News Releases
Bank of Montreal (TSX, NYSE: BMO) today announced a domestic public offering of $150 million of Non-Cumulative 5-year Rate Reset Class B Preferred Shares Series 18 (the “Preferred Shares”). The offering will be underwritten on a bought deal basis by a syndicate led by BMO Capital Markets. The Bank has granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $100 million of the Preferred Shares exercisable at any time up to two days before closing.
The Preferred Shares will be issued to the public at a price of $25.00 per Preferred Share and holders will be entitled to receive non-cumulative preferential fixed quarterly dividends for an initial five years, as and when declared by the board of directors of the Bank, payable in the amount of $0.40625 per Preferred Share, to yield 6.50 per cent annually.
Thereafter, the dividend rate will reset every five years to be equal to the 5-Year Government of Canada Bond Yield plus 3.83 per cent. Subject to certain conditions, holders may elect to convert any or all of their Preferred Shares into an equal number of Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Class B Preferred Shares Series 19 on February 25, 2014 and on February 25th of every fifth year thereafter. Holders of the Preferred Shares Series 19 will be entitled to receive non-cumulative preferential floating rate quarterly dividends, as and when declared by the board of directors of the Bank, equal to the then 3-month Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 3.83 per cent.
The anticipated closing date is December 11, 2008. The net proceeds from the offering will be used by the Bank for general corporate purposes.
The Series 18 and Series 19 Preferred Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered, sold or delivered directly, or indirectly, in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell in the United States.
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