MERGER PROPOSED — YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

Dear Stockholder:

 

On January 11, 2008 Countrywide Financial Corporation and Bank of America Corporation announced a business combination in which Countrywide would merge with a subsidiary of Bank of America. If the merger is completed, you will have a right to receive 0.1822 of a share of Bank of America common stock for each share of Countrywide common stock you hold immediately prior to the merger.

 

The value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the market price of Bank of America common stock. The following table shows the closing sale prices of Bank of America common stock and Countrywide common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on January 9, 2008, the last trading day before the publication of press reports regarding a potential merger, and on May 27, 2008, the last practicable trading day before the distribution of this document. This table also shows the implied value of the merger consideration proposed for each share of Countrywide common stock, which we calculated by multiplying the closing price of Bank of America common stock on those dates by 0.1822, the exchange ratio.

 

 

The market prices of both Bank of America common stock and Countrywide common stock will fluctuate before the merger. You should obtain current stock price quotations for Bank of America common stock and Countrywide common stock. Bank of America common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “BAC.” Countrywide common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “CFC.”

 

We cannot complete the merger unless Countrywide’s common stockholders approve and adopt the merger agreement. Countrywide will hold a special meeting of its stockholders to vote on this merger proposal at the Learning Center Auditorium at Countrywide’s corporate headquarters located at 4500 Park Granada, Calabasas, California 91302 at 9:00 a.m., local time, on June 25, 2008. Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the special stockholders’ meeting, please take the time to vote your shares in accordance with the instructions contained in this document. Failing to vote will have the same effect as voting against the merger. The Countrywide board of directors unanimously recommends that Countrywide stockholders vote FOR approval and adoption of the merger agreement.

 

This document describes the special meeting, the merger, the documents related to the merger and other related matters. Please carefully read this entire document, including “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17 for a discussion of the risks relating to the proposed merger. You also can obtain information about our companies from documents that each of us has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ANGELO R. MOZILO

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Countrywide Financial Corporation

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the Bank of America common stock to be issued under this document or determined if this document is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this document is May 28, 2008, and it is first being mailed or otherwise delivered to Countrywide stockholders on or about May 28, 2008.

COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

4500 Park Granada

Calabasas, California 91302

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Countrywide Financial Corporation will hold a special meeting of stockholders at the Learning Center Auditorium at Countrywide’s corporate headquarters located at 4500 Park Granada, Calabasas, California 91302 at 9:00 a.m., local time, on June 25, 2008 to consider and vote upon the following matters:

 

 

The Countrywide board of directors has fixed the close of business on April 28, 2008 as the record date for the special meeting. Only Countrywide stockholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting. In order for the merger to be approved, the holders of at least a majority of the Countrywide shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon must vote in favor of approval and adoption of the merger agreement.

 

Regardless of whether you plan to attend the special meeting, please submit your proxy with voting instructions. Please vote as soon as possible. If you hold stock in your name as a stockholder of record, please complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. If you hold your stock in “street name” through a bank or broker, please direct your bank or broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have received from your bank or broker. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. Any holder of Countrywide common stock who is present at the special meeting may vote in person instead of by proxy, thereby canceling any previous proxy. In any event, a proxy may be revoked in writing at any time before the special meeting in the manner described in the accompanying document.

 

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

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

 

Susan E. Bow
Secretary

 

May 28, 2008

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

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

 

 

You will not be charged for any of these documents that you request. Countrywide stockholders requesting documents should do so by June 18, 2008 in order to receive them before the special meeting.

 

See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

APPENDICES

 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING

Q:		What do I need to do now?
A:		After you have carefully read this document and have decided how you wish to vote your shares, please vote your shares promptly. If you hold stock in your name as a stockholder of record, you must complete, sign, date and mail your proxy card in the enclosed postage paid return envelope as soon as possible. If you hold your stock in “street name” through a bank or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have received from your bank or broker. Submitting your proxy card or directing your bank or broker to vote your shares will ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the special meeting.
Q:		Why is my vote important?
A:		If you do not vote by proxy or vote in person at the special meeting, it will be more difficult for us to obtain the necessary quorum to hold our special meeting. In addition, your failure to vote, by proxy or in person, will have the same effect as a vote against approval and adoption of the merger agreement. The merger agreement must be approved and adopted by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Countrywide common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. The Countrywide board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote to approve and adopt the merger agreement.
Q:		If my shares of common stock are held in street name by my broker, will my broker automatically vote my shares for me?
A:		No.  Your broker cannot vote your shares without instructions from you. You should instruct your broker as to how to vote your shares, following the directions your broker provides to you. Please check the voting form used by your broker.
Q:		What if I abstain from voting or fail to instruct my broker?
A:		If you abstain from voting, the abstention will be counted toward a quorum at the special meeting, but it will have the same effect as a vote against approval and adoption of the merger agreement.
Q:		Can I attend the special meeting and vote my shares in person?
A:		Yes.  All stockholders, including stockholders of record and stockholders who hold their shares through banks, brokers, nominees or any other holder of record, are invited to attend the special meeting. Holders of record of Countrywide common stock can vote in person at the special meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares, such as a broker, bank or other nominee, to be able to vote in person at the special meeting. If you plan to attend the special meeting, you must hold your shares in your own name or have a letter from the record holder of your shares confirming your ownership and you must bring a form of personal photo identification with you in order to be admitted. We reserve the right to refuse admittance to anyone without proper proof of share ownership or without proper photo identification.
Q:		Can I change my vote?
A:		Yes.  You may revoke any proxy at any time before it is voted by signing and returning a proxy card with a later date, delivering a written revocation letter to the Secretary of Countrywide, or by attending the special meeting in person, notifying the Secretary and voting by ballot at the special meeting. The Countrywide Secretary’s mailing address is 4500 Park Granada, MS: CH-11B, Calabasas, California 91302.
		Any common stockholder entitled to vote in person at the special meeting may vote in person regardless of whether a proxy has been previously given, but the mere presence (without notifying the Secretary of Countrywide) of a stockholder at the special meeting will not constitute revocation of a previously given proxy.

Q:		If I am a Countrywide stockholder, should I send in my Countrywide stock certificates now?
A:		No.  You should not send in your Countrywide stock certificates at this time. After the merger, Bank of America will send you instructions for exchanging Countrywide stock certificates for the merger consideration. Unless Countrywide stockholders specifically request to receive Bank of America stock certificates, the shares of Bank of America stock they receive in the merger will be issued in book-entry form.
Q:		When do you expect to complete the merger?
A:		We expect to complete the merger during the third quarter of 2008. However, we cannot assure you when or if the merger will occur. We must first obtain the approval of Countrywide stockholders at the special meeting and the necessary regulatory approvals.
Q:		Whom should I call with questions?
A:		Countrywide stockholders should call Innisfree M&A Incorporated, Countrywide’s proxy solicitor, toll-free at (877) 750-9499 with any questions about the merger and related transactions.

 

SUMMARY

										Implied Value of
										One Share of
		Bank of America				Countrywide				Countrywide
		Common Stock				Common Stock				Common Stock
At January 9, 2008		$	38.74			$	5.12			$	7.06
At January 10, 2008		$	39.30			$	7.75			$	7.16
At May 27, 2008		$	34.17			$	4.59			$	6.23

	•	if a governmental entity issues a non-appealable final order prohibiting the merger;

	•	if a governmental entity which must grant a regulatory approval as a condition to the merger denies such approval of the merger and such action has become final and non-appealable;
	•	if the other party breaches the merger agreement in a way that would entitle the party seeking to terminate the agreement not to consummate the merger, subject to the right of the breaching party to cure the breach within 30 days following written notice (unless it is not possible due to the nature or timing of the breach for the breaching party to cure the breach);
	•	if the merger has not been completed by January 11, 2009, unless the reason the merger has not been completed by that date is a breach of the merger agreement by the company seeking to terminate the merger agreement; or
	•	if the other party has committed a substantial, bad faith breach of its obligations to restructure the transaction for the purpose of resubmitting a merger proposal for approval in the event Countrywide stockholder approval is not obtained in the first instance.

