Merrill Lynch Shareholders Approve Bank of America Merger

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. announced that Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch was approved today at its special stockholders meeting along with two other related proposals.  Under the terms of the transaction, which was announced on September 15, 2008, Merrill Lynch stockholders will receive 0.8595 of a share of Bank of America common stock for each share of Merrill Lynch common stock held immediately prior to the merger and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.  The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year, pending the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.