Day.
Interest Determination Dates. The interest rate applicable to an Interest
Reset Period that commences on the related Interest Reset Date will be
determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis as of the
particular "Interest Determination Date," which will be:
. with respect to the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate -- the Business
Day immediately preceding the related Interest Reset Date;
. with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate and the Commercial Paper Rate --
the second Business Day preceding the related Interest Reset Date;
. with respect to LIBOR -- the second London Banking Day preceding the
related Interest Reset Date;
. with respect to the Treasury Rate -- the day in the week in which the
related Interest Reset Date falls, on the day Treasury bills are normally
auctioned (i.e., Treasury bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of
each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction
is normally held on the following Tuesday, except that the auction may be
held on the preceding Friday); provided, however, that if an auction is
held on the Friday of the week preceding the related Interest Reset Date,
the Interest Determination Date will be the preceding Friday; and
. with respect to an Indexed Note, the interest rate of which is determined
with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases -- the latest Business
Day that is at least two Business Days before the related Interest Reset
Date for the applicable Indexed Note on which each interest rate basis
is determined.
Interest Payments. The interest payment dates will be, in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset:
. daily, weekly or monthly -- the third Wednesday of each month or on the
third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year, as
specified in the pricing supplement;
. quarterly -- the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of
each year;
. semi-annually -- the third Wednesday of the two months of each year
specified in the pricing supplement;
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. annually -- the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the
pricing supplement; and
. at maturity, redemption or repurchase.
Each interest payment on a Floating Rate Note will include interest accrued
from, and including, the issue date or the last Interest Payment Date, as the
case may be, to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or the maturity date,
as the case may be. However, interest payments on Floating Rate Notes which
reset daily or weekly will include interest accrued from, and excluding, the
last Regular Record Date to and including, the Regular Record Date for the
applicable Interest Payment Date, except that the first interest payment due
will include interest from the issue date and the interest payment due on the
maturity date will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the maturity
date.
A "Regular Record Date" is the date on which a note must be held by the
holder in order to receive an interest payment on the next Interest Payment
Date. The record date for any Interest Payment Date is 15 calendar days prior
to that Interest Payment Date.
Interest on a note will be payable beginning on the first Interest Payment
Date after its issue date to holders of record on the corresponding Regular
Record Date. If interest is payable on a day which is not a Business Day,
payment will be postponed to the next Business Day and no additional interest
will accrue in respect of the payment made on that next succeeding Business
Day. However, for LIBOR Notes, if the next Business Day is in the next calendar
month, interest will be paid on the preceding Business Day. If the maturity
date of any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, principal, premium, if
any, and interest for that note will be paid on the next Business Day, and no
interest will accrue from and after the maturity date.
Accrued interest on a Floating Rate Note is calculated by multiplying the
principal amount of a note by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest
factor is the sum of the interest factors calculated for each day in the period
for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor for each
day is computed by dividing the interest rate in effect on that day by (1) the
actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes or CMT
Rate Notes, or (2) 360, in the case of other Floating Rate Notes. All
percentages resulting from any calculation are rounded to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a
percentage point rounded upward. For example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) will be
rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655). Dollar amounts used in the calculation are
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).
CD Rate Notes. The "CD Rate" for any Interest Determination Date is the rate
on that date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the
Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement, as published in H.15(519)
prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the calculation date for that
Interest Determination Date under the heading "CDs (secondary market)".
The following procedures will be followed if the CD Rate cannot be
determined as described above:
. If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date, the CD Rate will be the rate on that
Interest Determination Date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of
deposit of the Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement as
published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used
for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "CDs
(secondary market)".
. If that rate is not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
calculation date, then the calculation agent will determine the CD Rate to
be the average of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New
York City time, on that Interest Determination Date, quoted by three
leading nonbank dealers of negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit
in New York City for negotiable certificates of deposit in a denomination
of $5,000,000 of major United States money-center banks of the highest
credit standing (in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit)
with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity described in the
pricing supplement. The calculation agent will select the three dealers
referred to above.
. If fewer than three dealers are quoting as mentioned above, the CD Rate
will remain the CD Rate then in effect on that Interest Determination Date.
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"H.15(519)" means the weekly publication entitled "Federal Reserve
Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates," or any successor
publication of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
"H.15 Daily Update" means the daily update of H.15(519), available through
the internet site of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at
http://federal reserve.gov/releases/h15/update or any successor site or
publication.
CMT Rate Notes. The "CMT Rate" for any Interest Determination Date is the
rate displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the calculation date for that Interest Determination Date under the
caption " . . Treasury Constant Maturities . . Federal Reserve Board Release
H.15 . . Mondays Approximately 3:45 P.M.," under the column for the Index
Maturity described in the pricing supplement for:
(i) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is displayed on Bridge Telerate,
Inc. (or any successor service) on page 7051 (or any page as may replace
that page on that service), such Interest Determination Date; or
(ii) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is displayed on Bridge Telerate,
Inc. (or any successor service) on page 7052 (or any page as may replace
that page on that service) ("Telerate Page 7052"), the week, or the month
ended immediately preceding the week in which the related Interest
Determination Date occurs.
The following procedures will be used if the CMT Rate cannot be determined
as described above:
. If the rate is not displayed on the relevant page by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date, then the CMT Rate will be the Treasury
constant maturity rate for the Index Maturity, as published in H.15(519).
. If that rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the calculation date, then the CMT Rate will be the Treasury
constant maturity rate (or other United States Treasury rate) for the
Index Maturity for the Interest Determination Date as may then be
published by either the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
or the United States Department of the Treasury that the calculation agent
determines to be comparable to the rate formerly displayed on the
Designated CMT Telerate Page and published in H.15(519).
. If that information is not provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the calculation date, then the calculation agent will determine the CMT
Rate to be a yield to maturity based on the average of the secondary
market closing offer side prices, as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York
City time, on the Interest Determination Date reported, according to their
written records, by three leading primary United States government
securities dealers (each, a "Reference Dealer") in New York City. The
calculation agent will select five Reference Dealers and will eliminate
the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest
quotations) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of
the lowest quotations), for the most recently issued direct noncallable
fixed rate obligations of the United States ("Treasury Notes") with an
original maturity of approximately the Index Maturity and a remaining term
to maturity of not less than the Index Maturity minus one year.
. If the calculation agent cannot obtain three Treasury Note quotations, the
calculation agent will determine the CMT Rate to be a yield to maturity
based on the average of the secondary market offer side prices as of
approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the Interest Determination
Date of three Reference Dealers in New York City (selected using the same
method described above) for Treasury Notes with an original maturity of
the number of years that is the next highest to the Index Maturity and a
remaining term to maturity closest to the Index Maturity and in an amount
of at least $100,000,000.
. If three or four, but not five Reference Dealers are quoting as described
above, then the CMT Rate will be based on the average of the offered rates
obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of those quotations will
be eliminated.
. If fewer than three Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent
are quoting as described above, the CMT Rate will remain the CMT Rate then
in effect on the Interest Determination Date.
S-13
"Designated CMT Telerate Page" means the display page on the Bridge
Telerate, Inc. specified in a pricing supplement (or any other replacement page
displaying Treasury Constant Maturity as reported in H.15(519)). If no such
page is specified in the pricing supplement, the Designated CMT Telerate Page
shall be Telerate Page 7052 for the most recent week.
Commercial Paper Rate Notes. The "Commercial Paper Rate" for any Interest
Determination Date is the Money Market Yield of the rate on that date for
commercial paper having the Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement,
as published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
Calculation Date for that Interest Determination Date under the heading
"Commercial Paper -- Nonfinancial".
The following procedures will be followed if the Commercial Paper Rate
cannot be determined as described above:
. If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date, the Commercial Paper Rate will be the
Money Market Yield of the rate on that Interest Determination Date for
commercial paper having the Index Maturity described in the pricing
supplement, as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized
electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate,
under the caption "Commercial Paper -- Nonfinancial."
. If that rate is not published in H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date, then the calculation agent will
determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield of the
average of the offered rates of three leading dealers of U.S. dollar
commercial paper in New York City as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on
that Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the Index
Maturity described in the pricing supplement placed for an industrial
issuer whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent, from a nationally
recognized securities rating organization. The calculation agent will
select the three dealers referred to above.
. If fewer than three dealers selected by the calculation agent are quoting
as mentioned above, the Commercial Paper Rate will remain the Commercial
Paper Rate then in effect on that Interest Determination Date.
"Money Market Yield" is a yield calculated in accordance with the following
formula:
Money Market D X 360
Yield -------------
= 360 - (D X M) X 100
where "D" refers to the annual rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank
discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M" refers to the actual number
of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.
Federal Funds Rate Notes. The "Federal Funds Rate" for any Interest
Determination Date is the rate on that date for Federal Funds, as published in
H.15(519) prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the calculation date for
that Interest Determination Date under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)"
and/or displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page
120 (or any other page as may replace the specified page on that service)
("Telerate Page 120").
The following procedures will be followed if the Federal Funds Rate cannot
be determined as described above:
. If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date or does not appear on Telerate Page
120, the Federal Funds Rate will be the rate on that Interest
Determination Date, as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other
recognized electronic source for the purposes of displaying the applicable
rate, under the caption "Federal Funds (Effective)".
. If that rate is not published in H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the calculation date, then the calculation agent will
determine the Federal Funds Rate to be the average of the rates for the
last transaction in overnight federal funds quoted by three leading
brokers of Federal Funds transactions in New York City, selected by the
calculation agent, as of 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on that Interest
Determination Date.
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. If fewer than three brokers selected by the calculation agent are quoting
as mentioned above, the Federal Funds Rate will be the Federal Funds Rate
in effect on that Interest Determination Date.
LIBOR Notes. On each Interest Determination Date, the calculation agent will
determine LIBOR as follows:
. If "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the pricing supplement, LIBOR will be
the rate for deposits in the LIBOR currency having the Index Maturity
described in the pricing supplement on the applicable Interest
Determination Date, as such rate appears on the designated LIBOR page as
of 11:00 A.M., London time, on that Interest Determination Date.
. If "LIBOR Reuters" is described in the pricing supplement, LIBOR will be
the average of the offered rates for deposits in the LIBOR currency having
the Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement on the applicable
Interest Determination Date, as such rates appear on the designated LIBOR
page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on that Interest Determination Date,
if at least two such offered rates appear on the designated LIBOR page.
If the pricing supplement does not specify "LIBOR Telerate" or "LIBOR Reuters,"
the LIBOR Rate will be LIBOR Telerate. In addition, if the designated LIBOR
page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be
used regardless of the foregoing provisions requiring more than one rate.
On any Interest Determination Date on which fewer than the required number
of applicable rates appear or no rate appears on the applicable designated
LIBOR page, the calculation agent will determine LIBOR as follows:
. LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the offered rates at which
deposits in the LIBOR currency having the Index Maturity described in the
pricing supplement on the Interest Determination Date and in a principal
amount that is representative of a single transaction in that market at
that time are offered by four major banks in the London interbank market
at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on the Interest Determination
Date to prime banks in the London interbank market. The calculation agent
will select the four banks and request the principal London office of each
of those banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
quotations are provided, LIBOR for that Interest Determination Date will
be the average of those quotations.
. If fewer than two quotations are provided as mentioned above, LIBOR will
be the average of the rates quoted by three major banks in the Principal
Financial Center selected by the calculation agent at approximately 11:00
A.M. in the Principal Financial Center, on the Interest Determination Date
for loans to leading European banks in the LIBOR currency having the Index
Maturity designated in the pricing supplement on the Interest
Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a
single transaction in that market at that time. The calculation agent will
select the three banks referred to above.
. If fewer than three banks selected by the calculation agent are quoting as
mentioned above, LIBOR will remain LIBOR then in effect on the Interest
Determination Date.
"Principal Financial Center" is generally the capital city of the country of
the specified LIBOR Currency; however, for U.S. dollars, Australian dollars,
Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Italian lire and Swiss francs, the "Principal
Financial Center" is New York, Sydney and (solely in the case of the specified
currency) Melbourne, Toronto, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich, respectively.
Prime Rate Notes. The "Prime Rate" for any Interest Determination Date is
the prime rate or base lending rate on that date, as published in H.15(519) by
9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the calculation date for that Interest
Determination Date under the heading "Bank Prime Loan".
The following procedures will be followed if the Prime Rate cannot be
determined as described above:
. If the rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the calculation date, then the Prime Rate will be the rate as
published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source
used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption
"Bank Prime Loan."