	•	Bank of America terminates the merger agreement because:

	•	Countrywide’s board of directors (1) fails to recommend the merger to Countrywide stockholders, (2) withdraws or adversely changes its recommendation of the merger, (3) recommends a competing takeover proposal to acquire Countrywide or (4) fails to recommend that Countrywide stockholders reject a tender offer or exchange offer that constitutes a competing takeover proposal within a specified period of time; or
	•	Countrywide materially breaches its agreement not to solicit other offers or its obligation to hold a meeting of Countrywide stockholders for the purpose of approving and adopting the merger agreement; or

	•	the following circumstances occur:

	•	(1) Bank of America terminates the merger agreement as a result of a knowing or intentional breach by Countrywide in a way that would entitle Bank of America not to consummate the merger or because of a substantial, bad faith breach by Countrywide of its obligation to use reasonable best efforts to restructure the transaction for the purpose of resubmitting a merger proposal for approval in the event Countrywide stockholder approval is not obtained in the first instance or (2) either party terminates the merger agreement because the transaction has not been completed by January 11, 2009 and the merger agreement has not been approved and adopted by Countrywide stockholders;
	•	prior to any termination described in the bullet immediately above, a competing takeover proposal is received by Countrywide or publicly announced and not irrevocably withdrawn; and
	•	Countrywide enters a definitive agreement regarding, or completes, a competing takeover proposal within twelve months of termination.

	•	approve and adopt the merger agreement; and
	•	approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

 

Set forth below are highlights derived from Bank of America’s audited consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2003 through 2007 and Bank of America’s unaudited consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year or any other interim period. Bank of America management prepared the unaudited information on the same basis as it prepared Bank of America’s audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of Bank of America management, this information reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data for those dates. You should read this information in conjunction with Bank of America’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Bank of America’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Bank of America’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, which are incorporated by reference in this document and from which this information is derived. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

 

Bank of America — Summary of Consolidated Financial Data

 

 

 

 

Set forth below are highlights derived from Countrywide’s audited consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2003 through 2007 and Countrywide’s unaudited consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year or any other interim period. The unaudited information was prepared on the same basis as Countrywide’s audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of Countrywide management, this information reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data for those dates. You should read this information in conjunction with Countrywide’s consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference within Countrywide’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Countrywide’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, which are incorporated by reference in this document and from which this information is derived. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

 

Countrywide Financial Corporation — Summary of Consolidated Financial Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth for Bank of America common stock and Countrywide common stock certain historical, pro forma and pro forma-equivalent per share financial information. In accordance with requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, the pro forma and pro forma-equivalent per share information gives effect to the merger as if the merger had been effective on the dates presented, in the case of the book value data, and as if the merger had become effective on January 1, 2007, in the case of the net income and dividends declared data. The pro forma data in the tables assume that the merger is accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and represents a current estimate based on available information of the combined company’s results of operations. The pro forma financial adjustments record the assets and liabilities of Countrywide at their estimated fair values and are subject to adjustment as additional information becomes available and as additional analyses are performed. See “Accounting Treatment” on page 70. The information in the following table is based on, and should be read together with, the historical financial information that we have presented in our prior filings with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

 

We anticipate that the merger will provide the combined company with financial benefits that include reduced operating expenses and revenue enhancement opportunities. The pro forma information, while helpful in illustrating the financial characteristics of the combined company under one set of assumptions, does not reflect the impact of possible business model changes as a result of current market conditions which may impact revenues, expense efficiencies, asset dispositions and share repurchases, among other factors, that may result as a consequence of the merger and, accordingly, does not attempt to predict or suggest future results. It also does not necessarily reflect what the historical results of the combined company would have been had our companies been combined during these periods. The Comparative Per Share Data Table for the three months ended March 30, 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2007 combines the historical income per share data of Bank of America and subsidiaries and Countrywide and subsidiaries giving effect to the merger as if the merger had become effective on January 1, 2007, using the purchase method of accounting. Upon completion of the merger, the operating results of Countrywide will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements of Bank of America on a prospective basis.

 

 

 

 

This document contains or incorporates by reference a number of forward-looking statements, including statements about the financial conditions, results of operations, earnings outlook and prospects of Bank of America, Countrywide and the potential combined company and may include statements for the period following the completion of the merger. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “potential,” “possible” or other similar expressions.

 

The forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. The ability of either Bank of America or Countrywide to predict results or the actual effects of its plans and strategies, or those of the combined company, is subject to inherent uncertainty. Factors that may cause actual results or earnings to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include those set forth on page 17 under “Risk Factors,” as well as, among others, the following:

 

 

Because these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this document or the date of any document incorporated by reference in this document.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the merger or other matters addressed in this document and attributable to Bank of America or Countrywide or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this document. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, Bank of America and Countrywide undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Because the market price of Bank of America common stock will fluctuate, Countrywide stockholders cannot be sure of the market value of the merger consideration they will receive.

 

Upon completion of the merger, each share of Countrywide common stock will be converted into merger consideration consisting of 0.1822 of a share of Bank of America common stock. The market value of the merger consideration may vary from the closing price of Bank of America common stock on the date we announced the merger, on the date that this document was mailed to Countrywide stockholders, on the date of the special meeting of the Countrywide stockholders and on the date we complete the merger and thereafter. Any change in the market price of Bank of America common stock prior to completion of the merger will affect the market value of the merger consideration that Countrywide stockholders will receive upon completion of the merger. Accordingly, at the time of the special meeting, Countrywide stockholders will not know or be able to calculate the market value of the merger consideration they would receive upon completion of the merger. Neither company is permitted to terminate the merger agreement or resolicit the vote of Countrywide stockholders solely because of changes in the market prices of either company’s stock. There will be no adjustment to the merger consideration for changes in the market price of either shares of Bank of America common stock or shares of Countrywide common stock. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors, including general market and economic conditions, changes in our respective businesses, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations. Many of these factors are beyond our control. You should obtain current market quotations for shares of Bank of America common stock and for shares of Countrywide common stock.

 

We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the merger.

 

The success of the merger will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from combining the businesses of Bank of America and Countrywide. However, to realize these anticipated benefits and cost savings, we must successfully combine the businesses of Bank of America and Countrywide. If we are not able to achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.

 

Bank of America and Countrywide have operated and, until the completion of the merger, will continue to operate, independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger. Integration efforts between the two companies will also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on each of Countrywide and Bank of America during such transition period.

 

The market price of Bank of America common stock after the merger may be affected by factors different from those affecting the shares of Countrywide or Bank of America currently.

 

The businesses of Bank of America and Countrywide differ in important respects and, accordingly, the results of operations of the combined company and the market price of the combined company’s shares of common stock may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the independent results of operations of Bank of America and Countrywide. For a discussion of the businesses of Bank of America and Countrywide and of certain factors to consider in connection with those businesses, see the documents incorporated by reference in this document and referred to under “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 81.

 

Countrywide stockholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest after the merger and will exercise less influence over management.

 

Countrywide’s stockholders currently have the right to vote in the election of the board of directors of Countrywide and on other matters affecting Countrywide. When the merger occurs, each Countrywide

stockholder that receives shares of Bank of America common stock will become a stockholder of Bank of America with a percentage ownership of the combined organization that is much smaller than the stockholder’s percentage ownership of Countrywide. It is expected that the former stockholders of Countrywide as a group will own less than 3% of the outstanding shares of Bank of America immediately after the merger. Because of this, Countrywide’s stockholders will have less influence on the management and policies of Bank of America than they now have on the management and policies of Countrywide.

 

The opinions obtained by Countrywide from its financial advisors will not reflect changes in circumstances between signing the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Countrywide has not obtained updated opinions as of the date of this document from its financial advisors. Changes in the operations and prospects of Bank of America or Countrywide, general market and economic conditions and other factors that may be beyond the control of Bank of America and Countrywide, and on which each financial advisor’s opinion was based, may significantly alter the value of Bank of America or Countrywide or the prices of shares of Bank of America common stock or Countrywide common stock by the time the merger is completed. Neither opinion speaks as of the time the merger will be completed or as of any date other than the date of such opinion. Because Countrywide currently does not anticipate asking either of its financial advisors to update its opinion, neither opinion will address the fairness of the merger consideration from a financial point of view at the time the merger is completed. The Countrywide board of directors’ recommendation that Countrywide stockholders vote “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement, however, is as of the date of this document. For a description of the opinions that Countrywide received from its financial advisors, please refer to “The Merger — Opinions of Countrywide’s Financial Advisors” beginning on page 31. For a description of the other factors considered by Countrywide’s board of directors in determining to approve the merger, please refer to “The Merger — Countrywide’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Countrywide Board of Directors” beginning on page 29.

 

The merger agreement limits Countrywide’s ability to pursue alternatives to the merger.

 

The merger agreement contains “no shop” provisions that, subject to limited exceptions, limit Countrywide’s ability to discuss, facilitate or commit to competing third-party proposals to acquire all or a significant part of the company, as well as a termination fee that is payable by Countrywide under certain circumstances. These provisions might discourage a potential competing acquiror that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant part of Countrywide from considering or proposing that acquisition even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share market price than that proposed in the merger, or might result in a potential competing acquiror’s proposing to pay a lower per share price to acquire Countrywide than it might otherwise have proposed to pay.

