Edgar Filing: MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP

e425

Filed by Bank of Montreal
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
Commission File No.: 1-33488

This filing, which includes a letter from Harris Financial Corp., may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and comparable “safe harbour” provisions of applicable Canadian legislation, including, but not limited to, statements relating to anticipated financial and operating results, the companies’ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, cost savings and other statements, including words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “may,” and other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and involve a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the terms of the proposed transaction may need to be modified to satisfy such approvals or conditions; the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction such as it being accretive to earnings, expanding our North American presence and synergies are not realized in the time frame anticipated or at all as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations (including changes to capital requirements) and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which M&I operates; the ability to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of M&I and BMO; reputational risks and the reaction of M&I’s customers to the transaction; diversion of management time on merger-related issues; increased exposure to exchange rate fluctuations; and those other factors set out on pages 29, 30, 61 and 62 of BMO’s 2010 Annual Report. A significant amount of M&I’s business involves making loans or otherwise committing resources to specific companies, industries or geographic areas. Unforeseen events affecting such borrowers, industries or geographic areas could have a material adverse effect on the performance of our integrated U.S. operations.

Additional factors that could cause BMO Financial Group’s and Marshall & Ilsley Corporation’s results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 40-F for BMO Financial Group and the 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

those documents, because they will contain important information. A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about BMO and M&I, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from BMO at www.BMO.com under the tab “About BMO — Investor Relations” and then under the heading “Frequently Accessed Documents”, from BMO Investor Relations, Senior Vice-President at 416-867-6656, from M&I by accessing M&I’s website at www.MICorp.com under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “SEC Filings”, or from M&I at (414) 765-7814.

BMO and M&I and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of M&I in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of BMO is set forth in the proxy statement for BMO’s 2010 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Form 6-K on February 26, 2010. Information about the directors and executive officers of M&I is set forth in the proxy statement for M&I’s 2010 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on March 12, 2010. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

On Friday, December 17, 2010, Bank of Montreal — the parent company of Harris Financial Corp. (Harris) — announced a definitive agreement to acquire Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (M&I). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approvals from the M&I shareholders. We anticipate the closing to occur prior to July 31, 2011.

Until the transaction closes, it is business as usual and Harris and M&I will continue to operate independently. You should continue to bank as you do today, at branches, over the phone, online and through the ATM.

After the transaction closes, Harris and M&I will have strong combined operations headquartered in the Midwest. Over time, you will gain access to new products and services, as the best of each bank is made available to the combined operation. Combined, Harris and M&I will be in a position to build on a long tradition of customer service excellence, and a solid and growing commitment to the communities we serve.

As always, our focus remains on one thing: the success of our customers. You have our commitment to ensure that we are guiding you in balanced spending habits, growing savings, borrowing smartly and investing wisely.

We look forward to serving you and thank you for your business.

Ellen Costello
President and CEO
Harris Financial Corp.

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Caution regarding forward looking statements

This communication may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and comparable “safe harbour” provisions of applicable Canadian legislation, including, but not limited to, statements relating to anticipated financial and operating results, the companies’ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, cost savings and other statements, including words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “may,” and other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and involve a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the terms of the proposed transaction may need to be modified to satisfy such approvals or conditions; the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction such as it being accretive to earnings, expanding our North American presence and synergies are not realized in the time frame anticipated or at all as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations (including changes to capital requirements) and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which M&I operates; the ability to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of M&I and Bank of Montreal together with its subsidiaries (BMO); reputational risks and the reaction of M&I’s customers to the transaction; diversion of management time on merger-related issues; increased exposure to exchange rate fluctuations; and those other factors set out on pages 29, 30, 61 and 62 of BMO’s 2010 Annual Report. A significant amount of M&I’s business involves making loans or otherwise committing resources to specific companies, industries or geographic areas. Unforeseen events affecting such borrowers, industries or geographic areas could have a material adverse effect on the performance of our integrated U.S. operations.

Additional factors that could cause BMO’s and M&I’s results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 40-F for BMO and the 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K of M&I filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Additional information for shareholders

In connection with the proposed merger transaction, BMO will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form F-4 that will include a Proxy Statement of M&I, and a Prospectus of Bank of Montreal, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Shareholders are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the merger when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about BMO and M&I, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from BMO at www.BMO.com under the tab “About BMO — Investor Relations” and then under the heading “Frequently Accessed Documents”, from BMO Investor Relations, Senior Vice-President at 416-867-6656, from M&I by accessing M&I’s website at www.MICorp.com under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “SEC Filings”, or from M&I at (414) 765-7814.