[FORM OF REGISTERED SUBORDINATED NOTE]

EX-4.5 3 g05000exv4w5.htm EXHIBIT 4.5 Exhibit 4.5
 

Exhibit 4.5
[FORM OF REGISTERED SUBORDINATED NOTE]
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (55 Water Street, New York, New York) (“DTC”), to the Corporation or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and this Note is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC, and unless ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
THIS NOTE IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT, A DEPOSIT OR OTHER OBLIGATION OF A BANK, IS NOT GUARANTEED BY ANY BANKING OR NONBANKING AFFILIATE OF BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. THIS NOTE IS SUBORDINATED TO CLAIMS OF DEPOSITOR, IS UNSECURED, AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION OR BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                 
REGISTERED           $                                         
NUMBER R-
          CUSIP:    
 
               
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
____% SUBORDINATED NOTES, DUE 20__
     BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Corporation,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                                           DOLLARS ($                       ) on March 15, 20___(except to the extent redeemed or repaid prior to that date). The Corporation will pay interest on such principal sum at the rate of ___% per annum, until payment of such principal sum has been made or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest shall be payable commencing on the first Interest Payment Date succeeding the Original Issue Date (as defined below) of this Note, and at the stated maturity (the “Maturity Date”) or earlier redemption or repayment. If the Corporation shall default in the payment of interest due on any Interest Payment Date, then this Note shall bear interest from the next preceding Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid, or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from                             , 2007 (the “Original Issue Date”).
     Interest on this Note will accrue from the Original Issue Date of this Note until the principal amount is paid or duly provided for. Interest (including payments for partial periods) will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will include interest accrued from, and including, the preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from, and including, the Original Issue Date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for) to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If the Maturity Date or an Interest Payment Date falls on a day which is not a Business Day (as defined below), principal of or interest payable with respect to such Maturity Date or Interest Payment Date will be paid on the succeeding Business Day

 


 

with the same force and effect as if made on such Maturity Date or Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of that postponement. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as this Note) is registered at the close of business on the record date for such Interest Payment Date, whether or not a Business Day. The “Record Date” for the Notes shall be the close of business on the first day of the calendar month in which an Interest Payment Date occurs. “Business Day” means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York or Charlotte, North Carolina and that is not a day on which banking institutions in those cities are authorized or required by law or regulation to be closed.
     The principal of and interest on this Note are payable in immediately available funds in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, at the office or agency of the Corporation designated in the Indenture. However, interest may be paid, at the option of the Corporation, by check mailed to the person entitled thereto at his address last appearing on the registry books of the Corporation relating to the Notes. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, payments of principal of and interest payable on the Maturity Date will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a designated account maintained in the United States upon (i) receipt of written notice by the Issuing and Paying Agent (as described on the reverse hereof) from the registered holder hereof not less than one Business Day prior to the due date of such principal and (ii) presentation of this Note to the Issuing and Paying Agent, at The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall be payable as provided in such Indenture.
     References herein to “U.S. dollars,” “U.S.$,” or “$” are to the coin or currency of the United States at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
     Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which shall have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or by an authenticating agent on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under such Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Note to be duly executed, by manual or facsimile signature, under its corporate seal or a facsimile thereof.
         
    BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
 
       
 
  By:    
 
       
[SEAL]   Title: Senior Vice President
 
       
ATTEST:
       
 
       
By:                                                             
       
    Assistant Secretary
       

3


 

Certificate of Authentication
     This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
         
Dated:                                         , 2007
       
 
       
    THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
 
       
 
  By:    
 
       
 
      Authorized Signatory

4


 