 

The merger is subject to the receipt of consents and approvals from government entities that may impose conditions that could have an adverse effect on Bank of America.

 

Before the merger may be completed, various approvals or consents must be obtained from the Federal Reserve Board and various domestic and foreign bank regulatory, antitrust, insurance and other authorities. These governmental entities, including the Federal Reserve Board, may impose conditions on the completion of the merger or require changes to the terms of the merger. Although Bank of America and Countrywide do not currently expect that any such conditions or changes would be imposed, there can be no assurance that they will not be, and such conditions or changes could have the effect of delaying completion of the merger or imposing additional costs on or limiting the revenues of Bank of America following the merger, any of which might have a material adverse effect on Bank of America following the merger. Bank of America is not obligated to complete the merger if the regulatory approvals received in connection with the completion of the merger include any conditions or restrictions that, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Countrywide or Bank of America, measured relative to Countrywide, but Bank of America could choose to waive this condition.

The 10% national deposit cap may restrict Bank of America’s ability to make additional bank acquisitions in the U.S. in the future.

 

Federal banking law contains provisions that limit the ability of the Federal Reserve Board to approve an application by a bank holding company to acquire domestic banks located outside of the acquiror’s home state without regard to state law if the acquisition would result in the combined company holding more than 10% of the deposits held by insured depository institutions in the United States. Bank of America’s home state is North Carolina. While the percentage of Bank of America’s deposits will change from time to time, we expect that it will hold a percentage of deposits that approaches the 10% limit. While this limit does not impede Bank of America’s ability to grow by attracting additional deposits from new or existing customers, by acquiring thrifts, such as Countrywide, or by other transactions that do not involve the acquisition of a domestic bank located outside of North Carolina, unless it is repealed or modified, or unless a transaction can be structured appropriately to comply with its application, the national deposit cap will restrict the ability of Bank of America to acquire additional domestic banks located outside of North Carolina that would result in Bank of America holding deposits in excess of the 10% limit. Repeal or modification of the national deposit cap would require an act of Congress. It is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve Board as part of its application approval process to determine if an acquisition would or would not surpass the 10% national limit.

 

Bank of America, Countrywide and Countrywide’s directors and officers are named parties to a number of actions relating to the merger.

 

A number of actions are pending in California and Delaware state and federal courts relating to the merger. These include derivative actions against current and former Countrywide directors and officers, and class-action complaints on behalf of a putative Countrywide shareholder class against Countrywide’s current directors and Bank of America. Depending on the outcome, these actions could have adverse financial effects or cause reputational harm to Bank of America. In addition, if the merger is consummated, plaintiffs in the pending derivative actions against current and former Countrywide directors and officers may lose standing to assert derivative claims on behalf of Countrywide because the plaintiffs will no longer be stockholders of Countrywide. See “The Merger — Litigation Relating to the Merger” on page 46.

 

Countrywide officers and directors have financial interests in the merger that differ from the interests of Countrywide stockholders.

 

Countrywide’s executive officers and directors have financial interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, their interests as Countrywide stockholders. The independent members of Countrywide’s board of directors were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the merger agreement and the merger, and in recommending to the stockholders that the merger agreement be approved and adopted.

 

Messrs. Mozilo and Sambol are parties to employment agreements and the other executive officers of Countrywide are covered by Countrywide’s Change in Control Severance Plan, each of which provides severance and other benefits in the case of qualifying terminations of employment in connection with a change in control, including completion of the merger; however, in connection with the merger, Mr. Mozilo has waived his right to receive his cash severance and pro rata bonus payments under his employment agreement and consulting fees and benefits under a related consulting agreement upon termination of his employment following completion of the merger. Assuming that the merger is completed on July 1, 2008 and the executive experiences a qualifying termination of employment immediately thereafter, the amount of cash severance that would be payable to each of Messrs. Mozilo, Sambol, Sieracki, Kripalani, Garcia, Gissinger and each of Countrywide’s eight other executive officers (as a group), respectively, is approximately $0, $15 million, $6.7 million, $13.7 million, $9 million, $7.2 million and $29.6 million, and the value of continued benefits to be provided to each of Messrs. Mozilo, Sambol, Sieracki, Kripalani, Garcia, Gissinger and each of Countrywide’s eight other executive officers (as a group) respectively, is approximately $106,084, $46,493, $135,380, $206,596, $228,367, $210,494 and $1,402,083. In addition, in connection with entry into the merger agreement and a retention program previously implemented for other employees, Countrywide approved the grant of retention awards to David Sambol, Eric P. Sieracki, Ranjit M. Kripalani and Carlos M. Garcia, which

consists of a retention incentive payment in respect of their annual bonus awards for Countrywide’s 2007 fiscal year and cash-settled restricted stock units.

 

The Countrywide equity compensation plans and award agreements generally provide for the vesting of stock-based awards upon completion of the merger. Assuming that the merger is completed on July 1, 2008, the aggregate cash value of the stock-based awards based on the closing price of Bank of America’s common stock as of May 27, 2008 (which amounts include the value of the retention awards described above and attribute no value to any unvested stock options and SARs other than Mr. Mozilo’s SARs with an exercise price of $6.22, since all such other options and SARs are underwater based on the May 27, 2008 closing price of Bank of America’s common stock) that are held by each of Messrs. Mozilo, Sambol, Sieracki, Kripalani, Garcia, Gissinger and each of Countrywide’s eight other executive officers (as a group), respectively, and that would vest solely due to the completion of the merger is approximately $6,482,705, $11,693,871, $1,161,458, $795,843, $1,061,104, $1,061,104 and $3,971,301 (of which approximately $2,086,419, $927,298, $695,475 and $927,298 is attributable to the cash-settled restricted stock units granted to Messrs. Sambol, Sieracki, Kripalani and Garcia, respectively, in connection with Countrywide’s retention program). Pursuant to the terms of Countrywide’s supplemental executive retirement plan and certain other non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, the benefits thereunder will vest and/or payment may be accelerated in connection with the merger.

 

In addition, assuming that the merger is completed on July 1, 2008 and the executive experiences a qualifying termination of employment immediately thereafter, the aggregate value of the cash severance and other severance benefits and the equity awards (other than those that would vest solely due to the completion of the merger as described in the prior paragraph) based on the closing price of Bank of America’s common stock as of May 27, 2008, that would vest or be payable to each of Messrs. Mozilo, Sambol, Sieracki, Kripalani, Garcia, Gissinger and each of Countrywide’s eight other executive officers (as a group), respectively, is approximately $106,084, $15,023,993, $8,815,990, $15,426,929, $11,251,044, $9,437,619 and $39,057,434.

 

Executive officers and directors of Countrywide also have rights to indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that will survive completion of the merger. Please see “The Merger — Countrywide’s Officers and Directors Have Financial Interests in the Merger” beginning on page 50 for information about these financial interests. In addition, if the merger is consummated, plaintiffs in pending shareholder actions against certain Countrywide officers and directors may lose standing to assert derivative claims on behalf of Countrywide because the plaintiffs will no longer be stockholders of Countrywide. See “The Merger — Litigation Relating to the Merger” on page 46.

 

As discussed in more detail beginning on page 56, Mr. Sambol has entered into a new retention agreement with Merger Sub that will supersede his Countrywide employment agreement upon completion of the merger. As a result, Mr. Sambol will not receive any payments or benefits under his current employment agreement following completion of the merger. On May 28, 2008 Bank of America announced that Mr. Sambol will retire after assisting with the transition and closing of the merger. His termination of employment will be treated as a termination without cause and he will be eligible to receive the payments and benefits under his retention agreement. In addition, certain of the executive officers (including Mr. Gissinger) have entered into new retention agreements with Merger Sub that replace their right to participate in Countrywide’s Change in Control Severance Plan.

 

The shares of Bank of America common stock to be received by Countrywide stockholders as a result of the merger will have different rights from the shares of Countrywide common stock.

 

Upon completion of the merger, Countrywide stockholders will become Bank of America stockholders and their rights as stockholders will be governed by the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Bank of America. The rights associated with Countrywide common stock are different from the rights associated with Bank of America common stock. Please see “Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights” beginning on page 74 for a discussion of the different rights associated with Bank of America common stock.

 

This section contains information about the special meeting of Countrywide stockholders that has been called to consider and approve and adopt the merger agreement.

