Pardon the shortness of this but I wanted to give folks a heads up on the proposed merger between M&I bank and the Bank of Montreal. If you go to investor relations for the company you won't find any announcement, but if you go to the required proxy announcement -- run by another company mind you -- you get the full skinny.
To the Shareholders of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation:
You are invited to attend the special meeting of shareholders of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation, which will be held at the New York Marriott Marquis, located at 1535 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, on May 17, 2011 at 1:00 p.m., local time, for the following purposes:
1. to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and between Bank of Montreal and Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying this notice, and the transactions it contemplates; and
2. to approve the adjournment of the M&I special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the merger agreement.
M&I’s board of directors has fixed the close of business on April 11, 2011 as the record date for determination of the M&I shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the M&I special meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of shares of M&I stock at the close of business on April 11, 2011 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the M&I special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Approval of the proposal to approve the merger agreement requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of M&I common stock.
Your vote is very important. To ensure your representation at the M&I special meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone or through the Internet. Please vote promptly whether or not you expect to attend the M&I special meeting. Submitting a proxy now will not prevent you from being able to vote in person at the M&I special meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, please follow the instructions on the voting instruction card furnished by the record holder.
M&I’s board of directors recommends that M&I shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the transactions it contemplates, and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the M&I special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of such approval.
All of the shareholder meetings I've seen in the past have been in Milwaukee. Now it's in New York City! Any shareholders of M&I be sure to send in your proxies to scuttle the merger. Also, any shareholders that happen to be in NYC on May 17 please pay a visit to the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel at 1:00.