EXHIBIT 99.1
July 13, 2004
Media Contacts:
Bank of America
Eloise Hale
704.387.0013
eloise.hale@bankofamerica.com
National Processing, Inc. National City Corporation
David Fountain Amber Garwood
502.315.3311 216.222.8202
dfountain@npc.net Amber.Garwood@NationalCity.com
BANK OF AMERICA TO ACQUIRE NATIONAL PROCESSING, INC.
Industry ranking increases to #2 bankcard merchant acquirer
CHARLOTTE, NC -- Bank of America today announced a definitive agreement to
purchase all of the outstanding shares of National Processing, Inc. for $1.4
billion in cash, or $26.60 per share.
The combination with Bank of America Merchant Services would create the nation's
second largest bankcard merchant acquirer with nearly $250 billion in annual
processing volume.
National Processing, a public company, is 83 percent owned by National City
Corporation. The newly combined Bank of America Merchant Services will be
headquartered in Louisville, KY, where National Processing is currently based.
"Bank of America is the number one check processor in the U.S.," said G. Patrick
Phillips, president, Card Services & e-Commerce, Bank of America. "This
acquisition will better position the combined units to deliver a broader suite
of payment solutions as transactions migrate from cash and checks to electronic
payments."
Phillips noted that Bank of America is the number one debit card issuer and
number four credit card issuer in the United States, uniquely positioning the
company to innovate and create efficiencies in electronic payments.
Through its Merchant Card Services unit, National Processing provides services
to approximately 700,000 merchant locations across North America, representing
nearly one out of every six VISA(R) and MasterCard(R) transactions processed
nationally. National Processing also provides financial settlement and reporting
solutions to large and mid-size corporate customers in the travel and healthcare
industries.
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"Bank of America is committed to a seamless transition for National Processing
clients," said Phillips. "Our focus is to expand this business and offer these
clients even greater value through the broad range of capabilities we have. Bank
of America merchant clients will also benefit."
"This transaction will allow Bank of America to compete more effectively in the
electronic payments business by creating immediate scale through National
Processing's customer base and by using that company's technology platform to
drive growth and improve servicing capabilities for both national and regional
merchant clients," he explained.
National Processing has a seasoned, talented team that will blend well with Bank
of America's merchant services group, Phillips said.
Bank of America also announced that Mark Pyke, currently the Chief Operating
Officer of National Processing, Inc., will lead the combined merchant services
business once the transaction is complete. Pyke will report directly to Pat
Phillips.
Jon L. Gorney, National Processing chairman and chief executive officer, said
the sale resulted from a review of various strategic alternatives undertaken by
the company's Board of Directors and is supported by the company's majority
owner, National City Corporation. "We believe that the sale agreement with Bank
of America is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders," Gorney
said.
Gorney noted that National City is focusing on strategic growth in its core
banking business, including expansion in the Chicago region and acquisitions in
St. Louis, Cincinnati and northern Ohio.
The merger is subject to the approval of National Processing, Inc. shareholders,
regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, and is expected to close in
the fourth quarter of 2004.
Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to National Processing, Inc. in the
transaction and provided a fairness opinion.
About Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving
individual consumers, small 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 33 million consumer relationships with 5,700 retail banking
offices, more than 16,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than
ten million active users. Bank of America is the #1 Small
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Business Administration lender in the United States. The company serves clients
in 150 countries and has relationships with 96 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500
companies and 82 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation
stock (ticker: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
About National Processing
National Processing, Inc. through its wholly owned operating subsidiary,
National Processing Company, LLC (NPC(R)) is a leading provider of merchant
credit and debit card processing. National Processing is 83 percent owned by
National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC) (http://www.NationalCity.com), one of the
nation's largest financial holding companies. NPC supports over 700,000 merchant
locations, representing one out of every six MasterCard(R) and VISA(R)
transactions processed nationally. NPC's card processing solutions offer
superior levels of service and performance and assist merchants in lowering
their total cost of card acceptance through world-class people, technology and
service. Additional information regarding National Processing can be obtained at
http://www.npc.net.
About National City
National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one
of the nation's largest financial holding companies. The company operates
through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in
selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail
banking, consumer finance, asset management, mortgage financing and servicing,
and payment processing. For more information about National City, visit the
company's Web site at NationalCity.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding Bank of America,
National Processing and National City that involve significant risks and
uncertainties, including changes in general economic and financial market
conditions and the ability of each company to execute its respective business
plans. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of
future events and are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking
statements are based on management expectations that involve a number of risks
and uncertainties and, although management for each company, respectively,
believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, actual results may differ materially from such statements. Neither
Bank of America, National Processing nor National City can give any assurance
that the acquisition of National Processing by Bank of America will be
consummated, or if consummated, that any expectations relating thereto will be
realized. Factors that could affect whether the transaction is completed include
the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions, including obtaining
clearances from U.S. regulatory authorities and National Processing
shareholders. Due to these uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to
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place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date of this news release. Except as provided by federal securities laws,
neither Bank of America, National Processing nor National City is required to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information regarding
each company concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements is available
in each company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2003 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These
filings are available at no cost on the Commission's Web Site at www.sec.gov or
from each of the respective companies.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC
RULE 14A-12 DISCLOSURE
Shareholders of National Processing, Inc. are urged to read the proxy statement
regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available, because it will
contain important information about the transaction. Shareholders will be able
to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings
containing information about National Processing, without charge, at the SEC's
Web Site at www.sec.gov. Copies of the proxy statement and any other SEC filings
by National Processing can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a
request to National Processing, Inc., 1231 Durrett Lane, Louisville, Kentucky
40213 Attention: David E. Fountain. The respective directors and executive
officers of National Processing and other persons may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed
transaction. Information regarding National Processing's directors and executive
officers is available in its proxy statement filed with the SEC by National
Processing on March 22, 2004. Other information regarding the participants in
the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests,
by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and
other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
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