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. If the rate described above does not appear in H.15(519), H.15 Daily
Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the calculation date, then the calculation agent will determine
the Prime Rate based on the rates as they appear on the Reuters screen US
PRIME 1. If at least one rate, but fewer than four rates appear on the
Reuters screen US Prime 1 on the Interest Determination Date, then the
Prime Rate will be the average of the prime rates or base lending rates
quoted (on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a
360-day year) as of the close of business on the Interest Determination
Date by four major money center banks in New York City selected by the
calculation agent.
. If fewer than two rates appear on the Reuters screen as US Prime 1, then
the Prime Rate will be the average of the Prime Rates furnished in New
York City by the appropriate number of substitute banks or trust companies
(all organized under the United States or any of its states and having
total equity capital of at least $500,000,000) selected by the calculation
agent, on the Interest Determination Date.
. If the banks selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as
mentioned above, the Prime Rate will remain the Prime Rate then in effect
on the Interest Determination Date.
"Reuters screen US PRIME 1" means the display designated as page "US PRIME
1" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may
replace the US PRIME 1 page on that service for the purpose of displaying prime
rates or base lending rates of major United States banks).
Treasury Rate Notes. The "Treasury Rate" for any Interest Determination Date
is the rate set at the auction of direct obligations of the United States
("Treasury bills") having the Index Maturity described in the pricing
supplement, as published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
calculation date for that Interest Determination Date under the heading "U.S.
Government Securities--Treasury bills--auction average (investment)" and/or
displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page 56 (or
any other page as may replace that page on that service) ("Telerate Page 56")
or page 57 (or any other page as may replace that page on that service)
("Telerate Page 57").
The following procedures will be followed if the Treasury Rate cannot be
determined as described above:
. If the rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City
time, or displayed on Telerate Page 56 or Telerate Page 57 on the
calculation date, the Treasury Rate will be the auction average rate
(expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days,
as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) as otherwise announced by the
United States Department of the Treasury on the calculation date.
. If the results of the most recent auction of Treasury bills having the
Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement are not published or
announced as described above by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
calculation date, or if no auction is held on the Interest Determination
Date, then the calculation agent will determine the Treasury Rate to be a
yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent, on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the
average of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 P.M.,
New York City time, on the Interest Determination Date of three leading
primary United States government securities dealers, selected by the
calculation agent, for the issue of Treasury bills with a remaining
maturity closest to the Index Maturity described in the pricing supplement.
. If fewer than three dealers selected by the calculation agent are quoting
as mentioned above, the Treasury Rate will remain the Treasury Rate then
in effect on that Interest Determination Date.
Original Issue Discount Notes
We may issue original issue discount notes (including zero coupon notes)
("OID Notes") which are notes issued at a discount from the principal amount
payable at the maturity date. There may not be any periodic interest payments
on OID Notes. For these notes, interest normally accrues during the life of the
notes and is paid at the maturity date or upon earlier redemption. Upon an
acceleration of the maturity of an OID Note, the amount payable is determined
in accordance with the terms of the note as described in the pricing
supplement. That amount is normally less than the amount payable at the
maturity date.
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Amortizing Notes
We may issue Amortizing Notes, which are Fixed Rate Notes for which combined
principal and interest payments are made in installments over the life of the
notes. Payments on Amortizing Notes are applied first to interest due and then
to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount. Unless otherwise specified in
the applicable pricing supplement, interest on each Amortizing Note will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The pricing
supplement for an Amortizing Note will include a table setting forth repayment
information.
Indexed Notes
We may issue notes for which the amount of interest or principal that you
will receive will not be known on your date of purchase. Interest or principal
payments for these types of notes, which we call "Indexed Notes", are
determined by reference to securities, financial or non-financial indices,
currencies, commodities, interest rates, or composites or baskets of any or all
of the above. Examples of indexed items that may be used include a published
stock index, the common stock price of a publicly traded company, the value of
the U.S. dollar versus the Japanese Yen, or the price of a barrel of West Texas
intermediate crude oil. The formula for calculating the amount of interest or
principal payments, as well as the indexed item that will be used, will be
included in the pricing supplement.
The following are examples of types of Indexed Notes:
. Notes with a maturity of seven years that pay zero interest, but provide a
principal payment at maturity equal to the face amount of the notes plus
an additional amount equal to (a) the face amount (or a specified portion
of the face amount) multiplied by (b) the percentage that the indexed item
has increased during the term of the notes.
. Notes with a maturity of five years and a face amount equal to the price
of the common stock of a publicly traded corporation on the issuance date.
You will receive a stated fixed rate of interest that will be
significantly higher than the dividend yield of that corporation's common
stock as of the date of issuance of the notes. At maturity, you will
receive a principal amount equal to the price of the common stock as of
five business days prior to the maturity date. That principal amount may
be higher or lower than the face amount of the notes. However, no matter
how high the price of the common stock has risen, the principal amount
that you receive on the maturity date may or may not be limited to the
face amount of the notes.
. Notes with a maturity of five years that pay a rate of interest that is
0.40% per year greater than the interest rate that you would earn if at
the same time you had purchased conventional notes issued by us with the
same maturity. In addition, the principal payment at maturity will be
equal to the face amount only if there is no default on any of four
investment grade, publicly traded corporate bonds (each with a different
issuer) that will be specified in the pricing supplement.
If you purchase an Indexed Note, you may receive a principal amount at
maturity that is greater than or less than the note's face amount, and an
interest rate that is greater than or less than the interest rate that you
would have earned if you had instead purchased a conventional debt security
issued by us at the same time with the same maturity. The amount of interest
and principal that you will receive will depend on the structure of the Indexed
Note and the level of the specified indexed item throughout the term of the
Indexed Note and at maturity. Specific information pertaining to the method of
determining the interest payments and the principal amount will be described in
the pricing supplement, as well as additional risk factors unique to the
Indexed Note, certain historical information for the specified indexed item and
certain additional United States federal tax considerations.
Renewable Notes
We may issue renewable notes which are notes which will automatically renew
at their maturity date unless the holder of the renewable note elects to
terminate the automatic extension feature by giving notice in the manner
described in the pricing supplement.
The holder of the renewable note must give notice of termination at least 15
but not more than 30 days prior to the renewal date. The holder of a renewable
note may terminate the automatic extension for less
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than all of their renewable notes only if the terms of the note specifically
permit partial termination. An election to terminate the automatic extension of
any portion of the renewable note is not revocable and will be binding on the
holder of the note. If the holder elects to terminate the automatic extension
of the maturity of the note, the holder will become entitled to the principal
and interest accrued up to the renewal date. The pricing supplement will
identify a final maturity date beyond which the maturity date cannot be renewed.
If a note is represented by a Global Note, DTC or its nominee will be the
holder of the note and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a
right to terminate the automatic extension of a note. In order to ensure that
DTC or its nominee will timely exercise a right to terminate the automatic
extension provisions of a particular note, the beneficial owner of the note
must instruct the broker or other DTC participant through which it holds an
interest in the note to notify DTC of its desire to terminate the automatic
extension of the note. Different firms have different cut-off times for
accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial
owner should consult the broker or other participant through which it holds an
interest in a note to ascertain the cut-off time by which an instruction must
be given for delivery of timely notice to DTC or its nominee.
Extendible Notes
We may issue extendible notes which are notes for which the stated maturity
date may be extended at our option for one or more whole year periods, up to
but not beyond a final maturity date described in the pricing supplement.
We may exercise our option to extend the extendible note by notifying the
applicable Trustee (or any duly appointed paying agent) at least 45 but not
more than 60 days prior to the then effective maturity date. If we elect to
extend the extendible note, the Trustee (or paying agent) will mail (at least
40 days prior to the maturity date) a notice to the registered holder of the
extendible note informing the holder of our election, the new maturity date and
any updated terms. Upon the mailing of such notice, the maturity of the
extendible note will be extended automatically as set forth in the notice.
However, we may, not later than 20 days prior to the maturity date of an
extendible note (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the immediately
succeeding Business Day), at our option, establish a higher interest rate, in
the case of a Fixed Rate Note, or a higher Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, in
the case of a Floating Rate Note, for the extension period by mailing or
causing the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) to mail notice of such higher
interest rate or higher Spread and/or Spread Multiplier to the holder of the
note. The notice will be irrevocable.
If we elect to extend the maturity of an extendible note, the holder of the
note will have the option to instead elect repayment of the note by us on the
then effective maturity date. In order for an extendible note to be repaid on
the maturity date, we must receive, at least 15 but not more than 30 days prior
to the maturity date:
(1) the note with the form "Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of
the note duly completed; or
(2) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member
of a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States
setting forth the name of the holder of the note, the principal amount of
the note, the principal amount of the note to be repaid, the certificate
number or a description of the tenor and terms of the note, a statement that
the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and a guarantee
that the note to be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled
"Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of the note, will be received by
the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) not later than the fifth Business
Day after the date of the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter;
provided, however, that the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter shall only be effective if the note and form duly completed are
received by the applicable Trustee (or paying agent) by that fifth Business
Day. The option may be exercised by the holder of an extendible note for
less than the aggregate principal amount of the note then outstanding if the
principal amount of the note remaining outstanding after repayment is an
authorized denomination.
If a note is represented by a Global Note, DTC or its nominee will be the
holder of that note and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a
right to repayment. To ensure that DTC or its nominee timely
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exercises a right to repayment with respect to a particular note, the
beneficial owner of that note must instruct the broker or other participant
through which it holds an interest in the note to notify DTC of its desire to
exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for
accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial
owner should consult the broker or other participant through which it holds an
interest in a note to determine the cut-off time by which an instruction must
be given for timely notice to be delivered to DTC or its nominee.
Warrants and Units
We may issue notes paired with Warrants and with Units (which may consist of
a combination of notes, other Debt Securities and Warrants). A description of
the Warrants and Units to be issued with notes will be included in the pricing
supplement.
Redemption
The pricing supplement will indicate whether we may redeem the notes prior
to their stated maturity date. If we may redeem the notes prior to their stated
maturity date, the pricing supplement will describe the redemption price and
method for redemption.
Repayment
The pricing supplement will indicate whether the notes can be repaid at the
holder's option prior to their stated maturity date. If the notes may be repaid
prior to maturity, the pricing supplement will indicate the cost to repay the
notes and the procedure for repayment.
Repurchase
We may at any time purchase notes at any price or prices in the open market
or otherwise. If we purchase notes in this manner, we have the discretion to
either hold, resell or surrender the notes to the applicable Trustee for
cancellation.
UNITED STATES TAXATION
The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income tax
consequences relating to your purchase, ownership and sale of notes. It is
based upon the relevant laws and rules which are now in effect and as they are
currently interpreted. However, these laws and rules may be changed at any
time. This discussion does not deal with the federal tax consequences
applicable to all categories of investors. In particular, the discussion does
not deal with those of you who may be in special tax situations, such as
dealers in securities, insurance companies, financial institutions or
tax-exempt entities. It does not include any description of the tax laws of any
state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that may be
applicable to the notes or to you as holders of the notes. This summary also
may not apply to all forms of notes that we may issue. If the tax consequences
associated with a particular form of note are different than those described
below, they will be discussed in the pricing supplement relating to that note.
The federal income tax discussion that appears below is included in this
prospectus supplement for your general information. Some or all of the
discussion may not apply to you depending upon your particular situation. You
should consult your tax advisor for the tax consequences to you of owning and
disposing of the notes, including the tax consequences under state, local,
foreign and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or
other tax laws.
This discussion is divided into four sections. The section entitled "United
States Holders," applies to you only if you are a "United States person." If
you are a United States person, you should read the section entitled "United
States Holders". If you are not a United States person, you should read the
section captioned "Non-United States Holders". All of you should read the
section entitled "Backup Withholding and Information Reporting," and the
section entitled "State and Local Taxation".
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United States Holders
Payment of Interest
Interest on a note generally is taxable to you as ordinary income at the
time you accrue or receive the interest in accordance with your accounting
method for tax purposes. However, special rules apply to the treatment of
interest on a note that is issued with "Original Issue Discount." These special
rules are described below in the subsections entitled "Original Issue Discount."
Purchase, Sale and Retirement of Notes
Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a note, you will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize
from the disposition and your tax basis in the note.
Your tax basis in a note initially is your cost for the note. This amount is
increased by any "original issue discount" or "market discount" previously
included by you in income for the note and is decreased by the amount of any
"bond premium" you previously amortized, and the amount of any payment (other
than a payment of "qualified stated interest") you have received for the note.
Gain or loss realized by you on the sale, exchange, retirement or other
disposition of a note generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the
note has been held for more than one year. However, any gain that represents
market discount that you have not previously included in income will instead be
ordinary income. The terms "market discount" and "bond premium" are defined in
the next two paragraphs. "Original issue discount" and "qualified stated
interest" are discussed in the subsection below entitled "Original Issue
Discount".