 

Together with this document, we are also sending you a notice of the special meeting and a form of proxy that is solicited by the Countrywide board of directors. The special meeting will be held on June 25, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Learning Center Auditorium at Countrywide’s corporate headquarters located at 4500 Park Granada, Calabasas, California 91302.

 

The purpose of the special meeting is to vote on a proposal for approval and adoption of the merger agreement.

 

You also will be asked to vote upon a proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

 

Each copy of this document mailed to holders of Countrywide common stock is accompanied by a form of proxy with instructions for voting. If you hold stock in your name as a stockholder of record, you should complete and return the proxy card accompanying this document to ensure that your vote is counted at the special meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, regardless of whether you plan to attend the special meeting.

 

If you hold your stock in “street name” through a bank or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have received from your bank or broker.

 

If you hold stock in your name as a stockholder of record, you may revoke any proxy at any time before it is voted by signing and returning a proxy card with a later date, delivering a written revocation letter to Countrywide’s Secretary, or by attending the special meeting in person, notifying the Secretary, and voting by ballot at the special meeting.

 

Any stockholder entitled to vote in person at the special meeting may vote in person regardless of whether a proxy has been previously given, but the mere presence (without notifying the Secretary) of a stockholder at the special meeting will not constitute revocation of a previously given proxy.

 

Written notices of revocation and other communications about revoking your proxy should be addressed to:

 

Countrywide Financial Corporation

4500 Park Granada

MS: CH-11B

Calabasas, California 91302

Secretary

 

If your shares are held in “street name” by a bank or broker, you should follow the instructions of your bank or broker regarding the revocation of proxies.

 

All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. If you make no specification on your proxy card as to how you want your shares voted before signing and returning it, your proxy will be voted “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement and “FOR” approval of the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve and adopt the merger agreement. According to the Countrywide amended and restated bylaws, business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders may only be brought before the meeting by means of Countrywide’s notice of the meeting or otherwise properly brought

before the meeting by or at the direction of the Countrywide board of directors. No matters other than the matters described in this document are anticipated to be presented for action at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting.

 

Countrywide stockholders should not send Countrywide stock certificates with their proxy cards. After the merger is completed, holders of Countrywide common stock will be mailed a transmittal form with instructions on how to exchange their Countrywide stock certificates for the merger consideration.

 

Countrywide will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies from you. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, Countrywide will request that banks, brokers, and other record holders send proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of Countrywide common stock and secure their voting instructions. Countrywide will reimburse the record holders for their reasonable expenses in taking those actions. Countrywide has also made arrangements with Innisfree M&A Incorporated to assist it in soliciting proxies and has agreed to pay them $100,000 plus an additional $50,000 if the merger agreement is adopted and approved by Countrywide stockholders, plus reasonable expenses for these services. If necessary, Countrywide may use several of its regular employees, who will not be specially compensated, to solicit proxies from Countrywide stockholders, either personally or by telephone, facsimile, letter or other electronic means.

 

The close of business on April 28, 2008 has been fixed as the record date for determining the Countrywide stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting. At that time, 583,343,240 shares of Countrywide common stock were outstanding, held by approximately 1,847 holders of record.

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Countrywide common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the special meeting. Abstentions will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.

 

Approval and adoption of the merger agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Countrywide common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each share of Countrywide common stock you held as of the record date. Holders of shares of Countrywide preferred stock are not entitled to vote on the merger or otherwise at the special meeting.

 

Because the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Countrywide common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting is needed for us to proceed with the merger, the failure to vote by proxy or in person will have the same effect as a vote against the merger. Abstentions also will have the same effect as a vote against the merger. Accordingly, the Countrywide board of directors urges Countrywide stockholders to promptly vote by completing, dating, and signing the accompanying proxy card and to return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or, if you hold your stock in “street name” through a bank or broker, by following the voting instructions of your bank or broker.

 

Approval of the proposal to adjourn or postpone the meeting, if necessary, for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy, even if less than a quorum. Because approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or by proxy, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

 

Stockholders will vote at the meeting by ballot. Votes cast at the meeting, in person or by proxy, will be tallied by Countrywide’s transfer agent.

As of the record date:

 

 

The Countrywide board of directors has unanimously approved and adopted the merger agreement and the transactions it contemplates, including the merger. The Countrywide board of directors determined that the merger, merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and in the best interests of Countrywide and its stockholders and unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement. See “The Merger — Countrywide’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Countrywide Board of Directors” on page 29 for a more detailed discussion of the Countrywide board of directors’ recommendation.

 

All holders of Countrywide common stock, including stockholders of record and stockholders who hold their shares through banks, brokers, nominees or any other holder of record, are invited to attend the special meeting. Stockholders of record can vote in person at the special meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares, such as a broker, bank or other nominee, to be able to vote in person at the special meeting. If you plan to attend the special meeting, you must hold your shares in your own name or have a letter from the record holder of your shares confirming your ownership and you must bring a form of personal photo identification with you in order to be admitted. We reserve the right to refuse admittance to anyone without proper proof of share ownership and without proper photo identification.

 

Bank of America Corporation

 

Bank of America Corporation is a Delaware corporation, a bank holding company and a financial holding company under U.S. federal law. Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, nearly 19,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 23 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation common stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of December 31, 2007, Bank of America had total consolidated assets of approximately $1.7 trillion, total consolidated deposits of approximately $805 billion and total consolidated stockholders’ equity of approximately $147 billion. The principal executive offices of Bank of America are located in the Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255, and its telephone number is (704) 386-5681.

 

Additional information about Bank of America and its subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this document. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

 

Red Oak Merger Corporation

 

Red Oak Merger Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America, was formed solely for the purpose of consummating the merger. Red Oak Merger Corporation has not carried on any activities to date, except for activities incidental to its formation and activities undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The principal executive offices of Red Oak Merger Corporation are located in the Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, and its telephone number is (704) 386-5681.

 

Countrywide Financial Corporation

 

Countrywide Financial Corporation is a Delaware corporation and holding company. Founded in 1969, Countrywide is a diversified financial services provider, which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in mortgage lending and other real estate finance-related businesses, including mortgage banking, banking and mortgage warehouse lending, dealing in securities and insurance underwriting. Through this family of companies, Countrywide originates, purchases, securitizes, sells, and services residential and commercial loans; provides loan closing services such as credit reports, appraisals and flood determinations; offers banking services which include depository and home loan products; conducts fixed income securities underwriting and trading activities; provides property, life and casualty insurance; and manages a captive mortgage reinsurance company. Countrywide common stock (NYSE: CFC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a member of the S&P 500, Forbes 2000, and Fortune 500. The principal executive offices of Countrywide are located at 4500 Park Granada, Calabasas, California 91302, and its telephone number is (818) 225-3000.

 

Additional information about Countrywide and its subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this document. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

 

 

Countrywide’s board of directors has from time to time in recent years engaged with senior management in strategic reviews, and considered ways to enhance the company’s performance and prospects in light of market, economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors. These reviews have included consideration of potential transactions with other financial institutions that would further its strategic objectives, and the potential benefits and risks of those transactions.

 

Countrywide and Bank of America have for many years had a number of significant commercial relationships, including the provision by Bank of America of financing to Countrywide in the ordinary course of business. As a result of these relationships, the companies and their senior managements have become well known to one another. Discussions between Countrywide and Bank of America’s senior managements in recent years have from time to time included informal discussion of the possible strategic advantages of potential strategic transactions and joint ventures. Each of these discussions, however, remained exploratory and none led to any transaction.

 

During 2007, softening residential housing markets, increasing delinquency and default rates and increasingly volatile and constrained secondary credit markets began affecting the mortgage industry generally. Although these issues first appeared in the subprime mortgage market, the issues grew in significance and expanded into the prime mortgage market, with attendant impacts on Countrywide’s operations, credit costs and portfolio of retained mortgage loans and related interests. One of the significant negative developments for Countrywide in early August was the disruption in the market for the sale of “non-conforming” loans (i.e., those that cannot be sold to housing-related government agencies and government sponsored entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) and related mortgage-backed securities. As a result of this development and in light of the ensuing severe downturn in the short term and unsecured lending markets, Countrywide’s board of directors began considering a range of options to enhance its liquidity and capital positions, and to address the broader downturn in the mortgage banking environment and the impact on Countrywide’s business and operations. Given the roles of capital and liquidity as key drivers of the mortgage banking business, and given the increased capital needs resulting from the company’s need to retain non-conforming loans on its balance sheet as a result of the severe disruptions in the secondary mortgage market, Countrywide’s board and management determined to address liquidity and capital concerns promptly. As part of its efforts to help address the capital and liquidity concerns and maintain the confidence of Countrywide’s stockholders, business counterparties, employees, rating agencies and regulators, the company took a number of steps in August 2007, including drawing on a previously unutilized $11.5 billion credit facility, obtaining a $2 billion investment by Bank of America in the form of a non-voting convertible preferred security, and accelerating the migration of its mortgage production operations into Countrywide Bank, FSB.

