Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-1 to Form S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2007

Registration No. 333-134625

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-1

to Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Massachusetts   6712   04-2976299

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Ten Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(617) 912-1900

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 


Timothy L. Vaill, Chief Executive Officer

Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.

Ten Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(617) 912-1900

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

Copies to:

William P. Mayer, Esq.

Paul W. Lee, Esq.

Goodwin Procter LLP

Exchange Place

Boston, Massachusetts 02109-2881

(617) 570-1000

 


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), shall determine.



Table of Contents

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 is being filed to convert the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-134625) into a registration statement on Form S-1.


Table of Contents

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

278,465 Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 


This prospectus supplement (the “prospectus”) supplements and supercedes the prospectus dated May 31, 2006 and relates to shares of common stock of Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Boston Private”) that may be offered for sale from time to time by certain selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will acquire the shares of Boston Private’s common stock that may be offered and sold under this prospectus in connection with the closing of our acquisition of Anchor Holdings LLC (“Anchor”), a holding company that owns Anchor Capital Advisors LLC and Anchor/Russell Capital Advisors LLC, both investment advisers.

Selling stockholders will use this prospectus to sell the common stock at any time at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at privately negotiated prices. The securities may be sold by the selling stockholders directly to purchasers or through agents or dealers. If required, the names of any agents or dealers involved in the sale of the securities, and the agent’s commission or dealer’s purchase price, if any, will be provided in supplements to this prospectus. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities and will pay all selling commissions, if any, applicable to any sale, and will pay up to $25,000 of the expenses of this offering incurred by Boston Private. Boston Private is responsible for the payment of all other expenses incident to the offer and sale of the common stock. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BPFH.” The last reported sales price of Boston Private common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on February 27, 2007 was $28.92 per share.

See “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 to read about risks you should consider before investing in our common stock.

 


These securities are not deposits or other obligations of a bank. These securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 28, 2007.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   1

RISK FACTORS

   2

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   2

THE COMPANY

   3

USE OF PROCEEDS

   4

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

   5

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   6

DESCRIPTION OF BOSTON PRIVATE’S COMMON STOCK

   8

LEGAL MATTERS

   8

EXPERTS

   8

INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO BOSTON PRIVATE

   8

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   9

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

   9

 

i


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights important features of this offering and the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the information incorporated by reference, especially the risks of investing in our common stock discussed under “Risk Factors.”

The Company

Boston Private is a Massachusetts corporation registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The Company was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1987. We are a wealth management company that offers comprehensive financial services to high net worth individuals, their families and businesses and selected institutions. We seek to capitalize on growth in the wealth management sector by targeting affluent regions and offering localized service. We believe the high net worth market continues to be characterized by attractive demographics because of the strong rate of growth in the number of high net worth individuals, growth in assets controlled by high net worth individuals, and the significant transition of wealth expected over the next decade. Our clients have complex financial situations and we seek to be their trusted advisor by offering wealth management solutions through a high-touch, relationship-driven approach. Our core strategy can be described as follows: target the newly affluent; build presence in attractive geographic markets through acquisitions and organic growth; develop regional clusters and maintain decentralized management. We deliver private banking, trust, investment management and financial planning services through our subsidiaries and affiliate companies. Our principal executive office is located at Ten Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts and our telephone number at that location is (617) 912-1900.

The Offering

 

COMMON STOCK OFFERED:    All of the shares offered by this prospectus are being sold by the selling stockholders named herein.
USE OF PROCEEDS:    We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering.


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information included in this document, you should consider carefully the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 which are incorporated by reference herein before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. You should keep these risk factors in mind when you read forward-looking statements in this document and in the documents incorporated by reference into this document. Please refer to the section below titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document and the documents to which it refers contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, effectiveness of investment programs, evaluations of future interest rate trends and liquidity, expectations as to growth in assets, deposits and results of operations, receipt of regulatory approval for pending acquisitions, success of acquisitions, future operations, market position, financial position, and prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements.

Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Forward-looking statements are based on the current assumptions and beliefs of and information currently available to management and are only expectations of future results. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as the result of, among other factors, the risk that difficulties will arise in connection with the integration of the operations of any acquired business with the operations of our banking, investment management or wealth management businesses, the passing of adverse government regulation, changes in interest rates, changes in the securities or financial markets, a deterioration in general economic conditions on a national basis or in the local markets in which we operate, including changes which adversely affect borrowers’ ability to service and repay our loans, changes in loan defaults and charge-off rates, reduction in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments, the risk that difficulties will arise in connection with the integration of the operations of acquired businesses with the operations of our banking or investment management businesses, the passing of adverse government regulation, and changes in assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements. This is not an exhaustive list and as a result of variations in any of these factors actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements. Many of the factors are beyond our ability to control or predict.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will not update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, assumptions, circumstances or events which have changed after a forward-looking statement was made.

 

2


Table of Contents

THE COMPANY

Boston Private (the “Company” or “Boston Private”), organized on July 1, 1988, is incorporated under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). On July 1, 1988, the Company became the parent holding company of Boston Private Bank & Trust Company (“Boston Private Bank”), a trust company chartered by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).

In addition to Anchor, the Company wholly-owns or majority-owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Borel Private Bank & Trust Company (“Borel”) and First Private Bank & Trust (“FPB”), both California state banking corporations insured by the FDIC; Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Company (“Gibraltar”) a federal savings institution insured by the FDIC; Westfield Capital Management Company, LLC (“Westfield”), Sand Hill Advisors, Inc. (“Sand Hill”), Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC (“DGHM”), and Boston Private Value Investors, Inc. (“BPVI”), each a registered investment adviser; and KLS Professional Advisors Group, LLC (“KLS”), and RINET Company, LLC (“RINET”), both registered investment advisory and financial planning firms. In addition, the Company holds a 49.7% minority interest in Bingham, Osborn, & Scarborough, LLC (“BOS”) a financial planning and investment firm located in San Francisco, California and an approximately 28.4% minority interest in Coldstream Holdings, Inc. (“Coldstream Holdings”). Coldstream Holdings is the parent of Coldstream Capital Management, Inc. (“Coldstream Capital”), a registered investment adviser in Bellevue, Washington and Coldstream Securities, Inc. The Company conducts substantially all of its business through its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, Boston Private Bank, Borel, FPB and Gibraltar (together the “Banks”), Westfield, Sand Hill, BPVI, DGHM, KLS, RINET and Anchor.

We are a wealth management company that offers comprehensive financial services to high net worth individuals, their families and businesses and selected institutions through diversified affiliated companies. We seek to capitalize on growth in the wealth management sector by targeting affluent regions and offering localized service. We believe the high net worth market continues to be characterized by attractive demographics because of the strong rate of growth in the number of high net worth individuals, growth in assets controlled by high net worth individuals, and the significant transition of wealth expected over the next decade. Our clients have complex financial situations and we seek to be their trusted advisor by offering wealth management solutions through a high-touch, relationship-driven approach. Our core strategy can be described as follows:

 

   

Target the newly affluent. We offer financial services to the newly affluent at each stage of the typical financial life cycle. In the early stages, these services typically take the form of debt products—residential “jumbo” mortgages or commercial loans to privately owned businesses. In the latter stages, we offer asset management services and, in between, we offer financial planning services such as tax planning, estate planning, and asset allocation consulting. Finally, we expect these clients to migrate to our fiduciary services over time.

 

   

Build presence in attractive geographic markets through acquisitions and organic growth. We intend to expand our franchise to additional centers of intellectual and investment capital in the United States. These areas are conducive to new business formation and therefore the creation of new wealth. We currently have a presence in New England with our subsidiaries Boston Private, Westfield, RINET, BPVI and Anchor; in Northern California with our subsidiaries Borel and Sand Hill and our investment in BOS; in Southern California with our subsidiary FPB; in the New York Metropolitan Region with our subsidiaries DGHM and KLS; in the Pacific Northwest with our investment in Coldstream Capital and in southern Florida, through Gibraltar. As we continue to grow, we will look to enter other demographically attractive markets.