If your tax basis for a note is less than its principal amount, the note may
have "market discount." In general, if you realize gain on the disposition or
repayment of principal of a note, that gain is treated as ordinary income
rather than capital gain to the extent of the market discount accrued while you
held the note. However, you instead may elect to accrue market discount into
income on a current basis. If you elect to accrue market discount currently,
the election will apply to all market discount obligations you acquired during
the first taxable year for which you made the election. Once you make that
election, you may not revoke it without the consent of the IRS. Market discount
will be treated as accruing on a straight-line basis or, at your election,
based on a constant interest method. You should be aware that if you do not
elect to include market discount on a current basis, you may be required to
defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest expense on any
indebtedness you incur or purchase or carry any note having market discount
until the maturity date of the note, or until you dispose of the note in a
taxable transaction.
If your tax basis for a note is greater than its principal amount, the note
may have "bond premium." You may elect to amortize that bond premium as an
offset to the interest income you report over the remaining life of the note
under a constant interest method. However, if we may redeem the note at a price
greater than its principal amount, special rules would apply that could require
you to defer the amortization of some bond premium until later in the term of
the note. If you do not elect to amortize bond premium, the bond premium is a
capital loss when the bond matures or when you sell it.
If a note provides for contingent payments (as in the case of certain
Indexed Notes), special rules may apply to the treatment of the note. Under
those rules, any gain you realize when you sell or dispose of a note will be
ordinary income if the contingencies relating to the payments are unresolved at
the time of disposition and some or all of any loss may be ordinary. Different
rules also may apply to the treatment of market discount, premium and the
calculation of your tax basis for the note. If a note will provide for
contingent payments, these rules will be discussed in greater detail in the
pricing supplement.
Original Issue Discount
Some of your notes may be issued with original issue discount ("OID"). For
tax purposes, OID is the excess of the "stated redemption price at maturity" of
a debt instrument over its "issue price", if that excess equals or exceeds 1/4
of 1% of the debt instrument's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied
by the number of complete years from its issue date to its maturity or weighted
average maturity in the case of installment obligations (the "OID de minimis
amount"). The "stated redemption price at maturity" of a note is the sum of all
payments required to be made on the note other than "qualified stated interest"
payments. The "issue price" of a note is generally the first offering price to
the public at which a substantial amount of
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the debt instrument is sold. The term "qualified stated interest" generally
means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property
(other than debt instruments of the issuer), or that is treated as
constructively received, at least annually at a single fixed rate or, under
certain conditions in connection with the special rules relating to Floating
Rate Notes, at a variable rate. If a note bears interest during any accrual
period at a rate below the rate applicable for the remaining term of the note
(for example, notes with teaser rates or interest holidays), and if the greater
of either the reduction in interest on that note or the excess of the stated
principal amount over its issue price exceeds the OID de minimis amount, then
some or all of the stated interest will not be qualified stated interest.
You are required to include qualified stated interest payments in income as
interest when you accrue or receive those payments (in accordance with your
accounting method for tax purposes). If you hold a note with OID (an "OID
Note") with a maturity of more than one year, you may be required to include
OID in income before you receive the associated cash payment, regardless of
your accounting method for tax purposes. If you are an initial purchaser of an
OID Note, the amount of the OID you should include in income is the sum of the
daily accruals of the OID for the note for each day during the taxable year (or
portion of the taxable year) in which you held the OID Note. The daily portion
is determined by allocating the OID for each day of the accrual period. An
accrual period may be of any length and the accrual periods may even vary in
length over the term of the OID Note, provided that each accrual period is no
longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs
either on the first day of an accrual period or on the final day of an accrual
period. The amount of OID allocable to an accrual period is equal to the
difference between (1) the product of the "adjusted issue price" of the OID
Note at the beginning of the accrual period and its yield to maturity (computed
generally on a constant yield method and compounded at the end of each accrual
period, taking into account the length of the particular accrual period) and
(2) the amount of any qualified stated interest allocable to the accrual
period. The "adjusted issue price" of an OID Note at the beginning of any
accrual period is the sum of the issue price of the OID Note plus the amount of
OID allocable to all prior accrual periods reduced by any payments you received
on the note that were not qualified stated interest. Under these rules, you
will generally have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in
successive accrual periods.
If you are not an initial purchaser of an OID Note and you purchase an OID
Note for greater than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date and less
than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the OID Note after the
purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, you will have
purchased the OID Note at an "acquisition premium." Under the acquisition
premium rules, the amount of OID which you must include in your gross income
for the note for any taxable year (or any portion of a taxable year in which
you hold the note) will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the
acquisition premium allocated to the period.
Instead of reporting under your normal accounting method, you may elect to
include in gross income all interest that accrues on a note by using the
constant yield method applicable to OID, subject to certain limitations and
exceptions. For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest,
acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID market discount, de minimis market
discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or
acquisition premium.
Renewable Notes, Floating Rate Notes, Extendible Notes and Indexed Notes
Special United States federal income tax rules for Renewable Notes, Floating
Rate Notes, Extendible Notes or Indexed Notes will be discussed in the pricing
supplements.
Reopenings
The IRS recently issued final regulations regarding whether additional debt
instruments issued in a reopening will be considered part of the same issue,
with the same issue price and yield to maturity, as the original debt
instruments for tax purposes. The new regulations apply to reopenings after
March 12, 2001. Except as provided in a pricing supplement, we expect that
additional notes issued by us in any reopening after March 12, 2001 will be
issued such that they will be considered part of the original issuance to which
they relate.
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Non-United States Holders
This section discusses the principal United States tax consequences
applicable to Non-United States Holders of purchasing, owning and selling notes.
Principal (and premium, if any) and interest payments, including any OID,
that you receive from us or our agent generally will not be subject to United
States federal withholding tax. However, interest, including any OID, may be
subject to a 30% withholding tax (or less under an applicable treaty, if any)
if (1) you actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (2) you are a
controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes that is related
to us (directly or indirectly) through stock ownership, (3) you are a bank
extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement in the ordinary course of your
trade or business or (4) either (A) you do not certify to us or our agent,
under penalties of perjury, that you are a Non-United States person and provide
your name and address, or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank or other
financial institution that holds customer securities in the ordinary course of
its trade or business (a "financial institution") and holds the note does not
certify to us or our agent under penalties of perjury that either it or another
financial institution has received the required statement from you certifying
that you are a Non-United States person and furnishes us with a copy of the
statement.
If you are in a trade or business in the United States and interest,
including any OID, on the note is effectively connected with the conduct of
your trade or business, you may be subject to United States federal income tax
on that interest and any OID in the same manner as if you were a United States
person. You should read the material under the heading "United States Holders,"
for a description of the United States tax consequences of purchasing, owning
and selling notes. If you are a foreign corporation, you may also be subject to
a branch profits tax equal to 30% of your effectively connected earnings and
profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments. Instead of the
certification described in the preceding paragraph, if you have effectively
connected interest income you must provide the payer with a properly executed
IRS Form W-8ECI to claim an exemption from United States federal withholding
tax.
You will not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholding
taxes on any capital gain or market discount you realize upon retirement or
disposition of a note if (1) the gain is not effectively connected with a
United States trade or business carried on by you, and (2) you are an
individual, and you are not present in the United States for 183 days or more
in the taxable year of the retirement or disposition.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
The payment of principal and interest and the accrual of OID, if any, are
generally subject to information reporting and possibly to "backup withholding"
at a rate of 31%. Information reporting means that the payment is required to
be reported to you and to the IRS. Backup withholding means that the payor is
required to collect and deposit 31% of your payment with the IRS as a tax
payment on your behalf.
If you are a United States person (other than a corporation or certain
exempt organizations), you may be subject to backup withholding if you do not
supply an accurate taxpayer identification number and certify that your
taxpayer identification number is correct. You may also be subject to backup
withholding if the United States Secretary of the Treasury determines that you
have not reported all interest and dividend income required to be shown on your
federal income tax return or if you do not certify that you have not
underreported your interest and dividend income. If you are not a United States
person, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to payments
made to you if you have provided the required certification that you are a
Non-United States person, as described under the heading "Non-United
States Holders," or you otherwise establish an exemption (provided that the
payor does not have actual knowledge that you are a United States person or
that the conditions of any exemption are not satisfied).
In addition, payments of the proceeds from the sale of a note to or through
a foreign office of a broker or the foreign office of a custodian, nominee or
other dealer acting on your behalf generally will not be subject to information
reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker, custodian, nominee or
other dealer is a United States person, the government of the United States or
the government of any State or political subdivision of any State (or any
agency or instrumentality of any of these governmental units), a controlled
foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, a foreign partnership that
is either engaged in a United States trade or business or whose United States
partners in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income
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or capital interest in the partnership, a foreign person 50% or more of whose
gross income for a certain period is effectively connected with a United States
trade or business, or a United States branch of a foreign bank or insurance
company, information reporting (but not backup withholding) will generally be
required with respect to payments made to you unless the broker has
documentation of your foreign status and the broker has no actual knowledge to
the contrary (or you otherwise establish an exemption from information
reporting).
Payment of the proceeds from a sale of a note to or through the United
States office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup
withholding, unless you certify as to your non-United States status or
otherwise establish an exemption from information reporting and backup
withholding.
Any amounts withheld from your payment under the backup withholding rules
would be refundable or allowable as a credit against your United States federal
income tax liability.
State and Local Taxation
You may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local
jurisdictions, including those in which you transact business or reside. It is
important that you consult your own tax advisor regarding the effect of state
and local tax laws on the purchase, ownership or sale of the notes.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the notes (1) through agents who solicit offers to purchase the
notes, (2) through agents purchasing as principal and acting as underwriters or
dealers or (3) directly to investors.
Distribution Through Agents
We may sell the notes on a continuing basis through agents that become
parties to a Distribution Agreement, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to
our registration statements (the "Distribution Agreement"). Each agent's
obligations are separate and several from those of any other agent. Each agent
will use best efforts when requested by us to solicit purchases of the notes.
We will pay each agent a commission to be negotiated at the time of sale. The
commission may range from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of each note
sold through that agent. We will receive from 99.875% to 99.250% of the
principal amount of each note, before deducting a portion of the aggregate
offering expenses of approximately $600,000.
Distribution Through Underwriters
We also may sell notes to any agent, acting as principal, for its own
account or for resale to one or more investors or other purchasers, including
other broker-dealers.
The agents may sell any notes they have purchased as principal to any dealer
at a discount. The discount allowed to any dealer will not be in excess of the
discount to be received by the agent from us. Any note sold to an agent as
principal is purchased by that agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal
amount of that note less a percentage ranging from .125% to .750% of that
principal amount. The notes may be resold by the agent to investors and other
purchasers from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined
at the time of sale, or the notes may be resold to certain dealers as described
above. After the initial public offering of any notes, the public offering
price and discount may be changed.
Direct Sales
We may sell notes directly to investors, without the involvement of any
agent or underwriter. In this case, we would not be obligated to pay any
commission or discount in connection with the sale.
General Information
The name of any agents or other persons through which we sell any notes, as
well as any commissions or discounts payable to those agents or other persons,
will be set forth in the pricing supplement. As of the date of this prospectus
supplement, the agents include Banc of America Securities LLC, Bear, Stearns &
Co. Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
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We will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase notes and may, in
our absolute discretion, reject any proposed purchase of notes in whole or in
part. Each agent will have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised,
to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of notes through it.
Any agent, underwriter or dealer that participates in the offering of the
notes may be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. We have
agreed to indemnify each agent and certain other persons against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also
agreed to reimburse the agents for certain expenses.
We also may accept offers to purchase notes through additional agents on
substantially the same terms and conditions (including commissions) as would
apply to purchases by agents under the Distribution Agreement.
We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange. The agents
have advised us that they may purchase and sell the notes in the secondary
market from time to time. However, no agent is obligated to do so and any agent
may discontinue making a market in the notes at any time without notice. No
assurance can be given as to the existence or liquidity of any secondary market
for the notes.
In connection with certain offerings of the notes purchased by one or more
agents as principal on a fixed offering price basis, agents may engage in
overallotment, stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions in
accordance with Regulation M under the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create
a short position for the agents. A short position may be reduced by buying
notes in the open market. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the
notes in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the
price of the notes. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the
notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to
cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering
transactions may cause the price of the notes to be higher than it would
otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. Those activities, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
The offer and sale of any notes by Banc of America Securities LLC or any of
our other affiliates will comply with the requirements of Rule 2720 of the
Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. regarding
a member firm's underwriting securities of an affiliate. As required by Rule
2720, any such offer and sale will not be made to any discretionary account
without the prior approval of the customer.
