Bank of America Capital Plan Moves Forward: $26 Billion Raised to Date

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 27 -- Bank of America Corporation today said it has raised almost $26 billion in its capital plan since the stress test results were announced and is well on its way to reaching the $33.9 billion indicated Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (SCAP) buffer set by the Federal Reserve.

The company announced last week that it raised $13.5 billion through issuing 1.25 billion shares in an at-the-market common stock offering. It has also sold part of its holdings in China Construction Bank, generating a capital gain. Contributing to the capital plan, these initiatives also benefit Tier 1 common capital by $1.8 billion by reducing the deferred tax asset deduction.

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Bank of America has entered into agreements with certain holders of (non-government) perpetual preferred shares to exchange their holdings of approximately $5.9 billion of preferred stock into approximately 436 million shares of common stock. This results in a total benefit to Tier 1 common capital of $5.9 billion.

Combined, these initiatives have raised almost $26 billion, or 76 percent of the total, toward the SCAP buffer of $33.9 billion.

Subject to market conditions, the company could issue up to an additional 564 million common shares through the exchange of (non-government) perpetual preferred shares for common stock.

In addition, Bank of America has previously said that it plans to sell non-strategic assets such as First Republic Bank and Columbia Management Group and to establish joint ventures. In addition to adding capital, these sales would also reduce the need for capital to support the balance sheet.

"We are quite pleased with the capital-raising effort and the progress toward completing the asset sales and establishment of the joint ventures," said Joe Price, chief financial officer. "The company hopes to use the majority of the proceeds from these initiatives to reduce reliance on government support for the company."

Source: Bank of America