 

Countrywide’s board of directors continued to meet frequently with senior management after its August actions, and the board and its management worked with their advisors, to consider the various implications of the economic and market environment and their impact on Countrywide’s business, assets and liabilities, competitive position, legal and regulatory status, and prospects, among other things. During this time the Countrywide board of directors determined to take and began implementing several significant additional strategic actions to address continued constrained credit conditions and declining asset values and the resulting challenging operating conditions for the company. Among these additional actions were the modification of Countrywide’s product guidelines in view of the limited opportunities to sell mortgages (including ceasing originations of subprime loans not eligible for sale or securitization under programs supported by government agencies and government sponsored entities) and workforce reductions. Countrywide’s board of directors and senior management continued to monitor the challenging economic, competitive, legal and regulatory conditions in the mortgage industry generally and at Countrywide specifically. The board and management, together with their advisors, also worked during this period to evaluate additional possible operational and other strategic and financial measures to mitigate the various challenges and risks facing Countrywide, including the possibility of further capital raising and/or possible strategic transactions with other financial institutions. Other possible transactions considered during this period included the possibility of an investment

by a financial buyer such as a private equity firm, although the Countrywide board of directors did not consider this to be a viable option as it would not resolve Countrywide’s capital or liquidity concerns.

 

Beginning in November 2007, with the preliminary approval of the Countrywide board of directors, Countrywide and Bank of America agreed that it would be worthwhile to engage in discussions regarding a potential transaction, including a potential merger, and the parties entered into a confidentiality agreement. Thereafter, representatives of Countrywide and Bank of America commenced discussions regarding their companies and market conditions, the complementary aspects of their businesses and the potential benefits of a strategic combination of Countrywide and Bank of America, including the general potential for cost and revenue related synergies, and Bank of America employees and advisors commenced extensive due diligence investigations of Countrywide, its business, operations, financial condition and prospects. Based on these discussions Countrywide and Bank of America began initial discussions regarding potential indicative terms for a transaction. These discussions remained preliminary. Countrywide also continued during this period to consider and work with its advisors regarding other alternatives, including the potential to conduct further private or public capital raising activities or financial or balance sheet restructuring initiatives. No company other than Bank of America performed any due diligence investigation of Countrywide with respect to a potential merger during this time period. At a meeting on December 28, 2007, as a framework to discuss a potential transaction, a Bank of America representative provided Countrywide representatives with a preliminary illustrative transaction scenario reflecting a 10% premium to Countrywide’s December 26, 2007 closing share price, which implied an exchange ratio of 0.2353 shares of Bank of America common stock per outstanding share of Countrywide common stock, or $9.96 per share. Later at that same meeting, the Countrywide representatives informed the Bank of America representatives for the first time that Countrywide had just learned that continuing deterioration in real estate market conditions had triggered certain provisions in various home equity loan securitizations that could have a negative impact on Countrywide’s financial condition. In response, the Bank of America representatives indicated that Bank of America needed to undertake due diligence on this issue before proceeding further.

 

Senior management of Countrywide regularly apprised the board of directors of the discussions that were taking place with Bank of America, as well as the impact on Countrywide and its business, operations and financial condition of continued challenging market and economic conditions. In early January, Countrywide management discussed with Bank of America and reported to the Countrywide board of directors that its general business conditions were coming under continued pressure as a result of various factors, including continued worsening credit performance, continued difficulty raising funds at acceptable costs, origination volume declines, declining residential real estate prices, and anticipated adverse movements in credit costs and in mortgage loan and related asset valuations, which were putting increasing pressure on Countrywide’s financial condition and would, in management’s estimation, likely result in a loss for the fourth quarter of 2007. Countrywide management reported a continued worsening of the legal, political and regulatory environment for the mortgage banking industry generally and Countrywide — as a leading participant in the industry — specifically. It was also noted that market perceptions regarding Countrywide’s capital, liquidity and business prospects were exacerbating the stress on the company’s business and operations by making it more difficult to engage counterparties in important ordinary course transactions on reasonable terms, such as financing and hedging transactions. These adverse conditions also raised the potential for negative action by Countrywide’s regulators and the rating agencies, including the possibility of a downgrade to below an investment grade rating if Countrywide were to report a loss for the fourth quarter of 2007. In addition, the company’s stock continued to decline in December and January, which increased the cost and the potential dilutive effect on current stockholders of raising additional equity capital, thereby making further capital raising activities significantly less attractive as a potential strategic option for Countrywide.

 

At a meeting of the Countrywide board of directors held on January 4, 2008, representatives of Countrywide senior management and the board’s advisors discussed the conversations between senior management of Countrywide and Bank of America to bring the full board of directors up to date on those discussions and other recent developments at Countrywide, including those discussed in the preceding paragraph. There was a strong consensus among the Countrywide directors that pursuing a transaction with Bank of America would be an attractive strategic and financial transaction for Countrywide in light of the

deteriorating conditions and the increasingly severe business, operating, legal, political and regulatory environment in which Countrywide was operating, and it was noted that a transaction with Bank of America would help to provide stability to Countrywide.

 

At the January 4 meeting, representatives of Sandler O’Neill, which the board of directors of Countrywide had previously retained as financial advisor to the board in connection with its consideration of strategic alternatives, discussed financial matters relating to Countrywide, the general and mortgage banking environment, the preliminary illustrative transaction scenario presented by Bank of America at the December 28, 2007 meeting, and the board’s future consideration of a potential transaction, representatives of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz discussed the board’s legal duties in connection with any such consideration of a possible transaction, and representatives of Promontory Financial Group, Countrywide’s regulatory consultants, reported on the status of regulatory matters. Included in the discussion of regulatory matters was a report on the potential impact of the issues and challenges facing the mortgage industry generally and Countrywide specifically and on the views of the federal banking regulators, including the potential for regulatory actions if the regulators were to determine that conditions generally or at Countrywide specifically warranted intervention. The board of directors discussed that the risk of adverse regulatory action was increasing as credit market disruptions continued and worsened. Also discussed generally was the possible reaction of federal regulators to a transaction with Bank of America, the regulatory approvals required in connection with a potential transaction (as described under “— Regulatory Approvals”) and the likelihood such approvals would be obtained. Following questions and discussions among the participants at the meeting, the Countrywide board of directors authorized and directed Countrywide’s senior management and outside legal and financial advisors to continue discussions with Bank of America and work towards a transaction that could be presented to the board of directors for its review and consideration.

 

Following this meeting and continuing through the following week, Bank of America and Countrywide and their outside counsel began discussions and the drafting of a merger agreement and related transaction documents. In addition, during this period, Countrywide performed customary “reverse” due diligence of Bank of America. In connection with this due diligence, Bank of America made available to Countrywide and its financial advisors information regarding Bank of America’s expectations for its fourth quarter 2007 results. Representatives of Countrywide had advised Bank of America by this time of the nature of Countrywide’s potential exposure relating to certain home equity loan securitizations, and the parties continued discussions on the material terms of a proposed transaction. During the course of these discussions, and as discussed below in more detail, Countrywide experienced rapidly declining business and operating conditions, as well as significant trading price declines as rumors of a rating agency downgrade and Countrywide’s possible bankruptcy circulated in the market. As described below, these rumors and Countrywide’s declining stock price significantly exacerbated already challenging conditions and significantly increased the likelihood that any capital-raising transaction would be on terms that would be highly unfavorable to Countrywide’s existing stockholders. On January 8, during a call initiated by Countrywide, representatives of Bank of America indicated a willingness to work toward entering into a transaction in which Bank of America would combine with Countrywide for consideration of 0.1822 shares of Bank of America common stock per outstanding share of Countrywide common stock, which, while less than in the prior preliminary discussions in December, reflected the significant declines in operating conditions in the mortgage industry generally and for Countrywide specifically (including the home equity loan securitization issue) and the results of Bank of America’s ongoing due diligence. Countrywide and Bank of America thereafter continued discussions of the material terms of a potential transaction, and during the course of such discussions Bank of America reiterated that the 0.1822 exchange ratio was a firm price and that Bank of America was prepared to pursue a merger on that basis. Following discussions that continued through January 8 and 9, 2008, Bank of America and Countrywide ultimately agreed to an all-stock transaction with a 0.1822 exchange ratio, among other significant terms. At this time the parties determined to hold board meetings on January 10, 2008 for each party’s board to consider the approval of such a transaction.