Following any initial distribution of the notes, our affiliates may offer
and sell the notes in the course of their business as a broker-dealer and may
act as principal, agent or remarketing agent. This prospectus supplement may be
delivered in connection with effecting such transactions. Any such sales will
be made at negotiated prices relating to prevailing market prices at the time
of sale.
Each of the agents or their affiliates provides or has provided investment
or commercial banking services to us from time to time in the ordinary course
of our business.
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PROSPECTUS
[LOGO] Bank of America
Bank of America Corporate Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
(704) 386-5000
$15,000,000,000
Debt Securities, Warrants, Units, Preferred Stock,
Depositary Shares and Common Stock
We may offer and sell from time to time up to $15,000,000,000 (or the U.S.
dollar equivalent) of:
. debt securities
. warrants to purchase our debt securities or securities of other
unaffiliated issuers
. a combination of securities issued in the form of units
. preferred stock
. fractional interests in preferred stock represented by depositary shares
. common stock.
We may also issue common stock upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any of
the securities listed above.
When we sell a particular series of securities, we will prepare a prospectus
supplement describing the offering and terms of that series of securities. You
should read this prospectus and that prospectus supplement carefully. The
securities described in this prospectus may be denominated in U.S. dollars or a
foreign currency as described in the prospectus supplement.
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Our debt securities are unsecured and are not savings accounts, deposits or
other obligations of a bank. The securities are not guaranteed by any bank and
are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission
nor the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of North Carolina has approved
or disapproved the securities to be issued under this prospectus or determined
if this prospectus is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary
is a criminal offense.
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The date of this prospectus is August 5, 1999.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC using a "shelf" registration or continuous offering process. We may from
time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this
prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of
$15,000,000,000 or the equivalent of this amount in foreign currencies or
foreign currency units.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we
may offer. Each time we sell securities we will provide you with a prospectus
supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities
being offered. The prospectus supplement which contains specific information
about the terms of the securities being offered will also include a discussion
of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences and any risk factors or other
special considerations applicable to those securities. The prospectus
supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If
there is any inconsistency between the information in the prospectus and the
prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus
supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can
Find More Information" beginning on page 32 of this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and in
any prospectus supplement including the information incorporated by reference.
Neither we, nor any underwriters or agents, have authorized anyone to provide
you with different information. We are not offering the securities in any state
where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in
this prospectus, or any supplement to this prospectus, is accurate at any date
other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all
references in this prospectus to "we," "us," "our," or similar references mean
Bank of America Corporation.
2
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
General
Bank of America Corporation is the successor issuer to NationsBank
Corporation ("NationsBank"). On September 25, 1998, NationsBank was
reincorporated from North Carolina to Delaware. On September 30, 1998,
BankAmerica Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("BA"), was merged with and
into NationsBank, with NationsBank as the surviving corporation in the merger.
Upon completion of the merger, NationsBank changed its name to
"BankAmerica Corporation." On April 28, 1999, we changed the name of our
company to "Bank of America Corporation."
We are a multi-bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956. Our principal assets are the shares of stock of Bank of
America, N.A. and our other banking and nonbanking subsidiaries. Through those
subsidiaries, we provide a diverse range of banking and nonbanking financial
services and products throughout the United States and in selected
international markets.
We, and our subsidiaries, are subject to supervision by United States
federal and state banking and other regulatory authorities.
Business Segment Operations
We report the results of our operations through four business segments: (1)
Consumer Banking, (2) Commercial Banking, (3) Global Corporate and Investment
Banking and (4) Principal Investing and Asset Management.
Our Consumer Banking segment provides comprehensive retail banking services
to individuals and small businesses through multiple delivery channels,
including approximately 4,700 banking centers and 14,000 automated teller
machines. These banking centers and automated teller machines are located
principally throughout our franchise and serve approximately 30 million
households in 21 states and the District of Columbia. This segment also
provides specialized services such as the origination and servicing of
residential mortgage loans, issuance and servicing of credit cards, direct
banking via telephone and personal computer, student lending and certain
insurance services. The consumer finance component provides mortgage, home
equity and automobile loans to consumers, retail finance programs to dealers
and lease financing to purchasers of new and used cars.
Our Commercial Banking segment provides a wide range of commercial banking
services for businesses with annual revenues of up to $500 million. Services
provided include commercial lending, treasury and cash management services,
asset-backed lending and factoring. Also included in this segment are our
commercial finance operations which provide: equipment loans and leases, loans
for debt restructuring, mergers and working capital, real estate and healthcare
financing and inventory financing to manufacturers, distributors and dealers.
Our Global Corporate and Investment Banking segment provides a broad array
of financial and investment banking products such as capital-raising products,
trade finance, treasury management, investment banking, capital markets,
leasing and financial advisory services to domestic and international
corporations, financial institutions and government entities. Clients are
supported through offices in 37 countries in four distinct geographic regions:
United States and Canada; Asia; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Latin
America. Products and services provided include loan origination, cash
management, foreign exchange, leasing, leveraged finance, project finance, real
estate, senior bank debt, structured finance and trade services. Our Global
Corporate and Investment Banking segment also provides commercial banking
services for businesses with annual revenues of $500 million or more. Through a
separate subsidiary, Banc of America Securities LLC, Global Corporate and
Investment Banking is a primary dealer of United States
3
Government securities, underwrites and makes markets in equity securities, and
underwrites and deals in high-grade and high-yield corporate debt securities,
commercial paper, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, federal agencies
securities and municipal securities. Debt and equity securities research, loan
syndications, mergers and acquisitions advisory services and private placements
are also provided through Banc of America Securities LLC. Additionally, our
Global Corporate and Investment Banking segment is a market maker in derivative
products, which include swap agreements, option contracts, forward settlement
contracts, financial futures and other derivative products in certain interest
rate, foreign exchange, commodity and equity markets. In support of these
activities, Global Corporate and Investment Banking takes positions in
securities to support client demands and for its own account.
Our Principal Investing and Asset Management segment includes Asset
Management which provides asset management, banking and trust services for high
net worth clients both in the United States and internationally through the
Private Bank. In addition, this segment provides full service and discount
brokerage, investment advisory and investment management, as well as advisory
services for our affiliated family of mutual funds. The Principal Investing
area includes direct equity investments in businesses and investments in
general partnership funds.
Acquisitions and Sales
As part of our operations, we regularly evaluate the potential acquisition
of, and hold discussions with, various financial institutions and other
businesses that are eligible for bank holding company ownership or control. In
addition, we regularly analyze the values of, and submit bids for, the
acquisition of customer-based funds and other liabilities and assets of such
financial institutions and other businesses. We also regularly consider the
potential disposition of certain of our assets, branches, subsidiaries or lines
of business. As a general rule, we publicly announce any material acquisitions
or dispositions when a definitive agreement has been reached.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we describe a different use in a prospectus supplement, we will use
net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes.
General corporate purposes include:
. our working capital needs;
. investments in, or extensions of credit to, our banking and nonbanking
subsidiaries;
. the possible acquisitions of other financial institutions or their assets
or liabilities;
. the possible acquisitions of or investments in other businesses; and
. the possible reduction of outstanding indebtedness or the repurchase of
our outstanding equity securities.
We will temporarily invest the net proceeds pending its use. We may, from
time to time, engage in additional capital financings as we determine
appropriate based on our needs and prevailing market conditions.
4
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements for each of
the years in the five year period ended December 31, 1998 and for the three
months ended March 31, 1999 are as follows:
Year Ended
December 31, Three Months
------------------------ Ended
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 March 31, 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------------
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding interest on deposits.......................... 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 1.8 2.3
Including interest on deposits.......................... 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.6
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
Stock Dividends:
Excluding interest on deposits.......................... 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 1.8 2.3
Including interest on deposits.......................... 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6
. The consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated as
follows:
net income before taxes + fixed charges - equity in undistributed earnings
or losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries
------------------------------------------------------------
fixed charges
. The consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends is calculated as follows:
net income before taxes + fixed charges - equity in undistributed earnings
or losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries
------------------------------------------------------------
fixed charges + preferred stock dividend requirements
Fixed charges consist of:
. interest expense, which we calculate excluding interest on deposits in one
case and including that interest in the other,
. amortization of debt discount and appropriate issuance costs, and
. one-third (the amount deemed to represent an appropriate interest factor)
of net rent expense under lease commitments.
Preferred stock dividend requirements represent dividend requirements on the
outstanding preferred stock adjusted to reflect the pre-tax earnings that would
be required to cover such dividend requirements.
5
REGULATORY MATTERS
The following discussion describes elements of an extensive regulatory
framework applicable to bank holding companies and banks and specific
information about us and our subsidiaries. Federal regulation of banks and bank
holding companies is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and
the Bank Insurance Fund rather than stockholders or creditors.
General
As a bank holding company, we are subject to the supervision of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Our bank subsidiaries are subject to
supervision and examination by applicable federal agencies, principally the
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Because bank deposits are insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), our bank subsidiaries are
also subject to that agency's regulations. In addition to the impact of
regulation, commercial banks are affected significantly by the actions of the
Federal Reserve Board as it attempts to control the money supply and credit
availability to influence the economy.
As a bank holding company, we are also subject to regulation under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 (the "BHCA"), and to the BHCA's examination and
reporting requirements. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies generally may
not acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of more than five percent
of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of any company,
including a bank, without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. In
addition, bank holding companies are prohibited under the BHCA from engaging in
nonbanking activities other than those that the Federal Reserve Board has
determined are closely related to banking.
Interstate Banking
Pursuant to the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act
of 1994 (the "Interstate Banking and Branching Act"), a bank holding company
may acquire banks in states other than its home state without regard to the
permissibility of such acquisitions under state law, but is subject to any
state requirement that the banks have been organized and operating for a
minimum period of time, not to exceed five years, and the requirement that the
bank holding company, before or after the proposed acquisition, controls no
more than 10 percent of the total amount of deposits of insured depository
institutions in the United States and no more than 30 percent, or such lesser
or greater amount set by state law, of such deposits in that state.
The Interstate Banking and Branching Act also authorizes, subject to certain
restrictions, banks to merge across state lines and to create interstate
branches. The Interstate Banking and Branching Act also permits a bank to open
new branches in a state in which it does not already have banking operations if
the state enacts a law permitting such branching. To the extent permitted under
these laws, we plan to consolidate our banking subsidiaries, other than our
limited purpose credit card bank, into a single bank. As of July 23, 1999, we
operate one interstate bank, Bank of America, N.A., headquartered in Charlotte,
North Carolina, with domestic offices primarily in Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland,
Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia. We also
operate separate banks in Arizona and California. In addition, we have a
federal savings bank headquartered in Portland, Oregon with branch offices in
several states. As previously described, we regularly evaluate merger and
acquisition opportunities and anticipate that we will continue that practice.
Capital and Operational Requirements
The Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller and the FDIC have issued
substantially similar risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to
United States banking organizations. In addition, these regulatory agencies may
from time to time require that a banking organization
6
maintain capital above the minimum levels, based on its financial condition or
actual or anticipated growth. The Federal Reserve Board risk-based guidelines
define a three-tier capital framework. Tier 1 capital consists of common and
qualifying preferred shareholders' equity, less certain intangibles and other
adjustments. Tier 2 capital consists of preferred stock not qualifying as Tier
1 capital, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for credit
losses up to 1.25 percent of risk weighted assets. Tier 3 capital includes
subordinated debt that is unsecured, fully paid, has an original maturity of at
least two years, is not redeemable before maturity without the prior approval
by the Federal Reserve and includes a lock-in clause precluding payment of
either interest or principal if the payment would cause the issuing bank's
risk-based capital ratio to fall or remain below the required minimum. The sum
of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital less investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries
represents qualifying total capital, at least 50 percent of which must consist
of Tier 1 capital. Risk-based capital ratios are calculated by dividing Tier 1
and total capital by risk-weighted assets. Assets and off-balance sheet
exposures are assigned to one of four categories of risk-weights, based
primarily on relative credit risk. The minimum Tier 1 capital ratio is 4
percent and the minimum total capital ratio is 8 percent. Our Tier 1 and total
risk-based capital ratios under these guidelines at March 31, 1999 were 7.40
percent and 11.17 percent, respectively. At March 31, 1999, we did not have any
subordinated debt that qualified as Tier 3 capital.