 

   

Develop regional clusters. Within each of the regions that we target, we intend to offer three key services: private banking, investment management and wealth advisory services. A regional cluster will be composed of three or more affiliates, each with a focus on one of these services. Through a cluster approach, we are better able to deepen client relationships by expanding our service offering within a region to meet the specialized needs of wealthy clients.

 

   

Maintain decentralized management. We believe that our affluent clients respond to localized relationship management and take comfort in having their trusted financial advisor within close proximity. By keeping local management in place and giving them the autonomy to run their business with centralized support from our

 

3


Table of Contents
 

management team, we maintain the benefit of an affiliate’s local reputation while leveraging its expertise. Through this strategy, we are better able to build high-touch, service-oriented relationships with our clients.

Our address is Ten Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 and our telephone number at that location is (617) 912-1900. You can find additional information regarding us in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission referenced in the section of this document titled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 9.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Boston Private will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from any sales of shares of our common stock. The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by them for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred in disposing of the offered shares. The selling stockholders will, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants up to a maximum of $25,000 and thereafter the Company will bear the excess of such expenses. The reason for the offering is to permit resales by the selling stockholders.

 

4


Table of Contents

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The selling stockholders acquired the shares of Boston Private common stock that may be offered and sold under this prospectus from us in connection with our acquisition of Anchor. As part of our agreement with the selling stockholders in connection with that acquisition, we agreed to file this registration statement relating to the offer and sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of Boston Private common stock that they will receive in the acquisition. Our registration of these shares for sale by the selling stockholders does not necessarily mean that the selling stockholders will sell any or all of the shares.

This prospectus forms a part of a shelf registration statement and relates to the offer and sale of our common stock by certain individuals following completion of the acquisition described above. Accordingly, this prospectus relates to the aggregate resale of up to 278,465 shares of our common stock issued in the acquisition that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

The following table sets forth certain information about the beneficial ownership of each selling stockholder. We do not know when or in what amounts the selling stockholder may offer shares for sale. The selling stockholder may choose not to sell any of the shares offered by this prospectus. Because the selling stockholder may offer all or some of the shares pursuant to this offering, and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares, we cannot estimate the number of the shares that the selling stockholder will hold after completion of the offering. Information concerning the selling stockholders may change from time to time and, to the extent required, will be set forth in supplements or amendments to this prospectus.

Beneficial ownership in the following table is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to shares. The persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them except as noted in the footnotes below based upon information provided to us by the selling stockholders. The percentage ownership shown in the table is based on a total of 36,746,272 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of February 21, 2007.

 

Name

   Shares Beneficially
Owned Before Offering
   Number of Shares
Being Offered
   Shares Beneficially Owned
After Offering
   Number    Percent       Number    Percent

Mr. Stephen C. Brown

   25,791    *    22,742       *

Mrs. Carol P. Davison

   1,965    *    1,965       *

Mr. Neil L. Doremus

   20,414    *    20,414       *

Estate of Mr. William C. McConnell, Jr.

   29,484    *    29,484       *

Franklin Gray Norris Rev. Tr. u/a dtd. 12-09-82

   24,570    *    24,570       *

Sara Kathryn Green Norris Rev. Tr. u/a dtd. 12-24-86

   24,570    *    24,570       *

Mrs. Catherine Schneider

   1,915    *    1,915       *

Estate of Kenneth S. Sisson

   11,793    *    11,793       *

Albert O. Wilson, Jr. Trust of 1994 Mr. Albert O. Wilson, Jr., Ttee.

   76,324    *    76,324       *

Ms. Paige S. Rice

   2,903    *    320       *

Mr. William P. Rice, Jr.

   1,990    *    269       *

Mr. Robert F. Croce

   48,366    *    783       *

Mrs. Barbara E. Drake

   12,940    *    1,745       *

Mr. John DuPuy

   14,468    *    14,468       *

Dr. Alan D. Johnston

   505    *    505       *

Dr. Dean L. Johnston

   505    *    505       *

Mr. Anton H. Rice III

   1,995    *    1,995       *

Ms. Elaine M. Spinosa

   1,125    *    50       *

Sarah L. Croce

   5,745    *    5,745       *

Sharon Siegfreidt

   38,303    *    38,303       *
                
         278,465      

* Less than 1%

 

5


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The selling stockholders named herein of the common stock of Boston Private and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

   

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus;

 

   

broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

   

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law; or

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale.