 

On the morning of January 10, 2008, the board of directors of Bank of America met and approved the proposed transaction.

Also on January 10, 2008, the board of directors of Countrywide met to consider the proposed transaction. Management discussed with the Countrywide board of directors the continued challenging operating environment, noting that since the prior board meeting on January 4 the conditions discussed with the board had continued to deteriorate even further. Among other things, the board discussed the further and precipitous drop in Countrywide’s stock price that had occurred earlier in the week following bankruptcy rumors and other adverse publicity. The new market rumors and the falling stock price further increased concerns among counterparties of Countrywide, which in turn resulted in further limitations in important trading related credit extensions, threatened the retention of retail and other deposits at Countrywide Bank, and also further diminished the attractiveness of equity capital raising activities as a potential strategic option. Management then reviewed with the board the background of discussions with Bank of America and the progress of negotiations, and reported on Countrywide’s due diligence investigations of Bank of America. While management had previously anticipated that the fourth quarter of 2007 would be profitable, it had become apparent during the days preceding the meeting that due to changed market conditions adjustments relating to credit-related valuations would be necessary and that as a result the company would most likely experience a loss for the quarter. The board discussed that a credit downgrade would be likely in the event the company reported a fourth quarter loss and that additional adverse consequences, including adverse regulatory actions, could follow. The board also discussed the possibility that such consequences would further exacerbate the stress on Countrywide’s business and operations and the adverse market perceptions about its capital, liquidity and business prospects.

 

On or about January 8, 2008, Goldman Sachs was retained as financial advisor to Countrywide in connection with the proposed merger, having acted as its financial advisor in connection with the August 2007 Bank of America investment and having continued to work with the company thereafter with respect to potential strategic and financial considerations. Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed with the Countrywide board of directors the financial terms of the proposed transaction, and financial information regarding Bank of America, Countrywide and the transaction. In connection with the deliberation by the Countrywide board of directors, each of Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill rendered to the Countrywide board of directors its oral opinion (subsequently confirmed in writing), as described under “— Opinions of Countrywide’s Financial Advisors”, that, as of the date of their opinions, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in their opinions, the exchange ratio of 0.1822 shares of Bank of America common stock to be received in respect of each share of Countrywide common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to Countrywide’s stockholders.

 

Representatives of Wachtell, Lipton discussed with the Countrywide board of directors the legal standards applicable to its decisions and actions with respect to its evaluation of the proposed transaction, and reviewed the legal terms of the merger agreement and the related agreements. Representatives of Wachtell, Lipton also discussed with the Countrywide board of directors the stockholder and regulatory approvals that would be required to complete the transaction, and the possible timeframe for receiving such approvals, and reviewed with the board of directors a set of draft resolutions relating to the proposed transaction. In addition, representatives of Promontory Financial Group provided an updated report on the status of regulatory matters that had been discussed at the January 4 meeting.

 

Following these discussions, and extensive review and discussion among the members of the Countrywide board of directors, including consideration of the factors described under “— Countrywide’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Countrywide Board of Directors”, the Countrywide board of directors unanimously determined that the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and in the best interests of Countrywide and its stockholders, and the Countrywide directors voted unanimously to approve the merger and to approve and adopt the merger agreement.

 

During the remainder of the day on January 10, 2008, the parties and their respective legal counsel worked to finalize the merger agreement and related materials. Thereafter the parties executed the merger agreement. The transaction was announced on the morning of January 11, 2008.

 

The Countrywide board of directors consulted with Countrywide management, as well as its legal and financial advisors, in its evaluation of the merger. In reaching its conclusion to approve and adopt the merger agreement and in determining that the merger is advisable and in the best interests of Countrywide and its stockholders, the Countrywide board considered a number of factors, including the following material factors:

 

 

 

as well as the competitive environment for financial institutions generally, the trend toward consolidation in the financial services industry generally and the consumer finance and the mortgage industry in particular, and the potential effects of these factors on Countrywide and the potential effects of these and other factors on Countrywide relative to Bank of America;

 

 

 

The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Countrywide board of directors is not exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the Countrywide board of directors. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the Countrywide board of directors in connection with its evaluation of the merger and the complexity of these matters, the Countrywide board of directors did not consider it practical to, nor did it attempt to, quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors that it considered in reaching its decision. In reaching its decision to approve and adopt the merger agreement and recommend its approval and adoption by Countrywide stockholders, the Countrywide board of directors was aware that the merger consideration per share in the transaction was substantially less than the net book value per share of Countrywide common stock as of September 30, 2007. In light of all of the other factors considered by the board and described under “— Background of the Merger” and above in this section, in particular the challenging and uncertain mortgage industry conditions that the Countrywide board of

directors expected to continue, and the resulting uncertain and volatile valuations of mortgage loans and related assets and expected fourth quarter losses, as well as the resurgence of rumors concerning a potential bankruptcy filing or ratings downgrade and their potentially debilitating effects on the ongoing business, the board did not consider net book value to be a material indicator of the value of Countrywide common stock in the current context. The Countrywide board of directors considered the opinions and analyses of Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill taken as a whole, and in doing so was aware that, for example, with respect to the precedent transactions analysis described under “— Opinion of Countrywide’s Financial Advisors — Precedent Transactions Analysis,” certain of the multiples and ratios calculated for Countrywide and the proposed merger did not fall within the ranges derived for the selected transactions, and determined that the Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill opinions and analyses overall supported its decision to approve and adopt the merger agreement and recommend the merger to the Countrywide stockholders. The Countrywide board of directors evaluated the factors described above, including by asking questions of Countrywide management and Countrywide legal and financial advisors, and reached consensus that the merger was advisable and in the best interests of Countrywide and Countrywide stockholders. In considering the factors described above, individual members of the Countrywide board of directors may have given different weights to different factors.

 

The Countrywide board of directors determined that the merger, the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and in the best interests of Countrywide and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Countrywide board of directors unanimously approved the merger and approved and adopted the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that Countrywide stockholders vote “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement.

 

Goldman Sachs.  On January 10, 2008, Goldman Sachs rendered its opinion to the board of directors of Countrywide that as of the date of the opinion, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in the opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.1822 shares of Bank of America common stock to be received in respect of each share of Countrywide common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Countrywide common stock.

 

The full text of the written opinion of Goldman Sachs, dated January 10, 2008, which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached to this document as Appendix B. Goldman Sachs provided its opinion for the information and assistance of the Countrywide board of directors in connection with its consideration of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement. Goldman Sachs’ opinion is not a recommendation as to how any holder of Countrywide common stock should vote with respect to the merger or any other matter.

 

In connection with rendering the opinion described above and performing its related financial analyses, Goldman Sachs reviewed, among other things:

 

 

Goldman Sachs held discussions with members of the senior managements of Countrywide and Bank of America regarding their assessment of the strategic rationale for, and the potential benefits of, the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement. Goldman Sachs also held discussions with members of the senior management of Countrywide regarding the past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects of Countrywide, including their views of the risks and uncertainties of achieving future results. In that regard, Goldman Sachs was informed by members of the senior management of Countrywide that Countrywide had been negatively affected by and continued to have exposure to a number of risks, including deteriorating credit performance of its portfolio assets, significant reductions in the scope of its capital markets business and declining values of portions of its loan and residual interest portfolios. Countrywide advised Goldman Sachs that these exposures had negatively affected recent financial results and that there was a material risk that they would impact Countrywide in the future, which could lead to further ratings downgrades or regulatory actions, or both, which would substantially impair the operations of Countrywide. In addition, members of the senior management of Countrywide advised Goldman Sachs that Countrywide had limited access to the capital markets and that a failure to raise additional capital in the amounts and at the prices assumed by the forecasts for Countrywide would have a material negative effect on the ability of Countrywide to achieve the forecasts as contemplated.

 

The management of Bank of America did not make available to Goldman Sachs its forecasts of the future financial performance of Bank of America. With the consent of Countrywide, Goldman Sachs’ review of Bank of America was limited to publicly-available information and a discussion with the senior management of Bank of America regarding the past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects of Bank of America, which included a discussion of publicly available estimates issued by certain research analysts with respect to Bank of America.

 

In addition, Goldman Sachs reviewed the reported price and trading activity for the Countrywide common stock and Bank of America common stock, compared certain financial and stock market information for Countrywide and Bank of America with similar information for certain other companies the securities of which are publicly-traded, reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business combinations in the banking industry specifically and in other industries generally and performed such other studies and analyses, and considered such other factors, as it considered appropriate.