The leverage ratio is determined by dividing Tier 1 capital by adjusted
quarterly average total assets. Although the stated minimum ratio is 3 percent,
most banking organizations are required to maintain ratios of at least 100 to
200 basis points above 3 percent. Our leverage ratio at March 31, 1999 was 6.47
percent. We believe that we meet the leverage ratio requirement.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991
("FDICIA"), among other things, identifies five capital categories for insured
depository institutions (well capitalized, adequately capitalized,
undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically
undercapitalized) and requires the respective Federal bank regulatory agencies
to implement systems for "prompt corrective action" for insured depository
institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements within such
categories. This act imposes progressively more constraints on operations,
management and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an
institution is classified. Failure to meet the capital guidelines could also
subject a banking institution to capital raising requirements. In addition,
this act requires the various regulatory agencies to prescribe certain
non-capital standards for safety and soundness relating generally to operations
and management, asset quality and executive compensation and permits regulatory
action against a financial institution that does not meet such standards.
Banking regulatory agencies have adopted regulations that define the five
capital categories identified by this act, using the total risk-based capital,
Tier 1 risk-based capital and leverage capital ratios as the relevant capital
measures. Under those regulations, a "well capitalized" institution must have a
Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6 percent, a total capital ratio of at least
10 percent and a leverage ratio of at least 5 percent and not be subject to a
capital directive order. Under these guidelines, our banks are considered well
capitalized.
Banking agencies have also adopted final regulations which mandate that
regulators take into consideration (a) concentrations of credit risk; (b)
interest rate risk (when the interest rate sensitivity of an institution's
assets does not match the sensitivity of its liabilities or its
off-balance-sheet position); (c) risks from non-traditional activities, as well
as an institution's ability to manage those risks; and (d) market risk in
connection with trading activity, when determining the adequacy of an
institution's capital. That evaluation will be made as a part of the
institution's regular safety and soundness examination.
7
Dividends
Our funds for cash dividends to stockholders are derived from a variety of
sources, including cash and temporary investments. The primary source of such
funds, however, is dividends received from our banks. Those subsidiaries are
subject to various regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment
of dividends, including requirements to maintain capital above regulatory
minimums. The appropriate federal regulatory authority is authorized to
determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of
the bank or bank holding company that the payment of dividends would be an
unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment. The ability to pay
dividends also may be affected by the various minimum capital requirements and
the capital and non-capital standards established under FDICIA. Our rights, and
the rights of our stockholders and creditors, to participate in any
distribution of the assets or earnings of our banks is further subject to the
prior claims of creditors of those entities.
Source of Strength
According to Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is
expected to act as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary banks and
to commit resources to support its subsidiary banks. This support may be
required at times when we are not able to provide such support. Similarly, the
cross-guaranty provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that if
the FDIC suffers or anticipates a loss as a result of a default by one of our
banking or thrift subsidiaries or by providing assistance to a subsidiary in
danger of default, then the other bank or thrift subsidiaries may be assessed
for the FDIC's loss.
Changes in Regulations
Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry
are frequently introduced in Congress, in the state legislatures and before the
various bank regulatory agencies. At the present time, Congress is considering
legislation that would increase the permissible scope of securities and
insurance activities in which a bank holding company or its affiliates may
engage. We cannot determine the likelihood and timing of any such proposals or
legislation and the impact they might have on us and our subsidiaries.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents
or directly to other purchasers. The underwriters, dealers or agents may be
Banc of America Securities LLC or any of our other affiliates. Each prospectus
supplement will state the terms of the securities to be offered, including the
names of any underwriters or agents, the public offering or purchase price of
the securities and the net proceeds we will receive from the sale, any
underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation,
any discounts and commissions allowed or paid to dealers, any commissions
allowed or paid to agents, and if the securities will be listed on a securities
exchange or exchanges, the identity of any exchange.
Securities may be purchased to be reoffered to the public through
underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters, or through
one or more underwriters acting alone. The underwriters may acquire the
securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to
time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed
public offering price or varying prices determined at the time of sale. If an
underwriting syndicate is used, we will list the managing underwriter or
underwriters on the cover page of the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise
stated in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to
purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions and each of the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of its securities if any are
purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
8
We may offer and sell securities through agents from time to time. We will
name any agent involved in the offer and sale of any securities and describe
any commissions payable by us to the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the agent will be acting on a
best efforts basis during the appointment period.
We may sell directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or
others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Securities Act") for any resale of the securities. We will describe
the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
Securities may be sold in connection with a remarketing after their purchase
by one or more firms including our affiliates, acting as principal for their
accounts or as our agent.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by
certain institutions to purchase debt securities from us pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. The
type of security, the amount, the price and other significant terms of such
delayed delivery contracts will be described in the prospectus supplement.
Institutions that may be solicited include commercial and savings banks,
insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions and others, all as approved by us. The obligations of
any purchaser under any such contract will not be subject to any conditions
except that (1) the purchase of the debt securities will not at the time of
delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the
purchaser is subject, and (2) if the debt securities are also being sold to
underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters must
have purchased the debt securities not sold for delayed delivery. The
underwriters and other such persons will not have any responsibility for the
validity or performance of such contracts.
Any underwriter or agent participating in the distribution of the securities
may be considered to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the
Securities Act, of the securities being offered and sold. Any discounts or
commissions received by them from us and any profit realized by them on the
sale or resale of the securities may be considered to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act.
To facilitate offering the securities, the underwriters may engage in
transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the
securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine
payments on such securities. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in
connection with the offering, creating a short position in the securities for
their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the
price of the securities or of any other securities, the underwriters may bid
for, and purchase, the securities or any other securities in the open market.
Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters,
the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an
underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the
syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to
cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise.
Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the
securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required
to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
Since any series of securities offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus
may be a new issue with no established trading market, there may not be a
liquid trading market for the security.
Under agreements entered into with us, underwriters and agents may be
entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution for payments the
underwriters or agents may be required to make.
Banc of America Securities LLC is a broker-dealer and one of our
subsidiaries. Each initial offering and any remarketing of securities involving
Banc of America Securities LLC or any of our other affiliates will be conducted
in compliance with the requirements of Rule 2720 of the Conduct
9
Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. regarding the
offer and sale of securities of an affiliate. Following the initial
distribution of securities, our affiliates, including Banc of America
Securities LLC, may buy and sell the securities in secondary market
transactions as part of their business as a broker-dealer. Any sale will be at
negotiated prices relating to prevailing prices at the time of sale. This
prospectus and related prospectus supplements may be used by one or more of our
affiliates in connection with offers and sales related to secondary market
transactions in the securities to the extent permitted by applicable law. Any
of our affiliates may act as principal or agent in such transactions. Banc of
America Securities LLC will not execute a transaction in the securities in a
discretionary account without specific prior written approval of that customer.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We will issue any senior debt securities under an Indenture dated as of
January 1, 1995 (the "Senior Indenture") between us and U.S. Bank Trust
National Association, as successor Trustee to BankAmerica National Trust
Company (the "Senior Trustee"). We will issue any subordinated debt securities
under an Indenture dated as of January 1, 1995 (the "Subordinated Indenture")
between us and The Bank of New York, Trustee (the "Subordinated Trustee"). We
refer to the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture collectively as
the "Indentures" and the Senior Trustee and Subordinated Trustee collectively
as the "Trustees."
The following summaries of certain significant provisions of the Indentures
are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of the
applicable Indentures, which are exhibits to the Registration Statement and are
incorporated herein by reference. Whenever defined terms are used, but not
defined in this prospectus, the terms have the meanings given to them in the
Indentures.
General
The total amount of securities that may be offered and sold using this
prospectus is limited to the aggregate initial offering price of the securities
registered under the Registration Statement. Neither Indenture limits the
amount of debt securities that may be issued.
Debt securities are our direct unsecured obligations and are not obligations
of our subsidiaries. The senior debt securities of each series rank equally
with all of our other unsecured senior debt. The subordinated debt securities
of each series are subordinate and junior in right of payment to our Senior
Indebtedness.
We will issue the debt securities in fully registered form without coupons.
The debt securities may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in another currency
or currency unit. Any debt securities that are denominated in U.S. dollars will
be issued in denominations of $1,000 or a multiple thereof unless otherwise
provided in the prospectus supplement. If any of the debt securities are
denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit, or if principal or any
premium or interest on any of the debt securities is payable in any foreign
currency or currency unit, the authorized denominations, as well as any
investment considerations, restrictions, tax consequences, specific terms and
other information relating to such issue of debt securities and such foreign
currency or currency unit, will be stated in the prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities in one or more series with the same or
different maturities. We may issue debt securities which provide for an amount
less than the stated principal amount to be paid upon an acceleration of its
maturity (each an "Original Issue Discount Security"). Original Issue Discount
Securities may bear no interest or may bear interest at a rate which at the
time of issuance is below market rates and will be sold at a discount below
their stated principal amount. Certain debt securities may be deemed to be
issued with original issue discount for United States
10
Federal income tax purposes. If we issue debt securities with original issue
discount, we will discuss the Federal tax implications in the prospectus
supplement.
Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities we
issue. The terms may include:
. the title and type of the debt securities;
. any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
. the person to whom interest is payable if other than the owner of the debt
securities;
. the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be
payable;
. the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, and the method
used to calculate that interest;
. the interest payment dates, the regular record dates for the interest
payment date, and the date interest will begin to accrue;
. the place or places where payments may be made on the debt securities and
the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for
registration of transfer or exchange;
. any date or dates after which the debt securities may be redeemed or
purchased in whole or in part at our option or the option of the
noteholder pursuant to any sinking fund or other redemption provision and
the periods, prices, terms and conditions of such redemption or purchase;
. if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal
amount of the debt securities that will be payable upon declaration or
acceleration of the maturity;
. the currency of principal and any premium and interest payments on the
debt securities, if other than U.S. currency;
. any index used to determine the amount of principal, premium and interest
payments on the debt securities;
. if the debt securities will be issued in other than book-entry form;
. the identification or method of selecting any interest rate calculation
agents, exchange rate calculation agents or any other agents for the debt
securities;
. if either the defeasance (Section 14.02) or covenant defeasance (Section
14.03) sections of the Indentures are not applicable to the debt
securities; and
. any provision relating to the extension or renewal of the maturity date of
the debt securities.
Our ability to make payments of principal and any premium and interest on
the debt securities may be affected by the ability of our bank and nonbank
subsidiaries to pay dividends. Their ability, as well as our ability, to pay
dividends in the future is and could be influenced by bank regulatory
requirements and capital guidelines. See "Regulatory Matters."
Neither Indenture contains provisions protecting noteholders against a
decline in credit quality resulting from takeovers, recapitalizations, the
incurrence of additional indebtedness or our restructuring. If our credit
quality declines as a result of such an event, or otherwise, the ratings of any
debt securities then outstanding may be withdrawn or downgraded.
Reopenings
We have the ability to "reopen," or later increase, the principal amount of
a series of debt securities offered and sold by us without notice to the
noteholders by selling additional debt securities with the same terms.
11
Conversion
We may issue debt securities that are convertible, at either our or the
noteholder's option, into our preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock
or other debt securities. If this is the case, the prospectus supplement will
describe that conversion ability and its terms such as:
. the periods during which conversion may be elected;
. the conversion price payable and the number of shares or amount of
preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or other debt securities
that may be purchased upon conversion, and any adjustment provisions; and
. the procedures for electing conversion.
Exchange, Registration and Transfer
Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture, debt securities of any
series, other than debt securities issued in book-entry form, may be exchanged
at the option of the noteholder for other debt securities of the same series
and of an equal aggregate principal amount and type in any authorized
denominations.
Debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer at the office
of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated and
maintained by us. The prospectus supplement will include the name of the
transfer agent. The security registrar or transfer agent will make the transfer
or registration only if it is satisfied with the documents of title and
identity of the person making the request. There will not be a service charge
for any exchange or registration of transfer of debt securities, but we may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with the exchange. At any time we may
change transfer agents or approve a change in the location through which any
transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer
agent in each place of payment for the series. At any time, we may designate
additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.
We will not be required to (1) issue, exchange or register the transfer of
any debt security of any series to be redeemed for a period of 15 days after
the selection of the debt securities to be redeemed; or (2) exchange or
register the transfer of any debt security that was selected, called or is
being called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security
being redeemed in part.
For a discussion of restrictions on the exchange, registration and transfer
of Global Securities, see "Registration and Settlement."
Payment and Paying Agents
The principal and any premium and interest on debt securities will be paid
at the offices of the paying agents we may designate from time to time. In
addition, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to
the address of the noteholder as recorded in the security register. Interest on
a debt security on any interest payment date generally will be paid to the
person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for that payment. For a discussion of payment of
principal, premium or interest on Global Securities, see "Registration and
Settlement."