The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.

In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

6


Table of Contents

Because selling stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. Each selling stockholder has advised us that they have not entered into any written or oral agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer regarding the sale of the resale shares. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the selling stockholders.

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) June 1, 2007 and (ii) the date on which all of the shares have been sold pursuant to the prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for a period of two business days prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the selling stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale.

We do not know of any arrangements by the selling stockholders to sell of any of the shares. There is no assurance that any of the selling stockholders will sell any or all of the shares offered hereby. The shares may be sold at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such market prices or at negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. The selling stockholders may effect such transactions by selling shares directly to purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or principals. Broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share, and to the extent such broker-dealer is unable to do so, acting as agent for a selling stockholder, such broker-dealer may purchase, as principal, any unsold shares at the stipulated price. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principals may thereafter resell such shares from time to time in transactions on the NASDAQ Global Market at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above.

We have agreed to provide the selling stockholders customary indemnification for violations of law in connection with this prospectus, and the parties to the registration rights agreement have agreed to provide us and each other customary indemnification for violations of law with respect to information provided by them for inclusion in the registration statement and the prospectus. The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

We may suspend the use of this prospectus and any supplements to this document as described under “Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

7


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF BOSTON PRIVATE’S CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a description of the material terms and provisions of Boston Private’s common stock. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. Therefore, you should read our charter and bylaws which have been filed with the SEC.

General

Under our charter, we have authority, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 70,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share. We may amend our charter from time to time to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. Any such amendment would require the approval of the holders of a majority of our stock entitled to vote. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “BPFH.”

Dividends

Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock, holders of shares of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends, if and when they are authorized and declared by our board of directors, out of assets that we may legally use to pay dividends.

Voting Rights

Except as otherwise required by law and except as provided by the terms of any other class or series of stock, holders of common stock have the exclusive power to vote on all matters presented to our stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which means that, subject to any rights to elect directors that are granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.

Preemptive Rights

Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law, or our articles of organization or by-laws.

Liquidation/Dissolution Rights

In the event we are liquidated, dissolved or our affairs are wound up, and subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive, in cash or in kind, in proportion to their holdings, the assets that we may legally use to pay distributions after we pay or make adequate provision for all of our debts and liabilities.

LEGAL MATTERS

Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts has passed upon the validity of the shares of Boston Private common stock offered by this document for Boston Private.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP and Hacker, Johnson & Smith PA, independent registered public accounting firms, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firms as experts in accounting and auditing. KPMG LLP’s audit report dated February 28, 2007, on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company acquired Anchor on June 1, 2006, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, Anchor’s internal control over financial reporting. KPMG’s audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Anchor.

The audit report covering the December 31, 2006 consolidated financial statements refers to a change in accounting for share-based payments.

The consolidated financial statements of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Company as of December 31, 2006 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of Hacker, Johnson & Smith PA, an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO BOSTON PRIVATE

The information regarding Boston Private, the registrant, required by Item 11 of Form S-1 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

8


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the Internet world wide web site maintained by the SEC at “http://www.sec.gov.” Our Securities and Exchange Commission file number is 0-17089.

Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us may also be inspected at the offices of NASDAQ Stock Market, located at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

As allowed by the SEC’s rules, this document does not contain all the information you can find in Boston Private’s registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. Statements made in this document as to the content of any contract, agreement or other document referenced to are not necessarily complete. With respect to each of those contracts, agreements or other documents to be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to the corresponding exhibit, when it is filed, for a more complete description of the matter involved and read all statements in this document in light of that exhibit.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this document the information that we have filed with the SEC. Incorporation by reference means that we may disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents that are legally considered to be part of this document.

We incorporate by reference the specific document listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC (other than the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed):

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

You may request a copy of our filings, and any exhibits specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this document, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address: Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc., Ten Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, Attention: Margaret W. Chambers, Secretary. Telephone requests may be directed to Margaret W. Chambers at (617) 912-1900.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained in this document. This document is dated February 28, 2007. You should not assume that the information contained in this document is accurate as of any date other than that date.