[Reverse of Note]
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
____% SUBORDINATED NOTES, DUE 20__
     SECTION 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Corporation unlimited in aggregate principal amount issued and to be issued under an Indenture dated as of January 1, 1995 (as supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Corporation (successor to NationsBank Corporation) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The series of which this Note is a part is designated as the Corporation’s ___% Subordinated Notes, due 20___(herein called the “Notes”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $__________. The amount of Notes of this series may be increased by the Corporation in the future. The Trustee initially shall act as Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, Transfer Agent, and Issuing and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes.
     SECTION 2. Subordination. THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE CORPORATION EVIDENCED BY THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL THEREOF AND INTEREST THEREON, IS, TO THE EXTENT AND IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE, SUBORDINATE AND JUNIOR IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO ITS OBLIGATIONS TO HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS, AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE, AND EACH HOLDER OF THE NOTES, BY THE ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES TO AND SHALL BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE.
     SECTION 2. No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
     SECTION 3. Redemption and Repayment. The Notes of this series are not subject to redemption at the option of the Corporation or repayment at the option of the holder prior to maturity.
     SECTION 4. Defeasance. The provisions of Sections 14.02 and 14.03 of the Indenture do not apply to the Notes.
     SECTION 5. Events of Default. If an Event of Default (defined in the Indenture as certain events involving the bankruptcy of the Corporation) shall occur with respect to the Notes, the principal of, interest accrued on, and other amounts then payable on, the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. THERE IS NO RIGHT OF ACCELERATION PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE IN CASE OF A DEFAULT IN THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OTHER COVENANT BY THE CORPORATION.
     SECTION 6. Modifications and Waivers. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment of the Indenture and the modification of the

5


 

rights and obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the holders of the Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Corporation with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all other Securities then outstanding under the Indenture and affected by such amendment and modification. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all other Securities then outstanding under the Indenture and affected thereby, on behalf of the holders of all such Securities, to waive compliance by the Corporation with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
     No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, or director, as such, past, present, or future, of the Corporation or any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute, or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for issue hereof, expressly waived and released.
     SECTION 7. Obligations Unconditional. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
     SECTION 8. Authorized Denominations. The Notes are issuable only as registered Notes without coupons in the denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denominations, as requested by the holder surrendering the same.
     SECTION 9. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Corporation relating to the Notes, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation designated by it pursuant to the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Trustee or the Security Registrar duly executed by, the registered holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
     The Notes are being issued by means of a book-entry system with no physical distribution of certificates to be made except as provided in the Indenture. The book-entry system maintained by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will evidence ownership of the Notes, with transfers of ownership effected on the records of DTC and its participants pursuant to rules and procedures established by DTC and its participants. The Corporation will recognize

6


 

Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, while the registered holder of the Notes, as the owner of the Notes for all purposes, including payment of principal (premium, if any) and interest, notices, and voting. Transfer of principal, premium (if any), interest, and other amounts payable to participants of DTC will be the responsibility of DTC, and transfer of principal (premium, if any) and interest to beneficial owners of the Notes by participants of DTC will be the responsibility of such participants and other nominees of such beneficial owners. So long as the book-entry system is in effect, the selection of any Notes to be redeemed will be determined by DTC pursuant to rules and procedures established by DTC and its participants. The Corporation will not be responsible or liable for such transfers or payments or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing the records maintained by DTC, its participants, or persons acting through such participants.
     No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge, including, without limitation, any withholding tax, payable in connection therewith.
     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note, the Corporation, the Trustee, the Issuing and Paying Agent, and any agent of the Corporation may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes.
     SECTION 10. Authentication Date. The Notes of this series shall be dated the date of their authentication.
     SECTION 11. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Note which are not defined herein, but are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
     SECTION 12. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

7


 

ABBREVIATIONS
     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the within Note shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
                     
    TEN COM—   as tenants in common
    TEN ENT—   as tenants by the entireties
    JT TEN—   as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—   ____________________________   as Custodian for  ___________________________
 
          (Cust)       (Minor)
Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
 
(State)
     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
 
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS
INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]
 
 
 
Please Insert Social Security or Other
          Identifying Number of Assignee:                                                             
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                                                              Attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:                                                                                                                             
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and must be guaranteed.

8