We have initially designated the principal corporate trust offices of the
Trustees in the City of New York as the places where the debt securities may be
presented for payment. At any time we may change paying agents or the
designated payment office. Any other paying agents for the debt securities of
each series will be named in the prospectus supplement.
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Subordination
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to
all our Senior Indebtedness. The Subordinated Indenture defines "Senior
Indebtedness" as any indebtedness for money borrowed, including all of our
indebtedness for borrowed and purchased money, all of our obligations arising
from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes, and our
obligations associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign
exchange rate contracts and commodity contracts, that were outstanding on the
date we executed the Subordinated Indenture, or were created, incurred or
assumed after that date and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings
of that indebtedness or obligations unless the instrument creating or
evidencing the indebtedness provides that the indebtedness is subordinate in
right of payment to any of our other indebtedness. Each prospectus supplement
for a series of subordinated debt securities will indicate the aggregate amount
of our Senior Indebtedness outstanding at that time and any limitation on the
issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness.
If there is a default or event of default on any Senior Indebtedness that is
not remedied and we and the Subordinated Trustee receive notice of this from
the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of any kind or category of any
Senior Indebtedness or if the Subordinated Trustee receives notice from us, we
will not be able to make any principal, premium or interest payments on the
subordinated debt securities or repurchase our subordinated debt securities.
If we repay any subordinated debt security before the required date or in
connection with a distribution of our assets to creditors pursuant to a
dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any principal, premium
or interest will be paid to holders of Senior Indebtedness before any holders
of Subordinated Indebtedness are paid. In addition, if such amounts were
previously paid to the holders of Subordinated Debt or the Subordinated
Trustee, the holders of Senior Debt shall have first rights to such amounts
previously paid.
Until all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, the holders of subordinated
debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of our assets.
Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Banks
The Senior Indenture prohibits the issuance, sale or other disposition of
capital stock, or securities convertible into or options, warrants or rights to
acquire capital stock, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank (as defined below) or
of any subsidiary which owns shares of capital stock, or securities convertible
into or options, warrants or rights to acquire capital stock, of any Principal
Subsidiary Bank, with the following exceptions:
. sales of directors' qualifying shares;
. sales or other dispositions for fair market value, if, after giving effect
to the disposition and to conversion of any shares or securities
convertible into capital stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank, we would
own at least 80% of each class of the capital stock of such Principal
Subsidiary Bank;
. sales or other dispositions made in compliance with an order of a court or
regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction;
. any sale by a Principal Subsidiary Bank of additional shares of its
capital stock, securities convertible into shares of its capital stock, or
options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of its
capital stock, to its shareholders at any price, so long as before such
sale we owned, directly or indirectly, securities of the same class and
immediately after the sale, we owned, directly or indirectly, at least as
great a percentage of each class of securities of the Principal Subsidiary
Bank as we owned before such sale of additional securities; and
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. any issuance of shares of capital stock, or securities convertible into or
options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of capital
stock, of a Principal Subsidiary Bank or any subsidiary which owns shares
of capital stock, or securities convertible into or options, warrants or
rights to acquire capital stock, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank, to us
or our wholly owned subsidiary.
A Principal Subsidiary Bank is defined in the Senior Indenture as any Bank
with total assets equal to more than 10% of our total consolidated assets. At
present, Bank of America, N.A. is our only Principal Subsidiary Bank.
Waiver of Covenants
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of all
series affected that are outstanding under the Indenture may waive compliance
with certain covenants or conditions of the Indentures.
Modification of the Indentures
We and the applicable Trustee may modify the Indenture with the consent of
the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities of all series at the time outstanding under that Indenture and
affected thereby, voting as one class. However, no modification will extend the
fixed maturity of, reduce the principal amount or redemption premium of, or
reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest on, any debt
security without the consent of each noteholder. No modification will reduce
the percentage of debt securities which is required to consent to modification
without the consent of all holders of the debt securities outstanding.
In addition, we and the Trustee may execute supplemental indentures in
certain limited circumstances without the consent of any holders of outstanding
debt securities.
In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of the
debt securities outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver thereunder, (a) the principal amount of an
Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be outstanding will be
the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable at such time
upon an event of default, and (b) the principal amount of a debt security
denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit will be the U.S. dollar
equivalent on the date of original issuance of the debt security.
Meetings and Action by Securityholders
The Trustee may call a meeting in its discretion or upon request by us or
the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the debt securities
outstanding of such series upon the giving of notice. If a meeting of
noteholders is duly held, any resolution raised or decision taken will be
binding on all holders of debt securities of that series.
Defaults and Rights of Acceleration
The Subordinated Indenture defines an event of default as our bankruptcy
under Federal bankruptcy laws. The Senior Indenture defines an event of default
as any one of the following events:
. our failure to pay principal or premium when due on any securities of a
series;
. our failure to pay interest on any securities of a series, within 30 days
after the interest becomes due;
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. our breach of any of our other covenants contained in the senior debt
securities or the Senior Indenture, that is not cured within 90 days after
written notice to us by the Senior Trustee, or to us and the Senior
Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all senior
debt securities then outstanding under the Senior Indenture and affected
thereby; and
. certain events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the
holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that
series may declare the principal amount or, if the debt securities are Original
Issue Discount Debt Securities, a specified portion of the principal amount of
all debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities then
outstanding or of such series affected may annul the declaration of an event of
default and waive past defaults.
Payment of principal of the subordinated debt securities may not be
accelerated in the case of a default in the payment of principal or any premium
or interest or the performance of any of our other covenants.
Collection of Indebtedness
If we fail to pay principal or premium on the debt securities or if we are
over 30 days late on an interest payment on the debt securities, the
appropriate Trustee can demand that we pay to it, for the benefit of the
noteholders, the amount which is due and payable on the debt securities
including any interest incurred because of our failure to make that payment. If
we fail to pay the required amount on demand, the Trustee may take appropriate
action, including instituting judicial proceedings. Further, the noteholder may
also institute suit to enforce our obligation to make payment of principal,
premium or interest due on any debt security regardless of the actions taken by
the Trustee.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities then
outstanding under an Indenture may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee under that
Indenture but the Trustee will be entitled to receive from the holders
reasonable indemnity against expenses and liabilities.
Periodically, we are required to file with the Trustees a certificate
stating that we are not in default with any of the terms of the Indentures.
Notices
We will provide noteholders any required notices by first-class mail to the
addresses of the holders as they appear in the security register.
Concerning the Trustees
We and our subsidiaries have from time to time maintained deposit accounts
and conducted other banking transactions with The Bank of New York and U.S.
Bank Trust National Association, and their affiliated entities in the ordinary
course of business. Each of the Trustees also serves as trustee for certain
series of our outstanding indebtedness under other indentures.
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WARRANTS
Description of Debt Warrants
We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities ("Debt Warrants"). Debt
Warrants may be issued independently or together with any of our other
securities and may be attached to or separate from such securities. Debt
Warrants will be issued under warrant agreements with a warrant agent
designated in the prospectus supplement. The following summary of provisions of
the warrant agreement and form of Debt Warrant is not complete and is subject
to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the
warrant agreement and the Debt Warrant. Any warrant agreement will be filed as
an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
If Debt Warrants are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the
terms of the Debt Warrants and the warrant agreement relating to the Debt
Warrants, including the following:
. the offering price;
. the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Debt Warrants;
. the currency or currency unit in which the price for the Debt Warrants may
be payable;
. if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the
Debt Warrants are issued and the number of Debt Warrants issued with each
such security;
. if applicable, the date on and after which the Debt Warrants and the
related securities will be separately transferable;
. the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of a
Debt Warrant and the price at which, and currency or currency units based
on or relating to currencies in which, the principal amount of debt
securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
. the dates the right to exercise the Debt Warrants will commence and expire
and if the Debt Warrants are not continuously exercisable any dates the
Debt Warrants are not exercisable;
. if applicable, a discussion of certain Federal income tax consequences;
. whether the Debt Warrants or related securities will be listed on any
securities exchange;
. whether the Debt Warrants will be issued in global or definitive form; and
. the warrant agent.
Description of Universal Warrants
We may issue warrants ("Universal Warrants") to buy or sell securities of an
entity unaffiliated with us, to buy a basket of such securities, to buy an
index or indices of securities or any combination of those securities, to buy
or sell currencies or currency units, or to buy and sell commodities
(collectively, the "Exercise Items").
Universal Warrants may be issued independently or together with other
securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or
separate from the other securities. The Universal Warrants will be issued under
warrant agreements we will enter into with a warrant agent who will be
designated in the prospectus supplement. The following summary of certain
provisions of the form of Universal Warrant agreement and the Universal
Warrants is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of the Universal Warrant agreement. Any
Universal Warrant agreement will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.
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If Universal Warrants are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe
the terms of the Universal Warrants and the warrant agreement, including the
following:
. the offering price;
. the title and aggregate number of such Universal Warrants;
. the nature and amount of the Exercise Items that such Universal Warrants
represent the right to buy or sell;
. whether the Universal Warrants are put warrants or call warrants;
. the price at which the Exercise Item may be purchased or sold and the
procedures and conditions relating to exercise;
. whether the exercise price or the Universal Warrant may be paid in cash or
by exchange of the Exercise Item or both;
. the dates the right to exercise the Universal Warrants will commence and
expire;
. if applicable, a discussion of certain Federal income tax consequences;
. whether the Universal Warrants or related securities will be listed on any
securities exchange;
. whether the Universal Warrants will be issued in global or definitive form;
. the warrant agent; and
. any other terms of the Universal Warrants.
Modification
We and the warrant agent may amend the terms of any warrant agreement and
the warrants without the consent of the holders for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity or correcting any inconsistent provision therein or in any other
manner we deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the
interests of the holders in any respect. In addition, we may amend the warrant
agreement and the terms of the warrants with the consent of the owners of a
majority of the outstanding unexercised warrants affected. However, any
modification to the warrants cannot change the exercise price, reduce the
amounts receivable upon exercise cancellation or expiration, shorten the time
period during which the warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and
adversely affect the rights of the owners of the warrants or reduce the
percentage of outstanding warrants required to modify or amend the warrant
agreement or the terms of the warrants, without the consent of the affected
owners.
Enforceability of Rights of Warrantholders; Governing Law
The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust with the holders of the Warrants.
Any record holder or beneficial owner of a warrant may, without anyone else's
consent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to
exercise the warrant in the manner provided therein or in the warrant
agreement. A warrantholder will not be entitled to any of the rights of a
holder of the debt securities or other securities purchasable upon the exercise
of the warrant before exercising the warrant.
Unsecured Obligations
The warrants are our unsecured contractual obligations and will rank equally
with all of our other unsecured contractual obligations and our unsecured and
unsubordinated debt. Since most of our assets are owned by our subsidiaries,
our rights and the rights of our creditors, including warrantholders, to
participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon that
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subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior
claims of that subsidiary's creditors.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
Units will consist of one or more warrants and debt securities or any
combination thereof. If Units are offered, the prospectus supplement will
describe the terms of the Units, including the following:
. all terms of Units and of the warrants and debt securities, or any
combination thereof, comprising the Units, including whether and under
what circumstances the securities comprising the Units may or may not be
traded separately;
. a description of the terms of any agreement to be entered into between us
and a bank or trust company as unit agent governing the Units; and
. a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or
exchange of the Units.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
General
We have 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and may issue such
preferred stock in one or more series, each with such preferences,
designations, limitations, conversion rights and other rights as we may
determine. We have designated:
(a) 3,000,000 shares of ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C (the
"ESOP Preferred Stock") of which 1,887,729 shares were issued and outstanding
at March 31, 1999;
(b) 35,045 shares of 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B (the
"Series B Preferred Stock"), of which 8,771 shares were issued and outstanding
at March 31, 1999; and
(c) 20,000,000 shares of $2.50 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Series
BB (the "Series BB Preferred Stock"), of which 5,539 shares were issued and
outstanding at March 31, 1999.
The Preferred Stock
General. Any preferred stock sold pursuant to this prospectus will have the
general dividend, voting and liquidation preference rights stated below unless
otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement. Reference is made to the
prospectus supplement for specific terms, including, where applicable:
. the title and stated value of the preferred stock;
. the aggregate number of shares of preferred stock offered;
. the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;
. the dividend rates or method of calculation, the dividend period and the
dates dividends will be payable;
. whether dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative,
the date the dividends will begin to cumulate;
. the dates the preferred stock will be subject to redemption at our option,
and any redemption terms;
. any mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions;
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. any rights on the part of the stockholder or us to convert the preferred
stock into shares of another security; and
. any additional voting, liquidation, preemptive and other rights,
preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.