 

Goldman Sachs relied upon and assumed, without assuming any responsibility for independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by it. Goldman Sachs did not review individual credit files, nor did it make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities (including any derivative claims brought on Countrywide’s behalf against its officers or directors, or any contingent, derivative or off-balance-sheet assets and liabilities) of Countrywide, Bank of America or any of their respective subsidiaries, and Goldman Sachs was not furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. Goldman Sachs is not an expert in the evaluation of loan and lease portfolios for purposes of assessing the adequacy of the allowances for losses with respect thereto and, accordingly, with the consent of Countrywide, Goldman Sachs assumed, with respect to Bank of America, that such allowances are in the aggregate adequate to cover such losses. Goldman Sachs also assumed that all governmental, regulatory or other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the merger will be obtained without any adverse effect on Countrywide or Bank of America or on the expected benefits of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement in any way meaningful to its analysis. Goldman Sachs’ opinion does not address any legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters.

 

Goldman Sachs’ opinion does not address the underlying business decision of Countrywide to engage in the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement, or the relative merits of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement as compared to any strategic alternatives that may be available to Countrywide. Goldman Sachs was not requested to solicit, and did not solicit, interest from other parties with respect to an acquisition of, or other business combination with, Countrywide or any other alternative transaction. Goldman Sachs noted that, pursuant to the terms of the private placement of Countrywide’s 7.25% Series B Non-voting Convertible Preferred Stock to Bank of America in August 2007, Bank of America has the right to match third party proposals to acquire Countrywide. Goldman Sachs’ opinion addresses only the fairness from a financial

point of view, as of the date of the opinion, of the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger agreement. Goldman Sachs did not express any view on, and its opinion does not address, any other term or aspect of the merger agreement or the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement, including, without limitation, the fairness of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement to, or any consideration received in connection therewith by, the holders of any other class of securities, creditors, or other constituencies of Countrywide or Bank of America, nor as to the fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of Countrywide or Bank of America, or class of such persons in connection with the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement, whether relative to the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger agreement or otherwise. In addition, Goldman Sachs did not express any opinion as to the prices at which shares of Bank of America common stock will trade at any time. Goldman Sachs’ opinion is necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to it as of, the date of the opinion, including the recent dislocation in the mortgage market in particular and credit markets generally and the related uncertainty and risk regarding the extent and duration of this dislocation. Goldman Sachs assumed no responsibility for updating, revising or reaffirming its opinion based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after the date of its opinion. Goldman Sachs’ opinion was approved by a fairness committee of Goldman Sachs.

 

Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are engaged in investment banking and financial advisory services, securities trading, investment management, principal investment, financial planning, benefits counseling, risk management, hedging, financing, brokerage activities and other financial and non-financial activities and services for various persons and entities. In the ordinary course of these activities and services, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may at any time make or hold long or short positions and investments, as well as actively trade or effect transactions, in the equity, debt and other securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of Countrywide, Bank of America and any of their respective affiliates or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement for their own account and for the accounts of their customers.

 

Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor to Countrywide in connection with the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement. In addition, Goldman Sachs has provided, and is currently providing, certain investment banking and other financial services to Countrywide and its affiliates, including having acted as dealer in various of Countrywide’s unsecured and secured commercial paper programs, as lead or joint bookrunner or co-manager with respect to multiple public offerings of Countrywide’s Medium Term Notes and Global Medium Term Notes, as financial advisor to Countrywide from May 2004 to May 2007, as co-manager with respect to a private placement of Countrywide’s Subordinated Notes (aggregate principal amount of $1,300,000,000) in November 2006, as financial advisor with respect to a private placement of Countrywide’s 7.25% Series B Non-voting Convertible Preferred Stock (aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000,000) to Bank of America in August 2007, and as a participant in certain of Countrywide’s commercial paper backup facilities which were drawn on August 16, 2007 (aggregate principal amount of $11,500,000,000, of which $400,000,000 was funded by one of Goldman Sachs’ affiliates). During the past two years, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates have received aggregate fees from Countrywide and its affiliates for services unrelated to the transaction of approximately $7 million. Goldman Sachs also acted as financial advisor to Bank of America in connection with its merger with FleetBoston Financial Corporation in April 2004. Goldman Sachs also may provide investment banking and other financial services to Countrywide, Bank of America and their respective affiliates in the future in connection with which it may receive compensation. Affiliates of Goldman Sachs also have co-invested with affiliates of Bank of America from time to time and may do so in the future.

 

Countrywide selected Goldman Sachs as its financial advisor because it is an internationally recognized investment banking firm that has substantial experience in transactions similar to the merger. Pursuant to a letter agreement, dated January 10, 2008, Countrywide engaged Goldman Sachs to act as its financial advisor in connection with the possible transaction with Bank of America. Pursuant to this letter agreement, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a fee of $12,750,000, of which $3,000,000 became payable upon execution of the merger agreement and the balance of which is contingent upon consummation of the merger. Countrywide has also agreed to reimburse Goldman Sachs for its reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and

disbursements, and to indemnify Goldman Sachs against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Sandler O’Neill.  Pursuant to a letter agreement dated January 9, 2008, Countrywide engaged Sandler O’Neill to act as its financial advisor in connection with a possible transaction with Bank of America. Pursuant to this letter agreement, Sandler O’Neill is entitled to receive a fee of $12,250,000, of which $2,000,000 became payable upon execution of the merger agreement, $1,000,000 became payable when Sandler O’Neill delivered its opinion to the Countrywide board of directors and the balance of which is contingent upon consummation of the merger. For the past two years, Sandler O’Neill received an aggregate of approximately $556,000 in fees for services performed for Countrywide and its affiliates. Sandler O’Neill is a nationally recognized investment banking firm whose principal business specialty is financial institutions. In the ordinary course of its investment banking business, Sandler O’Neill is regularly engaged in the valuation of financial institutions and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.

 

Sandler O’Neill acted as financial advisor to Countrywide in connection with the proposed merger and participated in certain of the negotiations leading to the merger agreement. At the January 10, 2008 meeting at which Countrywide’s board considered and approved the merger agreement, Sandler O’Neill delivered to the board its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing that, as of such date, the merger consideration was fair to Countrywide’s stockholders from a financial point of view. The full text of Sandler O’Neill’s opinion is attached to this document as Appendix C. The opinion outlines the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Sandler O’Neill in rendering its opinion. The description of the opinion set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the opinion. Countrywide stockholders are urged to read the entire opinion carefully in connection with their consideration of the proposed merger.

 

Sandler O’Neill’s opinion speaks only as of the date of the opinion. The opinion is directed to Countrywide’s board and speaks only to the fairness from a financial point of view of the merger consideration to Countrywide’s stockholders. It does not address the underlying business decision of Countrywide to engage in the merger or any other aspect of the merger and is not a recommendation to any Countrywide stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote at the special meeting with respect to the merger or any other matter.

 

In connection with rendering its January 10, 2008 opinion, Sandler O’Neill reviewed and considered, among other things:

 

 

 

Sandler O’Neill also discussed with certain members of senior management of Countrywide the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of Countrywide, including certain operating, liquidity, regulatory and other financial matters. Sandler O’Neill also held similar discussions with certain members of senior management of Bank of America regarding the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of Bank of America.

 

In performing its review, Sandler O’Neill relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information that was available to it from public sources, that was provided by Countrywide and Bank of America or their respective representatives or that was otherwise reviewed by Sandler O’Neill and assumed such accuracy and completeness for purposes of rendering its opinion. Sandler O’Neill further relied on the assurances of management of Countrywide and Bank of America that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make any of such information inaccurate or misleading. Sandler O’Neill was not asked to undertake, and did not undertake, an independent verification of any of such information and Sandler O’Neill did not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness thereof. Sandler O’Neill did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the specific assets (including any derivative claims brought on Countrywide’s behalf against its officers and directors), the collateral securing assets or the liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of Countrywide or Bank of America or any of their subsidiaries, or the collectibility of any such assets, nor was Sandler O’Neill furnished with any such evaluations or appraisals.

 

Sandler O’Neill did not make an independent evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses of Countrywide or Bank of America, nor did Sandler O’Neill review any individual credit files relating to Countrywide or Bank of America. Sandler O’Neill assumed, with Countrywide’s consent, that the respective allowances for loan losses for both Countrywide and Bank of America were adequate to cover such losses and will be adequate on a pro forma basis for the combined entity.