 

9


Table of Contents

LOGO

 


PROSPECTUS

 


February 28, 2007

 



Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

In the three years preceding the filing of this registration statement, we have issued the following securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:

On August 1, 2006, the Company issued 45,077 shares of common stock in connection with the increased investment interest in BOS. The total equity consideration for this transaction was $1.2 million.

On June 1, 2006, the Company issued 1,000,128 shares of common stock during the second quarter of 2006 in connection with the Anchor acquisition. The total stock consideration for this transaction was $30.6 million.

On January 1, 2006, the Company issued 30,616 shares of common stock in connection with the deferred acquisition obligation payment related to DGHM. The total consideration for this transaction was $917 thousand.

On December 31, 2005, the Company issued 107,432 shares of common stock as 10% of the purchase price for its acquisition of an 81% interest in KLS. The total consideration of this transaction was $3.0 million.

On August 31, 2005, the Company issued 40,939 shares of common stock in connection with the increased investment interest in BOS. The total equity consideration for this transaction was $1.1 million.

On April 29, 2005, the Company issued 9,503 shares of common stock in connection with a deferred acquisition obligation payment related to a principal hired by BPVI. The total consideration for this transaction was $233,000.

On March 2, 2005, the Company issued 47,187 shares of common stock in connection with the deferred acquisition obligation payment related to DGHM. The total consideration for this transaction was $1.3 million.

On October 5, 2004, the Company and Boston Private Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), entered into a Purchase Agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., for the sale of $75 million of convertible trust preferred securities, having a distribution rate of 4.875% and a liquidation preference of $50.00 per security, to be issued by the Trust and guaranteed by the Company on a subordinated basis. The Company also granted the initial purchasers an option to purchase up to an additional $30 million of convertible trust preferred securities. The initial purchasers exercised the option and the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement closed on October 12, 2004. The Company paid the initial purchasers a commission of $1.625 per trust preferred security. The initial conversion ratio is 1.5151 shares of the Company’s common stock, $1.00 par value for each trust preferred security, subject to adjustment. Assuming all $105 million liquidation amount of convertible trust preferred securities are converted, the Company would issue approximately 3,181,710 shares of common stock.

All of the above issuances of common stock were made in reliance upon the exemption from registration set forth in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Regulation D promulgated thereunder, for transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. The Company did not offer or sell the securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and informed each purchaser of the securities that the securities had not been registered under the Act and were subject to restrictions on transfer.


Table of Contents

 

Item 16. Exhibits And Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

*5.1   Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP
23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm
23.2   Consent of Hacker, Johnson & Smith PA, an independent registered public accounting firm
*23.3   Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
**24.1   Power of Attorney

* Previously filed.
** Previously filed in signature page to the Automatic Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed June 1, 2006.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-3


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned registrant certifies that it has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 28th day of February, 2007.

 

BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/    Timothy L. Vaill        

  Timothy L. Vaill
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
By:  

/s/    Robert J. Whelan        

  Robert J. Whelan
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Timothy L. Vaill    Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   February 28, 2007
Timothy L. Vaill     
/s/ Walter M. Pressey    Director, President   February 28, 2007
Walter M. Pressey     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Herbert S. Alexander     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
William J. Shea     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Peter C. Bennett     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Eugene S. Colangelo     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Stephen M. Waters     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Kathleen M. Graveline     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Lynn Thompson Hoffman     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Dr. Allen L. Sinai     
*    Director   February 28, 2007
Richard I. Morris, Jr.     

 

* Pursuant to power of attorney executed by the persons named above whose names are preceded by an asterisk, Robert J. Whelan, as an attorney-in-fact, does hereby sign this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement on behalf of each such person, in each case in the capacity indicated, on the date indicated

 

/s/    Robert J. Whelan        
Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-4


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

    *5.1   Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP
    23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm
    23.2   Consent of Hacker, Johnson & Smith PA, an independent registered public accounting firm
  *23.3   Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
**24.1   Power of Attorney

* Previously filed.
** Previously filed in signature page to the Automatic Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed June 1, 2006.