The description of certain provisions of the preferred stock stated below
and in the prospectus supplement is not complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the description in our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, which will describe the terms of the offered
preferred stock and be filed with the SEC at or before the time of sale of that
preferred stock.
In addition, we may elect to offer depositary shares evidenced by depository
receipts representing a fractional interest in a share of a particular series
of the preferred stock issued and deposited with a Depositary.
The preferred stock ranks senior to our common stock as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of our assets on liquidation, dissolution and
winding up. The dividend and liquidation preference rights of the preferred
stock relative to any existing or future series of our preferred stock will be
stated in the prospectus supplement.
The preferred stock, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Dividends. The holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to receive
when, as and if declared by us, cash dividends at such rates as will be
specified in the prospectus supplement. All dividends will be paid out of our
funds that are legally available for such purpose. We will not pay dividends on
our other shares nor will we redeem or otherwise acquire for any other
consideration or pay into any sinking fund if dividends on any series of
preferred stock are in arrears.
Voting. The holders of preferred stock will not have voting rights, except
as required by applicable law or as specifically approved by us and described
in the prospectus supplement, with regard to matters submitted to a general
vote of our stockholders.
Liquidation Preference. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of any series of preferred
stock will be entitled to receive, after distributions to holders of any series
or class of our capital stock, as may be stated in the prospectus supplement,
an amount equal to the appropriate stated or liquidation value of the shares of
the series plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends, if any,
through the date of the payment. If the assets and funds to be distributed
among the holders of such preferred stock will be insufficient to permit the
payment to such holders of the full amount due, then the holders of the
preferred stock will share ratably in any distribution of our assets in
proportion to the amounts which otherwise would be payable on the shares held
by them upon the distribution if all amounts payable on the shares were paid in
full.
The following summary of the ESOP Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock
and Series BB Preferred Stock is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
description of these securities contained in our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.
ESOP Preferred Stock
All shares of ESOP Preferred Stock are held by the trustee under the
NationsBank Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (the "ESOP"). The ESOP
Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock, but ranks junior to the
Series B Preferred Stock and Series BB Preferred Stock as to dividends and
distribution on liquidation. Shares of the ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible
into common stock at a conversion rate of 1.68 shares of common stock per share
of ESOP Preferred Stock, subject to certain customary anti-dilution adjustments.
19
Preferential Rights. The ESOP Preferred Stock does not have preemptive or
preferential rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of our capital stock of
any class and is not subject to any sinking fund obligations or other
obligations to repurchase or retire the series, except as discussed below.
Dividends. The ESOP Preferred Stock is entitled to an annual dividend,
subject to certain adjustments, of $3.30 per share, payable semiannually.
Unpaid dividends accumulate on the date they first became payable, without
interest. While any shares of ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, we may not
declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend on any other series of stock
ranking equally with the ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends unless declared
and paid, or set apart for payment like dividends on the ESOP Preferred Stock
for all dividend payment periods ending on or before the dividend payment date
for such parity stock, ratably in proportion to their respective amounts of
accumulated and unpaid dividends. We generally may not declare, pay or set
apart for payment any dividends, except for, among other things, dividends
payable solely in shares of stock ranking junior to the ESOP Preferred Stock as
to dividends or upon liquidation, or, make any other distribution on, or make
payment on account of the purchase, redemption or other retirement of, any
other class or series of our capital stock ranking junior to the ESOP Preferred
stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, until full cumulative dividends on
the ESOP Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or set apart for payment
when due.
Voting Rights. The holder of the ESOP Preferred Stock is entitled to vote on
all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of common stock and votes
together with the holders of common stock as one class. Except as otherwise
required by applicable law, the holder of the ESOP Preferred Stock has no
special voting rights. To the extent that the holder of the shares is entitled
to vote, each share is entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of
shares of common stock into which the shares of ESOP Preferred Stock could be
converted on the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote,
rounded to the nearest whole vote.
Distributions. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up, the holder of the ESOP Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to
stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock
ranking senior to or equally with the ESOP Preferred Stock as to distributions
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up but before any amount will be paid
or distributed among the holders of common stock or any other shares ranking
junior to the ESOP Preferred Stock as to such distributions, liquidating
distributions of $42.50 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
to the date fixed for distribution. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, the amounts payable on ESOP Preferred
Stock and any other stock ranking equally therewith as to any such distribution
are not paid in full, the holder of the ESOP Preferred Stock and the other
stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the
full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment
of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which it is entitled, the
holder of the ESOP Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any further
distribution of our assets. Any merger, consolidation or purchase or sale of
assets by us will not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up
of our affairs.
Redemption. The ESOP Preferred Stock is redeemable, in whole or in part, at
our option, at any time. The redemption price for the shares of the ESOP
Preferred Stock, which may be paid in cash or shares of common stock, will be
$42.50 per share. The redemption price also must include all accrued and unpaid
dividends to the date of redemption. If the ESOP Preferred Stock is treated as
Tier 1 capital for bank regulatory purposes, the approval of the Federal
Reserve Board may be required to redeem the ESOP Preferred Stock.
In addition, we are required to redeem shares of the ESOP Preferred Stock at
the option of the holder of the shares to the extent necessary either to
provide for distributions required to be
20
made under the ESOP or to make payments of principal, interest or premium due
and payable on any indebtedness incurred by the holder of the shares for the
benefit of the ESOP.
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferential Rights. We may, without the consent of holders of Series B
Preferred Stock, issue preferred stock with superior or equal rights or
preferences. The shares of the Series B Preferred Stock rank prior to the ESOP
Preferred Stock and the common stock.
Dividends. Holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to
receive, when and as declared by our Board cumulative cash dividends at an
annual dividend rate per share of 7% of the stated value thereof, out of any
funds legally available for such purpose. The dividend is payable quarterly.
Dividends on Series B Preferred Stock are cumulative, and we cannot declare or
pay cash dividends on any shares of common stock unless full cumulative
dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and funds
sufficient for the payment have been set apart.
Voting Rights. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock has equal voting
rights, share for share, with each share of our common stock.
Distributions. In the event of our dissolution, liquidation or winding up,
the holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, after payment
of the full liquidation preference on shares of any class of preferred stock
ranking superior to the Series B Preferred Stock, but before any distribution
on shares of our common stock, liquidating dividends of $100 per share plus
accumulated dividends.
Redemption. Shares of Series B Preferred Stock are redeemable, in whole or
in part, at the option of the holders thereof, at the redemption price of $100
per share plus accumulated dividends, provided that (i) full cumulative
dividends have been paid, or declared and funds sufficient for payment set
apart, upon any class or series of preferred stock ranking superior to Series B
Preferred Stock; and (ii) are not then in default or arrears on any sinking
fund or analogous fund or call for tenders obligation or agreement for the
purchase or any class or series of preferred stock ranking superior to the
Series B Preferred Stock.
Series BB Preferred Stock
Preferential Rights. The shares of Series BB Preferred Stock rank before
Series B Preferred Stock, ESOP Preferred Stock and common stock as to dividends
and upon liquidation.
Dividends. Holders of the Series BB Preferred Stock are entitled to receive,
when and as declared by our Board, cash dividends at the rate of $2.50 per
annum per share, out of our assets legally available for payment. Dividends are
payable quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year.
Dividends on the Series BB Preferred Stock are cumulative from January 1, 1998.
Voting Rights. Holders of Series BB Preferred Stock have no voting rights
except as required by law and, if any quarterly dividend payable on the Series
BB Preferred Stock is in arrears, the holders of Series BB Preferred Stock will
be entitled to vote together with the holders of our common stock at our next
meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders unless
all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment
before the date of such meeting. In those cases where holders of Series BB
Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, each holder will be entitled to cast the
number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of our common stock into
which his or her Series BB Preferred Stock is then convertible.
Conversion Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions stated below, the
holders of shares of Series BB Preferred Stock have the right, at their option,
to convert such shares at any time
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through September 16, 1999 into fully paid and nonassessable shares of common
stock at the rate of 6.17215 shares of our common stock for each share of
Series BB Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion. The conversion rate is
subject to adjustment from time to time.
Distributions. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, the holders of Series BB Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to
stockholders an amount equal to $25 per share plus an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends to and including the date of such distribution, and no
more, before any distribution will be made to the holders of any class of our
stock ranking junior to the Series BB Preferred Stock as to the distribution of
assets. Any merger, consolidation or purchase or sale of assets by us will not
be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. Shares of
Series BB Preferred Stock are not subject to a sinking fund.
Redemption. On June 23, 1999, our board of directors voted to redeem the
Series BB Preferred Stock on October 1, 1999, at a redemption price of $25 per
share plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may, at our option, offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather
than full shares of such securities. If such option is exercised, we will issue
receipts for depositary shares to the public. Each receipt will represent a
fractional interest in a share of a particular series of the preferred stock,
as stated in a prospectus supplement.
The particular terms of the preferred stock offered and the extent, if any,
to which the general provisions may apply to the depositary shares will be
described in the prospectus supplement. The general descriptions below and in
any prospectus supplement are not complete and are subject to and qualified in
their entirety by reference to the deposit agreement and the depositary
receipts, the forms of which are incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the definitive forms of which will be filed with the SEC at the
time of sale of the depositary shares.
The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares
will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust
company selected by us having its principal office in the United States and
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000 (the
"Depositary"). Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a
Depositary Share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of
a share of preferred stock represented by such Depositary Share, to all the
rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented thereby, including
dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued
pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to
those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance
with the terms of the offering.
Pending the preparation of definitive engraved depositary receipts, the
Depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts.
The temporary depositary receipts will be substantially identical to, and will
have all rights of, the definitive depositary receipts but will not be in
definitive form. Definitive depositary receipts will be prepared thereafter and
temporary depositary receipts will be exchanged for definitive depositary
receipts at our expense.
Upon the surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the
Depositary and upon payment by the holder of the charges provided in the
deposit agreement and subject to the terms thereof, a holder of depositary
shares is entitled to have the Depositary deliver to such holder the number of
full shares of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares evidenced
by the
22
surrendered depositary receipts. A holder of shares of preferred stock thus
withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares in
excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of full
shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn. The Depositary will deliver to such
holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number
of depositary shares.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The Depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received pursuant to the preferred stock to the record holders of
depositary shares relating to that preferred stock in proportion to the number
of depositary shares owned by the holders. However, the Depositary will
distribute only the amount that can be distributed without attributing to any
holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. Any balance that is not
distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by
the Depositary for distribution to record holders.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the Depositary will
distribute property it receives to the record holders of depositary shares who
are entitled thereto, unless the Depositary determines that it is not feasible
to make such distribution, in which case the Depositary, with our approval, may
sell such property and distribute the net proceeds to such holders.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If a series of preferred stock depositary shares is subject to redemption,
the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the
Depositary from the redemption, in whole or in part, of that series of
preferred stock held by the Depositary. The Depositary will mail notice of
redemption at least 30 and not more than 45 days before the date fixed for
redemption to the record holders of the depositary shares to be redeemed at
their addresses appearing in the Depositary's books. The redemption price per
depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption
price per share payable on such series of the preferred stock. Whenever we
redeem preferred stock held by the Depositary, the Depositary will redeem as of
the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the
preferred stock redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are redeemed,
the depositary shares redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as
determined by the Depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for
redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the
holder of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the
monies payable upon redemption and any money or other property the holders of
such depositary shares were entitled to receive upon such redemption upon
surrender to the Depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the
depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Any voting rights of holders of the depositary shares are directly dependent
on the voting rights of the underlying voting preferred stock. Upon receipt of
notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock held by the
Depositary are entitled to vote, the Depositary will mail the information
contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary
shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of depositary
shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for
the preferred stock, will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the
exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock
underlying such holder's depositary shares. The Depositary will endeavor,
insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of preferred stock underlying the
depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to
take all action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary to enable the
Depositary to do so. The Depositary will abstain from voting preferred stock if
it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares
relating to such preferred stock.
23
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any
provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement
between us and the Depositary. However, any amendment which materially and
adversely alters the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares will
not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the record holders
of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. Either we or
the Depositary may terminate a Deposit Agreement if all outstanding depositary
shares have been redeemed or if there has been a final distribution in respect
of the preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or
winding up.
Changes of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising
solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges
of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock
and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will
pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other
charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their
accounts.