 

Sandler O’Neill’s opinion was necessarily based upon financial, economic, market and other conditions as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, the date of its opinion. Sandler O’Neill assumed, in all respects material to its analysis that each party to the merger agreement would perform all of the material covenants required to be performed by such party under such agreements and that the conditions precedent in the merger agreement had not been waived. Sandler O’Neill also assumed that there had been no material change in Countrywide’s and Bank of America’s assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects since the date of the last financial statements made available to them, that Countrywide and Bank of America would remain as going concerns for all periods relevant to its analyses, and that the merger would qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. Sandler O’Neill’s opinion was approved by Sandler O’Neill’s fairness opinion committee. Sandler O’Neill expressed no opinion as to the fairness of the amount or nature of the compensation to be received in the merger by Countrywide’s officers, directors or employees or class of such persons, relative to the compensation to be received in the merger by any other stockholders of Countrywide. Sandler O’Neill expressed no opinion as to the legal, accounting, and tax advice Countrywide received relating to the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

 

With respect to anticipated transaction costs, estimates of purchase accounting adjustments and expected cost savings and other information prepared by and/or reviewed with the senior management of Bank of America and used by Sandler O’Neill in its analyses, Bank of America’s management confirmed to Sandler O’Neill that they reflected the best currently available estimates and judgments of such management with

respect thereto, and Sandler O’Neill assumed that such performances would be achieved. Sandler O’Neill expressed no opinion as to such estimates and projections or the assumptions on which they were based. Those estimates and projections, as well as the other estimates used by Sandler O’Neill in its analysis, were based on numerous variables and assumptions which are inherently uncertain and, accordingly, actual results could vary materially from those set forth in such projections.

 

Financial Analyses of Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill.  The following is a summary of the material financial analyses prepared by Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill in connection with rendering the opinions described above. The following summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by Goldman Sachs or Sandler O’Neill, nor does the order of analyses described represent relative importance or weight given to those analyses by Goldman Sachs or Sandler O’Neill. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables must be read together with the full text of each summary and are alone not a complete description of the financial analyses. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before January 9, 2008, and is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions.

 

Situation Overview

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed, based on discussions with Countrywide, certain sources of significant financial and operational distress on Countrywide over recent periods, including:

 

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill also reviewed, based on discussions with Countrywide, certain events that contributed to an 89% decline from the historical high trading price of Countrywide common stock, including:

 

 

In addition, Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed numerous interrelated challenges identified by Countrywide that could cumulatively result in financial distress to Countrywide, including financial, liquidity and operational constraints, material risk of a ratings downgrade to non-investment grade, increased regulatory pressure, limited access to capital, litigation exposure, and general capital markets disruption. In view of these challenges and the several risks facing Countrywide, as well as the concern that these adverse events and others described above in “Background of the Merger” could continue and worsen, Countrywide management prepared for purposes of the financial analyses a set of illustrative projections for Countrywide for the years ending December 31, 2008 through 2013 that assumed a stress case scenario in which certain of these risks were in fact realized. The key assumptions under this scenario included limited growth in the originations

market and diminishing market share for Countrywide, severe declines in housing price appreciation, increasing credit costs for 2008 and 2009, a below investment grade rating for 2008 and 2009 and the loss of all uninsured deposits. For purposes of the Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill financial analysis, it was further assumed that, in the absence of a transaction with Bank of America, Countrywide would require additional capital and the analysis assumed a $1.5 billion common stock rights offering completed at the beginning of 2008 at a fifty percent discount to the then current Countrywide price per share of $5.12. The rights offering assumption was included in the analysis because Countrywide management was of the view that, in the absence of the transaction with Bank of America, it would likely be necessary for Countrywide to raise additional capital in order to maintain its business and that, as noted, any such capital-raising transaction would be on terms that would be highly unfavorable to Countrywide’s existing shareholders. This internal stress case, dated January 9, 2008, which was prepared prior to the public announcement of the merger and has not been updated to take into account subsequent developments, was not prepared with a view towards public dissemination, was prepared in connection with the financial analyses and should not be viewed as indicative of actual future results. We refer to this scenario in this document as the “Stress Case”. Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill utilized the Stress Case in their analyses, including those described below under “— Discounted Cash Flow Analysis — Countrywide”, because of the view of management and the board of directors of Countrywide that neither the publicly available analyst estimates nor management’s prior estimates fully reflected the rapidly changing state of the market and continuing significant uncertainty and disruption in the mortgage industry generally and in Countrywide’s operations specifically, including the significant worsening of conditions that accelerated in January of 2008. Among other things, these prior estimates generally reflected the assumption that Countrywide’s fourth quarter of 2007 would be profitable and that Countrywide would continue to retain its investment-grade ratings. By January 10, 2008, however, management had concluded (and the board of directors was advised) that, due to continuing deterioration in real estate market and other conditions, Countrywide would likely experience a loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 and that, in the absence of a transaction with Bank of America, there was a substantial likelihood that Countrywide would suffer one or more rating agency downgrades to “non-investment-grade” status. The Stress Case also took into consideration the fact that certain of the risks discussed above, such as the risk of a ratings agency downgrade to “non-investment-grade” status, could, if realized, trigger the realization of other risks, such as a significant worsening of funding costs, the loss of uninsured deposits and the need to engage in a likely capital raising transaction involving substantial dilution to shareholders. The Stress Case was intended to reflect, based on the various assumptions listed above, the anticipated adverse impact on the mortgage industry and financial markets generally, and Countrywide’s operations specifically, which, if realized, would result in adverse business, legal and regulatory conditions and negatively impacted financial results.

 

Transaction Multiples Analysis

 

Based upon the exchange ratio and the $38.74 closing market price of Bank of America common stock on January 9, 2008, Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill calculated that each share of Countrywide common stock would be converted into Bank of America common stock with an implied market value of $7.06, representing a premium of 37.9% to the closing price of $5.12 of Countrywide common stock on January 9, 2008. Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill also calculated the following multiples and percentage resulting from the implied value of the merger consideration:

 

 

The results of these analyses are summarized as follows:

 

 

Total Return Analysis — Countrywide

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed the total returns (including reinvestment of dividends) of Countrywide common stock, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the common stock of the following selected banks for each of the periods beginning June 30, 2007, September 30, 2007, December 9, 2007 and January 2, 2008:

 

 

Although none of the selected banks is directly comparable to Countrywide, the banks included were chosen because they are publicly traded companies with operations that, for purposes of analysis, may be considered similar to certain operations of Countrywide.

 

The results of these analyses are summarized as follows:

 

 

Selected Companies Analysis — Countrywide

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed and compared certain financial information for Countrywide to corresponding financial information, ratios and public market multiples for the selected banks described under the “Total Return Analysis — Countrywide” above.

 

The multiples and ratios of the selected banks were based on market data as of January 9, 2008, financial data as of or for the period ended September 30, 2007 with no adjustments made for pending acquisitions and information obtained from SNL Financial. The multiples and ratios of Countrywide were calculated using both

median IBES estimates and the Stress Case estimates. With respect to the selected banks and Countrywide, Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill calculated:

 

 

The results of these analyses are summarized as follows:

 

 

Precedent Transactions Analysis

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill analyzed certain publicly available financial information relating to 12 selected transactions involving the acquisition of mortgage lenders announced during the period from May 2005 through June 2007. The following is a list of those specified transactions:

 

Acquiror / Seller

 

While none of the transactions included in the precedent transactions analysis are directly comparable to the proposed merger, Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill selected these transactions because each of the target companies in the selected transactions were involved in the mortgage lending business.

For the selected transactions, Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill reviewed, to the extent available:

 

 

The results of these analyses are summarized as follows:

 

 

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis — Countrywide

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill performed two illustrative discounted cash flow analyses to determine ranges of implied present values per share of Countrywide common stock. The illustrative terminal values were based upon multiples of share price to Stress Case earnings for 2009 and 2013, respectively. Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill used discount rates ranging from 14% to 18%, reflecting estimates of Countrywide’s weighted average cost of equity, Stress Case forecasts of Countrywide earnings per share, and terminal forward earnings multiples ranging from 4.0x to 9.0x.

 

Goldman Sachs and Sandler O’Neill assumed that the conversion price of Countrywide’s 7.25% Series B Non-voting Convertible Preferred Stock would be reduced to $13.47 per share as a result of the rights offering described under “— Situation Overview” above. These analyses resulted in a range of implied present value per share of Countrywide common stock of $1.37 to $5.08 based on Stress Case earnings for 2009, and a range of $3.07 to $9.06 based on Stress Case earnings for 2013.