Miscellaneous
The Depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all of our
reports and communications which are delivered to the Depositary and which we
are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
We, and the Depositary, will not be liable if we are prevented or delayed by
law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under
the Deposit Agreement. All of our obligations under the Deposit Agreement are
limited to performance in good faith of our respective duties thereunder and
neither of us will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in
respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless provided with
satisfactory indemnity. We, and the Depositary, may rely upon written advice of
counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred
stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed to be
competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its
election to do so, and we may at any time remove the Depositary, any
resignation or removal will take effect only upon the appointment of a
successor Depositary and the successor Depositary's acceptance of such
appointment. Any successor Depositary must be a bank or trust company having
its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $5,000,000.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following summary of our common stock is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the description of the common stock incorporated herein by
reference.
General
We are authorized to issue 5,000,000,000 shares of common stock, of which
approximately 1.7 billion shares were outstanding on March 31, 1999. The common
stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange and on the Pacific Exchange under
the symbol "BAC." The common stock is also listed on the London Stock Exchange,
and certain shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As of March 31,
1999, 308 million shares were reserved for issuance in connection with various
of our employee and director benefit plans and our Dividend Reinvestment and
Stock Purchase Plan and the conversion of our outstanding convertible
securities and for other purposes. After taking
24
into account the reserved shares, there were approximately 2.9 billion
authorized shares of common stock available for issuance as of March 31, 1999.
Voting and Other Rights
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share. In general, a
majority of votes cast on a matter is sufficient to take action upon routine
matters. However, (i) amendments to our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a
class, and (ii) a merger or dissolution or the sale of all or substantially all
of our assets, must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares. Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast, and stockholders do not have the
right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
In the event of our liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to
receive pro rata any assets legally available for distribution to stockholders,
subject to any prior rights of any preferred stock then outstanding.
Our common stock does not have any preemptive rights, redemption privileges,
sinking fund privileges or conversion rights. All the outstanding shares of
common stock are, and upon proper conversion of any preferred stock, all of the
shares of our common stock into which such shares are converted will be,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. is the transfer agent and registrar
for our common stock.
Dividends
The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends or
distributions as our Board may declare out of funds legally available for such
payments. Our payment of dividends is subject to the restrictions of Delaware
law applicable to the declaration of dividends by a corporation. A corporation
generally may not authorize and pay dividends if, after giving effect thereto,
it would be unable to meet its debts as they become due in the usual course of
business or if the corporation's total assets would be less than the sum of its
total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if it were to be
dissolved at the time of distribution, to satisfy claims upon dissolution of
stockholders who have preferential rights superior to the rights of the holders
of its common stock. In addition, the payment of dividends to stockholders is
subject to any prior rights of outstanding preferred stock. Stock dividends, if
any are declared, may be paid from our authorized but unissued shares.
REGISTRATION AND SETTLEMENT
The Depository Trust Company
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities
we offer will be issued only in book-entry form represented by global
securities in registered form (a "Global Security"). The Global Security will
be held through DTC, as depositary, and registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
as nominee of DTC. Accordingly, Cede & Co. will be the holder of record of the
securities.
Beneficial interests in the Global Security will be shown on, and transfers
will be effected through, records maintained by DTC. Transfers of ownership
interests in the securities will be accomplished by making entries in DTC
participants' books acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners of
these securities will not receive certificates representing their ownership
interest, unless the use of the book-entry system is discontinued.
25
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a Global Security,
DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be the sole holder of the
securities represented thereby for all purposes under the applicable Indenture
or warrant or unit agreement. Except as otherwise provided below, the
beneficial owners of the securities will not be entitled to receive physical
delivery of the certificated security and will not be considered the holders
for any purpose under the applicable Indenture or agreement. Accordingly, each
beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such beneficial
owner is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the DTC participant
through which such beneficial owner owns its interest in order to exercise any
rights of a holder under such security or the applicable Indenture or
agreement. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. Such
limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the
securities.
The following is based on information furnished by DTC:
DTC will act as securities depository for certain securities. Those
securities will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the
name of Cede & Co. (DTC's partnership nominee). One Global Security will be
issued for all of the principal amount of the securities, but if any series
exceeds an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000, certificates will be
issued in increments of up to $200,000,000.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York
Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York
Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and
a "clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). DTC
holds securities that its participants deposit with it. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as
transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic book-entry
changes in the participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for
physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants of DTC
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of
its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the
American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC's system is also available to others such as
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through
or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either
directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are
on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under DTC's system must be made by or through
direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC's
records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser, the beneficial
owner, of each security represented by a Global Security is in turn to be
recorded on the records of direct and indirect participants. Beneficial
owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but
beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing
details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their
holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the
beneficial owner entered into the transaction. The participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their
customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct
and indirect participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by
arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements
as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the
securities. DTC assigns its right to consent or vote to its direct
participants.
26
Principal and any premium or interest payments on the securities will be
made in immediately available funds to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit
direct participants' accounts on the applicable payment date in accordance
with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason
to believe that it will not receive payment on such date. Payments by
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the
accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC or any other
party, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of principal and any premium or interest
to DTC is our responsibility, disbursement of such payments to direct
participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments
to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of the direct or indirect
participant.
Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the
securities are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the
amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be
redeemed.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository for
the securities at any time by giving us reasonable notice. Under such
circumstances, if a successor securities depository is not obtained,
certificated securities are required to be printed and delivered.
Management of DTC is aware that some computer applications and systems
for processing data that are dependent upon calendar dates, including dates
before, on, and after January 1, 2000, may encounter "Year 2000 problems."
DTC has informed its participants and other members of the financial
community that it has developed and is implementing a program so that its
systems, which relate to the timely payment of distributions (including
principal and interest payments) to securityholders, book-entry deliveries
and settlement of trades within DTC, continue to function appropriately.
This program includes a technical assessment and a remediation plan, each of
which is complete. Additionally, DTC's plan includes a testing phase, which
is expected to be completed within appropriate time frames.
However, DTC's ability to perform its services properly is also dependent
upon other parties, such as issuers and their agents, as well as the DTC
participants, third party vendors from whom DTC licenses software and
hardware and on whom DTC relies for information or the provision of
services, including telecommunication and electrical utility service
providers. DTC has informed the financial community that it is contacting,
and will continue to contact, third party vendors from whom DTC acquires
services to: (a) impress upon them the importance of such services being
Year 2000 compliant; and (b) determine the extent of their efforts for Year
2000 remediation (and, as appropriate, testing) of their services. In
addition, DTC is in the process of developing such contingency plans as it
deems appropriate.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's system has been
obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
Cedelbank and Euroclear
Securities of a series issued in book-entry form and sold or traded outside
the United States may be represented by one or more Global Securities held
through Cedelbank, societe anonyme ("Cedelbank"), or Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear System (the
"Euroclear Operator" or "Euroclear"), European international clearing systems.
Cedelbank and Euroclear hold omnibus positions on behalf of Cedelbank
participants and Euroclear participants, respectively, on the books of their
respective depositaries, which in turn hold such positions in customers'
securities accounts in the depositaries' names on the books of DTC.
27
Transfers between Cedelbank participants and Euroclear participants occur in
compliance with their rules and operating procedures. Cross-market transfers
between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC in the United
States, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Cedelbank
participants or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be handled by DTC in
accordance with DTC rules on behalf of a European international clearing system
by its depositary; however, cross-market transactions will require delivery of
instructions to the European international clearing system by the counterparty
in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its
established deadlines. A European international clearing system will, if the
transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its
depositary to take action to carry out final settlement on its behalf by
delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving in
accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to
DTC. Cedelbank participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver
instructions directly to the depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits for securities in Cedelbank or
Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made
during the subsequent securities settlement processing, and will be dated the
business day following the DTC settlement date; those credits or any
transactions in those securities settled during processing will be reported to
the relevant Cedelbank participant or Euroclear participant on that business
day. Cash received in Cedelbank or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities
by or through a Cedelbank participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC
participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be
available in the relevant Cedelbank or Euroclear cash account only as of the
business day following settlement in DTC.
Cedelbank is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a depositary.
Cedelbank holds securities for its participating organizations and facilitates
the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its
participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of those
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Transactions may be settled by Cedelbank in any of 28 currencies,
including United States dollars. Cedelbank provides to its participants
services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of
internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.
Cedelbank interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a
depository, Cedelbank is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary
Institute. Cedelbank participants consist of recognized financial institutions
around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations
and may include the underwriters or agents with respect to a particular series
of securities. Indirect access to Cedelbank is also available to other entities
that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Cedelbank
participant.
The Euroclear System was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants
of the Euroclear System and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear
participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against
payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and
any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash.
Transactions now may be settled by Euroclear in any of 32 currencies, including
United States dollars. The Euroclear System includes various other services,
including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets
in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market
transfers with DTC described above. The Euroclear System is operated by the
Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euroclear Clearance System, S.C., a
Belgian cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative"). All operations are
conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance
accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator,
not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for the Euroclear
System on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include
banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other
professional financial
28
intermediaries and may include the underwriters or agents for a particular
series of securities. Indirect access to the Euroclear System is also available
to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
Euroclear participant.
The Euroclear Operator is the Brussels branch of a New York banking
corporation that is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. As such, it is
regulated and examined by the Federal Reserve Board and the New York State
Banking Department, as well as the Belgian Banking Commission.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator
are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the
related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear Systems and applicable Belgian
law (collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and Conditions govern
transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System, withdrawal of
securities and cash from the Euroclear System and receipts of payments with
respect to securities in the Euroclear System. All securities in the Euroclear
System are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific
certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator
acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants
and has no record of or relations with persons holding through Euroclear
participants.
Distributions for securities of a series held through Cedelbank or Euroclear
will be credited to the cash accounts of Cedelbank participants or Euroclear
participants in accordance with the relevant system's rules and procedures.
Distributions are subject to tax reporting in accordance with relevant United
States tax laws and regulations. The applicable prospectus supplement will
describe selected income tax consequences to foreign investors. Cedelbank or
the Euroclear Operator, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a
holder of securities under the applicable Indenture, warrant agreement or unit
agreement on behalf of a Cedelbank participant or a Euroclear participant only
in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures and subject to its
respective depositary's ability to carry out those actions on its behalf
through DTC.
Although Cedelbank and Euroclear have established these procedures to
facilitate transfers of applicable securities among participants of DTC,
Cedelbank and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to
perform those procedures, and those procedures may be discontinued at any time.
29
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at
the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also inspect our filings at
the regional offices of the SEC located at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661 or over the Internet at the SEC's home page at
http://www.sec.gov. You can also inspect reports and other information we file
at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10005.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with
it, which means:
. incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus;
. we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents; and
. information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this incorporated information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed with
the SEC under the Exchange Act:
. our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998;
. our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999;
. our current reports on Form 8-K dated January 19, 1999, February 2, 1999,
April 19, 1999, April 28, 1999, June 9, 1999, June 23, 1999, July 8, 1999
and July 23, 1999; and
. the description of our common stock which is contained in our registration
statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as modified on
our current report on Form 8-K dated September 25, 1998.
We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that we
will file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus:
. reports filed under Sections 13(a) and (c) of the Exchange Act;
. definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section 14 of the
Exchange Act in connection with any subsequent stockholders' meetings; and
. any reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is
accurate as of the date of this prospectus only. Our business, financial
position and results of operations may have changed since that date.
You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding
exhibits), at no cost, by contacting us at the following address:
John E. Mack
Senior Vice President
Bank of America Corporation
Corporate Treasury Division
NC1-007-23-01
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
(704) 386-5972
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplements contain or
incorporate statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange
Act. Those statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language
such as "will likely result," "may," "are expected to," "is anticipated,"
"estimate," "projected," "intends to," or other similar words. Our actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results
expressed in, or implied by, those forward-looking statements. Those statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to,
certain risks described in the prospectus supplement. When considering those
forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks, uncertainties
and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and the prospectus
supplement. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statement which speaks only as of the date made.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The legality of the securities will be passed upon for us by Smith Helms
Mulliss & Moore, L.L.P., Charlotte, North Carolina, and for the underwriters or
agents by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, New York, New York. As of the date of
this prospectus, certain members of Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, L.L.P.,
beneficially owned approximately 160,000 shares of our common stock.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 have been
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
31
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You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided
in this prospectus supplement, the attached prospectus and the related pricing
supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. We are not offering the securities in any state where the offer is
not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus
supplement and the attached prospectus is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of this document.
Our affiliates, including Banc of America Securities LLC, will deliver this
prospectus supplement, the attached prospectus and the related pricing
supplement for offers and sales in the secondary market.
[LOGO OF BANK OF AMERICA]
$3,000,000,000
Medium-Term Notes,
Series I
-----------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
-----------------
Banc of America Securities LLC
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Lehman Brothers
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Salomon Smith Barney
June 5, 2001
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